Original subtitles

[R.J.] Previously on R.J. Decker�

-[Emi] What are you wearing? -Excuse me?

Change your shirt and meet me at the address I'm about to send you.

Who needs you to change your shirt?

Wish. Yeah, he might have a new client for me.

[Emi] Welcome to the humble abode of the Carter family.

[Naomi] That's Holden. He may have relapsed.

[Emi] R.J., Holden has been found.

Holden was about to blow the whistle.

He was willing to go up against his own father.

Holden wasn't supposed to die.

[Ed Carter] The plan was only to discredit him.

-Still think it was me. -[chuckles] It was not you.

[no audible dialogue]

[on TV] Of course, I'll have to notify the police.

This is a case for Homicide.

Homicide?

I don't think you fully understand, Bigelow.

You've been murdered.

R.J., is that you?

Yeah.

Are you alone?

Yes, very.

[clicks tongue] Aw, no love connection?

No, I wasn't her type. [sighs]

Dude, you're everybody's type.

[R.J. chuckles]

Maybe you could've worn a nicer shirt.

Yeah, or my prison blues.

Thought my criminal record might be a deal-breaker,

but it turns out she asked Mauricio to set us up

because she only dates felons.

-Creepy. -Yeah.

But doesn't that make you her type?

[chuckles] Apparently I'm not felonious enough. She likes the repeat offenders.

Okay, maybe when it comes to matchmakers,

we can do better than our old pals from Apalachee.

I'm sorry, what? W-Who's we?

The algorithms for the dating apps are, like, insane now.

I can help you poke around online tomorrow, try to find the right one.

Algorithms? I think I'd rather go back to prison.

And why are you so determined to fix me up all of a sudden?

[chuckles] Just trying to help you make better choices, that's all.

Better than what?

I saw you having drinks with Emi Ochoa at F.M. Station, and you looked friendly.

It's not what you think.

We were married, okay? I know what you look like when you want to have sex.

Emi Ochoa and I are not sleeping together.

We're not. She feels bad about what happened. She wants to�

she wants to make up for it.

And how exactly does one make up for perjuring oneself

and sending an innocent person to prison?

She brought me a case last week. It worked out.

We went out for a drink to celebrate. That's it.

I'm fine. Everything's fine, okay?

So, if you'll excuse me, I have an early meeting with a client tomorrow.

I'm not going to sleep with him either.

[? "Into The Blue" playing]

[R.J.] Okay. Here's Louise on her way to yoga.

Playing mah-jongg at the club.

Buying groceries. Bob�

As much as I'd like to keep taking your money,

I've been following your wife for a week.

I have seen nothing that tells me she's cheating on you.

Look at Louise. Now look at me.

She is at least a nine. I am a five,

and that's when my psoriasis isn't acting up.

I should've known better than to think that I could keep her happy.

Are you sure this whole affair thing isn't just all in your head?

I mean, are you sure?

You see these earrings? I didn't buy those for her.

I checked her credit card receipts. She didn't buy them for herself.

And when I asked her about it,

she said that they were gifts from her mother,

but, uh, I-I know that she's lying. I�

I love her, Mr. Decker, so much, and I need to know what's going on.

Because if I know what's going on, maybe I can fix it.

Maybe I can make her love me again.

[? "Playing Diamonds Cashing Checks" playing]

[camera shutter clicking]

? I'm playin' diamonds, cashin' checks ?

? Puttin' fancy things around my neck ?

[engine starts]

? Not givin' one hell or heck ?

? I'm playin' diamonds, cashin' checks ?

[camera shutter clicking]

? Another dollar, another day ?

? Se�oritas in Saint-Tropez ?

? Pourin' chili on my Frito-Lays ?

[camera shutter clicking]

? No, ma'am, I ain't on no holiday ?

[camera shutter clicking]

? I'm playin' diamonds, cashin' checks ?

[camera shutter clicking]

? Puttin' fancy things around my neck ?

? Not givin' one hell or heck ?

? I'm playin' diamonds, cashin' checks ?

? It's just the four to the one To the five ?

? Again and again 'Til you get it just right ?

? It might take all day And all through the night ?

[camera shutter clicking]

[camera shutter clicking]

? But even then, babe, You ain't qualified ?

? I'm playin' diamonds, cashin' checks ?

? Now I ain't hired for my intellect ?

? I'm just out here payin' my respects ?

? To the T-bones and the T-Birds And even T. rex ?

