Original subtitles

- Previously on Cross... - [Cross] I lost my wife Maria

a little over a year ago.

[Massey] We need you guys to take over

the Emir Goodspeed case.

Found dead in his car four days ago.

[Malika] Emir had a full head of beautiful locks.

When they found him, they were shaved off.

[Cross] Whoever murdered Emir had to change him

into someone else first. Why?

[Jared] Yeah, I don't understand how a Black man can be a cop.

- [Sampson] Alex. Alex! - I would feel like I was

- selling out my own people. - Alex!

[Sampson] You need to deal with losing Maria.

- [Cross] Hey, where did you get that? - Mom's closet.

[Sampson] You think Maria's killer snuck in your house,

put this in Maria's closet for Damon to find?

- [gunshots] - [Vanessa] Tavi!

[Massey] Tavio Lemmons was shot in retaliation for killing Emir.

The only way to spin this

is to find the real killer.

- [Sampson] Sugar, you need to see this. - [woman over phone] Would you like to know

the last thing your wife said before she died?

Who is this?

We'll meet soon enough.

[Maria] ♪ I love you now ♪

♪ Do you love me still? ♪

♪ Only you have ♪

- ♪ Seen ♪♪ - [gunshot]

[gasps]

[thud in distance]

[dog barking in distance]

[door creaks]

[slow, suspenseful music playing]

♪ ♪

Don't move.

- [glass shatters] - [gasps]

Alex. Alex!

I'm sorry, Daddy. I was thirsty.

[safety clicks]

[Nana Mama] Here.

You...

you t-take her back to bed, I'll...

I'll straighten up down here.

Hey. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, baby, I'm sorry.

Hey.

[Jannie] It's okay, Daddy.

[exhales]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

- [♪ Bill Withers: "Just the Two of Us"] - [Jannie] Oh, he has another one.

- [Damon] I do not. I only did, like, two. - [Sampson] Ooh.

First Black mayor of D.C.

Marion Barry.

- Yeah. - Who?

Damon, Jannie. Come on, let's go.

Oh, oh, oh, Simba's mom.

- Uh... Nala. - Ooh.

- Sarabi. - Oh! Nice.

I thought you was gonna get shut out.

- [giggles] Mm. - Mm-hmm.

- You want some of this? - Get on out of here.

- Bye, Uncle John. - Bye, Uncle John.

[chuckles]

Hey.

Uh, uh, uh.

All right. Get out of here.

Hey, Jannie.

Let me talk to you about last night.

It was my fault.

I should've stayed in my room like I'm supposed to.

Baby girl, no.

No, not one bit of what happened last night was your fault.

All right? I-I was, I was...

uh, worried about grown-up stuff, I...

I had no business scaring you like that. You hear me?

Hm?

All right, now, y'all have a good day.

You make sure you have a good day, you hear?

[both chuckle]

[door opens]

[Cross] Mm-hmm.

[Sampson] Seriously?

You put a gun on Jannie?

I know someone's been in my home.

All right? I hear a noise in the middle of the night,

it's on me to keep this family safe.

Safe?

Uh, you do a psych eval on someone who pulled what you pulled last night,

- you'd drive him to Saint Elizabeth yourself. - Hey, hold-hold up.

Hold on. Okay? Was it my proudest moment, John? No.

Do I deserve a straitjacket?

You know, I don't have time to list

all the ways that you're wrong right now,

'cause the morgue called.

They went through Tavio's shit.

- Didn't find a phone. - He had his phone on him

- when we caught him. - I sent some unis over there to search the scene.

He must have ditched it somewhere

between the apartment and where he got shot.

They turned the place upside down but didn't find anything.

All right, so Tavio was Emir's last phone call,

and now they're both dead.

That phone is our only decent lead.

[indistinct chatter]

[Ramsey] Shannon? I'm Josh.

- You don't look like Josh. - Sorry,

I don't mean to throw you for a loop. Here's the thing:

I can't put my real photos on those apps

because the work that I do... the spotlight can be... harsh.

Yeah. Bullshit. [chuckles]

Ugh. Why do married men always do this?

I'm not married. My last girlfriend...

the pressure got really intense,

and it's just easier if I keep my private life

- private. - Bet that's bullshit, too.

Hey, you know, if you're gonna catfish people,

- you should get a better story. - No, hey,

w-wait, wait, wait. Uh, listen, I'm sorry.

I should have been honest. Okay?

I should have been.

Before you go, will you at least let me buy you breakfast?

