NCIS New Orleans (2014) s01e06 Episode Script
Master of Horror
(indistinct chatter) Say one word, it's your last.
Is that a knife in my back, Eric, or are you just happy to see me? (laughs) I told you it was too much cologne before we left the hotel.
We're in New Orleans during one of the spookiest weeks of the year.
What do you say we do something deviant? Like the sound of âdeviantâ" (laughing) Here? Yeah.
(laughs) Whoa.
WOMAN: Do you think she's passed out? Hey lady you, uh you all right? (mutters) (panting): Help me.
Devil did Th-this (weak whimper) Boom, boom, boom, boom Bang, bang, bang, bang Boom, boom, boom, boom How, how, how, how Hey, hey You gotta come on.
Morning, Brody.
Morning.
Got you some witch's brew for Hallow's Eve.
Thank you.
(chuckles) Pumpkin spice latté.
Whoo, I love this time of year.
Hm.
Wait'll you see what I got in here.
What? Bacon? You got a giant omelet to go with that? (chuckles) The bacon's not to eat, it's my costume.
The Baconator.
Half bacon half Terminator.
(like Schwarzenegger): I'll be back fat.
(laughs): That is the dumbest costume I have ever seen in my life.
I'll take that as a compliment.
Got to understand something.
In New Orleans, we don't celebrate Halloween, we celebrate Halloweek.
We got the Boo at the Zoo, Bloody Mary's Haunted Tours, and I'm headed to Voodoo Fest tomorrow night.
It's a way of life down here.
(phone rings) Lasalle here.
(indistinct voice over phone) Yeah, I'm on it.
Got a dead Navy judge in a cemetery.
Isn't that normal? Not outside the tomb.
PRIDE: Morning, Loretta.
WADE: Gives a whole new meaning to âgraveyard shift,â right? (chuckles): 'Tis the season to be spooky.
What do we have? We have Naval Staff Judge Advocate Melanie Herman.
(camera shutter clicking) Melanie? You knew her? Yeah, we brought a host of cases through her courtroom over the years.
Good as it gets with a gavel.
Last time I saw her, she was a blonde.
WADE: The color's recent-- there's still some dye on the back of her neck.
Time of death? Few minutes before 3:00 a.
m.
It's confirmed by the couple over there.
There's no dependent lividity in the extremities, which suggests significant blood loss.
She bled out? LASALLE: No blood found on or around the body.
Killer must have cleaned her, then dumped her.
Are you ready for the kicker? Two small puncture wounds near her jugular vein.
So we got a dead woman in a Victorian dress significant blood loss, with two bite marks on the side of her neck? Happy Halloween, Dwayne.
Judge Melody Herman.
Got her start in the Navy in the Judge Advocate General Corps before being bumped off the bench about 15 years ago.
Married and divorced.
One son-- junior at TCU.
Catwoman and Skeletor said they came across the body, thought she was passed out.
Last words were: âDevil did this.
â So the first thing we need to do is to rule out the random mugging, burglary and assault.
Start digging into her judicial history, see if there's someone she convicted with issues.
And the vampire angle? If Judge Herman had someone in her courtroom whose reflection doesn't show up in a mirror, they're suspect number one.
Short of that, let's assume this monster is from the human race.
LINDA: Hey.
Linda.
Came by to drop off Halloween decorations from the attic.
Chris.
How you doing, Linda? And you must be Agent Brody.
Mary.
Nice to meet you, Mrs.
Pride.
Mrs.
Pride is my mother-in-law, who for the record, I am very fond of.
Call me Linda.
So, we'll head over to Judge Herman's office, talk to her Legalman.
Take a look at all her cases.
Please.
You could've just brought these over tomorrow, you know, on-on Halloween.
I'm not coming tomorrow.
It's tradition.
We're not exactly in tradition mode right now, are we? No, I I know that, but I I just thought a bunch of kids dressed as ghosts and a nice chocolate high might lead to something fun.
I'm sure it would.
But that's exactly why it's a bad idea.
And why I made other plans.
Other plans? I don't want to make it worse by falling into old habits.
(beeping) Hang on just (sighs) Let me guess.
You have to go.
Sorry.
Enjoy your chocolate high.
(sighs) MAN: You work with someone see them every day, for ten years (voice breaking): and then they're just gone.
Any idea who did it? That's why we're here.
Has she received any threats lately? Well, course there were threats.
Judge Herman put people behind bars for a living, but there was nothing either of us considered serious.
That said, I can put together a list of all of her cases for you.
Know where she went after work last night? Let me look at her schedule.
I RSVP'd for her to attend a private retirement party at Galatoire's for Councilman Reilly.
Could be the last-known whereabouts before her murder.
Do you know if she actually attended the party? I don't.
I don't.
But I'll give you the name of the event's host.
How much do you know about Dracula? The Dracula, or someone from the Garden District named Bruce Dracula? (laughs) Bruce Dracula would be super cool.
No.
I'm talking about Count Vladislaus Dracula.
I'm a bit of a horror nut.
(sighs) Big shocker, I know.
And I'm not talking about that Twihard trash, either.
I'm talking about the classics, okay? Stephen King, New Orleans' own Anne Rice.
Before that, H.
P.
Lovecraft.
Algernon Blackwood.
Back to the judge, please.
Right.
Sorry.
So Loretta is still in autopsy, but think about it-- two puncture wounds on the neck, handmade Victorian dress, hair dyed red-- this look at this.
This is what Judge Herman looked like when she was discovered.
And this is an artistic rendering of Lucy Westenra, Dracula's first victim from Bram Stoker's novel.
Similar.
It's a dead ringer.
That is not the best choice of words.
Okay, so Judge Herman did a good job with her costume.
I don't think she had anything to do with her costume.
Step into my parlor, said the spider to the fly.
The bite mark on the judge's neck are superficial, less than two millimeters deep.
Which means it's not able to reach the jugular vein, so that is not the source of the blood loss.
I also swabbed for foreign organic matter.
Came up with nothing.
So not bites.
My guess is the tip of a knife.
Just for show? WADE: That's correct.
Now the real source of the blood loss-- an incision on the side of the judge near her lower back right here.
And this cut is not something done in a hospital.
There is no evidence of any surgical expertise.
It's all very crude.
Also, chloroform found in her bloodstream, which means she was most likely unconscious.
