(male narrator) Tonight...on "Spenser, for Hire.."
Casper couldn't have d*ed in that fire.
Casper Marley has never lived.
We fabricated a fictitious student
in the school's computer.
You got a Casper Marley in your record there?
'That's odd he's a graduate, alright'
but we don't seem to have an address.
Who else besides you knew about this prank?
Four friends I went to school with.
Who would have ever thought we'd all be brought together
again by a m*rder investigation.
Spenser thought you needed some babysitting. Sit, baby.
[tires screeching]
[crashing]
[theme music]
[music continues]
[music continues]
♪ Baby baby.. ♪♪
(man on radio) 'Alright, that was Freda and the Firedogs'
'with "Watch my body."'
'You know I prefer contact sports to the spectator game'
'but ooh what that woman can do to a song?'
'Hey, this is Rockin' Ross Newman rocking at you on'
'WPJ Radio .'
[radio switched off]
[expl*si*n]
[expl*si*n]
[expl*si*n]
[sirens wailing]
[indistinct chatter on radio]
Alright, let's go, let's go. Move!
[indistinct chatter]
[instrumental music]
Spenser, look at this.
Celtics win? How many points McHale have?
No, no. "Man dies in apartment fire."
Yeah?
"Body's been tentatively identified as Casper Marley."
Poor Casper. The Red Sox are in town next week.
Spenser, Casper couldn't have d*ed in that fire.
Casper Marley has never lived.
Are you in one of 'em crash diets again?
Ugh, Spenser, this is serious.
Oh, you knew this Casper guy?
Intimately, yeah..
I helped create him.
Rita, what are you talking about?
When I was in college, I-I kinda like I took part
in the kind of school prank.
We-we fabricated a fictitious student
in the school's computer.
We gave him a social security card
a whole life history
we even graduated him with honors.
Only five of us knew about it.
We named him Casper Marley.
- Casper. - Yeah.
After Casper the friendly ghost
and Marley the Dicken's ghost in "Christmas Carol."
Interesting pedigree.
We named him after two ghosts
because that's exactly what he was.
Some phantom on a computer screen.
Rita, look, just because your Casper Marley wasn't real
doesn't mean there wasn't a real Marley out there.
No, Stanley, Stanley Michaels
the guy who actually put him into the computer
in the first place checked and checked on the name
all over New England.
I mean, one of the reasons that we used it
was because there wasn't a real one.
So if you're right, the police got the wrong ID on the body.
Don't you think you oughta tell them this little ghost story?
No, no. Not yet.
I wanna know a little bit more.
I'm, I don't know, I'm a little embarrassed
I took part in this stupid prank to begin with.
One of my friends could be involved.
Only five of us knew about it.
Besides how am I gonna look
if it turns that I'm wrong about it now?
Foolish, very silly.
Spenser, you wanna look into this a little bit for me?
Only if you promise me something.
What do I need to promise?
That you'll be real nice to me.
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) It's been said that our past always comes back to haunt us.
Rita's worry was that this phantom from her past
this college prank had somehow brought harm to someone.
I told her I'd try to find out who besides
some real Casper Marley could have d*ed in this fire.
So that's, uh, that's it, huh? You never saw the guy at all?
Never saw him before.
- Alright, thanks a lot. - You're welcome.
Hey, Frank.
Hey, Spenser, what are you doing here?
A client asked me to look into this Marley guy's death.
- Is this the place? - Yeah.
It's a hell of a mess, huh?
Accident?
Or are you investigating as a homicide?
Well, right now, let's say it's a coroner's case
of violent death.
Could be an accident.
You know, gas lines leaks, fills the place with fumes
Bang! He gets French fried when he lights his cigar.
Of course, uh, it could have been a su1c1de.
I could think of lot better ways to commit su1c1de.
You got a positive ID?
Positive ID? You kidding? Look at this place.
I mean, that guy was b*rned beyond recognition.
That's where it gets a little screwy.
How's that?
Well, all the neighbors say they know this guy, right?
They hear his television playing at night
the paper gets picked up, he's even got a cat.
Let me guess, nobody can remember seeing him.
Yeah, I can't even get a description of the guy.
- Hm. - How would you know that?
Common sense. When was the last time you saw a ghost?
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) A college prank had suddenly become
a star police investigation just as Rita had feared.
She had the addresses of two of her ex-classmates.
