The team investigates a mysterious young girl who was found attacked on a beach. Morgan begins to let her guard down on her date with Tom. Soto comes one step closer to finding out what happened to Roman.
Morgan has the option of spending the night with either Karadec or Tom. One represents the greatness of her current life as exemplified through her job. The other offers the promise of the future. Morgan knows she will be busy. Whenever she is on-call for the police, she always receives a call. It's inevitable. It's only a matter of time before she has to go to a crime scene. Moreover, she obsesses over a case as soon as she gets it. She can't focus on anything else so long as a mystery remains unsolved. She has made peace with some mysteries. She knows how to be there for her kids. She can't easily turn her brain off. It's not a realistic prospect while pursuing something new. Morgan and Tom have had a few charming interactions. In fact, their dynamic is just suppose to be sweet. They care about each other to the extent that they don't want harm to befall anyone. Once they actually go on a date, they get to actually know more. Even then, they remain carefully guarded. They each carry secrets about their families. At this point in their lives, they've experienced pain and heartbreak. They strive to protect themselves. They aren't disappointed by rejection either. Morgan prioritizes the case. She has to work it at Karadec's apartment. It's not done with the intention of establishing a love triangle. Morgan simply views her partner as also obsessing over the details. They are more effective together. That's where they each have to be.
Cold cases are difficult for Morgan. She knows the statistics. It's rare for a mystery to be solved after two years. Evidence disappears. The detectives don't know what they are looking for or if it can reasonably be accessed again. Everything stings a little more for Morgan because of Roman's disappearance. Soto promised to find answers. Progress has been slow. Early on, the season had to provide an update on that mystery in every episode. Now, it has the luxury of taking a break while never losing sight of its importance. It informs the dynamic between Morgan and Soto. It's not the only thing going on with them. Morgan needs to provide clarity for Ava. That's more important than any personal satisfaction she desires. That's meaningful. Soto produces a lead. She has tracked down someone Roman was meeting frequently. Morgan didn't know about it. And so, someone new is introduced who needs to answer some questions. It's a start to a larger investigation. Soto aims to manage Morgan's expectations. Nothing concrete has been delivered just yet. However, she knows how to juggle the priorities of this job while caring for the well-being of her detectives. That's perfectly in line with Soto's skills. That's affirmed here.
Meanwhile, Penny has been personally leading the charge into finding out who killed her boyfriend. She too is injured in a similar attack. That's what brings the police back into the case. It's strange how much of the investigation is driven by figuring out who killed Lucas. Penny's assault provides fresh evidence. It's not a murder like everyone believes initially. In fact, Morgan is grateful that a life was saved. Looking into that life only reveals an obsession over the past and the secrets buried within a country club. Morgan knows she doesn't fit into that space. She comments on it. She points out how condescending the people there are. She has to get answers out of them. It requires looking at the personal details. The brothers who run the place grew up in privilege. As such, they have rarely been held accountable for their actions. They could always protect one another. One needed more protection than the other. That stemmed from a drug addiction. Blaine needed help. Lucas threatened to expose his secrets. That's what motivated Edward to act. It all hinges around the materials found in a snow globe. Morgan retains that specific information. It just has to dawn on her. Then, everything comes together.
Karadec notes that Morgan only has a theory though. It's all circumstantial evidence that would never result in a conviction in court. It's enough to storm the club ready to make an arrest. It still requires a confession. That's informed by Edward's response. He runs. He flees to a nearby cliff ready to jump. That highlights his guilt. Nothing more can be done to save him. He comes back down only because Blaine makes a personal plea. It's a little ridiculous. The way the shot is set up seemingly makes it easy for Edward to hear what everyone is saying on the beach below. That seems unlikely given the height required to actually die from the fall. It's also a noisy environment. One that was central to every step of this investigation. Moreover, some of the personal details are completely superfluous. Penny's new boyfriend doesn't add any nuance to the situation. Her putting herself into debt isn't a significant complication. The swapped necklace only allows a secret affair to be revealed. Not every detail has to matter in the end. However, the show has typically functioned at its best when everything builds to a more compelling resolve that honors everything that has come before. With this basic stage of storytelling, it's watchable but doesn't quite reach the elevation to rise above standard procedural fare.
