Murder, She Wrote s07e06 Episode Script

- You're breaking my arm! - I told you not to pick a fight.
First time I saw that Bennet I knew he was nothing but trouble.
- Yeah? - I'd like a private session.
Tonight, on "Murder she wrote " A man was found shot dead in Eve's bedroom.
Don't force me to call your local Sheriff.
Freddie is more my age, intellectually we're simpatico.
Then what's Wayne? Wayne is all hormones.
- Freeze! - Don't shoot! And 2, 3, 4.
And right 2, 3, 4.
Very good! And left, With the arms! Keep it going! Feel the burn.
Keep it up.
Keep those legs up.
There you go.
That's it.
Keep it up! Work those legs.
Feel the burn.
Keep breathing.
You're not breathing.
- You feel it in your neck though? - There too Wayne.
Left down, Nancy.
Wayne, I'd like to book you for a private session.
After class I'll check my calendar.
Looking good.
Step with your toes, Betty.
Good girl.
Look at you.
Didn't I see in the Sport Illustrated Swimsuit issue? Keep it up, next year you'll be on the cover.
What a gorgeous body.
That is you Cher, isn't it? You sweet talking devil you.
How Sonny left you I'll never understand.
Neither do I honey.
Ok Ladies.
Time's up.
Time's up.
Terrific morning.
Keep it up.
You are doing wonderfully.
What a slave driver.
- You'll love it.
- Don't we all? Eve, I'm ready for an orange juice.
How about you? I can't, I gotta run.
I got a prospective buyer coming in to look at the Sullivan farm.
Are you still stuck with that eyesore? It's from all those hours you spend on the phone at the office.
- Get yourself a speaker phone.
- I know I order your 800 dollar custom designed exercycle and ride while I work? You see.
The product sells itself.
No matter what the cost.
I want a perfect body.
Whose? Yours or his? This ad of yours in the Boston Globe piqued my curiosity.
- I hope I'm not too late.
- Late? No, Mr.
Keppard.
To be truthful, there's a bit of interest in the Sullivan farm.
What with so many city people hearing the call of mother nature.
I heard the call alright.
And it's Fred.
Freddie to my friends.
Well Fred Freddie About this 600,000 dollar price tag Look, if it lives up to the, description 600,000 seems fair.
Right.
Fair.
Absolutely.
Do you plan to keep it a dairy farm? Yes I do.
But I don't plan to do the milking.
Well, of course not.
It's about a 40 minute drive, so So let's go.
The sooner the better.
I want those cows to give milk not cottage cheese.
My daughter is off in college.
My wife My wife passed away 2 years ago.
I don't think rattling round that big house in Boston does me good.
Besides, I've got to do something with my money and real estate has always been a rock bottom investment for me.
Absolutely.
Oh my! Yours? Since you know the way and I don't, it's your, for now, Eve.
It is Eve, isn't it? Yes.
Eve is fine.
Evie to my friends.
You know Jessica, since I started the Wayne Workout, I've never felt better.
One of these days I'll have to meet this miracle man.
The ladies at the beauty parlor can hardly talk about anything else.
Could we pull over for a moment or two? - You can't be tired already? - Not me.
I hope you don't mind if we have a little pit stop, Ben.
But my legs are giving out.
Well I was just getting warmed up.
But anything to oblige a lady.
Nancy was telling me that Wayne Bennet is revolutionizing Cabot Cove's health habits.
Well the female half anyway.
Yes, we notice that his gym hasn't taken with the chauvinist population.
Give me a brisk walk or a bike rid in the country anytime.
If you're embarrassed about exercising with a bunch of women, Wayne does give private workouts in the home.
Not with me he doesn't.
Nancy what doesn't your husband think about the new you? You know Clarence, After 20 years he finally got used to the old me.
Wasn't that Eve Simpson? I wonder where she got that new car? Never mind the car? What about the guy sitting next to her? If I know Eve, we'll hear all about it.
So when Mr.
Keppard said he he wanted to settle down I took him right out to the old Sullivan place.
He's a man of impeccable taste, who knows just what he wants.
I've got his deposit check in my pocket.
Eve, that's wonderful.
Freddie definitely is.
- Oh business and pleasure.
- Oh you've got to meet him.
We're talking charm.
We're talking single.
We're talking gentleman farmer with a capital G.