I decided to check with the school's alumni office
to see if I could locate the others.
You say you're working for the District Attorney's
office, Mr. Spenser.
Well, formerly anyway, uh, if you wanna verify that
you can call that number.
[chuckles] There is no need.
You think you can locate those names for me?
Well, if they are alumni, we no doubt have them in here.
Most are members of the association.
Let's see, Ross Bates
Oh, yes, eight years or so ago.
Mr. Bates showed a lot of promise.
You remember him?
Well, from reading. I update the files periodically.
You know keep track of the alumni
keep up with their lives.
Got to keep them donations flowing, huh?
[chuckles] Yes, here.. Here you are. Ross Bates.
Your Mr. Bates, a Psychology major.
'Good student, showed lots of promise.'
After graduation, he went into the army of all things.
Do you have an address on him?
I'm afraid the one I have is six years old.
He must not be getting our fliers.
The next name is Stanley Michaels.
- Stanley Michaels. - Yeah.
That's an easy one. He's right here at school.
Uh, he teaches computer programming.
He consulted when we computerized our operation.
Okay, uh, could you, uh, verify that address for me?
Is this, uh, the address here in Boston?
- Yep. - What was the name?
John and Melissa Thomas.
Her maiden name was McWilliams.
They're married now.
(Neal) Yes, that's the same address.
- They are still here in Boston. - Hm.
Well, I wanna thank you for your help.
Anytime.
There's anything else I can do for you?
As a matter of fact, uh
you got a Casper Marley in your records there?
Uh, M-A-R-L-E-Y?
Yeah.
(Neal) 'It's odd, he's graduated alright'
but we don't seem to have an address.
Yeah.
I guess he's not a member of the association.
Guess not.
I thought he might have played football here.
Well, thanks again.
[instrumental music]
Oh, Hawk.
Ms. Fiori.
I was, um, waiting for Spenser, I, uh..
I.. I just let myself in.
Is that a fact?
Yeah.
Spenser and I, um..
You know..
We've never really had a talk, have we?
No.
Well, sometime, I think we should.
I've come to think a lot of Spen--
What you think of Spenser
is your business not mine.
Okay, I understand that.
But you and Spenser are friends
and I think we should at least--
Is Spenser's return eminent?
I don't know, I mean, I thought he'd be here by now.
'Is there something that I can do for you?'
No.
'I have his digits from the last buggy.'
Well, if you don't wanna wait, I can give them to him for you.
I'll wait.
You don't trust me to give them to him?
I'll wait.
Okay.
So, what do you think of the weather, Hawk?
Boy, I could hear the chatter come from you two
all the way down the hall.
[instrumental music]
(Rita) 'How can you stand that man?'
- Hawk is my friend. - He never says anything.
We talk all the time.
You mean, one syllable here and one syllable there.
With Hawk one syllable can mean a lot.
He literally tries to make you uncomfortable.
I mean, the guy's a sphinx.
Try to be pleasant pass the time of the day.
He doesn't pass the time of day.
Spenser, he never says anything to me.
Maybe he has nothing to say to you.
You ask me, he's as bull-headed as he is bald headed.
[Spenser laughing]
Hold it. Hold it.
Just wait a minute.
You're telling me that this dead man is not Casper Marley.
- Yes. - Well, if he isn't then who is?
I don't know.
[sighs] I know this is crazy, Marty
but there's no way this dead man could be Casper Marley
because Casper Marley has never existed.
Who else besides you knew about this prank?
Four friends I went to school with.
Ross Bates, he's the guy thought it up in the first place.
Stanley Michaels, a computer wiz
who put Marley into the school's records
and Jack and Lissa Thomas
and I were the ones made up most of the stuff about Marley.
You and your friends, they were the only ones that knew?
As far as I know.
Marty, I know this comes as a surprise, but there's--
Hot off the presses, the coroner's report
for one C. Marley.
You waiting for drumroll or you're gonna read it?
Ah, it was no accident, the guy was dead before the fire
a blow to the left temple, your classic blunt instrument.
Only you and your friends, right?
Yeah.
So five people know about this phony character?
And we've got his name as a homicide victim.
'We gotta question these people, Rita.'
'You better round them up because--'
One of them maybe a m*rder*r.
- Heh-heh-heh! Hey, Stan. - Rita!
- How are ya? - Long time no see.