You can ask me anything you want.

And if, after that, you never want to see me again,

I totally get it.

[exhales]

Look, you're already here.

What's it gonna hurt, right?

Fine, Josh.

[upbeat song playing]

♪ I've been hearing things...

- [Hightower] Good morning, Detectives. - [Sampson] Oh, shit.

♪ Believe me, I know exactly...

You really got half the department looking for a phone?

Did you follow us here?

Oh, I didn't have to. See, you two need a half smoke

and a banana pudding to think straight.

She's speaking some truth there.

I know it's Tavio Lemmons' phone that you want.

No comment. Nice boots, though.

Oh. Yeah, well, the saleswoman said that the right color

fights seasonal depression, but she had me at "50% off."

You had no choice.

- Right? - [Cross] Look, hotshot.

We're eating lunch. If you're not buying, then...

Wait, if it's Tavio's phone, that means you think

he is somehow connected to the Emir Goodspeed case.

No comment.

Which means you think Tavio killed Goodspeed?

Or maybe-maybe whoever killed Tavio killed Goodspeed as well.

- No comment. - It's just that I've seen the ballistics report,

and there's not a lot of thugs running around Southeast with sniper rifles.

Who the hell is giving you ballistics reports?

No comment.

[diner bell ringing]

We got to find a new spot.

- [people clamoring on video] - [Massey] Both this video

and the outrage around it have gone viral.

We've got protestors outside city hall day and night.

- And this thing - [video pauses]

is on the verge of becoming a George Floyd-level shitstorm.

Exactly what Anderson was hoping to avoid

- by putting you on the case. - Anderson put a brother

on the case for show, and everybody knows it.

[Massey] Well, now everybody's on it.

All the colors of the goddamn rainbow.

Only now we have to put a pin in the Goodspeed case

and find out which crew shot Tavio.

It's the same case.

This isn't about drugs or beef.

Tavio was murdered because he knew something about Emir.

Now, if we just had his phone...

Enough with the phone.

That search you ordered fucked us

for manpower and community relations.

[Sampson] Well, if city hall wouldn't have swept

the Goodspeed right under the rug...

Not going there.

Hey, scroll the video back?

[De Lackner] Tavio's into it with at least

three other crews we know about.

We should be out shaking them down.

How many of those crews you know got a sniper on retainer?

You think just 'cause something happens in a Black neighborhood,

it's gang-related?

If it walks like a thug and talks like a thug...

There. Let's see that again.

She took the phone.

- You don't say. - Whatever.

You two can follow up with phone girl.

Everybody else, shake the hood and see what falls out.

[siren wailing in distance]

[Vanessa] It's a voicemail from Emir.

And you brought that shit here?

These people killed Tavio, Ness.

I know. Okay, Mel? I just...

Tavie, baby.

Why don't you play with Mommy's tablet, okay?

Just take care of Tavie while I keep low.

I need to get this phone to someone

- who can get us justice. - Why you?

Who the fuck else?

Huh? People gonna see my baby daddy

and just see another Black gangbanger

gunned down in the street.

If I don't act like his life meant something,

who the fuck else will?

If you gonna go off caping, make sure you protect yourself.

Thank you.

Tavie, baby, I'm gonna need you to stay with Auntie Mel

for a little while, okay?

No. I want to stay with you.

You said I could ride the white horsey.

[Vanessa] [sighs] And you can.

You will. Okay? When I get back,

um, you can ride the horsey as many times

as you want. But for now,

I'm gonna need you to be a good boy for Auntie Mel, okay?

- I love you. - I love you, too.

[car door opens]

I'll call you.

[Ramsey] Bobby,

you told me it was handled.

It was, but Tavio's girlfriend grabbed his phone

while he's laying there, brains blown.

Now Cross is looking for her and telling people

Goodspeed was murdered and Tavio got killed to cover it up.

Now, how could he have known that?

I think he guessing, but...

that boy pretty fucking good at guessing, if you haven't heard.

If you thinking of grabbing another one right now,

you need to don't.

No, no, not another one. The last one.

You know Cross, personally?

Never worked a case together, but mm-hmm, mm-hmm, I know him.

Think I'm gonna have to get to know him a little better.

Think I'm gonna have to get to know everything about him.

Ain't no reason to go fuck with Cross.

Okay? I'll find the phone and the girl before he does.

All you got to do is press pause

and wait for the Goodspeed shit to go away.

Vanessa. The girlfriend.

