06x03 - Siren Call

[bunniefuu]

The following story is fictional and does not depict any actual person or event.

In New York City's w*r on crime, the worst criminal offenders are pursued by the detectives of the Major Case Squad.

These are their stories.

I don't know what to wear.

Hey, if you're not ready, I'm going without you.

Come on, Emily.

I'm leaving.

Wait up! I'm coming.

Try this, Emily.

Dad's gonna k*ll me.

So don't tell him.

Hey, bitch.

Ashley, don't leave me.

Brian'll drive you home.

Hey, baby.

You want another one?

Sake, sparkling.

Tell lover boy to stop calling.

Don't touch the phone, babe.

- What - I have to go.

Law & Order CI How'd it go?

Just three more sessions.

Yeah?

Well, I can drop you off.

A call came, I gotta Then, let's go.

I told her I wasn't getting any better by myself.

Ashley Gardela.

Her stepdad's a cop.

Water Haven PD.

He's on his way.

Friday night, she left the Hamptons to come to Queens?

Yeah, it is a reverse party commute.

Found her wallet in a dumpster down the street.

That's a pricey handbag for a cop's kid.

It's a nice car.

Brand new smell.

Guess the k*ller was facing her.

He struck her.

Here.

The right side hard enough so her head would hit the steering wheel.

Then he strangled her with this cell phone charger.

Surprised that mugger didn't take that phone.

It's brand new.

She drank something sweet.

The stamp on her hand, it's probably from a nearby bar.

Attractive girl, short skirt.

Alone, drunk.

Easy target.

Detectives Goren, Eames.

Officer Ray Wiznesky.

Officer.

Sorry for your loss.

This is gonna k*ll her mother.

Officer.

Do you know why your stepdaughter was in the city last night?

I have no idea.

She was a good girl.

You might get some prints off that purse.

- Let's stay on top of that.

- Right.

NYPD, you've got it covered.

I'll stay out of your soup.

Not at all.

Look, any help you can give us we'd appreciate.

- Like did she have a boyfriend?

- Yeah.

I don't think so.

These kids hang out in groups, you know.

Ashley drives an expensive car.

Designer clothes, handbag.

She works, and what she earns, she spends.

Tries to keep up with the city kids who weekend in the Hamptons.

They throw a lot of money around.

BMWs.

$500 bottles of champagne.

Just different from us, that's all.

I was just thinking that maybe she hooked up with one.

It's the summer.

I got a lot of O.

T.

I wasn't keeping up with her social life.

Maybe if I had Our 13-year-old daughter's home alone with my wife, I gotta get back.

Traced the stamp on Ashley's hand.

Pier bar on Center boulevard.

She had a different ID, I swear.

That's not what this is about.

Again, was she by herself?

She came in alone.

Frat boy bought her drinks.

Got grabby.

She left, he followed.

Do you remember a name?

Um, I remember attitude.

He was so drunk he left his credit card.

Is this your haul for the week?

For the night.

We keep them 48 hours.

Then we cut them up.

Ah, here you go.

Dean Howard.

Bedford college.

Home of the Bedford beavers.

Hmm, our eager beaver was buying Ashley drinks all night?

Maybe he felt owed.

Yeah, I wanted to hook up with her.

She was hot.

She was trashed.

So you followed Ashley out of the bar to her car?

No, no.

I offered her a ride.

She blew me off.

She said I wasn't old enough or rich enough for her.

You cut yourself?

I, ow, I caught it in the cab door.

A cab?

I thought you said that you offered Ashley a ride?

I did.

She blew me off.

So I took the tunnel back into the city, tried to salvage my night.

That's when my car got towed.

We call the impound lot, they'll confirm your story?

Here, I'll save you a phone call.

I Plus, I used the ATM at Planet Hollywood.

You did have a bad night, Dean.

Look, whatever this chick said I did, I didn't do.

Tell her she owes me Ashley said that you weren't rich enough for her.

It sounds like she already had a sugar daddy.

Probably the guy that kept calling her cell phone.

O Canada.

Who has O Canada as their ring tone?

A Canadian sugar daddy?

