S.W.A.T. (2017) s08e16 Episode Script
Hail Mary
1
Previously on SWAT
Andre. Pop, your nephew here tell you
that he got me on the hook
for nine grand?
I'm just not cut out for a nine-to-five.
HONDO: That protein
powder you're selling,
the company behind it's
about to get shut down.
You tried to take a short cut, Andre.
Do you know where I can find
Sergeant David Kay?
- And you are?
- His sister-in-law, Nicole.
You and Nicole are grown-ups.
You're free to do sleepovers.
Just not in my house.
Just texting with Thomas.
Thomas? As in your son?
POWELL: I reached
out after you got his info,
and now we're making plans.
You disobeyed a direct order
from your superior.
You've been waiting for months
for a chance to take a shot at me.
If you think I'm just gonna roll over
- [PHONE RINGS]
- It's the chief of police.
Got a lot to tell him.
[LOUD, INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- [OVERLAPPING CROWD CHATTER]
- [CAMERAS CLICKING]
GAMBLE [OVER COMMS]: Hey, Deac,
we got Kenny Smith coming your way.
All right. All clear for "the Jet."
[CROWD CHEERING]
Y'all efficient as hell, man.
- Feel like I'm with the Secret Service.
- We try.
- How'd it go inside?
- KENNY: It was good.
You know, my cheeks hurt
from all the selfies,
but fans were cool.
Security breach!
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
I just want him to sign this.
It's a limited edition rookie
card. Still in mint condition.
Real quick, please.
Yo, what the hell?
Remember those 20 autographed hats
you had me sign in Vegas last year?
This guy's not a fan.
Just a memorabilia hawker
trying to get new merch to sell.
Pain in my ass, like Charles Barkley.
Let's get you on your way.
[CAR DOOR CLOSES]
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
Commander.
20-Squad's not on for another
couple hours. What's up?
Just checking in, sir.
You hear anything more
from Deputy Chief Bennett?
You mean after she accused me
of insubordination
and alluded to me getting fired? No.
- [SCOFFS]
- Think it was a bluff?
- [PHONE BUZZING]
- Woman's a shark.
It's like she's circling,
waiting to attack.
But I'll be ready when she does.
Hmm.
Yeah, this is Sergeant Harrelson.
He did what?
Uh, is your CO there?
No. I'll call back when he is.
Don't do anything until then. Thank you.
Everything all right?
That was a recruiter
for the Marine Corps
looking for a character reference.
Apparently, my cousin Andre
decided to enlist.
- Is that a problem?
- Yeah.
Andre doesn't stick to his commitments.
He can barely hold down a job.
Now he's signing up for the Marines?
Sir, you know this is something
you can't just quit.
It's a four-year tour, minimum.
Maybe he felt like
he needed a change of pace.
Has he ever expressed
any interest in the military?
No, not to my knowledge.
Something doesn't feel right about this.
Well, listen, you got enough
on your plate.
Don't worry about me and Bennett.
- Hey.
- Hey.
That's a handsome guy. Who is he?
POWELL: It's Jace Graham.
He's my ex-boyfriend from
high school. It's Thomas's dad.
I don't think you mentioned
his name before.
That's 'cause Jace and I haven't
talked in almost 20 years.
We broke up right after I got pregnant.
So what prompted you
to look him up now?
Thomas did some googling,
figured out Jace still lives in L.A.,
and now, he won't stop asking if
he can meet his biological dad.
When that kid gets an idea in his head,
he's like a dog with a bone.
Apple didn't fall far from the tree.
[CHUCKLES] So you think them
meeting up would be a bad idea?
When I told Jace I was pregnant,
he didn't exactly take it well.
That was a long time ago.
You were high schoolers.
Had to be a nightmare scenario.
Yeah, but I honestly have no idea
how he'll react if Thomas reaches out.
I told Thomas it would be smarter for me
to lay the groundwork first.
Feels like a lot of ground to
cover with a Facebook message.
I agree. I'm just working up
the courage to go see him.
Unannounced?
20-Squad's not on for a few more hours.
I already got the approval from Hondo.
Good luck.
GAMBLE: Hey, Deac.
Moss is in an Uber headed to LAX.
Is that the last of your
security company's clients?
Yeah, we are done here. Thank you both
for filling in on such short notice.
Oh, of course.
Oh, anything for you, Deac.
What do you want?
All right, a small favor.
Can you change your
Springsteen concert tickets?
Go on Saturday instead of Sunday?
You got tickets to the Boss at the Bowl?
Yeah, Annie's a big fan,
so I got them as our anniversary gift.
We are going Sunday night, so no.
Besides, those tickets, they've
been sold out for months.
Would you let me try to get you
new ones for Saturday, then?
Why are you so fixated
on changing Deac's concert tickets?
Because Nicole wants
to introduce me
to her best friend, Lexi,
and she's only in town for the weekend.
Just meet Lexi Saturday.
Nicole's not watching our kids
that night.
Saturday's my mom's birthday,
and I always spend
the whole day with her.
I haven't missedone yet.
So, if we can change
your tickets to Saturday,
that'll give Nicole Sunday off.
I can spend the day with my ma
and meet her best friend.
Why not tell Nicole you'll meet
her BFF some other time?
Because meeting Lexi is really
important to Nicole, all right?
And I don't want
to disappoint her or my mom.
Just let me try to get you new tickets.
I'll even cover the cost.
All right, all right,
all right. Have at it.
But I-I just don't think
you're gonna have much luck.
Oh, I'll make it happen. Trust.
GAMBLE: Dude's a shark.
[CHUCKLES] Excuse me.
Did you happen to see Ice Jackson go by?
The star receiver for
Southern Coastal University?
Yes.
I didn't take you for
a college football fan.
SCU's my hometown team, and no,
- sorry, I didn't see him.
- DEACON: Actually, uh,
was he with another
tall, burly kid, lineman build?
Yes, that'd be his roommate, Caleb.
Yeah, I think I saw them going
towards the parking garage.
I'm heading that way.
- Thank you.
- See you.
Yo, Ice, this girl ain't gonna show.
Man, chill, Caleb.
Jersey chasers like her
[SIGHS] love football players like us.
They always show.
Hey, that must be her right there.
She said she'd be in a black SUV.
Whoa. Whoa, man.
Whoa, easy now, I got the wrong car.
Shut up. Get in. Hurry up. Come on.
- I'm Heather, by the way.
- I'm David.
- With Elite Protection.
- Mm.
So are you Ice's agent?
More like unofficial handler.
I work for Southern Coastal University.
SCU likes to keep tabs
on their star athletes.
Ah.
- Especially the young ones.
- That makes sense.
Fame can bring on
a whole bunch of issues,
- especially at that age.
- [GUNSHOTS]
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]
Stay here. Call 911.
MASKED MAN: Get up, huh? Little more.
[GRUNTS]
MASKED MAN: Come on, get him in the car.
Hey, no! Let them go!
- Hey!
- [GUNSHOTS]
Stay down!
Get 'em up, get 'em up, get 'em up!
[SUV ENGINE STARTS]
Who were those guys? [PANTING]
Where'd they take Ice and Caleb?
This is Sergeant David Kay, LAPD SWAT.
What's going on?
I'm reporting a kidnapping in progress.
Hey. You get a look at the suspects?
No. They wore masks.
But I did catch a plate.
Got a BOLO on the SUV.
All right, good.
Those the kidnapping victims?
DEACON: Yeah. Isaiah "Ice" Jackson
and Caleb Webb.
They're 19-year-old sophomores
at Southern Coastal University,
both starters on the football team.
I just got off the phone
with SCU's athletic director.
All other players and coaches
on the football team are safe.
No other threats were reported.
Commander, it seems like Caleb and Ice
were specifically targeted.
Any ransom demands?
None. Looks like we're starting
on our own one yard line with this one.
Ice Jackson's debit card
was used at a bank ATM
in Pacoima 20 minutes ago.
No sign of the victims
when patrol arrived,
but the bank just sent over
security footage.
Get this, the bank said
Ice withdrew the daily
ATM maximum amount for his accounts,
$5,000.
Five grand? Since when do banks
allow college kids
to withdraw that much cash?
Since when do college kids
have that much cash?
Since four years ago,
when NIL money changed the game.
You think name, image,
and likeness money
has something to do with the kidnapping?
Superstar athleteslike Ice
can land big-time endorsements,
sometimes worth millions.
Ice is a projected top-ten pick
in next year's draft.
