One of Us Is Back

The birthday party turns into a discussion of Reggie’s death and Maeve’s research. Maeve tells everyone that it looks as though Reggie’s death was an accident, that he might have been trying to free himself when the chair tipped over and he hit his head. Addy suggests that Reggie’s death was intentional but made to look like an accident like Brandon’s death months before. Maeve says the Vengeance is Mine group is talking about Reggie’s death, but they don’t seem to be involved.

Maeve turns the discussion to the words “practice” and “makes” just as the doorbell rings. Nate has forgotten he invited Vanessa, but he lets her in because she wants to apologize to Addy and Cooper for the things she did during the investigation into Simon’s death. Vanessa apologizes and Addy forgives her, but Kris becomes outraged on Cooper’s behalf. Vanessa accepts his rage and promises to donate to the Trevor Project.

Vanessa notices the words on the television screen that are being projected from Maeve’s computer. She asks if they are researching old ad campaigns and tells them that “practice makes perfect” was an ad campaign slogan Conrad and Olsen worked on six years ago for an SAT tutoring service. Maeve plays the commercial, reminding everyone how popular it was. Nate tells them Conrad and Olsen control the hacked billboard and that Jake’s mother worked there.

Emma has come home, but Phoebe is angry it took her nearly two weeks after Phoebe’s kidnapping to do so. Emma apologizes, claiming she has been too depressed to even leave her aunts’ apartment, and she doesn’t have the money for plane tickets. Owen comes in, and Emma greets him, but he’s unimpressed with her return. Phoebe tells them Reggie’s funeral is the following day, but Owen doesn’t want to go. He argues that Reggie was a bad person, so they shouldn’t feel obligated to show him respect now. Phoebe sees this as another sign Owen is a bad person.

Phoebe’s mother planned a wedding for a woman, Lucinda Quinn, who works at Conrad and Olsen. Phoebe makes an appointment to visit Lucinda, claiming to be interested in a career in advertising. Phoebe asks Lucinda about the SAT tutoring service’s commercial, and Lucinda says that one of the actors in the commercial was the son of their former co-manager’s son. She explains that the co-managers were Alexander Alton and Katherine Riordan. Alexander died six years ago in a drowning accident. Lucinda says that Katherine quit soon after to spend more time with Jake, but rumors suggest Katherine and Alexander had been having an affair and the grief of losing him was too much.

The perspective flashes back to Jake six years ago. Scott encourages Jake to look to the future and surround himself with the right people. He gives Jake permission to throw a party for the incoming athletic students at Bayview High School. They go inside and overhear Katherine on the phone with an unknown person. Her side of the conversation implies she is planning on leaving her family. When Katherine sees Jake and Scott, she hangs up and quickly sets about making them lunch. However, Jake can see that Scott is furious.

Nate and Bronwyn finish brunch at his mother’s apartment. Nate reflects on Reggie’s funeral, remembering how Crystal mentioned that a necklace Reggie always wore was missing. Nate’s mother asks if Nate has spoken to Patrick, implying something is happening with Nate’s father but shutting down his concerns over Patrick’s addiction.

Nate and Bronwyn are picked up by Cooper and Kris, and head to the beach where the Bayview Crew is spending the day together. Maeve tells the group that she’s tracked down two of Alexander Alton’s three children. The oldest son, the actor, moved to Hollywood. The daughter, Chelsea, is in England attending Oxford. She hasn’t been able to find Chelsea’s twin, Christopher, but she discovered their mother died in a drunk driving accident a few years ago. Maeve expresses concern that there might be a revenge theme going on. Nate volunteers to ask Vanessa to approach Katherine Riordan for more information.

On the way home, Knox encourages Addy to tell Eli what they know about Phoebe and Reggie’s kidnappings. Kris wants to wait until they learn what Vanessa can find out from Katherine Riordan. As Cooper approaches Addy’s house, he pulls to the curb because he sees a red convertible parked near her house. The car drives off, so Cooper follows. The convertible drives erratically, finally pulling into the police station. When the driver gets out, he introduces himself as Marshall Whitfield. He is the juror whose behavior caused Jake’s case to be overturned and retried. Marshall claims he has been watching over the Bayview Crew because he feels guilty for his role in Jake’s release. However, he would like Addy to make a positive statement about him on social media to convince his family he isn’t as bad as they believe. Detective Mendoza comes out of the police station, and Marshall gets scared and leaves. Mendoza tells Addy that Jake is missing.

