Original subtitles

Let me tell you something about Sam Beckman. Sam Beckman was once suspended

brutalizing a pimp. I'm doing my job.

One of my jobs is to provide hostesses.

You mean prostitutes.

They get one look at her, and they're only going to think of one thing. If

was any way that I could create places with you, I'd do it, baby.

I wanted her to die, Charlie.

You work with someone for a long time, you think you know all about their

Whoever is behind all this sure is eager to make us think it's a cop.

Thank you.

Thank you, Eric.

Let me get this straight.

You want me to provide you with my best girls, but you don't want them to...

That's right.

I need women who know how to handle men.

Women who can take care of themselves and be entertaining.

And women who know when to say no.

That's quite a switch.

But I understand your theory.

It's real, Charlotte.

Thank you.

I think we can do business.

Good.

White House and Martin. Step on it.

7 Adam 43 got the call. Andrew Lynn's shooting. Looks like a drive -by. No

robbery involved.

Any witnesses?

There was a blonde here when 43 got here, but she was in shock. They

get anything out of her. Where might I find her?

I had her taken to the hospital. From there, she's going to the station.

Right, thanks.

Barney, what's happening?

Well, male Caucasian, 45, 46.

Single gunshot to the head. Head into the right eye, downward track.

I'd say in the vicinity of 45 degrees.

likely penetrated the cervical vertebra and exited the upper right rear

shoulder. Lean in and out, I'd say high velocity.

That's Shag Russell.

You know him?

Yeah, we know him.

He's the suspect in the homicide we're working on right now.

He runs one of the biggest prostitution houses in L .A.

One of his girls was found dead about ten days ago with her pantyhose stuffed

down her throat.

This wasn't a drive -by shooting, either.

It looks like about 45 degrees.

let's go up there

Hey, McCall.

Come here.

Look at that.

That's a silver bullet. Yep.

Looks like a 45 -degree angle to me. Yep.

I'm going to take Mitchell and go on over to Russell's apartment.

I don't know, maybe the guy that shot him might be over there looking for

something. Yeah.

Don't say anything to anybody about the silver bullet to Dr. Charlie.

Reading my mind again.

Yeah, I know. Yeah, I like it when you do that. I'll do it for you later. Come

on.

Miss Rogers?

I'm Sergeant Hunt. I'll be investigating the Shag Russell homicide.

I'm very sorry to keep you waiting, but as you can well imagine, we are very,

very busy.

Now, what were you doing this evening, having dinner with a known pimp?

Sergeant, I work for a multinational conglomerate, and we have our annual

meeting this week.

Executives from all over the world are going to be coming to Los Angeles.

One of my jobs is to provide hostesses.

You mean prostitutes?

No.

Hostesses. We hire professional women who know how to handle themselves.

They're told not to engage in anything illegal.

What company do you work for?

Protochem Corporation.

Protochem Corporation.

You can call them if you want.

I'm vice president of corporate relations.

I wasn't doing anything contrary to policy. You can talk to my boss.

Uh -huh.

Wouldn't you say having dinner with a known pimp like Shag Russell goes

company policy?

Sergeant, where do you live? Hesmy Street.

We have to hire professional women that we can depend on.

They're not hired for sex. We cannot afford to get amateurs for the job.

How did you meet Shag Russell?

Uh, his name was in our files, and I called him when we had dinner.

And when we left the restaurant, he was shot.

I didn't see or hear anything but the sound of the gun.

Did you set him up?

What?

Well, the shooter was waiting for him on the roof when he came out of the

restaurant. Yeah, well, why couldn't the shooter have just followed him there

and then waited for him to shoot him?

Maybe.

Thank you.

Glad to help out.

Mm, call.

How's Sheila doing?

Oh, she's a fighter. She's hanging in.

What's the doctor say?

Stop listening.

Sorry.

Yeah, well, let's talk about something we got some control over.

What'd you find out?

Well, I stopped by Shag Russell's house on the way over. It looks like they had

a 30 -minute garage sale or something. The place is picked clean.

Get an SID over there?

Yeah, they're there now.

If you plan on leaving town, give me a call.

I will.

This is my card in case you need to get a hold of me.

