The Closer (2005–2012): Season 5, Episode 4 - Walking Back the Cat - full transcript
Brenda and her squad are temporarily deputized into the FBI when a missing person case turns into a full-blown murder investigation involving drug trafficking at gay dance parties. The case gives Brenda and Fritz the chance to work together again, but her investigative tactics don't exactly fit FBI protocol.
Fritzy, is that you?
Oh.
You cooked dinner.
Yes.
Things are slow at work...
so I... I went to
the grocery store.
And thought I'd cook dinner.
What's in the box you
just put in cupboard?
- Meat loaf and... And mashed potatoes?
- Yes.
I thought you might be tired of
clam linguini. What's in the box?
Uh, the vet called. He wanted to
know if I'd stop by and pick up...
Kitty's ashes. You
know what, honey?
Since the food is hot,
why don't we just...
Oh, this will just
take a second.
Now, I just want to
take a quick look...
and I see dead bodies
all the time. It's not like...
And Kitty was cremated, so...
Oh.
It's okay. It's all right.
- They put him in a plastic bag.
- Her.
They put her in a plastic bag.
This is not ashes, it's chunks.
And this should say "Kitty
Johnson," Not "Kitty Howard."
Hey, you know, the
vet gave me a brochure.
See? They have all these,
uh, you know, decorative, uh...
No, I don't want to be one of those
women who puts her cat in an urn.
On the mantel with a picture
and a ribbon and a bell.
I want to find some other
way to properly honor Kitty.
Like spreading her
ashes around someplace...
that was important to her.
Where? She was never
allowed to go outside.
Let's eat dinner.
How is everything?
This meal could not have
been better if we'd eaten it hot.
Well, thank you.
If nothing happens
at work tomorrow...
I'll open the grill
that my brother sent.
Actually, you know, if things
are really that slow at work...
maybe you could
do me a little favor.
Mm.
No, no, never
mind. You're right.
We're keeping our
professional lives separate.
Well, how little is it?
- The favor.
- Small.
We, um... Well, the FBI needs
to talk to this guy, Austin Blair...
and, uh, we can't locate him.
So if you could find out where he is for
us that would be, uh... You know, quietly.
Just quietly.
Very quietly.
Why quietly?
We don't want to tip off the
whole world we're looking for him.
Hm.
You're right. It really
is a small favor. Heh.
What's his name again?
- Who is Austin Blair?
- A 26-year-old single white male.
I found Missing Persons
had a month-old file on him.
And you want Major Crimes to
take over a Missing Persons case?
Why would you do that?
Look, you're the one
who's always preaching...
that we're one department.
Uh, look, I've been asked...
to, um, keep Austin's name under
the radar. It's a special request.
Special request? What
are we, a karaoke bar?
Special request from
whom, regarding what?
- What's wrong?
- I just, um...
I just forgot to take Kitty
out of my purse this morning.
Out of...? Where is she?
She's...
She's here.
Oh.
I gather she took
a turn for the worse.
If you don't want me to take
this Missing Persons case...
No. no, no, no, look, ahem.
Tell you what, why don't
you go back to your office...
and I'll have Commander Taylor
go down to Missing Person's...
No, I'm perfectly
capable of going down...
Oh, no, no, no, you're too, you
know. You're a little too high-ranking.
Oh.
And, uh, you said you
want to keep this quiet.
I did.
Okay, thanks.
- Uh, don't, uh...
- Oh, sorry.
- Thanks.
- Mm-hm.
And this is where
it all happens.
Uh, this is the, this is Major
Crimes. My desk, right here.
- Very nice.
- Uh, ah, look.
- There he is. LAUREN:
He looks exactly like you.
Um, ah, here. Lauren, I would
like you to meet Sergeant Gabriel...
soon to be Detective
Sergeant Gabriel.
Well, I've got to
pass the test first.
But, uh, wow, it is a
pleasure to meet you, Lauren.
Oh, and this is my go-to guy.
This is Andy Flynn.
Andy, I have heard
so much about you.
Really? Because, to me,
you're a complete surprise.
Uh, Lauren, would you just
excuse me for one second, please?
Ah, Commander Taylor,
please meet Ms. Lauren Hines.
- Chief.
- Oh.
Taylor's here with
the file you wanted.
Uh, Lieutenant Flynn, who is that
woman with Lieutenant Provenza?
His girlfriend.
- You are kidding me.
- Mm-mm.
Her name is Lauren. She's
a buyer for men's clothes...
for a high-end department store.
- So ends the mystery of the new suits.
- Mm-hm.
Oh, Commander Taylor, thank you so
much for going down to Missing Persons.
They were anxious to know why
the sudden interest in Austin Blair.
Not too anxious.
What'd you tell them?
I played dumb, which was easy,
seeing as how I don't know anything.
