Hudson and Rex (2019) s03e02 Episode Script

1 We're here at the Federal Courthouse awaiting the arrival of convicted killer, Danny Winters.
Three months ago, Winters pled guilty to the second degree murder of Marcus Richards.
The two men were working security at a high-end party when Richards was shot.
Winters will learn today how long he'll spend behind bars, before he's eligible for parole.
Carolyn Myers reporting live.
Aghh.
For the West Coast, fog tonight.
Light winds, 22 degrees.
What happened? It seems the transport van swerved to avoid a head-on collision with this oncoming vehicle here.
Yeah, are we looking at a planned escape? No.
No, the driver had a seizure.
Lost control.
I hear Danny had problems with the law in the past.
But, murder? Now this? Did you know him? Yeah.
Our paths crossed.
But that was a long time ago.
Did he take the guard's gun? Yeah.
So, armed and dangerous.
Hey, Sarah.
You got anything for us? A lot of blood.
Mostly from the injured guard, I'm betting.
But this piece of fabric might help Rex pick up our escapee's trail.
Looks like his uniform snagged on one of the benches during the accident.
Well, let's see what Rex can pick up.
Alright, pal.
Track it! What have you got, pal? Good job, partner.
We need an ambulance to Lucas Crescent right away.
Alright, everybody gather around.
I just got word.
The two prison guards are alright.
So is the motorcyclist.
Well, could he tell us anything? Unfortunately, no.
He was jumped from behind before he was knocked out.
Now, since the St.
John's South detachment handled the original murder investigation, Jesse's going to fill us in on the details.
Yes.
Danny Winters.
He's been in and out of trouble for years.
He's got a string of offences, going back to juvie.
Three months ago he graduated to murder.
The victim's name Marcus Richards.
Now, he and Danny worked security at a ticketed party held at the old Red Cliff Radar Station.
50 bucks a head.
Over two hundred kids showed up.
The place is crazy big.
Kids were everywhere.
A company called Hush Hush Events organized it.
- I mean - Let me guess.
Everyone was partying so hard, no one saw anything.
Not quite.
This one guy Brandon Fitzsimmons.
He saw Danny and Marcus arguing earlier that night.
And after that, Danny became the prime suspect.
He was arrested a day later when a search turned up the murder weapon hidden in his car.
I do have a list of relatives, known associates, past residences, prior jobs, co-workers, which I'll circulate.
Okay, we talk to everyone on that list! Let's find this guy! Jesse, I want you to go through that list.
Punch every name from the original investigation in the computer.
See if we get a hit on something.
And Charlie? You had said that you had met Danny.
Any idea where he might go? It's been so long.
No.
But we should check who he's been in touch with since he's been in prison.
Already done.
So far he contacted three people from prison.
His lawyer, Claire Haines.
They've had a number of calls.
He received one call from Wayne Needles, Hush Hush's owner.
Also, his wife Lynn O'Connell.
She's called into the prison every day, for three months.
Looks like we won't have to look too far to find her.
Lynn O'Connell? Detective Charlie Hudson.
This is my partner, Rex.
- Please have a seat.
- Have you found Danny? No.
Not yet.
Well, everyone's talking about him like he's some kind of vicious killer.
He told me he didn't kill Marcus.
And I believe him.
I can't do anything about that, Lynn.
But what I can do, is make sure that nothing bad happens to Danny or anyone else.
But, to do that, I need your help.
Have you heard from him? No.
Do you have any idea where he is? - Where he might be hiding? - None.
Any places that he might go? A family property like a cottage or? - Nothing.
- A farm? Look, I wish I could help you.
I just, I'm really worried about him.
And I'm worried about our baby.
I know you are.
We're going to do everything we can to bring him home safely.
But if you can think of anything in the meantime, will you let me know right away? Why don't you let me arrange a ride home for you? - Officer? - No.
I'm not going to go anywhere until I know Danny's safe.
Okay.
Well, let's find you a more comfortable place to sit, while you wait.
Could you take Ms.
O'Connell downstairs to the café and make sure she gets set up with whatever she needs? Thank you.
- Was that Danny's wife? - Yeah.
Can you keep an eye on her? Of course.
Is it purely out of concern, or? Mostly.
