Law & Order (1990) s07e08 Episode Script
Family Business
In the criminal justice system the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups, the police who investigate crime and the district attorneys who prosecute the offenders.
These are their stories.
I'm afraid you're going to have to come out of there, ma'am.
Store's closed.
I'm sorry, I'm not dressed yet.
I'm sorry, ma'am.
Rules are rules.
Are you going to punish me? Depends on whether you cooperate.
Try this one.
Jose, this is completely see-through.
So? Come on, I just finished my rounds.
Floors five, six and seven are all ours.
What was that? Wait here.
No, here.
On second thought, you better go.
Pass key will get you out.
Bobby, it's Jose.
I heard something on eight.
Sounded like shots.
I'll send someone up.
Hello, Bobby, call an ambulance.
Oh, damn, it's Mr.
Spiegel.
Jose, what's going on up there? Who's that? Jose? Irma, baby, I told you to go.
I got scared.
Oh, my God! Go, baby.
Go! I was in the seventh-floor dressing room when I heard the shots.
That part of your usual rounds? No, no.
Not really.
Well, what were you doing there? If I tell you, it's gonna cost me my job.
If you don't tell me, I'm gonna think you have something to hide.
I was in there with my girlfriend.
It wasn't like that.
She was modeling stuff.
Underwear.
What time did she leave? Right after I found Mr.
Spiegel.
But you gotta leave her out of it.
She still lives at home.
Her old man finds out, he's gonna kill her.
Well, you better come up with a story for pops, because we're gonna have to talk to her.
Bobby Fox, head of security.
Before that, 20 years at the 19.
I was in the security office when Jose called in the shots.
The victim's an executive here? Yeah, Richard Spiegel, chief financial officer.
Kate Bergreen's husband.
Wow.
Yeah, the ones who own the place.
Hmm.
Well, somebody got out without setting off security.
Well, the executive suite has its own elevator and exit to the street.
No whistles, no bells.
What about the rest of the store? It's wired all around.
But they hand out the pass keys like they're gumballs.
I warned them, but unless you make six figures, the Bergreens don't want to have much to do with you.
Lucky us.
Jose told us you got to the store at about 8:00? I don't know why I let him talk me into it.
Did you notice anything suspicious on your way out? I wasn't exactly looking.
I mean, I was so freaked.
That dead guy's eyes were open, staring up.
How about when you arrived? Can you think of anything that might help us? There was this guy, this tall, skinny guy with long brown hair standing outside, screaming.
Where? By the executive entrance.
But at first, I just figured he was some crazy guy.
Something changed your mind? I saw he was on a cell phone, ragging on somebody.
Did you get close enough to see his face? I was in a hurry.
Jose was waiting.
Your murder weapon's a.
22 caliber pistol.
Could be a stealth shooter for the mob.
Any signs of burglary? Well, they're still trying to figure out if anything's missing.
Kind of stuff that store carries, two shopping bags worth would be quite a haul.
Best shoe department in the city.
Highest prices, too.
You know, it also could be a current or former employee running around with a pass key.
Well, have somebody run their names through BCI.
What about the wife? Kate Bergreen-Spiegel has two secretaries.
One for work, and another one for her appointments at her apartment.
You ever hear of that? In Danielle Steele novels.
Yeah, well, her home secretary has managed to squeeze us in for a 10 o'clock.
I spoke to Richard about 7:00.
He was waiting in his office for a call.
Thank you.
He said he didn't know when he'd be home.
And that's the last time you spoke to him? Yeah.
You were here all night? With Dad, and Chloe, my daughter.
How do you tell a three-year-old her daddy's never coming home? Do we have to do this now? Well, it's best to get all this while it's still fresh in your mind.
What were your husband's responsibilities at the store? I brought in Richard six months ago to supervise our expansion.
More stores? Yes.
Chicago, Dallas and Beverly Hills.
All Laura's idea.
My other daughter.
When my doctor made me retire, I made Laura and Kate co-presidents.
What did Spiegel do before he came to work for you? Richard was CFO of Cromwell Industries.
He had a brilliant financial mind.
Did your husband have any enemies that you know of? Business associates? Employees he might've let go? I'm sure he fired people.
He did all of that.
Did he ever mention anybody who was particularly upset? We never talked about business much.
You are co-president of the company.
I'm president of clothes.
Everything you see when you walk through the store.
Richard handled everything else.
With my sister.
Believe me, I wish I could take the day off to grieve.
It's bad enough that your investigation delayed our opening for two hours.
The show must go on, huh? If the store is open, someone has to be here running it.
We understand that Mr.
Spiegel let several employees go recently.
A few.
But they were all given very generous severances.
Do you think a former employee is responsible? A man gets murdered in the workplace, it's a logical place to start.
Any non-employees he might've offended? Probably several hundred a day.
This is New York.
I mean business associates, suppliers.
That type of non-employee.
The only people we seem to offend is our competition.
Anybody in particular? D&S.
Davenport and Styles.
They seem to think we're engaged in some kind of holy war.
Over what? Our designers mostly.
The latest battleground was Paul Medici.
They claimed they had him exclusively.
We disagreed.
Richard was dealing with the lawyers.
They were suing you? For several million dollars.
Richard thought that they were just posturing.
When was the last time you saw Richard? Around 7:00, as I was leaving the building.
He was waiting for Mr.
Medici.
They'd been trading calls all day.
He needed me to come in and sign some legal papers.
Papers regarding the D&S case? Yeah, that's right.
Richard said they'd settled their differences and everyone would walk away happy.
Yourself included? Absolutely.
I'd think a little guy like you gets put in the middle of a big lawsuit, it couldn't be too good for business.
There's no such thing as bad publicity, Detective.
Actually, it was a very silly dispute.
First, D&S said I couldn't sell to anyone else, then they said I could.
No, no, no, no, no! Is no one listening? This is three inches too long.
Like this! Go, go.
Go make it happen! Spring shows begin next week.
This time of year, everyone gets on my nerves.
Everyone except Spiegel? I just signed the papers and left.
And what time was that? See, we got a report of a man matching your description outside Bergreen's right about that time.
A very angry man.
If that was me, I was on the phone with Valerie, my best cutter.
You'd think she'd pick a better time to elope.
You can call her in Vancouver.
And where'd you go after the meeting with Spiegel? I was at the AIDS Foundation benefit for kids at the Armory.
I donated some dresses.
I even paid for a patron's ticket.
$600.
One lousy litigation.
You believe the mess these lawyers can make? Anyone been able to translate? Well, D&S claimed Bergreen's enticed Medici into violating the terms of his contract.
They said he was making private label dresses for Bergreen's while he was exclusive to them.
Hey, Lennie, didn't you work with this guy? John Podbielski? Pot Belly? Yeah.
John and I once worked vice in the 13.
He signed an affidavit declaring he'd seen the private label dresses being made at Medici's sweatshop.
Take him for a walk in the park.
I'd be looking at Medici.
He was gonna take a hit on the settlement? Parties to the suit were proposing that he eat the dresses he manufactured for Bergreen.
Ouch.
Yeah.
It was a lot more combustible than that.
Spiegel's the guy who proposed stiffing him.
He doesn't want to pay his bills.
So what else is new? From where I sit, Spiegel wanted Medici going down in flames.
Why? I tell you that, I'm violating my contract.
These guys still owe me money.
You don't want to help us clear a homicide? Hey, Pot Belly, come on.
We collared $5 whores together.
This is gonna cost me a very good client.
Hey, John, how often do you need a set of plates run? Medici's been throwing a little humpski into Spiegel's wife.
Ooh.
Did Spiegel know? I didn't tell him.
I don't even think Medici knew we were on to him.
How long? Twice a week at least for the two months I've been assigned.
Any documentation? Like animals they go at it.
I got pictures.
Okay, we're alone.
We're in this delightful room.
Now do I get to know why you had to talk to me again? How long you been involved with Kate Spiegel? She's Bergreen's fashion director.
She saw my designs a couple of years ago, and I Who took these? Put yourself in the here and now, Paul.