I didn't get an address, but I know that she works

at the Epheson Beauty Salon.

You need to get me that phone, Bobby.

And if you want those big payouts to keep rolling in,

then I suggest you be a good little doggy and stay on your leash.

I'm not one of your little minions.

Get me caught up and we gonna have a problem.

Oh. He bites.

Like a motherfucker.

[♪ Selena: "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom"]

♪ ♪

[singing along]

Damon.

What is this I found in your backpack?

You got selected to Early Mozart

and you didn't say anything?

Huh?

[Damon] I'm-I'm not gonna do it.

What do you mean you're not gonna do it?

- [quiet, distorted voice] Jannie. - Who told you you get to decide?

- This isn't up to you. - [Damon] But I don't want to.

[Nana Mama] You play beautifully.

Why wouldn't you want to take advantage

of such a wonderful opportunity, huh?

I-I just... I just don't.

[Nana Mama and Damon continue indistinctly]

- Jannie. - What?

You are very good at that.

You play very well.

I know.

- Where are you? - I am back here.

[Nana Mama] Either way, you should have said something.

Don't have me finding it at the bottom of your backpack.

Go-go on inside.

It's time to... time to do your homework.

[scoffs]

[song continuing]

Jannie.

Jannie?

[dramatic music playing]

J... Jannie?

Jannie?

Jannie.

What are you doing out here?

Looking for the man.

What... what man?

The one who was talking to me.

[footsteps approaching]

I come in peace.

They're not a perfect match, but...

They're beautiful.

I can only accept this on one condition.

You help me break them in.

Over dinner.

Just the two of us.

Just the two of us sounds great.

- Good. - [phone chimes, buzzes]

[ominous music playing]

You clipped the wires?

[Nana Mama] What-what the hell was I supposed to do

with some creep-o

talking to my grandbaby through a camera?

I told you those cameras were a big mistake.

[Cross] It's not the cameras. He was here.

People hack these things remotely all the time, Sugar.

He was here.

1, 1-5, 1-4-7?

January 15, 1:47 p.m.

The date and time of Maria's death.

- [♪ Cameo: "Word Up!"] - [vocalizing along]

- [singing along] - ♪ Start to look and stare ♪

♪ Do you dance...

Ooh, this is my jam.

♪ Quick, mama ♪

♪ Come on, baby, tell me what's the word ♪

♪ Oh, word up ♪

[chuckles]

Mani-pedi? You're gonna have to take off the boots.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah.

♪ Word up...

I want mine by Vanessa, though. [clicks tongue] I heard she the best.

♪ No matter where you say it...

- She's not in today. - Okay.

Well, you know...

when's she coming back?

♪ Who think you're fly, there's got to be a reason...

- I don't know. - Mm.

You can't call her?

[sinister music playing]

I tried earlier, but she wasn't picking up.

Okay. Well, if you had to get her a message, though,

you know, like, if it was...

life or death,

whereabouts would you look?

[Cross] Stay parked in front of the house.

Call me if you see

anything suspicious.

Anything, all right?

[indistinct radio chatter]

Vega just called.

Phone girl's name is Vanessa Norris.

Word is she's crashing with her sister on W by 15th.

Let's get over there.

[dramatic music playing]

[influencer] If you don't want me to post about this,

you're throwing away free publicity.

Some people do not know how to unplug.

- I think I might be one of those people. - [laughs]

I don't know what to do without a phone in my hand.

You know, back in the day when we used phones to actually, um, call people,

there used to be these things called, um...

What was it? Oh, yeah, books.

About yea big, made of paper.

- Oh, you read books? - Mm-hmm.

- Like, actual, physical books? - [laughs] I do.

Okay, what's on your nightstand?

Uh, well, at the moment, I'm rereading an old favorite.

It's called The Goldfinch.

- By Donna Tartt? - Mm-hmm.

That's one of my favorites, too.

- Oh, so you've heard of books? - [chuckles softly]

- You read, too? - Yeah. Sometimes even on physical paper.

- Wow. - Don't tell anybody.

I don't want to lose my Gen Y card.

It'll be our little secret.

[both chuckle]

[Ramsey] After you.

[Shannon chuckles]

Why do they call it Gen Y and not millennial?

Just, uh, watch your head. It can be a little, you know, deathly.

- [chuckling] - Yeah.

Wow.

Oh, I'd love to exhibit something like this.

You know, I could put you in touch with the artist's rep, if you like.

Yeah, the Armada's not exactly known for its artistic vision.

