After a passenger plane crashes into the Potomac River, suspicions focus on the pilot; Professor Mercer and the team are asked to investigate the pilot's personal motivations, and piece together clues in the hope of revealing the truth.
The Barnum Effect, named after showman PT Barnum, whose fortune tellers would offer vague, general predictions to give the impression that they could read the future. Alec Mercer's studies say humans are totally predictable. One of Alec's interns witnesses a plane crash and first impression of the FBI is that it was brought down on purpose. Alec is brought in to give his thoughts.—Anonymous