In Eric's Episode 3, the scene unfolds with Edgar's belongings strewn across the ground, a stark reminder of some unknown commotion. Meanwhile, George walks free, unburdened by any charges. Cassie, deeply troubled, meets with Vincent's mother, who urgently requests her assistance in calling a doctor for her husband. However, Cassie's mind remains fixated on Edgar's welfare.
Vincent attends a lively party thrown for Jerry, where he encounters Richard Costello, a man he holds in contempt for his hypocritical displays of concern for the impoverished while secretly orchestrating the eviction of homeless individuals from the city. Costello, unaffected by Vincent's acerbic remarks, introduces him to his wealthy brother-in-law, Bruno Di Bari, who made his fortune in the Hudson sanitation industry.
As Vincent prepares to leave the party, he is intercepted by Michael, who escorts him to the police station and places him under arrest. Upon hearing the news, Cassie rushes to the station, where she unexpectedly encounters Cecile, Marlon's mother. Michael shows Vincent CCTV footage of him exiting the house and shouting angrily after Edgar.
During the interrogation, Vincent's comments to Eric strike an unfavorable chord with Michael. Under pressure, Vincent eventually confesses that he followed Edgar and grabbed the front of his t-shirt in a fit of anger. Somewhere along the way, Edgar sustained a head injury, tore off his shirt, and hurled it at Vincent. Vincent then used the shirt to wipe the blood from his head. Edgar turned and walked away, leaving Vincent to assume he had gone to school.
Michael informs Cassie that he witnessed a mysterious man entering their apartment building after Vincent's departure and later exiting with her. Cassie insists that the man was merely a friend, but the encounter adds yet another layer of complexity to the already tangled web of events.Costello sat engrossed in a TV program detailing his ambitious initiative to relocate homeless individuals. The reporter's voice echoed through the room, stating that his project had garnered the backing of the Hudson Sanitation Company, the organization awarded the esteemed contract for the cleanup of New York's intricate tunnel system earlier in the year. Costello turned to Bruno, his voice tinged with finality, announcing that this would be their last collaboration. Bruno, however, responded with a subtle hint of obligation, implying that it was Costello who owed him, not the other way around.
Michael, on the other hand, offered to chauffeur Cecile home from the bustling station, where she had been patiently waiting throughout the day. She shot him a reproachful look, urging him to focus on his missing cases rather than indulge in trivial favors. She believed he had given up on the search for Marlon, arguing that he deserved to be found as much as Edgar.
Cassie approached Lennie with a serious question, inquiring if he thought Vincent capable of murdering Edgar. Lennie shook his head, acknowledging Vincent's eccentricities but dismissing them as insufficient motivation for such a crime. Cassie then revealed a bombshell of her own, revealing that she had met someone new and would not continue to live with Vincent without Edgar's presence.
As the night drew in, Lennie discreetly summoned one of the men from The Lux for a late-night encounter. Meanwhile, William implored Michael not to abandon the search for the missing boys. He had escaped from "that place" and was now determined to make a difference.
When Michael finally obtained footage showing Edgar heading to school and Vincent heading to work in opposite directions, they were finally able to exonerate Vincent. Michael's investigation was far from over, as he was determined to connect the dots surrounding the disappearances of Edgar and Marlon. He was eager to revisit the Sierra raid and delve deeper into The Lux. Despite Cripp's repeated warnings against further exploration, Michael persisted, even interrogating Nokes about the mysterious figure known as "8." Nokes, however, remained tight-lipped, claiming only Kennedy held the key to that puzzle.Later on, Cassie humbly apologized to George and expressed her keen desire to view Edgar's drawings. With a heavy heart, she ventured towards Sebastian, who had transformed his van into a makeshift food kitchen, offering sustenance to those in need. Sebastian offered her solace, reassuring her that Edgar was still alive, somewhere out there in the vast unknown.
Little did anyone know that, deep within the shadowy tunnels, a young boy resembling Edgar was suddenly thrown a rope, his life hanging in the balance. It was Yuusuf who had thrown the lifeline, and now, with cautious hands, he gently guided Edgar into a dimly lit room, warning him to remain motionless.
Raya, a firebrand in her own right, confronted Yuusuf, insisting that since they had discovered the boy together, she deserved her share of the spoils. Her greedy eyes were set on selling Edgar to TJ at the Lux, but Yuusuf staunchly disagreed, his moral compass steering him towards a different path.
Meanwhile, Vincent strides confidently into the pitch meeting, his puppet in tow. He presents Eric as a terrifying monster, yet also a reflection of everyone's inner complexities - embodying our best and worst qualities alike. As he unveils the puppet, Eric speaks candidly about his profound loneliness, a sentiment that is swiftly countered by the surrounding puppets offering him words of comfort. Jerry seems particularly taken with the pitch, but it's clear that Eric alone holds his true interest. He whispers urgently to Lennie, warning that Vincent is a potential liability and that he must either take action or Jerry will do it for him.
Later, Michael and Tina find themselves at a dinner with Cripp and his wife Lorenza, whose intentions as matchmakers are all too apparent. The evening turns romantic as the pair embrace in the car, but Michael pulls away, stopping their passion from escalating further. Instead, he queries Tina about Nokes' wife Dana, and she offers to arrange a meeting between them.
The detective's investigation continues as he interrogates the patrons of the Lux, searching for any sightings of Marlon. But his inquiries meet with silence, and Gator's anger boils over. Michael remains unfazed, challenging Gator's apparent softening in prison, reminding him that life moves on regardless. This resonates deeply with Gator, who issues a stern warning to TJ that any further provocation will lead to trouble.
Meanwhile, the festivities at the Lux continue unabated, with Vincent partying without a care in the world. Fully convinced that Eric's upcoming TV appearance will secure his son's freedom, he revels in the moment. But unknown to him, a fateful discovery is made elsewhere. A cleaner at the NYPD accidentally knocks over a stack of files, revealing a shocking secret - Lennie has a criminal record.
