"Dominoes Falling" and April Fools (Episode 2.13)

Timely that I'm reviewing this episode in the days following the U.S. presidential election. Also, happy belated birthday to Walton Goggins!

Previously on: Vic and the boys found out the Armenian mob's money train is moving operations to a different city, meaning they only have one chance at it. Regardless of the election results, Edgar-veda is losing his job with the police department. Julien's ex-lover Tomas outed him in front of the whole Barn and Julien was subsequently harassed by his coworkers. Lanie recommended Claudette be promoted to captain so she can run the Barn.

Edgar-veda was ordered to fire 20% of the Barn's staff. Vic served Corinne with divorce papers. She found out he's been sleeping with someone else. Vic broke into the family home when he heard Matt screaming, so Corinne filed a domestic dispute complaint.

Shane goes over to the Mackey house and demands of Corinne, "You had Vic arrested?" Corinne didn't think anything would come of the complaint. I call bullshit; she's been married to a cop long enough to know how things work. Shane tells her that he won't be allowed to bail Vic out until the next morning. Corinne isn't interested in talking: "My kids are sleeping. Good night."

Shane keeps going. Vic is worried about losing his family and "that kinda distraction can get him killed. Me and the other guys too." Corinne tells him to go home and walks away.

The next morning, Vic asks what Shane was thinking. "Where I come from, when a guy's old lady jams him up, his buddies go have a talk with her," the Southerner explains. Vic says exasperatedly, "Not in the middle of the night, Jethro." The other half of the Strike Team jogs up. Ronnie knows the money train is moving out tonight. They don't know where the new collection point is.

However, they ran the license plates of the guy who ran the last drop-ship point and got his address. His name is Chorekian. Vic says they should follow their Balkan friend; he might lead them to the new place. It took them 2 months to scout the last site and now Vic wants them to recon one in a matter of hours? Shane points out they still have the garbage truck and the general plan is staying the same.

Vic knows they'll never get a chance at this much money again. The cash came from robberies, drugs, and prostitution. The Armenians didn't really earn it, so Vic doesn't feel bad about taking it. He tells Shane to gas up the garbage truck. Ronnie and Lem will follow Chorekian.

"Who'd you vote for?" a reporter asks Edgar-veda. They're in a fire station that's presumably doubling as a polling place. He smirks that it was a handsome Latino and puts an arm around Aurora. Another reporter asks for comment on the firing of the entire Strike Team. Edgar-veda says they weren't living up to the city's high standards. He even offered up his own job because as captain, they were his responsibility.

Chief Bankston meets with Vic. He cuts to the chase: Edgar-veda says the Strike Team is a real problem and has recommended firing all of them. Vic's jaw drops. He tells the chief that his team makes half the drug and gang arrests in Farmington. Chief Bankston is more concerned about their tactics, but he assures Vic that Edgar-veda is no longer a threat to him: "After he loses the primary today, he's resigning."

Chief Bankston knows when people are crossing the line. Can Vic keep up his arrest percentages without pushing the limits? Vic assures him that he can. The chief tells him to prove it or he'll act on the soon-to-be-former captain's recommendation.

In the Barn parking lot, Vic confronts Edgar-veda about putting the Strike Team on the firing list. The captain doesn't have time for this; he has to tell 27 people they've been fired. Vic knows he's not among them. Edgar-veda puts him on desk duty for the day. He heard Vic got arrested and advises, "Go clean up your own house instead of continuing to mess up mine."

Vic informs him that the chief wants him on the street and calls Edgar-veda a lame duck. Edgar-veda says Vic will follow orders or else. "Been nice knowin' ya," Vic sneers.

Lem and Shane are watching Chorekian as he talks on a payphone. Shane asks if his partner can read lips. "Even if I could, I don't speak Armenian, bro," says Lem. Chorekian's used 3 different payphones in the last 5 blocks. Chorekian gets in his car and they continue tailing him.

Edgar-veda tells Claudette there's been a homicide and the victim is her ex-husband Jeff. Her daughter Bonnie is at the scene; she apparently witnessed the whole thing. "She's supposed to be in Florida. Is she okay?" asks Claudette. Dutch will be taking the case solo, even though he and Claudette are close outside of work, because the Barn is short-staffed. It's about to be even shorter.
Edgar-veda summons two older detectives, Brett and Marlin, up to his office.

Jeff is dead in the driver's seat of his car. Bonnie is sitting on a bench; there's blood on her jacket. Hey, It's That Girl! Tracie Thoms used to be on the other side of murder investigations as Kat Miller on Cold Case. Bonnie seems to be in shock. Who wouldn't be? Dutch takes her coat as evidence. At least give her a police blanket to replace it.

"He--he shot him. He's gone," Bonnie stammers. Claudette tries to soothe her daughter. Danny tells Dutch that Bonnie was the only witness they could find. "Tell the M.E. to move his ass," Dutch instructs.

Chorekian is driving so slow that Lem asks if he's on Quaaludes. Sadly, the Armenian is not driving a white Cadillac, not a Bronco. Shane sees it as a good sign that he doesn't want to risk getting pulled over. Lem is road ragey: "Get your ass in gear, granny!"

At a red light, Chorekian stops so short that he gets rear-ended by a red sedan. The sedan's driver gets out and apologizes; he didn't think Chorekian was stopping. Chorekian asks what's wrong with him: "You drive a piece of shit. I just bought this car." Lem and Shane are right behind the red sedan. Sedan Driver gets back in his car. Chorekian speed-walks up to the truck's window.

Lem gets a little panicky, telling Shane to get out of there. Too late. "You be my witness for insurance?" asks Chorekian. Shane guesses so. He wants to exchange cell phone numbers, claiming he's always on the road. They do. Chorekian gripes that it's always people who don't care about their cars that run into you. Shane gives his name as Cletus Van Dam.

The last time I heard Walton Goggins use the name Van Dam, he looked a little...different.
(Photo credit)

They shake hands. Chorekian thanks Shane for his help. When he's out of sight, Lem repeats incredulously, "Cletus Van Dam?"

Vic is bored; there's not a single gang case on the books today. Tavon asks what's the rush. The Strike Team is being reevaluated. That's exactly Vic's point; he wants to prove the city needs them. Tavon suggests they help Dutch work his homicide case.

Vic goes over to Dutch and he explains what little he knows. Jeff and Bonnie were sitting in his car when a black man walked up to them, said something, and shot Jeff. Vic asks if it was gang related. Dutch doesn't know and Bonnie's been too upset to say much. Why were she and her father in that neighborhood in the first place? Vic offers to see if any of the local gangs were involved.

Bonnie is at her mother's desk, looking through mug books. She's sure she'll recognize the killer if he's in one of them. "If you see him in there, you tell me first. Don't say anything to Dutch," Claudette says. They can break the case without Bonnie making herself the star witness in a murder trial.

"This is Dad we're talking about!" gasps Bonnie, "I don't care what I have to do." Claudette is only watching out for her. Bonnie shakes her head. "God, Mom. I can't believe you." Claudette isn't saying she wants the killer to go free; she's just worried Bonnie will get herself in a situation she can't get out of.

Danny confronts two unnamed uniforms who were assholes to her partner: "I heard you called Julien's house, told his little boy that he was gay?" Asshole #1 has no problem with gay people as long as he doesn't have to work with them. Asshole #2 wonders what else Julien is lying about. Danny puts them on notice: "Fun's over or I end it myself."

Irving, one of Vic's informants, asks what's in it for him if he talks. Vic promises they won't bust his illegal gambling joint that he runs out of the back of a sporting goods store. Armadillo and the Torrucos being gone have brought back a previously defunct gang: the E Street Johnnies. They want to be the new top dogs. Irving drops a bag of pot. "Jesus Christ, pick it up!" Vic hisses. Irving swears the weed is for medical purposes.

Vic asks what the Johnnies' return has to do with Jeff getting shot in his car. Irving isn't sure; all he heard was them bragging about some kind of April Fools' party. Vic goes inside and asks Bonnie if it's possible the shooter said "Johnny says April Fools." She's not 100% sure because the windows were rolled up.

Claudette catches the tail end of the conversation. She tells Bonnie this isn't Vic's case. Vic takes Dutch aside to fill him in. 10 years ago, the E Street Johnnies were the biggest gang in Farmington. Then the Mexican gangs moved in.

The Johnnies had a ritual called April Fools' parties. Each year, they'd tally up how many members were killed in gang disputes and get everyone together in front of a pile of dominoes. If you picked the right one, you got to be a shooter. The shooters would walk up to random victims and say, "Johnny says April Fools" before they pulled the trigger.

Vic notices Claudette is listening in and tells her Bonnie heard the code phrase. "Thanks for the tip," she says. Dutch will take care of it; this doesn't concern Vic or Tavon. The gang connection says it does, but good luck explaining that to the chief later.

Vic sees Shane across the room. He tells Tavon to find out how many Johnnies were killed last year and the current address of their leader: Lops. The guy apparently got his street name thanks to a lopsided head. When Vic walks into the clubhouse, Shane is on the couch, rubbing his temples like he has a headache. Lem nervously toys with a football.

"You lost him?" Vic guesses. Lem explains that Chorekian got rear-ended in front of them; he wants them to be witnesses for his insurance claim. The Armenian now knows their faces and the truck. They did get his cell phone number, however, they can't trace it without a warrant. "Where's Radiohead's crib these days?" asks Vic. I'm surprised when Lem doesn't quizzically say, "The band?"

Radiohead's yard and small house are messy. There's enough computer equipment and other assorted junk for Frank Deveraux to be living here. Ronnie groans at the smell: "Did he die in here?" "Show us your ass!" Vic calls.

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Radiohead appears, dressed in an old dirty bathrobe, T-shirt, and boxer shorts. "When was the last time you took a shower?" Vic demands. Radiohead shrugs that his water was shut off last month. "Ever heard of a sponge bath?" asks Shane. Radiohead is "boycotting all things French."

Sidebar: This bit reminds me of a similar scene in Few Options, starring Kenny Johnson. Kenny plays an ex-con who has no choice but to live in his cousin's garage after being released. The cousin doesn't like him and eventually cuts off his shower privileges. When Kenny's character lands a date, he's forced to take a sponge bath with water from the outside faucet.

Vic knows Radiohead's been tracing cell phones for a drug cartel. They need his help tracing a phone themselves. Radiohead can try, but if the phone isn't transmitting, he can't triangulate its exact location. They'll settle for an approximate. Ronnie will give Radiohead the numbers; Vic, Shane, and Lem are escaping to fresh air, well, as fresh as it gets in L.A.

Asshole #1 thinks it's nice of Julien to let his partner fight his battles. How can he and Asshole #2 trust Julien with their lives if he's been lying about who he is for 2 years? Asshole #1 calls Julien a hypocrite because Julien once beat up a transsexual with AIDS who bit Danny. "You call my son again and I'll kill you," Julien threatens quietly. Asshole #1 thinks maybe he should've called Social Services instead to make sure Julien isn't abusing Randall.

Julien totally loses it. Screaming like a madman, he grabs Asshole #1 and throws him over his shoulder. Julien slams him to the floor. Inmates in the cage cheer him on. It takes two other uniforms to pull Julien off. Asshole #1 asks if Julien can do this job by himself; he'll never have backup again. Danny hurries over with a what'd-I-miss look on her face.

Dutch takes Claudette to the observation room. He gently suggests that her ex's murder might not have been a random gangland ritual. The neighborhood where Jeff was shot is known for drug activity. Dutch knows Jeff got arrested a few times after the divorce for simple possession and disturbing the peace. Claudette admits he had demons, but not bad enough to get him killed.

Bonnie still hasn't found the killer in the mug books. Claudette asks her if Jeff was doing something he shouldn't have. Bonnie is insulted her mother would even think that. Claudette knows Bonnie doesn't remember her dad's drug problem because she was young when the divorce happened. Why didn't Bonnie tell her mom she was coming? "Dad wanted to see me," she replies. She's only in California for a couple days and didn't want to run back and forth.

In the clubhouse, Ronnie is back with a location courtesy of Radiohead. It's a mostly unoccupied industrial part of town, which fits with the last place they used. Vic tells them to recon and see if the original plan will still work. They slyly hide the map when Tavon comes in. The newest Strike Team member got an address for Lops and they'll have a warrant within an hour.

Tavon asks what everyone's doing in the clubhouse. "Can't stay away from this place, even on our day off," Shane lies, then leaves with Ronnie and Lem.

Aurora calls Edgar-veda from a party. When is he coming? Hispanic voter turnout has been better than expected. Machado thinks they have a real chance. Edgar-veda promises to be there ASAP. He hangs up because Randy, another of the unlucky 27, is standing in his office doorway.

Shane calls Vic to report the new site is a lot like the old one. There's only one way in and one way out. The place even has a dumpster they can "borrow." Lem asks to talk to Vic. He tells their boss that a location change could mean other things are different too, such as more guards. That's all he gets out before Shane grabs the phone from him. A vote is taken. Vic, Shane, and Ronnie are all fine with going ahead. Lemming hesitates, but eventually okays it.

