Original subtitles

This is where it all started.

My wife Maria, sh-she was murdered.

Previously on cross...

You giving me a new case?

Each of those victims was transformed to resemble

a serial killer.

Calling him the fanboy. Seemed like a good name

for this motherfucker.

I'm a detective.

Metro pd.

You got kids?

A boy and a girl.

We grew up together and joined the force together.

Someone from my past is out to get me.

Would you like to know

- what her last words were? - Who is this?

I'm not a monster.

What do you want from me?

Hit it.

What do you want?

- $2.2 million. - Help!

Who are you working for, Bobby?

I got this raging crush on this older man.

I don't understand

how a black man can be a cop these days.

Fuck the police.

This is the incident that Sampson reported.

You started all this

when you reported me. I was trying to find Maria's killer!

I took our friendship for granted.

I'm sorry.

I was right there with you, side by side, on that case,

and you're a national hero and nobody knows who I am.

It's over.

You're the cop who took down DC's most prolific serial killer.

I can't think of a better way

than to confess to the legendary Alex cross.

We need to find out who's fucking with my family.

You see this man, I want you to run.

The man I love putting me in that position...

You hid the truth from me.

Can't believe it was her the whole time.

"My babies need me."

Those were Maria's last words.

You're gonna pay for this.

You'll be cleared.

Nobody wants to see you lose your badge.

I came to say thank you.

Hold up. Are we having a civil conversation, Malika?

Full immunity with 24 months served.

We got a deal.

Is this you or, or uncle Sam talking?

You're a hero, Alex, but only you get to decide what that means.

- Are you Cyrus? - Yeah.

What happened with Troy?

He overslept.

Hey. Phone.

Let's go.

You have any mount gay? I asked for it.

Not in there. We got some more on the way.

Good.

Please, let me go home.

No more crying.

You should be happy.

You're my favorite.

It's good to be my favorite.

Can I be your favorite?

Unlock her.

I'm getting you out of here.

There's a boat on the dock. Get inside and wait for me, okay?

- Now you lock up. - Who are you?

Lock up, and then we talk.

Behind your back.

- What do you want? - Your money.

Or at least the $11,426,000 at sep bank in lugano.

Come on, Madison. I have a toy for us to play with.

Get out of here.

I want to play.

Where's your toy?

I brought my toy.

You don't want to play with me?

I want all the girls out.

We're gonna have some fun.

Your kind of fun.

All transactions are traceable.

By the time they find my account, your money will be gone.

And now... I need the key to your safety-deposit box in Houston.

You can't get in without me.

Better to give up the key than die.

You understand that's the proposition here, don't you?

It's on my key ring.

Who are you?

I am the daughter of Dr. Gabriela Alejandra porras

healer, teacher, and protector of the poor...

the forgotten and the maltreated.

Her blood gives me strength

why are you doing this?

Are you asking because you don't know what you've done to deserve this?

Or because you've committed so many deplorable, evil acts

over the course of your despicable life that you can't figure out

which ghost has come back to haunt you?

Do you want a hint, Richie?

They say I have her eyes.

It was story time when I found her.

I tried to wake her, but she was too tired.

And I thought about going back to my bed,

but my favorite part of every day was story time.

So I decided, instead of her reading to me,

I would read to her.

I climbed up in bed, and I laid down next to my dead mother.

I didn't know they were...

I am so sorry.

You have sinned enough, you vile, limp dick, waste of flesh and bone.

We both know that wasn't a mistake.

And you didn't regret it.

Until now.

Our keynote speaker today

is a man who has dedicated his life to the metropolitan police department.

He has earned every commendation this department has to offer,

and he has even been recognized

with the medal of valor from the president of the United States.

To inspire the next generation of metropolitan police officers,

please help me welcome detective Alex cross.

Good afternoon.

It's an honor to be here.

It's an honor to be one of you.

Now, they put me on the podium today to stand as a shining example,

because, in their eyes, I represent the best of us.

And I appreciate that. I'm-I'm proud of what I've accomplished.

But when you look at me, also know I represent the worst of us.

I assaulted an innocent man.

And I was on the job.

I'm grateful that I got a second chance

and, with it, an opportunity to share some truths with you today.

This job is difficult.

Only those that do it can truly understand.

And you don't get to call time-out just because you woke up in a bad mood

or you got money problems or your marriage is in trouble.

No.

And you will make mistakes. You will.

Is it fair that, most times, you're judged not by your best day but by your worst?

Maybe not.

But that is what you're signing up for.

You don't like it, don't take the oath.

We have to hold ourselves to a higher standard.

When I fell down on the job,

my partner detective John Sampson made me face the music.

