Cold Case s07e22 Episode Script
Shattered
Uh-huh.
So you're on your way driving back now? Yeah, I'll be back before sunup.
Well, that's good, babe, 'cause I can't wait to see your lying ass! No-no-no! Get your ass over here! Who the hell do you think you're talking to? Get in here! Stop it! * heartbreaker * * a pain maker * * stole the love right out * Christina? Christina? * * Someone here to see you, will.
Yeah? Althea Johnson.
Daughter Wanda shot and dumped In the badlands back in '93.
Banana bread, Hmm? Calls me every year asking if there's been a break.
Been hanging these faithfully.
Wish I could tell you We have a break in the case, Mrs.
Johnson, but I got a call on my flyer, Detective.
Man says he saw Wanda in a car that night.
Alive.
Night she was killed? Yes.
Green car, just like the one the other witness said.
Where? Corner of Kip and Cambria.
That's a bad drug corner.
I know.
But my Wanda didn't mess with drugs, Detective.
She was a good girl.
You should have done that homework last night.
Mama, please.
It's done.
And you didn't eat your breakfast.
I got a pop-tart.
Wanda, honey? What? You going to run barefoot? You forgot your track shoes.
Bye.
Are you forgetting something else? Mom? You're still My little girl.
Hey! Ten minutes late to pick her up From practice and she was gone.
This man-- he just happened to see her? I grilled him good.
I believe he's telling the truth.
We'll bring him in.
Check his story.
Calls himself brother Olajuwon now.
Says he turned his life around.
Oh, one of those.
I'd prefer if you keep an open mind, Detective.
Hey, Valens.
Did you hear about Mota? What's that? Just got Swiss-cheesed in the shower up in the big house.
Really? You didn't know about that? Just now hearing it.
Hmm, just asking 'cause, uh, I saw the visitation logs And you were up there now two days ago Paying Hector Cruz a visit.
Yeah.
Yeah, it's some other case I'm working.
Something I need to worry about? Hmm, or anybody else for that matter? I don't see why.
Hmm.
Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
Yeah.
Thanks for the heads-up.
Hey, buddy.
Anybody asking For a Christina rush last night, room 48? I'm sorry.
That information Will require a warrant from a judge or a Magistrate.
What? Under the fourth amendment based on probable cause.
You're going To require orthodontia You don't start answering the right way.
Christina rush, 48.
I'm sorry.
There's no one that's checked in or out This week by that name.
You open up or I'm going to put That fire extinguisher through this window.
Well, that wouldn't seem prudent.
Do I need to call the police? Better yet, how about I call vice? Shut down this fleabag for narcotics and prostitution.
Who paid the bill? They haven't checked out yet.
Bernie, Que Paso? What? "Alexis Childress"? I was just informed By housekeeping that the room is trashed.
The woman in 48, what did she look like? Sandy blonde, In her 30s.
Looks a little like you.
You take a credit card for the deposit? I waived it On account of her general hotness.
That, and she paid cash.
Anyone else coming or going from this room? Just you, and now the room is trashed.
Hey, who's going to pay for this?! Don't see that witness statement about the car back in '93.
Could have swore it was here.
Inez Kellog, little old lady Got a partial on a green SUV leaving the dump site.
Anybody else been in the box? Not according to the log.
But you remember it? Yeah.
Never went anywhere 'cause she couldn't I.
D.
The model or year.
Oh New info puts Wanda In a similar car three blocks from there.
This guy better not be sowing false hope.
Hey, you all right? Yeah, I'm fine.
But Christina's gone.
Along with my service weapon.
Lil, you've got to call this in.
I need your help getting them both back.
But you don't report it stolen, It gets used in a crime, that's it, Lil.
You're done.
Look, I know what this means, Scotty.
I'm asking for your help.
What do we got? Well, the guy tossed the room.
He was looking for something.
Oxys.
Who's "Alexis Childress"? The same name the room's under.
It's all we got to go on.
But you want To go after these guys without a gun? Don't worry.
I got a gun.
Robert Miggs? As-salaam alaikum, Detective.
And it's brother Olajuwon now.
Yeah.
Only reason we're meeting like this Is 'cause of Althea Johnson.
She said I could trust you.
You find the prophet while doing That dime up at camp hill, Brother? Allah had a plan for me.
That plan include sprouting a conscience? The first thing I saw when I finished my incarceration Was that woman out there in a blizzard hanging flyers.
She wanted to find out what happened to her daughter.
Yeah.
Well, I saw that girl's face, And I remembered Name's Wanda.
Where'd you see her? Like brother Malcolm, I, too, was in the game.
Dealing.
The corner was "poppin'" As they say in the pusher parlance.
Wanda trying to cop? I don't know what she was doing in that car.
Just knew something wasn't right.
Yo, check off, young.
I don't like that one.
Something ain't right with that.
Can't get that girl's face out of my thoughts.
You get a good look at the car? Green Ford explorer.
Got a head for cars? Skill set you get on the corner.
Only way to read your customer.
What'd that car say to you? Caucasian car-- that's how come I remembered.
Wondered what a beautiful, young sister Was doing in a ride like that.
You see anybody in there with her? No.
Just heard voices.
Some kind of dispute, then the gun went off.
Different model years Of Ford explorers.
Tell me which one you recognize.
Like that.
'92 Ford explorer.
Sure? Had one of them dare stickers on it.
Where'd you get that? It was a gift.
You prepared to use that thing? They got my sister.
Assaulted me and took my gun.
Just evening the odds.
Start with this Rothman drugs doling out A lifetime supply of painkillers, huh? That's a lot of blues.
Worse than I thought.
What's that mean? Come on, Lil.
You saw her.
Use fake names to get scrips.
Why you so sure that they're Christina's? Checked into that fleabag under the same alias.
He's gotta use a fake name 'cause she can't get a scrip For a controlled substance with a record.
You know, my sister's a lot of things, But a drug addict? You know something I don't, Scotty? Here we go.
When's the last time you saw her? When was that? She called me A couple days ago Just tell her I'll be back soon, okay, baby? All right, take care.
