Bosch gets closer to solving Daisy’s murder while Elizabeth makes a dangerous choice.
Bosch season 6 episode 8: ‘Copy Cat’
Written by: Eric Overmyer and Alex Meenehan
Directed by: Ernest Dickerson
photo credit: Amazon
There are the initial proceedings to prepare for Alicia Kent’s trial for her husband’s murder. Heather Strout is trolling the courthouse for Alicia’s pretrial hearing. Bosch finds some helpful clues from the data recovered from Alex Sands’ laptop.
Avril manages to stay one step ahead of J. Edgar and Chief Irving announces the Operation Safe Sidewalks initiative while running for mayor. Maddie considers interning at Honey Chandler’s office again next summer.
Read on for my full investigation of Bosch season 6 episode 8 ‘Copy Cat’.
Hearing with Honey
Heather Strout makes an appearance at the first pretrial hearing of the Stanley Kent murder case. She is carrying the backpack she has been working on and brings it through security without issue.
Harry walks into the courtroom with Maddie, J. Edgar and DDA Blair. Harry wonders about the risk of the judge throwing out the sound car audio recorded by Maxwell. Blair says it’s not likely and that the other evidence is still good.
Bosch confronts Heather in the courtroom. She lets him search her backpack, which is full of flyers for the sovereigns movement. He cautions her to make no commotion during the hearing.
Sure enough, Chandler requests that the sound car recording not be allowed as evidence. She cites the California consent law and Alicia did not consent. DDA Blair confidently responds with ‘conspiracy supersedes consent”. The judge will review both arguments.
Chandler surprises DDA Blair, however, when she also asks that the texts from the wiretap be tossed as well. She claims that Detective Bosch was not clear about the actual amount of evidence he had at the time. Of course, Judge Sobel is the one who signed the warrant. Again, she will review the motion and set a date for the next hearing.
Chat with Honey
Maddie and Honey have a chance encounter while walking downtown. Chandler describes how the pretrial hearings can take awhile but move the process forward to the actual trial. Maddie inquires if Chandler thinks Alicia is innocent. Chandler explains that it is not about what she believes. Her focus is to provide a fair defense for her client’s plea, which is not guilty
The ladies also discuss the recent news of Dante Crow getting $6.5 million in his unlawful incarceration case. Chandler commends Maddie on her role in the case. Chandler would like Maddie to come back next summer and Maddie says she will consider it.
photo credit: Saeed Adyani/Amazon/Prime Video
News from Detective Klein
Harry visits Detective Klein about his findings on Alex Sands’ old laptop. Klein reports that he was able to get most of the video footage from the laptop and gives it to Bosch on a storage drive.
Bosch wonders if Klein looked at any of the footage. He did see some and wonders if as messed up as these guys were, does Harry think one of them is the murderer?
Harry responds, “That’s the thing about killers. You don’t know. Could be anyone.”
An important recognition
Harry and Jerry look at some of the video recovered by Klein. Jerry asks Bosch how many different videos he has to go through. Any is too many in Bosch’s mind as he looks on in disgust. Unfortunately, he still has several to research. Jerry does some quick research on the most recent guy in the video with last name Lewan. Jerry finds details about Lewan’s history of domestic abuse and a divorce less than a year prior to the video. The detectives are keeping notes, a “short list” as Harry calls it. They add Lewan to that list.
As Harry looks at the names he finds someone named Roger Dillon. A quick search reveals that Dillon operates a crime scene cleaning company. Harry senses some recognition and looks at the chronological record for the Backseat Butcher that he has been reviewing with Detective Brent Charles.
Harry reviews the notes in the chronological record and finds a couple of entries about Roger Dillon of Postmortem Bio Cleaners. Dillon was asked to wait while the police finished their work at the crime scene. Then Dillon was allowed in to clean.
Bosch reviews his findings with Brent Charles. It is clear that Dillon would have been able to see the Backseat Butcher’s “signature” or “calling card” at the crime scene Dillon was cleaning, but he would not have been given the polygraph like the task force members were. Harry and Charles both suspect that Harry has identified the “copy cat” that killed Daisy and used the same signature as the other killer. Harry plans to run Dillon’s fingerprints from a DUI with the partial print that Charles obtained from Daisy’s case.
Bosch may not believe in closure, but he believes in justice. #BoschAmazon pic.twitter.com/TPRtkUTm2t
— Bosch (@BoschAmazon) March 18, 2020
A harrowing discovery
Harry calls Postmortem Bio cleaners and speaks with an assistant about Dillon’s schedule. He finds out where Dillon is currently working. Bosch makes a visit to Alex Sands and returns the laptop much to Alex’s surprise. Bosch asks Sands if he recognizes the photo of Roger Dillon as being one of the men involved in hustle with Daisy. Alex says he does not. Harry requests an older photo of Alex as a teen.