We're not talking but you're gushing like a schoolgirl.
Who? "Moi"? - Thank you.
- Thank you.
- Good morning, Jessica.
Eve.
- Good morning, Clarence.
- Have that back late tomorrow.
- Oh thank you.
- Morning, Nancy.
- Jessica.
See you in class tomorrow.
You've got to meet Jessica Fletcher.
I've seen you around town Mrs.
Fletcher.
It's a pleasure.
.
It's very nice to meet you.
Actually, we're not exactly strangers You were in my bedroom last night.
- Was I? - I've got one of your books on tape.
I listen to it on my exercycle.
By the time the killer confessed I'd pedaled halfway to Portland.
Why don't you try a session down at Wayne's with me.
He's got a stress reduction program for working women like us.
Thank you but I take out my stress on my rose bushes.
By the by Wayne, do you happen to have an hour tonight? I really need a private.
I could do you around nine.
Nine at my place it is.
Excuse me ladies.
Kind of takes your breath away.
A few moments ago your breath was taken away by Mr.
Keppard.
Yes, well Freddie is more my age, and we're intellectually simpatico.
Well then what's Wayne? Wayne's all hormones.
- Hello Wayne.
- Hi.
We've got some imported aftershave on special.
Nancy wanna open that case of dental floss? - Can I help you Mr.
Bennett.
- You sure can Mr.
La Rue.
I'd like you folks to carry my new line of health cocktails.
I'll supply the display stand and the first case is free.
Look Joe.
It's Wayne Bennett.
Jeeze Lil.
He ain't Elvis back from the dead.
Those juices are wonderful I drink 3 a day and have more energy than ever.
So how come the house is always a mess, huh? For those workouts you got energy, for me you got a dead battery.
Because I happen to work night, or maybe you forgot.
Anytime you wanna hire a housekeeper, be my guest! - Folks, would you mind? - You're a real charmer Bennett.
Yesterday you soaked my wife for a 99 dollar custom made shower head guaranteed to spray her with vitality.
I'm the only one who's gonna spray my wife with vitality.
I don't want any trouble.
Then why don't you take your dog and pony show out of town? Joe! - Stop it Joe! - You're breaking my arm! Joe stop it! Joe stop it! You're breaking my arm! I told you not to pick a fight! Didn't I tell you that? First time I saw Bennett I knew he was nothing but trouble.
That's just wonderful.
- What is it Eve? - I have to go to Rockport tonight.
One of my escrows is about to fall through.
I had to cancel my massage with Wayne.
He was very disappointed.
I imagine he was.
Eve Freddie, say hello to my friend Jessica Fletcher.
I'm charmed Mrs.
Fletcher.
I've heard so much about you.
I'm delighted to meet Eve's closest friend.
Well I've heard raves about you too, Mr.
Keppard.
- Please it's Freddie.
- Freddie.
Eve, I'd like to talk to you as soon as possible.
Well how about now? We're finished, aren't we Jessica? Yes.
I've got a pile of work waiting for me at home.
- It was so nice to meet you.
- And I you, Mrs.
Fletcher.
- Thank you.
- I'll take care to the check.
- Thank you.
Bye.
- Bye.
Eve, I don't know quite how to say this but have you cashed that 10,000 dollar check I gave you? You haven't changed your mind, have you? Well, not willingly.
Look, I hate to let you down.
Let me down? You said you wanted to retire.
I thought Let's just say that my cash flow flowed out not in.
Freddie, what's going on? The truth? I'm not a farmer.
I'm just a man looking for a quick million.
Oh really? Well a man after my own heart, in more ways than one I have an in with a congressman down state.
This is very confidential.
A regional shopping center may be going up alongside the Sullivan farm.
The highway commission is gonna need that acreage as access roads connecting the center to the thru-sway.
In a year that farm could be worth millions.
Exactly.
Problem is I've got all my cash tied up - In a Canadian oil venture.
- Wait a minute.
I have some clients.
I have some resources.
I have some money.
There's nothing to prevent you and I from pulling this off together.
No.
I wouldn't let you take that risk.
What risk? You said yourself it was a sure thing.
Tonight I'll bring home some clients' portfolios.
I'll see who is in a position to invest in our hot opportunity.
- Nice operation Wayne.
- Fred? Looks like a license to print money.
- What are you doing here? - I heard you struck it rich.
