Original subtitles

[bouncy music]

[ethereal music]

- [Poppy] Oh, [chuckling] it's gonna be great.

- [Cara] I know, I can't wait.

- [Poppy] Bye.

- [Cara] Bye.

[gentle foreboding music]

[suspenseful music]

[car engine revs]

- Here we go.

- Hey, Bubba!

Oh, I'm so glad you're here.

The best part of my day.

[gentle uneasy music]

[sweet contemplative music]

- Hi, Martin.

I'm sorry I missed you again.

You'd love this house.

There are even bookshelves in the kitchen,

so of course I had to buy it. [chuckles]

I, uh, signed the closing papers

and I picked up the keys this morning

and I move in next week.

And you had told me to,

to let you know, so I'm,

I'm letting you know.

And I, uh, hope that you're doing well

at your new post.

Take care, Martin.

- You still miss him, don't you?

[Aurora sighs]

- So much.

[Aurora sighs]

I can't believe he went back to the CIA.

[Aida sighs]

I know he wants to serve his country,

but I just keep thinking that he's gonna call me

and tell me he made a mistake

and he'll be on his way home.

Ah, maybe we were really mismatched.

[Aurora chuckles]

The librarian and the spy?

[Aida chuckles]

Sounds like the title of a bad novel.

[Aida laughing]

- I thought you two were a fabulous match.

- Yeah, we really were, weren't we?

[wistful piano music]

[phone beeps]

[Aida laughs]

- It's Poppy again. [chuckling]

She's coming over in a bit.

What could possibly be wrong with the condo now?

- Well, you have to admit, Mother,

life's gotten a lot more interesting

since Poppy came back to town.

[wistful guitar music]

- So, um, I don't think

I'm gonna be able to make it to your awards dinner tonight.

I'm sorry, Dustin.

- Wait a minute.

You're not coming?

- I just don't think I should,

especially after-

- No, no, no, no, no.

Poppy, you have to come.

Okay? Please?

It means a lot to me to have you there.

- Okay, I'll come.

Um, but I'll meet you there.

- No, no, no, I'll just,

I'll just pick you up.

- No, I'll just meet you there.

Um, I have to go now.

I have a lot of things to do.

I'm, I'm on my way to Aida's house.

- Okay.

[gentle uneasy music]

[lips smacking]

- Bye.

[gentle uneasy music]

- I'll see you tonight.

[gentle uneasy music]

[Dustin sighs]

- Look at this.

I bet it's expensive.

- Let me guess. For Dustin?

- From the mayor.

- Hmm.

- You know that homeless family

that Dustin just did the story on?

- Mm-hmm.

- They moved into their own apartment.

- Yeah, I read his follow-up.

- We're so proud of him.

- So proud.

- Here he comes.

Hi, Dustin. Another gift.

- Dustin! Maisie's talking to you.

- What?

- Just another gift.

- Oh, oh, yeah, yeah. Thank you, Maisie.

[Maisie chuckling]

- I'll just put that on your desk.

- Great, thanks.

- Hey, Sally.

Taking our hometown hero here out to lunch, so-

- Okay, I'll grab my bag.

- I just need you to answer the news lines

while we're gone. [chuckling]

[playful instrumental music]

- Of course.

- Well it was driving me crazy,

the drip, drip, drip.

- Well if you had called me,

I would've had a plumber there in an hour.

- I know, but it was late.

So I got out my toolbox and-

- That's my girl.

I used to refuse to tie her shoes for her.

I'd always tell her-

- To rely on myself, not other people.

Best thing anyone ever taught me.

Anyway, I found an instructional video

and I followed it exactly,

except for the part about shutting the water off first.

But I cleaned up all of the water

so the floorboards near the sink weren't warped at all,

except for maybe one tiny corner

or two.

Please tell me you don't regret

renting your condo to me, Aida.

[Aida chuckling]

- Your mother was one of my dearest friends.

I'm happy to keep a roof over your head.

If I'm gonna keep a floor under your feet,

I'd better call my handyman.

[gentle playful music]

- You think she's mad at me?

- Oh, that's just her landlady face.

She knows repairs come with renting.

- Well, I am gonna make that condo famous.

Cara and I have been making more videos

for our YouTube channel.

Do you wanna see the latest?

- Yes.

[upbeat music]

- Hi, everyone.

It's Poppy Wilson with another great way

you can use embroidery to make your wardrobe pop.

You've probably noticed a ton of celebrities

wearing bomber jackets this season.

One of the reasons?

Embroidered patches.

Right, Cara?

- Right, Poppy.

And, um, oh, you can embroider

any kind of design you like.

Like, I made these suns here.

- [Poppy] I am all about flowers, so here's my jacket.

[Poppy chuckling]

- Cute.

- Now I have a totally unique jacket

that no one else in the world has.

- That is awesome.

You're a natural in front of the camera.

- Thank you.

- Okay, Poppy, the handyman

will be at your place tomorrow morning at 10.

- That works.

This video already has a ton of views.

My editor said I'm starting

a new modern embroidery craze. [chuckles]

- There's a craze?

- And when we get our book published this year,

we will own the embroidery niche

by making it cool and contemporary.

From there, we can start with knitting and crochet.

We'll have a needle art's empire.

- Oh, I wish your mom were around

to see how well you're doing for yourself.

- Well, Daddy says, "She's my guardian angel,"

so maybe she can see.

Now I should go.

I'm meeting a publicist.

My editor wants me to get on some morning shows.

- Wow.

- Aw.

- Thank you for sending someone

to take a look at the floors.

I am happy to pay for the damages, [chuckling]

or at least my dad will be.

- I'll send the bill to Marv.

- Oh, if you do, send it to his office,

otherwise my stepmother might see

it and she'll throw it out. [chuckles]

Bye.

I'm still helping you move

into your new house next Saturday, right?

- I could definitely use the help.

- Oh, I am so glad I moved back.

I still don't know why my Dad

thought he had to move us away after mom died.

- Well I love that you're back.

So I'll see you and Dustin tonight at the dinner?

- Yeah, uh, we kinda had an argument.

- Oh no.

I'm sorry.

Did you guys break up?

- No.

- Oh, well the award's kind of a big deal.

Sally's a little jealous.

[Poppy laughing]

- Well, I'll be there.

- Okay.

- Ciao.

- [Aurora] Bye. [chuckles]

[gentle contemplative music]

[Aurora groans]

- If that's for Dustin, his desk is back there.

- What? Too heavy and too far.

I don't know why the Realtor's Association

can't just say, "Congratulations,"

with a balloon bouquet.

- Ooh, is that dark chocolate?

- Wa, ah, ah! Not yours.

- Killjoy.

And here I was thinking of asking

you to be my plus one for the dinner tonight.

- Oh, well I'm already my mother's plus one.

- Oh, but you have to sit with me at the newspaper table,

so I don't have to talk to Dustin's date.

- You mean, Poppy?

I thought you liked her.

- I do like her,

which is why if I end up talking to her,

I'll probably start telling her things

that I shouldn't.

- Such as?

[Sally sighs]

- Okay, you know my cousin, Lizzy, is getting married?

- Right, to Bubba Rankart, my mother's lawyer.

- Right, well Bubba is Poppy's lawyer too for her business.

- Hmm, which is taking off in a really big way.

- Yeah, that means a lot of contracts to go over,

a lot of meetings.

- What, you think that Lizzy is jealous

that Bubba's spending too much time with Poppy?

That doesn't sound like the Bubba I know.

- Well, [sighs] I think wedding stress is getting to her.

I mean, it is next month.

But if Poppy starts talking to me tonight-

- Oh yeah, you are terrible at keeping secrets.

- Yes, we've established that.

- Okay, fine.

I will sit with you

if you agree to lug that thing over to Dustin.

- Oh, done.

- Oh, okay. See you at the dinner.

- Okay.

[playful instrumental music]

- Uh, Maisie,

are Dustin and Macon still at lunch?

- Ah, you know the Chop House, they take their time.

They make the meal an event.

- They're at the Chop House?

[Sally sighs]

I love the Chop House.

[playful instrumental music]

[Sally huffs]

[sweet contemplative music]

- You're two minutes late.

- Yes I know, but I brought gifts.

- [Lillian] They're due in three weeks.

- Oh, Cara,

hey. - Hi.

- Poppy just showed me the video you guys made.

It looked really good.

- Oh, yeah, thanks.

We're getting better at it I think.

And I just grabbed these books

on how to promote your brand online.

Who knew this is where we'd end up when we

were in our dorm room doing all that crafty stuff.

But Poppy's convinced me

we're gonna take the world by storm.

- Oh, I'm sure you will.

