Original subtitles

There was a time when it was believed that the shape of a person's head,

it's dimensions, could tell you if that person was a criminal.

Those theories, now discredited, helped establish the study of crime and of criminals.

Criminology.

Ya know, like all sciences, or maybe I should say, uh, disciplines,

the study of, uh, crime has really changed a lot over the years.

Now, one of the earliest formal methods of studying crime was called phrenology.

And then, of course we've had, uh, fingerprinting for a long time.

Which up 'til then was considered to be the most exact science,

for determining, , uh, who a person was.

But, of course, now we have DNA.

And, that is the exact science for determining who's guilty and who's innocent.

But, in this course, we're not gonna deal so much with the criminalistics,

as we are with the, the psychology, of crime.

Wha, yes?

Can I help you?

- What are you doing?

Oh, I'm, uh, Professor Maxwell.

I'm doin' a class on beginning criminology.

That's fine.

Except, I'm Professor Fulton

and this is my intro biology class.

Biolo, oh, oh, I'm, eh.

Then, uh, this is not Hainy Hall? - No.

- It would help a lot if all these buildings didn't look exactly alike.

- It might.

- First day of the semester.

Things get a little confusing.

- Seems that way.

- Class, I'll tell you,

wha, what we're gonna do.

Is, uh, I'm gonna turn the class over to, uh, Professor Fulton here,

who's gonna lecture you on the fascinating subject of biology.

I mean, where would we be without biology, of course.

Ba, back in the dark ages, probably. Thank you.

Sorry.

You are maybe in the right class room.

Right.

- That was nice.

Think I'll have another!

Oh, you don't disapprove, do you?

- I wouldn't know how.

- Well, it's not like we can't afford it.

Omdicom is the success story of our times.

Or didn't your husband mention it?

You're not that successful Nelson.

- Don't lecture me.

- By all means, have another.

Don't forget, I owe you a dinner.

- Mm, I'm counting the hours.

- Stop by my office tomorrow. I'll give you a news release

on a corporate bond issue I'm getting approved.

- Absolutely.

- And, um, ya know, lobbyist is not a four letter word.

- No. It's eight.

decent of you to show up.

- I am so sorry.

- Ya know, the dinner

is probably an iceberg by now.

- Raymond, I'm, - Everyone thinks you're this girl from the

PR department on the make.

They don't know you're willing to do whatever you can to get the inside story on us,

for that rag that you secretly write for.

Yeah, that's right!

She's an investigative reporter for Financial Press!

- - Hoping to bring down the company with a smear campaign against me

and any of you she can get her claws into!

- You are drunk!

We've all had enough fun for tonight.

The party's over.

I wanna see you in my office in the morning.

- Yes sir.

- Not so fast.

We still have lot's we have to talk about.

- Unbelievable.

- I can't believe it.

- I can't take Nelson seriously.

- I wouldn't put it past her.

- I don't wanna believe it.

- I don't envy her.

- We're nice to you.

- You could really save yourself the headache and some possible jail time.

That's it right there.

- Well, there ya go. There's your detonator.

- Are you okay miss?

- Yes, I'm fine. Thank you.

Look, we just may ask you a few more questions, so,

you don't intend to leave town soon do you?

- No.

I thought this was a gas leak or something.

- Yeah, that was my first guess, too.

- Then what was it?

- Well, it seems the fire-fighters

found an incendiary device.

- So, what does that mean?

- Well, they'll have to check it out to be certain.

But, uh, it looks like this thing could've been set off with a remote control.

- Is that possible?

- Well, nothing's ever one hundred percent, but,

these fire-fighters rarely make a mistake on something like this.

- But, who would've set it off?

- Miss, you'd be surprised at what some people would do.

Please.

- Ya know, I wasn't a big fan of his.

That's a horrible way to die.

You'll let me know what you find out?

- You'll be one of the first.

Drive safe now.

- Yup.

- Course there are, uh, certain questions the criminal justice system must answer,

uh, for instance, does the suspect, have a sufficient motive,

uh, did he have an opportunity, and, in the absence of any kind of a legitimate confession,

what kind of evidence is there.

Eye witness?

Circumstantial?

Or, forensic.

No, this is the most heinous crime an individual can commit.

And, as criminologists, what we're interested in is, why?

Why do people kill other people?

- Hey. That's my car.

Hey! Hey!

Hey, hey!

That's my car!

Hey!

Hey!

Oh, my.

Ow!

- Ya know, most murders are committed for very mundane reasons.

Passion, race hatred, revenge, and the ever popular, greed.

Yes, Henrietta?

- Um, Professor Maxwell, where do serial killers fit into this?

- Oh, there, , eh, in a league by themselves, Henrietta.

We're gonna deal with them a little later in the term.

But, right now I'm interested in people more like ourselves.

Ya know, any one of us is capable of committing a murder,

under the right set of circumstances.

- Even professors of criminology?

- That depends on the quality of your term paper, Henrietta.

- But, no, y, most of us usually don't go around

committing murders.

So, when one of us,

usually law-abiding citizens, does,

we have to search out why.

- Hello, I'm calling in regard to your credit card account.

You're delinquent ninety days and your credit rating is in jeopardy.

- Mr. Parker, this is your auto leasing company.

You're three payments behind and so we're proceeding with reclamation of your vehicle.

If you have any questions, please call eight one eight, - Mr. Parker,

this is Ilena in Joan St. John's office.

Ms. St. John needs your services on a case.

Could you please call me? Thank you.

- - Law office.

- Hey, Ilena, it's Mike. - Hi.

- Yeah, I just got your message.

- Yes, are you available for a case?

- Am I available!?!

When does she want me to start?

- Immediately.

- Oh, well let's see, uh, yeah,

I guess I could shuffle a few things around and

start, oh, say this morning.

- I'm glad you could accommodate us.

- Hey, for Joan I will always make the time.

- Thank you Mike.

- Yeah, give her my best, will ya?

- Bye now. - Thanks.

