Pete Wilder was a mortal recruited by Hunter, James Horton. He was paid $10,000 to insinuate himself into Richie Ryan's life and cause dissension between him and MacLeod. Horton had Wilder's wrist burned before sending him out, as if a tattoo had been removed, telling him it was part of earning his fee. At a local fair, Wilder 'saved' Richie from a pair of men sporting Watcher tattoos and pistols. Wilder arrived on his motorcycle in time to spirit Richie away. Wilder was creased by a bullet and was treated by MacLeod who noticed the burn on his wrist, but offered him a bunk for the night, though suspicions. When Mac and Richie tracked down Richie's attackers, the tattoo on one man's wrist had been altered. MacLeod insisted that they should speak to Wilder, but Richie claimed Wilder as his friend.
MacLeod found out that Wilder had been convicted of armed robbery and broken parole and was then on the run. Wilder was then 'kidnapped' and when tracked down informed MacLeod and Richie that he'd been asked about them and the barge. MacLeod told him he'd put him up in a hotel, but he and Richie were leaving town. When Wilder reported to Horton, he was given a pistol and told he was going to take out MacLeod. The following morning, Wilder showed up at the barge, followed by Horton. While MacLeod and Richie watched, Wilder went to the car to speak to the occupants, after a moment's conversation, a pistol appeared in the window and Wilder was gunned down. Richie ran to his aide, only to find him dead, upset he snapped at MacLeod, "You just couldn't be wrong, could you?" Horton watched
Wilder was to be buried in Paris, his mother could not afford to fly the body home. Richie attended Wilder's funeral, followed by MacLeod.