[Cara chuckles]

- Thank you, nice to see you. Bye.

- Oh, those books are for the donation bin.

- Oh, our mystery and true crime section

are already overstuffed with your cast-offs.

- Well then we can sell them at the book sale fundraiser.

- Has it occurred to you to read a book

about art or philosophy, anything more edifying?

- A well written mystery is art,

the twists and turns of human nature.

And true crime?

It is the very essence of life and death.

It's all right here in these books, Lillian.

[gentle contemplative music]

- Ugh.

- [Jason] So if you're interested at all,

here's my card.

And I hope that you guys

can give me call sometime.

- Oh, Jason Dell.

Hey, long time, no see.

How you doing?

- Good. I just got back into town last month.

- Oh, why didn't we see you

at the last Real Murders Club meeting?

- We didn't see Perry at that meeting either.

Where is your cousin, anyway?

- He's in Seattle helping his dad remodel the kitchen.

- Oh.

- We've been working on this idea.

Here, check it out.

- [Sally] "Dell Investigations."

- Yeah, we thought we'd give it a try.

- Oh, I think you guys'll do great.

And I will keep this card handy.

[Jason chuckles]

- See ya.

[relaxing piano music]

- [Sally] I think it was nice to see Jason.

- [Terry] I've been rehearsing it for a while.

- Oh, Arthur. Wow.

Nice suit.

- Oh, [chuckles] thanks.

My, uh, wife made me buy it.

- Well, these awards honor our town's finest.

You have to look sharp.

- Yes, and you deserve yours,

risking your life like that to save a little boy.

- Oh.

- Oh, I haven't seen Lynn.

Is she okay?

She's due any minute, right?

- Yes, a couple of weeks.

But the doctors put her on bed rest,

and resting doesn't exactly fit her personality.

- Uh, I can't find my speech.

I must've left it in the car.

Don't let them start without me.

- Don't worry, Madam Mayor, they wouldn't dare.

[Aida chuckling]

- [Aida] Hello.

- Hi.

- Aida, I suppose I have you to thank

for that lovely gift basket?

- Well, me and all the other realtors.

I hope you enjoy.

- I am.

- Well you two look like you're having fun.

- Mm-hmm. - Bubba, where is Lizzy?

- Yeah, you know what?

She wasn't feeling so hot this morning.

I don't think she's gonna make it, so...

- What do you mean?

I'm here. [chuckles]

You knew I was coming.

- Yeah, so you are.

It's good to see you.

- Lizzy, what did you do,

drive over here with the car window open?

- No.

- I have a comb in my purse, we can fix it.

- Will you stop?

- Okay.

[Lizzy sighs]

- [Lizzy] Let's go find our table.

- [Bubba] Okay.

- Well, Arthur, shall we?

- My pleasure.

[gentle tense music]

- She used to let me fix her hair

all the time when we were kids.

- Poppy's still not picking up.

I'm getting worried.

- Well, you said she was gonna meet you here.

- Yeah, but, uh, she's really late.

- Dustin are you sure that Poppy

knows you want her here?

- Well, yeah, of course she knows.

Why would you say that?

- Ah, um.

- You know what?

I should have picked her up.

I'm just gonna go now-

- Uh, the mayor's about to start

handing out the awards.

- Sally, do me a favor,

just go check on Poppy and make sure she's okay.

- Uh, I, I barely know her.

- If it makes him feel better, would you mind?

[gentle tense music]

- I'll go with you.

I've known Poppy most of her life.

- Good evening, everybody.

I'm Mayor Terry Sternholz

and I'd like to officially welcome you

to the 12th Annual Lawrenceton Hometown Heroes

Awards' Banquet.

[guests clapping]

[gentle contemplative music]

And we certainly have some real heroes to celebrate tonight.

- [Aurora] Well, Poppy's car is still here.

I wonder if it wouldn't start?

[gentle tense music]

What's that?

- Ah, nothing, nothing.

Do you wanna knock or should I?

- You. Go ahead.

- [Sally] Okay.

[knuckles knocking]

You know, she's probably sleeping.

- The Poppy I know would never sleep through a party.

- Well then maybe she's in the shower.

- What if she fell in the shower?

[knuckles knocking]

[keys jangling]

- I think still have the key

from when I managed these properties for my mother.

Poppy? It's Roe and Sally.

Are you here?

I'm gonna check upstairs.

- Okay, I'll wait.

Why is it so cold in here?

- [Aurora] Poppy?

[suspenseful music]

[ominous music]

Roe!

- What?

[ominous music] [Sally gasping]

[Aurora gasps]

Oh no. Oh!

Oh, Poppy. Oh no.

There's blood.

- Oh, why? Why is there blood?

What happened? Is she okay?

- No. She's dead.

[Sally gasps] [sad music]

[ominous music]

[Aurora crying]

[sirens blaring]

[camera clicking]

- We searched the house, the grounds.

There's no sign of any kind of knife

or sharp implement outside.

- Well, it's possible we'll find traces of blood

on one of the knives in here.

Can you find out when we'll get the preliminary report

from the medical examiner?

- Yeah.

- I used to play dolls with her when she was eight.

- I'm sorry. Come on.

Let's get you in the other room.

So you said that the front door was locked.

Which one of you opened it?

- Well, I did because I still have the key

from when I managed my mother's condo, so.

- I thought we'd find her taking a nap

or a shower or in the middle of an ice cream binge.

- The back door was wide open.

- Yeah, the back gate was open as well.

- So whoever it was, well,

they didn't wanna be seen at the front door,

or be seen by Poppy,

at least. - Okay, Roe,

I know you're suggesting premeditation

but I can't be discussing theories with you.

- Or they could've tried the front door first,

found that it was locked, went around to the back.

Sally found something on the front step.

- Um, yeah.

Yeah, I did.

[gentle suspenseful music]

- An empty envelope. That's it?

- [Sally] Mm-hmm.

- It's empty?

'Cause I'm sure that you saw something in it.

- [Sally] Mm-mm.

- [Officer Heard] Excuse me, Detective.

Found this woman approaching the house.

- Poppy asked me to drop off these supplies

for our next project.

Saw the cop cars.

It can't be true.

- I'm so sorry.

[Cara crying]

- I mean, I just spoke to her on the phone

a couple of hours ago.

- Listen, I'm sorry, but I need to ask,

what time did you speak with Poppy?

- Um, I was getting ready for work.

The four to eight shift at the Yarn Emporium.

So, um,

like, 3:30?

- Well if you used your cell phone

it would list the time of the call.

- Um, I'll check.

- And who called who?

Did Poppy call you?

- Yeah, [crying] at 3:31.

It's the last time I'm ever gonna talk to her.

- What did she wanna talk about?

- Okay, Roe, Sally,

I've got everything I need from you two.

- Well, she hasn't answered my question yet.

- Roe, you're not wearing a badge.

You can't be interviewing witnesses at a crime scene,

you know that.

- Well, I should probably tell Dustin what's happened.

- No you shouldn't, Sally.

We'll, we'll take care of that.

- [Aurora] Poppy's dad will have to be told too.

- Roe, we got this. Thank you.

- Oh, Arthur, Arthur, um, about Dustin-

- It's been a long night.

We'll talk tomorrow. Tomorrow.

[gentle contemplative music]

- [Aurora] You know, earlier today Poppy told me

that she and Dustin had an argument last night.

- Oh, great.

That means he could be a suspect now too.

- What do you mean, "Too"?

[Sally sighs]

[Aurora gasps]

- I knew it.

Sally, you found something in that envelope

that was on the front step, didn't you?

What was it?

- I can't tell you unless you promise not to tell Arthur,

at least not until I've had a chance to talk

to the person.

I just need one day. Please?

- Okay, yeah.

One day. Yeah.

"Elizabeth Allison Rankart."

- It's a wedding dress label.

Poppy embroidered it.

She gave it to Lizzy at her bridal shower.

- Well why would it be at the scene of the crime?

- Oh, probably some silly reason

like Lizzy didn't wanna be friends with Poppy anymore.

- Sally?

- Look, if she killed Poppy,

do you really think she'd leave a calling card

right there on the front step?

- Well, she could've dropped it without knowing it.

There's more isn't there?

[gentle melancholy music]

It's Bubba with Poppy. Oh.

Well it's just a hug.

It's a close one but,

but it's just a hug.

Oh no, there's more?

"Stay away from my fiance or else!"

Sally, we have to get this to Arthur right away.

Lizzy threatened Poppy.

And at least she thought she had a reason to hurt her.

- But we don't know that Poppy saw any of this.

I mean, it was lying on the ground, Roe.

Maybe, maybe Lizzy was going to confront Poppy

and then chickened out,

and just left it there for her to find.

