6x06: Secrets and Lies

***

Tim was gone by the time Hunter woke up and she checked the security system's last disable and saw that it was at 11 at night, so about half an hour after the two went to bed and it was now seven in the morning, Lexi had arrived to the house an hour earlier seeing as Hunter was already awake.

"On a scale of 1 to 10, how stressed are you?" Lexi asked her mother while the two were in the kitchen.

"19." Hunter deadpanned.

"Yikes. Dad still ghosting you?" Lexi questioned.

"He's not ghosting me. We just haven't talked in a couple of days." Hunter said. "Not properly anyways."

"Not speaking to the person you're engaged to--" Lexi was saying.

"Is the definition of ghosting," Hunter interrupted. I realize that. Thank you."

"Look, go into work today, ask Grant about it see if Tim told him anything." Lexi suggested.

***

Hunter was in her uniform and noticed Grant speaking with Angela when she walked over to the two of them. "Hey. Have you talked to Tim recently?" Hunter asked them.

"No. I heard he was taking vacation days. Do you think he's in trouble?" Grant asked.

"Yes. I-- He said that if he tells me what he's doing, I could put my career in jeopardy." Hunter said.

"That's alarming." Angela comments.

"I know. Should I-- should I tell Grey?" Hunter asked, she wasn't prone to ethical dilemmas but she wanted to know if Grey should be told or not.

"No. Hard as it is, you need to trust him and I know you do trust him a lot. Whatever he's doing, I'm sure Tim's got it handled." Grant said.

"OK. So I'm just supposed to do nothing, patrol like normal, pretend like I'm not worried out of my mind?" Hunter deadpanned.

"For now, yes." Angela said.

"Thanks." Hunter and Grant walked out.

***

Tim was at a shipping yard, there was a bunch of junk food packages in the front seat and he was listening to the baseball while slowly dozing off. "And if you're just joining us it's been a pitcher's clinic here, tied ball game in the bottom of the seventh, 2-all."

Suddenly the passenger door opened. "Hi." Angela smiled.

"Oh my God," Tim sighed in relief. "What are you doing?"

"Being a friend," Angela cleared the seat throwing the rubbish into the back seats of the truck. "What are you doing? Talk." Angela requested.

"I can't. For your own good." Tim replied.

"Are you engaged in a criminal act?" Angela asked.

"Not at the moment." Tim said.

"Then tell me." Angela requested.

"Angela, this goes sideways and you're anywhere near it, you could be fired." Tim said.

"If Hunter gets fired, it's a problem. If I get fired, I start living off my husband's trust fund and call it wine o'clock. So spill." Angela replied.

"I'm tailing this guy from my old unit, Ray Watkins. Spent his deployment ripping off Iraqi locals, got a couple of my men killed. Till a few days ago, I thought he was KIA. Somehow he survived and now he's living under a different name as a hired gun."

"So why tail him? At a minimum, he's AWOL. Why not just detain him and turn him over to the military police?" Angela frowned and added. "Also, why don't you want Hunter involved? This guy's part of your shared past." Angela said.

"Because he's got something on me. He knows Hunter and I lied on the report about his death. And because it could get us all fired and potentially charged, Hunter cannot get charged with anything."

"So you're trying to catch him in a fresh crime, arrest him for what he's doing now."

"Exactly." Tim said

"Cool. I'm in." Angela said.

"Are you sure?" Tim asked.

"Yeah. I got your back, boo," Tim gives her a bemused look, Angela looked at Tim thoughtfully. "Because she's pregnant, it's why you haven't told her like you said she can't be involved," Tim looks at Angela. "I've had two kids, I know the signs of pregnancy."

***

Hunter was staring out the window while Grant was driving. "I know you're worried about Tim and what's going but you need to trust him." He said.

"I know that and I do trust him but he's told me that one of our former army mates, Mark Greer, called him and that's why he suddenly left, I asked why Mark called and he asked if he could get back to me on that and I thought we were gonna talk more this morning but turns out he left half an hour after we went to bed last night."

