05x03 - Red Tape

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "The Closer". Aired: June 13, 2005 – August 13, 2012.
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A CIA-trained interrogator originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Brenda has a reputation as a closer—an interrogator who not only solves a case, but also obtains confessions that lead to convictions, thus "closing" the case.
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05x03 - Red Tape

Post by bunniefuu »

Sorry, I'm late.

Diet cola, please. Thank you.

So how'd things go with Irene?

Sorry, David.

She won't even let me apologize?

David, there are some things
an apology just can't change.

Well, is she dating
someone else?

She's moved on.
And so should you.

This thing with Irene,
it hurt your career.

You know, it kills me
because she gets promoted...

- and I'm the bad guy.
- Yeah.

Sanchez won't talk
to me unless he has to.

Tao, he's polite but distant.

And the chief...

Chief won't confide
in me anymore.

So I don't know, maybe I
should take the lieutenant's test.

No. Outside of Major Crimes,
lieutenant's an administrative position...

just like sergeant.

Instead of taking a step up,
consider this, take a step sideways.

Add "detective" to
your present rank.

And that's something
I can help you with.

L.A.P.D. Everyone, stay inside.

Hey, stop! Police!
Stop now! police!

Show me your hands!
Show me your hands!

Where's your g*n?

- What did you do with your w*apon?
- Please. Please, I don't wanna die.

- You all right?
- Fine. We got a victim...

by the newsstand, This
kid took a sh*t at me.

We need to secure the
area and find his g*n!

Hurry up, guys.

- You're going to the ER with this kid.
- I can't. I sh*t him.

- I have to wait. We have to find his g*n.
- This kid is dying.

If you want time to question
him, it's gotta be now.

Go. Go.

I want every inch
of this area taped off.

Sergeant Davies, make sure
those casings over there...

are marked with our GPS system.

That couple over there,
the ones who called 911...

they say they saw the
m*rder from the car.

Separate them, get
detailed, and I mean detailed...

- statements from both of them.
- Uh, Captain Raydor?

Lieutenant Flynn, I'm
a little busy. What is it?

Well, we were wondering
if, while you're investigating...

the sh**ting of a
scumbag suspect...

we might look into
the actual m*rder.

Chief Johnson won't be
happy with the evidence detior...

This isn't Chief Johnson's crime scene,
So I wouldn't worry about it, gentlemen.

Officer-involved sh**t are
my jurisdiction, not Major Crimes'.

- That dead body over there is ours.
- Not tonight.

Uh, Captain Raydor, uh,
maybe it might expedite things if...

If you explain why the
sergeant who pulled the trigger...

was permitted to
leave after drinking...

and while you were with him,
which makes you a percipient witness.

- What hospital am I going to?
- Cedars.

Sergeant Ray, get the commander's
statement and get him out of here.

Sergeant Elliot, I'm
reachable on my cell!

- Chief.
- Sergeant.

- You're okay?
- Uh, yeah, I'm...

Yes, ma'am. I'm just
waiting to hear about, um...

Erik Whitner, the kid I sh*t.

- Doesn't look good.
- Taylor told me you had a chance...

to question this young man,
Erik, on your way to the hospital.

Getting in the, uh... In the ambulance,
he just kept saying he didn't wanna die...

and that no one was
supposed to get hurt...

Ugh, that's odd to say,
since he was k*lling people.

What else did he say?

Look, chief, um...

I may have made a mistake here.

Okay, what was that?

I never read the kid his
rights, and I talked to him...

- while he was laid out on the stretcher...
- No, that's okay. Ugh, that's not a mistake.

That's not a mistake, um...

Erik is probably dying, and
dying declarations are admissible...

in m*rder trials.

Wait. Chief, why are you here
instead of the crime scene?

Well, unfortunately, David, Major Crimes
isn't allowed to pursue this homicide...

until after the force investigation division
has finished their initial assessment...

of what you did.

- What?
- Look, look, I need you to sit down.

