1990: Alternate timeline of Liz’s drop-off. In the Season 1 finale, Red tells Liz the story as Sam would explain it. That an old male friend arrived one night and said that he was in danger and that he needed someone to take care of a little girl (Liz). The reason being that her father had died that night in a fire. Sam then took her in and raised her as his own. From the way, Red told it, without much hesitation on Sam's side.