"Geronimo!"
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Tavon and Vic push their way into Lops' apartment. They ask him about the current state of the Johnnies. Vic knows 3 of Lops' gang members died last year. Tavon spots a domino set on the coffee table. One guy is already dead thanks to the April Fools' parties and two other shooters are unaccounted for. Vic looks through the dominoes and doesn't see any double-threes, meaning that's this year's lucky number.

Vic asks where the other two shooters are. Lops threatens to get his Cochran (as in Johnnie Cochran) involved. Tavon pulls his gun and asks, "You think we playing?" He empties the cylinder except for one bullet and gives it a spin. What Lops doesn't see is Tavon tipping his hand to palm the remaining bullet. Lops taunts that they aren't gonna do anything.

Tavon puts the gun to Lops' head, informing him that the April Fools' victim is a cop's husband. A cop they work with. Tavon cocks the gun and pulls the trigger. Click! "You only got 5 more wrong answers," he warns. He pulls the trigger a second time. Click!

"Oh, this is gonna be the one, Tavon. I can feel it," Vic says when his partner pulls back the hammer again, "I'd better get my raincoat." Lops agrees to talk if Tavon puts the gun away.

Edgar-veda asks Julien what happened with Jackson, one of the asshole uniforms. Julien says it's nothing the two of them can't handle. Edgar-veda knows Julien is being harassed because he used to be gay. If he wants to make a formal complaint, now is a good time. Julien repeats that he can handle it.

A squad car arrives to pick up Lops. Vic checks his watch. He tells Tavon to ask the uniforms for a ride back to the Barn. Vic has someplace he has to be, but he'll be back in a hour. Lops opines that Tavon is psycho. "Yes, he is," Vic chuckles proudly. Lops adds, "You better tell that asshole he's too late." His homeboy Charlie is already at a street fair looking for his victim.

Vic takes Lops outside. He tosses his keys down to Tavon, telling him they have to hurry. Vic asks a female uniform to find out where the closest street fair is.

At the condemned building, Shane and the boys are suited up in garbage company jumpsuits and loading guns into the back of the garbage truck. Vic calls Lem and says they'll have to start without him. Lem starts asking what's going on. "I can't talk right now," Vic says irritably. Ronnie asks what Vic is saying. Lem explains Vic might not make it.

For the second time, the phone gets yanked out of Lem's hand, this time by Ronnie. He reminds Vic this is their last chance. Vic tells him to put Shane on. Ronnie does. Vic promises he'll be there, but the others will have to start without him. Shane doesn't want to do this without Vic. His partner points out that the original plan involved 3 guys and they still have 3. He trusts Shane can pull this off. Tavon pulls around with Vic's truck. They switch places so Vic is driving.

Back at the garbage truck, Lem is all, "What 3-person plan?" They were really gonna go off and do this without him? "You always had reservations," Shane notes. Ronnie tells him that was only Plan B. "Fine, let's go with Plan B," says Lem. Shane shakes his head. It's too risky until they know for sure if Vic is gonna show up. Lem knows if they don't get moving now, they'll be out of position and the whole thing could fall apart even if Vic comes. Ronnie agrees.

The garbage truck rolls up to the site with Ronnie behind the wheel. He's driving much better than he did the first time. Lem and Shane are crouched in the back. Shane finally has the sense to look scared. Ronnie works the controls so the truck picks up a dumpster. Its contents fall into the back of the truck. Shane and Lem crawl inside the dumpster. In what must feel like the worst carnival ride ever to them, the dumpster is lifted into the air and slammed roughly back on the ground.

None of the Armenians seem to notice the two armed men popping out of the dumpster like the world's most dangerous jack-in-the-box. Ronnie drives away, waving cheerily at the mobsters.

Vic arrives at the street fair, the lights from the chain ride dancing along the side of his truck. He shows some uniforms the picture of Charlie. He warns everyone that Charlie is armed. Vic, Tavon, and the rest walk into the fair, past the tilt-a-whirl and the cotton candy booth and the carousel.

Tavon and Vic spot Charlie loitering around the balloon dart game and the kiddie Ferris wheel. They chase him out into the street. Tavon manages to grab Charlie and they both bounce off a minivan's hood in the process. He finds a double-three domino in Charlie's pocket. Vic reminds Tavon that he has to leave. Tavon agrees to do the paperwork.

At the money train site, Lem and Shane are waiting to pounce. A van, presumably stuffed with cash, arrives. It's accompanied by a luxury car, which is clearly a surprise. The driver gets out and approaches the other guys gathered around. Lem asks if Shane can tell what's going on, but Shane doesn't "speak European hick."

The car's driver is throwing punches, then he pulls a gun and shoots one of his associates in the head. Lem flinches. More gunshots and there are two dead men on the ground. The others keep loading boxes of cash like nothing happened. Shane is panicky: "I gotta stop Ronnie." Lem thinks they should stick to the plan. Shane says they don't know if Vic is even coming.

Lem points out the Armenians only have sidearms and they have rifles. Shane is already dialing his phone. The whole idea was not to have to use the guns. Lem makes a very Vic-like statement: "Look, it's not even their money." Shane doesn't want to get Ronnie and Lem killed, oddly altruistic for him.

There's no cell reception and Shane hustles off to see if he can get some. "Will you stop movin' around?" Lem hisses. They knew from the start there was no cell service here. Also, they'll definitely get shot if anyone sees them.

Danny wants to talk to Edgar-veda about the asshole uniforms: Jackson and Carlson. She knows they're behind the rude flyers with Julien's picture. The captain says Julien never mentioned names. Did he really expect him to? Danny has heard Jackson and Carlson running their mouths about how they won't back up Julien if he and Danny ever run into trouble on the street. Not only is that unprofessional, it's unacceptable to leave two people for dead just because you don't like one of them.

Edgar-veda thanks her for mentioning it to him. He also has bad news: Danny's name is on the firing list because of Armadillo getting stabbed in the cage. Danny is stunned; she thought she did her penance for that when she was suspended. Edgar-veda passes the buck, telling her it was the chief's decision.

Danny asks, "Have you talked to Vic and the Strike Team about how that guy got the knife?" The captain's only heard rumors. Danny wants to know who's looking into it while she loses her career. Edgar-veda tells her the truth: nobody. Danny looks like she doesn't know whether to cry or kick someone's ass, preferably Vic's.

The Armenians are loading bricks on cash into 55-gallon drums, not unlike the Codys' heist on the season finale of Animal Kingdom. Ronnie comes back. Shane guesses he heard the shots and groans, "This is not good. Where's Vic?" Now they really have to get moving.

Shane and Lem don ski masks. Lem will take the skinny guy "with the beanie and the blowgun"; Shane gets the other one. That's a pretty unfair fight. They sneak up on the Armenians, who start firing when they figure out what's happening. One of the Armenians gets shot in the thigh. The last van load of money arrives, but the driver quickly reverses. After all, guns and ski masks can only mean one thing.

Shane chases the van on foot and shoots out the tires. "Stay right there! Hands on the wheel!" bellows the unmistakable voice of Vic Mackey. Shane is glad to see him. Vic asks why there are so many dead bodies; Shane tells him about the Armenians picking off their own. Ronnie heard the shots and they pulled off the heist with one van left.

Lem is more concerned about the Armenian with the gunshot wound. It's near an artery and he doesn't want him to bleed out. Shane doesn't think it's their problem; it's not like they shot him. Lem says, "I don't want that blood on my conscience." I think you may be the only guy on the team who has a functional one. Vic actually agrees with Lem.

They blindfold Dach the wounded Armenian. Vic asks if he wants to live or die. "Live, please," says Dach through gritted teeth. Vic promises to take Dach to the hospital. Afterwards, they'll drop off some of the money at his house: "Your buddies will figure we took care of you because you were our inside man." Dach protests that he doesn't know who they are. Vic's like "they don't know that." Once Dach gets better, he should:

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Via closed-circuit TV, Bonnie looks at a line-up. One of the fillers is Julien. Dutch asks if she sees the guy who shot her dad. Claudette pulls Dutch aside and repeats that she doesn't want her daughter being a witness at a gang trial. Dutch tries another approach with Bonnie: If he were to question these suspects, who should he start with? Bonnie identifies Charlie.

Dutch knows Charlie and his two friends all drew a double-three. Charlie shrugs it wasn't him. One of them is going to jail; Dutch will see which one after he talks to the friends. Charlie doesn't wanna get locked up for something he didn't do. His friend Mouser pulled the trigger.

Vic goes back to the clubhouse and finds Tavon at the table doing some paperwork. Tavon asks if Vic made it to wherever he was supposed to be on time. Vic's all "yep, just had to do some errands." Tavon tells him they found the other guys with dominoes and nobody else got hurt. Other than that, it's been a quiet day. Oh, Tavon, anybody in public safety knows better than to say the "Q" word.

Danny lets Vic know she's being fired: "Any idea why?" They both know her name doesn't belong on the list. She wonders how much of a stand-up guy Vic really is. Vic storms up to the office and demands to know why the captain is firing Danny. Edgar-veda is all "I'm not, Chief Bankston is." Unless Vic has information the chief doesn't, there's nothing anyone can do. And it's too bad; "she was a good officer." Edgar-veda leaves his office for the last time.

In the observation room, Dutch shows Mouser the video in which Charlie blames him for shooting Jeff. Mouser puts that right back on Charlie; being the first Johnnie to get his April Fools' victims was important to him. Dutch asks, "How do I know you're the one telling the truth?" Mouser can tell Dutch where Charlie stashes his gun.

Vic tells Claudette the April Fools' shooters are upstairs. She's unimpressed: "Results don't excuse bad behavior." Vic knows they have issues; maybe they shouldn't work together anymore. Claudette says the real question is how Vic will handle working for her. She's being promoted to captain.

"Fired for cause," Jackson or Carlson fumes as he walks into the locker room. He punches a locker. The other half of the dynamic duo gripes that LAPD is turning into the "most P.C., useless force in the country." "Maybe they just don't get your sophisticated brand of humor," Danny snarks, shoving her uniform into her duffel bag.

Does Danny really think the Barn is better off with Julien than the three of them? "Don't put me in your corner. I didn't deserve what I got," she says.

Edgar-veda is throwing an election night party: a rented-out restaurant, white tablecloths, a band, and red, white, and blue balloons. You'd think he was running for a much loftier position than city councilman. He tells the crowd that he wrote two speeches and hopes he can use the one in his left pocket. Whatever the election outcome, Edgar-veda is grateful for everyone's support. He pulls Aurora up on stage and holds her hands.

Julien runs out to the parking lot to catch Danny before she leaves. He thinks it's unfair that she's being fired. She's not about to disagree. Julien's learned so much from Danny. She has some parting advice: Julien should watch his back around the Barn. She gives him a hug.

Shane and Vic go to Dach's place to hide a duffel bag o' cash. Shane dropped the Armenian off at a shady clinic; he's getting sewn up right now. Dach promised to leave California. On Dach's TV, there's live coverage of the city election. Shane hides the cash underneath the recliner.

The anchorman's next words make Shane and Vic look up: "Police captain David Aceveda won a tight primary race against Karen Mitchell to become the district's first Hispanic Democratic candidate for council." Ding-dong, the bastard's gone! Shane's jaw drops: "I thought he was gonna lose." Vic thought he was supposed to. 6 months from now, he's gonna be their boss's boss. Shane seems scared.

"I can always tell when you're lying to me," Claudette says to Bonnie. Her daughter is a half-asleep in the breakroom, a cup of coffee in front of her. Claudette asks again why Bonnie and Jeff were on that street. Bonnie claims Jeff wanted to visit a florist to buy flowers for Jenny, his new fiancee. She didn't want to hurt her mom's feelings by telling her Dad was engaged: "Dad told me once how much you liked it when he surprised you with flowers."

Jeff was getting his life back on track. He was waiting for the right time to tell Claudette he was getting remarried. Claudette has seemed lonely lately, so Bonnie and Jeff had been putting it off. Claudette squeezes her daughter's hand.

At Julien's house, the family is doing the dinner dishes. Vanessa hopes Danny will be okay; if she needs anything, they'll be there. Julien doesn't want to talk about this in front of Randall. When Julien takes the trash out, Jackson and Carlson are hiding in the yard. They throw a blanket over his head and tackle him. They and some other guys start beating the crap out of Julien with their nightsticks, stopping just short of killing him.

Vic shows up at his former home. He would've called, but Corinne changed the phone number. Corinne doesn't want him there and Vic should tell Shane not to come back. "I didn't send him," says Vic, being honest for once. What Shane did was wrong. Corinne opens the door. Vic will ask for permission before coming over next time; he's just been worried about the kids and how they're adjusting to the separation.

Vic sighs. He never meant to hurt Corinne and he's sorry. He promises to take care of her and the kids. Vic will call her lawyer to set up a visitation schedule. Corinne starts to cry.

Montage! Randall pulls back the blanket and finds a bloodied Julien underneath. "Mama!" he cries. Danny works out some frustration at the firing range. Claudette and Bonnie leave the Barn. Corinne sits at her kitchen table with a glass of wine, staring into space. At the election party, Edgar-veda and Aurora do a celebratory slow-dance. Dutch doesn't know it, but his crime scene is the money train stop.

