The Finder Episode 1.03 A Cinderella Story

NASA scientist Ira Messing tells Walter and Leo about hitting it off with a blonde named Lisa in a club when they were interrupted by her receiving a phone call. After Ira saw the threatening text message on her phone - "You're dead" - he asked if he could help her. She scribbled something on a bar napkin, which became illegible when a drink was spilled during her sudden exit. Ira followed her, found only a high-heeled shoe, then called cab companies to no avail. Now he wants Walter to find Lisa. Walter takes Ira's photo.

Later, as Leo shows Willa a mural by a former tagger, a man bumps into her. Leo orders Willa to return the man's wallet. As she does, Willa notices that Leo recognizes the man, but Leo refuses to reveal his identity.

Walter arrives at the club and questions "party girl" Therese, who claims that she has a doctorate in statistics and is paying off student loans. She says Lisa wasn't a "party girl," but when Lisa asked where Therese got her shoes, she directed her to a local store.

Meanwhile, Willa uses Leo's computer to learn that his wife and daughter died of E. coli poisoning and that the man they saw, Nathan Stein, was the head of a company which knowingly sold tainted meat. When Leo catches her at his computer, Willa asks if she's a replacement for his dead daughter.

Walter goes to the store and threatens owner Johnny about selling counterfeit shoes. Walter says he's looking for Lisa, explaining that the wear pattern on her shoe indicates one foot is large. He theorizes that Johnny wouldn't sell her a mismatched pair. Johnny gives him Lisa's address.

Walter searches Lisa's apartment and discovers that she's not there. Then he's tased by Lisa's brunette roommate, Mandy, who says Lisa's always going off with guys, coming home alone, and buying things to cheer herself up afterward. She also recognizes Ira's photo, claiming that she's read stories in Scientific American magazine about him.

Back at the bar, Walter tells Ira all this, but Ira still thinks that Lisa's the one for him because she didn't freak out when he noticed bird poop in her hair. Leo sends Ira back to the club in case Lisa returns there. Leo also tells Walter about encountering Stein, Willa's Internet findings, and her "daughter replacement" comment.

Isabel tells Walter that she had U.S. Customs bust the shoe store for selling counterfeits. Meanwhile, Leo tells Willa that she's no longer welcome to stay with them.

Willa asks Walter if she can make amends to Leo, saying that she doesn't want to leave. Walter says that Willa's real reason for staying is her desire to break into his vault; he advises her to find a way to make it up to Leo. He also finds a teak splinter in Lisa's shoe, which must've come from a boat deck.

Remembering that Lisa didn't call a cab, Walter and Leo go to the only marina within high-heeled walking distance of the club. Remembering the bird poop, Walter notices gulls circling a nearby boat.

Meanwhile, Willa tells Timo that Stein traffics in gemstones and asks him to perform a smash-and-grab. Timo says gypsies are con artists, not thugs, and fears attracting police attention.

While Walter discovers a boat with a teak deck, Leo finds a molar in the boat's sink. Walter then notices that the boat's closet is full of high heels. Walter asks Isabel to determine the boat's owner, whom he believes is a serial killer. Noting that Ira fits that profile, Walter asks Leo to observe Ira's behavior back at the club.

Willa points out Stein, and Timo attacks him with a baseball bat. When Stein fights back, Willa attacks Stein from behind. Timo then attacks again, snatching Stein's briefcase, as Willa beats Stein to a pulp.

Meanwhile, Walter dreams that he's Prince Charming, but his glass slipper doesn't fit Isabel's foot. Isabel awakens Walter, saying that not all women wear the same size shoe. Walter realizes that the wear pattern of the shoes is the same, so they must belong not to the victims but the killer.

While Leo watches Ira, Willa sends him a video news report about Stein's beating. Leo tells Walter that Ira's following a woman who matches Lisa's description. Walter asks Leo to meet him at the boat.

Meanwhile, Timo is angry that they crippled a civilian and got only $1,000 and a Rolex. He accuses Willa of being only half-gypsy, noting that if Uncle Shadrack discovers that she lied to the family, she'll be banished, and without family, she's nothing.

Walter and Leo explain to Isabel that Lisa fakes fear, runs, and when men find her by her leaving the name of the boat on a bar napkin, she kills them. But the boat is gone. Walter spots the circling gulls and quickly locates it. When he boards, he finds Ira tied to a chair, and then he gets tased by Lisa, who removes a blonde wig and reveals herself to be Mandy!

Walter awakens bound to a chair and tells Mandy that he's the true love she's been searching for, and if she'll free one of his hands, he'll place the shoe he's brought on her foot to prove it. When she does � and he does � she kisses him. Then he head-butts her, frees himself, and locks Mandy in the boat's closet.

Back at the bar, Walter and Isabel toast her getting credit for capturing a serial killer, as Ira bonds with statistician/party girl Therese. Meanwhile, Leo tells Willa that she can stay with them after all.