Blue Bloods s01e11 Episode Script
Little Fish
- Yeah? - Detective Reagan, it's Anna Zoltin.
I don't know if you remember me.
Yeah, I do.
What is it? Sorry, I know it's late.
I just I didn't know who else to turn to.
What's wrong? Are you in trouble? I'm just scared.
Okay.
Anna, look, you're gonna have to call 911, okay? Or just go to the precinct and I'll be there soon.
I don't even know if you can help me.
He said the cops can't help me.
- Who said that? - Nobody can help me.
- I don't know why I called.
- Okay, Anna Anna? You promised the chief of Belfast a tour of the Real Time Crime Center before he leaves for Ireland.
What else you got? Overnight, robbery on 169th and Washington Avenue.
Suspects armed with handguns.
Fits Manhattan North robbery pattern.
Harbor unit's pulling out a floater in Brooklyn as we speak.
A Detective William Carter called.
Old partner of mine, what did he want? To tell you human remains were recovered that may be connected to a case you two worked 25 years ago.
Tell my detail we're heading back out.
- And your 0900 chief's briefing? - Push it.
Okay, got it.
Thanks.
10-4.
M.
E.
's still an hour and a half out.
Sad.
Beautiful young girl.
She still has makeup on too.
It must've just happened.
Ours is not to speculate.
We secure the scene and then we wait.
Here comes the brain trust now.
Just our luck, Sonny Malevsky.
That's Sonny Malevsky? Yeah, why? Just He used to work with my brother Joe.
Oh, yeah? Renzulli.
Hey.
You finally got your stripes.
- Mercy promotion? - Don't bust my chops, all right? Who's the new fish? Reagan! So, you're the PC's youngest.
- Is this your first floater, kid? - Yeah.
Well, it looks fresh.
Should see them after a couple of weeks, after the fish and the crabs get to them.
Let's see what we got.
Commissioner.
- Bill.
- As you were.
- Right over here.
Looks like trauma to the skull.
It could be Leo Gates.
Clothes match the description.
We've got the backpack.
The skeletal remains appear to be those of a child.
That's him.
- We don't know that yet, Frank.
- It's him.
I don't even know if the mother still lives around here anymore.
She does.
Nine-year-old boy.
Have the M.
E.
make a positive ID before we start opening old wounds.
No longer missing persons, it's a homicide.
I want the entire case file on my desk forthwith.
Keep this away from the press as long as you can.
I don't want the perp to rabbit if he's still around.
Sure.
No problem, sir.
Looks like you were right all along, Frank.
It gives me small comfort.
So kid, you probably think she jumped from the Manhattan Bridge and floated down.
But you'd be wrong.
She'd have hit the East River at 65 miles an hour and there's no contusions.
That's not to say she wouldn't have broken her neck.
But it looks like somebody did it for her.
Let's see if there's anything in these pockets.
"Detective Daniel Reagan.
" Now there is one for the "small world" department.
Renzulli, looks like this one is gonna be a homicide.
Hey, kid, maybe you wanna call your brother.
He might wanna come down here and finish what he seems to have started.
So, did you call back this Anna Zoltin? I couldn't call her back, okay? She called from a blocked number.
So what are you supposed to do? Drive around all five boroughs at night looking for her? - She didn't tell you where she was.
- I know, I feel bad, okay? The girl was getting her life together and this happens.
I know.
How did you know her anyway? A Vice sting about a year ago.
A bunch of call girls, a half dozen johns.
High-end operation.
I'm sure it was a very classy situation.
She was an escort.
Not making excuses, but she lost her little girl, was trying to get her back, did what she had to.
I spoke to the ADA and got her sentence reduced to rehab.
She was a good kid, Jackie.
I'm sure she was.
It's nice.
And unlike the guys I put away.
They're too busy throwing darts at my picture in the night to ask me for help.
Yeah, well, this girl needed help and now she's dead.
Here's what we're gonna do.
We'll figure out who did this and we're gonna string him up by his family jewels.
It's not gonna bring her back but it's gonna make you feel better.
Your afternoon schedule, sir.
Ahem.
"Bronx Borough President's Man of The Year Luncheon" at 1300, followed by Queens Committee board meeting in Jackson Heights.
Police Foundation honors the Mayor at a reception, 17 to 1830 hours.
I marked these DD-5s for re-interview.
See that Detective Carter gets back to me with the new 5's as soon as he does them.
Yes, sir.
This is a letter of condolence written to the mother.
"Dear Mrs.
Gates, I am very sorry that your son has disappeared.
I know how terrible you must feel.
I am sorry for that.
" It's not signed.
Was it written by a man or a woman? I'd say a man, sir.
Sir, the autopsy's in.
Leo Gates' dental records are a match.
Thank you, Baker.
Cancel the rest of my schedule.
- Okay, thanks.
Right here, look at this.
Nonpareil Escorts.
That's the place Anna was working when I busted it a year ago.
Vice has had the place padlocked down for four months now.
Got something over here.
The receptionist at Anna's accounting firm said that there's some guy who used to send her roses.
Getting pretty heavy, she didn't like it, put a restraining order against him.
The receptionist didn't have the guy's name but I found the florist who did.
- And you got it? - Yes.
Guy's name is Richard Hansen.
Attorney, no priors, Madison Avenue address, on the board of the East Side Parks Conservancy.
Fantastic.
Let's go see if we can't persuade Mr.
Hansen to come down, let us pick his brain about why the green thumb - keeps sending our victim flowers.
- Good.
- Commissioner Reagan.
- Mrs.
Gates.
You found Leo.
We did.
Where did you find him? In the old building next to the post office, two blocks from school.
So he He was so close all those years.
There was a false wall in the basement.
Did he suffer? The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head.
It was most likely instantaneous.
Well, I guess that's something.
That building.
Does it have any meaning for you? Friends there, people you knew? He passed it on the way to school.
Every day, I walked with him.
But he'd been begging me for weeks to let him walk home by himself.
It was raining that day.
I keep asking myself: Is that the reason I didn't go and get him? Because it was raining? Laura.
There are some things none of us can ever completely control.
And one of them is protecting our kids every moment of the day.
I just think You know, if only if I'd been with him.
If only I'd made sure he walked with a friend.
I guess I should call Father John.
We can have a funeral now.
Thank you, Frank.
There's no need to thank me until I bring Leo's killer to justice.
You threatened to come to my home? - It's either your home or your office.
- I didn't kill Anna Zoltin.
No, she killed herself.
She strangled herself right before dumping her body in the river.
Where were you when she was killed? At a charity fundraiser for my kid's school.
Father of the Year, huh? Anna Zoltin took out an order of protection against you the night before she died.
Wonder why.
What'd she do, threaten to tell your wife? - That why you killed her? - Why throw away my life - for a whore? - She was somebody's daughter.
And she was also somebody's mother.
