All language subtitles for Aurora Teagarden Mysteries A Game of Cat and Mouse 2019

Such a gentleman,
walking me to my door.

Still gonna do things like that
after we're married?

Oh, for a few months,
at least.

A few months?

Okay, okay. A year.

It finally feels like
everything's going to be okay.

Even if we had to move
to another city

to make it happen.

I would follow you
anywhere, Jessica.

-Goodnight.
-Goodnight.

"Mrs. Andrew Morgan."

Oh, no.

No... no.

Not again.

There were 30 people
here last week.

I'm think we're going to
have to buy more chairs.

Well, the Real Murders Club

is turning into
the most popular group in town.

Yeah, if only our
Chief of Police thought that.

"For heaven's sake,
catch me before I kill more.

I cannot control myself."

Nice visual aid
for the Lipstick Killer.

Mm, well, I want everything
to be perfect for tomorrow.

I'm bringing my cousin, Phillip,
for the first time.

And, uh... Nick Miller
will be there, too.

Ooh! Your first date?

I finished
all the cleaning, Roe.

The hall is spic and span
for your meeting.

Oh! Great.
Thanks, Valerie.

And you're coming to the house
this week, too, right?

I'll be there.

Oh, can I get on your waiting
list to clean my house, too?

I don't have a waiting list.

I'm always happy
to take on new clients.

Did I overhear you guys mention

that Nick Miller's
gonna be at the meeting?

Yeah. He and Roe are dating.

What? No! No, we're not dating.

It's too soon for that.

We're just getting
to know each other.

Isn't he just the nicest guy?

And so handsome.

Oh, that's right.
You're working for him, too.

Yeah, and he is so neat.

I mean, his place
is barely messy.

A guy who picks up his socks.

I mean, talk about
your dream man.

Doesn't strike me as someone

who'd be interested
in all this, though.

Well, have a good evening.

-Bye.
-Bye.

Let's get this finished.

Okay.

Due back in three weeks.

Oh, Mother.

Can't say I'm surprised
to see you.

I only have a minute.

And yet you still have
time to scold me

for inviting Phillip
to Real Murders.

Aurora, you know
that I feel responsible for him

ever since he moved back
to Lawrenceton for college.

And you know
the Real Murders Club

is a magnet for trouble.

Oh, you can't blame
the club--

I've had one scare
after another with you.

Why would you invite him?

Because I'm the president
of the club.

I invite everyone.

Watch this.

Lillian!

We are talking about
the Lipstick Killer

tonight at Real Murders.
Do you want to come?

I'd rather do anything but.

As would anyone with sense.

It's indecent, really.

Picking over the dead
for entertainment purposes.

Educational purposes.

Professor Miller?

I just need
to ask you something.

Sure, Dina.
What is it?

I just need you to okay

this outline I did
for chapter 30

before I run copies.

I'm sure it's fine.
Go ahead and run the copies.

I'd rather you approve it.

What if I made a mistake?

Dina.

You won
the Messervey Scholarship.

Every professor on campus

wanted you
as a teaching assistant.

Professor Henner
was so impressed

that he asked you
to housesit for him.

Clearly, we have faith in you.

Run the copies.

Thank you!

It's extortion.
I won't pay it.

I must insist you keep
your voice down, Mr. Irons.

Most people raise their voices
when they are being robbed!

Edward, what is it?

What's got you so upset?

This. Came in the mail.

The system put him
on a lending hold.

He got a payment notice
for a lost book.

I did not lose it.
I would never lose a book!

Oh, you--

you're the one
who checked it in!

-I remember.
-I'm sorry--

I don't remember checking it in.

Are you suggesting
I'm lying?

Oh, no! No, no, no.

Uh, let me go check the shelf.

I just did, it's not here.

Tell you what, Edward.

Let me pay for the book.

I don't want you
to pay for it.

I want you to admit
that you made a mistake.

You have never respected me.

Never!

You know, he's had
a grudge against me

ever since I told him

we wouldn't be ordering
his self-published book.

Well, either way,
I think we can both agree

that this is
your problem to solve.

Thanks for coming to get me.

Oh, well, it's more fun
if we all go together.

Especially
for your first meeting.

And Nick's.

You could've warned me, though,
that Aunt Aida would

get that "I'm so disappointed
in you" face

when I told her I was going
to the Real Murders meeting.

Yeah, I've that face
plenty of times,

but I still have faith
that, one day,

she'll see the light
about what we do.

What are you doing here?

I don't believe we've met.

You're the librarian.

Yes. I'm Aurora Teagarden,
and this is my cousin, Phillip.

Hi.

-And you are?
-Dina McMillan.

Professor Miller's
teaching assistant.

Ah, well, that's who
we're here to see.

Oh, I'm afraid he's busy.

He's expecting us.

I think we'll take it
from here.

Thanks.

Nice to meet you, Dina.

There he is.

Oh, excuse me.

Hey, you two.
Excited for the meeting.

Professor Miller.

How about for tonight
it's just "Nick"?

What? No "hi" for me?

Oh! Hi. Sorry.

That's Bree Carson,
isn't it?

The Forensics
Psychology professor?

Yeah, and head
of my department.

That class is amazing.
I took it last semester.

Can you introduce me to her?

I have been trying to get her

as a guest speaker
for Real Murders.

Yeah, she's a little busy,
it's her birthday and--

apparently, she can't wait.

Oh, Professor Carson, hi.

I am sorry to barge in on you,

but I have been dying
to meet you and...

uh... first of all,

happy birthday.

Bree? This is the friend
I've been telling you about,

Aurora Teagarden.

She seems to be a fan of yours.

Yes! Yes, I am a huge admirer
of your criminal profiling work.

Always happy
to meet an admirer.

Well, I don't know
if you've seen my emails,

but I am the president

of a true crime discussion group
here in town--

I have seen them,

and I have to say,
I was intrigued, but...

But I made her promise
not to answer them.

Lynn.

Don't know
why I'm surprised...

Chief of Police
and the forensic psychologist.

We're friends, imagine that.

So, of course, I told her

the last thing she wants to do

is get involved with
your bunch of crime groupies.

Right. Well, Bree,
it was very nice to meet you,

and, um...

enjoy your birthday.

-Thank you.
-Oh.

Sorry.

I really don't

see the harm
in talking to her group.

Trust me, you don't want
these Real Murders people

pulling you into
their little obsessions.

Didn't you say that
your husband is one of them?

Mm-hmm.

Oh, Roe.
There you are. Come in!

You need to see this.

It was like this
when I got here--

or, well,
when Davis got here,

because he was
on coffee duty tonight.

Yeah.

These keys you gave me?
Didn't need 'em.

Back door was unlocked
when I got here.

What? Well, we didn't use
the back door yesterday

when we set up.

You saw no sign
of a break-in?

This is
a pretty good sign to me.

Hey, the folder...

I had a folder here
on the table,

full of crime scene photos,
it's gone.

Not all of them.

You mean you don't see it?

Everyone says Aurora Teagarden
doesn't miss a thing.

Davis, just tell us
what you're talking about.

Right there.

Well, this photo
was in the folder.

You didn't
put it there?

-No.
-Look what's written on it.

Don't touch it.
There could be fingerprints.

I knew that.

"For those to whom life
and death are equal jests..."

That's creepy.

Why do those words
sound so familiar?

What?
It's Edgar Allan Poe.

"For those to whom
life and death are equal jests,

there are still some things
held in respect."

What's that supposed to mean?