(scoffs) Thank God.
But still What is Hold that question, Dwayne.
After the incision, the site was sewn up, using this silk-braided thread as a makeshift suture, and this thread Is identical to the hem on the dress that she was found in.
Right.
PRIDE: Wait, the killer drugged her, cut her open, takes a thread from this dress, and sews up her wound, then redresses her to look like Lucy Westenra from Dracula? 'S cool.
In a sick, plotty kind of way.
Now can I ask that question? Yes, Dwayne, now's the time.
What's the incision for? Killer stole her kidney.
Her what? WADE: Kidney.
Removed her kidney.
All right Horror Guy anything about Dracula being a kidney thief? Nope.
Total loss.
That makes two of us.
What are we looking at here, organ harvesting? Seems more personal than that.
No need to do the costume bit if what you're looking for is a quick buck on the black market.
Herman's Legalman tell you anything? Just a stack of case files-- which I'm gonna go through, see if anyone's capable of this kind of butchery.
Dern also gave us the judge's possible last known whereabouts-- party at Galatoire's.
Get the guest list, talk to staff? Tried to, but the owner is stonewalling us.
Host didn't want any information released.
We're getting a subpoena.
No time for a subpoena.
Go straight to the host.
Yeah, King? The host (quiet chuckle) he's not your biggest fan.
Councilman Hamilton.
Dwayne! (sighs) Will you excuse me, please? Sure, no problem.
So, to what do I owe this honor? You stonewalled my agents from getting a guest list that they requested.
Ah.
If this is about you not receiving an invite to my soiree, I suggest next time you just have your wife call, since she's the one who's got all the charm.
Don't think charm is required in a murder investigation.
Is this another one of your wild theories? I mean, are you suggesting again that I I've had a hand in whatever happened to your victim? I'm suggesting you protect yourself from potential obstruction charges.
(soft chuckle) Be a shame to have to cuff your ass in front of all these registered voters.
I'll call Galatoire's, have them offer up whatever you like.
Okay.
Wise move.
As you like to say âHave a blessed day.
â Whoa, whoa, what do we have here? Galatoire's sent a little snack along with the guest list and security footage.
Oysters? And you didn't save me any? I did save you some ice.
(laughs) Did you find anything in Dern's files? No organ thieves, and no one with any special surgical expertise.
No one on dialysis in need of a kidney.
Just 200 convicts who hated Judge Herman.
Because they're all innocent? Yep.
And you? Well, nothing obvious from the guest list-- but check this out.
Cameras caught the judge leaving the restaurant around 9:15.
She leave alone? Well, she left alone, but it didn't stay like that for long.
Tapped into various French Quarter cameras leading away from Galatoire's.
Followed her path, and after looking at several different angles, I noticed the same man trailing her: Petty Officer Jake Dern.
Huh.
I thought he said, âI don't know if she attendedâ" Did he approach her, try to grab her? There's no way to tell.
Cameras cut out in the next block and I lost him, but he definitely knew where she was.
Jake Dern.
Liar, liar, pants on fire.
Petty Officer Dern! You're home from work early.
LASALLE: We tried calling your office multiple times-- you can't return our calls? Hate to think you've been avoiding us.
Was there a a problem with the files? The files were fine.
Your recent whereabouts, not so much.
What's this? That's you following Judge Herman.
BRODY: There she is-- and look, the judge is always just ahead of you.
Really? I had no idea.
For eight blocks? I was just on my way home.
It's a crowded street.
You know more than anyone that won't hold up in court.
I didn't kill her.
LASALLE: Then why didn't you tell us everything you knew when we were being friendly? You had a thing for her.
She wasn't into you, was she? That made you angry.
Rage-ful.
Enough to make you want to lash out.
Yes, I I followed her.
Just wanted to see if she was going to meet someone after the party.
But then she turned around.
Almost saw me, near the corner of Royal and Dumaine.
I hid, and she went east.
Then I went to Patty's and drank for the rest of the night.
This is where Dern lost Judge Herman.
If we believe his story.
I called over at Patty's.
They said Dern was there, just like he told us.
No cameras.
Halloween is everywhere, isn't it? (Lasalle chuckles) Hey, come on, you go green face, put on Kevlar-- you're the Wicked Witch of the Vest.
Over my dead body.
That's the spirit.
(chuckles) It's probably not a coincidence this is happening on Halloween.
A crime like this'll get extra attention.
It just got mine.
This remind you of anyone? Judge Herman.
(hinges squeaking) (door creaking open) BRODY: Blood.
Brody I'll call Wade.
I'll call Pride.
Sebastian ran your victim's fingerprints against military records.
He is Lieutenant Commander Joel Abram, naval aviator.
Assigned to VR-44.
And from what I can tell, uh, based on rigor mortis, he's been dead at least three days.
And he's definitely related to your judge case.
How do you know? Ask me.
Trick or treat.
Sorry? Choose trick, 'cause it's a good one.
Trick? Abrams has a similar incision to the judge on the side, and when I investigated the wound, I found human beings are born with two kidneys.
This one had a third.
Clearly placed inside the body postmortem.
I ran tissue tests on the one that shouldn't be there.
You want to guess who the wayward kidney belongs to? Judge Melanie Herman? Told you it'd be a good trick.
BRODY: It's just twisted.
Killer plays dress-up with one corpse, hides the kidney with the other? And as far as we know, they don't seem to have run across each other in the service, or personally, or anywhere.
But they did in the courtroom.
Abram was a jury member on a military court-martial that Judge Herman presided over.
What was the case? Sexual assault.
Victim was a woman named Denise Murdock.
Defendant was Chief Petty Officer John Neville-- sentenced to seven years in the Charleston Naval Brig.
Neville always maintained his innocence.
Appealed numerous times, his lawyer claiming evidence tampering and witness coercion.
And he was released three months ago.
So it wasn't âDevil did this.
â It was âNeville did this.
â If it was him he's already killed the judge and a juror.
We can't be sure who's next, but we got to be especially concerned about The victim in the case-- Denise Murdock.
If she's still alive, we got to find her before Neville does.
My baby girl.
I called her cell, it went straight to voice mail.
I went to her apartment.
Her cat was there, all alone, no water.
When was the last time you talked to her? Two days ago.
This just can't be happening.
