Episode 3 of Season 1 of "Will Trent" unfolds with a poignant scene by Lake Lanier, Georgia, where an elderly gentleman, apparently battling mental turmoil, weeps by the water's edge. A compassionate nurse attempts to guide him indoors, but their movements are abruptly halted by the sight of a blazing boat carrying a lifeless body drifting into view. The elderly soul, mistaking the tragic spectacle for his own impending doom, inquiries if the souls aboard have come for him, his voice tinged with regret and apologies.
Will Trent and Faith, seasoned agents of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), are entrusted with unraveling the grim mystery surrounding the murder of Oakmead County's mayor, Randy Cordette, whose head was brutally shot, and whose boat was subsequently set aflame.
As they journey towards Oakmead, Amanda voices her apprehensions about the new sheriff's potential biases. En route, the agents encounter automotive woes; Faith, distracted by a contentious video call with her son, fails to navigate smoothly. Worse, they lack a spare tire, compelling them to seek refuge at a nearby garage. While there, Trent overhears whispers about Cordette's supposed entanglements with dubious ventures.
Upon arriving at the crime scene, Trent and Faith cross paths with Sheriff Josie Miller. They scrutinize the mayor's secluded dock, their observations colored by its peculiar appearance. Trent activates his tape recorder, hypothesizing that the marksman who felled the mayor was both well-trained and self-assured. He points out that the initial bullet struck the mayor's shoulder, indicating an intent to disable before moving in for the fatal blow.
Amid their investigation, Trent spots a blood-streaked nail, deducing it as evidence of the assailant's self-inflicted wound. They conjecture that the boat was ignited to obscure incriminating clues. Conversations with the mayor's bereaved wife reveal that he was haunted by the discovery of a toy left on their doorstep.
Deputy Riley is dispatched to retrieve a token found near Alan Kramer's corpse, prompting Trent to establish a connection between the two fatalities due to the recurring presence of the toy at both crime scenes. During a video conference, Amanda enlightens them about a three-decade-old unsolved case—a family found deceased in an orange station wagon, buried in the woods, with the perpetrator never apprehended and the then-sheriff suspected of a cover-up.
In a remote location, Ormewood and Angie delve into the enigma of a murder involving a victim with a devastating head injury. An eyewitness, amidst the chaos, offers a glimpse of the perpetrator darting away while calling out to him. Angie, initially buoyed by what seems like a straightforward case, is soon curbed by Ormewood's directive to scrutinize a series of photographs before their evening meal. Their discourse is interrupted by the eyewitness who positively identifies a suspect, only to plunge them further into confusion when Ormewood uncovers that the identified individual is part of a trio of identical triplets, all currently in custody. Despite persistent efforts to elicit a confession, Polaski shifts gears in his interrogation strategy.
Meanwhile, back at Oakmead County, Trent and Faith find themselves sharing a modest motel room. Trent peruses peculiar photographs from the scene of a triple murder, puzzled by the peculiar placement of a wagon secluded by the woods, a stark contrast to the lively 4th of July fireworks display nearby. Faith draws his attention to a crucial detail: a witness who had glimpsed four figures near the crime scene and jotted down a partial license plate number. Amanda strides into the sheriff's office, bringing with her a revelation; cross-referencing the partial plate yielded an astonishing 40,000 matches, but delving deeper tied the Bronco to the late Alan Kramer. Amanda assigns Trent and Josie the task of identifying two unknown figures in an aged photograph of the car, partially obscured by its number plate.
Trent, curious, inquires about Sheriff Merrick's whereabouts from Josie, who responds with skepticism. It transpires that the forgetful elderly man from their earlier encounter is none other than Sheriff Merrick himself. When Trent questions him about the fateful night, Merrick's responses are fragmented and barely coherent. His interrogation is abruptly halted by the arrival of a nurse and Merrick's son, who explains that the sheriff was deeply troubled following his investigation into the homicide of a black family.
In a breakthrough, Josie uncovers a photograph featuring the Bronco, its license plate a perfect match to the one they were seeking.
