The Zanzibar Marketplace Job - Recap

In Kiev, Maggie Collins is working at the Museum of Art when someone tasers her unconscious. She wakes up and finds a Russian police detective placing her under arrest for the theft of a Faberge Egg.

The team is enjoying drinks and reviewing prospective cases at McRory's and Hardison is trying to convince Parker to go on Tokyo for a normal vacation. Tara points out that Nate can't save everyone, and he goes to get some coffee. Tara notes that Nate is drinking again, and Eliot admits that he is but warns that it's a symptom, not a problem. They get a visitor: Jim Sterling. Nate tries to convince Eliot not to attack him. It doesn't work. Nate explains to Tara that Sterling is in insurance and used to work with him. Once Eliot has beaten Sterling sufficiently, Sterling explains that he's there because of Maggie.

Nate takes him upstairs and Sterling explains that Maggie is accused of stealing a Faberge Egg worth $9 million. She was there verifying artifacts, and Eliot explains to Tara that Maggie is Nate's ex-wife. Nate figures that Sterling is interested because his company insured the egg, rather than any personal concern for Maggie. Sterling has another suspect: Alexander Lundy, international real-estate mogul. However, he works at the American embassy, which means he can't be touched by law enforcement. They prepare to leave for Kiev, but Eliot objects to working with Sterling. Nate tells Eliot that he's the retrieval specialist, so he'll work separately for now and get Maggie out of jail.

At police headquarters in Kiev, Nate and Sterling go to the embassy and meet with Lundy and his assistant, Sam Phillips. Lundy explains he uses his contacts to bring investments to third-world nations. Sterling notes that he bought a $9 million Faberge Egg. Phillips confirms Lundy's alibi, but Nate says that Lundy isn't a suspect. Nate assures Lundy he'll get what's coming with him.

The Russian detective refuses to release Maggie to Alec and Eliot, believing she'll go to the embassy and seek asylum. Tara tells them over the radio that they'll need to trade favors, not forms. Eliot gives the detective a phone number. When the officer calls it, he gets Tara, who tells him that Maggie is having an affair with a highly placed Russian Minister. The detective quickly backs down and releases Maggie, and tells her to give the Minister the best. She realizes that she isn't being released because he thinks that she's innocent, and has him describe Alec and Eliot.

At Sterling's office, Nate discovers that the credit crunch wiped Lundy's finances out, and he's four months from bankruptcy. Sterling figures that Lundy put the Egg on exhibit so it falls under the museum's insurance coverage, then hired someone to steal it. Parker confirms that it was an inside job because of how quickly the thieves pulled off the job. Nate confirms that Lundy met with her for lunch on the day of the heist, and distracted her while his men took her key card and access codes. Nate vows to nail Lundy for framing Maggie… and Maggie comes in. She refuses to live her life as a fugitive, and is unhappy that Nate is clearing her name using thieves. Sterling explains that Nate has been hired as a consultant, and the rest of the team is leaving. Nate has Maggie go back to the hotel and wait for his call, and afterward Sterling congratulates him on being a better liar.

Alec and Parker pose as newlyweds and go to the embassy. They wander into Lundy's office and ask him to sign their marriage visa. As Lundy explains they have the wrong person, Parker downloads his cell phone information. Alec then checks Lundy's information and discovers he's preparing to flee to countries with no extradition. There's also information on Adrian Chernov, a fence. They figure that Lundy will sell the Egg on the black market and run. Alec gets Chernov's location in the park.

Eliot and Tara go to the park and Tara comes up with a plan. She tells Eliot to act scary when she signals, and then sits down next to Chernov. She just takes his sandwich, eats it, and smiles. Chernov thinks the worse and assumes that she and Eliot represent bad people. He gives her an envelope and runs away.

Inside the envelope is a blank card. The team contacts Maggie, who explains that it's an invitation to a "Zanzibar Marketplace." Marketplaces crop up after something famous is stolen. Black-market contacts invite their customers, who show up and places sealed bids. The bidder's ID is written in ultraviolet ink on the card. When they show up for the auction, they write their bid on the card and turn it in. They leave town and transfer the money if they win, and the merchandise is couriered to them. The embassy is having a party and Nate concludes that Lundy is going to use the party as cover to hold the marketplace. All they have to do now is steal the Egg back.

Sterling arranges tickets for everyone except Alec to attend the party. Tara has the bidding envelope and prepares to head into the auction. Eliot and Parker will move in once she finds the Egg and clean it out. Sterling finally "remembers" one important thing: Maggie has come as Lundy's date. He slips away and Nate has to change their plans. Tara can't be the bidder because Lundy has now seen her with Nate. Eliot and Parker have to get out of there because Maggie knows them. Tara slips Parker the invitation card, and Parker gives it to Eliot. Maggie and Lundy come over and Tara introduces herself. Nate begins sniping at Maggie.