Whoever took them, there they are.
That's what we want to talk to you about.
I'm sure you can understand why I would be reluctant to broadcast my involvement with Kate.
Your reluctance to broadcast is what we call hindering prosecution.
It's a felony.
We were having an affair.
It happens.
Even among police detectives, I would think.
You were the last one to see Spiegel alive, he was screwing you with this lawsuit, and you're doing his wife.
I had nothing to do with Spiegel's murder, I swear.
Yeah, but if Spiegel was out of the way, it would make things a whole lot easier for the two of you, wouldn't it? You think I wanted to marry her? To move in together? No.
I liked things just the way they were.
You tell Kate that? Was that her attitude? I don't know.
She never talked about her marriage, and I didn't ask.
Yeah, and the fact that she had more money than God and ran the most important store in town, this was just a physical thing, right? Exactly.
Yeah, with all those models hanging around I find all women beautiful, Detective.
Yeah, well, Paul, there's one other problem, see.
That AIDS benefit you were attending the night of the murder? Nobody saw you there.
Now, we're gonna start all over.
The affair, what happened last night.
Don't waste our time again.
I was with Kate at my showroom.
The Medici Benefit.
What time did Kate leave? About 9:30.
Spiegel didn't get killed until 10:00.
After Kate left, I called Petra.
A model.
She came by at 10:00, and stayed all night.
You can call her.
A killer's walking around, my husband's killer, and you're wasting your time investigating my personal life.
You haven't answered the question, Mrs.
Spiegel.
I was not with Paul Medici that night or any other.
Well, Paul says you were with him at the start of the evening, and he was with another acquaintance later.
The later part we got verified.
If Paul says he was with me, he's a liar.
Was that your daughter we passed on the way in? The little girl standing with your father? Why? I wouldn't want her to walk in while I was showing you these.
Well, I bet the boys down at the precinct got a big charge out of these.
Did you pass them around? Were you with Paul Medici the night your husband was killed? Is my total humiliation your objective? Because if it is, you have certainly succeeded.
Yes, I was with him.
We had sex that very night.
Would you like to know what positions? When did you leave his studio? I don't know.
About 9:00.
That's not what you told us before.
Because I wanted to spare my family embarrassment.
Is that something you can possibly understand? Where'd you go after you left? Home.
I was home from 9:30 on.
Can anyone corroborate that? I went to the kitchen for some tea.
I went to my father's room.
We watched the news together.
My God, I feel like I'm a suspect here.
Was your husband aware of your affair with Medici? Yes, he was.
And how did he react? Well, I hate to disappoint you, Detective, but there was no big fight.
There was no divorce.
There was no custody battle.
A model family.
Richard and I had an open marriage.
I was free to partner with anyone I wished as long as I took proper precautions, which I always did.
Then why was your husband playing tough with Medici on this contract dispute? Are the two of you dense? I know nothing about business things.
I never cared.
But Richard was not out to get anybody.
Well, call me old-fashioned, Mrs.
Spiegel, but I find that hard to believe.
We are not like you, Detective.
So you don't buy the open marriage scenario? Not unless Spiegel tells me himself.
LUDS from Spiegel's office phone came back.
Six calls the week before the murder to an attorney, David Solomon.
You know, I think his datebook listed an appointment with that guy on his last day.
It could be business related.
A month's salary this guy's a divorce lawyer.
You're on.
I don't do divorces.
I'm a criminal attorney.
What do you make a month? You were representing Richard Spiegel on a criminal charge? Well, that's privileged information.
Did it have anything to do with the D&S lawsuit against Bergreen's? No, see, that's a civil suit.
I am a criminal attorney.
And I'm a police detective.
What kind of criminal law do you practice? Corporate.
Financial fraud, primarily.
What, was Spiegel in some kind of financial hot water? I can't comment on that.
Who can? Bergreen's comptroller, Charles Herman.
We asked Herman to come in, he showed up with his lawyer.
Well, we give him a walk on any of the creative accounting moves he pulled, he'll dish the dirt.
You think some kind of financial scam got Spiegel killed? Hey, money makes the world go around.
I mean, it's take-a-number time on who could've wanted this guy gone.
Herman have any kind of record? He's clean.
Let's see what he has to say.
I told Laura it was wrong and I didn't want to be a part of it.
I mean, every deduction on my income taxes is legitimate.
We'll take your confession later.
Tell us what was going on at the company.
The company was broke.
Mainly because Laura had so much money tied up in the expansion.
When things started going really bad, she insisted I use the employees' 401 k contributions to pay our bills.
Which is illegal.
She threatened to fire me.
I have two kids.
I can't Did Spiegel know? Not at first.
When he found out, he confronted Laura in my office.
He said she was breaking the law and he wouldn't stand for it.
She said she was the boss and things would be done her way.
Isn't her father still the CEO? He didn't know anything.
Laura wouldn't let me send him the monthly reports while he was recovering from his surgery.
She said bad news might kill him.
What do you think? I think Laura was more concerned about Mr.
Bergreen finding out she was doing a bad job.
Did you ever hear Laura threaten Spiegel? Not specifically.
Laura said Kate brought in Spiegel to make her look bad, and Spiegel thought Laura was incompetent.
Yes, our cash reserves are a little low right now, but when the December revenues are posted You have to understand that Charles Herman is a nervous little man who doesn't understand the first thing about the retail clothing business.
You said you left the store at 7:00? That's right.
And what did you do after you left? I stopped for dinner.
Where? An Indian restaurant on Sixth Street between First and Second.
And, no, I don't remember the name.
Did you use a credit card? No, I paid in cash.
I'm afraid I have to tell you that I'm beginning to feel like I'm a suspect.
Where did you go after dinner? I visited my father.
What time? My God, the only thing that's missing is a spotlight shining in my face.
I think I got there a little before and then I went home.
Is that good enough? Did you see your sister? No.
You were in your sister's apartment and you never saw her? My sister has an 18-room townhouse.
It's not that difficult to miss each other.
I don't get how both sisters could be visiting their father at 10:00 and not see each other.
I don't care how big the place is.
Which one do you like? Maybe Laura? Laura gets rid of Spiegel 'cause he's about to expose her financial shenanigans.
Which would put her in jail and Spiegel in her office.
Curtis.
Or Kate killed him because a divorce would make her lose her kid and half her money.
A woman in a custody battle.
Not a pretty picture.
Okay, good.
Send it over to the lab for prints.
Thanks.
A couple of uniforms in the 35 took a.
22 Ruger off an armed robbery perp.
Ballistics says it's our murder weapon.
Perp's being transferred to our precinct now.
We have some more questions we need to ask you, Clarence.
Look, man, I already I told those other officers that I robbed the grocery store.
I did it.
You know, that's very refreshing, you taking responsibility like that.
But we're interested in where you got the gun you used.
But I Could I say something first? I just wanted to tell you that if smack were legal, see, I wouldn't have to be robbing nobody, 'cause I would buy it in a store, and it would probably only be like a dollar a hit.
That's a very nice vision of the future, Clarence.
Now, will you tell us where you got the gun? I found it in a trash can.
Where? Are you gonna help me out? If you give me some answers, I'll talk to the D.
A.
, sure.
All right.
The trash can was right outside this big store over on 50th.
Bergreen's? Yeah.
Clarence here found the gun in a trash can just outside the store.
I'll raise you.
Laura Bergreen's prints are on the barrel.
Nice call, Rey.
Her prints are in the system? Yeah, she was busted for smoking pot when she was 18.
The gun's permitted to a Jeffrey Arbaugh.
He gives Seymour Bergreen's East Hampton estate as his address.
Mmm-mmm.
What is it you say, Lennie? "Thank God they're stupid"? Yeah, even the rich ones.
Jeffery Arbaugh? It's Arbaugh.
Rhymes with "saw.
" Well, Mr.
Rhymes-with-saw, your gun was used to kill Richard Spiegel, and you happen to live in his father-in-law's house.
You want to explain all that? Richard's dead? You didn't know? This is terrible.
Nobody told me.
