Jessica Wilson

**Jessica Wilson** (Missy Peregrym) is the tragic main villainess of "In Plain Sight," episode 4.10 of *Motive* (airdate July 26, 2016). She is the 33-year-old daughter of Ava Wilson and Jeremy Sheridan, along with being the older sister of the late Chloe Wilson.

## Backstory

### Childhood/prepubescence

   Jessica grew up in an environment which saw her parents frequently fight about money and Ava's family, as Jeremy resented how his then-wife's relatives were wealthy. However, it was after Ava divorced Jeremy that he began plotting to kidnap their two daughters out of spite. His sinister plan was initiated 20 years before the episode's events—when Jessica was 13 (portrayed by Carmen Mikkelsen) and Chloe was three.

On the day in question, Ava was happily watching as the Wilson sisters played together outside in their driveway, only for Jeremy to unexpectedly drive up. Grabbing a crying Chloe, Jessica screamed for Chloe and demanded for their father to let her go as he tried forcing her into his vehicle as well. However, she was narrowly able to fight Jeremy off before running into the Wilson residence and watching as he drove away with her younger sister.

### Adolescence/adulthood

Chloe's kidnapping led to Jessica suffering from separation anxiety, continuously blaming herself for the kidnapping, and swearing to bring Chloe back home before their mother died. Befriending Maggie Campbell during their high school years, she came to be a rock climbing instructor at a local gym. Furthermore, Jessica began taking care of Ava in adulthood after she developed liver cirrhosis, which progressed to its fourth stage by the time of the episode's events. Other than encouraging herself and her mother to remain positive about her health, she wanted to keep Ava alive for as long as possible. As such, Jessica had Ava try various forms of alternative medicine—including naturopathy, reiki, and drinking "medicinal teas."

Regarding her search for Chloe, Jessica hired five private investigators to unearth her younger sister's whereabouts with what she deemed as "varying degrees of success." Over three months before the episode's events, Jessica sent an introductory message to the sixth such investigator: Ian Mitchell. When she met with Ian in his office, she brought an accordion folder with her containing pictures.

Upon learning what took place with the previous five investigators, Ian tossed the folder behind him, much to Jessica's confusion. However, after he explained his decision and the daily rate he charged, Jessica said they'd get started. Ian's ensuing investigation into where Jeremy took Chloe led him to Mexico, where he discovered the truth during his first day there: around seven years prior, both of them died in a car crash outside Mexico City.

### Ian and Misha's ruse

Desiring to give Ava her dying wish while enriching himself, Ian decided to have a runaway from Toronto named Misha Vanni pose as Chloe so that she could share her portion of Ava's estate with him after she died. The ruse initially worked, resulting in an excited Jessica seemingly reuniting "Chloe" with "their" mother one day, which quickly culminated in the two sharing a "mother-daughter" hug. Thanking Ian for what she thought was his help, he replied by saying that "Chloe" should be given space to adjust and instructed Jessica to let him know if she had any concerns or questions.

However, on the night after Misha's arrival, Ava found out about Misha's scheme with Ian. Misha had given answers to questions regarding vitamins and vaccinations which didn't align with how Jeremy was "obsessed with keeping his daughters healthy" (in Ava's words). Caught, Misha quickly confessed to everything and began preparing to move out, only for Ava to not call the police. Thanking her for that, Misha was then told by Ava that they "[could] help each other." To elaborate, Ava cryptically explained how she wanted Misha's help in committing suicide so Jessica could live a full life; in return, she would pay her so it was "worth [her] while." In spite of showing reluctance at first, Misha agreed to Ava's arrangement, after which Ava gave "Chloe" her bracelet.

### Misha's plan to kill Ava

   Jessica got Maggie to employ Misha at Ruff to Go Dog Adventures as a dog walker, with one of Misha's several clients being a plumber named Cam Riley (who had a dog named Maximus). Days after they first met, Cam became one of the men Misha dated simultaneously—which only Jessica was aware of. One night, she caught "Chloe" smoking in her bedroom, which she mentioned was bad for Ava. Misha acquiesced to her indirect request, and Jessica noticed Ava's bracelet on her right wrist. During their ensuing conversation, Jessica mentioned how taxing her "return" must be and proposed that Misha come to her workplace the next day so she could teach her about rock climbing.

However, "Chloe" turned her down by mentioning her desire to "spend as much time with [their mother]" as she can. Understanding her decision, Jessica turned to leave, but she turned back around and apologized to "Chloe" for not doing anything more to help her. Misha refuted Jessica's self-blame by concluding Jessica would have been trapped with Jeremy as well, after which she asked to be left alone. With that, Jessica despondently went back to her bedroom.