You sure Ferris Bueller's alibi checks out?

His Eazy Pass has him in the tunnel ten minutes after he buys her last drink.

Okay, the brand-new Lexus she was driving.

How'd she pay for it?

Company car leased to Raines advertising in Water Haven.

She's Mr.

Raines' assistant.

Jason Raines.

He's married to Kelly Sloane-Raines, supermodel.

I still have her first swimsuit edition.

Their beach house was featured in the style section last month.

The article said he was from Toronto.

Ashley's cell phone.

O Canada plays every time Jason calls.

It's his exclusive ring tone.

He call her last night?

Her call log didn't list him, but her LUDs did.

Seven times.

Last one at 2 A.

M.

His calls were deleted from her cell around the time of her death.

That's half clever, which sounds about right for a trophy husband.

Some trophy.

He marries Kelly Sloane and cheats on her.

Man marries a model, he's not looking for a soul mate.

You said the girl's stepdad was a cop?

Yeah.

Office Ray Wiznesky.

So she's family.

One of ours.

How'd he react?

He kept it together.

Stoic.

He offer up Raines?

Well, if Ashley's seeing Raines and Wiznesky knew, he might've tried to take care of things on his own.

Go make a condolence call on Raines.

I'll talk to the Water Haven PD, make sure they keep an eye on the stepdad.

Eames, this is your idea of taking time off?

I appreciate your concern, captain, but I'm fine.

Hello.

What?

Yeah.

- Honey - Something wrong?

That was the Water Haven police.

Ashley, she was she was found m*rder*d in the city.

Oh, my god.

I'm, uh, I'm gonna have to go to the office and help them if I can.

Of course.

So this is how the other half lives.

It must be nice.

Raines advertising, follow Main street to the Water's edge.

Blinds closed in the middle of the day?

Jason Raines?

NYPD.

We need to speak to you.

This is not a good time.

Mr.

Raines, I'd advise you to Get down! Down on the ground! Drop the g*n.

He m*rder*d my Ashley.

Officer Wiznesky, drop the g*n.

Drop the g*n! Okay.

Okay.

All right, step away.

Officer Wiznesky is overcome with grief.

We'll handle this as a local matter.

He's my partner.

Your department got a heads up from our captain we were coming out.

They should have kept Wiznesky away.

I'll check into that for you.

As for him you're looking in the right place.

Wiznesky wanted me to write a su1c1de note.

He was gonna sh**t me and make it look like I k*lled myself.

He thinks you m*rder*d his daughter.

Yeah.

He's insane.

You could press charges.

No chance.

I have to live here.

Local cops, this is their fiefdom.

How long has Ashley been working for you?

Uh, not long.

What?

Six months?

It's very cozy here.

It's, like, intimate.

Not a lot of chance for privacy.

A good eye line between the two of you.

It's called an open plan.

Where were you last night, Mr.

Raines?

Had to work late in Manhattan's Excuse me.

Didn't want to fight the Friday traffic, so I slept over.

We keep a condo near Lincoln center.

This is sparkling sake.

This is an ad agency, not a convent.

Ashley drank it Friday night.

And she stocked my mini-fridge.

Does your wife has a lot of issues with you working with Ashley alone?

You know, in this, um, open plan?

Kelly and I are very happy.

Detectives, it's been a long day, do you mind?

Ashley work with you Friday night?

Yes, she left early.

She was going to a party.

She say where, or who with?

She used to date some, uh, local loser.

Brian Murphy.

I think he has a record.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I better clean up the mess here.

I was arrested for pot once.

You left out three DUIs, Brian.

Ashley got busted all the time.

But her stepdad's on the force, so no record.

How'd you get that shiner?

I don't know.

I was wasted.

At the party, the one Ashley left?

She say where she was going?

No.

Ashley was all about lying, creating drama.

With that damn cell phone glued to her ear.

I mean, even when we were hooking up.

How long ago was that?

Awhile.

Six months.

When she started working for Raines.

Right.

Working.

Paid her 60 bucks an hour.

To answer the phone?

Okay, thanks.

So you said that Ashley thought that she was too good to be an assistant.

She designed jewelry.