But she may also know something without even realizing it.
If you were to have a chat with her? I'll be sure to listen carefully.
Thank you very much.
Mr.
Needles.
I'm Superintendent Joseph Donovan.
- Thank you for coming in.
- My pleasure.
You can call me Wayne.
Wayne, why don't we talk in my office? Sure.
I was going through the old case file.
And I just wanted to go over a couple of things in case something might trigger your memory.
Absolutely.
Anything to help.
Tell me, how did you and Danny meet? Oh, sure.
We were slinging beer together a few years back.
Anything from those days come to mind? People he might have known? Old haunts he might have revisited? I doubt that Danny would have anything to do with those people or places anymore.
Why is that? Well, he was trying really hard to move on from that whole time in his life.
I think Lynn really changed things for him, for the better.
And I think he was trying to protect her.
Protect her from what? From the guy that he was.
But that didn't work out so well, did it? Claire Haynes? Yes? Detective Charlie Hudson, Major Crimes.
Your office said I might find you down here.
- This must be about Danny Winters.
- It is.
Do you mind if we walk while we talk? I can't miss this ferry.
I have a flying lesson booked out at the Bell Island Airport.
Have you heard from Danny? - No, but I wish I had.
- Why's that? As his lawyer, I'd advise him to turn himself in.
Well, he called you several times from prison.
Are you able to discuss that? I don't see the harm.
Danny was regretting the plea negotiation we made with the prosecutor.
The deal for second degree murder instead of first? The choice for Danny was parole after 10 years or after 25.
I advised him, by accepting, he'd have a chance to be part of his child's life.
Given Danny's record I'm surprised he wasn't happy with that.
Me too.
But Danny always felt he could prove his innocence.
Really? How so? He claimed he had a cell phone, with video footage that would clear him.
But he never produced that footage.
No, he claimed he lost it somewhere after the shooting.
Of course the police said they couldn't locate it, which didn't surprise me.
We're talking a huge, overgrown area.
And without it, the evidence was overwhelming.
Did you believe Danny's story? It's my job to represent my client as best I can.
I felt that's what I did.
Let's leave it at that.
I have to run.
If I hear from him, I'll be sure to let you know.
Thank you.
Hey, Jesse.
Charlie.
The motorcycle that Danny stole just turned up abandoned off Maddox Cove Road.
On it.
Rex.
Alright, you know what to do.
Track it.
Convicted killer Danny Winters remains on the loose.
Members of the public are warned not to approach.
He is considered armed and dangerous.
Any sighting should be reported to this police hotline.
Hey, Lynn.
I thought you could use something while you wait.
I'm Sarah Truong.
I'm with the SJPD.
How are you feeling? Like the last thing I need is any more liquid.
Yeah.
How far along are you? Six months.
I bet you and Danny were happy when you found out.
Yeah, we were.
I'd just gotten off the phone with the doctor.
He said everything was okay.
And then all this stuff happened.
It must have been hard on you.
It was.
And then it got worse.
What do you mean? Danny told me to stop visiting him in jail.
He just shut me out.
Why would he do that? I don't know.
He said to forget about him, for me and the baby to have a new start.
And he hasn't tried to get in contact with you, o? Are you trying to get me to talk? No no no no.
I already told your friend with the dog that I don't know where he is.
Okay? So if you don't have any news for me, just please leave me alone.
Well, what do you know, partner? He returned to the scene of the crime.
I'm don't think I'm going to get much out of Lynn.
Keep trying.
Alright.
I just need a different approach.
Guys.
I just got a hit.
But it might seem a little crazy.
I'll take crazy.
A name came up.
Brandon Fitzsimmons.
Oh, isn't that the witness who saw Danny arguing with Marcus? Yeah.
That's him.
He's a student at Heritage.
His name popped up in some sort of bank fraud investigation.
Over two million dollars was stolen from victims' accounts, over the past year.
- Is he a suspect? - No no.
- Then why was he flagged? - Well, because his mother, she was a victim.
Her entire life savings, over $100,000 was stolen.
Wow.
That's horrible.
The bank's IT investigators did trace an online transaction to an IP address here in St.
John's.
Let me guess.
Onion routing.
