Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996): Season 10, Episode 14 - Deadly Assets - full transcript

Jessica? Charlie?

You mean to tell me
you know this bozo?

Industrial espionage in
the used-car business?

He'll be scared to death.

Unless you give the money back
immediately, it'll be out of my hands.

You two wouldn't be conjuring up
some sort of celebration, now would you?

Celebration?

Like a birthday party? For whom?

Jessica, why do
I have this feeling

that you're not giving me
all 15 chapters on this guy?

Well, you aren't telling
me who you're working for.



I've gotta corner Lomax and make
him give me that bundle of money.

So who's got the money?

Well, the killer.

Police!

Anybody here?

Eleven, twelve... Which
brings the total to...

Well, I make it 14 guests.

And I don't think
I've forgotten anyone.

Any inspirations in
the gift department?

Well, there's that fly rod
that he's been talking about.

That's what I
figured I'd give him.

Well, then you go ahead
and I'll keep looking. Ah.

Looking? For what?

Oh, uh, some place
to buy storm windows



that will last more than a year.

Hello? MAN: Is Sheriff there?

Yes. He's right here.
Deputy Andy for you.

Hello.

Hi, Sheriff. There's been
a burglary down at Lomax.

Right. Meet you down here.

Okay, Andy. I'll see
you in a couple minutes.

Gotta go. There's a burglary
down at the Lomax Sheet Metal...

Listen, Mrs. F. If
you're really stuck,

I'll be glad to find
something else.

Find something else?
What's he talking about?

The dinner party.

Several of the guests
don't care for shellfish.

If you ask me, with all
you've got on your mind,

I think you're crazy to fool
around with some dinner party

when there's no
special occasion.

Well, I mean, such as a... An
anniversary, or even a birthday.

Oh, I know. But these days
I get to spend so little time

with my old friends up here.

It was our welding
equipment that they used.

They got it from out back.

What kind of petty cash are
we talking about, Mr. Lomax?

Oh, two, maybe three
hundred bucks at most.

And you're pretty sure
that's all that was taken?

As far as I can make out.

Sheriff, I found this
knife next to the safe.

Looks like some
kind of fishing knife.

Do you recognize
this, Mr. Lomax?

Yes, I do. It's mine.

I usually keep it in my desk.

Andy, we'll check it for prints.

We're gonna be leaving now, sir.

I'm sorry this had
to happen to you.

Yeah, me, too.

If I had been a little closer when
I picked up your alarm signal,

I probably could have
caught this guy in the act.

Maybe next time.

Thanks, Sheriff, Deputy.

Lomax.

What happened?

I expected to hear
from you earlier

with confirmation that my
parcel had been shipped.

Joseph, there's a problem.

What kind of problem?

It's a theft.

There's nothing to be
alarmed about, it's...

It's just a local kid. I'll
take care of it myself.

I'll have it in my hands
first thing in the morning.

Then I'll personally deliver
it down at the Caymans.

You're sure?

You've got my word
on it. Consider it done.

This kid... He'll
be scared to death.

That last word, Sanford,

that's the one to keep in mind.

Oscar,

we have a problem.

The chase continued
south on Michigan Avenue

at speeds in excess
of 80 miles an hour.

The driver was arrested when his car
struck a utility pole at Germack Road.

In sports, Chicago beat the New York
Eagles in a three-pointer in overtime.

And turning to horse racing,

today at the Chicago
Downs in the ninth race,

it was Swift Prince by
a nose over Victor Way.

Adelphi's Goat ran third.

Swift Prince paid...

Hello. You've reached
Garrett Investigations.

All of our lines
are busy just now.

Please press 1 for
Mr. Garrett's assistant.

Press 2...

If you're there,
Garrett, pick up.

It's Sanford Lomax, and I've
got a job for you. It's urgent.

A voice from the past.

You know, I'm all booked
up in the next month.

What you got? Another repo?

Industrial espionage.

Industrial espionage in
the used-car business?

No, no, no. That's old
news. I'm in metals now.

Look, I checked.

You can get a flight out
of O'Hare at 6:00 a.m.,

that'll put you into
Portland before noon.

Okay. Okay. But, uh, why me?

I mean, you must have plenty of
guys up in your neck of the woods.

I need somebody I can trust.

Oh!

Hey, the last time I trusted you

I almost got my ticket punched!

Oh, come on, Charlie,

how could I have known that that
Bentley was full of stolen goods?