Shoshanna has dresses.

Paris has purses.

Ashley actually believed Jason was gonna set her up in business.

As if "the smile" would ever let that happen.

"The smile?

" Oh, his wife.

Okay.

What a mistake that marriage was.

Supermodel?

Whatever.

She's three years older than him.

She knew all about their affair.

Same way everybody knew.

High school graduation, Kelly was a keynote speaker.

Brian went right up and told her.

How'd she react?

She just smiled.

I'm sorry you had to come all this way, detectives.

Especially since I didn't really know Ashley.

You'd met her, Mrs.

Raines?

Call me Kelly.

I had met her once.

I went to pick Jason up on our way to a benefit.

She seemed lovely.

You and your husband are very generous with your time.

We've been blessed.

We try to pay it forward.

Got a lot of local causes.

"Heal the bay", "South Fork breast cancer", high school keynote.

I chair a female empowerment group for teenage girls.

The school asked me to say a few words.

We understand Brian Murphy had a few words to say to you as well.

Yes.

Ashley had left him.

He projected his hurt onto Jason.

Sorry.

You mean that he told you that your husband was having an affair?

This is a small town.

I've learned to ignore the rumor mill.

- I just try to keep - Smiling.

No one wants to hear you're happy.

Your husband said that about you too.

You know, that you were, uh happy.

That's a handsome family that you have.

- Thank you.

- Hmm.

Yep.

Piper's six.

Sam's ten, and Jenna, wow.

Sixteen.

And she's from your first marriage.

Sam, my third.

But Jason's been a true father to both of them.

He had a different reputation before you two were married.

And he loves me for giving his life balance.

Your husband, uh spends a lot of time working late hours in the city, huh?

Well, he was working long hours lately because we are starting a new business.

A new company.

- Jewelry?

- Home design.

Sloane-Raines Style.

Jason told you?

No, but we did hear that Ashley was going to be doing your jewelry design.

I'm the company's sole designer.

Can I offer you some more lemonade before you go?

I am terribly sorry, but my Pilates instructor is waiting.

Raines and Kelly are starting up a design firm.

Somehow, Ashley thought it would be her big break too.

When I told Kelly, she didn't even blink.

This guy's lucky he's not dead.

How's his alibi?

Shaky.

He says he was in his condo.

Doorman says he might have been.

A guy like this, I doubt this is his first affair.

Why turn to m*rder now?

Maybe because she was threatening to out him.

Ashley emailed him five days ago.

"You told me you respected my talent.

" "It's devastating to learn our relationship was just about sex.

" "Is that why you hired me, Jason?

" "My lawyer wonders what your company's investors would think about all this.

" She was playing hardball.

Maybe he swung back.

Bring him in.

You son of a bitch! She was my assistant.

That's it, Kelly.

I swear to god.

You were gonna give that slut a job as a designer.

Maybe you should take a pill, Kelly.

- Oh, get out! - We'll talk when you Get out! You better take these.

'Cause you're not coming back.

Kelly throw you out, Jason?

Get out of my face, jerk off.

Think she'll take you back?

Your bosses send you here to att*ck me?

Get out of here! Jason Raines.

Goren, right?

Goren?

- Let's go.

- Bunch of dumb police.

All right, Mr.

Raines.

Let's go.

Why don't you hook up with a real man, huh, sweet ass?

That's enough.

You can't do this to me.

I want my lawyer.

I want my lawyer.

Bedford school just called.

He hasn't shown up.

Kelly, look, relax.

I'm sure he's okay.

Anything that was said was clearly under duress, intoxication.

Not the actual beliefs of my client.

In vino, veritas.

There's another phrase in Italian.

Mi e scappato.

It means it slipped.

Either way, it was done under the influence of alcohol after Water Haven police threatened my client at gunpoint.

Officer Wiznesky's the one who should be in jail.

Water Haven PD has taken away officer Wiznesky's g*n and put him on restrictive duty.

Now can we get back to your client's relationship with Ashley Gardela?

This time, the truth, huh?

Ashley seduced me.

You've got to be kidding.

This is the first time I've ever done anything like this.

It was a terrible mistake.

