Major Crimes s04e01 Episode Script
A Rose is a Rose
Come come come here, come here, come here.
Lieutenant Provenza.
Ah, Sykes.
Why the hell are we here? I mean, couldn't this just be a-a neighborhood dispute or a standard follow home? It could also be an escalation of the home invasions occurring almost every week in this part of town.
Well, if it isn't, we hand this off to Hollywood and then we leave.
I want Detective Oderno packed up and gone before Julio comes back.
Flynn, what the hell is that? It's the victim's pet.
His name is Nacho.
from a Mrs.
Lynn Reed.
That's her over there by the tree.
She says she saw this little guy running loose on the street.
Well, anyway, she brought him home - and then looked in the window.
- Ay, yi You think you could hand Nacho here off to someone and we could work the actual murder? Wh-where's the body? I'll take him.
Not the way we intended to begin your last day with Major Crimes, Oderno, but here we are.
Care to introduce me? Uh, yeah, Lieutenant Provenza, meet Gary David Erwin, age 71, widower living alone.
Accountant Just retired.
Friends say that next Monday, he was taking a trip to Italy.
Looks like he put off his departure a week too long.
Struggle all your life saving to retire.
You plan a little trip, and then some psycho freak breaks into your house and puts a bullet in your back.
Uh, three bullets, actually, lieutenant 9mm.
Okay, look, i-in these other home invasions, no one got shot.
So if this is connected, why the escalation? An excellent question.
Here's a few more, starting with the flowers.
- What flowers? - Exactly.
In every other case, our home invaders gained entry by pretending to deliver two dozen roses.
Ding-dong! When fleeing, they left the flowers behind.
Hard to pick up rose stems with your hands full of other people's stuff.
That's another discrepancy.
Mr.
Erwin's jewelry and his computer are still here.
As is his wallet, full of cash, which I found on the kitchen counter.
And in every other case, the person who opened the door was tased in the chest.
And Mr.
Erwin has no taser marks.
Nor was he left behind cuffed and gagged.
- Instead - He's dead.
Uh, sorry.
Sorry for the victim, but our work here is done.
- Excuse me? - Look.
If this murder is not related to the other home invasions, then it's not a major crime.
So we hand off poor Mr.
Erwin here to Hollywood, and we go back to the office before Julio gets there.
Oh my God! Help! Help, please! Please help me, please! I don't know what to do.
My mom, she's hurt! Please help me! - Please! - There might be suspects in the house.
- You two guys take the left side.
- Okay, okay, okay.
- It's gonna be okay.
- Hurry up! My mother! Help! My mother! You need to help her! Clear.
Clear.
Go go up.
House is clear! Okay.
Now it's a major crime.
Our second victim, Lisa Lewis, age 48, mother of two One blast from a taser, one gunshot to the head.
She was dead about two hours when her daughter Ashley came home from summer school this morning.
And, yes, she was at school Advance Placement courses for English.
Is there something new on Stroh? No, just unverified sightings in Cyprus and Crete.
So, no one saw anything this morning or heard gunshots? No, and I checked up and down the block.
- No security cameras, either.
- Thank you, Buzz.
She's 16, hmm? Anyone in her family to assume custody? Well, her father died of cancer two years ago.
Other than her brother, she only has a grandmother, who's on a European river cruise, and Ashley can't even tell us what river.
Oderno's gone to pick up Ashley's brother, Peter, from the gym where he works, unless you would rather I call children's services.
Look, th-this girl is going to be in therapy for the rest of her life.
A few more hours with us won't hurt.
How are we handling the brother? Well, initially we're only telling him about the murder of his neighbor across the street.
Um listen.
Since Oderno's already started this case, maybe we should re-think having Julio back today.
What? There's no need to re-think anything, Andy.
Oderno started on this case, and he should finish it out.
Yes, Mike? Uh, casings confirm Lisa Lewis and Gary Erwin were shot with the same gun.
Any hope of finding it? Hollywood's conducting an article search, but we have a bigger problem.
The LAPD may have had someone from these home invasions under surveillance.
- During the murders? - I don't know.
Tell Chief Taylor I would like a briefing.
Hi, you busy? Ashley's calm enough to talk, but I don't know for how long.
Oh, one second, Amy.
Is this important? Kind of.
Uh maybe.
Ye uh, you know what, I'll I'll wait.
I'll wait.
Okay.
Andy, if you could come with me? What the hell is wrong with you? I want to focus on catching the bad guy, not be worried the cop next to me is about to explode.
Hey, lieutenant, who's that girl in there? The daughter of a victim.
She came home from school to find her mother shot in the head.
Have you found the killer yet? Well, apparently we've had them under surveillance.
Wh-what's it to you? Um just my my My journalism professor rejected my story, and if I want to be considered for the paper next fall, I need to submit something new by tomorrow at 6:00 p.
m.
, so You cannot report anything that we're doing here.
Not without permission, in writing, from Chief Taylor.
Okay, fine, wow.
What did I do? Let's start with this morning.
Did anything unusual happen? Did you see your brother before you left for school? Uh, he was gone before I got up, but I I saw my mom.
Did you talk about anything? She asked me what I wanted for breakfast, and and I said cereal, so she made me oatmeal before she started getting ready for her clients.
And when does your mom normally leave for work? She doesn't.
She works from home Word processing for legal firms.
S-she designs their templates.
Anyone else working for your mom at your house? No, most of her project managers live in other cities.
Didn't she tell you that? Uh, Lieutenant Provenza, Lieutenant Tao, meet Peter Lewis.
Lives across the street from Mr.
Erwin.
But, uh, he didn't see anything unusual this morning.
I don't know why anyone would kill the poor old guy.
Hey, I'm not in any trouble, am I? No.
No, no, no, no, no.
Um, as a matter of fact, we're in trouble and could use your help.
My help? In what way? So, you didn't see anything abnormal this morning? What about last week? Anyone new show up to the house? New? Like who? For example, did you change maids or, uh, gardeners or anything like that? No, my brother takes care of the lawn, and w-we don't have any maids or anything like that.
Do you know what your mother kept in her safe? Um Her jewelry, money, a gun, our birth certificates.
What kind of gun? I'm not sure.
It wasn't hers.
It was It was my dad's.
And his wedding ring was in the safe.
It's gone.
It's all gone! Of course, I'm at the gym training people most of the day.
Not worth going home on breaks, so if any one came by I wouldn't, uh Pete! Pete! Oh, my god, Pete! - Oh, my god, Pete! - Hey.
- Oh, my god! - Ashley, what's the matter? They didn't tell you? Mom's dead, Pete.
Someone shot her.
She's dead.
Peter, I'm Captain Sharon Raydor.
My mom's dead and you didn't tell me?! Unfortunately, this morning during a robbery of your home A-a robbery? What? Your mother was shot and killed.
- I'm so sorry.
- We were We were just trying to find the right way to tell you.
What bullshit.
Where's my sister? Hey, Peter.
Pete! Welcome back, Julio.
Welcome back.
Follow the investigation as closely as you want, but, uh, restrict your story to the victim's family.
