05x15 - Red Lacquer Nail Polish

[bunniefuu]

Patrick: Hey, it could do with a little, uh, yard maintenance, don't you think?

How does one person live in a house this big?

Uh, let me see. By being very rich.

That's not what I meant.

Ah, you mean morally. Well, we've been called in, so it's likely that whoever lived here paid a hefty price in the end.

(Sighs)

There is something off here.

This place gives me the creeps.

Normally, I'd be tempted to mock your superstition, but in this case, I'm inclined to agree.

Ladies first.

(Door creaks) Boss, this is Reggie Brooks from private security.

Found the body, called it in.

Hi. I'm Agent Lisbon with the CBI.

This is Patrick Jane.

Hi. How you doing?

Is this gonna take long?

I'd really like to get out of here.

Why don't you just walk us through what happened this morning?

Well, I was, uh, doing my rounds of the neighborhood this morning, as always, when I got a call that said, uh, Ms. Vogelsong's doctor wasn't getting an answer when he tried to call her and asked me to follow up.

Uh, do you know the name of the doctor?

No, I don't. Uh, you can call dispatch.

Okay. So the doctor told you to go and check on her.

(Brooks) I, uh, I noticed the smell right away.

(Flames crackling) And I, uh, followed it to the library, and... that's when I called it in.

The final remains of Elise Vogelsong, Sacramento's tragic heiress.

You know the story, right?

You know, orphan at 12, widow at 18.

Divorced 5 times before she turned 40.

My mother ate that stuff up when I was a kid.

Never heard of her.

Check out this place. What a creep show.

And, uh, look at this body.

I mean, it's reduced entirely to ash.

You know, there've been a handful of cases I've read about. I've never actually seen it.

Spontaneous combustion, they like to call it.

It's in a book somewhere.

"Bleak House." Dickens.

Yeah, Mr. Krook, the rag and bone man, burst into flames in his parlor.

It's not believable.

I didn't buy it, either.

Oh, um, it's... It's a misnomer.

You know, it's not actually spontaneous combustion at all.

Uh, it almost always happens with a heavy drinker and a smoker. They pass out with a cigarette in their hand, ember falls onto clothing, starts to burn, and smoldering cloth acts like a wick, and it turns the victim into a human candle, with the body's subcutaneous fat deposits as a perfect form of tallow.

A human candle?

Isn't that awful?

Yeah, what's produced is a slow and all-consuming burn, so in the end, there's nothing left but ash.

So this could be an accidental death?

Yeah. Very likely.

Uh, you notice how weird the light is?

Kind of waxy and brown?

That's because human fat is congealed on all the light bulbs. I mean—

All right. Don't say another word, please, okay?

Uh, this was m*rder, which is ironic, considering Ms. Vogelsong's appreciation and love of m*rder mysteries.

m*rder?

Yes.

There's globules of glass in the fireplace, and, uh, this scotch was opened very recently.

And that's a lot of scotch for one woman.

There were at some point four glasses right here, but now there are only three in the room.

Where is the fourth glass?

So two people are sitting down, relaxing, having a drink, now one of them is dead.

The other one tried to conceal his or her presence by throwing the fourth glass into the fireplace. m*rder.

Oh, you think?

Who's the other person, huh?

Why'd they k*ll her?

Well, you know, if you hadn't mentioned the congealed human fat in the light bulbs, I may have had the stomach to stick around and find out, but I-I...

You're a ghoul.

♪ The Mentalist 5x15 ♪
Red Lacquer Nail Polish
Original Air Date on March 3, 2013

(Telephone ringing in distance)

Oh, thanks.

Hmm.

You know, my mom kept a scrapbook of Elise Vogelsong.

You'd have thought she was family, the way she talked about her.

Your mom like that?

Nope.

I think for mom, it was a way of feeling better about things with my dad, you know?

No matter how bad things got between them, it was always worse for Elise Vogelsong.

I think that was it, anyway.

Have we got a name yet, for the doctor who called?

(Sighs) Dispatcher didn't write it down.

He doesn't even know if he got it or not.

Now this says someone poured accelerant on Ms. Vogelsong and lit a match, right?

