Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) s01e13 Episode Script
The Insider
In New York City's war on crime, the worst criminal offenders are pursued by the detectives of the Major Case Squad.
These are their stories.
So Brittany's like, committed.
Who knows if she's even going to show up.
That's not even the point.
Who is this guy? All of a sudden he's supposed to be in Atlanta for an Elton John benefit.
He is off of the VIP list forever.
Lilly, I need to speak with you.
We're late, Daddy.
This article? Dad, that's great exposure.
That's a national magazine.
Didn't you get enough exposure last summer when you nearly ran over those people? Yeah, by accident.
And now this this expose of your sex life? Nobody takes that stuff seriously.
They do, Lilly.
It's degrading.
Well, I didn't do it to embarrass you, okay? - Let's talk about this later.
- Where are you going? - Where do you think? - I don't want you going there.
I know what goes on there.
That socalled friend of yours, - if he doesn't stay away from you - Daddy, stop it! Lilly, I mean it.
I can hurt him.
Lilly, I'm on your side.
Sometimes I wish you'd remember that.
Does it ever occur to your dad what a supreme geek he is? - Don't say that.
- Well, he is.
Well, shut up, Serena.
You need to get out of there.
'Cause that is out of control.
He was threatening me.
I was like, "Oh, that's great, Daddy.
Real warm and fuzzy.
I love you, too.
" You want me to do a Menendez on him? Just say the word, I'm there for you.
Thank you, sweetie.
Hey, jerkwad! Put it away, Eddie.
I'm sorry, man, I got this.
Go tell Jimmy I said take care of you, all right? Try that again, I'm not letting you back in here.
How you ladies doing? Great.
'Cause we've only been here a half hour.
Where have you been? Come on, I want to talk to you.
Where'd you go to? Let's have some fun.
Johnny, what is this? Honey, go back inside now.
Now.
That was weird.
Could you just leave me alone, please? Daddy, it's me.
Are you there? Pick up.
Pick up, pick up, please! Mister Carlyle? Hello? Please get up! Please, I didn't mean to yell at you! Please get up! That's great, Dad! Just lie there! Please! Daddy! Please get up! Get up! Daddy, please, don't do this.
Law & Order CI Wharton Carlyle, son of the late Titus Carlyle, the billboard king.
What do you make of this? The guy's stabbed here with a doubleedged knife and then hits his head on the floor when he falls.
Look at the indentation, the rip in the skin.
You don't get that from hitting the floor.
I'd look at all the oars around here.
I bet you find part of Carlyle's brain on one of them.
Rowed in the Olympics in '72, in Munich.
His daughter into it? First time I've seen her.
I get here, there he is, she's all going haywire.
You get much trouble with the neighborhood? Nah, just the occasional bum.
I feel bad about this.
He was a nice guy.
Lilly Carlyle.
Somebody call Dominick Dunne.
What, you know about her? "It Girl" of the minute.
Famous for being rich and famous.
"Details" magazine, "Vanity Fair.
" Very popular, very young, very everything.
Excuse me, are you the new detectives? Because I kind of need to get out of here.
She sounds like lots of fun.
Are you warm enough, Ms.
Carlyle? 'Cause we could get you some coffee.
No.
Look, I'm sorry.
I'm just I'm a little bit of a wreck right now and I need to go home.
Unfortunately, as traumatic as this has been for you, we can't allow you to leave until we get a better sense of what happened here this morning.
I showed up and I found my father dead! Are you on drugs, Ms.
Carlyle? Excuse me, what did you say? I was wondering if you'd consent to a drug test.
Don't answer that.
Hall, thank God! This is terrible.
It's okay, Lilly.
Hall Richmond, I'm a friend of the family.
And a lawyer.
Lilly will be happy to answer your questions once she's had a chance to go home and change and compose herself.
As for a drug test, the answer's no.
Come on, Lilly.
I got a call from the inspector, who got a call from the chief of detectives, who got a call from a lawyer named Richmond.
- Here come the smoke and mirrors.
- You asked to drug test this girl? Tell me she's not a suspect.
She's a suspect.
I've seen this girl in my kid's magazines, she's 90 pounds soaking wet.
With a nose full of cocaine, she's a 400pound gorilla.
Still, the guy was an Olympic champion.
She could've had an accomplice.
- How's that work? - Two weapons.
We found the oar used on his skull, wiped clean of prints.
Torso wounds from a dagger, presumably gathering silt at the bottom of the Harlem river.
Okay.
I'll call Hall Richmond, make sure he brings Ms.
Carlyle by for a chat.
Aren't you going to ask me if I did it? It's irrelevant, Lilly.
Now, whatever you do, you must not lie to the police.
If there's anything I don't want you to answer, I'll let you know.
You're out of your depth, so keep your mouth shut and do what I tell you.
My dad was angry about a magazine article and we got into a fight Thursday night, and I went there to apologize.
And then when I saw that he was dead, you know and I just started throwing things, but that's all that happened.
You drove from the West Village all the way up to the Bronx.
Who was with you? Nobody.
Anybody you know carry a knife? I wouldn't associate with people who carry weapons, now would I? I didn't know very much about you, so I pulled some articles off the computer, and I went to the newsstand.
Is this one of the articles that made your father upset? - No.
- How about this one? It was this one, wasn't it? You're very candid about your sex life in this article.
Was your father embarrassed? It's promotion, for my public relations business.
Last summer you got into an an altercation with a photographer? No, he was intruding on my privacy.
You see, people like me are always targets! You nearly ran him over with your car.
Did your father think that's appropriate for people like you? No.
People like me don't have to put up with crap like this! Lilly / No! I'm not doing this anymore! We'll need the names of the people you were with last night.
Just go to the club.
They all know me there.
If you'll excuse us.
Aztec Club Saturday, January 12 I don't remember seeing her leave.
We were packed.
At 5:00 a.
m.
On Friday morning? How about who she was with? Like I said, it was a zoo.
You got security.
How about you pull the tapes from that night? It's a loop.
It's not going to help you.
You know, I read that she did PR for you.
What does she do exactly? She's Lilly Carlyle.
Her Rolodex looks like the guest list at the MTV Awards.
She put us on the map.
Is that the reason why you're giving us the runaround? Come on.
Mr.
Hampton, you can alienate her, or you can alienate us.
But we can get a lot nastier than some debutante.
Talk to Serena Whitfield.
She was with her.
Home Of Mr.