Okay, but if you arrest the killers before 4:00 or 5:00 p.
m.
tomorrow, I can report that, though, yeah? Maybe.
Captain.
Meet the newest credentialed journalist with the LAPD.
For the next 48 hours.
Oh, is that what you wanted to talk to me about? No, um c-can I steal you for a second? - Can I is that okay? - Sure.
Um Hi, I'm supposed to give this to you.
Hi, yes.
Thank you.
If you're already writing another one, they must have really liked your first story.
Oh, they didn't.
No, uh, wh-what I wanted to talk to you about was, um Look, just, Sharon, promise you won't get freaked out.
When have you ever seen me freaked out? All right, um Here it goes.
I-I think I think some guy's been following me around campus.
- Can you describe him? - I can do better than that.
I took a selfie with the guy in the background.
That's see, that's That's him right there.
The one in the blue.
I've I've noticed him several times now.
Can you e-mail me this photo? And I will make sure that we get an I.
D.
- On your possible stalker.
- Okay.
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
That's it? You're not gonna, like, try and put me in protective custody again? Oh, no No, not yet.
Um, seems pretty clear that Phillip Stroh is out of the country.
And he's never coming back.
- Captain? - E-mail me that photo.
Excuse us, kid.
Two days ago, we caught a lead on a person of interest possibly fencing merchandise from these home invasions in Colorado.
A Mr.
Jim Norton.
You have his DMV photo there.
Turns out, in addition to having great relationships with pawnshops in Denver, Mr.
Norton is also employed by the Remus Home Security Company here in L.
A.
As a patrol guard in Hollywood.
Allowing him to case homes carefully beforehand.
But instead of arresting Mr.
Norton, you put an undercover detail on him.
Is that it? Since our home invaders had never shot anyone before, I thought why not follow Mr.
Norton? See if he could introduce us to the rest of his gang.
And how'd that work out? Obviously not very well.
Look, I took a chance.
Just like you're taking a chance, captain, by insisting I make no personnel changes to your division.
May I remind you that Julio has served out his full five-month suspension without pay, and behavioral science says he has a grip on his temper.
- My own interactions with him have been fine.
- I know, I know.
I have followed Julio very closely, too, captain.
Why don't we talk about what needs to happen here, right now? I would like to put the Lewis children up in a hotel, at least until S.
I.
D.
finishes at the crime scene.
And I'd like Julio Sanchez confined to this building for at least the next two weeks.
Also, I need a briefing on how our surveillance failed so badly.
Okay, so, Jim Norton was here this morning.
He was parked three full miles away from your crime scene, casing the next house he intends to rob, and where we intended to arrest him.
Maybe Norton's the wrong guy.
Or maybe he figured out that you were following, and maybe led you in the opposite direction.
No, it's not possible.
My people are invisible.
Invisible.
Right.
Does Norton ever participate in the robbery? Well, he doesn't match the descriptions we have from our victims.
One white male, one latina female, both late 20s.
Average height, average weight, average everything.
No, unfortunately, these suspects aren't living with Norton or stopping by his residence.
And he's not communicating with them - through cellphone or e-mail accounts.
- Yeah, yeah.
But your report says here that you observed Norton filling up a van with computers, iPads When you have suspects under surveillance and they commit a crime, you're required by law to arrest them.
Loading up a van is not a crime.
Yeah, how could Cooper have known that stuff was stolen without breaking cover and taking it, sir? - He walked right up to the line.
- Yeah, but he didn't cross it.
And if Norton is casing another house, why shouldn't Cooper set up there and catch everyone in the act? The pattern is every two weeks.
Do we want these dirtbags on the street for another 14 days after they shot two people? - Should I just shut up? - Absolutely not.
Murder isn't part of the pattern, Andy.
Nor was killing people across the street.
Something bad happened this morning.
Maybe our home invaders are looking to do another robbery right away and close up shop.
- Mike may be right.
- Why do you say that? Jim Norton just left a florist carrying a vase and two dozen roses.
You don't buy roses two weeks - before you're going to deliver them, either.
- No, you don't.
This house Mr.
Norton was casing this morning, what's the address? Now, whatever you do, don't be defensive.
Right.
Can't let it look like I know I'm gonna be tased.
Of course, that's the part that has me most worried.
The vest won't protect you from the shock, but it'll keep the taser from leaving a mark.
Buzz, five minutes.
Thank you, Mission Control.
Detective Oderno, do we have picture? Crystal clear.
Good to go.
Lieutenant Tao, am I transmitting? We're good.
All right, my guys have Norton in their line of sight about two miles from here.
We are in position.
But not entirely invisible.
- Oh, damn.
- Mm-hmm.
Okay, well, in my defense, I trained Rusty how to spot somebody following him.
Look, I understand your concern, captain, but my people can't watch him forever.
It's not forever, lieutenant.
It's just till he's out of danger.
And when do mothers decide their children are out of danger? Rusty finds out what you're doing here, - he's not gonna be happy.
- I know.
I don't feel good about it, lieutenant.
But I I would feel even worse attending his funeral.
If you could just Picture and sound on all cameras.
Lieutenant Provenza, we go as planned.
Radio discipline begins now.
Uh, is something wrong? No.
I was just wondering why we never saw Mr.
Norton hand off his roses to anyone.
Hmm.
Flower delivery for Mrs.
Jennifer Wright.
- Oh, they're beautiful.
- There you go.
Just need a signature.
Oh.
Yeah, sure.
Get the windows! Get the windows! - LAPD! Drop your weapons! - No Don't move! Don't move! - LAPD! You're under arrest! - God! Keep your hands over your head! Now get down on your knees! Don't move! Don't move! Sykes? Sykes.
You okay? Yeah, I think so.
Have we met? That's my girl.
Captain, the suspects are in custody and alive, thanks to this bean-bag thing.
How is Amy? She's good.
She's very good.
Good job, everyone.
Lieutenant Cooper, if you could have your men pick up our security guard, Mr.
Norton? Buzz, if you could clear our equipment - out of this house and wrap this up? - Yes, ma'am.
If you give up that right, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
You have the right to an attorney.
If you cannot afford one, - one will be appointed for you - Don't worry, captain.
I'll find a new team to follow the kid on campus.
Thank you, lieutenant, and if I sounded brusque before, it's probably because I don't think I've slept through the night in months.
I get it.
Mr.
Beck? What the hell are you doing? All right, all right, don't worry.
Don't worry.
I have permission from Chief Taylor to write the story.
I'm so glad you caught the killers, because now I can turn in an exclusive.
You guys call for me? I heard on the radio you caught the people who killed my mother.
Wait, wait, wait.
This is already in the news? Cutthroat business.
Uh, Detective Sanchez, would you escort Peter here to the break room, please? Y-you asked me here! Well, we're missing some evidence that would put the suspects inside your house yesterday.
Search warrants are being served in their offices and their homes, and if we find anything in their possession that you can identify as having belonged - to your family - Sir, this way.
What bullshit.
Hey, hey, hey, you guys you guys knew how important this story was to me, and you released it to the press? Well, when we have incomplete information, sometimes the professional media helps us finish the story.
