Previously on "Stumptown"...
I just can't tell if she's playing games.
- The P.I.? - Yeah.
This may come as a shock, but some women...
you got to let 'em know how you feel.
- Mira. - ¿Que pasa?
That's a lot of va-voom for book club?
It was the only thing clean.
Is that what you came here to tell me?
- I was a bad father? - You never reached out to me.
You told me you never wanted to see me again, you...
It was 20 years ago.
You were the dad. You could've fixed it.
There was an investigation
into the IED explosion that killed Benny.
There's more to this story.
A lot more.
Okay. Very clever.
The lighter-on-the-license trick never works.
Trick? No.
No, actually, it's a really funny story...
- Nice try. - Give me that back.
I'm gonna have to confiscate it.
Hey. I just need to get the...
Stop it!
That's nice. That's real nice.
A little sloppy on the dismount.
Don't think I'm easy just 'cause you found me in the gutter.
I've seen you around campus.
- You okay? - No.
I really wanted to see this show.
Yeah?
It's a nice view.
It's not the view.
Stand here.
Okay.
Why does it sound like we're right near the stage?
Something about the acoustics.
Brick hits metal just right, and...
It's amazing. Thank you.
Benjamin.
Blackbird.
Call me Benny.
Major Elders, this is my friend, Dex Parios.
- Pleasure. - Thanks for coming all this way, Major.
I have family in the area,
so it was a good excuse.
Besides, saying I owe my life to Jeremy
is no exaggeration.
So you have information
about the IED that killed Benjamin Blackbird?
You understand the file is classified, Top Secret.
Dex is one of us, Major.
You were told the explosives were stolen by the Taliban,
specifically by someone you had in custody?
Yes, sir.
Well, you were wrongfully informed.
Now, Jeremy told me what you've been through
and that you blame yourself for the attack.
I'm sorry.
Wrong... Wrongfully informed?
The bomb signature on the IED
matched a wildcat assassination team
associated with the Haqqanis.
Now, they're a northern tribe...
- No connection to the Taliban. - Exactly.
We believe that Private Blackbird's Humvee
was targeted erroneously.
You see? There was nothing you could have done.
The... The... The Haqqanis
have... have no connection to Kabul.
Their fight is in Kandahar.
I'd like to see the file.
Well, I feel like I've said more than I should already.
Dex, the Major's taking a real risk
trying to get you some closure.
I understand that, but none of this makes any sense.
If Benny was targeted erroneously,
why is it classified Top Secret?
You were in Intelligence.
You know that classifications can be set
for any number of reasons.
You know, I think I should be going.
- Of course. Thank you. - No. They're covering it up.
- Dex... - No.
What... What... What really happened, Major?
Tell me.
You got the information you wanted.
I didn't get any information.
- Sir. - He didn't...
Good luck.
Dex. No.
Hey!
You have amazing legs.
- Thank you. - I'm sorry.
My partner and I were sure you were a unicorn.
First timer.
Come find us when you're ready to play.
Okay.
- Come here often? - I did my research.
So, a unicorn is...?
Single woman, basically.
The girl we're looking for is a unicorn.
Floating between couples and older men no one wants.
So, it's easier to drug a desperate older man?
With deep pockets.
Check out the number of dudes
sporting diamond watches in this room.
And our girl's already made off with 200k.
She's no dummy.
It's got to get you thinking, though.
Like, what's really behind this, right?
Like, the...
Does the marriage just need spice,
or are these people looking for the exit, you know?
No judgement.
I'm a one guy kind of girl.
There's a whole lot of judgement in that, actually,
but, I feel the same.
But, like, the opposite, though.
Yeah.
I'm gonna make another round.
Hold on.
I've seen this guy before. With the man bun.
From the other club we sat on.
Girl seems pretty interested.
She came in with a dude in black.
It looks like they're recruiting a third.
That's how it happens.
No.
Friend of yours?