A coach likes to keep track of his star players.
I like this new game of yours.
Almost smells legit.
It is.
Hey old buddy, it's me.
It's me you're talking to.
You got yourself in tight with all the ladies in this town.
Like always.
That's ok if you're into nickels and dimes stuff but I've got a better way to cash in.
- Our old standby.
Real estate.
- Not interested.
Don't force me to call your local Sheriff.
- Wouldn't be good for business.
- For either of us.
You threatening me? Kid what you know, I taught you.
Don't you ever forget it.
We'll chat again kid.
Count on it.
- Freeze! - Don't shoot.
Joe What the hell are you doing here? Mr.
Keppard's room, please.
But he's expecting my call.
Would you try again please? I'm sorry Mr.
Keppard doesn't seem to be answering.
You say you got back around 10:00? Yes, just about.
Maybe a little after.
Eve, I cam as soon as I heard.
Oh God Jess! Somebody shot him.
Freddie.
- He's dead! - I'm so sorry.
Since your door was still locked, you got any idea how he got in? No, I only met him yesterday.
I mean, he didn't have a key.
But Sheriff, there was nothing between us.
We were business partners and I haven't the faintest idea what he was doing here.
While I tried reach him at his motel, I noticed my papers were messed up.
Well whoever shot him was obviously rummaging for something.
It there anything missing? Well my jewelry's still here.
Then we're not dealing with a thief, at least not a jewel thief.
Sheriff? I want you to check that all out for fingerprints, alright? - Uh yeah.
- And look look for footprints in the flower bed.
Alright.
Mrs.
Simpson, the way it looks to me, the killer found the window open, climbed in maybe to rob you and all the sudden he's surprised by your boyfriend.
I told you, he wasn't my boyfriend.
Eve, assuming that Fred surprised the intruder what was he doing here in the first place.
And, did he also climb in through the window? From the amount of blood and the size of the wounds the weapon must have been a shotgun, fired from say 10, 25 feet away.
That accounts for some of those folks outside thinking they heard car backfire around 9:15.
Thanks, Charlie.
Tell the coroner I need - a report ASAP.
- Ok.
You'll come to my house for a few days.
Get some things.
- No.
I couldn't.
- No.
I absolutely insist.
The Sheriff will seal off the house You may not come back for some days.
Thanks Jessica.
I just can't figure out how Fred got in or why.
If it was about business, he'd just have asked to see the portfolios.
Yeah.
What about that check you mentioned? The binder on the Sullivan farm.
Would he have come to retrieve that? I told him I wouldn't cash it, even if I wanted to.
I couldn't.
He was temporarily short of funds.
Did he know that you were in Rockport tonight? Yes.
I'd mentioned it.
Why? What does that prove? Only that he didn't just drop by.
He knew you wouldn't be there.
Excuse me.
- Oh Sheriff, come in.
- Thank you.
- Please, have a seat.
- Thank you.
- Would you like some coffee? - No, thanks anyway.
We found Fred Keppard's car parked 3 blocks from your house.
I looks to me like he didn't want to be seen pulling up to your door.
- Why not? - You tell me.
Fred wouldn't have been up to anything in my bedroom at least not without me.
After all, the man was a widower.
That explains why we're having trouble notifying his next of kin.
He told me he had a daughter She goes to college.
Which one Eve? - Fred didn't exactly say.
- What's the daughter's name? I'm not sure he told me that either.
He didn't tell anybody much of anything.
Kind of funny, no? Man pops up out of nowhere, no family, no friends, no job, no home address rented car.
Big entrepreneurs always lease their cars for tax purposes.
Are the entre-whatzits always Hello? Yes.
Sheriff it's for you.
Thank you.
Metzger.
He did? No kidding? What was that again? You sure about that? Ok.
Ok.
Yeah.
Let me know if you hear anything else.
Yeah.
Take it easy.
Mrs.
Simpson.
- Mrs.
Simpson, this guy Keppard - Yes? Did he ever mention any of his other names, like Fred Hallberg, alias Dr.
Fred Hallberg, Frank Horton and Fritz Hansen? Guy's got a rap sheet as long as your arm.
And he served a sentence in Joliet prison bunco.
Bunco? Fraud.
Flim flam.
The guy was a conman, Mrs.
Simpson.
No.
He wouldn't have.
