Chicago Justice (2017): Season 1, Episode 12 - Fool Me Twice - full transcript

Lizzie...

Oh, I didn't...

I didn't know who else to call.

Why would someone shoot him, Laura?

I don't know.

The surgeon said he's gonna make it.

Make it? What does that mean?

Eric's strong, Lizzie. He'll be fine.

- What if he...
- We will deal with it then.

He was a good brother, Laura.

And he's gonna be a good
brother for a long time.



I'm sorry, but...

I could use a cup of coffee.

Let's let him rest.

- Eric wasn't...
- No.

He gave all that up after...

He's working at Gerringer's.
He's doing good, Laura.

- He really is.
- I was sure he was clean.

We had dinner a couple of weeks ago.

He told me. Yeah, he liked that.

I don't think he ever got over you.

Benny...

Damn Fishbein wouldn't
let me out of work.

Thank you, Laura, for
being here for her.

Mm.



- Your brother?
- We don't... we don't know.

He was shot at least three times.

I'm sorry. This is Laura Gibbs.

- It's Nagel now.
- We grew up together.

- Benny Martinez.
- You work together?

- Uh, boyfriend.
- Can you stay with her?

Yeah, I won't leave her sight.

You call me as soon as he wakes up.

Just passing by. Had to look.

State's Attorney Investigator Nagel.

I know the victim.

- What do you got?
- Well, CSU found shell casings,

seven of them,

all from a 45 caliber.

This is Eric Cates's vehicle.

Serious stuff.

Sure gets the job done.

Detective Ken Banks.

Steve Kim, Narcotics.

Why are you guys here?

Walk with me.

Did I hear you say you knew the victim?

Eric Cates.

His sister called me from the hospital.

- Tough.
- Yeah.

We found a key of heroin.

It was on the floor
on the passenger side.

That's his blood, I'm guessing.

We figure the guy was doing a deal,

probably keeping this one for himself.

Eric Cates. Uh, I don't remember him.

You never met.

He was my confidential informant.

He was shot last night.

- Dead?
- No, lucky.

He helped us out with
an old friend of yours.

Jayson Creary.

Eric gave us the Death
Kings' stash house.

You wouldn't have
convicted Jayson without it.

You think Jayson put out
a hit from Stateville?

Jayson's kid brother, Jerome.

He runs the Death Kings now.

He cleans their cash through
a fancy car dealership.

I'm thinking he somehow found out

that Eric was my CI.

But you're not sure?

Eric is a good guy, Peter.

He's been out of the life
since you nailed Creary.

- I wanna work it.
- This is CPD's case.

Guys like Eric Cates, they
risk their lives for us.

And in return, they get
to stay out of prison.

So that means we turn our backs on them?

Fine. Find out what you can,

but stay out of the cops' way.

Well, look who decided
to show up for work.

- You look like crap.
- We got an attempted murder.

A key of heroin on the floor.

What's that gotta do with us?

- Stone said we could work it.
- Could?

He was also my CI before you got here.

- You know you're not supposed...
- You coming?

Where to?

We're gonna talk to Jerome Creary.

Least you can do is pretend
you're looking to buy.

I don't want you scaring
off the real customers.

Yeah, these things
are flying off the shelf.

You'd be surprised. Peoples
got a need for speed,

and to look hot when they do it.

We're here about your other business.

Don't do that no more,

since you sent big bro to Stateville.

We can look through your books, Jerome,

see how much cash you got
running through this place,

or you can answer a
few simple questions.

- What questions?
- Eric Cates.

- What about him?
- He used to work for you

in the business we can't mention,

selling the stuff you'd
prefer we didn't talk about.

Yeah, I haven't seen him since.

Since you shot him and
took his stash last night?

Hey, I ain't seen him a
couple of years at least.

So where do you keep these books?

Okay, okay.

He worked for my bro, dude.

I got nothing to do with his ass.

If it was a hijack,

I'd be looking at Ricky Marscak's crew.

They like taking what ain't theirs.

Your boys in Narcotics got him.

Civilian walks in.

How often do you see an
actual Good Samaritan?

Tells us he's seen the shooting.

He ID'd Marscak?

No, but he saw a hopped-up red Chevy.

We put two and two together,

hopped-up red Chevy and a drug heist,

and our compass points
right to Ricky Marscak.

Thinks he's some kind
of Robin of the Hood.