- Easy Al's. - Hey Charlie!

- You! This call better make me happy.

- Charlie, lighten up, will ya?

Look, I've been outta the country for a few months

workin' on a very important case.

You know how my job is.

- I know it doesn't pay. I want my money!

- I don't blame ya, but I got a check for you.

- No kidding? - No, I'm not kidding.

- In full? - Yeah. - Really?

- Yeah, just have somebody over here by ten to, uh, take me to the yard to get my car.

- Alright, alright. - Ah, Charlie, you are the man.

Yes!

- Samantha!

Kitty, kitty, kitty!

- Chow time. - Now a recap of top stories.

Yesterday evening, Nelson Raymond, chief financial officer of corporate giant Omdicom was

brutally murdered in an explosion in his home.

Seen here earlier today is Cheryl Collins,

an investigative reporter as well as the primary suspect in the bombing.

In other news, the city council announced yet again plans to bring a major football franchise

to the LA area.

Won't hold my breath.

- See ya tonight.

This pretty much it?

- Well, the co-workers said the

two of 'em had a thing goin',

and the eye witness said that

they had a big fight the night he was killed.

- He accused her of being an undercover reporter. How's that work?

- Well, I don't know. Ya gotta ask her.

- You guys found some C4 in her garage.

- It's the same stuff the fire-fighters said caused the explosion.

Along with some wires, couple of fuses, ya know, just the usual stuff we all have in our garage.

- Could've been planted.

- Yeah right.

And if frogs had wings

they wouldn't live in the swamp.

Come on Mike, you were a cop.

Now you know we've got enough here for a righteous bust.

- Omdicom's right up there with Enron.

Uh, must be a lot of heat to nail her.

- Well, the investigation's not over yet.

Never know what might pop up.

Well, you know that better'n anybody Mike.

Isn't that why you're out there makin' the big bucks,

instead of bein' in here with the good guys?

- Ms. Collins, I'm Mike Bryant.

I've been, uh, retained as an investigator on your case by Ms. St. John.

- I've already told her everything I know.

- Well, it would help me if I could hear it from you.

- Go ahead.

I don't seem to have any pressing engagements.

- Anything you tell me will have the same confidentiality as you'd have with an attorney.

- First question.

- Who had a motive to kill Raymond?

At Omdicom for starters.

- Well, the company is a real rat's nest.

All the major players were at the party.

Karl Larch, president and CEO of Omdicom.

He's responsible for all of their real estate, energy, cable TV interests.

Was a one time pitch man for body building miracles.

Probably only a couple steps away from an indictment on fraud charges.

Larch's wife, Betty.

The resident black widow.

Reputed to be the brains behind the brains.

Charles Burke, head of marketing and I suspect procurement for the rest of the boy's club.

On the Omdicom board is a former, lobbyist who knows where the bodies are buried.

Probably buried a few himself.

- Were you having an affair with Raymond?

- Next question.

- I'll take that as a no.

With, uh, anyone at Omdicom?

- Good question. No.

- The night he was murdered, Raymond accused you of

being an investigative reporter working undercover.

Now, what was that about?

- Well, it's true.

I was sent in by Financial Press

to investigate some possible book cooking.

Couple months ago, I got an anonymous tip that Omdicom is the next Enron.

My publisher knows that this is big news, so I'm sent in.

He calls in a favor from a PR firm, doctors up a resume, and,

since I can be charming at times, these well-tailored goons hired me.

- What was your connection to Raymond?

- Well, he's the chief financial officer, so he's the best source.

I tell him I'm developing a PR piece on the company.

I get an editor at the Press to guarantee that it will run.

And, I convince Raymond that he's going to be a star.

- So, why did he turn on you?

- I have no idea.

Is, uh, Cheryl Collins your real name?

- Well, I wouldn't lie about that.

It's easier to keep my story straight.

- Clever girl.

- We'll see.

- Ms. Collins, you're free to go.

- Well, you're dropping the charges?

- She made bail.

- I thought it was set at a million dollars?

- Her publisher managed to put up the necessary ten percent.

- He likes my writing.

- Since we're supposed to keep the defense informed,

my men just checked this out.

- What, the remote to set off the bomb?

- Same frequency.

- Prints? - Smudged.

- So, why are you showing me this?

- We just found that under a mat in the trunk of your car.

- You really think she'd keep it with her?

- I'm the one who called the police.

- Well, the cynic might say that that was a real clever move.

That you didn't have a chance to get rid of it.

- I went straight home after I saw you.

- If it was hers she could've just dropped it on the way.

- Except I had her followed.

She never had a chance to get around

to the trunk of that car before we brought her in.

Unless you have anything else to say, you can go.

- So, now whatta we do?

- Well, you go home.

And don't take any calls unless it's from Jonesy, John, or me.

- And avoid the press?

- Uh, especially the press.

What's the hurry?

What're you doin' here?

- Thought I'd buy you lunch.

- Oh!

Isn't it my turn?

- Uh, actually, it is.

- Good. Good, I didn't forget.

Which means, you want something.

- I do. But, I'm willing to pay for it.

I ordered your favorite, Ching Lau's, for lunch.

- Ooh. Chinese?

Or, is it twice cooked pork?

- Here ya go. Here's a napkin.

Uh, you know what, you better take two.

- You didn't bring a fork, did you?

- You takin' all of those?

- I'm gonna save 'em for later.

Want some more rice?

- It's fried.

- So.

- You know I don't like fried rice.

- You love fried rice!

- Your daughter loves fried rice.

I like brown rice.

- Oh.

I guess that means your not my daughter.

- Glad we got that straight.

- So, whattya think of this young woman defendant?

- She's smart.

- Well, that helps.

You think she's innocent?

- Yeah, I do.

- She's attractive then, huh?

- Yeah, and that's got nothing to do with it.

I just think she's too smart to knock somebody off this way.

And if she didn't have an affair with him, she's got no motive.

- Well, we don't know that for sure though, do we?

That she didn't have an affair?