- 'Hi.' - 'Oh, it's good to see you.'
- How are you? - Oh, I'm okay.
Considering the circumstances.
- Hi, Jack. - Rita.
Who would have ever thought we'd all be brought together
again by a m*rder investigation.
Hi, Stanley, how you doing?
Where's Ross?
I don't know, we can't find him.
It's as if he dropped off the end of the earth.
- That's Ross. - Hm.
(Martin) Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?
My name is Lieutenant Martin Quirk
of the Homicide Division.
You're all here as part of a m*rder investigation
'None of you are in a suspicion, however.'
'But we do need your cooperation in giving us'
any information that you can.
I'll be questioning you individually
who would like to go first?
- And you are? - 'Jack Thomas.'
Uh-huh, well, will you follow me?
Do I have any choice?
Yeah, you can always request an attorney to be present.
[chuckles] No, no, I'll cooperate, lieutenant.
I don't have anything to hide.
Fine. My office please.
Come on, let's sit down and relax.
- You look great, Rita. - Oh.
Lissa, don't be nervous.
I'm sure everything's gonna be fine.
We'll figure it out.
They know that we created Casper Marley for fun.
Yes, they know.
[sighs] I can't believe what I'm thinking.
What?
It isn't just a joke anymore. It's real.
I don't care what that officer said
we are all suspects.
[dramatic music]
(Spenser) I tried not to think any of Rita's old college friends
were capable of m*rder.
But the truth was
they were all good suspects.
Of course, Rita wouldn't k*ll anyone.
Unless it was Hawk.
But Stanley Michaels had the expertise
to create a fictional person and keep him alive
for whatever reasons.
As for the Thomas', they needed money.
Always a good reason to k*ll someone.
Then again, if they didn't do it
there was always the elusive Ross Bates.
Mr. Spenser.
- Mr. O'Neil. - Hello.
I'm looking for Ross Bates.
I understand, he used to live here.
Yeah, back in the old days.
Before the management turned this place into..
- This place. - It's very nice.
Well, we used to have ourselves a perfectly pleasant
water front dive in those days.
When was that?
Five, six years ago.
Bates was just out of the army.
Flat broke.
Now don't get me wrong, I liked him
but in a way I was just as glad to have him move on.
- Why was that? - Well..
He had this stereo with a microphone hooked up to it.
- Yeah. - He kept it going all the time.
Shouting into it. Real loud.
Rockin' Ross this, Rockin' Ross that
real loud.
Pretending he was a disc jokey.
Pretending? He was practicing.
He had been on Armed Services Radio in the m*llitary.
And he wanted a job in radio.
Did he get one?
Don't you listen to WPJ?
Listen to Joe and Andy.
Joe and Andy Family.
Well, Bates changed his name.
He became Rockin' Ross Newman on WPJ.
He's a huge hit in drive time.
- Thanks for your help. - Certainly.
Listen, uh, what do you get for one of these places?
You know, studio, one room.
Four or five hundred thousand.
Give us a call.
(Martin) 'What do you mean you won't tell me'
'what you were doing the night of the fire?'
[sighing] I can't.
You said, you were going to cooperate in this investigation.
I want to lieutenant, but I can't
tell you where I was that particular evening
for personal reasons.
For personal reasons?
Look, Mr. Thomas, I'm trying to undo your married life.
But I will get to the facts one way or another.
'Now, why don't you just give the woman's name and address?'
You must be used to this, being an assistant DA and all.
- This what? - Uh, criminal stuff.
It's funny, I thought you'd be a teacher or an artist.
Not in this.
[chuckles]
Hey!
(Frank) 'Hey, what you think you're doing'
and it's official police business in there.
Sorry, I just couldn't resist fiddling with it little.
What's going on, Frank?
This guy was messing around with one of our machines.
Yeah, well, maybe he can teach you? Where's this guy Bates?
(Frank) 'I don't know. We've been looking for him.'
Well, then you should look harder, Frank.
Now, Mr. Michaels, would you mind stepping into my office?
To tell you about Casper Marley? Sure.
In fact I just found out some new stuff.
He's a registered voter
and he didn't show up for jury duty twice.
- But how'd you know that? - It's in the computer.
Do you need any help with data processing
in this investigation, lieutenant? Let me know.
Yeah. Please.
Same old Stanley.
No kidding.
(Jack) 'What do you mean, he doesn't want the deal?'
