Running in Circles

In San Francisco, FBI Agent JAMES ERSKINE inquires about a foreign ship at the docks but learns nothing. Elsewhere, media mogul GORDEN MAXFORD speaks to his Russian friend, SOKOLOV IVANOV, Louisa’s father. Ivanov shares that a technology business in Russia, which he believes is behind his daughter’s kidnapping, is known to smuggle in the Bay Area. Gorden offers to look into it. At a café, Erskine is served by a new waitress – Nelka, the Russian spy. The two hook up. Sometime later, Erskine leads a failed raid on the docks in search of the Russian cargo ship with his partner JUDD MANN. Erskine reveals that he fucked up by trusting fake intel from Nelka. Meanwhile, Nelka leaves the country. Erskine is fired from the FBI.

Weeks later, Gorden’s fixer BILLY LEROY arranges a meeting with security specialist ELTON MILLIA and computer hacker L. L gives the men an in-depth background report of Erskine. Gorden invites Erskine to work for him privately, continuing his investigation into the Russian cartel. Gorden reveals that he has more information that the FBI is unaware of. Erskine mentions a player named Makap who was in charge of drugs. Gorden shares about Louisa’s disappearance and Sokolov and suggests collaborating with L.

Meanwhile, L visits her hacker friend WILLIE for help in continuing her investigation. She reveals that during Erskine’s background check, she discovered that Erskine was involved with Nelka, who is connected to a man named Olak. She asks Willie to dig into Olak. Erskine confronts L to read his background report. Upon reading it, he agrees to work with her. L reveals that Louisa is stashed in a safe house in Mill Valley. Back in Russia, Olak’s head of security, VOLKOV, reveals that their network has been hacked by someone in San Francisco. Back in San Francisco, Erskine questions some dock workers about the Russian cargo ship, who admit the Russians seemed suspicious. Later, Erskine calls an old connection, PAVEL. Erskine meets with Mann and shares a report from Pavel that provides evidence of a ship departing Russia and arriving in San Francisco. They realize the ship that Erskine was looking for was there on the correct night, but at the wrong dock.

Back at home, L notices something on her computer. She frantically calls Willie and leaves a message that he’s been discovered. Willie finds Nelka in his apartment. Nelka stabs Willie and sets his apartment on fire. L and Erskine rush to Willie’s apartment, but it’s too late – he’s dead. Nelka stands in the shadows watching the building burn.