The Bayview Crew gathers at Café Contigo to discuss Jake’s disappearance. Maeve tells everyone that Chase Alton is in New York working on a new play, but she has not found Christopher Alton yet. Phoebe makes an excuse to leave. On Phoebe’s way through the dining room, Evie asks Phoebe to take a plate of nachos to her friends. When Phoebe says she is leaving, Evie blows up, complaining about how many times she has had to cover for Phoebe over the past few months.

Knox comes down and has an awkward conversation with Phoebe when Emma texts Phoebe to come home immediately. At home, Emma tells Phoebe that Owen left his backpack at home. When she searched it, she found Reggie’s necklace.

Patrick comes to Nate’s house and asks to speak to him. Nate is worried that his dad is drinking again, or sick. Instead, Patrick tells Nate that his uncle died and left Patrick some land. He plans to sell the land and give half the proceeds—about $100,000—to Nate. Patrick says that Nate’s mother is helping with the sale, and it will be a few months before they have the money. Nate thanks his dad and imagines what he will do with the money.

Vanessa stops by to tell Nate what she learned from Katherine Riordan. It turns out that Katherine met Alexander Alton just after college and they dated for a year before Alexander decided to reunite with his wife. Katherine met and married Scott Riordan quickly after that. Alexander and Katherine didn’t see each other again for years until they started working together at Conrad and Olsen. They began an affair, and Alexander was planning on leaving his wife. Katherine was in Mexico when Alexander died.

Addy’s mother is concerned about Addy’s obsession with watching the news reports about Jake. She asks Addy to stay close to home until it is time for her to leave for Peru. Addy’s mother admits regret in pushing Addy and Jake together.

The Bayview Crew gathers and learns about the information Vanessa got from Katherine Riordan. Maeve suggests that Scott Riordan killed Alexander Alton. Maeve also announces that she’s located Christopher Alton and that he’s an insurance salesman in Ohio. As they discuss theories regarding the kidnappings, Maeve stumbles upon a comment on Chelsea Alton’s Instagram that makes it appear that Chelsea’s life in Oxford is a lie: Someone is accusing Chelsea of stealing their pictures. Maeve follows the source of the comment and confirms that Chelsea has been stealing the pictures she’s posted on Instagram.

The perspective flashes back to Simon six years ago. When Jake overheard his mother’s phone call, he contacted Simon and asked him to find out who his mother was involved with. Simon not only found Alexander Alton’s name, but his address too. Simon and Jake ride their bikes to Alexander Alton’s home to see if Katherine is there. She isn’t, but Simon approaches the porch where Chelsea Alton is sitting. They talk for a second, and Simon tells her Jake’s name, insisting it will be a name she’ll know soon enough.

Owen comes home from a weekend spent with friends. Emma and Phoebe confront him about the necklace, but Owen denies ever seeing it before. Phoebe tells Owen she and Emma know about his involvement in Jared’s truth or dare game. Owen begins to cry, insisting he never meant to hurt anyone. When Owen calms down, Phoebe presses him about how the necklace got in his backpack. Owen admits that sometimes his backpack falls off his chair at Café Contigo, and people pick it up for them. He found Nate’s roommate, Sana, holding it the previous weekend. Phoebe wonders if Sana could be Chelsea and decides to talk to Nate.

Phoebe goes in search of Nate, but he’s at his construction job and no one knows which site he was sent to. Phoebe is told to wait for Keith Meyers, Nate’s boss and Knox’s father. Instead, Phoebe decides to track down Evie to ask her if she saw Sana touch Owen’s bag. Phoebe goes to Evie’s apartment building and slips in when someone leaves. Nate texts back as Phoebe goes upstairs, and they set up a meeting for when he gets off work.

Evie is surprised to find Phoebe at her door and tries to brush her off, but Phoebe pushes her way inside. Phoebe is shocked to see familiar wallpaper with vines in Phoebe’s apartment. Phoebe guesses Evie is really Chelsea.