The Boy from the Woods

Hester’s guest on the current episode of Crimstein on Crime is activist/attorney Saul Strauss. They debate the controversial presidential candidate Rusty Eggers. Saul is convinced that Dash Maynard has video footage that would be detrimental to Rusty; his source is Arnie Poplin, who acted on one of Rusty’s shows. However, he can’t prove any of this footage exists. Hester finds the whole thing ridiculous. She feels that Saul wants to leak this footage to damage Rusty’s political campaign. The debate continues off-stage until Hester disengages. Oren has come to the studio to visit. When Hester finds him, they flirt before talking business. Oren reveals that Naomi has disappeared, for real this time. He also asks Hester out on a date, and she agrees.

Rusty and Gavin watch Hester’s debate with Saul in Rusty’s penthouse. They dismiss it, but Rusty asks Gavin to speak to Saul as a precaution—Gavin and Saul know each other from the military. Gavin demurs.

Rusty is the one who loaned Gavin to the Maynards; Rusty knows Dash and Delia from interning on Capitol Hill together. Rusty may have also dated Delia in the past, and Dash produced Rusty’s talk show. Gavin extends legal client-attorney privilege to Rusty. In turn, Rusty explains his political platform: He subscribes to horseshoe theory and seeks to convert moderates to extremists. Rusty knows that Dash has tapes that could affect his campaign, but he is not very worried about them. Instead, he merely asks Gavin to look after the Maynards until the election is over.

Wilde accompanies Bernard to his house. He checks Naomi’s bedroom again and realizes that some of her belongings are missing. Bernard hasn’t noticed. Wilde suspects that she ran away and presses Bernard for more information. Bernard grows suspicious about Wilde’s connection to Naomi and pulls a gun on him. Wilde easily disarms Bernard and discovers that the gun isn’t loaded. Bernard shows him a text from Naomi that says she’s safe, but all other texts are from over a month ago. Wilde suspects that some may have been deleted. He texts Naomi using Bernard’s phone and leaves to find Matthew.

On the way to Matthew’s house, Wilde calls Hester about Naomi. Hester agrees to try and track Naomi’s phone. They rib each other about their romantic/sexual forays. At the house, Matthew finally comes clean to Wilde about Naomi. Two months ago, there was a party at Maynard Manor. Naomi had brought a stuffed animal with her. Crash was initially nice to her, but other boys stole her things. She ran into the woods and didn’t come back. Soon after, one of Crash’s cronies appeared with Naomi’s stuffed animal, which had been decapitated. Someone set it on fire. So many people were drunk that no one was allowed to leave until they were sober. Matthew, inebriated, wandered into the woods and encountered Naomi. They made out for a while but were caught by Crash’s crowd. Naomi ran away, and Matthew’s social status evaporated. To earn it back, Matthew agreed to do a “prank” for Crash: ask Naomi out on a date and ghost her. Matthew later apologized for ghosting her over text. Naomi vanished for the first time right after.

Laila comes home, and she has a date with her. Wilde quietly leaves, assuming that the new man won’t last. He decides to seek out Ava, ostensibly about Naomi.

The next day, there is still no word from Naomi. Wilde arranges to meet Ava at the school during lunch to discuss the missing girl. In the meantime, Wilde finally opens the DNA results email. He has one distant relative, someone named PB.

Ava meets Wilde at the high school. As they walk to Ava’s classroom, they pass sports plaques for Wilde and his foster sister, Rola Naser. Ava suggests that Wilde contact Pia, Naomi’s adoptive mother. She also gently rescinds her offer to rekindle their relationship. She tells him that she suspects that Crash is fixated on Naomi. Wilde arranges to interview him.

Hester tries not to be nervous about her upcoming date with Oren. Still, she caves and looks up his attractive ex-wife, who is now an influencer.

Wilde puts his own operation into motion. After school, Ava summons Crash to the art room and attempts to ask him about Naomi. Crash vehemently denies any knowledge of Naomi’s disappearance or current whereabouts. He tries to leave, but Wilde blocks him to continue the interrogation. Crash’s security detail comes looking for him. Wilde fights them, and Gavin Chambers arrives.

Gavin sends Crash and the other security guard away. Delia is furious. Privately, Gavin is angry with Wilde, and he threatens to get back at Wilde for involving Crash. Wilde thinks little of his threats. He surmises that the trouble brewing at Maynard Manor is because of Rusty. Gavin neither confirms nor denies this; he just warns Wilde to keep his distance.

At the Ecocapsule, Matthew confronts Wilde about the school fiasco. Wilde reminds Matthew of what he did to Naomi and tells him that David would make amends every time he made mistakes. Things get a little tense when David is mentioned. Wilde takes Matthew home. Laila officially breaks off her friends-with-benefits arrangement with Wilde because of her new beau. Wilde supports her, though his own feelings are complicated. He leaves.

Hester and Oren’s date is at a fancy restaurant. The food is great; they discuss their former spouses. They are both trying to move on. The date is going well until Hester is interrupted by a work call. Naomi’s mother responded and refuses to cooperate.

Meanwhile, Gavin is with Delia and Dash, observing as protesters (including Saul Strauss) demand the release of the tapes that could damage Rusty’s campaign. Gavin believes that the tapes exist, though he can’t speak to the content. Delia worries about what happened to Crash at school; she dislikes Wilde’s connection with the Crimsteins. Gavin reassures the Maynards that they are safe from danger.