Maybe it's a critique
of the Real Murders Club?

I think someone's trying
to spice up our evening

with a little mystery.

Is it you, Davis?

What?

You think I did this?

We should just call the police,
let them sort it out.

Oh, Arthur should be here
for the meeting any minute.

Did I just hear my name?

Ooh...

This can't be good.

You know, whoever destroyed
my presentation was prob--

...Probably
a Real Murders member?

Well, yeah, I mean,

who else knows that I usually
set up my materials

the night before?

I'll go talk to him.

Hey, Davis.
You got a minute?

Yeah.

Maybe it was just
a bunch of teenagers.

No, Arthur agreed.

Whoever did it
is probably in the club.

And you think
it's that Davis guy because--?

Well, he does
have a set of keys.

And he was pretty quick
with that Poe quote.

But does it fit
with what you know about him?

Well, that's the thing,

we don't know that much
about him.

He's only been in the club
for a couple of months.

He's perfectly nice, though.

Intelligent.
Asks good questions.

He asks a lot of questions.

He seems to like
to challenge Roe a fair bit.

So...

maybe this is his version
of Catch Me if You Can?

Or maybe
it's something more personal.

I wish I could say

I'm surprised by
what you're telling me,

but I'm not.

And I'm certainly disturbed

that someone broke into
the Veteran's Hall.

And I hope this means

that you're not even
thinking about

going back
to one of those meetings.

Are you kidding?

I gotta find out
what happens next.

Oh, Phillip.

The package
your mother sent you

is in my office.

Oh, no.

Aunt Aida, what happened?

"Scare"? Really?

Don't you think
that's a little overdramatic?

I don't write the headlines,
Macon does.

Besides,
I was a little scared.

That creepy quote?

"Life and death
are equal jests."

-Oh, Valerie, hi.
-Hi, Roe.

Hey, let me help you with that.

Oh, thank you.

I'm glad you're home.

It makes it so much easier

when I don't have to go
digging for the key.

Hey, Sally.

I saw your article this morning.
Pretty crazy, huh?

Yeah, someone with
a strange sense of humor.

Ooh! Are those muffins?

Yes! Have one.

I love baking for my clients.

Oh, they look delicious.

Hey, Phillip.
What's going on?

What?

Okay, I have to get to work

but you'll call me
if you find out anything.

I will.

Oh, and, uh,
please tell your mom

I'll be happy
to clean her office

once the police
are done with it.

Oh!

Hey, Nick!

Doesn't she seem
a bit unfazed by all of this?

Maybe she's just a bit odd.
She makes a good muffin, Roe.

Oh, hi, Nick.
Bye, Nick.

Sally. Roe.

Nick, hi. Someone broke into
my mother's office last night.

Stole her laptop.

What?

I'm on my way there now.

Okay, I'll follow you over.

Mother, I'm so sorry
this happened.

Look at this.

Someone went out of their way
to destroy my photos,

especially my photos of you.

Yeah, this wasn't
just a burglary.

No. It was clearly personal.

And that horrible picture...

That was in the folder
taken from the Veteran's Hall!

The Lipstick Killer's
crime scene.

A crime scene, from a murder?

Now do you see, Phillip?

Being part of that Murder Club
is just asking for trouble.

Aunt Aida...

Oh, Michael,
what did you find?

The access point for the thief
was likely the back entrance.

The lock was picked cleanly.

Right, that's... that's
what I was gonna tell you.

Or they could have a key.

That... that too.

You really need a deadbolt
back there, Aida.

And someone accessed
the security keypad

at 11:33 p.m. last night.

They entered the correct code
to disarm the system,

and then rearmed it at 11:45.

Aida, how many people
know that code?

Oh...

You put in
that security system for me

how long ago, Michael,
a decade?

I did recommend you change
the code every six months.

I know, but I never did.

And also, I'd like you
to install the deadbolt.

I'll get on that.

Valerie also knows that code

and she has a key
to the office.

Valerie?

The housekeeper?

I'm not going
to suspect Valerie?

Not for as long
as I've known her.

I've known her a while, too,
but she was acting a bit strange

when she found out that
your office was broken into.

When you're working
on a case,

you have to be open to all
the possibilities, Mother.

Yes, but you are not
the one working this case, Roe.

Remember? I am.

And if Val is acting strange,
you need to tell me.

Wait.
Is that a question mark?

That wasn't left
on the other photograph.

And there's something new
written on the back.

"The librarian was a stickler
for formality."

That's not a famous quote.

No, it's a threat!

A threat to you, Aurora.

Now will you finally use
that app on your phone

and let me track
your whereabouts?

I need to know you're safe!

It's not a bad idea.

No, it's not a bad idea.

It's a terrible idea.

I am not about to have
someone invade my privacy,

even my mother.

And I can take care
of myself.

Okay, but you need
to realize

this is definitely
personal, Roe.

Someone is taunting you.

Did you see what happened?

I just called the police!

Someone stole my car.

Oh, no! Lillian!

I've only been here an hour,

and I came back out
to get a sweater,

and my car was gone!

Just this mess left behind.

And now my sweater's gone, too.

Oh... and my travel case of CDs.

Why couldn't they have left
the case behind,

instead of this?

I found it in the middle
of the glass.

At first, I thought
it was my laptop--

That's my mother's!

Lillian, that's my mother's
stolen computer.

Detective Smith.

Davis.

I need to ask you
some questions.

Because I'm the one

who discovered what happened
at the Veteran's Hall?

The person who discovers it

is statistically more likely

to have committed
the crime, right?

Yeah, look, I'm not here
to talk statistics with you.

I just need to know
where you were

last night at 11:30.

Listen, I know you live
off some kind of trust fund,

and you got way too much
spare time on your hands.

Can't argue that.

Let's see, 11:30?

That time of night,
I was probably up to no good.

Uh-huh.

Stir up some trouble,
did you?

I don't mind
a reasonable amount of trouble.

Stay put.

Hello?

Arthur, someone stole
Lillian's car

in the library parking lot

in broad daylight!

And whoever took it

left my mother's
missing computer behind.

Okay, I'll be right there.

All right, Davis.

First, you're gonna tell me
where you were last night,

then you're gonna tell me

exactly where you were
over the last hour.

Lillian, Arthur's on his way.

Oh, I have a volunteer
covering the desk.

I'd better go in.

Here, take this.

Oh, no, you should put it back
the way you found it.

They'll want to take pictures
and dust for prints.

Oh, wait... no, I think
it was the other way around.

Hey, there's something
inside it.

Oh, no, no.
Wait for the police.

It's another Lipstick Killer
crime scene photo.

There's something
written on the back.

"Play with murder enough
and it gets you."

It feels like someone
just stepped over my grave.

That's exactly how it feels.

The last photo had

a question mark
in the bottom corner,

but there's no mark on this one,
just the photo source.

"Play with murder enough
and it gets you..."

Ah. Another dig
at the Real Murders Club.

Isn't that nice?

Roe, someone is really
trying to get to you.

Excuse me.

Is he saying someone
stealing my car is her fault?

Oh, I wouldn't say
directly her fault...

Lillian,

if your car being stolen

really was because of me,
I-I--

I can't tell you
how terrible I feel.

Well, perhaps
it will behoove you

to rethink your involvement
in such unsavory pastimes.

Unlike the Veteran's Hall
and your mother's office,

where we came up empty,

my tech actually found
something today.

Two hairs found
on the keyboard of the computer.

And still working on
establishing the color,

but definitely
on the lighter side.