Okay? I need you to sit down
right now and listen to me.

Commander Taylor sent FID to the wrong
hospital, but they're gonna figure that out.

We have maybe minutes before your lawyer
shows up and Captain Raydor steps in.

- Whoa. My lawyer?
- I need you to tell me...

exactly what happened?
Exactly what happened?

I... I heard sh*ts. I ran out of the bar. I
saw the victim down by the newsstand.

I looked up, I saw the gunman fleeing.
I identified myself as a police officer...

ordered him to stop. He
turned, opened fire. Two sh*ts.

And I returned fire,
and I dropped him.

- Erik Whitner fired his g*n twice?
- Yes, twice.

- At you? Are you sure?
- Yes, I'm sure.

FID is gonna tell you that there
was no g*n found at the crime scene.

The only casings were
from a 9-millimeter...

and I'm certain that is
gonna match up with your g*n.

- There was a g*n because he sh*t at me.
- But there were no b*llet impacts...

behind where you were
standing and no ricochet marks.

As far as FID is concerned,
you were not fired upon...

- and you sh*t an unarmed man.
- What about the body at the newsstand.

- Doesn't that prove there was a g*n?
- Are you absolutely positive...

- that Erik Whitner fired at you?
- Sergeant Gabriel, don't answer that.

- Who are you?
- Anthony Monroe.

Communications division notified the union
and I've been assigned as your attorney.

Apologize it took me so long to get
here, but there was a mix-up in hospitals.

I'd like to sit and talk
about tonight's events.

Look, Mr. Monroe, I
didn't do anything wrong...

- and I don't want an attorney.
- Yes, sergeant, you do.

Okay.

So I have an attorney.

Captain Raydor.

Are you Sergeant David Gabriel?

- Yes, I am.
- As a sergeant...

I would expect you to be familiar
with the rules and regulations...

- surrounding the use of your firearm.
- And you would be correct.

Then why did you disregard L.A.P.D.
policy and leave the scene of your action?

- I was following a direct...
- Please say nothing else.

I see you've met your counsel, so I
won't bother asking you for your statement.

But over here, there is this
officer with a breathalyzer...

and I would appreciate it if
you visited him immediately...

to assess your
blood-alcohol level.

Or, if you prefer, your
lawyer can explain...

the long-term consequences
of failing to do as I ask.

Do you need help with
the word "immediately"?

Captain Raydor, it is so
nice to finally meet you.

So I was told that Sergeant Gabriel
and the victim had been sent to Cedars...

and here you all are at St.
Catherine's Medical Center.

And I was just wondering how
is it that you happened to be...

at the right hospital, while I
was sent to the wrong one?

If I may, I'd like to
offer some advice.

When investigating
sh**t like this...

I question the criminals
first before my fellow officers.

When I have an unarmed
civilian sprayed by b*ll*ts...

from a member of the
L.A.P.D., I expect cooperation.

It encourages me.

And if I could offer you some advice, uh,
while I am investigating this sh**ting...

be careful where you
place your sympathies.

- Chief.
- Excuse me?

"Be careful where you
place your sympathies, chief."

You're a captain, a subordinate
officer, and you will remember that...

when addressing me. Do I
make myself clear, captain?

Perfectly, chief.

Excuse me. Got work to do.

Kitty okay? I thought I
heard her throwing up.

No, no.

It's just... Just
a little cough.

He's fine. FRITZ: She's fine.

Are you sure? I could take
her in today instead of tomorrow.

No, no, no. She ate
her whole breakfast.

I don't wanna rush
her over to the vet.

Let's not make too much of it.

I gotta go.

- Well, I could swear I...
- I'm late. No, I'm late.

- I heard...
- Um, I'm late.

Let's pause in this
report for a moment...

to hear why you ignored policy and
put Sergeant Gabriel in an ambulance...

instead of waiting for the
black-and-whites, then sent FID...

to the wrong emergency room.

I thought the paramedics were
going to Cedars. My apologies.