No?

My highlight this week was scoring 180 Rothko knockoff prints

for continental breakfast rooms nationwide.

[slow, haunting music playing]

[chuckles softly]

So, if the Armada's not the dream job,

- what is? - Head curator at the Ritz.

Artistic freedom.

Near-unlimited budget.

A different exhibit for every location around the world.

- So how do you score that? - You tell me.

Applied about a dozen times. I can't get a single interview.

Hmm.

Commentary on the consumption of death? Or...

ode to Rocky Balboa?

[giggling]

- Is it weird that I really love all this? - Not at all.

I think it's normal.

Most people just don't want to admit that.

People want to be frightened.

Made to feel something.

Our lives are so fucking sanitized...

everything in prepackaged shrink wrap.

Is it any wonder that looking death

right in the face makes us feel more alive?

More connected?

A photo with the Grim Reaper?

Well, it'd be our pleasure.

[chuckles]

- [video game chirping] - [door closes]

[Cross] How you doing?

I'm Detective Alex Cross. I'm here to speak to Vanessa Norris.

I know who you are, Detective Cross. Vanessa's not here.

Right. I just need five minutes of Vanessa's time.

- Vanessa is not here. - Auntie...

- Not now, baby. - She's not in trouble.

Okay? Not with us.

Then why are you looking for her?

We know she has Tavio's phone.

[Tavie] My game's not working.

Mommy said I could play my game.

That is your mama's tablet. I don't know how to fix that shit, Tavie!

Shit. I'm sorry, Tavie.

Sh-Shit. I'm sorry.

Hey, is that Animal Habitat?

I'd know that theme song anywhere.

My kids play it all the time.

No, I could probably help, if you want.

Look, man, show me what you got. [chuckles]

You're stuck in the desert habitat. Yeah, I've been there.

See, what you have to do is change yourself into a tortoise, right?

And then dig under the sand so you can get out.

Do you know the difference between a tortoise and a turtle?

Turtle goes in the water.

Mommy read it to me in one of my books.

Really?

You, uh...

you read with Mommy a lot?

Thank you, Detective Cross, but it's time for you to go.

Hey.

I really want to help your mom, Tavie.

Can you tell me where she is right now?

Yeah, and when I go see her, I can ride the white horsey all I want.

[Melanie] Get the fuck out of my house.

- [door closes] - [indistinct chatter]

Fake-ass cop.

Sis give it up?

Nah. But Vanessa's kid was in there.

He said something about riding a white horse

when he goes to see his mom.

Might mean something.

[chuckles] Is that all you got?

You want to give it a shot, John?

You better hope Kayla comes to the rescue.

She's still tracking Tavio's phone, if that ever pops back up.

[lively music playing]

[cash register dings]

Thanks.

♪ Shout, shout, shout, shout, shout ♪

♪ Shout, shout, shut up, shut up...

♪ Shout, shout, shout, shout, shout...

[line ringing]

- [Melanie] Hello? - Hey, Mel.

- Ness, you okay? - Yeah, I'm-I'm fine.

[Tavie] When are you coming to get me?

- Tavie, baby. Um, soon. - [door opens, chimes]

You know? Maybe even tomorrow.

[Melanie] Ness, the cops were here.

They know about the phone.

Everybody is looking for you.

Wherever you are now, you need to get gone.

Look, yes. No... [stammers]

Mel, I know, okay?

I'm fine, um...

Look, no one knows where I'm at.

I got to go, okay?

[dramatic music playing]

[door chimes]

Mm. Hey.

What tonight smelling like...

whiskey or gin?

[♪ Trillville: "Neva Eva"]

- ♪ You can't, you can't ♪ - ♪ Get on my level, ho ♪

- ♪ Get on my level, ho, get on my level, ho ♪ - ♪ It's Trillville ♪

- ♪ Lil Scrappy, it's BME ♪ - ♪ Get on my level, ho, get on my level, ho ♪

- ♪ Let's go! ♪ - ♪ Get on my level, ho, get on my level, ho ♪

- ♪ You can neva eva, eva eva, eva eva ♪ - [grunting]

♪ Eva eva, eva eva ♪

- ♪ Get on my level ♪ - ♪ What! ♪

- ♪ Get on my level ♪ - ♪ What! ♪ - [sniffing]

- ♪ Get on my level, get on my level ♪ - ♪ What! What! ♪

♪ You can neva eva, eva eva ♪

♪ Eva eva, eva eva, eva eva ♪

- ♪ Get on my level ♪ - ♪ What! ♪ - [shouts]

- ♪ Get on my level, get on my level ♪ - ♪ What! What! ♪

- ♪ Get on my level ♪ - ♪ What! ♪ - [sniffing]

♪ You can neva eva ♪

♪ Eva eva, eva eva...

