5x07: Crossfire

***

Tim and Grey had just started to wrap up roll call. "Okay. That's it. Be safe out there." Tim said, standing behind the podium.

"But before you leave, one more thing, what you've all been waiting for. So, I'll make this quick. Pay raises from the last union negotiation have gone into effect." Grey added before everyone walked out.

"-Yeah. -Yay." Various officers said.

"Check your pay stubs, and we'll see what --" Grey was saying.

That's when someone just walked in without knocking. "You're interrupting a briefing." Tim said.

"Are you Sergeant Wade Grey?" The server asked Tim.

"No." Tim said.

"That'd be me."

"You've been served." The room suddenly fell silent.

Grey opened the letter after it was handed to him. ""Elijah Stone vs. The City of Los Angeles, LAPD, Wade Grey, Wesley Evers, and--" Grey locked eyes with Angela. "Angela Lopez, Lexi Lopez-Bradford, Tim Bradford and Hunter Lopez."" The sever handed Tim one as well and then moved to Hunter and Angela, handing them both one as well..

Angela opened up her letter and read it. "A civil suit and a Pitchess motion." She said.

"All right. Briefing's over." Everyone filtered out the room, Grey, Angela, Nolan and Celina all met up at the front of the room, Tim and Hunter just ignored them all and walked out.

***

Hunter had been called into Grey's office where Grey, Angela and Nyla were explaining what was going on. "We caught a D.B. this morning, a shopkeeper who refused to pay protection money to a street gang called Double R." Nyla explained.

"Rowena Razors out of Rowena Gardens?" Hunter questioned.

"Gang task force doesn't have much on them except their leader, Shana Quelli. She was released from Valley State Prison three months ago. She's been extorting store owners on her turf." Angela said.

"Our victim took a stand, and the Razors made an example out of him." Nyla said.

"Harper and Lopez need you to infiltrate the gang to get some evidence, murder weapon." Grey said.

"A confession would be best." Angela added.

Hunter scoffed. "Uh...they're not going to let me anywhere near them."

"You're U.C., right? Gaining access and building trust is the name of the game." Nyla said.

"You got it. I'll figure it out. Although, you do realise that I'm 39 these girls are all teenagers." Hunter comments.

"You look younger than the age you are, at least 35." Nyla said.

"Ouch." Hunter said sarcastically before walking out.

"Hey it's like 4 years younger than your age, take it." Angela yelled at her only to have Hunter flip her off.

***

Tim and Aaron arrived at a house where a woman was standing on the porch. "Hello, ma'am. We had a noise complaint. Yelling. Everything okay?" Tim asked.

"I was just arguing with my son. Ain't no need for the police." Althea replied.

"Okay, so what's the problem, ma'am?" Aaron asked.

"My son, Tabin." said Althea.

"Mm-hmm." Aaron hummed.

"He won't listen. He cuts school. He won't pick up after himself. And the mouth on that boy." Althea said.

"And how old's your son?" Aaron asked.

"15."

"He threaten you?" Tim questioned.

"He knows he better not!" Althea pretty much yelled.

"Okay. Any drugs, weapons, other criminal behavior?" Tim asked.

"Tabin? Absolutely not. I see him drifting. He's running the streets instead of doing schoolwork. Told him he's gonna end up like his sister. I already lost one child. I'm not gonna lose another."

"And let me guess -- He didn't want to hear that, huh?" Aaron asked.

"He says I don't know what I'm talking about. Starts yelling and -- and slamming doors. I told him, "You break my house, I'mma break your head.""

"Okay. Well, we can't arrest him if he hasn't committed a crime." Tim said.

"Ain't nobody asking you to do all that. You can't talk to him, put the fear of Jesus in him, help keep him out of trouble? I pay your salaries. You know what? We should defund y'all ass." Althea said.

"Look, um, I-I'll talk to him, okay? Is he inside?" Aaron asked.

"Mm-hmm." Aaron and Tim walked inside the house.

***

Aaron and Tim appeared in Tabin's doorway. "She did not call the cops on me. Ma!" He yelled down at his mother seeing the two cops.

"Hey, hold on. It's -- It's all right. Tabin, right? Officer Thorsen. Call me Aaron."

"She's crazy, okay?" Tabin asked.