[camera shutter clicking]

? I'm playin' diamonds, cashin' checks ?

? Four to the one to the five ?

? Again, again 'til we get it right ?

? It's just the four to the one To the five� ?

[camera shutter clicking]

[phone ringing]

Hey, Bob.

[Bob] I've been thinking. Maybe you're right. Maybe the affair is all in my head.

Bob, do you know anything about a-a storage locker on 19th Street?

[Bob] No, why? Did Louise go to a storage locker?

Is that where you are now?

No, I'm in front of a house on Palmetto. She just went inside.

[Bob] Does it have a fountain in front with pink flamingos?

[R.J.] Yeah, it does.

[Bob] Son of a� That's the Howards' house. She must be there to meet Preston.

Okay, who's Preston?

[Bob] We know him and his wife from the club.

He and Louise both played in the pickleball tournament.

Okay, Bob, listen to me. Everything's gonna be okay.

Deep breath and repeat after me, okay? Everything�

[Bob] Everything�

�is gonna be-

[Bob] Mr. Decker, what was that?

Mr. Decker, can you hear me? Mr. Decker, are you there?

[sirens wailing]

[Mel] Fire marshal says it's looking like an accident.

There was a gas leak somewhere inside, then a spark.

Happens sometimes in these old houses that haven't converted to electric.

What about bodies?

One. Badly burned, so no ID yet.

It's got to be my client's wife.

I saw her go inside right before it happened.

Respectfully, I'm a homicide detective,

-not a tragic accident detective. -Yeah, I get it. I�

Unless you're thinking the fire marshal has it wrong.

My client was convinced his wife was having an affair,

maybe with the guy that lives in this house.

Thirty seconds after she went inside,

-the place goes up in smoke? -[Mel chuckles]

-What? -Fine.

-What? -Oh, you think what?

He rigged the house, waited for you to confirm she was here, and then what?

-It's possible. -[chuckles]

I mean, until now he seemed like nothing but a nice guy,

-but who knows? -[tires screeching]

No, no, no, no, no!

Sir, sir, you have to stay back.

This is my house. Please, I need to find my wife. Her name is Natalie.

Detective Mel Abreu. Are you Preston Howard?

Yes. I've been trying to reach my wife, but I can't.

Please tell me she wasn't in there.

Mr. Howard, there was one fatality.

But we have reason to believe it was someone other than your wife.

You're saying somebody other than Natalie?

Mr. Howard, d-do you know a Louise Vernon?

Yeah. W-We go to the same country club.

Are-Are you saying she was inside my house? Did she do this?

Any chance she was coming here to meet you today?

Me? Why? W-Why would she?

Why isn't anybody trying to find my wife?

We'll find her, Mr. Howard. But first,

I know the fire marshal has some questions about your house.

I can't believe it. I can't believe that Louise is gone.

Bob, like I said, the person who died, the body, it hasn't been identified yet.

But y-you said you saw her go inside. Who else could it be?

Mr. Vernon, have you ever been inside the Howards' house?

Uh, they hosted a holiday cocktail thing a few years ago. Why?

Well, you called Mr. Decker this morning. He told you he saw Louise go inside. Then�

You�

You think that I blew it up somehow?

Are you insane?

You did hire a PI because you thought your wife was cheating on you.

I told you how much I loved her. I told you I wanted to fix things.

Bob, I know. I know.

Please. Just go.

[door closes]

[Mel] Thoughts?

My gut says he didn't do it.

And yet?

And yet, jealous husband, dead wife. I know.

Two and two almost always equal four,

and yet the fire marshal's preliminary take was the explosion was accidental.

And yet, Louise was up to something this morning.

The car rental, the wig, the storage locker.

I repeat, two plus two almost always equal four.

Look, she was having an affair.

She changed her car and her appearance to visit a neighborhood

where she could have been recognized.

Her death? Act of God, not act of Bob.

[sighs] Okay.

Look, something's up with the storage locker. It was big.

It's way too big for a� for a wig and a change of clothes.

-I'm gonna check it out. -Okay. You find something that tells you

that the explosion wasn't an accident, you let me know.

Meantime, I'm gonna go focus on crimes I know were murders.

[keypad beeps]

[whispering] Gotcha. Let's go.

[gun cocks]

[Louise] Just when I thought my day couldn't get any worse.

Louise?

You chose the wrong night to try to rob a storage locker, pal.