& Mrs.
Whitfield Sunday, January 13 I don't remember anything unusual.
Lilly talk about her father that night? Was she upset with him? I don't know anything about that.
These are the police.
Tell them what they want to know.
Her dad was on her a lot.
And Lilly was like she can give as good as she gets.
What was his problem with Lilly? He didn't like her hanging out at the Aztec.
Why? He didn't like the people there, the people who ran the place.
Her dad told Lilly he knew what was going on there and he was going to shut it down.
What was going on at the club? Like Thursday night there was this guy getting beat up behind the club.
I don't know who he was.
- Who was beating him up? - Two guys, these big guys.
Everybody says they're gangsters.
Those two were just wailing on this other guy.
John was there.
John Hampton? Yes.
Lilly was so freaked out.
Hampton, John.
That's right.
Business address is 112 Garston.
Okay, get back to me.
Cabaret license is held by Hampton.
Same story with the liquor license.
We're not the only ones checking up on him.
Two weeks ago, Wharton Carlyle, through his nonprofit foundation, called the State Liquor Authority about Hampton.
He also called the Real Estate Board and the Health Department.
It looks like Hampton didn't want the attention.
Last few years, Hampton ran a couple of clubs in Tempe, Arizona.
Cited for serving alcohol to minors, fire regs.
He paid his fines.
Tempe's a long way from Mott Street.
The club is connected, Captain.
The magic gut speaks.
If I'm going to talk up this mob angle upstairs, you're going to have to prove it to me first.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
This is a private lot.
Yeah? Who owns it? Sorry, Officer.
It's leased, actually, by the Aztec Club.
I hope there's no problem.
We're just keeping an eye on the neighborhood.
How come? Because we're the police.
How long have you been exclusive to the club? A couple of months.
And they make it worth your while to keep the place deserted like this during the day? It's an arrangement.
It works for them, it works for me.
It looks more like you're working for them.
When you made this arrangement, they threaten you? - We'll protect you.
- Right.
Right.
Who are the lucky stiffs who get to park here during the day? That's Mr.
Hampton's car.
He owns the club.
That one I don't know.
Looks like it's been here a few days.
The paper on the dash is from Thursday.
This car's been here since Thursday night? Yeah.
Is there a problem? You'll be the first to know.
Home Oh Pete Samuels Wednesday, January 16 I already told the cops at the hospital.
It was on Little West 12th and 9th.
Four guys, one with a gun.
They jacked my van.
The next thing you know, I wake up in the emergency room.
It's so amazing you got Pete's van back.
Did you catch the guys? No.
Mr.
Samuels, did you do any work at the Aztec Club? I never heard of the place.
We found your van in the parking lot.
Who roughed you up, Pete? We know you're afraid.
The fact is, if you don't help us, we can't help you.
Yeah, but I'm not asking for help, all right? I didn't ask you here.
We're here anyway.
I installed the audio system at the Aztec.
Were you there Thursday night? They asked me in to adjust the subs.
As soon as I got there, they went after me.
On account they heard that I took a gig with a new place down on 9th.
No one told me I was exclusive.
That's the other guy, Vinny.
Him and Frank did the beatdown.
- And Hampton just watched.
- You did a good thing, Pete, thanks.
I don't have to come back again, right? They don't have to know it was me.
No.
/ No, Pete.
that's good.
Now's a good time to think this is going to piss 'em off! Come on, Cry hey, Crystal, come here.
Wait a minute.
Vincent Russo.
Frank Ventura.
Kissing cousins of the Genoveses'.
One second.
Why'd you lock your door? You got somebody in here? I was taking a nap.
Here you go, coat check and bar tabs.
We got a new guy we want you to use for your glassware.
I already got 2,000 glasses, Vinny.
Guess what? They're all chipped.
Okay, okay.
Look the police came by about the Carlyle murder.
- I don't need that kind of heat.
- Hampton, don't go looking for trouble.
My Dad never told me anything about the mob.
Why was he looking into the club's ownership? I don't know.
Why does it have to be about this whole mob thing? Why can't it just be some mugger who tried to rob him? It's going to be what it's going to be.
Why do you care one way or the other? I don't care about what happens to these guys.
I think you care about what happens to John Hampton.
John isn't a mobster.
Sorry to give you the bad news about the guy you've been sleeping with.
Excuse me, what? Were you or weren't you? Lilly, I think you should answer the detectives truthfully.
It was a very casual thing.
But enough to worry your father.
He didn't want me going down there.
I told John he shouldn't let those guys in, that it was a horrible image for the club.
And he said that he had no choice.
Did he say why? This guy, Vinny John said the feds had him indicted because he chopped off a guy's hand.
A federal indictment? John Hampton said that? Yeah.
Since when? Okay, thanks, Harry.
There's an indictment all right.
Federal grand jury billed Russo for torture and extortion four months ago.
It's not on his sheet.
They said it was sealed.
Where does a nightclub owner find out about a sealed federal indictment? Federal Bureau of Investigation Monday, January 21 What's it called, Aztec? Yes.
I never heard of it.
I can run the name of the principals through the Bureau's database, see what comes up? Could you? That'd be so helpful.
What's your interest in this club? It's in connection with a murder.
Wharton Carlyle, kind of a big shot.
Well, who you looking at for it? Vincent Russo, Frank Ventura, plus a newcomer, John Hampton.
We're about to execute search and arrest warrants.
You can't do that.
Really? Why's that? The Aztec is a Bureau sting operation.
And John Hampton would be Agent John Hampton? We have spent over a year putting this in place.
We're well into building a case against the Genoveses for extortion, racketeering, money laundering.
We're not jeopardizing that for some For a murder investigation.
How long before you roll up the operation? - Four to six months.
- Six months! What do we do till then, watch our leads turn to ice? I sympathize with your problem.
Maybe I can be your eyes and your ears.
You'll do no such thing.
The Aztec Club is off limits.
I won't have my agent compromised.
Then you better pull him out.
Because as long as it's in the five boroughs, that club's on our beat.
I want to see the tapes.
It's a sting operation.
I want to see the surveillance tapes.
Absolutely not.
I get calls every day from the mayor on down on this case.
Sure would be great to tell them how helpful the Bureau's been.
I think I got something interesting from Thursday night.
So John, you like undercover? Beats driving a desk in the Phoenix field office.
After a while, you forget you're playing dressup.
It's like a groove.
You ever try it? I wouldn't be any good.
