Episode 3 of "Dope Thief" unfolds two days after the heist, shrouded in the aftermath of chaos. Ray, driven by desperation, searches high and low for Manny, whose trail has gone cold as if he's been erased from existence. Ray's mind races with the grim options facing him: flight, death, or a relapse into his old ways. One thing is unequivocally clear—Son won't lift a finger to assist.
Undeterred and steadfast in his resolve, Ray vows to uncover Manny's fate. A breakthrough comes in the form of Malik, a pawnbroker who harbors valuable information. Manny had indeed visited Malik the previous day, but the pawnbroker remains tight-lipped about his whereabouts or what treasures he parted with. Ray's investigative prowess uncovers that Manny had acquired an engagement ring for Sherry, which Ray discovers hidden under a drawer, taped securely in place at his residence.
However, the bikers, loyal enforcers of a powerful drug lord, soon descend upon Ray's world. They also seek Malik for answers, resorting to brutal tactics to extract information from him.
Meanwhile, at Jack's funeral, the authorities pay homage to the fallen decorated officer, whose absence is deeply felt within the law enforcement community. Jack's partnership with Mina in an undercover operation comes to light, revealing that the major drug traffickers operate under the moniker "The Alliance."
DEA agents, closing in on the perpetrators, uncover the van's old license plates and the gun,丢弃在河中, leading them to Ray's neighborhood. The gun is traced back to a youth named Jerome.
Returning to his home, Ray finds Manny, alive and kicking, having broken into his apartment and taken refuge upstairs. Adding to Ray's turmoil, his mother, returning from Atlantic City worried sick, informs him that his father, Bart, has been stabbed and is hospitalized in the prison infirmary. With a heavy heart, Ray chauffeurs his anxious mother to the prison facility.
Michelle escorts Ray to the nearby watering hole, where she endeavors to persuade him to confront Bart. Yet, their situation is perilous. A gang of bikers arrives on the scene and encircles him. Fortunately, two officers rising from their table, ready to depart, provide Ray with the perfect cover. Escaping unscathed, he departs with Michelle for the prison.
Ray visits Bart, who is enraged by the stab wound inflicted upon him due to Ray's actions. There is no affection between them, and Ray is acutely aware that stepping outside the prison gates means facing his doom.
Indeed, as Ray exits the prison, he is promptly engulfed by the bikers. However, the timely intervention of the Philly PD saves him, as they apprehend the bikers. Ray is astounded by this turn of events, while DEA agents, armed with Jerome's tip, create a detailed composite sketch of Manny. Mina promptly identifies him.
At home, a fiery confrontation ensues between Sherry and Manny, with the former furious about the destroyed car. However, Ray diverts the tension by presenting Manny with the engagement ring, smoothing over the situation.
That night, outside Manny's residence, he discovers a box adorned with a chilling note: "Deliver our property, or more lives will be lost." It's an unequivocal threat. Inside the box lies Malik's head, a grim reminder of the stakes involved.
