Original subtitles

Dr. Carpenter?

Hello?

Dr. Carpenter?

What?

Poison may be

humans' most elegant

and private version of murder.

It was only after studying patterns of past poisonings

that investigators began to pick out

various chemical elements

that someone could use to kill.

Tanner. Yes.

Yeah. Uh...

different poisons...

They leave behind different, uh, different signs?

Yes. The signature of each poison

can be very different.

You can't just walk up to somebody,

and be like, "Yeah, dude was poisoned"?

Here's the thing.

Uh, forensics is rooted in, uh...

repetition and patterns,

and it's traditionally these patterns

that we investigate.

Because, the truth is that there aren't really any new crimes.

Criminals are rarely innovative.

And often, all you need to catch them

is... to read the right book.

So, if you do the reading this semester, Mr. Carpenter,

then you may find your answer.

For your research paper... Pick... your... poison.

Your assignment is to choose a case of real-life poisoning,

and to give me 5,000 words on the murder

and how it was solved.

So many poisons... so little time.

Hey, Tanner.

Not nice.

All right, everyone, that's class. Thank you.

You gotta stay awake if you want to keep your spot.

Hey, Kev! Why so sleepy lately?

I've had a lot of practice the last few weeks.

I thought baseball didn't start for another month?

Oh, the season doesn't start till the spring,

but Coach picks the starting lineup next week,

so I gotta hustle if I want to keep my spot at shortstop.

All right. Well, maybe we just, uh,

try to go to bed a little earlier,

get a little more rest?

- Yeah, I'll try. - Okay.

- Hey! - Hi.

I thought we were meeting in the cafeteria?

Oh, I, uh, I-I wanted to walk with you.

Um, Aurora, this is my girlfriend...

- Jenny. - Hey.

She took this class last semester.

Professor Lindo is so cool.

You're preaching to the choir, Jenny.

It's so good to meet you.

- Nice to meet you. - Bye.

- Bye, Kevin. - See ya.

Owen is following me again.

I'll talk to him.

No. Kev, don't.

Come on, he's my friend.

At least, he was.

Trust me...

he's not your friend, okay?

Let's go this way.

You know, I am on pins and needles

to see more of your thesis.

Yeah, well, you better buy a pin cushion,

because it feels like every tangent I follow

just creates more.

Oh, yes, tangents.

They do have a tendency to multiply.

Oof.

Mr. Watson.

I didn't expect to see you walk back into my office.

Professor.

Guess you're the new T.A.?

Yeah. Aurora Teagarden.

Okay.

This is Cal Watson, your predecessor.

You never responded to my email

about the letter of recommendation.

Well, I understood that you got another job.

Not an academic job.

You know I was good at teaching.

And you know why I can't, in good conscience,

give you a letter of recommendation.

So no second chances...

That's the lesson you want me to take away here?

What was that about?

Cal was a good T.A.,

until he started giving his friends grades

that they didn't earn,

so I had to let him go.

Speaking of which... oh, wait, don't you have to get going?

A rare free moment, Professor.

Oh!

Can we talk tangents?

I am at your disposal. What do you got?

Okay, so here's what we got...

- Hi! - Hi.

Mm! Sally, thank you for being my chauffeur today.

Well,

it's not like I've got anything else to do with my time.

Mmph. Sounds like bad news.

No news.

I mean, no voicemail!

No, oh-sorry-but-we-regret- to-inform-yous.

They said I would hear by now!

How could I not be qualified to fold T-shirts?

Okay, look. Sally, it's not you.

You know, it's the recession.

You could work on your blog.

I can't even make myself look at it.

I need to leave that blog, and last year, behind me.

I just need to focus on my journalism degree

and getting those six credits.

But somehow, I cannot line all of them up in one semester,

so I'm living with my parents.

They want to spend so much time with me.

I know. The other day,

I was eating lunch while I was working,

and I got up to grab a book,

- and when I came back... - Roe...

My mother had completely redone my entire place setting...

My silverware, my plate, my glass, and...

Because your glass was on the left!

And, as everyone knows, drinks go on the right.

D, remember... "on the right."

I taught you that when you were eight.

It's a mnemonic device!

I would think, as a fellow educator, that, uh...

that you would appreciate learning things that way.

"Fellow educator"?

Mm-hmm! Yes!

I accepted a temp job at the university.

Professor Briggs in the Business Department

has asked me to help him create a curriculum

for his entrepreneurship class.

Aida, that sounds perfect for you!

I know!

Congratulations. I'm happy for you.

Oh, thank you!

Oh, and, Sally,

don't worry about living with your parents in this climate.

I mean, it's a... It's a smart financial decision.

And I'll be on campus all the time, Aurora,

so you and I can have lunch!

Every day.

Maybe!

Yeah.

Uh... when you're not already having lunches with me.

Oh! Well...

She just promised all of her lunches this week to me,

to help me with my resume,

because I need a job.

You are so generous like that.

Apparently.

The best.

- Okay, we have to go. - Bye.

- Bye. - Bye!

Okay, uh, I need...

um... ugh!

- Okay, I can do this. - You can use regular English.

No, no! I can do this.

If I can learn French, I can learn diner slang.

Uh... I need two dots and a dash.

Fried eggs and bacon.

And "shingles... with a dance"?

"Shimmy and a shake..." buttered toast with jam.

- I'm getting better. - You're doing great!

Um... I had a great time the other night.

Yeah, me too.

When can I take you out again?

How about tonight? Is that too eager?

Uh... no.

Let's do it.

It's a date.

You know, my, uh, great-aunt on my father's side,

she was a dentist... I didn't like her very much.

She'd tease me with candy all the time.

All right, gentlemen.

I think you ordered all the eggs and bacon we have.

Thanks, Roe.

Anyway, the, uh, perp put the office manager under,

using that knockout gas they give you.

Uh, when she came to, she was woozy,

but relatively unharmed.

What'd they take?

They're still checking on the inventory,

but I'm thinking it was after drugs.

Whoa, where was this?

Carpenter Dental on Norwalk Place.

"Carpenter Dental"?

I have a student named Tanner Carpenter.

Think they're related?

Maybe.

Smith?

Sorry.

Miss Teagarden.

Cook?

Could I get a refill, please?

Absolutely.

Thank you so much.

Hey, Roe?

I'm eating.

Um, would you maybe wanna

grab a coffee with me after work or something?

Oh, um...

I would love to, but... I... I can't.

I've got, uh...

- Plans with Daniel? - Yeah.

You two are getting pretty serious, huh?

Yeah. Uh, I mean, maybe.

He's really nice.

- Yeah. - Yeah.

Well, I'm-I'm happy for you.

Another time, then?

- Yes. - Yeah?

For sure. Um...

I should probably get his coffee.

- Yeah. - Okay.

Struck out, huh?

What? No, we're just, um...

Friends. Right?

Right.

You're a rookie in more ways than one, Smith.

Oh. Professor Lindo!

My daughter speaks so highly of you.

Aurora, your-your T.A.

I'm Aida Teagarden.

Aida, Aurora's mother.

It's so nice to finally meet you.

I am so fond of Aurora.

I understand that you're not crazy

about her taking the job with me?

Oh, well, I do have my issues

with the subject matter.

I mean, of the myriad of things she could be studying,

she chose...

True crime.

- Yes! - Listen, I happen to think

it is the most interesting subject.

Well, I just wish it were a little less ghoulish,

but, once my daughter sets her mind to something,

I mean, you cannot dissuade her.

Well, strong-willed and self-confident...

She must get that from somewhere.

Oh!