And we can have a car take you any place you'd like to go.

No, thanks.

One ride in a police car a day is enough.

I'll call a cab.

I'll be in touch.

I'm sure you will.

Get anything out of her?

No. She didn't even know where the... it came from.

Perhaps we should consider that she set him up.

No, I don't think so.

What do you got on this case? Anything?

Yeah.

We found this up on the roof across the street from the restaurant.

I thought he was shot with a rifle. He was.

Well, this looks like a 158 grand standard police issue.

We think maybe the killer's trying to tell us something. Like what?

Well, like maybe he's trying to mess with our heads, make us think he's a

How many people know about this?

Just the four of us.

And the killer.

Well, I'm going to take responsibility for this.

If the press finds out that they found a silver police -issued bullet... Right.

Who is it?

Joyce Rogers.

Hello, Miss Rogers.

I need your help.

Could I please come in?

Yeah, come on in.

Okay, Joyce, talk to me.

Well, these two women, they came to my door.

And they accused me of setting up rifle.

They tried to break the chain lock on my door, but I managed to close the door

on them.

Do you think the two women belonged to Shag Russell?

Oh, yeah, absolutely.

I was so afraid, and so I packed a few things together, and I went downstairs

my car, but... My tires were all flashed, and I tried to get back into my

apartment, but I couldn't because they jammed a key into my lock.

Did you call the police?

I was too afraid. I just ran down. I grabbed the first cab I could, and I

here. Okay, let's go take a look.

Now? Yeah, right now.

Probably have to get a locksmith to open the door.

All right.

Jambo.

Yeah, Hunter, 13989 Metro Homicide.

I want you to send a lab crew to... 4150 Stonegate Court.

4150 Stonegate Court, apartment 427.

Also, give me a black and white for a 459 report.

Yeah, make sure you dust everything I want all these prints are priority

I'm

not gonna stay in a hotel if they found me here they could find me again You

know, maybe I'm just being paranoid, but I don't think they're through with me

yet

Yeah, sure I could, but... I mean, if they found my place, they could find

and I don't want to do that to her.

Could I stay with you?

You're a witness in a homicide. I can't do that.

Okay.

You can't protect me, so lock me up then.

I mean, at least I'd feel safe.

Can you do that?

Yeah, I can do that.

There's a lot of paperwork.

Okay, you can stay on the couch.

The duty nurse told me to let you know when it was 3 a .m.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Shouldn't you go home now?

Yeah, I will.

Yeah, I'll be going soon.

If there was any way in God's green earth that I could trade places with

Look, I don't blame you at all. I think it's hard enough to get a witness into

custody, let alone one that didn't see anything.

But you know the boys at IA.

They get one look at her, and they're only going to think of one thing. I'm

you understand it, because tonight she stays with you.

Hello.

Very nice. Thank you. Good work.

It was Reuben.

He says the fingerprints we found in Joyce's apartment belonged to two of

Russell's prostitutes.

Well, if you advise to pick him up, we've got work to do. I know.

We're investigating the shooting that took place last night about midnight.

Is that what all them damn sirens were about?

Helicopters buzzing overhead.

I thought you people kept the peace.

You didn't happen to see anything last night, did you?

What a nice woman, huh?

Yeah, I don't think she saw anything.

I saw you working the other side of the street. I figured you'd get to me

eventually.

Cops, aren't you?

Yep. We're investigating the shooting that took place last night on Melrose.

You're the ones with Brown Dodge?

Brown Dodge?

Yeah, parked right across the street.

Saw you pull in.

Brown Dodge, black tires, no chrome, little antenna.

Real hard to spot, you know.

About what time was that?

It wasn't about. It was exactly 2245.

Quarter of 11.

The NVA shot me in the back, not my eyes.

I got my watch and I got my window.

Well, since you have such good eyes, who'd you see get out of the car?

Nobody.

I went in the kitchen. I was cooking a couple eggs when I heard the shot.

By the time I got out here to my window, I saw the police car drive away.

You sure it was a police car?

There are ways to tell an unmarked police car, and I think I know all of

Yeah, it was a police car.

Hey, Sam.

Big Sam, how you doing?

Well, if it ain't sweet cheeks and her help.

