The Closer s07e14 Episode Script
Road Block
Look, I know I said I'd stop by but it's getting kind of late.
This Q&A I did at the law school? It went long.
What'd the future scumbags of America want to know about? Mostly search-and-seizure rules.
Did you demonstrate on the coeds? Come on.
They were all too young.
Too young for you, but not for me.
My cutoff is 25, buddy.
So, how much you get paid for a lecture gig like this? Oh, I got some great gifts -- a T-shirt, a coffee mug And the professor's phone number.
Yeah? What's his name? Oh, very funny.
Anyway So, are you still gonna pick me up tomorrow? Oh, my God! Flynn? Andy! Andy! What the hell?! What happened?! There's been an accident! There's been an accident! Are you hurt? No, no.
I'm fine.
Listen, get an ambulance.
South side of Beverly, just east of Martel! Okay, okay, okay.
Don't move, sweetheart.
Help is on the way, okay? My dad's gonna be so mad.
He didn't want me to ride the bike.
Tell me your name.
What's your me? Gracey.
Okay, Gracey, did you see the driver of the car that hit you? All I saw were headlights.
II-I think I'm okay.
I'm good.
I don't feel anything.
- Just help me up.
- No, no, no.
You -- you just lie there, okay? An ambulance is on the way.
I'm so sorry to cause you all this trouble.
I really think I'm okay.
Listen -- listen, sweetheart, it's no trouble at all.
You were in an accident.
Hey, you're a champ, Gracey.
You're a champ.
Yeah, you're doing good.
You're doing good, sweetheart.
You're doing good.
Gracey, don't Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Oh, no! Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God! Oh, my God.
Oh, no! Oh.
Oh.
I-I'm sorry.
I-I think I may have left my purse here.
Gail! I thought you left.
Well, I thought I had, too.
I can't find my car.
I think it's been stolen.
Oh, not the Mercedes.
Oh, no, this is awful.
My car, purse the phone, the credit cards, everything.
Oh, honey, you should have valeted.
I could have valeted! I'll call the police.
Would you like me to tell them who you are? No, no, no.
No.
- Yes.
- No, don't do that.
- Yes.
- Well, yes, maybe If you think it'll move things along faster.
Would you look at me? My hands are shaking.
Oh, you poor baby.
Let's get you a drink.
What would you like? Oh, you know what? I think I'll have something with vodka please? Right away.
Mom? Hey, mom, is that you? Hi, honey.
I'm sorry I'm late.
I-I would have called, but somebody stole my purse.
Somebody stole it, or you left it somewhere? No, this time, someone actually took it.
And they took my car, too.
Can you believe it? Mom, do you really need that? After the night I have had, yes, mommy needs a nightcap.
Well, at least you didn't drive home.
No.
Your dad's boys in blue brought me right to the front door, only too happy to help the police commissioner's wife.
Oh, go back to bed.
I'm just gonna Sit for a while.
Okay.
- Oh, oh.
Good morning, Mrs.
Myers.
- Good morning.
Uh, Lieutenant Provenza, uh, Lieutenant Flynn, L.
A.
P.
D.
Oh, my God.
Don't tell me you've already found my Mercedes.
No, no, but we're working on it.
Uh, I know it's an imposition, but Chief Pope asked if you wouldn't mind coming downtown to look at some photos of people who might have been at the restaurant you were at last night.
Wow, you guys are really on it.
- Come in, come in.
- Well, thank you.
Yes, thank you.
Right this way, Mrs.
Myers.
This is the heart of the Major Crimes division, or what we call "the murder room.
" And right over here, we're trying to reassemble what happened last night.
Of course, we're, uh, surveilling all known chop shops and high-end resale dealers in the area, but you should prepare yourself.
A lot of these cars just go straight over the border.
Here you are.
Mrs.
Myers, allow me to introduce Detective Sanchez, Detective Gabriel, and that's Lieutenant Tao over there.
Mrs.
Myers.
It's a pleasure, ma'am.
Ma'am, these are the known car thieves and parolees who live within a 2-mile radius of where you parked your car.
If anybody looks familiar, just point.
Yeah, we ran all the DMV photos and green-card I.
D.
s of all the kitchen workers, bar staff, and waiters at La "Bon-ne" Ami.
La Bonne Ami.
We wrangled the reservation list and seating chart from La bonne ami, uh, early this morning from the maître d'.
I'm cross checking the food and drink tabs with credit-card charges, tracking down who might have been seated close to your table.
Somebody could have watched you park and then followed you inside.
My God.
I just hope that you're not doing all of this just because I'm a police commissioner's wife.
Well, not all of it.
We've only had two cars stolen from that neighborhood all year.
We don't want this to start a trend.
Please, if you wouldn't mind hanging here for a second.
We're gonna send Chief Johnson in to make sure everything's right with your insurance.
Uh, do you have enough coffee? Uh, yes.
Thank you.
Hello, hello.
I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting, Mrs.
Myers.
I'm Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson.
We've met once before, but you probably don't remember.
You and, uh, Commissioner Myers hosted a cocktail party at your house for Chief Pope.
Such a nice house.
I'm so sorry about your car.
I've never had mine stolen -- or my purse, for that matter, which, for me, would be much worse.
I keep everything in that purse -- everything.
Which reminds me -- is there a reason you haven't canceled your credit cards? You know, I completely forgot.
Well, you should get on it right away.
As your husband would tell you, to have your car stolen is one thing, but identity theft is much worse.
So, I know that you must be Sick of, uh, going over what happened last night, but it is crucial that I get the details directly from you.
Okay.
I went out to dinner with my daughter and her two best friends from the Marlborough Academy and their mothers.
Um, after dinner, I noticed my purse was missing.
Right.
You, uh -- you told the responding officers that you thought you might have left it in the ladies' room? Honestly, I don't remember.
I actually walked out of the restaurant, thinking I might have still left the purse in the car.
But the car was gone.
Then what? UhI walked back inside, and the manager called the police.
Well, we may have more information to add to that.
UmYou see, Mrs.
Myers, um Last night, there was a terrible accident around the time that your car went missing.
A 19-year-old girl was killed in a hit-and-run.
Oh, my God.
We have several witnesses describing a Mercedes exactly like yours.
Oh, my God.
Are you kidding me? I wish I was.
Her name was Gracey Ann Gates.
She was a freshman in college.
She was supposed to take her last final this morning and then fly home to be with her family for Christmas.
And you think the person that stole my car ran her down? Well, the hit-and-run happened half a mile from the restaurant where you were, so it does fit into our timeline.
Oh, no wonder you're working so hard to find the car.
What can I do? How can I help? Can I offer a reward? I want to help.
You are helping us right now, and we deeply appreciate it.
Oh, God.
I wish I had paid more attention to the people around me last night.
I wish that I had kept my damn purse in my hand.
I wish that I hadn't Hadn't what? I wish I hadn't parked on the street.
And maybe my car wouldn't have been stolen, and this poor girl wouldn't be I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I know how unsettling all this must feel, Mrs.
Myers, but I promise you that we will not stop until we find the person who killed that young girl with your car.
And if you remember anything at all about what might have happened to your purse, please don't hesitate to call.
When does Jay get in? I want to keep him up to speed.
Um, he flies in late tonight.
I'll call his office and, uh, set up a briefing for first thing tomorrow.
We'll let you know just as soon as we find your car.
Um, please, please give my condolences to that poor girl's family and tell them they are in my family's prayers.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Whataliar.
