D. Sloan is terribly nervous about an IRS audit, sees 'sloppiness' everywhere, and leaves a 'death threat' on his accountant Ernie Pitt's answering machine, desperate for help. When Mark sneaks out from Agent Gretchen McCord's first interview for a 'medical emergency' he thus ends up bent over Pitt's corpse, stabbed to death. LAPD Detective Claire Van Sickle grants him no favors as colleague Steve stood her up a while ago. The two harpies team up to 'coordinate their attack' on Mark.