02x06 - Tree Toxin and Three Stories

[bunniefuu]

♪ Why the hell would you run this game? ♪
♪ Both my hands are tied ♪

Rosewood: So, Kayla, your mother tells me you like basketball.

That's one.

My mom's new boyfriends all do the same three things.

Talking basketball is one.

I call them signature moves.

Okay. Well, um, let's try this again.

You got me a gift.

Signature move number 2, and the gifts always suck.

Well, this is not just a gift.

It's the gift.

You're gonna love it.

Boom!

♪ And put it all on the line ♪

Normally, I would say I like the gift, but you seem like a straight sh**t.

It's Disney World. Who doesn't like Disney World?

Teenagers who aren't little kids.

But it's... It's Disney World.

I mean, it's fun for people of all ages.

And that's what they say to get people of all ages to spend money.

You thought this would go better, huh?

Actually, yeah, to be honest, I-I did.

I'm just messing with you.

So there are no signature moves?

No, and real talk, you're the first to ever ask to meet me solo.

I should get going.

If I'm late to school, my mom will hit the roof.

Wait. Before you go, you were just joking about Disney World, too, right?

Thanks for the breakfast.

♪ Hey, it must be ♪
♪ Here I stand ♪
♪ Yeah, hey ♪
♪ Time and time again ♪
♪ It must be what you put me through ♪

Vinny: Hey, Rosie!

Hi, Vinny.

Yeah, things went well with Kayla.

The Rosewood smile is in full effect.

The Rosewood smile is always in full effect, even at night.

It's like a lighthouse guiding ships.

So, she went easy on you?

Yeah, she went easy on me.

And you should take a page out of her book.

Why? Because I give you such a hard time?

No, not me. Adrian.

What, he's asked you out like four times?

How and why do you know that?

Because that's what I do, Villa.

I wear cool pocket squares, and I know things.

Except for why you won't go out with Adrian.

Listen... you deserve to be happy.

There's no reason why that happiness shouldn't start right now.

Hey, guys.

I double-checked the forensics from your investigation.

Tell us you found something new.

I could, but it'd be a lie.

The original lab techs were right.

Another dead end.

Case feels like a... A maze with no exit.

That's why I popped by.

I think I may have found some people who can help us find a way out.

Neat handwriting.

Where's Professor Brenner?

Getting some sun on South Beach if he's doing it right.

I asked him if I could sub for a few days.

I'm Dr. Beaumont Rosewood.

Some call me the Beethoven of private pathologists.

No one calls you that. I'm Detective Annalise Villa.

We have a special partnership that involves a good amount of crime solving.

Right now, we're reinvestigating an old case, but we've hit a wall.

Big wall.

I'm talking like a 100-foot-high wall made of ice, stone, maybe some magic...

"Game-of-Thrones" -style.

Your professor and Dr. Rosewood go way back.

He brags about you guys.

Dr. Brenner calls you the best and the brightest.

So I thought, "Why not call on you for an assist?"

Uh, Star Lord, you have a question?

Uh... [Chuckles] Yeah.

So, what makes you guys' partnership so special?

I'm a pathologist, and she's a detective.

We solve m*rder cases.

Oh. Oh, okay.

You don't think that a cop working with a pathologist is special?

Oh, not really.

It is, the way we do it.

How exactly do you guys do it?

Well, we keep it real... In the lab and in the field...

'cause, to me, forensic pathology is not just about how a victim d*ed...

It's also about how they lived.

They're dead. How they lived shouldn't impact the autopsy.

But it does.

Who the victim was often reveals how they d*ed.

Where have I seen you?

Uh, nowhere. I-I have one of those faces.

Well, when you I.D. suspects for a living, you don't forget faces.

Yeah. Now, names, forget about it.

Have you seen "Memento"? That's her.

I got it. You're... You're from the tabloids.

The Kim Kardashian wannabe.

I aced my MCATs.

I'm not that person anymore.

The look you're rockin' says otherwise.

You feel like a Lil' Kim to me.

Bingo.

I'm sorry.

Can we go back to the part to where you say you read tabloid magazines?

No, but we can move on.

Okay. Since we're going off syllabus, can I go?

I'm a plastic surgery guy. This is just an elective for me.

