The Shield (2002–2008): Season 1, Episode 8 - Cupid & Psycho - full transcript
As the Strike Team is reassigned pending the investigation in the theft of evidence, Vic teams with Claudette in order to keep some deadly drugs off the street.
Previously on The Shield:
- Someone slashed your tires?
- Was the real police busy today?
- Any idea who might've done this?
- Lamar. He's my ex.
Lamar Tilton?
We're investigating vandalism...
...to a car owned by your ex-girlfriend.
- You mean the tires I slashed?
That's my book. The reason I have it
is because Matthew has autism.
That doesn't mean Vic and his guys
didn't steal drugs.
- But without evidence...
- I saw them pocket cocaine.
Cops here will treat you like a traitor.
You ready for that kind of heat?
- I'll have to be.
- We need to keep this under control.
I'll talk to my people, make sure
there are no leaks on this end.
This is an IAD file of an investigation
my people are trying to cover up.
- Dirty cops?
- You'll see it gets publicity.
Don't worry, David. I'll make sure
they spell your name right.
You have an open warrant
for your arrest. Don't worry.
Your boyfriend'll lock up.
Won't you, officer?
One Tango Eight in pursuit
of a white four-door...
... failing to yield traffic eastbound
on Fox Ave approaching Alden.
One Tango Two,
we will be secondary in the pursuit.
- asking the sergeant for permission
to take him out here.
One Tango 1 3, show is in the area.
Paralleling the pursuit on Tambor.
CHP is trying to get a tag strip here.
There's cross-traffic.
This is very dangerous.
They've stopped.
He makes his way through that
intersection. There's traffic up ahead.
He's gonna have to take
the wrong side of the road!
Julien!
Don't gun it! Too many people!
On the wrong side of the road again!
There's a vehicle!
That was nearly a collision...
- "Cops investigated for stealing drugs"?
- I was sick when I saw that.
The chief dunked my balls like
a couple of doughnuts in his coffee.
- You have any idea how this got out?
- Yeah. You leaked it!
- Me?
- You come across like a crusading...
...cop bucking the system.
- We're all hurt by this.
No one succeeds in this department
by being anti-cop.
I'm anti-criminal.
Even if they're wearing a badge.
I must've missed that quote
in the paper.
What're you gonna do about the
Strike Team? Suspend them?
- Innocent until proven guilty.
- Can't have them running the streets...
...with these charges pending.
- And we can't suspend officers...
...without due process. Reassign
the team to the general detective pool.
- Stick them with different partners.
- In the meantime, I'll see if I can...
...figure out who leaked this.
- Don't bother.
You wanna pack your things now
or would you like a few days?
Firing the one cop who actually cares
about cleaning up the department.
I wonder how the chief would like
that headline.
You got it all figured out, don't you?
- Howdy, partner.
- Slumming with us ordinary detectives.
Don't get too excited.
It's just temporary.
Promises, promises.
Looks like we're running
together today.
- Yeah.
- There's traffic up ahead.
- He's trying to get...
- Northbound, over.
It's coming our way.
Block this intersection.
- When we're clear, cross the street.
- Shouldn't I follow?
No, you're trailing. Pull up and over.
They'll tell us when to converge.
Time to converge.
What the hell am I supposed to talk
to Shane Vendrell about all day?
It's good to shake things up.
I don't wanna shake things up.
I want my partner back.
Aren't you sweet? Well, absence
makes the heart grow fonder.
You're gonna miss me too, right?
I called it in.
ETA, three minutes.
Back a block!
Danny!
- Broman, pop the trunk.
- Got it.
God!
Oh, God.
Could've used a higher sunscreen.
God!
The story's even worse than you said.
It's all in there. We're screwed!
Give me till the end of the day,
this thing goes away.
What're you talking about? We're
gonna have to make this thing go away.
- Heard you guys found a crispy critter.
- It's a miracle he's still alive.
Must've had it coming. You gotta
piss somebody off to have them...
...torture you and stick you in a trunk.
- Nobody deserves that.
- He was probably a rat.
- Hey!
- Back off!
- Cut it out!
- Julien's not a rat.
- They run in packs now?
- What is your problem?
- Vic!
Hey! Hey!
Let's not make this
into a bigger mess.
Come on. Come on!
Lay low, man. Do your work.
Leave this thing to me.
Hey.
Hey! I'm still here.
- Julien...
- I hear you.
- Well, you gotta help me out.
- Nothing I can do.
- How did that cop know about us?
- I don't know.
Pulled some strings.
Got you released until your court date.
- You did?
- Yeah.
I just need help with one thing first.
I'm filling out my report,
and I'm a little confused.
When I busted in, it looked like you
had some cop's dick in your mouth.
That can't be right. Can it?
You got something to say,
say it to me.
Okay. It's easy to make a mistake,
especially on a bust.
You think you see someone pocketing
coke instead of boxes of ammo.
- It can be confusing.
- He's not confused about anything.
- I'm not taking back my statement.
- See?
And what you're saying
that he and me did, it never happened.
It never happened.
What? Julien. Julien!
- You heard him. It never happened.
- He needs me.
- Aren't you full of yourself? It's over.
- That's not what he said.
That's what I say. He's got a lot
on his mind right now.
He doesn't need you
complicating things. Stay away.
- You can't keep us apart.
- I've seen your sheet.
Small-time con men like you
only care about themselves.
Yeah, well, he cares about me.
You don't want me hauling you in every
week. That's what you care about.
So cut him off.
Oh, man, look at this guy.
I ever get that bad,
pull the plug with both hands.
- Not me.
- What? You'd want that?
No, but it beats the alternative.
Just keep my machines juiced until
the Hoover Dam's out of business.
- Detectives.
- Dr. Crawford. How's the poor sap?
Third-degree burns over 60 percent
of his body. He's gonna die.
Here are his things.
The skin showed traces of red
phosphorus and hydrogen chloride.
- He blew himself up in a meth lab.
- Seeing two, three of these a month.
Every bozo from here to San
Bernardino thinks he can cook crank.
Don't know what you're doing, boom.
Meth. Courtesy of Cupid.
- How lovely.
- Meth's the drug of the day.
We've got a few ODs in the ER
right now.
Could you take us down there,
give us a look?
- Oh, he's tweaking.
- Third one today.
- Could I see the patient's belongings?
- Over here.
May we see
the patient's belongings please?
Thank you.
- Call me if you get any more.
- I will.
Cupid's busy.
Looks like our mummy cooked up
some crap before blowing himself up.
Let's hope he's dumb and lazy.
No telling how much he churned out.
Got another college kid.
- How do you wanna play this?
- We both have our own ways that work.
- Why don't we just take turns?
- Take turns?
We follow one lead your way,
next one my way.
Your way's not gonna land me
in the papers, is it?
- Don't believe everything you read.
- Okay. Who goes first?
- Ladies go first.
- All I know is the ID of the driver...
...so let's start with his family.
- Lead the way.
- David.
- Jorge.
- There's no turning back, huh?
- I know I've burned some bridges.
- Now's the time to build new ones.
- How so?
The good news.
This headline is exactly what we
needed to brand you for the voters.
- It came out well.
- I've decided to back you...
...for City Council.
I was hoping that's what this
was about. Thank you.
I would like you and Aurora to join me
for dinner tomorrow.
You can meet
the rest of your team then.
- I have a team?
- We have a lot of work ahead of us.
The celebration on Cinco de Mayo will
make a good coming-out party for you.
Jorge. I promise,
I'm not in this to lose.
You can't afford to.
Don't believe everything
you read.
You gotta wonder where they
come up with this stuff.
- Anything break yet?
- Nope.
There's a crack den on Temple
due for a toss. Wanna hit it?
I wish I could.
I've gotta go over some open files.