You honestly want me to believe you're a private investigator?

We can check my website if you want,

but I think we'd both be better off trying to get you to a hospital.

[Louise groans]

Louise, your husband Bob hired me because he thought you might be having an affair.

I love Bob. I would never.

Louise, I believe you. I do, and not just 'cause of the gun.

I don't think you went to Preston Howard's for a nooner today.

I think you were there to rob the place.

Look, my least favorite job as a PI is tailing cheating spouses.

A close second is asset retrieval.

See, insurance companies pay guys like me to be on the lookout

for stolen goods in pawn shops, on the black market.

I recognize that from a bulletin one of those companies emailed me.

If I had to take a guess, I'd say everything in here is stolen.

You'd be wrong.

I bought this stuff at swap meets, cash transactions.

If any of it is stolen, news to me.

Louise�

Bob thinks you're dead.

Now, I watched you go inside the Howards' house. I have pictures.

I� I didn't mean to� to not go home to Bob.

-I only came here to change my clothes. -Okay.

Well, if you're here, who was inside the house when it exploded?

[panting] I smelled the gas the second I got inside,

but I don't know why I kept going.

And then I saw her.

You-You saw who? Who did you see?

All that blood. And the gas. [sobbing]

I was so scared, so I went out back, and then I heard a boom.

And then I went flying.

-It's okay. -[gasps]

My favorite Dior jacket.

-It's okay. Oh. Oh. Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. -And now it's ruined.

Hey, hey, I got you. I got you.

Sofia's asleep.

That's nice.

It is nice.

Maybe even very nice. Hmm?

-Her again? Seriously? -[Catherine] What?

[Mel] Baby. [scoffs]

I'm giving you the steal home sign,

and you're still looking for dirt on Emi Ochoa.

I'm not looking for dirt. I'm just trying to understand.

You and your ex-husband are both into sexy Latinas.

What is there to understand?

I don't know, maybe how stupid I feel.

I mean,

two years I've been carrying all this guilt for not seeing

how much R.J. was struggling before he'd beat up Lucas Ochoa,

and now I find out that he's friends, maybe even friends with benefits,

with a woman who's actually directly responsible for him going to prison.

Well, you said he told you she's trying to make amends.

She found a case for him. So what?

So she's a fricking Ochoa.

Her dad is like a modern-day Boss Tweed.

They could be setting R.J. up to be their fall guy.

One, I resent you making a reference to a guy you know I won't know.

Two, are you sure you're not just jealous?

[Catherine] What? No.

I mean, she's pretty hot.

[Catherine chuckles]

[Mel] Baby�

You didn't carry guilt for two years because you're stupid, okay?

-You did it because you have a big heart. -[phone dings]

But come on. Don't you ever think maybe you're a little too involved with your ex?

What?

R.J.

Someone we thought died in that explosion today turned up alive.

Says there's a storage locker on 19th I have to get to ASAP.

[kisses]

[sighs] Remind me. Which one of us is too involved with my ex?

[no audible dialogue]

[phone ringing]

Hey, you get the warrant?

Yeah, a little while ago.

It's like a fricking pirate's cave in here.

Jewelry, artwork, designer gowns.

Robbery division already matched a bunch of it to a string of burglaries

that dates back a couple of years.

They've been calling the suspect the Bandit of Broward.

Now, thanks to you, they know it was Louise Vernon.

How is she, by the way?

Uh, she's okay. She got a piece of shrapnel in her abdomen.

Lucky for her, it didn't hit any organs.

Lucky for us.

'Cause the burglaries aren't the only thing she has to answer for.

[R.J.] What do you mean?

Finally got an ID on the body that was found in the rubble yesterday.

Our bandit may be a murderer.

You're telling me everything I bought at those swap meets was stolen?

Ms. Vernon, you honestly expect us to believe

that you got a Patek Philippe watch at a swap meet?

Yeah, Louise, we know your MO.

You put on a pair of sunglasses, a wig, you rent a nice car,

so it looks like you belong in the neighborhoods you're targeting.

If anyone spots you, you're what?

A high-end real estate broker going door-to-door?

Natalie Howard, though, she was a friend.

She would've seen right through a disguise like that.

Yeah, so we talked to Preston, her husband, yesterday.

We told him we had reason to believe

the body they found inside the house wasn't his wife's.

Only it was.

Medical examiner confirmed it this morning,

just like he confirmed it wasn't the explosion that killed her.