Uh, not only is that a no, Nip-Tuck, but I'm gonna stay right here and make sure you soak it all in.

Okay. If that goes well, I might invite you over later.

Just leave the g*n.

Makes you look scary. Not in a good way.

Before she ends you, focus.

We need everyone... because our hope is that one of you sees something that we didn't.

And together, we can catch a k*ller.

Unless your vision is impaired, how can we see something you didn't?

Please forgive Robo Doc.

Woman: Robo! [Laughter]

Robo Doc?

My classmates find me overly logical and literal.

Nice. Robo Doc. Well done, everyone.

Uh, yeah. Yeah, go for it.

Lara: It's Lara.

What makes you think we can help?

Each of you has a unique perspective.

Every voice matters, and that's why I like to investigate these cases... because I hate when someone's voice gets silenced, like our victim.

You're scared. I get it.

You've got nothing to worry about.

What do I always say?

"The only people who matter are the ones on the field."

We're a team, and this team is all you'll ever need.

Come on, girls!

Okay? Come on.

Get out there. Let's go.

Okay.

Rosewood: Her name... Elena Santiago.

Elena was a force of nature with her whole life ahead of her, but someone cut that life short.

Every case affects me, but when the victim on my table is a child, it keeps me up at night.

I have questions about Elena's m*rder.

[Camera shutter clicking]

But the odds are stacked against us because it's been several years since she was m*rder*d.

[Crying]

Elena Santiago.

The life that she lived and the life that was taken...

That's why we're here.

This is the case you're working on?

Rosewood: Yes.

And as pathologists, we can't shy away from the details.

No matter hard it is, people depend on us for the answers.

Villa: Elena's father is a Panamanian diplomat.

He married an American woman, and Elena was their only child.

To reinvestigate Elena's m*rder, we need to exhume her body.

Robo Doc: You guys do that a lot.

You give each other looks as if you're trying to speak telepathically, which, to be clear, is impossible.

The look is about the parents.

They said no to the exhumation, I assume?

[Students murmuring]

Elena's death was years ago.

Now, our family has healed, and we've moved on.

Mrs. Santiago, if Elena's k*ller is still out there, he could be doing this to other girls.

El...

Listen, we're not trying to upset you.

We just want to make sure that there were no mistakes made during Elena's case.

The only mistake we made was letting you into our home.

Now, please leave.

Is it just me, or is the dad guilty as sin?

Just you.

I don't see how a father could m*rder his own child.

Plus, no proof.

Well, his reaction is proof.

His response was natural. He was father still in grief.

His grief sounds like guilt to me.

Word on the street is that he has a drug business.

But, again, no proof.

Maybe Elena learns something she shouldn't have and gets iced?

Intriguing idea.

"Sad" is the right word choice here.

Okay, maybe it's not about Carlos.

Maybe Elena was into something.

That her k*lled? She was 17.

If you weren't getting into trouble at 17, you weren't doing it right.

Do we look like that when we argue?

No, but I prefer "quarrel."

"Argue," "quarrel"... Same thing.

But "quarrel" has more panache to it.

Really?

We're gonna get into an argument about what word we should use to say we're arguing?

Quarreling.

Arguing.

Quarreling. Listen. All right, everyone.

I love your passion and your fir-r-r-e.

It's nice.

But the key to solving this case is gonna be in your debates as you look at every angle.

You'll retrace our steps and those of the original investigators.

We're dividing you into two groups.

Team Villa will comb through every bit of evidence.

Team Rosie is gonna look back through Elena's body.

But we don't have Elena's body.

That's not exactly true.

We scanned in Elena's autopsy results, giving us a virtual, interactive 3-D replica of her body.

Now... who wants to be on Team Rosie?

S02E06 - Tree Toxin and Three Stories

[Indistinct conversations]

[Beeping]

Rosewood: My idea seems to be working.

Why? Because they look determined?

Come on. You have to admit it's a good idea.

Yeah. Well, this was a not-terrible idea.

On a scale of 1 to 10, this is a...

10.

Divided by 2.

It's "5 times 2 is 10."

Yeah.

We'll see how jazzed you are when my team cracks the case.

Okay, Villa, this isn't a competition. Okay?

I hate even using "Team Rosie," "Team Villa."

Which was your idea.

But you know what?

I bet I can be less competitive than you.