He's got to have a few of those deals.
And if he does, the kidnappers
aren't even gonna think
about a ransom note.
Talk to Ice's SCU handler,
see what she can tell us
about his NIL money.
Wait a minute.
Right there. That guy ditched his mask.
Any other cameras get
a look at that suspect?
Patrol is canvassing the area
for witnesses and footage.
All right, we'll dig through
any other footage that comes in,
see if we can ID him.
Should I have the bank freeze
- Ice and Caleb's accounts?
- HONDO: No, no, no, no.
If you freeze the accounts
and the suspects try
to withdraw more money,
that could end badly for Caleb and Ice.
Don't freeze the accounts,
but keep tabs on them,
and be ready to roll
if they hit another bank.
Zoe.
Hey, Jace.
It's been a while.
What are you doing here?
It's a long story.
It's about Thomas. My
our son.
He's 20 years old now.
He reached out a while back,
and we started getting to know
each other, and, uh
Well, he's interested in getting
to know his birth father, too,
so I thought that maybe
GIRL: Dad,
can I have another Uncrustable?
JACE: Uh, yes, hon.
I'll grab it in a second.
This really isn't a good time.
Right.
I wouldn't be here
if it weren't for Thomas
I haven't seen you in almost 20 years,
and you show up to ambush me with this?
- I'm not trying to ambush you.
- Then what are you doing?
This was a bad idea. I'm sorry.
You think they abducted Ice
for his NIL money?
Well, we're exploring all options,
which is why we need your help.
How much do you think Ice is worth
with his endorsement deals?
It's hard to say. He's savvy.
He negotiated a few deals for himself,
but it's anyone's guess
how much he was paid.
The university doesn't track it?
They try, but privacy laws
make it complicated.
And he and Caleb never mentioned
getting harassed
or hounded for money by anyone?
No. No, they're both well-liked.
They're good students.
Oh, my God, their families
must be I should call them.
No, it's okay. We've already notified
both sets of parents.
They're on the next flight to L.A.
If I hadn't let them out of my sight,
maybe they'd still be safe.
Oh, hey, don't-don't do that.
Don't-don't put this guilt
onto yourself.
I know how much you care
about these kids,
and you had no way of knowing
what was gonna happen today.
Do you have any idea why Ice and Caleb
were down in that parking garage?
Were they trying
to get a ride with someone?
No. No, no, I-I drove them
to the convention.
I was gonna drive them back, too.
Well, maybe they were lured
to the garage somehow
by whoever kidnapped them.
Did you hear them talk about
meeting up with anyone afterwards?
I heard Ice, uh, tell Caleb
that he was meeting up with some girl
- after Sports Fest.
- Did he mention a name?
Vanessa, I think.
All right.
Let's get a look into
Ice's phone records,
figure out who this Vanessa is.
All right.
Thank you.
HONDO: I got him. Hold tight.
You said it was urgent. What's up?
Enlisting in the Marines?
[CHUCKLES] Yeah, that's right.
What the hell are you
thinking about, Andre?
I was gonna tell you.
I just didn't think
the Marine recruiter guy
would call you so quick.
Why'd you do it?
Seemed like a good opportunity.
"Be all that you can be," right?
That's the Army motto, jackass.
Tell me you didn't do it
for the enlistment bonus.
I bet the recruiter offered you
about 20 grand to sign up.
That was a big part of it, yeah.
Damn it, Andre, we had a plan.
I know.
But I'm gonna use that money
to pay off all my debts,
including all the money I owe
you for that protein powder.
I swear.
You don't join the military
on a whim, man,
and damn sure not for some bonus.
This ain't something
you can drop when you get bored.
I know what I signed up for.
Do you?
Because the Andre I know
wouldn't be able to get pass basic,
much less four years of active duty.
You know, for a second,
I was really proud of myself.
Guess I hoped you would be, too.
- POWELL: These the kidnapping suspects?
- Yup.
Bank's security cameras didn't catch
the kidnappers' faces,
but a nearby dash cam did.
Car's owner's sending over the footage.
Once it's here,
I'll run it through facial rec,
maybe we'll get an ID.
Okay.
Hey, how'd it go with Jace?
Is he open to meeting Thomas?
Probably not.
Things went south fast.
I got so flustered,
I'm not even sure what I said.
You're usually pretty cool
under pressure. What happened?
I think seeing Jace again
brought up feelings and memories.
He was my first serious boyfriend.
I was head-over-heels in love with him.
Crushed me when we broke up.
First love is hard to get over,
but can you put aside those
feelings, on Thomas's behalf?
Yeah. But given how Jace
reacted to seeing me
I think I need to tell Thomas
it might be a lost cause.
Since when do you give up
on lost causes?
You were motivated this morning,
and you went there to say
your piece on Thomas's behalf.
If you really think you did that,
you can throw in the towel. Otherwise
Whoa, don't sprain your thumbs
with all that texting.
What's up?
Oh, I got a line
on house seats for Springsteen,
but I called the promoter's
office and turned on the charm.
I found a ticket sales rep
who'll sell me house seats for Deac,
but only if I get her
something special in return.
Ew, gross.
No, not like that.
She wants a tattoo
from a famous artist named Zaxx.
Mm-hmm. Ah, the Zaxx?
He's Insta-famous,
and booked out for months.
Yeah, but my cousin's kids
go to the same school
- as his kids, so I got an in.
- [PHONE WHOOSHES]
Sweet!
Zaxx said he'll do the tattoo.
But only if I can get him to
a special event at the Magic Castle.
You got a hookup for that, too,
hotshot Miko?
Actually,
I've got another cousin who
dated a magician a while back.
I'll hit him up.
[CHUCKLES]
You got a hit on our suspects
from the dashcam footage?
One of 'em.
Nick May. Record
for possession and assault.
HICKS: Any ties to
the kidnapping victims?
Nothing we've found yet.
No link to the university, either.
DEACON: Traffic camera
spotted our suspects'
SUV traveling northbound
near Burbank Airport.
If only they were dumb enough
to try and board a flight.
Hang on, one of Nick May's LKAs
is a ranch property
out in La Tuna Canyon.
Not far from the BOLO.
It's pretty remote up there.
Easy to hide people
without anyone noticing.
Could be where they're holding
the victims. Get moving.
♪
What are you waiting for?
Feels like a waste of a good truck.
Cops!
Go, go, go!
HONDO: Miko, grab the fire extinguisher.
Caleb and Ice could still be inside.
We got rabbits!
Powell, Gamble, take right!
Tan, you're with me.
Miko, let's go!
As soon as I break the glass.
20-David.
Caleb and Ice are not in the vehicle.
Be on alert.
LAPD!
- [GUNFIRE]
- [GRUNTS]
30-David.
One suspect down.
POWELL: LAPD! Stop!
[GUNSHOTS]
[MAN SCREAMING]
Hands where I can see 'em! Don't move!
Going hands-on.
- On your stomach.
- POWELL: 24-David.
Second suspect in custody.
The team just finished
searching the property.
No sign of Ice, Caleb, or anyone else.
Kidnappers were just using
this place to ditch the vehicle.
So now our best shot
is to get Nick May to talk.
Got Nick May's cell phone.
He texted Ice repeatedly
in the last few days, pretending
to be someone named Vanessa.
He catfished Ice.
And lured him and Caleb to
the garage for the kidnapping.
POWELL: Gets worse.
I found this video on his phone.
Taken less than an hour ago.
MASKED MAN: Where is it?
I swear.
I don't know anything. [GRUNTS]
[GRUNTING]
MASKED MAN: Since you won't talk
[SHOUTING]
Please!
How much longer does that go on?
Almost six minutes.
If Ice and Caleb are still alive,
they don't have much time left.
Nick May isn't talking,
except to tell me to go to hell.
Make any progress
on locating the victims?
Cyber Division's
still scrubbing May's phone
for any data that'll help with that,
but we went through the video
frame by frame,
found this.
Does that billboard say
Bunker Work Boot Outlet?
Yeah, there are more
than two dozen of those
billboards scattered across L.A. county.
We're working on narrowing
down their exact locations.
Maybe that'll help us
find Ice and Caleb.
Find anything on the deceased suspect?
TAN: The second kidnapping
suspect was Steve Hock.
Resident of Bakersfield.
And suspected of three murders
in that area in the past two years.
- Hired gun?
- Most likely.
GND linked both Hock and May
to the Oildale Twenty-Twos.
It's a violent drug gang
out of Bakersfield.
