Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) s06e18 Episode Script
Silencer
In New York City's war on crime, the worst criminal offenders are pursued by the detectives of the Major Case Squad.
These are their stories.
As an expert in cochlear implant surgery, should that surgery have been performed on this baby? No.
The baby's hearing would have never been restored, and the operation led directly to the post-surgical complication of meningitis, which killed the patient.
- Objection, your honor! - You son of a bitch! I recommended you for your fellowship, sir! This child was predisposed for its meningitis.
/ Order! Order! We the deaf do not want to hear the noise of their world.
In our deaf world, we find our peace and our power.
If you cannot understand this, then go.
Deaf power! Deaf power! Deaf power! Our playwright Larry Forseca.
Hello? I am deaf.
I cannot hear you.
There's been a murder.
Come help! Help! Law & Order CI Dr.
Jack Mallory, ear surgeon.
A deaf patient called it in.
She's in the exam room.
Your partner signs? Well, not enough for a witness interview.
We called for an interpreter.
Well, the doctor's girlfriend's on the way.
- She's a Manhattan ADA.
- Yeah.
Hey.
For the st.
Patrick's day parade, the co-ops board up all their windows.
It's a smart time to kill somebody.
Yeah, except, judging by the rigor, this guy was killed last night.
Friday night in his office.
He has no appointments in his book.
No sign of a break-in.
He must have buzzed his killer in.
A robbery? Uh, it looks like yeah.
The cabinet was broken into.
I got painkillers.
Well, I can't find any prescription pads.
Somebody cleaned him out.
That spatter what's that gunk? Oh, it looks like, uh yeah, it's potato.
It's an Irish silencer.
Urban lore.
It's not very effective.
A silencer, boarded-up windows.
It was a pretty quiet murder.
Except the killer shot the surgeon in the hand.
And let him live long enough so it would swell up.
Maybe the doctor resisted? Maybe he tortured him to find out where the drugs were? That makes sense.
This bruise on his neck.
His, uh, larynx was crushed.
His voice box.
Once that was done, Mallory wouldn't have been able to say a word.
Detective Eames? Yeah.
Detective Peter Lyons, community affairs.
You need an interpreter? What time did you get here, Malia? I got here at 9 A.
M.
The door was open, and Dr.
Mallory was on the floor.
Jack doesn't see patients on Saturdays.
What were you doing here? Uh Counselor, you're the doctor's girlfriend? Fiancee.
Claudia Shankly, Manhattan DA's office.
Okay, can, uh, I speak to you outside? The drug cabinet was broken into? This must've been a robbery.
There's no sign of forced entry.
Do you know what your fiance was doing here last night? We both work late on Fridays, then we have the weekends to ourselves.
That deaf woman, did you check her for gunshot residue? And how many people are you letting trample through the crime scene? Just step back in here, please.
Yes, Mr.
Branch, we've alerted area pharmacies.
They're keeping an eye out for Mallory's prescription pads.
I understand.
We're doing everything we can, sir.
Thank you.
Obviously, on this case, we're gonna be getting a lot of assistance from the DA's office.
Did Mr.
Branch confirm his DA's alibi? She was downtown catching cases till 2 A.
M.
This, uh, Dr.
Mallory.
What did he do? Cochlear implants.
That's a bionic ear? According to Peter, the NYPD interpreter, it's very complicated inner-ear surgery.
They implant electrodes to stimulate auditory nerves, then intensive therapy.
It's no magic bullet.
So most of his patients are deaf? The DA wanted to be sure you took a look at the patient list.
We did.
And it ranges from pro bono infants to fat cats going deaf from too much oxycodone.
No one has a record.
His financials look clean? As far as we can tell, he's a well-respected, upstanding member of the community.
Who I'm betting kept a lot of painkillers in his office.
One of Mallory's scrips turned up at a Wall street pharmacy.
Stealing prescription pads.
Jared, you're a Wall street guy.
Can't you afford a Dr.
Feelgood when you need to feel good? It's not stolen.
I got it from Dr.
Mallory.
Two points for memory.
And why did you see Dr.
Mallory? Back pain.
I injured it playing squash.
Wasn't Dr.
Mallory an ear doctor, Eames? Stop.
I'll pay the fine, okay? A fine.
No, this isn't about a fine.
Dr.
Mallory was murdered.
You can't think I did that.
We can't? Where were you Friday night? Before st.
Patrick's day? I was, uh, I was out drinking with my investment team.
- We started early.
- When did you get the scrip? Uh, this morning.
From Antonio, mayor of the coffee shop on 24th and 3rd.
Are you Antonio? Who are you? I'm Jared's friend.
Look, I ran out of Vicodin.
I need to get a couple pills.
My doctor's out of town.
My, my back is killing me.
Can I get one or two till the morning from you? You want to borrow them? You knew better than that.
You might own your own for 50 bucks.
How's 40? I'll take that, Antonio.
You're under arrest.
Stand up.
You're gonna have to help me.
My chair's over there.
I swear, I found them on the sidewalk.
Look at my record.
I'm a career junkie.
I can come up with a better story than that.
You see these pills? They belong to the doctor that was murdered.
Now, Antonio, we're gonna ask you again.
How did you get his prescription pads? I'm telling you, I found them.
I did, outside a doctor's office.
Fifth avenue, uptown? That's not my route.
Route? Yeah, I do more than push pills.
I got a side line.
I surf lab boxes.
The pickup boxes outside doctors' offices? Yeah, those.
I take the samples and sell them to people who need clean urine and blood.
- What neighborhood? - Murray hill.
I found the drugs and the scrips outside a doctor's office.
You remember the doctor's name? No.
next to some ice cream place.
You have a junkie in custody who was in possession of one of Jack's prescription pads, and he hasn't been charged? He's in a wheelchair.
He wouldn't have been able to navigate the stairs up to Dr.
Mallory's office.
Then someone gave them to him.
He knows who the killer is.
He doesn't.
He's a junkie.
He would've sold somebody out if he could have.
Look, we're gonna check out his story now.
What about Jack's patients? One of them must have had a drug problem.
He had no other appointments Friday other than lunch with you.
