Avon Barksdale is becoming paranoid and thinks he's being watched. He's also worried his phone is being tapped. He also thinks there's a snitch in D'Angelo's crew and he's told not to pay anyone until it's sorted. D'Angelo isn't too pleased when he hears Avon has given Stinkum a new territory. Judge Phelan visits the squad to sign the warrants to clone D'Angelo Barksdale's pager. The numbers they're collecting are coded and don't make much sense. Det. Prez Pryzbylewski figures it out however. McNulty and Greggs try to get information from Omar.

Burrell reluctantly sides with Daniels in the disagreement with Rawls, giving the detail more time to make a case against Avon, despite his fears the operation is beginning to sprawl. McNulty and Pearlman present the detail's findings to Phelan, who signs an affidavit for a further thirty days of electronic surveillance. Using information from the wire on the pit pay-phones, the detail catch a runner on his way to the pit with a re-up. However, they elect not to arrest the driver, Anton 'Stinkum' Artis (Brandon Price), so as to avoid giving up their evidence in the charging documents. Stinkum's apparent free pass from the police convinces Avon and Stringer that their operation has been compromised, and Stringer introduces a new set of operating procedures. Rawls gives Det. Michael Santangelo (Michael Salconi) a choice; acquire information that he can use against McNulty or solve some of the department's open homicides, whilst the owner of Avon's strip club, Wendell 'Orlando' Blocker (Clayton LeBouef), has a proposal for D'Angelo. Meanwhile, Bubbles and Johnny attend an NA meeting, and Bubbles is moved by a speech given by recovering addict Walon (Steve Earle). Investigating the murder of the witness in D'Angelo's trial, with some help from Omar, the detail target Barksdale hitman Marquis 'Bird' Hilton (Fredro Starr).

Trying to let go of police work and return to his marriage, McNulty gives up on identifying his Jane Doe. The detectives look into Sobotka and his money. For his union, Sobotka tries to play the political game. D'Angelo wants to live life outside of Barksdale's umbrella and Bell brings in outside help for the problem.