In the seventh episode of "Fool Me Once," the story resumes where it left us, with Maya interrogating Swain about his reasons for believing Joe killed his brother. Swain begins his account, detailing how everything unfolded after Theo Mora's arrival at Franklin Biddle Academy. Theo was a charming individual, a natural-born charmer, and an exceptional athlete, traits that Swain believes made him a target in Joe's eyes.
On that fateful day, a group of boys led by Andrew, Swain, and Joe decided to pull a prank on Theo. They lured him out of his room, promising a celebration that would include a traditional hazing. Theo went along with it for the most part, but when Joe tied him to a chair and forcibly poured a vast amount of vodka down his throat using a funnel, things took a dark turn.
As Theo's legs began to thrash violently, the other boys expressed their concern and wanted to stop. But Joe ignored their pleas and continued pouring, until finally, Theo's life slipped away. Joe then swore the boys to secrecy, and they left Theo's lifeless body behind.
Weeks later, on the yacht, the guilt began to consume Andrew, and he expressed his desire to confess. Joe assured him it would be okay, but later, Andrew ventured up to the deck while the others slept below. Joe followed shortly after, and suddenly, there was a splash, and Andrew's life was extinguished.
Swain apologizes profusely, admitting he was too scared to speak up at the time. But now, with Joe gone, he finally feels safe enough to reveal the truth.
Elsewhere, Kierce tracks down Corey in his hiding place deep within the forest. Corey attempts to flee but is quickly apprehended and brought back to the station. He's stunned to hear he's being charged with conspiracy to murder Tommy Dark and concealing a dead body. Corey vehemently denies these accusations and requests a private conversation with Kierce. He comes clean about his investigation into Burkett's Global and their tainted pharmaceutical drugs, revealing a dark truth that may finally bring justice to those who deserve it.
As Corey delves deeper into his revelations, Kierce's realization dawns with a shudder. The drugs he'd consumed like candy had been the culprit behind his baffling symptoms. His trust in that company might cost him his life. Suddenly, it hits him that Nicole, the apparition he'd been seeing, was merely a hallucination. She was, in fact, his beloved fiancée, now deceased, and he's overcome with guilt for being off-duty when she perished. With a heavy heart, he bids farewell to her phantom form, unaware that Mart, watching from the sidelines, notices his odd conversation with himself and rushes to check on him.
Mart's grim news jolts Kierce out of his reverie: they're hot on PJ's trail. Meanwhile, Shane's phone rings, interrupting the tense silence. It's Maya, her voice urgent. She informs him that the police are aware of his involvement in testing the bullet for her. But what shocks him even more is her revelation that the same gun was used to kill Joe and Claire. Maya pleads with him to trust her and promises to visit him soon.
Not long after, Maya arrives at Shane's doorstep, her face etched with sorrow. She recounts the tragic incident in the army, where her decision to switch off Shane's communications and launch a missile at an approaching van led to the deaths of innocent civilians. Maya had been instructed to stand by and await confirmation, but with her team already injured, she took a gamble that cost lives. Her guilt is palpable, and Shane is stunned. He had assumed they had authorization to take down the vehicle.
After a moment of silence, Maya excuses herself, claiming she needs to use the restroom. But as soon as she's out of sight, she springs into action, alerted that Izabella's brother, Luca, is on the move. The drama unfolds, leaving both Kierce and Shane on edge, unsure of what dangers lie ahead.
She decimates her SIM card with determination, purchases a disposable phone, and secures a hat, all in an effort to evade recognition. With trepidation in her voice, she contacts Eddie on the burner phone and requests a meeting. Eddie is perplexed by her unusual conduct, and she confides that she is being pursued by unknown assailants. She presses on, revealing that her primary objective is to uncover the truth behind Claire's murder.
They embark on a journey to Lily's school, where she authorizes Eddie to retrieve Lily later in the day. She further implores him to keep a discreet watch over Lily for a brief period. Before departing, she persuades Eddie to swap vehicles for added security.
Meanwhile, our detectives receive a crucial tip about PJ's whereabouts and race to intercept him before he escapes. However, PJ spies them and flees, dashing towards the rooftop. Despite his illness, Kierce pursues him resolutely, cornering him on one of the precarious roofs.
PJ, terrified of falling, grasps desperately at a chimney for support. Kierce joins him on the roof, determined to extract the truth about Joe's demise. PJ confesses to being in the park but vehemently denies committing the murder. He reveals that he was there with his accomplice Rambo, intent on stealing handbags and phones.
That fateful night, Rambo witnessed the fatal attack on Joe and ran towards them in panic. PJ and Rambo fled the scene hastily, but PJ sustained a minor accident. He called his father, Phil, for assistance, but Phil advised him to remain silent about what he had seen.
As their conversation continues, Kierce begins to feel increasingly dizzy and struggles to maintain consciousness. PJ, alarmed, attempts to steady him but accidentally stumbles and falls. Fortunately, he survives the fall, but Kierce realizes that his health is unfit for duty and is suspended pending a thorough investigation.
Marty is consumed by guilt, realizing he failed to report Kierce's actions. Desperately, he attempts to bid Kierce farewell, hoping to atone for his silence. Kierce, however, remains elusive, withholding any mention of Rambo and fabricating a story about PJ's silence. He confesses to Marty the medications plaguing his body, expressing doubts that he can still be saved.
Instead of returning home, Kierce embarks on a hunt for Rambo, cornering him in a secluded toilet. His tone is steely, threatening to bring Rambo to justice and demanding answers about his involvement in Joe's murder.
Meanwhile, Maya's pursuit leads her to Izabella and Luca, who are held hostage by her pistol. Among their belongings, she discovers Joe's clothing, and the pair confess to their ruse. Luca wore Joe's attire, and they cleverly manipulated footage from their wedding video to create a false narrative. Maya is stunned, her mind reeling from the revelation that they were acting under Judith's orders. Judith believed she had killed Joe and wanted Maya to descend into madness, making a fatal mistake.
With a cold resolve, Maya orders Izabella and Luca into the back of Luca's truck. Suddenly, Shane's voice cuts through the silence, calling out her name. He demands an explanation, and Maya shatters the silence with a stunning confession. She admits, without hesitation, that she killed Joe after discovering his true identity.
