NCIS New Orleans (2014) s03e15 Episode Script
End of the Line
1 (bell tolling) As the sun goes down And the shadows grow long Trying to find a gal I can call my own Gettin' back on the road, not a moment too soon Aunt Marta's gonna be at the house 7:00 sharp, so you best be ready.
You can't be late for school and she can't be late for work.
No, you cannot walk home with that boy.
We've had this conversation.
He's bad news.
No.
I have enough things in my life to worry about without having to worry about (screaming) NCIS:New Orleans 3x15 End of the Line Boom, boom, boom, boom Bang, bang, bang, bang Boom, boom, boom, boom How, how, how, how Hey, hey You gotta come on.
SEBASTIAN: Okay, easy now.
(wind chime tinkling) Anytime you, uh, you want to take a break, CJ, you know, just just let me know, okay? No, I'm good.
You okay? Yeah, I'm an NCIS agent now.
This is, you know (straining): this is a piece of cake.
(straining): Let's set it down.
Yeah, that's a great idea.
Just out of curiosity Huh? how'd you make it through basic training again? That's Got through from studying and effort, both of which you could use a little more of.
I'm just trying to help, Mom.
Only 'cause you want Danny's room now that he's gone.
Back to studying, Math test tomorrow.
Go.
See you, newbie.
I can't believe how fast he's growing up, you know? I can't believe how fast all my boys are growing up.
Danny joining the Navy, you at NCIS Oh, thanks, Doc, you know I feel the same about you.
You're like the mother that I never had.
You have a mother, Sebastian.
I've met her.
Exactly.
So, what, this gonna be the Wade cave now? Hmm? 60-inch plasma maybe? Poker table, a couple lava lamps? I was thinking art studio, actually.
I used to paint all the time before I got married.
Wait, wait, hold on.
I never knew you were married.
Yes, I was.
A long time ago, different life.
Have a look for yourself.
Is this him? WADE: Reginald.
Easy on the eye, isn't he? Yeah, look how beautiful you were.
That's um, not that you're not beautiful now.
Obviously, you're you're very beautiful, it's just you know, when you It's all right, Sebastian.
Reginald was a good man when we first met.
We had some good years together until we didn't.
What happened? Let's just say he changed not for the better.
(cell phone beeps) WADE: Duty calls.
Looks like I've got a body.
Yeah, NCIS.
It's probably the same body.
You want to share a ride? Only if you don't ask any more questions.
(siren wailing, helicopter blades whirring) LASALLE: These guys'll take care of you.
You'll be all right.
She the first on scene? Streetcar driver, just showing up for work.
Not the best way to start a day.
About as grisly as it gets.
Any witnesses? Not according to NOPD, but hopefully we got something from these security cameras.
Well, I doubt it.
Killer placed the body directly behind these streetcars, blocking all the cameras.
I doubt the killer was trying to avoid cameras.
It's too specific of a location.
Profiler in me seems to think that whoever it was was trying to make a statement.
(cell phone beeps) Take it you don't want to ask her out again, am I right? Blind date, high risk.
I told you, they're not worth dinner.
Just drinks, and you definitely don't give your number until you're sure you like her.
Is that you profiling, Gregorio? That's me dating, amateur.
Mm, I've dated plenty.
I'm not an amateur.
Maybe a couple of hookups, but not potential relationships.
It's a whole different deal, and this whole airbrushed-photo thing on dating apps I mean, the only way to trigger the yay or nay hormones is to have good, old-fashioned eye contact.
I never knew you as a romantic, Gregorio.
Profiling's not just for finding criminals.
Comes in handy, trust me.
(camera shutter clicking) All I know so far is the victim's Chief Karen Decker, based out of Belle Chasse.
Still waiting on Loretta, so we can't take the body down yet.
Not a lot of blood on the ground, considering all the stab wounds, which means she was killed somewhere else, and then moved here.
The question is, why here? Big risk taking the time and effort to string her up, not to mention the mutilation.
Talking ritualistic? Crucifix pose indicates she was meant to be a sacrifice.
Eyes dug out so she couldn't see her killer's soul.
PRIDE: Okay, so, we figure out what she was sacrificed for, we might be able to ID the lunatic who did this to her.
WADE: My God.
Loretta.
Loretta, you all right? Please, get her down.
Let's go find a ladder.
Look, Gregorio, I'll check with Decker's C.
O.
, all right? You take Christopher and get with Patton, find out as much about her as you can as fast as you can.
Copy that.
Tough to look at, isn't it? I saw something like this once before.
I'd hoped never to see it again.
Man, hard to believe anybody would want to do her harm, especially that kind of harm.
20-year vet, unblemished record, Navy counselor who helps other sailors.
Yeah, a couple of months from retiring, according to her record.
About to start a new life.
Only to have it stolen away by some monster.
Why? C.
O.
says Chief Decker got an urgent call yesterday at noon, rushed out, never came back.
Check her phone log? Putting it up on the screen.
PATTON: Looks like the only incoming call she got yesterday.
GREGORIO: But from the same caller who called several days before.
Can you trace that joker? Can't, burner cell.
Powered down, too.
Or, more likely, destroyed.
Well, any chance you can find out where the call originated? Read my mind, bossman.
There, pinged from a cell tower across from the old Peters Junior High School.
Now, Peters has been abandoned since Katrina, and who would want to be hanging there? GREGORIO: Obviously, somebody who doesn't want to be found.
Shall we? Keep me posted.
I'm gonna go to the morgue.
See what Loretta knows.
(camera shutters clicking) Bad news.
Damn it, Sebastian! Don't sneak upon me like that.
Whoa, whoa, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Are-Are you okay? Yeah.
Uh, it's just Uh You got something? Um, u-unfortunately, no.
There's nothing from the crime scene that turned up any clues.
No prints, trace evidence, DNA, nothing.
Whoever did this obviously knows what they're doing.
You want me to keep trying? NCIS probably doesn't need me back for awhile.
Glass tray.
What is it? I mean, clearly, it's a strand of hair, but? WADE: I found it in the victim's hair.
It's not hers.
Could be the killer's.
And, if I'm right, I've crossed paths with him before.
Yo, I'm not bragging, but I got a pretty good track record when it comes to matchmaking, just not for myself, mind you, that's a whole different story.
Well, why is that? You know, it's just complicated.
(hinges creaking, door clatters) Looks like we just missed somebody.
âJack Gordon.
Clozapineâ LASALLE: Clozapine? Is that for psychosis? Schizophrenia? Mm-hmm.
Looks like we've found where Chief Decker was murdered.
Which means we've found our monster.
PRIDE: Good job, Christopher.
Secure the scene, get a BOLO out.
I'll send Sebastian to collect evidence.
(phone beeps off) Loretta, we might have Loretta.
Might have a suspect.
Ex-con, just got paroled.
Jack Gordon.
Yeah.
How'd you know? I worked the case on his first victim 20 years ago.
And, if he did this I could very well be next.
(jazz music playing nearby) She all right? Don't know.
Tough lady.
I've never seen her rattled like this before.
(Pride sighs) Tell me things.
Jack Gordon, aka âThe Jackknife,â paroled eight days ago from Angola after serving just over 20 years for murder.
Loretta said he was a streetcar driver back in the day? Drove streetcar number 963, the same streetcar Chief Decker's body was strung up behind.
Hard to believe it's a coincidence.
Yeah, plus the blood we found at the school is a dead match to Decker, which means Decker was killed at the school, then moved to the streetcar.
GREGORIO: Guy's out of prison barely a week, immediately targets Decker, and kills her the same way he killed a woman 20 years ago.
LASALLE: Petty Officer Janet Ortega.
She and Decker were bunkmates on the U.
S.
S.
Enterprise in '97.
