tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61085430890556198862024-03-14T06:17:53.246-04:00Lem's Locker"Good cop and bad cop left for the day. I'm a different kind of cop."-Vic Mackey. Recapping my re-watch of FX's 'The Shield'Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-30441359477910678232018-03-05T11:51:00.003-05:002018-03-05T11:51:44.523-05:00Need 100 Grand? Just Take It Out of "Petty Cash" (Episode 7.11)<i>Previously on: Olivia doubted Vic could still be valuable to the Beltran investigation now that he's no longer a cop. Vic proved otherwise by faking Pezuela's death. Ronnie told Claudette almost everything about Shane's reasoning for wanting him and Vic killed. Vic put out a reward on the street for his ex-best friend's head. Ronnie has had enough shenanigans and wants to run away to Mexico; Vic promised they'll both run if his latest scheme fails. Shane has demanded $100,000 and sent a blackmail package to Claudette.</i><br />
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<i>Unbeknownst to Vic, Corinne is working with Dutch and Claudette to bring down Vic. Claudette tried to appeal to Mara for her cooperation.</i><br />
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Corinne offers coffee to Claudette and Dutch as they wait for the phone to ring. When it does, Mara only wants to speak to Claudette. She tells her that Shane wants $100,000 by 5 PM; Corinne is to personally make the drop at the fountain in Hollenbeck Park. Mara wants Claudette to promise Shane won't be hurt because "I know how some suspects wind up dead getting booked." The cops need to know Shane tried to kill Vic and Ronnie strictly out of self-defense.<br />
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Mara continues making demands: "You need to guarantee that he gets a light sentence. Otherwise, I will blow this whole thing out of the water!" "I'll work it out with the D.A.," Claudette agrees. When his wife hangs up, Shane compliments, "That was beautiful, baby." They'll never have to worry about Vic Mackey again. I wouldn't count on that...<br />
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Shane vows he's never going to prison and he won't let Mara end up there either.<br />
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Claudette gives Corinne instructions for the drop. She needs to act like everything Vic tells her is news. "Don't go along too easily," adds Dutch. Corinne mutters, "Having a problem with all this won't be a stretch." Claudette won't have her wear a wire during the initial meeting because Vic can smell a setup.<br />
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Corinne asks tensely, "How will Vic <i>not </i>figure out that I set him up?" Claudette will make it seem like Vic's been on their radar for a while. Dutch will go through the motions of arresting Corinne to maintain her cover. Corinne doesn't like the sound of any of this. "You came to us to get Vic out of your life," Dutch reminds her.<br />
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Corinne's next question is how to get into the witness protection program. Claudette explains that would involve testifying. Corinne vehemently refuses to do it; Vic would know she put him in jail. "It was his own doing," Claudette points out. Corinne still feels guilty.<br />
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Edgar-veda, lurking outside Vic's house, remarks, "You're a little overdressed for your paper route." This morning's edition of the <i>L.A. Times </i>ran a story about the tragic suicide of Cruz Pezuela. "His shrink should be sued for not recognizing the 7 warning signs," Vic says dismissively. Edgar-veda is sure his friend wasn't suicidal: "Beltran had him whacked." He's willing to bet Vic pulled the trigger.<br />
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"Olivia's not returning my phone calls," Edgar-veda goes on, "Now you drop a body in the middle of my campaign." He leans in the car window. "You're not screwing up my investigation and costing me the mayor's job with one last scandal, Vic." "Nice to know that justice is still your top priority," Vic snarks.<br />
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Corinne gets a call from Vic. He needs to talk to her, but can't get into why over the phone. Corinne lies she doesn't have much time; she's getting ready for work. Vic asks if she can take a personal day and meet him at Hollenbeck Park.<br />
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"Vic, this is crazy," Corinne snaps at him in the park. He asks her to come back to this bench at 5:00. Corinne is incredulous: "You're gonna hand me a bag full of money to give to the guy who tried to kill you?" Vic sees it as a small price to pay to get all the Vendrells out of the U.S. Shane wants to hurt Vic, not Corinne, so she shouldn't worry. Can Corinne do him this one last favor?<br />
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Vic sits down for a friendly lunch with Beltran. He bets the cartel boss is glad Cruz's narrow-mindedness died with him. Vic can understand Cruz "being down with La Raza," but 40% of the drug trade in L.A. is owned and operated by blacks. The cartel could use a "trade rep who's fluent in the culture." Of course, this means Vic himself.<br />
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Beltran doesn't see the advantage in allying himself with a "white cop who's made a career cracking the heads of low-level gangbangers." Uh, Vic's actually taken down his share of big ones too. Vic offers to "set up a meet-and-greet with the black board of directors." If Beltran supplies their drugs at a reasonable cost, he'll end up with a monopoly in a year or two.<br />
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Beltran knows that meetings like that are how you end up getting arrested. Vic would be happy to go to the meeting alone and negotiate. Beltran wants a deposit from the gangs.<br />
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At the L.A. County Jail, Vic asks an incarcerated gangbanger to arrange a board meeting. The guy will see what he can do.<br />
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Olivia reminds Vic he has to be trusted enough to get to the cartel's inner workings. Vic can't help he's still being cagey. Olivia has tried talking to Cruz about it and describes him as an uncooperative shithead. She wishes she knew where her blackmail file is. Vic reassures her that it being lost is a good thing; nobody can use it against her. He knows his jobs are to find it and help ICE bust Beltran. Vic Mackey is a man who makes good on his promises.<br />
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Vic gets a phone call from jail. The black board of directors' meeting is at 2:00 in Inglewood. Crosstown traffic in L.A. being what it is, Vic is gonna have to hustle to get back to Corinne at 5:00.<br />
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A uniform lays some mail on Claudette's desk. Ronnie casually breezes over and starts fishing through it. "Something you need?" asks Claudette. Ronnie huffs in annoyance: "This new guy handing out the mail must be dyslexic. When's Danny coming back?"<br />
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Claudette has a case for Ronnie and Billings: shooting victim pronounced DOA. The teen's name is Cardell Rhodes. "The football player?" pipes up Julien. It transpires he was Cardell's coach during his Pop Warner days. Ronnie thought he was on desk duty.<br />
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Claudette explains she's got the majority of the cops sweeping the streets for the upcoming presidential motorcade. "Much as I want out of my forced detention, Julien's history with the kid gives him a leg up here," says Ronnie. Claudette agrees; she wants Julien to partner with Ronnie instead of Billings. Detective of the Year grumbles that he'll go back to his crossword puzzles.<br />
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Ronnie stops Billings on his way downstairs, asking for a favor. "I took a bedroom tumble with a woman on the force," he explains, leaning in confidentially, "She found out she's not the only teeter-totter on the playground, got pissed, and now she's tryin' to jam me up with Claudette."<br />
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Imaginary Mystery Woman wrote a letter to Claudette and Ronnie needs it intercepted. Billings' man-crush on Ronnie is evident in his reply: "That poison panty-gram won't hit Claudette's desk." Ronnie gives his partner a fist-bump.<br />
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Ronnie informs Vic the letter wasn't with the first round of mail. Vic is sure it'll turn up with the afternoon round. Ronnie has another possibility in mind: Shane's just fucking with them. Vic knows neither of them can afford to take the chance in getting complacent; it's a good thing Ronnie's still on restricted duty.<br />
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Ronnie explains about being put on a homicide case with Julien. "One minute, one minute," he snaps at said uniform, who's hovering over his shoulder. Vic gives Ronnie a brief run-down of the cartel situation.<br />
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Elsewhere, Shane strides purposefully into an alley full of bums. He lifts up a sewer grate, looks inside, and lets it drop back down with a clang. Shane raises his voice, addressing the alley at large: "I put somethin' over here fer safekeeping. Y'all know what I'm talkin' about. Now where the hell is it?"<br />
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Shane kicks over a shopping cart, then slams a homeless man against a wall: "You think yer quality of life sucks now? You wait 'til I get done with you." He asks where his gun is. Getting no answer, he roughly kicks another man awake.<br />
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"Think pink while you still can, hero!" says the homeless man, brandishing a revolver, "You die now among the righteous and the urine savior." When it pulls the trigger, it goes <i>click </i>instead of <i>bang</i>. Shane snatches it out of his hand and opens the chamber: "It's not loaded, Pig-Pen." Before leaving, he smacks the homeless man's forehead for good measure.<br />
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At a warehouse, Vic asks Beltran how much weight the cartel can provide to the blacks as a starter kit. However, he counsels that it might be better in the long run to "absorb them into your corporate structure." Cruz never managed to grow past Byz Lat level. Beltran scoffs that Cruz was a "waste of clothes."<br />
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Cruz renovated this warehouse and built others for the cartel to store their drugs, but they were all "over budget and behind schedule." "You're gonna fill this whole place with drugs?" asks Vic, gesturing around them.<br />
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Beltran wants to know if the blacks understand the terms of working with the cartel. Vic inquires about taking some cartel guys along since this meeting could turn hostile. "You forget, eh? My background is professional military," Beltran replies, whatever that's supposed to be.<br />
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At Ronnie and Julien's crime scene, a white man sits on the bumper of an ambulance, explaining what happened. He was just talking to Cardell when the gunshots started and the teenager shielded him from the bullets. The man, Polk, is in Farmington on a football recruiting trip. He thinks Cardell was about to commit to his school and laments the loss of talent: "He was on his way to a Heisman." Julien agrees, "That kid had eyes in the back of his head."<br />
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Ronnie turns the focus back to the murder: "You vet these kids pretty thoroughly." Was Polk aware of Cardell having any personal problems or enemies? "The shit you have to put up with to get a BCS bid," gripes Polk, "Take a banger to brunch." Julien doesn't believe Cardell was involved in a gang. Polk goes on, "I had to get permission from a shot-caller just to get a sit-down with the kid."<br />
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Julien pays a visit to Cardell's mother, who describes her son as "a child of God." Julien holds her hand, asking if she knows who might've shot Cardell. "Why would anyone wanna hurt my baby?" she sobs. The front hall is full of pictures of Cardell in his football uniform and his trophies.<br />
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Another relative wonders why God would let something like this happen. Julien nods that this job tests his faith every day. The other woman's son died last year in a drive-by. Does Julien believe Cardell was running around with gangs? Julien shakes his head and hands her a business card.<br />
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Ronnie meets Julien outside the house: "Recruiter told me Cardell was repping Acorn Park." "How in the hell does he know what goes on around here?" asks Julien. Ronnie reminds Julien what the guy said about the shot-caller. Julien insists that wasn't Cardell. Ronnie understands Julien has history with Cardell, but they have to look at the case from all angles.<br />
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Julien says, "This kid was the closest thing to a hero this neighborhood ever had." Ronnie would love to be wrong; it's still too soon to draw any conclusions. He sends Julien to talk to Acorn Park; Ronnie will "discourse with Spookstreet."<br />
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"You're using the ICE sting on Beltran to scam $100 grand off Beenie Spears' guys?" Ronnie asks Vic incredulously. Vic doesn't know how else they can come up with Shane's buy-off. Has anybody checked inside Ronnie's mattress recently? I.A. never could find his share of the money train cash. "Playing both sides like this is crazy dangerous!" Ronnie cries.<br />
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Vic only needs both sides occupied for a couple of days longer so they can get Shane out of the country and Beltran busted. In exchange, ICE will give both of them a deal and immunity. "Jesus," Ronnie sighs. He tells Vic he tasked Billings with intercepting Shane's letter to Claudette. "The wheels are comin' off this whole goddamn thing," Ronnie predicts tensely.<br />
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Vic is on his way to the gang council and "could really use some backup that speaks Ingles." Ronnie wishes he could, but Claudette has him working a murder case.<br />
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Dutch enters Claudette's office, saying she doesn't have to go on the stakeout if she doesn't feel up to it. Claudette vows to put the cuffs on Shane and Vic even "if you have to take me there on a damn stretcher with IVs running." She distractedly lifts up the stacks of paper covering her desk. Dutch asks if she lost something. Claudette can't find her medicine and knows it was here a minute ago.<br />
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Dutch hands her a prescription bottle from a nearby shelf. The captain wonders how Vic is gonna get $100,000 together for Shane. She worries someone could get hurt. Julien comes in and Claudette asks if Ronnie's talked to Vic at all today. Julien reports Ronnie's gotten some phone calls, but he doesn't know who was on the other end.<br />
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Claudette and Dutch tell Julien about their plan to arrest Vic for aiding and abetting fugitive Shane. If Julien can free up time from working Cardell's murder, the captain wants him to come along. Claudette wanted to let Julien have time to mentally prepare himself for having to "throw bracelets on former colleagues." Dutch thinks Ronnie and Vic might be planning something. They were his teammates once, so Julien has to pick a side. Julien agrees to walk point with their backup from Rampart Division.<br />
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Vic tries to convince the black gangs of the upside to switching suppliers: lower cost, unlimited quantity, and high quality product. One of them tells Vic, "We've been with the same wholesaler since before you had a cowlick." Vic shows them a bag of meth made from Mexican ephedra "by Ph.D. chemists." The gangbangers explain they only agreed to the meeting as a courtesy.<br />
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Vic invites them to look out the windows. A couple of cars full of Mexicans are parked in the driveway. Someone pulls a gun on Vic. He warns that if they shoot him, "there'll be an RPG in this room before I hit the floor." Vic then tells a story about his colleagues murdering a whole precinct full of Mexican police last year, along with their dispatchers and janitors. Beltran did it to take over turf. If he was willing to do that to his own people, what do the black gangs see in their future?<br />
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Vic just wants to "promote a little racial harmony through economic opportunity." The buy-in is $200,000.<br />
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Vic tries to leave for his meeting with Corinne, but his Mexican colleagues waylay him in their truck. Beltran wants his money now. Vic tells them he needs to get gas. While the pump is running, Vic pops his trunk and shoves money in a duffel bag. Vic dashes to the gas station bathroom and puts the duffel bag in the trash can, covering it up with paper towels.<br />
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Vic calls Ronnie and says quickly, "Code red. Third and Alvarado gas station men's room trash can." When one of the Mexicans answers, he pretends he's talking to one of his kids: "All right, sweetheart, Daddy has to work late."<br />
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"Van Bro!" Ronnie greets everyone's favorite wheelchair-bound street artist/informant. Van Bro cheerfully replies, "Gardocki, my man!" He's sorry to hear about the dissolution of the Strike Team. Ronnie must be "the last cat standing. Upright and breathing."<br />
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Van Bro advises, "Signify your own path, you won't get caught up in other folk's bullshit and tribulation." That's how he lives his life and look at him: "Standing strong and doing the damn thing."<br />
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Ronnie gestures at what looks like spray-painted pieces of tin roof. What happened to Van Bro's talent? Van Bro calls it "nonrepresentational art." After all, it worked for Basquiat. He offers one of his art pieces to Ronnie. The detective just wants information about Cardell.<br />
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Van Bro heard bookies were pissed at the teenager, accusing him of point shaving during a game the night before. He doesn't want to speculate, but supposedly Cardell was "steppin' outta bounds with all kindsa daylight numerous times." All of this is coming fourth-hand, however. He doesn't have any names until Ronnie gives him a $20; suddenly, it might be Deuce. Van Bro calls after them, "Stay black!"<br />
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Billings, eating sushi at his desk, gets a call from Ronnie and suddenly remembers he's supposed to be intercepting mail deliveries. "Oh shit," he says, "Yeah, lemme look." We flash briefly to Ronnie's furious expression. Julien interrupts, telling his partner that Cardell wasn't involved in point shaving. Stepping out of bounds was his way of preserving his knees for college ball. Ronnie isn't listening; he's having a few terse words with Billings.<br />
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When Ronnie hangs up, he suggests going back to the Barn. Julien would rather talk to Polk the recruiter again. Ronnie reminds him that Polk is a victim too, not a suspect. "Maybe he was the target," says Julien. Ronnie can't argue that's an angle worth examining. He dashes off, lying that he needs to get a prescription filled. Ah, one of Lem's favorite tactics, God rest him.<br />
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Shane puts on a backwards ballcap and pulls up to a street corner. "Hey, yo, my man!" he calls, flashing some gang signs. Getting no answer, he adds, "You goddamn deaf, homie?" The drug dealer approaches the driver's side window, suspicious that he's never seen Shane in the area before.<br />
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Shane flashes a wad of cash to show he's serious, then grabs the dealer's arm and yanks him partially through the open passenger window. Shane drives a short distance away and sticks his now useless badge in the dealer's face. Of course, the dope pusher doesn't know that. Shane presses the revolver's barrel to the guy's cheek, requesting to be let into a stash house off Normandie.<br />
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"I ain't doin' shit for you! I'm 16!" the kid cries, panicked, "Take me in; they'll call my mom!" Shane punches the boy in the face, saying, "I don't have her number." He hits the kid in the stomach once and the face again.<br />
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Shane marches the kid toward the stash house at gunpoint, asking about the weaponry inside. "Enough to shred your bony white ass," the kid grumbles. There's probably about $8,000-10,000 in cash sitting around too. Once inside, it looks like the place has already been tossed. A squawking police radio out back confirms my suspicion.<br />
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Shane throws the kid into a nearby shelf, knocking things over and making a hell of a lot of noise. Uniforms on scene spring into action with shouts of "We got a runner!" Shane manages to weasel his way out undetected.<br />
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Vic lays a briefcase full of cash on Beltran's desk and is offered a shot of something. Vic waves it off, saying he doesn't smoke or drink. Beltran can respect "a man of few vices." Vic used to believe in hard work being its own reward, but has now decided he doesn't want to die miserable and broke like his grandparents. He hopes Beltran understands he has "an action hero on [your] payroll."<br />
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Corinne nervously takes a seat on the designated park bench. Dutch and Claudette are in a car behind a nearby fence; they're backed up by a van full of uniforms. Claudette hopes the former Mrs. Mackey can get through the operation without cracking. Ronnie approaches, carrying the Duffel O' Cash. Dutch is surprised to see him. "Where's Vic?" Claudette hisses angrily.<br />
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Ronnie drops the bag onto Corinne's lap. She's worried that Vic isn't there, but Ronnie assures her that he's okay. Before Corinne can say much of anything else, Ronnie disappears. Dutch radios an order for the uniforms to arrest Ronnie. Claudette counters that they need to stay where they are; Vic could be watching from somewhere.<br />
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Dutch argues, "We've got Gardocki dead to rights." That's all on tape and can be discussed later. Claudette snarls, "We haven't got the real bastard yet."<br />
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"Shane's an hour late." Corinne is understandably freaked out that she's sitting in a park in Los Angeles with $100,000 in a duffel bag. Dutch wonders if Mara revealed to Shane what the cops are planning. "What if Vic figured out I was working with you? That's why he sent Ronnie," Corinne is barely holding it together, "Somebody talk to me!" "Okay, call it," Claudette sighs.<br />
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Dutch gives the abort mission signal. "Goddamn it!" Claudette screams, pounding the dashboard.<br />
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Shane and Mara try to plot their next move. Mara comes up with the harebrained idea of robbing the safe at the real estate office where she works; it's full of escrow checks. "Mara, if I can't knock over a stash house, what makes you think we're gonna walk into a bank and cash a buncha stolen checks made out to a goddamn escrow company?" asks Shane.<br />
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Mara presses a finger to her lips, indicating Jackson, who's napping on the floor. She goes on that they also have lots of cashier's checks for apartment rentals: "Folks in the hood don't have checking accounts." "I don't know about crackin' into no safe," Shane whispers. He won't have to because Mara has the combination. Shane still doesn't think it's a good idea.<br />
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Mara insists it could work; the only people in the office at night are on the cleaning crew. He points out the small problem of her being a fugitive. "They're illiterate and don't speak English," Mara reassures him. Shane beams proudly at his criminal mastermind spouse.<br />
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Edgar-veda is growing suspicious about his friend Cruz's supposed suicide. He's been dead a day and a friend at the coroner's office said his body was already shipped back to Mexico. When someone commits suicide in L.A. County, an autopsy is required. The coroner didn't have enough time to do that. Edgar-veda is willing to bet Cruz isn't dead. Vic dodges the question. The councilman worries about the possibility of Cruz testifying.<br />
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Edgar-veda threatens to tell Beltran that Cruz is still alive: "I will wreck this investigation before I let you and Olivia cut me out." Vic asks Edgar-veda which is the worst-case scenario: "being denied your legacy as the great brown reformer" or the public finding out a cartel bankrolled his campaign. Edgar-veda just wants both of them to respect each other's goals.<br />
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Ronnie unsuccessfully tries to get intel out of Julien about the special assignment Claudette had him on. Julien wants to reinterview Polk, who's back from a recruiting trip to San Diego.<br />
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In a parking garage, Olivia and Vic have a chat about the investigation. Vic wants to pull Ronnie into the fold instead of using some of Olivia's friends from ICE. He needs Beltran to think he has a friend in local law enforcement. Olivia can't authorize that. Vic hands over Olivia's blackmail file, letting her know he resisted the temptation to use it against her.<br />
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Vic trusted Olivia and it cost him his job. Even if he gets away from Beltran alive, he has no future. All Vic wants is her help getting a softer landing.<br />
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Shane corrals the janitors at the real estate office into the back with the universal language of gun in your face. He keeps trying to order them around even though Mara told him they don't speak English: "Hit the deck, dammit." Shane takes the safe combination out of his pocket, snapping at the crying cleaning crew to shut up. Even though the numbers are right, the safe won't open.<br />
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Shane sighs: "All right, anyone moves, morto, morto." He jogs out to the car, waving for Mara. She doesn't want to leave their toddler unattended in the car, so Shane tells her to bring him along. Shane tells her the safe won't open. Mara gives him instructions that he doesn't understand. She then practically shoves Jackson at her husband so she can open the safe herself.<br />
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One of the cleaning ladies offers to hold him and Shane obliges. "<i>Gracias,</i>" says Mara, turning around with a fistful of checks. The Vendrells head off on their merry way. Mara guesses there's only about $5,000 in her hand (with rent in L.A. being so damn high?). "That'll work!" Shane says happily.<br />
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At her house, Corinne asks why Vic never came to the park. He explains he had a last-minute job interview with ICE. He apologizes for leaving her hanging. Did anything happen that could've spooked Shane? "Just me and the crackheads," Corinne replies. She tries to return the money; Vic wants her to keep it for the kids in case they never hear from Shane. "Please tell me when this is gonna be over," she begs.<br />
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The conversation is interrupted by Cassidy, emerging from her room to hug her dad. Corinne tells her to go to bed; it's a school night. Cassidy shows Vic her latest math test; she got a 98. Vic is proud of her for cleaning up her act after the lingerie party incident. As a reward, he gives Cassidy $20.<br />
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Polk promises to fax a list of all the L.A. kids he spoke to on his recruiting trip once he gets home to Dallas. He's used to talking to prospective players in the presence of their high school coach, overprotective mother, and maybe the family minister. With Cardell, however, "I had a meet-cute with some inked-out thug in baggy clothes and a grill." That caused him to reconsider offering a scholarship.<br />
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Julien argues said inked-out thug could've been trying to make sure Polk didn't try to take advantage of Cardell. Polk sees himself as Mr. Opportunity, offering inner-city kids "money, education, the chance to get out of a shitty environment." Julien won't let up: "In your job, you destroy more dreams than you make come true."<br />
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Polk scoffs. Last year, a mom tried to hit him with a baseball bat because he passed on recruiting her son. He adds this family was from the same block as Cardell.<br />
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Julien sits back down with Cardell's mom's friend Mia. Her son's murder remains unsolved. Julien asks where she was when the recruiter was shot. Mom's Friend claims she was at home watching her stories. Ronnie and Julien know Polk also recruited this woman's son Dion. The kid had been offered a scholarship and a car. His mom doesn't believe it all fell through just like that. 6 months later, Dion was shot in the head at a bus stop.<br />
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"As a mother who's lost a child, tell me you didn't know [Cardell] was in that truck," says Julien. Mia starts to cry: "With them dark windows, I didn't." She blamed Polk for destroying her son's future.<br />
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Ronnie finds a manila envelope on Claudette's desk. There's no return address, but Shane's alias Cletus Van Damme is scrawled upon it. Ronnie hustles down to the clubhouse to open it. Inside is a ream of paper and only one sheet with anything written on it. The message reads: HEY RONNIE. TELL VIC HE'S A SHITHEAD. YOU'VE BOTH JUST BEEN PUNKED. Pissed, Ronnie throws the papers at the wall.<br />
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Dutch tells Claudette he called IAD to get paperwork started on Ronnie. Claudette is willing to let him go. She has a mountain of paperwork on her desk. Dutch says now that Vic resigned, Danny is willing to come back to be Claudette's assistant. He promises they'll get Vic.<br />
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"We can't expect justice out there when we don't demand it in our own house," says Claudette. Dutch gives her an unnecessary reminder that she's not in control of everything. Claudette tells him that he's free to leave if she doesn't like how she's handling the case.<br />
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Vic tells Ronnie how things are going with Olivia: "ICE is gonna take care of both of us; I know it." Ronnie wonders why Shane didn't come to collect his bag of money. Vic guesses he was giving them busy work. A truck's arrival causes Vic to mutter, "Jesus, this is cutting it close." He tries to lighten the mood: "A little ulcer never hurt anyone." Oh yeah? Tell that to Lem. Like me, Ronnie fails to see the humor.<br />
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Vic introduces Beltran to his little friend Ronnie Gardocki. Beltran shakes his hand; Vic has spoken highly of Ronnie's character. Ronnie tries to look pleased by this: "He taught me everything I know."<br />
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Shane goes to a mini-mart/check-cashing place where he knows the owner. He slides a wad of cashier's checks through the bulletproof window. The owner, Boo Ray, isn't interested in doing favors for Shane. "You know these are as good as cash," he coaxes. Shane looked the other way when Boo Ray sold weed out of the back of the store.<br />
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Somewhat reluctantly, Boo Ray hands over the cash. Shane immediately notices he's short $2,000. Boo Ray's vig is 50 cents on the dollar, which Shane calls unacceptable. He pleads that he has a kid and another on the way. Boo Ray threatens to call the cops because "givin' up a killer cop ain't snitchin' in my hood." For once, Shane does the smart thing and walks away.<br />
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Outside, Mara is obviously disappointed at the cash she's handed. Didn't Shane say the shop owner was his friend? Realizing how tired Shane looks, Mara pulls him close to her chest and strokes his hair. "I guess we both have to embrace the reality that neither of us has a friend in this world," Shane mopes, "Except each other." End of episode.<br />
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<br />Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-59901241605071740462018-02-09T15:46:00.001-05:002018-02-09T15:46:41.307-05:00Toeing the "Party Line" (Episode 7.10)<i>Previously on: Vic turned in his badge. Mayoral hopeful Edgar-veda was bullied by Cruz, whose cartel boss Beltran is in town. Ronnie told Claudette the truth about Shane (or mostly the truth). The Vendrells went on the run. Vic's attempt to kill his former best friend was thwarted by Mara. Corinne got a phone call from Mara and lied to Vic that Mara doesn't trust the Mackeys for help anymore.</i><br />
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Vic and Ronnie drive past a sign that reads INDIO--NEXT 2 EXITS. Savvy viewers will remember Mara's mom lives there. Ronnie pinches the bridge of his nose, looking like he's about to fall asleep.<br />
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At an apartment complex, Vic knocks on a door. A man answers. Vic says they're here to see Stella. "She's asleep, being the middle of the goddamn night and all," the man replies peevishly. Ronnie flashes his badge: "We're old friends of her daughter's."<br />
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Stella, it transpires, is not asleep but drinking on the couch. She insists she hasn't seen Mara. Since they made the 2-hour drive from L.A., Vic and Ronnie are welcome to drinks. Stella's boyfriend adds that they already told the Indio cops everything. Vic suggests the guy pour himself "another turpentine martini" and leave them alone. Stella remembers Vic from the last time Mara was in trouble and that he wasn't nice about it. Much like Dallas Winston, Vic Mackey is never nice.<br />
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Vic asks if Stella knows where Mara and Shane are going. Stella takes another slug of whatever is in her glass. "Keeping your mouth shut means you're aiding a fugitive," Ronnie points out. Stella chuckles it hardly seems official, them being here this late.<br />
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Vic tries to appeal to her better nature: "Shane's dangerous. It's not safe for Mara out there or for Jackson. Her pregnancy could be in jeopardy." "Oh well, this is a real fine way to get the happy news," Stella grumbles. She can't remember the last time she talked to her daughter. Mara used to send Stella Artois money, but that stopped after she got married. If Vic and Ronnie find her, can they tell Mara that Grandma's happy about the baby?<br />
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Ronnie and Vic are the only white faces in a bar run by Santi. Vic hands the gangster a photocopied picture of Shane. There's a reward for information leading to his arrest and $10,000 "will buy you an awful lot of <i>cervezas." </i>He gives Santi a business card, asking to be called if Shane turns up. Santi can keep the picture because Vic's "not feeling very sentimental these days."<br />
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Shane comes into the abandoned house with grocery bags, calling Mara's name. Getting no answer, he draws his gun. Jackson is curled up in a sleeping bag on the floor. Mara's outside, taking a relaxing skinny-dip in the pool. Shane smirks as Mara purrs that the warm water helps her back.<br />
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"Wanna come in?" she says. Shane doesn't need to be asked twice. He starts stripping down and holy six-pack, Walton Goggins! Mara wraps herself around him when he gets in the water, whispering for Shane to close his eyes and imagine being on the coast somewhere. He promises that's exactly where they'll be soon and they start making out. Yeah, never mind the unsupervised toddler in the house...<br />
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Meanwhile, Shane's former teammates have struck out at another hotel. Vic bets Shane is "looking for a place to crash with less eyes." Ronnie wants to call it a night; he has work in a few hours. He tiredly leans against the trunk of Vic's Charger. With a heavy sigh, Ronnie predicts, "We're not gonna find him." Vic wants him to think positive. Ronnie doesn't like that they're both betting their freedom on gangbangers.<br />
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Ronnie makes a shocking announcement: "I'm gonna run." He can call in sick to work and be in Mexico before anybody knows it. (After all, a Strike Team member fleeing to Mexico worked so well last time...) "Once you flip that switch, there's no goin' back," Vic warns. Ronnie would rather not spend the rest of his life in jail when fellow cops find Shane.<br />
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Vic promises they'll find him first. Ronnie's no longer willing to take that chance: "If something goes down and I don't hear about it, all they gotta do is march across the bullpen and slap the cuffs on me." No doubt he retains vivid memories of watching that exact thing happen to his best buddy Lem. "How's you running gonna make me look?" Vic demands. Ronnie advises, "You should run too, man."<br />
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Vic refuses to let Shane win: "He dropped the grenade that killed our team, but he doesn't get to kill your career or my life with my children." His unofficial work with ICE is going really well. Vic's endgame is to set both himself and Ronnie up with federal jobs. All Vic has to do is take down Beltran; he can make that happen in just a few days. He grabs Ronnie by the shoulders, all but begging, "Gimme one last shot at getting us through all this shit. If I fail, we both run."<br />
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Corinne sits on her couch, silent tears rolling down her face. Cassidy emerges from her room, telling her mom, "Megan had a bad dream. Didn't you hear her crying?" Corinne tells her eldest to go back to bed; she has school tomorrow.<br />
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Later, Dutch and Claudette arrive at Mission Cross. He says formally, "Nurse Mackey, we're here about the assault victim you called in." Corinne takes them into a lounge. Before she tells them any details, she wants to make sure Vic can't get in trouble. Claudette promises it'll be confidential. That's not good enough for Corinne; she wants it in writing and for her lawyer to review it.<br />
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"Corinne, it's us," Dutch tries to reassure her. Corinne tells them to come back in two hours with the paperwork. Dutch promises to get papers together as soon as he knows what they're dealing with. Corinne sighs, then tells them about the phone calls from Mara for information about the search. Vic convinced Corinne to take the calls, "then he lied to me and he used me to try to kill them." Corinne wants Vic out of her life permanently, but she doesn't want the kids to know she ratted their dad out.<br />
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Phillips wants Corinne arrested. Claudette points out all that'll get them is "limited and dated information on Shane." "Corinne's only trying to get free from the web Vic has spun," adds Dutch. Claudette is eager for the opportunity to close Vic down for good, something that should've been done years ago. She accuses the chief of sweeping him under the rug.<br />
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Phillips worries about Vic's old arrests being overturned. Dutch assures Phillips that the only crimes Corinne has evidence of relate to Vic and Shane. Phillips agrees to help Corinne without pressing formal charges.<br />
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"How's early retirement?" Edgar-veda lightly asks Vic a few doors from his campaign headquarters. The ex-cop replies, "Turns out it's not all Hawaiian shirts and fishing trips." Edgar-veda has heard about Shane and gloats, "The Strike Team's demise is more violent than I predicted." Vic calls it merely the end of an era; he has a new one in the works.<br />
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Vic warns Edgar-veda, "Your golden parachute might be about to rip." Cruz is just an "M.B.A. with a dirty agenda." Beltran has the real power with the cartel and thus poses a real threat. Olivia's boss Chaffee doesn't care about certain mayor wannabes: "The Feds want this guy so bad they can <i>taste </i>it. And they're not gonna have a problem shooting the messenger."<br />
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Edgar-veda guesses this is a scare tactic to back him off and let Vic get all the glory. There's only room for one guy to take down Beltran and that's Vic. Cruz has seen Edgar-veda's blackmail photo, meaning any respect and/or fear has gone out the window. It's almost guaranteed Cruz told Beltran about it. Vic suggests Edgar-veda "let the real men finish this job."<br />
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It's a cozy domestic scene at Not-Quite-Vendrell Manor. Jackson is feeling better, sitting poolside with Mara while Shane grills burgers and hot dogs. Shane thinks it would be nice to get a house on the coast. "I'd like that," simpers Mara. Shane shows off his burger-flipping skills and Jackson seems duly unimpressed.<br />
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Mara bets $100,000 could buy a house even bigger than the one they're squatting in now. At California real-estate prices? Dream on. Oh, it turns out she's talking about Colombia.<br />
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Mara asks if Shane will cook for her every day in South America too. Shane offers to do one better: "I am gonna hire a personal chef to make us breakfast in bed every single morning." He presents Mara with a burger. She kisses him and purrs, "I love you." There's a beat before he returns the sentiment. Shane folds his lanky body onto the same deck chair as his wife and child with a burger of his own.<br />
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Cruz wonders if they had a meeting scheduled when he sees Vic in his office. "Think of it as roll call," says Vic. Cruz tells Vic he's strictly an on-call employee. Vic tries to introduce himself to Beltran, but the guy won't shake his hand. Cruz says something to the cartel overseer in Spanish; I can only make out the word "<i>policia.</i>"<br />
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Vic acknowledges he's used to be a cop, but now he's more of a "favor-granter." Edgar-veda shows up, pretending to be surprised that Cruz and Vic know each other. The councilman wants to talk to Cruz in private and renegotiate his terms. "You don't get terms; you get to be mayor," says Cruz. Edgar-veda puffs out his chest: "That'll still be. With or without you."<br />
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Cruz chuckles nastily. Edgar-veda doesn't want his old pal making any more campaign decisions he doesn't personally approve. Cruz shouts that Edgar-veda his errand boy will do what he's told. The councilman calls Cruz nothing but an empty suit and a checkbook.<br />
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"Just because you hang out with tough guys doesn't make you tough," says Cruz. Edgar-veda responds to that by punching Cruz square in the nose, surprising the hell out of Vic. Even cartel bodyguard Beltran doesn't seem to know what to do. Edgar-veda knocks pictures off the wall as he slams Cruz into it, repeatedly punching him in the stomach with his free hand.<br />
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Vic and Beltran watch the other men grapple with expressions of mild interest on their face. Beltran doesn't even intervene when Edgar-veda starts choking Cruz out. The councilman draws his gun when Vic takes a step forward: "You assaulted a reserve police officer. That's a felony!" "You have made a very big mistake." Cruz's words are a little garbled.<br />
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Edgar-veda corrects him; the only mistake he made was letting Cruz think he had all the power. He lets Cruz stand up. Cruz is breathing heavily, his nose bloodied. Edgar-veda and Vic make a hasty retreat.<br />
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"What the hell was that?!" the ex-cop cries outside. "You just blew that ICE investigation right out the window!" Edgar-veda has now opened himself up to a world of hurt from the cartel. The councilman thinks Vic better get himself a new gig; that beatdown just earned him Beltran's respect. (I seriously doubt that).<br />
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In the hospital lounge, Corinne finishes signing a stack of legal documents. She tells Claudette and Dutch how Mara showed up at her house, claiming Vic and Ronnie tried to kill Shane. Vic had told her the best plan was to let the Vendrells leave the country, so Corinne passed on information about the search. She's not sure if Ronnie is involved in this plan or not.<br />
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Vic found the Vendrells by asking Corinne about a prescription found in Jackson's name. Corinne is disgusted that Vic was planning to kill Mara too: "She's pregnant, for God's sake." Corinne admits she's never liked Mara, but nobody deserves this.<br />
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In the parking lot, Claudette doubts Corinne would be willing to repeat what she just told them in open court. Dutch will get Inglewood Division to tap Corinne's phone so Ronnie won't get suspicious. Claudette will partner Ronnie with Billings until they find out how involved he is. Dutch grins: "Steve will like that. He's got a pretty big man crush." Claudette doesn't want Inglewood to know whose phone they're tapping; Vic has a lot of friends.<br />
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At Squatters' Mansion, Shane pecks away at a baby grand piano while Mara and Jackson play hide-and-seek. You can see the kid's feet poking from under a nearby curtain. Mara didn't know Shane was musical. He explains his mom made him take lessons as a kid. Well, he certainly has the fingers of a pianist.<br />
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Shane then reveals more about his past that he has in the whole series. Even though the piano class was just little Shane and four girls, his interest didn't last. Shane wanted to help his dad fix cars.<br />
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Mara feigns surprise when Jackson pops out from behind the curtain. Laughing, she begins to dance with the toddler. "Show me your two-step, little man!" Shane calls, tapping his bare feet to the music.<br />
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Billings enters Claudette's office and immediately notices the secretive energy in the room. Undaunted, he plows on with a request from a friend of his at North Hollywood Division. Can they interrogate some murder suspects who live in Farmington? Claudette tells him they're a little busy at the moment.<br />
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Billings promises it's just a matter of taking statements and ruling people out; he and Dutch could be finished by lunchtime. Claudette instructs Billings to take Ronnie with him instead. She and Dutch are trying to get a lead on Shane.<br />
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Downstairs, Ronnie is wearing a suit for the first time in my memory. "Looks like you and me are first string today," says Billings. North Hollywood wants them to interview suspects in a home invasion that resulted in murder. The two of them can have some nice bro time. Billings adds, "You can tell me how you met that Asian hottie." Oh, you mean the one who called Ronnie an asshole on their first date?<br />
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Ronnie wants to stay at the Barn in case something pans out with Shane. Billings shrugs that it's captain's orders. Besides, Ronnie might be able to talk to Shane personally when they get back. Billings leans in confidentially: "Dutch and Claudette are upstairs playing I Got a Secret." That's good enough for Ronnie.<br />
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"Vic and Shane always seemed so tight," Dutch muses in their car. Claudette guesses friendships get tested. Dutch dials Corinne when he sees Vic's Charger pull up. He instructs her to put down the cordless, act like it's hung up, and he'll keep the line open.<br />
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Vic thought Shane and Mara might be calling. "She said she didn't trust us, remember?" Corinne points out. Vic corrects, "She doesn't trust me." He knows the Vendrells must be getting desperate. When he goes in the kitchen, Vic remarks how nice the house looks. Corinne smoothly says she took advantage of her day off to do some chores.<br />
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Vic knows she never asked to get involved in all this shit with Shane. Corinne looks slightly nervous as he toys with the cordless phone. What if he figures out it's still on? Vic puts down the phone and takes a seat at the kitchen table; Corinne joins him. Vic stands back, asking Corinne to let him know if Shane calls.<br />
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When he's gone, Corinne picks up the phone and asks if Dutch is still there. Dutch confirms he is. Corinne hangs up, takes a note pad out of a drawer, and lays it on the counter. The phone rings again. Mara demands to know why she got a busy signal a few minutes ago. "I have two autistic kids," Corinne says testily, "One of them knocked the bedroom phone off the hook."<br />
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Mara asks for updates. Corinne's response sounds way too rehearsed and technical, even for someone who was married to a cop: "They've expanded their search to include other precincts. All major thruways out of the city are being watched." The Vendrells pictures will be on the evening news. Mara says she's calling back at 10 PM. Dutch doesn't seem to share my opinion of the way Corinne handled the questions.<br />
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Ronnie jogs up to Vic's car. "Look at you, Beverly Hills Cop," Vic jokes at his buddy's attire. Ronnie says Claudette has been out with Dutch all day and he's been stuck with Billings. Vic suggests Billings could get some information out of Dutch. "I'll try," says Ronnie, "He wants to be my best friend." Vic wants Ronnie to ask Julien too, even though neither of them are sure whose side he's on.<br />
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Vic tries to fib everything is going well with ICE, but Ronnie calls bullshit. Vic has to get ICE away from Edgar-veda and needs Ronnie's help doing that.<br />
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Vic meets up with Beltran at a bar, explaining he had a department friend track the cartel man's license plate. "You've still got juice with the police?" Beltran says. Vic nods, "Enough to make a screwdriver for every vato in L.A." He guesses Beltran is high up in the cartel and has an idea why he's in town.<br />
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"Cruz is screwing up: body draggings, public assassinations," Vic outlines, "More interested in his big buildings than doing business for you. Getting his ass kicked by a politician today, that couldn't have inspired much confidence." Beltran doesn't work with outsiders very well. If Vic really wants to prove himself, Beltran never wants to see Cruz again.<br />
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Shane is having a relaxing cigarette by the Squatters' Mansion pool when he's alarmed by a tapping sound. He shoves his gun down the back of his jeans and dashes inside the house, warning Mara someone is there. She asks for help getting the rest of Jackson's clothes on him.<br />
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The unexpected visitor is a woman in a business suit; judging by the one-sided cell phone conversation we hear, she's a realtor. Mara appears out of nowhere, a fancy coat thrown over her casual maternity dresses. She introduces herself as Debbie from another realty office. Realtor asks why the door was locked. Mara lies that she's showing the place to a single dad with a toddler: "He wanted to make sure the locks worked. He's a nervous guy." (I'll say).<br />
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Realtor snits that she thought the showing was at 4:00. Mara explains she had just shown her client another house in the neighborhood when he saw the sign on the front lawn. She got the lockbox code from an agent named Hillary.<br />
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Shane strolls into view, asking about the local schools. "Mr. Wilson, apparently, this house is being shown to another buyer at 4," says Mara. Shane guesses he better decide fast whether he wants it. Realtor offers to show him the re-tiled back patio, unaware how acquainted Shane and Mara really are with the place. She quickly figures it out when she notices the sleeping bag on the floor and the open beer bottle on the patio table.<br />
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Shane points his gun at the other woman, ordering Mara to take her cell phone and keys. Jackson hides behind the hostage's skirt. The realtor begs the couple not to hurt her, babbling, "My husband, my daughter..." "Just shut up already!" Shane barks. The realtor starts to cry.<br />
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Dutch gripes that looking for Shane is like "trying to find a needle in 10 haystacks." He doesn't know if he's even still in the city. In the breakroom, Dutch informs Claudette, "A realtor was detained by an armed man and woman when she found them squatting in one of her homes. They locked her in a pantry before escaping in her car." She ID'ed them as Mara and Shane. Claudette asks Dutch to send a few uniforms to the house in Los Feliz (lovingly described by Patton Oswalt as "a very hipster-y part of L.A."<br />
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Dutch approaches Julien; he has a message about Shane that he doesn't want broadcast on the radio. Julien nods.<br />
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Vic pulls a gun on Cruz: "Beltran gave me my first task today. Apparently, he's not happy with your job performance. He sent me to kill you." Cruz looks ready to piss his pants. Vic lowers the gun. "Lucky for you, we're not on the same team." He works for Agent Olivia Murray of ICE. She has questions for Cruz. Vic would appreciate having her blackmail file before he takes Cruz in.<br />
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Cruz doesn't want to and calls Olivia a bitch. "That bitch can put you out on the street at the cartel's mercy," says Vic, which really changes the power dynamic.<br />
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Olivia crosses her arms: "For a guy who could be face-down in the L.A. River, you don't seem very cooperative. You were greenlit, Cruz." He's lucky the hitman who found him was an undercover cop. Olivia promises him a new life, courtesy of Witness Protection. "A townhouse in Phoenix? No, thanks," says Cruz.<br />
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Vic suggests Olivia go outside and call her boss. When the two men are alone, Vic promises to personally deliver Beltran. Cruz knows Beltran will never stop hunting him. "He's not gonna be looking for a dead man," says Vic.<br />
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Later, he assures Olivia that Cruz will talk and will make sure her blackmail file never sees daylight. To win Beltran's confidence in Vic, they'll have to figure out a way to fake Cruz's death. The feds can't count on Edgar-veda being permitted to know the details of the master plan: "It sounds like he's starting up a money laundering scheme that would make Ivan Boesky flinch."<br />
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Shane comes out of a store with a brand-new police scanner. Mara thinks they should leave California. Shane wants to wait until tomorrow's presidential motorcade. In the meantime, he knows where they can stay tonight. "I'm guessing it probably doesn't have a pool," says Mara.<br />
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She waxes poetic about how Shane playing the piano and dancing with Jackson made her forget about the whole fugitive situation; she was so happy. "Every day is gonna be like that in Colombia," vows Shane, pecking her on the cheek. He notices Jackson's oddly quiet in his car seat. "He's hungry," says Mara. Really? I thought kids tended to cry when they were. Shane says, "Well, I'm pretty sure I can fix that."<br />
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Vic returns to the bar, announcing to Beltran that Cruz committed suicide. The gun was in his hand, a party mix of alcohol and drugs found at the scene. That means no in-depth investigation. Cruz's death will leave a vacancy in the cartel, which Vic will be only too happy to fill.<br />
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In a very questionable part of town, Santi's friend sees Shane walking back to his car with grocery bags. The Southerner apologizes to a nearby homeless man that the goodies aren't for him. Santi's friends approach with their guns. "Whoa, easy, fellas, I'm a cop," drawls Shane. Santi's friend replies, "Not no more."<br />
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Mara calls out from the car, asking what's going on. Shane tells her not to worry. "Bitch, get out the car," one of the gangbangers orders. Shane says, "Hey, she's got my kid in there." Mara freaks out and gets out of the car. The gangsters start to dial Santi, chattering excitedly about the $10,000 bounty Vic put on Shane's head. Shane offers them $20,000 if they'll let him and Mara go.<br />
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The gangbangers want to see the money. The cash Mara hands over is decidedly south of 20 grand. The gangbangers find even more money zipped in a black duffel bag. One of them jams his gun into Shane's cheek. Shane protests he thought they had a deal; there should be $100,000 in the bag.<br />
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Santi's friend wants to make it $110,000. Shane warns that the first thing Vic will do when he gets there is take all the cash for himself. The gangbangers hang up and retreat.<br />
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Beltran pays a visit to Edgar-veda's campaign headquarters and tells him that Cruz is dead. He likens the councilman's political career to "a fish swimming through razorblades." Beltran assures he won't micromanage the campaign. All Edgar-veda has to do is win. The fruit-growers' union is about to announce their public support of Edgar-veda. They pay their illegals in cash and need a place to store it, an arrangement Beltran will disclose at a later date.<br />
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Claudette and Dutch wait in Corinne's kitchen for the phone to ring. When Corinne answers, Mara is pissed. Vic tried to have them killed again and they're traveling with 2-year-old Jackson: "What kind of animal did you marry?!" Mara tells Corinne about the gang bounty.<br />
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Meanwhile, Shane calls Vic: "As punishment for the shit you tried to pull today, there is a letter on its way to the Barn addressed to Claudette Wyms, a written confession of one of your many sins from the past." He bets Ronnie and Vic will make great cellmates the next 3-5 years, "assuming you can't bullshit your way out of it." "This is our axe to grind, Shane. You leave Ronnie outta this," Vic warns.<br />
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Shane demands compensation to the tune of $100,000 by 5 PM tomorrow. "I can't get it together that fast; you know that," says Vic. Shane is sure Vic can figure it out; after all, he was the master mind of the money train.<br />
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Mara tells Corinne to make sure Vic does the task Shane is currently assigning. She sighs, "I just want this to be over with." You and her both. Shane wants Corinne to drop off the money. Vic interrupts, "Corinne's done enough for you already. Stop trying to shield yourself behind my ex-wife. Man up and let me deliver the cash myself." "So you can get another shot at my pregnant wife and son?" asks Shane.<br />
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Vic reminds his former best friend exactly whose fault it is that Mara is in the crosshairs. Shane threatens that if Vic doesn't cooperate, "the next love letter I send to Claudette will be about the bullet under Terry Crowley's left eye." Hanging up, Vic tells Ronnie about Shane wanting $100,000.<br />
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"I just want this to be over with," Mara repeats to Corinne. Listening in on the other cordless phone, Claudette identifies herself and tells Mara not to acknowledge her yet. She'll guarantee Mara's safety and Shane's if they turn in Vic. Claudette knows how desperate she is and offers Mara immunity from prosecution; however, she can't promise it for Shane.<br />
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Claudette lays out Mara's future if she keeps running: "You will be giving birth in a state penitentiary. Your baby will be taken from you. Jackson too." Does she want them growing up in foster care? Mara needs to do right by them. All Claudette wants is Vic. If Mara's willing to help, she needs to find a private place to make a phone call at 8 AM the next day. Mara agrees and hangs up.<br />
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Shane asks Mara for an update. After <i>way </i>too long of a pause, Mara says, "Corinne's working with the police." Cue the Vendrell family group hug! End of episode.Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-32531476835250555662018-02-02T00:00:00.000-05:002018-02-02T01:31:34.838-05:00It's "Moving Day" for the Vendrells (Episode 7.9)<i>Previously on: Dutch arranged to keep tabs on teenage suspected serial killer in the making Lloyd by pretending he's a concerned male role model. Olivia told Edgar-veda and Vic they both need to be in bed with Cruz. Shane tried to have Ronnie killed, a fact confirmed by shooter Two-Man. The Vendrells went on the run after Mara threatened Corinne. Vic turned in his badge.</i><br />
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Vic cuts the crime scene tape off Shane's front door and rifles through some boxes. "He must've split in a hurry," Ronnie observes. Jackson's toys, a package of Pull-Ups, and furniture are all still in his room. Vic points out how much time Shane's had to figure out an escape plan. In another box, Ronnie finds one of the old Strike Team calling cards, a softball trophy, and a framed photo with all four guys in it.<br />
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Shane's truck was found abandoned downtown and there's an APB out for the Lexus that started it all. Maybe they're headed south. "Shane knows the first place we'd look is Mexico. Question is if he's stupid enough to go there anyway," Vic says from the kitchen. There's still plenty of food in the fridge. Pictures are missing from frames, though oddly not Shane and Mara's wedding photo.<br />
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Vic finds something else interesting in the refrigerator: a bottle of amoxicillin with Jackson's name and yesterday's date on the prescription label. Ronnie bets Shane and Mara will be looking for somewhere to get a replacement. Vic tells Ronnie to keep gathering police information for when Mara calls; he'll handle tracking down Shane.<br />
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Ronnie sounds uneasy about this plan. What if Shane is dragging Mara around with him? "What, his accomplice?" asks Vic. Ronnie reminds him, "She's pregnant and the kid's 2." Vic doesn't want to worry about that until they have to make decisions.<br />
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Meanwhile, Dutch is having a cozy homemade dinner with Lloyd's mom Rita. He asks conversationally if Lloyd ever lets new people in his life. Rita explains she started a relationship too soon after her husband left, which Lloyd didn't take kindly to. "It was one of Lloyd's teachers when we lived back in Tulsa and--" Rita trails off, afraid the subject would ruin their romantic evening. Dutch accepts that but is more than willing to listen if she ever wants to talk about it again.<br />
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After a minute, Rita confesses that the boyfriend/teacher was physically abusive to Lloyd. She declines to provide anything further on the subject. Dutch asks if Lloyd has had trouble at school since shooting the classmate who broke into their house. "Lloyd adjusts easily, all this moving around," shrugs Rita.<br />
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She changes the subject entirely by kissing Dutch. He pulls away abruptly, saying they shouldn't do this. Lloyd's case is still open. "Wasn't this a date? A good one?" Rita leans in to kiss him again, strategically placing Dutch's hand on her breast. Dutch apologizes, repeating this isn't a good idea. They should get distance between them and the case; however, he thinks they might have a chance in the future. Rita sighs sadly.<br />
<br />
Vic goes to a pharmacy, identifying himself as a detective. Can the pharmacist tell him what amoxicillin is prescribed for? The pharmacist checks the label and explains, "Pertussis is whooping cough." Shouldn't Jackson have been vaccinated against that? Vic inquires if anyone has requested a refill on this prescription number in the last day. He knows medical records are privileged, but he's trying to track down a murderer who's likely fleeing the country. The pharmacist agrees to help...if Vic has a subpoena.<br />
<br />
The pharmacist asks if Vic has police ID other than his business card. Vic lies he must've left his badge at the station house. The pharmacist would be happy to call Vic's boss about getting a subpoena. Vic tells him that isn't necessary.<br />
<br />
Chief Phillips has put out a statewide APB on Mara's Lexus and sent recent Vendrell family photos to other departments. Nothing has been put in the newspaper; Claudette hopes they can keep it that way until they arrest Shane. Chief Phillips plans to go public with the story if they don't find Shane in 24 hours.<br />
<br />
Ronnie wants to be off desk duty. "We already discussed this," says Claudette. Ronnie requests to pick up Strike Team cases with Julien because gangs don't take days off. "Gangs aren't your problem anymore. I'm dismantling the Strike Team," Claudette announces. Chief Phillips cuts in; she can't make that kind of decision on her own.<br />
<br />
Ronnie adds that they have the highest arrest rate in Farmington. Claudette wants to know who'll get credit for hauling Shane's "corrupt ass" in. "You don't blame the whole army for one soldier's war crimes," says Chief Phillips. However, he did give her full control over the Barn and has no choice but to let her.<br />
<br />
Claudette reassigns Julien back to uniform patrol; she'll make sure he's promoted once he passes the detectives' exam. Ronnie will be assigned elsewhere once Claudette takes him off desk duty. Ronnie is none too pleased; he was put in charge of the Strike Team and thinks it could work with new blood. "I've had enough blood," the captain says shortly. If Ronnie doesn't like it, he's free to transfer.<br />
<br />
"I don't like this," Corinne says tensely. She and Vic are in her kitchen waiting for Mara to call. Corinne wants no part of finding the Vendrells if Vic plans to hurt them. "The last thing in the world I'm gonna do is hurt 'em," Vic grumbles. Corinne doesn't buy that for a second. Vic tells her this isn't about revenge; it's about him staying out of jail.<br />
<br />
They both jump out of their skins when the phone rings. Corinne answers while Vic listens in on the other line. She gives Mara the timeline of when the media is releasing Shane's picture; state and federal authorities have joined the manhunt. Border patrol stations and airports have pictures of the couple.<br />
<br />
Corinne could give more details if she had a 50-mile radius of where the Vendrells are. Mara consults with her husband about this, to which Shane says, "Gimme the phone." He knows Vic is there and wants to talk to him. Corinne obliges.<br />
<br />
"The deal was my wife speaks to your ex-wife," says Shane hotly, "Not that you sit in on the call or coach Corinne on how to pump Mara for intel." "Don't want your plan to go to shit just like your plan to kill me and Ronnie," Vic retorts. Shane argues his plan would've worked if Two-Man had finished the job. If Vic doesn't help him, they'll both end up in prison. Vic can't do that without knowing which direction they're going. "I'm gonna be pointing at you if I catch you near any one of these calls again," Shane threatens. When they call back at 10 PM, Corinne better have new intel and Vic better not be there.<br />
<br />
Vic hangs up and tells Corinne that Shane is paranoid (no shit). He calls upon his ex-wife's knowledge as a nurse. What would happen if Shane's kid had whooping cough and suddenly stopped taking his medicine? Corinne replies it could turn into pneumonia.<br />
<br />
Over lunch, Ronnie informs Vic that Claudette pulled the plug on the Strike Team, "another thing I gotta thank Shane for when we catch up to him." Vic fills Ronnie in about the phone call. He asks Ronnie to find out if Shane's tried to get the antibiotics refilled; he can't get anywhere without his badge.<br />
<br />
Vic muses that Shane could be using a fake ID. Ronnie doubts it. Popping an eggroll in his mouth, he asks, "How's Shane financing this cannonball run?" Vic guesses with cash, possibly the $100,000 the Mexicans didn't manage to steal from Rezian. He kind of hopes Jackson's cough will get worse.<br />
<br />
Mara wants to get out of L.A., but Shane thinks it's best they keep their heads down for a few days. With some difficulty, Mara turns her pregnant self around to check on Jackson in the backseat. The toddler's coughing and she frets that he still has a fever. "Hell, I'm doin' the best I can Mara," Shane gripes. They need to ditch the car.<br />
<br />
"If that black asshole you hired had done his job, then we wouldn't be running like this," Mara bitches. Shane fires back, "I don't get to pick and choose which guys I get to hang murder charges over." He gets out of the car for a chat with Redding the mechanic. Does he have any cars with a clean VIN and papers? Shane reminds Redding that he let him beat some pretty serious charges. He'd be happy to call for an evidence team to come check for stolen parts.<br />
<br />
Shane offers Redding the Lexus. Straight trade, no questions asked. Redding tips his head in the direction of a rusted green sedan. That's not good enough for Shane. "She runs," shrugs Redding. It's the only car he has with legit papers.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://befonts.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/take-it-or-leave-it-font-for-free-use.jpg">(Image credit)</a></td></tr>
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"I was hoping I'd never wear blues again," Julien says glumly as he cleans out his locker. Tina enters the clubhouse, happy they've been partnered up again. Julien tells her they're looking for Shane. "Holy shit," Tina remarks, "A girl takes a long weekend and the whole world starts spinning backwards." Ronnie asks the uniforms to keep him in the loop about Shane. Julien has to clear it with the captain.<br />
<br />
"Look, the guy tried to kill me," Ronnie reminds him, "If I can't be in the game, I'd at least like to hear the play-by-play." Tina stares after Ronnie as he leaves the clubhouse.<br />
<br />
Vic pays a visit to an old informant. Does he know anyone who could make Shane a good fake passport with minimal turnaround time? The informant is aware Vic's been fired and boasts he doesn't have to say shit. Vic concedes he's not a cop, but at least he's not a "crooked wetback." The guy agrees to give up one name, then Vic is out of favors.<br />
<br />
Vic finds Marcos in the back of a print shop and twists his arm behind his back. Forging federal documents carries a minimum sentence of 3 years. He shows Marcos a picture of Shane. "He skipped town without saying goodbye. I wanna send him a postcard, but since you gave him a new name, I don't have an address."<br />
<br />
Marcos swears he didn't make anything for Shane. Vic twists his arm harder: "One more lie and I'm sending half of you to a hospital. The other half I'm leaving on the floor." Shane threatened Marcos if he talked. Vic tells Marcos who he should be more afraid of. Marcos admits to making passports for Shane, Mara, and Jackson; they used the names Shawn, Katie, and Bryan Hoover.<br />
<br />
Vic compliments Marcos on the quality of his work and notices Shane's picture isn't on the passport yet. He'll be taking it with him.<br />
<br />
At a motel, Jackson is crying. Mara says his fever is worse. Shane hands her a wet washcloth and suggests running another bath. There's a knock on the door. Mara hustles into the bathroom with the toddler. Another guest complains, "Does that kid ever stop making noise?" Shane apologizes; they're trying to figure out how to get medicine for him. "Figure it out quicker," snaps the other guest. He has jetlag and a meeting he needs to sleep for.<br />
<br />
"We're doin' the best we can," Shane snarks, "Most people wait 'til it's dark to go to sleep." The guy tells Shane to "shut his goddamn kid up." "How about I take a shit in your goddamn earholes, give you a little peace and quiet?" Shane suggests. Mara lays a hand on her husband's shoulder, explaining their son is miserably sick with a fever. She promises Jackson will be better and quiet soon.<br />
<br />
Inside the room, Mara wants to get in the car to pick up Jackson's medicine and leave town. Shane lays his gun on the dresser. Shane tells her criminals get caught because they move too much; the Vendrells are smarter than that. They need to keep off the roads and out of sight. "For how long?" Mara demands.<br />
<br />
Shane has an idea. A presidential motorcade is coming to L.A. is over the weekend, which will tie up traffic. It's their best chance to get gone. Until then, they're stuck. Mara retorts they have to go out for Jackson's medicine. "Only because you left it at home," says Shane. Still, he agrees to make a pharmacy run.<br />
<br />
Billings' wife Allison and teenage daughter Margaret pay a visit to the Barn. Margaret rolls her eyes when Billings tries to call her Mags. Billings apologizes that his child support check is late, but that's not what Allison wants to talk about. A man named Irving recently moved into their neighborhood and is a registered sex offender. He was convicted of molesting a teenage girl.<br />
<br />
Billings and Dutch knock on Irving's door, introducing themselves as detectives. Irving grumpily tells them he updated his address two weeks ago. "Consider us the welcome wagon," says Billings before expressing his concern about his family. Irving knows his rights and that the detectives are out of their jurisdiction.<br />
<br />
Billings shoves his foot in the door when Irving tries to close it. Irving admits to raping the teenager in Sacramento, but he's served his sentence, adding "haven't touched jailbait since." Charming.<br />
<br />
"I didn't see your bulletin until after he left," a pharmacy tech tells Vic. Shane and his sick kid left about a half hour ago. She didn't notice what kind of car he was in, but Shane bought something besides antibiotics.<br />
<br />
"Hi," Shane greets cheerily. He tells Mara he already gave Jackson the medicine. It should work fast, but the pharmacist said to keep an eye on him. Shane also has a single red rose for Mara. He notices local real estate magazines spread all over the bed. With the state of the economy, some houses have been vacant for over 6 months.<br />
<br />
Shane thinks squatting is too risky. Mara's concerned about Jackson's health with them living in this dusty old hotel. They can expect more knocks on the door if he keeps crying.<br />
<br />
Vic tells Ronnie to contact local ERs with Shane's alias: "Jackson might be sicker than we thought." Vic will start checking the hotels closest to the pharmacy. Ronnie doubts Shane is stupid enough to pick up prescriptions near where he's staying. "No, but maybe Shawn Hoover is." says Vic.<br />
<br />
Ronnie reminds Vic of the decision he'll have to make if they find Shane. "Mara's not an innocent," Vic says vehemently. Shane purposely kept his wife in the loop about all the shady shit he gets up to; if Mara gets caught, she'll start pointing fingers at Vic and Ronnie. "Jackson's too young to be a witness," Vic adds heavily.<br />
<br />
Cruz gives Edgar-veda a tour of his new campaign headquarters and introduces him to his friend Guillermo. Edgar-veda knows Miguel Calderon is interested in being his campaign finance chief, but he has someone else in mind. Cruz reminds him that all this help comes with a hefty price tag: "The dick is up your ass. And I'm the one who decides when and if it comes out."<br />
<br />
"It was all I could do to keep from breaking that prick's jaw!" growls Edgar-veda. Chaffee reminds him the point of the meeting was to make Cruz believe he's in charge. Once he starts making mistakes, it'll be easier for Olivia to take him down. Edgar-veda gripes he won't win the election if he's "pretending to be this asshole's water boy." He wouldn't be surprised if Cruz's new friend Guillermo works for the cartel. Olivia asks Edgar-veda to sit down with some mug books.<br />
<br />
Julien reports to Tina that Shane traded the Lexus for a green '91 Taurus. He asks her to call in the plate number. Julien doesn't plan to pass this info along to Ronnie. Practically the whole city is looking for the Vendrells.<br />
<br />
Vic shows the motel manager a picture of his old buddy "Shawn Hoover." He has a bottle of medicine that "Shawn's" kid really needs. "Been getting a lotta complaints about that brat crying," says the manager. He points Vic in the direction of the room. On the motel walkway, Vic draws his gun. Panting, he kicks in the door of Room 213. It's empty.<br />
<br />
The Vendrells are sitting in a hospital waiting room. "This people look fine. Jackson is really sick; he needs to see a doctor," Mara whispers. Shane asks what she expects him to do. Mara worries Jackson might be having an allergic reaction to the antibiotic.<br />
<br />
Ronnie calls Vic with a tip; "Shawn Hoover" signed his feverish son into City of Angels Hospital. Mara's Lexus is at a chop shop in Sunland. Claudette already has the details on Shane's new car.<br />
<br />
Allison, looking upset, is in the Barn's back parking lot. Margaret told her mom that Irving's been glaring at her and passing by the house frequently. Billings thinks it'll be okay; he went to Irving's to put the fear of God in him. Allison argues nothing is fine as long as he's living on their street.<br />
<br />
"Now he sees my kids as a threat," she says. Billings assures her, "Nothing's gonna happen to <i>our </i>kids." Irving knows he's a cop. Allison regrets thinking he could help.<br />
<br />
"You lied to me, you goddamn bastard," Rita says in an all-too-calm voice, "Lloyd told me everything last night. You think that he shot that kid deliberately?" She calls herself stupid for thinking she could trust Dutch.<br />
<br />
The good detective has looked into what Rita said about her ex in Tulsa; the teacher/abusive boyfriend wanted to file criminal charges against Lloyd for tying up the man's son, threatening to torture and kill him. "It was a game," Rita insists, "You made me think we were on a date and all you were doing was gathering evidence on my son."<br />
<br />
Billings watches interestedly as Rita threatens to slap Dutch. She doesn't want Dutch near her or Lloyd again.<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda has ID'ed Guillermo as Guillermo Beltran, a former secretariat of the Mexican presidential guard. He resigned during the Vincente Fox administration because of a corruption investigation. Guillermo is now head of security for the Guerrero drug cartel and a three-year member of a Department of Defense watch list.<br />
<br />
"Power player of this caliber elevates him way beyond Byz Lat gang level," says Edgar-veda. The cartel must want a hand in running Los Angeles. He wants Olivia to stop treating his mayoral campaign as just a pawn in an ICE investigation. Vic turned in his badge, making Edgar-veda the agency's new most valuable asset. He wants credit for helping take down an international criminal or he'll recant his ID of Guillermo.<br />
<br />
Dutch tells Billings that Irving hasn't violated his parole. Billings wasn't thinking of going after him officially. Dutch scoffs, "I'm supposed to be Shane Vendrell to whatever Vic Mackey plan you've hatched?" Billings changes the subject to Rita, wondering why she looked so pissed. Dutch thinks she's starting to realize her son is a murderer.<br />
<br />
Billings reminds his partner how helpful he was during Lloyd's investigation. It's time for Dutch to pay it forward. Dutch refuses to "be a party to anything that's unethical." Billings goes back to his desk, presumably to pout.<br />
<br />
The ER doc has just finished giving Jackson a shot of a stronger antibiotic. He's concerned about the toddler's fever and wants to keep him for overnight observation. Shane lies that he has a new job starting in Northern California; it's gone if he's not there. "Your son shouldn't be traveling," the doctor advises.<br />
<br />
Shane whispers he's been out of work a while and the family is uninsured. He promises to bring Jackson to the closest ER if he doesn't get better. He and Mara will watch Jackson around the clock. Doc agrees to give them some antibiotic samples to get them through the next couple of days. Meanwhile, Vic has spotted the green Taurus in the City of Angels Hospital parking lot. <br />
<br />
Irving is led out of his house in handcuffs. Detective Keefe tells Billings the parole officer found child pornography in Irving's bedroom. It's the second time he's violated parole, so he's going back to prison. Someone called in an anonymous tip.<br />
<br />
Mara drags Jackson out of the exam room, telling Shane they have to leave. She heard nurses saying a gunshot victim is coming in, which means police presence too. Shane hurriedly snatches Jackson's backpack and the antibiotic samples. "It's okay, Jackson," Mara soothes, forgetting her son is named Bryan as far as the hospital is concerned.<br />
<br />
Vic is waiting behind a column with his gun. Mara freezes at the sound of sirens. Shane sees his former best friend pointing a gun at them and whispers something in his wife's ear. Mara calls toward the police car parked behind them, "Officer! That man over there has a gun!"<br />
<br />
Vic initially ignores the officers' commands to stop walking, then raises his hands in surrender. Shane gets in his car and watches as Vic kneels on the ground.<br />
<br />
Allison and Margaret thank Billings for getting Irving out of their neighborhood. "Feeling better about yourself?" Dutch asks when they leave. Billings does, actually, knowing his daughters are safer. Dutch accuses his partner of falsely reporting Irving and getting his friend Keefe to plant the porn. Irving has stayed out of trouble since his original parole violation 6 years ago. "A cop helped another cop out. It's called loyalty," says Billings. Dutch disagrees, "It's wrong."<br />
<br />
"Vic Mackey was detained by two police officers in a hospital in East Hollywood tonight," Claudette informs Ronnie, "A couple with a small child told the officer that he had a gun and pointed it at them." Ronnie doesn't think that makes sense. Claudette goes on; hospital surveillance tapes show the couple in question were the Vendrells. Ronnie keeps a poker face. Claudette says, "Tell me what you know about this and don't leave anything out."<br />
<br />
Ronnie has no idea what Vic's been up to while he's been on desk duty. Sure, Vic wants Shane brought to justice, but Ronnie has no clue how Vic found him. Claudette tells Ronnie he has two choices: See Vic's departure as a fresh start or throw away his career just like Vic did. What's it gonna be? Ronnie doesn't hesitate: "I want my job."<br />
<br />