Steals from rich dealers,

sells to poor junkies.

There you go. Minute, Stevie?

I got nothing. Says he
was banging some babe

whose name he forgot till 3:00 a.m.

- Mind if I talk to him?
- Help yourself.

Maybe I can take a look
at that witness statement.

Yeah, right this way.

I'ma tell you the same
thing I told your friend.

- Eat me.
- Sorry, I'm on duty.

I'm sure Detective Kim informed you

that there is a witness who saw you.

He saw a car that looked like mine.

Lot of Chevys in Chicago.

Driven by guys who are
known for hijacking H?

You see, that's the problem.

People believe what they hear.

Facebook, Twitter,

anybody can say any damn thing.

They can say that Eric
Cates is still alive.

It's good if he is, 'cause
I didn't shot the S.O.B.

Ask him. He'll tell ya.

Three bullets.

What the hell do you have to
live for that's so important?

I wanna see the Cubbies repeat.

Oh, that's a good reason as any.

Did you ever tell your
partner what happened at prom?

Mm, he embarrasses too easy.

Eric... the heroin in your car...

It wasn't mine.

I already told the cops.

And I didn't see Marscak.

I couldn't see diddly.
The lights were in my eyes.

Tell us what you remember.

- I was going home.
- From where?

I had a couple beers at McGavins.

Then what?

Um, I'm driving down West Lex.

It's one way, right?

A car comes towards me.

- A Chevy?
- Could be.

Brights were on.

Two guys get out.

I couldn't see their faces.

- They say anything?
- I didn't wait around.

I started backing up.

That's all I know.

Witness says he saw
a hopped-up red Chevy.

- That's what Marscak drives.
- Red?

I couldn't see a lot, but
if the car was red, I'd know.

An eyewitness? We don't
get that too often.

There may be a discrepancy
in Jerry Burrows' statement.

He specifically said that
Marscak was driving a red Chevy,

only Eric Cates never saw red.

He also saw two shooters.

Burrows said there was only one.

This Burrows guy, he was a good citizen.

Not even a parking ticket.

Then he just became a better witness.

I've got 24 hours to put
Marscak in front of a judge.

The crime scene's a good place to start.

That's where Cates was shot.

Jerry Burrows said
he left the strip club

and was walking home
when he heard the shots.

- Where does he live?
- LeLand Street.

- It's a few blocks North of here.
- So if it were me,

to get from the strip
club to Leland at night?

I'd walk up Broadway.
It's got a lot more light.

Maybe he just wanted a beef sandwich

or a slice of pizza.

Even more reason to walk up Broadway.

We're in the neighborhood.
Why don't we talk to Burrows?

Sure.

Damn, I thought we were done with this.

- Done with what?
- You're cops, right?

We're with the State's
Attorney's office.

- You're Jerry Burrows?
- Bobby Burrows.

Dad ain't here. He's working.

Where?

All over. He's a cabbie.

- Look, I'm busy.
- Doing what?

Uh, calling my lawyer.

If you saw a shooting, and you
wanted to be a good citizen,

you'd go to the closest District, right?

19's just a few blocks away.

Instead, Burrows walks a
mile and a half to Narcotics

to make a statement to Banks and Kim.

You want my opinion?

No.

I don't think you're approaching this

with clear eyes.

- Forget about it.
- Hey, look, I'm just saying.

Everybody looks bad to
you, except for the guy shot

with a key of H in his car.

Eric and I grew up together, okay?

When Dad had too much,
his mom took me in.

Jerry Burrows may be
clean, but his kid, Bobby,

was picked up twice for
possession with intent.

Probation both times.

Whoa.

Six months ago, he was
arrested for statutory rape.

He had sex with a 15-year-old girl.

Why isn't he making
license plates somewhere?

Same day the sex charges were dropped,

cocaine charges were filed.

Arresting officers in the drug case...

Detectives Banks and Kim.

Vice sent Bobby Burrows to us.

- He was a harmless junkie.
- Who raped a minor.

Old saying: No victim, no crime.

Girl's parents didn't want the neighbors

to think ill of them.

Why didn't the drug charge stick?

What would be the point?

Bobby Burrows was a minor leaguer.

We felt he'd be more help
to us out on the street.

You were Narcotics. You know the drill.

Let the little fish go
to get the big fish, yeah?

Bobby Burrows was your CI?

He was after we let him scoot.