And Ortega and Jack Gordon were high school sweethearts back then.
GREGORIO (scoffs): Some sweetheart.
Never proved motive, but it's got crime of passion written all over it.
Yeah, well, I remember the Ortega case.
NOPD handled it when I was a sheriff.
Gordon got his nickname because the murder weapon was a knife.
Jack Gordon, Jackknife, cute.
But why kill Chief Decker as soon as he gets out of prison? And make it so obvious that he did it? Well, we need to dig into the old case, but if I remember right, Chief Decker testified against Gordon at the trial, claimed he was unstable.
Well, based on the empty bottle of clozapine we found at the school, he's even more unstable now.
Plus, his DNA matched a strand of hair Doc found on the victim.
LASALLE: Well, it's pretty clear, isn't it? Gordon gets out of prison, takes out his revenge on Decker for testifying against him 20 years ago.
Problem is, according to Loretta, she testified against Gordon 20 years ago, too.
I was the M.
E.
on Janet Ortega's case.
The slaying was brutal, sick.
Gordon claimed he was innocent, of course, but the evidence was overwhelming.
Ortega's body showed signs of previous assaults.
The knife they found at the crime scene belonged to Gordon, and he was so hopped up on amphetamines, when they went to arrest him, he couldn't even remember where he was the night of the murder.
GREGORIO: Amphetamine psychosis certainly could explain that level of violence.
WADE: Nothing explains what he did to that poor woman.
I just never understood why the prosecutor cut a deal.
She should've put that man away for life.
And now look what happened.
You've got to find him, Dwayne, before he hurts anybody else.
We're gonna do everything we possibly can, Loretta.
Still, if Gordon did kill Chief Decker, why did he call her so many times in the days before? Taunting her, maybe? Yeah, but, why would she accept them? Why not just hang up and alert the NOPD instead? He hasn't tried calling you, has he? He wouldn't dare.
GREGORIO: Nevertheless, if, in fact, he's targeting people who testified against him, we've got to protect you until we find him.
I can take care of myself.
PRIDE: Not this time, you can't.
Until we know exactly what's going on, safest place for you is with us.
Which means, CJ I spoke with Danny, and CJ's on base with his brother.
All right, well, good.
In the meantime, we need to find out who else testified against Gordon, warn them.
You should look into the defense attorney, Devon Mitchell.
I remember Gordon blamed him for not getting him acquitted.
Let's find Mitchell.
Patton and I will get up to speed on the old case as quickly as possible.
Try to get leads on how to find Gordon.
Go.
LASALLE: You got it.
We'll find him, Loretta.
Yeah.
I promise.
(streetcar bell clanging) (bell continues clanging) (door closing) Can I help you? LASALLE: Special Agents Lasalle and Gregorio.
We need to speak to Mr.
Mitchell, please.
Oh, don't worry, he hasn't done anything wrong.
But we do need to speak to him.
Of course.
I'll let him know.
Thank you kindly.
Mr.
Mitchell That's exactly the eye contact I'm talking about.
Clear connection, no doubt about it.
I'm not doing this with you, Gregorio.
The chemistry is immediately palpable, you can't fake that; even I can feel it.
If you don't go for her, I will.
What? MITCHELL: Are you sure? I mean, I didn't even know that Jack was out.
He hasn't tried to contact you, or call you? No, nothing.
You really think that he killed Karen Decker, just because she testified against him? That's what we're trying to find out, Mr.
Mitchell, but if he did, you could be in danger, too.
Yeah, we heard Gordon was particularly upset with you for not getting him acquitted.
I did everything that I could.
I even took the case pro Bono.
I mean, I knew Jack.
He was the streetcar driver who took me to work here every day.
I didn't want him to get stuck with a PD, so I offered to defend him.
So you haven't talked to him since the trial? I called him in prison to check up on him, but all he ever wanted me to do was get the case reopened.
Because he still believed he was innocent? He never stopped believing it.
Didn't change the facts of the case, but Jack never really cared about facts.
(sighs) Look, if anything, Jack owes me.
I got the D.
A.
to agree to a reduced sentence based on Jack's mental state.
I mean, I saved his life.
Why would he be after me? We're not sure he is, Mr.
Mitchell, but we're gonna get you protection just in case.
Is there anything you remember that might help us find Gordon? Family or friends? Well, we're especially concerned about anybody else Gordon might be after.
We're putting together a list, that Uh, Todd Borger.
Friend of Jack's, drove the night shift.
You need to protect him.
The D.
A.
tripped Borger up on the stand, got him to admit that Jack was violent, jealous.
Between that and the coroner's testimony, the jury was ready to convict.
Murder one.
WADE: There's no doubt, Jack Gordon murdered Petty Officer Ortega.
That is my professional opinion, and it is my personal opinion.
MITCHELL: Objection, Your Honor.
Dr.
Wade is qualified only for expert testimony.
JUDGE: Sustained.
Please, just answer Court footage of the Ortega case? Yeah.
Circa court 1997.
Just saying, Dr.
Wade looking mighty fine.
And pissed, too.
Yeah.
Wasn't an ordinary case.
Horrendous murder.
Lot of emotions.
Yeah, well, the good Dr.
Wade's barely hiding hers.
oftentimes is a precursor for murder.
MITCHELL: Objection.
(gavel bangs) DISTRICT ATTORNEY: And you think the defendant's mental illness could've made him capable of extreme violence? MITCHELL: Objection, she's not a psychologist.
JUDGE: I will allow it.
I didn't kill her! I'm innocent! Forensics don't lie! I didn't do it! I didn't do it, and you know I didn't do it! JUDGE: Mr.
Gordon, Mr.
Gordon! I didn't kill her! The hell you didn't! GORDON: I didn't do it! (gavel banging) You know that's not true! I didn't do it! WADE: The hell you didn't! (gavel banging) My behavior was inexcusable.
The past has a way of catching up to you, doesn't it? (saxophone playing jazz) WADE: I don't know.
There's just something about this case that I just personalized.
I was supposed to state the facts, (chuckles) as I knew them.
The science.
Not give my opinion on innocent or guilt.
Yet Gordon was guilty.
He pled out, he confessed.
But why? Was he really guilty, or did I sway the jury with something other than facts? Loretta, you've testified in dozens of cases over the years.
Why are you beating yourself up over this one? You know why, Dwayne.
You saw the courtroom footage.
I wasn't myself.
And I've known it for a long time, too.
I just never wanted to face it.
(saxophone continues playing) (streetcar bell clanging) MAN: Jack and I grew up together.
We went to high school, joined the transit authority.
Back then, streetcars only used one driver both ways.
I take it you knew Janet Ortega, too? Well, sure.
She rode Jack's streetcar to work on the early shift, mine back home at night.
Saw her pretty much every day.
She and Jack were good together.
Until he killed her.
Still can't believe he did it.
Meaning, what? You think he was innocent? At the time, yeah.
I mean, I know how much he loved her.
Jack struggled with paranoia and delusions his whole life.
I thought he had it under control.
Is that what the D.
A.
got you to say in court? Yeah.
It helped send him away.
Yeah, well, he's out now, and if he killed Karen Decker out of revenge, then you're not safe, either.
Is there any chance you might help us figure out where Gordon might be? I mean, the sooner we get him off the streets, the sooner the people who testified against him are safe.
I think I saw Jack earlier today, across the street from the station.
So, why didn't you call the police? I wasn't sure it was him.
Besides, I didn't know he'd just killed somebody else.
(wind chime tinkling) Uh, good news.
Mm-hmm.
Christopher says everyone who testified against Gordon, (thunder rumbling) under police protection.
Apparently, so am I.
Here.
(chuckles) Oh, by the way.
I don't snore.
At least, not that I know of, anymore.