I have to at least ask her

before I turn all this over to Arthur.

She's my family, Roe.

- Well ask her soon.

I mean, hopefully Lizzy's just bluffing.

And find out who took the photographs.

- I will.

[Sally sighs]

Poor Poppy.

- It's awful.

We have to figure out who could have done this.

[suspenseful music]

Which means we have to find out what Poppy

and Dustin were arguing about yesterday.

[suspenseful music]

[gentle melancholy music]

- I'm going to touch base with Arthur.

- I just talked to Poppy's father.

He is just beside himself.

Said he's gonna start driving down tonight.

I told him, "Why don't you just take some time

and catch your breath?"

But, well maybe Nicole will drive.

- Nicole? Oh, his new wife.

- Yeah. Ah, well.

I'm gonna go home and make sure the guest room's ready.

Bye, darling.

[suspenseful music]

- Hey, Jason.

How would you like some practice

being a private investigator?

- Yeah, you know I'm game.

- Good, because somebody needs

to keep an eye on Lizzy Allison.

[gentle uneasy music]

[uneasy music]

- What, no goodnight kiss for your fiance?

[door bangs]

- I didn't mean for you to do a full write-up.

You found the body, you're a witness, so.

- Oh good.

I didn't wanna have to do the reporting on this one.

- It is a little close to home.

Why don't you send me what you wrote

and I'll write the story,

and then we'll print it on my byline.

- Okay.

Macon, you know how the victim's significant other

is usually first on the list of suspects?

We don't have to worry about that with Dustin, right?

I mean, you took him to that really long lunch

this afternoon.

- I did.

He left before the food even got to the table.

[suspenseful music]

[gentle contemplative music]

- All right, I put clean towels in the...

Mother, are you all right?

- I was just,

I was remembering Poppy

running around here as a little girl.

And she was,

she was so full of life and always laughing, and...

- Oh, I'll get it. [Marv knocking]

Hi, come in.

- Oh, Marv.

You drove all night, didn't you?

I am sorry.

I am so, so sorry.

- Hi, you must be Nicole.

- Yes, and you're Aurora, of course,

though I thought we'd met at our wedding.

- No, sorry. I wasn't there.

- Oh, well you missed quite a party. [chuckles]

- [Marv] My dear girl.

- Marv. Oh, my heart is just broken.

- Well, Poppy always looked up to you like a big sister.

- Let me help you get your bags.

- Oh no, I told Marv, we couldn't possibly impose.

We'll stay

at a hotel. - Oh, you'll do no such thing.

No, you are gonna stay here

so we can make sure you get

all the love and support you need.

- [Aurora] I'll get the bags.

- Okay.

- Oh, Arthur.

- Hey, Roe, uh, I was told

that Poppy's dad was on his way here.

- Yeah, he's here.

But before you talk to him,

you should know that Poppy and her boyfriend Dustin,

they had an argument the night before she was killed.

- What? [groans]

Why didn't you tell me that before I interviewed him?

- Because you shut the door in my face.

- That's because you

were trying to take over my crime scene.

Now, can I come inside and do my job please?

- Of course.

- Thank you.

[gentle contemplative music]

I thank you for speaking with me.

I, I know this is very difficult

and you've got my deepest sympathies.

- We'd be grateful for anything you

can do to help us understand what happened to our Poppy.

- Well, the coroner says Poppy

died sometime between 3:45 and 4:30 yesterday.

- But how?

I, I can't make my mind believe it was murder.

- We'll know more after a full autopsy,

but the coroner found a stab wound in Poppy's abdomen.

It was caused by some sort of serrated blade.

[Arthur sighs]

I'm sorry, but I'm gonna need

to ask you some hard questions,

like whether you knew of anyone

who might've wished Poppy harm.

- No, no one.

- Everyone loved Poppy.

- Well, obviously not everyone.

[uneasy music]

What? I'm sorry.

I don't know what good it does now to pretend

that Poppy didn't rub some people the wrong way.

- And I don't know what good

it does to be so lacking in tact.

[uneasy music]

- Uh, does anyone need any cream or sugar for their coffee?

[Aida sighs]

- I just assumed that it was a robbery gone awry,

a stranger broke in and was surprised

to find Poppy at home perhaps.

- Well, that's possible,

but from what we can tell,

she opened her back door to her attacker.

- That means it was probably someone she knew.

- I'm sorry.

Marv knows how much I adored Poppy

and how upset I am that she was killed,

but you asked and the truth is,

Poppy could act like she was the center of the universe.

And if you ask me,

maybe she just pushed the wrong person too far.

[ominous music]

[gentle suspenseful music]

[phone beeps]

[phone ringing]

- [Aurora] Hi, Jason.

- Hey, so, uh,

I've been keeping an eye on Sally's cousin.

She didn't go anywhere all night.

And Sally just got here.

- Well, keep an eye on the situation

as long as you can.

I have to go to my mother's today.

People will be coming over to pay

their respects to Poppy's dad.

[Aurora groans]

It's gonna be such a sad day.

- Yeah, maybe you can figure out who's been

feeling hostile towards Poppy lately.

- Oh, well I already know one person

who doesn't seem to have liked her very much,

her stepmother.

[uneasy music]

- Lizzy, Poppy gave this to you.

What was it doing on her porch? Lizzy?

- Okay, yes.

I took that to Poppy's yesterday.

I just wanted her to know that it's not fair

for her to monopolize my fiance's time

while we're trying to plan our wedding.

Do you know that Bubba was at her house

until 10 o'clock the other night?

- Okay, you don't really think

that Poppy was involved with Bubba, do you?

- Well, I didn't wanna think that,

but [sighs] Bubba is just so irresistible.

- If you say so.

- And poppy could be so flirty.

- Well, you know that jealousy

is considered a strong motive for murder, right?

[Lizzy sighs]

Where did she get the photos from?

- I hired a private investigator.

He took these.

- All it shows is Bubba and Poppy hugging.

- Well, pretty intimately if you ask me.

[Sally sighs]

- Are there any more photos?

- No, I stopped working with the PI

after he took these.

Look, Bubba was there way too often.

- He was Poppy's lawyer, Lizzy.

And now you've gone in placed yourself

at the scene of the crime,

with a threatening note, no less.

- Well, how was I supposed to know

that it was gonna be a crime scene?

[Sally sighs]

- Okay, why was the envelope

and all the stuff in it just lying on the porch anyway?

Lizzy, tell me you didn't get into a fight

with her.

- Well, I wouldn't call it a fight exactly.

[Sally sighs]

I went over to Poppy's to put the envelope in her door.

I didn't know she was home.

She must've seen me coming because she opened the door.

It surprised me.

I froze.

And then I yelled at her to stay away from Bubba.

She said she didn't know what I was talking about.

And she slammed the door.

- So you didn't give her the envelope?

- No, I was furious.

I threw it and it must've landed on the porch,

but I don't know

because I was already on my way back to my car.

That's it. I swear.

I saw her for five seconds.

[gentle uneasy music]

You believe me, don't you?

- Lizzy, of course I do.

But you do know

that I have to give all this to the police

and tell them where I found it.

[gentle uneasy music]

- Go ahead.

I know that I didn't do anything wrong.

[gentle suspenseful music]

- I, I think your mother's a little put out with my wife.

- Oh, that's just because she doesn't know her well.

None of us do.

So what brought you two together?

- A lot of things actually.

One of the things I really like about Nicole

is that she tends to speak her mind.

[Aurora chuckles]

- That I've seen.

[Marv chuckles]

Did she in Poppy get along well?

- Oh, they butted heads a bit.

I mean, Poppy also tended to speak her mind,

just a little louder,

- So they clashed.

- Sometimes.

We, uh, we had planned to visit for next month.

We were gonna stay with Poppy.

I thought it would be a good chance for Poppy

and Nicole to maybe, um, find some common ground.

[Marv sighs]

That chance is gone.

[gentle melancholy music]

You spent a lot of time with Poppy lately.

Would you say she was happy?

- Yeah, I would.

Yeah, she was very excited about her new book

coming out and,

and her YouTube channel growing.

And I think she was having a lot of fun with Dustin.

- Who's Dustin?

- Her boyfriend, of the last three months.

She didn't tell you?

- Not a word.

[gentle uneasy music]

[gentle playful music]

- Jason, what are you doing here?

- Uh, how'd you spot me?

Thought I was being covert.

- I know your car.

What are you doing here?

- Roe asked me to keep an eye on your cousin.

She thinks she might be a suspect

in the Poppy Wilson murder.

[Sally groans]

- I suppose she will be,

which is why I'm heading over to Bubba's office

to ask him directly if he had any interest in Poppy,

outside of being a client.