She was dead before that. Blunt force trauma to the head.

You broke in. Natalie caught you by surprise.

And there was a struggle.

And you caved her skull in, and you filled the place with gas.

And then you left something behind to ignite it.

Arson investigator thinks it was a hair dryer, he felt.

Please.

You have to tell them.

[Louise sighs]

I did break into the house yesterday.

But Natalie was dead when I got there.

Okay, right, and you got all this in your storage locker at swap meets.

I can prove to you I didn't kill her.

The glasses I was wearing, they-they weren't just a part of my disguise.

They were smart glasses. They recorded everything I saw.

[Bob] I still don't understand why you filmed yourself breaking into houses.

Why do you like to record us in bed?

-[lockpick clinking] -It's, I don't know, a thrill reliving it.

Yeah.

[hairdryer blowing]

[R.J.] Hair dryer, just like they thought.

[Louise breathing heavily on video]

Oh, my God.

You want me to confess to a few burglaries? I will.

But murder? No.

Somebody else killed Natalie.

[R.J] Hey. Mel. Hey.

Heard your client say he needed to speak with you.

Well, it turns out he doesn't want me off the case just yet.

The case of "I think my wife is fooling around on me"?

'Cause that one's solved. She isn't a cheater, she's a burglar.

Yeah, I-I know, but he-he says he feels terrible about what happened to Natalie.

He wants to make sure the cops find the� find the killer.

Right, because where would the FLPD be without the help of low-rent PI's?

Well, technically, I'm a no-rent PI, but hey, hey, hey, hey, remind me,

who caught the Bandit of Broward?

Okay, we both know you're gonna go talk to Preston Howard right now.

Dead wife, you look at the husband.

You gotta talk to him. I gotta talk to him.

Why don't we, uh, save some time, we'll do it together?

[Mrs. Summers] We told Preston he could stay with us as long as he needs.

I can't even imagine losing your home and your wife all in an instant.

Grant's been out there with him all morning, but it's so hard.

Neither of us knows what to say.

You've known the Howards a long time?

God, 15 years?

I-I know it's none of my business,

but if you're here to confirm the stove was the source of the leak, be gentle.

He told us he's been meaning to replace that old gas range for years.

Well, actually, Ms. Summers, we're here to tell him

that that old gas stove wasn't the cause of Natalie's death.

Oh, my God. Well, he'll be� he'll be so relieved.

Not so sure he will.

[Preston] You're saying what happened to Natalie wasn't an accident?

You're saying that she was murdered?

The ME believes that, based off the skull fracture,

the weapon was something heavy and rounded, like a pipe.

Killer only set the explosion to cover their tracks.

You asked me about Louise Vernon yesterday.

It sounded like she had been by the house.

Yeah, 'cause she had.

But as it turns out, she wasn't there to hurt anyone.

-She was there to rob the place. -I'm not sure the FLPD was ready

to share that particular detail.

But� yes, it's true.

We like Louise Vernon for a series of robberies in this part of town.

-Hold up. We were robbed last year. -Yeah.

So were two other houses on the street. Are you saying that she was the one who-

Probably, but-but it's not what we're here for,

and we were able to prove Louise didn't kill Natalie.

So, Mr. Howard, can you think of anybody else who may have wanted to hurt her?

No one. I mean, Natalie was a saint.

[clicks tongue] And things were good with you guys?

What do you mean?

Your marriage. No bumps in the road, nothing like that?

[stutters]

Y-You think that I killed my wife?

-Just routine questions, Mr. Howard. -The hell they are.

You don't say another word, not without an attorney.

Okay, all we're trying to do is eliminate Mr. Howard as a suspect.

Yeah, well, sorry. You're not gonna do that here.

That Grant's a real charmer, huh?

Yeah, humble too.

Really puts the conspicuous in conspicuous consumption, doesn't it?

[Mrs. Summers] Detective Abreu?

I'm so sorry. I-I didn't want to say anything in front of Preston,

but there was some trouble in their marriage.

Not that I think he would ever hurt Natalie,

but I just wouldn't want you to find out later that we'd held anything back.

What kind of trouble?

Preston asked Grant for a loan a few weeks ago.

Something about Natalie spending too much.

That's� That's all I know.

[Emi] Imagine my surprise.

You reaching out in the middle of the day, saying you'd like to meet.

In public, no less.

What do you mean?

Well, I mean,

your newspaper hasn't exactly been kind to my family over the years.