So, are you here taking a class, or...?

No. No, no, no.

I'm-I'm helping, uh, Professor Briggs

with curriculum development.

Yeah. And maybe doing a guest lecture or two.

Oh, that's so great.

I'm so glad that Conrad finally took my advice

and got someone with real-life experience

to help boost the value of his class.

So then, I have to thank you.

I mean, I am feeling so energized,

being on campus with so many young people.

I mean, they're so spirited.

You don't deserve shortstop.

You can't just have it 'cause you want it, Tanner!

Sometimes...

Hey! Oh, my gosh!

Stop it, you two!

Hey! Stop it!

Get a hold of... Oh! Oh, my g...

Okay, that's enough!

Mr. Carpenter... with me, now! Come on!

I am so sorry.

It's okay.

It's nothing that a little dry-cleaning won't help.

Whoa!

Okay, you seem to be really angry right now.

What's going on between you two?

He-He took my spot on the team.

Listen.

I don't care what happened, you guys cannot fight on campus.

Are-Are you okay?

Yeah. Yeah, I'm-I'm fine.

What were you two fighting about?

Oh, nothing. He just blames me

for every bad-luck thing in his life.

Well, I hope you can resolve your differences

without getting physical again.

Yeah, I doubt it.

Hey, um, can I, uh, help you wherever you're going?

This is kinda heavy.

No, it's okay. I'm a lot stronger than I look.

- That's yours. - Thank you.

- I gotta... - Yep.

Take care of this. Bye.

I'm so sorry, again.

No! It's all right. It's okay.

Listen. Go clean up your things,

and I want to speak to you in my office.

Sure.

Tanner.

My mother told me you spilled coffee on her.

Your...

Your m... Your mom?

Mm-hmm.

I'm so sorry your mom got caught up

in the middle of all that.

What were you and Kevin fighting about?

First, he broke my leg.

When?

Last year. Crashed into me at a practice.

I had to get surgery, go through rehab. It sucked.

- It must've been hard. - It was.

I used to own shortstop. Now Kevin's parked on it, 24-7.

Coach won't give it back to me.

I mean, who's gonna scout me if I'm not a starter?

No one.

Because of him.

Look. I understand that you two have a history,

but fighting won't only get you suspended,

it will get you kicked off the team.

So, try to get along. Please?

Good morning, everyone.

Let's talk about murder.

There'll be no more fighting amongst any of my players.

Isn't that right, Lambert?

I'm not the one who starts it.

Did I ask you that? No.

But what I really wanna know

is why Lambert here isn't passing your class,

especially since this is his second time taking it

after failing it last year.

Look, he needs at least a "C"

to be eligible to play ball in the spring,

so... what's the problem?

That's my burning question as well.

Maybe you can enlighten us, Mr. Lambert?

Well, he missed the test on the last unit

and he hasn't taken the makeup test,

but if he does well enough,

he'd have enough points to bring him up to a "C".

You know, my players take this class

because they say it's an easy English credit.

An ea...

- Oh, boy. - Ahem.

They may say that it's fun, or...

they might call it interesting, but I defy you

to find me a student who thinks this is an easy credit.

I mean, besides, exercising the mind

is vastly more challenging than whenever it is you...

Okay! Okay. You know what?

I... would be happy to work with Kevin.

Um... when's your last class today?

I have practice after that.

Okay, after practice, come by the R'n'R Diner

and I will work with you on my break.

Um...

Oh, he'll be there.

Great.

It's not fair to Kevin

if you keep showing up like this.

It's rude.

I'm not being rude to Kevin.

Yes, you are. Yes, you are.

Hey, Jenny. Are you all right?

She-She's fine.

We-We were just talking.

Okay, I think Jenny can answer for herself.

Well, we-we actually used to date, so...

No, Owen, it's... just...

It's none of your business, okay?

Sorry.

- We can figure this out. - No, I don't want to.

Hey. What are you thinking for tonight?

Mm. I'm thinking Thai.

Ooh, Thai? I like that.

Yeah.

You waiting for someone?

Uh, yeah. I've got a student coming by.

He's really been struggling,

and I promised to help him on my break.

You're always helping people.

So, did you wanna reschedule, or...?

No! No, I'm... I'm really excited.

Yeah, I'm really excited, too.

Uh, what are you helping your student with?

Well, he has to pass the class.

There's another player

gunning for his spot on the baseball team.

You know I played baseball my first year of college?

Competition for spots is rough.

Ew.

- Yeah. - Oh. One sec.

Professor Lindo, what are you doing here?

Well, I thought since you're working two jobs,

and you're overlapping them to help Kevin,

I would come and lend a hand.

So, where are you guys working?

Uh, he's not here yet.

Oh. Oh, really?

'Cause I thought I saw his car outside.

I mean, we can check.

I've been waiting for, like, half an hour.

See, I-I overheard him talking

about how his dad gave him an old Mustang,

and there you go.

- Oh. - Oh, gosh.

Is he asleep again?

Oh, this poor kid is so tired.

Kevin?

Hey, Kevin?

Okay, let's... Let's check that out.

Kevin?

Hey.

Kevin?

Kevin.

Oh. Is he...?

He's dead.

Detective Cook,

did you find any evidence on Kevin's body?

There's no wounds, no blood, no clear cause of death.

We're going to talk to the parents,

find out if there's any underlying health issues.

Well, are you considering foul play?

Because when we found him his lips and fingers

were tinged blue, which can be a sign of poisoning.

I'd prefer to wait for the medical examiner's report.

Okay. Well, you should know,

Kevin had a fight with another student at school.

It was kind of a big deal.

One step at a time, Miss Teagarden.

Excuse me.

I...

Arthur! Hey.

- Kinda busy here. What's up? - Look, you should know,

Kevin had a huge fight with another student.

Okay, that's definitely notable.

Who with?

Tanner Carpenter.

Look, I was trying to tell Detective Cook...

His body, it was tinged blue.

It could be a sign of poison.

This might not be so-natural causes.

Roe, we can't just jump to conclusions.

We need an expert to go...

I'll work on Cook.

Thank you.

That's my boyfriend's car.

Poor Jenny.

She was always so lovely when we had her in class.

Poor Kevin.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

"What if he was murdered?"

Hey, Jenny.

Got you some cocoa.

And how did you know the deceased?

We, um... we were best friends.

"Were"? You mean, until today?

Uh, no. Until a while ago.

I'd been trying to patch things up with him for months,

but I-I guess I never can now.

"Patch things up"...

By hanging out with his girlfriend?

I don't understand how Kevin could be dead.

I saw him, like, two hours ago.

I know, and I'm so sorry.

Can I ask, though,

why are you here with Owen?

Kevin wanted me to meet him here

after he studied with you.

Owen gave me a ride.

Did you see Kevin today, outside of class?

A-After their baseball practice,

a-a lot of those guys go to Pizza & Play,

and, yeah, I-I saw him there.

Is that the place with the robot mouse?

No, it's a few blocks away from the university.

This place has an arcade.

Bunch of different things.

Baseball players like it for the batting cages.

And the recovery shakes.

"Recovery shakes"?

Chocolate shakes with a... With a protein powder in them.

You found a shake in Kevin's car.

Yeah.

Hey, is it okay if I, you know, um, g-get out of here?

I-I... I have to be somewhere.

Really?

More important than here?

My parents.

The... They're really worried.

You're good to go.

We'll be in touch.

Well, fighting aside,

he seemed like such a sweet young man.

I mean...

Offered to carry my bag to the car.

I know.

I really liked Kevin.

Oh, it's heartbreaking.

