A 911 call tips M&A off to a young woman who has gone missing after a date. Sir takes drastic measures to capture Gabi's attention. Margaret and Gabi investigate potential suspects in Jamie's kidnapping.
Jamie was taken by someone who was only interested in him. Margaret shouldn't worry about the kidnapper targeting anyone else. Jamie offers that clarity. Margaret still worries. Moreover, she doesn't want to bring in the entire M&A team to investigate. If she presents her fears, that will only amplify the skepticism everyone else feels about Jamie. They don't trust him. Margaret watches him because she's afraid of losing him again. Everyone else monitors just to see what he is doing. Dhan catches him snooping around Gabi's office. It's suspicious. Yet Jamie wonders if this work can help him process everything that has happened too. This is what Gabi does. She rescues people. She provides them with a sense of identity and purpose again. She saved every member of her team. And now, Jamie needs that help. He's capable of working as the new office receptionist. He provides insight into the latest case. Yet progress remains slow in getting him to share what happened. He's not eager to reveal what his life has been like. He knows how to connect with his mother. However, he lashes out without the safety of his truck. That was taken from him. It remained a constant part of his life. Margaret sees that detail. It's only a small clue to his reality though.
The flashbacks have pointedly shifted to Margaret spiraling in the immediate aftermath of Jamie's disappearance. The season previously delved into the brutal emotions of that day. She blamed herself because she got angry with her son. She wanted a moment of quiet. In that brief second, he was taken. She can't allow herself to forget any detail about him. She has to remain completely focused. She reaches out for help. She needs everything to be perfect for when Jamie returns home. That won't occur for another decade. He grew up without his family. Meanwhile, Margaret grew apart from those who still needed her. She is only now beginning to mend those relationships. She keeps this secret from them. She isn't any closer to catching the person responsible for this pain. She recognizes that she had a lot of friends at that time. Her social circle diminished quickly. She no longer had any use for them. They only distracted from the search. She could never leave the bus station in the hopes that Jamie would one day return. He recognizes the importance of that environment. He gets the restraining order dropped. Margaret appreciates that. They grow closer. Plenty of distance and uncertainty remains. The story could be more forthcoming especially with all the obvious clues that this story is important. It just doesn't have enough space with everything else going on.
The latest case sees a friend reach out to Zeke for help. Shelly is a 911 operator who needs to run a theory by Zeke before reporting it to her supervisor. She just needs tech enhancement on a call. Zuri reached out with a burner phone. She pleaded for help. It was dropped quickly thereafter. It provides enough details for M&A to get involved. They are determined to figure out what happened to her. She has a strained relationship with her father, a former military judge. He has always been controlling and overbearing. He pulls strings to get his daughter what she wants. She wants to prove she is capable of succeeding without his help. Ultimately, the case hinges on the threats issued against the judge. He was the true target. Zuri was monitored. She was taken in a vulnerable moment. Her suffering delivered a message. The criminal wanted Zuri's father to pay for ruining her life. An officer wasn't allowed to exploit the system. She was held accountable for her crimes. That continues because Gabi and her team are very good at their jobs. Zuri wants to thank everyone who helped rescue her. Shelly and Zeke's voices kept her going. Gabi was there to immediately provide comfort. She delivered the message that she was saved. That's the inherent good Gabi does through this work. She makes a profound difference in the lives of those who need it the most.
Gabi believes she needs to return to therapy. She reaches out to Ethan because she won't have to hide her true self. He already knows her shameful secrets. He's intrigued because of the complex nature of her relationship with Sir. Gabi receives a call from prison. Sir continues to insert himself into her life. He believes she will visit at some point. She walked away. She remains tempted. She fears she can't rescue anyone without his help. She doubts her own instincts. Moreover, she's concerned about some kind of insanity defense Sir is plotting for his legal case. That's the clue Jamie steals from Gabi's desk. It's only a minor detail. It still informs so much. These characters are seemingly always on the verge of losing everything. Yet their lives are stable. They have the ability to be happy should they choose to do so. With Sir captured, they believe they can finally breathe again. They can live openly. They still have obstacles to overcome. However, new opportunities present themselves. Lacey didn't know who Shelly was. But now, Zeke and Shelly are spending time together. Lacey believes she has to walk away. It's the suggestion of a tortured romance. Lacey can't allow herself to take that step. It will change their friendship. She lingers while looking at Zeke. That's significant. It's a little familiar and expected. It comes at a time when characters need moments to fully enhance their lives without stress. That informs who they are when things get intense once more.
