1x13: Caught Stealing

***

Hunter's doing paperwork, having been placed on nightshift with Grant, Tim and Lucy, the two of them somewhere else. Grant's trying and failing to stay awake beside Hunter. "Let me guess, you and Daisy had so much fun last night you didn't get to sleep till late." Hunter said wiggling her eyebrows suggestively.

Grant and Daisy, who Hunter was yet to meet, had been dating for a few weeks and she'd love to meet the person who bagged her partner, seeing as the close friendship Hunter and Grant had sometimes made Grant's girlfriends feel threatened by Hunter even when Grant explained.

"Shut up but yes, pretty much." Grant said.

"So why didn't you nap?" Hunter asked.

"Because, I'm getting evicted. My building's getting turned into condos." Grant said.

"Oh, does Daisy know?" Hunter asked interested.

"Yes she does and she's helping me find a new place but it's easier said than done." Grant said.

"So, what does Daisy do?" Hunter asked.

"She's a teacher." Grant replied.

"Don't worry, just another six nights and then we don't have to do nightshift again until we get assigned it." Hunter said, going back to her paperwork. Grant chuckled. "What is it?" Hunter asked.

"It's Lucy's first night shift." Grant said, reminding Hunter.

"Ooh, she's gonna struggle." Hunter said remembering the first time she was placed on nightshift as a rookie.

***

Lucy is trying to stay awake while Tim is doing paperwork. "You didn't nap, did you?" Tim asked.

"I didn't have time. I've got to find a new place to live." Lucy replied.

"No excuse, Boot. Napping is the key to midnight shift. No shorter than 20 minutes. No longer than 40. But, hey, if you're comfortable ignoring my institutional wisdom." Tim said.

"I'm getting evicted." Lucy said.

"And whose fault is that?" Tim asked.

"Not mine. They're turning my building into condos." Lucy said.

"That's what happens when you gentrify a working-class neighborhood." Tim replied.

Something catches Lucy's eye out in the street. "What the hell is that?" She asked. It's a tall person with some kind of gas mask on.

"What?" Tim asked.

"That." Lucy gestures out the window, but when Tim looks up, the street is empty. "There was a guy standing there with a mask on. He was like seven feet tall."

"Mm-hmm." Tim said.

"I saw him. He was right there." Lucy argued.

"Boot, if you make me get out of this car for a hallucination." Tim said. 

They get out and walk toward the spot where Lucy saw the apparition, but there's no sign of it. "What - God, he was right here." She said.

"Make-believe time is over." Tim goes back to the car. 

Lucy moves forward and spots someone standing amid the trees off the side of the road. "Stop! Police!" Lucy moves into the woods. "Tim?" She looked around for her To and then approached the figure. "Step out. Step out! Hands where I can see them. Peel the mask off slowly. Slowly." Lucy said.

The figure reaches up to pull the mask off, revealing not a face, but a bright white light pouring out from under the mask. She hears maniacal laughter, then -Lucy wakes up. She's sitting in the patrol car with several other patrol units shining their headlights on her and Tim on a loudspeaker. "Welcome to midnight, Officer Chen." Tim said.

"Oh, my God," Tim leans in to take a photo. "No. No." Lucy said but Tim took the photo anyway.

***

"By all that's holy what are you wearing?" Hunter asked Grant when he walked in with a t-shirt with Lucy's face on it, looking surprised as her photos been taken, meaning Tim took it, it had been all seven days of nightshift so they were all back on morning shift.

"Tim had shirts made." Grant answered.

"I can see that." Hunter comments.

"Come on, lets get ready for roll call." Grant said walking with Hunter and then separating to go to the locker rooms.

***

Hunter walked into the roll call room and raised an eyebrow seeing Grey in Nolan's spot. She hit Tim on the arm slightly. "What's Grey doing?" She asked.

"No idea." Tim said, shrugging.

Nolan walked to his seat and was surprised seeing Grey sitting in his spot. "Oh, no, Officer Nolan. You will be leading roll call this morning." Grey said.

"Sir?" Nolan asked.

"I didn't stutter. Get up there." Grey said.

Nolan goes to stand behind the podium amid good-natured heckling and jeering from his fellow officers. "What now?" He asked Grey.

"The clipboard." Grey said.

Nolan picks up the clipboard and reads from it. "Uh, "Memo to all divisions from the Chief of Police. Complaints about police officer entitlement have risen sharply during the last few months"." Grey raises his hand. "Sir?" Nolan asked.

"Do you know what that means? Police officer entitlement?" Grey asked.

