Crossing Jordan s01e10 Episode Script
Blue Christmas
Why are you making such a big deal out of this? I'm just surprised.
That's all.
What? It's a cup of coffee.
No, uh-uh, this is coffee, Eddy.
Okay? Ground up beans and boiled water.
What you got there, that is a coffee drink.
It's a mochaccino.
Oh, I would keep your voice down if I were you.
So this abuse is vour wav of thanking me for lending you crime scene photos? Is that it? I said I'd buy you a cup of coffee.
I didn't know you'd get all frou-frou on me.
Oh, what the hell is going on? I don't know.
What do we got? Officer down, Lieutenant.
Intersection of Cypher and Butler.
EMS is on scene.
Okay, I'll catch you later, Jordan.
Gotta make sure this guy's okay.
Eddy? He's not.
I'll meet you there.
Thomas Dell, seven years on the job.
Actually a great guy.
Didn't deserve this.
What happened? He was on foot patrol, spotted illegal activity at the high school around the corner.
Suspect took off.
Dell went after him.
Single large caliber bullet to the chest.
You catch the shooter? Not yet.
Got a good description from one of the kids, though.
Big Jamaican guy.
Couldn't get a name.
Jordan, I know you got a job to do, but the sooner we can get him off the street Yeah, no problem.
Thanks.
Listen to me.
I need everything you can give me to nail the son of a bitch who did this.
Okay? Yeah.
Did I miss another memo? This started an hour ago.
Homicide detectives, half of City Hall, the D.
A.
's Office.
Wow, all my favorites.
Tell me about it.
I think my ulcer's coming back.
Now, pull whoever you need and keep me posted on every detail.
Would you expect anything less? It's my second week at chief and I got a dead cop in the crypt.
Do you realize what a potential disaster this is? Okay, Garret, just relax.
I will handle it.
You promise? Yeah.
Dr.
Cavanaugh, you got some messages.
Oh.
Kim, Annie.
Oh, another Kim.
They said they're your old friends.
Yeah, thanks, Lily.
Just leave them in my box.
Oh.
Officer Dell's wife is here to ID the body.
All right, I'll talk to her.
Dr.
Macy, I I know this is weird timing, but I usually have Christmas dinner with my mom.
Yeah? Well, the thing is, she's driving to Albany to see her aunt, and I'm scheduled to work, so No, go with your mom.
I'll get your shift covered.
Well, actually, I was I was thinking of cooking myself this year.
I found this amazing Thai fusion website, and I thought maybe if you're not busy, you could come over.
You know, I'd love to.
I just have this standing arrangement with my ex.
Dinner with her and my daughter and Walter.
Walter? My ex's boyfriend.
Ooh.
Yeah.
Well, it was just a thought.
Lily? I really appreciate the invitation.
Hey.
Got a little taste of the old sod that'll help ring in the holiday season.
Looks like baby puke.
Hundred eighty proof baby puke.
Wassail, mate.
Now, this recipe's been passed down in my family for centuries.
Along with some very disturbing genetic material.
Come on, chin chin.
We're at work.
Just take a little nip.
Yet another good reason to hate Christmas.
Who hates Christmas? Who do you think? Oh, well, it is understandable, considering the overwhelming focus on Christmas in this country.
You do gotta feel kind of marginalized if your people celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan.
My mother still has the 10-foot aluminum spruce we got at Wal-Mart and my father's played the Elks Lodge Santa for 15 years.
So why are you such a Scrooge? The aluminum spruce isn't enough? Christmas rocks.
There's caroling, tree trimming Slipping in a little tongue under the mistletoe.
Hello.
Yeah, this is Nigel Townsend.
The phrase that pays, eh? Yeah, well, I've got it.
"Jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg.
" I did? Oh, that's fabulous.
Yeah, sure, I'll hold.
It's the Crazy Dave morning crew from WHIT.
I just won a Christmas ski weekend.
So who's coming with? Well, fine.
You just fight it out amongst yourselves.
Man, this guy is torn up.
Black Talon bullet.
This is the first one you've seen? Yeah.
Nasty little bastards.
They go in smooth then they open up into hooks.
Now, every bullet has its own unique percentage of heavy metals.
And we all know how you love heavy metal.
The heavier the better.
I checked these numbers on the FBI ballistics website.
Our bullet's from a factory in Fort Worth.
Called the state crime lab.
Turns out a box of identical Black Talon bullets was seized during a drug raid last month in an apartment seven blocks from where Officer Dell was killed.
Fancy that.
The name on the lease was Robert Emery.
Did you run him through BCI? Turns out it was an alias for one Rudolph Coombs.
I believe you mentioned the murder suspect is Jamaican.
You rock my world, Nige.
Hi, this is Dr.
Cavanaugh.
I need to speak to Lieutenant Winslow right away, please.
Hi.
So if you're the boss now, how come you're still stuck in the same lousy office? Where's Abby? Apparently, your new ballistics tech is, in your daughter's words, "tasty.
" I'll make a note to fire him.
So what's the problem, Maggie? Does there have to be a problem? For you to set foot in this place, absolutely.
Walter invited another couple for Christmas dinner and I just wanted to prepare you.
Who are we talking about? Janice and Bill Hodges.
No.
No, forget about it.
Look, Walter is Bill's best friend.
I He was also your divorce attorney.
Listen, it's bad enough I've got to split a turkey with your boyfriend just so I can see my own daughter on Christmas, for God's sake.
I know this is uncomfortable, but Uncomfortable? It's unbelievable! Wow.
I can't Sounds just like old times.
We were just discussing Christmas dinner.
Yeah, I told you he'd freak if you invited Bill.
Well, I was just hoping your dad might be a little flexible for a change.
I'd say letting your boyfriend live rent free in the house that I paid for demonstrates considerable flexibility.
Some might even call it gymnastic.
Oh, come on, you guys.
Oh, now listen, no, I'll tell you what.
Listen, you invite Bill Hodges.
Invite your mother while you're at it too, 'cause I won't be there.
Dad.
I'm sorry, Abby.
We can exchange presents on Christmas Eve.
Maggie, thanks for coming by.
It's always a pleasure.
Oh, yeah.
There it is.
Oh.
Hey.
Sorry about Dell.
Heard he was a damn fine cop.
Yeah, he was.
You guys did great work.
We got an APB out on Rudy Coombs.
I just hope you nail him.
We will.
Well, it's good to see you, Max.
Thanks for coming down.
Why wouldn't I come down? I worked this precinct for 18 years.
Yeah, I know.
Look, I didn't mean Sure, you did.
You meant I got a lot of nerve walking into a station house I got thrown out of.
Well, I don't think he was trying to say that, Dad.
I know what he was saying.
Nice seeing you, Eddy.
Mount Whitestone Lodge.
Looks nice.
Fresh mountain air, the very real possibility of willing romantic conquests.
Ski bunnies? So what do you say? How much is it gonna run? Nothing.
Gratis.
From me to you.
I'm not gonna have to sit through some time share seminar, am I? It's the real deal.
Okay.
Why not? Sounds nice.
Sounds fun.
It'll be ripping fun, love.
You, me, a little skiing and a lot of sex.
Guys, I just got a call on another officer-related death.
Two cops in two days.
Just when I decided it wasn't another ulcer after all.
No, actually, this time it's the other way around.
Police found the cop killer.
Where is he? ER in Boston General.
Came in DOA.
We did CPR, but he was long gone.
Well, how'd he die? All I know is where he died, and that's in police custody.
The rest is your department.
Oh, thanks, guys.
This is us.
Cops did a real job on him.
Mmm-hmm.
Sign on the dotted line.
He's all yours.