Look, you've gotta
do this for me, Charlie.

It's important, okay?

Charlie? Are you there?

Yeah. I'm... I'm
checking my schedule.

You know, it doesn't look too
good right now, Mr. Lomax...

All right. Your regular
fee, plus an extra 25%.

Make it 50. What airline?

Uh-huh.

Sometimes, you know, I'd
like to see 'em in this town.

Well, I think...

We ought to do more
of those harbor scenes.

Can't keep 'em in the store.

Mother, I've done
the harbor. To death.

Huh!

Oh, that glow. I can't
quite seem to get it.

I'd like to before
they tear it down.

Hello, Libby, Celia.

Hi, Mrs. Fletcher.

New York finally
get too noisy for you?

Oh, no. Not yet.

I'm just in town for a few
days to get my house in shape.

Oh, I have to stop by
and see you, too, Libby.

My New York attorney
wants to see my trust deed.

Oh, well, we're
moving the office,

but I'll try to pull it
before we finish packing.

Oh, fine.

Have you and
Walter set a date yet?

No, but we're closing in.

Hmm.

I'll see you tonight, Mother. And
I'll bring back some more supplies.

Bye, Jessica. Bye.

You know, Libby is
looking so lovely, Celia.

Mmm-hmm. Can I help you?

You have a brass
lamp in the window.

I wonder, would you
have it with a red shade?

Celia, is something the matter?

You really don't
remember, do you?

Remember? What?

It figures.

Four years ago? The
high school reunion?

I sent Harvey to bring you
a gift. A green glass apple?

Yes. Yes, of
course. It was lovely.

Uh-huh?

Forgive me. Am I
missing something?

Not that business about
my thank-you note?

The one that got lost in the
mail? Something like that?

And when it finally got here,

it was dated three weeks
after you received our gift.

Oh, Celia, I'm...

Well, Mrs. Fletcher, I'll be over
later to look at those storm windows.

I'm sorry you're having
trouble with them.

Well, thanks, Harvey.

I told you not to go
to work for Lomax.

Mother, will you give it a rest?

Look, Celia, I really don't know
what to say about your problem,

but four years seems
an awfully long time

to carry around
something like that.

Jessica.

I can have that lamp
for you tomorrow.

Thanks.

Get back as soon
as you finish, okay?

Walter, we gotta
talk about last night.

Last night?

The Sheriff found your
knife in my office by the safe.

I told him it was mine.

I'll get to the point, Walter.
Return the money immediately.

Less the 1,200 that you
seem to think I owe you.

Seem to think. What?
Are you kidding me?

For the last six months
I've been trying to get you

to check out the crummy job
you did and make good on it.

I mean, the engine housing
started rusting the day you finished it.

And the hull...

Walter, what you did
last night was very stupid.

I don't know what you're
talking about, Mr. Lomax.

The cash you took.

You know, I heard on
the radio this morning,

they said only $300 was taken.

Walter, you don't understand.

The money you took wasn't mine.

It belongs to other people.

Other people?

People to whom life
is very, very cheap.

People from whom
you cannot hide.

Look, Mr. Lomax, I don't know
what you've been smoking...

Get it straight, Walter, unless you
give the money back immediately,

and swear not to breathe a word
to the authorities, or anyone else,

it'll be out of my hands.

I don't know how my
knife got in your office

and I don't have your
money so get off my boat!

I got work to do.

You got until midnight.

Don't make another
mistake, Walter.

He ripped me off, damn it!

Look, I couldn't take
it anymore, okay?

I even wrote to
him, like you said,

but he never
returned my letters.

Walter... He never...

That's not an
excuse for stealing.

I mean, you've got to go to
the Sheriff and turn yourself in.

I don't think I can do that.

Look, I meant to take 1,200 bucks,
which is exactly what he owes me.

You meant? What are you saying?

Well, as it turns out,

I took $900,000!

Oh, my God!

The radio said it was only...

Look, Libby, to me that means that
he can't admit he had all that money.

Like it's something illegal?

Yeah. And if Lomax knows that I
know he's up to something crooked,

then he also knows I could be
a potential witness against him.

Even if I call the cops,

you, me, your whole family,
none of us would be safe.

You always said my temper
would get me in trouble someday,

and now I think I
got you in it, too.

Now listen, Walter. Okay,
what are we gonna do?

- Look, Libby, I don't know...
- Oh, Libby, there you are.

Hi, Jessica. Hello, Libby.