"Your mom didn't call us, okay? But she is worried about you." Aaron said.

"What am I supposed to do? Stay cooped up in here? I-I want to live my life." Tabin said.

"Right, and she wants you to live a long and good life, too. All moms do. You know, it's just, sometimes, they can trip about everything. Listen. I know how you feel, okay? My mom, she's a piece of work, too. Sometimes I feel like she's the kid and I'm the adult."

"Yeah. Yeah. You know."

"Right. But you still got to show her respect, okay? No matter how angry you get. When I was your age, I was angry, too. Listen to her, right? If you get upset or whatever, just take a beat before answering. I mean, she changed your diapers, man, okay? You owe her that." Aaron said to her.

"I hear you." Tabin said.

"Anything else bothering you? Kids at school?" Tim asked.

"Nah." Tabin replied.

"You use?" Tim asked.

"No, sir." Tabin said.

"Good. Any gangs pressuring you to join?" Tim asked.

"No, no." Tabin said, shaking his head.

"Here's my card, all right?" Aaron handed Tabin his card. "It's got my cell on it. Anything stresses you out, you give me a call, okay? But no more slamming these doors. You feel me?"

"Yes, sir." Tabin replied.

"All right." Aaron and Tim then left.

***

Aaron was on his phone, having gotten a text from Tabin. "It's that kid Tabin. "Took a beat like you said. Now Mom has me grocery shopping. Thanks a lot." Smile emoji. "What time's dinner?" I think that kid's gonna be all right.

"Be careful. Puppies are a lot of work." Tim comments.

"What?" Aaron asked.

"You just got a puppy." Tim said.

"Meaning I'm blurring the lines?" Aaron asked.

"Meaning protect your personal space. Lucy got a puppy over a year ago. Now she's living with her." Tim said.

"I mean, as long as his mom's a good cook," Aaron looked over at Tim. "Besides, I heard from Lucy that you and Hunter adopted your puppy that you two saved and that was almost ten years ago." Aaron comments.

***

Hunter was sitting at a desk looking at a folder of the Rowena Razors when Nyla pulls up and seat and sits beside her. "Oh, hey. I ran a record management search on the Rowena Razors." She said to Nyla.

"Here is everything from the gang task force. They are playing catch-up." Nyla comments.

Hunter sighed. "I -- This doesn't make sense. I mean, criminal history, arrest reports. These girls are heavy hitters. They've all done time for meth trafficking, attempted murder, manslaughter," she looked at the folder from the side confused as to why there was so little paper in it. "Why is the current intel so light?" She asked.

"Well, you said it. Girls. Everyone dismisses female gangs as some sort of throwback curiosity, like the Pink Ladies. And if they do take them seriously, they are written off as drug mules or prostitutes, not the ones who are actually calling the shots." Nyla said.

"This is what I was trying to say earlier. It's gonna be tough to get in. They'll be a tight-knit group, you know? Suspicious of outsiders." Hunter said.

"Yeah. No doubt. But don't make the same mistake that men do and write them off as just little girls. They're a real threat." Nyla said to her.

"Well, so am I." Hunter deadpanned.

"Oh, I know but they don't." Nyla agreed.

***

Tim and Aaron were patrolling when Grey speaks over the radio. "Bradford, we have a suspect who fired into an already expired individual.

Tim picked the radio up. "Ooh, that's a tough one. Could be murder one, but maybe just discharging a firearm. They either get a trial or a ticket."

"Thanks for nothing."

***

Hunter was still sitting at the desk with Nyla. "I could pose as a store owner, get them for extortion." She said, closing the file.

"No. We need them for the murder. Keep looking." Nyla said.

Hunter went back to reading the file, opening it again. "Oh." She said, intrigued.

"What is it?" Nyla asked.

"One of the Razors, Vina Cordon -- there was a 4-15 called at her house today, and Tim and Aaron took it." Hunter said.

***

Nyla and Hunter walked into the sallyport where Tim and Aaron had just arrived and both got out the shop. "Hey, you guys caught a 4-15 this morning?" Nyla asked.

"Yeah. It was cute." Tim deadpanned.

The four cops start walking back into the bullpen. "Cute?" Hunter asked with a frown.

"All puppies are cute." Tim said.