She wanted to quit and you wouldn't let her.
You wanted to keep having sex, you wouldn't let her say no.
- I can afford any woman I want.
- Really? How about we call Mrs.
Hansen down here, see how she feels about that? Okay.
I was a regular client of Anna's.
When she told me she quit, I tried using other call girls but She's really special.
- You know what I mean? - Not first hand but keep talking.
I offered to pay her rent plus double what she made as an escort but she turned me down.
The flowers were my attempt to change her mind.
- And did it help? - No.
But look, I wasn't the only one who thought she was special.
I heard from other girls in the escort agency that her boss was always hitting on her.
Do you have a name for us? All I know is that his first name is John.
- Well, there's a start.
- Yeah.
You better pray your alibi checks out.
I just wanted to drop these DD-5s off for the Commissioner.
Well, the Commissioner's not home yet.
I know that, sir.
I'm retired, you don't have to call me "sir.
" - What should I call you? - Henry.
Something on your mind, Miss Baker? It's a cold case of his involving a child.
It's consumed him.
We all have these cases.
I had one back in '55.
The remains of a kid in a duffel bag off the FDR.
I still take the case out every now and then.
It's always bad when it's children, but If I may say, sir, he's in a very dark place.
He and the detective who was in charge of the case were at odds.
There was a witness who said he thought he saw the kid get into a car but Francis wasn't having any of it.
He was convinced the kid never left the block.
That he was murdered.
He'll find the forensic anthropologist report there, as well.
Blunt force trauma to the skull was caused by the round striking end of a hammer.
His own kids were that age back then.
It tore him up.
It's the losses that keep you up at night.
- So, how did your anniversary go? - It went good.
I got my wife a snow globe.
I know it's too low brow for your Harvard tastes but my wife loves snow globes.
Fake snow, I get the appeal.
- You get the appeal? - Yeah.
Tell me how you know Sonny Malevsky? Why are you so interested in that putz, huh? I'm just curious.
Well, some guys become cops because they love law enforcement.
Some guys, for job security.
Some guys don't know what else to do.
And then you've got guys like Malevsky who's just on a big power trip.
Anything more than that? What? Like corruption? That's a big word.
Let's just say, I think that he's someone when you're talking to him you better have one hand on your wallet.
- You know what I mean? - Hmm.
Hey.
You're still up, Pop.
Your aide dropped off some 5's for the Gates case.
They smell of the precinct.
I hope you don't mind.
It's the losses that keep you up at night.
You miss it, don't you? I do.
I wasn't done being a cop.
You did what you had to do.
Same as you.
No, I wanted the job.
You should feel proud, Francis.
You're the only chief rank and file would've accepted after that last bum of the mayor's.
The time had come and you stepped up.
Here.
Take these, they're yours.
- What are you looking for? - I don't know.
Something to jog my memory.
What did you always say? "There's a lot in a detective's head that isn't written down.
" But you've got a photographic mind for this stuff.
Yeah.
Well, there's something I can't remember or overlooked or didn't consider.
Night, Francis.
Night, Pop.
Yeah, yeah, thanks.
Anything yet? Hansen's alibi checks out.
What? Ugh.
You know it's guys like that that make you want to stay single.
Yeah, well, he told the truth.
Maybe he's telling the truth about this John guy who owned the agency.
He says he was obsessed with Anna.
Let's check it on the black book.
Yeah, well the escort service was owned by a John Vega.
Oh, what's he up to now? He owns a business called Executive Clientele.
- Oh, well.
- Look at that.
Not hard to tell what his new business is.
No.
You're listed as the company owner, Mr.
Vega.
Hey, hey, just call me Johnny.
Johnny the Pimp? Ha-ha-ha.
Our ladies do not engage in sexual intercourse.
Your clients just pay a thousand dollars a pop for stimulating conversation, is that it? Our clients are out-of-town businessmen or Europeans who just want beautiful ladies to show them around the city.
You know, business dinners with them and stuff.
Do you know Anna Zoltin? She used to work for my accountant.
Well, they told us that she delivered many packages here.
No, no, that's not true.
How about she was an escort at Nonpareil while you were running it? I don't recall.
Do you recall where you were two nights ago? Hillary, pull up Jolene, will you? I was at her place all night.
We're gonna need her contact information to corroborate.
You'll get that before you leave.
And if you ever want to try any of our services, I'll make sure you get the N.
Y.
P.
D.
discount.
No, thanks.
I'm married.
Too bad.
Don't know what you're missing.
Neither do you.
in the building across the street and not one of them saw Leo enter that building.
Never mind with anyone.
What do you think, sir? I don't know.
Had to be someone in that building on that day.
Someone who wouldn't raise suspicions.
If it moves, you duct tape it.
If it squeaks, you WD-40 it.
If it's stuck, you hit it with a hammer.
Sounds about right, sir.
Get me Bill Carter on the phone.
Jolene DeMaine.
Detective Reagan.
This is my partner, Detective Curatola.
Johnny told me that you'd be looking for me.
- Oh, did he? - Yeah.
He was with me that night.
- Really, doing what? - Dinner.
Then we hung out.
- All night.
- Where? Where? My place.
I'm sorry, I really need to go.
- I'm late.
You know what? If you think of anything, why don't you give us a call, okay? I won't.
- That went well.
- Yeah.
Hold for the Commissioner.
Where are you with the new interviews, Bill? Uh I've located some of them, sir.
In fact, right now I'm with the witness, Todd Connelly.
He's not on my list.
No, I know, but it occurred to me that he may have said that he saw Leo Gates entering the Corolla to throw the investigation.
The murderer put him up to it.
- What about Ted Wessel? - Wessel? The superintendent of the building where Leo Gates' bones were found.
A re-interview I specifically requested.
Yeah, I haven't found him yet, sir.
Find him.
Do it quick and do it right or you'll be walking a beat so far out in Queens you'll need a passport to get back to Manhattan.
Yes, sir.
Find out everything there is to know about Theodore Wessel.
Every detail of his life from the day he was born.
Hi.
Okay, so Johnny Vega has a criminal history.
Assault, extortion, gambling, promoting prostitution.
So, what is he doing still on the street? First go-round with murder, though.
He's got an alibi for that.
We can't even get enough to subpoena his phone records.
So there's got to be something.
Besides Nonpareil, is there any way we can connect this guy to Anna? I've been through her phone records, her e-mails, there is absolutely nothing from Vega.
But there are tons of phone calls back and forth from Anna Zoltin and Jolene DeMaine, nearly every day, including the night she was killed, after she called you.
Jolene DeMaine? - Mm-hm.
- Sounds like she knows something - she's not letting on.
- Mm-hm.
You got a second to talk? I already talked to you.
Yeah, but you never told us that you and Anna were friends.
We know you spoke the night she was killed because I did, too.