Then I have to go see Arthur.

- Well, you shouldn't have to do that alone.

I'll follow you.

[engine revs]

[knuckles tapping]

- Dustin, hi. - Hi.

- [Aurora] Come in.

- Thanks.

Uh, this is so surreal.

I still can't believe that she's gone.

- I am so sorry for your loss.

You two had grown pretty close, huh?

- Yeah, I mean,

we hadn't been dating that long,

but it was just one of those instant connections, you know?

- Yeah.

- Hey is that, is that here dad there?

- Mm-hmm.

- Can you introduce me?

- [Aurora] Sure.

Oh, but can I ask you a question first?

Um, Poppy told me that the two of you

had an argument the night before she was killed.

- An argument?

That's what she called it?

- I'm sure that Detective Smith

will ask you what it was about.

- I already talked to Detective Smith last night

and he didn't say anything.

- I told him this morning.

He was here.

- Well, I don't know why she would say that.

We didn't argue.

We never argued, that's the thing.

- All couples fight once in a while.

- No, not when the guy's so in love with the girl

that he always gives her exactly what she wants.

[suspenseful music]

Mr. Wilson?

- Yeah?

- Hi, I'm Dustin.

- I'm Marv. - Hi.

- This is, uh, Nicole.

- Oh, Arthur!

I didn't expect to see you here.

- And yet I am not at all surprised to see you here,

but we're, uh, pretty much done.

- Wha, uh, why?

- Well the good detective here beat a path to my door

when his associates found my fingerprints

all over Poppy's kitchen.

I was there earlier in the week

to go over some details of their book contract.

I'm sure Cara will confirm it.

- Well, it does mean you weren't there yesterday afternoon?

- Well, young man, you have a point.

As I also told Arthur, I was in court all day working

through a probate case with Judge Henderson.

- That sounds like a solid alibi.

- Yes it does.

- Now, if it's all right with you,

I'd like to pay my respects to Marv Wilson.

- Okay, look.

I know what you guys are doing.

I know as Real Murders Club members,

you and Roe are gonna do everything

you can to try and solve Poppy's murder.

- Okay, you're Real Murders too.

- [sighs] No, I'm not. Not right now.

With Lynn on maternity leave, I'm the Acting Chief,

and I promised her that I would do things her way.

So please, guys,

give us some distance, okay?

Let us get the job done.

Oh, and if you do come across any information,

I want your word that you will share it with me.

- I have no problem with that. You?

- [Arthur] Sally?

- Okay, the envelope I found on Poppy's porch last night,

it wasn't empty.

- It wa, uh...

- Um, uh, Poppy made the label

for my cousin, Lizzy, for her wedding dress.

The photos were taken by a private eye.

And the note,

well, Lizzy just told me

that she confronted Poppy yesterday

because she thought Poppy was having an affair with Bubba.

- Hang on, you,

you held back evidence in a murder?

- I know it was wrong.

I am sorry, Arthur.

It's just that she's family.

I had to talk to her first.

- Wow, I, I mean,

I, I could arrest you for obstruction.

I should arrest you for obstruction,

but I'll have to deal with that later.

Right now, I need to go talk to Lizzy

and I'll have to talk to Bubba again, I...

- I hate it when Arthur is mad at me.

- I threw the envelope toward the porch

and went back to my car.

Look, it was just a silly act of jealousy,

that's all.

- And what time was this?

- Um, I got off work a little bit late,

so quarter to four.

- And you just turned and got in your car?

Your note threatened her.

Are you sure you didn't go around the back

and try to talk to her again?

- No, I got in my car and I drove away.

And Poppy was very much alive when I left,

I promise you.

You know, I, I should really be at Aida's

paying respect to the Wilson's.

- Why were you late for the awards dinner?

- Um, oh, oh, [chuckles]

I spilled tea on my dress

as I was getting ready to leave the house

for the dinner.

So I had to go get changed.

- Right, and no one else was here

with you at the time?

- No, but-

- Do own a set of steak knives, Lizzy?

- Well yes, I keep them on my counter.

[gentle uneasy music]

Um, [clears throat] why do you ask?

- The coroner says,

"The wound that killed Poppy

was caused by a serrated blade four inches long,"

exactly the length of a serrated steak knife.

[gentle suspenseful music]

- Well, um...

I don't know where my set is.

[Arthur sighs]

- You need to call your lawyer, Lizzy,

'cause I'm taking you in for formal questioning.

- Just seems as Poppy's lawyer,

I'd know if someone had issue with her.

- We're all searching our mind for some clue

as to who would do such a thing.

- Yeah.

- Wow, you have a lotta nerve coming here.

- I don't know what you're talking about.

- Really? Please.

Poppy was my best friend,

you don't think she told me everything?

If you're hoping Poppy forgave you before she died,

you can stop

because she didn't.

[suspenseful music]

- Cara, are you okay?

- Yeah, I'm just upset.

I mean, I not only lost Poppy,

but I lost everything

we worked so hard for together.

I just don't understand why this is happening.

- Well, I wanna understand too.

[plate crashes]

- Oh! - Oh!

I'm so sorry. - No, no, no.

No worries. [Bubba groaning]

It's okay.

- Here, no, no. - Oh my gosh.

[Bubba groans]

Thank you.

- Sorry, sorry. - Be careful. Be careful.

[gentle melancholy music]

- Cara, I, I'm sorry, but I overheard you say

that Poppy hadn't forgiven Nicole.

May I ask what that was about?

- Um, well, Poppy told me

that Nicole asked Marv to change his will

to make Nicole the sole beneficiary.

And of course, Marv said, "No,"

but now that Poppy's gone,

I, I shouldn't have said anything to Nicole.

I'm sure she's just as upset as I am that Poppy's gone.

- We'll all miss Poppy so much.

Cara, did Poppy say anything to you

about her and Dustin having a fight

the night before she died?

- Oh, um, no,

but it's like I told that detective,

when I talked to Poppy yesterday,

she was trying to figure out how

to get out of going to the awards dinner.

- Did she say why?

- No. I'm sorry.

I have to go.

[Dustin clears throat]

- [Cara] Oh, sorry.

- [Sally] Sorry. Hi, Dustin.

- Hi.

- Hey.

- Oh, there you are.

Ah, I would like an explanation please.

- What are you talking about?

- You sent Jason to keep an eye on Lizzy?

Why would you do that without telling me?

- Because I was worried about the contents of the envelope.

You have to admit,

it makes Lizzy look suspicious.

- Lizzy would never have anything to do with a murder.

I gave the envelope and everything in it to Arthur,

so I'm sure he's figured that out by now.

- Sally, good, you're here.

I need you to come down to the police station with me.

- Uh, uh, why?

- Arthur hauled Lizzy in for questioning.

He's calling her, "A person of interest."

[contemplative music]

- Yeah, I'm going with you.

- Lizzy loses track of her knife set,

and now she's sitting in an interrogation room

scared out of her wits?

- Okay, first she was at the scene of the crime

in the time window of the murder.

- No, she was outside the scene.

- Yes, having angry words with the victim.

And as for the missing knife set,

like I told Lizzy,

the coroner says that the stab wound

that killed Poppy was caused

by a serrated blade, four inches long.

- But you don't actually have a knife,

and no physical evidence.

- Do you, Arthur?

Lizzy's prints or anything

that places her inside Poppy's condo?

- We'll know soon enough.

- Well, I'm representing her

and I wanna see her right now.

- Be my guest.

- Do you really think that Lizzy

could do this to Poppy, Arthur?

- Okay, you know what?

I, I'm not gonna answer that.

- What about Dustin, her boyfriend?

- Yes, I'm pretty sure he was out of the office

the entire afternoon that Poppy was killed.

- Yes, I know that.

We're looking at all the possibilities right now,

following every lead.

That's what police detectives do,

which neither of you are.

So guys, please just let me get back to work.

[gentle contemplative music]

[Arthur sighs]

- I know in my heart Lizzy couldn't have done this, Roe.

- Well we may not be detectives,

that doesn't mean we can't solve this crime.

- Marv, you're exhausted.

Let's get you upstairs so you can get some sleep.

- Marv, it's been such a long day.

You need your rest.

- Not that closing my eyes will make it all go away,

but I'll come up.

Good night.

And, uh- - Good night.

- Thank you for everything you've done, both of you.

- Oh, well I wish it were more.

- Good night.

- Good night.

- Oh, Nicole, you dropped something.

- Oh?

- Looks like a gas receipt.

- No, it's not mine.

- Oh, okay.

Good night.

- Good night.

[gentle suspenseful music]

[ominous music]

[Aida sighs]

[uneasy music]

- What? Aurora!