I'm sorry, onion routing? It's when someone uses a series of ever-changing exit nodes to mask their true IP address.
Yeah.
That's pretty cool.
I'm impressed.
Okay, listen.
Brandon doesn't sound like a victim, a suspect, or witness.
So why did his name come up in this investigation? Well, because his mother lives in Toronto.
And when the fraud squad asked if she had a St.
John's connection She told them her son lives here.
Right, so his name goes into the computer.
And he gets flagged.
- Exactly.
- Right.
But here's the kicker.
Brandon's mother was robbed two days after the party.
Oh? Well, that's some interesting timing.
Danny.
If that dog comes at me, I swear to God, I'll shoot the both of you.
Rex.
Gun.
Hand it over.
It's good to see you again, Charlie.
It's been a while.
Yeah, it has, Danny.
Easy, pal.
The dog goes in there.
Now.
Rex.
Go on.
Inside.
It's okay, pal.
If you don't stop him, I will.
Move.
That way! Move! Long time since grade eight.
Yeah.
Look at us now.
All grown up.
Your handcuffs.
Hand them over.
Come on.
You know the drill.
Why don't you do yourself a favour? Let me take you in, Danny.
My boss knows that I found the abandoned bike.
This place is going to be swarming with cops any minute.
Yeah, speaking of that What's your boss name? Tell me the name.
Or I'll put a bullet in your dog.
Don't think I won't do it.
Joe Donovan.
If you wouldn't mind? Now, it's time you and me had a little reunion.
Get a search team down to Maddox Cove right away.
Charlie and Rex are on Danny's trail.
Oh, so Danny's trying to get off the island by boat.
Yeah, that would be my guess.
But in the meantime, let's see what Brandon has to say.
Hey, Brandon.
Thanks for coming in.
Why am I here? Have you been in contact with Danny Winters since he escaped? Danny? No.
Wait, is this because I saw him arguing with Marcus? Is he coming after me? We just want to know if you have any idea where we might find him.
I don't.
Believe me, I wish I did.
Why don't we talk about the party? Your mother's bank account was drained two days after it.
I had nothing to do with that.
But we're wondering if the party and the theft are connected.
So, why don't you just walk me through what happened that night? Have you seen that place? It's all retro Cold War and amazing graffiti.
It was sick.
And plus, it has this vibe.
Whatever happens at the party stays at the party.
What does that mean? No selfies.
No social media.
- Old school.
- No selfies? How do they do that? We all left our phones with that Marcus guy.
Sort of like a coat check.
Every kid at that party turned in their phone.
How does that fit into the fraud scheme? You know, I might have an idea.
Let me look into it.
So, was Danny involved? Yeah, that would be my guess.
But the more important question is, does it have something to do with where he's headed? Okay.
I'll ask Lynn about the phone.
Maybe Danny mentioned something that could help.
Yeah.
I thought you said you could shut that dog up.
Rex! Quiet.
What exactly are you doing anyway, Danny? What's it to you? Just trying to make conversation, while you decide to turn yourself in.
Okay, well I'm looking for evidence that'll prove I didn't kill someone.
Your phone.
The one that mysteriously disappeared.
You cops are all alike.
There's proof on that phone.
Proof that'll clear me.
Proof like the murder weapon found in your car? That was planted.
I was framed.
You and half the prison population.
You know, that really hurts.
My grade eight pal doesn't believe me.
I guess now that you're some hot shot cop, we should probably forget about our mis-spent youth.
Huh? Danny, you should turn yourself in.
I'm going to prove you wrong, Charlie.
I'm going to prove everyone wrong.
I talked to Lynn.
She's worried about you.
Ou leave her out of this.
And shut that dog up! Danny, he's a police dog.
You can't keep him cooped up.
He needs a task.
He's not going to need a task if he's dead.
Okay, hey.
Stop.
He can find your cell phone.
How's your dog going to find my phone? - What are you talking about? - He can do it.
He just needs to be alive.
You must be here with good news.
No, I'm sorry.
Not yet.
But there is something that you might be able to help us with.
Did Danny ever talk about cell phones at the parties? What does that have to do with anything? Just trust me on this, please.
Why should I trust you? Why should I trust the police at all? Fair enough.