And when he held me accountable,

he not only upheld the integrity of this department, but he...

he saved my life.

We must hold ourselves to a higher standard.

And when we do, we set ourselves up

for the most satisfying feeling I think anyone can experience.

No, it's not a promotion or a paycheck.

It's not a headline. It's not a pat on the back.

No, it is not a free half-smoke from Ben's chili,

even though that might be a close second.

No.

It's you.

Standing in the mirror, looking at yourself

and knowing that you made a difference.

It's a powerful thing.

Because in this job, some days you are the difference.

Welcome to the force.

Nice little speech you wrote there.

I had Elle help me with it.

Really?

So she pitched in?

I keep telling you, man, I'm starting to feel the thaw.

I heard she's seeing somebody.

From what I hear, it ain't serious.

I mean, they went on a few little dates. They're not exclusive.

What?

Hey, man, hey, stop. Don't look at me like that.

- Don't. - Sugar, look.

I know you want her back, but you've been trying to win her over

for a year and a half, and you're still in the friend zone.

And she dating somebody? Look, at some point, you got to...

they're not exclusive. She don't care about that dude.

We talk damn near every day.

She still hangs out with Nana and the kids.

Me, too. That's friends and family stuff.

Y'all romantic?

I'll put it to you like this.

She's coming to the house Sunday morning for brunch.

So we all having mimosas? Y'all definitely getting back together.

Yeah.

Look, I hope you're right.

Elle is good people, and she's good for you.

I know.

Do you know what it is, trev?

People don't know how to value social programs.

I mean, every kid we take out of the prison system

and put through the education system is a plus for the economy.

And they don't see it like that.

It's like a donation, not an investment.

And what, when times get tight, charity goes out the window.

It's just, it's just so shortsighted.

You know what I, you know I mean?

Am I listening or offering advice?

You better stop. Both.

Okay, good, 'cause I'm a solution-oriented type of brother.

Please, Trevor, solve all my problems.

Well, that's your first problem right there, that-that sarcastic tone.

Cool.

Hey, you can take that Allen case off the board.

We closed that last night.

Great. Means you're up in two.

- This thing is a piece of shit. - Yo.

- Where we at with the action report? - Is that the royal "we"?

I'm sorry. Do you have the action from the incident?

- I need it for insurance purposes. - I passed it off to marnie.

By the way, we're tracing a gun. It has no numbers.

That's some happy days shit right there.

I call it percussive maintenance.

Vega, hey.

You got a minute?

Not even a second.

Murder suspect in custody.

Hey. Do we have an action report? I got to brief the chief.

Akbar said marnie was handling it.

Was she there? No, you were.

One of y'all do it. Always trying to skip the boring part.

What's wrong with y'all? Shit.

We are pulling the report together right now, chief.

Don't worry, it'll be ready in time for your press conference.

Not mine, yours.

I'm not effing with reporters today.

It's your first time making the news, lieutenant.

- Let's talk. - Aw, shit.

Hey, what's up, lovely?

Dad, you know how you say the world is a dangerous place?

- Yeah. - Thank you.

And you know how you like to always know where I am?

- That's right. - And you know how.

- Damon got a phone after what happened... - No, thank you.

At miss Nancy's?

I see what this is.

Damon got a phone because he turned 12, not because some crazy lady kidnapped him.

But if he'd had his phone...

it wouldn't have worked. That was in the middle of nowhere.

Baby girl, no phone till you hit 12. Them's the rules.

So you don't care that the world is dangerous?

I'm more afraid of social media.

If you don't think I can make responsible decisions with a phone,

you're basically saying you didn't raise me right.

She got a point.

My grand babies were raised with some sense.

Dad, if you don't get her a phone, she's gonna keep asking to use mine.

I got the whole family against me on this one.

Not me. I'm on your side.

Kids don't need phones at jannie's age, especially girls.

Excuse me?

Girls are smarter than boys, and that means faster.

Give a boy a phone, he's playing video games.

Give a girl a phone, she getting into all sorts of inappropriateness.

Yeah, you keep digging that sexist hole, you're gonna get buried in it.

Am I wrong? Sugar, back me up.

No.

What?

I have to say, Ms. Jannie is a very responsible

- young lady. - Yes.

I mean, top of her class, doing great in track.

I even heard she does her chores without being asked.

Ooh.

Okay, I see. Th-this is a setup.

So you just came to back up jannie?

Apologies, your honor.

I was asked to provide counsel.

So, does that mean...?

Yes.

Yes! Thank you, daddy!

Mark my words. Mark my words.

Okay, you need to stop talking

- and start reading some books on misogyny. - Misogyny?

