Motive Episode 1.08 Undertow

Taylor Hollis is a college student/small-time drug dealer who is looking to get out of the business. His motivation is a young college student named Sunita Rand, who has kept her relationship with Taylor a secret from her dad. Charles Stanwyck is a contractor who has a loving wife, Nancy, and a young son, Riley. He's also the person who murdered Taylor Hollis. The question is... Why?

In the past, Charles is working a contracting job for Sunita Rand's father, Vijay, when he gets a call from his wife telling him that his son is dead. In the present, Charles is contacted by a mystery caller. He says he finished his part of the project. He wants the person on the other end of the line to now do his part. He later swipes his wife's insulin. Charles meets with Vijay, who says the police were asking questions. No big deal. Charles says Vijay has an alibi. He then turns over his wife's insulin telling Vijay to live up to his end of the bargain.

Vijay sits in his car outside a house where Charles's wife meets with the man who is sitting on the porch. Whatever he may have been planning to do gets put on hold when his daughter calls to say the police want to talk to him. In the past, Charles tells Vijay that one dumb person can change all that matters. He also clues him in on Sunita's plans to run off with Taylor.

In the present day, Vijay gives Angie and Oscar his alibi for the night Taylor Hollis was killed. Sunita says that her arranged marriage is back on, so her dad doesn't have to worry about paying for his restaurant's renovation. Lucas finds the victim's car near the restaurant. There are traces of drywall dust on the victim. That's enough for a search warrant for the restaurant. Vijay lets Charles know that the police want to talk to him. He's shocked to learn that his prints are on the murder weapon used to kill Taylor. This was a little insurance policy Charles set up for himself.

Oscar finds it interesting that Charles knew the exact location of Vijay's alibi. Angie sneaks away some of the drywall left on Charles's toolbox. A short time later, Vijay is looking to inject lots of insulin into the man he was watching before but Nancy startles him. He flees, but leaves the insulin behind. The man who was being attacked is Nancy's brother, Greg. Charles is shocked to see that Greg is still alive. He departs his wife's brother's place before the police arrive.

Sunita overhears her father and Charles talking about their murderous plan. Angie arrives to place Vijay under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder. Oscar catches Charles trying to escape out the back. Angie has a chat with him in the back of the police cruiser. Greg was drunk the night before he drove Riley to his first day of kindergarten. The car accident killed the young boy, but Greg walked away without a scratch. He wanted payback. Charles believes Angie understands his motivation since she's also a parent. She doesn't.