The Shield (2002–2008): Season 6, Episode 9 - Recoil - full transcript

Vic's city official can't help him out with his forced retirement, but he finds a new ally when he solves the San Marcos murders. Shane and Vic fight over Kesakhian's daughter's loyalties, and Billings gets revenge on Dutch.

Previously on The Shield:

How's Quick-Mealer business?

You're still lining your pocket
on the department's dime, right?

Keep the machines, go ahead.

-So you can hang it over my head?
-Yeah, that's right.

My detective found 1 2 bodies
hacked to pieces.

Well, 1 1 bodies, one arm.

The killers were Salvadoran,
the victims were Mexican.

-Eduardo Romero?
-Glad we found the rest of you.

I'm a Mexican official.
Diplomatic immunity.

He was present
at the San Marcos murder.



If we want him to stick around...

...we make sure his $230,000 luggage
gets lost.

-From the exploratory committee.
-Only 1 00,000.

Get the other half...

...only if people responsible
for the killings are brought to justice.

An operative
inside the Salvadorans...

...can help solve
the San Marcos murders.

Mexicans got something brewing.
Salvadorans want a piece.

Chopping up the bodies in San Marcos
was about sending a message.

Know the Salvadorans who were
swinging machetes at San Marcos?

It'd be death if I started asking.

-Did you talk to Shane?
-He killed Lem.

I know what you did to Lem.
Like this journal.

Everything on paper we've done.
And you're trying to blackmail us.



Tell Kesakhian I got
a business proposition.

I'm a cop he's gonna need to know.

-I'm an associate. Ellis Rezian.
-Kesakhian's insulated.

Been a while since we had
a good relationship with law.

Funny, I'm a fixer.

-I'm Kesakhian.
-I need to speak to the real Kesakhian.

-Father's out of town.
-How long can you keep this a secret?

Long enough for a miracle.

In the meantime,
you're running the show?

A matter of time before Rezian
finds out your father's out.

He'll come after you
with everything he's got.

My father still has a lot of men
loyal to him. Now I have you.

Claudette's been playing you
since I showed up.

You'd be easier to handle if you
thought there was a future here...

...meanwhile orchestrating things
so there won't be.

-You caught the man that killed Emily?
-Yeah.

Know what your daughter
was doing to get her drugs?

-That's not how history has to read.
-Thank you.

I've got an appeals hearing
in a couple of weeks.

They're gonna decide
whether to force me out.

I'll see what I can do.

You're gonna have to fire
your secretary.

I don't think she's giving you
all your messages.

Look, I still need to reach a few more
people before I know where you stand.

I told you where I stand.

They're kicking me
to the curb next week.

Question is, how are you gonna
stop it? Like you promised.

It's not as manageable
as I thought.

Not as manageable as keeping your
daughter's drugging and whoring...

...out of the press after her death?

Look, I am doing all I can,
Detective Mackey.

I keep slamming up against
your enemies in the department.

We had a deal.
Your daughter's reputation for my job.

Get back to me tomorrow.

What do you want?

An update
on the San Marcos murders.

Who are you?

Cruz Pezuela.

He represents
a development company...

...that has the backing of various
Mexican investment interests.

What's that got to do
with San Marcos?

The San Marcos slaughter angered
a lot of people, here and in Mexico.

We weren't exactly thrilled about it.

Did you follow up on the Salvadoran
gang lead we gave you?

Yeah. Can't rule them out.

Cruz has brought me another lead.
I want you to look into it.

Go through the captain,
the one who gives us orders.

It's a suspect. Javier Rincon.

A Salvadoran gang member
who's in County Jail now.

-Who's your source?
-He doesn't want to be involved.

What is it with you people?

Got a guy who got his arm chopped off
hiding out at the Mexican consulate.

Your source wants to hide
behind you?

Your community wants us
to solve this crime or doesn't.

-We do.
-Rincon's in County?

Well, if he was spouting his mouth off
about San Marcos...

...trust me, I would have
heard about it.

Don't remember you two
being on the schedule.

Cesar Orozco. He's my source.

Works construction
for my company.

My office will give you
the site location.

Now you can do something.

Oh, okay.

Aceveda and his amigo
had another tip about San Marcos.

-Sounds like bullshit.
-But at least it's specific bullshit.

Easy to confirm or knock down.
Do it.

