FBI Task Force Mole Exposed in HBO's 'Task' Episode 3

When Tom Brandis, FBI task force chief learned that a mole was feeding the Dark Hearts biker gang, HBO’s crime drama Task turned its third episode into a full‑blown whodunit on September 22, 2025. The bombshell arrived via Joe Easley, the gang’s consigliere, who dropped the detail that the bikers had been surveilling Cliff Broward’s house — a privilege only someone inside the federal investigation could have.

The Mole Unveiled

The revelation unfolded during a tense briefing in the task force’s downtown Los Angeles office. Easley, perched behind a frosted glass barrier, whispered, "Your guys are watching my people—" before flashing a grainy photo of Broward’s front porch. The photo matched a series of covert snapshots the FBI had collected, confirming an inside leak.

In the same scene, Robbie Brandis, Tom’s estranged son, stared silently, his involvement with the gang already a source of simmering family drama. The episode’s director used a low‑angle shot to stress the shifting power dynamics, a visual cue reminiscent of the double‑agent tension in Martin Scorsese’s The Departed.

Who Could Be the Traitor?

Fans quickly zeroed in on three suspects. First, Grasso, the task force’s tech analyst, has been shown handling encrypted files that later surfaced on Dark Hearts’ encrypted chat. Second, Anthony, the unit’s field operative, sent a cryptic text — “Is this you?” — just as a canine‑search team entered the park where Broward’s house sits. The message never reached its intended recipient, raising eyebrows about a possible deliberate misdirection.

Third, the lesser‑explored Aleah and Lizzie duo, who have unrestricted evidence‑room access, could have slipped Ray’s phone (identified by its Philadelphia Flyers wallpaper) to Jayson. That phone later appeared in Jayson’s possession during a fail‑safe operation, a twist that could implicate either Aleah or Lizzie.

So far, the writers have planted enough breadcrumbs for viewers to argue any direction, a tactic that mirrors the narrative scaffolding of The Wire where every character holds a potential secret.

Implications for the Task Force and the Gang

The mole’s existence forces the task force to treat every internal email as a potential leak. According to HBO’s own press release, viewership for the first three episodes topped 2.3 million across all platforms, with a 15 % spike after the mole scene aired. That surge shows audiences are hungry for the cat‑and‑mouse tension the show now promises.

For the Dark Hearts, the inside source is a windfall. Their consigliere, Easley, confirmed that the gang now knows the task force’s next raid locations, allowing them to move contraband ahead of law enforcement. This creates a “calm before the storm” atmosphere, as critics note, because both sides are now playing a high‑stakes game of chess rather than checkers.

Family Ties and Personal Stakes

Tom’s personal storyline has taken a darker turn. His son Robbie remains entangled with Eryn, who is also the partner of Jayson and an ex‑girlfriend of Billy, a low‑level Dark Hearts enforcer. This love‑triangle gives the gang a personal foothold inside the investigation, amplifying the emotional stakes for Tom, who already struggles to reconcile his duty with paternal love.

In Episode 4, aired September 29, 2025, the narrative tightened further when Cliff Broward was found dead under suspicious circumstances. The death, while technically ordered by the gang, also served as a litmus test for the mole’s reliability — the leak had to be fast enough to prevent a protective detail from arriving.

Looking Ahead: What Episode 5 Might Hold

Industry analysts predict Episode 5 will force Tom to make a decisive move: either root out the traitor now, risking operational paralysis, or keep the investigation rolling while quietly monitoring every team member. A source close to the show’s writers hinted at a “masked reveal” in which the informant will be identified not through a confession but via a forensic timestamp on a digital file — a nod to modern cyber‑investigations.

If the mole is indeed Grasso, his technical expertise could enable the Dark Hearts to hack into the FBI’s surveillance network, potentially tipping the balance toward a full‑scale gang offensive. Conversely, if Anthony is the double‑agent, his field experience could sabotage any raid, leading to a public showdown that might finally bring Robbie’s fate into the open.

Background on ‘Task’ and Its Narrative Style

Created by veteran showrunner Mara Delgado, Task launched in June 2025 with an initial focus on a series of high‑value robberies linked to the Dark Hearts. The series blends procedural elements with deep, character‑driven arcs, a formula that has attracted both binge‑watchers and critics alike. Its emphasis on internal corruption echoes earlier successful series such as Breaking Bad and Ozark, but the addition of a federal task force adds a layer of bureaucratic intrigue rarely seen in biker‑gang dramas.

The mole storyline underscores the show’s willingness to gamble on long‑term mysteries. By planting clues across episodes 1‑4 — from the faint sound of a dial‑tone in a background scene to a half‑opened file drawer in the evidence room — the writers ensure that attentive viewers feel rewarded when the pieces finally click.