Mt. Shasta – The episode opens with a very short scene of a young boy, later identified as Noah Kennedy (Hunter Dillon), being chased through a forest. After the chase scene, Reenie Green (Fiona Rene) meets an old friend, Erika Kennedy (Marley Shelton) at Shelter Stone Academy in Mt. Shasta, California. Erika immediately expresses her concern that Noah ran away and the school is trying to cover it up. Having familiarized herself with the enrollment contract, Reenie explains how the school is absolved of providing details when students are on the grounds. When Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) shows up mere seconds later, he alludes to already being familiar with the school’s outdoor curriculum, counseling, and closed campus policies. After some reluctance and reassurances from Reenie, Erika makes Colter aware of Noah’s substance abuse. Colter ensures her he’s not there to judge and is ready to get to work.
During their meeting with Headmaster, Gilroy (Peter Bryant), Reenie immediately asserts her authority and knowledge of the law. Erika also makes threats of going to the local authorities while Colter focuses his attention on Gilroy’s photos. Despite boasting about the academy’s past successes and their immense security protocols, Colter notices Gilroy’s nervous movements. When Colter calls attention to Gilroy’s nervousness, Gilroy apprises them of a recent relapse. After a bit of haggling from both sides, Gilroy agrees to Colter’s request to visit the last place Noah was spotted. As Colter instructs Reenie on what to look for in Noah’s room, Gilroy calls for the school’s head of security Tom Ritter (Chris William Martin).
Colter immediately notices the camera’s blind spot when he’s led to the area of Noah’s last sighting. Gilroy doesn’t attempt to justify the oversight and even admits that the more resourceful students were also aware of the lapse. Seconds later, they are joined by Ritter and the last student to see Noah, Johnny (Darius Willis). Colter calls Teddi (Robin Weigert) and Velma Bruin (Abby McEnany) on his way to join Reenie and Erika in Noah’s room.
Reenie and Erika’s search doesn’t appear to have yielded much success, but when Colter arrives, he immediately brings attention to a small bag containing lip balm, breathe spray, and a hair scrunchie. Not being aware of Noah’s romantic entanglements only makes Erika feel worse. Colter attempts to reassure her by pointing out that teenagers only talk to other teenagers. The statement inspires him to visit Johnny, who’s failing at his attempts to build a teepee fire.
Colter uses his knowledge of the outdoors to get Johnny to admit that the last place he saw Noah was in the camera’s blind spot at the maintenance sheds, arguing with the school’s maintenance guy, Zeke. Gilroy is furious that Colter is still on campus when he arrives in his office to inform him about Zeke. When Colter shares the information, a shared look between Gilroy and Ritter suggests they already suspected Zeke. This leads to the discovery that Zeke didn’t show up for work. A quick review of the previous night’s security footage suggests that Zeke may have kidnapped Noah.
When Gilroy and Ritter take the information to the police, they learn that Zeke hasn’t been seen since yesterday morning. Colter sets out to track Zeke down himself and starts by reaching out to Bobby Exley (Eric Graise). Although he’s unable to ping the phone, Bobby retrieves a call log that reveals several calls to Lisa Jefferson (Cassandra Sawtell).
Colter not only discovers signs of a recent break-in at Lisa’s address but he discovers her beaten and battered. While tending to her wounds, he learns that she and Noah met at Shelter Stone. Although she is no longer enrolled, they keep in touch. Noah calls when he can and even sometimes visits with Zeke’s help. Further discussion reveals that it was Lisa’s ex-boyfriend and drug dealer, Ray Vernon who beat her up, and when Noah found out, he went to talk to him about it.
Colter not only calls Reenie to come sit with Lisa while he continues to look for Noah but he calls Ritter for assistance. When both Reenie and Erika arrive, Colter shares more disconcerting information about Ray. Seconds later, Ritter shows up and Colter shares the truth about Zeke and unveils his plan to visit the Biker Bar, Road Rage where Ray works. Ritter offers to tag along, but Colter sends him to Ray’s house.
It takes some slight convincing but Colter gets the doorman, Alex Cooper (Josh Collins), to share information about Ray. He learns that Ray is even more than a psycho than he could have imagined and there was an incident the night before with Noah and Zeke. Although Noah and Zeke would leave peacefully after the confrontation, it appeared that Ray didn’t want to let the situation go, so he followed them.
Colter shares what he learned from Alex with Velma and Teddi, in hopes of tracking Ray since he isn’t home. It doesn’t take them long to uncover a remote cabin Ray inherited from his father years ago. Colter just happens to be right around the corner from the place. When he arrives just in time to see Zeke stumbling out of the woods, he tells Velma and Teddi to send an ambulance to his location. Further investigation reveals that an ambulance won’t be necessary because Zeke is dead. Further in the woods, Colter finds Zeke’s wrecked vehicle and signs that Noah fled. Much to Colter’s surprise, he also runs into Ritter, who claims to have spotted his truck while sitting at Ray’s house.
Several bootprints and drops of blood later, they discover a flashlight. This is where Colter and Ritter split their search efforts. Minutes later it is Colter that discovers Noah’s discarded bracelet. Colter’s attention on the bracelet allows Noah to take him a gunpoint. Luckily for Colter, he convinces Noah that he was hired by his mother to track him down. While Colter quickly tends to Noah’s leg wound, he provides a quick rundown of the confrontation that led to him and Zeke being hunted in the woods.
When Noah’s leg is patched up nearby gunshots eventually lead Colter to an injured Ritter. Once Colter patches Ritter up as quickly as he can, he calls Bobby to request backup before attempting to lead Noah out safely. It isn’t long before Noah has to stop at which time Ray gets the jump on them. Colter tries to talk Ray down, but he appears to be rash. When Noah runs, it provides Colter with the perfect opportunity to intervene. After disabling Ray, the authorities show up and Noah is reunited with his mother.
The following morning before leaving Mt. Shasta, Colter visits Gilroy to admit he misjudged the school and it was probably the training that Noah received there that saved his life. Gilroy admits to misjudging Colter as well.
Tracker Review
Although this was just the 4th episode, anyone following probably already knows what to expect. Unfortunately, I can’t say this episode was much different. Despite that, it was still somewhat intriguing. It was nice to see that Colter would jump at the drop of a pin to help Reenie, as she has already done for him several times. It’s also unique to learn more about the quaint little towns Colter finds himself in each week.
The substance abuse no doubt added a realistic feel to the episode, as this is a major problem for smaller towns. Other than that, I wouldn’t rate Mt. Shasta as one of the most scenic locations we’ve seen so far, but perhaps we just didn’t see the best it had to offer. Despite the lack of subplots, I found the story compelling and would give the episode a 5.7 out of 10.
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