Bosch drives to the site where Dillon is finishing up his job cleaning a crime scene. Bosch confronts Dillon and asks if he recognizes the older photo of Alex. Dillon says no. Bosch informs Dillon that the guy in the photo (Alex) was known to have some of Dillon’s personal information. Dillon asks if he should be worried. Bosch shows him the photo a second time with still no response of recognition.
Harry waits until Dillon drives away from the scene. Bosch follows him back to his warehouse. As Bosch drives by, he spies a white panel van. This could be the van Daisy entered the night she went missing. Bosch may have just found her killer.
I spy: Did you notice Roger Dillon and his cleaning van at the beginning of season 6 episode 3? Yes, he was there to clean the Craver murder scene.
Operation Safe Sidewalks is a go
Operation Safe Sidewalks is in motion. Sgt. Edgewood leads a meeting with Crate, Barrel, Billets, Officer Shepherd and Officer Morgan. Edgewood shares that Officer Lisa Hammond has been undercover in a nearby homeless community for 2 weeks now.
Hammond has figured out who the drug dealer is for the camp and the color and make of his car. The officers will watch for the drug dealer to make an exchange with his teller and then take them down. With the dealer out of the way Billets plans for social workers to come on site to help the homeless find shelter and other assistance. Crate and Barrel suggest that the homeless will just move to another dealer or another dealer will come to them. Billets reminds the detectives that “it’s a process”. Barrel likens this effort to “sweeping up sand on the beach”.
Officer Hammond (undercover as a member of the homeless community) pleads with the teller saying she is really sick and needs the drugs. He says it won’t be long. Sure enough, the blue Impala pulls up and the exchange begins. The police cars converge upon the car and Hammond runs after the dealer and tackles him to the ground.
After the bust, Edgewood talks briefly to Hammond. It seems like they might be flirting.
L.A. Times confrontation
Chief Irving and Jen Kowski attend a meeting at the Los Angeles Times where reporters can ask the mayoral candidate questions as they consider who they will endorse at the paper. Scott Anderson is on hand as is his editor Laura Cooke.
Irving has the opportunity to share recent results of the homeless crisis initiative. Irving is well received by the reporters. When they leave, Irving tells Jen he wants the announcement about Operation Safe Sidewalks to be front and center in the newspaper.
Jen leaves and the chief is confronted by Scott Anderson who would like a moment of his time. The chief obliges and Anderson mentions how Irving will need a press secretary as mayor. Irving reminds Anderson that he has not yet been elected.
Scott tells Irving that he received the tape from Melissa Rodgers where the Beto Frank interview was cut short. Anderson points out that the tape could be detrimental to Irving’s campaign. Anderson says that if they have an “understanding”, he will not take the tape to his editor. Clearly, Anderson wants the press secretary position in exchange for being quiet about the tape.
Irving agrees that they do have an understanding. The chief moves in close to Anderson glaring down at him and tells the reporter to take the tape to his editor. Laura Cooke is Anderson’s editor and they already have an agreement about her getting the full Marcos and Arias story. Irving feels certain she will not jeopardize that.
A cop must know the difference between right and wrong. A chief is no different. #BoschAmazon pic.twitter.com/FGFbVwYVla
— Bosch (@BoschAmazon) April 23, 2020
Hopes for the future
The chief arrives to his fundraiser. He walks up to Honey Chandler and his fundraiser Ray Thacker who have been talking. Thacker reports that large checks have been written and that people want to get “selfies” with the chief.
Thacker tells Irving that he needs to “work the room” and talk to people. Ray points out that Jun is very adept at the mingling requirement.
Back at home with their feet up, Irv tells Jun that he wants them to take a nice vacation after the campaign as finished. Jun coyly reminds her husband that he will be busy being mayor after the campaign. She also reminds him that diaper duty will also be on his to do list!
Irv shares how he is really invested in Operation Safe Sidewalks and hopes for it to help the city. Jun wonders why it would not be, but Irv hesitates.
Notice of misconduct
Grace is surprised to find a notice of misconduct from Sgt. Larry Alvarez in her email. Vega and Pierce both received notices to be witnesses in a misconduct case. Vega puts it all together and thinks it is Pierce. Pierce ensures her that it was not him, but that he did speak to Cooper.
Vega says she told Captain Cooper there was nothing to pursue. Pierce believes Cooper filed on her behalf. Vega is ready to talk to Grace despite protocol. She goes to Grace’s office and assures the Lieutenant that she did not file the report. Of course, this makes Billets wonder what would make her point that out.