I'll take that bet.

Fine.

Team Rosie, what were our findings from the virtual autopsy?

Lil' Kim: Let's start with her head.

We saw brain tissue with old ischemic damage.

Elena has heavy ligature marks from repeated strangulation with a rope.

And we found several rib fractures.

The strangulation deprived her of oxygen, causing the brain-tissue death, which leads us to believe...

She was brought to the brink of death repeatedly.

[Flatline]

And then revived each time with CPR, resulting in the rib fractures.

[Rapid beeping]

It was a precise and brutal m*rder, which tells us our k*ller wanted to inflict pain.

This will be key as we develop a psychological profile.

Team Me, you're up.

We cross-referenced Elena's inner circle with police interviews from the original case.

The cops missed somebody... Jodi Carvel.

She was abroad at the time of the m*rder. Exchange program.

According to the message she left in Elena's yearbook, they were close friends.

I know it's been a decade, but she might have some useful info.

We came to the same conclusion you guys did.

Jodi Carvel was our only new lead, so we paid her a visit.

Elena never said anything about her father's work.

She was just desperate to spend time with him.

How was their relationship?

Nonexistent.

He was emotionally distant.

She only got into soccer because he loved it.

Thought it would make them closer, and it didn't.

Word is you, Elena, and the other girls on the soccer team were the school's mean girls.

We weren't "mean girls."

We gave constructive criticism to the girls who needed it.

There's nothing wrong with that.

Oh, so you were just providing a public service?

Yeah.

These girls need my wisdom.

That's why I came back to coach.

Is that what you tell yourself?

See, okay, let me... Let me break this down for you.

Was there anyone on this team who was jealous of Elena?

Like you, for example.

Did you ever want your sh*t at being queen bee?

No. Because none of us could fill Elena's shoes.

She was loved and feared.

It's why we didn't question her letting Misty on the team.

What was your problem with Misty?

She was the kind of girl that we gave constructive criticism to.

She was... sweet, and there is nothing worse than that.

I can think of one thing.

Rosie, what's the problem with fear?

Well, CliffsNotes... It activates a fight-or-flight response in the limbic system.

Anything experienced while afraid is deemed negative.

Translation... You can't be loved by those who fear you.

You just end up alone, longing for the glory days, but I guess you already know that.

[Scoffs]

[Blows whistle]

Girls!

What was that?

I can't help it.

Ceviche and mean girls.

Things you hate?

Things I love... served raw.

The person informs the pathology.

So let's break it down.

Elena was a popular girl. Misty not so much.

So, why would an Elena let a Misty into her clique?

I know mean girls.

Because you are a mean girl?

Because I was a mean girl.

My guess is that Misty blackmailed her way to the cool kids' table.

In my experience, bullies have secrets.

It's possible that Elena had one that got her k*lled.

Team Villa, do we buy this theory, or do we think that it's...

Garbage.

Yeah.

Detective, we're finishing each other's sentences.

You know, I'm warming up to you.

Are you, uh...

No. Not even a little.

Okay. We went through Elena's e-mails.

There's no mention of a secret.

Sorry. Thanks for playing, Team Rosie.

We're not gonna take that, are we?

No. What about her bank statements?

Yeah, we looked at those, too. There's no...

Actually, I found itemized receipts with charges for prenatal vitamins.

No one in Elena's life mentioned a pregnancy.

Probably because it's a... Wait for it... a secret.

Point, Team Rosie.

Why didn't you mention this before?

No one asked.

But what should you be asking now?

There was no evidence of a pregnancy in Elena's autopsy.

So why did she buy the prenatal vitamins?

'Cause they weren't for her. They were for a friend.

So the secret wasn't hers. It was theirs.

We'll take that point back now.

Unless Team Rosie has something they'd like to add.

Team Rosie, look at me.

The absence of evidence doesn't mean it's not there.

Just means it's in a good hiding spot.

[Indistinct conversations] Really?

You're giving hints now?

You gave one. I gave one, so you gave one?

What happened to not competing?

We're not. We're aggressively shaping young minds.

Look, we found something.

There's a parturition scar on her pelvis.

And it's so small we and the original M.E. missed it.

Elena was pregnant.

Just not at time of death. Makes sense.

She bought the vitamins two months before the TOD.