- I don't know John.

She was on an important assignment.

She's ... out of character.

- She's also an investigative reporter.

They can learn to put on some pretty fancy facades.

- Hmm.

You mean, maybe I'm not seeing her clearly?

- I didn't say that.

- How long we known each other Jonathan?

Thirty years? - Thirty-two. You'd just got back from Vietnam.

- Right. And, thanks to you

I, uh, straightened up, and, uh, studied criminology.

- - So, anyway, you'll meet her and you'll judge for yourself.

- I'm meeting her?

- You told me you'd help me on this case.

You didn't forget that, did ya?

- You're playing on my absent-mindedness is very low.

We both know I didn't promise you anything.

- But, you'll help 'cause you're intrigued.

- Maybe. - Maybe you'll help, or maybe your intrigued?

- I'm intrigued and, maybe I'll help.

- Hey!

Roger, one, baker, two.

- You okay?

- Mostly angry.

And, no I didn't get a good look at him.

Well, doesn't look like a burglary.

Any idea what they were lookin' for?

- Not a clue.

- Huh.

Alright, we're done.

- Look, I know this doesn't mean much to you, but, uh,

if she wanted to stage a stunt, wouldn't she make it look like the intruder had a purpose.

- Or, she'd try to establish that somebody else had access to her house,

went in and put the C4 in her garage.

Tell ya what, when we find that somebody, I'll ask him.

- Anybody else have a key to the place?

- No. Anybody at work could have lifted it, made a copy.

- I'll have the locks changed.

But, if you need me, don't hesitate to call, okay?

- And, just what exactly are you going to be doing?

- We're gonna go to work.

- Who's we? What, you have a staff?

- You might say that, yeah.

- Sir.

- Watch the glass.

- - Looks like the blast came from 'bout here.

- You should've been a cop, professor.

- Well, don't think I'd be much good anymore.

Can't remember what I had for lunch.

Did we have lunch?

- Desserts in your pocket, remember? - Oh.

Are there any pictures of the room before the blast?

- Yeah, I'll get 'em to ya.

I still say that you

should've been working with us on this one.

- Thought you had a winner, Dietrich?

- Oh, we do.

I'd still like to have him on our side.

- Well, if she turns out to be guilty, not much I can do about that.

Uh, where was her car parked?

- Outside, to the left. Fifty yards.

- 'Scuse me.

- Thanks. - Yes, sir.

- Hey Johnson!

How long you think I'm gonna have to put up with that rap?

- Probably until those cops that you testified against get out of the joint.

- They were dirty, and you know it.

- All the same Mike, there's just some guys who feel that you're not one of us.

- Since when?

- Since you turned in your badge.

- I didn't get a look at them at all.

- What would they want to take from her kitchen?

- Well, fingerprints, maybe.

Nothing on this knob. Probably been wiped clean.

You know, if they planted traces of that C4 in the garage,

they were probably just being thorough.

- What do you mean, if the planted it?

You don't believe me?

- Oh, I have no reason to doubt you at all.

But, the police do.

You want to show us around?

- Uh, sure.

Whoever broke in here tried to access my computer files.

They didn't find my back-up.

- Huh, nice set up.

- Well, I do a lot of freelance work

besides the Financial Press.

Mm, sometimes reports for a couple of cable outlets, and a non-fiction book which,

at the moment, is overdue at my publisher's.

- Wouldn't be about Omdicom by any chance?

- More than a chance.

- Which explains why they put up such generous bail.

- It wasn't for love.

I did a little research on the two of you, by the way.

- Why don't I feel, uh, flattered?

- It says you had a promising career at the police department,

until your first big investigation had

the collateral damage of bringing down a few highly placed cops.

Anything to do with your leaving the department?

- I'll do the interviews, okay?

- And, the professor. I didn't find much.

Just one article.

Says you work for the police sometimes?

The defense sometimes.

But, always in the background, never in the spotlight.

- Spotlight hurts my eyes.

Why don't you tell us what happened the night of the murder,

after everyone left.

- Who told you?

- What difference does it make?

It's true, isn't it? - Yes, it's true!

But, I wanna know who blew my cover.

- Well.

I never betray a confidence.

But, if you're nice enough to me, I just might make an exception.

- Ya know, I don't know if you're sober enough to hear this,

but you could really save yourself a headache and some possible jail time if you just

tell me about your company's finances.

- Alright, we have all night.

- Hm.

And, I had to practically drag him into another room.

- Is that when you left?

- Um, not exactly.

It seemed like a good time to do a little search.

I tried to help myself, but I didn't find anything.

And then the phone rang.

It was another phone.

Not on the main system.

It was a private line, I think.

I was afraid it wake him.

And then I heard him coming, and figured I had enough for one night,

so I cut out of there.

- When would anybody have had the time to plant that bomb?

Be interesting to know how long it'd been there.

Could've been a long time.

- They knew he'd go to the phone.

Ya know, I wonder why he didn't have voicemail on his private line?

- Well, when he answered the phone, they probably pushed the remote button.

You know how lucky you were to leave when you did?

- So, how do we proceed?

- We?

- Look, it's my case

and I'm a very competent investigator.

But, this is a criminal investigation

- Yes, I think what Mike is saying is we don't want to duplicate our efforts.

- Oh, exactly.

That's why I'll be working right along side him.

On this disc I have some bios.

There's some really good stuff in there.

My guess would be, whoever tipped me off to something wrong at Omdicom,

they wanted me to get next to Raymond so they could frame me for his murder.

- You don't have any idea who that is?

- No, but I think that that's where I should start looking.

We should start looking. If that's okay with you, naturally.

- Well, it's the one place I could use your help, for as long as it works.

- You know, if you two could figure out who this whistle-blower is,

it would be one great, big piece of the puzzle.

One way or another.

And, I should start interviewing the suspects.

- You know, Raymond's ex-wife was supposed to be at the party, but wasn't.

It'd be nice to know why she didn't show.