It's Tookie's wife.
Benny's death was your fault,
now it's not your fault, but there's more to it.
I'm sorry. I'm getting a little bit of whiplash.
Yeah, tell me about it.
I just want the truth.
You think the truth will bring you peace?
I don't know. I don't know if I know what peace feels like.
Right. Well, where you going?
What do you mean?
Well, the only time you don't day-drink
is when you got to drive someplace far.
Yeah.
I'm, I'm going out to Hood River.
There's a guy who used to be on Benny's unit.
He lives out there. Thomas Junes.
After Sue Lynn kicked me out of the funeral,
TJ reached out.
He made me feel like I was part of Benny's life.
I'm hoping maybe he can shed some light on all this.
- And you? - What about me?
You only day-drink when you got something on your mind, so...
I don't think that's true.
It's 100% true.
My dad messaged me.
Yeah, so my dad's son, I guess,
has a baseball tournament in Seattle,
and my dad wants to come see me on the way there.
- That's great. - Is it, though?
I mean, 25 years, and not so much as a birthday card,
and all of a sudden, he wants a relationship?
Well, you said yourself he's changed.
That's hard to do.
Maybe you should give him a chance.
Just weird, right?
All this digging up in the past.
When do we get to move forward?
Maybe that's what we're doing.
- I'm gonna take off. - I'll see you later.
TJ?
I'll be damned. Benny's girl.
Can I talk to you for a minute?
Haqqanis killed Benny?
That's what I was told.
I never heard anything about that.
Thanks.
Yeah.
Does that make any sense to you?
No. It makes no sense.
We were a Civil Affairs Unit.
I mean, your village was plundered by the Taliban,
we went in with funds to rebuild.
Of course, a lot of times, we made things worse.
You know, "He got more than I did"
or, "Someone stole my share."
Yeah. Winning hearts and minds?
I am actually ashamed to say, but...
I do my best not to think about those days.
When I do, I miss him.
Yeah, me too.
You are, quite the collector.
Is that from Afghanistan?
Brought it home from Kabul.
Where'd you get it?
I don't know. Some bush market.
It's high quality for a bush market.
Usually cheap reproductions.
Hey, I got lucky.
Or you found it in a bombed-out building
about to be bulldozed.
Better with you than buried under rubble, I guess.
Why does it feel like a cold wind just blew in?
Why does it feel like you're holding out on me?
I don't know anything.
So, nobody questioned you about the bombing?
Nobody questioned me about any bombing.
Benny's death is Top Secret.
That doesn't seem strange to you?
Eh, strange or not, I wasn't questioned.
Okay, then who was?
Dex...
You can't bring him back.
So, you gotta stop asking
questions you're never gonna get answers to.
What the hell does that mean?
It's a long drive back to Portland.
I'm done talking about the war.
Parents are sleeping.
You're a lifesaver. Machines in my dorm are always broken.
And they cost two bucks a load.
I'm not afraid to meet your parents, you know.
I'm very charming.
Yeah.
They're probably gonna like you more than they like me.
Well, what about your brother? When can I meet him?
Soon.
- And he's excited to meet you. - Yeah?
Dex.
That's twice as much detergent as you need,
maybe three times.
Maybe I like my shirts itchy.
That's my shirt.
Not anymore.
God, I love you.
I'm not taking it back.
Dex.
Took your advice, and I called him.
Your dad?
- Yeah. - How'd it go?
Well, I'm still day-drinking.
But he said he'd come here tonight at 9:00,
so we'll see what happens.
Well, that's good.
Maybe he'll surprise you.
Yeah. Maybe.
What happened over at, Hood River?
Well, it was pretty rough,
but I think I got something to go on.
Good. 'Sup, man?
Alright. I'll leave you two alone.
- What's up? - Thanks for coming down.
So, I've been looking at this guy... Thomas Junes.
He does three tours,
and then he comes back and he... he buys this.