(both chuckle) I don't know if I do anymore.
You think either of us will ever get married again? Oh, I'm not in any hurry, myself.
You? If the right person came along, maybe.
Last one kind of soured me on the idea.
Yeah.
Long time ago, though.
Divorce happened just before Gordon's case, didn't it? That's the reason I moved here.
New beginnings and all.
(water running) Yeah.
A lot to go through.
Gordon's case must've made it even harder.
Where are we going with all this, Dwayne? Not going anywhere, just I know that your husband didn't treat you right, either, so No, it isn't that he didn't treat me right.
You know it.
He froze me out.
He wasn't like this at first, just started to resent my success.
Then it got even worse when they passed him over for others less qualified.
Then he got mean.
It took a long time to find the courage to leave him, but I finally did.
I was lucky.
Luckier than Janet Ortega.
You were both victims.
And they were both abusers.
But I was still so upset and so angry with how Reginald treated me, that when I testify, I projected all that onto Gordon.
And ever since, I've worried that I biased the jury against him.
It doesn't change the fact that the evidence against Gordon was overwhelming.
Wasn't just your testimony.
But my testimony made an impact.
I saw it in each and every one of the juror's faces.
I wasn't trying to make Gordon pay.
I was trying to make my husband pay.
And it's haunted me ever since.
(thunder rumbling) Loretta.
Don't move, and stay calm.
Okay? Gordon.
Mm-hmm.
Outside.
Just wait a minute and call 911.
I'm gonna go get this blanket, pillows.
Put them out on the sofa, I'll be right back.
(thunder crashing) Oh! (Pride and Gordon grunting) Get off me! Calm down, Gordon.
Stop fighting.
Relax.
Relax.
(grunting) Stop fighting.
You're under arrest, Gordon, for the murder of Karen Decker.
I didn't do it.
(groans) (thunder crashing) I didn't do it! The blood at the school wasn't me! You just don't understand! Help me understand, Gordon, what were you doing outside Dr.
Wade's house.
I need my meds.
Get me my meds! PRIDE: I'm getting them.
The agitation you're feeling right now is clozapine withdrawal.
You're not going anywhere.
Try and breathe.
Swallow.
Who's there? Who's on the other side of there?! There's somebody looking at me! I know there is! Who's on the other side? Dr.
Wade, is that you? I wasn't gonna hurt you, I swear.
I just wanted your help! PRIDE: Talk to me.
Gordon, look at me.
(sobs) What do you mean when you say you want her help? For what, medication? No, no.
I just want I wanted her! (Gordon sobbing) I need someone to believe me! I didn't kill Janet! (crying): I swear to God.
I didn't kill Janet! If Gordon didn't kill Janet Ortega, he didn't kill Chief Decker either.
All right, slow down, okay? Just 'cause he claims he's innocent, doesn't mean he is.
He's a desperate man.
Yes, but he has been claiming his innocence for over 20 years.
Guilty or not, we have to be sure.
Gonna give him his clozapine, then talk again after he settles down.
We're gonna take this one step at a time, just like we always do.
Maybe there's something I missed.
Or maybe it was really because I just wanted him to be guilty.
Loretta (sighs) I need to check, you need to check.
Because if Jack Gordon is innocent, then the killer is still out there.
You want one of us to stay with her, make sure she's safe? She'll be okay.
Killer's either locked up in our interrogation room, or out there thinking he's won the game.
Killing again would just prove Gordon innocent.
You're not convinced Gordon's our killer, are you? I'm convinced there's a possibility he's telling the truth, so we're gonna keep investigating.
Well, all due respect to the doc, but somebody would be going through a lot of trouble to set Gordon up twice across a span of 20 years.
I admit it's a stretch, but like Loretta says, we need to be sure.
All right, what's the plan? Loretta's gonna review the forensic evidence on Janet Ortega, in case she missed anything.
Gonna ask the D.
A.
to exhume the body.
That means I need you to go to Morgan City, pick it up and get it to the morgue.
You got it.
You and Patton need to comb through both Ortega's murder and Decker's.
See if you can find a connection to anybody else other than Gordon.
Pills, King.
If somebody had 20 years to frame Gordon for another murder, chances are they didn't make a mistake.
But if they did, we need to find it.
We need to be right about this.
Both for Gordon and Loretta.
Okay.
Knock, knock.
It's okay, Sebastian, come in.
Okay, cool, I didn't want to scare you again.
Kind of freaked me out last time.
Not your fault, obviously.
It's just childhood issues.
You know, jumpy mother.
I'm thinking I should get into therapy That for me? It is.
Yeah, I'm sorry.
Anyway, uh, the D.
A.
released Ortega's old case evidence from Property.
What are we looking for? Frankly, I'm not sure, but I want to be sure I didn't miss something.
I perused the case file.
I don't think you did.
I mean, every âIâ is dotted, every âTâ is crossed on your forensic findings.
At least, you know, to my eye.
Can never be too certain.
There's too much at stake.
Meanwhile you mind to take a closer look at this? What is this, the hair sample you found on Chief Decker's body? I already identified it as Gordon's.
Mm-hmm, but we need to know if it fell from his person, or if it was placed on the victim by someone else.
You think Gordon was set up? Do a calcium carbonate test.
Let's find out.
You can uncuff me now.
I ain't gonna hurt you.
Well at least till the meds wear off.
Thank you.
(sighs): Jack Gordon pled guilty to killing Janet Ortega 20 years ago.
A week after your release, a key witness against you was murdered in the exact same way.
Why should I believe you're innocent? Because I am innocent.
I never stopped trying to prove it, never will.
Why'd you call Chief Decker the moment you were paroled? Because I needed her help to prove I didn't kill Janet.
I convinced her I wasn't guilty.
So, somebody set you up 20 years ago? Somebody set you up yesterday-- is that what you're saying? I know how this looks, okay? I'm a diagnosed schizophrenic.
But you have to understand, I loved Janet.
When she joined the Navy to get away, it nearly destroyed me.
The murder weapon, the jackknife-- Jack's knife-- belonged to you.
I gave Janet that knife for protection.
From me.
I got crazy at times.
And I abused her when I wasn't in my right mind, I know.
But that's why I wanted Janet to be able to protect herself in case.
She had to leave me.
I could never kill her, Agent Pride.
Same way I could never kill Karen Decker.
Karen was the only one willing to help me.
Wh-Why would I? So let's say I believe you.
Who set you up? You must have some idea.
All I know is someone else liked Janet, and they was pursuing her.
It had to be whoever killed her killed Karen Decker, too.
And maybe they thought we was close to figuring out who they was.
Close? How? What do you mean? The Innocence Project-- they gave me my case files while I was in prison.
Okay, I poured over the files, I didn't find anything till I found this one photo of Janet.
Last time I saw her, an hour before she was killed, she was wearing a necklace with a purple gemstone but it wasn't from me.
- So? - So it wasn't on the body when she was found.
And I looked at every crime scene photo, and it wasn't there.
Killer took it.
'Cause he knew that it might connect back to him.
You could check the photos yourself, and you'll see I'm right.
You'll see I didn't do this.
(hissing, keyboard clacking, door opens) WADE: You find something? I think maybe, yeah.
Gordon's hair had trace amounts of calcium carbonate on it.
Transferred from the latex gloves the killer used to plant a hair on Chief Decker's body.
Yeah.
Which means if Gordon didn't kill Chief Decker he probably didn't kill Janet Ortega, either.
Which also means an innocent man spent 20 years of his life in prison, and I helped send him there.
PRIDE: Nothing else? No other connections to the other murders other than how they were killed? Nothing we can find so far other than the obvious connection to Gordon.
It's too obvious for my taste.
Too clean, too.
Yeah.