- What? What!

[ominous music]

What? What? [Aida gasping]

- Somebody broke into the house.

[dark ominous music]

[gentle contemplative music]

Well nothing's been taken,

as far as I can tell.

I [chuckling] don't know why someone

would break in just to knock over a trash can.

- Well, something woke me a little after midnight.

I, I, I thought I heard footsteps upstairs.

- Yeah, but honey,

I don't think that's what you heard

because I got up and looked, remember?

- [Arthur] Were either of you two

up walking around after midnight?

- No, but,

but the idea that someone was walking around my house

in the middle of the night after,

after what happened to Poppy...

- Oh, I can't imagine one has anything to do with the other.

- I can't imagine that they're not connected.

- Okay, well, we'll see if we come up with some prints

and I'll get back to you, okay?

- Yeah.

[soft contemplative music]

- Hey, Arthur.

Arthur wait.

I don't know if Cara told you,

but Nicole tried to get Marv to change his will

so she would become the sole beneficiary.

- Yeah, she did mention something to that effect.

- So is Nicole on your suspect list?

- Roe, I'm not discussing my suspect list.

Besides, she lives hours away.

- Yeah, but doesn't mean that she

couldn't have hired someone to get rid

of Poppy and come after Marv.

I mean, maybe that's why someone broke in here last night,

except Marv thwarted the plan by waking up.

[Arthur chuckling]

- You think that she hired someone to kill her husband

while she was lying right next to him?

- Look, Marv Wilson is a very wealthy man.

And with Poppy gone,

Nicole stands to inherit a very large fortune

once Marv dies.

- Okay, it's official.

You read too many mysteries.

- No, actually I study a lot of true crime.

Do you remember the first year at Real Murders,

we covered the Jacobson case?

A man made a jailhouse confession 20 years

after Ted Jacobson hired him to kill his wife

while he ate a turkey sandwich downstairs.

- That's right, Jacobson didn't do a day

of time for that, did he?

- So is Nicole on your list?

[Arthur sighs]

- You don't give up, do you?

- Well, she's definitely on mine.

- Mm-hmm.

[gentle contemplative music]

- I know our next Real Murders meeting

isn't for another couple of weeks,

so I appreciate you all coming down here.

I can't think of a better way to use our common interest

than to try to solve the murder

of someone who meant so much to us.

- We all want to help.

It's the right thing to do.

- Thank you, Larry.

And yes, it is.

Okay, so I emailed all of you a summary

of what we know so far before the meeting.

Let's talk about suspects.

Number one, Nicole Wilson.

Nicole didn't get along with Poppy.

And according to Cara,

tried to cut Poppy out of Marv's will,

so she has a motive.

- But how much money does old Marv have anyway?

- Oh, a lot,

like, at least eight figures.

[Jason whistles]

- But there's no real evidence that points to her.

- No, not yet.

All of the evidence so far

points to number two, Lizzy Allison.

Now Lizzy admits to being jealous of Poppy,

said she confronted her,

and she was at the scene of the crime

during the window of time the murder occurred.

- Uh, she was outside the scene.

- Well, there's also the missing knife set.

- Yeah, which Lizzy swore

was in her kitchen the day before.

She has no idea where it went.

- Who does she think made it go away?

- Who has access to Lizzy's kitchen?

- Well, that would be her fiance,

number three, Bubba Rankart.

Now, Bubba's fingerprints are all over Poppy's house.

- He explained that.

- But why would he want to kill her?

- Yeah, I mean, what's his motive?

Why would he wanna kill his own client?

- Well, if Lizzy was worried

he was seeing Poppy on the sly.

- Yeah, but he wasn't.

- Well, suppose he was.

And suppose Poppy threatened to tell Lizzy

about it a month before the wedding.

- There's your motive.

- But he was in Judge Henderson's courtroom all afternoon.

- I know the judge.

I'll find out if that alibi really is airtight.

- Good. That brings us to number four, Dustin Sykes.

[chalk tapping]

Poppy said she and Dustin had a fight,

but Dustin denied it.

And Cara said that she

didn't wanna go to the awards dinner.

- Yet Dustin said that she'd agreed to meet him there.

- Wait, you said he didn't go back into work that day.

- So if he wasn't at work-

- Then he could have gone

to pick up Poppy for dinner after all.

And she could have told him she didn't wanna go.

He could've gotten angry.

They could've fought again.

- Ugh, this is horrible.

- Well, see if you can rule Dustin out.

Find out what he was doing that afternoon.

Maybe he has another alibi besides work.

And Jason, you come with me and we'll go talk to Cara,

see if Poppy told her anything else about Dustin,

or Bubba, or Nicole.

- My money's on the stepmother.

- Well, if it is her,

that would explain the break-in at my mother's last night.

- I know the Jacobson case,

but why would Nicole wanna have Marv

killed so soon after Poppy died?

- Yeah, doesn't that just make her look more suspicious?

- Well, not if she were clever enough to cover her tracks.

[Aurora gasps]

The gas receipt!

I forgot to tell you about the receipt I found.

So I found this on the living room floor

of my mother's house.

It's a receipt to a gas station

right around the corner from Poppy's condo,

date and timestamped within the timeframe

that Poppy was killed, 3:53.

- So you think Nicole dropped it?

- Well she could have, but she denied it.

Or Dustin Sykes or Bubba Rankart.

They were all at the reception yesterday.

Jason, you go talk to Cara.

I'm gonna go to this gas station

and find out who bought this gas.

And if anyone else has any other insights,

please call me right away.

Okay, thank you all for coming.

[gentle contemplative music]

- Oh, see this right here?

It means it was paid at the pump.

We don't pay attention to people who do that,

not unless they ask for help.

- Okay.

[gentle contemplative music]

Hey, do these security cameras work?

I, I mean, if the police came and asked for the footage,

would they be able to get it?

- Oh sure.

Yeah, we had a couple of robberies this last year,

so the owner makes sure they're working.

[phone chiming]

- Thanks. Hello, Mother.

- Hi, honey.

Marv got a call telling him

that he's allowed to go into Poppy's condo now.

He needs to get some of her clothes to take to the mortuary.

The idea of going there is just too much for him,

so I told him I'd see if you

could go and pick out an outfit for her?

- Oh, sure.

Yeah. I can do that.

I just have to stop at the police station first.

I have to give Arthur

something. - Okay, thank you.

[gentle melancholy music]

[phone beeps]

- Maisie, do you know where Dustin is?

- No.

- Why is he always gone lately?

- Well, if you ask me,

he should take some time off.

That poor man is heartbroken over Poppy.

- Is he?

- Sally, I just got a tip from my contact

at the coroner's office.

They're saying that due to the angle of the wounds,

that Poppy Wilson's killer is probably left-handed.

- Lizzy's definitely not a lefty.

Oh, but I've bumped elbows with Dustin

at the conference table enough times

to know that he's a lefty.

[gentle uneasy music]

- Wild.

- Hi, can I help you with something?

- Yeah, I've got a ton of questions.

- About yarn?

- Not exactly.

[Aurora sighs]

[door bangs]

[suspenseful music]

[floor creaking]

Somebody here?

[floor creaking] [ominous music]

[Aurora shrieks]

[Aurora thuds]

[energetic suspenseful music]

Two break-ins in two days, Arthur?

First at my mother's and now one here.

- Well, I can't see any signs this person broke in.

Are you sure the front door was locked?

- Yeah, positive.

Which means whoever it was probably had a key.

- Well, who would've had a key to Poppy's place?

- Her lawyer maybe?

- No, no Bubba was definitely not just here.

I've already got a tail on him and Lizzy.

- What about Dustin Sykes?

I mean, they were dating.

Maybe Poppy gave him a key.

I can call Sally and see if he's still at work.

- Oh, I wish you woulda got a better look at him.

- Well, the last thing I was expecting

was for someone to jump out of the closet.

Do you think it was the killer?

Or do you think someone killed Poppy

because she had something hidden here?

[Arthur sighs]

- I don't- [phone beeps]

- [Sally] This is Sally.

- Hey, it's me.

I need to know if Dustin is at work right now.

- No, he's been out all afternoon

and he didn't tell anyone he was leaving.

Why do you ask?

- Because I just caught someone searching Poppy's bedroom.

I mean, I didn't see who it was,

but I just saw him running.

Uh, Sally said that Dustin is not at work.

- Oh, are you with Arthur?

Okay, we got a tip the coroner thinks

the killer was left-handed.

Tell Arthur that Dustin is left-handed.

[ominous music]

[gentle contemplative music]

- Hey, you wanted to see me?

- Yeah, uh, Cara has something to tell you

about Dustin Sykes.

