Back in 1995, Amanda found herself working solo, as Evelyn was occupied with parent-teacher conferences. Her captain began to rant incessantly, but Amanda interrupted him abruptly to attend to a traffic stop. As she requested the driver's license and registration, her eyes caught sight of bleach and nails in the back seat, sparking an uneasy premonition.
Flashing back to the present, Will was upset, feeling betrayed that Amanda had never confided in him about the threatening phone calls or the warning note on the elevator, which seemed personalized and menacing. Initially, Will suspected the night janitor, Mr. Garza, who had the capability to disable the cameras and had recently sent Amanda hate-filled letters.
Amanda eagerly seized upon this lead, insisting that they investigate immediately and offering to accompany them, hoping to apologize for her earlier outburst towards Mr. Garza. However, upon their arrival, a car sped off hastily. When they entered the building, Amanda was discovered hovering over Mr. Garza's lifeless body, a chilling scene that sent shivers down their spines.
Meanwhile, Michael was frazzled as he prepared the children for school when Angie burst in, announcing that they had landed a monumental case: the murder of the GBI janitor, with Amanda as a suspect. Edie Reynolds, the GBI Director, clarified that while APD was in charge, she personally believed in Amanda's innocence. Nonetheless, she emphasized that the case had to be handled by the book. Michael's behavior turned abrasive as Will began his examination of the body, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on present.
Angie firmly instructs him to step back as Will cleverly deduces that the coffee grinder served as the murder weapon. In confidence, Will informs Edie about the looming threat hovering over Amanda, prompting them to implore her to open up to them. After much hesitation, Amanda finally confides that she once arrested a notorious serial rapist named Chuck Murray on drug charges, who has since been released from prison. She acknowledges Chuck's bitter怨恨 towards her but remains oblivious to his connection with Garza. Amanda had harbored a slim hope that the altercation was merely a trivial dispute between Garza and herself, unrelated to Chuck Murray's vengeful intentions. Terrified, she resists sharing every detail with them, leaving Will puzzled and frustrated.
Angie and Michael engage in a conversation with Chuck Murray's father, who steadfastly refuses to allow them access to his son, convinced that the police have harassed him in the past. He recalls with resentment a black female officer from the 1990s who arrested Chuck and caused them much distress. Subtly, Michael casts aspersions on Amanda's innocence, whereas Angie leans towards believing her story of administering CPR to Mr. Garza. The APD captain emphasizes the need for procedural integrity and orders a search of Amanda's condo.
In a poignant flashback, Amanda recalls the night she confronted Chuck Murray, who defiantly refused to produce his ID. The scene escalates violently as he knocks her unconscious, dumps her to the ground, and begins to assault her. Returning to the present, Amanda encounters Chuck at a diner, where he mocks her about that fateful night, daring her to disclose her actions or face relentless torment. Simultaneously, Michael discovers the murder weapon hidden at Amanda's condo.
Despite both the APD and GBI acknowledging her innocence internally, they adhere strictly to protocol and request Amanda to take a temporary leave of absence. Officer O'Hara, unable to contain his disdain, begins to ridicule Amanda and Faith, prompting Faith to almost lash out in anger.
Angie and Michael, with firm hands, restrained her while sternly reprimanding the officer. Meanwhile, Will and Faith came to a startling realization: Amanda's keys were nowhere to be found, leading them to suspect that Chuck had planted evidence against her. Once Amanda was freed, Will insisted that she stay with him for safety. He persisted until she confessed that Chuck had brutally raped her, revealing a past where things were vastly different. Pressured by her father to keep quiet about the assault and driven by her ambition for a promotion, Amanda instead constructed a case against Chuck. However, one of the other victims, terrified, refused to testify. Weeks later, Chuck was apprehended for possessing exactly 28 grams of cocaine—the threshold for intent to sell. Will, horrified, grasped that Amanda might have framed Chuck by planting the drugs. Yet, Amanda stood her ground, justifying her actions to prevent him from raping anyone else.
Desperate to mend fences, Angie reached out to Faith, sharing the disturbing news about Leann Garza's disappearance and pleading for her assistance. As Amanda and Will jogged together, their conversation devolved into an argument. Will, unable to comprehend her actions, still vowed to support her. Suddenly, a SWAT team descended upon them, forcefully pushing Amanda to the ground. Will protested vehemently, urging them to verify with Edie Reynolds. Even after her release, Amanda was visibly shaken and contemplated confessing her role in a public press conference.
Elsewhere, Faith, Angie, and Michael discovered Chuck's workshop adorned with photos of Amanda, each marked with a red X. As a creak echoed through the silence, Michael wielded a crowbar to prize open a door, revealing a trapped Leann Garza. Angie swiftly contacted Will, informing him that Leann could identify Chuck Murray and that they had found Amanda's missing keys.
As he conveys the news, a car suddenly slams into them, the impact sending shockwaves through the air. Amanda's immediate concern is for Will, but it is Chuck who, with renewed intent, attempts to assault her once more. Just as Chuck aims his weapon at Amanda, Will, acting swiftly, fires back at Chuck, stopping his attack.
Nancy, Gina's sister, arrives on the scene to bring the children back home, her presence a comforting beacon amidst the chaos. Michael is informed of Gina's depression and her decision to seek solitude to find her way through it. She needed time and space to grapple with her emotions in private.
Amanda tries to engage Faith in conversation, but Faith's anger is palpable; she resents the fact that Amanda was spared while her own mother wasn't. Michael gently explains to the children about Gina's situation, reassuring them that as a family, they will navigate through this together.
Amanda and Will, however, find it difficult to grapple with the events that transpired, their conversation laden with unspoken emotions and struggles.