"And you're worried he's doing something illegal?" Grant asked.

"No, well I wasn't until you mentioned it." Hunter replied.

***

Tim and Angela were watching Ray with another man. "Payoff." Tim said.

"Maybe he's smuggling something into the country." Angela suggested.

"Or out." Tim said.

"Or maybe Ray lost a bet and is innocent. I mean, you've been following this guy for two days and haven't seen anything remotely criminal. How long are you going to keep this up?" Angela asked him.

"As long as it takes." Tim replied.

"Really? You just walk away from your job, your relationship with Hunter, your future child to arrest a guy you haven't thought about in a decade?" Angela asked.

"Yeah." Tim replied.

"Then let me make something clear. Don't mess this up Timothy, if you break my sister's heart I'll break your face, got that?"

"Noted."

That's when Angela phone rang. "Hello," Angela looked at Tim. "It's Lexi, she wants to talk to you."

Tim takes the phone off of Angela. "If this is a call about yelling at me can it wait until I get home?" Tim then hung up and handed the phone to Angela, she pocketed her phone again and looked at Tim closely. "What?" Tim asked.

"If you and Hunter lied on a report, you both must have had a good reason." Angela said.

"I was trying to protect Ray's family so they'd get his death benefits." Tim replied.

"Noble. Hunter would understand that especially as she was the one that signed it as well." Angela said.

"Yeah, but she'd still get in trouble if she didn't notify IA about my transgression and I've giving her deniability which is also the reason I'm not telling her." Tim replied.

"True." Angela said.

"This is very irritating." Tim comments.

"I don't think you're just protecting her. I think you're protecting yourself. There's something else you did that you don't want to admit."

"And you're basing this on?" Tim asked.

"I'm your BFF. I know you." Angela smiled.

"I'm a grown man. I don't have BFFs."

"Technically, you can only have one BFF and that used to be Hunt but now it's me because you're dating her. I'm going to take a closer look." Angela gets out the truck.

"Wait. Come on." Tim huffed as Angela had already gotten out.

Angela comes back a few moments later. "Mystery man had diplomatic plates. We follow him or stay with Ray?" She asked, getting back into the truck.

"Ray. I can ask my friend at State for help IDing the new player." Tim starts driving away.

***

Angela and Tim were tailing Ray. "You're too close." Angela said.

"I can't tail him by nose with only one vehicle. Need to keep him in sight." Tim said.

"We're going to get made. You should let me drive." Angela said.

"I got it." Tim said.

That's when Ray appeared at the drivers window. "I come in peace," Ray looks over at Angela. "Who's your friend?" That's when he noticed her. "Ooh. Hey, mama."

Angela looked at Tim. "I thought you said this guy was smart because all I see is slick." She comments.

"Ooh, you're certainly Hunter Lopez' sister," Ray looks at Tim. "What's the plan here, Sarge? You just going to follow me around all week while I wait for my mom to kick it?" He asked.

"Yeah, we both know you're not here for your mom." Tim said.

"Mark bailed on you, huh? Did he lose his nerve? Maybe you did. Was there a falling out over what to do with me? Let me guess, he was team extermination and you were team justice," Ray looked at Angela and points at Tim. "You know, this guy's nickname in the service was the Reaper and Lopez' was the Widow. It's sad when one or both of your heroes grows a conscience. I'm going to go now. I'm open to some company if you want a lift."

"I'll pass, but we'll be seeing you again real soon." Angela deadpanned.

"Can't wait." Ray walks off.

***

Tim and Angela walk into the Lopez-Evers house and into the kitchen where the dining room was. "Kids here?" Tim asked.

"They're at my mom's. Wes is going to pick them up on his way home, which makes this the perfect time for you to tell me why you think this is all your fault." Angela said sitting down.

"I don't--" Tim was saying.

