02x04 - Carte Blanche

[bunniefuu]

NARRATOR: Previously on The Shield:

It's about our kids, about them being safe.

I'll move out if I have to, if that's what it takes.

CLAUDETTE: Manny Sandoval skated murders I should have had him for.

I've wanted him for a year.

Drop the g*n now!

I do nothing wrong!

Zaide!

[SCREAMS]

I've got a problem on this Tio m*rder.

The more I look into it, the more Vic Mackey's name pops up.

I'm gonna find the truth.

And if I have to go through both of you, I'll get it.

Tell me right now where is she?!

I don't know!

DUTCH: She's dead.

She was in the trunk? The whole time?

Marcy, why didn't you tell me?

Sorry, Daddy.

MAN: Know what I get for those on the street?

Drop it!

[g*nsh*t]

g*dd*mn it!

Hey.

VIC: When we retire...

Mmm. We gonna play golf together every day?

I... I'd really like that.

ACEVEDA: For his selfless action while off duty, sustaining a g*nsh*t wound during the apprehension of a major g*n-running ring, and for exhibiting the type of individual awareness, initiative, and resourcefulness that serves as an inspiration for all officers, I'm proud to hereby present Detective Vic Mackey the department's highest honor for valor and courage under fire.

[CROWD APPLAUDS]

MAN: Go, Vic.

VIC: Uh, everybody here deserves one of these.

I was just the guy holding onto it when the music stopped.

Thank you.

[CROWD APPLAUDS]

Don't think this means you get a free pass around here.

Of course not.

Congratulations, Vic.

It was Lanie's idea to recommend you for the medal.

I didn't know that. Thank you.

It's important that the public knows about our successes as well as our failures.

ACEVEDA: We're running your toys-for-g*ns drive tomorrow.

That's where people trade in their g*ns to the cops?

Yeah, while, uh, Vic was laid out in the hospital, he came up with this great twist for us.

Yeah, they get to fill out raffle tickets for a big prize when they trade in their g*ns.

Which gives us their name and address.

We run the g*n for ballistics, and if they were used in a crime, we know where to find them.

You thought of that while you were on a morphine drip?

Well, stolen g*ns put me there.

I had three weeks to figure out how to get 'em off the street.

I'm impressed.

[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]

[SIREN BLARING]

Thank you, ma'am.

Enjoy the toy.

You can have that one.

Next.

DANNY: Have a nice day.

JULIEN: What's your name?

Patty Ann Hinkle.

DANNY: That's a pretty name. Thanks.

Where'd you get the g*n?

PATTY: Home. I don't like it.

Do I get a toy?

You sure do.

Give me your address.

PATTY: It's, uh...

Starting me off with a bang, huh?

Yeah, robbery. Ended badly. One dead.

Witnesses said the sh**t gained entry using a police badge, number 714.

That's your number. Where were you two hours ago?

With me.

Let me see your badge.

This is a fake.

I... I... I got mugged. I lost my badge in Tijuana.

I never thought it'd end up back in L.A.

An L.A. cop badge sold on the black market.

Where the hell else would you expect it to be used?!

Let's all calm down. Did you know about this?

No. No, he didn't.

Where'd you get this one?

This, uh, Serbian guy in Rosehill.

It's just like the real thing.

No, no, Officer Vendrell, it's not.

The real thing got used in an armed robbery and a k*lling.

I'm gonna clear this whole thing up.

Let me get into it.

I'm sorry, man.

Where were you two hours ago?

I was sleeping.

Damn. Aceveda seems pissed, doesn't he?

It's just like old times.

Hey, who's the dead guy?

He worked here along with our witness who isn't saying much.

Heh.

[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]

VIC: You saw this go down?

Was the sh**t white, black?

He had a mask.

It happened quick.

What'd he take? Nothing.

So he used a cop's badge to get you to unlock the place, he murders a guy for no reason, steals nothing and leaves?

This guy, ugh, definitely knew what he was after.

Whatever it was, it wasn't supposed to be here.

Am I right?

What if I told you my buddy and I here have a little side business?

Helps victims get their stuff back.

You offered to get his stolen merchandise back for a fee.

He was hiding something he wouldn't tell a clean cop.

You thought this would work?

It already has. He's cooperating.

The store is a front for an Armenian mob diamond chop-shop.

He told you this?

He wants his diamonds back.

They fence hot ice, re-cut the gems, put 'em in different mountings so they can't be ID'd, then they re-sell them.

