- Although Brenda has extorted her team back, the consequences may prove deadly as she probes deeper into a young man's death.
- With the team re-assembled and Brenda again in charge, she continues to search for Malik Fara's contact in the terrorist cell and works to find the murderer of Fara's killer, a former KGB agent named Voitski. Having made contact with someone she believes is a member of the terrorist cell, she also manages to identify Malik's father. With this information, she sets a trap for the CIA's rogue agent.—garykmcd
- Brenda brings her detectives up to speed after welcoming them back to work. Malik's killer was discovered in his apartment, he was an ex-KGB agent named Voitski. Voitski had an ice pick shoved through his ear, stuck firmly in to his brain and he had a bandaged thigh wound. Lt. Flynn adds someone shoved an ice pick in Voitski's ear to his brain and Gabriel concurs.
Brenda continues her recap, Malik Fara was meeting someone the night he was murdered, we need to find that person. We need to find who murdered the murderer. The name of Malik's friend is likely on the laptop database of some 60,000 individuals. Provenza and Daniels have certain search criteria Lt. Tao can use to narrow the list. Brenda reiterates, who murdered the murderer? He didn't stick an ice pick in his own head.
Brenda eyeballs Branch standing in a doorway, she turns the meeting over to Lt. Flynn, and she walks with Cole; Branch following behind. Chief Johnson addresses I would put you in an interview room Mr. Cole, but I don't want members of my squad to hear. We may find Voitski killed everyone from Operation Fireproof, but he wasn't acting on his own accord. He was taking orders from somebody. Voitski is another member of your dwindling circle of acquaintances we have to talk about in the past tense. Branch stands behind Cole and Brenda hearing all she has to tell Cole. Brenda says she gets off on this floor, the sixth. Branch stops her, questioning whether anyone, besides Andrew, had spoken to her about the investigation. Brenda answers no, they haven't. Branch says me neither, just wondering.
Chief Johnson enters Pope's office where Andrew Schmidt is standing to greet her. Brenda begins, I think you need to find someone else to finish up this job. Andrew says, Brenda you surprise me. She declares the people that were watching Voitski, and murdered him, are now watching me. Brenda pulls the transmitter from her purse, showing the two men how they were following Malik; I found it in Malik's flashlight. Andrew takes a closer look at the device. Brenda concludes, telling Andrew he was right, Malik was killed by mistake, the Army of Allah wanted him so they could find his friend. They used him, now they will be using me. Andrew expounds on the rule when a person discovers they are under surveillance; never acknowledge being watched unless you can derive some tactical advantage. The exchange between Andrew and Chief Johnson reaches a point. He inquires of Brenda, is there anyone connected with this investigation that you would really like to question?
Brenda tells the officers in the van and the surrounding area, remember I am not wearing an earpiece, so if I don't hear the signal, I don't know to come out. The house is unassuming, a yard covered with heavily foliage. A woman answers the door, Brenda asks, Ru'yah Fara? The woman answers yes, call me Rita; she is wearing a blond wig. She prepares Middle Eastern coffee with a filter press. She talks about her son's plans of playing in the Warsaw competition next month. Her son was coming home the night of his death, but must have gotten on the wrong bus. Rita says she is from Beirut, coming to America after her husband was assassinated. Brenda looks at the scrapbooks of Malik, her hidden camera shows the exchange between the women. They step into Malik's room, Brenda opens a wooden box with her paperclip, revealing a sewing kit, i.e. scissors and a thread spool. She finds a paper with directions and a teddy bear split open in the back-seam. Brenda inquiries about the numerous teddy bears in the sixteen-year-old's closet. Rita explains the bears existence and the relationship there was with Angela Carter a friend of Malik. Her father is Malik's piano teacher; she plays the flute, Malik was helping her. Brenda requests Angela Carter's contact information, permission to borrow the scrapbooks to help find her son's killer and a large trash bag. Julio has started the leaf-blower as a signal for Brenda to leave; the signal was because a suspicious SUV has circled the block three times.
Brenda hands Provenza the trash bag full of teddy bears, Brenda enters the front seat rider side of the SUV with Abdul al-Fulani and Dr. al-Thani, both in the back seat. Rita Fara stands on the front steps observing the police activity. Words are exchanged between Brenda and Abdul; she proves he is blind by waiving her fingers in his face, eyes never blink. The doctor introduces himself as tending to his patient. Brenda asks Abdul how she gets in touch with him if they need to speak in the future. He says he is listed in the phone book. Brenda has had a camera tracking the entire conversation in the house and in the SUV.
Brenda is in the media room with Elaine Donahue, she asks Buzz to please excuse them, turning to Elaine, asking for her help deciphering details of the candid video. Elaine admits Cole was right. Voitski was stitched up with dissolvable thread, yet there were no reported stabbings in area hospitals. She says Voitski was silenced; Abdul is sixty-six, a member of a wealthy Jordanian family, living in the U.S. for the past six years; never considered a major player. She continues, instead of sneaking people into the country, the Army of Allah recruits disaffected Americans; Abdul was telling you Malik was not one of those kids. Brenda continues to pursue Elaine's skills, here are the scrapbooks, if you could look through these and see if you could find someone from the Army of Allah I can connect to Malik.