I talked to the Realtor, and she said he paid cash.
800 grand.
- Rich dad? - No.
No, Dad was a construction worker.
Mother was a third-grade teacher.
He claims that his wife is the breadwinner,
but she's a non-profit lawyer.
I know that he's lying. He's not talking to me.
So, I was hoping
that maybe you could put some pressure on him.
Start a case, look into his financials,
anything to get him to... to talk to me.
Yeah, I don't do financials.
That's White Collar. It's not my division.
Okay, but please?
I will never ask you for anything again.
Okay, that's not true. I think we both know that.
But this isn't... this isn't for a client.
- This is for me. - Okay, what's really going on?
There's a D.O.D. file that I'm trying to get my hands on.
The Department of Defense?
It's about Benny's death.
I think there was foul play.
I don't have access.
Okay, I just need help, though.
I... Look, I wish I could, but, Dex, it's D.O.D.
It's just way over my head.
Okay.
Yeah, okay, I get it.
Thank you for coming down.
Gotta go.
I'm back.
Detective.
Call me Miles.
What brings you? Hungry?
No, no. I had to talk to Dex about a few things.
How are things with Mom and Dad?
Better. Better. Thank you. Thank you.
And you?
Great.
Listen, I'm just curious.
How long have you been married?
Why?
'Cause I got a colleague who's going through some stuff.
And I'm just... you know, I'm just asking around.
We've been married 20 years, so I've seen it all.
That's... That's impressive.
Did you ever feel like you needed to...
you know, like, freshen things up a little bit, or...
We got that.
It's kind of scandalous.
Yeah?
Like, scandalous on a scale of...
you know, like, folding laundry together to...
swinging?
For our half anniversary every year,
we buy six airplane bottles of tequila
and drive out to Horsetail Falls.
And we...
skinny dip.
It's such a rush.
You know how to...
paint a picture.
Makes us feel like teenagers again.
It's been a few years since we've done it.
Maybe that's exactly what we need.
Hey, you want to come?
I'm kidding, Miles.
No one wants to see you skinny dip.
Black ball goes in last.
Funny.
Can I buy you a drink? I think I owe you one.
Okay, I screwed up.
I reacted badly.
Just take the closure, Dex.
It's more than most people get.
You're right.
I'm sorry.
You know, I think Elders deserves an apology, too.
I'll pass that along.
I ju... I think it should come from me, though.
You know, I understand his... his position.
I... I'm grateful for his help.
I know he went out of his way for me.
Listen, can I get his number?
There's your friend's wife.
He has no idea where she spends her nights.
When this all blows up, he is going to have a rude awakening.
After 20 years of marriage, you'd think you'd know,
you know, this kind of trouble.
I knew after 20 days.
I didn't know you'd been married.
Yeah, Julian Chang.
Fine guy. Met him in dental school.
Now I'm learning about dental school, too?
- Yeah. - Okay. Okay.
How long did it last?
Two years.
I had everything my mom could have dreamed of.
The guy, the career...
three cats.
Well, I just wasn't living the life I wanted, you know?
My dad never misses an opportunity
to tell me I chose the wrong path.
At least you didn't get married to please them.
No. I did.
Nine months in, it was clear...
it was a mistake.
I'll bet you knew at the wedding.
Try during the wedding planning.
Yeah.
I just kept asking myself...
"Why isn't this more fun?"
Yeah.
Short pixie hair.
She made a hand-off to the guy with the neck tattoo.
Let me rewind it.
She was in the Pleasure & Posh footage
from three nights ago.
Check out the ice on the guy's watch.
There she is. Well, that was quick.
No watch.
Yeah. No, totally.
Ay! So sorry.
Excuse me.
Well, tell him I'm on my way, okay?
Housekeeping.
Yeah, just a second.
No housekeeping. Thank you.
What the hell?
Son of a bitch.
Come on. Come on, come on.
This is Major DeVar Elders, ID 2718004.
