Episode 3 of The Night Agent commences with a poignant flashback, transporting us to a year ago when Farr and Peter first encountered each other amidst the bustle of a vibrant zoo. With a curious glint in her eye, Farr inquired if Peter had ever set foot in such a wondrous place. He reminisced about his youthful visits, confessing that he had dreamed of being a bear, seeking refuge in its might and strength during a turbulent time of bullying.
As the conversation unfolded, Farr delicately introduced the concept of night action, piquing Peter's interest. However, it soon transpired that she was not offering him the role of a night agent, as he had envisioned. Instead, she proposed that he answer the phones for these agents, a revelation that left Peter feeling somewhat disillusioned. He quipped that she was essentially asking him to be a glorified 9-1-1 operator, to which Farr responded with a sage observation. She emphasized that the phone only rang when a night agent faced dire peril, implying that his role would be crucial in times of crisis.
Moreover, Farr underscored the immense potential this opportunity held for Peter's career, opening doors that his father's legacy might have otherwise shut. She admonished him, reminding him that in the zoo of life, one should aspire to be the zookeeper, the one with all the keys.
Returning to the present, Farr's voice crackled over the line, inquiring if Peter had heard her instructions. He affirmed, revealing that they would be converging at the White House within the hour. However, as soon as he hung up, Peter's mind was consumed by perplexing questions. Why had Hawkins, a man with over three decades of unwavering service, forsaken his oath and embraced the role of a traitor?
Rose, on the other hand, was unmoved by such ponderings. She cared little for the motivations that had led Hawkins to his untimely demise. Her concern lay solely with Peter's intention to blindly follow Hawkins' orders and march into the White House. She argued vehemently that decrypting the hard drive there could potentially amount to handing over incriminating evidence to the perpetrator. She envisioned a figure so dangerous and influential that they had dared to assassinate the Deputy Director of the FBI. Whether Hawkins was innocent or guilty, Rose maintained that venturing into the White House was a reckless gamble.
Peter probed further, querying if she suspected everyone within the White House of being complicit. Rose shook her head resolutely, declaring that she would not be accompanying him.
Peter confessed his humility, acknowledging that he lacked the authority to defy an order, claiming the current situation far exceeded his scope. He firmly believed in Farr's ability to safeguard them, citing her as the sole individual who had granted him a chance despite knowledge of his father's identity. He wagered their lives on the trust that she would stand by them.
Peter dialed Farr's number, revealing Rose's reluctance to approach and their dire need for time. Farr concurred, granting them until 10 am the following morning. When Peter inquired about Hawkins, she informed him of the ongoing investigation into his meetings and revealed that the President would be briefed within an hour.
During the briefing, the President was notified that the officers had neither suspects nor witnesses, and the evidence was scarce. The only certainty was that Hawkins had been murdered elsewhere and his body dumped on the farm. The President demanded updates and requested to offer condolences when appropriate. Astonishingly, among the attendees at the briefing, the second man who had negotiated with the assassins was present.
Farr remained after the meeting, updating the President on the Rose situation. She sought the President's clearance to divulge details of Campbell's mission, to which the President readily agreed, gesturing for Farr to take a seat.
In the dense woods, Peter and Rose kept a watchful eye on the cabin from afar, testing Farr's trustworthiness as she was their only link to their whereabouts. If the assassins arrived, it would be a clear indication of Farr's betrayal. Shortly, the assassins descended upon the cabin, searching it thoroughly and scanning the surrounding woods. However, Rose and Peter managed to evade them, and Peter even captured the vehicle's license plate number. He promptly contacted his police friend, Sisco, requesting a BOLO (Be On the Lookout) for the car. Rose saw this as confirmation of Farr's disloyalty, yet Peter remained hesitant to draw such a conclusion.
Returning to the White House, Ben confronted Farr, demanding to know the whereabouts of Peter and Rose. However, she retorted with distrust, challenging him on how he could have been unaware of the Secret Service agents' removal from the hotel. Ben protested his innocence, and Farr promised to update him when she uncovered more information.