- Hmm. Must have had a compelling reason.

- Uh, and he sent me this photo.

- Where was this taken?

- That's the building where he made the first drop

with the note about Omdicom.

And, he cut all of the letters out of the Financial Press.

That doesn't tell you a lot.

- No, just enough to get me interested.

So I'll, see you tomorrow?

- Uh, yeah, I'll, uh, I'll call you. - Okay.

- John?

- Hm? Oh.

Okay. I have to pick up some, uh, cat food.

- 'Night.

- So, what do you think?

- Well, I don't know.

We really don't know what happened

when she was alone with Raymond.

Or, whether they were really involved or not.

Except for what she told us.

- Yeah, well, at least if she's with me

I can keep an eye on her.

- Well, I didn't say I was suspicious of her.

- Well, you didn't say you believed her either.

Ya know, it's possible she's being framed.

Unless we can find a motive, we have to assume she's innocent.

Well, that's the theory anyway, isn't it?

- That car wasn't there when we got here.

- So.

- It's too dark. I can't read the plates.

- They oughta wash that thing.

Probably just a guest of the neighbor.

- Yeah, maybe.

- Take it easy in this thing, will ya?

- Fasten your seatbelt.

- - Send in the next patient please.

- You're up.

- Oh, thank you.

Dr. Raymond, I'm, uh, Dr. Maxwell and I thank you for taking me on such short notice.

- Oh, well, always happy to accommodate a fellow professional.

You can have a seat.

- Oh, thank you.

- So, what seems to be bothering you?

- Well, this isn't about me.

- It never is.

- No, seriously.

- Doctor, please.

Are you embarrassed discussing things with a woman?

- Oh, no, no, nothing like that.

I'm not here as a patient.

- Perhaps you care to explain.

- I am a professor of criminology and at the moment

I am working as an advisor on the defense of, of Cheryl Collins.

- The woman who killed Nelson?

- Well, that hasn't been proven yet.

- My marriage to Nelson was over some time ago,

but that doesn't mean that I don't have feelings for him.

- Oh, I understand perfectly.

- They called me to go down to the morgue to identify his body.

Not exactly the way I'd like to remember him.

So, hope you don't expect me to be particularly cooperative.

- I would only hope you'd be truthful.

- Well, that is my business.

- Can you think of anybody who, uh,

might've had a motive to kill him?

- There were a lot of people damaged by Nelson.

Omdicom is not the cozy little club they'd have you believe.

But, I guess you'd like to know if I have a motive?

- Now that you mention it, yes.

- Well, yes, I've been fighting with Nelson

for the last few months over a property settlement.

Has to do with our divorce.

Now that he's dead, I get it all.

So, I suppose you'd call that a motive.

- Well, it, uh, it qualifies.

- Of course, the only problem with that is I wasn't there that evening.

- Oh, you, where were you?

- Home, alone, reading a good mystery.

- What's that? - My bill.

I get paid by the hour Dr. Maxwell.

- That comes to, uh, about fifty dollars a question.

Ms. Collins, if you do your homework,

you'll find that Stelladyne Inc., Intertech, and Common Fund are companies formed by Omdicom

CFO Nelson Raymond in the last ninety days, and all of them have off shore accounts.

- I did some checking with the Corporations Commission and confirmed that all three

companies had in fact been set up by Raymond.

- What about the off shore?

- There's no evidence of that, yet.

But, when the three companies didn't, make it into the stockholder's report

sixty days ago I figured it was worth going after.

What are you doing?

- I'm trying to separate that background noise from the voice.

- Need to take it to a lab?

- This is a lab.

- Oh, right, sorry.

- Okay.

Okay, I think I got something.

- Ms. Collins, if you do your homework you'll find that Stelladyne...

- Well, they've distorted the voice.

So that means it most likely comes from a land line.

companies formed by Omdicom CFO Nelson,

- Where's the call coming from?

Dr. Patterson isn't just the best ornithologist in this university,

he is one of the best in the world.

- What do you mean, one of the best?

- Certainly the one with the best hearing.

- Whattya make of it doctor?

- Very odd. - How odd?

- Well, there are not only a lot of birds on here,

but, uh, not one's you'd normally find together.

Uh, parrots, lovebirds, canaries, those are typical.

But, you've got one sounds like a Patagonian conure.

And, I think I hear and African ring neck.

- Pet stores?

- Well, possibly.

Uh, but, there's only maybe a

dozen or so that would have that varied a selection of birds.

- What about an aviary?

- Maybe.

There's one in Santa Monica.

- It's a start.

- Winslow, thank you very much.

- No problem. - We appreciate it.

- You've been a big help Dr. Patterson. - Easy enough.

You need anything else just, uh, whistle.

- Does he do that often?

- Just in mating season.

Omdicom, may I help you?

He's not in right now.

Can I, uh, put you to his voicemail, or take a message?

- Okay, last one.

- Alright, just make sure you keep me in frame.

I only want to do one take, you got it?

Okay, let's go.

Omdicom isn't just the seventh largest corporation in California,

and it's not that we make sure that our customer's across the United States get the best

possible value for our wide variety of products, from household goods,

to energy, to insurance, to the very television you're watching now.

No, Omdicom is about people.

I tell all my executives we don't own these offices.

We're just occupying them on behalf of our customer's.

Whether it's that farmer in Iowa or that plumber in New Jersey, this company is here for them,

and their families.

That's right.

Most of all, we care about people.

And, we get mail from a lot of you out there, and we read every letter.

Who put this here!?!

This is from the SEC, for God's sake!

Cut the camera. Cut the camera.

- And, give me the tape.

Give me the tape!

Come on. The tape. All right, just leave.

Get out of here.

Out. Out. Out.

Who are you, and what are you doing here?

- Professor Jonathan Maxwell, Mr. Larch.

- What's this about? A grant or something?

Do I have an appointment with you?

- No, no. I'm a professor of criminology.

I've been retained as part of the Cheryl Collin's defense team.

