- The investigation of the murder of a Middle Eastern businessman and his bodyguard is complicated by the FBI who believe the case to be related to terrorism.
- Priority Homicide investigates the killing of an Iranian businessman and his bodyguard, cut down in a parking garage by a drive-by shooter in a dark SUV. With cables cut to the video surveillance cameras, only witnesses to the shooting are available - the dead man's widow (Layla Moktari) and the doctor (William Graham) who offered assistance. Brenda must deal with Layla's son Faraz, who is now the male head of the household and isn't very cooperative with authorities. Brenda's other big problem? FBI agents from the Terrorism unit, who clearly have an interest in the victim but remain tight-lipped against sharing any information. To further complicate things, her boyfriend Fritz winds up assigned as the official liaison with the LAPD for the case.—garykmcd
- Brenda and Gabriel are seen driving on the way to a murder crime scene, when Sgt. Gabriel gets fed up with his boss's directions and inquiries as she squints to see anything. He stops the vehicle, gets out and returns with sun glasses for her. He explains this is L.A., the sun shines 329 days a year; that squint is not working for me. She likes the shades, indicated by her smile, as they head to their destination.
Priority Homicide officers with patrolmen are on the scene. Dr. Wm. Graham, whose smock is smeared with blood, is giving details to Sanchez when Brenda and Gabriel arrive. Iranian businessman Razi Moktari and his driver Jeffrey Sanders are found fatally shot in a parking garage. Det. Daniels updates Chief Johnson on the identity of the bodies on the garage slab. Lt. Provenza points out Layla Moktari is sitting in a black-and-white unit, and she speaks to women only, giving Det. Daniels her initial story of they were leaving her doctor's appointment and getting into their car when a black SUV driving by started shooting from the vehicle. Det. Daniels says Layla did not get a good look at the shooters driving by. Dr. Graham is Layla's physician and he was the first person seen when police arrived. Lt. Tao adds the husband was probably dead before he hit the pavement, as he demonstrates to Brenda details of the actual shooting. Lt. Provenza notes the gun in the hand of the bodyguard-driver, there is no evidence of him firing a shot. No evidence of casings left from the bodyguard, indicating all casing were from the shooter. Lt. Tao found eleven casings, he comments, possible a professional hit. Brenda issues assignments to her officers seeking more information of the scene, telling a patrolwoman to secure the parking garage, nobody in or out, until she says so. Two FBI agents roll up, Brenda greets them, they claim the purpose for their presence is to observe. They do refuse Lt. Provenza's effort to escort them away from the crime scene, as directed by Chief Johnson. Agent Jackson explains to Det. Gabriel he does not take orders from LAPD. After bumping Provenza to the ground, they back off to their vehicle, making it obvious they want something from the incident. Layla made mention to Daniels she feared the US Government was involved.
Taylor stops Pope in the hallway informing him of the FBI threatening to pull their people off six cases they are collaborating, namely a drug-gang sting because of Chief Brenda Johnson's recent actions. Pope is also informed by Brenda of the incident in the garage between Jackson and Provenza. Agent Jackson promises Pope and Brenda there will be an FBI liaison-agent assigned to them in order to share any information within national security parameters.
Security cameras were shut down at the time of the shooting per Gabriel, so identity of the alleged get-away vehicle is not available. The wires were cut from the security system, indicating the shooting was planned. Eleven confirmed casings were found at the scene, all from the shooter, and all forty-caliber. Sanchez informs the group of bodyguard Sanders being the real deal, with an unblemished service record together with a similar record in private practice. Lt. Tao identifies the type of weapon and Brenda assigns him and others to find any leads of other crimes with that weapon. Brenda learns Agent Howard is the newly assigned liaison officer, as he enters her office through the hallway door.
Agent Howard addresses Brenda's staff, providing them with lists of suspects, commenting to Brenda they are not the friendliest group I ever met. Brenda responds with they are slow to warm up. Chief Johnson and Agent Howard head out to visit with the wife and son at their palacious home. The house furnishings have been damaged when the FBI came to search the premises. An ambitious search was conducted as noted by the damaged furnishings. Layla conveys to Brenda the changes Iran experienced and how it affected them in LA. Agent Howard grills Layla's son, Faraz, while Brenda listens to his mother. Her daughter has asthma, aggravated from the dust rising from the recent FBI raid. Her name is Fatima and she is up in her room, resting.
Daniels confirms flight reservations were made for the daughter Fatima, and mother Layla, next week to Iran, no ticket for the father or son. Gabriel states no vehicle left ten minutes before nor after the shooting. Brenda responds then the car is still there. Gabriel is assigned to check all the cars in the garage and Brenda asks him to see Taylor for additional help with the search. While in Taylor's office, Gabriel gets the help of Lt. Flynn with the search of garage-vehicles, Flynn is assigned by Taylor. Tao shares internet information from a patriot site on a suspect with Agent Howard. Brenda tells Fritz they picked him up fifteen minutes ago. Brenda tells Fritz she knows the two million dollars belongs to the government, and given to Moktari to be traced by an FBI middleman, and now it can't be found. Brenda insists there is no evidence to date on Moktari, otherwise he would have been arrested long before he was gunned down.