Not sure what your readers would think

if they saw us having coffee together, Ms. Delacroix.

First, it's Catherine.

Second, I don't think our readers would be the least bit surprised.

They know The Broward County Herald's only ever after the facts.

Not sure my father would agree,

but it's nice to finally put a face to the byline.

My assistant said you had some questions about Ed Carter.

For decades, he oversaw one of the biggest chains

of drug rehab clinics in the state.

Now he stands accused of defrauding thousands of clients

and orchestrating the death of his own son.

It's no secret he's always been one of your father's biggest donors.

Just like it's no secret that in light of those allegations,

my father returned Mr. Carter's most recent donation,

and introduced legislation

to increase funding and oversight for addiction treatment.

It's my understanding you played a big part in bringing Ed Carter down.

You-You worked with a private investigator to tee him up for law enforcement.

I'm afraid that because the investigation is ongoing,

I can't comment on that at this time.

[Catherine] Huh.

What about the PI? Is he allowed to comment?

I understand he has some interesting ties to your family too,

your-your stepbrother in particular.

[beeps]

Sort of a no-no when you've agreed to an interview.

Is that what this is?

An interview?

Because it seems more like an invasion of your ex-husband's privacy.

God, after he did what he did to Lucas, you think we didn't find out

every little thing we could about him?

I think you mean what Lucas did to R.J.

He was the one who committed a crime that day,

but R.J. went to prison, thanks in no small part

to the testimony you gave at his trial.

I take it you don't like that I've been in R.J.'s orbit,

but did it ever occur to you that I genuinely want to help him?

-If you want to help him� -[beeps]

�maybe you'd like to take this opportunity

to admit on the record that you perjured yourself two years ago.

Of course, that might mean a little prison time for you.

It's been a pleasure, Ms. Delacroix.

[beeps]

Same.

[Mel] Thanks. You've been a big help.

Million-dollar life insurance policy on his recently deceased wife

plus the 2.5 from the house, assuming that was insured too.

Preston Howard's money troubles are over.

Between the windfall and the attention this case is getting,

he's gonna have lawyers lining up to represent him. Good ones.

Hope you got a good look at him today 'cause we won't see him again for a while.

I bet you 50 bucks you're wrong.

I'm sorry for the way that Grant spoke to you.

He wasn't wrong. A lawyer would make a lot of sense.

More importantly, I think I might know who killed Natalie.

We're all ears, Mr. Howard.

Look, I-I've never paid much attention to our finances.

Natalie always took care of the bills.

About a month ago, I noticed that the balance

in our joint savings, it seemed low.

When I looked into it, I saw that she had been making some big cash withdrawals

every month going back almost a year. Always just under $10,000.

10K being the threshold for reporting to the IRS.

She said that it had to be some kind of mistake

and that she would look into it, but�

she seemed� she seemed afraid.

And I was worried.

So the next time that she said she had errands to run, I-I followed her.

She went to the bank, made a cash withdrawal,

and she drove straight to Dixie Court.

That's a rough area.

She gave the money to a guy that I'd never seen before.

Tattoos everywhere, uh, even on his face.

And when she got home, I asked her point blank,

"Are you buying drugs? Are you gambling?"

She wouldn't tell me.

She just said that it was the last time.

I told her, "Look, whatever's going on, it's okay. We can go to the police."

She said that she was planning to go herself.

She just said that she needed more time.

Whatever Natalie got herself into, I don't know.

But maybe this guy wasn't okay, her putting an end to it.

Well, can you tell us exactly where you saw Natalie meet with him?

Yeah.

-Crockett or Tubbs? -Hmm?

Who's your favorite?

Like, chocolate or vanilla?

The Beatles or the Stones? Crockett or Tubbs?

Tubs of what?

Are you really gonna sit there and pretend you don't know the guys from Miami Vice?

I know the guys from Fort Lauderdale Vice.

I'm talking about the TV show, the one� You know what? Forget it.

You are a terrible stakeout partner.

Why don't you call Emi Ochoa? Ask her to tag me out.

Catherine told you about that?

Listen, don't get me wrong, if I were single� [exhales sharply]

-What? -Over there.

You think that's the guy Natalie Howard was paying off?

One way to find out.

When I heard on the news about a house blown up in the suburbs,

man, I had no idea it was Mrs. H's.

Well, we have pictures of her too, if you'd like to see them, Andre.

I get why you brought me here.