Claudette advises him to act like it. She asks the tough question, "Why does Vendrell want you dead?" Ronnie sits down and answers honestly, "Vic and I found out that Shane killed Lem." They'd suspected him for weeks. Right before Lem died, they busted a Salvadoran weapons operation and Shane had pocketed a grenade.<br />
<br />
Claudette inquires why Shane would want to kill Lem at all. "The only thing that we could figure out was Shane's involvement with the Armenians. Shane was double-dipping, Lem found out about it." Ronnie fibs. Claudette asks if there's proof.<br />
<br />
Ronnie tells her about Kavanaugh's final report: "The night Lem was killed, Shane told us he'd been followed all night long, just like we had. Kavanaugh wrote only Vic and I were followed." "And why am I just finding out about this now?" Claudette asks.<br />
<br />
Ronnie sighs that Shane was their friend; they didn't want to accuse him without solid evidence. Shane must've put the pieces together, then tried to have him and Vic killed. Ronnie's pretty sure that Shane was hiding in Vic's apartment to finish him off last night.<br />
<br />
"So Vic went to the hospital for revenge," says Claudette. Ronnie shakes his head: "A bullet's too good." Vic wants Shane to suffer in prison for his crimes.<br />
<br />
Olivia fills Vic in about Beltran. Vic would happy to look into Beltran's street crimes if ICE formalizes their relationship. Olivia explains quitting his job turned Vic into just another CI. "Then I'm not freelancing for you people in a war zone," Vic says flatly. He won't settle for anything less than "ICE credentials, a paycheck, and full dental." "That was an easier sell before you turned your badge in," says Olivia.<br />
<br />
Vic might not be valuable to Cruz anymore and if that's the case...he's shit out of luck. "If anything, being badgeless just means I have more time to devote to his cause," Vic argues. When the Box O' Blackmail turns up and Olivia's file is in it, she'll realize what a mistake she's made. Vic asks for a chance to get close to Beltran.<br />
<br />
A crying Rita turns up on Dutch's porch, asking, "Why are you so convinced Lloyd's a murderer?" Dutch invites her in. Rita tells her she had an argument with Lloyd about her wanting to date Dutch. Lloyd laughed nastily and called her pathetic. He accused Dutch of ruining his mom.<br />
<br />
Dutch advises Rita to get away from Lloyd. "He's not an abusive husband or a cheating boyfriend; he's my son," she sniffles. Rita cooks for him and drives him to school. Dutch has another idea: bring Lloyd to the police station and convince him to confess. "What if he's innocent?" sobs Rita. Dutch thinks they both know otherwise. "He's my boy," Rita chokes out.<br />
<br />
"Every killer that the world has ever seen started out as somebody's boy," Dutch says gently, "Lloyd is gonna kill somebody else eventually. Someone else's son or daughter. Unless you help me stop him." Rita puts her hands over her ears, refusing to believe it. She storms out of Dutch's living room.<br />
<br />
"What if Shane saw you coming here?" Corinne asks Vic. Cassidy is curious why her dad is there so late at night. Vic thinks she should get ready for bed; he and Corinne are waiting for an important call. Cassidy gives her dad a good-night hug and kiss. I'm shocked she didn't argue that she's old enough to know what's going on.<br />
<br />
The phone rings. "What the hell is wrong with you?" Mara demands from the other end. She understands why Vic lied, but not why Corinne would. "I didn't lie to you," Corinne insists. Mara yells, "Vic tried to kill us tonight and you <i>helped</i> him! He made you an accessory to attempted murder! And now <i>you're</i> a criminal! Just like Vic!" (I don't think so, Mara. Corinne works at Mission Cross, not City of Angels, so she didn't rat you out).<br />
<br />
Corinne frowns, wondering aloud what Mara means. Mara explains what happened at the hospital when she took Jackson in about his fever. Vic was ready to kill all the Vendrells, including Mara and the unborn baby. He won't stop until he gets what he wants and "the deaths of my children will be on your head." When Mara calls tomorrow afternoon, she expects Corinne to have specific, detailed information.<br />
<br />
Corinne hangs up. Vic wants to know what Mara said. She lies that Shane doesn't trust Vic anymore and won't be calling back ever.<br />
<br />
Elsewhere, Shane has a big favor to ask of his wife. He wants Mara to go back to L.A. and turn herself in. The police have no evidence against her and she can say Shane threatened her into helping him. They'll believe Mara was scared for her life and the life of her baby. Mara refuses.<br />
<br />
"Mara, you gotta take care of yourself," Shane pleads. And Jackson and their unborn daughter. She and the kids can still have a decent life; that's all that matters to Shane. "But we wouldn't have you," says Mara. Shane kisses her. Mara takes Jackson out of his carseat and holds him. "We're a family," she says, "Nobody's gonna tear us apart."<br />
<br />
Shane breaks into a vacant house and deadpans, "Well, I always told you I'd get you a mansion someday." End of episode.Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-56626731333557029772018-01-20T02:47:00.002-05:002018-01-20T02:47:17.428-05:00Attempted Murder, Betrayal, and "Parricide", Oh My! (Episode 7.8)<i>Previously on: Vic has just 10 days remaining as a cop to finally bring down Cruz. Abrasive ICE agent Chaffee took over the investigation into the Box O' Blackmail. Shane figured out he'd been set up to die by Vic and Ronnie. He hired a pimp named Two-Man to take out Vic.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
In his bedroom, Shane puts on a baseball cap, then tosses it to the floor. He puts on gloves. Grabbing a gun, he loads it and tosses it in a duffel bag. We see a framed picture of Mara and Jackson on the nightstand. Shane flops backwards onto his bed with a sigh. He sits up, puts his face in his hands, and stares into space.<br />
<br />
"I'm not sleepy; I wanna play!" Jackson cries from the next room. Mara tells him it's time for bed. Shane appears, telling Mara it's okay for Jackson to stay awake. "But it's late. He's fussy," says Mara. Shane says grumpily, "Good. Let the whole block know we're both here dealing with a cranky kid."<br />
<br />
Shane motions his wife into the hallway. They need to walk through their plan. "In 30 minutes, I go online, I check the Georgia Bulldogs score," Mara recites. She'll check the score every 10 minutes after that, answering any emails Shane gets.<br />
<br />
At 11:00, Shane wants Mara to order a pizza and turn on the shower. When the delivery guy shows up, she'll call toward the bathroom to ask Shane for cash and make sure he sees Shane's wallet. Mara looks uneasy.<br />
<br />
Elsewhere, Vic meets with Cruz. A bodyguard waves a metal detector wand over Vic's body. Cruz wants Vic to put a drug dealer out of business. Did he come to the right guy! He explains a priest named Father Morton lets gang members deal heroin and cocaine out of his church in exchange for a percentage of the proceeds. The yearly fiscal report to the diocese is due in a week. Cruz wants Father Morton to recommend that St. Luke's be closed.<br />
<br />
Vic guesses St. Luke's is located on land that Cruz is developing. Cruz plans to open restaurants, but he can't get a liquor license if there's a church within 1,000 feet. His knowledge of the drug dealing will force Father Morton's hand.<br />
<br />
In the Barn parking lot, Vic tells Olivia about what Cruz wants to do. "How many commandments does <i>that</i> violate?" Olivia wonders. Vic says Cruz seemed agitated. Olivia gives Vic permission to play along and has the go-ahead from Claudette. In fact, the captain will let Olivia have Vic for the whole week. "The love just keeps on comin'," he says.<br />
<br />
Olivia knows he's being fired and is sorry to hear it. Vic hopefully asks if he can work for ICE. "You're forgetting I've read your file," says Olivia. So has Chaffee. Vic points out that with Farmington about to become cartel HQ, the feds need someone who knows the players. Olivia will try to grease the wheels again.<br />
<br />
Vic hopes they won't actually let the church close. Olivia promises to give the diocese a heads-up. "Good," Vic says vehemently, "I wouldn't wanna piss off Jesus on top of everyone else."<br />
<br />
Ronnie brings home a young Asian woman. She bartends at night and goes to dental hygienist school during the day. They're holding hands and it's nice to finally get a glimpse into Ronnie's personal life. The romantic evening is cut short by a black man, his face hidden by a black motorcycle helmet. He fires at Ronnie.<br />
<br />
The bartender screams. Ronnie valiantly opens his apartment door and pushes her inside. He stays where he is and pulls his own gun. After they each pop off a few rounds, Ronnie dives for the safety of his apartment, kicking the door shut behind him. He throws his body on top of his date to shield her until the gunfire stops.<br />
<br />
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Peeling off on his motorcycle, the would-be assassin pops a few more bullets through Ronnie's living room window.<br />
<br />
Next we see the photo of Ronnie, Shane, Vic, and Lem having some beers together. Shane sits by a window, breathing heavily. A Charger driven by Vic pulls into the driveway. Bug-eyed and panting, Shane overhears Vic talking to Ronnie on the phone.<br />
<br />
Ronnie thinks a black guy took some shots at him. He tenderly wraps his date's arm with gauze; she was grazed by a stray bullet.<br />
<br />
Vic jogs out to his car. Shane keeps hyperventilating in the bedroom.<br />
<br />
"Glad I moved to the Valley. It's so much safer," Ronnie says sarcastically as Vic and the EMTs arrive. He asks his date (IMDb lists her as Esther) if she's okay. "Don't talk to me, shithead!" snaps Esther. When she's gone, Vic jokes, "So much for your bamboo cage fantasy."<br />
<br />
The Barn will be handling the investigation. Claudette arrives on scene, exclaiming, "Jesus! You're still in one piece?" Billings inquires about Esther, tactfully referring to her as "Hanoi Hannah." Ronnie is sure she'll live, but doubts there'll be a second date. Billings is impressed Ronnie talked Esther into coming over on the first date.<br />
<br />
Claudette will send Ronnie a list of recent parolees so he can check for familiar names. Dutch notices the light bulb in the porch light has been unscrewed. All Ronnie knows for sure is the guy was black, had a big gun, and rode off on a motorcycle. Vic digs a .357 out of the living room wall. "Looks like armor-piercing," says Dutch, "Somebody wanted you dead two or three times."<br />
<br />
A woman calls from outside: "Ronnie, you okay?" It's his neighbor Shonda. She thinks she can help the cops out with a possible license plate. Shonda normally "doesn't like to get involved with messy shit," but Ronnie helped her cousin get out of some kind of trouble. She describes the motorcycle as black and red, then hands over the partial plate she wrote down.<br />
<br />
"Timing's kinda creepy with all the shit goin' on with Shane lately," Vic mutters. Ronnie was thinking the same thing. Vic offers to let Ronnie spend the night at his house. Ronnie deadpans, "You got a bamboo cage?" "For chrissake," Vic chuckles.<br />
<br />
Vic suddenly remembers he's meeting with Olivia the next morning about Cruz. Not to worry, he can cancel it. Ronnie doesn't want him to. He plans on going back to the Barn to figure out who shot at him: "I'm not gonna sleep anyway. Not without my Asian throw pillow."<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first thing that came to mind when he said that.<br />
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/JlVOPyA.jpg">(Photo credit)</a></td></tr>
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By morning, Julien has 400 possible matches for the partial license plate. Maceo Padmore AKA Two-Man is on that list. Vic knows that name as Farrah's pimp. Claudette asks if Two-Man had any reason to go after Ronnie in particular. Ronnie admits things got a little physical between them, but not enough to warrant this. How did Two-Man find out where he lives? One word, Ronnie: Google.<br />
<br />
Vic will see what he can find out. Claudette tells him that's not happening; he's been assigned to ICE. She threatens to have Vic on desk duty for the rest of his short career if he starts rousting people in Farmington. Claudette addresses the rest of the cops; any information on Two-Man or Ronnie's attempted murder should be passed along to Billings and Dutch.<br />
<br />
Ronnie makes a disgusted noise when Claudette puts him on desk duty. "You're the victim of a crime; it's mandatory," says the captain. She's sure Shane and Julien will leave no stone unturned on Ronnie's behalf. Claudette will get a warrant for Two-Man's house. She turns to Julien: "I'd park Shane here too, but we need the manpower. You keep an eye on him."<br />
<br />
In the clubhouse, Vic promises Ronnie that he'll find a way to be there when Two-Man is caught. "This is bullshit," grumbles Shane, "Everyone used to fear this team...We need to remind them who we are, put this asshole's dick in the dirt." Ronnie doesn't think that's a good idea. Shane the Duplicitous Bastard points out, "This asshole tried to kill you over a bloody jaw, man....If he happens to fall in front of a moving bus, consider it an accident." He leaves with Julien to talk to Two-Man's stable.<br />
<br />
Ronnie muses it's possible Two-Man was acting on his own. Possible, but extremely unlikely.<br />
<br />
Shane parks in front of a motel. He wants to take the first crack at Capuchina: "We can go salt and pepper on her if her tongue freezes up." Julien agrees to wait in the truck. In Capuchina's room, Shane urgently asks for help finding Two-Man before he finds Capuchina. Someone must've seen her at the Barn and figured she dropped a dime. "Shit!" cries Capuchina, hurriedly getting dressed.<br />
<br />
Capuchina starts shoving more clothes into a bag. Shane sits her down on the bed. The best thing she can do is pretend she's never talked to Shane. Capuchina thinks Two-Man might be staying with his cousin.<br />
<br />
Shane snarls to Julien that Two-Man deserves whatever they can give him. "That's not for us to decide," says Julien. Shane points out all the factors: Two-Man is big, pissed-off, and has lots of guns. He probably won't come peacefully. Two-Man also tried to kill a fellow cop. Julien agrees to back Shane's play.<br />
<br />
They hear a loud argument from inside the house they're approaching. "Hey! Hey! It's the police!" calls Shane. An angry black woman opens the door, telling them more or less to get the fuck out if they don't have a warrant: "You don't have the right to--" "Do what? Look for a guy who almost killed another cop?" asks Shane.<br />
<br />
The woman tries to get Shane in a stranglehold from behind. Shane manages to shake her off and handcuff her. Julien finds a black man in the bedroom, pulls his gun, and demands to see the guy's hands. Shane dashes into the bedroom, all "whoa, whoa, buddy, that's not him."<br />
<br />
He then asks, "Where's your cousin? Why were you trying to sneak out the window?" The other man admits Two-Man was here earlier, but he packed some things and left. Two-Man has an hour head start.<br />
<br />
Vic asks to talk to Father Morton about his unofficial altar boys. The priest insists the gangbangers just come to his mission "for a hot meal and a place to sleep. What they do on the streets is out of my hands." "Out of your hands and into your pockets?" Vic guesses. He knows the E-Park Johnnies deal drugs there and the good father gets a cut of the proceeds.<br />
<br />
Father Morton is curious about the lack of squad cars and uniforms. What's Vic's angle? Vic wants the priest to recommend the closure of St. Luke's; otherwise, photos of Morton taking money from gangbangers might end up in the parish hall. He also has statements from Father Morton's unauthorized bank account. That could mean a lot of prison time. "Then arrest me," Father Morton challenges. He won't close his mission.<br />
<br />
Vic arrives at the home of Damon, head of the Johnnies. Damon thought Vic was retired. "Too young and pretty to retire," says Vic, "Made 'em shitcan me." He taunts the gangbanger about the possible effects of steroids on a man's goodies. Vic has seen the crew around St. Luke's selling cocaine and heroin. How does the priest figure into it?<br />
<br />
Damon claims Father Morton is just their spiritual counselor. Threats of jail don't scare Damon. The police don't have evidence. "Ain't gonna put no homeless junkie on the stand. And the priest? He bound by oath to keep his mouth shut." "Since when are you Catholic?" Vic wants to know. Damon mockingly crosses himself.<br />
<br />
Cruz has a lunch conference with Edgar-veda. Early studies have been encouraging. People believe Edgar-veda's years as a police captain will make him a stronger leader. D.A. Anita Lima has started an exploratory committee of her own, convinced she can be L.A.'s first female mayor.<br />
<br />
If the councilman wants to win the election, he has to surround himself with more influential people. Cruz promises, "I have the influence and power to make you the next mayor." He also has enough leverage to guarantee a win. This is one-time offer.<br />
<br />
"Forgive me, Father, but you have sinned and I need a goddamn confession," Vic says. That's not quite the version I learned in Confirmation class. Through the confessional screen, Father Morton hisses, "I am in the middle of service. Get out." Dear writers, real Catholics call it Mass.<br />
<br />
Vic tells the priest about his visit to the Johnnies. Whatever the gang has on Father Morton must be a lot worse than Vic's Box O' Blackmail. "What could be worse than a priest losing his collar and going to jail?" Vic muses, "Then it hits me. A priest going to jail for molesting boys." Father Morton tells Vic to leave. "What? No absolution?" Vic asks innocently.<br />
<br />
Father Morton gives Vic an earful: "Just because some priests use the collar to live out their sick fantasies doesn't mean every priest is a gay pedophile." He does have a fair point. "Then what do the Johnnies have on you, sir?" Vic asks loudly enough that people in the pews turn around.<br />
<br />
Father Morton pulls Vic away from the congregation. With a sigh, he admits to having an affair with a female parishoner named Keisha, which resulted in a baby. Keisha's brother is none other than Damon. The gang leader was none too happy about the relationship.<br />
<br />
Father Morton tearfully says Damon has been threatening to kill Keisha and her son if he doesn't let the Johnnies deal at the mission. The secret bank account is to provide for Keisha and Adam. Damon uses his and Keisha's grandfather's house as a stash spot.<br />
<br />
Vic suggests hiding Keisha and Adam in a shelter. Father Morton tried, but gentrification closed all the shelters in the neighborhood. Vic understands that a man has to do whatever he can to protect his blood.<br />
<br />
"Good news!" Claudette announces to the squadroom. Uniforms picked up Two-Man. Outside, assembled cops clap as Two-Man is taken out of the squad car. The pimp was driving recklessly on his motorcycle, ran a stop sign, and almost hit a city bus. "You shot and tried to kill one of my detectives last night," says Claudette. Two-Man denies it, but tells Ronnie his jaw feels better.<br />
<br />
Busting Two-Man was a case of beginner's luck; a rookie spotted his bike. Dutch and Billings get the first shot at interviewing him. Vic takes Billings aside. He knows all about the "half-assed lawsuit" and doesn't want Billings' "half-assed brand of police work anywhere near a hit on one of my Strike Team members." "The guy shot at a cop. Cuffs are never coming off," Billings promises.<br />
<br />
Upstairs, Two-Man repeats he had nothing to do with shooting at Ronnie. Dutch informs him that a witness saw his motorcycle leaving Ronnie's apartment. Two-Man holds up a Polaroid of Ronnie: "This faggot-ass cop laid his hands on <i>me</i>. Y'all need to arrest <i>his </i>damn ass." "Great, only 20 seconds in we've already got motive," says Dutch.<br />
<br />
Shane, Vic, and Ronnie watch the interview on CCTV. Two-Man insists that, as a Christian, he turns the other cheek. "He could turn both cheeks, he'd still be talkin' out of his ass," says Vic. Billings thinks it's lucky for Ronnie that Two-Man couldn't hit a target that was 10 feet away with a clear shot.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two-Man's favorite phrase<br />
<a href="http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/44/44f7687d72ebc1e1201fcc3b9e5b05f978d44e580f2bc76d72928a58e3be9c67.jpg">(Image credit)</a></td></tr>
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Dutch asks where Two-Man was at 11:00 last night. Two-Man was in bed alone; somebody must've stolen his bike and taken it for a spin. Neighbors heard the motorcycle leave at 10:30 and come back after 1 AM. "Nice of whoever stole it to bring it back when they were done," says Billings. The pimp knows the cops don't have proof.<br />
<br />
Dutch and Billings leave the interrogation room to come up with a new strategy. Unis are combing the streets between Ronnie's apartment and Two-Man's for the gun. Julien suggests searching the cousin's house. Shane thinks he can convince the guy to let them in without a warrant. He would like it to be just himself and Julien: "Too many bodies, it'll look like an occupation instead of a friendly request."<br />
<br />
Shane makes a beeline for the interrogation room and turns off the camera. He asks where Two-Man ditched the gun. Two-Man is sure this is a trick to put him in prison. "Look, I am <i>trying</i> to save you, dumb-ass," Shane says impatiently. There's no case against Two-Man without the gun. Going into her office, Claudette notices Shane pounding on the interrogation room table, waving his arms.<br />
<br />
"You think I trust you?" asks Two-Man, "You wanted me to kill your own cop buddy, remember that?" "Which means that we're in this goddamn thing together," Shane whispers. Claudette passes the observation room and notices the TV showing nothing but static. Two-Man finally tells Shane the gun is in a sewer grate in his backyard.<br />
<br />
"Why is the camera off?" Claudette demands as she enters. Shane lies, "I didn't think you'd want a defense attorney to hear the names I was just calling this asshole."<br />
<br />
Vic approaches Chaffee about staying undercover for ICE. Chaffee doubts it'll be possible with Vic's shady reputation. Vic appeals to their desire to keep good guys on the streets. Chaffee's phone rings. "It seems you're not the only one Cruz is trying to employ," the fed says. Edgar-veda enters the office.<br />
<br />
Cut to after Edgar-veda has presumably explained Cruz's play to buy the mayoral election: "As soon as I showed any reluctance, he turned his offer into an ultimatum." Chaffee advises Edgar-veda to accept the offer. Edgar-veda thought he gave them the Box O' Blackmail to wash his hands of Cruz. "Are you sure those hands are clean, councilman?" asks Chaffee. Edgar-veda calls him an asshole.<br />
<br />
Olivia reminds the boys they're all supposed to be on the same side. They need to keep Cruz from leaving L.A., which he won't if he's helping Edgar-veda's campaign. Vic and Edgar-veda have to turn their secret partnerships with Cruz into an open threesome. The goal is to prove Cruz's connection to the cartel.<br />
<br />
"And what happens when this blows up and <i>my </i>name gets tied to Cruz and the cartel?" demands Edgar-veda. Olivia says, "Former cop goes undercover to catch a cartel player trying to buy a mayor. Smells like a winner." Chaffee tells the men to be careful. Vic quietly tells Edgar-veda not to worry: "If Cruz decides he wants you taken out, I'll be the one he hires to do it."<br />
<br />
Olivia stops Vic before he leaves. Her orders to keep Cruz in play were from the Department of Defense. The cartel evaluator probably has ties to the Mexican military. If Vic wants to make himself an asset, he needs to find out who the new player is. Vic is glad Olivia has his back. She tells Vic she managed to get Keisha and Adam into a shelter in El Segundo.<br />
<br />
Shane gives Two-Man's cousin a choice: Let him and Julien in to look for the gun "or 20 cops show up in an hour and they wreck this place." The cousin and his girlfriend consent to the search. Shane tells Julien he'll check the backyard. He pulls up the sewer grate, finds the .357, and shoves it down the front of his jeans. Don't ask me how; they're practically painted on.<br />
<br />
Shane is further proving his idiocy in that the T-shirt he's wearing is barely long enough to touch his belt line. If that thing rides up when he sits down, the surprise is out.<br />
<br />
Dutch and Billings heave sighs. Ronnie heard Julien and Shane rolled snake eyes at the cousin's. Billings wonders if the witness and partial plate could be enough to make a case against Two-Man. "You be willing to roll to a jury with that if he'd been trying to fill <i>your </i>ass with lead?" Ronnie asks grumpily. Julien hasn't been able to find any associates.<br />
<br />
Shane suggests switching out teams. Dutch pissily tells him they're doing the best he can. "And the final result's lookin' to be this asshole walkin' outta here with nothin' but a few hunger pangs," says Shane. Dutch thinks Shane should make himself useful and look for the gun. Shane did; without it, the only chance at sending Two-Man to prison is a confession. Let him and Julien try pushing the pimp's buttons.<br />
<br />
"He doesn't know we don't have the gun," Billings points out. Shane worries Two-Man could catch them in that lie, then there'll be nothing left to squeeze. Dutch wants to finish what he and Billings started. Upstairs, Dutch pretends they found the gun. "Where?" Two-Man challenges.<br />
<br />
Dutch thinks that's an odd answer; innocent people would say there's no gun to be found at all. They know Two-Man has a motive and no alibi. "Means, motive, and opportunity, the holy trinity of incarceration," says Billings. The only question now is whether to charge Two-Man with attempted first-degree murder or attempted second-degree murder. The pimp wants to see the gun, then he'll tell them why it's not his.<br />
<br />
Vic jogs into the observation room. "If Wagenbach and Billings do any more jerking off, it's gonna be a goddamn bukkake party in there," gripes Shane. He begs Claudette to let him and Vic talk to the suspect. The captain agrees, but Vic has another idea: fake statements by nonexistent witnesses. Shane looks vaguely sick to his stomach.<br />
<br />
Claudette pulls Dutch out of the interrogation. Vic instructs, "I want you to smile at me like we've got this bastard hung to the cross and thank me like you really mean it." Dutch does, then strolls back into the room. He reports to Two-Man that he has witness statements saying "you were gonna kill a cop who roughed you up."<br />
<br />
Dutch heard all this from a reliable source: "couple pros you use as punching bags, Farrah and Capuchina." "I didn't say nothin' to them bitches," Two-Man insists. Dutch sums up all the evidence in their favor. He and Billings put on their suit jackets and walk out.<br />
<br />
Vic mutters desperately for Two-Man to take the bait. "What if you get forced to do somethin' that you didn't really wanna do?" the pimp inquires. Shane hastily excuses himself from the observation room.<br />
<br />
Two-Man won't shut up now: "That ho Amber that got herself killed...he was gonna put my name on that killing I don't do what he say. He wanted a cop merked." "Who wanted him dead?" Dutch presses. Cut to Shane skittering down the stairs like a Daddy longlegs.<br />
<br />
"Who made you do it?" Dutch asks again. Two-Man points in the direction of the observation room: "That cop in there. Dixie-Boy." There's only one person that could be. Downstairs, Shane has made it as far as Billings' bank of vending machines.<br />
<br />
Two-Man lays out more damning details: Shane gave him the revolver and Ronnie's address, told Two-Man that Ronnie was getting off work at 11:00. What Ronnie drives, where the pimp could hide. "Two shots to bring him down, two shots to the head to be sure."<br />
<br />
In the back parking lot, Shane's getaway is impeded by Officer Paula. She cheerfully asks if Shane wants to sign up for department softball again. "Uh, sure," he answers, speed-walking to his truck. Paula says Shane can play center field or shortstop since Officer Asher quit. "Wherever," Shane says with a wave of his hand. Officer Paula keeps chattering away; the league fee went up to $75 instead of $50.<br />
<br />
"Shane Vendrell hired you to kill Gardocki?" Dutch looks equally confused and skeptical. Two-Man argues, "I didn't get hired for shit. I got thrown on a slave ship and given a gun for an oar." Ronnie, Julien, and Vic dash out of the observation room, all three eager to get their hands on Shane. "Where's Vendrell?" Vic asks downstairs.<br />
<br />
Officer Paula is still standing at Shane's truck window. What jersey number does he want this year? "You pick," he replies. Paula gives him his choice of any number besides 23, 17, and 35. (I'd suggest #1 with a bullet or maybe #25, as in 25-to-life). Shane fidgets, then finally loses his temper: "Just pick the goddamn number and shove it up your ass."<br />
<br />
Shane starts his truck and peels out of the parking lot. Ronnie, Vic, and Julien are too late to catch him.<br />
<br />
Mara knocks on Corinne's door. "You left Jackson in the car?" the former Mrs. Mackey says disapprovingly. Mara asks Corinne to listen to her carefully.<br />
<br />
The first thing out of her mouth is a bombshell: "Vic murdered Terry Crowley." Shane witnessed it. A year and a half or so later, the Strike Team stole $2 million from the Armenian mob. "That's why there was an Armenian hitman in your house to kill you and your kids. Shane shot him and saved you." Two days ago, Vic and Ronnie tried to kill Shane. "Last night, [Shane] retaliated in self-defense."<br />
<br />
"You're crazy," Corinne grinds out through her teeth. When she tries to shut the door, Mara grabs her by the arm. "Just shut up and pay attention," orders Mrs. Vendrell. She and Shane are leaving L.A. Mara wants Corinne to pass on messages to Vic and Ronnie. First, they need to remember they started this. Secondly, they better not look too hard for the Vendrells or "Shane is gonna testify to so much Strike Team shit that the two of them will be put away for 10 natural lifetimes."<br />
<br />
Corinne's mouth hangs open in shock. Anything else you wanna add, Mara? Like how <i>your husband murdered Lem in cold blood? </i>Mara orders Corinne to be by the phone every day at 1 PM and 10 PM. She'll be checking in. Vic needs to keep Corinne in the loop concerning what the cops know about Mara and Shane. "You need to tell [Vic] everything. Exactly what I said," Mara demands before stomping off the porch.<br />
<br />
"Must've given you some reason why he wanted to kill Gardocki," Dutch says. Two-Man denies it; Shane was all about the plan.<br />
<br />
Vic reports to Claudette that nobody is at Shane's house. It looks like the Vendrells packed in a hurry. "Why?" asks Claudette. Vic shrugs; Mara must be Shane's accomplice. "No. Why did this man try and kill [Ronnie]?" the captain wants to know. Vic snarls, "Ask Shane." Claudette places Vic and Ronnie under orders not to leave the Barn. When Vic goes downstairs, Corinne is in the lobby.<br />
<br />
Billings informs Two-Man that he shot Ronnie's date Esther. Two-Man asks if she's okay. "Gonna be left-handed for the next 6 months," says Billings. Two-Man apologizes, but he had no choice; Shane was trying to stick him with a bullshit murder charge.<br />
<br />
"Holy shit," Ronnie says in the clubhouse. Corrine replies hotly, "That's right, holy shit." Vic implores Corinne to help them. Corinne agrees, provided Vic tells the truth and she believes it. Did the Strike Team really do all the things Mara said? Ronnie looks uncomfortable. Vic admits a lot of stuff happened that shouldn't have "for reasons that made sense at the time, but are pretty hard to defend now."<br />
<br />
Corinne's eyes fill with tears. Vic asks, "Do you want me to go to prison?" Corinne responds with a question of her own: "Do either of you even feel any shame?" Vic tries not to think about it too much. Corinne appreciates the honest, then admits she's known something shady was up for all these years. "And I have let you infect me and our children. I will help you this one last time and then the kids and I are out of your life." Vic has to have some kind of consequences for everything that's happened.<br />
<br />
Driving along, Shane tries to give Mara a reassuring pat on the shoulder.<br />
<br />
Vic and a small army of uniforms show up to raid Damon's house. When Keisha answers the door, Vic promises to get her and Adam out safe. She says Adam is watching TV with his grandpa and Damon is in the back bedroom. Vic presses a finger to his lips and motions for grandpa to take Adam outside. He ends up having to keep Damon from diving out the bathroom window.<br />
<br />
Vic hands $5,000 Cruz gave him over to Olivia. She's impressed; given his file, she thought he'd have pocketed it. This will go a long way toward helping Vic get a job with ICE. Vic thanks her for doing right by him. "Wouldn't wanna piss off Jesus," Olivia says, probably in reference to the fact the Barn used to be a church.<br />
<br />
In the clubhouse, Ronnie heaves a deep sigh. "If Shane wanted to retaliate against both of us, why only come after me? And why'd he trust it to someone like Two-Man?" Vic figures Shane needed to give himself an alibi. Or Shane wants to finish Vic off himself. For all Vic knows, Shane could've been hiding in his house the night Ronnie almost died.<br />
<br />
Ronnie wonders how long the Vendrells can realistically hide. A month? A year? I'd say less than that. Mara looks like she's pretty far along and I doubt she'd agree to a home birth, on the run from the law or not. Ronnie is sure Claudette will confine him and Vic to the Barn. How are they supposed to find Shane? Vic sighs. For once, he's at a total loss.<br />
<br />
"Why did Shane try to get Ronnie killed? What went wrong with you three?" Claudette asks Vic. In response, he unclips his detective shield from his belt and lays it on her desk. Vic officially announces his resignation; he'll turn in his gun before he leaves the Barn.<br />
<br />
Claudette is surprised. Vic still has a week left; she thought he wanted to play things out 'til the end. Vic doesn't want to stay if it means being chained to his desk. After a beat, Claudette goes to her office window and calls do to Vic. She doesn't want him interfering with Shane's case. "Seeing as how I'm not a cop anymore, you don't really have jurisdiction over what I do, captain," Vic snaps.<br />
<br />
"You rogue out on this, you do anything sideways like you did with Lemansky and I'll lock up your corrupt ass faster than you can say, 'How'd I lose this job?'" Vic looks amused. If this is what his job's come to, he doesn't want it.<br />
<br />
Vic turns in his gun at the desk. Ronnie watches him leave the Barn. End of episode.Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-11315766377096877962018-01-10T12:51:00.000-05:002018-01-12T02:24:33.044-05:00A Real "Bitches Brew" (Episode 7.7)<i>Previously on: One of Cruz's henchmen assassinated city controller Robert Martin. Edgar-veda ordered Vic to get Cruz out of his life. Vic planned to have the Armenians "take care of" Shane the Traitorous Bastard, but punked out at the last possible minute. Shane told Mara that Vic and Ronnie were behind the attempt on his life.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Shane tucks a gun into his sock, warning Mara it may take a few days to sort things out. Mara asks him to be careful and gives him a kiss. In the background, little Jackson happily hums to himself at the kitchen table. "We'll always be together. All of us," Shane promises, scooping up Jackson for a hug.<br />
<br />
Vic pays a visit to Danny's house. She cuts to the chase: "If you're interested in doing the right thing, relinquish your rights to Lee." She initially doesn't want to let Vic in, but relents. Vic brought along a present for his youngest child: a mobile to hang over the crib.<br />
<br />
Vic doesn't want the two of them to be at odds over Lee. His solution for that is a court-ordered DNA test. "You wanna have a kid so bad? I know a lotta women who'd like to get knocked up," Danny snaps. Vic would rather work on a co-parenting plan than go to court, wasting a lot of time and money that neither of them have. All he wants is for Danny to acknowledge his rights and responsibilities as Lee's dad.<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda and Vic go to a meeting to present the Box O' Blackmail. They use the old "this just showed up on my doorstep" explanation. Edgar-veda wants Cruz to face his crimes, even though he's a major campaign contributor. Kouf proposes a joint investigation into the matter.<br />
<br />
Someone else at the meeting plays a video of Vic meeting with cartel man Rios. Vic says he was just trying to use Rios for intel. Edgar-veda didn't turn the Box O' Blackmail to ICE right away because they thought it could be handled locally; they soon realized they were in too deep. ICE will be taking over the case. Edgar-veda is relieved that the box is someone else's problem.<br />
<br />
Of course, Edgar-veda sees this as an opportunity to make friends in high places. Vic points out, "Cruz is gonna grind up half of L.A. before these idiots come up with a code name for their operation." Vic is concerned about the repercussions for Olivia's career; her file is still in the box. Turns out Edgar-veda has the file tucked away somewhere. "Bet she can't wait until <i>that </i>bill comes due," mutters Vic.<br />
<br />
At the clubhouse, Vic likens the meeting with ICE to "another Mexican donkey show." Has Ronnie seen Shane today? Nope, and the bearded one would very much like to finish what they started. Vic is disappointed in the way Ronnie handled the attempted hit on Shane. Now they have no idea how much Shane knows about their plan or what he might do.<br />
<br />
"On a good day, that prick's a wild card," Ronnie reminds him. Vic has known Shane since before the Strike Team was started, a fact that I think is clouding his judgment. He also knows he had a big hand in the way Shane turned out. "That's why you got to put him down," Ronnie says vehemently.<br />
<br />
Vic tells Ronnie he has bigger worries than Shane, namely "a daughter traipsin' around in a French maid's outfit in front of boys, popping X." Does Ronnie think Vic should just put a bullet in Cassidy and be done with it? Ronnie looks stunned Vic would accuse him of thinking that. Vic is sure he can fix Shane nonviolently, just how he's gonna fix things with his wayward kid.<br />
<br />
Their conversation is interrupting by Claudette, who tells Vic his review-board hearing is in an hour. Vic thought he had another two weeks. Claudette shrugs that the schedule got changed.<br />
<br />
Ronnie sits on a bench in headquarters' hallway, looking like an anxious expectant father in an old movie. Vic emerges with the verdict and it's the worst possible outcome; he's been fired without pension, effective in 10 days. He bets things would've gone down differently if he still had the Box O' Blackmail. Ronnie is in disbelief: "Taking down the public face of the Mexican cartel got you canned?"<br />
<br />
Vic's PBA rep stops them before they can leave. Vic's career isn't over yet; the chief makes that call. The rep advises Vic to have Claudette put in a good word for him. Vic knows if that's what it takes to save his job, he's a dead man walking. The big man, of course, puts it in more colorful terms. Claudette is as likely to help him as the PBA rep is to let Vic take his wife to Vegas for a weekend of freaky sex.<br />
<br />
At what looks like a homeless encampment, paramedics do CPR on someone they're wheeling to an ambulance. Shane gets out of his truck nearby. He heard through the grapevine that Vic is being fired. Vic asks how Shane's doing mentally after that scare with the Armenians. Shane says it's the kinda thing that "just makes you wanna hug your kid and not let go. I thank God I'm blessed with a wife who loves me."<br />
<br />
The person who just left in the ambulance is a prostitute. She was discovered by a colleague that dropped Vic's name to the uniforms. "What is it with you and whores?" Shane jokes. Vic retorts, "Tryin' to keep 'em from temptin' <i>you." </i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.askideas.com/media/46/Breaking-News-You-Just-Got-Burned-Funny-Burn-Meme-Image.jpg">(Image credit)</a></td></tr>
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The hooker in question is <a href="http://knock-knock-striketeam.blogspot.com/2016/12/apparently-bottom-bitch-is-good-thing.html">Farrah from a few seasons back</a>. She has a big old smile on her face like Vic didn't once put a gun in her mouth and threaten to pull the trigger. (Personally, I think the only thing that stopped him was Lem standing right there). Farrah says her friend was attacked by Bombay, their pimp.<br />
<br />
"Amber and I were getting clean for each other," says Farrah. "That's why Bombay did this." Vic reminds Farrah she had a chance to get out of "the life;" he even paid for her bus ticket. Farrah asks, "Why are you mad at me?" Uh, he literally just told you. Farrah doesn't remember them having issues. Vic bets she can't remember who she's given blowjobs to.<br />
<br />
The bruised, cracked-out Farrah insists she's not a hooker anymore. She hasn't used drugs for two whole weeks and neither has Amber. They've even been going to NA meetings. A uniform tells Vic the paramedics just pronounced Amber dead. Farrah starts crying, begging Vic to find the guy who killed her friend.<br />
<br />
Back at the Barn, Vic parks Farrah in an interrogation room with Julien. Farrah can't believe Vic doesn't care that she could die next. Vic says, "By me, that's euthanasia." Julien thinks Vic is being a little harsh. "I've been down the road with this little slut," Vic tells him. Claudette catches the tail end of this discussion.<br />
<br />
Julien asks when Farrah last saw Amber. The day before on account of Amber "working" nights. Farrah knew something was wrong when she didn't see Amber at sunrise this morning. She again points the finger at their pimp; Bombay threatened Amber. According to Farrah, pimping is just a hobby for Bombay. He makes most of his money cooking crystal meth.<br />
<br />
"I trusted you!" Olivia says to Vic in the clubhouse. She just found out Vic had the Box O' Blackmail the whole time they've known each other. Vic explains Edgar-veda took it out of his hands. Olivia asks if Vic knows a good attorney. He assures Olivia her boss won't ever find her file. Edgar-veda plans to use it as leverage. "So I've traded one blackmailer for another?" Yeah, basically.<br />
<br />
Vic is trying to figure out a way to take down Cruz "in the 10 days I still have a badge." Rios has disappeared. Olivia needs an inside man and Vic is her only option. She doesn't think her boss Chaffee will go for it. He's raiding Cruz's construction site later to see if they can find Rios' body.<br />
<br />
Vic worries this will scare Cruz into hiding. The guy's smart enough not to leave a body lying around his own construction site. He might have some ideas, though. He heads for the site and tips off Cruz. Cruz gives Vic an envelope of cash, calling it "this week's pay and severance." Vic is no longer useful to him.<br />
<br />
Billings and Dutch interview a home invasion victim. She was home alone when she heard glass break. She tried to scare the intruder off with her gun and thinks she might've shot him. The woman thought this neighborhood was gentrifying: "I was gonna flip the house like on those infomercials."<br />
<br />
Dutch wants to take a mosey around the neighborhood; Claudette lives five doors away and he's concerned. He gets the answering machine when he calls her house. Dutch notices her car in the driveway. He knocks on the front door. Boxes of files are overturned and scattered on the other side of the glass.<br />
<br />
Claudette still doesn't answer, so Dutch breaks in. The living room and her study are also in disarray. Mountains of dirty dishes are piled in the kitchen sink.<br />
<br />
Danny tries to talk to Vic's other baby-mama. Corinne doesn't care about what's going on between Danny and Vic. Danny tells her about the DNA test; she doesn't want Vic in Lee's life, not even in the form of child support checks. She's sure Corinne wouldn't like part of Vic's tiny paycheck going to Lee.<br />
<br />
Danny won't settle for anything less than sole custody and no visitation. The only way to make that happen is to prove to a judge that Vic is an unfit parent. Corinne says her ex has a lot of bad qualities, but he loves his kids. "You know this guy better than anybody," Danny pleads, "It's all about him all the time." She asks Corinne to give her take on Vic to the judge.<br />
<br />
Danny suggests the former Mrs. Mackey think of testifying as "a long-term business decision in the best interest of your kids."<br />
<br />
"Crime scene is this house, not mine," Claudette tells Dutch peevishly. He inquires about her car. The alternator's gone out, so a uniform gave her a ride to work this morning. Billings reports he found blood around the side of the house: "Looks like Annie Oakley winged the guy."<br />
<br />
"Tried to get a read on Shane," Vic says quietly to Ronnie, "Looks like we might be all right." "As long as he's alive, we're not all right," Ronnie disagrees. When Claudette enters the breakroom, Vic pretends to be advising Ronnie about car repairs.<br />
<br />
The captain's heard about the board's ruling and would prefer if Vic cleaned out his locker today. In exchange, she'll ask the chief to allow Vic to have a percentage of his pension. Vic considers this briefly, but decides to stay the full week and a half to tie up loose ends.<br />
<br />
Claudette turns to Ronnie; she wants the Strike Team to investigate Amber's murder because her pimp also deals meth. Julien exposits that Bombay the pimp's "government name" is Marcel Letourneau. There's no address listed on his record and none of "the girls" seem to know how to find him.<br />
<br />
"Get ready for a long, lazy afternoon on the stroll, turning down free BJs while we look for this idiot," drawls Shane. Vic jokes, "Who said anything about turnin' 'em down?" Farrah told Julien about Bombay's new girl Capuchina. Vic bets Capuchina replaced Farrah as bottom bitch and now Farrah wants to settle that score. He'll take Shane out for a Capuchina while Ronnie and Julien wait for the forensics report.<br />
<br />
On his way out, Vic runs into Corrine. His ex asks why he's suddenly interested in joint custody. "Because I want joint responsibility," Vic replies. Corinne calls bullshit; he's had 14 years to be the biggest male influence in Cassidy's life and he's never been around. Vic doesn't want to make that mistake with Lee. Corinne arches an eyebrow, "This baby's a do-over?"<br />
<br />
Vic doesn't want to be a bad example by walking away from his illegitimate love child. Corinne confides the reason for Danny's visit; she wants help making a case to keep Vic away from Lee. Corinne asks Vic to consider if he's pushing the issue because he's a fighter or because he thinks it's really in the baby's best interests.<br />
<br />
As they approach a motel, Shane nervously keeps a hand on the butt of his gun. Vic notices and asks what's up. "Shit can jump off with these 187 cats, man," Shane shrugs. A woman, presumably Capuchina, answers their knock. Vic pushes his way into the room, claiming he smells marijuana.<br />
<br />
Looking around, they find drug paraphernalia and a Taser. Capuchina says she has it because "one of my regulars likes me to use it on his nuts." "Who could blame him?" Vic chuckles, pocketing some cash he found on the nightstand. He asks about Bombay.<br />
<br />
Capuchina is sure Farrah sent them: "Bitch couldn't handle her business. Chose the white smoke over her black pimp...Farrah ain't right in the mind. Why she got kicked to the curb." Capuchina has a vision for her future, namely running her own stable. She calls it being an entrepreneur. Vic says, "You help us find Bombay and we'll sponsor you for the Rotary Club."<br />
<br />
Capuchina clearly has no idea what that means because she wrinkles her nose and says she doesn't do anal. Vic pulls out his handcuffs and asks, "What about bondage?" He's adding obstructing a police investigation to her list of charges. Capuchina struggles against him and finally gives up the name of someone who might know where Bombay is: Two-Man.<br />
<br />
Two-Man is Bombay's business partner who collects money from the meth sales. Capuchina doesn't know where Two-Man lives or what he looks like other than "big, ugly, black as a flat tire." Farrah might have a better idea of where to find Two-Man.<br />
<br />
From the backseat, Farrah says Two-Man collects drug money "every Mother's Day," which is apparently slang for the day welfare checks are issued. She points out Two-Man's car. Shane is curious why Farrah didn't mention this guy earlier. Farrah plays like she didn't know if he was still Bombay's partner.<br />
<br />
Vic parks a distance away from Two-Man's car. The three of them will be sitting there until Two-Man shows up so Farrah can ID him. Vic suggests they "keep the talking to a minimum."<br />
<br />
Dutch reads over crime statistics and notices there's been a 15% increase in burglaries in Claudette's neighborhood. The thieves always take electronics and jewelry. Makes sense to me; easy to transport, easy to pawn. Billings thinks it'd be worth chatting with the private security guards in the area.<br />
<br />
"Rent-a-cops?" Dutch frowns. Billings would call it "rent an ex-cop." One of the security companies, PRP, mostly employs former police officers. In an uncharacteristic show of motivation, Billings called PRP and one of the owners is coming in to talk. <br />
<br />
Enter Lester, resplendent in a hideous Hawaiian-style shirt. Billings thinks it's a genius idea for ex-cops to run a private security firm, even though I've heard that's a common line of work for retired public servants. He boasts about his own side gig with the gourmet vending machines until Dutch glares.<br />
<br />
Lester chalks up the recent burglary boom to gentrification. Wealthier whites have been steadily moving in, so "for the blacks and Mexicans, it's a crowbar Christmas." He's helpfully brought along PRP's logbooks from the last three months. Lester also has a couple of suspects in mind: recently paroled crackhead Elliot Gallardo and pawnshop owner Paolo who's got "an interesting way of compensating for his low inventory."<br />
<br />
In the car, Farrah points out Two-Man. Vic tells her to stay put and "try to keep your clothes on." The pimp seems to realize he's being watched by plainclothes cops and takes off. Shane lags behind, causing Ronnie to bellow: "Up and at 'em!" With a mighty grunt, Ronnie tackles Two-Man as he dashes out of an apartment building. He punches the suspect in the face until Julien pulls him off.<br />
<br />
Vic twists Two-Man's arm behind his back, asking if he knows Bombay. Turning to his colleagues, he says, "Anybody feels like writing me up for excessive force, you better do it in the next 10 days." Vic pats down Two-Man and makes a deal: If he tells them about Bombay, the cops will let him keep his money "and forget all about the track-and-field tryout."<br />
<br />
Two-Man gives up the location of new meth cooking house. He spits out blood, glares at Ronnie, and gripes, "I think he broke my goddamn jaw." "You broke your own jaw, asshole," Vic counters.<br />
<br />
At the camper/slash meth lab, Julien wants to wait for uniform backup. Vic would rather have the element of surprise. He sternly tells Farrah to stay in the car. When the team gets close to the trailer, someone opens fire on them. Julien gets the kill shot. Vic and Shane line up the bra-clad female meth cooks against the trailer. Farrah is standing next to the car.<br />
<br />
"I did what I had to do," Julien says when Claudette arrives. She doesn't want him talking to anyone other than his union rep about the shooting.<br />
<br />
Back at the Barn, Dutch and Billings shake hands with Lester, thanking him for his help. Lester and Vic look daggers at each other. A process server appears with papers ordering Danny to appear in family court. "You son of a bitch! You told me I had until tomorrow night!" Danny shouts. Vic replies coolly, "That was before you went behind my back and dragged Corinne into this." "After all the shit you pulled on Corinne, she comes crawling back to you like a whipped puppy." Danny wonders what kind of dirt Vic is holding over his ex-wife.<br />
<br />
By now, everybody in the squadroom has taken notice of them. Vic says Corinne just understands kids need their dads. Danny grits her teeth, looking like she wants to punch something (preferably Vic's balls).<br />
<br />
Olivia tells Vic he missed a show at Cruz's construction site: helicopters with thermal cameras, canine teams, forensic accountants, and...<br />
<br />
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"Your boss came up with jack shit and no body," Vic guesses. Olivia confirms it. She'll try to get Vic a sit-down with her boss Chaffee.<br />
<br />
Dutch calls to Vic across the parking lot, inquiring if he knows Lester. Vic nods, "Guy's an asshole. Into all kinds of wrong shit....If you think he did something shitty, he probably did."<br />
<br />
Claudette remarks she saw Danny arguing with Vic. Danny apologizes, promising it won't happen again. Claudette requests she keep a lid on it until Vic is terminated in 10 days. That's clearly news to Danny. She explains about her now-ugly custody dispute with Vic. Claudette offers Danny time off to handle things.<br />
<br />
Billings found out Elliott the crackhead has an airtight alibi: "Four people saw him stealing food from a soup kitchen." "How do you steal from a soup kitchen?" Dutch asks. He suggests they try another investigative angle. Most of Lester's security clients are people who've had recent burglaries. What if Lester is staging them to create more business? Billings doesn't like the idea of interrogating a former cop.<br />
<br />
Vic vents to Chaffee about blowing a covert investigation: "I'm outta my department on my ass because of this thing." The only way to turn things around is to give Cruz the Box O' Blackmail. "We'd be handing the man a loaded gun," says Chaffee. Letting Cruz have it keeps the shady developer in the cartel's good graces. Chaffee gets it; they could arrest Cruz for extortion.<br />
<br />
Olivia worries Cruz will smell a rat when he discovers her file is missing from the box. Vic warns her that he'll have no choice but to put Olivia's folder back in. Olivia knows Edgar-veda won't just return it; she already asked. Vic tells her it's all about how you ask.<br />
<br />
Vic announces to Edgar-veda that he's working undercover for ICE; he needs Olivia's file and the Box O' Blackmail. Edgar-veda thought Olivia was working for Cruz. Vic says things aren't always what they seem. "I'm sorry, but Vic doesn't make a very compelling character witness," says the councilman. He's keeping Olivia's folder in case she changes teams again.<br />
<br />
Vic lays out what'll happen if Edgar-veda doesn't cooperate. Cruz will rat out Olivia, who in turn will rat out Edgar-veda for keeping her blackmail file. Vic will back her story. Edgar-veda's face falls as he realizes they're serious. He tosses Olivia's file onto his desk.<br />
<br />
Billings brings Lester in for questioning. Dutch gets right to the point: "The more security systems you sell, the more money you make. And what better way to stimulate demand than breaking into houses?" Lester can't believe they're accusing him of that after his 15 years protecting and serving the residents of Farmington.<br />
<br />
Billings tells Lester the burglar got grazed by a bullet and left a blood trail. Lester takes off his Hawaiian shirt and there's not a scratch on him. He also has some impressive muscles. "53, still ripped," Lester boasts. He turns around, pulling down his pants and his boxers. "Liking that ass?" Lester's lower body is similarly unblemished.<br />
<br />
Dutch asks how to get in touch with Lester's partner J.R. Lester claims J.R.'s been on vacation since last weekend.<br />
<br />
Capuchina arrives in the squadroom, asking for someone from the Strike Team. Shane takes her to the clubhouse. The hooker claims Bombay is mean, but not capable of murder. She saw Amber go for a ride with Two-Man. "Just because she got in his car doesn't mean he killed her," Shane points out.<br />
<br />
As part of his meth dealing benefits package, Two-Man gets the girls' "services" anytime he wants, free of charge. He's into rough stuff and has even broken bones. Shane remarks, "That can't be good for business. Bombay's okay with that?" "He never lets him beat on his earners," says Capuchina.<br />
<br />
When Amber refused to "take her beatdown like a ho," Two-Man grabbed her by the hair, beat the hell out of his car with her face, and threw her in the backseat. Shane proceeds to flatter Capuchina: "I think you're a good person." He believes she's telling the truth about what she saw. Problem is her pot habit makes her an unreliable witness.<br />
<br />
Shane is also worried about her safety and what'll happen if Two-Man doesn't get convicted. He'll write up her statement as an anonymous tip.<br />
<br />
"Looks like J.R. decided to vacation in the ER out in Riverside," says Dutch. Lester doesn't know anything about it. Dutch found out J.R. was treated for a gunshot wound, fed the doctor a bullshit story that he accidentally shot himself while cleaning his gun. "He always was clumsy," shrugs Lester.<br />
<br />
Riverside PD is bringing J.R. to the Barn. They're willing to bet J.R.'s DNA matches what was at the crime scene. Lester heaves a sigh: "He's my partner." Dutch respects his loyalty. He'll drop the breaking and entering charges and book Lester for trespassing and vandalism.<br />
<br />
Lester confesses to breaking into the house, which they thought was empty right up until the gunshot.<br />
<br />
Vic talks to an Asian girl from the meth lab. Bombay got a phone call tipping him about the cops right before the raid. Vic storms out of the room.<br />
<br />
Elsewhere, he confronts Farrah, who's sitting in a piece-of-shit car. "You spun that sob story about your pimp killing your girlfriend? You set up Bombay for a death-by-cop payback for kicking you out?" Vic rages. Farrah thinks Bombay got what he deserved; he started Amber using crack.<br />
<br />
Vic grabs her by the arms, drags her out of the car, and throws her down in the dirt. He's still screaming: "You warned him so he'd come out blasting! You used me! You used one of my guys as the shooter! You coulda gotten us all killed, you sick bitch!"<br />
<br />
Farrah chuckles: "Oh, I used you. Played you just like last time. I remember now. You were an asshole back then too." She may not be pretty anymore, but she can still lead him around by his dick. "You ever thought about just cutting it off? Free your mind once and for all?" Vic lets go and stomps back to his car.<br />
<br />
Dutch sits down in Claudette's office and confesses that he had to break one of her windows when he was trying to check on her earlier. She gives him a <i>you-did-<b>what-</b>son </i>look. Did Dutch think she was dead on the floor because she has lupus? Dutch lays out his evidence: Claudette lives alone, car in the driveway, and nobody answering the door. Claudette tells him to expect a bill for the window.<br />
<br />
She explains that it takes all her energy to get through the workday; that's why her house is so messy. Dutch figured that and has taken the liberty of hiring a cleaning lady to come in twice a week. He's paying for it. Claudette would rather pay it herself. Ever the cop, she asks, "Is she even legal?" Dutch doesn't answer that.<br />
<br />
Vic knocks on Danny's door. Wouldn't they both rather see all the money they're about to spend in court go toward Lee's education? "Okay, I'll give," Danny nods tearfully. She agrees to put Vic's name on Lee's birth certificate as long as she gets sole custody; they'll have to work out a visitation agreement. "I can live with that," Vic says breathlessly. This is clearly more than he expected.<br />
<br />
Danny plans to call an arbitrator in the morning to set up an appointment. Vic is sure this is gonna work out for the best. "That's what I want for Lee," Danny nods. They say their good-nights.<br />
<br />
When Vic is gone, Danny goes to her bedroom and tosses a bunch of Lee's clothes into a suitcase. Several others are already packed. She boxes up some toys and diapers.<br />
<br />
Elsewhere, Shane is sitting on a bed, fiddling with his revolver. A shirtless black man emerges from the bathroom. "Need to get a better lock, Two-Man," says the Southerner, "Some lowlife could break in." Is Shane <i>trying </i>to get himself killed? "You got a warrant?" asks Two-Man. Shane chuckles, "Shit no."<br />
<br />
Shane knows Two-Man murdered Amber, not Bombay. He has a witness. There are two ways to handle it: Two-Man getting ID'ed by the witness and being locked up for special-circumstances murder. "Or you can work with me and make this whole thing go away," Shane goes on. "...I need your help getting rid of somebody." "You ain't serious," Two-Man snorts. Shane says quietly, "You don't know how goddamn serious I am."<br />
<br />
Two-Man doesn't think he'd have a problem with that. Who's the target? Shane answers with another question, "How's your jaw feeling?" OH HELL NO! Not Ronnie! End of episode.Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-27149506720113368232017-12-15T16:36:00.000-05:002017-12-15T16:36:25.220-05:00Time for Some "Animal Control" (Episode 7.6)<i>Previously on: Edgar-veda's "one-man campaign bankroll" planned to use blackmail to allow a drug cartel the opportunity to buy up Farmington. Edgar-veda took said Box O' Blackmail. Vic played the Armenians against the Mexicans, each thinking the other group had the box.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>City controller Robert Martin was assassinated. Vic's federal friend Olivia has a file in the blackmail box. She asked Vic for help getting out from under the cartel.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Tina and yet another new partner respond to a burglar alarm. She stupidly goes down an alley alone, gun drawn. Behind a dumpster, Tina discovers a naked man with blood smeared on his chest.<br />
<br />
In the clubhouse, Edgar-veda informs Vic he's turning the Box O' Blackmail over to some friends at the Justice Department. Vic can join him if he wants to get credit too. That's not good enough; Vic wants Cruz in jail and "not for 30 days on some pissant charge his lawyer can plead down to a fine."<br />
<br />
Doesn't Edgar-veda care about Olivia? Turning over the box now means "throwing a good woman and her career under the bus." Edgar-veda shrugs that Olivia got herself into her own mess. Vic knows Cruz gets Rios to do his dirty work and wants a chance to bust him. Vic's the inside man. Edgar-veda says no way; Vic's had plenty of chances. Vic pleads for more time and Edgar-veda agrees to 36 hours.<br />
<br />
"What happened to his clothes?" Dutch asks of Tina's suspect, now wrapped in a police blanket. Tina has no idea; she found him naked. She's hoping someone can do a psych exam on the guy. "This time of night, good luck," says Dutch. Billings is utterly uninterested, playing with his tie; let him know if naked girls show up. Nice.<br />
<br />
Vic crouches over Lem's headstone; Ronnie joins him. "The last time we were here, Shane stood right next to us," Vic sighs, "He watched as I vowed to get the guy who killed Lem." It's been months and Vic hasn't kept his promise.<br />
<br />
Vic tells Ronnie about Edgar-veda's timeline for turning in the Box O' Blackmail. Ronnie worries about losing their leverage with Rezian. Vic's spent the last two hours sitting here in the graveyard trying to come up with a plan. Vic thinks he knows how to get rid of the Armenians, save his job, bust Cruz, and "give Lem the justice he deserves."<br />
<br />
There's a close-up of Lem's gravestone. Inscribed upon it are the words HONESTY, LOYALTY, OFFICER, and BROTHER. Vic knows they can't afford to wait for Shane to make a mistake. "We go through with what you're talking about, there's no turning back," Ronnie says slowly, "...Doing this in a rush to meet some deadline, we're bound to make a mistake." "We owe it to Lem!" says Vic. He promises that taking care of Shane will never blow back on them.<br />
<br />
"Where you guys been?" Shane asks when Vic and Ronnie enter the clubhouse. Oh, nowhere, really. Just visiting the grave of the guy you murdered and plotting your death. Vic apologizes for being so stubborn about the Box O' Blackmail. Cruz won't want to pay to get the box back, but Rezian might.<br />
<br />
Vic asks Shane to call the Armenian boss about purchasing the box. Shane's all for it, eagerly guessing they could make at least $100,000. He doesn't seem to realize that amount splits a lot neater two ways. "It's gonna feel real good to move past this," says Shane.<br />
<br />
There's a knock at the door and an unexpected visitor appears: former Strike Team member Tavon. Ronnie and Vic greet him with hugs. Tavon recently got off disability, but still has some physical therapy to go; he transferred to Hollywood Division. "Oh, you went out and found yourself another brother?" Tavon jokes when he sees Julien, "They letting you ride in the front of the bus yet?"<br />
<br />
Tavon expresses his sympathy about Lem, then asks to talk to Shane upstairs about someone named Gary Barba. "Hope he fell into a meat grinder," grumbles Shane. Julien asks who Gary is. Vic replies cryptically, "A blast from Shane's past."<br />
<br />
Shane dishes exposition to Claudette; Gary was a rape suspect when he and Vic were working Vic, but they never had enough evidence to arrest. "Piece of shit goes off and kills his family a week later." His 10-year-old daughter Camille was the sole survivor. Gary's been on the run for the last 6 years and just tried to get in contact with Camille. Tavon got involved in the case because Camille's foster parents live in Hollywood.<br />
<br />
Gary has been calling Camille constantly for days, trying to talk her into meeting up. The girl told Tavon that she was close to Shane during the original investigation. Shane remembers watching her in protective custody, a job that seems like it would've been better suited to Vic or Lem. Anyway, the girl will only meet with Gary if Shane is there to protect her.<br />
<br />
Outside, Tavon apologizes to Shane for hitting Mara the night the two men slugged it out in Shane's living room. (Longtime viewers/readers will recall that never happened; it was a lie Lem fed Tavon to keep Shane from getting in trouble). Shane shrugs that bygones are bygones.<br />
<br />
Vic has observed the conversation. Shane asks if he can go back and forth; Gary's back and he wants to take him down. Vic inquires if Tavon's memory is back. Shane shakes his head: "He still thinks he smacked Mara around." Vic is relieved to hear that. Shane looks vaguely sick.<br />
<br />
Vic knows something about the Box O' Blackmail, but is afraid what Cruz will do with the intel. "I don't pay you to be afraid," says the developer. Vic points out he isn't paid enough to "stand by while you assassinate city officials." He wants Cruz's word there won't be more civilian casualties. Vic heard all the Armenian bosses are meeting sometime tonight. Cruz tells Vic to give the details to Rios.<br />
<br />
Camille asks why her dad is coming back after all these years. "Ah, baby, your old man is a bad penny. He was bound to show up sooner or later," says Shane. He promises not to leave the teen's side until she's safe and Gary is in handcuffs. Shane also offers the girl advice he would've done well to take himself: "You are better off dealing with trouble now than looking over your shoulder for the rest of your life."<br />
<br />
When Corinne answers her front door, Vic sighs that he's been calling all morning and knocking. Corinne, still in her robe and PJs, says she took a personal day from work. Vic reminds her they were supposed to meet about counseling for Cassidy. Corinne wants to deal with it tomorrow.<br />
<br />
"You've been bitching to me about being more involved," Vic says irritably. He looks at his ex suspiciously. "Are you on something?" Corinne admits she took sleeping pills the night before. "Looking at your eyes, they look more like downers," says Vic. Does she know how addictive those can be? I mean, she should; she's a nurse.<br />
<br />
Corinne argues she hasn't been able to sleep too well lately. Vic points out she's got primary custody of three kids, two of whom have special needs. Maybe they need to figure out another arrangement if she's popping pills to deal with it. "Let that be the last thing you say before you leave," Corinne growls. Vic is incredulous: "Our daughter's falling apart and you're snoring the day away?" Corinne slams the door in his face.<br />
<br />
The naked man claims he can't remember anything that happened after 11 PM last night. He was watching the late news and has a history of sleepwalking. Usually, though, he wakes up somewhere in his house like the garage or kitchen. Once, he got arrested for public indecency after being found naked in a convenience store.<br />
<br />
"How does your girlfriend feel about ya runnin' all over town naked?" Dutch asks, trying to lighten the mood. Jeff says he's been separated from his wife for six months. Hey, It's That Guy! Scott Michael Campbell played Dr. Weston on the Netflix series <i>Longmire.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Jeff is a recovering addict who doesn't drink or use drugs. He's scared he might've hurt someone, but can't remember it if he did. Dutch had Tina send a sample of the blood on Jeff's body to the crime lab; they'll know soon enough whether it matches any recent assaults or murders. He inquires about the marks on Jeff's wrists. "Sometimes I tie myself up at night to stop myself from leaving," he explains.<br />
Clearly not a foolproof strategy.<br />
<br />
Tina brings Dutch a folder. Six months ago, uniforms responded to a 911 call from Jeff's wife. Maybe Jeff finally killed her.<br />
<br />
Shane reports to Vic that Camille is doing well and likes her foster family. Barba wants to meet Rezian in the park this afternoon. In a filthy warehouse, they tell Rezian it'll cost $100,000 to buy the Box O' Blackmail. Rezian wants to see the box first. Vic can bring it at 9 PM if Rezian has the money. Both sides are allowed to bring three lieutenants and no weapons; Vic and Shane will be armed.<br />
<br />
Tina hangs up a composite sketch of Robert Martin's killer. Danny recognizes the man. Claudette asks why this is the first she's hearing of Danny being attacked in the line of duty. "The Army surplus room was supposed to be cleared. I didn't wanna get another officer in trouble," she explains. Danny spent her own time looking through mug books and couldn't find the suspect.<br />
<br />
Claudette interrupts the Strike Team's lunch break to ask them to track down Robert Martin's killer. He's the same man responsible for the body draggings. She asks where Vic is. Ronnie tells her he's on his way back from following a lead. Claudette doesn't buy that: "I put you in charge of the Strike Team so that I could have somebody who could be held accountable...If I wanted to be lied to daily, I would've left [Vic] in charge."<br />
<br />
Claudette shuts the clubhouse doors, saying she knows Ronnie is covering Vic's ass as usual. He looks a little scared by her tone. Claudette has no choice now but to put an official reprimand in Ronnie's file. She warns, "One more and you lose the team, plus your job, if I can manage it." Claudette is willing to tolerate Vic until his hearing, but who'll still be standing when he's gone?<br />
<br />
Vic and Ronnie talk outside in the parking lot. Shane has volunteered to handle the Armenian side of their deal. Vic bets he's already spent his share of the money. "Holy shit. This is gonna work, isn't it?" Ronnie breathes.<br />
<br />
The blood on Jeff's body came back AB- and Jeff himself has a different blood type. Dutch found out his wife called 911 because Jeff was choking the woman in her sleep. He doesn't believe the guy really has parasomnia.<br />
<br />
Billings thinks Dutch is projecting his failure to lock up Lloyd onto an innocent man. "I would hardly say Lloyd burned me. And haven't you got a lawsuit to lose?" Dutch asks nastily. Claudette decides they need to have a conversation with Jeff. Billings is more interested in calling his lawyer, so Claudette will help her old partner.<br />
<br />
Olivia worriedly tells Vic that Rios asked for help getting himself and two other guys out of the US tonight. She's considering the idea of turning herself in, but she'll keep Vic's name out of it. Vic is sure she has other options. Hypothetically, how would she go about smuggling Rios to Mexico?<br />
<br />
Vic wants to stall Rios. If they can definitively connect him to a crime, they can get him to turn on Cruz. "Vic, I can't have anymore blood on my hands," Olivia says tensely. Vic promises that won't happen.<br />
<br />
Vic informs Rios, "Witnesses made two of your boys for the Robert Martin killing." Are they the same two he's bringing tonight? Half of LAPD is looking for them and Rios needs to make sure they're well-hidden.<br />
<br />
Vic asks how Rios is getting out of the country. Rios basically tells him "nunya." Vic argues it is. Rios answers that his new ID is being made as they speak. Vic gives him the meeting time and location: Armenian junkyard, 9 PM.<br />
<br />
Julien's knock-and-talk didn't turn up Martin's shooter. Ronnie didn't have any luck with the Byz Lats. Shane lets the guys know he'll be late to the meeting; he's still trying to catch Camille's dad. Ronnie looks worried. Vic reminds Shane that Rezian could get cold feet if they start changing the plan, but relents. Shane and the Armenians better be there on time.<br />
<br />
Jeff play semantics: "I was grabbing Sophia, not choking her. I was asleep when I did it." He was also asleep when he wandered into the convenience store naked. Jeff admits he hasn't been formally diagnosed as a sleepwalker. "And yet, it's your excuse for everything," says Dutch, "And yet, you won't see a doctor about it." Both good points.<br />
<br />
Dutch sits on the interrogation room table and leans close. He thinks being naked in public helps Jeff regain feelings of power he lacks due to his failed marriage. Exhibitionism is a rush "until it doesn't work anymore." Dutch theorizes Jeff "got into some kinky sex," but things went too far and his partner got scared. So Jeff attacked her.<br />
<br />
Jeff repeats he isn't lying, then stutters he never meant to hurt anyone. Claudette suggests Dutch step out for a few minutes.<br />
<br />
Olivia ran Rios' name through her ICE databases again. After several previous searches turned up nothing, Rios has been flagged on a federal watch list. Cops with cameras are following him 24/7. Olivia isn't sure if Rios is wired or not: "I need to turn myself in now while I still have control." It's downright spooky how much she sounds like Lem. She can arrest Rios when he picks up his fake IDs from her.<br />
<br />
Vic lets Ronnie know about the surveillance. It'll be hard to deny involvement when there's photos of him and Rios on the day of the Armenian hit. "Shit," says Ronnie, throwing his taco onto his passenger seat in frustration. Vic is willing to let Rios get away to keep his family safe. They'll still have Rezian, his crew, and Shane.<br />
<br />
Vic also tells Cruz the feds are watching Rios. Cruz needs to keep Rios away from the meeting at the junkyard.<br />
<br />
Jeff is embarrassed and disgusting with himself for trying to choke Sophia. Claudette understands. Jeff admits he wanted to hurt Sophia because of the bitter custody battle over their daughter. He's ashamed of other thoughts he's had too.<br />
<br />
Jeff followed Michael Vick's dogfighting trial and became hooked on the idea of the rape stand dog fighters use to breed the females. He wondered if he could design one for human women. Jeff's been having memory flashes of a young, screaming blond woman: "I think I wanted to kill her."<br />
<br />
Camille sits at a picnic table in the park, waiting for her dad. Shane's in a van parked at the curb. The girl is scared. "You're not scared, baby. You're brave," Shane soothes. Tavon asks Shane to tell him what happened the night they fought. "I thought Lem told you," Shane answers evasively.<br />
<br />
Tavon's replayed it in his head thousands of times. "We got a 16-year-old girl out there who's scared to death," says Shane, "Maybe this isn't the right time for this."<br />
<br />
Cut to Shane locking Gary in the cage. Gary wants him to tell Camille he's sorry for killing Camille's mom and two brothers; he almost killed Camille too. "Sometimes it's too late to apologize, no matter how much you mean it," says Shane, an expert on that subject.<br />
<br />
Ronnie sends the desk sergeant on an errand and starts digging through the drawers. Shane has the money from Rezian. Vic wants him to be at the meeting early. Ronnie takes Shane's gun out of the desk drawer, fiddles with it, and puts it back.<br />
<br />
Outside, Tavon asks if he can come to Shane's this weekend and give Mara a long-overdue apology. Seeing her in person is the only way he can make peace with himself. Shane understands, but doesn't think Mara would like it. (Also, she probably forgot all about Tavon and the lie that was spun for her benefit).<br />
<br />
Tavon nods: "After all, she might not have her iron ready this time." He's slowly come to remember everything about that night, except for the moment he supposedly hit Mara. Tavon knows it didn't happen. "You musta gone through that windshield harder than ya thought," Shane says coolly.<br />
<br />
Tavon is pissed that Shane used Lem to cover his ass. He bets it wasn't the first time. Shane freezes in place, staring. "Now I know who you really are...and so do you," Tavon finishes.<br />
<br />
Shane goes back to the clubhouse, looking shaken. "I thought you were headed to the junkyard," says Vic conversationally. Shane mumbles he forgot something in his locker. He then suggests the Strike Team needs a fresh start without him. Shane knows they'll never be able to put what he did to Lem behind them. He can transfer if the others want him to.<br />
<br />
"Me and Ronnie, we got no axe to grind," Vic lies. When Shane leaves, Ronnie asks, "Can you believe the balls on that guy?" Julien struck out on canvassing another part of town. Ronnie thinks the three of them should do the next round together; splitting up hasn't worked.<br />
<br />
In the parking lot, Corinne hands Vic her bottle of downers, which she's supposedly only been taking for a week. She's exhausted and knows she's not handling the kids very well. Corinne loves them more than anything and won't give up on Cassidy. She begs Vic not to take the kids from her. "You think my first move would be to rip the kids from you?" he asks through his teeth.<br />
<br />
Dutch managed to find Jeff's victim, a 34-year-old woman named Fiona, in a dumpster. She was stabbed five times. Dutch bets Jeff dumped Fiona's body using his car, parked it somewhere, undressed, and started wandering around to sell his sleepwalking story. When they confront Jeff with the crime scene photos, Jeff lawyers up.<br />
<br />
"We gotta pull Shane outta there," Vic pants at the junkyard, "I can't do this." Ronnie tells him it's a done deal; they can never make it this clean again. Vic says, "We still have a choice." "Do you think Shane gave Lem a choice?" asks Ronnie.<br />
<br />
Elsewhere, Shane's cell phone rings with, what else, "Dixie." But it isn't Vic on the other end; it's Mara. She wants a favor. Shane tells her now isn't a good time. Mara keeps talking. Can Shane pick up Jackson's prescription on his way home from work?<br />
<br />
Shane's call waiting signal beeps. Rezian tells Shane to give his phone to his associate. Shane points a stern finger: "I see any calls to Armenia, I'm coming after you."<br />
<br />
In his car, Vic is worried that he got Shane's voicemail. He casually asks Ronnie where Shane is supposed to be meeting the Armenians. They're acting like they don't know because Julien is driving. Vic refuses to "let a team member fall off the map in a red zone."<br />
<br />
Rezian complains the Mexicans' arrival is taking too long. Shane steps out to take a look around the junkyard. Two men approach the meeting spot, but don't see Shane. The Mexicans open fire on the Armenians. Shane takes out his gun, but, thanks to Ronnie's earlier gunsmithing, it goes <i>click </i>instead of <i>bang</i>.<br />
<br />
One of the Mexicans spots Shane hiding amongst the wrecked cars.<br />
<br />
"He's still not answering," sighs Vic, snapping at Julien to drive faster. The dispatcher crackles over the radio. Shots fired near the Armenian junkyard. Vic turns on the blue lights. When they arrive, he dials Shane's phone again. They hear "Dixie" beeping from nearby. The man himself, very much alive, appears. He lies that he was late because he had to sign Tavon's arrest report.<br />
<br />
Vic says he tried to call with information on the Mexicans. Shane explains Rezian took his phone. Vic breathes a sigh of relief. "I'm still shaking," says Shane. Ronnie can't find the briefcase of money. Shane's just glad the Mackeys will be safe. Ronnie looks disappointed that Shane's still breathing.<br />
<br />
Tina has information that could change things for Jeff. His victim is alive and at Mission Cross Hospital. She reported running into a naked man outside a bar the night before. The woman stepped outside for air after too many mai tais, tripped, and hit her head on a fire hydrant. Naked Jeff pulled on her arms to help her out. She freaked out and ran back to the bar.<br />
<br />
Claudette goes back to interrogation, but the door is locked. She calls for a uniform to bring the keys. When the door is opened, we see Jeff motionless in large pool of his own blood.<br />
<br />
Vic goes to Corinne's house to let her know she and the kids are safe.<br />
<br />
Billings gripes some more about his disability lawsuit. The city is countersuing him for basically filing a nuisance suit. His "bitch dyke lawyer won't take the case without a retainer, but I can't afford the retainer without winning the case." Billings then asks if Dutch is planning to eat that sandwich.<br />
<br />
"You know, Steve, someone died here tonight," Dutch points out. Billings helps himself to the sandwich even though he didn't get an answer. Dutch knows why he worked so well with Claudette: she challenged his assumptions and crazy theories.<br />
<br />
Billings looks uncomfortable when Dutch lays a hand on his arm. For better or worse, they're partners. Dutch needs Billings' head in the game, not worrying about his lawsuit or counting the days 'til retirement.<br />
<br />
At home, Mara puts some soft rock on the stereo. Shane enters. They embrace and kiss. Mara asks where he's been. "Lookin' for a place to hide $100,000 where Vic won't find it," he sighs. He describes the cash as a consolation prize. "Vic and Ronnie tried to kill me tonight."<br />
<br />
Shane splashes cold water on his face in the bathroom: "It's sheer luck I'm even alive right now....The worst part is, they think I'm too stupid to even realize it [was a setup]." Shane heaves another sigh and stares at himself in the mirror. End of episode.<br />
<br />Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-65497584417106833082017-12-01T00:00:00.000-05:002017-12-04T16:14:31.936-05:00Put On Your "Game Face" (Episode 7.5)<i>Previously on: Teenage Lloyd shot and killed a classmate; he claimed self-defense because the kid had broken into his house. Dutch feared they have a Ted Bundy in the making. Vic started a mini race war by making it seem as though the Armenians stole the Mexican's Box O' Blackmail. City controller Robert Martin's name was in the box, so Edgar-veda convinced him approve a memorial to the Armenian genocide. At a rally to announce said memorial, Martin was assassinated.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Vic discovered a file on his fed friend Olivia in the Box O' Blackmail, meaning his only ally is in Cruz's pocket too. He confessed to Edgar-veda that he's told Olivia "enough to get us both killed." </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Vic and Edgar-veda arrive at the Barn's parking lot at the same time. Ronnie gets out of his car, bandage still wrapped around his arm from the recent dog attack. "You look like shit," Vic remarks. Ronnie finds it a little hard to sleep when he knows Olivia could talk to Cruz and have them greenlit. (Honestly, you'd think he'd be used to green lights by now).<br />
<br />
Vic thinks there's a possibility she's planning to take Cruz down herself; it's what he'd do to get out from under someone's thumb.<br />
<br />
In Claudette's office, Edgar-veda describes his dead friend Martin as "a glorified accountant, not a very sexy target." He had no enemies. (Well, Lem didn't think he had any either). Claudette explains the Strike Team was present at the rally because of Shane's work with an Armenian informant. Said informant told them about bad blood with the Mexicans. Detective Kouf wonders if recently announced mayoral candidate Edgar-veda could've been the real target.<br />
<br />
In the hall, Edgar-veda asks if Vic has change for the vending machine, closing the gap between them so they can't be overheard. Kouf is a great detective and the councilman worries Martin's death could blow back on them. "Neither of us had a thing to do with that shooting by word or deed," Vic reassures him.<br />
