You’d never have taken Lori for a politician’s side piece, Carrie thought when she first saw her. She was a slim woman who looked like the owner of an independent bookstore and too many cats. Carrie still has no idea what she saw in Gannon, who is so obnoxious that Carrie assumes he yells his own name during sex.

Carrie didn’t think Lori believed any of Gannon’s promises to leave his wife and kids. She had her own condo, regular vacations to Cancun, and a slush fund that paid her AmEx every month. She got to see her boyfriend when she wanted, and time away from him when he was busy championing family values elsewhere.

It was a great deal until Carrie came knocking on her door with a warrant. Not that Carrie was entirely unsympathetic. She’d dated her share of assholes, too.

In the end, Lori signed the plea deal, gave her depositions and grand jury testimony, and wore a wire. Carrie and the other agents collected hours of video and audio in Lori’s condo, where Gannon snorted cocaine, counted his bribes, and generally acted like a dipshit version of Scarface.

Lori was their star witness. They needed her to introduce the videos and financial documents into evidence. She was supposed to begin testifying this morning. Without her, Gannon will walk.

He seems to know this, even as Carrie walks into the courtroom to deliver the bad news. The governor — a handsome guy who looks like a dad who does CrossFit — catches Carrie’s eye and winks as she enters the courtroom. She gives him her mad-dog stare, the one she uses when she visits prisons. He looks away.

Carrie explains everything to Lawrence Stearns, the U.S. Attorney (never, ever, call him Larry). Stearns, a political appointee who looks like a dollar-store version of Don Draper, manages to keep a straight face as Carrie tells him about the apparent suicide and the note. He never wanted this case. Unlike Carrie and the other agents, he has to live here. His future career depends on Gannon and his allies. He doesn’t appear to be too broken up over the death of Lori Blanchard.

Carrie doesn’t tell him about the symbol, because the world doesn’t know about the Followers. They wanted to keep it that way.

Stearns stands and informs the judge of everything that’s happened this morning.

And from there, it is all so predictable. Gannon’s lawyers move to toss the charges. Stearns pleads with the judge. “Your Honor, we are literally still clearing the scene. You have to give us more time.”

“No,” the judge says. “I don’t believe I do.” She bangs the gavel and that’s it. Case dismissed.

Stearns stomps out of the courtroom, shoving his way past the media. Carrie and the rest of the agents and lawyers follow, all of them ignoring the shouted questions and the cameras in their faces.