Fearless Leader (Burn Notice)

"Fearless Leader" is an hour-long episode of Burn Notice, an American television drama series created for the USA Network. "Fearless Leader" has Michael hoping to rid himself of the constant tail put on him by Miami Detective Paxson, by helping her out (without her knowledge) on a case she has been powerless to solve.

Main Plot

Since the opening episode of the third season ("Friends and Family"), when the previous "management" quit protecting his name, Michael has been tailed by a Miami Police Detective named Paxson. She has been looking into suspicious activity that appears to surface wherever he has been. Through Sam, Michael learns that Paxson had a harassment complaint filed against her by a crook named Matheson, who has "a habit of ripping off drug dealers." Paxson was apparently forced by a judge to back off Matheson after she took some swings at him. She is still trying to work the case, but Sam says Matheson no longer even has to hide. Michael says they should find Matheson for her, which would give him some leverage to finally lift her department's tail. Suddenly, Paxson is "the client."

Michael goes to a beach club to observe Matheson and his entourage to see who he might be able to approach to get at Matheson. He finds "a frustrated middle manager" named Tommy. Posing as a recently released criminal (complete with "prison ink," courtesy of Sam), Michael goes to the dog track to meet with Tommy, stating they were the same type of person and that some friends in prison told him to look up Tommy in Miami. Michael works a nice little accent and gets Tommy to invite him over to meet with his crew.

Michael, Fiona and Sam go to dinner with Tommy and act like a band of small-time criminals who were looking to get into "bigger business." They set out that night to break into a dry cleaner. When the somewhat inept Tommy starts to panic inside, sirens are heard and Michael uses his skills to get them out unscathed. Tommy is impressed. Paxson shows up the next day to say she thought of Michael when she heard about the dry cleaner robbery. (Fi had just told Michael the heist actually cost them $1,000 after they gave the dry cleaner back all of his money.)

Planting a bug in a pack of cigarettes, Michael, Sam and Fi are able to monitor Matheson. Michael approaches Tommy to say he needs "a real score" because he owes money to some people up north who are looking for him. Not wanting Michael to get away, Tommy introduces him to Matheson and says they "work together." Skeptical at first, Matheson arranges a score that Tommy and crew can help him carry out. He needs their help taking down a meth lab. Tommy learns that Matheson actually plans to have Michael and his crew killed in the meth lab, after the money is secured. Showing some conscience, Tommy tells Michael he doesn't expect his help on such big and dangerous jobs. So Michael decides to tell Tommy that they are really looking to take down Matheson.

After Michael lets Tommy in on the plan for the meth lab heist, they all show up to do the job. As Matheson goes inside, Michael and Fi super-glue the door shut from the outside to get Matheson trapped. As the gunfire erupts outside, Tommy blocks the back-door exit of the meth lab with a van. Paxson shows up to arrest Matheson. Another cop says the getaway car used was the same one that had been stolen the night of the dry cleaning robbery, and there was a block of C-4 explosive found in the back.

Paxson shows up at a restaurant where Michael is having lunch. She explains the Matheson case and notes that no other cases tied to Matheson involved C-4. But, "strangely," C-4 was used in seven of her other unsolved cases. Michael suggests she just close the Matheson case and stop following him. ("It's like I told you, detective. We're on the same side.") She calls off the tail and says, "Just remember where the line is, Mr. Westen. I will be watching."

Tommy tells Michael he plans to stay clean and move to St. Louis to open a dog kennel.

Sub-plot

Sam has to meet with IRS representative Stacey Conolly. He is ready to turn on the "Sam Axe charm," but it turns out Stacey is a strict by-the-book man. Stacey is upset that Sam came unprepared and says the IRS wants the truth about his income, deductions, and rent-free "living arrangements" with Miami women. Sam can't explain away his deductions. For example, his documentation for a trip to the Middle East was a large gun (Desert Eagle .50AE caliber). Sam explained the gun wasn't a gift, but rather, "the guy was done with it" (i.e., dead). Sam also mentions in the first two meetings that Stacey looks familiar. He finally realizes that he dated Stacey's mom long ago.

Stacey admits he felt like Sam abandoned him and his mother. Stacey gets upset and leaves, leaving Sam surprised he'd made such an impact on the young Stacey. It turns out it was no accident Stacey was assigned to Sam's tax case. By the end, Sam has explained the entire situation as best as he can, and he and Stacey are seen at Maddie's house having drinks and laughing.

External links

• "Fearless Leader" at the Internet Movie Database