Dude, stop helping them.

I like it. Very good job.

Good job. That's what I'm talking about.

Okay, now we're competing.

And we have a new person of interest...

The baby daddy.

Elena was dating a jock... Vaz Dera.

If she was being blackmailed, she'd want to put a stop to it.

And the fastest way to do that would be...

Come clean about the baby.

And what if Vaz didn't want that?

I assume you two have spoken with Vaz already.

Where you'd find him?

I dated Elena on and off in high school.

What about it?

Did you know about her pregnancy?

Keep your back straight!

Yeah, I knew.

What happened to the baby?

[Man grunts] Woman: Go ahead.

Vaz, we don't seem to be getting your full attention.

So you can either focus on our questions or...

Trust me. You don't want her to finish that sentence.

Sorry. It's just...

This isn't easy to talk about.

It's why I didn't tell the cops about the pregnancy.

I just couldn't go there.

Well, we need you to go there.

What happened to the baby?

Elena miscarried.

A few months later, she dumped me for an older guy.

What did you know about him?

Nothing.

But whoever he was, Misty had a thing for him, too.

Who's the mystery crush?

You tell us.

We don't have enough information to deduce his identity.

Then you should do what we did...

Keep digging, look at everyone.

What about Vaz?

As the jilted lover, he's got to be a suspect.

Plus, he has the physical strength to inflict the kind of pain that we saw.

The police cleared him.

It's more likely that Misty k*lled Elena to eliminate competition for their crush's affections.

That's a stretch. A girl Misty's height and weight wouldn't be able to cause these ligature marks.

With a little planning, I could do that.

Don't say things like that anymore.

Sorry. Why don't you just tell us what Misty had to say for herself?

We didn't talk to Misty.

Why not?

Because Misty is dead, too.

She was taken two days after Elena's body was found.

Misty and Elena went to the same school, are the same age, lived in the same community.

Are we looking at a serial k*ller here?

I believe we are.

Gosh, it's hard being the nerd in school Kids can be so mean.

All right, on three. One, two, three.

[Sighs]

I couldn't wait to get out of high school.

I just wish that Misty had to chance to see there's so much more, you know?

Um [Clears throat] I need a favor.

Can you cover for me tonight?

I have a thing.

Nice. Like a studio session?

'Cause maybe I can come after and spit some beats.

Drum...

No. Um...

So, what? You have, like, a date thing?

Is that weird?

I mean, I know you're dating, too, so...

Yeah. No, I am.

It's not weird.

So, yeah, I will cover you.

Cool.

[Cellphone buzzing]

Misty's mom again?

It's not like you to avoid a victim's loved one.

Lynn calls me every day for an update, and every day, I have to tell her that I don't have any answers.

Then you keep searching.

Misty and Elena's k*ller is still out there.

Or I've forced two families to relive the worst thing that's ever happened to them for nothing.

This is really taking a toll on you.

I'm sorry.

But it's not just this case, is it?

Misty and Elena... They weren't that much older than Kayla.

So it's hard not to think about her and what it would do to Tawnya if she ever lost her.

Is that why you've gotten attached so quickly?

I know my relationship with Tawnya doesn't make sense on paper.

I get that.

But I'm willing to see where it goes without any fears and without any regrets.

Then I support you, son.

And as for Misty's mom, you just remind her that you are fighting for her baby.

Ready for lunch and more shopping than our credit cards can handle?

You bet.

[Door opens]

[Ringing]

Thank you for the update.

Dr. Rosewood, are these the students you were talking about?

Rosewood: Yeah, it's a few of them.

This is Misty's mom, Lynn.

Thank you so much for everything you're doing.

I can't tell you how much it means.

We've been studying Misty's case.

Star Lord: But it just tells us what happened, not who she was.

Can you maybe fill in the blanks for us?

Misty loved the color red and Fall Out Boy and watching TV.

She said we were the Gilmore Girls.

Hmm.

She was so special.

Not every 17-year-old could turn her bully into her best friend.

Star Lord: I don't get it. Why would Misty befriend Elena when the pain bullies cause doesn't just go away?

Misty understood Elena caused pain because she was in pain.

They both had absent fathers.

Misty refused to let the past haunt her.

I wish I could live like that.

