The TV reports that the black residents of New York are responding violently to Keisha's death. Apparently, in 1973, light jogging is considered violent. Carling is rounding up the rest of the troops for the Angel Ramirez manhunt. Their orders: Draw first. "If he's armed and goes for it," Sam attempts to clarify. Yeah, right, Carling replies, though a whole lot angrier and with many more words. "You think the world's gonna mourn one less child killer?" Carling demands. In this week's installment Sam Tyler Lectures the Cops of 1973 on Proper Police Procedure, Sam reminds Carling that it's their job just to arrest people -- guilt or innocence is something for on-the-take lawyers and sinister hanging judges to determine. "You are so naïve, Tyler," Hunt chortles, "it's a miracle you're still alive." Guess we've got our theme for the evening, then. But Hunt is on a roll: "Nobody hurts little girls in my kingdom. And it is my kingdom. Huntlandia. Home of the blueberry crepe. Where little kids are off limits." Well, I'm not sure how I feel about Huntlandia's attitudes toward a police state, but I'd like to hear more about this blueberry crepe before I judge.
The mob of detectives heads off to throw Angel Ramirez a necktie party, leaving Sam and Fletcher to worry about the head-crackings to come. "Your boys are really gonna make a mess of things," Fletcher says in what will doubtlessly prove to be a comical understatement. "Not if we find Angel first," Sam offers. Fletcher thinks that's a very stupid idea, and when he describes it as the two of them standing between Angel Ramirez, the BLA, and a police force out for blood, it's hard to really argue with him. But argue Sam does, and eventually, he manages to wear down Fletcher's resistance. Hey, they're two-thirds of the way to forming a Mod Squad!
When we return from the break, Brother Love Butter informs us that protests over the city have turned into "full-blown riots." We have a very different definition of "full-blown riots," he and I. Because my idea of a riot does not involve milling about and occasionally shoving someone. Seriously, you can't have the boys at ILM CGI some window-smashing? At any rate, Sam has returned to Our Lady of the Vicious Uppercut with Fletch tagging along, so that they can question Father Sobotka some more. Father Sobotka agrees to tell them where Angel's hiding... but only if Sam spills the beans on why he gave the One True Church the high hat. Sam offers what he calls the Cliff's Notes version: Sam's dad skipped town when he was four, and when his nightly prayers to have his father return went unanswered, Sam decided that God could cram it sideways. "Now where's Angel Ramirez?" Sam demands. "No idea," Father Sobotka says. "I lied." Sam grunts in dismay. Hey, if telling a little fib is the worst thing a priest ever does to you, you're ahead of the game, pal. Father Sobotka does volunteer that Angel was seeing someone -- and before your mind wanders to a dark place, Father Sobotka has faith that this certain someone was of the age of consent. "Angel Ramirez did not touch that child," Father Sobotka thunders. Strong words, Sam observes, coming from someone who told a dirty, dirty lie just now: "And that's a violation of the Eighth Commandment." "Ninth," Father Sobotka corrects him. So he's been coveting his neighbor's wife? Heavy. "Do you think it's a coincidence that you're looking for an Angel now?" Father Sobotka continues. "God wants you back on the team." Not heavy. Not at all.













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