Vic went to Rezian and confessed his role in the money train heist. He can't pay the mob back financially, but will grant them three favors. Ronnie has come to hate playing nice-nice with Shane every day. (And who can blame him? Shane killed his best friend).
Vic found out Cassidy and a friend were drinking when she was supposed to be watching Matthew. Cassidy pushed Corinne over, causing Vic to get a little overenthusiastic disciplining her.
Vic knocks on Corinne's door, asking to talk to his eldest. Now isn't a good time; the kids are already late for school. Plus, Cassidy is pissed off at Corinne for grounding her. Vic pleads that his hours don't give him much free time and Corinne relents.
They discover Cassidy has locked herself in her room, but she does let them in. Vic apologizes for grabbing her arm the night before. She mumbles a halfhearted acceptance. Corinne and Vic want to talk more about the drinking. Cassidy's only response is to put on her backpack and say she's ready for school.
"You made a big mistake with your brother. It coulda had some goddamn serious consequences!" says Vic. Corinne tells him not to swear. Cassidy demands an explanation for her dad's behavior: "The investigations done on you? You're the criminal!" "I'm your father!" Vic yells, "I'm gonna be your father whether you like what I teach you or not!" His ex and daughter leave.
Elsewhere, the fire department is putting out the remains of Rezian's safe house. Two bodies were found inside, but are too burned to ID. Vic guesses Cruz's amigos are hunting for the Box O' Blackmail. Rezian being dead could ruin the deal Vic and Shane made with the Armenians.
"Mmm, s'mores," says Shane as they enter the wreckage. Claudette is not amused. Julien exposits it was definitely arson; there are gas cans on the floor. The two men were shot in the head before the fire was set. Ronnie isn't sure there's a connection, but today the neighborhood is hosting a memorial march for victims of the Armenian genocide.
Claudette asks if the Armenians have made any new enemies. Vic has heard "street chatter" about a Mexican beef. They'll see if Rezian can ID the victims. On the sidewalk, Shane mutters that Rezian's possible death could be a good thing for them. Vic disagrees, "Cut off the head and the tentacles get frisky."
Rezian, it turns out, is alive and well in the back room of an Armenian grocery store. He doesn't give names, but tells Vic the dead men were his lieutenants. Vic isn't surprised the Mexicans are trying to finish what they started in jail. Some valuable Mexican intel recently went missing. Rezian wants a sit-down with whoever burned down his other store; he has to make them understand the Armenians didn't steal from them.
Rezian knows there aren't enough Armenians in L.A. to sustain a war against the Mexicans. Vic advises him those guys can smell weakness. Rezian is sure that after the meeting, the Mexicans will search for their missing items elsewhere. Vic agrees to make the arrangements; this being favor number two.
"It's time to end this war we started," Shane says tensely outside. Vic says they can't yet. The meeting will happen. Shane asks if this is another surprise ending he'll learn about too late. Rezian isn't their only target; Vic wants to take down Edgar-veda's friend Cruz as well.
Shane doesn't see how it's the Strike Team's problem if the Byz-Lats take over Farmington. Vic explains that busting Cruz will almost certainly guarantee he doesn't lose his job. The Box O' Blackmail belongs to Cruz, which firmly ties him to the cartels. Cruz could kill all the Armenians for them before ending up in jail.
Vic tells Cruz that Rezian wants to make a deal. "I'm not paying anyone to give me back my property; I'm paying you to get it," says Cruz. Vic is sure Rezian will be happy to hold onto the Box O' Blackmail if that's how Cruz feels about it. Cruz is also free to "burn [his] way through the rest of East Hollywood."
Vic will set up a meeting, but Cruz himself has to be there: "I'm not walking into the belly of the Armenian beast with one of your day laborers as my date." Inside a trailer on the construction site, Cruz introduces Vic to his right-hand man Rios. Vic's "not sure he'll pass for brains." Cruz tells Vic he'll walk out of the meeting if the Armenians don't have the Box O' Blackmail in hand.