Did he say where he was going afterwards? Um, he was testifying in some malpractice case.
Against another doctor? Yeah.
Do you have his name? I told them to clear the sidewalk.
Their ringleader says they want to be arrested.
- I called their dean.
- Double glass doors.
And an ice cream place next door.
I didn't know Major case covered unlawful assembly.
We didn't know this was going on.
The doctor they're protesting, Dr.
Strauss, Mallory testified against him last Friday.
Eames? This box is too high for Antonio to reach.
Look what we got here.
Another prescription pad.
Dr.
Jack Mallory in Dr.
Strauss' box.
Dean Price, your students are paranoid, aggressive.
I'm a target.
My family lives upstairs.
Why haven't you arrested these people? These people? The deaf are a community whose voice is not heard, Dr.
Strauss.
Now that they've expressed themselves, they will leave if you agree not to press charges.
Just make sure they don't come back.
Thank you, dean Price.
We'll take over.
This is harassment.
They're interfering in my place of business.
They're intimidating my family, my patients.
This isn't the first time you've been picketed? No.
I've had hang-ups.
They follow me home.
- Any vandalism? - Yeah.
A couple of the sample boxes out front have been broken into.
Oh, you think the protesters are responsible.
Who else? It's part of their plan to harass ear surgeons.
'cause you perform implants? Exactly.
They believe we're responsible for a cultural holocaust just because we restore hearing.
It's not because of that malpractice suit that you're involved in? I can't comment on ongoing litigation.
Didn't Dr.
Mallory testify against you in that case? Jack and I have had our professional disagreements.
He's not above catering to the deaf community.
But now with Mallory gone, your lawyer can claim that you lost the right to cross-examine.
His murder is a tragedy.
The only people who profit from it are these lunatics.
Like the one who broke into your lab box? - You know who did it? - Yes, and he's not deaf.
He told us when he raided your sample boxes, he found drugs and Dr.
Mallory's prescription pads.
That's ridiculous.
Well, we found one too.
Come on, detective, why would I put them outside my own front door? You tell us.
And tell us where you were Friday night.
I was at a medical conference in Atlantic city all weekend.
These students, they really hate this guy.
Strauss says they hate all cochlear implant doctors, including Mallory.
He's overstating it.
Look, the implant was a lightning rod in the '90s.
It implied that a deaf person needed to be fixed.
But with email, video conferencing, the community has more access into the hearing world.
The implant just becomes another option.
Couldn't Dr.
Mallory have been killed by a deaf activist? Wasn't there evidence that the killer was overly worried about being heard? He might have been.
Or someone like Strauss could've been trying to throw suspicion on the deaf community.
Just what we were wondering.
Which is why we're about to check Strauss' alibi.
Strauss was the conference keynote speaker on Saturday morning, and he missed his speech? He also missed the meet and greet Friday night.
According to the conference planner, he spent Saturday holed up in his room, partying with the minibar.
He might have been embarrassed about his malpractice suit.
Or he may have needed to self-medicate after killing Mallory.
Well, this won't help his cause.
Strauss: permit for GLOCK 9MM The same make that killed Mallory.
Bring him in.
Uh, Friday night after court adjourned, my lawyer and I had a strategy dinner.
I left for Atlantic city around 9, right? Counselor, you were with Dr.
Strauss until he left for Atlantic city? Careful what you say, 'cause we know when he checked in.
My client is not a killer, but he does suffer from painkiller addiction.
Which has only gotten worse because of the stress of the trial.
He is going into rehab.
So is everyone else.
Did you see him off to AC? Not exactly.
We finished dinner around 8, and then I went home.
That's strange.
Your hotel said you checked in at 3 A.
M.
You want to explain that gap? I can't, really.
I, uh I had a few drinks, took some pills, and I woke up in Atlantic city.
You drove drunk? Don't answer that.
- We're done here.
- I used a car service.
You can check my credit card.
We can do that.
One more thing.
You own a 9-millimeter Glock, don't you? Yes, detective, and I have a permit for it.
All right, we're gonna need to check the gun too.
That was his car service.
They say Strauss didn't get picked up till 1 A.
M.
Which would have given him more than enough time to kill Mallory.
What the hell was he doing up there? "Morningside heights rifle and pistol range.
" He only hit his target twice.
Dr.
Strauss was having an off night? He's not a marksman to begin with.
Add booze, and he completely loses his edge.
You let a drunk man shoot a gun? As soon as we realized, I took it away.
Had to wait till he stopped to reload, confiscated his weapon, vouchered it.
- Under a lock and key? - Absolutely.
Anyone else touch it? No one's touched it till you.
And so Strauss, how did he react? Uh, belligerent? Arrogant at first.
Said he'd sue us, then he cried.
We babysat him till his car service came.
Took forever, around 1.
- You sure about the time? - Yeah, I'm sure.
It was after closing.
Instead of tipping me, he cursed me.
Thanks.
If this gun was under lock and key Friday night, then the gun that killed Mallory is still out there.
Three shots.
I found a slug in the couch.
How's the dean? Stable.
The bullet grazed her neck.
Another inch, it would have hit her carotid.
She didn't see her shooter.
This is an attempted political assassination.
He's trying to kill my wife.
This is professor Price, the dean's husband.
- You think you know who did this? - I do know, Larry Forseca.
He's the deaf playwright in residence.
Ever since he's arrived, he's waged a campaign against my wife, trying to eject her from the tribe.
But your wife's deaf.
Not deaf enough for Larry and the radical deaf community.
Because she's married to you, a hearing man? Larry's a separatist.
Unlike my wife, who believes in inclusion.
Larry's been actively trying to force her out as dean so he can take over the department.
Academic infighting is one thing, but attempted murder That's my wife's office.
That's Larry's theater building.
Connect the dots.
Easy access to the theater.
Perfect eyeline to the dean's window.
And another potato silencer.
I guess the shooter doesn't know they don't work.
Lots of cigarettes.
Menthols.
Larry's a playwright.
He wouldn't be the first writer who smokes.
- Any luck? - Nah.
All I could get out of them is Larry left an hour ago.
No one here is gonna give us any more than that.
