Bloodlines – Episode 3 begins with Eric Dobbs (Tyler Lawrence Gray) being abducted during a late evening practice session. It’s a full two days later when Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) learns all about the abducted high school pitcher from old acquaintance, Billie Matalon (Sofia Pernas). It doesn’t take Colter long to become suspicious of Bille’s intent after hearing about a $50,000 reward being posted by a well-to-do Southern Nebraska booster, Shane Nile (Patrick Fabian). It takes a bit of careful convincing but he gets her to admit that she is from the area and won’t be welcomed with open arms thanks to her mother. Colter makes plans to meet with Eric’s parents first thing tomorrow while Billie continues searching for Eric’s AWOL girlfriend, Ashley Wallace (Aisling Goodman).
Colter briefly speaks with Velma Bruin (Abby McEnany) about helping Billie before questioning Henry Benson (Aaron Pearl) and Martha Dobbs (Samantha Coughlan). Martha excuses herself once Colter begins asking questions about Ashley. It immediately becomes clear that Henry doesn’t think much of her or their relationship. After Colter calls him out on the bruises on his arm, he openly admits to a fight that went too far. Despite all this, things get even more interesting when Colter finds a glove full of Oxy and cash.
Henry appears completely beside himself with Colter’s discovery and Colter’s later meeting with Coach Marty Perez (Michasha Armstrong) and teammate, Hunter (Dreyden Free), suggests that he might not be putting on. After failing to track Ashley’s signal, Billie hints at bringing in Bobby (Eric Graise) for assistance. As it turns out Bobby has already spoken with Velma and by the time Colter calls him, he’s tracked Ashley’s cell phone signal to an old rail yard.
It only takes Colter a matter of minutes to pick up a trail at the rail yard that leads to what is later revealed as Ashley’s body. Despite the illusion, Detective Penny Bullard (Khalilah Joi) reveals in the next scene that Ashley will live. It’s also immediately apparent that Penny doesn’t think highly of Billie. Billie is intuitive enough to realize that she isn’t going to get anywhere with Penny and leaves, suggesting that Colter do the same. He appears confident that he can get on Penny’s good side and does so over the course of the next few minutes. Working together, they discover what is later revealed to be a blood donation bag. With Penny’s approval, Colter sends a photo of the bag and serial number to Bobby.
A brief visit and some careful persuasion with Ashley’s employer, Roger (Jason Schombing), confirms that Ashley did have a drug problem and wanted to get clean but lacked the money. At around the same time that Colter and Billie suspect Eric was selling plasma to fund Ashley’s sobriety, Bobby calls with an address that he’s pulled from the bag’s serial number. Rather than leading them to a hospital or business, it leads to an abandoned commercial suite. Things get even stranger when they discover the body of a teenage runaway Randy Hopper stuffed in a crate. Not only was Randy’s blood drained but he was wearing a wristband with electrolyte levels. They begin to suspect that Randy and Eric were involved in some kind of bio-hacking scheme but don’t get much time to debate it due to Shane’s requests to meet with Billie.
Shane appears genuinely concerned and asks lots of questions as Billie updates. He even asks for updates on Ashley but tells Billie that he has to pull the reward due to the police getting involved and Nebraska rescinding the scholarship. Although it’s not the $50,000, he gives her a consolation reward of $10,000. At the same time, Colter updates Eric’s parents. They appear just as stunned as Shane by the news of the bio-hacking discovery.
After promising to do everything he can to bring Eric home safely, Billie calls to tell him that the case is over. She even offers to send him his part of $10,000 but claims the case is over for her. Colter disputes this and shows no intent to stop. Shortly after the conversation ends, Billie is t-boned by a truck out of nowhere.
Sometime later that day, Colter visits Penny at the station and asks if she’s seen Billie to Coach Perez. She seriously doubts that Perez is involved but promises to look into it. As far as Billie goes, Penny claims to not be surprised. Colter has his doubts because his next visit is to Billie’s office where he discovers that she was trying to gain access to a company called Everlife Innovations. He sends Bobby the file and asks if he can pick up where she left off.
Elsewhere, Billie wakes with Eric in what appears to be a blood lab. While he explains how he ended up in his current predicament, Colter visits Shane to inquire about Billie’s visit. Eric is stunned to learn that Ashley is still alive, whereas Colter doesn’t seem so surprised to notice Shane’s shady disposition. It doesn’t take him long to put two and two together. Of course, it also helps that he receives a text from Bobby, confirming Shane as the primary investor in Everlife Innovations. Colter will soon find himself dealing with one of Shane’s henchmen, which he does with relative ease but by the time he turns his attention back to Shane, he’s in midflight.
The ensuing chase will lead to the lab where Eric and Billie are being held, with Shane holding Billie hostage. This is resolved much faster than imagined due to Colter not thinking twice about shooting Shane, which Billie immediately questions. Sometime later, Colter joins Eric and Henry at the baseball field where he not only collects a reward but tosses the ball around for several minutes. As it turns out, Eric’s scholarship is still in play.
The episode ends with Colter and Billie returning to the bar where they met at the very beginning of the episode. She will briefly explain to him how her mother was a grifter and embezzled half a million dollars from City Hall, leaving them without the means to pay pensions and retirements for an entire year. A lot of people were affected and that is apparently why she is so despised by the locals.
Tracker Review
Not a horrible episode, certainly not a great episode. Pretty much right on par I suppose. The bio-hacking angle was mildly interesting and it was nice to see Colter and Billie working together again. Not to mention that her side story with her mother and troubled past was probably one of the more interesting aspects of the episode. Other than this, there isn’t honestly much to say. Still, no word from Teddi. I’d give the episode a 5 out of 10.
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