01x13 - The Remora

[bunniefuu]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

♪♪

♪♪

[CAR ALARM CHIRPS]

♪♪

[GRUNTING]

[HORN HONKING]

[CHOKING]

[HONKING CONTINUES]

♪♪

♪ Ah ah, ah ah, ah-ah ♪

[EDDIE RAY'S "GLAD I FOUND YOU" PLAYS]

- It is steamier than Idris Elba.
- ♪ Oh, baby ♪

This heat wave is no joke.

You can't crank the air, Daddy?

Nope. We got to conserve energy.

We could get more rolling... blackouts.

Look at you.

- You got a date?
- No.

Last-minute work assignment.

- [DOOR OPENS]
- ♪ ...all I ever knew ♪

- Hey, Mama.
- Hey! What...

What you doing here?

Spur-of-the-moment thing.

I don't buy it.

- What's wrong?
- What?

Grandpa, I can't come and see you

without you thinking there's a problem?

- [DOOR OPENS]
- [CHUCKLES]

Uh, can I help you?

Oh, Mom, this is Taylor.

My friend from Berkeley
I was telling you about?

This is Taylor.
I-I thought she was a girl.

No. Sorry to disappoint,
but I'm definitely all man.

♪ Oh, I'm glad, honey, yeah ♪

[CHUCKLES]

Mm-hmm.

So, what are you studying at Cal?

Oh, no, I'm... I'm not in school.

I just live near campus for the vibes.

BILLIE: I had a couple of days
off from my classes,

so I thought, "Why not take a road trip"

- "in his van?"
- Slash house.

Oh, you one of those van-life people?

But before the drive, my mechanic
gave my home a full tune-up.

I had to make sure I got
your precious cargo here safely.

CUTTY: So you sleep in your van, huh?

Well, that's good.
'Cause you're not sleeping here.

Mom, it's still so hot outside.

Grandpa's house. Grandpa's rules.

- Hmm.
- But be nice, Daddy.

Walk me out?

♪ Oh, I'm glad, honey ♪

Isn't he great?

Cute, charming, and a van?

What's not to like?

♪ Baby... ♪

Lord, what is she thinking?

This is silly. You have to work.

No, no, no. The maître d' said
she could seat us until : .

So, let me just talk to Garza,
see how long he needs me for.

Fine.

But only because I've been
dying to wear this dress out.

You look fantastic.

- Oh, je sais.
- [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]

Ooh!

- Hey.
- Garza said, uh, classy casual,

but y'all two are showing out.

They called in the lab techs, too?

Oh, no, we were
just about to, you know...

- Your first date. That's right.
- Yeah.

- You told her?
- Yeah. This is Simone.

- I-I tell her everything.
- Well, what?

Now you got to cancel your plans?

No, no, no, just delay them.
Do you know what we're here for?

I was gonna ask you the same thing.

Let's go find out.

Hey, what's up?

I set up a profile on ClipMates.

[GASPS] What?

You're finally dipping your toes
back into the dating pool?

Good for you.

Yeah, well, it's been a week.

I haven't gotten a single message.

That's statistically impossible.

Dating apps have bots designed

to bombard newcomers with
attention so they feel welcomed.

Here, let me see that.

What am I doing wrong?

Oh, so many things.

Carter set up a ClipMates account?

Who are you trying to attract?
Women who are hot

- for serial K*llers?
- [BOTH CHUCKLE]

Give it back. It's not that bad.

Hey, this team cleans up real nice.

Thank you for coming in
on such short notice.

Our help is needed in an undercover op
at the Luciana Hotel bar.

Okay, well, what are our cover stories?

We don't have any.
Tonight, we'll be stagehands.

What's a stagehand?

In order to control
the environment on certain ops,

we sometimes fill the target
location with agents.

And so this evening,
we will all be posing

as hotel guests,
servers, and bartenders.

- Like extras in a movie.
- Yeah.

Yeah, super boring.

And what we're getting
paid to do, Laura.

Except you. What are you doing here?

- Oh, we were about to...
- Oh, your first date.

- Right.
- Right.

- Did you tell everyone?
- Uh, no. Just...

Boss, you think they'll be able to make
their dinner reservation after?

I doubt it. I'm sorry. That's not...

But you know what, though?
Antoinette, you could join us.

You are an employee of the FBI,
and this is a low-risk op,

so I can make it happen if you'd like.

- Could be fun.
- Say yes!

All right.

- Great.
- Yeah, great.

Do I get a g*n?

g*n? No.

No.

But the Bureau is picking up
the tab, so enjoy.

Briefing in the Sit Room. Let's go.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

♪♪

I'm Supervisory Special Agent
Louis Cronin

from the San Diego Field Office.