See, this is where
it all gets confusing.

Um, you gotta admit, it's
a hell of a coincidence

that your CI's father is also a witness

in a shooting that you're investigating.

If you're accusing us of
something, spit it out.

Cool it, Stevie, they're
just doing their jobs.

We did good by Jerry's kid.

He trusted us. And you believe him?

Of course he does.
He gets Ricky Marscak,

another medal for his collection.

Hey, you're implying Burrows
is lying to make our case.

You did do his kid a solid.

Hey, we're good.

Thanks. Sorry to bother you.

- You believed that crap?
- Not for a second.

- Got a minute, Mr. Burrows?
- Aw, jeez.

Bobby told me you were bothering him.

Just wanna follow up on
that shooting you witnessed.

Look, I told the other guys what I saw.

- An orange olds?
- It was a Chevy.

- And you said it was red.
- Look, Mr. Burrows,

we know about the problem
you have with your son.

Look, it was a mistake with that girl.

Bobby didn't know she was 15.

We also know Detectives Banks and Kim

helped Bobby out of that jam.

Now the truth is you
don't owe them anything.

- You don't have a kid, do you?
- Two, actually.

If Banks and Kim pushed you

to say that you saw a red
Chevy you didn't really see,

an innocent man could do a lot of time.

I saw it, okay?

Look, I... I don't know what
the hell you want from me.

I gotta go.

You want me to say the car
was red, the car was red.

You know I don't work like that.

- Look, I'm sorry.
- Forget it.

Somebody's gotta catch
the bad guys, right?

I was talking about something else.

Do you remember those storage units

back in Ravenswood?

We used to jump from
one rooftop to the other.

You would jump. I would watch.

Except for that one time.

One more inch, and you would've made it.

You saved my butt.

I don't think I ever thanked you.

We were seven.

I'm sorry for getting you into all this.

You didn't get me into anything, Laura.

Hell, you kept me out of jail.

And I put a target on your back.

What, you think that this was payback

for Creary's brother?

You know...

you can tell me anything, Eric.

- It won't leave this room.
- The heroin wasn't mine.

I don't know how it got into my car.

Either you believe me, or you don't.

Hey, what kind of person would I be

if I didn't believe the guy who saved me

from falling off a roof?

Do you ever wonder how
things might've turned out

if you didn't go away to college?

Sorry.

- Your partner's been busy.
- Yeah?

Okay, what do we know?

We know there was heroin
in Eric Cates's car.

He swears wasn't his.

Yeah, listen and learn, the
lab says it was 10% pure.

That's next to worthless.

Exactly, which got me curious,
so I went through case files

and found three other incidents

of cut heroin being
picked up as evidence,

all involving murders.

Now first, you have Pedro Garcia.

He was found in his bedroom
with three bullets in his chest,

two keys of cheap heroin under his bed.

Dead, no arrest.

Miguel Ortega.

He was found behind a bowling alley,

- bullet in his head.
- An assassination?

One key in his backpack, no arrest.

Luis Vargas. He was shot in his Taurus.

Bullet through an eye,

and just to be sure,
one through his heart.

Two keys in his trunk, dead, no arrest.

Now all three were killed
within the last 24 months.

What else did they have in common?

- Mm, same gang?
- Bingo.

23rd Street Jokers.

The Jokers have been in a turf war

with the Death Kings
for quite some time.

The Death Kings. That's
Jayson Creary's gang.

Which is now run by his
little brother, Jerome.

When he's not selling Lamborghinis.

So you're saying

all four were shot by Creary?

Or on his orders.

But here's the thing,

all four shootings were

or are currently being investigated

by the same Narcotics officers.

Banks and Kim.

Stephen Kim was the lead
detective in all of them.

Banks and Kim are covering up
murders for the Death Kings?

Or they were doing the
killings themselves.

Hey, let's not get ahead of ourselves.

For now, let's focus
on the Cates shooting.

We need to prove that Jerome Creary

knew that Eric Cates
informed on his brother.

Do you think that I'm stupid?

Why would I tell
anybody that I snitched?

It had to be somebody on your end.

I checked the PD database.
Nobody accessed your file.

Maybe you mentioned it
to someone in passing.

- Lizzie, maybe.
- You know the last thing I'd do

is get my kid sister
involved in my crap.

Can we get someone to guard him?

Our people?

I'll stay with him till they show.

