The eighth episode of "Will Trent" kicks off with Alison Schooner, a college student drained from an all-night study session, stepping out of her campus late at night. She's met by Jason, a figure she wishes to avoid given her exhaustion. As she ventures through a shadowy forested path, her heart skips a beat when she hears footsteps trailing her, only to relax when she realizes it's a passerby with his dog. Reaching the serene edge of a lake, Alison stands in contemplation, the moonlight casting a silver hue on her figure.
The next morning, a grim discovery shocks the tranquil scene: Alison's body lies by the lake, a cinder block tethered to her leg. FBI agents Trent and Faith Mitchell arrive to scrutinize the scene, uncovering her identification and a suicide note tucked inside her shoes. The note, succinct and penned on a torn scrap of paper, reads, "I want it to end."
During a meeting with University Chancellor Vera Kuo to discuss Alison Schooner’s tragic demise, Trent's suspicions are aroused by the note's brevity and its unusual medium. He insists on a forensic examination of the body, leading to a harrowing revelation: a fish wriggling beneath Alison's skin, near her ears—a telltale sign of a stabbing. Further investigation uncovers bloodstains on a nearby tree, prompting Faith to deduce that a killer had been lying in wait. The agents collectively conclude that this was no suicide.
Meanwhile, Angie and Ormewood are immersed in another grim scenario, investigating the murder of a magician found lying prone with a fatal stab wound to the back. Ormewood notes that no one from the hotel has signed out, implying the killer is still within its confines. The caretaker reveals that Steve, the deceased, had been their magician for many years. Ormewood spots a tripod, sparking a realization that the magician's phone might still be in the hotel. They swiftly decide to secure a search warrant to unravel the mystery further.
Upon reaching Alison's abode, a shared dwelling with six other individuals, Trent and Faith found her quarters cluttered with padlocked containers, adorned with warnings that implored intruders to keep their hands off her possessions. Trent, drawing parallels from his own past, deduced that Alison might have spent her formative years in foster care, evidenced by her meticulous labeling of personal items—a defensive mechanism to ward off unwanted touches. Their guide, Dwayne Gilbert, unveiled that Alison was a meticulous and reserved soul, always maintaining a pristine and well-ordered environment.
As their probe delved deeper, Faith discerned that the handwriting on the containers mirrored that of the suicide note. Their attention was also diverted by a shadowy figure lurking in the peripherals, observing them intently. Trent swiftly apprehended the intruder, who, upon searching his backpack, was found in possession of a knife. The individual, claiming it was a sculpting tool used for finesse work, suddenly succumbed to a seizure and slipped into unconsciousness.
At the hospital, Faith engaged in conversation with Jeremy while awaiting Doctor Farhad's arrival. She was informed by Farhad that Milo had suffered a traumatic head injury, necessitating a medically induced coma to thwart potential brain swelling. Amid growing suspicions linking Milo to Alison's untimely demise, Faith requested a vigilant guard outside his hospital room. As she prepared to depart, Farhad extended his personal contact details and courteously invited her for dinner, an offer that left Faith visibly flustered, causing her to ramble incessantly about herself before abruptly excusing herself.
Meanwhile, in the morgue, Trent received a grim revelation from the coroner—Alison's liver enzymes were abnormally high, possibly indicative of excessive alcohol consumption, a common vice among college students.
Alison confronts Trent, confessing that her schedule was jam-packed with two jobs, a partial scholarship, and no supportive backup, leaving her with no room for social gatherings like parties. Trent then requests that the plastic container found in Alison's possession be transported to the autopsy room. Upon inspection, the coroner unveils that the murder weapon had pierced Alison's carotid artery and was subsequently twisted, mirroring the grim methodology employed in deer hunting.
Suspecting a hunter's hand in the crime, Trent delves deeper. When the container arrives, the doctor enlightens him that it is a staple in college drug tests, often undertaken by students seeking extra cash. Considering the lucrative payouts of these tests and Alison's financial woes, it seems plausible that she might have been entangled in such endeavors.
Elsewhere, Angie and Ormewood interrogate the manager, and after questioning Hernandez, they uncover that cafeteria worker Ernesto has a criminal past. Ernesto also mentions Steve's talent for hypnotizing individuals to quit their vices. Additionally, he hints that some residents carry their own criminal histories.
Faith informs Trent of Alison's former beau, Jason Howell, a research assistant working on a novel hypertension drug. Their breakup hadn't gone down well with Jason. Suspicions arise that something might have transpired between Alison and Milo, and they strive to piece it together. Sifting through Jason's social media, they stumble upon a snapshot of him and Alison at his family's cabin, with a deer hoist visible in the backdrop, eerily echoing the murder weapon's description.
At the university, they converse with Darla Wall, another research assistant under Dr. Tilda. She reveals that the drug is still in its nascent research phase, with them scrutinizing its potential human side effects.
As Jason arrives at the cabin, he clarifies his ownership of the cabin and distances himself from his family's hunting traditions. He asserts his alibi, claiming to have spent the entire night with Darla, compiling data against a stringent deadline.
He further unveils that Alison was in dire need of money, which led her to participate in the trial yet remain silent about any adverse effects. Jason ventures a guess regarding their breakup, offering various theories, only to be swiftly silenced by Trent, who suggests that perhaps Alison simply lost interest in him.
