12x15 - The Dark Side of the Door

[bunniefuu]

Tonight on m*rder, She Wrote.

There's a book I'm reading.

The writer, I swear, he must've had
something to do with my kidnapping.

Excuse me for saying so, Ms. Garman,
but we've been through this before.

You would think after all the years
of therapy that this was behind us.

I've read several newspaper
reports of abductions that were similar.

But, Jessica,
this isn't fantasy.

I'm not the first writer who
needed a score and bent the truth.

I'm not happy
that you lied to me.

That's fraud.

Oh, and that's embezzlement.

Maybe she just blew
the ransom money.

Or maybe she just didn't
get such a big slice of the pie.

That doesn't scare me anymore.

Hey, the way I figure it,

I'm getting
shortchanged big time.

I don't wanna beg
for what I'm entitled to.

You wouldn't have
any of this without me.

Look, Matheson,
it's your choice.

Pay me now, or I'll get paid
for it later by the tabloids.

Great.

Then the whole world gets to
know "Nora Delano, kidnapper."

That doesn't scare me anymore.

But you've got a lot to lose.

The way I figure,

a quarter of that million dollar
advance you're supposed to get,

that's fair.

I'll get back to you.

Better make it soon,
Mr. Big Thinker.

And here, on page 85, you have the
detective slip an extra clip of b*ll*ts

into his a*t*matic. Oh!

But on 190, he draws
a revolver on the k*ller.

Oh, right. You know, that
is a carryover, actually,

from another draft. Okay.

But that was a good catch, Erin.

All of your notes
have been very helpful.

Well, I don't mind saying, I feel a
bit uncomfortable giving you notes.

Listen, your fast advance

from research to junior editor
only confirms my faith in you.

Thank you.

I guess I should
count my blessings.

I could be giving notes
to our new wonder boy.

Dirk Matheson?

I hear he can be
quite a handful.

These numbers that you are
parading so proudly are not an offer.

They are an insult.

They're top figures
for foreign advances.

Dirk, well, even
Grisham and Turow

don't get more for England
and Germany and...

The figures are quite
good, actually, Dirk,

when you consider you
haven't had a book in the stalls

in, what, 12 years?

So when will I see some
money? Hmm? This week?

That's a little fast.

How long does it take
to cut a check, huh?

Why don't you leave the petty
details to Laura and myself, huh?

And I'll see you
back at your hotel.

Look, Laura, I...

I didn't mean to give you
a hard time, it's just that I...

Oh, I know.

I know you just want to
be paid fairly for writing

perhaps the most
notable novel of the year.

Yes. Exactly.

You were right.

The man is an 800-pound gorilla.

I thought you handled
the situation beautifully.

Which is another reason why
I'd like you to join my agency.

Oh! Charles, I really...

Well, I haven't had the time
to think through your kind offer.

But a good editor doesn't
necessarily make a good literary agent.

But, as I told you, I'm
really quite happy at Hartley.

Oh, but vastly unappreciated.

I mean, someone of
your talents should be

a senior vice president
at the very least.

Erin.

I know the Dirk Matheson
book isn't your project,

but I'd appreciate a
fresh eye before I sign off.

Oh, I'll be glad to. Okay.

It's a thriller, isn't it?

Oh, it's an absolute roller
coaster ride about a kidnapping.

Well, I'll read it tonight.

Good.

Erin Garman.

Oh, hi, Mom.

Please tell me that you bought
that apartment on 68th Street.

I decided it was too expensive.

Honey, that is exactly why your
grandfather left you that trust fund.

Now just say the word and I'll have
the money transferred into your account.

Actually, Mom, I was
just about to call you.

I have to bail on
your dinner invitation.

I have to do notes on a book.

Oh, that's fine.

I'll just hop out to the Hamptons
with your darling step-dad

and check on the
progress on that new club.

But now don't you forget
to eat dinner entirely.

I know, Mom, and I'll eat
all my peas and carrots.

Okay. Bye-bye.

Everything all right
with the little princess?

Uh-huh. Look.

Another pool and sauna? And
you've enlarged the health bar?

We are already way over budget!

Terry, if we have
learned anything,

it is that our clientele
love to be pampered.

And if it takes another
200-300 thou to do it right...

Mike, I've borrowed all I can.

Sweetheart, with the added revenues
I've projected from the new club...

we'll be able to totally repay
Erin's trust fund in 22 months.

