(DUCKS QUACKING)
It's just sitting out there.
I say we take it.
See? There it is.
Don't mess with that boat.
It ain't nobody's, C.J.
Why aren't you in school?
It's summer, dumb-ass.
Don't call me that, chubby.
Leave the boat.
It's ours now.
I saw a man put that in there.
He ain't here now.
BOY: Finders keepers, losers weep...
Holy shit.
(TIRES SCREECHING)
(POLICE RADIO CHATTERING)
(INDISTINCT)
They're here.
It's about fucking time.
Freebo's inside. Bouton and I will use the stairs.
-Anybody else? -A girl.
That makes it easy.
Ricky said that's all.
You trust him?
Let's say hello.
Where's the warrant?
You were supposed to get it.
No, you were.
-No, no, you guys... -Do you hear that?
Somebody's calling for help.
Don't you hear that?
Shit.
(BABY CRYING)
You didn't say there were kids here.
You didn't give me a chance to.
We gonna rock 'n' roll or not?
(GUN COCKING)
Go.
Police! Freeze!
Wrong room! Wrong room!
Police! Don't move!
TOOTS: Oh, shit!
BOUTON: It's empty! Toots!
Got them! Got them!
(SCREAMS)
Don't be stupid. Just stay where you're at.
You heard her. Be cool.
It stinks like shit in here.
Don't shoot. I didn't do anything.
(GROANS)
Mmm-hmm.
This what you looking for, you piece of shit?
Rembrandt.
(WOMAN SCREAMING)
Stop right there!
(WOMAN WHIMPERING)
I can't believe it!
We had no choice.
They jumped out.
We watched Freebo six months
and you just bust in there!
You should've told us.
I don't have to.
You shouldn't have been there! You had no warrant and no probable cause!
You weren't there.
He's right.
Bull. He's got a long history of fuckups.
Why you carry this sorry-ass...
I don't have to take this shit!
Rembrandt!
(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)
I'm tired of him riding me.
This happened to Tiger, a great detective.
Keep him away from me, or else.
This is why you have no partner. You can't be a cowboy.
Now find a rock and hide under it for a while.
I'm off the Martinez case?
Let the others handle it.
Another case came up this morning.
Try not to fuck that one up. Okay?
(INSTRUMENT WHIRRING)
Hey, Bass. How you doing?
Hey, Rem. How's it going?
All right.
What happened to him?
Him and some other winos were shooting rats with a .357.
He jams the barrel in the mud while he's stumbling around.
Plugged it up, blew himself up.
-Damn! -(CHUCKLES)
Ah.
Here's the hand those kids found at Taylor Pond.
It is female.
You got an age?
My guess, 20s.
-Prints? -Good ones.
It was only in a few days. I sent them off.
She wore a ring. You can see the indent.
Oh, yeah. Married, do you think?
Maybe.
(ROCK MUSIC PLAYING)
Koko. Johnnie Walker Red.
Who's the new dancer?
Kind of hard on the eyes, huh?
Heard about you and Kenner.
I was hoping you'd get a hit in.
I guess my heart wasn't in it.
I bet he was cleaning out his shorts.
Thanks.
How can I get in your pants?
I've got one asshole in there already.
Ooh! Ow!
(LAUGHING)
Here's to you guys getting Martinez, with or without me.
Screw that. Here's to long legs and big tits.
I'm with that.
And by the way, how are Beck's?
-I wouldn't know. -Yeah, right. Toots says otherwise.
She's got an itch for you.
You're dreaming.
No, you guys'd make a nice couple.
I will say this. She's aces with a gun.
Everybody knows your dick gets hard in a shootout.
You think Beck gets wet around the taco?
What's so funny?
We're just talking about Mexican food.
More drinks?
-No, thank you. -No, I'm good.
I gotta hit it.
Rem?
Well, I ain't ready yet. I'll have another one, Koko.
KOKO: You got it.
We're calling it a night, Rem.
(THUNDER RUMBLING)
WOMAN: I'm sorry.
I just needed some time.
-(MAN SCREAMING) -(GUNSHOT)
(TIRES SCREECHING)
(SIGHS) Good morning, Anna.
You look like hell.
FBI matched a partial on that hand Bass sent over.
Melanie Ann Hains.
Prints came off of a government application. She worked for the mayor.
All right, thanks.
(DUCKS QUACKING)
You C.J. Crowley?
I might be. Who are you?
I have some questions.
I told them what I know.
Saw a man with the boat but didn't get a good look at him.
Did he see you?
I don't think so.
It was dark and he wasn't looking at me.
He put the boat in the water. Then what?
Uh, nothing. Watched it drift a while, then left.
Would you recognize the man if you saw him again?
I might, but then again I might not.
(WOMAN SOBBING)
This is killing her mother.
She was homecoming queen, honor student, everybody's princess.
Well, Mr. Hains,
did she have a boyfriend?
Yes, a college sweetheart.
It ended when she got her job.
His name was Benjamin. Alan Benjamin.
We know the family. They were good people.
Did she wear a ring?
A white gold band with diamonds in the shape of a flower.
Did you find it?
No, sir.
The coroner noted the hand had worn a ring.
Oh...
Did she live alone in the city?
She had two roommates. Young women.
We met them a couple of times. They seemed nice.
