Backstrom (2015): Season 1, Episode 6 - Ancient, Chinese, Secret - full transcript
As Backstrom and the SCU investigate the murder of a fortune teller, secrets are revealed.
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You know, chinatown
freaks me out.
Yeah, me, too.
I don't like seeing faces
on the stuff I eat.
I don't like watching one
country buy up another country,
Then make tiny versions
of itself inside every city.
Maybe they have a United States
of americatown in china.
You know,
you take tinier steps,
This stupid pedometer
doesn't even notice.
Yeah, it makes you look
like you got to pee.
Is that made in china?
Good point. They got
mostly short legs there.
Short legs
take short steps.
Don't be racist, moto.
[ sighs ]
[ camera shutter clicks ]
oh.
Ooh, ooh, ooh.
Yuck.
The victim was identified
by his twin sister
As davis gu, age 27,
Proprietor
of this establishment.
Claimed to be a psychic.
What happened here?
Ah.
Well, here's what
the blood-spatter patterns
Tell us so far.
Here we go.
It was after midnight
last night
When the victim
hears a knock on the door.
He sees who it is
and he unlocks it
Even though there's a sign
reading "closed."
He moves further into the store
when stab!
Oh!
In the upper back,
but the victim is fast.
He turns and he flings up
both of his arms --
Slash, stab, slash.
The victim,
Bleeding from both of his arms
and the gash to his cheek,
Runs for this sword
in hopes of defending himself,
But before he can reach it,
the killer strikes again --
Stab! Stab!
Now he's in trouble.
Now he's in trouble?
The victim stands here,
punctured lung,
Perforated kidney,
losing strength.
But not the will to live.
Turns, slash, slash, stab.
Victim goes down.
He kicks.
He kicks again.
The weapon skitters
across the floor.
See the streaks of blood?
The victim drags himself away,
weak from loss of blood.
The assailant, meanwhile,
regains the weapon,
Drags the victim, pulls him
into the middle of the room,
And then he just --
koo, koo, koo, koo, koo, koo! --
Stabs his way up
from the belly to the throat.
[ sighs ]
That's at least
the way that I see it.
Twin sister, who also works
as a psychic,
Found the body
when she came in after 9:00.
Okay, wait a minute. I have
a very important question.
Did everybody already
do the jokes
About psychics
not seeing it coming?
'cause I don't want to
repeat anything.
Did you find
the murder weapon?
No.
Gravely is supervising
a neighborhood canvass.
[ scoffs ] she should look
for suckers.
Fake psychic gives a fake
fortune to the wrong guy.
Where's his sister?
In back.
Davis and I, we're twins.
You have
one of those things
Where you felt
your brother's death?
No. Unlike davis,
I have no psychic ability
Unless I utilize
the ci qiu.
The...
Almond:
Did your brother have a beef
With any of his clients
recently?
Not that I knew.
What about
triad gang stuff?
He miss any payments?
No. Our business
is legitimate.
Very few triads still exist.
[ sniffles ]
And the preferred method
of execution is blinding,
Followed by slow hanging
from a piano wire.
Not what happened here.
Oh.
You and your brother
are rip-off artists.
So why don't you drop this
whole oriental mystical crap
And help me find who diced
and sliced your brother?
My brother and I
are the grandchildren
Of gu dawei,
a famous tongji.
Oh, I-I...
I thought you were chinese.
You look chinese.
Tongji means "medium."
We can communicate with spirits
beyond the grave.
Okay.
Then why don't you ask
your brother who killed him?
Because she needs
the cheech and chong.
Ci qiu.
Ci qiu.
Cheech char --
Ci qiu.
Chow chee.
Okay. Show us.
Niedermayer,
check this out.
Ms. Gu is gonna
tongji the cheech-chong.
The ci qiu.
This is not gonna be pleasant.
[ shouts in foreign language ]
Moto: Whoa.
Okay.
Are we just gonna
let her do that?
Niedermayer.
Huh?
Any chance that's
the murder weapon?
No, it wouldn't
explain the slashes.
[ shrieking ]
[ sobs ]
I have a message from
grandfather to the police.
Quick.
Somebody write this down.
He says, "the answer
lies behind the red door."
The red door?
Behind the red door,
huh?
We were actually looking
for a name.
He has one more message.
What is it?
"two worlds will collide."
Yeah, the worlds of moo shu pork
and my mouth.
Congratulations.
You finally got one right.
Okay, that was all
pretty weird.
I mean, twins are weird,
anyway,
But smacking themselves
with bloody nail balls.
So, uniforms are checking
the sewers for a knife,
And no one saw a man
soaked in blood
Walking around the neighborhood
last night.
Uh, maybe
it was a ghost.
Or maybe he got
into a car.
Thank you, gravely,
for not being crazy
And believing
in nonsense.
Oh, I believe in ghosts.
I saw one once.
Stop talking.
I was by myself,
and it was a creepy little girl.
It was a mirror.
Okay, guys,
when we solve this case,
It's not gonna involve demons
or voices from the great beyond.
It's gonna be
about greed and jealousy.
You know, the stuff
from regular homicides.
Plus, extra added bonus --
Any fakes we catch,
we'll turn into the fraud unit.
And we'll find them
behind a red door.
Why a red door?
The victim's grandfather
spoke from beyond the grave
And said, "the answers
lie behind a red door."
Really, moto?
Like that one?
That one?
That one or that one?
Or that one?
We're in chinatown.
There's red doors everywhere.
[ shouting in chinese ]
Okay. Sorry. Here.
They're perfectly good noodles.
[ speaking chinese ]
noodles!
[ shouts in chinese ]
Well, lieutenant, two worlds
collided just like she said.
Gravely:
And look behind you.
Red door.
Okay.
Stop it.
There's no such thing
as psychics.
A red door is a code
For something the sister
was afraid to talk about.
We find out what,
we'll find our killer.
Oh, god.
What?
Just noodles.
-- Captions by vitac --
Celia gu
has a confirmed alibi.
She was at an all-night
tongji ritual
At the time
of her brother's death.
You know, this is terrifying,
this object.
I don't understand
how anyone
Would beat herself off
with this.
[ chuckles ]
the tongji ritual
Symbolizes a deadening
of the body,
Which frees the spirit
to travel.
Much of traditional
chinese religion
Is about ancestor worship,
So fortunetellers
and spirit guides are revered
Because they're able to convey
The messages of the dead
to the living.
What -- what's that?
His ghostly eyes
were following me.
Have you had
a personal experience
With the occult,
gravely?
I had a tarot card reading
in college that was so spot-on,
I couldn't sleep
for weeks.
Was it about a boyfriend
cheating on you
Or your parents'
divorce?
Oh, my god.
Are you psychic, paquet?
No. I went to college.
[ chuckles ]
You know, there is a photo
on davis gu's
Portland
annual review page
Of a traditional chinese
astrology wheel.
But it appears nowhere
on the crime-scene photos.
Yeah, look at that.
There's a blank space
where the wheel should be.
Mm-hmm. So perhaps
the murder happened
In the course
of a robbery.
You know, an old
astrology wheel like this
Would be worth a fortune,
so we should --
We should find out
where it went.
That's very good, paquet.
Did you check the reviews,
See if there were any
particularly angry clients?
Yes, I did, and he got
mostly four stars.
But there was one
dissatisfied customer.
"this fraud
ruined my life.
He should be the one speaking
from the beyond."
Albert reid. Angry.
That's really
very good, paquet.
Thank you.
Okay, you two,
just word of warning --
You're not fooling
anyone.
That is not true.
Okay, well, you're
not fooling everyone.
I will locate
albert reid.
Niedermayer, you get
the lieutenant and
almond up to date.
Reid:
Yeah, I gave gu a bad review.
Psychics are supposed to help,
not ruin your life.
Almond: Well,
you called him a fraud.
And a conman.
Well, the lieutenant thinks
all psychics are frauds.
That is not the case.
You've left 11 comments
about 11 psychics online
In the last 2 months.
I believe
in giving feedback.
11 psychics?
You must be awfully worried
about your future.
Did any of them foresee
that you would lose a fight?
I got mugged last night.
What time?
Around midnight
in chinatown.
Really?
You got smacked around
at the same time
Davis gu was fighting off
his killer?
