The heat is on in the Season 4 opener when a fire blazes through Griffith Park, threatening vast areas of Los Angeles. As Brenda tries to smoke out any wrongdoers, one of her archenemies---fire-starter Billy Croelick (Jason O'Mara)---enters the picture. In domestic news, Fritz and Brenda's new duplex forbids the presence of pets, but that doesn't stop Brenda from keeping Kitty on the premises.
Brenda snoops when a paroled killer from a headline-grabbing case turns up dead, ostensibly the victim of a hit and run. In domestic developments, Fritz is rendered immobile after hurting his back. Paul Michael Glaser guest stars.
Brenda scrutinizes the suicide of a high-school girl who had earlier reported that she was raped by the son of a Los Angeles lawman (Daniel Baldwin).
Brenda sleuths when a man wearing a surveillance wire is shot to death. The case turns especially thorny when Brenda grapples with Fritz over control of the case. Complicating the investigation even more: a Los Angeles journalist and the victim's apparent ties to a drug case.
Provenza gets in hot water (yet again) when he loses evidence from a successfully executed sting operation. Brenda and her team are subsequently forced to free their suspect, despite being given a 48-hour window to retrieve the lost materials. Jennifer Coolidge guest stars.
The Priority Homicide squad probes the vanishing of a troubled tween boy. As Brenda digs up evidence about the boy's violent past, she deliberates whether he's a victim, a runaway---or a possible killer.
Events turn personal for Brenda and her squad when the brother of Detective Sanchez is shot. The team passionately scrambles to find the shooter, but the case is plagued by departmental leaks and a fiery detective. Directed by Kevin Bacon, series star Kyra Sedgwick's real-life husband.
It gets hairy in Hollywood when a TV-show hairstylist is found slain, as the case involves a deep history of domestic violence. Brenda must also meet the demands of her visiting parents (Frances Sternhagen, Barry Corbin).
A drug cartel, police malfeasance and an FBI informant all twist around the investigation of two murdered Tijuana cops. The case spirals downward when a vitriolic newspaper story slams the Priority Homicide Division, putting the team on the defensive.
Brenda and Co. investigate the death of a teenager. Before long, they conclude that the teen may be connected to an orchestrated bombing scheme that could kill hundreds of people. Racing against time, the team scrambles to find the bomb.
The fate of Det. Sanchez, who was shot three times and airlifted to a hospital, is revealed. In addition, the team investigates whether a suicide was actually murder. And Brenda's parents (Frances Sternhagen, Barry Corbin) pay a visit while on their way to a Hawaiian cruise.
Brenda and her squad investigate the death of a plus-size man, whose body has so badly deteriorated that it's nearly impossible to determine how he died. Frances Sternhagen and Barry Corbin guest star as Brenda's parents.
A known sex offender emerges as the prime suspect in the savage rape and murder of a woman. But when the suspect promptly hires a slick lawyer, Brenda must square off against the formidable attorney, who uses sly judicial tricks and manipulative tactics to defend his client. Billy Burke guest stars.
Brenda preps for her nuptials with help from her visiting parents (Frances Sternhagen, Barry Corbin). They're not the only visitors: Fritz's sister (Amy Sedaris), who claims to be a psychic, arrives and helps in Brenda's quest to prevent a murder from occurring, tapping into her presumed gift of clairvoyance.
In the Season 4 finale, Brenda and Fritz's wedding is only a day away, but obsessive investigations jeopardize the big event. Here, Brenda probes a murder at an escort service, while Fritz focuses on finally nabbing a high-rung drug figure. Helping with their nuptials: Brenda's parents (Barry Corbin, Frances Sternhagen) and Fritz's sister (Amy Sedaris).