"Come on. Sit," Tim sits down. "There is no way you let a loser like Ray live under your skin if you didn't blame yourself for more than just lying on a report." Angela said.

"Look, I had been squad leader most of my second tour, top performance ratings, fast track to a promotion, unless my battalion commander found out that a soldier in my unit was engaged in rampant criminality. I thought if I brought Ray in myself, I could keep it within the squad. No harm, no foul, and I would be sergeant first class in no time. So we went after him, unsanctioned, under the radar. We located him in a village just outside of Mosul. As soon as he found out he was trapped, he called in an airstrike right on top of us. It was like the world exploded. I thought I was going to die and I was more worried about Hunter than anyone else, Angela. But we got lucky. The Humvee that Hunter, Mark and I were behind, it saved us but-- But Henderson and Coyle, they were blown apart. I still don't know how Ray survived. I mean, the building he was in, it was almost completely destroyed. There-- we found his mangled dog tags in the wreckage and his DNA, Hunter even had it tested before signing the report. I mean, there was-- there was so much blood. Without question, we thought he was KIA. I mean, it was-- it was a spectacular failure of leadership. I put my career above my oath and two soldiers, two decent men, didn't come home that night. And I'm going to have to live with that for the rest of my life."

***

Unknown to Tim and Angela, Ray walked over to Tim's truck and used a scanner to get into the truck and once he did he scrolled through Tim's recent locations and one address caught his eye, Lexi's apartment, he'd clicked onto the address and memorized it before walking away from the car and closing the door.

***

"Hey, I just ordered pizza." Lexi said as Hunter walked into the apartment.

"God, I love you but first I'm gonna use your bathroom." Hunter said walking to the bathroom beside Lexi's bedroom.

Suddenly someone knocked on the door. "That was quick." Lexi comments to herself.

Lexi opened the door and Ray was standing there. "Hey, there. I'm Ray. Tim's friend. Lexi right?" He asked.

"He's not here. Uh, depends who's asking." Lexi replied.

"Oh, that's cool. And that tells me you are Lexi."

"Hey, you can't just barge in here." Lexi snapped as Ray pushed into the apartment.

"Lexi, who's that?" Hunter asked, her heart dropped when she saw Ray and she wished that she bought her off duty weapon and that Lexi had a gun safe in the living room. "No you, uh, you died in Mosul," Hunter took a moment to compose herself. "So, this is why he disappeared 36 hours ago."

Ray looked Hunter up and down. "So this is why you weren't there, you're pregnant." He comments and Hunter takes a step back as Ray reaches out to touch her stomach. "Bradford's child obviously, you two did always have a bond most wished they could have."

Ray turned to Lexi. "Ask them what happened in Mosul, why don't you call Tim?" He suggested to her.

"So you're Ray Watkins, you're the reason for Mosul and the reason her cover was blown and the safe house was blown up." Lexi realised.

"So they told you." Ray mused. He turned back to Hunter. "You tell Tim to take a knee. I'm going to be gone in a few days, unless he gives me a reason to stick around." Ray walked out.

"That's why he didn't tell me." Hunter said.

"I know who he is and what he did but why wouldn't Dad tell you where he's going?" Lexi asked.

"Because he knows that we lied on a report and that can make everything go to shit." Hunter deadpanned. She grabbed her phone out and called Tim.

***

Tim noticed his phone was ringing on the table. "Uh-oh."

"What?" Angela asked.

Tim answered the call on speaker. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"Where are you?" Hunter asked.

"Hunter." Tim sighed.

"Where the hell are you?" Hunter pretty much yelled.

Later, Hunter and Lexi had arrived at the house. "What happened?" Tim asked.

"Ray stopped by Lexi's apartment," Tim stares in horror at Ray finding out about Lexi. "Why the hell wouldn't you tell me that he was alive?" Hunter asked him.

Lexi looked at Angela. "Let's give them a minute." Angela said and the two walked to another room.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Hunter asked.

"I was trying to protect you. He nearly killed us, he did kill two of our friends and knows we lied on a report."

