1x09: Bad Judgment
This episode starts with Neal and Peter talking about their weekend activities. Burke watched sports while Caffrey hit the museum when Jones tells him a name David Sullivan is waiting for him about a mortgage fraud case. Sullivan is with a little girl, and Neal says he can be of help. So they help to the office, and meet him and the girl, Allison. This has to do with Sullivan's father being in a big debt and for that he put a mortgage in their house. Burke tries to explain that these kind of things happen, but that he'll look into it with no promises. And to make it cuter, Allison hands Peter a drawing she made of him. He only offers a weird smile, and that reassures my theory that he isn't ready to be a dad.
The name of a retired NYPD detective comes up, and what makes it even more suspicious is the fact that he retired at age 35. So the buddies invite him over for coffee, and the guy shows up, only to not talk about the Sullivan case. So he refuses the coffee, distrusts both and leaves $4.76 as tip. But...there is something behind that number. So they get to look what that number could mean: It's a court order conducted by a woman named Michelle Clark. Neal asks if he really wants to get himself in, so Peter looks at the drawing, and that makes him feel sure of this. New credit sequence, much better than the other :)
Neal's pad. He has Mozzie look into this Judge Clark. This might be connected to Fowler, the man that apparently has Kate. Mozzie makes him doubt his judgment and asks if he trusts Peter enough to try delivering a message to Kate.
A photo of Judge Clark accompanies Peter's explanation as to why her latest case was, indeed, the Sullivan mortgage case. Elizabeth calls to invite them both for lunch at the Burkes' house. And the next thing we have is a promotional mention of Ford, and Neal toying with the GPS like a little boy. Perfect timing to ask about Kate and asks her to rely a message about whether the bottle really meant 'goodbye' or something else.
Lunch is actually Elizabeth tasting a new catering provider, and the food sucks. First Peter, then Neal "that appreciates fine cuisine" She comments that the cable guy came over to fix stuff. Suspicious stuff, but Peter writes 'bug' in a paper. The guy gets to figure out how they are being bugged as Elizabeth talks to Caffrey. Burke finds the bug behind the cable box and says he's pissed off and smashes it.
Now the three are outside, discussing what to do next. Neal knows a cleaning guy, and after reluctance from the husband and support from the wife (that says that this has to stop), tells him to call him but that someone else will be watching. The man is...MOZZIE! haha!! Elizabeth is confused, and Peter xplains his job as Mozzie gets to solve this issue (Fowler must be behind it). Jones arrives and asks to keep an eye on him as Neal returns from walking the dog. Caffrey has some explaining to do, so they head outside to a rainy NYC.
Peter asks what's in the music box that Fowler wants, and the plan is that they'll get to him through Judge Clark, hopefully that she flips on him. It's a risky thing that could end in disbarment, but they'll get to it. Next, they're in the FBI seeing how files are being wheeled when Fowler comes in. Tension can be felt in this return.
Neal and Peter are alone in a meeting break, and Caffrey tells him that the signature is a forgery, based on papers he's been analysing. He demonstates it with Peter's signature (they ARE alike) and an explanation when Fowler comes in to leave. Burke will go get the clearance to talk with the judge.
Next, he's at the Judge's den. She receives him and he says he's there to talk about the Sullivan case. She doesn't remember it, and when shown papers, she says the evidence isn't sufficient to re-open the investigation. Clark starts talking about how much he earns, and she offers him a deal for $250.000. Peter has just managed to get another meeting...and the bitch videotaped the whole thing! Ugh, she IS with Fowler!!
At the FBI, he tells Neal about the bribe, and as they look at Fowler, he gets a call from the Judge that says he bit the bribe bait, and that if he wants the tape, he'll have to seal her files so that Peter & Neal can't do a thing.
Elizabeth is showing Mozzie and Jones surveillance pictures of her, and tells a story of how not corageous he was to ask her out to an Italian restaurant, so she gave him a hint when Peter arrives. Mozzie and Jones leave and the couple is forced to sleep downstairs because upstairs is still a risk. So they lay out there until his superior comes to talk to him about what happened with Judge Clark. He informs OPR has tape evidence Fowler will present tomorrow, and there is nothing he can do to help him. Elizabeth heard it all, and of course is worried.
Neal is looking at a postcard and moving a piece of chess when there's a knock on the door. It's Elizabeth, who has gone to ask for help about Peter. At the same time, he's at an empty FBI offices until Jones comes to offer his support and coffee. OPR has arrived and Burke looks really nervous. Back with Neal, Elizabeth wants him to break inside the chambers to steal a tape. Honestly, she's right. He owes Peter a lot. So after she leaves, he and Mozzie work out a plan (tools of the job included). Looks like a perfect plan!
At the FBI meeting room, Peter is briefing a team about the Sullivan case when the files are blocked. So he has to go back to the detective to ask for help before things get out of control.
The next morning, the courrier goes to pick up the tape and Mozzie creates a distraction as Neal goes to pick it up. His charm had to do a lot with it, and, after erasing the tape with a magnet, hands the package to the real courrier (Dude, Mozzie's performance was EPIC! Hilarious, as always). The Judge enters and Neal calls Peter. With a pen and a clip, he puts his criminal skills to practice, risking it all for his friend(No need to say Matt Bomer looks handsome!!).
Mozzie meets with Neal outside the court and they hear the conversation between Judge Clark and her secretary about what they took (the office was upside down) as Caffrey watches with binoculars. And something about a deposit box.
Meanwhile, Fowler (really confident) enters the office to show the tape of Peter's bribe. But it's blank. The director tells Fowler not to waste his time, so he leaves, visibly angry to face a smiling Neal. Burke leaves too, and of course suspects of Caffrey's involvement. He just replies to thank Elizabeth. They head upstairs to work up a plan to arrest the Judge at the moment she dumps the money. Neal obtained the information on an 'illegal' way, so they'll have to use someone else.
In a van, a guy informs Fowler that Peter is making a call to Neal. It's part of the plan they have to have Fowler bite the bait. So the next morning, as Clark is walking to the bank, Fowler faces her about double-crossing him and opens the briefcase to reveal the money. It is at that point that Peter arrives with a team (superior included) to arrest the Judge. Fowler takes care of it and advises her to keep her mouth shut(And Burke enjoys the win so much that he even shoves an order with Fowler's signature in his face. Ha!)
After an interrogation, Fowler leaves as Neal and Peter watch. They really feel victorious, and throw in some acid comments before he leaves for good. Next scene, they are with Sullivan's son and Allison to inform him of the good news and Peter even gives her the foreclosure sign. Aww!
Mozzie has finished with the job and Peter thanks him. Elizabeth walks him out and the guys are left alone. Neal doesn't have the music box, and Peter tells him he got two words from Kate: "See Robert". Robert is Kate's father, but there is a problem...the guy is dead. So they meet Mozzie at the cemetery, and in Moreau's grave he finds another clue: A yellow paper flower...An indicator she was there recently...
Great episode, bring on more! :)
Nicodrina
Photo credit: mattbomerfan.com
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