Neither does Missing Persons, all
they have here are dental records...
and vehicle registrations.
Where are the follow-up reports?
There wasn't any need.
If you look, Austin was
reported missing by his boyfriend.
Travis Myers, 22, who
last saw Austin leaving...
Gosh, a month ago. For
an after-hours dance party.
What does that have to do with
the absence of a follow-up report?
Well, gay boy Austin goes out
for the night, doesn't come back.
His boyfriend, this
Travis kid, comes in mad...
and wants us to find out
who Austin is sleeping with.
It's a familiar pattern, Chief.
Well, let's see if this
convenient stereotype...
you all have cooked up to
avoid actual police work...
holds up under closer scrutiny.
Lieutenant Flynn, uh, would you please
run a master inquiry on Austin Blair?
But, uh, do it quietly. Just...
offline, off the
radar, off the grid.
- Like it never happened, Chief.
- Thank you.
Anybody know why we are
looking for this Austin Blair?
Because the chief asked us to?
Oh, Chief. Chief,
uh, this is, uh...
my...
Lauren Hines.
- I'm so pleased to meet you.
- I'm so glad to meet you too.
Since things were slow, Lauren
came by to see how our division works...
before I take her to lunch.
Oh, good. How nice.
So, Lauren, how old are you?
Detective Sanchez. You
never ask a lady how...
Oh, excuse us, Lauren. Ha,
ha. We kid a lot around here.
- You know, always teasing each other.
- Ow.
You know, cops.
Uh, Detective Sanchez, what can
you tell me about, uh, Austin Blair?
Uh, I ran the registration
on his Mercedes SUV.
And his name pops up with dope.
Brought in twice for
questioning but never arrested.
His credit card's been
active all over the place.
New York City, Miami, New Orleans,
Fort Lauderdale, all within the last year.
But since he went missing
a month ago, nothing.
Checked his address.
Nice place in Silver Lake.
No liens, current
on his mortgage.
Okay.
All right, well, good news. I mean,
depending on how you look at it.
That was Dr. Morales. He says
he has four matches in the morgue.
Oh, good. All right, then.
Uh, Sergeant Gabriel, why don't
you and I pop over to the burrito room.
And the rest of you all keep
poking around about Austin Blair...
on tippy-toe, please. Thank you.
Shall we?
It's funny you're here.
Missing Persons called earlier...
- looking for bodies...
- Missing Persons called?
- Bye-bye tippy-toe.
- Oh, for heaven's sakes.
- What was that date again?
- Uh, 25th of last month.
According to his boyfriend...
he went out to a dance
club and never came back.
Boyfriend? Wait. 26 years
old, 25th of last month?
He wasn't just going to a
club. He was going to Hell-A.
- Say what?
- Hell-A.
Get it? Hell-A as in L.A.
Big circuit party.
Circuit party?
Ah. Okay. Gay Culture 101.
Circuit parties are kind of like gay
raves. They go on for three or four days.
There's like one a
month all over the place.
A white party here, a black
party there. Hell-A in Los Angeles.
Uh, anyway, every year during
Hell-A week, we get a spike in ODs.
Most of them get claimed right
away, but every once in a while...
we have an out-of-towner
that hangs out for a while.
Yep. I think we've got
your John Doe here.
Oh, Fritz! Uh, I mean, Special
Agent Howard. Uh, what a surprise.
Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson,
this is Special Agent Jerry Moore.
What are you doing?
Someone in your Missing
Persons Division called around...
to find out why your sudden
interest in Austin Blair.
I tried to keep it quiet.
Hey, hey, guys, guys.
That's him. That's Austin.
Damn it.
Oh, man. Damn it.
Well, look at the bright side.
At least he's not
missing anymore.
Let's see. Your guy
was found in an alley.
Aspirated vomit in the
lungs. Typical in an OD.
I ordered a tox screen of
the common trail mix of drugs.
- X, GHB, meth.
- What'd you say, trail mix?
Circuit party boys like
to DJ their own high.
X for dancing, GHB
and meth for sex...
K for the comedown.
In this case, though, it was only
GHB and alcohol in the vomit.
Hmm. Most likely died in
the alley where he was found.
- Why do you say that?
- Hell-A has a medical staff on site.
Prevent someone
drowning in their own vomit.
They plan on treating overdoses?
More like they plan on covering
their asses if someone dies.
Exactly.
Thank you so much for the, uh,
background here. Much appreciated.
- The FBI looks forward to your full report.
- Is the doctor working for us or for you?
I work for the county.
This morgue is neutral territory.
Like Switzerland, without the money.
What...?
The L.A.P.D. found Austin Blair.
We deserve to know why
we were looking for him.
All right, but we need to
keep this inside the FBI.
How do you intend to do that?