Walter. Jessica.

I found your trust
deed. Oh, good.

It's up in the front. I made a copy of
it for you. Luckily it wasn't packed yet.

Here we go.

Another few minutes and it
would've been lost forever.

Thanks.

Hello, Harvey.

Jessica, we can't go
on meeting like this.

Oh, is this a bunch
of stuff for Mom?

Part of it. I can't believe the
stuff we're just gonna throw out.

Well, I'll grab
the rest of it later.

Listen, Jessica,
can I give you a lift?

Actually, no, I
have one. Thanks.

You can take me over to the new
office and pick me up there tonight.

You're on, sis.

Some little dinner party. You have
enough here to feed a regiment.

Yes. It does seem to be
taking on a life of its own.

I'm sure glad that
you can make it, Seth.

Doc, you're
blocking traffic here.

You got any more errands,
you're gonna have to move it.

Traffic? Why, it's like siesta
time south of the border.

Look, a space just
opened up, up there.

Now, you either
pull it in there,

or I'm gonna have
to write you a ticket.

Oh? Is the Sheriff Department's
slush fund running a bit dry now?

Oh, Mrs. F, I've decided
not to get him that fly rod.

Adele saw a lamp in
Celia Terhune's window.

Uh-huh. Well, that's...

Oscar Gandile.

What the hell would he be
doing in this part of the world?

Looks like someone
had a fender-bender.

Would you look at that!

Mister!

Why don't you watch
where you're going?

Hold it, Doc. Take it
easy. Let me handle this.

Sir, may I see your license
and registration, please?

Officer, you saw
the whole thing.

That old clown started backing up
without giving a signal or anything.

You saw what?

I'm sorry, sir, but that's
not the way I saw it.

Well, then maybe you ought
to have your eyes examined.

Okay, fella. Out
of the car, now.

What do you expect in a
backwater town like this?

Jessica?

Charlie?

Mrs. F, you mean to tell
me you know this bozo?

Well, you see, my client
was hot to get me started.

So I figured I'd
call you tonight.

Industrial espionage?
That's all you were told?

That and a description
and his name, of course.

Charlie, are you in the habit of
taking jobs on so little information?

Jessica, sometimes
all I got to go on is this.

So, this Walter Perry.
You known him a long time?

All his life.

He was orphaned at 14, lost his
parents in an automobile wreck.

He was raised by
his grandmother,

who happened to be a
very close friend of mine.

She died a few years ago.

What kind of a kid was he?

Impulsive.

Ah! A hoodlum, you mean.

Oh, no, not really. Oh, he got
into a few scrapes with the Sheriff,

but he... He settled down.

Jessica, why do
I have this feeling

that you're not giving me
all 15 chapters on this guy?

Well, you aren't telling
me who you're working for.

Touché. Okay, suppose I did.

Would you then give me the
full scoop on Walter Perry?

Well, that might depend
on who your client is.

Ah-ha! There, you see?

Charlie... Look, I'm fond of
Walter, also of his fiancée.

And I don't want to see them get
into trouble, or to be the cause of it.

You know what I think, Jessica?

I think this kid is
already in a lot of trouble.

And I think you know a lot
more than you're letting on.

Excuse me.

Hi, Jessica. I don't mean
to interrupt or anything here,

but I thought I ought
to let you know.

I tried to talk Mr. Lomax into
replacing your storm windows,

but he said no, the warranty's
run out. I'm really sorry.

Well, thank you, Harvey.

It's too bad that he won't
stand behind what he sells,

but I'm sure you did your best.

Yeah, he's not in
a very good mood.

I mean, that burglary last
night, it has him pretty wound up.

You'd think somebody
stole the crown jewels.

Industrial espionage?

What? You got blueprints around
here for a better downspout?

Are you kidding
me? Listen. Listen.

Knowing you, the only
secrets around here

are how much you're
stealing from your customers.

Unless, of course, you're still
doing your old tricks, you know.

Little jobs for the wise
guys from Chicago.

No, no, no. That's... I've
put that all behind me.

Hey, no more smoke, pal.

You didn't drag me all the way up here
because you trust me, or for my looks.

Charlie, you're making it
more complicated than it is.

If I had to guess,

you figured that by the
time I put it all together,

that kid who burglarized
your joint last night

would lead me to what he took.

I would come
back here, tell you,

be on my way to Chicago, and
then you'd do him. Right? Huh?

I mean, have I
got the lyrics right?