As she continued posing as Chloe, Misha and Ava agreed that the former would fatally asphyxiate the latter with helium on a Saturday morning while Jessica was away on her first vacation in years. To prepare for Ava's death, Misha called Devin (the manager of Party Station) and ordered a helium tank under the guise of throwing her "mother" a party for her 60th birthday. Sometime later that week, she also obtained an oxygen mask and booked a weekend vacation for Jessica. Meanwhile, Ava played her part in their plan by writing out various checks to cash to Misha (which totaled $25,000) and formulating a way to add "Chloe" to her will.

A few days before Friday, Jessica asked if Ava wanted tea, but she instead asked for assistance with an email to her lawyer explaining her planned update to the will. She noted that the paperwork about such a matter had to be signed in person at her lawyer's office, and her mother voiced her intention to carry out the task on Friday. Jessica objected since a naturopath was to visit on that day and offered to reschedule the paperwork's signing to the following week. Nevertheless, Ava's determination to go in that Friday prompted Jessica to ask if "Chloe" was involved in that decision.

Ava stated her desire to make sure "Chloe" was taken care of since she "could be dead next week," and Jessica said not to "talk like that" because of her belief that they "[needed] to be positive." Even with her eldest daughter's objections, Ava contended she had to accept how alternative medicine wouldn't change the fact she was dying. Jessica reassured Ava that she was going to be fine and walked back to their kitchen.

### Misha's death

On Friday night, Jessica was given a printed paper which informed her of the vacation, and she immediately protested the gesture. Even though Ava and "Chloe" tried to ease her fears, she still believed it wasn't "a very good idea." An argument almost broke out between Jessica and Misha, giving rise to Ava proclaiming how she wanted her eldest daughter to go on the vacation so she could "have fun." With her suspicions of "Chloe" cemented, Jessica pretended to accept the offer and thanked "Chloe" before briefly hugging her.

It was after Misha left to help Ava get upstairs that Jessica unlocked "Chloe's" phone, finding search results mainly centering around how to kill someone using helium. Additionally, a notification quickly led to her discovery of a text conversation showing that Cam had cancelled what was supposed to be a 9:00 PM date with "Chloe" at 6485 Galaan Court (his job site) that was to take place in the bathroom of the house's main bedroom. Seeing an opportunity to confront her "younger sister" about what she discovered, Jessica sent him a text which read "No worries. XOXO" to hide the date's cancellation from her.

That night, she followed Misha to Cam's job site and let herself in by entering the alarm code. Jessica demanded that her "younger sister" pack her belongings and leave, adding that she'd never let her near Ava again after what she learned. Misha dismissed Jessica as being paranoid, but instead, she angrily followed her into the property's living room. Grabbing her by one of her arms, Jessica asked "Chloe" twice about how she was planning to kill Ava before chastising her for wanting her money so much to the point she "[couldn't] even wait for her to die."

Misha's callous response about Ava's desire to die caused Jessica to tackle her while labeling her a "liar," leading to a brawl. Calling her a "psycho bitch," Misha shoved Jessica away from her. The latter then grabbed a nearby nail gun and fired four nails into the former as she told her to stop. The first nail went into her left shoulder, the second nail went into her right leg, the third nail went into her left lung, and the fourth nail went into her heart. Once the fourth nail was fired, Misha fell backwards onto the floor, and Jessica watched in shock as she slowly died. Afterwards, she began covering her tracks—taking Misha's ID and phone with her before disposing of the nail gun.

## Introduction/Events

The episode's opening scenes introduced Jessica waking up on Saturday morning after reliving her memories of Chloe's kidnapping while she was asleep. Aside from being established as "Chloe's" killer, it was later that morning when Jessica helped Ava with carrying a tray of food even after the latter declared she wasn't "an invalid." Quickly assuring her that wasn't the case while giving her medication alongside a glass of water, Jessica asked Ava if she had everything for the weekend, which she confirmed. Satisfied with her mother's answer, she grabbed her luggage and prepared to leave for the vacation, with Ava reminding her eldest daughter of her love.

Driving to an industrial area and parking near a dumpster at 11:30 AM, Jessica broke down into crying as she looked at "Chloe's" driver's license. Getting a call from Ava, she quickly masked her emotions and answered her mother—claiming she was waiting to board a ferry. Upon being told to return since "something happened," Jessica agreed to be there in 45 minutes, but not before throwing Misha's purse (which had the ID, the license, and the phone) into the dumpster. After getting back to the Wilson residence, she found Ava standing in their living room with Detectives Angie Flynn and Brian Lucas. Asking what happened, Jessica was told of "Chloe's" death, and she feigned shock.