But no more secret powwows
with them and without me.

Ronnie will find out if Rincon has
any priors, I'll find out about Orozco.

We've been operating
on a favor-to-favor basis.

What you're asking...

...is taking me deeper into the belly
of the Armenian beast...

-...than I intended.
-I'll pay you more.

This isn't charge-by-the-hour.
I'd need a percentage.

You'll be my partner in this country.

Your apartment isn't safe anymore.
I want you to check into a motel.

They wouldn't hurt me.
They know my father.

Don't be so confident
your father's condition is a secret.

Gangs are gossip mills. And rumors
have a way of turning to fact.

I will find a motel.

Can't assassinate your way
into filling Daddy's shoes either.

Soldiers see too many heads roll,
they get nervous.

But I need a demonstration
of my power, yes?

Money's the blood
of these organizations.

Whoever's supplying it is the heart.

Who's putting the most cash
into the peasants' pockets?

Rezian. He runs the ports.

Importing, of all kinds...

...is over 40 percent
of my father's business.

Well, he's the one who's gonna be
looking to take over.

He's the threat.

You willing to take a short-term hit
for a long-term gain?

I'm ready to save
what my father built.

Rincon's serving six months
on an ag assault.

They let him out three days ago
after a month.

-They threw the case out?
-Many shitheads, not enough pillows.

Ronnie's tracking down his PO.

My review panel's next week.

-Any last-minute advice?
-Just tell your story.

-What do you think my chances are?
-I've learned not to bet against you.

Even if it's a sure thing?

It's fixed.

Panel's already decided I'm out.

Hiatt doesn't know all the facts.

He should've kept his mouth shut.

You're not even gonna give
me a fair shot?

You threw away your fair shot
by taking so many crooked ones.

You've got a week.

I need every man on deck.

If you're not up to it,
you don't have to wait for the panel.

Your quarterly stats
are due next week.

I'm gonna solve San Marcos...

...and get you that numbers bump
you need to save this place.

You just try to sit
in front of that panel...

...and tell them you don't need me
around here.

What were you inside for, Cesar?

I hit my wife or something.

Relax, man. We don't care
how you keep your lady in line.

Just tell us about Rincon.

I heard him bragging. San Marcos
or something. So I tried to listen.

You're Mexi. How'd you get close
enough to Salvadorans to hear that?

We both worked in the cafeteria.

I heard Rincon tell the other guy...

...he hacked them up
while they were alive.

-Him and two other guys.
-Rincon say why he killed them?

-Look, man, I gotta go.
-Hey, you go when I say you go.

Answer his questions.
You'll get back to your job sooner.

Man, I told Senor Pezuela
everything.

-What's Pezuela's interest in this?
-How'd you get face time with him?

Everybody knows he wants the
Salvadorans who did the San Marcos.

-Yeah, but why?
-You could have told the Mexicans.

They would have taken care
of Rincon.

I was the only one
to get close to him.

They would have had me
do the murder.

-You were scared.
-Yeah.

It's not like he's your old lady
or nothing.

That's Garine Essagian. She keeps
books at this Armenian bakery I go to.

Come here.
There's nothing to be afraid of.

My boss has started me
on working his other business.

I notice something wrong
when I was going through....

-How do you say...?
-lnventory.

Inventory.

Her boss is a guy named Rezian.

The bakery is a cover
for his extensive import business.

Would you mind stepping out
a minute?

Detective Vendrell
will be right with you.

Just take a seat. Right over there.

Does she have any idea
what her boss would do...

...if he knew she was even in here?

Rezian is the Armenian heavy
down at the ports.

His people rubber-stamp
the inspection process.

This guy's got an open door
to get whatever he wants.

Get the feeling you're trying
to find your own thing...

...distance yourself from Vic.

She's got the books
going back two years.

-Do you wanna get a warrant or not?
-Solving San Marcos is top priority.

We don't jump,
she could lose her nerve.

There's plenty of bodies
to go around.

If Hiatt agrees and the team
can handle it, then I'm okay with it.

I don't wanna find her chopped-off feet
on my desk tomorrow.

Yes, ma'am.

Hey, where are we with Rincon?

Left his parole officer
two messages.

Wanna hit some Salvadoran
hot spots?

No. If he knows we're looking,
he'll turtle. Let's wait for the PO.