Vic goes to the condemned apartment building, motel, or whatever where they parked the stolen garbage truck. The stolen cash is piled high on a table that's in the bottom of the empty swimming pool for some reason. Vic is positively giddy as he slaps Shane on the back. Shane, Ronnie, and Lem all look grim.

I'm really surprised the guys aren't doing this. (Image credit)

End of episode, end of Season 2.

Everyone Has a "Breakpoint" (Episode 2.12)

Previously on: Vic made a preemptive strike by serving Corinne with divorce papers. Final preparations for the money train heist are underway. Julien's ex-lover Tomas tried to con Julien into letting him live with his family temporarily. Edgar-veda was given an ultimatum by the police chief: Win the election and go to city council or lose and quietly resign from the police department. Lanie's report is coming soon and she recommended that Claudette take over as the Barn's captain.

Everyone in the Barn gets a spiral-bound copy of Lanie's report. Upstairs in the captain's office, Chief Bankston isn't surprised by what Lanie wrote. He announces the city is making budget cuts, meaning police officers are on an overtime and pay freeze. It'll take a year longer for people to qualify for a pension with a shrinkage in benefits. The Barn will also have to fire 20% of its workforce.

Chief Bankston instructs Edgar-veda to start with the disciplinary problems and people close to retirement, "then fire whoever you have to" until he gets to 20%. After all, who knows the officers better than the captain? Edgar-veda sees right through that: "You want the blood on my hands, not yours." He refuses to do it; he's leaving anyway. The chief says, "You can't afford to lose your job the day before a close election." He wants the list of firings by tonight.

Julien meets Tomas at an outdoor cafe. He's brought along Gary, his sexual reorientation therapy sponsor. Julien tells Tomas to stop calling him. Tomas whines that he's broke and homeless. Julien suggests he go to a shelter. Tomas gets angry, saying Julien and Gary aren't fooling anyone by "hiding behind Jesus." He punches Gary in the face, opening up his eyebrow, then runs away. Julien stays to help Gary.

Dutch's past has come back to haunt him too. Lanie's report contained 5 paragraphs on the Bob and Marcy case. He and Claudette are about to interview the parents of Jeffrey Cole, a 14-year-old boy who's been missing since last night. "He's the father, but I am the parent," Jeffrey's Mom says when the detectives walk into the apartment, "This wouldn't have happened if he was still with me."

Jeffrey's Dad last saw his son when he left for work. Dad gets off late and didn't want to wake up Jeffrey, so he didn't check on him after getting home. Jeffrey's Mom lives in Venice and called all their friends and neighbors; none of them have seen Jeffrey. Claudette asks for a recent picture of the teen. "Oh God, if anything's happened to him, I'll never forgive myself," Dad mumbles as he hands it over.

Vic asks, "The money train's moving up?" Lem doesn't know for sure, but the ship the Armenians normally use is due in port tonight. The manifest says the ship will leave after 2 days. "The Armenians can't be onto us. We've been careful," says Vic. Shane thinks they're just trying not to be too routine. Vic pounds on his stove in frustration.

"We can't just walk away from this," says Ronnie, who probably is in quite a bit of medical debt. Vic doesn't want to take unnecessary chances. Lem, of all people, wants to at least find out the new location. Vic agrees to that much. If things start to look shaky, they won't go through with it.

Danny and Julien show Jeffrey's picture around the neighborhood. Danny heard Lanie's report has a paragraph about Armadillo getting shanked in the cage. Julien is sure the killer got the knife some other way.

Danny asks a nearby shop owner about Jeffrey. The guy saw Jeffrey last night, thought the kid looked lost. Jeffrey got into a car, but the shop owner couldn't tell if he was being forced. Julien asks what kind of car.

Dutch explains the Cole family background to Edgar-veda. Jeffrey used to live with Mom and went to school in Venice. Dad wanted the kid to live with him in Farmington for a year and Mom reluctantly agreed. According to Dad, Jeffrey hasn't made a lot of friends yet. Dutch thinks that makes the kid an ideal victim for an adult predator. Two other boys were kidnapped in the area 3 months ago; their bodies were found weeks apart.

"These the kids who were duct-taped and shot in the face?" asks Vic. Dutch confirms it. One boy was 12, the other 13. Both were sexually assaulted and tortured. They may only have a few hours at best to find Jeffrey. Best case scenario is "that this deviant's got the boy chained up to a fence somewhere. loves his ass so much he can't give it up for a few days." Jeffrey's Dad tackles Dutch from behind, roaring, "That's my son, asshole!"

Dutch's papers go flying. Vic pulls Dad off, but not before Dad has the chance to get in a couple of kidney and rib shots. Vic tries to calm the guy down. All that matters right now is finding Jeffrey. Unfortunately, Chief Bankston has witnessed this whole thing.

In the clubhouse, Jeffrey's Dad is still fuming over the idea that "some monster" has his son. Vic isn't sure that's the case yet. But that's what Dutch said. Vic tells him Dutch really needs to work on his people skills. "Jeffrey's a good kid," says Dad. Vic promises to do everything he can to get Jeffrey back.

Hunting pedophiles isn't Vic's strong suit, but he still wants to help Dutch out with the case any way he can. All 3 boys were abducted from the same neighborhood, so it's likely the pervert is a local. He could be buying porn there too. Shane says they'll canvass the smut stores. "It won't be easy to get names from a sex shop. Privacy issues," says Dutch. Vic thinks they can find a way around that.

Dutch ran the names of all the sex offenders in the neighborhood. There's a convicted child molester who didn't register until after the first two boys were murdered. Edgar-veda tells him and Claudette to consolidate the murder cases into the abduction investigation. Chief Bankston introduces himself to Claudette and asks her to walk him out.

The chief read Lanie's report and her recommendation that Claudette take over the Barn. He agrees that she's the best candidate. Claudette believes the Barn has deep problems, but they aren't as wide as they look. She doesn't clarify what she means by that. However, Claudette does say she's not a leader; she likes being able to investigate her cases and go home.

Vic sends Tavon to Venice to find Jeffrey's hometown friends. "Me and Ronnie'll stay on the money tr---" Lem starts.

(Photo credit)

Shane's eyes are practically popping out of his head. Vic quickly says, "Money trail, right?" He claims Lem and Ronnie are looking into whether Jeffrey's been using his parents' credit cards. Out in the back parking lot, Shane gets in Lem's face: "'Me and Ronnie'll look after the money train?'" "Look, I stopped before I said it all right?" Not soon enough, big fella. Lem forgot he shouldn't talk about it because Tavon feels like one of them.

Shane keeps ranting. Lem just screwed up. It's not like Shane never has. He's sorry, okay?

A uniform tells Julien that he just interviewed Gary at the hospital. Gary's vision is blurry and the doctors think it could be permanent. The attacker was wearing a ring and Gary can't identify him. Julien knows who did it: Tomas Motyashik. Poor Gary. I bet he never thought sponsoring someone trying to change their sexuality would be this dangerous.

Shane and Vic shoo some customers out of a sex shop. Vic asks the clerk if he's selling anything out of the back room. The clerk wants to see a warrant. Vic finds a shelf full of child porn videos behind a curtain. "No minors were used," the clerk insists. The actors' faces were Photoshopped to appear younger. "Hooray for Hollywood," Shane says sarcastically.

The clerk gloats that the cops are out of luck. Not so fast. Shane thinks the shop has at least a dozen fire code violations. Vic wants a list of the store's "more deviant clients."

Claudette shows Blaine the pedophile Jeffrey's photo. With a creepy grin, he says, "He looks very sweet." Hey, It's That Guy! Last time I saw Don McManus, he was wreaking havoc as Samhain the demon on Supernatural. Claudette asks him to explain why Jeffrey was seen getting into his car at 9:30 last night.

Blaine has an alibi. He was eating a late dinner with "some like-minded" individuals. They talked about young boys, but "didn't have any for dessert."

(Image credit)

Dutch calls him a monster. Claudette vehemently agrees. Blaine claims he's never molested a child; anything he's ever done was consensual. Dutch knows better. Outside the room, he says Blaine "makes my stomach crawl", but he doesn't think he kidnapped Jeffrey. Edgar-veda knows that; Lydell, a 15-year-old boy, was just abducted from the same neighborhood. Someone broke into the kid's house, where he was home alone.

Dutch theorizes their predator likes to abduct several boys at the same time. Maybe the guy molests one boy and forces the others to watch. If that's the case, Jeffrey might still be alive.

Shane goes to run the list of sex shop customers through the DMV. Vic updates Jeffrey's Dad. They have some good leads; Dad just has to trust him. Tavon heard from one of Jeffrey's friends in Venice that the kid's been depressed lately. Dad has noticed that, but thought it was a phase. He missed out on a lot of Jeffrey's life after the divorce.

"You think he ran away and got in a car with somebody he shouldn't have?" asks Dad. Vic has a question of his own: If Jeffrey did run away, where would he go? Dad thinks he would've gone back to Venice to be with his mom.

As he's walked to the cage, Tomas spots Julien. He calls out, "Don't turn your back on me! Not after all we've had together! Oh, you got laid, now you wanna just ignore me?" He keeps going on about how Julien still loves him. Danny takes Tomas upstairs. Julien says none of this is his fault; Tomas put himself in jail by making bad choices. The scorned lover retaliates by listing off various sex acts he and Julien have done. Everyone in the squadroom looks curiously at Julien.

Vic sits down with his lawyer. Corinne got a subpoena for Vic's police personnel file and financial records. She froze their joint savings account and emptied their checking account. In his experience, "no one goes straight to DefCon5 the way she did without a reason." Vic explains that after the papers were served, Corinne came to Vic's apartment. "And you weren't alone?" the lawyer guesses.

He hopes Vic realizes this will make him much less sympathetic to a judge. All Vic cares about is being able to see his kids. Vic needs to cut the meeting short; he promised to help Cassidy with her science project. "If you had a predetermined time to be with your kid, honor that." advises the lawyer.

When Vic tries to unlock the back door of his house, the key doesn't work. He knocks: "Corinne! I know you're home!" Corinne is in the bathroom, giving toddler Megan a bath. Matt and Cassidy are helping. Suddenly, Matt runs past the glass doors shrieking. Vic stupidly decides to break a window, setting off the burglar alarm. Corinne goes into panic mode. She tells Cassidy to stay with Megan.

Vic tries to turn off the alarm, but it keeps blaring. Corinne must've changed the code along with the locks. She comes to shut off the alarm and asks why Vic came in. He says he heard Matt scream. Corinne punches in a code and the alarm still continues. Guess she doesn't know the code either. Cassidy comes out of the bathroom and sees her parents arguing.

Vic says he's just here to see his daughter. "You'll have to go through my lawyer to set up a time from now on," Corinne informs him. Vic doesn't want to play it that way. Corinne says if that's his attitude, he can't see the kids at all. Cassidy runs out of the kitchen. We can hear Megan screaming in the bathroom.

When the rest of the family arrives, Megan is trying to climb out of the bathtub. The water is still running and way too hot. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Cassidy whimpers. Vic checks Megan over. He thinks she's more scared than anything. Cassidy tells her dad to leave. Vic is shocked. The phone is ringing off the hook, adding to the general racket in the house. Vic answers the phone. It's the alarm company. Vic gets the alarm code from them and tells them everyone is fine. Wonderful response by the security company. What if Vic was actually a burglar?

By now, Matt is sitting by himself in his room, rocking back and forth while biting his shirt collar. Vic picks him up and hugs him. Megan is still wailing in Corinne's arms. Corinne seems on the verge of tears herself.

Edgar-veda asks Claudette, "Did the chief offer you my job?" Claudette answers honestly, "Yes. I wasn't interested." Vic enters the office and the captain demands to know where he's been for the last hour. Oh, just dealing with a scalded baby and an autistic meltdown, the usual. "You're either on this case or you're not," says Edgar-veda. Vic says Shane might've found a possible match for the car by using the sex shop list.

Claudette knows that won't be enough to get a warrant. "One of us better start getting creative while this kid's still breathing," says Vic. The abductor killed his previous victims within 30 hours of abduction. Edgar-veda instructs them to pick the guy up on the street for questioning only.

Outside the pervert's apartment, Shane is on the sidewalk smoking. Vic is down the block, fiddling under the hood of his truck. Lemming is across the street munching on something. He casually crosses the street when he sees the guy get into his car. The pervert has a shiner. "That's okay, Adam, we'll drive," says Vic, grabbing him.

"What'd I do?" asks Adam. Vic's reply is blunt: "Two 14-year-olds." Shane asks about his eye. Did one of the boys fight back? As he's brought into the precinct, Adam protests that he didn't do anything. "This used to be a church, man. You lie in here, you're goin' straight to hell," says Reverend Shane.

(Photo credit)

Lem is sure Adam's going to hell anyway.

Jeffrey's Dad comes out of the clubhouse and sees Adam on the balcony: "Is that the guy?" Vic tells him it's his job to find out; Jeffrey's Dad should go back to the clubhouse and stay calm. Like Vic would be calm if it was his kid. Shockingly, Jeffrey's Dad complies.