I want you to think very hard, Lizzie.

Did you ever tell anyone that
I work at the State's Attorney?

- Why would I do that?
- Just think.

I don't know, like who?

A boyfriend?

Benny?

He knew me, Lizzie.

When he showed up at the
hospital, he called me Laura.

Oh, my God.

Was Eric shot because of me?

- What did you tell him?
- I don't know.

We talked about when...
When we were kids,

how it was funny that you used
to talk Eric into cutting school

to smoke pot in the park,

but now you work for
the State's Attorney.

But I don't think I used your name.

- Did Benny...
- I don't know.

Oh, my God.

She talks about you a lot.

You know, she and Eric are really proud.

- They... they...
- Can we cut the crap?

Is there a problem?

Did you ever hear of
conspiracy to commit murder?

If you happen to tell someone
about my relationship with Eric,

and that person tries to
kill him because of it...

I didn't know that he would do anything.

Jerome Creary?

I owed him 10 grand.

And I may have mentioned
that I had a buddy of mine

who had a good thing going at
the State's Attorney's office,

and if he let me slide
for a couple of months,

maybe I could hook him up
with a favor when he needed it.

I want you to think
really hard now, Benny.

Did you mention my name?

No, why would I do that?

It doesn't matter if Eric died or not.

It was conspiracy to murder
the moment you agreed...

No, I didn't agree to anything, okay?

- I didn't know, I swear.
- Did you tell Creary my name?

Check it out.

Back to buy this time?

- Just have one question first.
- Yeah?

You have a lawyer?

Jerome Creary, you're under arrest

for the attempted murder or Eric Cates.

You have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say can and
will be used against you

in a court of law.

And why would he confess to anything?

Because he has a lot
to lose if he doesn't.

Like what?

Like the next 20 years of your life.

You're forgetting Pedro Garcia,

Miguel Ortega, and Luis Vargas.

You gave the order.
They all ended up dead.

Did I say 20?

Your great-great-grandchildren
will be visiting you in prison.

Okay. So far, I haven't heard anything

that resembles evidence.

We've got the guys who pulled
the triggers on his orders.

Oh, really. And you believe them?

Why wouldn't we? They're cops.

- They turned on me?
- Shut up, Jerome.

It's still dubious evidence.

But your client's cut heroin isn't.

It was left at every scene.

- I want a deal.
- They can't cut a deal.

You're the one who put Jason away.

As you know, Jerome,
I can cut you a deal.

One murder, 1/3 of your sentence.

That's as low as I go.

It's your word against a couple cops.

Killer cops.

They're screwing with you, Jerome.

They need you.

One of them's got how many medals?

- Thirteen.
- Yeah.

Your choice, Jerome.

Look, they wouldn't be coming
to you with a deal unless they...

You get to go home and
bang that skinny ass wife.

None of this make no difference to you.

We got a deal.

The big dog.

Dawson, right?

Grab a seat.

Butchie, get Investigator
Dawson a beer, will ya?

What brings you here?

Memories.

Push to shove, that's all we got.

Hm.

I sat right at that booth

with Lyle, Bosco, and Kelly.

You had just brought down Cutler.

And with him, 4 million
bucks of cocaine.

You were putting down shots of Jameson

faster than I could count.

I said to myself, "Man,
that's the cop I wanna be."

Nothing to be ashamed of, kid.

I looked up to an old
copper the same way.

Gerhardt. You ever hear of him?

Yeah.

Well, let me tell you a story or three.

Jesus, what? I'm eating
pizza with my family.

Who is it, Stephen?

I don't wanna hurt your family, Kim.

Good, get lost then.

I can't do that.

It's work, babe.

Don't wait up.

Put your hands behind your back.

Okay, let's go.

Excuse me.

Got it.

Okay. What you're gonna do is

you're gonna stand up, and
we're gonna walk out of here

like we're high school buddies
on our way to a whore house.

- Or what?
- Or I'm gonna cuff you

right here in front of your fan club.

Docket Number 16CR2876.

People of the State of
Illinois versus Kenneth J. Banks

and Stephen T. Kim.

Charges are first-degree
murder, three counts,

attempted murder, one count.

You boys have been busy. What
are the People looking for?

The People request no bail.

In addition to working for
the CPD for the past 11 years,

my client is a family man

and a solid member of his community.

Defense asks that he be
released on an I Bond.