Feds have been trying to wrest control
away from the Armenians for years.

We can do it in a day.
Bust Rezian...

...cut off the Armenians' stronghold
on the docks.

What's Rezian running?

Drugs. Girls.

Lately, gasoline.

Stolen, uninspected and untaxed.

Shane's got some solid intel
on this guy named Rezian.

I brought in this girl
who can cut off the Armenians.

Can we save the stabs in the dark...

...until we catch
the machete-wielding psychos?

No reason we can't do both.

Julien, you're with Shane.

The rest of us stay on San Marcos.

Ronnie here will raise a lot fewer
eyebrows in Little Armenia.

All right, make me proud.

Shane's up to something.
I wanna know what.

That would have been
a great case for Julien.

You let Vic make you doubt
your instincts.

I'm not so insecure
that I can't take good advice, all right?

Know what happens
if Vic wins that hearing?

He waits about two seconds
to reclaim his throne...

...gets you bounced out of here.

I'm just saying.

Excuse me.

You're helping out
Detective Vendrell?

-Yes.
-He's a good man.

Vic Mackey.

How do you know Shane?

He likes the bakery where I work.

Hey, I need your help.

My Armenian's
not what it should be.

Pleasure.

Pleasure.

Shane definitely knows this girl.

He wouldn't mess with the Armenians.
Not with our history.

How can you be so sure?

I never thought Shane
would dig himself into such a hole...

...with Antwon Mitchell
that he'd become his bitch, but he did.

Keep an eye on him,
find out what he's into...

...and whether
it can blow back on us.

Sounds like coming from the back.

Yeah, we need Rincon to give up
the other killers, so follow my lead.

Police.

We need to talk to Javier Rincon.

-Why?
-Just need to chat him up.

His PO said we could find him here.
It'll just take a second.

-What do you want?
-Can you step out front?

-So we can talk to you, please?
-I'm out legal.

They released me early.

-I got papers and everything.
-We know. You're free and clear.

Then talk to my ass.

Bring it out the front,
we'll shoot the shit.

Vic. Vic.

Yo, back it up, man.

You can come on your own or I can
drag you through your friend's blood.

You killed 1 2 people.

Now the Mexicans want you dead.

We turn you over to them right now,
we stop a gang war, save a lot of lives.

-I didn't kill nobody.
-Your choice.

We drop you off now
and you get what you deserve...

...or you give us the other killers,
I fix it so you walk away.

-You won't do it.
-Take us to Byz Lat 'hood.

Let the Mexicans
get the answers out of him.

That what you want?

He made his choice.

No. Back to the Barn. Now.

Throw this asshole in the cage.

-What was that?
-About to ask you the same.

I was gonna get names of the other
killers till you shit all over it.

This is too important
to play fast and loose.

I hope you have another plan.

Salvas don't give up their own
unless it's to save their own skins.

We can't use a coerced confession.

Who's gonna say it was coerced?

Some of us are here
longer than a week.

Let's get a sneak peek
of what that's gonna look like.

You're gonna handle
the interrogation.

I'll call you later, hon.

-Who are you?
-We're the police.

-You got a warrant?
-We prefer old-fashioned cooperation.

I don't.

Guy named Rezian.

We need to see every one of his ships
that's been through in the last week.

We got cameras. You touch me...

...I'll sue the city for that house
I been wanting in Oxnard.

Way to dream big.
We know you're on Rezian's payroll.

Tells you which cargo's
safe for inspection...

...you let the rest slide in
under the radar.

All we know, you're rubber-stamping
nuclear bombs.

I got a pal, Homeland Security.

His favorite hobby is pulling
the Patriot Act out of his ass.

Or we could get what we need
another way...

...and just tell the Armenians
it came from you.

Now, that's just plain mean.

Rezian's got a ship coming in
every day.

-We usually unload around 3.
-Great.

Gives us the afternoon to hear
everything about the Armenians.

Waste of time. They're not gonna let
this pissant into the loop. Come on.

You breathe a word about this
to Rezian, I'll find you.

Somewhere without a camera.

This is your last chance
to save yourself.

You give me names...

...I recommend to the judge
you do time in a safe place.

-A safe place?
-Yeah.

He won't give up the others.
Gonna have to find other leverage.

One killer's a start.