VIC: This is what our sh**t stole.

Well, this is entrapment.

Well, just for the jeweler, and he's a guppy.

We're hunting a whale here.

You want us to catch this k*ller or not?

You're going undercover as dirty cops.

You think you can pull that off?

We can try.

[♪♪♪]

SHANE: You know, being crooked cops when it's my ass and badge on the line, it's just not as fun.

Yeah, well, we're only pretending to be crooked cops.

So we're not really taking a cut of the jewelry.

Well, it's always an option, but today I'm feeling good.

[RAP MUSIC PLAYING OVER STEREO]

[VEHICLE APPROACHING, TIRES SCREECHING]

You flip that right there, and it's got a little bit.

I got some stuff too, in the back.

Aw, man.

You're having a sidewalk sale and you didn't invite us, Taylor?

Aw, man. I thought we was on your mailing list.

This thing has a remote?

Okay, listen, I gave you Fleetwood, okay?

I'm free and clear.

Just one more favor, swear to God.

You know who might be moving this kind of stuff?

Uh, no, no.

I don't usually travel in those circles.

Uh, hey, what?...?

Find out who does and then buzz me.

Oh... Look, man, you know, Cl's are supposed to be registered and paid, man.

Tell you what.

Here's a fin. Go buy yourself a taco.

It's a $50 box.

Thank you.

I can't believe this. It was a clean sh**t.

I know. I was hoping lawyers wouldn't get involved.

Let's just hear what they have to say.

Five million makes us go away.

Well, 5 million makes me laugh.

DANNY: I didn't do anything wrong.

Your officers improperly entered the Al-Thant home, establishing a pattern of racial insensitivity and abusive behavior.

He gave us permission.

MAN: After you threatened to bring the FBI.

You treated him like a criminal, which escalated the dispute.

She felt she could att*ck him with impunity.

This is ridiculous.

The search was legal, the sh**ting by the book.

We don't agree.

I'll be expecting your counteroffer by the end of the day.

I wouldn't hold my breath.

Did I mention we're also naming you as well as Officer Sofer in the civil suit?

Think it over.

You Tike?

He'll be back later.

What do you want?

How 'bout an honest answer?

A friend of mine says you're trying to move some hot rocks.

What do you think you're doing, man?

Huh?

We're cops.

SHANE: It's him.

Give me the keys.

I'd like to see a warrant.

I'd like to see Anna Kournikova naked on a waterbed.

I'm calling 911. SHANE: Go ahead.

We'll come back in five minutes, take your report.

I'll start with possession of stolen property.

It's an exact match to our crime scene.

Who sold you this stuff?

I'll tell you what.

You get the guy who sold you these down here, and I'll give you a third of them to keep.

You'll let me keep a third?

Hell of a deal.

Heh. What kind of cops are you?

Ballistics just got a hit on one of Vic's toys for g*ns.

Well, maybe they'll give him a second medal.

Slug from a test fire matches up to an unsolved m*rder from last year.

One of yours.

Richard Cummings. Yeah.

DUTCH: Who's Richard Cummings?

CLAUDETTE: This is a guy who took a loan from a shark named Manny Sandoval.

Couldn't pay the money back. Ended up dead.

It was obvious Manny k*lled him.

So why does somebody else have the m*rder w*apon?

Find out.

Yeah.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

CLAUDETTE: Mmm.

Coffee, cigarettes and too much joviality.

Smells like a 12-step.

Excuse me. Uh, what program is this?

Gamblers Anonymous.

Thanks.

It's that time of year.

Two days after the Super Bowl.

Everybody finds a higher power when they lose their shirts.

I lost 100 bucks on the g*dd*mn Raiders.

Pfft. I'll be damned.

DUTCH: What?

CLAUDETTE: That's Manny Sandoval.

DUTCH: The loan shark? Where?

CLAUDETTE: In the alley.

So your suspect is hanging outside the meeting where the guy who owns the m*rder w*apon is?

Some coincidence. Hell of one.

You wanna take him in?

Manny doesn't cr*ck easy, and he won't sweat unless I'm packing a lot more info than I got now.

Nah. Let's wait and talk to the g*n owner first.

[DOOR OPENS]

[SOUL MUSIC PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

[CLEARS THROAT] So what's so important?

[g*n COCKS]

Hope you hocked enough for bail.

Where's my badge, you dumb ass, huh?

Work with me here, all right? I need a deal.