Any ties to the drug trade in L.A.?
None that we've found yet,
but in the torture video,
the suspects kept asking where "it" was.
Sir, this is more than just some felons
preying on a couple
of 19-year-olds with money.
These guys want something,
and it seems that they'll go
to any length to get it.
Did Ice and Caleb's handler mention them
being involved with drugs?
No, never came up.
Bring her back in.
If they got some connection
with this Oildale Twenty-Two gang,
we need to know what it is.
[LINE RINGING]
This is Jace. Leave your name
and number, I'll call you back.
[LINE BEEPS]
Hey, it's Zoe.
I know this morning
came out of the blue,
but I can't just drop it.
Thomas only wants to meet you, Jace.
Nothing else.
I know our history is
six different shades of weird, but
I think you'd be lucky to know your son.
I know I am.
So, please, think it over.
[PHONE BEEPS OFF]
I doubt Caleb or Ice have
ever been to Bakersfield,
much less dealt with
the Oildale Twenty-Twos.
All right. What about drugs?
Do you know if they use them,
even at parties?
[STAMMERS] I can't be sure,
but my guess would be no.
Both those guys are way too focused
on their football careers
to bother with that stuff.
Well, these drug dealers are
after something
that Caleb and Ice have.
Do you have any idea what that might be?
Well, there was an incident
at their dorm
- a few weeks back.
- What kind of incident?
I don't have the full details, but, um,
campus police responded to their dorm.
Said they were looking
for a suspected drug dealer.
Well well, then, why didn't
you mention that before?
Caleb and Ice weren't even there.
The team was at a booster
retreat in Long Beach
that weekend, so the dorm was
basically empty. I just figured
the suspect had
the wrong building or something.
Well, campus PD would know more.
All right, I'll reach out to them.
You got something on the Oildale gang?
The DEA ran a sting two months back.
Took most of the
Twenty-Twos into custody.
By and large, the entire
gang got dismantled.
So a struggling gang decided
to target two college athletes?
That doesn't make sense.
Hopefully, Cyber'll pull
something from May's phone
that'll help us figure out
what's really going on here.
[PHONE BUZZES]
Damn.
The magician my cousin dated
packed up his magic hat
and moved back to Kansas.
So now I'm at a dead end
with the Springsteen tickets.
Unless you know any magicians?
This is nuts, Miko.
Why go through all the trouble?
Just tell your mom and Nicole the truth.
Look, I know this sounds stupid,
but my ma's been through
a lot of heartbreak.
A lot of guys she cared about ended up
disappointing her,
and I refuse to be one of them.
Tell Nicole that.
I'm sure she'll understand.
Maybe.
Look, when I really care about someone,
I'll do anything to make them happy.
Even when it comes at
the expense of your own sanity?
Look, I came from nothing, all right?
All I could give the people
I loved was my time and energy.
It might not be healthy,
but it's who I am.
[SIGHS]
It just sucks knowing I'm gonna have
to disappoint one of them.
Sir, Deacon's on the phone
with SCU campus police,
hoping to get to
the bottom of what happened
at Caleb and Ice's dorm.
Good, 'cause whatever these kids
got themselves into,
we're running short on time
to get them out of it.
- We're on it.
- Hey.
Did you ever get any clarity
on what happened
with your cousin and the Marines?
No.
Andre seems dead set on enlisting.
Logic be damned.
Well, maybe it's for the best.
You know, I knew a few judges back
in the day who would waive
criminal sentencing
in favor of military enlistment.
I mean, even some of the worse cases,
the rigidity of the military
helped turn their lives around.
I mean, you're not wrong, sir.
I mean, Andre could
definitely use some structure
and a support system to thrive.
I just
I don't know
how he's gonna respond to it.
How he responds to it is up to him.
You can't control Andre's life, Hondo,
no matter how badly you want to.
He's got to walk his own path.
Even when you know that path
might be full of landmines?
You've got to let people
make their own mistakes.
That's the only way your
cousin's gonna grow and learn.
Campus police just sent over the report
from the dorm incident
that Heather told us about.
Now, officers responded
to an intruder banging
on Ice and Caleb's door,
screaming that they'd ripped him off.
Looks like campus PD
didn't apprehend the suspect?
No, he fled once he saw the cops.
Ice and Caleb were
out of town at the time.
When officers checked their room,
it didn't look like anything was stolen.
Cyber recovered a deleted video
on Nick May's cellphone.
Just tell us where the Molly is,
and this'll all be over.
CALEB: I don't have your drugs, I swear.
MASKED MAN: [GRUNTS] Don't lie.
You staged that deal to rip us off.
Please, just let us go.
NICK: They haven't broken yet.
What if they're telling the truth?
No. No.
[SHOUTING]
Did he say Molly, as in MDMA?
It must be the "it" he referred
to earlier in the video.
The suspects want revenge for
some kind of busted drug deal,
and they're blaming
Ice and Caleb for it.
What if the drug deal went down
in their room
while they were out of town?
What if it was someone else?
Their dorm room is on the first floor.
So whoever staged the deal
could've jumped the drop man,
locked the door, escaped out the window.
TAN: The same person who coordinated
the deal might've called
the cops, used 'em
as a distraction to escape.
The person who called campus PD
is listed as anonymous,
but the phone number traces back
- DEACON: to a Mike Reynolds.
- Hang on, Mike Reynolds.
He's the resident advisor for that dorm.
It's an RA's job to call the police.
Why call in anonymously?
Not sure, but an RA
would have key access
to Ice and Caleb's room.
Look, eventually,
the suspects are gonna realize
that Ice and Caleb
are telling the truth,
and they're gonna want
to find the person
who actually ripped them off.
We need to find this Mike Reynolds ASAP.
The RA's in room 106,
- ground floor.
- [STUDENTS SCREAMING]
There's a guy with a gun that way.
Get outside.
24-David. Reports of
an armed suspect
Southern Coastal University.
North Dormitory. Cover now.
Okay, I'll do whatever you want,
just don't kill me!
LAPD! Drop the weapon!
- [GRUNTS]
- Runner!
I got Reynolds.
Tan, I got your six.
Turn around.
Stop right there!
Hands in the air!
[GRUNTS]
Hands where I can see them!
DEACON: Where are Ice and Caleb?
By the time you find 'em,
they'll already be dead.
I don't understand.
That dude attacked me.
- Why am I in handcuffs?
- We don't have time for you
to play the victim, Mike.
We need you to tell us
who kidnapped Caleb
Webb and Ice Jackson.
- POWELL: How would I know?
- Because whoever
kidnapped them is the same person
that you stole drugs from.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Cut the crap.
I swear
I don't know anything. [GRUNTS]
Watch it!
[ELECTRICITY CRACKLING, CALEB SHOUTING]
CALEB: Please! [SHOUTING]
Two innocent young men might die
because of you.
So let's try this again, shall we?
Why did you rip off
the Oildale Twenty-Twos?
I don't know any Twenty-Twos.
I-I dealt with some guy named Bird.
- Is that his real name?
- I don't know.
A friend said
Bird could get me some Molly.
He does all his business
through social media,
so I got his handle,
messaged him from a burner
account, and set up a meet.
If he was gonna sell you the
drugs, why'd you rip him off?
'Cause I couldn't get
the cash together in time.
I'm not rich like
some of these football players.
You were jealous of Caleb
and Ice's NIL money, huh?
So you staged the drug deal
in their dorm room,
in case anything went down,
they'd take the fall.
It wasn't until later
that I realized that Bird's
got a rep for being a stone-cold psycho.
I was so scared, I didn't even
sell the Molly I stole.
It's still in a bag under my bed.
I didn't mean for this to go this far,
- Save it.
- I swear
If those two young men wind up dead,
I will personally ensure that
a judge throws the book at you.
Play clock's running low,
tell me we found something.
All right, the suspect
Tan arrested at the dorm
is Henry Labeau, a drug dealer
with ties to the Oildale Twenty-Twos.
Now, Labeau's cousin is Tim Birddell.
That's got to be the "Bird" Mike
Reynolds stole the drugs from.
Birddell was rumored
to be second in command
of the Twenty-Twos, until he escaped
the DEA raid two months back.
Nobody'd been able to locate him since.
Well, probably because he moved to L.A.
to restart his drug business.
Yeah, well, DEA sources
say Bird is ruthless,
and likes to record himself
torturing his rivals
as an intimidation tactic.
Well, definitely sounds like our guy.