Palm Acres was supposed to be the kind of place a mother didn't have to worry about her child making it home.

And now all I do is worry.

I have two boys now, and every time they leave the house, I...

Misty was stubborn... like her mom, and she never gave up on anyone, so... thank you for not giving up on her.

So, when you asked us to come in early...

I wanted you guys to meet Misty's mother because what we do...

It's not just about our victims.

It's about their families, too.

You knew we'd ask her about Misty.

Because you guys are my star students.

And I'm also a great teacher.

[Laughs]

So, TMI, is that your real name or a Detective Villa special?

Well, it's actually a term of endearment, unlike Nip-Tuck. Ouch.

Well, I've been called worse.

Welcome to Magic City Lab.

I invited you here today to examine the body of Misty Spencer.

This is your chance to find something Dr. Rosewood missed.

He hates when people show him up.

Well, you can't hate what rarely happens.

So, please, find something.

[Chuckles]

Our only chance to find the k*ller is right here in front of you.

Young woman: Yo, Misty, I've got it!

On your left! Watch it!

Misty's body was found in the woods.

It was raining that night so trace evidence is nonexistent.

I see ligature marks.

Yeah, but they're lighter than the ones found on Elena.

And down here, we got horizontal cuts on her hand.

May I?

Yes.

[Grunts]

Multiple s*ab wounds on her upper back and shoulders.

And blisters at the same locations.

The only common injury with both victims are the ligature marks.

What does that tell you?

[Indistinct conversations]

Team Rosie thinks we're not looking for a serial k*ller after all.

Then Team Rosie would be wrong.

Misty's mother said she was a fighter.

Team Villa thinks she got away.

The s*ab wounds were at a downward angle and were randomly distributed.

She was running when she got them.

Which makes sense why Misty's ligature marks are lighter.

The k*ller never had a chance to strangle and resuscitate her over and over.

Point, Team Villa.

I want everyone to review Misty's autopsy report.

Then we'll reconvene here in 20 minutes.

[Indistinct conversations]

Whew. I'm not sure I can handle all these mini-Rosies being released out into the wild once they graduate.

Well, Original Recipe Rosie will help see you through it.

Was that the first time you've used "Original Recipe Rosie?"

Yep.

Can it be the last?

Yeah.

You know, if you... If you're going out with Adrian...

When your mom gets all up in your business, what do you tell her?

Stay in your lane.

You should do that.

No can do.

The Rosewoods don't stay in our lanes.

We make lane changes.

So you ready? I'm signaling.

I'm not letting you over.

Well, I'll just get behind you.

You know what? Focus on fixing your own love life.

Nothing to fix. Tawnya and I are just fine.

Oh. Maybe not so much with Kayla.

Your meet-and-greet didn't go as well as you think.

Evidence, por favor.

Growing up, I grilled every guy my mom brought home.

I had to know if they were good enough.

But the ones I didn't think would stick around, I played nice until they were gone.

So I should want her to hate me.

Yes. Don't try to understand it.

Rosie, I'm going to lunch, and your Rosebuds have a new theory.

Rosebuds. I like it.

She has strong nickname game.

Rosebuds.

Better watch out.

Can I call you Rosebud?

No.

No?

No.

Rosebud.

No.

After some discussion...

And a vote. I was against.

We decided to join forces.

And call ourselves Team Rosilla.

That's my nickname for us.

Mm, you should keep your day job.

What do you got?

Since Misty was found in the woods, it led to us to theorize that she and Elena were held in a cabin nearby.

We had the same thought.

The original investigators searched the area, but they were looking in the wrong part of the woods.

Nip-Tuck: We think the blisters on Misty's back are from Manchineel trees.

They are indigenous to the woods and extremely toxic.

Robo Doc: Standing under the tree during rainfall caused blistering from contact with the sap.

Lara: We think that Misty was exposed when she was running away.

We started taking X-rays.

We noticed dense metaphyseal lines in Misty's arm.

Robo Doc: Which were undetectable with X-ray technology 10 years ago.

The lines indicate lead poisoning.

Lead poisoning in the middle of the woods?

How do you explain that?

Two words... Underground bunker.

[Metal clanks]

Star Lord: We think that Misty and Elena were held in a bunker in the woods.

Robo Doc: There are a number of abandoned bunkers from the Cuban m*ssile Crisis here in Florida.