Your Honor, my client is the
third most decorated detective

in the history of the
Chicago Police Department.

If that doesn't get him
an I Bond, what will?

Their résumés notwithstanding,

they're each charged with four
violent felonies, Your Honor.

They were paid assassins.

D-Bond set at $250,000 each.

I had hoped we could do this one on one,

considering the possible
divergent interests.

You can step out if
you like, Mr. Fetzer.

So picture this,

two detectives, both solid citizens,

heroes even, working afterhours.

They spot a car careening
wildly up a one-way street,

so they circle the block

in an attempt to head
him off at the pass.

- This is all hypothetical.
- Oh, purely.

So our heroes head
towards the culprit's car.

Thank God, he stops.

They get out of their
vehicle. They offer assistance.

They identify themselves.

But the son of a bitch
stomps on the gas,

hurdling straight towards them.

They shoot in order to
preserve their lives.

They drove off, leaving Cates for dead.

They're human. They panicked.

For that single act
of simple malfeasance,

they'll plead to leaving the scene.

Jerome Creary will
testify that he hired them.

This would be the infamous gangster

who's trying to save his own ass.

Forty years. They do it all.

We'll see you in court.

Talk with Forensics.

See how much of O'Boyle's
hypothesis we can disprove.

Seven bullets entered
the car from two weapons.

Can you tell if the car
was moving towards or away

- from the shooters?
- Sorry, we're not that good.

I know what you're thinking,

but he might have already been shot

when he put the car in reverse.

There was gunshot residue

in the front seat of
the detective's car,

if that helps.

It probably rubbed off their hands.

Here and here.

- This is Banks and Kim's car?
- They're the defendants.

Weird, huh?

Since when do detective
cars have dash cams?

They're not supposed to.
Leave it to the bureaucrats.

That puppy has never been turned on.

- You're sure?
- Yeah.

Shame too, because
the system's activated

when the siren's turned on.

It starts recording a
minute before the sirens hit.

How does that work?

Got me. I was never a tech guy.

- You sure that's Cates?
- That's him.

Let's do this so we can get some sleep.

I can't believe they were that stupid.

They didn't know.

The recorder turns on automatically

when the siren is hit.

- I didn't hear a siren.
- Because they didn't use one.

I'm lost.

Virgil in Forensics told me

that not only does the
siren activate the device,

but it starts recording

a minute before the siren is turned on.

I can't believe I'm saying this,

but how does it know?

Been there, believe me,
but then I thought about it.

The only way it could start recording

before the siren is turned on
is if it was always recording,

in a continuous loop, erasing
older stuff as it goes.

All anyone's usually interested in

is the minute before the siren goes off,

but it's all there,
waiting for a savvy tech guy

to dig it out of the hard drive.

I'm very impressed, Anna.

Make copies, and send
them to defense counsel.

- Are you sure that's Cates?
- That's him.

Let's do this so we
can get some sleep.

Well, I'm not one to
offer gratuitous advice,

but someone should start talking deal.

Well, we would, Your Honor,

if it weren't for that
pesky Fourth Amendment.

Under Katz v. U.S.,

an unauthorized electronic eavesdropping

is deemed to be an
illegal search and seizure.

You're arguing that the
cops needed a search warrant

- to bug their own car?
- Why not?

The issue is not whether or not

the car is constitutionally protected.

As we all know, the Fourth Amendment

protects people, not places.

And the people in
question were CPD officers.

So Your Honor, Mr. Stone is arguing

that on the night that the defendants

allegedly shot Mr. Cates,

they were not acting as
law enforcement officers,

but rather as common criminals,

so why shouldn't they be afforded

the same protections and rights

as the common pimp, cat
burglar, or stock swindler?

Because when they shot Mr. Cates,

they were acting under color of law.

Good try, Mr. O'Boyle,

but the recordings are admissible.

I was surprised to get
your phone call, Mr. Fetzer.

You were very quiet in
the chambers this morning.

I know a losing battle when I see one.

My client wants to put an end to this.

Uh, a few years back,

Banks said there's money to be made,

and no real people would get hurt.

Real people?

You know, at first, all
Creary wanted was information.

Is anyone gonna raid one of his joints?

Anybody from his crew
tipping off the cops?

- Stuff like that.
- And you never thought about

what Creary was gonna
do with that information?

What's to think about?

I mean, these people don't have any...