Didn't I say, "concentrate on the victim's family"? Your captain is where? Interview 2.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
How do I how do I, uh, start a conversation with a guy the day after his mother was murdered? Well, if I were you, I'd try lying.
Of course I'm a cop.
It's not just that all these houses were robbed in the areas that you patrol, Mr.
Norton, though that is an interesting coincidence.
Well, it proves those neighborhoods need private security companies, yeah? Our thieves used arrangements of two dozen roses to get their foot in the door of homes they were robbing.
And last night, we have video of you purchasing flowers from an area florist.
We it is not against the law to buy roses for someone.
For whom did you buy the roses, Mr.
Norton? Look, it Okay.
It it is a condition of my employment to cooperate with the police, okay? But but I also have a right to privacy in my personal life, too, okay? And and do not think that I am ignorant of the law, either.
I'm not, okay? I was pre-law in college.
So, besides the absence of stolen property in their possession, any other complications in charging these people with our murder? - So anything I say to you about the flowers - A few.
Well, the guy making entry - is totally voluntary.
- had a shotgun, not a 9mm.
- It is not an obligation.
- He killed two people with the other weapon - Please keep that in mind.
- So they dumped it.
- Okay? I want to help.
- They were still caught in the act.
- Help you.
The police.
- What can we charge Mr.
Norton with so far? Mm, felony floral arrangement.
And, again, I don't have to tell you this, but ultimately, the roses were for a sick friend.
Oh, but the sick friend never got the roses because they were left in the back of your patrol car, which brings us to yet another interesting coincidence.
Mm, the person driving the patrol car after you, Claudia, used these roses to gain entry in a home invasion this morning.
And the coincidences just go on.
Because the person with whom Claudia was arrested this morning Earl Davis You know Earl? He works for Remus Home Security, too.
Interesting guy, Earl Carries a shotgun.
Okay, I I'm I'm beginning to wonder if I need an attorney.
Oh, now there's another coincidence.
Because that is exactly what Claudia and Earl asked for when we arrested them A lawyer.
They're also married.
And since you were pre-law, Jim, perhaps you'll recall husbands and wives can't testify against one another.
So, if they make a deal, it feels as if it might be at your expense.
Do you want to take a second and think about what that means? Hi, excuse me.
Are, um Are you Peter Lewis? Yeah, that's me.
Why? Hi, uh Rusty Beck.
I-i-I'm I'm the son of the police captain investigating what happened at your house yesterday.
Uh, she thought that maybe publicizing these terrible murders I-i write for a college paper might might help solve the case.
Help? Help how? Um Do you mind if I record our conversation? Look, I-I'm sure it's it's not easy, but Talking about your mother humanizes this crime for people and might actually make someone come forward.
You want to know about my mom? Um Okay.
After my dad died, she lost her mind Felt like she had to take complete control over my life.
And when I'd finally had enough and dropped out of UCLA Business, she stopped talking to me.
Even though we lived in the same house, we didn't speak for months.
And this whole idea of someone tricking their way through the front door with roses? That's crazy.
Not only would she never answer the front door in her bathrobe, ever, nobody ever sent my mother roses but me.
On Mother's Day.
And that didn't happen this year.
And now it's never gonna happen again.
Okay, if you get me an attorney, I will tell you everything that you want to know if you can promise me a grand-theft beef served in county.
We do not plea double homicide down to grand theft.
Double homicide? What?! Peruse these pictures from the job you pulled yesterday, Mr.
Norton, and notice the dead bodies on the floor.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
We wha W-w-we didn't do this! Y-yesterday? No, no, no.
We don't rob houses two days in a row.
It's too risky.
- Does this sound like the wrong guy to you? - Look at the crime scene, Mr.
Norton.
He probably wouldn't just admit to murder right off the bat.
No, but he did just confess to all the home invasions.
Taser marks on the woman's chest.
The jewelry, it's missing.
Roses on the floor.
O-okay, b-but but she's not handcuffed.
Okay, or or gagged.
And and thi right here! Right here.
This this this this is not the vase that I buy, okay? You know what? You ask the guy at the flower shop.
That's not my vase.
They're also not his roses.
In his other home invasions, Norton's team brought hybrid tea roses.
Now, the ones we found at the Lewis house - were old garden roses.
- Once inside the house, the first thing our suspects did was close up all the blinds.
They did this with all their robberies.
Now, when we went to the Lewis house, all the blinds were open.
But the pattern Was Was out there, sir.
I saw it on the news, and we publicized it.
Advising people on everything from being wary of a woman delivering red roses to locking up jewelry.
Even mentions stun guns.
Uh, excuse me, but this might be important.
Looking over their finances, an itemized charge on a Visa card held by our victim's son, Peter Lewis, for a Vipertek.
Peter Lewis bought a stun gun.
Six weeks ago, yes.
Good work, Oderno.
Really, good work.
So, with regard to our suspects, the roses don't match, the vase doesn't match.
There was a stun gun on the premises, and the blinds weren't pulled.
The defense rests.
But if not Norton and company, someone framed them.
Where's Peter Lewis right now? He's in the break room with Rusty, ma'am.
- What?! - Damn it.
Well, you're the one who told Rusty that he should interview the victim's family.
My god, there is nowhere safe.
Nowhere! What about you? Your mom choose your major for you? No, um, my mom doesn't really try to boss me around or anything.
I'm pretty much my own guy.
Rusty, you need to get out of here right now.
Oh.
- Have you been recording this conversation? - Wha - I'll keep your phone.
- No, no, no, no, I have permission to do a story on the victim's family, Sharon.
We will talk later.
Julio.
Peter Lewis, you have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
- You have the right to an attorney.
- Oh, my god.
Out! I said out! If you cannot afford one, one will be appointed for you by the State.
Peter, I'm gonna make this quick.
Why did you buy a stun gun six weeks ago? B-because my sister's ex-boyfriend was stalking her.
She was scared to go out of the house by herself.
Where did your sister keep this stun gun? No, I mean she had it to begin with.
But but then she threatened Raul with it and he took it from her.
I need her ex-boyfriend's full name right now.
Raul, Raul Diaz.
And do you happen to know this Raul boy's address? Hey, Raul.
Is that you, brother? - Hey, man.
- Who is it? Hey, look, I'm Lieutenant Chuck Cooper from the LAPD.
I want to talk to you about the Oh, shit! Hey! Raul! Raul, stop! Stop! Freeze! Raul, stop! Stop! Help me! Help me, please! Help me! Please! - Ashley! Ashley, are you okay? - Please! - Sweetheart, are you okay? - No! - Come on, get up.
Get up.
- No, you have to listen! Okay, okay.
He was threatening to kill my brother like he did my mother! All right, get her out of here.
- Get her out of here, Flynn.
- Come on.
Go, go, go.
A-ha! Here's the Vipertek stun gun.
What kind of a deal do you offer a kid like this? Hopefully one that fits on his tombstone.
Captain.
Yeah, I think we may be able to wrap this up.
Home invasions, double homicide, kidnapping, and I didn't get to write a single word of any of it.
Do you think I could get my phone back now that the story's completely over? - It's not over.
- It is for me.
I'm hours past the deadline, and now I won't be considered for staffing the paper until November.
