'Revenge' recap: Back to Basics

Jack’s recovering at the hospital with Charlotte and Declan by his side. Thus far, no one seems especially concerned about the fact that Amanda is missing. Charlotte mentions that Carl is at the Graysons’, tipping Emily and Nolan off to Victoria’s visit to the Stowaway the day before. “Quite a coincidence,” Nolan remarks to Ems. “Told you,” she humbly answers. “The Graysons are behind all of this.”

Trask, dressed like an undertaker and munching on peanuts, meets Victoria and Conrad at a park. Victoria notes how public it is, leading Trask to wryly shoot back, “Last meeting you called with one of our operatives, she disappeared without a trace.” Conrad tries to explain the disappearance of the computer by telling Trask that Nate called him from the boat and tricked him into confirming its existence. Again, the coincidence is undeniable. “All your problems wrapped up with a pretty bow,” says Trask. He won’t go the way of his predecessor, not if he can help it. And luckily, he still has Daniel for leverage. “I don’t think he bought your story,” says Victoria, watching Trask walk away. It doesn’t matter -- there’s no one to refute it. No one but Jack, that is. Really, guys. The murder and mayhem is getting a little out of hand.

True to his word, Trask phones Daniel with a purchase request. Daniel responds by pouring himself a drink. “I see you’re taking your coffee Irish this morning,” Aiden notes. He’s heard that Conrad’s making a play for the Governor’s mansion, leaving a seat free on the board of Grayson Global, a seat he wants. And to remind Daniel of just how important he is, Aiden reveals that he was the one who got Jason Prosser to back down from the Stonehaven deal. “We make one hell of a team,” he says. But Daniel’s still not convinced…

At the Stowaway, Emily sees Amanda’s shirt hanging off the back of her wardrobe and tears up. Trask interrupts the moment, flashing a badge and revealing he’s investigating the incident on the boat. “Any reason why she’d want to disappear?” he asks Emily. “Amanda was happier than she’s ever been,” Ems answers truthfully. But Amanda’s not missing for long: While Emily watches, Trask gets a call notifying him that the Coast Guard just identified another victim.

“Did you kill Amanda Clarke?” Ashley asks Conrad. “That’s why you chose yesterday to announce your gubernatorial run, isn’t it?” She’s right on the mark: Conrad wanted a thousand witnesses to clear his name. (Like he’d ever do his own dirty work anyway.) It doesn’t matter that Ashley’s figured it out, however. She, like so many on this show, is under Conrad’s thumb.

NEXT: Charlotte decides to invite random strangers to Amanda's funeral