Who brought him in? The officers who apprehended him.
One stop shopping.
Apparently, he stopped breathing en route to the precinct.
You need any more, I suggest you ask the two cops, Detective Edward Winslow and Officer John Hardwick.
Officer Hardwick, we're here from the M.
E.
's Office.
We just wanted to ask you a couple questions.
We can't speak to you, Jordan.
Not until we talk to Internal Affairs.
Petechial hemorrhaging in the eyes.
Some old scars here.
Nothing fresh.
Let's turn him over.
Well, check out these bruises.
And more hemorrhaging.
They beat him and then they choked him to death.
Is that your professional opinion? All right, what've we got? Petechial hemorrhaging in the eyes, deep hemorrhaging in the back.
He may have been asphyxiated.
Well, that's just great.
They could have come from cardiac problems, a brain aneurysm.
That conveniently blew while he was in the back of a police car? There's no bruising on his neck and his hyoid bone is intact.
Well, chokeholds don't always leave a bruise.
It's arm to neck contact, soft.
Do we have the police report yet? IAB isn't gonna release it until they've completed their investigation.
And everybody's got their stories straight.
Before we all go jumping to conclusions, maybe I should see what the police have to say.
You do that.
In the meantime, Bug, run every test we've got.
When you're finished with those, make up a few more.
I want to know exactly how this guy died.
We started the autopsy on Coombs.
Some of it's kind of hinky.
I was hoping you might be able to explain what happened.
You know I can't talk to you, Jordan.
Off the record.
You're the M.
E.
You are the record.
And I'm trying to do my job in the most impartial way that I can, but without knowing specifics, IAB stonewalling.
They're not stonewalling.
They're required to keep a lid on it for 48 hours after the incident.
In 48 hours, Macy could rule this a homicide.
Any reason that I should disagree? Look, this goes to the Grand Jury, your career could be over.
You'd go to jail.
You think I don't know that? Well, you're not scared? Yeah, I'm scared.
I'm scared as hell.
All I know is Coombs was hopped up on I don't know what.
He was acting erratic, resisting arrest.
Why he died, I don't know.
Maybe you got a few shots in? I subdued him according to department regulations.
Let me tell you something.
This was not an excessive force situation.
And that's it? Yeah, that's it.
It was by the book.
By the book in custody shouldn't leave a man dead.
It shouldn't.
But it did.
I'm trying to help you, Eddy, but I can't if you don't tell me the truth.
You want to help me? Be my friend.
I could really use a friend right now.
Are you sure? Absolutely.
I'm looking forward to it.
I just need to figure out what kind of wine goes with Thai fusion cuisine.
Oh, but what about your family dinner? Well, decided to take a novel approach to Christmas this year and actually try to enjoy myself.
Dinner with you sounds like the perfect way to start.
Well Okay.
It's great.
Is 7:00 okay? I'll be there.
Okay.
See you.
Dr.
Macy? Deputy Chief Jim Keller, Boston PD.
Chief wanted me to come down and thank you for all your good work on the Dell case.
It's no problem.
That's what we're here for.
He also wanted to congratulate you in being named Chief M.
E.
In your confirmation hearing, he'll be a good friend to have.
Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.
You know, that bastard Coombs killed one of our best officers.
It's a terrible tragedy.
We're not looking to lose any more men, if you get my meaning.
I'm not sure I do.
Look, the department regrets any death in custody.
When our people screw up, we do something about it.
But Rudy Coombs was a cop killer.
Eddy Winslow is a decorated officer.
We're just asking you to keep that in mind.
This is my third suicide this week.
Christmas suicide season started early this year.
Listen, you've known Nigel longer than I have.
Is he What? You know.
Oh.
You know, I have no idea.
So he's never come on to you? Well, there was that one time he asked me to marry him, but I'm pretty sure that was just business.
Why do you care? I don't have a problem with it, it's just The ski weekend and the sex talk.
He slapped my ass.
Well, maybe you're a naughty boy.
Seriously, nothing good can come of this.
You know, that's a very limited world view.
Now, if you were a rootstalk borer weevil, homosexuality would be a very positive area to explore.
I don't even want to know.
The females, they get it on together all the time.
It improves their reproductive success.
That's great, Bug, but what does that have to do with me? The male beetles, they like to watch.
It puts them in such an erotic frenzy, they can't help but join in.
But that's two girls.
Two girls is a whole different thing.
Yeah.
Dr.
Macy, there's a police officer here to see you.
Listen.
I've been dealing with cops all day.
Do me a favor and see if you can handle it.
The thing is He's got Abby with him.
What's going on here? I pulled your daughter over for weaving in traffic, Dr.
Macy.
Suspect she's been drinking a little tonight.
She's got a clean record.
Figured maybe you'd want to handle this yourself.
I appreciate that, Officer.
No problem.
Have a nice holiday.
Okay, before you lose it Are you out of your mind? Drinking and driving? You might as well put a gun to your head, not to mention, kill somebody else.
Damn it, Abby, when are you gonna start taking responsibility for your actions? Oh, like you? That's it, get your ass in my office right now.
Walter's coming to pick me up.
You called Walter? He's meeting me downstairs.
We can finish this lecture at Christmas dinner.
Oh, wait.
That's right, I forgot.
You're blowing it off.
Way to be responsible, Dad.
Hello, mate.
Getting excited to hit the slopes? Look, Nigel, I'm not into that.
Not everyone's a winter sportsman.
I mean, half the people don't even make it onto the slopes, if you know what I mean.
I do.
And I pass.
Okay.
But you'll never know what you're missing.
Probably better that way.
What I can't figure out is why the police are stonewalling.
They've got something to hide.
I know Eddy Winslow.
He's a good guy.
Yeah, he's also a cop.
Meaning? Suspects of color like Rudy Coombs get treated more violently by the police than white suspects.
Dude, you're right, but that's not even the issue.
The guy was a cop killer.
Wouldn't matter what color he was.
No? Okay, how many times have you been pulled over in the last six months? None, but I've been pulled over three times.
No big shock, Bug.
I've driven with you.
Okay, it sucks.
But Rudy Coombs sold drugs to school kids.
He killed a police officer.
We'll never really know that for sure, will we? I mean, your friend, what's his name? Eddy Winslow.
Eddy Winslow made sure of that.
That's not fair.
We don't know what really happened.
Yeah, well, I'm starting to wonder if you really want to.
What's that supposed to mean? One way or another, the truth's gonna come out.
Macy just ordered a coroner's inquest to investigate Rudy Coombs' death.
A coroner's inquest? I didn't know that statute was still in the books.
It is, as a last resort to determine cause of death.
Jordan, I'm caught between a D.
A.
Looking to ride police brutality to the mayor's office and a bunch of cops who aren't talking.
An inquest could lead to a grand jury.
Well, maybe it should.
According to Eddy, this guy was combative and stoned out of his mind.
Then maybe he can tell us why Coombs' tox screen came up clear, or why when we opened his head, we found this.
Cerebral contusion.
Yeah.
I think your pal Eddy Winslow beat the crap out of this guy.
I'm calling this inquest as a courtesy to the police department, 'cause from where I'm sitting, it's a straight up homicide.
Man, Jordan.
You look fantastic.
Is that what being single looks like? Kim.
Annie.
What are you guys doing here? God.
Well, since you've been avoiding us, we figured we'd track you down.
That's right.
You know, this isn't the best place.
Come with me.
Come on.
And I haven't been avoiding you.
Oh, please.
We didn't come all the way down to this nasty ass funeral home to listen to a line of bull.
It's a morgue, not a funeral Whatever.
I didn't mean anything by it.