VIC: We don't.

We have you for robbery and homicide and being dumb enough to sell the jewelry that ties you to both.

Look, I needed the money, all right?

But you don't have everything.

Alex Esnick. Alex who?

He runs the Ziran family for the Armenian mob.

What about him?

HRACH: I give you Alex, you shave some years, right?

VIC: Convince me.

I worked protection for him.

He owns that jewelry shop I hit.

And you robbed your own boss?

I was taking back something that didn't belong to him, that's all. Well, why'd you k*ll the guy?

'Cause he was a thief of Alex's who stole some jewelry from a store I provided protection over.

Wait... Wait a minute.

You worked for Alex. The dead guy worked for Alex.

He robbed from you. You robbed back and k*lled him?

Doesn't sound like a very happy family.

No, it's not.

Yeah, and Alex encourages competition, especially between Russian Armenians like him and Lebanese Armenians like me.

[CHUCKLES]

That's why I didn't mind ripping Alex off.

What else can you tell me about Alex?

Everything.

Gambling, hijacking... you ever heard a rumor about a money train?

What's a money train?

Story goes, it's like a rolling bank vault.

Super secret.

Supposedly runs out of L.A. every couple of months to clean their dirty money overseas.

How much money are we talking about here?

I hear it's big.

So who do I make a deal with?

No. Why not?

Because we've already got the k*ller.

This is where it ends.

Hey, we got a line on the biggest Armenian mobster in L.A.

I'm not running a mob task force.

You don't have to run it. You just have to watch.

Let me return the jewels to Alex, see if he wants to buy a... A dirty cop.

You're not having too much fun playing this?

Aw, inside, I'm a sad clown.

And what about the jewels?

You already gave a third to the pawnbroker.

You wanna give the rest to the mob boss?

Well, that's the deal I made.

Hey, if I want them to think that I'm a corrupt cop, I at least got to be honest about it.

Well, I don't like it... and I especially don't like you in the middle of it.

Hey, you know how Giuliani became the mayor of New York?

He brought down the mob.

I wanna know every move you make.

Absolutely.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

There he is.

Mr. Hinkle.

Detectives Wyms and Wagenbach.

We'd like to speak with you.

Is everything okay?

I wouldn't bet on it.

DUTCH: Come on.

CLAUDETTE: That's Richard Cummings, a man who lost a lot of money in a restaurant.

He's also a guy who was into Manny Sandoval for $50,000.

DUTCH: Your g*n k*lled him, so don't bother wasting our time with a bullshit excuse.

Where'd you get my g*n from?

Your daughter traded it in during a toys-for-g*ns drive.

How much did Manny pay you to use your w*apon?

Or did you do it for him?

What?

We also checked your phone records.

You seem to call phone booths a lot.

Is that your bookie or your loan shark?

It certainly wasn't your sponsor.

Where's my daughter?

A complaint has been launched against you by a man named Abul Ibish.

Who?

Six months ago... some bar fight you broke up.

I don't remember.

At the Lakeside Tavern.

I get a lot of calls there. What was the complaint?

This guy says that you used racial epithets prior to arresting him.

Derogatory comments referring to his Arab ethnicity.

This is bullshit.

Well, how would you know?

You don't even remember the arrest.

I'd remember that.

Danny, if you made any anti-Arab comments...

I didn't.

Even in the heat of the moment, I need to know now.

I didn't.

My name's on that lawsuit too.

What in the hell is that?

I don't know, but buy me a ticket.

Yeah.

Hold it.

He's expecting us.

[VIC CHUCKLES]

Mr. Esnick...

I believe these are yours.

Some are missing.

That's right. A third.

That's the deal I made with your boy over at the jewelry store.

You made that deal with him. You didn't make it with me.

There is a lot of money.

It was a lot of work.

I don't like cops in my social club.

Fine, then we'll leave.

Oh, uh, you have an auto shop over on Waverly, right?

Yeah, from what we hear, it's filled with stolen car parts.

Police are gonna raid it in about three hours.

Why are you telling me this?

Shane and I here are looking to moonlight.

First tip's a freebie.

Next one will cost you.

Now we're waiting for the Armenian to call back?

I said, "Keep this simple."

It is simple.

Oh, uh, and I need a raiding party at this address in two hours.

Not a moment sooner.

To find what? Nothing.

It'll be cleared out by the time they get there.

Heh. Look, I know it's your world, but I'm the one who lets you work in it.