Hey.
Thanks for coming.
Listen, I know I left a mess last time I was in town.
I'm really sorry about that.
* all I want is for you to make love to me * What do you need, Christina? So it's like that, huh? Yeah, it's like that.
Just get to it.
* I'll never be your beast of burden * * I've walked for miles, my feet are hurtin' * You're the only one who really knows my sister; What she's like, what she's thinking.
I don't know about that.
I wanna know if she still hates me.
* am I hard enough? * You're talking to me.
You haven't even spoken to her yet, have you? * am I rich enough? I'm not too blind to see * Do you think there's a chance That Lilly could ever get past it? What difference does it make? You're just gonna skip town.
No, no.
That's just it.
I want to move back.
This is my home.
This is where my family is.
I don't know, Christina.
You're gonna have to call Lilly yourself.
* am I rough enough? * But you might wanna get cleaned up first.
* I'm not too blind to see.
* I'm trying, Scotty.
I'm really trying.
I know that look from narcotics.
It wasn't pinned But she was jonesing.
My sister Hooked on hillbilly heroin, and you didn't tell me? What the hell was I supposed to say, Lil? After what happened last time? Hey, wait, wait, wait.
What are you doing? Hey! Hey! You lied to my face! What? See? I knew you would react this way.
Why you think she came to me first, Lil? Of course, why wouldn't she? It says a lot about your relationship, don't it? You think I wanna get put in the middle of this all over again? It didn't stop you before.
Just another piece to you right, Scotty? You know, why don't ya take your ass back up To the feds and take that big job? You can forget about us Just like you forgot about your sister.
What?! I figured you were her next stop anyway.
Was I right? Why wouldn't you just tell me? I don't know, Lil.
Maybe I got my own family to deal with.
Did you ever think of that? We just gonna stand here arguing all damn day Or are we gonna go get your gun and Christina back? Anybody seen rush today? Some family thing with her sister.
Think Scotty went to help her out.
I don't even want to know.
That missing witness statement turn up? Gone.
Any luck With the partial plates ran back in the day? I got 40 '92 green Ford explorers, But none of 'em checked out.
"wreck, alibi, in for repair, out of search radius.
" What about this one? Every other one has a reason why it was deleted.
Did you farm out Any legwork back in the day? I was busy chasing down witnesses, So I used Joe Mueller In patrol.
This is fault of patient.
People change numbers, fax in forge scrips.
Addicts stop at nothing to get pills.
Ten refills and you don't even double-check with the doc? She didn't look like an addict.
Was she alone Or was she working with someone? What do you mean? It's a lax pharmacy That doles out pills like candy.
Word spreads fast.
Lies! You pulled the records.
She was paying cash, right? You dealing painkillers or drug addicts? I call the DEA, That's fed time, Nazir.
Look, we're not interested In busting you.
We're looking for this woman And anyone else she was working with.
She came alone.
But she had the same address on her I.
D.
As the two other guys from New York.
Same address? What other guys? New York I.
D.
They paid with cash.
How often these guys come in? First guy's been in here before.
Knows not to come more than once a week.
Well, what about this other guy? Don't recognize him, But this is not the only place that takes cash.
All using fake New York I.
D.
S.
And you don't report it.
I'm cooperating with you now.
Pharmacies that play ball with drug addicts.
Just one stop on the circuit? Like clockwork.
And I can tell you the place they're going to hit up next.
Got a minute, Joe? Yeah.
Signed Ryan Howard bat-- Wife beat her husband to death with it last night.
Well, maybe the Phillies will sign her.
Yeah, maybe.
What's up? Been going over the Wanda Johnson case.
Drawing a blank.
in the badlands back in '93.
Had you run some partial plates From an eyewitness statement.
You say so.
We got a better description of the car.
Turns out we were looking for a '92 Ford explorer.
Came up zilch.
Yeah, we see that.
Why'd you cross this one out? That was a long time ago.
If I had to guess, I'd say it was a wrong plate or something.
Well, you listed a reason for all the others.
That one Nothing.
I'll have to, uh, Consult my field notes, jog my memory.
Like to see those notes, you don't mind.
Yeah.
I'll get right on that.
Covering up for sloppy work? Let's hope that's all it is.
Before you even any odds with that street gun This thing's still packing a charge.
I can't believe she's hooked on painkillers.
Probably after some injury.
That's how it starts.
I mean, all the crap we went through with my mom.
Growing up.
You know, people think they can just kick it.
It ain't that easy.
These pills, Going straight from that pharmacy to the street.
They grind up the time-release oxys To smoke, snort, shoot, whatever.
Docs give 'em to anybody.
Pharmacists are I found this in the room.
She tried to show it to me.
Said she remembered That swimsuit.
But she was only like Five.
I got photos of me that age.
Makes you think you remember being there.
That him? * do it, do it, do it, do it, do it * * do it, do it, do it, do it, do it * * do it, do it, do it, do it * * don't wanna be your slave * * don't wanna be your slave * * don't wanna be your slave * * do it, baby * * yeah, baby * * * * don't wanna be your slave * * don't wanna be your slave * * don't wanna be your slave * * don't wanna be your slave.
* hey, I'm, uh, just knocking off To grab those files for you.
Don't bother! Get your hands off me! I'm giving you one chance to explain How come you buried this.
It was a fluke.
Doherty had nothing to do with that girl getting killed.
Then why did you delete the file? He was my lieutenant.
That puts him off-limits? Look, I gave him a heads-up.
We had a good laugh about it, and that was it.
He ask you to bury the report? No.
I figured the last thing my lieutenant needed Was his name popping up in a hot investigation.
Well, it popped.
Look, I got respect for chain of command.
So do I, Joe.
Except when it comes to covering up a crime.
There wasn't no cover-up.
Breathe a word of this to anybody, I'll have you pushing a sector car around the 12th.
Yeah, we'll see about that.
Where is she, numbnuts? You scream when I take that sock out, I'll make you eat this whole bottle.