'Cause I gotta
tell you something.

I'm not too anxious to
become an accessory.

Damn it, Charlie! You're...

You're way off track!

I am, huh?

Well, why don't you... Why
don't you prove me wrong, huh?

All right.

I got this small subcontract from
an outfit that works for the Pentagon.

We're talking
insignificant here.

Like widgets, for God's sakes.

Anyway, it was a few
pages of classified material

that these people weren't even
supposed to let me see, but they did.

And I stashed it in
my petty cash box.

Now if word gets out, they're in
trouble, and I'm in bigger trouble.

That's it, Charlie,
I swear, all of it.

Okay. Okay. I'm sold.

I'm sorry I gave
you such a bad time.

No problem, important thing
now is to get back on the kid's tail.

I don't think he's gonna
make a move until tonight.

Right.

Oh, uh, there is
one little thing...

I don't know how
important this is,

but do you know, there's
another guy tailing Walter Perry?

You serious?

Yeah, and I recognized
him. Oscar Gandile.

He's a button man for the
Kempinsky organization in Chicago.

You know anything about that?

Got me.

Right.

Mr. Lomax, about Mrs. Fletcher's
storm windows, I really think you should...

Not now, Terhune!

And then I find out that
my guy is following your guy.

Joseph, I told you I'd
take care of it myself!

There was no need
to send somebody else!

If there were no need,
Lomax, he wouldn't be out there.

All right. Fine. You
have it your way.

But if it gets screwed up
because of this, it won't be my fault!

Interesting logic, friend.

I was under the
impression it was my money,

and you managed to lose it.

You tell your man to
stay out of Oscar's way.

Walter Perry, an industrial spy?

Come on, Mrs. F. My guess is your
buddy, Garrett, is pulling your leg.

And the fact that Sanford
Lomax was all freaked out...

Well, hey, people have all kinds
of reactions to getting robbed.

Isn't this kind of knife
used for scaling fish?

Yeah. Lomax's hobby is fishing.

Listen, Mrs. F, just how
tight are you and Garrett?

Oh, I know him just casually.
I met him in Miami. Why?

Chicago, Los Angeles,
Coral City, Florida...

The police don't have a lot of
great things to say about him.

Doesn't surprise me one bit.

I sensed something unwholesome about
the man the first time I set eyes on him.

Charlie always had a penchant
for ruffling official feathers.

Oh, "ruffling"? Try yanking
'em out by the handful.

Resisting arrest, lying to
an officer, contempt of court,

not to mention a half a
dozen bunco charges.

You know, Mort, I may
be imagining things,

but Walter's grandmother was
a very dear friend of mine, and...

I'll talk to him.

Look, Mrs. F, I've got to speak
to you in private about the...

Wait a minute!

This dinner party, all this
secrecy, these preparations...

You two wouldn't be conjuring up
some sort of celebration, now would you?

Celebration?

You know, like a birthday party?

For whom?

For whom? For me'm.

Oh, yes, of course.
It's the 21st, isn't it?

Oh, Seth, I'm terribly sorry.

But I guess back there you made
such a point about hating birthdays

that I just put it
out of my mind.

Good, good. For
once you listened.

Excuse me, Sheriff, I just got a call
from Mrs. Hubbard, over on Oak Street.

Somebody trashed her
apartment, and one of her tenant's.

She said Walter Perry's apartment
was a bigger mess than hers.

And you've got no idea who
did this to your boat, either?

Look, Sheriff. I just wanna get
my hands on whoever did this.

Listen, I've gotta get over to my
apartment and take a look at the damage.

Look, Walter, let me
ask you a question.

Were you anywhere near Lomax
Sheet Metal about 10:30 last night?

What are you
talking about, Sheriff?

I'm talking about
your beef with Lomax.

You even complained to me as
well as anybody else who would listen

about the money you were
convinced he owed you.

And by any chance did you break into
his place last night to even the score?

I was home watching TV. And I
don't like being accused of being a thief.

Listen, Walter, let me
give you a piece of advice.

Maybe you ought to give some
thought to the kind of people who did this.

Next time they won't stop at busting
up your apartment and your boat.

All right, Sheriff, I'll
think about it. Thanks.

Hey, Sheriff.

Well?

Honestly. Are you saying that
Walter is in some kind of danger?

He very well could be.

Sheriff... I don't know.

All right, Libby, you change
your mind, you call me, okay?

Libby, what was that about?

Nothing.

That business with Walter?