Get on my level, ho! [grunting]

- Never ever! Never ever! - [banging]

- [shouting continues indistinctly] - [song continuing indistinctly]

[line ringing]

[Hightower] You've reached Tania Hightower

of The Washington Telegram. Please leave a message.

Hi, um, Mi-Miss Hightower.

My name is Vanessa.

I'm calling because I think I have something that you should hear.

It's, um...

I-It's about Emir Goodspeed.

Please give me a call back.

[Damon] What do you mean she's here? I told you,

I don't want to.

[Nana Mama] It doesn't matter what you want.

In this house,

you're gonna get what you need, like it or not.

[Cross] No. No. Two, nine, two,

zero, one, zero.

I-I need the last 24 hours of footage.

You can't make me play piano with some stuffy old white lady.

Damon, that's enough.

Don't be too hard on him.

Hi, Damon. Aw.

I'm not what you were expecting, am I?

Well, if you're too scared to play, it won't matter who your teacher is.

- So... - I'm not scared.

No? Huh.

Talented kid who doesn't want to hear about the program...

sure sounds like scared to me.

Well... I'm not.

Well, then you should at least ask me

about what the Early Mozart Institute can do

for you and your future.

Uh-uh. Yeah, that's what I thought. You're scared.

No. No, I'm not. We can talk.

[Miss Nancy] Okay.

[phone chimes, buzzes]

All right, mister,

let me see you do your scales.

[distorted voice] Jannie, did you see the numbers I added to your hopscotch?

[Nana Mama] Jannie? Jannie?

[distorted voice] I wanted to tell you you're very pretty.

Just like your mommy.

[Nana Mama] Girl, what are you doing out here?

[piano softly playing in other room]

Is everything all right, sweetie?

Um...

Yeah.

Good. It's all good.

[Miss Nancy] Recognize a true G when you hear one?

[piano playing continuing]

Damon, your finger positioning... it's exquisite.

Where'd you learn to do that?

My mom used to teach me.

[Miss Nancy] Let's try this one.

♪ ♪

[Shannon] Mom, it's me.

I know you're in the air, but I...

I couldn't wait 'cause I got a call from the Ritz.

They're bringing me in for an interview.

Call me when you land. Okay, love you. Bye.

[Ramsey clears throat]

Hi. I just had a meeting on 16th and I thought I'd...

It sounds like you got some good news.

Yeah, I got-I got an interview.

At the Rit... at the Ritz.

That's great.

Did... did you...

Make a couple calls?

Maybe.

That's...

- Wow. [laughs] - Forget it.

I just like to help people achieve their dreams.

If you want, I could help with the interview.

Um, prep session, tomorrow morning, my place?

Hey, I've... I've really enjoyed hanging out with...

I think it's a little early

for anybody to be going to anybody else's place.

Wow, uh, sorry, no, that's not what I meant, at all.

Not that I wouldn't. I mean, you're gorgeous.

- Uh, sorry, I'm just gonna shut up. - [laughs]

Yeah. [laughs]

Sorry. Uh...

How about this?

Tomorrow morning, I'm gonna cook up a whole thing of bacon,

fresh pot of coffee, and you are welcome

to just come by for some harmless,

platonic, very friendly,

um, advice.

- [chuckles softly] - Okay.

I should, uh...

And you should get back to work, Ms. Witmer.

[door opens]

[quiet, indistinct radio chatter]

[engine stops]

Now, I know Nana Mama taught you better

than to wear your dirty work shirt on a date.

- I'm not going. - Man, stop bullshitting.

You stand that fine-ass woman up, you'll never get another shot.

Hey, the Southeast gonna pop off if we don't solve this Goodspeed case.

Oh, you gonna pop off, you don't get some downtime.

Come on, now. You ain't never been the cop that couldn't turn off at home.

Say what it really is.

I got a psycho threatening my family.

Damon's out of pocket. I put a gun on Jannie.

And that was before this dude started talking to her through the camera.

- Kids are resilient. - Come on, John, what am I supposed to tell them?

"Don't go outside or the lunatic who murdered your mom is gonna get you"?

