Tuesday evening

Brenda stopped by the silks class. She was light which made it easy to climb, but she had trouble holding herself with her arms. The leg holds were a lot easier. It was a lot of fun, but she got tired really fast. She stopped for water. The instructor came up to her. "You're pretty good on your first day."

"Thanks. It's a lot of work."

"I know. Your endurance builds with time."

Wednesday

Prosecutor's office

Brenda got a case file for a Sammy Ryan. He went missing last week. He was 35 and a bartender at a seedy bar downtown. She had a suspicion that Sammy disappeared because of something he saw there. She needed someone to check out this place. Tommy and Jackie came in. "Perfect."

"Hey, I have a job for you two." Brenda wanted them to go to the bar, bring a lot of cash and see what kind of trouble they could get into.

The FBI could handle the surveillance equipment and would be able to collect info that would hopefully lead to Sammy.

Gabriel came in. She asked him to figure out the neighborhood, entrance and egress points, any gang/mob activity, anything that would tell them what they were working on.

Major Crimes

They got a call from the hospital. "I think we found your mugger."

"He's in the hospital? We'll send an officer to arrest him."

"We'll be sending him to you."

"Is he ready to be released?"

"There's nothing we can do for him. He's dead."

"What?"

"He got beat real bad."

The body appeared in the morgue. He matched the composite, or he would have if he hadn't been beaten so badly. He had an ID on his wallet. Rex Quinn. They looked up his address. He lived down the street from the first robbery. They went to his house and found lots of wallets, cash, and some jewelry.

"Now, who killed him?" Sharon wondered.

FBI Office

Fritz got snookered into checking in on his wife. He stopped by her office. "Hey, Brenda."

"Fritzi!" She pulled him into her office and gave him a quick kiss. "What brings my white night here?"

"Work. How's your case going?"

"I just got it. What do they think I am, the ghost whisperer?"

He laughed. "They just want this to be discreet."

"I'll be sure to whisper, hey we're looking for this guy, he was going to roll on you all, but he disappeared. You didn't kill him, right?"

"You silly girl." He kissed her again.

"We have a plan. We need to see these people in action. Do you think the FBI can swing a surveillance van?"

"I think we can do that, but how do you plan on getting into the bar?"

"You think the FBI can come up with cash?"

"For?"

"For money talks. If these people have shady business practices, the easiest way to uncover them is to buy in."

"I'll see." He kissed her again. "Lunch."

"I'd like that."

Major Crimes

Chief Taylor came down. "How's the mugging case?"

"He's dead, Chief." Tao told him.

"Dead?"

"Someone beat his ass, and he died in the hospital." Flynn thought the case was over.

"Can we go home now?" Provenza asked.

"We have to find out who killed him." Sykes piped in.

"Maybe he tried to mug the wrong dude." Sanchez thought this was a satisfactory answer.

"Whoever he got into it with was a good fighter." Morales came up to the squad room. "I see a lot of damage, but I don't see much indication of recipricol injuries."

"Come again."

"This guy was pummled. When people just punch as hard as they can, they often hit the wrong places and cause damage to themselves, a broken hand or wrist for example. Depending on which bones break on the victim, you can predict whether or not the assailant has those types of injuries. I didn't any indication that the killer broke anything by punching the victim."

"So he knew how to fight."

"Yes he did. And he made quick work of this guy. These injuries appear to have happened all at once."

"So we're looking for Mike Tyson, case closed!"

Sharon sighed. "See if there are any boxing gyms around the victim's strikezone. Maybe he tried to mug a fighter on his way home."

"I'll also check for MMA and any other martial arts studios, Captain." Tao was on it.

He found two studios in the area. Flynn and Provenza went to check them out. They brought the composite, but no one admitted to being mugged or to seeing this guy. A lot of these guys were big. A mugger would have to be stupid to attack these people.

They came back to the squad room. "Nothing, Captain."

