2x13: Follow Up Day

***

Smitty is being razzed and applauded by his fellow officers. He's wearing a sash that reads Mr. Irrelevant on it, Lucy walked over to Tim and Hunter who were talking, Tim was sitting on the table. "What's going on?" Lucy asked.

"We're celebrating Smitty's last day as Mr. Irrelevant. The sergeants exam happens once every two years. Whoever scores the lowest gets called Mr. Irrelevant 'cause they got no chance at getting promoted." Tim explained.

"So, if this is Smitty's swan song, that means the new scores are gonna be posted soon." Lucy said.

"Tonight." Tim said.

"That's exciting. You're gonna do great." Lucy said.

"No doubt." Tim replied.

Grey walked into the room and everyone moved to their seats. "All right. Party's over. So, Officer Smitty -- these past two years, you have handled your irrelevance with the poise and dignity I expect from a man of -- of little ambition." Grey said, pausing in the sentence to find the right words.

"Thank you, sir." Smitty said with a bow.

"To business. Today is Follow-Up Day. Detectives have several cases that are on the edge of being back-burnered. You're gonna take the day to see if you can breathe new life into them," Grey walked to Lucy and handed her a piece of paper. "So, Bradford and Chen, you have a three-day-old home invasion. The victim is a former gang member, Nevin Cooper. No forensics, no suspects." He said.

"We're on it, sir." Lucy said.

Grey moved to Hunter and handed her a piece of paper. "Lopez and Lawrence, you're going to Hancock Park. A statue was stolen from a homeowner's front yard."

Hunter looked at the photo on the paper before looking up at Grey. "It looks like a giant turd." She said.

"Well, that "turd" is worth a half a million, so track it down." Grey said.

"Yes, sir." Hunter huffed, Angela, Nyla and Tim all chuckled at Hunter's despair. "Glad my annoyance is cheering you all up." She comments.

"Which brings me to Harper and Nolan." Grey was saying.

"Actually, sir, Robbery Homicide requested that Officer Nolan and I follow up on one of their cases." Nyla spoke up.

"And how much did you pay for them to request that?" Grey asked.

"That's a very cynical question, sir." Nyla frowned.

"Seems fair to me. What do you think, Officer Nolan?" Grey questioned.

Nolan is staring off into space, obviously dep in thought. "What? On it. Yes, sir."

***

Tim and Lucy enter the store and are greeted by Sasha behind the counter. "Good morning, officers. What can I get you?" She asked.

"We're looking for Nevin Cooper." Tim said.

"Oh. He's a little busy right now. Can I help you with something?" Sasha asked. Objects crash in the distance.

***

Tim and Lucy go into a back room where Marquel and some friends are confronting Nevin Cooper, who obviously works there. "Hey, everything okay?" Tim asked.

"Yeah. It's just some confusion in our order." Marquel replied.

"Sorry for the misunderstanding." Nevin deadpanned.

Marquel turned back to Nevin when Tim spoke. "Marquel, right?" He asked.

"I know you?" Maquel questioned.

"I'm the guy who put Keon in Pelican Bay. Heard you filled the void." Tim replied.

"Ah, what can I say? "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."" Marquel said.

"Shakespeare." Lucy deadpanned.

"Play?" Marquel asked her.

""Twelfth Night.""

"Smart for a cop."

Tim looked over at Nevin. "I read you weren't running with these guys anymore, Nevin." He said.

"Found a different path in prison." Nevin said.

"Bitch binge-watched too much British baking. Got himself rehabilitated." Marquel said.

"It's not every day that you see a gang be so forgiving to someone who's left the flock. That's inspiring." Lucy deadpans again.

"Unless you're here to sweat him. You guys wouldn't happen to know who broke into Nevin's house a couple nights ago, tied him up?" Tim wondered.

"I sure don't. But I tell you what, I hear anything, you will be my first call. I'll see you around, Nevin." Marquel and his friends exit the room.

"You all right?"  Tim asked.

"Fine. Got a lot of work to do and it's tight in here, so Sasha'll give you some donuts on your way out." Nevin said.

"I know you're scared, but we can help." Lucy said.

"I'm not scared. I'm busy. I got things handled." Nevin said.

"Okay, so why call the cops if you got it handled?" Tim wondered.

"I didn't." Nevin replied.

"Let me guess. Sasha did. Before you could tell her not to?" Lucy asked.