Uh, what happened that night?

Ashley was supposed to meet me.

She never showed.

So she stood you up.

That's why you called her cell phone?

I was looking for her.

Last calls went to voicemail.

I waited for her all night at the Four seasons.

He was in his room from 11 to 6 A.

M.

You can verify that with the hotel.

Oh, we will.

This time, he didn't lie.

The electronic key registered he entered his room at the Four seasons at 11:18.

He made several fruitless calls to Ashley on his cell.

And then stopped dialing pain, and began dialing pleasure.

He accessed the in-room adult entertainment at 11:58.

He ordered "Barely legal coeds, Part 2.

" And then he hit the minibar hard.

He ordered a bacon cheeseburger from in-room dining at 4 A.

M.

Checked out at 6.

He left himself a humiliating electronic trail, but it alibis him.

Ross.

Raines claims this is the first time he's strayed.

He's officially having a bad week.

I was a pawn in Jason Raines' game.

I was naive, trusting.

I fell for the lies of a sexual predator.

Once he got what he wanted from me, he moved on to Ashley, my best friend.

Did Jason k*ll Ashley Gardela?

He's a creep, not a k*ller.

Any words of advice for Kelly Raines?

Stay strong.

Will this help your career, Nicole?

I've gotten calls from Playboy and Maxim.

Several talent agencies.

She's right.

Raines isn't a k*ller.

But the real k*ller deleted Raines' calls from Ashley's phone.

He deliberately pointed us in that direction.

It's someone with a lot of anger towards Ashley and Raines.

Brian Murphy.

He dated Ashley.

He blames Raines for their break-up.

He seems to have gotten over Ashley's death awfully soon.

Going somewhere, Brian?

Uh, yeah.

Fishing.

Underwear, socks.

Beer.

No bait, no fishing poles.

I'm visiting my cousin in Bellport, okay?

Cops told me to go, so Water Haven police told you to run.

Officer Sajak.

Ashley's dad's partner.

So why did Sajak ask you to leave town?

Said that Jason pulled some strings, got off.

And I was next on your list.

He tell you why you were next on our list?

So you were at the party with Ashley that night.

Well, maybe you saw her leave to meet Raines.

You decided to follow.

That's not what happened.

Where's you go after the party, Brian?

Nowhere.

Look, you want to talk to Ashley's stepdad if you don't believe me.

He and sajak busted up the party after, like, midnight.

They knocked me around.

Why would they do that?

Wiznesky was pissed.

Picked up Emily wandering the street.

Emily.

Ashley's little sister.

Half-sister.

Wiznesky didn't tell us about the party.

No.

He also didn't mention he found out Ashley left his 13-year-old daughter with a drunk teenage boy.

I wonder if he told his wife.

Ashley told me she was taking Emily to the movies.

Um, I wasn't feeling well that day.

- But you knew they went to a party.

- Of course.

Emily always tells you the truth.

She said the beer tasted like soap.

Your husband must have been unhappy.

If Ray was upset, he didn't let on.

Of course, he never lets on these days, so The tea that you're drinking.

That's, uh - it's herbal tea.

- Mm-hmm.

Burdock, sorrel, and slippery elm.

And that's a stent, isn't it?

For chemo?

Breast cancer.

Metastasized to the liver.

Must be difficult for you now that Ashley's gone.

I lost Ashley a long time ago.

Your husband and Ashley, how did they get along?

He tried.

You know, she wouldn't let Ray in.

She was six years old.

Very attached to her own father.

Even though he ignored her completely.

She was searching for a father in Jason Raines.

Ray can't stand those people.

Cidiots, he'd call them.

Idiots from the city.

After she started seeing Raines, things just got worse between them.

What's going on, mama?

Nothing, sweetheart.

Everything's fine.

You must be Emily.

I'm detective Goren.

This is detective Eames.

My mother can't talk to you.

My dad wouldn't like it.

He doesn't want her upset.

You have to go.

Security tape from the bar.

We were hoping that you might recognize a face.

You know, help us put things together.

This Raines guy, whose strings did he pull to get off?

He had an alibi.

I guess he deserved it, right?