Prosecutor's office

Gabriel did his research and helped the FBI figure out where they wanted to set up and where to station agents in case a perp made a run for it. He walked past a tv and saw a composite of the mugger. He tried to mug Eliza outside the yoga studio. He came back to find the Chief.

"Chief Johnson?"

"What is it, David?"

"Have you seen the composite of the mugger going around?"

"What about him?"

"He tried to mug me and Eliza outside of her yoga class."

"What happened?"

"He came out with a knife and I punched him a couple of times. He ran away, so I didn't bother to report it. No one was hurt. Should I have said something?"

"You can say something now. I'll call the captain."

Ring Ring

Now who could that be? "Captain Raydor speaking."

"Hi Sharon."

"Chief Johnson, how can I help you?"

"Are you still looking for the mugger?"

"We found him."

"Good. Did he confess yet?"

"We have that taken care of. Can we help you?"

"We thought we could help you find him."

"That's not necessary, but thank you for the offer."

"Bye, Sharon."

"Well, Major Crimes already took care of it. Not to worry David."

"All right. Thanks, Chief." David was off, having no idea he killed a man with his bare hands.

Night Time

Tommy and Jackie went to he bar. She wore a leather vest that had a full zipper down the front. She work dark jeans and heels to complete the outfit. Tommy wore a blue button down shirt, a leather jacket and jeans. They wore designer clothes that were expensive, his hair slicked back hers a ring of curls. They were brazen, kissing and groping each other as they interacted with the crowd. Tommy made sure to make himself the center of attention. He bought rounds of drinks and made quick friends. Jackie chatted up the other ladies.

"Payton and I just moved here from Miami," she told the patrons. "We're looking for a new hangout spot, and this feels like our kind of place." The drinks were cheap, very cheap. This place was laundering money for something because they couldn't be profiting on these prices. Tommy did a double shot of whiskey.

A bouncer in the back noticed the new patrons. He started to ask around about them. Apparently, they just moved here, and they seem to have a lot of money to burn. He liked the sound of easy money.

He invited the girl to take a tour. He didn't realize that she had a camera hidden in her necklace. He took her to the back, where there was a private lounge. Wealthy patrons drank bottles in their booths and had women providing entertainment for them. He offered her a line of white powder. "I don't do coke. That's more of Payton's thing."

"What do you like? We have it all."

"Have any edibles?" He came back with a brownie. She offered to pay. He said the first one was free. She took a small bite. She could taste the grass.

"How did you hear about this place?"

"I had a friend when I was in Miami. He told me this place would take good care of me."

"Did he have a name?"

"Does Harley ring a bell? I think he came here with another friend, Sammy."

"You a friend of Sammy."

"I didn't know him myself, but I heard he knew how to find the right kind of places." She took another bite.

"Well, he's a good guy. Haven't seen him around in a while though. He used to come here all the time."

"That's too bad. I was hoping to meet him. If he stops by, will you let me now."

"Sure, but I heard he was going to leave town."

"Really?"

"Yeah, something about a new gig in San Antonio."

"Thanks again." She tucked the brownie in her purse and made her way back to the bar.

Tommy was making plenty of friends, or Payton was, whatever. He learned all about this place. Apparently, people got trashed in the front and then blew their money in the back. He heard the best night to come was Saturday. That was when things got really wild. "Yall know a guy named Sammy. He told a friend of mine to hit this place up. I was going to buy him a drink, or 5 given these prices."

"He hasn't been here in about a week now, which is odd. He's always here, having a good time."

"What's his vice?"

"He always was a fan of the angel dust."

Jackie slipped her arms around Tommy and gave him a kiss. "You want to come back on Saturday?"

"Yeah!" They bought everyone another batch of drinks and then headed out.

"You didn't learn anything useful," the FBI agent complained.

"I learned plenty," Brenda told him.

"Like what?"

"We know, one they are selling drugs in the back and have escorts made available to the clients. We know your informant was well liked and has been a part of this scene for a long time and he had a penchant for PCP, which very well may mean that the information he gave you was unreliable."