They know what the dean's husband thinks of Larry, so they're closing ranks.
Is that Malia? She's a patient of Mallory's, and an actress in Larry's play? From what I understand, she's the star.
I don't know where Larry is.
Malia, you're the only person who's been at the scene of both shootings.
Do yourself a favor, don't lie to us.
Last time I saw Larry, he left to do rewrites.
We fought.
About his play? He took something from a private conversation.
I was angry.
He had a scene where my character was considering an implant.
Were you? That's why you were seeing Dr.
Mallory.
Larry knew about the implant.
You two fought in front of everyone? No, Larry thought I was making him look bad.
So we took it to the theater lounge.
This is the last place I saw him.
I never should have told Larry about the implant.
Do you know who these cigarettes might belong to? Larry, he smokes like crazy.
Sorry, I've got to go to rehearsal.
Same cigarettes that are on the roof.
Menthols.
A staircase.
From here to the roof, a straight shot.
So Larry the deaf playwright finds out that the beautiful star of his play is going for a cochlear implant, so he shoots her surgeon, once in the hand and once in the chest.
What's that got to do with the dean Price shooting? Same make of gun in both shootings, same potato silencer.
Any motive? We have hate emails from Larry to Sondra Price, and her husband says he's threatened her.
Anything concrete to link Larry to the crime? We have cigarette butts we found on the rooftop that match Larry's brand.
We're waiting for DNA.
And you haven't been able to track Larry down.
What do we know about this guy? Well, he feels that deaf culture is under assault.
The villain in his last play is an administrator, modeled on dean Price.
He resents the notion the deaf need to assimilate.
Okay, a lot of playwrights are angry.
That doesn't make Larry a killer.
Well, he's a guru.
Maybe if he thinks we're gonna give him a platform, he'll talk.
Peter said there's a deaf social tonight at a skating rink.
He thinks Larry might show.
The entire deaf studies department is here except Larry.
No one's seen him tonight.
That kid.
He was picketing Strauss' office.
He an actor too? No, he's Malia's boyfriend.
Tommy Kellerman.
What did he just say to you? He called me a traitor.
The deaf are gonna rally around their own at a time like this.
For people trying to bridge both worlds, like me, they use it as a litmus test.
And I'm failing.
They're fighting.
You gotta help me out.
I can't make out what they're saying.
I'm not comfortable eavesdropping.
They know that we're here.
They have no reasonable expectation of privacy.
- Please.
- It's a private event.
In a public place.
Please, Eames! Don't put me in the middle.
Now their gestures again, bigger.
It's like they're shouting.
You've got to tell me what they're saying.
Look, I know that he's talking about Larry.
- Yeah.
- Yeah? He's telling her to be careful of what she tells the police.
/ Okay.
- And that we'll try to frame Larry.
- All right.
She's saying that there's no way that Larry shot Dr.
Mallory or dean Price.
That he's an activist, not a murderer.
Now they they know that we're talking about them, so they're hiding their hands.
They can read lips and body language, detective.
Yeah, yeah, I know, I know.
It's a public place.
We have no reasonable expectation of privacy.
Ballistics are in.
It was the same gun in both shootings.
The DNA on the cigarettes from the roof is a positive match to the cigarettes in the theater lounge.
All right, look, I'm gonna call the DA, Make sure they know we want to arrest Larry.
They made up quickly.
Well, they kind of have to in their world.
You know, it's not just about the signing.
It's about the cocoon.
You want to be all wrapped up and safe inside.
Not shut out.
My parents are both deaf.
They used to call home our own little Eden.
Detective.
Larry agreed to turn himself in.
Claims he was on a writing binge.
Told Peter he didn't know we were looking for him.
Larry, there's a lot of people pointing their finger at you.
He's asking if I'm deaf.
All right.
No, my parents are deaf.
- That's not good enough.
- Meaning? Get me a deaf cop.
A deaf cop? Get me a jury of my peers.
Get me a deaf judge.
Then I'll participate in your system.
Until then, there's no justice for me.
Yeah, uh Can you give us a minute? He wants a deaf cop.
There are no deaf cops.
Beautiful.
If you found my DNA at a crime scene, I guess I'd try that too.
Well, he's not trying to get out of this.
He's trying to prolong it.
He's found the way to become a martyr for his cause.
Detective, you can't be falling for this.
He's clearly a violent man.
He's dramatic.
That doesn't mean he's guilty.
Captain, he leaves his cigarette butts everywhere in that theater.
Anyone could have planted them.
Just 'cause he's deaf doesn't mean he's not a murderer.
I understand your loss, counselor, but this is still a circumstantial case.
What are they saying now? I'm purposely turning away.
- You're what? - He's talking to his lawyer.
In plain view.
And could be confessing to murder.
He know that we can see him.
He's posturing for us.
It's illegal for me to tell you that.
Captain, we are allowed to read body language.
Captain, talk to your detective.
My detectives know that Major case is not in the habit of violating attorney/client privilege.
You're really not going to help? Absolutely not.
Well, cops aren't the only ones that stick together.
So do DAs.
Counselor, a word.
Your DA thinks she can bully deaf people.
That they don't know their rights.
She is not my DA.
And her fiance was killed.
Then she shouldn't be in the room.
What's going on? Are you upset with her, or are you upset that the killer might be deaf? Look, Alexandra, most of what I do is outreach.
I'm more comfortable interpreting for the community than interrogating it.
You helped us at the rink.
Well, there your partner was right.
That's a public place.
This is completely different.
Shankly was out of line, but there is still a murderer out there targeting people who educate and care for the deaf.
Are you comfortable with that? Captain.
We've put Larry in holding.
ADA Shankly has agreed to take a step back.
And, detective, I need a favor.
We're just getting news footage of a deaf rights protest at Foley square.
Those protestors are performing for the news cameras.
They've waived their right to privacy.
Okay.
I'll go up.
Sorry if I interrupted.
Oh, you didn't.
He seems like a decent guy.
Yeah, he does.
There, that's the sign for "Larry.
" And that's "innocent.
" And I can't catch it all 'cause they're moving around so much.