It's just not in my nature.
Those four years in Narcotics, what was that? You ran three undercover operations, - You read my file.
- Wouldn't you? And Eames, you transferred to Major Case after three years in Vice.
Winter nights trolling the Point in a fur coat and a halter top looking for johns.
It's tough duty.
Let's not run games on each other.
Okay, let's check it out.
That's Eddie Dutton.
He shows up every time Lilly's around.
This might help you.
Is there any more to the tape? That's all I can show you.
Good hunting.
It was in your bedroom, Eddie.
A doubleedged knife.
The same kind of weapon used to kill Lilly's dad.
Listen.
I'm not even - This is nuts, okay? - Relax, Eddie.
We're going to get to the bottom of this.
Oh, Jeez.
You know, this is that's just really what I You're going to want to start finishing a sentence here pretty soon, Eddie.
Forensics is going over your knife.
You got something to tell us, now would be a good time.
What she says is true.
Okay.
Okay.
I offered to get rid of her dad.
I know how it sounds.
When I drink, I say pretty much anything.
Well, people say things they don't mean when they're drunk.
But then it happened.
He's dead.
I'm screwed, man, this is wha Well, you're in trouble, that's a fact.
You keep telling us the truth, we'll see where it gets us.
Hey, if I was really going to do it, I wouldn't have flashed the knife in front of everybody.
Who's everybody? Lilly, Serena, a photographer, Hampton.
Man, he really flipped out.
Over the knife? Yeah, I thought he was going to kill me.
After all this stuff, what happened? All I remember is waking up in the bathroom.
What time did you leave? I don't know.
Morning.
The cleaning crew woke me up.
Got a mixed bag from Forensics.
Size and shape consistent with the wound, but no blood or tissue on the knife.
He could've soaked it in disinfectant.
If he was smart he would have ditched the knife.
Be happy he's plenty dumb to hand you enough incriminating statements to choke a judge.
Now you just have to bust his alibi.
I have to brief the chief of detectives by 6:00.
A little good news wouldn't hurt.
Go and check the alibi.
I'm going to be down in Forensics.
I analyzed the saliva.
This one, traces of animal fat, mustard residue Not that one.
I had pastrami for lunch.
That explains the antacid.
The other mug is more interesting cocaine.
It's also present in the fingerprints on the mug.
Those cops came to see me.
So? They come and see me all the time.
They asked me about you and Eddie.
They think you killed your father, the two of you.
What? Who told them that? Did Eddie tell them that? They had to get it from someplace.
That is so outrageous.
Doesn't really matter.
It's enough the police believe it.
You got to protect yourself.
So what am I going to do? What I tell you.
There's a way to handle the police.
You know so much about cops, right? I know enough.
John.
I don't ever want this to end, baby.
You are so too much.
Eddie was drinking vodka gimlets all night.
I think he had, like, seven.
And then he came out and he said he was going to do something really cool for me, that he was going to pull a Menendez on my dad.
And I just ignored it 'cause I thought what anybody would think, that he was just kidding.
What made you change your mind about that? I don't know.
I was just thinking.
Then there's the part where he pulled out the dagger.
He took out a dagger? Yeah.
He got really pissed at this photographer and he started flashing it around to impress me.
I mean, I realize now he was doing all that to impress me, so that's why I think he did it.
That's why I think he killed my dad.
What was it he said again? That he was going to do something really cool for me; that he was going to pull a Menendez on my Dad.
By that time he had, what, three or four drinks? Seven.
Seven vodka gimlets.
All right, Lilly.
I think that's sufficient.
We appreciate your coming in, Ms.
Carlyle.
It took a lot of guts.
The officer will accompany you out.
Thank you.
I'll call the DA and tell him we're ready to send up charges.
Dagger? Since when does a 20 year old debutante use the word dagger? Maybe she read it in a fashion magazine.
Only cops use the word dagger to describe a doubleedged knife.
It didn't sound on the up and up coming from her, Captain.
Eddie Dutton didn't just have a lot of drinks, he had seven drinks.
She was coached by her cokesnorting boyfriend, Agent Hampton.
Undercovers have a lot to do to fit in.
Dipping into the nose candy, humping the local talent is not unheard of.
What is your problem with this guy? I just get the feeling I got to watch my back around him.
Well, until you come up with a motive, don't talk to me about Hampton.
Cityview Foundation Office Of Wharton Carlyle Thursday, January 24 Mr.
Carlyle never mentioned a John Hampton to me.
Mr.
Carlyle was a very private man.
If it didn't have anything to do with the foundation's work, we didn't discuss it.
Ever see the name on any documents or correspondence? No.
/ Eames.
It's the office phone records.
In the two weeks before the murder, there are three phone calls to Phoenix.
Hello? What was that? Wagner Security.
Is there a Mr.
Wagner I can speak to? Mr.
Wagner? Detective Goren.
This is Detective Eames.
You're a tough guy to get hold of.
Well, can't hit a moving target.
You mind if we hurry? My plane was late and I have a meeting.
So you wanted to know what I did for Wharton Carlyle? Whatever you can tell us.
He had me run a background check on a guy in Arizona.
- Name of John Hampton.
- Did he say why? Carlyle had found some explicit Polaroids of Hampton with his daughter.
Plus evidence Hampton had given her drugs.
The girl had floated Hampton some money Carlyle wanted leverage to get this jerk to cut the girl loose.
Guy works for the Bureau, you believe that? I'll fax you his file if that'll help.
Great.
How did Carlyle react when you told him? That an FBI man was corrupting his daughter? He was not happy about it.
I told him to be careful.
Hampton had already stuck a gun down the throat of one of Lilly Carlyle's boyfriends.
Hampton was out of control.
Carlyle was probably leaning on him, threatening to go to his boss.
Giving drugs to a girl that's not old enough to drink, taking money from her it's indefensible, even for an undercover.
So do we have a motive now? I think you do.
We're talking about arresting an undercover FBI agent in the middle of a sting.
I don't know about you, but I don't want to be reassigned to the motor pool.
Then it'll be my decision.
I'll get the warrant, you pick him up.
Aztec Club Friday, January 25 What the hell is this? The FBI sting netted a number of associates of the Genovese crime family, including popular night club owner, John Hampton.
Son of a bitch! United States versus Vincent Russo, Francis Ventura, John Hampton, et al.
The predicates include assault in aid of racketeering, money laundering and extortion.