I realize this is your house,
but it's my op, so what I say goes.

My Cyber Crimes unit has been
monitoring dark web chatter.

An unsub with top secret clearance

has offered up stolen m*llitary
technology to the highest bidder.

It's taken months, but our unsub
has agreed to sell the tech

to someone they believe
is a Russian operative

but who is actually
Special Agent Ritchie Abrams.

What kind of technology?

Designs for a m*llitary satellite
that can track submarines

up to meters below the ocean.

If this tech gets into the hands
of our foreign enemies,

this could be catastrophic
for our Navy, right?

Which m*llitary contractor
was the tech being stolen from?

DoD uses several vendors
to build different aspects

of the satellite,
which means we're not sure.

So we know a whole lot of nothing?

Yes, but what we do know is that
our unsub reached out today

and arranged a deal...

Satellite tech
in exchange for $ million.

Now, they said to put all the money

in this specific model and color
Mont Clair briefcase

and that they'd show up
with a matching briefcase

that's got the satellite tech inside.

That exchange is set up
for : p.m. tonight

at the Luciana Hotel bar.

- Any questions?
- One.

Are you sure you only
want me to be a stagehand?

'Cause I think I would be much better
as Ritchie's hot side piece.

[CHUCKLES] You see it.

- Who are you?
- Simone Clark.

- And you work here?
- I'm a special agent.

Then act like one.

Do as you're told.
Stay out of my team's way.

Yes, sir.

You're dismissed.

[MID-TEMPO PIANO MUSIC PLAYS]

♪♪

Of course. I'll bring that...

Ah. Table for two. Yes? Right this way.

You got stuck being a waiter, huh, boss?

No, I chose to be.

Gives me free rein
all over the restaurant.

Now, remember, our unsub
could probably already be here,

so no shop talk
and no calling me "boss."

Have a good evening.

SIMONE: Ooh. Carter,
this lighting is fantastic.

Give me your phone
so I can get your glow-up photo.

You're not gonna stop
until I give in, are you?

I'm not.

♪♪

[CELLPHONE UNLOCKS]

[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]

♪♪

[QUIETLY] Ritchie's in position.

And now we wait.

[STATIC HISSES]

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

My first undercover mission. [CHUCKLES]

This is so exciting.

You're not mad I brought you here?

Mad? I feel like
I'm in a John Le Carré novel.

I love seeing this side of you.

What, my sexy spy side?

Stick around.

Okay. Carter, less a* m*rder*r,
more leading man.

- Go.
- [CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS]

[CHUCKLES] Well, yeah. Okay.

That's a nice thirst-trap photo,

but I'm thinking the real issue
is your bio.

You got to play up to your strengths.

You know, you got a cool job.

I'm not gonna put "FBI agent"
on my profile.

Why? Women love a man with a badge.

- Mm-hmm.
- Don't worry.

I'll do it for you.

Here are your two classic mocktails.

- [CELLPHONE CHIMES]
- Oh. Excuse me.

♪♪

I just got an alert from L.A. Clear.

And?

There was a m*rder in a parking garage
at Aerospace Relativity.

That's one of the firms with
access to the satellite tech.

Yeah. An engineer by the name
of Spencer Gordon

was garroted in his car.

No suspects and no surveillance.

He's got the correct security clearance.

That cannot be a coincidence.
Did they find the tech on him?

No. The car was empty.

All right. I'll send agents down there.

Copy that.

Will there be anything else for you?

No. Is, uh, everything okay?

We're fine.

♪♪

So we're just supposed to
sit here and make small talk?

Seems odd, considering
the circumstances.

You know, before I was an actor,
I was an extra

on some kid shows,
and to make the time pass,

I would create
these elaborate backstories.

I wasn't just sitting on a bench.

I was... sitting on a bench
waiting for my brother,

who stole my inheritance
and my girlfriend.

I was plotting my revenge.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

- Sounds like fun.
- Yeah.

So... who am I?

You are... Madame Debuchy,

the haughty owner of a rival hotel

who's here scouting the competition.

- Haughty?
- Yeah. Haughty.

I like that.

And you're Gustav,
the fiery chef De cuisine

I've been trying to poach.

_

_

_

_

_

♪♪

[CELLPHONE BUZZES, CHIMES]

♪♪

SIMONE: Your phone has been

- blowing up, Carter.
- LAURA: Mm-hmm.

Let us see those new profile matches.

Come on. You wouldn't have any
if it weren't for us.

All right. But you're not
allowed to message back.

Okay.

[SIGHS] Too thirsty.

- She has dead eyes.
- Little bit.

Ooh!

She can hang for a night.