I just figured What? That you'd blow us off before we had the chance to do it to you? Yeah, maybe.
Fine.
Apology accepted.
Don't you feel better? Oh, yeah, a lot.
Good.
So we'll see you tomorrow night, Rathgar Pub.
The Rathgar? Oh, guys.
I don't know.
That place is a real dive.
Well, then we'll meet at your place.
I'll bring the blender.
You supply the rum.
Actually, I think I I have Don't even try it.
Address? Apartment 311.
All right, we'll be there at 8:00.
And listen, you blow us off again, I swear, I'm laying you out on one of those slabs.
Jordan, we're starting the inquest.
You look stressed.
I got here at 7:00 this morning and I already had three messages from Deputy Chief Keller.
What did he want? An undetermined cause of death for Rudy Coombs or my job.
I also got two messages from the D.
A.
, but I'm sure he just called to chat.
Hey, Garret, listen, if it means anything, I thought about it.
You're doing the right thing.
I'll be sure to list you as a reference on my Burger Barn application.
Couldn't let it go, could you? I had nothing to do with this.
Yeah, Macy called the inquest.
He had no choice.
If this is about settling old scores, you Oh, come on, Eddy.
I tried to help you.
But you wanted to handle it your way.
You brought this on yourself.
Let me just say that a coroner's inquest is not a trial.
It's a finding of facts.
Now, in this case, we're attempting to determine the cause of death for Rudolph C.
Coombs.
The District Attorney will review our findings and decide whether any further action is warranted.
Oh, and while testimony at this proceeding is voluntary, it's also admissible in a court of law.
Everybody clear? Let's begin.
Officer Hardwick, you made the radio call reporting the location of Mr.
Coombs? Yeah, I, spotted him entering a club in Dorchester and called for backup.
Lieutenant Winslow was the responding officer? Yes, sir.
Lieutenant and I took the suspect into custody.
Did Mr.
Coombs resist arrest? Yeah.
Yeah, he took off running.
Officer Winslow had to catch him to cuff him.
Coombs was acting all crazy, you know, like he was on something.
What happened next? Lieutenant and I started to drive Coombs back to the station.
Did you or Lieutenant Winslow ever strike or otherwise violently subdue Mr.
Coombs? No.
It was all by the book.
And this rookie cop, Hardwick, he was just tap dancing the whole time.
Come on, Jordan.
What do you expect him to do? Rat out a senior officer? Yeah, well, it's not like it never happens.
That was different.
I think that Eddy may have actually killed this guy.
And if he didn't, why isn't he telling me the truth about what happened? Before your mother died, I never thought twice about something going wrong on the job.
And even if something did, I knew your mother would still be there for you.
Then she wasn't.
And I promised myself that no matter what happened on the street, I was coming home to you at the end of the day, and if that meant hurting the bad guys before they hurt me, I could live with that.
Well, I understand that, Dad.
But it's my job to get to the truth.
Something you'll learn eventually, what's right isn't necessarily the truth.
You're the death expert.
Is there such a thing as justifiable homicide of a 17-year-old? I'd say the smart money's on Abby taking us both out first.
I yelled at her.
I grounded her.
Short of locking her in a cage, I'm fresh out of ideas.
I still can't believe she did it.
If anyone in the world knows better than to drive drunk, it's the daughter of an M.
E.
She's really angry.
I keep trying to figure out how we got here.
I mean, did we screw up that badly? Well, let's face it, Garret.
It was never Father Knows Best.
It wasn't exactly the Manson family, either.
Do you remember how sweet she was when she was four? That first summer at the beach.
We had the cottage from hell up at the Cape.
With the pipes that sounded like someone was strangling a whale.
Remember you slashed your foot open on that broken bottle and Abby got sprayed by a skunk that was just Magical times, right? Yeah.
Dr.
Macy, I Oh, I didn't mean to interrupt.
I just need you to sign this release.
Or I can come back.
No, no.
It's It's fine.
Lily, this is my ex-wife, Maggie.
This is Lily.
Hi, there.
Didn't mean to interrupt.
No, no, no problem.
We were just plotting parental strategy.
Oh.
Here you go.
Thank you.
Okay.
All right.
It was nice meeting you.
Does that tickle? Now, turn around, sweetheart.
Oh, you are so perfect.
Turn around, gorgeous.
There you go.
Come on, pull up your hair.
Oh, I love it when you do that.
Yeah.
So you were able to subdue him and cuff him at this point? Yeah, I mean, it wasn't easy.
He was resisting, but I finally got him into the car.
And at what point did you think that there might be a problem? Well, he was freaking out the entire drive.
About halfway to the station, we realized he'd been quiet for a couple of minutes.
We pulled the car over to check on him and he was dead.
Okay, thank you, Lieutenant Winslow.
Excuse me, Dr.
Macy? Would it be all right if I asked a few questions? Go right ahead, Dr.
Cavanaugh.
Lieutenant, in subduing Mr.
Coombs, are you sure you never applied any pressure to his neck? Chokeholds are against department policy.
We found petechial hemorrhages in his eyes, indicating asphyxiation.
I wouldn't know anything about that.
Let me run a scenario past you.
Just tell me if it sounds right.
Rudy Coombs makes you for a cop.
Runs.
You give chase.
You don't move! Maybe when he fell, he hit his head on the pavement.
He didn't hit his head.
And yet he has a bruise on his brain.
Do you know how that happens? No, I don't.
Well, someone has to hit you hard enough for your brain to smash against the inside of your skull.
I didn't hit him.
Well, you described Mr.
Coombs as combative, belligerent, intoxicated, and yet his tox screen came back clear.
He appeared to be intoxicated.
He was also 6'4" and 240 pounds.
Add belligerent to the mix, that's quite an impressive takedown.
Let's say after the initial shock of the fall, he tried to fight back.
You knew this guy had no trouble killing a cop.
You tried to regain control the only way you could.
You get a hold of his neck and squeeze.
He crumps, nice and easy.
I did not choke Rudy Coombs.
Let's be honest, Lieutenant.
You hated this guy.
He was a cop killer.
You got angry.
No.
You wanted him dead.
I didn't kill him, okay? I do things by the book.
A suspect died on your watch.
What book is that in? That's not how it happened.
If you've got something to say, Officer Hardwick, now's the time.
Sorry, Lieutenant Winslow.
I can't let you do it.
I saw Coombs go into the club.
I called for backup.
Before backup arrived, Coombs leaves the building.
He was acting all weird, you know, talking to himself.
He was gonna get away.
I ordered him down to the ground.
Freeze! Freeze, don't move! Hand on your head! Cross your legs.
Other hand, other hand.
When I went to cuff him, the guy really lost it.
Get off me! Don't move! I had him on his stomach.
Stay down! You know, I had the upper hand and I didn't want to lose it, so Stay down! I kneeled on him, you know, just to keep him down until backup arrived.
How long did you kneel on his back? Felt like a minute, maybe two.
Then what happened? He went limp.
Just stopped breathing.
I tried to give him CPR, you know, but I don't know what happened.
Bellows effect.
Sustained compression to the back keeps the lungs from expanding.
It can happen in minutes.
I didn't mean to kill the guy, though, you know? What about the head injury? I don't know.
I don't think I hit him, but it was all going so fast.
So Lieutenant Winslow wasn't there? Till after Coombs stopped breathing.
We took him to the ER, but it was too late.
He was already dead.
I'm sorry.
Well, in light of this testimony and the forensic evidence, I have no choice but to rule the death of Rudolph Coombs a homicide at the hand of Officer John Hardwick.
I'll pass these findings along to the D.
A.
, and they'll determine whether or not a grand jury will be convened.
