In the third episode of "Fool Me Once," Maya embarks on a probing investigation into Detective Kierce, sparked by Caroline's bombshell revelation that he's been on Burkett's payroll. Deeply concerned, she approaches Judith to discuss Caroline's fragile mental state, expressing her worries. Judith reveals that Caroline's hypersensitivity is the reason she was barred from viewing Joe's lifeless body.
As Maya inquiries about Kierce, Judith categorically denies any involvement, but their conversation is abruptly cut short by Neil's arrival. Neil angrily asks Maya to leave, accusing her of hurting his mother with her insensitive inquiries, and flatly denies paying the detective.
Meanwhile, Kierce makes his way to the hospital for his initial round of tests, his mind clouded with thoughts of the case. Elsewhere, Alexa and Dan embark on their own investigation, delving into their mother's past relationship with Alexander. Dan believes Alexander left a note and a bouquet on their mother's grave, and they soon track him down to discover he's recently returned to the town and works for a prominent tech company.
Their hearts heavy with suspicion, they fear Alexander may have been involved in their mother's death but are hesitant about involving the police or their father. Eddie's already fragile state and the police's likely insufficiency in their evidence make them reluctant to take the matter to the authorities. Instead, they decide to take a page from Sherlock Holmes and conduct their own investigation.
After his hospital visit, Kierce and Marty resume their investigation, determined to unearth the truth. They scour for CCTV footage from the park's perimeter and stumble upon a tantalizing connection between Claire and Joe's murders. Eddie emerges as a key suspect, and they set out to secure his alibi for the night Joe was killed.
Kierce, fearing a repeat of his blackouts, asks Marty to take the wheel as they make their way to confront Eddie. Eddie claims he was at the gym on the fateful night, but Kierce and Marty are far from convinced, sensing a web of lies beneath his smooth facade. They vow to dig deeper and unravel the truth, no matter the cost.
As for our heroine Maya, she made her way to Eva, eager to share her latest discovery - the burner phone. But to her disappointment, the phone revealed nothing but a series of calls back and forth from an arcade club. As they delved deeper into the mystery, Maya realized that these calls had taken place prior to the arcade's opening hours. Determined to unravel the truth, she resolved to return before the arcade opened its doors and observe.
Loitering outside, Maya's eagle eyes spotted the red car that had been shadowing her. Quickly and discreetly, she managed to attach a tracker to the vehicle, only to be interrupted by curious staff members who soon sent her away.
With her heart racing, Maya hid and waited patiently for the owner of the car to emerge. She followed the car cautiously, but unfortunately, she lost them on the busy highway. Dejected but not defeated, she headed back to work and enlisted the help of Shane, asking him to keep tabs on the suspicious car.
As she poured her heart out to Shane about Caroline's allegations, Maya begged him to investigate Kierce for her. Shane, ever loyal, promised to do his best. But during her flight lesson, a frantic call from Shane shattered the serene sky. He had lost track of the car in the dense woods.
Maya's heart skipped a beat. Realizing that the location was not far from her, she seized the opportunity and used the helicopter to track the car. She followed it deeper and deeper into the woods, the helicopter's blades whipping through the air. As she lost sight of the car, she landed the aircraft in a clearing, her student looking on in amazement.
But Maya had no time to explain. She was determined to confront her stalker once and for all. As she ventured into the woods, two menacing figures suddenly appeared, blocking her path. A tense altercation was about to erupt, but at that moment, Corey materialized like a guardian angel. He stepped in and offered to talk to Maya instead.
Leading her to his hidden sanctuary, Corey and Maya sat down to talk about Claire. Maya's anger boiled over as she blamed Corey for ruining her life and demanded to know his connection to her sister. Corey revealed that Claire had contacted him in an attempt to protect Maya. She had begged him not to reveal the full contents of the audio, and in exchange, she had given him valuable information about Burkett Global.
Maya's heart broke as she blamed Corey for Claire's death. But Corey shook his head, insisting that the Burkett family was to blame. He claimed that Joe and Claire had been working together and that their mysterious deaths were the result of stumbling upon a devastating secret. As Maya listened, her mind whirled with new questions and suspicions, realizing that the truth about her sister's death was far more complex than she had ever imagined.
Corey confides in Maya, disclosing that shortly before her demise, Claire contacted him, disclosing a startling revelation. For a staggering 26 years, the Burketts have been secretly compensating a man named Tommy Dark. Tommy, it turns out, operates a security firm catering to shipping companies. Corey further reveals that Joe, in his final days, sought a personal meeting with him, a meeting that was tragically cut short by Joe's untimely death.
Maya, left in a state of confusion and disbelief, decides to take matters into her own hands. Her investigation begins with a visit to Tommy's corporate offices, but he remains elusive. Instead, she encounters a secretary who abruptly resigns, entrusting Maya with a message for Tommy. The secretary's parting words reveal that Claire, too, had made an attempt to meet Tommy but was similarly unsuccessful.
Maya's perseverance leads her to Tommy's residence, where his wife informs her that he is currently away. When Maya inquiries about the mysterious payments, the wife offers little insight. Undeterred, Maya leaves her contact information, hoping for a lead.
However, Maya's investigation takes a detour when she arrives late for her shooting range appointment, her mood darkened by the unresolved mystery. Shane, noting her distracted state, probes for details, and Maya confides in him about her suspicions surrounding Tommy and Andrew. She pleads with Shane to delve deeper into any potential connection between the two.
Meanwhile, in a different part of the city, Shane embarks on his own investigation, tracking Kierce to his favorite food truck. Their casual conversation quickly turns serious as Shane delicately broaches the case. Kierce, however, is quick to sense Shane's intentions and reveals a startling tidbit - Maya's mental state is fragile, and she's been hallucinating about her deceased husband.
Elsewhere, after a grueling football practice, Alexa and Dan make an unexpected visit to Alexander's workplace. He recognizes them immediately and promises to speak with them later at his home, urging them to leave for the moment. Later, they return to his residence, with Dan staying outside as a lookout while Alexa ventures inside.
At the police precinct, Marty embarked on an investigation into Kierce's mysterious accident. Together, the detectives unearthed a promising clue after combing through surveillance footage captured near the park. To their surprise, they spied the bicycles Maya had alluded to and traced one of them back to its owner—Phil, the football coach.
Meanwhile, a separate drama unfolded as Caroline tailed her mother into a concealed chamber in their home, where she stumbled across Joe's clothing—the exact attire Maya had witnessed him wearing on the nanny cam footage.
Elsewhere, Maya returned home and prepared Lily for bedtime. After checking Corey's website, she finally drifted off to sleep. However, her slumber was interrupted by the piercing sound of Lily's cries. She bolted upright, her heart pounding, and rushed to the child's bedroom. But Lily was nowhere to be found on her bed. Panicked, Maya reached for a concealed Glock from her extensive gun collection. The question lingered—why had she concealed the truth about her arsenal?