So due to a recent crossover
with a federal investigation, uh...
the bad news is we have to sign these
forms and be, uh, deputized into the FBI.
And, once we're
formally included...
they have to tell us what
happened to this Austin Blair...
and why it's
apparently our problem.
- What's this? FLYNN:
We're joining the FBI.
But it's only
temporary, like love.
Do we get badges? They
have really cool badges.
Lauren, this is, uh... This is
some really top-secret stuff.
Very hush-hush, um...
Uh, Buzz, would you mind, uh, escorting
Lauren into the electronics room...
while we have our briefing?
- Not at all.
Thanks. Oh, and, Buzz,
ahem, why don't you, uh...?
Why don't you show her
one of my old interviews?
How about the one with
you and John Wilkes Booth?
Uh, was Austin's death
a murder or an overdose?
Sign, and we'll tell
everything we know.
This agreement is binding and
shall remain in effect for 48 hours...
during which time we expect
you all to behave like FBI agents.
I solemnly swear to act
as stupid as possible.
Okay. Are there any questions?
Well, yeah, how did
Austin Blair end up dead?
- We don't know.
- Wait a minute.
We track this guy
down, we find the body...
and you guys tell us nothing?
I mean, this is
our big briefing?
Yeah. Welcome to
the FBI, everyone.
Right hand in the air, we do not know
if Austin's death was a murder or not.
But let's say it was a homicide.
- What would you guys do next?
- Notify his next of kin.
His father's already
on his way down here.
- Sounds good.
- Hm, thank you for your, uh, cooperation.
Uh, hold on. Hold
on, hold on, hold on.
Hold on.
Am I working with my
husband or the FBI?
- Yes.
- On an overdose or a murder?
Maybe both. The second we
know more, we'll let you know.
So far, I find being an
FBI agent very frustrating.
Oh, Lauren. Lauren, I... I
am so sorry, sweetheart.
But, uh, it looks like
I am back on duty.
Hmm. I understand. It was
great to meet your friends.
Really?
- Okay, you be careful out there.
- Oh, tell that to the bad guys.
Whew, isn't she beautiful?
You should watch
how you kiss her.
Your gun almost went off.
You have no idea.
Dr. Blair, thank you for coming. We
would have been happy to come to you.
No, I'd rather not have
police in my waiting room.
And just so you know, I'm not
getting Austin another attorney.
If he's still involved with
drugs, that's his problem.
All right, then. Why
don't you have a seat?
We have a couple questions
we'd like to ask you about your son.
My stepson. I adopted Austin
when I married his mother.
One good thing about losing my wife,
she didn't live to see what became of him.
- Why was he arrested?
- Oh, we haven't arrested him, sir.
Can you tell me the last time
you saw or spoke to Austin?
Yeah, about a month
ago. Little longer.
I spoke with him on the
phone. What happened?
Can you tell why
it's been so long...
Did you not hear what I asked
you? What happened to Austin?
Sir, I'm sorry to inform you...
that your stepson passed
away over a month ago.
Austin's dead?
How?
Well, uh, it appears to
have been an overdose.
You people.
Wait. Can he just...?
- Uh, sir? Doctor? Sir?
- Dr. Blair, please wait.
I have surgery
across town in an hour.
Just call me with how I should
go about arranging for his funeral.
You may be in shock.
- You probably...
- Don't talk to me about shock.
- You don't think I know about shock?
- We need to know...
if Austin had any enemies or anyone
who might have had a reason to...
You're looking for a why?
My God. Drugs
don't give you a why.
You want to know
about Austin's life?
Try talking to that kid that's
answering the phone at his house.
You mean his boyfriend?
How should I know who he is?
Sit down. Now, what's your name?
Travis. Travis Myers. What's
going on? What's going on here?
Did you find Austin?
Put that down. I don't
have permission...
We don't need permission,
okay? We have a search warrant.
- Is there anyone else in this house?
- No.
Do you know where Austin
is? Is he in jail or something?
When's the last
time you saw him?
I reported him gone a month ago.
Hey, will you stay away from
there? Get out of there. You can't...
Sit down.
Hey, Buzz, up here.
Lieutenant.
Oh.
- Party time. TAO: The
fridge is full of these.
I brought my test
kit. My guess is GHB.
All right, so we know your
boyfriend is doing drugs.
- Is he selling them, as well?
- Will you get out of my house?
This is not your house, so
you're the one who's getting out.
I'm not going anywhere until
you tell me where Austin is.
Yeah? Okay. You want
to know where he is?
We found your boyfriend in the
morgue. He died a month ago.
What? That's how
you tell people?
We're arresting
you for possession...
- You bastards! Let go!
- Of a schedule-1 substance...
and the murder of Austin Blair.
- Austin!
- Uh, yes, Chief.
- Lieutenant. Did you find anything?