The hell? What'd I do? Where is Christina? How the hell should I know? That's cliff's old lady.
Who the hell's cliff, and where is he? Back in Jersey.
I don't know.
I hooked him up once to move some blues-- Easy stuff from pain clinics in Florida.
Run them up I-95 to Newark.
So, why is cliff coming down here? 'cause he sent his woman down here To buy some pills, and she kept lying to him, Saying she couldn't get a hold of me.
Why would she lie to him? She said she was working on another hookup.
One week turned to two, cliff started losing it.
He said he was going to have her ass.
And you knew where she was staying? I saw her outside a rehab clinic, And I followed her to the grand.
And you told him where she was.
Cliff-- he's got a possessive mean streak.
Unhinged-like.
He gave her the pimp hand and hauled her ass out of there.
And you went there with him.
No.
He just told me to go back and find the stash.
I found you instead.
You took my gun.
Where's my sister? Your sister? What? No, man, that was cliff.
He took the gun, too.
You said he was in Jersey.
Where? I don't know.
Jersey city-- I never been up there.
I don't even know the dude's last name.
Come on, man.
All I got's a cell number.
Check my phone.
It's a Jersey area code.
We'll be back.
Better be right.
Try to make it last.
What? No dip? That deleted plate match came back belonging to Doherty.
Could be one of those grassy knoll coincidences.
Be inclined to go there with you, Nick, Except I also got a missing witness statement.
Nobody's been in that box except you.
Well, that's where nightstick Joe comes into the picture.
Let me guess.
He deleted the license plate that came back to Doherty.
Yeah.
See where I'm going with this? He's trying to get in with the bosses, So he buries the report.
Worse-- he shows it to Doherty.
And Doherty says he'll take care of it.
I owe it to Wanda Johnson to follow this thing to the end.
Yeah, you're going to follow it right into forced retirement.
So mote it be.
You got anything else Linking Doherty to this Except his car and a missing witness statement? How about a gun? Wanda was shot with a .
38.
Doherty never turned in his department-issue .
38 When we got the new glocks.
Looks just like this old wheel gun of mine.
Wow.
You think a police lieutenant Killed a 15-year-old girl? There's one way to find out.
Suppose you know where Doherty keeps his gun.
Desk, top right drawer, next to the bottle of old Spice.
Just walk in there And get that gun? Doherty's got his local clergy meeting tonight.
But after that There's a priest, a rabbi, and a minister All in an elevator Hey.
The sink's clogged in the ladies' room, Sal.
I'll get to it after I finish Touching up the big boss's office.
You been hitting the gym? Just pushing this mop and bucket.
Oh.
You're looking toned.
What did you say Was wrong with the sink? * long enough to bust your brains out * * the opposition's tongue is cut in two * * keep off the street 'cause you're in danger * Accusing the deputy commissioner Of murder, will, I mean, that's career suicide.
on this case.
Dreading the baked goods she sends every year Letting me know Her daughter's killer is still out there.
* keep it all out of sight * * undercover * * keep it all out of sight * * undercover of the night * * the sex police are out there on the streets * You better get your ducks lined up, will, Before you go slinging accusations at the brass.
In the process of doing just that.
What are you up to, will? Suppose Doherty's gun were to turn up.
Could you get preliminary ballistics on it from fiu? We better be talking hypothetical here Because I am all out of favors upstairs.
* undercover of the night * One deputy commissioner's gun.
* undercover of the night.
* Subscriber info on the cell comes back To Clifton Harper in Jersey city heights.
She's got this deranged boyfriend after her.
She really knows how to pick them.
Easy.
I don't know why I should care anymore.
Still blood.
Still Hurts.
Look, I'm sorry I dragged you into this mess.
Nah.
I should have told you before.
I mean, I-I feel Like I'm still responsible for her.
I-I don't know how to Keep doing this.
She went through what you did, too.
Well, you would think it would have brought us closer, But I barely remember a time when we got along.
When we were just Sisters.
Don't worry.
We'll build it again.
One weekend, My dad came back.
He, uh, took us to the beach.
Christina was so happy.
But I knew.
You knew what? He was just gonna leave again.
And he did.
Look, whatever happens, Scotty Thanks.
You pulled me out of a mayoral fund-raiser, John.
This better be good.
Got a few questions, pat.
You got questions, you come up to the fifth floor And ask 'em in the morning.
I don't think you want that.
Careful, Detective.
Wanda Johnson.
That supposed to mean something? Well, we got a break in the case.
Great.
Work it.
Is this some kind of stunt? Wanda Johnson was shot and killed In the badlands back in '93.
Witness came forward, Puts Wanda in your car.
Green '92 Ford explorer.
Sounds like You have an unreliable witness.
Oh, your car popped back in the day off a partial plate.
Got deleted from the file.
Okay.
I see where this is going.
And I'll warn you right now.
I'll have both your badges and your pensions.
Take your best shot.
We'll see whose badge goes first.
What the hell does that mean? Witness statement putting your car at the crime scene Turned up missing from the box.
You don't want the feds in this, pat.
We're doing you a favor.
We're done here.
Not until you tell us How a bullet from your gun ended up killing Wanda Johnson.
You're bluffing.
Came back a definitive match, pat.
I'd like my fop lawyer now.
I'm still waiting for the truth.
And I'd still like my lawyer.
Night Wanda was shot You were at Timmy Murphy's wake.
The whole department was there.
Yeah.
So what? I know what you're doing here, pat.
Stay out of this, John.
You left your gun at home.
No.
Car was in the badlands.
I know all about your boy Matt's struggle with drugs.
This had nothing to do with my son, And I'll stand for the gun.
That girl's Mother has been twisting in the wind for 16 years.
I said Matty didn't do this.
How do you know that? Because I asked him.
What's this? I was gonna tell you about that.
I'm listening.
Me and Ronnie You went out drinking? No! Don't lie to me.
Okay.
Just a little.
How'd this happen? Ronnie got sick, and it was an accident.
But we cleaned it up, though.
Anything else you want to tell me? I wanted to believe him.
How'd he get your gun? I don't know.
