Vindicate – Episode 4 begins with a briefly awkward scene at the communal officer’s house now that Senior Constables Zilficar ‘Zil’ Ahmed (Akshay Khanna) and Sandra Ali’s (Roxie Mohebbi) relationship is on the rocks. Things are no less awkward for Ahmed at work when his fellow officers ensure that he has Senior Constable Greg Hall’s (Jackson Heywood) back. His response, that he isn’t going to lie to Professional Standards, doesn’t appear to be a popular one at the moment.

Dalia Tun’s (Zoe Boe) arrest is explained as underage drinking when she and Hayden Broadis (Jai Watford) meet with Shanika Thorpe (Dalara Williams). The meeting is nothing more than Shanika telling Dalia that she isn’t going to stick her neck out for her. Dalia promises that she will stay on straight and narrow.

Detective Sam Che (Danny Kim) and Detective Sergeant Edith Barcelos (Simone Kessell) continue combing through the security footage from the day of Ahmed’s incident while Superintendent Trevor Latt (Erik Thomson) assembles a drug strike force in hopes of making the department look good. Inspector Ivy Tsuma (Zindzi Okenyo) volunteers to head up the force.

Hayden has taken Shanika’s advice so seriously that he tells Ty Egan (Hunter Page-Lochard) he is going to stop dealing until his legal matters are settled. This doesn’t go over so well with Ty or Dalia. Dalia ends up stealing his stash and selling it with the help of Brad (Jeremy Blewitt) and Yvonne Kaczmarek (Emily Martino).

Once again, Ahmed takes his frustrations out on Rezana Ahmed (Esmee Blocking) during a game of Uno. This clearly doesn’t go over well with his brother, Kasim Ahmed (Akkshey Caplash) but doesn’t go any further for the moment. Things only get worse when Zahra Khan (Rina Mousavi) later confronts him about their kiss and he learns that his poster is being removed from the station. This leads to a slight argument with Trevor, who practically tells him if he has a complaint, he’ll have to take it up with Human Resources.

When Inspector Tsuma recruits officers for the task force, Constable Phillip Davidson (Challito Browne) lets it slip that Ali revised her statement against Dalia so that the attack seemed innocuous. Although he doesn’t say much about it at the time, it’s clear that Ahmed is upset by this. This discovery nearly later leads to a fight between him and Greg Hall.

Ty immediately sees through Dalia’s claims that Hayden has already sold out his stash. Despite that, he doesn’t appear upset with the discovery and not only gives her Hayden’s cut but he gives her a cut of the profits as well. He also tells her that she has to do is give the word and he will give her more responsibility. This doesn’t go over well with Hayden, especially since she never told him that she was taking his stash.

When Detectives Edith and Che wrap up their investigation, Tsuma immediately moves into the conference room where they trade a few words over the Crime Management position. Tsuma claims she can do more in the position being that he grew up in the area and is more familiar with the locals. Edith takes this insultingly and refuses to step down.

After Dalia checks in at the police station, she returns to Ty at the bakery where she proposes her offer to continue selling for Hayden until his court case is over. Ty immediately becomes suspicious and asks if Hayden is okay with the deal. She claims that she can handle Hayden. He tells her that if she wants to make real money then she’ll start moving coke. Although she doesn’t appear interested in the offer, it doesn’t seem that he is giving her the option. After offering to spot her and help her package it up, he invites her to a meeting with his supplier the following night. She doesn’t commit.

Tsuma and Detective Graham McKeowan (Richard Sydenham) briefly meet with task force officers to tell them exactly what their jobs will be. At the same time, Hayden pays a very awkward visit to Dalia at the group home. Despite both of them remaining silent, the scene ends by suggesting they are now on good terms. The following day, Dalia and her friends are approached and searched by Senior Constable Peter Emery (Oliver Acklan) Probationary Constable Dallas ‘Probie’ Plunkett (Nicholas Burton). Probie and Emery end up walking away empty-handed.

Things begin to look up for Dalia when her lawyer informs her that Ali has dropped the assault charge. Not only this, but evidentially her check-ins are being reduced as well. At the same time, Ali is told that she might have the makings of a good detective if she is willing to put in the work. Dalia decides that celebrations are in order with the delivery of the good news. This leads to her and Hayden joining Ty and Theo Leon (Richard Brancatisano) for drinks. This outing immediately turns awkward when Ty purposely lets it slip that Dalia has moved up to selling coke. This later leads to an argument where Hayden strikes Dalia. Ty ends up stepping in and forces him to apologize.

Ahmed is taken by surprise when he meets with Trevor, Edith, and Inspector Evan Carr (Andrew Cutcliffe) to learn that he’s being let off with a slap on the wrist. After a refresher course on disengagement, he’ll be able to return to active duty. Trevor insists that they made the right call while Edith clearly doesn’t believe so. Things later take a bit of a darker turn for him when he not only learns that Ali has moved out but Senor Constable Cassie Milton (Heidi May) is apparently getting back with her mate.

As promised, Ty gives Dalia an entire class on everything from doing coke to cutting it and bagging it. While this takes place, Ahmed shares the good news about his case with Kasim. Kasim immediately realizes that something isn’t right with Ahmed. The episode ends with Ty giving Dalia a gun.

 

Critical Incident Review

Due to the ping-ponging from scene to scene, this episode was a bit annoying. I am glad to see that Ahmed’s case is resolved. The consequences of his action will no doubt plague him for the rest of his life, but it’s good to see that the story has advanced. Dalia’s story has taken a dramatic turn as well and her case is on the verge of ending. I’d have to give the episode a 5.3 but fear that it is taking a predictable turn.

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