He couldn't have.
He wouldn't have what? Oh God! Was I ever a prize chump.
He was searching through my files for new clients to swindle.
I'm sorry.
You lost me.
He was tying to get me to invest in the Sullivan farm.
He said his money was tied up but there was information he had that a shopping center was going up near the property.
I offered to help him find some investors.
- I guess he couldn't wait.
- That fits.
The con artists comes poking around and somebody finds him there.
Even assuming that Mr.
Keppard had not shortage of enemies, how could any of them have known that he was at Eve's house at 9? Unless Eve, did you tell anyone else you'd be out of the house at 9? - No one.
- Wayne Bennett knew.
- You canceled your private workout.
- That's right.
Well that's two.
If Keppard was still alive, we could ask him who else.
If Fred was still alive, I would kill him myself.
Sheriff, how much time would I get for breaking into that gym? Now you ask.
I shouldn't have gone to work last night.
You had that look on your face Sheriff, who's that guy who got himself killed? Out of town bunco artist named Keppard.
Know him? How should I know him? I hear he and Eve Simpson had something going.
I wouldn't know.
Nancy La Rue mentioned she saw them driving out of town.
Eve was driving his red Jaguar convertible.
But probably you already know that.
She mentioned it.
- Let you know when your lawyer's here.
- Wait there a minute, Sheriff.
Now last night I was almost run down by a red Jaguar convertible.
I think you ought to talk to Mr.
Wayne Bennett.
Why is that? 'Cause I saw the dead guy leaving Wayne's workout.
Come to think about it we don't know a lot about Bennet either.
A private hour with Wayne at your home is 75 dollars.
Tuesday at 8:00? Let me see.
Hi Sheriff.
Come to work out? Mr.
Bennett, can I see you a minute? Why don't you ladies warm up.
I'll be right in, ok? So this is where my wife keeps in shape, huh? Adele is doing splendidly.
She's made a real commitment here.
Yeah.
I know.
I just paid her bill from last month.
Well, no pain, no gain.
Is there something I can do for you? I thought I'd save you a trip.
Here's the complaint against Joe Hardin.
You want to sign it? If Joe transferred that temper into exercise, he'd live longer.
Yeah.
Well I'll tell him you suggested it.
- That the stuff my wife drinks? - You haven't tried it? On the house.
It's got no sugar, no calories packed with natural vitamins.
A bottle a day will make a new man out of you.
Thanks, I appreciate that I'll just save it for the car.
You have a nice day.
I'm not a nosy, inquisitive, busybody I'm a newspaperman hot on the trail of the story and the murder of a conman in your bedroom happens to be news.
You're making it seem as if Keppard and I were having an affair.
I think you've been watching to much Geraldo.
Well, one of us has, yes.
- Alright you two, that's enough! - I have a paper to get out.
This'd be a good story in St.
Louis.
In Cabot Cove it's real big news.
Not necessarily.
And besides everyone in town already knows.
She may be right, Ben.
You know the printed page will never scoop the beauty parlor.
Maybe so, but I'll be hanged if I'll turn the Gazette into a puff piece for Mrs.
Simpson's real estate hand outs.
That's it! Consider my advertising budget withdrawn Mr.
Devlin.
Consider it done.
I can see coming here was a complete waste of time.
- Ben wait.
- If you'll excuse me - I'm going to get some coffee.
- Eve Eve Simpson, in whose bedroom the victim was discovered was asked if she knew him.
Her response was no comment.
And you can quote me.
Ben wait.
I need a lift to La Rue's drugstore before it closes.
Eve, I'll be back in a few minutes.
Try to come back alone.
Cancel her advertising.
She hasn't paid her bill in 3 months.
The town's pretty quiet lately.
Quiet? They ought to rename this place Catatonia.
I came back looking for peace and quiet, not embalming.
Hello Nancy? Is anybody here? Hello Jessica.
- You made it just before closing.
- With a minute to spare.
- I came to get my film.
- Hello there Mr.
Devlin.
I'll sure be glad to close up.
Been busy working shorthanded.
- Where's Nancy? - Drove up to Augusta last night.
Family emergency.
Her sister took sick and Nancy's helping out with the kids.
- I'll put this on your charge.
- Thank you.
Say hello when she gets back.
- Good night Clarence.
- Good night.
- I'll tell you what else I think.