Are we going to eat, or are we going to fight?

I can't believe you said that to her, that girls are fast.

Like, I can't believe you're on some Andrew Tate bullshit!

I don't even know who the fuck that is, but I'm just telling you,

men and women have differences, all right?

I don't know why you acting like we don't.

Yeah, the only difference is, men are stupid.

- Especially you, apparently. - You want to take this shit to 11?

We can take it to 11. Don't make me stop this car.

- I wish you would stop the car. - Now you're really talking crazy.

I said, stop the car!

Happy? Now what you got to say?

Shut up.

Shit.

There is a shitstorm brewing, so I'm gonna make this quick.

Senator Reagan lynton has been accused of fraud.

There's enough smoke to suspect fire, if not a full-on inferno.

Rodriguez, you and your detail are gonna go up lynton's ass with a floodlight.

DOJ's also asking for an interface with the IRS

because this is possibly tax evasion, too.

That is you and your team.

Copy that.

Now, it's gonna be in the news every day for six months.

So that means all dots, all crosses, all hands on deck.

What about Craig?

What about that thing I just asked you to do?

- I'll worry about Craig. - Yes, sir.

Thank you.

Seriously?

I mean, if I'd known I was being exiled to Siberia,

I would have worn something warmer.

Craig, relax.

Don't relax. This is a career-making case.

Agent Craig, you've made it to this point in your career

where skill and talent don't really move you up the pyramid anymore.

Friends do. And you don't have many.

Apparently, I don't have any.

No?

So, how come when director hammet asked me for my best agent,

I gave him you?

Gave him me for what?

Are you familiar with Lance durand, crestbrook industries?

Chicken guy? Wants to be Steve Jobs in overalls.

Kind of, except he's worth twice as much as jobs ever was.

Someone's trying to kill him.

Director hammet would love it if you could find out who before they do.

I mean, I can do that.

And we'd also like Alex cross working the case with you.

- Excuse me? - Director hammet's request.

He knows Alex cross is a great detective.

He knows you two have worked together in the past

on the soneji case, the Ramsey case, which is still fresh in everybody's mind.

And he wants this to be a joint investigation.

They want to keep it quiet. Yeah, okay.

They can avoid mandatory disclosures if they go joint with mpd.

Lance durand is adamant this will not make it to the press.

So no one's gonna hear about this?

Director hammet will.

If you pull this off, you will not only have a friend in here.

You will have the only friend you need.

Did you get a chance to get up to speed while you were getting pretty?

No body, no attempted murder, no break-in,

no extortion or robbery, but durand is convinced someone's trying to kill him.

And everybody wants to avoid the press.

Very good, teacher's pet.

I forgot to include this in my brief.

On this case, I'm cross and you're Sampson.

Okay.

So we're partners.

Cute.

What I mean is, this isn't the Ramsey case.

I'm lead.

Can you handle taking orders from me?

It's no problem at all.

Okay.

Let's do it.

And we can end world hunger today

if we empower people to make the right choices.

Crestbrook industries' prosperity seed is the single

biggest advancement in agriculture since crop rotation.

The answer is in this box.

I like a little pomp and circumstance.

How about a, how about a countdown?

Three, two, one!

What was in the box?

Whose are these?

I don't know.

Someone send these to you?

I don't know.

And I don't know how they got into the conference either,

which is why I decided this time that we needed help.

But there's no better head of security than nat.

Public event like that, we've got a team in place

on the level of the secret service guarding a foreign diplomat.

And you were the one who brought the box to the stage?

Yes. And before that, I got everything ready backstage.

I triple-checked the entire presentation, and the last time I looked in the box,

the only thing that was in it was the prosperity seed prototype.

And did you ever leave the box alone?

I went to the bathroom.

I-I was gone maybe ten minutes tops.

Most homicides are committed by someone you know.

The note, the photo, the fingers, it's all very personal.

My experience, it suggests someone's out for revenge.

I get it. Any person in my position,

like, you're gonna make enemies along the way,

but I have no clue who would chop up fingers and stuff 'em in a box.

"You're next" suggests that there was someone before you.

- Would you know who that was? - No idea.

This is just the latest in a series of threats

that we have been getting over the last year and a half.

You've been handling this on your own for 18 months?

I didn't go to the authorities because I didn't want it to get out.

We cannot afford any kind of weird press

ahead of the launch of the prosperity campaign.

Which is why I made the decision to go to director hammet

and have nat put on your team,

just so we can respond quickly to any discoveries.

This is a law enforcement investigation.

Observer status, agent Craig, that's all.

But you may find me helpful.

All right, nat.

We'll need any and all evidence you've collected so far to get started.