Tao has updated the database, saying it is reduced down some, a further reduction would require the help of the FBI to narrow the data even further. Flynn has an update on Rita Fara, age thirty-five, seventeen years ago she fled from Lebanon to Germany as a political refugee, and in 1993, she emigrated to the U.S. with Malik, with a half-million dollars. Malik was born in Germany. Gabriel tells Brenda, Angela Carter is in an interview room awaiting her.
Angela explains her father was a concert pianist, he teaches very few people, Rita Fara did not want Malik to compete travelling to Warsaw. Angela says Malik did not have a passport, and his mother would not let him apply through the Lebanese embassy to secure one; reflecting on Rita's behavior being ashamed of Malik, in turn, Malik hated his mother, and he never said anything about getting a passport. Angela reveals the bears were used to communicate Malik seeking help getting a passport through Canada. Angela would leave the bear in a church in hope of an exchanged message. Brenda sends her officers to the church to inquire about a teddy bear.
Elaine recognizes the background in one of the scrapbook pictures. Rita Fara is not from anywhere in Lebanon, she is from Amman, Jordan. Provenza looks at the screen as Elaine expounds about Rita.
Pope enters Brenda's office, you're being paged and you are not answering, emphasizing Andrew wants a status update. Brenda responds, I'm having trust issues, like Malik's mother who lied being from Lebanon, she didn't tell me the truth, Rita is from Amman, Jordan. Larry Cole, Elaine Donahue never trusted each other, Richard Branch never trusted either one of them, in fact the only person going out of their way to be trusted might be a terrorist. Rita Fara requires further questioning I sent a black-and-white to pick her up. Could you stall Andrew for me? He's from Washington DC, he recognizes stalling.
Lieutenant Tao is speaking to Detective Daniels on a computer being just a tool being only as good as the person using it. Gabriel returns with Sanchez, Julio reports no teddy bears in the church, and Provenza informs Brenda that Fara-woman packed up and left.
The hallway chairs are occupied by Branch, Cole, Elaine and daughter Cynthia, Brenda apologizes for keeping them, she tells them they can all go home. Branch says Andrew called. Cynthia Donahue has her say before leaving, you people never think about the families at all, after which Brenda looks thoughtfully while walking back to the murder room asking for the scrapbooks.
The real story is not what is here, but what isn't, as Brenda flips through the scrapbook photos while her officers take notice. Brenda comments, where are all the pictures of Rita's husband? Not one picture of the father. It would explain why she didn't want her son to get a passport. Sanchez adds Rita wasn't married. Brenda responds, she was in disguise most of her adult life. Gabriel says because she had an illegitimate baby? Agent Howard declares, in Jordan, if a woman loses her virginity before marriage, one of her male relatives kills her to protect the family's honor. Flynn poses, you mean the guy in the car was Malik's father? Brenda comments, why else would someone be trying to defect? The reason Malik's friend has not contacted us is because his friend knows Malik is dead.
Brenda has Lieutenant Tao add more variables to reduce his database of suspected Malik's friends. The variable reduction reveals Dr. al-Thani showing on Tao's computer screen. Brenda comments you trust your doctor with your illness, why not your secrets? Flynn adds do you think Malik's father sees his son get shot, then runs off? Brenda responds, he left Malik when he was a baby, why not do it again? If Dr. al-Thani is the guy from the car the night Malik was killed, then he knows there is someone else we are seeking; this is our chance for a twofer. Abdul did say to come by whenever I wanted. Agent Howard asks Brenda, you are going to ask this doctor, in front of Abdul al-Fulani, if he wants to defect with you? No, I am going to have Malik do it for me.
Chief Johnson is seated in front of Abdul and Dr. al-Thani, she speaks to Abdul, this is just a tiny follow-up on our earlier interview; after you and I spoke, Ru'yah Fara, Malik's mother disappeared; she had no reason to be afraid of us. Abdul responds, not of me, I can assure you. Brenda continues, I believe somebody inside the Army of Allah was trying to pass some pretty important secrets on to the U.S. Government, among those secrets was information regarding twenty pounds of separated plutonium and the name of the CIA officer who helped you get it. Abdul says these are the lies told by that infidel boy. Brenda adds, I believe it is true. Abdul responds, you wish to be deceived. Brenda counters, no, because Malik Fara speaks from the dead, as she holds up a teddy bear. I need to know where that plutonium is, and to meet the CIA officer who helped you get it. I want you to arrange that meeting as soon as possible. Abdul is helped up, standing next to his doctor. Abdul speaks, I am afraid you and I have nothing else to say to one another, Miss Johnson. Brenda acknowledges their meeting is over. All right then sir, good night. The teddy bear remains on the couch as Chief Johnson leaves and Dr. al-Thani stares at the stuffed animal.