"I assume it has to do with unauthorized perks. Free food, things of that nature." Nolan said.

"And what is LAPD's policy on gratuities?" Grey asked.

"No officer shall receive any gratuity, gift, favor, or promise thereof, as it may result in, or be perceived as, payment in exchange for influence, bias, or direction of an investigation or enforcement of punishable offenses." Nolan said.

"Nicely done. Chen, West, will you please join Officer Nolan up front?" They move to stand with Nolan. "Have your training officers discussed this policy with you?" Grey asked.

"Yes, sir." The rookies said.

"And what was your takeaway?" Grey asked.

"Sir, if I may?" Angela asked.

"Oh, sounds like a little CYA." Grey comments.

The other officers laugh. "No, sir. Boot and I walk the straight and narrow," Angela said sounding amused before going serious. "But businesses like having cops around. A half-priced meal every once in a while is just community relations." Angela said.

"It doesn't mean we show them favoritism." Tim adds.

"You agree with this, Officer Bishop?" Grey asked.

"I'm not saying I've never accepted a free cup of coffee, but it's usually the exception, not the norm." Talia said.

"Detective?" Grey asked Hunter.

"Well, I mean I've accepted a free meal before but like Talia said, it's usually the exception, not the norm." Hunter said.

"Officer Lawrence, what's your thoughts?" Grey asked.

"Accepting free things and whatnot aren't normal but sometimes you can't help it. Like Tim said, it doesn't mean favoritism is shown." Grant said.

"What about you, Officer Nolan?" Grey said.

"I got into this job to help people, not to help myself to free stuff." Nolan replied.

"Cute line. It's a bunch of bull, but -" Grey was saying.

"It's not." Nolan interrupts.

"Really? Do you pay fair market value for that beach house you live in?" Grey asked.

"No, sir. But I act as caretaker for the main house when Ben is away, so technically I am exchanging services for my rent." Nolan said.

"And what happens when that exchange isn't enough? And your buddy gets a ticket - or worse?" Grey asked.

"Then he'll have to pay for his actions." Nolan said.

"Okay," Grey stands up and moves to the front. "Favors are a slippery slope, people. And so are freebies. Look, I like to keep it real in here. There is the letter of the law and there is the spirit. It is your jobs to know the difference. But make no mistake - as police officers, you have power. Usually we like to focus on the kind that you holster on your side, but the power that lives within your badge can be equally as dangerous. That's it. All right, guys. Be safe out there." He said and everyone left.

***

"7-Adam-19, break-in at Westside Fertility Clinic." Dispatch said over the radio.

Tim and Lucy walk into the clinic's front office, where the glass door has been shattered. "We haven't received a single freebie since I've been with you, so why did you defend that to Grey?" She asked.

"Because hard rules like that are stupid. What we do doesn't exist in a vacuum. Circumstances dictate actions. Not the other way around," Tim said before he calls out. "Police. Anyone here?" He asked.

A woman, Dr. Rogers walks in. "Yes. We had a break-in." She said.

"I can see that. There's been a rash of burglaries in the neighborhood recently. Mostly addicts looking for stuff to sell." Tim said looking down at the glass.

"This wasn't an addict. They took embryos." Dr. Rogers said.

"That's a new one on me." Tim said.

"Do I write this up as a burglary or an abduction?" Lucy asked.

"You want to put out 50 Amber alerts? It's a burglary." Tim replied.

"Officer, there's a crucial time element here. Without proper temperature control, those embryos will be compromised." Dr. Rogers said.

"Any idea who took them?' Lucy asked.

"They're part of an ugly custody dispute. A lesbian couple. The eggs we harvested were from only one of the women, Marilyn Tenni. Her ex is suing for custody rights even though she doesn't have a biological connection." Dr. Rogers said.

"Okay, we're gonna need names and addresses for both women." Tim replied.

"Of course. But you should know when I called Marilyn to tell her, she got very upset said she was gonna kill her." Dr. Rogers said, Tim and Lucy shared a look.

***

Tim and Lucy. approach an apartment whose door is ajar. They can hear a heated argument going on between two women. "I can't believe you took - Those are mine!" Marylin yelled.

"They are not yours! They're mine, too!" Abby yelled back.

"Give them to me! Give them to me right now!" Marylin yelled.

"Don't you dare hit me again." Abby said.

"Listen, I said give them to me!" Marylin yelled.

"I'll break these before I give them to you." Abby yelled back.

