The fifth episode of "Sara: Woman in the Shadows" kicks off with an enchanting scene of Sara and Viola immersed in the rhythm of a concert. Meanwhile, Pardo arrives home to find a missed call from Edoardo, prompting him to return the call promptly. However, Edoardo fails to pick up, sending Pardo into a tailspin of worry, fearing the worst for his friend. He swiftly dials Sara's number, requesting an urgent meeting at Edoardo's apartment.
Sara, mindful of Viola's enjoyment of their concert outing—a novel experience for her—kindly drops her friend back home. Viola, touched by their time together, invites Sara to accompany her to her next medical appointment in two days.
At Edoardo's residence, Sara and Pardo find no clues to hint at his whereabouts, leaving them baffled. Their conversation catches the attention of Edoardo's inquisitive neighbor, who whispers to Pardo that Edoardo's disappearance might be entwined with Sergio's case. Concerned, Pardo reaches out to Musella, instructing him to track down Edoardo's trail.
The following morning, Musella arrives unannounced at Pardo's apartment. However, Pardo cannot invite him in due to Anna Maria's presence there. They arrange to meet outdoors, where Musella informs Pardo of their fruitless search for Edoardo. Additionally, he reveals that another officer has been inquiring about Pardo's activities and associations, unaware that their conversation is being surreptitiously photographed.
Back in the apartment, Anna Maria stumbles upon a lead when Professor Laudanna requests a meeting with Edoardo. Sara, stepping in for Pardo who is busy searching for Edoardo, attends the meeting. The professor reveals that Sergio is a researcher at the university and guides Sara to his office. Sara, ever resourceful, slips into Sergio's room and gathers vital data, including an anniversary photo of Sergio and Rachele.
Upon returning home, Anna Maria scrutinizes the data, confirming that Edoardo's assertions were truthful. Intriguingly, they also uncover photographs of Tarallo and Enrico Vigilante. Sara takes the Vigilante photo to Teresa, who is transported back in time through a flashback, revealing that Massimiliano and his team once sought to apprehend Vigilante in the 1990s, adding an intriguing layer to the ongoing mystery.
The team had been closely monitoring Vigilante, the leader of an Italian terrorist cell, since he was implicated in a series of terrifying acts, notably bombings, over an extended period. Yet, a disagreement arose among their superiors concerning Massimiliano's proposed approach to handling Vigilante, leading to a missed opportunity. This case became an obsession for Massimiliano, haunting him until his untimely demise, as Sara lamented.
Later, Musella secured for Pardo a list detailing all the deserted structures in the vicinity, and they identified Vigilante's hideout through one of the photographs. That very night, after losing the tailing vehicle that had been shadowing them for days, Sara and Pardo ventured to the crime scene. Upon arrival, they discovered three bullet casings, a single bullet, and bloodstains, compelling them to believe that Pardo was already among the fallen.
Consumed by guilt for not answering Edoardo's call the previous night, Pardo's demeanor turned erratic. He confessed to Sara that he had reached his limit with the investigation and insisted that they vacate his residence.
On the day of her scheduled meeting with Viola, Sara drove over to pick her up. However, upon spotting the ominous black car parked near her residence, she swiftly departed to safeguard Viola. Disheartened, Viola proceeded to the appointment alone. Meanwhile, back at Pardo's apartment, Viola received an update from Musella regarding their findings at the abandoned building, adding another layer of intrigue to the already tense situation.
The bloodstains scattered across the scene were an ominous testament, bearing the DNA signatures of Edoardo and an enigmatic second individual. With Edoardo's body still conspicuously absent, doubts lingered over his fate and that of his assailant. To add to the intrigue, Edoardo's informant was discovered deceased, further muddying the waters.
As Sara and Teresa debated the next steps in their investigation, a palpable tension simmered between them. Sara was steadfast in her conviction that Vigilante was the prime suspect, whereas Teresa believed they should delve deeper into Tarallo's affairs. The audio recording from the car revealed a startling shift in Tarallo's stance on nuclear power plants; he now championed renewable energy. Vigilante, displeased with this transformation, harbored resentment. Teresa speculated that Tarallo's change of heart wasn't due to the whims of voters but the result of a bribe orchestrated by a mysterious figure at the hotel. Consequently, she advocated for pursuing the angle of campaign bribery, while Sara was hell-bent on implicating Vigilante for personal reasons tied to her and Massimiliano.
Sara's refusal to entertain Viola's unannounced visit escalated into a fiery confrontation at Pardo's doorstep. Viola, furious at being ignored, pounded on the door, only to be met with Sara's firm refusal. Sara justified her cold shoulder by emphasizing the perilous nature of her work, explaining that her unavailability didn't reflect disregard but a necessity driven by safety concerns. Pardo, though acknowledging room for diplomacy, understood Sara's resolve.
Disagreement reigned supreme as Sara and Teresa clashed over their respective targets—Tarallo versus Vigilante. Teresa felt they lacked the concrete evidence needed to apprehend Vigilante, whereas their case against Tarallo was stronger. In a bid to secure her theory, Sara requested 48 hours from Teresa to uncover incriminating proof against Vigilante.
The episode culminated in a cliffhanger as Edoardo's eyelids fluttered open, revealing an unfamiliar landscape around him, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats, eager for revelations to come.
