Zack defends his dissertation to obtain his doctorate and asks help from a colleague. Meanwhile, Booth and Brennan are called to the scene where a man’s body was found gutted, burned and hung like a scarecrow on the roof of a Federal Building. Booth determines the victim was a snitch working in an organized crime syndicate. Brennan’s brother, Russ, informs her of a phone call he received from their father, warning him that they are both in danger. Soon after, a priest contacts Brennan telling her that her father insists on she and Booth to drop their case. They determine that the body found was actually an ex-FBI agent, who was tracking Russ to kill him. Hence, giving reason to Brennan’s father’s warnings.