She sounded afraid that someone was gonna find out she reached out to me.
I'm thinking it was Johnny Vega she was afraid of.
But you told us that you were with him the night Anna was killed.
- I did see him that night.
- Just not the whole night.
Look, I can't help you.
Are you gonna let this guy get away with killing your friend? Do you know he strangled her so hard that he broke a bone in her neck? - Don't! - Well, then tell us the truth.
You have no idea what Johnny is really like.
- So you gave him an alibi? - I can end up like her.
You can also end up in prison for hindering prosecution.
Jolene, tell us what happened.
Johnny had a thing for her.
He was always creeping on her.
And finally she started saying that she'd go to the cops if he didn't stop harassing her.
She told me about you.
- She said that we could trust you.
- You can.
Keep talking.
Anna told me that she dropped off the checks at Executive.
When she got there Johnny tried to jump her but she fought him off.
And she told him that was it.
That she was gonna go to the cops.
She ran out of there and she called me from her cell.
She was petrified that he was coming after her.
I told her that I'd meet her at her place.
What time was that? It was around midnight.
When I got there she was so scared.
Her hands were shaking.
She told me she was gonna meet you at the precinct and I said that I would wait with her.
Did you? There was a knock on the door.
Anna said to hide while she answered it.
So I ducked into her bedroom.
And it was Johnny Vega.
He was furious.
They had words.
And then I didn't hear anything so I peeked out to make sure that she was okay and I saw And I saw him strangle her.
- Did he see you? - No.
No, God, I didn't move.
I waited until he left with Anna.
And the next day, when Anna's body showed up, he said that "that's what happens when people talk to cops.
" Let's go scoop this piece of garbage.
Johnny Vega! Hands out of your pockets.
Keep them where I can see them.
Taking me up on that N.
Y.
P.
D.
discount? I don't have anything for the young lady unless she goes that way.
We're here to arrest you for the murder of Anna Zoltin.
- You know what? Whatever.
- Great, turn around.
Turn your ass around.
You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law.
You have the right to consult with an attorney.
You have the right to have your attorney present during questioning.
If you can't afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you at no cost.
That Johnny Vega is one cool cucumber.
As long as he's held without bail for second-degree murder, I don't care.
Detective Reagan.
Curatola.
Special Agent Stuart LeMarque.
Oh, FBI.
To what do we owe the pleasure? - You arrested John Vega today.
Yeah.
Creates a bit of a problem for us.
Really? Why's that? He's instrumental in a RICO case we got going.
- Oh, he's a confidential informant? Oh.
Makes sense why he has all those "Get out of jail free" cards on felony collars.
This guy is a made member of the Rulanti crime family.
He's like a son to Tommy Rulanti.
I don't care if he's like a son to the Pope, he's not getting a pass, forget it.
Our case hinges on Vega's cooperation, all right? We're going after the bigger fish.
As opposed to the little homicide here.
I need you to understand that we have an opportunity to deal the Rulantis a crippling blow.
And we have an opportunity to lock this punk up for second-degree murder, and we will.
You really think the FBI is gonna let some N.
Y.
P.
D.
detective blow a multi-million dollar RICO case? Maybe.
Putz.
He's having trouble playing with others again? The FBI trying to tell me who we can and can't arrest.
If it's about Johnny Vega, we have other problems.
What, they leaning on you to dismiss? No, his defense team has requested our eyewitness's statement.
Are you kidding me? Johnny's gonna know it was Jolene DeMaine.
Oh, it is a death sentence for her.
It's within the law, Danny.
- I'm just saying, what kind of law is it? - The kind that guarantees a fair trial.
Fair trial.
I've got a witness who risks her life to come and give you a recorded testimony, you give it to the murderer, is that fair? The judge hasn't ruled on it yet.
- And that's why cops hate Mondays.
- Excuse me.
- Well, it doesn't seem right, Mom.
It's not right.
The defender has the right to know who's accusing him.
That's so they can figure out who to intimidate.
Without discovery statutes it's not a level playing field.
I'm talking about playing with people's lives here.
Nick, would you want a world where anyone could have someone locked up on their anonymous say-so? That doesn't sound so good either.
Thank you, Jamie.
But you know it's an intimidation tactic.
Wrecks your only case.
See what I mean? - No.
Un-thank you, Jamie.
The bottom line is all the FBI cares about is making their splashy case against the Rulanti crime family.
And meanwhile Anna Zoltin just floats down the East River into oblivion.
And no one even arrests the murderer.
What'd you say they said? "Come on, she's just a call girl.
" Pretty much.
"Just a call girl.
" - What's a call girl? - I don't know.
Uh That is a girl who talks on her cell all the time.
So, kind of like Aunt Erin? Sorry.
Yeah.
Sorry.
Anything? - Dead end.
What was so funny? A barrel of laughs in here, Dad.
Between the FBI and the DA's office trying to kill my witness.
Enough with the drama.
Nothing undermines our way of life more than the taking of it.
I'll drink to that.
The truth is Judge Fenton could rule either way tomorrow.
I could lose my witness.
I'm a little worried about it.
Well, in that case, be ready.
- What do you mean? - Ready with another case against him.
How did the FBI get Johnny Vega to cooperate against the Rulanti family - in the first place? - They have something on him.
Interstate prostitution, trafficking, for instance.
Okay.
And we know how the feds like to memorialize their cases on tape.
Wiretaps, surveillance.
Since the cases haven't been brought, none of it's been released.
Well, maybe the right people haven't been asking.
I do have a friend in the U.
S.
Attorney's office.
Well, if things don't go your way tomorrow Ms.
Reagan, I have read your objection to the defense's motion to compel discovery.
Your Honor, the release of said testimony would reveal the identity of the witness and put his or her life in danger.
Objection! Much as we appreciate Ms.
Reagan's apparent competency in legal matters, we don't subscribe to her ability to predict the future, Your Honor.
Sustained.
Ms.
Reagan, your objection is denied.
Recording will be entered into evidence and made available to the defense.
At this time we would also request a consideration for bail.
- Objection! - Mr.
Vega has strong family ties.
Whose family, his own or the Rulantis? Objection! - Jolene.
- Leave.
Listen, Johnny Vega made bail.
We wanna take you somewhere safe.
- I don't think so.
- Judge ruled the defense can have your testimony against Vega.
- So get some clothes on and let's go.
- No.
No, I can't.
I'm sorry.
What is it? Did he contact you? - Doesn't matter.
- Did he threaten you again? - I'm not going to testify.
- You gave a statement to the ADA.
- I lied.
Jolene! I didn't see him kill Anna, all right.
Just leave me alone! This is what he wants, you know.
He wants you to be scared.
- I'm well aware of John Vega.
- And I know about the RICO.
I'm not willing to bend on murder.
Well, with the last name Reagan, why would you? But you know giving you access to FBI surveillance is gonna cause beaucoup problems for me.