Later, we'd carry drug
money, sometimes guns.

I mean, who's gonna rob us, right?

And the killing?

Just happened.

I mean, these guys
are killing each other

on a daily basis. What
difference does it make?

Okay. I can't help you.

I'll go to jail for as long as you want.

And what do you want from me?

My family, all right?

I want them relocated,
some place they'll be safe.

He'll testify to anything you want.

Life.

Whatever.

Who were the victims?

They were the members of the Jokers.

- That's a gang?
- Mexicans, yeah.

They were moving product on our turf.

I needed to teach them a lesson.

That's why I squashed Garcia,

then Ortega, then Vargas.

You mean you killed them?

Me? Nah.

- I paid for that.
- Who did you pay, Mr. Creary?

The defendant, Banks,
and his partner, Kim.

- How much did you pay them?
- Twenty grand.

- For each murder?
- That's right.

That sounds like a lot of money.

You get the cops to
do the killing for you,

you don't get caught.

Was Eric Cates a member
of the 23rd Street Jokers?

Nah.

That was personal.

He ratted out my brother.

You're testifying here
today as part of a plea deal.

- Isn't that right?
- Yeah.

When the State's
Attorney's investigators

first questioned you about
the shooting of Eric Cates,

you pointed the finger at
somebody else, didn't ya?

- A man named Ricky Marscak.
- That's right.

But he had nothing to do
with the attempted murder.

I just said it was me.

So then the jury can assume
that you're the sort of fella

who'd just say anything
to save his own behind.

- Objection.
- Withdrawn.

I had a couple drinks
with friends from work.

What did you do when you left the bar?

I was going home, and
that's when I got shot.

- Is that your car?
- Yes.

And that?

Looks like the dope
they found in my car.

What were you going to do with it?

Nothing, 'cause it's not mine.

They must've planted
it after they shot me.

Did you ever have any
dealings with a Jerome Creary?

More with his brother, Jayson.

It was a bad time in my life.

I was doing drugs.

I bought from Jayson.

But I've been clean for over a year.

Oh, well, that's good.

And, uh, what instigated
your change in life?

I was arrested for burglary.

Really? 'Cause I checked your records,

and I didn't see any sign of that.

I made a deal.

What sort of deal?

I would give State
Attorney's Investigators

information on Jayson Creary.

- So you're a rat.
- Objection.

Sustained.

You're a confidential informant.

Yes.

In other words, you
wash away your own guilt

by pointing the finger

at someone you conducted
regular business with.

No, it wasn't like that.

He sold, you bought.

That's business.

- You sure that's Cates?
- That's him.

Let's do this so we can get some sleep.

Do you recognize the
voices on that recording?

It's me and Detective Banks.

And both of you fired the shots?

Yes.

What did you do then?

We planted the dope

to make the shooting look
like part of a drug deal.

- Where did you get the drugs?
- From Jerome Creary.

It didn't concern you
that another detective

would see a pattern in the shootings?

Well, there wouldn't
be another detective.

We made sure we were
always assigned the case.

So you committed the crimes,

and then investigated them yourselves?

You have to understand,

Detective Banks suckered
me into all of it.

He tells me my disabled boy

deserves better medical treatment,

my girl needs the best
ballet instructors.

I mean, I know it sounds bad,
but killing a gang banger?

I mean, what's... What's the difference?

They would've killed each other anyway.

Eric Cates wasn't a gang banger.

It got out of hand.

What can I say? I'm sorry.

So you're saying that

if your boy wasn't disabled,

and your daughter wanted to
be, say, just a housewife,

then none of this
would've ever happened?

I don't know.

Well, I got a pretty good idea.

- What's that?
- It's my house.

- That's in Edgebrook, right?
- Yeah.

Damn, I can't afford to live there.

- Objection.
- Eh, withdrawn.

My point is you got a sob story.

We all do.

You get a little greedy. We all are.

But the thing is, the rest of us?

We don't kill for what we want,

and we don't blame our
partner and our best friend

for our own faults and failures!

I'm done, Judge.

Well, this one sure gives
you a lot to think about.

No, it doesn't.

Your client is the worst kinda guilty.

Whatever he may seem to us,
he is a servant of the law,

and therefore beyond human judgment.

It's from my kid, Mr.
Smarty-Ass college boy.

He left his portable
Kafka behind the toilet.

I figured I'd give it a whirl.