But you knew Enough when you heard about the shooting To make that plate match Go away.
You knew Matty was involved.
No.
Buried that witness report.
What kind of cop does that? He was my son.
I was trying to protect him.
It was that damn Ronnie Tavares.
I told Matt to stay away from him.
We'll talk to him.
Matt's turned his life around.
He's got a family and a son of his own now.
Then maybe he'll understand the hell He's put Althea Johnson through.
Good to see you've pulled yourself together, Matt.
I understand You're a father now.
Lieutenant You know what this is about? Remember Wanda? We got your old running buddy Ronnie Tavares in the other room.
Really made something Meth addict, petty theft, distribution.
He's ready to cooperate.
My father know about this? He's prepared to take the fall for you.
You gonna let that happen, Matt? No.
It's time To man up here, son.
How'd you know Wanda? We met at a party the week before.
She was still in High School.
She didn't look it.
How'd you meet her that night? We cruised by the school, picked her up.
I didn't even remember her name.
* mm-hmm, yeah * * ooh * Yo, Wanda.
Yo, Wanda, it's me-- Ronnie.
Yeah, so? Yo, yo, yo, Let's just go do this, man.
Yo, in a minute, fool, relax.
Yo, you're looking good, baby.
Let me holla at you for a second.
Holla.
So Me and my boy Matt right here-- We're trying to get in a little adventure.
That so? Yes.
Oh.
What you doing? Waiting on my mom.
Looks like she forgot you.
Yo, you know We can give you a ride, right? Come on.
* like I don't know how * * baby, I go * Madam.
* crazy * All right? * you got to roll me * * and call me the tumbling dice.
* Listen up, Ronnie.
We got Matt Doherty next door.
Yeah, good for you.
Wrong, bad for you, Ronnie.
Matt's got his life together.
Plus his dad's a cop, big time.
Means he knows the art of the deal.
I know how to deal.
What'd Matt say? Says you lured Wanda into that car.
He said that? Said you were gonna give her a ride home.
Right.
But you end up in the badlands? Detour.
For what? Show that dealer what's what.
He ripped us off the week before.
Huh, so That what the gun was for? That's not my gun, and it wasn't my idea.
Matt's painting a picture putting it all on you.
Matt He was tripping about that dealer getting over on us.
* * That's him.
All right, so how you want to do this? Do what? I said I wanted to go home.
Yo, chill, baby, relax, We just got some business to attend to.
Now you're all boyz n the hood? Just tell him you want something.
I'm not Telling him nothing.
Check this.
Come on.
Are you serious? What the hell? We're just gonna go straight at 'em, man.
You can't go point that thing at a dealer, fool.
These guys shoot back, man.
Just gonna put a little scare into him, okay? You get my back with his boys.
You guys are crazy.
I'm out.
Give me That thing, man.
This is no time to Get off of it! Stop! * * Ronnie should have never grabbed that gun.
It was an accident.
It also an accident you don't take Wanda to the hospital? Lot of things I should have done different.
Worried about what your father would say? It was all I could think about.
What the hell did you just do, man? Me?! You grabbed the gun! We got to get her to a hospital, man.
It was an accident.
That's what we're gonna tell 'em, right? Wanda.
It was an accident.
Yo.
Oh, man.
Wanda.
Oh, no.
Oh, man, what are we gonna do, man? I don't know.
Go, man, we got to get her out of this car! Ronnie said we had to get rid of the body, So that's what we did.
Just dump her like that.
I cleaned out the car, put the gun back.
Then lied to your father.
But he knew, didn't he? Yeah, I could see it in his eyes.
All these years sober.
It's like I've been waiting for this day to come.
So has Althea Johnson.
All right.
Unit number for cliff Harper is on the left.
No lights on.
Nobody's home.
Record for assault, domestic violence.
Guy's a real charmer.
Let's pull around back.
See if we can find a way in.
Christina.
Lil? He did this to you? He won't leave us alone.
Cliff-- where is he, Chris? No matter what I do, he always Finds us.
I'm so sorry, Lil.
What do you mean "us"? You have to get out of here.
No, we're not leaving without you.
It hurts to breathe.
Can you walk? I tried.
I can't leave.
I'm not like you.
Need to get her out of here.
I thought If I just left her with a friend And came home, I could get it together.
Left, left who? Then I could come and get her And then we could be like that again.
What are you talking about? Christina, we have to go.
Like at the beach In the photo that dad gave me.
You remember that day, Lil? Yeah.
When he came back? Yeah, yeah, sweetie, I remember.
Can you help us rebuild it, dad? I thought we were going to be like that again.
Sisters.
Sure, Chris, why not? I want it to be like that for her.
Let's get her out.
Let's go.
I got to go, Lil, 'cause I got to switch out The laundry.
It's okay.
Come on.
Christina, time to get up.
The hell? How could you do that to my sister?! Don't.
You don't want to do that, Lil.
Come on.
Let's go home.
* oh, oh * * well * * my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my * * and it's sure been a cold, cold * * winter * * and the wind ain't been blowin' * * from the South * * it's sure been * * a cold, cold winter * * and the light of love * * is all burned out * * it's sure been a hard, hard * * winter * * my feet been draggin' * * 'cross the ground * * and I hope it's gonna be * * a long, hot summer * * and the light of love * * will be burnin' bright * * and I wish I'd * * been out in California * * when the lights on all the Christmas trees * * went out * * but I been burnin' * * my bell, book, and candle * * and the restoration plays * * have all gone 'round * * it's sure been * * a cold, cold winter, lord * * my feet been draggin' 'cross the ground * * and the Fields has all been brown and fallow * * and the springtime * * take a long way around * * yeah * * and I wish I'd been out in stone canyon * * when the lights on all the Christmas trees * * went out * * but I been burnin' * * my bell, book, and candle * * and the restoration plays * * have all gone 'round * * oh, lord * * well, well, well * * sometimes I think about you, baby, well * * oh, sometimes I cry about you, lord * * well, well, well, well, well, well, well * * yeah, and I'll wrap my coat around you, woman.