He's got himself in some
kind of trouble again, hasn't he?

Mother, please, I really don't
want to talk about this right now.

That nice Caleb Hawkins.

I understand he's got a real
good job over in Bridgton.

Mom, I really think that
you should just let it be.

Oh, Harvey,

I just want your lives
to be better than mine.

I know you do, Mom.

I know.

Well, I tried to trace
that knife, but no luck.

You know, I would swear in court
that when I saw Walter this morning,

his knife sheath was empty.

And it was about the same size.

Oh, the thing is, why would
Lomax tell me it was his?

Well, I don't know.

But let's say that he knew
that it belonged to Walter.

Well, that would mean that he
had to realize that Walter was a thief.

So why wouldn't he just tell me?

Oh, I'm not sure, unless...

Unless Walter took
something that...

That Lomax didn't
want made public, right?

He might try to get
it back from Walter,

without bringing you into it.

By searching his boat
and his apartment.

If we're right, Mrs. F, what did
Walter take? And how do we find out?

Mort, how much do you
know about Sanford Lomax?

Not that much. He set up
shop here a couple of years ago.

From Chicago, wasn't he?

Yeah. Well, you think that's
who Garrett's working for?

You know, I'd bet
my next royalty check

that your old buddy from the
Chicago PD, who filled us in on Charlie,

perhaps he's heard of Lomax?

Good idea.

And then I want to have
some words with Mr. Garrett.

Well, not as badly as I do.

Oscar.

What do you say, Charlie?

Well, I'll start with how surprised
I am they let you out so late.

Cute.

Eight hundred and fifty, nine hundred
dollars. Eight hundred and eighty-five...

Estimates to repair
a dented fender.

You'd think I was trying
to restore a classic.

Yes, would you try Mr. Garrett's
room for me, please?

Oh, and when you get that
gentleman, would you please remind him

that my insurance premiums
will probably be going sky-high.

All because he couldn't take the
trouble to watch where he was going.

Good morning, Jessica!

Doctor Hazlitt, how are you?
How are you? Good to see you.

Hey, I brought you
some jelly donuts.

First he bangs into my car,
now he's trying to kill me.

Charlie, I have been trying
to reach you since last night.

Yeah. Well, I got in
too late to call you back.

Peering over transoms, no doubt.

By the look of your chin, I
expect someone caught you.

My stepladder collapsed.

I know you're working for
Sanford Lomax, Charlie.

Now, Jessica, I
can explain that.

No more deception.

Now, look, I have known
Walter Perry since he was born,

and I am very
concerned about him.

I want to know exactly why
Lomax has you following Walter

and what it is that
Walter took from him.

And don't tell me
industrial secrets.

Okay. Look, I can't get
squat out of Lomax. Honest.

Well, that's too bad. I'm really
concerned about Walter's fiancée as well.

I am, too. That's exactly
why I came over here.

I thought maybe you
might've picked up something

that we could go
to the Sheriff with.

Hello?

Well, yeah. He's right
here. I'll put him on.

There's been a homicide.

Oh, dear! Who?

Where?

Well, yes, I'll
tell him, Sheriff.

That was one of the more cryptic
conversations I've ever heard.

Tell me who, what, where?

Well, Mort needs you
to take a look at a body.

They don't know who it is, but he was
murdered in the old town records office.

Apparently sometime
late last night.

Well, that's not
exactly my department.

Look, I've gotta run.
I'll talk to you later.

Keep in touch, Charlie.

Oh, I will, I will.

Well...

Ballpark? I'd say
1:00 to 5:00 a.m.

I meant in the ballpark, Doc.

Mort, I'm not a pathologist.

He's got zero ID. Not
even clothing tags.

And the serial numbers
have been filed off his gun.

Now, what do you suppose a guy
like that was doing here in Cabot Cove?

And in the town's
records office, too,

in the middle of the night.

Okay. Okay, so he's
looking for some records.

So who killed him?

Somebody who didn't want their
records found? A burglar? What?

Mr. Charles Garrett
does leap to mind.

Did you happen
to find anything that

might've been used
to force this lock?

Nada. Looks like it might
have been a crowbar.

Killer probably grabbed it, killed
the victim and then just took off with it.

Unless this is the
murder weapon.

Yeah. That looks like blood.

And hair.

Not much good for
jimmying a door...

Libby, does this
look familiar to you?

I think it's the one that's
been in the office for years.

Okay, Andy, bag it. And
we'll send it on to forensics.

