American Rust: Season 2, Episode 2, "Broken Justice," kicks off with Sheriff Park delving into the unsolved murder from the previous season alongside District Attorney Sue Herlitz. Park harbors a hunch that Del Harris is somehow entwined in the web of suspicion, yet Herlitz dampens his enthusiasm, citing a lack of conclusive evidence to propel the investigation forward.
As the phone rings, abruptly shifting the scene, Park rushes to a fresh crime scene—Chloe Tatlock's bar, where she lies lifeless on the cold floor. Meanwhile, Del Harris, deep in his undercover mission to infiltrate the brotherhood, orchestrates a weekend getaway at a cabin in Buell, inviting Vic Walker as a strategic move to earn his trust.
Harris and Burgos' pursuit of Liam McKenna's killer intensifies when they uncover the betrayal of McKenna's wife through CCTV footage, revealing her clandestine affair. Now, they're on a hunt to uncover the identity of her secret lover.
Billy, steadfast in his journey of redemption, ponders joining the military as a fresh start. Elsewhere, Grace confronts Virgil to finalize their divorce, only to encounter a roadblock—a financial demand from Virgil as his price for a clean break. Reluctantly, Grace acquiesces.
Later, Virgil chauffeurs Billy to Snarly, a new bar he's invested in with Grace's money, offering Billy a job. Billy declines the offer but expresses support for his father's entrepreneurial endeavor. Snarly's opening night brings an unexpected guest: Sheriff Park, who arrives to probe Chloe Tatlock's murder. Virgil downplays the altercation between the victim and Grace, but a patron's revelation that Chloe had threatened Grace adds a sinister twist to the narrative.
Isaac, engrossed in his duties at Landwill Energy, stumbles upon Russell, the enigmatic figure he'd briefly entwined with in the shadowy confines of a bar's bathroom mere nights past. Their encounter is fraught with an uncomfortable tension, as Russell feigns ignorance, their previous intimacy a distant memory.
Meanwhile, Park makes a visit to Grace, seeking insights into Chloe's untimely demise. He propositions an inspection of her firearm, yet Grace stands firm in her refusal, her resolve unwavering.
Elsewhere, Harris confides in Grace about their undercover operation, a strategic move to extract vital information from Vic Walker's guarded world. As their investigation deepens, Harris and Burgos' suspicions alight upon a new suspect—a professor entangled in Liam's wife's clandestine affair.
Amidst a brotherhood poker game, Harris, Fisher, and Orr engage in a tense round, with Vic's tardiness adding an unsettling undertone. Harris, ever cunning, covertly plants a bug-embedded lighter on Vic, a tool provided by the FBI, ensuring every move will be monitored.
Park's domestic life takes an eerie turn as he queries his wife about his impending descent into the basement. Her affirmative response reveals a chilling truth: Park has meticulously recreated the crime scenes, using intricate models, his fascination with Del Harris and the triple homicide a consuming obsession.
Vic's wife, Cynthia, a fellow officer and close confidante of Angela Burgos, grapples with the decision to expose her husband's dark secrets to Internal Affairs. Her bruises, testament to Vic's brutality, weigh heavily on her. Burgos, determined to intervene, urges her to speak out, yet Cynthia hesitates. Left alone, Burgos surreptitiously browses through Cynthia's phone, uncovering a haunting image of Vic posing triumphantly over a lifeless body. She swiftly captures the photo and others documenting Cynthia's injuries, sending them to herself before Vic's unexpected return forces her to hastily replace the phone.
The episode concludes with Harris, guitar in hand, sitting in solitude in his Pittsburgh apartment, his mind consumed by the intricate web of deceit and danger that surrounds him.