You're a dedicated U.
S.
Attorney.
You don't want this guy walking around any more than I do.
- I can't jeopardize the Rulanti case.
- You won't be jeopardizing it.
I will wait to bring my pre-trial motions against Vega after your RICO charges.
You'll still have first dibs.
Can we discuss this over dinner? David, I want that material.
Hey Danny, it's me.
I've got something for your viewing and listening pleasure.
Oh Six hours of this and nothing.
No, I can't do it anymore.
I cannot watch any more mobsters and whores hanging out.
Tell me about it.
There's Johnny Vega.
- Wait a minute, check this guy out.
What? Yeah, that's another midlife crisis overpaying some 20-year-old to make him feel desirable.
Forget it.
I lost interest after the first four hours.
No, something about this guy.
I've seen him around somewhere.
- Hey, do me a favor.
- Yeah.
Run this license plate.
King-Nora-Queen-8-6-3-3.
Whoa.
- What? - You're never gonna believe this.
- What? - The plate belongs to Judge Fenton.
Are you kidding me? And it's not even my birthday.
We missed you at the Police Foundation Honors, Frank.
Police Foundation honors its mayor.
Am I wrong in thinking that the police commissioner might wanna make an appearance? I'm sorry, Mr.
Mayor.
I had urgent police business.
So, now what's your excuse for ducking our meeting today with the FBI bureau director in charge? I don't have one.
What am I supposed to do with that? They want your guys to back off the Vega case.
I am not your apologist, Frank.
And when the federal government wants, demands a meeting, I won't have you letting me stand there alone like an idiot, holding my Sir? - What is it, Baker? Sorry, but you said to interrupt if we heard from Detective Carter and he's on line one.
He's located Theodore Wessel.
I have to take this call, Mr.
Mayor.
Yeah, I understand.
Urgent police business, right? Lives at stake.
Et cetera.
Bring him in.
You're tired? Well, that's too bad, because nobody is gonna sleep until I find out what happened.
I don't know what happened.
How many times I gotta tell you? I didn't have nothing to do with it.
You did.
You killed the kid and then you buried him behind the wall.
You were the super of the building.
Nobody would've thought anything if they saw you there covered in dust.
Don't know what you're talking about, everybody could access the basement.
That's 150 storage lockers and the laundry room.
You know what? I can't stand the sight of you.
- He's not giving it up, Frank.
- I know.
We've got nothing without his confession.
I've been in there with him for four hours.
I wanna talk to him.
Okay, commissioner.
Remember me? I think you're the police commissioner.
I am now.
You were the superintendent of a building that Leo Gates passed by on the way to and from school.
We talked on November 10th, the day after Leo went missing.
I was the super of the building.
I already told the detective that.
Can I get you something to eat or drink, Mr.
Wessel? I just want to get out of here.
I'm not going to tell you anything different than I did him.
We found this in Leo Gates' backpack with his remains.
It's a fourth grade writing assignment.
Kind of a fill-in-the-blank biography.
"November 9th.
Leo Gates.
Name.
Cares deeply about my family.
What do you wanna be? Professional baseball player.
What do you love? Anything to do with baseball.
What do you fear? Not being able to hit a baseball.
" imagine that, Ted.
Before November 9th, all Leo was afraid of was not being able to hit a baseball.
Why are you doing this? Well, I just wanted to clear some things up.
When we talked on November 10th, you were wearing a blue work shirt, khaki trousers, tan work boots and a tool belt.
Well, that's all I really had in my notes that matter, but I have a pretty good memory, Ted.
So, I'm in my office staring out at my city and I thought of what my superintendent used to say.
"If it moves, you duct tape it.
If it squeaks, you WD-40 it.
And if it's stuck, you hit it with a hammer.
" And I don't know, I think that jogged my memory because all of a sudden I had this kind of photograph in my mind and I realized that when we talked, your hammer was missing from your tool belt.
And that's when I knew.
I wouldn't hit a kid in the head with a hammer.
That's how Leo was killed.
How did you know that? - Detective Carter told me.
- No, he didn't.
I read it in the paper.
It wasn't in the paper, Ted.
People steal tools all the time.
I mean, you set something down, they steal it.
Couple days ago, I had to tell Laura Gates, that's Leo's mom, I had to tell her that Leo was dead.
In a way, she seemed relieved to know, finally.
Because not knowing had taken a terrible toll on her, Ted.
When you lose a child, it seems so unfair.
I know.
I lost a son.
And I think you understand that you never really recover from a loss like that.
Read it.
Could you read it out loud, please? "Dear Mrs.
Gates, I am very sorry that your son has disappeared.
I know how terrible you must feel.
I am sorry for that.
" I think a good person wrote that letter, Ted.
A man with a conscience.
Someone who made a mistake and regretted it and carried it with him the rest of his life.
A mistake that haunted him until it broke up his marriage and turned him to alcohol to dull the pain.
A mistake that left him broken.
And that he never recovered from.
You wrote that letter, Ted.
It was raining.
He was all wet.
That's all.
Just tell how you didn't mean to do it.
Just write down everything.
I would like to file a motion to dismiss the charges against my client.
- On what grounds, counselor? - This is absurd, Your Honor.
The only witness has recanted her statement.
Hold it.
Excuse me.
- Hey, don't mind us, judge.
Excuse me! There's a court in session here.
Sir, you are out of order.
Yeah, I'm not the only one.
- Sir! Sit down! - I don't want to sit.
Sir, I will find you in contempt.
The only one in contempt here is you, judge! Judicial misconduct, solicitation.
Tell him.
I'm Vincent Pelligrino from the Office of Court Administration.
- Please step down, Your Honor.
- Don't call him "Your Honor.
" That word is reserved for people who have some.
Hey, Johnny boy.
What's going on? Judge Fenton has a role in one of those videos.
He got caught with his pants down, both literally and figuratively.
Ain't that right, judge? That's why he's been ruling on the side of Johnny Vega.
This hearing is adjourned pending a judicial review.
Hey, not bad for a little fish, huh? - Hey, look who's here.
- Hey, Dad.
Hey.
- I heard what went on in there.
- Oh, yeah, classic Danny.
Couldn't wait until it was over, he had to burst into the courtroom on his big white horse.
Good times.
Hey, we heard the commissioner got a signed confession.
A great day for the family business.
We're gonna go pat ourselves on the back.
- Can you come? - I've got stuff to do.
Go ahead, you kids go.
- Are you sure? - Yeah, I'll take a rain check.
- Bye.
- See you, Dad.
I'm proud of you.
I knew when they found Leo's remains that you'd get the person responsible.
I know it's small comfort.
It's the only comfort I have, that he'll be held accountable.
I understand.
You lost a son too.
Not a day goes by I don't think of him.
But I have something.
When they found Leo, this was in his backpack.