If Gordon didn't do it whoever did knew how to cover their tracks.
GREGORIO: Like someone in the Navy or law enforcement-- but we checked both victims' records, nothing jumps out.
Nothing to confirm Gordon's claim of Janet Ortega's mystery suitor? Nothing other than the purple gemstone necklace.
However, the victim was wearing it right before she got killed, like Gordon said.
This is from a surveillance camera at the Decatur streetcar station that same night, 20 years ago.
Except, she wasn't wearing it after she was killed, also like Gordon said.
Well, it makes sense, right? Killer doesn't want anybody tracing it back to him.
You know what? I'm starting to think maybe Gordon's right, somebody's setting him up.
Especially since the more grisly and violent the murders appear, the more a jury's predisposed to believe that abuse and mental illness could be the cause.
Problem is, other than Gordon's claim, we don't have much, if anything, to go on.
But we find out who gave Janet Ortega that necklace, and we will.
LASALLE: Took 'em longer than they thought to dig it out, that ground was still pretty damp.
Fortunately for us, burying the deceased in cemeteries near peatland marshes prevents putrefaction, decomposition.
SEBASTIAN: You really think she can tell us something after all this time? WADE: Time may heal all wounds, dear, but not when you're dead.
Still, it's hard to believe you, of all people, missed something.
Yes, well, if Jack Gordon is innocent, then I must have.
I'm headed back to headquarters, to help them find that necklace.
Keep me posted.
SEBASTIAN: So these are Ortega's original autopsy photos? Yes, uh, this is the one of particular interest of the back of her neck.
SEBASTIAN: Oh, yeah, some kind of abrasion.
At the time, I noted it as consistent with other wounds likely inflicted when she was dragged to the car, but after hearing about the necklace It could be the wound was caused when someone ripped it off her neck.
If so, it could be what I missed in my rush to judgment.
Sebastian may have something.
Go ahead.
SEBASTIAN: Right, well, we reexamined a cut on the back of Janet Ortega's neck and we found microscopic slivers of platinum imbedded in what was left of the tissue.
If the killer ripped the necklace off her neck Slivers might've gotten lodged beneath the skin.
That narrows our search.
Big time, since platinum is pretty pricey.
Hey, how's Doc Wade holding up? Oh, you know.
She's still beating herself up pretty bad over all this.
PRIDE: Can't change the past.
But we can do everything we can to make things right moving forward.
We'll get back to you, Sebastian.
Hey, I think I may have a lead.
I've been runnin' the necklace from the Ortega photo through imaging software, but I just narrowed it down to platinum pieces only and bam! Canal Street Boutique designed and sold the very same platinum, diamond and amethyst necklace in 1997.
If we can track down purchase receipts, we might be able to find a suspect who intersected with Ortega's life 20 years ago.
PATTON: Can't be many.
4,500 large.
That's some serious change.
LASALLE: Check this out: the store is located at the end of the Decatur streetcar line.
That's the same street line Janet Ortega took to work every day, with Jack Gordon driving in the morning.
LASALLE: And his buddy, Todd Borger, driving at night.
Could be a coincidence.
but on the other hand If we connect Borger to her necklace, we can connect him to her murder.
Still, $4,500, pretty steep for a young streetcar driver making, what, eight, ten bucks an hour back then? Not too steep for a young lawyer.
Jewelry store is right next to the office of Gordon's attorney.
Right, Devon Mitchell.
We were there yesterday.
Which means what? Mitchell's the one who gave Ortega the necklace? Hold on, why would Mitchell kill Janet Ortega, frame Gordon, and then turn around and defend him? Pretty good way to make sure Gordon loses the case.
And if Mitchell killed Chief Decker, too, make sure it didn't get reopened.
We need to find Mitchell.
(blow landing) Sebastian! MITCHELL: Should've just let things be.
All right, now what? Now? Now, you're gonna delete every piece of evidence from your server.
Why? You're just gonna kill me anyway.
Well, your lab tech back there didn't see me hit him, but I can always carve out his eyes, too.
Go.
Jack went to Chief Decker for help, and she came to you, didn't she? Just delete the files.
Just out of curiosity, how'd you know I had any evidence? D.
A.
called me, told me you were exhuming Janet's body.
Hurry up.
I forgot how chummy you two were.
Surprised you didn't talk her into the death sentence for Jack.
Yeah, well, the jury wouldn't buy premeditation because of his condition.
Otherwise, I would have.
So, what, just because Janet wouldn't leave Jack for you, you kill an innocent woman, ruin a man's life, then kill again? Couldn't have done it without you, Doc.
Your testimony against Jack really sealed the deal for me.
Don't you dare blame what happened to Jack on me.
This is all on you.
Yeah, well, unfortunately for you, you and I are the only ones who know that.
Aren't we? (door opens) PRIDE: Loretta? (gunshots) (shouting) (screaming) (gunshots) You all right? Huh? You good? (whimpering) (Wade crying) You did good.
(sniffles) SEBASTIAN: Please tell me that getting my ass kicked all the time is just part of the whole newbie thing.
'Cause if it's not, I am seriously considering going back to the lab.
That or just buying a bunch of life insurance.
You did great, baby, and you're doing great.
Just hang in there.
(chuckles) That's easy for her to say.
Gregorio's been knocking heads and taking names for years.
SEBASTIAN: Yeah, she grew up in New York, you know? I'm from Peoria.
(chuckles) Here, knock 'em back, Peoria.
How's Wade? Anyone talk to her yet this morning? Pride has.
He says she's doing much better.
Yeah, 'cause she's kicking ass.
Oh, stop.
PATTON: Not better than Lasalle.
I heard Lothario's got himself another hot date.
Oh, he's not a Lothario anymore.
Your boy's all grown-up.
Besides, it's just breakfast.
And, pray tell, how come you know all of this? Well, you know, been giving him a few tips.
Unsolicited, maybe, but he's listening.
Ah.
Handy having a profiler on the team.
Not being cocky here, but I think I pretty much identified his perfect type.
Not quite sure how to break it to him though.
Why's that? Tough, loyal, whip-smart, sassy, can hang with the boys, and gives as good as she gets.
Percy? Percy? Like I said, not quite sure how to break it to him.
Where you going? I'm going to get me some pills, too.
Just the thought of them together makes my head hurt.
(streetcar bell clanging) (bell continues clanging) Never got tired of driving a streetcar through the city.
It's a great job.
Loved every minute of it.
(clacking) (whirring) Might be able to pull some strings, see if I can get you your-your job back.
You're a free man now, Jack.
Besides, the city and the state, they owe you more than that.
Still, it's a little scary being out all of a sudden, cleared.
I spent so many years trying to prove my innocence, I didn't think much about what I'd do if I succeeded.
Well, the-the halfway house can help you adjust.
So can I.
So can Dr.
Wade.
Is that why you wanted to meet, ride with me? One of the reasons.
Look you were right to go to her for help.
There's no reason to stop now, Jack.
She feels bad about what happened, more than she deserves.
Bad? Hell, didn't she just help exonerate me? Anyway, I never held anything against her.
I mean, she didn't do anything wrong.
I I hurt Janet.
Got used against me.
All she did was say it.
Actually, she probably ended up saving my life, getting the jury to take pity on me 'cause of my condition.
Then maybe you'll be open to the other reason I wanted to talk to you.
The good doctor's donated her time to the Innocence Project for a lot of years.
Could use what you learned to help others wrongly imprisoned.
Might give you some direction.
Maybe help the two of you heal a little bit.
Interested? (bell clanging) Storage? No.
Trash.
I'm not gonna let the past weigh me down any longer.
It's time to move on.
Unless you want me to bore you with more talk of my ex-husband.
I'm out of here.
Mm, that's what I thought.