There, her friend's saying, "how do you know?" Malia just said she was with Larry the whole night.
The night Mallory was murdered? Yes.
Then she just alibied him.
Oh, uh, what about that part? Malia doesn't want her boyfriend Tommy to know.
She's mad.
Yeah, I got that.
Larry's gonna be so pissed at me.
About giving him an alibi? He'll get over it.
Where were you two? After the cast party, we went for coffee.
We talked all night.
About the implant? Yes.
How late? He walked me home about dawn.
You two were at a coffee shop from 10 P.
M to 6 A.
M.
? We went to his place, but we just talked.
How'd your boyfriend feel about that? Tommy doesn't know.
He was with Deedee, his cousin.
There was a party for her new baby.
Please don't tell him about Larry.
You're telling us that Larry couldn't have killed Dr.
Mallory 'cause you and Larry were together all night long talking? Can anyone confirm this? Then Tommy is gonna need to confirm that you were not with him.
I wasn't.
Please don't tell Tommy.
It will only make him worry.
All right, look, here's the problem.
You're telling us not to speak to Tommy.
Larry won't talk to us.
Your alibi doesn't make Larry look innocent.
It makes you look guilty.
What? Mallory knew his killer.
He buzzed him in.
Or her.
If you spent the night with Larry, how do we know that you didn't set Dr.
Mallory up so Larry could shoot him? Hold on.
Slow down, slow down.
I don't, I can't what is she saying? She's freaked out.
She's saying she would never hurt Dr.
Mallory.
Um, something's wrong with our communication.
She thinks we're misunderstanding her.
She's asking if she should get a lawyer.
All right, we'll take a break.
So do we think she's made up her night with Larry story to give him an alibi? Maybe.
- She puts him on a pedestal.
- They all do.
Nobody who was at that cast party will speak to us.
And Larry, over in holding, has his hands tied behind his back, so to speak.
Okay, let's hold Malia as a witness.
She claims Tommy was with his cousin the night of Mallory's murder.
Go lean on the cousin.
If she thinks Tommy's getting dragged into a homicide investigation, she might give us something.
Tommy told me you're trying to frame Larry.
He doesn't want me talking to you.
Deedee, Larry has so much influence over his students, they're willing to go down for his cause.
If your cousin is not involved in this murder, he needs to cooperate.
He's scared.
When he found out you were holding his friend, he ran away.
I don't know where he is.
Well, then, maybe you can help us? Do you know where Tommy was Friday night? Oh, he was with me.
We had a baby-naming ceremony for Flavia.
She's beautiful.
She's perfect.
Perfect, you mean, uh she was born deaf? You must celebrate that in your community.
It's a blessing.
A hearing baby is a time bomb waiting to go off.
They always leave.
Tommy went through that with his sister.
I don't wish that on anyone.
Tommy has a sister? Yes.
Um she was born hearing.
Tommy adored her.
But then she went away to college, and never came back.
She was 17, he was 12.
He was so alone until Malia came into his life.
Malia, they seem very close.
She must have come with Tommy on Friday night to see your baby.
Oh, she couldn't, it was her opening night.
Um, Tommy went to the cast party, and he didn't get to my place until about 10.
Malia never came.
- Okay, thank you.
- Thanks.
She may have just alibied her cousin, but she hung Malia out to dry.
I know Larry's happy to martyr himself, but I wonder if he's willing to take Malia down with him.
Can we have an emergency contact? I'm not answering any questions.
And I'm not eating.
I'm on a hunger strike.
Okay, you're not gonna help yourself.
But you should know we're about to arrest Malia.
Malia? - Leave her out of this! - We'd like to.
But she claims she was with you Friday night, which makes her at least an accessory.
She wasn't with me.
She's lying.
She left around 10.
Tell Malia I don't need her help.
Or yours.
- Anything? - No.
So no murder weapon, no witnesses, shaky motive.
And contradictory alibis.
Tommy's cousin alibies Tommy, but not Malia.
Malia alibies Larry, but Larry rejects her alibi.
It's possible the three of them are in this together.
There is one way we can break into their world.
Bring Tommy and Malia in together, pull them apart.
Yeah.
That's crazy.
Malia didn't kill Dr.
Mallory.
Why would she? We think Dr.
Mallory told her he couldn't do the implant.
No, he didn't.
He said I was a good candidate.
It was all set.
Is that right, Tommy? Did he say that? Tommy wasn't there.
You weren't? Big decision like that, and you didn't go with your girlfriend? Look, it wasn't Malia, it was Larry.
Everyone knew how he hated those doctors and the dean.
That's strange, 'cause Malia told us that she was with Larry the night that Dr.
Mallory was killed.
She was covering for him.
She was with me.
Visiting your cousin's baby? Well, the thing is, your cousin said Malia wasn't there.
Maybe I'm confused.
We were surprised that Malia didn't visit the baby.
A big event like that, bringing a deaf child into the community Malia told us she was up all night with Larry.
Talking.
That's right.
Talking about her implant.
He disapproved of it.
How did you feel? It's her life, I was okay with it.
You weren't afraid that once Malia got her hearing that she would abandon you? Of course not.
Even though your hearing sister abandoned you the first chance she got? Tommy doesn't have a sister.
Yes, he does.
His cousin told us.
Tommy, why didn't you tell me? I didn't tell you 'cause she's dead to me.
She's not one of us.
'cause she's hearing? Like Malia would be once she got her implant? She's saying that he didn't need to be concerned, that she never was gonna leave him.
I know what she said.
You didn't want Malia to get the implant.
Why would you? You didn't think she needed to be fixed, did you? Of course not, she's perfect.
And you thought Dr.
Mallory was destroying all of that, didn't you? He had no right to ruin our lives! Tommy, what did you do? I did it for us.
So we could be together forever! In our world, not theirs.
You killed him? I didn't mean to.
I just shot his hand so he couldn't perform the surgery.
But then he was yelling, and someone was gonna hear.
I had to stop him.
You stomped on his throat.
He was screaming, his mouth was open.
But he didn't make a sound.
You knocked out his voice box.
You didn't have to kill him.
Tommy you know you weren't gonna lose me.
