Sins of the Past (Terriers)

Three years ago, an alcoholic Hank (Donal Logue) works as a detective alongside Mark (Rockmond Dunbar). Hank is asked to interrogate Britt (Michael Raymond-James), then a thief stopped near the scene of a rape by Billy Whitman (Chris William Martin), the son of a powerful La Jolla family. Though Hank notes Britt does not match the description of the serial rapist, he questions Britt and is convinced of his innocence, as Britt expressed genuine concern for the woman. Police also recover a phone recording of Britt reporting a woman screaming, so they are forced to let him go.

Hank learns from his wife Gretchen (Kimberly Quinn) that she dated Whitman in college and that Whitman was implicated in a series of sexual assaults at a fraternity party, which his family helped to cover up. After he angrily interrogates Whitman, Mark urges him to recuse himself from the investigation, as his connection to Gretchen and heavy drinking affects it. At home, his relationship with Gretchen deteriorates over his obsession with Whitman. The next day, Hank and Mark bring the victim to a police lineup to identify possible suspects; she notes the voice of Det. Reynolds, acting as a fill-in for the lineup, but does not implicate Whitman despite Hank’s coaching.

Later, Mark interrogates a drunk Hank, informing him Whitman was run off the road and evidence implicating him in the rapes was found planted in his trunk. Hank denies responsibility and lashes out at Mark, while Hank’s captain assures Whitman and his lawyer that Hank will be fired from the police force.

Having broken up with Katie (Laura Allen), Britt moves out of the house despite Hank trying to make Britt reconsider. Katie arrives and asks what will happen to Winston, to which an angry Britt tells her to decide. She tearfully chooses to let him go with Britt.

Britt moves in with Hank, and the pair find Laura Ross (Alison Elliott) at his house. She approaches Hank with new information regarding Billy Whitman and the rape cases, which are still unsolved, and they meet with Mark to give him the new information. Britt finds a Polaroid photo of Katie and her classmate Gavin (Zack Silva) from the karaoke night. Though Hank urges him to forget about it and get drunk, Britt sneaks back into their house and uses her laptop to find Gavin’s identity.

At the station, Mark meets with Whitman and his attorney while Hank, Laura, and Detective Ronnie Reynolds (Craig Susser) watch. Mark informs Whitman that they have DNA evidence from a series of connected rapes in Temecula, but Whitman refuses to talk. Mark asks Reynolds to store the DNA evidence, after which Hank and Mark accuse him of committing the rapes. Laura’s reporting and their own recollections of the case show that he was involved in the rapes and planted the evidence in Whitman’s car, as he was the first officer on scene and made the victim recount the events to him in detail. To further confirm his involvement, Hank and Mark show CCTV footage of Reynolds destroying the DNA evidence Mark asked him to handle. Reynolds is arrested and Mark thanks Laura and Hank for their help.

Meanwhile, a drunken Britt corners Gavin at a grocery store and brutally attacks him, leading to his arrest. Hank visits Britt at his cell, telling him that he attacked the wrong man and revealing that Katie told him about what she had done. Hank defends his actions, as Britt proved his point by getting arrested. Britt furiously tells him to leave. In a flashback to after his interrogation, Hank urges Britt to stop his criminal life and find better friends, while Britt tells him he hopes Hank is able to solve the rape case.