How are we pleading, gentlemen? Not guilty.
Not guilty.
Not guilty.
We ask for remand, Your Honor.
The defendants all have previous records and the evidence against them is substantial.
Defendants are remanded to custody.
Your Honor, ADA Carver, New York District Attorney's Office.
Before the defendants are removed, I'd like to be heard on this matter.
The detectives' first attempt to arrest John Hampton was preempted by Agent Wallis.
We're now simply trying to keep the FBI from kidnapping our suspect.
Arrest warrant or not, their murder investigation can't be allowed to sabotage a federal case.
It's hardly our fault the US Attorney pinned her hope on a murderer.
His behavior does seem questionable, but I don't see much direct evidence linking him to this murder.
If these detectives weren't so busy running the FBI's obstacle course, I'm sure they'd find enough evidence to satisfy you.
Your Honor, in the absence of compelling evidence, the federal government has the greater interest here.
There's an interest greater than prosecuting the taking of a life? What law books are you working from? I have to agree with Ms.
Emanuel.
Until I see more evidence, I'm staying your arrest warrant.
There's also the need to protect the identity of the Bureau's agent.
I'd like to request a gag order.
Very well.
Mr.
Carver, NYPD and your office is now under gag order.
You can continue to develop your case.
We are done here.
There goes Hampton down the rabbit hole.
Even the FBI can't ignore a federal judge.
You heard him.
The man wants compelling evidence.
Right.
And I want a foot massage from Derek Jeter.
Boathouse Of Wharton Carlyle Sherman Creek Monday, January 28 I didn't see him.
I'm sorry.
That's all right.
This rope is cut through clean.
Are there any scissors or shears over there? Nope.
/ Knife? No knife, but there are hash marks on this workbench.
Could be from a knife.
Mr.
Carlyle keep a knife here? He had a rigging knife.
A rigging knife.
That's a singleedged blade.
Those doubleblades, they're not so useful.
Cut yourself, you know? Yeah, I know.
Do you think you could pick the knife from a book? - Think so.
- We'd appreciate it.
This is the wrong kind of knife.
Carlyle was killed with a doubleedged blade.
But his is missing.
Caretaker picked it.
Last time he saw Carlyle with it was a couple of weeks ago.
Big help there.
What are you doing? Reading Hampton's FBI files.
We passed his photo and a description of his car around the neighborhood of the marina.
No pops.
We need something.
The City Police Liaison, the mayor's office, the Department of Justice all feel very strongly the FBI should not be messed with.
We got him.
u.
s.
Attorney's Office St.
Andrews Plaza Wednesday, January 30 This is the same kind of knife that Carlyle kept in his boathouse.
The knife that was used to kill him.
This a singleedged knife? / Yes.
Well, right there, he's wrong.
The killer stabbed the victim once with this knife, turned it around and reinserted it into the wound, this time with the sharp edge down.
Why would he do that, Detective? So we would think the victim was killed with a doubleedged knife, a knife just like Eddie Dutton's.
And Hampton thought his little trick would fool a forensic examination? Wouldn't have been the first time.
The killer of a federal informant in Arizona was almost acquitted because of an identical mistake made by a forensic examiner.
Hampton knew that because he was the lead investigator.
It's in his file.
I hope you appreciate the fact that we stopped in here before going to Judge Gordino.
I'm not sure it's enough to convince me to honor your arrest warrant.
Then give him to us for a day.
Just to question him.
It's Goren.
Frustrated secondrate city cop.
You see the signs in their office? "World's Greatest Detectives," my ass.
This whole thing is complete speculation.
There was a reference, actually.
To a case in your file.
The JoJo Benitez case.
I brought you a federal indictment against the Genoveses.
- I should be getting a medal.
- You didn't do it by yourself, John.
The interview's set for tomorrow morning.
Pick you up at 8:00.
Be ready.
Metropolitan Correctional Center Church Street Thursday, January 31 That's just fabulous.
On top of everything else he's facing, you want him to perjure himself? There'll be no perjury.
He won't be under oath and his statements won't be offered as evidence in any proceeding.
All right, say he does help you with this murder investigation, what's in it for Mr.
Russo? Besides the federal charges, these FBI operations always give rise to state charges.
We'll make sure they don't in Mr.
Russo's case.
Hampton was my business partner.
And he's my codefendant.
Not that loyalty's a big thing with me, but why should I help you hang a murder rap on him? Because, Vinny, if you don't hang it on him, I'm going to hang it on you.
What do you mean John's in the FBI? I think I would've known if he was a cop.
Be that as it may, your father found out he was an undercover FBI agent.
He threatened to expose Hampton's illegal activities to his superiors.
Illegal activities? Giving Ms.
Carlyle drugs, taking money from her, threatening her former boyfriends.
What do you expect from Ms.
Carlyle? We need her to testify against Hampton.
I don't think you understand.
John's a victim here.
Those gangsters victimized him.
He didn't kill my father! I don't think that you understand.
That Friday night there was a problem in the coat room.
Must've been around 5:30.
I couldn't find Hampton anywhere.
I even went out to the parking lot.
His car wasn't there.
He didn't turn up until about 6:00.
He told me we didn't have to worry about Wharton Carlyle nosing around in our business anymore.
Not bad.
Beats a desk at the Phoenix field office.
Give her a workout yet? You better not put it off, John.
The Department of Correction's strict about conjugal visits for convicted murderers.
Trust me, you're a long way from making that stick.
So you called this meeting, what do you want? I want to give you a chance to do right.
And what's doing right in the Goren playbook? Fidelity.
Bravery.
Integrity.
Isn't that what it says on your FBI crest? You're going to give me the goodagentgonebad speech? I just want to know what happened.
Did you get tired of watching the bad guys have all the fun? This is getting boring.
Let me make it a little more exciting for you.
My father was angry that John Hampton was taking money from me and that we were having a relationship.
He said that he could hurt John, and I repeated that to John and he got really angry.
He knew Dad went rowing every morning.
I even showed him where one time.
By the time we clean her up, put her in a nice blue dress, she'll make a terrific witness.
The remorseful daughter of the father that died trying to protect her.
You used her, John.
She was weak, and you used her.
And that really pisses me off.
I think it's time to think about taking a plea.
That crap's not going to fly.
We're done.
Get him out of here.
- I'm sorry, John.
- What are you sorry about? John Hampton, you're under arrest for murder.
You need me.
You can't make the case without me.