I was off-duty. I had had several
alcoholic beverages on an empty stomach.

You didn't seem at all
drunk to me, commander.

Oh, thanks.

Uh, well, regardless, Erik
Whitner is in stable condition.

Sergeant Gabriel has met with
his counsel and given his statement.

The only thing outstanding
is the homicide...

which no one has been
allowed to investigate.

Chief Pope, I spent the
night familiarizing myself...

with Major Crimes...
Really, really impressive.

I find no instance where
they've investigated...

the m*rder of a
newspaper vendor...

whereas the sh**ting
of an unarmed civilian...

by an L.A.P.D. officer
incurs serious liability.

It can't take priority
over homicide.

And perhaps Captain Raydor would like
to tell Mr. Parsall's family his m*rder...

Chief Johnson is trying to combine
my officer-involved sh**ting...

Are you interrupting me?
Captain, are you interrupting me?

I must go first! My
investigation must go first!

These attempts to pull rank
are embarrassing, unacceptable...

and potentially an
obstruction of justice.

I have a federally
mandated responsibility...

to determine why an L.A.P.D.
officer discharged his w*apon...

which supersedes Chief Johnson's
objections, as well as yours, sir.

If it comes to that.

- It won't.
- Thank you.

Were there any
witnesses to this sh**ting?

Yes, uh, a couple saw
a young white man...

sh**t Mr. Parsall several
times at point-blank range...

empty his cash
drawer and run away.

Erik Whitner had $2 in his pocket,
had no g*n, wasn't ID'd by the witnesses.

Then whoever m*rder*d Mr. Parsall is still
out there. What if he sh**t someone...

while Captain Raydor
refuses me access?

Is it safe to assume the white
male who sh*t Mr. Parsall...

was not Sergeant Gabriel?

- That is not the issue here.
- Then what is the issue?

Clearly, Chief Johnson wants to
combine my case with her m*rder...

in order to protect a well-liked
member of her division.

I will not allow my conduct
to be questioned like this.

Especially when all I asked
Captain Raydor to do...

is to move her red tape
a few feet to the left...

so that I can properly begin
searching for a m*rder*r.

All right, Captain Raydor,
you seem to be insisting...

that this officer-involved
sh**ting and the Parsall m*rder...

are two separate events.

That's exactly what they are and I
need to be allowed to work my case...

- before Chief Johnson...
- No, no, no.

If Erik Whitner's not the sh**t, then Major
Crimes needs to look for the real k*ller.

You and Chief Johnson will share
the crime scene and the witnesses...

but Sergeant Gabriel is not to
take part in this investigation...

until this officer-involved
sh**ting is completely explained.

Chief Johnson, wait.

I wanna say that I understand the
urge to protect the people you work with...

and I respect it.

But I'm obligated to investigate this
sh**ting as if it were a criminal act.

And I would ask
that you do nothing...

to jeopardize the success
of my inquiry, that's all.

You stay out of my way,
captain, I'll stay out of yours.

Well. I tried.

Careful, chief.

She's part of Internal Affairs,
and she can carry a grudge.

Well, then, she better get
ready for some heavy lifting.

I remember Raydor back
when she was a Sergeant.

Filed a complaint against my
old partner George Andrews.

Said he was misogynistic,
heh. We had to look it up.

Got both of us four
months of sensitivity training.

Well, that was a
complete waste of time.

- Doctor? Anything?
- Well, ugh, he's definitely dead.

There's also this stippling
around each wound.

Basically gunpowder burns.
But they're not spread out...

which tells me Mr. Parsall was
sh*t at extremely close range.

What's bothering you though?

Usually, when b*ll*ts
pierce the skin...

they tear the epidermis
and present a torn-edge.

These wounds are clean. Round.

The only reason I can think
of for this type of wound...

is that the b*llet
must have been...

Ah, I'm right.

- Wadcutters.
- Target rounds?

Flat tip. Leave clean, round holes in paper,
so you can tell the exact entrance point.