For the sake of your career and mine -- -- don't tell people a police commissioner's wife is a liar unless you can prove it.
Did you see the look in her eyes when I told her about the victim? I saw tears.
I'd be crying, too, if I side-swiped a 19-year-old girl and drove away.
Only, I'd come up with a better excuse than, "Oh, someone stole my purse!" Before we go any further down this Gail Myers road, let me point out to you that when you aim at a police commissioner's wife and miss, there are consequences.
What about the consequences of letting someone get away with murder? Mur-- this is not murder.
This is maybe vehicular manslaughter.
You're the one who made this hit-and-run a major crime.
Usually, deaths like these are handled by traffic.
Yeah, yeah.
I should have known if I gave you a stolen car, you'd try to turn it into a homicide.
Look, the officers that drove her home said Mrs.
Myers reeked of alcohol.
That wasn't in their report.
Because she's a police commissioner's wife.
Wow.
All right, here, let's, uh -- let's look at the logistics.
Uh, Provenza called 911 at 11:27.
Stolen-vehicle report was taken at 11:41.
So, how did she steal her own car, commit manslaughter, ditch all that stuff, and get back to the bar in like 14 minutes? I don't know yet.
And why was she driving in the exact opposite direction from her house at the time of the accident? I don't know yet.
You better figure that out, because the hit-and-run driver was in the westbound lane, and Gail Myers' house is east of there.
The driver didn't know what lane they were in.
They swerved across the line, probably because she'd been drinking.
Well, it's a little late to administer a breathalyzer test.
And, look, if we are seriously going after a police commissioner's wife here -- and by "we," I do mean you -- what do you suggest I tell the commissioner when he calls for a report? Tell him we're doing a block-by-block, inch-by-inch grid search to find his wife's purse and, we're lucky, her car.
Love it.
What else? We're knocking on doors, looking for witnesses.
Love it.
What else? We might as well look and see if there are any accident reports where someone lost a mirror off their new Mercedes.
Okay.
And, um, Gracey's parents are, uh, flying in from Colorado to claim their daughter's body.
They've also asked to visit the scene where she died.
So, would you mind talking to them about what happened? Sure, sure.
You know I'm required by the rules around here and the circumstances of Gracey's death to ask you if you want to see a counselor About the emotional fallout.
- No, no, no, no, no.
I-I'm fine, Chief.
I've already been on the phone with my sponsor.
Good, then.
Good.
Uh, look, could you quietly -- and I mean on tippy-toes -- look into Gail Myers' background for me, please? She has no D.
U.
I.
s in California.
It's a big country.
And, uh, see if she has a spare garage or a friend with one somewhere near the restaurant.
Hello? Hi.
Hey, Chief, we're making headway.
Uh, Mrs.
Myers' wallet was in a gutter three blocks from the ooh-La-La French restaurant where she boozed it up last night.
And we got her cellphone, too.
Looks like somebody ran over it.
Great.
Find me the car, and we'll be on our way.
Thank you.
Yes, Buzz.
I think I have this straight.
Mrs.
Myers' daughter's best friend's stepmother is in interview 2 with Detective Gabriel.
Great.
Thank you.
Quietly, Lieutenant.
As the grave, Chief.
As the grave.
It doesn't surprise me that somebody stole that car.
It shocks me that Gail didn't valet.
I always, always valet my Mercedes.
Well, one really must.
Mm.
So, do you recognize any of these people from the restaurant last night? Oh, first of all, I hate that place.
It's just filled with pretentious assholes.
You know, I tend not to notice the staff, because honestly, if you've seen one busboy in Southern California, you've kind of seen them all -- if you know what I mean -- 'cause they just -- well, they pretty much look alike.
So, were the girls with y'all the whole evening? God, no.
No, they used to stay all night, but, uh, when they got their driver's licenses, our little girls decided we were old and boring.
So Kelly and Kaitlin left about -- I don't know -- And Gail and I stayed and polished off the wine.
Oh, this is so helpful.
Mrs.
Myers said she had a few too many last night, and her memory's a little fuzzy.
Mm.
Really? Ha! Because that gal can put it away.
She's like one of those hollow-leg drinkers, you know? Not me.
Two chablis, and I'm three sheets to the wind.
So, um, you were saying that, uh, after the girls left? Oh, I ran into my friend Veronica from Queens, and, uh, I had a cup of coffee with "V.
" Gail left, and then, you know, she came back.
- She should have valeted.
- Mm-hmm.
So, how much time was that, do you think, between when Gail left and then came back to the bar? Oh, I don't know.
You know, a cup of coffee's worth.
So, Gail came back, the police were called, and y'all had another drink? You know, maybe you should ask Gail what she was drinking, because I-I monitor my alcohol intake and my husband's, but, um, yeah, I don't keep tabs on -- on other people.
The reason we need to be so crystal clear about the details is that whoever stole your friend's car drove it over a 19-year-old girl, killed her, and fled the scene.
Oh, my God.
Are you kidding me? That's just awful.
Electronics.
Buzz speaking.
Yeah, it's Provenza.
Tell the Chief we found the Mercedes.
No, no.
It couldn't have been Gail, because when she came back to the restaurant, the first thing she did was she went to the manager to call the police.
So, I mean, why would she do that? Why would she call the police on herself? It's hidden in plain sight, Chief, parked in an alley, uh, five, six blocks from the restaurant, unlocked, key in the ignition.
I can't believe nobody called it in.
Who knows you found the car, Lieutenant? Nobody's here but us chickens.
Great.
Hang on just one second.
Well, I can hold on as long as you like.
Agent Howard.
Hello.
Fritzi Honey, hi.
We just found the car that was used in the hit-and-run, and we don't want anyone else at the L.
A.
P.
D.
to know we have it.
May we borrow the FBI's print shed? E.
A.
B.
? E.
A.
B.
Great.
Thanks.
Love you.
Bye.
Well, I love you, too, but -- hello? $114,000 automobile, keys in the ignition, valuables on the seat, cash in the ashtray? Wasn't even locked.
This car theft was staged, like her tears.
It'd be great if you could prove that, you know, with evidence.
The side-view mirror's a match.
Gail Myers' story still holds.
Somebody stole her car, hit the girl, ditched the car.
Oh It's possible.
Lieutenant Tao, are you finished with the interior? We can work, uh, the outside.
- The inside's all yours, Chief.
- Okay.
Uh, Chief Pope, you're -- you're getting so trim.
Why don't you slip in here behind the wheel? Provenza, get in the car.
- The seat.
- No, no, no, no.
Don't adjust anything, please.
Fritzi, would you -- Okay, I get it.
The seat is obviously set lady size.
Chief Johnson, why don't you try? Love to.
Oh Oh, would you look at that -- the mirrors are set perfectly for me.
Classical-music station.
Playing Beethoven -- as everyone knows, the favorite composer for 9 out of 10 car thieves.
Convinced? Okay.
I'm willing to climb this mountain with you, but in order to get to the top, you're gonna have to prove that Gail Myers' car was not stolen, that she was behind the wheel when Gracey Ann Gates was killed, and if you're really crazy enough to try to get her on vehicular manslaughter I'm as nutty as a fruitcake.
We're also gonna have to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that she was under the influence.
Without a blood analysis or a field sobriety test.
How do you plan to do that? One day at a time.
Yes, Lieutenant Flynn? Hi, Chief.
Uh, sorry to be calling so late.
