Bad Monkey

Yancy takes the arm to Miami, where he meets Dr. Rosa Campesino, the assistant medical examiner. She scolds him for not sending photos of the arm first and confirms that it doesn’t match any of Miami-Dade’s body part inventory.

They examine the arm and note the owner’s distinctive watch tan line. Rosa removes a shark tooth from the arm, suggesting that Yancy consult a marine biologist for identification. She estimates that the arm was in the ocean for five to seven days, possibly longer. Yancy attempts to convince her to keep the arm and deem its severing accidental, but Rosa refuses to do so, also refusing his lunch invitations.

Reflecting on his troubled past with the Miami Police Department, Yancy recalls uncovering a scam run by Sergeant Johnny Mendez, who had friends and family report Crime Stoppers tips to previously solved crimes and backdated the tips sheets, sharing the claim rewards. Though Yancy reported it, Mendez covered his tracks, and Yancy was accused of fabricating lies and attempting extortion. To avoid indictment, Yancy resigned, while Mendez was quietly moved to another division before retiring due to injury. Yancy contemplates leaving the arm in Mendez’s sports car as a final jab.

Yancy confides in his friend and former coworker, Officer Rogelio Burton, about the arm dilemma. Burton, aware that Sonny already informed the press that the case was turned over to Miami-Dade, suggests that Yancy discreetly dispose of the arm on his way home.

Back in Key West, Yancy meets Bonnie Witt, Clifford Witt’s much younger wife. Yancy tries to persuade her to drop the charges, but she explains that Clifford is determined to see him punished, especially with 300 witnesses to the assault. Yancy argues that it was in defense of Bonnie after Clifford insulted her, but Bonnie reminds him that they were cheating on Clifford together.

The date escalates to sex, and Bonnie confesses that she married Clifford to escape her past. As “Plover Chase,” she was convicted of extorting sex from a 15-year-old student in exchange for grades but fled before sentencing.

When Bonnie goes to the freezer, she’s horrified to discover the severed arm.

Bonnie refuses to believe Yancy’s explanation for having the arm in his freezer and storms out. Later, she agrees to meet him for breakfast, where she reveals that she and Clifford are moving to Sarasota. She informs Yancy that Clifford is offering a plea deal, warning that while Yancy won’t like it, he’ll have to accept it.

Yancy’s attorney outlines the deal: The assault charge will be reduced to misdemeanor battery in exchange for six months of probation, covering court costs and Clifford’s medical expenses, agreeing to stay away from Bonnie, and resigning from the sheriff’s department.

Sonny secures Yancy a new job as a restaurant inspector.

To clear his head, Yancy goes fishing. Upon returning home, he finds Evan Shook, the spec house owner, complaining about a dead raccoon inside, which Yancy conveniently found on the road earlier. Much to Yancy’s satisfaction, Shook can’t show the house to potential buyers.

Yancy, already a skinny man, loses 11 pounds in just three weeks as a restaurant inspector, unable to eat after witnessing the horrors of restaurant kitchens.

Burton drops by to ask Yancy about the severed arm. A woman, Eve Stripling, reported that her husband, Nick, was missing, and the arm’s DNA was a match. Eve wants the arm back to hold a funeral service.

Eve arranges to meet Yancy in a grocery store parking lot to pick up the arm. Yancy is surprised that she doesn’t mention the missing watch, which Rosa identified from the distinct tan line as a limited-edition luxury piece worth $145,000. When Yancy asks Eve a few questions, she becomes visibly irritated. She explains that she was in Paris when Nick died and mentions that Nick was a mediocre swimmer. After having Eve sign a form (just for show) Yancy sends her on her way.

Yancy arranges with a local exterminator to relocate a beehive into the primary bedroom of the spec house.

He then drives to North Miami to attend Nick Stripling’s funeral, where he learns that Nick had a history of insurance fraud. While at the service, Yancy spots two other law enforcement officers, whom he identifies as FBI. He briefly questions Caitlin Cox, Nick’s daughter from a previous marriage, who reveals her suspicion that Eve murdered Nick.

Yancy later interviews Keith Fitzpatrick, the owner and captain of the charter boat that found the severed arm. Fitzpatrick identifies the shark teeth embedded in the arm as belonging to a small, shore-dwelling shark.

At the same restaurant, Yancy runs into Charles Phinney, Fitzpatrick’s former first mate. Phinney was working on the boat when they found the arm but quit shortly afterward, having come into a considerable sum of money. As Phinney leaves the restaurant, someone shoots him.

Phinney’s girlfriend, Madeline, tells police that a man on a blue moped wearing a bright orange poncho shot Phinney and stole his cash. She suspects that her bosses, Russian gangsters, orchestrated the murder.

Meanwhile, on Andros Island in the Bahamas, Neville Stafford and his pet monkey, Driggs, visit the Dragon Queen. He asks her to place a spell on an American developer named Christopher Grunion to force him off the island.

Neville’s half-sister sold their family property on Andros Island to Christopher, who plans to develop it into a resort. Desperate to stay on the land, Neville sees voodoo as his only option.

Back at home, Yancy finds messages from Bonnie, Rosa, and Caitlin Cox. Caitlin claims she has proof that Eve murdered Nick.

The bees scare off yet another set of potential buyers from the spec house.

Tommy Lombardo, Yancy’s Health and Sanitation Department trainer, pressures him to reopen a restaurant shut down for health code violations. While there, Yancy spots Madeline, but she bolts when she sees him.

Later, Yancy meets with Caitlin Cox, who shares details about her complicated relationship with her stepmother, Eve. She reveals that Nick sold electric scooter chairs, which leads Yancy to suspect that Nick was involved in insurance fraud. In addition, Caitlin mentions that Nick was an excellent swimmer, contradicting Eve’s earlier claim, and adds that Eve has a boyfriend in the Bahamas.

Eve tries to buy a new car for her boyfriend but is thwarted by the 75% import duty. She eventually settles on a used, bright yellow Jeep Wrangler. When she tells her boyfriend, he’s furious, pointing out that the car will stand out when they’re trying to stay inconspicuous. Eve sarcastically notes that his bright orange poncho isn’t exactly subtle either.

Meanwhile, a government agent informs Neville that he must vacate the property after the sale is final. Despite his arguments, Neville has no legal recourse. Frustrated, he goes on a fishing trip to clear his head, only to return and find Christopher’s construction crew already demolishing the buildings on the land. In retaliation, Neville urinates into the gas tank of a backhoe to slow the work.

Miguel warns Yancy to stay indoors while he removes the beehive next door. Yancy meets with a friend, who gives him a report on Eve Stripling, proving that she spent most of her time in the Bahamas while Nick was missing. The report also reveals that Eve purchased a new wedding band for Nick before he was reported missing.

Yancy meets with Madeline again, who is visibly nervous because the police suspect her of involvement in Phinney’s murder. She reveals that Phinney came into his windfall of cash after hooking the dismembered arm during the charter fishing trip. Additionally, she admits that Phinney forcefully bent the middle finger of the hand. Madeline confesses that a white woman hired Phinney and gave him the arm.