"Oh, but also don't be so scared that you get PTSD"?

In case of emergency, you're supposed to put your oxygen mask on first, Sugar.

You need to get some leg.

I need to find out who's fucking with my family.

And we will. Look, I called in every favor I got.

Got the DNA from Maria's scarf moved to the top of the list.

All right?

Now, get that off your mind and get out the house.

Look, I'll watch the rugrats. Cookies, milk.

Little bedtime story. And maybe...

...get 'em up in the morning?

Hey, it's not like that.

It's about to be like that.

[laughs] - I know what it means when a woman invites you over to cook for you.

- Nah, stop. - No, I ain't gonna stop. You need to start

walking up them steps and put on some smell-good.

- Smell-good? - Yeah.

What you know about smell-good? You smell like mothballs and Old Spice.

[both laughing]

[car passes in distance]

[pensive music playing]

[phone rings]

- Hello? - [Hightower] Vanessa.

Tania Hightower. You said you had something for me.

Yes, I, um, I'm Tavio Lemmons' girlfriend.

I have his cell phone.

I think he was killed for something on there.

A voicemail from Emir Goodspeed.

I know this is all connected somehow,

- but, um... - Where are you?

Why do you think this woman is still in D.C.?

You ever see those Modern Textbook workbooks?

Yeah, my mother used to make me do them all summer.

- Eh? - Mm-hmm.

Maria did the same with our kids.

An hour a day, every day, no excuses.

I saw a pile of those books at Vanessa's sister's house.

Every page was filled in.

A mom like that... I-I can't see her going too far from her kid,

no matter how scared she is. No, it's just...

[♪ SWV: "Weak"]

[laughs]

- This song. Dang. - Yeah.

Junior high dance.

[laughs]

Okay.

[both laughing]

Yeah...

I got this raging crush on this older man.

And on the very last song,

finally get up the nerve to ask him to dance.

♪ I want to stay...

You probably don't even remember that.

You wore a green dress.

Little bit of shoulder showing out the top.

♪ On my mind, I can't figure out...

As I recall...

the lights came up early.

So, you still owe me half a dance,

Detective Alex Cross.

♪ I get so weak in the knees...

May I? [laughs]

♪ I lose all control and something...

[chuckles]

♪ In a daze, your love's so amazing ♪

♪ It's not a phase, I want you to stay with me...

You know, I always wondered...

♪ My pride, your love is so sweet...

...what happened if...

the lights never came up?

♪ Can't explain why your love ♪

♪ It makes me weak ♪

♪ Time after time after time ♪

♪ I try to fight it ♪

♪ But your love is strong ♪

♪ It keeps on holding on ♪

♪ Resistance is down when you're around ♪

♪ Cries fading...

[Cross] W-Wait, wait.

Hold... Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Uh...

I'm sorry.

I'm s-I'm sorry, I-I thought... I thought I was ready, um...

♪ Beating triple time ♪

♪ With thoughts of loving you on my mind...

[chuckles] I can wait.

♪ I can't figure out just what to do...

Baby, I can wait.

- ♪ Cure is you ♪♪ - [door closes]

[sighs]

[phone buzzes]

- [Cross] Hello? - Well, hello there.

- Say, "Kayla, you're my hero." - What?

Tavio Lemmons' phone pinged six minutes ago.

Where?

[keypad beeps]

[hip-hop music playing in distance]

[neighbors shouting]

[car alarm blaring in distance]

- [Bobby] You ever wonder... - [gasps]

- why they call it a "deadbolt"? - [whimpering]

[suspenseful music playing]

You got the kids meal...

[imitates gunshots]

...I got the toy.

[whimpering]

Please don't hurt me.

Okay.

Punch in Tavio code.

And we can end our little acquaintance

right here.

No harm, no foul.

[grunting]

[screams]

No!

[screams, grunts]

[crying]

[screams]

Let's put on some tunes.

[indistinct conversations]

[Kayla] Mmm.

You look nice.

You smell nice, too.

[chuckles]

Whoever she is, tell her I'm sorry I interrupted her evening.

Can... [sighs]

Tavio's phone is back on?

It was, but only long enough

to ping one tower.

It pings another, we'll be able to get a more precise location,

but for now...

we know it's somewhere in this radius.

- [Sampson] D.C.? - Mm-hmm.

If she was smart, she'd have skipped town by now.

Or, shit, could be some junkie turned it on.

Or there is no white horsey.

Or we're chasing our tails based on some kid's imagination.