Clear this with me before next time.

I would have. I just didn't have a chance.

What about this money train?

Aw, if it exists, we'll get to it.

When?

Soon.

I'm transferring Shane off the Strike Team.

What?

I see you're listening to me now.

Shane is my partner.

Well, I'm thinking Vice might be a more appropriate assignment for him.

Where does this bullshit come from?

An all-white team knocking down doors in an 83 percent minority neighborhood is bad policy.

We had a deal.

I keep my nose clean, you keep your nose out of my business.

Well, Shane didn't keep his nose clean, did he?

So we're gonna find somebody who can.

Either a black or a Latino.

[SCOFFS]

Feeling okay?

Fine. Just a little office politics.

What's the issue?

Actually, it's something you might be able to help me out with.

Aceveda's trying to ram something down my throat.

You mean, adding a minority to your strike team.

Yeah, that's right.

Mm-hm. That was my idea.

And it's a good one, in theory.

But I don't have another spot open on my squad.

David told me he was opening up a spot.

Well, he was mistaken.

Look, an all-white unit smashing down doors in a heavily minority neighborhood, it's just bad policy.

You'll get used to the idea.

MAN: Heh-heh. That's it exactly.

[PLAYING TRADITIONAL MUSIC]

[SNAPS FINGERS]

I appreciate your tip.

My men were able to clear everything out just in time.

Here you are, gentlemen.

How did the police know about it?

Seems like you pissed off the wrong Lebanese Armenian.

Hrach?

Once he k*lled your jewel thief, I guess he felt compelled to open up.

How do I shut him up?

While he's in custody, you can't.

sh*t.

How much to have him taken out?

Hey, how you doing?

What, k*lled?

No. It's not possible.

Not k*lled. Not k*lled. Just taken out of jail.

I'll deal with him myself.

That'll cost you more than you have.

ALEX: Yeah, but, uh... it can be done, it's possible.

He's in custody for m*rder.

Well, I am the arresting officer.

I suppose if I made a technical error... violated his rights somehow.

Yeah, yeah.

How much to violate his rights?

You want me to release a m*rder*r so that his mob boss can k*ll him?

Sounded a lot better the way Vic explained it to me.

We're not gonna let Alex k*ll Hrach.

Oh, well, that's a relief.

We're gonna do it ourselves... or at least provide a reasonable facsimile.

All we need is a body.

What do you want now, the keys to the morgue?

When does this stop?

When we take Alex down.

Look, the only way to nail him is to catch him paying us off for the hit.

I'm pulling the plug.

Alex needs to see a body.

Showing him a picture of some uni in Halloween makeup isn't gonna cut it.

This ends in anything but total success, you can join him on Vice.

What the hell is he talking about?

Who knows?

It's a little clammy in here.

CLAUDETTE: You'll get used to it.

I won't need to.

You fronted Richard Cummings money for a restaurant that closed after two weeks, right?

I don't lend money.

I'm not a loan shark.

Cummings never paid you back.

Why would he? I never lent him a dime.

Lance Hinkle also owed you money, a fortune.

Don't know a Hinkle.

You clear his debt, he helps you k*ll Cummings.

Heh. Sell it to the Grimms Brothers.

I've got your lies on record.

Now sit there while I prove them wrong.

DUTCH: Take Bob and Marcy.

They live next door to the victim, he had a prior for kidnapping, liked young women.

I should have seen it.

Would you concentrate on this case, please?

I'm using it to illuminate this case. Excuse me.

It was Hinkle's g*n.

Hinkle doesn't have an alibi. It should be Hinkle.

Hinkle's got nothing to do with Cummings or the restaurant.

What about the dead guy's wife?

Maybe, uh, she and Hinkle having an affair, want the husband dead?

The widow's gotten no insurance money.

She's not involved.

It's worth checking out.

Look, I've got a suspect.

His name's Manny Sandoval, and I'm bringing him in.

I'm having a hard time explaining why we're backing you for city council when you seem to be wholly unconcerned with our community's needs.

What are we talking about here?

A g*ng member d*ed in a drive-by sh**ting this week.

His g*ng has demanded a funeral mass at his family's church, but our new reverend refused on principle.

[CONVERSING IN KOREAN]

Since then, the church has been vandalized and he has received death threats.

It's unacceptable.

A community's strength stems from its leaders, especially its spiritual ones.

I'll assign a protection detail immediately.

