"He ain't walkin'." Alex watched Ulan Ocampo through the glass, still steaming. Even after a trip to the hospital and a full meal- which the chief had paid for- the murderous intent hadn't left his face. For once, Ernesto didn't advice his friend against it; rather, he shared it. Rita clinging to her mother, relieved, but still afraid. First Lester, then this!

Was she not allowed to trust the world and enjoy it?

"He's not likely to." Ernesto crossed his arms, reading more of the young man that waited for them. He kept his hand atop the table, as though he owned it. Acting as though his broken left arm didn't bother him. But they had both heard the screams and curses hospital room across from Alex's.

"Is that what Ocampo says?" Alex asked, eyes staying on the glass. Ernesto thought carefully, knowing his boss as both a boss and a man. It was easy to forget the second part, but he tried not to. "Ocampo puts his duty to the people first, Alex. Don't underestimate that."

"So I'm just imagining the fact that no one's booked him yet?" Alex finally turned, grimacing at the sudden move. "You and Kai have all the evidence you need and I'll testify to everything else."

So Rita wouldn't have to. Ernesto didn't believe it would come to that; not when they were done with this. He checked his phone. "Either way, a confession helps seal everything."

Besides, why rob themselves of the best part. Alex shared a wicked grin with him. "Let's go get it then."

They entered the interrogation room, immediately raking Ulan's annoyance up. However, he lumbered in his seat as though without a care in the world. "No visitors unless they're my lawyer."

"Yeah, could be a while." Ernesto dropped a file on the table. "He missed rush hour, but his car- I think it was the carburetor..."

"Naw man, the muffler," Alex shook his head. "Those older models, gotta watch out for 'em."

They circled Ulan like sharks, Ernesto finally sitting while Alex stood in a corner. "Basically, he'll get here when he gets here. But, we're here now."

"So let's focus on that." Ernesto folded his hands on the file, tone even, cool- controlled. Ulan gave it right back. "Like it or now, I've got rights."

How Ernesto hated that line! He eyed Ulan, detesting the false assurance he walked in. Even if Ocampo were to rush in here, Ernesto wouldn't let him get two words out. "You planned to kill a DEA agent-"

"Retired." Ulan snarked at Alex.

"And tried to force pills down a little girl's throat." Ernesto let his hatred out. "Whatever rights you think you had, they're gone little man."

A crack tried surfacing, but Ulan held it down; demeaning terms rattled him, as Alex had said.

"Are they?" Ulan's relaxed posture returned. "When exactly is my uncle doing the press release on the police presence at the hotel?"

Alex's weight shifted; Ernesto kept silent, and Ulan smiled. "Strange. He's usually on his third one by now. Unless-"

He shrugged his good arm. "This might be an arrest he can't spin in his favor. He is our police chief..." He glanced between the two, to make sure they were listening. "And he showed me the storage units. Told me where to find the agent. For what purpose? Maybe to finally score the big pay day his ego deserves?" He leaned in now, elbow on the table, as though claiming ground. "What news channel won't east that up?"

"You think holding Ocampo's job hostage is going to save you?" Ernesto shared a hidden laugh with Alex. The American sauntered off the wall, getting Ulan to feel his presence behind him. "You're even dumber than I thought."

"Uncle Ike's the dumb one!" Ulan's face tightened, throwing daggers from his peripheral. "Thinking he's so important when he's no more then a joke!" He glared at Ernesto, spitting the words like bad seeds. "A laughing stock whose fat face can't go five minutes without a camera. If you're in his life, it's only so you can make him look good... and he acts like we should be grateful. Like that does us any favors?"

Ernesto watched Ulan release the resentment he'd clearly been holding for a while. They weren't without some merit; but they were hardly everything that their chief was.

"You don't give your uncle enough credit." Ernesto stated. "Many appreciate the message he gives to the island. Whatever warrant we ask, he'll give it. Whatever sentence a judge passes, he'll be the one to announce it."

Ulan scoffed at the sincerity. "Doesn't matter."

He motioned to his head, making a show. "They may not believe what I say, but once the doubt's there... it'll never go away."

Alex came up, right behind Ulan's chair. "You got a point, kid. Once you plant the seed, hard to keep it from growin'. Kinda like when your cellmates learn... who you are." He kept his voice low and sly. "You think cops have it bad? You should see snitches."

Ulan jerked from Alex, unfazed. "I'm no snitch."

"Aren't you?" Ernesto asked, brow raised. A second later, their door opened and Kai stuck her head in. "Oh, sorry gentlemen. I'll use the next one."

Alex leaned on his heels as Ulan paled at the prisoner whose elbow she held. A beach-blonde Aussie with a seventies' goatee; and a bruised eye. Kai nodded, Ernesto catching her smirk with the door close. He twisted back to face Ulan. "Your buyer, right?"

"Not exactly on the DEA's top 100." Alex resumed his pace, taking Ulan's superiority with him. "A few raps and a warrant for him down under, but..." He eased against the opposite wall. "He still doesn't like being set up."

Ulan shook his head. "I didn't-"

"But you wanted to prove yourself to your uncle." Ernesto continued the tale. "What better way then using your past resources to lure in a drug dealer." He eyed Alex, inspired. "Y'know, I bet it's not the first time."

"Now there's," Alex ran his hand through the air. "a headline."

"No inmate will believe you." Ulan hissed. Ernesto shrugged. "They don't have to. But..."

"The doubt will be there." Alex shrugged.

"My uncle won't risk-"

"Chief Ocampo." Ernesto corrected him, standing. "has already risked plenty for you."

He pushed a statement paper in front of Ulan; Ocampo's signature already on it.