As the police arrive at Dexter's house, he is obviously in shock and, either because he feels guilty that his relationship with the Trinity Killer, Arthur Mitchell, caused Rita's death or because he is answering a question ("Sir, did you say that you called this in?")

Joey Quinn is already suspicious about the circumstances surrounding Rita's death, considering it did not follow Trinity's modus operandi.

Unable to reconcile, Astor decides that she wants to live with her grandparents in Orlando, Florida, and she and Cody leave Miami.

Dexter finds a Department of Sanitation worker, Boyd Fowler, who is responsible for the deaths of several women.

After Lumen continues on her own and mistakenly targets the wrong suspect, Dexter teaches her the importance of knowing a person is guilty.

Instead, Lumen remains behind, hunts down and shoots one of her attackers, and out of desperation asks Dexter to help her clean up the crime scene.

Meanwhile, LaGuerta and Angel Batista make their marriage public but are having marital issues, and Quinn and Debra become romantically involved.

Dexter learns Lumen has been kidnapped by Jordan Chase and leaves the crime scene to try to find her.

He is surprised to see Astor and Cody who want to have their baby brother Harrison's first birthday party in Miami and stay with him the coming summer.

After Jordan's death, Lumen no longer feels the need to kill and tearfully admits she needs to move on, leaving Dexter distraught.

Blowing out Harrison's birthday candle, Dexter wonders if there is hope for him — to have a genuine relationship, to be human — but he doubts it.

Past executive producer and show runner Clyde Phillips remained part of the crew as a consultant for the fifth season.