It's no longer your concern.
It's lonely at the bottom.
These are their stories.
So Brittany's like, committed.
Who knows if she's even going to show up.
That's not even the point.
Who is this guy? All of a sudden he's supposed to be in Atlanta for an Elton John benefit.
He is off of the VIP list forever.
Lilly, I need to speak with you.
We're late, Daddy.
This article? Dad, that's great exposure.
That's a national magazine.
Didn't you get enough exposure last summer when you nearly ran over those people? Yeah, by accident.
And now this this expose of your sex life? Nobody takes that stuff seriously.
They do, Lilly.
It's degrading.
Well, I didn't do it to embarrass you, okay? - Let's talk about this later.
- Where are you going? - Where do you think? - I don't want you going there.
I know what goes on there.
That socalled friend of yours, - if he doesn't stay away from you - Daddy, stop it! Lilly, I mean it.
I can hurt him.
Lilly, I'm on your side.
Sometimes I wish you'd remember that.
Does it ever occur to your dad what a supreme geek he is? - Don't say that.
- Well, he is.
Well, shut up, Serena.
You need to get out of there.
'Cause that is out of control.
He was threatening me.
I was like, "Oh, that's great, Daddy.
Real warm and fuzzy.
I love you, too.
" You want me to do a Menendez on him? Just say the word, I'm there for you.
Thank you, sweetie.
Hey, jerkwad! Put it away, Eddie.
I'm sorry, man, I got this.
Go tell Jimmy I said take care of you, all right? Try that again, I'm not letting you back in here.
How you ladies doing? Great.
'Cause we've only been here a half hour.
Where have you been? Come on, I want to talk to you.
Where'd you go to? Let's have some fun.
Johnny, what is this? Honey, go back inside now.
Now.
That was weird.
Could you just leave me alone, please? Daddy, it's me.
Are you there? Pick up.
Pick up, pick up, please! Mister Carlyle? Hello? Please get up! Please, I didn't mean to yell at you! Please get up! That's great, Dad! Just lie there! Please! Daddy! Please get up! Get up! Daddy, please, don't do this.
Law & Order CI Wharton Carlyle, son of the late Titus Carlyle, the billboard king.
What do you make of this? The guy's stabbed here with a doubleedged knife and then hits his head on the floor when he falls.
Look at the indentation, the rip in the skin.
You don't get that from hitting the floor.
I'd look at all the oars around here.
I bet you find part of Carlyle's brain on one of them.
Rowed in the Olympics in '72, in Munich.
His daughter into it? First time I've seen her.
I get here, there he is, she's all going haywire.
You get much trouble with the neighborhood? Nah, just the occasional bum.
I feel bad about this.
He was a nice guy.
Lilly Carlyle.
Somebody call Dominick Dunne.
What, you know about her? "It Girl" of the minute.
Famous for being rich and famous.
"Details" magazine, "Vanity Fair.
" Very popular, very young, very everything.
Excuse me, are you the new detectives? Because I kind of need to get out of here.
She sounds like lots of fun.
Are you warm enough, Ms.
Carlyle? 'Cause we could get you some coffee.
No.
Look, I'm sorry.
I'm just I'm a little bit of a wreck right now and I need to go home.
Unfortunately, as traumatic as this has been for you, we can't allow you to leave until we get a better sense of what happened here this morning.
I showed up and I found my father dead! Are you on drugs, Ms.
Carlyle? Excuse me, what did you say? I was wondering if you'd consent to a drug test.
Don't answer that.
Hall, thank God! This is terrible.
It's okay, Lilly.
Hall Richmond, I'm a friend of the family.
And a lawyer.
Lilly will be happy to answer your questions once she's had a chance to go home and change and compose herself.
As for a drug test, the answer's no.
Come on, Lilly.
I got a call from the inspector, who got a call from the chief of detectives, who got a call from a lawyer named Richmond.
- Here come the smoke and mirrors.
- You asked to drug test this girl? Tell me she's not a suspect.
She's a suspect.
I've seen this girl in my kid's magazines, she's 90 pounds soaking wet.
With a nose full of cocaine, she's a 400pound gorilla.
Still, the guy was an Olympic champion.
She could've had an accomplice.
- How's that work? - Two weapons.
We found the oar used on his skull, wiped clean of prints.
Torso wounds from a dagger, presumably gathering silt at the bottom of the Harlem river.
Okay.
I'll call Hall Richmond, make sure he brings Ms.
Carlyle by for a chat.
Aren't you going to ask me if I did it? It's irrelevant, Lilly.
Now, whatever you do, you must not lie to the police.
If there's anything I don't want you to answer, I'll let you know.
You're out of your depth, so keep your mouth shut and do what I tell you.
My dad was angry about a magazine article and we got into a fight Thursday night, and I went there to apologize.
And then when I saw that he was dead, you know and I just started throwing things, but that's all that happened.
You drove from the West Village all the way up to the Bronx.
Who was with you? Nobody.
Anybody you know carry a knife? I wouldn't associate with people who carry weapons, now would I? I didn't know very much about you, so I pulled some articles off the computer, and I went to the newsstand.
Is this one of the articles that made your father upset? - No.
- How about this one? It was this one, wasn't it? You're very candid about your sex life in this article.
Was your father embarrassed? It's promotion, for my public relations business.
Last summer you got into an an altercation with a photographer? No, he was intruding on my privacy.
You see, people like me are always targets! You nearly ran him over with your car.
Did your father think that's appropriate for people like you? No.
People like me don't have to put up with crap like this! Lilly / No! I'm not doing this anymore! We'll need the names of the people you were with last night.
Just go to the club.
They all know me there.
If you'll excuse us.
Aztec Club Saturday, January 12 I don't remember seeing her leave.
We were packed.
At 5:00 a.
m.
On Friday morning? How about who she was with? Like I said, it was a zoo.
You got security.
How about you pull the tapes from that night? It's a loop.
It's not going to help you.
You know, I read that she did PR for you.
What does she do exactly? She's Lilly Carlyle.
Her Rolodex looks like the guest list at the MTV Awards.
She put us on the map.
Is that the reason why you're giving us the runaround? Come on.
Mr.
Hampton, you can alienate her, or you can alienate us.
But we can get a lot nastier than some debutante.
Talk to Serena Whitfield.
She was with her.
Home Of Mr.
& Mrs.
Whitfield Sunday, January 13 I don't remember anything unusual.
