Plot

As the search for Julie continues, the doll discovered at the crime scene provokes a reaction, while Wayne and Roland learn of a potential suspect.

Hays looks back at the aftermath of the 1980 Purcell case, including possible evidence left behind at an outdoor hangout for local kids; as attention focuses on two conspicuous suspects, the parents of the missing children receive a cryptic note.

Cops drag the river while Hays watches, deep in thought. The bicycle is fingerprinted. The boy had died of blunt force trauma, a broken neck.

In 1990, Hays wants more info on the recent Julie evidence, the investigators defer any further info to later.

West and Hays go to a machine shop, Purcell's employer. They start tracking down the dolls, going to curio shops to show the storekeepers. They find the Trash Man, Brett Woodard, who admits seeing the kids on their bikes headed west, towards the setting sun. They talk about his background, as a Vietnam vet whose job and marriage fell apart, he makes a meager living selling salvaged scrap. Woodard seems impressed when West says Hays was a Sgt in Recon. The two vets bond a bit, sharing their struggles. West keeps pushing, hinting Woodard is a pedo. The man is anguished over his lot.

In 2015, Hays comes to the West Finger Community Centre, now derelict. In 1980, the Prosecuting Attorney Larson is giving an update to the town, there will be a curfew at 8 pm and the police are putting all resources into the search. Amelia is in the audience and catches Hays' eye. People ask questions. They hope the girl is alive, they pass out photos of Julie and a missing red backpack.

In 1990, Hays and Alan Jones, an investigator then now conducting the deposition, comment about Larson, a political operator, now the State Attorney General. In 1980 West and Don share their assumptions with Jones. Hays excuses himself to see Amelia on her way out of the Community Centre. He shows her a doll photo, if other kids have them, she'll ask around at the school. Amelia leaves with another man.

In 2015, Hays leaves the abandoned Community Centre with his son driving. Hays is saddened he is losing his memories of Amelia. They talk about the TV interviews, Hays thinks the Director, Elisa Montgomery, knows more about the case.

In 1980, Hays and West bring their case files to an office meeting. They are introduced to two FBI cops who will take over the kidnapping while they look into the murder. Larson says it is a Task Force. There will be daily updates among the team, the FBI will start multi-State searches. West and Hays leave to go to Will Purcell's funeral.

At the house they take the cousin Dan O'Brien aside on the porch and ask him about his stay with the Purcell's, and the Playboy magazines. O'Brien said the house was a tense place and the kids played outside a lot, he says Tom Purcell is OK but says Lucy needed a stronger man. West asks if he has an alibi, O'Brien said he went to a bar alone then home to TV, in Springfield.

The cops interview another couple, Purcell relatives who hadn't seen the family since last Christmas. They insult Lucy and hint Julie is not Tom's daughter, the way Lucy ran around when he was working on the Gulf oil rigs.

In 2015, Montgomery shows Hays a web page on the unsolved mystery Purcell case, she brings up well-connected pedophile rings in the 1980s. She wonders if Hays was discounted because of his race in 1980.

In I980, Amelia shows the doll photo to kids at school. One boy says they were passed around as a treat at Halloween and he saw Julie have one.

Tom Purcell goes to work at the machine shop, the other workers gawk, his boss takes him aside and tells him he is distracting the others, to go home, Tom is angry and says he quits.

Hays and West interview the boy Mike about the doll. He wasn't sure which house in the neighborhood gave it out but it must have been on their regular trick or treating route. Mike admits Will and Julie had gone separately a couple of times and he saw Julie talking to ghosts, people in sheet costumes. Mike shows where on a sketched map.

The cops pick up Tom Purcell walking down the road. West asks him about how he met Lucy 13 years ago; they married when she became pregnant. Tom weeps and takes a bite from a mickey bottle. He is distraught.

Hays briefs the Task Force on the dolls, they have 114 houses to consider. Hays wants to search each house, Larson says no way to random searches. West says they will observe everyone to see if they react.

West goes to a porno shop. The operator is an undercover vice cop watching the prostitution at the next door truck stop. He has a lead on a customer who came in looking for kiddie porn.

Hays sits at a bar, Amelia is there with a group of friends then joins Hays on the stools. They make small talk, she wonders if he "looked her up". This is her hometown, she did the hippie anti-war fringe and black panther stuff in San Fran, then got her degree and became a teacher. He grew up in Conway with a single mom, two years in Nam, much of it alone. She wants to be a writer, he just reads comics, has mild dyslexia. He says he has a quirk and wears clip on ties, Amelia says her quirk is to go to St. Louis and pretend to be someone else to meet new people. They laugh. Then he notices the bar TV and asks for the volume to be raised.

The DA holds a press conference, he explains the Halloween doll lead, Hays curses and excuses himself. In the car with West, Hays is bitter and feels West could have stopped Larson, the brass won't listen to him. They quiet down, then West brings out the file on the lead from the vice cop. They'll go get him in the morning.

In 2015, Hays explains the town search as directed by the DA caused a panic. Everyone stayed huddled in their houses, scared to venture out.

Hays and West sit with the new suspect at a diner. They take him away and handcuff him in an old barn. The man, Robert Hebert, is panicky, West slaps him around a bit. The man is a paroled child molester who has changed his name. Hays questions him as West punches him. The man cries out but says he didn't do anything. Later they go to a daycare where Hebert plays guitar twice a week. The owner confirms Hebert's alibi.

In 1990, Hays sits with Jones at a bar, who gives more details on the recent Julie sighting. It looks like she participated in the robbery. The local cops are not too sharp. Hoys asks about Roland West, who has "done well".

Hays and West have Hebert bound and gagged in their trunk, threatening the man if he talks about what happened. The cops head to the Purcells, who have received a note.

In 1990, Hays comes home. He has two kids, a son and daughter, with his wife, Amelia. She has the galley proofs of her new book. In 2015, the interview brings up 1990, Hays had quit the police then. He explains Amelia wrote six books and that was her first. The interview asks if Hays had theories on Tom Purcell and Julie. He says he had many theories.

Back in 1990, the family has dinner, the kids are happy, Hays is pensive. Later Amelia wonders what is going on. He says Julie Purcell is alive.

In 1980, the cops converge on the Purcell house. A note is shown made with pasted letters, it says Julie is in a good place and safe, do not look for her and let it go. Tom asks what it means.

In 2015, Hays has dinner with his son's family. Hays would like the sister to move back home, but the daughter is in LA and seems estranged, wanting nothing to do with the town. Henry leaves the table exasperated. Later, Hays is in the street in pajamas and house-robe, staring down an empty street.