(WOMAN CONTINUES SOBBING)
Will you excuse me for a few minutes?
Sure.
I hear they found a Purple Dragon in the harbor.
Looks like Tommy Trang's work.
Why?
'Cause they stuck him like a roast pig.
That's why Benny pays those guys so well.
Let me have a burger and fries, Koko.
No sheet on Melanie Hains. She's clean as Monday morning laundry.
I heard she worked for the mayor.
Smells like same old, same old.
Politics and young girls don't mix.
You gonna rattle some cages at City Hall.
That's not what Monty meant by hiding under a rock.
I know.
You talk to the roommates?
They weren't at the apartment.
(SIGHS HEAVILY)
I guess I'll go now.
Want me to go with you?
If you had a shadow, it'd probably take the heat off you.
(EXHALES)
Sure. Why not?
I can't believe this happened to Melanie.
How'd you find out?
Her father called here.
BECK: And the other roommate?
Jennifer? She went to the shore last week.
Her friend has a beach house. Melanie was gonna meet him there.
And Melanie is Miss Hains?
Yeah.
When did Miss Hains leave?
-Friday night. -Friday night.
Can I get you something to drink?
I'm good, thanks.
I'll have a glass of water.
Okay.
Who's the friend at the shore?
I don't know.
Has your roommate called?
No. I'm kind of freaking out.
Miss Calderon...
Call me Nikki.
Nikki. What do you do?
I was in grad school but I ran out of money so now I'm modeling.
What kind of modeling?
Hotel fashion shows for businessmen.
Bikinis, lingerie, that kind of thing.
Why would this happen to Miss Hains?
I don't know.
Did she date any men?
Yeah, this guy from the office.
His name was Martin something.
Do you mind if we look through Miss Hains' things?
No, not at all. I'll show you her room.
Are you from around here, Miss Calderon?
No. I'm from a town you never heard of.
Try me.
Medford Lakes, Ohio.
Your folks still live there?
My parents died in a car accident.
Oh. I'm sorry.
Who's this?
Melanie's old boyfriend from college. Nice guy. I met him once.
Was Miss Hains into recreational drugs?
Not that I know of.
Do you really think she was murdered?
(SIGHS) We're assuming the worst.
Is this Jennifer with Miss Hains?
Yeah, it's Jen.
BECK: What was her last name?
-Haller. -Haller?
Yeah, H-A-L-L-E-R.
Do you know what she did for work?
She worked at a medical phone exchange.
How long did she work there?
About three months.
(TALKING INDISTINCTLY)
If your roommate should phone in or show up, call me.
Call if you think of anything.
You from the Mile?
-Me? -Yeah.
Yeah. How'd you know?
You got that Irish accent. I lived there. Whereabouts?
52nd Street, across from Harold Park.
Hey, I'm not gonna be in any danger here, am I?
No. Just lock the door behind us. Okay?
You going back in?
No, I got something I gotta do.
Anna will check on the roommates.
Thanks.
Going to the barbecue Saturday?
I don't know.
Everyone wants to see you.
Right.
Whatever.
(DOG BARKING)
Tiger!
You there? Yo, Tiger!
TIGER: Be quiet!
Rem?
Is that you, Rembrandt?
Yeah.
Long time no see.
Yeah.
The job, you know. I need some help, partner.
(COUGHS)
(TIGER CHUCKLES)
Smooth, huh?
Made it myself.
Yeah.
Smooth as a baby's ass.
So, what kind of help?
Still got eyes inside City Hall?
What do you need?
A young woman.
My favorite kind.
Your kind. I think she's dead.
My least favorite kind.
Melanie Hains. She worked for the mayor's office.
One of her hands showed up in Taylor Pond.
I can't promise anything.
Anything would be great.
God, I miss you, Tiger.
We had a lot of laughs, didn't we?
You okay?
Yeah, I'm okay. How about you?
I miss you, too.
(TV PLAYING)
(DOORBELL RINGING)
(GROANS)
Sorry to bother you. I didn't know where else to go.
Can I come in?
Yeah.
How'd you know where I lived?
52nd across from Harold Park.
I checked the phone book.
There's only one Rembrandt Macy.
Have a seat.
Why didn't you go to the precinct?
I did.
You weren't there.
Oh.
You want a drink?
Sure.
I'm scared.
Why?
Someone calls and hangs up.
I think I'm being followed.
-By who? -I don't know.
I feel like when I go out someone's watching.
-Here. -Thanks.
I didn't exactly tell you the truth earlier.
I think Jen and Melanie were into something bad.
Like what?
A few weeks ago, Jen didn't come home one night and Melanie freaked.
Why?
I asked, but she went mental. She wouldn't say.
She isn't the picture of innocence everyone thinks she is.
Her and Jen party.
I mean, they party pretty hard.
Do you know who they partied with?
I guess guys from bars, clubs, City Hall guys.
Did you lie about the drugs?
-Sort of. -Don't bullshit me.
I did coke with them a couple of times.
I guess Melanie's not exactly as her dad described her.
If he only knew the half of it.
Look, it's getting late.
There's a hotel on 9th Avenue. I'll get you a room.
Tomorrow we can go collect your things.
I could stay here.
I don't think that'd be a good idea.
I don't wanna go to a hotel.