- Right this way.

- I should've said something that first night.

I just, I didn't.

[Cara sighs]

I believed that Dustin was truly in love with Poppy.

I mean, it just never occurred to me that he could hurt her.

- But it's occurred to you now?

- No. I don't know.

All I know is that I was in her kitchen

when he came over the night before she died.

I mean, he didn't know I was there.

He, he, he rushed in all excited

and then all of a sudden he was down on one knee

asking her to marry him.

He had this big fat ring and-

- And?

- Well, she turned him down.

Well they'd only been dating for three months.

She said she was sorry, she wasn't ready,

And then she said she wasn't sure

she was even in love with him at all.

- Well why? Why do you think she wasn't sure?

- I don't know.

I mean, she said, "He was too needy."

- And how did he react to all this?

- Well he didn't say much but,

I mean, I got the impression he was humiliated

and then he left in a hurry.

- You know, when I asked him how serious

the relationship was he said, "Not very."

- Sounds like he was lying.

- Do you know, uh, if he left the ring

there at Poppy's or if he took it with him?

- Um, no, I don't.

I don't know. I didn't ask.

I mean, I was just so embarrassed for him.

- Maybe that's what he was looking

for today, the ring.

I, I need to get an APB out on him.

[suspenseful music]

- Wait, will they arrest him because of what I just said?

- Oh, if they do arrest him,

it won't be just because of that.

- Because I really don't think he could hurt her.

He loved her.

- Hey, do you wanna get some coffee or something?

- I'd like that.

[gentle peaceful music]

[gentle uneasy music]

- What are you doing?

- Oh! Dustin, there you are.

- You're searching my desk?

- I didn't feel good about it.

I was just trying to figure out where you went.

Macon was asking for you.

Where have you been?

- I've been sitting in my car.

The woman I love just died,

so I sit in my car

and I think about her.

- What about her condo?

Do you ever go there and think about her,

like, maybe this afternoon?

- Why would you say that, Sally?

- Um-

- Mr. Sykes, I'm gonna need you to come with me.

[door clicks]

[gentle melancholy music]

- I really appreciate your picking

up some things from Poppy's closet.

- Oh, I'm happy to help.

- Well, I guess we should get going into the mortuary.

- Yeah.

- Oh, let me, uh,

give you the key to Poppy's condo

in case you need

anything else. - That's okay, um,

I've got the key that Poppy gave me.

[keys jangling]

Well, at least I did.

[gentle uneasy music]

Thanks.

- Uh, Nicole?

Can I, uh, talk to you for a second?

- I'll just get the car.

- [Nicole] Okay.

[door clicks]

- You have mud on your shoes like I did earlier.

And I bet if I open up your purse, you would have that key.

You were the one I chased out of Poppy's condo today.

[Nicole sighs]

- So that was you?

[Nicole sighs]

I thought the murderer was returning

to the scene of the crime.

- You were looking for something?

- Yes, photos of Poppy.

I'm making Marv a collage,

but sh, don't tell him.

I want it to be a surprise. Bye.

[gentle uneasy music]

- It was Nicole.

She was the one searching Poppy's bedroom today.

- You're kidding.

I was sure it was Dustin.

Well, I'm glad it's not him, but-

- Are you sure about that?

- Yes, Roe, I'm sure I don't wanna be working

10 yards away from a potential killer.

Did Nicole tell you why?

- Oh, she gave me some excuse that I don't buy for a second.

No, there was something she wanted in that condo very badly.

- Oh, please don't say what I think you're gonna say.

- Oh yeah, first thing tomorrow

we're going over there to find it.

[gentle uneasy music]

- Looks like the attorney is here.

- Yeah.

- Gentlemen. I hope you haven't said anything?

- No, no, no.

Your client has been doing his best

quiet as a mouse impression.

But I have a lot of questions.

- Yeah, which he is not going to answer.

Dustin, you ready to go?

- Oh, why wouldn't you wanna cooperate?

I assume you want your girlfriend's killer found?

- I assume you would just love to cast him in that role.

And why should he help you build a case against him?

- Well, if he's innocent,

then he's got nothing to worry about.

- Well, unless you've got a good reason

to keep my client here,

I'm afraid you're gonna have to let him go.

- Did you ask Poppy to marry you?

[gentle uneasy music]

- [Attorney] They don't have a thing. Let's go.

- Yeah, well the judge might not agree

when I ask for that warrant.

His prints were all over the condo.

- Yeah, where he visited frequently.

- And the alibi he gave for the time of the murder,

it doesn't hold up,

so he should definitely be talking to me.

- We'll give that some thought.

Have a nice day.

[gentle contemplative music]

[Arthur sighs]

- There's some pie in the fridge

if either of you would like some.

- No thanks. [door clatters]

[Marv gasps]

[Aurora sighs]

[gentle uneasy music]

- It's just a neighbor closing a gate.

[Aida chuckles]

- We're all a little jumpy.

Wondering if the,

the person who showed up last night

is coming back.

- Well Arthur said he's sending a patrol car

by every hour or two for the next few days.

- [Aida] Well, that's a relief.

- Yes it is.

Oh, Marv, let's turn in for the night.

It's been a rough day.

- Yeah. Good night, you two.

- Oh, goodnight. - Thank you for dinner.

- Good night.

- You're doing it again.

Giving Nicole the suspicious eye.

- Oh, Mother,

I know that you're willing to buy Nicole's excuse

about being at Poppy's condo today-

- Oh, I am not Nicole's biggest fan.

But I see no reason not to give her

the benefit of the doubt.

- Didn't you notice that she

was the only one not jumpy tonight,

not worried or afraid of another intruder?

Probably because she planned the first one.

- Aurora, you know I don't approve of your getting involved

with solving these crimes.

- Mother, the victim was someone we knew very well.

- I realize that,

but how many other undeserving people

have gotten tangled up in your net of suspicion?

- That's how it works.

Every case that I've studied,

the investigator finds the truth through skepticism,

through resisting the urge

to give people the benefit of the doubt.

- You're not an investigator.

You're a librarian.

And, and what is all this skepticism doing to you,

to your relationships with other people,

with the world?

- Well, Mother,

I know that you're worried about me.

But what we should be worried about right now

is that we may be harboring

the very person that killed Poppy.

[gentle uneasy music]

Just promise me that you will lock

your bedroom door tonight.

So basically,

my mother had said I'm too suspicious,

that I don't have a healthy relationship with the world.

I think I have a very healthy relationship with the world.

- If you say so.

- I mean, skepticism isn't unhealthy.

It's skepticism keeps you safe.

- Oh wow.

Poppy made some pretty hefty deposits

into her bank account in the past few months.

Her business must've been taking off big time.

- Really? Who do you think inherits that money?

Must be her dad, right?

- I think so.

- Well, we have to find out,

'cause if Poppy's money goes to Marv,

and Marv's money goes to Nicole...

You know, we have opened up every drawer in this room.

There are no false bottoms.

There's nothing taped underneath.

I don't think we're gonna find

whatever it is Nicole

was looking for. [cushion crinkles]

[gentle uneasy music]

This cushion crinkled.

There's something in the cushion.

[gentle contemplative music]

- Oh, it's a letter from Nicole to Poppy.

Not a very nice letter.

- This one's almost threatening.

- Why would she hide these?

- For safekeeping?

Marv told me that me that he and Nicole

were gonna be staying with Poppy

for a visit next month.

Maybe she was gonna use these to blackmail Nicole,

show her father eventually?

- Oh, I don't know.

But I do think you should probably call Arthur.

- I will.

But now I'm even more worried that Nicole

could've hired someone to take out Poppy,

except she opened the door to whoever killed her.

What I do know is Nicole didn't like Poppy

and had a reason to get rid of her.

Marv could be next.

- Marv, who's staying with you and Aida?

Roe, do you know what that means?

- Yeah, my mother and I could be in danger too.

[gentle uneasy music]

- "You grew up spoiled

and if only spoiled further, as far as I can tell,

and if you continue to undermine me with your father,

then you leave me no choice but to fight fire with fire."

Okay, I can see why you two

found these letters so concerning.

- I mean, why would Nicole secretly search for them

if they don't implicate her in Poppy's death?

- Uh, maybe she just wanted to find them

before her husband did so he wouldn't be upset

with her for the problem she was having with Poppy.

- Good point.

Still, I'm not ready to give her the benefit of the doubt.

- Especially if she's one that dropped

that receipt you found.

- Exactly.

Arthur, did you get a hold of that security footage

from the gas station for that day?

- Oh yeah, Officer Heard's going over the tapes

right now so that he can...

Okay, wait, uh-uh. [chuckles]

You two are doing it again.