"I appreciate what you're trying to do -- turn your life around. I know it isn't easy." Tim said.

"It is what it is, man." Nevin shrugged.

"You can't handle Marquel and his crew on your own." Tim told him.

"I don't know what you're talking about. They just came to buy some pastries. Now I gotta get back to work." Nevin said.

"Sure. You change your mind, you know where to find us." Tim said and he and Lucy walked out and returned to their shop.

***

Hunter and Grant are walking up to the front door of a house whose lawn features an empty statuary base. "Looks like that's where the statue was." Grant said.

"You're gonna make a great detective." Hunter deadpanned at her friend.

The front door opens and the resident, Roger Nithercott, comes out. "Why haven't you guys found my statue yet?" 

"That's why we're here, sir," Hunter and Grant move forward slightly. "To see if you have any new information." Hunter said.

"If I have any new information? This is your job. I've been calling you every day." Nithercott snapped at the cops.

"Yes, sir, we're aware. That's why we're here." Grant said.

Nithercott's wife comes out the front door. "Did they find it?"

"No." Nithercott said glancing at his wife.

"Ma'am, I read over the initial police report. What exactly did you mean when you said that whoever took it should get a reward?" Grant asked.

Nithercott turned to Martha frowning deeply. "What the hell?

"I did not say that. Did I?" Martha wondered, faking confusion.

"Mrs. Nithercott, did you have anything to do with the disappearance of the statue?" Grant asked.

"Of course not. No, uh, just I'm not as sad as Roger is that it's gone." Martha said.

"What are you saying? I thought you loved that piece." Nithercott said, sounding sad that his wife doesn't like it.

"It looks like a dinosaur copped a squat on our front yard." Martha said.

"I bought it because it reminded me of our honeymoon." Nithercott said,

"How does that remind you of your honeymoon?" Nithercott turned towards Hunter who then frowned. "Maybe I don't want to know." She said.

"Look, you wanna find the thief? Talk to the members of the homeowners association. They hated that thing as much as I did." Martha said to Grant and Hunter.

***

Tim and Lucy have returned to the station and are walking through the bullpen. "So, how does it work?" Lucy asked.

"The sergeants' exam?" Tim wondered.

Lucy nodded. "Do you get the stripe right away?" Lucy questioned.

"No. Passing the test is the first step. You only get promoted when a spot opens up. You're at the top of the list, might take a month or two. The lower you are, the longer it's gonna take. And for some, they'll never get a shot. Be taking the test again in two years." Tim explained.

Grey comes up to them. "Hey. Your home invasion victim was just assaulted. He's on his way to the ER."

"Nevin? We just saw him.

"Yeah, Marquel must have doubled back after we left." Tim said.

"Is he hurt bad?" Lucy asked.

***

Tim and Lucy are walking in the hallway of Shaw Memorial with Grace Sawyer. "Fractured right arm, bruised ribs, couple of loose teeth. He's gonna be in pain for a few weeks. Do you guys know who did it?" Grace asked.

"Yeah, but we can't do anything about it unless Nevin makes an official ID." Tim said.

"Which he's not going to do," Lucy spots Sasha outside Nevin's room. "But maybe his girlfriend will." She said.

"Good luck." Grace walks on.

The cops stop to talk to Sasha. "How is he?" Tim asked.

"He's tough. Didn't want me to call 911, even though the bone was sticking out." Sasha said.

"I'm sorry. That sounds upsetting." Lucy said sympathetically.

"He's trying so hard to make up for the things he did. Why can't they just leave him alone?" Sasha asked.

"Because they're predators. But we can help." Lucy said.

"How? He's here because you came around this morning. Marquel had to make sure that Nevin wasn't snitching." Sasha said.

"Snitching about what?" Lucy asked.

"No way." Sasha scoffed.

"Sasha, you walk away, he ends up back in prison or dead. Look, without us, Nevin either gives in, gives Marquel what he wants, or he doesn't and Marquel kills him. We're his only hope at a different outcome." Tim said.

"You promise you can protect him?" Sasha questioned.

"I'd be lying if I said yes, but he's got no chance without us." Tim replied.

"Marquel wants Nevin to launder drug money through the bakery. Said he had 24 hours to decide. Now you know." Sasha goes into Nevin's room and shuts the door.

"So, what's the play? Arrest Marquel for assault?" Lucy asked.

"No. We do that, and Marquel's guys will kill Sasha and Nevin." Marquel replied.

"Then what?" Lucy asked.