It's okay.
We're up.
What's happening? Well, it turns out that the commissioner and Mrs.
Myers have a vacation place out in the Hamptons in Long Island.
You know, a little summer getaway, worth about $12 million.
And this is relevant because? Because it seems, last summer, Gail Myers got a ticket at 2:15 in the morning outside a bar in Southampton.
A D.
U.
I.
? Her record has been expunged.
You know, right about now, it would be really nice to have someone with good connections to national law enforcement.
Yes? Do you know anyone in the Suffolk County sheriff's department? I know people in the Long Island FBI office.
They may know somebody who knows somebody.
Why? Gail Myers got a ticket at 2:00 a.
m.
Outside a bar in Southampton.
They buried it.
I want it dug up.
You know, you're gonna have a hard time proving Gail Myers was in that vehicle, let alone your victim's death being a result of her actions.
She was drunk.
She killed that girl and fled the scene.
That's vehicular manslaughter, hon.
Maybe not.
Why maybe not? Because a previous D.
U.
I.
makes this murder.
That could have been me behind the wheel of that car just a little before I met you.
Yeah, but you did something about your problem.
Gail Myers needs an intervention.
I'm gonna give her one.
All right.
Since she's the wife of a police commissioner, might I make a suggestion as to how you go about questioning them? We're putting a lot of resources into finding your wife's car, and we expect to get it back.
We appreciate that, Will, but the fact is, we're fully insured.
We realize that you're required to look into these issues, but grilling our friends about my wife's drinking habits? It's really embarrassing.
I-I understand that, Gail.
Look, here's the deal.
As you know, we believe a young woman was run down and killed with your car.
And you say you don't remember exactly when and how your purse went missing.
And determining that is a big part of making our case.
Well, we may have made this case for you already.
Really? And how did you do that? Our daughter, Kelly, and her friends posted pictures from our dinner on their Facebook pages.
Kiss the constitution goodbye.
There's no such thing as privacy anymore.
But good for us because Several of the pictures show a young Latino man with tattoos on his hands standing behind my chair.
- Right there.
- Uh-huh.
There he is again.
Mm-hmm.
That my purse strap on the back of my chair.
Let me just, uh -- just write some of this down.
So, the -- the busboy was at your table, and, uh, go on.
Well, you know, I went back to the restaurant to check on him, and I hate to accuse anyone without proof, particularly a minority, but this guy did not show up for work yesterday or today.
Probably fled the country by now in what's left of our car.
On his employment application, they had his name as Jose Reyes -- R-e-y-e-s.
Thank you.
Uh, Jay, would you forward those pictures to my e-mail, please? Done.
I'd forward them to, uh, Chief Johnson, but she doesn't seem very interested in following up anyone other than Gail.
Well, I don't have to tell you what she's like.
I guess you must consider her a valuable asset.
Still, all the lawsuits makes you wonder if she's really worth it.
Not really.
Gail, excuse me.
Uh, before you go, if we could just take one more crack at, uh, nailing down exactly where and when your purse went missing.
You had it in the restaurant -- it's in the picture -- and your phone and your keys were in it.
But then you went out to your car looking for it.
Obviously, she panicked -- I'm sorry -- Jay, you weren't there.
These questions are for Gail.
Please don't interrupt me again.
You split the bill with your friends.
Your credit card was in your wallet.
Your wallet was in your purse.
So why did you go out to your car looking for it? What does it matter? Well, it's just that when we find this busboy, your version of this theft, as related -- it's gonna make it very difficult to get a conviction.
If you really want to be helpful, you could say that you don't remember where you left your purse because you were maybe a little drunk.
Well, why don't you find Jose Reyes and ask him what he was high on.
Well, that is our new number-one priority, Gail -- finding the busboy.
Oh, and making sure that the responsible party here doesn't get away because a police commissioner was trying to throw his weight around.
You know what I mean? A busboy? She's trying to pin this on a busboy with the help of her daughter? Mm-hmm.
Well, maybe I should talk to Kelly, see what she remembers.
Well, you better do something, 'cause I, uh, lost my temper a little with Myers.
You'll feel better once you see this.
Okay, Buzz.
- Step out of the car, please.
- What? Why? I need you to step out of the vehicle right now.
Okay, yeah, you were waiting in that parking lot.
This is entrapment.
Do you know who my husband is? Step over here.
Do you know who my husband is? Right now.
Do you know who my husband is?! Step right over here.
Okay, I've heard enough.
Wow.
How did she get that expunged from her record? Don't you know who her husband is? She paid a fine, took alcohol-aversion classes, made a huge donation to the community center, and hired a very good lawyer.
And she still went on drinking.
Excuse me, Chief Johnson.
The victim's parents are on their way up.
Mr.
and Mrs.
Gates, I'm Deputy chief Brenda Leigh Johnson.
We're so deeply sorry for your loss.
Thank you.
We brought the pictures of Gracey you asked for.
I hope you find ones that will help you at the trial.
- Thank you.
- Uh, before we go through them Would it be possible to see where our little girl died? Of course, yes.
Lieutenant? Right over here by the curb.
You can see the skid marks from the accident over there.
Her helmet flew off, and, uh, just so you know, Gracey was never in any pain at all.
She didn't suffer.
Thank you.
And she talked about the two of you at the end.
W-what did our Gracey say? She said that she was really looking forward to getting home for the holidays and that she hoped the accident wouldn't interfere with that And that she, uh -- she guessed that you were right, because she got hurt riding that motorcycle And she hoped that you wouldn't be mad at her.
I'm angry, all right, but not with Gracey.
I want to meet the person who knocked her down and ran away.
That's what I want.
Please, l-let me take you over here to the, uh, rest of the crime scene.
Okay? Okay.
You all right? You ready? Yeah, yeah.
Excuse me, Chief? Could you step with me this way a little ways? Our guys in I.
T.
were able to patch Mrs.
Myers' cellphone back together.
She got a very interesting text from her daughter right before the accident.
Oh, for heaven's sakes, where are my glasses? I got it.
"Mom, watch out -- D.
U.
I.
checkpoint at Beverly and La Brea.
" Oh, for heaven's sakes.
That's why she drove west, even though she lives east -- to avoid the sobriety checkpoint.
And her daughter helped her do it.
And their daughter died.
But at least we know Mrs.
Myers was drunk.
No, no.
We only know that her daughter sent a text.
That doesn't prove that she was impaired or that she was even driving the car.
W-wait a minute.
Just wait a minute.
I wonder if Mrs.
Myers ran a red light somewhere on her way back to the restaurant.
City council suspended traffic-light cameras months ago.
Yeah, in L.
A.
, but in West Hollywood, they still have them, which is the direction Mrs.
Myers was driving.
And they still use photo enforcement.
Mrs.
Myers was drunk.
She just smashed into someone.
She fled the scene of the accident.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if she run a red light? Something you'd never know without asking.
Yeah, this is Detective David Gabriel, L.
A.
P.
D.
, Major Crimes.
Can you patch me through to the head of your traffic division, please? We have her in the car 30 seconds after the hit-and-run.
Fantastic.
Still manslaughter.
Between the bar tab, the phone text, the prints, the bloodwork? That's all great, but we still cannot prove she was legally over the limit without a concurrent blood or urine test -- period.
Plus, she's probably had cocktails with every judge in town.
Look, we have her for the hit-and-run.
We have her for filing a false report of her car being stolen.
