Human Target Episode 2.07 A Problem Like Maria

Remember Chance's old flame Maria, the South American revolutionary he helped last year? She's in San Francisco. She slinks up to him at a bar, saying she heard about his new boss. It's more like business partner, Chance explains.

She missed him but pulls away when he touches her. A lot has happened; she doesn't know where to start. Maybe with the black SUV outside and the glaring thugs nearby? Did she come to see him or because she's in trouble? She's in trouble - and she always wants to see him. They kiss. The thugs open fire then flee as Chance and Maria pair up in acrobatic gunplay. They kiss again. Hot!

Meanwhile, Ilsa fumes. Chance is missing her important meeting, showing such disregard for her leadership. Winston says that Chance considers her a partner more than a boss. But he and Ames - and even Guerrero - are there. Ilsa explains that the team's methods could put her other work at risk. So she's creating a separate subsidiary, which Chance will head, to help shield her foundation. She's got contracts, but nobody signs.

The next day, Chance insists on helping Maria. She's bad news, dude, says Guerrero. Winston agrees. Ilsa arrives, and Chance explains that he has a "friend" in town - someone from the movement against dictator Victor Escalante. Ilsa knows that scoundrel; she tried for years to have him deposed. Chance says Diego Garcia - whom Ilsa also knows, from his wonderful work with her organization - is imprisoned at Escalante's country estate. He'll be taken to the capital for execution. Tomorrow, Escalante's having a party. It's their last chance to get Garcia back.

Ilsa's in. Winston rumbles, and Chance quickly explains that his friend, Maria, can be complicated, but he can handle her. Complicated how? Maria arrives, and Ilsa gets it. But she'll ready the jet.

At Escalante's party, Chance and Ames pose as guests. Maria and Guerrero watch on monitors outside in their SUV. Chance spots Escalante's private security: crazy-evil brothers Hector and Eladio Lopez. Ames has to lift a keycard off Hector. But she's sidetracked when Julio, Escalante's brother, hits on her in Spanish.

Maria translates for Guerrero, asking why, considering his name, he doesn't speak it. Mind your own business, he growls. And he's not thrilled about Chance's feelings for her. In their work, emotions are dangerous. Maria insists that they're just old friends. Right.

Ames shakes off Julio as Chance makes a scene, letting her grab the keycard. They unlock the doors for Maria. But when Maria loads the unconscious Diego Garcia into the SUV, everyone realizes it's actually Julio Escalante.

Betrayal! Maria explains that Diego's already in the capital. They have to trade Julio for him. Chance, hurt and angry, asks why she lied. It's complicated. The team screeches off as Escalante's troops open fire.

At the airfield, Guerrero and Maria pull guns on each other, but Chance talks Guerrero down. Maria didn't think Chance's new partner would condone kidnapping, so she had to lie. No, Chance snaps, you didn't. He's done. The team heads to the plane. Finally, Maria confesses: "Diego Garcia is my husband." She didn't think Chance would help if he knew the truth. He says get in the plane. Sympathetic, Guerrero brushes off Chance's apology attempt, saying he'll negotiate with the Lopezes. He drafts a highly reluctant Ames as translator.

But the brothers reveal that Victor doesn't care about Julio. No trade! When Eladio goes for a gun, Guerrero pulls two daggers from his belt, pins Hector's sleeves to the table, and yanks away his guns. They back out the door . . . straight into more thugs.

At HQ, Ilsa apologizes to Julio, who starts drinking scotch and hitting on her. She stalks away to call the State Department as Maria arrives. Guerrero phones Chance: Victor wants Maria, not Julio, and he and Ames are hostages. Maria volunteers to do the trade, but Ilsa won't. Chance says they can do it, then set up an ambush to get her back. Ilsa says if he wants her to keep the lights on around here, they'll do it her way, partner. She leaves.

Chance goes with his plan anyway. Winston says that if they're really splitting with Ilsa, he wants to use the rocket launcher. Meanwhile, guards toss Diego into the cell with Ames and Guerrero. He says they'll all be killed after Escalante's men get Maria.

On the plane, Maria tells Chance he's not the right man for her but she's still in love with him. They're interrupted by the plane turning around - Ilsa's orders. Chance opens the hatch, depressurizing the plane to force a landing. Escalante's men wait on the tarmac with hostages, trucks, and a helicopter. Chance and Maria disembark. Still aboard, Winston discovers that the rocket launcher's instructions are in Hebrew. Hector shoves Maria onto the helicopter, taking Chance hostage. Winston wings it and fires a rocket out the hatch. BOOM! A truck explodes, and bullets fly.

Chance leaps onto the departing helicopter. Hector watches Chance, Maria, and Eladio in a gravity-defying midair battle . . . until Chance flings Eladio to the ground. Hector closes his eyes as his brother dies.

Later, Maria wants to go with Chance. He says have a nice life. There goes trouble, and here comes more: Ilsa. She's furious. The others will take a commercial flight. Good. She and Chance have much to discuss. Or not. Thirty seconds after boarding her plane, they end their professional relationship.

Outside, Hector has an air-to-ground missile launcher. And he's got Ilsa's plane in his sights!