Ressler was definitely between a rock and hard place. He had a psychotic international criminal blackmailing him into betraying the agency and his country to kill a fellow agent while he was also being blackmailed by said his fellow agent and "boss" in order to capture the criminal blackmailing him and most likely kill him. Wasn't this a fun endless cycle of blackmail. What was he supposed to do?
He couldn't report it without backlash from both sides finding out and killing him. He couldn't pick a side without someone dying and himself being an accomplice to the crime. He could not nothing without being killed or exposed for "working" with a criminal. He would admit the pictures Gale had, though not truthful to what was happening, were very convincing to anyone that he was working with the Reddingtons.
Was he working with them? He did save Liz's life, though against his will, it didn't look good. He also helped he escape capture and death, unknowingly but still. And she had been giving him tips on their location, setting up meetings at his apartment, negotiating business deals. Though all these things were against his will and usually involved him being at gunpoint, they still did not make his case look any better. Here he was, Donald Ressler, the boy scout of all boy scouts and yet even he didn't buy his story.
Nevertheless, he had to figure out a plan or he'd be dead or in jail sooner than later. When he entered the office that morning, Gale immediately cornered him by the elevator.
"Heard from any interesting people this morning?" Gale asked with a sneer.
"No. I have not heard from any such criminals." Ressler said flatly.
"Well, maybe you should dial him up and set a meeting real soon."
"Not that I am working with him, but I have no way of contacting him. He always finds me."
"I don't believe that. You seem to like having secret meetings at your apartment of all places."
"How much did you spend t Stalkers R Us?" Ressler retorted.
"I wouldn't be making jokes if I were in your situation, Donald. You may be an "agent" again, but you can bet your ass I will be watching your every move."
"Oh, I believe you. I bet you keep those binoculars on you wherever you go," Ressler pushed past him without allowing him to answer. As he did so, Director Cooper spotted him and waved him up to his office.
Ressler walked up the stairs giving Aram a good morning nod. Inside the Director's office, Cooper sat down and welcomed Ressler to do the same which he denied, "Well, as hard as the last few weeks have been for you, I hope you are feeling better."
"Thank you, sir." Ressler rested both hands on his hips.
"How are you feeling?"
"You know normal bumps and bruises. Comes with the territory."
"I know you're too tough to admit it. I'll just tell you, you look like hell. But we're glad to have you back, Agent Ressler. There were no questions in my mind that you deserved that badge back."
Ressler's hand moved to his badge instinctively gripping it tighter knowing he only had it back because of Reddington. It just didn't feel right, he mustered, "Thank you, sir."
"If you don't need anything else, you're welcome to get back to work. Though, if you do need anything, please don't hesitate to ask. I know you've been through a lot and taking some time off might do yourself some good."
"Thank you, but I'd rather work. I'm sick of resting. I'd like to catch some criminals if you don't mind."
"Not at all. More power to you, Agent Ressler."
Ressler left his office and stared down at the bullpen. Gale was pacing it trying to figure out the task force's next move in hunting down Reddington and Liz. Ressler wanted to clue Aram in, but he didn't want to tarnish Aram's reputation. Deniability would be key if Ressler was arrested.
An hour later, Ressler found himself at his desk in his office alone. He was staring at his wall of Reddington sightings and random evidence. There was a map with strings to all the places Reddington and Keen had been spotted and for some reason whenever he was lost in thought, he found himself staring at this map. It continued to fuel his listless confusion.
Then, it hit him. The plan. Who always had a plan? Who always had a backup plan and contingency plans? Was it ironic that his idea was to think what Reddington would do? It seemed like Reddington always got what he wanted, no matter the situation, he came out on top. He manufactured situations to come out in his favor. The FBI had clearly not figured out how he did it, but every time they encountered him, Reddington escaped and came out smelling like a rose (and usually richer). The solution to Ressler's plan was to get in the mind of Raymond Reddington, create a plan like he did, and maybe he could come out of this predicament not in a jail cell or six feet underground.