You don't think the boy he fought with

had anything to do with this, do you?

I... I don't know.

That's what I'm afraid of.

You know, and then there's this other kid, Owen.

And I don't know,

he was just so strange when he found out about it. Hmm.

Oh! Daniel, come on in.

Thank you.

Oh, Daniel! I'm so sorry.

I completely forgot about our date.

No, no, no. It's okay. I just wanted to make sure

you're okay after what happened to your student.

Oh. Look, it's awful,

but it's really sweet of you to check on me.

- Thank you. - Of course. I just...

I also wanted to see if you were eating.

Do you want me to go get you something?

- Can I make you something? - No, no, no. I'm good. I...

You know what?

Let's go out.

How do you feel about pizza?

Cal.

Cal?

Aurora.

What are you doing here?

Sorry.

Ma'am.

Welcome to Pizza & Play,

where our pizza gets the high score.

Try one of our classic shakes,

drop a... quarter in a classic game,

and enjoy our outside play area.

Okay! Well, uh...

we came for dinner.

She likes bread and cheese.

Also, sauce.

- Yes! - Lucky us.

What can I get for you?

Uh, could we get a pepperoni and mushroom?

Just a little onions, please.

You know what, Cal?

Why don't you go ahead

and put some extra onions on there?

Compliments of the house, of course.

Oh, no, that's okay, actually. Light onions would be good.

I insist!

I absolutely insist.

Double the onions, no charge.

Because, at Pizza & Play, we go the extra...

"Mile..."

To give you more of what you love.

- "More of what you love." - Yeah!

Okay! Well, uh,

can we get some fresh basil on that pie?

W... uh... s-sure...

Do we have that?

- I don't know. - Oy...

I will find you fresh basil!

Great!

What just happened?

I have no clue.

You know, I was there

that day that you had your interview at R'n'R.

I saw you talking to Emilio through the kitchen window.

Oh, did you now?

I did. And after you left,

I said that I would quit if he didn't hire you.

I think you're exaggerating!

Not even a little.

Roe, I watched you,

and I had such a strong feeling...

Like I had to get to know you.

Whoo!

Dude, I am definitely going back to shortstop now, baby!

Come on...!

But tonight's for Kevin.

We lost a good baseball player, and he's gonna be missed.

To Kevin, hey?

To Kevin.

We're not really here for the pizza, are we?

I mean...

I am hungry.

Hmm.

Okay, I'm sorry. Look.

See that guy?

He's the one I was telling you about...

The rival baseball player,

who's clearly about to benefit from my student's death.

Well, maybe we bring our pizza to a table out here

when it's ready...

See what else baseball boy does.

Really? You don't mind?

Nah! I'm just glad to be here with you.

Thanks.

Roe?

It's not even seven yet.

- Coffee? - Sure.

I couldn't sleep.

I can't stop thinking about Kevin.

You know, Tanner was practically celebrating.

And Owen! What was...

Miss Teagarden.

Do you have new information for us?

I actually had some questions I'd like to ask you.

Then please leave.

We have an investigation we're trying to run.

One that pertains to my class.

A valued member of my class has died,

and other students are gonna be asking questions.

I mean, should I have them contact you directly, or...?

- Ahem. - All right.

Smith...

give her the basics...

Just the basics.

Gotta say... I'm impressed you got your way.

Even if he's annoyed with you.

So, whatcha got for me?

Right! So, Kevin's autopsy showed he died of hypoxia.

It's when oxygen can't reach the tissues of the body.

Huh. Well, was it from illness, or...?

Well, lots of things can cause it,

even in a young athletic guy, like Kevin.

But get this...

By the time his body got to the medical examiner,

his skin had turned blue.

Arthur...

that's what I told Detective Cook yesterday...

Blue can be a sign of poison.

My class is in the middle of studying homicide by poisoning.

I was right! Kevin was murdered.

Okay, walk me through that.

We're studying poisoning in Professor Lindo's class,

and, yesterday, Kevin got into a fight with Tanner Carpenter,

who, in class, asked how the police can tell

if a body has been poisoned.

Okay, that is definitely suspicious.

I was supposed to get a copy of the toxicology report

this morning.

Oh, here it is.

Lab results showed that the deceased tested positive

for sodium nitrite in a, quote...

"lethal amount".

There were equivalent...

Smith. I think this goes well beyond the basics.

Miss Teagarden, show yourself out.

This is now officially a murder investigation.

"Sodium nitrite is an inorganic salt"

used in industrial settings,

"mostly in the curing and processing of meats."

I'm-I'm pretty sure

a student, last year, chose it for their paper.

I'm... I'm just trying to find out who wrote it.

Hmm!

You know, it says here

that sodium nitrite's used in dental offices

to prevent instruments from rusting when soaking

in cleaning solutions.

Wait!

I just overheard Arthur and Detective Cook

talking about a break-in at Carpenter Dental.

Well, Tanner Carpenter's mom, Eileen...

That's her office.

Well, Tanner and his teammates

were mourning the loss at Pizza & Play,

but they did not look very mournful.

And did you know that's where Cal Watson's working now?

Aurora...

Kevin was the one who told me

what Cal was doing with the grades.

Which means he had motive and opportunity.

Okay.

Time to employ some information science

on this murder.

Wait, you don't think it's a little too personal?

I mean, we know them, and...

we're supposed to be teaching them.

That's exactly why we have to look into this ourselves.

We have a responsibility to these kids... to Kevin.

Yeah, all right.

All right, yeah. Let's do it.

Okay.

So, you guys really think someone put poison in his shake?

We're just trying to find that out.

Yikes!

You know...

I actually wanted to be a cop once,

when I was a kid,

but clearly, I made a...

A different career choice here.

But, uh, hey, can I ask you guys a question?

Is it fun to drive with the siren on?

- Yes. - "Yes"!

But we're not here

to investigate your career choices.

We're here to investigate a murder,

and we'd like your cooperation.

Absolutely! Yes. Anything you need.

Your security cameras...

We need to see the footage from yesterday.

Sure, yeah. Our surveillance system is top-notch.

Had it upgraded after that, uh,

"dance birthday party" went a little sideways last July.

Yeah, I'm sure you guys heard all about that, though.

The, uh... the big, uh... 10th... birthday...

party.

Footage?

Footage! Right! Let's go.

This way!

I'm quitting coffee.

Now, you probably won't be able to see much of the dining room,

'cause we keep all the cameras targeted

at the main points of entry and egress...

Or "the exit". Heh, heh.

Oh... okay.

Oh, look at that... You guys are in luck.

Camera two is pointed right to the dining room...

That's weird... anyway.

Here we go.

Uh...

4:30... 4:31.

And there they are.

The victim, his girlfriend, and best friend.

Placing an order.

The guy at the back counter, by the mixer...

Who's that?

Uh, that's Cal Watson.

He's the, uh, A.M... Assistant manager.

What's he adding?

That's... That's just protein powder.

You get a free scoop of your choice with every shake.

There's a protein powder, there's an energy boost,

a wellness boost, a serenity blend.

I like the energy boost, myself.

You don't say.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, a lot of the other athletes and stuff,

they like the protein powder.

Your A.M. sure is taking his time with that shake.

And blocking the view of the camera while he does it.

He does have a strong motive,

and he likely had opportunity.

When we were there last night, he got our drinks,

and he gave us real attitude.

His manager had to take over.

Hang on. Owen Parker's got the tray now.

Well, Mr. Parker had plenty of time

to tamper with the shake.

Plenty of time.

Owen's ex-girlfriend is dating Kevin...

