Directed by David Nutter
Written by Bruno Heller & Ken Woodruff (uncredited)
Jane orchestrates his own undercover operation using Van Pelt as bait as the team investigates the murder of a young waitress in the Napa Valley.
- Accidental Murder: Jane judges by the fact Melanie was still dressed when she was found and that she was most likely asphyxiated that her killer didn't mean to murder her, and that they were simply inexperienced and were planning to do it later.
- All Girls Want Bad Boys: Melanie, who had her chastity ring and wanted to save her virginity for her marriage, fell in love with bad boy and cartel member Hector Ramirez. Deconstructed, however, since Hector casually mentions physically abusing her on at least one occasion and seems rather unapologetic about it, claiming that she'd partly brought it on herself by getting involved with a violent criminal to begin with. He also notes, however, that he knew full well that he was not a good romantic partner for her and that he encouraged her to go to college and leave him behind.
- Batman Gambit: Jane uses Van Pelt as bait to lure the killers into their motel room.
- Bound and Gagged: The killers use duct tape to immobilize and gag their victims.
- Decoy Antagonist: The CBI, mostly Lisbon, accuses Melanie's boyfriend Hector Ramirez to have killed her. Jane believes he is innocent, and is proven right at the end of the episode where it was Melanie's bosses who killed her.
- Decoy Damsel: Jane uses the redheaded Van Pelt to lure the killer into the motel room they rented to try and commit their crimes.
- Depraved Bisexual: Implied with Sandra Boatright, who targeted redhead women with her husband and most likely planned on raping them.
- Early-Bird Cameo: Sheriff McAllister, who after not appearing for five seasons becomes a major player in the Season 6 and is ultimately revealed to be Red John.
- Heroic BSoD: Everyone in the CBI, mostly Jane and Lisbon, are completely distraught that it was a married couple who committed this awful murder. Van Pelt said marriage should be linked by love, and not sadism like Malcolm and Sandra's.
- Troubling Unchild Like Behavior: Melanie's younger brother Frankie is furious that his sister was killed, and wants to avenge her by murdering her killer with an axe. Jane is able to talk him out of it.
- Unholy Matrimony: It was revealed that Melanie O'Keefe was killed by her bosses, Malcom and Sandra Boatright, who were both sadists and wanted to kill women together.
- Youthful Freckles: Frankie O' Keefe has these.