By end of day, Ressler hadn't left his office when Gale decided to pop in.
"How goes the illegal FBI work? Made any meetings with your colleagues?"
"As a matter of fact, I have. When is the earliest you can meet?" Ressler spun around in his chair with the happiest look of his face he had had since before getting kidnapped.
"As soon as possible. Missing your girlfriend are ya'?"
"No. Keen is not my girlfriend. However, Reddington has agreed to meet. You tell me when and I will set it up. Make sure you have all your warrants in a row. Don't want this to slip through your fingers."
Gale went from joke telling douche to pissed off agent at the accusation he would let Reddington get away on bad police work. "You bet your ass I will have everything in place. We are taking Reddington and your pretty little girlfriend down once and for all."
When Gale left, Ressler spun back around. He finally felt like he was in control. Too bad there was still no meet set up. That was his next step. He needed to get a hold of Reddington, but how? Reddington had gone underground and most likely fled the country. It's not like he could look him up in the yellow pages. He contemplated this on his way home.
He secured his gun back in the ornament box by his front door and dropped his newly reissued badge on the counter. He unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt and undid his tie. Placed both hands on the counter, he bit his lip in thought. How had Liz known he was at his apartment to take the surveillance pictures? How did Red know he was home to drop by the other day for their business meeting?
Of course, think like Reddington, he thought. Red had all of his assets under surveillance. He always wanted to know what they were up to, who they were talking to, and if they were going to double cross him, he wanted to know first. Ressler had security on his apartment door, if they had broken in, he'd know about it.
Ressler slammed his fist against the counter, mad at himself for not thinking about it sooner. The messenger. Liz must have known his schedule that day to know he'd be home getting ready for work. When the messenger came, Ressler had chased him downstairs leaving his front door wide open. She was there the whole time. She didn't deliver the messenger herself because she needed a distraction. She must have planted a bug inside his place. They could have been listening this whole. Checking in on him, making sure he wasn't going to Cooper about Red's offer or planning against him.
Ressler tore his entire apartment apart looking for the bug. Inside lamps, electrical outlets, under decorative pieces, behind frames. Stop, get in the mind of the criminal. Liz was the one who planted the bug. Where would Liz have put it? He thought back through all their conversations. Nothing added up to a hiding place in his apartment until he remembered when all this started. The first set of pictures. Liz had mentioned his working out too much instead of tracking her down. His dumb bells were sitting in the corner of the living room. They had sat untouched for weeks as Ressler was still recovering to the ordeals, he had been through. Working out was not on his to do list at the moment.
He picked one of them up and inspected it. They were a mix of a metal handle with rubber ends. Though, nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. He grabbed the second one and there it was. Liz had carved a hole in the base of one of the dumb bells, placed a bug inside and then puttied back up to match the surrounding color. Ressler dug out the bug and it was attached to an external battery. Meaning it was not meant to be here forever. They'd have to come replace it or they only need to surveil him for a specific period of time. Why?
That was a question he still didn't have an answer for. Ressler placed the bug on the counter and waited. He was trying to think of what to say. He couldn't destroy it because this was his opportunity to communicate with Reddington, but because it was only a one-way communication, he needed to get to the point.
"I know you're listening to this. You wanted Gale gone, I can deliver him to you. Contact me, and we can discuss time and place." Ressler sat down on his counter stool waiting and staring at the bug.
He did not know when or if Reddington would make contact after that message. He honestly did not know if Red was even listening. It could be Liz on the other end or Dembe or some other random asset paid to listen to Red's surveillance bugs. All he knew was for him to get Red and Gale off his back he needed them to meet. Two birds with one stone, if you will. He didn't know what was going to happen when they did meet, but he surmised it to not be his problem. He was just the middleman after all, being blackmailed by two bigger fish. He didn't condone killing though if you put two angry criminals out for vengeance in a cage with guns who knows what's going to happen. Fingers crossed they don't kill the middleman, he thought.