We will get her off the streets.
She will do real time.
Look, when was the last time you saw a powerful person go to jail for hit-and-run? She'll go to rehab in Malibu.
She'll go to community service.
She'll go to therapy.
She'll go on probation.
And then she's gonna go to a bar, and we're gonna have to do this all over again.
Manslaughter is now a slam dunk.
We risk it all by going for murder.
Chief, I was just on the street with the victim's parents, showing them the bloodstain where their daughter died.
If we could get those two in front of a jury -- Andy, believe me -- I'm sure the parents are very effective, but I also guarantee you they will never be allowed to testify.
He's right, Lieutenant.
If we're gonna make use of the parents, we need to do it now.
I can't believe you found Jose Reyes so quickly.
Did he admit anything? What is he saying? What they all say -- "I'm innocent.
You've got the wrong guy.
" But we're just on the verge of putting together all the details.
Now, I'm gonna have to separate y'all, if you don't mind, so that you can independently verify everything.
- Separate? - Yes.
Kelly, go with Chief Johnson, if you will, please.
Mrs.
Myers, will you come with me? All right.
Go on.
Thank you.
This way, Kelly.
I hope you don't mind, uh, sharing space.
It's a little crowded up here.
Here we go.
Ah, this is Mr.
and Mrs.
Gates.
They're the victim's parents.
We asked them to sort through some photos of their daughter for us.
I-it's always good for the jury to -- to have a human face to go along with the story that we tell them at trial.
Oh, I-I'm sorry, Mr.
and Mrs.
Gates, this is Kelly.
Kelly is a potential witness in your daughter's case.
What a -- what a great photo.
Is this, uh, high-school graduation? Well, now, that's one with the cap on, but I like the one without better.
It's -- where is it? Where is it? I think I saw it.
Oh, yeah.
Here.
She did her hair up for it.
Well, Kelly, why don't you, uh, why don't you have a seat right here? And if you folks will excuse me, I'm gonna step out for a bit.
If you would just -- just keep sorting through the photos.
Yeah, we will.
We will.
We asked the victims' families to pick out a photo or two, and they always bring in every picture they have.
At least we're putting them to good use.
Call me when Kelly's had enough, would you? Yes, ma'am.
Candy bar? No, thank you.
You know, when I first quit drinking, I practically lived on these things.
Your body gets used to the sugar from the booze, you know? Oh.
When did you quit drinking? I've been in A.
A.
for 15 years now.
Got down to a choice between the badge and the bottle.
And the badge didn't make me feel like crap when I woke up in the morning.
Well, good for you and your higher power.
If your body can't tolerate alcohol, you should give it up.
Glad you figured it out.
I didn't figure anything out.
I just quit drinking.
I'll be back in a minute, ma'am.
Is it Kelly? Yeah, Kelly.
How old are you? Um, 17.
Oh.
That's -- that's almost our daughter's age.
Well There's some shots of her, if you want to -- that's, uh She's so beautiful.
W-where was that? Uh, we went down to Corpus Christi.
Oh, that's right.
Yeah.
She was 4 then.
She really liked the beach and stuff, 'cause we didn't go very often, but that trip, she That's the trip she Kelly, this is, uh, Detective Sanchez.
He's going to help us look at those pictures I told you about.
Why don't you have a seat? Why don't we start with the, uh, photos from the accident? Oh, my God.
Sorry to put you through this, Kelly, but it's important that you understand what happened to Gracey.
Anything that you need me to, I can explain.
But, you see, the victim's helmet came off when your mom ran into her.
When my mom ran into her? Is that what you just said? This Is your mom running a red light.
You notice the time code? That was less than 30 seconds after the hit-and-run and eight blocks from where Gracey lost her -- My mom said her car was stolen.
She lied to you, Kelly, 'cause that's what drunks do.
You knew she was drunk, didn't you? This is your mom's cellphone.
And this is a text that you sent to your mom a few minutes before the hit-and-run.
And this is the route that your mom took home after you warned her about the sobriety checkpoints.
She drove west even though you live east, and this is where the accident happened.
Now, look, Kelly, it's only natural to want to protect your mother.
I wasn't trying to protect my mother.
I was trying to protect my dad.
He said if she got one more D.
U.
I.
, then it would really hurt his career.
But he is never home.
He's always working.
And I'm the one who has to watch her.
One time, I-I found her in the garage just passed out in her own vomit.
Your mom's lucky.
She could have died in the accident, too.
Maybe next time, she will Unless you help us.
I can't help you.
How can I help you? By telling us how much your mom had to drink on the night of the accident.
We can stop her from ever doing this again.
I promise you, Kelly, we can help save your mom's life, but we need your help to do it.
Um Mom had, uh Three glasses of vodka at home, like she usually does before we go, um Anywhere, actually.
Um, and, uh, then at the restaurant, she had a lot to drink there, too.
Um, she wasn't slurring or anything, like she usually does, but she was really bombed.
Oh, my God.
It's all my fault.
It's my fault this poor girl got killed.
It's my fault.
No, no, Kelly, it's not your fault, but I understand why you feel that way.
I'm -- I'm married to a recovering alcoholic, and he'd be the first to say that addicts are great at making the rest of us feel responsible for their mistakes.
Your husband was -- An alcoholic, yes.
And now he is the most thoroughly decent and wonderful man i've ever known.
But he tells me all the time that he's just one drink away from losing it all, and he needs help staying sober.
Mom's too proud to ask for help.
I promise you -- I'm gonna get your mom to stop drinking if it's the last thing I do.
- Mom had, uh - Three glasses of vodka at home, like she usually does before we go, um Anywhere, actually.
Um, and, uh, then at the restaurant, she had a lot to drink there, too.
A lot to drink.
Um, she wasn't slurring or anything, like she usually does, but she was really bombed.
Oh, my God.
It's my fault this poor girl got killed.
It's my fault.
No -- Jay, I want a lawyer.
Then you'd better call one.
Chief Pope, Chief Johnson, I appreciate how difficult this investigation has been for you.
I'm not gonna force our daughter to take the stand and watch this horror show you've created play out on the 6:00 news.
Mm, so that's what this is all about, isn't it? Your career.
You don't care what happens to me.
You didn't care about that poor girl you ran over and left to die in the street.
Jay.
Jay! Jay You get me an attorney, or I swear to God, I'll get my own, and I will sue you.
I have given my whole life for this marriage.
I will not let you screw me on this.
Oh, you think I'm bluffing? Where are you going? I'm going to resign and then get our daughter home.
Oh, my God.
That poor girl.
God, Gail! God! Jay.
Jay! Jay, you can't just leave me here like this.
- Mrs.
Myers, please.
- He's coming back.
Jay.
Jay! I am not an alcoholic.
Okay.
But you are definitely a murderer.
Gail Myers, you have the right to remain silent.
No, no.
- It was an accident.
- If you give up that right No.
I mean, I didn't mean to hurt anybody.
anything you say can and will be used against you All right, I'll get treatment.
I'll go to rehab.
In a court of law.
You have the right to -- I'll stop! Look, okay, okay! Look! Hold on! I-I-if this -- if this is how it has to be I I will get help if you think that I should.
I will get help.
And who will help Gracey Ann Gates? Lieutenant.
Don't you worry, Mrs.
Myers.
We're going to get you some help.
Jay may be stepping down, butLet's not kid ourselves.
Arresting a police commissioner's wife is not gonna make us heroes around here.