Eliot arrives at the bid room and presents his card to the local crooks that Lundy has hired as security. Meanwhile, Nate introduces Tara as his new girlfriend and hints that they're closing in on the thief. Phillips arrives to call Lundy away on business, Maggie goes with him, and Nate takes a couple of drinks. Nate tells Parker and Eliot to keep an eye on the Egg. However, they discover that the auctioneer is displaying the Egg on a computer laptop screen. Alec has Eliot confirm that the signal is live, not a recording, and then traces the signal. When he needs more time, he has Eliot stall. Alec confirms that the Egg is inside the embassy. He isolates the camera's IP address and finds the secret room where the Egg is being stored. He then directs Parker to the room.

Tara and Maggie are laughing as they discuss Nate. He interrupts and sends Tara away. Nate admits that things got complicated with Sophie, and goes with her to find Lundy.

Parker finds the room but discovers a security man outside. She has no way to distract him and Tara and Eliot are out of position. However, Sterling arrives, pretending to be drunk. He distracts the security man while Parker gets into the room, grabs the Egg, and escapes. Sterling follows her and can't help putting in a few jibes… until Eliot gives him feedback to make him stop.

Nate and Lundy walk through the corridors. She realizes that he's talking overly loud and emphatically because he's using the ear bud, and that he's been lying to her. He starts to explain about Lundy, but someone tasers them both unconscious. They wake up locked in a basement room.

The team realizes that Nate and Maggie are off the grid. They get a scrambled phone call explaining they have their Nate and Maggie, and tell the team to stand by. Sterling prepares to call the police, but Eliot warns that the kidnappers could kill one hostage to make their point. He figures that they'll ask for the Egg, but Sterling refuses to hand it over. Eliot refuses to let Sterling take over and the rest of the team stands with their comrades. Sterling takes the Egg and leaves.

As Nate looks for improvised weapons, Maggie wants him to explain about Lundy. They're interrupted when Lundy's security men shove Phillips inside. Phillips claims Lundy has gone nuts, and Nate admits that's what he was trying to tell Maggie.

The kidnapper calls the team again and Alec hacks the scrambler code, confirming that it's Alexander. He wants the Egg in return for the hostages.

Nate cuts loose some electrical wiring and explains what they know about Lundy. They argue about who is dating who, and Nate insists that he isn't dating anyone. Phillips says that he found irregularities in Lundy's files. Meanwhile, Lundy sends a broadcast of the room from a hidden camera as proof to the team that the hostages are alive, and Parker realizes it's the room where the Egg was hidden. Meanwhile, Nate lets slip that the team is involved and Maggie is unhappy. They start arguing and Phillips points out that it isn't a good time. Meanwhile, the kidnapper tells the team to bring the Egg to Kiev Estates, one of Lundy's construction sites. Tara wonders how they're going to pull off the switch when Sterling has the Egg, but Eliot explains that they know who is involved and comes up with a plan.

When Lundy's men enter the basement room, Nate and Maggie manage to stun them. Nate grabs a gun and captures Lundy… who reveals that he's handcuffed. Phillips holds them all at gunpoint and explains that he masterminded the entire thing. He forced Lundy to make the hostage exchange calls. Now he'll fake his own death in an explosion, frame Lundy for the theft, and then leave to enjoy his riches.

Phillips and his men take Nate, Lundy, and Maggie to Kiev Estates on the ground floor. He's sent Eliot to the 20th floor. Phillips calls him and they agree to make the exchange via elevator. However, he handcuffs the hostages to the elevator and puts a bomb inside. Phillips then explains he'll be taking an embassy car to the airport and from there fly to South America.

Nate tries to reach the bomb without success. Maggie grabs Nate and kisses him.

The elevators arrive and Phillips discovers that he has the bomb. He runs away just as it explodes.

Eliot hears the explosion and smiles. He's planned out the entire thing. Parker, in the elevator shaft, stopped the elevators and then switched the Egg and bomb. Alex rigged the floor displays to cover the delay.

Phillips leaves for the airport in his embassy car. Meanwhile, the team reunites and watches as Lundy vomits from the stress. Maggie refuses to talk about the kiss. Tara tells everyone that Phillips has left for the airport. Alec explains that he knew Phillips was the real thief because they turned off the sound when they displayed the Egg, but not when they put him in the room with Nate and Maggie. Phillips wanted the team to hear his performance.

The police pull Phillips over for speeding. He insists that he's in an embassy car but the police officer points out that he has stolen plates and arrests him.

Lundy wonders where the Egg is and Eliot explains he made an addition to the plan. He took the egg from Sterling to make the switch, and then gave it back to him.

The Russian detective has arrested Phillips and is explaining what happened to the press. There's a knock from the trunk: it's Sterling. He takes credit for exposing Phillips and triumphantly reveals the Egg.

Back in the States, the team watches a newscast announcing that Sterling has been invited to join Interpol thanks to his recovery of the Egg. The team is less than thrilled that Sterling has gotten ahead off of their work, and Tara is unhappy she didn't get paid. Meanwhile, Nate and Maggie share a drink and Maggie notes that Lundy has issues. She doesn't plan on seeing him again anytime soon. Nate apologizes for lying and says it isn't what he wants to do. She says that's the lie and notes that he's secretly drinking again. Nate admits that he is, and she says that she's worried he's hiding it, not that he's drinking. Maggie says she likes the man that he's become, but points out that he doesn't. She gives him a kiss on the cheek and leaves.

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