I don't wanna be alone.
I promise I won't cause any trouble here.
Please.
Okay, you can sleep on the couch.
I'll get you a blanket.
There's a towel under the bathroom sink.
Sorry I lied.
It's just when I heard about Melanie, I got scared.
I didn't know what to say.
Name's Rem.
Just call me Rem.
(THUNDER CRASHING)
(SIGHS)
Nikki?
Hey. Where have you been?
I'm sorry. I needed some time to work some things out.
God, I missed you.
(MAN SHOUTING)
(GASPS)
(PANTING)
Nikki?
(DOORBELL RINGING)
Where did...
-Oh, hi. -Hi.
What, did I wake you up?
No, I think I just overslept. Come on in.
(SIGHS)
Ah! Another late night.
REMBRANDT: Yeah.
-Uh, can I make you some coffee? -No.
Do you want to go have breakfast? My treat.
No, it's a bad time.
I got some groceries for breakfast.
-Hi. -Uh, hi.
No doubt that's some bad timing.
Later.
(CHUCKLES)
Who are all these people in this picture?
REMBRANDT: Friends of mine on the job.
It was a precinct barbecue about a year ago.
The woman here earlier, what's her story?
One of my partners.
I'd say she wants to be more than partners.
And what about the Asian woman?
Her name was May Lin.
"Was"?
She died.
Were you two close?
Let's not talk about it.
I can't take you to your apartment as planned
so another cop, a Detective Bouton,
he's gonna bring you down to the department.
So I'll see you there later.
Mmm-hmm.
Hey, Rem.
Thanks.
You're welcome.
BASS: Pretty, huh?
They found him in his car.
He ran an orphanage. They say one of the kids did it.
I hope I never end up on your table.
I got the tox results on the hand.
There was alcohol and trace cocaine.
I'm not surprised.
Our princess wasn't so squeaky clean after all.
ANNA: There's nothing on Nikki.
But her boyfriend's been popped once. Fraternity prank.
He's been in South America with the State Department for the past six months.
That Jennifer Haller is a full different ball game.
Three priors for solicitation, one conviction.
Hey, it says here that she was arrested once at Joey Palo's.
(CHUCKLES) Lap dancing.
Too much lap, not enough dancing.
-Creighton! -(SHUSHING)
-Where you been? -I'm trying to hide.
Do you remember a chic named Jennifer Haller?
Should I?
Yeah. You arrested her.
Oh, yeah. I remember that little peach.
Me and Cronk brought her in.
She offered to do both of us in the back seat of the car if we dropped her someplace before lockup.
Ever come across her again?
Yeah, I saw her dance a few times after that.
-What she done? -Well, I don't know, maybe nothing, we're just checking.
Cronk claims he saw a photo of her with politicians or something.
-What politician? -I don't remember.
Yeah, it was in the Tribune some months back.
Who was the politician?
There was a few. It was some party.
Tell me, one of them wasn't the mayor, was he?
He was, now that you mention it.
And that Congressman Higgins and some other guys.
How long ago was that article?
Christmas. It was some sort of holiday party or something.
Yeah, I know Jennifer Haller. Her snatch could talk money out of your wallet.
Lisa, hit him again.
When did you last see her?
Couple months ago. I couldn't trust her no more.
You ever see this girl? They were roommates.
Don't think so.
Thank you.
Thanks, Lisa.
This Haller chick, did she ever run around with City Hall boys?
No, she was into stockbrokers and chinks.
She loved rich Hong Kong gooks.
She was exactly what they wanted.
Meaning what, Joey?
Some of those fuckers like that rough trade.
She was into S & M?
You bet your ass.
Word is, she could take a licking and keep on ticking.
Rem. Rem?
You want one of them?
One of them?
It'd be on me.
Thanks for the drink.
Anytime, Remy.
Anytime.
That's Melanie and Jen in the back.
REMBRANDT: Who's the mook with them?
NIKKI: I don't know.
Oh, yeah.
Who was the guy that was seeing Melanie at the mayor's office?
Martin.
Hey.
Find what you're looking for?
I don't know.
I'll print this. Check out the guy in the background.
We might have our Martin. See if the Tribune can I.D. him.
Whatever you say, boss.
Thanks.
(HORN BLOWING)
Tiger!
Someone lives here?
An old friend. Ex-cop.
You've got strange friends.
TIGER: And new ones.
This is Nikki. Nikki, Tiger Wu.
Hi, Tiger. Nice to meet you.
Nikki was Melanie Hains' roommate.
Sit, sit.
REMBRANDT: Thanks.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Did you find out anything?
The girl seems clean.
Saw some guy in the mayor's office a few times.
Martin somebody. I got Beck tracking him down.
What about the mayor himself?
If there was something down and dirty, it's not raising its head.
We found a photo of the mayor's last Christmas ball.
Hains was there.
And Taylor Higgins and Daniel Freita.
That's an interesting name.
Recently I heard a rumor about Benny Lee and Daniel Freita.
Freita's a big shot. What would they have in common?
The gaming commission awarded Freita the one remaining license.
There are two spots on the Blue Strand for that last casino.
And guess who owns one of them.
-Benny Lee? -The Chung triad
is moving money out of Hong Kong.
Benny Lee used a chunk of it to buy the property two years ago.