Well, I am a forensic scientist, Lynn.
I'm asked to solve crimes, based on the tiniest pieces of evidence.
And do you know what my biggest fear is? It's that I'll make a mistake.
That someone innocent will spend a part of their life in jail, because of me.
And I don't ever want that to happen.
Now listen.
I know that you think Danny is innocent.
And maybe I can help.
But I can only do that if you start trusting me.
He didn't like the whole phone-check thing.
Why? Because he thought Marcus was up to something.
Stealing phones.
I mean, Danny was worried.
With his record, I mean, he didn't want to be blamed.
He was trying to do everything to make sure that didn't happen.
What are you trying to find out? We think those phones were part of a fraud scheme.
And if they were, there's a good chance that Danny is mixed up in it.
No.
Danny? No.
He was doing his best to stay clean.
And that's why he was using his cell phone for the night of the murder.
He was recording Marcus.
So that he wouldn't get blamed.
How is your dog supposed to find my phone? Using his sense of smell.
Yeah, well this isn't some dead fish we're looking for.
Rex is a police dog.
He's trained to track the lithium in cell phone batteries.
Okay, that's a lie.
Your choice, but you're not exactly having a lot of luck on your own, are you? Go get Fido.
- It's Rex.
- My mistake.
Don't even think about trying anything.
Just because we used to rip off old CDs and smokes, back in the day, doesn't mean that I won't end you.
You got it? Yeah.
Yeah, I got it, Danny.
I'm going to need that.
So if what Lynn's saying is true, Danny had his cell phone set up to catch Marcus stealing phones.
And caught a murderer instead.
Yeah, so maybe Danny was telling the truth after all.
- Maybe.
- Guys, guys.
I think I've figured out how the scam works.
Great.
Dish it.
I think the phones are the key.
When the kids turned them over, and started to party, the phones were connected to a device called a SimJacker, which infected the phone's SIM card with a worm.
Now, later, the worm gave the fraudsters access to all the personal information stored on the phone.
Identity theft.
Or, sorry, would you prefer the term social engineering? Well now you're just showing off.
Well, the point is they use that information to get past a customer service rep from some app.
Well, email usually.
Right.
And access sensitive information.
Yeah, in this case, Brandon and his mother shared a debit card.
It was her way of controlling his spending.
Right.
And once the thieves were in, they had complete access to all of her accounts.
Yeah, but Brandon's mom was robbed two days after the party.
Marcus was dead.
And Danny was in jail for the murder of Marcus.
So if Danny wasn't in on it Then Marcus must have had a partner who continued on.
Yeah, the question is who? Hey.
Hey.
Hi buddy.
You know what to do.
Track it.
Where the hell is he? Aaghh! Good job, partner.
You liar.
Ahh! Get back! Who the hell is that? A friend of yours? If he is, I wish he was a better shot.
Ughh.
I'm good.
Yeah, you're still as stubborn as ever.
Rex.
Come out, Danny! You can't hide in here forever! Ahh! Aghh! You think you could do that a little less painfully? I'm going to ask you this one last time.
Who is that guy out there? - I don't know.
- Don't lie to me, old buddy.
Look, I don't care if you believe me or not.
But I have no idea who that guy is out there.
At least Fido believes me.
So what now? I'm guess we're going to have to get out of this mess, huh? SJPD! Put the weapon down! Send Danny Winters out and you won't be harmed! Why do you want him? Just hand him over! Once I have him, you and the dog are free to go! You're firing at a police officer.
This is your last chance to surrender peacefully.
So what's happening? Just one guy.
But he's got a good position.
- He's going to come looking for us.
- Yeah.
He wants me to send you out there alone.
You going to hand me over? - It's tempting.
- Ha.
Wouldn't be the first time.
We're really going to get into this now? Why, you got somewhere else you've got to be? - I didn't sell you out.
- Sure.
You just told your father all about it.
We were 13-years-old.
For the record, Mr.
Chafe from the corner store, he already called the cops.
Right, but we didn't steal anything, that time.
Who convinced them of that? - My father.
- Right after he told mine.
Yeah, he told your dad you didn't do anything wrong.
What? See, my old man, he wasn't like yours, you know.