- [Aurora and Sally] Doing what?

- That thing you do where you

try and get me to get me to talk about the case.

- No, no.

We've brought you new evidence in the case.

- We are being good citizens, Arthur.

- And whoever bought that gas,

they were very near Poppy's place

right around the time of the murder.

- Yeah, what she said.

- No, I'm not giving you anything.

[gentle contemplative music]

- Oh, Dustin, you scared me.

- If I ask you something,

will you tell me the truth?

Does everybody here think

that I had some to do with Poppy's murder?

- Well, I think it's obvious the police

consider you a suspect.

If I ask you a question, will you tell the truth?

[gentle uneasy music]

Where were you the afternoon Poppy was killed,

because no one here knows?

- I was at the jeweler.

I was trying to get my money back for a ring

that I tried to give Poppy.

[gentle melancholy music]

I asked her to marry me,

like some overanxious puppy,

and she shot me down.

So now you know.

- Now take the yarn in your right hand,

wrap it around the needle and pull it tight,

keeping tension on the yarn.

Let's see, [chuckling] getting there.

- Jason?

[gentle contemplative music]

- Beautiful, good work. [Roe chuckling]

Into the first stitch.

- So this was what you've been doing lately,

learning to knit?

- Only to find out more about Poppy

and what she was going through.

And, uh, you know.

- Beautiful choice. I love this one.

- You like Cara.

- [Cara] Bye, have a nice day.

- She's pretty awesome. [chuckles]

- Sorry to keep you waiting, Roe.

There's always a ton of questions after a lesson.

- Not a problem.

- Um, so you wanted to talk to me

about my business with Poppy?

- I wanna know what happens to the money from the business.

Does it go to you?

Does it go to-

- Oh, no. Um, 'cause I'm not her, um-

- Beneficiary.

- Right, beneficiary.

Yes, right. That's her dad.

At least, I think.

You'd have to ask Bubba Rankart.

He set up our corporation for us,

wrote up the contracts

for who got which share of the profits.

- Was Marv a partner?

- He gave us the start-up money,

so he has a big stake in the company.

I only got 20%, but still,

we were starting to do really well,

and I had to tell our editor this morning

that there wasn't gonna be a book or any more videos.

- Well, why not keep it going?

You know, do the book yourself or be in the videos.

- Me? [laughs] No.

Poppy was the one that was good at that stuff.

- Well, you could try.

I mean, maybe I could help you.

[gentle contemplative music]

[bell ringing]

- Oh, excuse me.

Hi, can I help you?

[gentle playful music]

- Hey, Romeo.

I'm gonna go to Bubba's office,

see if I can find out more

about what happens to Poppy's

share of the profits in the company.

- But if it all goes to Marv, then-

- Yeah, that could be another strike against Nicole.

- Well, there's still a lot to pin down,

but my money is on Dustin Sykes.

- Oh, Lynn, the mayor just walked in.

Can I call you back?

I, I'll call you back.

How can I help?

- I just got this transcript from Judge Henderson's office

for the day of Poppy Wilson's murder.

- Oh, if you're talking about Bubba's alibi,

I already confirmed court was in session all afternoon.

- Well, according to this,

it wasn't the entire afternoon.

Look here at 3:25,

judge calls a recess so he can dial

into his son's parent-teacher conference.

Court doesn't resume until 4:07.

It's a 42 minute recess.

And Poppy lives what,

maybe 15 minutes from the courthouse?

- Enough time to get there and back.

- Hey, Boss.

I think I found what you're looking

for on the security tape from the gas station.

[gentle solemn music]

Okay here it is, 3:44 pm.

Here's the car.

There's the driver.

- [Terry] It's Bubba Rankart.

- That gas station is nowhere near the courthouse, is it?

- No, it's not,

but it's right around the corner from Poppy's place.

And it's right at the time of the murder.

[suspenseful music]

[gentle somber music]

- Arthur, were you here to see Bubba?

- Yes, and his receptionist said,

"He bolted out the back when he saw us pull up."

- What? Why would Bubba be running away from you?

- You mean away from me and my search warrant.

- What are you searching for in Bubba's office?

- Uh-uh, you know I am not gonna tell you that.

Any sign of Bubba yet?

- No, but we found something.

- Aurora, you need to go, please.

Get those to forensics.

- That was Lizzy's knife set, wasn't it?

There was a knife missing.

- Okay, no.

Again, I cannot tell you that.

- No, Bubba Rankart is not a killer.

- Yeah, well there's a warrant out for his arrest.

- Oh no.

It, it was Bubba who bought

the gas near- - It-

- Poppy's that day- - Okay-

No- - Wasn't it?

- Mm-mm.

[Aurora sighs]

[gentle melancholy music]

[gentle contemplative music]

- Poppy's lawyer?

That's who the police think killed her?

- Aurora said that there's a warrant out for his arrest.

Bubba's my lawyer too, and a very good friend.

I, I just hope this is all some terrible mistake.

- I'd like to go down to the police station,

find out for myself what they know.

- I'll get my purse.

- Look, I'm sorry if it turns out to be a friend,

but I want justice for my daughter.

- Oh, Marv, of course.

No, only the truth matters.

[gentle contemplative music]

Hmm.

- Shocking that a person I thought I knew

could be essentially dark at his core.

- Of course, you're probably not

the least surprised by this,

the way you immerse yourself

in every tale of murder you can find.

- For once, I am surprised.

But I can't shake the feeling

that the wrong person has somehow been cast

in the role of the killer.

- I suppose you think you know the right person?

- I wish I did.

It's all pointing to Bubba right now. Mother!

- Hi, uh, hi, Lillian.

Can I talk to you a minute?

- Yeah, is everything okay?

- So I've been thinking about Bubba,

and I remembered that a few years ago

he asked me to find a garage for him to rent

so that he could store his boat, which I did.

And then he sold the boat.

But it was a four year lease.

He must still have the keys to that garage.

- Do you think he could be there now?

- I was gonna go check on him myself,

but I lost my nerve.

Maybe if you could come with me?

- Wow, Mother, I'd think you'd want Arthur to go.

- I know, but Bubba is a good and loyal friend.

Please, I, I just wanna talk to him first.

- Wow. First, Sally, and now you.

- Okay, let me tell Lillian I'm leaving early.

- Okay.

[gentle contemplative music]

[Aida sighs]

- [Aida] Here, let me. Let me knock.

- Wha? Okay, bossy.

[knuckles banging]

- Bubba it's Aida.

Are you in there?

- Maybe he's not in there after all.

- I don't hear anything.

- Do you wanna wait?

- I don't know if I'm disappointed or relieved.

No, let's just go.

[door clanking]

[suspenseful music]

[gentle contemplative music]

Bubba, why in the world

are you holed up in a place like this?

- You mean besides watching my life go down in flames?

I just, [sighs]

I've been going through my old correspondence

with Poppy and anyone who had dealings with her

just looking for any red flags.

- You know the police are looking for you?

- I know, but I just needed some time

to go through this stuff.

And well, I've been wrestling with my guilt.

- So it's true?

You, you killed Poppy?

- What? No, of course I didn't kill Poppy.

For crying out loud, Aida,

that's not what I feel guilty about.

Why don't you have a seat and I'll tell you everything.

- No, no, I, I, I think I'd rather hear this standing up.

- Look, Lizzy wasn't shy

about being jealous of Poppy,

so I told her to go ahead and talk to her, you know?

Find out there's nothing funny going on between us.

Well, that morning,

Lizzy told me that she planned to go by Poppy's house

after she got off work to talk to her.

And I was fine with that,

but as the day wore on,

I, I just just started to worry.

So when Judge Henderson called the recess,

well, I drove to Poppy's house.

I got there right in time to see Lizzy leaving,

so I thought, you know,

"Great, they must have talked it out."

So I went back to the courthouse.

- And stopped to get gas on the way.

- It wasn't until I heard that Poppy had been killed,

and I saw that Lizzy's steak knife set had a knife missing,

that I thought,

"What if it was Lizzy?"

- Well, did you ask her if she did it?

- Well, it's not all that simple

when you're a month away from getting married.

I mean, I knew most likely it wasn't her,

but can you imagine if she thought

that I even suspected her?

- Yeah, she could get offended and call the wedding off.

- Then you see the problem.

Look, I just wanted some time

to go through all this stuff on my own.

So I took the knife set so the police

wouldn't jump to any hasty conclusions

until I could prove beyond a shadow of a doubt

that Lizzy had nothing to do with Poppy's murder.

And then I realized how guilty that could make me look.

And I thought of other things that can make me look guilty,

like the gas receipt that placed me

right near the scene of the crime,

which I knew was in my pocket before I went to your house

to pay my respects to Marv.