I don't read papers or watch TV.
I prefer face-to-face communication.
Oh, thanks.
I'll remember that.
So, where were you two nights ago? I was teaching my transcendental meditation class.
I know, you think TM has been supplanted by more with-it forms of meditation, but I have to tell you Hey! How did your gun end up killing Mr.
Spiegel? I don't consider it mine.
It's registered to you.
Kate felt unsafe much of the time.
She thought a gun, its being more than its presence, would make her feel more secure.
I bought it for her as a favor.
So it was Kate's gun.
I suppose.
In a physical sense.
What exactly is your relationship to Kate? I'm her philosophical and spiritual exploration guide.
And I feed the dogs.
Did she ever seek your guidance on her marriage? I don't think I should You should.
She was very troubled.
Why? Richard had threatened to divorce her and seek custody of their child.
Mr.
Bergreen, your son-in-law was shot with your daughter's gun.
And your other daughter's fingerprints are on it.
Somehow, this investigation keeps leading us back here.
Notwithstanding, my daughters had nothing to do with Richard's death.
You told us before Kate was with you the night of the murder? Correct.
Around 9:30? That's right.
What about Laura? Yes, she was here, too.
And what time was that? Around the same time.
She stopped by.
Mr.
Bergreen, were Kate and Laura with you together? No.
If either one of your daughters asked you to provide an alibi I answered your questions.
Now get out.
Two shaky alibis, two legitimate motives, Kate's gun, Laura's prints.
Maybe they did it together.
I sure as hell don't buy those now-you-see-her, now-you-don't visits to the old man.
We got no proof of a conspiracy.
Well, anyone you pick up now won't be arraigned until tomorrow.
We'll stick them in jail overnight, see who starts talking.
Laura Bergreen, you're under arrest for the murder of Richard Spiegel.
What are you doing? Would you please turn around? Oh, you're going to regret this.
You have the right to remain silent Is this some kind of sick joke? Come on.
Because I am not laughing, and my lawyer won't be either.
I don't know who authorized this, but Your sister is two rooms down.
I understand she didn't care for the powdered eggs at Central Booking.
Between fending off advances and waiting for toilet privileges, I didn't have time to ask.
I wouldn't think you'd want to go back.
Has it sunk in yet, Miss Bergreen? The situation you're in? You mean being the target of envious and vindictive district attorneys? I mean the prospect of spending the rest of your life in prison.
How'd you sleep last night? You know something I've learned as a prosecutor? Family members turn on each other as often as anybody else.
Whatever blood oath they may have taken, as soon as things fall apart, one of them talks.
And whoever talks first is much better off.
Are you offering immunity? Her gun is the murder weapon.
It was in a drawer in my office.
Eight thousand people knew where it was.
You have no case, Miss Ross.
And unless you're dropping the charges or offering immunity, we have no reason to give you anything.
Your client's fingerprints are on the murder weapon.
She showed me her gun when she bought it.
She wanted me to see how light it was.
You were so desperate to stop Spiegel's plan to inform your father, you ordered your comptroller Says Charles Herman, who has immunity.
Your New-Age friend will testify that Mr.
Spiegel was going to divorce you and take your child.
If that statement were admissible in court, we'd contest it.
What makes you think it isn't? My client's conversations with Mr.
Arbaugh are privileged.
On what grounds? Priest-penitent.
It's amazing.
He's like a shrink and a rabbi rolled into one.
After graduation from Yale Divinity, I was ordained by the Episcopal Church.
Then I ministered two small congregations in Virginia.
But after a time, you left the church.
Church work became too confining.
Too many demands from parishioners, not enough time for serious studies.
So you never gave up your religious studies.
Oh, no.
Nor did I give up my counseling work.
I became a personal spiritual advisor.
So your work with Kate Bergreen was in your role as clergyman.
Oh, yes.
She referred to our meetings as spiritual sessions.
During these sessions, did Kate Bergreen ever talk about her marriage? She talked about her problems with Richard all the time.
We were working to overcome them when he died.
Thank you very much.
Mr.
Arbaugh, in your capacity as spiritual advisor to Mrs.
Spiegel, did you receive a salary? Yes.
What was that salary? I was paid $400 a week.
And for that $400, did you provide any services other than spiritual advice? I helped out around the house.
How? I walked the dogs and watered the plants.
Some of the people we spoke to out there said that you also cut the grass, wash the cars, do some house painting, clean the pool.
Goes on.
Is this an accurate list? Sloth is bad for the soul.
What percentage of the time you're working is spent performing spiritual as opposed to secular duties? I'm always a priest.
Who spends most of his time mowing the lawn.
You can hardly be called a professional member of the clergy.
The declaration of belief I took committed me to the 39 Articles of the Faith of my church.
Show me one article that says a priest can't walk the dog.
A court-anointed clergyman.
Wonder how Cardinal O'Connor feels about being equated with Jeffrey Arbaugh.
Not as bad as I feel.
His Eminence doesn't have to try a murder case without a motive.
Losing Kate's motive is the least of our problems.
And I don't see any proof of conspiracy.
They both had reasons to want Spiegel dead.
They're both tied to the murder weapon.
Where is the proof that they agreed to kill him? Unfortunately, they didn't sign a contract.
We can't talk to their shrinks, their friends won't talk to us.
Who's left? Miss Laura said I should call her if you people came by.
She was very unhappy with the mess you made here last time.
I came to speak with you.
Me? I have my Green Card.
I'm not from the INS, Mrs.
Manquez, I'm from the District Attorney's Office.
It's in your best interest to talk to me.
Okay.
Come in.
In the days before Mr.
Spiegel was murdered, did Kate Bergreen come here to visit her sister? I don't remember.
What about Miss Laura? Did she visit with Kate or talk to her on the phone? I don't remember.
Look, Mrs.
Manquez, I appreciate your loyalty to your employer, but withholding information is a crime.
You don't look like a criminal to me.
I heard something.
It might mean something.
What did you hear? Well, the night before Mr.
Spiegel died, Mrs.
Kate did call here, and she asked to speak with Miss Laura right away.
So she was with her masseur, and I brought her the portable phone, and I left the room.
I didn't hear nothing.
Do you know where I can find this masseur? Very nice people.
Big tippers.
What kind of mood was Laura in? Who knows about moods of rich people? She looked dark, unhappy.
With money like that, I would be happy all the time.
Was there anything that was making her particularly unhappy that night? She didn't talk to me.
But hands feel stress.
More after Kate called.
Did you hear what she said to Kate? Only when they start to argue.
Then I hear, "We have to stop him.
" I don't want to hear personal conversation.
I say, "Do you want me to leave?" Now Miss Bergreen angry at me, says, "You are not going anywhere.
" What did Laura say next? She turned away on phone.
Still argue.
I hear, "If you don't do it, Kate, then I will.
" Then she says, "Okay," and come back on table.
Thank you.
Uh How about I give you a full-body massage, no charge? How many ways can I say it? There was no conspiracy.
The conversation between Kate and Laura is proof of an agreement to kill Richard Spiegel.
It's one side of a phone call taken totally out of context.
If anything, it implicates Laura.
It's an agreement.
If you people had even the smallest clue, you'd realize that my sister and I haven't agreed on anything since the day I was born.
Kate, let me handle this.
Does anyone care what we really talked about that night? Or is mounting my head on the wall all you're interested in? Tell us.
Not until we know what you're doing for us.
Fair enough.
Your client pleads guilty to conspiracy, we tell the judge she cooperated I'm talking about full immunity.
Nothing short.
That must have been some conversation.
It was.
You have it.
Richard knew Laura's expansion plans were destroying the company.
He told her she should step down.
She could still be called President, she just wouldn't be running the company anymore.
Laura said she'd do whatever was necessary to stop him.
I called to settle her down, but all she could talk about was, "He has to be stopped.
If you don't do it, I will.
" Your client has been indicted for murder.
Why haven't we heard this already? I just told my lawyer, after my stay in jail.
I don't know why I didn't mention it earlier.
I didn't think she meant I guess I didn't want to believe it.