So talk to him.
Hey, Lissa, how's business?
What?
Oh, you know
for Jack the world of business is nothing
if it isn't stressful.
I don't mean to pry, it's..
You always used to say that.
It doesn't matter.
You're the only one we don't owe money to.
I'm sorry.
Hey, it's life. Some people are born rich and others..
[sighing] What's happened to us, Rita?
Remember, back in college, when all we had to worry about
was how we were gonna have fun on Friday nights.
We've grown up.
Hi.
I'd like to see Mr. Newman please.
Mr. Newman's on the air, he's not taking visitors.
Oh, I'm sure, he'll see me. We're old college buddies.
Uh, played in the same intramural ball team together
we were fraternity brothers.
May I say who's calling?
Mr. Marley, Casper Marley.
Mr. Shepherd, there's a man out here
who insists on seeing Mr. Newman
He say, he's an old friend of his.
(Shepherd) 'Tell him to get lost.'
He's not public relations, is he?
Security.
♪ You promised me everything under the sun ♪
♪ Made you for a fool when all was said and done ♪♪
Excuse me, buddy, you going somewhere?
[groaning]
- Huh? Open the door. - Okay. Alright.
(man on radio) 'That is the name of love, putting Billy Remo'
'back on the charts again after that wipe out'
'bike accident in Santa Clara.'
'Now, remember to stay tuned because sometime'
'next hour we are gonna be giving away some more of
'WPJ's money.'
- Where is he? - Oh, no.
Excuse, I am Mr. Shepherd.
Station manager here.
If you release our security guard, I might be of some help.
(man on radio) 'Kim Langley and the title song from her third album.'
'And what I always do on first dates.'
'Think big. Right now.'
My name is Spenser, I'm a private cop
I gotta talk to Mr. Newman.
[sighs] I'm afraid I can't help you as you can see
Mr. Newman isn't here.
- Sorry. - I'm sorry, too.
I'm just investigating a case
I just gotta ask him a few questions.
Look, I wish I could be of some help, but, uh..
Ross records his show at home
ships it in by messenger.
'He's, uh, quirky.'
He could be stark raving mad for all I know
but he's a genius, most important, he's number one.
He can do what he wants.
- Where does he live? - 'I don't know.'
He works for you, you gotta know where he lives.
He's a recluse.
He is a Howard Hughes of rock DJs
but he's still number one, and I have to live by his rules.
One of them is I don't know where he lives.
♪ What kind of loving you so excited ♪
♪ What can I.. ♪♪
(Spenser) Ross Newman was the one who created this farce.
But since I couldn't find him
I decided talk to the number two man.
Stanley Michaels.
The only thing I really knew about him was
that he was a genius with high-tech overturns.
But no great shakes with mechanical devices.
[clacking]
You know how to work this machine?
[thudding]
You know we're getting what we deserve with this Marley thing.
What do you mean?
There's an old saying in computers
"Garbage in garbage out."
We put that garbage in, now it's come back to haunt us.
[sighs] I should have erased Marley when I had the chance.
Now somebody's put him out in society.
How could anybody keep this character alive?
It take some manipulations of some rather sophisticated
mainframe systems, credit reports, resume checks
tax filing.
Anybody in this group could have done it?
Besides me, no one.
- What about Ross? - Maybe.
If he really got into computers in the m*llitary.
I didn't keep Marley alive, Mr. Spenser
I half wish I had.
What a masterful piece of computing it would be.
(Spenser) I don't know about Casper Marley, but Ross Bates
alias Rockin' Ross Newman
is definitely a real phantom.
Ah, well, that fits, he's always been different.
I mean, hell everyone seems different.
I spent the afternoon checking on Jack Thomas.
He's in big financial trouble
plus Marty Quirk tells me, he's got some bimbo on the side.
Oh, try the, try the back pocket.
No wonder Lissa seem so distant.
I mean, and Stanley's more often outer space
with his computer that ever--
People change. These are heavy, would you--
- Which key? - That's the key.
No kidding, I mean, I don't really even think
we're friends anymore.
Phone always rings when I'm out.
Here. Get this quick.
[indistinct]
[phone ringing]
Spenser.
Spenser, Stan Michaels.
- I tried Rita, but-- - She's here with me.
Uh, Great. Listen, I found something.
I started hacking and I tapped into something very interesting.