All right, that's it.
Proud of yourself? You didn't just sell me out, you destroyed that kid's life.
Thanks for being a friend.
Hey, Lily.
Oh! You.
I finished up the holiday schedule.
I'll make sure it's posted.
So is everything okay with your daughter? Actually, I'm not sure anymore.
I'm really not a part of her life, just a nagging, overwrought parent.
Well, have you tried talking to her? No, not yet.
I figured we both need a little cooling off period.
It's probably best that I'm not gonna see her over the holiday.
Wouldn't even know what to say.
But I'm gonna see you tomorrow night.
Oh, Dr.
Macy, I hate to do this on such short notice, but it looks like my mom's not driving to Albany after all.
Oh, is it That's fine.
I was really looking forward to it.
I just can't let my mom eat alone.
And trust me, you're not ready to meet her.
She's totally insane.
It's not a problem.
We'll do it some other time.
Oh, definitely.
It's just, you know, Christmas and family.
I mean, it can be a hassle, but they're your family, right? Yeah.
See you.
Hey.
I just got your page.
What's up? I just ran an iron stain test on Rudy Coombs' brain contusion.
Take a look.
Iron globules.
The red blood cells are already broken down.
Which means the contusion is approximately five days old.
But Coombs died three days ago.
Which means he already had the brain injury when he died in custody.
Which would explain his delusional behavior.
Listen, Bug, I know how you feel about this case.
My feelings have nothing to do with this.
I'm a scientist.
I was just doing my job.
Hey, Nigel, what's up? This tire tread analysis on that hit and run in Brookline.
This look like a radial to you? I was thinking maybe a snow tire.
It's your world, man.
I just live in it.
So about the ski trip, I'd like to go if the offer still stands.
I knew you'd change your mind.
Yeah.
Let me ask you, I saw you and your girlfriend, you know, the other night.
Why didn't you ask her? Girlfriend? In the lounge? Oh, Caitlin.
Yeah.
She's one of my models.
Models? I do a bit of designing on the side.
Couture.
It's in my blood.
If you came to beat my ass to a pulp, get in line.
Police Chief has dibs.
This isn't mine.
It belongs to the late Officer Dell.
The bruise on Rudy Coombs' brain was five days old, which means it was inflicted the day he killed Dell.
We just pulled an intact hair with root off the business end of that thing.
And it matched Coombs? Yep.
Looks like Dell got in at least one shot before Coombs killed him.
So the kid didn't beat on him.
It went down just like Hardwick said.
The whole thing was an accident.
You think you can sell that to the D.
A? We'll see if he's buying.
Eddy? We got some new forensic evidence on the Coombs case.
You already drop kicked the kid.
You want to take a victory lap? It exonerates him for the beating.
D.
A.
's not gonna press charges.
What are you telling me? Hardwick's off the hook? Well, that's great.
Hey, listen, things got pretty heated during the inquest.
We both said a lot of things Yeah.
Yeah, I'm I'm sorry about that.
I know you were just doing your job.
I guess I was also a little pissed that you wouldn't level with me.
Well, I couldn't.
How come? Because a spotless 11-year career and Lieutenant stripes can absorb a death in custody a hell of a lot easier than a brand new uniform.
Yeah, but why this guy? Why risk it all for him? Maybe I'm just in the Christmas spirit.
Dr.
Macy, a little holiday cheer.
Chief wants you to know he's grateful.
For what? We know you called the D.
A.
On the kid's behalf.
We just want to say we appreciate you playing ball.
I play a lot of things.
Low stakes poker, vintage Benny Goodman records, even the occasional game of charades when I'm drunk enough.
But one thing I don't play with is the truth.
This office is independent and so am I, so you take that bottle back to your boss and tell him what I just told you.
And the next time you show up in my morgue, you better be wearing a toe tag.
I'll see you then.
Hey.
Hey.
Thanks.
I'm sorry to barge in on you like this.
What's on your mind? I just wanted to say the other day at the precinct, I didn't mean any disrespect.
Okay.
Your daughter asked me a question tonight.
I've been driving around trying to figure out the answer.
Well, Jordan'll do that to you.
She asked me why I risked my badge for a rookie cop.
Well, it was a stand-up thing to do.
I just wish I'd done it for you five years ago.
You did what you had to do.
Max, come on.
I could've lied.
I could've told IAB I didn't see you beat that guy up.
You got him to give up the name of a serial rapist.
I also put him in the hospital.
I crossed the line and we both know it wasn't the first time.
But we were partners.
Let it go, Eddy.
I have.
Want a drink? I'm on duty.
But thanks.
I'll tell you what, I'll take a rain check.
Take care of yourself.
Lot of crazies out on Christmas Eve.
Yeah.
So, Lily, what form of wretched holiday excess have you got lined up for tomorrow night? I'm just hanging out at home.
Probably turn in early.
So you're gonna be by yourself? Yeah.
Good.
I'll pick you up at 6:00.
For what? Want to spoil my Christmas surprise? Dress casual.
Hark, the ball, Rapunzel.
Are you ready? You've got to be kidding me.
It's 20 degrees out there.
Where's your car? You miss half the scenery that way.
Get down here.
Hop on, love.
What's wrong? Nigel, I've got to know what your intentions are.
My intentions? For us.
This weekend? Hopefully, we're gonna get lucky.
See, now that's what I'm talking about.
What, there's a problem with that? Are you gay? Well, what difference would it make if I was or I wasn't? Right now it would make a pretty big difference.
Well, never really gave it much thought.
What are you talking about? All right, I'm staying home, okay? Trey, it's freezing.
I'm not gonna sit here and discuss my sexual proclivities.
Now, you are my friend, you are my colleague, you are not my lover, so get on the back of the bike.
Please? That's it, sweetheart.
Now just hold on to my hips and leave the driving to me.
So I'm looking at the name on the docket and something strikes me.
"Robbie Keating.
" I know this guy.
Varsity baseball Robbie Keating? What'd he do? Check fraud.
You're kidding.
Who knew he could even write? Was he still hot? Oh, smoking.
Oh, he was? Too bad.
I got him eight years.
We'll miss him.
Oh my God, Jordan, look at your hair.
Yeah.
Look at this.
Yeah, the '80s were a bitch, huh? You know, I owe you guys an apology.
For not calling you back.
Jordan, we've been over all that.
The truth is, I just didn't really want to see you.
Well, that hurt.
Well, it's just that we're all in such different places right now.
You know, I mean, you guys have real lives and I've got issues.
And we don't? No, let's be honest.
Look, I love you guys, but do you really want me in a sandbox with your kids? I mean, I might say something and freak them out for life.
Jeez, Jordan, why does everything have to be so damn complicated with you? Nobody is perfect.
And no one is asking you to be.
You're weird, all right.
You always have been and we were friends anyways.
Nothing's changed.
We just wanted to hang out with you, that's all.
We missed you all these years.
Oh, God.
I missed you guys, too, you know.
Hey, hey, hey, don't spill my drink.
Come on.
Oh, please.
We still have half a blender left.
He's gone 2000 miles It's very far The snow is falling down Come here.
It gets colder day by day I miss you I can hear children singing He'll be back at Christmas time Hey, Dad.
Hey, Abby.
2000 miles Is very far through the snow I'll think of you Wherever you go I still can't believe how big that thing is.
Hey, shouldn't I be smelling turkey by now? Oh, about the turkey.
Oh, not again.
I've been meaning to get a new oven.
For 10 years.
You want pepperoni and green peppers? Maybe with a little extra cheese.
It is Christmas.
Make yourself useful and plug this in, please.
Beautiful.
Just beautiful.
