Charlie Eppes (David Krumholtz) and Amita Ramanujan (Navi Rawat), Charlie's girlfriend and colleague, watch the space shuttle carrying their friend and colleague Dr. Larry Fleinhardt (Peter MacNicol) from the International Space Station land at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
Meanwhile, FBI Special Agent Don Eppes (Rob Morrow), Charlie's brother, accompanies Assistant United States Attorney Alvin Brickle (Jeremy Sisto) to a California prison to visit death row inmate Pony Fuñez (Wood Harris), who is scheduled to be executed within the week.
Back at the office, Don lets Fuñez see the picture of Lucy that Rene gave David.
This time, the team finds the body of a mob leader, and Don refuses to cooperate with the hit man.
Meanwhile, David and Brickle, en route to Fuñez's house to talk to Rene, engage in a shootout with a couple of members of the mob.
As a result of Fuñez's cooperation, Don personally brings Lucy to the FBI office to see her father before his execution.
[1] It also marked the final appearance of season three for Kathy Najimy's character, Dr. Millie Finch.
[2] Although scheduled to appear in two to three episodes, Najimy's role was expanded to cover series regular Peter MacNicol's departure to film 24.
[3] "The Art of Reckoning" marked series regular Peter MacNicol's return to Numb3rs after wrapping up "24".