Alrighty then.
Danny!
How was the sergeant's test?
I don't know. It's gonna be close.
I kind of froze a little.
I'll bet you did great.
Listen, pass or fail, I do want
to thank you for tutoring me.
- Can I buy you dinner tomorrow night?
- Sure.
Great. Tomorrow night.
You pick the place.
- Can I help you with that?
- Sure, yeah.
- Can I help you?
- Yes. I'm looking for Det. Gannon.
I've been leaving him messages
for the last two months.
Det. Gannon retired last year.
Well, he was investigating a case.
My husband was murdered.
- Here, have a seat.
- Thank you.
I haven't heard anything in ages.
I couldn't understand
why he wasn't returning my calls.
- What's your husband's name?
- Kyle Kelner.
I'll pull the file. I'll be right back.
So you lost your husband.
- Year ago today.
- I'm so sorry.
I don't understand. I mean,
why would Andy run from the police?
He had a burn victim in his trunk
and methamphetamine in his pocket.
This doesn't make any sense.
This is from my daughter's
rubber-stamp kit.
You didn't know
your husband was involved in this?
He's a web-page designer,
not a drug dealer.
He and his friend Eric
have been looking for jobs...
...ever since the company
they worked for had gone bust.
- Who's Eric?
- They went to college together.
I tried to reach him
when I saw the chase on TV...
...but I can't get ahold of him.
I'm afraid I might know
where to find Eric.
- I can't even look at him like that.
- It was a meth-lab explosion.
What?
Meth lab?
I knew that my brother
was having money problems.
You know, but how was I supposed
to help him?
He's the one who went to college.
Now they're asking me to end his life.
What do I do?
Thanks for standing up
for me earlier.
That's what partners do.
Even if you don't agree with them.
- Don't agree with them?
- Look, this is a brotherhood.
Everybody knows that but you.
- You don't know what I been through.
- Because you don't tell me.
Decide if you wanna stay partners.
If you do, start opening up.
If you don't, talk to Aceveda.
Car's clean.
He turned me down when
I asked him for a new partner.
Maybe he'll give you
a different answer.
- Here's an unserved warrant.
- Year-old lottery ticket.
Weight Watchers coupon.
Like that lard-ass would ever use it.
He just dumped
his desk drawer into this box.
Clock ran out on this case a year ago.
I'm not shoveling ice off the clue trail.
- Well, we owe it to her.
- No, Gannon owes her.
You want me to fly solo?
No, man. Looks like this
is the only action I'm gonna get today.
- Excuse me?
- The "I lost my husband tragically...
...but I'm young, hot and in need
of an emotional release" sex.
- You're kidding, right?
- What?
You've never covered some homicide
and gone back later for a statement?
This one's been hanging on the vine
for a year, man. She is ripe.
- Get out of here! She's with me now.
- Just give me two minutes, man.
- She say you only last two minutes.
- As long as it takes to whup your ass.
- Hey. Hey, hey, hey!
- Tell me, what?!
- What you wanna do, then?
- Wait a minute. You guys again?
Weren't you with you and we
busted you for slashing his tires?
That's the past. Today you need
to be arresting him for trespassing.
You gotta own something for me
to be trespassing, welfare nigga!
- Man, my job is getting nasty with Fran.
- Come on, Fran, don't do this, baby.
- We together now. What you want?
- Fran, give me two minutes, girl.
- She's not giving you two minutes.
- Give me one minute.
- We're through, Hooper.
- Fran, don't do this.
- She's not giving you the time of day.
- Don't do that, Fran.
- He don't deserve you, girl.
- Get on inside. Come on.
Fran. Come on, now,
don't do this, baby!
Finishing the marketing plan.
Has to be done before I fly to Houston.
- Don't think you're getting any.
- Is that any way...
...to talk to the next city councilman?
- Oh, my God. Machado said yes?
We're having dinner at his house
tomorrow to meet the team.
The team? Oh, David.
I can't believe it.
So why aren't you more excited?
This is my shot. I won't get another.
You won't need another one.
Power is an aphrodisiac.
Died about 20 minutes ago.
Second, so far.
Third one scrambled his brains,
and all from the same college.
We better find this stuff, or you'll be
stacking them up in the freezer.
- Ambulances bring them all in?
- All but that one.
Who brought him?
That guy over there.
Police. You knew the OD victim?
He was rushing my frat.
I'm the pledgemaster.
This part of rush week?
- My father's a lawyer.
- Mine was a bricklayer. So what?
Fowler, Coughlin & Rose.
You wanna talk to me, talk to them.
We are definitely
doing this one my way.
Get the hell off me!
- You want him to be your brother?
- Yeah.
- Kiss your brother.
- Stop!
- Where'd he get the meth?
- Please, no!
- Where'd he get it?
- I don't know!
Fine. Kiss your brother again.
We gave it to all the pledges!
It was supposed to be funny,
sending them to class on speed.
- Jesus.
- Where'd he get it from?
Effi. Effi Montecito.
He deals to all the frats.
Good. Now let me show you
how we haze our pledges.
Detective Gannon
left a long list of TBls...
...to be interviewed.
So we're starting from scratch.
What exactly was
your husband's business?
Property management.
He owned condos, rented them out.
And he was found
at a construction site?
Yeah, he and his partner Ari
were building a new complex.
Was he meeting someone?
I don't know. I...
I had just gotten home from
my parents' when the police called.
- I'm sorry.
- It's okay.
- Here you go.
- Thank you.
- I'll get you some chips.
- Thanks.
Have you talked to anyone,
like a grief counselor?
Didn't help.
- I know some that are very good.
- I don't know. It's already been a year.
But it feels like it was yesterday
when you got that call.
Our dealer Effi is a 25-year-old
still living in his old frat house.
- Can't seem to grow up?
- He'll grow up fast in San Quentin.
Real fast.
It'll take a few hours to get the warrant.
I'll start.
Not a problem.
I got some errands to run, anyway.
What's going on? This IAD thing's
still hanging out there.
I told you.
I'm not changing my statement.
- I'm willing to keep your secret.
- Sure you are.
I am. What do you think,
I'm gonna twist your arm?
- All you gotta do is...
- Lie?
It's not a lie. You made a mistake.
We put boxes of ammo in that bag,
not bricks of coke.
I know what ammo looks like, and
I know what blackmail looks like too.
- It's not gonna work.
- I got nothing to lose.
My guys have taken fire
from every scumbag in town.
They're going down because some
rookie thinks he saw something?
I did see something.
I'm not gonna let you
destroy their lives.
So you're gonna try
and destroy mine?
You're not giving me any choice.
Handing in this arrest report is the
only way I can think to stop you...
...from making a huge mistake.
- That report doesn't prove anything.
I don't have to prove you're gay.
In this house, all I gotta do is say it
with all the gory details.
- There you go.
- All right.
Vic!
- I'm not sure they stole any drugs.
- What?
It was dark. They were at the other
end. My view was obstructed.
You never said your view
was obstructed.
Well, it was.
You didn't see Mackey put two bricks
of cocaine into a weapons bag?
I can't be positive.
You didn't see Shane Vendrell
drive off with that bag?
- I don't know for sure what was in it.
- Mackey got to you.
He threatened you.
We can get him for that too.
- He didn't.
- Then what?
Maybe I let his reputation
cloud my judgment.
Question: "Are you positive it was
two kilos of cocaine?" Answer: "Yes."
I'm not sure anymore.
Julien, failure to report corruption
and giving false testimony...
...are both serious offenses.
I'll accept whatever
punishment I have to.
I'm sorry to disappoint you.
- Yeah!
- I told you it would go away.
- How'd you get him to back off?
- I reasoned with the man.
You are my personal hero.
- Get out.
- Sure. I got a big case I'm working.
