I would have sworn that this episode feels like a pilot, but for some reason aired 8th instead of first. It had explanations given for things we already know about (like the High Council, and Harry's aversion to technology). And the cop characters seem as if they are being introduced for the first time. Also, there is no appearance or mention of Bob in this episode! Also also, the title of this episode is the title of the very first novel. And Harry has a cat! Which doesn't appear in any other episodes (I think). But he definitely seems like a cat person, if you think about it.
On the other hand, there were also indications that it wasn't a pilot: For one, Bianca, from the Bad Blood episode, is included as someone we are already supposed to know. And Harry's "protection bracelet" is shown without explanation (it WAS explained and introduced in episode 1). So basically, I don't know if it belongs in the lead-off spot or not.
The Trivia section at IMDb does discuss this, but I don't know if the theories there are to be believed or not. Not that it matters; the episode was enjoyable, and that's all that really counts. Right?
Anyway, it starts with a young co-ed and a notorious mobster both murdered in a fancy hotel room during a midnight sex tryst. The cops assume it is all about the mobster, but Harry thinks otherwise. Worse yet, he determines that the deaths were caused by "Black Magic," which is specifically outlawed by the High Council, and they suspect HIM of being the perp. He has to prove otherwise to escape punishment. Apparently the HC does not subscribe to the concept of "innocent until proven guilty."
Harry eventually finds that the co-ed was one of three young girls who all died mysteriously, and ends up tangling with a mysterious but very dangerous Spite Demon and an evil sadistic dentist (is there any other kind?).