As he departed to take a call from Arrington, a Secret Service agent assigned to protect the Vice President's daughter, Maddie, Ben informed her he was reassigning an agent and sending a replacement in the wake of Hawkins' murder. Arrington was displeased to hear that Erik Monks would be the new agent, but she acquiesced.
Upon Erik's arrival, Arrington introduced him to Maddie, who was in a hurry but trusted Arrington's discretion. As she rushed off to her next class, Arrington brought Erik up to speed on Maddie's tendency to forget her panic button and her desire for the Secret Service agents to blend in on campus without attracting undue attention. Arrington, despite her youth, commanded the team responsible for Maddie's safety.
After fleeing, Peter and Rose strategized on leveraging Farr's help to decrypt the drive. Peter set a meeting place and left Rose behind, but she persuaded him to steal Farr's access card and aid her in regaining access to the system while the FBI worked on the hard drive. Meanwhile, Rose would distract Farr through a phone call.
Peter executed the plan flawlessly, weaving a deceitful tale of Rose abandoning him. However, Farr issued a Be On the Look Out (BOLO) alert for Rose, unaware of the intricacies of their scheme. Their plan seemed destined for success until a contingent of police officers unexpectedly descended on the diner where Rose was hiding. Frightened and panicked, she hastily fled the scene, leaving Farr to uncover the ruse.
She confronted Farr, inquiring about his motivations, and he confessed that he lacked trust in her, as she was the sole individual privy to their location. Farr realized that Rose's phone might have been compromised and promptly sent it to the laboratory for analysis. Despite Farr's suspicions, Rose reassured Peter of her fidelity and divulged that the Campbells had been commissioned by the President to investigate the Metro bombing. The President was skeptical of the findings and a leaked statement from the terrorist organization, the People's Independence Front (PIF), further muddled the situation.
PIF later refuted the claim of responsibility, leaving more questions than answers. Undeterred, the President initiated a covert operation, and the Campbells were on the verge of uncovering the White House insider involved. Farr suspected Hawkins, but Rose cautioned against hasty conclusions, insisting on finding concrete evidence first.
Meanwhile, Ellen's impatience with motel life grew, convincing Dale to accompany her to an abandoned house she had scouted earlier. She dreamed of a luxurious yet ordinary existence, but Dale felt differently. Despite his misgivings, he acquiesced and agreed to stay with her for a while in the vacant abode.
At the university, Maddie's professor began subtly courting her, and her spirits lifted as she basked in his attention. However, a subsequent encounter at a bar with a stranger left her shaken. Erik, hampered by his shoulder injury, stumbled during the incident, earning Arrington's disapproval. She was exasperated with his performance and declared that she must report the matter. She deemed Erik unfit for work, considering him a liability.
Later, a tumultuous encounter unfolded at a bar, involving a mysterious stranger and She. In the midst of the commotion, Erik stumbled, hampered by his shoulder injury. This error provoked Arrington's ire, who declared her intention to report the incident. She deemed Erik unfit for duty, considering him a potential hazard. Meanwhile, the Vice President unexpectedly visited Maddie at her school, their interactions strained, observed keenly by Erik.
Amidst the turmoil, Arrington approached Maddie with caution, attempting to soothe her but finding the situation peculiar. She promptly contacted Ben, relaying the details. Ben counseled patience, reminding her that Erik was once unparalleled, having faced much adversity before taking a bullet to safeguard the former President. He vouched for Erik, believing that his former partner would be a valuable asset to Arrington's team.
Unsettled, Arrington sought answers from a trusted friend in the CIA, inquiring about Erik's enigmatic inclusion on her squad.
The following morning, Rose checked into a motel, eager to delve into the decrypted hard drive. Despite the failed mission and Peter's capture, the hard drive had yielded crucial files pertaining to the Metro bombing. Rose's concentration was interrupted by Peter's arrival, accompanied by Farr. Her anger flared as she glared at Farr, who urged her to calm down, insisting that she was not the betrayer but there to reveal the truth.
Elsewhere, Maddie's teacher surreptitiously texted an individual, revealing his progress in getting closer to the young girl. He promised to elaborate upon his return home. The message was relayed to the man with the sinister rattlesnake tattoo, leaving an ominous air hanging in the air.