Uh, yeah. We found the
boyfriend with lots of loose cash...
and a fridge full of GHB.
Chief, I don't think this was just
some guy that the FBI wanted to talk to.
- Why do you say that?
- Well, Sanchez found a business card.
Whose business card?
Special Agent Fritz
Howard, with the FBI.
- Hi.
- Oh, my goodness.
So the FBI asks you
to find this Austin Blair...
who turns out to be a dead drug dealer
who has your husband's business card.
So your fellow FBI agents,
ahem, i.e. your squad and me...
are wondering if he might
have been an informant.
If you're asking me if I
knew that going in, I did not.
Okay? So we'll discuss it later.
So the FBI has an
operation that goes south...
and they expect
us to fix it for them.
You know, maybe you should
just not bring your dead pets to work.
Hello? FRITZ: Are you alone?
No.
- What do you want?
- Step into the back hallway.
Look, I'm gonna figure this
out. I promise. I just have to...
Just... Excuse me.
Hi. What?
Why didn't...?
Why didn't you just tell me
you were missing an informant?
We didn't know Austin was
missing. He could have just run away.
Looking for him ourselves could have
jeopardized a major drug investigation.
Look, your team finding him
makes it look more ordinary.
Oh, wonderful. My
wildest dreams achieved.
- We're ordinary.
- Hey, look, look, the good news is...
everything is going very well.
What is everything?
And how's it going well?
Look, this is
what I can tell you.
We caught Austin dealing
GHB at a circuit party.
We offered to let him go if he would help
us with an investigation I can't talk about.
But then he disappeared.
Disap...? He didn't
disappear. He died.
Well, granted. It's not ideal...
but you have retrieved vital
evidence from his house for us.
- You have a potential suspect in custody.
- Suspect in what?
Dr. Morales assumed
it was an OD.
His stepfather assumed it
was an OD. Why shouldn't I?
Okay, but let's just pretend Austin's
death looks just a little more like murder.
And you found some boy living in
his house with lots of drugs and money.
- What would you do then?
- I would treat the boy like a murder suspect.
Well, if that's your instinct.
We found $30,000 worth of
GHB, plus another $80,000 in cash.
And when Missing Persons asked you
if Austin had a drug or alcohol problem...
what did he say, lieutenant?
He Said, "Not that I know of."
All those drugs,
all that money...
and you didn't know that
Austin was a drug dealer?
- He wasn't a user.
- That's not what the autopsy said.
What else, lieutenant?
He said he last saw
Austin going out at night.
When asked where, Travis
answered, "I'm not sure."
Look, I was afraid that if you
guys knew where he'd gone...
you'd think he'd been partying
and wouldn't look for him.
But he'd call if he
wasn't coming home.
Home. His home. Where you
sure made yourself comfortable.
Living his life, selling his drugs,
maybe, spending his money.
I only use it to pay his bills. I
have a job of my own, okay?
I'm saving up to go to college
out here, establishing my residency.
Oh, I'm not sure I see
college in your future.
I might be able to find a permanent
spot for you in a California facility.
I was afraid to throw the drugs out because
I didn't know who might come for them.
Or who might show up
asking for the money.
Did you fill out this useless
Missing Persons report...
so that you'd look more innocent
when we found Austin's dead body?
- No.
- You don't look innocent.
- You look guiltier by the second.
- What do you want from me?
What I want is you to tell me exactly what
happened the last night you saw Austin.
- Start cooperating.
- I am cooperating.
I'm cooperating. I'm cooperating.
What do you think that I'm doing? God.
So Travis...
would you describe
yourself as the jealous type?
Did you call the police because you
thought Austin was cheating on you?
In fact, how do we even know...
- that the two of you were a couple?
- We were.
Then why did he go to an after-hours
dance party and leave you at home?
Austin... Austin didn't
want me with him because...
he said that he had this big
meeting with his boss at Hell-A...
and that just sounded
lame. So yeah...
when he drove off and left
me at home, I was jealous.
And when he didn't come home
and when he didn't pick up his cell...
I called to see if there
really had been a meeting.
And his boss told me that Austin
left the party with somebody else.
So I just didn't know
what to believe anymore.
Hang on, hang on. So you're telling me
that Austin was an employee of Hell-A?
He wasn't just dealing drugs?
Dealing drugs was his job.
Austin flew all
over the country.
- Everywhere that his boss held a party.
- Now we're getting somewhere.
At all these different parties,
Austin flew in with a supply...
of GHB to sell?
No. You can't take all that G
on a plane. Those are the rules.
Whose rules?
Peter Benjamin's rules.
- He was Austin's boss.
- Stop the interview. Stop it.
- But she's not done yet.
- Buzz, pull the plug.
- I don't work for you.
- Chief Johnson, stop.
We have what we need. FBI
rules. You signed an agreement.