<br />
He accuses of Edgar-veda of trying to have it both ways: Brand himself as a reformer by busting Cruz, but not until he's done using his fat campaign donations.<br />
<br />
"What's up, buttercup?" Vic asks Olivia. She sighs that she needs Vic's help again; the favor has to go through Claudette before she can tell him what it is.<br />
<br />
Vic and Ronnie share a tense look when Vic says Olivia wants their help. "Am I missing something?" asks Shane, who's been excommunicated from the inner circle. Surprisingly, Vic tells Shane about the file Cruz has on Olivia. Cruz somehow has proof that Olivia's brother is in debt to mobbed-up bookies.<br />
<br />
Shane wants to give the Box O' Blackmail to Rezian and have him return it to Cruz. This would pay off the Strike Team's money train debt and get their families out of Armenian crosshairs. How is that a bad thing? Julien enters, causing Vic to say he'll explain another time.<br />
<br />
Olivia drops exposition on Claudette. Gayton Echeverria, known Cuban rat, is visiting L.A. from Miami. He has a meeting with Martin Blez, a denim manufacturer, about using his operation to launder cartel money. Echevarria's daughter, a freshman at USC, was carjacked/kidnapped earlier in the day by three black men.<br />
<br />
"In that neighborhood, it's probably gang-related," says Claudette. Olivia nods: "Hence the Strike Team." This is their best chance at stopping the whole scheme. The Strike Team can recover the girl and keep Daddy's mind on the business of drug dealing. Echeverria didn't report the kidnapping to the police; he's using his own men to find her.<br />
<br />
Olivia brings them the information on the daughter's car. "Not like we can put out an APB if we need to keep this on the down-low," Ronnie points out. Olivia suggests making rounds of the local chop shops. Ronnie asks Julien to pull files on carjackings with similar M.O.s. Echeverria's four enforcers are all Jamaican or Cuban and heavily armed.<br />
<br />
Blez's private plane is due to land at 6 PM. "That doesn't give us a whole hell of a lotta time," says Vic. Olivia warns that Echeverria will get spooked and skip town before the meeting if he senses police presence around his daughter's abduction.<br />
<br />
Shane doesn't like the idea of Olivia "walking us into a sketchy case with out-of-town players." They have to assume Cruz is getting a heads-up. Vic thinks Shane is being paranoid, but they should still be careful. Julien found a chop shop on Manzanita that specializes in stolen parts for Japanese cars like the missing Nissan.<br />
<br />
In their car, Shane urges Vic to let Cruz have what he wants; his former friend needs to give up the dream of the Box O' Blackmail saving his career. "I don't have to remind you of all the bad shit we've done. You're the one who wrote it all down," says Vic. Shane tells him that was just Volume 1: "The next installment has Ronnie doing Zadofian's murder."<br />
<br />
Honesty makes them all blood brothers again. Vic warns that Cruz will "unleash a level of violence and corruption in Farmington that'll turn this place into Little Mexico City." He refuses to let that happen. Vic doesn't trust anyone else to take Cruz out of play. Shane says someone else would just take Cruz's place. For Vic, locking up Cruz is "a down payment on me being able to live with myself."<br />
<br />
Claudette calls Dutch into the kitchen. Why has he had Danny intercepting subpoenas to testify at Kleavon Gardner's trial? Dutch explains that he didn't think Claudette needed the stress of being cross-examined by Kleavon, who's acting as his own defense attorney. "Because of my illness?" Claudette guesses. Well, their last meeting, Kleavon <i>did </i>push Claudette down the stairs, which put her in the hospital.<br />
<br />
Dutch promises Danny doesn't know why she was hiding the subpoenas. "I want this prick to get the justice he deserves," says Claudette. Kleavon is coming to the Barn later this afternoon to take her deposition.<br />
<br />
As they pull up to the chop shop, a car peels out of one of the bays. "Got a rabbit," Ronnie says over the radio. The pursuit goes through an alleyway, nearly running over a pedestrian. The sudden appearance of a garbage truck inadvertently helps the team intercept their suspect. "Llwellen Wang?" Shane says incredulously, reading the guy's driver's license.<br />
<br />
Wang protests he doesn't know anything about a missing girl. Four Caribbean dudes showed up while he was hanging out and asked about a Cuban girl. His friends didn't know what they were talking about and "dudes went at 'em with knives and shit!"<br />
<br />
Wang points the guys to where this took place. "Zorro wannabe?" Ronnie quips, seeing the letter carved into the dead man's cheek. It looks more like a "N" to Vic. The drug lord's daughter is named Noelle. "They weren't wishing him an early Merry Christmas." says Vic.<br />
<br />
A pompous Kleavon throws out all the legal jargon he picked up from watching <i>Law & Order </i>before asking Claudette to state her name and her relationship to the defendant. "I investigated the murders you committed and I arrested you for them." "What you're expressing is a very personal, biased opinion," says Kleavon.<br />
<br />
Claudette advises him to "enjoy [his] charade." He'll be getting the death penalty for the murders he committed in California and Texas. She didn't interview other suspects because she didn't have to. Kleavon thinks Claudette acted out of prejudice: "We all know that serial murder is a white man's crime." Claudette reminds him of the videotaped confession.<br />
<br />
Kleavon asks if Claudette is on any prescriptions. ADA Insardi tells both parties that's irrelevant. Kleavon holds up a prescription bottle he somehow got out of Claudette's trash.<br />
<br />
Olivia arrives at the chop shop. Shane called a friend of his who works Robbery-Homicide; they've had three carjackings in a month that also involved sexual assault. Vic suggests reaching out to our old friend Deena the car thief, even though this isn't her M.O.<br />
<br />
When Shane and Vic come knocking, someone starts shooting at them through the closed door. Vic goes around the side and almost gets shotgun pellets to the face as he dives through a window. Shane orders Deena to drop the gun.<br />
<br />
Kleavon asks if Claudette was on steroids while interrogating him. "You are way over the line," says Insardi. Kleavon argues it goes to state of mind. Claudette claims she needs a bathroom break. Kleavon knows that's a side effect of steroids.<br />
<br />
Dutch pulls Insardi aside. Can the ADA stop this deposition? Claudette's medical history is irrelevant to the case.<br />
<br />
We see why Deena was so spooked. Her accomplice lies dead on the floor, an "N" carved into his cheek. "I came back from a run and I found him like that," says Deena. Her attire (low-rider jeans and a tight T-shirt) makes me doubt that story. There's a lot of demand for "Jap cars", so anyone could have their silver Nissan.<br />
<br />
Vic asks if she knows any carjackers who target women specifically so they can rape them. She suggests Ghost Town Piru or Hollis Lane. Deena looks at the dead man and sighs sadly: "I liked him. He could've been the one. We were talking about getting out of the game." Vic thinks that's a good plan.<br />
<br />
Kleavon remembers Claudette becoming unsteady and developing a nosebleed during his interrogation; he saw her fall down the stairs. "You're not a medical expert," chides Insardi. Kleavon points out he never went to law school either but is still being allowed to defend himself. Long-term steroid use can cause paranoia and psychosis. Does Claudette suffer from those side effects? She shakes her head.<br />
<br />
Kleavon asks if Claudette remembers lying that his sister Fatima was strangled in an alley. Claudette defends it as a legal interrogation tactic. Insardi tells him to stop that line of questioning. Kleavon argues he would've said anything out of distress, thinking his sister was dead. Any evidence can be discredited through Claudette's supposed mental illness.<br />
<br />
"You're putting on quite a show," says Insardi, "You think you're gonna get acquitted, think again." Kleavon wants the death penalty off the table; he's a changed man, in love with one of his prison pen pals. "Even more reason to put you down like a sick animal," says Claudette.<br />
<br />
Chotzen, the FBI profiler who helped Dutch work Kleavon's case, wants to meet with him to discuss Lloyd's case. Billings warns that Mrs. Denton will figure out Dutch thinks her son is "Jack the Ripper Jr." His partner is free to beat a dead horse if he wants.<br />
<br />
Danny asks Vic if he's signed the paternity paperwork; her lawyer wants to file it by the end of the week. Vic is curious about the rush, but Danny dodges the question.<br />
<br />
Enter Corinne, clearly frustrated: "Cassidy's been suspended from school. I give up. She and her friends were at some pimps-and-hos party. All the girls had to wear lingerie." Holy shit, Cassidy is supposed to be in 8th grade! Where the hell did these girls even <i>get </i>lingerie? Stealing from their moms? Maybe I was sheltered, but I never even heard of parties like that until I was a high school senior.<br />
<br />
Vic's reaction is much the same as mine, growling "pimps-and-hos" through his teeth. One of Cassidy's classmates posted photos of the girls in their underwear online. And that's not all. Corinne whispers, "There were drugs involved." Cassidy admitted she did ecstasy after Corinne threatened to make her take a urine test. She wouldn't say who gave it to her.<br />
<br />
"I don't know what to do," Corinne frets. Vic says, "I sure as hell do!" Who threw the party? Corinne thinks it was a boy named Mickey. Vic promises to handle it.<br />
<br />
Shane has confirmed it was live ammo fired at them. Vic doesn't think Olivia was behind that. Claudette wants the Cuban car thief in jail or sent back to Miami. Julien suggests following up on a statement made by a domestic abuse victim that uniforms have upstairs. The woman's abusive boyfriend is a gangbanger with a history of carjacking and has been bragging about "running a train on some Latina."<br />
<br />
"Happen to mention if ol' girl was Cuban?" asks Ronnie. The girlfriend shrugs, "Cuban, Mexican, it's all reggaeton to me." Her boyfriend punched her when she refused to have sex with him. He's also a member of Ghost Town Piru.<br />
<br />
Dutch and Chotzen go out for tacos. The profiler just got back from China, working a case where 37 women were "autopsied pre-mortem." Dutch tells him about 16-year-old Lloyd, who has "no obvious killer symptoms." However, Dutch doesn't buy the teen's story about shooting an intruder; he thinks it was a thrill kill. And if Lloyd is doing this now, what's he gonna do when he's 25? Dutch doesn't want Chotzen to let Lloyd know he's a cop too.<br />
<br />
They bring Lloyd in based on the ruse that Chotzen is some sort of therapist. Lloyd says he's all talked out. Dutch goes back downstairs to sit with Mrs. Denton, explaining it's "easier to vent those feelings to a blank screen." She reports her son's been doing "surprisingly well" since the incident. Dutch presses. No anger or bedwetting? "My son is 16," Mrs. Denton says as though she thinks Dutch forgot that fact.<br />
<br />
Ronnie peeks out a window with his binoculars, radioing that he sees a silver Nissan parked across the street. There are four guys in the loft. Vic plans to go with Shane and make the rescue look like a robbery by a rival gang so as not to tip anyone off about police involvement. Julien pipes up from the backseat, "No offense, but the only set you guys can claim is Aryan Nation." Vic has a way around that, but he needs Olivia's help getting Claudette to approve it.<br />
<br />
Claudette doesn't like the proposal; it's too risky for police and civilians. She's sure it was Vic's idea. "I sign off on this insanity, here are my terms," says the captain. She wants Echevarria charged in Farmington before any federal cases are made. "Any blowback from Vic Mackey's voodoo law enforcement is on you."<br />
<br />
"You don't have to wear your own colors. No one's gonna see your faces," Vic reassures the gangbangers. They seem to know about Shane's fling with a fellow gangbanger's girlfriend. Vic will allow them to take their own guns, but no ammo. Julien will accompany them to the fake robbery. "Now that we undercover brothers, don't you think we need to be deputized?" asks Burnout.<br />
<br />
Vic tells them to raise their right hands. "Now do this while you do this," he instructs, rubbing his stomach and patting his head at the same time. The gangbangers fail to see the humor.<br />
<br />
Chotzen and Dutch watch as Lloyd talks to a shrink. Lloyd worries that his mom is disappointed in him. He does some exercise where he addresses the kid he shot, saying it's all that guy's fault. Chotzen thinks Lloyd could be "speaking to his own shadow-self," which "could be interpreted as guilt."<br />
<br />
However, Chotzen finds Lloyd's behavior more in line with the typical PTSD you'd expect after something like this. Dutch thinks he's wrong. If that's the case, the profiler says Lloyd is "a sociopath with a well-constructed mask of sanity." However, something is odd about Lloyd.<br />
<br />
Insardi announces she's willing not to seek the death penalty if Kleavon pleads guilty to everything and accepts serving life without parole. Claudette hopes that if there's a God, Kleavon meets the same fate as his victims: throat cut, "miserable and alone."<br />
<br />
Julien goes in the building first, then Burnout crashes the gate with his Escalade. While the real gangbangers do crowd control, Julien heads upstairs. Noelle is naked and whimpering, tied down to a filthy mattress. Julien undoes the ropes and throws her clothes at her: "Get dressed, bitch."<br />
<br />
While he and Burnout fake a scuffle over some rims, Noelle runs out of the building. She flags down Danny, cruising by in plainclothes. The marked units surround the building. The Strike Team heads in, Ronnie toting Lem's favorite shotgun.<br />
<br />
"I hear you're an attorney now. Not sure if that's a step up or a step down from doing time for murder," Dutch quips to Kleavon. He asks for Kleavon's expertise as a killer and shows him the tape of Lloyd's interview with Chotzen. "We all gotta ride or die with what the good Lord meant us to do," says Kleavon. Lloyd can be stopped, just like Kleavon himself was. "All it takes is a pair of cuffs and a cage to throw him in."<br />
<br />
Vic parks at a house where two middle schoolers are shooting hoops in the driveway. "Which one of you fine young men is Mickey Dightman?" he asks politely. The kid with long blond hair nods. Vic tells him to put his hands behind his back. "What did I do?" asks Mickey. Vic smiles, "That's what you're gonna tell me, big pimpin'."<br />
<br />
At the Barn, Vic shows Mickey a picture Corinne found online of the teen smoking a joint. He estimates booking to release will take about 18 hours. He bets the Dightmans are gonna love "being in and out of court for the next year, trying to clear their baby boy." Mickey claims he rolled his one joint from the weed patch that grows wild behind his school.<br />
<br />
Vic questions him about the ecstasy. Danny knocks at the door; Mickey's dad is here and a parent's presence is required during the interview because of his age. "Your son is involved in a drug investigation," Vic informs Mr. Dightman. He had to make sure Mickey was safe before calling. Can Dad get Mickey to cooperate.<br />
<br />
A glare is all it takes. Mickey stammers, "This girl in my grade, the pimps-and-hos thing was her idea...She scored the ex...The only thing Cassidy asked me to do was put together a mixtape." Vic's mouth drops open just a little.<br />
<br />
Shane goes up to Ronnie in the parking lot, saying he knows his friend sees the big picture. "With what you did to Lem center and foreground," Ronnie says bitterly. Shane wants to appeal to Ronnie's better judgment, "even though I know I will forever be on the wrong end of it." "You got that right," grumbles Ronnie.<br />
<br />
Shane worries Vic is gonna land the three of them in jail for life. Ronnie doesn't see anything wrong with Vic protecting his family. Shane knows it's more than that; Vic is trying to balance the ledger for Terry "in that big ol' box of sins God keeps on all of us." Ronnie replies, "I don't believe in God." "Oh, you will," counters Shane.<br />
<br />
Vic thinks he can fix the world; Shane isn't like that and he knows Ronnie isn't either. Taking down Cruz won't change anything. Vic doesn't listen to Shane anymore, but he'll listen to Ronnie. Shane is aware Ronnie hates him, but Ronnie also knows the right thing to do.<br />
<br />
Dutch vents his frustrations about Lloyd to Claudette. If Mrs. Denton realizes he's still a murder suspect, "she'll circle the wagons around her sweet teen killing machine." Is a better detective someone who arrests a guy after committing 30 murders or the one who prevents 29 of those murders from happening in the first place?<br />
<br />
Dutch is sorry to hear how the deposition worked out. Claudette isn't; Kleavon plead guilty and she has the only copy of her deposition tape. Claudette sighs, "[I'm] more a liability with each passing day." If Kleavon can sense she's sick, how long will it take before a real lawyer does?<br />
<br />
In the clubhouse, Vic wonders whose side Olivia is really on. "Makes sleeping tonight just as rough as it was last night," nods Ronnie, "Shane wants me to have the come-to-Jesus conversation with you about ending the war." He honestly think Shane has a point. Vic says, "I can't give back what I don't have." (Besides, he has bigger fish to fry. Like his 13-year-old daughter organizing drug and sex parties).<br />
<br />
Vic explains Edgar-veda has the box. They still don't know if Olivia is Cruz's mole, a detail that has to stay between him and Ronnie.<br />
<br />
In her office, Claudette confides to Danny that she's sick. Would Danny like a full-time reassignment as the captain's assistant? Danny smiles and agrees. She's finally got her ticket off the street.<br />
<br />
Corinne isn't sure she wants to believe Mickey's story. What can they do if it is, anyway? Ground Cassidy until she's 21? "Or she can start learning about consequences the hard way like these people," says Vic, gesturing at the female side of the cage. Corinne balks. Vic doesn't want that to be her future either. "She's a good kid," Corinne insists. Vic thinks she better start acting like one again.<br />
<br />
Danny starts in on him again about the paternity claim. Vic refuses to sign it. Danny thought they had a deal. "You have no idea what it takes to raise a child," says Dad of the Year. Danny never planned on Vic being part of Lee's life. "I may not have been part of the plan, but I was 50% of the execution," says Vic, which is a fair argument.<br />
<br />
Danny thinks Lee's best shot at a good upbringing is Vic staying out of his life. Vic snarls that he won't abandon his son.<br />
<br />
Dutch goes to Lloyd's house for a chat. He knows the kid planned on killing Luis and made it look like a robbery. Killing probably gets Lloyd off, but Dutch won't let him get away with it. Mrs. Denton emerges from the bathroom, putting a robe over her pajamas. She thanks Dutch for being helpful. Lloyd tells his mom Dutch stopped by to officially clear him of Luis's murder. "What a relief," Mrs. Denton sighs.<br />
<br />
Olivia comes home to find Vic (and his gun) waiting for her. He takes her service weapon. She flirts that he could've just asked for a late-night rendezvous. He found a thick file on her nightstand that's labeled VICTOR MACKEY. How long has she been working for Cruz?<br />
<br />
Two years ago, Olivia made documents in a bookmaking case disappear because they proved her brother was in debt to a cartel-financed casino. Cruz found out. Olivia thought she could live with the deal; they never asked her to do anything overly untoward. She recently smuggled four illegals over the border by pretending she was taking them for further questioning.<br />
<br />
Olivia thinks those four men were behind the body-draggings on Kearney a few episodes back. She knew they weren't coming to the U.S. to pick lettuce. Olivia has dug herself a hole and she doesn't know how to get out of it. "You're talking to the right guy," says Vic, who's heard that song more than once. End of episode.Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-741788504672526582017-11-24T00:00:00.000-05:002017-11-24T15:51:02.597-05:00Armenian "Genocide" (Episode 7.4)<i>Previously on: Agent Olivia Murray of ICE offered assistance shutting down cartel activity in Farmington. The Armenians greenlit Vic and the rest of the Mackey clan. Armed with a Box O' Blackmail on local politicians who might oppose it, Mexican cartels have been buying land in Farmington a la Gilroy. Vic made it appear the box was sold to the Armenians, kickstarting some good old-fashioned ethnic discord. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>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).</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>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.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
"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? <i>You're </i>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.<br />
<br />
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 <i>amigos </i>are hunting for the Box O' Blackmail. Rezian being dead could ruin the deal Vic and Shane made with the Armenians.<br />
<br />
"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.<br />
<br />
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."<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
"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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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."<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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:<br />
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Dutch can't believe the chief won't let Claudette out of mandated monthly field time, given her health issues. After having been her partner for so many years, you'd think Dutch would know she doesn't accept special treatment.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
"Why would Luis break into our house?" the upset teen asks. It turns out he and the victim go to the same high school.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
"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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
"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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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."<br />
<br />
Vic wonders what's so important about the contents of the box. Rezian snaps that it's none of Vic's business.<br />
<br />
"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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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."<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
"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.<br />
<br />
"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.<br />
<br />
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).<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
"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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
"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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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?<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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>I </i>did not sign up for this." Vic argues the councilman did when he got involved with Cruz.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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."<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
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.Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-86009635527718557752017-11-17T00:00:00.000-05:002017-11-17T02:42:36.548-05:00Here's Your "Money Shot" (Episode 7.3)This "previously on segment" jumps around everywhere: <i>Tina's carelessness enabled a suspect to jump Danny. Claudette confided in Dutch about having lupus. Vic learned the truth about Lem's death. Shane put together a dossier on the Strike Team's sordid dealings and promised it'll be delivered to IA if anything happens to him. He told Vic the Mackey family was greenlit by the Armenians.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Edgar-veda's college friend Cruz is the middleman in a Mexican Mafia scheme to buy up Farmington property. Cruz has boxes of blackmail material to force the hands of city officials. Vic hid the files. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Shane warned Rezian that Mexican inmates were planning to kill him. Vic agreed to work with Shane to keep his family safe, but that doesn't mean he trusts his former best friend.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Shane scans Rezian's office to search for bugs. He heard the Top 10 Gang list is saving a spot for the Armenians...if the feds don't get to them first. Rezian will be the most famous Armenian gangster in L.A. now that he's taken over Diro's crew. "Up until now, we've been slow-dancing. If we're gonna slip into bed, I'm gonna need some protection." Lovely metaphor, Shane.<br />
<br />
He sets something down on the desk. The remote he used to scan for listening devices is actually a police radio, broadcasting to Vic and Ronnie. Rezian asks for a favor. He knows LAPD is about to destroy some confiscated guns. "I'm sure the SWAT team guarding that shipment won't have a problem with me taking a few," Shane says sarcastically.<br />
<br />
Rezian wants Shane to find out where the guns are kept. Shane tells Rezian there's easier ways to get illegal weapons. Rezian is only interested in the confiscated weapons; the serial numbers have been filed off. When Shane refuses to help them, Rezian says, "You just killed your friend and his family." Shane tells Rezian to go ahead: "I'm not going on some career suicide mission for you!"<br />
<br />
Rezian thought Shane wanted to settle his money-train debt. Shane reminds the Armenian who saved him from a shanking. Rezian would be willing to put the value of the guns towards the money-train loss. It's no deal unless Rezian says what he plans to do with said guns. Rezian cryptically replies they'll be sold out of state.<br />
<br />
"Interesting strategy," Vic remarks when Shane joins him and Ronnie in the clubhouse. Shane believes this deal will get the Armenians off their collective back forever. Ronnie dislikes the idea of innocents dying elsewhere to save Vic's family. He doubts Rezian will give up the person on his crew who told him about the Strike Team robbing the money train. (I'll give you a hint: He's not Armenian).<br />
<br />
Vic, desperate to protect Corinne and the kids, doesn't see any other option but to go along. "So all we gotta do is hijack the department's annual PR bonanza," says Ronnie. Vic thinks he might be able to convince somebody to let them have the guns instead of just stealing them outright.<br />
<br />
Vic checks out the abandoned building and the Box O' Blackmail is gone. Hours later, he pays a visit to Edgar-veda's office. "I knew you couldn't resist the temptation to use [the box] for your own purposes," says the councilman. He's hanging onto it until he thinks it's a good time to pass it along to the Justice Department.<br />
<br />
Vic protests they could lose their leverage against Cruz. If the developer has half a brain, he's never talked to anyone with a file in the Box O' Blackmail. Information in the wrong hands could destroy the careers of everybody Cruz has dirt on. "Before one of them has a chance to save your job, right?" Edgar-veda guesses.<br />
<br />
Vic huffs a sigh. Won't the Justice Department wonder why Edgar-veda kept the Box O' Blackmail for so long? Vic could tell them Edgar-veda is "trying to extort his way into the mayor's office." "You'd only be incriminating yourself," Edgar-veda warns. Vic could be forced out of his job any day; he has nothing left to lose. But if he tells the right story, Edgar-veda won't lose face.<br />
<br />
The councilman advises Vic not to look for the box; he's hidden it well. Vic doesn't need the box when he has Edgar-veda.<br />
<br />
Out in the Barn parking lot, Vic expresses doubts to Shane that Edgar-veda will play ball. Shane found out the confiscated guns are stored in five different places in the city. Dispo Day is in 48 hours, so the stash has to be consolidated. The question is where. Vic doesn't want to accept the responsibility of hijacking the guns until they both talk to Rezian.<br />
<br />
When Vic introduces himself in the Armenian's office, Rezian shoos his secretary/probable concubine out. He reaches for the gun hidden down the back of his jeans. Shane hastily tells Rezian that he can't pull off the heist without Vic; after all, Vic has four very good reasons to make sure it goes well.<br />
<br />
Vic admits to robbing the money train, "but we both know I just stole what you already stole." Rezian demands to know who else was in on it. Vic continues, "Me, my buddy Lem who's dead..." Shane looks mildly guilty at this.<br />
<br />
Disappointingly, Vic covers Shane's ass. He claims the other money-train bandits were Lem's friends from out of town; he has no clue how to find them. Rezian suggests killing Vic right here and now. Vic knows he can't afford to do that. Rezian's crew is still getting their legs under them and they don't understand their Mexican enemies.<br />
<br />
Rezian wants the cash returned. "Sorry, we burned through the money," Vic apologizes.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--fC0NwJMx--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/gxy9bquxixww1qae7dtv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--fC0NwJMx--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/gxy9bquxixww1qae7dtv.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can say that again...<br /><a href="https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--fC0NwJMx--/c_scale,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/gxy9bquxixww1qae7dtv.jpg">(Photo credit)</a></td></tr>
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Vic won't deliver the guns unless he knows their destination. Rezian simply says they're going to Chicago. In exchange for wiping his debt away, Vic offers to become Rezian's personal genie. The guns are wish number one. "But once you've had your three meals, we walk away from the table fat, happy, and even," says Vic.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.tom-holt.com/images/InYourDreams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="500" height="352" src="https://www.tom-holt.com/images/InYourDreams.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.tom-holt.com/images/InYourDreams.jpg">(Image credit)</a></td></tr>
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The Armenians will need help to keep the Mexican gangs in check with intel only Vic can provide.<br />
<br />
Shane worries about Rezian's right hand Khalulian making trouble. Vic wants to take things one step at a time: Get the gun shipment and find out who the Armenians are selling them to. Shane doesn't care. The Armenians will get guns one way or another.<br />
<br />
The former best friends stop by one of the gun storage point. Vic hopes the clerk can save Shane's ass, spinning a tale that Shane put a gun "into the pile headed for the Smith & Wesson weenie roast" instead of the evidence locker. Said gun was used to injure two people during a robbery and the robber has been granted a new trial.<br />
<br />
The evidence clerk is sorry, but they're too late. The confiscated guns, all 8,000 of them, have been moved to the impound lot on San Fernando. Odds of finding one serial number are slim. (Not really, considering those get filed off before disposal). Vic guesses he can tell the D.A. to use charm instead of forensics.<br />
<br />
Danny approaches Billings, who's working a sudoku puzzle at his desk. A woman wants to speak to a detective about a missing person. "So? Give her the paperwork," says Billings. The civilian already made a report and might have new information. Billings, however, is about to start on something else. "What? The crossword puzzle?" Danny asks incredulously.<br />
<br />
Danny passes the case on to Dutch. Marisol Griego reported her 16-year-old friend Wan Lee missing yesterday. Billings suggests the teen ran away. Marisol is sure her friend was abducted. The girls were going to hang out at a restaurant after school. Wan was parking her motor scooter when Marisol saw a man shove her into an SUV.<br />
<br />
A uniform contacted Mrs. Lee, who said her daughter isn't missing. Marisol insists something bad must've happened. The girls had a midterm today. Wan never skips school; she gets straight A's and dreams of going to Stanford.<br />
<br />
Dutch knocks on Mrs. Lee's door, explaining that Wan's friend is concerned. Mrs. Lee already told the other cops nothing is wrong. Dutch would be happy to close the missing persons file if he can speak with Wan for a minute. Mrs. Lee says Wan isn't around, adding, "Come back when my son is home." Her daughter went away for a few days. Is that anything like girls in the 1950's and 1960's mysteriously dropping out of school to live with a faraway relative?<br />
<br />
Dutch suggests calling Wan. Mrs. Lee insists she has to talk to her son before she does anything else. They don't need help from the police. She closes her door.<br />
<br />
Billings is sitting in the car with his eyes closed, listening to the radio. Dutch knocks on the window. Billings, of course, is irritated and would rather be investigating real cases. Dutch thinks Mrs. Lee is hiding something. (So do I).<br />
<br />
Shane calls Vic from San Fernando. It'd be easy enough to drive in and out of the impound lot using their badges. The guns must be in the warehouse the department uses to store the really expensive impounded cars. There's only one guard, who, according to Shane, "couldn't protect his own asshole." Have you ever heard the saying that if something's too good to be true, it probably is?<br />
<br />
Shane also saw their old drug dealer friend Burnout driving a tricked-out Escalade. "Business must be good," Vic surmises. He hangs up and turns to Olivia. An Armenian CI just tipped him off about a major gun heist. Vic is willing to let the feds in on the bust because "we're all fighting the same war."<br />
<br />
Olivia tells Vic about some advice her dad gave her as a girl: If a guy does you a favor, that's just him being nice. If he does two, he's "either trying to put his hand on your wallet or down your panties." Vic bets Olivia's dad had to chase boys off with a stick. "Louisville Slugger," she corrects, "And he wasn't afraid to use it."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.emp.co.uk/dw/image/v2/BBQV_PRD/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-master-emp/default/dwb2cb562d/images/3/3/3/9/333972d-emp.jpg?sfrm=png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="599" height="161" src="https://www.emp.co.uk/dw/image/v2/BBQV_PRD/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-master-emp/default/dwb2cb562d/images/3/3/3/9/333972d-emp.jpg?sfrm=png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>This </i>wouldn't happen to be your dad, would it?<br /><a href="https://www.emp.co.uk/dw/image/v2/BBQV_PRD/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-master-emp/default/dwb2cb562d/images/3/3/3/9/333972d-emp.jpg?sfrm=png">(Image credit)</a></td></tr>
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</div>
She advises Vic to think again if he believes handing her cases will get him sexual favors. Vic explains to her about his impending forced retirement and his desire to get as many bad guys off the street before then; he's done with jurisdictional pissing matches.<br />
<br />
A guy named Axl (no, not Rose) toys with his long, disgusting hair in the Barn's lobby. (Sidebar: this actor once played a biker named Jackass on <i>CSI</i>). He seems to know Claudette. The captain seems exasperated: "What do you wanna tell me that you couldn't tell the desk sergeant?"<br />
<br />
Someone named Larry has been hanging around Axl's porno store, asking him to invest in his movies. Larry is sleazy even by porn standards, paying his actresses with cocaine in lieu of cash. Axl threw Larry out of his store. "Because you commit your smut to a higher standard?" Claudette says lightly. Axl thought she might be interested in a "drug-peddling, money-laundering asshole."<br />
<br />
Claudette brings Axl to the clubhouse for a chat with Ronnie. Larry's pornos run the gamut: threesomes, girl-on-girl, interracial. Axl eyes Julien: "You know, if you ever get tired of squashing people's civil rights, I can make you some real money." I don't think Vanessa would be down with that. Claudette instructs Axl to set up another meeting.<br />
<br />
The captain tips her head, indicating for Ronnie to follow her out. She wants him to bring Tina to the bust as bait. Oh, I can only think of about 100 ways <i>that </i>plan could go wrong. Claudette wants Ronnie to find out who supplies Larry's coke. She also wonders where the rest of the Strike Team is. Ronnie lies that Vic and Shane are meeting a CI.<br />
<br />
Vic and Shane pull over Burnout's slick new Caddy. Vic holds out a palm for Burnout's license and registration, then says he has to arrest Burnout for driving without them. "You got 'em both right in your goddamn pocket," Burnout protests. Shane cautions if he talks back, they'll tack on resisting arrest. Vic yanks Burnout from the driver's seat.<br />
<br />
In the van, Ronnie wires Axl for sound, telling him, "Make the introductions and shut up." Tina, dressed in a pink tank top that's rather conservative for an aspiring porn star, fluffs her hair. Julien instructs her on procedure: Wait to be offered the drugs. If she asks outright or is vague, it's considered entrapment. (I give her all of 30 seconds before she fucks that up). Tina wrinkles her nose: "I was listening the first time you taught me that."<br />
<br />
Larry is glad to hear Axl finally stopped making granny porn. Has Tina ever been on camera before? She nods that she's made sex tapes with one of her boyfriend Devon (who's actually Julien). "Devon" was hoping they could become porn's version of Brangelina.<br />
<br />
Larry squeezes Tina's breasts. "Small but natural," he pervs. Squeezing her butt, he asks if she's done anal. "I was waiting for the right material," she replies. Larry starts undoing his belt, telling Tina to get naked; it's part of her audition. Tina informs him, "I don't get laid unless I get paid."<br />
<br />
Larry suggests giving Tina something to help her relax. Oh, and does she have a stage name? "Persuasion," says Tina. Larry chuckles, getting a wooden box out of his desk. He tosses Julien a baggie of Viagra and Tina gets a thumbnail of coke. (Seems like that drug would do the opposite of put her at ease).<br />
<br />
Before things go any further, Julien draws his gun, announcing Larry is under arrest. Tina grabs Larry's junk, hard: "Natural, but small." Even I have to admit, that was a nice burn.<br />
<br />
A tow truck driver pulls up to seize Burnout's truck. Vic wants it dropped off at the Barn with instructions not to touch it. The driver reminds Vic it's department policy to store luxury cars at San Fernando. We see Shane lying on the floorboard of the Escalade, peeking out from under a blanket.<br />
<br />
Julien leads Larry out of his office in handcuffs. Ronnie tells the porn producer he'll be charged with drug distribution. "I don't sell it." Larry sounds offended, "I give it away. It gets better performance out of the girls." He also gives up his source: Demetrius Harms. (Apt surname for a drug dealer). Ronnie tells Axl to get lost.<br />
<br />
Dutch knocks on Mrs. Lee's door again; this time, accompanied by Danny. Nobody was at the Lees' store and her son is supposed to be working there today. Mrs. Lee continues to insists her daughter isn't missing. She says something in a foreign language and a teenager (presumably Wan) appears. The girl doesn't look well at all.<br />
<br />
Ms. Johnson of CPS leads Wan up the Barn's stairs. Dutch waylays Wan's brother Joe when he tries to follow. He explains mother and son will have to wait in the lobby. Dutch offers to let Danny sit in on the interview. "Maybe I should be the one to talk to her," she suggests.<br />
<br />
Upstairs, it sounds like Danny's not having any success. She repeats that she just wants to help the teen. People are just concerned where Wan's been for three days. "I'm here now! What difference does it make?" snaps Wan. Danny theorizes that Wan was kidnapped and let go because Mrs. Lee paid the ransom. Wan denies that's true.<br />
<br />
Danny gently asks why the teen is so angry. She knows Wan is a good kid, a honors student with a real shot at Stanford. Would it help if Danny shared a secret of her own? My first thought is Danny might tell her about an unwanted pregnancy during her high school years.<br />
<br />
Instead, she tells Wan about the botched search: "I didn't even see the guy's face until he was choking me." Danny was afraid she'd die, leaving her son motherless. She was also angry enough to kill the guy.<br />
<br />
Wan's eyes fill with tears and starts to sob. She manages to say, "They raped me."<br />
<br />
The tow truck drops the Escalade (and its concealed human cargo) at the warehouse. Listening to the guards talk, Shane almost stupidly pops his distinctive spiky hair into view. After the garage door closes, Shane stealthily exits the truck.<br />
<br />
Vic gets a call from his PI Ray, wondering if Matt's allowed to play outside by himself. Vic says no. Well, Matt must not know that because he's walking down the street. Corinne left the house about an hour ago and Cassidy is inside hanging out with a friend.<br />
<br />
Ray starts to follow the kid, calling, "Matthew!" Matthew runs and hides behind a woman who's watering her lawn. Ray introduces himself as a friend of the Mackeys and tries to grab Matthew's arm. Matthew, predictably, jerks away.<br />
<br />
The woman isn't familiar with the Mackeys and is damn sure not letting Ray near Matthew. "Ray!" Vic admonishes from the cell phone. The woman bets the police can sort this out. "Vic, you better get down here," Ray says tensely.<br />
<br />
Ronnie calls Vic to let him know he's on Demetrius' trail; evidently, he's someone they've been trying to bust since the guy moved from Oakland. He'd appreciate Vic's help. Vic can't. He asks, "Is there any way you can squeeze in a couple of unis without alerting the African queen?" Ronnie heard Demetrius only has one guy with him; he can handle this.<br />
<br />
Ronnie tells Julien to put Larry in the van. They can't process Larry first because they can catch Demetrius alone or understaffed.<br />
<br />
Vic's car screeches to a halt outside Corinne's house. Ray assures him everyone is okay. In the kitchen, Vic gets the surprise of his life. Corinne is being handcuffed by a sheriff's deputy. It seems Cassidy and her friend Ellen were drinking beer in her room while Cassidy was supposed to be babysitting Matthew.<br />
<br />
Where was Corinne, you ask? A parent-teacher conference for Matthew and Megan. Vic can't believe she left the kids alone. Corinne argues it was only an hour; she feels Cassidy is old enough to babysit and so do I.<br />
<br />
Vic tries to talk the deputy into letting Corinne go, one brother cop to another. The deputy can't; Ellen's parents complained about the drinking. The best he can do is release the kids into Vic's custody. "Vic! Vic!" calls Corinne, obviously scared. He promises to come to the sheriff's department and straighten everything out. Cassidy walks into the hall and sees her mom being escorted away.<br />
<br />
Dutch informs Claudette that Wan agreed to let Ms. Johnson drive her to the hospital for a rape kit. Claudette praises him. "Actually, it was Danny who got her to open up," says Dutch, giving credit where credit is due for once in his life. Wan provided valuable information. She was held in an empty house near the freeway and remembers seeing a Spanish billboard advertising suntan lotion.<br />
<br />
Dutch goes downstairs to break the bad news about the kidnapping/rape to Joe and Mrs. Lee. "Just bring my sister back here," Joe demands, "There was no kidnapping." (Funny how he doesn't deny the rape). He's calling a lawyer.<br />
<br />
Panting heavily, Shane loads the last of the gun crates into the Escalade. He calls Vic and is unhappy his partner hasn't been outside keeping watch. Vic's sorry, but he was dealing with the small matter of Corinne being arrested. Fortunately, he was able to get bail. Shane remains pissy about having to make a clean getaway on his own. He hangs up with a sigh.<br />
<br />
Vic's next call is presumably to Olivia. All he says is, "This is Vic Mackey. It's going down."<br />
<br />
The guard outside turns his back and Shane sprints for the SUV, skidding a little on the polished concrete floor. He manages to drive out of the impound lot undetected.<br />
<br />
Elsewhere, Larry and Ronnie knock on Demetrius' door. There's nobody home except for a pitbull. "Shit! Shit!" Larry cries as he's bitten. It's too bad Shane killed off the dog whisperer. Trying to stop the attack, Ronnie finds himself with his arm locked in the pitbull's jaws. Their screams bring Julien and Tina out of the van.<br />
<br />
Julien radios for an ambulance; Tina goes behind the house. "SHIT! SHIT!" Ronnie's voice is the loudest I've ever heard it.<br />
<br />
Rezian directs Shane and Vic into an otherwise empty parking lot. Shane had to leave some of the guns behind, but the Armenians should still have plenty. Vic has an odd feeling. By the way, did Shane tell Rezian the feds are after the Armenian mob? Rezian snaps at Vic to help Shane transfer the guns.<br />
<br />
Suddenly, a radio beeps. Vic whirls around. "That's a police radio!" he cries in faux shock, "Jesus Christ, you were set up!" He and Shane are leaving. Vic suggests the Armenians not take the guns. Rezian and his counterpart exchange a look. Rezian jumps into the backseat of Vic's car before he pulls away. Less than 30 seconds later, Olivia and a group of police cars arrive.<br />
<br />
Billings has been contacting real estate agents about houses for sale near the sunscreen billboard and came up with three possible matches. Impressive police work for him. Wan's rape kit was positive. Dutch asks Billings to keep mother and daughter separate until they find out what's really going on; big bro went off to look for a lawyer. Billings agrees to sit Wan in a quiet room with some mug books.<br />
<br />
At the possible crime scene, Danny lies to Dutch that she wasn't really choked by a suspect. She was just hoping to draw Wan out.<br />
<br />
Vic has circled back around to the parking lot now crawling with cops. He bets Rezian is glad he listened to Vic. Rezian bitches about his associates being arrested and losing the guns. If Vic or Shane sold him out, they're both dead men walking.<br />
<br />
Vic points out that sending Rezian to jail would be a dumb move on his part; there are still outside men who could hurt Corinne and the kids. The Armenians must have a snitch in their midst.<br />
<br />
At Rezian's, Vic tells the mobster to get rid of anything incriminating. Shane swept the front room for bugs. Does Khalulian happen to have a private office? Why, yes, he does. Through some sleight of hand, Vic makes it appear that Khalulian's phone was bugged. He then stomps on said listening device.<br />
<br />
Does Rezian honestly think the Mexicans will ever back off of him? Vic offers to do background checks on other members of Rezian's crew to make sure they're loyal.<br />
<br />
Outside, Vic is gleeful about all the new intel coming their way. Shane asks if Vic understands he's trying to help. I think you've "helped" enough to last you a lifetime, Shane. Vic wasn't willing to let someone else's kids die in Chicago. Shane is worried Khalulian could rat on the two of them. "Let him," Vic shrugs, "Claudette was in on it."<br />
<br />
If anyone asks, Shane and Vic's involvement in the money train heist was a lie Shane used to keep Rezian close. Shane wonders why he was kept in the dark. Because Vic doesn't trust you anymore, dummy. "I'm the one standing by you, Vic," says Shane, "You're the one cutting me out, punishing me." And let's think about why...<br />
<br />
Dutch knows the uniforms don't like having new administrative duties. What Claudette could really use is a good assistant. Dutch even has a candidate in mind: Danny. He expresses his opinion that everyone else who works the desk is "under-used or under-qualified."<br />
<br />
Dutch is sure Claudette's noticed how Danny's changed since Lee's birth: "Some kind of maternal survival instinct. I think what she really wants is something out of the line of fire." She's just too proud to ask for it herself.<br />
<br />
Upstairs, the house's tenant, Peter, is handcuffed to a table. "I never touched [Wan]," the man insists, "She had sexual contact with two other minors." He refers to what happened as "part of therapeutic treatment." Joe, head of the Lee family since his dad's death, had learned Wan was in a lesbian relationship "and didn't appreciate his sister disgracing them."<br />
<br />
"So her brother hired you to rape the lesbian out of her?" asks Dutch. That's one of the more bizarre defenses I've heard on this show. Peter argues he was demonstrating "a preferable alternative." He hopes Wan's "therapy" will prove successful. Furthermore, Peter has signed papers giving him legal custody of Wan and a check for $3,000.<br />
<br />
Ronnie comes back to work with bandages wrapped around his forearm, reporting he had to get 19 stitches. Julien put out a broadcast for Demetrius' car; a neighbor said the dog was always in the backyard, never the house. Ronnie bets Axl tipped Demetrius off.<br />
<br />
In the clubhouse, Ronnie pushes Axl onto the sofa. He informs the porn salesman he was attacked by Demetrius' dog. What was in it for Axl? "You're barkin' up the wrong tree, fellas," he chuckles. Very poor choice of words. The DEA has been notified; Julien reckons it'll only take about 10 months for Axl to get his store back. Axl explains he didn't want to burn Demetrius because the guy is dangerous.<br />
<br />
Olivia proudly tells Claudette the bust netted 900 guns, thanks to Shane cozying up to Rezian. "Southern charm's good for somethin'," says Vic. Claudette hopes this has gotten them closer to bringing down the whole Armenian mob. But Khalulian isn't talking.<br />
<br />
Corinne home from jail. Hearing a knock, she opens the door for Vic. She tells him Cassidy is in her room. Vic calls out; his eldest appears, looking sullen. "Never mind the illegal drinking. You were supposed to be watching your brother," Corinne says hotly. Cassidy thinks 10 is old enough to take care of yourself.<br />
<br />
"He's autistic!" her mom reminds her. Cassidy glares: "He's your responsibility, not mine." "Hey! Who the hell do you think you're talking to?" Vic barks. (Given that Cassidy is played by Michael Chiklis' oldest daughter Autumn, I wonder if he's doing the Method acting thing).<br />
<br />
Cassidy sasses that Corinne is the only parent who's ever around. She turns to head back to her room. When Corinne tries to stop her, Cassidy pushes her mom to the ground. Vic grabs Cassidy by the upper arms, ignoring her protest of "You're hurting me!" Vic bellows that she's never to push Corinne again.<br />
<br />
Scared, Cassidy tells him it was an accident. Vic gives her a shake. Corinne tells him to let go. Shaking, Cassidy goes to her room and slams the door. "We didn't raise her to be like that," says Vic. Corinne wants him to leave. Vic stammers that he didn't mean to be so rough with her; he wants to apologize.<br />
<br />
Corinne repeats that he needs to go. Reluctantly, Vic does.<br />
<br />
Shane's apartment is full of boxes. No sooner is he in the door than Mara's complaining: "You said we had to move and you made me do it all by myself." Where has he been? "I was out," Shane answers testily. He lets her know how stupid it was to open her mouth to Corinne.<br />
<br />
Shane dumps a box upside down on their bed; his Strike Team blackmail file is gone. What did Mara do with it? Why, she left it in her purse...completely unsecured in the next room. Shane notices the envelope has been opened. "Goddamn it," he mutters, heading for the front door.<br />
<br />
Shane plans on giving the file to Vic. He has another copy in a safe place. Shane promises they'll be done with Vic forever once the rest of the Mackeys are no longer in danger. But despite all evidence to the contrary, Mara, Jackson, and their unborn baby are the most important people in the world to Shane.<br />
<br />
"Used to be worried about Lee not having a sibling. Now I'm not so worried anymore," Danny remarks to Dutch. He asks how she'd feel about moving to administrative duties full-time to help Claudette. The captain's been erratic and really needs someone reliable. He's not at liberty to be more specific.<br />
<br />
Down in the lobby, Dutch tells Joe he's under arrest for kidnapping and conspiracy to commit rape. He's also arrested Wan's so-called "therapist" on the same charges. Marisol arrives, breathless with relief that her friend is alive. She's shocked when Wan tells her to go away.<br />
<br />
Vic eyes Ronnie's bandaged arm: "Bite looks bad. How's the bark?" Ronnie sighs, clearly not in the mood for jokes. He got in trouble for doing a major bust undermanned. Vic is sorry, but he had no choice. "We all had choices once. And we made 'em and now we gotta live with 'em," says Ronnie.<br />
<br />
Vic promises they're getting out of the shit storm. After all this time, Ronnie knows better. To quote the late Curtis Lemansky: "I've always gone along with everything you've ever wanted and all it's down is get us deeper and deeper into shit!"<br />
<br />
Ronnie says bluntly, "I'm tired of walking around half the day smiling at a guy who put a grenade in Lem's lap." You tell him, Gardocki! He understands Vic's family is at risk, "but I'm not gonna drown for Shane. Or you."<br />
<br />
Vic has the list of Rezian's most trusted associates, just five guys. He's not ready to move on Rezian until he can bring Cruz down with him.<br />
<br />
Shane pokes his head in the clubhouse, holding the blackmail. He lies through his teeth that it's the only copy. What happened with Corinne won't happen again. Ronnie and Vic both look doubtful. Shane rolls his eyes. What do they want? Blood? I think Ronnie would prefer dropping a grenade in <i>your </i>lap and calling it even.<br />
<br />
Vic has something to say to his former bestie: "We all heard the lies about Lem. Knew he was under pressure, scared." (Not to mention physically ill). "Thought he might've turned. None of us will know exactly what he would've done, but you were the only one of us who saw him. Now I hate it. And it hurts me." Vic is on the edge of tears. "But under the circumstances, you made the only decision you could at the time."<br />
<br />
Whoa, whoa, whoa. You did <i>not</i> just excuse him for what he did! Shane sighs and bites his lip, teary-eyed himself. He's glad Vic finally understands. Vic is sure they'll put this whole thing behind them someday. Shane leaves. Ronnie gives Vic a hard look as if to say: "Not <i>all </i>of us..." End of episode.Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-84337535705583472832017-11-10T00:00:00.000-05:002017-11-10T03:18:19.795-05:00Don't Be a "Snitch" Bitch (Episode 7.2)Would like to wish a very happy birthday to Walton Goggins! Had the chance to meet him last year and, y'all, his picture should be in the dictionary under "Southern gentleman."<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/assets_c/2014/11/BakedOccasions_BirthdayCake-thumb-1500xauto-414365.jpg">(Photo credit)</a></td></tr>
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<i>Previously on: Vic and Ronnie roughed up Shane for his involvement in Lem's death and him ratting on them to the Armenians. Mara said entirely too much about that situation to Corinne. Vic lied to Cruz that Aramboles sold the Box O' Blackmail to Rezian the Armenian. Vic's plan? "We just sit back and watch the gang war."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Driving through the middle of nowhere, Shane gives up on getting a decent signal and turns off Vic's radio. They pass a sign for Angeles National Forest. "Bring back memories?" asks Vic, parking the car, "On a clear night, you can see Guardo's house from here. Don't worry; I haven't seen his ghost around."<br />
<br />
He takes Shane into the abandoned house, where Aramboles is chained up. Vic informs Aramboles, "I told your boss you sold his box of sins to the Armenians." Aramboles is sure Cruz won't believe that. "With the price on your head, I could retire," Vic goes on. It's in Aramboles' best interests to just disappear. Shane would just love to be his travel agent. Uh, Vic, <a href="http://knock-knock-striketeam.blogspot.com/2017/08/postpartum-depression-episode-511.html">remember what happened last time</a>?Barely concealing sarcasm, Vic tells Armaboles how much Shane hates seeing innocents die.<br />
<br />
Shane follows Vic out of the house, asking what the hell is going on. It's simple: Aramboles is the only way to defuse the time bomb Shane left on the Mackeys' doorstep. Vic helped himself to the blackmail files and set Aramboles up as a traitor. Shane is impressed.<br />
<br />
Vic needs to Shane to call the coyotes they originally hired to get Lem to Mexico. He wants Aramboles gone by the next day. Shane doesn't like the idea of "setting him up on a goat farm with money and contacts" until he knows who he's dealing with. Vic harshly reminds Shane that he's been expelled from the circle of trust.<br />
<br />
At the construction site, Vic tries to talk Cruz out of immediately whacking Rezian. It's too late for that. Cruz requests help with "controlling any blowback." Fellow Mexicans in county jail are already in position to kill Rezian. Vic tells Cruz this will hurt his legitimate businesses and their protection deal.<br />
<br />
There's a new notice on the Barn's bulletin board. The mayor invited Farmington's top 10 gangs to a press conference. Oh, that'll go off without a hitch. "Are we makin' celebrities of these douchebags now?" asks Vic. Haven't we always? Look at Al Capone, the Gottis, Iceberg Slim, Tookie Williams. (I could go on).<br />
<br />
Somehow, this press conference is supposed to help L.A. win its war on gangs. Claudette doesn't like the idea either, but she was outvoted. The mayor seems to think this will reassure the public. The sanctioned gang council has also made front-page headlines. "Fortunately, most of these bangers can't read," snarks Vic. He checks his watch, betting it'll take no less than three hours for a gang to kill someone in order to move up the power rankings.<br />
<br />
Vic's hearing has been rescheduled to four weeks from now. Claudette would have no objection to him taking time off to strategize with his lawyer or PBA rep. Vic touches the badge on his belt: "As long as I got this, I'm gonna use it."<br />
<br />
In the clubhouse, Shane starts to give instruction about the coyote. Vic cuts him off with, "This war we started is already spinning out of control." Rezian was greenlit and would be dead before they can get him into protective custody. Maybe Rezian is the only one who knows Vic was behind the money train heist. Even so, the second-in-command could still want to avenge his boss. Shane needs to warn Rezian so the Armenian will owe him a favor.<br />
<br />
Rezian gripes to Shane about living off oatmeal and bologna and not being able to have sex. "Oatmeal's good for the colon," says Shane. Rezian fails to see the humor. His accountant has agreed to testify against him. Shane advises Rezian to watch his back; he's been greenlit by the Mexicans. Rezian threatens the Mackey and Vendrell clans should anything happen to him.<br />
<br />
"I guess some of these bangers <i>can </i>read," Vic quips over the bloody body of a man dressed in a suit. The dead man has been IDed as John Layton, an average citizen from Pasadena. Of course, there are no witnesses. Ronnie guesses it could've been a drug deal gone bad. "This is not where whitey scores his powder," says Vic.<br />
<br />
Claudette checks John's wallet; his cash and cards are still there. Maybe he was searching for hookers? Ronnie shakes his head and jerks his thumb over his shoulder: "Stroll's six blocks that way." Vic spots One-Niners and Los Mag tags on a nearby wall. Vic basically tells Claudette to have fun explaining to the mayor "that his list got a white guy popped." Claudette says there's no proof the incident is related.<br />
<br />
Ronnie offers to take Shane with him to meet the One-Niners, but Vic would rather keep an eye on him. He sends Ronnie and Julien to interview the Los Mags. In the car, Shane informs Vic that Rezian "is a big believer in life insurance. He gets whacked, he comes after your family and mine." Vic sighs and whips off his sunglasses, asking again how they lost control.<br />
<br />
Shane breaks the news about Rezian's accountant. Vic says keeping Rezian from getting shanked is their top priority.<br />
<br />
Vic and Shane pay a visit to Moses, head of the One-Niners. His living room is trashed. "Redecorating?" inquires Shane. Moses gripes, "Pigs came through here like a damn hurricane." He doesn't know nothing about the dead body on his turf, but brags that the Niners are the #5 gang in Farmington. Murdering citizens is bad for business.<br />
<br />
Vic suggests it could've been a baby banger trying to get street cred. Moses says that wouldn't happen without his knowledge. They should talk to Athens, Piru, Spookstreet, or one of the other gangs. Spookstreet didn't make the list and is in danger of being squeezed out if they don't prove their mettle.<br />
<br />
Does Moses happen to have any soldiers in County? Moses nods. Vic thinks they can help each other out. The One-Niners protect Rezian, Vic gets the cops to back off the gang. Moses gives them until 4:00 that afternoon.<br />
<br />
Elsewhere, a woman named Lana lies dead on the sidewalk. To Danny, it looks like a cinder block fell onto Lana's head. Witnesses told Danny a cinder block fell on Lana's head. "Death from above," Dutch quips tastelessly.<br />
<br />
Lana's boyfriend Doug is agitated and tearful, insisting Lana was murdered. Mexicans in the neighborhood have been harassing them ever since they rented a rehearsal space for their band. Lana was the lead singer. "They're always yelling at us outta their windows, bitching at us to move! If they don't like our smoke, they can go back to Mexico City and choke on the smog!"<br />
<br />
Dutch tries to get Doug to calm down and ushers him back behind the crime scene tape. Under his breath to Billings, he agrees that the cinder block was dropped intentionally. Tina talked to Lana's bandmates. Everyone was outside with her when she died, but nobody looked up to see what happened. Dutch asks the women to interview every tenant with a window facing the street.<br />
<br />
While canvassing the building, Danny and Tina hear a couple arguing loudly in Spanish. "Great, we respond to a murder, we get a domestic," grumbles Tina. She pounds on the door, calling, "<i>Abre le puerta!" </i><br />
<br />
"WHAT?!" the male tenant bellows in her face. His woman is in the background, dressed in just a miniskirt and bra, tries to cover herself. In Spanish, she tells the man to shut the fucking door. The man starts to reach for something. Danny draws her gun, ordering him to put his hands in the air. Tina, inside the apartment, explains that the man was getting a shirt for his girlfriend to put on.<br />
<br />
Chief Phillips calls John's murder a tragedy that couldn't have come at a worse time. It's resulted in a news blackout concerning gang-related crimes. "The mayor didn't want to fuel speculation that his gangbanger hall of fame is the cause," Claudette says hotly. Phillips is glad to hear Vic was assigned the case.<br />
<br />
Julien asks who Shane is escorting to interrogation. That would be Jamal, shotcaller for Spookstreet. "Although he claims to be just another downtrodden black man in the struggle," says Vic, a comment I'm sure doesn't touch a nerve with Julien at all.<br />
<br />
Upstairs, Vic informs Jamal that the streets are calling Spookstreet "the clown posse."<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And nobody wants to be compared to these guys.<br />
<a href="http://img.wennermedia.com/social/rs-13996-icp-1800-1389191752-a5d5180c-e020-4bd2-a107-459fbb562e65.jpg">(Photo credit)</a></td></tr>
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"They're laughing <i>at </i>you, not <i>with </i>you," Vic goes on. Which is how most people I know feel about ICP. Jamal is none too pleased he was dragged out of his bed before he could take his "calm pills." Shane pulls the prescription bottle out of Jamal's shirt pocket, taunting, "My wife takes these when she's on the rag. Maybe I should get you a tampon too." Dude, Mara is a bitch on wheels, on her period, pregnant, or otherwise. Stop denying it.<br />
<br />
Vic is sure Jamal was behind John's murder, a ploy to make the top 10: "I could make a top-100 list. Your piece of shit crew wouldn't be on it." Jamal argues he wouldn't have a beef with a strange white guy. Well, maybe Jamal was trying to teach his fellow Spookstreeters a lesson and the regular Joe from Pasadena got caught in the crossfire. If that's the case, the Strike Team can help.<br />
<br />
Jamal lists off his personal problems: kids to feed, a dying mother. He's a man of peace "with the most high as my witness." He don't know nothing.<br />
<br />
Dutch asks the landlord if there's gang presence in the building. Of course, Mr. Landlord says all his tenants are hardworking families who pay their rent on time. Nobody's complained to him about the noisy band and their cigarettes. Mr. Landlord was buying plumbing supplies at the hardware store when Lana died.<br />
<br />
Dutch excuses himself to pull his partner away from flirting with a young Latina: "If this is the Billings level of effort I can look forward to, you may as well just go home." Is he the only one here even trying to solve the case? Danny and Tina both struck out with witnesses.<br />
<br />
Dutch is disturbed that his partner is so apathetic about "a young woman getting her head bashed in." Billings complains that they've been out in the hot sun for a long time and they're no closer to finding out who killed Lana.<br />
<br />
Dutch turns and announces to the crowd that they're all gonna get a look at what their tax dollars do. Nobody wants to come forward, so everyone will be taking a ride to the Farmington station for further questioning. He vows to make their lives "as unpleasant and inconvenient as possible." Yeah, that'll get them on your side, you fucking idiot. He tersely tells Danny to call a city bus.<br />
<br />
A young couple has been shot to death in their car. "Colorado plates. Visiting USC for graduation," exposits a uniform. Vic snorts ruefully: "And they thought tuition was a bitch." This is the same neighborhood and M.O. as the earlier shooting.<br />
<br />
An elderly black woman shuffles across the street with her walker, saying she saw what happened. "You need to stop snitchin', bitch!" a younger female voice screams. The elderly woman responds, "You need to mind your mouth and get back to your mama!" She tells the police how she's tired of watching "young folks turn these streets into a living hell."<br />
<br />
Claudette suggests taking her statement back at the precinct. The witness isn't worried about her safety; she's too old to be scared. She proceeds to give chapter and verse about her life. Her sons are in jail. No grandkids because her daughter is a lesbian. Gotta love TMI from senior citizens. "I'm ready to see my Jesus!" she finishes.<br />
<br />
Granny saw two shooters wearing gray do-rags. Vic knows that's a Spookstreet trademark. "They were like 13 or 14, maybe. They were babies," Granny frets.<br />
<br />
Vic invites himself into Moses' house, ordering to call his friends in County and have them protect Rezian.<br />
<br />
A female tenant of the apartment block tells Dutch she didn't see anything. She likes to sit around naked when she's home, so the blinds were shut. Across the squadroom, Billings is doling out quarters to the tenants' kids; they're running back and forth from the vending machines.<br />
<br />
Vic brings Jamal in and is surprised to see his ex-wife and eldest child. Corinne lets him know she's aware of the Armenian situation. Vic herds Corinne into the clubhouse, promising he's handling it. "By tying Mara up and gagging her?" asks Corinne.<br />
<br />
Vic claims the Armenian thing was an undercover assignment; she's better off not knowing the details. Shane used bad judgment (I'll say) and got them in trouble. The ex-cop is only following Corinne to protect her. In fact, Vic thinks it's a good idea to move her and the kids to a hotel.<br />
<br />
Corinne shakes her head, tired of Vic's bullshit. Moving to Connecticut to live with her cousins sounds like a better plan. Vic vows he'd never let anyone hurt Corinne or their kids.<br />
<br />
Cassidy wanders through the squadroom and asks if Billings works at the Barn. "8 hours a day, minus half-hour lunch," he confirms. Cassidy wants someone arrested, namely Daddy Dearest.<br />
<br />
Claudette and Phillips just got a troubling anonymous phone call, claiming Spookstreet is in league with al Qaeda. Vic is pretty sure that's bullshit. Phillips has seen rumors posted on local online message boards. "On the Internet, Dutch Boy is still a 13-year-old girl looking for her first training bra," Vic points out.<br />
<br />
Phillips doesn't think it's a stretch; terrorist groups supply drugs and weapons for street gangs to sell. Claudette reminds them how bad it'll look if they're wrong and something happens. Ronnie agrees to start on the international angle, but Phillips has called in Homeland Security. Vic storms out.<br />
<br />
Next door, he tells Jamal lying is unacceptable. According to Jamal, if the shooters were wearing Spookstreet colors, they were just fronting. Vic can't help the gangbanger once the feds get involved: "Your boys used the al Qaeda card, which means you get a rainbow coalition of law enforcement shitting multicultural bricks."<br />
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Jamal insists he's not down with the Muslim Brotherhood; he's strictly "black man South Central-Eastside." He adds, "Some G, unaffiliated, outside my set does the deed." Vic's witness saw kids. Jamal remembers making a joke while watching CNN with some junior members: If you really wanna stir up shit, say you're al Qaeda. Bad things happening to white people are all anyone talks about.<br />
<br />
After that, "some kid called my phone from the barber shop, talking crazy shit." Jamal didn't take it seriously. He doesn't know the boy's name. Claudette shoos Vic out. Downstairs, Vic asks to see Jamal's phone.<br />
<br />
Shane goes to the jail, asking to see Rezian's accountant Grubman. The deputy informs him no visitors are allowed. Shane spins a tale that he arrested Grubman and has reason to believe there's a threat against his life. If Grubman recants, an Armenian mob boss will walk. He appreciates that she's trying to do her job; why doesn't she come in with him?<br />
<br />
Shane thanks Grubman for agreeing to testify. Is there anything else he can do to make him more comfortable? Shane doesn't want him to be scared of testifying. The police will protect him and his daughter Katrona. Would Grubman like to go over any of his testimony? The accountant wouldn't.<br />
<br />
Vic offers to help Olivia by giving her the name and address of an illegal alien who sells weapons. She reads the paper Vic hands her. She's never heard of Aramboles.<br />
<br />
Shane gives Vic an update. Grubman mysteriously has amnesia; Rezian is alive as far as he knows. Danny tells Shane he's been summoned to Claudette's office.<br />
<br />
At her desk, Claudette flexes her hands a few times. She's about to take her pills when the door opens. She quickly hides the bottle. Claudette hopes Shane didn't talk to Grubman about testifying. She talked to the sheriff's deputy and the D.A.; Grubman has recanted.<br />
<br />
Shane asks what good would come of him losing a high-profile arrest like Rezian. Claudette isn't sure...yet. Shane would be happy to talk to the D.A. anytime.<br />
<br />
In the breakroom, Tina and Danny are sniping at each other again. The younger woman can't believe Danny is still pissed about their suspect getting away from the surplus store. Does Danny think it's her fault? "Where there's smoke, there's fire," says Danny. Tina argues she cleared the place; Danny is the one who drew a gun because she thinks she can't trust Tina. Dutch awkwardly listens to the whole thing.<br />
<br />
Vic finds baby banger Little BK sweeping up hair at a local barber shop. They know BK called Jamal right before his arrest. Little BK denies it. "Your number's in his phone, little asshole," says Ronnie. Besides, if Spookstreet doesn't claim the murders, they'll never make the Farmington Top 10. Would Little BK like to be known in "'hood lore" as the guy who put Jamal away for accessory to murder?<br />
<br />
The kid looks uneasily around before proudly declaring he did it. Jamal didn't know anything about it; this was all the kid's idea. Vic leads Little BK out of the store. A short time later, the baby banger watches as Ronnie and Vic parade arrested Spookstreeters down the sidewalk. Their fellow gang members chant "Spookstreet" and wave gang signs. (I thought getting caught was bad for business)?<br />
<br />
"Meet al Qaeda's number two and three. Want me to call Juvie or ya wanna waterboard 'em?" Vic asks Claudette at the Barn. Billings wants to know if Vic has a minute to talk about Cassidy. The eldest Mackey child claimed that Vic attacked Shane's wife. Vic says Cassidy is acting out because he won't buy her a cell phone.<br />
<br />
Billings understands how difficult it can be raising daughters. He assures Vic he didn't write down anything she said. Claudette steps over tenants from the murder scene. Is Billings really intending to keep them overnight? Dutch is sure someone will talk if they get tired enough.<br />
<br />
He's still bitter about Billings making money from the vending machine. Claudette tells Dutch to let it go; Billings picking up the lawsuit again could be disastrous for the Barn. Dutch confronts him in the break room. Billings intends to get every cent of his pension. "God, is that <i>all</i> you want?" Dutch asks disgustedly.<br />
<br />
Billings also wants a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Dutch is curious what Billings has done to earn it. Billings then suggests they take another shot at Nacio the apartment manager. Nacio is new to the job, just under a year. The tenants like him because he gets things fixed right away.<br />
<br />
The reason the residents seem uncooperative is most of them are illegals. They also didn't like the noise and smoke from the band and were frustrated by the lack of police response. Dutch thought Nacio didn't know about the problems. Nacio shrugs he's talked to his tenants in the precinct lobby.<br />
<br />
Nacio repeats he was at the hardware store during the murder. Dutch asks to see the bag Nacio claims he set down when he saw the dead body. Nacio, however, can't remember what he did with it. Dutch puts his own twist on one of Judge Judy's favorite sayings:<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://covermyfb.com/media/covers/thumb/CmBTY2wH5Y10zG18.jpg">(Image credit)</a></td></tr>
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Dutch is sure Nacio didn't mean to kill Lana; he was just trying to keep the building orderly. Was he trying to scare off the noisy band by throwing cinder blocks? The tenants aren't talking because Nacio helps make their living situation better.<br />
<br />
Claudette asks where Little BK's mother is. The shithead replies, "Sucking yo' man's dick because you won't, bitch." The legal aid lawyer advises his client to remain silent. The kid boasts, "We smoked them fools all day long!" He refers to the murders as "paying the white devil his due." Little BK continually drops the 'N' bomb. Lovely.<br />
<br />
Claudette inquires, "Do you realize that killing people because of the color of their skin is a hate crime?" Little BK doesn't care. Claudette enlightens him on how that word was used to reduce black people to mere property. She angrily slaps the table. Not only is Little BK a murderer, he's succeeded in dehumanizing himself.<br />
<br />
"White man even got you talking by his rules now," says Little BK. Claudette looks like she wants to whip his ass. <i>Au contraire. </i>Claudette "wouldn't waste the N-word on someone as empty and godless as you."<br />
<br />
Later, Insardi tells Claudette a complaint has been filed against her for "using a racist epithet" to a suspect. Little BK's lawyer witnessed the whole thing. Claudette admits to using the N-word out of frustration: "Some crack-baby tweener does a triple homicide and I'm the one being held over a barrel?"<br />
<br />
Insardi doesn't think Claudette has anything to worry about other than "a rainforest of paperwork and some chest-thumping." She has bigger problems to worry about, like a mom who poured scalding water on her infant "because the father came home with a hickey on his neck." She asks Claudette to pass her congratulations to Vic and the team.<br />
<br />
As the D.A. leaves, Dutch comes in and sits on the edge of Claudette's desk. She complains the department is painting her as a racist against her own race because the al Qaeda connection was bogus.<br />
<br />
In their truck, Shane, Vic, and Aramboles watch ICE agents load a van with illegal weapons. Coyotes are waiting to take him back home to a nice house in the mountains. Does he like goat milk? (I'm waiting for Shane to pull the pin on a grenade).<br />
<br />
Vic warns that if Armaboles tries to come back to the States, he'll be chased by the feds, the cartel, and the Strike Team. The cartel or feds catching him is actually the best-case scenario. "<i>Hasta la vista</i>, shithead," says Shane as the coyotes load Aramboles into another van. He then has the audacity to ask Vic: "You and me, we're on the road to being cool, right?"<br />
<br />
Oh yeah, what's murdering one friend to save your own sorry ass? Shane adds, "I'm not your whipping boy for life, man. That's what you got Ronnie for." However, in 7 seasons, we've never seen anyone on the Strike Team be outright mean to Ronnie. Just good-natured, boys-will-be-boys ribbing.<br />
<br />
Vic tells Shane that Mara's been having some interesting girl-talk with Corinne. He doesn't need Mrs. Vendrell causing trouble. Shane's phone beeps and it's the county jail.<br />
<br />
At the jail infirmary, Rezian is pissed. Shane reminds him who made sure the Mexicans didn't succeed in killing him: "Those brothers sure as hell didn't pull that shiv-wielding <i>ese </i>off your ass to fulfill some community service requirement." He doesn't know the hit even came from the Mexicans. In fact, Shane wouldn't rule out a fellow Armenian.<br />
<br />
"I may be the only friend that you can trust now," says the Southerner. Well, then Rezian's a dead man walking.<br />
<br />
Vic guesses Aramboles ran off after selling the Box O' Blackmail. By the way, Rezian is still alive and "one pissed-off Eastern European." Vic can help Cruz get to Rezian, but "this 30-day trial bullshit is over."<br />
<br />
Cruz thinks Vic owes him. Vic chuckles; a delayed hearing isn't the same as a saved career. He'd be happy to find out who has the Box O' Blackmail. Anything else will require renegotiation. Vic thinks $10,000 a week sounds fair. Armenian retaliation goes through Vic and Cruz has to promise no civilians get hurt.<br />
<br />
Cruz points out war is messy. He scoffs at the idea of Vic having morals. Call girls get paid more than $10,000 to check their morals at the door. Vic gives Cruz until the morning to answer. End of episode.Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-40343053861987958932017-11-03T00:00:00.000-04:002017-11-03T00:51:37.534-04:00"The Coefficient of Drag" Is Dimensionless (Episode 7.1)Well, folks, we've reached the beginning of the end. This episode kicked off the seventh and final season of <i>The Shield. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Last season: Vic blew off the appeals hearing about his forced retirement. Edgar-veda's friend Cruz presented Vic with blackmail pictures that could potentially help save his job. Yet another land grab is in progress; this time, the culprit is the Mexican mafia. Aramboles, formerly of Mexican military intelligence, got caught with a car trunk full of other blackmail on prominent Farmington citizens.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Shane told Armenian mob princess Diro that Vic was behind the money train robbery. (Of course, he left out his own role in it). She threatened to kill Vic's ex-wife and kids first to make him suffer. He basically kidnapped Corinne and Cassidy, then locked them in a cargo truck for an afternoon, claiming it was for their safety.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Things escalated and Shane was forced to kill hitman Zadofian in Corinne's living room. Rezian, another Armenian mobster, promised not to hurt Shane and Vic's families if they pay $2 million in restitution for the money train. He was willing to accept favors in lieu of cash.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Shane comes home to find a terrified Mara duct-taped and gagged on the couch. Before he can untie her, Vic appears from the shadows, giving his former best friend a pistol whipping. Ronnie grabs Shane's jacket and drags him across the floor into the bedroom.<br />
<br />
"You don't understand, buddy!" Shane protests. I think we're way past "buddy" here. Vic is furious about Corinne and Cassidy being kidnapped. "I had to save their lives!" Shane goes on. Vic boots him in the crotch. Shane howls, "The Armenians know about the money train!" Vic freezes in mid-punch. Only four people knew about that; and (thanks to Shane), one of them is now dead.<br />
<br />
Shane lies that Diro figured it out on her own. Vic sees right through him. Shane the Cowardly Traitorous Bastard whimpers that the Armenians will realize he was in on it. "Yeah, and me too, asshole," snaps Ronnie. Shane tells Vic he made a deal with Rezian to take the green light off their families. He's paying off their collective debt with favors.<br />
<br />
When Shane tries to stand up, Vic kicks him in the ribs, growling, "What the hell did you get us into?" Shane explains the blood in Vic's house was from the hitman who was sent to kill Corinne and the kids. Vic is none too happy that Shane let Zadofian get away. Shane argues that Vic's family still being alive is more important. Can't they all work together to get out of this and be friends again? That would be a huge goddamn no.<br />
<br />
Shane knows Vic and Ronnie hate him, but everything he's done over the last year was to protect them. He'd never hurt Vic's family. Vic reminds him coldly, "Lem was family." He and Ronnie exit Shane's apartment, leaving Mara still tied up on the couch. Jackson can be heard wailing in another room.<br />
<br />
Shane untapes Mara's hands and fusses over her, then jogs off to check on Jackson. He tells her not to worry about Vic. "He tied me up and he beat the shit out of you!" says Mara. Shane sits Jackson down in his booster chair with some cereal. He just can't figure out why Vic is so bent out of shape over the kidnapping. He thought the bad blood between them was over.<br />
<br />
"That bad blood is spraying all over this family!" says Mara, following him into the kitchen. "Vic is never gonna forgive you for Lem." (Well, <i>should</i> he?) She dabs the blood off Shane's face with a wet dish towel. For what seems like the millionth time in the last few episodes, she repeats they need to get away from Vic.<br />
<br />
Ronnie wonders what'll happen regarding his friend's hearing. Vic guesses he shot himself in the foot by leaving. Ronnie tells Vic he's been offered a slot with S.I.S (Special Investigation Section), a real-life, elite LAPD detective unit tasked with taking down the worst of the worst. He flatly refuses to stay in the same precinct as Shane.<br />
<br />
Vic stops the car. They meet up with a youngish guy who was thrown off the police department and now does private security work. Vic pays him to keep Corinne and the kids safe. "I'll be like a mother bird with her eggs," the guy promises. Vic warns him to keep a low-profile; his family doesn't know they've been greenlit.<br />
<br />
"You had me arrested, you make the case go away," snarls Rezian. Shane can't; the department might already be suspicious about the "lost" ledgers. "Revising" reports will get him in even more trouble. Besides, Diro's probably "back in Munich playing quarters with coeds." Rezian doubts it; Diro's been in the family business since she was 15. Does Shane know where she is?<br />
<br />
"I'm not your Armenian LoJack," mumbles Shane. Rezian wants Shane to find Zadofian; his associates can "extract the truth." (More like extract some teeth and chop off his feet). "Where do Armenian hit men nurse belly wounds these days?" asks Shane. Rezian guesses Zadofian is with Darla, his "little Filipina whore."<br />
<br />
At a crime scene, Claudette asks how the hearing went. Vic wants it to be a surprise. A blood trail extends down the block, as though someone were dragged behind a car. Claudette assigns Ronnie to investigate gang-related angles; Vic has to take a backseat.<br />