Dutch tells Adam that Jeffrey was seen getting into his car. He claims he's never seen the kid. Dutch points out that Adam didn't even look at the photo. Claudette asks about Lydell. Did he give Adam the black eye? Adam claims he didn't abduct anyone. If that's true, Claudette thinks it might help him.

The police are currently dusting Adam's car for fingerprints. Adam wants his lawyer if he's being treated as a suspect. "Lawyering up this fast, we know he's lying," Vic tells Edgar-veda in the observation room. A uniform lets them know that the body of a teenage boy has been discovered.

Dutch and Claudette go to the crime scene: a weedy overgrown lot overlooking a road. The dead boy in question isn't Jeffrey; it's Lydell. He was shot twice in the head, just like the others. Dutch suspects Adam made Jeffrey shoot Lydell, "like a twisted snuff film without the film." "Where do you get this stuff from?" asks Claudette. At least Adam is at the police station for now.

Out in the Barn's back parking lot, Lem has bad news; everything's been moved out of where the Armenians store the money. Vic shrugs that they can't do the heist. Ronnie the tech guru hacked into port's computer and learned the Armenians reserved a bigger shipping container, which means more cash. The company they reserved the container through filed for Chapter 11. This is the money train's last run, at least in Los Angeles. It's now or never.

Shane says they need to come up with a new plan pronto. Vic's done talking about it. I can't tell if he's worried that any shady shit will give Corinne more ammo for the divorce or if he's preoccupied with Jeffrey the missing teenager.

Machado, one of Edgar-veda's political backers, is upset. He arranged several rallies and Edgar-veda wasn't present at any of them. The captain sent Aurora in his place. "I am financing you in this election, not your wife!" snaps Machado. Edgar-veda explains he's working an important case that he can't get away from: 3 dead boys and one who's still missing. He can't be worrying about a few hundred possible votes.

Machado reminds him that a few hundred votes could make all the difference. He knows Chief Bankston is taking away Edgar-veda's job. Tomorrow's election is all he has. Edgar-veda repeats that he can't go begging for votes. Important decisions need to be made.

Two male uniforms ask Danny if she knew Julien was gay. She tells them Tomas is lying. The guys don't understand why or how Tomas would pull Julien's name out of a hat to make up the story. Danny asks, "Who knows? That Arab woman came after for me for no reason." The blond uniform disagrees with that assessment: "You killed her old man." May I remind you that Danny had no choice? Zaide pointed a gun at her.

The dark-haired uniform wonders what else Julien might be lying about. How are they supposed to trust him? Danny tells them Julien is a good cop. "So it's true, then?" asks the blond.

Dutch, Vic, Claudette, and Edgar-veda talk strategy in the observation room. According to the crime lab, getting fingerprints from Adam's car will take a minimum of 3 hours. Adam's lawyer is arriving in 20 minutes. Vic suggests they give him 5 minutes alone with the guy. Or they can let him go while they wait for the warrant and Vic will tail him. "Yeah, and what could go wrong with that?" Claudette asks sarcastically. Vic is focused on what could go right: Adam might lead them to Jeffrey. It's all over once lawyers get involved.

Dutch lies to Adam that there was a mix-up and they've cleared him as a suspect. He's sorry for the inconvenience. Cut to Vic and Lem following Adam's taxi in the Strike Team van. The taxi drops him off at home and they can't set foot there without a warrant. "Maybe we just tell a judge we heard the kid screaming and we had to go in," Lem suggests. But if Jeffrey isn't there, that'll ruin any chance at arresting Adam later on.

Danny and Julien find posters tacked up all over the squadroom. They have Julien's picture on them and slogans like WANTED FOR ANAL SEX. His face is even taped to an educational flyer about HIV. And I thought Los Angeles as a whole was pretty tolerant of gay people. Julien tears the posters down. Edgar-veda notices what's on them. He tells everyone it's hard to defend the Barn when crap like this is happening. Anyone who knows who did it is obligated to tell him. Nobody speaks up. "Let's start acting like adults," Edgar-veda advises.

Shane opens the side doors of the van. He's not alone. "That's the son of a bitch's house?" asks Jeffrey's Dad tensely. Once they get a warrant, Vic needs him to identify anything they find that could be Jeffrey's. "The judge we pulled is just left of Karl Marx." says Vic, so they could be sitting here all day. Jeffrey's Dad is agitated; what if his son is in there? Vic's a cop. Like it or not, that means having to respect the scumbag's rights.

"Well, I'm not a cop," Jeffrey's Dad points out. Vic gives him a meaningful look. Jeffrey's Dad heads for Adam's house. Vic hopes Shane gave Dad pat-down. Jeffrey's Dad knocks on Adam's door. When he answers, Dad punches him square in the face. "Ooh, that's a felony in progress," says Vic.

The Strike Team gets out of the van. Inside Adam's house, Jeffrey's Dad grabs the pervert by the throat and knees him in the gut. They knock over a vase. Jeffrey's Dad kicks Adam while he's down, demanding over and over, "Where is he?" Adam wails that Jeffrey got in his car, but it wasn't kidnapping.

Vic and Lem each grab one of Dad's arms and pull him off. Adam, his nose bleeding, tells Vic he picked up Jeffrey and paid the kid $20 for oral sex. Shane and Lem are now having a hard time holding Jeffrey's Dad back. Jeffrey supposedly pulled a knife and instead of a sex act, Adam ended up with a stolen wallet and a black eye. "You liar!" bellows Jeffrey's Dad as Lem and Shane try to force him outside. Adam curls into a ball and starts crying.

When the group returns to the Barn, Claudette asks where Adam is. "He's not our guy," says Vic. They checked his house and there was no sign of Jeffrey. As for Adam himself, he's at home. Claudette asks what Vic did.

(Photo credit)

Vic takes Dad to an interrogation room: "William, you told me Jeffrey was a good kid. That's not what I'm hearing now." William argues that he never said Jeffrey was a saint. Vic found out from his contact in Venice that Jeffrey's been selling drugs, fighting, and carrying a knife. They also know "he's been rolling queens with that knife." "Because some baby-raper says so?" asks William.

Another boy is dead and they don't know how or if Jeffrey was involved. Vic knows all this must be hard to hear. Is it possible William didn't know his son as well as he thought he did? They need his help to find Jeffrey. He should think about how Lydell's parents feel. William doesn't want to help Vic arrest his son. Vic can't arrest William himself either.

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Vic puts William in the cage and charges him with assault. "Well, you had me do that!" protests William. Vic just told William the facts of the case; he decided what to do with them. Believe it or not, jail is really the safest place for William at the moment.

In the office, Aurora tells Edgar-veda he can't save his job without costing himself the election. If there's nothing in it for him, why bother? That's a lovely attitude. Edgar-veda doesn't want to fire people arbitrarily or in between campaign rallies. Aurora thinks he's throwing away his job and any future in politics.

Claudette knocks on Adam's door and notices the new injuries on the pedophile's face. Adam won't tell her what happened; he vants to be alone, dah-ling. Back at the Barn, she confronts Vic. He explains that William attacked Adam; he and the boys got there in the nick of time. But how did William know Adam's address? Vic guesses he overheard it.

Claudette is angry that an innocent man was beaten. Hardly the word I'd use to describe a convicted sex offender. Adam might not have hurt Jeffrey, but that doesn't excuse his prior actions. Vic shares my viewpoint. He and Claudette argue until Tavon bursts in with "a 15-year-old piece of work" named Kyle, the only friend in Venice that Jeffrey still talks to.

When Vic walks into the interrogation room, Kyle tosses out a racial slur about Tavon and claims he doesn't know where Jeffrey is. "Let's see how hardcore you really are," says Vic. He pulls up the kid's shirt, revealing a small swastika tattoo on Kyle's scrawny chest.

Vic asks where Kyle picked up his beliefs. Kyle's been reading. Vic wants to know if Jeffrey's been reading the same books. Kyle says Jeffrey's school is mostly black and he was always getting attacked on his way to class. Vic asks if there was any trouble with Lydell. Kyle confirms it.

"So Jeffrey took out Lydell," Vic says. Kyle argues he didn't say that. Vic asks what Jeffrey's problem was with gays. Kyle and Jeffrey just did gay-bashing for fun and when they needed money. Their victims won't go to the cops because it would involve revealing they were cruising for teenagers. Vic asks if Jeffrey was trying to get money for a gun last night. Kyle won't say.

Vic walks Kyle to the window overlooking the cage. He points out William. Kyle shrugs that black people belong in jail. Vic tells him: "It's one thing to chant 'Heil Hitler' in your buddy's rec room. It's another thing entirely to say it loud and proud in the exercise yard at Pelican Bay." How does the kid think he'll fare in prison? Kyle isn't worried; he'll just join the Aryan Brotherhood.

Vic doesn't get it. With his attitude and tattoos, why would Kyle help a black person? Kyle laughs that he never would. Did he know Jeffrey's father is black? "I've met his mom. She's pure," Kyle scoffs. Vic points out William again and offers to introduce the two of them. Kyle can't believe it.

The Strike Team heads to a slightly rundown house. Shane and Vic approach the door. Gunshots rip through the flimsy wood, hitting Shane. He keels over on his back. Lucky for him, his vest caught it. Ronnie tends to him while Lem goes around the side of the house.

Through the living room window, Lem sees Jeffrey wielding a gun. "Drop it!" he orders. When the kid doesn't, Lem has no choice. A shotgun blast shatters the window. We see Jeffrey slumped by the couch.

CHAOS (Captain Has Arrived On Scene). Shirtless Shane is being checked out by the paramedics. He has a wicked bruise on his chest but is otherwise all right. Vic found a hit list and a map showing his intended victims' houses in Jeffrey's pocket. Edgar-veda praises Vic for stopping him before the killing spree started. "Lem got him," Vic corrects. Lem is over by a truck, pacing back and forth.

Danny finds Julien alone in the observation room. He tells her somebody called his house and told his 10-year-old stepson Randall that Julien is gay. He can deal with the consequences of his former lifestyle, but why punish a child?

Vic sighs as he approaches the cage. William immediately knows something is wrong. Vic just goes straight into what happened: Jeffrey was armed and planned on hurting other kids. He also shot a police officer in the chest, so they had to use deadly force. Vic wisely leaves out the part about Jeffrey being a white supremacist.

Dutch brings a stack of folders to his desk. Whoever killed the original two boys is still out there someplace. He plans to re-interview witnesses after he finishes making notes.

Claudette goes to a nice restaurant where Chief Bankston is having dinner. She tells him she doesn't want to be captain of the Barn, but she'd take the job if the offer is still on the table. Claudette doesn't like what's been going on and her options are to do something about it or quit. She considers herself too young to retire.

Vic is driving his partner/best buddy home. Shane starts, "I know you don't wanna talk about this..." For a second, I think he's talking to Lem in the backseat. Vic cuts Shane off, declaring, "The money train is back on." He doesn't know how they'll pull it off, but they will. Lem looks uncomfortable and I don't know if it's about the heist, the fact that he just killed a teenager, or both. Vic goes on that the money train is their safety net. At least one of their names is probably on the to-be-fired list.

Speak of the firings, Chief Bankston goes to the Barn and asks Edgar-veda for the list. The captain hands it over. After reading it, Chief Bankston asks, "Is this a joke?" Edgar-veda was supposed to cut 20% of the staff and there are only 5 names on the list. Edgar-veda says those people are the only real problems; the rest are honest, hard-working cops.

Vic Mackey is at the top of the list, which should come as a surprise to no one. Chief Bankston reads the other 4 names: Shane Vendrell, Curtis Lemansky, Ronnie Gardocki, and Edgar-veda himself. Nooooo, not my Lemming! Seriously, him and Ronnie are the good guys of the Strike Team. The captain believes he enabled Vic to run wild, so he deserves to lose his job right along with him.

Chief Bankston crumples up the list and tosses it on the floor. Edgar-veda already sent copies of it to the L.A. Times and the local news stations. So the Strike Team gets to find out they're fired via the paper or a news anchor? That's super professional. "The election is tomorrow. This'll kill you," says Chief Bankston. Edgar-veda doesn't care; it was the only way to twist the chief's arm into doing something about the Strike Team once and for all.

Vic sees Julien walking to his car in his civvies and stops him. He tells the rookie that it's just a few assholes that have a problem with him being gay, not the whole Barn. Julien doesn't even say thanks, just that he has to go home to his family.

A man in a suit and a sheriff's deputy enter the clubhouse. They inform Vic that Corinne has filed a domestic dispute complaint about the break-in. Vic basically says you can't break into your own house. They don't know all the nuances of the couples' personal life; they're just here to arrest Vic. Vic asks if the handcuffs can wait until he's outside the Barn. "You know I can't do that," says the suit, who's probably with IAD.

Vic hands over his gun. He's about to cuff himself when Shane and Ronnie come in. "What in the hell is this?" asks Shane. Vic explains that he had an argument with Corinne; this is a mistake. He's now cuffed in the front. Shane grabs Vic's leather jacket and drapes it over his arms to hide the handcuffs. He and Ronnie walk Vic out of the clubhouse.