She's already been through so much, Agent Pride.
I don't know what I'd do, if this time We're going to do everything we can in our power to find her, Ms.
Murdock.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Will you give me a moment? Yeah.
Got John Neville's address-- outside of town, 20 minutes.
BOLO on Denise's car got a hit.
But no Denise? Drop Mrs.
Murdock off at the office, then follow up on the BOLO.
Brody, you're with me.
This here is private property.
This is where I show you the badge, Mr.
Neville.
NCIS.
I got nothing to say to you people.
You're on parole, John.
You're gonna talk whether you want to or not.
About what? I'm on the straight and narrow.
Besides you're not my parole officer.
We can drag him down here, if you want to.
Or you can just tell me where you were two nights ago.
None of your damn business.
A dead judge and a juror from your trial make it our business.
You go to hell.
Now, hey, easy, easy, Pa.
No, no, no.
These sons of bitches they're here to frame me again.
I already had my wife leave.
I lost my retirement! I'm innocent, you bastard.
Hey, take it easy, Pa.
Back off, half-wit! I think you should listen to your son there, John.
Good advice.
I didn't kill no one.
Like I didn't assault that girl.
So unless you got evidence that says I did, get the hell off my property.
Now.
Charmer.
LASALLE: This is Denise Murdock's vehicle, right? Yeah.
Looks like the car was run off the road.
And there are signs of a struggle.
Driver's-side window, smashed.
Looks like blood here.
What's this white stuff? Don't know.
You wouldn't want two tickets to Voodoo Fest, would you, Officer Sullos? Why? Looks like it's gonna be a long night.
Just got an e-mail from a Dr.
Wilkins, former staff psychologist at Charleston during the time Neville was there.
He's already on a commuter flight, be here in 30.
Good.
I'll go check in on Mrs.
Murdock, see how she's do You find the girl? I found another box of decorations, and came by to give them to you.
I saw Mrs.
Murdock.
She's scared to death.
She has reason to be.
Thanks for staying with her.
I know you got to go.
I'm not going anywhere.
Not until her daughter's found.
How many times over the years have you sat with a terrified family member, kept them calm? Another tradition.
BRODY: Pride.
Loretta needs to see you.
Go.
Learn things.
He got that from you? Damn straight.
Loretta.
I got two dead bodies and a missing girl.
Need something good.
Oh, it's good.
Says the horror fanatic.
So we have Lieutenant Commander Abram.
Like the judge, we found chloroform in the bloodstream, but instead of bite marks, we have burn marks.
Tissue suggests an electronic charge made directly on the skin.
Killer used a stun gun to subdue Abram.
WADE: I agree.
But it doesn't explain the burn marks on the right side of the neck.
Why would anyone stun a dead body? Call on me.
Okay, so, if Judge Herman was Lucy from Dracula, Lieutenant Commander Abram is Frankenstein's monster.
Really? I read mostly nonfiction.
We have a dead body with an organ placed inside of it.
That organ came from another dead body in a cemetery, which is precisely where Victor Frankenstein got his spare parts to make his monster, and the burn marks from the stun gun are The killer's symbolic attempt to bring the body back to life? Using electricity.
John Neville used to sit in my office and rant about how he'd been wronged.
That sounds like a lot of fun.
Perks of the job.
(laughs) Guy had a temper, he's a dark soul.
Used to routinely get into it with inmates and guards, and then get sent to me, and I'd have to listen to his twisted fantasies.
He was into horror? Oh, read it all the time.
And not the subtle stuff-- pulp, underground novels.
I brought a list of what we found when he was released.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Lasalle, this is Dr.
Samuel Wilkins.
When Agent Brody called, said John Neville was back on the radar, got here as fast as I could.
Appreciate it.
Any update on what you found in Denise's car? Waiting on a match of the blood spatter, but analysis on the white substance says gypsum.
Forgive the forensically challenged, but gypsum? It's what they use to make plaster or drywall.
Okay.
Chainsaw Christmas.
Up to Snuff.
This is all pretty grisly material.
Yeah.
You won't find that in Oprah's Book-of-the-Month club.
You're in Oprah's book club? She's actually got pretty decent taste.
Wait, there's a horror anthology here-- three stories, and the first two, Dracula and Frankenstein, match the M.
O.
of our first two victims.
Well, what's the third? Edgar Allen Poe's âCask of Amontillado.
â Any chance Oprah recommended that one to you? No.
But my English Lit professor did.
Revenge tale-- the villain, Montressor, feels so wronged by his enemy, Fortunato, that he imprisons him in chains in his cellar, leaving him to starve, and then he builds a wall around him.
Drywall.
Means we got something on John Neville.
Means Denise may still be alive.
NCIS! Huh? Hands in the air, Jesse.
Where's your father? I-I don't know.
Clear.
Clear.
BRODY: Stand up.
Turn around.
Put your hands over your head.
Interlace your fingers behind your neck.
(John grunting) (dogs barking in distance) You're under arrest, you sick bastard.
Come on, get up.
Where is she? Where's Denise Murdock? How the hell should I know! Get him out of here.
And then find her.
Come on! Tear this place apart.
LASALLE (calls): Denise Murdock? What's this? Pa-Pa's stuff, for his condition-- he needs that.
Get him out of here.
Please, anything bad happens, he'll blame me, I know it.
He don't need to be here.
Please (clang in distance) Got anything? Nothing.
BRODY: Pride.
What's up there? Bloody knife you used to cut out your victims' kidneys.
Stun gun you used to recreate Frankenstein's monster.
Denise Murdock's driver's license and credit cards, all found in the crawlspace above your bedroom.
Talk to us.
Maybe I got a raccoon.
They're known to collect things.
Raccoons put your blood in Denise's car? Where is she, John? Saving the girl may be the only thing that spares your life.
My life is over.
So is hers.
LINDA: So she's dead? If you believe John Neville.
You don't.
Evidence lines up.
But? She's alive.
Somewhere.
Speak.
I fell in love with you because of your hunches, Dwayne.
Hands.
Lasalle found blood in Denise's car-- Neville's blood-- but Neville doesn't have any cuts.
On his hands, on his arms.
Anywhere.
LASALLE: You're sure the blood's a match for John Neville? Infinity percent, actually.
BRODY: So if it's a match, he's telling the truth-- he's the killer.