(wind chime tinkling) (wind chime tinkling) Thank you.
(chuckles) Would you like to come in for some tea, Mr.
Gordon? Sure.
You can't be late for school and she can't be late for work.
No, you cannot walk home with that boy.
We've had this conversation.
He's bad news.
No.
I have enough things in my life to worry about without having to worry about (screaming) NCIS:New Orleans 3x15 End of the Line Boom, boom, boom, boom Bang, bang, bang, bang Boom, boom, boom, boom How, how, how, how Hey, hey You gotta come on.
SEBASTIAN: Okay, easy now.
(wind chime tinkling) Anytime you, uh, you want to take a break, CJ, you know, just just let me know, okay? No, I'm good.
You okay? Yeah, I'm an NCIS agent now.
This is, you know (straining): this is a piece of cake.
(straining): Let's set it down.
Yeah, that's a great idea.
Just out of curiosity Huh? how'd you make it through basic training again? That's Got through from studying and effort, both of which you could use a little more of.
I'm just trying to help, Mom.
Only 'cause you want Danny's room now that he's gone.
Back to studying, Math test tomorrow.
Go.
See you, newbie.
I can't believe how fast he's growing up, you know? I can't believe how fast all my boys are growing up.
Danny joining the Navy, you at NCIS Oh, thanks, Doc, you know I feel the same about you.
You're like the mother that I never had.
You have a mother, Sebastian.
I've met her.
Exactly.
So, what, this gonna be the Wade cave now? Hmm? 60-inch plasma maybe? Poker table, a couple lava lamps? I was thinking art studio, actually.
I used to paint all the time before I got married.
Wait, wait, hold on.
I never knew you were married.
Yes, I was.
A long time ago, different life.
Have a look for yourself.
Is this him? WADE: Reginald.
Easy on the eye, isn't he? Yeah, look how beautiful you were.
That's um, not that you're not beautiful now.
Obviously, you're you're very beautiful, it's just you know, when you It's all right, Sebastian.
Reginald was a good man when we first met.
We had some good years together until we didn't.
What happened? Let's just say he changed not for the better.
(cell phone beeps) WADE: Duty calls.
Looks like I've got a body.
Yeah, NCIS.
It's probably the same body.
You want to share a ride? Only if you don't ask any more questions.
(siren wailing, helicopter blades whirring) LASALLE: These guys'll take care of you.
You'll be all right.
She the first on scene? Streetcar driver, just showing up for work.
Not the best way to start a day.
About as grisly as it gets.
Any witnesses? Not according to NOPD, but hopefully we got something from these security cameras.
Well, I doubt it.
Killer placed the body directly behind these streetcars, blocking all the cameras.
I doubt the killer was trying to avoid cameras.
It's too specific of a location.
Profiler in me seems to think that whoever it was was trying to make a statement.
(cell phone beeps) Take it you don't want to ask her out again, am I right? Blind date, high risk.
I told you, they're not worth dinner.
Just drinks, and you definitely don't give your number until you're sure you like her.
Is that you profiling, Gregorio? That's me dating, amateur.
Mm, I've dated plenty.
I'm not an amateur.
Maybe a couple of hookups, but not potential relationships.
It's a whole different deal, and this whole airbrushed-photo thing on dating apps I mean, the only way to trigger the yay or nay hormones is to have good, old-fashioned eye contact.
I never knew you as a romantic, Gregorio.
Profiling's not just for finding criminals.
Comes in handy, trust me.
(camera shutter clicking) All I know so far is the victim's Chief Karen Decker, based out of Belle Chasse.
Still waiting on Loretta, so we can't take the body down yet.
Not a lot of blood on the ground, considering all the stab wounds, which means she was killed somewhere else, and then moved here.
The question is, why here? Big risk taking the time and effort to string her up, not to mention the mutilation.
Talking ritualistic? Crucifix pose indicates she was meant to be a sacrifice.
Eyes dug out so she couldn't see her killer's soul.
PRIDE: Okay, so, we figure out what she was sacrificed for, we might be able to ID the lunatic who did this to her.
WADE: My God.
Loretta.
Loretta, you all right? Please, get her down.
Let's go find a ladder.
Look, Gregorio, I'll check with Decker's C.
O.
, all right? You take Christopher and get with Patton, find out as much about her as you can as fast as you can.
Copy that.
Tough to look at, isn't it? I saw something like this once before.
I'd hoped never to see it again.
Man, hard to believe anybody would want to do her harm, especially that kind of harm.
20-year vet, unblemished record, Navy counselor who helps other sailors.
Yeah, a couple of months from retiring, according to her record.
About to start a new life.
Only to have it stolen away by some monster.
Why? C.
O.
says Chief Decker got an urgent call yesterday at noon, rushed out, never came back.
Check her phone log? Putting it up on the screen.
PATTON: Looks like the only incoming call she got yesterday.
GREGORIO: But from the same caller who called several days before.
Can you trace that joker? Can't, burner cell.
Powered down, too.
Or, more likely, destroyed.
Well, any chance you can find out where the call originated? Read my mind, bossman.
There, pinged from a cell tower across from the old Peters Junior High School.
Now, Peters has been abandoned since Katrina, and who would want to be hanging there? GREGORIO: Obviously, somebody who doesn't want to be found.
Shall we? Keep me posted.
I'm gonna go to the morgue.
See what Loretta knows.
(camera shutters clicking) Bad news.
Damn it, Sebastian! Don't sneak upon me like that.
Whoa, whoa, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
Are-Are you okay? Yeah.
Uh, it's just Uh You got something? Um, u-unfortunately, no.
There's nothing from the crime scene that turned up any clues.
No prints, trace evidence, DNA, nothing.
Whoever did this obviously knows what they're doing.
You want me to keep trying? NCIS probably doesn't need me back for awhile.
Glass tray.
What is it? I mean, clearly, it's a strand of hair, but? WADE: I found it in the victim's hair.
It's not hers.
Could be the killer's.
And, if I'm right, I've crossed paths with him before.
Yo, I'm not bragging, but I got a pretty good track record when it comes to matchmaking, just not for myself, mind you, that's a whole different story.
Well, why is that? You know, it's just complicated.
(hinges creaking, door clatters) Looks like we just missed somebody.
âJack Gordon.
Clozapineâ LASALLE: Clozapine? Is that for psychosis? Schizophrenia? Mm-hmm.
Looks like we've found where Chief Decker was murdered.
Which means we've found our monster.
PRIDE: Good job, Christopher.
Secure the scene, get a BOLO out.
I'll send Sebastian to collect evidence.
(phone beeps off) Loretta, we might have Loretta.
Might have a suspect.
Ex-con, just got paroled.
Jack Gordon.
Yeah.
How'd you know? I worked the case on his first victim 20 years ago.
And, if he did this I could very well be next.
(jazz music playing nearby) She all right? Don't know.
Tough lady.
I've never seen her rattled like this before.
(Pride sighs) Tell me things.
Jack Gordon, aka âThe Jackknife,â paroled eight days ago from Angola after serving just over 20 years for murder.
Loretta said he was a streetcar driver back in the day? Drove streetcar number 963, the same streetcar Chief Decker's body was strung up behind.
Hard to believe it's a coincidence.
Yeah, plus the blood we found at the school is a dead match to Decker, which means Decker was killed at the school, then moved to the streetcar.
GREGORIO: Guy's out of prison barely a week, immediately targets Decker, and kills her the same way he killed a woman 20 years ago.
LASALLE: Petty Officer Janet Ortega.
She and Decker were bunkmates on the U.
S.
S.
Enterprise in '97.
And Ortega and Jack Gordon were high school sweethearts back then.
GREGORIO (scoffs): Some sweetheart.