"You think he was talking junk."

"Who knows? But what makes you think this guy was killed. How do you know he didn't overdose or run away."

"Why would he run? He was getting immunity."

"At the expense of people to whom he seemed very close. Maybe he took the deal to escape the charges, but he didn't want to carry through. I wouldn't be surprised if this was a suicide."

The FBI did not like the sound of this at all.

Jackie offered the brownie as evidence.

"You ate some of it."

"I wanted to fit in."

"Everyone seemed to like this guy," Tommy commented. "I find it hard to believe he was going to put all these people in the line of fire."

"As do I, Tommy."

They all went home.

Thursday

Jacob went to mediation with Joyce's lawyer, who went first. "Our position is that Joyce has depended on Robert for several years. He has an obligation to help her maintain her quality of life for a few yeas until she can readjust. She requests the house, a 10k cash payment, and alimony for the next three years."

Jacob went next. "Joyce is not dependent on Robert. She has a trust fund that pays her 15k a year. She is young enough to return to work, and she is well-educated. Robert also paid off all of her debt. It is more than reasonable for her to take the house and nothing else, especially since Robert paid for it. In consideration for Joyce taking the marital home free and clear, we request that Joyce repudiate any interest she had in his Portland, Maine property, which is currently encumbered with both a mortgage and a lease."

Joyce's lawyer was stunned. She mentioned no trust fund nor any Maine property. "What property?"

"Yesterday, I discovered that Joyce and her sister sold a piece of property to Bobby. Since she has already received market value for her share of the land, we think that is all she is entitled to."

"What is the state of the property now?"

"It is currently encumbered with a 20 year mortgage and a 30 year lease."

Joyce's lawyer sighed. Given the economy, he wasn't sure it was worth it to get involved into a house with a mortgage. "I assume you brought the documents about the land."

"I did."

The lawyer examined the documents. "He leased it to her sister?"

"Yes."

"So she controls the property."

"Currently."

He didn't want to get involved with a sibling dispute. "What does Bobby plan on doing with the property?"

"He'll probably sell it to the sister, unless Joyce ties it up in unnecessary litigation."

The father was footing the bill. He thought it was best to leave this property the way it was. He called Joyce. "Hey, I'm currently mediating with Bobby's lawyer."

"What did he offer? How much money?"

"We are currently trying to resolve your sister's house."

"What does she have to do with it?"

"She apparently sold it to Bobby, but she wants it back."

"Can I get it from him?"

"I was hoping you would give up any interest."

"Why would I want to do that?"

"Currently, the land has a long term lease, which will make it hard to sell. If you sue him for half, then the land will have two owners, which means you will have to share the property together."

"What?"

"You will be tied to him for the next 10 years at least."

"No way! I want nothing to do with him."

"Then give up the house."

"Fine whatever, get this done, ASAP." Joyce hung up. She heard Michael might propose soon. She wanted to get divorced soon, so she could get a ring on it.

The lawyer went back to Jacob. Our client would be willing to give up her interest in the property, for a fee.

"Really?" Jacob was ready to agree, but then he remembered the advice from Brenda's lawyer. Every offer you get means the opposition will likely settle for less. See how low they can go. Jacob was gonna play hardball. "It sounds like she wants to get out of this marriage fast. She's ready to give up a house, and she doesn't give up anything. Does she have a new husband lined up?"

"I don't know why you would even think such a thing."

"I think we could come to a deal, but Joyce isn't getting a dime."

"What exactly are you offering?"

"Joyce takes the marital home free and clear. We stay away from her trust fund. We don't come after her for any of the debt she ran up. That's it."

"You think this is a satisfactory offer."

"I think your client is a short-fused woman who wants out of this marriage and this deal now is better than what she will get at trial minus what she is paying for your services."

"I'll take it to my client."

Jacob left. He had the upper hand for once.