His supposed best friend...

So, that's a strong motive.

And we do know that he was at the pizza place

- with Kevin. - And at the same table

as Kevin and Jenny, so he probably had opportunity.

He did take my class last year.

And he acted really weird when he found out Kevin died...

Laughing... I mean, nervous, maybe, but still.

Hmm.

Wait, that's Tanner Carpenter!

Roe told me about a fight he had with Kevin Lambert

just the day before this.

I appreciate your enthusiasm, Smith.

- Write it down. - Yeah.

It seems pretty mild.

All right, that wasn't subtle.

Tanner had the shake in his hands.

And then, there's Tanner, who seems to be

screaming his motive from the rooftops.

Yeah. And he has shown us he has quite a violent temper.

And we don't know if he was at Pizza & Play that night,

but his mother is a dentist, so, he has access to sodium nitrite.

But it's his mother's practice,

so why would he need to break in?

Okay.

Well, I just found out who wrote the paper

on sodium nitrite as poison...

Jenny Lee.

What's she doing?

Looks like she's pouring something into it. Sugar?

In a milkshake?

And why not use the sugar that's on the table?

No, we do not put sugar packets on the table anymore.

Not since the 10th birthday party,

not since July. Mm-mm.

You know what? I remember that party.

- You do? - No.

I don't know why I'm so surprised it was Jenny.

I mean, quite often, it's the romantic partner

who's guilty in a murder case.

Yeah, but I think it's only around 6% for a male victim

and something like 30% for a female.

That said,

poison has historically been a woman's method.

Hmm.

I really do think we're getting somewhere with this.

Ahem.

You know, Aurora, I...

I think maybe we should just take a step back here, okay?

Because this is just getting a little too close for comfort,

and I wanna make sure

that we are giving it the gravity it deserves.

Yes. Of-Of course. I-I completely understand.

Okay, so it looks like we have four solid suspects...

Cal Watson,

Owen Parker,

Tanner Carpenter,

and Jennifer Lee.

Why don't you get a feel for the girlfriend?

If there's anything suspicious there,

bring her in.

Where are we? Who-Whose house is this?

The murder victim's girlfriend

and a suspect.

Roe! You could have warned me!

I'll be right back.

Wha... I thought we were going out!

Five minutes.

"Five minutes."

Jenny.

Hi.

This must be about Kevin.

I actually wanted to ask you about

a paper you wrote last year for Professor Lindo's class.

I don't understand.

Your paper on murder by sodium nitrite poisoning.

I was just curious why you chose it,

how you got the idea...

If, maybe, you showed it to anyone

or discussed it in class?

That's not how Kevin was poisoned, was it?

Yeah. I...

I thought you knew.

No, just that he had been poisoned.

With the same poison you wrote about.

S-So, wait... So now you're here to, like,

- see if I did it... - No...

Because I know so much about sodium nitrite?

No. I didn't mean to imply that.

- Roe! - But you said...

What's going on?

She's saying I poisoned Kevin!

Uh, n-not technically.

I was just trying to ask if you...

I think what she meant is, she just had a few questions.

Excuse us for a moment. What are you doing here?

She wrote a paper about sodium nitrite. Why are you here?

Because she's a suspect.

Wait. I'm a suspect?

Well, no. Uh...

You just said that I was!

- Well, yeah. Um... - So?

But that's not to say we think you...

Uh...

Uh, Miss Lee.

This security footage shows you interacting with Kevin's shake.

Can you explain what you were doing?

So you think I poisoned him, too?

Kevin said that his shake was too bitter...

That maybe they put too much protein powder in it,

so I put some sweetener in it for him.

So, you just carry...?

Yeah. I do.

See?

Huh!

Do you mind if I hang onto those?

Thank you.

You believe me, don't you?

Your paper on sodium nitrite...

I don't even remember writing that paper, I swear!

All right. Well, thank you for your time, Jenny.

We'll, um... We'll be in touch.

She seems really upset.

I don't think I handled that too well.

I don't think I did, either.

Ah, we're both new at this.

No, it's not the same, Roe.

I'm supposed to be talking to suspects...

You're not.

And when Cook finds out you were here...

Uh, Cook doesn't have to find out I was here.

I'll talk to you later.

Arthur... I'm sorry!

Arthur... hey.

Hey.

So, um...

what did Cook say?

Nothing. I handled it.

I only came by to let you know

that it was just sweetener in those packets.

Though that's not conclusive evidence she didn't do it.

Cook's gonna reach out to Professor Lindo,

to try to get a copy of Jenny's paper.

Do you think she did it?

Personally?

No. The paper feels coincidental.

- Hmm. - Cook isn't so sure.

One thing we know, though,

is that every person on our suspect list

- is connected to that class. - You have a list?

Of course, we have a list.

I'll show you mine if you show me yours?

Our suspects are identical.

Okay, so...

besides Jenny adding sweetener to the shake,

what else did you see on the security footage?

Roe, you know I can't just offer up that information.

Arthur, if our lists are identical,

you could just tell me things I already know.

All right.

Well, as you know, Cal made the shake,

taking his time.

Cal having been fired after Kevin revealed

he had been cheating for his buddies

gives him motive.

Working at Pizza & Play gave him opportunity.

Owen, once Kevin's good friend,

now Jenny's scorned ex,

handled it next... Also taking his time.

Jenny, our victim's girlfriend,

dumped what appeared to be sweetener into it.

And if she was familiar with sodium nitrite...

And Cal was her T.A.,

he must have graded her paper, so he's familiar, too.

Right. Tanner and Kevin have a scuffle.

Tanner knocks the shake over, then picks it up, off-camera.

Wait. What's this about

the break-in at Carpenter Dental?

Sodium nitrite's used in dental offices,

and Eileen Carpenter, the dentist, is...

Tanner's mom!

So he'd know exactly where to get his hands on some.

Although, why he'd break into his mother's office

has been bothering me.

Seems like he could just walk in and take whatever he wanted.

Who knows why killers do the things they do.

Maybe Cook'll want

to hit Carpenter Dental in the morning,

before we interview our suspects.

Oh! You know, I... I could go with you.

We could, like...

Roe, Cook's not gonna go for that.

No! It could be, like, a coincidental run-in.

There's a cafe nearby.

We could finally get that coffee you've been talking about,

discuss what you learned.

That's... That's not exactly what I had in mind.

Look, I appreciate all the info.

You've done enough.

Arthur.

This is important to me. I knew Kevin.

I taught him.

I feel responsible for making sure his killer is caught.

And that responsibility leads you to this?

This is obsession, Roe.

No! This... This isn't obsession.

It's...

It's why I'm in library science...

To separate theory from fact,

to learn how to make connections

and uncover the information that isn't obvious.

And I just gave you

information you didn't have.

So, clearly, there are things

a police officer alone can't see. Hmm?

Aurora?

Is that Arthur up there with you?

Yes, Mother! We'll be down in a minute!

She's coming up.

Oh, good.

Arthur! Hi.

Hi, Aida.

Aurora! In my attic?

We're just trying to work on the Kevin situation.

You know I don't want you involved in all of this!

And... and you... You should know better.

Can we help you, Mother?

Yeah. Um... I found this in my tote.

I'm sure it got mixed up with my papers

when I got drenched by coffee...

from that guy.

Wait. Y-You're saying Tanner Carpenter dropped this?

Yeah. Well, it's mostly just schoolwork and a...

Very badly-written essay

on the assassination of Jean-Paul Marat.

If I'd had a red pen, I would have corrected it.

And some, uh, poorly-organized papers,

and also... this.