<br />
Julien confirms my theory: two Salvadorans were dragged behind cars. They were part of Castillo's crew. Mexicans and Salvadorans both occupy the neighborhood. "'Til now, they've always shared lunch money," says Vic. Claudette wants them to call in Shane.<br />
<br />
A blond woman in a business suit approaches them, Agent Olivia Murray of ICE. She didn't notify the Barn that she'd be coming because this is strictly a "curiosity call." A gang called Manada de Muerte (Herd of Death) has a tradition of marking new turf boundaries with blood. They're mostly compromised of former <i>federales </i>and Mexican military; their main business is protecting drug cartels.<br />
<br />
"What in God's name are they doing in Farmington?" asks Claudette. Well, it <i>is </i>a crime-infested hellhole with a mostly Latino population. Olivia's bureau chief pulled the plug on her investigation into the San Marcos murders when she kept hitting dead ends. (Pun intended).<br />
<br />
Vic thinks it would be helpful to have the personnel files of the disgraced Mexican cops. Olivia promises to make that happen. "Next time, take the bus, boys," Vic says when he sees the mangled bodies.<br />
<br />
Cassidy strolls into Vic's living room with her earbuds in one ear. Vic is explaining to Corinne why they're in hiding. Corinne tells her eldest to check on her siblings. "I'm old enough to hear this," Cassidy protests.<br />
<br />
According to Vic, a guard heard an inmate threatening to kill a cop's family and thought it might be the Mackeys. The guard told Shane about it. Shane panicked when Vic didn't answer his phone. The blood in Corinne's house was from "a break-in gone sideways."<br />
<br />
Corinne raises an eyebrow: "So I'm supposed to believe all this is happening at the same time Shane locks us in a box for our own well-being?" "Shane overreacted," Vic insists, "His heart was in the right place, but unfortunately, his brain was a couple steps behind." Ain't it always?<br />
<br />
The bottom line is she and the kids aren't in any danger now; they never were. However, Vic would love it if they stayed around a few more days. Corinne agrees.<br />
<br />
Outside, Vic's PI is scuffling with an armed man. The mystery man demands Vic's stash of files. Cassidy exits the apartment to take out the trash and Vic hastily pushes Mystery Dude and PI behind the trunk of his car. He waves Cassidy off with a slightly breathless "See ya, sweetie."<br />
<br />
Vic takes the Mexican to the same house where he tortured and killed Guardo. "If I don't return <i>la caja pecado </i>(the sin box), I'm dead," says the guy, which is hardly any of Vic's concern. Aramboles spent over two-and-a-half years gathering blackmail, payback for L.A. politicians bitching about corrupt foreign governments when they're doing the same. He made Cruz valuable to the cartel.<br />
<br />
"And he's gonna pay you back by putting a bullet in your head. That sucks," Vic sounds way less than sincere. Nobody knows the box is missing (yet). Aramboles explains the cartels are getting nervous about their L.A. investments. The blood trail down Kearny Street represents Cruz expanding his developments.<br />
<br />
Vic starts to leave. Aramboles asks if Vic is gonna leave him chained up. "I could do worse," says Vic.<br />
<br />
Shane looks at Diro and Zadofian's INTERPOL mug shots on the Barn's one and only computer. He hastily clicks the screen blank when Claudette approaches. She asks why he's been visiting Rezian so often in jail. Shane thinks Rezian knows something about the Mexican/Salvadoran beef and is trying to convince him to talk.<br />
<br />
Ronnie gives Vic the business card of an Armenian mob doctor. "'Dr. Edna Lucine, Bow-Wow and Meow,'" Vic reads. Ronnie jokes, "Hate to be part of <i>that </i>HMO." Vic sees Shane still at the computer and gives him a contemptuous look.<br />
<br />
Tina asks Dutch to give her a hand with some files. Dutch expresses to Claudette what a waste of time it is to have uniforms do administrative work. "What would you prefer me to do?" the captain snipes. People have quit. Thanks to Billings' lawsuit, there's now a hiring freeze.<br />
<br />
"The guy tapped his head on a desk," says Dutch. Claudette has even more good news; the city attorney is settling with Billings. Dutch will be working cases solo. He's relieved; Billings was like an albatross around his neck. Claudette is glad to see her former partner's self-esteem is still intact.<br />
<br />
In the back of her clinic, Dr. Lucine is examining the cutest little French bulldog. Vic flashes his badge: "I understand you're chief surgeon at Armenia General." If he checks her pharmacy, will he only find doggy meds?<br />
<br />
Dr. Lucine borrowed money from Armenians to pay for vet school. (Guarantee it was under worse terms than government loans). She claims she had no idea "patching up criminals" would be part of the repayment plan. She admits to taking care of a gut shot, then driving the man to Edgemont Hotel to recuperate.<br />
<br />
Shane peeks in a window and sees a young Filipina having loud sex with a <i>much </i>older man. He barges into the apartment. "I'll have her back before the little blue pill wears off," Shane promises. The hooker pulls on a robe, angrily asking what Shane wants. Shane wants to know where he can find Zadofian. She says he usually stays at the Edgemont Hotel.<br />
<br />
Danny wants to have a word with Dutch. Dutch starts talking first. They were both lonely and vulnerable the night before; the kiss was a one-time thing between good friends. Work shouldn't be uncomfortable because of it. Turns out, that's the furthest thing from Danny's mind: "There's a guy out here who says he killed his wife." Dutch will get on that. He chuckles obnoxiously, "Wouldn't want him to kill anybody else's wife."<br />
<br />
Upstairs, a Hispanic man waits in interrogation. "So you killed your wife two years ago?" Dutch asks conversationally. Emilio disagrees, "I had my friend Hector kill her." Hubby put ground-up sleeping pills in her wine and went to work. "Hector was supposed to push her down in the tub."<br />
<br />
Danny brings in the case file. "Douchebag showed up too soon," Hubby of the Year goes on, "She was awake." Emilio was tried and acquitted. He boasts that he's untouchable "'cause I'm protected by final jeopardy." It's double, you idiot. Emilio never told anyone about Hector, afraid Hector would point the finger at him for planning it.<br />
<br />
As payment for the hit, Hector got start-up money for a siding business. Dutch is somehow surprised by the lack of remorse. "You had to know her," says Emilio. This reminds me of a similar episode of <i>Saving Grace. </i>A woman in an unhappy (but not abusive) marriage offered various odd things to different people, hoping to entice them into killing her husband: $75, a homemade carrot cake, movie tickets.<br />
<br />
Anyway, Emilio wants Hector arrested. It seems he's fallen in love with Hector's girlfriend Lorena and a murder rap is a convenient way to get rid of the competition. He's sure Lorena loves him back but is afraid to leave Hector.<br />
<br />
In a parking lot, Vic stares at an old photo of himself, Shane, Ronnie, and Lem drinking beers together. It was taken with a camera Lem confiscated from a drug dealer. Vic carefully folds it up as Ronnie arrives. Zadofian is in Room 11. Vic offers to do this on his own. "If Shane's telling the truth, this guy's a threat to all of us. I'm in," says Ronnie.<br />
<br />
They break into the room and Vic punches the Armenian roughly where his gunshot wound is. Zadofian won't say who shot him (shocker). Vic rips off the bandage, puts a pillow over Zadofian's face, and buries the muzzle of his gun in the still-open wound. Zadofain thinks it was Rezian's crew.<br />
<br />
Vic holds out the picture so Shane's face is showing. Is that who Zadofian saw? Zadofian instantly recognizes Shane's blinding grin. Vic wraps his hands around the Armenian's neck.<br />
<br />
Shane jogs into the hotel's courtyard. "Goddamn it," he swears, seeing Vic's car.<br />
<br />
Back in the room, Ronnie pulls Vic off Zadofian. He urges Vic to use his brain. Zadofian's blood was in Corinne's house; if he turns up dead, you wouldn't have to be a detective to work out what happened.<br />
<br />
Shane notices Vic coming downstairs and squeezes his skinny body between the two vending machines. Ronnie handcuffs Zadofian to the bed and has a discussion with Vic out on the balcony. Vic gets in his car while Ronnie returns to the room.<br />
<br />
Ronnie asks where to find Diro and tosses the gangster's cell phone at him. "Page her," he instructs. Um, how is he supposed to do that with his hands cuffed to the bedpost?<br />
<br />
Dutch has uncovered another problem with his murder investigation. The original detective ruled Hector out as a suspect. And who was that? Why, none other than the illustrious Steve Billings. Claudette says disgustedly, "See if he has the strength to talk." She calls down to Vic that Julien is talking to a woman who witnessed the body dragging.<br />
<br />
"Whatever information you give up could save lives," Julien coaxes. The Latina sasses, "Do I look like Wonder Woman to you?" Vic refers to her as the "Byz Lat queen." Eyeing her baby bump, he inquires, "Who's the lucky <i>cholo</i>?" Her baby-daddy is Jimmy Mendez.<br />
<br />
Vic doubts she'll talk; if she did, Jimmy would end up the next victim. However, she <i>was </i>seen willingly getting into a police car. Vic is sure she can convince the Byz Lats she isn't a rat. They step outside the room.<br />
<br />
Olivia stands against the rail, considering the balcony. "Anybody ever tumble off this thing?" she inquires. Actually, yes. Olivia sees her errand boy and opts for the stairs. The pregnant girl opens the interrogation room door. If she "happens to remember" anything, will the police protect Jimmy? She has no intentions of being a single mom.<br />
<br />
Shane is still in the motel parking lot, Ronnie in the room having a phone conversation with Claudette. The first supposed Salvadoran lead he was chasing didn't pan out; he has one more to go and will check back in later.<br />
<br />
Zadofian's phone rings; the caller ID reads Diro. The Armenian asks if Ronnie will let him answer. "That won't be necessary," says the detective, pocketing the phone. Ronnie turns...and calmly fires two shots into Zadofian's chest.<br />
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Shane hears the gunfire and jumps out of his skin. He races to hide behind the vending machines.<br />
<br />
Ronnie wipes his prints off the gun, letting it fall to the carpet. He puts the same black beanie on his head and climbs out the bathroom window. Shane doesn't seem to recognize Ronnie or the beat-up car he's driving. Once he's gone, Shane takes the motel stairs two at a time. He opens Room 11 and sees Zadofian dead on the bed.<br />
<br />
Olivia brings Vic a hefty container of personnel files, all disgraced <i>federales </i>from the last five years. "Cartel must have one hell of a pension plan," Vic remarks. Claudette asks him to show the <i>federales' </i>photos to their witness. Danny tells the captain there's been a shots-fired call at the Edgemont.<br />
<br />
Claudette wants Vic to stay with Julien; Shane can check it out on his way back to the Barn.<br />
<br />
Back at the motel, Shane breaks into a glass case containing a fire hose and an ax. Panting, he returns to the room <i>and chops off Zadofian's feet! </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
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Shane jogs away from the motel room just as the sirens get close. The uniforms are shocked by what they find in Room 11. "Hey," Shane says casually, appearing in the doorway, "Ouch. Footloose and fancy-free."<br />
<br />
Vic meets Ronnie behind the Barn and notices his friend seems shaken. Ronnie explains how he talked to the captain on the phone, "pulled the trigger a minute later." Both their asses are covered. Vic says, "I need to see that distant stare come off your face." Good luck with that! Fucking hell, Ronnie was the least corrupted up to this point.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, Ronnie has Diro's number and can GPS track it later. They'll deal with her once they're finished with Rezian. Julien reports their witness ID'ed one of the ex-<i>federales. </i>Vic sends him on his way with a pointed look. He asks Ronnie, "You firing on enough cylinders to handle this death-mob thing?"<br />
<br />
Passing each other, Dutch inquires about Ronnie's Salvadoran leads. Ronnie shrugs they didn't pan out. Billings arrives in a taxi, claiming his injuries causes blackouts that make him unsafe to drive. Can Dutch reimburse his fare?<br />
<br />
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Claudette used some creativity to get Billings to set foot in the Barn; she said he had to sign some more workers' comp/insurance forms. While they're at it, how about helping Dutch with his case? Billings isn't sure he can; his incredibly minor head injury has also caused memory lapses.<br />
<br />
Dutch exposits about Doris' murder. Her husband Emilio was acquitted and is upstairs saying he hired his buddy Hector to do it. Billings argues that the D.A. is the one who blew any chances of convicting Emilio. Can they go over Billings' notes? Billings the old liar requests that Dutch call a cab; he's suddenly feeling lightheaded.<br />
<br />
Dutch hits Billings where he lives: "If the D.A. has to drag you back into this, it might delay the progress on your lawsuit." Billings asks for sushi: "Protein helps with my memory capability."<br />
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Vic takes Edgar-veda to an abandoned building; the two of them have the only keys. Vic sits down on the floor with the Box O' Blackmail. There are 100 files in it and it'll take just one to save his job: "I'm gonna give them their sin back, grant 'em absolution."<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda reminds Vic this is their only evidence against Cruz. Using it nefariously would exclude it from any criminal trial. They also can't risk Cruz finding out they even have the box. Vic raises an eyebrow: "Now that your Kodak moment is outta this box, the hell with everyone else, right?"<br />
<br />
They'll never be friends, but they can still help each other. Edgar-veda hopes to become mayor and Vic wants to stay a cop. Vic suspects Cruz could've pulled the strings on the body-draggings and Edgar-veda knows his motive. Tomorrow, there's a major rezoning vote that would allow Cruz to build a hotel. The head of the committee, Councilman Dowd, has a file in the Box O' Blackmail.<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda suggests they untwist Dowd's arm by sending him the original file and keeping a copy. Vic chuckles, imagining how pissed Cruz will be.<br />
<br />
Billings, wearing his sunglasses inside like a douchebag, remembers Hector having an alibi. Dutch says lightly, "Maybe if you take off the sunglasses, you could actually see something." Billings adds migraines to his list of supposed ailments. On a scrap of paper, Billings had jotted that Hector was having sex with a woman named Lorena all night when Doris was killed.<br />
<br />
Claudette summons Billings to her office. She has bad news: the city attorney turned down his lawyer's settlement offer. She also has little patients for cops who file bogus lawsuits. Billings insists, "I was injured on the job and now I'm disabled."<br />
<br />
Claudette educates him on where funds are cut to pay settlements, little things like gang intervention programs and other community programs. Billings blames Claudette; this wouldn't have happened if she hadn't let Vic and Kavanaugh go at each other. He brags about "having the brass by the balls." Claudette loses her temper: "You're a goddamn joke!" Billings mutters about adding slander to the suit.<br />
<br />
Dutch asks if Julien remembers Doris's case. Julien nods; it was his first dead body when he was a rookie. He testified at Emilio's trial, but "the defense ripped Billings' police work to shreds." Dutch tells Claudette what Billings said about D.A. Insardi tanking the case. Maybe they can offer a chance for him to redeem himself.<br />
<br />
The ex-<i>federale </i>seen at the body-dragging, Marcus Villanueva, was thrown off the force two years ago after he and his partner "accidentally" slit a suspect's throat. Marcus's brother owns a military surplus store right here in L.A. "If he's there, he's probably not alone or empty-handed," says Julien. Claudette wants the Strike Team to take point and she'll see if there's a spare SWAT unit.<br />
<br />
"Place is closed," Shane reports at the store. There are cars out back, one of which is the pickup the witness saw dragging the body. Shane thinks they should move fast; "these psychos get off on collateral damage." Ronnie wants to wait for SWAT.<br />
<br />
Cruz heard about Vic's hearing and finds the outcome unfortunate. Vic wonders what he knows about the blood lines freshly drawn on Kearney. Cruz plays dumb about that, as well as the stolen files. According to Vic, gangbangers are now bidding on said files. Maybe they can help each other get back what was lost.<br />
<br />
Cruz needs a partner with balls, something Edgar-veda is sorely lacking. Vic can do that if he has a job. Cruz can't do anything to stop Vic's dismissal. Vic gets a call from Ronnie. They have to move on the death mob because SWAT has been sent to handle a hostage situation. Vic tells Cruz they'll continue their conversation later.<br />
<br />
Across from the store, Julien has his head buried in the open hood of a car as cover. He sees a gray Jeep pulling up. Ronnie barks, "We gotta do this without SWAT!" The cops scramble into position, then break down the store's doors. The suspects start shooting at the cops with the store's inventory. A uniform goes down.<br />
<br />
Vic radios to Ronnie that he's gonna create a diversion. Um, how exactly? Before Ronnie can figure that out, a car drives through the storefront. Vic gets out, rubbing his neck. "Any idea how I should explain this one to Phillips?" asks Claudette. Vic wisecracks, "Just tell him I took a wrong turn."<br />
<br />
Vic tasks the others with inventorying the illegal weapons. "Good, more paperwork," Danny says sarcastically. Shane heard Zadofian is dead. "Nature of the job," Ronnie shrugs. Vic has a plan on how to handle the rest of their "problem," which he'll explain at the Barn.<br />
<br />
Lorena doesn't understand why she's at the police station; Emilio's trial is over. Dutch asks if she knows Hector. Not only is Hector her boss, they're engaged.<br />
<br />
Billings is kicked back in the observation room with his feet on a chair. "Glad to see your work ethic remains intact, Detective," greets D.A. Insardi. She's here to find out why Dutch is reopening the case. Billings tells her he's now on disability. "Good. Maybe we'll actually convict somebody," she says.<br />
<br />
Vic needs someone to make Rezian think "Mexicans are the Armenians' worst problem since the Turks."<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.pinimg.com/474x/3d/6e/97/3d6e972aad6503d3d48a7b4088059539--wedding-quotes-movie-lines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="440" height="223" src="https://i.pinimg.com/474x/3d/6e/97/3d6e972aad6503d3d48a7b4088059539--wedding-quotes-movie-lines.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At ease, Granny.<br /><a href="https://i.pinimg.com/474x/3d/6e/97/3d6e972aad6503d3d48a7b4088059539--wedding-quotes-movie-lines.jpg">(Photo credit)</a></td></tr>
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Shane thinks he knows just what to say. Their meeting is interrupted by Claudette. She needs a moment with Vic because she just talked to the chief. "Save the touching goodbye speech," says Vic. Claudette informs him the police commissioner just took an indefinite leave of absence for health reasons. It'll take 30 days to form a new committee, giving Vic a stay of execution, if you will.<br />
<br />
Vic thinks she should be grateful; him being around equals better crime stats. Claudette lets him know the stakes. Ronnie has been promoted to Strike Team leader. Any misconduct on Vic's part will put a black mark in his friend's file. The captain knows Vic can't afford to lose more friends.<br />
<br />
Dutch thinks Lorena is too afraid to tell the truth about Hector. He wonders why Insardi has it in for Billings. Oh yeah, she said he was incompetent.<br />
<br />
Billings goes upstairs to confront Lorena. She works for Hector and he knows they were supposedly eating Chinese food together the night Doris died. "I don't remember all the details," says Lorena. However, she's damn sure Hector didn't kill Doris.<br />
<br />
Billings knows she lied to give Hector an alibi. He's sure the white prison guards will appreciate her, um, large assets. "I didn't know about the killing until afterwards," Lorena tearfully protests.<br />
<br />
At the surplus store, Tina is carrying out the last of the AK-47s when Danny is ambushed from behind a rack. The man puts one hand over Danny's mouth and the other around her neck. She struggles as he forces her to the floor. He disappears as Tina and a male uniform reenter.<br />
<br />
"That guy could've been armed. Who the hell cleared this room?" asks Danny. I have a pretty good guess and it starts with 'T.' She vows that if she finds out who didn't do a thorough sweep, that person is out of a job.<br />
<br />
Billings enters Claudette's office again. This time, D.A. Insardi is there too. Claudette apologizes for her unprofessional earlier outburst. She praises Billings for solving Doris's murder. Billings shrugs that he has bursts of energy. They play the tape from Lorena's interrogation.<br />
<br />
Claudette reads off a laundry list of maladies that are supposedly the result of his very mild concussion: headaches, disorientation, lethargy, memory loss, inability to logic. She nods toward the TV: "Your scam's over." The tape is more than enough evidence. Dutch offers to throw in Billings' history of defrauding the city of Los Angeles via vending machines.<br />
<br />
Billings claims he never meant to hurt the police department and offers to have his lawyer renegotiate. "Be glad I didn't fire you, pull your pension," Claudette says sternly. Starting tomorrow, Billings will be back on the job. However, he's free to quit.<br />
<br />
At Vic's place, Cassidy points out an SUV that's been parked down the block all day. "It's just a neighbor, sweetie," Corinne reassures her. She then tells the kids to pack up their stuff so they can go home.<br />
<br />
Billings is none too happy about what's transpired with his lawsuit. He'll go to work, but "as far as effort goes, I don't know what's between zero and the city-mandated minimum.<br />
<br />
Claudette brings Dutch the DNA report from Vic's house. It's a match to Zadofian. Vic was with Claudette when Zadofian was killed; Ronnie and Shane were chasing other leads in the body-drag. She admits to her partner she's struggling to adjust to her new lupus medication.<br />
<br />
Shane goes to the jail to tell Rezian about Zadofian's death. "The first thing I tell you to do turns to shit," the Armenian grumbles. Shane lies that Diro killed Zadofian and is reaching out to Mexicans to form an alliance. Smart move in an area with a heavy Latino population. Shane knows all the Mexican gangs, so none of them would dare to hurt Vic's family. <br />
<br />
Vic hopes the police commissioner will be all right. "Nothing three weeks in the Caribbean with his mistress can't cure," says Cruz. Vic claims Aramboles sold the blackmail files to Rezian: "The Armenians are making a hard play for your barrio sandbox." Cruz would do well to keep in mind that no cop in L.A. knows "those Balkan psychos" better than Vic Mackey. The PI calls Vic to say Corinne left with the kids.<br />
<br />
Corinne stops at Mara's, but Mrs. Vendrell hasn't seen Shane. Mara knows about the kidnapping. She informs Corinne about Vic breaking into the house and tying her up on the couch: "He didn't know about the bogus Armenian threat. He thought that Shane was trying to hurt him by scaring his wife and daughter."<br />
<br />
Corinne is all "what Armenian threat?" Vic told her Shane's intel came from a gangbanger in County. Mara guesses they're both being lied to. Corinne has seen an ex-cop following her and has no clue why. "I do. And it's hurting both our families." Oh, Mara, when will you learn to shut your damn mouth? Mara suggests the women run interference with their respective hubbies before someone gets hurt. Corinne turns and sees her eldest standing behind her, looking horrorstruck.<br />
<br />
At what looks like the same lonely on-ramp where they were supposed to meet Lem, Ronnie hands Vic the crime scene report on Zadofian. The Armenian's feet were attached when he left. And look who was the first detective on scene: Shane Vendrell. Vic sighs; this whole thing had to be a message for Diro.<br />
<br />
Shane's truck is approaching. "We gotta keep him close, make him feel safe, just like old times," Vic says quietly. He'll never forget what Ronnie did for him, but warns, "Don't you ever get sucked into that black hole that got Shane." (And by extension, Lem).<br />
<br />
Speak of the devil, he's puffing a cigarette and giving them a friendly wave. Vic asks if Shane knows anything about Zadofian's pedicure. Shane says he found him that way. Ronnie remembers Zadofian having his feet when they left. Shane knows he's caught in a lie.<br />
<br />
He explains that Rezian hired him to find Zadofian, with orders to hand him over. Shane admits to chopping off his feet to make it look like Diro. Do Vic and Ronnie know who shot Zadofian? Vic figures it was Diro. Shane tells Vic he spun the story he was fed about the Mexicans. Vic did the same.<br />
<br />
The sooner the Armenians and Mexicans finish each other off, the sooner the rest of the Mackeys are safe. "We just sit back and watch the gang war." says Vic. End of episode.Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-41011840169836746582017-10-27T00:00:00.000-04:002017-10-28T02:31:10.908-04:00Brutal "Spanish Practices" (Episode 6.10)<i>Previously on: The Great Vending Machine Feud escalated. Billings sparked a competition between Dutch and Kevin for Tina's affection and used a fake invitation to get Dutch to Tina's house. Through her living room window, the Ugly Dutch-ling witnessed Tina and young, attractive Kevin having sex.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Vic found out the truth about Lem's death and threatened to kill Shane. As insurance, Shane put together a package detailing every corrupt thing the Strike Team ever did. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Shane got back in bed with the Armenian mob. Local boss Kesahkian is dying in the hospital and his daughter Diro is poised to take over the family business. Shane arrested Rezian, a port boss who could've stolen Diro's crown. Vic warned Diro about the life expectancy of Shane's business partners, so she ended their arrangement.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Knowing Vic was the reason Diro got cold feet, Shane retaliated by telling her Vic ripped off the money train a few years back. (Of course, he left out that the whole fucking thing was his own idea). Diro concluded that Vic must be "dealt with." </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Romero, who had his arm hacked off during the San Marcos murders, refused to talk due to diplomatic immunity. The police "lost" a mysterious suitcase of cash that Romero had with him. Vic is certain Edgar-veda and Cruz are involved in a conspiracy related to San Marcos. The suspicions were further heightened after Vic learned Romero went to college with Edgar-veda and Cruz.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Cruz provided Vic with something that could prove valuable to saving his job: the supposedly destroyed photo of Edgar-veda being forced to give oral sex to Juan the gangbanger. In exchange for this, Cruz ordered Vic to stop digging into San Marcos.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
At home, Edgar-veda answers a phone call from Vic, who announces he's in the councilman's driveway. Vic warns that Edgar-veda won't want to have this chat where his family could overhear. Before stepping outside, Edgar-veda gets his gun from a lockbox and hides it in the back of his pants.<br />
<br />
Vic's appeal is scheduled for the next day. Edgar-veda tells Vic he came to the wrong place for a pep talk. Vic shows him the picture; Edgar-veda claims it was Photoshopped. Vic was hoping his former boss could nudge the review board in the right direction. Edgar-veda tosses the picture on the ground, insisting it's fake. Vic retrieves the photo as Edgar-veda goes back inside.<br />
<br />
Shane paces outside Mission Cross Hospital, smoking a cigarette. For a second, I think Mara's gone into early labor. He goes inside and hovers by Kesahkian's room. A muscular Armenian is guarding the door. Diro motions for the guy to let Shane in.<br />
<br />
The hospital doesn't mind gangsters hanging around because Kesahkian's been a generous donor. Jesus, even the hospitals in Farmington are corrupt. The doctors told Diro that her father only has a couple of days to live. Diro gives Shane an envelope of cash for his tip about the money train heist.<br />
<br />
Shane knows the Armenians have been under the radar "since the feet-chopping ended." It might be a good idea to let bygones be bygones; dead cops are bad for business. The port is temporarily shut down and the mob can't take another hit. Well, Diro gave the information to her father's pals in their native land, so what happens next is out of her hands.<br />
<br />
Shane understands her being upset, but you don't win this game by being stupid. "I'm not playing a game, Shane. Are you?" she asks. Shane is just thinking of the big picture, the same excuse he used for murdering Lem in cold blood.<br />
<br />
At the Barn, Vic is greeted by Edgar-veda's lawyer Ben. The detective's threats will not go unanswered. "The truth is not a threat," says Vic. Ben will be pursuing criminal action against Vic for extortion and a civil suit for defamation of character. Since Vic conducted his blackmail off-duty, the police department won't pay for his lawyer.<br />
<br />
Ben practically gloats, "You're ineligible for a police pension and you'll be out of a job soon. You'll have to liquidate your assets to fight this." He promises that Vic is for "seven years of legal hell." As opposed to the six he's already weathered?<br />
<br />
Vic's next stop is the bar where Edgar-veda met Sara the hooker back in Season 4. Cruz is there, drinking with an Asian woman half his age. Vic wants every copy of the oral sex picture and the backstory that goes with it. If Cruz isn't agreeable to that, well, Vic has no choice but to find out how he's connected to San Marcos.<br />
<br />
Cruz assures Vic he's not involved criminally. Vic wonders why he's so afraid of what could come out. Cruz is sure Vic is too dumb to connect all the dots and was hoping to save himself from having to resort to drastic measures. Like murder? Vic knows that's a possibility, so he apologizes.<br />
<br />
Cruz asks how Operation Save My Job is going. Vic repeats that he needs the original, all the copies, and the story behind the Kodak moment; Edgar-veda is claiming Photoshop. He can't do favors for Cruz if he's stripped of his badge.<br />
<br />
Shane sits down with Rezian at the jail. It's just too bad what happened at the docks; orange isn't a good color for the Armenian. He offers to help him regain his freedom. Rezian doesn't think so; trusting Shane got him in trouble in the first place. "Importing untaxed gas landed you here," Shane argues, showing him a cell phone picture of the ledgers. He could make them mysteriously "vanish" from the evidence lockup.<br />
<br />
Shane had to end his arrangement with Diro because "she's got some bad intel on a couple innocents she thinks robbed the Armenian money train." He needs to know who's coming over from Armenia to do the hit. "If Diro's smart, and she is, she'll take care of the retaliation herself. Hire locally," says Rezian. Most likely, Zadofian would be the one she'd trust to do the whacking.<br />
<br />
Rezian warns that the money train robbers won't be the initial victims. Diro will target their wives and children first. Shane is quiet as he ponders exactly what he just set in motion.<br />
<br />
Tina has found 3 California driver's licenses issued to Zadofians; there's a father/daughter combo in Whittier and a single man in Glendale. Shane asks for the particulars on Glendale's car first; that town is 15 short minutes from L.A. Can she pass the make and model on to Wilshire and Pasadena?<br />
<br />
Vic shows up in Edgar-veda's driveway with another envelope. "What now?" asks the councilman, "Pictures of me screwing the Bush twins?" Nope, just Juan's original memory stick and all the copies. Vic knows Juan later "got his skull crushed in County" and bets Edgar-veda had something to do with it. And how did he get these pictures? From Cruz in exchange for stopping the San Marcos investigation.<br />
<br />
Vic is curious how Cruz got the pictures from Juan and why Mexican and American officials wanted to bury the San Marcos murders. Cruz's college friend Romero was the only survivor. Vic needs his badge for longer than three days to prove Cruz is involved. Edgar-veda claims it's too late to do anything about the review board hearing.<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda goes to the Barn and asks Claudette to return Romero's briefcase of money ASAP. Vic thinks following it will uncover a conspiracy that led to the San Marcos murders: "You know this goes much higher than three cholos with machetes." Claudette agrees to do this "off the books, but if it blows up, it lands on you." Considering the manner in which a member of that precinct was recently killed, poor choice of words.<br />
<br />
Claudette asks Edgar-veda if there will be any surprises at tonight's review board. "Shouldn't be," the councilman says innocently. The captain hopes not.<br />
<br />
Over the police radio, Vic hears a BOLO (be on the lookout) for a 2003 Lexus, issued by Farmington Detective Shane Vendrell. Holding a pen cap in his teeth, he scribbles down the license plate number and driver's name. Vic parks his car at Glen Ridge School. Corinne walks out with Matt and Megan, thanking Vic for bringing their son's backpack.<br />
<br />
Vic hugs the kids and tells them to have a good weekend at Grandma's. From across the street, Shane watches Vic carry Megan to Corinne's van. Shane puts his truck in gear to follow her. Just then, Tina calls his cell to let him know Zadofian's car was spotted in Little Armenia. Should she have officers stop him? Shane just wants the address.<br />
<br />
Shane cocks his gun as he exits his truck. As he approaches Zadofian, Diro calls him from the hospital. Zadofian isn't where Shane thinks he is; she and Shane need to discuss how to handle their "problem."<br />
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Officer Paula hands over Romero's suitcase. "With all your delays, you won't mind if we forget to say '<i>gracias,'" </i>snipes Romero's Lawyer. Outside the Barn, Vic is waiting to tail Romero's car.<br />
<br />
At the hospital, Kesahkian's bodyguard pushes Shane against the wardrobe and takes his gun. The doctor advised Diro to turn off life support, which she refused to do. Shane tries to call off the hits on Vic and Ronnie; their families don't deserve to be hurt. "We can't separate the ones we love from the choices we make," says Diro. This hits home for Shane because Mara knows the truth about Lem.<br />
<br />
"You need to accept the fate of your associates," Diro goes on. Shane can't stand to see his friends die. Diro adds Shane will be punished in kind for his betrayal; she heard about his chat with Rezian. "You can't kill Vic's wife and kids," Shane begs. Diro shrugs that she can't stop what's in motion.<br />
<br />
Shane lunges forward to the bed and grabs Kesahkian's throat, lobbing Diro's own words at her: "We can't separate the ones we love from the choices we make, right?" He orders the bodyguard to return his gun. Shane then steals the bodyguard's gun and cigarettes. When the guard tries to follow Shane, Diro stops him. Zadofian can handle him too.<br />
<br />
Vic jots down the address where Romero's driver stops to drop off the suitcase. Shane tries to call, but Vic is screening. Vic goes across the street and pretends to be buying a newspaper. He steps into the office the suitcase recipient came out of and starts digging through their mailbox.<br />
<br />
A secretary asks if Vic needs help. Vic lies that he works nearby and got a letter addressed to this office by mistake. There's no sign out front, so Vic asks what they sell here. The secretary gets cagey: "We're a service provider." She can't give more details because "I just answer the phones."<br />
<br />
Vic asks if they need copiers, claiming he's a salesman. He'd love to take a look at the current setup; he's behind on his monthly sales quota. The secretary wants him to leave because nobody's really supposed to be in here. Vic opens a door and sees a rack of what appear to be military style rifles. He chuckles, "I guess this isn't a copy room."<br />
<br />
Vic flashes his badge at the secretary. He wants to know everything about her boss Aramboles. She keeps up her "I just work here" routine. Vic asks about the one-armed man who just left a suitcase full of money. Secretary could potentially be charged with conspiracy and illegal transfer of currency out of the country. Who is Aramboles and what does he do?<br />
<br />
Secretary recently moved to the States from Mexico City. Aramboles claims to have been military intelligence south of the border. When he offered the job, she took it because it beat the hell out of dancing in a strip club. Vic inquires about all the computer equipment. Secretary thinks Aramboles is a security consultant.<br />
<br />
Aramboles is going to the bank before an important client meeting. Vic makes a deal with her: "You forget I was ever here or I tell your boss you gave me a tour of his closet full of guns and goodies."<br />
<br />
Back outside, Vic ignores another call from Shane. Edgar-veda gets in the car with some more information. Aramboles really was a military investigator assigned to a cartel task force. He was fired last year; the rumor mill said it was because he switched sides. Edgar-veda isn't sure what the connection is between him and Cruz.<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda hasn't talked to his old pal much lately. Didn't even cash the check Cruz wrote for his campaign. Vic wants Edgar-veda to cozy up to him again; there has to be a bigger motive behind Cruz giving Vic the compromising pictures. Cruz will expect Edgar-veda to ask him for help. As a good-faith gesture, Vic hands Edgar-veda the jump drive containing the pictures.<br />
<br />
Billings conversationally asks Dutch how last night was. Dutch shrugs, "Fine." Billings mentions his night was entertaining. A body lies in front of what looks like a small store. Danny reports the victim's name was Joe Barnes AKA Miracle Joe. "Jesus, no," mutters Dutch.<br />
<br />
Miracle Joe was a local homeless man who survived 20 years' worth of Farmington "riots, earthquakes, gunshots, stabbings, beatings." A homeless woman saw a teenager who works for Ray Stodds dump Joe out of a pickup truck "like a bag of garbage." Ray is a local extortionist who charges homeless people to beg on the freeway ramp.<br />
<br />
Shane jogs up to Corinne as she and Cassidy open the back hatch of their van. The former Mrs. Mackey doesn't want to talk to Shane or Mara. Shane asks where Matt and Megan are. "Not here," snaps Corinne. Shane tells them to come with him. "Does Vic even know you're here?" asks Corinne.<br />
She's not going anywhere without more details.<br />
<br />
A black sedan cruises past, making Shane nervous. He yells, "Just get back in your van right now or someone's gonna kill you and your goddamn kids!" "Call Dad," Cassidy tells her mom. Shane scoffs that he's been trying to do that for an hour. He takes Corinne's phone; she's in danger because of Vic. If she calls the precinct, Vic will go to jail in addition to losing his job.<br />
<br />
When Corinne tries to walk away, Shane grabs her arm. She notices he's holding his gun next to his leg. Shane tells them to get in the van, promising not to hurt them. "Then put that away," says Corinne. Mother and daughter climb in the van, likely against Corinne's better judgment.<br />
<br />
Danny gives Dutch a sketch of the person seen dumping Miracle Joe's body. She sees a worn photo of a young black boy on Dutch's desk. "That was the nephew Miracle Joe always talked about seeing someday," he explains, "It was in his wallet."<br />
<br />
Danny heard about Kevin and Tina hooking up. "Really?" says Dutch innocently. His tone doesn't fool Danny; witnesses saw Dutch there. Dutch is sure Billings set him up into going to Tina's, but he can't prove it. "Sorry," Danny sounds like she means it. She knows Dutch liked her.<br />
<br />
Danny confides she never really had a crush on Kevin. She was just trying to prove she could still get a man with her post-baby body. Dutch guesses that's what the two of them get for being shallow.<br />
<br />
"Charging the homeless a panhandle tax. That's real upstanding," Dutch says to Ray. Danny and Tina watch the interrogation from the observation room. A couple passing uniforms snicker at Tina. Danny is sympathetic; it has to suck being the subject of office gossip. "I can't believe Dutch watched," says Tina, wrinkling her nose in disgust. Danny tells the younger woman about the mean prank someone pulled on Dutch.<br />
<br />
Tina looks like she wants to cry. Danny knows Tina never had feelings for Dutch; she was just using him to get a promotion. "He had a chance," Tina (probably) lies, "He just never took it." Kevin was just an impulse fuck. He's been avoiding Tina ever since, meaning he thinks it was a mistake. "We all make a few," says Danny, an expert on office romances gone wrong.<br />
<br />
Ray ID's the sketch of the teenager as Bones. Dutch asks if Ray had problems with Joe over unpaid "off-ramp rent." Ray claims he quit trying to get Joe to pay. A few months ago, Ray saw Joe get hit by a bus, get up, and walk away: "I figured it was some sorta sign."<br />
<br />
Shane parks Corinne's van under an overpass, near what's either an illegal car dealership or parking lot. He knocks on the window, ordering her to get out. He drags her by the arm when she doesn't move. Shane herds mother and daughter toward what looks like a semi-trailer.<br />
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Corinne frantically begs him not to hurt Cassidy. She grabs him by the front of his leather jacket when he promises they'll be safe in the trailer. Shane easily picks them both up and carries them. Corinne fights the whole way, screaming and punching him in the back. Shane tosses them both in the trailer.<br />
<br />
"Corinne, I've got my family hiding too!" he calls through the closed door. I'm willing to bet the Vendrells accommodations are much nicer. Corinne shouts his name and pounds on the door. Shane says he'll come back to pick them up when it's safe.<br />
<br />
Over dinner, Edgar-veda tells Cruz about a former employee that's trying to create a scandal. He thanks Cruz for the check he just cashed, but he needs more money. Not much, just $150,000. Cruz thinks he can make that happen and asks for another favor. He asks Edgar-veda to anonymously donate money to a private college to fund a voter research study about Farmington. Edgar-veda agrees.<br />
<br />
The councilman tells Vic about Cruz's research grant, which is really just a cover for a redistricting scheme. Vic shows Edgar-veda a highlighted map from Aramboles' office; all the buildings noted are owned by Cruz. Anti-terrorism laws have made it much harder to launder money internationally. "The Mexican mob is buying up Farmington?" asks Vic. Basically, yeah.<br />
<br />
Vic speculates the Mexicans could set up prostitution rings in the low-income housing projects; the medical clinic would be a way to sell illegal prescription drugs. Vic wants to go after Aramboles. Edgar-veda advises him against it because they risk tipping off Cruz. Vic pleads that he only has three days left on the job. Edgar-veda tells him to be realistic: "This will take three years."<br />
<br />
"Help me stay so I can finish this," Vic says desperately. Edgar-veda can't help him. However, Howard Gregson of the review board might be sympathetic to Vic because he has an autistic grandson. Vic mostly pays for the doctors and therapy that Matt and Megan need. Vic refuses to use the kids as an excuse, but that might be the only card he has. Howard could sway another vote in Vic's favor.<br />
<br />
Kevin comes out of the breakroom as Tina is walking in and doesn't even acknowledge her. Dutch is eating lunch at the table. Tina wants to talk about last night. Dutch apologizes for spying on her (as well he should). Tina gives him the old "I never meant to hurt you" routine. Dutch tells her she has nothing to be sorry for. He developed an unrealistic crush on her and wants to move past it.<br />
<br />
Dutch sees a suspect in Joe's murder being brought in and leaves. Danny informs him that Miracle Joe's nephew is driving in. Dutch can't find Billings and asks his other former crush Danny if she'd like to help with the interrogation. Tina watches jealously from the breakroom.<br />
<br />
The teenage suspect lawyers up. Claudette brings in a coroner's report; Miracle Joe's cause of death was plain old heart failure. Dutch finds it a cruel irony that Miracle Joe survived all those years on the street in a place like Farmington just to be killed by a heart attack.<br />
<br />
Ronnie is about to leave for a clandestine meeting with Vic when Kevin stops him. He heard from a dealer named Burnout about an upcoming gang initiation rite. Burnout also happens to be one of the Strike Team's longest-standing informants. He gripes, "You burned our source for a gang initiation tip?" Kevin thinks stopping four teenagers from jumping into a gang is a good idea and could mean fewer issues down the line. Sounds like a Lem strategy.<br />
<br />
"Hey, the cops are coming!" warns a boy who looks all of 12 years old. His friend is on the ground being kicked by other members of the gang. Everyone scatters as the Strike Team and uniforms appear. Kevin asks what to do with the younger kids. "Can't hold 'em on anything," says Ronnie. Their only option is to start calling some parents. Julien helps the injured kid stand and offers to drive him to the hospital.<br />
<br />
Vic is none too happy to see Burnout in the cage and equally unimpressed by the tip he provided. Vic confronts Kevin. Kevin asks if Burnout signed a CI contract, which, of course, he didn't. The new Strike Team leader shrugs that Vic won't be needing informants much longer anyway.<br />
<br />
Vic argues that gangs beating on their own members "keeps the rage in-house." Julien pipes up a gang is a lifelong commitment; these kids are too young and stupid to know what they're doing.<br />
<br />
Shane is alone sitting on a kitchen counter when the doorbell rings. He shoves his gun down the front of his starched and pressed Wranglers before answering. It's a rep from a burglar alarm company, asking to speak with Mrs. Mackey. It's the only way he can reset the alarm.<br />
<br />
"I'll go get her," says Shane, letting the guy in. He draws his gun and starts grappling with the alarm rep. They thrash on the floor amongst the kids' toys. Suddenly, there's a gunshot. "Aw, you dumb shit!" Shane yells. The alarm guy starts ranting in Armenian, causing Shane to realize this was a setup.<br />
<br />
"It's your lucky day," Shane declares, "I don't have time to bury a body." He gives Phony Alarm Rep a message for Diro: She's no longer queen bee. Rezian is taking over. If Phony Alarm Rep joins Rezian's crew, he can drive himself to the ER. Phony Alarm Rep nods in agreement.<br />
<br />
Outside a store, a bloodied woman is loaded into an ambulance. A couple of kids attacked her with a pipe. "This is a simple assault. Why are you here?" Claudette asks Kevin, Julien, and Ronnie. Ronnie explains they broke up a Spookstreet initiation earlier and this might be a continuation. "We don't know that," says Kevin. Hands on his hips, Ronnie repeats if gangs can't attack their own, they start on innocents.<br />
<br />
"Anyone who skulls a woman like that is gonna do a lot worse when they join a gang," says Kevin. Julien interjects that they couldn't just watch the kids get beaten. Two kids were being jumped in and they need to find the other one. When Kevin and Julien are gone, Ronnie calls Vic and asks to be picked up.<br />
<br />
Vic and Ronnie visit a gang leader named Streetz. They heard his latest recruitment session isn't going so well. The cops broke up the jumping-in party, "then one of your baby bangers bashes a woman's head in." Streetz would send flowers if he cared. And why should he help Vic again? Word is he's getting fired. Vic names Ronnie as his successor if that happens.<br />
<br />
Ronnie makes a peace offering: "Schedule another jump-in. I'll make sure it doesn't get broken up." "You don't help us find this kid, we'll show you how we jump someone in," threatens Vic.<br />
<br />
Ronnie and Vic drive Streetz around, looking for the initiate. Streetz thinks he sees the kid across the street. Vic follows behind as Ronnie hustles to cut the kid off from the front. Vic gently takes the boy down, handcuffs him, and confiscates a gun.<br />
<br />
Danny and Dutch's suspect is clear of the murder charge, but they can still hold him for desecrating a corpse. A public defender can't come to the station until morning. Would he rather spend the night in lockup or tell them what happened?<br />
<br />
The teenager cracks. He found Miracle Joe's body and dumped him at the Fast Mart; the new owner called the cops on him for loitering once. "So you left a corpse at his front door?" Dutch asks incredulously. Body Dumper says, "Who wants to step over a dead body to buy a Slurpee?" Which, I guess, is a pretty valid point.<br />
<br />
Billings reappears in the squadroom. Dutch asks where he's been. "It's nice to know I closed my last case," Billings replies. His doctor just signed off on his disability claim and he's planning to sue the police department. Billings wants $3.4 million in pain and suffering for being forced to work after a serious injury. "I got knocked down trying to break of the fight between Mackey and Kavanaugh."<br />
<br />
Oh really, Billings? You got pushed. Lem was murdered and you don't see his parents trying to sue the city. (Something of a surprise <a href="http://knock-knock-striketeam.blogspot.com/2017/08/smoked-episode-59.html">given how greedy they apparently are</a>). Billings claims he's had nausea, back pain, and headaches since the incident. Claudette raises an eyebrow: "You understand insurance fraud is a felony?" Billings tells her to read the letter; it's been nice knowing everyone.<br />
<br />
Vic brings in the baby banger, announcing, "He was about to shoot someone on a crowded sidewalk." Claudette gives him some rare praise. They discuss Vic's upcoming hearing. "Are you gonna use those last words to save yourself or burn this place down?" she asks. Vic knows the precinct is out of danger thanks to him solving the San Marcos case. Does Claudette really wants to bet the farm on Kevin, so to speak?<br />
<br />
Vic reminds her this isn't an everyone-plays soccer league. She needs someone who knows the streets. Vic tells a uniform to call the kid's parents. Kevin gets territorial about the case. Danny rushes up to let Vic know there was a shots-fired 911 call at Corinne's house.<br />
<br />
Vic bounds up the porch steps, barking for Asher to tell him what happened. Asher doesn't know. Neighbors reported the gunshot. There's a pool of blood in the living room, but no one in the house. Vic contaminates the crime scene by checking every room for himself. He directs Asher to the family address book and tells him to find out if anyone's heard from Corinne or Cassidy. Vic tries Corinne's cell number and discovers the phone on the kitchen counter.<br />
<br />
In jail, Rezian heard he might get off on a lesser charge. Shane says that's what happens when evidence gets "lost." Rezian promises to ensure safety for Vic, Ronnie, and their families if Shane tells him where the Kesahkians are. He also wants $2 million in restitution for the money train, payable in protection and favors. Shane refuses, so Rezian repeats his threat to start the killing with Vic's kids.<br />
<br />
Shane lets a sweaty, bedraggled Corinne out of the semi-trailer; an equally worse-for-wear Cassidy follows. Shane's already called a taxi for them. Corinne demands an explanation. Cassidy tries to calm her mother, but Corinne is having none of it. "You know who you married. That's all the explanation you need," Shane says coolly, getting in his truck.<br />
<br />
Vic sits on the front steps with Matt and Megan. A taxi drops off Cassidy and Corinne. The eldest Mackey child immediately runs to her dad for a hug. Corinne won't let Vic touch her. She gives him a rundown of their day: "Shane pulled a gun on us. He took us somewhere in East L.A. He locked us in a truck. I thought he was gonna kill us." He claimed he was trying to protect them from Vic.<br />
<br />
"Shane's in business with some very dangerous people," Vic explains. His former best friend was probably trying to scare them to get back at Vic. Corinne asks what Vic intends to do about it. He instructs Asher to drop Corinne and the kids at his place. He'll take care of Shane.<br />
<br />
Ronnie found a shell casing and a blood trail. He also discovered an Armenian cigarette butt inside. Vic bets it's a warning. He tells Ronnie to keep an eye on Shane: "Figure out what he's doing and who he's doin' it with. Then we're gonna crush him." I'm sure that sounds like an excellent idea to Ronnie; he always seemed to be the closest person to Lem.<br />
<br />
Claudette asks Kevin if there's something he'd like to say about him and Tina. She's heard enough people gossiping that she figures there's at least some truth to it. Kevin confirms her suspicions by saying, "You can tell your old partner that I'm not pressing charges for being a peeping Tom."<br />
<br />
Department policy requires Kevin to disclose a sexual relationship with a fellow officer, especially one he outranks. Kevin argues that it was a one night stand. He's sure she wants to bring up his performance on the Strike Team; he hasn't had a chance to do anything without Vic scrutinizing him. "I don't want Vic. I want someone with a little Vic," says the captain, "The right kind. And that's not you." Being let go is no skin off Kevin's nose; he brags that he had departments fighting over him.<br />
<br />
Vic is the hallway waiting for his hearing to start when Asher brings a surprise: Corinne, accompanied by all three kids. They're dressed in what us Southerners would call church clothes: a pantsuit for Corinne, a sundress for Megan, collared shirt and dark pants for Matt, a skirt and sweater for Cassidy. The young Mackeys wanted to come support their dad. Vic is visibly overwhelmed as he doles out hugs and kisses. "We're all here for you," Corinne promises, come what may.<br />
<br />
A woman appears to collect Vic. Corinne wishes her ex-husband luck. Vic shocks everyone by turning around and walking out of the building.<br />
<br />
Dutch and Danny break the bad news to Miracle Joe's nephew Jim. "You should know your uncle wasn't just a homeless guy. He was a legend around here. Everybody really liked him." Dutch is displaying a rare degree of sensitivity and respect. Jim smiles; his uncle was a likable guy but loved being alone.<br />
<br />
Danny returns the picture from Miracle Joe's wallet. Jim hasn't seen his uncle in 12 years. Miracle Joe was his dad's older brother; he quit his job to become a caretaker when Jim's dad became terminally ill. The doctors gave Jim's dad a year to live, but he survived for five. Miracle Joe fell into a deep depression when his brother died and made himself disappear.<br />
<br />
The family eventually tracked Miracle Joe down. They tried to convince him to come home, but he refused. Holding back tears, Jim says, "I guess he's with my dad now." A while later, Danny finds Dutch sobbing quietly in the locker room. She sits on the bench beside him.<br />
<br />
"I sometimes just get hit by the little things," Dutch says. Serial killers he can handle. (We know). Danny fights off tears of her own and wraps him in a hug. Next thing you know, they're kissing. They hug again, Dutch's cheek resting on Danny's shoulder. Oh, Vic would love to see what his other baby-mama is up to...<br />
<br />
Speaking of, Vic is tailing Romero's associate. He flips on the blue lights and siren to pull him over. "Is there a problem, Officer?" asks Aramboles as Vic shines a flashlight in his car. Vic replies, "Don't know yet." He tells him to pop the trunk. The guy suddenly floors it, Vic still hanging out the driver's side window. Vic orders him to stop, elbowing him a few times for good measure.<br />
<br />
Vic grabs the steering wheel and drives the car onto the sidewalk, knocking over a trash can. He bodily drags Aramboles out of the car, then starts kicking him in the head and ribs.<br />
<br />
Diro is sitting at her dad's bedside when Shane walks in. "Rezian sent you to kill me?" she guesses. Shane tells her to leave before Rezian's friends show up. Maybe she can go back to school in Germany. Is that code like "a nice goat farm in Mexico", you bastard?<br />
<br />
Diro refuses to leave her unconscious dad to the mercy of Rezian's crew. Shane all but says he wishes the geezer would die faster. Diro pats her dad's hand, then turns off the ventilator. She crosses herself. The heart monitor beeps to a flatline. Shane tells Diro he's awful sorry about her daddy. "Sentiment will destroy you," the one-time Mafia princess cautions.<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda arrives at Vic's location in a taxi. Aramboles is still unconscious on the ground. The trunk is full of surveillance equipment and files. Edgar-veda discovers a picture of Maria, the mayor's financial adviser, in a compromising position. There's more. A paternity suit for a local rabbi, a judge's bills for drug rehab, a DVD labeled SENATOR BRADWELL AND THE CAMPFIRE BOYS.<br />
<br />
"Holy shit," breathes Edgar-veda. Vic nods, "That's how Cruz is getting everybody onboard the train to Cartel Town." Good old-fashioned blackmail. This could go far enough up the ladder to save Vic's badge. Is his former boss willing to help him?<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda can take the unmarked car; Vic has a ride. He advises the councilman not to let Aramboles see his face. Vic closes the trunk and pushes Aramboles out of the car. He's sure Cruz can take him home. He's also certain Cruz will understand the "lost trunk full of leverage." End of episode, end of Season 6.Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-37675782240067700632017-10-20T00:00:00.000-04:002017-10-20T17:03:39.434-04:00"Recoil" Is a Bitch (Episode 6.9)<i>Previously on: Dutch found about Billings illegally profiting from the Barn's vending machines. (Which is really small-time by Farmington standards). He's using this information to blackmail his partner.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Eduardo, owner of the missing arm from the San Marcos house, was discovered to be alive and well. He refused to talk due to his diplomatic immunity. </i><i>Edgar-veda's friend Cruz paid him off to make an arrest in the San Marcos case and told him about Hernan the undercover fed.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Ronnie confronted Shane about killing Lem and the blackmail journal he wrote about the Strike Team's exploits. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Shane got in bed with the Armenian mob. Kesahkian, the local boss, is dying in the hospital and has passed the family business to his daughter Garine. Shane offered to protect her from anyone who might be getting ideas about a hostile takeover. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Vic asked a murder victim's politically connected father to help out with his upcoming appeals hearing.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Vic meets Martin the politician in the city hall parking garage: "You're gonna have to fire your secretary. I don't think she's giving you my messages." Martin claims he needs to talk to a few more people for background information. Vic reminds Martin that he promised to keep him from being fired. Doesn't he want to keep his dead daughter's "drugging and whoring" out of the newspaper?<br />
<br />
At the Barn, Edgar-veda is sitting in the clubhouse. He wants an update on the San Marcos murders. The councilman is accompanied by his friend Cruz the real-estate developer. Cruz has another lead for the police. Javier Rincon, current inmate in county jail, might've done it. However, Cruz won't reveal his source.<br />
<br />
Ronnie pipes up that the Hispanic community either wants the crime solved or they don't. Vic is sure he would've heard if Javier was bragging about San Marcos. Claudette comes in and remarks to the politicians, "Don't remember you two being on the schedule." Cruz gives up his source as Cesar, a construction worker for his firm.<br />
<br />
Vic tells Claudette about the tip, which is probably bullshit. "At least it's specific bullshit," says Kevin. Claudette wants them to look into it anyway and warns them not to have any more "secret powwows."<br />
<br />
Shane expresses concern about Garine's latest request, which would take him "deeper into the belly of the Armenian beast than I ever intended." He wants a cut of the action and advises her to check into a motel before anyone finds out where she lives: "Gangs are gossip mills and rumors have a way of turning into fact." He warns, "You can't assassinate your way into filling Daddy's shoes."<br />
<br />
Garine needs to make herself invaluable by being the mob crews' main source of income. Rezian, the port boss, is likely to be the one who tries to take her out.<br />
<br />
Vic has learned Javier was sentenced to six months for aggravated assault, but only served one due to overcrowding at the jail. Ronnie is looking for Javier's parole officer. Vic asks Claudette for advice on the review panel. She wouldn't be too worried; things usually go his way. Vic knows the outcome is fixed. She insinuates Kevin misinterpreted what she told him, but adds, "You threw away your fair shot by taking so many crooked ones." Vic has one week left on the job or he can resign now.<br />
<br />
Vic knows the quarterly crime statistics are due soon; he'll boost her numbers by solving the San Marcos murders, thereby saving the Barn from closure. He'd like to see her convince the review board that Vic is no longer needed.<br />
<br />
At the construction site, Cesar claims he heard Javier brag about killing the people at the San Marcos house. Vic is curious how a Mexican got close enough to a Salvadoran to find out. Cesar says they both worked in the jail's cafeteria. Javier even mentioned having two partners.<br />
<br />
When asked about motive, Cesar gets nervous and says he has to get back to work. Julien tells him to answer the question. Cesar doesn't get why he has to tell the story again; he told Cruz everything. He was afraid someone would ask him to take out Cesar while they were both still in jail. "It's not like he's your old lady or nothin'," Vic snarks, aware of Cesar's history of domestic violence.<br />
<br />
Shane introduces Garine as the bookkeeper for his favorite Armenian bakery. Garine lies she discovered her boss's involvement with organized crime after noticing irregularities in the inventory. The bakery is nothing more than a front. Claudette asks the other woman to step out.<br />
<br />
"Does she have any idea what her boss would do to her if he knew she was even here?" asks Claudette. Shane tells her about Rezian's crew rubber-stamping anything that comes through the port. She wonders why she has the feeling Shane is trying to get away from Vic. Because he knows he's marked for death?<br />
<br />
Shane requests a warrant; Garine's records go back two years. Solving San Marcos is Claudette's priority. Shane is worried Garine might lose her nerve. Claudette agrees to let the Strike Team handle it, "but I don't wanna find her severed feet on my desk tomorrow morning."<br />
<br />
Ronnie hasn't had any success getting in touch with Javier's parole officer. He and Vic step into the clubhouse just in time to hear Shane and Kevin discussing Rezian. Shane has an informant helping. "Can we save the wild stabs in the dark until after we've caught the machete-wielding psychos?" asks Vic.<br />
<br />
Kevin thinks the Strike Team can handle two things at once. He wants Shane and Julien to work the docks; the rest of them will stay on San Marcos. Vic points out, "Ronnie will raise a lot fewer eyebrows in Little Armenia." He quietly tells Ronnie to find out what Shane is up to.<br />
<br />
In the hallway, Shane chastises Kevin for letting Vic make him doubt himself: "You know what happens if Vic wins that appeals hearing? He waits about two seconds to reclaim his throne, gets you bounced outta here."<br />
<br />
Before Vic gets a chance to chat up Garine in the observation room, Shane arrives to ask for her help translating Armenian. Vic goes back downstairs and opines to Ronnie that Garine is probably more than just an informant. Ronnie is sure Shane wouldn't be dumb enough to mess with Armenians after they all ripped off the money train a couple years back. "I never thought Shane would dig himself into such a hole with Antwon Mitchell that he'd become his bitch, but he did," Vic reminds him.<br />
<br />
The Strike Team arrives at Javier's place, where a backyard party is in full swing. Vic asks for Javier; this is his last known address. Javier is grilling burgers and informs the detectives he was let off parole early for good behavior. He has papers to prove it. "Talk to my ass," he adds. Interesting invitation. Javier cranks up the boombox, so Vic hurls it against the garage.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iiiiiiiiiiiiiit's clobbering time!<br /><a href="https://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/hulksmash/images/d/db/Vlcsnap-2013-08-26-17h13m09s51.png/revision/latest?cb=20130925052122">(Image credit)</a></td></tr>
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In the back of the van, Vic lets Javier know the score. Javier killed 12 Mexicans and is a dead man walking; handing him over could stop a gang war. If Javier tells them who else was involved, he gets a free pass. Javier doesn't believe it. Vic directs Julien to drive them to a Byz Lat neighborhood. Kevin orders him to head for the Barn instead.<br />
<br />
"What the hell was that?" Kevin demands as Julien takes Javier inside. Vic is sure Javier was seconds away from talking. Kevin doesn't want to play fast and loose on such an important case. Coerced confessions don't hold up in court and "some of us are gonna be here longer than a week."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://glynnorman.com/wp-content/uploads//2014/06/Mr-Rude.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://glynnorman.com/wp-content/uploads//2014/06/Mr-Rude.png" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="300" height="367" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://glynnorman.com/wp-content/uploads//2014/06/Mr-Rude.png">(Image credit)</a></td></tr>
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The port boss asks if Ronnie and Shane have a warrant. "We prefer good old-fashioned cooperation," Ronnie smiles. Rezian doesn't. He picks up the phone, presumably to call his lawyer, but Shane hangs it up. Shane wants to see records of Rezian's ships. Port Boss points a warning finger at the security camera. "If you touch me, I'll sue the city."<br />
<br />
Shane sits on the edge of the desk. They know he's in tight with Rezian and that he rubber-stamps cargo. Should Shane call his friend at Homeland Security, the one who loves to "pull the Patriot Act out of his ass?" Ronnie suggests telling the Armenians where the information came from. "Now that's just plain mean," chides Shane.<br />
<br />
The boss reports Rezian's ships have been coming in every day, usually around 3:00 in the afternoon. Ronnie makes himself comfortable at another desk, eager to hear more. "That's a waste of time. Not gonna let this piss-ant in the loop." Shane motions for Ronnie. He threatens to find the port boss somewhere without a camera if he tells Rezian they stopped by.<br />
<br />
Kevin gives Javier a last chance to come clean and do his time in protective custody. Javier knows there's no such thing as a safe prison. Kevin and Vic leave to tell Claudette it's no dice. Claudette would rather have one of the three killers than none at all. Kevin is sure Orozco will testify. Vic thinks that'd be a mistake.<br />
<br />
Have the other two forgotten about a certain one-armed Mexican with a briefcase of cash? Edgar-veda's friend's construction company has Mexican connections. Claudette raises an eyebrow: "Now there's a conspiracy?" Vic tells her that she's free to back Kevin's play, which comes with a risk of the other two killers striking again.<br />
<br />
At the cage, Vic delivers a warning to Javier: "I can't drop you in Byz Land, but word that you're the killer is gonna hit the Mexican side of the street if it hasn't already." His best chance is letting Vic convince Santi of Javier's innocence. If Javier names the other killers, Vic will get him immunity.<br />
<br />
Dutch sums up a crime scene: "Japanese-American male. Single hit to the head, bruise to the chin. Bit of a scuffle, but he didn't put up much of a fight." Tina leafs through a stack of computer printouts. It looks like the victim was trolling the Internet for sex and "maybe he invited the wrong person over for a quickie." In case there's any doubt about what kind of sex he was interested in, there's a prominently displayed black-and-white artsy photo of a man's ass on the wall.<br />
<br />
Tina doesn't see signs of forced entry. "Not in the apartment, anyway," Billings jokes. Danny found an emergency contact card in the victim's wallet that lists his parents in Eagle Rock. When Tina sighs that she hates death notifications, Dutch offers to have Billings do it.<br />
<br />
Billings protests that he doesn't want to have that conversation. What if the parents didn't know their son was gay? "I'm really gonna miss that Quick-Mealer," Dutch says pointedly. Billings asks to see the card.<br />
<br />
Back at the station, Mr. Sensitivity gripes, "Mama-san bawled all over me." How dare she be upset about her child's murder? Dutch requests Billings read the Internet profile he left on the desk. Billings won't quit: "Have you ever seen a Japanese lady wail?" He thinks Danny or Tina should've told the mom.<br />
<br />
"You know, I'm not gonna let you ruin my life over this vending machine." says Billings, even though he totally is. He reads off the paper Dutch handed him. "'Mason Heller. Film nut. Good guy looking for someone looking for something real." If that ain't a tongue twister and a half.<br />
<br />
It seems Mason has called the victim several times over the past week. The final call was 10 PM last night and the coroner estimated time of death at just an hour later.<br />
<br />
Dutch looks on jealously as Tina flirtily thanks Kevin for recommending a good Chinese restaurant. Danny informs Dutch that Mason lives blocks away from the victim. Tina wants to go back to the neighborhood and search for the murder weapon, even though they don't know what it was.<br />
<br />
"Is this a Friday?" Mason asks, his face sweaty, "Feels like a Wednesday." Billings is curious how this relates to "you bashing in your lover's face." Dutch wants to hear more about Allen. Mason can talk or try to leave and be officially detained. What happened to his hand?<br />
<br />
"Maybe you cut it flattening a guy's skull," Billings suggests. He calls the case a "homo version of the same old pathetic story." A guy falls hard for someone and can't deal with rejection. It's clearly a jab at Dutch and his pathetic crush on Tina.<br />
<br />
Out in the hall, Dutch tells Billings not to use interrogations to work out his frustrations with him. "It's not <i>my </i>fault the guy's got one foot in a psych ward," says Billings. Dutch wants Billings to take a back seat because psychology isn't his strong suit. He twists the knife: "Got any crisp singles? I wanna get a Cup-a-Soup from one of your machines while they're still there."<br />
<br />
At the dock, Shane tries to break the stony silence by complaining about gas prices. "You wanna chat up a buddy, go find one," Ronnie advises. Shane peeks through his binoculars and sees Rezian. He and Ronnie creep toward the tanker truck, guns at the ready. Shane asks if he needs to watch his back. Ronnie inquires, "Do I?"<br />
<br />
Ronnie holds most of the Armenians at gunpoint while Shane tackles Rezian. He handcuffs him, saying he'll charge Rezian with murder if he mentions anything about the Iranian gas station. Rezian's people won't stand for this. Shane lets Rezian know Garine is in charge now.<br />
<br />
Tina tells Dutch that she and Danny couldn't find the murder weapon despite searching every trash can. "You got these two beautiful women looking in trash cans?" asks Kevin. Tina shrugs that it's part of the job. Dutch lets out the fakest chuckle I've ever heard.<br />
<br />
"You're my hero," Billings says in the kitchen. Kevin has no idea what he's talking about. Billings assumes that Kevin and Tina are an item. "I don't make a habit of banging chicks who know where to find me in the morning," says Kevin. Billings asks if Dutch has a shot; "he's been working that caring-mentor angle like there's no tomorrow." It's Kevin's loss.<br />
<br />
Santi tells Vic there better be good news; Kevin and Julien listen in through Vic's wire. Vic says Javier is a poser and didn't do it. If Javier was behind San Marcos, he'd be in the house with them, courtesy of Vic. The detective is willing to give up the real killers to stop the gang war. Santi just has to declare a one-day-only ceasefire. Santi agrees, but after that, "someone's gonna pay. I don't give a shit who." "Feel safer now?" Kevin asks Javier.<br />
<br />
At the Barn, Javier tells the captain that Javier named the other two killers. Vic asks why Javier committed the murders. Javier explains something big is about to happen, but he wasn't trusted with the details beyond Salvadorans being pissed at Mexicans. Guardo ordered the hits, but instructed Romero be left alive.<br />
<br />
"So you just cut off his arm?" Ronnie asks. Vic is curious if Javier knows Edgar-veda's friend Cruz, but Javier doesn't.<br />
<br />
In a corner, Ronnie tells Vic that Shane isn't being subtle about his new Armenian friends. (Was he ever)? And what exactly will happen if Santi doesn't get to execute street justice? (Pun very much intended). "Hell breaks loose," Vic replies simply. Unless, of course, they can find a way to satisfy both the police department and the Mexicans.<br />
<br />
Elsewhere, Kevin pulls up in the van, looking angry: "Javier boned us." The suspect wasn't where he said they would be. The second guy was a no-show too, but "Ronnie sweet-talked the sister." The San Marcos killers are drinking at a bar up the street.<br />
<br />
Vic orders the bar patrons to stay where they are. Kevin compares faces with the mugshots, but no one is a match. He turns on Ronnie: "Not such a sweet-talker after, huh?" Chill, he's Ronnie Gardocki, not Derek Morgan. Vic and Ronnie share a <i>how-dare-he </i>look.<br />
<br />
Garine gets in Shane's car, worried that someone's in her father's house. She came over to start getting his affairs in order and sensed a presence. Shane thinks it'd be stupid if she wasn't paranoid. (And he would know a thing or two about that).<br />
<br />
Shane sweeps the house, pausing to scratch the ears of the mobster's friendly kitty. The glass on the back door is broken. He hears a squeak and catches someone climbing in the bedroom window. Shane puts the Armenian on the floor, holding a gun to his neck. Shane informs him that his only chance to stay alive is partnering up with the new boss Garine.<br />
<br />
Back in the car, Shane tells her the port was shut down pending an investigation of Rezian. "But [he's] gonna come back kickin' and screamin'." They need to find a way to keep him in prison. Garine won't make a credible witness when the defense finds out she's not a hapless little secretary who stumbled into illegal doings. However, Shane is sure he can find a way around her having to testify.<br />
<br />
Vic and Ronnie open a shipping container and drag out two bound, gagged men. Longtime fans will recognize this little tableau from way back in Season One. They stuff the men in the van and drive out to Byz Lat turf. Santi will settle for them and go back for Javier later. A crowd of Byz Lats bodily drag the suspects from the van and begin to beat them without mercy. There's an occasional shout of "for San Marcos".<br />
<br />
At the Barn, Vic meets with grieving dad Martin in the parking lot. The politician sighs that there's nothing he can do to help with Vic's hearing. Vic guesses it's time to air the dead daughter's dirty laundry. Rob knows Vic is bluffing; manipulating the facts of his daughter's case was unethical. Vic will get fired for that.<br />
<br />
Vic chuckles he's been accused of worse. Ain't that the truth? Martin has tried to keep his part of the bargain, but Vic has "built a mountain of bad will too high to climb." He wishes Vic luck. After Martin leaves, Ronnie tells Vic two bodies were found in an alley.<br />
<br />
Upstairs, Claudette shows the crime scene photos to the Strike Team. Vic tells her to look on the bright side. The bodies were found in Wilshire, meaning it's that division's homicide rate that goes up, and she still has a live killer. Claudette announces the San Marcos case is closed. Vic wants to find out who ordered the hits before they call it done. He's sure Cruz had something to do with it.<br />
<br />
"It's not a crime to like someone," says Mason. Billings counters, "It is if they don't like ya back and ya kill 'em." Dutch has seen the phone records; Mason was harassing Allen. No forced entry points to Allen knowing his killer. Any alibi Mason has would be helpful. "I can't tell you anything," Mason says tearfully.<br />
<br />
Downstairs, Dutch wonders why Mason hasn't asked for a lawyer or confessed. Billings shrugs, "You're the theorizer." And wannabe profiler. Billings strolls over to Tina to stir up more trouble; he thinks it's unfair Danny wouldn't let her talk to the killer. He lies that Dutch wanted to let Tina interrogate Mason, but Danny said Tina had no skills.<br />
<br />
Billings bets that Danny is jealous, vying with the rookie for Kevin's affections: "Him thinking you're a screw-up makes you less of a threat." Dude, I think Danny learned her lesson about office romances a long time ago...<br />
<br />
Billings lays it on thicker, saying Kevin is always staring at Tina. However, he's also seen Kevin "cozy up" to Danny. He asks Tina not to repeat any of this to Danny because she'll know who it came from.<br />
<br />
Shane promises Garine she'll be safe in the clubhouse while he deals with Rezian. Meanwhile, Ronnie has discovered there's no record of Garine working at the bakery. Their accountant is Kesakhian's daughter Diro. Vic goes into the clubhouse and thanks Garine/Diro for helping make the bust.<br />
<br />
He casually asks what brought her stateside. "Opportunity, the weather." she shrugs. Vic sees through that; he knows her dad is in the hospital. Where does she fit into the crime family? Diro gives a classic Mafia response, "My father's a businessman." She acts as his translator and bookkeeper.<br />
<br />
Vic is sure Diro is a nice girl with good intentions. He advises her to find a police friend other than Shane. Vic tells her about Shane getting mixed up with Antwon Mitchell, which resulting in the death of a 14-year-old informant. Shane's still under investigation about the whole mess. Anyone he talks to is scrutinized. Vic gives Diro one of his own business cards.<br />
<br />
Shane sees her hurrying out of the Barn and asks what's wrong. "That cop knows what's going on," she says. Shane tells her not to worry; Vic doesn't know anything. Diro will see Shane gets paid for his time, but their partnership is over.<br />
<br />
Shane storms back to the clubhouse, demanding to know what Vic told his CI. "Told her to stay the hell away from you, same as I would any girl," his former best friend answers. Shane snaps, "She doesn't concern you!" Vic tells Shane his days of side action at the Barn are finished. "We don't need you dragging us into yet another Vendrell shit pile special," adds Ronnie.<br />
<br />
Shane thinks their lives would go smoother if they left him alone. Vic intends to make Shane as miserable as he can until he retires. Shane basically says bring it on; years on the Strike Team has built up his tolerance. Vic wants Shane to leave Farmington and never come back.<br />
<br />
Shane leans close, getting nasty: "What is it, five days and counting before that appeals panel shoves your badge up your ass, tells you to find greener pastures?" "I'm not going anywhere," says Vic. Shane knows better: "There's no trap door this time, Vic. They got you boxed in....I'll stop by and say hi when you start your security job in Northridge."<br />
<br />
I don't know a lot about Los Angeles, but I'm guessing Northridge is a shitty part of town. During the Armenian bakery raid, the guys gave Lem a hard time about him having gone to college in Northridge.<br />
<br />
Because Vic is being forced out, Shane has decided not to transfer after all. I'm sure Ronnie is<i> thrilled</i> about that.<br />
<br />
Dutch brings something wrapped in plastic to the interrogation room. An anonymous citizen found the mystery object in the bed of his truck last night; said person lives a block from Allen. Billings knows Mason's fingerprints will be on it. Dutch puts in, "Judges are more likely to be lenient after you've confessed."<br />
<br />
Mason asks if the detectives have heard of a rare disease called progeria. Mason's childhood friend Johnny had it; he died of a heart attack when the boys were 12. Mason remembers seeing the coroner carry Johnny out of his house on a gurney. "Do you wanna see Allen's body?" asks Dutch. Mason would rather stay.<br />
<br />
Tina, wearing a low-cut pale yellow top, sits across from Kevin in the break room. Her favorite drink is a margarita on the rocks with salt; Kevin's is Jack Daniels, neat. If Tina has a really bad day, she gets a vodka martini. "Who says all cops are alcoholics, huh?" asks Billings, refilling his coffee cup. Tina thinks tonight calls for three martinis.<br />
<br />
Javier leaps to his feet in the cage, begging Vic to get him out. "The deal was two-for-one, alive," Vic reminds him. The desk sergeant buzzes in Romero, the one-armed Mexican official. Upstairs, Vic requests Romero ID the guy who chopped his arm off. He won't cooperate until he gets his briefcase of money back.<br />
<br />
"If somebody chopped my arm off, gettin' paid would be the last thing on my mind," says Vic. He checked into Romero's background and discovered he went to college with Edgar-veda's friend Cruz. "What does that have to do with my client?" demands Romero's Lawyer. Vic doesn't know...yet, but he plans to spend his remaining five days as a police officer finding out.<br />
<br />
Billings sits outside Tina's house in his car. He watches as she goes inside with Kevin, then starts doing something with his phone.<br />
<br />
At his desk, Dutch's phone rings. He updates Claudette on Allen's murder and suggests his partner go home. She looks tired. Just what every woman wants to hear. Dutch reads a text: "Eating dinner alone. Wanna come by?" Really, Billings? This high school bullshit is how you're gonna keep Dutch from blowing the whistle about your vending machines?<br />
<br />
Vic makes another plea to Claudette. Farmington isn't the place for Kevin because "he's a sheep, not a shepherd." Vic just solved the San Marcos case, effectively saving the Barn. And now Claudette is gonna tell him that he doesn't belong here?<br />
<br />
Claudette pulls the plug on any further digging. All the San Marcos killers had connections to Guardo, "who's either missing or dead." Finding out the truth isn't Vic's job anymore.<br />
<br />
Downstairs, Vic runs into Edgar-veda. He promises to ruin Cruz as well as Edgar-veda's political career. Vic knows Edgar-veda revealed that Hernan was undercover ICE. All he needs is proof.<br />
<br />
Dutch arrives at Tina's with a bottle of wine in hand. He has his hand up to knock on the door when he hears soulful R&B music, backed by Tina's moans. Instead of doing the rational thing (getting back in the car and leaving), Dutch peeks in Tina's living room. She and Kevin are enthusiastically having sex in a chair.<br />
<br />
Tina is on top and doesn't notice Dutch, but Kevin does. Dutch Boy better run before Kevin kicks his ass. In his own car, Billings smirks triumphantly.<br />
<br />
Corinne comes to the clubhouse with an armload of books. She has some suggestions for Vic's life after law enforcement. He could become a PI or an investigator for a law firm. Mackey, P.I. <i>does</i> have a nice ring to it. Corinne thinks he'd be good at it and is sorry about everything that's happened to Vic recently. When she leaves, he slams the books on a shelf.<br />
<br />