'Can you and Rita come to my place right now?'
- 'We're on our way.' - Great.
This is the house.
Michaels.
[intense music]
Easy, easy, easy.
Ross.
Ross?
'Rockin' Ross Newman?'
Where is Stanley Michaels?
(male #) 'Have you got all the personals?'
(male #) 'Yeah, just button it up.'
(Frank) 'Alright, Mr. Radio.'
'I'm gonna run through that one more time'
(Ross) 'Okay, I'm gonna go real slow this time, alright.'
With no big words.
No, I've been out of town.
When I came back this afternoon
I saw a news clip that Casper Marley
had been k*lled.
Now, since I thought Casper up..
Are you writing this?
Since I made Casper up, I found this odd.
So called my friend Stanley to see what he knew about it.
He was excited, he told me to come over, I did.
Stanley was dead.
The end.
That's terrific. This guy has a great voice.
You know that, Spenser, in fact you tell such a good story
I'm gonna ask you to come downtown and tell my lieutenant.
Hey, hey, hey. Stay in control, will you?
Relax.
Mr. Radio.
He found something that got him k*lled.
Looks that way.
I don't know what it was.
But I'm gonna find out.
Rita.
It's in here.
And if Stanley found it in the computer, he'd save the file.
k*ller could have erased it.
Well, let's see.
There are hundreds of them.
I'll read every file if I have to.
[indistinct chatter]
[grunting]
[grunting]
Good looking right hand.
Yeah, I've seen better.
Where? On Hagler?
You come all the way over here to tell me
that I got a good right hand, huh?
- I need some help. - With what?
Looking after a lady while I'm not around?
- This lady got a name? - It's Rita.
Roy!
Come on, Hawk, she's friend.
Look, what is it? Her upbringing?
Her-her age, her shoe size, her job, what?
It's her mouth, brother.
The woman don't know the meaning of shut up.
You see that goes with the territory.
That's what her job is all about, talking.
In the office, in the court room.
On car, and the street, on the couch, yeah.
You know, it wouldn't hurt you to have a friend
in the DA's office, just in case.
- Just in case, huh? - Yeah.
- What you got in mind? - Just keep her alive.
Keep her alive so she could talk me to death, huh?
- We got a deal? - Uh-huh.
- Yeah, we got a deal. - Alright.
- Yeah, but look here, baby. - I gotta go.
Since it is the lady DA, it is gonna cost you
twice my regular fee.
- I didn't hear that. - Double, baby.
Roy!
(Rita) 'Come on, Ross, don't get him started.'
'Jack, why do you always do this?'
All I said was that I find it amusing that Ross
had to change his name to become successful.
Well, you, Jack, haven't changed at all.
Unfortunately, you know, you did specifically ask for two olives.
- Your martini, Jack. - Jack.
- Please. - Oh, Melissa, let him go.
Jack was always a bore.
Fact that he's now an older bore, he doesn't surprise me.
What surprises me is that you're still married to him.
Well, I give you credit you did alright for yourself.
Hey, Jack, I did better than alright.
I cleaned up, baby.
I can't believe that's you on the radio.
I-I don't listen to that kind of music very often.
Oh, no offence, I just had no idea you'd become so famous.
- Oh, break out Melissa, really? - I don't believe this.
We just came from burying Stanley
and all you can do is talk about yourselves.
Don't you even care what happened?
Of course, we do, Rita.
I just don't see any harm in congratulating Ross
for his good fortune.
Lissa, that's not the point.
What is?
Look, I'm sorry about Stanley, but, uh..
Well, I think he brought it on himself.
If he'd just let the police handle everything--
Damn it, Jack. Stanley was trying to solve this thing.
He felt responsible, I mean, he d*ed for it.
For all I know, one of us could be next.
[chuckles] Lighten up, Rita.
And forget Casper Marley, he doesn't exist.
(Ross) 'Jack's right. For once.'
I say we all forget this.
I know I could care less.
'I told the police everything I knew'
which is nothing.
And I intend to leave it that way.
You just wanna forget about Stanley, I mean..
He was our friend.
Come on, none of us are fiends, at least not now.
We haven't seen each other in what, eight years?
'A lifetime ago.'
We're strangers, that's all we are.
You know I sense that too.
And after today I don't expect to see any of you again.
[chuckles]
C'est la vie.
You're right.