What about a working theory on who could be behind this?

I mean, you must have something.

We turned every stone...

disgruntled employees, unhappy shareholders.

This is the only thing we found that we thought might matter.

From a speaking engagement a year ago.

Sociopolitical economic situation in Nicaragua...

murderer!

You're a murderer!

Guy starts shouting. We could never figure out who he was.

- Okay, hey, but... - you're gonna die.

Hey, hey, I hear you. First amendment rights.

Murderer!

- How about this country? - Scary? Whoever that was

was next to me yesterday, close enough to put the fingers in-in the box.

Please find this person.

I will not sleep until you do.

Still no hits on facial recognition?

Nope. Nothing.

Every time we get a chance to get this guy's face on camera,

he distorts the biometrics by flashing some weird smile.

Sounds like a start of a profile. Knows how to beat surveillance.

Well, it's not enough to just know how to throw off facial recognition software.

He had to research the venue and know where every single camera was.

That means he could be ex-military or intelligence.

- Or both. - Akbar, would you run a background check

on all the food equity forum attendees, see who fits?

There were diplomats from over 200 countries at that summit.

Well, that's wonderful. That means we have time.

I'm gonna grab a coffee. Cross?

I could use some caffeine.

Yo. You know a ladonna duvernay?

- No. Why? - I just booked her for murder.

Can cross this guy off.

He's been live streaming from an experimental bio do me for the last year.

I'm pretty sure she's guilty, but, you know, I'd love a confession.

Me, too. I got 851 possible suspects.

Yeah, that sounds tough, but mine's easy

'cause my perp's volunteering to talk, except only to you.

- Say what? - She asked for you by name.

- What's her name? - Ladonna duvernay.

Look, I told cross and Kayla I'd help 'em with the durand case.

You mean crayla?

That's what the squad room's calling 'em.

Whatever. All right, point is, they might actually save a life.

So let me get some traction on this first, and then I'll help you with this...

ladonna duvernay.

Deal.

Yo, akbar.

Thank you.

Forensic's analyzing the fingerprint to see if it's in the system.

Sick shit.

Yeah.

Yeah, whoever did this is harboring a deep vendetta.

I mean, the fingers, the photo mutilation,

it all suggests an uncontrollable, childlike rage.

Disfiguring someone's image like that

is usually associated with religious or sexual delusion.

It implies that whoever did this, they're not just out for retribution.

They think the killing is gonna right a wrong on some deep, profound moral level.

So what's the injustice?

And what kind of person fights it like this?

I cleanse myself of fear.

I cleanse myself of remorse and guilt.

I fill my heart with courage... With vengeance...

with justice.

I do this for the powerless.

I do this for the giver of life

you gave me life.

I shower you with flowers.

I fill you with beauty

all this, I do for you.

I raise my sword.

I cut... I bleed...

The story continues...

Black Russian, please.

Hey.

No. Not eating.

Okay.

Saw the update on the durand case.

A lot of ground covered in not a lot of time.

Can I have another one, please?

You and cross make a great team.

There's that pat on the back I so desperately needed.

Did you run into a detective akbar at mpd today?

Yeah, I saw him.

Well, he's chasing down a loose gun, ditched on the back end of a robbery.

Typical day-on-the-job type shit,

except this gun has no serial numbers.

Yeah, I've been seeing a lot of those lately.

This one's different.

Now, it's gonna take a minute, but even a mediocre detective

with a strong work ethic like akbar is eventually gonna track that gun down

to a national guard armory in wylie, Texas.

Military issue.

So at that point, a purebred hound dog's gonna get assigned to the case,

and that prospect has caused concern upstairs.

Where is this going, boss?

Somebody code-named mastermind for a project called bad religion.

Breathe.

Fuck.

This could end my career.

They will lock you the fuck up.

That is why I'm here, because I have invested

too much time, care and resources into your success

than to watch it all burn.

Now, you're not gonna be able to stop this gun investigation from happening,

but maybe, maybe you can do something about who they find at the end of it.

You mean me?

- What about everybody else? - There is no everybody else.

Tag, Kayla.

You're it.

Hey.

Hi.

I'm sorry. I know it-it's late, but, I was on my way home

and I-I just couldn't stop thinking about brunch.

About how I thought you came to see me.

I can see how that may have caused some confusion.

I wanted it to be for me.

- Alex, I don't... - just hear me out.

If there was a world where none of that bad shit ever happened

and we could just rewind back to you and me dancing to swv

back in your old place...

I know it's not possible, but I guess what I'm asking is:

Could you ever forgive me?

I kind of already have.

But that doesn't mean I can be with you, Alex.