"LAPD. We're coming in." Tim and Lucy enter the apartment. Abby is holding a rack of test tubes; Marylin has a metal bar in her hand and is threatening Abby with it.

"Give them to me." Marylin yelled.

"They're mine too." Abby argued.

"They are not." Marylin said.

"Hey, hey. Put down the weapon." Tim said.

"Those are my embryos. She - She stole them from the clinic." Marylin said to the cops.

"No, they are your eggs, and we had them fertilized by a sperm donor together. You remember?' Abby asked.

"Yeah, and the judge ruled that I get to use them. Do you remember that?" Marylin asked.

"Not if they're gone!" Abby moves as if to throw the tubes. 

Marylin lunges at her, and Tim steps in to stop her, handing her off to Lucy. "Officer Chen, secure her. Ma'am, give me the tubes." Tim said.

"No." Abby said shaking her head.

"Please. Those - Those are my last chance to carry my own baby. Please, don't take that from me. Please." Marylin begged as she sobbed.

"We were supposed to have kids together. I saw you through your whole cancer treatment. And then you dump me for a yoga instructor?" Abby asked.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait. Hey. Listen to me. You're angry, okay? You have every right to be. But doing this? It won't put your marriage back together, okay? Nothing will. But you will come to hate yourself if you go through with this. So put the tubes back in that container." Tim said to Abby. Sobbing, Abby slowly places the rack of tubes in a small cooler on the counter. Tim then put the cuffs on her.

***

"7-Adam-15, respond to single-car accident. Fourth Street Overpass." Dispatch said.

Hunter and Grant get out and walk toward the crash site, where two paramedics are working on an unconscious man.

"Driver okay?" Grant asked one of the paramedics.

"He's been stabbed. Left side. Looks like he passed out, then hit his head in the crash." The paramedic said.

"Any ID?" Grant asked.

"Not that I can find." the paramedic said.

"Control, I need you to run the following plates: Five Frank Victor Alpha two seven." Hunter said into the radio.

"Car registered to Matthew Rodriguez. Date of birth 7/7/1990." Dispatch said.

"Copy that. Send another unit to our location for an accident report. It appears Mr. Rodriguez has been the victim of an assault. We're accompanying RA to the hospital," Hunter said into her radio, she then turns to the paramedic. "We'll follow you." She said.

"Got it." the paramedic said. They load the man into the ambulance on a gurney as Hunter and Grant walk back to their shop.

"That guy didn't get stabbed driving alone. So either it happened before he got in the car, or his attacker bolted after the accident." Grant said.

The ambulance doors burst open and the wounded man jumps out and starts to run off. "Aah!" The man yelled.

Hunter and Grant give chase. "7-Adam-20, victim on foot. Fourth and Cesar Chavez. Southbound." Hunter said into the radio. 

The man leaps over the side of the overpass. Hunter and Hunter catch up and look over to see bloodstains where the man landed, but no man in sight.

"Okay, now I really want to know what happened." Grant said looking over at Hunter.

***

Hunter gets back in the shop, where Grant has been looking up the car's owner on their database. "So our vehicle is registered to Matthew Rodriguez, but our stabbing victim is not Matthew Rodriguez." Grant said.

"Hmm. Looks like Mr. Rodriguez has a rap sheet with gang orders. You know what those are?" Hunter asked her partner even though he already knew and hadn't been a rookie for three years.

"It means a judge ordered him not to associate with gang members, wear their colors, or go to their neighborhood. Odds are a guy like that is connected to our John Doe stabbing." Grant said looking over at his partner.

"Let's pay Mr. Rodriguez a visit, and see if he can shine some light on our stabbing victim." Hunter said.

***

Hunter and Grant knock on the door of Matthew Rodriguez' apartment. "Matthew Rodriguez, police. Open up." Grant said.

"Lawrence," Hunter points out a drop of blood on the floor in front of the door. "Ready?" She asked.

"Mm-hmm." Grant kicks the door down. They find a man lying dead on the floor, in a pool of blood, with a knife in his hand. "Well, I guess now we know who stabbed our John Doe." Grant comments.

"7-Adam-20, we need a homicide unit at 4495 Barrington. Our John Doe is now a murder suspect." Hunter said into her radio.

***

"It doesn't seem right to lock up Marilyn, too. She was only trying to protect her embryos." Lucy said as she and Tim walked in the bullpen.

"Nothing we can do. She committed assault. Domestic-violence laws are strict for a reason." Tim replied.

"What happened to "circumstances dictate actions"?" Lucy asked.

