Danvers informed Navarro of Connelly's return, and Navarro sternly cautioned her against allowing him to usurp their case. They were determined to solve it. Connelly, however, refrained from seizing the Annie Kowtok investigation from Ennis but admonished Danvers to manage her other cases with greater diligence. She then revealed a startling detail - the men had perished before the cold had a chance to claim them.
Later, Navarro escorted Julia to a therapy center, vowing that this one would be more adept at aiding her. As she departed, Navarro returned to the Ennis police station where Pete shared his discovery - information on a man named Otis Heiss, whose injuries mirrored those of the Tsalal scientists. Danvers ordered Pete to issue an APB for his arrest, but Pete protested their workload, already stretched thin by the hunt for Raymond. Christmas Eve approaching, finding manpower for both pursuits seemed unlikely. Despite her insistence, Pete begrudgingly acquiesced, muttering about his dislike of Danvers, albeit partly in jest.
Danvers reached out to Navarro regarding Julia, seeking her assistance on a related matter. Meanwhile, Hank awaited his online sweetheart at the Ennis airport, but Alina never emerged from the plane. Elsewhere, Danvers and Navarro appeared at Bryce's doorstep, seeking answers about the video on Annie's phone. Danvers awkwardly tasked Navarro with knocking, as Bryce's wife answered the door. The tension was palpable; Danvers' past liaison with Bryce was no secret to his wife.
Together, Danvers and Navarro speculated that Annie's murder must have occurred elsewhere, as they knew of no caves in Ennis or the vicinity where her body was discovered. Bryce, however, contradicted their assumptions, revealing the existence of caves in a treacherous region called the Brooks Range. He warned that one misstep could lead to disaster, emphasizing the need for an expert guide. Lo and behold, the man who had mapped those caves was Otis Heiss himself.
That evening, Navarro shared Christmas dinner with Rose Aguineau. Curious, she inquired about Rose's past, before her Alaska relocation. Rose replied that she had taught and penned articles.
Danvers received an urgent call from Kate, reporting that Leah had vandalized the entrance doors of the Silversky Mining office, boldly painting the word "murderers" across them. Kate was intent on pressing charges, but Danvers begged her to reconsider, explaining that it would irrevocably shatter Leah's life. Kate reluctantly acquiesced, deciding to let the matter slide.
Meanwhile, Julia made a startling departure from the treatment center, finding solitude near an abandoned ship. She stripped off her clothes, stepping into the velvety darkness of the night, and ultimately took her own life.
Danvers' investigation into Annie Kowtok's video continued, poring over footage that captured the moment Raymond began convulsing and the lights abruptly went out in the research station. A startling revelation came to light as she noticed similarities between the blackouts at Tsalal station and the one that occurred inside the cave where Annie was held captive.
Danvers surmised that Oliver Tagaq, as the equipment engineer, had access to all the necessary components and should be questioned urgently. She contacted Navarro, who, upon hearing her slurred speech, sternly ordered her to remain where she was, warning her that she had clearly been drinking. Despite his admonition, Danvers disregarded his advice and, fueled by alcohol, drove to visit Connelly to resume their illicit affair. Their reunion was short-lived, as their passionate encounter quickly turned into a heated argument over Connelly's mayoral ambitions and Danvers' personal issues.
Navarro and Pete arrive in the Nomad territory, only to discover that Oliver Tagaq has vanished, leaving behind a mysterious stone etched with a spiral. Faced with the nomads' hostile gaze, they flee without delay. As they drive away, Navarro receives a devastating phone call revealing that Julia has taken her own life. She keeps this news to herself, gently urging Pete to return home and be with his family.
Consumed by rage, Navarro storms into the therapy center, seeking out the abusive figure from the first episode. She wages a fierce battle, but the group overpowers her, beating her severely. Before succumbing, she manages to land a few punishing punches. Bloodied and bruised, she stumbles to Qavvik for medical aid.
Meanwhile, Danvers narrowly escapes a confrontation with a menacing polar bear on the road.
The next morning, Christmas Day, Navarro appears at Danvers's house, finding her in a state of hangover-induced disarray. Danvers is irritated, as Navarro has lost the spiral stone, but Navarro's tone is somber as she confesses to a night of torment following Julia's suicide. Danvers presses Navarro on what she witnessed at the William Wheeler crime scene, hinting at supernatural forces at play.
The episode concludes with Danvers and Navarro embarking on a perilous journey to an abandoned drilling rig in search of Raymond Clark. Navarro is startled to see Julia's spirit hovering nearby, while Danvers stumbles upon a man clad in the parka identical to the one worn by Annie and Raymond. It is Otis Heiss, his eyes glazed over with the influence of drugs. He mumbles incoherently about being in the Night Country. Danvers rushes back to find Navarro, who is sitting in a state of bewildered fear in front of a Christmas tree, her mind still grappling with the supernatural revelations of the day.