Will the construction worker,
Orozco, testify?

-I think so.
-That's a mistake.

And why's that?

The kind of guys who'd chop up
a houseful of people?

Hate to think what they'd do next
or who they'll do it for.

What are you talking about?

Remember the one-armed man,
suitcase full of cash?

First, the Mexican government
sat on his lD.

Then Pezuela shows up
with his arm up Aceveda's ass...

...getting tips from prison...

...representing a company
with the backing of Mexican interests?

Now there's a conspiracy? Solving
1 2 murders is as big as I need now.

Then let me get Rincon to talk.

If you'd rather walk away with
half a win and the other killers free...

...you stick with your boy here.

I can't drop you off in Byzland.

But word that you're the killer is gonna
hit the Mexican side of the street.

Means I need my own people
to keep my back.

Unless I convince Santi and the rest
of the Mexis that you didn't do it.

Takes your 'hood price off the street.

Give us the other killers
for immunity...

...you can start scheduling
your welcome-home party.

-You can convince the wetbacks?
-Count on it.

I gotta hear it with my own ears.

No problem.

Japanese-American male.
Single hit to the head. Bruised chin.

Bit of a scuffle,
didn't put up much of a fight.

Dorothy was an lnternet cruiser.

He invited the wrong person
over for a quickie.

Ladies and gents,
we've got ourselves a homocide.

-No sign of forced entry.
-Yeah, not of the apartment.

What about a murder weapon?

We've been all through the place.

Guy actually filled out
his emergency contact information.

His parents live in Eagle Rock.

I hate notifications.

-Steve can do it.
-Oh, no. No way.

Folks probably didn't even know
Junior switched sides.

I'm really gonna miss
that Quick-Mealer.

Fine.

May I have that?

Mama-san bawled all over me.

I put an lnternet profile on your desk.
You should read it.

Have you ever seen
a Japanese lady wail?

Somebody had to do it.

Danny and Tina.

I'm not gonna let you ruin my life
over this vending machine.

Sure you are. Read the profile.

Mason Heller. Film nut.
Good guy looking for someone...

...Iooking for something real.

Our suspect. Called the victim
six times in the last eight days.

Final time last night at 1 0,
ME puts TOD at 1 1.

And here he is, even as we speak.

Hey, I tried that restaurant
you recommended.

-Best spring rolls in L.A., right?
-Yeah.

Anyway, thanks for the tip.

Guess whose apartment is three
blocks from where the victim lives.

Thought we'd head back.

See if Mason dropped
the weapon on the way home.

Good thinking.

Is this a Friday?
It feels like a Wednesday.

Yeah, day after Thursday.

Which relates to you
bashing your lover's face in how?

Tell me about Allen.

I really should go.

Well, you're not under arrest.

But if you do try to leave, we will
file charges and detain you officially.

What happened to your hand?

Maybe you cut it
flattening a guy's skull?

Mason? Mason...

-...I know this is hard.
-Oh, come on.

This is the 'mo version
of the same pathetic story.

Guy gets the hots bad for a nice piece
of ass and he can't deal with rejection.

You wanna be pissed,
get even, don't do it in there.

The guy's got one foot
in the psych ward.

He's just fragile. Since psychological
complexity isn't your strong suit...

...back off.

You got any crisp singles?

I wanna get a Cup-a-Soup
out of one of your machines...

...while they're still there.

Have to be getting close.

It costs me 60 bucks to fill my truck.

Of course, Mara insists on full serve.

You wanna chat up a buddy,
go find one.

That's Rezian. This is it.

So I need to watch my back?

Do l?

-Hey! Police!
-Let's go, ladies!

-On your knees!
-On your knees!

On your knees! Drop that money!

Drop that money!

You're under arrest
for the importing of illegal goods.

One word about how I helped you
with that gas-station owner...

-...I'll up the charge to murder.
-Big mistake.

-I'll call for transport.
-Yeah.

My people won't let you
get away with this.

You don't have people.

Kesakhian Jr. is in charge now,
so your coup ain't happening.

You keep causing trouble...

...she'll suffocate you
on your own gonads.

Was Allen thinking
about a restraining order?

Okay, thanks for your help.

Welcome back.

-Wish we had better news.
-No murder weapon?

Walked it five different ways, looked
under every bush, hit every trash can.

You got two beautiful women
looking in trash cans?