Well, that percentage is a lot lower.
In fact, I don't think John Neville was anywhere near that car.
Now if he cut himself on the broken glass two days ago, that might have been enough time for the skin to heal, depending on the severity of the wound-- but I kept looking at those photos that you took of the blood spatter.
Something wasn't sitting right.
Something other than me.
On account of this rash that I have On account of this late fall heat BOTH: Sebastian.
By sharing, we grow closer.
Anyway I ran 40 different simulations, trying figure out if the blood got there from punching in the window or maybe some kind of struggle with Denise, even if they were doing the tango, and none of them matches the pattern that you found.
All of these blood spots are too perfect, as if they were Planted.
But how did someone get access to Neville's blood? Hemochromatosis.
I hope you're not talking about your rash again.
It's a condition in which there's an abnormal accumulation of iron in the parenchymal organs.
The only way to bring it down to safe levels is by regularly removing blood from your body, and John Neville's got it.
His son Jesse panicked when I found the medical equipment.
(Brody sighs) Wh-Why would I why would I put Pa's blood in-in-in that lady's car? Don't know.
But we found the medical equipment at your house.
You had access on account of his condition.
Have you-you got a aspirin? I-I got a headache.
BRODY (over speaker): Maybe it's your conscience telling you to come clean.
JESSE: Look, I swear I don't know nothing about that girl.
You also swear you didn't send that anthology to your father? You knew how much he loved horror.
You wanted to make sure it was in his possession? Checked your father's prison delivery manifest.
You sent the book.
You could have put those items in the attic of the house.
Why-why would I do that? He destroyed your family.
My head my head, it Jesse.
Please, please, I I-I'll do whatever you want.
I'll I'll take one of them lie tests, anything.
Wait.
He passed? Every answer, rock solid.
Don't know how, but he's telling the truth.
Or he thinks he is.
Jekyll and Hyde.
DPD-- Dissociative Personality Disorder-- which often manifests as a result of abuse during childhood development.
When that happens, an alternate personality develops to shield the abused from harm.
Two personalities-- and the primary you've been talking to-- Dr.
Jekyll-- is completely unaware of what Mr.
Hyde has done.
How he passed the lie detector test.
So Denise Murdock if we have any hope of finding her alive You've talked to Jekyll.
Now you need to get to Mr.
Hyde.
Question is how do we do that? JESSE (over speaker): Can I go home now? BRODY (over speaker): Just a few more questions.
JESSE: I don't know anything about those people or-or that girl.
BRODY: I believe you.
Pa don't either.
I believe him, too.
City's like a sauna out there, huh? Hm? So? Well, just every time I see you, you've got this (stammers) long-sleeve shirt on.
Your father do this to you? I want to go home.
And you can.
As soon as I can talk to the person who knows where Denise Murdock is.
I told you, I don't I know what you told me, but there is a girl out there dying somewhere.
Look I'm your friend, okay? You got to talk to me.
And if I don't? You don't want to know.
You sure about this? If a Hyde personality exists and if he's protecting Jesse, only way to bring him out is to make the alternate believe you're going to hurt the primary.
PRIDE: You lied to us.
No, I didn't.
Yes, you did.
No.
And I got a girl dying out there.
And I swear to you you don't tell me what I need to know, what your father did to your arms there, child's play compared to what I'm gonna do.
Stop.
Is that what you want? Do you want me to hurt you Please-please like your father did? 'Cause I'm willing BRODY: Pride.
to do whatever it takes to save that girl.
I don't know anything.
Yes, you do.
No, I don't.
Yes, you know! Time's up, you half-wit.
You think about burning Jesse, you're gonna wish you got off as easy as the judge and Abram! (grunts) (laughing quietly) (panting) (continues panting) Big man needs a little girl to come to the rescue.
Nice to meet you, Mr.
Hyde.
Shall we take that lie detector test again? You killed Judge Herman and Lieutenant Commander Abrams because you wanted to put Jesse's father back in prison where he wouldn't hurt Jesse again.
(laughs softly) But Denise is a victim just like Jesse is.
Denise was more than that.
She was the first chapter.
You assaulted her back then.
(pants) You framed Jesse's father and had him put away the first time.
Only for seven years.
And if that judge had just given cruel, cruel John the maximum no one else would have gotten hurt.
And you know who's gonna get hurt now is Jesse if he goes to that maximum security prison.
And that's what's gonna happen if you don't tell us where Denise is.
But cooperate, help us find her alive, we might be able to get Jesse to a place where he can get help.
(exhales) Why not? You're probably too late, anyway.
Pride, in here! Yep.
Hold that lock.
Fortunato was buried in a cellar.
New nails in that piece of plywood.
Get the crowbar.
She's here.
PRIDE: Denise.
Got a pulse.
(weak gasp, groan) (siren wailing in distance) Baby, it's Mommy.
(crying) Okay.
It's okay.
Is Denise gonna be okay? Paramedics say she's suffering from dehydration.
But she'll recover.
Appreciate you bringing Mrs.
Murdock.
It was the least I could do.
I know I've been hard on you, hard on your job.
But it's not really about the amount of work, it's about the kind of work.
Every case that you've had has made me think what if the missing girl was Laurel? What if the dead guy were Dwayne? (wry laugh) I'm not afraid of ghosts or goblins.
What scares the crap out of me is the idea that your work might come home.
Y-You know what scares me? Is the idea that my work might be the reason that I don't get to come home.
You should go.
What about that trick-or-treating tradition? Always next year.
You're a good man, Mr.
Pride.
Don't you ever forget it, Mrs.
Pride.
Ah One crack, and I'll put another crack in your skull.
(laughs) It's good to see you get in the spirit.
When in Rome, right? Any, uh, any guesses? WILKINS: Freudian slip.
Cigar's a nice touch.
Most people don't know that Freud preferred them to pipes.
Love a woman who pays attention to detail.
(like Schwarzenegger): I need your clothes, your motorcycle, and some bacon, too.
(laughs) Is he always like this? Yes.
It was a pleasure working with you, Doctor.
Pleasure was all mine.
Wish me luck.
Good luck.
Bye.
What? (chuckles) You know what.
I think the good doc has a little Brody crush.
Don't even start with that.
(sighs) You off to Voodoo Fest? Decided to stay here.
I can't leave King on his first Halloween alone.