Well, my mother's
not blonde or gray,

and neither is Lillian.

Neither is Davis Mettle.
Oh, maybe--

Maybe we don't spitball ideas
with civilians?

Right.

Roe, can you think of
any other light-haired person

who might be upset
with you lately?

Oh!

There's a patron here,

Edward Irons.

He's holding a grudge
against me.

Just yesterday,
he basically accused me

of besmirching his character.

Really?
Aurora Teagarden, a besmircher?

A misunderstanding
about a lost book,

but he took it personally.

Just like he did

when we wouldn't stock
a book he'd written.

He's older,

gray hair, and...

and he was here today,
in the parking lot,

right after
Lillian's car was stolen.

Well, that's one more person
I need to talk to.

This is getting more
and more serious.

Grand-theft auto,
a major felony,

in a library parking lot,
in the middle of the day...

I understand
you found my computer?

And another threatening message.

I know how you're feeling.

No, you think you know,
but you don't.

You've been in danger before,

but only when you put yourself
in the wrong person's path.

I have never...

I've never seen you
purposely circled

and taunted like this.

I know, I know.

This is definitely different.

I'm gonna call Michael Vance,

and I want him to put

a state-of-the-art
security system in your home.

And don't even think
about arguing.

I'm not arguing.

Oh, honey.

Ahem. Can I help you?

You're Aurora's mother,
aren't you?

And you are whom?

Davis Mettle.

I'm in the Real Murders Club
with your daughter.

Really?
She's never mentioned you.

I'm new.

Well, what are you doing here?
Because this is a crime scene.

I know! I heard
the thief struck again.

Thought I'd see if
he left another quote behind.

I need to find out what it is.

Maybe I can help Aurora
figure out the clue.

She seems a little...
confused so far.

What is that supposed to mean?

Well, she has the police
chasing after me,

so, obviously,
she's off-track.

Is she?

Because you seem to be behaving
in a very threatening manner.

Oh, no, I'm offering to help.

I mean, that's what
Real Murders is about--

finding the bad guy.

I don't like your tone.

There's nothing to worry about,
Mrs. Teagarden.

If I were the one
orchestrating whatever this is,

no one would ever
know it was me.

Hi there.
I'm Detective Arthur Smith.

Lawrenceton P.D.

I need to speak with one of
your tenants, Edward Irons.

Could you call him down here?

That's him right there.

Thank you.
Uh, Mr. Irons, I'm--

I know who you are.

Good. I have some questions.

I presume
it's about the car theft

at the library this morning?

Yes. I know
that you were there today.

I go to the library
every Monday and Wednesday.

But I didn't see

any suspicious people
doing suspicious things today.

So you didn't park your car
in the library parking lot?

No. I've always thought
parking downtown

is an invitation
to car thieves,

and lo and behold...

Uh-huh. Where were you
last night at 11:30?

That, sir,
is none of your concern.

Well, I could bring you in
for official questioning.

Oh, when you find
reasonable cause,

do let me know.

I'll alert my attorney.

I know, I know,

but it's a time-honored ritual,

all the restaurant staff
singing you Happy Birthday,

annoying your fellow diners--

Next time, just come
to my birthday dinner.

Professor Miller?

I didn't finish
inputting grades,

but I can come back and do it
right after my lab.

Is that okay?

It's fine. No rush.

Okay.

Word to the wise?

Be careful with her.
She's got a crush on you.

Dina?

I think she's just in need
of some confidence-building.

It is amazing

how you can teach psychology
so brilliantly,

yet still know nothing
about the female mind.

Thanks for lunch.

Ms. Teagarden.

Good. Now I can apologize

for not taking you up
on your offer

to come and talk
to your group.

It's fine.

I don't want to cause friction
between you and Lynn.

I appreciate that.

Maybe you and I
could get a coffee sometime.

I'd like that.

The thief already struck again.

Stole Lillian's car.

Her car?

And left this message.

"Play with murder enough
and it gets you..."

"...One of two ways."

One of two ways?

Why did you add those words
at the end?

That must be
a famous quote, too.

My Dad used to say it
all the time.

Can I use your computer?

It is a quote!
By Dashiell Hammett.

As in Sam Spade?

No, Hammett's first detective,
Continental Op.

So we have a Poe quote,
a Hammett quote.

I wonder if the message
from my mother's office

was a quote, too?

"The librarian...
was a stickler...

for formality."

It is!

It's from a book called
Murder In A Library,

by Charles Dutton?

I've never heard of him.

Murder In A Library,
published 1931.

The first in a series.

"The Professor Harley Manners
Mysteries."

Our thief is leaving us clues
from old detective novels.

Huh.

The first clue,
the Poe quote--

"For those to whom life
and death are equal jests."

It's from
Murders on the Rue Morgue,

known as the first detective
story ever written.

Guess what it's about?

Could it be about the murders
in the Rue Morgue?

The double-murder
of a mother and daughter.

And who was the next person
robbed? My mother!

The next clue is...

"The librarian was
a stickler for formality."

It's about the murder
of a librarian.

Now, I thought it meant me,

but, obviously, it was
pointing at Lillian,

because she was
the next person robbed.

And she's a stickler,
all right.

She was more than just robbed,

grand-theft auto
is a major felony--

Yes, and the thief
is leaving behind clues

about who's next.

Whoever the victim is
in the book

is the next person
he's targeting.

We think he's challenging Roe
to figure out the clues.

Why would he do that?

I don't know.

He's writing clues
on crime scene photos

in which the culprit
begs to be caught.

Well, could it be
a cry for help?

I'm more worried
that he could be saying,

if he's not caught,

he'll keep escalating
these crimes until...

Until he kills someone.

Well, what about
the last clue,

the one
in the library parking lot?

"Play with murder enough
and it gets you--"

It's from Red Harvest,
by Dashiell Hammett.

Who's the victim in that one?

A newspaper reporter.

Oh, that means--

I think you may be
the next target.

Well, I'm glad
you decided to do this stakeout

at Sally's house
with me.

Yeah, well, I'd rather
be home with the kids,

but this perp
is really getting under my skin.

I mean, scene-setting,
clue-dropping...

who does that?

Well, Nick Miller
might be right.

Somebody could be
up to something

a lot more destructive.

Yeah, somebody smart enough
to avoid witnesses

and security cameras.

We have no prints,
no physical evidence,

other than a few hairs.

And the turnaround on DNA
has been slow lately.

Yeah, well, the lab can give us
a provisional match

if our suspects are willing
to give us a sample.

Yeah, well, Edward Irons is not
about to offer up anything.

But, you know, my money
is still on Davis Mettle,

the Real Murders guy.

Aida called and said
that she saw Davis

hanging around
the library parking lot

after Lillian's car
was stolen.

So, what, he went back
to his crime scene?

That's pretty thin.

Yeah. She seemed to think
that he was making

threatening references
towards Aurora.

A-And something he said
when I was questioning him,

it's been bugging me.

You know, the way he said it,
like he was quoting something.

Yeah, I'm gonna call Aurora,
and see if she can recognize it.

No, you won't.

Aurora Teagarden is not
a consultant on this case.

Lynn, Roe seems to be
the center of all of this.

If there was ever a time

we needed a librarian
as a consultant on a case,

this is it.

Hey, get on your phone
and Google it.

Fine.
I'll never find it.

Oh, I found it.

What Davis Mettle said--

"I don't mind
a reasonable amount of trouble."

The Maltese Falcon...

that's another Dashiell Hammett.

