Alex suffers a major setback as Senator Barnes, chairman of the energy committee and supporter of his ethanol plan, is forced to resign because of a sex scandal. As pressure--from both the police and Joe Samuels--mounts over the Quiñones murder, conspirators Alex and Santo are encouraged to flip on one another. Despite the intense pressure, neither Alex nor Santo take the bait, and their alibis remain intact. Frank resumes his affair with Ellis Samuels, despite having assured Alex that it's over. When Grasso makes one final attempt to trip Alex up over his alibi in the Quiñones case, Frank comes to the rescue, plugging up a hole in Alex's story. Alex is saved, but now Frank is involved, and that's not good. Meanwhile, Katie, still grounded, finds a way to see Nick behind her parents' back, and he charms her into sleeping with him. What she doesn't know is that Nick surreptitiously videotapes their escapade.
