EJ and Chad Bond Over Their Intense Hatred of Clyde, Who Forces Ava to Work For Him

Jada finds Rafe reading Shawn’s resignation letter at the station. Rafe notes Jada will need a new partner, but since they’re understaffed, he’ll have to hire someone new. Cue Harris knocking on Rafe’s office door.

Outside the Pub, Talia promises Belle her one-night stand with Shawn was just that. She doesn’t have worry about them getting together ever again. Belle knows because Shawn just left town. They’re still together, but Shawn is getting the help that he needs. Since she’ll still be there, Belle asks Talia to stay away from her. Belle knows this is on Shawn, but she really doesn’t want to be around Talia. She’s sure the feeling is mutual.

After her call from Clyde, a rattled Ava visits him in Statesville. He explains he had Tripp attacked because Ava screwed up his plans to use Susan as leverage against EJ, who he wanted to run his pill business. He recounts that an associate of his happened upon Susan after the crash. So, he shipped her to Edmund in London. However, finding investors for his operation was more difficult than he anticipated. So, he had Edmund keep Susan under wraps until he was ready to launch. Now, he needs someone to replace EJ — and that someone will be her.

Chad brings Thomas and Charlotte to see Rachel at the mansion. Chad tells EJ they just came from Abby’s grave (where he expressed rage over Clyde killing his wife). EJ recalls that it’s Abby’s birthday and gently says she misses her too. Chad envies EJ for getting Susan back, even if she left town. She’s just a quick flight away. EJ wishes that were the case with Abigail. Chad wants to focus on the good news, which is that EJ got his mom back.

After Jada goes to lunch, Harris tells Rafe he needs a job. Despite his lack of police training, his experience as a Navy Seal would transfer over nicely. Rafe glibly lists the many ways he used his special skill set for Megan Hathaway. Taking that as a no, Harris starts to leave. Rafe stops him. He was just giving him a hard time. Rafe thinks he’d be an asset at the SPD, but he has to run it past the mayor first. Harris muses that once he’s official, he can get EJ’s confession after all. Rafe has something else in mind.

Jada finds Talia in tears outside the Pub as Belle stalks away. Talia knows Belle has every right to hate her. That may be, Jada says, but she has no right to be cruel. Jada insists things will get better in time. Talia knows because she won’t be there. They go inside the Pub, where Talia says she’s returning to California. Jada doesn’t want her to let Belle run her out of town. Talia needs to face that Salem was a failed experiment. Jada reminds her sister that she’s still there. Talia loves her, but she really needs to do this. She leaves to pack.

At the mansion, EJ begrudgingly admits that he has Ava to thank for having his mother back. After Chad teases him about eating crow, he asks if EJ and Ava are square. EJ vows not to do anything drastic, but square isn’t the word he’d use. She’s still responsible for Susan going missing in the first place. He lost a year with his mother and he won’t forgive that.

At Statesville, Ava insists she’s going straight, and that starts with a legitimate job. Clyde can set her up with that. In fact, he’s got connections with The Bistro. It’ll be a front so that no one will be any the wiser. When Ava refuses, Clyde threatens Tripp’s life. Ava realizes she has no choice if she wants to keep her son safe.

Wendy comes home to Tripp after filing a claim with the unemployment office. Tripp fills her in on Ava and Harris getting “friendly.” They get friendly as well until Tripp flinches. She notices his wound, forcing Tripp to admit he was attacked at work. She panics, but he insists it was nothing. As Wendy later bemoans having to job search, Tripp points out his mother is in the same boat.

As Rafe tries to console Jada at the Pub, Talia comes down with her suitcase. Rafe hugs her and then leaves the sisters to share a tearful goodbye.

Harris finds a stressed Ava in the Square. He tells her about his job with the Salem PD. His first order of business is to find the person who delivered Susan to Edmund Crumb.

At the mansion, ominous music plays as EJ says he wishes like hell he killed Clyde when he had the chance. Chad doesn’t mind hearing that because he is often consumed with anger. EJ laments Belle and Shawn finding them with Clyde last year before they had a chance to take “that bastard” out. It would have been fun, watching him bleed out in the cemetery. The brothers share a pointed look.