Never proved motive, but it's got crime of passion written all over it.
Yeah, well, I remember the Ortega case.
NOPD handled it when I was a sheriff.
Gordon got his nickname because the murder weapon was a knife.
Jack Gordon, Jackknife, cute.
But why kill Chief Decker as soon as he gets out of prison? And make it so obvious that he did it? Well, we need to dig into the old case, but if I remember right, Chief Decker testified against Gordon at the trial, claimed he was unstable.
Well, based on the empty bottle of clozapine we found at the school, he's even more unstable now.
Plus, his DNA matched a strand of hair Doc found on the victim.
LASALLE: Well, it's pretty clear, isn't it? Gordon gets out of prison, takes out his revenge on Decker for testifying against him 20 years ago.
Problem is, according to Loretta, she testified against Gordon 20 years ago, too.
I was the M.
E.
on Janet Ortega's case.
The slaying was brutal, sick.
Gordon claimed he was innocent, of course, but the evidence was overwhelming.
Ortega's body showed signs of previous assaults.
The knife they found at the crime scene belonged to Gordon, and he was so hopped up on amphetamines, when they went to arrest him, he couldn't even remember where he was the night of the murder.
GREGORIO: Amphetamine psychosis certainly could explain that level of violence.
WADE: Nothing explains what he did to that poor woman.
I just never understood why the prosecutor cut a deal.
She should've put that man away for life.
And now look what happened.
You've got to find him, Dwayne, before he hurts anybody else.
We're gonna do everything we possibly can, Loretta.
Still, if Gordon did kill Chief Decker, why did he call her so many times in the days before? Taunting her, maybe? Yeah, but, why would she accept them? Why not just hang up and alert the NOPD instead? He hasn't tried calling you, has he? He wouldn't dare.
GREGORIO: Nevertheless, if, in fact, he's targeting people who testified against him, we've got to protect you until we find him.
I can take care of myself.
PRIDE: Not this time, you can't.
Until we know exactly what's going on, safest place for you is with us.
Which means, CJ I spoke with Danny, and CJ's on base with his brother.
All right, well, good.
In the meantime, we need to find out who else testified against Gordon, warn them.
You should look into the defense attorney, Devon Mitchell.
I remember Gordon blamed him for not getting him acquitted.
Let's find Mitchell.
Patton and I will get up to speed on the old case as quickly as possible.
Try to get leads on how to find Gordon.
Go.
LASALLE: You got it.
We'll find him, Loretta.
Yeah.
I promise.
(streetcar bell clanging) (bell continues clanging) (door closing) Can I help you? LASALLE: Special Agents Lasalle and Gregorio.
We need to speak to Mr.
Mitchell, please.
Oh, don't worry, he hasn't done anything wrong.
But we do need to speak to him.
Of course.
I'll let him know.
Thank you kindly.
Mr.
Mitchell That's exactly the eye contact I'm talking about.
Clear connection, no doubt about it.
I'm not doing this with you, Gregorio.
The chemistry is immediately palpable, you can't fake that; even I can feel it.
If you don't go for her, I will.
What? MITCHELL: Are you sure? I mean, I didn't even know that Jack was out.
He hasn't tried to contact you, or call you? No, nothing.
You really think that he killed Karen Decker, just because she testified against him? That's what we're trying to find out, Mr.
Mitchell, but if he did, you could be in danger, too.
Yeah, we heard Gordon was particularly upset with you for not getting him acquitted.
I did everything that I could.
I even took the case pro Bono.
I mean, I knew Jack.
He was the streetcar driver who took me to work here every day.
I didn't want him to get stuck with a PD, so I offered to defend him.
So you haven't talked to him since the trial? I called him in prison to check up on him, but all he ever wanted me to do was get the case reopened.
Because he still believed he was innocent? He never stopped believing it.
Didn't change the facts of the case, but Jack never really cared about facts.
(sighs) Look, if anything, Jack owes me.
I got the D.
A.
to agree to a reduced sentence based on Jack's mental state.
I mean, I saved his life.
Why would he be after me? We're not sure he is, Mr.
Mitchell, but we're gonna get you protection just in case.
Is there anything you remember that might help us find Gordon? Family or friends? Well, we're especially concerned about anybody else Gordon might be after.
We're putting together a list, that Uh, Todd Borger.
Friend of Jack's, drove the night shift.
You need to protect him.
The D.
A.
tripped Borger up on the stand, got him to admit that Jack was violent, jealous.
Between that and the coroner's testimony, the jury was ready to convict.
Murder one.
WADE: There's no doubt, Jack Gordon murdered Petty Officer Ortega.
That is my professional opinion, and it is my personal opinion.
MITCHELL: Objection, Your Honor.
Dr.
Wade is qualified only for expert testimony.
JUDGE: Sustained.
Please, just answer Court footage of the Ortega case? Yeah.
Circa court 1997.
Just saying, Dr.
Wade looking mighty fine.
And pissed, too.
Yeah.
Wasn't an ordinary case.
Horrendous murder.
Lot of emotions.
Yeah, well, the good Dr.
Wade's barely hiding hers.
oftentimes is a precursor for murder.
MITCHELL: Objection.
(gavel bangs) DISTRICT ATTORNEY: And you think the defendant's mental illness could've made him capable of extreme violence? MITCHELL: Objection, she's not a psychologist.
JUDGE: I will allow it.
I didn't kill her! I'm innocent! Forensics don't lie! I didn't do it! I didn't do it, and you know I didn't do it! JUDGE: Mr.
Gordon, Mr.
Gordon! I didn't kill her! The hell you didn't! GORDON: I didn't do it! (gavel banging) You know that's not true! I didn't do it! WADE: The hell you didn't! (gavel banging) My behavior was inexcusable.
The past has a way of catching up to you, doesn't it? (saxophone playing jazz) WADE: I don't know.
There's just something about this case that I just personalized.
I was supposed to state the facts, (chuckles) as I knew them.
The science.
Not give my opinion on innocent or guilt.
Yet Gordon was guilty.
He pled out, he confessed.
But why? Was he really guilty, or did I sway the jury with something other than facts? Loretta, you've testified in dozens of cases over the years.
Why are you beating yourself up over this one? You know why, Dwayne.
You saw the courtroom footage.
I wasn't myself.
And I've known it for a long time, too.
I just never wanted to face it.
(saxophone continues playing) (streetcar bell clanging) MAN: Jack and I grew up together.
We went to high school, joined the transit authority.
Back then, streetcars only used one driver both ways.
I take it you knew Janet Ortega, too? Well, sure.
She rode Jack's streetcar to work on the early shift, mine back home at night.
Saw her pretty much every day.
She and Jack were good together.
Until he killed her.
Still can't believe he did it.
Meaning, what? You think he was innocent? At the time, yeah.
I mean, I know how much he loved her.
Jack struggled with paranoia and delusions his whole life.
I thought he had it under control.
Is that what the D.
A.
got you to say in court? Yeah.
It helped send him away.
Yeah, well, he's out now, and if he killed Karen Decker out of revenge, then you're not safe, either.
Is there any chance you might help us figure out where Gordon might be? I mean, the sooner we get him off the streets, the sooner the people who testified against him are safe.
I think I saw Jack earlier today, across the street from the station.
So, why didn't you call the police? I wasn't sure it was him.
Besides, I didn't know he'd just killed somebody else.
(wind chime tinkling) Uh, good news.
Mm-hmm.
Christopher says everyone who testified against Gordon, (thunder rumbling) under police protection.
Apparently, so am I.
Here.
(chuckles) Oh, by the way.
I don't snore.
At least, not that I know of, anymore.
(both chuckle) I don't know if I do anymore.
You think either of us will ever get married again? Oh, I'm not in any hurry, myself.