- Well, I have to admit, I have a hard time believing she did it.

I'm the one who hired her.

Who knew she was a reporter for God's sake?

Now, Raymond's death has brought the vultures out,

spreading lies and rumors about this company.

- Well, I'm glad to hear that.

I mean that they're, they are lies.

Ya know, I, uh, bought some shares in the company.

Just a few is all I could afford but, Omdicom seemed like the wave of the future.

- Well, we still are.

And, we'll ride out this storm.

There's absolutely no proof of any wrong doing.

Just, just vicious insinuations.

- Well, with your chief financial officer dead,

it'd be hard for anybody to find any evidence.

I mean, if there is any.

Probably isn't any.

- Well, if Cheryl Collins didn't kill Raymond,

and I sincerely hope that she didn't,

I wish you the best of luck. - Thank you.

- Of course, if I get any thoughts, I'll give you a call.

- Okay, I appreciate your cooperation.

Oh, listen, there's a rumor that Mr. Raymond and your, uh, wife were having an affair.

- No. That's a lie.

Who told you this?

- Well, I have these pictures taken a couple of weeks ago

with Mr. Raymond and your wife.

You have to admit they're a little compromising.

- Where did you get these?

- Well, actually they were taken by accident.

When, uh, Ms. Collin's was tipped

that there was something odd going on at Omdicom

- she hired a photographer.

He was just following Mr. Raymond though when he took these candid photos.

Ya know, that's not bad for telephoto lens with low light.

Wonder what he used.

- Get out.

Get out or I'll have you thrown out!

Well, I am, I'm sorry, - Just get out

and I hope Cheryl Collin's gets what she deserves!

- I'm leaving. Whoa. Ow.

Suppose that can be mended, I'm sorry.

Ah!

Aw man.

Ya know, this doesn't make a lot of sense.

Why would your tipster make a call from here?

- Shh. Can't hear the birds.

- 'Scuse me.

Have you ever seen any of these people?

Him?

Or, this woman? Or, her?

No?

Okay.

Eh. Here ya go.

You been a big help.

How 'bout you?

Recognize anyone?

Nope?

Mr. Burke?

Mr. Burke, this is Jonathan Maxwell.

I'm working on the, on the Cheryl Collins defense.

It won't take much time.

It's better than having to answer a subpoena!

- You sure you're alone?

- Wha, sure!

Oh!

Ooh!

Wha, just a minute! Who, who are you people?

You stay out of this.

Don't worry.

- Why do you have to make everything so difficult?

- Come on, I'm good for it Vic.

- I used to think that,

which is why we loaned you the hundred thousand.

- I'm workin' on a couple of things.

Liquidating some assets.

I just need a little time.

- Which is exactly what you've got.

A little time.

Until noon tomorrow.

- Don't worry.

I ain't gonna worry.

I want you to worry.

Got it.

- Good.

Keep your eye on your wallet.

You alright?

- Not exactly.

Thanks for asking.

- You know, I'm sorry to come at such a, uh, bad time.

But, I really need to talk to you.

- I've got nothin' to say.

Just that I don't believe Cheryl was up to it and I know I didn't.

With Raymond's death, the company's under investigation.

As you can see, we've got some problems.

We'd have a much brighter future if he was alive.

- Do you have any idea who might have done it?

- I really don't know.

If I had a clue I'd tell you.

They certainly haven't done me any favors.

- Well, I didn't have a lot of progress with my three interviews.

The ex-wife and the CEO have

personalities that could include homicidal tendencies,

but Burke, not the type.

Beside, he was too terrified to do much of anything.

You're in for a treat!

- We didn't have much luck on the pet store front either.

We visited every single one that sells them. - Yup.

We took the tape back to Professor Patterson and played him what we recorded and he said

they didn't match.

- Ya know, maybe your informer added the bird sounds later.

- Why would he do that?

- Maybe to cover up the background.

- Or maybe, to add a background where there wasn't any.

Been doin' a little experimenting while you were out.

A friend of mine over at the department of building safety emailed me some plans

that Raymond had approved for some remodeling on his house.

Some of it included enlarging the basement.

But, uh, here's the ground floor.

Here. Now, when the phone rang, you were in the study.

Then you heard footsteps and you left the house.

And, then Raymond came out of the bedroom and went to the cabinet where the phone was

ringing, and the bomb went off.

- What's this supposed to tell us?

- I timed Cheryl's walk to the car.

It, it was a good thirty seconds before she actually got in the car and started the engine.

You didn't hear the phone ringing outside, did you?

- No.

- It shouldn't have taken Raymond

more than five, maybe ten seconds to get from the

bedroom to the cabinet where that bomb was.

- So, what happened during the missing twenty to twenty-five seconds?

- I don't know.

We'll keep working on this model until we learn some more.

Oh, here's the audio tape again.

Now, this is without the bird sounds.

They were pretty easy to take out, in that they added them in later.

Stelladyne Inc.

- There's no ambient sound at all.

- Exactly.

But, there's a slight reverberation on the voice, -

Nelson Raymond,

- And that, that's not distortion either.

- What's burning?

- I'm not goin' in there. - Oh.

- I mean, it's okay, it's alright.

It's normal. He's just kicking it up a notch.

Chinese? - Chinese.

Phew.

- I'll call.

- So, under the circumstances, and I think in the spirit of fairness,

you should find for the defendant.

- Thank you Ms. Larch. I think this is a good time to call for a noon recess.

Bailiff.

- All rise!

This court stands in recess for one hour!

- That was pretty slick.

- Thank you Professor Maxwell.

- You were expecting me?

- My husband described you perfectly.

He warned me that you might loom up unexpectedly.

- Ah, well, then you know why I'm here.

- I have a pretty good idea.

Anymore of those, so called incriminating photos?

- Oh, well, I've got some here.

Ya know, I wasn't gonna show them to you.

I didn't want to embarrass you.

- I don't easily embarrass.

- Good, here they are.

- Well, if you're hoping to cause troubles between my husband and I,

you're sadly mistaken.