Hey, it's part of the job, right?

-Garbage pickup's tomorrow afternoon.
-Okay.

-Hey, my man.
-Hey.

You are my hero.

Oh, yeah? Why's that?

Hanlon.

Oh, I'm sorry. I just assumed,
the way she talks about you.

Never mind.

I don't make a habit of banging chicks
who know where to find me.

So the Dutchman has a shot, then?

-Dutch?
-Sure.

You get her fires all stoked.

Heat's gotta go somewhere, right?

He's been working
that caring-mentor angle...

...Iike there's no tomorrow.

Your loss, my friend.

Thought you bailed out on me.

Better have good news.

I told you I'd make good, give you
the guys who did San Marcos. I will.

No more deal.

We can take care
of San Marcos business.

Rincon didn't do it.

-That's not what we hear.
-He's a poser.

He shot off his mouth
for juice inside...

...but he didn't kill those people
or he'd be sitting here, courtesy of me.

-Why should I believe you?
-I'm trying to prevent more bloodshed.

I'd gladly give up the assholes
who hacked up those people.

I have a lead on the real killers.

Sit tight for a day,
forget about Rincon...

...and you'll get your justice.

One day.

After that, somebody's gotta pay.

I don't give a shit who.

Feel safer now?

Vic get the names
of his accomplices?

Yeah.

-These names better check out.
-They will.

-So when do I get out of here?
-Answers first.

Why'd you kill those people
at San Marcos?

Something big's coming up.
I didn't get too much detail.

All I know is we were cut out by the
Mexicans and people are pissed off.

Who ordered you to do it?

Guardo. He said
we were sending a message.

Kill everybody in the house
jungle-style.

There's a dude
by the name of Romero.

-We were supposed to leave him alive.
-So you just cut off his arm?

Know a guy named Cruz Pezuela?

No. Don't know.

Okay. Stay put. It's gonna take
a while to get you sprung.

-How'd it go with Shane?
-He wasn't too subtle...

...about not wanting me
to dig deeper into the Armenians.

What happens when we don't
give Santi his revenge?

Hell breaks loose.

Unless we can find a way to make
Claudette and the Mexicans happy.

Here he is.

Rincon boned us.

-Our guy wasn't where he said he'd be.
-Second guy was a no-show too.

But Ronnie sweet-talked the sister.

-Both getting sloshed up the street.
-Let's go catch us some killers.

I'll call for backup.

Police! Everybody stay
right where you are.

You, take your glasses off.

Damn it.

Not such a sweet-talker
after all, huh?

Hey. What happened
to staying at the motel?

I needed a few things for my father.

I was gonna go in
only for a minute...

...but at the door,
I felt someone inside.

Did you see anything?
Did you hear anything?

Just a feeling.

You think I'm paranoid?

You'd be stupid not to be.
I'll be right back, okay?

Hey! Hey, police!
Stay where you are!

Stay where you are right now!

Come here. Come here.

Let me tell you something.

Rezian's behind bars. The business,
the drams that go with it went bye-bye.

Only way to earn, fall in line
with Kesakhian's daughter.

She's in charge now.

Spread the word.

They know about my father.

They wouldn't dare do this
otherwise.

I busted Rezian
accepting an illegal shipment.

So his port business won't be
up and running any time soon.

Then these men need to understand
that they need me.

Yeah. But Rezian's gonna come back
kicking and screaming.

We need to find a way to keep him
behind bars for the long haul.

You have the warrant, all the books.

And a witness
who's not who she says she is.

Don't worry.

This is where I start
earning my keep.

Get up.

-Rincon being innocent is bullshit.
-You lied to me?

Only way I could get him
to give up these two.

Good news is, after 1 8 months
of a long prosecution...

...you'll know exactly
where to find him.

Him later. I'll take what you got now.

What's the good word?

Don't tell me you haven't reached
the right people yet?

I can't help you, I'm sorry.

I tried, but it's not possible.

-Try harder.
-No.

Well, I guess it's time the world knew
who your daughter really was.

You won't do that. You won't say
anything. You wanna keep your job.

You change your story now...

...reveal how you manipulated the
circumstances of my daughter's case...

...you'll expose yourself
as unethical.

I've been accused of worse.

No. This time you're gonna verify it
with your own words.

Look...