Um...
Wait. Is that what
you needed to know?
That's all for now,
Travis. Thank you.
Can I see him, please?
Austin. Can I see him?
Excuse me.
If Benjamin had something
to do with Austin's death...
I should be conducting
the interview.
We've invited you to observe.
And do everything the stupid FBI
way without any recorders or cameras.
- Can I take notes?
- We have one person taking notes...
- during an interview.
- I'm happy with that being me.
Look, do you want
noodles or rice?
Are you gonna let me ask
Peter Benjamin questions?
- You can participate with follow-ups.
- Oh.
Look, this is our very
first crack at this guy.
- Which, which, which?
- Rice.
Okay.
Now, while we eat, I am
moving Kitty over here.
No, no, no. I hate this feeling of
not knowing everything you know.
And on top of everything
that happened to poor Kitty.
That is not gonna work.
Fine.
One FBI agent to another...
are you using this
investigation to get back at me?
No.
My first loyalty is to you.
Just like I am sure
your first loyalty is to me.
Right?
- Right?
- Of course it is, yes.
Okay, then.
- Thank you.
- Okay.
I'm gonna show you something,
which later you have to pretend...
you are watching for
the first time, okay?
Okay.
The night we lost
him, Austin Blair...
was wearing a wire.
This is where the party
is just getting started.
Now, there's Austin
handing off the GHB.
Mm-hm.
That's the recovery room
with the medical staff.
Goes on like this until...
Austin wanders
into the bathroom.
- Looks like he's not doing well. MAN
1: Hey, man. Hey, man, you all right?
Are you all right?
MAN 1: Oh, no.
And he just passes out.
So, Mr. Benjamin,
that's the end.
Now let's start
with the beginning.
Can you describe your relationship
with the deceased, Austin Blair?
Austin worked for me at different
venues across the country...
and from what you said
earlier, it now seems obvious...
he was going off
dealing drugs on the side.
May I follow up?
Did you actually see Austin
Blair leave the Hell-A party...
- on the night he disappeared?
- Uh, no.
That's odd, because
you told Travis Myers...
that you saw Austin
leave with another man.
Travis. When I told the kid
Austin left with someone...
I was speaking more
about a historical pattern.
You know, Austin, he
never left by himself.
Mr. Benjamin, returning
to the party itself...
- Ahem...
- Can you tell us...
did, um...
Did any, uh...
Did any individuals receive
medical attention during Hell-A?
Of course.
We have two recovery
rooms staffed specifically...
for people who,
you know, overdo it.
Would one of those
have been Austin Blair?
Okay.
Now, not to stomp on
a dead kid's reputation...
but, as we all
saw the footage...
obviously, Austin was dipping
heavily into his own supply.
He crashed in a bathroom.
He was brought to our doctor, put
in a recovery position on his side...
to prevent him from choking
on what might come up...
and rehydrated with a saline IV.
And when he got to
feeling better, I fired him.
- So Austin recovered?
- Yes.
And I assume, at some point, he
got in his car, and he drove home.
Really? Follow-up, please?
I have three witnesses who
saw employees of Hell-A...
drag Austin Blair, unconscious,
out into an alleyway...
This. We never agreed
to take questions...
implicating my client
in criminal activities.
Okay, okay, I think
we need a break, okay?
Agent Johnson?
- Can we, uh, convene in the hallway?
- Oh, absolutely.
Enjoy your bagel, Mr. Benjamin.
Hey. hey.
Do you really have three witnesses
who saw Austin Blair being dragged out?
Of course not. How could I?
Brenda, if the FBI lies in an interview
our case can get thrown out of court.
- I'm not going to federal court.
- Yeah, but technically...
you are in the FBI.
You're willing to just sit there and let
this guy eat bagels and lie up a storm?
What would you do differently?
When suspects lie to
us, we have to lie back.
Fritzy, if we all stop
lying to each other...
how will we ever
get to the truth?
If you think you can
remember some stuff...
Benjamin said in this interview.
I'm pretty sure I can.
Well, then say Austin
didn't die of an overdose.
What would you do then?
For heaven's sakes. You
want to know what I'd do?
Here. I quit the stupid FBI.
And from now on the L.A.P.D. regards
the death of Austin Blair as a murder.
That's what we wanted anyway.
Well, then you better just
hush up then and be grateful.
So Austin recovered?
Yes.
And I assume, at some point, he
got in his car, and he drove home.
Dr. Morales found no puncture
wounds on Austin's body...
so no IV was given to rehydrate.
Peter Benjamin lied. And
according to the tox screen...
Austin took 4 grams of GHB
over the usual recreational dose.
Maybe someone spiked his drink.
Because they knew that
Austin came wearing a wire.
And look. Look here.
This pocket's been ripped...
and the camera lens appears
to have been located here...
where this missing
faux pearl button was.
