As the third episode of "The Snow Girl" unfolds, the year 2010 sees Belen's fateful encounter with Miren outside the Luque residence. With a poignant plea, Belen beseeches the detective not to abandon Amaya as she had Miren, a damning accusation that sets a new precedent for Belen and the department. Eduardo, intervening, finds himself escorting Belen, who shares a fleeting glimpse of a logo on Samuel's laptop, akin to a slide, yet shrouded in mystery.
David's alibi for the parade day stands firm, absolving him of suspicion in that case, though another trial looms for him, a dark cloud of child pornography charges. Meanwhile, a bizarre yet tender moment ensues as Miren impulsively pecks Eduardo on the lips as he departs, a gesture that startles both participants and the audience alike, perhaps a testament to their bond and Miren's isolation in a town where he is her sole confidant.
Six years later, in 2016, the police turn to an IT expert for insights into the elusive tape. Though limited in his revelations, he confirms the use of a rare Sanya recorder, a relic preserved by vintage collectors. Paco chastises Miren for failing to duplicate the video, but she justifies her actions, acknowledging the futility of publication amidst the constraints. Belen, frustrated by the lack of manpower, vows to escalate the matter to superiors. Miren, undaunted, embarks on a solo mission to the shop across her office, where camera footage captures the enigmatic figure depositing the package.
A strategic alliance forms between Belen and Miren: she amplifies the story's reach, while Belen grants Miren exclusive access to the kidnapper's apprehension. Alvaro, however, harbors doubts about the impending media storm and its aftermath. Ana, desperate for clues to her missing daughter, gives Miren the green light, hoping it might unravel the mystery.
Miren triumphantly receives accolades from her colleagues for her groundbreaking coverage, the story's ripple effects benefiting the entire organization. Pace, leading the cheers, recognizes the feat, and Eduardo joins in, celebrating amidst the jubilation. But the night's festivities are marred when unsavory eyes fixate on Miren at the bar. She escapes unscathed, yet the memories of that fateful day linger, haunting her upon her return home.
In 2010, amidst the backdrop of Miren's attendance at those meetings, we witness a captivating scene unfold. She finds herself in a bittersweet paradox, lamenting yet cherishing the fleeting glimpses of her traumatic past. The culprit: her assailants had tainted her drink with drugs, rendering her memory a mosaic of fragmented images. These fleeting moments spare her the agony of recalling every excruciating detail, yet at times, she yearns for more tangible memories, hoping to eradicate them with a single, decisive strike.
Belen, true to her word, boldly confronts her superior and secures additional manpower for the investigation. This pivotal request injects new vigor into the case, accelerating progress and revealing a promising lead in the form of a VHS aficionado. This individual guides the police to James Foster, a recent purchaser of the same VHS player utilized by the kidnapper. Moreover, Foster's criminal record bears the stain of two sexual assault cases, painting him as a plausible pedophile.
Belen entrusts Miren with the lead for her newspaper article, while the police swiftly apprehend Foster. Remarkably calm and nonchalant about his past deeds, Foster even hints at remorse. Residing in a caravan, his abode undergoes a thorough search, with police confiscating his laptop. Anticipating arrest, Foster had meticulously sanitized the space with bleach, leaving no trace of incriminating evidence.
His alibi for the night of the parade is ironclad: he insists he spent the entire night with a coworker, who corroborates his story. The laptop, too, yields no incriminating data. With nothing more to hold him accountable, Foster is released. As he awaits his bus alongside Miren, he makes a stunning disclosure, one that shakes her to the core. He alludes to her proximity to solving the case, having perused her work, and tantalizingly hints that she will uncover answers pertaining to "her rape" as well. These haunting words echo in Miren's mind, bringing the episode to a cliffhanger.
