The Shield

Previously on The Shield:

-I need that money. -Yeah? We all do.

No, I need it now to get back my kids.

-What are you talking about? -They're gone, Shane!

My guy in Denver got a hit on Corrine's driver's license.

-That's them, isn't it? -Yeah, that's them.

We're gonna get them, Vic.

No!

These dead guys may have been cooked up by a couple of Mexican nationals.

Contero; they're brothers, Navaro and Armadillo.

-Armadillo Contero. -Yes?

You're a prime suspect in the fire murders of two men last night.

You're not here to fight the Torros and the Los Mags.

You're here to unit 'em.

-Where are you going? -Tijuana.

Mexico. What for?

Someone's puttin' poison coke out on our streets. I'm gonna stop 'em.

Isn't this what your brother Armadillo does to people who don't cooperate?

The feds want him. I say we can let him start doin' his time.

Quesedilla.

I just wanted to give your little brother somethin' to remember you by.

You're not after Mackey, are you? You're after me.

You have enemies on the City Council.

Her name's Lanie Kellis.

And as much as I'd love to see her take you down,...

...I don't need a scandal right now.

You're gonna watch my back.

Until the election.

In exchange for what?

You get your head back in the game. Get your boys under control.

I guess we have a deal.

This doesn't mean I like you.

Police. Hold it right there.

-Hands up. Against the car. -Turn around.

-I didn't do nothing, man. -Buenos noches, muchachas.

-Nice boa. -Si?

New tags, new ink.

What's up with that, Chapa?

We're just changing brands. Torrucos now.

Torrucos now?

Armadillo's calling you guys?

Armadillo's bro looks good behind bars?

You tell him I called.

Someone torched Tio's drug crib.

-What if our blow was in there? -Then it's gone.

Hey, we got a lot of bread tied up in that shipment.

You're so worried about your goddamn money you don't get it.

This could open up an investigation into Tio's business.

If we're not careful, all roads are gonna lead back to us.

Go find Tio. I'll take care of this.

Let's just call Lem. I'll stay here and help.

Did I ask for your help?

-Hey. -Morning, gentlemen.

-Guess I missed the weenie roast. -What happened?

Arson. Started on the first floor. Then the whole place went up.

They were able to determine that already?

Whoever set the fire didn't try to hide it. Gas can out back.

-What brings you here? -My case.

We found the same graffiti as the necklace tire executions.

-Do we have a motive yet? -That's not all we have.

-Is that a kid? -Not exactly.

I'm shaking down the new king cholo.

Armadillo. I gave my card to a few of his recruits.

I guess they weren't kosher. Armadillo's my case.

He raped a 12-year-old girl last night to cover the tire murders.

He raped a kid? Why isn't he in Central by now?

Her brother's uncooperative.

I think he took her back to Mexico.

No victim, no arrest.

-Why would he burn this building? -I spoke to some of the locals.

It appears the owner is a Theodore Osmond.

He's selling more than comic books. Drug dealer.

Armadillo burns out his competition and sends me a message.

Me and my boys'll handle this.

Hey, I'm just giving you information. This is my case.

You see that little piggy with my card spiked to its head?

This is gangland... my domain.

I'm already on it.

Detective, let me show you something.

Any reason why the two of you shouldn't pair up together?

I just think it would make more sense if I handled this on my own.

You're gonna see some kind of kicking and...

...screaming you didn't know existed...

-...you try pulling me off this. -You both want it.

It's big enough for the two of you. Work it together.

-Fine. -Great.

Hold. Maybe the doorbell works.

-Armadillo. -What's this about?

It's all about love, ese.

Come on, boys. Let's go for a walk.

You heard him. Let's go.

Where were you...

I was with some friends when the fire was set.

I'll give you their names.

You and your brother are into a lot of things.

Pimping drugs, consolidating chulitos.

No, I'm not like my brother.

Navaro enjoys parties, late nights.

I'm much more comfortable in bed with a good book to read.

