The Road to Hamelin

"The Road to Hamelin" is the 38th episode of the American TV drama The Killing, airing on August 4, 2013, as the second part of a two-part season finale. It was co-written by executive producers Dawn Prestwich and Nicole Yorkin and directed by Dan Attias. The episode resolves the season's main storyline, revealing the serial killer's identity and what happened to the missing boy, Adrian.

Plot

In the episode, detectives Stephen Holder and Sarah Linden, desperate to find Adrian, share their suspicions about Carl Reddick with James Skinner. Later, Linden spots a ring belonging to the missing Kallie Leeds on Skinner's daughter's finger. Realizing Skinner is the killer, she is forced to ride with him to locate Adrian, while Holder races to save her after Adrian is found safe.

The plot follows Holder and Linden questioning Adrian's adoptive mother, Tess Clarke, who grows worried when his backpack is found inside and the back door is open. Skinner picks up his daughter Bethany from ballet, and she asks if he loves "the woman from work." He says he can't be someone he isn't but still loves her.

At the Clarke house, Holder and Linden suggest they have the wrong man in jail and suspect Reddick. Skinner tells them to keep searching for Adrian while he handles Reddick. They speak with neighbor Cammy Ezer, who says Adrian came to her scared, claiming he was being followed, but she drove him home.

At the station, Linden mentions collecting security footage from the school to Adrian's house. Internal affairs agents arrive to speak with Holder, and Linden tries to contact Skinner for help. She receives photos of a car following Adrian.

IA agents tell Holder they are investigating him for several reasons, including his assault on Reddick, and he surrenders his cell phone. Unable to reach Skinner, Linden goes to his house, where he is packing. She shows him the photo, and he acts complacent, telling her to be more thorough.

As they head downstairs, his wife and daughter arrive. Linden sees Kallie's ring on Bethany's finger and deduces Skinner is the killer. Believing he has Adrian captive, she disarms him and forces him to take her to the boy.

At the station, Holder tells IA to call Skinner, but they inform him Skinner filed the complaint. Holder tricks the agents into thinking he rigged Reddick's car with a bomb, using his phone as a detonator.