Wait.
Davis gu's dead?
[ sighs ]
"this fraud
ruined my life."
These are your words.
"he should be the one
speaking from the beyond."
That is called
issuing a public threat.
It wasn't a threat.
It was a review.
I was a loyal client
Until davis told me
and my girlfriend mae lin
That I was a water rabbit
and she was a fire snake.
Obviously the snake would
eventually consume the rabbit.
Well, obviously.
So mae lin took
that to mean
That we didn't have a future
together, so she left me.
I'm a hot asian girl.
I dump my boyfriend 'cause
I find someone less stupid
To help me
get my green card.
He blames it
on the fortuneteller.
No. False.
Mae lin came back
when she discovered
I'm actually a fire rabbit
and she's an earth snake.
That's totally compatible.
You look like
a fire rabbit.
Found out how?
Another lady --
lady mah.
She has true sight.
She even told me
davis is a fraud.
Well, so much
for professional courtesy.
No one hates a con
like another con.
Well, here's my prediction
from the future.
If your mugging story
doesn't hold up in the light,
You will spend the rest
of your life in the dark.
[ laughs ] that's good.
That's good.
[ laughs ]
[ siren wails ]
Ah. Gentlemen.
So, davis gu died from multiple
sharp force injuries
To the thoracic cavity.
Now, overkill usually indicates
a crime of passion,
But in this case,
it was a necessity.
Gu's muscle mass indicates
that he was a very strong man,
A difficult adversary.
I'll check reid's
alibi.
Uh, the medical examiner
said
That the weapon
is a serrated blade.
Every time you say
"the medical examiner says,"
That means you
disagree with him.
I don't know.
It's just, every time
the weapon is withdrawn,
The tissue is --
okay. Ugh.
Just let me know
when you got it figured out.
Sir.
[ groans ]
Davis gu's
personal effects.
I went through his wallet,
and I found cash,
Old business cards,
and...These.
Pay stubs from a laundry?
Yes, sir.
Three checks, 5 grand each.
Have paquet check it out.
Hmm.
Money laundering.
What?
It's where you take money
you got in a bad way
And you try to make it look
like you got it in a good way.
I know that. I just don't know
how yknow that
By glancing
at a few old check stubs.
Well, see, the check numbers
here are very close in sequence,
Indicating an absence
of documented payouts
From the issuer.
So, all the checks
are written at once?
Yes.
Or even more likely, these
checks are hardly ever used.
Well, lots of chinatown
runs on a cash-only basis.
Hmm.
In my opinion, these checks are
a paper trail left on purpose.
So the business itself
is a money-laundering operation?
I have a source at the fbi
who can help.
You already sound
like a source.
Oh. No, I'm not.
The science of money laundering
is just one of my many talents.
Almond: Albert reid filed
a mugging report last night.
Backstrom: Was he drenched
in blood when the cops showed?
No, they got there this morning.
He'd already showered.
There have been a rash of
muggings in the area lately.
By "lately," you mean
since the dawn of time?
Margaret ann latrell.
Lady mah for short.
She's not chinese.
She's got an afro.
Are you lady mah?
Yes, and I am many things.
Chinese is but one of them.
Oh.
Well, we are also
many things.
Cops is but one of them.
We're investigating
the murder of davis gu.
I know.
You know
because you killed him.
No.
Because I had a vision.
Hmm.
Three nights ago.
Oh, really?
So, what number
is he thinking of?
7.
Maybe. Maybe not.
Most men think 7.
Uh-huh.
There are many tricks
of the trade,
And davis needed them all.
Oh, because he's a sham
and you're not?
Oh, she's a sham, too.
You didn't come here to question
my clairvoyant abilities.
You got that right.
Hey, almond.
What's this?
Davis gu's astrology wheel
missing from the crime scene.
You're staring
at those autopsy photos
As though
they can speak.
I don't think
the medical examiner's right
About the murder weapon.
See, these wounds,
they're vicious, they're jagged.
The flesh is torn.
Nadia: Hmm.
Well, a serrated blade
would tear flesh.
But it wouldn't
pull out tissue.
See?
Hmm.
Okay, so what
would do that?
A fish-cutting knife
With a hook
at the end of the blade.
Then that's the weapon.
You're welcome.
All right, so heavenly laundry's
income and expenses
Are pretty reasonable
for a small business.
I mean, the cash intake
is high,
But not
out of the ordinary.
And the costs
and gross receipts
Are also pretty normal
on a relative basis.
How are you gonna get
a warrant?
Oh, by highlighting
the transaction numbers. See?
Yeah.
Sure. Definitely.
Transaction numbers.
What does it mean?
Okay,
a business this size
Would never have
so many transactions,
So this is how we know
there are illegal goings-on.
So, you bought the wheel
from the victim?
From his sister, celia,
two weeks ago.
I still have
the receipt.
Why would
she sell it to you?
Davis not only had
no natural talent,
But he never bothered to study
the astrological signs.
He couldn't even read chinese.
It was embarrassing to celia.
So she killed him.
No.
She wouldn't do that.
I...
[ thunder rumbles ]
I have
a different theory.
Let's hear it.
The wheel is a gu family
artifact.
Selling it offended
the spirits of his ancestors.
I believe that davis was killed
by his grandfather's ghost.
[ sighs ]
[ groans ]
No such thing
as ghost murderers
Or astrological signs
or dalai lamas.
I'll get a warrant,
Search her place
for the murder weapon.
Hey, kid!
I don't want that.
Better be
for a dinner special!
"do you feel lucky?"
on couch street.
Look at that.
It's got a red door, too.
What do you think?
Brothel?
Brothel?
I'm gonna hand it
into vice.
Get your mind
out of the gutter, almond.
Pervert.
Thank you.
One of those nights,
huh?
My best suspect
is a chinese ghost.
The victim is
a fortuneteller.
All the witnesses
are psychics.
Everywhere I look,
it's scammers scamming.
I was a psychic
for two weeks.
Why does that
not surprise me?
Did pretty well, too.
It's easy pickings.
People only ever ask about
two things -- love or money.
You figure out
which means more to them.
You advise them gently
in that direction,
They'll give you
their whole damn life savings.
So why'd you quit?
I have a naturally
mocking face,
And it started to give me
a headache
Pretending that I was sincere
all the time.
[ laughs ]
I should bring you down to
chinatown with me as an expert.
You know I can't go
to chinatown.
Oh, okay. Well, now you know
I cannot go to chinatown.
I may or may not have promised
to procure an ancient scroll
Written by the legendary
chinese general guan yu
For a scary mobster type
who paid up front.
[ clicks tongue ]
Yeah.
I tell you, though.
I really miss chinatown.
Speaking of which...
What do you know
about this brothel?
Uh...Enough to know
it's not a brothel.
It says "get lucky."
It says "feel lucky."
It's an underground
gambling den
Behind a fluff-and-fold
laundry.
Down in the basement
filled with suckers.
You can't miss it.
[ chuckles ]
Fantastic.
A money laundry...
With a red door.
Hey, don't touch
that button.
It's not a red door.
Leave no stone
unturned, moto.
Every gambling den's
got a symbol
Lets the lowlifes know
it's safe to come inside.
[ loud chatter ]
Almond: Don't move.
Everyone, hands where
I can see them!
Get over there!
Everybody, don't move!
It's the police!
Gravely: Dominic chan,
please identify yourself.
Everyone, relax.
This is a private party.
You got
a lot of friends.
Nobody move,
not even a twitch,
Or the enormous black man and
the ginger dwarf will shoot.
Is that a warrant?
As a matter of fact, it is,
and it covers everything --
Wallpaper, tiles, books,
strip searches.
Nope.
No strip searches.
No strip searches.
Everything else, though.
Somebody
call a paddy wagon.
And get me someone who can
mirandize in mandarin.
[ indistinct ]
Can I help you?
Special agent
jacob cole
With the fbi's
organized crime division.
Has this visit
got anything to do
With us busting an illegal
gambling den in chinatown?
I'm here
as a favor to nadia.
She called me
about dominic chan.
You called the fbi?
I have experts
in many walks of life.
Jacob
applies on this walk.
Dominic chan's
a small-time operator,
No ties
to organized crime.
He's been running
a gambling ring for a year.