Oh, and by then she'll
be what, 25? Then what?

I know, I know.

I could get prosecuted.

Oh, yeah, right! Erin's gonna
send her own mother to jail.

Hey, guys, you wanted to see me?

I think you two have
something to discuss.

I'm gonna look
at these in the car.

Little problem with the wife?

With you.

You've been clocking some
personal trainer hours with the clients.

Hours you haven't logged yet.

Oh, yeah, I'm a little
behind on my paperwork.

Hey, wait a minute,

you don't think I'm trying
to skim the club, do you?

I'd just like everything
neat and clear.

Me, too. How're things
going with that new facility?

Should I start
packing my suitcases?

Not yet.

In fact, I don't want you
to count on that for sure.

We're interviewing some MBAs
with management experience.

I heard you were.

Come on, Mike, what do guys
like that know about our business?

Look, Sonny, nothing's definite.

We're just weighing
all our options.

Sure.

Just don't forget
about your pal.

"Jennifer was an innocent,

"unaware on that
sunny afternoon.

"She played a child's game and
thought a child's blissful thoughts.

"Never dreaming that her life
was about to be changed forever.

"Dark forces were
closing in on Jennifer.

"They moved covertly,
but relentlessly,

"invading the sanctity
of the playground

"in the form of a dark
sedan rolling down the street

"like a predatory
beast seeking its prey.

"Nadine's mission
was a simple one.

"To violate a child's trust in
the goodness of strangers.

"Nadine felt frightened at
what she was about to do,

"but she covered
it up with a smile

"and little Jennifer
smiled back."

Erin. Hi!

I'm a friend from
your mom's work.

Come on, sweetie.

Okay.

That's it. Here we go now.

"Every time the kidnapper glanced
over at the kid, she felt angry.

"'Look at her! Playing
her stupid little games.'

"It was now three days since
they had kidnapped the girl

"and the ransom still
had not been paid.

"As Nadine waited and waited
for the phone that never rang,

"she began to blame
and then hate the child.

"It felt like Jennifer was the
cause of all these problems.

"And every time
Nadine offered her food,

"little Jennifer appeared
weaker and more forlorn."

I expect your dish to be empty
when I come back, you understand?

So what've we got, Rogers?

We got Jane Doe.
Watch, purse, ring missing.

Looks like your basic
waterfront mugging.

Corelli.

Yeah, patch her through.

Yes, Ms. Garman.
What can I do for you?

There's a book I'm reading.

The writer, I swear, he must've had
something to do with my kidnapping.

Wait a minute, slow down.

Now, you say somebody
wrote a book about your case?

It's a novel. But... A novel.

Excuse me for saying so, Ms. Garman,
but we've been through this before.

No. This time it's different.

No. I'm sorry. I can't
help you right now.

You'll have to call
me later. All right?

Did you find anything?

Yeah. A slip of paper in her pocket.
Phone number on it. No name.

You trace it yet? Uh-huh.

It's a hotel. It's East Side.
Posh. The Margate Plaza.

Check it out.

There's 834 rooms, Lieutenant.

Rogers, when was the last time you
heard me say this was gonna be easy?

This Erin Garman
really gets to you, huh?

It's my son.

Little fellow still
got the croup?

No. Forget the croup.

It's his career
I'm worried about.

Are you certain, Erin?

I mean, I have read
several newspaper reports

of abductions that were
similar to what happened to you.

Dirk Matheson's book
has specific details,

nuances that only someone
who was there could know.

It's amazing, Jessica.

Erin's been citing dozens
of details like that, I...

Oh, wow! Staff
meeting in 20 minutes.

I miss this one,
I'm dead. Jessica?

You go ahead, Drew.

Thank you. I'll call
you when I'm through.

Just one of the joys
of working for the City.

Erin, we have to go to the
police with this new information.

I tried.

I called this detective who used to
work on the case, Lieutenant Phil Corelli.

But he said that
he can't help me.

Look, I know in the past

I've been like the
little girl who cried wolf.

But, Jessica,
this isn't fantasy.

No, I don't wanna forward
a sample to your assistant.

Listen, his work is already hanging
in the office of a very important person

down at the NYPD.

Yes, 4:00 this
afternoon will be fine.

We look forward to the tour.

Sorry about that.

I'm trying to pick the right
art school for my son, Bobby.

