Hidden Nature

Sloan and Elana confront a man cutting down trees on public land. The man is belligerent and insists his taxes pay for these trees. When he threatens her, Sloan flashes back to the mini-mart. Sloan remains calm and defends herself when the man attacks. Though she manages the arrest, that night she dreams she’s back in the mini-mart and the man attacks her with his axe. She reminds herself, “She’d handled the incident. She hadn’t frozen, she hadn’t panicked. She’d done her job” (161).

Sloan plans renovations to her home and gets the promotion to sergeant. To celebrate, she decides to start a bathroom remodel and drives to Nash’s house. Nash has a rambunctious yellow Lab named Tic, who obeys Sloan’s commands, which impresses Nash. Sloan says he simply needs to be an alpha.

Sloan leads Nash to her place to show him the job she’s requesting. Nash thinks she looks like a wood nymph. He thinks her uniform is sexy, including the Stetson, and notes that she wears a gun. Nash approves of the changes Sloan wants to make to her house, including the addition of a mudroom. She jokes about her serial killer basement. Nash suggests he can build a cabinet for her bathroom. Nash realizes she’s the woman he saw walking.

Clara reflects on her vacation with Sam and the valuables, including cash, they’ve taken from their victims. She wonders if, in time, they’ll collect enough for another vacation. She makes Sam breakfast and tells him about their next target, a man who tried to die by suicide and now works as a hotel bellman.

Nash finds Sloan, and her job, fascinating. She looks fragile to him, but she is straightforward and decisive. A client he’s working for tells Nash that Sloan was shot, but recovered, remarking, “She was always a strong girl” (178). Theo learns more details from Drea and shares them with Nash. Nash wonders, “How much spine do you think it takes to get through that, then put a uniform back on?” (181). Drea apologizes to Sloan for confiding in Theo, but Sloan is unconcerned: She says she’s through the incident now.

As Drea grows closer to Theo, Sloan decides to do a background check on the Littlefields, and try to find out more about Janet Anderson. Sloan discusses with Travis the sentence against the tree cutter, then talks with Elana about a poacher, making the argument that man is made to hunt. Sloan apprehends the poacher, reminding him that the funds from hunting licenses go to fund conservation and wildlife management efforts.

Sloan looks into Theo Littlefield, whose background is clear. She is shocked to find that Nash’s parents brought a civil suit trying to deny him access to his trust fund. She researches area disappearances and discovers reports of Celia Russell, who disappeared in September while walking her dog, as well as the dentist.

Clara and Sam wait in the parking lot for Zach Tarrington. Clara pretends the door of the van is stuck, and when Zach comes to help, Sam attacks. Another man emerges from the hotel, and Clara asks him for directions. Sam worries that the man saw Clara and the white van. They decide they can paint it.

Nash and Theo arrive to work on Sloan’s bathroom. She tells them to bring along the dog. Nash says she looks good in her hat. Clara addresses Zach, who is strapped to the hospital bed in their basement. She tells him she’s there to help. She says once they’ve heard his story, they’ll send him home. Zach wants to see his little boy. Clara asks about his attempted death by suicide, death, and resuscitation. Zach insists, “I wake up every single day grateful I’ve got another chance to live a good life. To be a good dad, to be a good son” (196). Zach says that, while he was briefly dead, he dreamed of being a boy and playing at his grandfather’s house. As she hooks up the tubes to take his blood, Clara tells herself she is returning Zach to that happy, peaceful dream. Sam cuts apart Zach’s body, not minding the mess.

Dean approves of the work the Littlefields are doing on Sloan’s bathroom. Nash enjoys Dean’s attentiveness as a parent, and Dean is glad to employ the brothers for contracting work. Sloan is pleased when the work is done but then notices how much needs to be done elsewhere in the house. Nash realizes he’s attracted to her. She invites him to stay for a drink as they discuss her plans. Sloan acknowledges that she feels attracted to him, too.

February brings a respiratory virus, and several people get sick. Sloan comes home after a long week to find her parents and Nash redoing her living room. Elsie invites Nash to Sunday dinner, and Sloan tells Nash not to be intimidated. They discuss how Drea and Theo are getting along. Nash is nervous because family dinners were a trial when he was growing up.

Sam repaints the van a navy blue and takes care of Clara, who is sick. Clara feels she’s lucky to have him.