A nice white lady coming to see a guy with his face all tatted up.

Oh, God. You're not here because of the ink on your face.

You're here because of the ink on your rap sheet.

You got eight arrests for possession of a controlled substance,

11 more for possession with intent to distribute.

I was a dealer. Emphasis on "was".

So if we were to test what's left of "Mrs. H",

we wouldn't find any drugs in her system?

No, I left all that behind. I work as a youth counselor now.

So then how do you explain all that money Natalie Howard was bringing you then?

It's for a community center I'm helping get built.

The construction site you picked me up at, that's where it's going to be.

Named for my baby brother, Amari. He's the reason me and Mrs. H met.

And how do they know each other?

Actually, they didn't.

He died last year. Hit-and-run.

The story made a lot of the papers,

'cause he had just got a full ride to Miami.

That boy could hoop.

But whoever ran him down didn't give a damn who he was.

Left him there to die.

Mrs. H showed up at the funeral, told my mom she read about it,

said she knew what we were going through

because she lost her son to a drunk driver.

When I told her I was trying to get a community center built,

name it after Amari, she pledged a hundred grand.

People donating that amount don't tend to do it in cash.

They write checks. They want the tax deductions.

Honestly, I thought it was a little sus too.

She said she wanted to be anonymous,

that the only person who deserved any attention was Amari.

Can you account for your whereabouts on Tuesday between 10:00 a.m. and noon?

I can. So can a couple hundred other people.

I was at Mercer Elementary School giving a talk about staying away from drugs.

Okay, let's just say everything he told us was on the level.

Natalie Howard was taking money out for good reason.

When Preston Howard found out about it, why not just tell him the truth?

I'll do you one better.

Why did she tell him she was planning

-to go to the police? -[phone ringing]

One sec.

-Hey, what's up? -Am I catching you at a bad time?

[R.J.] No, it's a good time actually. I just got out of an interrogation.

Funny. [chuckles]

I'm calling because I went through one of those myself today.

[phone ringing]

Hey.

Hey, how was your day? You get up to anything interesting?

I did, actually.

I'm doing a story on that big win you had, the Ed Carter thing.

I thought I should have a conversation with Emi Ochoa.

Oh, really? Funny. You didn't mention that story to me.

Oh, I'm sorry. Are we keeping score now

when it comes to things one of us didn't tell the other?

I get what you like about her, by the way.

I mean, her capacity for forgiveness,

her willingness to get into bed figuratively, of course,

with the meth addict who tried to kill her brother for, you know, no reason at all.

I mean, people have been sainted for less.

I told you, okay? I told you. She regrets what she did.

I'm glad that's enough for you. It isn't for me.

[knocks on door]

-Found something. Assuming you're done� -Yeah.

-�with your personal calls? -Sorry.

-What did Catherine do now? -[scoffs]

Listen, you are, for all your faults, one of the coolest customers I've ever met.

Nothing ever seems to bother you except for when my wife calls you on your BS.

I'm gonna go on a limb and say it has something to do with Emi Ochoa.

Let's just say Catherine decided to introduce herself today,

and we'll just� we'll just leave it at that.

Oh, man.

Did I ever tell you about the day you were sentenced,

-what Catherine did? -Mm-mmm.

Went home, got in bed, and didn't get out for three days.

I remember thinking like, "Hey, what the hell? This is her ex."

You know, most people, they hear their ex is going to prison,

they throw a party, and I will admit that like, for a millisecond

I thought maybe she wasn't over you.

And then I realized, oh, my beautiful wife, your beautiful ex,

she just loves bigger than I understood.

And when you love that big, you worry that big.

My question for you is, do you love being loved big?

Because if you don't�

[sighs]

[chuckles]

-You said you had something. -Yeah.

Everything Andre Blake told us checked out.

He was at that school the day the Howards' house blew up,

and his brother was killed in a hit-and-run last year.

Okay, so as far as suspects go, we're back to square one.

Mmm. In the death of Natalie Howard, yes.

In the death of baby bro, not so much.

Natalie Howard never had a kid, let alone one killed by a drunk driver.

So I wondered, why show up at Amari Blake's funeral?

Why pledge a hundred grand to a community center being built in his honor?

Let me guess, once Natalie's death was ruled a homicide,

you got access to her phone records.

Way ahead of you.

The night Amari Blake died in that hit-and-run,

guess whose phone was pinging off the nearest tower?

