Lie to Me Episode 2.17 Bullet Bump

Governor Brooks and Clara Musso are participating in a groundbreaking ceremony when Brooks' security spots a suspicious-looking man and orders the governor's speech be cut short. Shaking hands as he leaves, Brooks makes eye contact with a woman, who is then shot dead. The suspicious man, Duane Corey, is subdued.

Cal reviews a videotape of these events, noting that the way the woman, Michelle Daley, looked at Brooks indicates that they had an intimate relationship. Gillian adds that Brooks, who's running for re-election, just surged ahead in the polls. A "bullet bump," explains Cal, who wants to question Brooks. Clara, a close friend and supporter of Brooks, tells Cal to go easy.

Brooks tells Cal he'd rather lose the election, which is 24 hours away, than have Michelle dead. Meanwhile, Ria discovers that Eli is cyber-friends with Emily, who's planning to attend MusicFest with other "friends" who are bringing drugs. Ben interrupts: A former cellmate claims Duane bragged about plans to kill Brooks, and they need to check this out. Duane claims he just told that story to install fear. Ria says Duane is not lying.

Later, at the Lightman Group office, Brooks admits to a drunken, make-out session with Michelle following a campaign celebration several months back, which his chief of staff, Trevor Addison, interrupted. Michelle was then reassigned because Brooks didn't want to curtail her career. Clara is unhappy to hear this.

Cal and Gillian question Trevor, who admits to sleeping with Michelle, adding that he cut a check for her funeral expenses. His lack of compassion disgusts Gillian. Cal wonders, "How did a nutter like Duane got through your security?"

Cal tells Clara that Trevor was previously a lobbyist for security contractors, suggesting that Michelle's elimination and the "bullet bump" were related. Clara says Trevor is just a player; Michelle meant nothing to him.

Cal goes to Brooks' campaign headquarters and asks, "Who's slept with Trevor?" One woman's lowered gaze gets her called in for further questioning. She notes that Michelle went from part-time volunteer to paid staffer, adding Michelle got bombed at a fund-raiser last month, after which she was involved in a hit-and-run accident in which a homeless man was killed. And Trevor got everything swept under a rug.

A search of Duane's home found a photo of Brooks with crosshairs drawn on it, but when Ria puts the gun used to kill Michelle in front of Duane, he doesn't recognize it. Eli theorizes the campaign knew about Duane's threats and ensured he had a clear path, so they could pin it on him.

Clara goes to Cal's home, says she told Brooks there's no way to keep Cal from digging deeper. Cal offers a beer, chicken tikka masala, and flirtatious dialog. They kiss and...

When Cal asks Trevor about the hit-and-run, he produces a videotape of Michelle being questioned about the accident. Watching this, Cal and Gillian realize Michelle's lack of remorse indicates she's lying -- and someone convinced her this was the right thing to do.

Meanwhile, Emily walks into Eli's office, saying she's going to Musicfest. So is Eli. Then she kisses him. When Eli recoils, Emily runs away. Eli tries to explain she misunderstood all his IMs, but it's too late.

Cal, Gillian, and Clara return to campaign headquarters, where Cal questions Brooks' wife, Janet, about that party after the fund-raiser. When Clara says she and Janet left together, Cal realizes Clara's covering for Janet. As they're leaving, Gillian busts Cal for sleeping with Clara, fearing Cal's compromised his investigation.

Cal wonders if Clara hit the homeless man, and the cover-up stems from her being Brooks' biggest donor. Eli interrupts, saying Emily kissed him. Cal punches Eli in the stomach, doubling him over. Then Ben calls.

Cal finds Trevor dead and a note saying he was responsible for the hit-and-run cover-up and Michelle's murder. Gillian analyzes the note -- explaining to Ben that women use more pronouns than men, who typically name people -- and determines a woman who's preoccupied with power and status wrote this, not Trevor.

Cal tells Clara that Trevor is dead and that he hopes she doesn't know what got two people killed. Clara confesses that Janet, driving drunk, killed the homeless man and Trevor used Michelle to cover it up. Gillian adds the "suicide note" was written by a woman. Cal wants his firm back, saying these people don't deserve Clara's loyalty, but he'll give her a chance to prove she's better than that. Clara offers her hand to shake.

Back at campaign headquarters, Cal confronts Brooks, who's just won the election, saying you've left too many loose ends and Clara's not going to be involved. Janet says no one will take Clara's word over Brooks', who accuses Clara of writing the note. Cal replies that the FBI is going though their hard drives. Brooks, now understanding Janet is behind everything, says he didn't ask for this. Cal advises him to step down. Brooks takes Janet's hand and walks out to face the crowd.

Clara signs the company back over to Cal, who goes home and confronts Emily about kissing Eli. She explains that Eli will never meddle in her life again. "A bit extreme," says Cal. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree," answers Emily. The doorbell rings. It's Eli, who offers an apology. Cal apologizes for hitting Eli and invites him in. After he walks past, Cal turns -- and Emily punches him in the stomach.