Nobody in the squadroom seems to recognize a perp-walk when they see one. The desk sergeant buzzes Shane, Vic, Ronnie, IAD Guy, and the deputy out of the Barn. End of episode.

Mackey's "Inferno" (Episode 2.11)

Previously on: Tavon joined the Strike Team just as they're getting ready to rip off the Armenian mob's money train. Formerly gay Julien married Vanessa, a single mother he met while on duty. Civilian auditor Lanie's unflattering report on Farmington was leaked to the press. Edgar-veda and Vic agreed to cover each other's backs until the election.

Danny and Julien are in pursuit of some carjackers. Suddenly, they stop the car, get out, and start running down the street. Julien continues the chase on foot while Danny calls for backup. Ain't that always the way, the rookie doing all the running? See also: Ben and Cooper on Southland.

We soon see another reason why Danny chose to stay with the stolen car: There's a toddler boy in the backseat. Julien tackles one of the carjackers; another uniform takes over so he can keep chasing the other one. He catches up to the second car thief in a nearby store. Julien gets his man, but not without knocking over a table of merchandise.

The Strike Team hangs out at Vic's place. Ronnie, sporting a bandage on his burned cheek, has joined the group again. "They took the skin from his ass," Lem gleefully tells us. Ronnie is ready to go back to work. He doesn't want to risk missing the money train heist; he needs the cash. He even figured out a new way to get to the truck. Vic says it's too late to change the plan; they've been rehearsing.

Ronnie went to the money train depot a couple of nights back. There's a bottleneck issue; if all 4 of them go in at once and even one Armenian is out of position, that could be very bad news for the home team. An Armenian garbage company comes to the site and the trucks just get waved in.

Ronnie's idea involves two of them stealing said garbage truck and going in a few hours before the money train arrives. Lem and Shane will hide in a dumpster. "Why am I in the garbage?" asks Shane, a lot calmer than I'd expect him to be about the idea. I guess he figures he'll have enough money to take himself on a shopping spree for more skinny jeans. Vic points out they have to come up with a way to hijack one of the garbage trucks. There's only 2 weeks to rehearse the new plan, so Vic wants to think about it.

In his office, Edgar-veda is once again in a pissy mood. The newspaper is endorsing his opponent, Karen Mitchell, for the city council primary. Edgar-veda lost his lead and Lanie's official report comes out a week before election day. Vic says the damage could be minimized by a high-profile bust. He even has someone in mind: Dante Fell, a major gangbanger from Vic's days in uniform. Dante fell off his radar when he went national. He currently has federal, state, and county warrants.

Edgar-veda gives a briefing about Dante in the roll call room. The feds think Dante is coming to Farmington or is already there. He was a founding member of the Compton Crowns gang. Dante branched out the gang to other states, supplying them with drugs and guns. Everyone gets a flyer with his picture on it.

Vic tells Edgar-veda that Ronnie wants to come back to work. The captain isn't sure he's ready. Vic reminds him that Tavon is still learning the ropes; he needs an experienced crew because Dante won't come in easily. "Fine," Edgar-veda agrees. He doesn't want Vic to have any excuses for not catching him.

Gordie, the PI that Vic hired to find his kids, drops by. He looked over some surveillance notes and found out Corinne went to talk to a divorce lawyer. Gordie didn't tell Vic right away because he had to confirm it. Vic mumbles that he didn't think they were anywhere near splitting up. Corinne's had 2 appointments with the lawyer; a third is scheduled for Tuesday at 4:00.

Vic is sure Corinne wouldn't do this to him. Gordie bets Vic didn't think she'd pack up the kids and run off to Colorado either. He thinks Vic should talk to a divorce lawyer Gordie knows. Vic says that won't be necessary.

Lanie chats up Tavon in the breakroom. She claims the damning report was a mistake; someone leaked her notes. She's just a poor, misunderstood girl. Lanie also wants to talk to Tavon about Vic. Tavon immediately looks uncomfortable.

In the clubhouse, Lem is excited about having his buddy Ronnie back. Vic announces he's open to the new plan. He sends the dynamic duo off to look for the garbage truck. Shane comes in to tell Vic he saw Tavon talking to Lanie: "The last thing that we need is another guy we can't trust." So what's Vic supposed to do, whack the new guy...again?

Enter Tavon. Shane wants to know what he talked to Lanie about. "Nothin', really," Tavon shrugs. Vic advises him to keep it that way; Lanie is a Grade-A bitch. I can't argue with that part. Shane doesn't want to go running all over the district looking for someone who might or might not even be there. "You're givin' up already?" asks Tavon. Vic heads off the impending fight by saying he knows something the feds don't. One of Dante's homies is our old friend, rapper Kern Little.

Vic tells Tavon that Kern is a friend. Of course, he leaves out that it's because he and Lem enabled Kern to kill rival rapper T-Bonz. Tavon will be riding with Shane and Vic today.

Vic, Shane, and Tavon go to Kern's studio. Vic asks for a favor; he needs to find Dante. Kern suggests he talk to a guy named Frogger.

Ooh, that's an intimidating street name. (Image credit)

Kern adds that Dante is Frogger AKA Freddie's quarter-brother. "That some kinda new ghetto math?" asks Shane. Kern explains, "That means Dante's mom was shacked up with Froggy's pops. Pops took off, but Dante's mom kept Froggy." Kern wants to ask a favor of his own. Before he goes into details, he sends Tavon on a tour of the studio.

Kern wants to get back into the drug business with the same deal that Rondell and Tio had. Seeing as how they're both dead, he might wanna rethink that. Vic tells Kern it's a no-go. Kern says they owe him; his income has gone down since he stopped getting cuts from Rondell and Tio. Between lawsuits and accountants, Kern is more or less broke. He needs protection to take their spot. Vic repeats they can't do it; he'll make things up to Kern another way.

Julien is all smiles as he brings in the carjackers. His smile quickly fades as he notices a blast from the past in the lobby: his former lover Tomas. Danny recognizes him too. Julien goes to see what his ex wants. Tomas is out on parole and wanted to see Julien. He tries to rub on Julien's chest. Julien tells Tomas that everything is different. Tomas asks for Julien's help; he has nobody else to turn to. Julien says he can't do this now.

Driving back from Kern's studio, Vic realizes they're being tailed. "Don't look!" he snaps at Tavon. Tavon asks who'd tail them. "That's what you're gonna find out," says Vic. They drop Tavon off on the sidewalk.

A woman comes into the Barn with her teenage daughter Evette, saying the girl was raped. Claudette asks if Evette's been to the hospital. Mom says no; it happened a couple of days ago and she only just found out about it. Evette's boss had her work closing so they could be alone.

Vic and Shane pick up Tavon again. The newest member of the Strike Team got the license plate number of the car following them. Shane tells him to write it down, even though Tavon swears he has a great memory. Vic checks the rearview mirror and the tail is still there.

In a hospital exam room, Claudette explains to Evette that the rape kit may help them find her boss's DNA. Evette says he wore a condom. Even then, the kit can still show that sex took place; she's brave for coming forward. Evette mumbles that she has a boyfriend. They're sexually active and her mom doesn't know. They last had sex a few days ago. Evette worries it'll show up on the test. Claudette tries to reassure her.

Elsewhere, Shane is banging on Frogger's apartment door when a woman calls out from below, "I'm the manager!" She hasn't seen Frogger today. Vic shows her Dante's mugshot. The manager hasn't seen him either. She complains that Frogger's rent is always late, but not late enough for her to start eviction proceedings. As a matter of fact, he still hasn't paid for this month.

"I hope he's okay in there," says Tavon. Maybe Frogger's sick or something and can't reach the phone. As the building manager, she could let them in to do a welfare check. She goes inside to get her keys. Shane looks grudgingly impressed by Tavon's smooth talk.

Edgar-veda has Danny, Vanessa, and Julien in the roll call room. A photographer wants to get some pictures for the paper and do an interview...just with Julien. Then why even drag poor Danny in there? Tomas, lurking in the background, says, "Julien, I really need to talk to you." Julien introduces Tomas as a friend and Vanessa as his wife.

Julien goes down the back hallway with Tomas and hisses, "What are you doing?" "You said to talk to you later; it's later," Tomas replies. He then asks, "You really married a woman?" Tomas is currently homeless and wants Julien to help. Julien is all "you ain't stayin' with me."

Pictured: Tomas (Image credit)

Julien tells Tomas that he's no longer gay. Tomas tries laying on some guilt: "If you don't help me, you know what I'm gonna have to do to survive." Danny sticks her head in to tell Julien the photographer is waiting. Tomas starts in again about breaking up is fine, but Julien should still help him.

Julien wants to get rid of Tomas, so he gives him money for a hotel. "What kinda place takes cash?" asks Tomas, "I need a credit card." He's conning you! Don't you do it, Julien! Annnnd there goes the gold card, which Tomas promises to return.

Frogger's landlady asks, "He's not dead in there, is he?" Tavon says no. Vic checks the answering machine. There's a message from Kern, warning that the cops are looking for Frogger and Dante. The Strike Team confronts Kern at his studio. He yells, "What else was I supposed to do, man?!" Vic doesn't blame Kern. When somebody feels like they've been screwed, their first impulse is to screw someone right back.

Vic wants to start fresh. He explains that they got in too deep when they were involved with Rondell and Tio. I'll say. Vic agrees to provide intel and eliminate some of the competition. In order to do that without suspicions, he has to double his arrest quota and catch big fish like Dante. Kern will make some calls and find out where Frogger is.

Dutch asks Evette's boss Bruce, played by the always unsettling Jeff Kober, why the girl would accuse him of rape. Bruce thinks it might have to do with him giving Evette her second warning. He claims she's always late to work and doesn't care about customer service. A lot of girls Evette's age get jobs at his clothing store for the employee discount and quit after 6 weeks. Sidebar: Kober is also a Sons of Anarchy alum, where he starred as Jacob Hale,

Bruce swears he didn't touch Evette. Dutch asks why Evette had to stay late a few nights ago. Bruce explains that closing the store takes 2 people. They totaled the receipts, dumped the trash, locked up, and left. He walked Evette to her car to make sure she was safe.

In the breakroom, Dutch pours himself a cup of chocolate milk. He asks Claudette if she knows anything about the impending firings. Could she put in a good word for him with Lanie? Claudette thinks he should do that himself.

They see a curly-haired woman standing in the middle of the squadroom. An officer called and told her to come to the precinct regarding her husband. She wants to know if Bruce is all right. Claudette explains that Bruce has been accused of rape. Mrs. Rosen thinks it's ridiculous; her husband's never been arrested before. Claudette asks if the couple has children. They do, a 14-year-old daughter.

Dutch needs to talk to her. Mrs. Rosen doesn't understand why. Bruce's alleged victim is 16 and sometimes people who do this sort of thing molest their own children or make inappropriate advances toward their friends. It's procedure to talk to any children in the household. Mrs. Rosen demands to see Bruce.

At the Mackey residence, Vic has just finished putting Matt to bed. Corinne is reading a progress report from his teacher, which says Matt is still struggling. Vic has a roofer coming by on Tuesday afternoon to give them an estimate. Corinne asks him to cancel, claiming she has to go to a room mother meeting at Cassidy's school.

Vic reports to Gordie that Corinne is lying; she's not Cassidy's room mother. Gordie's divorce lawyer friend tells Vic to file for divorce first, then the settlement will be on Vic's terms. He'd have a better shot at joint custody. Vic, after all, is the wronged party; Corinne took the kids out of state for an extended period without telling him. Technically, that's kidnapping. During the course of that, Matt and Cassidy were kept out of school. If Vic doesn't move fast, he'll get run over.

The lawyer adds that under California law, there's a 6-month period before a divorce is legal. If he and Corinne work things out, they can withdraw the divorce papers. The lawyer has them all ready for Vic to sign.

Julien brings Dutch the rape kit results. He reads them out loud and says one of her breasts was bruised and other evidence is consistent with Evette's story. Claudette tells him not to sound so happy about it. Dutch goes on; there was a lot of sperm present, most of it still alive. The alleged rape was 2 days ago and she claimed Bruce wore a condom. Evette had sex the day after the rape, which isn't consistent with her statement to Claudette.

Tavon found out the car tailing them belongs to Trent's Auto Body. Vic decodes that as Tommy Aaron Bankston. The place is a dummy shop set up by North Hollywood division to cover up surveillance. There's a department budget code listed: IA. That doesn't stand for Internal Affairs; IAD operates strictly out of downtown. Vic figures it out: independent auditor. In other words, Lanie.

"Well, if she wants to waste her time, let her," Vic shrugs. His phone rings. Kern knows where Frogger is: Collin Greens. Not sure if that's a person or a neighborhood. Vic goes to Edgar-veda's office to ask for a warrant on Frogger. Since our amphibian friend is a material witness in a federal case, it'd be fastest to get a warrant through the feds. Vic reminds him they have to get the warrant themselves if they want to get credit.