Vega shares that Pierce told Cooper about some passing comments she made about Grace using more physical touch than she is comfortable with, even though she knows Billets is just trying to show that she cares. Billets apologizes for anything she inadvertently did to make her uncomfortable. Vega says she told Captain Cooper that it was really no big deal and he promised to leave it be, but clearly he did not. Billets points out that Cooper’s promises do not mean much.
Hollywood Homicide is home, and Lt. Billets won’t let office politics jeopardize that. #BoschAmazon pic.twitter.com/3Wfg1bg9mc
— Bosch (@BoschAmazon) April 8, 2020
Billet confronts cooper
Grace confronts Cooper and tells him she received the notice. Cooper insists that Internal Affairs is fair and that if nothing is found, there is no more issue. She makes a point of saying that has “not been [her] experience” Grace says he has the authority to nip this in the bud, but Cooper insists that she go through the process.
Billets asks if Cooper dislikes her. He says no but asks if there is anything he is not aware of that would cause him to dislike her. Grace tells Cooper the whole thing is b.s.
Mank stops by her office later and she seems down. Mank probes further and she says Cooper must have filed the complaint because he blames her for him being reprimanded for “juking the stats” last year. While the information came from an anonymous tip (that we know to be Grace), she thinks Cooper believes it was her. Mank offers to buy her a drink and she accepts saying she might want two.
Cooper schmoozing with Pierce
Cooper tries to stroke Pierce’s ego for coming to him about Vega’s comments. He commends his integrity and hints at promotional opportunities in Pierce’s future.
Then he tells Pierce to make sure he does not change anything about the way he told the concerns to Cooper.
Dwight visits Sekou Haiti
Dwight Wise pulls up to Avril’s Sekou Haiti charity office with camera in hand. Avril sees him on the surveillance cameras. Dwight speaks to Remi and says he is there to volunteer for the charity. The two men chit chat for a bit and then Avril arrives.
Jacques gives Dwight a very firm handshake and calls Mr. Wise by name. Dwight pulls his hand away. Avril coyly says, “You’re following me” and talks about Dwight being a retired detective and mentions his camera.
Dwight says he wants to know who killed his son. Avril scoffs and feigns ignorance about the topic. Dwight asks him again. This time Avril tells Remi to call the authorities. Avril tells Dwight to leave. Dwight responds with F.U. Dwight walks out and Remi ends the call.
Dirty cops won't keep J. Edgar from pursuing every lead. #BoschAmazon pic.twitter.com/eEyZW2rEZa
— Bosch (@BoschAmazon) March 23, 2020
Felix makes a deal
Felix Mariama (Hovan) is in Avril’s office at the Crenshaw Bar and Grill. They are making a toast to their first transaction together.
Felix asks Avril if he will see him at the dropoff the next day. Avril tells him no and says Remi will be there to handle everything.
Hovan stocks up
Hovan is prepping for the dropoff with Remi as the DEA is stuffing the car with money. Charlie checks in with the RHD surveillance team comprised of Joan Bennet, Brad Conniff and Jerry Edgar.
RHD plans to follow Remi after he accepts the money and presumably then all the way to Avril. While the plan is for the DEA to nab Avril for money laundering, Jerry reminds Charlie that he wants to talk to Avril about the murders.
It’s a waiting game. The auto repair shop opens at 7:00 am. Things seem quiet around the shop. Even at 9:00 am, no one has arrived. Joan makes a call to the DEA surveillance team and they have not noticed anything happening either. Hovan says he thinks they have been “burned”. They shut down the surveillance mission.
Jerry gets a call
Jacques Avril calls Jerry about a “problem”. Jerry arrives at Avril’s house and Avril politely escorts him outside by the pool. Avril tells Jerry about a drug dealer who approached for a business arrangement. Of course, Avril says he declined because he is “an honest citizen”.
Avril says the man that approached him is named Felix Mariama. Then Avril goes on to reveal to Jerry the names of the men who fatally shot Marcos and Arias. It was John Winston and Robert Marvel.
In other news:
- Bosch has some fun teasing Jerry about his dating relationship with Joan, who Jerry still calls “Bennett”. Harry asks if Bennett calls Jerry “Edgar”. Jerry says she calls him Jed. Bosch says he understands. It’s like “J – plus Ed -grrrr” making a growling noise.
- Maddie makes dinner with noodles from scratch. She talks to Harry about seeing Chandler earlier. Maddie says she might go back next summer, but she’s not certain. She wants to know if her dad struggled with decisions like she is. He tells her no because he did not have choices like she does.
- Elizabeth takes a drink, two, actually. She drinks two shots of vodka falling off the wagon with them.
Back soon for the investigation of Bosch season 6 episode 9!
Don’t forget to tune in for the Everybody Counts Podcast !