[R.J.] Okay, so if Natalie Howard killed Amari,

but Amari's brother didn't kill Natalie,

then maybe one of the family members found out the truth

-and killed her to get revenge. -[phone ringing]

[groans]

Sorry, it's my client. I'm sorry.

-Hey, Bob. What's up? You need an update? -No, I just got home.

Someone must have broken in. Everything is torn apart.

I didn't want to call the police because of everything going on with Louise, but�

-Okay, Bob, take a deep breath. -[thud]

Just get out of the house. I'll be there in like-

[whispers] I just heard something. I think the person who did this may-

-[clattering] -Bob. Bob, what was that?

Bob, answer. What was it? Bob?

[officers chattering]

Paramedics say he'll make it, but the blow was to the back of the head.

Odds are he didn't see who did it.

Blow to the back of the head, just like Natalie Howard.

You think the guy who killed her did this?

I mean, as far as signatures go,

hitting people on the head is not a very unique one.

And if you're right, what motive would they have for attacking them both?

Well, any luck, the answer's going to come from that guy right there.

Mr. Adult Onesie?

Actually, Mr. Ring Camera. He just told me his has a great view of Bob's driveway.

-[sirens wailing in distance] -Hey, are you seriously using

terry cloth again?

How many times have I told you, microfiber only?

Hey, if you're looking for Preston, he isn't here.

He had to go make some funeral arrangements for Natalie.

Actually, Mr. Summers, we're here for you.

We have video of this car arriving at Bob Vernon's house just minutes

before someone assaulted him last night.

There's lots of cars like this out there.

Yeah. But only one Luxxguy1, right?

Lawyer.

[Mel] This is what you've been doing?

Yeah. Well, complicated case. I thought some visual aids might help.

Hmm. I'd say it looks like something Sofia made,

but I know she can do better than this.

Three couples, all friends from the same country club,

all connected by the murder of Natalie Howard.

And by the Bandit of Broward, aka Louise Vernon.

Exactly. She did rob the Summers' house.

She attempted to rob the Howards' house.

I think she's the reason Grant went to Bob's house last night.

-Revenge? -Asset retrieval.

I told Louise it's my least favorite job,

but it's a thing for a reason. Someone steals your stuff, you want it back.

Louise's storage locker was a detail we kept out of the press.

Yes, exactly. That's why I think Grant went to her house last night,

tore it up looking for something she stole.

Why wouldn't he just contact the police? Ask if his property was recovered?

Well, you're assuming what he was looking for,

he'd be okay with the police knowing about.

What, like a brick of cocaine or something?

Spidey sense says no,

but that's only because, based on the items retrieved from the storage locker,

she wasn't into drugs, only things that were nice.

What nice thing would have tied Grant to a crime?

Don't know, but I gotta think it's the same reason he killed Natalie Howard.

Lucky for us, we have a bandit who can just tell us what she stole.

[Louise] You really think what happened to Bob was my fault?

Well, we think they're connected. Yeah.

All this awfulness.

Just because I was bored and needed a little excitement in my life.

Bob's doctor said he opened his eyes this morning.

He didn't say anything, but she thinks it's a good sign.

She thinks he's gonna be okay.

That's� That's good, Louise. I'm glad.

You said this is the claim Grant and Dawn filed

with their insurance company after I robbed them,

but I'm still a little fuzzy on what I'm supposed to be looking for.

Something that isn't there.

The idea is you stole something that could have gotten Grant in trouble,

and if you did, there's a good chance he wouldn't make a claim for it.

-Like the dog that doesn't bark, right? -[R.J. chuckles]

It's the absence of things that matters.

I'm guessing you stole the complete works of Sherlock Holmes at some point.

Wow.

I'm the one being accused of theft?

What do you mean?

Grant and Dawn have been ripping off their insurance company.

-Ert� statuette. -[R.J.] Yeah?

Gucci dress, emerald brooch.

They claimed at least 20,000 bucks' worth of stuff that I definitely didn't take.

Do you want to charge him for fraud? I'm willing to testify.

Oh, yeah, in exchange for reducing the charges against you?

Actually, I�

I was hoping I could get permission to visit Bob's room.

I- I know I'm under arrest,

but I'd like to hold his hand,

maybe even be there when he wakes up.

You find something that proves Grant Summers is a killer,

and I'll work on that and the charges.

Huh.