Come on.
My laptop was hacked.
I need to make sure it wasn't breached.
Specifically, any files on the 92nd Civil Affairs Battalion.
Articles 132 and 134, TS class.
Zero breach?
I need to know this.
You're sure?
Great. Thanks.
- Hey. - Hey.
Bartender said our guy with the neck ink is Levi,
and the woman that was with him is probably Kayla,
but apparently there's a bunch of women here with pixie hair.
Which one's the unicorn?
None. Green wristbands. They're a full swap.
Full swap?
Yeah, they're two on two switching.
I don't get it.
I'd go crazy if I saw my girl with another guy.
Well, we all know how you feel
about your girl with another girl.
Uncalled for.
And that was different.
I wasn't involved.
So, you'd want to be?
Okay.
There he is. Follow my lead.
Let's try and be convincing tonight. Put your hand on me.
Alright.
Levi, yeah?
We heard you're the one who got the hook-up
for the party favors.
Jimmy the bartender.
He sells weed under the table. Tax free.
We were looking for something a little more... fun.
My connect should be here soon.
Come find me in a half hour.
I didn't want to blow our cover.
Okay.
Sorry.
What the hell is this?
Hey. What is this?
- Flourishes. - Flourishes? We don't need flourish.
People seem to like them.
Well, I don't like them, and I'm the only people that count.
So, get rid of this crap and do it now.
Come on, guys. Tighten up.
What's up with him?
His dad's coming.
- So? - He's nervous.
I wouldn't.
Maybe you're right.
Find the receipt. Find the receipt.
Hey. That dirtbag we talked to about scoring party drugs?
Our pixie girl took a hand-off from him about 10 minutes ago.
Yeah, I've been watching her fiddle with this sucker's drink
for the past eight.
This guy's a perfect mark.
She's gonna spike it. Bet me.
Alright. Make it interesting.
Loser buys lunch for a week?
That's not interesting.
Come on.
Bet.
Looks like I'm buying lunch.
Oh, boy. He's going down for the count.
Yeah.
Bark. You ready?
Yeah.
Police. Get your hands on your head.
Hands on your head.
- Get the hell out of here! - Hands on your head.
- You're under arrest. - For what?
He gave that to me.
Okay. And, and this?
Never seen that before in my life.
We are consenting adults here.
Yeah. Let's go.
Poor bastard.
Yeah, we're gonna need an ambulance over here.
I'm thinking it's, Special K,
so just have the paramedics ask for Hoffman when they get here.
Hey. What's up?
I found out that the investigation
was classified as an Article 134.
A-A 134 means that maybe a crime took place,
which could involve anything
from a-a government building getting robbed,
rape, kidnapping.
So, what are you saying? Benny's unit could have been dirty?
I don't know. Some of them.
I mean, all of the unit was under investigation.
- So, maybe Benny was dirty. - He wasn't.
Benny was the most empathetic person I have ever known.
There is no way that he would do any of those things.
Okay.
What? Say it.
I mean, he broke your heart.
To do the right thing.
To please his mother?
Alright, here's what I know about Benny.
He married somebody else, he had a kid with her,
and then he left his family to join the army
to try to get you back.
You didn't know him.
Did you?
Yeah, I did.
Great. You did so good, buddy.
Good game, bud. Awesome footwork back there.
Hope it was worth it.
- Excuse me? - Losing.
He should play with his own kind
instead of taking time away from my kid.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
We don't want you getting blood on your cool, new jacket, right?
Just...
Kid's got promise, I can tell.
Which is why he needs field time.
He's gonna get a lifetime of it. Look at him.
A year from now, this day will be a blink in his memory.
That little kid? Ansel?
It was his first game.
His first time ever getting to be part of a team.
So, if a blink from your kid
could become a moment Ansel's whole life revolved around,
that'd be worth it, right?
Nice game, kid.
Hey, bud, you mind grabbing me an IPA?