You going out? And miss all the fun here? Hell, no.
Is that a knife in my back, Eric, or are you just happy to see me? (laughs) I told you it was too much cologne before we left the hotel.
We're in New Orleans during one of the spookiest weeks of the year.
What do you say we do something deviant? Like the sound of âdeviantâ" (laughing) Here? Yeah.
(laughs) Whoa.
WOMAN: Do you think she's passed out? Hey lady you, uh you all right? (mutters) (panting): Help me.
Devil did Th-this (weak whimper) Boom, boom, boom, boom Bang, bang, bang, bang Boom, boom, boom, boom How, how, how, how Hey, hey You gotta come on.
Morning, Brody.
Morning.
Got you some witch's brew for Hallow's Eve.
Thank you.
(chuckles) Pumpkin spice latté.
Whoo, I love this time of year.
Hm.
Wait'll you see what I got in here.
What? Bacon? You got a giant omelet to go with that? (chuckles) The bacon's not to eat, it's my costume.
The Baconator.
Half bacon half Terminator.
(like Schwarzenegger): I'll be back fat.
(laughs): That is the dumbest costume I have ever seen in my life.
I'll take that as a compliment.
Got to understand something.
In New Orleans, we don't celebrate Halloween, we celebrate Halloweek.
We got the Boo at the Zoo, Bloody Mary's Haunted Tours, and I'm headed to Voodoo Fest tomorrow night.
It's a way of life down here.
(phone rings) Lasalle here.
(indistinct voice over phone) Yeah, I'm on it.
Got a dead Navy judge in a cemetery.
Isn't that normal? Not outside the tomb.
PRIDE: Morning, Loretta.
WADE: Gives a whole new meaning to âgraveyard shift,â right? (chuckles): 'Tis the season to be spooky.
What do we have? We have Naval Staff Judge Advocate Melanie Herman.
(camera shutter clicking) Melanie? You knew her? Yeah, we brought a host of cases through her courtroom over the years.
Good as it gets with a gavel.
Last time I saw her, she was a blonde.
WADE: The color's recent-- there's still some dye on the back of her neck.
Time of death? Few minutes before 3:00 a.
m.
It's confirmed by the couple over there.
There's no dependent lividity in the extremities, which suggests significant blood loss.
She bled out? LASALLE: No blood found on or around the body.
Killer must have cleaned her, then dumped her.
Are you ready for the kicker? Two small puncture wounds near her jugular vein.
So we got a dead woman in a Victorian dress significant blood loss, with two bite marks on the side of her neck? Happy Halloween, Dwayne.
Judge Melody Herman.
Got her start in the Navy in the Judge Advocate General Corps before being bumped off the bench about 15 years ago.
Married and divorced.
One son-- junior at TCU.
Catwoman and Skeletor said they came across the body, thought she was passed out.
Last words were: âDevil did this.
â So the first thing we need to do is to rule out the random mugging, burglary and assault.
Start digging into her judicial history, see if there's someone she convicted with issues.
And the vampire angle? If Judge Herman had someone in her courtroom whose reflection doesn't show up in a mirror, they're suspect number one.
Short of that, let's assume this monster is from the human race.
LINDA: Hey.
Linda.
Came by to drop off Halloween decorations from the attic.
Chris.
How you doing, Linda? And you must be Agent Brody.
Mary.
Nice to meet you, Mrs.
Pride.
Mrs.
Pride is my mother-in-law, who for the record, I am very fond of.
Call me Linda.
So, we'll head over to Judge Herman's office, talk to her Legalman.
Take a look at all her cases.
Please.
You could've just brought these over tomorrow, you know, on-on Halloween.
I'm not coming tomorrow.
It's tradition.
We're not exactly in tradition mode right now, are we? No, I I know that, but I I just thought a bunch of kids dressed as ghosts and a nice chocolate high might lead to something fun.
I'm sure it would.
But that's exactly why it's a bad idea.
And why I made other plans.
Other plans? I don't want to make it worse by falling into old habits.
(beeping) Hang on just (sighs) Let me guess.
You have to go.
Sorry.
Enjoy your chocolate high.
(sighs) MAN: You work with someone see them every day, for ten years (voice breaking): and then they're just gone.
Any idea who did it? That's why we're here.
Has she received any threats lately? Well, course there were threats.
Judge Herman put people behind bars for a living, but there was nothing either of us considered serious.
That said, I can put together a list of all of her cases for you.
Know where she went after work last night? Let me look at her schedule.
I RSVP'd for her to attend a private retirement party at Galatoire's for Councilman Reilly.
Could be the last-known whereabouts before her murder.
Do you know if she actually attended the party? I don't.
I don't.
But I'll give you the name of the event's host.
How much do you know about Dracula? The Dracula, or someone from the Garden District named Bruce Dracula? (laughs) Bruce Dracula would be super cool.
No.
I'm talking about Count Vladislaus Dracula.
I'm a bit of a horror nut.
(sighs) Big shocker, I know.
And I'm not talking about that Twihard trash, either.
I'm talking about the classics, okay? Stephen King, New Orleans' own Anne Rice.
Before that, H.
P.
Lovecraft.
Algernon Blackwood.
Back to the judge, please.
Right.
Sorry.
So Loretta is still in autopsy, but think about it-- two puncture wounds on the neck, handmade Victorian dress, hair dyed red-- this look at this.
This is what Judge Herman looked like when she was discovered.
And this is an artistic rendering of Lucy Westenra, Dracula's first victim from Bram Stoker's novel.
Similar.
It's a dead ringer.
That is not the best choice of words.
Okay, so Judge Herman did a good job with her costume.
I don't think she had anything to do with her costume.
Step into my parlor, said the spider to the fly.
The bite mark on the judge's neck are superficial, less than two millimeters deep.
Which means it's not able to reach the jugular vein, so that is not the source of the blood loss.
I also swabbed for foreign organic matter.
Came up with nothing.
So not bites.
My guess is the tip of a knife.
Just for show? WADE: That's correct.
Now the real source of the blood loss-- an incision on the side of the judge near her lower back right here.
And this cut is not something done in a hospital.
There is no evidence of any surgical expertise.
It's all very crude.
Also, chloroform found in her bloodstream, which means she was most likely unconscious.
(scoffs) Thank God.
But still What is Hold that question, Dwayne.
