Missoula opens with Mary Dove Shaw (Wendy Crewson) waking at the crack of dawn to find an eerie note on her kitchen table, informing her that she’s being watched. The note is propped up by an owl figurine from Ashton Shaw’s (Lee Tergesen) collection. Mary’s first reaction is to look out the window at the building that served as his office. Noticing the door ajar she arms herself and discovers the lock broken and the interior thrashed. Colter immediately arrives to do his own investigation after receiving her call. She apparently regrets her decision and tries to chalk it up to a gross overreaction when Colter notices the owl figurine is out of place and asks one too many questions. They are soon interrupted by a phone call from Teddi Bruin (Robin Weigert), who informs Colter of a case in Montana. Although he agrees to take the case, he delays it until tomorrow.

The following morning, Teddi tells him about a $35,000 reward for information that leads to the whereabouts of a 27-year-old accountant, Jackson Cheong (Donald Heng). Learning that it is Jackson’s parents offering the reward, his first stop upon arriving in Missoula is their house. Mark (Ash Lee) and Eden Cheong (Kit Koon) don’t waste any time pointing the finger at Rebecca Smith (Stefanie Von Pfetten), a much older woman he met while volunteering at the local library. They claim everything about him changed after meeting her. They suspect he is currently with Rebecca not only because he was the last time they saw him, but he was supposedly doing some work for her. Mark describes the work as “something people can’t find out about.”

Upon leaving the house, Colter learns from Bob Exley (Eric Graise) that Rebecca Smith is actually Rebecca Pendergast (Stefanie Von Pfetten), who appears to have a background of all types of frauds, although she never spent any time because the charges were abruptly dropped. While on the phone, Bob also discovers a current address for Rebecca by tracking her real name to a big life insurance policy Jackson recently took out.

Not finding anyone home at Rebecca’s address allows Colter to snoop around. It doesn’t take him long for him to jump into action when he hears what sounds like cries for help coming from the garage. The garage is completely abandoned except for what appears to be several live surveillance feeds. Jackson happens to be one of the subjects. Colter uses his phone to take a photo of Jackson. His departure is soon interrupted by the arrival of two men with guns and earpieces. Colter does an amendable job of disabling both men but ends up backed into a corner when Liam (Shaun Omaid) manages to pull his weapon. After Colter shares the truth about Jackson and his identification, they let him leave with the threat of contacting the police if they see him again.

Colter’s next move is to call Teddi and Velma Bruin (Abby McEnany) to reveal what he discovered at Rebecca’s house. After Teddi mentions the possibility of a kidnapping or blackmailing ring, Colter notices Liam drive by. He tails that guard to a nearby motel, where he eventually winds up in a seminar hosted by a group called “Positive Light.” He immediately recognizes Rebecca at the podium as she introduces the crowd to Seth Adler (Ryan Robbins). Once Liam alerts Rebecca of Colter’s attendance, she relays the information to Seth, who singles Colter out in front of the crowded room. Rebecca and Liam use the distraction to escape.

Colter returns to the Cheong’s house to share his findings and the inability to do anything if Jackson isn’t being held against his will. After some resistance, Colter agrees to at least give speaking with Jackson a shot.

Colter shares his plans with Teddi and Velma while also requesting more information on the Positive Light Group. The following morning, Colter discovers the compound bustling with activity. It doesn’t take him long to locate Rebecca and request a visit with Jackson. She agrees under the condition that he first meets with Seth. Seth also agrees to let Colter visit with Jackson once he shares something personal with him. Colter attempts to make a joke of the session until his background and father become the topic of discussion. Seth admits to researching Colter’s history but also claims to see a pain inside him caused by what little he knows of his father’s death and his reason for isolating his family. After a bit of back-and-forth, Seth trades a visit with Jackson for one truth about Colter’s father. Colter says he made him who he is today. While Seth thanks him, Rebecca preheats a steel rod that the group uses to brand its members when they hold another’s secret. As promised, Colter is told Jackson will be in the garden.

En route to the garden, a call from Bobby reveals that although Positive Light doesn’t have any negative press online, they did have several civil suits filed against them. These cases not only appear to have been randomly dropped, but they all hung on the testimony of one man, David Grassley. David was only the group’s accountant but he was the recent victim of a hit and run that claimed his life. Even more shocking is the fact that his wife, Yana blamed the police for sabotaging the case before going silent. Colter assumes she got scared and might be more revealing in person. Upon learning that Yana’s current address is near Teddi and Velma, Bobby volunteers to try to arrange a meeting.

Jackson agrees to meet with Colter but doesn’t just refuse to return home, he refuses to speak with his parents. He accuses them of being overprotective and continuously quotes Seth throughout his and Colter’s conversation. It appears that Colter might actually be getting through to Jackson when brings attention to the similarities between his father and Seth. Colter doesn’t appear to want to push Jackson’s return home too far but leaves him with his contact information as they part ways. Later that evening, Colter receives instructions to meet Jackson at the delivery entrance gate at 8 pm.

As promised, Colter arrives at the entrance to discover a locked gate and no Jackson. It’s merely only seconds before Rebecca and her security box him in. She reveals that she sent the text after Jackson voluntarily shared Colter’s contact information. According to her, Jackson is also on a voluntary retreat. Although Colter is allowed to leave, Rebecca advises him against contacting Jackson.

Speaking with Velma and Teddi, Colter learns that Seth is so paranoid that he keeps physical backups of the facility’s surveillance at an offsite location. Yana claims to know this because she was escorted there and threatened with photos from David’s hit and run. Before ending the call, Colter realizes he’s being followed and quickly lures his pursuer into a trap. He uses the man to slip by the guard (Shane Symons) at the facility and then locks him in the trunk of his own vehicle.

It doesn’t take Colter long to locate proof of the hit and run and send it to Teddi, along with the request to alert the authorities. While searching for Rebecca’s files, he discovers a one on himself and takes it. Colter also finds Jackson and uses Rebecca’s testimonial video as proof of her betrayal. Although Rebecca, Seth, and security attempt to intervene, Colter manages to hold them off until the cops arrive. The episode ends with Colter looking at his own file after reuniting Jackson and his parents.

 

Tracker Review

I can’t say I didn’t find the episode interesting thanks to the references and clever tie-ins with Colter’s past. I will, however, say I didn’t feel the episode was on the same level as the premiere. Perhaps it was the heavily played-out cult-vibe. I understand that every episode can’t be a trek through a national park, but I would have appreciated something a bit wittier. I also felt that Rebecca’s fraud/con-woman persona felt bland. Other than that, a somewhat enjoyable episode that I’d have to give a 5 out of 10.

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