Oh!

I thought he was only five.

Oh, yeah. But
he's quite talented.

He's got the gift.

Oh, yes! That's a wonderful dog.

It's a horse, Jessica.

Oh, of course, it's a horse.

Now, Ms. Garman, we pulled
your file, but to tell you the truth,

I know it almost by heart.

In the past, you were convinced

your school bus driver was
involved in your kidnapping

and then one of your librarians.

Those were years
ago. This is different.

I mean, all these people
were greatly inconvenienced.

Not to mention the embarrassment
to you and your mother.

Phil, I've only skimmed
through the manuscript so far,

but Mr. Matheson's book certainly
seems to describe Erin's case

in the kind of detail that
only an insider would know.

That's right. Things that
were never made public.

For instance...

Well, like it or not, Ms.
Garman, the statute of limitations

ran out on your
kidnapping four years ago.

So even if this
Matheson or anybody else

walked in here and
confessed, I couldn't lift a finger.

Erin quite
understands that, Phil.

I just thought that
perhaps with your help,

it might be possible to genuinely
close the case for Erin and her family.

Rogers, what're we
standing around for?

Oh, lab photos on that Jane
Doe mugging at the docks.

That woman!

That's one of my kidnappers.

That's it! Look, Ms. Garman,

I sympathize with
what you went through.

Phil! What?

This is the police artist
sketch we made 11 years ago.

From my description.

And this is the same person.

So I just wanted to try the
idea on you for size, hmm?

Well, I don't know
exactly what to say.

Dirk, of course,

we're interested in pursuing a
long time relationship with you, but...

Shouldn't I be having this
conversation with your agent?

Well, I mean, Charles, you
know, represents me on Blindfold.

But that, you know, that doesn't
mean that we're married forever.

But he's an excellent agent.

Mmm-hmm.

If you're asking
me for an opinion.

I am interested in your
opinion on everything.

You poor kid.

I'm scared to even
close my eyes, Sonny.

It's like I'm back then.

If this writer is the
kidnapper, or knows who he is,

the police will find
out, won't they?

They didn't exactly do a
bang-up job the first time.

Look, tell Mom I couldn't wait.

Thanks for listening.

Oh, sweetheart!

The minute we heard, we
rushed back. Are you all right?

Mmm-hmm. I'm a little better.

The woman who kidnapped me and kept
me locked up, her name was Nora Delano.

But, what about that
writer? The novelist.

Has anyone spoken to him?
What does he have to say?

I don't know. But he
must've been involved.

I mean, in his book, there's this
mysterious man who's behind it all.

The thing is, the police, they
can't do anything anymore.

Well then, sweetie, despite the
fact that I would dearly love to know

what became of the three
million dollar ransom we paid,

I think we're finally
at the end of this.

Do you know what you need?

A nice trip to the Bahamas
for you and Drew. Our treat.

Mother, I don't need a vacation.

Well, honey, you
don't look well.

You would think after all the years
of therapy that this was behind us.

Look, I'll be fine.

I have a job. I have
responsibilities.

I have to go.

Sweetheart, why don't you
stay at our place tonight?

I could make up your old room.

No, thanks, Mom. I've
got too many things to do.

Evening.

Drew Finley?

Finally tracked you down.

Detective Rogers, New
York City Police Department.

I just need to ask you a couple
questions if you have a moment.

A moment's about all I have.

Okay. I just need to confirm a
certain individual's whereabouts

the night before last between
10:00 and 2:00 in the morning.

That certain individual already called
to say that she told you where she was.

Honey. Hi.

Detective Rogers.

Ms. Garman.

Like Erin said, she and I were at the
House of Blues on Seventh Avenue,

with a bunch of our friends,

any of whom can confirm that.

Thank you, Mr. Finley.

Ms. Garman.

I got us a table at that
sushi joint down the block.

Not tonight, okay?

Come on, Erin. Let's celebrate.

You finally made a believer
of that Corelli character.

Wrong!

You heard. All he cares
about is if I k*lled Nora Delano.

After all these years,
I'm so close to the truth.

The police, they're
not gonna lift a finger.

What are you talking about?

Matheson!

Erin, wait! We can
stay in if you want.

I just don't want
you getting like...

Like?

Last night?

I'm just really tired.

I need to be alone tonight.

I'll call you in the morning.

Right.

Yes? What is it?

Do you want something?

