Late that night, Tom Hemingway sits in his Capitol Hill apartment, adrenaline high after learning from Reinke and Peters that Patrick Johnson is dead. He feels no remorse but worries about the witnesses who escaped. From a hidden floor safe, he retrieves photographs of over two dozen Muslim people he spent two years assembling, some of whom he has made appear legally dead.

Hemingway reflects on his father, Franklin T. Hemingway, a respected ambassador and peacemaker who died violently. Unlike his diplomatic father, Tom entered intelligence work with the NSA and CIA, becoming a skilled field agent. He eventually concluded that his work was a sham driven by business interests that worsened global instability. His disillusionment led him to develop a secret plan with the help of a wealthy friend of his father. He concludes that his motivation is neither patriotic nor regional but global, perhaps a tribute to a peacemaking father who met a violent end.

The morning after Patrick Johnson’s death, his body is discovered on Roosevelt Island by fifth graders on a field trip. At the Secret Service’s Washington Field Office (WFO), Alex’s supervisor, Jerry Sykes, assigns him to the case. He justifies their investigation by pointing out that Johnson worked at the National Threat Assessment Center and was technically a joint employee of the Secret Service and the National Intelligence Center. He was found with a gunshot wound, a revolver, a bottle of Scotch, and a suicide note.

Sykes pairs Alex with rookie agent Jackie Simpson, a former Alabama police officer who is known in the agency for getting special treatment; she has connections, but Alex doesn’t know who. Her casual enthusiasm annoys Ford, who reminds her that a man is dead. Sykes emphasizes that the case is a high priority and requires daily, detailed reports to senior leadership.

Djamila Saelem cares for three young boys at the Franklin residence in Brennan, Pennsylvania. Their mother, Lori Franklin, appears dressed for the country club and makes cynical remarks about men and marriage. The two women discuss contrasting views on Islam and American culture. Lori expresses pity for what she perceives as the oppression of Muslim women, while Djamila, who is Muslim, quietly corrects her misconceptions. Djamila hides her resentment of Lori’s condescending attitude and her revulsion at American excess.

After Lori leaves—supposedly for tennis, though Djamila knows she is meeting a lover—Djamila takes the children to a park. She reflects that she wants sons but doubts she will live long enough to become a mother. She drives the sleeping boys around town, conducting detailed surveillance of roads and landmarks with a miniature camera. That evening, she plans to file her report through the movie chat room.

Unable to sleep after witnessing the murder, Stone decides to alter his appearance. He visits Adelphia’s Chinatown apartment, where she cuts his hair and shaves his long beard, leaving him barely recognizable. She mentions that Agent Alex Ford came by Stone’s tent around midnight the previous night.

Troubled, Stone buys new clothes at Goodwill. When he returns to Lafayette Park, a Secret Service guard fails to recognize him. Stone finds a newspaper that confirms there is no public story yet about the Roosevelt Island incident. He calls Caleb and asks if they can meet at Caleb’s work the next day.

Alex and Jackie arrive at Roosevelt Island, where multiple agencies are already investigating Patrick Johnson’s death. A park policeman describes the apparent death by suicide: gunshot wound to the mouth, revolver, suicide note, nearly empty bottle of Scotch. Johnson’s soaked clothing and a waterproof plastic baggie suggest that he swam to the island.

FBI Special Agent Don Lloyd initially questions the Secret Service’s presence but accepts their involvement. Jackie impresses Lloyd with her extensive knowledge of forensic techniques. As they prepare to leave, NIC agents Tyler Reinke and Warren Peters approach; they are also investigating, and they offer to have NIC analyze the suicide note. They all know it will be faster, and Alex agrees.

After the NIC agents depart, Jackie questions the decision. Alex reveals he deliberately gave them the note to create justification for them to visit NIC and conduct their own investigation.

Carter Gray arrives at the National Intelligence Center to meet with his inner circle. One of the prisoners who refused to cooperate is effectively sentenced to death. Gray orders that one week be spent extracting intelligence from al-Omari by any means necessary.