Vic hands over the address. Edgar-veda describes Collin Greens as a zoo; they'll have to put together a big raiding party. Vic is afraid that if they go after Frogger that hard, Dante will start running. The captain warns that if this blows up in their faces, Lanie will have more ammo. But he'll call a judge.

At Collin Greens, Tavon explains that it's the main hangout of the Compton Crowns. The best way in is the first stairwell on the right. All the stairwells are unmarked, so nobody except residents know which way is which. Tavon knows all this because of his contacts, "decent folks who are tired of living in a cell block." I knew that feeling in my old neighborhood; when the housing market crashed, houses became rentals, and meth cooks moved in.

Tavon has been sitting on the building all night "to make sure Frogger didn't hop away." Vic praises him and Shane doesn't look happy about it. The Strike Team is joined by Special Agent Vulpio of the FBI. Notice how close that is to "vulture." Agent Vulpio and his partner know they're executing a warrant on someone connected to Dante. His case is their jurisdiction.

Vic says the Strike Team is getting Frogger; they can argue over territory later. Agent Vulpio shouts they aren't arresting anyone without his presence. His words echo in the concrete cavern of a building. "Shut up!" Vic bellows back. Out of sight, someone else cries, "5-0!" Lem racks a load into the shotgun. Someone, presumably Frogger, throws a potted plant off a balcony at them.

Vic and Shane head upstairs. He tells everyone else to take cover and watch their backs. Tavon runs up the opposite stairwell. Bullets zip past the guys. Frogger runs further up the stairs, instead of doing the smart thing and going to street level and trying to get away. Downstairs, Lem hollers, "Somebody call for backup!"

Vic donkey-kicks a door and finds a group of gangbangers blasting rap. Vic shuts off the stereo and asks which one is Frogger. Shane has a better question: How are they gonna get out of there?

Claudette sits down with Evette's mom. She tells her there was semen in the rape kit, but Evette claimed Bruce used a condom. "My daughter was a virgin before she was raped," Mom insists. The test results also show Evette had sex after being raped. Did Mom know Evette is sexually active with her boyfriend Miguel? Mom shakes her head; that can't be true.

Claudette decides to finish shooting herself in the foot: "Maybe she thought you'd find out she was having sex and made up the story about her boss raping her." Mom says Evette doesn't lie.

In a different room, Dutch is talking to Evette. Wouldn't it be a whole lot better for everyone involved if the traumatized teenage rape victim were being interviewed by a female cop? Evette admits to having sex with Miguel on Saturday and shifts uncomfortably in her chair.

Dutch asks if Bruce raped her or if she's trying to get revenge after he threatened to fire her. Evette doesn't have bruised arms or skin under her nails. Dutch flat-out says what every rape victim wants to hear: "I don't believe you." (Please note the sarcasm).

"He did leave a mark," says Evette. She gestures at her breast, then up the very short denim miniskirt she's wearing. He follows her hand a little too closely. Evette tries to grab Dutch's arm and he wisely pulls away. "I saw you looking," says Evette. Dutch tells her she's mistaken. Oh no, she isn't, you dirty old man!

Dutch thinks the case is over. Evette repeats that she was raped and Bruce needs to pay for it. She ups the ante: "If you don't help me, I'll tell people that you just grabbed me!" Dutch points to the wall-mounted camera: "Now the whole world knows you're a liar."

A SWAT team arrives at Collin Greens. Lem points out Frogger's apartment and tells them to secure the perimeter. He warns them that somebody's been shooting at them.

"I ain't goin' out there, man!" yelps Frogger, who looks and sounds a whole lot like Chris Tucker. If somebody's shooting at Vic, they might nail our amphibian friend by mistake. "Then tell me where Dante is," says Vic.

The SWAT team comes to escort them out. The neighbors are chanting something unintelligible. Shane holds a bulletproof vest over Frogger's head. There's a purposeful shot of a shirt bearing the slogan I LOVE L.A. on a clothesline. Vic shoves Frogger into the Strike Team van and tells the feds to leave in their own car.

Back at the Barn, Edgar-veda asks if everyone is okay. Vic tells him that the feds were tipped off about their bust. And guess who the guilty party is? Lanie says they had a right to know, given Dante's federal warrant. Vic says, "They blew our covert entry, put each one of my men in extreme danger, you sanctimonious little bitch." "I'll be sure to put that quote in my report," she replies. I thought the report was already written? And Lanie can tell her surveillance team to take the rest of today off.

Upstairs, Frogger is handcuffed to the table. He and Shane jab about how his slight build makes him ill-suited for gang life. He's lucky his "quarter brother" Dante vouched for him. Frogger earned his rep. He claims not to know where Dante is or why he's in town.

Lanie is fixing her hair in the bathroom mirror when Tavon comes in. "You were right about Mackey," he says quietly. He might know something she can use against him. Lanie promises his name won't be mentioned. Yeah, I'd put my life in the hands of someone who can't even keep her notes private.

"Today, I saw him committing a 2-25-02 VC," Tavon starts. That's a city ordinance against parking more than 6 inches away from the curb. Lanie looks disappointed and pissed. Tavon says if she wants more than that, she's on her own.

Evette and her mom come to the Barn with evidence, namely a used condom.

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Evette's Mom plans to sue Bruce and the store. Claudette still hasn't recovered from having the used birth control device waved so close to her face. Evette explains that she found the condom in the store's dumpster. I'm not sure if Claudette is impressed or horrified as she says, "You went through 3 days of store garbage to find this?" "It was the only way to make you believe me," says Evette, eyeing Dutch.

"Stop showing me those," whimpers Frogger as Vic lays gory crime scene photos on the table. Vic informs him that his "quarter brother" is responsible for the bodies, all of them in Compton Crown franchise cities. 3 of the victims were San Antonio police officers. Vic tells Frogger that he's obstructing justice; either him or Dante is going to jail. He knows Frogger isn't cut out for life on the inside.

Frogger says Dante is at Mission Cross Hospital; Ursula, one of his lady friends, went into labor the night before. This baby will be Dante's first son. Nobody but Frogger knew that Dante has kids.

Lanie has learned about Dante and wants to call the police chief. Edgar-veda says there'll be plenty of time for that after Dante is arrested. The Strike Team descends upon the Mission Cross maternity ward. Vic gets the room number from the nurse. They draw their guns, not the safest place to be doing so.

"What do you want?" Ursula asks as they open her door. Vic orders Dante to put down the baby and not give them trouble. "I won't," Father of the Year promises, "Just gimme a minute." Dante kisses his son's tiny forehead.

Dutch and Claudette let Mrs. Rosen know that Evette and her mother brought in a used condom. It has to be treated as evidence. This can easily be cleared up if Bruce agrees to a DNA test. Mrs. Rosen looks at her husband. Bruce asks, "What if I don't give my permission?" In that case, they have probable cause for a warrant. "Bruce, what did you do?" demands Mrs. Rosen.

Bruce tells them it wasn't rape. Evette came onto him and now she's blackmailing him. If he didn't pay $5,000, she and her mom would report him to corporate. Bruce doesn't have $5 K just sitting around. He repeats that it was consensual, but that doesn't keep his wife from crying. Mrs. Rosen stands up and starting wildly slapping at her husband, screaming, "You slept with a child!"

Dutch restrains her and walks her toward the door. Oh, just let her have at the creep. Mrs. Rosen informs Bruce that he'll never see their daughter again. "Another win for me right before the final bell," Dutch says cheerily once Bruce is in the cage. You probably shouldn't gloat that close to the suspects. He thinks he might not need Claudette's help to keep his job.

Vic and Shane go to the recording studio to tell Kern they've changed their minds (again) about getting back into the drug business. Vic had to lie so they could arrest Dante. If Kern's smart, he won't go back to selling drugs either. Otherwise, the whole Strike Team is coming down on him. Kern's already called his old crew and taken out loans. File that under That's Your Problem.

Kern is pissed. He put himself in danger by giving up Frogger. Vic would be happy to make this up to Kern some other way or Kern can start a war he'll lose. His choice. Kern says this isn't right. Vic is confident that Kern will land on his feet: "You came up from nothing once before."

Ronnie and Lem casually get into an Atamian Waste Management truck. Ronnie is having some trouble and keeps grinding the gears.

Actual screenshot of Ronnie. (Photo credit)

The truck goes a few inches forward and lurches to a stop. "Jesus!" says Lem, trying to find something to hold onto. They roll on about a foot before the truck jerks again. Lem almost hits his head on the windshield. "I got it," Ronnie says despite all evidence to the contrary.

Lem and Ronnie go to a condemned building to meet their boss. Vic asks if they're okay: "I heard a garbage truck sideswiped 2 parked cars." Oops. Even worse, the incident is all over the police scanner. Lem springs to Ronnie's defense; he's never driven a truck like that before. "This is supposed to be a quiet operation," Vic reminds them. If something happens during the money train heist, they'll all go to jail.

Vic asks how long they can leave the garbage truck here. Lem found out condemned property sweeps won't happen for another 3 weeks. There's a long pause. Lem says quietly, "We're really doing this, aren't we?"

Julien goes to Tomas's hotel room, which, of course, gives his ex entirely the wrong idea. Julien just wants his credit card back. I'm shocked when Tomas doesn't say he "lost" it. However, the card was mysteriously canceled. Julien spots boxes of stolen electronics and tells Tomas to take them back. Tomas won't; he plans on fencing them. He wants Julien back. Julien tells Tomas to stay away from him and Vanessa.

Lanie has her desk packed up and bids Claudette goodbye. She also warns that her report will "hit like an earthquake." Claudette, one of the most law-abiding cops in the Barn, isn't worried. Lanie is recommending that Claudette be promoted to captain and run the Barn. She respects Claudette's honesty and integrity. Claudette says Lanie's report will "only cause a few tremors." She isn't the first civilian auditor to come through LAPD. Cops will protect their own and everything will go back to how it was.

Lanie thinks that could change if Claudette were in charge. "I wouldn't want the job," she says. On Lanie's way out, Vic tells her that he sure hopes she changes things around here. I mean, look at what happened today. Julien saved a kid from carjackers and the Strike Team captured a guy the feds have been after for 2 years.

It's late when someone starts pounding on the door of Vic's apartment. He instinctively grabs his gun. Corinne's voice comes from the other side of the door: "I talked to the guy at the desk. I know you're in here." Vic puts down his gun and opens the door. Corinne, waving some papers, is not a happy camper: "You have some stranger come to the house at night and give me this? You're walking out on us?!"

Vic is calm and says he'd never walk out on his family. He's just protecting himself so Corinne can't keep the kids away from him again. She gasps, "You think I'm divorcing you?" Vic knows she's been meeting with a lawyer. "A friend of mine made me talk to him," Corinne explains, "It doesn't mean that I'm filing."

Vic asks about the Tuesday appointment. Corinne has to sign some paperwork to get her deposit back. She's upset, thinking Vic was lying about them trying to work things out. Vic tells her it's not like that, which is actually true.

Corinne notices the black purse on Vic's coffee table and the matching women's shoes under it. She starts to cry. Vic reaches out to comfort her, but she knocks his arm away. "I can make you miserable too," Corinne says icily before storming out. Vic closes the door and sighs. End of episode.

There's Nothing Wiley About These "Coyotes" (Episode 2.10)

Previously on: Drug lord Armadillo Quintero was stabbed to death in the Barn's holding cell (thanks in no small part to Shane). Danny got in trouble for not finding the knife; she swore he didn't have it on him when she arrested him. Deputy Chief Gilroy threatened Vic's family and Shane wanted to kill him. Vic wouldn't allow that, so Gilroy wound up getting arrested for corruption. Lanie the civilian auditor was getting ready to release her report.

Shane bangs on the door of Vic's hotel room/apartment and hands him the newspaper. He thought Lanie's report wasn't due to come out for weeks, but there it is. The Strike Team is mentioned under a headline that proclaims "Failing Grades for Farmington Police Unit." Edgar-veda's name is also mentioned 3 times. Shane notices a pair of lacy red panties hanging on a chair. A woman, presumably Emma, calls from the bathroom for a towel.

When Vic and Shane arrive at work, everyone looks in their direction. Claudette doesn't like disliking her job. Dutch, the eternal optimist, says cheerfully, "Lucky for you, we might not have jobs in a couple weeks." Edgar-veda stalks in. Vic thinks the two of them should get their stories straight. The captain doesn't have time: "I have to manage perhaps the most dysfunctional, inefficient precinct in this city."

Vic gets a call from Corinne, who's in something of a panic. Gilroy called their house and we all know what happened last time. He left a message that he's coming over. Gilroy was bailed out of jail and is supposed to be on house arrest. Vic will be right there; Corinne needs to keep the doors locked and the alarm on.

Julien complains, "I just got married. Now's not a good time to be losin' my job." Is there ever a good time for that? Danny explains the process: Older officers get offered early retirement, then they fire disciplinary problems. The city won't fire a young black officer who works in a mostly-black neighborhood. Danny is worried about her own career; she pretty much got blamed for Armadillo's murder, not to mention Yassirah's lawsuit.