Make it a scotch. Why not, right?
Should I bring one for your dad?
How do you know everything?
And, no, he stopped drinking.
So, why don't we wait 'til he gets here
and we'll see what he wants.
- Okay. - Thanks, buddy.
Alright, man, where are you?
Next.
If there's any way we can keep my wife from knowing...
I only had the tiniest bit...
Controlled substance, man.
It's a court appearance and a fine.
Sit down.
But see, if I'm not home by the time she wakes up...
Dude, dude. Long night, alright?
Name?
Franco Lopez.
Honestly, I only did this because my wife
is always going on booze cruises
with her friends and... Alejandro.
I was stupid. So stupid.
Look, man, if you're getting at something,
do it quickly.
If I can get to an ATM machine, I can pay my bail in cash.
And your wife won't notice $7,500 missing?
She wouldn't notice.
Really? What the hell do you do for a living?
I'm a service technician for a high-security budget office.
I work IT for the D.O.D.
The Department of Defense?
You want another one?
Yeah. Why don't you make it a double?
That's two more.
That's one way of looking at it.
Is he coming?
I don't think so.
I'm sorry, Grey. I'm here for you, buddy.
Thanks, buddy.
Make a double.
So, you, broke into his hotel room?
Agh. Come on, man.
Elders wasn't giving me what I needed.
And you hacked his computer?
Well, not successfully.
You can go to prison for that.
Don't be such a boy scout.
You used me.
I was right, okay?
There is more to this story.
- Benny was not dirty. - Dex.
I'm going to figure this out, okay?
I can't be the one to help you.
- That's fine. - Not like this.
You're a mess.
I'm done.
Tough night?
Yeah, it was a brutal one.
Hey, why don't you take off, buddy?
I can finish from here, okay?
I'm okay.
Alright.
Thanks. I'm okay.
Hello, drunk and defeated Dex Parios.
Remember that favor you asked me for?
About Benny's investigation?
Yeah.
I think I got a guy that can help.
He has access to the D.O.D.
You sure you don't want me to come inside?
Nah. This was enough.
I'm really sorry, Took.
I know you never liked Laura.
I didn't see this coming.
That makes two of us.
Well, that's him.
You want to take the first swing?
Nah. I'm a lover, not a fighter. You know that.
I'll give you a head start.
I hope you get what you need, Dex.
Thanks.
Hey, Franco Lopez?
- I gotta go. - Hi.
Do I know you?
No. No, not yet.
That woman you've been banging?
I'm friends with her husband,
and unless you want me to tell him where you live,
you're gonna help me.
What the hell are you talking about?
Well, you see this guy right here?
That's Laura's husband. He's pretty big.
Very big.
So, why don't you come with me?
Unless you want me to introduce you.
No? Yeah. Let's go.
I'll meet you upstairs.
Hey.
I'm here to pick up Laura. Where do I go?
Straight through there to holding.
Go to the guy at the desk. Give him her name.
You okay?
You knew the other day, didn't you?
When you were asking advice for a colleague.
Look, I wanted to tell you, but...
I get it. You were just doing your job.
- I was a mark. - No.
No, you were not a mark.
But I wasn't a friend,
otherwise you would have been honest.
It's harder to be honest with friends, Tookie.
Where's that from? A fortune cookie?
I'll see you around, Detective.
I can't take you upstairs.
Conveniently.
I need to code my way past security firewalls.
I promise I'll have no idea what any of that means.
I won't just lose my job over this.
- I can get thrown in prison. - Okay.
Well, there's prison,
or there's your wife and kids finding out
that you ride unicorns.
I just need some time
to gain access and cover my tracks.
Okay, fine.
You have my e-mail. I'll expect to hear from you.
Please say something.
I'm so sorry.
I...
I just got so lonely, and...
y-you've been obsessing so much
with the truck and the bar for months.
Tookie, you cook all night long.
I mean, when was the last time you came to bed with me?