Mm-hmm.

She wrote back, "Arrest me, Daddy."

Yes!

I'm not dating this woman.

Why not? Oh, come on, Carter.

We all know you've used cuffs before.

Ooh! Laura is freaky.

♪♪

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

♪♪

Our unsub has landed.

Arrest team, stand by.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

♪♪

Hi!

♪♪

False alarm. Stand down.
I repeat... False alarm.

Stand down.

♪♪

Seven minutes past the scheduled
meet. What do we got?

Agents just finished searching
Spencer Gordon's apartment

- and his personal computer.
- And?

The dark web account we've
been talking with belonged to him.

That means your seller is dead.
Someone got to him first.

And that the tech is out in the open.

Damn it. All right. k*ll it.

There's no point sitting around
waiting for a dead man to show up.

Copy that. We're gonna wrap things up.

Looks like our guy's not gonna show.

You sure about that?

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS]

Cronin, he's here.
Positive I.D. on the briefcase.

Maybe Spencer had a partner.

Yeah. Or maybe it's his k*ller
or someone else.

Or maybe both.

♪♪

Open it.

♪♪

Is this a joke?

I don't know. Is it?

You know what?
I have had enough of this.

- Take him.
- No, no, no, no, no.

We take him now, we got nothing.

Let's follow him, see where it leads.

Not your call, Matt.

Arrest team, take him.

♪♪

[GLASS BREAKS]

- [GRUNTS]
- Let's go! Get in there!

CARTER: FBI. You're under arrest.

Arrest? For what?

I'm just a Task-a-Lot gig worker.

I got paid bucks on an app
to come here, wear this pin,

and meet some dude to swap briefcases.

He's just a patsy.

And we've just been made.

Damn.

♪♪

We are taking over the case from Cronin.

He doesn't look too happy about it.

Yeah. Well, HQ is pissed that
he pulled the trigger too soon.

So what do we got?

Courier's story checks out.

He was hired off an app
to role-play the deal.

Thought it was a practical joke
or something.

So they used him as bait
to suss out whether

there was law enforcement in here, huh?

- And we fell for it.
- Yeah.

Well, can we track him,
at least, on the app?

Cyber Crimes said there's no way.

This guy's clever, probably tech-savvy.

Somehow he figured out
that Spencer Gordon

was going to steal
the satellite R&D and sell it.

So he kills him and then
piggybacks off of Spencer's deal.

I bet if Cronin never ordered us
to move in,

whoever is behind this
would have eventually

come out of hiding to make the exchange.

Damn. We were so close!

Well, what's done is done, okay?

Now, we got work to do.

Carter, you and Simone head over to

the scene of Spencer Gordon's m*rder.

See what you can find.

Let's check the specs
on this pin camera,

see if there's a serial number
or something.

Get it to the lab immediately.

You know, boss,
I sort of have a lab right here.

Okay.

Did you have gloves in your purse?

I'm always prepared.

I've seen this type of spy cam before.

There won't be a serial number on it,

so tracing it will be a challenge.

But it's short range... About meters.

meters? That means our unsub
was inside the hotel.

Okay. Brendon, get your hands
on all hotel security footage

and find out who was watching us.

Okay.

Oddest first date ever.

Sorry.

Just meet me in the security office.

[CHUCKLES]

- Oh, boy.
- [CHUCKLES]

Not how tonight was supposed to go.

I know.

Madame Debuchy was supposed to seduce

Gustav into a torrid affair
in the kitchen.

- [EXHALES DEEPLY]
- Gustav would've liked that.

_

_

♪♪

[SIGHS]

[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]

Cameras were disabled.

The techs found no fingerprints or DNA.

Our guy was meticulous.

And vicious. What a way to go.

k*ller was lying in wait.

Choked him from behind,
obviously with something sharp.

Look at the wounds.

The M.E. thinks it was cheese wire...

Industrial strength, sharp.

Cheese wire garrote? That's... specific.

Let me run it through ViCAP.

There were three homicides in
the last two years that fit the M.O.

A... Wait. And one... one attempted.

Frank Patterson. He survived.

- Where is he now?
- In prison.

Currently six months
into a three-year sentence

- for armed robbery.
- Let's pay him a visit.

How's it going?

Wishing I hadn't picked up my phone.

I was having such a good night
until Garza called.

Well, I do not want to hear
any more complaints from you.

At least your girlfriend
is in the same time zone.

Oh, you and Atlas are trying
the long-distance thing?

Yeah. Phone sex isn't as good as IRL.

I don't know what I was thinking
bringing this up to you.

No more talking. Please.

All right.

♪♪

Oh, are you sure?

Why? You got something?

Well, maybe.