Right. Best arson teams in the world would have missed it 99 times out of 100.

If Jane hadn't been so sure, I'd have missed it, too.

Spectrometer says traces of ethyl alcohol and methanol.

I'm guessing sterno as an accelerant.

Wouldn't take much.

That's nice work.

Yeah, next of kin didn't seem to believe it, though.

Give it time. Lisbon and Jane will convince them.

Can you think of anybody who may have wanted to harm your aunt?

She was an old lady who devoted herself to charity and helping veterans.

Who'd want to hurt her?

She was losing her mind at the end.

Have you taken that into account?

Losing her mind how?

All right, you know what my aunt endured in her life?

The scandals, the tragedies?

Yes. I'm sorry.

Well, she was a strong woman, despite it all, until about two years ago.

And what happened?

She stopped wanting to leave the house, started getting paranoid, thought people were out to get her.

Were they?

No. Not at all. It was all in her head.

She fired all her servants and was living in that big old pile by herself.

Look, the police said that there was nothing stolen from the house.

There are no signs of robbery.

Someone commits a m*rder in a house like that and doesn't take anything?

No money, no jewels?

No expensive works of art?

It doesn't make any sense, does it?

Well, not yet.

It's an ongoing investigation.

Yeah, it's ongoing.

Uh, could you provide us with your aunt's doctor's name?

The one who called the security guard?

I didn't know her doctor. I'm sorry.

As I said, my aunt had become withdrawn in recent years.

I didn't communicate with her much.

You had a falling out?

No. As her mind went, she became difficult.

I admit I distanced myself.

I preferred to remember her as she was.

Okay. So before that, you—you were close?

Well, some of my fondest memories from childhood were sailing with my aunt Elise on the "Songbird."

Ah. Your aunt liked sailboats?

Well, aside from the family's charitable foundations, it was her greatest joy. I don't think a week went by that she wasn't out on the water.

Even at her age?

Was that safe?

There was a girl wasn't out on that went with her down at the marina.

(Boat horn blowing in distance)

(Seagull cries)

Cayce Robbins?

That's right.

I'm Agent Lisbon with the CBI.

This is my associate, Patrick Jane.

We spoke on the phone.

Oh, about Elise.

You going somewhere?

Yeah, Elise always said she wanted her ashes scattered out at sea, out of sight of land.

So I figured it's my duty to make that happen.

I'm just waiting to get the ashes.

That's gonna have to wait until after our investigation.

I'm sorry.

It's awful to think what happened to her.

Can you think of anybody who may have wanted to k*ll her?

Uh, I-I can't, but I only sailed with her.

I don't know much about her life on land.

What about her mental state?

In the last few years, you see any signs of senility?

Elise? No, she was sharper than most people my age.

I didn't like all the pills she was taking, though.

Doctors prescribe too many pills these days, I think.

What were the pills she was taking?

Or—or better still, you know the name of the doctor that prescribed them?

You know, there's some in the cabin. I can go get 'em.

Thank you. Very helpful.

Seems like a civilized way to travel, don't you think?

Are you kidding?

Stuck on that thing in the middle of the ocean?

It's like being in a prison cell with a chance of drowning.

There you go. Hope that helps.

"Dr. Reinhardt".

Yeah, thank you. It does. Thank you.

Yeah.

(Indistinct conversations)

Right this way, Agent Lisbon.

Come on.

Uh, I was just about to learn how to drive her wild.

Five easy steps.

I've been Elise Vogelsong's personal physician for almost two years. I felt a particular concern. She was in the early stages of dementia.

Why would you say that?

Anyone who spent any time with Elise Vogelsong would recognize the symptoms. As a doctor, it was obvious.

What kind of symptoms?

Well, the onset of dementia can manifest in various ways.

In her case, it took the form of an intense persecution mania.

I was not comfortable with her living alone, but... Elise Vogelsong was a very...

Strong-willed woman.

Is that why you were so quick to send the security company to go and check on her?

Well, I'd spoken to Elise the evening before, so when I couldn't get a reply the next morning, I became concerned.

I worried she'd fallen and hurt herself.

The idea that she'd been brutally m*rder*d— it's beyond all comprehension.