Lilly talk about her father that night? Was she upset with him? I don't know anything about that.
These are the police.
Tell them what they want to know.
Her dad was on her a lot.
And Lilly was like she can give as good as she gets.
What was his problem with Lilly? He didn't like her hanging out at the Aztec.
Why? He didn't like the people there, the people who ran the place.
Her dad told Lilly he knew what was going on there and he was going to shut it down.
What was going on at the club? Like Thursday night there was this guy getting beat up behind the club.
I don't know who he was.
- Who was beating him up? - Two guys, these big guys.
Everybody says they're gangsters.
Those two were just wailing on this other guy.
John was there.
John Hampton? Yes.
Lilly was so freaked out.
Hampton, John.
That's right.
Business address is 112 Garston.
Okay, get back to me.
Cabaret license is held by Hampton.
Same story with the liquor license.
We're not the only ones checking up on him.
Two weeks ago, Wharton Carlyle, through his nonprofit foundation, called the State Liquor Authority about Hampton.
He also called the Real Estate Board and the Health Department.
It looks like Hampton didn't want the attention.
Last few years, Hampton ran a couple of clubs in Tempe, Arizona.
Cited for serving alcohol to minors, fire regs.
He paid his fines.
Tempe's a long way from Mott Street.
The club is connected, Captain.
The magic gut speaks.
If I'm going to talk up this mob angle upstairs, you're going to have to prove it to me first.
Excuse me.
Excuse me.
This is a private lot.
Yeah? Who owns it? Sorry, Officer.
It's leased, actually, by the Aztec Club.
I hope there's no problem.
We're just keeping an eye on the neighborhood.
How come? Because we're the police.
How long have you been exclusive to the club? A couple of months.
And they make it worth your while to keep the place deserted like this during the day? It's an arrangement.
It works for them, it works for me.
It looks more like you're working for them.
When you made this arrangement, they threaten you? - We'll protect you.
- Right.
Right.
Who are the lucky stiffs who get to park here during the day? That's Mr.
Hampton's car.
He owns the club.
That one I don't know.
Looks like it's been here a few days.
The paper on the dash is from Thursday.
This car's been here since Thursday night? Yeah.
Is there a problem? You'll be the first to know.
Home Oh Pete Samuels Wednesday, January 16 I already told the cops at the hospital.
It was on Little West 12th and 9th.
Four guys, one with a gun.
They jacked my van.
The next thing you know, I wake up in the emergency room.
It's so amazing you got Pete's van back.
Did you catch the guys? No.
Mr.
Samuels, did you do any work at the Aztec Club? I never heard of the place.
We found your van in the parking lot.
Who roughed you up, Pete? We know you're afraid.
The fact is, if you don't help us, we can't help you.
Yeah, but I'm not asking for help, all right? I didn't ask you here.
We're here anyway.
I installed the audio system at the Aztec.
Were you there Thursday night? They asked me in to adjust the subs.
As soon as I got there, they went after me.
On account they heard that I took a gig with a new place down on 9th.
No one told me I was exclusive.
That's the other guy, Vinny.
Him and Frank did the beatdown.
- And Hampton just watched.
- You did a good thing, Pete, thanks.
I don't have to come back again, right? They don't have to know it was me.
No.
/ No, Pete.
that's good.
Now's a good time to think this is going to piss 'em off! Come on, Cry hey, Crystal, come here.
Wait a minute.
Vincent Russo.
Frank Ventura.
Kissing cousins of the Genoveses'.
One second.
Why'd you lock your door? You got somebody in here? I was taking a nap.
Here you go, coat check and bar tabs.
We got a new guy we want you to use for your glassware.
I already got 2,000 glasses, Vinny.
Guess what? They're all chipped.
Okay, okay.
Look the police came by about the Carlyle murder.
- I don't need that kind of heat.
- Hampton, don't go looking for trouble.
My Dad never told me anything about the mob.
Why was he looking into the club's ownership? I don't know.
Why does it have to be about this whole mob thing? Why can't it just be some mugger who tried to rob him? It's going to be what it's going to be.
Why do you care one way or the other? I don't care about what happens to these guys.
I think you care about what happens to John Hampton.
John isn't a mobster.
Sorry to give you the bad news about the guy you've been sleeping with.
Excuse me, what? Were you or weren't you? Lilly, I think you should answer the detectives truthfully.
It was a very casual thing.
But enough to worry your father.
He didn't want me going down there.
I told John he shouldn't let those guys in, that it was a horrible image for the club.
And he said that he had no choice.
Did he say why? This guy, Vinny John said the feds had him indicted because he chopped off a guy's hand.
A federal indictment? John Hampton said that? Yeah.
Since when? Okay, thanks, Harry.
There's an indictment all right.
Federal grand jury billed Russo for torture and extortion four months ago.
It's not on his sheet.
They said it was sealed.
Where does a nightclub owner find out about a sealed federal indictment? Federal Bureau of Investigation Monday, January 21 What's it called, Aztec? Yes.
I never heard of it.
I can run the name of the principals through the Bureau's database, see what comes up? Could you? That'd be so helpful.
What's your interest in this club? It's in connection with a murder.
Wharton Carlyle, kind of a big shot.
Well, who you looking at for it? Vincent Russo, Frank Ventura, plus a newcomer, John Hampton.
We're about to execute search and arrest warrants.
You can't do that.
Really? Why's that? The Aztec is a Bureau sting operation.
And John Hampton would be Agent John Hampton? We have spent over a year putting this in place.
We're well into building a case against the Genoveses for extortion, racketeering, money laundering.
We're not jeopardizing that for some For a murder investigation.
How long before you roll up the operation? - Four to six months.
- Six months! What do we do till then, watch our leads turn to ice? I sympathize with your problem.
Maybe I can be your eyes and your ears.
You'll do no such thing.
The Aztec Club is off limits.
I won't have my agent compromised.
Then you better pull him out.
Because as long as it's in the five boroughs, that club's on our beat.
I want to see the tapes.
It's a sting operation.
I want to see the surveillance tapes.
Absolutely not.
I get calls every day from the mayor on down on this case.
Sure would be great to tell them how helpful the Bureau's been.
I think I got something interesting from Thursday night.
So John, you like undercover? Beats driving a desk in the Phoenix field office.
After a while, you forget you're playing dressup.
It's like a groove.
You ever try it? I wouldn't be any good.
It's just not in my nature.