At the Barn, Vic describes Rios as having "a face only a cartel could love." The meeting likely won't happen, but it'll still appear that they did their job for both sides. Julien ran Rios' name and discovered he's "a nonperson, at least stateside." Vic plays it off like they suspect Rios of torching the building. Julien needs to dig deeper. "I'll try and find a bigger shovel," he nods.
When he's gone, Vic says, "You gotta love that first-year Strike Team enthusiasm." He instructs Ronnie to keep an eye on Julien. Rios can't know what they're really up to. Olivia arrives at the clubhouse, causing Vic to nervously chuckle and shoo away Shane and Ronnie.
Vic has a favor to ask of the feds. Their arms might not be long enough to reach their arson suspect. She agrees to run Rios' name through federal databases, which are much more extensive.
Across town, a man lies dead in someone's living room. Claudette and Tina explains the victim was a burglar, shot by teenage resident Lloyd. The kid was home alone, heard glass break, and got the family gun. To quote another great FX character:
Billings doesn't think the case warrants any further investigation. However, they can't close the case without a statement from Lloyd, whose age requires parental presence. Tina called Lloyd's mom at work. Billings and Dutch introduce themselves to Lloyd and explain his mom will meet them at the Barn.
"Why would Luis break into our house?" the upset teen asks. It turns out he and the victim go to the same high school.
Claudette inquires why Vic is having Julien run Rios' name. Vic shrugs it's a hunch that he's not sure will pan out. She asks Shane if he got hold of Rezian. Shane nods; Rezian ID'ed the victims as his lieutenants Matavian and Bozian. Rezian has no idea why Mexicans would have a problem with his crew. Claudette seems to buy it, suggesting they reach out to Olivia.
Dutch shakes hands with Lloyd's mom. Mrs. Denton is sure Lloyd was only acting in self-defense. Dutch agrees with her estimation, but they still need her permission to talk to him. Upstairs, the kid gives his version of events.
Lloyd was doing his homework when he heard someone break in. He grabbed his mom's gun from her room. Mrs. Denton bought it because a crappy neighborhood is all she can afford since Mr. Denton walked out on them. Mother and son both took gun safety classes at a firing range. Lloyd didn't realize it was Luis until after he'd shot him; they don't hang out with the same crowd at school. In fact, Luis was kind of a bully.
"Why would Luis break into our house?" Lloyd repeats, "I never did anything to that kid, Mom, I swear." He sniffles. Mrs. Denton tries to soothe him: "This isn't your fault." Dutch suggests mother and son go have something to eat together; any further questions can wait.
Billings still thinks this was straight-up self-defense. Dutch muses that everything played out like a textbook interrogation. Billings has learned that when "the Wagenbach freak meter points to red, you listen." The victim-kills-bully angle has piqued Dutch's interest. He wants to consult Luis's friend and partner in torment Diego.
Danny is surprised when Cassidy turns up on her porch, asking to come in. She doesn't see the baby. Danny explains she just put Lee in his crib for a nap. "Who does he look like now? You or my dad?" Cassidy inquires. She tells Danny the things she read about Vic online. The teen's next question knocks Danny for a loop: "Do you think he killed Terry Crowley?" "No," Danny replies.
Danny tells Cassidy she needs to be more worried about school at her age. Cassidy keeps on about Vic: Is he helping take care of Lee? Is he even paying child support? Danny hasn't asked him too. Cassidy mutters, "I don't blame you." Danny is really uncomfortable talking about Vic with Cassidy.
"You have no reason to defend him. I mean, he gets you pregnant and then he dumps you," Cassidy says hotly, "Who does that?" Lots of guys. Open any newspaper's birth announcements and see how many single moms you find. Lee starts crying in the other room, giving Danny the perfect cue to exit.
