As the media buzz surrounding The Shop escalates, Episode 2 of The Last Thing He Told Me delves into Hannah's reflection on a time when she and Owen contemplated a vacation in Austin, a city soon to play a pivotal role in the unfolding narrative. Her vow of unwavering loyalty to Owen remains steadfast; no revelation could alter her perception of him. Austin's mention teases a significance yet to be unveiled.
Meanwhile, Carl, their lawyer friend and confidant, has been mysteriously dodging Hannah's calls. Bailey, on the other hand, grapples with schoolyard bullying perpetuated by rumors of Owen's misdeeds, centered around Lynne Williams. Reluctant to attend school, Bailey finds no solace in Hannah's encouragement to distract herself.
During their journey to school, Hannah detects a shadowy figure trailing them. She cleverly evades the pursuer with a swift turn, while Max, Jules' reporter companion, reveals that the SEC views Owen as a crucial witness. His continued absence could spell the beginning of an SEC investigation into his affairs. Determined to uncover answers, Hannah delves into Owen's work computer, aiming to access his newly revised Will, only to find it safeguarded by a password. Suddenly, Agents Wu and O'Mackey arrive at her workshop, seizing the laptop and warning that Bailey might face Child Protective Services' intervention if Owen fails to surface the next day.
The mystery intensifies with the entrance of US Marshal Grady Bradford into a scenario normally beyond his legal authority. His unexpected presence sparks a myriad of questions: Could Grady's identity be merely a mask? Meanwhile, Bailey's trial by fire transforms into a subject of schoolyard chatter, where she finds a fleeting refuge in Bobby—until the devastating news of his admission to Duke University rips apart their mutual Stanford fantasy. Heart shattered, Bailey withdraws, prompting Hannah to revisit her own conversations with Owen about the partnerships forged by their predecessors.
As the threads tighten, the intricate tapestry of secrets, betrayals, and hidden truths begins to unravel, painting a vivid portrait of a life entangled in the web of suspicion and desire for clarity.
Olivia, Bailey's birth mother, tragically passed away in a hit-and-run accident when Bailey was just four years old. Now, Hannah finds herself contemplating reaching out to her ex-boyfriend, Jake Davis, a thriving lawyer. Jake, though somewhat condescending in his demeanor, possesses a kernel of truth that Hannah seeks. He believes Owen has absconded due to his entanglement in a criminal act.
Bailey returns home from school unexpectedly early and catches a glimpse of someone slipping out of their house. She rushes to Hannah, who promptly dials the police from the workshop. To everyone's astonishment, nothing in the house appears to be missing. Soon after, Jules and Max arrive to offer their emotional support. Jules engages Bailey in conversation, as their acquaintance spans a longer period, while Max inquiries more about the case from Hannah. However, Hannah is hesitant to discuss it openly, given Max's profession as a reporter. Max strives to ease her reluctance, but Bailey eventually expresses her bewilderment at Owen's abrupt departure. Intriguingly, Owen had flown into a rage when Bailey had asked him the previous week to accompany Bobby's parents to a retreat, as he didn't want to be separated from her.
Hannah berates herself for failing to notice the warning signs and senses that something more sinister is at play. She shares with Max about Grady, who surprisingly hadn't shown her an official ID and whose phone number traced back to Austin. Hannah becomes fixated on the notion that Austin holds the key to locating Owen. She meets with Carl, who confesses the truth about the missing savings. Instead of being invested in the IPO, the money had been funneled into sports gambling, a secret he had kept from Patty. Carl vows to rectify his mistake and confess to her soon.
He also recalls an incident where Owen was inexplicably desperate to distance himself from Austin and a particular bar called Antone's. Hannah dials the Marshal's office but abruptly ends the call when she spots the same bald man lurking around their house. She questions Bailey about Austin, sensing that "what really matters" in Owen's letter to Bailey might carry a different connotation.
Bailey recalls a football game in Austin, but it strikes her as odd because Owen never had an interest in football. It's plausible that Owen has relatives or friends in Austin, but Bailey quickly retracts her statement, unsure of the specifics. Jake calls Hannah to inform her that the private investigator he hired for Owen's case hasn't turned up any leads. Hannah confirms with Jake about the Austin stadium and mentions Grady, revealing that the FBI was unaware of his existence. Hannah suspects that Owen is fleeing from something far more sinister, prompting Jake to advise her to stay out of it and let the professionals handle it. As the episode draws to a close, Hannah declares to Bailey that they will be departing for Austin the following morning.