Dr. Graham exits the interview room, greets Layla, introducing himself from their garage encounter. Layla and her son enter the media room to view a lineup, conducted by the FBI. She does not recognize anybody. Fritz excuses them from the room, when mother and son pause to argue, trading slaps across one another's cheek. Brenda has Buzz record their conversation, as mother and son are separated. They all gather in Pope's office, asking Layla if she wants to press charges. She declines, wanting to go home with her son, who has a temper like his father.
Brenda interviews suspect Craig Sherman, who says he committed the killings, also stating he left in his vehicle afterward. This fact makes Brenda know he is not the killer, just a zealous storyteller, a person simply looking for publicity. Something he said perplexes Brenda, he said things better than they actually happened. There is a physical review of the shooting with Tao placing rods in the two dummies as Provenza pretends he is firing a gun using his hand. Brenda asks everyone why the bodyguard did not get off a single shot during the shooting. Tao and Brenda examine the bodyguard's gun, finding the firing pin was altered with superglue, preventing the gun from firing. Sanders would not have noticed the gun was altered. He would have to take the gun apart to find the change to the firing pin. Whoever did the shooting knew they would not have to concern themselves with the bodyguard. Tao inputs, who had access to that weapon?
A policeman interpreting the son's conversation has him saying he will be alright, you will go home where the air is pure for Fatima, and the people are pure for you. I found father's money, I will look after myself. Gabriel and Flynn enter the media room with Gabriel informing Brenda there are no fingerprints nor blowback on any of the vehicles. Chief Johnson orders Gabriel to release the crime scene, thanking the Sgt. and Lt. Flynn, adding, we will try a new tack on the car in the morning.
Chief Johnson enters her office where Jackson and Pope are standing and Fritz is sitting. Jackson responds to her inquiry about Mrs. Moktari's son being located in a place where Agent Jackson says he is not at liberty to say; he is the son of a terrorist with a lot of money and we need to get it back. Brenda addresses Agent Jackson, although your lack of respect for my professional ability is obvious, I would like to share an observation with you. I think physical torture of people is an unreliable means of extracting information from someone. Pope returns fire with removing a murder suspect is hardly what we agreed to earlier. Jackson comes back with knowing her son is in custody might be incentive for Mrs. Moktari to tell us what she knows. An observant Islamic woman is more like to talk to me than she is to you, Brenda shoots back. Jackson leaves Brenda's office, Chief Brenda quips, so if I can't get Mrs. Moktari to tell me who the killer is, they are going to beat the information of the kid? Both Fritz and Brenda mention they have equally strong feelings for one another and Agent Howard says he is officially removed from the case tomorrow morning. Fritz adds, that is why she is better off finishing this investigation on her own. Brenda responds I appreciate that. Before you finish up your paperwork, I have a favor to ask. If I am expected to get Mrs. Moktari to flip on her son, I need to have something the FBI seized. Get me the daughter's prescription out of the FBI evidence. Pope tells Agent Jackson having a mother give up her son might be a little too much to ask, even for Brenda. Jackson comments we'll settle for knowing where the money got to. They watch the interview together with Layla and Dr. Graham. Gabriel joins them in the media room.
Layla is in the interview room and now joined by Dr. Graham with Chief Johnson. Brenda explains that you two were the only ones to last see the murderer escape, so it would be of great help for some more information. Brenda had one of her best officer's search for that SUV, when it dawns on her, there wasn't one; it didn't exist, there was no get-away car. You two just met one another yesterday, yet it is strange the two of you telling the exact same lie. Then I thought maybe they're just pretending to be strangers. You told me your daughter has asthma and Dr. Graham is a pulmonary specialist; he treats lung disorders. I found your daughter's prescription, and the attending physician is Dr. Graham. The doctor tells Layla it would be better for me to handle this, we want a lawyer.
Brenda responds, if you want a lawyer, I'm handing this over to the FBI, and they have Faraz, I think they might have taken him to Egypt. Layla gasps at the thought of her son gone and in another country. Brenda tells Graham to be silent or be placed under arrest for murder. Layla says she waives her right to counsel. Brenda speaks, someone tampered with this gun, and with your answer, you could be deciding who lives and who dies. Layla screams he wasn't sending me back to Iran, he was sending me back to the 17th century. Brenda requests Layla to tell me what happened. Layla details the crime, stating we planned it on my doctor visit. William cut the wires to the security cameras, and as we were leaving, coming out of the elevator, he walked over to Razi and fired the gun; he then put it in his pocket. He was only trying to save me. Chief Johnson responds to Layla's tearful lament, I am sure you wouldn't have a problem convincing a jury of that. Brenda pauses to mention, what about Jeffrey Sanders, an innocent man killed so you would not leave any witnesses. Agent Jackson walks in with a Federal Warrant for Layla Moktari and would consider it a personal favor if you would turn the doctor over to me as well. Brenda complies.
Agent Howard enters Chief Johnson's office stating to her, they handed Layla over to the CIA. Brenda says they'll send her back to Iran; a rare intelligence asset on the ground. Fritz says we got Dr. Graham. Brenda responds, on a plea deal; probably sign a confidentiality agreement, serve time for manslaughter. The husband is killed and an innocent man was gunned down in the process. She could have just filed for divorce instead. I can't think of a single culture where that is the right way for a woman to gain her independence. So, did you find your money? Razi had half of it, the rest of it is gone, Agent Howard answers Brenda's question. The two leave with Fritz taking Brenda out to dinner.
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