How much worse can it get? I mean, really.
I guess we'll see.
This Q&A I did at the law school? It went long.
What'd the future scumbags of America want to know about? Mostly search-and-seizure rules.
Did you demonstrate on the coeds? Come on.
They were all too young.
Too young for you, but not for me.
My cutoff is 25, buddy.
So, how much you get paid for a lecture gig like this? Oh, I got some great gifts -- a T-shirt, a coffee mug And the professor's phone number.
Yeah? What's his name? Oh, very funny.
Anyway So, are you still gonna pick me up tomorrow? Oh, my God! Flynn? Andy! Andy! What the hell?! What happened?! There's been an accident! There's been an accident! Are you hurt? No, no.
I'm fine.
Listen, get an ambulance.
South side of Beverly, just east of Martel! Okay, okay, okay.
Don't move, sweetheart.
Help is on the way, okay? My dad's gonna be so mad.
He didn't want me to ride the bike.
Tell me your name.
What's your me? Gracey.
Okay, Gracey, did you see the driver of the car that hit you? All I saw were headlights.
II-I think I'm okay.
I'm good.
I don't feel anything.
- Just help me up.
- No, no, no.
You -- you just lie there, okay? An ambulance is on the way.
I'm so sorry to cause you all this trouble.
I really think I'm okay.
Listen -- listen, sweetheart, it's no trouble at all.
You were in an accident.
Hey, you're a champ, Gracey.
You're a champ.
Yeah, you're doing good.
You're doing good, sweetheart.
You're doing good.
Gracey, don't Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Oh, no! Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God! Oh, my God.
Oh, no! Oh.
Oh.
I-I'm sorry.
I-I think I may have left my purse here.
Gail! I thought you left.
Well, I thought I had, too.
I can't find my car.
I think it's been stolen.
Oh, not the Mercedes.
Oh, no, this is awful.
My car, purse the phone, the credit cards, everything.
Oh, honey, you should have valeted.
I could have valeted! I'll call the police.
Would you like me to tell them who you are? No, no, no.
No.
- Yes.
- No, don't do that.
- Yes.
- Well, yes, maybe If you think it'll move things along faster.
Would you look at me? My hands are shaking.
Oh, you poor baby.
Let's get you a drink.
What would you like? Oh, you know what? I think I'll have something with vodka please? Right away.
Mom? Hey, mom, is that you? Hi, honey.
I'm sorry I'm late.
I-I would have called, but somebody stole my purse.
Somebody stole it, or you left it somewhere? No, this time, someone actually took it.
And they took my car, too.
Can you believe it? Mom, do you really need that? After the night I have had, yes, mommy needs a nightcap.
Well, at least you didn't drive home.
No.
Your dad's boys in blue brought me right to the front door, only too happy to help the police commissioner's wife.
Oh, go back to bed.
I'm just gonna Sit for a while.
Okay.
- Oh, oh.
Good morning, Mrs.
Myers.
- Good morning.
Uh, Lieutenant Provenza, uh, Lieutenant Flynn, L.
A.
P.
D.
Oh, my God.
Don't tell me you've already found my Mercedes.
No, no, but we're working on it.
Uh, I know it's an imposition, but Chief Pope asked if you wouldn't mind coming downtown to look at some photos of people who might have been at the restaurant you were at last night.
Wow, you guys are really on it.
- Come in, come in.
- Well, thank you.
Yes, thank you.
Right this way, Mrs.
Myers.
This is the heart of the Major Crimes division, or what we call "the murder room.
" And right over here, we're trying to reassemble what happened last night.
Of course, we're, uh, surveilling all known chop shops and high-end resale dealers in the area, but you should prepare yourself.
A lot of these cars just go straight over the border.
Here you are.
Mrs.
Myers, allow me to introduce Detective Sanchez, Detective Gabriel, and that's Lieutenant Tao over there.
Mrs.
Myers.
It's a pleasure, ma'am.
Ma'am, these are the known car thieves and parolees who live within a 2-mile radius of where you parked your car.
If anybody looks familiar, just point.
Yeah, we ran all the DMV photos and green-card I.
D.
s of all the kitchen workers, bar staff, and waiters at La "Bon-ne" Ami.
La Bonne Ami.
We wrangled the reservation list and seating chart from La bonne ami, uh, early this morning from the maître d'.
I'm cross checking the food and drink tabs with credit-card charges, tracking down who might have been seated close to your table.
Somebody could have watched you park and then followed you inside.
My God.
I just hope that you're not doing all of this just because I'm a police commissioner's wife.
Well, not all of it.
We've only had two cars stolen from that neighborhood all year.
We don't want this to start a trend.
Please, if you wouldn't mind hanging here for a second.
We're gonna send Chief Johnson in to make sure everything's right with your insurance.
Uh, do you have enough coffee? Uh, yes.
Thank you.
Hello, hello.
I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting, Mrs.
Myers.
I'm Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson.
We've met once before, but you probably don't remember.
You and, uh, Commissioner Myers hosted a cocktail party at your house for Chief Pope.
Such a nice house.
I'm so sorry about your car.
I've never had mine stolen -- or my purse, for that matter, which, for me, would be much worse.
I keep everything in that purse -- everything.
Which reminds me -- is there a reason you haven't canceled your credit cards? You know, I completely forgot.
Well, you should get on it right away.
As your husband would tell you, to have your car stolen is one thing, but identity theft is much worse.
So, I know that you must be Sick of, uh, going over what happened last night, but it is crucial that I get the details directly from you.
Okay.
I went out to dinner with my daughter and her two best friends from the Marlborough Academy and their mothers.
Um, after dinner, I noticed my purse was missing.
Right.
You, uh -- you told the responding officers that you thought you might have left it in the ladies' room? Honestly, I don't remember.
I actually walked out of the restaurant, thinking I might have still left the purse in the car.
But the car was gone.
Then what? UhI walked back inside, and the manager called the police.
Well, we may have more information to add to that.
UmYou see, Mrs.
Myers, um Last night, there was a terrible accident around the time that your car went missing.
A 19-year-old girl was killed in a hit-and-run.
Oh, my God.
We have several witnesses describing a Mercedes exactly like yours.
Oh, my God.
Are you kidding me? I wish I was.
Her name was Gracey Ann Gates.
She was a freshman in college.
She was supposed to take her last final this morning and then fly home to be with her family for Christmas.
And you think the person that stole my car ran her down? Well, the hit-and-run happened half a mile from the restaurant where you were, so it does fit into our timeline.
Oh, no wonder you're working so hard to find the car.
What can I do? How can I help? Can I offer a reward? I want to help.
You are helping us right now, and we deeply appreciate it.
Oh, God.
I wish I had paid more attention to the people around me last night.
I wish that I had kept my damn purse in my hand.
I wish that I hadn't Hadn't what? I wish I hadn't parked on the street.
And maybe my car wouldn't have been stolen, and this poor girl wouldn't be I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I know how unsettling all this must feel, Mrs.
Myers, but I promise you that we will not stop until we find the person who killed that young girl with your car.
And if you remember anything at all about what might have happened to your purse, please don't hesitate to call.
When does Jay get in? I want to keep him up to speed.
Um, he flies in late tonight.
I'll call his office and, uh, set up a briefing for first thing tomorrow.
We'll let you know just as soon as we find your car.
Um, please, please give my condolences to that poor girl's family and tell them they are in my family's prayers.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Whataliar.