You want me to grant immunity to Kate Bergreen, whether or not she killed her husband.
Her version of the phone conversation is consistent with the theory of Laura as sole killer, but I don't buy it.
Yesterday, the same conversation made Kate a co-conspirator.
That's right, and I think we can convict them both.
And I think with their father as an alibi, there's a good chance they'll both walk.
We make this deal with Kate, at least one of the sisters goes away for the murder.
Are we more concerned with our conviction rate or with seeking justice? Laura was the driving force in this, and, I think, the shooter.
If you really believe that, make your deal.
The night before he died, Laura threatened my husband.
Do you know what prompted your sister's threat? My sister knew that Richard was about to let our father know about the damage she had done to Bergreen's.
Why was Laura's fear of exposure to your father so frightening to her? Objection.
Calls for speculation.
No one knows Laura Bergreen better than her own sister.
Objection sustained.
I'll re-phrase the question.
Did Laura ever tell you how she felt about being exposed to your father? Yes.
The night before the murder.
What did she say? She said she'd spent the last 20 years working at the store for one reason, to prove to my father that she could take it over.
And she asked for the millionth time how I could have married Richard.
How did you respond to that? I told her how I live my life was none of her business.
And what about Richard's plan to expose her? What did you say about that? Well, I don't remember exactly.
It was something like, "Dad'll understand.
" I was trying to calm her down, but she just kept going.
She said if Richard talked to him, Dad wouldn't give her another chance.
She was talking like he was going to disown her.
Thank you.
Nothing further.
Weren't you also charged by Mr.
McCoy with murdering your husband? Answer my question, Mrs.
Spiegel.
You were charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder, correct? Those charges have been dismissed.
They were only dismissed after you volunteered to testify against your sister.
I volunteered to tell the truth.
The entire truth would have to include all the reasons you had to kill your husband.
I loved my husband.
Your affair with Paul Medici, the prospect of a messy divorce Objection.
Assumes facts not in the record.
Objection overruled.
In fact, your affair embroiled your family in a multi-million dollar lawsuit.
You had more to hide from your father than Laura.
None of that changes what my sister did.
Laura got to Kate's apartment about 9:45 p.
m.
She stayed for a little over an hour.
How can you be so certain about the time Laura arrived? I take my heart medication four times a day.
That night, Laura brought me my pills a little before the 10:00 news started.
Thank you, Mr.
Bergreen.
Nothing further.
Your other daughter, Kate, arrived home about 9:30 p.
m.
Yes.
And shortly thereafter, Kate also came to your room.
Yes.
Maybe you can help me with something that doesn't make sense, Mr.
Bergreen.
Kate said she watched the news with you.
Laura said she watched the news with you, too.
But they didn't see each other.
How can that be? Did you watch the news twice? Yes.
Isn't it true that Laura couldn't have seen Kate that night because Laura wasn't at the apartment at 10:00 p.
m.
When Richard Spiegel was murdered? You have it backwards, Mr.
McCoy.
It was Kate who wasn't at the apartment.
She was at the store.
She Sidebar, Your Honor.
Objection to the sidebar, Your Honor.
I'd like to hear what this witness has to say.
The unabridged version.
So would I.
Continue, Mr.
Bergreen.
She needed me to cover for her because she wasn't at the apartment till after 11:00 that night.
What did she need you to cover for? She told me the next day.
She killed Richard.
So your father is lying? Of course he's lying.
To protect Laura.
Neat trick.
Your father says you confessed, you deny it, the jury has reasonable doubt.
Your sister walks, and you're immune from prosecution.
Dad said he was talking to Laura's lawyer, Greer.
Greer told him I had nothing to worry about because of the immunity.
Laura's lawyer told him to offer that testimony? I don't know.
I know my father would do anything he had to to keep Laura out of jail.
And you weren't in on it? Oh, yeah, I was in on it.
Kate has been completely forthright, and I resent your implying Do you think I would volunteer to be branded a murderer? A husband-killer? And then what? I stroll through the rest of my life like nothing happened? It's nonsense, and you know it.
Seymour Bergreen perjured himself.
Go after him.
No.
No.
The idea that Kate confessed to her father is a joke.
Hmm.
Some joke.
We go after Seymour for perjury.
You think that'll get him to recant his testimony? The idea sure bothered Kate.
Maybe she'll convince him to come clean.
Maybe she won't.
It's no time to speculate.
Closing arguments start tomorrow.
We can ask for a continuance.
'Cause your case is out the window.
If Laura's lawyer told Seymour to lie, he suborned perjury.
That what Kate said? It sounded like it to me.
Maybe Judge Larkin will grant us a continuance to investigate the charge.
No sense being timid.
I'm gonna ask for a mistrial.
Suborning perjury? That's preposterous.
Prior to his testimony, Mr.
Bergreen asked me about Kate's legal status.
I simply assured him that she was immune from further prosecution.
The implication is obvious.
He assured Mr.
Bergreen he could lie on the stand at no risk to Kate.
The possibility of an ethical violation casts a taint on the integrity of this trial, Your Honor.
There's the ethical violation! Mr.
Greer, restrain yourself.
What is it you want here, Mr.
McCoy? I see no alternative to your declaring a mistrial.
On the basis of a single ambiguous statement attributed to Mr.
Greer? We only started our investigation.
He's desperate, Your Honor.
He's stalling.
I'm sorry, Mr.
Greer, but under these circumstances, I have no choice but to take the mistrial application under advisement.
I have a better idea, Your Honor.
If Mr.
McCoy needs some time to conduct his investigation, I'd agree to a short continuance.
How long would you need? Two weeks, minimum.
You get five days.
Mr.
Bergreen, sometimes we do things without fully considering all the ramifications.
Have you thought about the effects of your testimony? And I don't just mean getting Laura off.
You'll always love Kate, but other people are not as tolerant as you are of a confessed murderer.
You don't need to concern yourself with me or my family.
What you said in court will ruin Kate's life.
She'll be a pariah.
It's an ignominious existence, and you will be responsible.
Unless you recant your testimony.
Which would mean Laura goes to jail.
What would you do? Did you come up with this scheme by yourself? You gave her immunity.
It's not my fault.
Either you lied on the stand, Mr.
Bergreen, or you lied to the police.
There's about five felonies we can charge you with.
Do you really want to go to jail? Tell us the truth.
The truth is, I love my daughters.
Both of them.
We'll see how much they love you.
You're going to be arrested.
Why are you doing this? We have no choice.
What he said about me is wrong, but he was just trying to protect Laura.
All of it is wrong.
A trial will kill him.
I'm sorry.
Three days, no word from Laura's camp.
Where are we on the subornation charge? Greer answered all our subpoenas.
We haven't found anything in the record to support it.
Yeah, so we go back to trial in two days with nothing.
See if Laura'll take a plea.
I think we're wasting our time.
You're not being paid by the hour.
Find out.
And if she says no, we got real troubles, don't we? I guess your smear campaign failed.
My office turned over a truckload of records, and you still couldn't come up with anything.
We'd like to discuss a plea for your client.
How do you sleep at night, McCoy? Why don't you represent your client now and chew me out later? We're not dealing.
My sister said she did it.
That's a matter of opinion.
We're prepared to drop the charges against your father in exchange for your I said no deals.
Is this what you wanted? Your father going to jail? He will not go to jail.
He's bluffing.
Laura isn't even interested in hearing the offer.
Game-playing's over.
Finish the trial.
What about Seymour's perjury charge? It's a felony.
If we drop the charge, we look like even bigger jackasses.
Offer him a plea and a $10,000 fine.
He can afford it.
Now, go face the music.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict? We have, Your Honor.
Would the defendant please rise? On the sole count of the indictment, murder in the second degree, how does the jury find? We find the defendant, Laura Bergreen, not guilty.
The defendant is released.
The jury is excused.
This court is adjourned.
We screwed up.
We're not supposed to screw up.
You act like it's the first case you ever lost.
It isn't.
Doesn't mean I have to like it.
A murder goes unpunished, it's bad for business.