As they exit the university premises, Faith catches sight of Darla working out outdoors. She briefly eulogizes Jason's finer traits before announcing her intentions to hit the gym for a workout and a shower.
Just as they begin interrogating the residents, a fire alarm disrupts the proceedings, compelling everyone to evacuate. Angie insists on continuing with the questioning, but to no avail, as the residents offer no useful information.
Simultaneously, Trent and Faith receive a call from Dr. Farhard, informing them that Milo's seizure was caused by drug interactions and that he must remain in a coma for several days. The doctor attempts to invite Faith out on a date, but Trent overhears the conversation through the loudspeaker, playfully teasing him about it.
Trent and Faith ponder over why Milo, coming from a wealthy family, would resort to taking drugs. They decide to quiz the other students and Faith devises a clever strategy to engage the college students in conversation.
Trent brings pizzas to entice the students into sharing information. Meanwhile, the elderly nurses attending to Milo become distracted. Angie and Ormewood continue their interrogation efforts.
Faith and Trent also quiz the students, using the pizzas as bait. They discover that in order to obtain the drugs, one must provide a blood sample. Furthermore, they learn that Milo was purchasing the drugs to maintain his energy levels.
Later, Leigh, the daughter of a resident named Gus, bursts in and insists on taking her father home. She cites his exorbitant spending at the facility and the authorities' failure to oversee his expenditures. Angie subsequently seeks out Trent, imploring him to facilitate a connection for her within the GBS. Trent accedes, yet Angie notices his restless demeanor. Intrigued, she prompts him to elaborate on his unease. Trent confesses it stems from Alison's case, especially resonating because, like them, she was once a foster child.
As Trent records, he confronts Alison's spirit, present in the office, warning her that dealing drugs could land her in grave trouble. Alison acknowledges Trent's disappointment in her, but he swiftly reassures her otherwise. He resumes recording, vowing to uncover her killer.
Trent and Faith later delve into the case, deducing that acquiring additional pills for Alison necessitated extra blood samples. This leads them to question Dr. Tilda. She defiantly asserts she wouldn't risk her career for mere profit, yet they persist and request a tour of her lab.
Concurrently, Angie and Ormewood continue their discussion about their case. Angie reveals that Steve, the magician, has been fleecing elderly residents of the nursing home by hypnotizing them. Suddenly, Ormewood receives a call, informing them that someone has sabotaged the computers by pouring water on them.
As Faith and Trent are escorted to Dr. Tilda's laboratory, she informs them that she intends to summon her legal counsel. Their attention is suddenly drawn to a distressing sight: blood trickling from a room adjacent to the lab. Dr. Tilda, visibly horrified, rushes in to discover it's Darla, who is promptly rushed to the hospital.
Meanwhile, Angie and Ormewood scrutinize a chilling video footage of Steve, the magician, in which the manager can be seen executing him without realizing that a phone is recording the entire scene from across the room. Sheila subsequently picks up the phone.
At the hospital, Trent and Faith interrogate Darla, who reveals that she noticed all the blood samples were identical when she ventured into the lab's storage area. She mentions that Jason was trailing her and he was the one who stabbed her. Armed with this new information, Trent and Faith head to the school in search of Jason, only to find him lying lifeless in a pool of his own blood in the basement. Clutching a gun, the walls around him are defaced with the haunting words, 'I'm sorry.'
Later, Faith and Trent confer with Amanda, and together they deduce that Jason might not be the murderer but rather a pawn in someone else's sinister game. They conclude that the true killer is exceptionally cunning, necessitating their own ingenuity to outwit them.
Their next stop is the hospital, where Trent reassures Faith that with Jason's demise, she can now concentrate solely on her studies. However, their conversation is interrupted when Dr. Farhad calls with urgent news: Milo has regained consciousness and has witnessed how Slisob was tailed. Unbeknownst to them, Darla eavesdrops on the conversation, her ears pricked through the slightly ajar door left by Trent.
Next, we witness Darla stealthily making her way into Milo’s room, a syringe clutched in her hand. Her gaze falls upon the spot where Miko should be, only to find the bed empty. At that moment, Trent flips the switch, illuminating the room and revelations along with it. He informs Darla that her secret is out – they are aware that she is the culprit behind the murders of Alison and Jason.
According to Trent’s recount, Darla first dispatched Jason, cleverly manipulating the boiler room’s temperature to obfuscate the time of death. Subsequently, she orchestrated a self-inflicted stabbing to throw suspicion off her trail. Furthermore, she had supplied Alison with an excessive amount of drugs for resale, but when Alison sought an end to their dealings, Darla brutally silenced her, aiming to frame Jason for the crime. Realizing the game is up, Darla dashes outside only to be confronted by the police, with Faith promptly placing her under arrest with a pair of handcuffs.
Elsewhere, Angie and Ormewood uncover a deeper conspiracy; the manager, who was not only Steve’s lover but also his silent accomplice, is apprehended and carted away. Later, Trent attempts to broker a date between Faith and Dr. Farhad, but Faith, desiring to steer clear of such conversations, retreats into the elevator, leaving Trent on the outside, door firmly shut.
Later that evening, Angie, Trent, and Nico gather for a somber dinner at their home, dedicating the meal to the late Alison, their memories of her mingling with the poignant flavors of the night.