I love you.
Uh, cuff, cuff him in the front so he can talk.
These are their stories.
As an expert in cochlear implant surgery, should that surgery have been performed on this baby? No.
The baby's hearing would have never been restored, and the operation led directly to the post-surgical complication of meningitis, which killed the patient.
- Objection, your honor! - You son of a bitch! I recommended you for your fellowship, sir! This child was predisposed for its meningitis.
/ Order! Order! We the deaf do not want to hear the noise of their world.
In our deaf world, we find our peace and our power.
If you cannot understand this, then go.
Deaf power! Deaf power! Deaf power! Our playwright Larry Forseca.
Hello? I am deaf.
I cannot hear you.
There's been a murder.
Come help! Help! Law & Order CI Dr.
Jack Mallory, ear surgeon.
A deaf patient called it in.
She's in the exam room.
Your partner signs? Well, not enough for a witness interview.
We called for an interpreter.
Well, the doctor's girlfriend's on the way.
- She's a Manhattan ADA.
- Yeah.
Hey.
For the st.
Patrick's day parade, the co-ops board up all their windows.
It's a smart time to kill somebody.
Yeah, except, judging by the rigor, this guy was killed last night.
Friday night in his office.
He has no appointments in his book.
No sign of a break-in.
He must have buzzed his killer in.
A robbery? Uh, it looks like yeah.
The cabinet was broken into.
I got painkillers.
Well, I can't find any prescription pads.
Somebody cleaned him out.
That spatter what's that gunk? Oh, it looks like, uh yeah, it's potato.
It's an Irish silencer.
Urban lore.
It's not very effective.
A silencer, boarded-up windows.
It was a pretty quiet murder.
Except the killer shot the surgeon in the hand.
And let him live long enough so it would swell up.
Maybe the doctor resisted? Maybe he tortured him to find out where the drugs were? That makes sense.
This bruise on his neck.
His, uh, larynx was crushed.
His voice box.
Once that was done, Mallory wouldn't have been able to say a word.
Detective Eames? Yeah.
Detective Peter Lyons, community affairs.
You need an interpreter? What time did you get here, Malia? I got here at 9 A.
M.
The door was open, and Dr.
Mallory was on the floor.
Jack doesn't see patients on Saturdays.
What were you doing here? Uh Counselor, you're the doctor's girlfriend? Fiancee.
Claudia Shankly, Manhattan DA's office.
Okay, can, uh, I speak to you outside? The drug cabinet was broken into? This must've been a robbery.
There's no sign of forced entry.
Do you know what your fiance was doing here last night? We both work late on Fridays, then we have the weekends to ourselves.
That deaf woman, did you check her for gunshot residue? And how many people are you letting trample through the crime scene? Just step back in here, please.
Yes, Mr.
Branch, we've alerted area pharmacies.
They're keeping an eye out for Mallory's prescription pads.
I understand.
We're doing everything we can, sir.
Thank you.
Obviously, on this case, we're gonna be getting a lot of assistance from the DA's office.
Did Mr.
Branch confirm his DA's alibi? She was downtown catching cases till 2 A.
M.
This, uh, Dr.
Mallory.
What did he do? Cochlear implants.
That's a bionic ear? According to Peter, the NYPD interpreter, it's very complicated inner-ear surgery.
They implant electrodes to stimulate auditory nerves, then intensive therapy.
It's no magic bullet.
So most of his patients are deaf? The DA wanted to be sure you took a look at the patient list.
We did.
And it ranges from pro bono infants to fat cats going deaf from too much oxycodone.
No one has a record.
His financials look clean? As far as we can tell, he's a well-respected, upstanding member of the community.
Who I'm betting kept a lot of painkillers in his office.
One of Mallory's scrips turned up at a Wall street pharmacy.
Stealing prescription pads.
Jared, you're a Wall street guy.
Can't you afford a Dr.
Feelgood when you need to feel good? It's not stolen.
I got it from Dr.
Mallory.
Two points for memory.
And why did you see Dr.
Mallory? Back pain.
I injured it playing squash.
Wasn't Dr.
Mallory an ear doctor, Eames? Stop.
I'll pay the fine, okay? A fine.
No, this isn't about a fine.
Dr.
Mallory was murdered.
You can't think I did that.
We can't? Where were you Friday night? Before st.
Patrick's day? I was, uh, I was out drinking with my investment team.
- We started early.
- When did you get the scrip? Uh, this morning.
From Antonio, mayor of the coffee shop on 24th and 3rd.
Are you Antonio? Who are you? I'm Jared's friend.
Look, I ran out of Vicodin.
I need to get a couple pills.
My doctor's out of town.
My, my back is killing me.
Can I get one or two till the morning from you? You want to borrow them? You knew better than that.
You might own your own for 50 bucks.
How's 40? I'll take that, Antonio.
You're under arrest.
Stand up.
You're gonna have to help me.
My chair's over there.
I swear, I found them on the sidewalk.
Look at my record.
I'm a career junkie.
I can come up with a better story than that.
You see these pills? They belong to the doctor that was murdered.
Now, Antonio, we're gonna ask you again.
How did you get his prescription pads? I'm telling you, I found them.
I did, outside a doctor's office.
Fifth avenue, uptown? That's not my route.
Route? Yeah, I do more than push pills.
I got a side line.
I surf lab boxes.
The pickup boxes outside doctors' offices? Yeah, those.
I take the samples and sell them to people who need clean urine and blood.
- What neighborhood? - Murray hill.
I found the drugs and the scrips outside a doctor's office.
You remember the doctor's name? No.
next to some ice cream place.
You have a junkie in custody who was in possession of one of Jack's prescription pads, and he hasn't been charged? He's in a wheelchair.
He wouldn't have been able to navigate the stairs up to Dr.
Mallory's office.
Then someone gave them to him.
He knows who the killer is.
He doesn't.
He's a junkie.
He would've sold somebody out if he could have.
Look, we're gonna check out his story now.
What about Jack's patients? One of them must have had a drug problem.
He had no other appointments Friday other than lunch with you.
Did he say where he was going afterwards? Um, he was testifying in some malpractice case.