Laura Bergreen's not the first rich person to get away with murder, and she won't be the last.
These are their stories.
I'm afraid you're going to have to come out of there, ma'am.
Store's closed.
I'm sorry, I'm not dressed yet.
I'm sorry, ma'am.
Rules are rules.
Are you going to punish me? Depends on whether you cooperate.
Try this one.
Jose, this is completely see-through.
So? Come on, I just finished my rounds.
Floors five, six and seven are all ours.
What was that? Wait here.
No, here.
On second thought, you better go.
Pass key will get you out.
Bobby, it's Jose.
I heard something on eight.
Sounded like shots.
I'll send someone up.
Hello, Bobby, call an ambulance.
Oh, damn, it's Mr.
Spiegel.
Jose, what's going on up there? Who's that? Jose? Irma, baby, I told you to go.
I got scared.
Oh, my God! Go, baby.
Go! I was in the seventh-floor dressing room when I heard the shots.
That part of your usual rounds? No, no.
Not really.
Well, what were you doing there? If I tell you, it's gonna cost me my job.
If you don't tell me, I'm gonna think you have something to hide.
I was in there with my girlfriend.
It wasn't like that.
She was modeling stuff.
Underwear.
What time did she leave? Right after I found Mr.
Spiegel.
But you gotta leave her out of it.
She still lives at home.
Her old man finds out, he's gonna kill her.
Well, you better come up with a story for pops, because we're gonna have to talk to her.
Bobby Fox, head of security.
Before that, 20 years at the 19.
I was in the security office when Jose called in the shots.
The victim's an executive here? Yeah, Richard Spiegel, chief financial officer.
Kate Bergreen's husband.
Wow.
Yeah, the ones who own the place.
Hmm.
Well, somebody got out without setting off security.
Well, the executive suite has its own elevator and exit to the street.
No whistles, no bells.
What about the rest of the store? It's wired all around.
But they hand out the pass keys like they're gumballs.
I warned them, but unless you make six figures, the Bergreens don't want to have much to do with you.
Lucky us.
Jose told us you got to the store at about 8:00? I don't know why I let him talk me into it.
Did you notice anything suspicious on your way out? I wasn't exactly looking.
I mean, I was so freaked.
That dead guy's eyes were open, staring up.
How about when you arrived? Can you think of anything that might help us? There was this guy, this tall, skinny guy with long brown hair standing outside, screaming.
Where? By the executive entrance.
But at first, I just figured he was some crazy guy.
Something changed your mind? I saw he was on a cell phone, ragging on somebody.
Did you get close enough to see his face? I was in a hurry.
Jose was waiting.
Your murder weapon's a.
22 caliber pistol.
Could be a stealth shooter for the mob.
Any signs of burglary? Well, they're still trying to figure out if anything's missing.
Kind of stuff that store carries, two shopping bags worth would be quite a haul.
Best shoe department in the city.
Highest prices, too.
You know, it also could be a current or former employee running around with a pass key.
Well, have somebody run their names through BCI.
What about the wife? Kate Bergreen-Spiegel has two secretaries.
One for work, and another one for her appointments at her apartment.
You ever hear of that? In Danielle Steele novels.
Yeah, well, her home secretary has managed to squeeze us in for a 10 o'clock.
I spoke to Richard about 7:00.
He was waiting in his office for a call.
Thank you.
He said he didn't know when he'd be home.
And that's the last time you spoke to him? Yeah.
You were here all night? With Dad, and Chloe, my daughter.
How do you tell a three-year-old her daddy's never coming home? Do we have to do this now? Well, it's best to get all this while it's still fresh in your mind.
What were your husband's responsibilities at the store? I brought in Richard six months ago to supervise our expansion.
More stores? Yes.
Chicago, Dallas and Beverly Hills.
All Laura's idea.
My other daughter.
When my doctor made me retire, I made Laura and Kate co-presidents.
What did Spiegel do before he came to work for you? Richard was CFO of Cromwell Industries.
He had a brilliant financial mind.
Did your husband have any enemies that you know of? Business associates? Employees he might've let go? I'm sure he fired people.
He did all of that.
Did he ever mention anybody who was particularly upset? We never talked about business much.
You are co-president of the company.
I'm president of clothes.
Everything you see when you walk through the store.
Richard handled everything else.
With my sister.
Believe me, I wish I could take the day off to grieve.
It's bad enough that your investigation delayed our opening for two hours.
The show must go on, huh? If the store is open, someone has to be here running it.
We understand that Mr.
Spiegel let several employees go recently.
A few.
But they were all given very generous severances.
Do you think a former employee is responsible? A man gets murdered in the workplace, it's a logical place to start.
Any non-employees he might've offended? Probably several hundred a day.
This is New York.
I mean business associates, suppliers.
That type of non-employee.
The only people we seem to offend is our competition.
Anybody in particular? D&S.
Davenport and Styles.
They seem to think we're engaged in some kind of holy war.
Over what? Our designers mostly.
The latest battleground was Paul Medici.
They claimed they had him exclusively.
We disagreed.
Richard was dealing with the lawyers.
They were suing you? For several million dollars.
Richard thought that they were just posturing.
When was the last time you saw Richard? Around 7:00, as I was leaving the building.
He was waiting for Mr.
Medici.
They'd been trading calls all day.
He needed me to come in and sign some legal papers.
Papers regarding the D&S case? Yeah, that's right.
Richard said they'd settled their differences and everyone would walk away happy.
Yourself included? Absolutely.
I'd think a little guy like you gets put in the middle of a big lawsuit, it couldn't be too good for business.
There's no such thing as bad publicity, Detective.
Actually, it was a very silly dispute.
First, D&S said I couldn't sell to anyone else, then they said I could.
No, no, no, no, no! Is no one listening? This is three inches too long.
Like this! Go, go.
Go make it happen! Spring shows begin next week.
This time of year, everyone gets on my nerves.
Everyone except Spiegel? I just signed the papers and left.
And what time was that? See, we got a report of a man matching your description outside Bergreen's right about that time.
A very angry man.
If that was me, I was on the phone with Valerie, my best cutter.
You'd think she'd pick a better time to elope.
You can call her in Vancouver.
And where'd you go after the meeting with Spiegel? I was at the AIDS Foundation benefit for kids at the Armory.
I donated some dresses.
I even paid for a patron's ticket.
$600.
One lousy litigation.
You believe the mess these lawyers can make? Anyone been able to translate? Well, D&S claimed Bergreen's enticed Medici into violating the terms of his contract.
They said he was making private label dresses for Bergreen's while he was exclusive to them.
Hey, Lennie, didn't you work with this guy? John Podbielski? Pot Belly? Yeah.
John and I once worked vice in the 13.
He signed an affidavit declaring he'd seen the private label dresses being made at Medici's sweatshop.
Take him for a walk in the park.
I'd be looking at Medici.
He was gonna take a hit on the settlement? Parties to the suit were proposing that he eat the dresses he manufactured for Bergreen.
Ouch.
Yeah.
It was a lot more combustible than that.
Spiegel's the guy who proposed stiffing him.
He doesn't want to pay his bills.
So what else is new? From where I sit, Spiegel wanted Medici going down in flames.
Why? I tell you that, I'm violating my contract.
These guys still owe me money.
You don't want to help us clear a homicide? Hey, Pot Belly, come on.
We collared $5 whores together.
This is gonna cost me a very good client.
Hey, John, how often do you need a set of plates run? Medici's been throwing a little humpski into Spiegel's wife.
Ooh.
Did Spiegel know? I didn't tell him.
I don't even think Medici knew we were on to him.
How long? Twice a week at least for the two months I've been assigned.
Any documentation? Like animals they go at it.
I got pictures.
Okay, we're alone.
We're in this delightful room.
Now do I get to know why you had to talk to me again? How long you been involved with Kate Spiegel? She's Bergreen's fashion director.
She saw my designs a couple of years ago, and I Who took these? Put yourself in the here and now, Paul.
Whoever took them, there they are.
That's what we want to talk to you about.