"Trust me, this is one rule I'm all for. Cemeteries are filled with women who'd still be alive if cops had been forced to hook up their spouses the second he or she laid hands." Tim replied.

"That is a very enlightened attitude." Lucy said.

"You seem surprised." Tim comments.

"Sir, you surprise me every day." Lucy said.

"Uh-huh. Go gas up the shop." Tim and Lucy part ways.

Hunter arrives in the bullpen, running into Lucy. "You look tired, what's going on?" She asked.

"I need to find a new apartment, they're turning my building into condos." Lucy said. Hunter frowns curiously before schooling her features in time for Lucy not to notice. "How's your morning going?" Lucy asked.

"Uh, Lawrence and I found a dead body at the Langston on Wilshire." Hunter said.

"How was it?" Lucy asked.

"Uh, gruesome. Guy took a bullet right to his head." Hunter said.

"Oh, wait. Not the body. The apartment." Lucy elaborated.

"Oh uh, it was nice. Surprisingly upscale for a gang member. Are you asking for you?" Hunter asked, surprised.

"Well, the building needs to disclose if someone was killed in the apartment, so it might mean a break in rent." Lucy shrugged.

"Yeah, just a bit of a questionable way to find a place to live, no?" Hunter asked.

"Yeah, well, traditional clearly isn't working out, so -" Lucy trails off.

Grant walks up to the two women. "Captain wants to see us." Hunter nods.

***

An injured man is leaning on Zoe's desk while a medic bandages his stab wound.

"That should hold you until you get to the hospital." the paramedic said before leaving.

"Captain." Hunter said.

"What's going on?" Grant asked as the man from earlier turned around. "That's our murder suspect." He said.

"He's not a suspect, Officer Lawrence. He's an undercover narcotics detective." Zoe replied.

"Robert Ortiz. I'm sorry about the ambulance thing." Ortiz said. Hunter and Grant shared the same shocked look.

***

Ortiz is speaking to a group of officers. "I've been undercover inside La Eme for almost a year. Working my way closer to the offshoot in Boyle Heights called Ocampo Loco. They control the cash flow and then bundle the drug money and ship it back to Mexico."

"How much money are we talking?" Nolan asked.

"Right now, at least a million. The word is they're gonna ship it tonight. I was about to report it when my cover was blown by, uh, Matthew Rodriguez, who tried to kill me, so I shot him in self-defense. Uh, you know the rest." Ortiz replied.

"Officer Ortiz has bravely volunteered to go back in to protect his cover and set up our tactical operation." Grey said.

"Last time I was at the house, it was four halcones guarding the money. Heavy-hitters." Ortiz explained.

"We're gonna gear up heavy, position ourselves down the street, be ready to initiate a full-blown raid on the house once Ortiz gives us the signal." Grey said.

"Rookies, this is your first high-level tactical operation. Let's be prepared." Zoe states.

***

Lucy and Tim are at the armory. "You know the specs of this equipment, Officer Chen?" Tim asked.

"That's a Blackhawk Dynamic Entry Special Op Ram." Lucy said.

Tim hands her the ram. "How much does it weigh?" He asked.

"60 pounds, sir." Lucy replied.

"Hold it tight. You'll be the breacher. You'll buy a round for every swing it takes to knock that door down." Tim said.

***

A line of patrol cars rolls down the street. The cops take up positions in a line along a fence.

"All units, we're 30 seconds out. Get ready. Be safe. Officer West, you do the 844. Stand by to initiate," Grey listens to the wire. "Ortiz is in." Grey said.

"Where the hell you been?" Navarro asked.

"Rodriguez was talkin' to the cops. He tried to stick me when I called him out. So I put a bullet in his head. We got to get out of here. He could've given this place up." Ortiz replied.

"How the hell are we gonna do that? We've got a million in cash waiting for pick-up." Navarro said.

"Pack it up. It's too hot to stay here." Ortiz said.

"That's the signal. Initiate." Grey said.

A silent signal goes up the line, and the police proceed around the corner to the front of the house. A man with a duffel bag is walking to a car parked at the curb; Hunter and Lucy both notice him.

"Police! Open the door! We have a search warrant." Jackson said.

Lucy swings the ram once and the door caves in. The cops pour in and the criminals run in every direction as the officers shout out orders, directions, etc. "Suspect ran into the back. Open door to the right. LAPD!" Cops yelled.

"Hands up! Interlace your fingertips behind your head." Hunter said to Ortiz and went to cuff him, speaking quietly. "You okay?" She asked.

"Yeah. Barely." Ortiz replied.