Rita, don't you sort of feel that way, too?
No.
I mean, maybe we have become strangers
but that's not how I feel.
[chuckles] I feel sad..
...for the people we were and the people we've become.
- Jack, maybe we should go. - Sure.
- Huh. Alright. See you. - Bye.
As they say...see you around.
No, you won't, Jack.
Lissa, let me catch a ride with you.
Of course. You want us to take you home?
No, I'm going back to Stanley's.
I am gonna find out who k*lled him.
Best of luck.
[instrumental music]
[keyboard keys clacking]
[doorknob rattling]
[intense music]
[music continues]
What the hell?
I nearly k*lled you.
Not even close.
What are you doing here?
Well, Spenser thought you needed some babysitting.
- Sit, baby. - Oh.
Thanks, but, uh, no thanks.
But Spenser told me to--
Look, I don't care what Spenser told you.
I don't need babysitting.
But babysitting is what you're gonna get, Lady Di.
Aha!
[upbeat music]
(Spenser) I knew Rita wouldn't give up.
At this point, I wasn't about to give up either.
She had Stanley's computer, but I had something better.
Spenser's rule.
When you can't find what started the fire
sift through the ashes again.
[rustling]
[intense music]
[music continues]
- Psst! - Hey-hey, hey! Hey-hey!
Take it easy. I got identification.
Let's see it. Nice and slow.
Al Sheen. I'm an insurance investigator.
New Mexico Mutual Life out of Santa Fe.
Name is Spenser, private cop. What are you doing here?
Well, I'm looking for a friend of mine, Jack McGraw.
Came up to Boston a couple of weeks ago
and he hadn't been heard from since.
I'm snooping around here because some guy named Caspar Marley
supposedly d*ed in this fire.
You have a claim file on Caspar Marley?
No, McGraw was up here investigating some claim
that was paid on a Caspar Marley by my company four years ago.
- Four years ago? - In San Francisco.
And now he's dead again here in Boston. That's a scam, Spenser.
Somebody got greedy. That's gonna get him caught.
You got a positive ID on Marley in San Francisco?
Never did find a body, but we did get a picture
off a California driver's license.
Not just greedy. Dumb.
Ms. Fiori.
And what would you like to know?
Could you check and see if Jack and Melissa Thomas
or Ross Bates ever had a San Francisco address?
[instrumental music]
Let's see, uh, you wanna know if Jack and Melissa Thomas
or Ross Bates ever lived in San Francisco?
Yes, since leaving college.
Why do you want this information, Ms. Fiori?
Well, it's key to an investigation I'm involved in.
I'm with the DA's office now.
I see.
You must be the one who sent that private detective over.
Well, I have no address for Ross Bates in San Francisco.
Let's see, Jack and Melissa Thomas.
Her maiden name was McWilliams.
[bells tolling]
- Good afternoon, sir. - Yeah.
Uh, excuse me, sir, are you a student here?
Do I look like a student?
Well, uh, if you're not a student
I'm gonna have to ask you to move on, sir.
Ask all you want.
Uh, uh, wi-will you move on, sir?
- Negative. - Um, uh..
Sir, I-I-I'm sure you can understand my position.
Uh, w-we've had some trouble here recently.
A couple of coeds have been harassed and--
Do you see any coeds in here?
Uh, no, uh, but you see, sir
uh, the thing is, we simply can't allow
any loitering by outsiders, uh
'on this campus at this time.'
And so i-i-if you don't move on
sir, I'm, uh, I'm gonna call this in.
Outsiders? What's that supposed to mean?
You gonna tell him you got a
suspicious-looking black man here?
No, no, I-I never said, I-I never said you were..
Uh, I'm gonna call this in, sir.
Well, call it in, Mr. Uniform-man.
You got the badge and a radio.
[clears throat] Uh, Dispatch One, this is
uh, and I-I've got a, uh--
- Suspicious-looking black man. - Suspicious-looking.. No..
- A-a-a, uh, a recalcitrant-- - Dangerous.
Did you find anything?
Uh, yes, I did.
Apparently, Jack Thomas did live in San Francisco
for a time.
When?
Four years ago.
That's it. That checks.
What checks?
Oh, nothing, it just, um, matches with what I found.
Thank you, Mr. Oliver. You've been a big help.