Yeah, well, finding the
exact entrance point?

Not a problem we
had with this guy.

The average target round is
accurate only over short distances.

And because the b*llet is flat tipped,
they're not used in magazines or clips.

Jams too easily. Which means
the m*rder w*apon is probably...

- A revolver.
- Which would explain...

why there were no
casings at the crime scene.

Sergeant, please. You're not
allowed to be part of this investigation.

- Yes, Lieutenant?
- Chief...

a revolver would explain why there
were no casings at the crime scene.

Thank you. What do we know about
the couple who witnessed the sh**ting?

Okay, ahem. Well, that
was Ron and Tina Drake.

They were sitting in their car
by the curb for an hour or so.

- And they saw the robbery and the m*rder.
- What were they doing in car...

- for an hour?
- Well, they're a divorced couple.

- You know, working things out.
- Oh, good for them.

A relationship based on
love is worth fighting for.

Isn't it?

Who are you?

Chief, the Drakes said they
got a good look at the sh**t...

as the robbery started but
ducked down in their car after...

and when they were showed a photo of
Whitner, they had no idea who he was.

You know what I was thinking, ahem?
What do you get when you rob a newsstand?

Like, what, $38 in quarters? Maybe
Mr. Parsall pissed somebody off...

they k*lled him, and the
robbery was incidental.

- What do we know about Mr. Parsall?
- He immigrated from Israel, uh, in 2000.

He was naturalized in 2004.
Besides owning the newsstand...

volunteered at a Jewish Community
Center twice a week. No record.

So if it wasn't a
robbery, what was it?

Uh, Chief Johnson?

Uh, Buzz, we're not ready
to go to the crime scene.

That's fine. I stepped in to
tell you I can't come with you.

What? Why not?

The other detectives
say they never got word...

from Captain Raydor
to let civilians in.

- But you work for us.
- I know.

Oh, that woman!

Never mind. We're all going.

Lieutenant Tao, would
you bring your bag of tricks?

- Sergeant Gabriel, You're coming too.
- You just said I wasn't a part of this.

But you're a witness.
And I need witnesses.

- Hey! What are you doing?
- We're headed to the newsstand.

Pick a paper, read about
the FID guys who got fired...

because they disregarded
orders from the Pope.

- Listen, I'm not gonna...
- Tone, tone, tone.

That's no way to talk to a
lieutenant or a deputy chief.

If you do anything to
interfere with my investigation...

I'll see to it you spend the
next month on unpaid leave.

Is that understood? Okay, Buzz.

Buzz, start filming everything over
here including the unhappy officers there.

"S. G." Sergeant Gabriel.

Stands for "suspect guilty"
as far as FID's concerned.

Okay. This is where you said you were
standing when you fired your w*apon?

Now, Lieutenant Flynn, would you
please play the part of Erik Whitner?

Thank you. All right, sergeant.
Please return to this mark.

Thank you and
Buzz, could you...?

Buzz?

- Where is Buzz?
- Right here.

Chief, what are you thinking?

What if there was someone else
involved in the sh**ting of Mr. Parsall?

- What? Like a second gunman?
- Like a lone gunman with an accomplice.

Yeah, but I saw the g*n fire
from where Flynn is standing.

In your statement, you said you saw
the flash of a g*n, not the g*n itself.

So, just like I couldn't see Buzz
standing behind Lieutenant Flynn...

it's possible that you didn't see the
gunman standing behind Erik Whitner.

Yeah... Yeah, but it couldn't be
like that. I mean, how could it?

- Syzygy.
- Huh?

Syzygy. It means when three
things in a row, like, um, an eclipse.

When the Earth, the moon
and the sun are in alignment...

or in this case, Gabriel, Erik
Whitner, and someone else.

Divorced couple were
sitting in their car for an hour...

so to the sh**t
and his lookout...

this whole area would
have appeared deserted.

The lookout, Erik, signaled to
someone else that the coast was clear.

