In the fourth episode of "Dark Winds," we are finally enlightened about the backgrounds of Benjamin Tso and his newly named companion, Frank Nakai, both members of the Buffalo Society—a mercenary group dedicated to battling against "white" capitalism and exploitation on behalf of Native Americans. Five months prior to the heist, Tso and Nakai paid a visit to BJ Vines, the landowner who had acquired the property following the drilling mishap, issuing him a stern warning to desist from his actions. Yet, in a cruel twist of fate, they were, in a metaphorical sense, "owned" by BJ, given that they were intrinsically tied to the land he possessed.
A mesmerizing montage unfolds, depicting the meticulously orchestrated heist. Tso emerges as the brains behind the operation, coldly executing the pilot donning the iconic 'white helmet' (a character we first encountered in the premiere episode). With Ada's assistance, the group discreetly gets rid of the helicopter. Meanwhile, Raymond meets his untimely death at the hands of Tso and Nakai after he attempts to inform Leaphorn about the artifacts discovered on the deceased body.
Elsewhere, a young child, who assists Bernadette in caring for her horses, stumbles upon the white helmet at the local market, having been sold by a woman vendor. Leaphorn refuses to take up Emma's offer to place Sally permanently in their home, instead favoring the Gallup shelter as a more suitable placement for her. Meanwhile, Chee is privy to Nakai's involvement but remains tight-lipped about it to Leaphorn at the station, prioritizing his self-serving goal of cracking the heist case to secure a promotion within the FBI.
Leaphorn and Chee unearth a startling revelation: Wanda, contrary to the previous episode's recap, is not deceased but rather in a deep coma. They promptly set out to confront Tso regarding his grandfather's demise, the encounter charged with undercurrents of tension. Leaphorn deftly uncovers Tso's deceit, catching him in a lie about not having a prior sibling. Tso reluctantly admits that his brother, notorious for his wild antics, once torched the local chapel—a fact Leaphorn was already privy to.
Driven by curiosity, the duo ventures to the chapel, seeking clarity from Sister Doris, who provides them with records spanning the past year. To their astonishment, they uncover that Benjamin is in fact James, his identical twin, who assumed Benjamin's identity as a cloak of invisibility. Leaphorn, thrilled by this breakthrough, extends an invitation to Chee for dinner.
Despite Joe's reservations, Emma insists on inviting Sally to their home. Meanwhile, James schemes with Nakai to eliminate both Joe and Chee during their impending arrest. Their sinister plot also entails a rendezvous with their moustachioed accomplice nearby.
Chee meets with Whitover to unveil the intricacies of the case. Nakai's past catches up with him, having been apprehended for another heist some time ago. Chee proposes a strategy: he and Joe will apprehend Nakai and James, and Whitover will step in with a federal warrant, ensuring the federal case takes precedence over Joe's potential murder charges.
The evening unfolds pleasantly at dinner, with Chee, Leaphorn, and Emma enjoying each other's company. However, the harmonious ambiance shatters when Emma brings up inviting Sally, sparking a heated argument between the two women. Chee storms out, followed shortly by Emma. In a separate development, James steals Taco, Bernadette's cherished horse. Bernadette, noticing a small boy in a white helmet, launches an investigation and discovers Raymond's shoes aboard a floating boat in the nearby water body, adding another layer of intrigue to the already complex narrative.
Chee and Joe finally arrive at the designated house, only to find Nakai positioning himself strategically atop the hills, commanding an unobstructed view of the surroundings. Soon, a fierce confrontation erupts among the quartet. On the brink of peril, Chee and Joe narrowly escape Nakai's deadly assault, their lives spared solely by Bernadette's timely intervention. Still waist-deep in the water, she swiftly fires at Nakai, neutralizing him and placing him under arrest, while James manages to slip away into the night.
To Joe and Bernadette's astonishment, Nakai immediately recognizes Chee, a revelation that leaves both feeling betrayed. Chee had deceived Bernadette by posing as an FBI agent and misled Joe about his prior acquaintance with Nakai. Meanwhile, the moustached man, convinced that Nakai and James had deliberately evaded him, heads to BJ's residence with a proposition. He barters the location of James and the stolen money, presumably his rightful share from the heist, in exchange for cash. His nervous demeanor earlier, stemming from James's repeated changes to the plan and his failure to receive his cut, becomes all too clear.
Joe, discharged from the hospital, steps outside just as Chee arrives in his impeccable black suit, donning the guise of an agent to seize control of the case and potentially undermine Joe's painstaking efforts. Chee's personal stakes in this saga have been evident from the outset, fueled by Anna's involvement. He feels an obligation to the community – to her parents and elders – to unravel the murder mystery and ensure justice prevails. By infiltrating their midst, using Joe, and positioning himself for a career advancement, Chee's true intentions were laid bare. His feigned concern for the murder case and for Joe and Bernadette only deepens their anger. For Chee, the heist was the ultimate prize, and everything else was merely a pawn in his grand scheme.