Against another doctor? Yeah.
Do you have his name? I told them to clear the sidewalk.
Their ringleader says they want to be arrested.
- I called their dean.
- Double glass doors.
And an ice cream place next door.
I didn't know Major case covered unlawful assembly.
We didn't know this was going on.
The doctor they're protesting, Dr.
Strauss, Mallory testified against him last Friday.
Eames? This box is too high for Antonio to reach.
Look what we got here.
Another prescription pad.
Dr.
Jack Mallory in Dr.
Strauss' box.
Dean Price, your students are paranoid, aggressive.
I'm a target.
My family lives upstairs.
Why haven't you arrested these people? These people? The deaf are a community whose voice is not heard, Dr.
Strauss.
Now that they've expressed themselves, they will leave if you agree not to press charges.
Just make sure they don't come back.
Thank you, dean Price.
We'll take over.
This is harassment.
They're interfering in my place of business.
They're intimidating my family, my patients.
This isn't the first time you've been picketed? No.
I've had hang-ups.
They follow me home.
- Any vandalism? - Yeah.
A couple of the sample boxes out front have been broken into.
Oh, you think the protesters are responsible.
Who else? It's part of their plan to harass ear surgeons.
'cause you perform implants? Exactly.
They believe we're responsible for a cultural holocaust just because we restore hearing.
It's not because of that malpractice suit that you're involved in? I can't comment on ongoing litigation.
Didn't Dr.
Mallory testify against you in that case? Jack and I have had our professional disagreements.
He's not above catering to the deaf community.
But now with Mallory gone, your lawyer can claim that you lost the right to cross-examine.
His murder is a tragedy.
The only people who profit from it are these lunatics.
Like the one who broke into your lab box? - You know who did it? - Yes, and he's not deaf.
He told us when he raided your sample boxes, he found drugs and Dr.
Mallory's prescription pads.
That's ridiculous.
Well, we found one too.
Come on, detective, why would I put them outside my own front door? You tell us.
And tell us where you were Friday night.
I was at a medical conference in Atlantic city all weekend.
These students, they really hate this guy.
Strauss says they hate all cochlear implant doctors, including Mallory.
He's overstating it.
Look, the implant was a lightning rod in the '90s.
It implied that a deaf person needed to be fixed.
But with email, video conferencing, the community has more access into the hearing world.
The implant just becomes another option.
Couldn't Dr.
Mallory have been killed by a deaf activist? Wasn't there evidence that the killer was overly worried about being heard? He might have been.
Or someone like Strauss could've been trying to throw suspicion on the deaf community.
Just what we were wondering.
Which is why we're about to check Strauss' alibi.
Strauss was the conference keynote speaker on Saturday morning, and he missed his speech? He also missed the meet and greet Friday night.
According to the conference planner, he spent Saturday holed up in his room, partying with the minibar.
He might have been embarrassed about his malpractice suit.
Or he may have needed to self-medicate after killing Mallory.
Well, this won't help his cause.
Strauss: permit for GLOCK 9MM The same make that killed Mallory.
Bring him in.
Uh, Friday night after court adjourned, my lawyer and I had a strategy dinner.
I left for Atlantic city around 9, right? Counselor, you were with Dr.
Strauss until he left for Atlantic city? Careful what you say, 'cause we know when he checked in.
My client is not a killer, but he does suffer from painkiller addiction.
Which has only gotten worse because of the stress of the trial.
He is going into rehab.
So is everyone else.
Did you see him off to AC? Not exactly.
We finished dinner around 8, and then I went home.
That's strange.
Your hotel said you checked in at 3 A.
M.
You want to explain that gap? I can't, really.
I, uh I had a few drinks, took some pills, and I woke up in Atlantic city.
You drove drunk? Don't answer that.
- We're done here.
- I used a car service.
You can check my credit card.
We can do that.
One more thing.
You own a 9-millimeter Glock, don't you? Yes, detective, and I have a permit for it.
All right, we're gonna need to check the gun too.
That was his car service.
They say Strauss didn't get picked up till 1 A.
M.
Which would have given him more than enough time to kill Mallory.
What the hell was he doing up there? "Morningside heights rifle and pistol range.
" He only hit his target twice.
Dr.
Strauss was having an off night? He's not a marksman to begin with.
Add booze, and he completely loses his edge.
You let a drunk man shoot a gun? As soon as we realized, I took it away.
Had to wait till he stopped to reload, confiscated his weapon, vouchered it.
- Under a lock and key? - Absolutely.
Anyone else touch it? No one's touched it till you.
And so Strauss, how did he react? Uh, belligerent? Arrogant at first.
Said he'd sue us, then he cried.
We babysat him till his car service came.
Took forever, around 1.
- You sure about the time? - Yeah, I'm sure.
It was after closing.
Instead of tipping me, he cursed me.
Thanks.
If this gun was under lock and key Friday night, then the gun that killed Mallory is still out there.
Three shots.
I found a slug in the couch.
How's the dean? Stable.
The bullet grazed her neck.
Another inch, it would have hit her carotid.
She didn't see her shooter.
This is an attempted political assassination.
He's trying to kill my wife.
This is professor Price, the dean's husband.
- You think you know who did this? - I do know, Larry Forseca.
He's the deaf playwright in residence.
Ever since he's arrived, he's waged a campaign against my wife, trying to eject her from the tribe.
But your wife's deaf.
Not deaf enough for Larry and the radical deaf community.
Because she's married to you, a hearing man? Larry's a separatist.
Unlike my wife, who believes in inclusion.
Larry's been actively trying to force her out as dean so he can take over the department.
Academic infighting is one thing, but attempted murder That's my wife's office.
That's Larry's theater building.
Connect the dots.
Easy access to the theater.
Perfect eyeline to the dean's window.
And another potato silencer.
I guess the shooter doesn't know they don't work.
Lots of cigarettes.
Menthols.
Larry's a playwright.
He wouldn't be the first writer who smokes.
- Any luck? - Nah.
All I could get out of them is Larry left an hour ago.
No one here is gonna give us any more than that.
They know what the dean's husband thinks of Larry, so they're closing ranks.