And if that someone else m*rder*d
Parsall and then fired at Gabriel...

as he was making his escape...

those sh*ts could have
looked like they came from Erik.

Wait a minute. So, what are you
saying? You think I sh*t an unarmed kid?

There were no b*llet impacts behind
where Sergeant Gabriel was standing.

Sergeant, would you turn
over your firearm, please?

Thank you.

And Lieutenant Tao, can I
have a clip of blanks please?

Hmm.

- Oh, here you go, Chief.
- Thank you.

Okay, everyone stand
behind me, please.

I'm f*ring a w*apon with blanks.

There is no need to be alarmed.
There is no need to be alarmed.

There's no way you were
standing on this mark...

when you fired your w*apon.
- Yeah.

He would have been
standing more near here.

Yeah.

Looks like a wadcutter.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

Sorry to interrupt, gentlemen.
Where's Erik Whitner?

Uh, in his room.
Uh, asleep, I think.

His parents and attorney
are waiting outside there.

It's not exactly a, uh,
police-friendly situation here.

Yeah, ballistics matched
the b*llet found at the scene...

with the b*ll*ts
that k*lled Parsall.

Whoever k*lled our victim
also fired at Sergeant Gabriel.

It doesn't prove Erik
was involved in the crime.

Even with what he
said in the ambulance.

So it's still David's
word against this kid.

I hate to ask you this since
it's against your nature...

but, um, do you think that you could
distract Erik's parents and his lawyer...

sort of irritate
them down the hall?

After you.

Lieutenant Flynn, L.A.P.D.

We'd like to talk about your
son. I have important information.

Over to the waiting room.
Be a bit more private.

- Who are you?
- I'm Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson...

of the L.A.P.D.

I'm so sorry to awaken you
when you're feeling unwell.

- But I have a few questions.
- I already talked to the other lady.

I'm here because you may
have witnessed the actual m*rder.

I don't know what
you're talking about.

You don't remember another man
being sh*t the night before last?

Well, that happens
sometimes, uh...

The trauma of being wounded
can affect your recollections...

but the k*ller ran
right past you.

He was as close to
you as I am right now.

Okay, I don't want you in
here anymore. Please leave.

Hey. Hey, you can't do that.

Dad? Hey, Mom?

- I am not gonna talk to you.
- That's okay.

You can just listen,
I got plenty to say.

The officer who rode with
you in the ambulance told me...

you said some things to
him on the way to the ER.

- "Nobody was supposed to get hurt."
- I didn't say anything to him. He sh*t me.

- Why would I say anything?
- You'd be amazed at what people say...

when they think they're
about to meet God.

Because they're
sorry or guilty or afraid.

- I wasn't dying.
- You thought you were.

That's the other thing you
said: "Please don't let me die."

- Sound familiar?
- No.

Erik, have you ever heard of
the term "transferred intent?"

It means that if a homicide occurs
during the commission of a felony...

say, armed robbery...

that everybody involved is
as responsible for the m*rder...

as the guy who
pulled the trigger.

Even if they were
just a lookout...

and didn't see the car with
witnesses sitting at the curb.

I didn't do anything. I
was just standing there.

- Why were you just standing there?
- Doesn't matter why.

- You can't arrest me for anything.
- Not right now, Erik...

but I am coming after you. I'm gonna
prove you m*rder*d Howard Parsall...

even if I have to use
transferred intent to do it.

Do you wanna go
to the gas chamber...

because someone else
committed a m*rder?

Come on. Who was with
you the night before last?

Who sh*t Mr. Parsall?
Who sh*t at the police?

- What are you doing in here?
- I'm talking to your son.

- Without his lawyer present?
- Discussing a m*rder, not your civil case.

This is all going
into the lawsuit.

What's with you people?
You care more about...

investigating some dead
Arab than you do my son.

Oh. RAMOS: Chief Johnson.

Ricardo. Of course. How are you?

Would you gentlemen excuse
us just for one moment, please?