I'm sure you can understand why I would be reluctant to broadcast my involvement with Kate.
Your reluctance to broadcast is what we call hindering prosecution.
It's a felony.
We were having an affair.
It happens.
Even among police detectives, I would think.
You were the last one to see Spiegel alive, he was screwing you with this lawsuit, and you're doing his wife.
I had nothing to do with Spiegel's murder, I swear.
Yeah, but if Spiegel was out of the way, it would make things a whole lot easier for the two of you, wouldn't it? You think I wanted to marry her? To move in together? No.
I liked things just the way they were.
You tell Kate that? Was that her attitude? I don't know.
She never talked about her marriage, and I didn't ask.
Yeah, and the fact that she had more money than God and ran the most important store in town, this was just a physical thing, right? Exactly.
Yeah, with all those models hanging around I find all women beautiful, Detective.
Yeah, well, Paul, there's one other problem, see.
That AIDS benefit you were attending the night of the murder? Nobody saw you there.
Now, we're gonna start all over.
The affair, what happened last night.
Don't waste our time again.
I was with Kate at my showroom.
The Medici Benefit.
What time did Kate leave? About 9:30.
Spiegel didn't get killed until 10:00.
After Kate left, I called Petra.
A model.
She came by at 10:00, and stayed all night.
You can call her.
A killer's walking around, my husband's killer, and you're wasting your time investigating my personal life.
You haven't answered the question, Mrs.
Spiegel.
I was not with Paul Medici that night or any other.
Well, Paul says you were with him at the start of the evening, and he was with another acquaintance later.
The later part we got verified.
If Paul says he was with me, he's a liar.
Was that your daughter we passed on the way in? The little girl standing with your father? Why? I wouldn't want her to walk in while I was showing you these.
Well, I bet the boys down at the precinct got a big charge out of these.
Did you pass them around? Were you with Paul Medici the night your husband was killed? Is my total humiliation your objective? Because if it is, you have certainly succeeded.
Yes, I was with him.
We had sex that very night.
Would you like to know what positions? When did you leave his studio? I don't know.
About 9:00.
That's not what you told us before.
Because I wanted to spare my family embarrassment.
Is that something you can possibly understand? Where'd you go after you left? Home.
I was home from 9:30 on.
Can anyone corroborate that? I went to the kitchen for some tea.
I went to my father's room.
We watched the news together.
My God, I feel like I'm a suspect here.
Was your husband aware of your affair with Medici? Yes, he was.
And how did he react? Well, I hate to disappoint you, Detective, but there was no big fight.
There was no divorce.
There was no custody battle.
A model family.
Richard and I had an open marriage.
I was free to partner with anyone I wished as long as I took proper precautions, which I always did.
Then why was your husband playing tough with Medici on this contract dispute? Are the two of you dense? I know nothing about business things.
I never cared.
But Richard was not out to get anybody.
Well, call me old-fashioned, Mrs.
Spiegel, but I find that hard to believe.
We are not like you, Detective.
So you don't buy the open marriage scenario? Not unless Spiegel tells me himself.
LUDS from Spiegel's office phone came back.
Six calls the week before the murder to an attorney, David Solomon.
You know, I think his datebook listed an appointment with that guy on his last day.
It could be business related.
A month's salary this guy's a divorce lawyer.
You're on.
I don't do divorces.
I'm a criminal attorney.
What do you make a month? You were representing Richard Spiegel on a criminal charge? Well, that's privileged information.
Did it have anything to do with the D&S lawsuit against Bergreen's? No, see, that's a civil suit.
I am a criminal attorney.
And I'm a police detective.
What kind of criminal law do you practice? Corporate.
Financial fraud, primarily.
What, was Spiegel in some kind of financial hot water? I can't comment on that.
Who can? Bergreen's comptroller, Charles Herman.
We asked Herman to come in, he showed up with his lawyer.
Well, we give him a walk on any of the creative accounting moves he pulled, he'll dish the dirt.
You think some kind of financial scam got Spiegel killed? Hey, money makes the world go around.
I mean, it's take-a-number time on who could've wanted this guy gone.
Herman have any kind of record? He's clean.
Let's see what he has to say.
I told Laura it was wrong and I didn't want to be a part of it.
I mean, every deduction on my income taxes is legitimate.
We'll take your confession later.
Tell us what was going on at the company.
The company was broke.
Mainly because Laura had so much money tied up in the expansion.
When things started going really bad, she insisted I use the employees' 401 k contributions to pay our bills.
Which is illegal.
She threatened to fire me.
I have two kids.
I can't Did Spiegel know? Not at first.
When he found out, he confronted Laura in my office.
He said she was breaking the law and he wouldn't stand for it.
She said she was the boss and things would be done her way.
Isn't her father still the CEO? He didn't know anything.
Laura wouldn't let me send him the monthly reports while he was recovering from his surgery.
She said bad news might kill him.
What do you think? I think Laura was more concerned about Mr.
Bergreen finding out she was doing a bad job.
Did you ever hear Laura threaten Spiegel? Not specifically.
Laura said Kate brought in Spiegel to make her look bad, and Spiegel thought Laura was incompetent.
Yes, our cash reserves are a little low right now, but when the December revenues are posted You have to understand that Charles Herman is a nervous little man who doesn't understand the first thing about the retail clothing business.
You said you left the store at 7:00? That's right.
And what did you do after you left? I stopped for dinner.
Where? An Indian restaurant on Sixth Street between First and Second.
And, no, I don't remember the name.
Did you use a credit card? No, I paid in cash.
I'm afraid I have to tell you that I'm beginning to feel like I'm a suspect.
Where did you go after dinner? I visited my father.
What time? My God, the only thing that's missing is a spotlight shining in my face.
I think I got there a little before and then I went home.
Is that good enough? Did you see your sister? No.
You were in your sister's apartment and you never saw her? My sister has an 18-room townhouse.
It's not that difficult to miss each other.
I don't get how both sisters could be visiting their father at 10:00 and not see each other.
I don't care how big the place is.
Which one do you like? Maybe Laura? Laura gets rid of Spiegel 'cause he's about to expose her financial shenanigans.
Which would put her in jail and Spiegel in her office.
Curtis.
Or Kate killed him because a divorce would make her lose her kid and half her money.
A woman in a custody battle.
Not a pretty picture.
Okay, good.
Send it over to the lab for prints.
Thanks.
A couple of uniforms in the 35 took a.
22 Ruger off an armed robbery perp.
Ballistics says it's our murder weapon.
Perp's being transferred to our precinct now.
We have some more questions we need to ask you, Clarence.
Look, man, I already I told those other officers that I robbed the grocery store.
I did it.
You know, that's very refreshing, you taking responsibility like that.
But we're interested in where you got the gun you used.
But I Could I say something first? I just wanted to tell you that if smack were legal, see, I wouldn't have to be robbing nobody, 'cause I would buy it in a store, and it would probably only be like a dollar a hit.
That's a very nice vision of the future, Clarence.
Now, will you tell us where you got the gun? I found it in a trash can.
Where? Are you gonna help me out? If you give me some answers, I'll talk to the D.
A.
, sure.
All right.
The trash can was right outside this big store over on 50th.
Bergreen's? Yeah.
Clarence here found the gun in a trash can just outside the store.
I'll raise you.
Laura Bergreen's prints are on the barrel.
Nice call, Rey.
Her prints are in the system? Yeah, she was busted for smoking pot when she was 18.
The gun's permitted to a Jeffrey Arbaugh.
He gives Seymour Bergreen's East Hampton estate as his address.
Mmm-mmm.
What is it you say, Lennie? "Thank God they're stupid"? Yeah, even the rich ones.
Jeffery Arbaugh? It's Arbaugh.
Rhymes with "saw.
" Well, Mr.
Rhymes-with-saw, your gun was used to kill Richard Spiegel, and you happen to live in his father-in-law's house.
You want to explain all that? Richard's dead? You didn't know? This is terrible.
Nobody told me.
I don't read papers or watch TV.
I prefer face-to-face communication.
Oh, thanks.