You? If the right person came along, maybe.
Last one kind of soured me on the idea.
Yeah.
Long time ago, though.
Divorce happened just before Gordon's case, didn't it? That's the reason I moved here.
New beginnings and all.
(water running) Yeah.
A lot to go through.
Gordon's case must've made it even harder.
Where are we going with all this, Dwayne? Not going anywhere, just I know that your husband didn't treat you right, either, so No, it isn't that he didn't treat me right.
You know it.
He froze me out.
He wasn't like this at first, just started to resent my success.
Then it got even worse when they passed him over for others less qualified.
Then he got mean.
It took a long time to find the courage to leave him, but I finally did.
I was lucky.
Luckier than Janet Ortega.
You were both victims.
And they were both abusers.
But I was still so upset and so angry with how Reginald treated me, that when I testify, I projected all that onto Gordon.
And ever since, I've worried that I biased the jury against him.
It doesn't change the fact that the evidence against Gordon was overwhelming.
Wasn't just your testimony.
But my testimony made an impact.
I saw it in each and every one of the juror's faces.
I wasn't trying to make Gordon pay.
I was trying to make my husband pay.
And it's haunted me ever since.
(thunder rumbling) Loretta.
Don't move, and stay calm.
Okay? Gordon.
Mm-hmm.
Outside.
Just wait a minute and call 911.
I'm gonna go get this blanket, pillows.
Put them out on the sofa, I'll be right back.
(thunder crashing) Oh! (Pride and Gordon grunting) Get off me! Calm down, Gordon.
Stop fighting.
Relax.
Relax.
(grunting) Stop fighting.
You're under arrest, Gordon, for the murder of Karen Decker.
I didn't do it.
(groans) (thunder crashing) I didn't do it! The blood at the school wasn't me! You just don't understand! Help me understand, Gordon, what were you doing outside Dr.
Wade's house.
I need my meds.
Get me my meds! PRIDE: I'm getting them.
The agitation you're feeling right now is clozapine withdrawal.
You're not going anywhere.
Try and breathe.
Swallow.
Who's there? Who's on the other side of there?! There's somebody looking at me! I know there is! Who's on the other side? Dr.
Wade, is that you? I wasn't gonna hurt you, I swear.
I just wanted your help! PRIDE: Talk to me.
Gordon, look at me.
(sobs) What do you mean when you say you want her help? For what, medication? No, no.
I just want I wanted her! (Gordon sobbing) I need someone to believe me! I didn't kill Janet! (crying): I swear to God.
I didn't kill Janet! If Gordon didn't kill Janet Ortega, he didn't kill Chief Decker either.
All right, slow down, okay? Just 'cause he claims he's innocent, doesn't mean he is.
He's a desperate man.
Yes, but he has been claiming his innocence for over 20 years.
Guilty or not, we have to be sure.
Gonna give him his clozapine, then talk again after he settles down.
We're gonna take this one step at a time, just like we always do.
Maybe there's something I missed.
Or maybe it was really because I just wanted him to be guilty.
Loretta (sighs) I need to check, you need to check.
Because if Jack Gordon is innocent, then the killer is still out there.
You want one of us to stay with her, make sure she's safe? She'll be okay.
Killer's either locked up in our interrogation room, or out there thinking he's won the game.
Killing again would just prove Gordon innocent.
You're not convinced Gordon's our killer, are you? I'm convinced there's a possibility he's telling the truth, so we're gonna keep investigating.
Well, all due respect to the doc, but somebody would be going through a lot of trouble to set Gordon up twice across a span of 20 years.
I admit it's a stretch, but like Loretta says, we need to be sure.
All right, what's the plan? Loretta's gonna review the forensic evidence on Janet Ortega, in case she missed anything.
Gonna ask the D.
A.
to exhume the body.
That means I need you to go to Morgan City, pick it up and get it to the morgue.
You got it.
You and Patton need to comb through both Ortega's murder and Decker's.
See if you can find a connection to anybody else other than Gordon.
Pills, King.
If somebody had 20 years to frame Gordon for another murder, chances are they didn't make a mistake.
But if they did, we need to find it.
We need to be right about this.
Both for Gordon and Loretta.
Okay.
Knock, knock.
It's okay, Sebastian, come in.
Okay, cool, I didn't want to scare you again.
Kind of freaked me out last time.
Not your fault, obviously.
It's just childhood issues.
You know, jumpy mother.
I'm thinking I should get into therapy That for me? It is.
Yeah, I'm sorry.
Anyway, uh, the D.
A.
released Ortega's old case evidence from Property.
What are we looking for? Frankly, I'm not sure, but I want to be sure I didn't miss something.
I perused the case file.
I don't think you did.
I mean, every âIâ is dotted, every âTâ is crossed on your forensic findings.
At least, you know, to my eye.
Can never be too certain.
There's too much at stake.
Meanwhile you mind to take a closer look at this? What is this, the hair sample you found on Chief Decker's body? I already identified it as Gordon's.
Mm-hmm, but we need to know if it fell from his person, or if it was placed on the victim by someone else.
You think Gordon was set up? Do a calcium carbonate test.
Let's find out.
You can uncuff me now.
I ain't gonna hurt you.
Well at least till the meds wear off.
Thank you.
(sighs): Jack Gordon pled guilty to killing Janet Ortega 20 years ago.
A week after your release, a key witness against you was murdered in the exact same way.
Why should I believe you're innocent? Because I am innocent.
I never stopped trying to prove it, never will.
Why'd you call Chief Decker the moment you were paroled? Because I needed her help to prove I didn't kill Janet.
I convinced her I wasn't guilty.
So, somebody set you up 20 years ago? Somebody set you up yesterday-- is that what you're saying? I know how this looks, okay? I'm a diagnosed schizophrenic.
But you have to understand, I loved Janet.
When she joined the Navy to get away, it nearly destroyed me.
The murder weapon, the jackknife-- Jack's knife-- belonged to you.
I gave Janet that knife for protection.
From me.
I got crazy at times.
And I abused her when I wasn't in my right mind, I know.
But that's why I wanted Janet to be able to protect herself in case.
She had to leave me.
I could never kill her, Agent Pride.
Same way I could never kill Karen Decker.
Karen was the only one willing to help me.
Wh-Why would I? So let's say I believe you.
Who set you up? You must have some idea.
All I know is someone else liked Janet, and they was pursuing her.
It had to be whoever killed her killed Karen Decker, too.
And maybe they thought we was close to figuring out who they was.
Close? How? What do you mean? The Innocence Project-- they gave me my case files while I was in prison.
Okay, I poured over the files, I didn't find anything till I found this one photo of Janet.
Last time I saw her, an hour before she was killed, she was wearing a necklace with a purple gemstone but it wasn't from me.
- So? - So it wasn't on the body when she was found.
And I looked at every crime scene photo, and it wasn't there.
Killer took it.
'Cause he knew that it might connect back to him.
You could check the photos yourself, and you'll see I'm right.
You'll see I didn't do this.
(hissing, keyboard clacking, door opens) WADE: You find something? I think maybe, yeah.
Gordon's hair had trace amounts of calcium carbonate on it.
Transferred from the latex gloves the killer used to plant a hair on Chief Decker's body.
Yeah.
Which means if Gordon didn't kill Chief Decker he probably didn't kill Janet Ortega, either.
Which also means an innocent man spent 20 years of his life in prison, and I helped send him there.
PRIDE: Nothing else? No other connections to the other murders other than how they were killed? Nothing we can find so far other than the obvious connection to Gordon.
It's too obvious for my taste.
Too clean, too.
Yeah.
If Gordon didn't do it whoever did knew how to cover their tracks.
GREGORIO: Like someone in the Navy or law enforcement-- but we checked both victims' records, nothing jumps out.
