Mon ami, please forgive my delayed message...the last two days have been absolutely bonkers at work. I'm sitting at my desk, grimy, still dripping from the rain, fueled by caffeine, and with a "to do" list as long as my...arm. I have felt most secure in where I stand with you, monsieur, and with Lennie, and so I have focused my energies and limited time elsewhere. I also wanted to work some other angles so I knew what all of our options are before we decided how to proceed.
I have heard through the grapevine that you might be ready to do that evolving we spoke of, and perhaps distance yourself from liabilities. I don't know if I am ready for that just yet, but looking to the future, I certainly want to have you included in my circle of friends. You are already familiar with Messrs. Leon and Lennie, may I strongly encourage you seek out Scruff? He has likewise received my recommendation of you. Miss Garcia also does not hold a grudge for the ouster of Nick, and is ready for a realignment of interests.
With regard to returning assets from the former 99th, you should be aware that significant animosity exists between Grouch Cop and the rest of the Narcotics Unit. Who betrayed whom is quite dependent on whom you ask, but what is evident is that he would likely have been a unanimous vote had a third TC visited them. Four axes to grind is quite a lot, especially when some of them are our allies.
If I have been at all unclear, Monsieur, please understand more directly: I would like to proceed in an alliance with you, but it looks like the post-merge union we discussed in the Strike Team is non-viable. I have been as forthright as I can be without betraying confidences at this time, please advise as to your disposition.
Warm regards!
So basically 'e wants to take out M. Grouch ees what I am getting from zis.
I don't know if eet ees viable to save M. Grouch 'ere or not, but I do think and 'ope zat a path might be
possible. I mean ze six votes would be myself, Mlle Hopps, M. Morningstar, Mlle Garcia, and M. Briscoe, and I do think I could get all of zose people along with M. Grouch to vote together to save 'im, but eet ees a great use of resources.
At ze same time, I can tell M. Kennedy, M. Peralta, and M. McGruff are all more loyal to each other zan me. M. Peralta's message 'ere makes zat very clear. And I don't know 'ow solid M. Pikachu and M. Cohle are with zem, supposedly M. Peralta does not like M. Cohle, but I don't want my fate in ze 'ands of M. Peralta, because 'e ees not someone I can influence. So if I just let M. Grouch go, I'm folding and potentially giving up my ability to actually be ze one in control of zis tribe.
M. Grouch would be a good first Juror for me though, probably ze best first Juror I could 'ope for.
Zere ees a lot to think about. I think I could get ze votes against M. Cohle or M. Pikachu if I really wanted to, especially because Mlle Garcia already said zat she would vote zat way. M. Briscoe, I do think I 'ave enough influence over 'im to get 'im to vote my way. And zen M. Morningstar and Mlle Hopps would fall in line I think if I did ze work. So eet ees possible.
I'm not a weak-willed person. I think I might do eet. Even if eet goes wrong, I'd rather try and fail zan not try at all. But let's see what 'appens.