Bosch: Investigating season 7 episode 7 ‘Workaround’

Bosch season 7 episode 7 brings long overdue justice for a favorite character.

Bosch Season 7 Episode 7 ‘Workaround’

Written by: Elle Johnson and Mitzi Roberts

Directed by: Alex Zakrzewski

We have another funeral as friends and family bid farewell to Donna Sobel. In much better news, Irv and Jun bring baby James home.

Jimmy and Joan make a trip to Las Vegas to look for more connections to the hitman. Irving gets an interesting report about Susanna Lopez’s mayoral campaign. Also, Maddie makes a change of residence while Billets enlists the help of Vega in her harassment case.

Let’s take a closer look at Bosch season 7 episode 7 titled ‘Workaround’.

A sunny day

Maddie buffs her father’s boots to wear to Donna Sobel’s funeral service. Harry is not happy to be wearing his “funeral” suit again so soon. He tells Maddie the weather should be rainy and not sunny for the sad event.

Father and daughter meet Donna’s daughter at the funeral reception. Bella shares how fond her mother was of Harry. Maddie and Bella talk of meeting up before Bella leaves town. Maddie mentions to her dad in the car that she and Bella have a lot in common, presumably meaning the loss of beloved mothers.

In better news, Harry tells Maddie that Honey’s condition is now considered stable even though still of a critical nature. He uses the phrase “day by day” in regard to Honey’s recovery. We also see Jun and Irv happily carrying baby James from the car into their home.

Small Business Outreach

Grace is making visits to community businesses as instructed by Captain Cooper. We see her talking to Gift of Gold Jewelers owner, Mr. Patterson. She makes recommendations about camera usage and a panic button, politely commenting that he should protect his nice merchandise.

Patterson asks Billets if there is anything in particular that she is fond of there. She replies that “earrings are [her] weakness”. When Patterson offers to give her a deal on some merchandise, Grace makes it clear that she is not looking for any preferential treatment as law enforcement. She tells him that she needs to go visit the next business on her list.

Hitman identified

Jimmy does a celebratory salsa swagger when he obtains a fingerprints match on the hitman. The shooter was named Charles Kipps formerly with the military police. It appears that he maintains a residence in Las Vegas. 

They decide to travel to Las Vegas. Joan prefers to fly but agrees to car travel as long as she is the driver.

Jimmy updates Bosch on their plans and Bosch asks Jimmy to look for any record of Kipps being association with mobster Wally Datz while he is there. Harry gives Jimmy the name of LVPD Detective Iverson (from season 2) as a resource while they are in Vegas. Harry, too, recommends that Joan take the wheel on the trip.

Later, Harry receives information about the gunman’s burner phone. It was determined that the “Is it done?” text was received from Las Vegas about the time that Donna was murdered. This leads Harry to believes the text was probably from Willy Datz asking about the hits on Donna, Fowwkes and Maddie.

Harry’s next move

Bosch hears back from FBI Agent Reece about her findings on Pena. She shares that he appears to be planning to leave gang life behind. Reece tells Harry that Pena owns food trucks and restaurants in addition to multiple properties for rent. Interestingly, the rentals are in neighborhoods going through gentrification. 

Harry does not understand why the FBI is not going after Pena. Reece says she was unable to dig any deeper because she was explicitly told to stop inquiring about Pena. Harry explains that he will not give up easily and concludes that for some reason Pena has favor among the Feds.

Harry updates Detective Collins who did not know that Miguel Pena was a federal informant. Collins believes this brings Harry’s case to an abrupt halt. But Harry is not giving up. Harry tells Detective Collins that he wants to meet with Trejo. Collins feels certain that Trejo will not reveal any information, but Harry tells Collins he has something that he wants Trejo to see.

Later, Harry talks to J. Edgar about the Feds allowing Pena to go unpunished for ordering the fire. Jerry suggests that there has to be a workaround. Harry replies that he is looking into a workaround but does not want Jerry involved any more than he needs to be. Jerry comments, “That doesn’t sound good.” As they drive past the East Hollywood apartment building, they notice that the memorial is already gone. Jerry assumes the owners removed it.

Clandestine meeting

Grace is surprised when she gets a call from her longtime friend Captain Marsha Macken. Billets is happy to hear from her but confused when Marsha wants to meet privately without anyone knowing. Marsha will send Grace the details of when and where to meet.

The friends meet that night at the Griffith Observatory. Grace thinks Marsha may be reaching out about the 128 that she has filed. Marsha says her visit is much more serious. Her friend informs Grace that someone has accused her of accepting bribes.

Marsha is surprised that Grace does not immediately become outraged. Grace explains that the accusation must be “pushback” from Leonard and Norris. Then Grace is the one surprised when Marsha tells her that the complaint was from a civilian.