Merry Christmas, Jordan.
Merry Christmas, Dad.
That's all.
What? It's a cup of coffee.
No, uh-uh, this is coffee, Eddy.
Okay? Ground up beans and boiled water.
What you got there, that is a coffee drink.
It's a mochaccino.
Oh, I would keep your voice down if I were you.
So this abuse is vour wav of thanking me for lending you crime scene photos? Is that it? I said I'd buy you a cup of coffee.
I didn't know you'd get all frou-frou on me.
Oh, what the hell is going on? I don't know.
What do we got? Officer down, Lieutenant.
Intersection of Cypher and Butler.
EMS is on scene.
Okay, I'll catch you later, Jordan.
Gotta make sure this guy's okay.
Eddy? He's not.
I'll meet you there.
Thomas Dell, seven years on the job.
Actually a great guy.
Didn't deserve this.
What happened? He was on foot patrol, spotted illegal activity at the high school around the corner.
Suspect took off.
Dell went after him.
Single large caliber bullet to the chest.
You catch the shooter? Not yet.
Got a good description from one of the kids, though.
Big Jamaican guy.
Couldn't get a name.
Jordan, I know you got a job to do, but the sooner we can get him off the street Yeah, no problem.
Thanks.
Listen to me.
I need everything you can give me to nail the son of a bitch who did this.
Okay? Yeah.
Did I miss another memo? This started an hour ago.
Homicide detectives, half of City Hall, the D.
A.
's Office.
Wow, all my favorites.
Tell me about it.
I think my ulcer's coming back.
Now, pull whoever you need and keep me posted on every detail.
Would you expect anything less? It's my second week at chief and I got a dead cop in the crypt.
Do you realize what a potential disaster this is? Okay, Garret, just relax.
I will handle it.
You promise? Yeah.
Dr.
Cavanaugh, you got some messages.
Oh.
Kim, Annie.
Oh, another Kim.
They said they're your old friends.
Yeah, thanks, Lily.
Just leave them in my box.
Oh.
Officer Dell's wife is here to ID the body.
All right, I'll talk to her.
Dr.
Macy, I I know this is weird timing, but I usually have Christmas dinner with my mom.
Yeah? Well, the thing is, she's driving to Albany to see her aunt, and I'm scheduled to work, so No, go with your mom.
I'll get your shift covered.
Well, actually, I was I was thinking of cooking myself this year.
I found this amazing Thai fusion website, and I thought maybe if you're not busy, you could come over.
You know, I'd love to.
I just have this standing arrangement with my ex.
Dinner with her and my daughter and Walter.
Walter? My ex's boyfriend.
Ooh.
Yeah.
Well, it was just a thought.
Lily? I really appreciate the invitation.
Hey.
Got a little taste of the old sod that'll help ring in the holiday season.
Looks like baby puke.
Hundred eighty proof baby puke.
Wassail, mate.
Now, this recipe's been passed down in my family for centuries.
Along with some very disturbing genetic material.
Come on, chin chin.
We're at work.
Just take a little nip.
Yet another good reason to hate Christmas.
Who hates Christmas? Who do you think? Oh, well, it is understandable, considering the overwhelming focus on Christmas in this country.
You do gotta feel kind of marginalized if your people celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan.
My mother still has the 10-foot aluminum spruce we got at Wal-Mart and my father's played the Elks Lodge Santa for 15 years.
So why are you such a Scrooge? The aluminum spruce isn't enough? Christmas rocks.
There's caroling, tree trimming Slipping in a little tongue under the mistletoe.
Hello.
Yeah, this is Nigel Townsend.
The phrase that pays, eh? Yeah, well, I've got it.
"Jingle bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg.
" I did? Oh, that's fabulous.
Yeah, sure, I'll hold.
It's the Crazy Dave morning crew from WHIT.
I just won a Christmas ski weekend.
So who's coming with? Well, fine.
You just fight it out amongst yourselves.
Man, this guy is torn up.
Black Talon bullet.
This is the first one you've seen? Yeah.
Nasty little bastards.
They go in smooth then they open up into hooks.
Now, every bullet has its own unique percentage of heavy metals.
And we all know how you love heavy metal.
The heavier the better.
I checked these numbers on the FBI ballistics website.
Our bullet's from a factory in Fort Worth.
Called the state crime lab.
Turns out a box of identical Black Talon bullets was seized during a drug raid last month in an apartment seven blocks from where Officer Dell was killed.
Fancy that.
The name on the lease was Robert Emery.
Did you run him through BCI? Turns out it was an alias for one Rudolph Coombs.
I believe you mentioned the murder suspect is Jamaican.
You rock my world, Nige.
Hi, this is Dr.
Cavanaugh.
I need to speak to Lieutenant Winslow right away, please.
Hi.
So if you're the boss now, how come you're still stuck in the same lousy office? Where's Abby? Apparently, your new ballistics tech is, in your daughter's words, "tasty.
" I'll make a note to fire him.
So what's the problem, Maggie? Does there have to be a problem? For you to set foot in this place, absolutely.
Walter invited another couple for Christmas dinner and I just wanted to prepare you.
Who are we talking about? Janice and Bill Hodges.
No.
No, forget about it.
Look, Walter is Bill's best friend.
I He was also your divorce attorney.
Listen, it's bad enough I've got to split a turkey with your boyfriend just so I can see my own daughter on Christmas, for God's sake.
I know this is uncomfortable, but Uncomfortable? It's unbelievable! Wow.
I can't Sounds just like old times.
We were just discussing Christmas dinner.
Yeah, I told you he'd freak if you invited Bill.
Well, I was just hoping your dad might be a little flexible for a change.
I'd say letting your boyfriend live rent free in the house that I paid for demonstrates considerable flexibility.
Some might even call it gymnastic.
Oh, come on, you guys.
Oh, now listen, no, I'll tell you what.
Listen, you invite Bill Hodges.
Invite your mother while you're at it too, 'cause I won't be there.
Dad.
I'm sorry, Abby.
We can exchange presents on Christmas Eve.
Maggie, thanks for coming by.
It's always a pleasure.
Oh, yeah.
There it is.
Oh.
Hey.
Sorry about Dell.
Heard he was a damn fine cop.
Yeah, he was.
You guys did great work.
We got an APB out on Rudy Coombs.
I just hope you nail him.
We will.
Well, it's good to see you, Max.
Thanks for coming down.
Why wouldn't I come down? I worked this precinct for 18 years.
Yeah, I know.
Look, I didn't mean Sure, you did.
You meant I got a lot of nerve walking into a station house I got thrown out of.
Well, I don't think he was trying to say that, Dad.
I know what he was saying.
Nice seeing you, Eddy.
Mount Whitestone Lodge.
Looks nice.
Fresh mountain air, the very real possibility of willing romantic conquests.
Ski bunnies? So what do you say? How much is it gonna run? Nothing.
Gratis.
From me to you.
I'm not gonna have to sit through some time share seminar, am I? It's the real deal.
Okay.
Why not? Sounds nice.
Sounds fun.
It'll be ripping fun, love.
You, me, a little skiing and a lot of sex.
Guys, I just got a call on another officer-related death.
Two cops in two days.
Just when I decided it wasn't another ulcer after all.
No, actually, this time it's the other way around.
Police found the cop killer.
Where is he? ER in Boston General.
Came in DOA.
We did CPR, but he was long gone.
Well, how'd he die? All I know is where he died, and that's in police custody.
The rest is your department.
Oh, thanks, guys.
This is us.
Cops did a real job on him.
Mmm-hmm.
Sign on the dotted line.
He's all yours.
Who brought him in? The officers who apprehended him.
