The Contract

1989 in Chicago, Illinois, a 3 year old Dante was left home with a babysitter by his single mother Maria. When the mother was nonrespondent to repeated phone calls from the babysitter after not arriving home hours after the sitters shift had ended, the sitter tried making a report to the police on a landline phone. However the landline wouldn't work which lead the sitter to go check the junction box on the exterior of the house. When Dante hears a scream from the outside it sends him into a panic, he starts screaming and crying in fear when abruptly, a man enters the house, glances at Dante, takes him to his car, and drives him to an unknown location. We see a man at a police station answer a disturbance call from a neighboring house.

Detectives Darrel Carter, Malik Walker, Cedric Hughes, and Nolan Burke of the Chicago Police Department arrive at the house where the babysitter's body is found, and an official investigation is launched to locate the 2 missing victims. 3 weeks of investigating go by when a credible source points Hughes and Burke towards a crime organization, Nolan notifies Darrel that they will be looking into the tip. After poking their noses in a little too far, Darrel and Walker are notified that the 2 detectives have mysteriously gone missing, sending them rushing back to the station. On the drive back Darrel notices a car tailing them. After trying to escape the cars tail, the car pulls up beside them and attempts to kill both detectives in a drive-by, sending the detectives car flying into the tailers. Walker was hit in the shoulder leaving Darrel to finish the job...

...Darrel steps out the car into the smoke and debris with his gun drawn. As he's making his way to the backside of the car he hears the other cars door swing open. Darrel holds in his coughs to not alert the man. Darrel spots the man, shooting him in the spine killing him near instantly. Exhausted, Darrel races to get Malik to the hospital in time. Dante wakes up crying, when a man in a suit walks into the room to calm him down. The room is dark, it looks like his room back home, but the room behind the door looked like a completely different place. A man in a suit enters a Peet's Coffee, the barista asks for the mans name and he answers with simply "Joey", providing no last name.

5 hours since Burke and Hughes were last heard from, and shook from the previous events, Darrel is sent on a lone frenzy to find the 2 detectives who have the only solid lead on the location of Dante and Maria. Darrel is notified about a potentially gang-related tattoo on his assassins forearm that just says "LSN". Malik starts to questions the reality of their situation. Darrel obsesses over finding the answers.

Despite Walker's broken arm, he is back to help Darrel investigate. Surveillance cameras from a building across from a Le Français shows footage of Burke and Hughes entering the building, but never them exiting. Walker insists to Darrel they should wait for the department to acquire a warrant, but with their friends lives on the line, Darrel doesn't intend to wait around. A high-ranking member of a suspicious organization is tipped about the 2 failed assassination attempts getting too close for comfort. The man's face isn't shown. Walker reluctantly stands by Darrel as they plan to infiltrate the Le Français later that night.

The episode opens showing Darrel and Walker successfully breaking into the restaurant. As they make their way looking for clues, they hear frantic whispers in the kitchen, along with a dim light on. As they peer their heads around the corner, 2 men start shooting at them. As the men run out of bullets, Darrel tackles one of the guys to the ground while Walker chases after the other man who fled from the scene. After Darrell handcuffs the man, he goes to chase after Malik, but he hears a crash in the freezer, as he opens the freezer he sees two unconscious detectives, Burke & Hughes. As he's shaking them trying to wake them up, Walker comes back and is shocked at what he sees. Burke wakes up barely able to speak, as Walker tries to ask if they're okay, Darrel is more focused on the evidence they got, and all Burke says is "LSN" before passing out again. The episode ends in an emotional argument between Walker who scolds Darrell for caring more about the case than their own friends.

CPD arrives on the scene to both Darrel and Walker after a report of gunshots. They are both met with the news the Maria was found dead, with an "X" carved into her wrists. Both of them are dismissed from the case, barely escaping charges. The 2 men in the restaurant were interrogated but gave up no information. Walker is paranoid and certain these people will take another shot at their lives, so he sends his family away in an attempt to keep them safe from the madness. Burke and Hughes were both announced dead on arrival at the hospital with the same X's on their wrists as Maria. More scenes of Dante being taken care of in a facility of some sorts are shown. The episode ends with parallel shots of Walker and Darrel contemplating their next move while staring out into the city skyline.