- Ooh, let me see that... - I'll... take it.

He is a suspect, after all.

Thanks, Aida.

We can use all the help we can get on this one.

You mean like my help?

I think you've helped enough.

Mother.

Oh, I know that tone.

I'll see you, Arthur.

- Bye, Mother! - ♪ Bye! ♪

I'm sorry about that.

Ah, it's okay.

You okay? Bad news?

Uh... there's gonna be a candlelight vigil for Kevin

at the university tonight.

Professor Lindo's gonna make a little speech.

And I bet you anything his killer is gonna be there.

Is it true they always return to the scene of the crime?

Well, not always,

but cliches are cliches for a reason, right?

Well, since you're gonna be rubbing elbows with killers,

I think I should go to this vigil with you.

- If that's all right? - Really?

- You want to? - Yeah!

I'll be, like, your backup.

But one of these days, we should really go to a movie,

like normal people.

- Yes, please. - All right.

Ahem!

My new resume.

Ooh... fancy.

This looks great!

Daniel is looking right at you.

Two jobs and a beau.

Roe, you have no idea how good you have it.

Are you not feeling the romance?

I mean, he's completely smitten with you!

Daniel is perfectly sweet,

and we are having a lovely time together.

But...?

But... I know a place that's hiring.

What? Where?

Pizza & Play.

Ew! Pizza & Play is, like, gross and hectic.

And also, where your student literally got poisoned!

Look, Arthur was able to look at the security footage.

And I thought, if you were there,

- we could, you know... - You thought

that I could play a spy in your little whodunit game?

- No. - Mm-hmm.

No. Not... Not spy.

More like, um... going undercover.

Like a journalist.

Think about it...

Sally Allison cracks the case. She figures out who did it.

Okay, I'll think about it.

I mean, this could be your way to get back into writing, and...

Okay! I said I would think about it.

And if you don't stop badgering me,

I'm gonna tell your mother.

You wouldn't dare.

Oh, I would. Of course, I would.

Okay, so I'm gonna need a reference.

Me?

Don't make me beg, please.

Sure.

Yeah, I didn't like Kevin.

I had my reasons, but, uh...

I didn't put sodium-whatever in his shake.

Sodium nitrite.

There's plenty of it at your mother's dental office.

Or there was, until the other night,

when someone broke in.

Now at least one bottle is missing.

Teresa, from the office...

She said the assailant had a build just like yours.

A lot of people match my build.

You're on the baseball team, right?

Yeah.

What position?

Shortstop.

This roster says that, as of last week,

Kevin was the starting shortstop.

Bet you're pretty happy to be back to starter,

now that Kevin's dead.

Bet you wanted that position pretty bad.

Yeah.

Bad enough to kill for it.

Kid, you're connected to the sodium nitrite,

and you got a great reason to want Kevin dead.

Okay, I don't... I don't know what you want me to say to you.

I'm not the only one who didn't like Kevin, okay?

He got a guy named Cal Watson fired from the university,

probably messed up his whole life.

You should talk to him. How 'bout that?

You know, Carpenter, we're talking to you right now.

That's what you need to worry about!

Arthur said Tanner denied knowing anything

about how sodium nitrite got into Kevin's shake.

Yeah, of course he did.

Oh, no.

I forgot my notes on my desk and Kevin's parents are waiting.

Oh. Uh, it's okay. You go meet them.

I'll get the notes.

- Be right back. - Okay, thank you.

Hello?

Hey!

Hey!

You shouldn't have gone after him, you should've called me.

Arthur, I know.

I've learned my lesson.

Now, can we just figure out what the person was looking for?

I think we should talk about the fact that you were attacked!

Any idea who might want to rob you, Professor?

Well, my first thought was Cal Watson.

I wouldn't give him a letter of recommendation,

so maybe he wanted to steal some of my letterhead.

Yeah, but why ransack your office?

I don't know.

To get back at me for refusing him?

I really think this has something to do

with Kevin's murder.

Maybe it was somebody else in your class?

You know, Professor,

it's probably not the best idea to teach a class

on how to commit a murder and get away with it.

"Get away with it"?

So, you don't think you'll catch the killer, Alistair?

Let's check with, uh, campus police...

Their security cameras. Maybe they got something.

Professor. Miss Teagarden. Let's go, Smith.

You know, I just wish they seemed more concerned

- about you. - I'm fine.

Let me get you some more ice. Okay?

Thanks.

Hmm.

So, Cook's first name is Alistair?

Always know the cops as well as you know the suspects, Aurora.

Mm.

I don't know, maybe he's right.

Maybe teaching true crime is...

nothing more than handing over the blueprints for murder

to impressionable minds.

Oh, come on! You don't really believe that?

I don't know what I believe right now.

But I-I know I don't like the idea of convening a class

when there may be a possible killer in our midst.

Well, I believe that the answer to Kevin's murder

is where the poisoning happened.

Pizza & Play.

I'm gonna go there tomorrow and get a lay of the land,

and see if I can come up with a working theory

- of what happened. - No. Aurora. I don't want

you putting yourself in any more danger. Okay?

This course has already caused enough problems.

- Professor... - No, listen.

If teaching this class

is really just teaching people how to get away with murder,

well, then it's not only irresponsible,

it's morally wrong.

Are you saying...

Yes. I am saying

that if the police do not catch Kevin's killer, then...

Well, then, that's the end of this course.

Lab results on those sweetener packets?

Yeah.

Nothing suspicious

in the ones the girlfriend handed over,

but it doesn't mean she didn't poison him that day.

The real question is,

did the shake taste funny

because it was already poisoned?

That would leave us with two of 'em

that handled it before she added the sweetener...

Cal Watson, Owen Parker.

And Tanner Carpenter, who knocked it over.

Right.

I don't know, it seems like our suspects are lying to us.

Kevin Lambert's text messages.

So, Owen told us he'd spent months

trying to patch things up with his so-called best friend.

But, according to these,

he only started doing that four days before the murder.

Lie number one.

Cal Watson claimed

he felt no animosity toward Kevin,

but sent him angry text messages over the past several weeks,

blaming him for ruining his reputation.

That's two.

And why would Tanner tell us he hardly knows Cal,

then send Kevin a text, calling him a "rat"

for outing Cal to Professor Lindo?

Lie number three.

We need to interview 'em each again.

Separately.

Surprise 'em, throw 'em off guard.

It's time for some real detective work.

No more messing around.

Smith.

You coming?

Let me get my jacket!

Ah, my replacement.

Do you want this job, too?

I don't want anything from you.

Then why are you here?

Oh, I meant, I don't want anything from you, personally.

I'd like a chocolate shake.

Coming right up.

Sally?

Oh, I'm sorry...

"Caesar Sally".

I needed a job, okay?

And they're hiring!

This is just until I find something else.

Just admit that journalistic curiosity

played a little part of why you applied.

You want to know the real reason I applied?

Mm.

This hat. I look adorable in it.

That you do, Caesar Sally.

That'll be $4.19.

Cal, um, were you working last night,

or did you go to the vigil for Kevin?

I didn't see you there,

but I don't know... I thought maybe I saw you

leaving Professor Lindo's office.

Want your receipt?

Thanks.

Yeah, we'll go to Chuck's on the way back.

Sally, you work here?

You got a twin?

Miss Teagarden, why are you everywhere?

I...

I was craving a shake.

Cal Watson, we have a few questions for you.

I'm not an idiot.

You're trying to get me to talk without my lawyer present.

Shady.

Fine. You wanna play it that way?

Call your lawyer

and tell him to meet us down at the station.