That thinking may work
in absurdist novels,

- but not in real life.
- I don't know, Peter.

That Kafka, he's one smart dude.

When you think about it, you and me...

We do our dances in the courtroom.

But that's all it is.

We dance around the law.

But Banks, he puts on a badge
and a gun out on the street,

and he lives, maybe dies by it.

So he can kill with impunity?

No, of course not.

But this... this broken system
that we dance around with,

I'm not so sure that it's
prepared to judge him.

That's why I'm putting
him on the stand tomorrow.

I gotta get home.

I heard how Stevie...
Detective Kim... testified.

The fact is he's colored
the picture to his benefit.

Oh, please, explain.

I've lived in the same
apartment on the South Side

since I joined the force.

I drive a Corolla.

Stephen's got a BMW.

He's the one who wanted the money.

He was the lead detective in every case.

I just went along for the ride.

And why did you do that?

I've been doing this
job for almost 30 years.

I've learned who's who and what's what.

I look at a guy for a
second, I know he's garbage.

And these people we kill,

they shoot you as soon as look at you.

City's been paying me for 30 years

to protect its citizens.

And the people we shot...

Drug dealers, junkies,

killers themselves.

Sooner or later, we'd have
to deal with them anyway.

Understood.

So this was all for the greater good?

It's my job to do things
other people won't or can't do

for the greater good.

It's interesting that
you say it was your job,

Detective Banks.

- Did the city pay you to do it?
- In a way, yes.

It's my job to get the
bad guys off the street.

The junkies, the
dealers, and the killers?

Look, I know where
you're going, Mr. Stone.

Were these shootings related
to ongoing investigations?

No, they were not.

But the thing is a good
cop never stops being a cop.

Right. You see bad, you stop it.

- It's your job.
- That's right.

Right. You can't help it.

So the $80,000

that you and your partner
took from Jerome Creary?

What was that? Was that a tip?

- Objection.
- Withdrawn.

What was Eric Cates?

Was he a dealer, a
junkie, or a murderer?

He did business with
Creary, a gang leader.

So you just assumed he was a...

What did you call it?

- Garbage.
- That's right.

So the kid who mows Mr.
Creary's lawn, he's garbage.

- Course not.
- Why not?

He did business with a gang leader.

Or what about the plumber
that fixes his pipes?

Or what about you? And Detective Kim?

Under your theory,
you're garbage too, right?

I read a story the other
day about an off-duty cop,

who saw a suspicious looking person

approaching a
70-year-old lady.

Now this copper, on his day
off, having no duty to do so,

he decides to stop this guy,

and damned if he doesn't
find a gun in his pocket.

Well, that guy was gonna
mug that sweet old lady

right there on Wacker Drive.

The Mayor himself handed
the cop a commendation,

and called him a hero.

Detective Banks,

he's caught a lot of
bad guys in his career.

He's got a closet full
of medals to prove it.

Now he doesn't do what
he does for a paycheck.

No, he does it, because
that's who he is.

To him, the right thing to do

is to protect and serve
the people of Chicago,

and that is what he did here.

He protected all of us from a cancer

that is slowly killing this city.

What he did was a public service.

Detective Banks killed
Garcia, Vargas, and Ortega,

because they were bad guys.

He tried to kill Eric Cates,

because he bought drugs from a gangster.

Still, he claims he's not
a cold-blooded murderer.

Why?

Because he works for the government

that's supposed to take care of us.

I read the newspaper too, Mr. O'Boyle,

and a lot of what I read is
about someone with a gripe,

complaining their constitutional
rights have been violated,

and demanding that the
government use its authority

to do something to make it better.

I mean, this is America, right?

Now I feel for those people. I do.

But what they're forgetting
is that first and foremost,

the constitution was written

to limit the government's authority.

Let me ask you this.

Who has more authority than
a man with a badge and a gun?

When he uses that authority

to kill without legal justification,

he violates the rights of all of us,

and he should go to jail,

and he should not get out.

On the first count, first-degree murder,

the jury finds the defendant not guilty.

On the second count,
first-degree murder,

the jury finds the defendant not guilty.

On the third count, first-degree murder,

the jury find the defendant not guilty.

On the fourth count,
attempted first-degree murder,

the jury finds the defendant not guilty.

If I had gone to jail for burglary,

I would've been out six months ago.

We will protect you.

Yeah.