[echoing]...kid's imagination.

That's what Vanessa's been doing.

She's thinking like a kid.

You think the stress made her regress to childlike thought patterns.

Well, it makes sense, right?

Her whole world's been turned upside down.

She'd crave familiarity, routine.

She'd be drawn to-to places that she recognizes.

- That's what would make her feel safe. - [Sampson] Mm.

Her work is here, right? Tavie's daycare is here.

Mm-hmm. And I bet she buys Tavie's workbooks right there

after picking him up from day care.

- Paradise Motel is just down the block from that drugstore. - Yep.

Last time I was there, you know what I saw sitting right out front?

[haunting music playing]

[♪ Gloria Gaynor: "I Will Survive"]

[Vanessa screams]

[choking]

[screams]

[choking]

[gasping]

[coughing]

Eventually...

this playlist here gonna run out.

If you haven't given me what I need by then,

let's just say that only one of us

will survive.

Help!

[♪ The Tokens: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"]

Oh.

Oh, that's the... stuff.

That's the stuff.

[chuckles] This for you, Pappy.

This for you.

[laughing]

♪ In the jungle, the mighty jungle ♪

♪ The lion sleeps tonight ♪

♪ In the jungle, the mighty jungle... ♪

[sinister music plays]

[chuckles] Anybody ever use their real name?

Have you seen this woman?

Oh, yeah. Little cute joint. 222.

Deuces wild.

You're the one in charge here, Vanessa.

You want this train to stop?

Chug-a-chug-a-chug-a chug-a-chug-a-chug-a...

Choo-choo! Choo... choo!

Pull the emergency brake,

and open

the motherfucking phone.

I don't know the code.

Wait, wait, please.

Please, I think I do remember.

I-I can remember if I see it.

[ominous music playing]

Don't fuck this up.

- [radio chirps] - [Sampson in distance] AB-2 to Control.

On scene at the Paradise Motel. [speaks indistinctly]

[control] Roger that, AB-2. [continues indistinctly]

[Sampson] Stand by for now.

We'll let you know if we need backup.

You stupid motherfuck... Who the fuck'd you send this to?

- Who is Baby Ma... - [phone chimes]

You sent it to yourself. [chuckles]

[indistinct radio chatter]

[dog barking in distance]

Oh, shit.

What they's looking for.

Help!

- Help, somebody! - [Sampson] Yo, that's up here!

[whimpers] Please.

- [gasping] - Stupid motherfucker.

- [Cross] Shit, you heard that? - [Sampson] Yeah, yeah, yeah, let's go.

[Cross] Vanessa Norris!

- Oh, shit. - Oh, shit!

Stand back. Stand back!

[gasping]

Hey, hey.

Can you tell me who did this?

Tell-tell me who did this.

Vanessa, stay with me. Stay with me.

[Sampson] 10-14, civilian down.

10-14. I need a bus at Paradise Motel.

Room 222.

[indistinct chatter]

[Massey] An innocent woman is dead.

We've got no phone, no ID on the killer.

[sighs] This investigation is fucked.

- We're all fucked. - Yeah.

- [phone rings, buzzes] - That about covers it.

Fuck.

[siren wails]

Kayla said that Tavio's phone sent one outgoing message

before it went dead.

Vanessa... I think she forwarded the evidence.

- To who? - Herself.

Goddamn it, Cross, what the fuck happened here?

She had a kid. You know that?

She was trying to do the right thing and she thought I could help her.

Maybe you can. I need a favor.

Give me two hours before you break anything.

Ju-Just two hours.

Oh, no, no, I do not do favors.

You still do deals?

She stumbled onto something big, didn't she?

I want three questions on background

and exclusive on any story that comes out of this investigation.

Do you believe Emir Goodspeed was murdered?

Yes.

Do you believe Tavio and Vanessa's deaths

- were linked to said murder? - Yes.

Fuck.

Do you have a suspect?

No.

Two hours till this hits the paper's online feed.

How long until it hits the streets, though?

[video game chirping]

Hey, Tavie.

You remember me?

Auntie Mel said not to tell you anything.

Oh, that's... that's fine, man, that's fine.

I don't want to get you in trouble.

Um, I-I came to tell you

that I found a new trick for your game.

You don't have to tell me anything.

I can just show you.

My kids, uh, they found a secret code

for an underwater habitat.

[elephant trumpets]

If I can just remember the code.

There you go.

Are you still trying to help my mom?

Tavie...

...it's not gonna be a good day.