Ha.
Leo loved baseball.
Well, can I thank you now?
I don't know if you remember me.
Yeah, I do.
What is it? Sorry, I know it's late.
I just I didn't know who else to turn to.
What's wrong? Are you in trouble? I'm just scared.
Okay.
Anna, look, you're gonna have to call 911, okay? Or just go to the precinct and I'll be there soon.
I don't even know if you can help me.
He said the cops can't help me.
- Who said that? - Nobody can help me.
- I don't know why I called.
- Okay, Anna Anna? You promised the chief of Belfast a tour of the Real Time Crime Center before he leaves for Ireland.
What else you got? Overnight, robbery on 169th and Washington Avenue.
Suspects armed with handguns.
Fits Manhattan North robbery pattern.
Harbor unit's pulling out a floater in Brooklyn as we speak.
A Detective William Carter called.
Old partner of mine, what did he want? To tell you human remains were recovered that may be connected to a case you two worked 25 years ago.
Tell my detail we're heading back out.
- And your 0900 chief's briefing? - Push it.
Okay, got it.
Thanks.
10-4.
M.
E.
's still an hour and a half out.
Sad.
Beautiful young girl.
She still has makeup on too.
It must've just happened.
Ours is not to speculate.
We secure the scene and then we wait.
Here comes the brain trust now.
Just our luck, Sonny Malevsky.
That's Sonny Malevsky? Yeah, why? Just He used to work with my brother Joe.
Oh, yeah? Renzulli.
Hey.
You finally got your stripes.
- Mercy promotion? - Don't bust my chops, all right? Who's the new fish? Reagan! So, you're the PC's youngest.
- Is this your first floater, kid? - Yeah.
Well, it looks fresh.
Should see them after a couple of weeks, after the fish and the crabs get to them.
Let's see what we got.
Commissioner.
- Bill.
- As you were.
- Right over here.
Looks like trauma to the skull.
It could be Leo Gates.
Clothes match the description.
We've got the backpack.
The skeletal remains appear to be those of a child.
That's him.
- We don't know that yet, Frank.
- It's him.
I don't even know if the mother still lives around here anymore.
She does.
Nine-year-old boy.
Have the M.
E.
make a positive ID before we start opening old wounds.
No longer missing persons, it's a homicide.
I want the entire case file on my desk forthwith.
Keep this away from the press as long as you can.
I don't want the perp to rabbit if he's still around.
Sure.
No problem, sir.
Looks like you were right all along, Frank.
It gives me small comfort.
So kid, you probably think she jumped from the Manhattan Bridge and floated down.
But you'd be wrong.
She'd have hit the East River at 65 miles an hour and there's no contusions.
That's not to say she wouldn't have broken her neck.
But it looks like somebody did it for her.
Let's see if there's anything in these pockets.
"Detective Daniel Reagan.
" Now there is one for the "small world" department.
Renzulli, looks like this one is gonna be a homicide.
Hey, kid, maybe you wanna call your brother.
He might wanna come down here and finish what he seems to have started.
So, did you call back this Anna Zoltin? I couldn't call her back, okay? She called from a blocked number.
So what are you supposed to do? Drive around all five boroughs at night looking for her? - She didn't tell you where she was.
- I know, I feel bad, okay? The girl was getting her life together and this happens.
I know.
How did you know her anyway? A Vice sting about a year ago.
A bunch of call girls, a half dozen johns.
High-end operation.
I'm sure it was a very classy situation.
She was an escort.
Not making excuses, but she lost her little girl, was trying to get her back, did what she had to.
I spoke to the ADA and got her sentence reduced to rehab.
She was a good kid, Jackie.
I'm sure she was.
It's nice.
And unlike the guys I put away.
They're too busy throwing darts at my picture in the night to ask me for help.
Yeah, well, this girl needed help and now she's dead.
Here's what we're gonna do.
We'll figure out who did this and we're gonna string him up by his family jewels.
It's not gonna bring her back but it's gonna make you feel better.
Your afternoon schedule, sir.
Ahem.
"Bronx Borough President's Man of The Year Luncheon" at 1300, followed by Queens Committee board meeting in Jackson Heights.
Police Foundation honors the Mayor at a reception, 17 to 1830 hours.
I marked these DD-5s for re-interview.
See that Detective Carter gets back to me with the new 5's as soon as he does them.
Yes, sir.
This is a letter of condolence written to the mother.
"Dear Mrs.
Gates, I am very sorry that your son has disappeared.
I know how terrible you must feel.
I am sorry for that.
" It's not signed.
Was it written by a man or a woman? I'd say a man, sir.
Sir, the autopsy's in.
Leo Gates' dental records are a match.
Thank you, Baker.
Cancel the rest of my schedule.
- Okay, thanks.
Right here, look at this.
Nonpareil Escorts.
That's the place Anna was working when I busted it a year ago.
Vice has had the place padlocked down for four months now.
Got something over here.
The receptionist at Anna's accounting firm said that there's some guy who used to send her roses.
Getting pretty heavy, she didn't like it, put a restraining order against him.
The receptionist didn't have the guy's name but I found the florist who did.
- And you got it? - Yes.
Guy's name is Richard Hansen.
Attorney, no priors, Madison Avenue address, on the board of the East Side Parks Conservancy.
Fantastic.
Let's go see if we can't persuade Mr.
Hansen to come down, let us pick his brain about why the green thumb - keeps sending our victim flowers.
- Good.
- Commissioner Reagan.
- Mrs.
Gates.
You found Leo.
We did.
Where did you find him? In the old building next to the post office, two blocks from school.
So he He was so close all those years.
There was a false wall in the basement.
Did he suffer? The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma to the head.
It was most likely instantaneous.
Well, I guess that's something.
That building.
Does it have any meaning for you? Friends there, people you knew? He passed it on the way to school.
Every day, I walked with him.
But he'd been begging me for weeks to let him walk home by himself.
It was raining that day.
I keep asking myself: Is that the reason I didn't go and get him? Because it was raining? Laura.
There are some things none of us can ever completely control.
And one of them is protecting our kids every moment of the day.
I just think You know, if only if I'd been with him.
If only I'd made sure he walked with a friend.
I guess I should call Father John.
We can have a funeral now.
Thank you, Frank.
There's no need to thank me until I bring Leo's killer to justice.
You threatened to come to my home? - It's either your home or your office.
- I didn't kill Anna Zoltin.
No, she killed herself.
She strangled herself right before dumping her body in the river.
Where were you when she was killed? At a charity fundraiser for my kid's school.
Father of the Year, huh? Anna Zoltin took out an order of protection against you the night before she died.
Wonder why.
What'd she do, threaten to tell your wife? - That why you killed her? - Why throw away my life - for a whore? - She was somebody's daughter.
And she was also somebody's mother.
She wanted to quit and you wouldn't let her.