Mrs. F, do I detect the
sound of wheels turning?

Creaking might
more aptly describe it.

No. I was just thinking. Suppose
the victim wasn't the first one to enter.

Somebody else breaks in
here, this guy follows him.

They...

Okay, Mrs. F, your buddy
Garrett, a fourth-rate PI,

and our gun-toting
victim out there.

Now, you don't come up with
match-ups like that very often.

Have you heard from him?

Yes. And I have a feeling
that he doesn't have an alibi.

Andy, put out an
all-points on Garrett.

Wanted for questioning in a
homicide, etcetera, etcetera.

Right.

Sheriff, I don't believe
that Charlie is a murderer.

Oh, hold that
thought, Mrs. F, there's

always a chance that
wishing will make it so.

Libby, I really...

Jessica, I don't know
anything about this,

and I don't know
where Walter is.

Sheriff, your
friend in Chicago...

Did you hear back from him?

Yes. Lomax was clean. There was a
buzz about him having a mob connection,

but nothing they could confirm.

Kempinsky's coming here? Oh,
great! When's his flight get in?

Just a second.

Mrs. Fletcher, I can't deal
with your storm windows today.

This hasn't got anything to do
with storm windows, Mr. Lomax.

I'm here about Walter Perry, and whatever
it is that is going on between you two.

I'll get back to you.

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

I think you do.

I'm not sure why
Walter robbed you,

but apparently he stole
more than he bargained for.

A great deal more.

Look, I don't
have time for this.

In fact, so much more that
people are getting killed for it.

And since Walter
seems too terrified

to ask the authorities
for protection from you,

I suspect that this has something to do
with those alleged mob connections you...

All right, Mrs. Fletcher, let's
get real about this, shall we?

If you're as concerned about
Walter as you claim to be,

then you had better listen
to me. Very, very carefully.

First of all, I know nothing about
the man who was killed last night.

Secondly, Walter is not
in any danger from me.

On the other hand, if you don't
get your nose out of it, and quickly,

you could be putting him at risk

from people that I have
absolutely no control over.

Do you understand
what I'm saying?

I think I do, Mr. Lomax.

Good. And in case you
decide to tell the Sheriff

or anyone else about
this conversation,

I will deny that it
ever took place.

And you may actually be
increasing the risk to Mr. Perry.

All right. Now I'd like you to
understand something, Mr. Lomax.

I don't for one minute
believe that you don't

know anything about
last night's murder.

And as far as Walter
Perry is concerned,

it might be wise
of you to remember

that being an accessory
to violent acts...

Standing by while
they take place,

also carries a long
prison sentence.

Now that is one gutsy broad.

None of this surprises
me, not one bit.

I've been telling her
Walter was no good.

And now...

Celia, I really didn't
mean to alarm you.

I was just hoping that Libby
might have given you some idea

about what was going on.

Mrs. F, Celia, Harvey.

Any chance I can talk
to your daughter, ma'am?

I haven't seen
her since morning.

Why? What is it, Sheriff?

The... The murder
weapon, that hammer.

The only fingerprints we found
on it belonged to Walter Perry.

I knew it. Now
he's killed her, too.

Mom, that's not
necessarily true.

Harvey's right, Celia.

The victim, have they
identified who it is?

Yeah. Oscar James Gandile, age 24, a
reputed member of the Chicago crime family.

And Charlie, have
they found him?

Vanished, just like Walter.

Checked out of his room at the
Hill House first thing this morning.

He won't get that far, though.

The APB should be
picking him up anytime now.

Metzger.

Yeah. Well, nice try.
Now let's just stay with it.

Well, we seem to be
batting a thousand.

I sent Andy over to pick up Lomax for
questioning, and now he's disappeared.

Lib, last night I
had it figured, okay?

I was halfway ready to grab the
money, turn it over to the Sheriff

and hope he could figure
out a way to protect us.

But now this guy's
been murdered for it.

And next I think
it's gonna be us.

But, Walter, what
are we gonna do?

Get the money and
get out of here fast,

and change our
appearances, whatever it takes.

But first we've got to
figure out who's got it.

And the only thing
that makes sense to me

is that it's someone who
knew about it in the first place.

Which outside of the
guy who was killed,

pretty much leaves Lomax.

Well, what about that other
fellow that was following you?

I don't think so.

When I came out of there,
he was laying in the alley.

I think somebody
must've slugged him.