One stop shopping.
Apparently, he stopped breathing en route to the precinct.
You need any more, I suggest you ask the two cops, Detective Edward Winslow and Officer John Hardwick.
Officer Hardwick, we're here from the M.
E.
's Office.
We just wanted to ask you a couple questions.
We can't speak to you, Jordan.
Not until we talk to Internal Affairs.
Petechial hemorrhaging in the eyes.
Some old scars here.
Nothing fresh.
Let's turn him over.
Well, check out these bruises.
And more hemorrhaging.
They beat him and then they choked him to death.
Is that your professional opinion? All right, what've we got? Petechial hemorrhaging in the eyes, deep hemorrhaging in the back.
He may have been asphyxiated.
Well, that's just great.
They could have come from cardiac problems, a brain aneurysm.
That conveniently blew while he was in the back of a police car? There's no bruising on his neck and his hyoid bone is intact.
Well, chokeholds don't always leave a bruise.
It's arm to neck contact, soft.
Do we have the police report yet? IAB isn't gonna release it until they've completed their investigation.
And everybody's got their stories straight.
Before we all go jumping to conclusions, maybe I should see what the police have to say.
You do that.
In the meantime, Bug, run every test we've got.
When you're finished with those, make up a few more.
I want to know exactly how this guy died.
We started the autopsy on Coombs.
Some of it's kind of hinky.
I was hoping you might be able to explain what happened.
You know I can't talk to you, Jordan.
Off the record.
You're the M.
E.
You are the record.
And I'm trying to do my job in the most impartial way that I can, but without knowing specifics, IAB stonewalling.
They're not stonewalling.
They're required to keep a lid on it for 48 hours after the incident.
In 48 hours, Macy could rule this a homicide.
Any reason that I should disagree? Look, this goes to the Grand Jury, your career could be over.
You'd go to jail.
You think I don't know that? Well, you're not scared? Yeah, I'm scared.
I'm scared as hell.
All I know is Coombs was hopped up on I don't know what.
He was acting erratic, resisting arrest.
Why he died, I don't know.
Maybe you got a few shots in? I subdued him according to department regulations.
Let me tell you something.
This was not an excessive force situation.
And that's it? Yeah, that's it.
It was by the book.
By the book in custody shouldn't leave a man dead.
It shouldn't.
But it did.
I'm trying to help you, Eddy, but I can't if you don't tell me the truth.
You want to help me? Be my friend.
I could really use a friend right now.
Are you sure? Absolutely.
I'm looking forward to it.
I just need to figure out what kind of wine goes with Thai fusion cuisine.
Oh, but what about your family dinner? Well, decided to take a novel approach to Christmas this year and actually try to enjoy myself.
Dinner with you sounds like the perfect way to start.
Well Okay.
It's great.
Is 7:00 okay? I'll be there.
Okay.
See you.
Dr.
Macy? Deputy Chief Jim Keller, Boston PD.
Chief wanted me to come down and thank you for all your good work on the Dell case.
It's no problem.
That's what we're here for.
He also wanted to congratulate you in being named Chief M.
E.
In your confirmation hearing, he'll be a good friend to have.
Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.
You know, that bastard Coombs killed one of our best officers.
It's a terrible tragedy.
We're not looking to lose any more men, if you get my meaning.
I'm not sure I do.
Look, the department regrets any death in custody.
When our people screw up, we do something about it.
But Rudy Coombs was a cop killer.
Eddy Winslow is a decorated officer.
We're just asking you to keep that in mind.
This is my third suicide this week.
Christmas suicide season started early this year.
Listen, you've known Nigel longer than I have.
Is he What? You know.
Oh.
You know, I have no idea.
So he's never come on to you? Well, there was that one time he asked me to marry him, but I'm pretty sure that was just business.
Why do you care? I don't have a problem with it, it's just The ski weekend and the sex talk.
He slapped my ass.
Well, maybe you're a naughty boy.
Seriously, nothing good can come of this.
You know, that's a very limited world view.
Now, if you were a rootstalk borer weevil, homosexuality would be a very positive area to explore.
I don't even want to know.
The females, they get it on together all the time.
It improves their reproductive success.
That's great, Bug, but what does that have to do with me? The male beetles, they like to watch.
It puts them in such an erotic frenzy, they can't help but join in.
But that's two girls.
Two girls is a whole different thing.
Yeah.
Dr.
Macy, there's a police officer here to see you.
Listen.
I've been dealing with cops all day.
Do me a favor and see if you can handle it.
The thing is He's got Abby with him.
What's going on here? I pulled your daughter over for weaving in traffic, Dr.
Macy.
Suspect she's been drinking a little tonight.
She's got a clean record.
Figured maybe you'd want to handle this yourself.
I appreciate that, Officer.
No problem.
Have a nice holiday.
Okay, before you lose it Are you out of your mind? Drinking and driving? You might as well put a gun to your head, not to mention, kill somebody else.
Damn it, Abby, when are you gonna start taking responsibility for your actions? Oh, like you? That's it, get your ass in my office right now.
Walter's coming to pick me up.
You called Walter? He's meeting me downstairs.
We can finish this lecture at Christmas dinner.
Oh, wait.
That's right, I forgot.
You're blowing it off.
Way to be responsible, Dad.
Hello, mate.
Getting excited to hit the slopes? Look, Nigel, I'm not into that.
Not everyone's a winter sportsman.
I mean, half the people don't even make it onto the slopes, if you know what I mean.
I do.
And I pass.
Okay.
But you'll never know what you're missing.
Probably better that way.
What I can't figure out is why the police are stonewalling.
They've got something to hide.
I know Eddy Winslow.
He's a good guy.
Yeah, he's also a cop.
Meaning? Suspects of color like Rudy Coombs get treated more violently by the police than white suspects.
Dude, you're right, but that's not even the issue.
The guy was a cop killer.
Wouldn't matter what color he was.
No? Okay, how many times have you been pulled over in the last six months? None, but I've been pulled over three times.
No big shock, Bug.
I've driven with you.
Okay, it sucks.
But Rudy Coombs sold drugs to school kids.
He killed a police officer.
We'll never really know that for sure, will we? I mean, your friend, what's his name? Eddy Winslow.
Eddy Winslow made sure of that.
That's not fair.
We don't know what really happened.
Yeah, well, I'm starting to wonder if you really want to.
What's that supposed to mean? One way or another, the truth's gonna come out.
Macy just ordered a coroner's inquest to investigate Rudy Coombs' death.
A coroner's inquest? I didn't know that statute was still in the books.
It is, as a last resort to determine cause of death.
Jordan, I'm caught between a D.
A.
Looking to ride police brutality to the mayor's office and a bunch of cops who aren't talking.
An inquest could lead to a grand jury.
Well, maybe it should.
According to Eddy, this guy was combative and stoned out of his mind.
Then maybe he can tell us why Coombs' tox screen came up clear, or why when we opened his head, we found this.
Cerebral contusion.
Yeah.
I think your pal Eddy Winslow beat the crap out of this guy.
I'm calling this inquest as a courtesy to the police department, 'cause from where I'm sitting, it's a straight up homicide.
Man, Jordan.
You look fantastic.
Is that what being single looks like? Kim.
Annie.
What are you guys doing here? God.
Well, since you've been avoiding us, we figured we'd track you down.
That's right.
You know, this isn't the best place.
Come with me.
Come on.
And I haven't been avoiding you.
Oh, please.
We didn't come all the way down to this nasty ass funeral home to listen to a line of bull.
It's a morgue, not a funeral Whatever.
I didn't mean anything by it.
I just figured What? That you'd blow us off before we had the chance to do it to you? Yeah, maybe.