For the sake of your career and mine -- -- don't tell people a police commissioner's wife is a liar unless you can prove it.
Did you see the look in her eyes when I told her about the victim? I saw tears.
I'd be crying, too, if I side-swiped a 19-year-old girl and drove away.
Only, I'd come up with a better excuse than, "Oh, someone stole my purse!" Before we go any further down this Gail Myers road, let me point out to you that when you aim at a police commissioner's wife and miss, there are consequences.
What about the consequences of letting someone get away with murder? Mur-- this is not murder.
This is maybe vehicular manslaughter.
You're the one who made this hit-and-run a major crime.
Usually, deaths like these are handled by traffic.
Yeah, yeah.
I should have known if I gave you a stolen car, you'd try to turn it into a homicide.
Look, the officers that drove her home said Mrs.
Myers reeked of alcohol.
That wasn't in their report.
Because she's a police commissioner's wife.
Wow.
All right, here, let's, uh -- let's look at the logistics.
Uh, Provenza called 911 at 11:27.
Stolen-vehicle report was taken at 11:41.
So, how did she steal her own car, commit manslaughter, ditch all that stuff, and get back to the bar in like 14 minutes? I don't know yet.
And why was she driving in the exact opposite direction from her house at the time of the accident? I don't know yet.
You better figure that out, because the hit-and-run driver was in the westbound lane, and Gail Myers' house is east of there.
The driver didn't know what lane they were in.
They swerved across the line, probably because she'd been drinking.
Well, it's a little late to administer a breathalyzer test.
And, look, if we are seriously going after a police commissioner's wife here -- and by "we," I do mean you -- what do you suggest I tell the commissioner when he calls for a report? Tell him we're doing a block-by-block, inch-by-inch grid search to find his wife's purse and, we're lucky, her car.
Love it.
What else? We're knocking on doors, looking for witnesses.
Love it.
What else? We might as well look and see if there are any accident reports where someone lost a mirror off their new Mercedes.
Okay.
And, um, Gracey's parents are, uh, flying in from Colorado to claim their daughter's body.
They've also asked to visit the scene where she died.
So, would you mind talking to them about what happened? Sure, sure.
You know I'm required by the rules around here and the circumstances of Gracey's death to ask you if you want to see a counselor About the emotional fallout.
- No, no, no, no, no.
I-I'm fine, Chief.
I've already been on the phone with my sponsor.
Good, then.
Good.
Uh, look, could you quietly -- and I mean on tippy-toes -- look into Gail Myers' background for me, please? She has no D.
U.
I.
s in California.
It's a big country.
And, uh, see if she has a spare garage or a friend with one somewhere near the restaurant.
Hello? Hi.
Hey, Chief, we're making headway.
Uh, Mrs.
Myers' wallet was in a gutter three blocks from the ooh-La-La French restaurant where she boozed it up last night.
And we got her cellphone, too.
Looks like somebody ran over it.
Great.
Find me the car, and we'll be on our way.
Thank you.
Yes, Buzz.
I think I have this straight.
Mrs.
Myers' daughter's best friend's stepmother is in interview 2 with Detective Gabriel.
Great.
Thank you.
Quietly, Lieutenant.
As the grave, Chief.
As the grave.
It doesn't surprise me that somebody stole that car.
It shocks me that Gail didn't valet.
I always, always valet my Mercedes.
Well, one really must.
Mm.
So, do you recognize any of these people from the restaurant last night? Oh, first of all, I hate that place.
It's just filled with pretentious assholes.
You know, I tend not to notice the staff, because honestly, if you've seen one busboy in Southern California, you've kind of seen them all -- if you know what I mean -- 'cause they just -- well, they pretty much look alike.
So, were the girls with y'all the whole evening? God, no.
No, they used to stay all night, but, uh, when they got their driver's licenses, our little girls decided we were old and boring.
So Kelly and Kaitlin left about -- I don't know -- And Gail and I stayed and polished off the wine.
Oh, this is so helpful.
Mrs.
Myers said she had a few too many last night, and her memory's a little fuzzy.
Mm.
Really? Ha! Because that gal can put it away.
She's like one of those hollow-leg drinkers, you know? Not me.
Two chablis, and I'm three sheets to the wind.
So, um, you were saying that, uh, after the girls left? Oh, I ran into my friend Veronica from Queens, and, uh, I had a cup of coffee with "V.
" Gail left, and then, you know, she came back.
- She should have valeted.
- Mm-hmm.
So, how much time was that, do you think, between when Gail left and then came back to the bar? Oh, I don't know.
You know, a cup of coffee's worth.
So, Gail came back, the police were called, and y'all had another drink? You know, maybe you should ask Gail what she was drinking, because I-I monitor my alcohol intake and my husband's, but, um, yeah, I don't keep tabs on -- on other people.
The reason we need to be so crystal clear about the details is that whoever stole your friend's car drove it over a 19-year-old girl, killed her, and fled the scene.
Oh, my God.
Are you kidding me? That's just awful.
Electronics.
Buzz speaking.
Yeah, it's Provenza.
Tell the Chief we found the Mercedes.
No, no.
It couldn't have been Gail, because when she came back to the restaurant, the first thing she did was she went to the manager to call the police.
So, I mean, why would she do that? Why would she call the police on herself? It's hidden in plain sight, Chief, parked in an alley, uh, five, six blocks from the restaurant, unlocked, key in the ignition.
I can't believe nobody called it in.
Who knows you found the car, Lieutenant? Nobody's here but us chickens.
Great.
Hang on just one second.
Well, I can hold on as long as you like.
Agent Howard.
Hello.
Fritzi Honey, hi.
We just found the car that was used in the hit-and-run, and we don't want anyone else at the L.
A.
P.
D.
to know we have it.
May we borrow the FBI's print shed? E.
A.
B.
? E.
A.
B.
Great.
Thanks.
Love you.
Bye.
Well, I love you, too, but -- hello? $114,000 automobile, keys in the ignition, valuables on the seat, cash in the ashtray? Wasn't even locked.
This car theft was staged, like her tears.
It'd be great if you could prove that, you know, with evidence.
The side-view mirror's a match.
Gail Myers' story still holds.
Somebody stole her car, hit the girl, ditched the car.
Oh It's possible.
Lieutenant Tao, are you finished with the interior? We can work, uh, the outside.
- The inside's all yours, Chief.
- Okay.
Uh, Chief Pope, you're -- you're getting so trim.
Why don't you slip in here behind the wheel? Provenza, get in the car.
- The seat.
- No, no, no, no.
Don't adjust anything, please.
Fritzi, would you -- Okay, I get it.
The seat is obviously set lady size.
Chief Johnson, why don't you try? Love to.
Oh Oh, would you look at that -- the mirrors are set perfectly for me.
Classical-music station.
Playing Beethoven -- as everyone knows, the favorite composer for 9 out of 10 car thieves.
Convinced? Okay.
I'm willing to climb this mountain with you, but in order to get to the top, you're gonna have to prove that Gail Myers' car was not stolen, that she was behind the wheel when Gracey Ann Gates was killed, and if you're really crazy enough to try to get her on vehicular manslaughter I'm as nutty as a fruitcake.
We're also gonna have to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that she was under the influence.
Without a blood analysis or a field sobriety test.
How do you plan to do that? One day at a time.
Yes, Lieutenant Flynn? Hi, Chief.
Uh, sorry to be calling so late.
It's okay.
We're up.