The chinese laundry is
how he scrubs his profits.
So how come
you never arrested him?
We messed up one of your
long-term undercover stings.
Yes. But to be honest,
it wasn't going anywhere.
Jacob says
he'd be all right
If we popped dominic chan
for murder.
Oh, jacob said that?
Oh, well, thank goodness
You're checking our work
with the fbi, nadia.
Oh, you're very welcome.
So, did the name
davis gu
Come up during
your investigation?
Yeah.
Your murder victim.
He was definitely
a known associate.
He was a known associate who
chan was paying $5,000 a week.
We didn't know that.
I can tell you
that chan's establishment
Was heavily rigged for
the house, even more than usual.
Virtually impossible
for anyone to win.
If davis gu was involved,
That's the sort of thing
that can get a guy killed.
So you admit to knowing
davis gu?
Of course.
Did he ever gamble
at your establishment?
I have no establishment.
[ scoffs ]
Merely some friends who drop by
and play a friendly game.
Why'd you pay davis gu?
He was a personal adviser
on various matters.
I will be lost
without him.
He wasn't an adviser.
He was a shill.
Oh, and by the way, found that
on the windshield of our car.
A child put it there.
I'm a fake fortuneteller.
I soften up the biggest suckers
with tales of big money luck.
Then I plant this flyer,
Sending them to my friend's
illegal gambling den.
You and gu
were partners.
It's quite a scam
you got going.
Successful, too, if you're
writing 15 grand in checks.
[ chuckles ]
if you believe that,
Then you'd also believe
I'd be insane to kill him.
Chinese mob guy like this
with a partner dead,
There's no way there's not some
guy with his eyes gouged out
Hanging from piano wire.
[ chuckles ]
you are suggesting I'm triad.
You give me too much credit,
lieutenant.
I'm but a simple man.
And simple men need their
attorneys to speak for them.
I should call mine,
don't you think?
[ sighs ]
These are dominic chan's
gambling ledgers?
Yes.
How can you tell?
This looks like chinese
to me.
Like, literally,
this is in chinese.
It's code.
It's pictograms and symbols.
Dominic chan told us
it was his salsa recipe.
How do you think
they know each other?
Who?
Paquet and the fed?
I don't know. Maybe he was
stationed in France.
Hey, we cracked
the code!
Yep.
[ laughs ] good job.
Wow. So, here is
a partial list
Of the gamblers
who owed money.
It'll take me some time
to decipher the rest,
But this is
a good start.
Oh, and the lieutenant's theory
is correct
Because the names in red are
also known clients of davis gu.
Wait, wait, wait.
How did you break the code?
Okay, so these symbols
are homonyms
For the last names
of the gamblers.
For example, this heart here
Represents the chinese word
"zhong," which means "heart,"
But also sounds like
the word "bell,"
Which is the last name
of this particular gambler.
And the chinese numbers
here are pai gow tile pairings
Indicating the amount owed
in thousands.
So dominic chan was making
a lot of money
From this business arrangement,
and if davis gu died,
Then his whole revenue
stream would dry up.
So no motive.
Well, there is
if you're a gambler
Who's been taken
to the cleaners.
Ha! And in this case,
the gambling den is
literally the cleaners.
[ both laugh ]
Okay, as I was saying,
one of the angry gamblers
Might have killed gu
for setting him up.
Hmm,
that is a weak motive.
Why?
Well, even if davis gu
is dead,
The debt is still owed
to dominic chan.
It's not rational.
Well, people
are not rational.
They get angry
and take revenge
Even if they don't
get anything out of it.
Whoa.
That was so cynical.
Backstrom
is rubbing off on me.
Hmm, sadly,
you also sound correct.
[ knock on door ]
hey.
We're running down
the biggest losers
From chan's gambling den,
See who has alibis
and who doesn't.
Okay.
The ledger says some
of the gamblers
Lost up to 100 grand.
Okay.
Lieutenant?
This picture points
to a big fight.
Every fight's
got two stories.
Well, we know that gu
lost that fight.
But we don't know
that he didn't start it.
Look at this.
[ clears throat ]
This rug, see?
Yeah.
Been rolled up
and shoved aside.
Forensics crew
didn't do that?
No.
There's blood spatters
on the outside of the carpet.
So you're saying davis gu
rolled up the carpet
Before he was killed?
Yeah.
Wow.
He knew a murder
was gonna happen.
I'm gu. I want someone dead.
I invite them over.
I roll up the rug
for easier cleanup.
Somehow they get
the drop on me.
Yeah, but gu wouldn't
kill a gambler.
No. Not one of the players
that he was ripping off.
But what if someone was
ripping off him and chan?
A big winner?
Maybe.
Someone scamming the scammers.
That's a short list.
Here we go.
One big winner.
Over 100 grand
over 2 days.
Huh.
Jinjing fei.
Bring him in.
You got it.
[ knock on door ]
lieutenant.
What?
This is jimmy.
He said you wanted
to see him.
Jimmy who?
My american name
is jimmy.
My chinese name
is jinjing fei.
No way.
Wait. The guy we were
just talking about.
Yeah.
You wanted to see me.
I'm here.
He brought this.
[ chuckles ] that fits
the description of
the murder weapon.
It's the reason
you want to see me.
Kid's kind of small
to do that much damage.
Could explain the ferocity
of his attack.
Why would he
turn himself in?
So, you're a psychic.
Psychic enough to know
that you don't believe me
When I say
that I'm psychic.
Okay, so what am I thinking
right now?
That you need a new bra.
Okay, that is actually
what I was thinking
Beneath
what I was thinking.
Oh, stop it.
Is this the murder weapon?
Huh?
Yes.
You know
who did the murder?
Yes.
But until you guys
figure it out for yourself,
You won't believe me anyway.
You were the only person
to have ever beat the house
At dominic chan's
gambling den.
You know, that place
is totally rigged.
So, what? You used your psychic
powers to cheat the cheaters?
That is correct.
So, how come you're not
the one who's dead?
He's psychic.
Come on.
I'm you.
I'm a cocky, little psychic kid
who thinks he sees the future.
And the future tells me
davis gu is gonna kill me,
So I stop by
and I kill him first.
I'm you...
A lonely, depressed kite maker
Who would drink himself to death
out of boredom
If there weren't evil people
out in the world
Trying to outsmart him.
[ sighs ]
[ chuckles ]
Kind of have some strange
abilities yourself.
Limited, but strong.
Like a blind man
seeing in the dark.
Seeing the very worst
in everyone.
This way of viewing
the world is dangerous,
And it will lead
to failure and death.
[ pounds wall ]
hey.
Did you see
that coming?! Hmm?!
Lieutenant!
Okay, where are you getting
your information from?
I'm one of the super psychics
of china.
That sounds
very important.
[ knock on door ]
That guy will fill you in.
L-lieutenant,
the chinese government
Runs a psychic
training program
To hone the skills
of gifted young children,
And I believe that he is one
of those gifted children.
I'm -- I'm surprised
your government let you out.
They didn't.
But when you can see
the future,
It's easy to get away.
Okay -- hey --
This is for john, frank,
you, nicole,
Peter, everett,
and lastly, aurélie.
Aurélie?
[ chuckles ] I'm sorry.
Nadia.
Go ahead. Compare.
I'll wait.
This better be good.
Freak.
All right. Almond.
You. And moto.
Ah.
All right. Who's up?
Go ahead, niedermayer.
You go. I'm not going.
All right.
I'll go, you big babies.
He'll go.
Um, "the silence is broken.
The heart will now mend."
[ chuckles ]
I haven't spoken to my daughter
in four years.
[ sighs ]
She called me yesterday.
Coincidence.
Gravely?
"you are making the exact same
mistake for the third time."
What does that mean?
It's true, it's about a guy,
and I don't want to discuss it.
Please don't.
What about you, anchorman?
Okay, um...
[ clears throat ]
"the love of your life...
Is keeping a very big secret."
Hmm.
Whoa. Okay. Wow.
You two?
Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
Oh, that is
so unprofessional!
Well, mine says,
"your dreams will elude you,
But not forever."
My dreams are to get out of
uniform and into plainclothes.
Well, prophecy's
obviously wrong
'cause that's never
gonna happen, so...
Paquet.
Nadia: Oh. Um...