Nothing to confirm Gordon's claim of Janet Ortega's mystery suitor? Nothing other than the purple gemstone necklace.
However, the victim was wearing it right before she got killed, like Gordon said.
This is from a surveillance camera at the Decatur streetcar station that same night, 20 years ago.
Except, she wasn't wearing it after she was killed, also like Gordon said.
Well, it makes sense, right? Killer doesn't want anybody tracing it back to him.
You know what? I'm starting to think maybe Gordon's right, somebody's setting him up.
Especially since the more grisly and violent the murders appear, the more a jury's predisposed to believe that abuse and mental illness could be the cause.
Problem is, other than Gordon's claim, we don't have much, if anything, to go on.
But we find out who gave Janet Ortega that necklace, and we will.
LASALLE: Took 'em longer than they thought to dig it out, that ground was still pretty damp.
Fortunately for us, burying the deceased in cemeteries near peatland marshes prevents putrefaction, decomposition.
SEBASTIAN: You really think she can tell us something after all this time? WADE: Time may heal all wounds, dear, but not when you're dead.
Still, it's hard to believe you, of all people, missed something.
Yes, well, if Jack Gordon is innocent, then I must have.
I'm headed back to headquarters, to help them find that necklace.
Keep me posted.
SEBASTIAN: So these are Ortega's original autopsy photos? Yes, uh, this is the one of particular interest of the back of her neck.
SEBASTIAN: Oh, yeah, some kind of abrasion.
At the time, I noted it as consistent with other wounds likely inflicted when she was dragged to the car, but after hearing about the necklace It could be the wound was caused when someone ripped it off her neck.
If so, it could be what I missed in my rush to judgment.
Sebastian may have something.
Go ahead.
SEBASTIAN: Right, well, we reexamined a cut on the back of Janet Ortega's neck and we found microscopic slivers of platinum imbedded in what was left of the tissue.
If the killer ripped the necklace off her neck Slivers might've gotten lodged beneath the skin.
That narrows our search.
Big time, since platinum is pretty pricey.
Hey, how's Doc Wade holding up? Oh, you know.
She's still beating herself up pretty bad over all this.
PRIDE: Can't change the past.
But we can do everything we can to make things right moving forward.
We'll get back to you, Sebastian.
Hey, I think I may have a lead.
I've been runnin' the necklace from the Ortega photo through imaging software, but I just narrowed it down to platinum pieces only and bam! Canal Street Boutique designed and sold the very same platinum, diamond and amethyst necklace in 1997.
If we can track down purchase receipts, we might be able to find a suspect who intersected with Ortega's life 20 years ago.
PATTON: Can't be many.
4,500 large.
That's some serious change.
LASALLE: Check this out: the store is located at the end of the Decatur streetcar line.
That's the same street line Janet Ortega took to work every day, with Jack Gordon driving in the morning.
LASALLE: And his buddy, Todd Borger, driving at night.
Could be a coincidence.
but on the other hand If we connect Borger to her necklace, we can connect him to her murder.
Still, $4,500, pretty steep for a young streetcar driver making, what, eight, ten bucks an hour back then? Not too steep for a young lawyer.
Jewelry store is right next to the office of Gordon's attorney.
Right, Devon Mitchell.
We were there yesterday.
Which means what? Mitchell's the one who gave Ortega the necklace? Hold on, why would Mitchell kill Janet Ortega, frame Gordon, and then turn around and defend him? Pretty good way to make sure Gordon loses the case.
And if Mitchell killed Chief Decker, too, make sure it didn't get reopened.
We need to find Mitchell.
(blow landing) Sebastian! MITCHELL: Should've just let things be.
All right, now what? Now? Now, you're gonna delete every piece of evidence from your server.
Why? You're just gonna kill me anyway.
Well, your lab tech back there didn't see me hit him, but I can always carve out his eyes, too.
Go.
Jack went to Chief Decker for help, and she came to you, didn't she? Just delete the files.
Just out of curiosity, how'd you know I had any evidence? D.
A.
called me, told me you were exhuming Janet's body.
Hurry up.
I forgot how chummy you two were.
Surprised you didn't talk her into the death sentence for Jack.
Yeah, well, the jury wouldn't buy premeditation because of his condition.
Otherwise, I would have.
So, what, just because Janet wouldn't leave Jack for you, you kill an innocent woman, ruin a man's life, then kill again? Couldn't have done it without you, Doc.
Your testimony against Jack really sealed the deal for me.
Don't you dare blame what happened to Jack on me.
This is all on you.
Yeah, well, unfortunately for you, you and I are the only ones who know that.
Aren't we? (door opens) PRIDE: Loretta? (gunshots) (shouting) (screaming) (gunshots) You all right? Huh? You good? (whimpering) (Wade crying) You did good.
(sniffles) SEBASTIAN: Please tell me that getting my ass kicked all the time is just part of the whole newbie thing.
'Cause if it's not, I am seriously considering going back to the lab.
That or just buying a bunch of life insurance.
You did great, baby, and you're doing great.
Just hang in there.
(chuckles) That's easy for her to say.
Gregorio's been knocking heads and taking names for years.
SEBASTIAN: Yeah, she grew up in New York, you know? I'm from Peoria.
(chuckles) Here, knock 'em back, Peoria.
How's Wade? Anyone talk to her yet this morning? Pride has.
He says she's doing much better.
Yeah, 'cause she's kicking ass.
Oh, stop.
PATTON: Not better than Lasalle.
I heard Lothario's got himself another hot date.
Oh, he's not a Lothario anymore.
Your boy's all grown-up.
Besides, it's just breakfast.
And, pray tell, how come you know all of this? Well, you know, been giving him a few tips.
Unsolicited, maybe, but he's listening.
Ah.
Handy having a profiler on the team.
Not being cocky here, but I think I pretty much identified his perfect type.
Not quite sure how to break it to him though.
Why's that? Tough, loyal, whip-smart, sassy, can hang with the boys, and gives as good as she gets.
Percy? Percy? Like I said, not quite sure how to break it to him.
Where you going? I'm going to get me some pills, too.
Just the thought of them together makes my head hurt.
(streetcar bell clanging) (bell continues clanging) Never got tired of driving a streetcar through the city.
It's a great job.
Loved every minute of it.
(clacking) (whirring) Might be able to pull some strings, see if I can get you your-your job back.
You're a free man now, Jack.
Besides, the city and the state, they owe you more than that.
Still, it's a little scary being out all of a sudden, cleared.
I spent so many years trying to prove my innocence, I didn't think much about what I'd do if I succeeded.
Well, the-the halfway house can help you adjust.
So can I.
So can Dr.
Wade.
Is that why you wanted to meet, ride with me? One of the reasons.
Look you were right to go to her for help.
There's no reason to stop now, Jack.
She feels bad about what happened, more than she deserves.
Bad? Hell, didn't she just help exonerate me? Anyway, I never held anything against her.
I mean, she didn't do anything wrong.
I I hurt Janet.
Got used against me.
All she did was say it.
Actually, she probably ended up saving my life, getting the jury to take pity on me 'cause of my condition.
Then maybe you'll be open to the other reason I wanted to talk to you.
The good doctor's donated her time to the Innocence Project for a lot of years.
Could use what you learned to help others wrongly imprisoned.
Might give you some direction.
Maybe help the two of you heal a little bit.
Interested? (bell clanging) Storage? No.
Trash.
I'm not gonna let the past weigh me down any longer.
It's time to move on.
Unless you want me to bore you with more talk of my ex-husband.
I'm out of here.
Mm, that's what I thought.
(wind chime tinkling) (wind chime tinkling) Thank you.
(chuckles) Would you like to come in for some tea, Mr.
Gordon? Sure.