He was not the kind of benefit-of-the-doubt kind of guy.
So, he punished me anyways.
I'm not talking about a grounding, if you know what I mean.
I didn't know that.
How could you? You never spoke to me again after that.
We went to different high schools.
Things changed.
They sure did.
Yeah.
What's with him? What have you got, pal? Find something? Huh? Well, I'm going to take your word for it.
Watch out.
So, this was all some kind of fraud? That's what it's looking like.
We suspect Marcus had a partner in the scheme.
And if that's the case, then they might have had something to do with his murder.
Do you have any idea who this partner could be? No, but that means that Danny didn't kill Marcus.
It might.
But it's just a theory until we have some proof.
The phone is the proof.
But the phone is lost.
Well, then I have to go look for it.
It has to be at the radar station.
Lynn, it's already been searched.
And you have the baby to think of.
I have to do something.
I have to get my husband back! Okay.
I'm coming with you.
Wayne Needles is in the interview room.
Great.
This is Joe Donovan.
Leave a message after the tone.
- Thanks.
- Hi, Joe.
It's Sarah.
I'm with Lynn.
Can you call me when you have a second? Okay.
Marcus was running a fraud scheme? That's what we believe, yeah.
We think that he was working with a partner.
And that partner wasn't Danny.
Any idea who it might be? Well, you're obviously thinking that it was me.
The thought had crossed my mind, yes.
I was making good money off of those parties.
You know, if I had wanted to make extra cash, there was a lot easier ways to do it than that.
Okay, Wayne.
No idea who that partner was? No.
Yeah, there was a guy.
I saw him at the club a few times talking to Marcus.
Kind of a scary looking dude.
Come on, Wayne.
I need more of a description than that.
Well, he was about six feet tall.
Balding.
I think blue eyes.
And muscles.
You know, looked like he could take care of himself.
Okay.
Don't give up, partner.
Whatever you're on to, well find it.
You know, Charlie.
When that van crashed, I thought you know, like the heavens were smiling on me or something.
That I had a chance to prove my innocence.
Now it looks like I'm just going to get all three of us killed.
Find something? Ughh! You called it, partner.
We're getting there.
Speaking of that innocence thing, why don't you convince me that you didn't do it? What do you want me to say? You can tell me what happened the night of the murder.
Alright, fine.
You know, a couple of nights before I'd seen Marcus messing with some cell phones.
And I didn't want to get blamed for it.
I came in here.
And I set up my phone to record, you know, catch Marcus in the act.
Then I heard the gunshot.
I ran in here.
But it was too late.
Marcus was dead.
So I grabbed my phone.
And I went after the shooter.
People were panicking.
I mean, it was just chaos.
And somewhere in there, I lost my phone.
So you did come back looking for your phone.
Yeah, I mean, there's a chance that I captured Marcus's real killer on that phone.
I mean, It'll prove my innocence.
It's not going to mean anything, if we don't get out of here alive.
Get out here, Danny! I'm not going anywhere! You can't stay in there forever! That door should hold him for a while.
Come on.
I'll tie a note to your chain.
You ready for this, partner? That dog is something else, man.
And I know he's an excellent judge of character.
Yeah, you got that right.
What wrong? Rex hears something.
What is it buddy? I think a car just pulled up.
More cops? Or maybe our buddy called his friends? I still haven't heard back from Joe.
Service is so spotty.
Lynn, I really think we should go back.
It's too late for that.
Go on, get over there.
Hey Danny! I've got your girl! Lynn! Ugh! Ughh! Danny! I don't know who this other one is.
But I'm betting she's a cop.
If you want them alive, you'd better get out here.
- Hey! - Danny! I've got to do something.
If you go out there now, and he starts shooting, Lynn and Sarah are in the direct line of fire.
Alright, so what then? I've got an idea.
Sarah left a couple of messages.
She's out at Red Cliff with Lynn.
I just got off the phone with the search team in Maddox Cove.
Charlie and Rex aren't there yet.
They should have been there by now.
Yeah, I know, I keep trying to call him.
But it goes straight to voicemail.
Either his phone is turned off or out of range.
Or worse.
The missing motorcycle was found here.
That's where Rex picked up the scent.
The last text message that Charlie sent bounced off a cell tower, around here.
