Episode 5

**Los Angeles Connection (Case 1.5)** is the fifth episode of the Great Pretender series. It is also the fifth and final episode in the Los Angeles Connection case.

## Summary

With the laboratory ready, Edamame goes through the motion of making Sakura Magic while wearing the spy glasses despite Paula refusing to let Salazar go free. Upon completion, a SWAT team commanded by Paula breaks into the laboratory. An officer shoots Abby after being provoked by her and Laurent also gets shot trying to protect her. Edamame responds by holding Paula at gunpoint, and Cassano responds by destroying the laboratory. Cassano attempts to escape, but he is chased by Edamame before getting knocked out by Salazar. The three are taken to her secret surveillance trailer and instead of arresting Cassano, Paula negotiates with him agreeing to look the other way and letting him have the evidence in exchange for $100 million. Salazar then walks in and knocks Edamame out again. The next day, Edamame wakes up at a seaside villa where Laurent's gang celebrates their successful scamming operation and Cassano's downfall. Paula reveals her true identity as Cynthia Moore, who is part of Laurent's gang, and Laurent explains all of this was staged with the officers all being his men and the weapons used were just props with him and Abby faking their deaths to divert the police's attention towards Cassano. He also tells Edamame that Salazar has given up on being a gangster to focus on being a father. After the party, Edamame returns to Japan to turn himself in and use his share of the profits to compensate the victims he helped Kudo scam. Meanwhile, Cassano is interrogated by the real Paula Dickins.

## Plot

Cassano shows off the finished Sakura Magic laboratory to Makoto and Laurent. Although the 10 million dollars is ready, Cassano won't pay it until the drugged candy is ready.

Afterward, Makoto is prepared to create Sakura Magic drugs while under heavy surveillance. Under extreme pressure, he's reassured by Paula, and then he starts creating the candy. A flashback reveals that Paula rejects Makoto's condition to allow Salazar amnesty. Back to the present, Makoto continues to prepare the candy, until he takes a break outside. He talks with Laurent who gives him a cup of coffee and Abigail is close by. In Laurent's opinion, he has the talent to become a first-rate Confidence Man. Once Laurent and Abigail are gone, Makoto inquires the duration of the two criminals' sentence, Paula answers that it could be 20 years.

As Makoto puts the finishing touches on the candies, Paula and her crew plan on raiding the base during the money transfer. Once the candies are finished and the money was to be exchanged for the candy product, the F.B.I. posing as the construction workers infiltrate the place. The factory is then ambushed by a SWAT team commanded by Paula. Revealed that Makoto is on the F.B.I. side, Abigail takes Salazar's gun and points it at the traitor. Sequentially she's shot at by the SWAT team and Laurent tries to cover her with his body and the two are shot dead. In retaliation, Makoto holds Cynthia hostage and asks Salazar to escape and start a new clean life for Tom. Unbeknownst to everyone, Cassano overloads one of the machines that destroys the factory allowing him to escape. Soon though, Cassano is caught by Makoto and soon knocked out by Salazar.

In a trailer belonging to the F.B.I. Makoto's injuries are tended to and Paula negotiates a deal with Cassano. For 100 million dollars he'll get away with his involvement in the drug manufacturing scheme. Makoto voices his absolute disdain about the deal and is then knocked unconscious.

Awakening in a hammock by a seaside villa, where Laurent, Abigail, and Paula whose real name is revealed to be Cynthia. Inside the villa, all of the people involved in the Sakura Candy celebrate a successful heist. Also, it's revealed that Cassano was arrested for his involvement in the drug manufacturing scheme. A flashback of when Makoto has his outburst in the F.B.I. custody reveals that it was Abigail that knocked him out and that she and Laurent were in fact alive. Furthermore, Salazar is released and given a copy of an incriminating photograph of Cassano. Meanwhile, Anderson awakens in the factory where he believes the entire incident was a dream.

While in the custody of the F.B.I., Cassano is interrogated by the real Paula Dickens and is left flabbergasted. Salazar is revealed to be leading a new clean life with his son Tom. Back at the Villa, the money from the con job is delivered by Shi-won Kim and is divided amongst them all. Afterward, on at an airport strip, Laurent offers Makoto to join his gang, however, he refuses to do so at that time. He asks to wait for him for at least 3-4 years. Upon his return to Japan, Makoto turns himself in to the police.

## Characters

* Abigail Jones
* Cynthia Moore
* Eddie Cassano
* Laurent Thierry
* Makoto Edamura
* Paula Dickins
* Salazar
* Tom
* Shi-won Kim