- Here about the boy?
- Cop sh**ting an unarmed teenager.

It's a big story. Of course,
Taylor keeps shutting me out.

I figured see what
the boy has to say.

- If you wait a day...
- It's already been two, Chief.

Pretty soon it's gonna be old
news. I can't let that happen.

This case may be more than
just an officer-involved sh**ting.

Really? How so?

Well, I'm not at
liberty to say today.

But look, look, look, I'm
offering you an exclusive.

All right. Twenty-four
hours. It better be worth it.

It will.

I wanna know everything
about this Erik Whitner.

Where he goes to school, who his
friends are, what his activities are.

I'm beginning to think
this was a hate crime.

Oh, sorry. One second.

Hey, Fritzie.

- Hey. Uh, what did Dr. Fleming say?
- Kitty isn't getting better.

- What does that mean?
- Ugh, Brenda, there's just...

All right. Listen, honey...

there is nothing else we can do
except try and keep Kitty comfortable.

- Or...
- Ugh, we need to get a second opinion.

No, listen to me.

Do you really wanna put Kitty
through more needles and tests?

She has been loyal to you,
and loving, in every way.

And she has nothing
but suffering ahead of her.

She's counting
on us to stop that.

But you know, Dr. Fleming said
that we could keep her comfortable.

Try and keep her
comfortable. Try.

Look, do we need to
talk about this right now?

No, we don't have to talk now because
you know what needs to be done here.

But I can't do
it. I can't do it.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

- Chief Johnson.
- Yes.

- Pope's in the office with Raydor.
- Oh, that woman.

Chief.

If the kid I sh*t was really unarmed,
maybe I should call my attorney and...

No, Sergeant. Your attorney will
say what I'm going to say. Sit tight.

Hello. POPE: Chief Johnson.

I told you to investigate a m*rder.
And now you're harassing a witness.

Well, he's not a witness
anymore. He's a suspect.

Are you in possession
of evidence I don't have?

I don't know.

Let's get this straight here.

I have 72 hours after an L.A.P.D.
officer discharges his firearm...

to report to the chief of police
and the federal government...

as to the nature of the event.

So if you are in possession
of evidence that I don't have...

it is required that you
give it to me for my report.

You could have access to my evidence
when I finish investigating the m*rder.

She isn't just investigating a
m*rder. She's working very hard...

to get Sgt. Gabriel off the
hook for sh**ting my victim...

- and she's impeding federal justice.
- I am the one with the victim.

And you're protecting
the suspect from justice.

The opposite is true here,
actually, Chief Johnson.

You are protecting Sergeant
Gabriel, my suspect...

- as well as badgering the witness.
- How?

Uh, by threatening Erik
with the death penalty.

All I did was give an 18-year-old
boy some free legal advice.

Transferred intent can be
a difficult concept to grasp.

Your conduct during this investigation
has begun to seriously thr*aten...

a federal inquiry.

Look, Captain, you were
the one who insisted...

that these were
two separate cases.

But, Chief Johnson, according
to Erik Whitner's attorney...

who called me to complain
about your harassment...

a little sensitivity
might be called for.

The Whitners recently lost a family
member in the w*r in Afghanistan. Now...

two weeks later, to
have their son sh*t up...

Wait, what...? Who?
Who in the family d*ed?

Gunnery Sergeant William M.
Roth. Mrs. Whitner's older brother.

Marine sharpsh**ter k*lled
in Afghanistan 19 days ago...

when mortar fire hit
his transport vehicle.

So Mr. Parsall's m*rder
could have been revenge...

for Erik's uncle's death
in the Middle East.

Yeah, but, uh,
Mr. Parsall is from Israel.

It isn't always easy to tell who's
from where in the Middle East.

And where did, uh,
Gunnery Sergeant Roth live?

Yeah, 1066 Sylmore
Avenue, uh, Panorama City.

A search on the Roth family
address shows a complaint...

- was filed against them by their neighbor.
- A complaint? For what?