But he said that he was following a scent out to Maddox Cove.
That's clear in the opposite direction.
Yeah.
So where did they end up? Wait a minute.
That cell tower isn't far from the radar station.
Sarah and Lynn are there too.
Hey.
Maybe you could convince him to come out here.
That way no one gets hurt.
Lynn! I'm not helping you with anything.
You'll never get away with this.
You should just let us go.
Oh, then I guess someone's getting hurt after all.
This ends now.
Let the hostages go! Put your gun down! Ha! That's not happening, man.
Your last chance.
You've got no play here.
Make a move and I start shooting.
Rex! Don't move! You okay? Yeah.
Good job, partner.
Hey, buddy.
He's not saying a word.
Mick Kirwin, 40 years old.
Assault.
Aggravated assault.
Extortion.
Fits the description of the guy that Wayne Needles saw with Marcus.
But does that mean he killed him? Or was he Marcus's partner? Well, let's say that he was.
Things went south.
He kills him.
We know that he's not shy about guns.
Mick knows Danny's history with the law makes him an easy patsy.
So he kills Marcus.
And then he frames Danny, by putting the murder weapon in his car.
Yeah.
That says why he was at the radar station.
Because knew that Danny would go back, trying to find the phone to prove his innocence.
Mick needed to shut him up.
That's a good theory.
But there's a problem to that.
Well, speak up.
Well, Mick Kirwin was in police custody for assault, the night of the murder.
So, if he couldn't have killed Marcus, who did? So if Mick Kirwin isn't our murderer, why did he try to kill Danny? The assault charges, the silence during interrogation, He fits the hired muscle profile perfectly.
Or maybe somebody paid him off to clean up their mess.
He probably was close enough to Danny, knew he'd go back there to try and clear his name.
Jesse, pull up Mick Kirwin's full police record.
Okay, here it is.
Yeah, not a lot of new information here.
Not even any known associates.
No.
But look who his lawyer is.
Claire Haines.
This is Detective Hudson, from St.
John's PD.
I need to speak with Claire Haines.
She did? With who? Okay.
Thank you.
I just spoke with Claire Haines's assistant.
She left the office a half hour ago with a client.
- Where did they go? - The assistant had no idea.
Did they know who the client was? It was a drop-in, who insisted on seeing Claire personally.
The assistant's new.
Didn't recognize him.
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
Guys, I just got a ping from Claire's cell phone.
She's headed towards Portugal Cove.
Where the Bell Island Ferry is.
- Let's go.
- Rex! SJPD! Everybody stay in your vehicles! Rex, go! Out of the way! Ughh! Ughh! SJPD! Hey, Wayne.
Planning your next party? At the Bell Island airport maybe? I've got nothing to say.
Claire.
You okay? - Are you hurt? - No, I'm fine.
Okay.
Follow me.
How's Claire? She's a bit shook up.
But she'll be alright.
So what happened? Well, apparently Wayne went to her office and demanded that she fly him off the island.
Said that he'd hurt her family if she didn't.
So he knew that we were onto him, and decided to run.
How'd he know Claire was a pilot? So, apparently, Claire represents Wayne as well.
They talked about flying at a lot of their meetings.
Wayne and Mick Kirwin.
Claire could use some better clientele.
Yeah.
But if Wayne's not talking, where does that leave us with Danny? We don't have any clear-cut proof of his innocence.
I'm hoping Rex can help with that.
Come on, pal.
Unbelievable.
Danny! Danny! I knew you didn't do it.
Thank you for believing in me.
And thank you, obviously.
Rex put in a good word for you.
Well, he's an excellent judge of character, like I said.
So let's not keep it so long between visits next time, hey? You got it.
Thank you.
I have something for you.
Oh? Well, what do you think, partner? Boy or girl? Really? Next time on Hudson & Rex It's not every day we find an ancient mummy.
Why do you think it's present day? I removed this A very modern rifle slug.
Which makes this a very modern murder.
Something I can do for you? Yeah, you can start by returning my sidearm.
I don't know what you're talking about.
My husband was abusive.
I ran away from him, and came out here because I knew this was the one place he wouldn't be able to find me.
Did you hear that? Rifle shot.