The episode picks up with Darrel sitting on the rooftop still contemplating, he picks up his phone and gives Walker a call. They have an emotional conversation both grieving about their friends, but Walker still hasn't fully forgiven Darrel. Despite that, Darrel makes an interesting proposition to Walker insisting despite their dismissal, they continue investigation on the case, but Walker declines given the circumstances. Across the city, we see Walker's family enter a taxi on their way out of state. On the way, the cab is abruptly pulled over by the police where the officer shoots the driver, and kidnaps Walker's family of his wife, and 2 kids, a son and daughter. Later that day Walker receives a message that his family have gone missing, in a panic, he calls Darrel desperately ready to start investigating the case again.

Darrel and Malik start searching other Le Français establishments, and interrogating Marco and Mancuso, the men who they found in the restaurant where Burke and Hughes were killed in an attempt to find a lead, but with no evidence and out of ideas, Darrel contemplates on what to do next, when Walker makes Mancuso a deal that could land the 2 detectives in hot water. Walker was willing to free the 2 men for any information they gave on whoever is behind all the murders and disappearances, all Mancuso could give was an address to a warehouse on the Lakeshore expressway. It cuts to the inside of a dark warehouse where men in suits are shown holding Walker's family hostage, along with Dante.

It's late night and Darrel and Malik are scoping out the warehouse to see if Mancuso's info is legit. When they see suspicious, luxurious vehicles going to and from the warehouse, they decide to get a closer look. Given they aren't supposed to be investigating this case, they can't acquire a warrant, or call for backup. We see back at the department building as panic ensues while the whole CPD looks for and tries to contact the 2 detectives, entire search parties are sent out for them, not willing to risk the loss of 2 more detectives. Hours pass and Darrel and Malik are made aware of the search parties, but with the unknown status of Walker's family, they have to make a move. As activity around the warehouse slows down, they make their move, entering the warehouse and evading security. The episode ends on a cliffhanger showing 3 blacked out SUVs arrive with dozens of more people.

15 men barge in, already knowing that the 2 detectives are there. They capture the 2 detectives, beat, and restrain them. The man who appears to be the boss announces himself as Joey Costanzo, he orders his men to bring Walker's family out as he makes an example of Walker, who is brutally beaten while Darrel and his family watch. Joey monologues about his hatred for police, his jealousy of men like Walker who appear to be perfect, with perfect lives, and stable families. Joey orders Darrel's gag to be removed, who then returns a monologue of his own, damning scum like him, explaining why he dedicates his life to taking them down. Striking a nerve in Joey, short tempered, starts shouting, kicking Darrel in the face breaking his nose, as Walker pleas, Joey continues beating him while his family watches. Walker barely is able to speak, but he screams one final thing "im sorry" before bleeding out on the floor of the warehouse. The episode ends showing Darrel's devastated reaction.

The episode starts showing the continued chaos in the streets as the whole department searches for the detectives, and the publics outrage about their unsafe streets. Back at the warehouse, Joey with bloodshot eyes, angrily delivers an ultimatum to Darrel. Darrel and Walker's family walk free, but Darrel now has to act as an inside man for the LSN as long as he remains a detective, the name of Costanzo's assassination ring. Darrel barely being able to speak, softly agrees. As everyone is being escorted out, Carla, Walker's wife, screams that she will tell the police and they won't get away with what they've done, Darrel shocked, and Joey angered and confused, orders to have them stay. Darrel screams and fights, but has no power and is escorted out. The camera pans out as Darrel slowly walks away, but doesn't make it far before breaking down, saying under his breath "what have I done" as 3 gunshots echo from the warehouse.

The next day, Darrel goes back to CPD building and tries to act as if his and Walker's disappearances were just a misunderstanding, but with no solid alibi, and Walker still missing, Darrel is taken in for questioning. CPD eventually realizes they can't charge him for anything without proof, and he's temporarily let go. Darrel holds up Walker's deal, and lets Marco and Mancuso go. Later that night, out of rage, and blaming Walker's death on them, he stalks and kills each of them later that night, carving the same X onto their wrists. Months go by and Darrel rubs out most leads that lead back to the LSN, meaning Dante was never found. The season ends with a solo funeral from Darrel, not just for walker, but for Burke and Hughes, giving an emotional eulogy speech accepting his role in their deaths. And finally, him officially resigning as a detective to start a new life. Ending the first season.