Promise not to come back
smelling like a tackle box?
I'll have to actually catch
something for that to happen.
I'll never be any good at this.
Best part is,
you don't have to be.
- It's not the fishing.
- It's the lying.
Lots to be said about sleeping
with a clear conscience, Cruz.
We'll be back in New York
before you know it.
Hey, Soto.
Cruz, get down.
Aah!
Damon!
Damon, no!
No.
Linda...
I'm a U.S. Marshal.
Call the FBI.
Did we photograph 26 and 27?
Special Agent Bell,
this is Zidan.
Welcome to hell.
Chief Deputy Paul Ackerman,
U.S. Marshals Service.
I know the FBI's used to
this kind of thing.
This is a fiasco.
- Eyewitnesses?
- No, they made sure of that.
Took out this passing motorist
and this kid on a skateboard.
Including my Marshal there,
that's three dead.
Now, my other man is stable,
but the, uh... the witness
is in surgery.
- Government witness?
- Yeah.
Tell us about him.
Damon Cruz.
My deputies were gonna escort
him to Los Angeles
so that he could testify
in a Jairo Cartel case.
Blood patterns are smeared.
- Yeah, that's Cruz.
- He got sh*t five times.
He knew to tuck and roll
to protect his vital organs
while being sh*t at.
Majority of our witnesses
are former criminals.
Their instincts are hard-wired.
What was Cruz's involvement
in the Jairo Cartel?
Money laundering
and he was good at it, too.
He helped the Jairo Cartel
screw over a lot of good people.
sh**t got out of the car
to get a better sh*t at Cruz.
So, Cruz was the primary target.
The rest were just collateral.
And his wife?
She's at the hospital,
but she... she didn't know
that Cruz was
in Witness Protection.
He didn't tell her?
No, he couldn't,
not if he met her after
he already entered the program.
Mrs. Cruz, I know this
is difficult,
but we need to ask you
some very important questions.
Was your husband involved
in any criminal activity
that you were aware of?
No, he was just going fishing.
Why would you ask that?
I don't understand.
Why did Jim say that
he was a U.S. Marshal?
He's a third grade teacher.
Mrs. Cruz, Damon is in
the Witness Protection Program.
His friends, Jim and Mark,
work for me at
the U.S. Marshals Service.
Why does Damon need protection?
Your husband will explain
all of that,
but for now,
all you need to know
is that he did the right thing,
helping his government
four years ago.
He was about to help us again.
Damon Cruz, formerly Damon Soto.
He testified against
the Jairo Cartel
four years ago,
then entered WITSEC.
So, who was he scheduled
to testify against this time?
Two high-level Jairo players
extradited from Mexico.
Cruz's testimony was expected
to put them away.
Oh, yeah, Cruz was
a strong witness,
so I guess we don't have to
go searching for motive.
With no eyewitness
or video surveillance,
that motive is our
only jumping off point.
ERT's processing shell casings
and everything else
from the scene.
The Jairo Cartel has resources
all over the country.
Finding someone to k*ll Cruz
would be easy.
But finding his location
wouldn't be.
Well, it shouldn't be.
So, how did the cartel
track him down?
See what you can get
from the surviving Marshal,
Jim Ruhde.
We'll put a rush
on the evidence.
All right.
You know, they're not all
criminals.
What, the people in WITSEC?
Yeah, 15% of them are innocent.
Wrong place, wrong time.
You do a stint in
Marshals Service before this?
Put someone in WITSEC
when I was a cop in Indiana.
Curtis, 16 years old,
witnessed a g*ng sh**ting
at his after school job.
You encourage him to testify?
- I did.
- He was one of the good ones.
It was heartbreaking seeing him
say goodbye to his family.
Kind of like living
undercover, just permanent.
Yeah, all to find the bad guy.
I don't think I could do it.
To save your life,
to save your family's life,
you could.
Cruz didn't make it.
Marshal Ruhde,
I'm Special Agent Maggie Bell.
This is OA Zidan.
How's Damon?
He d*ed.
Damn.
Do you remember what happened?
There was another car
and a kid on a skateboard.
You talk to 'em?
He's dead.
Damn it.
Start at the beginning,
if you can.