"We'll divert to the hospital on the way out. Clear! Coming out!" Hunter yelled as she and Ortiz walked into the living room and sat him down.

"Rookies, Detective Lopez, special assignment. Follow me." Grey said to the three rookies and Hunter.

"Sir, why am I being folded into this "special assignment"?" Hunter asked doing air quotes.

"Because I said so Detective, that should be all the reasoning you need." Grey replied.

Hunter rolled her eyes but followed.

***

Grey leads them into a room where money is stacked on a table, Hunter whistles lowly. "Sorry. Here's what happens now. You see, the money counters and the videographer are on their way. In the meantime, you four get to watch the money. Two people with it at all times. No selfies. Enjoy." Grey said. He leaves the room. The rookies stand staring at the money while Hunter sits back down.

"Where does all this money go?" Lucy asked.

"Cash seized during drug raids goes back to Narcotics, where it's used again for undercover ops." Hunter explained.

"That's more money than I've ever seen in one place." Nolan said.

"Can you imagine? I'd buy a car - no, a helicopter. And learn to fly it so I could avoid all the traffic." Lucy said.

NOLANYeah, that first big purchase is always tricky, right? The barber in Foxburg? He won the lottery. Bought a big, fancy boat. Ran it aground in Freeport, coked to the gills. I don't think a boat is a good idea.

Hunter chuckled. "My abuelo did that back in Mexico, before my Mami was born and before he moved to the United States with abuela, won the lottery, bought a boat, crashed it and used whatever money he had to move to America." Nolan and Lucy chuckled at that.

"What about you? What would you spend it on, Hunter?" Lucy asked.

"I'd buy a new house seeing as my former tenants now own my previous house," the rookies give Hunter a confused look. "I'll explain later." She said.

"What about you Jackson? What would you spend it on?" Lucy asked her friend.

"I'm not playing that game. This is drug money." Jackson said.

"Come on. We're just talking. A million dollars lands on your doorstep. What do you do? Go. And don't say you'd set aside 30% for taxes." Nolan said.

"Um - A new car, I guess. Um, or maybe a trip. Been wanting to do a little traveling." Jackson said.

"Let me guess. You'd visit police departments all around the world. Learn their techniques." Hunter said.

"No." Jackson said, Lucy, Hunter and Nolan exchange a look and Hunter along with Nolan nods.

***

The four of them move positions. They're still talking about the money. "I'd pay all of Henry's tuition with the money. Just so he didn't have those student loans hanging over his head." Nolan said.

"I've already paid mine off, through the selling of my house before the one I gave to my tenants." Hunter said.

"Yeah, they're no fun. I'll be paying mine off until I'm 60." Lucy replied.

"Yeah, well, with this money, you could pay them all off and still rent an amazing place by the ocean. Meanwhile, I couldn't afford to buy the room in the house I'm living in." Nolan said.

"Bet it would have got you something pretty nice back in Foxburg, though." Jackson comments.

"Hmm. Biggest house in town and then some. Still can't get used to the cost of living in Los Angeles. It's like you have to add an extra zero to everything." Nolan replied.

"Growing up, my mom worked two jobs, having six kids," Nolan's eye bulge out of his head as Jackson and Lucy stare at her in shock. "Yeah, I know. Then we all reached high school worked two jobs as well." Hunter adds, Nolan does a low whistle at that.

"You know, I never really thought about money growing up. We always just had enough, you know?" Jackson asked.

"Yeah. That's what I thought until my parents went bankrupt when I was nine. It took a couple of really bad years before we got back up on our feet." Lucy said.

"Ah, been there. Definitely been days where I would have killed to be sitting across from this much money, there for the taking." Nolan said.

"Yeah, once upon a time, me too." Hunter said.

"Hey, don't even joke about that. I've heard too many stories from my dad about cops who started filling their pockets, convincing themselves that it was a victimless crime, that they were entitled to a little extra compensation for their troubles." Jackson said, shaking her head.

"Okay. Well, relax. That's not us." Lucy said.

"Yeah, that's what they thought at first, too. But then you take a bite of the crème brûlée, and the next thing you know, you're doing three to five for felony theft." Jackson said.

"I'm sorry. Crème brûlée?" Hunter asked.

"Never mind." Jackson replied.

"Oh, man." Nolan said.

"What?" Hunter asked.

"I just I- still have to pee, but all this - I'll be right back." Nolan then leaves.

***

Nolan's returned and the group are still talking about the money. "I'd still do the job. Even if I came into money." Jackson said.