- What did you do to him?
- To who?
- Officer Lowe.
- Nothing.
- Is he okay?
- He changed his statement.
IAD hasn't notified me.
If anything happens to him...
Can't see why it would. Listen, I gotta
run. I'm touring a school for my kid.
Oh, sorry your headlines
got screwed up.
- What now?
- Look at this.
"Hoe"?
Goddamn bastard called her that
for everybody to see.
- How do you know Hooper did this?
- Hooper's not a very good speller.
Look it over. Sign right there.
So he can't come within 1 0 feet of me?
That's a restraining order.
You can use this to justify one.
- So, what if he comes near me?
- Then I make him my bitch. Sign it.
- Sometimes I see him at the Vons.
- Vons? What Vons?
- Well, he helps with my shopping.
- Helps with your shopping?
- Hell, no. That stops right here.
- Back off. Just let her think it through.
She needs to sign the damn thing.
Okay, baby.
It's all good.
So you were Kyle Kelner's
business partner.
- Until he died.
- Where were you the night he died?
I told the detective last year.
I was in Phoenix on business.
Why are you just getting around
to Kyle's murder now?
Unfortunately, the file slipped through
a crack in the system.
Judging from today's newspaper...
...l'm surprised any crack
slips past you guys.
Well, those are just allegations.
Sure. Gotta stick up for your own.
I understand.
He got along with everyone.
Nice, funny. A great boss, you know?
Wish I could find another one like him.
Haven't had a decent job since he died.
- Must be real tough on you.
- Yeah.
Yeah.
You know, it's times like this when
you need someone to lean on.
- Like a husband or boyfriend or...
- I'm single.
Our specialized care is designed to
meet the needs of autistic children...
...including speech,
occupational, behavior therapies.
The facilities are really nice.
One of the books I read said if
you put a kid with other autistic kids...
...it keeps them from socializing.
Sort of lowering the bar.
Some people think that. But we've
seen that autistic children progress...
...most rapidly in a small class
with other kids their own level.
How does this compare with
public schools, pilot programs?
You risk Matthew being placed
in a typical class with an aide.
- What's wrong with that?
- Throwing them in the deep end...
...won't teach them how to swim.
Here Matthew will be a leader.
He'll gain more confidence.
So he won't be behind anymore.
We have one spot available.
It's sure to go quickly.
Twenty-five grand is pretty steep.
Services we provide aren't cheap.
You ask any of the parents here,
they'll tell you it's worth it.
It seems wonderful.
I know it's a big decision, but I suggest
you make it quickly. Excuse me.
- Julien.
- Reverend. What are you doing here?
Your captain called. He said you
were struggling with a decision.
Some reason,
thought I might be able to help.
Come on, police stations
make me nervous. I need a smoke.
I went back on my statement
because I'm not sure what I saw.
What made you sign it
in the first place?
I don't know. Too eager to do
the right thing. I overreacted.
I know an overreactor when I see one.
That's not you.
What's going on, Julien?
What do you do when the man that you
are isn't the man that you wanna be?
Then you give the man that you are
a swift kick in the ass.
What's stopping you?
Nothing. I'll be all right.
Only thing better than
unfiltered smoke.
Unfiltered prayer. Just you and God.
No secrets. Nothing in between.
See you Sunday?
Yeah.
Okay. Come on, boys.
- Let's go, ladies. Who's up?
- Are you serious about this?
Hey, what's happening?
- Who the hell are you?
- Decency police.
- Let me guess. Effi Montecito?
- Yeah.
- You're coming with us.
- What?
- This one we do my way.
- Lf you feel we have time for that.
Hey! I thought screwing sheep
went out with New Wave.
We weren't gonna make them do it.
We just wanted to see who would.
Wait. You dragged my son
here for a schoolboy prank like this?
Your son's here on suspicion
of drug trafficking.
- What?
- Dad, it's not true.
So far, three students
at Mission Cross Hospital...
...have died from
your Cupid crystal meth.
That wasn't mine.
Apparently he supplies
half of fraternity row.
We have to get this batch
off the street before more kids die.
- You dealing drugs again? Goddamn it.
- Dad, they can't prove anything.
You're 25 years old. Grow up,
would you? You stupid son of a bitch.
- What the hell's the matter with you?
- Stop!
- Your stuff is killing...
- Shut up!
Hey, hey, hey, that's enough!
Don't you know what you're doing to
your family? Go on. Let them take you.
Go on. You stupid piece of shit! You
see if I'm gonna bail you out this time.
I like doing things your way.
I told them to take the
life support away.
Son, I don't mean to be disingenuous,
but I'm sorry.
- What's "disingenuous" mean?
- Means you're under arrest.
- For what?
- For shaking and baking crystal meth.
- I don't know anything about that.
- We talked to Effi.
He rolled on you, you roll on him.
Eric was mixing up a batch and it
exploded and he was screaming.
His flesh was...
We couldn't take him to the hospital.
So you tossed him in a trunk.
Andy was gonna
bury him in the desert.
He was still alive.
We thought that he'd die
by the time that we got there.
Exactly how stupid are you?
You're six credits shy of graduating
for the last four years.
You're a drug dealer who spends his
time watching pledges hump sheep.
- And he's the stupid one?
- Any more bad crank still out there?
Only the stuff Manny's holding
for collateral.
Who's Manny?
He's the guy we borrowed
the money from to start the meth lab.
When we couldn't pay right away,
he smashed up my hand...
...and he took half of the drugs
as collateral.
- How much is half?
- Ten pounds.
There's still 1 0 pounds
of this shit out there?
- Goddamn it.
- Lf he hadn't threatened us...
...Eric wouldn't have rushed the
last batch and he would still be alive.
- All right. Who is this Manny guy?
- Manny Sandoval.
Manny Sandoval skated two murders
I should've had him for.
I've wanted this bastard
for a year.
If he's so bad,
how come I never heard of him?
You know every criminal
on the street?
After we catch this guy, I will.
You want me to give you $20,000?
You can't be serious.
That's what our meth men
owe this Manny.
They're both willing to wear a wire.
Nail him at the drop.
Get the bad dope out of circulation.
Vic, stop. You're under investigation
for stealing drugs.
- I'm supposed to give you cash?
- You're not giving it to Vic.
You're giving it to me.
So we can save some lives.
- When do you need it?
- Tomorrow.
So long as we're clear,
I'm giving the money to you.
- Hi. I'm sorry to bother you.
- Hey.
I tried to call,
but the phone's disconnected.
- Is everything okay?
- Oh, yeah. I just forgot to pay the bill.
- But it'll be on in a couple days, so...
- No problem.
I need to check on one thing,
and I'll leave.
Did your husband have
business ties to Phoenix?
I don't think so.
I know Ari has family there.
- Your husband's partner?
- Yeah.
He was visiting them the night
that Kyle was killed.
Hey, I called one of those
grief counselors you recommended.
- Yeah?
- I have an appointment on Tuesday.
Good. I'm glad.
- Well, thank you. I'll...
- Detective, do you have to...?
Thanks for taking care of this.
- Thanks.
- My pleasure. Good night.
Bye.
I called Reverend Cook because I was
worried. I know how tough this is.
You shouldn't have done that.
I don't know what Mackey did or said...
...but I know it took fortitude
to come forward in the first place.
- Where's that fortitude now?
- I made a mistake.
Yes, you have.
And I wanna help you rectify it.
I don't want your help.
You should contact your
PBA rep, Julien.
You're facing suspension,
probably termination.
I wish it'd gone down a different way.
We can skip the trip
to Lake Powell this year.
I can go back to work at the ER,
pick up some shifts per diem.
And spend half the money
you make on daycare.
We'll lose that spot.
Then he'll go to school in the
real world, learn how to socialize.