Uh, sh*ts fired. Turns out
Gunnery Sergeant Roth's son, Billy...

who happens to be
Erik Whitner's cousin...

was playing target practice with
his neighbor's fence just last week.

- Uh, I regret filing that complaint.
- Why is that, sir?

I didn't know it, but Billy's dad
d*ed in Afghanistan a little while ago.

I'm sure the kid was just
blowing off some steam.

The fence is old anyway.
Needs to be replaced.

I should have let it go.

Ah, Tao. TAO: Hmm?

You know, I can’t get to it
without entering the Roth property...

- and there's no one home to ask.
- Not home, right.

Uh, Detective Sanchez, why
don't you go ahead and give it a try.

- Sir?
- Oh, hey, be my guest.

All: Oh.

Looks like a wadcutter.

Six lands with a left twist.

I'll have to confirm it, but
I think we have a match.

Lt. Flynn, I think that
buys us a search warrant.

- Already on it, Chief.
- Okay.

Now, where are
the Roths, I wonder.

- En route to Nebraska.
- Ugh.

Apparently, the Roths booked
a family trip to grandma's...

after you visited with Erik. Omaha
P.D. is waiting for them at the airport.

How did the tests go on
the revolver we found?

Matches the b*ll*ts.

Uh, plus, Sanchez put a picture
of Billy Roth in a six-pack...

and each witness separately
ID'd him as the sh**t.

Uh, Ricardo, would you mind?

Look, we won't have the kid in our
custody for at least another 48 hours.

Can't wait that long. Captain Raydor
needs to report to the chief tomorrow.

I'm gonna have to get
what I need from Erik.

Chief, I don't think the parents and lawyer
are gonna fall for the same trick twice.

Mr. and Mrs. Whitner. Hi. My name is
Ricardo Ramos. I work for The Times...

and I'd like to ask
a few questions.

- We're not giving statements.
- Oh, I don't need a statement.

I, uh, need a perspective.
Your perspective.

You see, you have a
story that needs to be told...

and I wanna be the one to
tell it. I'll even buy the coffee.

- Okay.
- Great.

Hello, Erik.

You're not supposed
to be in here.

Do you remember that legal term I
explained to you? Transferred intent?

You don't need to worry about it anymore
because I just spoke to your cousin, Billy.

- What are you talking about?
- Billy told me that the two of you...

were just gonna hassle Mr. Parsall. But
you had other ideas once you got there.

Do you recognize
this g*n? You should.

We've just confirmed it as the
w*apon used to k*ll Mr. Parsall.

That's...

That's not mine. I
didn't do anything.

I told you I was coming
after you, Erik. And here I am.

I have the m*rder w*apon, your cousin's
statement saying you're the sh**t...

that you fired at police and
that after you were sh*t...

he grabbed the g*n and ran away.
Which means I have you for homicide.

You are under arrest for
the m*rder of Howard Parsall.

You have the right to remain
silent. Anything you say...

can be used against you. You
have the right to an attorney.

If you can't afford the attorney,
council will be provided.

- Stop and let me explain.
- You waive your rights?

- Yeah, fine, yes. Just let me explain.
- What's going on in here?

No, this is my son's
room. You have no right.

Your parents can't help
you now, Erik. Only me.

Talk to me. Tell
me what happened?

Or I'm gonna have to go
with Billy's side of the story.

- You can kiss your life goodbye.
- I didn't know about the g*n. I thought...

we were gonna kick the
guy's ass or something.

- Because he's Middle Eastern?
- Because he's Muslim.

Because we're at
w*r with the Muslims.

Listen, I didn't know Billy was
going to sh**t that guy. I didn't know.

I just wanted to scare him.
You have to believe me.

- Billy is the one who sh*t him, not me.
- And after Billy sh*t Mr. Parsall?

He took the money out of
the register, started to run.

Until you heard
someone telling you "stop."

And I stopped and I turned around
and started to raise my hands.

But Billy was standing behind
you, and he fired at the officer?

