Burn Notice 6.9 - Official Business

Plot: Well the Meyerson Group sales records Jesse and Pearce got (and which Pearce effectively flushed her career down the toilet for), say the rifle that was used to kill Nate was sold to the Pryon Group, which basically trains mercs for people who can afford to hire them as security. So Michael has to pose as an obscenely wealthy guy (with some accessories from Elsa) who needs such people, so he can get a look at their personnel files. Except the Pryon Group doesn't allow anyone to look at their files. So Sam and Jesse will have to sweet talk Mr. Vale's lackey, Thompson, to get a peek at those files. All it takes is making it sound like working for their boss (Michael) is more lucrative than honoring his contract with Vale.

As to why Michael's not helping, well, remember the agreement Fi had to sign to get out of prison? The one that made her a CIA asset? Agency dumbasses Manaro and Bailey are calling that in. They believe a man named Vincent Durov is going to sell ballistics technology to terrorists, and Fi has to infiltrate Durov's home and steal it away first, then escape with their other asset, Durov's girlfriend, Angela. Except Durov is very cautious, very suspicious (plus more than a little sleazy), and Manaro and Bailey are idiots. They already got the first person they sent in to killed. Or, more accurately, Angela killed him, because Durov isn't the one suddenly deciding to sell to terrorists, Angela is. Which leads to a rather tense situation with a bomb, and Michael driving an exploding truck into Durov's gate, but it does get Manaro and Bailey off Fi's back.

While all this is going on, Sam and Jesse have finally weaseled their way into the personnel files, and found a likely match, but he only goes by his initials, T.G. Well, no problem, Michaelw will just request that his personnel have skills that match this T.G.'s profile, Vale will offer him up, it's all good. Except Vale is just a little more suspicious than that, and he's willing to walk away from a 40 million dollar deal when it involves Tyler Gray. Oops. At least he gave Michael a name before he got shot in the chest. Twice.

The Players: Matthew Bailey and Gabriel Manaro (CIA Officers), Angela Flores (CIA Asset/Thief), Vincent Durov (Black Market Entrepreneur)

Quote of the Episode: Fiona - 'Manaro and Bailey. Now are they not the same 2 idiots that nearly got Sam killed?'

Does Fiona blow anything up? No.

Sam Axe Drink Count: 4 (17 overall).

Sam Getting Hit Count: 0 (5 overall).

Other: Michael sports two aliases this week. He's Mr. Krueger when dealing with Vale, and he's briefly Al when he needs to hide safecracking equipment in Durov's SUV.

I hope Thompson actually waited until he heard back to give notice. I'd hate for him to quit his job for one that doesn't exist. Then again, with Vale dead, maybe he doesn't have a job either way.

I notice that Sam very openly stated that Fi was his friend. It's been obvious for awhile, but I don't know if he'd come right out and said it.

I don't really mind that Manaro and Bailey are incompetent bunglers. They're used just sparingly enough they don't get too grating, and they're sort of comically amusing (even if it's terrifying to think there are people in real life, with real power who are that stupid). If they had been in Pearce's position, where Michael had to work for them regularly, or possibly even rely on them for help, it'd be different. But as guys who have managed to stumble, luck out, or kiss ass their way into positions where they occasionally run field ops they're completely unsuited for, they're OK. I imagine they're actually competent at certain things. Logistics, staying within the budget, stuff like that. It's all the other stuff they can't handle.

This was sort of a slight episode. I think it mostly existed to give Michael another clue to pursue, and possibly address any questions of why Fi wasn't doing jobs for the CIA if she was an asset. The answer is that wasn't how Pearce operated, and now Manaro and Bailey owe her, so it's a non-factor.