- [DOOR OPENS]
- Did some digging.
Tim Birddell's uncle owned
a metal fabrication plant in Vernon.
The company went out of
business a few years back,
but the family still owns the property.
Pull that up on street view.
There.
Billboard in the back.
That's where they're holding
Caleb and Ice.
I'll alert Newton Division. Go, go.
[PANTING]
Ice?
No. Ice.
No!
Ice!
[LINE RINGING]
Henry's not picking up.
You think something's wrong?
Not gonna wait around to find out.
Kill those two.
Meet me in the van out back.
One of 'em might be dead already.
Make sure of it.
[SHOUTING]
[GUNSHOTS]
[GRUNTS]
One suspect down!
HONDO: We got two suspects on the move.
Patrol, cover all exits to the building.
Deac and Gamble, look for our victims.
Split up, heads on a swivel.
♪
♪
[GUNFIRE]
Moving!
[GRUNTING]
Don't move!
On your stomach!
24-David.
One suspect in custody.
[SIRENS WAILING]
[TIRES SCREECH]
Miko.
♪
[GASPS]
Right side clear.
Left side clear.
GAMBLE: Okay, it's gonna be okay, Caleb.
[GRUNTING]
You got to help Ice.
He's bad, man.
I think he's dead.
I got you.
You're okay.
Geez.
[GRUNTS]
Oh, man.
He's got a real faint pulse.
26-David. Requesting emergency transport
at 7000 Fredrick Street.
Two adult males.
Badly beaten. Need it ASAP.
DEACON: All right, hey.
Ice?
Can you hear me?
Ice, if you can hear me, open your eyes.
♪
[PANTING]
LAPD! Don't move!
[GUNSHOTS]
[GRUNTS]
20-David. Last suspect's
headed to the roof.
Making a run for it.
In pursuit.
Hey, Ice, are you there?
Can you hear me?
I need you to open your eyes
if you can hear me, buddy.
[FAINT EXHALE]
Hey, there he is.
There you go, Ice.
Hey, Ice, my name's David.
I'm a police officer.
Help's on the way, okay?
Am I gonna die?
Hell no.
No, but I need you to focus on me, okay?
You fight off that sleep.
26-David. Need that R/A yesterday.
♪
HONDO: 20-David. I'm on the roof.
25-David.
Coming right behind you, Hondo.
[GRUNTING]
[GROANS]
[GRUNTING]
[GROANS]
[STRAINING]
- [GRUNTS]
- [GROANS]
[GROANS]
[GRUNTING]
[GROANS]
[GUNSHOTS]
[PANTING]
You good, boss?
Yeah.
20-David.
Last suspect down.
Deac and Gamble, what's your status?
Hondo, we have Caleb and Ice.
EMTs are on the way.
DEACON: No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Hey, come on, come on, come on.
Hey, Ice.
Stay with me. Come on.
[PANTING]
Look at me.
Tell me about that game against Oregon.
You had, what,
300 yards? [PANTING]
Three TD's.
Yeah, that's right.
That touchdown in the third,
the out route,
that was that was a thing of beauty.
You made the corner look
look damn slow.
Didn't you catch that
game-winning Hail Mary, too?
Hell yeah, he did.
Jumped clear over three guys to get it.
That's what they get for talking trash.
[CHUCKLES] Damn right.
- MAN: EMS!
- Hey, guys!
- In here!
- Let's go!
Come on. Come on.
Please don't leave me.
I won't.
Hi. Hey.
I'm not going anywhere.
Gonna ride in the ambulance with you.
Caleb will be right behind us.
I got you.
♪
That is great news. Thank you.
Thank you.
Yeah. Yeah.
Hey.
So, despite their injuries,
the doctors said that Ice and Caleb
are expected to make a full recovery.
Oh, my God.
- Oh.
- Thank you.
[CHUCKLES] Hey, the credit goes to them.
Those kids are real fighters.
And, uh, he said
that visitors can see 'em soon.
Great. Yeah, their families
should be arriving any minute.
[BOTH CHUCKLE SOFTLY]
Wow, I can't imagine what
would've happened if
if our paths hadn't
crossed this morning.
Well, right place, right time.
Actually, wrong place, wrong time?
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
[CLEARS THROAT]
You know, I
I mean, once everything
calms down a bit, I'd
I'd really love to take you to dinner,
say thank you.
Oh. Uh, I appreciate that, but
I'm married.
I hope I didn't give you
the wrong impression.
Mm.
Can't blame a girl for trying.
Right?
Well
thanks again, David.
You take care.
Just heard Caleb and Ice
are gonna pull through.
Oh, thank God.
Well, at least something
worked out well today.
I take it your grand Springsteen
ticket scheme didn't work out?
No.
I was just about to text Deac,
let him know.
[SCOFFS] All that hard work for nothing.
Well, hold up on that text.
An old patrol partner of mine
works out of the Hollywood Division.
He's the only one
that still talks to me.
But that's beside the point.
I gave him a call, and it turns out
he's got the magical in you need
to make your crazy plan work.
No way.
He can get Zaxx inside the Magic Castle?
Which will trigger the tattoo
and then your house seats
and so on, so now you get
to spend the proper amount
of time with the two
- leading ladies in your life.
- [GRUNTS] Hell yeah!
[LAUGHING] Oh! Wait,
how much do I owe you for this favor?
Well, the way you were talking
about your mom and Nicole,
I know it really means
- a lot to you.
- It does.
And it's super important.
Name your price.
You don't owe me anything, Miko.
We're family.
Aw.
You are the best.
[SMOOCHES] Love you!
♪
POWELL: Hi.
I got your text. Thank you
for being willing to listen.
Yeah. I-I didn't mean
to be rude earlier.
It was my visitation day with
my daughter and my ex was
on her way, so you just
showing up kind of threw me for a loop.
I know the feeling.
Yeah.
About Thomas
Do you want to come inside?
Maybe make this convo
four percent less awkward?
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY] I love awkward.
Can't you tell?
[CHUCKLES]
It's good to see you, Zoe.
[SOFTLY]: You, too.
Come on in. I want to hear about Thomas.
Okay.
Thanks for stopping by.
[SIGHS]
You finna yell at me again, I'm out.
I was out of line earlier.
But we need to hash
some things out, man-to-man.
Have a seat.
[SIGHS]
[GRUNTS]
Enlisting in the military's a big deal.
It's life-altering.
I know.
That's why I did it.
Not for the money?
The money helps.
It's just
[SIGHS]
All right, why don't we do this
pretend I'm that Marine recruiter.
Tell me why you want to join the Corps.
- You serious?
- Oh, I'm dead-ass serious.
[CLEARS THROAT]
Because I feel like my life
has been out of control for a while now.
I had money issues,
family issues,
lady drama.
Started losing track
of which way was up.
But then, a couple of months back,
my cousin started helping me out.
Trying to support me,
keep me honest.
I resisted it at first.
But my cousin has his life together
in a way that I definitely don't.
Helped me realize
if I really want to make
something of myself,
I need some structure and discipline.
And I know the military
will provide that.
You know this ain't gonna be
no cakewalk, right?
Basic's hell on earth.
And God only knows where
you're gonna get deployed after.
I know.
But for once in my life,
I feel like I'm making the right choice
for me.
[SIGHS]
All right.
Then I'm gonna call that recruiter back,
and tell him the truth.
The Corps is gonna be damn lucky
to have another Harrelson
in their ranks.
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
Oorah.
Ah.
Thank you.
[SIGHS]
Yeah.
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY] This is so sick.
Well, it sounds like you two
are feeling better.
Sergeant.
We were just talking
about you. I'm Jerry.
The one and only. I'm Hondo.
It's an honor to meet you. [CHUCKLES]
Well, I thought I'd stop by
before work to see
how you fellas were doing, but
looks like somebody beat me to it.
- You good?
- Better now.
Okay, Deac, you got to fill me in.
How do the two of you know each other?
I just called in a favor with a friend.
Yeah. Never play poker with
Kenny "the Jet" Smith.
He's more like Kenny "the Shark."
[CHUCKLING]
HONDO: Hey, kid.
You okay?
Just thinking
about how hard it's gonna be
to get back on the field.
Back to what I was.
Damn right it's gonna be hard.
But you've got that drive
in you to be great.
I've seen it when you play.
JERRY: You know, he's not wrong.
I believe you could be something
real special in the NFL.
But you got to believe it, too.
HONDO: That's right.
I can't follow that.
The GOAT has spoken.
