Person of Interest/Recap/S01/E10

Season 1, Episode 10:

Number Crunch
"I wanted to say thank you, Harold, for giving me a second chance."

- Reese

Reese and Finch are pushed to new limits when the Machine spits out four new numbers at once. The first number is dead before Reese can intervene, so he enlists Fusco and puts Finch in the field to keep track of the remaining numbers. Inexperienced at field work, Finch doesn't spot the signs in time to spot the next number from being killed by a car bomb. The NYPD and Finch discover at the same time why these numbers are being targeted: they were witnesses to the death of a congressman's son in a car crash and found a large amount of money at the scene, which they took and someone is trying to recover. Reese tracks down the two remaining numbers, who are foster sisters trying to use the money to help their foster mother.

Meanwhile, Detective Carter has been pulled from duty while her shooting is investigated by internal affairs and a mysterious burearucrat. She kills time by helping Fusco investigate his current case -- the dead numbers -- until the bureaucrat makes contact and introduces himself as Mark Snow, a CIA officer. They claim Reese is deranged and that he murdered his former partner, and they want Carter's help to bring him in. Finch works with Fusco to track down the source of the money and who's trying to kill the numbers; they discover that the congressman's son was a go-between for a fake charity run by the congressman and a corrupt bank, and expose it. And the killers track down the remaining numbers and kidnap one, holding her for ransom in exchange for the money. Reese tips off Carter where the exchange is taking place and Carter thanks him, but then calls Snow and passes on the tip.

Reese shadows the exchange and takes out the killers when they try a double-cross. The numbers leave with their money and Reese waits for Carter, but Finch learns from their police station spy camera that Carter has sold Reese out to the CIA. Carter and Snow make contact while another CIA officer covers the meeting with a sniper rifle and shoots Reese twice. Badly wounded, Reese makes it to the stairwell with Carter on his heels and Finch on his way with an escape vehicle. Carter catches up with the pair and has the dead to rights, but instead she helps them escape.

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Tropes present in this episode include

 * Hey, It's That Guy!: Bridget Regan guest-stars as one of the persons of interest.
 * It's Personal: Snow has a particular hate-on for Reese.
 * The Men in Black: Snow and his partner.
 * Mercy Lead
 * To Be Lawful or Good: The dilemma Carter struggles with. Reese is certainly a criminal and its her job to bring him in, but he's also helping people and probably doesn't deserve whatever fate the CIA has in store for him.
 * Wham! Episode