What's happening? Well, it turns out that the commissioner and Mrs.
Myers have a vacation place out in the Hamptons in Long Island.
You know, a little summer getaway, worth about $12 million.
And this is relevant because? Because it seems, last summer, Gail Myers got a ticket at 2:15 in the morning outside a bar in Southampton.
A D.
U.
I.
? Her record has been expunged.
You know, right about now, it would be really nice to have someone with good connections to national law enforcement.
Yes? Do you know anyone in the Suffolk County sheriff's department? I know people in the Long Island FBI office.
They may know somebody who knows somebody.
Why? Gail Myers got a ticket at 2:00 a.
m.
Outside a bar in Southampton.
They buried it.
I want it dug up.
You know, you're gonna have a hard time proving Gail Myers was in that vehicle, let alone your victim's death being a result of her actions.
She was drunk.
She killed that girl and fled the scene.
That's vehicular manslaughter, hon.
Maybe not.
Why maybe not? Because a previous D.
U.
I.
makes this murder.
That could have been me behind the wheel of that car just a little before I met you.
Yeah, but you did something about your problem.
Gail Myers needs an intervention.
I'm gonna give her one.
All right.
Since she's the wife of a police commissioner, might I make a suggestion as to how you go about questioning them? We're putting a lot of resources into finding your wife's car, and we expect to get it back.
We appreciate that, Will, but the fact is, we're fully insured.
We realize that you're required to look into these issues, but grilling our friends about my wife's drinking habits? It's really embarrassing.
I-I understand that, Gail.
Look, here's the deal.
As you know, we believe a young woman was run down and killed with your car.
And you say you don't remember exactly when and how your purse went missing.
And determining that is a big part of making our case.
Well, we may have made this case for you already.
Really? And how did you do that? Our daughter, Kelly, and her friends posted pictures from our dinner on their Facebook pages.
Kiss the constitution goodbye.
There's no such thing as privacy anymore.
But good for us because Several of the pictures show a young Latino man with tattoos on his hands standing behind my chair.
- Right there.
- Uh-huh.
There he is again.
Mm-hmm.
That my purse strap on the back of my chair.
Let me just, uh -- just write some of this down.
So, the -- the busboy was at your table, and, uh, go on.
Well, you know, I went back to the restaurant to check on him, and I hate to accuse anyone without proof, particularly a minority, but this guy did not show up for work yesterday or today.
Probably fled the country by now in what's left of our car.
On his employment application, they had his name as Jose Reyes -- R-e-y-e-s.
Thank you.
Uh, Jay, would you forward those pictures to my e-mail, please? Done.
I'd forward them to, uh, Chief Johnson, but she doesn't seem very interested in following up anyone other than Gail.
Well, I don't have to tell you what she's like.
I guess you must consider her a valuable asset.
Still, all the lawsuits makes you wonder if she's really worth it.
Not really.
Gail, excuse me.
Uh, before you go, if we could just take one more crack at, uh, nailing down exactly where and when your purse went missing.
You had it in the restaurant -- it's in the picture -- and your phone and your keys were in it.
But then you went out to your car looking for it.
Obviously, she panicked -- I'm sorry -- Jay, you weren't there.
These questions are for Gail.
Please don't interrupt me again.
You split the bill with your friends.
Your credit card was in your wallet.
Your wallet was in your purse.
So why did you go out to your car looking for it? What does it matter? Well, it's just that when we find this busboy, your version of this theft, as related -- it's gonna make it very difficult to get a conviction.
If you really want to be helpful, you could say that you don't remember where you left your purse because you were maybe a little drunk.
Well, why don't you find Jose Reyes and ask him what he was high on.
Well, that is our new number-one priority, Gail -- finding the busboy.
Oh, and making sure that the responsible party here doesn't get away because a police commissioner was trying to throw his weight around.
You know what I mean? A busboy? She's trying to pin this on a busboy with the help of her daughter? Mm-hmm.
Well, maybe I should talk to Kelly, see what she remembers.
Well, you better do something, 'cause I, uh, lost my temper a little with Myers.
You'll feel better once you see this.
Okay, Buzz.
- Step out of the car, please.
- What? Why? I need you to step out of the vehicle right now.
Okay, yeah, you were waiting in that parking lot.
This is entrapment.
Do you know who my husband is? Step over here.
Do you know who my husband is? Right now.
Do you know who my husband is?! Step right over here.
Okay, I've heard enough.
Wow.
How did she get that expunged from her record? Don't you know who her husband is? She paid a fine, took alcohol-aversion classes, made a huge donation to the community center, and hired a very good lawyer.
And she still went on drinking.
Excuse me, Chief Johnson.
The victim's parents are on their way up.
Mr.
and Mrs.
Gates, I'm Deputy chief Brenda Leigh Johnson.
We're so deeply sorry for your loss.
Thank you.
We brought the pictures of Gracey you asked for.
I hope you find ones that will help you at the trial.
- Thank you.
- Uh, before we go through them Would it be possible to see where our little girl died? Of course, yes.
Lieutenant? Right over here by the curb.
You can see the skid marks from the accident over there.
Her helmet flew off, and, uh, just so you know, Gracey was never in any pain at all.
She didn't suffer.
Thank you.
And she talked about the two of you at the end.
W-what did our Gracey say? She said that she was really looking forward to getting home for the holidays and that she hoped the accident wouldn't interfere with that And that she, uh -- she guessed that you were right, because she got hurt riding that motorcycle And she hoped that you wouldn't be mad at her.
I'm angry, all right, but not with Gracey.
I want to meet the person who knocked her down and ran away.
That's what I want.
Please, l-let me take you over here to the, uh, rest of the crime scene.
Okay? Okay.
You all right? You ready? Yeah, yeah.
Excuse me, Chief? Could you step with me this way a little ways? Our guys in I.
T.
were able to patch Mrs.
Myers' cellphone back together.
She got a very interesting text from her daughter right before the accident.
Oh, for heaven's sakes, where are my glasses? I got it.
"Mom, watch out -- D.
U.
I.
checkpoint at Beverly and La Brea.
" Oh, for heaven's sakes.
That's why she drove west, even though she lives east -- to avoid the sobriety checkpoint.
And her daughter helped her do it.
And their daughter died.
But at least we know Mrs.
Myers was drunk.
No, no.
We only know that her daughter sent a text.
That doesn't prove that she was impaired or that she was even driving the car.
W-wait a minute.
Just wait a minute.
I wonder if Mrs.
Myers ran a red light somewhere on her way back to the restaurant.
City council suspended traffic-light cameras months ago.
Yeah, in L.
A.
, but in West Hollywood, they still have them, which is the direction Mrs.
Myers was driving.
And they still use photo enforcement.
Mrs.
Myers was drunk.
She just smashed into someone.
She fled the scene of the accident.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if she run a red light? Something you'd never know without asking.
Yeah, this is Detective David Gabriel, L.
A.
P.
D.
, Major Crimes.
Can you patch me through to the head of your traffic division, please? We have her in the car 30 seconds after the hit-and-run.
Fantastic.
Still manslaughter.
Between the bar tab, the phone text, the prints, the bloodwork? That's all great, but we still cannot prove she was legally over the limit without a concurrent blood or urine test -- period.
Plus, she's probably had cocktails with every judge in town.
Look, we have her for the hit-and-run.
We have her for filing a false report of her car being stolen.
We will get her off the streets.
She will do real time.