Raymond was going through a difficult patch in his separation,

and I was merely consoling him.

- Oh, oh I see.

- Uh, Raymond and I go all the way back to college together.

When I explained what happened to my husband he understood immediately.

- Well, I'm sure that's a relief, now for you.

I mean, given, uh, Raymond's reputation with the ladies, if he had,

uh, dropped you , and you thought that Cheryl was the new, young thing,

hoo hoo.

- I'm not the impulsive type professor.

- Oh, I can see that. You were like a surgeon there with that cross-examination.

- I'll take that as a compliment.

- Incidentally, do you have any idea who it was contacted Cheryl Collins into

tipping her to investigate Omdicom?

- I wish I did.

This company isn't in trouble.

And, all it's done is to stir up a lot of unfavorable publicity.

Now, if you'll excuse me.

I have to go.

Don't you have to be somewhere?

- Uh, somewhere, yes.

Do you, ah, do you know if anybody here validates?

- I think not.

- They don't even tell you what level your car's on.

- So, this is where I was standing when they took

the photo of me waiting for the drop.

- How long were you waiting?

- About fifteen minutes.

And then a kid on the bike handed me a manila envelope with the documents.

- No idea who sent 'em, right?

- No. He said a guy in a beat up car gave him ten bucks.

Excuse me.

Bryant here.

Oh, hi Diane.

Sure, yeah, I'll just meet you there.

Yeah, I remember where your dad's beach club is.

That's the one with all the sand, right?

Ah.

Yeah. See ya there.

- Telling you what tie to wear?

- Why do you suppose he sent the photo?

- Messing with my head mostly.

Letting me know I'm being watched.

- And makin' sure you come alone.

- Mm-hmm.

Well, from the angle of the photo, it was probably taken from up there.

- I'm thinkin' third floor.

- Good morning, and thank you all for coming

to the fourth annual

Omdicom shareholders best ball tournament.

Before we tee off, I'd like to say just a few words.

As you know, , the tragic events surrounding the death of our colleague,

Nelson Raymond have generated a lot of rumors, innuendo and speculation.

- Max, if that's true, then why did Financial Press send in an undercover reporter?

- Well, Patsy, as you should know, sometimes reporters will do anything,

fabricate anything, go to any length just to concoct a story.

- Max, uh, after you were defeated in the Congressional primary two years ago,

then you signed on as the main lobbyist for Omdicom. Isn't that true?

- Well, that's no secret.

- On the night of the murder,

did you actually hear what Nelson Raymond

and Cheryl Collins were arguing about?

- No.

I was outside with everyone else,

but I, I could see through the window

that there was a heated argument going on.

By the way, do I know you?

I don't ever remember seeing you at any of the, uh, stockholder meetings.

- No, I wouldn't think so.

I'm a professor of criminology.

I'm working on the Cheryl Collins defense.

I have uh, five, uh, shares though.

- This is hardly the time or place.

Getting back to the business at hand.

I urge you all to wait for the next quarterly report, do out in just a few weeks,

to decide for yourselves the health of Omdicom.

Thank you all for coming.

Good luck.

And, I'll, uh, see you out on the links.

And later at the banquet.

- Son of a gun died!

- Are you really a PI?

- Sure am.

- Cool.

Okay.

You into the old detective shows?

- Uh, sure, I guess.

- Yeah. Cause I sure am.

I always thought I'd make a great private dick.

- Well, you know, maybe you can help me out.

This is about a piece of vital evidence.

A photo that would have been taken about four weeks ago from this office window.

- Really, this office?

- Yup.

Could you, ah, check and see

who was here the twenty- third of last month?

- Yeah, I sure can.

Here we go.

The twenty-third was a Tuesday.

Looks like the same groups meet here every weekday evening.

- Every weekday?

- Yeah, except Wednesdays.

Like today, the office is closed.

- You don't say?

You, uh, you recognize any of these people?

- No.

I don't usually hang around in the evenings.

- Well, thanks for your time.

Uh, I'll let you know if we need you in court.

- Really?

That would be great!

Uh, what, what should I wear?

- Uh, this looks good. This is nice.

- Yeah. What about a tie?

- Uh, no, no ties.

- Really?

Cause, I, I got a great tie my wife just gave me.

I, I, It's paisley.

I, I, I think you'd like it.

- You're parked on the green.

- Oh, sorry.

Yeah, I'm really sorry.

Just a couple of things I wanted to ask.

Could you just tell me, did you get things patched up with Raymond before he,

before he died?

- Nelson and I never had any problems.

Personal or otherwise.

- Well, you know, there are several people who said they saw you having a heated argument,

the two of you in the boardroom, late at night, just the two of you.

And then a young man from the mailroom said he saw you take a swing at Raymond.

Is that true?

- Well, if you must know,

I was beginning to worry about his

secretive way of doing business

and whether or not it was going to affect the rest of us,

put us in any kind of jeopardy or not.

Words were exchanged.

Truth be known, Nelson and I never really cared very much for each other's styles.

He always thought that I was just another crooked politician.

I always thought he was just a thief in an expensive suit.

- Which one of you was right?

- Ah, your phone.

- Hi, uh, I ca, I can't talk right now.

Yes, yes. I'll be there, of course.

- Listen, do you miss being in, uh, congress?

- No, no I don't.

But, I am missing the opportunity to prepare for this golf tournament.

So, if you'll just excuse me.

- I'm sorry to bother you.

You cleared up couple of things for me. Thank you.

- Well, that's just fine.

That's mine! - Oh, sure is.

Oop! I'll get it.

You're right. That is yours.

How'd you like that? Had it in my hand all the time.

Our reservations up!

- Do you wanna take a mulligan on that?

This is Doctor Louise Raymond.

I can't take your call right now, but if you,

- Did you find out anything?

- Eh, not enough.

I don't think anybody took your photo from that office.

Yeah, but the office was closed the next day.

So, someone might've snuck in and taken the front of this building.