"We have a problem," Cruz tells Edgar-veda. He heard Vic is being forced out. "That's been a long time coming," says Edgar-veda. Cruz asks if there's a way to stop it from happening. The community needs good cops "who understand our interests." Edgar-veda assures Cruz the city and police department are better off without Vic. Cruz hands over a check in an envelope, Edgar-veda's proceeds for the exploratory committee.<br />
<br />
"If you don't confess, we're gonna arrest you solely on the evidence," Dutch says to Mason. Not admitting what he did is just delaying the inevitable. Through the interrogation room window, Dutch sees Tina walking around below. Mason explains that all he wanted was to love Allen and be loved back. Can he stay a little longer? "The second I leave here, my life is over," says Mason.<br />
<br />
"Eat your breakfast," Dutch encourages, pointing to the untouched container of scrambled eggs and bacon. This reminds me of Kavanaugh offering ulcer-ravaged Lem a muffin.<br />
<br />
Diro approaches her door with a gun in hand: "I told you, stay away." Shane pushes in. Diro knows people will be trying to steal the "family business" from her and refuses to keep hiding. Shane offers to protect her. She asks if Antwon thought he was being protected; Vic told her all about that.<br />
<br />
Shane tells her Vic has been under IAD's microscope for years and won't be a cop much longer. What happened to Angie wasn't his fault. "[Vic'll] be reaching into your pocketbook by next week." "Like you?" asks Diro.<br />
<br />
She can take care of herself. Shane disagrees. He saved her life and got Rezian locked up so Diro can assume her rightful throne as Armenian mob queen. Shane risked his own life and his job for her. Diro owes him.<br />
<br />
When she tries to throw him out again, Shane drops a bombshell. Vic was behind the Armenian money train ripoff a few years back. (He conveniently leaves out his own role in the heist). Shane takes it a step further, lying through his teeth that Vic threatened him because he refused to participate.<br />
<br />
"My father lost six months of profit from that," says Diro. Shane guesses she knows more about Daddy's business than she made out. The only way this can work is full disclosure on both sides. Whose side is Diro on? The mafia princess announces that Vic must be "dealt with."<br />
<br />
At the construction site, Cruz congratulates Vic for solving the San Marcos case. "Thank you, but I'm not done," says Vic. Cruz suggests he stop turning over rocks. Vic won't until he see "what's crawling underneath."<br />
<br />
Cruz promises to save Vic's job. Vic calls bullshit; a city controller couldn't and that guy owed Vic a huge debt. Cruz hands Vic an envelope. Inside is a picture of Edgar-veda being forced to give a thug named Juan oral sex. Cruz expresses disappointment in his friend: "Rather than be a man and stand up to his attackers, he gets on his knees and takes a man's dick in his mouth. Don't think that'll play too well with the voters."<br />
<br />
Vic's jaw drops. He has unbelievable leverage now. Being Vic, he jokes that voters in West Hollywood won't mind homosexuality. Cruz invites Vic to use the picture how he sees fit as long as he never tells where it came from. In exchange for saving his job, Cruz wants Vic to stop digging. End of episode.Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-75835485715673754902017-10-13T00:00:00.000-04:002017-10-13T20:33:26.557-04:00"The Math of Wrath" Equals Chaos (Episode 6.8)<i>Previously on: A dozen Mexicans were found in a house, their bodies cut into pieces by a machete, a favored weapon of Salvadorans. As revenge, Mexican gangbangers shot people at a Salvadoran street fair. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Ronnie found out that Shane was responsible for Lem's murder.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Undercover ICE agent Hernan is MIA. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>A panicked Mara is preparing to flee with Shane and their son. Shane put together detailed files on all the Strike Team's illicit activities, an insurance policy should anything happen to him. To show Vic he's serious, Shane gave his former best friend a copy of the file.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Shane hired himself out to some Armenians and shook down an Iraqi gas station owner. Said gas station owner was found dead shortly after, the nozzle of a gas pump shoved down his throat.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
A woman works on her sewing machine while listening to her iPod. She pats her cat on the head, then leaves her apartment. Some guys give her unsavory looks as she passes them on the sidewalk. The woman boards a city bus, which she rides to the hospital.<br />
<br />
She sits beside the bed of a comatose old man and whispers, "The nurse said you are staying strong, Papa." She can't stay long, but she has a gift: the colorful lap blanket we saw her sewing earlier. The daughter says something in Armenian that (I assume) means "I love you" or something along those lines. Daughter stops at a church and blesses herself in front of the Mary statue.<br />
<br />
Near a classroom, Shane sticks a badge in her face, demanding to see Kesakhian: "I've squeezed every food stamp-collecting, Benz-driving Armenian from here to Glendale." He knows the guy works here and isn't leaving without face time. The woman takes him to an office and says, "I'm Kesakhian."<br />
<br />
Shane doesn't believe her: "I've got my nuts in a wringer right now and I don't like it when people crank the handle, okay? I need to speak to the real Kesakhian." Daughter K explains she's handling her father's affairs. Shane has a message: "I didn't sign up to be walked into a murder jackpot and he better goddamn well fix it."<br />
<br />
He was hired to get more customers for the oil delivery company and now someone is dead. Daughter K objects to Shane's use of "Jesus Christ" because, ya know, they're in a church. "Jesus can kiss my ass," says Shane hotly.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now now, we know you don't mean that...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcDi62uqIECz3oTdLhbCkSLNcScDNJbpk8nHlaLH-OagXVdn-qw21DB_OywxDdkYk2kK4L07VldegiiBhckCx7knivI6RiT-K5FfxzUAasCZuGUsvnEdZyEJFYeVyyaWYmPEuHscytQGH/s1600/walton-goggins-justified-bible%255B1%255D.jpg">(Photo credit)</a></td></tr>
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If Kesakhian thought he found a handy fall guy for the Iraqi's murder, he's gonna find himself on "the business end of a hollowpoint." Daughter wants to take the conversation elsewhere. At a cafe, Shane asks, "You know what your daddy and his crew do for a living? They're stone-cold gangstas." Daughter K is well aware of that. She left her college career in Berlin to be his translator. Everything that's recently happened business wise was aboveboard.<br />
<br />
"Just because people haven't been gettin' their feet chopped off lately doesn't get the Armenian mob into the Chamber of Commerce," says Shane. (Imagine the slogan if they did). Daughter K agrees to ask her dad about the gas station. Shane threatens to create problems for him if that doesn't happen.<br />
<br />
At the Barn, Vic has arranged for a three-way sitdown: himself, Shane, and Claudette. The captain lightly asks about the tension between the two men. She knows what it's like to lose a friend, but she's sure there's more to it than that. Why have they been asking Nancy about Gilroy's Mexican connections? The disgraced former assistant chief's case has been closed for over a year.<br />
<br />
"I'd think with your appeals hearing coming up, you'd be more helpful if you're interested in saving your job," she says to Vic. Shane answers, "Lem's killer. Lem was on the run, knew about Gilroy's underground railroad to Margaritaville. I thought somethin' mighta gone sideways in that regard. Coyote pullin' a double cross." (As Claudette herself once said, "You're stretching, son. Try yoga").<br />
<br />
Shane reminds her that she's been stuck on the "dead Mexican hat dance" and not spending any time looking for Lem's killer. Vic glares at him. Claudette reprimands Shane for his tone. Shane doesn't think that'll be an issue again; he's transferring soon.<br />
<br />
The conversation is interrupted by Kevin, accompanied by Hernan's handler. Talbert hasn't heard from Hernan in 36 hours and is starting to worry that his cover is blown. What are the locals doing to find him? Vic's been staking out Hernan's girlfriend and various associates. Talbert is holding them accountable for this. Claudette checks her watch: "It's 10:42 a.m. in case you need a time stamp for your ass-cover memo." Talbert wants any contact with Hernan reported immediately and leaves.<br />
<br />
Vic remarks he can understand why Hernan reached out to him and not Talbert. Claudette is beginning to regret getting involved in the case, even though Hernan could help solve the San Marcos murders. No one knows Hernan is a fed except for the Strike Team, Claudette, and Dutch.<br />
<br />
Kevin is confident Hernan can handle himself; they could get him killed if they start digging for him. Vic suggests a passive search. Julien didn't see any sign of Hernan at his girlfriend's. Ronnie jokes it wasn't a total waste of time: "She does yoga in the nude with the blinds open." "That really worries me, Hernan not showing up at home for that," says Vic. They should talk to the Byz Lats.<br />
<br />
Kevin reports the truce is shaky at best. Hernan could've gotten caught in the crossfire. Kevin thinks Shane could ride with Vic and talk to Santi. Ronnie makes up a story that Shane has a troubled history with the Byz Lats; they won't open up around him. Kevin says he and Julien will cover the Salvadoran angle.<br />
<br />
Outside, Ronnie quietly tells Vic he can't forgive Shane, but they can't let anyone else know the truth. Vic just can't stand listening to Shane "play offa Lem's murder like he's tryin' to solve it." Ronnie says Vic needs to keep his anger in check.<br />
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Ronnie reminds Vic that neither of them are exactly innocent "and I'm not spendin' the rest of my life wearin' state property."<br />
<br />
We see someone has vandalized one of the recruitment billboards featuring Tina. Gang members whistle to each other as Vic pulls up, a signal of some sort, no doubt. "Thought I smelled bacon," one wisecracks. The Byz Lats won't honor the truce because Vic tried to play them. However, even they know better than to mess with an undercover fed. That part they're leaving up to the Salvadorans.<br />
<br />
"You need a new Ouija board 'cause you're channeling some bad intel," sasses Ronnie. Santi again accuses Vic of double-crossing him. Vic takes a call and gets back in the car with Ronnie. Someone found a body and they're both worried it could be Hernan.<br />
<br />
At the crime scene, a uniform describes the murder victim as a Hispanic male between 20 and 30, sporting Salvadoran gang ink. The body was cut up and there's no ID. Kevin peeks in one of the trash bags, but it's not Hernan. Ronnie points out, "Doesn't mean they're not goin' through the ranks 'til they find him."<br />
<br />
In the observation room, a father informs Vic that his son lied to the police about witnessing the body dump because he'd been dating an underage girl. The son argues, "I thought she was 18 until she invited me to her <i>quinceanera." </i>(For those that don't know, that's an elaborate birthday party, held in many Latin cultures when a girl turns 15).<br />
<br />
Anyway, Tricia's parents were out, so they were having sex. She was on top, looked out the window, and saw a dark green Camaro pull into the alley. A guy got out and left some trash bags behind. The kid describes the suspect as a "<i>vato, </i>just a regular dude. The license plate was 1-B-J-something." He's sure about that because "that's what I told [Tricia] I needed." Vic is not amused.<br />
<br />
Daughter K reports her dad is concerned about the gas station murder. "His concern doesn't help me one goddamn bit," says Shane. She gives him an envelope full of money and asks for a favor. "Doing favors for you people is how I got my ass in this sling," he says. Need I remind you that you wouldn't need favors to get out of the country <i>had you not murdered your friend in cold blood?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Daughter K and daddy own a few apartment buildings that have been robbed; the police haven't been helpful. "Might have somethin' to do with the property owner's last name," Shane speculates. Daughter K is having trouble finding tenants and nobody in their right mind will buy the building if she sells. Will Shane help her figured out who's behind the robberies? Shane answers with another question: "Are you a mob daughter or a damsel in distress?" He'll look into it, but only if he gets paid.<br />
<br />
At the Barn, Shane uses the one and only computer to look up reports on the addresses. One of them was filed by Tina and Julien. She remembers there was a noise complaint called in by neighbors. The Russian girls in the apartment claimed it was due to someone's drunk ex-boyfriend. Nothing was stolen, but Tina found the ex-girlfriend suspicious. She answered the door wearing fishnets and garters in the middle of the day.<br />
<br />
Vic found five matches to the partial license plate Tricia saw. One is registered to Hernan's girlfriend Leticia. They can't put out an APB due to Hernan's undercover status. Ronnie asks how to spin it if Hernan was the person dumping the body. Vic doesn't want to worry about that until they have to.<br />
<br />
Shane buzzes an apartment, claiming he's Matthew from the airport. "Who are you here to see?" asks a woman's voice. Shane pours on the Southern charm: "Well, after hearin' that sexy voice, I'm hopin' it's you, darlin'." The girl buzzes him in. She opens the door in a silk bathrobe embroidered with dragons.<br />
<br />
The first thing she asks is: "Are you a police officer?" Shane dodges that by complimenting her sexy Russian accent. Once they're in the bedroom, she immediately tells Shane to whip it out. He's all too happy to oblige. The woman inquires if he wants a full hour. Shane shrugs that he's not in a hurry.<br />
<br />
Russian wants $300 up front "for time and companionship only." She's definitely had run-ins for prostitution before. She's about to tear open a condom wrapper with her teeth when Shane flashes his badge and announces she's under arrest. Russian doesn't think so: "You let me touch your dick; that's entrapment. I know the law." Shane points out it's her word against his: "Zip me back up and put your hands behind your back."<br />
<br />
Elsewhere, Danny consoles a woman who's been stabbed. A male passerby whistles at Tina and says he recognizes her from the billboards. Billings arrives to get the victim's statement. Danny informs him the woman's asked for a lawyer. Odd behavior after being stabbed. The victim tells the medics to take her to Cedars-Sinai. Billings gripes about entitled assholes. Tina chirps that she needs a Sharpie to sign an autograph for her admirer.<br />
<br />
An Asian shop owner says she "no see nothing," even though the attack happened steps away. She won't let Dutch in without a warrant.<br />
<br />
Ronnie and Vic roll out to meet Julien and Kevin at the Camaro. Hernan or Leticia will eventually come back for it. Ronnie asks what Vic's game plan is when Shane starts unraveling. Vic tells Ronnie about the file Shane put together; he knows Ronnie is mentioned in it by name. Vic burned his copy. Problem is, Mara knows about everything too.<br />
<br />
Vic gets a text that says "Shitters' Alley. Right now," which he figures is from Hernan. He's going there solo. Ronnie will stay and keep an eye on the Camaro. In the alley, Vic finds Hernan's girlfriend. Leticia says it was too dangerous for Hernan to come.<br />
<br />
Vic pulls his gun and threatens her: "If you're lyin' to me or pullin' any tricks, your own mother won't recognize you when I'm through." Leticia whimpers that Vic's hurting her and swears Hernan sent her. She has a message: Hernan is robbing a gun store tonight on Alvarado near the park at 6:00 sharp; Vic needs to let it happen but rescue the innocents. Leticia knows Hernan is a cop and hasn't told anyone else.<br />
<br />
Vic asks about the dead body in the alley. Leticia insists Hernan had no choice; Octavio executed the guy for being a snitch. Vic has a message of his own: Hernan needs to contact his bosses in D.C. and leave the Camaro where it is. He'll hide instructions for Hernan in one of the wheel wells.<br />
<br />
Shane lets Russian know he isn't interested in her hooking. If she tells him what happened at her house two weeks ago, "you streetwalk outta here a free woman." Russian got robbed for $2,500 by a guy who came for "an appointment." She describes him as a white "like a regular business john." Three black men arrived instead, threatening to shoot her and her roommate if they looked at them.<br />
<br />
Russian and her fellow hookers have been working lots of overtime to prevent their pimp from finding out about the robbery. Can she leave now? She has a client that likes golden showers and she needs to drink iced tea to get the right, um, flavor. Shane chuckles: "I'll be right back with those mug books and a Snapple."<br />
<br />
Vic believes Leticia when she says Hernan's alive, but Claudette is skeptical. Kevin doesn't want to risk blowing Hernan's cover. "Screw his cover," she says bluntly. They're under orders to notify ICE of any contact. Kevin pleads that getting them involved will "FUBAR the whole thing." Claudette tells them to get Shane out of the interrogation room. He's up there with a prostitute and "I don't want him freelancing for Vice while he's still under my command."<br />
<br />
Vic catches Kevin by the elbow; they need to protect Claudette from herself. They should find Hernan and then turn him over to ICE. Kevin worries about disobeying the captain. Vic says they don't make cases by listening to upper management. If they play their cards right, they can protect Hernan while keeping guns out of bad guys' hands.<br />
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Shane fills Daughter K in on the robberies, which funnily only seem to happen in buildings that escort services are run out of. Daughter K insists she doesn't know about any hookers; they're just real estate investors. Shane calls that "window dressing wrapped around the same old-school gangsta shit." He might know who's behind all this.<br />
<br />
At the ER, Dutch and Billings are met by stabbing victim Eleanor's lawyer. He's promised his client immunity if she's honest with the police. Eleanor admits to buying three replicas, which Billings instantly recognizes as a euphemism for knockoff handbags. "Nurses here do it all the time," defends Corinne.<br />
<br />
Someone stabbed Eleanor today and pushed her down. "So you lost the three purses you bought and the two you had with you?" asks Dutch. Eleanor sharply tells him, "They're not purses! Two were evening clutches. The other was a keepall." She describes her attacker as a bad-smelling Hispanic man. Dutch guesses the thief thought the knockoffs were real. "Knockoffs are what they sell in Times Square," Eleanor says prissily, "These are quality replicas."<br />
<br />
Corinne heard the replicas in that neighborhood are so good you can't tell the difference. Tina nods that it's all about good weight, stitching, and hardware; she favors Marc Jacobs. Corinne likes Gucci, but she'll never be able to afford the real thing with her salary. I don't know about L.A., but registered nurses in my home state of Kentucky can make bank depending on the hospital.<br />
<br />
Danny can't relate; Lee's diaper bag came from Old Navy. Surprisingly, Corinne doesn't say anything catty. She agrees that they're stylish.<br />
<br />
As Shane comes into the clubhouse, Kevin explains about the gun store robbery they're allowing to happen. Vic has assigned Danny and Tina to a checkpoint; the Strike Team's first priority is watching the girls' backs in case of something. They have to be ready for anything because Hernan could go off-script.<br />
<br />
Vic and Ronnie watch the green Camaro park by a dumpster. Hernan, ski mask over his face, walks point into the gun store. Julien is already inside posing as a security guard. Someone puts a gun to his head and takes his car keys while the others grab assault rifles off the shelves. The robbery takes less than a minute.<br />
<br />
Kevin tails the Camaro in his unmarked car, guiding them right to Danny. She plays the stop off as a routine insurance checkpoint. Vic knows the registration is expired and wonders what the gangbangers will do: "Go for it and pray nobody pops the trunk? Or risk going away for a few decades?"<br />
<br />
Hernan's passengers get out of the backseat, run across the road, and carjack a Jeep. Shane isn't fast enough to stop them. Vic assures Danny they have everything under control.<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda questions why he should join the exploratory committee instead of outright announcing his candidacy for mayor. A fellow councilman explains an announcement would trigger financial scrutiny. Who are his supporters? How much are they contributing? Exploratory Committee also gives him the chance to check out other avenues, such as running for state assemblyman.<br />
<br />
His campaign advisor suggests pushing through redistricting. Koreans are a big part of Farmington and less likely to vote for a Democratic candidate. Blacks don't support Edgar-veda either, but they also don't go out and vote. He can stock the pond with Latino citizens.<br />
<br />
In the hall, Edgar-veda's construction company friend gives him a check. Edgar-veda asks why it's only $100,000. His friend promises the rest when the San Marcos case is closed.<br />
<br />
Dutch thinks they should've denied Eleanor's immunity and arrested her. Claudette is more interested in finding the purse snatcher than trademark infringement. Billings bucks for a raid at the purse shop, which attracts "upscale clientele to a shitty neighborhood." More stabbings (or worse) could happen.<br />
<br />
Claudette agrees, only because she doesn't want a "pampered socialite breathing down [my] neck. That's what I have Aceveda for." Speak of the devil and he appears. He wants to know if Claudette needs more resources to solve the San Marcos case. She doesn't want to give him information after what happened with Hernan. Edgar-veda is shocked, just shocked that she'd think he's a mole.<br />
<br />
In the Barn's parking lot, Kevin shows off the gun haul in the Camaro's trunk. Claudette is none too pleased that Hernan is MIA again and that the other two got away. Kevin explains he made a judgment call; the guns could've been used against the Strike Team if they'd rushed the store. Vic is confident Hernan and friends will turn up.<br />
<br />
Claudette asks about the unauthorized phony insurance checkpoint. She's sure Vic or Kevin signed off on it and can't believe they put uniforms in harm's way. "'Harm's way' is part of the job description," Kevin says coolly. Claudette thought she could trust Kevin, but he's turning out to be another Vic.<br />
<br />
Kevin reminds her the Barn is in serious jeopardy if the San Marcos case goes unsolved. Claudette warns that he could end up following Vic out the door.<br />
<br />
Shane stops to visit a site where parolees are picking up trash. Juneteenth, a pimp, is of special interest. Shane knows the pimps sit on the Russian girls' passports so they can't leave the States. He also knows about the robberies and assaults. Juneteenth laughs, "You can't prove shit." Shane whips off his sunglasses, Horatio Caine style, and says, "Try me."<br />
<br />
He offers to run interference so Juneteenth can keep doing what he's doing...in exchange for a small cut of the profits, of course. Juneteenth would have to discuss that with his business partners. Shane inquires, "You mean Pancake and Squeeze?" Juneteenth is surprised Shane knew that.<br />
<br />
Shane's next stop is Kesakhian's hospital room: "When you said your father was travelin', I didn't think you meant the highway to heaven." Kesakhian was brought in DOA by an ambulance 11 days ago; the nurses don't expect him to last another week. Daughter K has been praying for a miracle. She can't stand to see her father's crime empire "torn apart by snakes and vultures."<br />
<br />
Shane knows people are already freelancing behind her back. The daughter asks if she can count on Shane. That'd be a no; she lied to him. However, he also knows "a nice choir girl like you" doesn't want any part of the havoc Margos will wreak. Shane gives her the names of the pimps, reminding her she has bigger problems.<br />
<br />
Danny is impressed by Eleanor's memory of her attacker; the sketch is pretty detailed. Billings suggests canvassing Skid Row first. Dutch doesn't get it: "This woman could have anything she wants. Is saving a few bucks worth a couple stab wounds?" "When it comes to Louis, Gucci, and Fendi," says Tina. Danny adds, "Coach, Prada, Chanel." Eleanor must get a thrill when her friends that pay full price on Rodeo Drive mistake her knockoffs for the real thing.<br />
<br />
"Are they hearing themselves?" asks Dutch. Are you forgetting you once <i>strangled a cat to see what it would feel like</i>? Judge not lest ye be judged, Dutch Boy.<br />
<br />
Hernan has sent Vic another text, asking to meet tonight. Kevin thinks his intel better be worth it "after the ass-reaming I just took." He wants to round up the team, but Vic says he and Ronnie can handle it. He promises to remain civil as long as Shane stays with the team. Kevin wishes Vic could stick around too. However: "You're a done deal. Claudette's been playing you since the day I showed up." Kevin is sorry and wishes he could do something.<br />
<br />
Vic shrugs off the apology. He's got time until his hearing. Plus, Claudette isn't the only person at the table. He leaves Kevin to ponder exactly what that means.<br />
<br />
In the break room, Billings and Dutch continue to express their mystification about women and purses. "Get a lunchbox. Whack a mugger with one of those, at least you'll draw some blood," says Billings. Shane agrees, "Chicks are nuts." Well, you'd know; you married Mara.<br />
<br />
Claudette comes in with a report. Juneteenth the pimp was found castrated in an alley. Billings bets Juneteenth's ex is carrying his family jewels in her "knockoff Louis Vuitton." "Paid for with his money," says Dutch, ever the cynic. A live castration victim is in the ER at Mission Cross. Claudette snarks, "Missing bags maybe you boys <i>can </i>relate to."<br />
<br />
People in the squadroom applaud as Danny and Tina bring in the smelly purse snatcher. He threw "homemade shit balls" at the girls before they hauled him out of the sewer. Dutch gallantly offers to take the suspect to booking. Danny shakes her head: "Don't deny me the pleasure of throwing his skanky ass into the cage."<br />
<br />
Puffing on a cigarette, Shane suggests he and Ronnie hit a dive bar for a few beers. Ronnie acts like he didn't hear a thing. "What? I extend an invite, you throw shade?" asks Shane. Ronnie turns around, walks right up to Shane, and says, "I know what you did to Lem."<br />
<br />
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"Vic had to spin what happened like I'm the antichrist," says Shane. Um, you kind of are. He argues Lem would be alive if it wasn't for Vic. Ronnie isn't falling for that; he knows who pulled the pin. Shane calls it an inevitable tragedy. "You even start any horseshit about how you were protecting all of us, I will throw down with you right now." Ronnie's tone is as menacing as I've ever heard.<br />
<br />
Shane doesn't want to fight him; they don't have a beef. Ronnie begs to differ. He knows Shane is trying to blackmail him and Vic. Shane doesn't deny he wrote a 24-page journal. (Everything the guys pulled and it's that short?) They tensely wait for a uniform to pass before continuing the conversation.<br />
<br />
"Why don't you ask Vic to show you page one?" asks Shane. Ronnie can't because Vic burned it. Shane bets he knows why; the first paragraph is all about how Vic killed Terry while he watched. "I've been lying, covering up, bleeding out of my goddamn anus for three years trying to protect him." (Wrong again. Lem was the one bleeding, puking blood, actually, thanks to your shenanigans).<br />
If Ronnie gets tired of Vic leading him around by a leash, he should call Shane and get the whole ugly truth. Ronnie's jaw twitches.<br />
<br />
In their street clothes, Tina and Corinne head for the knockoff emporium. Tina knows they have a limited window before the place gets shut down. The store turns out to be the one closest to where Eleanor was stabbed.<br />
<br />
Tina asks the owner about Fendi clutches. The woman unlocks a back room that she told Dutch earlier she didn't have a key for. She leads them through a maze of locked gates and upstairs. "I'm not sure about this," Corinne says uneasily. Tina tells her to think happy designer purse thoughts. And don't worry, she has her gun.<br />
<br />
Tina suddenly laughs. Danny, buying a knockoff diaper bag, gives her coworker a guilty stare but thinks she and Tina deserve purses after the day they've had. Corinne's wasn't much better; her shift began with a meth head puking on her. Another salesgirl tells Danny to come back next week when they get new Prada.<br />
<br />
Vic climbs back in the car with Ronnie. Hernan didn't come to the meeting. Leticia told Vic something big is coming but didn't get specific. She just knows the Byz Lats and Salvadorans are negotiating tomorrow. Hernan is flying to El Salvador and Leticia has no clue when he'll be back. Meaning they went through the gun shop sting for no reason.<br />
<br />
"Why would he jerk us off like that?" Ronnie wonders. Vic guesses they sent Hernan south until things calm down. Hell, Hernan probably framed the latest murder victim as a snitch to draw suspicion away from himself. Vic takes it further: "Hernan didn't just set this guy up. He did the chopping."<br />
<br />
Ronnie looks unsettled, but reckons the dead guy got what was coming. "But Hernan's gotta live with what he did now," says Vic. Ronnie pipes up with "No different than why you shot Terry." Vic supposes Ronnie got that from Shane. Ronnie shocks the hell out of me by saying, "Page one of Shane's memoirs wasn't exactly new information." Fortunately, Shane can't prove it.<br />
<br />
Ronnie wishes Vic had been honest with him from the start. He asks when they can leave all this shit in the past. Vic doesn't answer.<br />
<br />
Shane watches Daughter K pray in the otherwise empty church. He knows she castrated the pimps. "It was maybe too much?" she asks. Shane drawls, "I'm certain you got your point across." She gives Shane more money, along with the names and addresses of the men who killed the gas station owner. They're willing to confess. Shane doubts it could be that easy.<br />
<br />
Daughter K nods that they'll talk to protect their wives and families: "Armenian way, they suffer first." Shane knows it won't take long for Rezian to figure out Daughter K is running the show. She's not ready for him to come after her. "Just 'cause your father was in the life doesn't mean you have to be Daddy's little gangster."<br />
<br />
Daughter argues her dad is a survivor. He used to teach her about history every night at dinner. Everything was taken from Armenians "and he taught me to never let that happen to us again." Well, other than that whole money train thing a few years back, right? People are still loyal to her dad and now she has Shane. End of episode.Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-83963547306750838282017-10-06T00:00:00.000-04:002017-10-07T01:15:53.271-04:00"Exiled" from the Kingdom (Episode 6.7)<i>Previously on: 11 (possibly 12) people were murdered in a house by Salvadorans. So far, the cops have struck out with leads and suspects. One victim was a Mexican government official. The Barn has been threatened with closure. Vic discovered his best friend Shane murdered Lem. He threatened to kill Shane too.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Shane's face has finally healed from the ass-kicking. He splashes cold water on it and flushes his painkillers down the toilet. He sits down and painstakingly scrawls TERRY CROWLEY across the top of a legal pad. More pads and case files (including Terry's) are spread across the spare bed in his hotel room. Shane's antsy, pacing and smoking cigarettes.<br />
<br />
Ronnie gets in Vic's car, asking, "Did you talk to Shane?" Vic can barely get the words out: "He did it. He killed Lem." Ronnie can't believe it. Vic promises Shane is never coming back to the Strike Team.<br />
<br />
They're meeting Hernan the undercover fed in a park bathroom. Hernan's new handler, Talbert, knows the severed arm belonged to government official Romero. Hernan was told to leave the case alone. Vic finds it odd that the governments on both sides of the border are looking the other way. Hernan bets "some fed way up the food chain is getting greased to keep it off the books."<br />
<br />
Hernan doesn't trust Talbert, a dangerous position for an undercover to be in. He asks Vic to be his lifeline. Vic gives Hernan the number to his burner phone. Hernan is hoping to get his own crew, which will make him privy to more gang secrets. Could Vic raid Lonya's Bar at 2:00 this afternoon Hernan plans to tip off the gang 20 minutes before Vic gets there. His cover story will be that he has a mole in the police department.<br />
<br />
When Vic arrives at the Barn, cops are pouring out to their cars en masse. "We got a street fair with confetti and dead bodies," Kevin says. More specifically, it's the Salvadoran El Mundo Festival. Four people are dead, others injured; all the casualties are women and children. And does Vic happen to know why Shane called in sick today?<br />
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Vic almost parks on top of several festival-goers when they arrive. He tells Julien to help the outnumbered uniforms. Danny and Tina fill Vic in on the details. Six Mexicans with Byz Lat tattoos showed up at the festival with sawed-off shotguns hidden in their backpacks. The festival was sponsored by a Salvadoran gang.<br />
<br />
Claudette theorizes the shooting is Mexican payback for the San Marcos house murders. "Hernan says Salvadorans had nothing to do with San Marcos. It was an internal Mexican beef," says Vic. Claudette isn't so sure about that. "He lied," Vic realizes.<br />
<br />
Danny is struggling to keep a distraught woman behind the police tape. "My son!" the Latina cries, pointing to a stretcher the paramedics are loading into an ambulance, "My son was shot! Let me see him!"<br />
<br />
Back at the Barn, Claudette wants to find out why Hernan lied to them. Vic explains Hernan is about to be made a gang captain and wouldn't want the local cops turning up the heat. The undercover fed is nervous about being told not to investigate Romero's murder and no longer trusts his handler. Claudette tells Dutch and Billings to run with the Romero lead.<br />
<br />
Vic tells the captain about the favor Hernan asked for. She wants the Salvadorans brought in anyway. Phillips arrives to talk to her. "I-I know this street festival thing looks bad," Claudette stutters. She assures the chief her best detectives are handling it. Fortunately, Wilshire and Central have also offered help.<br />
<br />
Mara is by the vending machines, holding Jackson on one hip. Have the guys seen Shane? He didn't come home last night. I'm not sure why Mara even cares, given that she threw him out of the house after his drug-fueled murder confession. Mara zeroes right in on Vic: "He doesn't do anything without you knowing about it." She knows the truth about Lem. "If you did anything to hurt Shane--"<br />
<br />
Vic cuts her off, challenging, "What is it you think you know?" Mara says she and Shane don't keep secrets from each other. Vic pats Jackson on the head: "Open and honest. That's the best way, right?"<br />
<br />
The guys raid Lonya's Bar, which, surprise of surprises, is empty. "Hernan knew we'd come early for the bosses," says Vic, "I'm beginning to think this guy is kind of an asshole."<br />
<br />
Shane straightens up a stack of handwritten papers. Besides the one with Terry's name on it, there's one that says ARMENIAN MONEY TRAIN FEB-APR '03. He puts all his files and folders into two manila envelopes.<br />
<br />
At the bar, Vic's phone rings. Hernan is on the other end. Vic asks if the bosses are planning retaliation. Said bosses are around, so Hernan gives his answer in rapid Spanish. The gist of it is "check the garbage." Vic finds a list of the bosses' addresses. He decodes what Hernan is saying as "pick me up with the rest of them." Vic hangs up and takes back what he said about Hernan.<br />
<br />
Ronnie thinks it's a smart move that "preserves his cover, gets the shot-callers off the street." Julien is concerned the Byz Lats might get suspicious if they just pick up the Salvadorans. Vic has a solution for that: a gang sweep.<br />
<br />
Claudette tells Edgar-veda about Phillips' visit and his involving Wilshire and Central: "Our stats are tanking. He's gonna shut this place down." Edgar-veda guesses, "They're keeping it under the radar to protect morale." "It's hard to motivate cops when your home base is a sinking ship," she points out.<br />
<br />
Claudette asks for extra manpower for a gang sweep. Edgar-veda cautions that the Mexican and Salvadoran communities are both angry; this will look like victim-blaming. "It's a warrant sweep," she explains, adding she's doing this to protect an undercover ICE agent. The agent might be able to help broker peace.<br />
<br />
At a construction site, Edgar-veda's friend Cruz lays out his plans for a new community: restaurants, stores, and a movie theater within walking distance of new low-income housing and a low-cost medical clinic: "People work hard for their money. They shouldn't have to bus to Beverly Hills to spend it." If they're low-income, they can't stop in Beverly Hills anyway, dummy.<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda tells Cruz about the upcoming gang sweep. His friend calls it a "blitzkrieg against Latinos." Edgar-veda argues, "We're getting gang members off the street to keep the community safe." Between all their connections, they can convince the neighborhood this is a good thing.<br />
<br />
Cruz explains the two of them aren't considered "real Latinos" by the locals anymore: "They see a developer and a former cop." Edgar-veda tells them the Barn might be closed permanently, meaning fewer police officers in the area. Gesturing at the construction, he asks, "What good is all this if we can't protect it or the people who come here?" Edgar-veda even goes as far as <i>telling Cruz the real reason they're doing the sweep. </i>Jesus, Hernan is a....<br />
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Shane comes home, picks up Jackson out of his playpen, and gives him a hug. "Where the hell have you been?" Mara demands. Shane shrugs that he was doing some thinking. Mara thinks it's more like "you were getting your dick sucked by your underage Nubian whore." Shane snaps at her to watch her mouth around the kid.<br />
<br />
"I left you a message, said not to wait up," he adds. His cell died and he couldn't find another phone. (A likely story). In any case, Shane's sorry he worried her. Mara tells him that she went looking for him at work and talked to Vic. He scared her.<br />
<br />
"Mara, what did you say to him?" asks Shane, "Did you say anything about Lem?" "I think he might've figured it out," she replies. Shane wants to know what else she said to him. Mara may have mentioned that the Vendrells don't keep secrets from each other.<br />
<br />
Shane sighs: "You know who this guy is? What he's done? The shit he can do, Mara? Not just to me, but to you and Jacks?" "What else have you done, Shane? Huh?" Mara sounds freaked out. Shane barks, "Enough!"<br />
<br />
Mara backs away from him, but keeps asking questions: "Will he tell them about Lem? Will they send you to prison?" Shane is confident Vic will keep his mouth shut; he could cause all kinds of trouble for Vic if he wanted to. "So you're a threat to him? Oh God," says Mara. They have to get out of L.A.<br />
<br />
Shane has already called Vice about getting his old job back. He'll work there for a year or so until they save enough to move. Shane gives her instructions: Pack a bag for herself and Jackson, small but enough to live out of for a while. He has a few things he needs to take care of, then he'll join them. Shane gives her a hug and a kiss.<br />
<br />
Mara realizes she can't leave that fast. Corinne is supposed to come over tomorrow with stuff for their new baby. "Vic wouldn't do anything to us when we're with his wife and kid, right?" Make that "ex-wife," Mara.<br />
<br />
Kevin briefs everyone on their two main targets: Octavio Menez, to be picked up by SWAT, and Santi Galas, to be picked up by the Strike Team. "These scumbags live with family, that means elderly and kids," adds Vic, "So safety off, but easy on the trigger." Ronnie's job is to bring in Hernan; other gang members know Vic's face.<br />
<br />
Agent Talbert enters to start the feds vs. locals pissing contest. He refuses to sign off on the raid. "Then don't," says Claudette. The sweep is happening with or without his help. Talbert intends to stop it. "Might as well paint a bull's-eye on Hernan's back," says Vic. Talbert gives them the password ("honeycomb); they're to back off immediately if Hernan tells them to.<br />
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Ronnie and the SWAT team descend on Hernan's house. Ronnie finds Hernan in bed with a girl and whispers "honeycomb" in his ear. Elsewhere, Vic, Kevin, and Julien are in foot pursuit of Santi. Julien tackles him. "Godspeed," Vic jokes.<br />
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Shane pays a visit to Nancy, the widow of disgraced former assistant police chief Ben Gilroy. She recognizes him as one of Vic's friends. What does Shane need? Shane knows that she recently told Vic about people Gilroy knew when he was living in Mexico. Shane himself is investigating something similar and needs whatever intel she gave to Vic. Nancy is suspicious.<br />
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"I can't discuss the details with you, ma'am," Shane says politely, "But you're gonna have to turn over that information. I don't wanna have to file a failure to cooperate charge." Nancy glares: "I was married to a cop for 20 years, asshole. Don't threaten me with bullshit charges." Even when Katey Sagal isn't playing Gemma, she's still a bad bitch.<br />
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When she tries to leave the room, Shane grabs her by the arm. Do the couple's daughters know Daddy ripped off the city and "disgraced the badge for some dirty Latina snatch?" Nancy looks out the window and sees her kids on the walkway talking to a friend. "Shut up," she hisses.<br />
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Shane does the opposite: "They know he choked on his own puke? Those autopsy photos are brutal. You want your daughters to see 'em?" Nancy gives Shane a hard slap across the face. He pushes her onto an easy chair and leans over her. Shane wants everything she knows by tonight or he's coming over for a little show-and-tell. He lets himself out a second before the girls open the front door.<br />
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Vic understands why Hernan lied about the San Marcos murders, but they still need the truth. Hernan explains the Byz Lats are trying to partner with a cartel based in Mexico City; the Salvadorans want a piece of the action too. He doesn't know what chopping off the Mexican official's arm had to do with anything.<br />
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Claudette asks Hernan to broker a ceasefire between the Byz Lats and Salvadorans. "There's no peace without the shooters paying the price," he says. Vic has an idea: send the Byz Lat gunmen to Chino, which is Salvadoran-deep. Does Hernan think he can talk the "Salvadoran Grand Poobah" into that?<br />
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Hernan knows he can't be promoted to captain if he "talks like Ghandi." "Talk like Trump," Kevin advises. The gangs can't go back to making money if they're too busy killing each other. Hernan can't ask who the shooters were without blowing his cover. Talbert thinks the assignment is getting too dangerous. "You're not pulling me out of this," Hernan says stubbornly. He's been undercover for 2 1/2 years. Vic agrees with his position.<br />
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Claudette pulls him aside. She heard Shane reapplied for his old job in Vice. Vic shrugs, "Makes sense. Lem gone, me bein' forced out maybe." "He also requested two weeks unpaid leave," adds Claudette. That's roughly the same amount of time Vic has left on the job. Shane's request is being denied, mostly because the wheels of police bureaucracy turn slowly.<br />
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Vic doesn't have a problem with Shane staying at the Barn. Claudette has noticed Vic doesn't seem especially upset about his best friend transferring: "If something happened between the two of you that affects the job, I need to know." Vic, of course, doesn't rat Shane out. He just says they're all upset over Lem. If Claudette has an issue with Shane, she should talk to new Strike Team leader Kevin. "I'm just a hired hand here now," Vic adds bitterly.<br />
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He and Kevin have a chat with Santi. "Don't you Byz Lat assholes know you gotta get along with these psychos? Either that or get a grenade shoved up your ass." Santi's life would be much easier if he gives up the names of the street fair shooters. He won't have a gang left to run if the members keep getting killed.<br />
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The cops know which Salvadorans were responsible for the San Marcos murders and are planning to arrest them soon. "But maybe these guys get lost on the way back to the Barn, end up in a bad neighborhood somehow," Vic suggests, "Tell me where to lose them." With the score settled, the Byz Lats can get back to business. Vic offers Santi a disposable cell phone: "Use all the minutes you need."<br />
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In the squadroom, Nancy approaches Vic and quietly asks, "What the hell is your guy up to?" Vic wants to know which one she's talking about. "That goddamn hillbilly," she replies. Vic takes her into the clubhouse. Nancy tells him that Shane came over unexpectedly and wanted to talk to Gilroy's Mexican contacts. She's worried someone will find out she was sending money to Gilroy while he was on the run. Vic told IAD he got the information on his own so they'd close the case.<br />
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Nancy sighs, "It never ends, does it?" Vic promises he'll take care of Shane. Nancy thinks he better; Shane threatened to tell her girls all their dad's secrets: the embezzlement, the affair, even the autopsy photos. She's done everything possible to shelter her daughters from that knowledge. "You rein him in, Vic, or so help me God--" "I'll take care of it," he cuts her off. I smell another hit brewing...<br />
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Ronnie comes in, catching the tail end of the conversation."Shane's gettin' ready for a cold, long winter," Vic says. He explains about Shane trying to find Gilroy's Mexican contacts and putting in for a transfer. "We gonna be one of the bases he tries to cover?" worries Ronnie.<br />
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At a Middle Eastern bakery, Shane channels his dead friend by helping himself to a free sample cookie. Unlike Lem, however, he immediately spits it in the trash. The baker introduces himself as Yezik and tells him the free cookies are called barazek. (Google tells me that's a concoction of pistachio and sesame seeds). "No wonder you give it away for free, tastes like old tires," says Shane.<br />
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Yezik uneasily eyes the badge on Shane's belt. Shane wants to talk to the bakery's new owner Kesahkian. Yezik claims not to know him. Shane looks around: "I see about a dozen health code violations in this room alone. Gives me authority to start opening up all your ovens. You sure all I'm gonna find is half-baked barazek?" Yezik thinks he can pass along a message, which is Shane has a business proposal for Kesahkian. He hands Yezik a business card.<br />
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Mara and Corinne sit on the floor together while Jackson and Megan play together. "Shane's just so hard to access sometimes," says Mrs. Vendrell, who knew darn well he wasn't exactly Mr. Warm-and-Fuzzy when they got together. Did Vic talk about work much? Corinne tried to get him to open up and eventually stopped asking.<br />
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Shane tells Mara some things, but "sometimes, I wish he didn't tell me anything." Ohhhhh boy, I bet she's about to say entirely too much. Corinne blames police work for turning her marriage sour and making Vic into a hard-ass. When they first met, Vic was really sweet.<br />
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Mara knows Vic's had it rough, what with Kavanaugh's IAD investigation. "Those charges were all bullshit," says Corinne, never mind the kids are right there, "I know he had nothing to do with Lem's murder." "I know," Mara nods. Does she ever!<br />
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"It's the off-duty shit that scares me the most. You know?" says Mara. Corinne acts like she has no idea what that means and leaves to refill the kids' sippy cups.<br />
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Romero, one of the San Marcos victims, was Mexico's Assistant Secretary of Trade and Export. His father is Mexico's Secretary of Finance. "The hell's this guy's hacked-off arm doing in Farmington?" Dutch muses. Also what happened to the rest of body? He looks around as Billing makes a turn. Does his partner know where he's going.<br />
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"I used to troll for UCLA hotties when I was in community college," says Billings, "Wasn't gonna take 'em back to my shithole in Alhambra, so I'd drive up here, say I'm going to my folks' place." Dutch can't believe that actually worked. It really didn't, though. Billings would find a nice house with lights on, then tell the girl his parents came home early and they'd have to go to her place.<br />
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Dutch looks at the house they parked next to: "Looks like Eduardo's ex found herself a rich gringo." He rings the doorbell, setting off a chorus of barking dogs.<br />
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In the back of the bakery, Shane is annoyed that he's talking to someone named Ellis instead of Kesahkian himself. He reaches for his gun and so do Ellis' friends. Ellis says something to them in Armenian. They all lay down their guns as a show of good faith. Shane guesses the rumors are true about old-school Armenian mob guys coming back to the neighborhood. Yeah, getting involved with them worked <i>so </i>well last time.<br />
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Ellis remarks it's been a while since they had a good relationship with local cops. "Yeah, well, choppin' off people's feet will strain any relationship," says Shane. The Armenians wants to smooth that over. Ellis says there's a new Iraqi-owned gas station nearby with an Arab-based gas supplier. "Sounds fishy. Could be funneling the money back to al-Qaeda," says Shane. He'll see what he can find out.<br />
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At the Barn, Romero's ex tells the cops she hasn't seen him in years, but they talk on the phone sometimes. Dutch breaks the news about Romero's severed arm being found with numerous other dead bodies. She had no idea he was even missing. Maria remembers her late ex-husband traveled to L.A. two or three times a year, supposedly for family reasons. He always stayed at the same hotel in Koreatown.<br />
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Dutch learns that Romero checked into the Koreatown hotel using an alias two days before his death. The clerk gave Billings the plate number of Romero's Mercedes, which came back as a rental from LAX. They're in the process of tracing the LoJack signal.<br />
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Upstairs, Santi agrees to give up three shooters. Claudette knows witnesses saw six, but Santi won't reveal whether or not that's accurate. Claudette doesn't like the possibility of letting three murderers walk free, but it may be the only option they have to cool down the gangs. Once she's gone, Vic returns to Santi. The Byz Lat tells Vic where to drop off the Salvadorans.<br />
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Kevin doesn't entirely trust Santi and wants to call for backup. Vic assures him this is an honest deal. The guys scramble into position, Ronnie hopping around like a spider monkey. "You're not gonna believe this," he says when he peeks in the window. The three Byz Lats are having a noisy orgy with a woman in the kitchen/living room. Vic, Ronnie, Kevin, and Julien go in the house via the side door and round up the naked perps.<br />
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In the Koreatown hotel room, Dutch and Billings find Romero. He's very much alive, but is missing half of one arm. "Glad we found the rest of you," remarks Dutch. Romero refuses to talk due to diplomatic immunity. Billings opens a suitcase on the bed and finds stacks of cash. "Ever heard of traveler's checks?" snarks Dutch.<br />
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In her office, Claudette tells Dutch she just got chewed out by the Mexican consulate for taking Romero in against his will. Dutch argues Romero needs protective custody: "This guy had his arm hacked off at a grisly crime scene. He had a suitcase full of unexplained cash." Dutch knows he'll hold onto the money "like it's his missing hand." To keep him around, they need to "lose" the suitcase.<br />
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"Technically, we should notify Narcotics," says Claudette. A lot of the money had drug residue on it. Claudette risks a further ass-reaming by playing fast and loose with procedures, but the information they could get out of Romero would be worth it.<br />
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Down by the cage, Vic introduces Octavio to the Byz Lats who opened fire on the street fair. It's too bad they can't all get to know each other. Vic shoves Hernan all the way out to the lobby. Claudette hopes Hernan will keep his end of the bargain.<br />
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Mara loads a bag of baby toys into her car. "I'm sorry if I said too much earlier," she tells Corinne. The former Mrs. Mackey understands needing to vent. Mara knows something happened between Vic and her husband, something that drove a huge wedge between them. She's worried and wants Corinne to talk to Vic.<br />
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"You think Vic's gonna do something to him?" asks Corinne. Mara answers, "Tell Vic we don't want any trouble. He can get hurt too. He has just as much to lose as we do, if not more." Corinne demands to know what Mara means. Mara just gets in her car and pulls away.<br />
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Shane goes to the Iraqi gas station, flashes his badge, and asks for the supply invoices. The clerk tells him to come back with a warrant. When the guy puts his hand through the bulletproof glass for a better look at the badge, Shane grabs his wrist. "I'm a citizen, man!" the guy protests. Shane cuffs him to the counter and says, "Not in my world."<br />
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Shane puts on a pair of latex gloves and locks the store. He gets in the booth with the clerk, kicks him, and takes a clipboard off the wall. The station is getting a shipment tonight from Nawzad Oil. Shane wonders if the company is on a Homeland Security watchlist. He takes the surveillance tape out of the VCR, instructing the clerk to refuse the gas.<br />
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The clerk shouldn't get too fussed, though. Another company will be dropping off a shipment in the morning. Shane thinks the company's name ends in I-A-N. The clerk immediately knows what's going on: Armenians put Shane up to this. Shane grabs his cuffed wrist again: "Nobody puts me up to anything." (Bullshit).<br />
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Vic and Kevin are at the rendezvous point Hernan picked. The undercover agent is a no-show. Talbert pulls up, informing the locals he lost contact with Hernan. "What's that mean?" asks Kevin. Nothing good. Talbert accuses them of compromising Hernan's cover, then drives off.<br />
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Claudette knocks on Nancy's door and takes an evidence bag in her purse. Some of Gilroy's belongings got lost when he was booked, namely his watch and wedding ring. She wanted to personally return them. Claudette is also curious why Nancy seemed so upset earlier. Nancy tells her it's nothing.<br />
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Claudette looks around at the framed photos; she has two daughters herself with the same age difference as Nancy's. Claudette doesn't have pictures of her ex either. "Guess we know how to pick 'em, huh?" asks Nancy.<br />
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Claudette tells Nancy <a href="http://knock-knock-striketeam.blogspot.com/2016/11/dominoes-falling-and-april-fools.html">about her own husband's murder, which her oldest daughter witnessed.</a> She thinks Bonnie is handling it okay, but Claudette admits she stopped asking a while ago. Nancy questions, "You ever blame yourself?" Claudette doesn't anymore and encourages Nancy to call if she needs someone to talk to.<br />
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Just before Claudette steps out, Nancy tells her that Vic wanted to know how Gilroy got money in Mexico. She'd never dream of helping a fugitive, of course. "Vendrell came by today, wanted the same information. He was all jacked up." Claudette won't let Vic or anyone else hurt Nancy.<br />
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Elsewhere, Danny radios in a dead body. We see it's the Iraqi gas station clerk, the nozzle of a gas pump shoved down his throat.<br />
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Vic catches up to Shane, warning him not to go to Nancy's again. Shane jabs at Vic, implying he's sleeping with Nancy. "You've destroyed enough families. You leave hers alone," Vic says before tossing something into Shane's open truck window. "Don't worry, it's not like it's a live grenade or anything."<br />
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It's an envelope with the names of Gilroy's Mexican contacts. Vic twists the knife some more: "Good luck on the goat farm. I hear Juarez PD's lookin' for a few good hombres." Shane asks if Vic is stupid enough to think he'd use the same escape plan they set up for Lem. He knew threatening Nancy would move Vic here, to neutral ground.<br />
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Shane tosses a manila envelope onto Vic's lap and delivers a great monologue: "The original is in a warm, safe place. Anything happens to me or my wife or my son, even my mailman, anybody that I am close to, that lands on IAD's doorstep. Just imagine every wrong, brutal thing we've ever done. It's hard to do, isn't it? We've done so many." That said, Shane peels away.<br />
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Vic opens the envelope and finds the top sheet, which describes what really happened the night Terry died. The next paper is about Tio, a drug dealer the Strike Team used to protect; there are crime scene photos from his murder. There's more: Margos' mug shot, a dead woman's photo.<br />
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Vic looks up and sees Nancy standing nearby. He drives away, blinking rapidly and no doubt pondering how fucked he truly is. End of episode.Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-69834137862972400152017-09-29T00:00:00.000-04:002017-09-29T00:31:33.441-04:00No Good Comes From "Chasing Ghosts" (Episode 6.6)<i>Previously on: Shane stole a grenade from a Salvadoran gang, pulled the pin, <b>dropped it in Lem's lap, and left him to die! </b>Vic vowed to find and kill the person responsible; believing it was gang leader Guardo, he did just that. After a vicious assault, Mara found out Shane's been having an affair with an 18-year-old black woman and threw him out of their house. Hernan, an undercover fed, told the Strike Team that Guardo was with him the night Lem died. Shane, crying and fucked-up on pills, went back to Mara's in the middle of the night and confessed he murdered Lem.</i><br />
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A prison guard with a barking dog patrols a line of prisoners, ordering them to strip to their underwear and hand over their shoes. Another guard, Billy, knocks on the door of a supply closet. Inside, Antwon is cuddled up on a bunk with a woman. Billy informs Antwon he has a visitor. "I know my visitor can't be half as fine as Renee," says the gangster. Billy describes the visitor as "some white cop from L.A."</div>
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Antwon asks for a few minutes with Renee, snapping, "And shut that damn dog up!" He caresses Renee's breasts, telling her there's no time for "sweet nothings."</div>
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"My day just gets sunnier and sunnier," Antwon says when he sees Vic in the visitors' room. He's gotten most of his privileges back since Kavanaugh was arrested for framing Vic. He wasn't aware the two of them still had business. "Oh, you mean since my guy you put a hit on got a grenade in his lap?" Vic asks lightly. Antwon thinks whoever did it should get points for creativity.</div>
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Vic is sure Antwon set up guys to find Lem after he got scared and skipped town, then made it look like Guardo did it. Vic offers a deal: If Antwon gives up the names of his guys, the big man himself won't be charged as a co-conspirator. Don't cooperate and "I don't care how many guards you have on the payroll, I will find a way to get to you inside here." </div>
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Antwon isn't afraid. He thinks his "greatest encore" is making Vic think "I'm everyone and everywhere, responsible for all the worst crimes against humanity...Chasing ghosts hasn't really gotten you anywhere."</div>
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Antwon maintains his innocence, guessing Vic must've lost his last clue if he's blaming him.</div>
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Shane is back at work, face still bruised all to hell. Vic has bad news for him: The Salvadorans didn't kill Lem. They talked to an undercover fed who was in Mexico with Guardo when Lem got killed. Antwon swears the One-Niners weren't responsible either. Shane shakes his head: "We finished this. There's nothing more to find out, all right?"</div>
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Vic asks Dutch if he's made progress on Lem's case. Dutch is still trying to find Guardo. Vic tells him about his conversation with Hernan; Guardo has an alibi. Dutch hasn't gotten any reports back from the crime lab. "I got a dead cop and no suspect. You think you could light a fire under their Bunsen burner?" asks Vic.</div>
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Corinne calls to ask if anything happened last weekend that could've upset Cassidy; their daughter is refusing to stay with Vic when Corinne goes to San Francisco with the younger kids for an autism rally. Cassidy won't tell her mom what's bothering her. Corinne already has a hotel and plane tickets. Vic promises to smooth things over with their eldest. </div>
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Ronnie is checking into felons who served in the military: "Maybe they got Lem's grenade from Uncle Sam." In the clubhouse, Shane has his feet up on the table, perusing the paper's real-estate section. "You wanna jump in on this Lem thing anywhere?" asks Vic. Shane doesn't want to waste his time.</div>
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Vic doesn't think Hernan had a reason to lie to them. "You were sure enough to put a bullet in Guardo," Shane points out. They all did what they had to do. Vic needs to stop asking questions that can't be answered. With that, Shane leaves the clubhouse.</div>
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"Whatever funk he's in seems to be over," Ronnie remarks. He isn't sure he can be at peace with his best friend's murder until he knows for sure that they got the right person. </div>
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"When we took down the stash of grenades the night that Lem died, Shane did the count solo, right?" Vic says slowly, "Did he say anything weird?" Ronnie says no, then he remembers, "When Kavanaugh's frame-up job was gone and things looked really bad...he said something like: What if he said he had a grenade from the bust and he was with Lem and it went off accidentally?"</div>
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At the time, Ronnie thought Shane was just theorizing a way to get Vic off the charges. Ronnie himself told Shane that idea would never work because Shane would be admitting to aiding and abetting a fugitive. Shane didn't have a response to that. </div>
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Vic asks if Ronnie remembers how many grenades were at the Salvadoran stash house. "Jesus, Vic, I don't wanna think like that," Ronnie mutters. He and Vic write their recollections on different pieces of paper and come up with the same number: 73. Vic wants Ronnie to quietly make sure all 73 grenades are still in the bomb squad's evidence lockup. </div>
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Julien arrives for work, asking if he can use a clubhouse locker. Vic goes still when Julien opens one. "Was this Lem's?" Julien starts stammering an apology. Vic says it's okay to use. Shane swaggers in with a smile: "Pregnancy sex is the best sex." Kevin jokes that he'll have to call Mara and find out for himself.</div>
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Claudette has a case for the Strike Team: Emily Martin was stabbed to death in an apartment building. Kevin didn't know they were working straight-up homicides. This particular one is a political powderkeg; Emily's father Rob is a city controller. Edgar-veda made a personal request for more manpower. "These high-profile cases are just one big invitation to get ass-reamed by the bosses," says Ronnie. Vic suggests they solve it quickly.<br />
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Emily's body is in a hallway, blood spattered up the walls. Vic doesn't think Emily's murder looks like a robbery gone bad. Kevin remarks this building is a long way from Daddy's nice neighborhood. "You guys know the drill," says Vic, "Look for nosy neighbors."</div>
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Julien points out a bloody shoe print in the carpet. "I knew they bumped him up for a reason," says Shane. It's hard to tell if the praise is sincere.</div>
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"Here comes the poster girl," says an officer as Tina steps into the squadroom. A round of clapping and whistling breaks out. Dutch immediately runs over to ask how Tina's doing. Tina was transferred to the P.R. department so she could speak at schools and police recruitment meetings. She met people in the chief's office and was able to convince them to let her come back to the streets. Dutch agrees that's where Tina belongs despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.</div>
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Danny tells Dutch there's a woman in the lobby who wants to talk to a detective about Guardo. She knows he's the prime suspect in Lem's murder. She welcomes Tina back and informs the younger officer that she's her temporary partner since Julien is now part of the Strike Team. "Well, sergeants don't get out much," Tina sounds disappointed.<br />
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Dutch's mystery woman is Guardo's girlfriend Nydia, who wants to report her boyfriend missing. She's convinced something terrible happened (and she has no idea how right she is). Guardo hasn't called her in a week and they normally talk every day. A cop told her a Mexican rival named Salceda wanted Guardo dead. Nydia adds that she was in protective custody and wants Dutch to quit playing dumb.<br />
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Edgar-veda introduces Kevin to Emily's parents as the lead detective in their daughter's murder. Kevin politely asks if they know why Emily was in this part of town. Her mom Patricia says Emily didn't deserve what happened to her. Her dad Robert adds, "My wife doesn't deserve to be put through anything else."<br />
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Inside, Edgar-veda quietly tells Kevin the importance of not sullying Emily's reputation. Shane has news. A neighbor, Rahid, was seen carrying two heavy trash bags down the stairs from his sixth-floor apartment. Other neighbors have been threatened when they complained about Rahid's loud music and constant visitors.<br />
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Kevin approaches and repeats what Aceveda said about Emily: "We don't even know what we're supposed to be hiding yet." This worries Julien, but Vic talks him down. They're caught between a city controller and Claudette's moral code: "Whoever you screw, you get cut off at the knees." Before they can figure out what to do, they have to find out what really happened to Emily.<br />
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It seems as though Rahid may have packed up a drug stash in a hurry before leaving. The building has assigned parking spaces, so Rahid's license plate will be on file. Julien finds an address book full of phone numbers but no names. Vic tells him to start dialing. Shane finds a used syringe under the bed.<br />
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Nydia describes being taken to the safe house last week. She asks them to look for Guardo. Vic had told her Salceda would try to kidnap her to get at Guardo. Shane told her they'd caught Salceda and dropped her off at home.<br />
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Outside, Dutch confers with Claudette. Nydia's timeline has everything taking place during the personal days Vic used after Lem died. She confirmed Vic let her talk to Guardo on the phone. Dutch couldn't find records of anyone named Salceda with connections to the Salvadorans. "We are not gonna accuse Vic Mackey of murder and be wrong <i>again</i>," Claudette says firmly.<br />
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Dutch wants to put Vic in the room with Nydia and not tell her the camera is on. "You shook that hornet's nest once. Haven't you been stung enough yet?" asks Claudette. She reluctantly agrees to the plan, however.<br />
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Vic questions Valerie, a young, blonde mother of two, as to why they found her number in an apartment "on the shitty side of the freeway." Does her husband know she's on drugs? Vic rolls up Valerie's sleeves: "Gotta work real hard to hide that secret." He takes off her shoes, checking the veins on her ankles and between her toes.<br />
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"Stop." Valerie struggles as Vic pushes up her skirt. There are track marks on her thighs. "Don't tell Jeffrey," Valerie begs. Vic threatens to tell everyone from hubby to "the little old lady who brings cookies to your PTA meetings."<br />
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"Sure is getting hot in here," Billings whispers. Dutch tells him to stop sexually harassing Tina. He noticed the Quick Meal vending machines are still in the hall, "meaning you're still lining your pockets on the department's dime." Dutch promises not to call IAD if Billings gets rid of the machines and stops making jokes about Dutch having a crush on Tina.<br />
<br />
Kevin asks if Vic ever thought about putting doors on the clubhouse. (Little does he know Vic is the reason they lost the doors). Valerie is waiting for Rahid to text her back about when to pick up her next fix and a code number indicating the location.<br />
<br />
Tina is being bitchy about Danny trying to teach her the new filing system, but perks right up when Kevin appears. Danny notices and asks if Tina is done filing. "It's a three-week job. What do you think?" she asks. Danny advises her to lose the attitude. Her job performance needs to improve drastically if she doesn't want to be the "permanent filing girl."<br />
<br />
Tina boasts about her new friends high on the food chain; Danny's new stripes don't impress her. The junior officer adds that Danny needs to watch her tone or risk explaining why she can't get along with "the new face of the department."<br />
<br />
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Corinne is waiting in the lobby with Cassidy, the teen's face all but hidden by a curtain of hair. She pulls away when Vic tries to put his arm around her. "All right, Cass, what's going on?" he sighs. Cassidy turns to Corinne: "I don't have to talk to him."<br />
<br />
Vic tries to make Cassidy understand the stress she's causing her mom. Cassidy wants to spend the autism rally weekend with her friend Olivia; the other girl's parents said it was okay. Vic asks what's really bothering her.<br />
<br />
Cassidy's friend Brian has a father who's a lawyer. The kids did a LexisNexis search for Vic's name. "I saw all the shit you've done," Cassidy says fiercely, "The brutality complaints. The IAD guy thought you killed people." Corinne reminds her that people saying things doesn't make them true and "that IAD cop got caught trying to frame your father."<br />
<br />
Cassidy doesn't want to learn any life lessons from Vic. "I'll teach you some respect--" Vic starts. Cassidy's tone is calm when she says, "Respect is earned." Vic tells her the website doesn't have the whole truth. "Like the baby you had with some other woman?" Cassidy overheard Corinne talking to Grandma about it on the phone.<br />
<br />
Vic tells Cassidy not to worry about "adult stuff." Cassidy wants to know why she shouldn't be upset that she found out she has a half-brother she's never met. She storms out of the room and downstairs, both parents on her heels.<br />
<br />
Kevin meets Vic at the bottom of the stairs; they know where Rahid is meeting Valerie. Dutch asks Vic to go talk to someone about Guardo: "If it's about Lemansky's murder, it could be important." Vic will get to that once they track down today's other murder suspect.<br />
<br />
Ronnie eyes Rahid from a table at a diner. Vic, Kevin, and Julien enter. Kevin invites himself to sit with Rahid. When Rahid tries to get up, Vic puts a gun to his head.<br />
<br />
At the Barn, Vic wants to know about the bags Rahid was seen with. Rahid asks, "Don't you guys ever take out the trash?" "Not the day after pickup," Kevin replies. They know Emily was in his apartment and they'll probably find her blood on his shoes. Rahid went downstairs afterward to dump the knife. "And Johnnie Cochran ain't alive to represent you," adds Vic.<br />
<br />
Even though he initially claimed not to know Emily, Rahid somehow knows her dad is a city official. He admits Emily gave him oral sex, but he didn't kill her. Vic is curious why Emily would do that "aside from your winning personality." Well, Emily didn't always have money to pay for her drug habit. She also "serviced" his associate Snail in Brentwood.<br />
<br />
"That white boy's a control freak," Rahid says of Snail, "He got her on the shit, then started rationing it out." He didn't see Snail kill Emily, but he heard a struggle and found her dead. Rahid threw away his stash because he knew the police would be coming.<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda asks how the investigation is progressing. "Getting to a dark place," Vic says cryptically before clarifying that Emily was a "heroin-addicted whore." There may not be a way they can spin this. Edgar-veda says her dad wouldn't be able to blame the police department if the press got ahold of the story.<br />
<br />
Claudette has words of wisdom for Kevin: "Don't let these people influence you. Follow the case where it leads, but the VIP key is only gonna open so many doors."<br />
<br />
Ronnie pulls Vic out to the back parking lot for a chat. The bomb squad hand-counted the grenades Shane delivered as evidence; all 73 were there. Vic sighs, "I'm an asshole. First I doubted Lem, now Shane." Ronnie tells Vic not to be so hard on himself. They just wanted answers. Vic thinks Shane may have been right about there not being any.<br />
<br />
Vic's next private conversation is with Danny in the weight room: "My daughter knows about Lee." Danny knows Corinne is the mother of Vic's children, "but that lady's been a real pain in my ass." She chose the single mom life for a reason. If Vic's learned one thing from being a dad, it's that things never go as planned.<br />
<br />
The Strike Team descends on Snail's apartment. Kevin is about to hit the door with a battering ram when Vic stops him, noticing a mirror inside aimed their way. Suddenly, gunshots rip through the door. "That's a .45; vests aren't gonna be worth shit," says Vic. They wait for Snail to empty the magazine before entering.<br />
<br />
Vic and Kevin comb the apartment, but Snail is nowhere to be found. At least until he pops out of a closet and tries to shoot Kevin. Vic tackles Snail to the bed.<br />
<br />
Outside, Vic informs the others he's taking Snail in alone. There's too much at stake; Emily's dad could "eliminate the Strike Team with the stroke of a pen." Julien isn't comfortable with the idea, knowing Vic will probably tune Snail up. Vic is fine with taking the hit for everyone because he's being forced to retire at the end of the month. Julien, Kevin, Shane, and Ronnie all have something to lose.<br />
<br />
In his car, Vic offers Snail a chance to avoid the death penalty. Emily's family wants to avoid embarrassment and scandal, which they will if Snail tells his story the right way. "What's the right story?" the kid asks.<br />
<br />
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Back at the Barn, Vic promises Rahid the chance to leave with no pending charges. Dutch tells him that the woman with information on Guardo is still upstairs. Vic is surprised when lo and behold, it's Nydia. Claudette and Dutch watch as Vic claims he never touched Guardo.<br />
<br />
Vic heard that Salceda wanted Guardo dead. Was Nydia aware Guardo was the prime suspect in a cop's murder? Vic never kept her prisoner and Nydia is lucky she didn't dragged off into Guardo's shit.<br />
<br />
Vic goes to observation, asking if they want to get Kavanaugh out of jail and have him investigated again. Dutch thinks the Nydia situation sounds more like kidnapping than witness protection. Vic admits to using Salceda's name to get to Guardo; he wanted to make him pay for Lem. Claudette would be on his case if he'd ignored the rumors and Nydia had gotten killed. Vic never saw Guardo.<br />
<br />
He thinks Nydia's appearance could be a ploy to make them think he's dead. Claudette notes Vic isn't making a compelling case for keeping his job. Vic is sure Hernan can tell them Guardo was killed by Mexicans. They can ask Kevin how to get in touch. He calmly strolls out of the room.<br />
<br />
Robert the city controller was aware of his daughter's drug addiction, but Emily refused his offers of help. He'd cut her off as an attempt to keep her from buying heroin; Emily bragged about how she was hooking to get high. Robert had written it off as an attempt to con more money out of him.<br />
<br />
Vic confirms that Emily was prostituting herself, "but that's not how history has to read." Just how Vic remembers Lem as a funny guy and a loyal teammate, not as a dirty cop. There are angles Vic can't cover, though, like the coroner's office. Robert isn't worried about that; he can pay to have the lab reports doctored.<br />
<br />
Vic tells Robert about his upcoming hearing, which determines whether he'll be forced to retire. Robert will do what he can to help. "Must be good to be king," Vic muses.<br />
<br />
In separate interrogation rooms, Emily's story is spun. Rahid was supposedly angry with her for trying to get Snail out of the drug trade. Snail said Emily followed him to Rahid's place to stop him from buying his inventory; he lost control of himself and stabbed her in the elevator. Claudette looks mildly impressed by Snail's acting skills.<br />
<br />
Julien confronts Vic about the Strike Team playing God. The way Vic sees it, God creates everyone equal, but once you're born, He starts playing favorites. I think everyone's felt that way at some point in their lives.<br />
<br />
Vic sees an open file in front of Dutch: lab results and Lem's autopsy report. Dutch is cagey; all he'll say is there were no fingerprints or DNA evidence. Vic demands to see for himself; nobody wants to solve the case more than he does.<br />
<br />
Dutch displays a rare degree of sensitivity as he explains why Vic is better off not looking at the file. It includes crime scene and autopsy photos: "Curtis was eviscerated from the waist down." Vic doesn't care. He flips past a couple pictures of Lem dead in the car and notices a new sheet of paper, a report from Kavanaugh.<br />
<br />
"Part of the deal he made when he came clean about you was full disclosure," Dutch exposits. Vic closes his eyes, sad and numb all at once.<br />
<br />
Across the Barn, Tina is helping Kevin put the door back on the clubhouse. The Sharpie note now reads WE'RE BACK, ASSHOLES! Danny, dressed in her civvies, asks to see Tina to talk about some filing errors she made. Dutch asks how the hell Kevin managed to arrange a meeting with Hernan. "It's easier to negotiate between federal agencies," Kevin explains. He may not be a fed anymore, but he's still got his name.<br />
<br />
In the hallway, Billings is barking orders at movers, telling them not to ding the vending machine. Dutch approaches to let him know the machines can stay. Billings is smart and knows Dutch just wants to dangle it over his head. Dutch reminds him who's losing money if the machines are gone.<br />
<br />
Danny answers a knock to find Vic and Cassidy at her doorstep. She introduces the teen to her new half-brother Lee. His middle name is Carson, Danny's mom's maiden name. Danny offers to let Cassidy hold Lee, but she declines.<br />
<br />
Ronnie tells Shane that Vic wants the three of them to have a little powwow at Portillo Auto Body: "walk Lem's crime scene the time of night that it happened." The CSIs might've missed something. Shane inquires about the lab report. Ronnie answers that there wasn't much in it; he has to finish paperwork on Emily's stabbing, but he'll be there soon.<br />
<br />
Once Shane leaves, Ronnie calls Vic: "Are you sure you don't want me to be there?" Vic warns him to keep a safe distance and hangs up, scanning the horizon for Shane's truck. It's a while before he arrives. Vic tells his best friend they rolled snake eyes on forensics. Shane shrugs it off as Guardo being careful. "Not careful enough to escape us," says Vic.<br />
<br />
Vic starts talking about Guardo: "I shot him, tortured him, and burned his body and he didn't kill Lem." The Salvadorans didn't even kill Emolia for being a rat. He doubts one of them could've thrown a grenade on Lem and disappeared without a trace.<br />
<br />
"It wasn't One-Niners looking for Antwon revenge," Vic goes on, "Made a fool of myself up at Lompoc finding that one out. So I asked Ronnie to check if you logged all the grenades from the bust that night."<br />
<br />
You can feel the tension hovering in the air between them, Shane just one wrong look away from tipping his hand and bringing Vic's wrath down on his head. He's carefully stone-faced when Vic plants himself a foot away from him. Vic knows all 73 grenades made it to the evidence locker.<br />
<br />
"Which means..." he sighs heavily, "You pocketed a grenade before Aceveda even lied to us about Lem ratting us out. You lied to us at the bust about the count." There's no anger in his tone, just pain. "Before I even started to question Lem, you were looking for a way to shut him up and make it look Salvadoran."<br />
<br />
Vic knows Shane was the last one to get to the meeting spot the night Lem died. Shane's excuse about not being able to lose his tail is looking pretty flimsy. Vic saw a report Kavanaugh wrote just before being arrested; he and one other guy were the only people looking for Lem that night. They rode together.<br />
<br />
Tears swim in Vic's eyes. Did Shane just drop a grenade in Lem's lap and run? "I did what I thought had to be done at the time," Shane confesses. Vic buries his face in one big hand, repeating, "Oh God." He walks away from Shane, fists clenched, then whirls around and screams, "You piece of shit!"<br />
<br />
Shane explains he went rogue because Lem refused to go to Mexico. He tried his best to sell Lem on the goat farm and assure him they'd send money: "You said if he wouldn't take the ride to Mexico that we would know that he turned." "He didn't turn!" Vic bellows.<br />
<br />
"We couldn't afford to take that chance," says Shane. It wasn't an easy decision for him to make, never mind leaving with the guilt. "For you?" Vic is aghast, "Lem!" "At the time, it was either him or the rest of us." Vic calls bullshit.<br />
<br />