And I write ten times better than anyone there.
Maybe, but you still have a lot to learn about being a reporter.
Because there's a great story here, Rusty, - and you didn't even notice it.
- I noticed the story, Buzz.
I wasn't allowed to tell it.
But a good reporter knows how to take what's available and give it a new perspective.
And you don't have to wait for someone at college to say you're part of the media.
There are hundreds of ways to tell a good story these days.
Of course, first, you have to find it.
Raul confessed everything to Sykes and Oderno Um, both murders, robbery, kidnapping the girl.
And he was read his rights.
Yes, and he said, "I did it," before we even asked a question.
The gun we took from him was registered to Mrs.
Lewis' husband, and everything that was missing from the house, we found in Raul's bedroom.
Excuse me.
Has he volunteered a motive? Yeah, Ashley was still in love with him.
She just didn't know it.
Yeah, and then her mother was an obstacle.
Raul believed that once the mother was out of the picture, Ashley would understand.
As for Mr.
Erwin, he didn't want to shoot him.
It's just that, as the old man waved at him as he drove up, Raul felt he had no choice.
Okay.
- I'll call D.
D.
A.
Hobbs.
- Yeah.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
On this? We don't need a deal.
- I disagree.
- May I ask why? How did Raul know the combination to the safe? How did he know there was a gun inside? Why did Peter Lewis buy a Vipertek? You need to let me finish my job here, chief.
- Excuse me.
- Oh, captain.
Chuck fired his weapon, so he's stuck with F.
I.
D.
for a while, - but he said he'd call you later.
- Thank you, Amy.
Detective Julio Sanchez.
I am so sorry to keep you waiting, but when the LAPD kills a suspect, we have tons of paperwork.
- Raul's dead? - Look, my sister's exhausted.
- She's still recovering from the - He's dead? Yes, ma'am, shot to death while resisting arrest.
- Oh, my god, Peter.
- The suspect isn't dead.
- What's going on? - It's all my fault.
- It's not your fault.
- I'm not sure.
You didn't do anything wrong.
Captain, has anyone read this girl her rights? I argued with mom about breaking up with Raul.
- Don't worry, Andrea.
- I defended him! I'm not gonna use her statement against her.
I got it wrong.
What did you get wrong? Ashley? It's okay.
You can tell us now.
Raul can never hurt you again.
Right.
Whatever else Raul did, Ashley, he's not coming back from the dead.
He called me and said that he knew who killed my mom, and he could prove it.
All I had to do was meet with him for five minutes.
So I I came downstairs from the hotel, and I I let him talk me into his car, and I had no idea.
Do we really have to put her through this right now? Yes, I'm afraid so, sir.
Ashley, you said you had no idea? You lied to us! You arrested the wrong people.
You acted like I was involved in the murder of my own mother.
And after all these these mistakes, I don't know if you're just stupid or trying to cover your asses or maybe shot Raul in the back.
- Or maybe you just don't care about us.
- Think I'll just, uh, stick my head in there for a second.
Leave it alone for a minute, lieutenant.
So, what is there left to figure out? None of you know Jack about what's going on here.
We're done helping you.
Sell your bullshit somewhere else and leave me and my sister alone.
Sir.
You've been read your rights.
Do you want an attorney? Or we could arrest you for obstruction of justice.
Up to you.
Or you can sit down and let your sister help us figure out why Raul killed your mother.
Unless you're afraid of something.
You afraid of something, Peter? No.
No, I'm Just get it over with.
So, Raul talked you into his car.
What did he say? He said that he that he killed my mother.
And that he had her money and jewelry, so we'd have something to live on while we're on the run.
And then he said that if I didn't come with him, that he'd that he'd kill Peter, too.
And anyone else that I cared about.
Until I slept with him.
How could he think that? What made him think that? Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
He was such a freak.
Is that true, Raul? Are you a freak? 'Cause Ashley says you are.
I really believed that she loved me.
I thought she loved me.
Well, she doesn't love you.
And as things stand, you'll probably go to prison for the rest of your life for two counts of first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping.
I didn't kidnap I didn't kidnap her.
Ashley made me pick her up tonight.
She wanted her half of the cash.
Ashley was in handcuffs.
I got those cuffs to put on her mother.
I wanted to make it look like the robberies we read about.
- When the old guy saw me - Well, if this girl involved her boyfriend in some kind of weird murder-for-hire of the mom, - we're gonna need proof of that.
- I left the handcuffs in the car.
Whose idea was it to kill Mrs.
Lewis? It was yours, Raul.
No, it was Ashley's.
But she just wanted to live her own life a little.
Her mom was so scared of something bad happening to her.
She was on top of her every second Every day, every night.
Ashley told me there was only one way we could be together, and - I didn't want to lose her.
- But you have.
You're going to prison.
And Ashley is gonna meet someone else.
Get married, have babies, get a job.
And you're gonna be making license plates and eating powdered eggs every morning for the rest of your life.
Unless you can somehow help us prove that Ashley was involved.
Did she leave part of her plan on a voicemail? No.
Did she load the gun that you found in the safe? No.
Did she help you get the duct tape or the handcuffs? No.
Okay.
Would it help if if she bought the roses? What'd you just say? Speak up! Would it help if she bought the roses? You didn't buy those roses yourself? I-I was supposed to.
It would help if we could prove she bought the roses.
I didn't have enough cash, so Ashley conned her mom out of the money.
Do you remember where Ashley bought those roses? A florist on, uh on Wilshire and Crescent Heights.
Wilshire and Crescent Heights.
On it.
Buzz, go with her and see if they have security cameras.
Yes, sir.
Look, none of this would have happened if Ashley's mom just let her live her own life.
I don't know, Raul.
I'm beginning to think that Mrs.
Lewis' concerns were justified.
She just wanted to live her own life a little, you know? But her mom was so scared that something bad was gonna happen, she was on top of her daughter every second day and night.
Lieutenant Cooper.
Just finishing up, yes.
You know, I've been thinking about it, and you're right.
It's time to let go of Rusty's undercover team.
No, I'm certain.
I thank you for your frankness.
I wonder.
Um, hey, lieutenant, uh, this this girl, the the one you you found in the in the trash last year, the one who called herself Alice, did you ever find out her name? No.
No, we I.
D.
'd her killer, which was our job.
But who who was Alice? Really? Well, maybe someday we'll find out.
Or maybe we won't.
Do you mind if I take that photo just to just to make a copy? No, help yourself.
- Raul lied to you! - Can and will be used against you in a court of law.
- He lied! I-I would never! - You have the right to an attorney.
This is help me, Peter! Help me! You can't do this! You're making a mistake! Where are you taking her? Let go! You're making another mistake! Your sister had her boyfriend kill your mother and your neighbor.
I think that you have done all you possibly could to protect her.
But she is too dangerous to be free.
I'm sorry.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Got a minute? - Mm.
I just wanted to say, regarding this whole Julio thing, you know I was looking after your best interests, right? Andy, I've been looking after my own best interests for a really long time, especially at work.
I don't need you for that.
Okay.
Sure.
I get it.
So What do you need me for? Close the door.
Let's talk.
