In 1980, the owner of Hoyt Foods, who started a foundation after his daughter died, offered a reward for information leading to the arrest of the murderer, because Lucy used to work there. It leads to all kinds of crazies calling in, and Wayne and Roland think that’s a move that should have been coordinated with law enforcement. The Hoyt Foods rep says they coordinated it with the county prosecutors’ office—who seemingly are leaving Wayne and Roland out of such matters, much to their chagrin.
Later that day, Wayne awkwardly tries to flirt with Amelia as they canvass the woods for a still-missing Julie Purcell. “You think maybe we should have dinner some time?” he asks her. Guess romance isn’t dead. Oh, except in 1990, where Wayne is furious at his wife for going out to dinner with a detective and coming back all giddy that she managed to gather information about the case. While Wayne makes the argument about Amelia being an absentee mother, it’s obvious this is about his own shortcomings in solving the case.
In 1980, the search continues and Wayne discovers some playing dice in the foliage. He also finds a bag full of toys and more of those creepy dolls, hidden in a small cave. And blond hair clinging to a rock. And blood! It’s a buffet of overlooked evidence that looks surprisingly pristine, considering it’s been a week since they found Will. Does it ever rain in Arkansas?
Wayne and Roland also find a new person to question, who hasn’t been talked to yet. Although the farmer they’re questioning claims otherwise, saying a man in a suit with a badge came to speak to him the day after the kids went missing. He’d seen the kids a few times, coming down the road into the woods. He’s also seen a nice brown car with a black man and a white woman. But not the same day as the kids, he says.
The sedan is a recurring observation from people in town, although it apparently is not included in any reports. They’ve observed a man with a scar and a suit, by the cul-de-sac where the kids play near Devil’s Den. The TV producer in 2015 wants Wayne to admit there were serious flaws in the investigation from the beginning. But what is this really about, lady?
Remember how last week Wayne said, “You know what happened with him,” in regards to Brett “Trash Man” Woodard. That story line gets furthered when the lovely town folk decide they’re going to teach Woodard a lesson for speaking to their children. The men beat him up and threaten his life at gunpoint. An angry “Trash Man” rushes home to his shed and pulls out something he’s hidden in there. It’s a bulky green bag that could easily contain a small child.