Wild Cards

Previously, on wild cards.

- So, do I get a shirt? - No, you see ellis here isn't exactly a team player.

- So why'd you get kicked off your desk?

- I'm a cop. You're a criminal. That's all we need to know about each other.

- I'm giving it to simmons and yates.

- No, the commissioner didn't ask for simmons and yates. She asked for us.

- You guys are making this entire station look like a circus.

- Thanks for having my back. - I got you.

- Woo! Stoked to be back! West coast best coast.

Out of the water! Now! Go!

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water.

It's okay, she's with me.

- See? This is why I need a badge.

You do not need a badge.

- Well, if I had a badge that wouldn't keep happening.

Hey, what do we got?

Max, robin. Robin, max.

Robin's our pathologist. They're the best in the biz'.

- Pleasure to meet one of the team. Minus the dead body part.

- Really the only time that we would ever meet.

Are you a detective?

- A badge would really help out with that, right?

I'm his partner. - She's a consultant.

What do we got?

Two gunshot wounds to the chest.

No contact wounds, no exit wounds.

- How long has he been in the water?

Say, five hours, ish?

- I've always wondered, how can you tell that?

- Well, I look at the vascular marbling.

You can see the discoloration of the skin and the soft tissue.

- You're like a psychic for dead bodies.

Yeah. Or... A pathologist.

Okay, so, if the gunshots went off at 12:05,

High tide's 12:15...

My guess is the tide took him out

And then brought him back in.

Sounds about right.

What are you looking at?

These are wetsuit tan lines.

- Yeah, and there's something on his fingertips.

- Looks like board wax. We'll need to confirm that though.

He was probably a surfer.

- See? We're already finishing each other's sentences.

The mind meld has begun.

Yeah?

- Are you kidding me? What the hell are they doing here?

All hands on deck.

It's summer and the mayor needs the beach reopened asap.

- No matter how many people get eaten by sharks.

So who's running point?

- I'll let you know. We still need to id the vic.

They're from the live stream.

Yates, simmmons, start with them.

We're on it.

- If they try their usual my way or the highway crap,

These guys are going to close ranks, we'll get nothing.

- All right. Why don't you let the detectives

Who weren't demoted do their job?

- Sir, surfers are like a tight knit tribe. They hate cops.

Simmons and yates are going to blow this for us.

- Did you hear me give an order? I didn't ask for your opinion.

Yes sir.

- Name was koa. - Koa? Has he got a last name?

Don't know.

- How long have you known him? - Don't remember.

- Know anyone that might want to kill him?

No.

- Okay. If you guys don't start cooperating

We're going to drag you down to the station.

- We're answering your questions.

And I'm recording all of this.

You know, to show how cooperative we're being.

You still want to take us in?

- They're striking out. - They're doing their job.

They're following a script.

You can't do the same act with everyone.

Where's the artistry? Where's the inspiration?

Where's the element of surprise?

- Wait, is that...? - Ellis?

My god!

What's johnny utah playing at?

- Identifying with the mark. Inspired choice.

Maybe I am rubbing off on him. - That's what I'm afraid of.

Bad news. This is our beach.

- Pretty sure it's everybody's beach.

- You ride here again, and we're going to have a problem.

Yeah? Is that what happened to the dead guy?

Did you have a problem with him too?

Don't talk about our friend.

- I don't want to talk about anything but you guys seem to be

Really enjoying this conversation. You gonna move?

Or do you want to throw down in front of these cops?

What?

Grab my arm. Grab my arm, hard.

- What? - Hey, get the hell off me, man!

What're you doing? Hit me. Come on.

- You're going crazy, you know that?

Whoa!

What the hell is he doing?

- There's that element of surprise.

Back off, man, I don't know anything, okay?

Arrest me. Come on.

Yeah. I'm going to enjoy this.

- You lost your damn mind? Come on.

- I'm so proud of you I could just burst.

The two of you, the chemistry, it was like watching a tango.

- I should've benched you. - What was that?

- You heard me. I should've benched you

After you decided to hang ten instead of doing your job.

I was doing my job.

- Punching simmons bought him a ton of street cred.

- Yeah, see, that's why we're not partners anymore.

- Wait, hold the presses, you two were partners?

How did I not know about this?

- Just focus on the present, okay?

Cole barnes. Our victim. 34, no fixed address.

Australian citizen.

Got an outstanding bench warrant from here in town

This time last year.

- Yeah. Locals say these guys travel the world chasing waves.

They roll into town once a year, stir things up, then take off.

Like carnies with better abs.

- The guy koa roughed up. Maybe he came back and pop him.

- All right. Yates, simmons, go pick him up.

- What about me? - What about us?

Now I know why simmons has beef with you.

- Put me in under cover, sir. I'll get in tight with them.

No way.

- Then somebody else is gonna die.

Cause those surfers were live streaming when koa was killed.

And none of them reported him missing.

- He's right. I know a lot of nomads with a hate-on for cops.

When they find out what happened to koa,

They're gonna handle it themselves.

You observe and report.

And don't make a move without telling me.

- So you listen to her but not me. Nice.

- Okay. I'm going to ignore that because I'm a good person,

And officially your handler.

- I don't need a handler. Okay? Thank you.

- Okay, donnie brasco. We've got work to do.

Have you been under cover before?

- Yeah, of course. - So why's li so hard on you?

- It's a long story. Let's move on.

- Okay. So what's your under cover name?

- Declan. - Ew! What? No!

Okay, let me think...

Jesse. Yep. I buy you as a jesse.

- Okay, so why'd you pick up surfing?

- I'm sure I'll think of something.

- When pulling a con you don't lie.

You just tell a slightly different version of the truth.

Okay? Now let's try this again. Why'd you pick up surfing?

- Well, my brother was ten years younger than me.

I had to watch him a lot.

One day we were watching this cheesy surfer movie on tv,

And as soon as he saw it he just knew he had to surf.

And keep going.

My dad couldn't really swim,

And he was too little to go in the water by himself.

So I took him.

We ended up learning how to surf together.

Kind of became our thing.

And that's your story.

So what's your next move?

Right. Well, get them to trust me.

Ellis, baiting a mark is like dating.

- You have to get them to want you. - And how do I do that?

- By being mysterious and hard to get.

- Okay, you're going to take the car, go back to station

And check in with li. Got it? - Got it.

- You have a driver's license right?

Of course. I have nine.

Oi!

Saw you hit that cop.

- Those guys keep coming down here trying to intimidate us.

If we let them get away with it, they'll never stop.

- Well, how are you out already? - I got a really good lawyer.

I'll give you her number.

- So why are you out here on your own, then?

I only surf with my brother.

- Where's he? - He's dead.

We're having a little send off

On the beach for our brah tonight.

You should come by.

I'll think about it.

- Boss? Ellis called. He's in with the bruhs.

- Pardon? - The bruhs. The dudes.

The water muppets. He's doing great.

- We'll see about that. I got a budget meeting.

Ellis checks in, tell simmons. She's your responsibility now.

- What you say we polish our shields and pull a code seven?

I already ate.

So, what's li's dealio?

Why's he so sour on ellis?

- Stuff happened. - History. I get it.

- No, you don't. You weren't there.

- Put me there. - It's none of your business.

- Come on, I'm working with these guys.