*
So you're on your way driving back now? Yeah, I'll be back before sunup.
Well, that's good, babe, 'cause I can't wait to see your lying ass! No-no-no! Get your ass over here! Who the hell do you think you're talking to? Get in here! Stop it! * heartbreaker * * a pain maker * * stole the love right out * Christina? Christina? * * Someone here to see you, will.
Yeah? Althea Johnson.
Daughter Wanda shot and dumped In the badlands back in '93.
Banana bread, Hmm? Calls me every year asking if there's been a break.
Been hanging these faithfully.
Wish I could tell you We have a break in the case, Mrs.
Johnson, but I got a call on my flyer, Detective.
Man says he saw Wanda in a car that night.
Alive.
Night she was killed? Yes.
Green car, just like the one the other witness said.
Where? Corner of Kip and Cambria.
That's a bad drug corner.
I know.
But my Wanda didn't mess with drugs, Detective.
She was a good girl.
You should have done that homework last night.
Mama, please.
It's done.
And you didn't eat your breakfast.
I got a pop-tart.
Wanda, honey? What? You going to run barefoot? You forgot your track shoes.
Bye.
Are you forgetting something else? Mom? You're still My little girl.
Hey! Ten minutes late to pick her up From practice and she was gone.
This man-- he just happened to see her? I grilled him good.
I believe he's telling the truth.
We'll bring him in.
Check his story.
Calls himself brother Olajuwon now.
Says he turned his life around.
Oh, one of those.
I'd prefer if you keep an open mind, Detective.
Hey, Valens.
Did you hear about Mota? What's that? Just got Swiss-cheesed in the shower up in the big house.
Really? You didn't know about that? Just now hearing it.
Hmm, just asking 'cause, uh, I saw the visitation logs And you were up there now two days ago Paying Hector Cruz a visit.
Yeah.
Yeah, it's some other case I'm working.
Something I need to worry about? Hmm, or anybody else for that matter? I don't see why.
Hmm.
Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
Yeah.
Thanks for the heads-up.
Hey, buddy.
Anybody asking For a Christina rush last night, room 48? I'm sorry.
That information Will require a warrant from a judge or a Magistrate.
What? Under the fourth amendment based on probable cause.
You're going To require orthodontia You don't start answering the right way.
Christina rush, 48.
I'm sorry.
There's no one that's checked in or out This week by that name.
You open up or I'm going to put That fire extinguisher through this window.
Well, that wouldn't seem prudent.
Do I need to call the police? Better yet, how about I call vice? Shut down this fleabag for narcotics and prostitution.
Who paid the bill? They haven't checked out yet.
Bernie, Que Paso? What? "Alexis Childress"? I was just informed By housekeeping that the room is trashed.
The woman in 48, what did she look like? Sandy blonde, In her 30s.
Looks a little like you.
You take a credit card for the deposit? I waived it On account of her general hotness.
That, and she paid cash.
Anyone else coming or going from this room? Just you, and now the room is trashed.
Hey, who's going to pay for this?! Don't see that witness statement about the car back in '93.
Could have swore it was here.
Inez Kellog, little old lady Got a partial on a green SUV leaving the dump site.
Anybody else been in the box? Not according to the log.
But you remember it? Yeah.
Never went anywhere 'cause she couldn't I.
D.
The model or year.
Oh New info puts Wanda In a similar car three blocks from there.
This guy better not be sowing false hope.
Hey, you all right? Yeah, I'm fine.
But Christina's gone.
Along with my service weapon.
Lil, you've got to call this in.
I need your help getting them both back.
But you don't report it stolen, It gets used in a crime, that's it, Lil.
You're done.
Look, I know what this means, Scotty.
I'm asking for your help.
What do we got? Well, the guy tossed the room.
He was looking for something.
Oxys.
Who's "Alexis Childress"? The same name the room's under.
It's all we got to go on.
But you want To go after these guys without a gun? Don't worry.
I got a gun.
Robert Miggs? As-salaam alaikum, Detective.
And it's brother Olajuwon now.
Yeah.
Only reason we're meeting like this Is 'cause of Althea Johnson.
She said I could trust you.
You find the prophet while doing That dime up at camp hill, Brother? Allah had a plan for me.
That plan include sprouting a conscience? The first thing I saw when I finished my incarceration Was that woman out there in a blizzard hanging flyers.
She wanted to find out what happened to her daughter.
Yeah.
Well, I saw that girl's face, And I remembered Name's Wanda.
Where'd you see her? Like brother Malcolm, I, too, was in the game.
Dealing.
The corner was "poppin'" As they say in the pusher parlance.
Wanda trying to cop? I don't know what she was doing in that car.
Just knew something wasn't right.
Yo, check off, young.
I don't like that one.
Something ain't right with that.
Can't get that girl's face out of my thoughts.
You get a good look at the car? Green Ford explorer.
Got a head for cars? Skill set you get on the corner.
Only way to read your customer.
What'd that car say to you? Caucasian car-- that's how come I remembered.
Wondered what a beautiful, young sister Was doing in a ride like that.
You see anybody in there with her? No.
Just heard voices.
Some kind of dispute, then the gun went off.
Different model years Of Ford explorers.
Tell me which one you recognize.
Like that.
'92 Ford explorer.
Sure? Had one of them dare stickers on it.
Where'd you get that? It was a gift.
You prepared to use that thing? They got my sister.
Assaulted me and took my gun.
Just evening the odds.
Start with this Rothman drugs doling out A lifetime supply of painkillers, huh? That's a lot of blues.
Worse than I thought.
What's that mean? Come on, Lil.
You saw her.
Use fake names to get scrips.
Why you so sure that they're Christina's? Checked into that fleabag under the same alias.
He's gotta use a fake name 'cause she can't get a scrip For a controlled substance with a record.
You know, my sister's a lot of things, But a drug addict? You know something I don't, Scotty? Here we go.
When's the last time you saw her? When was that? She called me A couple days ago Just tell her I'll be back soon, okay, baby? All right, take care.