...I tried to keep up
my part of the deal...

...but you built a mountain of bad will
too high to climb.

Good luck, detective.

Wilshire Division found two bodies
in an alley off Pico.

Well, at least Santi remembered
where to dump them.

Wilshire sent over the pictures.

They our two missing killers?

Well, what's left of them.

Their wallets were found in a trash can
down an alley.

Our poking around
must have flushed them out.

Would have preferred them
back here, talking.

Oh, Wilshire's homicide rate
just went up by two.

You still have one live murderer
to trot in front of cameras...

...here in Farmington.

San Marcos is officially closed.

Thank you.

We got the guys
who wielded the machetes...

...but not the guys who ordered it.

If you need me, I'll be digging into how
Aceveda's lap dog fits into this puzzle.

Just a matter of time before
we find the murder weapon, Mason.

I can't tell you anything.

You won't.
There's a fairly significant difference.

It's not a crime to like someone.

It is if they don't like you back
and you kill them.

Did Allen say
he didn't wanna see you anymore?

Allen....

Mason, here's what
we're dealing with.

People say you were hounding him.
That's supported by phone records.

There was no forced entry,
so he knew his attacker.

And you called him
an hour before he died.

Now, if you could give us an alibi...

...but you don't seem to have one.

I can't tell you anything.

Please, I can't.

-Why hasn't he asked for a lawyer?
-What's the point?

Then why hasn't he confessed?

You're the theorizer.

Theorize.

Sucks about Sofer not letting you
take a run at our killer.

What do you mean?

Oh, I shouldn't have said anything.

We were gonna bring you
into lnterrogation...

...give you a chance,
but she wouldn't have it.

Said you didn't have the skills.

Really?

I guess it's understandable.

Understandable?

Well, sure. I mean, obviously
she's making a play for Hiatt.

Him thinking you're a screwup
just makes you less of a threat.

Sort of petty, but that poor guy
can't take his eyes off you...

...so, what else is she gonna do?

You think Kevin's into me?

I know he's definitely not into her.

Oh, I don't know.

I've seen them cozy a couple times.

I'm gonna stay out of it.

Please don't say anything to Danny,
because she'll know it was me.

Sure.

You're safe here.

Gonna make sure Rezian understood
his end of our conversation.

Then we'll get you out of here.

Turns out no Garine Essagian
works at Rezian's bakery.

But the lady told me
that Kesakhian's daughter, Diro...

...helps out with the books
from time to time.

Sounds like Shane
made a big bust today.

On behalf of the department,
thank you.

I'm glad I could help.

So, what brings you
to the United States?

Opportunity. The weather.

Your father?

I hear Kesakhian's in the hospital.
I'm sorry.

My father is a noble man.

He's also the leader
of a bunch of brutal yahoos.

-Now, where do you fit into that?
-My father's a businessman.

I just translate, keep the books.

The real ones or the fake ones?

Look, you seem like a very nice girl.

I'm sure your intentions are good.

Then why are we having
this conversation?

You need a friend
in this department.

Someone besides Shane Vendrell.

You ever heard of Antwon Mitchell?

He was the leader of a black gang
called the One-Niners.

Shane and he
did some business last year.

Some heat came down,
an innocent 1 4-year-old girl got killed.

Mitchell's spending
the rest of his life behind bars.

It has nothing to do with anything.

Shane's still under investigation.

And so is everyone
he comes in contact with.

I don't know what kind of arrangement
you two have between you, if any.

But just know, when the chips fall...

...they always land
on Shane's side of the table.

You need anything, Diro,
you call me.

Hey. Hey.

Where you--? Where you going?

This is not going to work.
That cop knows what's going on.

-Who?
-Detective Mackey.

Hey, listen to me. Listen to me.

Look, whatever he told you,
it was a fishing expedition.

He doesn't know anything.

He knew my name,
who my father is.

Well, I can control him.

I will see you get compensation
for today, and I thank you...

...but we cannot be partners.
I have to be careful.

-Hey, listen to me.
-Do not bother me again.

Hey. What the hell
did you say to my Cl?

Who? Garine Essagian?

Told her to stay the hell away
from you, same as I would any girl.

She doesn't concern you.

Putting money in your pocket,
she does.

You don't get to profit off this place.
Not anymore.

We don't need you dragging us into
yet another Vendrell shit-pile special.