Who owns the other piece of land?
Some Germans.
So whoever makes the deal could make millions.
Hundreds of millions.
And the loser's land isn't gonna be worth shit.
(CHUCKLES)
This may mean nothing,
but I also heard Daniel Freita's got a line
to Uncle Brother by way of Tommy Trang.
-Hey, Nikki? -Yeah?
Would you wait in the car?
Sure.
What line?
Nobody knows,
but people have seen Tommy and Freita together before.
Look here.
Melanie Hains had a third roommate, a Jennifer Haller.
She's got a red sheet on her a mile long.
My contact said she was into Asians.
She was at the mayor's party with Hains and Daniel Freita.
So?
Haller and Melanie were to meet a friend.
Nobody's heard from them.
Did you call the friend?
No.
Nikki doesn't know her name.
Any contacts on Haller's sheet?
Yeah, her parents, but they live in Indiana.
They haven't talked to her in three years.
You know what you're doing?
What do you mean?
She is young, isn't she?
Her last name is Calderon.
She's from a town in Ohio called Medford Lakes.
Do me a favor. See what you can dig up on her.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
Oh, God.
Yeah, I'm gonna clean up.
No, no. Don't.
What are those?
Nothing.
Nothing?
I used to cut myself.
Why?
Just something stupid I did when I was young.
I don't wanna talk about it.
(PHONE RINGING)
(THUNDER RUMBLES)
Yeah?
TIGER: I did a crazy thing tonight.
I went to Chinatown to see some people.
I was thinking maybe they can tell me about Daniel Freita.
Out of nowhere, Eddie Trang shows up.
He's got some PTK punks with him
and none of them want to buy me a mai tai.
(LAUGHING) What happened?
He asks me what my business is with Daniel Freita
and I tell him to kiss my ass.
Next thing I know, I got a gun in my face
and nobody was smiling except me.
(LAUGHING)
Tommy Trang has Eddie on a leash.
You must have put a bug up his ass.
You know, there might be more to this Freita thing.
It was fun, Rem.
Just like the old days.
Yeah.
Good night.
Something wrong?
No.
-Nikki. -Yeah.
You're on the couch again tonight.
I gotta get up early and do things.
Then we're going to a barbecue.
Did you say you found a body?
We found her hand. Still looking for the body.
Did you have sex with her?
We hadn't got that far.
We just went out a few times to dinner.
Did you do drugs with her?
You get right to the point, huh?
REMBRANDT: No point in wasting time.
I can't speak for her, but I don't do drugs.
Good.
You worked for the mayor?
For a year.
And before that?
I worked for the Freita Corporation.
Why'd you leave?
-More opportunities here. -Ah.
You know her?
I met her at some black-tie thing the mayor had for Mr. Freita.
She was with Melanie.
And after that?
Never saw her after that.
She liked this guy from the Freita Corporation.
She got me to introduce them.
Who?
His name is Oren Doba.
He's gone. Went back to law school.
I don't know what can I tell you?
I haven't seen Jennifer in months.
But you saw her a lot before, didn't you?
Look, I come from an old Boston family, okay?
You crossed the tracks to get your dick wet.
Big whoop. We don't care about your family tree.
Just what you know about Jennifer Haller.
She was wild. What can I say?
"Wild" means different things. Be specific.
She liked to party.
You know, kinky stuff.
BECK: "Kinky"?
As in, 10 lashes kind of kinky?
OREN: Yeah.
And you?
Sure. Why not? It was something different.
Well, if it hurt so good, why did you stop seeing her?
She stopped seeing me.
It was all a scam anyway. I was just a ticket to Freita.
We can do this here
or we can go downtown.
Your call.
I want to help, but maybe I should talk to a lawyer.
You don't need one.
Just help us get to the next level.
Freita liked to party hearty now and then.
Did you party with him now and then?
A few times. At his penthouse.
Was Jen Haller there?
A couple times.
Did you see her with Freita? I mean, intimately?
Once. Well, sort of.
Were they kinky?
She came on to him. It was a big party, lots of people.
She saved the heavy shit for this club she liked at The Jungle.
Club 88?
OREN: Yeah.
Did she ever take you there?
Once.
Did she take Freita to that club?
I can't say.
Can't, or won't?
I shouldn't say anything else without my lawyer present.
MAN 1: Every time you have one of these barbecues, it rains.
MAN 2: Tell me about it.
MAN 1: Remember last year?
MAN 2: Yeah, it poured.
That was nice.
I want a ten.
Kinda young, Rem.
What?
Oh, come on, Lynn.
He hasn't looked at me like that since our wedding night.
If your ass was that nice, I might.
(SNICKERS)
Fuck you.
I don't like this Freita thing. You're way out on a limb.
I got a kid who partied with him and the Haller girl.
I asked Tiger Wu to poke around,
and guess who pops up? Eddie Trang.
Somebody's worried.
It's still a long way to Melanie Hains,
and Benny Lee, for that matter.
I mean, so Freita likes young women.
Obviously, that is not a crime.
Don't bust my balls. It's not what you think.
But she's staying at your place?
For the time being. It's temporary.
You're crazy.
Look, if you do come up with something,
and I'm not telling you how to play this,
just take it slow and make sure it sticks.
And please, bring it to me first.
Absolutely.