It's not gonna be good for a minute.

Why?

That... that-that doesn't matter. Okay?

The only thing that matters

is that you know

everything you need to deal with bad stuff

is inside you.

You hear me?

I can see it.

Superhuman strength.

Mm. Mm!

Let me see, let me see. Mm, mm.

Let me see. Mm. Superhuman.

You got courage.

It's in you.

- And do you know why? - Why?

Because Mommy and Daddy put it there.

They made you a superhero, Tavie.

But on the inside. Hmm?

Right?

[Melanie speaking indistinctly in distance]

Tavie, hey...

You're a superhero.

I want you to say it. Say, "I'm a superhero."

I'm a superhero?

That's right. You can handle anything.

All right? Say it. Say, "I'm a superhero."

- I'm a superhero. - I'm a superhero.

- I'm a superhero. - Superhero. Say it.

- I'm a superhero. I'm a superhero. - Say, it yeah, I'm a superhero.

- I'm a superhero. - Get away from him!

- Get away! - I'm a superhero. - Say it, Tavie.

- I'm a superhero. - Get away from him. - Say it,

- Tavie, say it, say it. - Get your fucking hands off of him!

[crying] Come on, Tavie.

You're a superhero.

[dramatic music playing]

You had to.

Did we get it?

[Emir on recording] Tavio, it's me. I went to that dude's house

for a date, but something isn't right, man.

I'm all fucked up and I didn't touch anything.

He did something. I need you to pull up.

I'm at 41 Price Street.

[percussive music playing]

[doorbell rings]

[doorbell rings again]

[lock clicks]

[both chuckle]

Shannon.

Glad you decided to come.

Please.

[clears throat]

[lock clicks]

- This place is beautiful. - Thanks.

Probably too much house for one guy,

but, uh, what can I say?

I love the history. Come on in.

So, when is the interview?

Uh, 2:30.

Oh.

- I'm dying. - [chuckles]

Couldn't even sleep last night.

Please don't be nervous. You're gonna be...

You're gonna be great.

Mimosa?

No, thanks. I got to stay sharp.

[soft chuckle]

I'm not that kind of guy, Shannon.

I-I know. I...

No, no, it's okay.

You're right to be careful.

There's a lot of sickos out there.

And the thing is, it's not the mimosas

that you should be worried about.

It's the hand sanitizer.

[both chuckle]

- What? - You're a germophobe, aren't you?

You try to hide it, but you've got a bottle

in your purse right now.

And you keep a bottle on your desk at work.

And they're all over your apartment.

Uh...

How do you know that?

Because I did my homework, Shannon.

And I knew that if I put a little by the door,

you'd take it. Reflex.

Oh, whoa, whoa. Easy.

You feeling a little fuzzy? That's the fentanyl.

Did you know that it absorbs right through the skin?

- Go from... - Whoa, whoa, whoa.

I like that fight. [laughs]

[breathing shakily]

People know where I am. My mom...

My... mom...

You should call her before things get out of hand.

- [dialing] - [line ringing]

- [phone ringing] - Sorry.

Shan?

What's wrong, baby?

Do you need Mommy?

Then I'll be right there.

Oopsie.

Shannon? Hey.

Shannon.

[♪ DENM & Landon McNamara: "Lose Myself"]

Hello, Aileen.

♪ Starting to lose myself ♪

♪ Think I could use some help, but they don't see me ♪

♪ Getting used to this feeling ♪

♪ Oh, why, oh, why ♪♪

Next time on Cross...

I need a warrant, please.

[Shannon] What do you want from me?

One step at a time.

[Sampson] The DNA results

from the hair you found on Maria's scarf came in.

I want a name, John.

Someone from my past is out to get me.

[elevator bell dings]

I don't know who,

but I'm doing everything I can to find out.

Help!

[♪ DENM & Landon McNamara: "Lose Myself"]

♪ Tight 'cause I might ♪

♪ Just do anything ♪

♪ But I'll fight all night ♪

♪ No, I won't give up easily ♪

♪ Starting to lose myself ♪

♪ Think I could use some help, but they don't see me ♪

♪ Getting used to this feeling ♪

♪ Starting to lose myself ♪

♪ Think I could use some help, but they don't see me ♪

♪ Getting used to this feeling ♪

♪ My girl caught me talking to myself again ♪

♪ Mind-numbing, just what goes on in my head ♪

♪ I told her that even if I could express ♪

♪ It all falls on deaf ears ♪♪