Episode 3 of Season 1 of "American Rust" commences with a haunting spectacle: the meticulous examination of Pete Novick's lifeless body, as the autopsy unfolds, shrouded in mystery. Bags brimming with evidence are gathered, each one a potential key to unlocking the truth. One fact stands irrefutable—Novick's demise was a heinous homicide. But who among the shadows wields the guilty hand?
Del's arrival brings a grim revelation: Novick's life extinguished by a brutal blow to the back of his head, a fall an unlikely culprit, the injury indicating a deliberate strike. The rust-tinged fragments embedded in his skull whisper of a rusty weapon, adding another layer of intrigue. His toxicology report, a chaotic tapestry of addiction, underscores his long battle with drugs.
Six months prior to his tragic end, Novick's dismissal from duty casts suspicion on Del Harris, who controversially retained him on his team. Dissatisfied with Herlitz, Del embarks on a somber journey to return Novick's belongings to his family, where the devastating toll of drugs is palpable. Pam, Novick's widow, scoffs at the sight of their ring, a symbol of happier times now tarnished by Del's perceived complicity.
Del's true motive extends beyond condolences; he seeks answers about the bearded man seen in Novick's company. Access to Pete's phone becomes his quest, but Pam's bitterness and the tale of Novick's downward spiral after his dismissal thwart his efforts.
Del's interrogation of Carl sheds light on the enigmatic figure—Bobby, a drug dealer with a penchant for local clubs. When Del confronts Bobby at the club, a frenetic chase ensues, the dealer slipping through the cracks of the city's alleyways. Bobby's desperation drives him to transform his appearance, shaving off his beard in a bid for anonymity.
Elsewhere, Isaac flees the town's grasp, boarding a train to an uncertain destiny. Lee, left with an envelope from Isaac, repays Henry for his stolen funds, her actions echoing a sense of finality. Upstairs, her conversation with Ale, filled with empathy and understanding, offers a temporary haven. Ale urges her to stay, offering financial support, as Henry's condition worsens and Isaac remains at large.
Lee's call to Billy, a confession that their kiss was a fleeting mistake, seals their distance. Amid Henry's collapse, Billy grapples with the mundane struggles of life, his football dreams a distant echo. Yet, amidst the humdrum, he finds the courage to seize a new opportunity, applying for a coaching position, a testament to the resilience amidst adversity.
That fateful evening, as the campfire danced with vibrant flames, casting a warm glow over their surroundings, Del and Grace engaged in a heartfelt conversation, delving into the reasons that had led Del to Buell. At the heart of his journey lay a monumental case, one that had acted as a catalyst, propelling him away from his old life and into the embrace of this quaint town.
Del had been entrusted with a particularly distressing matter—an eight-year-old boy, his tiny frame marred by an alarming tally of fourteen hickeys, each a testament to unspeakable abuse. The District Attorney, unwavering in their pursuit of justice, had laid charges against the boy's English teacher for assault. But as the boy stepped into the courtroom, ready to testify, he faltered. It emerged that the accused had cunningly orchestrated a ploy, bringing in his wife to unleash a torrent of tears, a display so powerful it paralyzed the young witness. Witnessing the teacher's tenderness towards his wife triggered a primal fear within the boy, causing him to involuntarily urinate in terror.
With no voice to speak the truth, the trial ground to a premature halt, justice left unfulfilled. The English teacher, unscathed by the law, continued his vile deeds, free to inflict more pain. Driven by a righteous fury, Del's fellow officers took matters into their own hands, eliminating the "monster who had escaped justice's grasp." Faced with a moral crossroads, Del could have chosen to stand aside, but he didn't. This decision, this unspoken pact, now weighed heavily on his conscience, a burden that refused to be lifted.
This profoundly illuminates Del's profound involvement in this case, especially considering its entwinement with several equally vulnerable young boys. While it certainly does not condone his concealment of crucial evidence, it hints at a yearning within him to rectify past wrongs and seek redemption.
At the precinct, the air crackled with tension as Bobby's call disrupted the stillness. His voice, laden with urgency, imparted vital information pertaining to Pete Novick's predicament. He recounted witnessing a fiery confrontation involving a twenty-one-year-old, their voices escalating into a cacophony of rage. In the heat of the moment, this enigmatic youth not only dealt Pete a brutal blow to the face but also sent Bobby crashing to the ground, unconscious. And the perpetrator of this brazen attack? None other than Billy Poe, shattering the previous assumption that it was Isaac all along. The scene, as recounted by Bobby, painted a vivid picture of a tragic encounter, where justice hung precariously in the balance.
As Bobby completes the call, driving confidently across the border and discarding his SIM card with abandon, we smoothly transition to Billy, who answers the door to Lee. The two individuals succumbito their desires, eventually finding themselves lost in a passionate embrace.
