When the detective who investigated Beckett's mother's murder is shot before Beckett's eyes before he can give her new evidence in the case, Beckett's old wounds are reopened. The investigation of the detective's death leads the team to an old scheme which may provide the answer to why Beckett's mother was murdered and who ordered it.
As the school gets ready for the dance-a-thon, Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer have more on their minds than raising money for the school trip to Washington, DC. Hanna is having a hard time finding a job to help her family's financial situation, but when "A" has a job for her, will Hanna be able to refuse? Emily can only think of Maya and is desperate to speak to her -- so much so that she enlists the help of Caleb, the new bad boy in the school. And as an important piece of property goes missing, Spencer finds being in close quarters with her new brother-in-law, Ian, more difficult than ever. Meanwhile, Aria's former babysitter, Simone, comes back to town for a surprise visit. But what should be a happy reunion quickly becomes a nightmare for Aria when Simone sets her sights on Ezra.
Valerie Bertinelli; Pau Gasol; first appearance of Peg Blerguson, Craig's long-lost half sister, played by one of The Late Late Show writers John T. Reynolds.