Look.

A couple days ago,

I saw Kevin go into Owen Parker's car.

Owen practically lives out of that car.

Maybe you should check that out.

You're just remembering that now?

You know what, Smith?

It feels like he's trying to get us to leave.

I'm just trying to help.

You leaving is a bonus.

Is it now?

Professor Lindo. Hi, I'm...

Uh, yeah, I'm on my way.

Whoa!

You put this place back together fast.

Yeah.

Which is how I discovered

that the hard copies of last semester's

writing assignments are all gone.

The one on the murder-by-poisoning unit?

Not just those... all of them.

From the entire semester!

Well, it's gotta be Cal, right?

But he knew my filing system,

a-and whoever broke into this place

obviously did some frantic searching.

Okay. So...

Tanner didn't take the class last year,

so the only suspects whose work disappeared

are Jenny and...

Owen Parker.

I'll be right back.

Arthur. Hi.

I've got some information for you.

What? You're where?

You're arresting Owen?

We found this under his passenger seat.

Sodium nitrite powder.

Someone must have put that there!

Really?

We'll have to talk about that now, won't we?

Isn't that kind of weird?

I mean, why would he let you search his car if he did it?

Plenty of criminals are sloppy.

But poison isn't a crime of passion.

I mean, the statistics are overwhelming.

Poisoners go to great lengths

to make sure they don't get caught...

It's almost always planned.

She's right.

Well, we don't arrest people based on statistics, Roe.

We use the evidence,

and the evidence suggests that Owen might have done it.

Smith!

Excuse me.

Something doesn't add up.

Mm-mm.

Look, I swear, I'm telling you the truth.

Why would I say "go ahead and search"

if I knew that bottle was in there?

Maybe you thought you'd taken care of it.

Maybe you didn't realize it rolled under your seat.

No, that's...

Look, I... I have no idea where that bottle came from!

It-It's an old car. T-The locks don't always work!

Anyone could have put it there.

Someone's messing with me.

And who do you think would be messing with you, Owen?

I don't know.

Look, I swear, I-I don't know.

But...

I'm sure someone else had a reason to get rid of Kevin.

Someone else wanted to kill your best...

Sorry... ex-best friend.

You're sure of that, huh?

Tanner was always complaining about him,

that he took his spot on the team.

Someone made all the papers

from your true-crime lit class last semester disappear...

Including yours.

You know anything about that?

I don...

W-What are you asking?

Do you still have the paper

you wrote for that class?

Can you show it to us?

No, I-I deleted all my stuff from last year.

But you must know what it's about...

The subject matter.

Not really.

I-I mean, it-it was a really boring class, and...

Look, I don't remember!

I don't believe him, Smith. Do you?

No, I don't.

But...

if you want,

you're free to go.

I am?

We don't have enough to charge you...

yet.

So don't leave town.

Hello, darling.

Oh, working on your thesis?

Not exactly.

Aurora.

I know, I know... Me and my murder cases.

Oh, boy. Elbows on the table and everything.

What's wrong?

I'm exhausted!

How do you do it?

Do what?

How do you deal with that...

That sea of eyes looking at you blankly?

I mean, who knows if...

If anyone is really paying attention?

Yeah. I mean...

it can be really tough sometimes.

You know? But I just...

I try to look out

and find the one person that seems engaged,

and just talk directly to them.

You might not get through to everybody,

but there's always someone listening.

Yeah, you're right.

How did you get so smart?

Mm. Dad.

Dad?

Kidding.

"Dissolve completely in liquid before use."

Cook it at 375.

You're gonna burn it.

Look, gotta go.

"Wash skin thoroughly if handled.

Toxic if swallowed."

It's a bottle insert for sodium nitrite.

Who had this?

Why are you showing this to me?

Because...

It came from here.

Where did you get that?

It's your folder.

Fell out of your backpack during a fight.

Uh, yeah, that's my folder,

but I-I've never seen this before.

It's an insert from a bottle of sodium nitrite.

- Look familiar? - No.

Same bottle that came from your mother's dental office,

and then was stashed under Owen Parker's car seat

in an attempt to frame him.

That's crazy.

I told you guys, I-I didn't steal anything.

And how would I even know she'd have that kind of thing?

And how would I know what kind of car Owen drives?

I don't know him.

You're on video, Tanner,

knocking over Kevin Lambert's shake,

and disappearing with it for long enough to poison it.

Look, it was a stupid thing to do,

but I didn't poison his shake!

Then explain that.

I don't know!

Maybe someone put it with my stuff.

My backpack went missing a couple days ago,

at the batting cages.

But you had it the following day at school?

Yeah, someone returned it to me.

Uh, someone who works there.

The-The... The guy we were talking about earlier.

Cal Watson?

Yes, him.

The guy you claim not to know?

I don't know him!

I just know that he was a T.A. for Professor Lindo's class

and helped a few guys on the team

get a decent grade so they could play ball,

and Kevin ratted him out.

So those guys got suspended from the team,

and he ruined the season...

Wrecked the team, wrecked me...

But hey, at least he got to play shortstop.

The guy's such a rat.

Thank you so much

for an excellent example of motive for murder.

Just 'cause I'm not sad Kevin's dead

doesn't mean I killed him.

But if Cal Watson's the one who did him in,

hey, I might even thank him.

Un-Unless he's trying to pin it on me,

'cause... then I hope you catch him.

Well, does Arthur think it was Cal?

I don't know what Arthur thinks.

He's not really listening to me.

I don't know why.

I'm helping him with the investigation.

He just seems so annoyed.

Does he seem annoyed

when you guys talk about other stuff?

Other stuff, like...?

Well, if you guys only ever

talk about murder investigations, and...

Daniel, then...

I work with Daniel!

And you are dating him!

Okay, yes, I'm dating him.

I just think he misses when we all used to hang out...

together.

Like, you know, in high school.

I know, it's just... that was a long time ago.

Yeah, I know.

It was a long time ago.

Uh... Sally?

Yeah?

Would you like me to help you with that?

No! You're not allowed back here.

Okay. Well,

we have the same shake machine at the diner

and I know how to fix it.

Well, then, get back here!

Okay.

All right, here's what you wanna do.

So, you take this piece off.

- Okay? - Okay.

Make sure that's attached,

and there's a little support underneath that you... Oh!

- What is that? - Oh, no, no, no!

Don't touch that.

What? Why? Why?

Uh, sodium nitrite in its crystalline form

is yellowish.

It could be poison.

I gotta say,

it was nice of you to call this time,

instead of running your own investigation.

Hey, you know me... Tch, team player.

You're not part of the team,

Miss Teagarden... You're not even on the bench.

But you did stumble upon some good evidence,

which points at Cal Watson.

And it puts the poison at the shake machine,

which is where he could have added it.

And framed Owen by planting evidence.

Smith.

Update on Cal Watson?

He's very leisurely strolling home,

stopping in a few shops on his way.

Seems pretty casual.

Was it sodium nitrite?

We can't be certain until it's tested,

but it sure looks that way.

Bring him in.

Uh, never mind. He's running.

Well, run after him!

Yes. In pursuit.

Ma'am.

Well, running from the cops seems kind of...

Guilty?

Yeah. Right?

Yeah.

Cal, stop!

Cal!

Stop!

I surrender, Officer.

It's all just a misunderstanding.

Well, after talking to his lawyer,

Cal Watson claimed he was working at Pizza & Play

the night of the break-in at Carpenter Dental.

I double-checked

the surveillance footage of Pizza & Play,

and his alibi checks out.