Josie recognizes two out of the four figures in the photograph, yet the third remains a mystery until technological advancements reveal him as Otis Granger, the mechanic who once lent a hand to Faith and Trent. When Amanda and Josie arrive at Otis's premises, he is armed with a firearm and accompanied by two menacing dogs. He steadfastly refuses to yield peacefully, prompting Josie to take drastic action and shoot him at close range, ending his life instantly.
Meanwhile, Faith is en route to meet Merrick, intending to present him with a photograph that might jog his memory, with Josie accompanying her and driving the sheriff's vehicle. Josie sits beside Merrick and queries him about identifying the individuals in the picture. He mentions three deceased men but becomes perplexed when inquired about the fourth.
It transpires that the fourth accomplice was none other than Merrick's son, David. Trent questions the necessity of Josie's presence, considering she is on administrative leave. Faith believed it prudent to bring Josie along and have her drive, thinking it might ease tensions. Conversely, Amanda is exasperated with the lab technicians who claim they never received the nail contaminated with the killer's blood.
Trent discovers a wagon with teeth marks on the seatbelt and a pouch of powder, while Amanda retrieves a cassette from the car's tape deck. Trent deduces that Merrick had come across the murdered family's infant. The family had halted and parked the wagon to nourish the baby, unbeknownst to them, their fate had already been sealed. Trent realizes with a shock that the baby in question is Josie.
In the midst of this, Faith accidentally spills soda in the car, prompting Josie to offer to fetch her some tissues from a nearby convenience store. Faith, left alone, decides to search through Josie's car while waiting and stumbles upon the same bloody nail that Trent had requested be sent to the lab. Josie had surreptitiously concealed it, hoping to safeguard herself and buy more time to complete her grim mission of revenge. Trent informs Faith of the killer's identity, but Josie suddenly appears outside, her gun trained on Faith. She swiftly enters the car and speeds off to confront David.
At the Lake Lanier bridge, David Merrick is held captive by Faith's grasp as Josie demands with urgency the truth behind the past events. David, his voice trembling, confesses that he and his companions—Randy, Alan, and Otis—were inebriated when they stumbled upon the orange station wagon. Alan confronted the family, sparking a chain of events that culminated in David firing the shot that took Josie’s father's life.
Josie, driven by a storm of emotions, retaliates by shooting David in the knee and then threatens Faith with the gun. However, her plans are interrupted by the arrival of Amanda and Trent. Amanda raises her weapon to shoot Josie, but Faith, her voice breaking with desperation, begs Amanda to spare Josie's life. She urges Josie to surrender, reminding her that her parents would never want to see their daughter become another victim in the lake’s grim tally. Nevertheless, Josie, having envisioned the conclusion of this tale, leaps into the abyss, embracing her fatal destiny.
At the police station, Will Trent offers Faith a steaming cup of hot chocolate, seeking to soothe her troubled spirit. He informs her of Josie’s tragic discovery in the lake, but Faith’s lack of emotion leaves him perplexed. Tearfully, Faith reveals her innocent wish—that Josie had somehow swum to shore and fled to South America, escaping the grim fate that now binds her to the spectral echoes of Lake Lanier.
Later that night, amidst the warmth of the Ormewood household, Angie finds solace in the company of her loved ones. However, Mrs. Ormewood, her tone laden with gravity, confronts Angie in private. She reveals that she has learned of Angie’s affair with her husband, a secret whispered by another cop’s wife from two years past. Mrs. Ormewood warns Angie to steer clear of such mistakes in the future.
Angie, weighed down by her confession, returns to Trent's place and opens up about her past indulgence with Ormewood during a tumultuous period in her relationship with Trent. Trent listens intently, his eyes reflecting an unwavering support. When asked why she chose to confide in him now, Angie admits that she can no longer bear the burden of secrets and doesn’t want Trent to perceive her as flawed or ugly.
Trent reassures her with a tender smile, affirming that he could never view her in such a light. They share a heartfelt kiss, a gesture that binds them closer. He offers to prepare dinner for her, yet mentions the need to attend to a phone call first. The moment, filled with raw emotion and a renewed sense of honesty, sets the stage for a future marked by transparency and mutual understanding.
