Last episode, Harlee received a letter meant for Cristina from Miguel Zepeda (Antonio Jaramillo).
It seems he never got the memo that Cristina has no idea who he is.
To verify it stays that way, Harlee goes to visit him in prison.
Credit: Peter Kramer/NBC
Zepeda is still completely in the dark when it comes to Harlees role in his incarceration.
He asks Harlee to look into Kovach for him: This could be his ticket to freedom.
Harlee immediately takes this new information to Wozniak.
Her lieutenant is pissed shes even talking to Zepeda this close to his new trial.
But Harlees feeling guilty.
If Kovach did commit the murder, its her fault hes still free.
(I mean, she always knewsomeonecommitted the crime Zepeda was put away for.
Young women dont spontaneously develop fatal knife wounds all that often.)
Anyway, Woz says they have more immediate concerns.
Hes identified their rat: Saperstein.
Thats all the proof Woz needs, and besides, theres no one else in the squad to suspect.
As she leaves Wozs office, Harlee bumps right into this latest theory.
Once they arrive, Harlee tries to question her suspect.
Kovach isnt exactly pleased to see her, though, and he slams the door in her face.
Sap immediately calls Woz the last person Harlee wants getting involved or getting near the other detective.
Fearing Woz might kill Saperstein, she panics and calls Stahl.
He tells her hes on his way and that she cant be there when he arrives.
He might not get a warm welcome on the streets, but the PD has his back.
Harlee also makes it back to the station, still bleeding from Kovachs surprise KO.
Tufo and Espada have already gotten word about what happened, and theyre formulating a plan of attack.
He arrives at Ericas sons little league game, all humbled and ready to confess.
But Ericas son stops him outside the ballpark.
His mom already read all about it, and she wants nothing to do with him.
Loman drives away in tears, slamming his fists against the steering wheel.
It looks like hes about to boil over, too.
NEXT: Are you my father?
Stahl and Chen arrive at Kovachs house just before Woz shows up.
As he enters through the front, they sneak around the back and surprise Saperstein.
They silence the detective at gunpoint, and hustle him out of the building.
In return, Sap will be granted immunity for all his underhanded operations over the years.
But Woz suspects him, so until hes convicted, Saperstein has to disappear.
The detective is, understandably, scared and angry about the danger hes suddenly been thrust into.
He demands they take him to his mothers house first so he can say goodbye.
They arrive at her office/trailer (without a warrant), hoping to catch Kovach.
No luck, but Espada wants her to sit tight.
He tells Tiffany if she leaves the trailer, hell plant a crack rock on her.
Were halfway through this round.
Thats dangerous in itself, and shes willing to take the risk to correct an old mistake.
He only threatened Tiffany with false incrimination, but coming from a detective, thats still a serious offense.
Turns out, Harlee followed the right lead.
She and Woz arrive at Kovachs ex-wifes residence at the same time.
They rush in to find the ex bound to a chair.
Suddenly, Harlee has a kidnapping on her hands.
In the midst of this crisis, Cristina calls.
Shes discovered the letter Zepeda sent her, the one Harlee got last night.
Harlee tries to explain, but Cristina says shell let Zepeda do that for himself.
Woz sees the look on his friends face and tells her to go deal with her kid.
Meanwhile, back at the Saperstein household, David (formerly Stuart) hatches a plan.
Stahl tells Chen to put a federal warrant out for Saps arrest.
Sap takes his mothers car and bolts to the precinct.
He still thinks Woz will protect him.
The plan is to lure Kovach there, but Sap just got himself caught up in the same net.
Relieved, Harlee does some quick thinking.
She tells Cristina that Zepedabelieveshes her father, but he actually isnt.
See, she was dating Zepeda when she got pregnant…but some other dude is the baby daddy.
Cristina falls for it hook, line, and sinker.
Harlee is at home comforting Cristina when Tess practically busts down her door.
Shes heard about the warrant out on Saperstein, and shes freaked that she directed him right to Woz.
The two detectives rush to the construction site.
But Kovach doesnt want to play nice.
Once the lieutenant hands over the cash, Kovach pulls a gun.
Either father and son leave together or not at all.
Woz is in a bind, until Saperstein steps from behind a pillar and tackles Kovach to the ground.
They struggle, but Woz doesnt step in to assist his squad member.
Saperstein manages to knock Kovach unconscious, just as Tess and Harlee arrive at the site four stories below.
Sap thinks his troubles are over, until Woz tells him he knows hes been talking to the Feds.
Instead, he pushes him over the side of the building then shoots Kovach in the head.
The impact sends him over the edge, as well.
Harlee makes it the top of the building just a moment later.
Shes besides herself with grief…until Tufo calls up to them: Miraculously, Sap is still breathing.
(Ah, the wonders of conveniently shatter-proof spinal columns.
They really come in handy when they belong to fictional characters whose seasons are only halfway over.)
Harlee is immensely relieved, but Woz is experiencing a whole other emotion.
He thought he took care of his rat, but it turns out hes the one whos trapped now.
Final Guilt-O-Meter:
Woz:10 out of 10, The Guiltiest
We all knew a Guiltiest verdict was coming.
Which turned out to be false!
And we know he cant let Saperstein live, not when Sap could turn the squad against him.
I predict even more attempted murders to come.
