Episode 2 of Season 1 of "The Stolen Girl" kicks off with a haunting flashback to the fateful day Lucia was abducted. Just moments after Elisa's departure, Rebecca surreptitiously administered a sedative to Lucia and dispatched an anonymous message. Within the blink of an eye, a mysterious man arrived at the residence, surreptitiously placing Lucia in a suitcase before speeding away into the night.
Present-day unfolds as an envelope lands unceremoniously at Elisa and Fred's doorstep. Unfortunately, Georgie, unbeknownst to its significance, intercepts it and casts it aside in Lucia's room, where Elisa slumbers peacefully. Upon awakening, Elisa fails to notice the letter and embarks on a solo drive, deciding to post a photograph of the girls at Rebecca's house online, appealing to the public for assistance.
Elsewhere, Selma finds herself stuck covering a mundane story about a pig. She calls her editor, pleading for permission to interview Elisa. The editor, skeptical but open-minded, agrees to consider Selma's suspicions if she can provide concrete evidence.
Meanwhile, the police remain at a loss, and the parents' anxiety mounts. The kidnapping appears to have been meticulously orchestrated. Sinclair cautions Elisa against posting about the case, but she fiercely disagrees, insisting that she is relentless in her quest to Retrieve her daughter Later, Elisa stumbles upon the morning's letter, which transpires to be a ransom note, demanding a ransom in exchange for Lucia's safe return. The parents hastily convey the letter to the police, who advise against payment until proof of life is provided. Unfortunately, the police have no leads, and the footage from the doorbell camera capturing the letter's delivery is Blurred and unclear, revealing only an orange baseball cap amidst the blur.
Amidst this turmoil, we are introduced to Marcus Turner, currently incarcerated yet oddly invested in Lucia's plight. Newspaper clippings of her case are cleverly concealed within his prison pillow.
Turning back to Selma, a police officer informs her of the ransom letter, revealing a distressing leak within the police force, exploiting the case for personal gain. Money talks, and Elisa implores Fred to secure the ransom funds, to which he responds by stating he is exploring options. Elisa passionately begs him not to leave for work, yet he firmly insists on being present for a police interview with his client.
Elisa entrusts Georgie into the care of Fred’s mother and, as she steps out, is approached by Selma. Brushing her off hastily, Elisa makes her way to the bank, only to be met with a startling revelation: she is ineligible for a loan due to Fred’s deceitful actions in the past – he had forged her signature and secured a loan against their house. Panicked, she rushes back home, desperate to confront Fred, but finds him engrossed in a crucial meeting with a client who happens to be a snitch informing the police about a notorious drug gang. Intriguingly, the police suspect a link between this gang and Lucia’s kidnapping.
During the interrogation, the snitch, faced with probing questions about the gang’s nefarious activities, conveniently claims amnesia. Fred, growing impatient, abruptly terminates the meeting and surreptitiously tails Bailey, his enigmatic client. In his rush, Fred inadvertently leaves his phone behind at the office. Confronting Bailey in a dark alley, Fred resorts to violence, seeking answers that Bailey steadfastly denies possessing.
Meanwhile, Elisa’s anxiety mounts by the minute. She reaches out to Sinclair, pleading for help in locating Fred. The police, acting swiftly, initiate a search for Fred’s whereabouts.
Elsewhere, Selma, determined to uncover the perpetrator behind the ransom note, contacts her editor with a bold proposal: in exchange for exclusive coverage of Lucia’s kidnapping, she vows to unmask the culprit. Delving into their media company’s direct messages, Selma stumbles upon a suspicious spam account. Investigating further, she discovers a picture of the account holder wearing the exact same baseball hat as the suspect. Excited by her find, Selma informs her editor and he suggests leveraging this information to gain access to Elisa.
Selma pays a visit to Elisa, revealing that the latter is a serial hoaxer and that the police are en route to apprehend her. Elisa feels a deep sense of disappointment, realizing that their sole lead in the Lucia case has just vanished. Intrusively, Selma delves into Elisa's childhood, probing questions that touch a raw nerve. Unable to bear the intrusion, Elisa swiftly slams the door shut in Selma's face.
Meanwhile, at the police station, an officer meticulously reviews various security footage. Her eyes catch the clip forwarded by Europol, depicting Lucia desperately attempting to escape her kidnapper at a French petrol station. With urgency, she contacts Sinclair and forwards the footage. Sinclair promptly instructs her to liaise with the French police while she sets out to track down Fred. The scene shifts to Fred, wandering aimlessly and dejectedly through the streets.
The episode concludes with the male kidnapper escorting Lucia back to Rebecca, at a house nestled in France. Rebecca and Josie are overjoyed, their hearts swelling with relief as they finally reunite with Lucia.