Those four years in Narcotics, what was that? You ran three undercover operations, - You read my file.
- Wouldn't you? And Eames, you transferred to Major Case after three years in Vice.
Winter nights trolling the Point in a fur coat and a halter top looking for johns.
It's tough duty.
Let's not run games on each other.
Okay, let's check it out.
That's Eddie Dutton.
He shows up every time Lilly's around.
This might help you.
Is there any more to the tape? That's all I can show you.
Good hunting.
It was in your bedroom, Eddie.
A doubleedged knife.
The same kind of weapon used to kill Lilly's dad.
Listen.
I'm not even - This is nuts, okay? - Relax, Eddie.
We're going to get to the bottom of this.
Oh, Jeez.
You know, this is that's just really what I You're going to want to start finishing a sentence here pretty soon, Eddie.
Forensics is going over your knife.
You got something to tell us, now would be a good time.
What she says is true.
Okay.
Okay.
I offered to get rid of her dad.
I know how it sounds.
When I drink, I say pretty much anything.
Well, people say things they don't mean when they're drunk.
But then it happened.
He's dead.
I'm screwed, man, this is wha Well, you're in trouble, that's a fact.
You keep telling us the truth, we'll see where it gets us.
Hey, if I was really going to do it, I wouldn't have flashed the knife in front of everybody.
Who's everybody? Lilly, Serena, a photographer, Hampton.
Man, he really flipped out.
Over the knife? Yeah, I thought he was going to kill me.
After all this stuff, what happened? All I remember is waking up in the bathroom.
What time did you leave? I don't know.
Morning.
The cleaning crew woke me up.
Got a mixed bag from Forensics.
Size and shape consistent with the wound, but no blood or tissue on the knife.
He could've soaked it in disinfectant.
If he was smart he would have ditched the knife.
Be happy he's plenty dumb to hand you enough incriminating statements to choke a judge.
Now you just have to bust his alibi.
I have to brief the chief of detectives by 6:00.
A little good news wouldn't hurt.
Go and check the alibi.
I'm going to be down in Forensics.
I analyzed the saliva.
This one, traces of animal fat, mustard residue Not that one.
I had pastrami for lunch.
That explains the antacid.
The other mug is more interesting cocaine.
It's also present in the fingerprints on the mug.
Those cops came to see me.
So? They come and see me all the time.
They asked me about you and Eddie.
They think you killed your father, the two of you.
What? Who told them that? Did Eddie tell them that? They had to get it from someplace.
That is so outrageous.
Doesn't really matter.
It's enough the police believe it.
You got to protect yourself.
So what am I going to do? What I tell you.
There's a way to handle the police.
You know so much about cops, right? I know enough.
John.
I don't ever want this to end, baby.
You are so too much.
Eddie was drinking vodka gimlets all night.
I think he had, like, seven.
And then he came out and he said he was going to do something really cool for me, that he was going to pull a Menendez on my dad.
And I just ignored it 'cause I thought what anybody would think, that he was just kidding.
What made you change your mind about that? I don't know.
I was just thinking.
Then there's the part where he pulled out the dagger.
He took out a dagger? Yeah.
He got really pissed at this photographer and he started flashing it around to impress me.
I mean, I realize now he was doing all that to impress me, so that's why I think he did it.
That's why I think he killed my dad.
What was it he said again? That he was going to do something really cool for me; that he was going to pull a Menendez on my Dad.
By that time he had, what, three or four drinks? Seven.
Seven vodka gimlets.
All right, Lilly.
I think that's sufficient.
We appreciate your coming in, Ms.
Carlyle.
It took a lot of guts.
The officer will accompany you out.
Thank you.
I'll call the DA and tell him we're ready to send up charges.
Dagger? Since when does a 20 year old debutante use the word dagger? Maybe she read it in a fashion magazine.
Only cops use the word dagger to describe a doubleedged knife.
It didn't sound on the up and up coming from her, Captain.
Eddie Dutton didn't just have a lot of drinks, he had seven drinks.
She was coached by her cokesnorting boyfriend, Agent Hampton.
Undercovers have a lot to do to fit in.
Dipping into the nose candy, humping the local talent is not unheard of.
What is your problem with this guy? I just get the feeling I got to watch my back around him.
Well, until you come up with a motive, don't talk to me about Hampton.
Cityview Foundation Office Of Wharton Carlyle Thursday, January 24 Mr.
Carlyle never mentioned a John Hampton to me.
Mr.
Carlyle was a very private man.
If it didn't have anything to do with the foundation's work, we didn't discuss it.
Ever see the name on any documents or correspondence? No.
/ Eames.
It's the office phone records.
In the two weeks before the murder, there are three phone calls to Phoenix.
Hello? What was that? Wagner Security.
Is there a Mr.
Wagner I can speak to? Mr.
Wagner? Detective Goren.
This is Detective Eames.
You're a tough guy to get hold of.
Well, can't hit a moving target.
You mind if we hurry? My plane was late and I have a meeting.
So you wanted to know what I did for Wharton Carlyle? Whatever you can tell us.
He had me run a background check on a guy in Arizona.
- Name of John Hampton.
- Did he say why? Carlyle had found some explicit Polaroids of Hampton with his daughter.
Plus evidence Hampton had given her drugs.
The girl had floated Hampton some money Carlyle wanted leverage to get this jerk to cut the girl loose.
Guy works for the Bureau, you believe that? I'll fax you his file if that'll help.
Great.
How did Carlyle react when you told him? That an FBI man was corrupting his daughter? He was not happy about it.
I told him to be careful.
Hampton had already stuck a gun down the throat of one of Lilly Carlyle's boyfriends.
Hampton was out of control.
Carlyle was probably leaning on him, threatening to go to his boss.
Giving drugs to a girl that's not old enough to drink, taking money from her it's indefensible, even for an undercover.
So do we have a motive now? I think you do.
We're talking about arresting an undercover FBI agent in the middle of a sting.
I don't know about you, but I don't want to be reassigned to the motor pool.
Then it'll be my decision.
I'll get the warrant, you pick him up.
Aztec Club Friday, January 25 What the hell is this? The FBI sting netted a number of associates of the Genovese crime family, including popular night club owner, John Hampton.
Son of a bitch! United States versus Vincent Russo, Francis Ventura, John Hampton, et al.
The predicates include assault in aid of racketeering, money laundering and extortion.
How are we pleading, gentlemen? Not guilty.
Not guilty.
