CBS’s Tracker season three kicks off with part one of a two-part premiere that welcomes back Jensen Ackles (The Boys, Supernatural) as Russell Shaw. We catch up with Colter (Justin Hartley) in Garrett, Wyoming, relaxing at a bar, ignoring his phone, and getting called out for it by the waitress.
(The following is a recap of season three, episode one and there are spoilers ahead!)
Apparently, Colter’s been visiting the bar a lot recently. An obnoxious jerk walks in, bumps the waitress and makes her drop her tray. He tosses money in her face—and Colter’s—when Colter tells him to pick up the broken glass. A fight breaks out and Colter’s easily holding his own when Russell shows up and gets an accidental punch to the face delivered by his bro.
Colter and Russell are the only two standing at the end of the melee.
They move their reunion to Colter’s camper, and Russell confronts him for ignoring everyone. Reenie sent him to check on his brother, and Colter unconvincingly insists he’s fine. Colter finally tells his brother that he found the mystery man on the cliff the night their dad died. Russell’s shocked to learn their mom sent the man, Otto, to talk to their dad.
Their mom wanted to leave their dad, and they both recall he went crazy that night when he learned what she had planned. Otto and their dad went up on the cliff, they tussled, and Otto threw their father over the cliff. Colter is having a rough time dealing with it since he now understands their mom’s been lying for decades. Russell claims he didn’t know any of this, apart from that there was a guy on the cliff.
Colter apologizes for ever believing their mom and for thinking Russell had anything to do with their dad’s death. Russell thinks their mom did what she needed to because their dad was losing it. Colter’s still wondering what happened that summer that caused their dad to change. He can’t just push away the memories, like Russell can. Russell understands but thinks it’s time for Colter to stop ghosting everyone.
Russell calls Reenie (Fiona Rene) and she’s pissed at Colter for going three weeks without touching base. He apologizes, and although he tries to put her off, Russell agrees with Reenie that it’s time to get back to work. In fact, Russell will even join in on a new case. Russell just got fired so he’s free to spend quality time with his brother.
The new case involves Reenie’s client Cal Rodgers. Cal’s wife, Lisa, and daughter, Hailey, may have gone missing, and Cal’s willing to pay what it takes to get them back. Hailey wasn’t there when Cal went to pick her up earlier today, and Cal doesn’t think it’s just a custody dispute. Cal’s suspicious of his ex’s new finance bro boyfriend, Kurt. Cal dug into his background and discovered he runs a crypto scam.
Reenie’s surprised to find Randy (Chris Lee) in her office, reorganizing her internet system. It’ll take a while and Reenie’s not much help because Velma normally takes care of supplies, etc. She offers a brief excuse for Velma’s absence, saying she went to see Teddi to try and save her marriage. (Abby McEnany left the show as a series regular after the second season, and Robin Weigert who played Teddi left after season one.) Randy promises to do deep background dives on Reenie’s candidates to take over as her assistant. He also explains Bobby’s absence by saying he has a new job as an encryption specialist at a startup who’s making big bucks.
Back to the Shaw brothers, Colter confirms he hasn’t told their sister, Dory, about Otto. Colter adds that their mom believed government people were harassing their family. He tells Russell about the hidden phone number he found that belonged to a scientist who died the year their dad died. Russell volunteers to do a deeper dive into the scientist.
Colter and Russell meet with Cal at his ex’s house and learn Lisa and Hailey still haven’t returned. Lisa’s and her boyfriend’s cars are in the driveway, and he doesn’t trust the boyfriend. Kurt’s running a crypto scam and Russell decides that he hates him, too. Cal and Kurt got into an argument the last time Cal went to pick up Hailey, and maybe Kurt is behind the fact they’re missing.
Hailey doesn’t like Kurt either and told Cal he’s stealing money from her mom. She revealed that a stranger showed up a while back who claimed Kurt owed him money.
Since there’s no alarm, Russell just breaks the glass door. Hailey’s and Lisa’s phones are on a table and Cal knows they wouldn’t leave without them. Colter checks upstairs and finds blood splatter on the wall. He enters a bathroom, gun drawn, and finds Kurt lying dead on the floor. His right hand’s been cut off and is missing.
Russell and Colter walk through various scenarios since nothing’s missing and there are no signs of forced entry (other than the glass Russell broke). Reenie has arrived, along with the cops, and has learned Kurt Foster has a criminal record for running a pyramid scheme. Colter and the sheriffs believe Kurt pissed off the wrong people. Reenie looks at Russell like he’s grown a second head when he suggests the hand might have been cut off by somebody who just collects hands.
Russell admits he loves it when Colter calls “his guy,” Randy, for help. Randy’s discovered Kurt’s got enemies, based on his text messages, and might have left clues in his laptop. Randy sends Colter and Russell Kurt’s address as Reenie heads off to the sheriff’s office. Russell asks his bro about Reenie’s boyfriend because he can’t get a handle on the situation. Reenie said they are in a “weird place,” and Russell’s disappointed to learn she’s dating a lawyer. Colter claims not to know anything about Reenie’s relationship because he and Reenie stay in their own lanes. Russell reminds him that there was a time when Colter knew a lot. He jokes about Colter swerving out of his lane or maybe it was Reenie who swerved out of hers.