Yes.

Don't you recognize me?

Um...

Are you from Hartley Publishing?

Kidnapped you?

What the hell are you
talking about, lady?

I have never met
you before in my life.

Your book, The Other
Side of the Blindfold.

It's not fiction.
You were there!

You were Nora Delano's partner.

The one that she kept
talking to on the telephone.

Now, you tell me...

No, you don't want to
do that, Ms. Garman.

I told you the police
were gonna handle this.

It's not loaded.

What'd you think you were gonna
accomplish with an unloaded g*n?

I thought I could frighten
him into an admission.

Well, you might've
scared him to death.

Take her out to the
car and meet me there.

Let's go. You can't let
him get away with this.

We're gonna handle it. Go.

Lieutenant Phil Corelli, NYPD.

We have to have a
little chat, Mr. Matheson,

about a lot of coincidences.

One, we found this hotel's telephone
number on Nora Delano's body.

Two, you're registered here.

Three, you've written a book about what
appears to be Ms. Garman's kidnapping

and Nora Delano
is a key figure in it.

Look.

I met her in a saloon in
Tucson, two years ago.

She told me her story.

I paid her for it.
Hadn't seen her since.

Hadn't seen her?

She turned up in New York a couple
of days ago, got in touch with me,

demanded that we have a
meeting, as if she owned me.

This was night before last?

At the docks.

At the docks.

Odd place to meet, hmm?

Hey, look, it wasn't my call.

She tried to squeeze me in
exchange for not revealing

that she was the
source of my book.

So you k*lled her.

Yeah. With my thoughts.

Look, I swear that I
left this woman alive.

In fact, I decided I was
gonna give her the money.

The whole quarter
of a million bucks.

It's worth that much to you to
pretend you made up the story?

All right. Look,
chalk it up to ego.

Look, I used to be an
award winning fiction writer

and that's what Hartley
Publishing expects from me

for their million bucks.

A work of fiction.

Those kinda numbers,
what they add up to,

is about a motive and a half.

Yeah. So, what are you
gonna do? Arrest me?

Not yet. No.

Don't leave town.

You wouldn't happen to know who
the other kidnapper was, do you?

No, I wouldn't.

Mrs. Fletcher, that was
so sweet of you to notify us.

I can't imagine what
would've happened

if that g*n of mine
had been loaded.

I have a feeling that
Erin preferred it that way.

Oh, my! I'm glad I
don't live downstairs.

That is why there's only
parking under us. Excuse me.

Here's the manuscript of Dirk
Matheson's book that you asked for.

I hope you won't find
it as painful as Erin did.

Terry, Dirk Matheson's book
said that Nora Delano's accomplice

knew enough to
sabotage the mother's car.

Now, according to the police
report of the actual kidnapping,

your car was in the shop because
of your brakes having given out.

If I hadn't had to get my
car into the shop that day,

Erin never would've been waiting
in that playground after school.

I remember, the
police looked into it,

but they said there was
no evidence of sabotage.

Ah.

That Delano woman. She
really was one of the kidnappers.

Listen, Terry, did Mike show
you the brochure I gave him

on the new super treadmill?

It'd be perfect
for the new club.

No. I'll talk to
him about it later.

Okay.

I'm sorry about that.

His days here are numbered.
And that number just got smaller.

Mrs. Fletcher, are there any
other clues in Matheson's book

as to the identity of the
woman's accomplice?

Well, only that
he also knew that

you could come up with a
three million dollar ransom.

Well, my father's wealth
was common knowledge.

The police questioned
everyone we knew.

Well, I understand from Lieutenant
Corelli that they're subpoenaing

all the tapes and notes that Dirk
Matheson made with Nora Delano.

Well, do you think
it's really possible

that Dirk Matheson
was the other kidnapper?

It is. But he was a
successful writer back then.

And even if he did it,
I mean, it's somewhat

bizarre that he
wrote a book about it.

So, what does Dirk say?

He's not answering my calls,
or else he's ignoring them.

Come on, Laura, what's going on?

Well, we put a hold on his
book, along with the advance.

For how long?

Until we sort out whether
or not it's a work of fiction.

Ted Hartley does not like to
be embarrassed by his authors.

Well, that makes two of us.

I suppose the same hold for the
three-book deal you were dangling?

Yes, but, I think that you
should discuss that with Dirk.

Why should I discuss it?