You wanted to keep having sex, you wouldn't let her say no.
- I can afford any woman I want.
- Really? How about we call Mrs.
Hansen down here, see how she feels about that? Okay.
I was a regular client of Anna's.
When she told me she quit, I tried using other call girls but She's really special.
- You know what I mean? - Not first hand but keep talking.
I offered to pay her rent plus double what she made as an escort but she turned me down.
The flowers were my attempt to change her mind.
- And did it help? - No.
But look, I wasn't the only one who thought she was special.
I heard from other girls in the escort agency that her boss was always hitting on her.
Do you have a name for us? All I know is that his first name is John.
- Well, there's a start.
- Yeah.
You better pray your alibi checks out.
I just wanted to drop these DD-5s off for the Commissioner.
Well, the Commissioner's not home yet.
I know that, sir.
I'm retired, you don't have to call me "sir.
" - What should I call you? - Henry.
Something on your mind, Miss Baker? It's a cold case of his involving a child.
It's consumed him.
We all have these cases.
I had one back in '55.
The remains of a kid in a duffel bag off the FDR.
I still take the case out every now and then.
It's always bad when it's children, but If I may say, sir, he's in a very dark place.
He and the detective who was in charge of the case were at odds.
There was a witness who said he thought he saw the kid get into a car but Francis wasn't having any of it.
He was convinced the kid never left the block.
That he was murdered.
He'll find the forensic anthropologist report there, as well.
Blunt force trauma to the skull was caused by the round striking end of a hammer.
His own kids were that age back then.
It tore him up.
It's the losses that keep you up at night.
- So, how did your anniversary go? - It went good.
I got my wife a snow globe.
I know it's too low brow for your Harvard tastes but my wife loves snow globes.
Fake snow, I get the appeal.
- You get the appeal? - Yeah.
Tell me how you know Sonny Malevsky? Why are you so interested in that putz, huh? I'm just curious.
Well, some guys become cops because they love law enforcement.
Some guys, for job security.
Some guys don't know what else to do.
And then you've got guys like Malevsky who's just on a big power trip.
Anything more than that? What? Like corruption? That's a big word.
Let's just say, I think that he's someone when you're talking to him you better have one hand on your wallet.
- You know what I mean? - Hmm.
Hey.
You're still up, Pop.
Your aide dropped off some 5's for the Gates case.
They smell of the precinct.
I hope you don't mind.
It's the losses that keep you up at night.
You miss it, don't you? I do.
I wasn't done being a cop.
You did what you had to do.
Same as you.
No, I wanted the job.
You should feel proud, Francis.
You're the only chief rank and file would've accepted after that last bum of the mayor's.
The time had come and you stepped up.
Here.
Take these, they're yours.
- What are you looking for? - I don't know.
Something to jog my memory.
What did you always say? "There's a lot in a detective's head that isn't written down.
" But you've got a photographic mind for this stuff.
Yeah.
Well, there's something I can't remember or overlooked or didn't consider.
Night, Francis.
Night, Pop.
Yeah, yeah, thanks.
Anything yet? Hansen's alibi checks out.
What? Ugh.
You know it's guys like that that make you want to stay single.
Yeah, well, he told the truth.
Maybe he's telling the truth about this John guy who owned the agency.
He says he was obsessed with Anna.
Let's check it on the black book.
Yeah, well the escort service was owned by a John Vega.
Oh, what's he up to now? He owns a business called Executive Clientele.
- Oh, well.
- Look at that.
Not hard to tell what his new business is.
No.
You're listed as the company owner, Mr.
Vega.
Hey, hey, just call me Johnny.
Johnny the Pimp? Ha-ha-ha.
Our ladies do not engage in sexual intercourse.
Your clients just pay a thousand dollars a pop for stimulating conversation, is that it? Our clients are out-of-town businessmen or Europeans who just want beautiful ladies to show them around the city.
You know, business dinners with them and stuff.
Do you know Anna Zoltin? She used to work for my accountant.
Well, they told us that she delivered many packages here.
No, no, that's not true.
How about she was an escort at Nonpareil while you were running it? I don't recall.
Do you recall where you were two nights ago? Hillary, pull up Jolene, will you? I was at her place all night.
We're gonna need her contact information to corroborate.
You'll get that before you leave.
And if you ever want to try any of our services, I'll make sure you get the N.
Y.
P.
D.
discount.
No, thanks.
I'm married.
Too bad.
Don't know what you're missing.
Neither do you.
in the building across the street and not one of them saw Leo enter that building.
Never mind with anyone.
What do you think, sir? I don't know.
Had to be someone in that building on that day.
Someone who wouldn't raise suspicions.
If it moves, you duct tape it.
If it squeaks, you WD-40 it.
If it's stuck, you hit it with a hammer.
Sounds about right, sir.
Get me Bill Carter on the phone.
Jolene DeMaine.
Detective Reagan.
This is my partner, Detective Curatola.
Johnny told me that you'd be looking for me.
- Oh, did he? - Yeah.
He was with me that night.
- Really, doing what? - Dinner.
Then we hung out.
- All night.
- Where? Where? My place.
I'm sorry, I really need to go.
- I'm late.
You know what? If you think of anything, why don't you give us a call, okay? I won't.
- That went well.
- Yeah.
Hold for the Commissioner.
Where are you with the new interviews, Bill? Uh I've located some of them, sir.
In fact, right now I'm with the witness, Todd Connelly.
He's not on my list.
No, I know, but it occurred to me that he may have said that he saw Leo Gates entering the Corolla to throw the investigation.
The murderer put him up to it.
- What about Ted Wessel? - Wessel? The superintendent of the building where Leo Gates' bones were found.
A re-interview I specifically requested.
Yeah, I haven't found him yet, sir.
Find him.
Do it quick and do it right or you'll be walking a beat so far out in Queens you'll need a passport to get back to Manhattan.
Yes, sir.
Find out everything there is to know about Theodore Wessel.
Every detail of his life from the day he was born.
Hi.
Okay, so Johnny Vega has a criminal history.
Assault, extortion, gambling, promoting prostitution.
So, what is he doing still on the street? First go-round with murder, though.
He's got an alibi for that.
We can't even get enough to subpoena his phone records.
So there's got to be something.
Besides Nonpareil, is there any way we can connect this guy to Anna? I've been through her phone records, her e-mails, there is absolutely nothing from Vega.
But there are tons of phone calls back and forth from Anna Zoltin and Jolene DeMaine, nearly every day, including the night she was killed, after she called you.
Jolene DeMaine? - Mm-hm.
- Sounds like she knows something - she's not letting on.
- Mm-hm.
You got a second to talk? I already talked to you.
Yeah, but you never told us that you and Anna were friends.
We know you spoke the night she was killed because I did, too.
She sounded afraid that someone was gonna find out she reached out to me.