Lieutenant Provenza.
Ah, Sykes.
Why the hell are we here? I mean, couldn't this just be a-a neighborhood dispute or a standard follow home? It could also be an escalation of the home invasions occurring almost every week in this part of town.
Well, if it isn't, we hand this off to Hollywood and then we leave.
I want Detective Oderno packed up and gone before Julio comes back.
Flynn, what the hell is that? It's the victim's pet.
His name is Nacho.
from a Mrs.
Lynn Reed.
That's her over there by the tree.
She says she saw this little guy running loose on the street.
Well, anyway, she brought him home - and then looked in the window.
- Ay, yi You think you could hand Nacho here off to someone and we could work the actual murder? Wh-where's the body? I'll take him.
Not the way we intended to begin your last day with Major Crimes, Oderno, but here we are.
Care to introduce me? Uh, yeah, Lieutenant Provenza, meet Gary David Erwin, age 71, widower living alone.
Accountant Just retired.
Friends say that next Monday, he was taking a trip to Italy.
Looks like he put off his departure a week too long.
Struggle all your life saving to retire.
You plan a little trip, and then some psycho freak breaks into your house and puts a bullet in your back.
Uh, three bullets, actually, lieutenant 9mm.
Okay, look, i-in these other home invasions, no one got shot.
So if this is connected, why the escalation? An excellent question.
Here's a few more, starting with the flowers.
- What flowers? - Exactly.
In every other case, our home invaders gained entry by pretending to deliver two dozen roses.
Ding-dong! When fleeing, they left the flowers behind.
Hard to pick up rose stems with your hands full of other people's stuff.
That's another discrepancy.
Mr.
Erwin's jewelry and his computer are still here.
As is his wallet, full of cash, which I found on the kitchen counter.
And in every other case, the person who opened the door was tased in the chest.
And Mr.
Erwin has no taser marks.
Nor was he left behind cuffed and gagged.
- Instead - He's dead.
Uh, sorry.
Sorry for the victim, but our work here is done.
- Excuse me? - Look.
If this murder is not related to the other home invasions, then it's not a major crime.
So we hand off poor Mr.
Erwin here to Hollywood, and we go back to the office before Julio gets there.
Oh my God! Help! Help, please! Please help me, please! I don't know what to do.
My mom, she's hurt! Please help me! - Please! - There might be suspects in the house.
- You two guys take the left side.
- Okay, okay, okay.
- It's gonna be okay.
- Hurry up! My mother! Help! My mother! You need to help her! Clear.
Clear.
Go go up.
House is clear! Okay.
Now it's a major crime.
Our second victim, Lisa Lewis, age 48, mother of two One blast from a taser, one gunshot to the head.
She was dead about two hours when her daughter Ashley came home from summer school this morning.
And, yes, she was at school Advance Placement courses for English.
Is there something new on Stroh? No, just unverified sightings in Cyprus and Crete.
So, no one saw anything this morning or heard gunshots? No, and I checked up and down the block.
- No security cameras, either.
- Thank you, Buzz.
She's 16, hmm? Anyone in her family to assume custody? Well, her father died of cancer two years ago.
Other than her brother, she only has a grandmother, who's on a European river cruise, and Ashley can't even tell us what river.
Oderno's gone to pick up Ashley's brother, Peter, from the gym where he works, unless you would rather I call children's services.
Look, th-this girl is going to be in therapy for the rest of her life.
A few more hours with us won't hurt.
How are we handling the brother? Well, initially we're only telling him about the murder of his neighbor across the street.
Um listen.
Since Oderno's already started this case, maybe we should re-think having Julio back today.
What? There's no need to re-think anything, Andy.
Oderno started on this case, and he should finish it out.
Yes, Mike? Uh, casings confirm Lisa Lewis and Gary Erwin were shot with the same gun.
Any hope of finding it? Hollywood's conducting an article search, but we have a bigger problem.
The LAPD may have had someone from these home invasions under surveillance.
- During the murders? - I don't know.
Tell Chief Taylor I would like a briefing.
Hi, you busy? Ashley's calm enough to talk, but I don't know for how long.
Oh, one second, Amy.
Is this important? Kind of.
Uh maybe.
Ye uh, you know what, I'll I'll wait.
I'll wait.
Okay.
Andy, if you could come with me? What the hell is wrong with you? I want to focus on catching the bad guy, not be worried the cop next to me is about to explode.
Hey, lieutenant, who's that girl in there? The daughter of a victim.
She came home from school to find her mother shot in the head.
Have you found the killer yet? Well, apparently we've had them under surveillance.
Wh-what's it to you? Um just my my My journalism professor rejected my story, and if I want to be considered for the paper next fall, I need to submit something new by tomorrow at 6:00 p.
m.
, so You cannot report anything that we're doing here.
Not without permission, in writing, from Chief Taylor.
Okay, fine, wow.
What did I do? Let's start with this morning.
Did anything unusual happen? Did you see your brother before you left for school? Uh, he was gone before I got up, but I I saw my mom.
Did you talk about anything? She asked me what I wanted for breakfast, and and I said cereal, so she made me oatmeal before she started getting ready for her clients.
And when does your mom normally leave for work? She doesn't.
She works from home Word processing for legal firms.
S-she designs their templates.
Anyone else working for your mom at your house? No, most of her project managers live in other cities.
Didn't she tell you that? Uh, Lieutenant Provenza, Lieutenant Tao, meet Peter Lewis.
Lives across the street from Mr.
Erwin.
But, uh, he didn't see anything unusual this morning.
I don't know why anyone would kill the poor old guy.
Hey, I'm not in any trouble, am I? No.
No, no, no, no, no.
Um, as a matter of fact, we're in trouble and could use your help.
My help? In what way? So, you didn't see anything abnormal this morning? What about last week? Anyone new show up to the house? New? Like who? For example, did you change maids or, uh, gardeners or anything like that? No, my brother takes care of the lawn, and w-we don't have any maids or anything like that.
Do you know what your mother kept in her safe? Um Her jewelry, money, a gun, our birth certificates.
What kind of gun? I'm not sure.
It wasn't hers.
It was It was my dad's.
And his wedding ring was in the safe.
It's gone.
It's all gone! Of course, I'm at the gym training people most of the day.
Not worth going home on breaks, so if any one came by I wouldn't, uh Pete! Pete! Oh, my god, Pete! - Oh, my god, Pete! - Hey.
- Oh, my god! - Ashley, what's the matter? They didn't tell you? Mom's dead, Pete.
Someone shot her.
She's dead.
Peter, I'm Captain Sharon Raydor.
My mom's dead and you didn't tell me?! Unfortunately, this morning during a robbery of your home A-a robbery? What? Your mother was shot and killed.
- I'm so sorry.
- We were We were just trying to find the right way to tell you.
What bullshit.
Where's my sister? Hey, Peter.
Pete! Welcome back, Julio.
Welcome back.
Follow the investigation as closely as you want, but, uh, restrict your story to the victim's family.
Okay, but if you arrest the killers before 4:00 or 5:00 p.
m.
tomorrow, I can report that, though, yeah? Maybe.
Captain.