With the hat and the camera angle,

you can't do facial recognition.

Hmm.

Ooh. Hold on.

Yeah. That's a tattoo on his right hand.

But... I can't make out
what it is, though.

Paid using a credit card.

Yep. I'm calling for a warrant.

[BUZZER]

It's midnight. This better be good.

Special Agents Hope and Clark, FBI.

Oh, so it's not just the heat.
I really am in hell.

A man was m*rder*d tonight.

Unless you're saying I'm a suspect,

why should I care?

We think the same person
tried to k*ll you.

Look familiar?

If you arrest that bastard,
do me a favor...

Lock him up in here.

I'll take care of the rest.

That's not gonna happen.

But you can help us catch the guy.

I'm not trying to wear a snitch
jacket, even for this guy.

I just want to do my time
and go back home.

To your family in Florida?

Because if you help us, we can secure

a transfer to a facility in-state.

I'm listening.

You're doing time for jewelry theft,

but they never recovered the pieces.

Did you have an accomplice,
someone who double-crossed you?

I'm good. Didn't need nobody else.

And that job? It was flawless.

Was in and out in five minutes.

But when I got in the car,
someone was in back.

Got a few licks in before I blacked out.

Never saw the bastard's face.

When I woke up,
I was cuffed in a hospital bed.

Couldn't talk for weeks.

Do you have any idea who did this?

I never tell anybody anything
about my scores.

Who was the fence you were
going to? They had to know.

I didn't give him any details.

I was careful. Worked alone.

Then that snake snatches it all away.

Not a snake. A remora.

- A what?
- A remora.

It's also called a suckerfish.

They survive by suctioning
onto a host animal,

like a shark or whale,

then feed off its scraps from its kills.

So this guy lets a criminal
do all the work,

then kills him and takes the spoils.

- BRENDON: Hey, boss.
- Yeah.

Our suspect was watching us
from the hotel lobby.

Surveillance video caught him
using a credit card

to buy coffee and a dessert.

Okay. That get us a name?

No. He was smart.
He used a prepaid credit card.

But he also used it to rent
a ShareBNB in Echo Park.

Ah. So not so smart after all.

Grab Carter and Simone. Check it out.

All right, let's go.

[BRYCE GREEN'S "BOOM" PLAYS]

♪♪

LAURA: FBI! Stop!

♪ Okay, big dawg gripping... ♪

Head inside. We'll cut him off.

♪ ...to the boss, get to
swinging like a pendulum ♪

- Hey!
- FBI!

♪ Too much energy ♪

♪ I got the title, I'm defending them ♪

♪ I ain't come to play ♪

♪ Rap chatter money hungry backpacker ♪

♪ Throw all the Benjamins
up in the bag ♪

♪ Might just throw a smack at you ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm bad, too ill, so fresh ♪

- [GRUNTS]
- ♪ Kickin' down the door ♪

♪ Hit 'em high and low ♪

BRENDON: Hey, boss. You okay?

I got you, boss.

LAURA: What happened?

You okay?

[WEAKLY] Yeah. I think so.

He got away, but we got his phone.

♪ Come on, tell me what you want ♪

I can't believe I got
sucker-punched like that.

It could've happened
to any of us, Carter.

But it happened to me.

I know what'll cheer you up.
Let's check your dating profile.

You know, maybe your man-bait
caught some new fish.

You got new messages!

This is all so superficial. So what?

They liked my profile.
What does that really mean?

It means you go out with some
lovely ladies and see how it goes.

I don't remember dating
being this complicated.

I actually don't remember dating at all

because I was married for so long.

I don't know, Simone.

I'm an analog dater in a digital world.

Maybe it's just easier if I die alone.

How much blood did you lose?
'Cause you're talking crazy.

Agent Hope! It is you.

Fortune! Hey!
I didn't know you worked here.

Mm-hmm. Sorry for the delay,
but we are at capacity tonight.

Heat-related illnesses,
accidents from downed power...

The city goes nuts
when the temperature spikes.

Uh, hi. I'm Simone.

How do you two know each other?

We've crossed paths a few times.

[CHUCKLES] Tell her the truth.

He arrested my mother a while back.

Jazmine from Ventura County Jail.

I remember her! Feisty.

- To say the least.
- [BOTH LAUGH]

So, the doctor says you're good to go.

I'm just gonna rewrap this.

I promise to be gentle.

Don't worry. I can take it.

[FACETIME RINGING]

Hey! Daddy, why are you up so late?

What's going on?

I'm guarding the front door

to keep Billie from sneaking
off to that boy's

van of iniquity.

Billie is an adult, and she
needs to make all the mistakes

that will turn her into
the woman she's meant to be.