All of the evidence that we found points to the man who was convicted of the murders...

The soccer coach, Gerald Kelly.

Gerald Kelly has been in prison for 10 years for the murders.

He's the reason why we've come to you.

My family thinks he's innocent.

12 jurors found him guilty.

But I am not so sure.

And I hate to admit it, but I've... I've lost perspective on this case.

I need all of you to help me get it back.

Meet me in your classroom in one hour.

I don't know if you've noticed, but Detective Villa and I, we have a... a thing.

Oh, we've noticed.

There are memes about you two now.

[Laughter] Our thing works because we each bring something to the table.

Yes. I serve a mean dish of pathology.

And up to this point, we've been able to paint a clear picture of who our victims were.

And investigation is my thing.

And now we're gonna use it to paint a picture of the alleged k*ller.

We're going to lay out a case against Gerald Kelly.

DuraBind double-braided sisal rope was used to strangle our victims.

Same type of rope that was found in Gerald's garage.

As, I'm sure, a lot of people do.

It only matters that he had it.

Gerald was Misty and Elena's coach.

They trusted him.

And he could have used that trust as a means to lure them to the bunker.

A witness placed Gerald at the scene where Misty Spencer's body was discovered.

In 78% of overturned cases, mistaken or flawed identification was a critical component in conviction.

Yeah. You... You can't trust witnesses or alibis.

Speaking of, did Gerald have one?

No. He said he was at home alone when the murders were committed.

Palm Acres is home to the most powerful residents in Miami, which is why the FBI got involved.

Their DNA experts found perhaps the most damning evidence against Gerald.

A blood stain on Misty's jeans.

The lab alleged a low-level contaminant made it into the sample, thus, resulting in only a partial profile that matches Gerald.

All of this evidence is circumstantial, yet this man was sent away for life.

So what was the ace in the hole here?

Gerald was.

The D.A. argued that Gerald abused women when he was younger.

That continued into adulthood and led to the murders of Misty and Elena.

Charged with disturbing the peace at 16 and accused of b*ating his girlfriend at 25.

Those accusations were expunged when she recanted.

Probably because he threatened her.

Do you see any evidence of that?

I-I don't, but it no doubt biased the jury.

See how fast you hopped on Team Guilty?

As a woman, you're joining Team Innocent with a man who hits women?

As a woman, I know what it's like to have the world say and believe the worst about you.

Look, the fact is, allegedly having a temper and having the capacity to m*rder someone are two very different things.

Well, not according to the D.A.

He linked that Gerald's alleged history of v*olence to the disappearance of his daughter, Michelle Kelly.

Rosewood: Michelle was a troubled kid.

She was prone to petty theft and truancy.

She took off six months before the murders and hasn't been seen since.

I assume samples were taken from Mr. Kelly during processing, but what about the video?

Rosewood: There are two types of people who will enter your lab... One who walks in, and the other will be wheeled in.

You need to be able to read both.

What did the police miss with Gerald Kelly?

His lymph nodes appear swollen, which could indicate an allergic reaction to mold in the bunker.

Or he has a cold or sore throat or any number of things that don't place him in that bunker.

Donna: I agree.

What happened to shopping?

Two things I know...

When my children are trying to get rid of me and how to get them to tell me why.

I'd like to introduce you to Donna Rosewood.

She's my mother.

She's here...

To observe as a close friend of Gerald Kelly's.

Please continue.

[Students murmuring]

There's a reddish hue in the whites of his eyes.

Could be drunk.

Or crying over his missing daughter.

Or maybe he's in shock at having just been arrested for the m*rder of two girls he cared about.

I thought "observe" meant to watch and to listen.

I'm sorry. You're right, you're right.

Robo Doc: He's quiet.

An innocent man proclaims his innocence.

Or he knows he's been filmed, and anything he says can be used against him in a court of law.

Nip-Tuck: What about those blisters?

Rosewood: Gerald testified that he b*rned himself cooking.

[Scoffs] Guys, you're talking to the future of plastic surgery here.

I know skin. Those are not burns.

Those... Those are blisters.

And I bet they match the Manchineel tree blisters we found on our second victim.

The Manchineel blisters mean that Gerald was at the crime scene.

Mom, this isn't good.