Meet the newest credentialed journalist with the LAPD.
For the next 48 hours.
Oh, is that what you wanted to talk to me about? No, um c-can I steal you for a second? - Can I is that okay? - Sure.
Um Hi, I'm supposed to give this to you.
Hi, yes.
Thank you.
If you're already writing another one, they must have really liked your first story.
Oh, they didn't.
No, uh, wh-what I wanted to talk to you about was, um Look, just, Sharon, promise you won't get freaked out.
When have you ever seen me freaked out? All right, um Here it goes.
I-I think I think some guy's been following me around campus.
- Can you describe him? - I can do better than that.
I took a selfie with the guy in the background.
That's see, that's That's him right there.
The one in the blue.
I've I've noticed him several times now.
Can you e-mail me this photo? And I will make sure that we get an I.
D.
- On your possible stalker.
- Okay.
Wait, wait, wait, wait.
That's it? You're not gonna, like, try and put me in protective custody again? Oh, no No, not yet.
Um, seems pretty clear that Phillip Stroh is out of the country.
And he's never coming back.
- Captain? - E-mail me that photo.
Excuse us, kid.
Two days ago, we caught a lead on a person of interest possibly fencing merchandise from these home invasions in Colorado.
A Mr.
Jim Norton.
You have his DMV photo there.
Turns out, in addition to having great relationships with pawnshops in Denver, Mr.
Norton is also employed by the Remus Home Security Company here in L.
A.
As a patrol guard in Hollywood.
Allowing him to case homes carefully beforehand.
But instead of arresting Mr.
Norton, you put an undercover detail on him.
Is that it? Since our home invaders had never shot anyone before, I thought why not follow Mr.
Norton? See if he could introduce us to the rest of his gang.
And how'd that work out? Obviously not very well.
Look, I took a chance.
Just like you're taking a chance, captain, by insisting I make no personnel changes to your division.
May I remind you that Julio has served out his full five-month suspension without pay, and behavioral science says he has a grip on his temper.
- My own interactions with him have been fine.
- I know, I know.
I have followed Julio very closely, too, captain.
Why don't we talk about what needs to happen here, right now? I would like to put the Lewis children up in a hotel, at least until S.
I.
D.
finishes at the crime scene.
And I'd like Julio Sanchez confined to this building for at least the next two weeks.
Also, I need a briefing on how our surveillance failed so badly.
Okay, so, Jim Norton was here this morning.
He was parked three full miles away from your crime scene, casing the next house he intends to rob, and where we intended to arrest him.
Maybe Norton's the wrong guy.
Or maybe he figured out that you were following, and maybe led you in the opposite direction.
No, it's not possible.
My people are invisible.
Invisible.
Right.
Does Norton ever participate in the robbery? Well, he doesn't match the descriptions we have from our victims.
One white male, one latina female, both late 20s.
Average height, average weight, average everything.
No, unfortunately, these suspects aren't living with Norton or stopping by his residence.
And he's not communicating with them - through cellphone or e-mail accounts.
- Yeah, yeah.
But your report says here that you observed Norton filling up a van with computers, iPads When you have suspects under surveillance and they commit a crime, you're required by law to arrest them.
Loading up a van is not a crime.
Yeah, how could Cooper have known that stuff was stolen without breaking cover and taking it, sir? - He walked right up to the line.
- Yeah, but he didn't cross it.
And if Norton is casing another house, why shouldn't Cooper set up there and catch everyone in the act? The pattern is every two weeks.
Do we want these dirtbags on the street for another 14 days after they shot two people? - Should I just shut up? - Absolutely not.
Murder isn't part of the pattern, Andy.
Nor was killing people across the street.
Something bad happened this morning.
Maybe our home invaders are looking to do another robbery right away and close up shop.
- Mike may be right.
- Why do you say that? Jim Norton just left a florist carrying a vase and two dozen roses.
You don't buy roses two weeks - before you're going to deliver them, either.
- No, you don't.
This house Mr.
Norton was casing this morning, what's the address? Now, whatever you do, don't be defensive.
Right.
Can't let it look like I know I'm gonna be tased.
Of course, that's the part that has me most worried.
The vest won't protect you from the shock, but it'll keep the taser from leaving a mark.
Buzz, five minutes.
Thank you, Mission Control.
Detective Oderno, do we have picture? Crystal clear.
Good to go.
Lieutenant Tao, am I transmitting? We're good.
All right, my guys have Norton in their line of sight about two miles from here.
We are in position.
But not entirely invisible.
- Oh, damn.
- Mm-hmm.
Okay, well, in my defense, I trained Rusty how to spot somebody following him.
Look, I understand your concern, captain, but my people can't watch him forever.
It's not forever, lieutenant.
It's just till he's out of danger.
And when do mothers decide their children are out of danger? Rusty finds out what you're doing here, - he's not gonna be happy.
- I know.
I don't feel good about it, lieutenant.
But I I would feel even worse attending his funeral.
If you could just Picture and sound on all cameras.
Lieutenant Provenza, we go as planned.
Radio discipline begins now.
Uh, is something wrong? No.
I was just wondering why we never saw Mr.
Norton hand off his roses to anyone.
Hmm.
Flower delivery for Mrs.
Jennifer Wright.
- Oh, they're beautiful.
- There you go.
Just need a signature.
Oh.
Yeah, sure.
Get the windows! Get the windows! - LAPD! Drop your weapons! - No Don't move! Don't move! - LAPD! You're under arrest! - God! Keep your hands over your head! Now get down on your knees! Don't move! Don't move! Sykes? Sykes.
You okay? Yeah, I think so.
Have we met? That's my girl.
Captain, the suspects are in custody and alive, thanks to this bean-bag thing.
How is Amy? She's good.
She's very good.
Good job, everyone.
Lieutenant Cooper, if you could have your men pick up our security guard, Mr.
Norton? Buzz, if you could clear our equipment - out of this house and wrap this up? - Yes, ma'am.
If you give up that right, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
You have the right to an attorney.
If you cannot afford one, - one will be appointed for you - Don't worry, captain.
I'll find a new team to follow the kid on campus.
Thank you, lieutenant, and if I sounded brusque before, it's probably because I don't think I've slept through the night in months.
I get it.
Mr.
Beck? What the hell are you doing? All right, all right, don't worry.
Don't worry.
I have permission from Chief Taylor to write the story.
I'm so glad you caught the killers, because now I can turn in an exclusive.
You guys call for me? I heard on the radio you caught the people who killed my mother.
Wait, wait, wait.
This is already in the news? Cutthroat business.
Uh, Detective Sanchez, would you escort Peter here to the break room, please? Y-you asked me here! Well, we're missing some evidence that would put the suspects inside your house yesterday.
Search warrants are being served in their offices and their homes, and if we find anything in their possession that you can identify as having belonged - to your family - Sir, this way.
What bullshit.
Hey, hey, hey, you guys you guys knew how important this story was to me, and you released it to the press? Well, when we have incomplete information, sometimes the professional media helps us finish the story.
Didn't I say, "concentrate on the victim's family"? Your captain is where? Interview 2.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
How do I how do I, uh, start a conversation with a guy the day after his mother was murdered? Well, if I were you, I'd try lying.