I'll remember that.
So, where were you two nights ago? I was teaching my transcendental meditation class.
I know, you think TM has been supplanted by more with-it forms of meditation, but I have to tell you Hey! How did your gun end up killing Mr.
Spiegel? I don't consider it mine.
It's registered to you.
Kate felt unsafe much of the time.
She thought a gun, its being more than its presence, would make her feel more secure.
I bought it for her as a favor.
So it was Kate's gun.
I suppose.
In a physical sense.
What exactly is your relationship to Kate? I'm her philosophical and spiritual exploration guide.
And I feed the dogs.
Did she ever seek your guidance on her marriage? I don't think I should You should.
She was very troubled.
Why? Richard had threatened to divorce her and seek custody of their child.
Mr.
Bergreen, your son-in-law was shot with your daughter's gun.
And your other daughter's fingerprints are on it.
Somehow, this investigation keeps leading us back here.
Notwithstanding, my daughters had nothing to do with Richard's death.
You told us before Kate was with you the night of the murder? Correct.
Around 9:30? That's right.
What about Laura? Yes, she was here, too.
And what time was that? Around the same time.
She stopped by.
Mr.
Bergreen, were Kate and Laura with you together? No.
If either one of your daughters asked you to provide an alibi I answered your questions.
Now get out.
Two shaky alibis, two legitimate motives, Kate's gun, Laura's prints.
Maybe they did it together.
I sure as hell don't buy those now-you-see-her, now-you-don't visits to the old man.
We got no proof of a conspiracy.
Well, anyone you pick up now won't be arraigned until tomorrow.
We'll stick them in jail overnight, see who starts talking.
Laura Bergreen, you're under arrest for the murder of Richard Spiegel.
What are you doing? Would you please turn around? Oh, you're going to regret this.
You have the right to remain silent Is this some kind of sick joke? Come on.
Because I am not laughing, and my lawyer won't be either.
I don't know who authorized this, but Your sister is two rooms down.
I understand she didn't care for the powdered eggs at Central Booking.
Between fending off advances and waiting for toilet privileges, I didn't have time to ask.
I wouldn't think you'd want to go back.
Has it sunk in yet, Miss Bergreen? The situation you're in? You mean being the target of envious and vindictive district attorneys? I mean the prospect of spending the rest of your life in prison.
How'd you sleep last night? You know something I've learned as a prosecutor? Family members turn on each other as often as anybody else.
Whatever blood oath they may have taken, as soon as things fall apart, one of them talks.
And whoever talks first is much better off.
Are you offering immunity? Her gun is the murder weapon.
It was in a drawer in my office.
Eight thousand people knew where it was.
You have no case, Miss Ross.
And unless you're dropping the charges or offering immunity, we have no reason to give you anything.
Your client's fingerprints are on the murder weapon.
She showed me her gun when she bought it.
She wanted me to see how light it was.
You were so desperate to stop Spiegel's plan to inform your father, you ordered your comptroller Says Charles Herman, who has immunity.
Your New-Age friend will testify that Mr.
Spiegel was going to divorce you and take your child.
If that statement were admissible in court, we'd contest it.
What makes you think it isn't? My client's conversations with Mr.
Arbaugh are privileged.
On what grounds? Priest-penitent.
It's amazing.
He's like a shrink and a rabbi rolled into one.
After graduation from Yale Divinity, I was ordained by the Episcopal Church.
Then I ministered two small congregations in Virginia.
But after a time, you left the church.
Church work became too confining.
Too many demands from parishioners, not enough time for serious studies.
So you never gave up your religious studies.
Oh, no.
Nor did I give up my counseling work.
I became a personal spiritual advisor.
So your work with Kate Bergreen was in your role as clergyman.
Oh, yes.
She referred to our meetings as spiritual sessions.
During these sessions, did Kate Bergreen ever talk about her marriage? She talked about her problems with Richard all the time.
We were working to overcome them when he died.
Thank you very much.
Mr.
Arbaugh, in your capacity as spiritual advisor to Mrs.
Spiegel, did you receive a salary? Yes.
What was that salary? I was paid $400 a week.
And for that $400, did you provide any services other than spiritual advice? I helped out around the house.
How? I walked the dogs and watered the plants.
Some of the people we spoke to out there said that you also cut the grass, wash the cars, do some house painting, clean the pool.
Goes on.
Is this an accurate list? Sloth is bad for the soul.
What percentage of the time you're working is spent performing spiritual as opposed to secular duties? I'm always a priest.
Who spends most of his time mowing the lawn.
You can hardly be called a professional member of the clergy.
The declaration of belief I took committed me to the 39 Articles of the Faith of my church.
Show me one article that says a priest can't walk the dog.
A court-anointed clergyman.
Wonder how Cardinal O'Connor feels about being equated with Jeffrey Arbaugh.
Not as bad as I feel.
His Eminence doesn't have to try a murder case without a motive.
Losing Kate's motive is the least of our problems.
And I don't see any proof of conspiracy.
They both had reasons to want Spiegel dead.
They're both tied to the murder weapon.
Where is the proof that they agreed to kill him? Unfortunately, they didn't sign a contract.
We can't talk to their shrinks, their friends won't talk to us.
Who's left? Miss Laura said I should call her if you people came by.
She was very unhappy with the mess you made here last time.
I came to speak with you.
Me? I have my Green Card.
I'm not from the INS, Mrs.
Manquez, I'm from the District Attorney's Office.
It's in your best interest to talk to me.
Okay.
Come in.
In the days before Mr.
Spiegel was murdered, did Kate Bergreen come here to visit her sister? I don't remember.
What about Miss Laura? Did she visit with Kate or talk to her on the phone? I don't remember.
Look, Mrs.
Manquez, I appreciate your loyalty to your employer, but withholding information is a crime.
You don't look like a criminal to me.
I heard something.
It might mean something.
What did you hear? Well, the night before Mr.
Spiegel died, Mrs.
Kate did call here, and she asked to speak with Miss Laura right away.
So she was with her masseur, and I brought her the portable phone, and I left the room.
I didn't hear nothing.
Do you know where I can find this masseur? Very nice people.
Big tippers.
What kind of mood was Laura in? Who knows about moods of rich people? She looked dark, unhappy.
With money like that, I would be happy all the time.
Was there anything that was making her particularly unhappy that night? She didn't talk to me.
But hands feel stress.
More after Kate called.
Did you hear what she said to Kate? Only when they start to argue.
Then I hear, "We have to stop him.
" I don't want to hear personal conversation.
I say, "Do you want me to leave?" Now Miss Bergreen angry at me, says, "You are not going anywhere.
" What did Laura say next? She turned away on phone.
Still argue.
I hear, "If you don't do it, Kate, then I will.
" Then she says, "Okay," and come back on table.
Thank you.
Uh How about I give you a full-body massage, no charge? How many ways can I say it? There was no conspiracy.
The conversation between Kate and Laura is proof of an agreement to kill Richard Spiegel.
It's one side of a phone call taken totally out of context.
If anything, it implicates Laura.
It's an agreement.
If you people had even the smallest clue, you'd realize that my sister and I haven't agreed on anything since the day I was born.
Kate, let me handle this.
Does anyone care what we really talked about that night? Or is mounting my head on the wall all you're interested in? Tell us.
Not until we know what you're doing for us.
Fair enough.
Your client pleads guilty to conspiracy, we tell the judge she cooperated I'm talking about full immunity.
Nothing short.
That must have been some conversation.
It was.
You have it.
Richard knew Laura's expansion plans were destroying the company.
He told her she should step down.
She could still be called President, she just wouldn't be running the company anymore.
Laura said she'd do whatever was necessary to stop him.
I called to settle her down, but all she could talk about was, "He has to be stopped.
If you don't do it, I will.
" Your client has been indicted for murder.
Why haven't we heard this already? I just told my lawyer, after my stay in jail.
I don't know why I didn't mention it earlier.
I didn't think she meant I guess I didn't want to believe it.
You want me to grant immunity to Kate Bergreen, whether or not she killed her husband.