[CHUCKLING]
Previously on SWAT
Andre. Pop, your nephew here tell you
that he got me on the hook
for nine grand?
I'm just not cut out for a nine-to-five.
HONDO: That protein
powder you're selling,
the company behind it's
about to get shut down.
You tried to take a short cut, Andre.
Do you know where I can find
Sergeant David Kay?
- And you are?
- His sister-in-law, Nicole.
You and Nicole are grown-ups.
You're free to do sleepovers.
Just not in my house.
Just texting with Thomas.
Thomas? As in your son?
POWELL: I reached
out after you got his info,
and now we're making plans.
You disobeyed a direct order
from your superior.
You've been waiting for months
for a chance to take a shot at me.
If you think I'm just gonna roll over
- [PHONE RINGS]
- It's the chief of police.
Got a lot to tell him.
[LOUD, INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- [OVERLAPPING CROWD CHATTER]
- [CAMERAS CLICKING]
GAMBLE [OVER COMMS]: Hey, Deac,
we got Kenny Smith coming your way.
All right. All clear for "the Jet."
[CROWD CHEERING]
Y'all efficient as hell, man.
- Feel like I'm with the Secret Service.
- We try.
- How'd it go inside?
- KENNY: It was good.
You know, my cheeks hurt
from all the selfies,
but fans were cool.
Security breach!
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
I just want him to sign this.
It's a limited edition rookie
card. Still in mint condition.
Real quick, please.
Yo, what the hell?
Remember those 20 autographed hats
you had me sign in Vegas last year?
This guy's not a fan.
Just a memorabilia hawker
trying to get new merch to sell.
Pain in my ass, like Charles Barkley.
Let's get you on your way.
[CAR DOOR CLOSES]
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
Commander.
20-Squad's not on for another
couple hours. What's up?
Just checking in, sir.
You hear anything more
from Deputy Chief Bennett?
You mean after she accused me
of insubordination
and alluded to me getting fired? No.
- [SCOFFS]
- Think it was a bluff?
- [PHONE BUZZING]
- Woman's a shark.
It's like she's circling,
waiting to attack.
But I'll be ready when she does.
Hmm.
Yeah, this is Sergeant Harrelson.
He did what?
Uh, is your CO there?
No. I'll call back when he is.
Don't do anything until then. Thank you.
Everything all right?
That was a recruiter
for the Marine Corps
looking for a character reference.
Apparently, my cousin Andre
decided to enlist.
- Is that a problem?
- Yeah.
Andre doesn't stick to his commitments.
He can barely hold down a job.
Now he's signing up for the Marines?
Sir, you know this is something
you can't just quit.
It's a four-year tour, minimum.
Maybe he felt like
he needed a change of pace.
Has he ever expressed
any interest in the military?
No, not to my knowledge.
Something doesn't feel right about this.
Well, listen, you got enough
on your plate.
Don't worry about me and Bennett.
- Hey.
- Hey.
That's a handsome guy. Who is he?
POWELL: It's Jace Graham.
He's my ex-boyfriend from
high school. It's Thomas's dad.
I don't think you mentioned
his name before.
That's 'cause Jace and I haven't
talked in almost 20 years.
We broke up right after I got pregnant.
So what prompted you
to look him up now?
Thomas did some googling,
figured out Jace still lives in L.A.,
and now, he won't stop asking if
he can meet his biological dad.
When that kid gets an idea in his head,
he's like a dog with a bone.
Apple didn't fall far from the tree.
[CHUCKLES] So you think them
meeting up would be a bad idea?
When I told Jace I was pregnant,
he didn't exactly take it well.
That was a long time ago.
You were high schoolers.
Had to be a nightmare scenario.
Yeah, but I honestly have no idea
how he'll react if Thomas reaches out.
I told Thomas it would be smarter for me
to lay the groundwork first.
Feels like a lot of ground to
cover with a Facebook message.
I agree. I'm just working up
the courage to go see him.
Unannounced?
20-Squad's not on for a few more hours.
I already got the approval from Hondo.
Good luck.
GAMBLE: Hey, Deac.
Moss is in an Uber headed to LAX.
Is that the last of your
security company's clients?
Yeah, we are done here. Thank you both
for filling in on such short notice.
Oh, of course.
Oh, anything for you, Deac.
What do you want?
All right, a small favor.
Can you change your
Springsteen concert tickets?
Go on Saturday instead of Sunday?
You got tickets to the Boss at the Bowl?
Yeah, Annie's a big fan,
so I got them as our anniversary gift.
We are going Sunday night, so no.
Besides, those tickets, they've
been sold out for months.
Would you let me try to get you
new ones for Saturday, then?
Why are you so fixated
on changing Deac's concert tickets?
Because Nicole wants
to introduce me
to her best friend, Lexi,
and she's only in town for the weekend.
Just meet Lexi Saturday.
Nicole's not watching our kids
that night.
Saturday's my mom's birthday,
and I always spend
the whole day with her.
I haven't missedone yet.
So, if we can change
your tickets to Saturday,
that'll give Nicole Sunday off.
I can spend the day with my ma
and meet her best friend.
Why not tell Nicole you'll meet
her BFF some other time?
Because meeting Lexi is really
important to Nicole, all right?
And I don't want
to disappoint her or my mom.
Just let me try to get you new tickets.
I'll even cover the cost.
All right, all right,
all right. Have at it.
But I-I just don't think
you're gonna have much luck.
Oh, I'll make it happen. Trust.
GAMBLE: Dude's a shark.
[CHUCKLES] Excuse me.
Did you happen to see Ice Jackson go by?
The star receiver for
Southern Coastal University?
Yes.
I didn't take you for
a college football fan.
SCU's my hometown team, and no,
- sorry, I didn't see him.
- DEACON: Actually, uh,
was he with another
tall, burly kid, lineman build?
Yes, that'd be his roommate, Caleb.
Yeah, I think I saw them going
towards the parking garage.
I'm heading that way.
- Thank you.
- See you.
Yo, Ice, this girl ain't gonna show.
Man, chill, Caleb.
Jersey chasers like her
[SIGHS] love football players like us.
They always show.
Hey, that must be her right there.
She said she'd be in a black SUV.
Whoa. Whoa, man.
Whoa, easy now, I got the wrong car.
Shut up. Get in. Hurry up. Come on.
- I'm Heather, by the way.
- I'm David.
- With Elite Protection.
- Mm.
So are you Ice's agent?
More like unofficial handler.
I work for Southern Coastal University.
SCU likes to keep tabs
on their star athletes.
Ah.
- Especially the young ones.
- That makes sense.
Fame can bring on
a whole bunch of issues,
- especially at that age.
- [GUNSHOTS]
[INDISTINCT SHOUTING]
Stay here. Call 911.
MASKED MAN: Get up, huh? Little more.
[GRUNTS]
MASKED MAN: Come on, get him in the car.
Hey, no! Let them go!
- Hey!
- [GUNSHOTS]
Stay down!
Get 'em up, get 'em up, get 'em up!
[SUV ENGINE STARTS]
Who were those guys? [PANTING]
Where'd they take Ice and Caleb?
This is Sergeant David Kay, LAPD SWAT.
What's going on?
I'm reporting a kidnapping in progress.
Hey. You get a look at the suspects?
No. They wore masks.
But I did catch a plate.
Got a BOLO on the SUV.
All right, good.
Those the kidnapping victims?
DEACON: Yeah. Isaiah "Ice" Jackson
and Caleb Webb.
They're 19-year-old sophomores
at Southern Coastal University,
both starters on the football team.
I just got off the phone
with SCU's athletic director.
All other players and coaches
on the football team are safe.
No other threats were reported.
Commander, it seems like Caleb and Ice
were specifically targeted.
Any ransom demands?
None. Looks like we're starting
on our own one yard line with this one.
Ice Jackson's debit card
was used at a bank ATM
in Pacoima 20 minutes ago.
No sign of the victims
when patrol arrived,
but the bank just sent over
security footage.
Get this, the bank said
Ice withdrew the daily
ATM maximum amount for his accounts,
$5,000.
Five grand? Since when do banks
allow college kids
to withdraw that much cash?
Since when do college kids
have that much cash?
Since four years ago,
when NIL money changed the game.
You think name, image,
and likeness money
has something to do with the kidnapping?
Superstar athleteslike Ice
can land big-time endorsements,
sometimes worth millions.
Ice is a projected top-ten pick
in next year's draft.
He's got to have a few of those deals.