The La Brea tar pits are the meeting place with Lt. Flynn roaming, other officers are stationary, placed around the perimeter. Brenda tells a doubting Provenza, explicit instructions were left inside Malik's bear for the doctor, directing him to exactly what I wanted and what would happen to him if I didn't get it. Flynn indicates the doctor is an hour late, prompting Provenza to declare whether the doctor was the man. Brenda says unless he wants to be arrested for murder tomorrow morning, he'll show. Provenza is in the surveillance truck with Buzz, listening to Brenda as she sips her beverage directing the meeting from the media room. Brenda philosophizes about a comparison of practical and optimistic, pragmatic kings and idealistic clergy, constantly doing battle in the Dark Ages; fighting the same battle for years. Gentlemen, there is no standing on the sidelines, thus we get into the battle choosing to serve the king today. Tao and Sanchez remain near one another, and a perched Gabriel notices someone coming. Flynn says here comes the doctor, Chief, he is headed right toward the bridge. Gabriel mentions there is somebody else. Brenda leaves word to hold still everyone, let them get together.
Dr. al-Thani meets Richard Branch on the bridge, they exchange words, the doctor tells Branch the last ten-million dollars has been transferred to your Swiss bank account. Dr. al-Thani suggests they move along, I have arranged transportation for you. Gabriel says they are moving out Chief. She says be careful, one of them might be armed. Branch recognizes Sanchez and Tao from behind, he begins running away while pulling his gun, the doctor is shouting he has a gun, as the officers close in on Richard Branch, he fires a shot toward Lt. Flynn, Flynn tackles Branch to the ground and cuffs him, Gabriel stands over Branch, shouting don't move, don't move, you move and it will be the last thing you ever do; do you understand me? Sanchez and Tao usher off Dr. al-Thani to the van, Flynn shouts, pat down the doctor, we don't want any surprises in the van. Provenza gets up to follow Flynn's request while Brenda shouts who's hurt. Gabriel says nobody harmed.
All personnel are in the van, Agent Howard introduces himself to Richard Branch, Lt. Provenza orders Branch to shut up, sit very still. Agent Howard informs Richard Branch he is not going back to the agency. Branch had expressed his value was more important remaining a part of the CIA, Agent Howard corrects him. Dr. al-Thani was fitted with an ear-piece by Buzz and given headphones to speak to Brenda; her orders. She speaks to him, he asks if Malik is still alive? Brenda answers, no sir, I am sorry he is not. I tried not to mislead you on that point. I hate to rush but we don't have much time. How much longer before your absence will be noticed at the al-Fulani house? The doctor answers, two hours at the most; I must go back. Brenda responds, you can't go back doctor; we have an awfully good set of prints from that ice pick you shoved in Voitski's ear. If you don't help us, I'm going to arrest you for murder. The doctor screams, Voitski murdered my son. Branch shouts, you killed your son when you ran off and left him, you actually sewed up Voitski's leg up after he murdered your son. I had to, there were people there; shouting into the headphone mic, why did they do this? There was no reason to kill Malik. Brenda nearly whispers, they made a mistake, but you can make them pay for it, or you could spend the rest of your life in an American prison, you understand me? What do you want? Do you know where the separated plutonium is? Is it where we can get to it? Yes, yes, I can give the address, it is in Hamburg. Branch looks at the doctor, as does Agent Howard, Brenda instructs the doctor to speak fast, because the second people notice you're gone, we lose everything.
At HQ, Brenda begins taking down the pics off the murder board, Pope speaks to her, German authorities called, they found the package. Brenda answers, that's a relief. Pope adds, but you haven't exactly played this by Andrew's rules. Well I think I got it covered. Thanks. Pope tells the squad, good work everybody, glad to have you back Detective Sanchez, Lt. Provenza.
Pope and Brenda walk from the elevator on the sixth floor, Dr. al-Thani is seated, with two agents standing at his side. Brenda greets him. He says I heard my son play in the back of an auditorium, after his mother left, I went to meet him; it was so beautiful what he could do. Brenda asks him, did you ever identify yourself to him? Did you ever tell Malik you were his father? Andrew interrupts the conversation, ordering that's enough; thank you gentlemen. Andrew speaks to Brenda, you went back on our deal. Brenda responds, I did exactly like you asked. The Germans have the separated plutonium, and the FBI has Richard. She adds, and you have Dr. al-Thani, I am told Richard Branch will be available to your de-briefers whenever you want him.
Andrew wants to press the point giving her job back to her, but she interrupts him saying she appreciated the assistance, since I have given the FBI full credit on a major espionage arrest, my new best friends and I have given you a murderer and you have no idea how hard that is for me to do. Pope adds, I believe I know what's going on here, the CIA is embarrassed about an intelligence failure, again; they're used to it. Brenda did her job and you did yours. Can't this just be over? Andrew answers, yes, well I have expressed the company's official irritation. It was nice seeing you again Brenda, I do wish you well. Andrew leaves for the elevator. Brenda explains to Pope, as they walk away, the words, good job, were in code.
In her office, Brenda tries to get the large L.A. landscape picture to hang above the credenza; it does not. Provenza and Brenda returned from administrative leave before this current case was closed, he misses the place as he hangs around the murder room, offering to take Brenda out to breakfast, his style, fast and cheap, like she requests; then he offers to help with the picture.
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