Danny asks Claudette for help in clearing her name. She insists there's no way she'd miss a large kitchen knife; one of the other inmates must've given it to Armadillo's killer. "Or another cop," Claudette suggests. Then, almost immediately:

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Danny asks what Claudette means, even though it's really freaking obvious.

When Vic gets home, Corinne is shouting through the door for Gilroy to leave. Gilroy wants to apologize, not hurt her; he just needs to see Vic. Speak of the devil and he appears to pat you down. Vic tells Corinne to go back inside and learns Gilroy cut off his house arrest ankle bracelet. The former deputy chief can explain everything. "Save it!" Vic orders, "I'm taking you in."

Gilroy drops a bombshell: The D.A. wants him to give Vic up. He just can't go to prison and the best his lawyer can do is 8 years: "My liver can't do 7." Gilroy asks for help getting out of the United States. The answer, predictably, is a huge no. "Once I'm gone, you're in the clear too," he reminds his old buddy.

Vic pats him down again. Gilroy says he's not wearing a wire; he told the D.A. to go to hell when that was suggested. Time isn't on their side. Vic again refuses. Gilroy tells Vic he better put a gun to his head. Uh, he did that once and you're still alive. Might not wanna push your luck. Vic tells Gilroy to get in the truck. "What a stupid bastard you are," mutters Gilroy.

Shane drops a bag at Gilroy's feet, saying he owes $200 for the new clothes. They know Gilroy's picture will be posted at the border crossings. Might I suggest plastic surgery? Now their former boss needs Mexican and American passports. Oh, and maybe some money. Shane shuts that idea down in a hurry: "If you're lookin' for a loan from us, you can tickle my zipper."

Gilroy gives Shane the key to his safe-deposit box. He has $75,000 left from his land grab scheme, because, surprise of surprises, his mistress Sedona disappeared with the rest of it. Even in Mexico, that money won't last long. Gilroy shrugs he's a simple guy who can live in a hut on the beach. He doesn't plan on staying in Mexico long; he has a friend in Brazil. For that, he needs a one-way plane ticket from Mexico City to Rio. "I owe you," he tells Vic. When Vic tells him to shut up, Gilroy actually pouts.

Edgar-veda confronts Lanie about her report, which wasn't due for 2 weeks. He was also supposed to get an advance copy. Lanie claims someone stole her notes and leaked the unflattering portions, which was probably most of what she wrote. "Who the hell has access to your notes?!" demands the captain, now in full head-chomping mode.

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Lanie doesn't know who could've possibly stolen them. A likely story. She icily adds that nothing she wrote was embellished; everything happened. But she's ever so sorry it makes him look bad.

Vic informs the boys that the new minority member of the Strike Team starts today. Since Shane and Vic have other things to do and Ronnie is presumably still recovering from his burn, Lem will be showing him around. Lem, usually Mr. Congeniality, gripes, "Why do I have to babysit the new guy?" Shane says somebody has to run their car-theft ring investigation while he and Vic deal with a problem.

Vic explains that Gilroy skipped bail, so him and Shane are helping him flee the country. Lem thought they were all staying out of trouble until the money train heist. If Gilroy goes to prison and starts talking to the D.A., the Strike Team will get locked up themselves. Of course, somebody else could tell the D.A. about them first, the most likely suspects being Edgar-veda, Claudette, and Lanie. Vic says they'll have to be extra careful.

There's a knock on the door. Here comes new Strike Team member Tavon, a veteran of Special Crimes. Wonder if that's anything like Special Victims Unit. After some handshakes, they get down to business. They only have one day to nail the head of the city's biggest car-theft ring, like a reverse version of Gone In 60 Seconds. The Strike Team has never gotten close to him because the guy knows their faces, except one. This will be a one-day trial period. Vic hands Tavon a file; Lem can fill him in on the rest.

Out in the back parking lot, Shane opines that Tavon seems "a little too cool for school." He remembers, as do I, what happened to the last newcomer. Vic interviewed Tavon a few times and he seems fine.

Claudette arrives at the home of 71-year-old Toni Jahnes, who lies dead on her living room rug. Someone broke in and stole her jewelry. Dutch thinks the killer smashed her head against the mantle and "being so old, she probably couldn't put up a fight." I don't think anyone could fight after getting their head thrown into a mantle. Dutch is pissy that his excellent case closure rate wasn't mentioned in Lanie's report. Appropos of nothing, Claudette notices framed photos of Toni's two daughters.

Vic speaks Spanish to some guy and hands over the key to Gilroy's safe-deposit box. Yeah, that seems like a smart idea. The idea is the guy will take some of the money to make Gilroy's fake IDs. Vic promises Shane this will get Gilroy out of their lives without bloodshed. Shane knows Gilroy is Vic's friend, but "I'm not gonna let him hurt us."

Edgar-veda gets into the back of a car with the police chief. The captain assures him that the report is totally biased; it doesn't mention how dramatically crime has dropped in Farmington. Chief asks what Edgar-veda would do in his place. "The first thing I would do is fire me," mumbles the captain. Chief says, "So far, I'm with you." But if Edgar-veda is fired the day the news article is printed, it'll make it appear to the public that the charges are credible. He suggests the chief withhold judgment.

"I've heard about this kind of slick shit of yours," says Chief, "It doesn't work on me."

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Chief knows Edgar-veda is running for office. He gives him a 6-month ultimatum: If he wins the election, he'll be a city councilman and no longer Chief's problem. If Edgar-veda loses the primary, he will quietly resign from the police department because he needs more time with his family.

Edgar-veda paces his office. Machado, his campaign manager, tells him not to worry so much; they have a contingency plan, namely a smear campaign. Edgar-veda gets on his high horse; he doesn't want to win the election by using dirty Mexican political tricks. Machado reminds him that half his supporters were born in Mexico. Edgar-veda wants to clean up the Barn and rehabilitate his image before the election.

In the truck, Shane speculates that Edgar-veda "the backstabbing bastard" turned them in to the D.A. so the Strike Team could take the hit for that report. He doesn't like the timing to Tavon's arrival, especially since Edgar-veda gave his blessing. Vic promises Tavon will be gone tomorrow.

Their fake ID guy comes out of the bank with a paper bag of money. He doesn't seem to know where to go. Vic keeps gesturing him toward the truck. The guy stays where he is. Shane can't believe someone can "flawlessly duplicate government documents and can't tell his left from his right." He hopes he remembers where they're meeting.

Danny and Julien break up a Jerry Springer-worthy catfight. One woman spits out a boxcutter blade from under her tongue. Ouch! Another of the young ladies involved is wielding a knife and very obviously pregnant. Back at the Barn, the pregnant girl's wounds have been dressed and she's sitting in the cage.

Julien heard this isn't the first time she picked a fight recently. Danny asks why she's doing this. "Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I have to stop bringing it," says the girl. Uh, actually it does when "bringing it" means "brawling in the street." Danny thinks the woman is a little old to be fighting. She asks about Antonio, the baby's father. The pregnant woman doesn't know where he is and doesn't care. This isn't about him, anyway.

Danny agrees. This is about the baby. She doesn't want anything to happen to it, right? The pregnant woman doesn't answer, just fiddles with the torn hem of her shirt. Danny realizes she's trying to miscarry, though if she's really 8 months along, the baby would more than likely survive. Julien seems to know she's having a boy. The pregnant woman says that means her son will look and sound like Antonio. She doesn't want to look at an Antonio Junior forever. I'm starting to wonder if Antonio raped her. Danny has to walk away.

Claudette has background on their murder victim Toni. She worked for the parks department for 30 years. Her daughters are both dead; one had ovarian cancer and the other was killed by a drunk driver. There have been 3 similar break-ins over the last 2 weeks. Dutch is only halfway paying attention; he's at his desk compiling a "win list." Ugh, the narcissistic weasel. Apparently, his name was mentioned in the article, so he's worried about his job.

A uniform delivers the preliminary autopsy report. Dutch glances at it and declares, "Wasn't a murder." Toni died of a heart attack, not blunt-force trauma. Claudette asks when the heart attack occurred. The M.E. doesn't know. Claudette figures it could've happened as a result of Toni seeing burglars in her house. She doesn't know who to contact; Toni has no other next-of-kin or heirs listed. "Heart attack probably doesn't count as a win, does it?" asks Dutch.

Back at the hotel, Vic finds two empty beer bottles on the counter, the only alcohol he had in the place. He and Shane find Gilroy at a nearby bar. "You the police?" asks the bartender. Gilroy got rough with some of the customers and played the "I'm a cop" card when the bartender tried to throw him out. The bartender called the cops 20 minutes ago: "It's a good thing I'm not being robbed."

Vic tells Gilroy to stand up and walk out with him and Shane. Gilroy protests he needed a drink after 4 months in jail. He offers to buy Shane and Vic a drink. "Stop makin' a scene, you dumbass," says Shane. Gilroy laughs, "Oh, you" and playfully slaps at his face. This could be his last chance. He doesn't know how right he is about that.

Gilroy tries to carry the drink out with him. Shane puts it back on the bar. Gilroy stands up and starts to fall over; Vic catches him. The bartender calls after them, asking who's paying Gilroy's tab. Vic slams some money on the bar.

Lem has a talk with a car thief. If Louis wants his drug charges reduced, he should cooperate with them. Louis refuses to rat out his cousin Denon: "It'll screw up Christmas and I'm not lettin' some cracker cop ruin the holidays." Tavon looks pissed and kicks over Louis' chair. Lem struggles to get Tavon back under control. However, I have to give Tavon credit for sticking up for his partner.

Lem manages to pull Tavon loose and they both go sliding into the wall. "Dude, there's cameras in here," Lem hisses. Tavon heard life at the Barn was different. Lem lies that he heard wrong. He turns to Louis with the threat: "I'll tell all your homo homies you're my snitch bitch." It's up to him how much helping them has to hurt. To punctuate this, Tavon crouches next to Louis and rubs his hands together menacingly. He says ratting out a cousin isn't as bad as turning in your brother.

Shane tosses the barely-conscious Gilroy onto Vic's couch. Their Mexican connection, Quazi, starts speaking Spanish.

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Vic translates that the guy wants to wait until Gilroy sobers up. Shane is like "oh hell no." Gilroy slurs out, "Where's my money?" Vic tells him they're keeping it safe. Lem calls to let Vic know he set up a meeting with Louis' cousin Denon this afternoon. I bet it's the best news he's heard all day. Vic tells Shane they have to go to the car sting. They leave Gilroy and Quazi alone, which I'm sure won't come back to haunt them.

Claudette goes back to Toni's apartment. She takes a long look at the framed pictures of Toni's kids and the certificate of appreciation from the city parks department. She sits down at the kitchen table, clearly looking for something. But even she's not sure what. Perhaps she's seeing some of herself in Toni. Earlier, she mentioned to Dutch that she hasn't talked to either of her daughters in a long time.

At the Barn, Edgar-veda asks Dutch what happened to his partner. Dutch isn't sure. The captain tells him to do police work instead of polishing his resume. There's been a shooting. He and Claudette are assigned. Vic comes in, acting all cheery toward Edgar-veda. The captain asks how Tavon is settling in. Vic says he seems to be trying. If Vic has any cases he can close, today would be the day.

Vic feigns concern about his boss's job. Edgar-veda smugly informs him that Latino police captains are in demand; he could have a dozen job offers tomorrow. Vic is the one who should worry. Vic is still willing to keep up his end of their deal. It remains important to the captain too.

"Aceveda's screwing us," Vic informs Shane in the clubhouse. He's only asking about the car theft sting and Tavon, not a peep about Gilroy. That figures. Shane's been watching TV all day and there hasn't been a news story on the city's assistant police chief-turned fugitive. Vic guesses the D.A. is too embarrassed to let the public know. The good news is Shane got in touch with Coyote Jack; they should be able to get Gilroy out of the country in an hour.

Edgar-veda asks how many casualties were at the scene Claudette investigated. She isn't sure if Toni died before or during the break-in. The captain was referring to the shooting he sent her to. Even if the burglar caused Toni's fatal heart attack, the law doesn't view it as a homicide. The shooting is a priority crime. He asks where Dutch is. "I don't know. Guess he's got his priorities straight," she says. Claudette intends to finish what she started.

Edgar-veda repeats the burglary was victimless. I'd like to see him tell that to Toni's family. Claudette loses it. She shouts that she is working a real case and she could close it faster if he'd stop bothering her. She's angry that her coworkers are worried about how they'll feed their families "because of a bunch of crap they know nothing about and had nothing to do with! No wonder this precinct's upside down. Saving these people's jobs should be your priority."

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Claudette goes into the ladies' room to compose herself. Lanie asks if she's okay. "Am I being graded?" Claudette fires back. Lanie confirms her suspicions that some people will be fired, but maybe Claudette can help her make sure they're the right ones.

Vic and Shane meet Coyote Jack's van at a cemetery. Vic hustles the load of illegal immigrants out of the van and orders Coyote Jack to give him the wheel. Vic drives them through a police gate. Coyote Jack asks if this is the INS building. No, that's downtown, but they'd be happy to drop him there. Coyote Jack claims all dozen or so people in his van were just hitchhikers.