What kind of mother
did I raise you to be?

A smart one. I learned from the best.

And I'm doing the opposite of
what you and Mama did with me.

Now, what's that supposed to mean?

Y'all gave me the blues
about everybody I brought home,

and that only made me
like them even more.

The teenage brain
is naturally rebellious.

It... It cannot be reasoned with.

It requires reverse psychology.

Okay. I get it.
So we're supposed to pretend

that we like him
so that she'll stop liking him?

Yes. That's how we're gonna
get rid of him. He's a loser.

Now, hold on. He's not a loser.

He's just a young man finding himself.

But he's trying to date
my granddaughter,

which means [WHISPERING] he's got to go.

And he will. Trust me, Daddy.

Now get some sleep.

[BOTH LAUGH]

Who knew tough G-men could be ticklish?

Well, you touch so soft,
how could I not be?

Uh, should I step back out?

I'm all done.

And I am as good as new.
Boom! Thank you.

I've got to run.
But if you need anything...

Anything at all... Find me.

Nice seeing you again, Agent Hope.

You, too. And call me Carter.

♪♪

So I guess we can delete
that dating app.

I don't follow.

If she threw it at you any harder,
you'd have a concussion.

That girl is into you, Mr. Analog Dater.

What? Can't she just be
a kindhearted healthcare worker

without you making it all dirty?

Hell no.

[CHUCKLES] She like you.

[CHUCKLES] Come on.

How's the arm?

Fine. How's the case?

Don't ask. Cronin went
tattletaling to the A.D.

Said we lost this guy because I
didn't call SWAT in for backup.

He just wants the case back for himself.

- I'm sorry, Matt.
- Don't be.

It was my call.

Well, it's still our case,
so let's work it.

W-What did we miss?

He used a fake name to set up
a ShareBNB account,

but we have no forensic evidence.

Just a partial palm print.

We're... We're no closer
to a positive I.D.

Yeah. Well, we know more about
his victims than we do about him.

All four are known criminals,
accomplished thieves...

Diamond theft, high-end cars,
pricy artwork.

Exactly. Preys on his own kind,
just like a remora.

SIMONE: Unh-unh.
Stop trying to make "remora" happen.

It's not gonna.

It's a fitting name for our unsub.
It totally fits his M.O.

The metaphor doesn't even
make sense, Carter.

A-A remora doesn't k*ll its host animal.

It just eats its leftovers.

Well, it's actually
scientifically proven

that remoras feed on their hosts' feces,

- not their kills.
- You hear that?

So unless you're calling
our spy satellite

criminal excrement, stop with "remora."

Okay, well, hopefully we'll
learn this guy's real name

once Cyber gets into his burner cell,

which won't be at least until
the morning at the very earliest.

So for right now, everyone just go home.

Get a few hours' rest. Go.

Don't.

No. Simone, y-y-you're missing my point.

No.

♪♪

Oh. You back to work already?

Big case. I got to.

And what about the case
of the man in the van?

Follow my lead.

[SINGSONG VOICE]
Good morning, beautiful family!

Hey. Where is that
cute boyfriend of yours?

He's in his van... where
Grandpa told him he had to stay.

But it's good, 'cause he usually
sleeps till about noon anyways.

Can't be mad at a man
who gets his beauty rest.

Oh, a-a-and I've been thinking,

you know, about this #VanLife.

He should be commended
for being Eco-friendly.

You want some coffee, Daddy?

Plus, just think of all the money
he's saving living in his van...

You know, on bills
and real responsibility.

You know, I think, uh,
he just might be the one.

Oh, I get it. You two hate him.

No. It's not like that.

You see a free spirit
living out of a van.

I see someone who was there
for me this semester

while I was struggling emotionally.

He loves me and supports me,
and he makes me so happy.

That's still not good enough.

I am happy Taylor
has been there for you.

Honestly, I am. But [CHUCKLES] come on.

I mean, the boy has nothing
going on with his life.

How would you even know?
You've barely spoken to him.

You know, Mom, when you were
a guidance counselor,

you saw the best in everyone.

Now you're a Fed,
and you only see the worst.

That is not tr...
Daddy, that's not true, right?

It's not! No, it's not true.

But it's not false, either.

See?

Look, your mother
just wants what's best.

Same. And, you know, right now,
me being here is upsetting,

so I think I'm gonna leave.

Okay. Now you're overreacting.

I love you, Mom,
but right now... I just can't.

Daddy, do you hear sound
coming out of my mouth?

'Cause it seems to me like
a little girl whose entire life

I'm financing is forgetting who she is

and how things go up and through here.

You know, I just need to clear my head.

Good. Do it.