Fine.
Apology accepted.
Don't you feel better? Oh, yeah, a lot.
Good.
So we'll see you tomorrow night, Rathgar Pub.
The Rathgar? Oh, guys.
I don't know.
That place is a real dive.
Well, then we'll meet at your place.
I'll bring the blender.
You supply the rum.
Actually, I think I I have Don't even try it.
Address? Apartment 311.
All right, we'll be there at 8:00.
And listen, you blow us off again, I swear, I'm laying you out on one of those slabs.
Jordan, we're starting the inquest.
You look stressed.
I got here at 7:00 this morning and I already had three messages from Deputy Chief Keller.
What did he want? An undetermined cause of death for Rudy Coombs or my job.
I also got two messages from the D.
A.
, but I'm sure he just called to chat.
Hey, Garret, listen, if it means anything, I thought about it.
You're doing the right thing.
I'll be sure to list you as a reference on my Burger Barn application.
Couldn't let it go, could you? I had nothing to do with this.
Yeah, Macy called the inquest.
He had no choice.
If this is about settling old scores, you Oh, come on, Eddy.
I tried to help you.
But you wanted to handle it your way.
You brought this on yourself.
Let me just say that a coroner's inquest is not a trial.
It's a finding of facts.
Now, in this case, we're attempting to determine the cause of death for Rudolph C.
Coombs.
The District Attorney will review our findings and decide whether any further action is warranted.
Oh, and while testimony at this proceeding is voluntary, it's also admissible in a court of law.
Everybody clear? Let's begin.
Officer Hardwick, you made the radio call reporting the location of Mr.
Coombs? Yeah, I, spotted him entering a club in Dorchester and called for backup.
Lieutenant Winslow was the responding officer? Yes, sir.
Lieutenant and I took the suspect into custody.
Did Mr.
Coombs resist arrest? Yeah.
Yeah, he took off running.
Officer Winslow had to catch him to cuff him.
Coombs was acting all crazy, you know, like he was on something.
What happened next? Lieutenant and I started to drive Coombs back to the station.
Did you or Lieutenant Winslow ever strike or otherwise violently subdue Mr.
Coombs? No.
It was all by the book.
And this rookie cop, Hardwick, he was just tap dancing the whole time.
Come on, Jordan.
What do you expect him to do? Rat out a senior officer? Yeah, well, it's not like it never happens.
That was different.
I think that Eddy may have actually killed this guy.
And if he didn't, why isn't he telling me the truth about what happened? Before your mother died, I never thought twice about something going wrong on the job.
And even if something did, I knew your mother would still be there for you.
Then she wasn't.
And I promised myself that no matter what happened on the street, I was coming home to you at the end of the day, and if that meant hurting the bad guys before they hurt me, I could live with that.
Well, I understand that, Dad.
But it's my job to get to the truth.
Something you'll learn eventually, what's right isn't necessarily the truth.
You're the death expert.
Is there such a thing as justifiable homicide of a 17-year-old? I'd say the smart money's on Abby taking us both out first.
I yelled at her.
I grounded her.
Short of locking her in a cage, I'm fresh out of ideas.
I still can't believe she did it.
If anyone in the world knows better than to drive drunk, it's the daughter of an M.
E.
She's really angry.
I keep trying to figure out how we got here.
I mean, did we screw up that badly? Well, let's face it, Garret.
It was never Father Knows Best.
It wasn't exactly the Manson family, either.
Do you remember how sweet she was when she was four? That first summer at the beach.
We had the cottage from hell up at the Cape.
With the pipes that sounded like someone was strangling a whale.
Remember you slashed your foot open on that broken bottle and Abby got sprayed by a skunk that was just Magical times, right? Yeah.
Dr.
Macy, I Oh, I didn't mean to interrupt.
I just need you to sign this release.
Or I can come back.
No, no.
It's It's fine.
Lily, this is my ex-wife, Maggie.
This is Lily.
Hi, there.
Didn't mean to interrupt.
No, no, no problem.
We were just plotting parental strategy.
Oh.
Here you go.
Thank you.
Okay.
All right.
It was nice meeting you.
Does that tickle? Now, turn around, sweetheart.
Oh, you are so perfect.
Turn around, gorgeous.
There you go.
Come on, pull up your hair.
Oh, I love it when you do that.
Yeah.
So you were able to subdue him and cuff him at this point? Yeah, I mean, it wasn't easy.
He was resisting, but I finally got him into the car.
And at what point did you think that there might be a problem? Well, he was freaking out the entire drive.
About halfway to the station, we realized he'd been quiet for a couple of minutes.
We pulled the car over to check on him and he was dead.
Okay, thank you, Lieutenant Winslow.
Excuse me, Dr.
Macy? Would it be all right if I asked a few questions? Go right ahead, Dr.
Cavanaugh.
Lieutenant, in subduing Mr.
Coombs, are you sure you never applied any pressure to his neck? Chokeholds are against department policy.
We found petechial hemorrhages in his eyes, indicating asphyxiation.
I wouldn't know anything about that.
Let me run a scenario past you.
Just tell me if it sounds right.
Rudy Coombs makes you for a cop.
Runs.
You give chase.
You don't move! Maybe when he fell, he hit his head on the pavement.
He didn't hit his head.
And yet he has a bruise on his brain.
Do you know how that happens? No, I don't.
Well, someone has to hit you hard enough for your brain to smash against the inside of your skull.
I didn't hit him.
Well, you described Mr.
Coombs as combative, belligerent, intoxicated, and yet his tox screen came back clear.
He appeared to be intoxicated.
He was also 6'4" and 240 pounds.
Add belligerent to the mix, that's quite an impressive takedown.
Let's say after the initial shock of the fall, he tried to fight back.
You knew this guy had no trouble killing a cop.
You tried to regain control the only way you could.
You get a hold of his neck and squeeze.
He crumps, nice and easy.
I did not choke Rudy Coombs.
Let's be honest, Lieutenant.
You hated this guy.
He was a cop killer.
You got angry.
No.
You wanted him dead.
I didn't kill him, okay? I do things by the book.
A suspect died on your watch.
What book is that in? That's not how it happened.
If you've got something to say, Officer Hardwick, now's the time.
Sorry, Lieutenant Winslow.
I can't let you do it.
I saw Coombs go into the club.
I called for backup.
Before backup arrived, Coombs leaves the building.
He was acting all weird, you know, talking to himself.
He was gonna get away.
I ordered him down to the ground.
Freeze! Freeze, don't move! Hand on your head! Cross your legs.
Other hand, other hand.
When I went to cuff him, the guy really lost it.
Get off me! Don't move! I had him on his stomach.
Stay down! You know, I had the upper hand and I didn't want to lose it, so Stay down! I kneeled on him, you know, just to keep him down until backup arrived.
How long did you kneel on his back? Felt like a minute, maybe two.
Then what happened? He went limp.
Just stopped breathing.
I tried to give him CPR, you know, but I don't know what happened.
Bellows effect.
Sustained compression to the back keeps the lungs from expanding.
It can happen in minutes.
I didn't mean to kill the guy, though, you know? What about the head injury? I don't know.
I don't think I hit him, but it was all going so fast.
So Lieutenant Winslow wasn't there? Till after Coombs stopped breathing.
We took him to the ER, but it was too late.
He was already dead.
I'm sorry.
Well, in light of this testimony and the forensic evidence, I have no choice but to rule the death of Rudolph Coombs a homicide at the hand of Officer John Hardwick.
I'll pass these findings along to the D.
A.
, and they'll determine whether or not a grand jury will be convened.
All right, that's it.