Tom Hemingway delivers a comprehensive briefing covering Middle East instability and global threats, arguing that US foreign policy is failing in Iraq. Gray authorizes preemptive lethal action against targets. Near the meeting’s end, Gray receives a file about Johnson’s death and becomes furious at learning of it so late. He orders a complete background report within an hour. Hearing Simpson’s name among the investigating agents makes him smile, and he returns to his windowless office to read the Johnson report.

Stone, transformed by his haircut and shave, meets Caleb at work in the Rare Books Reading Room at the Library of Congress. Caleb barely recognizes him.

Over lunch, Stone asks about Johnson; Caleb used his access to investigate, but he has limited clearance and found nothing. Stone mentions Alex’s midnight visit to his tent, which he finds troubling. Caleb receives a call from Milton, who has hacked the Secret Service database and discovered that Patrick Johnson worked as a data management supervisor at the National Threat Assessment Center, a division of Carter Gray’s NIC. Stone immediately devises a plan: That evening, they will visit Johnson’s home in Bethesda. He instructs Caleb to bring his dog, Goff.

Tyler Reinke and Warren Peters leave the suicide note at NIC’s lab, hoping that one of the witnesses touched it and left a fingerprint. They search the Georgetown riverbank for the witnesses’ boat, knowing only that the group includes an old man with a white beard, likely unhoused.

Meanwhile, Alex and Jackie interview Johnson’s fiancée, Anne Jeffries, at her Springfield apartment. She insists that they were happy and reveals that Roosevelt Island was the site of their first date. Jackie’s blunt questioning upsets Jeffries. Alex informs her that the suicide note indicated that Johnson was sorry—information the FBI had not shared.

As they leave, Alex confronts Jackie about her aggressive style; she defends it as a deliberate good-cop/bad-cop routine. Alex receives a call from FBI Agent Lloyd, who says they may have discovered why Johnson died by suicide.

Alex and Simpson arrive at Johnson’s Bethesda home. They are surprised by the million-dollar property, which far exceeds Johnson’s salary. Agent Lloyd reveals that Johnson also owned a new Infiniti and a Lexus. Upstairs, Lloyd shows them bundles of heroin hidden in the attic.

Lloyd theorizes that Johnson died by suicide from the pressure of his secret drug operation and his upcoming marriage. He dismisses murder because the elaborate staging seems too sophisticated for drug dealers. As they leave, Alex gives Jackie blunt career advice: Stop relying on connections, do grunt work, and earn genuine respect. He tells her that if she follows this advice, she will make at least one friend in the Service—him.

Gray takes a helicopter to the White House. He proactively addresses Johnson’s death, informing Brennan about the heroin and promising an internal investigation. Brennan expresses anger about a potential scandal during reelection. Gray frames the issue as a weapon for opponents and convinces Brennan to let him help manage media coverage under the guise of national security.

Secretary of Defense Joe Decker, Gray’s rival for presidential influence, proposes covertly assassinating extremist Iraqi legislators. Though initially shocked, Brennan becomes receptive when Decker warns that failure could define his legacy negatively. Gray accepts an invitation to Brennan’s hometown dedication ceremony.

Meanwhile, Peters and Reinke find the witnesses’ boat and decide to stake out Johnson’s house in case they decide to go there.

Alex files his report on the Johnson case, believing it is closed. He confronts Jackie about earning respect through hard work. Pressed, she angrily reveals that her father is Senator Roger Simpson, Chairman of the Intelligence Oversight Committee. Alex criticizes her distinctive red handkerchief and custom pistol as symbols that alienate colleagues, advising her to use standard equipment.

At the LEAP Bar, Kate asks Alex out, and they arrange dinner for the following evening. A news report reveals the heroin discovery, and Hemingway appears on screen, delivering NIC’s statement. Alex notices Kate’s sudden silence about her connection to Hemingway and calls her out on it.