- Faux what?
- Faux. It's French for fake.
- You know, like a faux relationship.
- Yeah, ha, ha.
Yeah, lieutenant, how many more
new suits are you going to buy, sir?
One a day, if that's what it takes.
What a bunch of cynical bastards.
All right, everyone,
please focus.
Here are the rest of his effects:
A belt, wrist band, a watch.
Set of car keys.
No wire anywhere.
And just looking
at this stuff...
with the ripped shirt pocket,
the missing wallet, the OD.
On the surface this looks
like a guy who got mugged...
because he was too bombed
to find his car and drive home.
Wait, wait, wait.
Too bombed to drive home.
Benjamin said something
about Austin driving off...
except he was found in an alley.
So where's his car?
We haven't found
his vehicle anywhere.
Maybe someone has
another set of keys.
- Travis, do these look familiar?
- Yeah, I think they're Austin's.
- Do you happen to have a spare set?
- No, I drove my own jeep out here.
Austin was nervous about
anyone else driving his dad's car.
Don't worry,
doctor. I'll get it.
Oof, there. That's better.
Dr. Blair, this is a warrant
to search the premises.
Uh, sir, perhaps you can
explain why your dead son's...
I'm sorry, stepson's
car is in your garage.
Why are you doing this?
Why? Don't you know, doctor?
Drugs don't give you a why.
I can explain
why I have his car.
I would love to hear that, sir.
Because it's mine.
I registered it to Austin
for insurance reasons.
He was supposed to send me the payments.
When he stopped, I took the car back.
- How'd you find it?
- I went to his house.
But here's the
confusing part, sir.
Austin never made it home from
Hell-A, and neither did his car...
- so how did you pick it up at his house?
- I don't know.
- Maybe his friend, what's his name?
- Travis. He didn't have the keys.
Look, I... I know you're just
doing your job, but honestly...
I've got to be at
Cedars by 4:00, so...
- They know you're not coming.
- We called ahead.
- We've also searched your office.
- You what?
Where my colleagues found supplies
for a professional-grade drug lab.
No, no, no. Whatever you
think you've found there...
has a medical application.
Fifty liters of
gamma-Butyrolactone?
The main precursor
in making GHB?
What exactly is the application
for that, medically speaking?
This may be obvious. I care
a great deal about my cars.
Gamma-Butyrolactone, it cleans
the chrome wheels and such.
Did you know that your wheel
cleaner comes from China?
It's chock-full of
unique impurities.
We could match the GHB that
we found at Austin's house...
to that which we
found in Austin's body.
And connect it all...
to what we found at your office.
Can you do any of that
at the county crime lab?
Uh, probably not. Actually,
you can't do it anywhere.
- She always lie like this?
- I hope not.
You ever hear of a man by the
name of Peter Benjamin, doc?
Let's see if this jogs your memory. You
were in the drug business with your stepson.
The FBI caught Austin dealing.
They promised they'd go easy
on him if he gave them his supplier.
They were asking him to turn on
the man he thought of as his father.
No, no. Hold on, hold on a
second. Just hold on here.
- You are jumping to all sorts of conclusions.
- All right, let me make this easy on you.
The L.A.P.D. doesn't care about the
GHB. We won't be arresting you for that.
All I care about is finding the
person who murdered your stepson.
And then you and I are done.
All right.
All right.
Listen, you have
to understand just...
Just how much money
I lost in the crash.
And you see, Austin, he
introduced me to this Peter Benjamin.
At first, things went very well.
And then the FBI
caught Austin dealing.
Austin thought that I could...
just stop making the GHB.
Get rid of the equipment.
He would feed the feds
Peter. We would both go free.
That was very naive.
How?
Peter Benjamin was in much
the same place that I was.
His portfolio was in ruins, attendance
was down, the party revenue was nothing...
compared to what he made selling drugs.
So when I told him that I wanted out...
Well, he grew very
angry. He threatened me.
I had no choice but to tell him
what was going on and why.
So Austin tried to protect you,
and you went and got him killed?
No. No, no. No. Peter said,
well, he would just fire Austin...
make him useless to the FBI.
It wasn't until afterwards, when
Peter called me, when he ordered me...
to come pick up
that car that I...
- That I found out what really happened.
- That's awfully vague, doctor.
That Austin had been killed.
And Peter Benjamin said that I
had better keep the GHB coming...
or the same thing would
happen to me. And that is a quote.
Listen, you gotta believe me.
I'm telling you
the truth. I swear.
I believe you.
If you'll take a moment
to write all that down...
the L.A.P.D. will be
releasing you from custody.
- Special Agent Howard.
- Yes, Former Agent Johnson.
Suppose you were
running a major dope case...
and the L.A.P.D.
found your supplier.
