After a horrific murder under his watch, Lt. Leaphorn faces more scrutiny as his past sin finally comes to light. Meanwhile, Bernadette finds proof to solidify her suspicions about Spenser Oil.
Morning comes, and Michael Halsey is dead. Someone —or something — slipped into the station undetected and slit his throat. Evidence of his murder drenched the floor and Joe Leaphorn. Joe takes a shower and washes his uniform to cleanse himself of the stains. The blood, however, is harder to remove from his badge, signaling the blood on his hands.
The tribal police are removed from the Halsey case as the feds and Agent Washington take over. Distraught that these things are happening because of him, Sheriff Sena encourages Joe to take some time off. Later, the local medicine woman comes to cleanse the station of the haunting spirit. Joe questions her about his moral compass. He feels he has crossed a sacred line that separates men from monsters. When asked how to reconcile this transgression, the medicine woman says he must face it head-on.
Meanwhile, Agent Washington encounters a visitor: the wife of the late BJ Vines. In the wake of his remains being found, the widow reveals the name of a witness who allegedly saw BJ being driven away in a cop car the night of his disappearance.
Back at the border, Bernadette and Ivan enjoy the morning after. She discloses to him that she wants to venture to Mexico and investigate the other refinery owned by ASG Industries. He’s reluctant but agrees to accompany her. The two pose as a couple to evade further questioning at the border. Once there, they photograph shipments being orchestrated by none other than Spenser’s man, Budge. Unfortunately, Bernadette and Ivan’s cover is blown. Budge and his men chase the two into the desert. Bernadette and Ivan barely escape, but not before Budge murders a man right before their eyes.
Joe and Jim Chee follow up on Halsey’s whereabouts around the time of the murder. A diner waitress remembers seeing him there with another man only described as “a Mexican Norman Bates – but meaner.” They assume she can only be describing Budge. Jim calls Bernadette to confirm this connection. The two say more in what isn’t spoken as Jim overhears Ivan in the background and abruptly hangs up.
Bernadette is prepared to share her findings with the DEA, but Ivan advises her not to get involved. As they pack to leave, Bernadette notices something in the distance that shifts her attitude toward her partner and new lover.
On the reservation, Emma admits to Joe she can no longer live with him and orders him out of the house. Just then, Agent Washington arrives with a warrant to search their property. Joe is now the prime suspect in BJ Vines’ death, making Emma a potential co-conspirator. Spending the night in his truck, Joe has a revelation: Bowlegged George may have escaped to Reno to be with his mother, Shorty’s ex-wife. He and Jim also discover Budge is a former CIA operative.
As night falls, Joe has a nightmare and awakens with a suspicious inkling. In the darkness, he finds a runaway horse signaling someone in the quiet night with him. Armed with his gun and flashlight, he proceeds to investigate.
This episode is the best yet, with great performances from our lead, Zahn McClarnon, and Raoul Max Trujillo. Trujillo exhibits his true viciousness as Budge. His quiet menace is only exceeded by his violent tendencies when angered, which we have witnessed twice. McClarnon is excellent as Joe, a good man struggling to reconcile his actions and their impacts on those he loves. It’s safe to assume episode six will arrive in the present, where the series began with Joe alone and delirious in the wilderness.
Rating: 9/10