And a little girl to rape.

I have no outstanding warrants. My visas are in perfect order.

There are no drugs, guns or money in the house.

If you're such a good boy then you do as I say.

Pack up your shit and get on the next donkey back to home.

No. I just got here. I want to be staying for a while?

Fine.

Maybe you can stay at my house for a little while.

What's the charge?

I'll think of something on the way.

Anyone of you guys not named Martinez?

This guy Perez, his license expired eight months ago. I'm calling it in.

What's up with that, Xavier? Lines too long at the D.M.V.?

Yeah, okay. This guy Xavier, man.

He's got an outstanding warrant for aggravated assault.

Now we got you for harboring a felon.

For my wall, right next to your brother.

Can I get a copy?

This guy's got a notorious reputation, but his rap sheet's squeaky clean.

Unlike his brother, he's smart. No mistakes so far.

-Good morning. -Morning.

Have you met our civilian auditor? Claudette Wyms. Lanie Kellis.

-Hello. -Hi. Another one?

Yeah. The brother of that Mexican national. If anything, he's worse.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt.

Well, not at all. I was just saying that...

...unless we get this guy on something else,...

...the harboring charges won't hold him.

I know. So does he.

We have to find the guy who set the fire, connect it to Armadillo...

...then get him for the arson.

I want him for more than that.

We'll start with the shop owner. You know where I can find him?

-No. -Really?

'Cause it says Theodore Osmond is registered...

...as one of your confidential informants.

Tio. I haven't seen him in months.

Theodore Osmond? That's his real name?

I'll get the word out.

Meantime, I'll have my guys hunt down the firebug.

Good.

I'd like to observe Detective Mackey on this.

Sure. Give us a chance to talk.

Actually, I was just coming to get you.

-A city official has just been shot. -Who?

I don't have all the details,...

...but I'm sure your people will want you down there.

-Dutch, you've met Lanie Kellis? -Of course.

We've got a city official shot at Benton and Hollis.

I need you down there right away.

-Lanie's gonna ride along. -Great.

About you, not the city official.

-Do we know who the victim is? -Not yet.

-Okay. You ready? Let's go. -I...

I guess so.

You have a connection with the drug dealer...

...whose place just got burnt down?

-Yeah. -Jesus Christ.

I asked you if there was any reason not to bring Claudette into this.

Hey, you're the politician. Learn to read between the goddamn lines.

I told you I wanted to handle this thing myself.

What does this mean for us?

It just means I'll have to be careful.

Tio's laying low at his kid's mom's place. He's spooked.

How long you freezing us out?

Until I can trust the three of you again.

-Look, I'm really sorry, boss. -Me too.

-We made a mistake. -Yeah, you did.

I need one of you to come with me. I don't give a damn which one.

-You wanna go higher? -No. No higher.

Okay.

All right. Come on.

Go inside with your mom, baby.

Beautiful kid.

Hi. You okay?

No.

A Mexican psycho torched my goddamn building.

Yeah, we saw.

What'd you lose?

I got lucky. Most of the product was cut, bagged, and out.

I had some cash and my records in the safe.

-What safe? -What records?

Accounts ledger... income, expenses, you know.

No, I don't know.

I'm running a business. I gotta know what's coming in and going out.

Going out? Like payments to me? My name is in that goddamn ledger?

It's in code, man. I call you "Landlord."

Hey, you and your boys didn't have...

...a problem with the way I do business...

...when I damn near doubled your cut.

Where's the safe?

Back room of the shop. One of those corporate espionage deals.

You try to force it open, it destroys the contents.

All right, all right. I'll get the safe.

-And I'll get Armadillo. -No.

Someone in my squad is tryin' to track you down.

Connect you to the Mexican.

-I want you to stay here and lay low. -This can't go unanswered.

It won't. I need a couple of your guys, names and numbers.

Guys that know how to use a Zippo.

Find out where the Torrucos are hanging.