The Ice Truck Killer strikes again, leaving a real nightmare before Christmas at Santa's Cottage. But this time, Dexter notices that the kill is not as 'tidy' as the previous kills, as if the Ice Truck Killer is rushing to leave Miami. But in reality, the Ice Truck Killer has kidnapped someone very close to Dexter to lure him into a trap that will change Dexter's life forever. Meanwhile, Sgt. Doakes notices that Dexter has been acting strangely around the Homicide division, making him wonder if in fact, Dexter is the Ice Truck Killer.