Well, better than the discovery that her death was related to your care.

That must have been a relief.

Excuse me?

Well, your primary emotion as you talk right now about Elise Vogelsong is that of relief.

Why is that?

Where do you... Get this idea?

Is this an effective method of investigation, making things up?

Or do you consider evidence as well?

(Pills rattle) Somebody told us they thought you were prescribing Elise way too many dr*gs.

Hmm. This... is a mild sleep aid.

I was attempting to regulate Elise Vogelsong's sleep cycles.

Balanced sleep cycles are a bulwark against dementia.

This is widely known.

Now I understand you must pursue all avenues of inquiry, but embracing the medical theories of laypersons...

Does not seem productive.

Did you approve of Elise Vogelsong sailing?

I did not. Not at her age and her condition.

But as I said, she was a willful woman.

You didn't think it was good for her to get out of the house?

Of course I did, but not by going out to sea or spending time with mentally unstable w*r veterans.

That was her charity work?

The Vogelsong soldiers' home.

I told her it was dangerous, but...

Curtis and Alex Wiley. Both artists.

They own the California Impressionist Gallery.

Successful?

More enthusiastic than talented from what I could gather.

They're well-liked in the community.

So family money keeps the business running?

Any trouble with the police?

None.

That's Cayce Robbins, 28.

Originally from New London, Connecticut.

Been working on or around boats at the Bodega Bay marina for the last six years.

And the only thing in her file is some unpaid parking tickets.

What about the doctor?

Dr. Lance Reinhardt.

Born in D.C., educated in the U.S. and Europe.

Impressive list of honorary degrees from prestigious universities across the globe.

Moved to California about five years ago.

Clean record in the state.

See what else you can find out about Reinhardt.

See what he was doing before he moved to California and keep me posted.

I'm gonna go talk to the guy who runs the Vogelsong soldiers' home.

Elise Vogelsong was a wonderful, wonderful woman.

We've been praying for her and for whoever it was that committed the horrible act.

This place looks like it has an interesting history.

The Vogelsong fortune was made by Elise's grandfather Ernst during the world wars. Munitions.

This foundation was created to ease his conscience?

Yes.

And God bless him if it did.

Elise says it gave a purpose to her life, a purpose that was missing for many of her relations.

Please, follow me.

Lisbon: Chaplain Griffin, do you know anybody who may have wanted to do her harm or had a grudge against her?

Here? No.

As I say, she was a lifesaver.

Last year, the—the heating unit in the building went kaput, she replaced the entire thing, no questions asked.

How was Elise Vogelsong's relationship with the veterans?

Oh, she was generous with her time as well as her money.

With a certain reserve, of course.

But I did notice a bond forming between her and one of the W.A.C.s.

Really? Which one?

Uh, Lissie Calhoun. She was a nurse in Vietnam.

Do you think we can talk to her?

Uh, yeah. I mean, she's usually here in the afternoons.

I-I could tell her to contact you.

Uh, we'd appreciate that.

Of course.

I don't know what we'll do now that Elise is gone.

I mean, there's no one to protect us.

To protect you from what?

The rest of the family.

The Vogelsong fortune breeds great entitlement and great guilt, Elise used to tell me.

And according to her, it had driven all of her relations completely mad.

All they did was fight with each other over the money.

Well, where does the money come from that funds the soldiers' home?

The Vogelsong Foundation, which Elise was in charge of.

I mean, with her gone, I just— I fear we might be shut down.

Is that a real danger?

Oh, yes. Sadly, yes.

One of the relatives was determined to destroy us and—and all of our work here.

According to Elise, it was an obsession of his to crush her and take everything that was hers.

Do you know which relative?

It was a nephew. His name is Curtis Wiley.

(Telephone ringing in distance)

Vogelsong legal disputes.

Wanna help?

Rigsby.

What?

Somebody die?

No. It's from Van Pelt.

She's learning cross drive analysis and anomaly detection.

And that makes you sad?

I'm not sad.

Yeah, okay, I'm sad.

Every time she's been away in the past and she sent a postcard, she always addressed it to me, or, you know, Wayne and the g*ng.