And we'll talk about this
when I get home.

Yeah. I won't be here.

Billie.

♪♪

[SIGHS]

[SIGHS]

- [SIGHS]
- Have I changed?

What?

Remember how I was
in the Academy on the first day?

Am I the same person?

No. You're, uh... You're better.

No. I'm serious.

Since being in law enforcement,

I'm... I'm hunting serial
K*llers, going to crime scenes,

i-interrogating folks,
and I think it's made me

more judgmental... Biased, even.

That's not who I am.

Listen. I feel the same way,
too, sometimes.

Sure.

We can't let this job change us, B.

We got to hold each other accountable,
just like we did at Quantico.

♪♪

Did we get anything on the burner cell?

Yeah. The techs just sent it to us.

LAURA: He made three calls
on it, and the first two

were to foreign consulates here in L.A.

Russia... one-and-a-half-minute
phone call.

China, a little less.

Looks like they were trying to
off-load the tech to one of them.

Yeah. But if you want
to do real business

with a foreign power,
you contact the embassy in D.C.,

not the consulate here in Los Angeles.

Maybe that's why the phone calls
are so short, right?

I mean, what, are they calling
and asking to get transferred

to the espionage office?

Well, it does prove that
the unsub has the goods.

He just doesn't know
how to go about selling them.

The remora is used to piggybacking

on other criminals' plans,
not creating his own.

- You called him the remora.
- [SIGHS]

What about this third call?
A Rebecca Laramie.

R&D manager, SonicSpeed Industries.

- What's that?
- SonicSpeed Industries.

That's Aerospace Relativity's
largest competitor.

He's trying to sell
to their rival. Smart.

Well, the call lasted
over seven minutes.

That's more than enough time
to make a deal.

Absolutely.
Let's get her in here right now.

LAURA: Yeah.

Wait. So this guy was for real?

Yes, Ms. Laramie, he was.

Okay. So it wasn't Todd
in accounting pranking me?

Oh, come on. You were on the
phone with him for seven minutes.

I look at spreadsheets all day.
This was the highlight of my morning.

Okay. Did the caller try and
sell you top-secret satellite info

from Aerospace Relativity?

If I knew this was real,
I would have taken him up on it.

It would've got me a big promotion.

And a prison sentence.
This isn't a joke.

This is espionage.

Wait. Am I in trouble?

We need you to tell us
everything he said to you.

Oh. Well, you can listen
to the call yourself.

The company records all our calls.

MAN: What I have to show you
is worth your time.

How about we meet in two hours
at Angels Gate in San Pedro?

Ms. Laramie didn't agree to the meeting,
but Simone has a theory.

My grandmother grew up in San Pedro.

Fort MacArthur Battery Barlow
is an old bunker there.

It has graffiti all over it.
It's actually pretty cool.

And I'm interested why, Simone?

Because he called it "Angels Gate,"
and only locals call it that.

So it got me thinking,
maybe he grew up around there.

It's pretty thin, but it's what we got.

So what do we know?

Most criminals don't start out
as murderers.

They usually build themselves up
one felony at a time.

So chances are,
our unsub has a criminal record.

Well, let's take a look.

Male, Black.

- You said to ?
- Make it .

Oh, and don't forget that
the hotel surveillance

showed that he has
a tattoo on his right hand.

Okay. Now, any former or current address

in San Pedro, California.

Okay. Five possibles.

Carter, you were up close
and personal with this guy.

Is he in there?

♪♪

That's him.

Yeah?

Trevor Bask.

He did time for breaking and entering.

Got out two years ago. Fits the profile.

Put out a BOLO, check aliases,
and contact all known associates.

We are close, team.

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

BRENDON: Hey.

Yes?

[CHUCKLES] If that's not
how you greeted everyone,

a guy might think
he did something wrong.

Interrupting my workflow may or
may not fall into that category.

Well, it might be for a good reason.

I'd like to reset our first date.

What did you have in mind?

Well, tonight, I was thinking

maybe we could do
Spanish food at La Fonda,

followed by a romantic, star-lit
stroll at the observatory,

and maybe some dancing at the Warwick.

- Ambitious.
- BRENDON: Yeah.

And impressive.

- I'm very much on board.
- Great.

But... isn't it a gamble
with an active case

and your unpredictable hours?

Ah, maybe. But I bet on us.

Okay.

Then I'm in.

Okay.

LAURA: We got a facial recognition hit

on Trevor Bask from a traffic cam.

- Let's move.
- Yeah.

Uh, I'll see you tonight.

Okay.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYS]

♪♪

Hey, buddy.

- Pete. Been a while.
- Yeah.

I appreciate you doing
this so last-minute.