Is that Malia? She's a patient of Mallory's, and an actress in Larry's play? From what I understand, she's the star.
I don't know where Larry is.
Malia, you're the only person who's been at the scene of both shootings.
Do yourself a favor, don't lie to us.
Last time I saw Larry, he left to do rewrites.
We fought.
About his play? He took something from a private conversation.
I was angry.
He had a scene where my character was considering an implant.
Were you? That's why you were seeing Dr.
Mallory.
Larry knew about the implant.
You two fought in front of everyone? No, Larry thought I was making him look bad.
So we took it to the theater lounge.
This is the last place I saw him.
I never should have told Larry about the implant.
Do you know who these cigarettes might belong to? Larry, he smokes like crazy.
Sorry, I've got to go to rehearsal.
Same cigarettes that are on the roof.
Menthols.
A staircase.
From here to the roof, a straight shot.
So Larry the deaf playwright finds out that the beautiful star of his play is going for a cochlear implant, so he shoots her surgeon, once in the hand and once in the chest.
What's that got to do with the dean Price shooting? Same make of gun in both shootings, same potato silencer.
Any motive? We have hate emails from Larry to Sondra Price, and her husband says he's threatened her.
Anything concrete to link Larry to the crime? We have cigarette butts we found on the rooftop that match Larry's brand.
We're waiting for DNA.
And you haven't been able to track Larry down.
What do we know about this guy? Well, he feels that deaf culture is under assault.
The villain in his last play is an administrator, modeled on dean Price.
He resents the notion the deaf need to assimilate.
Okay, a lot of playwrights are angry.
That doesn't make Larry a killer.
Well, he's a guru.
Maybe if he thinks we're gonna give him a platform, he'll talk.
Peter said there's a deaf social tonight at a skating rink.
He thinks Larry might show.
The entire deaf studies department is here except Larry.
No one's seen him tonight.
That kid.
He was picketing Strauss' office.
He an actor too? No, he's Malia's boyfriend.
Tommy Kellerman.
What did he just say to you? He called me a traitor.
The deaf are gonna rally around their own at a time like this.
For people trying to bridge both worlds, like me, they use it as a litmus test.
And I'm failing.
They're fighting.
You gotta help me out.
I can't make out what they're saying.
I'm not comfortable eavesdropping.
They know that we're here.
They have no reasonable expectation of privacy.
- Please.
- It's a private event.
In a public place.
Please, Eames! Don't put me in the middle.
Now their gestures again, bigger.
It's like they're shouting.
You've got to tell me what they're saying.
Look, I know that he's talking about Larry.
- Yeah.
- Yeah? He's telling her to be careful of what she tells the police.
/ Okay.
- And that we'll try to frame Larry.
- All right.
She's saying that there's no way that Larry shot Dr.
Mallory or dean Price.
That he's an activist, not a murderer.
Now they they know that we're talking about them, so they're hiding their hands.
They can read lips and body language, detective.
Yeah, yeah, I know, I know.
It's a public place.
We have no reasonable expectation of privacy.
Ballistics are in.
It was the same gun in both shootings.
The DNA on the cigarettes from the roof is a positive match to the cigarettes in the theater lounge.
All right, look, I'm gonna call the DA, Make sure they know we want to arrest Larry.
They made up quickly.
Well, they kind of have to in their world.
You know, it's not just about the signing.
It's about the cocoon.
You want to be all wrapped up and safe inside.
Not shut out.
My parents are both deaf.
They used to call home our own little Eden.
Detective.
Larry agreed to turn himself in.
Claims he was on a writing binge.
Told Peter he didn't know we were looking for him.
Larry, there's a lot of people pointing their finger at you.
He's asking if I'm deaf.
All right.
No, my parents are deaf.
- That's not good enough.
- Meaning? Get me a deaf cop.
A deaf cop? Get me a jury of my peers.
Get me a deaf judge.
Then I'll participate in your system.
Until then, there's no justice for me.
Yeah, uh Can you give us a minute? He wants a deaf cop.
There are no deaf cops.
Beautiful.
If you found my DNA at a crime scene, I guess I'd try that too.
Well, he's not trying to get out of this.
He's trying to prolong it.
He's found the way to become a martyr for his cause.
Detective, you can't be falling for this.
He's clearly a violent man.
He's dramatic.
That doesn't mean he's guilty.
Captain, he leaves his cigarette butts everywhere in that theater.
Anyone could have planted them.
Just 'cause he's deaf doesn't mean he's not a murderer.
I understand your loss, counselor, but this is still a circumstantial case.
What are they saying now? I'm purposely turning away.
- You're what? - He's talking to his lawyer.
In plain view.
And could be confessing to murder.
He know that we can see him.
He's posturing for us.
It's illegal for me to tell you that.
Captain, we are allowed to read body language.
Captain, talk to your detective.
My detectives know that Major case is not in the habit of violating attorney/client privilege.
You're really not going to help? Absolutely not.
Well, cops aren't the only ones that stick together.
So do DAs.
Counselor, a word.
Your DA thinks she can bully deaf people.
That they don't know their rights.
She is not my DA.
And her fiance was killed.
Then she shouldn't be in the room.
What's going on? Are you upset with her, or are you upset that the killer might be deaf? Look, Alexandra, most of what I do is outreach.
I'm more comfortable interpreting for the community than interrogating it.
You helped us at the rink.
Well, there your partner was right.
That's a public place.
This is completely different.
Shankly was out of line, but there is still a murderer out there targeting people who educate and care for the deaf.
Are you comfortable with that? Captain.
We've put Larry in holding.
ADA Shankly has agreed to take a step back.
And, detective, I need a favor.
We're just getting news footage of a deaf rights protest at Foley square.
Those protestors are performing for the news cameras.
They've waived their right to privacy.
Okay.
I'll go up.
Sorry if I interrupted.
Oh, you didn't.
He seems like a decent guy.
Yeah, he does.
There, that's the sign for "Larry.
" And that's "innocent.
" And I can't catch it all 'cause they're moving around so much.
There, her friend's saying, "how do you know?" Malia just said she was with Larry the whole night.