This is just addressed to "the bullpen, " like I'm nobody.

Right. She's moved on.

Yes, thank you. I know that.

Like years ago.

Well, years makes it sound like decades. It hasn't been that long.

You're losing your mind.

How long has it been since you've had relations with a woman?

(Sighs)

Recently.

Lying again. Find a woman.

Yeah, you know what?

You're right.

I will. It's what I have to do.

"Bullpen." Not even an "x-o" at the end.

Move on, Wayne. Move on. (Typing)

(Beeps)

(telephone ringing in distance)

Hey, Cho, what do you got?

(Exhales deeply)

There's about 30 descendants of Ernst Vogelsong, and every one of them seems to be contesting a part of the will or accusing the others of some improper financial behavior.

Uh, did you find out what was going on between Elise Vogelsong and her nephew?

It was about a codicil giving Curtis Wiley another chunk of inheritance and a seat on the foundation board.

There's pages of claims and counter claims centered on whether it took effect at 35 or 40.

Seriously?

These people are a law firm's dream.

No kidding.

And more recently, Curtis had been making claims of managerial incompetence.

Said that there were accounting irregularities at the foundation and the soldiers' home.

Any idea the status of the case, which way it was leaning?

No, but I've got a call out to the probate judge.

And one thing's clear— this much paper means bad feelings on both sides.

Mm.

(Wiley) This is a family matter.

It's not something that outsiders can understand.

I understand that you lied to us earlier.

You and your aunt hated each other.

And you're greedy.

No, you're wrong!

(Breathing heavily)

That's not true.

I never felt any ill will towards my aunt.

I loved her. I wanted to help her.

By suing her?

Interesting way of showing your love.

All right, look, from a financial point of view, something had to be done.

My aunt was not making good decisions.

Her mind was going.

Well, so you say, and Dr. Reinhardt, but Elise's sailing companion didn't say so.

Excuse me if I don't put much trust in what Cayce Robbins says.

A reading of my aunt's will showed that little thief manipulated my aunt into giving her the "Songbird."

Why shouldn't your aunt give Cayce the boat if that's what she wanted?

Because that boat is worth a quarter of a million dollars!

All assets of any unmarried heirs revert back to the family trust.

That's how it's done, as my aunt well knew.

Apparently, that's not what she wanted.

Well, she was not in her right mind, and people were taking advantage of that.

The expenditures of the soldiers' home were astronomical. One of the trustees told me.

And now we're losing the "Songbird"?

Honey, this couple's interested in one of your paintings.

Do you think you could come over and talk to them?

My family's being robbed blind.

It's my fiduciary responsibility to act.

$250, 000 is a lot of money.

We should go talk to Cayce Robbins again.

I'm always happy to take a trip to the ocean.

Patrick: Well, we could get on board and wait.

Not without a warrant, we're not.

Ugh. Rules are just so... tiresome and boring.

Ah, Ms. Robbins, hi.

We're sorry to bother you this late.

No, please, call me Cayce.

I-I hope I didn't make you guys wait too long.

I was just doing a favor for a friend.

Uh, we just had some questions.

We talked to Curtis Wiley.

Oh. I bet he had a lot to say.

Yeah, he's very upset.

Mm. He's very upset?

Look, I-I didn't expect anything, and I'm honored that Elise even wanted to give me "Songbird, " but changing the will affects the foundation.

What do you mean, changing the will?

You don't know?

I-I just got a call from the lawyers, and the doctor said Elise was non compos mentis.

The will isn't valid.

And that affects the foundation?

Well, Elise left her seat on the foundation board to the chaplain of the soldiers' home.

That goes, too, with the will thrown out.

That's interesting.

Thank you for your time.

Hmm.

Look, she wasn't crazy, you know.

It was just those pills that doctor had her on.

That's what made her like that.

Uh, they were actually just a mild sleeping aid.

We checked.

Well, there was more than just those pills. A lot more.

I thought you understood that.

All right. What have you got for me on Reinhardt?

Well, it looks like Elise's sailing friend might have had it right.

(Presses keys)

Took some digging.

Negligent homicide?

Where's this from?

Monaco.