- So you broke into my house?

- I'm so sorry, Aida.

I'll pay for any damage I caused,

just I was just in a state of panic.

And I wasn't thinking clearly.

And I hope you can forgive me.

- No, [chuckling] don't be ridiculous.

No, no harm done.

And clearly you were under stress.

- Thank you.

Well, that's why I'm here.

I'm just trying to get clear.

See if I can come up with any leads

on who really did kill Poppy,

but I swear to you, it wasn't me.

And I really believe it wasn't Lizzy either.

- So do I,

but you have to turn yourself in and trust

that Arthur is gonna figure out what really happened.

[gentle contemplative music]

So Arthur showed up, read him his rights,

and they took him off to the station.

- Wow, I hope Bubba's telling the truth and it's not him.

- Well, I don't know.

You don't run if you're not guilty

unless he spent all night in that garage

trying to figure out if he should take the fall

for his girlfriend or not?

- It's not Lizzy.

- She's not left-handed, but Jason has a point.

If it wasn't Bubba

then we still don't know who-

- Excuse me.

I need to get to the coffee machine

Thank you.

[Dustin clears throat]

- So is anyone still up for coming over

and going through that list again,

see if we missed anything?

- Um, no can do.

I told Cara I'd help her with a video this afternoon.

- Aw, that's sweet.

- Well, I'm up for it.

Just give me a call when you're ready.

- I'd still keep an eye on your cousin, Lizzy,

if I were you.

- Excuse me.

[uneasy music]

- He's the one I'm gonna be keeping my eye on.

[gentle contemplative music]

[gentle playful music]

- Okay.

- Hey. Hi.

Uh, Mother, I'll be back in an hour or so.

- Oh no, no, no.

Stay and watch Cara's video.

- Oh. Well, so this is you've been working on with Cara?

- It's a tribute to Poppy for their YouTube channel.

- I really couldn't have done it without him.

All right, okay.

[poignant music]

- [Aida] Oh.

[Aida sighs]

[Aida chuckles]

♪ I can't help but traveling down ♪

♪ Memory lane

♪ A taste of life of precious

- Like so many who've messaged me,

Poppy's death makes me feel robbed

of a beautiful light in my life,

but it also makes me feel lucky

to have known such a creative talent.

I have a new friend who convinced me today

that Poppy wouldn't want her dream to end.

So I'm gonna carry on with our work.

I am gonna finish our book.

I am gonna make more videos

of all the creative projects and designs

that we were so excited to do together.

Stay tuned.

♪ Goodbye my friend

[Jason sighs]

- Oh, that was lovely, Kara,

well done. - Thank you.

- Ah, thank you.

It does my heart good to know that Poppy's creativity

is going to live on.

- And so will her wonderful designs.

- So you're all right if I upload this video tonight?

- That would be wonderful.

- Okay. Well, um, we should get going.

- Thanks for coming by.

- Bye, thank you.

- It's great seeing you. - Thanks a lot.

Thank you. - Thank you.

- Whew, wow.

[uneasy music]

- Marv, isn't that a different logo

than Poppy's other videos,

the logo from the company she started with you?

- Well, so it is.

- Well, Cara just said

that she's going to continue on her own.

We're okay with that.

- I gotta go.

- [Aida] Wait, what?

[Aida chuckling]

- This is from the coroner's office.

Oh, sorry. Is that Lynn?

- Yeah.

- Hey, Chief.

- Officer Heard says, "Hi."

Anyway, we got a pretty strong case against Bubba.

Of course, he's denying it,

but his prints were at the scene,

he lied about his alibi.

The knife set was hidden in his office.

We've got the photos of him with Poppy,

and we spoke with the P.I. who took them.

The coroner told us before

the stab wound was four inches long,

which is consistent with the length

of the knives in Lizzy's set.

Of course, I'd feel a lot better

if I actually had the knife.

[Arthur sighs]

There is one thing that's bugging me though.

Bubba isn't left-handed.

- But Cara talked like she made the decision today

to continue the business without Poppy,

but she already had her logo made?

- So she's been thinking about it awhile.

- Okay. Here it is.

This is the video that Poppy showed me.

[gentle uneasy music]

See, this logo is different from the one I just saw.

- With another great way you can use embroidery

to make your wardrobe pop.

- [Aurora] I wanna look at Cara more carefully.

Okay, here's the part where Cara

demonstrates what Poppy's saying.

[ominous music]

[Sally gasps]

- Cara's left-handed.

[ominous music]

- We should make a toast to Poppy.

- Yeah, we should.

That would be nice.

- Uh, corkscrew.

- Oh, uh, in that drawer.

[Jason chutting]

Did you find it?

- Weird scissors. [ominous music]

[scissors clang]

- [Poppy] I know Cara uses hers all the time.

[Cara chuckles]

Now what I've done is I've just printed off

a few different patterns from-

- Quick! Look!

It's a serrated blade.

A blade that's about the same length as a steak knife.

I gotta call Jason.

[phone ringing]

- [chuckling] I, I've never seen scissors like this before.

It's like they're serrated.

- Really? Yeah, every seamstress has a pair like that.

[ominous music]

[phone beeping]

- Hey, Roe, I'm at Cara's.

I just found... [bottle thuds]

[Jason thuds]

- Jason!

[bottle clanks]

What's happening? Jason!

[phone beeps]

He's in trouble.

Okay, call Arthur,

tell him that we think Cara's the one that killed Poppy,

and tell him Jason's with her and he's in danger.

- I'll call.

- [Aida] Where are you going?

- I'm only three blocks from Cara's place.

I'll get there faster than the police.

- Okay, well you can't go alone.

- Yes, okay, I understand.

[suspenseful music]

- Oh, excuse me.

Sorry. I'm coming.

Whoosh. I'm coming.

Fully almost fell.

[suspenseful music]

[Jason groaning]

- Thank you. [ominous music]

You have no idea how mad I am at myself right now.

Why did I put those scissors back in the drawer

after I washed them?

After everything was going so well, no one suspected me.

[Jason groans]

That's one good thing

about being a non-entity to most people.

No one thinks you'd do something

so crazy as to kill someone.

My best friend didn't give me credit for anything I did.

Even my own best friend treated me as an afterthought.

She had no problem sucking in all the money

while I did most of the work.

But then I found out how much money that was gonna be.

I had a problem with that.

So I fixed that problem.

[ominous music]

And now, you're a problem I'm gonna have to fix.

[scissors clanging]

[suspenseful music]

Which is too bad 'cause I really did like you.

[ominous music]

[Cara grunts] [ominous music]

[both grunting]

- Jay! Jason! [knuckles banging]

[Jason grunting]

- [Sally] Oh, Roe, be careful.

[both grunting]

[window smashes] [ominous music]

- [Aurora] Cara.

- What do you think you're doing?

- Cara, you have to stop.

- This doesn't concern you.

[both grunting]

[Cara thuds]

- Police! Freeze!

[gun clicking]

Cara, put your hands up.

[Cara whimpering]

You can put the chair down now, Roe.

[chair clanks]

- I think you'll find the murder weapon over there.

- You're under arrest for the murder of Poppy Wilson.

- Jason, you okay?

- Yeah, I'm fine.

- Roe, are you okay?

- Yeah, let's get you to the hospital,

and get your head checked down.

[gentle tense music]

[sweet contemplative music]

- Oof, oh Roe, what have you got in here?

Books or cement?

- [Aurora] What? Hey, you're holding up traffic.

- [Jason] It's fine.

- Whoa, whoa, whoa. There you go.

- You guys, thank you.

I really appreciate your help.

- It's the least we could do. [chuckles]

You helped us out of some pretty hot water.

- You definitely did.

We did find the missing steak knife, by the way.

Yeah, it had just gone under the refrigerator.

- Oh.

- But we have decided to make you

an honorary bridesmaid, Roe.

- Yeah, I told her how much you love wearing

a bridesmaid's dress.

[Lizzy chuckling]

- Oh, If I didn't have to spend so much time

worrying about you I'd,

I'd have more time to tell you

about how proud I am of you.

- Oh, thank you, Mother.

- Mmm.

Was about to say I'll see you at home,

but you're already home aren't you?

- Mm-hmm. - Way to keep up,

old man.

- Oy, I need to get back in the gym.

- You know, I had felt alone when Martin

told me he may not be coming back.

- Oh, Roe.

- But I'm not alone.

- Oh no, you're not.

- I have a great mother, great friends.

I have a job I love,

and a brand new house.

I'm feeling pretty lucky.

[all chuckling]

- Okay.

- Okay. - Let's go.

[sweet contemplative music]