"I don't know." Tim replied before walking off with Lucy.

***

Hunter and Jackson meet and compare notes on their canvass. "Neighbor says she didn't witness the theft, but, quote, "That statue was the real crime."" Hunter read off of her notes.

"And the woman I talked to said that she wished she had the balls to steal that thing years ago, and whoever took it should have a statue erected in their honor." Grant replied.

"All right. One more house and I'm calling it." Hunter said. Together they walk up to the nearest house. 

Grant pounds on the door. "Police!"

"There's a car in the driveway." Hunter said.

"LAPD! We just have a few questions for you." Grant goes silent waiting for a response when he turned to Hunter. "I guess we can follow up tomorrow." Grant said.

Hunter hears a faint cry from somewhere nearby. "Help!"

"Did you hear that?" Hunter questioned.

"Hear what?" Grant asked Hunter.

"Help! Help!" Hunter and Grant draw their weapons and go around to the back of the house, where they find a man trapped under the stolen sculpture. "Help! Help! Oh." They manage to raise the statue a little and the man pulls himself out from under it. He's apparently wet his pants and the cops react to the odor. 

"Oh, God." Hunter gagged.

"Oh! God!" Grant exclaimed in disgust.

"Think how I feel. I've been lying in it." The man said.

***

Hunter and Grant are hauling the statue thief into the Holding area.

"Stealing that statue was a public service." The man said.

"That almost got you killed." Hunter reminded him.

"Still worth it." The man said.

"Hunter. Excuse me. Hunter. Oh. Is this your station? What a funny little world." Patrice said when she noticed Hunter.

"Who's that?" Grant asked.

"Wesley's mom. She and I met when Wesley and I met in law school and became good friends, I was also at the Academy at the same time," Grant gives her a look. "Don't ask, it's complicated, I didn't sleep," Hunter walked over to the Officer in charge. "What's she in for?"

"They found an unlicensed gun in her car during a traffic stop." Officer Desantos said.

"Thanks, I'm calling Wesley and then Angela, then we can go back out on patrol." Hunter said.

Grant nodded and Hunter made some calls informing Wesley about what happened and then she let Angela know before she and Grant returned to patrol.

***

Tim and Lucy were inside Grey's office. "So, what do I do?" Tim asked.

"The smart thing would be to get Nevin to launder the money. Use him as a CI to roll up Marquel and his whole crew." Grey replied.

"Um, Nevin's trying to go straight. We'd be destroying that." Lucy said.

"Yes, in order to put some pretty bad people behind bars. Look, it's a tough call, but... you're gonna have to get used to making those as a sergeant." Grey said.

"The scores are in?" Tim asked intrigued.

"The list just arrived. You're number 8 out of 140." Grey said standing up.

"Yes! I knew it," Tim and Grey both look at Lucy and she tones down her excitement. "Congratulations... Sergeant Bradford." She said smirking.

"Not a sergeant yet. At eight on the list, it'll probably take six months or so." Tim said.

"Actually, there's a position opening in North Hollywood. The captain there owes me a big favor. If you want, I can make it happen. You'd start in two weeks." Grey said, leaning on the front of his desk with his arms crossed.

"T-Two weeks?" Lucy stuttered out.

Tim hesitates, he looked out the window of Grey's office and saw Hunter in her street clothes having just knocked off walking out with Grant and Grant's girlfriend, Daisy and chatting happily about something with the two of them, Tim turned back to Grey. "Uh -- Uh, can I think about this overnight?"

"Yeah, of course. But there's no guarantee you'll get a better opportunity, if you pass this up." Grey replied.

***

Hunter was in the break room the next morning making herself a coffee. "Hey Lopez." Smitty said from the doorway.

Hunter jumped, almost spilling her coffee. "Jesus, Smitty. Do you make a habit of that?" She asked him.

"No," Smitty walked in and sat down on the couch. "Did you hear about Bradford?" Smitty asked the raven haired woman.

Hunter frowned as she took a sip of her coffee. "What about Tim?" She asked.

"Heard he got the 8 out of 140 on the exam and might be moving to North Hollywood." Smitty replied.

"W-What?" Hunter stuttered, she then chugged her coffee to try and calm herself down. "Uh, thanks Smitty. I gotta go." Hunter practically ran out of the breakroom and nearly crashed into Grant.

***

Grant grabbed Hunter's shoulders to stop her knocking them both to the floor. "Where's Tim?" Hunter asked quickly.

