Grimm Episode 1.18 Cat and Mouse

Ian Harmon, a leader in the Wesen Resistance, is being pursued across the country by the Verrat, a malicious Wesen secret society. They are marked with an intertwined diamonds tattoo on their palms. While Ian has been able to allude or subdue the other assassins sent after him, Edgar Waltz is a step above the rest. Waltz finds Ian's bus route to Portland and meets him there gun in hand. Shots are fired as Ian escapes, but he still takes a bullet in the shoulder. Waltz picks up Ian's dropped duffle bag and wonders how he will be able to find him now.

Waltz visits Capt ain Renard at his home and requests Renard's assistance with tracking Ian. Renard is indifferent, claiming the Verrat's concerns do not match his own. Disappointed with this response, Waltz shares the High Command has not been pleased that so many of the Resistance have found a safe harbor in Portland. Warning Renard he should be concerned with what the Verrat can do, Waltz leaves him with this message in Latin: "If you seek peace, prepare for war."

Hank and Nick investigate the shooting at the bus station. The bus driver identifies the passenger getting shot at as Ian and the police are able to make a photo identification via the security camera footage. However, no one had a good look at the actual shooter. The detectives can tell by the bloodstains Ian was struck by a bullet, yet the hospitals report no one has checked-in with a bullet wound. Has Ian crawled away to die somewhere... or does he have just as much to hide as the shooter?

Hank and Nick investigate the shooting at the bus station. The bus driver identifies the passenger getting shot at as Ian and the police are able to make a photo identification via the security camera footage. However, no one had a good look at the actual shooter. The detectives can tell by the bloodstains Ian was struck by a bullet, yet the hospitals report no one has checked-in with a bullet wound. Has Ian crawled away to die somewhere... or does he have just as much to hide as the shooter?

Rosalee is grabbed by Ian as soon as she enters her spice shop in the morning. At first Rosalee is frightened until she recognizes the man she used to know. Ian came to the store to pick up a fake passport from Rosalee's brother. Seeing Ian in such bad shape with blood covered clothes spurs Rosalee to action. She gets Ian into bed and calls Monroe for help. By explaining to Monroe Ian's association with the Resistance, Monroe instantly gathers the people chasing must be the Verrat, which is bad, bad news. "They make the Spanish Inquisition look like the SPCA."

Waltz uses his sources to find a Resistance bartender who "knows things." Pretending to be in need of forged documents, Waltz tricks the bartender into mentioning a camera shop in downtown as the best place to go. Waltz shoots him for his trouble. Later, Nick surveys the crime scene at the bar, and Waltz comes forward as a witness identifying Ian as the shooter. If Captain Renard won't help the Verrat directly, Waltz will use Portland's finest to find his prey for him.

With Monroe's help, Rosalee removes the bullet from Ian's shoulder. Rosalee informs Monroe she and Ian used to be an item years ago, striking a chord of jealousy in Monroe, though she swears that was all in the past. Ian is hesitant once Monroe believes they should call in Nick. How can we trust a Grimm? Both Monroe and Rosalee testify to Nick's character and attest he's the best bet they have against the likes of the Verrat. Ian begrudgingly agrees, and Monroe invites Nick over to "see something."

Waltz finds his way to the camera shop and threatens to kill every member of the owner's family if he doesn't help Waltz locate Ian. The owner agrees to notify Waltz if anyone comes in looking to make papers for Ian. Afterwards, Waltz calls Captain Renard to ask why he didn't mention he had a Grimm working for him. Waltz idealizes Nick being a valuable asset to the Verrat. Renard admits Nick is still unaware the captain is a part of the Wesen community, which catches Waltz by surprise. "Then you are playing a very dangerous game."

With Nick's impression of Ian being the person who killed the bartender, Nick pulls his gun immediately upon seeing Ian in the spice shop. Monroe and Rosalee explain Ian couldn't have shot anyone as he's been with them all day. The trio describes the Verrat as having infiltrated the highest levels of governments and industries throughout the world. The Resistance fights to stand up to this corruption. Nick prefers to remain neutral in this whole affair, but he pledges to find Waltz, the person who actually did kill someone.

Nick and Waltz agree to a "truce" to air their grievances. Waltz gives an ultimatum to Nick to turn over Ian, or there will be more and more dead bodies littering this city. Nick realizes Waltz is just the kind of sociopath who would be capable of senseless killings. Later, Rosalee goes to the camera shop to get a passport for Ian. The owner is reluctant yet ultimately gives her the passport, knowing Waltz will follow Rosalee back to Ian. What the owner doesn't know is Waltz will kill him before he leaves.

Back at the spice shop, Waltz enters acting as a customer. Rosalee is fetching items for Waltz as she would for any other customer when she notices a note inside Ian's passport from the camera shop owner. The message is an apology from the owner and an explanation that the man following her is an agent of the Verrat. Before she can react, Waltz takes Rosalee hostage and calls Monroe. Unless he delivers Ian in 15 minutes, Waltz will kill Rosalee.

Monroe calls Nick who devises a plan. Nick and Monroe enter the store separately and pretend not to know each other. Waltz believes Monroe to be a clueless shopper and is caught off guard when Monroe transforms into a Blutbad. Monroe is able to knock Waltz's gun away and leave him reeling on the floor. Nick is relieved the ordeal is over until Ian walks in and shoots Waltz dead. Ian says sometimes it's hard to know what the right thing is... Nick says sometimes it's not.

Nick handcuffs Ian and appears ready to take him into custody for killing Waltz. Rosalee pleads for mercy knowing the Verrat would find him in prison; however, Nick seems resolved. Nick continues the charade until they reach Nick's car where he asks Monroe to dispose of Waltz's body. Instead of the police station, Nick takes Ian to the bus station and gives him an envelope of cash to go with his new passport. Nick isn't happy entering the "gray area" where he betrays his law enforcement duties for the sake of his Grimm duties; however the words Ian once shared still ring in Nick's ears: "This world is on the brink of war."