He pulled up behind us.
Gunman...
Called Cruz by his real name,
Soto, before he opened fire.
You get a good look at him?
Hit the ground pretty quick,
so I couldn't see his face.
But the guy's sh**ting hand
had some kind of bandage
on his wrist.
What happened after that?
He got back in the car.
What kind?
Black.
Four door, I think.
What can you tell us about Cruz?
Cruz's cover story is that
we were buddies from college.
You became real friends?
He had to lie to everyone else,
but he could be honest with me.
Mr. Ruhde, no protected
witness has ever been k*lled
without breaking WITSEC rules.
Cruz was by the book.
Any indication that
he reconnected
with his criminal past?
Did anything to draw
the cartel's attention?
No way.
I got a knack for calling it
when my witnesses
backslide or violate.
Damon is a good guy.
He didn't deserve this.
Ballistics didn't get
any print off the casings,
but I've got something
we might be able to use.
Waterlogged paper?
ERT found it on the side
of the street.
Thinks it could have come
from the sh**t's car.
- Hmm.
- It's a receipt.
- "Bistec a la Criolla"...
- Spanish for steak.
Extra onion, extra plantain,
criolla sauce on the side.
My kind of carnivore.
No restaurant name or address,
just a generic diner ticket.
Can you recreate this
while we track down
the restaurant?
- Shouldn't take me long.
- Why?
Nobody's gonna freely
give up info
on a cartel hitman.
We need another approach.
Found 12 restaurants
with bistec on their menu,
but only three listed
at that price.
- Okay.
- Where are they?
Flatbush, Maspeth,
and East Harlem.
Jubal's dispatched agents
to Flatbush and Maspeth.
You saved East Harlem for us?
You're welcome.
What's happening?
Seriously?
- Just give me a break.
- It's what I picked out.
You're going to a Mexican
restaurant, not a rave.
Despite your caustic
verbal att*ck, I feel great.
Great.
Bienvenido, guapo.
Cómo estás, hermosa?
My friend got this
the other day.
He wants me to get him
the exact same thing.
If I mess it up,
he's gonna k*ll me.
I see.
Ernesto too busy
to get his own food these days?
'Cause that's okay with me.
Sorry, I'm in a hurry.
Of course, it'll be a minute.
Yeah.
For real?
You just sent me down here.
Okay.
You the delivery guy?
Get it to Ernesto's place?
Keep the change.
Yeah.
- Make sure you check it first.
- It's gotta be right.
That's him.
What's up, playboy?
Black Chrysler.
Could be our vehicle.
It must be Ernesto's place.
And that must be Ernesto.
I'm gonna go talk to him.
Excuse me, Ernesto Villa?
Next time, I get to do
the fun part.
Here's how I see it.
You don't have any choice
but to cooperate, Ernesto.
We have you on four counts,
including a U.S. Marshal
and a federal witness.
You're done.
So, you got one sh*t:
Who in the Jairo Cartel
ordered that hit on Damn Cruz?
I tell you that, man,
you might as well
just k*ll me here and now.
Trust me, it's taking all I got.
You can keep coming at me,
but I'm not gonna tell you.
Sounds like you don't wanna die.
Hell no.
I think I can help you
on that front.
Didn't tell him
who ordered the hit,
and I'm not telling you
either, lady...
I didn't ask you who ordered
the hit, did I?
So, what do you want?
Who gave up Cruz's location?
You give me that,
I'll go talk to AUSA.
I mean, you're going away
for a very long time.
Might as well be to a place
where you have friends, no?
- All right.
- Wait.
While back, I was in the MCC,
and my cellie knew that I ran
with the Jairo Cartel,
knew that Cruz got some
of our guys sent away.
Cellie have a name?
Vincent Marino.
He got out before me,
and when I get out,
he tracked me down
and brought me Cruz's picture.
Said he knew where Cruz was.
Wanted 25 grand to give him up.
I have no idea how he got
the info.
- Twenty-five grand?
- That's pretty steep.
Worth every penny.
It's not every day
that you get the chance
to take out a rat.
Your handoff to Maggie
worked well.
Let's bring in Marino now.
Okay.
Vincent Marino, it's the FBI.
