Brutal "Spanish Practices" (Episode 6.10)

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.

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. 

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.

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." 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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Officer Paula hands over Romero's suitcase. "With all your delays, you won't mind if we forget to say 'gracias,'" snipes Romero's Lawyer. Outside the Barn, Vic is waiting to tail Romero's car.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

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."

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."

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?

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
She's not going anywhere without more details.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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."

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.

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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.

"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.

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.

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.

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."

"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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

"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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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."

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 given how greedy they apparently are). 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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

A woman appears to collect Vic. Corinne wishes her ex-husband luck. Vic shocks everyone by turning around and walking out of the building.

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.

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.

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.

"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...

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

"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?

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.

"Recoil" Is a Bitch (Episode 6.9)

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.

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. 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.

Ronnie confronted Shane about killing Lem and the blackmail journal he wrote about the Strike Team's exploits. 

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. 

Vic asked a murder victim's politically connected father to help out with his upcoming appeals hearing.

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?

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.

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.

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."

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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?

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."

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiit's clobbering time!
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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.

"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."

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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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

"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?

"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.

Out in the hall, Dutch tells Billings not to use interrogations to work out his frustrations with him. "It's not my 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."

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?"

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

"So you just cut off his arm?" Ronnie asks. Vic is curious if Javier knows Edgar-veda's friend Cruz, but Javier doesn't.

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.

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.

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 how-dare-he look.

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).

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.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

Because Vic is being forced out, Shane has decided not to transfer after all. I'm sure Ronnie is thrilled about that.

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."

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.

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.

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.

"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.

Billings sits outside Tina's house in his car. He watches as she goes inside with Kevin, then starts doing something with his phone.

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?

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. does 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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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."

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."

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."

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.

"The Math of Wrath" Equals Chaos (Episode 6.8)

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. 

Ronnie found out that Shane was responsible for Lem's murder.

Undercover ICE agent Hernan is MIA. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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."

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.

Now now, we know you don't mean that...
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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.

"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.

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.

"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").

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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."

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.

"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.

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."

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 quinceanera." (For those that don't know, that's an elaborate birthday party, held in many Latin cultures when a girl turns 15).

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 "vato, 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.

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 had you not murdered your friend in cold blood?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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."

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.

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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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?"

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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."

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.

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.

"Are they hearing themselves?" asks Dutch. Are you forgetting you once strangled a cat to see what it would feel like? Judge not lest ye be judged, Dutch Boy.

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.

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.

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.

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 can relate to."

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."

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."

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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.

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.

"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).
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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."

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

"Exiled" from the Kingdom (Episode 6.7)

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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?

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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.

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.

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!"

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.

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.

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--"

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?"

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 telling Cruz the real reason they're doing the sweep. Jesus, Hernan is a....

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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.

"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.

"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.

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!"

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

"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.

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.

"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.

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.

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 so well last time.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

"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.

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."

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Claudette tells Nancy about her own husband's murder, which her oldest daughter witnessed. 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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.