A move for Maddie

That same evening, we find Maddie looking for boxes at the house. We learn that she is moving in with Antonio. She believes she needs a change and a break from college given recent events. Harry is pleased to learn that Antonio is becoming a jazz enthusiast but wonders how Maddie will pay her portion of the bills with Antonio. Will she get a job?

Maddie says that she will probably work with Honey again once she’s recovered. Harry points out that it could be a long road ahead for Honey and could take awhile. Maddie says she can use some of the money her mom left for her. Some of the money is not available if she is not enrolled in college, but Maddie explains that she has saved some. 

Harry reminds her that some of the money left was for emergency purposes. Maddie says her current circumstances feel like an emergency and that she really needs time to make some decisions about the future.

Later at Antonio’ apartment, he and Maddie joke about the custody arrangement for Coltrane. Antonio gives Maddie his extra key (from under the welcome mat, yikes!)

Chief concerns

Captain Sarah McCurdy reports her findings about the Lopez FBI file to Irving. The Lopez campaign paid a consulting fee of $150,000 to the head of Federated L.A. Labor, Henry Myers. The payment was funneled through a fake corporation associated with the labor organization to look like a consulting fee. In reality, however, it appears to have been a payment to ensure Myers’ support of Lopez’s campaign and a quid pro quo relationship.

The chief wonders why the file on Lopez was closed. The report says, “insufficient evidence to prove a quid pro quo”. McCurdy explains that the FBI probably felt that further inquiry might be too controversial given that this was the first term of the first Latina mayor.

Chief Irving later pays a visit to Mayor Lopez. He tells her that he thought they had “an understanding” between the two of them after he endorsed her for mayor. Lopez responds saying that nothing was explicitly promised to Irving. Then Irving drops the name of Henry Myers and asks her who else there might be like Myers. Irving demands 5 more years and swaggers out of the office.

That evening Irv and Jun celebrate the homecoming of baby James with a champagne toast. Irv also tells Jun that he will be getting a second term. She asks what made Lopez have a change of heart about Irv. Irv chalks it up to his “unparalleled powers of persuasion’. Jun agrees that he is indeed persuasive.

Planted jewelry

Billets confides in Mank about the bribery accusation and what to do about it. She knows that going through the chain of command with Cooper will yield nothing. But if she goes outside the chain of command, there are other risks involved. Either way, she is determined to not let Leonard and Norris escape punishment for their deeds.

Barrel interrupts their conversation and tells Billets that someone is searching her police car. The IA detective introduces herself as Lt. Klotz and that she is following up on a complaint about Billets. But without a warrant? That is not necessary explains Klotz because the vehicle belongs to LAPD.

A gift bag is pulled from the trunk of the car. Billets immediately denies any knowledge of the gift, which is a pair of earrings. Klotz dismisses the notion and tells Grace they need to go inside. As Grace turns around, she sees Officers Leonard, Norris and Rodriguez standing there watching.

A quick exit

Grace meets with Cooper in his office. He reveals that the jewelry store owner, Andrew Patterson, is the one who claimed Grace accepted the earrings in exchange for “enhanced police services”. Grace insists that the jewelry was planted by Leonard and Norris. 

Cooper scoffs at the idea and sends Billets home until the investigation is completed and the outcome determined. He even has the gall to tell her that she is lucky she is not being booked right now. 

Billets is livid as an officer escorts her to get her things. Vega offers Billets a ride home. Billets hands Vega her file on Patterson and requests that she “look into this [SOB]”.

Hector and Harry

Sonia’s father, Hector Hernandez, arrives at the East Hollywood apartment building where his daughter died. Hector speaks with Senor Rulfo asking for the whereabouts of Miguel Pena. Rulfo does not have any information.

Suddenly, Pena’s bodyguards roll up in their vehicle. They exit the car and begin to chase Hector Hernandez. Hector is unable to escape and the brutally beat him and walk away.

Later, Harry gets a call from Officer Kai Morgan. Morgan reports that Hector is there as a result of the beating he took for asking for Pena. Harry goes to the hospital to see Hector.

Hector explains to Harry the reason he was looking for Pena. Hector wanted to see Pena’s face so he could know if he was the guilty one. Harry promises Hector justice for his daughter’s murder. I have to say that sounds like a tall order with the Feds protecting Pena.

A chief confrontation

Harry pays Irving a visit at his office. The chief advises that he received a call from Special Agent in Charge Brenner who is more than irate. Harry believes Pena ordered the fire and wants Irving to “demand cooperation” with the FBI. Irving says he cannot do that. He tells Harry to forget about Pena and go with Trejo and Alvarez for the fire convictions.  

Harry asks Irv how long he has known about Pena’s Federal protection. Irving feigns ignorance and orders Bosch to make the necessary “compromises for the greater good”. 

Harry tells Irving that he should understand him wanting justice for the child, especially given that his own son George was murdered. You may recall that Bosch worked hand in hand with Irving to find George’s killers in season 2. Clearly stung by Harry’s comment, Irving uses a strong expletive as he demands that Harry leave.