What would you normally do
under those circumstances?
- I'd trade my murderer for your doctor.
- On one condition.
Austin's money stays here.
Why?
- Finally gonna repaint this place?
- That's my business.
You don't need that cash to
close your case. Deal or no deal?
Deal.
- And thank you.
- You're welcome.
Dr. Blair, it's been a real
pleasure. I'll see you when I see you.
Gentlemen, I expect Peter
Benjamin in this building...
as quickly as humanly
possible. Thank you.
You see?
Did this not turn out exactly
the way I said it would?
Hmm. What does she
want the money for?
Oh, I have no idea.
- Sergeant.
- Ah, Special Agents Moore...
and Howard of the FBI.
The doctor will see you now.
Dr. Dennis Blair,
you're under arrest...
for the manufacture and distribution
of a class-1 controlled substance...
tax evasion, racketeering, and
conspiracy to commit murder.
- Chief?
- Yes?
I put, uh, Travis
in your office.
Oh. thank you.
- This is from evidence lock-up.
- Thanks.
Oh, uh, lieutenant, you
look so different today.
Well, it's a new style.
- Ahem, country gentleman.
- I call it "Mister Rogers."
It's going to be big next year.
Well, it's... It's
very becoming.
Be nice.
Where's his shirt?
Uh, we have to
keep that, I'm afraid.
It's part of our murder
case against Peter Benjamin.
Oh, okay.
There's one more thing, though.
We can't prove where
that money came from.
You were living at his house.
For all we know, it's yours.
No. I don't want it.
Look, Travis, you no
longer have a place to live.
And getting your things out of Austin's
house is going to be extremely difficult.
I want Austin. Not this.
It's not disloyal to Austin's
memory for you to have this money.
You were saving
up to go to college.
Let's have something
good come out of all this.
Okay?
If I hadn't tried to get your mind off
of Kitty by asking you for a favor...
And if I hadn't
brought Kitty to work...
Pope never would have handed
me that Missing Persons case.
He was super-loyal,
even in death.
She was super-loyal.
I think she'd be very proud.
So which one of Kitty's
babysitting DVDs...
do you want to watch?
"Cheetah in the
Land of the Lion"...
or "Birds of the Amazon"?
Killing versus mating.
You choose.
Of The more than
1 5 00 species...
of birds found in the Amazon basin
none is more loyal than the macaw.
Known to mate for life...
these beautiful animals
fiercely defend their families...
from any predator,
large or small.
Oh.
You cooked dinner.
Yes.
Things are slow at work...
so I... I went to
the grocery store.
And thought I'd cook dinner.
What's in the box you
just put in cupboard?
- Meat loaf and... And mashed potatoes?
- Yes.
I thought you might be tired of
clam linguini. What's in the box?
Uh, the vet called. He wanted to
know if I'd stop by and pick up...
Kitty's ashes. You
know what, honey?
Since the food is hot,
why don't we just...
Oh, this will just
take a second.
Now, I just want to
take a quick look...
and I see dead bodies
all the time. It's not like...
And Kitty was cremated, so...
Oh.
It's okay. It's all right.
- They put him in a plastic bag.
- Her.
They put her in a plastic bag.
This is not ashes, it's chunks.
And this should say "Kitty
Johnson," Not "Kitty Howard."
Hey, you know, the
vet gave me a brochure.
See? They have all these,
uh, you know, decorative, uh...
No, I don't want to be one of those
women who puts her cat in an urn.
On the mantel with a picture
and a ribbon and a bell.
I want to find some other
way to properly honor Kitty.
Like spreading her
ashes around someplace...
that was important to her.
Where? She was never
allowed to go outside.
Let's eat dinner.
How is everything?
This meal could not have
been better if we'd eaten it hot.
Well, thank you.
If nothing happens
at work tomorrow...
I'll open the grill
that my brother sent.
Actually, you know, if things
are really that slow at work...
maybe you could
do me a little favor.
Mm.
No, no, never
mind. You're right.
We're keeping our
professional lives separate.
Well, how little is it?
- The favor.
- Small.
We, um... Well, the FBI needs
to talk to this guy, Austin Blair...
and, uh, we can't locate him.
So if you could find out where he is for
us that would be, uh... You know, quietly.
Just quietly.
Very quietly.
Why quietly?
We don't want to tip off the
whole world we're looking for him.
Hm.
You're right. It really
is a small favor. Heh.
What's his name again?
- Who is Austin Blair?
- A 26-year-old single white male.
I found Missing Persons
had a month-old file on him.
And you want Major Crimes to
take over a Missing Persons case?
Why would you do that?
Look, you're the one
who's always preaching...
that we're one department.
Uh, look, I've been asked...
to, um, keep Austin's name under
the radar. It's a special request.
Special request? What
are we, a karaoke bar?