The most valuable thing I took from Grant and Dawn's house,

the one they could have made

-a huge legitimate claim for� -[Mel] Mm-hmm.

It's not listed here.

There, right there.

[sighs] Ostrich skin with 18-karat gold hardware.

There were only six made.

One of them was auctioned at Sotheby's last year, sold for over 200,000.

Of course, I couldn't wear it.

It would've attracted too much attention, but it sure was nice to look at.

Okay, maybe Grant stole it,

and didn't make a claim because it would tie him to the crime.

A murder, an attempted murder, and exploded a house all for a stolen bag?

-I don't think so. -A stolen bag worth over 200 grand.

[R.J.] I don't think it was the bag he was looking for.

It's what was inside the bag.

Did you know that was in there?

No, I told you I never used the bag, and I don't get it.

What's so special about a license plate?

Ordinarily not much, but I think this one's going

to prove one of the Summers is a killer.

Mrs. Summers, do you recognize these?

Of course, they were all stolen from my home, but I'm confused.

Is that why you asked me to come here, to give them back to me?

Because I thought you had questions about the little misunderstanding

between Grant and Bob Vernon.

You mean when Grant misunderstood a pipe to the back of Bob's skull?

Grant went there to talk to Bob about what Louise had done.

Things got heated and Bob came at him.

-Mmm. -Grant was just defending himself.

[R.J.] What about this?

Recognize this?

No, that isn't mine.

You sure? Because a bag like that is easy to trace.

Your husband got it at auction a year ago, just before your 50th birthday,

which, according to social media posts, you celebrated at Cabrera in Miami.

Yes, sorry, I� I remember now.

[stammers] I have so many bags. I suppose I just� I forgot about this one.

That must be nice to be so rich you could forget about one that costs six figures.

What about this? Recognize that?

That appears to be a plate from a car I reported stolen last year.

Well, not just last year, the day after your birthday party.

I'm confused. Did you find the car?

No, odds are we never will because odds are you and Grant got rid of it.

That's crazy. Why would we do that?

Because it was your car that struck and killed a kid named Amari Blake last year.

At first we thought it was Natalie who did it,

but, no, she was just a passenger, wasn't she?

We traced the chain of title on the car, 1975 Mercedes SLC.

It's a real classic.

Originally purchased by your father the week you were born,

he transferred the title to you when you turned 16,

and you could've just gotten rid of the plate along with the car,

but it was more than just proof of a crime, wasn't it?

It was proof of how much Daddy loved you and how special you are.

Yeah, so much more special than some random 17-year-old on a bike.

It's too bad Louise stole your bag before you had a chance to get this out.

Obviously you managed to swear Natalie to secrecy that night, but unlike you,

her conscience, it got to her.

She ended up donating $100,000 to a community center in Amari's name.

Recently, she told her husband there was something she needed to tell him,

and we think she was going to spill about what really happened that night,

and we think she gave you the opportunity to do the same.

Instead, you sic your psycho husband on her.

No, no, Grant would never.

-He's a good man. -So good he wouldn't take a plea deal

to pin Amari and Natalie's murder on you?

Because you should know the DA's office is about to offer him one�

in about 20 minutes.

Unless, of course, you want to talk about a deal for yourself.

Cath. Made it.

You said in your text you had a much better story for me

than "Emi Ochoa dupes Florida PI a second time."

How could I resist?

-Look, about that- -It's okay.

I overstepped. Not a lot, but enough.

-So still pals then, yeah? -Well, it depends

-how good this other story is. -Well, actually

-you have your choice of two. -Mm-hmm.

My client Bob Vernon, husband of the infamous Bandit of Broward,

he hasn't talked to the press since he got out of the hospital.

But for the wife of the cop who just talked the DA into a plea deal

that would see her serve less than a year? [clicks tongue]

He'd make an exception.

And behind door number two?

You see that group over there?

It's the family of Amari Blake.

I just told them how Dawn and Grant Summer,

they couldn't turn on each other fast enough.

They're both probably going to go away for life.

Now it doesn't bring Amari back,

but they're all glad to be finally getting some justice.

Now, I figured a piece in the Herald would be a good way

to remind people who he was,

how much he was loved.

Not to mention some good publicity for the community center they're building.

You're really gonna make me choose?

Well, it depends.

You're gonna quit trying to make me go on the dating apps?

I'll let you know after we talk to the Blakes.

[chuckles]

All right, let's talk to the Blakes.

[? "All Night Long" playing]

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