Show yourself!
- Clear.
- SWAT, right, clear.
Bridge team, up top!
We clear?
- Got nothing here.
- We're empty, all clear.
We got ourselves a creeper.
Bell, Zidan, back here.
Oh, God.
Looks like it could've been
Vincent Marino.
Think it's too late to ask
him how he tracked down Cruz?
Vincent Marino,
amateur paparazzi
turned blackmail artist.
Yeah, the kinda guy
who makes a living
collecting hush money
from divorce attorneys
and clients with things to hide.
Makes sense given what we found.
His cell phone, laptop,
SD cards are all missing.
GPS trackers
and surveillance equipment
all over this place.
This guy was
a professional scumbag.
His record agrees.
Multiple stints in jail
for extortion, blackmail.
Any known affiliates?
Not as far as I can tell.
Well, he's an equal
opportunity offender.
How long's he been dead?
- M.E. just took the body.
- They think about a week.
GSW to the head,
pillow used as a sil*ncer.
No sign of forced entry,
so Marino probably knew
his k*ller.
So maybe our boy Ernesto
got Cruz's new identity
from Marino
and then k*lled him to tie up
loose ends.
Ernesto's a pro.
There's no way he'd lead us
back to the body he k*lled.
- Plus he has an alibi.
- He was in Miami
around Marino's time of death.
OA.
Marino and a WITSEC witness
are both dead.
We need to find out how Marino
got Cruz's protected location.
Start with the people
Marino worked with.
"William Dean,
Private Investigator."
Looks like they met last week.
Marino and I had
a falling out a while back.
Hired him to take photos
of my client's wife
in flagrante delicto.
He ended up blackmailing
the wife for sex.
When's the last time
you saw him?
Two weeks ago,
came by to apologize.
Said he was "making amends"
for folks he'd wronged
in the past.
When you were working with him,
did any of your cases involve
the Jairo Cartel?
I've dealt with
some dangerous characters,
but never them.
You know any of Marino's
other business associates?
No, but he did mention
some guy that was
gonna make him a very rich man.
Say what kind of business?
No, but believe me,
if it was gonna make him rich,
sure as hell wasn't legal.
If you'll excuse me, I gotta
keep an eye on these two.
Making amends
to those he'd wronged?
Sounds like Marino might have
been working through
the ninth step
of Alcoholics Anonymous.
While still working
his blackmail business
on the side.
Okay, so, maybe Marino's
new business connection
k*lled him after they sold
Cruz's location to the cartel.
His partner probably knows
how Marino got that intel.
So, Marino's phone records
just came in...
Yeah?
His most frequent calls
were to and from
an Amber Turner.
In fact, she's the only person
he spoke to
for more than five minutes
at a time.
Could be a girlfriend.
Could be his AA sponsor.
Crossing genders between
sponsors and sponsees
is pretty unusual.
Whatever Amber was to Marino,
right now, she's our best
and only lead.
We'll check her out.
I can't believe that he's dead.
What was your relationship
with Vincent Marino?
Were you two involved?
My dad was an ex-con,
so I know better than
to get involved with one.
Besides, I'm not at a point
in my sobriety
where I'm ready for
a relationship.
Sobriety... was Marino
your AA sponsor?
No, I was his.
Isn't crossing genders rare?
Usually, but Vincent asked,
and AA saved my life.
I was taught never to say no
to a program request.
Did you two ever talk about
Marino's professional life?
Did he mention a partner
or any business deals?
No, we hadn't been working
together for very long.
We focused on working the steps,
and he was eager to do them.
Most people aren't.
So, AA Amber was a dead end,
but Maggie and OA think
there's something hinky
about her.
Oh, well, there's definitely
something hinky going on
between her and Marino.
Yeah.
Combed through his emails,
found this.
That's Amber.
Marino sent this to
a photo editor
and offered him double his fee
if he could lighten it enough
to see the man's face.
What'd he come back with?
No dice, editor couldn't
do it for even triple the rate.
Okay, so Marino was stalking
his AA sponsor.
Mm-hmm.
Where are Maggie and OA?
Coming back from
Long Island City.
Okay, tell 'em to turn around.
I gotta get 'em to Manhasset,
right now.