Oh. No problem.

Why the urgency?

I got a lot of heat on me, man.
I got to get out of the country.

But I'm not trying to go
with empty pockets.

Yeah. Well, it's a good thing
I brought this, then, huh?

- [BOTH CHUCKLE]
- Yeah.

Just, uh, one question first.

♪♪

Were you the one
who k*lled that engineer...

strung a wire around his neck?

♪♪

[SIRENS WAILING]

♪♪

♪♪

LAPD canvassed the area.

A man fitting Trevor's
description went inside

about minutes ago and he was
carrying the messenger bag.

He's gonna try to sell the plans.

Let's move.

[HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]

♪♪

♪♪

No one's here.

He couldn't have gone far.

Simone, what is it?

Found him.

♪♪

CARTER: So Trevor set up a deal
to sell the satellite R&D

But got double-crossed by the buyer,

who k*lled him and took the tech.

- Don't say it.
- What?

That the remora got remora'ed.

I wasn't going to. But it's true.

And the fact that you said it
lets us all know

how fitting the name "remora" is.

Is it just me or is this
an odd way to k*ll someone?

g*nsh*t to the stomach
and then strangulation

using the victim's own garrote.

Well, g*nsh*t was meant to
immobilize Trevor, not k*ll him.

The unsub wanted to take
his time, k*ll him slowly.

This m*rder was purposeful.

So sh**t him in the stomach.
That way, he can't fight back.

And he fishes around, finds
Trevor's own w*apon of choice,

and finishes him off with that.

That's cold.

This was about more than
stealing the satellite tech, wasn't it?

LAURA: Yeah. It's personal.

Trevor and this new unsub
have a history.

And that's the way we're going
to I.D. whoever did this.

We're gonna have to tear
Trevor's life apart

and figure out who had
the most hate-on for him.

Let's just hope we can
before they sell the tech.

- Come on.
- LAURA: Yeah.

♪♪

I think I got something.

I did a deep dive on Trevor Bask.

Take a look at his known associates.

All right. Which one?

Peter McCord, his cellmate?

That's the one.

They shared a cell
in Pelican Bay for two years.

Now, McCord is a fence
and a known trafficker

of high-end items
for an international clientele.

So maybe Trevor got McCord
to sell their secrets?

But why would McCord k*ll him
if they were doing business together?

I know why.

In McCord's list of known associates
is Jared Mackey,

who stole a shipment of rare metals,

and Fernando Pierce,
who pulled a heist at MoMA.

Those names sound familiar?

Both were garroted after
they pulled their jobs.

And McCord was their fence?

Looks that way.

So tell me if this makes sense.

After sharing a prison cell and
figuring out what McCord does,

Trevor gets an idea.

Right. Why risk pulling a heist yourself

when you can piggyback
other people's heists

and just rob them?

Yeah. So Trevor follows
McCord's associates around

until they perform their jobs...

Like a remora.

...then kills them
and takes the stolen goods

for himself and sells them
through a different fence.

But if he was screwing over McCord,

why would he have him fence
the stolen secrets?

Well, because Trevor got cocky

and figured McCord
wasn't onto his scheme.

And he needed a guy
who could give him a big payday

for those secrets.

That backfired in a big way
'cause Spencer Gordon's death

is all over the news.

It's the same M.O. as who hit
four of his known associates...

McCord got wise.

So when Trevor called
with the tech to sell,

McCord realized he could
get revenge and a big payday.

Where can we look for McCord?

There are seven known addresses

spread out over Los Angeles...

One residence, six businesses.

So, Laura, Brendon, why don't
you take the home in K-Town?

Carter and Simone, hit up
this pawn shop in Hollywood.

I'll coordinate with LAPD
and get them to cover

the other locations on the West Side.

[ILL FACTOR'S "RUN IT" PLAYS]

♪ Run it like a relay ♪

♪ Run it back like a replay ♪

That's him.

He's here. Requesting backup.

Copy. Sending LAPD units to you now.

Secure the back.

♪ When you look like this,
you got the look right ♪

♪ What it look like?
Yeah, what it look like? ♪

- [TALKING INDISTINCTLY]
- ♪ Wavy, with some much splash ♪

- ♪ Balling with so much cash ♪
- [SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE]

♪ I live like this
and I don't waste time ♪

♪ 'Cause you can't make that back ♪

♪ You don't want to run it with me ♪

♪ 'Cause you know that I go top speed ♪

FBI.

Simone, he's running towards you!

♪ Top of my class ♪

♪ Head of my game ♪

♪ You can't fade ♪

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[g*nsh*t]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]

♪♪

[STRINGS CLANG]

[EXHALES SHARPLY] You okay?