I'll bloody well k*ll him.

I hoped that you'd
still be at home, resting.

I got tired of resting.

"Dirk Matheson." What is this?

Jessica suggested
that an Internet search

might turn up something
interesting about where he's been

in the last decade.

And?

And you can see. Just
some minor news accounts

of some bar fights and some
drunk-driving arrests in Arizona.

Erin, stop!

Are we ever gonna be
able to put this thing to rest?

Hey, is there anything I can do?

So we had no choice but to turn
over copies of your original outline

and manuscript to
Lieutenant Corelli.

He's just fishing.

Don't worry, I will not
be his catch of the day.

And why the long face?

I'm not happy
that you lied to me.

Oh, come on.

I'm not the first writer who
needed a score and bent the truth.

Okay, I'm sorry.

And I will square
it with Ted Hartley.

But your people
should be thrilled.

I mean, they can promote the hell out
of this book. It'll go through the roof!

And you'll still be covered
by the statute of limitations.

Laura,

I did not kidnap that girl.

What? There's something else?

The fact that you're
trying to cheat your agent.

Oh! This isn't my day, is it?

All right. He's back in
for his pound of flesh.

There, Laura,

the reason I want to have a long
term relationship with Hartley Publishing

is because of you.

What?

Well, I was just thinking.

If you'd said that to
me a few days ago,

we'd probably be having
this conversation in your bed.

Well, I guess I got lucky.

I was re-reading part of
your manuscript this morning.

Well, I suppose I should
be flattered, Mrs. Fletcher.

You know, I was particularly
taken by your description

of the place where the
child was held c*ptive.

You wrote, "Hidden among
the many West Village studios,

"there was a second-floor loft,

"where little Jennifer was praying
that the ransom would be paid."

Now, was the West Village
locale your invention?

Well, Nora didn't
nail it for me,

it sounded like
that part of town.

So, that's how I wrote it.

So we can't be certain
just how accurate you were.

Look, I am not one
of those authors

who desperately
contrive to keep reader

interest with artificial
plot manipulations.

Mr. Matheson,

I'm not here to trade insults
or compare literary styles.

What are you here for?

Would you be willing to let me
listen to your taped interviews

with Nora Delano?

Nice try, lady.

But the answer's still no.

Sonny, I wanted you to
hear it directly from me.

That's final?

This guy we hired to manage
the Hamptons operation

is a Wharton School MBA.
We just couldn't pass him by.

The head trainer
slot's still open.

Thanks, Mike. Been
there, done that.

I gotta start making
my own plans.

No hard feelings?

With you, pal?

Mr. Matheson, if
you weren't involved,

then why didn't you say
who the other kidnapper was?

Because Nora never told me.

Don't you think I asked her?

We sat in that little bar in Tucson,
Nora three-quarters bagged,

yakking into my tape
recorder for hours.

Oh, am I b*at.

I almost wish that I'd walked out
on her when she started babbling.

That way no one
would be on my case.

Forgive me if I don't shed
any tears for your suffering

while you profit
off Erin's and mine.

Right.

Now that's a picture, isn't it?

It's lovely.

You think that'll
impress your friend?

You know, a recommendation
from a museum curator

would go a long way to
nailing a school for Bobby.

Well, I'll show her the
portfolio and we'll see.

Phil, Dirk Matheson claims
that he paid Nora Delano

practically nothing
for her story

and you say that the last
address you had for her

was a trailer park, when she
was working as a waitress.

Well, maybe she just
blew the ransom money.

Or maybe she just didn't
get such a big slice of the pie.

I mean, supposing
she was just hired help.

Well, in Matheson's book,
the Nora character boasts

that she masterminded
the kidnapping.

Well, that was her version.

But, I mean, babysitting Erin

when she was in captivity
was the most she seemed to do.

Excuse me.

Corelli.

Yeah. Whoa!

Yeah. No, no, no,
no. I'll meet you there.

All right. Thanks, Rogers.

What do you know?

Seven years ago, Matheson
went on a spending binge.

Between the IRS, an
ex-wife, a big house, cars,

he ran through two and a half million
more than he grossed from his last books.

It's time to have another
talk with this turkey.

Well, if you don't mind, I'd
like to hear what he has to say.

Yeah. Come along.

Mr. Math...

Jessica, I just came
in and found the body.

You know this guy?