Of course I'm a cop.
It's not just that all these houses were robbed in the areas that you patrol, Mr.
Norton, though that is an interesting coincidence.
Well, it proves those neighborhoods need private security companies, yeah? Our thieves used arrangements of two dozen roses to get their foot in the door of homes they were robbing.
And last night, we have video of you purchasing flowers from an area florist.
We it is not against the law to buy roses for someone.
For whom did you buy the roses, Mr.
Norton? Look, it Okay.
It it is a condition of my employment to cooperate with the police, okay? But but I also have a right to privacy in my personal life, too, okay? And and do not think that I am ignorant of the law, either.
I'm not, okay? I was pre-law in college.
So, besides the absence of stolen property in their possession, any other complications in charging these people with our murder? - So anything I say to you about the flowers - A few.
Well, the guy making entry - is totally voluntary.
- had a shotgun, not a 9mm.
- It is not an obligation.
- He killed two people with the other weapon - Please keep that in mind.
- So they dumped it.
- Okay? I want to help.
- They were still caught in the act.
- Help you.
The police.
- What can we charge Mr.
Norton with so far? Mm, felony floral arrangement.
And, again, I don't have to tell you this, but ultimately, the roses were for a sick friend.
Oh, but the sick friend never got the roses because they were left in the back of your patrol car, which brings us to yet another interesting coincidence.
Mm, the person driving the patrol car after you, Claudia, used these roses to gain entry in a home invasion this morning.
And the coincidences just go on.
Because the person with whom Claudia was arrested this morning Earl Davis You know Earl? He works for Remus Home Security, too.
Interesting guy, Earl Carries a shotgun.
Okay, I I'm I'm beginning to wonder if I need an attorney.
Oh, now there's another coincidence.
Because that is exactly what Claudia and Earl asked for when we arrested them A lawyer.
They're also married.
And since you were pre-law, Jim, perhaps you'll recall husbands and wives can't testify against one another.
So, if they make a deal, it feels as if it might be at your expense.
Do you want to take a second and think about what that means? Hi, excuse me.
Are, um Are you Peter Lewis? Yeah, that's me.
Why? Hi, uh Rusty Beck.
I-i-I'm I'm the son of the police captain investigating what happened at your house yesterday.
Uh, she thought that maybe publicizing these terrible murders I-i write for a college paper might might help solve the case.
Help? Help how? Um Do you mind if I record our conversation? Look, I-I'm sure it's it's not easy, but Talking about your mother humanizes this crime for people and might actually make someone come forward.
You want to know about my mom? Um Okay.
After my dad died, she lost her mind Felt like she had to take complete control over my life.
And when I'd finally had enough and dropped out of UCLA Business, she stopped talking to me.
Even though we lived in the same house, we didn't speak for months.
And this whole idea of someone tricking their way through the front door with roses? That's crazy.
Not only would she never answer the front door in her bathrobe, ever, nobody ever sent my mother roses but me.
On Mother's Day.
And that didn't happen this year.
And now it's never gonna happen again.
Okay, if you get me an attorney, I will tell you everything that you want to know if you can promise me a grand-theft beef served in county.
We do not plea double homicide down to grand theft.
Double homicide? What?! Peruse these pictures from the job you pulled yesterday, Mr.
Norton, and notice the dead bodies on the floor.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
We wha W-w-we didn't do this! Y-yesterday? No, no, no.
We don't rob houses two days in a row.
It's too risky.
- Does this sound like the wrong guy to you? - Look at the crime scene, Mr.
Norton.
He probably wouldn't just admit to murder right off the bat.
No, but he did just confess to all the home invasions.
Taser marks on the woman's chest.
The jewelry, it's missing.
Roses on the floor.
O-okay, b-but but she's not handcuffed.
Okay, or or gagged.
And and thi right here! Right here.
This this this this is not the vase that I buy, okay? You know what? You ask the guy at the flower shop.
That's not my vase.
They're also not his roses.
In his other home invasions, Norton's team brought hybrid tea roses.
Now, the ones we found at the Lewis house - were old garden roses.
- Once inside the house, the first thing our suspects did was close up all the blinds.
They did this with all their robberies.
Now, when we went to the Lewis house, all the blinds were open.
But the pattern Was Was out there, sir.
I saw it on the news, and we publicized it.
Advising people on everything from being wary of a woman delivering red roses to locking up jewelry.
Even mentions stun guns.
Uh, excuse me, but this might be important.
Looking over their finances, an itemized charge on a Visa card held by our victim's son, Peter Lewis, for a Vipertek.
Peter Lewis bought a stun gun.
Six weeks ago, yes.
Good work, Oderno.
Really, good work.
So, with regard to our suspects, the roses don't match, the vase doesn't match.
There was a stun gun on the premises, and the blinds weren't pulled.
The defense rests.
But if not Norton and company, someone framed them.
Where's Peter Lewis right now? He's in the break room with Rusty, ma'am.
- What?! - Damn it.
Well, you're the one who told Rusty that he should interview the victim's family.
My god, there is nowhere safe.
Nowhere! What about you? Your mom choose your major for you? No, um, my mom doesn't really try to boss me around or anything.
I'm pretty much my own guy.
Rusty, you need to get out of here right now.
Oh.
- Have you been recording this conversation? - Wha - I'll keep your phone.
- No, no, no, no, I have permission to do a story on the victim's family, Sharon.
We will talk later.
Julio.
Peter Lewis, you have the right to remain silent.
Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
- You have the right to an attorney.
- Oh, my god.
Out! I said out! If you cannot afford one, one will be appointed for you by the State.
Peter, I'm gonna make this quick.
Why did you buy a stun gun six weeks ago? B-because my sister's ex-boyfriend was stalking her.
She was scared to go out of the house by herself.
Where did your sister keep this stun gun? No, I mean she had it to begin with.
But but then she threatened Raul with it and he took it from her.
I need her ex-boyfriend's full name right now.
Raul, Raul Diaz.
And do you happen to know this Raul boy's address? Hey, Raul.
Is that you, brother? - Hey, man.
- Who is it? Hey, look, I'm Lieutenant Chuck Cooper from the LAPD.
I want to talk to you about the Oh, shit! Hey! Raul! Raul, stop! Stop! Freeze! Raul, stop! Stop! Help me! Help me, please! Help me! Please! - Ashley! Ashley, are you okay? - Please! - Sweetheart, are you okay? - No! - Come on, get up.
Get up.
- No, you have to listen! Okay, okay.
He was threatening to kill my brother like he did my mother! All right, get her out of here.
- Get her out of here, Flynn.
- Come on.
Go, go, go.
A-ha! Here's the Vipertek stun gun.
What kind of a deal do you offer a kid like this? Hopefully one that fits on his tombstone.
Captain.
Yeah, I think we may be able to wrap this up.
Home invasions, double homicide, kidnapping, and I didn't get to write a single word of any of it.
Do you think I could get my phone back now that the story's completely over? - It's not over.
- It is for me.
I'm hours past the deadline, and now I won't be considered for staffing the paper until November.
And I write ten times better than anyone there.