Shane keeps trying to rationalize it: "If he would've gone to jail like he wanted, he would've been killed by Antwon or turned by Kavanaugh." Vic says they can't know that. Lem was strong; Shane only killed him because he's a coward. Shane disagrees with that.<br />
<br />
"You were when you sat by and watched me tear Guardo apart for something <i>you</i> did!" Vic practically sobs out, "What did you turn me into?" Shane thinks the grenade smuggler deserved what he got. "I'm not an executioner!" Vic yells. Shane fires back, "Well, go tell that to Terry's family!" Vic plays semantics; Terry was a traitor and Lem was their friend.<br />
<br />
Shane says something else that should make Vic wants loosen a few of his teeth: Vic thinks he's looking at Shane through a window, but it's really a mirror. Vic shakes his head: "I would've spared Lem." Shane says, "I put Lem down so you could go to bed at night believing that." It's not like he had time to consult Vic and Ronnie.<br />
<br />
Vic argues that Lem was owed a chance. Shane pours on the crocodile tears: "Look, it's taken me a while, but you're gonna learn how to accept it--" Vic shoves him hard, saying, "I will never accept that!" Shane refuses to fight Vic and lights a cigarette. He finally figures out Ronnie was never coming to this meeting.<br />
<br />
Did Vic say he was gonna know the truth by looking in Shane's eyes? If Vic is so good at reading people, why didn't he know Aceveda was lying about Lem? Shane points his cigarette at Vic: "All I was doin' was followin' yer game plan, Coach." Vic is still pissed; Shane was willing to make him the scapegoat. Shane swears it wouldn't have gone that far.<br />
<br />
"I had the chance to pull the trigger on you once before. I didn't do it and Lem lost his life because of it," Vic says with his characteristic silky menace. Shane knows Lem would've cracked eventually; he did this to protect the team. Just like Vic did with Terry.<br />
<br />
Shane thinks Vic just needs time to get used to the idea. "You and me, we're all outta time," Vic says, then reminds him Lem's case is still open. "I hope they catch you. I hope they do. I hope everybody knows what you did." His next words are a warning: "You don't get to do what you did for free. You're gonna pay that bill."<br />
<br />
Shane doubts Vic would turn rat. Even if he did, Shane could tell IAD the truth about Terry. Vic isn't worried because Terry's case hinges on hearsay. "Our entire lives are hearsay," says Shane, "And I've got a hell of a lot more on you than you've got on me."<br />
<br />
Vic snarls at Shane to get in his truck before he kills him. Shane knows Vic couldn't do that; he tried once and didn't have the stomach for it. Vic points out their last tiff was before Shane blew Lem in half with a grenade. "If I see you again, I will kill you," he vows. Shane calls Vic a hypocrite before peeling off in his truck. End of episode.</div>
Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-91385899155630298712017-09-22T00:00:00.000-04:002017-09-24T01:13:07.510-04:00The Truth "Haunts" (Episode 6.5)<i>Previously on: Hernan, a suspect in the string of grenade murders, is actually an undercover cop. Shane's cheating on Mara. An unknown man has been sexually assaulting and branding runaway teenage girls, telling them to go home. One of his victims was able to describe the bedroom where she was held. Kevin transferred to the Strike Team. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Shane the traitorous bastard went rogue and blew Lem up in his car to keep him from talking about the team's shady dealings. Vic murdered Guardo, a Salvadoran grenade smuggler that he believed had Lem killed.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Paramedics wheeling a gurney into the hospital give a hand-off report to the nurse: They found a man "swirlin' around in the gutter." He's stable now but bloodied with some possible fractures. Corinne pages the resident. One of the paramedics shows her something they found on the victim: a badge. More specifically, a detective's shield. Corinne glances at the man on the stretcher; it's Shane.<br />
<br />
A short time later, Vic and Ronnie arrive. Corinne explains that Shane was beaten and doesn't remember anything about what happened. "Oh man!" Vic mutters when he gets a good look at his best friend. Shane puts up his hand: "No shit from you guys. Already took one pounding today." His head and side are bandaged, his face bruised all to hell.<br />
<br />
Shane was walking to his truck and next thing he knew, "I'm comin' to in a meat wagon."<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've always understood that term to mean one of these.<br />
<a href="https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/c15.0.1049.1049/17493673_1747743315475240_6099649542314000384_n.jpg">(Photo credit)</a></td></tr>
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Shane didn't see anyone, but whoever jumped him left his wallet and gun alone. Vic and Ronnie ask if this could be payback for Guardo. If it was, Shane is sure "we wouldn't be havin' this conversation." It could've easily been someone else they sent up, though. Ronnie offers to check that angle.<br />
<br />
"Tell me somethin'. Who's that?" asks Shane, pointing to Ronnie. Vic chuckles, squeezing Ronnie's freshly shaved cheeks. Ronnie says his new girlfriend prefers that look. Shane laughs so hard at his teammate's expense that it aggravates his broken ribs.<br />
<br />
"Oh my God! What happened?" cries Mara, rushing to hold her husband's hand. Shane doesn't answer, just kisses her knuckles.<br />
<br />
At the Barn, Claudette asks how Shane is feeling. "Hurtin' for certain. Not especially pleasing to the eye at the moment," Vic reports. (Was Shane ever)? Claudette will post a uniform outside Shane's hospital room until they know more details about the attack.<br />
<br />
Claudette asks what Kevin knows about the San Marcos house murders. Only what he heard. The case was being investigated by Robbery-Homicide, but they recently kicked it back to the Strike Team. The original detective found 11 bodies and one severed arm. "Machete's the weapon of choice for the Salvadorans," Kevin notes.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No, not THAT Machete...<br />
<a href="http://2tax3i7eqir13il3d49l65b3-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/stories/article_photos/machete-movie-trailer.jpg">(Photo credit)</a></td></tr>
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The victims were all illegal immigrants from Mexico; the arm remains unidentified. The male victims had all been recently released from the same Mexican prison. Claudette tells them this case is now their top priority: "Solving it quickly is the difference between keeping the Barn open or closing it for good." Nobody else is to know that piece of information.<br />
<br />
"So far no one on the streets is braggin' about giving Shane a beat-down," says Ronnie. He has a theory: Guardo's girlfriend figured out they used her to get to Guardo and told his friends. Vic doubts that: "Shane got hit with a fist, not a machete or a grenade."<br />
<br />
Kevin found out the San Marcos victims were all connected to the same drug cartel. Julien, who Claudette brought onto the Strike Team, adds they had guest worker visas. "Prisoners don't get work visas," says Kevin. Vic adds, "Especially not real ones. Where do you want to start, <i>jefe?</i>" Ronnie looks surprised to hear the new guy referred to as such.<br />
<br />
Kevin still knows people at INS who can help ID the arm. But where does Vic want to start? He knows the territory and the players. Vic might know someone who can forge visas this well. He shakes Julien's hand, welcoming him to the team. Julien promises not to let Vic down. Vic says, "[Kevin's] the boss now. Don't let him down."<br />
<br />
Teenage rape victim Graciela is being released from the hospital today, but Dutch is no closer to ID'ing her attacker. Billings is canvassing with a sketch. Dutch sent a profile to the feds and is waiting to hear back from local Y's and youth shelters. The guy is escalating quickly and Dutch wouldn't be surprised if he's already found another girl.<br />
<br />
"Oh my God," Julien sighs as he looks around the San Marcos house, a blood-spatter extravaganza that resembles a cross between the shower scene from <i>Psycho </i>and a production of <i>Sweeney Todd</i>. He takes out a pen and a pad of paper. "Who wants what and why and how slaughtering all those people in this room helped achieve that goal. That's all you need to be writin' down," advises Kevin.<br />
<br />
Vic and Ronnie drag in a nervous-looking white guy. "I read about it in the paper. I didn't need to see it," he protests. Vic shows him the forged visas. The forger claims he changed careers and he has no idea who else could've made them. Vic tells him the police are under pressure to make an arrest "no matter how bogus the ID."<br />
<br />
Forger can tell by the font that the visas were printed in Mexico, not the U.S. There's tension between Mexicans and Salvadorans: "Latinos can't even trust each other." Vic tells him to wait outside and the forger gladly sprints for the exit. Vic wants to start with the Salvadorans.<br />
<br />
They ask Guardo's former second-in-command Tejado why there's a feud with the Mexicans. The guy won't talk without a favor, namely oral sex from "a hottie" right here in the interrogation room. "Thought it was gonna be somethin' difficult," says Vic. Guardo's lieutenant believes Mexicans were responsible for Guardo's murder and the Salvadorans must avenge him.<br />
<br />
"Guardo's dead, you're wearin' orange, so who's gonna take up the fight?" asks Vic. Tejado says that part is "bein' worked out in upper management." He lists some possible names: Octavio, Rodrigo, and Hernan. Hernan is new but wants to take over as shot-caller. Vic's phone rings and he starts to leave.<br />
<br />
"What about my hummer?" demands Tejado. Vic calls over Officer Asher, who it should be noted is male: "You're considered a hottie in some circles, right?" "Damn straight," Asher says proudly, "Why?" "This is Tejado. He's got a request for you," says Vic.<br />
<br />
Vic thinks Moses from the One-Niners might know who went after Shane. San Marcos is the first priority, so he'll deal with it himself. "Don't go walking into traffic, making me look bad," cautions Kevin.<br />
<br />
Billings and Dutch interview one of Graciela's friends from the youth center. Billings gives her a sandwich. "By law, we're required to send runaways back home," says Dutch, "If you cooperate, tell us everything you know about Graciela, and promise to go back home on your own, we'll take you at your word." The girl never noticed anyone following Graciela, but there was a creepy guy named J.B. they'd see at Ray's Burger Stand. They didn't mind him much because he gave them free burgers.<br />
<br />
Judging by J.B.'s attire, he works at Ray's Burger Stand. Billings confirms my suspicion by saying that if J.B. was giving away food, that's considered stealing and is a parole violation. J.B. swears he only talked to the girls and gave them leftovers that the restaurant would've thrown away.<br />
<br />
"Talkin' to 'em is one thing. Spiking their soda with GHB, sodomizing, and torturin' 'em is another," says Billings, laying crime scene photos on the table. J.B. insists, "I didn't do that shit!" Dutch bets it's tough for an ex-con making minimum wage to find a nice girl his own age. However, "a homeless, hungry 15-year-old runaway is easy impress with a burger and fries."<br />
<br />
When Ronnie and Vic arrive at Moses' hangout, the gangster has a cane. "You better pray you didn't hurt that foot stickin' it up a white cop's ass," says Vic. Moses tells Vic to relax: "I'm rockin' a pimp stick 'cause I'm cold like that." He reveals that Shane's been hooking up with his 18-year-old girlfriend Tilli.<br />
<br />
That sounds like motive to Vic, but Moses "ain't about no sloppy seconds." Tilli, on the other hand, might have an idea.<br />
<br />
Carlos, from a shelter called Children's Beacon, sits down with Dutch. He made a list of female residents he feels would be most at-risk, ones with known drug and prostitution issues. Helping runaways is an issue close to Carlos' heart; his own daughter Sabrina went missing three years ago. Dutch offers to take another look at the case.<br />
<br />
When Danny arrives to guard Shane, Mara is helping him walk to the bathroom. This means Danny is treated to the sight of Shane's bare ass sticking out of his hospital gown.<br />
<br />
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"Jesus," Danny says when she sees the damage done to Shane's face. She promises they'll find whoever attacked him. "You just saw the only part of him that's not bruised," says Mara. Claudette wants a formal statement from Shane, even though he already talked to Vic.<br />
<br />
Shane doesn't want police protection: "I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time." Be that as it may, Danny still has to follow orders.<br />
<br />
Dutch didn't find anything incriminating at J.B.'s and doubts he's their guy. J.B. lives in a 4th-floor walk-up; most people wouldn't bother dragging victims up all those stairs. The building has thin walls, so a neighbor would've noticed screaming.<br />
<br />
Carlos returns with the names of girls Children's Beacon recently lost touch with. Dutch introduces him to Billings. Carlos again relays the story of his daughter. In a corner, Billings asks Dutch for a refresher on his profile. Dutch believes it's "a single father whose daughter disappeared or died prematurely." Carlos fits that bill. And "a lot of these freaks like to insert themselves into the investigations."<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda introduces Claudette to a man named Cruz, a Latino activist. He was the person who initially suggested a Salvadoran connection. Claudette assures him that Kevin, the lead detective, is more than qualified to deal with that angle.<br />
<br />
In the observation room, Claudette lectures the councilman about "bringing a civilian into a confidential police matter." Edgar-veda doubts she'd take this so personally if she knew more.<br />
<br />
Billings and Dutch bring Carlos to an interrogation room.<br />
<br />
"Why you callin' me out in front of my people?" Tilli demands. Vic heard she likes cops. Does she knew who could've put Shane in the hospital? Tilli wants to see him; Vic is sure Mrs. Vendrell won't appreciate that. Tilli shrugs, "I'll just say I'm a friend." Vic knows that won't play: "Shane doesn't have too many teenage black friends."<br />
<br />
Ronnie spots a bruise on Tilli's arm. It came courtesy of her stepdad after he found out she was seeing Shane. Tilli told Stepdad that if he tried to break them up or hurt her, she'd get Shane to kick his ass. She doesn't know where her stepdad is other than maybe at home because "he all about that monthly check from the county." Vic warns Tilli to stay away from both her stepdad and the hospital.<br />
<br />
Mara stops by the nurse's station to let Corinne know Shane's Percocet isn't working. Corinne hands Mara the bag containing Shane's personal effects. Mara immediately seems upset and asks Danny to take a break. Once she's gone, Mara throws the bag at her husband, hitting him in the chest.<br />
<br />
"Goddamn it, how <i>could </i>you?" shouts Mara, "Why do you need condoms when I'm three months pregnant?"<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"You rang?"<br />
<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1644304167/IMG_8880.jpg">(Photo credit)</a></td></tr>
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Shane, of course, plays innocent: "They must've been from before. Mara, I'm not doin' anything, baby. I swear." Mara may not be smart, but she ain't dumb. Is cheating the reason Shane wound up in the hospital? Shane tells her it's not important. When that doesn't work, he breaks out the crocodile tears and apologies.<br />
<br />
Mara continues ranting, loud enough for Danny to hear out in the hallway: "This is us, okay? Our family. You threw it away! I've been trying to help you through all of this." ("This" presumably meaning Lem's death). "You waking up screaming. And then you're out--Oh, I can't <i>believe </i>you!" She grabs her purse and storms out.<br />
<br />
Carlos talks about how everyone pitched in when Sabrina first went missing: family, neighbors, people from church. Life and eventually the police moved on. He's sure Sabrina is still out there. Billings is a father and can't imagine what Carlos is going through.<br />
<br />
Carlos brought them 15 names. Dutch asks if there's any one girl he thinks is particularly at-risk. Carlos flips through his file: "Probably Rosanna." She got involved with a pimp and hasn't been at the shelter for at least two weeks.<br />
<br />
Downstairs, Kevin asks for Dutch's files on the San Marcos murders and anything he knows about Hernan. Dutch quietly tells him Hernan is an undercover fed. He was already told by Hernan's ICE handler to stay away.<br />
<br />
Vic's former partner Joe pays him a visit: "I heard about your guy. Curtis was a good kid." He was out of town during the funeral. Can he donate to a charity or a police memorial fund in Lem's name? "Audubon Society," Vic replies, "Lem was really into birds, turns out."<br />
<br />
Joe has a business idea for Vic, but Vic can't get involved right now. Twelve people have been murdered, no suspects. Someone put Shane in the hospital. Joe just wants to repay Vic f<a href="http://knock-knock-striketeam.blogspot.com/2016/09/partners-in-crime-episode-23.html">or all his help a few years back</a>.<br />
<br />
Vic remarks that Joe looks like he's doing all right for himself with his fancy new car. Joe also has a 26-year-old Filipino wife "to keep in Gucci." He heard his old friend might be getting forced off the job without a pension. Vic says that's just a rumor.<br />
<br />
Joe knows a guy who owns an apartment building. His friend wants to renovate and raise the rent, "only there's an undesirable element camped out there." More specifically, Jamaican drug dealers harassing the other tenants. The landlord can't evict them because they're never late with the rent. Mr. Landlord has promised cash up front to convince the Jamaicans to move. Vic agrees to take a look at the place.<br />
<br />
There's a spotter at the apartments. Joe gripes about how his employment with the police department ended; all his dedication and "you don't even get to leave on your own terms." Vic takes note of how many people are involved in these drug deals. He's passing on the job and thinks Joe should too. Joe can't because it's his only income this month.<br />
<br />
Joe asks Vic to run the building for tenants with priors so he has an idea of what he's dealing with. Vic agrees to that much.<br />
<br />
Dutch brings Princess and her mother in. He plays a tape of Carlos' interrogation. "I'm sure that's his voice," says the teen. That's enough for the detectives to be able to go to Carlos' house.<br />
<br />
"Entrance off the alley," Dutch observes. It'd be easy to take victims there without anyone noticing. Inside, there's general disarray and dishes piled in the sink. Billings kicks in a door at the end of the hall. It's definitely a teenage girl's bedroom: pink curtains and bedspread, stuffed animals, and the boy band posters Princess described.<br />
<br />
"What 15-year-old keeps her room this neat?" Billings wonders. He's asking the wrong person; Dutch never had kids. The carpet is freshly shampooed.<br />
<br />
Vic and Ronnie drive Shane home from the hospital. Vic tells him they know about the affair. Shane admits Tilli's stepdad beat him up. "Jesus Christ, Shane," mutters Ronnie. Shane says it's not like he's the only one of them who's "ever had a little out-of-bounds ass before."<br />
<br />
Vic reminds him of the risks involved with Tilli, a One-Niner's girl. Shane was told Tilli broke up with Moses. "You sayin' this is about more than gettin' laid?" Ronnie asks incredulously. Shane repeats his story: "She just shot off her mouth about us to the dickhead stepdad. I got blindsided." "Yeah, I can see that," snarks Vic.<br />
<br />
Vic also suggests "raising the mistress bar." "If you still want a wife and kid to come home to," adds Ronnie. Shane asks if the other two have ever considered coming clean about everything. Vic's answer is an instantaneous "no."<br />
<br />
He gives Shane a choice about Tilli's stepdad: him and Ronnie can return the ass-kicking in kind or they can wait until Shane feels well enough to do it himself. Shane wants to let it go. Vic argues about the principle of the guy knowingly hurting a cop, but Shane is adamant.<br />
<br />
When Shane goes inside, he finds Mara has locked herself in their bedroom. She opens the door with Jackson in her arms and informs her husband, "Some black bitch called your phone...She sounded like she was 10. Is that who you're banging while I've got morning sickness?" She throws the phone at him. "You've always been an asshole." Only took a few years for her to catch on.<br />
<br />
"Mara, please," Shane starts. Mara snaps, "Yeah, I know. You're all torn up over Lem." She tells him to leave. Furthermore, she doesn't want Jackson or the new baby growing up around Shane.<br />
<br />
Kevin's INS contact ID'ed the severed arm as Eduardo Romero, a presidential appointment to the Mexican government. As a high-profile figure, he should've been the first person Mexico identified. Vic guesses they wanted to spare themselves the embarrassment, then snipes at Julien to stop taking notes. Kevin backs Vic's play: "This is raw intel. We don't know where it leads yet...You don't hand your superior pieces of a puzzle; you hand 'em the whole picture."<br />
<br />
Dutch apologizes to Carlos for the wait. They were sending uniforms to canvass the area where he said Rosanna works. More information about her might help, little things like where she goes out to eat and the movies and music she likes.<br />
<br />
"You show me a kid's room and I can tell you their life story," says Billings. Carlos knows they searched his house and is sure they didn't find anything. Not exactly. Two witnesses identified his voice and remember the posters in Sabrina's room. Carlos is confident his lawyer will have him released before the detectives clock out.<br />
<br />
Dutch offers to personally reopen Sabrina's case if Carlos tells them what they want to know. Carlos will only do that if he can tell his daughter's story in front of a TV reporter, accusing the police of burying the case three years ago.<br />
<br />
Vic gives Joe the tenants' priors: possession, robbery, aggravated assault. Joe looks around the clubhouse: "Lotta ghosts in this place, man." "And every day's Halloween," Vic agrees.<br />
<br />
"Goddamn freeway. City's turnin' into a third-world shitbag," gripes a man named Lester. Hey, It's That Guy! Patrick St. Esprit later appears on another FX drama <i>Sons of Anarchy </i>as Charming's town mogul Elliott Oswald. Lester, an ex-cop, knows Vic by reputation.<br />
<br />
Vic suggests Joe take a few more guys to the building. Lester is confident the dealers will be too stoned to realize what's happening: "Raids like this, I used to do 'em in my sleep. Literally." Vic's warning about a recent weapons charge falls on deaf ears, so he asks to ride along.<br />
<br />
A female detective with a camcorder tapes Carlos' confession. Billings asks about Carlos' endgame: "Punishing these girls for running away, get back at your own kid for disappearing?" Carlos maintains that what he did was worth it if it convinced even one girl to go home.<br />
<br />
Dutch doesn't understand how sexually assaulting young runaways would help get Sabrina back. Carlos did that out of anger at the cops for dropping her case after three months.<br />
<br />
Dutch wants to know why Sabrina took off in the first place. Carlos gets hostile, denying he gave her a reason. Dutch wonders if Sabrina might've been murdered. "She's alive," Carlos insists, "I just can't find her myself." Dutch reminds him the deal is off unless he's totally honest. Carlos won't talk unless the camera is off, which also seems like a violation of the deal.<br />
<br />
"Sabrina's mother died when she was 9. She never got over it. I mean, neither of us did," Carlos starts. As she grew older, Sabrina started to really resemble her dead mother. "I don't think Sabrina realized just how much like her she was. In every way." This led to him molesting her.<br />
<br />
Carlos tearfully asks them to turn the camera again and speaks directly into the lens, telling Sabrina he's sorry for hurting her. "Oh, Jesus," Billings says disgustedly, leaving the room. Carlos begs her to come home.<br />
<br />
Outside the apartment building, Vic, Lester, and Joe wait in a car. Lester offers the others bulbs of garlic. Is he expecting vampires? No, it's because bad breath makes for effective psychological warfare. Joe passes because "I'd like to get laid tonight."<br />
<br />
They kick in the door of the Jamaicans' apartment. One of them tries to hit Lester with a golf club from behind. Lester wrestles the club away and chases the guy through the house. In the process of trying to stop the suspect from climbing out the window, Lester either accidentally or on purpose loses his grip. The Jamaican plummets a couple of stories to the sidewalk.<br />
<br />
"Fore," calls Lester, tossing the club out the window. The Jamaican hobbles into the night on a probably broken leg. In the living room, Joe is cutting off another Jamaican's dreadlocks. "How much you want?" asks a third Jamaican, "We'll cut you in for half. This is some felonious bullshit!"<br />
<br />
Vic stops Lester from super-gluing the guy's lips together. Lester drags the guy into the bathroom, holds a gun to his head, and tells him to pee. The dealer is forced to his knees and Lester orders him to drink from the toilet. Joe forces his head in. This is too sadistic even for Vic. He wrenches the dealer free and tells him to consider this an official eviction notice.<br />
<br />
Shane is parked outside his house, sobbing. He stops long enough to snort some crushed oxycodone pills off a CD case. Ah, good old hillbilly heroin. Lovely.<br />
<br />
Joe thanks Vic for his help. The same landlord owns another building in South Central L.A., but Vic wants no part of any further shenanigans. Joe promises he'll get rid of Lester next time. Lester pipes up with: "I guess all that badass noise I heard about you is bullshit."<br />
<br />
Vic declines their offer of a ride back to the Barn. "Let him go, man," Lester says to Joe, "We don't need him. Word is most of the guys on his team end up dead anyhow." That was the wrong thing to say. Vic punches Lester in the nose, knocking him right on his ass.<br />
<br />
"Did Sabrina make the news?" Carlos calls from the cage. Dutch confirms it was that morning's lead story. Another precinct got an anonymous tip that Sabrina is buried near Lake Elsinore; local officers dug up the area and found a body. Carlos is sure it can't be his daughter. Billings has heard enough. He turns around and shouts, "Your daughter's dead! You made her run away; she got killed!"<br />
<br />
Vic meets Julien, Kevin, and Ronnie at a soccer field. Kevin points out Hernan; his handler agreed that he could talk to them as long as the Strike Team is subtle. Unfortunately, that's never been their strong suit. Vic floors it, driving right into the middle of the soccer game.<br />
<br />
Kevin gets out of the car and tackles Hernan. "Stop fighting. We know who you are," Vic says through his teeth. Hernan tells Kevin to make this look good for the homies watching. Kevin obliges by chokeslamming the fed into a tree.<br />
<br />
Hey, It's That Guy! Hernan is none other than Clifton Collins, Jr. He did a great job as Connor and Murphy's sidekick Romeo in <i>Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day</i>.<br />
<br />
Vic lays out what he heard: Salvadorans hit the San Marcos house and the Mexicans retaliated by killing Guardo. Hernan claims another Mexican faction is responsible for the San Marcos murders. "Killed their own? Unlikely," says Vic. Kevin adds, "Especially when one victim was a government official."<br />
<br />
Hernan guesses Guardo was collateral damage. Vic thinks that serves him right after blowing up a cop. Hernan scoffs, "Guardo didn't have anything to do with that." He rattles off what he does know: Emolia ratted Lem to IAD and was put in a safe house; now she's living with her sister in Seattle. If the Salvadorans didn't kill a snitch, there's no way they went after a cop.<br />
<br />
The late Guardo was in Mexico with Hernan the night Lem was killed. Couldn't get a better alibi than that. "Is anyone gonna make this look good?" asks Hernan. Kevin punches him in the jaw.<br />
<br />
"Guardo didn't kill Lem," Vic repeats. Ronnie thinks Hernan could be wrong. "He's not wrong!" shouts Vic.<br />
<br />
Mara wakes up when she hears someone jimmying the lock. She goes to investigate and finds Shane in the living room. "Ask me to come back," he pleads. He's crying and clearly high. "Our son is in the other room," Mara warns when Shane draws his pistol and shuts the door.<br />
<br />
Shane begs for Mara's forgiveness; he knows what he did was wrong. Mara can't believe it: "You want me to forgive you for sleeping with a girl that's barely out of an inner-city middle school? Forget it. Go ahead, shoot me, shoot yourself." I'd be real careful about saying that right now. Shane doesn't want Jackson to find out what he's done.<br />
<br />
Mara asks if Vic got Shane involved in something illegal. "He doesn't even know," Shane blubbers, "I killed Lem. I did it, I did it. I dropped a grenade in his lap and I just walked away." Mara is horrified. Shane gets into the more gruesome details, how Lem was still breathing afterward and <i>he left him to die.</i><br />
<br />
"Why?" Mara gasps. Shane explains that he thought Lem was gonna take a deal and hang them all out to dry: "I thought he was gonna take me away from you. From Jackson. From our baby." He didn't know what else to do. Shane wails at the ceiling, begging God for forgiveness.<br />
<br />
"I can't do this anymore. I'm sorry," Shane says to Mara. "Please just ask me back." She wraps her arms around him and Shane lets out a shaky breath. Let me just say I have no clue how Walton Goggins didn't get an Emmy, based on that scene alone. End of episode.Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-33497682578097647702017-09-15T00:00:00.000-04:002017-09-16T18:38:30.463-04:00Breaking In "The New Guy" (Episode 6.4)<i>Previously on: Dutch put the moves on rookie uniform Tina. Shane blew up Lem in his car. Vic killed grenade smuggling Guardo, falsely believing he was the one who murdered Lem, and Shane still didn't own up to it. Kevin Hiatt, a former INS agent, will be starting at the Barn and groomed to replace Vic.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Squad cars and helicopters are in a tense stand-off at Wings 'N Things restaurant. Vic, Shane, and Ronnie suit up in their vests. Santonino comes sprinting out the front door, yelling, "It wasn't me! They got guns in there!" Vic asks Asher for the CliffNotes version of events. They can't see inside the restaurant, so no one knows how many suspects are involved or what they might be packing. His best guess is semi-automatic. Situations like that are Vic's specialty.<br />
<br />
Claudette pulls up, a young white man accompanying her. She introduces him to Vic as Kevin. Another shot is fired. Vic tells Kevin and Claudette to stay down. "Uh, did he just give me a time-out?" asks Kevin. Claudette raises her eyebrows, like <i>That's Vic for ya...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Vic, Shane, and Ronnie enter. They find several armed suspects, who all look dead. A young woman with a shoulder wound lies on the floor. A guy with a gut wound is behind the counter. "One of them Niners shot us up and then took off," whimpers Chellie, presumably an employee.<br />
<br />
There's a crash from the back, near the kitchen. "Hey! Hands on your head!" shouts Vic. Kevin has come in, carrying a shotgun: "I was gettin' splinters in my ass sitting on the bench." In 30 seconds?<br />
<br />
A short time later, Vic brings out the guy in the black hoodie, the only one who's "not colored up." Shane isn't happy that Kevin was handling Lem's favorite gun. Vic doesn't think the kid meant anything by it; he probably just got it out of the trunk. Ronnie can't believe the department is getting rid of Vic to bring on "some cop in diapers."<br />
<br />
Vic makes nice-nice as best as he knows how, introducing Kevin to Shane and Ronnie. Shane wastes no time in relieving Kevin of the shotgun. Kevin tells them how sorry he was to hear about Lem: "I lost my partner on the border 3 years ago. It's a bitch of a thing." "Lem was more than a partner," says Shane the Traitorous Bastard. Vic wants Kevin to ride with him; he'll fill the kid in on the Niners.<br />
<br />
Claudette has reassigned people to uphold the <a href="http://knock-knock-striketeam.blogspot.com/2017/04/who-can-tell-civilians-from-insurgents.html">One-Niner injunctions from Season 4.</a> Working with Kevin will give Vic a chance to show he "can play well with others." Vic thinks "it's a little late in the game for me to win Miss Congeniality." Kevin already has a theory: "Spookstreet heard the Byz Lats and the One-Niners were having a square dance, decided to crash." Why don't you leave the square dancing to Shane?<br />
<br />
Claudette tells Kevin he'll eventually be able to expand the team, handpick some more help. "What about Shane and Ronnie?" asks Vic. Kevin plans to keep them. Claudette's long-term goal is to have Kevin supervise two teams. She also arranged for Vic to see an appeals panel about his impending forced retirement.<br />
<br />
Vic knows Edgar-veda won't okay that. Claudette wouldn't be so sure; a lot is riding on the Barn's success. He's free to continue pleading for supervisory privileges. Vic leaves to deal with a scuffle in the cage.<br />
<br />
Up in the office, Claudette has a secret for Kevin: "I lied to Mackey. In three weeks, he's gone. Period." Vic would be sniffing for loopholes if he knew. "Well, that's kinda cold," Kevin opines. Claudette asks how much he knows about Vic. Kevin shrugs that he's just heard rumors and knows two guys have died inside of the last few years.<br />
<br />
Claudette tells him about Tavon's unfortunate run-in with a windshield, but assures Kevin, "You'll be just fine as long as he doesn't have a problem with you." Kevin wants to start adding to the team ASAP.<br />
<br />
Corinne stops by the clubhouse with something she wants Vic, Shane, and Ronnie to all hear: "I feel really stupid saying this out loud and normally I don't even believe in this stuff. But I woke up this morning and felt like I was given a message." She had a dream the night before. They were all having a barbecue in the Mackeys old backyard, "only it was this beautiful place by this precipice." I'm gonna stop you right there and say the old backyard was pretty damn nice.<br />
<br />
Corinne goes on: "Lem was there and he was wearing his usual jeans, but he had on this pinstriped shirt. And his hair was shorter. And he was younger, like when I first met him." He was wrestling with one of the guys, but she doesn't remember who. "And then he wanted burgers for you guys." (Because of course). Lem requested them well-done.<br />
<br />
"The thing is, when I handed him the burgers, he got really mad. He said I made them all wrong." Corinne had never seen Lem like that. In the dream, Vic told Lem everything was okay and he'd learn to like burgers that way. "Then [Lem] got really calm and he said, 'Okay. It's all gonna be okay.'" Then Lem stepped off the cliff and disappeared without going up or down.<br />
<br />
I can't tell if Shane's expression is one of guilt or <i>Shut up, this is crazy. Who the hell cares? </i>"I know this sounds crazy, but I think it was Lem," Corinne finishes, "Maybe it means that everything's gonna be okay." Nobody says anything.<br />
<br />
Vic tells Shane not to make himself nuts about Corinne's dream: "We've all been hurtin' lately. She thought it would give us some comfort. Just go with it." "He didn't disappear up in the sky. He disappeared sideways, How is <i>that</i> comforting?" asks Shane, who will most certainly disappear down below.<br />
<br />
Vic sees Kevin in the observation room, watching one of the gangbangers on CCTV. Vic wants to work the losing friends angle but not show sympathy; gangsters can smell weakness. Kevin reminds Vic this isn't his first rodeo. "Well, this isn't the Valley or the Rio Grande. It's the majors," says Vic. He doesn't think Kevin is ready for Farmington. Kevin cuts Vic off; he saw plenty during his 4 years with Border Patrol.<br />
<br />
Vic describes Farmington's cultural melting pot: "Mexis that were too smart to get picked up," black gangs, Russians, Asians, and let's not forget our old friends the Armenians. Kevin asks Vic to make him ready for the neighborhood.<br />
<br />
Vic takes note of their suspect Ray's altered One-Niner tattoo: "Either you're founding a new set or you're trying to jump out. Both are punishable by death." This gives me flashbacks to another scene from a Kurt Sutter show involving gang ink.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.hitfix.com/photos/5872844/sons-of-anarchy-tattoo_gallery_primary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn.hitfix.com/photos/5872844/sons-of-anarchy-tattoo_gallery_primary.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Fire or knife?"<br />
<a href="http://cdn.hitfix.com/photos/5872844/sons-of-anarchy-tattoo_gallery_primary.jpg">(Photo credit)</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If wanting to get out is the case, Kevin doesn't think Ray is a bad guy. So why the angry look? "Because I'm a black man and you're a cop," the Niner replies. Kevin says, "So picture me holding a puppy." Interesting tactic. It's like Lem reincarnated.<br />
<br />
Ray claims he's been out of the life for 4 months. Vic asks him to explain the .22 they caught him with. The guy shrugs it's for self-defense and wants to know if his friend Vantes made it out alive. He starts waxing philosophical: "Oppressors are oppressors," no matter their skin color. Guys who deal for the One-Niners would probably make more money working at In 'N Out.<br />
<br />
"Breaking ties with [them] over drug money ain't exactly noble," Kevin says. Vic adds, "Banging doesn't come with an out clause." What was his grand scheme to escape? Ray and seven other guys were gonna jump out together; the meeting at the restaurant was to discuss terms (possibly the aforementioned "fire or knife" scenario). They had guns just in case and the Niners shot first.<br />
<br />
Danny and Julien jog toward a screaming woman. Fresh off maternity leave, the newly-minted sergeant is having trouble keeping up. A heavyset man in a nearby yard pulls up his pants. It appears they're interrupting a rape in progress. Julien tackles the guy, who keeps protesting that he didn't do nothing. The female victim is semiconscious, so Danny radios for paramedics.<br />
<br />
A neighbor on his balcony calls down, "Hey! I was watching that!" "Hey, get a life, asshole!" Danny shouts back.<br />
<br />
Cervantes is familiar to Vic, who sent him on a year-long retreat to Corcoran for dealing. The gangbanger "spent his 8 months reading Malcolm X, Huey Newton." (In case you're wondering, Huey was one of the founding members of the Black Panthers). After Vantes got paroled, he started helping friends get out of "the life." The meeting at the wing joint was a setup.<br />
<br />
Vic wants the survivors to have a chance to atone for their mistakes. Kevin thinks Vantes and the Niners trying to jump out need to be off the streets. "Yeah? Thanks for weighin' in," pipes up Shane. Maybe they can convince Moses to declare a cease-fire. Vic tells Kevin not to take Shane's attitude personally: "He's still real raw about Lem." I believe the term he's looking for is "guilty conscience."<br />
<br />
"50 bucks says Mackey and the new guy get into it by the end of the day," Billings wagers. Claudette tells Dutch about the interrupted rape. The victim, Graciela, recently ran away from her fourth foster home. "I love the smell of underage sexual assault in the morning," says Billings.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basically Claudette's reaction.<br />
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He backpedals: "I didn't mean that the way it came out." Yes, you did, you creep. It's a wonder him and Dutch don't get along; they're both perverts. Dutch is surprised Danny is back. He asks what happened to his crush Tina. Claudette explains she transferred. "You finally make your move? Scare Hanlon and her bikini briefs out the door?" Billings jokes.<br />
<br />
Moses' girlfriend Tilli shows the Strike Team to the backyard, where people are barbecuing and pitbull puppies are wrestling with each other. Shane worries about talking to Moses in front of Kevin, given his and Vic's history with the guy. What if Moses mentions he killed Kern? "For Christ's sake, hold it together," says Vic. He can't afford for anything to go wrong with his appeal coming up.<br />
<br />
"Mackey's lackeys," drawls Moses. Ronnie is crouched on the ground, playing with the puppies. Moses claims, "Low-level shit ain't my concerns." He's also not responsible for what his lieutenants do. Vic asks why Moses would care if Vantes and seven other guys quit the Niners?<br />
<br />
"You got an eye cramp?" Moses asks a glaring Shane. The Southerner thought he was clear about Moses staying away from underage girls. Moses dismisses them.<br />
<br />
Corinne reports that Graciela's drug test showed high levels of GHB. "Why write a girl a sonnet when you can slip her a Mickey?" shrugs Billings. The teen's rape kit was positive and someone carved the words "GO HOME" into her stomach. Corinne guesses the cuts are a couple of days old.<br />
<br />
"There's no use in lying, Mahud. Two police officers saw you raping her," says Dutch. Mahud asserts, "I screw her, I no rape her." Billings asks if Mahud roofied Graciela. Mahud thought she looked like a hooker and she accepted his offer of $20 for sex. Was he supposed to stop when she passed out? "Yeah!" shouts Dutch, the "duh" quite obvious.<br />
<br />
Mahud tells them to check Graciela's pocket for the money, then starts yelling at them in some other language (presumably Arabic). Dutch doesn't think he cut up Graciela.<br />
<br />
Vantes framed his mugshot, supposedly to remind him of his wrongdoings. His mom isn't interested in helping the guys find him; he's safer on his own. Two carloads of suspicious men creep down the street. Vic tells Mama Vantes to go inside, then orders the gangbangers to move along. Mama Vantes says Niners have been driving back and forth all day.<br />
<br />
Vic asks for helping finding Vantes so he doesn't get hurt. Mama Vantes isn't worried: "A lot of people think my boy is a hero." Vic gives her a business card: "If you want your son to be a live hero, not a dead martyr, have him call me."<br />
<br />
"If I woulda known I was gonna see you today, I woulda worn that little top you like," flirts Tilli. Shane thought she'd stopped dating Moses: "I don't want him touching you." Tilli wraps her arms around his neck.<br />
<br />
Shane wants to know who's after Vantes. Tilli thinks Angelo is only doing that because Moses has been hard on him. She gives Shane his address, hoping this won't get her in trouble. Shane says anyone who messes with her will be the one in trouble. They kiss. "End it with Moses today," Shane tells her.<br />
<br />
Vic, Ronnie, and Claudette ponder their next move. The new captain wants to send a message that the police will protect people who want to get out of gangs. Vic wonders what happened to Shane. Ronnie thinks he's talking a CI from his Vice days. "Shane was in Vice? That explains a lot," says Kevin. Vic tosses Kevin's earlier words at him: "Just picture Shane with a puppy."<br />
<br />
Vic tells Ronnie that's Kevin's interrogation technique. Ronnie laughs. Is Kevin try to get answers or get laid? They all have themselves a chuckle. "Glad to see everybody's havin' fun." Shane is back. "'Course, Lem's still dead. Anyone else give a shit?"<br />
<br />
"Hey, man, we were just--" Kevin starts. Shane snaps that Kevin doesn't belong on the Strike Team; he isn't half the man or cop Lem was. He's tired of everyone pretending everything is normal: "I actually give a shit that he's gone."<br />
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Vic follows Shane outside. Shane lights up a cigarette. His CI told him Angelo set up the shootings. Shane chokes up; he wants Lem back. "You keep this up, I'm not gonna be the only one around here that's not gonna have a job," Vic says quietly. Shane and Ronnie could be next; Lem wouldn't want that to happen.<br />
<br />
Vic needs Kevin on his side. The rookie needing more guidance could sway the appeals panel in Vic's favor. They avenged Lem by killing Guardo. (Never mind that he was actually innocent). Shane can't stop thinking about Corinne's dream: "She said he was pissed. Said she'd never seen him like that." Vic wants to find Angelo and "save who we can save today."<br />
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<br />
Vantes calls Vic from what looks like an abandoned house; he wants to handle his own business. Vic offers protective custody. Moses knows Vantes talked to the cops. "DuBois wrote about the path of honor and humanity." If he dies, he'll still have that. Vantes wants Vic to stop looking for him and hangs up on him.<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda is getting lunch from a taco truck on the outskirts of a construction site. He helped his friend Cruz get the project pushed through the housing commission. Cruz heard Edgar-veda has been promoting a "cleaner, kinder" police force. Edgar-veda nods that a bad apple recently "got himself killed." It's a hard sell when 12 Mexicans were murdered and there have been no arrests.<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda can't help with that; the case was handed off to robbery/homicide. Cruz thinks if the department cared about murdered illegals, the case would already be solved. Construction workers on the site have told him a Salvadoran gang, La Raza Guanaca, was behind it. Farmington catching the murderer would make Edgar-veda's voters believe the police care about the Latino community. Never one to miss using a race-baiting opportunity for political gain, Edgar-veda smiles.<br />
<br />
Dutch pulled the videotaped statement of a different runaway who said she was kidnapped. When he opens the observation room door, Danny is in the midst of pumping breast milk. Dutch's "oops" sounds a little disingenuous. Fellow mom Claudette says, "You can use my office anytime." Billings makes a crude gesture referring to how big Danny's breasts have gotten.<br />
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The runaway on the tape is a black girl named Princess, who returned home a month later. She told her mom she'd been kidnapped, sodomized, and held prisoner for 2 weeks. Princess described her abductor as Latino and said she was drugged most of the time. The last thing she remembered prior to being captured was panhandling outside a burger restaurant.<br />
<br />
On the tape, Princess says, "He kept saying, 'Go home now. Go home.'" The same phrase that was carved into Graciela. One morning, Princess woke up lying in the street and she went home. Dutch shuts off the tape. Things didn't add up for him; Princess refused a rape kit and her drug test was negative. Their perp cut Graciela; he's escalating. Claudette will have Princess's mom bring her in to be interviewed again.<br />
<br />
Vic almost T-bones Moses' car. He doesn't believe Angelo set up the hit without being told. Vic reminds Moses he has two strikes; one more means life in prison. Moses is all "you wouldn't plant anything on me, would you?" Vic and Kevin get out of the car. Moses refuses to talk in front of the new kid.<br />
<br />
When Kevin leaves, Moses flatly states Vantes has to die, but he'll let the others go. In return, he wants Vic to back off the One-Niners for 6 months. Vic will leave them be for 2 months, but he can't guarantee the uniforms won't hassle them; however, he <i>can</i> keep Kevin on a leash.<br />
<br />
Kevin rejoins Vic, who fills him in on Moses' terms. Kevin thinks they should arrest Moses for conspiracy to commit murder. It's a no-can-do from Vic: "I took the deal. At least, that's what he thinks." He can't teach Kevin all his tricks right away.<br />
<br />
Dutch passes out pictures of Princess. Her mom reported she's run away again. Dutch apologizes to Danny for walking in on her: "I know it's all perfectly natural."<br />
<br />
"Wow! They put Hanlon on a poster," says Billings. The latest wall art shows her standing next to a Latino uniform. The slogan above their heads reads: THE NEW FACES OF YOUR POLICE. "Oh, great. She gets to be Miss Farmington, huh?" Danny grumbles.<br />
<br />
Dutch asks the secretary where the poster came from. The department, stupid. Claudette elaborates, "The old 'new face' was caught filing bogus OT." Besides the posters, Tina will be making citywide public appearances.<br />
<br />
Dutch is confused; he thought Tina wanted to be a detective. Claudette cryptically replies, "This is straight from the chief's office." Tina was selected after yesterday's publicity photo shoot.<br />
<br />
Billings tells Dutch that Graciela just woke up and was able to describe her kidnapper to a sketch artist.<br />
<br />
Julien drives the patrol car while Danny speaks Spanish into her cell phone. When she ends the call, she laments, "Can't afford a babysitter that speaks English." What happened to Vic's under-the-table child support? A gold car rolls past with a man lying across the hood and nobody driving. Julien gets out, puts the car in park, and shuts off the blaring rap music.<br />
<br />
Vic knows Angelo has hits out on Vantes, Marlen, and Jason. "Fine way to treat your friends. What do you do on birthdays?" quips Kevin. Vic says Angelo can end this with one phone call. Angelo won't cooperate: "I didn't push the button. I can't un-push it." Maybe Kevin can make a deal if he gives up Moses.<br />
<br />
Angelo chuckles, "Cop says 'deal,' you go to jail." If he goes along with this, he and his family are next on the hit list.<br />
<br />
Vic's car and Shane's truck screech to a stop at Julien's crime scene. The victim isn't Vantes; his name is Danyel. A guy across the street is filming the cops with his camcorder. Looks like Moses didn't keep his end of the deal. "One down, three to go," drawls Shane.<br />
<br />
A short time later, Vic has learned Vantes sent Danyel on a peace mission. Clearly, it backfired. Handcuffed Ray is dragged over to the car. Vic asks if Ray wants his friends to die like Danyel. Whoever killed him also stole his phone, so they'll know who he's been talking to. Vic says, "Vantes might be a revolutionary, but he ain't bulletproof." "How many funerals you wanna go to?" asks Ronnie.<br />
<br />
Vic knows Ray's done a lot of bad things. Is he willing to do one last good deed for his friends? Ray thinks Vante's cousin Aquille might know where Marlen, Vantes, and Jason are.<br />
<br />
The guys knock on Aquille's door. When he doesn't answer, Kevin mutters, "Hell with it" and kicks it down. Vic spots a gun on the coffee table and asks, "Sending your cousin on a little trip? Where's Vantes?"<br />
<br />
Graciela only remembers one other detail about her rapist: a red mask. Billings pulls Dutch to a corner of the room: "Girls this age need a gentle touch." That came out much creepier than I hope he intended. Billings thinks she'll open up to him because he's a great father. "Two weekends a month?" asks Dutch.<br />
<br />
Out in the hall, Dutch says to Corinne, "Sometimes I think humans need a subspecies to categorize these bastards." She reports that Vic seems better. Dutch tells her about Kevin taking over when Vic retires. "That's not for years," says Corinne. Dutch asks if she's aware the department is forcing Vic out on his 15th anniversary, which is less than a month away.<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda wants Claudette's take on Kevin. "He's nothing like Vic. I love him," she says. The councilman has learned from an anonymous source that a Salvadoran gang committed the San Marcos machete murders.<br />
<br />
Kevin's stint with INS makes him the perfect guy to investigate; he had the case kicked back to the Barn: "Handled correctly, this could be the big PR win we need." "Or a crime stats nightmare that shuts this door forever," says Claudette. To Edgar-veda's way of thinking, a dozen solved murders could keep the door open.<br />
<br />
Ronnie wires Ray for sound. Claudette brings Kevin to her office and hands him the personnel file of a possible Strike Team addition. Kevin has noticed Vic likes to deceive suspects into thinking he'll do things that aren't exactly legal and then flips the script on them. Vic's reputation could have more to do with perception than reality. Claudette doesn't think so: "Vic is showing you his good side because it's in his best interest."<br />
<br />
Vic tosses Ray in the cage. Billings overhears Dutch leaving Tina a voicemail. Dutch has a profile on whoever abducted Graciela: a single dad whose daughter died prematurely or disappeared and is trying to teach his victims a lesson. Going home would be "good advice if it didn't involve kidnapping, rape, and torture."<br />
<br />
Billings hits Dutch where he lives, opining that profiling is overrated. Dutch just likes to make up stories "like the one about you and Tina." She's out of his league, especially as far as appearance. Dutch points out his partner isn't exactly Adonis. "Helping her improve her skills had nothing to do with any interest in her," Dutch lies. Other people don't see how talented Tina is.<br />
<br />
Billings thinks Dutch took advantage like their perp, "except your drug of choice was power and the false hope of career advancement." Dutch has developed a reputation for wanting what he can't have: Corinne, widows of murder victims, female uniforms. Dutch argues his job is time-consuming, so where else is he supposed to meet women?<br />
<br />
Princess is bitter: "Congratulations on getting another girl ass-raped." Claudette apologizes for not believing her. "Ain't no never mind to me. I cried my tears all out," says the girl. Mom isn't happy either: "I gave this girl a whipping based on you telling me she lied. And now you're telling me she didn't?"<br />
<br />
Claudette explains there was a lack of corroborating evidence at the time. Can she remember any new details that may help them? Princess's kidnapper her kept her locked in a girl's bedroom, "only from a long time ago. The posters on the wall were all whack. White boys in these gay poses."<br />
<br />
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Princess remembers one of the bands was called "65 Degrees or something." I was always more of an NSYNC girl, but I loved the 98 Degrees song from <i>Mulan. </i>Billings knows about 98 Degrees too; he took his oldest daughter to their concert. Dutch shows Princess the sketch from Graciela's file. "Those are his eyes," the teen says instantly.<br />
<br />
In the clubhouse, Vic stares morosely into a box of books that just arrived. Shane reads a note stapled to the packing slip: "Not looking forward to the 8-by-10 cell or fighting for the top bunk...but I figure the least I can do is come out smarter than when I went in. Send these to me wherever I land. I'll miss you. Lem."<br />
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According to the receipt, Lem ordered the books online the night before he skipped town. This library runs the gamut: art, sports, history, Stephen King, <i>Birds of America, Dreams and What They Mean. </i>Sounds like my own bookshelf. Shane is on the verge of bawling. He recovers enough to ask what Vic wants to do with them.<br />
<br />
"Vantes is a big reader, right?" asks Vic, "We're gonna find him and the other two. We're gonna send them someplace peaceful. Safe." He's sure Vantes will appreciate the books.<br />
<br />
In the Barn parking lot, Corinne confronts Vic about his impending forced retirement. Does he think his child support checks will magically show up in her mailbox? "I've always taken care of the kids," says Vic, which is true, at least financially. Corinne agrees with that assessment, but knows it's cost Vic more than dollars.<br />
<br />
Shane comes outside with a location on Vantes. Before leaving, Vic tells Corinne, "I'm not gonna lose my job." Don't make promises you can't keep.<br />
<br />
Danny hopes what she pumped today will be enough to last Lee through tomorrow. She snaps at Julien, accusing him of being judgmental about her being an unwed mother and almost immediately apologizes. Julien smiles, "It beats riding with Tina." I imagine anything would be.<br />
<br />
Claudette has suggested that Julien be brought onto the Strike Team, but he doesn't want to work with Vic. Claudette tells him he'd be working for Kevin. The job comes with a pay raise and prestige. "It may still be called the Strike Team, but it's a different animal."<br />
<br />
Julien agrees to the promotion. Claudette smiles and tells him he starts tomorrow. Let's hope things work out better than they did for Lem, Terry, and Tavon.<br />
<br />
Vic and the guys cautiously walk through the abandoned house seen earlier in the episode, looking for Vantes. "He's here!" cries one of his friends, "He's hurt! He got shot this morning!" Vantes is lying on a dirty mattress, a red stain on his white T-shirt and a hole in his stomach. "And you just let him bleed?" snaps Vic. He should know gangbangers avoid hospitals, mandatory police notification and all that.<br />
<br />
One of Vantes' friends says he was afraid Moses would find them. Vantes wouldn't even let them tell Aquille. Vantes moans something about the Niners. "Shit, he's going into shock," says Vic. Kevin calls an ambulance. Vic talks to Vantes, a steady stream of "Stay with me."<br />
<br />
Vantes passes out, his breathing sounds funny. Vic knows there's no time to wait for EMS. He and Shane carry Vantes out to the car. Vic drives erratically while Shane sits in the backseat with Vantes. "Stay awake!" Vic shouts, "Your mom wants you to come home." He adds through gritted teeth, "You're not gonna die on me. I'm not gonna let you die."<br />
<br />
Vic and Shane haul Vantes' limp form through the ER doors, screaming, "We need a doctor!" Vic spots Corinne in one of the trauma rooms and knocks desperately on the glass. Shane, who put a blanket over Vantes' upper body, shakes his head grimly.<br />
<br />
Vic clutches his head and starts babbling: "Lem--In the dream--Did Lem--Your dream was--" Corinne frowns confusedly; she can't hear him. Vic punches a hole in the wall and throws a chair. Corinne leaves the relative safety of the trauma room to deal with her overwrought ex-husband just as Vic turns over a table. A security guard tells him to cut it out. "It's all right, we're cops," says Shane.<br />
<br />
Vic heaves around an end table and a few more chairs. Out of furniture to throw, he paces, grunting and panting. Vic turns around. He realizes Kevin, Shane, and Claudette all witnessed his breakdown. Patients stare as Vic leaves. He just gets in his car like nothing happened. End of episode.Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-43400621471316429062017-09-08T00:00:00.000-04:002017-09-09T00:33:25.062-04:00Start "Back to One" (Episode 6.3)<i>Previously on: Shane killed Lem by tossing a live hand grenade in his car. Vic swore to avenge him and assumed weapons smuggler Guardo was involved. He fake-kidnapped Guardo's girlfriend Lydia, demanding a $50,000 ransom. Kavanaugh confessed to getting Emolia to lie for him; he's now in jail and stripped of his badge, just like Lem was.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
At the safe house, Nydia asks why no one else is watching her. Vic thinks he can handle it. He won't let her call Guardo; doing so might tip off the nonexistent kidnappers. This could be an inside job, so it's best Guardo not know anything. Nydia should wait until Guardo calls her.<br />
<br />
Corinne brings Shane a box of hand-me-down toys for Jackson. Shane's Mr. Mom today because Mara is showing a house. Corinne heard the charges against Vic were dropped. She feels guilty for telling Kavanaugh about the money Vic gave her; if she hadn't said anything, maybe Lem would be alive. "Sweetie, no, Lem's not your fault," says Shane.<br />
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Shane, of course, blames Kavanaugh. The Rat King is far from innocent in the situation, but he's not the one who pulled the pin.<br />
<br />
Corinne worries that Vic hasn't been himself. What'll he do if he finds whoever killed Lem? Shane "lost one of my closest, most dearest friends" and can't stand the idea of losing Vic. Corinne feels Vic has grown distant from the kids, though part of that is her fault for not wanting Vic around. Shane promises he won't let grief stop Vic from being a good dad.<br />
<br />
Nydia is suspicious; she's never heard of Salceda, the guy who's supposedly trying to kill Guardo. Vic thinks it's unlikely she'd know a guy who wants to take over Guardo's business. Mexicans would be thrilled to replace a Salvadoran. Maybe Vic should just let Salceda do that. Nydia stomps toward the bathroom. Vic tells her to leave her phone behind.<br />
<br />
A drug store manager, pharmacy tech, and cashier all lie murdered behind the counter. Billings exposits that the suspects came in right at opening, shot the employees, and stole ephedrine. For those who don't know, ephedrine is a type of allergy medicine that can be used to make meth. He figures the killers were tweakers in search of a quick fix. A cook needing ingredients is an equally likely scenario.<br />
<br />
Claudette wonders what the higher-ups will think of Farmington having two multiple murders within a few weeks of each other. "Spoken like a true captain," says Billings. He then apologizes to Dutch for resisting the idea of them being partners; they make a good team. As far as Dutch is concerned, the jury is still out on that.<br />
<br />
"Your weaknesses are my strengths," Billings goes on, listing arrogance, overconfidence (same thing), and inability to give credit to other people. Dutch thinks Claudette is smarter than Billings (the K-9 unit dogs probably have higher IQs than our balding friend). Billings makes a good scapegoat if Dutch's closure rate goes down.<br />
<br />
Shane tells Vic they should back off Nydia. The surviving Strike Team members are all out from under IAD's microscope for the first time in forever; they shouldn't borrow trouble. Vic refuses to allow Lem's death to go unanswered. Shane suggests telling Nydia they found Salceda, then going after Guardo again in a couple of months.<br />
<br />
"The department doesn't want this case solved because it opens old wounds," says Vic. They hung Lem out to dry and branded him a dirty cop. "That makes us the only ones who care enough to make that right." True, it doesn't sound like the other Lemanskys gave a damn about him, dead or alive. Ronnie agrees that they owe Lem. Vic sends him and Shane to the Barn for more guns, just in case.<br />
<br />
Shane asks how he's supposed to explain being there on his day off. If Claudette asks, they should say they're cleaning out Lem's locker. They need to get to the truth.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But, seriously, Vic, you can't.<br />
<a href="http://concentuswealth.com/wp-content/uploads/JackNicholson.jpg">(Photo credit)</a></td></tr>
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Vic warns, "This thing's gonna get a lot uglier before it gets better."<br />
<br />
Claudette and Dutch watch surveillance video from the drug store. He estimates the shooters are in their 30's and they don't look like tweakers. 12 boxes of ephedrine are missing from the store's inventory. Claudette noticed one of the suspects has tattoos, so there could be an Aryan or biker gang connection. Well, they're too far south for it to have been any of the Reaper Crew.<br />
<br />
Dutch suggests she hand off the drug murder to the Strike Team and put him back on Lem's murder. Claudette thought he ran out of leads. Dutch did too, but the name Hernan keeps coming up during interviews.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hernan Alvarez, perchance?<br />
<a href="https://typeset-beta.imgix.net/rehost%2F2016%2F10%2F3%2F2d25e00f-4e71-42f0-b9c7-88f7e4f36e9e.jpeg">(Photo credit)</a></td></tr>
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Dutch bets Hernan is smart, has something to hide, or both. Claudette wants him to stay on the pharmacy case.<br />
<br />
In the clubhouse, Shane and Ronnie zip Lem's favorite shotgun into a case. "You two still work here?" asks Claudette. Shane tells her he's taking personal time. Ronnie, the second most honest, blurts, "I used mine up on my wisdom teeth." You didn't have those taken out in high school?<br />
<br />
Claudette needs them both if they're still on the clock. Ronnie heads to the parking lot with the gun case. Shane gives her the story they're picking up Lem's things. Claudette is glad she didn't have to bring that up; the Barn is short on lockers. How's Vic holding up? "We lost a friend," Shane shrugs. Claudette wants Vic back at work ASAP.<br />
<br />
Billings struck out; the picture from the video doesn't match any known gang tats. "Looks like some kinda bird," says Dutch. If the suspects weren't male, I'd suggest a SAMCRO old lady, say, Wendy? They ask Ronnie for an opinion. He guesses it could be Navy ink. Claudette asks Ronnie to help Dutch and Billings. She wants the case closed before the cooks need more Sudafed.<br />
<br />
"I don't need another person to babysit," Dutch gripes. Claudette reminds him who said drug cases are the Strike Team's turf. Besides, if Shane and Vic are hunting Lem's killer, Dutch might hear about it through Ronnie.<br />
<br />
Nydia answers her phone. Vic grabs it from her and goes outside. He tells Guardo that his girlfriend is alive for now, but he shouldn't count on talking to her again. Right about then, Shane arrives in the van.<br />
<br />
Guardo threatens to kill Vic if he touches Nydia. Vic responds with a threat of his own: He'll make Guardo listen while he rapes and kills Nydia. To avoid that, Guardo needs to drop the ransom in the trash can by the lake at MacArthur Park.<br />
<br />
Guardo thinks he can be in L.A. by the day after tomorrow. Vic is curious what the cartels will think of a guy who can't protect his own girlfriend. Guardo changes his tune; he'll be there in three hours. Vic tells him to come alone. Once he has the money, he'll reveal Nydia's location.<br />
<br />
Vic hangs up and asks where Ronnie is. Shane shakes his head: "He blew threw his goddamn personal days on his teeth." What if Guardo tries to set them up? Vic wants to go to the park early and check for traps.<br />
<br />
Dutch isn't having any luck trying to reach a fed, Agent Zinman, about Hernan. Ronnie checked Navy records against L.A. residents who lost military benefits due to felony convictions and found a match. "We can wrap this up by dinner," Billings says enthusiastically, offering his hand for a fist-bump.<br />
<br />
Ronnie advises Dutch to stay behind him as they approach their suspect's house. There's a BEWARE OF DOG sign and a drooling bullmastiff in the yard. Ronnie kicks in the door. A woman calls out, "Tommy, is that you?" "I have an arrest warrant for Tom Franklin. Where is he?" Ronnie's tone is all business. Tommy's sister Lisa thinks he might be working in the detached garage.<br />
<br />
Ronnie breaks the lock. And what to his wondering eyes should appear but a meth lab. Lisa claims to have no idea Tommy was making drugs; he told her he was fixing a car. Tommy was gone when she woke up today. Dutch informs her, "Your brother killed three people." Lisa, who appears to be perfectly able-bodied and of sound mind, asks, "If he's not here, who's gonna take care of me?"<br />
<br />
Vic watches the trash can through his binoculars. Shane speculates Guardo could've been south of the border when Lem was killed. "Then he ordered it and he knows who did," says Vic, "He'll give it up for his life." Nydia is in the van, which is parked behind them. Guardo is still about two hours away.<br />
<br />
Shane tells Vic about Corinne's worries over what Vic might do and how it could affect the kids. Vic promises he'll visit them after they deal with Guardo. Why doesn't Shane check on Nydia?<br />
<br />
"Hello, Sergeant. Welcome back," Dutch greets Danny. She reports another pharmacy has been robbed. No casualties except cabinets, but all the ephedrine was stolen.<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda introduces Claudette to Skip Osaka, a photographer who wants to take publicity shots of some of the officers. Hey, It's That Guy! Ken Jeong has been a sitcom fixture recently as Senor Chang on <i>Community </i>and starring in his own short-lived show <i>Dr. Ken. </i>Claudette invites Skip to set up his equipment on an open desk.<br />
<br />
"After Lemansky, they thought it was a good idea that the department get some good PR," the councilman explains, "We both want this place to survive, so I made sure that the Barn gets its shot too." The only publicity Claudette wants is lower crime stats. As a reservist, they naturally want pictures of Edgar-veda himself in uniform too.<br />
<br />
Two carloads of Mexicans park near the drop-off point. "We need an army, Vic," says Shane, "With the shit these guys might be packing, I'm talking literally." Vic wants to wait to make sure Guardo is coming.<br />
<br />
Tina tells Dutch the pharmacy robbers herded all the employees to the back of the store and broke the drug cabinets. Leticia the assistant manager IDs Tom's photo. The other suspect looked a lot like him. She didn't see what kind of car they were in and wonders why she wasn't killed like the people at the other pharmacy.<br />
<br />
"Probably didn't have enough bullets," Ronnie guesses quietly. When Billings praises Ronnie's investigative work, Dutch actually pouts. Ronnie goes to the sidewalk to take a call from Vic. Dutch is looking over his shoulder, so Ronnie lets Vic know he can't talk. He pretends to Dutch that he was talking to a uniform who just arrested Tom.<br />
<br />
Tom's buddy is good at avoiding cameras, meaning only Tom himself is on the hook for two armed robberies and three murders. "The Berkeley Law grads in the D.A.'s office are gonna be tearing each other's eyes out to get this case," Dutch says. Highly graphic and specific imagery there.<br />
<br />
Tom didn't shoot anyone; it was his cousin Bobby: "He made a deal with some dude in the Horde to cook up 20 pounds of meth."<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For the love of--I said "Horde," not "Nords." You're dismissed, Darby.<br />
<a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/99/ce/53/99ce53b21101aa29463749aa45e2427e.jpg">(Photo credit)</a></td></tr>
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The cousins had never cooked that much before. A Mexican was supposed to supply the ephedrine, but their connection showed up with plants. "So you started killing people?" Dutch frowns confusedly.<br />
<br />
Bobby refused to back out of the deal; he'd already been paid and spent the money on a Harley. Robbing pharmacies was the only way to get ephedrine, but no one was supposed to get hurt. They can probably find Bobby in Van Nuys with his new lady friend.<br />
<br />
Guardo stops by the trash can to drop off Nydia's ransom. Shane tells her to stay in the van and gets in Vic's car. "He's got 10 guys between us and him," Shane worries. Well, they're not really after the money anyway. Vic bets Guardo is hiding someplace. "What if he's not there alone?" Shane asks.<br />
<br />
Vic tells him to take Nydia back to the safe house while he tails Guardo. They probably have half an hour before anyone gets suspicious. Shane wants Vic to call him when he knows where Guardo is. "If there's time," Vic says. Shane begs Vic to wait until he's there as backup.<br />
<br />
Vic follows Guardo to a house. Ronnie is on a stakeout and can't get away. Dutch asks him if Vic is all right. "He's dealing with things his own way," Ronnie answers cryptically. Dutch brags he was the first one to figure out Kavanaugh was lying. Bobby arrives on his brand-new motorcycle, his girlfriend riding on the back.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/.JEjIv_7XnULSRZjKoVHoQ--/aD0xMzY1O3c9MjA0ODtzbT0xO2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u/http://l.yimg.com/os/publish-images/tv/2014-10-13/091819e0-5324-11e4-93b0-a78555ba873e_fx-sons-of-anarchy-706-smoke-em-if-you-got-em-1191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/.JEjIv_7XnULSRZjKoVHoQ--/aD0xMzY1O3c9MjA0ODtzbT0xO2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u/http://l.yimg.com/os/publish-images/tv/2014-10-13/091819e0-5324-11e4-93b0-a78555ba873e_fx-sons-of-anarchy-706-smoke-em-if-you-got-em-1191.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nope, not <i>that </i>Bobby.<br />
<a href="https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/.JEjIv_7XnULSRZjKoVHoQ--/aD0xMzY1O3c9MjA0ODtzbT0xO2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u/http://l.yimg.com/os/publish-images/tv/2014-10-13/091819e0-5324-11e4-93b0-a78555ba873e_fx-sons-of-anarchy-706-smoke-em-if-you-got-em-1191.jpg">(Photo credit)</a></td></tr>
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The three detectives move in. Ronnie pushes Bobby against a wall. Bobby's old lady tries to pull Ronnie off her man. Uniform backup arrives. Bobby isn't listening to Ronnie's directions, so Ronnie punches him in the face. "Now you'll roll over," he says calmly. A uniform cuffs Bobby. Ronnie's knuckles are scraped open. Tina looks impressed.<br />
<br />
Vic approaches Guardo's hideout, wearing a bulletproof vest and toting what looks like Lem's trusty shotgun. He takes a breath to steel himself, then kicks in the back door. Vic stops Guardo from climbing out the bedroom window. "Officer, you're not going to find anything here," Guardo says. <i>Au contraire, mon ami. </i>Vic pokes him in the stomach with the shotgun, then knocks him to the floor.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Shane lies to Nadia that Salceda was hiding at Guardo's. Guardo isn't actually in town, but Salceda bought the rumor. Shane parks outside the safe house. Nydia thanks him for protecting her; she's about a month pregnant and Guardo doesn't know yet. Before leaving, Nydia plants a chaste kiss on Shane's cheek.<br />
<br />
Dutch tells Claudette they recovered the gun and stolen ephedrine. Billings praises Ronnie for the assist. Nobody seems to notice the tension in Ronnie's voice as he asks, "So I guess we're done, right?" Not quite.<br />
<br />
Tina is gung-ho to go after the Horde; Tom and Bobby are supposed to give them meth. "There is no meth," Dutch reminds her. They're not making a deal with murderers to get drug dealers. "The Horde doesn't know there's no meth," says Claudette. They could offer leniency for Tom.<br />
<br />
Dutch wants to turn the case over to the D.A. The Horde is notoriously difficult to bust; Bobby gives them a valuable in. The bikers don't know what Tom looks like, so Ronnie can pose as him. Ronnie going after bikers?<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/sonsofanarchy/images/f/ff/Grad_Nicholas.png/revision/latest?cb=20140617005604" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/sonsofanarchy/images/f/ff/Grad_Nicholas.png/revision/latest?cb=20140617005604" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is oddly familiar...<br />
<a href="http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/sonsofanarchy/images/f/ff/Grad_Nicholas.png/revision/latest?cb=20140617005604">(Photo credit)</a></td></tr>
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Vic brings a handcuffed Guardo to an abandoned house. If this is about money, Guardo offers to get more. Vic takes off his leather jacket and puts it over Guardo's face. He cuffs Guardo's hands in front, then ties a rope linking the cuffs to a pipe in the ceiling.<br />
<br />
Guardo wants a lawyer. Vic pulls the jacket off his face and surprisingly doesn't say something along the lines of "You're gonna want a doctor in a minute."<br />
<br />
Guardo asks what this is all about. "You killed my friend a week ago. You tossed a grenade in his car and blew his guts out," says Vic. Guardo pleads both innocence and ignorance. Vic doesn't believe him, demanding, "Who led you to him?" He's sure Guardo ordered the hit.<br />
<br />
Guardo wants to know if Vic hurt Nydia. Vic ignores that: "His name was Curtis Lemansky. He was a good cop. He was my friend and you killed him. All I want is to hear you say it." Guardo's been in Mexico for the last two weeks. At this, Vic actually snorts like an angry bull.<br />
<br />
Shane enters the house and sees what Vic is up to. "Your friend is making a mistake," says Guardo. Vic won't let Guardo leave until he hears every detail of what happened to Lem. Maybe they can persuade him through Nydia. Vic tells Shane to bring Nydia in and undress her.<br />
<br />
Guardo heard Lino Prieto killed Lem. He's none too pleased that Prieto didn't go through proper gang channels for approval. Guardo doesn't know how Prieto found Lem: "[He's] the one who should be hanging here, not me." "If you're telling the truth, he will be," says Vic, leaving Shane to guard their prisoner.<br />
<br />
Vic calls Ronnie, asking him to look up Prieto. Ronnie is channeling his fallen comrade's fashion sense in a gray sweatshirt with the sleeves cut short. He's just typed Prieto's name into the computer when Dutch loudly clears his throat behind him. "Do you need something?" Ronnie snaps. Dutch says it's time to leave. Ronnie quietly gives Vic Prieto's last known address; Vic will have to do this mission solo.<br />
<br />
At Prieto's apartment, his brother answers the door. Vic checks Filberto's ID and asks where his brother went. Filberto's answer is a surprise: Lino's been in jail for almost a month. Filberto's been taking care of Lino's wife Margie and his brother's kids. Vic implies Filberto and Margie must be having an affair, then adds, "Guardo says your brother killed a friend of mine. A cop."<br />
<br />
Filberto doubts it; Lino's always been a liar. He was stupid to join a gang, but he's no murderer. Lino is currently locked up for stealing a car while he was drunk and crashing it into a store. Vic asks, "Why would Guardo give me your brother's name?" The oldest motive in the book: jealousy. Nydia told Guardo she thought Lino was good-looking. "You keep this visit to yourself, you'll never see me again," Vic promises.<br />
<br />
At a gas station, Bobby hopes the Horde won't show up. Ronnie tells him not to count on that. Billings, in a separate stakeout car with Dutch, opines, "I like Ronnie. He's quiet, but there's something there." He wishes he could join the Strike Team, have some fun and excitement. "Yeah," Dutch mutters in a bored tone, "it's too bad you get those headaches."<br />
<br />
Three bikers ride up to the gas station. Ronnie introduces himself as Tom. The Horde asks to see the product. Ronnie passes over a paper bag. As soon as the biker takes it, two things happen: Bobby bolts and Ronnie draws his gun. Uniforms, Dutch, and Billings converge to arrest everyone. Tina pats Ronnie on the arm: "Thanks for making me look good to the captain." Well, she always has had a thing for older men. Ronnie smiles, no doubt thinking, '<i>I wish Lem were here to tease me about this</i>.'<br />
<br />
At the Barn, Dutch is a bit cool toward Tina, likely because she was flirting with Ronnie. Our bearded friend appears, asking if Dutch and Billings can cover his portion of the paperwork. Ronnie gives Tina a bat on the back as he leaves. Meanwhile, Billings is entertaining the squadroom with an exaggerated version of his exploits. Someone tells him, "You're the man" without a trace of mockery.<br />
<br />
By now, it's dark in the abandoned house. Guardo wants to be let go. "Shut up, shithead," Shane grumbles, holding his temple like he's got a migraine. Guardo swears they got the wrong guy, a fact Shane is well aware of. Guardo offers to give up enough intel for them to take down the whole gang, repeating that he didn't kill Lem.<br />
<br />
"What about that backyard barbecue you blew up, huh?" asks Shane. (AKA the incident that gave him the awful idea in the first place). He shouts about having to walk through the dead kids' blood. "I'll give you money. Make you rich. What do you want?" Guardo whispers. Shane's reply is almost inaudible: "Peace."<br />
<br />
Guardo knows he wouldn't be here if Shane were an honest cop. He could untie Guardo and make up a story about how he escaped. Shane puffs on his cigarette: "I don't like the way blood money spends." He tells Guardo that Nydia is pregnant.<br />
<br />
Vic comes back and punches Guardo in the chest. He knows Guardo was lying about Prieto. "Come on, Vic, man," Shane pleads as Vic removes a coil of chain from the duffel bag. You can stop this, Shane, with just three simple words: "I killed Lem."<br />
<br />
Vic doubles the chain back on itself, asking Guardo who told him about Lem. Was it Emolia or Kavanaugh? When he doesn't get an answer, Vic whips him with the chain. "I didn't do it!" Guardo shrieks. Vic hits him again.<br />
<br />
Dutch didn't get anything new about Lem from Ronnie, "just a couple of phone calls he didn't want me to hear." He lies that working with Billings is okay. Dutch hasn't found Hernan yet. He asks if Claudette ever felt like she was carrying him on her back when they were partners. "You made me a better detective," she replies.<br />
<br />
Guardo is now semi-conscious and whipped bloody. "Just tell me what I wanna know and this'll be over," Vic tells the arms dealer. Ronnie is now watching from the corner. Vic hits Guardo twice. "Who else was involved?" Vic demands. Guardo's words are slurred as he protests, "I don't know nothing." Shane is all "Vic, maybe you should stop." Of course, Vic doesn't listen.<br />
<br />
Vic's voice is guttural, almost insane as he accuses, "It was Emolia! That Salvadoran slut tipped you off, I know it!" Shane loudly states that Guardo might really be innocent. Vic rounds on his best friend, "If it wasn't Guardo, who was it?!" Shane thinks Guardo should've given up a name by now. Ronnie finds it more likely Guardo was working alone. "Come on, this is crazy!" says Shane.<br />
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Vic bellows, "He killed Lem!" He knows Shane and Ronnie haven't forgotten how bad Lem looked when they found him. "Don't you think he deserves to die for what he did?!" "Look, I want you not to do this for me," says Shane. Vic snaps, "Why not?" For a wild second, I think Shane might actually tell the truth. Instead, he says Guardo has lots of money.<br />
<br />
That answer doesn't calm Vic down in the slightest: "You're gonna put a price on Lem's life?" Shane shrugs that it always comes down to their families and futures. Guardo says the worst thing possible: "I'm glad your friend died." Vic gives him another smack with the chain.<br />
<br />
Shane steps between Vic and Guardo. If Guardo dies, they lose their chance to find out what happened. Guardo wasn't the only one involved and...<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.memecdn.com/they-all-deserve-to-die_o_427045.jpg">(Image credit)</a></td></tr>
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Vic tosses the chain to the floor. He's sweaty, wild-eyed, and exhausted. Suddenly, he draws his gun and shoots Guardo. Shane flinches. Guardo, suspended from the ceiling, swings grotesquely. Vic sighs: "You're right. If he had a real name to tell us, he would've. He acted alone."<br />
<br />
Now it's time to dump the body. "As long as Guardo's at large, he'll always remain the primary suspect in Lem's death," says Ronnie. In shock, Shane says, "We just killed somebody." That's rich coming from you.<br />
<br />
Dutch gives Tina a pep talk: "Detective work isn't as sexy, but it's where brainpower like yours really gets utilized." Really now? I have friends in uniform and in pretty much every police department, being a detective is considered the most glamorous job. He suggests Tina start keeping a library of interesting cases. She should also think like a detective 24/7/365.<br />
<br />
Tina asks if Dutch really has a crime library. (It's probably more like a shrine in his closet). Dutch offers to take her to his place and let her see it sometime. As Claudette once said in another episode, "What kinda back-door con is that?" Tina falls for it.<br />
<br />
Dutch pulls into his driveway, blasting "I Ran" by Flock of Seagulls. He sure has a thing for 1980's one-hit wonders. Dutch brings up the idea of ordering Chinese food and cracking open a bottle of wine. "I-Is this a date?" Tina stammers. Dutch asks, "Do you want it to be?" Tina answers with another question: Does he have a girlfriend?<br />
<br />
There's a woman on his porch who turns out to be Zinman, the ICE agent Dutch was trying to call earlier. She can tell him more about Hernan if Tina isn't around.<br />
<br />
Vic dumps Guardo's naked, battered corpse in a hole. He, Shane, and Ronnie pour bleach and gas over him. Shane lights the match.<br />
<br />
"Hernan is undercover in the Salvadoran organization," Zinman explains. She can't compromise that. Dutch needs to stop trying to find Hernan. Dutch refuses: "A cop was killed by the Salvadorans." Zinman is aware of that. She also knows Guardo didn't do it.<br />
<br />
Dutch argues being out of the country doesn't mean Guardo didn't order the hit; grenades are his calling card. Guardo is stateside now, but Zinman won't let Dutch use Hernan to find him. "This isn't a pissing contest. It's an order," says the federal agent.<br />
<br />