I want him at Glenridge.
He'll be happy there, I know it.
You know what? You know it too.
All right. Call them tomorrow.
I'll have to pick up extra shifts.
- We barely see you enough already.
- What do you want?
I'm not mad. We just miss you.
- Matthew ruined my notebook.
- Let me see here.
You know what?
We'll get you a new one, okay?
Why does he do stuff like that?
He never listens.
No, Matthew listens. He just
understands things differently.
Come here.
You see how you make your letters so
neat? Get them to fit inside the lines?
Yeah.
Matthew...
He doesn't know how
to make things fit.
He needs help with that kind of stuff.
Big sister help?
Yeah. Big sister help.
Come here.
Big sister help.
- It'll be okay.
- It's not okay. You don't deserve this.
- So much for riding that headline...
- You're more than just that headline.
Not to Machado. When he hears
that the case fell apart...
If he backs out, what happens?
Gilroy's getting squeezed. First chance
he gets, he's gonna take it out on me.
There's gotta be
something you can do.
I can't think of what.
I really thought this was my shot.
I'm so sorry.
I knew twice in one day
was too much to hope for.
"Shoe"?
- What are you doing here?
- I told you. I only needed two minutes.
He bumped into me at the Vons.
Who painted that S?
I couldn't scrub off the "hoe."
That was the next best thing.
- Why are we here?
- Hey, Lamar slashed my tires again.
- He gets jealous.
- I want my name Wite-outed...
...on that restraining order,
put Lamar's name on there.
- That's not gonna be a problem, is it?
- You, come with me.
Hey, we hooked up
at the Vons, yo.
Apparently, these guys will do anything
for you. You're leading them on.
- I am not.
- Yeah, you are.
Now, stop stringing them along.
Just pick one and stick with him.
It's the right thing to do.
Go to Phoenix often, Ari?
- Sometimes.
- Who were you meeting with...
...the night that Kyle was killed?
- A business acquaintance.
Did you have dinner?
No, I got in around 9:30.
We had drinks.
Did you get a chance
to see your family?
Family?
- No, not that trip.
- 9:30. So you were on the 8:00 flight?
- Exactly.
- I checked the flight manifests.
Your flight flew out at 1 0.
You wanna tell me something, Ari?
- You did it. Say it.
- Yes. L...
- Say it!
- Yes, I killed him. I didn't plan it.
He found out I was stealing money
from our joint account.
He accused me.
I got scared and I just killed him.
I didn't have a plan,
I didn't have an alibi.
Why didn't you guys
arrest me last year?
Oh, that rocked. That rocked, man.
You set him up, I knocked him down.
Oh, yeah. You are great.
You're great. You're great.
Don't you, just once, wish
you worked for Beverly Hills P. D?
I'll bet you their wires work.
You don't like the
World War II hand-me-down?
You guys still owe me 20...
- The lab exploded.
- Not my problem. Want the drugs...
- Thirty percent...
- Damn. Did he say it?
I can't hear.
Your brother...
- Because of you, you son of a bitch!
- Stop, you goddamn crazy... My eye!
My brother'd still be...
What is this? Is this a bug?
You taping me, bitch?
- You taping me? I'm gonna kill you.
- Hey! Drop it! Don't make me kill you!
Self-defense, man.
Crazy bastard was trying to kill me.
- Shut up.
- Paul just attacked him.
He just ruined everything.
I told you he's stupid.
He killed Eric, okay?
He killed my brother.
This doesn't
screw up my deal, does it?
Your informant attacks me
while working for you?
My lawyer's gonna
buy a house off this.
You were ready to kill Paul.
But I didn't. And even if I did,
it was self-defense.
Why don't we let a jury sort that out?
Some kids croaked on meth, right?
Put me behind bars,
not only won't those charges stick...
...there's a good chance
the stuff gets loose on the street.
- You sick bastard.
- Only when I have to be.
Now, we gonna help
each other out or what?
Why would Ari kill him?
He was siphoning off
money from the business.
Kyle caught him, hand in the cookie
jar. He was gonna blow the whistle.
- Thank you, detectives.
- Don't mention it. It's our job.
I'll check in on you in a few weeks,
just to make sure you're doing okay.
I hope you keep that appointment.
It's a lot to take in, I know.
I thought I'd be okay,
knowing what happened.
Doesn't make it any better.
Doesn't change anything.
He's still not gonna be there
when I get home, is he?
I just don't wanna be alone anymore.
Listen, Danny, I know this is short
notice, but I have to break our...
- Cancel our dinner tonight.
- Everything all right?
Yeah. A friend of mine's
having a crisis...
- It's no problem.
- I'm really sorry.
I'll just work a double.
I can use the extra cash.
Great. We'll do it soon.
They swept the area. Garbage cans,
dumpsters, crawl spaces. Nothing.
- What about his place?
- No Cupid in sight.
We've got 1 0 pounds of junk still out
there and he's holding all the cards.
I think this might be a good time for us
to start doing things my way.
- And what way would that be, exactly?
- Hey, captain. Didn't see you there.
Someone should put a bell
around your neck.
- Where do we stand with the meth?
- Between a rock and a hard place.
Looks like we're gonna have to
do this Manny's way.
The drugs were right where
you said they'd be.
Lucky guess.
You're welcome for the public service.
Pleasure doing business
with you, detective.
You picked the right day to
cross paths with me. I was handcuffed.
- Man, you guys got a lot of rules.
- You know something?
You might not have pulled
any triggers, but people are dead...
...because of what you did.
You're on my radar now.
Okay.
Trust me, that's not a good thing.
Just have fun tonight.
They're all dying to meet you.
That's why I'm here.
It kills me, Jorge,
but this whole thing fell apart.
The key witness got cold feet.
The investigation's dead.
I wanted you to hear it from me.
It's not ideal.
But it's not disaster either. David,
people remember the headlines.
Most times they don't even
read past them.
- This being politics...
- Perception is reality.
Learning fast. Don't worry about it.
I live up to my promises.
You're my man, get used to it.
I see you at 8.
- How'd things go with Mackey today?
- Fine.
Good.
I missed you too, okay? You happy?
It doesn't matter to me.
How was your day?
Shane wants to hit the
monster truck rally on Friday.
Gotta stop meeting like this.
People are gonna talk.
Not about anything
they heard from me.
Hey, might not feel like it,
but you did the right thing yesterday.
I'm not gay.
Julien, come on.
I'm not.
It's this thing...
...inside of me.
I push it down, it goes away.
But then it comes back stronger.
I shove it down again,
but it just keeps on coming back...
...till I don't have the strength
to push anymore.
I am so weak.
I hate this thing inside of me.
Julien.
You can't go through life
hating who you are.
I pushed away everyone.
My partner, my reverend, Tomas.
I'm alone.
Hey, no, you're not.
You were there for me.
I'm there for you.
It is so nice to have someone else
cook dinner. It smells incredible.
Thanks. One of the keys is basil.
You have to add it
just before it's done...
...otherwise you cook the flavor
out of it.
- Well, we wouldn't wanna do that.
- No.
Strainer?
Today has been
very emotional for you.
There's a lot of...
...delayed grief, pent-up confusion,
misplaced feelings.
I'm not gonna take advantage of that.
Hold me.
- Hey.
- What's up?
This whole IAD thing.
- I shut you out. Looks like I was wrong.
- This thing confused a lot of people.
Yeah, I know. Killed my partnership.
It's not too late. He's a good kid.
Maybe he deserves a second chance.
Most of us do.
- I'll see you.
- Right.
- Sir.
- Danny.
Strike Team's back in business,
effective tomorrow.
- Did you ever have any doubt?
- I did this time.
I'm tired, Vic.
I just can't keep explaining these
messes or cleaning up after them.
- Ben.
- No.
