What happens in True Detective: Season 1, Episode 4 – ‘Who Goes There?’?
Warning: Major spoilers ahead
Rust and Marty pay Charlie Lange a visit to find out more about Reggie Ledoux. Charlie reveals that Reggie is slightly odd and had a tattoo on his back, which was the mark of a group of devil worshippers who sacrifice women and children for “The Yellow King”. He points them in the direction of Tyrone Weems.
Charlie – having previously shown Reggie suggestive images of Dora – asks if he was responsible for Dora’s death, with Rust suggesting he was.
Rust and Marty track down Tyrone’s ex-girlfriend, Kelsey, who refuses to help them – but a bartender at the strip club she works at reveals she’s still seeing Tyrone.
Marty testifies at court, where he’s confronted by Lisa – the court’s reporter – about him attacking her date. A stubborn Marty refuses to apologise, so an angry Lisa contacts Maggie and tells her about their affair. Later, Marty returns home to find Maggie and their daughters gone.
After work, Marty follows Kelsey to a rave. He spots Tyrone and pulls a gun out, forcing him to reveal where Reggie is. Tyrone reveals that Reggie is no longer dealing, instead he’s cooking drugs exclusively for the Iron Crusaders – a motorcycle club in East Texas. Marty updates Rust on what he’s discovered and heads to the hospital where Maggie is working a night shift. After he refuses to leave, Maggie calls Rust to come and collect him.
Rust is aware of the Iron Crusaders from his time working undercover, telling Marty that they believe he died on a raid. He decides to use this cover to infiltrate the gang and find out if Reggie is their supplier. He asks for personal leave from the police, so that him and Marty can run this sting operation. Rust takes it upon himself to speak with Maggie and arrange for Marty to be able to spend time with his children.
In character as his old alias “Crash”, Rust meets his former partner Ginger and feeds him his cover story – that he’s been in Mexico with a gang and is now looking to exchange cocaine for meth. Ginger agrees to arrange a meeting between the Iron Crusaders meth supplier and Rust on the condition that Rust helps him with a raid. With no other option, Rust agrees. Marty, having been kicked out of the bar, spots Rust leaving with Ginger on a boat.
Ginger and his gang prepare for the raid, breaking into a house wearing police uniforms. But the plan goes awry when one of the members kills a man, with the whole raid turning into a huge gunfight. Rusty grabs Ginger and escapes from the house in Marty’s car. Rust then attacks Ginger to try to get him to give up information on Reggie.
In 2012, Rust is questioned by the two detectives about his period of absence from the police. He claims he was visiting his dying dad in Alaska, but they question this, noting there’s no record of the trip or of his dad being ill. Marty, knowing that the story is fake, isn’t impressed.