Not guilty.
We ask for remand, Your Honor.
The defendants all have previous records and the evidence against them is substantial.
Defendants are remanded to custody.
Your Honor, ADA Carver, New York District Attorney's Office.
Before the defendants are removed, I'd like to be heard on this matter.
The detectives' first attempt to arrest John Hampton was preempted by Agent Wallis.
We're now simply trying to keep the FBI from kidnapping our suspect.
Arrest warrant or not, their murder investigation can't be allowed to sabotage a federal case.
It's hardly our fault the US Attorney pinned her hope on a murderer.
His behavior does seem questionable, but I don't see much direct evidence linking him to this murder.
If these detectives weren't so busy running the FBI's obstacle course, I'm sure they'd find enough evidence to satisfy you.
Your Honor, in the absence of compelling evidence, the federal government has the greater interest here.
There's an interest greater than prosecuting the taking of a life? What law books are you working from? I have to agree with Ms.
Emanuel.
Until I see more evidence, I'm staying your arrest warrant.
There's also the need to protect the identity of the Bureau's agent.
I'd like to request a gag order.
Very well.
Mr.
Carver, NYPD and your office is now under gag order.
You can continue to develop your case.
We are done here.
There goes Hampton down the rabbit hole.
Even the FBI can't ignore a federal judge.
You heard him.
The man wants compelling evidence.
Right.
And I want a foot massage from Derek Jeter.
Boathouse Of Wharton Carlyle Sherman Creek Monday, January 28 I didn't see him.
I'm sorry.
That's all right.
This rope is cut through clean.
Are there any scissors or shears over there? Nope.
/ Knife? No knife, but there are hash marks on this workbench.
Could be from a knife.
Mr.
Carlyle keep a knife here? He had a rigging knife.
A rigging knife.
That's a singleedged blade.
Those doubleblades, they're not so useful.
Cut yourself, you know? Yeah, I know.
Do you think you could pick the knife from a book? - Think so.
- We'd appreciate it.
This is the wrong kind of knife.
Carlyle was killed with a doubleedged blade.
But his is missing.
Caretaker picked it.
Last time he saw Carlyle with it was a couple of weeks ago.
Big help there.
What are you doing? Reading Hampton's FBI files.
We passed his photo and a description of his car around the neighborhood of the marina.
No pops.
We need something.
The City Police Liaison, the mayor's office, the Department of Justice all feel very strongly the FBI should not be messed with.
We got him.
u.
s.
Attorney's Office St.
Andrews Plaza Wednesday, January 30 This is the same kind of knife that Carlyle kept in his boathouse.
The knife that was used to kill him.
This a singleedged knife? / Yes.
Well, right there, he's wrong.
The killer stabbed the victim once with this knife, turned it around and reinserted it into the wound, this time with the sharp edge down.
Why would he do that, Detective? So we would think the victim was killed with a doubleedged knife, a knife just like Eddie Dutton's.
And Hampton thought his little trick would fool a forensic examination? Wouldn't have been the first time.
The killer of a federal informant in Arizona was almost acquitted because of an identical mistake made by a forensic examiner.
Hampton knew that because he was the lead investigator.
It's in his file.
I hope you appreciate the fact that we stopped in here before going to Judge Gordino.
I'm not sure it's enough to convince me to honor your arrest warrant.
Then give him to us for a day.
Just to question him.
It's Goren.
Frustrated secondrate city cop.
You see the signs in their office? "World's Greatest Detectives," my ass.
This whole thing is complete speculation.
There was a reference, actually.
To a case in your file.
The JoJo Benitez case.
I brought you a federal indictment against the Genoveses.
- I should be getting a medal.
- You didn't do it by yourself, John.
The interview's set for tomorrow morning.
Pick you up at 8:00.
Be ready.
Metropolitan Correctional Center Church Street Thursday, January 31 That's just fabulous.
On top of everything else he's facing, you want him to perjure himself? There'll be no perjury.
He won't be under oath and his statements won't be offered as evidence in any proceeding.
All right, say he does help you with this murder investigation, what's in it for Mr.
Russo? Besides the federal charges, these FBI operations always give rise to state charges.
We'll make sure they don't in Mr.
Russo's case.
Hampton was my business partner.
And he's my codefendant.
Not that loyalty's a big thing with me, but why should I help you hang a murder rap on him? Because, Vinny, if you don't hang it on him, I'm going to hang it on you.
What do you mean John's in the FBI? I think I would've known if he was a cop.
Be that as it may, your father found out he was an undercover FBI agent.
He threatened to expose Hampton's illegal activities to his superiors.
Illegal activities? Giving Ms.
Carlyle drugs, taking money from her, threatening her former boyfriends.
What do you expect from Ms.
Carlyle? We need her to testify against Hampton.
I don't think you understand.
John's a victim here.
Those gangsters victimized him.
He didn't kill my father! I don't think that you understand.
That Friday night there was a problem in the coat room.
Must've been around 5:30.
I couldn't find Hampton anywhere.
I even went out to the parking lot.
His car wasn't there.
He didn't turn up until about 6:00.
He told me we didn't have to worry about Wharton Carlyle nosing around in our business anymore.
Not bad.
Beats a desk at the Phoenix field office.
Give her a workout yet? You better not put it off, John.
The Department of Correction's strict about conjugal visits for convicted murderers.
Trust me, you're a long way from making that stick.
So you called this meeting, what do you want? I want to give you a chance to do right.
And what's doing right in the Goren playbook? Fidelity.
Bravery.
Integrity.
Isn't that what it says on your FBI crest? You're going to give me the goodagentgonebad speech? I just want to know what happened.
Did you get tired of watching the bad guys have all the fun? This is getting boring.
Let me make it a little more exciting for you.
My father was angry that John Hampton was taking money from me and that we were having a relationship.
He said that he could hurt John, and I repeated that to John and he got really angry.
He knew Dad went rowing every morning.
I even showed him where one time.
By the time we clean her up, put her in a nice blue dress, she'll make a terrific witness.
The remorseful daughter of the father that died trying to protect her.
You used her, John.
She was weak, and you used her.
And that really pisses me off.
I think it's time to think about taking a plea.
That crap's not going to fly.
We're done.
Get him out of here.
- I'm sorry, John.
- What are you sorry about? John Hampton, you're under arrest for murder.
You need me.
You can't make the case without me.
It's no longer your concern.
It's lonely at the bottom.