They just wouldn't have had you in the shot.

You they put in later.

- Someone's going through an awful lot of trouble to cover their tracks.

- Where else did you go that day?

- I went straight from my house to my publisher's office, why?

- Well, for one thing, what you're wearing would have been the same.

I mean, even if the photo's were changed.

Let's go back to your place.

I want to check something.

- Hi. How'd ya hit 'em?

Don't ask.

Take good care of her.

- I will. - Thank you.

- Keys sir.

- Thank you.

Phew!

- Hi Karl.

Come on.

Whoa!

- Well, I'm sorry to drag you all down here, ,

but under the circumstances, we have to keep a low profile.

- What circumstances, exactly?

- The SEC is looking into our records

and they're going to see that Raymond was cooking the books.

- With Nelson's unfortunate death, we have the opportunity

to just circle the wagon's and protect ourselves.

- We lay all the blame on poor, dead Nelson.

- I know it sounds cold- blooded Louise,

but nothing we can do can bring Nelson back.

- And we all stand to profit.

- I've spoken to a couple of sympathetic investment houses,

and they'll help us whether the storm.

- Nobody wants to see another Enron.

- Which can't happen, because Nelson's records were destroyed in the fire.

And, there aren't any other copies, are there Louise?

- No, I happen to know there aren't.

Yeah, I'm happy to hear we're all going to profit.

I assume that does include the merry widow, me?

- Absolutely.

- Could you be more, specific?

- We're prepared to buy your inherited shares at the market price before this tragedy,

as a show of good faith on the part of the company and as compensation for your suffering.

- Well, that sounds very compassionate.

So, uh, where is Mr. Charles Burke?

Isn't he a member of your team?

- He knew about this meeting.

I talked to him this morning.

- Doesn't that seem a little bit suspicious?

- Well, if we're all agreed, I'd say this meeting could adjourn.

- I'd like a cashier's check.

Delivered to me, today.

- You'll get it.

- Oh, and, by the way, in case you're wondering, I'm not having a memorial service.

I'm sure he would have wanted it that way.

- Hang along her long enough and you'll catch cold.

- This'd better work out.

- The sooner she gets that check, the better.

It's our insurance policy.

- I just don't want to be the next executive to end up in prison.

- Don't worry Max. We're all in this together.

We're family.

- Oh, Max!

Get some rest.

- Don't worry.

- What if Cheryl didn't kill Nelson?

- So what if she didn't.

- Then one of us did.

- So what?

- Well, if one of us gets caught, say by your professor,

he or she could bring our whole stack of cards down.

- Maybe we should let the jury sort it all out.

- Personally, if I had to bet, I'd put my money on Louise.

Unlike the rest of us, she's not just protecting herself.

After all, she's coming out way ahead.

- Maybe she did.

Do you care?

- No, I don't.

I'll see you later.

Whoa!

- How in the world did you get in here!?!

- It wasn't easy.

- So, I came up this way.

And, closed the door.

Went to my car, and, then I got a phone call.

So, I had to look for my phone.

Of course, it was a wrong number.

- So, you were standing about here?

- Yeah.

- The photographer had to be close.

Ya know, that photo could have been taken from up there.

- Your receptionist seems to be out to lunch.

Goin' somewhere?

- I'm, uh, getting a way for a while.

Need a little time to myself.

- Hmm.

Well, at least you know you can afford

any vacation you want now.

- What's that supposed to mean?

- Well, you're coming into some money.

May have that cashier's check already.

- I think you better go.

- You know, it might interest you

to know that your co-conspirators at Omdicom

think you might be the one who killed your husband.

- Leave, or I'll call security!

- You know, I wouldn't, uh, be leaving town just yet.

The police might want to talk to you.

-Yeah, yeah, that professor was here again.

Well, he knows a lot more than he should.

Well, we better do something.

- Let's go!

- What're we doing?

- I've seen that car twice before.

It was cruisin' us when we were downtown.

- You are good at this, right?

- Haven't lost one, yet.

- One what?

- Why is this joker goin' into a junkyard?

- Edgar Allen Poe.

- The Purloined Letter.

- Where do you hide a beat up car?

- With all the others.

Wait here.

- Well, so much for that.

Not necessarily.

Mr. Burke!

Mr. Burke, it's Jonathan Maxwell!

Mr. Burke!

Hey, man in black?

- What?

- I think we have to get into Burke's house.

- What?

- Oh, man.

- What's goin' on?

- This guy's more trouble than he's worth.

- Whattya say Vic?

Shoot it.

Burke?

Burke!

- Mr. Burke?

- Ah, nobody's layin' in here.

- Mr. Burke?

- Hey Burke!

Burke? Come on out!

- Okay, here's Cheryl in front of her house.

And, we'll lift her out of that photo, and clone her over here.

Ya know, whoever did this is sophisticated, technically.

- Not that sophisticated.

- Whattya mean?

- Look, here.

Can you zoom in on that newspaper?

- Yeah.

- There, that headline.

- I'm missing something.

- Well, this is Wednesday's newspaper

with Tuesday's election results.

- I'll be darned!

Eh, Mike, you, good!

- Well, he's bound to trip up sooner or later.

He almost did with that stolen car.

- Ya know, maybe we just turned up the heat enough to force his hand.

The big question is, what does this mysterious whistle-blower have to do with

Louise Raymond?

Ya know, I'm gonna do a little checkin' around on the internet, see what I can find out.

This could take me a while, kid.

- Come on, I'll take you home. - 'Night.

- See ya later.

- Mm, have fun!

Hey, Samantha baby. Hi.

Curiosity killed the cat, you know?

Stay here.

- So much for changing the locks.

- They weren't after you.

They didn't get your records the first time around and they were just protecting themselves.

- Aw, they took my entire computer system.

For all the good it'll do them.

- Nothing else, if thorough.

- Well, they didn't get anything, because I don't have anything.

- - This isn't going well, is it?

- Hm, believe it or not, we are making progress.