You just stay out of my way.

This will all go a lot smoother.

I'm not looking for smooth.

I'm looking to make you as miserable
as I possibly can.

Try harder. Been working for you
so long, I got a high tolerance.

Whatever you've got going on,
it ends now.

I want you out of Farmington
and away from everyone in it.

Five days before that appeals panel
shoves your badge up your ass...

...tells you to find greener pastures?

I'm not going anywhere.

There's no trapdoor this time, Vic.

They got you boxed in.

Stay away from the Kesakhians.

I'll stop by and say hi when you start
your security job in Northridge.

Meantime, I'm pulling my request
for a transfer.

You're leaving...

...so I may as well stay.

Man brought this in, said he found it
in the bed of his pickup...

...which was parked a block
from Allen's house last night.

But you already knew that.

We take this to the lab, it's gonna
come back with your fingerprints.

-It's just a matter of time.
-A matter of time.

-You said that before.
-Why don't you tell us what happened?

Judges are always more inclined
to be lenient after you've confessed.

You ever heard of progeria?

It's a kind of disease, right?

Yeah, only 40 kids
in the world have it.

I knew one.

Johnny Wilcox.

He was cool.

Yeah. Get old really fast...

...shrivel up, get arthritis.

He died when we were 1 2.

Massive heart attack.

Everyone thinks
they have more time.

Saw Johnny when they took him
out of his house after he died.

Just a tiny little bump
under a sheet.

Do you wanna see Allen's body?

We could take you down there.

No. I just....

I wanna stay here.

A good day,
margarita on the rocks with salt.

None of that blended shit.

Jack. Neat.

Ice is for pussies.

Now, a bad day,
that's a vodka martini.

Who says all cops
are alcoholics, huh?

-And then there are days like this.
-So, what's it gonna be?

Definitely a three-martini night.

Hey. Get me out of here.

The deal was two-for-one. Alive.

Guess the Mexicans screwed you
by getting to them first.

Tough luck.

Glad you came up for air.

Just in time to lD
the San Marcos suspect.

He'll cooperate as soon as
all his property is returned to him.

You mean the briefcase
with the 200 grand inside?

Never got to ask
what that money was for.

He never has to answer that.

If somebody chopped my arm off,
getting paid would be last on my mind.

When you've lived through that,
we'll be interested in your comments.

How do we expedite
the return of the money?

Silent types always made me curious,
so I did a little homework.

I understand you went to college
with Cruz Pezuela.

The guy hangs
with an interesting crowd.

Everything from government officials
to Mexican cons.

-What's that have to do with my client?
-I don't know yet.

But I'm gonna find out.

Let's go.

Might have heard I'm out of here.

They say I got five days left.

I'm gonna use every second of them
to find out what's going on here.

Why those people died
and you didn't...

...where that money was going...

...and what Pezuela's angle
is on all of this.

Your suspect still here?

He never asked to leave.

He wants to sit in lnterrogation
all night, let him.

Fingerprints come back
on the statue?

Tomorrow morning.

You look tired.
You should-- You should go.

If only.

What do I have to do?

-Change is hard for everybody.
-You still need me.

Hiatt, he's not gonna get it done.

-He'll have his chance.
-What, like today?

He's a sheep, not a shepherd.

You pushed him too fast.

I solved this thing
before the quarterly stats were due.

Telling me that saving this place
doesn't earn me a spot?

Nothing that happened today is gonna
change what I have to say to the panel.

Forget the panel.

Give me more time
to get into this San Marcos thing...

...Pezuela's place in it.

We have three murderers
whose only link was to Guardo.

He's either missing or dead.

You're done.

I can get to the truth of this thing.

Maybe, but we'll never know,
because it's somebody else's job now.

I'm going after Pezuela. I'm gonna
dig up the dirt you've been playing in.

I'm gonna bring both of you down.

You use your last few hours here
any way you want to, detective.

I'll bet I'm gonna find out that it
was you who gave up Hernan's cover.

-Yeah, who's Hernan?
-Undercover lCE agent...

...infiltrated the Salvadorans.

He was on the verge of giving us
the San Marcos intel.

Word leaked that the Salvadorans
had a mole.

Ever tell your buddy Cruz...

...about the agent
working the Salvadorans?

-No.
-Sure you did.