I just wish
that I'd figured out

the meaning of the clues
earlier.

Well, your degree
is in true crime literature,

not fiction.

Yes, but I did take one class

in the Golden Age
of Detective Fiction,

so I have no excuse

not recognizing
a Dashiell Hammett quote.

Thank goodness, you did.

I just want to know
what this guy wants.

Yeah, what does he want?

To test Roe?

Himself?

Show off?

To get even for something?

Couldn't it be, like,
all of the above?

Maybe I should talk
to Bree Carson about it.

Edward Irons checks out
a lot of detective fiction.

Maybe he reads
a lot of Hammett.

But...

you said,
when Arthur called earlier,

that they were
focusing on Davis Mettle.

Yes. And-And...

they can't find him.

What?

Does he know
that I'm staying here?

Sally, the reason
I didn't tell you

is because
I knew you would worry.

Plus, I will protect you.

That doesn't
make me feel any better.

All right,
would it make you feel better

if I slept on the couch?

Yes. Would you? Please?

I can also stay over.

No. No, no, you have
to get back to the university.

I'm sure you have
studying to do.

Now you're starting to sound
like your mother.

Well, you are.

A little.

But thank you, Phillip.

Detective Smith.

Oh, hey!
Uh, thanks for calling.

I-I wanted to speak with you
about one of your tenants,

Edward Irons.

Yeah, did you happen
to see him last night?

Or chat with him
before he went out?

Okay, yes.

Thank you very much.

Perfect!

Now both of our suspects
are unaccounted for.

Sally?

Nick?

Oh...

Sorry.

No, it's just I thought
I heard a noise outside.

So did I.
From the side of the house.

I went out there.

I thought I saw a shadow
go over the fence.

Oh, please tell me
it was a shadow

in the shape
of my neighbor's cat?

If he's a really big cat.

Did you hear a noise?

I-It was a cat
jumping over the fence. Right?

Right. A cat.

A cat?

Okay.

Okay. I'm-I'm going back to bed.

I'll stay up
and you go back to bed.

I'm really glad you're here.

Morning, Roe!

Morning.

So, I'm off to work.

I will touch base
with you later?

Mm-hmm.
Uh, is Nick still here?

No, he had to leave.

Something about an early class.
Bye, Aida.

Bye!

-Good morning.
-Morning.

I hope you remember
my telling you

that Michael was going
to come here this morning.

Yeah. Hi, Michael.
I'm glad you're here.

Feel free to get started.

Thanks. I will.

So, your mom says cameras
inside and out?

Cameras outside will be good.

Don't you think
a camera or two inside

would be comforting?

"Comforting" is not
the word I would use.

Sally told me
that you heard an intruder

in the middle of the night.

No, it was a cat, Mother.

It was a cat.

And why did you have
Sally sleep on the couch?

You have
that lovely guest room.

Oh, Sally didn't sleep here.
Nick did.

Nick spent the night here?

Oh... Valerie.

Uh, yeah, Nick was
our nightwatchman last night.

What are you doing here?

Oh, I, uh, I left
my vacuum cleaner here

yesterday.

Sorry for
just letting myself in.

Force of habit.

You're usually not home
when I get here to clean.

No, it's a lovely surprise.

I haven't seen you for a while.

How's your mom doing?

Oh, much better
since the surgery.

Oh, that's
wonderful news.

I know she was
very worried about...

If you want to come
outside with me,

we could talk about where
to put those cameras.

Sure.

I was thinking
one in this corner

and one over the garage.

What's Sally's car
still doing here?

No!

Sally!

Sally! Sally, can you hear me?

Sally! Say something.

Oh! Oh, thank goodness,
you're alive.

I need to call 9-1-1.
I need a phone.

Use mine.
I'm CPR-certified.

I'll stay with her,
you make the call.

Hey, Sally.

Sally!

Can you open your eyes? Sally?

"Aurora Teagarden
is in the middle of things..."

Roe! She's got marks
on her neck.

Like someone
tried to choke her.

9-1-1.
What is your emergency?

Thanks for staying behind
to answer some questions.

I am so worried about Sally.

It's so good
you found her when you did.

I'm sure they're gonna do
everything they can.

Oh, she's gonna be okay, honey.

That's Lillian's CD case,
isn't it?

It is.

And we found her car
down the street.

I was looking up this phrase
in Google Books,

but I didn't find anything.

He's not using
proper quotes anymore,

not if my name is in it.

It may be a partial quote,

but too common
to find in a search.

So he's making it harder
to crack the clue.

I need to go to the hospital
to see Sally.

Mother, will you
please call Nick

and ask him to meet me there?

Of course.

Please find
whoever is doing this.

We will.

And you didn't see
anyone in the yard,

or anyone driving away,
when you pulled up?

No, I just left the car running
and I ran to the door.

I was late for a job.

I didn't even look
at the driveway.

I feel so stupid!

But you were out there
when Sally was attacked.

I mean, she left the house

only moments
before you arrived.

You must have
seen something, unless--

Are you accusing me
of doing this?

I'm not accusing you

of anything
other than opportunity.

To commit this crime?

Or to help us
find out who did.

You know, Aurora says

that you have the alarm code
and a key to Aida's office.

Where were you the night
that it was broken into?

I'm not answering
any further questions

until I have a lawyer.

So? What have you got?

Well...

Valerie Wagner
was very defensive

when I questioned her
just now.

Davis Mettle never returned
to his place last night.

He's still unaccounted for.

Oh, and I talked
to the security desk

at Edward Irons' building.

Apparently, he only
just now returned

after a long "walk."

All right, find out
if any of Roe's neighbors

have security cameras
in their front yards.

This case just escalated
to attempted murder.

How is she?

Uh, the doctor says

that they don't
see any brain damage

on the CT scan,

but she still isn't awake.

I called her parents
and they're on their way.

How am I gonna explain to them
what happened?

I'll help you.

Yeah, but this is
all my fault.

Everyone around me is in danger.

I don't see how you're to blame
for any of this.

Ask my mother.

Or Lynn. Lillian.

They'll tell you,
trouble follows me...

follows me
right to my front yard

and tries to strangle
my best friend.

Hey...

She's waking up!

Hi.

I'll go get the doctor.

Oh, I am so happy
that you're awake.

How do you feel?

My throat hurts.

-Here.
-Thanks.

Someone attacked you.

Someone tried to choke you
in my driveway.

What?

You don't remember?

No.

No, I remember...

I remember standing by my car.

I couldn't find my keys.

And then I thought I heard
something behind me...

and then... that's it.

Nothing.

You don't remember
turning around?

Don't remember
struggling with anyone?

Oxygen deprivation can
impact short-term memory.

Wait. Did he steal
anything from me?

We couldn't find
your phone, but...

but we don't have to talk
about that right now.

We should get
the doctor in here--

But did he leave
a clue?

I gave it to the police.

What did it say?

"Aurora Teagarden
is in the middle of things."

It mentioned you
specifically by name?

It was probably a partial quote
from a detective novel.

It didn't come up
in a search.

It's too common.

We can get
the Real Murders members

reading as many detective novels
as we can get our hands on,

see if we can find it.

No. I don't want anyone else
around me becoming a target,

getting hurt,
almost getting killed.

Getting as many eyes
as possible looking for the clue

is the best way
to protect the next target.

We couldn't protect Sally.

You have to try, Roe.

Look, I want to help.

Bring me some detective novels.

I know you have hundreds.

Sally...

you need to save your energy
and get better.