[SPEAKING IN KOREAN]

[DOOR OPENS]

I just got a su1c1de call.

White male, 20's, just blew his head off.

Perfect. We're gonna need your clothes and your wallet.

Let's go.

What the hell is this?

VIC: We found our candidate.

Who? Some guy.

What guy? Where?

Dead guy. No face, no relatives, no problem.

I'm coming with.

Sure. We'll meet you there.

What's the address?

I think Acuza's got it.

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]

MAN: They're setting up.

VIC: All right. Set the camera up in here.

MAN: Wait at the stairs.

Alex is on his way. We've got 15 minutes, tops.

Know what, we'll, uh... We'll take it from here.

Yeah, we're not done with the investigation.

SHANE: Had to swap out the clothes.

I thought you said he blew his face off!

That's what I was told!

What did he do, miss?!

He's totally recognizable.

Jesus Christ, he's gonna be here any minute.

Oh, God. All right, go...

Go to my car and get my shotgun.

What?

Just do it!

Don't worry, you won't feel a thing.

I'll walk the neighborhood.

What should I do?

Stop anyone from k*lling a reverend.

Try to keep me in sight.

MAN: I seen him over by MacArthur Park.

DANNY: Excuse me.

What are you doing?

Oh, hi, officer.

Hi. What are you doing?

I know this looks weird, but I'm a volunteer coach for a kids' soccer team.

Yeah, I see that.

Well, uh, one of them found a squirrel by the side of the road.

It was the only way I could get him to stop crying.

I promised to send it to squirrel heaven.

Okay, well, that's not really legal.

I didn't know what else to do.

I just wanted Jordan to feel better.

Well, that's sweet.

Um...

Okay, bury it deep.

Thanks.

You wanna give him the face-lift?

I'll pass.

p*ssy.

You're not here to realize it, but you're doing a good thing.

Yeah, that's better.

MAN: Okay, camera's got signal.

Oh, God. Where have you been?

He gives you the money, you give the signal, you get out, and hear me, this is it.

Understand?

Sure.

When he gets the money, we go, on my mark.

Got it.

Thank you, sir.

One of them yours?

Hey.

Um, no.

I used to play. GIRL: Bye.

No, most of these kids don't have fathers.

That's very nice.

We have a game on Sunday.

Maybe if you're not working, you could stop by.

[CHUCKLES]

Um, yeah, I'm free on Sunday.

Great.

You k*lled him yourself?

Yeah, he got a little squirrelly.

We're gonna have to charge you extra.

ALEX: You saved me the trouble.

All right, here we go.

How much do you think he told them?

We could find out.

He was very involved in a lot of my businesses.

He knew a lot of things.

Perhaps you can, uh, help with some protection?

Get ready.

ACEVEDA: Hold, hold! MAN: Holding.

Don't do this to me.

Like with what?

Let's talk someplace else.

Son of a bitch.

[MEN CHATTERING]

I'd like to know if any more of my places are going to be raided.

Give me the addresses.

I'll check 'em out at my station.

Take a couple hours.

That's delicate information to give to a police officer that I barely know.

Fine.

If you need me some other time, give me a call.

No, wait.

Hagop.

Hagop knows the addresses.

He'll go with you.

Works for me.

And he'll stay here...

as insurance, you know?

You have one of my men, I have one of your men.

Make sure he doesn't catch anything.

See you soon.

Yeah.

[PLAYING TRADITIONAL MUSIC]

[SIGHS]

CLAUDETTE: We believe one of these men k*lled Richard.

Claudette, I didn't see his face.

He was running.

Take a look.

I'm sorry. I just...

I didn't see a face.

It was nine months ago. It's okay.

DUTCH: There's one thing I don't understand.

The night your husband was k*lled, you were home alone with him?

That's right.

You have two small children, it's a Wednesday night, middle of the school week.

Why weren't they in the house with you?

Their grandmother takes them ice skating on Wednesday nights.

They sleep over, and then she drops them at school.

It would be interesting if the k*ller knew the kids wouldn't be in the house.

Fewer possible witnesses... or maybe to spare them the trauma, which is odd, unless the k*ller knew them personally.

Are you saying that I...?

Excuse me.

CLAUDETTE: Come here.

What the hell are you doing?

Pursuing an angle of investigation.

By attacking my witness?

Not much of a witness.

That's right, she's the victim.

I cleared her nine months ago.

You cleared any connection to Manny.

What about Hinkle? Look, she's not in this.