You're yanking a big dick here.
I know.
-What? -Look at Bouton.
He's trying to get something. He ain't getting nothing.
(BOTH LAUGHING)
Can I get a hot dog?
He's persistent.
Hey, Rem. Anna's on the phone for you.
(GROANS)
Anna, it's Rem.
You boys having a fun time?
You bet we are.
I got something you might want to see.
What is it?
You should see it for yourself.
Come on, Anna. Can't it wait?
I think you should see it right now.
By yourself.
All right, I'll come in.
Bye.
What's she doing here?
She's part of this investigation.
So everybody seems to be telling me.
What you saw yesterday isn't what you think.
Don't dig a hole that you can't get out of.
-Hey. -Hey.
-Hi. -Hi.
Something's come up that can't wait. I gotta go in.
Okay, I'll go get changed.
Try to relax. Have a good time.
If I'm not back soon, get Bouton to take you to my place.
Sure.
-Bye. -Bye.
ANNA: Went through the Tribune photo stock.
Mostly party hats and champagne smiles.
So Haller did meet Freita at the party then.
I'll bet she's telling him what she wants for Christmas.
(REMBRANDT CHUCKLES)
Now, I almost missed this.
I was wondering if your friend mentioned she was there that night.
(PHONE RINGING)
-REMBRANDT: Hey, it's me. -What's up?
Have you dug up anything on Nikki Calderon?
A listing for Calderon in Medford Lakes.
It hasn't been in service in years.
I know a guy not far from there.
He'll see what he can see.
I'll get back to you.
This is a private thing, partner.
This official business, or are you just slumming?
You know her?
(MAN GROANING)
(MOANS)
(MAN GRUNTS)
(WOMAN SQUEALS)
Boy. You're right on the edge here, lady.
I don't pay those lawyers for nothing.
When did you last see Jennifer?
A month ago.
She had a special client they did on a regular basis.
Then suddenly it just stopped.
Is this him?
No. He was Asian.
Asian?
-(WHIP CRACKS) -(GROANING)
(SCREAMS)
(WOMAN GROANING)
You said they were doing.
She had a partner. A blond.
I think her name was
Vicki or Nikki.
Something like that.
Get out of here!
-Get some clothes on. -Ouch! You're hurting me!
Ow, ow!
Get fucking dressed now!
-(PHONE BEEPS) -(DIALING)
(RINGING)
I'm coming. I'm coming.
-(BEEPS) -(PHONE DROPS)
(EXCLAIMS)
-(DOG WHIMPERS) -(TIGER SIGHS)
I know you're hungry, aren't you, boy?
(SPEAKS CHINESE DIALECT)
(BARKING)
(GUNSHOTS)
What's wrong?
I'll tell you what's wrong.
I'm getting fucked, and not even enjoying it like I should.
What are you talking about?
You forgot about the mayor's ball?
-I wasn't. -Don't you lie to me.
Just listen. I can explain.
And while you're at it, explain why you were at the 88.
I was at the mayor's ball.
But I couldn't tell you, you'd think I was in on it.
I'm listening.
The 88 was because I needed money.
-You were fucking Daniel Freita! -(GLASS SHATTERS)
I didn't touch Daniel Freita. I'm talking about the Priest.
What priest? Priest, my ass.
Jesus!
When Jen saw Freita at the ball,
he went to the top of her wish list.
He didn't call her after that.
So she plays slap-ass with Oren Doba
to slip into Freita's world at the 88?
Freita didn't do the 88. That was the Priest.
A fake minister Jen met at one of Freita's parties.
He was some fetish freak.
Jen thought if she added me to her games with the Priest
then he would help out with Freita.
I never had to have sex. All I had to do was just get naked...
Spare me the grisly details.
How in the name of God did Melanie Hains get involved in all this?
Melanie was Jen's ticket to meet men with money.
Little girl lost.
Daddy couldn't buy what she wanted.
-So, what happened? -That last night at the 88,
the Priest got whacked out
and told Jen that it would never happen between her and Freita.
Why not?
Freita's not into women.
His tastes run a little sweeter.
Children?
Boys.
From something the Priest calls the Snake.
You know what that is?
Yeah.
That's the Chinese illegal aliens.
(REM SIGHS)
How did this guy know all that?
Because he pimps the boys to Freita from this orphanage he runs.
He's dead.
-Who? -The Priest.
I saw him in the morgue yesterday.
So it was blackmail.
Your roommates figured Freita would pay
to keep them quiet.
How much?
A million.
Were you in on it?
No, I swear, Rem.
I said it was dumb, but they wouldn't listen.
Freita was meeting the girls at the beach house?
That's where he was gonna bring the money.
-Where is it? -I don't know.
I don't know, Rem!
They didn't tell me.
(SNIFFLES)
(HUFFS)
I'm so ashamed.
When I heard about Melanie, I was so scared.
I thought he'd kill me if he found out I knew.
Rem, I'm sorry.
(PHONE RINGING)
REMBRANDT ON VOICEMAIL: It's me. Leave a message at the tone.
(BEEPS)
It's Beck. Pick up if you're there. Something's gone down.
(SIREN WAILING)
I was at work when the call came.
Some security cops heard the shot.
Did they see them?
No. They were gone before they got here.
One round to the head.