And if he does, the kidnappers
aren't even gonna think
about a ransom note.
Talk to Ice's SCU handler,
see what she can tell us
about his NIL money.
Wait a minute.
Right there. That guy ditched his mask.
Any other cameras get
a look at that suspect?
Patrol is canvassing the area
for witnesses and footage.
All right, we'll dig through
any other footage that comes in,
see if we can ID him.
Should I have the bank freeze
- Ice and Caleb's accounts?
- HONDO: No, no, no, no.
If you freeze the accounts
and the suspects try
to withdraw more money,
that could end badly for Caleb and Ice.
Don't freeze the accounts,
but keep tabs on them,
and be ready to roll
if they hit another bank.
Zoe.
Hey, Jace.
It's been a while.
What are you doing here?
It's a long story.
It's about Thomas. My
our son.
He's 20 years old now.
He reached out a while back,
and we started getting to know
each other, and, uh
Well, he's interested in getting
to know his birth father, too,
so I thought that maybe
GIRL: Dad,
can I have another Uncrustable?
JACE: Uh, yes, hon.
I'll grab it in a second.
This really isn't a good time.
Right.
I wouldn't be here
if it weren't for Thomas
I haven't seen you in almost 20 years,
and you show up to ambush me with this?
- I'm not trying to ambush you.
- Then what are you doing?
This was a bad idea. I'm sorry.
You think they abducted Ice
for his NIL money?
Well, we're exploring all options,
which is why we need your help.
How much do you think Ice is worth
with his endorsement deals?
It's hard to say. He's savvy.
He negotiated a few deals for himself,
but it's anyone's guess
how much he was paid.
The university doesn't track it?
They try, but privacy laws
make it complicated.
And he and Caleb never mentioned
getting harassed
or hounded for money by anyone?
No. No, they're both well-liked.
They're good students.
Oh, my God, their families
must be I should call them.
No, it's okay. We've already notified
both sets of parents.
They're on the next flight to L.A.
If I hadn't let them out of my sight,
maybe they'd still be safe.
Oh, hey, don't-don't do that.
Don't-don't put this guilt
onto yourself.
I know how much you care
about these kids,
and you had no way of knowing
what was gonna happen today.
Do you have any idea why Ice and Caleb
were down in that parking garage?
Were they trying
to get a ride with someone?
No. No, no, I-I drove them
to the convention.
I was gonna drive them back, too.
Well, maybe they were lured
to the garage somehow
by whoever kidnapped them.
Did you hear them talk about
meeting up with anyone afterwards?
I heard Ice, uh, tell Caleb
that he was meeting up with some girl
- after Sports Fest.
- Did he mention a name?
Vanessa, I think.
All right.
Let's get a look into
Ice's phone records,
figure out who this Vanessa is.
All right.
Thank you.
HONDO: I got him. Hold tight.
You said it was urgent. What's up?
Enlisting in the Marines?
[CHUCKLES] Yeah, that's right.
What the hell are you
thinking about, Andre?
I was gonna tell you.
I just didn't think
the Marine recruiter guy
would call you so quick.
Why'd you do it?
Seemed like a good opportunity.
"Be all that you can be," right?
That's the Army motto, jackass.
Tell me you didn't do it
for the enlistment bonus.
I bet the recruiter offered you
about 20 grand to sign up.
That was a big part of it, yeah.
Damn it, Andre, we had a plan.
I know.
But I'm gonna use that money
to pay off all my debts,
including all the money I owe
you for that protein powder.
I swear.
You don't join the military
on a whim, man,
and damn sure not for some bonus.
This ain't something
you can drop when you get bored.
I know what I signed up for.
Do you?
Because the Andre I know
wouldn't be able to get pass basic,
much less four years of active duty.
You know, for a second,
I was really proud of myself.
Guess I hoped you would be, too.
- POWELL: These the kidnapping suspects?
- Yup.
Bank's security cameras didn't catch
the kidnappers' faces,
but a nearby dash cam did.
Car's owner's sending over the footage.
Once it's here,
I'll run it through facial rec,
maybe we'll get an ID.
Okay.
Hey, how'd it go with Jace?
Is he open to meeting Thomas?
Probably not.
Things went south fast.
I got so flustered,
I'm not even sure what I said.
You're usually pretty cool
under pressure. What happened?
I think seeing Jace again
brought up feelings and memories.
He was my first serious boyfriend.
I was head-over-heels in love with him.
Crushed me when we broke up.
First love is hard to get over,
but can you put aside those
feelings, on Thomas's behalf?
Yeah. But given how Jace
reacted to seeing me
I think I need to tell Thomas
it might be a lost cause.
Since when do you give up
on lost causes?
You were motivated this morning,
and you went there to say
your piece on Thomas's behalf.
If you really think you did that,
you can throw in the towel. Otherwise
Whoa, don't sprain your thumbs
with all that texting.
What's up?
Oh, I got a line
on house seats for Springsteen,
but I called the promoter's
office and turned on the charm.
I found a ticket sales rep
who'll sell me house seats for Deac,
but only if I get her
something special in return.
Ew, gross.
No, not like that.
She wants a tattoo
from a famous artist named Zaxx.
Mm-hmm. Ah, the Zaxx?
He's Insta-famous,
and booked out for months.
Yeah, but my cousin's kids
go to the same school
- as his kids, so I got an in.
- [PHONE WHOOSHES]
Sweet!
Zaxx said he'll do the tattoo.
But only if I can get him to
a special event at the Magic Castle.
You got a hookup for that, too,
hotshot Miko?
Actually,
I've got another cousin who
dated a magician a while back.
I'll hit him up.
[CHUCKLES]
You got a hit on our suspects
from the dashcam footage?
One of 'em.
Nick May. Record
for possession and assault.
HICKS: Any ties to
the kidnapping victims?
Nothing we've found yet.
No link to the university, either.
DEACON: Traffic camera
spotted our suspects'
SUV traveling northbound
near Burbank Airport.
If only they were dumb enough
to try and board a flight.
Hang on, one of Nick May's LKAs
is a ranch property
out in La Tuna Canyon.
Not far from the BOLO.
It's pretty remote up there.
Easy to hide people
without anyone noticing.
Could be where they're holding
the victims. Get moving.
♪
What are you waiting for?
Feels like a waste of a good truck.
Cops!
Go, go, go!
HONDO: Miko, grab the fire extinguisher.
Caleb and Ice could still be inside.
We got rabbits!
Powell, Gamble, take right!
Tan, you're with me.
Miko, let's go!
As soon as I break the glass.
20-David.
Caleb and Ice are not in the vehicle.
Be on alert.
LAPD!
- [GUNFIRE]
- [GRUNTS]
30-David.
One suspect down.
POWELL: LAPD! Stop!
[GUNSHOTS]
[MAN SCREAMING]
Hands where I can see 'em! Don't move!
Going hands-on.
- On your stomach.
- POWELL: 24-David.
Second suspect in custody.
The team just finished
searching the property.
No sign of Ice, Caleb, or anyone else.
Kidnappers were just using
this place to ditch the vehicle.
So now our best shot
is to get Nick May to talk.
Got Nick May's cell phone.
He texted Ice repeatedly
in the last few days, pretending
to be someone named Vanessa.
He catfished Ice.
And lured him and Caleb to
the garage for the kidnapping.
POWELL: Gets worse.
I found this video on his phone.
Taken less than an hour ago.
MASKED MAN: Where is it?
I swear.
I don't know anything. [GRUNTS]
[GRUNTING]
MASKED MAN: Since you won't talk
[SHOUTING]
Please!
How much longer does that go on?
Almost six minutes.
If Ice and Caleb are still alive,
they don't have much time left.
Nick May isn't talking,
except to tell me to go to hell.
Make any progress
on locating the victims?
Cyber Division's
still scrubbing May's phone
for any data that'll help with that,
but we went through the video
frame by frame,
found this.
Does that billboard say
Bunker Work Boot Outlet?
Yeah, there are more
than two dozen of those
billboards scattered across L.A. county.
We're working on narrowing
down their exact locations.
Maybe that'll help us
find Ice and Caleb.
Find anything on the deceased suspect?
TAN: The second kidnapping
suspect was Steve Hock.
Resident of Bakersfield.
And suspected of three murders
in that area in the past two years.
- Hired gun?
- Most likely.
GND linked both Hock and May
to the Oildale Twenty-Twos.
It's a violent drug gang
out of Bakersfield.