No, Lomax must've
seen me go into your office

with the backpack
and leave without it.

Sweetheart, listen, I've got a
little money and we can just...

Look, Libby, we
don't have a choice.

Now I've gotta corner Lomax and
make him give me that bundle of money.

I want you to take the truck,
drive up to Benson's Woods,

lock yourself in and
stay there till I get there.

And I will get there,
you have my word.

I resent this, Joseph.

You resent?

I have to come all
the way from Chicago

to fix what Oscar could've
taken care of in 10 minutes.

If you and that lowlife
Garrett hadn't screwed this up,

I couldn't have done
worse if I'd taken my money

and thrown it in the
damn washing machine.

I'll have it for you tomorrow
at the latest. I promise.

Uh-huh?

You know what my take is, Lomax?

You popped Oscar.

And then glommed my 900 large.

What do you think of that?

I think you're out of your mind.

Garrett killed him. And it's the
fisherman who's got your money.

Hey, let's not get excited
here. I was fond of Oscar,

but Oscar's replaceable.

But my money is another matter.

So I want it now.

So do I.

I figure he's got it
right, Mr. Lomax.

I'm sorry I ever met
you, you know that?

I'm sorrier still
I did what I did.

But I need that
money now! All of it!

Freeze.

Don't even blink.

Andy, you read these
gentlemen their rights.

You have the right
to remain silent.

If you give up that right...

What happened to the 900 grand?

I'm telling you, Mrs. F,

it really killed me, to have to let
Kempinsky and his bodyguard go

along with Lomax.

But thanks to Walter here,
refusing to say anything,

there was nothing I
could really hold them on.

Now, look, Walter, I'm gonna
tell you this just one last time.

We wanna help you,

but this murder rap, you're gonna
take the fall unless you talk to us.

I didn't kill anybody.

Mort, wouldn't the federal
witness protection program

shield Walter from reprisals?

Sure. A new identity,
the whole shot.

Happens all the time.

And Libby and her family?

Well, I'm quite sure that
something can be arranged.

Okay.

Libby's up in Benson's Woods.

Right. I understand that.

And that's when you put the
money in the filing cabinet?

Exactly.

I had it in my backpack and I
figured I had to hide it somewhere

until I figured out
what I was gonna do.

Then I saw those
old file cabinets,

and Libby's already
removed the files

and they're gonna take the
files over to the new office.

So I thought,
"Who'd look there?"

But later that night when
you broke into Libby's office,

you discovered that
the $900,000 was gone.

Totally. And then
I heard this noise.

Someone else came into
the office towards where I was.

And a sound like
somebody getting hit.

I heard something fall,
then footsteps. Then silence.

After a minute, I worked
up the courage to look.

There was this guy's body.

I picked up the hammer and
then I realized what happened.

I just tossed it into the
planter and ran out of there.

And that was that.

So who's got the money?

Well, the killer, most likely.

Look, Walter, there's...

There's still the matter of your
fingerprints all over the murder weapon.

Plus the fact I don't think you'd
wanna be running around out there

until this thing is settled.

Same thing goes for you, Libby.

With Kempinsky and his
goon running around out there,

I think you might be safer
spending the night here.

Thanks, Sheriff.

Yeah. We'll look after your
mother and Harvey as well.

So, Mrs. F, got any ideas?

Not at the moment, Mort.

Well, I really think
you're gonna hate mine.

Charlie Garrett?

Charlie Garrett.

Hiya, Jessica, I'm
sorry to startle you.

You know, it's nice to
know there are still places

where people don't
have to lock their doors.

All right, Charlie, now
I want some answers.

And I suspect that
you have most of them.

Me? Why do you say that?

Well, that was your bug under
the edge of Sanford Lomax's desk,

wasn't it?

Me and electronic gadgets.

You know, one day I'm gonna
get the hang of those things.

Who took the money, Charlie?

And who killed
that Gandile fellow?

Jessica, I wish to hell I knew.

You know, I saw Walter
Perry go into the records office,

but that's when
Gandile popped me.

And that's all I know. Honest.

Listen, I'm starvin' to death.

You got anything
around here to eat?

Like some crackers or something?

Well, there's an apple
in the bowl over there.

You'll find a knife
in the drawer.

You know, Charlie, the Sheriff's
got half the law enforcement people

in the state of
Maine looking for you.

How did you manage
to avoid them?

It's called self-preservation.

Jessica, I know what you
think of this Walter Perry,

and I know how you
believe in him, I wanna help.