Hunter looked at Tim with a deadpan expression. "Until they borrow your earrings and they lose one."

"Yeah, the mom asked us to talk to her 15-year-old son. He's a good kid." Aaron said as they stepped through the sliding doors and into the station.

"Aaron's protégé has been texting him nonstop. "Who should I take to prom? What's good on Hulu?"" Tim said, looking at Aaron.

Nyla and Hunter stopped walking and turned to Tim and Aaron. "Did the mom mention a daughter?" Nyla asked.

Aaron looks at her and nods. "Yeah, she said she lost one. Didn't want her son to end up the same way, and I thought she meant, like, O.D. or something." He explains. 

Hunter shakes her head. "No. Uh, Vina Cordon. She runs with the Rowena Razors." She said.

"R-2." Tim hummed.

"We want to put Hunter under, but we can't find an in. Your kid might be our ticket." Nyla suggested.

That's when Angela appears seemingly out of nowhere. "If your puppy vouches for her, it can go a long way." She said.

Tim shakes his head in deep thought. "I don't know. Having a kid act as a C.I. on his own sister? I mean, they might not even be in touch." He tells them.

Hunter hummed in agreement but spoke nonetheless. "She doesn't have any violent priors, but Nyla and Angie would like the gang leader for doing their shop owner."

Tim sighs. "Okay, so you're not going after the sister. The kid's a minor. We're gonna need the mom's permission." He tells Hunter.

"Obviously." Hunter said. 

"No, I-I'm not feeling that. Why would we put him in this situation?" Aaron asked.

"I get it. But it's one intro." Hunter said trying to reassure Aaron.

"It's not like it's a buy or anything." Angela added.

"Yeah, but it opens the door. Isn't there another way?" Aaron asked.

"There really isn't." Nyla said, shaking her head.

Tim looked at Aaron. "All right, look, how about we keep an eye on the kid ourselves, make sure he's safe?" He asked.

"If we don't do this, we risk letting a suspect get away with murder." Hunter added.

"Understood. Sure. Whatever you need." Aaron said.

"Great. We'll set it up." Tim said.

***

Tim and Aaron were speaking with Althea and Tabin outside in front of the house once again. "Look, it's a big decision. You know, we don't usually involve minors, but it's the only way." Tim said.

"I knew this Shana girl was nasty. I told Vina, "Stay away from her." Is it dangerous?" Althea questioned.

"It's just an introduction. One meeting. But we'll be set up on surveillance." Tim said.

"You'll be there?" Althea asked.

"Yes, ma'am." Aaron replied, nodding his head.

"And what do you think? Is this a good idea?" Althea asked.

"I think it's our best bet to get Shana off of the streets." Aaron said diplomatically.

"That's not what I asked. Do you think he should do it?" Althea asked.

Aaron nodded his head. "Yes."

That's when Tabin speaks up and everyone looks at him. "If we can get Vina away from Shana, then... maybe she'll come back home." He said.

"I hope so, baby."

"All right," Tabin looks at the cops. "I'll do it," he followed them to the unmarked car. "Do I get a gun?" He asked.

"No." Tim deadpanned.

"Do I at least get to wear a wire?"

"No." Aaron said.

"You guys are real cops, right?" Tabin asked them.

***

Hunter was in the drivers seat of an unmarked car with Tabin in the back. They were sitting in silence when the radio crackled to life. "Yeah, that's the sister, Vina." Angela said.

"I have Shana, the shooter." Nyla says. 

That's when Tim speaks. "Copy, Hunter you're up," he says.

A moment goes by before the car speeds down the road and she purposefully knocks over the orange cones and gets out of the car, without one word she opened the door and allowed Tabin out.

Vina Corden pointed a gun are her. "What the hell you doing with my brother? Get over there."

"Put that gun away. Is that how you're gonna thank me for saving your brother from the cops?" Hunter deadpanned.

Vina looked at her brother. "You a'ight?"

"Yeah." Tabin said.

"Man, you're wearing some dumb genes in your family." Hunter comments.

"Got some nerve to be talking like that." Vina said, placing a finger on the trigger.

Tabin intervened. "Okay. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Look, cops saw me boost a six." He lied to his sister.

"They chase you?" Vina asked.

