The premiere episode of Season 1 of "Will Trent" kicks off with a tense phone conversation between Abigail and Paul Campano, a couple at odds over Paul's infidelity with their personal trainer. Abigail, seething with anger, declares that Paul shouldn't bother coming home that evening. When he inquiries about how she plans to explain his absence to their daughter Emma, Abigail snaps back, threatening to tell Emma that her father simply can't control his urges.
Paul warns Abigail against turning their daughter against him, hinting at dire consequences if she chooses to escalate the situation. Amidst their heated exchange, Abigail arrives at her front door, only to find a shattered glass panel, signaling an unwelcome intruder's forced entry. Defying Paul's orders to stay out, Abigail braves the potentially dangerous situation because Emma is inside.
Upon stepping inside, Abigail's heart races as she spots a blood-stained footprint at the foot of the stairs leading to the bedrooms, including Emma's. Despite her growing fear and concern for her daughter, Abigail musters the courage to ascend the stairs to Emma's room. There, she stumbles upon a grim sight: a lifeless body, which she presumes to be Emma's, and a young man wielding a bloody knife.
A fierce struggle ensues between Abigail and the intruder, culminating in Abigail using her tennis racket—a remnant of her recent tennis match, evident from her attire—to choke him unconscious.
The scene then shifts to Will Trent, a special agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, taking his late neighbor's dog to a rescue shelter. Upon arrival, the receptionists' attention is more focused on Will than the deceased pet. Will has garnered fame for exposing corruption within the Atlanta Police Department. Charmed by his story, the ladies persuade him to adopt the dog, and he eventually relents.
Upon returning home, Will notices that his car has been vandalized. Shortly after, his colleague Amanda Wagner drives by and notes the damage. Will mentions his newfound furry friend, Betty, and Amanda points out the vandalism. She then invites Will to join her in her car, as there's been a homicide reported in Ansley Park.
Will inquiries about the involvement of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) in a homicide case, prompting Amanda to elucidate that Paul Campano, revealed to be a billionaire in the automotive industry, had contacted the governor of Georgia regarding this matter. In response, the governor instructed the GBI to inspect the crime scene. Recognizing Will as one of the Bureau's finest special agents, Amanda desires his expertise at the crime scene.
Upon arriving at the Campano mansion, it becomes apparent that the police officers present hold a grudge against Will due to his past exposure of corrupt colleagues. They even insult him as he enters. Inside, Will encounters the case's lead investigator, who confidently assures him that the case is straightforward and well within his grasp, but Will senses there's more to it than meets the eye.
As the lead investigator recounts the events, Will notices a critical detail: the shattered glass panel of the front door is positioned unusually far from the doorknob, a revelation that shifts the perspective of the entire scenario. Inquiring about Abigail's whereabouts, he learns she is being interrogated by another investigator, Detective Faith Mitchell.
Similar to her counterparts in the Atlanta Police Department (APD), Faith is less than thrilled to see Will. However, Amanda Wagner issues a directive for her to set aside her personal feelings and collaborate with Will.
Meanwhile, the lead investigator continues to brief Will on the Campano family. It transpires that Emma had a friend named Kayla Alexander, whom her father, Paul Campano, never approved of. When Will asks who the father is, the investigator responds it's Paul Campano, a revelation that Amanda had earlier misstated as Paul Bentley (Bentley being Abigail's maiden name). Intriguingly, Will is personally acquainted with Paul on a deeper level.
Detective Faith Mitchell heads to confront Will, who subtly hints that Emma and Kayla might have skipped school that day, evident from the two distinct pairs of school shoes resting by the entrance. Detective Faith inspects the shoes, sizing them up to ascertain whether they indeed belong to two different individuals – Emma and Kayla.
At this juncture, Paul Campano bursts in, insisting on seeing his wife and daughter, whom he presumes are still upstairs oblivious to the unfolding tragedy (unaware that Abigail hadn't caught a glimpse of the deceased's face). Will volunteers to escort him to his daughter, but Paul's emotions take over as he catches a glimpse of the lifeless body from afar. Paul remarks that Emma was an exemplary student until she befriended Kayla, hinting at a possible negative influence.
Paul's abrupt question, asking if Will is a "trashcan," reveals their personal acquaintance. Detective Faith confirms that the shoes do not match in size, dispelling any doubt about their ownership. Will further observes that the sole of the deceased lacks bloodstains, indicating that the bloody footprint near the bottom staircase belongs to another individual.