I'm thinking it was Johnny Vega she was afraid of.
But you told us that you were with him the night Anna was killed.
- I did see him that night.
- Just not the whole night.
Look, I can't help you.
Are you gonna let this guy get away with killing your friend? Do you know he strangled her so hard that he broke a bone in her neck? - Don't! - Well, then tell us the truth.
You have no idea what Johnny is really like.
- So you gave him an alibi? - I can end up like her.
You can also end up in prison for hindering prosecution.
Jolene, tell us what happened.
Johnny had a thing for her.
He was always creeping on her.
And finally she started saying that she'd go to the cops if he didn't stop harassing her.
She told me about you.
- She said that we could trust you.
- You can.
Keep talking.
Anna told me that she dropped off the checks at Executive.
When she got there Johnny tried to jump her but she fought him off.
And she told him that was it.
That she was gonna go to the cops.
She ran out of there and she called me from her cell.
She was petrified that he was coming after her.
I told her that I'd meet her at her place.
What time was that? It was around midnight.
When I got there she was so scared.
Her hands were shaking.
She told me she was gonna meet you at the precinct and I said that I would wait with her.
Did you? There was a knock on the door.
Anna said to hide while she answered it.
So I ducked into her bedroom.
And it was Johnny Vega.
He was furious.
They had words.
And then I didn't hear anything so I peeked out to make sure that she was okay and I saw And I saw him strangle her.
- Did he see you? - No.
No, God, I didn't move.
I waited until he left with Anna.
And the next day, when Anna's body showed up, he said that "that's what happens when people talk to cops.
" Let's go scoop this piece of garbage.
Johnny Vega! Hands out of your pockets.
Keep them where I can see them.
Taking me up on that N.
Y.
P.
D.
discount? I don't have anything for the young lady unless she goes that way.
We're here to arrest you for the murder of Anna Zoltin.
- You know what? Whatever.
- Great, turn around.
Turn your ass around.
You have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law.
You have the right to consult with an attorney.
You have the right to have your attorney present during questioning.
If you can't afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you at no cost.
That Johnny Vega is one cool cucumber.
As long as he's held without bail for second-degree murder, I don't care.
Detective Reagan.
Curatola.
Special Agent Stuart LeMarque.
Oh, FBI.
To what do we owe the pleasure? - You arrested John Vega today.
Yeah.
Creates a bit of a problem for us.
Really? Why's that? He's instrumental in a RICO case we got going.
- Oh, he's a confidential informant? Oh.
Makes sense why he has all those "Get out of jail free" cards on felony collars.
This guy is a made member of the Rulanti crime family.
He's like a son to Tommy Rulanti.
I don't care if he's like a son to the Pope, he's not getting a pass, forget it.
Our case hinges on Vega's cooperation, all right? We're going after the bigger fish.
As opposed to the little homicide here.
I need you to understand that we have an opportunity to deal the Rulantis a crippling blow.
And we have an opportunity to lock this punk up for second-degree murder, and we will.
You really think the FBI is gonna let some N.
Y.
P.
D.
detective blow a multi-million dollar RICO case? Maybe.
Putz.
He's having trouble playing with others again? The FBI trying to tell me who we can and can't arrest.
If it's about Johnny Vega, we have other problems.
What, they leaning on you to dismiss? No, his defense team has requested our eyewitness's statement.
Are you kidding me? Johnny's gonna know it was Jolene DeMaine.
Oh, it is a death sentence for her.
It's within the law, Danny.
- I'm just saying, what kind of law is it? - The kind that guarantees a fair trial.
Fair trial.
I've got a witness who risks her life to come and give you a recorded testimony, you give it to the murderer, is that fair? The judge hasn't ruled on it yet.
- And that's why cops hate Mondays.
- Excuse me.
- Well, it doesn't seem right, Mom.
It's not right.
The defender has the right to know who's accusing him.
That's so they can figure out who to intimidate.
Without discovery statutes it's not a level playing field.
I'm talking about playing with people's lives here.
Nick, would you want a world where anyone could have someone locked up on their anonymous say-so? That doesn't sound so good either.
Thank you, Jamie.
But you know it's an intimidation tactic.
Wrecks your only case.
See what I mean? - No.
Un-thank you, Jamie.
The bottom line is all the FBI cares about is making their splashy case against the Rulanti crime family.
And meanwhile Anna Zoltin just floats down the East River into oblivion.
And no one even arrests the murderer.
What'd you say they said? "Come on, she's just a call girl.
" Pretty much.
"Just a call girl.
" - What's a call girl? - I don't know.
Uh That is a girl who talks on her cell all the time.
So, kind of like Aunt Erin? Sorry.
Yeah.
Sorry.
Anything? - Dead end.
What was so funny? A barrel of laughs in here, Dad.
Between the FBI and the DA's office trying to kill my witness.
Enough with the drama.
Nothing undermines our way of life more than the taking of it.
I'll drink to that.
The truth is Judge Fenton could rule either way tomorrow.
I could lose my witness.
I'm a little worried about it.
Well, in that case, be ready.
- What do you mean? - Ready with another case against him.
How did the FBI get Johnny Vega to cooperate against the Rulanti family - in the first place? - They have something on him.
Interstate prostitution, trafficking, for instance.
Okay.
And we know how the feds like to memorialize their cases on tape.
Wiretaps, surveillance.
Since the cases haven't been brought, none of it's been released.
Well, maybe the right people haven't been asking.
I do have a friend in the U.
S.
Attorney's office.
Well, if things don't go your way tomorrow Ms.
Reagan, I have read your objection to the defense's motion to compel discovery.
Your Honor, the release of said testimony would reveal the identity of the witness and put his or her life in danger.
Objection! Much as we appreciate Ms.
Reagan's apparent competency in legal matters, we don't subscribe to her ability to predict the future, Your Honor.
Sustained.
Ms.
Reagan, your objection is denied.
Recording will be entered into evidence and made available to the defense.
At this time we would also request a consideration for bail.
- Objection! - Mr.
Vega has strong family ties.
Whose family, his own or the Rulantis? Objection! - Jolene.
- Leave.
Listen, Johnny Vega made bail.
We wanna take you somewhere safe.
- I don't think so.
- Judge ruled the defense can have your testimony against Vega.
- So get some clothes on and let's go.
- No.
No, I can't.
I'm sorry.
What is it? Did he contact you? - Doesn't matter.
- Did he threaten you again? - I'm not going to testify.
- You gave a statement to the ADA.
- I lied.
Jolene! I didn't see him kill Anna, all right.
Just leave me alone! This is what he wants, you know.
He wants you to be scared.
- I'm well aware of John Vega.
- And I know about the RICO.
I'm not willing to bend on murder.
Well, with the last name Reagan, why would you? But you know giving you access to FBI surveillance is gonna cause beaucoup problems for me.
You're a dedicated U.