You see why the charge was brought?

Overprescribing a pain medication.

Bingo.

It was treated as a terrible mistake at the time, and the charges were eventually dropped.

Still, it's not something that would inspire confidence in Reinhardt's patients.

Yeah, which is probably why a great deal of effort's been made to cover it all up.

Uh, what about the records for what he was prescribing for Elise?

Trying to get a hold of them.

We may need a warrant. Talk to Reinhardt.

See how he reacts when you confront him.

Sure. Should I take Cho?

I sent him to the soldiers' home.

Okay.

(Indistinct conversations)

You must be Agent Cho with the CBI?

That's right.

Like I told Agent Lisbon on the phone, I don't want to get anyone in trouble, but I think those two have been plotting this for some time.

Wait. Slow down. Who was plotting what?

The nephew and that doctor.

I mean, I didn't realize it at the time, but I think they've been working together for a while.

And what makes you say that?

Uh, about a week ago, they came in to talk to Elise.

They must have been talking about the future of soldiers' home.

You sure about that?

Okay. Here's what I saw—

Elise was outside talking with Lissie Calhoun when Wiley and Reinhardt appeared.

The—the conversation got very heated.

Now Lissie Calhoun— she's the nurse, served in Vietnam?

Yeah. I know Agent Lisbon wanted to talk to her, but she hasn't been in for the last few days.

Do you have her address?

Yeah. I think I do.

Follow me.

(Exhales)

Uh, Lisbon, I'm sorry, but I think we might have to get back to the crime scene.

Really?

That place was so creepy.

Yes. But I-I'm worried we might have missed something because of that.

Okay, fine, but no jumping out and yelling "boo" at me or anything like that.

I mean, seriously, what do you take me for?

I am not going to answer that because I'm a nice person.

Man: She paid through the month, but said she was going to visit a friend.

Did she say where?

No, she didn't.

What'd she do this time?

Told her any more of it, I'd throw her out. (Keys jangle)

Three strikes. That's my rule. (Lock turns)

She hasn't done anything. I just wanna talk to her.

Well, don't get me wrong.

You know, Lissie's good people.

But she's got impulse control issues and problems with anger management.

Think maybe she saw stuff over in Vietnam that nobody should see, you know?

Yeah, I know.

Plus she drinks.

That's probably where she is now.

(Pills rattle)

So you think the friend she's visiting is made up?

All I know is, I told her she can't stay here if she's not sober.

I can't put up with that.

(Brooks) She may have been America's tragic heiress, but she sure knew how to throw a party.

Lisbon: Mm.

Look at these photos— hot and cold running servants, fine food, champagne and wine.

That must have been something to see.

Went crazy I guess?

Uh, Lisbon?

What?

Come take a look at this.

Look at this shelf. Tell me what you see.

Mm, a picture frame, a silver candlestick, an old lace doily.

One.

The other doily's missing?

Yes. Now look at this.

On this shelf, what is it...

That you don't see?

Well, that medal's gone.

I knew we missed something.

Okay, will do, boss.

(Pen clatters)

Jane thinks some kind of small commemorative object was stolen from the Vogelsong house.

(Presses key)

Huh?

Never mind.

(Flips cell phone shut)

(Sighs) So you're still on that computer dating site, huh?

(Chuckles) Yeah. It's really cool.

You can customize the kind of woman you wanna meet.

Have you actually made any dates, or are you just hesitating and second-guessing yourself like you usually do?

Yeah, I've made dates— several. So there.

Glad to hear it.

But maybe you can also help around the office a little bit.

Meaning?

Isn't that the Reinhardt warrant on your desk?

No, I've been waiting on the Reinhardt warrant for—

Oh, crap!

(Presses key)

Dr. Reinhardt will see you as soon as he can.

You understand I'm an officer of the law, investigating a m*rder case?

The doctor is with a patient right now.

(Whirring)

But as soon as he's done...

Woman: Hey!

Get away from the machine.

Oh. It's not what you think. I-I didn't do anything.

Phenobarbital...

Clonazepam...

Diazepam...

(Paper rustles)

Thorazine.

Looks to me like you did quite a lot.