He's not the one who stole the sodium nitrite.

Send him home.

Cal refused to admit that the sodium nitrite was his.

Arthur said they didn't have enough to hold him.

They seem to be just as confused as we are.

I can't believe that I hired a T.A.

who may have been capable of committing a murder.

And a sloppy one at that.

I mean, if he did it,

he would have had days to clean up the evidence.

I've decided that I am cutting the unit on poison short.

That with everything that's happened, it just...

it just doesn't feel right.

What's next?

"The Queens of True Crime."

I asked the students to pick a book

by either Ann Rule or Kathryn Casey,

and then write an essay breaking down the case

and how it was solved.

Wait.

Did you do that unit last year?

Yeah, I did. Why?

Well, I'm just wondering what books our suspects chose.

I mean, Owen and Jenny, too.

It... It just seems like whoever stole those essays

thought there must be something damaging in them.

Sure. But, for all we know, Cal... or whoever it was...

Just wanted to destroy Jenny's paper on sodium nitrite,

not knowing that we'd already found it.

Maybe.

But... maybe it's something else.

I suppose it could be,

but, I mean, those two authors

have written more than 40 books between them,

and there's no way that I'm gonna

remember which student chose what,

so, I'm sorry, Aurora, I just...

I think this is a thread that we have to let go.

It doesn't make any sense

for Tanner to break into the office.

He could have taken the keys from his mother.

It would've been much easier.

And Tanner was the last one to touch that cup.

It would make so much more sense if it was poisoned

before it even reached Kevin.

It'd explain the bitter taste in need of sugar.

Maybe it really did have too much protein powder.

I mean, I can see Tanner planting the sodium nitrite

in Owen Parker's car,

but adding the powder to the shake machine

to implicate Cal Watson?

That'd be really tricky.

Kid does make the place his second home.

He could've easily planted it.

No problem.

Ah, it could be any one of 'em.

I guess we just have to hope for more information to turn up.

"Hope for more information to turn up"?

Smith, you really are a rookie.

I need a donut.

I feel like I should do an accent.

Why would you do an accent?

'Cause I'm going undercover!

You're cute.

And, normally, I would say yes, please,

but today we're just us.

Okay. Well, I mean, it's less fun, but okay.

Look, I really appreciate you doing this.

You know, the police seem stuck,

and my professor is having

some kind of crisis of confidence

about teaching true-crime lit,

and I want her to know that it's not the problem,

but the solution.

I get it.

Okay, so I'm thinking you go up to Tanner.

You know, something like, uh... Like, "Wassup, bro?"

And he's like, "Wassup?"

And, you know, you can, like,

throw th-the bats and the balls,

a-and s-sports things,

just, you know... Just get him to say something!

Now who's cute?

Okay.

Thank you.

I am so ready for my break.

What are you doing?

Do you ever read anything other than true crime?

Uh, rude! Why don't you try it before you knock it?

You might like it.

Got nothing better to do for the next 20 minutes, so...

Set another.

Hey, nice hit!

Thanks.

Is Coach gonna let you play

with the police all over you, or...?

I'm being framed...

and he kinda has to, if he wants to win.

Framed, huh? Man, that's, uh, gotta grind your gears.

Yeah, a little.

But, uh, it's not gonna work. I'm innocent.

You know who did it?

Could be the guy desperate to date Kevin's girlfriend.

Owen?

You seem to know an awful lot, bro.

I mean, look who I'm dating here, huh?

Better you than me.

This Owen guy... Like, why would he go after you?

You know, I get his beef with Kevin...

- Stealing his girlfriend and all. - Is it really stealing,

though, if she was just using Kevin

to make Owen jealous?

No...

I saw Jenny and Owen together not even two weeks ago,

and they looked... awfully friendly...

and that was before Kevin died.

Good luck.

Did you hear that?

No. I was reading.

I thought we were reading.

You're reading. I-I have to go call Arthur.

- Roe? - Roe!

Jenny, why don't you tell us about your relationship

with Owen right before Kevin died?

Have you ever had two boys

be interested in you at the same time?

Uh...

hard to say.

I wasn't popular in high school,

but, then I came to college, and...

Owen was a nice guy.

Strange sometimes, sure, but nice,

and he would do anything for me.

But then there was Kevin.

And in high school,

the idea of the star athlete being interested in me

would be some sort of cruel joke.

But he was.

So I told Owen that we couldn't be

anything more than friends ever again.

Okay. Well, uh, thank you, Jenny.

Uh, I do actually have one more question.

Do you happen to remember what book you chose

for the Queens of True Crime Literature unit?

Uh... yeah.

Uh, Bitter Harvest.

It was so depressing.

Honestly, Professor Lindo is cool,

but the whole class was depressing.

Owen talked me into taking it.

Do you remember what book he chose?

Uh, no.

He would help me with my papers,

but I-I never helped him with his.

Did he help you with your paper on sodium nitrite?

Um...

yeah.

I was really overwhelmed with other classes

freshman year, and all.

He pretty much wrote it for me.

We should get Jenny in here, right?

So you can hear for yourself

why I think Owen Parker's at the top of the list now?

Sure. Owen's at the top of the list now.

Three hours ago, it was the Tanner kid.

Yesterday, it was Cal Watson.

We're chasing our tails trying to make somethin' stick!

Well, I don't think it's Jenny,

but someone is doing an excellent job

of framing the others.

No, Smith.

No one's doing an excellent job of framing the others.

You frame someone,

they go to jail for what you did.

Do you see anyone sitting in jail?

No.

Whoever killed Kevin Lambert

might just get away with it.

Hey! What'd you figure out?

Nothing. That's the problem.

I think Detective Cook is giving up on this case.

He thinks it's unsolvable.

Ugh. Well... I can see his frustration.

And yours.

When I get frustrated like that, I just try to... step back.

You know?

Look for the bigger picture. Try to find the pattern.

And what if there isn't one?

There's always a pattern.

Like Professor Lindo says...

"there are no innovative killers."

Well, enlighten me, Roe Teagarden.

What's the pattern here?

Well...

I don't know yet.

I don't think we've stepped back far enough.

But we will.

I believe in us.

I believe in you.

I need to believe in the system.

Procedure... That's how crimes are solved.

Look, there are just some leads you can't follow as a cop.

I can follow any evidence that leads me...

But you can't follow a feeling.

We should do this more.

Hang out, I mean.

Well, we see each other all the time!

Yeah, at the diner, when we're both at work.

Well... we're busy people.

Yeah, but I miss getting coffee with you,

and talking about school, about people...

about crime.

I really... I love spending time with you, Roe.

Arthur, um...

I'm really sorry

we haven't hung out like I said we would.

And-And we can.

We will.

And you know that, no matter what happens in my life,

we're always gonna be friends, right?

Yeah.

Yeah, I know that.

Have you, uh, found anything in the books?

Uh...

yeah.

Yeah, there's, uh, lots in the books.

Um...

many different ways this could have happened.

Much like my thesis...

Lots of tangents, and none that quite fit.

Aurora.

I didn't expect to see you here.

Oh, and with a stack of books... What a surprise.

Mother, what are you doing here?

Well, one of my students has asked to meet me for coffee

so she could pick my brain about the housing market.

Oh! A one-on-one session.

Those can be really satisfying.

Oh, and to be talking about my true passion.

See? You were right.

Someone was listening!

Well done, Mother.

Oh, there she is now.

Really?

Have fun.

I will.

See you later.

Hey. That's a lot of reading.

Yeah, more like a lot of skimming.

I'm trying to find some inspiration.

Or maybe where someone else found inspiration.