"That's not a shock." Nolan said.

"You know, I would, too. You've known what you wanted to do since birth, but I just figured out. There's no way I would bail now." Lucy turns to Hunter. "What about you?" She asked.

"Oh without a doubt I'd do the job, it makes me happy doing something like this or I'd stay in the army with Tim." Hunter turns to Nolan before the rookies can ask questions. "What about you?" She asked.

"Having money makes things easier, not better." Nolan said.

"That's not an answer. Would you quit the job?" Hunter asked.

"And pass up on being hazed on a daily basis by training officers ten years my junior? Come on." Nolan replied.

They hear a car pull up; the four of them stand and straighten out their gear. Officer Williams enters, speaking into a recorder, Graser following her with a camera. "All right. Officers Graser and Williams arriving on the scene. 1:17 a.m., relieving four uniformed officers. What are your names?" She asked.

"Lopez, Chen, West, Nolan." Hunter said, pointing between herself and the three rookies.

"Anyone else that's come in or out?" Williams asked.

"No, ma'am." Lucy replied.

"Great. Hit the road. We got it from here." Williams said.

The rookies head out, but Hunter and Lucy linger to gaze at the money while putting on their gloves. "You coming?" Jackson asked.

"We might never see this much money again." Lucy said.

"If there's ever another raid and they need someone to sit and wait until the wee hours, I have a feeling it will be us. They might not make Lopez do it but they might." Nolan said shrugging.

***

Hunter wakes up to banging on her front door, she bolts out of bed and answers it. "Grant what are you doing here? My shift doesn't start till noon." Hunter said.

"Captain called, said to bring you and the rookies in early. Tim's at Lucy's getting, Bishop's at Nolan's and Angela's at Jackson's." Grant explained.

"Why?" Hunter asked.

"She didn't' say." Grant replied.

"Okay, I'll get dressed." Hunter said.

"Quickly." Grant said. Hunter threw him a look before closing the door on him. A few moments later, Hunter opened the door again, wearing a tank top, snake bracelet, hair in a high pony tail and a pair of running pants. "Lets go. I'm driving." Grant said.

***

Grant and Hunter walk into the briefing room where, Talia, Angela and Tim are with Nolan, Jackson and Lucy. "What the hell's going on?" Hunter asked Tim.

"No clue, we were all told to gather out Boots." Tim gestured to himself, Angela and Talia. "And Andersen said to Lawrence to go get you." Tim added.

Zoe and Grey walk into the room. "We have a situation. Money counters are telling us that we're missing $250,000." Zoe said.

"And you four were the only ones left alone with the money." Grey said.

"Well, the money counters must have made a mistake." Nolan said.

"There's video of them entering the garage and relieving you. And then they counted the money and got $750,000, and not a million." Grey said.

"Let me remind you, an officer was recently convicted of third-degree official misconduct for taking $70 from a crime scene. He's serving two years behind bars. What do you think would happen to a cop who steals a quarter-million dollars?" Zoe asked.

"But we didn't take it." Jackson argued.

"Uh, maybe the assumption was wrong. Maybe it was always $750,000." Hunter and Lucy both suggested.

"That's not what the intel shows. Guy's on the wire saying it's a million." Zoe said.

"Okay, well, we can all vouch for each other. I mean -" Lucy was saying.

"Not good enough. The only thing that will clear you is passing a polygraph." Grey interrupts.

"Now, I can't, by law, make you take one. It would have to be strictly voluntary." Zoe said.

"What if we decline?" Jackson asked.

"It's grounds for suspension, pending an investigation, and possibly could lead to your termination." Hunter said before Zoe or Grey could but the two supiors nodded their heads.

"Well, that's not much of a choice, but -" Nolan gets nods from the other two rookies. "Yeah, we'll do it." He said.

"Well if it means I can keep my job. I'm doing it." Hunter said with her arms crossed.

"Okay. Let's go." Zoe said.

"What, now?" Nolan asked.

"Now." Zoe and Grey leave the room along with the Hunter and rookies.

"You think one of them really could have done it?" Angela asked.

"Not by themselves." Tim said, sitting on the table behind the rookies table.

"Nolan came back into the house to use the bathroom. One of the other three could have hidden some of the money then. Came back, picked it up later." Talia said.

"No way it was Hunter and if it was she'd've already shipped it off to an offshore account that the LAPD can't track meaning she'd never get caught." Tim said.

Grant, Talia and Angela stare at Tim for a moment. "He's right, this is Hunter were talking about." Angela said.