Maybe if I have something
to focus on,

I won't freak out.

I need to know
who did this to me, Roe.

So do I.

I'm happy to ask Bree
to do a criminal profile,

but she might not have time.

She has twice my class load,
and by popular demand.

Do I detect a hint
of professional jealousy?

Most people are fascinated
with criminals and true crime.

Why do you think that is?

People want to understand crime,
make it predictable.

It gives them
the illusion of control.

In your papers,

I'll be looking for you
to elucidate

the "why" of the crime
you've been assigned,

not the "how."

And cite your sources.

Any papers
without proper citations

will be thrown
straight in the trash.

Have a great day
and be safe.

This is a surprise.

We have a favor to ask.

Detective Smith.
You're back.

Yes. I need to speak
with Edward Irons.

He hasn't left again, has he?

Don't think so.

He's in apartment 434.
Fourth floor.

Thank you.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

Davis?

Someone tried to choke her?

As in strangle her?
In your front yard?

At 8:30 this morning.

They think
some kind of ligature.

Well, that's unusual.

And uncommonly brazen.

You see
why I'm so desperate

to find this person
and stop him.

I'm happy to do a profile,
but only if I can show Lynn.

I won't do it behind her back,
or break any rules.

Not even for
Professor Charming here.

I want Lynn to have
all the information she can get.

All right, let's have it.
How do you two know each other?

It's no big deal.

I kept seeing him
at the same late-night diner

I go to
when I can't sleep.

We got to talking.

Yeah? About what?

You don't have to tell him!

They don't need to know.

Why keep it a secret?

He's helping me
work on a presentation

I want to give
at the Real Murders Club.

Really? Well, why don't you
give me a little preview,

tell me what it's all about?

It's called

"How Detectives
Chase the Wrong Guy

and Let Real Criminals
Get Away."

What do you think of the title?

Too much?

That's good.

That's really good.

I'm taking you both in
for official questioning.

Not without my lawyer,
you're not.

Well, then call him.

Now.

The first three

are sentences lifted
from old detective novels.

They must be
his modus operandi.

You mean his signature.

What's the difference?

"Modus operandi"

is the manner in which
the offender commits the crime.

Say, the method of killing--
knife, gun.

The "signature"

is something the offender does
to fulfill himself emotionally.

It's a compulsion.
Like an addiction.

So this person's addicted
to detective stories?

Or leaving obscure clues?
What?

I will take a look,

and I'll let you know
what I find.

Thank you.
That means a lot.

I'll walk you back, Bree.

Hey, and, um...

thank you for all your help.

Of course.
I'll call you later.

I really appreciate you
giving us your time on this.

Hey, Roe.

I see no one's found
that detective novel quote yet.

No luck online either?

Well, I'm been searching
for something different.

Bree Carson told us
about crime signatures,

so I'm looking in the news
for instances

where clues
from detective novels

were left behind.

Come up with anything?

No.

Then I guess I'll get reading.

What's the quote
I'm looking for?

Oh, well, you won't find
the exact quote,

but the clue is,

"Aurora Teagarden
is in the middle of things."

She certainly is,

and she's turned our nice
quiet library into a circus.

Poor Lillian.

Oh, she is not very happy
with me at the moment.

Detective Smith
doesn't look too happy either.

Davis Mettle and Edward Irons
know each other?

Yeah, they seem
to be working together.

On what?

Oh, they say it's
a Real Murders presentation,

but I think
they're working together

on this game that's being
played against you.

Unfortunately,
they're giving each other

an alibi for the time
when Sally was attacked.

Hey, Sally,
how are you feeling?

Better. Listen.

I think I found it,
the quote.

It's in one of the books

you brought me last night.

Sally thinks
she found the quote.

What book?

Uh, Gaudy Night
by Dorothy Sayers.

It's on page 46, it says,

"What hampered her

was being
in the middle of things,

too close to things."

That's gotta be it, right?

Yeah, it has to be.

Do you remember the plot?

It's about the murder
of a college student.

Do you think that means
Phillip is the next target?

What? What did you just say?

Hey, where's the Chief?

She's not answering her phone.

Well, I'm glad it's me.

Let him come after me!

I'll be ready.

But if there are two of them
working together,

Davis and this Edward Irons--

It's so strange to me
that they'd join forces.

How else could anyone beat you
in a cat-and-mouse mystery game?

Roe has a point.

This is no longer a game.
Sally was nearly killed.

Would both of them
really be that angry,

that unbalanced?

Well, maybe
only one of them is,

and that one is the mastermind,

using the other
to help him cover his tracks.

So which one's the mastermind?

We have Gaudy Night
in our collection.

I'll print out
the borrowing record.

Oh, there you are.

Phillip, I need you
to come home with me, right now.

What? Why?

Sally told me that you might
be the next victim

of whoever attacked her.

So I want you to stay with me
until that culprit is caught.

Aunt Aida, there's no way
I'm doing that.

You know what?
I think that

Phillip will actually be safest
at the university.

Thank you!

I'll make sure

that campus security
keeps a close eye on him.

I don't think that's
such a great idea.

Well, would you rather
stay with my mother?

Call campus security.

-Yep.
-Satisfied?

Okay.

Um, ahem.

Hello.

Did you see
who attacked you?

What? Who are you?

Well, you must have
seen something.

I mean, hair or face, or...

Edward,
what are you doing here?

Edward? That Edward?

I told you
she wouldn't talk to you.

Davis?

Let's go.

No!

This ends now.

Roe. What are you doing?

Davis, I know exactly
what you've been up to.

You do?

I appreciate that you're trying
to solve these crimes,

but it is not impressing me

that you're trying
to show me up to do it.

And, quite frankly,
you're getting in the way.

I tried to tell him that.

Yeah! And you?

Stop acting
like I don't respect you,

I do.

But I'd respect you a lot more

if you'd just
be a nicer person.

Now go! Go.
Sally needs her rest.

I hope you feel better.

Roe, are you feeling okay?

What if they're not innocent?

I am trusting my instincts,
that's what I'm doing.

Now, how are you feeling?

Mm. I could use more Jell-o.

So, other than the obvious--

highly intelligent,

probably trained in research--

I think it likely the clues
were written by a woman.

The thief returns
the items stolen

with each new clue,

that suggests
a kind of empathy.

And women are
the more empathetic gender.

And I suspect

this person doesn't think
of herself as a criminal.

She could see herself
as "borrowing" the items

in order
to make a point.

The point being... what?

It seems to me that the writer
views Ms. Teagarden

as a rival.

Well, we first thought

it was a Real Murders
Club rival.

Like Davis Mettle,
but he's a man,

and I just know in my gut
it's not him.

The increasingly personal
nature of the clues,

putting your name
in the last one,

suggests to me
a romantic rival.

A romantic rival?

For who?

I'm not dating anyone.

This is
no time to be coy.

You've been spending
a lot of time with Nick lately.

Let's just say it is you.

Is there anyone who's been

a little too obsessed
with you lately?

Uh...

Not that I know of.

What about
your teaching assistant?

Dina McMillan?

Okay, look, I know what
you said the other day,

but I haven't seen any sign

that she has
some sort of fixation.

Didn't she win the Messervey?

That's a math award.

Yes, her undergrad degree
is in math and psychology.

Well, the returning
of the stolen items could

be interpreted
as a compulsion

to balance
a mathematical equation.

Okay, the clue that was left
when Sally was attacked

was a quote from Gaudy Night.

Look at the name

of the last person who checked
out the book.