"he is still looking
for you."
Gravely: Wow. Who?
You know, this holds absolutely
no meaning to me,
So...Lieutenant?
We've wasted enough time
on this hooey. Come on.
Almond!
All right.
So, we're convinced of your
mighty, mighty psychic powers.
Now tell us
who killed davis gu.
It was me. I killed him
before he could kill me.
Exactly how many steps ahead
are you thinking?
[ sighs ]
lieutenant, just a thought.
If we hold jimmy
on suspicion of murder,
Then he can't be deported
back to china,
Which is the main thing
he wants.
Well, then, let's give jimmy
what he wants.
Read him his rights.
Get him a lawyer.
This case is closed.
Who's still looking
for you?
Oh, like the lieutenant said,
that was all hooey.
A chinese boy pulling a scam
Because he doesn't
want to go back to china.
I'm not psychic,
but I'm pretty observant.
You have a sophisticated
knowledge
Of money-laundering
operations that doesn't fit in
With anything I know about you
or your background.
The fbi consults --
Okay, look, the most important
thing right now
Is to discover if the knife
that the boy brought to us
Is the actual
murder weapon.
Nadia.
If you're in trouble, you don't
need to look any further.
I will do whatever
needs to be done to help.
[ siren wails ]
Oh, god!
Don't do that.
Do they just
let you in now?
Pretty much.
Listen, uh...
[ clears throat ]
Dominic chan is the guy I may
or may not have ripped off.
Well, good news for you.
We just arrested him for running
an illegal gambling den.
Oh, great. That'll keep him
on ice for what,
Another six hours?
Look,
if you wouldn't mind
Putting down
your emphysema phallus,
Would you give this
to him for me, please?
That's your thing, huh?
Yes.
Why don't you just
sell it to someone else?
Nobody wants it,
or I would.
So, let me
get this straight --
You want me to give that
to dominic chan
So that you can go back
to chinatown?
Yeah, I'm just like
everybody else.
I like a little gaysian
now and again.
Oh, no.
Valentine.
Niedermayer.
[ sighs ]
will you two stop gaying up
My personal private
quiet space?
So, we completed
the forensic analysis
On the hooked dagger
that jimmy brought us.
It's the murder weapon,
but not the murder weapon.
Wow. How buddhist.
What are you
talking about?
The dagger
is a perfect match
For the puncture wounds
found on the victim.
However, there was
no blood residue
Found on the weapon
at all.
Could he have
cleaned it?
No, 'cause
the other residue
That dates back before the
murder makes that impossible.
Let me see
that thing.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, song dynasty
hooked dagger.
They replicate these things
all over chinatown.
So the killer used
a mass-produced weapon
To throw us
off the trail.
See, this
is an actual replica.
It's got weight to it.
It's not flimsy like the stuff
you buy at the nickel and yuan.
There's only one guy
who sells those.
Black-market type.
Goes by the name of tiny.
Where's his store?
In his van.
He always parks
in the same place.
And I can draw you a map.
[ sighs ]
Moto: You know, this street
doesn't even have a name.
We're looking for a man
named tiny,
Which I assume is a nickname
that he's actually very large.
Hold on.
Or not.
Tiny?
I didn't do anything, so you can
keep your gun in your holster.
Yeah, we're gonna ask
to see your knives,
So I'm just gonna keep
my hand on my gun.
I got you covered,
niedermayer.
What are you looking for?
A hooked dagger.
That there is
an illegal weapon.
I can assure you,
mr. Tiny,
Our interests lay
not in your inventory,
But in your clientele.
What the hell
does that mean?
It means that if
you don't show us
What we want to see,
we'll bust you.
Oh.
Okay.
Very good. I'm gonna show you
some photographs of some people.
You stop me if you sold
any one of them a hooked dagger.
What is that? No.
No.
I got to tell you, I'd lie
about dominic chan, anyway.
Are you lying this time?
No. But I would,
is what I'm saying.
You don't mess
with that guy.
Yeah. Him.
Came in a couple days ago.
I sold him a dagger.
It's albert reid.
If it helps,
I overcharged him.
No. It doesn't help.
I did not kill davis gu.
These symbols stand
for the chinese words
For "sun" and "big."
"ri" and "da."
Ri-da.
That sounds like "reid"
to me.
This puts you in the heavenly
laundry gambling ring.
And you lost big.
$60,000.
We think davis gu
sent you to the red door
After telling you
that the signs were auspicious.
And you trusted him
and you gambled all your money.
Went back and hacked him
with a knife.
This knife.
We found it
in your apartment.
It's the murder weapon.
It's reid.
Forensics indicate
That he was in possession
of the actual murder weapon.
Yeah,
but why did he do it?
Anger at being set up.
I'm 60 grand in hock.
Why waste a murder on the shill?
Dominic chan is still waiting
there to collect the debt.
Oh, we all know that
reid's not the smartest
guy in the world.
I am going to go get some coffee
before reid's lawyer gets here.
[ door opens ]
I got a feeling
we're wrong about this.
All due respect, lieutenant,
you sound like a psychic.
I don't believe
in psychics.
Neither does
the justice system,
So we have to stick
to evidence.
Detective almond.
Yeah?
Um, so, I've been thinking about
what the psychic said to me.
Which one?
The chinese from china
kid.
He said that "your dreams will
elude you, but not forever."
It's not the worst fortune
I've ever heard.
Right.
So I said to myself,
I said,
"take detective almond's advice.
Work hard. Prove yourself."
Backstrom said,
"turn over every rock."
Moto, moto.
I have a lot of work to do.
The point?
Okay. So I started looking
through the paperwork
That we got
from the laundry, and...
I found that.
Oh, good.
Go get it translated.
Already did.
And it says...
"you will be betrayed
by your partner."
That's right.
And you found it where?
Buried under a stack of ious
made out to dominic chan.
If it was up to me, you'd be
out of that uniform tomorrow.
Still have to write
the exam.
[ chuckles ]
I never
would have taken you
As someone
that believed in psychics.
I don't.
Well, not scammers
like davis gu and lady mah.
But real psychics
like jimmy,
Who was trained
by the chinese government.
I bet you'd bet on that.
Huh?
I'm you...
A businessman with a plan.
I make a lot of money
playing games,
But my partner only gets
a fraction of the profit.
Then I get a message
from a reliable source.
My partner gets greedy.
He wants more
and is gonna kill me to get it.
So I make a deal
with albert reid.
He kills davis gu first,
And in exchange,
I forgive his gambling debt.
You can't prove that.
Hmm.
I'm albert reid, a moron
with a gambling problem.
They tell me they're gonna
execute me for murder
Unless I make a deal
And implicate the man
who made me do it.
Now, I'm no psychic,
but I am a gambling man.
And all my money's
On albert reid singing
like a choir girl.
You want to take that bet?
It had my name on it.
Really?
And he ate it anyway?
Yes. He ate it anyway.
Dog.
Bye.
The lieutenant ate
my pizza.
Good night, guys.
You know you can't leave
anything in the refrigerator
With him around.
Aurélie.
So, I know that
you were part of something
That involved
a money laundry,
Something
you can't talk about.
And this man
who is looking for you --
This man looking for me...
He's gonna find me.
And when he does,
I'll have to run --
Alone and fast.
Until the day
you decide to make a stand.
There is no standing
against this man.
You're in witness
protection?
I cannot be
a football mother in kansas.
But the fbi helped me
establish a new identity.
And agent cole is my contact,
someone I can trust.
You can trust me.
I just did.
With my life.
Look at that.
12,000 steps.
2,000 more than I needed.
Let me guess.
You did not give
dominic chan my gift, did you?
Nope.
Oh, great.
So I can never go to chinatown.
I did one better.
I arrested him
for soliciting murder.
What happened to your cute,
little asian psychic?
The d.A.'s trying
to figure out
Whether or not to charge him
as an accessory.
For what? Telling chan that
davis gu was gonna kill him?
[ scoffs ]
I don't know.
The kid
seemed kind of cheerful,
So maybe he foresaw it
all working out for the best.
Oh, so you believe
in psychics now.
Never in a million years.
Here.
It's my fortune
from jim-jim.
[ chuckles ]
jimmy.
You haven't read it?
Of course not.
What?
Give me that.
