Written & Directed by Julie Hebert

"Nine Wives" is the 12th episode of the third season of NUMB3RS.

When Don and Colby are brought in to investigate the case of a beaten and unconscious fourteen year old girl, they are told that the perpetrator, Abner "The Prophet" Stone, is the leader of the Apostolic Saints, a cult operating across multiple state lines.

Examples:

• Child by Rape: This was Abner Stone's intention with Josephine; he wanted to father a child with her and couldn't care less that she didn't want it or that she was under the age of consent.
• Cult: The Apostolic Saints are a polygamist religious group which follows an exploitative leader.
• Cult Defector: After being exposed to life outside the cult, Josephine no longer believes in the Apostolic Saints' doctrine. The CBI agent is ultimately revealed to be one too.
• Dark Messiah: Abner exploits his followers' spiritual yearnings for his own gains, posing as a saviour, when in reality, he is nothing but a sexual predator and abuser.
• Ephebophile: The cult believes that "the way to heaven is marrying virgins". In practice, this frequently involves underage girls being married off to adult men. The CBI agent says that they've been known to marry off girls "as young as nine".
• Foreshadowing: When Josephine's mother is talking to the CBI agent, she talks about the Kirtland line in the first person ("we are" as opposed to "they are"), even though based on what we know at the time, she would only be a Kirtland by marriage. It's an early hint that she may be tied a little more tightly to the Kirtland line.
• Parental Incest: The victim is revealed to be a product of this, as she and her mother share the same father.
• Polygamy: The cult's practice of marrying multiple underage girls is presented as backwards and immoral.
• Tangled Family Tree: Abner Stone's family tree is so convoluted (due to the massive number of marriages each man has, as well as the prevalence of incest within the cult) that Millie initially mistakes it for a cattle breeding chart — which actually helps Charlie and Amita figure out what it really is, because they had no idea what they were looking at. Later, it's revealed that Josephine and her mother are also half-sisters.