Proud of yourself? You didn't just sell me out, you destroyed that kid's life.
Thanks for being a friend.
Hey, Lily.
Oh! You.
I finished up the holiday schedule.
I'll make sure it's posted.
So is everything okay with your daughter? Actually, I'm not sure anymore.
I'm really not a part of her life, just a nagging, overwrought parent.
Well, have you tried talking to her? No, not yet.
I figured we both need a little cooling off period.
It's probably best that I'm not gonna see her over the holiday.
Wouldn't even know what to say.
But I'm gonna see you tomorrow night.
Oh, Dr.
Macy, I hate to do this on such short notice, but it looks like my mom's not driving to Albany after all.
Oh, is it That's fine.
I was really looking forward to it.
I just can't let my mom eat alone.
And trust me, you're not ready to meet her.
She's totally insane.
It's not a problem.
We'll do it some other time.
Oh, definitely.
It's just, you know, Christmas and family.
I mean, it can be a hassle, but they're your family, right? Yeah.
See you.
Hey.
I just got your page.
What's up? I just ran an iron stain test on Rudy Coombs' brain contusion.
Take a look.
Iron globules.
The red blood cells are already broken down.
Which means the contusion is approximately five days old.
But Coombs died three days ago.
Which means he already had the brain injury when he died in custody.
Which would explain his delusional behavior.
Listen, Bug, I know how you feel about this case.
My feelings have nothing to do with this.
I'm a scientist.
I was just doing my job.
Hey, Nigel, what's up? This tire tread analysis on that hit and run in Brookline.
This look like a radial to you? I was thinking maybe a snow tire.
It's your world, man.
I just live in it.
So about the ski trip, I'd like to go if the offer still stands.
I knew you'd change your mind.
Yeah.
Let me ask you, I saw you and your girlfriend, you know, the other night.
Why didn't you ask her? Girlfriend? In the lounge? Oh, Caitlin.
Yeah.
She's one of my models.
Models? I do a bit of designing on the side.
Couture.
It's in my blood.
If you came to beat my ass to a pulp, get in line.
Police Chief has dibs.
This isn't mine.
It belongs to the late Officer Dell.
The bruise on Rudy Coombs' brain was five days old, which means it was inflicted the day he killed Dell.
We just pulled an intact hair with root off the business end of that thing.
And it matched Coombs? Yep.
Looks like Dell got in at least one shot before Coombs killed him.
So the kid didn't beat on him.
It went down just like Hardwick said.
The whole thing was an accident.
You think you can sell that to the D.
A? We'll see if he's buying.
Eddy? We got some new forensic evidence on the Coombs case.
You already drop kicked the kid.
You want to take a victory lap? It exonerates him for the beating.
D.
A.
's not gonna press charges.
What are you telling me? Hardwick's off the hook? Well, that's great.
Hey, listen, things got pretty heated during the inquest.
We both said a lot of things Yeah.
Yeah, I'm I'm sorry about that.
I know you were just doing your job.
I guess I was also a little pissed that you wouldn't level with me.
Well, I couldn't.
How come? Because a spotless 11-year career and Lieutenant stripes can absorb a death in custody a hell of a lot easier than a brand new uniform.
Yeah, but why this guy? Why risk it all for him? Maybe I'm just in the Christmas spirit.
Dr.
Macy, a little holiday cheer.
Chief wants you to know he's grateful.
For what? We know you called the D.
A.
On the kid's behalf.
We just want to say we appreciate you playing ball.
I play a lot of things.
Low stakes poker, vintage Benny Goodman records, even the occasional game of charades when I'm drunk enough.
But one thing I don't play with is the truth.
This office is independent and so am I, so you take that bottle back to your boss and tell him what I just told you.
And the next time you show up in my morgue, you better be wearing a toe tag.
I'll see you then.
Hey.
Hey.
Thanks.
I'm sorry to barge in on you like this.
What's on your mind? I just wanted to say the other day at the precinct, I didn't mean any disrespect.
Okay.
Your daughter asked me a question tonight.
I've been driving around trying to figure out the answer.
Well, Jordan'll do that to you.
She asked me why I risked my badge for a rookie cop.
Well, it was a stand-up thing to do.
I just wish I'd done it for you five years ago.
You did what you had to do.
Max, come on.
I could've lied.
I could've told IAB I didn't see you beat that guy up.
You got him to give up the name of a serial rapist.
I also put him in the hospital.
I crossed the line and we both know it wasn't the first time.
But we were partners.
Let it go, Eddy.
I have.
Want a drink? I'm on duty.
But thanks.
I'll tell you what, I'll take a rain check.
Take care of yourself.
Lot of crazies out on Christmas Eve.
Yeah.
So, Lily, what form of wretched holiday excess have you got lined up for tomorrow night? I'm just hanging out at home.
Probably turn in early.
So you're gonna be by yourself? Yeah.
Good.
I'll pick you up at 6:00.
For what? Want to spoil my Christmas surprise? Dress casual.
Hark, the ball, Rapunzel.
Are you ready? You've got to be kidding me.
It's 20 degrees out there.
Where's your car? You miss half the scenery that way.
Get down here.
Hop on, love.
What's wrong? Nigel, I've got to know what your intentions are.
My intentions? For us.
This weekend? Hopefully, we're gonna get lucky.
See, now that's what I'm talking about.
What, there's a problem with that? Are you gay? Well, what difference would it make if I was or I wasn't? Right now it would make a pretty big difference.
Well, never really gave it much thought.
What are you talking about? All right, I'm staying home, okay? Trey, it's freezing.
I'm not gonna sit here and discuss my sexual proclivities.
Now, you are my friend, you are my colleague, you are not my lover, so get on the back of the bike.
Please? That's it, sweetheart.
Now just hold on to my hips and leave the driving to me.
So I'm looking at the name on the docket and something strikes me.
"Robbie Keating.
" I know this guy.
Varsity baseball Robbie Keating? What'd he do? Check fraud.
You're kidding.
Who knew he could even write? Was he still hot? Oh, smoking.
Oh, he was? Too bad.
I got him eight years.
We'll miss him.
Oh my God, Jordan, look at your hair.
Yeah.
Look at this.
Yeah, the '80s were a bitch, huh? You know, I owe you guys an apology.
For not calling you back.
Jordan, we've been over all that.
The truth is, I just didn't really want to see you.
Well, that hurt.
Well, it's just that we're all in such different places right now.
You know, I mean, you guys have real lives and I've got issues.
And we don't? No, let's be honest.
Look, I love you guys, but do you really want me in a sandbox with your kids? I mean, I might say something and freak them out for life.
Jeez, Jordan, why does everything have to be so damn complicated with you? Nobody is perfect.
And no one is asking you to be.
You're weird, all right.
You always have been and we were friends anyways.
Nothing's changed.
We just wanted to hang out with you, that's all.
We missed you all these years.
Oh, God.
I missed you guys, too, you know.
Hey, hey, hey, don't spill my drink.
Come on.
Oh, please.
We still have half a blender left.
He's gone 2000 miles It's very far The snow is falling down Come here.
It gets colder day by day I miss you I can hear children singing He'll be back at Christmas time Hey, Dad.
Hey, Abby.
2000 miles Is very far through the snow I'll think of you Wherever you go I still can't believe how big that thing is.
Hey, shouldn't I be smelling turkey by now? Oh, about the turkey.
Oh, not again.
I've been meaning to get a new oven.
For 10 years.
You want pepperoni and green peppers? Maybe with a little extra cheese.
It is Christmas.
Make yourself useful and plug this in, please.
Beautiful.
Just beautiful.
Merry Christmas, Jordan.
Merry Christmas, Dad.