- Ben, we all know what you think.
It's not idle gossip betty.
I got it from Loretta at the beauty parlor.
A man was found shot dead in Eve's bedroom.
- Besides it made the morning papers.
- I don't read the newspapers.
Exactly what the man was wearing, I wouldn't know I know Renee.
The look was Ivy league but the jury is out on whether it was paid for.
- Aren't we testy?.
.
- Now listen Ok girls, let's not turn this into kick boxing, alright? Alright.
- How are you feeling? - Not too bad.
- Except for this crick in my neck.
- You do eh? Right there.
Oh that's great.
- Where's Nancy La Rue today? - I don't know, and don't stop.
Come on.
Let's work out those kinks.
Ladies, back to work.
Come on everybody! Get moving! Let's go! Come on! Form two lines Toe raises.
On my count 1, 2, 3, Come on count with me.
Sorry ladies, class dismissed.
What? Sheriff, if this is about my complaint to Joe Hardin - can't it wait until tomorrow? - It isn't and no, it can't.
Wayne Bennett, alias Wayne Freeman I'm arresting you for the murder of Fred Keppard.
Hit the showers ladies.
You have the right to remain silent anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.
- Hello? - Jessica The Sheriff just arrested Wayne Bennett for murder.
- What? - He pulled him right out of class.
Jessica this is insane.
The Sheriff did not arrest Wayne without some kind of evidence.
Like what? When I tried to stop him the Sheriff said I was just another hysterical love smitten customer.
He won't even let me visit him.
Jessica you have got to do something! you came to this town, you thought you were dealing with some hick Sheriff.
Wrong buddy boy.
That little bottle of orange sunshine you handed me? I sent that nice set of fingerprints off to the FBI.
Just a hunch.
I'm sorry Mrs.
Fletcher, I'm kind of busy right now.
That's quite alright Sheriff.
I'll wait.
The Feds faxed me a rap sheet on a guy named Wayne Freeman released from Joliet prison one year ago.
Now from the description, he could be your twin brother.
Would you like me to read you a list of bunco convictions? Ok.
I was in prison.
I didn't care for the experience, so I tried to do something legit.
Legitimate? The last time you were busted your partner was a guy named Fred Keppard You following me Mr.
Bennett? Hey, I didn't kill him.
I had Joe Hardin lock up back there all night until his lawyer just bailed him out.
He says he saw Keppard driving away from your gym that night.
Ok.
Alright.
Fred located me 2 days ago.
He wanted to use me in some land scheme he was working on Eve Simpson to con the other women in town.
I said no.
I told Fred that I was on the level these days.
But he figured I owed him.
So he threatened to go public with your past unless you joined him? Ok.
Where were you between 8:00 and 10:00 last Friday night? In my apartment, watching TV.
Alone.
Alone? Too bad.
Ok Floyd, lock him up.
- What about a lawyer.
- Let him check the yellow pages.
- You got his prints off his drink? - Right.
- Did you analyze the contents? - Yeah.
Usual ingredients.
Sodium Benzoate, ascorbic acid, carob bean gum.
And even a little orange juice.
No drugs, no poison, nothing illegal or fraudulent? Ok, Ok Mrs.
Fletcher.
I know what you're gonna say.
He's a nice guy.
He couldn't possibly of done it.
No.
That isn't what I was going to say at all.
- You weren't? - H may have killed Mr.
Keppard.
But I'm pretty sure that he wasn't telling the truth about something.
What I'd like to suggest is, if it's alright with you Of course.
Is that I spend a few moments alone with him, maybe I could get him to open up a bit and tell me something he'd be reluctant to tell you.
You mean confess? Mrs.
Fletcher, be my guest? Eve Simpson is worried about you Wayne.
She's convinced you're innocent.
Eve is a good judge of character.
She also believed Keppard was a charming widower with a healthy bank account.
I'm not into murder.
As a matter of fact, I'm not even into bunco.
Not anymore.
I suppose I could charge less for my drinks or tee shirts even the sessions.
But what I'm selling is a sense of well being, of belonging.
They get their money's worth.
I suppose there is a certain amount of con in any business like when my agent calls me and talks me into a personal appearance tour.
The problem is, aside for Eve, no one in this town knew Mr.
Keppard.
While it's easy to believe a lot of thing about Eve, murder is not one of them.