He's Drew Finley.
Erin Garman's fiancé.

Avenging boyfriend.

We better get an assistant
DA over here right away.

Read him his rights.

Phil, there's something
here that you should see.

It's a note from Dirk Matheson.

He admits to being
Erin's other kidnapper

and also Nora Delano's k*ller.

What? JESSICA: There's more.

"I fear that I will be exposed
and arrested very shortly.

"I cannot face the prospect
of public humiliation,

"so I have decided to end
the pain and take my own life."

Erin's been so torn up.

So I came here to get
Matheson to tell me the truth.

Well, after he
lied to the police,

Mrs. Fletcher, everybody else,

how were you gonna
get him to confess?

I was gonna talk
to him man-to-man.

Look, I did not k*ll him!

Well, we'll see. Okay.

Lieutenant, one cylinder fired.

Serial number filed off the g*n.

See what the lab
can come up with.

Okay.

You know, Jessica, when you've
been a cop as long as I have,

the thing is, you get to
know when people are lying.

Drew Finley's lying.

Maybe.

But that doesn't
necessarily mean

that he was
Mr. Matheson's k*ller.

No, but the gunpowder residue
test on his hands should do the job.

Yeah. But what
about the su1c1de note?

Oh, well, I can go
either way on that.

If Finley comes up clean,
then it's like I figured before.

Matheson did it all.

Felt us closing in, k*lled
himself. Case closed.

Except for one thing.
Where are the tapes?

Well, Matheson
probably destroyed them.

Why?

If his su1c1de note was
genuine, he had nothing to hide.

This doesn't make
any sense, Phil.

Yeah.

Jessica, Drew Finley's gunpowder
residue test came back negative.

But Matheson's was positive,
confirming that he did sh**t himself.

Plus, Ballistics matched
the b*llet from his g*n

with the one that
k*lled Nora Delano.

And what about
those missing tapes?

Well, Jessica, that
may be one of those little

mysteries of life that
we never figure out.

Anyway, closes two cases.

So, did you hear from your
friend at the art museum?

You know, her letter
of recommendation

could really put us
over the top on this.

Oh, not yet, Phil. But
as soon as I hear...

I'll talk to you later.

I knew Drew
couldn't have done it.

Jessica?

Those audio tapes.

If Dirk Matheson was
your other kidnapper,

why did he need those tapes?

To refresh his memory?

Or maybe to get
Nora's point of view.

Or perhaps to get his hands
on the story in the first place.

And the real accomplice
in the kidnapping

would be afraid that the tapes
would point the finger at him.

Are you saying that he
wasn't Nora Delano's partner?

He had to be!

Help me here, Erin.

The loft where you
were held c*ptive.

I believe it was in
the West Village.

They kept me blindfolded
going to and from it.

The windows, they
were kept covered.

In your original
statement to the police,

you mentioned bells
and the smell of fish.

Think carefully, Erin.

Can you recall
any other details?

The bells...

Ding-ding, ding-ding.

Like the warning signal
of a truck backing up?

I don't know.

I think I've got an idea.

Do you have Drew's number
at Building and Safety?

Mmm-hmm.

Thank you.

Laura! We have to talk.

Charles, I don't have the time.

I want you to know
that my offer is still open.

Now why would I change my mind?

Dirk Matheson is no
longer part of the equation.

I assumed that part of your turndown
was because of your dislike for Dirk.

Me? You're the one that
he was trying to cheat.

But I've heard rumors
that it wasn't a su1c1de.

Laura, listen, when
would be a good time

to talk about reinstating
his book with Ted Hartley?

Charles, you think you can
sell it to Ted, you be my guest.

And lots of luck.

But I don't want anything
to do with it, or you.

According to the records,
the address across the street

is the one location
in the neighborhood

that had a permit for construction
at the time of the kidnapping.

Which would account for
the shouting and the banging

and the trucks backing up.

Oh, and there used to be
a fish market downstairs.

The real estate agent told me
that the guy who owned this loft

d*ed about five years ago.

And the rental
records no longer exist.

It looks as if it hasn't
been used forever.

Erin?

This is where it was.

What do you remember?

I'm playing with my jacks.

And I hide them
behind the radiator.

There's no radiator.

There was one there once.

Right.

What is this? It looks like
dried vegetables of some sort.

Carrots, maybe?

I used to hide food
that I didn't want.