He came onto me, okay?
And I guess...
I guess it felt nice
to be wanted again.
But it meant nothing to me.
It's over.
And I swear to you, it will never happen again.
20 years together.
I...
You know me, baby.
Come on. It's me.
You know I love you.
Please. Please forgive me.
Please.
Tookie, please.
Please, no.
Hey. You left a piece of your swinger's costume on your desk.
Yeah. It's a gift from my dad.
It's a wedding gift, actually.
Scotch?
I'm whiskey intolerant. Understood.
Gin?
Yeah.
Neat.
You like your booze straight up?
I was actually talking about your apartment.
You are a very tidy individual.
Is that a bad thing?
No. We could never be in a relationship.
My place is a sty.
Yeah, that'd be tough.
Yeah, you'd murder me and then obsessively clean up the blood.
You know, cops with cops,
that never ends well, anyway, right?
Especially us.
The same unit?
Everyone's gossiping
and sticking their noses in our business.
And bringing, what, matching lunch pails to work?
I hate us already.
And Cosgrove?
She would not approve.
No. You can... You can forget that promotion.
Traffic.
That's where we'd end up.
Yeah, it's definitely not... not worth it.
Nope.
Definitely not.
Well... thanks for the drink.
Thanks for my watch.
See you tomorrow?
Yeah.
You need to stop calling me, Benny.
Dex, this is important.
You have a daughter and a wife.
An ex-wife.
You have a daughter and a wife.
I'm not gonna be the thing
that breaks up a family.
Just... let me come to you.
There's something I have to tell you in person.
You're the only one who'll understand.
Hey. What are you doing?
Leaving.
I got some things to figure out.
I know. Dex told me.
I guess it's out, then.
It is.
Hey, I'm not gonna lie. This is a tough one, bud.
I'm gonna lose everything.
The truck, half the house,
my expensive olive oils.
She's not gonna take your truck.
Hey, come inside. Get a drink with me. Please.
I just... I have to go.
Okay, and where are you going?
- It doesn't matter. - Tookie, come on.
Don't do anything rash. Give it a few days.
You're in the middle of a storm right now.
Hey, Tookie, listen to me. Sit down for a second.
Please. Just sit down and breathe, okay?
I was never good enough for her.
That's how they get away with it.
If you blame yourself,
they don't have to take responsibility
for what they did.
And you know what the worst part is?
Even after everything, I still love her.
What does that make me?
It makes you human.
It still hurts, man.
Yeah. I get it.
Listen, my friend,
you might've lost Laura, and that's a big blow.
But you still got us.
You still good for that drink, Stripes?
Yeah, I own the place.
Come on. Let's get you that drink.
You're okay.
You're gonna be alright, man.
How'd it go with your dad?
Honestly?
As expected.
What's wrong?
Just had a rough day.
It's okay.
Is it Benny?
How did you know that?
I heard you and Grey talking.
Benny wouldn't do anything bad.
I know.
I just don't know why someone would say differently.
He was good.
How do you know the right thing to say?
I love you, Dex.
I love you, too, buddy.
You heading up?
- I'm heading up. - Okay.
- Hit the hay. - Hit the hay.
- Night. - Goodnight.
You need to stop calling me, Benny.
- Dex, this is important. - Stop calling me.
Let me come to you.
There's something I have to tell you in person.
You're the only one who'll understand.
There's something I have to tell you in person.
You're the only one who'll understand.
For 12 years, I thought that he was coming to propose,
but he was the whistleblower.
He... He... He was gonna expose his entire squad.
Th... That is what he was trying to tell me.
That... That's what got him killed.
Dex, just bring in the file, alright?
We'll... We'll... We'll see what we can do.
Dex, are you there? Dex?
Hey. Everything okay?
Yeah. Yeah, just...
wrong number.
It's all good.
TJ?
We need to talk.
Hello, hello?
Hello?
TJ?