I'm sure you got some
thoughts on this subject.

Jessica, what is it?

Charlie,

I think I know who
killed Mr. Gandile

and who took the money.

You do? Who?

Only I'm not sure
that we can prove it.

Look, I need for you to make
a phone call to set things up,

and then I will alert
Sheriff Metzger.

Ah, let me call the
Sheriff, will you?

I wanna get on his good side

and who else do
you want me to call?

Glad you could join us.

Jessica?

But you aren't...

Joseph Kempinsky?
No, no, no. That was me.

You can blame Jessica. You
see, she told me to make the call.

Money, Harvey.

It was the paper cutter.

The one Libby put
aside for your mother,

the one you brought
back to her shop.

I didn't remember that
I'd seen it before or where,

till Walter told us how he'd concealed
his backpack behind the file drawer

that contained the paper cutter.

I'd noticed it in the office.

And then when I
sliced the apple...

Well, it reminded me of
Celia using the paper cutter

to cut that piece of cardboard.

And then I remembered
you telling Libby

you'd come back later for the rest
of those discarded office supplies.

And when I took
the paper cutter,

that's when I happened to see
Walter's backpack way down in the back.

Now I saw what was in it

and I was about to take it when
one of the movers came toward me.

So you waited till that night,
and then went back there.

Okay, yes, I took
the money, yeah.

But I didn't kill anyone.

But you did, Harvey.

And I'm sure when
Sheriff Metzger

sends your clothing
to the state police lab,

they'll find traces of
Mr. Gandile's blood on it.

Oh...

God! I mean... I
didn't mean to do it.

I mean, he was
going for his gun,

I had borrowed Libby's
key and I let myself in.

And I had just taken the money

and suddenly I hear
someone breaking in.

That would have been Walter.

And then suddenly
this other guy shows up.

He saw me. He was gonna kill
me. I mean, I had to do something.

Wait a minute, you know
anything about Lomax's sideline?

No. Not really.

No. I mean, I had a hunch. Yeah.

We weren't doing enough
business around here

to pay for those weekend
trips he'd take to the Caribbean.

I never meant to mess
up my life like this.

The money...

It wasn't worth it.

Well, Harv, let me help
you save some of that grief.

Oh, Jessica, you know, I knew if
anybody could lead me to the brass ring,

it would be you. Thank you.

Oh, Charlie, are you
going somewhere?

About as far as 900
grand will take me.

Oh, but you can't.

Hey, how often in one lifetime

does a kid from
Stony Island Avenue

get his hands on
almost a million bucks

that nobody will
claim that they own?

Yes. But they'll come after
you. You'll be a hunted man.

Thank you for worrying about
me, but I'll think of something.

Look, Charlie, Sheriff Metzger's
going to be here any second.

Oh, I forgot to
tell you about that.

You know that call I
made to him? I faked it.

I had a feeling you would, so I
called him myself from my living room.

Everything under
control here, Mrs. F?

Oh, I'd say so.
Wouldn't you, Charlie?

Go for it, Doc! Go for it!

Speech! Speech! Speech!

Thank you.

I just wanna say how sweet it
is to have friends like all of you,

and how much I appreciate
your thoughtful gifts.

Especially those
of Jessica and Mort,

who seem to be coming pretty
much from the same place.

And, Mort, didn't I hear that Sanford
Lomax has turned state's evidence?

Yeah, this morning. Gotta
hand it to you, Garrett,

because of Lomax and those
tapes that you lifted off your bug,

federal prosecutors feel they
have enough on Joseph Kempinsky

and his entire organization
to put 'em out of business

and behind bars for
some heavy-duty time.

Then Walter and Libby won't have to
go into the witness protection program?

Yeah. The county prosecutor's have agreed
to drop the breaking-and-entering charges.

This time.

Never again. I'm cured.

By the way, Mr. Garrett,
thanks for the cash.

I think it'll just about
cover my car repairs.

Well, it was the least
thing I could do, Doc.

Now, are you gonna
take pictures of this,

or are you gonna cut that cake?

Cash? Charlie, you
told me you were broke.

Well, I just took a
little expense money.

I mean, anyway, the
jury's gonna believe

that Kempinsky exaggerated
by a couple grand.

Tell me the truth,
considering all the risks,

you wouldn't have really
taken all that money, would you?

Of course not.

I mean it isn't as if $900,000
is what it used to be.

What a guy, huh?