This was followed by Jessica answering Brian's questions about her home life, "Chloe's" supposed return, and her knowledge of her "younger sister's" whereabouts. Deceptively asserting she wasn't aware of Misha's departure the previous night, she described how the three of them "barely knew each other" and "really wanted to move forward." A few minutes later, as she watched Angie and Brian go through Misha's belongings, Jessica reacted with surprise when the former found the oxygen mask and the latter found an envelope filled with the $25,000.

Back in the living room, she and Ava were asked by Brian how "Chloe" made a living after she allegedly escaped from Jeremy. Jessica irritably reaffirmed that "Chloe's" past was never discussed, with her mother mentioning they were trying to help. Angie brought up the mask, with Ava claiming that "Chloe" wanted her to experiment with oxygen therapy for the pain caused by cirrhosis. After that, Angie thanked Jessica and Ava for their cooperation, leaving with Brian as Ava asked the two detectives to find out who murdered Misha.

That night, Jessica found Ava staring outside a window as she openly wondered who killed "Chloe." Claiming not to know who the perpetrator could be, Jessica replied to Ava's statement about not being able to "do [it] anymore" by saying that she'd feel better in the morning. Frustrated with what she felt to be her eldest daughter's coddling, Ava retorted that she helped enough, apologizing moments later for her outburst. Reciprocating Ava's hug and accepting the apology, Jessica acknowledged how difficult matters had become and encouraged her mother not to give up.

On Sunday morning, while preparing to make a smoothie, Jessica heard knocking at the Wilson residence's front door. Announcing to Ava that she would answer whoever was there, she opened the door to find Cam holding a box which contained a slice of cake. He explained how he was "Chloe's" boyfriend and expressed his condolences before offering Jessica the cake, which she vexatiously thanked him for.

In addition, after Cam began justifying why he held himself responsible for his girlfriend's death, Jessica cut him off and said the life "Chloe" led shaped her into a "selfish" woman—openly hinting at how she had other boyfriends. Shocked by Jessica's cold words, Cam professed his disbelief, and Jessica's answer was to say he was "better off without her" due to how Misha deceived him. Closing the door, she answered Ava's question about who was there by claiming Cam was a salesman as she threw the box away.

Later that day, Jessica was giving encouragement to Larry (one of her pupils) when she relived hearing the sounds of police sirens approaching the Wilson residence. As she looked off to her left in a daze, Jessica accidentally let go of Larry's rope, causing him to fall several meters before she noticed what was going on. Reassuring her fellow instructors that she was in control of the situation, Larry scolded Jessica and demanded to be lowered to the ground.

## Reveal

Following their first interview with Ava on Monday, Angie and Brian realized Jessica was Misha's killer—especially after deducing that she posed as "Chloe" when she replied to Cam's cancellation of the date. Moreover, they watched security footage of her disposing of Misha's purse, which disproved her claim about waiting for the ferry. In spite of the evidence, Staff Sergeant Oscar Vega noted it was circumstantial, suggesting for Angie to try finding out if either Ava or Jessica knew the truth about Misha's identity.

With that in mind, Angie interviewed Jessica at her workplace, asking her about what she threw into the dumpster and why she lied about her whereabouts. She falsely asserted that she had "a panic attack" stemming from her constant worry and added how she didn't desire to go on the vacation even though "Chloe" booked it. Aside from surmising Ava was "making up for lost time" with the $25,000, Jessica also divulged that "Chloe" was dating a few men simultaneously. Before leaving, Angie asked if Misha's name meant anything, but her only response was to ask who she was.

Later on, Jessica was asked to meet Angie in the Metro Vancouver Police Department's interrogation room. There, she requested to know why her presence was needed, as she professed that she had already told everything she knew. Once she received confirmation that Ava's birthday was on June 15, Angie inquired about why "Chloe" was planning to throw the birthday party, much to Jessica's confusion. Subsequently, Angie cornered Jessica, voicing her knowledge of how she had killed Misha.

Stunned, she tried to say it was impossible that someone impersonated Chloe since she "[she'd] know who [her] sister was." Angie voiced her doubt in that belief before explaining that Misha was being paid by Ava to help her commit suicide. With Jessica expressing disheartened disbelief, Angie summarized how Ava "wanted to die with dignity" so her only living daughter didn't have to watch her suffer. Jessica said she only wanted to protect her mother, and she struggled to hold back remorseful tears before being arrested offscreen.