Olivia wasn't able to find anything on Rios either. Vic shrugs that he knew it was a long shot. Shane wonders if Rios is involved with the cartel at all; the feds should've been able to turn up something.
Vic tells Rezian the Mexicans aren't interested in a peace treaty until their stolen Box O' Blackmail turns up. Rezian agrees to return the box. Vic is incensed: "You were crying to us this morning that you didn't even know what they were looking for." Shane refuses to "walk into a Mexican hat dance without a ticket."
Vic wonders what's so important about the contents of the box. Rezian snaps that it's none of Vic's business.
"He's bigger," Cassidy observes, watching Danny balance Lee on her hip. There's another knock and this time it's Corinne. She's not happy; Cassidy is supposed to be at school making up a missed test. "If you didn't ground me, I wouldn't have to sneak out," the teen sasses.
Corinne grabs her eldest by the arm; they're going home. Cassidy leaves to get her backpack from the nursery. Corinne thanks her ex's baby-mama for telling her where Cassidy was. Danny informs her that Cassidy was asking about Vic, but Danny knows it's not her place to give those answers.
Billings uncovered Luis's motive for breaking into Lloyd's house; he and his pal Diego had shorted their drug connection and needed cash. Does anyone at school know Lloyd's schedule or that his mom works a lot? Lloyd isn't sure. He maintains that he called 911 immediately after shooting his classmate. "Must've been upsetting. All that blood," says Dutch.
When the detectives talked to Diego, he seemed sure there would be $1,000 in cash someplace in Lloyd's house. Mrs. Denton says, "The most expensive thing we own is a 25-inch color TV."
They take Mrs. Denton to the observation room. Dutch worries about Lloyd having the emotional tools to cope with what happened. It must be hard being a single mom. Mrs. Denton tries her hardest to make sure Lloyd gets a good education; she never had the opportunity to go to college herself. Lloyd aces his tests, but has a "C" average because he won't do his homework.
"Lloyd says he was doing his homework when Luis broke in," Dutch points out. Mrs. Denton guesses he decided to start listening to her advice. Dutch requests permission to stay in touch with the family so he can make sure Lloyd is getting the kind of counseling and help he needs. Mrs. Denton agrees.
"We know Rezian's lyin' about the box, so we can't anticipate his next move," says Vic. Shane guesses the Armenian is preparing for a shootout. The meeting spot has no surveillance cameras and two entry/exit points. Ronnie can back the others up from outside. Vic wants Rezian instructed to bring three men and no weapons.
Ronnie asks how Vic expects to play both sides, even though Vic's been doing that since their first operation as the Strike Team. Vic tells Shane to step in if things go south (we all know the Southerner's always had the coolest head).
Shane gets a phone call with Rios' location. "How's that possible when Olivia came up empty?" Vic wonders. Picking Rios up would mean no meeting with Rezian, but they'd have time to figure out Rezian's angle. Vic arresting Cruz would screw up the whole arrangement they have. The Strike Team needs to figure out a way to keep Julien on a leash for the duration.
The guys meet with Julien, whose friend at Border Patrol put Rios on their unofficial watch list. Rios has family at the house they're parked in front of. Ronnie and Vic take the back while Shane and Julien go around front. Rios is in the living room and Vic shoos him out. "TV's on. Looks like we just missed someone," says Shane.
Billings is tired of talking about Lloyd; Dutch "spinning the grassy knoll" means nothing without evidence. Dutch recites a profile: highly intelligent male, unstable family, piss-poor student, and absent father. Billings bets Dutch's hunch has to do with a crush on Mrs. Denton.
"Let's say he lures the school bully over, shoots him for some perceived slight," says Billings. Dutch shakes his head; Lloyd didn't seem angry enough for that to be his motive. However, Ted Bundy started killing in his early teens. Methods get more sophisticated over time. Billings doesn't buy that Lloyd is a serial killer in the making.