Perp probably stood right here, then killed the dog.
MONTY: It's not gonna fly, Rem.
Come on, Monty.
I got a kid who places Jennifer
at Freita's penthouse many times.
She partied at his place. Lots of people did.
And I got a call last night from the kid's attorney.
He said his client would not pursue this.
Ah, we can drag him into court.
Get serious.
What about her story?
You think someone will go after Freita
on the say-so of some model who moonlights in fuck games?
-REMBRANDT: It's true! -It's hearsay!
Some nut getting his ass whipped while he rambles bullshit
about a respected citizen?
Rambling at a girl that's now dead.
Not dead. Missing.
She could be whipping some guy's ass in Bumfuck, Egypt.
And we can't produce Melanie Hains' body either.
No grand jury in this state would touch this.
Look, don't you see the connection?
You got Daniel Freita, Benny Lee and the Trang brothers.
These girls opened a can of worms and got killed
along with the orphanage guy and Tiger Wu.
Look, bring me something solid and I'll run with it.
I won't put my ass on the line.
What do I need?
For starters, how about Melanie Hains' body?
BECK: I know you don't want to hear this
but I think you're getting a little obsessed with this girl.
REMBRANDT: Aw, Jesus.
You could get her hurt.
What I'm thinking is this.
What if we tell Freita what we know?
Maybe that will rattle him enough
to open the door on Benny Lee and the Trangs.
You know the price Freita would pay if he turned on them.
Oh, God, I don't believe this.
You know you can't connect the dots.
All you can do is cause trouble, end up on street duty.
And that's if Monty takes it to the next level and I sincerely doubt he will.
Don't forget, Daniel Freita is on the police commission.
I've got to go. Word to the wise.
Get her someplace far away.
They wouldn't be looking for her
if they didn't think she knew something.
What did she mean
about you knowing what would happen to Freita if he turned on them?
What?
Well, there was this Tong murder I investigated. (CLEARS THROAT)
This punk drug dealer offed a jack boy,
and I talked him into ratting out Eddie, Tommy's brother.
(SCOFFS)
The dealer ended up dead,
and Eddie Trang walked.
So,
Tommy takes it personal.
You see,
Asians don't like to lose what they call face.
And then I end up standing in the street one night with May Lin.
One minute she's in my arms,
and the next, she's lying in the rain, dead.
(THUNDER CRASHING)
(SIGHS)
MONTY: This is exactly why no one wants to partner with you.
KENNER: Why you carry this sorry-ass...
BECK: You're getting obsessed with this girl.
Are you okay?
Yeah, I'm okay.
You should get some sleep.
Tell me I'm wrong about the way you look at me.
Tell me you really want me to go to sleep.
Or do you want something else?
Tell me what you like.
Everything.
Is this where they shot you?
I've got to find a way to nail them.
I've been thinking about that.
Why not pick up where Melanie and Jen left off?
It sounds crazy, but what if we did their blackmail thing?
Get serious.
Monty's right. You said it yourself.
You can't prove a thing. Let's hurt them another way.
I'm a cop. It's illegal.
So was killing May Lin.
And Tiger.
(SIGHS)
If we bounce this back at Freita,
he'd kill us,
like Melanie and Jennifer.
Trust me on that.
Not if we were smarter.
You think this is just a game?
No, Rem.
This isn't just a game. I know we can be killed.
But you heard Beck.
They know I know. They'll find me.
So either I start running right now...
I feel good with you, Rem.
Do you want to know why I cut myself?
It's because my life was shit, and all I knew was pain.
But when you look at me,
when you touch me,
I feel like my heart's gonna stop beating.
And I don't feel the pain.
I feel good.
And I've never known anything like that,
anyone like that.
Ever.
We can do this, Rem.
It's a million dollars.
Do it for that.
And for May Lin.
We're closed.
Open it.
-Fuck you. -Open it!
-What, you gonna shoot me? -Move!
What the fuck? You gonna off me?
Yo!
I'm looking for Benny Lee!
He's gonna fucking kill you!
Shut up!
Long time no see, Rembrandt.
What brings you back to Chinatown?
I was missing you and your brother.
And where is Tommy? Chasing a poodle for lunch?
What you want?
I want to talk to Benny Lee.
Why would he want to see you?
Daniel Freita.
You put your gun away.
I'd rather not.
What are you afraid of? You think we're gonna kill you?
The thought had crossed my mind, Eddie.
(SPEAKS CHINESE DIALECT)
You some dumb-ass?
Sticking nose where it don't belong.
A man could get hurt doing that.
Sometimes his friends, too.
I ain't come to play with you, Tommy.
BENNY: Why did you come here?
To tell you a story.
I'm not into stories.
You'll like this one.
What's it about?
Daniel Freita, little boys, and the money you took to buy land.
(SPEAKING CHINESE DIALECT)
Go on.
Big money, big deal.
But you need Freita's gaming license to swing it.
So Tommy here comes up with the idea
of how to get him in bed with you assholes.
And that's when the Reverend Henry Moi steps into the picture.
Story get any better?
Yeah, it does.
It seems that Daniel Freita's got an itching for young boys,
and you have an endless supply of them.
So Freita's indebted forever, and it's sealed with a kiss.
Until Jennifer Haller and Melanie Hains show up.