"you won't see
next christmas."
It's a good thing you
don't believe in it, huh?
Yeah.
Good thing.
---
You know, chinatown
freaks me out.
Yeah, me, too.
I don't like seeing faces
on the stuff I eat.
I don't like watching one
country buy up another country,
Then make tiny versions
of itself inside every city.
Maybe they have a United States
of americatown in china.
You know,
you take tinier steps,
This stupid pedometer
doesn't even notice.
Yeah, it makes you look
like you got to pee.
Is that made in china?
Good point. They got
mostly short legs there.
Short legs
take short steps.
Don't be racist, moto.
[ sighs ]
[ camera shutter clicks ]
oh.
Ooh, ooh, ooh.
Yuck.
The victim was identified
by his twin sister
As davis gu, age 27,
Proprietor
of this establishment.
Claimed to be a psychic.
What happened here?
Ah.
Well, here's what
the blood-spatter patterns
Tell us so far.
Here we go.
It was after midnight
last night
When the victim
hears a knock on the door.
He sees who it is
and he unlocks it
Even though there's a sign
reading "closed."
He moves further into the store
when stab!
Oh!
In the upper back,
but the victim is fast.
He turns and he flings up
both of his arms --
Slash, stab, slash.
The victim,
Bleeding from both of his arms
and the gash to his cheek,
Runs for this sword
in hopes of defending himself,
But before he can reach it,
the killer strikes again --
Stab! Stab!
Now he's in trouble.
Now he's in trouble?
The victim stands here,
punctured lung,
Perforated kidney,
losing strength.
But not the will to live.
Turns, slash, slash, stab.
Victim goes down.
He kicks.
He kicks again.
The weapon skitters
across the floor.
See the streaks of blood?
The victim drags himself away,
weak from loss of blood.
The assailant, meanwhile,
regains the weapon,
Drags the victim, pulls him
into the middle of the room,
And then he just --
koo, koo, koo, koo, koo, koo! --
Stabs his way up
from the belly to the throat.
[ sighs ]
That's at least
the way that I see it.
Twin sister, who also works
as a psychic,
Found the body
when she came in after 9:00.
Okay, wait a minute. I have
a very important question.
Did everybody already
do the jokes
About psychics
not seeing it coming?
'cause I don't want to
repeat anything.
Did you find
the murder weapon?
No.
Gravely is supervising
a neighborhood canvass.
[ scoffs ] she should look
for suckers.
Fake psychic gives a fake
fortune to the wrong guy.
Where's his sister?
In back.
Davis and I, we're twins.
You have
one of those things
Where you felt
your brother's death?
No. Unlike davis,
I have no psychic ability
Unless I utilize
the ci qiu.
The...
Almond:
Did your brother have a beef
With any of his clients
recently?
Not that I knew.
What about
triad gang stuff?
He miss any payments?
No. Our business
is legitimate.
Very few triads still exist.
[ sniffles ]
And the preferred method
of execution is blinding,
Followed by slow hanging
from a piano wire.
Not what happened here.
Oh.
You and your brother
are rip-off artists.
So why don't you drop this
whole oriental mystical crap
And help me find who diced
and sliced your brother?
My brother and I
are the grandchildren
Of gu dawei,
a famous tongji.
Oh, I-I...
I thought you were chinese.
You look chinese.
Tongji means "medium."
We can communicate with spirits
beyond the grave.
Okay.
Then why don't you ask
your brother who killed him?
Because she needs
the cheech and chong.
Ci qiu.
Ci qiu.
Cheech char --
Ci qiu.
Chow chee.
Okay. Show us.
Niedermayer,
check this out.
Ms. Gu is gonna
tongji the cheech-chong.
The ci qiu.
This is not gonna be pleasant.
[ shouts in foreign language ]
Moto: Whoa.
Okay.
Are we just gonna
let her do that?
Niedermayer.
Huh?
Any chance that's
the murder weapon?
No, it wouldn't
explain the slashes.
[ shrieking ]
[ sobs ]
I have a message from
grandfather to the police.
Quick.
Somebody write this down.
He says, "the answer
lies behind the red door."
The red door?
Behind the red door,
huh?
We were actually looking
for a name.
He has one more message.
What is it?
"two worlds will collide."
Yeah, the worlds of moo shu pork
and my mouth.
Congratulations.
You finally got one right.
Okay, that was all
pretty weird.
I mean, twins are weird,
anyway,
But smacking themselves
with bloody nail balls.
So, uniforms are checking
the sewers for a knife,
And no one saw a man
soaked in blood
Walking around the neighborhood
last night.
Uh, maybe
it was a ghost.
Or maybe he got
into a car.
Thank you, gravely,
for not being crazy
And believing
in nonsense.
Oh, I believe in ghosts.
I saw one once.
Stop talking.
I was by myself,
and it was a creepy little girl.
It was a mirror.
Okay, guys,
when we solve this case,
It's not gonna involve demons
or voices from the great beyond.
It's gonna be
about greed and jealousy.
You know, the stuff
from regular homicides.
Plus, extra added bonus --
Any fakes we catch,
we'll turn into the fraud unit.
And we'll find them
behind a red door.
Why a red door?
The victim's grandfather
spoke from beyond the grave
And said, "the answers
lie behind a red door."
Really, moto?
Like that one?
That one?
That one or that one?
Or that one?
We're in chinatown.
There's red doors everywhere.
[ shouting in chinese ]
Okay. Sorry. Here.
They're perfectly good noodles.
[ speaking chinese ]
noodles!
[ shouts in chinese ]
Well, lieutenant, two worlds
collided just like she said.
Gravely:
And look behind you.
Red door.
Okay.
Stop it.
There's no such thing
as psychics.
A red door is a code
For something the sister
was afraid to talk about.
We find out what,
we'll find our killer.
Oh, god.
What?
Just noodles.
-- Captions by vitac --
Celia gu
has a confirmed alibi.
She was at an all-night
tongji ritual
At the time
of her brother's death.
You know, this is terrifying,
this object.
I don't understand
how anyone
Would beat herself off
with this.
[ chuckles ]
the tongji ritual
Symbolizes a deadening
of the body,
Which frees the spirit
to travel.
Much of traditional
chinese religion
Is about ancestor worship,
So fortunetellers
and spirit guides are revered
Because they're able to convey
The messages of the dead
to the living.
What -- what's that?
His ghostly eyes
were following me.
Have you had
a personal experience
With the occult,
gravely?
I had a tarot card reading
in college that was so spot-on,
I couldn't sleep
for weeks.
Was it about a boyfriend
cheating on you
Or your parents'
divorce?
Oh, my god.
Are you psychic, paquet?
No. I went to college.
[ chuckles ]
You know, there is a photo
on davis gu's
Portland
annual review page
Of a traditional chinese
astrology wheel.
But it appears nowhere
on the crime-scene photos.
Yeah, look at that.
There's a blank space
where the wheel should be.
Mm-hmm. So perhaps
the murder happened
In the course
of a robbery.
You know, an old
astrology wheel like this
Would be worth a fortune,
so we should --
We should find out
where it went.
That's very good, paquet.
Did you check the reviews,
See if there were any
particularly angry clients?
Yes, I did, and he got
mostly four stars.
But there was one
dissatisfied customer.
"this fraud
ruined my life.
He should be the one speaking
from the beyond."
Albert reid. Angry.
That's really
very good, paquet.
Thank you.
Okay, you two,
just word of warning --
You're not fooling
anyone.
That is not true.
Okay, well, you're
not fooling everyone.
I will locate
albert reid.
Niedermayer, you get
the lieutenant and
almond up to date.
Reid:
Yeah, I gave gu a bad review.
Psychics are supposed to help,
not ruin your life.
Almond: Well,
you called him a fraud.
And a conman.
Well, the lieutenant thinks
all psychics are frauds.
That is not the case.
You've left 11 comments
about 11 psychics online
In the last 2 months.
I believe
in giving feedback.
11 psychics?
You must be awfully worried
about your future.
Did any of them foresee
that you would lose a fight?
I got mugged last night.
What time?
Around midnight
in chinatown.
Really?
You got smacked around
at the same time
Davis gu was fighting off
his killer?
Wait.
Davis gu's dead?
[ sighs ]
"this fraud
ruined my life."