Shane and Vic pat down the Mexicans for their meeting with Rezian. The first thing the Mexicans ask is: "Where's the box?" The Armenians swear they don't have it. Shane and Vic step in when the argument starts to escalate. "I don't know how this rumor got started, but I can't give you what I don't have," says Rezian. He's willing to let the murders of his brethren go unanswered and help the Mexicans find out who stole the Box O' Blackmail.
"Rezian's lying through his Armenian teeth," Vic tells Cruz. Cruz's second-in-command challenges, "What good is a dirty cop selling bad information?" Vic promises his intel was solid, even though Cruz has never seen proof the Armenians have the box. Maybe they should look elsewhere for it.
Dutch and Mrs. Denton sip some coffee at her place. Dutch empathizes with Lloyd's lack of a male role model; his own dad died when he was 6. Mrs. Denton reveals Lloyd's dad was a drinker. Since the divorce, she's never felt the need to settle. "A woman like you shouldn't have to," Dutch flirts.
Billings excuses himself to the bathroom. Mrs. Denton didn't think detectives made house calls. (One could argue that's mostly what they do). Billings sneaks into Lloyd's room. The teen's walls are plastered with pretty damn good self-portraits drawn on notebook paper.
Dutch inquires about Lloyd's school friends. "There aren't a lot of white kids," says Mrs. Denton, then hastily amends, "Not that that matters." The other boys at school just seem like they're involved with drugs and/or gangs, so she's been hoping Lloyd would find a girlfriend instead. Dutch says he was a late bloomer and didn't date until college.
Dutch suggests bringing Lloyd into their conversation "so he can process this in a healthy way." Billings reappears and helps himself to a cookie. Dutch lays out the plan: put the case to rest and see if the victims' fund will pay for couch time with a psychologist.
Vic enters Edgar-veda's office. The councilman snaps for Vic to call next time. Vic wants help with "an Armenian political win" because Cruz thinks they have the Box O' Blackmail. It behooves them both to keep Rezian on that same train of thought.
Edgar-veda has an idea. One of the men in the Box O' Blackmail keeps blocking funding for an Armenian genocide memorial. Vic thinks that'll "resonate big with the right ears." Vic's target? His old friend Robert Martin, the city controller. Cruz has Martin dead to rights on an insider trading scheme.
Ronnie anonymously calls Martin, pretending he knows about the politician's deal with the Berkley Group: "Insider trading is a crime. You've been a bad boy." "I don't know what you're talking about," Martin lies, hastily shutting his office door. Ronnie says that information is in the hands of Armenian interests, people "who'd love to see their ancestors' names commemorated in stone." Martin claims it's too late to fund the memorial. Ronnie doesn't think so.
Vic wishes he could've made the call; Martin never came through with the favor he promised. Ronnie points out, "He would've known your voice in a second." "Now he's gonna know my foot up his ass," says Vic.
Cruz tells Vic about Martin announcing a local memorial to the Armenian genocide. He thinks Rezian must've been lying about having the Box O' Blackmail. Cruz will present his design for the memorial at an Armenian march and knows Rezian won't be able to resist being there. "We agreed: no civilian casualties," Vic reminds him. Cruz promises there won't be any.
While the kid reads over his statement, Dutch asks if Lloyd misses his dad. "What there was to miss about him, I guess," shrugs Lloyd. He's sure the late Papa Wagenbach would be proud of Dutch. Billings summons Mrs. Denton to sign some paperwork. She reluctantly leaves the observation room. As he passes, Billings taps the interrogation room door.
Dutch mentions the drawings he saw in Lloyd's room. "A lot of great artists did self-portraits," says Lloyd, lying that he's not great at drawing. Dutch recalls Lloyd was doing homework when Luis broke in. Does Lloyd remember what subject? "Chem," the teen replies. From talking to Mrs. Denton, Dutch knows that's one of Lloyd's worst subjects.