Which one were they after?
The wife.
The wife was our witness,
Maya Nelson.
She's a former drug mule.
She was busted with
$3.3 million worth of cocaine
hidden in baby formula cans
in her car.
Where was this?
It was in Detroit.
She worked for the 5 Point Boys.
Well, if Maya wasn't working
with the Jairo Cartel,
then this case isn't connected
to Cruz's.
Yeah, th... that's correct.
Different g*ng, different city.
That means that
the Witness Protection list
has been compromised.
Two witnesses k*lled
in two days.
With all those names
out in the open,
is the Marshals Service
gonna move
everyone in the program?
We're talking 15,000 people.
There's no way we can move
that many in time,
not even with the FBI's help.
But then again,
maybe we don't have to.
Why?
Of the 60 cases
my office oversees
and the five Deputies
in my office,
both of these witnesses were
under Jim Ruhde's supervision.
Marshal Ruhde is the source
of the leak.
Hell no, this is impossible.
No way I'd compromise my cases.
Well, how did this happen?
- You don't understand.
- I-I care about these people.
I'd never put them in
any kind of danger.
Office hasn't detected
a breach in our software.
All of our hardware
is accounted for.
I'm sorry, Jim, if the list
is secure internally...
I'll take a polygraph, boss,
hand over my login,
credentials...
Marshal Ruhde,
did anyone knows about
scheduled visits
with your witnesses?
No one.
And visits varied on
a case-by-case basis, protocol.
Mind if I have a look
in your garage?
Whatever you need to do.
Did you drive the same car
to all your visits?
Twelve witnesses and families
in my caseload.
All live and work in completely
different areas of New York.
Why would that be an issue?
I know what this looks like.
You can't imagine how it feels,
the guilt...
Marshal Ruhde,
please understand,
we just need to consider
every possible scenario.
This was found on your car.
It's a GPS tracker.
I never should have let
this happen.
I'm so sorry, sir.
No.
We could use the Bureau's help
to figure out who planted this.
We'll get it to the lab,
have them get started on it
right away.
We might not have that
kind of time.
Maya testified against
the 5 Point Boys?
Who'd she put away?
Thanks for coming in.
My pleasure, got a nice,
little bus ride
down here from Lewisburg.
Closest thing I had
to a vacation
in two years since
I've been locked.
Since Maya Nelson buried
your ass.
Wow, life without parole.
Heavy.
She did me dirty,
ain't no question about that.
But from what I heard,
things didn't work out too well
for ol' Maya.
Or her old man.
Yeah, they both wound up dead.
Aw, what a shame.
'Cause she was real good people.
So, you admit it.
You had Maya
and her husband k*lled.
Damn right, I did.
She sold me out
for a ham sandwich
and a cheap bottle of cognac.
So, who told you where
she was living?
You mean, where she was hiding.
Who gave you the address, Nate?
Nah.
Tell you what,
I'll tell you what I know,
but I want a new cell
with a view of the woods.
All right, we can make
that happen.
My boy on the outside,
who will forever remain
nameless.
Got a name from some white dude.
You're gonna have to do
a lot better than that.
The white dude was
with a very sexy woman.
A redhead.
Hey, Amber.
Or should I say Alison Hunt?
We know you're in WITSEC.
You testified in a major
racketeering case in Ohio.
Don't try to deny it, Amber.
I'm not supposed to talk
about this with anyone
outside of
the U.S. Marshals Service.
Person that you sponsored in AA,
who sold at least one name
off the WITSEC list, is dead.
And that witness
and the Marshal assigned
to protect him are dead.
And the Marshal responsible for
covering your case was sh*t.
You're smack in the middle
of this, Amber.
So, right now, you're gonna
talk to the FBI.
Tell us who you're working with.
I swear, he... he was just
trying to protect me.
"He"?
Is it the "he" in this picture?
Is this Jim, the boyfriend
you claimed you didn't have?
It's not Jim...
His boss.
Chief Deputy Ackerman?
Ackerman was the real leak.
He's the one selling the names.
You're coming with us.
We put a BOLO on his vehicle,
but Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal
Paul Ackerman is already in the wind.
