Unmasking Deputy Director Bartholomew: The Key to Colter’s Dark Family Secret?

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In each episode of the show Tracker, a fresh missing persons case from various parts of the U.S. is presented for survivalist Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley) to solve. However, the case that has long haunted him is his father’s death. Throughout the series, particularly in the first season, clues about Ashton’s (Lee Tergesen) enigmatic demise have gradually been unraveled.

In Season 2, Episode 13, titled “Neptune,” a new character is subtly introduced who may have become a permanent fixture now that the case involving Ashton Shaw has been resolved. There’s speculation, or at least hope among some, that he could be a crucial piece of the puzzle to uncover everything about Ashton Shaw.

‘Tracker’ Season 2, Episode 13 Dives Into Government Spy Territory

In one of his most challenging cases thus far, Colter accepts the task of locating Logan (Oliver Rice), a man seeking his vanished wife Claire (Alvina August). While they were out shopping, Logan convinced Claire to step into an expensive boutique for a dress-trial that was beyond their budget. However, as he stayed put, anticipating her return from the fitting room, she mysteriously vanished instead.

During his investigation, Colter uncovers the truth that Claire is not as she appears. It’s evident her workplace serves as a cover for a covert government agency. To make matters worse, when he visits the office, everyone except Claire and her superior, Eileen Turner (Gabrielle Rose), are found dead. Later, Colter goes with Logan to their residence where he notices signs of a break-in from his security footage. Strangely, no one was present, nothing was stolen, but Claire’s laptop inexplicably vanished.

When Logan disappears from their hotel room, Colter advises him to stay put for safety and begins inspecting the area. Suddenly, the phone rings. A masked individual on the line claims knowledge of Colter’s identity and suggests he halt his actions. Despite this, Colter remains defiant and refuses to comply. Reenie (Fiona Rene) calls upon her government connections to uncover that the company is an under-the-radar counterterrorism agency. However, even when she implores him to retreat due to the risky nature of the case, Colter persists in his pursuit.

In another part of the hotel, Colter tracks down Claire using a trail of clues. He confronts her in the subterranean parking lot, where she discloses a secret. She found out that their boss, Eileen, had been selling confidential data. Eileen promised this would be her final job and once Claire assisted, she’d have nothing more to do with her. However, if Claire refused to help, Logan would be in danger.

Colter catches up with Claire somewhere else in the hotel by following a series of hints. They meet in a hidden parking lot below the ground, where Claire admits she learned that their boss, Eileen, was selling secret information. Eileen said this would be her last job and if Claire helped, they’d never cross paths again. But if Claire didn’t help, Logan would be at risk.

In a critical moment, Colter performs admirably by rescuing both Logan and Claire. Following this, Claire contacts someone high up in Eileen’s hierarchy, whom she has never met but knows goes by Deputy Director Bartholomew. Later on, Reenie reaches out to Colter, expressing mixed emotions upon receiving a letter. The letter is thanking Colter for his help and bears the signature of Deputy Director Bartholomew. Reenie inquires if this name rings a bell for Colter and wonders if the tone of the letter is sincere or perhaps a subtle threat instead.

How Deputy Director Bartholomew Could Be Connected in ‘Tracker’

Some spectators believe that Deputy Director Bartholomew may not be heard from again only off-screen, and this individual could potentially make an appearance on television at some point. If they were indeed the mysterious voice who contacted Colter, they might have been keeping tabs on him for a while now or at least recognize who he is. This isn’t unrealistic for a high-ranking government official like Bartholomew, who could identify someone as quickly as Bobby (Eric Graise) or Randy (Chris Lee) might not be able to. One hypothesis is that they could be the persistent man on the street who tried to sell tickets to Colter’s magic show. This man delayed Colter just enough for him to miss Claire and Eileen leaving the restaurant where he was observing them. The timing was too precise, and the scene seemed too out of place to have been a mere coincidence.

Is there a connection between this and Ashton? It’s been speculated that Ashton may have had ties with the government or covert operations, based on some fans’ theories. They suggest that his unease, which resulted in moving his family away from society when Colter was young, might have been justified since he was either part of a secret government project or stumbled upon one. Later, it seems, he was perhaps silenced to prevent him from uncovering more secrets or disclosing the truth.

There’s speculation about whether Mary (Wendy Crewson) might be the secret agent or even Bartholomew herself. Given that only Bartholomew’s surname is known, this theory isn’t surprising. Some suspect that Bartholomew could have been involved in Ashton’s death, or at least played a part in it many years ago. Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that Eileen was caught selling secrets to potential adversaries and outsiders. It’s plausible that Bartholomew was aware of this scheme, which could explain why they encouraged Colter to cease his efforts against it.

A clear hint suggesting Ashton might have been connected to the government surfaces in Season 2, Episode 2, titled “Ontological Shock.” During this episode, Colter and his brother Russell (Jensen Ackles) unraveled a case that led them to a covert government facility. This episode, with its supernatural theme concerning extraterrestrial life forms, provided the setting. One man at the site tells Ackles, “Your father asked too many questions,” which implies he recognized Russell and was also familiar with Ashton, indicating they had some connection to the government.

It’s possible that Reenie was right when she thought the letter was a warning. It seems Deputy Director Bartholomew is keeping tabs on Colter, aware of what he did and potentially planning to intervene if Colter continues digging into this case. However, since Colter usually focuses on missing persons cases and quickly moves on once he’s paid, it’s unlikely he’ll persist in his investigation.

However, should Colter discover any connection between this case or the person involved with his father, he will undoubtedly delve deeper, regardless of the risks involved.

This Mysterious Person Could Be the Missing Link

Regardless of the situation, enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating further updates and possibly encounters with the enigmatic Deputy Director Bartholomew. It would be disappointing if he were merely a brief voice over the phone, never to contact Colter again. In a Reddit thread about the episode, user The_Swarm22 speculates that this character may not have made his last appearance. “It seems like he’s connected to or part of those responsible for his father’s demise. The ending felt very much like a subtle warning delivered by Colter.

Tracker1441 points out that they believe the “intelligence agency and family mystery might be connected,” hinting at Logan’s role as an aerospace researcher which could explain why he was Claire’s target (despite her denial). It’s possible that Ashton, too, served as a mark. The inclusion of a covert government agency storyline in the series appears purposeful, rather than just another standalone case. This, coupled with the events from “Ontological Shock,” suggests a larger puzzle is being gradually unraveled.

Reflecting on it now, other instances in the story could’ve offered subtle clues helping to solve the puzzle, not just the one in Season 2, Episode 8, “The Night Movers.” In this episode, Colter’s investigation into a missing person led him to an organization providing false identities and means for people to disappear. This discovery might also connect with the speculation about Ashton faking his death. Consequently, even though it appeared the Colter family mystery was left unresolved throughout most of Season 2, there might have been hints suggesting everything would culminate in a climax for Colter.

Currently, viewers are excited to witness how events unfold for Colter as Season 2 progresses. Since Tracker has been renewed for a third season, there’s ample opportunity for Deputy Director Bartholomew to resurface in some capacity and possibly emerge as the most formidable foe that Colter has encountered so far. Catch Tracker on Paramount+.

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2025-03-23 01:03