I'm not gonna let myself get burned.
We're done, Vic.
I just can't have your back anymore.
I thought I owed it to you to tell you.
- Someone slashed your tires?
- Was the real police busy today?
- Any idea who might've done this?
- Lamar. He's my ex.
Lamar Tilton?
We're investigating vandalism...
...to a car owned by your ex-girlfriend.
- You mean the tires I slashed?
That's my book. The reason I have it
is because Matthew has autism.
That doesn't mean Vic and his guys
didn't steal drugs.
- But without evidence...
- I saw them pocket cocaine.
Cops here will treat you like a traitor.
You ready for that kind of heat?
- I'll have to be.
- We need to keep this under control.
I'll talk to my people, make sure
there are no leaks on this end.
This is an IAD file of an investigation
my people are trying to cover up.
- Dirty cops?
- You'll see it gets publicity.
Don't worry, David. I'll make sure
they spell your name right.
You have an open warrant
for your arrest. Don't worry.
Your boyfriend'll lock up.
Won't you, officer?
One Tango Eight in pursuit
of a white four-door...
... failing to yield traffic eastbound
on Fox Ave approaching Alden.
One Tango Two,
we will be secondary in the pursuit.
- asking the sergeant for permission
to take him out here.
One Tango 1 3, show is in the area.
Paralleling the pursuit on Tambor.
CHP is trying to get a tag strip here.
There's cross-traffic.
This is very dangerous.
They've stopped.
He makes his way through that
intersection. There's traffic up ahead.
He's gonna have to take
the wrong side of the road!
Julien!
Don't gun it! Too many people!
On the wrong side of the road again!
There's a vehicle!
That was nearly a collision...
- "Cops investigated for stealing drugs"?
- I was sick when I saw that.
The chief dunked my balls like
a couple of doughnuts in his coffee.
- You have any idea how this got out?
- Yeah. You leaked it!
- Me?
- You come across like a crusading...
...cop bucking the system.
- We're all hurt by this.
No one succeeds in this department
by being anti-cop.
I'm anti-criminal.
Even if they're wearing a badge.
I must've missed that quote
in the paper.
What're you gonna do about the
Strike Team? Suspend them?
- Innocent until proven guilty.
- Can't have them running the streets...
...with these charges pending.
- And we can't suspend officers...
...without due process. Reassign
the team to the general detective pool.
- Stick them with different partners.
- In the meantime, I'll see if I can...
...figure out who leaked this.
- Don't bother.
You wanna pack your things now
or would you like a few days?
Firing the one cop who actually cares
about cleaning up the department.
I wonder how the chief would like
that headline.
You got it all figured out, don't you?
- Howdy, partner.
- Slumming with us ordinary detectives.
Don't get too excited.
It's just temporary.
Promises, promises.
Looks like we're running
together today.
- Yeah.
- There's traffic up ahead.
- He's trying to get...
- Northbound, over.
It's coming our way.
Block this intersection.
- When we're clear, cross the street.
- Shouldn't I follow?
No, you're trailing. Pull up and over.
They'll tell us when to converge.
Time to converge.
What the hell am I supposed to talk
to Shane Vendrell about all day?
It's good to shake things up.
I don't wanna shake things up.
I want my partner back.
Aren't you sweet? Well, absence
makes the heart grow fonder.
You're gonna miss me too, right?
I called it in.
ETA, three minutes.
Back a block!
Danny!
- Broman, pop the trunk.
- Got it.
God!
Oh, God.
Could've used a higher sunscreen.
God!
The story's even worse than you said.
It's all in there. We're screwed!
Give me till the end of the day,
this thing goes away.
What're you talking about? We're
gonna have to make this thing go away.
- Heard you guys found a crispy critter.
- It's a miracle he's still alive.
Must've had it coming. You gotta
piss somebody off to have them...
...torture you and stick you in a trunk.
- Nobody deserves that.
- He was probably a rat.
- Hey!
- Back off!
- Cut it out!
- Julien's not a rat.
- They run in packs now?
- What is your problem?
- Vic!
Hey! Hey!
Let's not make this
into a bigger mess.
Come on. Come on!
Lay low, man. Do your work.
Leave this thing to me.
Hey.
Hey! I'm still here.
- Julien...
- I hear you.
- Well, you gotta help me out.
- Nothing I can do.
- How did that cop know about us?
- I don't know.
Pulled some strings.
Got you released until your court date.
- You did?
- Yeah.
I just need help with one thing first.
I'm filling out my report,
and I'm a little confused.
When I busted in, it looked like you
had some cop's dick in your mouth.
That can't be right. Can it?
You got something to say,
say it to me.
Okay. It's easy to make a mistake,
especially on a bust.
You think you see someone pocketing
coke instead of boxes of ammo.
- It can be confusing.
- He's not confused about anything.
- I'm not taking back my statement.
- See?
And what you're saying
that he and me did, it never happened.
It never happened.
What? Julien. Julien!
- You heard him. It never happened.
- He needs me.
- Aren't you full of yourself? It's over.
- That's not what he said.
That's what I say. He's got a lot
on his mind right now.
He doesn't need you
complicating things. Stay away.
- You can't keep us apart.
- I've seen your sheet.
Small-time con men like you
only care about themselves.
Yeah, well, he cares about me.
You don't want me hauling you in every
week. That's what you care about.
So cut him off.
Oh, man, look at this guy.
I ever get that bad,
pull the plug with both hands.
- Not me.
- What? You'd want that?
No, but it beats the alternative.
Just keep my machines juiced until
the Hoover Dam's out of business.
- Detectives.
- Dr. Crawford. How's the poor sap?
Third-degree burns over 60 percent
of his body. He's gonna die.
Here are his things.
The skin showed traces of red
phosphorus and hydrogen chloride.
- He blew himself up in a meth lab.
- Seeing two, three of these a month.
Every bozo from here to San
Bernardino thinks he can cook crank.
Don't know what you're doing, boom.
Meth. Courtesy of Cupid.
- How lovely.
- Meth's the drug of the day.
We've got a few ODs in the ER
right now.
Could you take us down there,
give us a look?
- Oh, he's tweaking.
- Third one today.
- Could I see the patient's belongings?
- Over here.
May we see
the patient's belongings please?
Thank you.
- Call me if you get any more.
- I will.
Cupid's busy.
Looks like our mummy cooked up
some crap before blowing himself up.
Let's hope he's dumb and lazy.
No telling how much he churned out.
Got another college kid.
- How do you wanna play this?
- We both have our own ways that work.
- Why don't we just take turns?
- Take turns?
We follow one lead your way,
next one my way.
Your way's not gonna land me
in the papers, is it?
- Don't believe everything you read.
- Okay. Who goes first?
- Ladies go first.
- All I know is the ID of the driver...
...so let's start with his family.
- Lead the way.
- David.
- Jorge.
- There's no turning back, huh?
- I know I've burned some bridges.
- Now's the time to build new ones.
- How so?
The good news.
This headline is exactly what we
needed to brand you for the voters.
- It came out well.
- I've decided to back you...
...for City Council.
I was hoping that's what this
was about. Thank you.
I would like you and Aurora to join me
for dinner tomorrow.
You can meet
the rest of your team then.
- I have a team?
- We have a lot of work ahead of us.
The celebration on Cinco de Mayo will
make a good coming-out party for you.
Jorge. I promise,
I'm not in this to lose.
You can't afford to.
Don't believe everything
you read.
You gotta wonder where they
come up with this stuff.
- Anything break yet?
- Nope.
There's a crack den on Temple
due for a toss. Wanna hit it?
I wish I could.
I've gotta go over some open files.
Alrighty then.
Danny!
How was the sergeant's test?
I don't know. It's gonna be close.
I kind of froze a little.
