Episode 2 of "Countdown" unfolds in Belarus, the year 2008, where Borys Volchek, an electronics enthusiast employed at the Defence Ministry, finds himself engrossed in mending his brother's malfunctioning toaster. Just as he's about to triumph over the faulty appliance, Anton bursts in, his face bearing the marks of a recent altercation. He reveals he was brutalized after aligning with a questionable American figure.
Meanwhile, the automobile Blythe witnessed departing stands abandoned, drawing the team's attention to stake out the vehicle and investigate every individual who was at the pier that fateful night. Blythe assigns Mark the role of Oliveras's protector, while she herself reaches out to Javi Lopez, her contact within the Reyes Nuevos, to inquire about the arms deal. Her expectations aren't high, and her displeasure at their company's involvement is palpable.
LA District Attorney Valwell expresses his desire to be part of the investigation, but Blythe refuses him outright. She knows Valwell's true intentions: to make a high-profile arrest that could propel him to the position of Attorney General, and eventually, Governor. Valwell's flattery towards Bell's father, a mutual acquaintance, only confirms her suspicions.
Mark's headache intensifies, adding to Oliveras's concern that his discomfort might jeopardize their undercover operation. Their differing approaches to improvisation versus sticking to a script don't ease the tension. However, none of this matters when Lopez immediately draws a gun on Mark upon their arrival. A swift fingerprint check reveals Mark's alias from his prison days, which Lopez readily believes.
In the year 2008, Anton found himself in desperate straits, appealing to Borys for assistance. He had accepted illicit funds from a corrupt supervisor named Dennis but had failed to deliver the promised intelligence. Consequently, Anton's life was now shadowed by ominous death threats. Leveraging Borys's employment status, Dennis extracted a grim demand: sensitive information in exchange for clearing Anton's debt.
Cut to the present, Oliveras and Mark shared with the task force that Lopez had granted them a trial run across the border. Crossing into Mexico was a cinch, yet even Finau couldn't overlook Mark's growing headaches. Amidst an unforeseen bribe and a painful hand injury, the task force secured the contraband and embarked on their return journey to the USA. The truck breezed through Mexican checks but hit a roadblock on US soil. Disaster struck when the vigilant US guard spotted Finau's bandaged hand and ran the truck's plates, raising suspicions.
Plan B swung into action with Blythe's strategic report of Mark's supposedly "stolen" car. Oliveras seized the moment, arresting Mark and drawing all law enforcement personnel to the scene. Bell cleverly deployed his badge, sending the US guard on a false errand, thus facilitating Finau's stealthy escape.
Back in 2008, Borys narrowly evaded capture but managed to extract crucial emails from his boss for Dennis. As he returned home, he was dismayed to find his brother drowning in alcohol. Anton, in a spiral of self-pity, offered a heartfelt apology, which Borys, though frustrated, chose to forgive.
Returning to the present narrative, the task force uncovered a staggering 50 million worth of heroin concealed in the truck. Blythe issued orders to turn it over to Lopez in exchange for intel on an arms deal. Oliveras was dismayed by their complicity in turning a blind eye to such nefarious activities. Mark recounted a vivid tale from his rookie days when he stood firm against dropping an assault case despite it clashing with a higher-profile investigation. Though punished, he harbored no regrets.
He reassured Oliveras of his unwavering support should she devise a way to thwart Lopez and procure the intelligence. However, Oliveras settled for a single kilo of heroin, intending to dispose of it, reasoning that at least one potential victim would be spared from its devastating effects.
Valwell reemerges, shedding light on a border dispute that has stirred up quite a commotion. He generously offers to assist Blythe in erasing his footsteps from the scenario, but the agent promptly declines his offer once more.
In the year 2008, Anton takes his own life, overwhelmed with guilt for entangling Borys in his web of woes. Heartbroken and furious, Borys hands over a trove of data to Dennis, issuing a stern command to never reach out to him again. Dennis pores over the emails, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. As he flips the switch on his toaster, it erupts in a fiery blast, all the while Borys watches from a distance, unnoticed.
The climactic scene of Countdown Episode 2 unfolds as Oliveras and Mark deliver the truck to Lopez. Just as the driver ignites the engine of his car, it explodes in a ball of flames. Mark swiftly accuses the seller of orchestrating the attack and demands to know their name. In his dying breaths, Lopez utters the name Volchek.