After the incision, the site was sewn up, using this silk-braided thread as a makeshift suture, and this thread Is identical to the hem on the dress that she was found in.
Right.
PRIDE: Wait, the killer drugged her, cut her open, takes a thread from this dress, and sews up her wound, then redresses her to look like Lucy Westenra from Dracula? 'S cool.
In a sick, plotty kind of way.
Now can I ask that question? Yes, Dwayne, now's the time.
What's the incision for? Killer stole her kidney.
Her what? WADE: Kidney.
Removed her kidney.
All right Horror Guy anything about Dracula being a kidney thief? Nope.
Total loss.
That makes two of us.
What are we looking at here, organ harvesting? Seems more personal than that.
No need to do the costume bit if what you're looking for is a quick buck on the black market.
Herman's Legalman tell you anything? Just a stack of case files-- which I'm gonna go through, see if anyone's capable of this kind of butchery.
Dern also gave us the judge's possible last known whereabouts-- party at Galatoire's.
Get the guest list, talk to staff? Tried to, but the owner is stonewalling us.
Host didn't want any information released.
We're getting a subpoena.
No time for a subpoena.
Go straight to the host.
Yeah, King? The host (quiet chuckle) he's not your biggest fan.
Councilman Hamilton.
Dwayne! (sighs) Will you excuse me, please? Sure, no problem.
So, to what do I owe this honor? You stonewalled my agents from getting a guest list that they requested.
Ah.
If this is about you not receiving an invite to my soiree, I suggest next time you just have your wife call, since she's the one who's got all the charm.
Don't think charm is required in a murder investigation.
Is this another one of your wild theories? I mean, are you suggesting again that I I've had a hand in whatever happened to your victim? I'm suggesting you protect yourself from potential obstruction charges.
(soft chuckle) Be a shame to have to cuff your ass in front of all these registered voters.
I'll call Galatoire's, have them offer up whatever you like.
Okay.
Wise move.
As you like to say âHave a blessed day.
â Whoa, whoa, what do we have here? Galatoire's sent a little snack along with the guest list and security footage.
Oysters? And you didn't save me any? I did save you some ice.
(laughs) Did you find anything in Dern's files? No organ thieves, and no one with any special surgical expertise.
No one on dialysis in need of a kidney.
Just 200 convicts who hated Judge Herman.
Because they're all innocent? Yep.
And you? Well, nothing obvious from the guest list-- but check this out.
Cameras caught the judge leaving the restaurant around 9:15.
She leave alone? Well, she left alone, but it didn't stay like that for long.
Tapped into various French Quarter cameras leading away from Galatoire's.
Followed her path, and after looking at several different angles, I noticed the same man trailing her: Petty Officer Jake Dern.
Huh.
I thought he said, âI don't know if she attendedâ" Did he approach her, try to grab her? There's no way to tell.
Cameras cut out in the next block and I lost him, but he definitely knew where she was.
Jake Dern.
Liar, liar, pants on fire.
Petty Officer Dern! You're home from work early.
LASALLE: We tried calling your office multiple times-- you can't return our calls? Hate to think you've been avoiding us.
Was there a a problem with the files? The files were fine.
Your recent whereabouts, not so much.
What's this? That's you following Judge Herman.
BRODY: There she is-- and look, the judge is always just ahead of you.
Really? I had no idea.
For eight blocks? I was just on my way home.
It's a crowded street.
You know more than anyone that won't hold up in court.
I didn't kill her.
LASALLE: Then why didn't you tell us everything you knew when we were being friendly? You had a thing for her.
She wasn't into you, was she? That made you angry.
Rage-ful.
Enough to make you want to lash out.
Yes, I I followed her.
Just wanted to see if she was going to meet someone after the party.
But then she turned around.
Almost saw me, near the corner of Royal and Dumaine.
I hid, and she went east.
Then I went to Patty's and drank for the rest of the night.
This is where Dern lost Judge Herman.
If we believe his story.
I called over at Patty's.
They said Dern was there, just like he told us.
No cameras.
Halloween is everywhere, isn't it? (Lasalle chuckles) Hey, come on, you go green face, put on Kevlar-- you're the Wicked Witch of the Vest.
Over my dead body.
That's the spirit.
(chuckles) It's probably not a coincidence this is happening on Halloween.
A crime like this'll get extra attention.
It just got mine.
This remind you of anyone? Judge Herman.
(hinges squeaking) (door creaking open) BRODY: Blood.
Brody I'll call Wade.
I'll call Pride.
Sebastian ran your victim's fingerprints against military records.
He is Lieutenant Commander Joel Abram, naval aviator.
Assigned to VR-44.
And from what I can tell, uh, based on rigor mortis, he's been dead at least three days.
And he's definitely related to your judge case.
How do you know? Ask me.
Trick or treat.
Sorry? Choose trick, 'cause it's a good one.
Trick? Abrams has a similar incision to the judge on the side, and when I investigated the wound, I found human beings are born with two kidneys.
This one had a third.
Clearly placed inside the body postmortem.
I ran tissue tests on the one that shouldn't be there.
You want to guess who the wayward kidney belongs to? Judge Melanie Herman? Told you it'd be a good trick.
BRODY: It's just twisted.
Killer plays dress-up with one corpse, hides the kidney with the other? And as far as we know, they don't seem to have run across each other in the service, or personally, or anywhere.
But they did in the courtroom.
Abram was a jury member on a military court-martial that Judge Herman presided over.
What was the case? Sexual assault.
Victim was a woman named Denise Murdock.
Defendant was Chief Petty Officer John Neville-- sentenced to seven years in the Charleston Naval Brig.
Neville always maintained his innocence.
Appealed numerous times, his lawyer claiming evidence tampering and witness coercion.
And he was released three months ago.
So it wasn't âDevil did this.
â It was âNeville did this.
â If it was him he's already killed the judge and a juror.
We can't be sure who's next, but we got to be especially concerned about The victim in the case-- Denise Murdock.
If she's still alive, we got to find her before Neville does.
My baby girl.
I called her cell, it went straight to voice mail.
I went to her apartment.
Her cat was there, all alone, no water.
When was the last time you talked to her? Two days ago.
This just can't be happening.
She's already been through so much, Agent Pride.
I don't know what I'd do, if this time We're going to do everything we can in our power to find her, Ms.
