American Rust: Season 2, Episode 9, "Broken Justice," kicks off with Cynthia eavesdropping on Chief Bolt's urgent call to Harris and Burgos, dispatching them to an unspecified location. Steeling herself, she confronts the chief head-on, demanding answers for Vic's vanishing act and the stagnant investigation. Unsatisfied, she leaves a harrowing voicemail for Burgos, her voice laced with determination—a promise to unravel the mystery, come what may.
Meanwhile, Russell delves into Lee's personal files, poring over the intricate web of Landwill Energy's deceit during her paralegal days. Nate's unexpected return disrupts the solemn atmosphere, igniting a fiery confrontation whose outcome remains shrouded in mystery.
As Harris and Burgos arrive at the desolate scene, an ominous presence looms—Fisher, perched far away, sniper rifle at the ready. Their world turns upside down when they stumble upon an unconscious woman, her fate hanging in the balance. Suddenly, gunshots shatter the silence, sending them into a frenzy.
Harris's phone rings, Fisher's sinister voice echoing through the line, instructing him to eliminate Burgos. But Harris, fueled by a surge of protectiveness, directs Burgos to flee while he takes the bullet meant for her, only to wound her non-fatally in the leg. Pivoting swiftly, he takes on Fisher, bullets flying in both directions, until Fisher's shot finds its mark on Harris. Just as Bolt arrives, ready to finish the job, Cynthia emerges from the shadows, her aim true, striking Bolt in the kneecap, saving Harris and Burgos from further harm. Yet, her sacrifice is short-lived as the police and FBI arrive, turning the tide against her.
In his police cruiser, Park's radio crackles with news of the Pittsburgh shooting. His heart racing, he frantically calls the hospital, only to hang up abruptly upon confirmation that Harris is indeed entangled in the chaos.
Harris lies battered and bruised in his hospital bed, Grace by his side offering solace. Burgos enters, their meeting interrupted by the introduction to Grace. Harris, his voice weak but resolute, reveals his ordeal—two shattered ribs, a punctured lung—yet his mind races with unanswered questions. He tasks Burgos with retrieving CCTV footage from Mrs. McKenna's residence, convinced there's a piece missing in this twisted puzzle.
Isaac's world shatters as he discovers a letter from Nate, a terse farewell announcing his departure. But the true aftermath of his confrontation with Russell remains a haunting enigma, leaving Isaac to ponder the unspoken truth lurking beneath the surface.
Park strides into the hospital, his badge flashing confidently, yet the vigilant guard at Harris's door stands firm, refusing his entry, even in the face of such official credentials. An FBI operative, meanwhile, discreetly hands Harris a bag containing damning evidence, the weight of which Harris acknowledges with a grave nod. He explains that his status as a key witness in their ongoing case necessitates his innocence, lest his testimony be tainted by the stain of a criminal record.
Park confronts Burgos within the hospital's confines, his voice heavy with revelation as he informs her of Harris's involvement in the West Virginia triple homicide. He presses a folder into her hands, the documents within detailing the sordid case, before being promptly escorted away, leaving Burgos to grapple with the shocking information.
Elsewhere, Grace engages in a secretive act, flames consuming the very evidence that tied Harris to that heinous crime in West Virginia, her actions shrouded in mystery and finality.
Billy, dressed for his impending military departure, paces anxiously, his heart heavy with the absence of Lee. She, consumed by the final details of her divorce, has indulged in a poignant reunion with her ex-husband, their night ending with a forgotten phone and a city waking up to a new dawn without resolution.
Harris, determined to uncover the truth, pores over CCTV footage from Mrs. McKenna's residence, his eyes narrowing in recognition upon spotting the former DA, Sue Herlitz, in the frame. Unable to contain his curiosity, he defies medical advice and discharges himself from the hospital, his mission to investigate all the more urgent.
The episode crescendos with Russell emerging from the shadows, a car serving as his canvas for a sinister deed. With practiced hands, he erases his presence from the vehicle, wiping away fingerprints and peeling off license plates. The trunk yields a chilling sight—Nate's lifeless form, a tragic testament to the darkness that consumes. Russell abandons the scene, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and a cold, dead end.