“Dat’z it” for Datz

Jimmy, Joan and Det. Iverson make progress at Kipps’ residence. They find a notebook showing all the hits and who ordered them. Rogers ordered the hits on Franzen, Chandler and Maddie through Fowwkes. Fowwkes then contacted Datz who contacted Kipps.

Datz, however, initiated Kipps’ hit on Fowwkes to insure that Fowwkes would not talk.

The police break down Datz’ door. He is not home but his computer and messaging app are active. They see exactly what Datz is messaging about his itinerary. They learn that Datz is actually in Los Angeles and will eating at the Musso and Frank Grill at 4:30 that day.

Jimmy says they will wait to arrest him upon his return to Las Vegas that night. Iverson asks that they head back to L.A. and take him in there to avoid any complications between the two jurisdictions. (This appears to be a nod to Iverson’s experience with Harry in Las Vegas in season 2.) Jimmy and Joan agree. 

They ask Jerry to come to Musso and Frank’s as the limousine service and arrest Datz there. Pierce goes with Jerry for the arrest because Harry is busy “working on [his] workaround”. While Edgar and Pierce arrest Datz, Bosch visits Trejo in prison. Harry shows Trejo the photos Jerry took of Pena talking to the Feds. Trejo becomes angry.

Consulting DDA Kennedy

Bosch and Trejo’s lawyer, Connie Smith, meet with Deputy District Attorney Kennedy. They want to see if he can help go after Pena if Trejo spills about receiving the fire order from Pena. Kennedy asks if they have a recording of the call or someone who can corroborate Trejo’s story. Unfortunately, there is no recording and the only person who was with Trejo is now unreachable because he (Pedro Alvarez) is in federal custody.

As if that were not enough of a problem, Kennedy minimizes Trejo’s credibility given his long history with the law and the fact that he participated in the fire. Trejo’s lawyer explains that he is not requesting a deal, so there is no motivation for him to lie. Trejo just doesn’t think Pena should get away with his part in the fire deaths.

Kennedy says he will consider the information they have provided.

The truth comes out

Meanwhile, Vega has intel for Billet on Andrew Patterson. Patterson has a history of domestic abuse and has been ordered to relinquish all of his guns. Furthermore, he received a concealed carry license with the help of, wait for it, Captain Dennis Cooper. 

Patterson is arrested for not surrendering all of his guns. Vega and Pierce interrogate him at the station. We learn that Patterson and Cooper are fraternity brothers with a long history of favors for each other. Cooper has facilitated Patterson’s permit applications and cleared bureaucratic obstacles for the jewelry store owner. Therefore, Patterson believes he owes a debt to Cooper. 

So, when Cooper asked Patterson to give 2 officers the bag of earrings, he obliged. Vega and Pierce ask for descriptions of the officers. He says the officers were male, one Asian and one white. That matches the description of Norris and Leonard, go figure!

Handcuffs, and more handcuffs

Next thing you know, Datz is being handcuffed to the booking bench. Lo and behold, right behind him are Norris and Leonard also in handcuffs. Pierce asks Mank what’s going on. Mank replies that it’s “a little bit of justice in an unjust world”. Mank refers Pierce to Billets for more details.

Pierce stops Billets in the hallway to get the scoop. She describes the events as “pest control”. Next, we see Captain Cooper also being escorted out in handcuffs with an extremely worrisome look on his face. Grace tells Pierce it’s “better than throwing him through a plate glass window” (as Bosch did after Harvey Pounds divulged his private information).

This has been a long time coming! I am cheering for Grace!

Stand down

Back at Harry’s house, things are a little more solemn. Harry is missing Maddie, so it is quite fitting that their song “Patricia” by Art Pepper is playing on the turntable. He looks at Maddie’s empty room and I cannot help but visualize many scenes of Maddie over the years. We feel sad for Harry as he puts Coltrane’s bowls away since the faithful dog is staying with Maddie at the moment. 

Harry soon gets a call from Detective Collins who was just told to stop Harry’s team from talking to Las Palmas. Collins reports that “there’s a big RICO caper about to pop” and that Harry should stay away from Las Palmas. Harry wants to know who ordered this. Collins responds with “straight from the top of LAPD”. Harry concludes it’s Irving.

The pair will talk more the next day because Collins is with an informant.

Cameos and callbacks:

• Detective Iverson with Las Vegas Police Department from season 2 makes an appearance.
• DDA Kennedy makes another appearance this season.
• Lt. Klotz is played by actor and comedienne Iliza Shlesinger who shared a notoriously long thread on Twitter last season about her love for Bosch.
• Grace refers to the season 1 incident where Harry throws Pounds through the window.

You can follow ongoing coverage of Bosch television at So Many Shows and on the Everybody Counts Podcast.

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