"I don't know. He and Chen have already gone out on patrol, why?" Grant asked leading Hunter into a hallway and out of the bullpen.

"Uh, I heard from Smitty that Tim might be transferring to North Hollywood," Hunter took a breath before exhaling shakily, Grant noticed her eyes filled with tears. "He can't move. Um, I don't what I'll do if he does."

Grant opens his mouth to speak, Hunter holds a finger up and shakes her head. "I was buried alive by a serial killer with Lucy. Her safe place is her car," Hunter pointed at herself. "Mine? Mine is Tim."

Grant took his hands of Hunter's shoulder and placed them up for a moment. "Look, lets go out, do our jobs and you can talk to Tim during lunch or after shift."

"Yeah, uh thanks." Hunter said and the two started walking to their shop.

"No problem."

***

Marquel and his homies are hanging out in front of an auto parts store. "Hey, Marquel. Can we talk for a minute? Unless you gotta get permission first." Tim said.

"Nah, man. I'm good. You here to threaten me, Officer Bradford? "Stay away from Nevin or else"?" Marquel asked standing in front of Lucy and Tim.

"No. We both know you don't scare." Tim replied.

"So what? You here to play to my better angel?" Marquel wondered.

"Yeah, something like that." Tim said.

"See, here I thought you were a hard case, the man who put Keon in Pelican Bay." Marquel deadpanned.

"Nevin did his time. He gave your crew a decade of his life. Took the fall like a good soldier. Let him walk away." Tim said.

"And what's that do for my rep? Lettin' people slide?" Marquel asked.

""Reputation is an idle and most false imposition, oft got without merit and lost without deserving. You have lost no reputation at all unless you repute yourself such a loser." "Othello."" Lucy recited.

"That was a nice pull, but Shakespeare didn't know nothing about running a gang in the 21st century." Marquel said.

"You don't want to go down this road. Trust me." Tim states.

"Ain't no off-ramp here, Bradford. See, I got plans for Nevin. There's nothing you can do to stop 'em." saunters off.

Tim and Lucy head back to their shop. "What do we do now?" Lucy asked.

"I don't know. We made our play, and we failed." Tim said.

"Wow. I never thought I'd see you give up that easily." Lucy states, surprised.

"You got a path to victory, Boot, I'm all ears." Tim said.

"No, I don't, but you're the king of subversive tests and tricks. There's got to be some way to win by coming at this sideways." Lucy replied.

***

Tim and Hunter were sitting at the food trucks with Angela, Grant and Nyla all purchasing their food. "I heard you might be moving up to North Hollywood for a Sergeants position." She said to him.

"Where'd you hear that?" Tim asked, looking at Hunter with a confused frown.

"Smitty." Hunter shrugged. "He hears just about everything that goes on in the station somehow."

"Yeah, I don't know what I'm gonna do." Tim replied.

Hunter opened her mouth to respond when the other three cops came over and decided against speaking about it anymore seeing as the only other cop that knew was Grant out of the five of them.

***

Several of L. A.'s finest are exiting the bakery where Nevin works, some with bags of food. Tim and Hunter are standing nearby in street clothes. "Genius move, making Nevin's the go-to donut shop for the LAPD." Hunter said.

"Yeah, Marquel wouldn't dare launder money here now." Tim states.

Hunter looked at Tim with a smile. "North Hollywood's lucky to have a sergeant like you coming in." She said.

"Actually, I, uh -- I told Grey that I'm not interested in moving up just yet." Tim replied.

"What, are you holding out for Malibu?" Hunter asked.

"I'm not about to leave everyone I care about behind to get dumped at a station I know nothing about. Besides, you and Lexi need someone who knows how to cook." Tim shrugged.

Hunter laughed and fiddled with the sleeve of her sweater. "You are gonna move up at some point, though, right? Because I put a lot of time into those books on tape." She said. Tim just smiled and turned to start walking, Hunter chuckled and followed him in amicable silence.

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I know that seasons 1-3 take place over a 13 month period but that doesn't make sense to my brain.

TIMELINE:

Season 1-late 2019.

Season 2-early 2020.

Early season 3-late 2020.

Late season 3-early season 4 is 2021.

Late season 4-early season 5 is 2022.

Late season 5-early season 6 is 2023.

Later season 6-early season 7 is 2024.

Late season 7-? is 2025.

That's the timeline in my my story. Does that make sense?