Episode 3 kicks off with the dramatic abduction of Eric Dobbs (portrayed by Tyler Lawrence Gray) during a late-night practice session, shrouding the scene in an eerie silence. Two full days elapse before Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) learns about the plight of the missing high school pitcher, through an old acquaintance, Billie Matalon (Sofia Pernas). Colter's suspicions about Billie's motives are swiftly ignited upon hearing about a $50,000 reward offered by Shane Nile (Patrick Fabian), a wealthy booster from Southern Nebraska. With some delicate persuasion, he manages to coax Billie into confessing her local roots and the frosty reception awaiting her due to her mother's past. Colter promptly arranges to meet Eric's parents first thing in the morning, while Billie embarks on a mission to track down Eric's missing girlfriend, Ashley Wallace (Aisling Goodman).
Colter briefly exchanges words with Velma Bruin (Abby McEnany) about assisting Billie, before delving into questioning Henry Benson (Aaron Pearl) and Martha Dobbs (Samantha Coughlan). Martha abruptly excuses herself when Colter's inquiries steer towards Ashley. Henry's disdain for her and their relationship is palpable, and his admission of a fight that escalated too far, following Colter's observation of bruises on his arm, only deepens the mystery. However, the real shocker comes when Colter discovers a glove stuffed with Oxy and cash.
Henry's distress over this revelation is unmistakable. Colter's subsequent meeting with Coach Marty Perez (Michasha Armstrong) and teammate Hunter (Dreyden Free) hints at more layers to Henry's demeanor. After Billie fails to trace Ashley's signal, she suggests enlisting Bobby (Eric Graise) for help. As fate would have it, Bobby has already spoken with Velma and, by the time Colter contacts him, has traced Ashley's cell phone to an old rail yard.
Within minutes, Colter picks up a trail at the rail yard that culminates in the grim discovery of what initially appears to be Ashley's lifeless body. However, Detective Penny Bullard (Khalilah Joi), in the next scene, reveals a twist: Ashley will survive. Penny's evident disdain for Billie prompts Billie to realize the futility of her efforts with the detective and departs, advising Colter to do the same. Colter, however, is confident he can win Penny over, and within a few minutes, he succeeds in doing so. Together, they uncover a blood donation bag, which Colter, with Penny's approval, sends a photo of, along with its serial number, to Bobby.
A brief visit and astute persuasion with Ashley's employer, Roger (Jason Schombing), confirms that Ashley struggled with a drug problem and desired sobriety but lacked funds. Around the same time, Colter and Billie suspect that Eric was selling plasma to finance Ashley's recovery. Bobby calls with an address sourced from the bag's serial number, leading not to a hospital or business but to an abandoned commercial suite. The bizarre deepens as they find the body of a teenage runaway, Randy Hopper, stuffed in a crate. Not only was Randy's blood drained, but he wore a wristband indicating electrolyte levels. Suspicions arise that Randy and Eric were entangled in a bio-hacking scheme, but Shane's urgent request to meet with Billie cuts short their debate.
Shane's concern is palpable as he peppers Billie with questions during her updates, his genuine interest extending even to inquiries about Ashley. However, he reluctantly informs Billie that he must rescind the reward due to police intervention and Nebraska's withdrawal of the scholarship. Though it falls short of the promised $50,000, he offers her a consoling gesture of $10,000. Meanwhile, Colter updates Eric's parents, who are equally as flabbergasted by the revelation of bio-hacking as Shane. After reassuring them that he will spare no effort to bring Eric back safely, Billie calls to inform Colter that the case is closed for her, even offering to send him his share of the $10,000. Yet, Colter refuses to accept the closure and remains steadfast in his pursuit.
The conversation abruptly ends when Billie, out of the blue, is struck by a truck in a T-bone collision. Later in the day, Colter visits Penny at the station, querying her about Billie's whereabouts vis-à-vis Coach Perez. Though Penny doubts Perez's involvement, she promises to investigate. As for Billie, Penny admits to not being surprised by her actions. Colter's doubts deepen as he visits Billie's office, discovering her attempts to gain access to a company named Everlife Innovations. He forwards the file to Bobby, asking him to pick up where she left off.
Elsewhere, Billie awakens to find herself with Eric in a blood lab, where he recounts his ordeal. Concurrently, Colter confronts Shane about Billie's visit, noticing the latter's shady demeanor without much surprise. Eric is astonishment to learn that Ashley is still alive. Colter's suspicions are further fueled when he receives a text from Bobby, confirming Shane as the primary investor in Everlife Innovations. Soon, Colter finds himself tangling with one of Shane's henchmen, whom he handles with relative ease. But when he turns his attention back to Shane, the latter is already in flight, escaping Colter's grasp just in time.
The ensuing pursuit brought them straight to the laboratory where Eric and Billie were imprisoned, with Shane using Billie as a hostage in a desperate bid for power. However, this tense situation was defused much sooner than anticipated. Without a moment's hesitation, Colter took aime and fired at Shane, prompting immediate inquisitiveness from Billie.
Some time later, the scene shifted to the baseball field where Colter joined Eric and Henry. There, he not only collected his well-deserved reward but also engaged in a joyous game of catch, the ball flying through the air for several exhilarating minutes. As it turned out, Eric's scholarship was still very much alive and on the line.
The episode drew to a close with Colter and Billie returning to the bar where their journey began. With a hint of melancholy, Billie shared her past with Colter. She revealed that her mother was a deceitful grifter who embezzled half a million dollars from City Hall, a crime that left the town's finances in tatters and left many without pensions and retirement funds for an entire year. The repercussions were widespread, and it was clear why she was held in such disdain by the locals.