Any ties to the drug trade in L.A.?
None that we've found yet,
but in the torture video,
the suspects kept asking where "it" was.
Sir, this is more than just some felons
preying on a couple
of 19-year-olds with money.
These guys want something,
and it seems that they'll go
to any length to get it.
Did Ice and Caleb's handler mention them
being involved with drugs?
No, never came up.
Bring her back in.
If they got some connection
with this Oildale Twenty-Two gang,
we need to know what it is.
[LINE RINGING]
This is Jace. Leave your name
and number, I'll call you back.
[LINE BEEPS]
Hey, it's Zoe.
I know this morning
came out of the blue,
but I can't just drop it.
Thomas only wants to meet you, Jace.
Nothing else.
I know our history is
six different shades of weird, but
I think you'd be lucky to know your son.
I know I am.
So, please, think it over.
[PHONE BEEPS OFF]
I doubt Caleb or Ice have
ever been to Bakersfield,
much less dealt with
the Oildale Twenty-Twos.
All right. What about drugs?
Do you know if they use them,
even at parties?
[STAMMERS] I can't be sure,
but my guess would be no.
Both those guys are way too focused
on their football careers
to bother with that stuff.
Well, these drug dealers are
after something
that Caleb and Ice have.
Do you have any idea what that might be?
Well, there was an incident
at their dorm
- a few weeks back.
- What kind of incident?
I don't have the full details, but, um,
campus police responded to their dorm.
Said they were looking
for a suspected drug dealer.
Well well, then, why didn't
you mention that before?
Caleb and Ice weren't even there.
The team was at a booster
retreat in Long Beach
that weekend, so the dorm was
basically empty. I just figured
the suspect had
the wrong building or something.
Well, campus PD would know more.
All right, I'll reach out to them.
You got something on the Oildale gang?
The DEA ran a sting two months back.
Took most of the
Twenty-Twos into custody.
By and large, the entire
gang got dismantled.
So a struggling gang decided
to target two college athletes?
That doesn't make sense.
Hopefully, Cyber'll pull
something from May's phone
that'll help us figure out
what's really going on here.
[PHONE BUZZES]
Damn.
The magician my cousin dated
packed up his magic hat
and moved back to Kansas.
So now I'm at a dead end
with the Springsteen tickets.
Unless you know any magicians?
This is nuts, Miko.
Why go through all the trouble?
Just tell your mom and Nicole the truth.
Look, I know this sounds stupid,
but my ma's been through
a lot of heartbreak.
A lot of guys she cared about ended up
disappointing her,
and I refuse to be one of them.
Tell Nicole that.
I'm sure she'll understand.
Maybe.
Look, when I really care about someone,
I'll do anything to make them happy.
Even when it comes at
the expense of your own sanity?
Look, I came from nothing, all right?
All I could give the people
I loved was my time and energy.
It might not be healthy,
but it's who I am.
[SIGHS]
It just sucks knowing I'm gonna have
to disappoint one of them.
Sir, Deacon's on the phone
with SCU campus police,
hoping to get to
the bottom of what happened
at Caleb and Ice's dorm.
Good, 'cause whatever these kids
got themselves into,
we're running short on time
to get them out of it.
- We're on it.
- Hey.
Did you ever get any clarity
on what happened
with your cousin and the Marines?
No.
Andre seems dead set on enlisting.
Logic be damned.
Well, maybe it's for the best.
You know, I knew a few judges back
in the day who would waive
criminal sentencing
in favor of military enlistment.
I mean, even some of the worse cases,
the rigidity of the military
helped turn their lives around.
I mean, you're not wrong, sir.
I mean, Andre could
definitely use some structure
and a support system to thrive.
I just
I don't know
how he's gonna respond to it.
How he responds to it is up to him.
You can't control Andre's life, Hondo,
no matter how badly you want to.
He's got to walk his own path.
Even when you know that path
might be full of landmines?
You've got to let people
make their own mistakes.
That's the only way your
cousin's gonna grow and learn.
Campus police just sent over the report
from the dorm incident
that Heather told us about.
Now, officers responded
to an intruder banging
on Ice and Caleb's door,
screaming that they'd ripped him off.
Looks like campus PD
didn't apprehend the suspect?
No, he fled once he saw the cops.
Ice and Caleb were
out of town at the time.
When officers checked their room,
it didn't look like anything was stolen.
Cyber recovered a deleted video
on Nick May's cellphone.
Just tell us where the Molly is,
and this'll all be over.
CALEB: I don't have your drugs, I swear.
MASKED MAN: [GRUNTS] Don't lie.
You staged that deal to rip us off.
Please, just let us go.
NICK: They haven't broken yet.
What if they're telling the truth?
No. No.
[SHOUTING]
Did he say Molly, as in MDMA?
It must be the "it" he referred
to earlier in the video.
The suspects want revenge for
some kind of busted drug deal,
and they're blaming
Ice and Caleb for it.
What if the drug deal went down
in their room
while they were out of town?
What if it was someone else?
Their dorm room is on the first floor.
So whoever staged the deal
could've jumped the drop man,
locked the door, escaped out the window.
TAN: The same person who coordinated
the deal might've called
the cops, used 'em
as a distraction to escape.
The person who called campus PD
is listed as anonymous,
but the phone number traces back
- DEACON: to a Mike Reynolds.
- Hang on, Mike Reynolds.
He's the resident advisor for that dorm.
It's an RA's job to call the police.
Why call in anonymously?
Not sure, but an RA
would have key access
to Ice and Caleb's room.
Look, eventually,
the suspects are gonna realize
that Ice and Caleb
are telling the truth,
and they're gonna want
to find the person
who actually ripped them off.
We need to find this Mike Reynolds ASAP.
The RA's in room 106,
- ground floor.
- [STUDENTS SCREAMING]
There's a guy with a gun that way.
Get outside.
24-David. Reports of
an armed suspect
Southern Coastal University.
North Dormitory. Cover now.
Okay, I'll do whatever you want,
just don't kill me!
LAPD! Drop the weapon!
- [GRUNTS]
- Runner!
I got Reynolds.
Tan, I got your six.
Turn around.
Stop right there!
Hands in the air!
[GRUNTS]
Hands where I can see them!
DEACON: Where are Ice and Caleb?
By the time you find 'em,
they'll already be dead.
I don't understand.
That dude attacked me.
- Why am I in handcuffs?
- We don't have time for you
to play the victim, Mike.
We need you to tell us
who kidnapped Caleb
Webb and Ice Jackson.
- POWELL: How would I know?
- Because whoever
kidnapped them is the same person
that you stole drugs from.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Cut the crap.
I swear
I don't know anything. [GRUNTS]
Watch it!
[ELECTRICITY CRACKLING, CALEB SHOUTING]
CALEB: Please! [SHOUTING]
Two innocent young men might die
because of you.
So let's try this again, shall we?
Why did you rip off
the Oildale Twenty-Twos?
I don't know any Twenty-Twos.
I-I dealt with some guy named Bird.
- Is that his real name?
- I don't know.
A friend said
Bird could get me some Molly.
He does all his business
through social media,
so I got his handle,
messaged him from a burner
account, and set up a meet.
If he was gonna sell you the
drugs, why'd you rip him off?
'Cause I couldn't get
the cash together in time.
I'm not rich like
some of these football players.
You were jealous of Caleb
and Ice's NIL money, huh?
So you staged the drug deal
in their dorm room,
in case anything went down,
they'd take the fall.
It wasn't until later
that I realized that Bird's
got a rep for being a stone-cold psycho.
I was so scared, I didn't even
sell the Molly I stole.
It's still in a bag under my bed.
I didn't mean for this to go this far,
- Save it.
- I swear
If those two young men wind up dead,
I will personally ensure that
a judge throws the book at you.
Play clock's running low,
tell me we found something.
All right, the suspect
Tan arrested at the dorm
is Henry Labeau, a drug dealer
with ties to the Oildale Twenty-Twos.
Now, Labeau's cousin is Tim Birddell.
That's got to be the "Bird" Mike
Reynolds stole the drugs from.
Birddell was rumored
to be second in command
of the Twenty-Twos, until he escaped
the DEA raid two months back.
Nobody'd been able to locate him since.
Well, probably because he moved to L.A.
to restart his drug business.
Yeah, well, DEA sources
say Bird is ruthless,
and likes to record himself
torturing his rivals
as an intimidation tactic.
Well, definitely sounds like our guy.
- [DOOR OPENS]
- Did some digging.