Colter convinces Russell to get his mind back on the job and thinks Kurt’s home is the perfect place to start. It’s unlocked when they arrive, and they discover someone beat them there and used the severed hand to open a biometric safe. The killer took Kurt’s gun and all the money from the safe. Colter believes that the building probably has cameras and Russell claims he has skillz (stressing the “z”) that will get them access.
Russell finds the security guard and asks to see any surveillance footage from yesterday showing apartment 3F. He explains the situation and when the guy turns him down, Russell thinks he’s found an inroad through their shared military service.
Colter continues to search Kurt’s apartment while Russell shares war stories with the guard. Even though he’s enjoying the talk, the guard still refuses to share the footage. Russell makes as if to leave, but instead he puts the guard in a chokehold and steals his laptop.
He runs out, looking back over his shoulder, and meets up with Colter. Colter found Kurt’s client list, and Randy is busy looking for possible suspects. The Shaw brothers watch the footage and see Lisa entering Kurt’s apartment. Colter thinks Lisa, an orthopedic surgeon, cut off her boyfriend’s hand and opened the safe. The question is why.
Randy’s research reveals Lisa bought a burner phone at a convenience store 24 hours ago.
Russell and Colter discuss how Lisa’s moving around since she left her car behind. Randy reports that someone who matches Lisa’s description stole a red Volvo from the area where she bought the burner phone. He tracks the car and forwards the location to Colter. Just then, sirens approach, and Russell volunteers to stay behind to explain why he took the laptop.
Colter finds the Volvo and sees a woman hurrying away looking sketchy. He calls out to Lisa and she panics and runs. He convinces her to stop, explains her ex hired him, and confirms the cops are now involved. She begs Colter to let her go, confessing she had no choice. Colter tries to assure her he can help, but she panics again and runs into the street. She’s hit by a car and in terrible shape but aware enough to beg Colter to save her daughter.
A message briefly appears on her burner phone asking if she’s retrieved the item. It warns her that she’s running out of time.
Reenie joins Colter at the hospital where Lisa’s been rushed into surgery. He explains Hailey was kidnapped and Lisa was forced to follow instructions. Colter doesn’t know what Lisa was on her way to retrieve (it wasn’t just the money from the safe) but believes whoever’s responsible knows what they’re doing.
Randy backdoors Lisa’s burner and discovers it was a highly sophisticated sender. The messages are encrypted and like nothing he’s dealt with before. He was able to retrieve one message that included the location where Lisa was supposed to bring the item. She was given two hours to do it or Hailey would be killed.
Reenie fills Cal in on what’s going on and why Lisa didn’t reach out. Cal doesn’t think Lisa did anything shady and places the full blame on Kurt.
Randy sends Colter the meeting location and he and Russell take off, with Russell warning that these guys are professionals and they need to be careful.
Randy calls with an update on Lisa’s real phone. Her last call right before the threatening text message was with Raymond Ockman, a teacher at Benjamin Franklin High. He doesn’t have a criminal record and seems to be living an ordinary life. Also, there’s no connection between him and Lisa or Kurt prior to this call. Randy promises to keep digging.
The Shaw brothers arrive at the rock quarry meeting location and spot a car with someone inside. They rush up, guns drawn, and it’s Raymond Ockman. Raymond is scared to death and asks if they’re with “them.” (Lisa also asked Colter that.) He can’t tell them where Hailey is until they give him permission. Colter threatens to shoot him, and Raymond says he can take them to Hailey.
They get in and Raymond drives while answering their questions. Suddenly, he deliberately crashes his car. Raymond makes a run for it, but Colter is much faster. He continues to insist he has to wait for the next step, but Colter and Russell demand to know Hailey’s location. He finally gives it up and says they kidnapped his sister to make him follow their orders.
“They said I was part of the process,” says Raymond. Raymond also confesses that he killed Kurt when he got in the way while he was kidnapping Hailey. Raymond’s phone buzzes with the same ringtone as Lisa’s. The message reads, “YOU HAVE FAILED.”
Colter and Russell save Hailey (Nevis Unipan) and the cops take Raymond away. Hailey’s fine and being examined by EMTs as Cal arrives. Cal hands over a check and thanks them, and Russell’s ready to wrap things up. However, Colter’s still thinking about what Raymond said.
Reenie calls with the sad news that Raymond’s sister’s body was just found. Colter thinks there’s something to the “process” Raymond was talking about, but Russell is ready to call it a day. They rescued Hailey so the job is over. He’s suggesting beers and steaks on Colter when they both receive text messages that say, “You have interrupted the process and there will be consequences.”
This case is definitely not over.
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- Tracker Season 3 Episode 2 “Leverage” Recap
- Tracker Season 3 Episode 3 “First Fire” Recap
- Tracker Season 3 Episode 4 “No Man’s Land” Recap
- Tracker Season 3 Episode 5 “The Old Ways” Recap
- Tracker Season 3 Episode 6 “Angel” Recap
- Tracker Season 3 Episode 7 “Eat the Rich” Recap
- Tracker Season 3 Episode 8 “Eurydice” Recap
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- Tracker Season 3 Episode 10 “The Fallout” Recap
