The opening of Absentia season 3, episode 4, titled "Alea Lacta Est," finds Emily in the hospital, alongside Kai in the ambulance, as the young woman's health rapidly deteriorates. Kai's passing marks the first tragedy of season 3, leaving Emily reeling with the weight of her own guilt. The swift bond they had formed, and her subsequent failure to keep her safe, haunts her. Emily suspects that someone within the FBI is feeding Dawkins with information, leading her to contemplate a complete severance from the agency.
As Julianne and Emily face off, Emily updates the FBI on the live feed of Nick's survival in Europe, courtesy of Dawkins. Julianne's probing questions about Emily's meeting with Dawkins elicit a fiery response from Emily, who laments the "red tape bullshit" and her inability to work with those she cannot trust. Julianne clears the room, reminding Emily of the potential irreparable damage accusations like that can cause. The argument escalates when Emily brings up Julianne's use of lethal force on Alice, culminating in a strong punch from Emily and a resignation threat.
Emily's indifference towards rejoining the FBI grants her a rogue edge for season 3, and it's a breathtaking transformation. She heads to an old-school internet café, where she examines the memory stick given to her by Kai. The required authorization poses a hurdle, while Nick is questioned about the location of stolen files by the woman in the white lab coat. The news of Kai's death elicits no response from Nick, only to be injected with something that causes him immense pain.
As the midpoint of Absentia season 3, episode 4 unfolds, Emily meets with Cal at a restaurant to discuss forensic findings. She reveals that Dawkins remains in Boston and that she possesses Meridian files, which seem to have a profound impact on Cal, who tries to reassure her that Kai's death was not her fault. However, Emily is crippled by guilt, feeling that she has caused too much pain after three seasons of turmoil.
The narrative of "Absentia" season 3, episode 4, titled "Alea Jacta Est" (Latin for "The Die is Cast"), unfurls like a tense drama, weaving a web of intrigue and danger. As Cal and Emily journey to the shipping port, their eyes scan the shipping logs, searching for any clue that might lead them to Nick's whereabouts. Their eyes alight upon a name, Jericho, with a date and time eerily similar to Berlin's disappearance.
Meanwhile, Dawkins' tactics take a sinister turn, making his intentions clear as he makes it personal by targeting Emily's family. In a panic-stricken moment, Emily calls upon her father to whisk Flynn away, unaware that Flynn senses the impending danger and takes refuge behind a locker in the changing room, with Dawkins' ominous presence lurking nearby. The grandfatherly figure arrives in the nick of time to collect Flynn, and Emily urges them to flee the town immediately, providing them with the means to do so. All this while, Cal watches from the shadows, a troubled look on his face that hints at a deeper connection to the events unfolding.
Nick's psychological torment continues in the background, while Emily finds herself in a precarious position. She concocts a plan to replace the data, hoping to mislead Dawkins while maintaining a semblance of truth. Cal updates her on their lead on Dawkins' whereabouts but is met with disappointment when he discovers Dawkins is not at the hotel they believed him to be in. Emily returns to her shattered home, her voice betraying little surprise when Cal informs her of Dawkins' absence.
As she steps outside, a car pulls up, and Emily climbs in – only to find Dawkins inside. She offers him the files on Nick's life, knowing full well that this act only escalates the dangerous game she is playing with the villain who seems determined to outmaneuver her at every turn.
The episode ends with a cliffhanger, setting the stage for the next installment as the FBI's mistrust and Dawkins' cunning continue to test Emily's resolve and bring the drama to new heights.