So you're saying you don't ever think about us?

I didn't say that.

So you're not thinking about us right now?

I didn't say that either.

This way, sergeant bedford.

And thank you for participating in the project.

This should help with the nightmares and alleviate the headaches.

Please.

Okay, yeah. Thanks.

Call me back about that.

- Hey, raziel. - Yeah.

I heard you're, working on a gun with no numbers?

Yeah, I'm trying to turn water into wine here.

Thing is, the numbers weren't filed away 'cause the gun was never stamped.

Well, you know, the whole ghost gun thing is a priority for the bureau.

I could expedite it for you.

Yeah?

That would be amazing.

Yeah, no problem. Just shoot me the info,

- and I'll take care of it. - Thanks.

Hey. I...

I got to get back to the station, but how does dinner tonight sound?

- Alex... - what?

Alex.

So that's not what this is.

Last night was great.

But I am not going down that road again.

Elle, I know I put you through a lot, and I'm sorry.

A million times I've apologized,

but more than that, I put in the work.

I've dealt with the grief. I've dealt with the anger.

I am the man you've always wanted me to be.

Did you deal with the lying?

You were so hell-bent on catching Ramsey

that you put me in the path of a serial killer.

I'm sorry, Alex.

I have to get to work, too.

I don't get your point.

Yeah. Needle in a haystack.

Okay.

You're late.

Yeah, sorry.

- This one. - Any leads?

So far, no viable suspects.

We've combed through all the background searches of the staff and guests

from the convention a year ago and the food equity forum yesterday,

but so far everything's coming up clean.

But we'll get a bite.

Maybe you can help us out with that.

Channel the spirits.

I'm not sure they're with me today.

All right, maybe, if we can focus on motive, we can figure out who he is.

Murderer! You're a murderer!

John, can you pull up the conference footage again?

Not the speech.

The lobby. I need to see that security footage again

that features our suspect.

So this guy's stalking durand for over a year. Why?

Disfiguring someone's image like that

is usually associated with religious or sexual delusion.

This is the latest in a series of threats

that we have received over the last year and a half.

Whoever did this thinks durand is dirty and immoral.

- You're gonna die. - They have an uncontrollable rage.

Primal.

But the fingers are the key.

Fingers.

It was the fingers, the fingers.

John, play back lobby camera 12, full screen.

Right there.

He never takes his left hand out of his pocket, even when he needs it.

It's right here. Boom.

Anybody want to guess why?

Because he can't use it.

- Because he's missing fingers. - That's right.

And he blames Lance durand.

Whoever this is wants durand to pay the same price he did.

This is about retribution.

The fingers are a symbol.

He wants durand to know he's the next target.

They're connected to whatever profound moral error

he thinks durand committed.

It's nice to have you back.

John, can you start beating the bushes on recent homicides

where victims had their fingers cut off?

Can someone else handle that?

John, I need you to interrogate my murder suspect.

I've waited long enough.

Ladonna duvernay ain't talking to nobody but you.

I got you.

Alex, with me?

Man, you're tempting fate.

You and Kayla working together might not be the best idea.

She's dangerous, fam.

- You know I know. - Man, come on now, bro.

We've worked a case together before.

And when you do, you get all lit up by your psychobabble sessions.

Y'all got that little chemistry.

- It ain't like that. - Ain't yet, you mean.

Ms. Duvernay, this is the mpd interrogation room.

People suspected of committing serious crimes are brought in for questioning.

You understand why we're here?

Yes.

But I didn't do it.

That right?

Well, I was told you wanted to confess.

I didn't do it.

I'm not the detective on this case.

I know that.

Well, then why did you ask for me?

I thought you'd know the moment you walked in.

I'm your mother.

We're leaving.

John. No, John, I-I didn't do it!

You're the only one who can help me!

Thank you.

No more bets.

We're not done, are we?

You want to talk?

I love you, man.

This killer doesn't make mistakes.

Everybody makes mistakes sooner or later.

We just need to find the right button and press it.

Well, let's go press some buttons.

The killer sent those fingers to his next intended victim.

What kind of sick fuck are you after?

My experience suggests someone's out for revenge.

This woman, I've never seen anything like her.

That's because killing isn't a compulsion for her.

It's vengeance.

Anything at all

that might give us a clue as to where he would go next.

These have to be coordinates.

We got to get to Texas.

Another gift or trap?

What happens next is up to you.

We're punishing the guilty, the high and the low.

Honestly, people that selfish, they don't deserve

to live.

I can destroy the whole fucking system.

Be careful, two John.

Bet.

Back together again.

The light will avenge us all.

This begins and ends with me.

I want justice.