Why is it every time I see you, I feel as though I should go lock my car? Oh,

well, it's a war out there, you know. You don't work vice dressed like a

recruiting poster.

That's true.

You heard about Shag Russell, didn't you?

Do you know what bugs the hell out of me when these guys get themselves killed

before I get a chance to put them away?

Takes all the fun out of police work.

You know, McCall, those are kind of cute earrings. Do you think I could borrow

one sometime?

Why don't you get the city to buy you a pair?

Buy?

Earrings? Never.

Well, there it is.

Brown Dodge, no chrome black tires.

Well, you know, we can't really be sure it was a police car that Haynes saw.

Even if it was, the city's got to have dozens of them.

Yeah, but you only have one vice cop who's put on a six -month suspension for

beating up a couple.

First, we got a police -issue bullet that someone altered to make it look

silver. The proverbial symbol of justice.

Now we got a witness who puts what may be an unmarked police car at the scene

the crime.

Whoever is behind all this sure is eager to make us think it's a cop.

Or it is a cop.

I don't buy that.

If a cop was responsible for this murder, why is he leaving clues around

identity? Maybe he's crazy.

Or he wants us to think he's crazy. I don't buy that either.

Yeah.

There are 18 brown police cars in this division.

Three in the department.

Finn, Commander Stone, and Beckman.

Tomorrow morning I will check with Vice to see if Beckman was in this car last

night. All right.

Even if Beckman had his car out, it doesn't make him the shooter.

Well, that's true.

But Sam Beckman was once suspended for brutalizing a pimp.

And Shag Russell was brought in last week for killing Sam's number one

And he got out on some phony alibi.

We have a witness who saw a brown Dodge at the crime scene.

Sleep on it.

I still feel like it's someone who's trying to make us think it's a cop.

Good night.

Jose, man.

It's great to see you. You got bail to pay. Shut up.

Where's Luis?

I don't know, man. I couldn't find him. I want my cut.

Luis has it. I could find him tomorrow. He'll be in Mexico tomorrow.

I want my cut tonight.

Where is he?

I don't know, man.

Where is he?

He's at Angeles.

Oh, hi.

Hi.

Got some good news for you. Oh, yeah?

Vice knows who the two girls were that ransacked your apartment. They should

have been in custody by tomorrow morning. Great.

Also, I think it's best if you stay at my partner's house tonight.

Oh, no, I made arrangements to stay at an old girlfriend's house from high

school. It's okay.

Here's the address.

Oh, that's good, huh? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

My taxi's outside.

Well, I just wanted to tell you that I know you did more for me than you were

supposed to do, and I'm very grateful.

Oh, you're welcome.

I just wish it had been under different circumstances.

Hello. I thought you were coming over here with your witness.

Oh, that won't be necessary right now, McCall.

Yeah, well, you can tell me about it later, because you're out of there.

just called, and we've got a DB at 1047 Southfield Road.

I'm already working on a murder case.

This is the same case.

The first officer on the scene found a silver police issue bullet.

Right there.

You have to take this bullet over to Ruben and see if you can get any prints

Okay. Don't tell him where you got it.

As soon as you get the results, get back to me. Don't mention this to anybody.

Yeah, yeah.

Guy was killed by one gunshot right to the head.

Looks like it was a .38.

Obviously shot at very close range.

His name is Jose Rivera.

Lucky guy got out on bail this morning.

What was the charge?

Double homicide in connection with a .211.

Well Yeah

Something's

wrong. I think she stopped breathing get the crash cart Call the doctor.

Code blue to west.

Code blue to west.

Where's Lieutenant Finn?

Dr. Marler, please call the operator.

Dr. Marler, please call the operator.

You gonna be okay?

Yeah.

Is there anything I can do?

I gotta talk to you.

You know what?

What's on your mind?

I need to know where Sam Beckman's been the last couple of nights.

We don't keep a log like the blue suits.

We play it loose.

Sam's been working streetwalkers and pimps.

How's he been acting?

A little uptight.

His ginger was killed.

He was one of Sam's snitches. I think he felt responsible.

Was Sam driving the Dodge the night before last?

Look, I don't want to know any details, but you sure you're on the right track?