Dina McMillan.

How can I find this girl?

I figured you'd be here.

Dina, could you
come in here, please?

The Chief would like
to ask you a few questions.

Clearly, she doesn't like me,

and she did check out
Gaudy Night.

Maybe Bree is right.

She usually is,

but maybe Dina just likes
detective stories.

And she has nothing
connecting her

to your mother
or to Sally.

True, but part of
getting to me

is figuring out
who's close to me.

We know she's smart.

I just find it
hard to believe

all of this had
anything to do with her.

Well, if not Dina, then who?

Could it be someone else
you work with,

or see every day?

What about Bree?

Well, we did go grab drinks
a few times

when I first started here,

but now...

she barely lets me take her
for lunch for her birthday.

Why?

She was promoted
to department head,

and there's a policy

against fraternizing
with underlings at the school,

and Bree's a--

A rule-follower,
I know, I know.

Wait.

I know someone
who might have a crush on you.

Valerie Wagner.

Valerie?
Why would you think that?

She was going on and on
about you the other night and...

And he was at my house

the same time
Sally was attacked.

And she cleans
my mother's office,

so she has the key
and knows the security code.

Motive and opportunity.

We should tell Lynn.

Wait.

Valerie's a family friend.

Her mother and my mother
worked together for years.

I don't want to cast suspicion

until I've had a chance
to talk to her myself.

Okay.

I'll call her,

ask her to come
by my office, then.

'Kay.

It's just been awful
being targeted,

the people around me
being threatened.

Sally could've died.

Maybe I should listen
to my mother, Lillian...

give up Real Murders,
let someone else take over.

Listening to what
other people think you should do

is never a good idea.

Yeah, but with everything
that's just happened...

It's when things go wrong

that you especially need
to stay in touch

with who you really are
and what you want.

How do you do that?

Stay so grounded when
everything's going sideways?

I don't know.

There she is.

That was weird.

Is she running away from us?

Or me?

Could it be Valerie
that's doing all of this?

I remembered

Valerie was talking about Nick,

about how much she liked him,

and I thought
that we should talk to her,

but when she walked up
and saw me sitting,

waiting for her
with Nick, she...

Basically, she just ran.

So, hang on.

You had information
on a possible suspect

in an attempted murder,

and instead of telling us,

you went to talk
to her yourself?

Well, I mean,
when you put it like that,

I mean, it, well,
yeah, it sounds bad.

It is bad, Roe!

Now she's alerted.

If she's guilty,

she could be covering up
evidence right now.

Or on her way out of town.

In Roe's defense,

it did seem like
a far-fetched idea at first.

They have every right
to be upset with me.

Oh, well, thank you
for your permission.

It's Phillip.

He wants us
to go to the university.

Said he got
a suspicious package.

The package
was in my mailbox.

As soon as I opened it
and saw what was inside,

I got in touch with you guys.

Well, you did the right thing.

You certainly did.

I didn't touch
any of the contents.

That's Sally's phone.

"Aurora Teagarden is rather on
the thin, spinsterish side."

I'll look the quote up.

We have Real Murders members
reading old detective novels.

Maybe one of them remembers
coming across a similar phrase.

I bet some of them
are still at the library.

This isn't a job
for the Real Murders Club.

This is our job.

Yes, let the police
handle this.

But I know we could help
with this part.

I know we can!

Let us help.

The quote's not showing up
in Google Books.

It might save a lot of time.

Fine.

If Arthur is there.

Thank you.

Let's go.

I'm going with you.

And please don't try
and stop me, Aunt Aida.

Oh! And please don't expect me
to be happy about it!

Did you actually
just encourage me

to go to a Real Murders meeting?

You work on who's next,
I'll look into Valerie Wagner.

Yeah, and I'll keep
investigating Dina McMillan.

Hello?

Hey, Bree. It's Lynn.

I have a few more questions
on that criminal profile.

I'm already at the university.

Do you have a few minutes
for me to pop by?

Sure.

So we are to be invaded again?

We have another clue
to figure out.

I hope it won't take long.

Which may lead us to find
whoever stole your car,

which we should be
returning to you tonight.

Well, if you must.

What's the clue?

"Aurora Teagarden

is rather on the thin
and spinsterish side."

Terry, who's still here
from the club?

We need to ask them
if that quote sounds familiar.

Well, it sounds familiar to me.

I'd wager it's from
The Widening Stain,

by Morris Bishop.

Lillian!

I didn't think
you read detective novels.

It's not about a detective.

It's about a brilliant librarian
who happens to solve a murder.

As I recall,

she's described
as "thin and spinsterish."

Do you recall who the victim
is in that book?

A college professor.

Pushed off a balcony
in the library.

That must make you
the next target.

Bree!

Are you okay?

What happened?

Someone pushed me...

from up there.

I'm sure my ankle isn't broken.

It's probably just a sprain.

There could be
hairline fractures,

they need to check.

Bree! Are you okay?

I'm fine.

I am so sorry
this happened to you.

Did you catch a glimpse
of whoever pushed you?

No, she didn't.

Well, the last clue pointed
to a college professor.

We thought it was you, but...

It was me.

But why? If someone's
trying to get to Roe

by targeting people
close to her--

Well, maybe
they're taunting her

by targeting people
close to you, Nick.

It could be, but if someone
wanted to kill me,

this wasn't the best way
to do it.

And they could've easily
killed Sally, but didn't.

This tells me

it's building towards...

Killing Aurora Teagarden.

You know, if Valerie or someone
wants to come after me,

then fine,
come after me,

but why target

all the people that I know
and love along the way?

Bree found this in her purse

while she was digging
for her insurance card.

Another clue--

"The eleventh problem."

That's it?
That's not a quote.

There's a book called
The Thirteen Problems,

by Agatha Christie.

It's the first
"Miss Marple Mysteries."

A group of Miss Marple's friends
meet to discuss murder cases,

it's called
the Tuesday Night Club.

That book was the inspiration
for the Real Murders Club.

Oh, so we have
Agatha Christie to blame?

What's the Eleventh Problem?

It's called
"The Herb of Death."

A woman is murdered
out of jealousy.

Oh... Valerie just texted me.

Let me see that.

"I need to talk to you
as soon as possible.

Meet me at my place."

Oh, we can get there
in 10 minutes.

Or...

I could just go back to work

and you and Arthur
could go talk to her.

Mm. Exactly.

Valerie Wagner?

Lawrenceton P.D.
We need to talk.

This is the police!
Open the door!

I see her.
She's on the floor.

The clues are all

from books published
in the same 20-year period--

the Golden Age
of Detective Fiction.

You said you took
a class in that.

I've been searching for crimes

where quotes
from detective novels

might have been left behind.

But if the clues
are tailored to the victim...

Then you could expand
your search for crimes

connected with quotes

from sci-fi, horror
or even romance novels.

Romance novels, yes!

There's a whole page of results.

They seem to be about
the same crime.

Three years ago,
a woman in Tacoma

was found murdered.

She moved there
to escape an unknown harasser

who'd left quotes
from romance novels.

Unknown?
The killer was never caught?

Arthur? Hi.

Valerie is in the hospital.

What?

Yeah. We found her
unconscious at her house.

They found Valerie unconscious.

So who poisoned Valerie?

Basically,
Valerie poisoned Valerie.

She tried to commit suicide?

Probably not on purpose.

According to the doctor,
she initially had

"heart failure

secondary to the ingestion
of an acute toxin."

Is she gonna be okay?