The guys are back in the Barn, dealing with the matter of Lem's locker. "Guy ever clean this thing out?" asks Vic, wrinkling his nose as he holds up a pair of sneakers, "It's like being back in high school." Ronnie points to a photo of himself, Vic, and Shane. Lem took it with a disposable camera confiscated from a drug dealer. Ronnie chuckles: "Almost got the case thrown out." "Tampering with evidence," Vic says with a grin.<br />
<br />
Shane is sitting on the other side of the locker room, not lifting a finger to help. Vic wants Shane to have the picture. Claudette comes in and asks how they're holding up. "Just had my first good night's sleep in a while," says Vic. He politely declines taking the rest of his personal days.<br />
<br />
Claudette has file for them on Kevin Hiatt, who used to work for INS and joined LAPD a year ago. Starting next week, he'll be assigned to Farmington. "You're not adding anybody to my team that I don't have approval of," says Vic. We're talking about your job, not Cassidy's date to Homecoming.<br />
<br />
"He's not your addition; he's your replacement," Claudette corrects. Vic's 15-year anniversary (and forced retirement) is fast approaching. The guys go quiet. With everything that's happened recently, they must've forgotten all about that. End of episode.Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-36850334208664373622017-09-01T00:00:00.000-04:002017-09-02T01:51:11.037-04:00A Slow Burning "Baptism By Fire" (Episode 6.2)Happy belated birthday to Vic Mackey himself: Michael Chiklis!<br />
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<i>Previously on: Kavanaugh became even more unstable when he found out Vic had sex with his ex-wife; he even tried to sleep with Corinne. Lem had planned to take a deal for a lighter sentence. Behind his back, Vic arranged for Lem to flee to Mexico. The night he was supposed to leave, Lem balked at the idea, so Shane the Traitorous Bastard dropped a live grenade in his lap. Vic immediately suspected Guardo the grenade smuggler.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Meanwhile, Kavanaugh the Rat King got Emolia to lie for him and say Vic had her arrange the hit on Lem.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Ronnie gets in Vic's car, apologizing for being late. Claudette had him following a lead on the San Marcos murders. Vic thought that case was assigned to robbery/homicide. They're staking out an old man named Jupo, founder of the Salvadoran gang. Jupo must have a death wish because he's smoking while hooked up to his portable oxygen tank. He has terminal lung cancer and was granted parole after serving 50 years of a life sentence.<br />
<br />
The guys stroll up to the porch. Vic introduces himself. Jupo has never heard of Vic. Indicating the tattooed Latino sitting next to Jupo, Vic guesses, "Your male nurse probably heard of me." Jupo's grandson, does, at least by reputation. "You're the one raging war against us," wheezes Jupo. Vic's problem is with Guardo. Jupo gets defensive: "I built this gang from the ground up."<br />
<br />
Vic looks around the decrepit house and messy yard. He remarks the Salvadorans give "one hell of a pension plan." Vic wants Guardo. Jupo refuses to dishonor himself. Vic tells him that Guardo murdered a cop: "You old-school guys, you knew never to do that." Jupo swears he don't know nothing about it and tosses out his opinion about the new generation.<br />
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Vic agrees. And ain't it a shame Jupo's grandson might have to pay the price for breaking tradition?The gun the kid's carrying concealed is a felony. "Who knows what else I might find if I decide to be a hard-ass?" Vic goes on. Jupo offers up Guardo's phone number.<br />
<br />
Asher the uniform calls Vic with bad news: "I'm at your house serving a search warrant." He doesn't know what it's for, but Kavanaugh, Dutch, and Claudette are there too. Vic has nothing to hide, though he appreciates the heads-up.<br />
<br />
When he tells the guys, Shane can't believe anybody bought Emolia's story. "Is there something that I need to know?" asks Ronnie. Shane wonders what that's supposed to mean.<br />
<br />
All Dutch finds in Vic's closet is a cigar box of old pictures: Corinne in her wedding dress, Corinne holding Cassidy as a toddler. Billings hasn't checked the trash cans because his jacket is new and "garbage is what God made unis for."<br />
<br />
Dutch conversationally mentions he thought Billings was taking a personal day. It's Thursday, so Billings wants to wait until tomorrow and make it a three-day weekend.<br />
<br />
Dutch, who has no qualms about trash, digs up a crumpled map with Portillo Auto Body circled on it. Lem was killed there and, in his statement, Vic claimed he'd never been there before. The Rat King is sure there's more evidence in the house if Vic was this careless.<br />
<br />
At the Barn, Emolia signs her false statement. Billings found a matchbook from Emolia's sometimes employer, Tama's Costura, at Vic's place. According to Vic, they hadn't had any contact since he dropped her as an informant. There was also an envelope with $500 inside the phone book, the amount Emolia said Vic promised to pay for the hit. Kavanaugh wants the envelope tested for prints. Billings doesn't believe Vic would've had Lem killed.<br />
<br />
The guys go where Guardo's girlfriend Nydia lives. She isn't home, but they don't mind waiting for the couple to come back.<br />
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Shane looks nervous about this plan. Before they can make their move, a broadcast comes over the police scanner: Vic Mackey is wanted for questioning. They walk around the side of the house so Ronnie can pick the lock. He wonders aloud why there's an APB out if Vic is innocent. Shane suggests they go back to the Barn before things go any further.<br />
<br />
"Now might be our last shot at Guardo," says Vic. Ronnie pops the back door open. The floors creak as the guys fan out and search. The house is clear. Vic notices pictures of Guardo and Nydia. Over his shoulder, Vic states he doesn't care about Guardo's loved ones.<br />
<br />
Hearing a noise, Vic adds, "Someone's here. Don't get trigger-happy." He wants Guardo to live long enough to be questioned. Nydia makes a phone call in Spanish; the only thing I can understand is Guardo. She goes to the kitchen and starts making lunch. Hope she has plenty for three guests.<br />
<br />
Tina complains her new community relations gig is boring. I imagine it would be, but longtime readers know she's too much of a liability on the street. Claudette emphasizes the importance of people in the community feeling safe to tell Officer Friendly about their problems.<br />
<br />
Robbery/Homicide faxed a sketch of the suspect in the San Marcos murders. She wants Julien and Tina to pass copies around.<br />
<br />
"If you're here to get an update on Vic, I'm too busy," Claudette tells everyone's least favorite councilman. Edgar-veda notices the Barn is pretty empty. Half the staff is looking for Vic while the other half assists Robbery/Homicide. Edgar-veda offers to get authorization to hire more people.<br />
<br />
The district's homicide rate has quadrupled since Claudette became captain last week. The San Marcos murder house is in no-man's land between Wilshire, Central, and Farmington. Even though the body count is supposed to be divided equally, Wilshire and Central are pinning all the blame on the new donkey.<br />
<br />
Claudette is sure crime stats will go down once she settles in. Edgar-veda doesn't think so. Three Mexican prisons are being consolidated; inmates with three years or less to serve will be released, a large percentage of which might (illegally) cross the border into the States and settle in Farmington. Some of them are likely here already.<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda will file for a budget increase and sweet-talk the Wilshire and Central captains into taking their share of the multiple murder victims. Claudette doesn't believe it could be that easy. Edgar-veda asks what she knows so far about Vic.<br />
<br />
"Jesus, how long does it take to eat a salad?" asks Ronnie as he, Vic, and Shane emerge from hiding. They could always pull a Lem and raid Nydia's kitchen. They watch as Nydia drives away. Vic checks the call history on her landline: "Guardo's in Mexico. Goddamn it!" He writes down the number.<br />
<br />
Shane says, "We can't rush this. We gotta handle it right." They can't wait due to the APB on Vic. Not wanting his friends to go down with him, Vic tells Shane and Ronnie to go back to the Barn.<br />
<br />
Vic confronts Aldo the supermarket owner. Aldo is worried people will get suspicious about Vic coming to his store: "Do you want me killed?" Vic lets Aldo know it's not the Salvadorans he has to worry about if he keeps lying. Why is Guardo in San Miguel, Mexico? It seems he's planning to smuggle in a load of prescription drugs next week. He's been there a few days.<br />
<br />
"Where's your cell phone?" asks Vic. Aldo hands it over. Vic instructs him to leave the keys and get out of the truck, promising to return it with a full tank.<br />
<br />
"Where have you two been?" Claudette demands of Shane and Ronnie. She's been trying to call them all morning. Shane claims their phones were off while they were in the field. Why is there an APB out on Vic? Claudette can't tell them. Dutch asks when they saw him last. Shane claims Vic's taking another personal day. Rat King Kavanaugh needs to talk to both Shane and Ronnie.<br />
<br />
Shane's official statement says nobody on the Strike Team had ever been to Portillo Auto Body. Why did Vic have a map to Portillo in his house? Vic promised Emolia $500 to give Lem to the Salvadorans. They found $500 in an envelope with Vic's prints on it. Could Vic have set Lem up? Shane points at Kavanaugh, "You're crazier than that ex-wife of his."<br />
<br />
They know Emolia was in contact with the Salvadorans. "Emolia was outed as a snitch. She was probably calling to beg for her life." says Shane. Well, how else does he explain the evidence? Shane guesses she planted it or Kavanaugh did. "That's gold," Rat King chuckles.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh investigated Vic for 6 months and couldn't find anything. It's awfully convenient he has this tidy little story mere days after Lem's death. "Sound like you know a lot about tall tales and planting evidence," says Rat King. Oh, if only you knew. "Vic didn't kill Lem," Shane repeats. (Yeah, it was you doing that, you bastard). Emolia just wants revenge.<br />
<br />
Then why isn't Vic here right now defending himself? Shane doesn't think Vic is aware of the APB. He asks if Dutch is really buying this. Dutch's expression says a resounding "yes." Kavanaugh is curious about Shane's involvement (keep working that angle); it's already too late for Vic. Shane can save himself if he tells them where Vic went.<br />
<br />
Vic meets with his <i>federale </i>friend Tonio. He needs his help "repatriating" Guardo to the States. Tonio himself is looking for Rocha, a Byz Lat in East L.A. who's wanted for murder in Mexico City. Rocha used to be under the protection of a rich cattle rancher whose daughter he married; he recently left Mexico with her kids. Prescription smuggling would give Vic leverage.<br />
<br />
Rocha being arrested in L.A. means the case being entangled in international court: "The mother and rich grandparents are looking for a quicker solution." Tonio will give Vic a cut of the money. He doesn't care what happens to Rocha as long as the kids are returned safely. Tonio asks what Guardo did. "He killed my friend," Vic replies.<br />
<br />
Vic calls Ronnie, who informs him that Shane is being interrogated by Dutch and Kavanaugh. Making the understatement of the month, he says, "It's not good." The Rat King found a map to the body shop and a matchbook from Emolia's workplace in Vic's trash. Vic knows it was planted; nobody can prove otherwise. He asks Ronnie to find out who's the current Byz Lat leader in East L.A.<br />
<br />
Tina heard they found evidence at Vic's house. "Maybe a little too much," muses Dutch. He challenges Tina to apply <a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam's_razor">Ockham's razor</a> to Lem's murder. Chatton, another philosopher, came up with what Dutch calls an anti-razor: The world has too many variables for people to assume the simplest answer is always correct. She asks what Dutch thinks is going on.<br />
<br />
Dutch is curious why Emolia is still in L.A.; after all, the Salvadorans put out a contract on her life. Emolia refuses to talk to anyone other than the Rat King. Emolia blames the police for her being in the middle of this. Enter Kavanaugh, none too pleased that Dutch is interviewing Emolia without him.<br />
<br />
Outside, Dutch lays out his theory. Emolia was greenlit, so agreed to pin Lem's murder on Vic so Guardo would spare her life. Kavanaugh says it's a waste of time; they need everyone available looking for Vic. He takes a shot at Dutch about giving private tutoring to "hot unis." (Wonder if he knows Dutch used to have a thing for Danny). Emolia is innocent and the interrogation is over.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh expresses concern to Claudette about keeping Dutch on Lem's case. Dutch's brief romantic relationship with Corinne may have clouded his objectivity. Claudette raises an eyebrow: "Dutch is protecting Vic for his ex-wife's sake? ...What about the personal nature of the case with you?" Kavanaugh shrugs that relations between IAD and regular cops will always be strained. Finally getting Vic off the street would be a major victory for Claudette.<br />
<br />
Shane worries the murder charge against Vic could actually hold up. "We can't let him take this hit," says Ronnie. They both sigh. Shane gets fidgety: "What if I said that I was with Lem or something?" (That would at least <i>resemble</i> the truth). "I had a grenade from the bust," he goes on, "It just went off by accident?" In Lem's lap?<br />
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Ronnie shakes his head. Lying won't help Vic (other than "it was an accident", Shane's being honest). Also, Shane would be confessing to aiding and abetting a fugitive. Shane mutters "yeah" over and over, desperate to help his best friend. "The longer he's in the wind, the guiltier he looks," Ronnie points out unnecessarily.<br />
<br />
Vic rolls up to the Byz Lat compound and is waylaid by a large gangbanger asking Vic to state his business. Vic wants to see Santi. "Nobody sees <i>jefe </i>without an appointment or a warrant," says Big Byz Lat. They know the local cops and don't recognize Vic. He explains he works in Farmington and wants the destination of their next drug shipment; if he doesn't talk to Santi, those drugs will be seized.<br />
<br />
Big Byz Lat makes a phone call and lets Vic in, directing him to a parking space. He asks for Vic's gun. Vic can't do that because it's city issue. Biggie won't let him in, so Vic drops the magazine. Guess Biggie doesn't know most cops keep one in the chamber.<br />
<br />
In a basement surrounded by about a dozen gangbangers, Vic asks where Rocha is. Santi guesses Vic's the terms of their agreement: Drugs pass safely over the border in exchange for Rocha. "Great minds think alike," Vic confirms.<br />
<br />
Santi warns Vic that busting their shipment will be viewed as an act of war against every Latino gang in L.A. He'll pay Vic for his time if "you forget my face and the scrips." Vic doesn't want money. He's trying to make nice-nice, but if Santi wants "shock and awe," that can be arranged.<br />
<br />
One of the younger Byz Lats aims a gun at Vic's head. "Watch it, homes. Little homey's shitfaced, <i>ese,</i>" chuckles another Byz Lat. Vic calmly says, "Junior missed the short bus to school today." Santi says something in Spanish. The kid, whose voice hasn't quite broken and whose gun hand is shaky, declares, "I ain't afraid of no cops." Vic points his own gun at the kid's face.<br />
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The other gangbangers draw down. The kid taunts that Vic don't have no bullets. Just like I thought, there's one chambered. Would Santi rather leave the basement with Vic or die there with him? Santi opts for the former.<br />
<br />
Vic marches Santi outside, barrel buried in the Byz Lat's kidney. He slaps the magazine back in his gun and gets in the truck with Santi, peeling out before anyone can close the gate.<br />
<br />
Vic gives Santi until the next red light to tell him where Rocha is hiding. Rocha is supposed to carry out a hit on Big G (such an original gangster name), a dealer who belongs to the One-Niners. "Rocha doesn't show up or you warn him, I show up with a hell of a lot more than one in the chamber," Vic threatens before pushing Santi out of the moving car.<br />
<br />
Vic's next stop is a basketball court. He lets 400-pound Big G know about the hit. However, he also wants Rocha to find his intended victim. Dropped off at his favorite corner, Big G asks what happens if Rocha does a drive-by. Vic is sure a professional like Rocha will fire at close range: two in the chest, one in the head.<br />
<br />
Corinne tells Dutch two unmarked sedans are parked outside her house: "I was a cop's wife long enough to know that there's trouble." She hasn't seen Vic since last night and he told her someone's trying to frame him for Lem's murder. Dutch breaks some bad news: There's a warrant out for Vic. Corinne insists, "He would never in a million years."<br />
<br />
Dutch says something monotone about evidence. Corinne can't believe he thinks Vic is capable of this. Dutch gently tells her to prepare the kids for the possibility of Daddy going to jail. "What are you doin' to my husband, huh?" Corinne demands of Kavanaugh. Hating Vic doesn't give him the right to accuse him of things he didn't do.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh puts a hand on her shoulder, suggesting they go someplace private. "Like my house? You wanna put your hands all over me again? Pin me up against the door?" yells Corinne. Everyone in the squadroom has stopped what they're doing to stare. "You used your badge to get into my house and then you tried to touch me! I didn't feel safe!"<br />
<br />
Dutch tries to get her to stop making a scene, but that ship has long since sailed. By now, Claudette has arrived. Corinne wants to file charges on Kavanaugh for the attempted sexual assault.<br />
<br />
As Rocha heads toward Big G, Vic gets out of the truck. He shoves Rocha against a fence before he can do what he came to do. Rocha fires a couple of wild shots, panicking kids walking home from the nearby high school. Vic handcuffs Rocha, promising to let him go if he shows him where his kids are. Rocha gives him the name of a motel. Vic handcuffs him to the fence.<br />
<br />
Claudette and Dutch talk about the latest development with Kavanaugh. "I believe she believes it [happened]," says Dutch. He never thought Kavanaugh was capable of something like that. Claudette wonders what else he could be capable of. She asks what happens to his pleas of Vic's innocence. Does Dutch see Vic going to jail for Lem's murder as karmic justice, whether Vic is guilty or not?<br />
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Dutch spouts a Grissom-ism: "The evidence is the evidence." Claudette reminds him she only has one chance to get the Barn back on track. That means going after the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.<br />
<br />
Dutch thinks Emolia is lying and that the Rat King told her what to say. He pulled surveillance footage proving Emolia and Kavanaugh never met in the coffee shop. Claudette wants Emolia brought back in.<br />
<br />
At the meeting spot, Rocha's kids are reunited with their mom. Tonio is sorry, but Guardo has connections that make him nigh impossible to shanghai. Vic is understandably pissed about Tonio not keeping his end of the bargain, even suggesting Guardo paid off the <i>federale</i>. He won't settle for money or more favors. Can Tonio get Guardo a message? Tonio thinks he might be able to. Vic wants to meet again in two hours.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh asks why Emolia is at the Barn. He and Claudette argue back and forth about whether he can be in the interrogation room. Claudette will only allow him to observe. Shane apologizes to Emolia for calling her son Sebastio a retard; he pleads with her not to betray Vic, who was always good to them. Emolia ignores him.<br />
<br />
Once the interrogation room door closes, Claudette smiles as she looks around: "I've fixed a lot of wrongs inside these walls." Her tone soon turns harsh: "Guardo wanted to have you killed! You made up a story about Vic so that you could get witness protection!" Yeah, that's pretty much it. Emolia keeps toeing the party line.<br />
<br />
Claudette calls Julien and Asher upstairs, then orders Kavanaugh to leave. If he won't, the uniforms will be happy to help the Rat King on his way. Kavanaugh moseys over to observation.<br />
<br />
Claudette knows Emolia's been in a lot of trouble before. Normally, she'd be sympathetic to a woman being ping-ponged between two abusive men, but Emolia let them do it for money. Emolia protests she did it for Sebastio's sake.<br />
<br />
Would Emolia would rather lose her soul to Vic and Kavanaugh or be strong enough to get free of them? Claudette understands Emolia is scared. But if Emolia tells the truth, Claudette can get her into witness protection. Vic and Kavanaugh are destroying her life and Sebastio's. Emolia starts to cry.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh wants to talk to the captain. Julien and Asher bar the door. Dutch tells the uniforms to stand down. Kavanaugh barges into the interrogation room. The next thing out of his mouth is an admission that he coerced Emolia to lie and planted evidence in Vic's house. He adds, "But I framed a guilty man."<br />
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Vic tells Shane and Ronnie that Tonio screwed them. It's time to change tactics. He marches toward Nydia's house, instructing the other two to follow his lead. Shane hangs back. Vic introduces them as detectives and claims someone plans to kidnap her. Namely Salceda, a Mexican drug lord who also wants to kill Guardo.<br />
<br />
Nydia throws a curveball: "I don't know any Guardo." She hasn't even heard of him. Vic guesses they got the wrong house. They start to leave. "Wait!" Nydia calls after them. Guardo gave her strict instructions not to talk to cops. According to Vic, Salceda plans to use Nydia as bait to lure Guardo back to the States. Shane's glad they found her in time.<br />
<br />
Nydia wants to call Guardo. Vic advises against that; anyone could be listening. The hit is an inside job. Ronnie will drive her to a safe house. She'd only have to stay for a day or two. Vic will pack some clothes for her.<br />
<br />
"What the hell are you doin'?" asks Shane, following Vic into the house. Vic tosses a suitcase onto the bed: "Just pack. I'll explain later." Shane haphazardly puts underwear in the suitcase. Vic pockets a gold cross from the jewelry box.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh smiles that he's never cheated in his life before now. It's ironic he got caught trying to set up someone so dirty. "You set up another cop for murder. Threw away your career. I fail to see the humor," says Claudette. "You sacrificed your integrity for Vic Mackey. You were better than him." Somehow, I seriously doubt that.<br />
<br />
Julien and Asher confiscate Kavanaugh's badge and gun. The Rat King is being arrested for interfering with police business under color of authority. Claudette is sure other charges will be added. Let's see here: witness tampering, attempted rape, harassment, tampering with evidence. There'd be more than one count of each if poor Lem were alive to testify.<br />
<br />
Claudette tells the uniforms to drive Kavanaugh to police headquarters. She cuffs the Rat King in front and lets him drape his sportcoat over his hands to conceal them. Hopefully, that's the last professional courtesy he gets. Kavanaugh gloats that Vic is Claudette's problem now (which he was to begin with because she's his captain).<br />
<br />
Vic brings Nydia's necklace to Tonio. His message: If Guardo ever wants to see her again, he has to personally deliver a $50,000 ransom to L.A. Cash only. "I don't think I want any part of this, let alone what you'll do to him once you've got him," says Tonio.<br />
<br />
Vic just wants the message delivered; Tonio can wash his hands after that. The <i>federale </i>agrees. Guardo needs to call Nydia's cell to arrange the drop.<br />
<br />
Shane, of all people, says, "The last thing we need is more dirty money." Vic doesn't give a shit about the ransom. Nobody will trust Guardo with their drug shipments if he can't protect his own girlfriend. Shane begs Vic to reconsider. They can't bring Lem back and Shane can't stand it if he loses his best friend too. Vic remains adamant: "Guardo has to pay."<br />
<br />
At the safe house, Ronnie sits by himself in the dark kitchen. He jumps a foot in the air when Vic opens the door. Nydia is asleep. Shane tells Ronnie about the new plan. It doesn't seem like they're planning to actually kill her if Guardo doesn't show up. The bigger question is what happens if he does.<br />
<br />
Shane is all "uh, maybe we shouldn't do this." Vic says they're both free to go back to the Barn. He takes Ronnie's place at the table and toys with Nydia's phone.<br />
<br />
Danny has stopped by the Barn to show off Lee. She sighs to Claudette that he has colic and cries a lot. Claudette has good news: Danny passed her sergeant's exam. The promotion is in effect immediately when she comes back from maternity leave. However, if Danny waits too long, her name drops to the bottom of the list. Claudette tells her to sleep on it, like Danny will with a newborn.<br />
<br />
Claudette also has good news for Shane and Ronnie: All charges against Vic have been dropped. "If he's still in the country, tell him he can sleep in his own bed tonight."<br />
<br />
Back at the safe house, Shane wants Vic to let Nydia go. "She's how we get to Guardo," says Vic. Ronnie asks, "What happened to no more unilateral decisions?" (If only he knew about the one Shane made). This plan is too risky for his tastes. Vic finds it unfair that Guardo is alive and Lem isn't. If the guys don't want to help him, he'll do it himself.<br />
<br />
"What the hell is your problem?" asks Shane, "Can't you listen to anybody but yourself?" (Said the self-centered loudmouth to no one in particular). Lem died because he wouldn't go to Mexico. Does Vic want the grave next to his? Does he want them to all go to jail? After this outburst, Shane storms away. Ronnie takes off his jacket and settles in, telling Vic to go get some sleep. Vic squeezes his shoulder.<br />
<br />
"You've been a very busy boy," Vic tells Kavanaugh in lockup. The Rat King counters, "I learned from the master." Vic knows what Kavanaugh did to Corinne. I think the Rat King better watch out in the showers. Kavanaugh is confident "the universe will take out its trash when it's ready." Vic thinks it already has.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh tells Vic he turned Lem into a thug and a thief. Wrong. Unlike Vic, Lem always had good reason when he lost his temper. Kavanaugh knows trying to use Vic's tactics backfired on him, "but I won't be the one hearing my dead friend's screams in my head." Vic reminds Kavanaugh who's going to his own bed tonight.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh shrugs: "I'm at peace. Are you?" "Soon enough," Vic replies. And thus ends the tenure of one of the most despicable characters in <i>The Shield</i>'s history.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh conveniently forgot he was a master manipulator before Emolia and the planted map; he played Lem like a fiddle, twisting his head 'til he didn't remember which way was up. It wasn't just Lem's mental health that suffered for it. By the end, his stress-related ulcer had damn near crippled him. I, for one, hope Kavanaugh doesn't get a plea deal. End of episode.Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-46683122218967040732017-08-25T00:00:00.000-04:002017-08-25T02:11:18.569-04:00"On the Jones" for Answers (Episode 6.1)<i>Last season: Lieutenant Kavanaugh of IAD (AKA the Rat King) launched an investigation into the Strike Team. When trying to get to Vic through Corinne didn't work, Kavanaugh set his sights on Lem. The Rat King threatened Lem with prison time for heroin possession with intent to distribute. Lem, getting progressively sicker from his ulcer, cracked under the pressure. He made a deal for a lesser sentence, but wouldn't say anything against Vic: "I can't turn on my family."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Meanwhile, a Salvadoran gang took to bombing things with hand grenades they smuggled into the U.S.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Antwon told Vic that Lem would be a dead man walking in prison unless Vic killed the One-Niners' new leader. Even though Vic kept his end of the bargain, Antwon reneged. The Strike Team hatched a plan to send Lem to Mexico under a new identity.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The Rat King and Edgar-veda schemed to make Vic believe Lem was going to testify against the Strike Team in order to get into witness protection. Shane bought the story hook, line, and sinker. On the night Lem was supposed to head south, Shane the Traitorous Bastard went rogue and served Lem a sandwich with a side of hand grenade. When Vic and the guys saw Lem's dead body, Vic pledged, "We're gonna find whoever did this. And we're gonna kill him."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Vic drives out to the cemetery. Lem's grave is so fresh it doesn't even have a headstone, but there's no shortage of flowers. Shane reports that no one's seen Guardo, who headed the grenade-smuggling operation. Vic wonders how Guardo lured Lem to his death and vows: "When we find Guardo, he dies the same way. Only slower." Shane agrees.<br />
<br />
Ronnie wishes Lem would've come to them for help instead of his lawyer Becca. Vic argues that Lem was scared; he blames himself for botching his end of the deal with Antwon. "Hey, this is nobody's fault," says Shane.<br />
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The three remaining members of the Strike Team point their guns at the grave. "You were a great cop," says Ronnie. Shane the Traitorous Bastard adds, "You were a good friend." Vic finishes that they're giving him the 21-gun salute he deserves. Each of them fire into the ground 7 times. Afterwards, Shane is teary-eyed. Vic reassuringly pats him on the shoulder.<br />
<br />
In the Barn, Claudette asks if Billings already went home. Dutch replies, "He takes his 9-to-5 very seriously." So far, three Salvadorans have confessed to Lem's murder and have all been ruled out. Two suspects missed details; the latest wasn't even in the U.S. when Lem died. That's not all Dutch is upset about: "No police funeral. No press conference. It's like Lemansky never wore a badge."<br />
<br />
Corinne arrives, looking for Vic because he isn't answering his phone. Dutch says Vic took some personal days, but he'll be back tomorrow. Corinne is worried. She hasn't talked to Vic in days and he doesn't return her messages; the kids are concerned too. Dutch offers to pass on her message.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh apologizes to Assistant Chief Phillips for his epic freakout in Claudette's office. He shouldn't have let things get so personal. He wants to make up for it by looking for Lem's killer. Phillips tells him Claudette is in charge of that. Kavanaugh thinks Dutch is making a mistake by only working the case from the Salvadoran angle.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh also wants to continue investigating Vic. Phillips flatly tells him that ain't happening. Kavanaugh presents his case: "The brick of tar we found on Lemansky was a part of something dirty that Vic put into motion." Vic needed to cover his ass when Lem got caught, so Lem agreed to take a plea bargain. Vic tried to make a deal with Antwon to guarantee Lem's safety in prison, but it went disastrously wrong. Vic knew that Lem might turn on them.<br />
<br />
"Mackey killed his own guy?" Phillips says skeptically. Kavanaugh thinks Vic got Salvadorans to do the dirty work, "but somebody put that grenade in Lemansky's lap." Well, no shit, that'd be a terrible way to commit suicide.<br />
<br />
The Rat King promises to be discreet and respectful (two things he's not) while he checks whether Vic was involved. Phillips wants a report the next day and they'll decide whether there's enough evidence to pursue it further.<br />
<br />
Vic stares morosely into the empty clubhouse, no doubt picturing a certain blond with his feet kicked up on the table. Dutch and Billings don't have anything new to go on. Vic is sure Guardo killed Lem to send a message about the guys busting his drug and grenade operation.<br />
<br />
Claudette assigns Vic to an arson case at a methadone clinic located deep in gang territory. Claudette is sorry, but she can't assign Vic to Lem's murder; he's too close to the situation. However, he'll still be the first one to know about any developments. Dutch lets Vic know about Corinne stopping by.<br />
<br />
"Turn that shit off!" Vic barks at a One-Niner blaring rap, the police-issue Dodge Charger screeching to a halt. Vic drags the gangbanger out of the car through the window, NASCAR driver style. "Damn, I got leftovers older than you," Shane remarks to the guy's girlfriend. He probably does, what with Mara's apparent postpartum depression and all.<br />
<br />
"Looks like Moses here finally made it to the land of milk and underage honey," says Vic. Moses claims that in addition to being "all kinds of willing," his girlfriend is legal. Ronnie tosses Vic a roll of money. Moses bitches about the guys having him steal an empty safe. Shane knocks him to the ground, reminding Moses who's in charge.<br />
<br />
Did the One-Niners torch the methadone clinic? According to Moses, "methadonians" are good for business. A lot of the clinic's patients buy benzos from the gang. Shane wonders if the good folks running the clinic know that. Vic doubts they care; methadone "turns street junkies into state-sponsored ones."<br />
<br />
Vic wants to find out if anyone with a history of violence has been a patient at the clinic. "Someone on the jones?" asks Shane. Vic shrugs, "Hurting, delusional, I'd be settin' fires." Claudette should post uniforms at all the methadone clinics in the area.<br />
<br />
Vic tells Moses if the One-Niners' leader needs a favor, he'd be happy to do it. He punctuates that statement with a punch to the stomach.<br />
<br />
At an apartment complex, Ronnie exposits that Quentin Garth is on the "home-study methadone kick." The guy is "volatile, raging about how he's being screwed by Big Medicine." Quentin also threatened a counselor at the torched methadone clinic. Nobody's seen him for two days.<br />
<br />
Vic breaks down the door. The apartment is empty. Vic notices framed pictures of Quentin wearing a military uniform on the walls. Something tickles Shane's sensitive nose. He opens the bathroom door to find a dead man on the toilet with his pants around his ankles. The walls and tub are spattered with blood. For reasons unknown, there's a toaster on the floor.<br />
<br />
Ronnie, who always gets the fun jobs, checks the guy's wallet. The victim is Quentin's roommate Kevin. Vic guesses Kevin was beaten with the toaster: "Glad this guy's his best friend. I'd hate to see what he'd do to his enemies." That remark will certainly touch a nerve with Shane...<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh arrives at the Barn and every cop present gives him the stink eye. He sets his briefcase on an unoccupied desk. Dutch asks if Kavanaugh can get in touch with Emolia. The Rat King becomes cagey (pun intended). Why does Dutch need to talk to her? Dutch figures she might know how to find Guardo. Kavanaugh doesn't know where Emolia is, but she'd mentioned moving to live with her sister in Seattle.<br />
<br />
Dutch conversationally mentions that he thought Kavanaugh's investigation was over. Kavanaugh has started a new one related to Lem's death and is making a timeline on a suspect. He holds up a DVD of traffic cam footage from the night Lem died. In Vic's voluntary statement, he said he took a drive from I-10 to the Pacific Coast Highway to clear his head.<br />
<br />
Dutch doubts Vic was involved; he was "extraordinarily tight" with Lem. Personally, it always seemed like Lem was closest to Ronnie. Dutch asks what reason Vic would've even had to do it.<br />
<br />
The Rat King admits to having Edgar-veda tell Vic that Lem made a deal that involved giving up his former teammates. His plan was to tail Vic to Lem's hideout, then arrest him for aiding and abetting a fugitive. Vic, Shane, and Ronnie all lost their tails. Mere hours later, Lem was found dead. Whether or not Vic actually pulled the pin, "he had Lemansky killed because I gave him motive."<br />
<br />
At the apartment complex, Ronnie suddenly stops in his tracks and picks up a newspaper lying near someone's door. A front-page headline proclaims: "Murdered Cop Was Dirty"; underneath is Lem's mugshot. It's a final slap in the face.<br />
<br />
Back at the Barn, Vic demands of Claudette, "You knew about this shit?" "Lem gave 12 years to this department. God knows how many arrests," Shane jumps in. Why wasn't Lem's picture ever in the paper for doing good?<br />
<br />
Claudette says the reporters found out about the IAD investigation and "brass couldn't control the spin." Vic knows the new chief has been itching to get someone for corruption and "pinned the horns" on Lem. She calls "a shitty ending to an ugly story."<br />
<br />
"With the bad cop buried, you and the department get a fresh start, right?" asks Vic. Claudette is sorry about what happened to Lem and I think she's being honest. However, hiding heroin in his car and turning fugitive were choices Lem made on his own.<br />
<br />
Vic says angrily, "Kavanaugh browbeat that admission out of him, then he threatened to dump him in Antwon's bottom bunk." Ronnie also defends his best friend: "He ran 'cause he was scared." Shane adds that Lem was forced to make another deal.<br />
<br />
Claudette knows the only way another deal would've been possible is if Lem gave up other dirty cops, which didn't happen. Vic is stunned. Claudette adds that Lem was willing to do more prison time if IAD kept him away from Antwon, but he died before the agreement was finalized. "No," Shane says, in shock for a different reason.<br />
<br />
The police council is making an official statement later. Claudette will make sure it's as respectful as possible. Vic guesses the spokesman will be everybody's least favorite city councilman. Shane is still whispering to himself: "Aceveda said that Lem gave us up. He told them about the money train." They realize they were set up into thinking Lem was a rat, not unlike what Agent Stahl did regarding Opie. Some nice Sutter symmetry there.<br />
<br />
Vic notices the Rat King and asks Julien if he knows what's going on. Julien heard Kavanaugh is helping work Lem's murder, even though Lem was no longer a cop. Vic and Ronnie take off. Shane stays in the hallway by himself.<br />
<br />
Dutch checked their suspect's passport. Rene arrived in L.A. 18 hours after Lem was murdered. Tina translates that into Spanish, then gives Rene's answer in English: "He says he's got two cousins who saw him kill Lemansky." Dutch asks for their addresses, which Rene claims not to know.<br />
<br />
Vic wants to talk to Dutch. Dutch tells the rookie to run the cousins' names. Once Tina and Rene are gone, Vic locks the door and unplugs the camera. He isn't happy that Kavanaugh is working Lem's case. Dutch claims that wasn't his choice. "Don't dick me around," Vic warns. Dutch admits, "You're the angle [Kavanaugh's working]."<br />
<br />
Shane is sitting in his truck outside the Barn, crying and holding his gun in his lap. He jumps out of his skin when Danny, carrying baby Lee, knocks on the window. Shane wipes off his eye and pastes on a false smile; he gushes that Lee looks so big and happy.<br />
<br />
Danny lets Shane hold the baby. She came by to deal with health insurance paperwork and thought she'd let everyone see her son. Danny goes inside. Shane takes his gun off the front seat and puts it back in his holster.<br />
<br />
Vic asks Kavanaugh if he should start making his own funeral arrangements: "Seems like every cop you investigate ends up dead." The Rat King got Lem blown up and is trying to make it Vic's fault. Kavanaugh thinks this is just the anger stage of grief talking. "At what point do your bosses realize you're as delusional as that sick, crazy, twisted ex-wife of yours?" asks Vic.<br />
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Kavanaugh accuses Vic of murder. Vic charges Kavanaugh. Every cop in the Barn gets between them, all holding one or the other back. In the kerfuffle, Billings gets tipped over on his ass. "Mackey! Kavanaugh! Knock it off!" Phillips barks from the balcony. Billings whines that he got a lump on his head, even though that's not how he landed. Vic walks right past a shaken-up Danny and their newborn son without a word.<br />
<br />
Upstairs, Phillips demands to know what happened between Kavanaugh and Vic. Claudette tells him it's not the first time; they brawled at Lem's crime scene and it took 9 uniforms to pull them apart. "This is you being discreet?" asks Phillips. The Rat King argues Vic started it both times; he was just defending himself.<br />
<br />
Phillips reminds him that IAD is supposed to be neutral. "Objectivity doesn't lead to brawls and pissing matches," adds Claudette. Phillips pulls rank as assistant chief; Kavanaugh's investigation is officially over. The Rat King needs to leave the Barn or he'll be written up for insubordination.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh insists, "I have proof that Vic had Lemansky killed." Claudette and Phillips look doubtful. He's sure Vic had Emolia set up the whole thing. "You told Dutch you didn't know where she was!" says Claudette. Kavanaugh lies that Emolia called him because was scared to come forward. Claudette finds it more likely she just wanted more CI money. Kavanaugh says Vic threatened Emolia's kid.<br />
<br />
Phillips is all "you're just telling us this <i>now?" </i>Kavanaugh knows Vic always worms his way out of everything. He just wanted his ducks in a row before he put her statements on record. Phillips wants to hear this from Emolia herself.<br />
<br />
In a rundown apartment, Emolia is hiding behind the door with a butcher knife. Kavanaugh knocks on the door, calling that it's just her old pal. He lets himself in and asks if any other detectives have stopped by. Emolia says no.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh looks around and doesn't see any toys. Is Sebastio living with Emolia's mom full-time? Emolia wants her son to be safe; people know she ratted out Guardo. Isn't Vic still taking care of her? Emolia tells Kavanaugh that Vic and the guys called Sebastio a retard; she doesn't want anything to do with them anymore. Kavanaugh offers her a way to make that right.<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda is straightening his tie in the city hall men's room when Vic startles him by popping out of a stall. Vic knows Lem didn't squeal and that Edgar-veda was in bed with Kavanaugh. Edgar-veda confirms the Rat King played them both.<br />
<br />
"Your jones to hurt me let you turn a blind eye to what he was doing to Lem. You knew about the Antwon threat," Vic goes on. Lem got scared and ran, which ultimately got him killed.<br />
<br />
"When do you ever take responsibility, Vic?" asks Edgar-veda. Vic shoves him. The councilman threatens, "If you weren't a heartbeat away from being forced out--" Vic rips his badge off his belt and tosses it in the sink. Is that what Edgar-veda and the Rat King want? He pushes his holstered gun into Edgar-veda's chest, snarling, "You wanna end a career, you do it straight up to someone who's still alive."<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda's sorry about Lem. If that's true, Vic knows the councilman won't disgrace his memory. Edgar-veda argues it's not his call; he just works here. After a minute, Vic collects his badge and gun.<br />
<br />
Emolia recites, "I say that Vic used me as a middleman to set up a hit on his guy." Kavanaugh nods; he'll give her more details later. Emolia thought he was supposed to stop cops from lying. He justifies that by reminding Emolia she isn't a cop, adding in the semantics that it's "just somebody else's truth." They'll make it clear Vic threatened her son, which made her feel like she had no choice.<br />
<br />
Emolia thinks the Rat King's promises of monthly checks and a house with a pool are too good to be true. The Rat King insists "this here is real!"<br />
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Dutch calls Emolia's name through the door. When that doesn't work, he starts knocking on the window. Kavanaugh whispers that he needs to know where Vic would normally meet her; it should be someplace public but not crowded. Emolia gives him the address of a sewing shop she occasionally works for.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh calls Dutch and tells him about the shop. Dutch already has some possible addresses from Emolia's sister and suspects she's dodging him. Kavanaugh swear it's solid intel, but this is Dutch's case; he can do what he wants.<br />
<br />
Axl, the clerk at a porno store, is being tended to by an EMT. A rack of DVDs has been tipped over. Someone came in, shot the wall, called him a "sick shithead," then tried to shoot him. Axl cut his head diving for cover. Tina seems very interested in the cover art on an amateur porn DVD. Julien asks if Axl can describe the suspect to a sketch artist. Axl nods that he has a "photogenic memory."<br />
<br />
Outside, Julien and Tina debate the morality of the porn industry. He sends her to look for witnesses across the street.<br />
<br />
Vic asks Claudette if he's supposed to let Kavanaugh ruin his career too. Claudette is more interested in why Vic hasn't submitted his retirement forms; he's supposed to keep his head down so he can still collect a partial pension. "There's been a lot going on around here!" Vic says defensively.<br />
<br />
Claudette hands Vic a folder; the paperwork inside retires him, effective immediately. Vic thought he had until his 15th anniversary. "Certain things are in motion," she says cryptically. This wasn't her call. Vic argues that she needs him. "I need people I can trust," Claudette replies lightly. Is there a reason she should help him?<br />
<br />
Ronnie interrupts to tell them Quentin is at another methadone clinic. This time, he has hostages. At the scene, Vic exposits Quentin's captives are a doctor and a woman with her 3-month-old baby. Quentin's poured gasoline on the doctor and mother. Ronnie reports SWAT and a hostage negotiator are 30 minutes away. Shane hangs back. "Are you coming?" Vic asks loudly.<br />
<br />
In the clinic, two gas cans are outside the exam room. Vic surmises Quentin plans to shoot them and torch the hallway, thereby sealing himself off. Vic wants someone to peek into the exam room through the skylight. They don't need to spook Quentin.<br />
<br />
Shane is still spacing out. Vic is sure this is nothing he and Ronnie can't handle by themselves: "We got innocents soaked with gasoline. I need your head in the game." Shane swears he's okay.<br />
<br />
Danny is relaxing on her porch with Lee when Corinne jogs up. Does Danny know where Vic is? Corinne hasn't seen him since Lem's funeral and thought the two of them might've moved in together. Danny says, "Me and Vic aren't a thing." "What about that thing in your arms?" Corinne fires back.<br />
<br />
Danny goes into mama bear mode: "Don't you call my son a thing, you uptight bitch." Corinne argues she's just a realist; Danny has no idea who she's gotten involved with. If Danny thinks Vic will be there for Lee, she has another thing coming.<br />
<br />
Danny shrugs she can handle being a single mom. Corinne scoffs at that. "Just because you couldn't handle it doesn't mean I won't be able to," Danny points out.<br />
<br />
Corinne wants to know what happens if Lee turns out to be autistic a few years from now. All babies seem fine at first and "there's a genetic predisposition for siblings." It takes two to make a baby, so Danny thinks Corinne might be the parent with bad genes.<br />
<br />
Through the skylight, Vic sees mom and the doctor in a corner with the baby on the exam table. If they can get the kid out, SWAT can get between Quentin and the adults. Shane aims his gun down the hallway and whispers, "Jesus Christ. Don't hurt that little baby." Quentin is agitated, threatening to kill the baby if it doesn't stop crying. Shane drops his gun and heads for the exam room.<br />
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Ronnie tries to stop him, but Shane keeps moving, even taking off his tactical vest. Shane calls, "The reason the baby's cryin' is because of the gasoline. The fumes are probably burnin' his eyes." Ronnie radios Vic for help. "Just hand the kid over to me, get a little peace and quiet," Shane continues.<br />
<br />
Quentin opens the door, demanding to know who Shane is. The Southerner introduces himself as Shane Vendrell the unarmed cop; he throws in that a "quiet detective is a much better bargaining chip" than a screaming baby. Quentin shakes his head: "It's a con...just like everything else." He slams the door in Shane's face, pointing his gun at the mother.<br />
<br />
"Open the door, buddy," Shane coaxes. When Quentin does, Shane starts pouring the gasoline on himself.<br />
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Shane goes on: "Any point you think I'm lyin', you just flick your Bic, brother." Quentin shuts the door again. Shane asks if there's a closet or cabinet in the room; they can put the baby in there so it's not breathing gas.<br />
<br />
Quentin, still holding his gun, awkwardly carries the baby to the small supply closet and closes the door. "I told you you could trust me," smiles Shane. Quentin flips on the lighter. "Vic, the psycho's goin' for Shane," Ronnie says tensely. With no time to waste, Vic jumps right through the skylight. Quentin fires at him.<br />
<br />
Shane tries to tackle Quentin. Ronnie shoots at the suspect, then asks if Vic is okay. "I took one in the vest. Check the kid," Vic groans, his arms shredded from the glass. Shane returns the baby to its mother.<br />
<br />
"You wanna tell me what the hell happened back here?" Claudette demands of him. Vic tells her, "We just saved 3 innocents from a homicidal junkie." "You lied to me! You lied!" Quentin screams and sobs as they leave.<br />
<br />
The description of Axl's attacker is vague as can be: a black man in his 20's with earrings. Claudette goes to the observation room, where Billings is lying on the couch with an ice pack on his head. Does he mind taking over the porn shop case? Billings would love to, but he's still a little woozy.<br />
<br />
Claudette suggests he go home. Billings doesn't like that option either: "If I leave now, it chews up one of my personal days." No worries, though, he'll be fine. "Thank God," says Claudette. Billings misses the sarcasm.<br />
<br />
Claudette asks Tina and Julien to pass out the sketch to other local porn stores. The suspect might also be a regular. Tina still doesn't have addresses for Rene's cousins. Dutch went to the sewing shop to find Emolia, but it was closed.<br />
<br />
In interrogation, Emolia spins her tale about setting up Lem; Vic offered her $500 to do it. He was supposed to pay her yesterday and never did. She was scared that Vic might kill her and Sebastio, so she called Kavanaugh. The Rat King wants to wait for Phillips before they talk more specifics.<br />
<br />
On the balcony, the Rat King tells Dutch that Emolia moved their meeting spot 3 times after she called about the sewing shop. He ultimately found her at a coffee shop. "No harm, no foul," Dutch shrugs.<br />
<br />
"Ow! Easy!" Vic grunts as Corinne stuffs an ice pack up his sleeve in the ER. Corinne hopes Vic has another bag of cash stashed away for the "years of therapy" the kids will need. Cassidy internalizes everything, just like her dad. "Doing okay?" Shane asks cheerily, now in fresh clothes. Vic says, "I'll live as long as my ex isn't the one taking care of me." Corinne leaves to summon the X-Ray technician.<br />
<br />
Shane assures Vic he's fine other than still smelling like diesel. "Just like Ronnie's aftershave," Vic jokes. On a serious note, what the hell was Shane thinking earlier? "My plan wasn't turning you into a Duraflame," says Vic, "I've had enough funerals for one week."<br />
<br />
Vic knows they've all been beating themselves up about Lem, but it's nobody's fault except Guardo's. He tells Shane that Phillips and Claudette are forcing him to retire. Shane has to quit being reckless because Vic couldn't stand losing him too. Shane pats Vic's uninjured arm: "You won't."<br />
<br />
Something isn't adding up for Dutch. Vic definitely has questionable ethics and could be capable of killing another cop, but Lem? Dutch is sure he heard one person, maybe two, inside Emolia's apartment, but no one answered. The timing of Kavanaugh's call was odd.<br />
<br />
However, Dutch doesn't think Kavanaugh has motive to lie. The Rat King wouldn't even bend the rules to help his ex-wife. Claudette knows Vic won't retire without a fight. She wants to find out what he has to say about Emolia's version of events.<br />
<br />
"Cruising for interns?" Vic asks when Dutch shows up at the ER. Dutch gets right to the point: Emolia has accused Vic of hiring Guardo to kill Lem. Vic chuckles, wondering what Kavanaugh offered her. Witness protection, same as Lem. Vic needs to give a formal statement.<br />
<br />
Phillips doesn't like Emolia's chances against Vic's lawyer, especially without corroborating evidence. Kavanaugh asks to reopen his investigation. He also wants Dutch off the case because he doesn't know where his loyalties lie. Phillips agrees, but will soundly discipline Kavanaugh if this gets personal again. He's talking demotion.<br />
<br />
Dutch has Claudette sign a request for surveillance footage across the street from the coffee shop. Julien caught a break: His suspect went to 4 other porn shops and bought every copy of a certain DVD. Dutch examines it: "I'm not familiar with the Dick 'N Granny series."<br />
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Interestingly, their victim Axl, produced, directed, and starred in the movie. "Your Richard Nixon mask a reflection of your political bent or are you just afraid to be associated with your own smut?" Claudette asks curiously. Axl explains the gimmick: "I'm Richard Nixon and I'm dickin' Granny."<br />
<br />
Dutch gets that part. But who's his costar? Whoever tried to shoot Axl has been buying up every copy. Maybe they took exception to "dickin' Granny." Axl doesn't remember who starred in <i>Dick 'N Granny #3, </i>just that it was a first-timer.<br />
<br />
Dutch steps out to take a call from Vic. "Anyone ever tell you that you have incredibly expressive eyes?" Axl sleazes at Claudette, "Ever been on film?" Claudette has a question of her own: Has Axl ever been in a mug book?<br />
<br />
Supposedly, Vic can't come in right now due to a family emergency. Claudette knows he'll run out of those and they'll get the truth. There's a ruckus down in the cage. "Hard to believe this place was ever a church," says Dutch.<br />
<br />
Claudette will find Axl's costar tonight and follow up. Dutch warns her this kind of pace is bad for her health. Claudette shares a secret: If she doesn't turn the Barn around before the quarterly statistics hit the chief's desk, "they might be saying Mass down there again real soon."<br />
<br />
Claudette shows an older black woman the DVD case and the police sketch. Does she know either man? "Edmond!" the woman calls. Julien catches someone, presumably Edmond, running out the back door. "Drop that gun!" he orders. Tina arrives to back Julien up: "Drop the gun, asshole, or I <i>will</i> shoot." Edmond complies, but asks, "Why'd you do it, Grandma?"<br />
<br />
Granny explains to Claudette how she came to be an elderly porn star. Edmond got arrested 6 months ago for grand theft auto. She starred in the movie to pay his bail. Outside, the kid is still screaming things like, "Why'd you be his whore?"<br />
<br />
Vic confronts Kavanaugh at his house: "You got Emolia to lie for you....You think I'm a cop killer? Maybe I am. You're a cop, right?" That sounds like a threat to the Rat King. Vic just wanted to let the bad guy know he's onto him; that makes criminals change tactics and slip up. Kavanaugh tells Vic he's wanted for questioning in Lem's murder.<br />
<br />
Dutch now has the address for Rene's cousin Gavino, but nobody seems to be home. Shocker. Dutch follows a cat around the side of the house. Along the way, he sees at least 6 more. "Oh, that's gross," Tina exclaims, noticing a cat eating what looks like human flesh. There are bloody paw prints on the ground.<br />
<br />
Dutch pushes open the back door. Gavino is bloodied, dead, and partially eaten. Dutch radios for a CSI team. Gavino is one of three or four victims. Dutch turns on the lights. Blood and body parts are literally everywhere. "You gotta be shittin' me," he says.<br />
<br />
Vic apologizes to Corinne for not seeing the kids this week. He also tells her Kavanaugh thinks he had something to do with Lem dying. Corinne thinks that's ridiculous. The late news is on. Vic hurries into the living room and turns up the volume.<br />
<br />
On screen, Edgar-veda says: "Last year, Captain Rawling initiated an inquiry into the Farmington Gang and Drug Unit. Supervised by Lieutenant Kavanaugh from IAD, this department conducted a 7-month investigation..." Cassidy comes out to say hi. Vic snaps at her to go back to her room.<br />
<br />
In a bar, Ronnie is watching the same news report. Edgar-veda has changed the subject to Lem: "No doubt the thought of spending years in prison was a frightening proposition." Back to Vic. "We'll never know what triggered Detective Lemansky's reluctance to serve his time..." Oh yes, we know, you damn liar.<br />
<br />
"...Less than 24 hours later, he was found brutally murdered." Julien kneels at Lem's grave. "Someone dropped a live grenade in the front seat of his car." In an alley, Shane hooks up with Moses' girlfriend. "That murder investigation is ongoing and as of yet, no suspects are in custody. Our condolences go out to Detective Lemansky's friends and family."<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda believes there's a message in the tragedy, "one that I hope will shake this department to its core. Breaking the law and wearing a badge is a dangerous combination. And this city will not tolerate it." We see drawings from the kids and a picture of a smiling Vic in uniform. There's a framed shot of Vic, Shane, Ronnie, and Lem drinking together. "This department will not tolerate it." On the wall is Drug Enforcement Award earned by Vic.<br />
<br />
Over the next 18 months, the police council's goal will be stopping corruption. Kavanaugh goes through Vic's desk and finds an envelope of photos of Vic's kids. Edgar-veda promises that cops found breaking the law "will be relieved of duty and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Just as Detective Curtis Lemansky was being prosecuted for his corrupt actions."<br />
<br />
"You son of a bitch," Vic hisses. Edgar-veda says Farmington needs trustworthy officers. Screw you, Lem was trustworthy as they come. Edgar-veda wants everyone in Farmington who wears a badge to have reason to be proud again. "Nothing personal," Kavanaugh mutters as he leaves Vic's place. End of episode.Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-58733342353067740362017-08-23T00:00:00.000-04:002017-08-23T02:06:12.157-04:00Major "Wins and Losses" (Minisode)<i>This 15-minute clip, available on the Season 5 DVD and via <a href="http://www.maxim.com/video/exclusive-shield-promosode">Maxim </a>links the emotional ending of Season 5 with the beginning of Season 6.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
We recap how the guys discovered Lem's mangled body. Vic, shaken, announces to Shane and Ronnie, "We're gonna find out who did this. And we're gonna kill 'em."<br />
<br />
Cut to Vic in the cemetery watching a backhoe at work: "Nothin' like watchin' a machine dig your best friend's grave." I expect Shane to come back with something along the lines of "I thought <i>I </i>was your best friend", but he has the sense to keep his mouth shut. Instead, he says the loan shark gave them a bogus tip; the suspect was Chilean and didn't know Guardo. The Strike Team is getting help from the Mexican authorities too; Vic just has to be patient.<br />
<br />
That's not good enough for Vic. He wants to know who killed Lem. Here's a hint: he's got big teeth and is standing right next to you. Shane pats Vic on the shoulder: "Let's just send him off the right way." Vic toys with a baby doll arm that's been spray-painted gold.<br />
<br />
Flashback to two years earlier. Shane's explaining his latest gambling scheme: 10-to-1 odds and side action on the length of the match. Ronnie asks, "Whose bright idea was it to have Mr. GED be in charge of the money?" Shane argues that he busted a Samoan ring and knows a few things about sports gambling. "Great. If I ever need someone to cover the spread on a coconut toss, you're my guy," says Vic.<br />
<br />
Inside the clubhouse, Lem is getting ready to arm-wrestle someone. Fun fact: Kenny Johnson is a real-life arm-wrestling champion. Lem's bout against a uniform lasts all of 3 seconds. "You guys need to know that this freak of nature is a sure thing," Shane says proudly. The uniform's partner wants to bet another $100.<br />
<br />
Vic knows Lem is still upset about last year's loss to Wilshire. Lem doesn't even care about the money; it's about bringing the department arm-wrestling trophy back to its rightful place in the Barn. Shane makes it rain, then busts out what appear to be clogging moves. The guys laugh and cheer. "That's our boy right there," Lem grins. End flashback.<br />
<br />
Back at the cemetery, a news van pulls up. Shane asks, "They think we're burying some war criminal?" Vic is angered by the lack of police presence. Even though Lem was stripped of his badge thanks to Kavanaugh, he was still a cop's cop.<br />
<br />
Ronnie knows Guardo can't live without TV and that he "watches it from some restaurant in the 'hood." He's working on getting the address. Another news van has arrived. "You gotta be kidding me," Vic grumbles. He shouts at the reporters, "A man died and his friends and family are here to mourn him! That's all the story you need!"<br />
<br />
Undaunted, the female reporter asks if Vic was friends with Curtis Lemansky, who she refers to as a "disgraced detective." Vic pushes the camera away, telling her to have some respect for the dead. Ronnie quietly says that Vic going off is what the reporters want.<br />
<br />
Claudette approaches. Vic wants her to have "the vultures" move their vans to make room for the motorcade. She sighs that there won't be one; the department brass has even banned people from coming. The chief's office isn't acknowledging the situation as an officer down, meaning no formal statement or headlines. Maybe it's best that this stay a personal event.<br />
<br />
Flashback. The guys play pitch in the clubhouse. Vic does his best Clint Eastwood, asking Lem, "Do you feel lucky...punk?" Edgar-veda, still captain at this point, comes in. He's not impressed by the cards and money. Vic claims they're on a case.<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda asks what Vic knows about drug dealer Ollie Turner. Vic exposits Ollie's a small fish, mostly weed and crack; they're waiting for him to clash with the One-Niners over turf. Edgar-veda informs them Ollie is wanted for questioning about a gang shooting in Wilshire. "This guy's barely mastered the art of weighing and measuring. I doubt he's gonna raise his game to capping bangers," says Vic.<br />
<br />
The guys figure this has something to do with the captain wanting more publicity and funding. "You want us to grab him up before Wilshire gets their greedy little hands on him," Lem surmises. Vic thinks Edgar-veda wants Wilshire more than the Strike Team does. Edgar-veda sniffs disdainfully about the "unauthorized department arm-wrestling match." Ronnie jokes that Dutch's opponent is Stephen Hawking.<br />
<br />
Vic would sure appreciate it if they could host the match someplace other than the Barn's locker room. If the Strike Team gets to Ollie first, Edgar-veda promises, "The whole Barn is your coliseum tonight." That sounds more than fair to them.<br />
<br />
They find Ollie's drug corner. Lem parks the van on the sidewalk, gets out, and starts chasing Ollie on foot. The guy doesn't get far before he gets knocked to the ground. Unfortunately for Lem, he lands on his arm and shoulder. Vic asks if he's all right. Lem shakes out his wrist: "I think I just twisted it."<br />
<br />
"You think it's all right to rough up my guy?" Vic demands as they cuff the suspect. Ollie claims he didn't touch Lem; it was a bad flying tackle. Shane found $3,000 on Ollie, plus a $2 bill. Ollie explains his mom gave him the bill for luck.<br />
<br />
Vic grabs Ollie by the shirt, threatening he'll need that luck if they lose money because Lem is hurt. Lem tells Vic to relax. (Funnily, Lem and Ollie are wearing the same black-and-white flannel shirt). Lem is sure his arm will be okay by tonight; it just has to be iced down. He, Shane, and Vic laugh and start roughhousing. End flashback.<br />
<br />
Vic enters the chapel. He takes a set at the front pew between Shane and Ronnie. Obviously, this is a closed-casket affair. A woman I don't recognize stands with her hands on the lid. Corinne tells Mara, "I can't tell you how many late nights I worried this would be me at Vic's funeral." (I kind of wonder why Mr. and Mrs. Vendrell aren't sitting together).<br />
<br />
Mara has the same worry. Corinne isn't sure how Vic is holding up; he hasn't been talking much. "Shane hasn't said much either," says Mara. Little does she know, it's for a very different reason.<br />
<br />
Shane stands near the casket; we flashback to him slipping a grenade in Lem's car along with the big guy's favorite sandwich. The car explodes. Shane starts with the crocodile tears and fake apologies. Back in the present, Shane leaves the chapel.<br />
<br />
Vic approaches the casket and opens the lid. Really now? The undertaker didn't quite manage to repair the worst of the facial damage; instead of a suit, Lem's being buried in his usual jeans and plaid shirt. Vic repeats his promise to find whoever killed Lem and lays the arm-wrestling trophy beside him.<br />
<br />
Flashback. The guys are in the Barn parking lot, Lem wearing one of his muscle shirts. Shane tosses him a bag of ice for his shoulder. Griggs, a Wilshire detective, snarks that the Strike Team looks like a "buncha Cub Scouts on their way to the Pinewood Derby." Vic reminds him just who brought in Ollie.<br />
<br />
Griggs appreciates the delivery and asks how Lem's arm feels. Lem, a firm believer in never letting anyone see him sweat, replies, "100%." Vic, however, wants to postpone the match a week: "He hurt his wing on the job. What cop can't respect that, especially when the collar benefits both of us?" Griggs does respect Lem, "but business is business." "I told you I'm okay." Lem strides down the hall, "Let's do this."<br />
<br />
Lem tosses his ice pack down just before he enters the squadroom. The Barn is packed to the rafters with fellow cops clapping and cheering his name. Even Edgar-veda is watching from the office. Some dissenters from Wilshire boo. Ronnie gives Lem a shoulder massage. Vic jokes, "Well, if you lose, at least no one'll hear about it."<br />
<br />
Shane tosses in $3,000 more for the Strike Team, then closes the house to bets. He holds onto Ollie's lucky $2 bill. Griggs has a surprise: Lem's opponent has been replaced with Atticus, a behemoth who has to weigh about 400 pounds. Just for a second, Lem seems to lose some of his confidence.<br />
<br />
Vic doesn't remember seeing Atticus at the department picnic. Griggs says Atticus was assigned to Wilshire last week as Tech 4, which seems to mean glorified maintenance man. "He's a freaking ringer," Vic spits. Griggs prefers the term "winner."<br />
<br />
The combatants size each other up. Vic asks quietly if Lem is sure he still wants to do this. "He's all meat and no heart," says Lem. At the padded table, the guys jerk each other back and forth until the uniform acting as referee sternly tells them not to move until he says go.<br />
<br />
The noise from the crowd intensifies. The uniform/referee lets go of their hands. They stand there a moment. Lem pushes Atticus's arm right down to the table; it's all over. Lem walks away, wincing. Ronnie, Shane, and Vic smile proudly at their friend. The Barns erupts in cheers. Edgar-veda even looks pleased. "Oh man, oh man," Lem groans.<br />
<br />
Griggs grudgingly admits it was a good match. But wasn't Lem supposed to be hurt? He still is, actually. Can somebody go find that ice pack? Anyway, Vic advises Griggs not to "bet the farm" on tips from scumbag drug dealers like Ollie.<br />
<br />
"Buddy, you had me crappin' my jeans...for two seconds. OH MY GOD!" cries Shane, hugging Lem. Lem manages to smile a little: "You think you can count that cash while Ronnie drives me to the ER?" "You really hurt yourself this morning?" Vic asks concernedly. Lem was just "scammin' the scammer." He knew that Vic wouldn't have let him arm-wrestle if he'd known how bad it was, adding, "I think I ripped somethin'." No shit.<br />
<br />
Shane calls him an idiot. To Lem, winning for the team is all that matters; there was no way he could've let them down. Briggs presents Lem with the severed gold doll arm. Lem triumphantly holds it up with his good arm. His coworkers whistle and chant, "Lemonhead! Lemonhead!" Poor old Lem is gonna need that 3,000 bucks to pay the ER bill. End flashback.<br />
<br />
"Lemonhead" is still echoing in Vic's mind as he stands over the open grave. Ronnie has gotten a location on Guardo's favorite restaurant. Vic strips off his suit jacket. Never mind changing clothes; they've got an ass to kick.<br />
<br />
At the restaurant, Vic grabs the battering ram and sends Ronnie another direction. He breaks down the kitchen door. The guy in the restaurant isn't Guardo. Shane can't watch as Vic tries to beat Guardo's whereabouts out of the suspect. "Someone's coming," warns Ronnie, toting Lem's favorite shotgun.<br />
<br />
"Jesus!" cries Dutch when he comes face-to-face with the Strike Team's weapons. "The hell are you guys doing here?" Vic, his head bleeding, explains they got a lead on Guardo. Dutch has a warrant for the place. Vic is glad; that'll cover both their asses.<br />
<br />
Dutch inquires about the suspect's many injuries. Vic claims the guy attacked him, so he handled it old-school. "Old-school, as in illegal?" says Dutch. He tells the uniforms to call an ambulance. Vic wants to let the guy go and mutters in his ear, "You tell Guardo there's nowhere left to hide." He tosses the suspect bodily toward the door. End of minisode.Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-70674271048522684942017-08-18T00:09:00.000-04:002017-08-19T12:26:28.782-04:00"Postpartum" Depression (Episode 5.11)<i>Previously on: Lem saved Kavanaugh's life during a raid on a Salvadoran grenade-smuggling ring. Guardo, who was in charge of the operation, got away. Kavanaugh repaid Lem's kindness by redoubling his efforts to have Lem locked up. Vic had revenge sex with Kavanaugh's ex-wife Sadie.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Lem, who's been getting progressively sicker from his ulcer, struck a deal that would make him eligible for parole in 18 months. Antwon menaced Vic about how there are One-Niners in every California prison who'd love a piece of Lem; the only way to buy him protection was for the rest of the Strike Team to help Kern Little rob a police warehouse. Things went south and Antwon went back on his word. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Vic dropped this bombshell at Lem's going-away party, hours before Lem was supposed to turn himself in. The new plan is to smuggle Lem into Mexico. Lem didn't want to, but Vic said that it was the only way to keep him alive. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>The police chief gave Kavanaugh 48 hours to tie up loose ends in the investigation. The Rat King went knocking on the door of the former Mrs. Mackey.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
"Why are you here?" asks Corinne. Kavanaugh wants her to know he always liked her. He's sorry he couldn't tell her right away that he was IAD. Kavanaugh complains that he's exhausted and hasn't been able to eat lately. Neither has Lem, so I'd call that karma. Corinne, in a tank top and sleep shorts, says uncomfortably, "I'm gonna put on a robe."<br />
<br />
Shane is sitting on the courthouse steps, smoking. Ronnie and Becca are there too. She wonders what's going on; Lem's half an hour late. "If I was going to jail for 18 months, I wouldn't be in a rush either," shrugs Vic. He's sure Lem will show up.<br />
<br />
Corinne wants Kavanaugh to leave. When she turns around to unlock the door, Kavanaugh presses against her and tries to untie her robe. Corinne shouts for him to stop, which he actually does. He asks if Corinne sees how lonely Vic has left the two of them. Corinne isn't lonely; they both need to move on with their lives.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh grabs her by the shoulders. If he takes on Vic and wins, he needs to know she'll be okay. No mention of the children. Corinne doesn't want to be without Vic. Just then, Cassidy comes out of her room. Kavanaugh hastily lets himself out. Corinne is visibly shaken.<br />
<br />
Lem has found himself in a trailer, just like his white trash relatives Ronnie mentioned two episodes back. He's trying to cook soup, but the hotplate won't turn on. There also seems to be something wrong with the filthy toaster oven.<br />
<br />
Outside, there's a loud bang and Lem almost jumps out of his skin. He grabs his gun. The ruckus turns out to be a neighbor moving some especially heavy trash. Lem sighs; he's cracking up and he knows it.<br />
<br />
Vic has just found out Kavanaugh spent all morning at Corinne's: "Did he try to touch you?" Corinne wonders why he'd ask that. Vic gives her the news that Lem didn't turn himself in and pretends to have no idea where he is. Kavanaugh wants to hurt Vic through her, which Corinne already knows. Vic advises her not to let Kavanaugh in if he shows up again. I doubt she'll have any problem listening to him on that front. Corinne tells Vic to be careful.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To quote Severus Snape<br />
(<a href="http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/1b/1bf709b2429e5524be7d64f7cd0cfea7ff1c3f8b36dc932365984fd69343dad1.jpg">Image credit</a>)</td></tr>
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Kavanaugh, sitting in the clubhouse, asks, "Where's Lemansky?" Vic repeats he doesn't know. Kavanaugh chuckles that, once again, Lem got screwed. He warns Vic that he, Shane, and Ronnie could get in major trouble themselves for aiding and abetting a fugitive. IAD will be keeping tabs on all of them until Lem is caught. The Rat King creepily whispers, "Thank you for bringing me back into your life."<br />
<br />
The rest of the Strike Team has a powwow in the weight room nobody seems to use. Shane talked to the <i>federale</i> who helped make gangbanger Doomsday disappear. Lem will meet the <i>federale </i>in Tijuana and go to a safehouse in Ensenada. Ronnie immediately sees a problem with this plan: "That's wall-to-wall wetbacks. Surfer boy will be a little obvious."<br />
<br />
The <i>federale'</i>s brother lives on a goat ranch in the mountains of San Ignacio, Belize. He's only asking for $2,000, plus a favor to be determined later. The guys can wire money to Lem via Guatemala. Shane will set Lem up with cash to use in the meantime. Their main problem now is how they'll pull off getting Lem to Tijuana with IAD watching. "We do it how we always do: right under their noses with a goddamn smile," Vic replies.<br />
<br />
Claudette pulls Vic to help her with a case. Half a dozen Crown Vics were blown up with hand grenades in a parking lot. Fortunately, nobody was hurt. They're joined by Agent Gallagher of the DEA. Shouldn't the ATF be handling this? Agent Gallagher explains the cars were government-issue; they've been running an investigation out of a nearby travel agency.<br />
<br />
Agent Gallagher isn't impressed that Guardo escaped. When he sasses the newly appointed Captain Claudette, she gives it right back to him. Claudette also warns Vic, "That renegade shit's not gonna fly on my watch."<br />
<br />
Unable to cook anything, Lem tries to get some rest on the couch. That isn't working out because a neighbor's kid is crying and someone else has their stereo up too loud. He tucks his gun in his back pocket as he goes outside. It doesn't take him long to find the trailer housing the screaming kid. The door is locked and nobody is home. Not a problem for Lem; he just jerks the screen door right off the hinges.<br />
<br />
Lem follows the sound of crying to the kitchen, where a young black boy is sitting against the cabinets. There's broken glass and milk all over the floor, plus a little blood. The boy's sister is on the other side of the room. "Where's your mommy?" asks Lem. The little girl replies, "Gone."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjI0NTg3MDk5Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDI0OTQ1MjE@._V1_UY268_CR87,0,182,268_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" height="400" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjI0NTg3MDk5Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDI0OTQ1MjE@._V1_UY268_CR87,0,182,268_AL_.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This picture of Lem and the kid gives me all the feels.<br />
<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjI0NTg3MDk5Ml5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDI0OTQ1MjE@._V1_UY268_CR87,0,182,268_AL_.jpg">(Photo credit)</a></td></tr>
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Lem asks for the little boy's name, but he's crying too hard to answer. "Wendell," says the sister, pronouncing it Wen-dell. Lem wets down a dish towel. "It's gonna be okay. It's just a little cut," he reassures the kid. I wonder if this situation is giving him childhood flashbacks; a softhearted guy like Lem wouldn't estrange himself from his family without a good reason.<br />
<br />
"What the hell is goin' on in here, guys?" demands a pudgy white man. He calls for his wife Lisa. "It's okay, I'm a cop," Lem says out of sheer habit. The man notices the revolver sticking out of Lem's jeans and shouts, "Lisa! A gun! Call the police!" Not a word about whether or not the kid is okay.<br />
<br />
Lem has wrapped the dish towel around Wendell's hand, instructing the sister, "Hold this tight until someone gets here." He sprints back to his own trailer, grabs his gym bag, and leaves. Neighbors have run into the street. "That's the guy," says Lisa's Hubby, "I told you somethin' wasn't right with him."<br />
<br />
At a pool hall, Vic asks a shady guy what he knows about Crown Vics getting blown up in a DEA parking lot. When the guy doesn't answer, Vic breaks a pool cue over his knee. The guy explains his gang's second-in-command Osorio was busted by the feds; they were sending a message. He's the third guy to tell them that today. According to Vic, that "means it can't possibly be true."<br />
<br />
Ronnie gets a phone call and hangs up, looking tense. Kavanaugh might've found the trailer where they stashed Lem. The sheriff's department was just called there for a disturbance. Vic doubts Lem has been arrested; they would've heard.<br />
<br />
Shane starts, "Maybe they found him and he was--" Vic cuts him off: "There's no way he'd eat his gun." Shane reminds him that they told Lem not to contact them, no matter what. Vic just needs them to pull together so Lem can go to Mexico tonight.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh is already at the trailer park. A neighbor identifies Lem from his mugshot. He tells Kavanaugh he heard a noise, went to check, and found Lem with the bleeding kid: "Said he was a cop. The whole thing seemed weird, so I had my lady call the real cops."<br />
<br />
Next time the neighbor saw Lem, he was running away: "Funny thing was, big guy like that with a gun and all, he still looked awful scared." And with damn good reason.<br />
<br />
Emolia is at the Barn, claiming she has information on the car bombings. Claudette tried to pass her to DEA, but Emolia would only talk to Vic, even though there's bad blood about her testifying against Lem.<br />
<br />
Guardo was supposedly hired to guard a Colombian cocaine shipment coming via Mexico: "Guardo's a crazy shithead. Anything to blow something up." The contact is Aldo, a Mexican grocery importer. Emolia doesn't know when or where the drop-off is.<br />
<br />
Vic doesn't trust Emolia anymore, so he wants her to cite her source. Emolia won't say unless she gets paid upfront; she needs the money so she and Sebastio can live with her sister in Seattle. Shane asks if Lem is going to Seattle too: "Oh, that's right, he can't because he's gonna be in prison."<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/sonsofanarchy/images/d/d1/Kozik_2.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20101207233544" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/sonsofanarchy/images/d/d1/Kozik_2.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20101207233544" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well, he got the Washington State part right. Wrong city.<br />
(<a href="http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/sonsofanarchy/images/d/d1/Kozik_2.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20101207233544">Photo credit</a>)</td></tr>
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Shane thinks this is some way for Emolia to pay Vic back after everything he did to help her. Emolia rolls up her sleeves, revealing bruises on her arms: "I slept with this scumbag Ignacio to get this info for you." Two of Ignacio's friends then raped her. "If you made different choices from the beginning, none of us would be ripped up right now," says Vic.<br />
<br />
Becca meets Lem in the park. He's incognito, Captain America style with a ballcap pulled down over his eyes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.moviepilot.com/images/c_limit,q_auto:good,w_600/kqskdwixxqvzbq4vrfmb/chris-evans-goes-incognito-on-the-captain-america-civil-war-set.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://images.moviepilot.com/images/c_limit,q_auto:good,w_600/kqskdwixxqvzbq4vrfmb/chris-evans-goes-incognito-on-the-captain-america-civil-war-set.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It doesn't really work for Lem either.<br />
<a href="https://images.moviepilot.com/images/c_limit,q_auto:good,w_600/kqskdwixxqvzbq4vrfmb/chris-evans-goes-incognito-on-the-captain-america-civil-war-set.jpg">(Photo credit)</a></td></tr>
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Lem links arms with Becca, saying, "Make it look like we're on a date." She shakes loose; she can't help him flee the police. "All right, make it look like a lovers' quarrel then," he shrugs.<br />
<br />
Becca advises Lem to turn himself in. That turns out to be exactly what he wants to do. But first, Lem wants assurance he'll do his time someplace without One-Niners: federal prison back East. She explains that going fugitive invalidated the deal he had. Lem is willing to plead to federal charges if he has to, admit to everything.<br />
<br />
"You can't serve them your head on a platter," says Becca. Lem points out, "Kavanaugh's not gonna stop 'til he's carving me up." She can tell the feds about the money train heist, which he claims to have pulled off alone. He has nothing to say about Vic, Ronnie, or Shane.<br />
<br />
Becca asks a logical question: Why did he run in the first place? Lem argues that he's not running, even though he is. Becca knows Lem doesn't have a chance in hell of getting a new deal unless he gives up the others: "You have to think about yourself. This one time."<br />
<br />
She might be able to spin the facts as the Strike Team spreading drug money around to prevent gang wars. Lem shakes his head. The Armenian money train was armed robbery, plain and simple; people died because of it. He can't give up the others because they'd all end up doing life. "Open your goddamn eyes to who we are!" Lem snaps.<br />
<br />
Becca blinks. She didn't know people died. Lem reminds her, "This is all attorney-client privilege." He'll turn himself in as soon as she makes a deal that involves doing time back East. He'll call in a few hours to see how that's going.<br />
<br />
Dutch burns his fingers and spills his drink while trying to get it out of the coffee vending machine. Claudette assigns him and Billings to interview a woman who was assaulted. Dutch doesn't want to work with him. Claudette tells him that's too bad because Billings is his new partner as of now.<br />
<br />
Dutch walks outside with an ice pack on his hand while Billings whines about being unfairly demoted: "No respect. Claudette is even moving my desk where everyone can get a good gander Caesar lying in a puddle of blood." Dutch raises an eyebrow: "So in this story, <i>you're</i> Caesar?" Dutch wants to drive, but Billings declares he gets carsick.<br />
<br />
Dutch wonders why Billings doesn't transfer if he feels like he got such a raw deal. It's a matter of convenience; Billings is used to his commute routine and counting down his 56 months until retirement.<br />