These are your words.
"he should be the one
speaking from the beyond."
That is called
issuing a public threat.
It wasn't a threat.
It was a review.
I was a loyal client
Until davis told me
and my girlfriend mae lin
That I was a water rabbit
and she was a fire snake.
Obviously the snake would
eventually consume the rabbit.
Well, obviously.
So mae lin took
that to mean
That we didn't have a future
together, so she left me.
I'm a hot asian girl.
I dump my boyfriend 'cause
I find someone less stupid
To help me
get my green card.
He blames it
on the fortuneteller.
No. False.
Mae lin came back
when she discovered
I'm actually a fire rabbit
and she's an earth snake.
That's totally compatible.
You look like
a fire rabbit.
Found out how?
Another lady --
lady mah.
She has true sight.
She even told me
davis is a fraud.
Well, so much
for professional courtesy.
No one hates a con
like another con.
Well, here's my prediction
from the future.
If your mugging story
doesn't hold up in the light,
You will spend the rest
of your life in the dark.
[ laughs ] that's good.
That's good.
[ laughs ]
[ siren wails ]
Ah. Gentlemen.
So, davis gu died from multiple
sharp force injuries
To the thoracic cavity.
Now, overkill usually indicates
a crime of passion,
But in this case,
it was a necessity.
Gu's muscle mass indicates
that he was a very strong man,
A difficult adversary.
I'll check reid's
alibi.
Uh, the medical examiner
said
That the weapon
is a serrated blade.
Every time you say
"the medical examiner says,"
That means you
disagree with him.
I don't know.
It's just, every time
the weapon is withdrawn,
The tissue is --
okay. Ugh.
Just let me know
when you got it figured out.
Sir.
[ groans ]
Davis gu's
personal effects.
I went through his wallet,
and I found cash,
Old business cards,
and...These.
Pay stubs from a laundry?
Yes, sir.
Three checks, 5 grand each.
Have paquet check it out.
Hmm.
Money laundering.
What?
It's where you take money
you got in a bad way
And you try to make it look
like you got it in a good way.
I know that. I just don't know
how yknow that
By glancing
at a few old check stubs.
Well, see, the check numbers
here are very close in sequence,
Indicating an absence
of documented payouts
From the issuer.
So, all the checks
are written at once?
Yes.
Or even more likely, these
checks are hardly ever used.
Well, lots of chinatown
runs on a cash-only basis.
Hmm.
In my opinion, these checks are
a paper trail left on purpose.
So the business itself
is a money-laundering operation?
I have a source at the fbi
who can help.
You already sound
like a source.
Oh. No, I'm not.
The science of money laundering
is just one of my many talents.
Almond: Albert reid filed
a mugging report last night.
Backstrom: Was he drenched
in blood when the cops showed?
No, they got there this morning.
He'd already showered.
There have been a rash of
muggings in the area lately.
By "lately," you mean
since the dawn of time?
Margaret ann latrell.
Lady mah for short.
She's not chinese.
She's got an afro.
Are you lady mah?
Yes, and I am many things.
Chinese is but one of them.
Oh.
Well, we are also
many things.
Cops is but one of them.
We're investigating
the murder of davis gu.
I know.
You know
because you killed him.
No.
Because I had a vision.
Hmm.
Three nights ago.
Oh, really?
So, what number
is he thinking of?
7.
Maybe. Maybe not.
Most men think 7.
Uh-huh.
There are many tricks
of the trade,
And davis needed them all.
Oh, because he's a sham
and you're not?
Oh, she's a sham, too.
You didn't come here to question
my clairvoyant abilities.
You got that right.
Hey, almond.
What's this?
Davis gu's astrology wheel
missing from the crime scene.
You're staring
at those autopsy photos
As though
they can speak.
I don't think
the medical examiner's right
About the murder weapon.
See, these wounds,
they're vicious, they're jagged.
The flesh is torn.
Nadia: Hmm.
Well, a serrated blade
would tear flesh.
But it wouldn't
pull out tissue.
See?
Hmm.
Okay, so what
would do that?
A fish-cutting knife
With a hook
at the end of the blade.
Then that's the weapon.
You're welcome.
All right, so heavenly laundry's
income and expenses
Are pretty reasonable
for a small business.
I mean, the cash intake
is high,
But not
out of the ordinary.
And the costs
and gross receipts
Are also pretty normal
on a relative basis.
How are you gonna get
a warrant?
Oh, by highlighting
the transaction numbers. See?
Yeah.
Sure. Definitely.
Transaction numbers.
What does it mean?
Okay,
a business this size
Would never have
so many transactions,
So this is how we know
there are illegal goings-on.
So, you bought the wheel
from the victim?
From his sister, celia,
two weeks ago.
I still have
the receipt.
Why would
she sell it to you?
Davis not only had
no natural talent,
But he never bothered to study
the astrological signs.
He couldn't even read chinese.
It was embarrassing to celia.
So she killed him.
No.
She wouldn't do that.
I...
[ thunder rumbles ]
I have
a different theory.
Let's hear it.
The wheel is a gu family
artifact.
Selling it offended
the spirits of his ancestors.
I believe that davis was killed
by his grandfather's ghost.
[ sighs ]
[ groans ]
No such thing
as ghost murderers
Or astrological signs
or dalai lamas.
I'll get a warrant,
Search her place
for the murder weapon.
Hey, kid!
I don't want that.
Better be
for a dinner special!
"do you feel lucky?"
on couch street.
Look at that.
It's got a red door, too.
What do you think?
Brothel?
Brothel?
I'm gonna hand it
into vice.
Get your mind
out of the gutter, almond.
Pervert.
Thank you.
One of those nights,
huh?
My best suspect
is a chinese ghost.
The victim is
a fortuneteller.
All the witnesses
are psychics.
Everywhere I look,
it's scammers scamming.
I was a psychic
for two weeks.
Why does that
not surprise me?
Did pretty well, too.
It's easy pickings.
People only ever ask about
two things -- love or money.
You figure out
which means more to them.
You advise them gently
in that direction,
They'll give you
their whole damn life savings.
So why'd you quit?
I have a naturally
mocking face,
And it started to give me
a headache
Pretending that I was sincere
all the time.
[ laughs ]
I should bring you down to
chinatown with me as an expert.
You know I can't go
to chinatown.
Oh, okay. Well, now you know
I cannot go to chinatown.
I may or may not have promised
to procure an ancient scroll
Written by the legendary
chinese general guan yu
For a scary mobster type
who paid up front.
[ clicks tongue ]
Yeah.
I tell you, though.
I really miss chinatown.
Speaking of which...
What do you know
about this brothel?
Uh...Enough to know
it's not a brothel.
It says "get lucky."
It says "feel lucky."
It's an underground
gambling den
Behind a fluff-and-fold
laundry.
Down in the basement
filled with suckers.
You can't miss it.
[ chuckles ]
Fantastic.
A money laundry...
With a red door.
Hey, don't touch
that button.
It's not a red door.
Leave no stone
unturned, moto.
Every gambling den's
got a symbol
Lets the lowlifes know
it's safe to come inside.
[ loud chatter ]
Almond: Don't move.
Everyone, hands where
I can see them!
Get over there!
Everybody, don't move!
It's the police!
Gravely: Dominic chan,
please identify yourself.
Everyone, relax.
This is a private party.
You got
a lot of friends.
Nobody move,
not even a twitch,
Or the enormous black man and
the ginger dwarf will shoot.
Is that a warrant?
As a matter of fact, it is,
and it covers everything --
Wallpaper, tiles, books,
strip searches.
Nope.
No strip searches.
No strip searches.
Everything else, though.
Somebody
call a paddy wagon.
And get me someone who can
mirandize in mandarin.
[ indistinct ]
Can I help you?
Special agent
jacob cole
With the fbi's
organized crime division.
Has this visit
got anything to do
With us busting an illegal
gambling den in chinatown?
I'm here
as a favor to nadia.
She called me
about dominic chan.
You called the fbi?
I have experts
in many walks of life.
Jacob
applies on this walk.
Dominic chan's
a small-time operator,
No ties
to organized crime.
He's been running
a gambling ring for a year.
The chinese laundry is
how he scrubs his profits.
So how come
you never arrested him?
We messed up one of your
long-term undercover stings.