[Indistinct conversations]

Mom. Mom. [Sighs]

I am sorry, but I just proved...

You haven't proven anything.

Why are you calling it a day with what looks like blisters on a video?

I've done everything that I can to uncover the truth.

Okay. Then do this one last thing for me.

Ask Gerald if he was in the woods that night.

And if, after that, you are still convinced that he committed those awful crimes, then... then I will never mention his name again.

Okay. I'll do that.

[Door closes]

I hope that white pocket square isn't a symbol of your surrendering.

I came for answers.

And I came for you.

So, Gerald, um... tell me again what you were doing the night of October 21, 2006.

You read the file.

Yeah, I-I did read the file, and it said that you were at home cooking yourself dinner.

But that's not the complete story, is it?

Manchineel sap is very painful.

That's why they limit their growth to a certain section of the woods.

I hear it's like a flamethrower just charring the skin.

Would you agree?

You were in the woods that night, weren't you?

[Door slams]

I was there.

So, help me understand something, Gerald.

Elena and Misty, two girls that you coached, were brutally m*rder*d, and all of the evidence pointed to you.

But yet, you lied to us about being in the woods that night that Misty was found!

Why shouldn't we just walk out of here right now?

Because I want to hear what he has to say.

I believed in you when no one else would.

I got my family involved.

Why would you keep this from me?

It's... It's the same reason I kept it from the police.

Because be... just being in the woods that night, it... it just makes me... seem guilty, no matter what I was doing.

So, why were you there?

I was looking for my daughter.

I put up posters that week... everywhere.

That night, somebody called the tip line, and they said there was a girl in the park that looked just like Michelle in the woods.

So I went.

But you didn't find her.

[Voice breaking] No.

She had become depressed and angry, and...

I tried to help her all kinds of ways, but I just couldn't.

And it wasn't just Michelle. It... It...

I lost my whole family.

They...

They said... They said I was to blame for Michelle running away, and then... And later, Misty.

And I was accused of k*lling them.

[Crying] I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Sadie.

Oh, my gosh.

My... My in-box has been, like, allergic to text messages lately.

It's so weird. What, did we have plans?

No.

Actually, I didn't know you'd be anywhere near here.

Oh. So you're here 'cause...

We're going out tonight.

And we went out last week.

Yeah. I'm gonna go wait downstairs.

[Door opens]

[Sighs]

Yeah.

So, uh...

[Door closes] ...Tinder?

Bumble. Mm.

What got you?

She loves art, has a great sense of humor, good taste in music.

It was the pic in the strapless.

Yeah. [Laughs]

You know I love some shoulders.

Yeah. This dating thing's hard.

Tell me about it. [Sighs]

You're a tough act to follow.

So are you.

But go. Go. Have fun.

Yeah?

Yeah.

[Chuckles]

Okay. [Clears throat]

Oh, but don't forget your wallet.

She likes to go Dutch?

No. She likes to go, "I can't pay anything at all. Thanks."

Oh. [Chuckles]

[Chuckles]

You're going to dance circles around me.

Well, spoiler alert... Ain't gonna happen.

[Chuckles] Okay.

I'll, uh... I'll see you Saturday.

[Chuckles]

Decided to go out on a date with Adrian, huh?

I knew all you needed was a little push.

No push. This was my call.

It felt like the right time, so I asked.

Come on, I gave you the full Rosie push.

You give me 1/4 of a push.

No, it was 3/4, easy.

Did you speak to Gerald?

I did, and I need your help.

Nip-Tuck: Dr. Rosewood.

I hope you don't mind. Christa had to take off.

She said I could stick around.

No, it's okay. What can I help you with?

Look, before I met you, I couldn't care less about forensic pathology.

But now you're ready to join the team.

Well, let's just say I'm open to playing the field.

Okay. Why?

Elena. Mm.

Misty and Gerald.

I thought I could put them in my rearview, but...

It's been bugging you.

Yeah.

Yeah, and that means something to me.

I know I seem like the guy that doesn't care about anyone or anything, but I do.

You didn't come all the way over here to tell me that.

You have a theory.

I know I'm the guy that put Gerald at the scene of the crime, but I don't think he did it.

Why not?

In the video, there were no wounds or scabs on Gerald, so it got me thinking.