<br />
Vic and the guys go to a grocery store. Aldo is an idiot and has a charcoal grill crackling away inside. To quote Lou from <i>Rescue Me, </i>"Someday, science is gonna be able to isolate the gene that makes people think barbecuing indoors is a good idea." Vic has heard rumor Aldo imports more than Mexican sausage. Aldo says all his goods are legal, which Vic doubts.<br />
<br />
How about he and the guys hang around a while? Aldo tells them closing time is 7:00. Vic has a hunch he'll stay open late to take delivery of Colombian cocaine. He's willing to keep Aldo's name out of it if he tells them what time the shipment arrives; they'll bust the Salvadorans afterward.<br />
<br />
By the way, how is Aldo at export? Vic needs a package overnighted to Mexico. "How big?" asks Aldo. Vic replies, "About 6'2"."<br />
<br />
Vic pays a visit to the hospital, where Danny is holding a bouncing baby boy, named Lee after her dad. There's a long beat as they both look at the newborn. Vic asks if she needs anything. Danny's mom is flying in from Maryland tomorrow and her two brothers are coming over the weekend: "I got more help than I know what to do with." Vic hands over a wad of cash, her cut from the baby-daddy pool. When it comes to newborn Lee, Vic:<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlaMHajP4eTTq9h-bDUTvsAV5bBd6fawej23pVHvjsCx170S8QgDn-mBeVkNxP5jaJmvnurO1UjrLquWvOJf20N1dS6w-BTgscNgL_vK_EpCbCtLHAeVlSiCxFvdF1asUyaBhfc_4rzxf/s1600/you+are+the+father.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlaMHajP4eTTq9h-bDUTvsAV5bBd6fawej23pVHvjsCx170S8QgDn-mBeVkNxP5jaJmvnurO1UjrLquWvOJf20N1dS6w-BTgscNgL_vK_EpCbCtLHAeVlSiCxFvdF1asUyaBhfc_4rzxf/s1600/you+are+the+father.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlaMHajP4eTTq9h-bDUTvsAV5bBd6fawej23pVHvjsCx170S8QgDn-mBeVkNxP5jaJmvnurO1UjrLquWvOJf20N1dS6w-BTgscNgL_vK_EpCbCtLHAeVlSiCxFvdF1asUyaBhfc_4rzxf/s1600/you+are+the+father.jpg">Image credit</a>)</td></tr>
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Danny lets Vic hold Lee. Vic says everyone decided to give Danny the money, almost $3,000 in total. "When he's old enough and he asks, I'll tell him," Danny promises. Vic agrees to that.<br />
<br />
The guys see Becca talking to Kavanaugh and Edgar-veda. "You think of any scenario where that's a good thing?" Shane whispers. Upstairs, she says Lem wants to turn himself in. Kavanaugh tells her she's obligated to disclose his whereabouts if she knows. Becca is aware of that. "Curtis knows where the Barn is if he wants to turn himself in," adds Claudette.<br />
<br />
Becca tells how Kavanaugh plotted with Antwon to jeopardize Lem's life during incarceration. This would pressure Lem into testifying against Vic and the others. Becca wants Lem protected until that accusation can be investigated. He'll take the same deal he had before.<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda says that's a no-go; Lem ran. Becca says Lem has promised to plead to new charges in exchange for serving his time in federal prison. By the way, IAD's investigation against Lem is now in the hands of the police committee due to Kavanaugh's misconduct.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh still wants to be the one who finds Lem. He orders surveillance teams to be put on Vic and the others. "You burned your bridges with the chief," says Edgar-veda. Claudette can't spare any manpower.<br />
<br />
Vic follows Becca to the parking lot. He has to know if Lem is okay. "Privileged information," she says tersely. Hasn't Vic done enough damage? Should they discuss the armed robbery of the money train or Terry's murder? Becca knows what really happened: "I let you touch me. It makes me sick." She no longer finds it hard to choose between being Vic's friend or Lem's lawyer.<br />
<br />
Tori the assault victim didn't see her attacker because she was trying to cover her face. Hey, It's Her! Ally Walker played loved-to-hate-her ATF Agent Stahl on <i>Sons of Anarchy. </i>Dutch remarks that this is a rough neighborhood even in daylight. Tori volunteers as a tutor at the nearby community center.<br />
<br />
Billings asks her to come to the station and look at mug books, even though she didn't see anything. Dutch pulls him aside; it'd be better for her to call if memories come back. Billings inquires, "Why don't you figure out another way to get her phone number?" He tries to throw the nonexistent clout he had as acting captain.<br />
<br />
A witness comes forward. She saw Tori arguing with someone; the guy took Tori to the ground and started hitting her. Their suspect parks up the street in his green cab, waiting for fares. Billings wants to ask why Tori didn't mention an argument. Dutch would rather talk to the suspect first. He's on the phone trying to find out who owns the precinct's vending machines.<br />
<br />
Lem calls Becca from a payphone. She lets him know his offer is under consideration, but there was no hint at whether it'd be accepted. Lem asks her to get a message to Vic. Becca can't without breaking the law, so Lem changes his mind. She warns him that Kavanaugh will be merciless, like he doesn't already know.<br />
<br />
At this point, only one other option exists for Lem: witness protection. He says no way. Becca sighs, "Curtis, you're the one with a heart, but now use your head." This isn't about head vs. heart to Lem; it's about not betraying his family.<br />
<br />
Ronnie thinks Lem held out as long as he could. "He'd run before he would rat," Shane disagrees. Well, how else did they find out about the money train? Vic calls it an educated guess. They know Lem would find a way to tip them off if they were under suspicion. "Or he wouldn't if his deal meant us going down," says Ronnie. Shane won't believe that until he sees it.<br />
<br />
Vic is sure Lem is avoiding them to protect them. They'll meet him at midnight and get him to Mexico. "On whose nickel?" asks Ronnie. Dirty <i>federales </i>don't take American Express. Shane pulls out a check Mara wrote when he told her that Lem was in trouble. The first truly unselfish thing Mrs. Vendrell has ever done. $5,000 should be enough to "keep him in burritos and beer" for a while.<br />
Vic tells Ronnie to cash the check, keep half, and wire the rest.<br />
<br />
When he's gone, Vic theorizes Lem could've opened his mouth about Terry. That would give credence to what's otherwise a rumor. "Terry was a decision that we both made." says Shane. Vic forced him to and he feels bad about it: "Lem's gonna hafta hide under a rock for the rest of his life. That's on me too." Shane asks how "skewering Lem" helps anybody; Vic had to do what he did.<br />
<br />
Vic asks Edgar-veda what was going upstairs. Edgar-veda wants to talk later, but Vic is running out of "later." Do the two of them still have an alliance against Kavanaugh? Or does Vic need to break out his flamethrower and start scorching the earth?<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda gives Vic the details: Lem wants his original deal back, but Kavanaugh won't allow that. Additional charges will be filed because he went on the run. The Rat King was put back on the investigation when Lem became a fugitive. Claudette plans to call the D.A., but for some reason, she wants to give Kavanaugh the opportunity to find Lem. Edgar-veda refuses to get involved with aiding and abetting.<br />
<br />
Dutch's suspect Gilbos claims he was driving his taxi at 8 AM. Dutch knows he was seen arguing with and then punching Tori. Does he just go around beating women on the street or did they know each other? Gilbos doesn't answer. "You just like knocking the shit out of random strangers. Works for me," says Dutch, starting to leave.<br />
<br />
Gilbos calls out that picking up a prostitute "doesn't mean I deserve to get rolled and robbed." Tori set him up. As soon as he was ready to, uh, get down to business, two black guys came and beat him up. Dutch knows Gilbos he's lying; Tori is a volunteer tutor for at-risk kids.<br />
<br />
"That whore flagged my cab. Offered me anything in the book for a C-note." Tori's not only a very conservatively-dressed hooker, she's not a very pricey one. She even had Gilbos pick out a motel. The guys stole his wallet and a chain Gilbos' mother gave him. Tori should be arrested, not him,<br />
<br />
"So did you find him?" asks Tori. Dutch confirms they did. Tori's glad to hear it. Will they call her if she needs to testify or whatnot? Billings talked to the community center director; Tori really does volunteer three afternoons a week.<br />
<br />
Dutch comes right out with, "Are you a prostitute?" Tori scoffs, insulted he'd even think that. Dutch informs Tori she's now a suspect in an assault/robbery. Tori wants a lawyer.<br />
<br />
Out on the grocery store loading dock, cocaine is being put in the van. There's no sign of Guardo yet. Shane observes that an El Camino full of Mexican chicks has driven past the Strike Team van twice. Vic is fairly certain they aren't connected to Kavanaugh. Ronnie has successfully wired the money and set up a meeting in Tijuana. Lem himself is the last piece of the puzzle.<br />
<br />
Dutch tells Claudette he's filing for a transfer so he doesn't have to work with Billings. Claudette thinks they can work things out. Dutch only stayed at the Barn because Claudette was his partner. Now that she's captain, it's time for him to go elsewhere. Claudette knows she can't change his mind and agrees to help with the paperwork.<br />
<br />
Billings has more background on Tori. She has an M.B.A. and was an account manager for a brokerage firm until she was fired 6 months ago. They let her go after she quit showing up to work. Tori has no arrest record.<br />
<br />
Wallis, a black man in a velour tracksuit, enters with Officer Paula, saying he's Tori's lawyer. Claudette looks doubtful about that. Wallis asks if he can see his client or if he has to file for dismissal. Claudette tells Officer Paula to escort Wallis upstairs. She'll check his credentials.<br />
<br />
Ronnie says the DEA is tied up doing a sting in Compton; it'll be a few hours before they get there. The guys don't have that long because they have to meet Lem. The Barn has no available backup. Vic wants to go in. Shane thinks that's a bad idea; there are at least 6 guys. Vic argues they can't leave Lem hanging.<br />
<br />
Ronnie and Vic go one way, Shane goes the other. Vic breaks down the door. A few of the drug dealers get hit with the butt of Vic's shotgun. "I got rabbits!" Shane yells from the back of the house. "Let 'em run!" Vic calls back.<br />
<br />
Shane opens a box that ostensibly contains pork rinds. Underneath the bags, he finds hand grenades. Vic says Claudette can deal with booking the Salvadorans; they need to pick up Lem.<br />
<br />
Dutch is still on hold with the vending machine company. "Tyrez Wallis is no more a lawyer than I am a figure skater," says Claudette. In mock surprise, Billings exclaims, "Really?"<br />
<br />
It's time to go back upstairs to talk to her, but Dutch is too busy threatening whoever's on the phone: "I want the name of the owner of these machines right now or you will be sitting in a holding cell for as long as it takes me to track it down." Overreact much?<br />
<br />
Dutch hangs up and approaches Billings: "<i>You </i>own those machines? Isn't it illegal for department employees to profit from things like vending machines? Especially when you use your position as acting captain to create a de facto monopoly?" Billings sees it as a gray area. Is Dutch gonna snitch on him? Dutch smiles that he hasn't decided.<br />
<br />
When Claudette opens the interrogation room door, Tori and Wallis are having sex doggy-style. "Attorney-client privilege?" Claudette asks lightly. Dutch looks upset.<br />
<br />
Vic tells Claudette the bomb squad is investigating a threat made to an abortion clinic; they'll pick up the grenades later. Claudette reminds Vic he was supposed to fill her in on every step. He says there wasn't time because the smugglers were about to split up into two vans.<br />
<br />
Gallagher arrives to congratulate Vic on the bust. Guardo must really be feeling the heat and you won't like Salvadorans when they're angry. "Better watch your Crown Vics," the DEA agent advises.<br />
<br />
Vic pays Emolia. She'd be happy to find out where Guardo is. Vic says for another tip, there would need to be another buyer. Emolia apologizes for her crossroads deal with Kavanaugh: "I did it for Sebastio. You'd do the same for your kids." Shane has heard enough: "Take your rat money and your retarded rat-baby and get on the first bus--"<br />
<br />
Emolia shoves Shane against the lockers. Hell hath no fury like a mother whose child has been insulted. Vic grabs Emolia by the arms: "I showed you mercy once and it ruined my friend's life." She shouldn't expect mercy again.<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda says the police committee is amenable to a deal, but they want the maximum sentence of 10 years. If Lem turns himself in immediately, he'll be parole eligible in 4 years. Lem will be placed in protective custody, but they can't guarantee a location unless Becca's allegations turn out to be true.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh talks to Edgar-veda in the observation room. Lem's new deal doesn't mention giving information on the rest of the Strike Team. This could be IAD's last chance to nail Vic to the wall. The Rat King wants Edgar-veda to scare Vic into leading them to Lem or catch Vic in the act. Edgar-veda knows Vic won't be that stupid; IAD is on high alert since Lem went on the run.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh knows the Strike Team might've robbed the Armenian money train. Edgar-veda can make Vic think that Lem gave it up so he could get witness protection. IAD will follow the guys and catch them trying to get Lem out of the USA. The guys won't get a lot of prison time for harboring a fugitive, but they will lose their badges. Lem didn't talk; Shane and Ronnie might not be as strong.<br />
<br />
"Lem's talking," Edgar-veda tells Vic in the parking lot. Vic calls bullshit. Edgar-veda mentions the money train, which would explain Corinne having $65,000. "He's tired, he's scared, and he wants his freedom. And he doesn't wanna die at the hands of Antwon Mitchell." Not to mention he's sicker than a dog.<br />
<br />
Vic knows Lem isn't a rat. Edgar-veda lies the D.A. gave Lem no choice but to roll on the Strike Team. Edgar-veda himself could get in trouble because he was captain back then: "You get a message to your boy and tell him to shut the hell up." Vic would, but he doesn't know where Lem is.<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda shouldn't have told him all this, but Kavanaugh threatened him. Vic knows everything he does, so it's time for him to clean up this mess.<br />
<br />
Dutch will drop the soliciting charge if Tori talks about Wallis and Spank's involvement in robbing Gilbos. "Spank wasn't there when the cabby got rolled," she says. Dutch thinks she's afraid and offers protection. Tori isn't scared. She loves Spank for "dragging me out of a superficial, empty everything." She was nothing before they met.<br />
<br />
Billings heard Tori had a nice condo. "You equate a roof over your head to love?" she asks. Dutch understands her not wanting to be away from her boyfriend, but what does she think will happen when she's in jail? He'll just "set his sights on the next piece of Century City ass that comes his way."<br />
Tori slaps Billings in the face, saying things like "How dare you? You don't know us!" Dutch pulls her away and gets her back in the chair.<br />
<br />
Next door, Dutch announces that Tori gave up Wallis. Why would a smart, educated woman with a good job get mixed up with a scumbag pimp? Wallis explains he finds out what a woman needs to fill the hole in her heart and keeps filling it until she can't live without him, then takes it away: "That makes me God."<br />
<br />
Tori was an easy mark; her fiance left her for a younger woman: "I just kept telling old girl she was still the prom queen like back in the day. Sooner or later, all bitches break. If you're born a woman, I can make you my ho." Who does this guy think he is, Velvet Jones?<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.nbc.com/sites/nbcunbc/files/files/images/2015/4/21/140207_2721848_Velvet_Jones_School_of_Technology_anvver_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://www.nbc.com/sites/nbcunbc/files/files/images/2015/4/21/140207_2721848_Velvet_Jones_School_of_Technology_anvver_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Call 1-800-I-Wanna-Be-a-Ho."<br />
(<a href="https://www.nbc.com/sites/nbcunbc/files/files/images/2015/4/21/140207_2721848_Velvet_Jones_School_of_Technology_anvver_3.jpg">Photo credit</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Can he leave now that he's given the detectives a free course in "pimpology"?<br />
<br />
Vic, Shane, and Ronnie hang around quietly in the weight room. Shane asks if anyone else believes Lem made a deal. Vic says, "Maybe he felt like he had no choice." Becca could've talked Lem into it. The big guy has no clue about his new home on a goat ranch or the money they're wiring. Edgar-veda told Vic about the new deal. Shane thinks the ex-captain is bullshitting them.<br />
<br />
"We aren't gonna know what's inside Lem's head until we see him face-to-face," says Vic. They don't need an exit plan; they just need to tell him about Belize. "And if Lem <i>is </i>talking, it's because he believes that Antwon has marked him as a dead man behind bars." Once Lem knows about the plan, he'll go along with it, just like he always does. (And look at how much good <i>that's </i>done him).<br />
<br />
They'll go to the rendezvous point and assume Lem made a deal if he doesn't show up. If he does, they'll make sure he's onboard. "He'll be on board," Vic says confidently. Lem trusts them and Vic still trusts Lem.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh, waiting in the parking lot, realizes the guys are taking different cars. He'll follow Vic and have his associate trail Ronnie. There's nobody to keep an eye on Shane, though. Vic calls Ronnie from the road to let him know they're both being tailed. He'd better get a hold of Shane.<br />
<br />
Shane's ringtone is, of course, "Dixie." Ronnie tells him that he and Vic are being followed. They have to lose them without looking like they're trying. Whoever loses their tail first will pick up Lem and hide him someplace until they can get back together as a group. Shane sighs, looking nervous as hell.<br />
<br />
Lem's generic rental car is parked on a dusty hill outside of town. He hears an engine approaching and hilariously tries to duck behind the front end, but relaxes when he recognizes Shane's truck. "I'm glad it's you," he says, giving Shane a hug. Shane tells Lem they have to get going; the Rat King is tailing Vic and Ronnie. Lem should meet him at an abandoned body shop on Mission.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pm1.narvii.com/6030/6cec67187d2e8f22adb9ef8560f72f536182786b_hq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://pm1.narvii.com/6030/6cec67187d2e8f22adb9ef8560f72f536182786b_hq.jpg" height="224" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(<a href="http://pm1.narvii.com/6030/6cec67187d2e8f22adb9ef8560f72f536182786b_hq.jpg">Image credit</a>)</td></tr>
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Claudette has been reviewing Tina's file and Julien's T.O. reports. She wants to know why Billings ignored the recommendation for dismissal. Billings felt Julien was too hard on her. Claudette lists off the problems: excessive force, contaminating crime scenes, and failure to identify an undercover officer. It's more like a sixth chance than a second.<br />
<br />
Billings knows Tina's fieldwork has a long way to go, but the kid has good instincts; that's why Dutch is mentoring her. Claudette clearly had no idea about this. "She's very intuitive," Dutch puts in. Claudette picks up the phone to have a union rep to start the dismissal paperwork. Billings cautions her against doing that.<br />
<br />
The former acting captain comes clean about the locker room camera and the pictures of Tina in her underwear that got leaked. He and Dutch handled it. "Uh, all <i>I </i>did was find the pictures," says Dutch. Billings scoffs, "You helped cover this up for a shot into Tina's panties." "Asshole," Dutch retorts, even though it's true. Claudette is free to spend her first few weeks as captain watching over a "full-time lawsuit" if she wants.<br />
<br />
At the former body shop, Shane parks curiously far away. Lem gets out of his car for a final look at Los Angeles: "Never thought it'd come to this." "Hasn't come to anything yet," Shane replies. He's going back to get Vic and Ronnie, then Lem will be on his way to Mexico.<br />
<br />
Lem doesn't relish the thought of <a href="http://knock-knock-striketeam.blogspot.com/2017/03/digging-your-own-grave-episode-42.html">ending up like Gilroy</a>. "You're not a miserable drunk," Shane points out, "It's gonna be different." Lem refuses to go anywhere. Shane asks if he really wants to spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder for Antwon.<br />
<br />
"How the hell am I gonna live in Mexico?" asks Lem. Shane explains about the goat ranch in San Ignacio. They hired a <i>federale </i>to take Lem there. "It's beautiful, man. It's gonna be peaceful," Shane says almost dreamily. I'm starting to have <i>Of Mice and Men </i>flashbacks. Ronnie set up a bank account and "Mara and I even kicked in 5 grand for you."<br />
<br />
Lem still says no. Shane swears they'll keep skimming off drug busts so they can wire him money. Lem sighs, "I can't do that." Shane tells Lem to trust them; this will work. Lem wants to take the hit alone.<br />
<br />
Shane informs him, "Kavanaugh, Aceveda, the D.A., there's no other deal to make." They'll force Lem to give up the Strike Team. "Maybe not now. Maybe a year from now." And we're in <i>Casablanca </i>territory.<br />
<br />
Lem needs to take his one chance to get out of this. "I got it figured out," Lem assures his friend. Shane gets hostile: "Why did you even come back here tonight if you weren't planning on leaving?" Lem wanted to see the guys, his only family.<br />
<br />
"Don't do this, man," Shane pleads. Lem is (finally) starting to get suspicious and asks where Vic is. Shane says Vic will call when they lose their IAD tail. All is quiet for a few moments. Shane sighs that Mara is pregnant again, almost 3 months. Lem is happy for him.<br />
<br />
"Yeah, it's another mouth to feed," Shane says gloomily. Mara might have to go on bed rest, so he'll have to step up as far as finances go. "I hope I get to see the little guy," says Lem, then adds, "Or girl." Shane repeats "girl" over and over like Lem just predicted the future.<br />
<br />
Lem doesn't want Shane to worry about him. "Yeah?" Shane sniffles, his eyes wet, "It's all about family, right?" Distant sirens spook both of them. Lem asks what Vic and Ronnie will do if they can't lose the tail. Shane guesses they might double back to the Barn; he can call and find out. He pats Lem's arm and affectionately grabs the scruff of his neck, then tells Lem to move his car.<br />
<br />
Shane, knowing Lem's weak spot has always been his stomach, asks conversationally, "Did you get enough to eat today?" "No, man, I'm hungry," Lem replies. I bet he is after going all over town on foot. It just so happens Shane brought along some food. How thoughtful!<br />
<br />
Lem gets in his car. Shane goes to his truck and fiddles with something beside him. He brings a paper bag to Lem's window. Lem pulls out a plastic-wrapped sandwich and smiles, "My favorite." Shane starts double-timing it back to his truck. Lem turns and calls, "Shane? Shane!" Suddenly, the car explodes.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"<br />
<a href="https://media2.giphy.com/media/12NioTJwJKDRYs/200_s.gif">(Image credit)</a></td></tr>
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Shane manages to duck the debris. He walks over to the car and peeks inside. Lem is in really bad shape but not quite dead yet. Shane kneels beside the window, whispering, "I'm sorry." You are not, you duplicitous bastard! "I'm so sorry, buddy." Shane starts blubbering crocodile tears and walks away. "Lem! You know I'm sorry." Oh, you're sorry all right. A sorry excuse for a friend.<br />
<br />
Shane approaches the car, sees Lem is dead, and kicks the tailgate of his truck. You gave him a fucking grenade sandwich. What did you think was gonna happen? Shane gets in his truck and keeps on crying.<br />
<br />
Vic and Ronnie are waiting at the original rendezvous point. "What are we gonna do if Lem doesn't show?" Ronnie asks in a quivering tone. Vic says, "He will." No, he won't, thanks to Shane. Speak of the devil and he appears. Shane lies that he had to shake off his tail. They lean against Vic's car to wait for Lem, Shane acting like nothing happened.<br />
<br />
Dutch lets Wallis out of the cage. The pimp lucked out; the cabby couldn't ID him and Tori won't testify. Wallis promises to bail her out. Tina tells Dutch that Claudette wants her to spend more hours shadowing him.<br />
<br />
Dutch thinks Tina will be a great detective because people won't realize how smart she is. A pretty face can make people assume you're not intelligent. "I know, right?" Tina giggles. Dutch adds, "But you're not nearly as smart as you need to be." If he's mentoring her, Tina better make sure his time is being well-spent.<br />
<br />
People start rushing out of the Barn. An indistinct voice raises the worst kind of alarm: "Officer down."<br />
<br />
"He's not coming." Ronnie has no idea how right he is. Vic thinks maybe Lem had to hide; one way or another, he'll get a message to them. (Not without a fucking seance). Vic wants to wait as long as it takes.<br />
<br />
"Kavanaugh could be at our houses right now," says Ronnie. They have to leave. Vic sends Ronnie and Shane home. Shane the Betrayer wants to wait a while longer. So they do. Vic's phone rings.<br />
<br />
Claudette stands beside the car, looking sadly into it. "Your transfer's denied." she tells Dutch, "I need my best detective on this." Dutch knows the weapon was a grenade. With Guardo the Salvadoran weapons smuggler still on the loose, Claudette wants Dutch to start there.<br />
<br />
"Oh my God," Tina sobs, "Why?" The other cops are outwardly stoic. The rest of the Strike Team arrives. Vic is horrified by the sight of Lem's body. Shane pretends this is the first time he's seen the carnage. Ronnie puts a comforting hand on Vic's shoulder. In shock, Vic wanders toward the back of the car.<br />
<br />
"You happy?" demands Kavanaugh. Vic charges at the Rat King and they grapple. Vic slams Kavanaugh into a car, shattering the driver's side window. Tina shouts, "Stop it!" The two men start wrestling on the ground. Shane and Ronnie grab Vic; some uniforms more or less drag Kavanaugh away.<br />
<br />
Vic, gasping for air, announces, "We're gonna find whoever did this...and we're gonna kill him." Shane gets a <i>we're gonna do what now? </i>look on his face, but no one sees. End of Season 5 and the most heartbreaking, gut-wrenching episode of the series. I cried several times writing this recap.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i4.tinypic.com/107l7vr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://i4.tinypic.com/107l7vr.jpg" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="480" height="292" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RIP Curtis "Lem" Lemansky<br />
1963-2006<br />
<a href="http://i4.tinypic.com/107l7vr.jpg">(Photo credit)</a></td></tr>
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Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-10580185446044519892017-08-11T00:00:00.000-04:002017-08-11T01:22:15.228-04:00A Tale "Of Mice and Lem" (Episode 5.10)<i>Previously on: A man trying to use a glory hole in a public bathroom got a rat trap clamped to his penis for his trouble. Claudette fainted at work during a lupus flareup. Kavanaugh was forced to arrest his mentally ill ex-wife Sadie after she filed a false rape report. Lem was arrested.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Kavanaugh made a crossroads deal with Antwon, agreeing to have Lem do time in the same cell block at Lompoc. Antwon has no love for cops, so that's as good as killing Lem. Vic called Kavanaugh's bluff: "You don't have the stomach to serve Lem up to Antwon."</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Lem is home from jail but not exactly enjoying it. He's flat on his back in bed, sniffling and crying from pain. Suddenly, he jumps up, almost tripping over his blankets on his way to the bathroom. Lem barely gets there in time to puke.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(<a href="http://katrinarasbold.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/50219717.jpg">Image credit</a>)</td></tr>
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He stands up, rinses out his mouth, and splashes cold water on his face. Somebody starts knocking on his door. "You gotta be kidding me," Lem says when he opens it to find the Rat King on his porch. Lem's disheveled and sweaty, wearing just a T-shirt and boxers. "You don't look so good," Kavanaugh says with faux concern.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://img.memecdn.com/no-shit-sherlock_fb_850672.jpg">(Image credit)</a></td></tr>
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Lem practically collapses onto the couch, hugging his knees, a trick that can sometimes help a stomachache. Kavanaugh offers a muffin, even though the poor guy is sick and miserable. He thinks Smitty must be some friend to put up $100,000 for bail. Funny thing is, Smitty doesn't seem to know Lem that well. "Just get out, man," Lem says tiredly.<br />
<br />
Uninvited, Kavanaugh sits down in Lem's recliner and starts eating the muffin. "When I find out how Vic and the other two got that bail money, they're gonna <i>wish </i>they had a friend like your friend Smitty." Lem sprints across the living room, drops to his knees, and vomits noisily into a trash can.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh watches as though Lem is a mildly interesting bug. He ambles over and asks, "Is that blood?" Lem is too busy retching to answer. "Do you need a doctor?" That's the first sensible question Kavanaugh's asked in a long time. "Just get the hell out!" Lem yells as fiercely as one can with their head halfway in a wicker trash can. Kavanaugh leaves him to his misery.<br />
<br />
Vic checks on Sadie, saying Kavanaugh does the same for Corinne. Sadie thinks they must be close. Well, they've been spending a lot of time together anyway. Do they have kids? "Family wasn't on Jon's to-do list," says Sadie. She asks about his relationship with Corinne. They have good days and bad ones, but Vic always makes sure she and the kids have everything they need.<br />
<br />
"Just like him to send someone else over to carry my emotional baggage. Tell the prick I'm great," says Sadie. Vic understands being married to a cop is hard. "Jon's wife is the job," Sadie goes on. She calls the Rat King a coward for not coming over. Vic offers to pass on a message.<br />
<br />
By way of an answer, Sadie starts shoving her tongue down Vic's throat. Kavanaugh made his decision when he filed for divorce. She starts taking off Vic's jacket. Vic removes his holster and starts undoing his belt. He and Sadie get down to business right there on the kitchen floor.<br />
<br />
Lem stares out Becca's office window. Shane asks where Vic's been. Vic shrugs, "Just an ex-wife thing," leaving out that it wasn't <i>his</i> ex. He wonders what Becca wants. Actually, this meeting is about what Lem wants. He's decided to plead guilty, which will satisfy Kavanaugh enough to stop his investigation into Vic. (Personally, I wouldn't count on that).<br />
<br />
According to Becca, Lompoc was an empty threat; the worst place Lem could go is medium-security. Shane knows Kavanaugh will block any attempt at a deal and his friends in high places will help. Becca tells them the chief is losing confidence in the Rat King.<br />
<br />
If Lem pleads to theft under color of authority, the D.A. will drop the possession with intent charge. The former crime has a maximum sentence of 5 years; with good behavior, Lem will probably only serve 18 months. Vic warns Lem of the consequences, namely losing his badge and pension. Don't forget about his health insurance. Some of those ulcer drugs are expensive.<br />
<br />
Shane begs Lem not to take the deal; they're all in his corner. Lem is tired of fighting. He knows that were Shane in his position, he'd take one for the team. Wrong. Shane would throw y'all under the bus.<br />
<br />
The Strike Team confers in the parking lot. No matter what else happens, Kavanaugh will still have the brick of heroin and Emolia's testimony. So will the next IAD investigator. Lem is tired of waiting for the other shoe to drop. Now would be a really good time to mention the stress is making him physically ill, worse than before. Of course, he doesn't, just goes back in to talk to Becca.<br />
<br />
Vic doubts it's realistic that Lem will get paroled in 18 months. "Protective custody's a joke," Shane agrees, "He's gonna be fighting for his life the full 5 years." "Between Kavanaugh spinning doom and Becca sellin' him a rose garden, poor guy doesn't know what end is up," says Vic. Well, Lem's always tended to take the optimist view.<br />
<br />
Ronnie thinks Lem is pleading guilty so Kavanaugh won't have the satisfaction of seeing him crack. (Little does he know, Rat King saw it that very morning).<br />
<br />
Vic goes to Lompoc. Antwon says it sure is a shame about Lem. Vic rains on his parade: "If Lem does time, he's not gonna do it here." However, Lompoc isn't the only place Antwon has connections. The gangster claims to be the answer to all Vic's prayers, Lem's guardian angel.<br />
<br />
Antwon knows his relationship with Vic has been volatile, to say the least, but they still have a bond. Halpern has been running the One-Niners in Antwon's absence. "That cranky black bitch is afraid of his own goddamn shadow," says Antwon. He'd rather have Kern Little running the show. Vic heard Kern's rap career flamed out, but wasn't aware he went back to flying colors.<br />
<br />
Antwon knows of a storage unit where they're holding seized assets. "You want me to rip off a P.D. warehouse?" Vic says slowly. No, Kern's crew will be doing the actual robbery. Vic just needs to tell them when and how to hit. Antwon won't accept anything less in exchange for Lem's life.<br />
<br />
"Stand back, nothing to see here," Julien tells a crowd, which usually means there is. My suspicions are confirmed when a paramedic says, "Jesus, his dick's gone. Somebody find it." A jogger trying to use a glory hole got more than he bargained for.<br />
<br />
Tina exits the men's room. She found a rat trap in a stall with the victim's penis still inside. Tina gives the trap to the paramedics so they can preserve it. "That's not gonna matter if we can't stabilize him," says one of the medics as they load the victim into the ambulance.<br />
<br />
Dutch exposits the rat trap had serrated teeth, a different model than the one used in the earlier attack. The victim is still unconscious at Mission Cross. Julien didn't have any luck canvassing the park. "So we got dick...which is more than I can say for our victim," says Dutch. Mr. Sensitivity, everybody.<br />
<br />
Claudette wants a warning put out at bars and other businesses frequented by gay men. Dutch plans to re-interview the original victim, which will be easier said than done. The man was terrified his wife and daughters would find out, so Julien covered for him.<br />
<br />
Tina offers to write down Alarico's address for Dutch. "I told him I'd keep his name out of it if he cooperated," says Julien. Don't make promises you can't keep. Dutch has no choice, given the level of violence in the second attack.<br />
<br />
Vic also has no choice about helping with the warehouse robbery: "Antwon's the devil we know." "What if it's the other devil?" asks Shane, referring to Kavanaugh. He worries this could be a trap. Ronnie says easily, "This place is wide open. We could spot a surveillance unit a mile away." Vic tells the guys to triple-check everything about the warehouse. They're gone as soon as anything looks hinky.<br />
<br />
Kern parks his truck. Shane suggests he crank up the volume on the rap music: "Might be some cops in Long Beach who can't hear it." Kern introduces them to his right-hand man Moses. Ronnie pats them both down for wires. Shane angers Kern by tossing out a jab about his failed rap career. Vic steps between them.<br />
<br />
Kern doesn't trust the Strike Team. "The lack of love is mutual," Vic assures him. Kern calls the situation between Vic and Antwon karma. Vic informs him "taking shit from M.C. Has-Been" wasn't part of the deal they made. Moses plays peacemaker.<br />
<br />
Ronnie tells the gangbangers that the warehouse has one guard who rarely leaves the guard shack. Surveillance cameras feed into said guard shack. In addition to cars and antiques, there's a safe containing half-a-million dollars' worth of watches and jewelry. Vic makes it clear the One-Niners are only to take the safe: "No one drives outta there with a Hummer or a flat screen."<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda calls Vic for a meeting, which ends up taking place in the Barn's men's room. Kavanaugh is covering all his bases in case he can't make criminal charges stick. He's painting Vic's earlier statements about Terry's death as false. Vic calls bullshit: "Nothing I've said has changed because the facts haven't." "Then he's doing a good job of twisting your words," says Edgar-veda.<br />
<br />
It's a good possibility Kavanaugh could take away Vic's retirement. His case has been sent to the police committee. Vic's attitude is <i>let 'em try: </i>"PBA reps will have his head on a pike." "Kavanaugh could use this as a face-saving way to end his investigation," the councilman cautions. Has Kavanaugh been saying anything about him? Vic says no.<br />
<br />
Claudette tells Alarico's wife that they want to talk to Alarico about a car accident he witnessed. Is that what they're calling it these days? Alarico maintains he told the other cops everything. "You didn't tell <i>me </i>about no car accident," says the missus.<br />
<br />
Claudette claims another driver has been seriously injured; Alarico needs to go to station and make a formal statement. Alarico wants to be left alone. Dutch says quietly, "We can do this another way if we have to."<br />
<br />
A sheriff's deputy watches as Lem cleans out his locker. Kavanaugh surveys the clubhouse: "Pretty soon, this is gonna be a lonely room filled with empty lockers, huh?" What's that saying about chickens and hatching? Lem tells Kavanaugh he just made a deal; all it needs is the police chief's signature. Kavanaugh wants to fact-check before he shuts down the investigation.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh calls the chief's office and learns there is, in fact, no deal. Becca's just "feeding [Lem] a Happy Meal to keep his spirits up." He asks Edgar-veda if Vic took the bait about the department going after his pension. "You didn't see the steam coming off his bald head?" Edgar-veda snarks.<br />
<br />
Assistant Chief Phillips knocks, asking Kavanaugh if he can borrow the office. Claudette and Billings are with him. When the Rat King and the councilman are gone, Phillips tells Claudette that her fall scared everyone. Claudette pats her rear end and says with a smile, "When you've got one of these, there's plenty of bounce to the ounce."<br />
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Phillips is concerned Claudette's lupus could make her unable to do her job. She should've have disclosed her condition to the department when it was diagnosed 15 years ago. Phillips puts her on desk duty until she sees a doctor for a full checkup. Surely Claudette understands that he's only looking out for everyone's health and welfare.<br />
<br />
Claudette thinks battling the bullshit epidemic would be a good start. Kavanaugh is ruining the Barn's morale. "Uh, she's got a point there," Billings acknowledges. Claudette is on a roll: "IAD is arrogant and intrusive, but this man takes intimidation to a whole other level." Everyone spends more time watching their backs than doing their jobs.<br />
<br />
"Our last captain had unpopular policies, so you brought in an interim jellyfish that won't rock the boat." Phillips himself is putting people at risk by cutting department funding. Billings brags that crime is down since he became captain. "If you weren't out to lunch, passing the buck, or leaving every day at 4:00, you'd know that our citizens don't report half of what's going on out there because they know we can't or won't do anything."<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://media2.giphy.com/media/x6sfBlcbXW7kc/200_s.gif">(Photo credit)</a></td></tr>
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Claudette will pee in a cup if she has to, but she's not the problem around here. When she leaves, Billings thinks she's loopy and "maybe that's why they call it lupus."<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(<a href="https://cdn1.thehunt.com/app/public/system/note_images/8322427/note_view/283d2b4dadb95479ff4e087bf8e54b5a.jpg">Image credit</a>)</td></tr>
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Alarico wants to go home before his wife gets suspicious. Dutch promises witnessing a car accident is a good cover story.<br />
<br />
Claudette waves her partner over and confronts him about telling people she has lupus. Dutch swears he didn't. She points out he's the only person who knows. Also, he <i>did </i>go to the D.A. behind her back after Claudette reopened the cases of a defense attorney who was high in court.<br />
<br />
Claudette goes further, accusing him of gossiping with Tina. "You've crossed the line into wholesale character assassination," Dutch says indignantly. Claudette thinks career assassination is worse.<br />
<br />
After Alarico helps create a sketch of the attacker, Dutch offers to have a uniform drive him home. Alarico would rather take the bus. Billings has a visitor: Art from the Los Angeles Gay Men's Initiative. The captain tells Julien to discuss the "rat trap glory hole business."<br />
<br />
Julien says they've been interviewing witnesses and asking anyone with information to come forward. Art doesn't appreciate that Billings passed the buck or that Julien doesn't seem to care about the attacks. Julien suggests Art do something more proactive than blaming people, like handing out warning flyers.<br />
<br />
Art says 6 other rat trap attacks have gone unreported. "Maybe they knew what they were doing was wrong," says Julien. Art argues that the victims were consenting adults. Julien points out that having sex in public is illegal. He shoves Art when he asks for Julien's name and badge number. Yeah, that'll smooth things over. Art basically says, "We're here, we're queer, get used to it."<br />
<br />
Ronnie, wearing all black and a matching ski mask, gets in the van. There's no surveillance equipment of any kind around the warehouse. Vic hasn't heard anything on the police scanner. They drive up to the unoccupied guard shack. Ronnie climbs the fence and turns off all the monitors.<br />
<br />
Elsewhere, Kern holds a gun to the guard's back: "You don't fight, you don't die."<br />
<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The guard's reaction.<br />
(<a href="http://www.dealing-with-fear.de/DWF_Bilder/3_Take-Anything-You-Want_1.jpg">Photo credit</a>)</td></tr>
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Kern and Moses enter the warehouse, followed by the ski mask-clad Strike Team. The gangbangers put the safe on a dolly. All is going according to plan until Kern gets shot, along with the guard. Moses shrugs those were Antwon's orders. "This was not part of the deal!" Vic bellows. Moses plays innocent like "oh, Antwon didn't tell you?"<br />
<br />
Vic punches Moses in the face and holds a gun to his head. Moses warns that killing him will knock Vic out of Antwon's good graces, meaning Lem will meet a gruesome end in prison. Shane dropkicks Moses in the head. When he recovers, he and another One-Niner take off with the safe.<br />
<br />
Ronnie can't believe what just happened. Vic and Shane start picking up the guns and tools left behind. Vic surmises Antwon had Kern killed so Kern couldn't take over. Kern dying in a robbery gone bad gives the One-Niners street cred. Moses will become the boss and do Antwon's bidding.<br />
<br />
The guys are about to leave when they hear Kern groaning. "These brothers can take a bullet," Shane remarks. Kern asks for help. Shane, surprisingly, doesn't want to leave the ex-rapper to bleed to death. Vic snarls that an ambulance would take 20 minutes to get there and Kern has maybe 10 minutes. They'll wait that long, then call it in. Saving Lem has to be their priority.<br />
<br />
A suspect in the rat trap attacks has locked himself in a Dumpster. Julien instructs him to stand up with his hands above his head when the lock is cut. Tina found a glory hole and rat traps. They don't know if the traps were left by the suspect or put out by the building's owner.<br />
<br />
"What do you suppose would happen if you snapped this on somebody's dick?" Dutch asks, working the action on the rat trap. Jarrod the suspect calls Dutch sick. (You don't know the half of it, pal). Claudette inquires, "Glad it wasn't you? Be a hell of a secret you'd have to live with. Something personal and embarrassing that affects your ability to function. Not something you'd want a lot of people to know about."<br />
<br />
Dutch knows what she's driving at. If that's her attitude, she can talk to the guy alone.<br />
<br />
Sidebar: It's interesting how Claudette and Lem sort of parallel each other. Both believe in doing the right thing, no matter what it costs them. Both have health problems; while Claudette's hidden her lupus for over a decade, Lem's been open about his ulcer since the beginning.<br />
<br />
Claudette is curious what Jarrod has against gay men. Jarrod doesn't answer. Claudette goes downstairs to collect her purse and cane. Dutch thinks they should put Jarrod in a lineup. Claudette tells him to do whatever he wants. He's about to call Alarico when Billings reports uniforms are responding to a domestic at Alarico's house.<br />
<br />
"We got here, he was standing over her with a baseball bat," says a neighbor. They couldn't get the bat away before Alarico hit his wife a couple of times.<br />
<br />
During premarital counseling, Alarico, his wife, and the priest discussed his previous involvement with men. Alarico thought things would change once he was married, but the feelings have been coming back. His wife knew the score. When the police started questioning Alarico, she knew why. The missus started calling him a fag in front of their daughters. Naturally, the only way to stop that was to beat the crap out of her.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh arrives at the warehouse. Vic says he got a tip about the robbery from an informant. "We got stuck in the van on a stakeout, couldn't make it back here in time," adds Shane. Kavanaugh asks if Vic knew the dead gangbanger. Vic ID's him as Kern and suggests Kavanaugh take inventory of what's missing.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh has a sense of <i>deja vu: </i>"A dead cop killed by the gun of a dead bad guy." Shane knows what the Rat King is insinuating; they were on the other side of town. Kavanaugh wants to know if anyone saw them. "It wouldn't have been much of a stakeout if they had," says Shane. Vic tosses in his two cents: "You know what? You should start eating again. Malnourishment's starting to screw with your logic."<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh lays out the scenario: Lem needs protection in prison, so they went to Antwon. Antwon agreed to help on the condition that the guys killed Kern. Yeah, that's pretty much it.<br />
<br />
Vic thinks Kavanaugh missed a few details. Vic didn't kill Terry. The Rat King doesn't have any leverage with Lem. And, oh, by the way, Vic fucked Sadie.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(<a href="https://www.askideas.com/media/46/Funny-Burn-Meme-Super-Ultra-Mega-Burn-Photo.jpg">Image credit</a>)</td></tr>
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Kavanaugh goes to Sadie's house and shows her a picture of Vic. She nods that she's seen him before. Kavanaugh asks if Vic hurt her. "You're the only one who ever hurts me, Jon," she says. That won't happen again.<br />
<br />
Sadie admits to having sex with Vic, twice, in fact. Kavanaugh asks if she realizes what a bad guy she just slept with. He gets in her face, demanding, "What is wrong with you?" Sadie tells him to leave or she'll call the police.<br />
<br />
Vic is surprised when Lem, sporting his black-and-white track jacket, walks into the clubhouse. The police chief signed off on his deal; he has to go to the jail tomorrow morning to be processed. Lem is at peace, glad the whole mess is over. Shane hugs him, then Ronnie. Last is Vic. He grabs the scruff of Lem's neck to pull him down to his level, promising Lem will be taken care of.<br />
<br />
Jarrod insists he wasn't behind the rat trap attacks, but thinks "these perverts" deserve punishment; gay men seduce children and spread AIDS. Billings talks to the detectives on the balcony. "He's guilty, just not prosecutable," says Claudette. All the evidence is circumstantial. Nobody will believe Alarico because he's a no-good wife-beater. They can't fabricate charges to hold Jarrod in jail.<br />
<br />
Phillips got Claudette's medical report back, which says she's fit for duty. Claudette could've told him that. However, the department will require her to have quarterly checkups. "Your nickel," she shrugs. The police chief announces Claudette is being promoted to captain. She's is uneasy about the idea; after all, the job is jinxed worse than teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts.<br />
<br />
If she says yes, she wants a guarantee that she runs the precinct, "not in theory, in fact." Kavanaugh interrupts the meeting to ask whether the chief really made a deal with Lem. Phillips tells Kavanaugh they were in the middle of something. Kavanaugh shouts that he was too until he got derailed; Vic deserves jail time just like Lem.<br />
<br />
Phillips wants to him to leave, but Kavanaugh keeps ranting: "Vic Mackey kills cops! He deals drugs! He beats suspects! He screwed my ex-wife with the sole purpose of making this investigation seem like a personal vendetta. He may have assassinated a gang leader. And that's just all in one day." What does it taste like to be pissed on by Vic? Even Kavanaugh's lazy eye is wild.<br />
<br />
Chief gives Kavanaugh 48 hours to tie up loose ends, but he'll have to find another desk. Claudette needs her office.<br />
<br />
Vic tells Lem they'll sneak a whole cow into prison. I guess in case he wants steak? Danny is sorry to hear how things worked out for him. Lem jokes, "You're gonna be a little thinner next time I see you", hugs her, and leaves to take care of some stuff. I love that <i>Miami Vice</i> colored bathroom; I'll house-sit. He'll see everyone later at the going-away party.<br />
<br />
Danny hands over a file on the warehouse robbery. EMTs found jewelry in Kern's pocket. This is very bad news. An empty safe means Antwon won't get his money, which also means Lem is a dead man walking. Vic better talk to Antwon and fast.<br />
<br />
"These fags choose a life of sin and suffering and get what they deserve. But I'm the one in handcuffs," Jarrod says disgustedly. Julien handcuffs him to the table, walks him to the window, and points at the cage. Does Alarico's family deserve to have their lives ruined because of what Jarrod did? Jarrod's never seen Alarico before, but if something happened, it was God's will.<br />
<br />
Jarrod quotes the Bible. Julien cuffs his other wrist to the table and unplugs the camera. Jesus lived an honest life and was crucified for it. What does Jarrod think happens when people lie in the Lord's name? Julien opens an evidence bag and dumps a rat trap onto the table.<br />
<br />
Julien sets the trap while quoting Psalms. He edges the trap close to one of Jarrod's hands. "You wanted to look at a man down there. You wanted to touch it. ...You didn't because you knew that it was wrong."<br />
<br />
Jarrod is now terrified. In light of Michael Jace's real-life murder conviction, this performance is especially disquieting.<br />
<br />
Julien uses the pin from his badge to spring the trap; Jarrod convincing himself he was doing God's will gave him an excuse to touch other men's genitals. Jarrod maintains he'd never do something so disgusting. "You're no different than the men you prey on," Julien opines, "You're a homosexual." Jarrod shouts, "That's a lie! I am a Christian!" He only used the rat traps to punish gay men.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh knocks on Lem's door again. "What, no muffins?" Lem asks. Kavanaugh tells him that taking the deal was a bad idea. Lem thinks that's funny coming from the guy who's been threatening him with jail nonstop for weeks. Kavanaugh explains that was just a strategy: "Cops always give it up with the threat of jail." He can't believe Lem is doing this.<br />
<br />
The Rat King is sorry he and Lem didn't become friends sooner. "Friends" is an extremely strong word for your relationship; so is "acquaintance," for that matter. "Any man would be lucky to have you in his corner." Kavanaugh holds out his hand, which Lem actually shakes. He has the nerve to wish Lem luck.<br />
<br />
Vic tells Antwon things went south because they didn't get all the details up front. Antwon found out that Vic's been playing him against Kavanaugh, manipulating him into protecting Lem. "What do you care?" asks Vic. It seems Kavanaugh started a Department of Corrects investigation at Lompoc, which will cost Antwon most, if not all, of his creature comforts.<br />
<br />
Vic will figure out a way to get Antwon his money and check on the DOC case. Antwon thinks Vic's done enough. As of now, Lem's protection deal is off. There are One-Niners in every California prison, so there's nowhere to hide. "One of your crew so much as hard-looks my guy, my reach will get you shivved." Coming from Vic, that's not a threat; it's a promise.<br />
<br />
Antwon knows Vic is bluffing; otherwise, he wouldn't have come to Antwon for help. Vic reaches across the table and grabs Antwon by his jail uniform. Guards pull them apart.<br />
<br />
Billings accuses Claudette of stealing his job. Claudette says she didn't ask for it, which is true: "Letting Kavanaugh loose in this place, they set you up to fail." She asks for help picking up the pieces. Billings refuses to stay after "getting shanked in the back like this." Claudette suggests he take a few days to think it over; her door is always open if he wants to talk.<br />
<br />
Lem's big send-off is at a cop bar. Someone, presumably Shane, hired a couple of strippers. A blond one is cuddled up to Lem, rubbing his hair. He's either drunk or his ulcer's feeling a lot better because he's grinning like an idiot. When Vic arrives, Becca is on her way out. He tells her the neighborhood isn't safe, so he'll walk her to her car.<br />
<br />
Becca will be taking Lem to the courthouse at 9 AM so he can surrender. She hopes Vic knows they did the right thing. Vic thanks her for helping Lem. Becca thinks he's lucky to have a friend like Vic. Vic himself doesn't look so sure. "I gotta tell you something about Lem," he starts. Before he can get to that, he's French-kissing Becca.<br />
<br />
Claudette heard Jarrod confessed. "He and Julien 'reasoned' together," says Dutch. He congratulates her on the promotion and explains how Phillips learned she has lupus. When Claudette passed out at work, the paramedics found prednisone in her purse; they called her doctor find out why it was prescribed and Billings overheard. Billings "thought lupus was an emotional disorder."<br />
<br />
Claudette apologizes for how she treated him earlier. "You can't un-ring that bell," says Dutch. After all this time, his partner doesn't trust him and assumed the worst. Oh, get over yourself. However, he thinks she'll be a great captain. The job requires "an active mistrust of everyone and everything." Sounds more like IAD qualifications.<br />
<br />
The bar is now almost empty. Vic hates to ruin a good time, but they need to discuss a change of plans: "You're not going to prison." Lem is confused. Vic tells him about the crossroads deal they made with Antwon in exchange for Lem's safety; the warehouse robbery went to hell in a handbasket.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh has the Department of Corrections investigating Lompoc, which will make Antwon's life hell. Antwon blames Vic. "But I won't end up in Lompoc," Lem says worriedly. That part doesn't matter because Antwon has a lot of homies.<br />
<br />
"Best-case scenario, you bust enough heads to stay alive," says Vic. Lem knows he won't get early parole if he fights, even in self-defense. Shane says, "Worst-case scenario, you'll kiss everything goodbye."<br />
<br />
Lem pounds the table: "What the hell am I supposed to do?" Vic wants him to lay low until they get back on Antwon's good side, which is a pipe dream as far as I'm concerned. Lem is adamant: "I can't run anymore. I do not wanna do this." "Do we even have a plan?" asks Shane. Vic snaps that he's working on it.<br />
<br />
The best option would be talking to some of Gilroy's old contacts. Lem pretty much tells Vic that Mexico is a huge goddamn no. Vic swears it'd only be temporary. Lem knows he'll lose his deal if he skips town and be in a worse fix than he is now.<br />
<br />
"This is about keeping you alive!" Vic shouts. Lem drops his head onto his folded arms. Poor guy thought this nightmare was over and the rug's been pulled out from under him again. Shane lays a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Vic promises everything will be okay. Completely overwhelmed, Lem starts bawling, not caring that everyone is watching him.<br />
<br />
Claudette moves her things into her new office. Downstairs, Dutch flirts with Tina. Claudette takes down Kavanaugh's bulletin board.<br />
<br />
Danny has gone into labor and Julien is driving her to the hospital. She groans for him to hurry. Julien floors it, accidentally knocking over his plastic dashboard Jesus.<br />
<br />
It's the dead of night, but that doesn't stop Kavanaugh from knocking on Corinne's door. He asks to talk to her. Even with everything that's happened, she lets him in.<br />
<br />
On a hill outside town, Lem puts a duffel bag in the trunk of a generic sedan. Ronnie embraces his best friend. Shane also gets a bear hug. Vic climbs in the driver's seat. For some reason, Lem's riding in the back instead of shotgun. Shane lights a cigarette as Vic drives away. End of episode.Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6108543089055619886.post-47399604979456212482017-08-04T00:00:00.000-04:002017-08-14T23:20:50.479-04:00Somebody's Getting "Smoked" (Episode 5.9)<i>Previously on: Terry's case was reopened, putting the Strike Team in the crosshairs of IAD's Kavanaugh. He first tried the <a href="http://sonsofanarchy.wikia.com/wiki/June_Stahl">Agent Stahl</a> technique: Use the "old ladies" to get to the men. Kavanaugh let it slip to Corinne about Vic's affair with Danny and his suspicions that Vic fathered her baby. Antwon Mitchell offered information in exchange for the Strike Team being sent to his cell block. Kavanaugh made good on his threat to arrest Lem. He even put him in the cage with the rest of the Barn's arrestees, essentially throwing him to the wolves.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
"What you lookin' at, you punk-ass?" an inmate taunts as Lem is escorted down the cell block in his new orange jail scrubs. Lem is totally on edge, which can't be good for his ulcer. Becca and Vic are in the visitors' room. A guard uncuffs Lem and gives him 10 minutes.<br />
<br />
The first thing Vic does is pull Lem into a hug and mess up his hair. All smiles, Lem assures Vic that he's okay. Vic's plan to get Lem out seems to be tenuous at best because Lem asks if Mara changed her mind about putting up the Vendrell residence as collateral. Of course she did. Mara would ruin her reputation if she did something unselfish.<br />
<br />
More bad news: Kavanaugh had everyone's assets frozen. "So I'm stuck," Lem says glumly. He knows Vic doesn't have $100,000 lying around, at least not anymore. Becca has filed a motion to get his bail reduced. Lem asks how much longer he has to hold out. Vic promises that in 24 hours, Lem will be sleeping in his own bed. Lem's face shows some uncharacteristic pessimism. Honestly, though, who could blame him at this point?<br />
<br />
Tina and Julien arrive on the scene of an apparent store robbery. Around back, Tina finds a guy sitting on top of another man, restraining him. She shouts for him to drop his gun. The guy shouts back that he's a cop too, but slides his gun away. The hoodie-clad perp takes the opportunity to get up and scramble over a fence.<br />
<br />
"Man, tell your partner not to shoot," says the maybe-cop. Julien barks at Tina that the guy is undercover. "I didn't know. He didn't identify himself," says Tina, even though he totally did. Julien points out the yellow bandanna on the guy's arm, <a href="http://mentalfloss.com/article/49036/nypds-color-day">the color of the day</a>. "Which makes you ditz of the month, honey," the undercover puts in.<br />
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Shane and Becca walk Kavanaugh through the apartment where Terry died. Shane keeps up the longstanding party line that Terry shot drug dealer Two-Time, who then killed Terry. "Ballistics gave Vic the kill shot," Kavanaugh says lightly. Shane guesses he's off his game.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh asks if that was the case when Lem's teenage informant Angie was killed. Shane's bullet was in her. Shane points out that he didn't pull the trigger; Antwon did. Kavanaugh wonders if Shane was on Antwon's payroll, which was definitely true for a while. Becca says it was a documented undercover assignment.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh knows the pimp shakedowns were real. So were the payoffs from drug dealers. Shane was Antwon's bitch. Becca interrupts that they're here to talk about Terry.<br />
<br />
Next it's Vic's turn to relive the events of the pilot. Terry went in first and Vic failed to clear the bathroom: "Two-Time must've been hiding behind the wall." He and Shane were going down the hall when Vic heard the shot that killed Terry.<br />
<br />
A guy Vic doesn't seem to know is present at the walk-through. Kavanaugh introduces him as Terry's brother Drew, a former cop from San Diego. Drew remembers how Vic couldn't make eye contact with the Crowleys at Terry's funeral. He wanted to see Vic's face and find out the truth.<br />
<br />
"Of all the underhanded bullshit!" Becca shouts. She wants Drew removed. "If you killed him, God will know," warns Drew. Vic is sorry about Terry, but that night went just like he said. Drew keeps preaching, "If you're lying, God will have your soul and I give it to him personally."<br />
<br />
Ronnie is confident Kavanaugh will be forced to drop the case because all their stories match up. Vic worries he'll just "move on to shit we actually did." Shane thinks this was all about rubbing their collective nose in what Kavanaugh was able to dig up on him and Army. Antwon has to be involved. Vic doubts it; nobody can get Antwon out of prison, what with him doing double life sentences.<br />
<br />
They run down who else would know about Shane's extracurriculars, everyone from Antwon's sidekick Halpern to ex-captain Monica. Ronnie suggests it could've been Lem. Vic tells him to shut up. They have to focus on raising bail. "This is the last night he spends in County," Vic vows.<br />
<br />
Prospects are none too rosy with $700 in cash between them and three frozen bank accounts. Five seasons in, we get our first bit of intel on the rest of the Lemansky clan. According to Ronnie, the <a href="https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/rellie">rellies</a> are trailer trash who flat out refused to help with bail so they could buy Powerball tickets. Makes you wonder how Lem turned out to be such a give-you-the-shirt-off-his-back kind of guy. Certainly explains why he considers the Strike Team his only family.<br />
<br />
The guys have to hope they "just happen" to find $100 K on the street. Shane is uneasy about that with Kavanaugh's lazy eye focused on them. Vic thinks Kavanaugh is more interested in the past. "If you're wrong, we're gonna end up keeping Lem company," Ronnie pipes up from the backseat. However, Vic promised Lem they wouldn't leave him and Vic Mackey is a man of his word.<br />
<br />
A construction worker found a man's body buried under a pile of site waste (insulation, drywall, and the like). The killer was probably hoping the victim would be carted off with the trash. Tina agrees with Dutch's theory. Julien asks about Claudette. She's on sick leave for a few more weeks.<br />
<br />
When Vic goes to pick up the kids, Corinne is somewhat frantic. Her bank accounts and credit cards have been frozen. She couldn't even buy groceries earlier. "I can't be around you and neither can the kids." Corinne tells Vic that, for the record, it wasn't her idea; it was her lawyer's. They can resume their normal visits after Kavanaugh finds someone else to chase.<br />
<br />
Cassidy appears in the doorway, hugs her dad, and politely tells him to leave: "Mom's been crying all morning." Vic offers to give Corinne cash for groceries, but for obvious reasons, she can't accept it.<br />
<br />
Billings has a visitor: Hoffman the undercover detective wants to file a complaint about Tina. Danny explains that Tina failed to recognize Hoffman was undercover. "She nearly blew my head off," adds Hoffman. Julien is also filing a report. Billings swears they'll make sure it doesn't happen again. As far as I'm concerned, there's only one way to do that: strip Tina of her badge. She's racked up several monumental mistakes since she started.<br />
<br />
Hoffman rambles about how "I get enough guns to my head without Barbie adding to the action." Billings seems surprised that he's expected to fire people. Danny agrees; she and Julien have both tried, but they're not getting through to Tina.<br />
<br />
Billings gripes trying to fire a Latina officer will be a massive headache because people will cry racism and/or sexism. Danny says bluntly, "She's gonna land herself or someone else in a body bag." "Being captain's about making tough choices," says Billings the spineless jellyfish. He'll handle Tina.<br />
<br />
Billings sees Vic and thought he had the day off to spend with the youngsters. Vic lies that all three kids are sick. Does Billings have any cases for him, like the loan shark on Clinton? Billings says they guy copped a plea and got 2-6 years. Felonious T the drug dealer closed up shop too.<br />
<br />
Danny says there's a girl who wants to see Vic. Maybe one of Lem's relatives grew a conscience? No, turns out to be a young black woman, one of Antwon's numerous girlfriends. Vic pats her down. "Your incarcerated old man wants to <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=flying%20a%20kite">fly a kite</a>?" he guesses.<br />
<br />
Antwon wants to know what Vic is willing to do "to keep your boy Curtis alive." She heard Lem is going to Lompoc and will be put on Antwon's cell block because"the big brother" made a deal with Antwon. Dick move even for Kavanaugh the Rat King. The clock is ticking on the offer.<br />
<br />
"You tell Antwon I'll put a bullet in that fat head of his myself before I let him kill another cop," Vic says fiercely. The girl suggests Vic say it in person when he winds up in prison himself. Collecting $100,000 to get Lem out just took on a new sense of urgency.<br />
<br />
Dutch finds a folder on his desk chair. Inside are pictures of Tina changing clothes in the Barn's locker room, wearing only underwear. Claudette asks what he's looking at. "Nothing. Huh?" he says dumbly. Claudette observes, "Your face is red." Dutch jumps topics to how nice it is to have his partner back. Since taking that nasty tumble down the stairs, she's walking with a cane.<br />
<br />
Dutch exposits on the construction site dump job: Artemis Cooke, black, 43, shot in the face. His mother is upstairs. Dutch makes an after-you gesture toward the stairs. Artemis' mom praises her son's work ethic; he's always had several jobs. His most recent gig was with an ambulance service that "drove organs into Canada."<br />
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Mom guesses "they have a big need for them up there." If the detectives have more questions about that, they can ask his friend DeKnight, who works for the same company.<br />
<br />
Vic confronts Kavanaugh, who's lurking in the breakroom: "Your attempts to drive a wedge between me and my guys include planning a murder?" Kavanaugh unconvincingly says he's looking for his salad; somebody must've stolen it. Vic has a solution: Send the salad thief to prison to be killed by Antwon. Kavanaugh is no better than the criminals if he hands Lem over to a known cop-killer.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh is all "you mean like how you set Terry up?" "Terry was a snake, just like you," says Vic. Kavanaugh takes that to mean Vic knew Terry was undercover. Vic didn't until Kavanaugh himself told him. Kavanaugh smiles that Antwon had a lot to say about Shane: "Does your neck hurt from the noose tightening?"<br />
<br />
Vic repeats Kavanaugh will be the real killer if Lem goes to Lompoc. Kavanaugh agrees to let Vic pick the prison if everyone on the Strike Team comes clean. Vic stays silent. Kavanaugh guesses he's not really that concerned about Lem. There's nothing in writing about where he'll serve his sentence, but Kavanaugh can make recommendations. As my nursing instructors and Judge Judy always say, "If it's not on paper, it doesn't exist."<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh adds, "Any correctional facility is dangerous for a cop." The best way to avoid that danger is not doing shady shit that could land you <i>in</i> jail. "Streets can be dangerous too," Vic says, more of an observation than a threat.<br />
<br />
Vic knows Kavanaugh is bluffing. We're talking about a man who "couldn't even cut [his] poor, sick-in-the-head, defenseless ex-wife a break from the rules." He doesn't think even the Rat King has the stomach to hand Lem over to Antwon. "I didn't used to," says Kavanaugh.<br />
<br />
DeKnight tells Dutch he worked a straight job with Artemis at a plant; Artemis got the black-market organ ambulance gig on his own. "Organs usually have to be transplanted within hours. Takes a hell of a lot longer to drive to Canada," Dutch notes. Wouldn't it be better to fly them? DeKnight shrugs they could be "low-priority organs, like fingers or tongues."<br />
<br />
"Whatever he was running got him shot in the face," says Claudette. DeKnight admits that it was "some kinda super-weed." Artemis made $8,000 a trip and everyone loved him. DeKnight likens him to a stoner's version of Santa Claus.<br />
<br />
Danny notices Claudette's limp and asks how she is. Claudette keeps telling Dutch she's fine and he's not about to argue, even though she did come back early. Danny plans on using every second of her 6-week maternity leave.<br />
<br />
Dutch follows Tina into the evidence room and hands her the folder of semi-nude pictures. Tina doesn't understand how these were taken; she always locks the door. (Hasn't she ever heard of surveillance cameras)? "I barely glanced. Just enough to identify you," says Dutch.<br />
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Dutch confirms my theory about the camera. He advises the rookie not to let everyone's "high-school mentality" get to her. This is more than mean-spirited teasing, you moron, it's flat-out sexual harassment.<br />
<br />
"Shit. I think I'm gonna get fired," Tina says sadly. She tells Dutch about almost shooting the undercover cop. Dutch shrugs that people make mistakes, even him.<br />
<br />
Tina remembers when she wore specific matching bra and panty sets and knows these photos were taken in the last few days. Dutch says he'll find out who's behind this and destroy all the pictures. How about taking down the camera while you're at it?<br />
<br />
Tina thanks him for being a gentleman. Not two seconds later, Dutch requests that she give the photos back for evidentiary purposes. And she does! Tina really is an idiot.<br />
<br />
Edgar-veda announces that he's resigning as a reserve police officer so Kavanaugh can't compel him to talk by threatening his badge. Furthermore: "As vice-chair of the police committee, I'm launching an investigation into <i>your </i>investigation." Kavanaugh's wasted tens of thousands of dollars and all he has to show for it is Lem in jail on 7-month-old charges.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh has more than that: $65,000 given to Corinne by Vic, the Strike Team's assets frozen, and Antwon singing like a bird. He thinks Edgar-veda can help him sweat Vic more. Storming into his office was a nice touch. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend?" says Edgar-veda. Vic will never confide in him.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh points out that desperate men need friends in high places, like a city councilman serving on the police committee. Edgar-veda agrees to temporarily put his investigation into Kavanaugh on hold. "Walk out angry. Mackey's watching," Kavanaugh coaches, returning Edgar-veda's badge.<br />
<br />
Dutch tells Vic about the super-pot being smuggled in from Canada by phony ambulances. Does he know anyone involved in that racket? Vic has a question of his own: Where's the van? Dutch has no clue. Vic agrees to lend a hand since Dutch and Claudette's "Wonder Twin powers aren't fully activated." He watches Edgar-veda leave Kavanaugh's office.<br />
<br />
Vic tells Shane and Ronnie about Kavanaugh's Lompoc plot. If Kavanaugh isn't gona play by the rules, the Strike Team won't either. Of course, when did they ever?<br />
<br />
They go to a restaurant frequented by One-Niners. Vic knows Antwon isn't letting Halpern call the shots. He asks about the Canadian connection. Halpern tells them to talk to a "dude with a fancy French name." More specifically, Dijon, like the mustard.<br />
<br />
In the men's room, Dutch compliments a uniform on the pictures: "You think Tina's panties are regulation?" How'd he take the photos? The uniform claims he just found them on Billings' desk. Dutch is always staring at Tina and it would've been cruel not show him.<br />
<br />
Corinne is not pleased with Kavanaugh. She did everything the Rat King asked and he still froze her bank account. How is she supposed to feed the kids? Kavanaugh is unsympathetic: "You told me about $65,000. Now I hear there may be more." If there was, Corinne argues, she wouldn't have defaulted on Matt and Megan's tuition.<br />
<br />
Kavanaugh is sorry for the inconvenience, but Corinne is one of the walls he needs around Vic. "I'm not a wall; I'm a mother," she says. Father of her kids or not, she's cutting Vic out of her life. Kavanaugh tells her about Lem's arrest and how he's waiting for Vic to bail him out. The longer Lem spends in County, the more pliable he'll be.<br />
<br />
"That has nothing to do with me," Corinne says through gritted teeth. Kavanaugh needs her to get Vic to confess if she wants her life back. Corinne asks exactly what she did to deserve this. "You married the wrong man," replies Kavanaugh. A lot of people do, but that doesn't mean they should be constantly threatened with arrest.<br />
<br />
Billings, Julien, and Danny confer about Tina. She's ill-suited for the job, a danger to herself and everyone around her. Billings wants an on-the-record report of Tina's conduct. Dutch shows him the pictures. "Shit. Where'd you get these?" the captain wants to know, "They were on my desk. Is nothing sacred?"<br />
<br />
Billings explains that he put a security camera in the locker room after the last round of vending machine ripoffs, which makes absolutely no sense because the machines are in the hall. The captain figured the thief was hiding the stolen snacks in their locker. Well, Lem has an airtight alibi (not that he'd do that anyway). Billings supposedly had the pictures so they "wouldn't fall into the wrong hands."<br />
<br />
"Do you have any idea what kinda shitstorm you're looking at when she finds out you're behind these?" asks Dutch. Billings can't believe Dutch told her, even though Tina has every right to know. He sighs, "I just promised to wash her out."<br />
<br />
On her way out, Corinne throws shade at Danny. She hopes she isn't counting on Vic to provide for the baby. "I'm at work right now. This isn't the place," Danny says politely. Corinne asks why not; after all, work is where Vic found Danny. Danny reminds her Vic is the one who broke his vows. "That makes him a cheat," Corinne snarls, "That makes you a whore and the baby you're both having a bastard."<br />
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Shane, Vic, and Ronnie go to Dijon's house. They know the dealer got ripped off this morning and they're willing to hunt down his missing cargo for a finder's fee of $100,000. It's only a question of time until the detectives assigned to Artemis' murder trace his phone records to Dijon. The Strike Team can ensure Dijon's name is kept out of it.<br />
<br />
Dijon explains that his cash was stolen, not the weed. Artemis had been on his way to Canada with $250,000 in the van. The guys want their fee upfront. Dijon doesn't have it because it was tied up in the shipment. Vic wants a list of customers and anyone else who knew where Artemis was going. He also asks Dijon to plead ignorance with the other detectives.<br />
<br />
Vic brings Dijon to the Barn. Dutch and Claudette take him upstairs. Vic is about to follow them when his phone rings; it's a collect call from County. Lem wants to know if he's getting out today. Vic dials up Becca, turning the call into a three-way. This way, if any guards ask, Lem can say he's talking to his lawyer.<br />
<br />
"Whoa, you can't use me as cover for anything illegal," says Becca. Vic has good news and bad news. He and the guys might have a way to raise the bail money. On the other hand, Kavanaugh has been visiting Antwon and made a deal with him. If Lem gets convicted, he's going to Lompoc.<br />
<br />
Lem is shocked. Becca says Kavanaugh doesn't have the legal authority to do that. "It's never gonna get that far," Vic assures Lem. One way or another, they'll get him out from under Kavanaugh's large ass. Kavanaugh won't admit to what he did, but the deal exists. Dutch comes looking for Vic, so he ends the call.<br />
<br />
Billings pulls Dutch into the observation room: "You know I was on the up and up taking those photos." Tina will probably sue the police department and end up with a huge settlement. Billings doesn't want that to happen. He needs Dutch's help to make it go away. Does Dutch want to be Tina's hero or "watch her red bra and panties" walk out of his life forever?<br />
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Claudette knows Dijon is part of the pot ring, but nobody kills their own driver. If her suspicions are correct, Dijon will want his money back. Vic is sure Artemis was acting alone, but he'll take another shot at him. Claudette is none too happy that Dutch let Vic in on their case.<br />
<br />
Downstairs, Vic tells Dijon his list is getting them nowhere. Does anybody else know about Dijon's business dealings? Dijon shrugs, "Just my wife and my dumb-ass stepson." Jaden is 20 and used to drive once in a while. That stopped when Dijon found out Jaden was keeping drugs for himself. He doesn't know where Jaden is and doubts his wife does.<br />
<br />
Vic tells Shane and Ronnie that Silver Lake would be a good place to start looking for Jaden. It's where the uniforms found Artemis' van. Jaden could've hit up local weed dealers with $250,000 burning a hole in his pocket. They have to find him before Claudette does.<br />
<br />
Speaking of, she gets a call from the crime lab. Fingerprints in the van came back to Jaden. His last known address is his mother's. Claudette wants to head over there. Vic offers to do it for her. She doesn't fall for it.<br />
<br />
Jaden's mom Tasha hasn't seen her son in two months. Dijon is sure Jaden didn't shoot anyone. Claudette has Dijon show Dutch to Jaden's room. Tasha repeats that Jaden is a good boy. The only other place he might be is his girlfriend's house. Tasha doesn't approve of her.<br />
<br />
Vic gives Shane the girlfriend's address, warning Dutch and Claudette will be there in 15 minutes. Shane and Ronnie need to find the money and get out as fast as possible. They can't park in front of the house because Claudette knows Shane's truck (a nice-looking Dodge Ram).<br />
<br />
The back door is locked, so Ronnie climbs in a window. Shane follows him. Nobody seems to be home. They search frantically for the cash and are about to give up when Ronnie notices the bedroom door is ajar. Jaden is on the bed, passed out from smoking weed. There's a duffel bag underneath him.<br />
<br />
Shane and Ronnie hear cars pull up. "Grab it, grab it!" Ronnie cries. Shane jerks the bag out from under the skinny kid without much difficulty. They sprint out of the house just before Vic, Claudette, and Dutch come in the front door.<br />
<br />
In the kitchen, Vic sees Shane climbing out the window. Shane gives him the "okay" signal. "Clear!" Vic calls. Dutch wakes up Jaden.<br />
<br />
"Somebody took my money," Jaden slurs out as Vic puts him in the cage. He didn't want to hurt anyone. "You shot him in the face 3 times," Dutch disagrees. Vic tells Dutch and Claudette that anything Jaden says while high is inadmissible, as if they don't already know. Jaden thinks the cops should go hassle Dijon. He can't believe his stepfather fired him.<br />
<br />
In the squadroom, Claudette ponders their next move. Jaden told her someone broke into his girlfriend's apartment and stole the money. "It's my day off. I helped catch a killer. Finding the money's your problem," says Vic.<br />
<br />
The guys go to a shop run by our old friend Smitty. "I haven't seen you guys in a while. It was nice," says the locksmith. Vic asks if he'd like to make $100,000. Duh, who wouldn't? Vic explains that Lem is in jail. Their bank accounts are frozen, so Smitty has to put up the bond. The Strike Team will pay him back and Smitty doesn't have to worry about Lem not showing up for court.<br />
<br />
"And the catch is...?" Smitty wants to know. Well, IAD might show up to check his books. How many security systems would Smitty have to sell to make $100,000? Smitty asks why they always come to him. "Because you're the last honest guy we know," replies Vic. Wrong. Lem is honest as they come, which is part of the reason he has an ulcer after 5 years of Strike Team shenanigans.<br />
<br />
Vic gives Becca the story that an old friend is bailing Lem out. Becca will make some calls and see if she can fast-track his release. The lawyer has found herself between a rock and a hard place: "I don't wanna convince you all to turn on Lem. I don't wanna convince him to turn on you, but that's what a good lawyer would be advising." She doesn't want any of them in prison.<br />
<br />
Becca sighs that she might be better as their friend than their lawyer. Vic says Lem needs her. Besides, they can't afford to hire someone else. If she has to decide who to protect, she should take Lem's side. Vic even offers to switch places with Lem and be the one in Lompoc. Becca wants Vic to have a second chance, which he's already had, plus at least five or six more.<br />
<br />
Billings apologizes to Tina on behalf of the department about the pictures and lies, "The identity of the culprit's a mystery."<br />
<br />
Dutch and Billings both feel Tina has special promise that needs to be nurtured. Billings will allow Dutch to take Tina under his wing and teach her about detective work. "Unless these photos have you too upset to focus on career advancement," the captain adds.<br />
<br />
Tina gets it; she can't climb the department ladder unless she shuts up. Billings covers his ass by telling her that shadowing Dutch is just an opportunity he thinks she deserves. Instead of consulting her union rep, Tina tells Dutch she looks forward to working with him.<br />
<br />
When Lem walks out of the jail gate, Shane and Ronnie are on the sidewalk to greet him. Ronnie gives his best friend an enthusiastic hug, joking, "Looks like your hymen's still intact." Shane hugs Lem too. Lem asks what happened to Vic. Shane says he had someplace to be, but he'll catch up with them at the bar; Smitty's buying. "I am?" says the locksmith.<br />
<br />
"What are you doing here?" Edgar-veda asks. Vic opines that Kavanaugh is out of control and unbalanced.<br />
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Kavanaugh's been threatening Lem's life. Vic has a feeling Edgar-veda isn't so fond of the Rat King either. Does Kavanaugh have Edgar-veda over a barrel? Edgar-veda calls it "the price I pay for having been your boss." But he's not dirty, not like the Strike Team. Vic warns he won't go quietly.<br />
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Edgar-veda himself will be the first target. "Your stink will smell up every voting booth in this city." If Edgar-veda ever wants to be mayor, he and Vic will have to work together. Edgar-veda, Vic, and the rest of the Strike Team will be the last men standing. "What's your plan?" asks Edgar-veda. Vic stares; he probably hasn't thought that far ahead yet. End of episode.Shortstackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09854767043692417764noreply@blogger.com0