"Mick, we've been through this over and over again. You know the rules. Division kicks out a list of assignments. It could be anyone. This one just happened to be assigned to you. The system doesn't know preferences. The only qualification is a cop." Capt. Furillo says.
Det. Belker answers back. "I have no problem in performing assignments."
"Just that you wish they would go with your code of ethics. Am I right, Mick?"
"Captain, I honestly don't know if I can successfully do this job."
"What makes you question this one?"
"I'm not a schmoozer. Do I look like I could run an art gallery? Much less tell what's a real painting?"
"Mick, you can be anything your heart tells you to. You've done thousands of undercover and stakeout operations where you pretended and you didn't seem to have a problem with any of them."
"Captain, if this is a big operation, I don't wanna screw it up. That's not what I collect a paycheck for. I'm not sloppy. This is far more of a L…" He stops himself.
"I know what you were about to say. Far more of a LaRue assignment."
Belker miserably drops his head. "I can't do the things he did. This reminds me too much. Too much of why I miss the guy." His eyes get glassy as his voice breaks. "I really miss the big hairbag." He sniffles back, attempting to regain his composure. "There. I said it."
"I feel the same sentiment as you, Mick. I miss him too. We all do. Well, except the hairbag reference. I know this might be tough for you to believe but I think you can do this job. And I think you can do it well. Channel him."
"What?" Belker furrows his brows.
"Channel LaRue."
"Captain. No offense but I'm not into that paranormal stuff. I don't go and conjure up spirits."
Furillo gives a small smile. "Mick, I'm not asking you to call his spirit, just think, how would J.D. handle this situation?"
Belker slowly nods back in understanding. Then he asks, "Why Neal?"
"Because he can help you. At least two people are needed on this assignment and I can't pair him up with Henry after what happened a little while ago. You know Neal is excellent with surveillance."
"Yeah. We did do good together on that car parts bust and some other assignments."
"Just make sure you're attired correctly for the job. My best advice to you would be go downstairs. Get cleaned up and ready. You'll be fit for a wire too."
...
Officer Andy Renko grouses as he looks out the window of the cruiser, at the high school property. "We've been here since the buses rolled in and there ain't a sign of nobody wantin' to get in while school's in session."
"We're just gonna sit here and wait like we're assigned, cowboy." Officer Bobby Hill answers.
"While we sit here and wait, I'd like to talk about the finer points of our fair gendered expectant sergeant."
"Lucy." Hill says dryly. "The ticking time bomb."
"How do you think Junior is going to turn out?"
"Every time she reminds us who the father is, I can't help but feel sorry for them. Not necessarily because it's J.D. More along the lines that kid is gonna grow up to have the temper of their momma. Havin' two Bates will be somethin' else. I tell you that."
"Junior could turn out like J.D." Renko reminds Hill.
"What's that? Trouble? A rule breaker like their daddy?"
"Or…"
"Or both. I can't help but think of those two gettin' together as oil and water. Tough disciplinarian hard workin' individual or troublesome practical joking playboy who learns to love the mirror before the age of two."
Renko sits up in the seat with alertness when he sees someone approaching the main door. "I don't know much about two, but since we're on duty for the fifteen set, I'd say someone's anxious to get in that school."
Hill looks over. "Where? Him? That's a teacher who's late to class, you dummy. We're lookin' for folks who are loiterin'. Just standin' around. Not someone who's anxious to get inside."
"Well then I don't see anybody like that. Bobby, this is a waste of time." Renko answers in disapproval.
Hill takes a glance at a student leaving the main door. "How about that?" He looks to see an older teen a block away from the school. "Looks like he's waitin' for somethin' or someone."
They wait. The man goes inside the building.
"Ah. False alarm." Hill answers deflated.
...
In the men's locker room, Mick Belker and Neal Washington get ready for their undercover assignment. Washington straightens out his navy and yellow striped tie against a very pristine matching navy suit. He keeps his eyes on the small mirror tacked onto the locker door.
"Me and J.D. must've done a thousand of these kinda assignments. Each and every one of which we nailed."
Belker doesn't feel too good about that.
Washington looks back at his temporary partner who adds the finishing touches to his face with an electric shaver. Belker's eyes dart over as he checks out a tie not to his taste. Washington adds finishing touches of a sweet smelling cologne. He says, "Mmm hmm. I remember this one undercover operation where we had to take down a real sleazy developer. Man, J.D. was great at playin' those cons. He was great at bein' a shyster. This guy bought J.D.'s con in record time and we busted him real fast. Man, so fast that the captain said he thought we had left already. And there we were holdin' this guy at booking before noon. The captain told us to take the rest of the day off and…" Washington looks down mournfully. "I'd give anything to have J.D. on his worst day, than not have him around at all." He shuts the locker door. Belker has a hard time with his tie. Washington looks at him. "Mick, you're doin' it all wrong."
"Neal, I know how to tie a neck tie." Belker answers annoyed.
"Here, let me do it." Washington says, undoing it.
Belker fights him when he feels fingers undoing two buttons of his shirt. "What are you doing? Get your hands away from there before I bite them off!"
"There." Washington answers undeterred, flipping Belker's collar out. "Pure con man, babe." He smiles.
Belker grimaces in the mirror on his locker door. Then he breaks into a smile and puts on a pair of dark sunglasses.
"You might think of wearin' a chain with all that fur."
Belker's expression changes to unamused when he sees Washington poke his head around the corner with the same big smile.
On the main floor, Belker arrives from downstairs. He gets whistles and wolf calls. Female officers stare. The diminutive detective peeks up from his dark shades, and straightens his open collar shirt under a snazzy dark suit. Bates watches him walk by.
"Mick?" She asks aloud.
"Ahoooo Hooo!" Another officer howls.
Only the sergeant's head turns, following Belker with her eyes.
Washington arches his brows at another cop in recognition they're surprised by Mick Belker's fashion ensemble. He smiles. Looking at Bates he says, "Sarge?" Then he glances at her stomach. "Hey there, little lovah!" Gently, he puts a hand to her belly before walking away.
Bates looks down, placing a hand on her stomach where Washington had. A small smile creeps onto her face.
Furillo picks up the phone in his office. "Hello? Yes, Chief. Uh, no. Not much at the moment. You do. I see. I… Well, yes I do have someone. Understood. Okay. I'll see you soon. Bye."
As he puts down the phone, Det. Lt. Goldblume wanders around the squad room.
"Oh, Henry? Can I talk with you for a minute, please?"
Goldblume finishes talking with an officer. "Sure, Frank. What is it?"
"I need you to look after the station for oh, say…an hour or so."
"Now?" Goldblume asks shocked.
"Do you think you could do that for me, Henry?" Furillo grabs his jacket off the hook.
"Right now? Frank, I have a room full of rookies I have to talk with…" Goldblume checks his watch. "…in about forty-five minutes. I can't just forget about them."
"You'll already be in the station. I'm not asking for you to sit on your hands and wait. Just oversee what's going on while I'm gone. That's all."
Goldblume puts his hands up in a giving up motion. "Why not? I'm being punished as it is."
Furillo furrows his brows in pity. "Henry, come on. You're not being punished for anything."
"No. I'm just teaching the equivalent of kindergarten in a police station." The detective sergeant nods back reluctantly. "Okay. I'll do it."