"Without knowing that we were lying." Hunter replied.

"But we made a vow to kill him if he was ever found out to be alive. And if that gets found out we're screwed, we can lose our jobs, be charged and dishonorably discharged." Tim argued.

"So, you just decided to keep me in the dark?" Hunter asked.

"Yes, because you cannot be involved in this, but Ray's alive and he's gonna hurt someone that we care about if I don't something about it."

"Stop making my choices for me!" Hunter yelled. "None of that-- none of it explains why you cut me off."

"No. It doesn't."

"Stop trying to protect me, Tim!" Hunter yelled.

"I'm sorry. I can't, OK? I won't." Tim replied.

Hunter scoffed. "You read my sister in!"

"It's different."

"How?" Hunter asked.

"She has less to lose than you," Tim said and Hunter scoffed. "Please, just steer clear of this for me, OK?" Tim requested.

"I can't, I won't. You clearly need help, we both have a history with Ray and I'm taking a risk to help you because I'm done being the good fiancée and staying away, you are going to let me in and tell me everything." Hunter snapped.

Tim groaned. "Ange, come on, you already know. Lexi go home." Tim said, Lexi nodded knowing that she wasn't needed. "You wanna know everything?" Hunter nods. "Then sit and I'll tell you."

***

Tim, Hunter and Angela were in Tim's truck still keeping an eye out for Ray. "Hey, my guy at State came through. Diplomatic plates we sent him belong to the Turkish embassy, but the guy in the car wasn't Turkish. He was Venezuelan. Gustav Martinez, military counterintelligence. Specialty is cracking down on anyone considered an enemy of the state."

"Dissidents." Hunter said.

"If Ray met with Gustav, it had to be for a job." Angela said.

"Makes sense. Gustav can't operate domestically, so he hires Ray to kidnap or kill anyone on the outs at home. According to my guy, the most likely candidate is Elena Acosta, political activist." Tim calls Elena Acosta's number.

"Hello?"

"This is Sergeant Tim Bradford with the LAPD. We just received a credible threat on your life."

"They're here."

"Yell the name Ray Watkins right now. Do it. Ray Watkins." Hunter said into the phone as she was in the front seat.

"Ray Watkins. Ray Watkins. Ray Watkins. No. Ray Watkins."

"Hey, Tim, Hunter." Ray said.

"We know about the Venezuelans, Ray, so let Elena go right now, and I'll push the DA's office to go easy on you." Tim bargained.

"No nosotros no/No we won't." Hunter deadpanned in Spanish.

"'Cause you've got a contact there? Lexi's such a nice woman bit deadpan," Tim looks at Hunter who just shrugged with an 'I told you' expression. "Sorry, buddy, I got a job to do and a reputation to uphold. We're gonna have to let this one play out. Catch me if you can." Ray hangs up.

***

They manage to arrest Ray's crew and then they focus on Ray himself. "It's over, Ray. Got your entire crew in custody. Should have changed it up after you caught me following you." Tim said.

"Yeah, I get a little cocky sometimes. I didn't know you'd be on me this early. You know killing me is your only play here." Ray said smugly.

Hunter glared at him. "We're not going to kill you, Ray. And there's no airstrike you can call in this time." She said.

"Are you kidding? I am the airstrike. I'm about to blow up your whole life, yours and Tim's life." Ray said smirking. Hunter and Tim shared a look before cuffing Ray and calling it in.

***

Hunter was in an interrogation room sitting across from Percy West, she was being spoken to as Tim had already explained what was going on. "Detective Lopez, this is a DII, or Department Initiated Investigation, which could result in discipline. Your continued employment with the LAPD is contingent on your full and truthful answers to my questions."

"I understand." Hunter deadpanned.

"When did you become aware that Ray Watkins was alive?" Percy asked.

"Last week I saw him walking into a 7-Eleven while I was with Tim in the shops." Hunter lied smoothly.