All I have to do is prove it.

Good morning.

How you doing?

Never better.

-Actually, a little busy.
-Right.

So I've been doing some research.

It turns out there's a lot of people
that are looking to hire former cops.

I mean, you could be an investigator
for a law firm or a Pl.

I know it's not what you want,
but you'd be good at it.

You could take care of the kids.

-Thanks for pulling this together.
-No problem.

I'm sorry...

...about everything that's happened.

I can't believe it.

-We have a problem.
-What's that?

I heard the cop who solved
the murders is being forced out.

Mackey? That's been
a long time coming.

-Can we do anything about it?
-No. It's done.

But wouldn't it make more sense
for the community...

...to keep good cops
who share our interests?

-That's not gonna happen.
-Like you to reconsider.

There are good cops in Farmington,
despite your experience.

Not like him.

The department will be better off
without him. So will the community.

You just have to trust me on that.

The rest of what I promised
for your exploratory committee.

I might take a few days to cash it.

If you don't confess, we're gonna
arrest you solely on the evidence.

You're going to jail.

It really is just a matter of time.

Sometimes you think
if you don't admit it to yourself, to me...

...then what's gonna happen
isn't gonna happen.

Some things are just inevitable.

Once certain forces
are set in motion....

You can't change it back.

Yeah.

It's done.

If l...

...tell you how it happened,
how sorry I am...

...and that all I wanted
was to love him...

...and be loved back...

...can I stay here a while longer?

Sure. Until we need the room.

The second I leave here,
my life is over.

Eat your breakfast.

-I told you. Stay away.
-Just give me a minute, okay?

You checked out of the motel.

They found out
about my father's illness.

-They will come again. I won't hide.
-I'll protect you.

I already have.

Is that what your friend
Antwon Mitchell thought?

Antwon.

Is that what Vic told you?

He told me many things.

That a little girl got killed.

That you're being investigated.

Well, that's a crock of shit.

Vic's been on lAD's radar for years.

He's being swept out as we speak.

And that little girl was not my fault.

-He has no reason to lie to me.
-He has every reason to lie to you.

He does.

What did he do, give you a shoulder
to cry on, offer to lend a helping hand?

Be reaching into your pocketbook
by next week.

Like you?

I need to be alone. Please go.

-You lied.
-No. You're gonna believe me first.

-I'm better off on my own.
-You're gonna get killed without me.

Look, I saved your life yesterday.

I took down Rezian.

I got him out of the way
so you could assume the throne.

I'll pay you more.

Look, I risked my ass for you.

My job.

Now, that's not how this shit works.

I'm sorry. Goodbye.

Go. I mean it, go.

Listen to me.
Vic stole from your father.

The Armenian money train?

It got robbed a few years back,
few guys got killed?

Money was never found?

That was Vic.

Him and his guys.

And he asked me to be a part of it.

When I said no, I became a threat.

And Vic's had a bull's-eye
on my back ever since.

My father lost six months
of profit in that.

I guess you've had
a much better understanding...

...of your father's dealings
than you told me.

Well, that's it.

Full disclosure. Both of us.

Now, whose side
do you wanna be on?

We'll have to deal with him too.

Who, Vic?

-Wait a second, I didn't tell you that.
-You have. You were right before.

I must finish the job.

There's no middle ground.

Romero come crying
back to you already?

That happened faster
than I thought it would.

Congratulations
on solving the murders.

Thank you, but I'm not finished.

-Couldn't have done it without my tip.
-Or at least not as fast.

Stop turning over rocks.

Not until I find out
what's crawling underneath.

I was just telling Aceveda how much
this city needs cops like you.

He doesn't see it that way.

-Not yet.
-Not ever.

You can keep wasting my time,
I'm gonna have plenty of it.

I can get you your job back.

I had a city controller trying
to save my job, and he owed me.

He has 1 0 times the juice you have
and he got nothing done.

He has 1 0 times the juice...

...but I have one more picture.

That's Aceveda.

Where did you get this?

When was it taken?

Gun to his head.

Rather than stand up like a man
to his attackers...

...he gets on his knees
and takes a man's dick in his mouth.

Don't think that will play too well
with the voters.

Except maybe in West Hollywood.

Use it any way you want,
so long as it doesn't come back to me.

Save your job...

...but stop digging right now.