Reverend plays spank me with the girls,
and in a moment of passion he tells them everything.
So they put the squeeze play on,
and that's where the Trangs step up.
Bottom of the ninth, four dead.
The two girls, the Reverend Moi, of course,
and my friend, Tiger Wu.
That's a fanciful story.
I thought you'd like it.
I just said it was fanciful.
What do you want?
Money.
What do I get in return?
I never tell my story.
I get out of town. You never hear from me again.
-You're a dead man. -(SPEAKS CHINESE DIALECT)
How much?
The one million the girls wanted.
And another million for what they did to May Lin Choi.
-You're fucking nuts! -(SPEAKS CHINESE DIALECT)
Two million's too much.
It's not negotiable.
If the deal with Freita goes bad, the triads lose their money.
And if that happens,
we both know what'll happen to you.
How do I know this will go away?
My word.
Why shouldn't I hang you with the rest of this meat?
It's like you see in the movies.
It's all been prearranged,
should I disappear or end up dead.
You bluffing me?
That's for me to know and you to find out.
You've got balls, cop.
So we got a deal?
(SPEAKING CHINESE DIALECT)
You fuck me, you better run and keep on running.
Tonight then.
This'll tell you where and when.
You bring the cash. Alone.
I need more time to get the money.
Oh, you'll manage it somehow, Benny.
Of that I'm sure.
(SPEAKS CHINESE DIALECT)
(PHONE RINGING)
Rem?
Hey. They bought it.
-Oh, my God. -Yeah.
And I upped it to two million. (LAUGHS)
Oh, my God.
You got to get out of there. And don't go back to your apartment.
What are you gonna do?
-I got things to do. We'll meet later. -Where?
The old train station on 50th and 8th.
It's been shut down for a while.
It's empty at night. We'll meet there at 11:00.
Are you okay with this?
I want you.
You got me.
(BENNY SPEAKING CHINESE DIALECT)
REMBRANDT: So they put the squeeze play on.
BENNY: That's a fanciful story.
What do you want, cop?
He didn't know.
(HORN BLARES)
Monty in?
Gone for the day. He's headed home.
Some guy's been trying to reach you. Toby Carr.
Thank you.
Where's Toots, Bouton?
A woman got stabbed in the subway. I'm meeting him, now.
-What about Beck? -I haven't seen her all day.
(SIREN WAILING)
-Check you later. -Yeah.
(DIALING)
(PHONE RINGING)
Yeah?
Uh, Mr. Toby Carr?
Who wants to know?
Detective Macy. You called me.
Oh, yeah.
I've been checking out that thing for you and Tiger.
What have you got for me?
There were some Calderons in Medford Lakes a while ago.
But they died in a car wreck.
What about their daughter?
There was none.
But there was a grandmother in Parks until she died last year.
She was a foster parent.
One of her charges was a girl named Nicole.
She lived with her until she was 13, then she ran off.
Her real name's Donato.
That's all I could get you.
Thank you.
Nicole Donato. Run it.
-I'm busy... -Do it now, Anna!
I'll be at my desk.
(PHONE RINGS)
LYNN: Hello?
Hi, Lynn, it's Rem Macy. Is Monty home?
No, he went downtown.
If he checks in, I'll have him call.
Great. Thank you. Bye-bye.
Bye.
Donato, Nicole Lee.
Two priors, underage prostitution.
They didn't flag it. Four months in juvie.
I didn't have time to check the arrest report.
I've got a date at the movies and I'm late.
You're not in trouble, are you?
Hmm?
Are you in trouble?
TOBY: Her real name's Donato.
NIKKI: You would think I was in on it.
The work records for Ms. Hains...
REMBRANDT: We've got Freita, Benny and the Trang brothers.
MONTY: It's a long way back to Melanie Hains.
NIKKI: To take away that pain.
It hurts to lose.
So is killing May Lin.
MONTY: Bring it to me first.
NIKKI: What if we did that?
We can do this, Rem.
Tell me I'm wrong about the way you look at me.
When you look at me,
(SIREN WAILING)
when you touch me,
I feel like my heart's gonna stop beating.
I don't feel the pain.
(CLOCK TICKING)
I feel good.
You got me.
(PRINTER WHIRRING)
Hey.
If you don't hear from me by midnight, open it.
Wait. What's this about?
Midnight. Just do it.
Rem.
Rem?
Rem.
Here.
I missed you.
Where'd you get this?
I've had it.
I've never seen you wear it before.
I found it when I was packing up my stuff.
Emerald?
Yeah.
Hey, Rembrandt.
Eddie.
That doesn't look like two million dollars to me.
Benny couldn't raise it.
Here's one. He'll get you the other.
-We'll take the million. -Leave it.
What do you mean?
Leave it.
-The deal's off. -Don't fuck with us!
Put the gun away! You're not gonna need it.
Why are you doing this, Rem?
-We've been set up. -What?
Her real name is Donato.
There's a sheet on her. Two priors.
The arresting officer was Jack Monteleone,
also known as Monty to his friends.
Maybe you've heard of him.
Who cares?
He knew how I felt about you and your brother.
And what you did to the one decent thing in my life.
And he knew I'd get back at them.
Didn't he?
It was the hot dog vendor.
He saw this man in the photo.
And then there's Melanie's ring.