Yes. Yeah, he sh*t at him. Yeah.

How many times?

- How many times?
- Twice, I think.

Look, nobody was
supposed to get hurt.

That's what you said to
Sergeant Gabriel in the ambulance.

- "Nobody was supposed to get hurt."
- Yeah. That is what I said.

And now look at me.

Well...

The good news is that the doctors say
that you're gonna make a full recovery.

Unfortunately, the same
can't be said for Mr. Parsall.

Oh, and, uh, for
your information...

Howard Parsall, the Arab
that your cousin m*rder*d...

he wasn't an Arab,
and he wasn't a Muslim.

He was an American
citizen, and he was Jewish.

You sh*t the wrong guy.

Hey. Hey! I didn't
sh**t anybody!

This is against the law. You cannot
come in here and accost my son.

I'm not accosting your son.

I'm arresting him for
m*rder in the first degree.

- Provenza, would you please do the honors?
- My pleasure, chief.

Ricardo.

- I helped you out.
- Thank you for that.

- And we had a deal.
- We did.

And, uh, I think I know what
your exclusive should be, hopefully.

And hopefully,
that will be what?

The headline should read, "L.A.P.D.
sergeant cleared of all charges."

So tell the shrink if you
had to do over again...

you don't know how
you'd do it differently.

Say sh**ting the kid made
you upset, not too upset...

because you were being sh*t at
too. So you're happy to be alive.

Say you feel for the kid, even
though he participated in a m*rder.

And they're going to ask you how
many nights a week do you drink?

Keep it under three.

- Yeah. Yeah, that's good.
- Sergeant Gabriel?

Will you join us, please?

Thank you, commander.

Thank you, Julio.

So, uh, as you know, Erik
Whitner's cousin Billy Roth...

has been arrested for
the m*rder of Mr. Parsall...

and attempted m*rder
of a police officer.

Erik Whitner has also been charged
with the m*rder of Mr. Parsall...

though I fully expect the
DA to make a deal with him...

in return for his testimony.

Does that comport with your
version of events, Captain Raydor?

It does, now that I have all
the information you withheld.

- And is there anything else?
- Yeah, there is.

Sergeant Gabriel, the district
attorney has reviewed FID's report...

and upon our recommendation,
is not filing charges against you.

So once behavioral science has
signed off, you are cleared for full duty.

- Thank you, captain.
- You're very welcome.

Is that all, chief?

Uh, well, I do wanna
express my appreciation...

for the insight that you've
given me into how FID functions.

I have learned a great deal
from your single-minded approach.

And I have learned a great deal about
your investigative technique as well...

especially as it regards L.A.P.D.'s struggle
to regain autonomy over its own affairs.

And I'll be including all of
that in my final report, chief.

Oh, I can't wait to
read that, captain.

Hmm.

Sergeant, do not
doubt yourself on this.

You acted properly,
legally, and decisively...

- to protect the public safety.
- By sh**ting an unarmed kid.

Law considers him every bit as
guilty as the boy holding the g*n.

Yeah, well, I understand
how the law sees it. I just, um...

I see it a little differently.

But I do wanna thank you,
chief, for being there for me.

Well, if I'm gonna be upset
with you when you're wrong...

Sergeant, the least I can do is
stand up for you when you're right.

- Hey.
- Hey.

I made arrangements for someone
to be with Kitty during the day, so...

No, no, no. You're right.

I've been thinking
about it and...

I've only been looking at
how hard this is on me...

not Kitty.

It's not what she deserves.

Dr. Fleming's
coming over right now.

And, uh, we're gonna do it here.

So that her last moments
aren't in some examination room.

I just... I wanna do
the right thing by her.

- This is the right thing, isn't it?
- I think it is, sweetie, yeah.

I wish I knew what
you were thinking.

But no matter what it
seems like we're doing...

it's only because I
love you so much.

Oh, my poor, little Kitty.

My poor, poor,
poor, little girl.
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