"Two blocks. They would have caught him if I didn't stop and let him in my ride. That's the last time I help a kid in need." Hunter said.

That's when Shana speaks up. "Can't blame her... you rolling up on a house like that. Could've been a drive-by."

Hunter shrugged. "Yeah. Well, I like to make an entrance. And exit, too. Stay good, little man. Peace." Hunter walks back to the car.

"Yo, chica." Shana said to her.

"Mm-hmm." Hunter said, turning to Shana.

"Chill. Grab a drink."

"All right." Hunter agreed.

***

Hunter was in a chair beside Shana who offered her a beer. "You know, we keep it cool like that. You want a beer?" Shana asked.

"Yeah. Appreciate it." Hunter said, opening it.

"You from L.A.?" Shana asked.

"Phoenix. My cellie at Valley State lives here, so I'm crashing on her couch." Hunter said.

"You were at Valley?" Shana asked.

"10 months, a few years ago." Hunter said.

"I did 24. Who's your cellie?" Shana asked.

"Shawty Ross." Hunter said.

"I know Shawty. You were cellies?" Shana asked.

"Hm." Hunter hummed.

"That says something. Tell her I said what up."

"For sure." Hunter replied.

***

Tim was watching Hunter through binoculars while listening to the conversation on Hunter's wire. "Shawty's a C.I. on D.O.J.'s payroll. She'll confirm Hunter's cover." He said, looking at Aaron.

"Okay. Good. We should pull Tabin out now." Aaron said.

"No, he's fine." Tim said.

"Sir, no, it's not. You are endangering this kid all because it's good for Hunter's already well established career." Aaron said.

Tim whipped his head around to Aaron. "Excuse me?"

"...time, walk out a free woman." Hunter was heard saying.

"I'm sorry." Aaron apologised.

"Ain't no surprise. Shawty don't play."

"I shouldn't have said anything." Aaron said.

Eventually they had to peel off and they managed to extract Tabin out.

***

Aaron, Tim and Tabin were back at the station. "Look, it may feel like a big deal now, but things like this always blow over, okay? People will forget."

"You're just saying that." Tabin said.

"Nah, it's true, man. You know how many times I been beat up?" Aaron said to him.

"Is that why you're so ugly?"

"Wow. Okay."

"Get off me! Get away from me! Don't touch me!" Althea was heard yelling.

"Ma'am!" A cop yelled.

"Where's my son?! Where --" That's when she spots the two cops and Tabin, she walked over to him. "I knew I shouldn't have allowed this. You said it wasn't dangerous."

"It was just a little dust-up with another teen." Tim said.

"You call this a dust-up? Well, I call it a screw-up. And what about Vina? You put her in danger, too? Maybe I should tell her what's going on."

"Ma'am, you can't do that. You expose that we have an officer undercover, it'll jeopardize their life and your son's." Tim said.

"He's right. As soon as Tabin made his introduction, I should have pulled him out immediately."

"My son's done playing cops and robbers. You hear?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Come on, baby." Althea led Tabin out.

***

Luckily Tim and Aaron managed to arrest Vina Corden who was the one that committed the murder of Angela and Nyla's shop owner but Aaron had lost his puppy, Hunter had just finished getting changed when Lexi and Wesley pull her and Tim and Angela into the briefing room.

"What's going on?" Hunter asked.

"If I don't issue Elijah a public apology and if I don't he won't take the city's settlement instead he'll take the damages money from everyone personal bank accounts which won't be a problem for me and Angela, it might not be a problem for Lexi," Wesley was saying.

"Wait Lexi? Wesley, what are you talking about?" Tim interrupted.

"Elijah said that he was going to take money from my bank account, Angela's, our shared one, yours, Nyla's, Nolan's, Lexi's and Hunter's if I don't issue a public apology." Wesley said.

"Then issue the public apology and he'll take the city's settlement rather than our money." Hunter shrugged, Wesley nodded and everyone splintered off.

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I know I missed a bunch of Hunter's UC scene but I can't be bothered to write it all so I shortened it, but that's fine

I also didn't write Tim and Aaron arresting Vina but that's fine too because whatever.

Hope you enjoy.

And just to piss Wesley off he did indeed drag Lexi, Tim and Hunter into the settlement in this story.