Murdock.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Will you give me a moment? Yeah.
Got John Neville's address-- outside of town, 20 minutes.
BOLO on Denise's car got a hit.
But no Denise? Drop Mrs.
Murdock off at the office, then follow up on the BOLO.
Brody, you're with me.
This here is private property.
This is where I show you the badge, Mr.
Neville.
NCIS.
I got nothing to say to you people.
You're on parole, John.
You're gonna talk whether you want to or not.
About what? I'm on the straight and narrow.
Besides you're not my parole officer.
We can drag him down here, if you want to.
Or you can just tell me where you were two nights ago.
None of your damn business.
A dead judge and a juror from your trial make it our business.
You go to hell.
Now, hey, easy, easy, Pa.
No, no, no.
These sons of bitches they're here to frame me again.
I already had my wife leave.
I lost my retirement! I'm innocent, you bastard.
Hey, take it easy, Pa.
Back off, half-wit! I think you should listen to your son there, John.
Good advice.
I didn't kill no one.
Like I didn't assault that girl.
So unless you got evidence that says I did, get the hell off my property.
Now.
Charmer.
LASALLE: This is Denise Murdock's vehicle, right? Yeah.
Looks like the car was run off the road.
And there are signs of a struggle.
Driver's-side window, smashed.
Looks like blood here.
What's this white stuff? Don't know.
You wouldn't want two tickets to Voodoo Fest, would you, Officer Sullos? Why? Looks like it's gonna be a long night.
Just got an e-mail from a Dr.
Wilkins, former staff psychologist at Charleston during the time Neville was there.
He's already on a commuter flight, be here in 30.
Good.
I'll go check in on Mrs.
Murdock, see how she's do You find the girl? I found another box of decorations, and came by to give them to you.
I saw Mrs.
Murdock.
She's scared to death.
She has reason to be.
Thanks for staying with her.
I know you got to go.
I'm not going anywhere.
Not until her daughter's found.
How many times over the years have you sat with a terrified family member, kept them calm? Another tradition.
BRODY: Pride.
Loretta needs to see you.
Go.
Learn things.
He got that from you? Damn straight.
Loretta.
I got two dead bodies and a missing girl.
Need something good.
Oh, it's good.
Says the horror fanatic.
So we have Lieutenant Commander Abram.
Like the judge, we found chloroform in the bloodstream, but instead of bite marks, we have burn marks.
Tissue suggests an electronic charge made directly on the skin.
Killer used a stun gun to subdue Abram.
WADE: I agree.
But it doesn't explain the burn marks on the right side of the neck.
Why would anyone stun a dead body? Call on me.
Okay, so, if Judge Herman was Lucy from Dracula, Lieutenant Commander Abram is Frankenstein's monster.
Really? I read mostly nonfiction.
We have a dead body with an organ placed inside of it.
That organ came from another dead body in a cemetery, which is precisely where Victor Frankenstein got his spare parts to make his monster, and the burn marks from the stun gun are The killer's symbolic attempt to bring the body back to life? Using electricity.
John Neville used to sit in my office and rant about how he'd been wronged.
That sounds like a lot of fun.
Perks of the job.
(laughs) Guy had a temper, he's a dark soul.
Used to routinely get into it with inmates and guards, and then get sent to me, and I'd have to listen to his twisted fantasies.
He was into horror? Oh, read it all the time.
And not the subtle stuff-- pulp, underground novels.
I brought a list of what we found when he was released.
Thank you.
Yeah.
Lasalle, this is Dr.
Samuel Wilkins.
When Agent Brody called, said John Neville was back on the radar, got here as fast as I could.
Appreciate it.
Any update on what you found in Denise's car? Waiting on a match of the blood spatter, but analysis on the white substance says gypsum.
Forgive the forensically challenged, but gypsum? It's what they use to make plaster or drywall.
Okay.
Chainsaw Christmas.
Up to Snuff.
This is all pretty grisly material.
Yeah.
You won't find that in Oprah's Book-of-the-Month club.
You're in Oprah's book club? She's actually got pretty decent taste.
Wait, there's a horror anthology here-- three stories, and the first two, Dracula and Frankenstein, match the M.
O.
of our first two victims.
Well, what's the third? Edgar Allen Poe's âCask of Amontillado.
â Any chance Oprah recommended that one to you? No.
But my English Lit professor did.
Revenge tale-- the villain, Montressor, feels so wronged by his enemy, Fortunato, that he imprisons him in chains in his cellar, leaving him to starve, and then he builds a wall around him.
Drywall.
Means we got something on John Neville.
Means Denise may still be alive.
NCIS! Huh? Hands in the air, Jesse.
Where's your father? I-I don't know.
Clear.
Clear.
BRODY: Stand up.
Turn around.
Put your hands over your head.
Interlace your fingers behind your neck.
(John grunting) (dogs barking in distance) You're under arrest, you sick bastard.
Come on, get up.
Where is she? Where's Denise Murdock? How the hell should I know! Get him out of here.
And then find her.
Come on! Tear this place apart.
LASALLE (calls): Denise Murdock? What's this? Pa-Pa's stuff, for his condition-- he needs that.
Get him out of here.
Please, anything bad happens, he'll blame me, I know it.
He don't need to be here.
Please (clang in distance) Got anything? Nothing.
BRODY: Pride.
What's up there? Bloody knife you used to cut out your victims' kidneys.
Stun gun you used to recreate Frankenstein's monster.
Denise Murdock's driver's license and credit cards, all found in the crawlspace above your bedroom.
Talk to us.
Maybe I got a raccoon.
They're known to collect things.
Raccoons put your blood in Denise's car? Where is she, John? Saving the girl may be the only thing that spares your life.
My life is over.
So is hers.
LINDA: So she's dead? If you believe John Neville.
You don't.
Evidence lines up.
But? She's alive.
Somewhere.
Speak.
I fell in love with you because of your hunches, Dwayne.
Hands.
Lasalle found blood in Denise's car-- Neville's blood-- but Neville doesn't have any cuts.
On his hands, on his arms.
Anywhere.
LASALLE: You're sure the blood's a match for John Neville? Infinity percent, actually.
BRODY: So if it's a match, he's telling the truth-- he's the killer.
Well, that percentage is a lot lower.