Vic wants to hire Coyote Jack to smuggle someone into Mexico. Coyote Jack's never had to charge anyone for that service before. Vic calls bullshit: "We know the tunnels run both ways." It's Jack's choice whether he wants to help them out or go to jail. Jack agrees.

Dutch finds Claudette at Toni's house again. He caught the shooter from the other case two blocks away from the scene, gun still on him. Not sure if there's a reason for it, but she sends him to check the kitchen.

Lem listens in from the Strike Team van as Louis introduces Tavon to Denon. Try saying that 5 times fast. The story is Tavon knows where Denon can find a fleet of Expeditions. Denon is immediately suspicious; he's never seen Tavon before. Where's his hood? Tavon claims he's from Detroit and that's why he likes cars. Here in L.A., he runs with, I kid you not, the 4th Street Clown Posse. That seems to pass muster.

Denon asks what shape the Expeditions are in. "Factory fresh, straight outta Motown," Tavon replies. His friend is a truck foreman who assigns routes; the driver gets a cut of the profits. Denon offers him $10,000 per truck, $11,000 for leather interior. That's not what Tavon gets in Detroit. Denon gets in his face: "This ain't Detroit, bitch." "You better back up off me, bitch," Tavon warns.

They exchange a few "who you callin' a bitch" remarks. Tavon eventually agrees to Denon's terms since he's on someone else's turf. Tavon just needs to know when and where to drop off the cars.

In Toni's bedroom, Claudette discovers someone stole all her lipstick. Maybe the burglar was a woman? Dutch found 3 empty bags of cookies and a half-eaten bag of brown sugar. Their girl could be a junkie. Should he check with Vic about dealers in the neighborhood? Claudette wants to do her own police work.

Claudette pays a visit to a street-corner pharmacist named Long John. "Oh, the pirate gangster, huh?" Dutch jokes. Now is really not the time to get cute. They're looking for a female customer of his who probably bought last night or tried to trade jewelry for rock. Claudette snatches Long John's hat right off his head even though he's much taller than her. She finds drugs inside it.

Long John asks if they'll drop the drug charge if he talks. It depends. The customer they're looking for is a "transie, calls herself Mancy." "Mancy a transie or a cross-dresser?" asks Dutch, as if that matters. Long John wants to know if there's a difference. "Fairly large one," Dutch quips.

Shane found no official papers have been issued for Gilroy: APBs, bench warrants, and the like. Lemming doesn't get why: "The guy cut his ankle monitor and bailed 8 hours ago." Lanie's report hit the paper today, so Vic highly doubts it's a malfunction or clerical error, as do I.

Claudette has shared her theory about how the knife got into the holding cell. Danny knows Vic; he'd never throw her under the bus like that. "Sorry to waste your time," Claudette sighs.

When Shane and Vic get back to Vic's place, there's a white sheet tacked to the wall. Gilroy stands in front of it while Quazi snaps Polaroids and gives instructions in Spanish. Vic's translation: "He says stop smiling. It makes you look gay" is probably incorrect. He hands Gilroy a plane ticket and informs him they had to take $10,000 out of the $75,000 for the coyote's expenses.

Gilroy says the D.A. has been asking him questions about Terry. He thinks the case might get reopened. Gilroy swears he never mentioned that he warned Vic about Terry being after the Strike Team. Vic gives him the party line he's used since the beginning: "Terry got killed in the line of duty by a drug dealer." Gilroy is all "c'mon, ain't nobody here but us chickens."

Vic draws his gun and stands Gilroy up. Shane whips off Gilroy's buttondown shirt and pulls down his pants, checking for a wire. He finds a tape recorder and mike taped under Gilroy's boxer shorts.

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"That's what the trip to the bar was about, wasn't it?" Vic asks. It's Shane's turn to pull his gun. He starts calling Gilroy a son of a bitch. He puts a couch cushion in between his gun barrel and Gilroy's face. Gilroy admits D.A. investigators are outside watching him. If anything happens to him, they'll know. Shane backs away and makes the understatement of the year: "Oh, this is not good."

Shane wonders how much the investigators have witnessed. The scene at the bar? The bank run? Quazi? Coyote Jack? Vic says it doesn't matter; none of that can be used against them. Considering they're currently aiding and abetting a fugitive, I think he's wrong about that. According to Vic, however, Gilroy asking for their help made it entrapment.

The only real evidence Gilroy got against them was the tape, which Vic now has. Shane points out the matter of harboring a fugitive. Vic says they're not anymore. Gilroy's going to Mexico as planned. The disgraced assistant chief asks what he's supposed to live on; $65,000 won't last him a year. "What about the hut? The rice and beans?" demands Shane. Gilroy replies, "That's when I wasn't really going." "Oh, you're going," growls Vic, snapping at Gilroy to get dressed.

"I didn't wanna do it. They made me," Gilroy blubbers. He apologizes to Vic. Vic tells Gilroy to get a hold of himself; he has to lose the tail on his own. "We're putting our success in his hands? Jesus!" Shane cries. Vic assures his partner that Gilroy's "done some of his best work soused."

Shane wants to cut their losses and turn Gilroy in because the guy's poison. It's hard to argue with that. Vic knows Gilroy can do it. He points out, "We send him back to prison, he starts talking, he makes our lives hell."

At the Barn, Vic informs Edgar-veda that Gilroy jumped bail. He came to Vic's place this morning and asked for help getting to Mexico. Vic didn't bring Gilroy in because they've been friends for 15 years; he thought he could convince Gilroy to turn himself in. Gilroy is still at Vic's place, drunk and crying. Vic didn't want anyone to seem him like that. Edgar-veda will send someone over.

"Vic, Denon just called. He wants to move those cars right now," says Lem. The meet was originally set for the next day, but Denon changed his mind. Edgar-veda knows Denon is a major thief and tells the guys to go get him.

Downstairs, Danny asks if she and Vic can talk. Vic's in a hurry. Danny corners him in the clubhouse. She knows she's on the top of the firing list because of what happened to Armadillo. Vic agrees it was unfair that she got suspended over it. Danny heard Armadillo's death could've been good for Vic. She's spent 6 1/2 years getting where she is and doesn't want to lose her career. Vic asks if she's been talking to Claudette.

Danny responds with a question of her own: "What happened in that cage?" Vic acts like he doesn't know. Sometimes people hide weapons and cops don't find them. Danny knows she did a good search and asks pointblank, "You had something to do with this, didn't you?" Of course, Vic says no. After everything she's done and covered up, he's pulling this shit on her? Danny tells Vic to stay away from her and leaves the clubhouse.

Dutch goes to what looks a crackhouse and asks one of its denizens where he can find Mancy. The guy is out of it and holding a large bottle filled with piss. Claudette asks the same question of a woman with a belt wrapped around her arm, ready to shoot up. Claudette finds strung-out Mancy up in the attic. Mancy is, let's say, not the most convincing female impersonator I've ever seen. I'm not sure if he/she's in the throes of an overdose, withdrawal, or AIDS. Either way, Claudette wants Mancy taken to a hospital. In a paper bag, Claudette finds high school graduation pictures of Toni's daughters.

Lanie talks to Gilroy's surveillance team on the phone. She tells them to grab him up and make sure they get the tape. Downstairs, Edgar-veda makes a big speech about how they're a family and he's gonna fight like hell to save everyone's jobs. The officers and detectives should focus on protecting and serving.

Claudette follows him up to the balcony and says, "Nice speech." I can't tell if she's being sarcastic. The captain frets, "Could be my last." Claudette tells him that Toni was already on the floor when Mancy broke in; he/she didn't cause the heart attack.

Julien informs Pregnant Brawler that they can have her put in county lockup until the baby is born. Judging by the girl's shape, that won't be very long. She shrugs and tells him to go ahead: "You don't think there's other ways to do it? Fighting's just the way you get the most props." Danny says it's okay if Pregnant Brawler doesn't want the baby; she can give him up. Pregnant Brawler asks if they've talked to her baby-daddy Antonio. Does he want her back? Does he want to be in his son's life?

Julien is sure they can find a good foster home if it comes to that. Her son deserves a chance. Pregnant Brawler doubts they can "give away a brown baby" when "not even his daddy wants him." "I'll take him," Danny blurts out. I think part of the reason she broke it off with Vic is because Danny wants a baby and knows Vic would never say yes to that. "I ain't givin' my baby to a white cop. I'd rather kill him with my bare hands," says Pregnant Brawler, even though Danny just stomped all over her notion of nobody wanting a "brown baby."

A taxi drops Gilroy off in a deserted parking lot, where he's meeting Vic and Shane. I'd be worried about the location if I were him. Shane asks, "How many wine coolers did it take you to get here?" Gilroy says he followed Vic's instructions to the letter about taking the bus and the subway. He paid the coyote $10,000 and the guy gave him an empty envelope. He lost his tail.

Vic opens the sliding door of a nearby van and introduces Gilroy to Coyote Jack. He holds up the envelope. The guy Gilroy gave the $10 K to was actually hitman who'll kill Gilroy if Vic ever calls the hitman with a designated code. "You made me pay my own hitman?" Gilroy is aghast. Shane bets he could really use another drink now.

"Vic, we were friends," Gilroy says. Vic reminds him just who threatened whose family. Gilroy claims that was a bluff. The hitman thing isn't and they both know it. Actually, Gilroy might not. He goes on about how Vic had the chance to kill Gilroy himself and couldn't go through with it. He wouldn't send a hitman after his old friend. "Maybe not," Vic concedes, "but Shane will."

Gilroy has some parting words for Vic: "I got greedy. I lost everything. There's a lesson there." Shane practically shoves him into the van. He and Vic watch as Coyote Jack drives away.

At the Barn, Denon is brought in, protesting that he didn't agree to buy stolen cars. Vic tells him there's time to come up with a better story. "It's nice to have a win on a day like today," says the captain. He asks Tavon how the guys treated him, "the guys" in this case being Lem since Vic and Shane were otherwise occupied all day. Tavon says everything is fine.

Edgar-veda and Vic go upstairs, the captain relieved to have survived today. But as Little Orphan Annie observed, there's always tomorrow. Vic knows they'll both survive the next day. Edgar-veda wishes he had Vic's confidence. Lanie tells the captain that Gilroy wasn't in Vic apartment. Vic swears that when he left, Gilroy was in a drunken stupor.

Lanie thinks he must've sobered up and gone on the run. All the surveillance team found were his clothes and the tape recorder. Vic is sure Gilroy couldn't have gone far. In the clubhouse, Vic thinks he owes the captain an apology for thinking he was the rat: "The real rodent's sittin' drunk at my apartment." Shane isn't worried; Gilroy will be in Rio de Janeiro by this time tomorrow.

Vic asks for Lem's verdict on Tavon. Lem, of course, likes the guy and says he has cojones. "It's not havin' 'em; it's usin' 'em that counts," says Shane.

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Lem goes on that Tavon is a hard worker with "a bit of a mean streak, but under control." Highlighting those traits, Lemming could very well be describing himself. Shane snaps, "Don't cream all over this guy before you seen him naked."

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Tavon is no Ronnie. Hell, Tavon isn't as good as Lem or Shane himself. All Lem meant is that Tavon being black could open up doors; they can send him places where they'd stick out too much. Speaking of opening doors, the conversation grinds to a screeching halt as Tavon enters. He presents Vic with his signed transfer papers; he just has to let his old commander know if he's staying.

"Tell him you're staying on a little longer," says Vic. Call it an extended trial period. Shane advises him to "be ready for something a little more difficult than auto capers." Tavon's ready to follow his lead.

In the parking lot, Julien asks if Danny was serious about wanting to adopt Pregnant Brawler's baby. Danny dismisses it as a stupid idea. Julien invites Danny to join him, his new wife Vanessa, and stepson Randall for dinner and church. "You tryin' to convert me now?" she asks nastily. Julien just knows she's had a hard day and she doesn't have to be alone. Danny hasn't been to church since she was 9. "God remembers you," says Julien. Danny replies, "Well, I forgot about Him." How about just saying "no, thank you"? Geez, girl, I know Julien's been a sanctimonious tool before, but he's honestly trying to help you now.

At a city council meeting, the city's showrunners and Lanie listen to the tape from Gilroy's recorder. There's only some back-and-forth between Gilroy and Vic about how the frame jobs and beat-downs never happened; Vic just made up the stories to scare the crooks because "rep's everything on the street."

The police chief shuts off the tape. He announces the Strike Team is clearing cases at a better rate than any other unit in the city; Lanie wants him to come down on them over this tape? Lanie says there are other "irregularities." Chief says Edgar-veda will take the blame; one way or the other, he's gone after the election.

"Mackey's dirty," Lanie insists. The chief doesn't think she's proven it. Lanie points out she would have more evidence if somebody hadn't stolen her notes. Chief instructs her to turn in the official report; the investigation is over.

Vic finds Claudette typing away at what seems to be the only computer in the station. He has to file a report before he can go home. Claudette says he can have it when she's done emailing her daughters. Vic thinks she better find a way to deal with her hatred of him because he's not going anywhere. "Neither am I," she says calmly. End of episode.