When Will prompts Paul to identify the body, Paul affirms it's not Emma due to the absence of a distinctive birthmark on her right wrist. An intense spat erupts between Abigail and the lead investigator, prompting Will to seek clarification from Abigail. Paul objects, insisting instead on contacting Emma's school, but Will asserts that Emma was indeed in the house with Kayla.
It transpires that the young man Abigail mistakenly identified as the intruder who stabbed Emma (now revealed to be Kayla) is innocent, clearing him of any involvement in the crime. Will notices that the bloody footprint faces the wrong direction, suggesting that the second victim, Emma, was carried downstairs by the perpetrator. Swiftly, Will issues orders for an amber alert, as Emma has been abducted.
Meanwhile, in a restaurant, Detective Angie Polaski, a recovering drug addict, sits with Detective Franklin. Angie has been undercover, meticulously investigating a clandestine drug ring, planning to ensnare the group's leader with a substantial drug purchase and subsequent arrest.
Back at the crime scene, Will grapples to piece together the events. It comes to light that the supposed intruder whom Abigail strangled is Adam Humphrey, a freshman at Atlantic City Tech. Additionally, a neighbor attests to seeing Emma's white BMW parked in the Campanos' driveway at 9:30 am that morning, but it was gone by noon, implicating that Emma was abducted using her own vehicle.
Upon delving deeper into the mystery, Will harbors suspicions that Emma might have sought refuge in the confined space of her closet during Kayla's harrowing ordeal. At this critical juncture, Amanda enters Emma's room, where Will is standing engrossed in thought, to inform him that Detective Faith Mitchell will be his new partner in unraveling the case.
In a subsequent scene, Angie finds herself inside the clandestine den of illegal drug dealers, her eyes glued to the television screen broadcasting the latest developments in the Campanos saga. The door creaks open, and in walks Jules, a young woman shielded by sunglasses. She casually mentions having spotted a white BMW, identical to Emma's, featured prominently in the news. Jules urges Angie to alert the authorities, but Angie cautions against it, citing the perilous presence of the drug dealers. However, Jules's insistence, coupled with the telltale sign of a bruised eye revealed when Angie gently removes her sunglasses, suggests a more personal motive. It becomes evident that Jules yearns for police intervention due to the physical abuse she endures at the hands of Kyle, one of the ruthless dealers.
Undeterred, Angie reaches out to Will, relaying the urgent information about Emma's BMW being parked nearby. She implores Will to advise the police to exercise utmost discretion in approaching the vehicle, fearing that any sudden move might alert the drug dealers to their presence. The underlying warmth in their conversation hints at a blossoming romance between Will and Angie.
Meanwhile, back at the crime scene, Detective Michael Ormewood arrives, promptly assigned by Amanda to take charge of Emma's kidnapping case. Will and Faith set off to inspect Emma's BMW. Upon their arrival, Will's sharp eyes detect a CCTV camera lurking in the vicinity. Faith, too, notices the incriminating evidence of bloodstains adorning the trunk, undeniably confirming Emma's recent presence within the vehicle.
The CCTV footage, belonging to a young entrepreneur named Warren who runs a music recording studio, serves as the focal point of Will and Faith's visit. As they step into the studio, the grainy images unfold, revealing Emma being moved into a different vehicle with an unseen driver at the wheel. Faith promptly dials Detective Michael, who sets off to Adam's abode, only to encounter Gabe, Adam's roommate. Gabe divulges that Adam was acquainted with Emma, but Michael senses he's withholding crucial information. Just as Michael confronts Gabe, his partner suddenly collapses, adding an unexpected twist to the investigation.
Meanwhile, in the clandestine den of illicit drug dealers, Kyle informs Angie that the operation's leader has gone into hiding due to police presence. Jules, still present, quivers with fear in Kyle's menacing presence. Angie, recognizing the peril, urges Jules to seek a swift exit, warning her that Kyle's dangers exceed her perceptions.
On their way back to GBI headquarters, Will and Faith share an intimate moment in the car. Will reveals that Warren struggles with dyslexia, a detail that adds depth to their character interaction. Just then, Faith receives an urgent call from her son Jeremy, informing her of his computer's malfunction. Will suggests Jeremy bring it to the GBI for repairs, sparking a heated debate between the two. Amidst their altercation, a startling revelation unfolds: one of the corrupt officers Will had brought to justice was none other than Faith's mother.