I'll bet you did great.
Listen, pass or fail, I do want
to thank you for tutoring me.
- Can I buy you dinner tomorrow night?
- Sure.
Great. Tomorrow night.
You pick the place.
- Can I help you with that?
- Sure, yeah.
- Can I help you?
- Yes. I'm looking for Det. Gannon.
I've been leaving him messages
for the last two months.
Det. Gannon retired last year.
Well, he was investigating a case.
My husband was murdered.
- Here, have a seat.
- Thank you.
I haven't heard anything in ages.
I couldn't understand
why he wasn't returning my calls.
- What's your husband's name?
- Kyle Kelner.
I'll pull the file. I'll be right back.
So you lost your husband.
- Year ago today.
- I'm so sorry.
I don't understand. I mean,
why would Andy run from the police?
He had a burn victim in his trunk
and methamphetamine in his pocket.
This doesn't make any sense.
This is from my daughter's
rubber-stamp kit.
You didn't know
your husband was involved in this?
He's a web-page designer,
not a drug dealer.
He and his friend Eric
have been looking for jobs...
...ever since the company
they worked for had gone bust.
- Who's Eric?
- They went to college together.
I tried to reach him
when I saw the chase on TV...
...but I can't get ahold of him.
I'm afraid I might know
where to find Eric.
- I can't even look at him like that.
- It was a meth-lab explosion.
What?
Meth lab?
I knew that my brother
was having money problems.
You know, but how was I supposed
to help him?
He's the one who went to college.
Now they're asking me to end his life.
What do I do?
Thanks for standing up
for me earlier.
That's what partners do.
Even if you don't agree with them.
- Don't agree with them?
- Look, this is a brotherhood.
Everybody knows that but you.
- You don't know what I been through.
- Because you don't tell me.
Decide if you wanna stay partners.
If you do, start opening up.
If you don't, talk to Aceveda.
Car's clean.
He turned me down when
I asked him for a new partner.
Maybe he'll give you
a different answer.
- Here's an unserved warrant.
- Year-old lottery ticket.
Weight Watchers coupon.
Like that lard-ass would ever use it.
He just dumped
his desk drawer into this box.
Clock ran out on this case a year ago.
I'm not shoveling ice off the clue trail.
- Well, we owe it to her.
- No, Gannon owes her.
You want me to fly solo?
No, man. Looks like this
is the only action I'm gonna get today.
- Excuse me?
- The "I lost my husband tragically...
...but I'm young, hot and in need
of an emotional release" sex.
- You're kidding, right?
- What?
You've never covered some homicide
and gone back later for a statement?
This one's been hanging on the vine
for a year, man. She is ripe.
- Get out of here! She's with me now.
- Just give me two minutes, man.
- She say you only last two minutes.
- As long as it takes to whup your ass.
- Hey. Hey, hey, hey!
- Tell me, what?!
- What you wanna do, then?
- Wait a minute. You guys again?
Weren't you with you and we
busted you for slashing his tires?
That's the past. Today you need
to be arresting him for trespassing.
You gotta own something for me
to be trespassing, welfare nigga!
- Man, my job is getting nasty with Fran.
- Come on, Fran, don't do this, baby.
- We together now. What you want?
- Fran, give me two minutes, girl.
- She's not giving you two minutes.
- Give me one minute.
- We're through, Hooper.
- Fran, don't do this.
- She's not giving you the time of day.
- Don't do that, Fran.
- He don't deserve you, girl.
- Get on inside. Come on.
Fran. Come on, now,
don't do this, baby!
Finishing the marketing plan.
Has to be done before I fly to Houston.
- Don't think you're getting any.
- Is that any way...
...to talk to the next city councilman?
- Oh, my God. Machado said yes?
We're having dinner at his house
tomorrow to meet the team.
The team? Oh, David.
I can't believe it.
So why aren't you more excited?
This is my shot. I won't get another.
You won't need another one.
Power is an aphrodisiac.
Died about 20 minutes ago.
Second, so far.
Third one scrambled his brains,
and all from the same college.
We better find this stuff, or you'll be
stacking them up in the freezer.
- Ambulances bring them all in?
- All but that one.
Who brought him?
That guy over there.
Police. You knew the OD victim?
He was rushing my frat.
I'm the pledgemaster.
This part of rush week?
- My father's a lawyer.
- Mine was a bricklayer. So what?
Fowler, Coughlin & Rose.
You wanna talk to me, talk to them.
We are definitely
doing this one my way.
Get the hell off me!
- You want him to be your brother?
- Yeah.
- Kiss your brother.
- Stop!
- Where'd he get the meth?
- Please, no!
- Where'd he get it?
- I don't know!
Fine. Kiss your brother again.
We gave it to all the pledges!
It was supposed to be funny,
sending them to class on speed.
- Jesus.
- Where'd he get it from?
Effi. Effi Montecito.
He deals to all the frats.
Good. Now let me show you
how we haze our pledges.
Detective Gannon
left a long list of TBls...
...to be interviewed.
So we're starting from scratch.
What exactly was
your husband's business?
Property management.
He owned condos, rented them out.
And he was found
at a construction site?
Yeah, he and his partner Ari
were building a new complex.
Was he meeting someone?
I don't know. I...
I had just gotten home from
my parents' when the police called.
- I'm sorry.
- It's okay.
- Here you go.
- Thank you.
- I'll get you some chips.
- Thanks.
Have you talked to anyone,
like a grief counselor?
Didn't help.
- I know some that are very good.
- I don't know. It's already been a year.
But it feels like it was yesterday
when you got that call.
Our dealer Effi is a 25-year-old
still living in his old frat house.
- Can't seem to grow up?
- He'll grow up fast in San Quentin.
Real fast.
It'll take a few hours to get the warrant.
I'll start.
Not a problem.
I got some errands to run, anyway.
What's going on? This IAD thing's
still hanging out there.
I told you.
I'm not changing my statement.
- I'm willing to keep your secret.
- Sure you are.
I am. What do you think,
I'm gonna twist your arm?
- All you gotta do is...
- Lie?
It's not a lie. You made a mistake.
We put boxes of ammo in that bag,
not bricks of coke.
I know what ammo looks like, and
I know what blackmail looks like too.
- It's not gonna work.
- I got nothing to lose.
My guys have taken fire
from every scumbag in town.
They're going down because some
rookie thinks he saw something?
I did see something.
I'm not gonna let you
destroy their lives.
So you're gonna try
and destroy mine?
You're not giving me any choice.
Handing in this arrest report is the
only way I can think to stop you...
...from making a huge mistake.
- That report doesn't prove anything.
I don't have to prove you're gay.
In this house, all I gotta do is say it
with all the gory details.
- There you go.
- All right.
Vic!
- I'm not sure they stole any drugs.
- What?
It was dark. They were at the other
end. My view was obstructed.
You never said your view
was obstructed.
Well, it was.
You didn't see Mackey put two bricks
of cocaine into a weapons bag?
I can't be positive.
You didn't see Shane Vendrell
drive off with that bag?
- I don't know for sure what was in it.
- Mackey got to you.
He threatened you.
We can get him for that too.
- He didn't.
- Then what?
Maybe I let his reputation
cloud my judgment.
Question: "Are you positive it was
two kilos of cocaine?" Answer: "Yes."
I'm not sure anymore.
Julien, failure to report corruption
and giving false testimony...
...are both serious offenses.
I'll accept whatever
punishment I have to.
I'm sorry to disappoint you.
- Yeah!
- I told you it would go away.
- How'd you get him to back off?
- I reasoned with the man.
You are my personal hero.
- Get out.
- Sure. I got a big case I'm working.
- What did you do to him?
- To who?
- Officer Lowe.
- Nothing.
- Is he okay?
- He changed his statement.
