The third episode of Season 7 of "FBI" opens with a poignant scene of two brothers, strolling side by side. The elder sibling hands over some money to his younger counterpart, entrusting him with the task of procuring lunch. While awaiting his brother's return outside the restaurant, the younger brother finds himself unable to resist the urge to flirt with an alluring young lady. Suddenly, a deafening explosion rips through the air, and the restaurant is engulfed in a towering inferno.
Meanwhile, Jubal's son confides in him a surprising revelation: he is contemplating attendance at Georgetown University, with the ultimate goal of becoming an FBI agent. Jubal, initially taken aback, is swiftly overtaken by a sense of pride. Elsewhere, OA and Clay converge for breakfast, where Clay enthusiastically pitches OA for a role in the private sector, specifically with Pyramid Security Group. OA, intrigued by Clay's line of work and the individuals under surveillance, initially entertains the idea but ultimately declines.
Later, OA and Maggie converge at the bombing site, where Maggie delivers grim news: the bomb has claimed six lives, and a young boy is clinging to life in the hospital. It transpires that the restaurant owner was a revered figure in the community, but beneath his heroic exterior, he ran an illegal gambling operation. The bomb expert confirms that a dirty bomb was used to destroy the premise. As the investigation deepens, they uncover a black book, but it is protected by a complex encryption. Ian traces a connection between the injured boy's elder brother and the gambling ring.
Maggie and OA visit Hugo in the hospital, reassuring him that he is not in any trouble. Hugo, who has been gambling to supplement his income and care for his brother Harvey after their parents' demise, leads them to a crypto expert who can decipher the black book.
Scola and his new partner, Chris, confront Spencer, who attempts to flee. Spencer insists that he did not authorize the hit and vows to clear his debts, explaining that even with the restaurant owner deceased, the muscle behind the operation is still active. He implicates the Latin Kings as the masterminds behind the gambling ring. Jubal brings in a representative from the Gang Unit to provide further insight, who warns of an escalating gang war. As they converse, another bomb detonates at a rival gang's stronghold, signaling the Latin Kings' retaliatory strike.
As the death toll escalates, the case ignites into a crisis of unparalleled proportions, leaving Isobel deeply concerned that the gang warfare may spiral into chaos beyond anyone's control. Her phone buzzes incessantly with calls from the Mayor and the Congresswoman, both urging an immediate resolution before more lives are lost. In response, the FBI springs into action, consulting with their Confidential Informants (CIs) to uncover vital leads.
Maggie converges with one such CI, Hector, in a dimly lit local bar, the ambiance heavy with anticipation. Meanwhile, OA engages in conversation with the bar's proprietor, who casually mentions developers eyeing the establishment for acquisition. Hector confides in Maggie, revealing that the Latin King gang was not behind the orchestrated attack. As their discourse unfolds, Maggie's sharp eyes detect a sinister figure planting a bomb within the bar's confines. The man bolts out, securing the door with a chilling finality.
Maggie and OA, realizing the imminent danger, act swiftly, utilizing a nearby window as an escape route to evacuate the patrons. Death's shadow looms close, but miraculously, they narrowly escape the explosion's fiery fury.
Relying on Maggie's vivid description, Ian delves into security footage, swiftly identifying the bomber as Landry, a former army demolitions expert whose skills now serve a darker purpose. Scola and Chris embark on a manhunt, eventually cornering Landry and placing him under arrest, discovering cash in his possession during the apprehension.
OA and Maggie confront Landry, who, cloaked in deceit, barters for a deal with falsehoods. However, Ian's proficient sleuthing through Landry's phone unearths the truth: Landry was hired by an anonymous figure online, leveraging a gaming app developed by Pyramid Security. The device, specially designed for clandestine dark web communications, poses a formidable challenge. Ian asserts that only the app's creator can uncover the user's identity.
OA orchestrates a meeting with Clay, aiming to leverage reasoning and persuasion. Clay, however, stonewalls, denying the app's existence but reluctantly providing OA with crucial data, while steadfastly insisting on his detachment from the affair. OA presents this intelligence to the team, framing it as an anonymous tip, to which Maggie voices skepticism, cautioning OA against off-the-books dealings with Clay. She urges him to convert Clay into a CI, ensuring they have a direct line to the potentially incriminating information.
The information ties the attack intricately to the residence of Fernando Perez, a prominent figure in real estate circles and a close confidant of the mayor. Perez had embarked on an ambitious gentrification project in the area, but encountered resistance from certain landowners who refused to sell their properties to him. The investigative team suspects that Fernando, driven by a desire for revenge and financial loss totaling millions, deliberately targeted the businesses that stood in his way.
Approaching Fernando with caution, the team decided to tread softly and pretend to update him on the case's progress. They were convinced that Fernando, known for his meticulous control over every facet of his business, was well-aware of the bombing. The subsequent meeting unveiled another suspect: Fernando's son, Junior.
Meanwhile, Ian, leveraging Landry's phone, attempted to extort additional funds from the shadowy figure. As the suspect agreed to another transaction but altered the drop location, it became unmistakably clear that Junior was the one behind the extortion. The team swiftly moved in, arresting Junior, prompting Fernando and his legal team to rush in to clarify what they deemed a "misunderstanding."
Concurrently, Hugo visited the FBI offices to confer with Maggie, only to eavesdrop on conversations about Junior's arrest, causing him to panic. He feared that Junior's affluent father might manipulate the justice system to secure his son's freedom. Maggie reassured him, pledging to uphold justice. However, Hugo omitted mentioning that his brother had recently passed away at the hospital.
During Junior's interrogation, the FBI sought to coerce a confession, hinting that his father orchestrated the bombings. Based on the BAU's profile, the perpetrator was someone grappling with feelings of powerlessness. Junior remained defiant until Isobel and Jubal employed a different tactic, leveraging Fernando's harsh words towards his son to pierce his armor.
Fernando's derogatory remarks about not trusting his son to assist him in anything stirred Junior to reveal the truth. He admitted to planting the bombs, driven by a desperate need to earn his father's respect and tired of being labeled incompetent. Fernando, horrified by the pain his son had inflicted, dismissed his legal team and refused to shield him. He arranged a press conference outside the police station to publicly apologize to the affected community.
On a somber note, Maggie received news of Harvey's demise, three hours prior. Questioning Hugo's silence on the matter, she sensed that Hugo harbored darker intentions. Alarmingly, she spotted Hugo amidst the press contingent and watched helplessly as he shot Fernando before she could intervene. Fortunately, Maggie managed to persuade Hugo to stand down and surrender.
The episode concludes with OA and Clay reuniting, with OA having already revealed the truth to Isobel. He officially enlisted Clay as his confidential informant, as the FBI plotted to use an underground app discreetly to monitor dark web activities posing a threat to public safety.