His marriage imploding on the cover of the Ledger this morning.

Those kids, so there's nobody that you see that might've been at that party that you busted up?

No one's jumping out.

Wiznesky, he must've been out of his mind when he saw Emily with that beer.

Ashley was always wild.

He must've had his hands full.

She didn't listen to anybody.

She didn't listen to him.

Now, she's dead.

And she has a grieving mother.

And your partner's cooling his heels on light duty after everything he went through with Joyce.

Yeah, and they take away his g*n again.

- Because of that little tramp.

- Again?

This isn't the first time your partner's been on restricted duty?

You can't blame him for going after Raines.

I mean, if I had a daughter If I didn't need my pension, he'd have a b*llet in his head.

Wiznesky knew that Ashley was meeting Raines.

He might've drove into the city.

To confront him, maybe.

Asked you to cover up for him.

You know, you're a father.

You would understand.

Wiznesky didn't drive into the city.

Not until they got the call from homicide at 5:15.

I'm sorry.

I can't help you.

Nice talking to you too.

The esteemed captain of Water Haven PD assures me that Sajak and Wiznesky have been on the force 18 years, and that they were both on duty together all night the night of the m*rder.

Subtext: The whole department will alibi him if we go to a grand jury.

Did his captain tell you Wiznesky took a six-month psych medical 13 years ago?

Oddly enough, he neglected to mention that.

Wiznesky was testifying in a domestic v*olence case.

The defendant grabbed his piece, sh*t a court stenographer in the head.

She d*ed instantly.

So he's got an alibi.

Now, you're giving him a post-traumatic stress defense.

His wife had cancer.

That's another stressor.

Ashley acting out, leaving his daughter vulnerable at that wild party.

How old is this daughter?

Okay, I'll drive back.

I'll get the DA to subpoena Sajak and Wiznesky's patrol logs.

He's under a lot of stress.

When you take another run at this Wiznesky, hit him hard.

You two, watch your backs out here.

We know Ashley left Emily at a party that night.

A party you and your partner shut down.

We figured you neglected to tell us for a reason.

- It wasn't relevant.

- It wasn't relevant that your stepdaughter left your little girl with a bunch of drunken 18-year-olds?

Emily's a good kid.

Raised right.

I wasn't worried.

I picked her up.

Dropped her off.

Went right back to the job.

Okay, you could handle it.

But Emily must've been scared.

Your wife was home alone worrying.

Leave my wife out of this.

Your wife being sick.

I mean, you can almost feel that, can't you?

I mean, physically, the pain and the nausea?

You don't know what I'm feeling.

Rage.

Helplessness.

I mean, I do know 'cause my mother, she has lymphoma.

The doctors, they talk about her life in months.

And I think, you know, I'm smart, I'm resourceful.

But that, it's a lot.

Joyce is gonna make it.

She's strong.

And now, she's gonna be fine.

I got nothing more to say.

He's never gonna tell us what happened that night.

But Emily, good girl.

Girl he raised not to lie.

Your mom, that was true, wasn't it?

She's a fighter.

Hey, Sajak! How many days are you talking about?

My dad's not here, Ray.

I was just I left my cigars in the den.

Okay, help yourself.

They'll pay me for an interview?

Yeah, my dad was mad.

I could tell.

So that night, your father got angry.

And did he, did he ask you where Ashley was going?

No.

But I told him.

Ashley said she was going to a bar.

On a pier.

In the city.

I knew she was going to meet Jason Raines.

I asked my dad to go get her.

- But he couldn't.

- Since he was on duty?

You're gonna put Mr.

Raines in jail, aren't you?

He k*lled my sister.

If my dad didn't have to work that night, Ashley would still be alive.

So the 13-year-old inadvertently tipped her father off about Ashley's trip to the city.

Wiznesky goes after her.

Confronts her.

Things get out of hand.

Ashley ends up dead.

Wiznesky dumps Raines' cell phone calls, stages the robbery, drives back to Water Haven.

Good theory.

Hard to prove.

His partner had his back.

Wiznesky copied his partner's patrol log with just enough variations to ring true.

And he's got his whole department alibi-ing him.