"Yeah, fair enough." Talia and Grant said in sync.

"There's no way West participated. That kid is squeaky clean." Angela said.

"Well, if it was Chen, she wouldn't get caught like this." Tim said.

"Sounds like a compliment." Talia comments.

"I'm just saying she's smarter than that." Tim said.

"It doesn't matter if they did it or not. If they don't walk out of there with a flawless polygraph, they're done." Angela said.

***

Grey and Zoe are seated across the table from Hunter, and a Polygraph Technician is monitoring the responses. "Okay. Let's begin with a few control questions. Answer with a simple yes or no. Is your name Hunter Lopez?" He asked.

"Yes." Hunter said.

"Do you live at 518 N Gramercy Pl, Unit 212?" Grey asked.

"Yes." Hunter replied.

"Are your eyes brown?" Grey asked.

"Yes."

"Did you witness anyone taking money?" Grey asked.

"No."

"Were you ever alone with the money?"

"No."

"Have you ever lied to protect another officer?"

"Yes." Hunter replied.

"Regarding the missing money?" Zoe asked.

"No." Hunter said.

***

Hunter, Nolan, Lucy and Jackson were sitting together in the conference room. "Why did you tell them about crème brûlée?" Hunter and Lucy asked Jackson.

"I don't know. It came up naturally." Jackson said.

"They were yes or no questions. How does crème brûlée come up naturally?" Nolan asked.

Grey and Zoe enter. "Lopez, Boots, you've all passed your polygraphs." Grey said.

"But this is far from over. Go home. Detectives will contact you soon about follow-up interviews. We got to find out what happened to that money before you hit the street again." Zoe said.

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you." Jackson said. Grey and Zoe leave the room.

"Hey," Nolan stands up as do Jackson, Hunter and Lucy. "You know what I like to do after I've been suspected of a felony?" Nolan asked.

"Uh, drink?" Jackson asked.

"Damn straight. I got a stocked fridge. Anyone want to join?" Nolan asked.

"I'm down. Lucy?" Jackson asked his friend.

"Yeah, it's barely lunch, and I should make use of the time off and go apartment hunting." Lucy said.

"You okay?" Nolan asked.

"Why would I be?" Lucy departs.

"Lopez, you?" Nolan asked.

"Nah, I'm gonna go for a run/hike." Hunter said. She herself leaves.

***

Hunter's phone rings as she walks on her hiking trail, wearing headphones she answers. "Hey, what's up?" She asked knowing it was Nolan.

"Hey Lopez, you're on with me, Lucy and Jackson." Nolan said.

"So, I've been thinking, the money was gone by the time we got there and if they don't find the money we're screwed. No matter what the polygraphs say cops will never trust us again, which sucks or me seeing as I'm a detective." Hunter said. The raven woman tensed up, hearing a branch snap. "What the hell was that?" She asked.

"What's up?" Lucy asked, she was apartment hunting.

"Someone's following me." Hunter said, suddenly shots were fired and Hunter took cover behind a tree. "And now I'm getting fired at."

"Alright where are you, we'll notify Bishop, Lopez and Bradford." Jackson said.

"I'm at Runyon Canyon." Hunter said. 

Nolan and Lucy (who was calling from her phone) hung up, Hunter fished out her off duty weapon from the back of her pants and leaned out and fired at the people shooting at her.

***

Hunter runs from the gunshots, getting hit in the leg, she screamed in pain but continued moving as fast as she could. She's come across a chain link fence and she turns to run another way, only to be confronted by her three attackers. "Drop the gun." Desantis said.

Hunter puts the gun on the ground. "What do you want?" She asked, wincing in pain as the adrenaline wears off causing the wound to hurt.

"The money you stole." Desantis said.

"Wait. You're with La Eme?" Hunter asked.

"And you're with the LAPD, Detective Hunter Lopez, who lives at 518 N Gramercy Pl, Unit 212." Desantis said.

"How do you know all that?" Hunter asked.

"Public records. Addresses, police reports. Damn near everything's on the net. So I already know that you were guarding our money. And 250 G's went missing. And I know you're the cop that took it." Desantis said.

"I-I didn't steal anything. No." Hunter said shaking her head.

"Please. We've seen your place. Ran your credit. You need a serious cash infusion. So where's our money?" Desantis asked.

"I already told you, I don't have it." Hunter scoffed.