Hands behind your back.

You're under arrest.

(Handcuffs clicking)

(Telephone ringing in distance)

Hey, I think I found your missing object.

Oh, yeah?

It's called the Vogelsong Medal.

And apparently, it's kind of a big deal.

That's from Channel 7 news a few years ago. (Presses key)

(Female reporter) Elise Vogelsong welcomes foreign dignitaries to the annual Vogelsong Foundation dinner, wearing the renowned and priceless Vogelsong Medal.

(Key clicks)

Priceless, huh? That explains why somebody stole it.

Except that it's only priceless when it's the Vogelsong medal.

What does that mean?

Well, melt it down, it's worth almost nothing, but keep it as the Vogelsong Medal, you can't sell it.

So with all the treasures in that house, why take that?

Beats me.

Uh, what about Dr. Reinhardt?

Did you talk to him?

I'm about to. With the amount that he was prescribing her, it's no wonder people thought she was losing her mind.

I'm amazed she could stay upright.

Okay, I did not want to prescribe her those pills.

She made me do it.

She blackmailed me.

Okay, you can take a seat.

(Folder thuds)

So an old lady with rapidly progressing dementia— you gonna say that she was the bad guy in this situation?

It's true.

I don't know how she found out about my past, but she did.

And she said she'd tell everybody unless I did what she said.

I-I just want to help people. I'm—I'm a good doctor.

She would have ruined my career.

She was a cruel and vindictive woman, willing to do anything just... to get her way.

So you weren't conspiring with Curtis Wiley to undo Elise Vogelsong's will?

What? No.

But you and Wiley did have a conversation with Elise outside the soldiers' home, did you not?

Elise asked me to meet her there.

Th-that was the first and only time I ever met Curtis Wiley, I swear on my mother's grave.

I voided that will because I believe Elise Vogelsong not to be in her right mind.

That's the only reason.

I tracked down Lissie Calhoun in Vegas.

She used a credit card yesterday to get a room.

Should I send somebody out to go get her?

Pass it on to the locals. Have them drop in, see what she has to say.

Will do.

Oh, and I got some intel on the lawsuit from one of the clerks in the probate office.

Why can't we get a judge on the phone?

Oh, he's stuck in some mediation thing.

Stay on the judge. What did the clerk say?

Basically, trusts and estates law is pretty arcane stuff, but the clerk was pretty certain that Elise Vogelsong was gonna win.

Okay. (Sighs)

I-I wanna get a warrant to search Curtis Wiley's home and place of business.

I wanna lean on him hard.

You got it.

(Door opens)

(Door opens)

(Inhales sharply)

Hello, agents.

Uh, Curtis is painting out back. Should I go get him?

That won't be necessary.

This is a warrant to search your business.

Could you step aside from the desk, please?

What?

Step away from the desk, please.

Curtis, the police are here.

We've already searched your home. This won't take long.

My husband will put a stop to this.

No, he won't.

What's going on here?

This is a warrant that was issued by a judge.

It authorizes me to search your business, your vehicle, and your persons.

(Paper rustles)

I don't understand. Why are you doing this?

Where were you the night of the m*rder?

I-I was here at the gallery going over paperwork.

Alone?

No.

No, I-I was here, too. W-we were both here together.

I think you're lying.

Cho:

Hey, boss, I found something.

Hey. Those are my personal art supplies.

There's—there's nothing back there that you need.

Really?

This is an art supply?

My great-grandfather's medal. Where did you get that?

Back there. It was wrapped in this. Smells like sterno.

No.

I'm arresting you for the m*rder of Elise Vogelsong.

What...

(Handcuffs clicking)

Your client was locked in a bitter legal dispute with the victim over an extended period of time.

Realizing that he had little or no chance of winning the suit, he set about trying to get rid of her.

Oh, this is ridiculous.

This...

You found an ally in the form of Dr. Lance Reinhardt, and together, they started drugging Elise Vogelsong in carefully calibrated doses so that the world around her would believe that she was going mad.

I met the man once. Once.

The m*rder would look to the world like a terrible accident.

Just another in a line of tragedies that Elise Vogelsong had suffered in her life, and Curtis would inherit everything.