Maybe it's just that simple.

g*dd*mn it, she's not Marcy.

Now you screwed up your case.

Fine, it happens... but don't screw up mine.

Take that back.

Later.

Right now, I'm handling this case.

Alone.

MAN: If he crossed state lines, he blew it.

It's federal now.

Cummings' wife saw you outside the house the night you k*lled her husband.

She just positively ID'd you.

You're done.

Hinkle spilled his guts like a cheap piñata.

How you excused the vig on his loan in exchange for k*lling Cummings, not the principal, though.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

You're a piece of work.

It's his word against mine.

Believe me, when he's on that stand and his little girl's there, and he's bawling like a baby, they're gonna believe every word he says.

I don't need a confession.

Take him.

Let's go.

They could still be undercover, they could be doing God knows wh...

Never mind.

Nothing. I guess he didn't squeal on that one.

What's the next address?

4103 Merrick.

VIC: And this is?

Cigarettes, tax-free.

Well, your smokers can cough up their lungs in peace.

Next address?

This one's not really anything, but since we're here, check it anyway.

Sure. Give it to me.

9210 Escoveda.

VIC: And this is?

Not sure.

Storage or something.

It's clear.

Where the hell you been?

Been working on another case, what'd you expect?

You disappeared. Where's Shane?

He's working on that hooker sting I told you about.

"Hooker sting"?

What do they have you doing now, entrapping Johns?

No, he's just talking with them.

Might bring in a few of 'em later.

Well, you're supposed to check in every two hours.

Make sure you do.

assh*le's just trying to keep his job.

It's pathetic.

VIC: Next.

Hrach?

Hagop?

Oh, sh*t!

You're alive.

All right, let's go.

[CHUCKLES]

What time were you supposed to check in with Alex?

What happens to Shane if you don't?!

[CHUCKLES]

[BAND PLAYING TRADITIONAL MUSIC]

I'm out. I'm out.

MAN: Ha. I b*at him anyway.

Instead of playing poker, we should be playing "poke her."

Wanna play another one?

Yeah.

[CELL PHONE RINGS]

Yeah?

VIC: In exactly 10 seconds, go to the john.

Now say "wrong number" and hang up.

Wrong number.

[CARDS SHUFFLING]

Tell you what, this gypsy swill just goes right through me.

I'll be right back.

Stay still, assh*le.

Everybody down!

Get down on the ground! Everybody, down!

On the floor!

Get on the floor!

Get down!

Get your hands up!

VIC: Lace your hands, put your palms on top of your head.

Do it!

Alex Esnick, you're under arrest.

Shane!

Take him.

Shane!

Shane!

Yeah?

[CHUCKLES]

How 'bout next time I save your ass?

It's a date.

Anything I need to know?

Nothing at all.

Okay.

What are you doing?

Oh, hi.

Um, I'm burying a hamster.

Did you just pay that kid for it?

No, I gave him some money so that he could go buy a new one.

Okay, you know what?

I'm gonna have to write you up for this.

Okay, no, you don't.

Yeah, I do.

Look, it's really... Shut up.

Jesus Christ.

MAN: All right, ladies, let's move it along.

Nice bust.

No, it's not over yet.

Once these g*ons lawyer up, the word'll get out, and those places will be cleared before we can hit 'em.

So let's move now. Give me the specifics.

I'll send units.

Well, we got a chop shop on Newman, a cigarette stash on Merrick, a few others...

Something mysterious on Escoveda.

We'll check that out.

Something to do with the money train?

It's probably just a jerk off.

We'll let you know.

You think that's the money train?

I got a pretty good feeling.

So it is real.

What do you want to do?

At the bar, when I didn't answer her questions, she called me names.

Why didn't you report this earlier?

I don't know, but I didn't know my rights.

LANIE: But you do now.

Mr. Ibish, do you remember Officer Lowe?

Yes.

I remember you too.

It was my first week on the job.

He resisted arrest, became violent.

My partner exercised great restraint.

Did Danny use any racial epithets?

No, sir, but Mr. Ibish used one or two towards me.

He's lying!

He's covering for her. You all do that.

LANIE: What did Mr. Hamad offer you to come forward with this story?

If he's retracting his statements, it's a surprise to me.

You told him that if he filed a formal complaint, you'd represent him for free in his own civil suit.

That was predicated on his story being true.

There was no quid pro quo for him to lie.

Well, either way, your case ends here.

Our case doesn't depend on him.