Arriving at GBI headquarters, Will and Faith coincidentally encounter Detectives Michael and Angie in an elevator. Michael solemnly shares the devastating news that his partner, who accompanied him to Adam's place, has suffered a stroke, casting a somber shadow over their reunion.
As soon as Michael and Angie step out of the elevator, reaching the APD section, Faith informs them of a disturbing development concerning the Campanos. Earlier, during their visit to Warren's studio, Faith had disclosed to Will that Paul Campano was insistent on receiving constant updates about Emma's abduction.
Upon disembarking from the elevator, Faith and Will encounter Paul and Abigail. Paul's frustration is palpable as he lambasts the necessity of having to travel to GBI headquarters to obtain information on his daughter's plight. Will then drops a bombshell on Paul, revealing that Kayla had engaged in sexual activity on the morning of her murder and that his DNA is needed to eliminate him as a suspect. This revelation ignites a fiery altercation between them, culminating in Will confessing that he and Paul shared a childhood in an orphanage—a fact Paul had kept hidden from Abigail. Betrayed and furious, Abigail retaliates by exposing Paul's affair with their personal trainer.
Elsewhere, Angie is grilling Kyle, having earlier orchestrated a scenario where she smashed his car's taillight to attract police attention. She had anonymously tipped off the authorities about the drugs stashed in his trunk. It transpires that Jules had previously whispered about the narcotics to Angie, a revelation Kyle never anticipated, given her and fear of him.
Amanda summons Faith to her office and presents her with a badge, designated for use solely during the Campano case. Curiosity piqued, Faith inquires about the rationale behind pairing her with Will. Amanda, with a knowing smile, elucidates that collaborating with Will could propel Faith's career to new heights.
Meanwhile, Angie's supervisor, Captain Dennis Heller, breaks the news to her that she will be released from her duties on the drug dealers' case and reassigned to homicide, where she will partner with Detective Michael. The news does little to elevate Angie's spirits, particularly given the subsequent revelation of her affair with Michael, who happens to be married. This revelation adds a layer of complexity to their professional and personal entanglements.
In his office, Will finds himself lost in nostalgic sorrow, replaying memories of how Paul had mistreated him during their youthful days. Suddenly, the piercing ring of his phone jerks him back to the present. It's Gabe on the line, bearing new insights into Adam and Emma's complex lives. To their astonishment, it transpires that the pair shared a sexual relationship, and Adam had been receiving menacing threats urging him to stay away from Emma. These threats materialized in the form of letters, some left on Adam's car and others pasted on Gabe's and Adam's doors. Fortunately, Gabe had retained one such letter and brought it with him for closer inspection.
Upon Faith's scrutinizing gaze, a peculiar detail jumps out: all instances of the letters "e" and "k" were reversed, a hallmark of dyslexia. Will, without hesitation, identifies the culprit as Warren. In a rush of urgency, Faith and Will make their way to Warren's recording studio, only to discover him confined within the recording booth, a barrier of steel between them and the truth.
Confessions pour out of Warren's lips, admitting to Kayla's untimely demise though insisting it was unintentional. His confession reveals a love for Emma, driving him to threaten Adam into abandoning her. Will, desperate for answers, attempts to coax Warren into revealing Emma's whereabouts, but to no avail. In a moment of tragic finality, Warren takes his own life.
The aftermath finds Will overwhelmed by Warren's actions, his emotions raw and exposed. He unburdens himself to Faith, sharing poignant memories of his orphanage days. A particular anecdote sticks out – the orphanage matron's insistence on handkerchiefs, an oversight that now connects Will and Paul's earlier presence at the crime scene with those same handkerchiefs. Amidst this shared vulnerability, Faith and Will forge a deeper connection, a silver lining in the midst of sorrow.
Returning to his abode, Will encounters Angie, who confirms their burgeoning romance with a tender embrace. Passions ignite, and Bella, too, reveals more facets of her vibrant personality amidst the intimate scene.
The following dawn, Will attempts to decipher Emma's college essay, sent along with her school records by the APD. But the words elude him, a revelation that he, too, suffers from dyslexia. Angie steps in to lend a helping hand, just as a knock at the door interrupts their efforts. It's Paul, his voice laden with gravity, announcing that he has shot the person responsible for Emma's abduction.