This is a manhunt for a man
who hides people for a living, folks.
Let's be on our game.
Hey.
Got a minute?
Yeah, I appreciate you
posing that as a question.
- What's up?
- Not here.
Okay.
I've asked Jubal if he'd like
to run point on Amber's
questioning.
Because I'm in AA.
Great, she's waiting in the box.
Jubal's declining.
Why?
Witnesses and their families
are dying.
You having something in common
with Amber's a huge asset.
I mean, we need to use
every resource possible
to find Ackerman.
Considered.
And, as I explained to Dana,
we have someone fully equipped
to run point.
She's your suspect,
you got this.
I won't force him to do this.
I don't understand.
I can't use the program
against her.
I won't.
AA demands rigorous honesty
with yourself and others.
That's how you stay alive.
And the only way it works
is if the participants
trust the program
and each other.
Look, Amber, we need your help.
We need to find Ackerman
before anyone else gets hurt.
But you're already hurt,
aren't you?
Nobody else gets that.
But you're stuck between two
completely different programs
keeping you alive.
They're both working
at cross purposes.
You've got AA, which requires
rigorous honesty.
But you also have
Witness Protection,
which demands that
you live a life of deceit.
I can't win.
No.
Tell us how you found
yourself here, Amber.
Why'd you end up in the program?
Well, I was forced to testify
against my father.
I put him in prison.
He wasn't exactly
an ideal parent, but...
My father wasn't perfect
either, but family is family.
I can't imagine the guilt
you've had to live with.
Marshals had to move me
four different times,
because I kept getting confused,
and I couldn't keep
my cover story straight.
Paul was assigned to me
when I moved to New York.
Ackerman was your point Marshal?
Yeah, before he was
promoted to chief.
Even though he was married,
I liked him.
He was so nice to me.
He even encouraged me
to go to AA.
Did you slip up on
your cover story with Marino?
Marino figured out
that I was in WITSEC.
He started stalking me,
taking pictures of me
wherever I went.
So, when Paul confronted him
to get him to stop,
Marino figured out
that we were dating.
He threatened to ruin us,
to expose us,
to just ruin our lives,
unless Paul gave
one name from the WITSEC list.
So... so, he did, just one name.
Then Marino got greedy.
So Ackerman k*lled him.
No, Paul k*lled Marino
because as long as he was
alive, I wasn't safe.
That's not the only reason.
Ackerman is seizing on
an opportunity for a payday.
He picked up right where
Marino left off.
Started selling names
from the WITSEC list himself.
Seven people are dead.
Seven?
No, that can't be right.
I had no idea that it would
end up like this.
We need you to tell us
where he is.
Amber, he's made you
an accessory to m*rder.
I don't care.
He saved my life and I-I love him.
And I will never betray him.
I... think I need to sit down.
What do you mean, he's missing?
Mrs. Ackerman,
your husband is wanted
for his involvement
in several serious crimes.
But he's a U.S. Marshal,
I don't understand.
It also seems that he's having
a romantic relationship
with one of the witnesses
under his jurisdiction.
I can't believe this is happening again.
Again?
Another one of Paul's witnesses claimed
that she and Paul were having an affair.
She had the nerve to call me about it.
But he's a good man.
He wouldn't do that ever.
He loves me.
I know my husband.
What happened with the other witness,
the one who called you?
Uh, she was assigned
to a different Marshal.
Even though nobody believed her,
it set Paul back three years
in his promotion.
Damage was done.
Did you hear from her again?
No, she left us alone after that.
Probably went on to ruin
somebody else's life.
Regardless, I'm certain you're wrong.
Paul would never leave without me.
Ackerman's preyed on
his female protectees before, huh?
Loneliness and vulnerability
of his witnesses combined
with his position of power
over their lives...
He's exercising dominance
in his romantic relationships.
The honesty they share with Ackerman
gives them a false sense of intimacy.
And Amber would have been
particularly susceptible,
given the fact that she's been moved
within the program so many times.
So, Marino threatens
to expose his relationship,
and Ackerman does everything he has to,
including risk his job, to save it.
All right, guys, listen up.
Chief Deputy's vehicle was found
abandoned just outside Newburgh.