There are details about Lloyd's statement that don't make sense. Is he sure this is exactly how it happened? Lloyd offers to show Dutch his half-finished lab report for chemistry. Dutch knows about the gun safety classes, which teach people to leave the gun unloaded until they're ready to use it. He's surprised Lloyd had time to load it as fast as things must've happened. Lloyd guesses it was adrenaline. He maintains he didn't recognize Luis until he walked up to the intruder's dead body.
Dutch has his own theory of the crime. Lloyd enticed Luis to come over by telling him about the nonexistent cash hoard his mom kept around, offering to split it 50-50 if they made it look like robbery. "Only when Luis breaks in, you're waiting there to kill him. To see what it feels like." Some people feel powerful when they kill. You'd know, wouldn't you, Dutch, you cat-strangling maniac?
Billings knocks on the door again. Dutch changes tune, asking Lloyd to sign the statement. He wants Lloyd to promise he won't blame himself for surviving the break-in.
At the Armenian rally, Edgar-veda wraps up an interview with the local news station. Martin hates seeing city fund squandered on huge events like this. Edgar-veda is pleased he had a change of heart about the memorial.
Shane and Vic are in the crowd, keeping a watchful eye on Rezian. If anyone's planning a hit, it'll happen before the speeches. Just as Martin walks toward the podium, there's a gunshot. The crowd starts screaming and running. A wounded Martin collapses on the steps; Edgar-veda yells for a medic.
A short time later, Claudette arrives in a police car. This is the second crime in Little Armenia today and there's still no lead on the first.
Vic storms into Cruz's office, announcing, "You and me, we're done! You can keep your money!" Martin's death was an assassination, plain and simple, Cruz's way of sending a message: "I'm still a goddamn cop!" "Not for long and not without me," says Cruz. He's sure Vic can draw suspicion away from him.
To do that, Vic needs a scapegoat. If Cruz doesn't find one, Vic will make sure the Box O' Blackmail finds a permanent home in Little Armenia.
At the Barn, Dutch and Billings rewatch the tape of Lloyd's interrogation. Dutch can't believe a kid his age managed to commit the perfect crime. He worries, "We let this go and Luis is just Victim #1." Billings has accepted they'll never know what really went on in that house.
Vic asks Olivia to run Rios' name again. Edgar-veda joins them. When she leaves, he shuts the clubhouse door. Vic promises he had no clue the plan was to assassinate Martin. Edgar-veda snarls, "You don't care who has to die to save your job...but I did not sign up for this." Vic argues the councilman did when he got involved with Cruz.
Vic tries to see the glass as half-full. Martin didn't deserve what happened, but his death gives them concrete proof that Cruz is dirty. Their federal friend Olivia might be able to connect Cruz to the cartels, insulating Vic and Edgar-veda from any fallout.
Ronnie and Julien bring in arson suspects Pedro and Miguel. Witnesses were too scared to ID them until after Martin was shot. (You'd think that would make them more scared). "Make sure the entire team expresses their gratitude," Claudette says pointedly.
Rezian doesn't understand why Martin was targeted. "He supported your cause," Shane answered. The Mexicans wanted to send a message. Rezian wants Shane's help recovering the Box O' Blackmail; it'll count as the last favor to earn his freedom. That sounds like a darn good deal to him.
Danny has papers for Vic, drawn up by a lawyer. His face falls when he reads them; Danny wants him to waive his parental rights to Lee. She had it put in writing "so that there's no confusion down the road."
Vic groans when he sees Edgar-veda waiting by his car: "You forget to hit me up for a campaign contribution." Edgar-veda wants to know how close Olivia is to uncovering the truth. He thought her name sounded familiar and hands Vic a folder. "Her name's in the blackmail box?" Vic asks in disbelief.
Edgar-veda wants to know how much Vic told her. "Enough to blow things with Cruz, maybe get us both killed." Vic admits. End of episode.
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