- I swear to you, I didn't kill him.
- Perhaps not.
But you weren't alone watching TV when he was killed.
Where were you, Wayne? All I can tell you is I didn't kill him.
It's ridiculous! Arresting Wayne! That dumb Sheriff ought to have his head examined.
And his wife.
Did you know she's got a Marine Corps tattoo right here? - No.
- Yeah.
It's criminal.
You know? I think we ought to get together and hire an attorney.
My husband, the lawyer.
Fine by me.
As soon as we get home, we'll start calling.
Good.
Excuse me, Mrs.
Fletcher? Hello.
It's Betty, isn't it? I think we met one night at Eve Simpson's house.
Right.
I wasn't sure you'd remember.
Mrs.
Fletcher, I need your advice.
I know I should go to the Sheriff, but - Wayne told me not to, but - Well, what is it? Wayne said the night Keppard was killed he was alone watching TV.
That isn't true.
Fact is, he was with me.
Look Betty, I know you want to help Wayne any way you can but It's not a lie.
Please believe me.
We were together all evening.
Until sun up as a matter of fact.
- And I'll swear to it in court.
- I see.
I'm not sure that you do.
See, for the past 9 months Wayne and I have been married.
What I'm selling isn't just exercise, the only way I can possibly work is for me to pretend I'm single.
I have my own little place down by the beach.
I rented it under my maiden name.
We'll show you a marriage license if you want.
So you got a license Mrs.
Bennett, did you know this guy Keppard? No.
I knew of him There's no reason to keep Wayne here anymore is there.
I'm afraid I don't quite see it that way ma'am.
All I've got is your word that your husband was with you that night.
Now you're not exactly an impartial witness.
Until the courts tell me different, he stays right here.
This is intolerable! We want our money back! Look sweetie! I heard it straight form Malloy, who heard it from Phyllis Grant There has got to be some mistake.
Yeah, and old blue eyes made it.
I want a refund of my lifetime membership.
- Me too.
- The line forms to the right.
I'm sorry.
You women all signed contracts.
That was before we knew Wayne was married.
Married! He could be a murderer! We get our money back, or my husband, the lawyer turns this place into a pizza parlor.
One thing just doesn't add up.
If Wayne was going back to his old con game why kill Fred Keppard? Why not just team up with him and do the land swindle? Sheriff? There you are.
If you're all finished, I'd like to move back in.
It's me ladies, Floyd.
The Sheriff is in the living room.
I'll check with him.
Oh dear! - Maybe that's what happened.
- What? Who besides you and me and Wayne knew that you wouldn't be at the house Friday night? Just Fred, I guess.
Which is why Fred showed up.
To go through your files.
A darkened bedroom window - he was shot from 10, 15 feet away? - Yes.
Maybe he was shot from outside the house.
Maybe he was shot from here.
Through the open window.
And like me, the killer couldn't see inside very well so he shot Fred by mistake.
Someone else was supposed to be here at this house that night.
At least he was until you cancelled the appointment.
Wayne.
You're making it sound like he wasn't the killer but the intended victim? Exactly.
The killer expected Wayne to be here and shot Fred by mistake, in the dark.
Probably through the open window.
Suppose you're right.
Where would I start? Every husband in town wants to kill Wayne.
All except you Sheriff.
Thanks, Floyd.
Wait a minute.
Joe Hardin.
- Joe Hardin? - Who had a better motive? Jessica you remember Joe was at the pharmacy? He overheard me make that 9:00 appointment with Wayne.
- But he didn't know you’d cancelled.
- Sheriff? Sure! Joe shoots Keppard thinking it's Wayne and then I arrest him on an amby pamby breaking and entering.
He gets 30 days instead of 30 years.
- Sheriff - What is it Floyd? Can't be Joe Hardin.
What do you mean it can't? - Keppard was shot at 9:15.
- Yeah? And the fact is Yeah? You arrested Joe at the gym at 9:00.
Just a moment Sheriff.
Eve, at the pharmacy Joe was not the only one who heard you and Wayne make that appointment.
No! Nancy La Rue was standing Oh my Gosh! She's missed the last Clarence told me Nancy left town the night Fred was killed to visit her sister in Augusta.
Left town? Or skipped town? So Friday night, where did you go Mrs.
La Rue? She told you.
She went to visit her sister in Augusta.