Small town police force protecting their own.

One of my worst nightmares.

We've got no influence, no leverage.

They run their own game.

Well, maybe they think that we run ours.

Why don't I call their captain and give him a heads up about the indictment?

Indictment?

We're not even close.

I'll let him think their thin blue line has a cr*ck in it.

Maybe that'll shake things up.

What's this?

It's all our paperwork.

Living wills, power of attorney, my pension You got stuff scattered all over.

I'm just putting it in one place.

They'll be in my desk in the den.

You all right, sweetheart?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Bottom drawer.

Ray, honey?

You have visitors.

Give us a minute, would you, Joyce, sweetheart?

Everything's fine.

I know all about the indictment, detective.

It's a small town.

Could you turn around?

Take it easy, officer.

If I die before I'm charged, it's a full pension for Emily.

Put the g*n down, Ray.

What g*n?

They took my g*n away from me.

You made sure of that.

Ray.

Raines would be dead it wasn't for you.

Okay.

It was on me.

Wasn't on her.

You need to let my partner Don't move.

You can see me, right?

I'm here.

Nobody's gonna grab your g*n this time.

And I know that it wasn't your fault 'cause I read the report.

You were pulling a double shift.

You had a new baby.

You spent a lot of nights without sleep.

And this guy jumps off the bench.

It happened in one, maybe two seconds.

- I couldn't stop him.

- No one's blaming you.

That court reporter, he sh*t her in the face, and I couldn't stop him.

Daddy?

It's all right, baby.

What're you doing?

Mom wants to know.

Uh, just give us a minute.

You gotta let my partner go and look after your daughter.

Daddy?

Let me talk to her.

Daddy?

You gotta put the g*n on me, and let my partner go look after your daughter.

Put your piece on the desk.

And your partner's.

Daddy, I'm coming in.

Just give me a minute, baby.

Hold on a minute.

Now, turn around.

She's a good girl.

Emily.

She's I don't need you to tell me that.

No, I know.

It's just, she's precious.

You know, she's she looks like her mother.

Joyce.

Ashley was k*lling her.

She abandons her sister, doesn't even take care of her own mother.

No, but you found Emily.

She got home safe.

Joyce was crying.

She couldn't stop shaking.

You knew that, that they were hurting.

And you had to protect them.

Joyce didn't even get angry.

She was worried about Ashley after everything.

Tell me, how is that possible?

I don't know.

It's mothers, you know.

Back off! You knew what was going on with her.

You knew what was inside her.

Cancer cells, they feed on stress.

Joyce was never gonna get better.

Oh, see, Ashley was toxic.

She was toxic to Joyce.

I found her.

I found her and I told her, "you need to stop what you're doing," "and give your mother some peace.

" And she laughed at me.

And I slapped her.

And she looked at me, spit in my face.

Joyce is never gonna forgive me.

Hey! She needs you! How do you know?

What?

Because of your mother?

Some cop B.

S.

No, my mother is ill.

And I'm all she's got.

- And that's all Joyce has got is you.

- Not anymore.

Look, we can do something here.

They can help you out.

They'll hold the charges.

You can spend time with Joyce.

You can well, stroke her hair.

And hold her hand.

Oh, you think I'm dumb?

Some small town cop who'll roll over for NYPD?

- I never said that.

- "We can work this out.

" "Let my partner go, Ray," crap.

I let her go 'cause I don't want to k*ll her.

I wanna k*ll you.

And then me.

Who's gonna clean up the mess?

Your daughter?

Her mother?

Here.

Call your mom.

Say good-bye.

Oh, come on, Ray.

Emily.

Shut up.

Emily, your father needs you to see something.

- Eames! - She's on her way.

No.

Daddy?

No.

I said no.

Back off out there.

g*dd*mn it! You stop! Just stop! Come on, Ray.

She needs you.

Okay?

Daddy! She needs you.

You gotta let it go, okay?

I'll file the paperwork.

Take a drive upstate.

Visit your mom.

g*n! He's got a g*n! He asked to be cuffed in front out of respect to his family.

He grabbed my w*apon.

No.

No.

No.

You all right?