Episode 3 of "Sara: Woman in the Shadows" commences with a spectacle of a brutal fight unfolding in the expansive fields, surrounded by a group of foreigners eagerly observing. Amongst them stands Kamil, a figure secluded in the periphery, engrossed in silent observation. John, the de facto leader of the foreign group, sharpens his gaze upon Kamil, prompting the latter to abruptly bolt. Swiftly, John apprehends Kamil, intent on settling a debt Kamil owes. However, just as tensions escalate, the boss arrives and intervenes, urging John to relent, as he harbors a proposition that could expunge Kamil's indebtedness. In agreement, Kamil consents to assume the blame for the murders of Sergio and Russo in return for monetary compensation.
Elsewhere, Sara and Pardo delve into the autopsies of Sergio and Russo. The coroner enlightens them, revealing that Russo succumbed swiftly to a gunshot wound, whereas Sergio's demise was a gradual process stemming from a preexisting spinal disorder. The impact of the blow, exacerbated by his condition, caused internal bleeding, ultimately leading to his untimely death—hours before Russo was fatally shot. The coroner expresses bewilderment at this timeline, which Sara finds intriguing. She surmises that although the deaths might seem unrelated, someone deliberately intertwined them. Assigning herself to Russo's case, Sara enlists Pardo to utilize Musella as an insider to gather crucial insights into the investigation. Through Musella, Pardo discovers that Russo sent a voice message to his wife shortly before his demise, and that his car is conspicuously absent.
Pardo's network of informants proves fruitful as he traces Russo's missing vehicle. He contacts Musella, proposing a mutually beneficial arrangement: Musella takes credit for locating the car, in exchange for sharing forensic details discovered on it.
Concurrently, Sara escorts Viola to a hospital for a routine check-up. The hospital's ambiance strikes her as suspect, and her distaste deepens when she observes the attending physician smoking in close proximity to Viola, who is expecting. As she waits for Viola's appointment to conclude, Sara's attention is captured by an article mentioning Tarallo, prompting her to call her team to inquire about the timing of Tarallo's press conference regarding Sergio's death. The narrative thickens, each thread pulling the viewers deeper into the labyrinthine world of intrigue and deception.
On their journey back, Viola insisted on a detour to her cherished beach nook. Regarding the enigmatic doctor, she revealed that he was practically family, being the first acquaintance Giorgio had introduced her to. He had been a cherished companion of her father's, sharing countless joyous moments together. When Sara requested a ride home, Viola politely declined but proposed a later rendezvous at the park near her residence, specifically on Giorgio's beloved bench.
Later, Musella briefed Padro on the forensic discoveries from the vehicle. Kamil's fingerprints were omnipresent, he revealed, and Kamil had already been apprehended, taking the blame for the gruesome murders. Meanwhile, Sara attended a press conference where Tarallo scapegoated the high influx of undocumented immigrants for the crime.
Post-conference, Padro and Sara conferred over their findings. Padro mentioned that Russo's phone had been discovered at Kamil's abode, suggesting a thorough search of Russo's house was in order. He pinned his hopes on Sara's ability to procure Russo's phone, hoping it would lead them to Teresa. However, Teresa was less than pleased with Sara's unannounced visit, leading to a heated argument. Sara's relentless questioning about Tarallo and their investigation grated on Teresa, who retaliated by sending Sara a chilling video of Ludovico's murder, effectively blackmailing her into continuing the probe.
Sara sought solace with Viola, their bond deepening as she confided in her about her professional aspirations and the painful decision to leave Giorgio behind for her career and love for her supervisor. She fascinated Viola with her lip-reading prowess.
Employing emotional guile, Sara and Padro orchestrated a plan to gain access to the evidence locker. Padro successfully cloned Russo's phone and photographed Sergio's possessions. Outside the station, he admitted finding no direct link between Sergio and Russo. Meanwhile, Sara ventured into Massimiliano's concealed chamber, delving into Tarallo's confidential files.
The following day, Sara enlists Viola's assistance to infiltrate Sergio's social media accounts and delve into his house-hunting posts. Subsequently, she meets with a blind individual possessing exceptional auditory skills, aiming to decipher any ambient voices embedded in Russo's audio recording. With Capatano's help, Sara pinpoints Russo's last known whereabouts from the recording, which coincides with the vicinity where the bodies were discovered. Utilizing these clues, Sara reconstructs the events of that fateful night. It transpires that the murderers were in the midst of disposing of Sergio's body on the farm when Russo, unfortunately, crossed their path. On the spot, they dispatched Russo as well, placing his corpse beside Sergio's.
Later that evening, Sara and Pardo pay a visit to Kamil's wife. The wife consents to a private conversation with Sara, revealing that Kamil had taken the rap for the money. Their working hypothesis is that Sergio was murdered by an unknown assailant. Russo, being at the wrong place at the wrong time, met a similar fate. This same individual then compensated Kamil to assume the blame.
Sara and Pardo then converge with Viola at the park. Viola clarifies that although the posts were timestamped simultaneously, they were seeking varied house types in disparate locations. Sara speculates that these social media posts served as covert codes for clandestine meetings, with museums acting as secure venues for these gatherings. She instructs Viola to post a coded message through Sergio's social media, hoping to entice the intended receiver into action. For Sara, the identity of Sergio's killer is secondary; what matters is uncovering the mastermind behind the hit.