"I haven't seen Mark Greer in a decade. I still get the occasional Christmas card." Hunter said.

"Did you and Sergeant Bradford conspire to kill Ray Watkins with Mark Greer?" West asked.

Hunter sighed. "Did I conspire with my fiancé and a former friend to commit murder with a guy I haven't seen in almost twenty years? No."

"So Ray Watkins is lying." West said.

"Little tip when dealing with Ray, if his lips are moving, he's lying." Hunter deadpanned.

"Ray is saying that you are lying to me Detective Lopez and that Sergeant Bradford told me the same lies, is any of this true?" West questioned.

"Why would Tim and I lie? Our whole squad had been hit with friendly fire. We had lost three of my men."

"Technically, two." West corrected

"Right, but Tim and I didn't know that until a few days ago. And it shook me." Hunter said.

"Ray Watkins was AWOL. Why not contact military police when you learned he was alive?" West asked.

"We wanted to be sure before we sounded the alarm." Hunter said.

"These are serious accusations. Is any part of what Ray said true?" West asked.

"No. None of it." Hunter said staring West down.

***

West, Grey, Tim and Hunter were in Grey's office. "In light of Ray's numerous crimes, his statements against you appear retaliatory in nature. Because your after action reports have been accepted as factual by your military superiors, which there's no evidence to suggest otherwise, this DII is closed with a finding of not sustained."

"Thank you, sir."

"Sir." Hunter said.

"Always a pleasure." West said.

"Yeah." Grey agreed.

"We should get the wives together soon, have some dinner."

"I would love that," Grey said, West walked out and Grey turned to the two cops. "You know this isn't over."

"We know." Tim replied.

"You violated procedure in pursuit of a suspect and roped in two other officers? One of whom is standing beside you. What if Ms. Acosta had been killed because you didn't utilize proper channels and resources? It was wrong."

"I know." Hunter said exasperated.

"I'm required to notify your metro commander. What she does with it is up to her.

Hunter and Tim looked horrified at that. "Sir--" Tim and Hunter were saying.

"You're dismissed. Lopez, hang around," Tim walked out and Hunter looked at Grey. "He's gonna spiral, you know that but that isn't the point, Detective's badge."

Hunter's face fell. "What?"

"You'll be promoted to Sergeant but you're being demoted back to P3 and upon your promotion you'll be another patrol Sergeant." Grey explained.

"But Tim's already a patrol sergeant." Hunter said.

"And now you will be as well, Detective's badge, now!" Grey held his hand out for it and Hunter reluctantly handed it over. "Thank you, here." Grey handed Hunter her badge from way back in 2015 before she got the Tap for Detective. Hunter walked out the office.

***

Tim was waiting by the truck for Hunter. "What was that about?" Tim asked.

Hunter showed him the Officer badge. "He demoted me but he said I'll still become a sergeant but for now I'm a P3." Tim sighed. "Don't say you're sorry, because you shouldn't be we managed to get rid of Ray from our lives and he didn't ruin them either, he took nothing away from us, just our current jobs and yet we're still cops," Tim gives Hunter a look. "It sucks but your child's making me pathologically cheerful." Hunter deadpanned.

Tim smiled and Hunter hugged him. "Lets go home." She said softly. Tim pulled back and Hunter got into the passenger seat while Tim got into the drivers and they left the parking lot and returned to the house.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm sorry but Hunter needs consequences for getting involved. I promise she'll still be a Sergeant, she'll just be a patrol sergeant with Tim as they're in the same chain of command and this a fanfiction so I can do what ever I want.

I promise, Hunter may become a Detective again and therefore a Detective Sergeant but I can't confirm that.

I skipped episode 7 when watching s6 because you know, break up so unless any of you have any ideas on how to add Tim and Hunter into it I'll just skip straight to episode 8 and then do 9 and 10.

If you're wondering where Angela is, Tim and Hunter covered for her.

So, we're at the family friends hence the reason I'm updating now.

Hope you enjoy.