In the Dark Winds season 3 strongly hinted that Ivan was a villain and part of Tom Spenser's (Bruce Greenwood) trafficking ring.

That was confirmed at the end of Dark Winds season 3, episode 5, when Ivan's wallet gave it away – he had the same rubber band around his badge that Budge (Raoul Max Trujillo) had around his wad of cash earlier. When Bernadette discovered this, she felt utterly betrayed, and her attitude towards Ivan changed completely. This is why it was surprising that, rather than arresting him during their confrontation in the Dark Winds season 3 finale, she conceded to his suggestion and allowed herself to temporarily ally with him.

Why Bernadette Allowed Ivan To Help Shut Down Tom Spenser's Drug Operation

She Trusted Her Instincts & Took A Chance

It might seem surprising that Bernadette let Ivan off the hook and accepted his help with shutting down Spenser's drug trafficking operation. But the answer is pretty simple: she knew she could trust him. Throughout Dark Winds' three seasons, Bernadette has shown sharp and sometimes uncanny instincts. Her ability to read people and tell when they're lying or hiding something is unmatched. Even when it takes her a little while to trust those instincts, like with Ivan, they're still there. One of the unintended effects of Bernadette branching out on her own in Dark Winds season 3 is that she's learned to listen to the voice inside and know her instincts are true.

So, when Ivan professed his semi-innocence after Bernadette killed Budge and told her that he'd never spent the money he'd been paid to look the other way, she knew he was telling the truth. When Ivan claimed not to know anything about the operation and that he'd just looked the other way, she judged his upset to be real. What's more, he'd had plenty of chances to get rid of her or sell her out to Budge and never did, unlike Garza, who was an actual Spenser accomplice and traitor. He may not be entirely clean, but she knows he won't hurt her, and she also knows he's right–she can't take out Tom Spenser on her own.

Bernadette Still Wouldn't Forgive Him In Dark Winds Season 3's Ending

Her Morals Would Never Allow Her To Forgive Him For Crossing That Line

However, Bernadette trusting Ivan enough to help her raid Spenser's operation is a universe away from forgiving him. While she was fine temporarily allying with him, forgiving him was out of the question. Bernadette is uncompromising when it comes to her morals, and she would never be able to forgive someone for being on the take, paid to be a dirty cop, even if he was her lover for a while. Unlike Ivan, Bernadette can't look the other way. It's not who she is.

Unlike Ivan, Bernadette can't look the other way. It's not who she is.

Even if Bernadette could have forgiven Ivan's transgressions one day, given that he wasn't directly involved in Spenser's operation, that possibility was ruled out from the start because of the migrant mother and her daughter. Ivan may not have known exactly what Spenser was up to in Dark Winds season 3, but whatever it was, it involved trafficking innocent women and children, and that is a crime that Bernadette would never be able to get past. It's a moral line she could ever forgive someone for crossing, not even Ivan–nor should she.