No go-bag or Ackerman in sight.
He's headed north, probably
to the Canadian border.
Yeah, that's right. Remember,
he's carrying at least 30 grand.
He's probably got a stash of fake IDs,
disguises and weapons...
- Jubal.
- Yeah?
- I got a blocked call.
- Quiet, quiet.
Agent Bell.
Agent Bell, Agent Zidan, every
other agent represented at 26 Fed.
Where are you, Ackerman?
You know I'm not gonna tell you that.
I want Amber released.
And you know we won't do that.
Okay, then I guess I'll be forced
to sell another name.
Let her go or this deal goes live. If she's
followed, same plan. You have 30 minutes.
You know he's not gonna be content
without a parting sh*t.
Agreed.
He has the means. He's gonna sell another
name whether or not Amber's released.
Ackerman only had jurisdiction over
the 60 witnesses in New York.
Right, Marshals Services, you getting
remote access to that WITSEC list?
You're gonna have to move
the remaining 57 witnesses
and their families and you're
down three men, right?
I'm assuming you could use some help.
Tony, can I borrow you for a second?
Circle back with Amber.
Get her to tell us his location.
We're running out of time.
Turns out that you're not
the only witness
Paul Ackerman took advantage of.
He was in a relationship
with another woman
before he was promoted to chief.
- I know.
- We tell each other everything.
Past is the past,
but he loves me now.
He must love you.
He's risking everything
waiting for you
and demanding that we
let you go.
You see, what he and I
have is different.
The man who you are
choosing to protect
has just threatened to release
another witness's location.
Because of him,
more innocent people like these
are gonna die.
So, let me be clear,
if you end up on the wrong
side of him,
what happened to them
could easily happen to you.
If you tell each other
everything,
then you know his plan.
Where is Ackerman waiting
for you?
He's smarter than that.
- We know that.
- That's why we need your help.
- Have a good day.
- Yeah, ma'am, welcome.
- You're doing great.
- Don't be scared.
I'm so proud of you.
We did it.
We're almost there.
Here, give me your hand.
The border's just 100 yards...
Almost isn't gonna cut it,
Ackerman.
No, no, no, no, no.
- Follow team, engage!
- FBI!
- Stand down, we're clear.
- We got him.
Takes a certain type of animal
to prey on the vulnerabilities
of those they're entrusted
to protect, Ackerman.
I didn't mean for innocent
people to get hurt.
You going with that
for your defense?
You're young and unblemished.
I wouldn't expect you
to understand this.
You took an oath, just like us.
You two get to play heroes
every day.
I protect scumbags.
I give criminals who wanna
rat out their friends
a second chance.
What about me?
What about my second chance?
Your second chance?
Whether your witnesses
were criminals
at one point or not,
they chose to obey the rules
and do the right thing.
They turned their lives around.
Can a leopard
really change his spots?
They chose their fate.
So did you.
You brought up
the importance of sticking
to WITSEC rules more than once.
I can't help but think
there's something behind that.
- Curtis...
- was my old witness.
He break the rules?
Yeah,
but he couldn't help himself.
- What, family?
- Yeah.
His mom's 50th birthday.
So, he called her to reach out,
but 15th Street g*ng
was listening to her calls.
But the thing is, is that these
people were being so careful.
Doesn't make what happened
to Curtis any less tragic.
No.
Would you still encourage
people to go into the program?
Without a doubt.
- So I need you to go back.
- I need you to look at it again.
Hey.
Is that the other witness
that Ackerman
was in a relationship with?
Yeah, you were right.
He sold her name
as a parting sh*t.
We have a team monitoring
her apartment.
We'll bring in whoever
Ackerman sold her name to
if they're dumb enough
to follow through.
Really, really good work,
both of you.
Hey, Jubal.
Huh?
Yeah?
I know you said not to use AA
to get Amber to talk,
and I just want you to know
that I really respect
that you stood your ground.
I hope I didn't lose your trust.
I said I wouldn't use it.
You're not beholden
to the program, Maggie.
I am.
You did what you had to do.
So we're good.
There's nothing more important
than putting the bad guys away.
But, uh...
Yeah, without AA,
I don't get to be a Fed.
And I like being a Fed.