I'm here to discuss your counteroffer.

Well, here it is: nothing.

Her own partner won't corroborate her story.

He doesn't contradict it, either.

We have a wrongful entry, an innocent man, and a grieving widow.

And I've got a decorated officer who's fighting to keep this city safe during very troubled times.

I look forward to a jury settling this.

We'll be in touch.

[DOOR OPENS]

[MEN CHATTERING IN ARMENIAN]

Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada.

This isn't just L.A. money.

This is the whole g*dd*mn west coast.

Holy sh*t.

First the head of the Ziran family, then this?

Aceveda's gonna be licking our scrotums for weeks.

I'll call, uh... I'll call for backup.

No.

What?

We're gonna let it go.

Why?!

We're gonna let it go.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Get over here.

Get over here.

Tell that bitch you lied. What?

Tell her you made it up because you owed me money, wanted to get even.

I can't lie anymore.

I got you to take out Cummings.

You don't think I can arrange to have your daughter be next?

Use your head.

I didn't need a confession...

but it doesn't hurt.

[DOOR BUZZES]

ACEVEDA: Hey, Vic.

We hit the mother lode.

Credit cards, digital cameras, phony passports.

What did you find?

Nothing.

You... You're the only one who came up empty?

Case of frostbite, but, uh, no money train.

You think he gave you the wrong information?

Either that or it never existed.

What's the matter, cage not full enough for you?

So you won't mind if I check it out?

Why would I mind?

Good work today.

Good enough to get a chit with you?

What kind of chit?

I'll take a minority onto my team, but I get to keep Shane.

Heh.

He's suspended for a week, and I get approval of the new team member.

And I get to approve your approval.

I can live with that.

Then I guess we start looking.

I take it back.

No need to. You were right.

Hey, let me buy you a little dinner.

Detective can't personalize his investigations.

I'm, uh...

I'm not really very hungry.

Hrach says the money train moves every couple of months.

Where does it go?

Next time, right into our pockets.

Oh, there's a lot of unknowns.

We're gonna do it right, be extra careful.

Take our time.

You can't really be talking about making off with the Armenian mob's entire western U.S. kitty?

Goddamned eastern Euros can't keep track of their own plutonium.

You think I'm gonna trust them with our cold hard cash?

Ah...

Huh?

[FINGERS SNAP]

Mr. Hamad dropped my case.

One big city against just me now!

Mrs. Al-Thant, please, I... I don't want to arrest you.

MRS. AL-THANI: You! Zaide was good man!

He would never sh**t you!

And we sympathize with your loss.

If you did, you would have signed those papers and given me a piece, a chance for my baby.

[SOBBING]

He will never know his father because of you.

I'll never forget what you do.

I didn't do anything wrong.

Justice will find you.

[MRS. AL-THANI SOBBING]

VIC: Now you have a king.

She only has a four, which means you can take her cards.

See? These cards go over here.

Go ahead.

Move these cards over here.

Matthew?

You just have to show him.

Here.

Birthday cake? Ecch.

Well, it's somebody's birthday somewhere.

CORRINE: It's time to get ready for bed, come on.

Go brush your teeth, put on your PJs We're not tired.

Hey, you heard your mom.

I'll be in in a second to read you a story.

Go on.

Megan went right to sleep, no problem.

How are you feeling?

Ah, a little stiff. I'm okay.

Not too bad.

First day back at work was good.

It's a little early, isn't it?

Ah, these doctors...

If they could, they'd put you on bed rest until you got something else they could charge you for.

You seemed pretty anxious to get back.

I have a lot to do.

Uh, it's just that... before you got hurt, you, uh... You said you'd leave the house.

You promised.

I know.

If you're good enough to go back to work, um, as soon as you can find a place...

[WOMAN SINGING OVER TV]

[DOOR BELLS JINGLE]

What can I do for you?

I need a room.

Uh, yeah.

Oh, um, uh, you know what?

It's... It's fine here.

Um, just... Just write your name and, uh, your, uh, police division.

Hey, is this about the people across the street?

Hm?

I can't say.

Okay, that's... I understand.

I'll tell you, the things he does to her, it's a sin.

Uh, why don't you give me a room with a view across the street?

[CHUCKLES]

You know, I might be staying awhile.

[TV BLARING THROUGH WALL]

[SIRENS WAILING IN DISTANCE]

[HELICOPTER WHIRRING]

[GRUNTING]

[♪♪♪]