Hey.
Thanks for coming.
Listen, I know I left a mess last time I was in town.
I'm really sorry about that.
* all I want is for you to make love to me * What do you need, Christina? So it's like that, huh? Yeah, it's like that.
Just get to it.
* I'll never be your beast of burden * * I've walked for miles, my feet are hurtin' * You're the only one who really knows my sister; What she's like, what she's thinking.
I don't know about that.
I wanna know if she still hates me.
* am I hard enough? * You're talking to me.
You haven't even spoken to her yet, have you? * am I rich enough? I'm not too blind to see * Do you think there's a chance That Lilly could ever get past it? What difference does it make? You're just gonna skip town.
No, no.
That's just it.
I want to move back.
This is my home.
This is where my family is.
I don't know, Christina.
You're gonna have to call Lilly yourself.
* am I rough enough? * But you might wanna get cleaned up first.
* I'm not too blind to see.
* I'm trying, Scotty.
I'm really trying.
I know that look from narcotics.
It wasn't pinned But she was jonesing.
My sister Hooked on hillbilly heroin, and you didn't tell me? What the hell was I supposed to say, Lil? After what happened last time? Hey, wait, wait, wait.
What are you doing? Hey! Hey! You lied to my face! What? See? I knew you would react this way.
Why you think she came to me first, Lil? Of course, why wouldn't she? It says a lot about your relationship, don't it? You think I wanna get put in the middle of this all over again? It didn't stop you before.
Just another piece to you right, Scotty? You know, why don't ya take your ass back up To the feds and take that big job? You can forget about us Just like you forgot about your sister.
What?! I figured you were her next stop anyway.
Was I right? Why wouldn't you just tell me? I don't know, Lil.
Maybe I got my own family to deal with.
Did you ever think of that? We just gonna stand here arguing all damn day Or are we gonna go get your gun and Christina back? Anybody seen rush today? Some family thing with her sister.
Think Scotty went to help her out.
I don't even want to know.
That missing witness statement turn up? Gone.
Any luck With the partial plates ran back in the day? I got 40 '92 green Ford explorers, But none of 'em checked out.
"wreck, alibi, in for repair, out of search radius.
" What about this one? Every other one has a reason why it was deleted.
Did you farm out Any legwork back in the day? I was busy chasing down witnesses, So I used Joe Mueller In patrol.
This is fault of patient.
People change numbers, fax in forge scrips.
Addicts stop at nothing to get pills.
Ten refills and you don't even double-check with the doc? She didn't look like an addict.
Was she alone Or was she working with someone? What do you mean? It's a lax pharmacy That doles out pills like candy.
Word spreads fast.
Lies! You pulled the records.
She was paying cash, right? You dealing painkillers or drug addicts? I call the DEA, That's fed time, Nazir.
Look, we're not interested In busting you.
We're looking for this woman And anyone else she was working with.
She came alone.
But she had the same address on her I.
D.
As the two other guys from New York.
Same address? What other guys? New York I.
D.
They paid with cash.
How often these guys come in? First guy's been in here before.
Knows not to come more than once a week.
Well, what about this other guy? Don't recognize him, But this is not the only place that takes cash.
All using fake New York I.
D.
S.
And you don't report it.
I'm cooperating with you now.
Pharmacies that play ball with drug addicts.
Just one stop on the circuit? Like clockwork.
And I can tell you the place they're going to hit up next.
Got a minute, Joe? Yeah.
Signed Ryan Howard bat-- Wife beat her husband to death with it last night.
Well, maybe the Phillies will sign her.
Yeah, maybe.
What's up? Been going over the Wanda Johnson case.
Drawing a blank.
in the badlands back in '93.
Had you run some partial plates From an eyewitness statement.
You say so.
We got a better description of the car.
Turns out we were looking for a '92 Ford explorer.
Came up zilch.
Yeah, we see that.
Why'd you cross this one out? That was a long time ago.
If I had to guess, I'd say it was a wrong plate or something.
Well, you listed a reason for all the others.
That one Nothing.
I'll have to, uh, Consult my field notes, jog my memory.
Like to see those notes, you don't mind.
Yeah.
I'll get right on that.
Covering up for sloppy work? Let's hope that's all it is.
Before you even any odds with that street gun This thing's still packing a charge.
I can't believe she's hooked on painkillers.
Probably after some injury.
That's how it starts.
I mean, all the crap we went through with my mom.
Growing up.
You know, people think they can just kick it.
It ain't that easy.
These pills, Going straight from that pharmacy to the street.
They grind up the time-release oxys To smoke, snort, shoot, whatever.
Docs give 'em to anybody.
Pharmacists are I found this in the room.
She tried to show it to me.
Said she remembered That swimsuit.
But she was only like Five.
I got photos of me that age.
Makes you think you remember being there.
That him? * do it, do it, do it, do it, do it * * do it, do it, do it, do it, do it * * do it, do it, do it, do it * * don't wanna be your slave * * don't wanna be your slave * * don't wanna be your slave * * do it, baby * * yeah, baby * * * * don't wanna be your slave * * don't wanna be your slave * * don't wanna be your slave * * don't wanna be your slave.
* hey, I'm, uh, just knocking off To grab those files for you.
Don't bother! Get your hands off me! I'm giving you one chance to explain How come you buried this.
It was a fluke.
Doherty had nothing to do with that girl getting killed.
Then why did you delete the file? He was my lieutenant.
That puts him off-limits? Look, I gave him a heads-up.
We had a good laugh about it, and that was it.
He ask you to bury the report? No.
I figured the last thing my lieutenant needed Was his name popping up in a hot investigation.
Well, it popped.
Look, I got respect for chain of command.
So do I, Joe.
Except when it comes to covering up a crime.
There wasn't no cover-up.
Breathe a word of this to anybody, I'll have you pushing a sector car around the 12th.
Yeah, we'll see about that.
Where is she, numbnuts? You scream when I take that sock out, I'll make you eat this whole bottle.
The hell? What'd I do? Where is Christina? How the hell should I know? That's cliff's old lady.