Her version of the phone conversation is consistent with the theory of Laura as sole killer, but I don't buy it.
Yesterday, the same conversation made Kate a co-conspirator.
That's right, and I think we can convict them both.
And I think with their father as an alibi, there's a good chance they'll both walk.
We make this deal with Kate, at least one of the sisters goes away for the murder.
Are we more concerned with our conviction rate or with seeking justice? Laura was the driving force in this, and, I think, the shooter.
If you really believe that, make your deal.
The night before he died, Laura threatened my husband.
Do you know what prompted your sister's threat? My sister knew that Richard was about to let our father know about the damage she had done to Bergreen's.
Why was Laura's fear of exposure to your father so frightening to her? Objection.
Calls for speculation.
No one knows Laura Bergreen better than her own sister.
Objection sustained.
I'll re-phrase the question.
Did Laura ever tell you how she felt about being exposed to your father? Yes.
The night before the murder.
What did she say? She said she'd spent the last 20 years working at the store for one reason, to prove to my father that she could take it over.
And she asked for the millionth time how I could have married Richard.
How did you respond to that? I told her how I live my life was none of her business.
And what about Richard's plan to expose her? What did you say about that? Well, I don't remember exactly.
It was something like, "Dad'll understand.
" I was trying to calm her down, but she just kept going.
She said if Richard talked to him, Dad wouldn't give her another chance.
She was talking like he was going to disown her.
Thank you.
Nothing further.
Weren't you also charged by Mr.
McCoy with murdering your husband? Answer my question, Mrs.
Spiegel.
You were charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder, correct? Those charges have been dismissed.
They were only dismissed after you volunteered to testify against your sister.
I volunteered to tell the truth.
The entire truth would have to include all the reasons you had to kill your husband.
I loved my husband.
Your affair with Paul Medici, the prospect of a messy divorce Objection.
Assumes facts not in the record.
Objection overruled.
In fact, your affair embroiled your family in a multi-million dollar lawsuit.
You had more to hide from your father than Laura.
None of that changes what my sister did.
Laura got to Kate's apartment about 9:45 p.
m.
She stayed for a little over an hour.
How can you be so certain about the time Laura arrived? I take my heart medication four times a day.
That night, Laura brought me my pills a little before the 10:00 news started.
Thank you, Mr.
Bergreen.
Nothing further.
Your other daughter, Kate, arrived home about 9:30 p.
m.
Yes.
And shortly thereafter, Kate also came to your room.
Yes.
Maybe you can help me with something that doesn't make sense, Mr.
Bergreen.
Kate said she watched the news with you.
Laura said she watched the news with you, too.
But they didn't see each other.
How can that be? Did you watch the news twice? Yes.
Isn't it true that Laura couldn't have seen Kate that night because Laura wasn't at the apartment at 10:00 p.
m.
When Richard Spiegel was murdered? You have it backwards, Mr.
McCoy.
It was Kate who wasn't at the apartment.
She was at the store.
She Sidebar, Your Honor.
Objection to the sidebar, Your Honor.
I'd like to hear what this witness has to say.
The unabridged version.
So would I.
Continue, Mr.
Bergreen.
She needed me to cover for her because she wasn't at the apartment till after 11:00 that night.
What did she need you to cover for? She told me the next day.
She killed Richard.
So your father is lying? Of course he's lying.
To protect Laura.
Neat trick.
Your father says you confessed, you deny it, the jury has reasonable doubt.
Your sister walks, and you're immune from prosecution.
Dad said he was talking to Laura's lawyer, Greer.
Greer told him I had nothing to worry about because of the immunity.
Laura's lawyer told him to offer that testimony? I don't know.
I know my father would do anything he had to to keep Laura out of jail.
And you weren't in on it? Oh, yeah, I was in on it.
Kate has been completely forthright, and I resent your implying Do you think I would volunteer to be branded a murderer? A husband-killer? And then what? I stroll through the rest of my life like nothing happened? It's nonsense, and you know it.
Seymour Bergreen perjured himself.
Go after him.
No.
No.
The idea that Kate confessed to her father is a joke.
Hmm.
Some joke.
We go after Seymour for perjury.
You think that'll get him to recant his testimony? The idea sure bothered Kate.
Maybe she'll convince him to come clean.
Maybe she won't.
It's no time to speculate.
Closing arguments start tomorrow.
We can ask for a continuance.
'Cause your case is out the window.
If Laura's lawyer told Seymour to lie, he suborned perjury.
That what Kate said? It sounded like it to me.
Maybe Judge Larkin will grant us a continuance to investigate the charge.
No sense being timid.
I'm gonna ask for a mistrial.
Suborning perjury? That's preposterous.
Prior to his testimony, Mr.
Bergreen asked me about Kate's legal status.
I simply assured him that she was immune from further prosecution.
The implication is obvious.
He assured Mr.
Bergreen he could lie on the stand at no risk to Kate.
The possibility of an ethical violation casts a taint on the integrity of this trial, Your Honor.
There's the ethical violation! Mr.
Greer, restrain yourself.
What is it you want here, Mr.
McCoy? I see no alternative to your declaring a mistrial.
On the basis of a single ambiguous statement attributed to Mr.
Greer? We only started our investigation.
He's desperate, Your Honor.
He's stalling.
I'm sorry, Mr.
Greer, but under these circumstances, I have no choice but to take the mistrial application under advisement.
I have a better idea, Your Honor.
If Mr.
McCoy needs some time to conduct his investigation, I'd agree to a short continuance.
How long would you need? Two weeks, minimum.
You get five days.
Mr.
Bergreen, sometimes we do things without fully considering all the ramifications.
Have you thought about the effects of your testimony? And I don't just mean getting Laura off.
You'll always love Kate, but other people are not as tolerant as you are of a confessed murderer.
You don't need to concern yourself with me or my family.
What you said in court will ruin Kate's life.
She'll be a pariah.
It's an ignominious existence, and you will be responsible.
Unless you recant your testimony.
Which would mean Laura goes to jail.
What would you do? Did you come up with this scheme by yourself? You gave her immunity.
It's not my fault.
Either you lied on the stand, Mr.
Bergreen, or you lied to the police.
There's about five felonies we can charge you with.
Do you really want to go to jail? Tell us the truth.
The truth is, I love my daughters.
Both of them.
We'll see how much they love you.
You're going to be arrested.
Why are you doing this? We have no choice.
What he said about me is wrong, but he was just trying to protect Laura.
All of it is wrong.
A trial will kill him.
I'm sorry.
Three days, no word from Laura's camp.
Where are we on the subornation charge? Greer answered all our subpoenas.
We haven't found anything in the record to support it.
Yeah, so we go back to trial in two days with nothing.
See if Laura'll take a plea.
I think we're wasting our time.
You're not being paid by the hour.
Find out.
And if she says no, we got real troubles, don't we? I guess your smear campaign failed.
My office turned over a truckload of records, and you still couldn't come up with anything.
We'd like to discuss a plea for your client.
How do you sleep at night, McCoy? Why don't you represent your client now and chew me out later? We're not dealing.
My sister said she did it.
That's a matter of opinion.
We're prepared to drop the charges against your father in exchange for your I said no deals.
Is this what you wanted? Your father going to jail? He will not go to jail.
He's bluffing.
Laura isn't even interested in hearing the offer.
Game-playing's over.
Finish the trial.
What about Seymour's perjury charge? It's a felony.
If we drop the charge, we look like even bigger jackasses.
Offer him a plea and a $10,000 fine.
He can afford it.
Now, go face the music.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict? We have, Your Honor.
Would the defendant please rise? On the sole count of the indictment, murder in the second degree, how does the jury find? We find the defendant, Laura Bergreen, not guilty.
The defendant is released.
The jury is excused.
This court is adjourned.
We screwed up.
We're not supposed to screw up.
You act like it's the first case you ever lost.
It isn't.
Doesn't mean I have to like it.
A murder goes unpunished, it's bad for business.
Laura Bergreen's not the first rich person to get away with murder, and she won't be the last.