I've worked with Sam for five years. He's a good cop. I know all about that

All I need to know is was Sam driving the brown Dodge the night before last.

You mean the night Shag Russell was killed?

Yeah.

Yeah.

How about last night?

What you got?

Stokowski said Sam had the car out the last two nights. He also said if it was

Sam we were looking for, we'd never catch him.

I'm starting to agree with him. We don't have any witnesses, no prints, no

leads. Right.

So what I did was I went through Sam's cases, all of them.

Now, the judge in 103 threw out the big one this morning.

Judge Ross' case?

Sam's been after Judge Ross for the last six months.

And the judge kicks it out of court?

I think we start with that one.

All right, I'll drop the bait. He'll take it better coming from me. I mean,

likes my earrings and everything, right? Right.

What can I get you, Sergeant?

A tuna sandwich and a nice tea, please.

The cashier went out to lunch.

That'll be $4 .95.

Really?

Yeah.

Have a good one.

Thanks.

Hey, McCall. Sit down.

What about that earring? What about a date?

What are you doing here?

What's it look like I'm doing here?

Well, I just thought you'd be downtown, that's all. What are you talking about?

I'm talking about the Roth case. You were on it, right?

Yeah, so?

Well, the judge just threw it out.

Says that we failed to comply with an 844.

Who's he kidding? I announced myself loud and clear, and Ross heard me, too.

Yeah, well, the judge said that you didn't give Roth enough time to open up

door before you decided to kick it in.

Enough time?

Enough time for what? For him to grab a gun and shoot me like he did that

waitress?

I'm doing my job. Some candy -nosed judge.

They told her three months ago she was dying.

Three months she fought it.

They couldn't do anything for her. They gave her some pills for the pain.

She was brave, Charlie.

She was much braver than me.

I know how tough it's been on you. I've seen you getting by on two, three hours

sleep the last ten weeks.

I wanted her to die, Charlie.

I couldn't stand to see her suffer.

You did everything you could, Ambrose.

I would have traded places with her, Charlie. I prayed to God that I could.

Look, why don't you go home? Get some sleep. Take some time off. No, no, no.

I gotta work.

You're gonna bury your day after tomorrow and I can't stand just sitting

the house.

Please, I gotta work.

Okay.

This is a summary follow -up on the Ross case.

Judge in 103 kicked him loose this morning.

Judge let him go on an 844.

L56, come in, please. This is L57.

Lincoln 56, go.

I'm waiting on Sam outside a little market over here. Do you have any sign

Ross yet?

No, nothing yet.

Sam's just coming out. I'll keep in touch.

This is L -57.

This is L -57.

What's up?

Ross just showed up.

Well, I followed Sam home with his groceries. It looks like he's going to

here for a while.

Tell you what, I'm going to wait it out, see if he makes a move, all right?

Lincoln 5 -6 out.

Lincoln 5 -6. Go ahead, L -56.

Send a backup 2242 Clifford Street at once.

Lincoln 5 -6 -9.

Roger, L -56.

None of you big -deal lawyers in $600 suits now, are there? Huh?

Nothing between you and me, is there?

Freeze! Police! Drop the guns!

Ambrose.

Stop where you are, Hunter.

He's gonna kill me.

Don't let him kill me.

He's not gonna kill anybody. What the hell are you doing here? Just drop the

gun. Don't interfere, Hunter.

Just turn around, step outside, and close the door.

I can't do this. Sorry. Drop the gun.

Rick, if you stay here, you're going to have to kill me.

If you step outside, I'll surrender as soon as I'm through with this scum.

Please, don't let him do it.

Yes, this is Sergeant Hunter, Metropolitan Police. I'd like an

2242 Clifford Street, Apartment 10.

This is emergency police business.

Ambulance on its way.

It don't matter.

Listen, I want you guys to understand.

Don't talk, Ambrose.

Sheila thought the world of us.

We were all heroes to her.

She thought we stood for justice.

little justice there is.

I'm sorry, Ambrose.

It's okay.

There.

That's justice.

They really loved each other.

I can understand how Ambrose must have felt when Sheila started to go.

He just lost her.

He was a good man.

He was a good police officer, too.

Come on.

Back to my house.