Where did the blood come from?

What if it wasn't his?

But it was his.

It was a match.

Partial match.

Half the genetic indicators.

Because of the contamination in the forensics lab, the FBI admitted to some errors in the fluid collection.

But if the blood wasn't his, that could also explain the incomplete match.

One hour on hold with the phone company.

Ah, Nip-Tuck.

He here for extra credit?

Only if you're giving it.

He had a theory.

I gave Dr. Rosewood a lightbulb moment.

Did he make the face?

He made the face.

Nicely done.

And for that, I need your real name.

Brian.

You know, maybe now that we're friends, I can give you a nickname.

Detective Villa works just fine for me.

So, Rosie... you want to update the class?

What does the report say?

We've been looking at it all wrong.

Please, I do not want to talk about Gerald.

I want to talk about him.

We compared the blood on Misty's jeans to another sample.

Gerald's daughter, Michelle.

The hair sample that we found in the missing-persons file was an exact genetic match.

That's why the DNA was only a partial match to Gerald.

Right family, wrong member.

What? What are... What are you saying?

So either Michelle's the victim, or she's the k*ller.

How did Misty's DNA get on her jeans?

We don't know, but I don't think that Gerald k*lled his daughter.

So, you've joined the team?

Oh, I need to have some jerseys made.

What finally changed your mind?

Gerald.

Just hearing him talking about his daughter for the first time was... For the first time, I saw him.

So I retested the blood, and I had Villa do some digging.

I was able to locate cell-tower records from the night Misty Spencer's body was discovered.

It shows that Gerald received a call that night from an unregistered number, and that call was made 30 miles away.

There's no way the caller saw Gerald's daughter.

The D.A. could argue it was a friend calling him.

So, I ran that number against the EMPD call logs from that night.

Guess who called the desk sergeant about a body in the woods.

Pippy: The same number.

Someone lied to Gerald to get him into the woods, and then they called the police to meet him there.

They framed him.

We're gonna solve this and get Gerald out of prison.

So, I know it's not easy when someone new comes into your mother's life.

Something in your gut tells you not to trust them.

Maybe he's not a good guy.

Or not worth your time.

No offense.

No, no, none taken. None taken. I get it.

I'm really protective of my mother, too.

You know, we could have had this convo over a French vanilla latte.

True. True. Very true.

But I thought coming to your favorite spot might be better.

Rosewoods do our homework.

I can't explain it, but when I need to chill, I come here, throw some sh*ts, and things are better.

You up for a little one-on-one?

I appreciate the offer, but I'll pass.

You know, you shouldn't let your asthma stop you from a little friendly competition.

How did you know I was asthmatic?

Oh, when you get excited, you reach for your pocket.

Probably where you used to keep your inhaler before you got your purse.

It's an asthmatic's reflex.

I can't even make it to the paint without wheezing.

Well, listen.

Our limitations make us better, not worse.

[Bag unzips]

You might not be one to drive to the rim, but that doesn't stop you from raining threes like a boss.

All right, I'm down.

But with every sh*t that I make, you got to answer a question about yourself.

I'm still not convinced you're not a weirdo.

I'm game, I'm game.

And I love the shade.

Oh, for real?

Yeah, yeah.

I'm down, I'm down.

[Chuckles] All right.

You know, after, uh... that last visit, I didn't think I was gonna see you again.

Well, get used to seeing me... A lot... because from now on, all of the Rosewoods are on Team Gerald.

We're gonna go back through the evidence.

Anything that could possibly be related to your case.

With the support of the EMPD, we're gonna have access to every available resource to help locate Misty and Elena's K*llers.

We've gotten everything we can off of Misty's body, but I need to examine Elena's with my own eyes...

'cause her father won't consent to an exhumation and he's hiding something.

And that tells me that the key to your release could be with Elena.

Now, Gerald, we need you to think back.

Think back to the days leading up to your arrest.

All the... the conversations with the girls, with their teachers, their parents, or their coaches.

Every little detail could be important... because the k*ller knew you.

He knew your personal history.

He knew your relationship with Misty and Elena.

You were chosen, Gerald.

My guess is that the k*ller had been watching you for a long time.

But whoever they are, we're gonna bring them to justice.

And I am not gonna rest until we get you out of here.

You have my word.