Wild Cards Season 1, Episode 3: Howl to Get Away with Murder - Max Mitchell and Detective Ellis Solve the Murder of Lucas Mays

In the third episode of The CW's "Wild Cards," titled "Howl to Get Away with Murder," Max Mitchell and Detective Ellis are sent to the quaint town of Stanford Township to investigate the disappearance of a local butcher, Lucas Mays. The episode begins with a team-building theme at the police station, but Max and Ellis are quickly dispatched to the small town, where they find themselves immersed in a web of secrets and intrigue.

Upon arriving in Stanford Township, Max and Ellis visit Lucas's trailer, only to find it empty. However, they discover several alarming items, including three bloody animal hearts, a sign reading "Banish," and wooden totems hanging around. These clues suggest that there is more to Lucas's disappearance than meets the eye.

The duo begins their investigation by gathering information from the townspeople. Ellis heads to Karl’s Meat, where Lucas worked, while Max tries to extract "hot gossip" from a worker at the welcome center. They learn that Lucas was a popular and well-liked figure in the community, making his disappearance all the more mysterious.

Their first stop is Tralicci, a high-end restaurant at the local winery owned by Harlan Stanford. The head chef, Siobhan, reveals that she canceled the restaurant's contract with Karl’s on Lucas's last delivery. Max deduces from Siobhan's behavior that she had an affair with Lucas in the past. At the winery, they meet Pam, a local animal activist who owns acres of land nearby. Pam is concerned about her missing rescued wolf, Tala, and leads Max, Ellis, and herself to Lucas's body, which is found on her land.

The discovery of Lucas's body on Pam's property, combined with the unusual activity of Tala's tracker, initially raises suspicions. However, the high fence surrounding the land and the lack of other access points suggest that Pam's involvement is unlikely. Further investigation leads them to Peter Milford, a local school teacher who was hesitant to answer Ellis's questions. Max suspects that Peter had an affair with Lucas, and he eventually runs off from the school, prompting Max and Ellis to follow him.

In the woods, they find Peter, Mona, and Siobhan performing a ritualistic spell, using effigies dressed in Max and Ellis's clothes. The trio confesses to having affairs with Lucas and setting up the scene in the trailer to "banish" him from their lives. They were also performing the ceremony to shoo away Ellis and Max, hoping to avoid detection.

Back at the police station, Max stands up for Ellis when Detectives Simmons and Yates make fun of him, but Ellis rejects her support, hurting Max deeply. However, the investigation continues, and they discover a tunnel used by Tala to move in and out of the facility, leading to the basement beneath the winery.

In the basement, Max and Ellis uncover a significant secret: Harlan has been filling empty bottles of old, premium wine with cheap wine to defraud his buyers, a federal crime that provides him with a strong motive to kill Lucas. As Ellis investigates further, he finds blood and a bullet lodged in one of the barrels. Before he can call for backup, Harlan holds him at gunpoint. Max saves the day by bringing all the visitors down to the basement, distracting Harlan and allowing Ellis to regain control. Harlan eventually confesses to killing Lucas, as he had learned of the operation and wanted to report him.

"Howl to Get Away with Murder" is a captivating episode that takes Max and Ellis on a journey through the dark underbelly of a seemingly idyllic small town. The episode not only advances the main plot but also deepens the characters' development, particularly Max's tough past and her relationship with Ellis. The dynamic between the two continues to evolve, setting the stage for further intrigue and teamwork in the series.

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