This is slanderous. What he's saying is slander, isn't it?

Curtis, please.

It's all very neat, but it is completely circumstantial.

You presented nothing but innuendo and scurrilous gossip.

Except for the fact that your client couldn't resist taking something from the victim— something that represented everything she stood for as a Vogelsong.

The Vogelsong Medal.

No—

Which he wrapped in a doily taken from the house.

And that doily still has traces of the sterno he used to light his aunt on fire.

Now... it's just a matter of which one is quickest to make a deal and testify against the other.

I'm quite sure that Dr. Reinhardt is signing a plea deal right now, but if your client's clever enough, he might be able to save his own neck and just serve life without parole.

Deal. Unh-unh.

I'm innocent. No.

That was planted on me by you for all I know. I'm innocent.

Well, it's your choice.

Don't move and don't say a word.

Agent, please.

Give me a minute.

I'm sure I can talk sense into him.

Don't take the deal off the table.

Sure. Talk to your client.

They're gonna turn on each other.

It is gonna be an open and shut case by the time we get it before a judge. (Speaking inaudibly)

Hmm. It all fits.

I'll give you that. Yeah.

Yeah. A psychological motive for stealing the medal is particularly compelling.

But there's something about it that's not right.

What do you mean?

We've got a k*ller.

We've got motive, and we got conclusive evidence.

What more do you need?

I don't know yet.

Oh, you're just being contrary.

No, I-I swear I'm not.

Hey, Cho.

Hey, boss. Just talked to the probate judge.

He finally got in touch.

Really? What'd he say?

Well, he said that in discovery, widespread malfeasance was found in the running of the foundation.

What does that mean?

It means that Elise Vogelsong had run through her entire inheritance and was plundering the coffers of the soldiers' home to line her own pockets. In the past few months, she nearly emptied the bank accounts.

Elise Vogelsong?

The victim?

The whole matter was gonna be referred to the district attorney's office.

Not only was the ruling going to be a complete victory for Curtis Wiley, but Elise Vogelsong was going to jail.

So you're telling me that sweet old lady that was m*rder*d was really a liar and a cheat?

Yeah, and soldiers' home is bankrupt.

And Curtis Wiley m*rder*d his aunt for a lawsuit he was gonna win?

And if he waited a week, he would've gotten everything he wanted.

That's horrible.

And I was just gonna take her ashes down to the boat.

Oh, so that the girl could scatter them at sea?

That's very kind of you, Lisbon.

Well, I'm not gonna do it now.

I'm gonna have somebody call her.

She can come pick 'em up herself.

Do you mind if I do it?

I-I like the idea of giving this girl some closure.

Don't tell me you've gotten sentimental all of a sudden.

Not at all. I just think it's the right thing to do.

I'll call you when I'm done.

(Blinds clatter, door opens)

(Telephone ringing in distance)

Hey.

How's the, uh, computer dating thing going?

Great. Yeah. Great.

I haven't met Miss right yet, but, you know, I'm out there on the prowl, just... moving on, like we said.

Hmm. That's funny. There must be some mistake then.

There's several women out there who say some guy's running a scam online where he pretends to be a handsome CBI cop named Wayne Rigsby and makes dates with women, and then he doesn't show up.

It's weird, huh?

Hmm.

That is weird. Uh... They're by the elevator?

Yeah. Okay.

Hi, la—oh, wow. There's five of you.

Um... so I can explain.

Uh...

Wow. I'mI'm glad that they found who k*lled Elise.

It's just... It's all so sad, you know?

Hmm.

Maybe now Elise can rest in peace.

Are those the ashes?

Uh, yes. I, uh, I remember you saying you wanted to scatter them at sea, so I-I brought 'em with me.

Wow.

Thank you.

Uh, I-I really appreciate this.

Um, I know this is what Elise would have wanted.

Sure.

Let's go, shall we?

Oh. What are you doing?

Oh, I always wanted to take a boat trip, and this is a particularly nice boat, isn't it?

You—you know, I don't think it's a very good idea.

You're very, uh, inexperienced, and it can get very dangerous.

Oh, no. It'll be absolutely fine.