"Tough girl, huh? Well, everybody's tough at first, until they're not. Andres. Cut her up a little," Andres pulls out a long knife and approaches Hunter, who knocks him down, but then she's knocked down by the third thug. "This isn't about the money, chica. A quarter million is a rounding error on our gas budget. This is about sending a message. You can't steal from us. Even if you carry a badge." Desantis said.

Hunter notices Desantis' boots, which have a distinctive pattern on them. She remembers where she's seen them before. "I saw you." She said.

"What?" Desantis asked.

"Outside the house, right before we raided it. You were wearing those boots and carrying that duffel bag with the red stripe. Somebody tipped you off about the raid. You took the money. You got in before we hit the place. You thought no one would notice." Hunter said.

Desantis chuckles nervously, then turns and shoots Andres, who drops, and fires at the other thug, who runs. While Desantis is distracted, Hunter kicks his legs out from under him and tries to wrestle the gun away from him. "Damn it! Aah! You messed it all up." He said.

Hunter has Desantis on the ground when Lucy comes running up. "Nice." Lucy comments.

"Do you have cuffs?" Hunter asked.

"Yeah. Last pair." Lucy said handing a pair of cuffs to Hunter.

"Can you tear off you sleeve?" Hunter asked, cuffing Desantis looking up at Lucy's shirt for a moment.

"Yeah, why?" Lucy asked, tearing off the sleeve of her shirt, she handed it off to Hunter.

"I need a tourniquet for my leg, they shot me." Hunter said as she wrapped it around the leg two centimeters above the wound.

"How'd you make it so far?" Lucy asked, helping Hunter up.

"It didn't hit an artery, I'll buy you a new shirt." Hunter said as Nolan and Jackson come running. "What took you two long?" Hunter asked them jokingly. Tim, Grant, Talia and Angela all arrive. "Really, you guys took so long." Hunter said seriously.

"What happened?" Tim asked looking at Hunter's leg.

"I got shot in the leg and it really hurts so helping me get to a shop would be great." Hunter said.

"Yep," Tim grabbed Hunter's arm and she grabbed his.

"How are they so in sync?" Jackson asked Angela as the other follow behind Tim and Hunter.

"They were in the army together." Lucy realised.

"How'd you know?" Angela asked. "It's not something Hunter and Tim talk about."

"She mentioned it when we were guarding the money. Okay, didn't expect that." Lucy said, pausing in shock as Tim and Hunter argued and Tim relented picking Hunter up bridal style.

"That's nothing new." Talia comments.

"Okay. They're relationship's so weird." Lucy said.

"You think, they have feelings for each other but won't admit it." said Grant.

***

Talia and Tim are escorting a cuffed Desantis, with Nolan, Hunter and Lucu in tow, when they encounter Grey. Hunter having been cleared at the hospital and put on crutches. "Paramedics are taking our other suspect to Shaw Memorial. Homicide's working the halcone this one killed." Talia said.

"And the missing $250,000?" Grey asked.

"Einstein here had it stacked on his coffee table. West, Lawrence and Lopez are bringing it in now." Tim said.

"All right. Good work," Tim and Talia walk off with Desantis. "And how are you doing? Also, you're on desk duty for the next six weeks." Grey told Hunter.

"Damn it, desk duty, seriously sir?" Hunter complained.

"Very." Grey replied. "That was good work out there."

"Thank you, sir. I'm just relieved that we found the missing money." Hunter said.

"So I take it we're off the hook about the cash?" Nolan asked.

"You are. But to be clear, at no point did anyone actually believe that three rookies knew how to smuggle a quarter mil in cash out of a crime scene. Hunter on the other hand, well we never know, she could lie to god himself and get away with, luckily she passed the polygraph." Hunter grinned. "But good work." He walks away, leaving Nolan and Lucy at a loss for words as they turn to Hunter.

"You two do know that I was an undercover detective, right?" Hunter asked before leaving the two.

***

"Hey, so you need a place to live, right?" Hunter asked.

Grant nodded. "Well I live in a two bedroom and I'm gonna be needing a hand for the next six weeks."

"Cool." Hunter said and hobbled off on the crutches. Running into Tim. "Hey, so Grant's moving in with me because his building's being turned into condos, but I need a lift to my apartment seeing as Grey's making me knock off early."

"Yeah, alright come on. I'll drop your car at your apartment when I knock off." Tim said.

"So how will you get back?" Hunter asked.

"Lexi can drive me." Tim said.

"Okay, fair." Hunter said.

"Come on." Tim said directing Hunter through the door and two his truck.

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This was a really good episode, I enjoyed it.

Plain Clothes Day next, which I'm not sure how to do but I'll find some way to make it all work.