In the shape of a flower,
with diamonds and an emerald.
Where is he?
Right here.
Early bird catches the worm, huh?
Hand me the piece. Slow and easy.
What are you gonna do? Kill us all?
Who is this...
(GRUNTS)
(GASPS)
What the hell took you so long?
If it's any consolation, Rem,
I know what you've gone through.
It's hell to say no to her.
Can we go now?
What? She's got no stomach for murder?
I'm going.
Hey, what's your hurry?
People are dying here tonight.
At least we can tell them why.
When did you figure this out?
When Benny didn't know what I was talking about.
Uh-huh.
The girls didn't blackmail Freita.
You killed them to set up a fake murder case,
and let Nikki turn an Academy Award-winning trick.
Like they say.
The fucking you get ain't worth the fucking you get.
Why me?
Somebody had to take the heat.
If Benny decided to whack and not pay,
I figured better you than me.
I don't see this working.
Nobody hates Tommy more than you.
That's how it's gonna look.
I say you were working some crazy scheme to shake Benny down for money.
See where I'm going?
No. It's full of loopholes.
Like me being Nikki's arresting officer?
That's interesting, if you were around to point it out.
-You won't be. -Why are you so sure?
-Meaning what? -Meaning I wrote it down,
along with her arrest report and gave it to Beck.
(LAUGHS)
What's so damn funny?
The next look on your face.
I never thought this would work.
When Nikki gave me the blackmail idea,
I thought it was risky, but Beck convinced me it wasn't.
After that, it was her show.
There were times it got so crazy I thought about walking away.
Especially when you mentioned Medford Lakes.
But Tiger sealed the deal.
-You fuck! -Ah! No, no, no!
(SCOFFS)
Let's get this over with. Give me his gun.
I'm taking this to the car.
You stay there!
They're gonna kill you.
-Go on. Tell her. -(GUN COCKS)
Come on, Rem. The show's over.
Don't you see it, Nikki?
They'll say you took the money, so you take the heat.
Always trying to ride in and save the day, huh?
You might've been a decent cop.
Is that what you are?
This isn't where the good guy beats the bad guy with a true heart.
You beat him by making money off him.
You're the bad guys.
We are?
Why?
Because we killed some street trash and a debutante fuck toy?
Or a crack-head dealing kiddie sex to the man of the year?
Or some dumb cop who decides to cash in with some young thing,
to keep him company in his old age?
Who the fuck are you to call us the bad guys?
Ahh!
I won't say anything. You know that.
Sure, baby, we know that.
I'll just take my share and disappear.
You'll never hear from me.
Yeah. That's good.
Cap him.
No, he's gone.
With this money, I could get lost...
Will you shut up?
I'm scared.
There's no reason to be.
What if he was right?
He was fucking with you.
What's to stop you from killing me when we leave?
You have to trust us.
We are some very rich motherfuckers!
(GUN FIRING)
Where the hell did you get that?
Monty gave it to me a few years ago,
in case anyone tried to hurt me.
(GRUNTS)
REMBRANDT: Keep breathing.
That's what May Lin said that night she died.
(GROANS)
(COUGHS)
The trick is to keep breathing.
You won't make it.
I didn't want this. They made me.
No more lies!
Rem, we can still do this.
We can take this money and just get out of here.
I would've done it.
That's how much I wanted you.
Even when I knew it was wrong.
We still can.
Trust...
You can still trust me.
Okay? I cared about you.
For the first time in my life,
I had something real.
Trust, Nikki.
Why is it so damn hard for you?
Who made you this way?
Everybody.
(SOBS)
Everybody I've ever known.
No.
Not everybody.
It's up to you.
Whatever you want.
(NIKKI SOBS)
Maybe...
Another time, another place.
I'm sorry.
(COUGHS)
(CHOKING)
(CRYING)
(COUGHING)
I don't wanna die.
Nobody does.
(BREATHING HEAVILY)
(MAN SPEAKING CHINESE DIALECT)
Got something for you.
That's less the hundred grand.
Think you can make this work?
It is. Don't you read the papers?
You're a smart guy, cop.
I could use a smart guy.
No, I don't think so.
Too bad.
You could do one thing.
-What? -Keep Freita under control.
No more playtime for him.
That's already done. Is that it?
There is one more small favor.
You want something else?
Not unless it has hair on it.
(LAUGHS)
Dream on.
I can't believe they did it.
I can. I never trusted him.
It's just so weird, man.
Him and Beck running dope with Eddie Trang.
Who'd have thought of that?
He went to a lot to set you up.
Just so you'd take the fall.
I don't know about you, but ripping off 100 grand,
that's no small chunk of change.
You are one lucky white boy,
that your gun jammed with mud.
Yeah, lucky.
Next time you'll call for backup.
Like Monty always said,
when it came to police work, I'm a cowboy.
(CHUCKLING)
-Hey. -Oh.
Thanks.
Good night, Rem.
Take care of yourself.
You too, Anna.
You're crazy, man.
How's the wing?
Stronger every day.
The news about Tommy will help.
What happened to him?
Got shot.
Found him under the Bay Bridge.
Shit. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.
I would've paid a lot to see that.
Yeah, me, too.
-Toots, you coming with me? -Yeah. Peace, Rem.
Good night, guys.