If you don't mind, I'd like to hear it from your wife.
Eileen's kids were both sick, and her husband was out of town.
So she called and asked if I could stay for a couple of days.
That's all there is to it.
Does your sister have a phone number? I didn't kill this Fred Keppard! I didn't even know him.
But you knew Wayne Bennett.
Excuse me Nancy.
What time did you leave for Augusta? I don't know.
Around 9:00, I guess.
- Anyone see you? - No! I pulled into the Dusty River Motel around 10:00.
It's about an hour's drive from here.
It's just outside of Whitsonberg.
- Check it out.
- What the hell is this all about? My wife didn't kill anybody.
Maybe yes, maybe no.
It seems odd to me that you would stop off at a Motel.
You were only an hour from Augusta.
Well I I was tired.
I couldn't keep my eyes open.
I was afraid of falling asleep.
- That's right.
- And she called Eileen and said she wouldn't arrive until the next morning,? - isn't that right? - Yes.
That's right.
- If I call her on it.
- Sheriff! This is ridiculous! My goodness! That's a nasty bruise you have near your eye though it seems to be clearing up.
- You mind telling me how you got that? - Yes she does mind.
- Do you mind? - Clarence.
- It's no good.
I can't lie.
- Nancy don't.
Clarence and I had a fight.
I came home around 8:30.
I'd been by the ocean thinking.
I had a lot on my mind.
Such as? My life.
My marriage.
Clarence had been drinking.
He accused me of being with Wayne.
I hadn't been but he wouldn't listen to me, he never does.
Alcohol makes him crazy.
He hit me.
I thought he was gonna kill me.
ALL I could think of was getting out.
I didn't even pack a bag.
I drove and drove.
Then I saw the Motel and pulled in.
I was so upset I thought I might have an accident on the road.
Motel says Mrs.
La Rue checked in about 10:00 just like she said.
Checked out this morning.
That lets you off the hook ma'am.
Looks like I was barking up the wrong tree.
Not the wrong tree, Sheriff, only the wrong branch.
We both were.
Why are you looking at me? I didn't shoot the guy through that window.
Did you? Whoever killed Keppard thought he was killing Wayne.
Who could possibly have known that Wayne would be at Eve's? Only someone at the pharmacy who heard Eve make the appointment.
Joe was already arrested by that time.
Lil was at work.
Since Nancy is in the clear, that leaves Eve Simpson.
No.
Eve was in Rockport dealing with some clients.
There's something else, Clarence.
You said you didn't shoot Fred through that open window.
How did you know that’s were the shot came from? Clarence I never was much of a liar.
Ain't much of a killer either.
Hiding in the shadows.
I had too much to drink that night.
I was pitifully drunk.
And feeling sorry for myself.
ALL I could think about was losing Nancy.
Then it hit me.
Wayne would be at Eve's so I grabbed my shotgun.
ALL I could think about was that damn city fellow and his hands on every woman in town and us husbands paying for the privilege.
I came up the side of the house and looked in the window.
It was dark but I saw him.
I figured I'd be doing myself and every man in town a favor.
I fired! He dropped.
I didn't hear a sound and I knew I'd got him.
As soon as I got home, I hit the coach and passed out.
When I woke up the next morning and saw my gun What I did all came back to me.
Clarence Wasn't until later that day I found out I shot the wrong man.
I love you honey.
Always have.
I'm sorry.
It just come out all wrong.
Thanks.
That was the county attorney's office.
La Rue pleaded guilty to second degree.
It'll be quite a while before he fills another prescription.
John Barleycorn and a jealous nature are not boon companions.
So, what's in the box? - What box? - That box.
Ben and I are dieing of curiosity.
It's peace offering from Wayne to show there's no hard feelings.
How very thoughtful of him.
- What is it? - Well It's a custom made shower head.
It comes with a full range spray and temporary white finish.
How nice of Wayne to give it to you.
Well he didn't exactly give it to me.
- Then what did it cost you? - Not a dime, I swear.
Comes absolutely free when you sign up for a year of "Wayne's new body building classes".
You Mort? Surely, you jest.
This is strictly self preservation.
Last night Adele and me got into a little arm wrestling competition.
- She took me 10 out of 10.
- Oh dear.
Oh dear, is right.
Before she started going to Wayne's I always won at least 1.
Sometimes even two.