And that poster, I
remember that poster.

Jessica, are you all right?

Of course! Spatter!

Where did you get these?

Oh, it's amazing what
a bank will fax you,

when you supply them
with an account number,

social security number and
a mother's maiden name.

That's fraud.

Oh, and that's embezzlement.

Plus criminal abuse
of fiduciary obligations.

Proving that you and Terry
have been looting Erin's trust fund.

You have gone to a lot of trouble
to prove you're managerial material.

Oh, too little, too late, Mike.

What do you want, Sonny?

Job security.

I think one-third partnership in the
Hampton operation should provide that.

Oh, good. I'll have my
lawyer call your lawyer

to draw up the papers.

They didn't have to drag me. I
went to that loft with Drew and Jessica

because I wanted to.

Look, Erin, this is
getting us nowhere.

Mother, I have work to do, okay?

No, it's not okay! Not for
another minute, anyway!

Erin, I just want to help you.

I don't need any help.
I'm handling this just fine.

Yeah. I can see that.

Mother, we have been
down this road so many times.

And you have still got it wrong.

Oh, come on, Mother!

What you want from me is
something that I can't give you.

God knows I've tried!

I have told you
a thousand times,

I do not hold you responsible
for what happened!

Jessica, we're
wasting our time here.

A fine luxury hotel like
this, everything spotless.

And dirt spattered
all over the wall?

What's this? What's this?

Ah! A b*llet!

That's what splashed
the dirt on the wall

when it was fired into
the moist potting soil.

But there was only
one empty chamber.

Suppose Mr. Matheson
was m*rder*d.

Right. The k*ller sh**t
him at close range.

Then reloaded another b*llet
into the same cylinder chamber.

Puts the revolver
in Matheson's hand,

sh**t the second
round into the dirt.

Which is why the gunpowder
residue test on Mr. Matheson's hand

turned out positive, indicating
a self-inflicted g*nsh*t.

And the note in the
typewriter clinches it as su1c1de.

Impressive.

I'll have Ballistics check this,

make sure it came
from the same g*n.

But I'll bet the farm you're
right on this, Jessica.

Corelli.

Yeah.

Yeah. Good.

You're sure about this?

All right. All right. Thanks.

We've been looking for the chambermaid
that worked in Matheson's floor.

They just talked to her.

And?

Well, she recalls seeing
somebody on this floor last night.

The same person she saw leaving
with the police night before last.

Erin.

Erin Garman.

All right, I did go back there.

This time to k*ll him.

With Nora Delano
dead and no other proof,

he was sure to get away again.

I had a kitchen Kn*fe.
I stood in the hall,

but I couldn't go
through with it.

So I left.

And where does Drew
Finley fit into this timetable?

I had no idea he
was in the hotel,

until he stopped me in
the lobby as I was leaving.

He'd followed me there.

I told him everything.

He said that I should go home.

That he would talk
to Matheson for me.

I begged him not to try.

And when Drew went in and found
Matheson dead, he assumed that you did it.

Oh, and this IRS
report on Matheson.

Turns out he scored some
serious winnings off the ponies

about the same time as his
conspicuous spending spree.

So it wasn't ransom
money he was spending.

You're saying that Matheson
really wasn't the other kidnapper?

Isn't that great?
It's Bobby's latest.

Seems like you can almost
touch that bunny tail, huh?

Yeah.

Oh, why didn't it
occur to me before?

Phil, I think I know
who k*lled Mr. Matheson

and Nora Delano. And why.

Erin, how old were you when
you started to wear glasses?

Is my daughter free
and clear, Lieutenant?

We tested the clothes
that she wore last night,

no gunpowder residue.

But somewhere there are some
clothes that are gonna test positive.

Unless the perpetrator was
smart enough to destroy them.

Hey, how about a little midnight
snack to celebrate Erin's release?

Oh, that's a great idea.

Mike's on his way in
from the Hamptons.

I'll just call Henrietta and
have her put out a spread.

May I?

Dial nine to get out.

It's scary to think that
we were so far off base.

I know. I know, sweetheart.

Henrietta? I'm gonna bring the kids
home for some of your delicious brisket.

Could you get the white
tablecloth out of the closet?

Uh-huh.

We're on our way.

Yeah. Bye-bye.

All set. Thank you, Lieutenant.

Right.

I'm parked behind you. So,
we'll meet you there, all right?