Look, when was the last time you saw a powerful person go to jail for hit-and-run? She'll go to rehab in Malibu.
She'll go to community service.
She'll go to therapy.
She'll go on probation.
And then she's gonna go to a bar, and we're gonna have to do this all over again.
Manslaughter is now a slam dunk.
We risk it all by going for murder.
Chief, I was just on the street with the victim's parents, showing them the bloodstain where their daughter died.
If we could get those two in front of a jury -- Andy, believe me -- I'm sure the parents are very effective, but I also guarantee you they will never be allowed to testify.
He's right, Lieutenant.
If we're gonna make use of the parents, we need to do it now.
I can't believe you found Jose Reyes so quickly.
Did he admit anything? What is he saying? What they all say -- "I'm innocent.
You've got the wrong guy.
" But we're just on the verge of putting together all the details.
Now, I'm gonna have to separate y'all, if you don't mind, so that you can independently verify everything.
- Separate? - Yes.
Kelly, go with Chief Johnson, if you will, please.
Mrs.
Myers, will you come with me? All right.
Go on.
Thank you.
This way, Kelly.
I hope you don't mind, uh, sharing space.
It's a little crowded up here.
Here we go.
Ah, this is Mr.
and Mrs.
Gates.
They're the victim's parents.
We asked them to sort through some photos of their daughter for us.
I-it's always good for the jury to -- to have a human face to go along with the story that we tell them at trial.
Oh, I-I'm sorry, Mr.
and Mrs.
Gates, this is Kelly.
Kelly is a potential witness in your daughter's case.
What a -- what a great photo.
Is this, uh, high-school graduation? Well, now, that's one with the cap on, but I like the one without better.
It's -- where is it? Where is it? I think I saw it.
Oh, yeah.
Here.
She did her hair up for it.
Well, Kelly, why don't you, uh, why don't you have a seat right here? And if you folks will excuse me, I'm gonna step out for a bit.
If you would just -- just keep sorting through the photos.
Yeah, we will.
We will.
We asked the victims' families to pick out a photo or two, and they always bring in every picture they have.
At least we're putting them to good use.
Call me when Kelly's had enough, would you? Yes, ma'am.
Candy bar? No, thank you.
You know, when I first quit drinking, I practically lived on these things.
Your body gets used to the sugar from the booze, you know? Oh.
When did you quit drinking? I've been in A.
A.
for 15 years now.
Got down to a choice between the badge and the bottle.
And the badge didn't make me feel like crap when I woke up in the morning.
Well, good for you and your higher power.
If your body can't tolerate alcohol, you should give it up.
Glad you figured it out.
I didn't figure anything out.
I just quit drinking.
I'll be back in a minute, ma'am.
Is it Kelly? Yeah, Kelly.
How old are you? Um, 17.
Oh.
That's -- that's almost our daughter's age.
Well There's some shots of her, if you want to -- that's, uh She's so beautiful.
W-where was that? Uh, we went down to Corpus Christi.
Oh, that's right.
Yeah.
She was 4 then.
She really liked the beach and stuff, 'cause we didn't go very often, but that trip, she That's the trip she Kelly, this is, uh, Detective Sanchez.
He's going to help us look at those pictures I told you about.
Why don't you have a seat? Why don't we start with the, uh, photos from the accident? Oh, my God.
Sorry to put you through this, Kelly, but it's important that you understand what happened to Gracey.
Anything that you need me to, I can explain.
But, you see, the victim's helmet came off when your mom ran into her.
When my mom ran into her? Is that what you just said? This Is your mom running a red light.
You notice the time code? That was less than 30 seconds after the hit-and-run and eight blocks from where Gracey lost her -- My mom said her car was stolen.
She lied to you, Kelly, 'cause that's what drunks do.
You knew she was drunk, didn't you? This is your mom's cellphone.
And this is a text that you sent to your mom a few minutes before the hit-and-run.
And this is the route that your mom took home after you warned her about the sobriety checkpoints.
She drove west even though you live east, and this is where the accident happened.
Now, look, Kelly, it's only natural to want to protect your mother.
I wasn't trying to protect my mother.
I was trying to protect my dad.
He said if she got one more D.
U.
I.
, then it would really hurt his career.
But he is never home.
He's always working.
And I'm the one who has to watch her.
One time, I-I found her in the garage just passed out in her own vomit.
Your mom's lucky.
She could have died in the accident, too.
Maybe next time, she will Unless you help us.
I can't help you.
How can I help you? By telling us how much your mom had to drink on the night of the accident.
We can stop her from ever doing this again.
I promise you, Kelly, we can help save your mom's life, but we need your help to do it.
Um Mom had, uh Three glasses of vodka at home, like she usually does before we go, um Anywhere, actually.
Um, and, uh, then at the restaurant, she had a lot to drink there, too.
Um, she wasn't slurring or anything, like she usually does, but she was really bombed.
Oh, my God.
It's all my fault.
It's my fault this poor girl got killed.
It's my fault.
No, no, Kelly, it's not your fault, but I understand why you feel that way.
I'm -- I'm married to a recovering alcoholic, and he'd be the first to say that addicts are great at making the rest of us feel responsible for their mistakes.
Your husband was -- An alcoholic, yes.
And now he is the most thoroughly decent and wonderful man i've ever known.
But he tells me all the time that he's just one drink away from losing it all, and he needs help staying sober.
Mom's too proud to ask for help.
I promise you -- I'm gonna get your mom to stop drinking if it's the last thing I do.
- Mom had, uh - Three glasses of vodka at home, like she usually does before we go, um Anywhere, actually.
Um, and, uh, then at the restaurant, she had a lot to drink there, too.
A lot to drink.
Um, she wasn't slurring or anything, like she usually does, but she was really bombed.
Oh, my God.
It's my fault this poor girl got killed.
It's my fault.
No -- Jay, I want a lawyer.
Then you'd better call one.
Chief Pope, Chief Johnson, I appreciate how difficult this investigation has been for you.
I'm not gonna force our daughter to take the stand and watch this horror show you've created play out on the 6:00 news.
Mm, so that's what this is all about, isn't it? Your career.
You don't care what happens to me.
You didn't care about that poor girl you ran over and left to die in the street.
Jay.
Jay! Jay You get me an attorney, or I swear to God, I'll get my own, and I will sue you.
I have given my whole life for this marriage.
I will not let you screw me on this.
Oh, you think I'm bluffing? Where are you going? I'm going to resign and then get our daughter home.
Oh, my God.
That poor girl.
God, Gail! God! Jay.
Jay! Jay, you can't just leave me here like this.
- Mrs.
Myers, please.
- He's coming back.
Jay.
Jay! I am not an alcoholic.
Okay.
But you are definitely a murderer.
Gail Myers, you have the right to remain silent.
No, no.
- It was an accident.
- If you give up that right No.
I mean, I didn't mean to hurt anybody.
anything you say can and will be used against you All right, I'll get treatment.
I'll go to rehab.
In a court of law.
You have the right to -- I'll stop! Look, okay, okay! Look! Hold on! I-I-if this -- if this is how it has to be I I will get help if you think that I should.
I will get help.
And who will help Gracey Ann Gates? Lieutenant.
Don't you worry, Mrs.
Myers.
We're going to get you some help.
Jay may be stepping down, butLet's not kid ourselves.
Arresting a police commissioner's wife is not gonna make us heroes around here.
How much worse can it get? I mean, really.
I guess we'll see.