Hey, thank you for getting Tanner to spill some stuff.

Yeah, it was interesting.

It's like a game of Clue.

I can see how you can get obsessed.

But it's, uh, not a game,

and... I wonder...

Do you think this obsession's... healthy?

Look, you are not the first person to suggest that,

but ignoring the truth

while a potential murderer might show up in my class

isn't the path to my mental health

and well-being.

Right. Heh. Yeah. Of course.

I have to go.

Okay. Uh...

to play detective?

Never. I'm a librarian.

Can you put the books... I'll be back! Just...

Thanks.

Hey, Cal. So, that thing that was in the machine...

Yeah, I already got the third-degree

from the cops about that.

Right.

But, um, did you know that it was in there?

It would be pretty bad if I did.

But...

Sally, you're all right,

but clearly, you've forgotten how to have a conversation.

What do you want now?

Well, Tanner,

we're moving on to the Queens of True Crime next section,

and I had a recommendation for you.

Yeah... no thanks.

You sure?

I think you'll like this one.

You'll never guess who did it...

unless you've already read it.

You know what? I, uh...

I don't think this one's my speed.

I'll pick my own, thanks.

Suit yourself.

See you around.

Goodnight!

Hey. Sal, you okay?

No.

In the book you gave me,

the detectives needed a confession,

so they grilled the guy until he gave it.

Okay...

I tried to get Cal to confess, and I was really bad at it.

You... um...

I know! But it was the book.

I couldn't put it down, Roe.

You're dragging me to the dark side.

First... this...

Well, I...

And spying?

Uh, "journalism."

And, if it makes you feel any better,

I tried a gambit of my own,

and I'm not sure it paid off.

What do you mean?

Sally? I gotta bounce. I need you to lock up, okay?

What? No! Cal already left. I... I'm the only one here...

Ah, you got this.

Look, I just got off the phone with corporate,

and they want me to drive down there

and interview for the Regional Manager's job.

Isn't it a little late for that?

Ooh, lemme tell ya... It's about three years too late,

if you're asking me.

Anyway, here you go.

Ooh!

Anyway, it doesn't matter. Just, um...

don't even have to bother counting the drawer or anything.

Just make sure the food is sealed and refrigerated...

That's it, and then you lock the doors when you leave.

Piece of cake. Okay?

Sally Addison...

"Employee of the Month."

No, a-actually, it's "Allison"...

I know. I know.

I know.

What?

I like that guy. He seems great!

I've been here for three days, Roe.

Do you know how big this place is?

I can't close it all by myself! He hasn't shown me how.

It's okay. I can stay back and help.

Good. I was prepared to beg.

Do you think he'll take the leap to upper management?

I don't even know if he's gonna make it to his car.

Okay, what can I do to help?

I have to try to figure out how to lock that front door.

If you could...

find room in the walk-in

for all the stuff that's left over in the kitchen,

- pretty please? - Sure.

- Thank you! - You're welcome.

In the security footage with Kevin,

the camera was pointed

dead on the counters and the dining room,

but this is pointed directly at the door.

Wait.

Cal moved the camera.

He wanted us to see it all!

Arthur! I got it!

It wasn't just one of them, it was...

Roe!

Hang it up.

What are you doing?

She knew the book you read.

You could have told me that in the text.

Something more than just, "Get over to Pizza & Play!"

She figured it out!

What do you think I figured out?

Shut up! I'm not talking to you!

We need to fix this before it gets worse.

This wasn't the plan, Cal!

Plans change!

And? What do we... What do we do, huh?

Put 'em in the freezer overnight!

They got locked in. It was a terrible accident.

And we delete the footage this time?

There's no cameras back here.

- Take her! - Hey!

Sally, run! Go!

Go! Get her!

I-I'm not doing this.

You're not going anywhere.

We... are not... getting caught!

You're already caught.

I know all three of you killed Kevin together,

and you spread around the evidence enough

to create reasonable doubt about each of you,

and if I figured it out, the police will, too.

Don't let her manipulate you.

And that's why

you broke into Professor Lindo's office. Right, Owen?

You were freaked out about your paper on Die, My Love.

Okay, let me go. I won't say anything!

- Just let me leave! - You choreographed it

so each of you touched the shake that day.

You each had motive and opportunity,

and by making it look obvious,

you threw everything into confusion.

How does she know all this?

She doesn't. She's guessing!

And you're giving it away, idiot!

I'm done, Cal.

No! Get back here.

If she gets away, we're all going down!

Come on!

Aurora?

Gotcha!

Oh!

Stop running, Sally!

No.

Oh!

Huh.

Sorry.

Uh...

Go! Get her!

Aurora.

Stop.

Owen.

You don't have to do anything you don't want to do.

No.

I have to.

No, you don't have to.

You can cooperate with the cops.

You can tell them it was Cal's idea...

That they talked you into it.

Just, please, Owen.

I know you don't want to do this.

Oh.

You... are such a pain.

If you won't do it, I will.

Drop the knife!

Hands on the bar.

Let's go. Check them for weapons!

Let's go!

- Sally! - Roe! Are you okay?

You're under arrest for the murder of Kevin Lambert,

all three of you!

You have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say or do can be used against you

in the court of law.

You have the right to an attorney.

If you do not have one, one will be appointed to you.

Not bad, huh?

I can't not finish it! I've already made it this far.

- But, Roe? - Hmm?

After this, this is it. Okay?

No more true crime.

- Sure. - Seriously!

We'll see.

Hi!

- Hi. - Hi.

You can spare me any more of the gruesome details,

but I'm so glad that it's all over,

and that... that you're okay.

Thank you, Mother.

Oh, Aurora tells me

that you're thinking of discontinuing your class.

Yeah, I am considering it.

I mean, I-I can't help but feel responsible for all of this.

What you're responsible for is guiding me.

I mean, yes, the subject may produce the occasional Tanner,

but it creates more people who care about finding the truth.

Knowledge can be dangerous, yes,

but if we believe in each other...

we owe it to each other to be honest,

and trust that people will take the information

and do something good.

Well-argued, Miss Teagarden.

However, I-I don't know, I just...

Well, I'm only recently an educator,

and, uh, I must say that, um...

As much as I have distaste for the subject matter,

I... I agree with Aurora.

Wow!

- Mm-hmm. - Thank you, Mother.

Okay. Well, perhaps you're right.

You know, while I still feel it is my responsibility

to make some significant changes to the syllabus,

I agree it is my job to continue to educate those

who are inclined to do good.

So...

Yes. Of course, we'll continue.

Really?

- Yes. - Oh, thank you!

Thank you, Aurora.

Well, I have to get to class!

Well, I'll walk with you, Aida.

- Okay. - See you later.

Bye.

You are really something else.

After all that, you puzzled out

the craziest murder plot I have ever heard of.

Well...

And don't tell Cook I told you, but he's impressed.

Begrudgingly, maybe, but he's impressed.

Really?

Ahem!

Miss Teagarden.

Cook.

Let's go, Smith.

We got things to do, and I gotta fry some fish.

Bye.

Hi.

Okay, I'm starving.

Can we grab a bite before we meet Daniel?

Maybe something quick?

Okay. Anything but pizza, please.

I'm thinking burgers.

Okay, so another date with Daniel, then?

Yeah. I mean, I'm not really used to it,

but, uh, he's sweet.

Mm-hmm. That's it?

There's no other... suspects?

No.

No other suspects.

Okay.

Question for you.

Mm?

So, do you think it's normal

that we've been held hostage twice in the span of six months?

Sure.

We're in our 20s.