Episode 4 of Rabbit Hole plunges us back into the murky depths of Arda Analytics, mere moments before Xander's shocking demise. It transpires that his fate was not a suicide, as we had initially believed. Instead, a shadowy figure, disguised as a harmless delivery boy, the Intern, sneaked up behind him, delivering a brutal blow to his neck. With a chilling admonishment of "you only had one job," he shoved Xander off the balcony, sending him plummeting to his doom.
Meanwhile, on the streets, a volatile cocktail of conflict and distrust is brewing, ignited by a firebrand podcaster. He rails against the rich and powerful, accusing them of scheming against the common folk, manipulating them for their own gain. His incendiary words spark a revolt, and as tempers flare and violence erupts, we flashback 24 hours.
John Weir awakens from another nightmarish slumber to find Haley standing over him, joking about their numerous hideouts. The trio quickly sets aside levity and delves into the matter with grim determination. Valence's obsession with NFTs is puzzling, given his apparent disdain for art. John senses a deeper mystery lurking beneath the surface. Ben, watching his son closely, worries that he's suffering from the aftereffects of PTSD.
As they deliberate, a disembodied voice floats through the vents, revealing itself as Edward Homm. He holds crucial knowledge about the NFTs but remains silent, insisting he must speak to his wife first to assure her of his safety. Ben and John initially refuse, but when Homm mentions emails linked to a mysterious figure named Elliot Gao, they relent. They hack into the cameras, granting Homm a fleeting glimpse of his beloved wife at home.
It soon becomes apparent that Elliot Gao is not just any billionaire; he's a high-end money launderer, catering to the elite of the elite. The NFTs serve as a clandestine conduit for his illicit financial dealings. Gao stands at the center of this web, orchestrating complex schemes to funnel dirty money through seemingly legitimate channels. Edward's knowledge is dangerously extensive, perhaps explaining why Crowley wants him silenced.
The news of Xander's demise rippled through the media, reaching even John Weir and the others who were glued to the broadcast. Seizing the opportunity, John devised a cunning plan to leverage Special Agent Jo Madi and her investigation to coerce Gao into spilling his secrets. Haley, who was also caught in the federal radar, was a pivotal part of his scheme.
John coached Haley thoroughly, emphasizing the importance of projecting unwavering confidence, avoiding stalling, and crafting a credible narrative. He casually mentioned that people would "notice her," a subtle comment alluding to her captivating appearance. Their first assignment was to shoplift a magazine, and Haley executed it with remarkable finesse, perhaps too skillfully for comfort.
Meanwhile, Madi persevered with her probe into Xander's death. An anonymous tip came her way, revealing the intricate connection between Arda and Elliot Gao's company. She eagerly pursued the lead, demanding a contact number and promptly dialing it. When she mentioned Arda Analytics, Gao's nervousness was palpable as he frantically tried to buy time.
Madi's suspicions grew, sensing that Weir was manipulating her. She traced the call and discovered it originated from the same mysterious number.
Back at his home, Edward Homm realized that his wife's supposed grief over his demise was merely a facade. Her laughter on the phone, her exuberant dancing in the kitchen, and the sight of her kissing their neighbor Kevin all pointed to an affair that had been brewing beneath the surface.
Haley's covert mission finally kicked off as she infiltrated Gao's lavish party, posing as Special Agent Madi. With Weir whispering orders in her ear, she casually mentioned the NFT trading involving Miles Valence. The ruse seemed to be working... until Haley encountered an unwelcome surprise. Her former boss, Craig Payne, was among the elite guests at the party. He was a developer from Chicago who Haley had stolen money from after discovering the company's corruption. She had also stolen crypto from them, which had ballooned to a staggering $26 million in value. This explained the mysterious phone screen from the previous episode and, as it later transpired, the sleek blue Mercedes too.
To Haley's horror, Crowley's men were also lurking at the party, and they had zeroed in on her conversation with Gao. Matters worsened when the occupants of the blue Mercedes appeared downstairs. They were connected to the Chicago developer and, more importantly, were tasked with retrieving Haley's stolen crypto funds. As they made their way inside, John ordered Haley to hold her ground until he could devise a plan to extract her from the precarious situation.
Gao, shrewd and quick-witted, swiftly discerned that Haley was not the elusive Jo Madi. He held her captive, revealing that Crowley was on his way. John, desperate for assistance, lured Edward with the tantalizing prospect of unraveling the century's largest money laundering conspiracy. Together, they posed as elevator inspectors, sneaking into the building under the guise of routine inspections.
Haley was ushered before a man who claimed to be Crowley, but to her surprise, it was none other than Ben! He affected a foreign accent, interrogating Gao about the funds while casually mentioning the mysterious Intaverse and The Ledger. Gao, suspicious, snapped a photo of Ben, realizing that he was not Crowley after all. Their ruse exposed, the situation worsened when news came that Ben and John were now targets. John quickly cut the power in the building, allowing the group to escape undetected.
Ben lamented the loss of their advantage, knowing that Crowley now knew their identities. However, Edward provided crucial information, revealing that Intaverse was a web media giant owning the popular GetToether site, a sensation in Washington DC. This platform facilitated consensual affairs, and it seemed half of DC had signed up. Even a politician who resigned a month ago had been exposed as a user. Crowley seemed to be leveraging this information to blackmail politicians into
As they sped away, John dropped another bombshell. His team, presumed dead in the explosion, were actually alive and well. This revelation threw everything they knew into question, leaving them more bewildered and determined to uncover the truth.