IAD hasn't notified me.
If anything happens to him...
Can't see why it would. Listen, I gotta
run. I'm touring a school for my kid.
Oh, sorry your headlines
got screwed up.
- What now?
- Look at this.
"Hoe"?
Goddamn bastard called her that
for everybody to see.
- How do you know Hooper did this?
- Hooper's not a very good speller.
Look it over. Sign right there.
So he can't come within 1 0 feet of me?
That's a restraining order.
You can use this to justify one.
- So, what if he comes near me?
- Then I make him my bitch. Sign it.
- Sometimes I see him at the Vons.
- Vons? What Vons?
- Well, he helps with my shopping.
- Helps with your shopping?
- Hell, no. That stops right here.
- Back off. Just let her think it through.
She needs to sign the damn thing.
Okay, baby.
It's all good.
So you were Kyle Kelner's
business partner.
- Until he died.
- Where were you the night he died?
I told the detective last year.
I was in Phoenix on business.
Why are you just getting around
to Kyle's murder now?
Unfortunately, the file slipped through
a crack in the system.
Judging from today's newspaper...
...l'm surprised any crack
slips past you guys.
Well, those are just allegations.
Sure. Gotta stick up for your own.
I understand.
He got along with everyone.
Nice, funny. A great boss, you know?
Wish I could find another one like him.
Haven't had a decent job since he died.
- Must be real tough on you.
- Yeah.
Yeah.
You know, it's times like this when
you need someone to lean on.
- Like a husband or boyfriend or...
- I'm single.
Our specialized care is designed to
meet the needs of autistic children...
...including speech,
occupational, behavior therapies.
The facilities are really nice.
One of the books I read said if
you put a kid with other autistic kids...
...it keeps them from socializing.
Sort of lowering the bar.
Some people think that. But we've
seen that autistic children progress...
...most rapidly in a small class
with other kids their own level.
How does this compare with
public schools, pilot programs?
You risk Matthew being placed
in a typical class with an aide.
- What's wrong with that?
- Throwing them in the deep end...
...won't teach them how to swim.
Here Matthew will be a leader.
He'll gain more confidence.
So he won't be behind anymore.
We have one spot available.
It's sure to go quickly.
Twenty-five grand is pretty steep.
Services we provide aren't cheap.
You ask any of the parents here,
they'll tell you it's worth it.
It seems wonderful.
I know it's a big decision, but I suggest
you make it quickly. Excuse me.
- Julien.
- Reverend. What are you doing here?
Your captain called. He said you
were struggling with a decision.
Some reason,
thought I might be able to help.
Come on, police stations
make me nervous. I need a smoke.
I went back on my statement
because I'm not sure what I saw.
What made you sign it
in the first place?
I don't know. Too eager to do
the right thing. I overreacted.
I know an overreactor when I see one.
That's not you.
What's going on, Julien?
What do you do when the man that you
are isn't the man that you wanna be?
Then you give the man that you are
a swift kick in the ass.
What's stopping you?
Nothing. I'll be all right.
Only thing better than
unfiltered smoke.
Unfiltered prayer. Just you and God.
No secrets. Nothing in between.
See you Sunday?
Yeah.
Okay. Come on, boys.
- Let's go, ladies. Who's up?
- Are you serious about this?
Hey, what's happening?
- Who the hell are you?
- Decency police.
- Let me guess. Effi Montecito?
- Yeah.
- You're coming with us.
- What?
- This one we do my way.
- Lf you feel we have time for that.
Hey! I thought screwing sheep
went out with New Wave.
We weren't gonna make them do it.
We just wanted to see who would.
Wait. You dragged my son
here for a schoolboy prank like this?
Your son's here on suspicion
of drug trafficking.
- What?
- Dad, it's not true.
So far, three students
at Mission Cross Hospital...
...have died from
your Cupid crystal meth.
That wasn't mine.
Apparently he supplies
half of fraternity row.
We have to get this batch
off the street before more kids die.
- You dealing drugs again? Goddamn it.
- Dad, they can't prove anything.
You're 25 years old. Grow up,
would you? You stupid son of a bitch.
- What the hell's the matter with you?
- Stop!
- Your stuff is killing...
- Shut up!
Hey, hey, hey, that's enough!
Don't you know what you're doing to
your family? Go on. Let them take you.
Go on. You stupid piece of shit! You
see if I'm gonna bail you out this time.
I like doing things your way.
I told them to take the
life support away.
Son, I don't mean to be disingenuous,
but I'm sorry.
- What's "disingenuous" mean?
- Means you're under arrest.
- For what?
- For shaking and baking crystal meth.
- I don't know anything about that.
- We talked to Effi.
He rolled on you, you roll on him.
Eric was mixing up a batch and it
exploded and he was screaming.
His flesh was...
We couldn't take him to the hospital.
So you tossed him in a trunk.
Andy was gonna
bury him in the desert.
He was still alive.
We thought that he'd die
by the time that we got there.
Exactly how stupid are you?
You're six credits shy of graduating
for the last four years.
You're a drug dealer who spends his
time watching pledges hump sheep.
- And he's the stupid one?
- Any more bad crank still out there?
Only the stuff Manny's holding
for collateral.
Who's Manny?
He's the guy we borrowed
the money from to start the meth lab.
When we couldn't pay right away,
he smashed up my hand...
...and he took half of the drugs
as collateral.
- How much is half?
- Ten pounds.
There's still 1 0 pounds
of this shit out there?
- Goddamn it.
- Lf he hadn't threatened us...
...Eric wouldn't have rushed the
last batch and he would still be alive.
- All right. Who is this Manny guy?
- Manny Sandoval.
Manny Sandoval skated two murders
I should've had him for.
I've wanted this bastard
for a year.
If he's so bad,
how come I never heard of him?
You know every criminal
on the street?
After we catch this guy, I will.
You want me to give you $20,000?
You can't be serious.
That's what our meth men
owe this Manny.
They're both willing to wear a wire.
Nail him at the drop.
Get the bad dope out of circulation.
Vic, stop. You're under investigation
for stealing drugs.
- I'm supposed to give you cash?
- You're not giving it to Vic.
You're giving it to me.
So we can save some lives.
- When do you need it?
- Tomorrow.
So long as we're clear,
I'm giving the money to you.
- Hi. I'm sorry to bother you.
- Hey.
I tried to call,
but the phone's disconnected.
- Is everything okay?
- Oh, yeah. I just forgot to pay the bill.
- But it'll be on in a couple days, so...
- No problem.
I need to check on one thing,
and I'll leave.
Did your husband have
business ties to Phoenix?
I don't think so.
I know Ari has family there.
- Your husband's partner?
- Yeah.
He was visiting them the night
that Kyle was killed.
Hey, I called one of those
grief counselors you recommended.
- Yeah?
- I have an appointment on Tuesday.
Good. I'm glad.
- Well, thank you. I'll...
- Detective, do you have to...?
Thanks for taking care of this.
- Thanks.
- My pleasure. Good night.
Bye.
I called Reverend Cook because I was
worried. I know how tough this is.
You shouldn't have done that.
I don't know what Mackey did or said...
...but I know it took fortitude
to come forward in the first place.
- Where's that fortitude now?
- I made a mistake.
Yes, you have.
And I wanna help you rectify it.
I don't want your help.
You should contact your
PBA rep, Julien.
You're facing suspension,
probably termination.
I wish it'd gone down a different way.
We can skip the trip
to Lake Powell this year.
I can go back to work at the ER,
pick up some shifts per diem.
And spend half the money
you make on daycare.
We'll lose that spot.
Then he'll go to school in the
real world, learn how to socialize.
I want him at Glenridge.
He'll be happy there, I know it.
You know what? You know it too.
All right. Call them tomorrow.