S.
Attorney.
You don't want this guy walking around any more than I do.
- I can't jeopardize the Rulanti case.
- You won't be jeopardizing it.
I will wait to bring my pre-trial motions against Vega after your RICO charges.
You'll still have first dibs.
Can we discuss this over dinner? David, I want that material.
Hey Danny, it's me.
I've got something for your viewing and listening pleasure.
Oh Six hours of this and nothing.
No, I can't do it anymore.
I cannot watch any more mobsters and whores hanging out.
Tell me about it.
There's Johnny Vega.
- Wait a minute, check this guy out.
What? Yeah, that's another midlife crisis overpaying some 20-year-old to make him feel desirable.
Forget it.
I lost interest after the first four hours.
No, something about this guy.
I've seen him around somewhere.
- Hey, do me a favor.
- Yeah.
Run this license plate.
King-Nora-Queen-8-6-3-3.
Whoa.
- What? - You're never gonna believe this.
- What? - The plate belongs to Judge Fenton.
Are you kidding me? And it's not even my birthday.
We missed you at the Police Foundation Honors, Frank.
Police Foundation honors its mayor.
Am I wrong in thinking that the police commissioner might wanna make an appearance? I'm sorry, Mr.
Mayor.
I had urgent police business.
So, now what's your excuse for ducking our meeting today with the FBI bureau director in charge? I don't have one.
What am I supposed to do with that? They want your guys to back off the Vega case.
I am not your apologist, Frank.
And when the federal government wants, demands a meeting, I won't have you letting me stand there alone like an idiot, holding my Sir? - What is it, Baker? Sorry, but you said to interrupt if we heard from Detective Carter and he's on line one.
He's located Theodore Wessel.
I have to take this call, Mr.
Mayor.
Yeah, I understand.
Urgent police business, right? Lives at stake.
Et cetera.
Bring him in.
You're tired? Well, that's too bad, because nobody is gonna sleep until I find out what happened.
I don't know what happened.
How many times I gotta tell you? I didn't have nothing to do with it.
You did.
You killed the kid and then you buried him behind the wall.
You were the super of the building.
Nobody would've thought anything if they saw you there covered in dust.
Don't know what you're talking about, everybody could access the basement.
That's 150 storage lockers and the laundry room.
You know what? I can't stand the sight of you.
- He's not giving it up, Frank.
- I know.
We've got nothing without his confession.
I've been in there with him for four hours.
I wanna talk to him.
Okay, commissioner.
Remember me? I think you're the police commissioner.
I am now.
You were the superintendent of a building that Leo Gates passed by on the way to and from school.
We talked on November 10th, the day after Leo went missing.
I was the super of the building.
I already told the detective that.
Can I get you something to eat or drink, Mr.
Wessel? I just want to get out of here.
I'm not going to tell you anything different than I did him.
We found this in Leo Gates' backpack with his remains.
It's a fourth grade writing assignment.
Kind of a fill-in-the-blank biography.
"November 9th.
Leo Gates.
Name.
Cares deeply about my family.
What do you wanna be? Professional baseball player.
What do you love? Anything to do with baseball.
What do you fear? Not being able to hit a baseball.
" imagine that, Ted.
Before November 9th, all Leo was afraid of was not being able to hit a baseball.
Why are you doing this? Well, I just wanted to clear some things up.
When we talked on November 10th, you were wearing a blue work shirt, khaki trousers, tan work boots and a tool belt.
Well, that's all I really had in my notes that matter, but I have a pretty good memory, Ted.
So, I'm in my office staring out at my city and I thought of what my superintendent used to say.
"If it moves, you duct tape it.
If it squeaks, you WD-40 it.
And if it's stuck, you hit it with a hammer.
" And I don't know, I think that jogged my memory because all of a sudden I had this kind of photograph in my mind and I realized that when we talked, your hammer was missing from your tool belt.
And that's when I knew.
I wouldn't hit a kid in the head with a hammer.
That's how Leo was killed.
How did you know that? - Detective Carter told me.
- No, he didn't.
I read it in the paper.
It wasn't in the paper, Ted.
People steal tools all the time.
I mean, you set something down, they steal it.
Couple days ago, I had to tell Laura Gates, that's Leo's mom, I had to tell her that Leo was dead.
In a way, she seemed relieved to know, finally.
Because not knowing had taken a terrible toll on her, Ted.
When you lose a child, it seems so unfair.
I know.
I lost a son.
And I think you understand that you never really recover from a loss like that.
Read it.
Could you read it out loud, please? "Dear Mrs.
Gates, I am very sorry that your son has disappeared.
I know how terrible you must feel.
I am sorry for that.
" I think a good person wrote that letter, Ted.
A man with a conscience.
Someone who made a mistake and regretted it and carried it with him the rest of his life.
A mistake that haunted him until it broke up his marriage and turned him to alcohol to dull the pain.
A mistake that left him broken.
And that he never recovered from.
You wrote that letter, Ted.
It was raining.
He was all wet.
That's all.
Just tell how you didn't mean to do it.
Just write down everything.
I would like to file a motion to dismiss the charges against my client.
- On what grounds, counselor? - This is absurd, Your Honor.
The only witness has recanted her statement.
Hold it.
Excuse me.
- Hey, don't mind us, judge.
Excuse me! There's a court in session here.
Sir, you are out of order.
Yeah, I'm not the only one.
- Sir! Sit down! - I don't want to sit.
Sir, I will find you in contempt.
The only one in contempt here is you, judge! Judicial misconduct, solicitation.
Tell him.
I'm Vincent Pelligrino from the Office of Court Administration.
- Please step down, Your Honor.
- Don't call him "Your Honor.
" That word is reserved for people who have some.
Hey, Johnny boy.
What's going on? Judge Fenton has a role in one of those videos.
He got caught with his pants down, both literally and figuratively.
Ain't that right, judge? That's why he's been ruling on the side of Johnny Vega.
This hearing is adjourned pending a judicial review.
Hey, not bad for a little fish, huh? - Hey, look who's here.
- Hey, Dad.
Hey.
- I heard what went on in there.
- Oh, yeah, classic Danny.
Couldn't wait until it was over, he had to burst into the courtroom on his big white horse.
Good times.
Hey, we heard the commissioner got a signed confession.
A great day for the family business.
We're gonna go pat ourselves on the back.
- Can you come? - I've got stuff to do.
Go ahead, you kids go.
- Are you sure? - Yeah, I'll take a rain check.
- Bye.
- See you, Dad.
I'm proud of you.
I knew when they found Leo's remains that you'd get the person responsible.
I know it's small comfort.
It's the only comfort I have, that he'll be held accountable.
I understand.
You lost a son too.
Not a day goes by I don't think of him.
But I have something.
When they found Leo, this was in his backpack.
Ha.
Leo loved baseball.
Well, can I thank you now?