In fact, I don't think John Neville was anywhere near that car.
Now if he cut himself on the broken glass two days ago, that might have been enough time for the skin to heal, depending on the severity of the wound-- but I kept looking at those photos that you took of the blood spatter.
Something wasn't sitting right.
Something other than me.
On account of this rash that I have On account of this late fall heat BOTH: Sebastian.
By sharing, we grow closer.
Anyway I ran 40 different simulations, trying figure out if the blood got there from punching in the window or maybe some kind of struggle with Denise, even if they were doing the tango, and none of them matches the pattern that you found.
All of these blood spots are too perfect, as if they were Planted.
But how did someone get access to Neville's blood? Hemochromatosis.
I hope you're not talking about your rash again.
It's a condition in which there's an abnormal accumulation of iron in the parenchymal organs.
The only way to bring it down to safe levels is by regularly removing blood from your body, and John Neville's got it.
His son Jesse panicked when I found the medical equipment.
(Brody sighs) Wh-Why would I why would I put Pa's blood in-in-in that lady's car? Don't know.
But we found the medical equipment at your house.
You had access on account of his condition.
Have you-you got a aspirin? I-I got a headache.
BRODY (over speaker): Maybe it's your conscience telling you to come clean.
JESSE: Look, I swear I don't know nothing about that girl.
You also swear you didn't send that anthology to your father? You knew how much he loved horror.
You wanted to make sure it was in his possession? Checked your father's prison delivery manifest.
You sent the book.
You could have put those items in the attic of the house.
Why-why would I do that? He destroyed your family.
My head my head, it Jesse.
Please, please, I I-I'll do whatever you want.
I'll I'll take one of them lie tests, anything.
Wait.
He passed? Every answer, rock solid.
Don't know how, but he's telling the truth.
Or he thinks he is.
Jekyll and Hyde.
DPD-- Dissociative Personality Disorder-- which often manifests as a result of abuse during childhood development.
When that happens, an alternate personality develops to shield the abused from harm.
Two personalities-- and the primary you've been talking to-- Dr.
Jekyll-- is completely unaware of what Mr.
Hyde has done.
How he passed the lie detector test.
So Denise Murdock if we have any hope of finding her alive You've talked to Jekyll.
Now you need to get to Mr.
Hyde.
Question is how do we do that? JESSE (over speaker): Can I go home now? BRODY (over speaker): Just a few more questions.
JESSE: I don't know anything about those people or-or that girl.
BRODY: I believe you.
Pa don't either.
I believe him, too.
City's like a sauna out there, huh? Hm? So? Well, just every time I see you, you've got this (stammers) long-sleeve shirt on.
Your father do this to you? I want to go home.
And you can.
As soon as I can talk to the person who knows where Denise Murdock is.
I told you, I don't I know what you told me, but there is a girl out there dying somewhere.
Look I'm your friend, okay? You got to talk to me.
And if I don't? You don't want to know.
You sure about this? If a Hyde personality exists and if he's protecting Jesse, only way to bring him out is to make the alternate believe you're going to hurt the primary.
PRIDE: You lied to us.
No, I didn't.
Yes, you did.
No.
And I got a girl dying out there.
And I swear to you you don't tell me what I need to know, what your father did to your arms there, child's play compared to what I'm gonna do.
Stop.
Is that what you want? Do you want me to hurt you Please-please like your father did? 'Cause I'm willing BRODY: Pride.
to do whatever it takes to save that girl.
I don't know anything.
Yes, you do.
No, I don't.
Yes, you know! Time's up, you half-wit.
You think about burning Jesse, you're gonna wish you got off as easy as the judge and Abram! (grunts) (laughing quietly) (panting) (continues panting) Big man needs a little girl to come to the rescue.
Nice to meet you, Mr.
Hyde.
Shall we take that lie detector test again? You killed Judge Herman and Lieutenant Commander Abrams because you wanted to put Jesse's father back in prison where he wouldn't hurt Jesse again.
(laughs softly) But Denise is a victim just like Jesse is.
Denise was more than that.
She was the first chapter.
You assaulted her back then.
(pants) You framed Jesse's father and had him put away the first time.
Only for seven years.
And if that judge had just given cruel, cruel John the maximum no one else would have gotten hurt.
And you know who's gonna get hurt now is Jesse if he goes to that maximum security prison.
And that's what's gonna happen if you don't tell us where Denise is.
But cooperate, help us find her alive, we might be able to get Jesse to a place where he can get help.
(exhales) Why not? You're probably too late, anyway.
Pride, in here! Yep.
Hold that lock.
Fortunato was buried in a cellar.
New nails in that piece of plywood.
Get the crowbar.
She's here.
PRIDE: Denise.
Got a pulse.
(weak gasp, groan) (siren wailing in distance) Baby, it's Mommy.
(crying) Okay.
It's okay.
Is Denise gonna be okay? Paramedics say she's suffering from dehydration.
But she'll recover.
Appreciate you bringing Mrs.
Murdock.
It was the least I could do.
I know I've been hard on you, hard on your job.
But it's not really about the amount of work, it's about the kind of work.
Every case that you've had has made me think what if the missing girl was Laurel? What if the dead guy were Dwayne? (wry laugh) I'm not afraid of ghosts or goblins.
What scares the crap out of me is the idea that your work might come home.
Y-You know what scares me? Is the idea that my work might be the reason that I don't get to come home.
You should go.
What about that trick-or-treating tradition? Always next year.
You're a good man, Mr.
Pride.
Don't you ever forget it, Mrs.
Pride.
Ah One crack, and I'll put another crack in your skull.
(laughs) It's good to see you get in the spirit.
When in Rome, right? Any, uh, any guesses? WILKINS: Freudian slip.
Cigar's a nice touch.
Most people don't know that Freud preferred them to pipes.
Love a woman who pays attention to detail.
(like Schwarzenegger): I need your clothes, your motorcycle, and some bacon, too.
(laughs) Is he always like this? Yes.
It was a pleasure working with you, Doctor.
Pleasure was all mine.
Wish me luck.
Good luck.
Bye.
What? (chuckles) You know what.
I think the good doc has a little Brody crush.
Don't even start with that.
(sighs) You off to Voodoo Fest? Decided to stay here.
I can't leave King on his first Halloween alone.
You going out? And miss all the fun here? Hell, no.