[dramatic music]
[indistinct chatter]
[engine revving]
[instrumental music]
(Spenser) Sheen not only had a picture of the phantom Casper Marley
he had a beneficiary on the insurance claim
that was paid the last time the phantom d*ed.
I still say we take what we got so far to the cops.
We will, but let's take 'em proof
let's find out who the corporate beneficiaries are.
Look, it's gotta be a dummy corporation.
It won't matter, if Oliver's listed with Marley
as an officer, we got him.
[laughs]
You're beautiful, Spenser.
You never needed anything from here
that you didn't have to have your five minutes.
And you've never forked anything over that didn't have a price.
- What do you want? - What you got?
Celtics or Bruins, take your pick.
How many seats?
Two. What is this?
'You also wanna know what the organist'
'is gonna play at the Garden?'
Get the file.
I'll get the file.
McGraw was such a bulldog
whenever he got a hold of something.
Wouldn't let this Marley thing go.
Looks like it cost him his life.
We get Oliver's name on those corporate papers
we'll nail him for your friend's death.
'Here we go, Spenser.'
I'll take the Bruins.
Is Oliver listed?
No.
Who in the hell is M. McWilliams?
- Rita? Hi. - Hi, Lissa.
- Uh, is Jack here? - Uh, no, he's at the office.
You wanna call him?
No. Um, I need to talk to you.
Sure.
Lissa, I, I know that we haven't really
kept in touch over the years.
And I don't care what anyone said at Ross'.
You've always been a very dear friend.
I'd never do anything to hurt you.
Hey, Jack and I feel the same about you.
Rita, what is the matter?
I think I found out what might have gotten Stanley k*lled.
What is it?
A file on his computer.
He ran a crosscheck on life-insurance claims
and it...turns out
that Casper Marley's been k*lled before
and the policy paid a hundred-thousand dollars.
Oh, my God!
[sighs]
Someone's using Casper for insurance fraud.
The claim was filed in San Francisco four years ago.
But now there's a body and...Stanley.
Lissa..
...Jack was living in San Francisco.
While we were separated.
But Jack's not a k*ller.
You..
Oh, God!
Rita...I'm in so deep.
What are you talking about?
We both are, Lissa.
- Neil, what are you doing? - I'm protecting myself.
- But you can't do that. - Listen to you.
You have no qualms about taking half the money
but now you're falling apart.
That was before I knew what would happen.
Lissa, you're involved?
And me, Ms. Fiori.
We met when she and her husband separated
and she took a job at the alumni office.
Our little lover's fling turned profitable
when she told me about Caspar Marley.
Would've used him several times if it weren't
for that fool investigator from Santa Fe.
And now you really are a m*rder*r.
Yes.
Move.
Neil.
[intense music]
[engine revving]
[tires screeching]
Hold her, Quirk's on the way.
[tires screeching]
[tires screeching]
[tires screeching]
[tires screeching]
[clattering]
[tires screeching]
- You alright? - Keep going. I'm fine!
[tires screeching]
[instrumental music]
[tires screeching]
[g*nsh*t]
[tires screeching]
[clattering]
[tires screeching]
[clattering]
[splashes]
[tires screeching]
[indistinct singing]
[clears throat] Need any help?
(Rita) 'No. I'm almost ready.'
You know, if you don't feel up to it
we don't have to go out tonight.
Spenser, I hurt my leg
not my appetite.
- I'm starving. - Okay.
Besides, I'm looking forward
to having you carry me down the stairs.
See, that's not what I'm worried about.
I'm worried about carrying you back up after dinner.
Oh, that's cute.
- Yeah, talked to Quirk. - How'd the divers do?
They recovered the car, didn't find the body.
Gosh, this is so eerie, isn't it?
Casper Marley disappears again.
[knocking on door]
- Spenser! - Yeah.
Damn! Poor timing, babe.
Look here, that's a gutsy thing
you jumping out of a moving car like that.
Did he actually talk to me?
Sounds that way to me.
That wouldn't be because I got
a little disturbing-the-peace charge
dropped with the campus police, now, would it?
Who told you? But like you say..
It's always good to know the D-paired A-paired folk sometime.
(Rita) 'Well, since we're chatting here so nicely'
why don't you join us for dinner?
- Is that mandatory? - Absolutely.
Besides, you can help carry me down the stairs, too.
I knew I shouldn't have come here.
[instrumental music]
[theme music]
[music continues]