Human Target Episode 2.09 Imbroglio

Ilsa's sister-in-law, Connie, is treating Ilsa to a night at the opera. But first, she's getting introduced to the team. After all, Ilsa's late husband's sister is the chairman of the Pucci Foundation board - technically, Chance and crew are Connie's employees. In the elevator, Connie thinks Ilsa doesn't want her to meet them. Nonsense, says Ilsa. They're professionals of the highest caliber.

The doors open, and there's Chance in a face mask and bulletproof vest, telling Guerrero to shoot him. Ilsa is mortified. Chance says they got some new body armor, and he's testing it. After awkward introductions, Winston asks if Ilsa still needs that security detail. Connie wonders why, and Ilsa explains she had a scare a couple of nights ago. Someone was following her. But since they have Connie's bodyguard, Mr. Patrick, that's enough. Ilsa takes Connie to her office, leaving Patrick behind. Guerrero is totally smitten with Connie.

Ilsa suspects that the board sent Connie to check up on her, but Connie deflects. Meanwhile, Chance learns from Patrick that someone hacked the opera house security system's firewall last night, a 10-second breach. Chance wonders if it could've been 15? Patrick shrugs.

The "La Traviata" set features a massive chandelier from Marshall's collection, donated by the foundation. And look - Chance and Guerrero are in the lobby. Chance explains Guerrero said the show is fantastic. Ilsa's surprised, but Guerrero's clearly an expert. He chats up Connie as Ilsa grills Chance. He heard Connie's got box seats in Venice, and he'd love to join her some time. Connie is speechless. Chance tells Ilsa about the firewall breach. Ten seconds is harmless, but with 15, someone could hijack the security system and take over.

Just then, men wearing cloaks and ornate masks burst in, firing automatic weapons and ordering everyone down. The terrorists seal the doors with plastic explosives and quickly overpower Patrick. Winston listens in the surveillance van nearby as the leader claims that they're holding the audience for ransom.

Chance and Guerrero think something else is really going on, but what? Chance uses a ruse to take out the guards. Connie is impressed. The basement is where the action is, so Winston listens in and hears drilling. Then an FBI agent bangs on the van: Come out with your hands up!

Chance heads to the basement, adamant that Ilsa stay put, especially considering recent events (meaning last week, when she had to kill Hector Lopez in her apartment). He finds a hole leading to the sewers, and a crew cutting into a nearby building. Meanwhile, Connie confesses that the board thinks Ilsa has lost sight of Marshall's mission and wants to remove her as the foundation's head. Connie thinks she's forgotten Marshall too.

Winston's fake Department of Homeland Security ID gets him in with the FBI. The building Chance spotted is a CIA facility. Head agent Vance's computer guy could see inside, but Vance doesn't want to break rules. Winston says sometimes you have to throw out the rule book to do the right thing. OK. It's a special prisoner safe house, but the terrorists are already inside. They free the prisoner, a Chechnyan arms dealer named Victor. His partner and brother, Eli, is the terrorists' leader. Then Winston's cover gets blown.

Three masked thugs attack Guerrero, who fights fiercely. Meanwhile, Chance takes a bullet; thankfully, the new body armor works. He tumbles through a grate into water, and Eli locks it, then turns on a valve to fill up the chamber. Winston's getting busted, and Guerrero's busting heads. Ilsa goes to help Chance, and actually does, but is he grateful? No. He says, you're not supposed to save my life, I'm supposed to save yours.

Eli calls Vance and demands a helicopter in exchange for releasing the hostages. Vance agrees. Eli puts his cell phone into the captured Guerrero's pocket. Upstairs, the terrorists remove their disguises, revealing suits underneath, and mingle among the opera-goers. Ilsa and Chance join the crowd, where Eli and Victor are also mingling.

The FBI tracks Eli's phone and gets the terrorists on surveillance, a row of masked/robed figures along a railing. But the lead masked guy is Guerrero: The "terrorists" are hostages, duct-taped to each other, the railing, and weapons. Winston argues with Vance about unleashing the snipers as Chance battles terrorists in the lobby.

Guerrero uses his weapon's scope light to send a message in Morse code. The snipers stand down. Eli and Victor snatch Ilsa and Connie, dragging them onto the stage. Following, Chance shoots upward. Marshall's chandelier drops as Chance grabs a rope and flies into the rafters, firing away. He kills both men, and the chandelier stops inches from the floor. Could someone get him a ladder?

Vance lets Winston go. Sometimes you gotta throw out the rule book to do the right thing.

Later, at HQ, Connie plans to smooth things over with the board. She apologizes for thinking Ilsa had forgotten Marshall, and leaves. Ilsa opens the letter Marshall left in their vault. She reads it with a sad smile.

As Connie departs, she thanks Guerrero. He says we're on for Venice then? She laughs. He can't wait. Smitten!

Ilsa knows Chance has been following her at night. She realized it in the sewer: He feels responsible for Lopez's attack. But, honestly, she's fine. Chance says you can't just brush off taking someone's life. She looks thoughtful but says nothing. He wants her to know she doesn't have to face it alone. She says thanks, that means a lot. Ilsa heads home, and Chance heads upstairs.