Ellis, portrayed by Max Martini, and Long, embodied by Guy Wilson, find themselves troubled by Bosch's increasing proximity, yet Ellis harbors a strategic scheme. Initially, they embark on a genuine police operation, stakeout at an clandestine apartment brothel, and meticulously assemble evidence. Meanwhile, outside the courthouse, Chandler implements her own devise, discreetly depositing an envelope into a mailbox.
Bosch, on the other hand, ventures into an Omega watch boutique to pursue leads on Lexi Parks' missing timepiece. The store proprietor reveals that the watch once belonged to Dr. Schubert, who had pawned it to the Nguyen brothers to satisfy his gambling debts.
Stephen Chang's character, Mo, manages to infiltrate the pharmacy system, gain access to its files and pinpoints Jade's information. Faced with the temptation to explore the file, he chooses restraint. However, on a subsequent occasion, he presents Jade (played by Jessica Camacho) with a thumb drive containing the files, liberating her from her oppressive ex.
Additionally, Maddie navigates through defensive maneuvers. After her testimony at the Dockweiler hearing, she encounters an officer representative who inquiries about her well-being, particularly her sleep and concentration. Maddie defiantly asserts her fine condition, determined to stay active in her duties. Nevertheless, her internal turmoil is evident as she emotionally unravels with Vasquez (portrayed by Denise Sanchez) and Paulina (Danielle Larracuente), who has resumed her role in the force.
Detective Duran (Angelo Pagán) rings Bosch, relaying the grim news that the Nguyens have been murdered and requesting his immediate presence at the station. With Chandler trailing behind, Bosch confronts the detectives, who paint a picture of two masked figures bolting from the crime scene, having dispatched the Nguyens and either robbed the premises or cleverly orchestrated a heist to cover their tracks. The detectives probe Bosch about his reasons for being there. Despite Chandler's vehement objections, Bosch reveals he was following up on Lexi Parks' watch, disclosing that their colleague, Harrick, had acquired it from the Nguyens. Chandler promptly terminates the interrogation, clearly displeased with Bosch's openness about the case, her primary concern being the protection of Foster.
Bosch, grappling with guilt, confides in Maddie later, sharing snippets about the murders and his internal turmoil over how much responsibility he bears for potentially guiding the killers to the Nguyens. His words carry a heavy burden of self-doubt.
Meanwhile, Ellis conducts a thorough search of Bosch's apartment, seeking any dirt he can leverage against him. His search culminates in the discovery of a photograph of Maddie, whom he recognizes as the officer who was once kidnapped. He sees this as a potential vulnerability, believing they can use her to gain leverage over Bosch.
Ellis and Long present their compelling evidence against the brothel to their superior and stake a claim to lead the operation to dismantle it. They request reinforcement, particularly from Hollywood CRU, Maddie's unit. During a strategy session with Vasquez, Ellis orchestrates a plan that pairs him with Maddie, setting the stage for an intriguing collaboration.
Chandler's package contained a subpoena summoning her to the grand jury, discreetly dispatched to Scott Anderson (Eric Ladin), the journalist who had previously engaged in conversation with Bosch concerning his testimony before the grand jury. Despite the anonymous nature of the delivery, Anderson cleverly utilized his connection with Bosch to deduce that Chandler might be the source behind the leak.
He sought her out, but she remained tight-lipped, declining to offer any insights. He revealed that he was privy to the grand jury's investigation into Russian organized crime and domestic terrorism, hinting at an impending expose the following day. When his article hit the presses, a swarm of reporters, Anderson among them, sought further clarification from Chandler. This time, she broke her silence, asserting that someone was maliciously targeting her reputation, yet vowing not to be cowed.
The repercussions of Anderson's article were swift and severe; jurors began withdrawing from the case, now privy to its sensitive nature. This presented a significant dilemma for the FBI, as their inability to reinstate these jurors threatened to unravel their entire investigation, forcing them to start anew. One could speculate that this was precisely the outcome Chandler had hoped to achieve with her scheme.
However, the ripple effects of her actions also extended to Chandler herself. Ramirez (Alex Loynaz) conferred with Rose (David Moses) about his entanglement with the FBI in the wake of the article's publication. Rose expressed his disappointment in Ramirez, yet his rebuke seemed more pointedly directed at Chandler as she happened to walk by in the hallway, catching his eye.
Maddie collaborates with Ellis as they gear up for the raid on the apartment doubling as a brothel. He establishes a connection with her, empathizing with the difficulty of witnesses testifying against their oppressors, referencing her own struggle with Dockweiler. He discusses Bosch without resorting to the vitriol directed at him by other officers, a tack that earns Maddie's trust. In a moment of openness, she lets slip that Bosch is privy to the knowledge that two masked individuals were behind the Nguyens' murder.
When the raid unfolds, the police swarm the apartment, apprehending pimps and sex workers alike. Ellis's enthusiasm gets the better of him, and he踹s one of the suspects, a scene witnessed by Maddie. After the dust settles, Ellis cautions her to keep the events confined to the raid's parameters. Maddie sums up the day as merely "educational."
Bosch's comprehension of the case deepens. A colleague of Lexi's hands him her datebook, which conveniently harbors a thumb drive containing a recording. In it, Lexi confronts the Nguyens, acknowledging her awareness of the stolen watch and threatening to initiate a formal investigation unless they share their records. Meanwhile, Bosch attempts to follow up on Dr. Schubert but comes up empty-handed.
On the Allen front, Bosch receives a text from the detectives working the case, revealing that Ellis and Long served as Allen's "guardian angels." Mo's additional intel on them reveals them as surveillance experts, convincing Bosch that they're tailing his car. Mo locates the tracker, but Bosch orders it left intact, preferring they think they're still under observation.
Bosch debriefs Chandler and Mo on the latest developments. Chandler identifies Ellis and Long as the officers who pulled her over, aligning their profiles with Bosch's suspicions. Bosch is convinced that the watch holds the master key to unraveling everything. Together with Mo, they infiltrate the Nguyens' shop in search of the records. Bosch discovers their safe, which Mo cracks with expertise. Inside lies a DVD, presumably a treasure trove of information confirming their theories.
However, Ellis and Long have had enough of Bosch slipping through their fingers. Correctly guessing that Bosch has found their tracker, they shadow him from Chandler's place. As Bosch and Mo make their way back to Bosch's residence, Ellis tailgates them ominously. Switching off his lights, he accelerates, intent on ramming their car as the episode comes to a cliffhanger.