Mike?

Jessica!

Oh! You scared
the hell out of me.

What... What are you doing here?

You know that we found the West
Village loft where Erin was held c*ptive.

I heard. That's amazing.

You know, there are some odd
indentations in the old wooden floors.

I wondered what
could have made them.

Machinery, maybe. They used to do light
industrial stuff down there, didn't they?

Actually, it was more like things
had been repeatedly dropped.

Like the weights in a gym.

Well, that's an
interesting idea.

So I stopped at the library and
checked the old yellow pages.

And sure enough, there was
a gym in that loft at one time.

Sammy's Emporium.

I noticed the name on a flyer.

It said you used to work
there, Mike, as a trainer.

No secret. It's in my bio.

Well, that loft has
been unoccupied

ever since Sammy's
closed 12 years ago.

About a year before
Erin was abducted.

Look, I don't like
where this is going.

Neither do I.

Come on, Mike. Henrietta's
prepared us a feast.

Jessica, you're welcome to come,

but without the innuendoes.

I'm afraid you're
stuck with them, Terry.

Your housekeeper confirmed
that you were dating Mike

at the time of the kidnapping.

He was well aware
of your father's wealth

and a grandfather's
affection for Erin.

You are twisting innocent
facts into something...

Eleven years ago, Nora
Delano was a waitress

in a coffee shop a
block from Sammy's.

Mike, you introduced Nora to
the other kidnapper, didn't you?

That's enough!

And the other kidnapper was
an unusually considerate one,

seeing to it that Nora
served the child a healthy diet,

including carrots, to
strengthen her weak eyes.

I imagine that's because the
other kidnapper was you, Terry,

the victim's mother.

What a monstrous thing to say!
Why would I do something like that?

For the three
million dollar ransom

you knew you could
collect from your own father.

It was the only way that
you could bankroll the dream

you shared with your
new boyfriend here,

to open this
splendid health club.

That's nonsense. We
took out bank loans.

Uh-uh. We checked, Terry.

You were turned
down by several banks.

My father wouldn't
give me the money

while I was involved with Mike.

We can't be prosecuted.

I know. The
statute of limitations.

But then there are the
two murders you committed.

Nora Delano and Dirk Matheson.

Mike and I are due at home.

This locker. I'd like to
show you something.

The white coat and gloves you
wore when you sh*t Mr. Matheson,

plus the tapes of his
interviews with Nora Delano.

Mike was just about to
dispose of it when I walked in.

Jessica, you should've
quit while you were ahead.

Lieutenant, in here!

You're both under
arrest for m*rder.

The setup was Jessica's idea.

Once you made that
phone call from my office

and pretended to tell Henrietta

to "Get the white tablecloth out of
the linen closet," we knew we had you.

It was traced.

You called Mike in his car.

We had taps on all your
phones, even the mobile one.

We followed him
from the Hamptons.

He said, "You mean that stuff in
the gym locker?" You said, "Uh-huh."

And it gave me time
to get over to the gym.

Fortunately, you hadn't
destroyed the evidence.

Nora re-surfaced
about four days ago.

She wanted money in exchange
for not telling Erin what we'd done.

So you k*lled her.

I followed her down to the docks

where she was meeting Matheson.

I didn't know who
he was at the time.

When he left, I sh*t her.

And then Erin happened to
read Dirk Matheson's book.

When I read it, I was
sure that he must've known

that we were involved
in the kidnapping,

or he would have realized it.

And when you learned he had all those
hours of audio tapes, that clinched it.

I figured if I didn't k*ll him,

it was just a matter of time
till he'd put it all together.

So, I went to his hotel suite and I
pretended that I was attracted to him.

Give me the tapes.

Is there anything else
that you would like to know?

Yeah, just one thing.

It's your own daughter.
How could you do that?

I had no idea that
she'd suffer so.

Oh, Phil! And Detective Rogers.

I don't want to
barge in, Jessica.

I just want to give you these.

For what?

Well, for getting that wonderful
letter of recommendation

for Bobby from your
friend at the museum.

It did the trick?
Oh, yeah. Yeah.

But, actually, Bobby's
not drawing anymore.

What happened?

You're not gonna believe this.

You know, I got him this
wonderful set of building blocks.

He's making terrific things.
A regular Frank Lloyd Wright.

You wouldn't have any
connections down at MIT, would you?

Just kidding!