Maybe, but you still have a lot to learn about being a reporter.
Because there's a great story here, Rusty, - and you didn't even notice it.
- I noticed the story, Buzz.
I wasn't allowed to tell it.
But a good reporter knows how to take what's available and give it a new perspective.
And you don't have to wait for someone at college to say you're part of the media.
There are hundreds of ways to tell a good story these days.
Of course, first, you have to find it.
Raul confessed everything to Sykes and Oderno Um, both murders, robbery, kidnapping the girl.
And he was read his rights.
Yes, and he said, "I did it," before we even asked a question.
The gun we took from him was registered to Mrs.
Lewis' husband, and everything that was missing from the house, we found in Raul's bedroom.
Excuse me.
Has he volunteered a motive? Yeah, Ashley was still in love with him.
She just didn't know it.
Yeah, and then her mother was an obstacle.
Raul believed that once the mother was out of the picture, Ashley would understand.
As for Mr.
Erwin, he didn't want to shoot him.
It's just that, as the old man waved at him as he drove up, Raul felt he had no choice.
Okay.
- I'll call D.
D.
A.
Hobbs.
- Yeah.
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
On this? We don't need a deal.
- I disagree.
- May I ask why? How did Raul know the combination to the safe? How did he know there was a gun inside? Why did Peter Lewis buy a Vipertek? You need to let me finish my job here, chief.
- Excuse me.
- Oh, captain.
Chuck fired his weapon, so he's stuck with F.
I.
D.
for a while, - but he said he'd call you later.
- Thank you, Amy.
Detective Julio Sanchez.
I am so sorry to keep you waiting, but when the LAPD kills a suspect, we have tons of paperwork.
- Raul's dead? - Look, my sister's exhausted.
- She's still recovering from the - He's dead? Yes, ma'am, shot to death while resisting arrest.
- Oh, my god, Peter.
- The suspect isn't dead.
- What's going on? - It's all my fault.
- It's not your fault.
- I'm not sure.
You didn't do anything wrong.
Captain, has anyone read this girl her rights? I argued with mom about breaking up with Raul.
- Don't worry, Andrea.
- I defended him! I'm not gonna use her statement against her.
I got it wrong.
What did you get wrong? Ashley? It's okay.
You can tell us now.
Raul can never hurt you again.
Right.
Whatever else Raul did, Ashley, he's not coming back from the dead.
He called me and said that he knew who killed my mom, and he could prove it.
All I had to do was meet with him for five minutes.
So I I came downstairs from the hotel, and I I let him talk me into his car, and I had no idea.
Do we really have to put her through this right now? Yes, I'm afraid so, sir.
Ashley, you said you had no idea? You lied to us! You arrested the wrong people.
You acted like I was involved in the murder of my own mother.
And after all these these mistakes, I don't know if you're just stupid or trying to cover your asses or maybe shot Raul in the back.
- Or maybe you just don't care about us.
- Think I'll just, uh, stick my head in there for a second.
Leave it alone for a minute, lieutenant.
So, what is there left to figure out? None of you know Jack about what's going on here.
We're done helping you.
Sell your bullshit somewhere else and leave me and my sister alone.
Sir.
You've been read your rights.
Do you want an attorney? Or we could arrest you for obstruction of justice.
Up to you.
Or you can sit down and let your sister help us figure out why Raul killed your mother.
Unless you're afraid of something.
You afraid of something, Peter? No.
No, I'm Just get it over with.
So, Raul talked you into his car.
What did he say? He said that he that he killed my mother.
And that he had her money and jewelry, so we'd have something to live on while we're on the run.
And then he said that if I didn't come with him, that he'd that he'd kill Peter, too.
And anyone else that I cared about.
Until I slept with him.
How could he think that? What made him think that? Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
He was such a freak.
Is that true, Raul? Are you a freak? 'Cause Ashley says you are.
I really believed that she loved me.
I thought she loved me.
Well, she doesn't love you.
And as things stand, you'll probably go to prison for the rest of your life for two counts of first-degree murder and aggravated kidnapping.
I didn't kidnap I didn't kidnap her.
Ashley made me pick her up tonight.
She wanted her half of the cash.
Ashley was in handcuffs.
I got those cuffs to put on her mother.
I wanted to make it look like the robberies we read about.
- When the old guy saw me - Well, if this girl involved her boyfriend in some kind of weird murder-for-hire of the mom, - we're gonna need proof of that.
- I left the handcuffs in the car.
Whose idea was it to kill Mrs.
Lewis? It was yours, Raul.
No, it was Ashley's.
But she just wanted to live her own life a little.
Her mom was so scared of something bad happening to her.
She was on top of her every second Every day, every night.
Ashley told me there was only one way we could be together, and - I didn't want to lose her.
- But you have.
You're going to prison.
And Ashley is gonna meet someone else.
Get married, have babies, get a job.
And you're gonna be making license plates and eating powdered eggs every morning for the rest of your life.
Unless you can somehow help us prove that Ashley was involved.
Did she leave part of her plan on a voicemail? No.
Did she load the gun that you found in the safe? No.
Did she help you get the duct tape or the handcuffs? No.
Okay.
Would it help if if she bought the roses? What'd you just say? Speak up! Would it help if she bought the roses? You didn't buy those roses yourself? I-I was supposed to.
It would help if we could prove she bought the roses.
I didn't have enough cash, so Ashley conned her mom out of the money.
Do you remember where Ashley bought those roses? A florist on, uh on Wilshire and Crescent Heights.
Wilshire and Crescent Heights.
On it.
Buzz, go with her and see if they have security cameras.
Yes, sir.
Look, none of this would have happened if Ashley's mom just let her live her own life.
I don't know, Raul.
I'm beginning to think that Mrs.
Lewis' concerns were justified.
She just wanted to live her own life a little, you know? But her mom was so scared that something bad was gonna happen, she was on top of her daughter every second day and night.
Lieutenant Cooper.
Just finishing up, yes.
You know, I've been thinking about it, and you're right.
It's time to let go of Rusty's undercover team.
No, I'm certain.
I thank you for your frankness.
I wonder.
Um, hey, lieutenant, uh, this this girl, the the one you you found in the in the trash last year, the one who called herself Alice, did you ever find out her name? No.
No, we I.
D.
'd her killer, which was our job.
But who who was Alice? Really? Well, maybe someday we'll find out.
Or maybe we won't.
Do you mind if I take that photo just to just to make a copy? No, help yourself.
- Raul lied to you! - Can and will be used against you in a court of law.
- He lied! I-I would never! - You have the right to an attorney.
This is help me, Peter! Help me! You can't do this! You're making a mistake! Where are you taking her? Let go! You're making another mistake! Your sister had her boyfriend kill your mother and your neighbor.
I think that you have done all you possibly could to protect her.
But she is too dangerous to be free.
I'm sorry.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- Got a minute? - Mm.
I just wanted to say, regarding this whole Julio thing, you know I was looking after your best interests, right? Andy, I've been looking after my own best interests for a really long time, especially at work.
I don't need you for that.
Okay.
Sure.
I get it.
So What do you need me for? Close the door.
Let's talk.