I'm fine.

[HANDCUFFS CLICKS]

[SIGHS] Minus a couple
of popped stitches.

One in custody. Send a medic.

The tech?

Got it.

I just got off the phone with the DoD.

They are quite pleased
their satellite tech is safe

and are planning to implement
new security protocols.

Which I'm sure won't be a waste
of taxpayer dollars.

Oh, there is an upside

to frivolous government
spending, you know.

- Brendon.
- Yeah.

Are you not interested
in what will surely be

my pithy comments on the
m*llitary-industrial complex?

Uh, can I be interested tomorrow?

I j... I don't want to be late
for my first date with Antoinette.

I thought you already had
your first date.

Yeah. That was a train wreck.
We're not counting that.

This is a do-over. Do you mind, boss?

[SIGHS]

Come on, Matt.

- Good night, Brendon.
- Great. Thank you.

[CHUCKLES]

Is Carter still in the hospital?

Yeah.
- He's getting restitched.

And if he doesn't blow it, he's gon' be

getting something else,
if you know what I mean.

Asked for by name, huh?

Well, you said to come back
if I needed anything.

What the hell happened?

It's a long story.

Um... you always work nights?

Yep.

Every night?

- Four on, three off.
- Mm.

Quick sting.

Mm. [CHUCKLES]

Uh, would you ever... I-I mean,
i-if... if you're available.

Not... 'Cause I know you're busy.

Uh, but, um... would you want to...

Are you trying to ask me out?

Not very well.

[CHUCKLES]

I haven't done this in almost years.

You're just out of practice. Try again.

Fortune... would you like to go
on a date with me?

I would.

Well, all right.

[HANNAH WILLIAMS & THE
AFFIRMATIONS' "I FEEL IT" PLAYS]

Finally. I thought you were
going to choose your job

over me again.

This one is not my fault.

I-I promise I will make it up
to you tonight.

I called in a favor
to a restaurant, and we...

- ♪ Hung out to dry ♪
- [CELLPHONE RINGING]

This is Antoinette.

Hello, Margaret.

♪ In the wind and the rain ♪

Of course. I'll be waiting.

♪ While your ship drifts away ♪

- Rush job.
- Uh-huh.

Evidence in a homicide.

Looks like our proper first date
will have to wait.

- I'm so sorry.
- It's all right.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Absolutely.

♪ Where the shadows remain ♪

♪ You can't live without it ♪

♪ Though you won't see it again ♪

Madame Debuchy?

_

_

_

Ah, Gustav.

_

_

_

Wait. Seriously?

You can cook salmon en papillote?

Uh, hell no.

But I know how to order it.

[CHUCKLES]

[KEYS CLATTER]

Hey.

Hey.

Did the rest of your day go any better?

Professionally? Yeah.
Personally? [CHUCKLES]

You already know the answer to that.

I called Billie.

For two hours, I tried to convince her

to have that boy
- turn that house van around

so that y'all could work things out.

Well, thank you for trying, Daddy,

but I'm gonna go call her myself.

BILLIE: You don't have to.

Okay. Now, as... as a guy
who spent eight years

away from the people he loves,
I'm not with

that "stomp out angry
and not speaking" thing.

Not in this family.

We can disagree and need space,

but we don't stop talking.

So... talk.

Thank you, Daddy.

And thank you for coming back.

I don't have a lot of time.

Taylor's putting gas in the van,
and I got to get back to school.

Okay. Well, then let me make it quick.

You were right.

I judged Taylor before I had
a chance to get to know him.

He's a great guy.

And I'm looking forward to
getting to know that for myself.

But if he ever treats you badly,
you know who to call.

Yeah. Grandpa.

You can be a little too much sometimes.

And... I want to apologize
for my attitude earlier.

I was out of line.

Well, that's okay.

I chalk it up to you being
around them Berkeley kids

- a little too long.
- [CHUCKLES]

But I'm glad you realized.

And I-I want to say sorry
for saying you changed

- when you haven't.
- No. I have changed.

But I'm working on it.

And you've changed, too.

You don't need my input
in your life anymore.

[EXHALES SHARPLY] Sure I do.

Just only when I ask for it.

Okay. You got it. Promise.

- [CELLPHONE CHIMES]
- Oh.

It's Taylor. He's out back.

I love you.

I love you, too.

♪♪

Hey, don't forget to call
when you get there.

[SIGHS]

Does parenting ever get easier, Daddy?

[SCOFFS] You want the truth?

Or do you want me to just be a father
and make you feel better?

The feel-better one.

♪ Hung out to dry ♪

Mm-hmm. [CHUCKLES]

♪ In the wind and the rain ♪