Who the hell's cliff, and where is he? Back in Jersey.
I don't know.
I hooked him up once to move some blues-- Easy stuff from pain clinics in Florida.
Run them up I-95 to Newark.
So, why is cliff coming down here? 'cause he sent his woman down here To buy some pills, and she kept lying to him, Saying she couldn't get a hold of me.
Why would she lie to him? She said she was working on another hookup.
One week turned to two, cliff started losing it.
He said he was going to have her ass.
And you knew where she was staying? I saw her outside a rehab clinic, And I followed her to the grand.
And you told him where she was.
Cliff-- he's got a possessive mean streak.
Unhinged-like.
He gave her the pimp hand and hauled her ass out of there.
And you went there with him.
No.
He just told me to go back and find the stash.
I found you instead.
You took my gun.
Where's my sister? Your sister? What? No, man, that was cliff.
He took the gun, too.
You said he was in Jersey.
Where? I don't know.
Jersey city-- I never been up there.
I don't even know the dude's last name.
Come on, man.
All I got's a cell number.
Check my phone.
It's a Jersey area code.
We'll be back.
Better be right.
Try to make it last.
What? No dip? That deleted plate match came back belonging to Doherty.
Could be one of those grassy knoll coincidences.
Be inclined to go there with you, Nick, Except I also got a missing witness statement.
Nobody's been in that box except you.
Well, that's where nightstick Joe comes into the picture.
Let me guess.
He deleted the license plate that came back to Doherty.
Yeah.
See where I'm going with this? He's trying to get in with the bosses, So he buries the report.
Worse-- he shows it to Doherty.
And Doherty says he'll take care of it.
I owe it to Wanda Johnson to follow this thing to the end.
Yeah, you're going to follow it right into forced retirement.
So mote it be.
You got anything else Linking Doherty to this Except his car and a missing witness statement? How about a gun? Wanda was shot with a .
38.
Doherty never turned in his department-issue .
38 When we got the new glocks.
Looks just like this old wheel gun of mine.
Wow.
You think a police lieutenant Killed a 15-year-old girl? There's one way to find out.
Suppose you know where Doherty keeps his gun.
Desk, top right drawer, next to the bottle of old Spice.
Just walk in there And get that gun? Doherty's got his local clergy meeting tonight.
But after that There's a priest, a rabbi, and a minister All in an elevator Hey.
The sink's clogged in the ladies' room, Sal.
I'll get to it after I finish Touching up the big boss's office.
You been hitting the gym? Just pushing this mop and bucket.
Oh.
You're looking toned.
What did you say Was wrong with the sink? * long enough to bust your brains out * * the opposition's tongue is cut in two * * keep off the street 'cause you're in danger * Accusing the deputy commissioner Of murder, will, I mean, that's career suicide.
on this case.
Dreading the baked goods she sends every year Letting me know Her daughter's killer is still out there.
* keep it all out of sight * * undercover * * keep it all out of sight * * undercover of the night * * the sex police are out there on the streets * You better get your ducks lined up, will, Before you go slinging accusations at the brass.
In the process of doing just that.
What are you up to, will? Suppose Doherty's gun were to turn up.
Could you get preliminary ballistics on it from fiu? We better be talking hypothetical here Because I am all out of favors upstairs.
* undercover of the night * One deputy commissioner's gun.
* undercover of the night.
* Subscriber info on the cell comes back To Clifton Harper in Jersey city heights.
She's got this deranged boyfriend after her.
She really knows how to pick them.
Easy.
I don't know why I should care anymore.
Still blood.
Still Hurts.
Look, I'm sorry I dragged you into this mess.
Nah.
I should have told you before.
I mean, I-I feel Like I'm still responsible for her.
I-I don't know how to Keep doing this.
She went through what you did, too.
Well, you would think it would have brought us closer, But I barely remember a time when we got along.
When we were just Sisters.
Don't worry.
We'll build it again.
One weekend, My dad came back.
He, uh, took us to the beach.
Christina was so happy.
But I knew.
You knew what? He was just gonna leave again.
And he did.
Look, whatever happens, Scotty Thanks.
You pulled me out of a mayoral fund-raiser, John.
This better be good.
Got a few questions, pat.
You got questions, you come up to the fifth floor And ask 'em in the morning.
I don't think you want that.
Careful, Detective.
Wanda Johnson.
That supposed to mean something? Well, we got a break in the case.
Great.
Work it.
Is this some kind of stunt? Wanda Johnson was shot and killed In the badlands back in '93.
Witness came forward, Puts Wanda in your car.
Green '92 Ford explorer.
Sounds like You have an unreliable witness.
Oh, your car popped back in the day off a partial plate.
Got deleted from the file.
Okay.
I see where this is going.
And I'll warn you right now.
I'll have both your badges and your pensions.
Take your best shot.
We'll see whose badge goes first.
What the hell does that mean? Witness statement putting your car at the crime scene Turned up missing from the box.
You don't want the feds in this, pat.
We're doing you a favor.
We're done here.
Not until you tell us How a bullet from your gun ended up killing Wanda Johnson.
You're bluffing.
Came back a definitive match, pat.
I'd like my fop lawyer now.
I'm still waiting for the truth.
And I'd still like my lawyer.
Night Wanda was shot You were at Timmy Murphy's wake.
The whole department was there.
Yeah.
So what? I know what you're doing here, pat.
Stay out of this, John.
You left your gun at home.
No.
Car was in the badlands.
I know all about your boy Matt's struggle with drugs.
This had nothing to do with my son, And I'll stand for the gun.
That girl's Mother has been twisting in the wind for 16 years.
I said Matty didn't do this.
How do you know that? Because I asked him.
What's this? I was gonna tell you about that.
I'm listening.
Me and Ronnie You went out drinking? No! Don't lie to me.
Okay.
Just a little.
How'd this happen? Ronnie got sick, and it was an accident.
But we cleaned it up, though.
Anything else you want to tell me? I wanted to believe him.
How'd he get your gun? I don't know.
