Episode 3 of "Mare of Easttown" commences with an intense partnership between Mare and Colin, as they meticulously gather clues to unravel the mystery surrounding Erin's demise. The coroner's findings reveal a narrow window of time for the crime – between midnight and 2 AM – mercifully void of any indications of sexual assault. Yet, the myriad of bruises marring Erin's body paint a grim picture of brutal beating, while the absent digit hints ominously at a gunshot wound.
As Mare and Colin depart, their minds whirl with the pieces they've managed to put together. A chilling realization dawns on them both: Erin's murder was an elsewhere affair, meticulously staged in the woods to obfuscate the truth and derail their investigation.
Meanwhile, Johnny's arrival disrupts the tranquility of the riverbank, where he finds Kenny unconscious. Amidst a twisted smirk, Johnny boasts of slaying Dylan, leading to his inevitable summoning to the police station. There, he confesses to the deed, only to be met with a stark revelation – Dylan still lives, though his legs forever bound by paralysis. Had he not been rescued when he was, death would have been his inevitable fate.
Back at Mare's abode, tensions boil over between her and her mother, in a breathtakingly authentic display of emotions. Words collide as they argue fervently, each one struggling to be heard amidst the cacophony. Just when it seems as if the tension couldn't escalate further, Lori arrives, bearing yet another crushing blow. She verifies the whispers of the night before, painting a dire picture: Frank stands as a potential candidate for the fatherhood of Erin's unborn child.
Seething with anger, Mare storms into Frank's house, shattering the tranquility of his front room with her entrance. As she utters Erin's name, Frank is reluctantly coaxed outdoors, confronting the tempestuous accusation head-on. Incensed by the deceit, Mare accuses him of fathering Erin's child, a rumor that seems to have gained traction in the claustrophobic confines of Easttown.
Frank meets her gaze with unwavering certainty, insisting that he's never crossed the line with Erin but merely lent a supportive hand in procuring baby essentials out of pity following Kevin's tragic demise. Recognizing the gossipy nature of their hometown, he sighs at the inevitable spread of false tales.
To settle the matter once and for all, Mare takes it upon herself to seek validation from Dylan's parents, declaring her intention to conduct a DNA test—a definitive proof of innocence or guilt.
With Faye by his side, Frank enters the police station, his composure intact as he provides a formal statement, adamantly denying any involvement in Erin's demise. After submitting a DNA sample and being cleared, he departs, leaving Mare to delve deeper into the mystery within the confines of her office.
Her gaze fixated on Erin's cellphone records, Mare uncovers a intriguing detail: the last call she made on that fateful night was to Deacon Mark Burton, the pious priest of Saint Michael's Parish. Something about him strikes a chord of suspicion, particularly when he casually reveals his solitude with Erin on prior occasions. The choice of confidant at such a late hour, despite their youth club ties, appears highly peculiar. Even more alarming is Deacon's omission of this information to the authorities, though he acquiesces to hand over his phone for examination.
Outside the park's serene perimeter, Mare and Colin delved into the evidence, Mare's intuition burning bright as she insisted a bullet lay hidden nearby. Urging Colin, she implored him to summon the county's canine team, hoping their keen noses would uncover any fragments within a half-mile radius. Yet, while the dogs' noses came up empty, Mare's keen eye spotted a clue. A telltale ricochet scar etched into the building's facade led her on a trajectory hunt, ultimately revealing the bullet lodged deep within a tree's bark, explaining the dogs' oversight.
Suspects narrowed to Dylan and Kenny, the latter a known possessor of firearms and unafraid to wield them. Deacon Mark lingered as a shadowy suspect, albeit momentarily relegated to the sidelines, a decision that may prove ill-advised, given his clandestine act of tossing Erin's bicycle into the river's depths later that night.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Mare and Colin's paths converged in a dimly lit bar. Colin, his emotions raw from personal turmoil, found solace in alcohol's embrace. Confiding in Mare about his tumultuous past with his ex, he stumbled into flirtatious territory, commending her as a remarkable mother. Mare, steadfast in her commitment to professional boundaries, swiftly quashed his advances, reminding them both that business and pleasure were worlds apart. Fortunately, Colin's friends arrived, their timely intervention sparing Mare further discomfort.
Dawn's first light brought with it a sobering message from the chief. Mare's impulsive actions—confronting Carrie Laydon in a state of inebriation and planting spurious evidence—had landed her in hot water. Administrative leave and mandatory counseling were the consequences, forcing her to relinquish her badge and gun with a heavy heart. As the chief's vehicle disappeared into the distance, Mare stood alone, a stark reminder of the weighty consequences that come with blurring the lines between right and wrong.