Uh, you got an emergency kit here.

That's good, which reminds me, I should take a little bit of the old motion sickness medication just as a precaution.

There we go, and one of these.

Marine flare, huh?

Wow.

Okay. You know what?

Um... Cool.

You ever had to use one of these things?

(cr*ck, hissing)

Uh-oh.

Uh-oh. Oh! Oh!

Smoke! That's hot!

Calm down.

Aah!

Give me—oh, my God.

Oh! Uh, sorry!

(Water splashes)

(Thud)

Uh, mayday! Girl overboard!

What are you doing?

Uh... help!

Sorry! Sorry!

(Coughs)

Yep.

(Woman coughing)

Hello?

I know you're down there!

(Coughing continues)

Ahh!

Elise Vogelsong, I presume.

(Coughing continues)

And that looks like the money you stole from the soldiers' home.

Let's go!

Who are you?

What are you doing on my boat?

My name is Patrick Jane.

He's an agent with the CBI, and you, my dear, are under arrest.

Bon voyage.

(Sighs)

(Breath quavers)

I didn't know about the money.

I swear.

And I didn't know she was gonna hurt anybody.

Somebody did get hurt.

Lissie Calhoun d*ed.

She told me that her family was trying to get her put away in a home.

I was just trying to protect her.

I thought I was doing the right thing.

But you weren't Cayce, and now you're an accessory to m*rder.

I'm not. I'm n—I'm not. I-I can't be.

I would never. You have to believe me.

(Flips pages)

(Sighs)

You know, she was probably planning to k*ll you, too?

(Flips pages)

(Mouths words)

You were never getting off that boat.

I feel really stupid.

What am I gonna do?

Testify.

We'll make a fair deal for you, but you have to play straight with us, okay?

I will.

I promise.

I believe you.

(Door closes)

(Sniffles)

So what if I took the money?

My grandfather made it. It was mine by right.

But Curtis wouldn't have seen it that way, would he?

Curtis?

Nosey little brat, that one.

Ever since he was a child.

And that's why you contested the codicil.

You didn't want Curtis on the foundation board.

Him, judging me? Telling me how to run my foundation, spend my money?

Oh. Would've been unendurable.

So you hatched your plan.

You found a doctor you could blackmail to get the pills you needed.

Uh, was Cayce in on the plan?

I told her that Curtis and the rest of them were plotting against me, that it was the only way I could escape.

And she was already convinced that I was the mother she never had. Hmm.

Girls like that are so naive and foolish.

Oh.

And what about Lissie Calhoun?

Was she naive and foolish also?

That was an unfortunate necessity.

But the woman was a tortured soul.

What I did was an act of mercy.

And, uh...

(Match strikes)

I made sure that her death was a peaceful one.

(Flame whooshes)

You certainly did.

Overdosing her on barbiturates and burning her to ash— that is a peaceful way to go.

Then all that was left was sending Cayce to Las Vegas to rent a room with the dead woman's credit card and planting evidence on your nephew.

Yeah. (Chuckles)

That was rather fun.

Even if it did mean having to enter that tacky little shop of theirs.

Curtis had been eyeing grandfather's medals since he was a boy.

(Telephone ringing in distance)

(Elevator bell dings)

(Button clicks)

Thank you, Mr. Jane. Thank you for saving my husband, despite your colleague's best efforts to imprison him.

Oh.

Ah. (Chuckles nervously)

You can, uh, thank me by forgiving my colleague, Agent Lisbon, and keeping the old soldier's home open.

Oh, don't worry. Soldiers' home will stay open as long as there are veterans who need it.

(Elevator bell dings, doors open)

And we forgive you, Agent Lisbon.

Thanks.

Bye.

(Whispers) Bye.

What?

We followed the evidence.

You—you did. You... followed the evidence.

(Chuckles)

Okay. Okay, I was wrong.

Hmm. But we followed the evidence.

You know what gave me second thoughts about Elise Vogelsong?

She read too many m*rder mystery novels.

There you go. That's not police work. That's guessing. You should try it sometime. Now I'm gonna pursue Red John. Ciao.

Stay tuned for scenes from our next episode.