And, we are far from beaten.

- Thanks Mike.

I'm used to being on the outside, looking in.

This is a lot easier.

- Ya know, I don't think you should stay here tonight.

- Any suggestions?

Like, your place.

- Actually, that is a suggestion.

I, ya know, I have a spare bedroom.

Fold out, actually.

- What're we looking at here?

- Mm, thanks.

This is the electrical plot for the remodel

Raymond did at his house.

- Look how many electrical outlets he's got in there.

Must have used them for a workshop or something.

- The fire department said the basement was empty.

- Yeah!

Why remodel your basement and empty it out just before the explosion?

- Are you suggesting that Louise Raymond knows how to make a bomb?

- I'm suggesting she might have had help.

Cheryl, I want you to find out everything you can about Louise Raymond.

We, we need it right away.

Look, Mike, check with your friend at the phone company.

- Uh, Jimmy?

- Yeah, find out how many calls

she made to her husband,

when, and how often.

And, also, check on your hunch about that donate a wreck, too.

Meet me back here as soon as you can.

- Right.

- Hello.

Oh, ah, Dr. Raymond going on her holiday today?

- Yes.

And, she's asked me not to take any

appointments until she returns.

- Mm. What, uh, cruise line's she taking?

- She wouldn't take a ship.

Her husband had a boat and he couldn't even get her to go out on it.

- Oh, really?

Where's the boat docked?

- I have no idea.

- Yeah.

- I got a fairly complete bio on Louise Raymond.

She went to medical school, specialized in psychiatry.

Married Raymond about twelve years ago.

- Anything more recent at all?

- Uh, lot of charity work.

Um, most recent is the Veteran's Administration.

- Ah, when'd she start there?

- Uh, couple months ago.

- That makes sense.

Listen, uh, Raymond had a boat.

Do you have any idea where it's docked?

- As a matter of fact, I do.

- Oh good!

I gotta get there before it's too late.

- What's the matter? - Have you seen my car keys?

- Come on. I'll take you.

- Okay.

Uh, where'd I put my cell phone?

Oh! It's among the missing!

Better call Mike and tell him where we are.

- I can handle that.

He's not answering.

Better keep trying him.

- What're you doing here?

- Oh, I would have been here sooner.

But, I had to piece together your sea-sickness medicine

with your husband's yacht.

Took me a while.

And then when I found out, of course, that you worked at a VA hospice,

everything just fell together.

- Both of you, on the boat.

- Get on the boat. - I got it!

Get your hands down.

- Okay.

Ya know, it wasn't a bad plan.

Your working at the VA, you had access to a, corpse.

Somebody with no family.

Nobody would ever inquire about him.

But, there was a twenty second discrepancy,

between the time it took you to come from the

bedroom alone and answer the phone.

But, that was the time it took you two to place the body.

That's a narrow window of opportunity,

but smart people like you wouldn't leave anything to chance.

I bet you rehearsed it until you had it down.

Including the phone call.

And, the time to get outside to a safe place and set off the explosion.

And, you know what was the really nice touch?

When you identified the body of your husband.

I mean, nobody would question whether he was dead or not!

Especially when the grieving widow shows up to identify her ex-husband's body.

I'll bet you really put on a show for the sympathetic people

who walked you through the process down at the morgue.

And you the mysterious whistle-blower.

That put you in the driver's seat from the word go.

You pulled Cheryl in by dangling a huge story in front of her

and made her your unwitting accomplice.

You recorded that message in your basement,

and removed all the equipment that could be traced to you.

You managed a lot of moving pieces for a dead man.

You almost got away with it.

Except when we started, uh, nosin' around and you got a little nervous.

And, you decided to skip out before you'd plan.

And, he wasn't gonna leave you behind to get cold feet.

So, he insisted you get on the boat with him.

You tell me if I left anything out?

- Unfortunately, you're not gonna get a chance to prove any of this.

No, he insisted you get on the boat right away.

That way he could see that he got the cashier's check himself

and you would disappear somewhere out at sea.

- And, then he could keep everything for himself.

- What, exactly, is the big rush?

I was supposed to meet you in a few months after Cheryl was convicted.

- Don't listen to him. Just get on the boat.

- I don't think so.

- You're not thinking clearly.

I said get on board.

- I don't think this is working Mr. Raymond.

- If I were you I would just call this off.

- You know, actually, I just need you to stand still for a few seconds, okay?

- What the!?!

- He doesn't swim very well.

- No? - That was great!

- Thank you.

Help!

- I got the plate number off the fire wreck that he left at the lot.

Then I remembered there were parking restrictions at Cheryl's place,

and figured maybe he got a ticket.

He did.

And, rather than risk getting pulled over,

he paid it.

Oh, and some of the, uh, phone calls from his wife are from

the ship to shore phone on the boat.

So, I figured, maybe he was holed up here.

- Nice work.

- Do I get an A?

- Well, nobodies perfect.

A minus.

You, get an E for effort.

- All charges against my client have been dropped.

And, Dr. and Mrs. Raymond have been arrested for criminal conspiracy.

I'll take questions now.

- Ms. St. John, will your client be testifying in the trial?

- Well, seems like a good time to sell my Omdicom stock.

- Well, you may be a little late.

According to the newspaper, it is sinking fast.

- Hmm. - Well, for once, I don't know what to say.

I, I owe the two of you my life.

Twenty years of it anyway.

- Well, ten maybe with good behavior.

- Thank you.

- I'll walk you out.

- Okay.

- Can I, uh, interest you in some dinner?

- Oh, I'd really love to. But, I have a meeting

with my publisher to talk about the book on this case.

- Oh, it shouldn't be a total loss.

- Besides, don't you have plans with Diane?

- Actually, I've been fired as her fiancé.

- Sorry about that.

- That's okay. I was gonna quit anyway.

- Well, the really nice thing about dinner is, you can do it on any given night.

Like, say tomorrow.

- Wow.

An actual date.

- I guess you could call it that.

- I guess I will.