Yes. But to be honest,
it wasn't going anywhere.
Jacob says
he'd be all right
If we popped dominic chan
for murder.
Oh, jacob said that?
Oh, well, thank goodness
You're checking our work
with the fbi, nadia.
Oh, you're very welcome.
So, did the name
davis gu
Come up during
your investigation?
Yeah.
Your murder victim.
He was definitely
a known associate.
He was a known associate who
chan was paying $5,000 a week.
We didn't know that.
I can tell you
that chan's establishment
Was heavily rigged for
the house, even more than usual.
Virtually impossible
for anyone to win.
If davis gu was involved,
That's the sort of thing
that can get a guy killed.
So you admit to knowing
davis gu?
Of course.
Did he ever gamble
at your establishment?
I have no establishment.
[ scoffs ]
Merely some friends who drop by
and play a friendly game.
Why'd you pay davis gu?
He was a personal adviser
on various matters.
I will be lost
without him.
He wasn't an adviser.
He was a shill.
Oh, and by the way, found that
on the windshield of our car.
A child put it there.
I'm a fake fortuneteller.
I soften up the biggest suckers
with tales of big money luck.
Then I plant this flyer,
Sending them to my friend's
illegal gambling den.
You and gu
were partners.
It's quite a scam
you got going.
Successful, too, if you're
writing 15 grand in checks.
[ chuckles ]
if you believe that,
Then you'd also believe
I'd be insane to kill him.
Chinese mob guy like this
with a partner dead,
There's no way there's not some
guy with his eyes gouged out
Hanging from piano wire.
[ chuckles ]
you are suggesting I'm triad.
You give me too much credit,
lieutenant.
I'm but a simple man.
And simple men need their
attorneys to speak for them.
I should call mine,
don't you think?
[ sighs ]
These are dominic chan's
gambling ledgers?
Yes.
How can you tell?
This looks like chinese
to me.
Like, literally,
this is in chinese.
It's code.
It's pictograms and symbols.
Dominic chan told us
it was his salsa recipe.
How do you think
they know each other?
Who?
Paquet and the fed?
I don't know. Maybe he was
stationed in France.
Hey, we cracked
the code!
Yep.
[ laughs ] good job.
Wow. So, here is
a partial list
Of the gamblers
who owed money.
It'll take me some time
to decipher the rest,
But this is
a good start.
Oh, and the lieutenant's theory
is correct
Because the names in red are
also known clients of davis gu.
Wait, wait, wait.
How did you break the code?
Okay, so these symbols
are homonyms
For the last names
of the gamblers.
For example, this heart here
Represents the chinese word
"zhong," which means "heart,"
But also sounds like
the word "bell,"
Which is the last name
of this particular gambler.
And the chinese numbers
here are pai gow tile pairings
Indicating the amount owed
in thousands.
So dominic chan was making
a lot of money
From this business arrangement,
and if davis gu died,
Then his whole revenue
stream would dry up.
So no motive.
Well, there is
if you're a gambler
Who's been taken
to the cleaners.
Ha! And in this case,
the gambling den is
literally the cleaners.
[ both laugh ]
Okay, as I was saying,
one of the angry gamblers
Might have killed gu
for setting him up.
Hmm,
that is a weak motive.
Why?
Well, even if davis gu
is dead,
The debt is still owed
to dominic chan.
It's not rational.
Well, people
are not rational.
They get angry
and take revenge
Even if they don't
get anything out of it.
Whoa.
That was so cynical.
Backstrom
is rubbing off on me.
Hmm, sadly,
you also sound correct.
[ knock on door ]
hey.
We're running down
the biggest losers
From chan's gambling den,
See who has alibis
and who doesn't.
Okay.
The ledger says some
of the gamblers
Lost up to 100 grand.
Okay.
Lieutenant?
This picture points
to a big fight.
Every fight's
got two stories.
Well, we know that gu
lost that fight.
But we don't know
that he didn't start it.
Look at this.
[ clears throat ]
This rug, see?
Yeah.
Been rolled up
and shoved aside.
Forensics crew
didn't do that?
No.
There's blood spatters
on the outside of the carpet.
So you're saying davis gu
rolled up the carpet
Before he was killed?
Yeah.
Wow.
He knew a murder
was gonna happen.
I'm gu. I want someone dead.
I invite them over.
I roll up the rug
for easier cleanup.
Somehow they get
the drop on me.
Yeah, but gu wouldn't
kill a gambler.
No. Not one of the players
that he was ripping off.
But what if someone was
ripping off him and chan?
A big winner?
Maybe.
Someone scamming the scammers.
That's a short list.
Here we go.
One big winner.
Over 100 grand
over 2 days.
Huh.
Jinjing fei.
Bring him in.
You got it.
[ knock on door ]
lieutenant.
What?
This is jimmy.
He said you wanted
to see him.
Jimmy who?
My american name
is jimmy.
My chinese name
is jinjing fei.
No way.
Wait. The guy we were
just talking about.
Yeah.
You wanted to see me.
I'm here.
He brought this.
[ chuckles ] that fits
the description of
the murder weapon.
It's the reason
you want to see me.
Kid's kind of small
to do that much damage.
Could explain the ferocity
of his attack.
Why would he
turn himself in?
So, you're a psychic.
Psychic enough to know
that you don't believe me
When I say
that I'm psychic.
Okay, so what am I thinking
right now?
That you need a new bra.
Okay, that is actually
what I was thinking
Beneath
what I was thinking.
Oh, stop it.
Is this the murder weapon?
Huh?
Yes.
You know
who did the murder?
Yes.
But until you guys
figure it out for yourself,
You won't believe me anyway.
You were the only person
to have ever beat the house
At dominic chan's
gambling den.
You know, that place
is totally rigged.
So, what? You used your psychic
powers to cheat the cheaters?
That is correct.
So, how come you're not
the one who's dead?
He's psychic.
Come on.
I'm you.
I'm a cocky, little psychic kid
who thinks he sees the future.
And the future tells me
davis gu is gonna kill me,
So I stop by
and I kill him first.
I'm you...
A lonely, depressed kite maker
Who would drink himself to death
out of boredom
If there weren't evil people
out in the world
Trying to outsmart him.
[ sighs ]
[ chuckles ]
Kind of have some strange
abilities yourself.
Limited, but strong.
Like a blind man
seeing in the dark.
Seeing the very worst
in everyone.
This way of viewing
the world is dangerous,
And it will lead
to failure and death.
[ pounds wall ]
hey.
Did you see
that coming?! Hmm?!
Lieutenant!
Okay, where are you getting
your information from?
I'm one of the super psychics
of china.
That sounds
very important.
[ knock on door ]
That guy will fill you in.
L-lieutenant,
the chinese government
Runs a psychic
training program
To hone the skills
of gifted young children,
And I believe that he is one
of those gifted children.
I'm -- I'm surprised
your government let you out.
They didn't.
But when you can see
the future,
It's easy to get away.
Okay -- hey --
This is for john, frank,
you, nicole,
Peter, everett,
and lastly, aurélie.
Aurélie?
[ chuckles ] I'm sorry.
Nadia.
Go ahead. Compare.
I'll wait.
This better be good.
Freak.
All right. Almond.
You. And moto.
Ah.
All right. Who's up?
Go ahead, niedermayer.
You go. I'm not going.
All right.
I'll go, you big babies.
He'll go.
Um, "the silence is broken.
The heart will now mend."
[ chuckles ]
I haven't spoken to my daughter
in four years.
[ sighs ]
She called me yesterday.
Coincidence.
Gravely?
"you are making the exact same
mistake for the third time."
What does that mean?
It's true, it's about a guy,
and I don't want to discuss it.
Please don't.
What about you, anchorman?
Okay, um...
[ clears throat ]
"the love of your life...
Is keeping a very big secret."
Hmm.
Whoa. Okay. Wow.
You two?
Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
Oh, that is
so unprofessional!
Well, mine says,
"your dreams will elude you,
But not forever."
My dreams are to get out of
uniform and into plainclothes.
Well, prophecy's
obviously wrong
'cause that's never
gonna happen, so...
Paquet.
Nadia: Oh. Um...
"he is still looking
for you."
Gravely: Wow. Who?