The night Mallory was murdered? Yes.
Then she just alibied him.
Oh, uh, what about that part? Malia doesn't want her boyfriend Tommy to know.
She's mad.
Yeah, I got that.
Larry's gonna be so pissed at me.
About giving him an alibi? He'll get over it.
Where were you two? After the cast party, we went for coffee.
We talked all night.
About the implant? Yes.
How late? He walked me home about dawn.
You two were at a coffee shop from 10 P.
M to 6 A.
M.
? We went to his place, but we just talked.
How'd your boyfriend feel about that? Tommy doesn't know.
He was with Deedee, his cousin.
There was a party for her new baby.
Please don't tell him about Larry.
You're telling us that Larry couldn't have killed Dr.
Mallory 'cause you and Larry were together all night long talking? Can anyone confirm this? Then Tommy is gonna need to confirm that you were not with him.
I wasn't.
Please don't tell Tommy.
It will only make him worry.
All right, look, here's the problem.
You're telling us not to speak to Tommy.
Larry won't talk to us.
Your alibi doesn't make Larry look innocent.
It makes you look guilty.
What? Mallory knew his killer.
He buzzed him in.
Or her.
If you spent the night with Larry, how do we know that you didn't set Dr.
Mallory up so Larry could shoot him? Hold on.
Slow down, slow down.
I don't, I can't what is she saying? She's freaked out.
She's saying she would never hurt Dr.
Mallory.
Um, something's wrong with our communication.
She thinks we're misunderstanding her.
She's asking if she should get a lawyer.
All right, we'll take a break.
So do we think she's made up her night with Larry story to give him an alibi? Maybe.
- She puts him on a pedestal.
- They all do.
Nobody who was at that cast party will speak to us.
And Larry, over in holding, has his hands tied behind his back, so to speak.
Okay, let's hold Malia as a witness.
She claims Tommy was with his cousin the night of Mallory's murder.
Go lean on the cousin.
If she thinks Tommy's getting dragged into a homicide investigation, she might give us something.
Tommy told me you're trying to frame Larry.
He doesn't want me talking to you.
Deedee, Larry has so much influence over his students, they're willing to go down for his cause.
If your cousin is not involved in this murder, he needs to cooperate.
He's scared.
When he found out you were holding his friend, he ran away.
I don't know where he is.
Well, then, maybe you can help us? Do you know where Tommy was Friday night? Oh, he was with me.
We had a baby-naming ceremony for Flavia.
She's beautiful.
She's perfect.
Perfect, you mean, uh she was born deaf? You must celebrate that in your community.
It's a blessing.
A hearing baby is a time bomb waiting to go off.
They always leave.
Tommy went through that with his sister.
I don't wish that on anyone.
Tommy has a sister? Yes.
Um she was born hearing.
Tommy adored her.
But then she went away to college, and never came back.
She was 17, he was 12.
He was so alone until Malia came into his life.
Malia, they seem very close.
She must have come with Tommy on Friday night to see your baby.
Oh, she couldn't, it was her opening night.
Um, Tommy went to the cast party, and he didn't get to my place until about 10.
Malia never came.
- Okay, thank you.
- Thanks.
She may have just alibied her cousin, but she hung Malia out to dry.
I know Larry's happy to martyr himself, but I wonder if he's willing to take Malia down with him.
Can we have an emergency contact? I'm not answering any questions.
And I'm not eating.
I'm on a hunger strike.
Okay, you're not gonna help yourself.
But you should know we're about to arrest Malia.
Malia? - Leave her out of this! - We'd like to.
But she claims she was with you Friday night, which makes her at least an accessory.
She wasn't with me.
She's lying.
She left around 10.
Tell Malia I don't need her help.
Or yours.
- Anything? - No.
So no murder weapon, no witnesses, shaky motive.
And contradictory alibis.
Tommy's cousin alibies Tommy, but not Malia.
Malia alibies Larry, but Larry rejects her alibi.
It's possible the three of them are in this together.
There is one way we can break into their world.
Bring Tommy and Malia in together, pull them apart.
Yeah.
That's crazy.
Malia didn't kill Dr.
Mallory.
Why would she? We think Dr.
Mallory told her he couldn't do the implant.
No, he didn't.
He said I was a good candidate.
It was all set.
Is that right, Tommy? Did he say that? Tommy wasn't there.
You weren't? Big decision like that, and you didn't go with your girlfriend? Look, it wasn't Malia, it was Larry.
Everyone knew how he hated those doctors and the dean.
That's strange, 'cause Malia told us that she was with Larry the night that Dr.
Mallory was killed.
She was covering for him.
She was with me.
Visiting your cousin's baby? Well, the thing is, your cousin said Malia wasn't there.
Maybe I'm confused.
We were surprised that Malia didn't visit the baby.
A big event like that, bringing a deaf child into the community Malia told us she was up all night with Larry.
Talking.
That's right.
Talking about her implant.
He disapproved of it.
How did you feel? It's her life, I was okay with it.
You weren't afraid that once Malia got her hearing that she would abandon you? Of course not.
Even though your hearing sister abandoned you the first chance she got? Tommy doesn't have a sister.
Yes, he does.
His cousin told us.
Tommy, why didn't you tell me? I didn't tell you 'cause she's dead to me.
She's not one of us.
'cause she's hearing? Like Malia would be once she got her implant? She's saying that he didn't need to be concerned, that she never was gonna leave him.
I know what she said.
You didn't want Malia to get the implant.
Why would you? You didn't think she needed to be fixed, did you? Of course not, she's perfect.
And you thought Dr.
Mallory was destroying all of that, didn't you? He had no right to ruin our lives! Tommy, what did you do? I did it for us.
So we could be together forever! In our world, not theirs.
You killed him? I didn't mean to.
I just shot his hand so he couldn't perform the surgery.
But then he was yelling, and someone was gonna hear.
I had to stop him.
You stomped on his throat.
He was screaming, his mouth was open.
But he didn't make a sound.
You knocked out his voice box.
You didn't have to kill him.
Tommy you know you weren't gonna lose me.
I love you.
Uh, cuff, cuff him in the front so he can talk.