But you knew Enough when you heard about the shooting To make that plate match Go away.
You knew Matty was involved.
No.
Buried that witness report.
What kind of cop does that? He was my son.
I was trying to protect him.
It was that damn Ronnie Tavares.
I told Matt to stay away from him.
We'll talk to him.
Matt's turned his life around.
He's got a family and a son of his own now.
Then maybe he'll understand the hell He's put Althea Johnson through.
Good to see you've pulled yourself together, Matt.
I understand You're a father now.
Lieutenant You know what this is about? Remember Wanda? We got your old running buddy Ronnie Tavares in the other room.
Really made something Meth addict, petty theft, distribution.
He's ready to cooperate.
My father know about this? He's prepared to take the fall for you.
You gonna let that happen, Matt? No.
It's time To man up here, son.
How'd you know Wanda? We met at a party the week before.
She was still in High School.
She didn't look it.
How'd you meet her that night? We cruised by the school, picked her up.
I didn't even remember her name.
* mm-hmm, yeah * * ooh * Yo, Wanda.
Yo, Wanda, it's me-- Ronnie.
Yeah, so? Yo, yo, yo, Let's just go do this, man.
Yo, in a minute, fool, relax.
Yo, you're looking good, baby.
Let me holla at you for a second.
Holla.
So Me and my boy Matt right here-- We're trying to get in a little adventure.
That so? Yes.
Oh.
What you doing? Waiting on my mom.
Looks like she forgot you.
Yo, you know We can give you a ride, right? Come on.
* like I don't know how * * baby, I go * Madam.
* crazy * All right? * you got to roll me * * and call me the tumbling dice.
* Listen up, Ronnie.
We got Matt Doherty next door.
Yeah, good for you.
Wrong, bad for you, Ronnie.
Matt's got his life together.
Plus his dad's a cop, big time.
Means he knows the art of the deal.
I know how to deal.
What'd Matt say? Says you lured Wanda into that car.
He said that? Said you were gonna give her a ride home.
Right.
But you end up in the badlands? Detour.
For what? Show that dealer what's what.
He ripped us off the week before.
Huh, so That what the gun was for? That's not my gun, and it wasn't my idea.
Matt's painting a picture putting it all on you.
Matt He was tripping about that dealer getting over on us.
* * That's him.
All right, so how you want to do this? Do what? I said I wanted to go home.
Yo, chill, baby, relax, We just got some business to attend to.
Now you're all boyz n the hood? Just tell him you want something.
I'm not Telling him nothing.
Check this.
Come on.
Are you serious? What the hell? We're just gonna go straight at 'em, man.
You can't go point that thing at a dealer, fool.
These guys shoot back, man.
Just gonna put a little scare into him, okay? You get my back with his boys.
You guys are crazy.
I'm out.
Give me That thing, man.
This is no time to Get off of it! Stop! * * Ronnie should have never grabbed that gun.
It was an accident.
It also an accident you don't take Wanda to the hospital? Lot of things I should have done different.
Worried about what your father would say? It was all I could think about.
What the hell did you just do, man? Me?! You grabbed the gun! We got to get her to a hospital, man.
It was an accident.
That's what we're gonna tell 'em, right? Wanda.
It was an accident.
Yo.
Oh, man.
Wanda.
Oh, no.
Oh, man, what are we gonna do, man? I don't know.
Go, man, we got to get her out of this car! Ronnie said we had to get rid of the body, So that's what we did.
Just dump her like that.
I cleaned out the car, put the gun back.
Then lied to your father.
But he knew, didn't he? Yeah, I could see it in his eyes.
All these years sober.
It's like I've been waiting for this day to come.
So has Althea Johnson.
All right.
Unit number for cliff Harper is on the left.
No lights on.
Nobody's home.
Record for assault, domestic violence.
Guy's a real charmer.
Let's pull around back.
See if we can find a way in.
Christina.
Lil? He did this to you? He won't leave us alone.
Cliff-- where is he, Chris? No matter what I do, he always Finds us.
I'm so sorry, Lil.
What do you mean "us"? You have to get out of here.
No, we're not leaving without you.
It hurts to breathe.
Can you walk? I tried.
I can't leave.
I'm not like you.
Need to get her out of here.
I thought If I just left her with a friend And came home, I could get it together.
Left, left who? Then I could come and get her And then we could be like that again.
What are you talking about? Christina, we have to go.
Like at the beach In the photo that dad gave me.
You remember that day, Lil? Yeah.
When he came back? Yeah, yeah, sweetie, I remember.
Can you help us rebuild it, dad? I thought we were going to be like that again.
Sisters.
Sure, Chris, why not? I want it to be like that for her.
Let's get her out.
Let's go.
I got to go, Lil, 'cause I got to switch out The laundry.
It's okay.
Come on.
Christina, time to get up.
The hell? How could you do that to my sister?! Don't.
You don't want to do that, Lil.
Come on.
Let's go home.
* oh, oh * * well * * my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my * * and it's sure been a cold, cold * * winter * * and the wind ain't been blowin' * * from the South * * it's sure been * * a cold, cold winter * * and the light of love * * is all burned out * * it's sure been a hard, hard * * winter * * my feet been draggin' * * 'cross the ground * * and I hope it's gonna be * * a long, hot summer * * and the light of love * * will be burnin' bright * * and I wish I'd * * been out in California * * when the lights on all the Christmas trees * * went out * * but I been burnin' * * my bell, book, and candle * * and the restoration plays * * have all gone 'round * * it's sure been * * a cold, cold winter, lord * * my feet been draggin' 'cross the ground * * and the Fields has all been brown and fallow * * and the springtime * * take a long way around * * yeah * * and I wish I'd been out in stone canyon * * when the lights on all the Christmas trees * * went out * * but I been burnin' * * my bell, book, and candle * * and the restoration plays * * have all gone 'round * * oh, lord * * well, well, well * * sometimes I think about you, baby, well * * oh, sometimes I cry about you, lord * * well, well, well, well, well, well, well * * yeah, and I'll wrap my coat around you, woman.
*