She's unconscious,
but she has a chance.

She's lucky
that we found her when we did,

or she'd be dead.

Foxglove poisoning!

What?

From the last clue.
The one Bree found.

The Agatha Christie story.

Yeah, the killer poisons a dish
with foxglove mixed with sage,

eats just enough
to make himself mildly sick

so no one suspects him
of poisoning his victim,

a woman he killed
out of jealousy.

We did find a batch of muffins
on the counter,

one was partially eaten.

Yeah, she must not have
realized how potent they were.

And there was a note, Roe.

What did it say?

It's addressed to you,

it says you're one of
her favorite clients

and she hopes
you enjoy the muffins.

So Valerie accidentally
poisoned herself

in a plot to kill you, Roe,
that backfired on her.

So Bree was right?

That was her intention
all along.

Yeah, but something
doesn't feel right.

Look, her kitchen.

There's batter in the bowl,

a recipe for
corn-and-sage muffins

on the counter.

Various detective novels
everywhere--

the Hammett, the Bishop.

Plus, we know
she was on the scene

the day Sally was attacked.

She also had the security codes
to Aida's office,

and a set of keys.

Valerie...

Look, I'm sorry
about your friend, Roe,

but it all fits.

I don't believe it.

Valerie? That lovely girl?

Yeah, Lynn and Arthur
are convinced

that she's the one
that's been doing all this.

Oh...

And she was planning
to poison you?

Well, if it was her,

clearly, she wasn't
in her right mind.

I just hope
that she recovers.

I'm so glad you're okay.

And that this nightmare
is over!

Yeah, I hope so.

You hope so?

No, I-I'm sure that it is.

I love you, Mother.

I love you, too.

I'll talk to you later, okay?

Okay.

Hey, Roe.

Sally! Hey.

Shouldn't you be home, resting?

Oh, I was bored.

I thought I'd come down,

see if you wanted
to grab lunch with me.

Oh, I'd love to. I...

I'm just not ready to buy into
Valerie being a killer.

I mean, did it bother you

that the last clue
wasn't like the other ones?

That it was just something
so easy to figure out?

Maybe Valerie was just
getting tired of the game?

I want to head to Corinth,

I want to talk to this guy,
Andrew Morgan.

I just can't shake the feeling

that what happened
to his fiancée

is connected somehow.

Oh, that's Nick.
Do you mind if I take it?

Of course not.

Hi, Nick.

Hey, I hope you're having
a good day.

Unfortunately, not so far.

Car issues.

Problem is,
I'm supposed to pick Bree up

from her house

and get her back here by 3:00
for a department meeting.

Oh. Um...

You know what?
I can pick her up.

I have to run an errand anyway,

so I'll just do it

as soon as I drop Bree off
at the university.

Sometimes, Roe,
you're too good to be true.

Thank you.

You know,

maybe Bree can give me
some insight

on whether the case in Tacoma
could help us

before I head to Corinth.

You know, I can go to Corinth.

No! You just got
out of the hospital.

You know what they say about
getting back on the horse, Roe.

Besides, I can tell Andrew

I'm doing a follow-up story
on what happened.

Corinth is only 30 minutes away.

I'll be back soon.

Please, Roe, I--

I need to do this.

Okay, just call me
as soon as you talk to him.

Deal.

So your fiancée was harassed
in Portland for months,

and she never knew who it was?

Yeah, we figured
it was some guy

in one of Jessica's classes--
she was in school back then.

He'd break into her apartment,

smash up some of her stuff,
or steal some stupid thing,

and then leave
these creepy notes--

Oh, quotes from romance novels,
the article at the time said?

Yeah, she loved romance novels.

She called them
her, uh, her "guilty pleasure."

We, uh, we thought we got away
from the guy when we moved,

but right after we got engaged,
he found her again.

This time, he didn't
just smash pictures.

This time, he killed her.

Strangled her with a belt
from her closet.

Guess he thought
if he couldn't have her,

no one could.

And the police
never found out who it was?

They interviewed everyone
who knew her,

but never came up
with a good suspect.

Andrew, did you or the police
ever think

that maybe this person wasn't
romantically interested in her?

That it could be someone
who was interested in you?

Me? What do you mean?

Well, did you ever have
a-a rival for your affections?

Or a woman, maybe, that flirted
with you at your work?

Uh, no. It's mostly guys
here at the station.

Right.

What about
after Jessica, though?

Did you date anyone?

Did anyone express an interest
in dating you?

I was too broken up.

I didn't see anybody
for over a year.

Oh, um, one last question--

do you happen to know...

her?

Never saw her before.

Look, I'm sorry, but I have
to be getting back to work.

Thank you very much
for talking with me.

Aurora, thank you so much
for coming to get me.

Oh, I'm glad to do it.

Please come in.

I just need to grab
my computer and some materials

for the meeting.

Okay. We have a few minutes

before we're due
at the university,

and if you don't mind,

I would like to ask you
a few questions

about something
that's bothering me?

It's the least I can do,

given how
you're helping me out.

Have a seat.
I'll be right back.

Okay.

The mayor is asking
for our final report.

Why isn't it on my desk?

Because there are problems.

The prints found
on Valerie's phone?

The one she used to text Roe?

Do not tell me
those aren't her prints.

Yeah, they are,
but the prints were sideways,

not the way that
you would type a text.

Like someone
pressed her hand into it?

Yeah, and the lab
just confirmed

that the hair found
on Aida's computer

is not a DNA match
for Valerie.

Plus, the note
that was addressed to Roe,

with the poisoned muffins,

we just confirmed that that
is not Valerie's handwriting.

Hmm.

So someone staged that scene
in Valerie's kitchen.

Yeah, it appears that way.

Someone tried to murder her.

I think Agatha Christie
said it best--

"All detective work begins
with wiping out false starts,

and beginning again."

Well, before we do anything,

we need to let everyone know
this isn't over.

We need to get
more help from Bree.

Sally!

Sally, I just remembered,
there was a woman

I saw a few times
after Jessica died.

She was a girlfriend
of Jessica's.

You dated
Jessica's friend?

I wouldn't call it dating.

More like
consoling each other.

She was easy to talk to, smart.

She got tired
of my depression, though,

and stopped hanging around.

What was her name?

Uh, Serena-- no.

Selena?
Started with an "S" anyway.

I have a picture of Jessica
with her in my phone.

I'll show it to you.

So this unsolved case
in Tacoma.

The victim was stalked

using the same types of clues,
quotes from books?

Yes, but romance novels.

Sally's talking
to the victim's fiancé,

thinking maybe he might
remember a woman who--

One sec.

Oh, speak of the devil.

Excuse me.

Hey, Sally.
What'd you find?

Hey, Roe, I'm texting you

a picture Andrew gave me

of a woman he said
he went out with

after Jessica died.

It's a friend of hers,

name starts with an "S".

Okay, well,

thanks, Sally,
for the information.

Sorry it was a dead-end.

I'm with Bree,

right now, at her house,

and we're visiting,
so I'll call you later.

Find out anything promising?

Not really.

She must have
found out something.

Just that he...

once went out with someone

with a name
that started with an "S,"

but, really,
it was just a dead-end.

You were looking at a photograph
that she sent you on your phone.

May I see it?

Oh, it was, uh, it was just
a snap of the fiancée.

Show me the photo, Aurora.

Come on!

I'm waiting.

My friends used
to call me Sabrina.

It was you.

The whole time!

You killed Jessica Howard
three years ago.