Tim Birddell's uncle owned
a metal fabrication plant in Vernon.
The company went out of
business a few years back,
but the family still owns the property.
Pull that up on street view.
There.
Billboard in the back.
That's where they're holding
Caleb and Ice.
I'll alert Newton Division. Go, go.
[PANTING]
Ice?
No. Ice.
No!
Ice!
[LINE RINGING]
Henry's not picking up.
You think something's wrong?
Not gonna wait around to find out.
Kill those two.
Meet me in the van out back.
One of 'em might be dead already.
Make sure of it.
[SHOUTING]
[GUNSHOTS]
[GRUNTS]
One suspect down!
HONDO: We got two suspects on the move.
Patrol, cover all exits to the building.
Deac and Gamble, look for our victims.
Split up, heads on a swivel.
♪
♪
[GUNFIRE]
Moving!
[GRUNTING]
Don't move!
On your stomach!
24-David.
One suspect in custody.
[SIRENS WAILING]
[TIRES SCREECH]
Miko.
♪
[GASPS]
Right side clear.
Left side clear.
GAMBLE: Okay, it's gonna be okay, Caleb.
[GRUNTING]
You got to help Ice.
He's bad, man.
I think he's dead.
I got you.
You're okay.
Geez.
[GRUNTS]
Oh, man.
He's got a real faint pulse.
26-David. Requesting emergency transport
at 7000 Fredrick Street.
Two adult males.
Badly beaten. Need it ASAP.
DEACON: All right, hey.
Ice?
Can you hear me?
Ice, if you can hear me, open your eyes.
♪
[PANTING]
LAPD! Don't move!
[GUNSHOTS]
[GRUNTS]
20-David. Last suspect's
headed to the roof.
Making a run for it.
In pursuit.
Hey, Ice, are you there?
Can you hear me?
I need you to open your eyes
if you can hear me, buddy.
[FAINT EXHALE]
Hey, there he is.
There you go, Ice.
Hey, Ice, my name's David.
I'm a police officer.
Help's on the way, okay?
Am I gonna die?
Hell no.
No, but I need you to focus on me, okay?
You fight off that sleep.
26-David. Need that R/A yesterday.
♪
HONDO: 20-David. I'm on the roof.
25-David.
Coming right behind you, Hondo.
[GRUNTING]
[GROANS]
[GRUNTING]
[GROANS]
[STRAINING]
- [GRUNTS]
- [GROANS]
[GROANS]
[GRUNTING]
[GROANS]
[GUNSHOTS]
[PANTING]
You good, boss?
Yeah.
20-David.
Last suspect down.
Deac and Gamble, what's your status?
Hondo, we have Caleb and Ice.
EMTs are on the way.
DEACON: No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Hey, come on, come on, come on.
Hey, Ice.
Stay with me. Come on.
[PANTING]
Look at me.
Tell me about that game against Oregon.
You had, what,
300 yards? [PANTING]
Three TD's.
Yeah, that's right.
That touchdown in the third,
the out route,
that was that was a thing of beauty.
You made the corner look
look damn slow.
Didn't you catch that
game-winning Hail Mary, too?
Hell yeah, he did.
Jumped clear over three guys to get it.
That's what they get for talking trash.
[CHUCKLES] Damn right.
- MAN: EMS!
- Hey, guys!
- In here!
- Let's go!
Come on. Come on.
Please don't leave me.
I won't.
Hi. Hey.
I'm not going anywhere.
Gonna ride in the ambulance with you.
Caleb will be right behind us.
I got you.
♪
That is great news. Thank you.
Thank you.
Yeah. Yeah.
Hey.
So, despite their injuries,
the doctors said that Ice and Caleb
are expected to make a full recovery.
Oh, my God.
- Oh.
- Thank you.
[CHUCKLES] Hey, the credit goes to them.
Those kids are real fighters.
And, uh, he said
that visitors can see 'em soon.
Great. Yeah, their families
should be arriving any minute.
[BOTH CHUCKLE SOFTLY]
Wow, I can't imagine what
would've happened if
if our paths hadn't
crossed this morning.
Well, right place, right time.
Actually, wrong place, wrong time?
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
[CLEARS THROAT]
You know, I
I mean, once everything
calms down a bit, I'd
I'd really love to take you to dinner,
say thank you.
Oh. Uh, I appreciate that, but
I'm married.
I hope I didn't give you
the wrong impression.
Mm.
Can't blame a girl for trying.
Right?
Well
thanks again, David.
You take care.
Just heard Caleb and Ice
are gonna pull through.
Oh, thank God.
Well, at least something
worked out well today.
I take it your grand Springsteen
ticket scheme didn't work out?
No.
I was just about to text Deac,
let him know.
[SCOFFS] All that hard work for nothing.
Well, hold up on that text.
An old patrol partner of mine
works out of the Hollywood Division.
He's the only one
that still talks to me.
But that's beside the point.
I gave him a call, and it turns out
he's got the magical in you need
to make your crazy plan work.
No way.
He can get Zaxx inside the Magic Castle?
Which will trigger the tattoo
and then your house seats
and so on, so now you get
to spend the proper amount
of time with the two
- leading ladies in your life.
- [GRUNTS] Hell yeah!
[LAUGHING] Oh! Wait,
how much do I owe you for this favor?
Well, the way you were talking
about your mom and Nicole,
I know it really means
- a lot to you.
- It does.
And it's super important.
Name your price.
You don't owe me anything, Miko.
We're family.
Aw.
You are the best.
[SMOOCHES] Love you!
♪
POWELL: Hi.
I got your text. Thank you
for being willing to listen.
Yeah. I-I didn't mean
to be rude earlier.
It was my visitation day with
my daughter and my ex was
on her way, so you just
showing up kind of threw me for a loop.
I know the feeling.
Yeah.
About Thomas
Do you want to come inside?
Maybe make this convo
four percent less awkward?
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY] I love awkward.
Can't you tell?
[CHUCKLES]
It's good to see you, Zoe.
[SOFTLY]: You, too.
Come on in. I want to hear about Thomas.
Okay.
Thanks for stopping by.
[SIGHS]
You finna yell at me again, I'm out.
I was out of line earlier.
But we need to hash
some things out, man-to-man.
Have a seat.
[SIGHS]
[GRUNTS]
Enlisting in the military's a big deal.
It's life-altering.
I know.
That's why I did it.
Not for the money?
The money helps.
It's just
[SIGHS]
All right, why don't we do this
pretend I'm that Marine recruiter.
Tell me why you want to join the Corps.
- You serious?
- Oh, I'm dead-ass serious.
[CLEARS THROAT]
Because I feel like my life
has been out of control for a while now.
I had money issues,
family issues,
lady drama.
Started losing track
of which way was up.
But then, a couple of months back,
my cousin started helping me out.
Trying to support me,
keep me honest.
I resisted it at first.
But my cousin has his life together
in a way that I definitely don't.
Helped me realize
if I really want to make
something of myself,
I need some structure and discipline.
And I know the military
will provide that.
You know this ain't gonna be
no cakewalk, right?
Basic's hell on earth.
And God only knows where
you're gonna get deployed after.
I know.
But for once in my life,
I feel like I'm making the right choice
for me.
[SIGHS]
All right.
Then I'm gonna call that recruiter back,
and tell him the truth.
The Corps is gonna be damn lucky
to have another Harrelson
in their ranks.
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
Oorah.
Ah.
Thank you.
[SIGHS]
Yeah.
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY] This is so sick.
Well, it sounds like you two
are feeling better.
Sergeant.
We were just talking
about you. I'm Jerry.
The one and only. I'm Hondo.
It's an honor to meet you. [CHUCKLES]
Well, I thought I'd stop by
before work to see
how you fellas were doing, but
looks like somebody beat me to it.
- You good?
- Better now.
Okay, Deac, you got to fill me in.
How do the two of you know each other?
I just called in a favor with a friend.
Yeah. Never play poker with
Kenny "the Jet" Smith.
He's more like Kenny "the Shark."
[CHUCKLING]
HONDO: Hey, kid.
You okay?
Just thinking
about how hard it's gonna be
to get back on the field.
Back to what I was.
Damn right it's gonna be hard.
But you've got that drive
in you to be great.
I've seen it when you play.
JERRY: You know, he's not wrong.
I believe you could be something
real special in the NFL.
But you got to believe it, too.
HONDO: That's right.
I can't follow that.
The GOAT has spoken.
[CHUCKLING]