I'll have to pick up extra shifts.
- We barely see you enough already.
- What do you want?
I'm not mad. We just miss you.
- Matthew ruined my notebook.
- Let me see here.
You know what?
We'll get you a new one, okay?
Why does he do stuff like that?
He never listens.
No, Matthew listens. He just
understands things differently.
Come here.
You see how you make your letters so
neat? Get them to fit inside the lines?
Yeah.
Matthew...
He doesn't know how
to make things fit.
He needs help with that kind of stuff.
Big sister help?
Yeah. Big sister help.
Come here.
Big sister help.
- It'll be okay.
- It's not okay. You don't deserve this.
- So much for riding that headline...
- You're more than just that headline.
Not to Machado. When he hears
that the case fell apart...
If he backs out, what happens?
Gilroy's getting squeezed. First chance
he gets, he's gonna take it out on me.
There's gotta be
something you can do.
I can't think of what.
I really thought this was my shot.
I'm so sorry.
I knew twice in one day
was too much to hope for.
"Shoe"?
- What are you doing here?
- I told you. I only needed two minutes.
He bumped into me at the Vons.
Who painted that S?
I couldn't scrub off the "hoe."
That was the next best thing.
- Why are we here?
- Hey, Lamar slashed my tires again.
- He gets jealous.
- I want my name Wite-outed...
...on that restraining order,
put Lamar's name on there.
- That's not gonna be a problem, is it?
- You, come with me.
Hey, we hooked up
at the Vons, yo.
Apparently, these guys will do anything
for you. You're leading them on.
- I am not.
- Yeah, you are.
Now, stop stringing them along.
Just pick one and stick with him.
It's the right thing to do.
Go to Phoenix often, Ari?
- Sometimes.
- Who were you meeting with...
...the night that Kyle was killed?
- A business acquaintance.
Did you have dinner?
No, I got in around 9:30.
We had drinks.
Did you get a chance
to see your family?
Family?
- No, not that trip.
- 9:30. So you were on the 8:00 flight?
- Exactly.
- I checked the flight manifests.
Your flight flew out at 1 0.
You wanna tell me something, Ari?
- You did it. Say it.
- Yes. L...
- Say it!
- Yes, I killed him. I didn't plan it.
He found out I was stealing money
from our joint account.
He accused me.
I got scared and I just killed him.
I didn't have a plan,
I didn't have an alibi.
Why didn't you guys
arrest me last year?
Oh, that rocked. That rocked, man.
You set him up, I knocked him down.
Oh, yeah. You are great.
You're great. You're great.
Don't you, just once, wish
you worked for Beverly Hills P. D?
I'll bet you their wires work.
You don't like the
World War II hand-me-down?
You guys still owe me 20...
- The lab exploded.
- Not my problem. Want the drugs...
- Thirty percent...
- Damn. Did he say it?
I can't hear.
Your brother...
- Because of you, you son of a bitch!
- Stop, you goddamn crazy... My eye!
My brother'd still be...
What is this? Is this a bug?
You taping me, bitch?
- You taping me? I'm gonna kill you.
- Hey! Drop it! Don't make me kill you!
Self-defense, man.
Crazy bastard was trying to kill me.
- Shut up.
- Paul just attacked him.
He just ruined everything.
I told you he's stupid.
He killed Eric, okay?
He killed my brother.
This doesn't
screw up my deal, does it?
Your informant attacks me
while working for you?
My lawyer's gonna
buy a house off this.
You were ready to kill Paul.
But I didn't. And even if I did,
it was self-defense.
Why don't we let a jury sort that out?
Some kids croaked on meth, right?
Put me behind bars,
not only won't those charges stick...
...there's a good chance
the stuff gets loose on the street.
- You sick bastard.
- Only when I have to be.
Now, we gonna help
each other out or what?
Why would Ari kill him?
He was siphoning off
money from the business.
Kyle caught him, hand in the cookie
jar. He was gonna blow the whistle.
- Thank you, detectives.
- Don't mention it. It's our job.
I'll check in on you in a few weeks,
just to make sure you're doing okay.
I hope you keep that appointment.
It's a lot to take in, I know.
I thought I'd be okay,
knowing what happened.
Doesn't make it any better.
Doesn't change anything.
He's still not gonna be there
when I get home, is he?
I just don't wanna be alone anymore.
Listen, Danny, I know this is short
notice, but I have to break our...
- Cancel our dinner tonight.
- Everything all right?
Yeah. A friend of mine's
having a crisis...
- It's no problem.
- I'm really sorry.
I'll just work a double.
I can use the extra cash.
Great. We'll do it soon.
They swept the area. Garbage cans,
dumpsters, crawl spaces. Nothing.
- What about his place?
- No Cupid in sight.
We've got 1 0 pounds of junk still out
there and he's holding all the cards.
I think this might be a good time for us
to start doing things my way.
- And what way would that be, exactly?
- Hey, captain. Didn't see you there.
Someone should put a bell
around your neck.
- Where do we stand with the meth?
- Between a rock and a hard place.
Looks like we're gonna have to
do this Manny's way.
The drugs were right where
you said they'd be.
Lucky guess.
You're welcome for the public service.
Pleasure doing business
with you, detective.
You picked the right day to
cross paths with me. I was handcuffed.
- Man, you guys got a lot of rules.
- You know something?
You might not have pulled
any triggers, but people are dead...
...because of what you did.
You're on my radar now.
Okay.
Trust me, that's not a good thing.
Just have fun tonight.
They're all dying to meet you.
That's why I'm here.
It kills me, Jorge,
but this whole thing fell apart.
The key witness got cold feet.
The investigation's dead.
I wanted you to hear it from me.
It's not ideal.
But it's not disaster either. David,
people remember the headlines.
Most times they don't even
read past them.
- This being politics...
- Perception is reality.
Learning fast. Don't worry about it.
I live up to my promises.
You're my man, get used to it.
I see you at 8.
- How'd things go with Mackey today?
- Fine.
Good.
I missed you too, okay? You happy?
It doesn't matter to me.
How was your day?
Shane wants to hit the
monster truck rally on Friday.
Gotta stop meeting like this.
People are gonna talk.
Not about anything
they heard from me.
Hey, might not feel like it,
but you did the right thing yesterday.
I'm not gay.
Julien, come on.
I'm not.
It's this thing...
...inside of me.
I push it down, it goes away.
But then it comes back stronger.
I shove it down again,
but it just keeps on coming back...
...till I don't have the strength
to push anymore.
I am so weak.
I hate this thing inside of me.
Julien.
You can't go through life
hating who you are.
I pushed away everyone.
My partner, my reverend, Tomas.
I'm alone.
Hey, no, you're not.
You were there for me.
I'm there for you.
It is so nice to have someone else
cook dinner. It smells incredible.
Thanks. One of the keys is basil.
You have to add it
just before it's done...
...otherwise you cook the flavor
out of it.
- Well, we wouldn't wanna do that.
- No.
Strainer?
Today has been
very emotional for you.
There's a lot of...
...delayed grief, pent-up confusion,
misplaced feelings.
I'm not gonna take advantage of that.
Hold me.
- Hey.
- What's up?
This whole IAD thing.
- I shut you out. Looks like I was wrong.
- This thing confused a lot of people.
Yeah, I know. Killed my partnership.
It's not too late. He's a good kid.
Maybe he deserves a second chance.
Most of us do.
- I'll see you.
- Right.
- Sir.
- Danny.
Strike Team's back in business,
effective tomorrow.
- Did you ever have any doubt?
- I did this time.
I'm tired, Vic.
I just can't keep explaining these
messes or cleaning up after them.
- Ben.
- No.
I'm not gonna let myself get burned.
We're done, Vic.
I just can't have your back anymore.
I thought I owed it to you to tell you.