You know, this holds absolutely
no meaning to me,
So...Lieutenant?
We've wasted enough time
on this hooey. Come on.
Almond!
All right.
So, we're convinced of your
mighty, mighty psychic powers.
Now tell us
who killed davis gu.
It was me. I killed him
before he could kill me.
Exactly how many steps ahead
are you thinking?
[ sighs ]
lieutenant, just a thought.
If we hold jimmy
on suspicion of murder,
Then he can't be deported
back to china,
Which is the main thing
he wants.
Well, then, let's give jimmy
what he wants.
Read him his rights.
Get him a lawyer.
This case is closed.
Who's still looking
for you?
Oh, like the lieutenant said,
that was all hooey.
A chinese boy pulling a scam
Because he doesn't
want to go back to china.
I'm not psychic,
but I'm pretty observant.
You have a sophisticated
knowledge
Of money-laundering
operations that doesn't fit in
With anything I know about you
or your background.
The fbi consults --
Okay, look, the most important
thing right now
Is to discover if the knife
that the boy brought to us
Is the actual
murder weapon.
Nadia.
If you're in trouble, you don't
need to look any further.
I will do whatever
needs to be done to help.
[ siren wails ]
Oh, god!
Don't do that.
Do they just
let you in now?
Pretty much.
Listen, uh...
[ clears throat ]
Dominic chan is the guy I may
or may not have ripped off.
Well, good news for you.
We just arrested him for running
an illegal gambling den.
Oh, great. That'll keep him
on ice for what,
Another six hours?
Look,
if you wouldn't mind
Putting down
your emphysema phallus,
Would you give this
to him for me, please?
That's your thing, huh?
Yes.
Why don't you just
sell it to someone else?
Nobody wants it,
or I would.
So, let me
get this straight --
You want me to give that
to dominic chan
So that you can go back
to chinatown?
Yeah, I'm just like
everybody else.
I like a little gaysian
now and again.
Oh, no.
Valentine.
Niedermayer.
[ sighs ]
will you two stop gaying up
My personal private
quiet space?
So, we completed
the forensic analysis
On the hooked dagger
that jimmy brought us.
It's the murder weapon,
but not the murder weapon.
Wow. How buddhist.
What are you
talking about?
The dagger
is a perfect match
For the puncture wounds
found on the victim.
However, there was
no blood residue
Found on the weapon
at all.
Could he have
cleaned it?
No, 'cause
the other residue
That dates back before the
murder makes that impossible.
Let me see
that thing.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, song dynasty
hooked dagger.
They replicate these things
all over chinatown.
So the killer used
a mass-produced weapon
To throw us
off the trail.
See, this
is an actual replica.
It's got weight to it.
It's not flimsy like the stuff
you buy at the nickel and yuan.
There's only one guy
who sells those.
Black-market type.
Goes by the name of tiny.
Where's his store?
In his van.
He always parks
in the same place.
And I can draw you a map.
[ sighs ]
Moto: You know, this street
doesn't even have a name.
We're looking for a man
named tiny,
Which I assume is a nickname
that he's actually very large.
Hold on.
Or not.
Tiny?
I didn't do anything, so you can
keep your gun in your holster.
Yeah, we're gonna ask
to see your knives,
So I'm just gonna keep
my hand on my gun.
I got you covered,
niedermayer.
What are you looking for?
A hooked dagger.
That there is
an illegal weapon.
I can assure you,
mr. Tiny,
Our interests lay
not in your inventory,
But in your clientele.
What the hell
does that mean?
It means that if
you don't show us
What we want to see,
we'll bust you.
Oh.
Okay.
Very good. I'm gonna show you
some photographs of some people.
You stop me if you sold
any one of them a hooked dagger.
What is that? No.
No.
I got to tell you, I'd lie
about dominic chan, anyway.
Are you lying this time?
No. But I would,
is what I'm saying.
You don't mess
with that guy.
Yeah. Him.
Came in a couple days ago.
I sold him a dagger.
It's albert reid.
If it helps,
I overcharged him.
No. It doesn't help.
I did not kill davis gu.
These symbols stand
for the chinese words
For "sun" and "big."
"ri" and "da."
Ri-da.
That sounds like "reid"
to me.
This puts you in the heavenly
laundry gambling ring.
And you lost big.
$60,000.
We think davis gu
sent you to the red door
After telling you
that the signs were auspicious.
And you trusted him
and you gambled all your money.
Went back and hacked him
with a knife.
This knife.
We found it
in your apartment.
It's the murder weapon.
It's reid.
Forensics indicate
That he was in possession
of the actual murder weapon.
Yeah,
but why did he do it?
Anger at being set up.
I'm 60 grand in hock.
Why waste a murder on the shill?
Dominic chan is still waiting
there to collect the debt.
Oh, we all know that
reid's not the smartest
guy in the world.
I am going to go get some coffee
before reid's lawyer gets here.
[ door opens ]
I got a feeling
we're wrong about this.
All due respect, lieutenant,
you sound like a psychic.
I don't believe
in psychics.
Neither does
the justice system,
So we have to stick
to evidence.
Detective almond.
Yeah?
Um, so, I've been thinking about
what the psychic said to me.
Which one?
The chinese from china
kid.
He said that "your dreams will
elude you, but not forever."
It's not the worst fortune
I've ever heard.
Right.
So I said to myself,
I said,
"take detective almond's advice.
Work hard. Prove yourself."
Backstrom said,
"turn over every rock."
Moto, moto.
I have a lot of work to do.
The point?
Okay. So I started looking
through the paperwork
That we got
from the laundry, and...
I found that.
Oh, good.
Go get it translated.
Already did.
And it says...
"you will be betrayed
by your partner."
That's right.
And you found it where?
Buried under a stack of ious
made out to dominic chan.
If it was up to me, you'd be
out of that uniform tomorrow.
Still have to write
the exam.
[ chuckles ]
I never
would have taken you
As someone
that believed in psychics.
I don't.
Well, not scammers
like davis gu and lady mah.
But real psychics
like jimmy,
Who was trained
by the chinese government.
I bet you'd bet on that.
Huh?
I'm you...
A businessman with a plan.
I make a lot of money
playing games,
But my partner only gets
a fraction of the profit.
Then I get a message
from a reliable source.
My partner gets greedy.
He wants more
and is gonna kill me to get it.
So I make a deal
with albert reid.
He kills davis gu first,
And in exchange,
I forgive his gambling debt.
You can't prove that.
Hmm.
I'm albert reid, a moron
with a gambling problem.
They tell me they're gonna
execute me for murder
Unless I make a deal
And implicate the man
who made me do it.
Now, I'm no psychic,
but I am a gambling man.
And all my money's
On albert reid singing
like a choir girl.
You want to take that bet?
It had my name on it.
Really?
And he ate it anyway?
Yes. He ate it anyway.
Dog.
Bye.
The lieutenant ate
my pizza.
Good night, guys.
You know you can't leave
anything in the refrigerator
With him around.
Aurélie.
So, I know that
you were part of something
That involved
a money laundry,
Something
you can't talk about.
And this man
who is looking for you --
This man looking for me...
He's gonna find me.
And when he does,
I'll have to run --
Alone and fast.
Until the day
you decide to make a stand.
There is no standing
against this man.
You're in witness
protection?
I cannot be
a football mother in kansas.
But the fbi helped me
establish a new identity.
And agent cole is my contact,
someone I can trust.
You can trust me.
I just did.
With my life.
Look at that.
12,000 steps.
2,000 more than I needed.
Let me guess.
You did not give
dominic chan my gift, did you?
Nope.
Oh, great.
So I can never go to chinatown.
I did one better.
I arrested him
for soliciting murder.
What happened to your cute,
little asian psychic?
The d.A.'s trying
to figure out
Whether or not to charge him
as an accessory.
For what? Telling chan that
davis gu was gonna kill him?
[ scoffs ]
I don't know.
The kid
seemed kind of cheerful,
So maybe he foresaw it
all working out for the best.
Oh, so you believe
in psychics now.
Never in a million years.
Here.
It's my fortune
from jim-jim.
[ chuckles ]
jimmy.
You haven't read it?
Of course not.
What?
Give me that.
"you won't see
next christmas."
It's a good thing you
don't believe in it, huh?
Yeah.
Good thing.