You tried to kill Valerie

after scaring her
with lies about me,

and now you mean
to kill me.

Study murderers long enough,

you start to wonder,

why take the risks?

What are the rewards?

Turns out
there are quite a few.

Control, power...

the ability to right wrongs.

What wrong have I done you?

Dina! Come on in!
The door's open.

I'm almost ready.

No rush.

Sorry I didn't get here sooner.

I had to Uber since my car's
still getting fixed.

Professor Carson,
what's going on?

Dina--

I called you
to come over,

because I was worried
that Ms. Teagarden

might try to harm me.

Fortunately,

I got the upper hand.

As I've been telling you,
she's not a stable woman.

She considers
both of us a threat

to her relationship
with Professor Miller.

Wait, what?

Dina, I don't know
what she's told you about me,

but please,
call the police! Go!

I did warn you, Dina,

that she would ultimately
pretend to be innocent.

But we know better.

I'm taking her
to the police right now,

that's why I have the gun.

Take her keys
and bring her car around back.

We'll be right there.

Dina, she's lying.

Please don't help her
kidnap me.

Dina knows me.

I've been working
alongside her for months.

She knows
I would never lie to her.

And take her phone.

Dina.

Sorry, Aurora.

Roe, it's me.

I expected you and Bree
here a while ago.

Maybe we got
our wires crossed?

Call me.

Hey. Where's Bree?

She's not
answering her phone.

Neither is Roe.

She was supposed to pick up Bree
and bring her back here.

That is not good.

Especially since
we no longer believe

that Valerie is the one

who committed the robberies
and attacked Sally and Bree.

Did you hear
what we just said?

"A crime signature
is a compulsion..."

Do you remember
the question mark

on the photo in Aida's office?

Roe wondered why
it was the only clue

with a question mark.

Bree is a rule-follower,
it's her compulsion.

All sources must be cited.

All the photographs
had source on them,

and this one didn't.

And she couldn't resist
the question mark...

in bright red.

So you're suggesting
that Bree wrote these clues?

I think so, yes.

And I think she means
to kill Roe.

Hang on.

Isn't "Thou shalt not kill"
the biggest rule of all?

You're both
homicide detectives.

You know that murderers develop
their own version of rules,

their own morality,

That allows them to justify
doing whatever they want.

So you believe
Bree means to kill Roe

because she wants you?

Yeah, you're right.
It's crazy.

Even if she had designs on me,
she's my boss.

It goes against school policy
to date me.

Those rules,
she always follows.

Bree resigned a month ago.

What?

She's leaving
at the end of the semester.

She asked me not to tell you.

Hey. I'm looking for Roe.

She was supposed
to come by my dorm

a little after 3:00, but...

What's wrong?

Dina, open the trunk.

Get in, Aurora.

You're trying to calculate

whether I'd actually
shoot you here?

Wow.

You might be willing
to risk your own life,

but I don't think
you'll risk hers.

Now get in the trunk!

Professor Carson?

Ugh! Dina!

You're a Messervey scholar!

You should have had
an inkling by now

that I've been using you
this whole time.

Dina, it's okay, it's okay.
I'm getting in the trunk, okay?

I'm getting in.

Okay. Your turn.

Drop the keys, the bag,
and your phone.

Yeah. I need that done ASAP.

All right.

We got an APB out for Bree
and for Roe's car,

and we sent a unit
to Bree's house.

I promise,

we're gonna do everything we can
to find her

and bring her back safe.

Well, what are we
supposed to do?

There's nothing
you can do right now.

We can help!

You just need to trust us

How did I not see this?

We can't just do nothing.

Agreed, but what can we do?

Your cousin just might be
the smartest person I know.

What? Did she text you?

No, she did one better.

She activated the tracking
mechanism on her phone

and she sent me
the authorization to use it.

So, where is she now?

Uh, the last location it gave
was Kesterson Road.

But that's way out of town.

All right. Let's go.
Your car's here, right?

Yeah.

Okay, I'll drive,
you call Lynn.

Okay.

Why did you bring us here?

This is
Professor Henner's place.

I'm housesitting for him
this semester.

Because she plans on
killing both of us

and making it look
like a murder-suicide,

with you taking the blame

for Valerie's
attempted murder, too.

It's a shame to have
to involve Professor Henner

and his lovely farm,

but sometimes, collateral damage
is unavoidable.

And the hairs
on my mother's computer?

The DNA's gonna show
that they're Dina's, won't they?

And there must be messages

from Dina to Nick
that you've planted also?

Among other things.

But now we have reached
our dramatic conclusion--

a little earlier
than I had planned, but...

I know an opportunity
when I see one.

I still don't know
what I ever did to you.

I quit my job,

a job that I loved,

to pursue a relationship
with Nick,

and then you came along,
you cut in line,

when I was there first.

He and I

are perfectly suited.

Didn't you think

that you and Andrew Morgan
were perfectly suited?

Well, we could've been,

if he wasn't so obsessed
with his memories of Jessica.

But I learned my lesson.

Don't give Nick time
to think he's in love with you.

Well, what about Valerie?

What did she do to you?

What did Dina do?

Valerie got in the way!

And Dina here
is an easy foil.

But why let any woman
in Nick's orbit

have a turn?

And how satisfying will it be
to get away with it all?

That's the key, isn't it?
Getting away with it all?

Your plan coming off
without a hitch, except...

not everything's going
according to plan, is it?

What are you talking about?

I've bested you

at every turn in
this little cat-and-mouse game.

Actually,
you're a little disappointing.

Not nearly
as formidable an opponent

as I thought.

I think I hear
the police coming.

Go! Run, Dina!

Run!

Go! Hide! Hide!

It's Professor Carson--

she's gone crazy,
she's got a gun!

Where's Aurora?

Phillip, get Dina inside!

Lock the doors
and wait for the police.

Come on. Let's go, let's go!

Nick.

H-How did you--

This has to stop, Bree.

Too many people have been hurt.

Bree...

come on.

This isn't you.

Please, just...

let me help you.

Help me?

Is that what you're gonna do?

I can see right through you.

You're here to rescue her.

I read
modern detective novels...

where women know
how to rescue themselves.

You okay?

Thank you.

And yeah.

I'm okay because of you.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

No.

No, this past hour...

thinking I might
never see you again...

Now I'm okay.

Excellent talk, Roe.

Agreed! The police back then,
you know,

I'm not so sure
about their tactics.

I don't know if they put
the right guy in prison.

Oh, I definitely think
Heirens was the Lipstick Killer.

Either way,

being here
is way more interesting

than going to a frat party.

Well, we're happy
to have you in the club.

Ooh, and look.

Here are
our two new members.

I should've apologized to you
at the hospital.

I figured your so-called
"mind for murder" was overrated.

But...

you know your stuff.

I know you really were
trying to help all along.

Just next time,
work with us.

That's what this club
is all about.

You got it.

I just wanted to say

it's quite gratifying
to help catch a killer.

Maybe more gratifying

than finding
a certain lost book.

No worries.
No fines for you.

Aunt Aida,
what are you doing here?

I came to tell you all

that Valerie
has regained consciousness

and she's gonna be okay.

Oh, I am so happy to hear that.

And I'm so happy
you're gonna be okay.

But if you're not gonna
let me track you,

at least let someone
keep an eye on you.

I've got that covered, Mother.

Hi, Aida.

Well... The Maltese Falcon
is playing

over at the movie theatre
for retro night,

so we'll see you later.

Okay.

And this is
definitely a date.

Have fun!