Special request from
whom, regarding what?
- What's wrong?
- I just, um...
I just forgot to take Kitty
out of my purse this morning.
Out of...? Where is she?
She's...
She's here.
Oh.
I gather she took
a turn for the worse.
If you don't want me to take
this Missing Persons case...
No. no, no, no, look, ahem.
Tell you what, why don't
you go back to your office...
and I'll have Commander Taylor
go down to Missing Person's...
No, I'm perfectly
capable of going down...
Oh, no, no, no, you're too, you
know. You're a little too high-ranking.
Oh.
And, uh, you said you
want to keep this quiet.
I did.
Okay, thanks.
- Uh, don't, uh...
- Oh, sorry.
- Thanks.
- Mm-hm.
And this is where
it all happens.
Uh, this is the, this is Major
Crimes. My desk, right here.
- Very nice.
- Uh, ah, look.
- There he is. LAUREN:
He looks exactly like you.
Um, ah, here. Lauren, I would
like you to meet Sergeant Gabriel...
soon to be Detective
Sergeant Gabriel.
Well, I've got to
pass the test first.
But, uh, wow, it is a
pleasure to meet you, Lauren.
Oh, and this is my go-to guy.
This is Andy Flynn.
Andy, I have heard
so much about you.
Really? Because, to me,
you're a complete surprise.
Uh, Lauren, would you just
excuse me for one second, please?
Ah, Commander Taylor,
please meet Ms. Lauren Hines.
- Chief.
- Oh.
Taylor's here with
the file you wanted.
Uh, Lieutenant Flynn, who is that
woman with Lieutenant Provenza?
His girlfriend.
- You are kidding me.
- Mm-mm.
Her name is Lauren. She's
a buyer for men's clothes...
for a high-end department store.
- So ends the mystery of the new suits.
- Mm-hm.
Oh, Commander Taylor, thank you so
much for going down to Missing Persons.
They were anxious to know why
the sudden interest in Austin Blair.
Not too anxious.
What'd you tell them?
I played dumb, which was easy,
seeing as how I don't know anything.
Neither does Missing Persons, all
they have here are dental records...
and vehicle registrations.
Where are the follow-up reports?
There wasn't any need.
If you look, Austin was
reported missing by his boyfriend.
Travis Myers, 22, who
last saw Austin leaving...
Gosh, a month ago. For
an after-hours dance party.
What does that have to do with
the absence of a follow-up report?
Well, gay boy Austin goes out
for the night, doesn't come back.
His boyfriend, this
Travis kid, comes in mad...
and wants us to find out
who Austin is sleeping with.
It's a familiar pattern, Chief.
Well, let's see if this
convenient stereotype...
you all have cooked up to
avoid actual police work...
holds up under closer scrutiny.
Lieutenant Flynn, uh, would you please
run a master inquiry on Austin Blair?
But, uh, do it quietly. Just...
offline, off the
radar, off the grid.
- Like it never happened, Chief.
- Thank you.
Anybody know why we are
looking for this Austin Blair?
Because the chief asked us to?
Oh, Chief. Chief,
uh, this is, uh...
my...
Lauren Hines.
- I'm so pleased to meet you.
- I'm so glad to meet you too.
Since things were slow, Lauren
came by to see how our division works...
before I take her to lunch.
Oh, good. How nice.
So, Lauren, how old are you?
Detective Sanchez. You
never ask a lady how...
Oh, excuse us, Lauren. Ha,
ha. We kid a lot around here.
- You know, always teasing each other.
- Ow.
You know, cops.
Uh, Detective Sanchez, what can
you tell me about, uh, Austin Blair?
Uh, I ran the registration
on his Mercedes SUV.
And his name pops up with dope.
Brought in twice for
questioning but never arrested.
His credit card's been
active all over the place.
New York City, Miami, New Orleans,
Fort Lauderdale, all within the last year.
But since he went missing
a month ago, nothing.
Checked his address.
Nice place in Silver Lake.
No liens, current
on his mortgage.
Okay.
All right, well, good news. I mean,
depending on how you look at it.
That was Dr. Morales. He says
he has four matches in the morgue.
Oh, good. All right, then.
Uh, Sergeant Gabriel, why don't
you and I pop over to the burrito room.
And the rest of you all keep
poking around about Austin Blair...
on tippy-toe, please. Thank you.
Shall we?
It's funny you're here.
Missing Persons called earlier...
- looking for bodies...
- Missing Persons called?
- Bye-bye tippy-toe.
- Oh, for heaven's sakes.
- What was that date again?
- Uh, 25th of last month.
According to his boyfriend...
he went out to a dance
club and never came back.
Boyfriend? Wait. 26 years
old, 25th of last month?
He wasn't just going to a
club. He was going to Hell-A.
- Say what?
- Hell-A.
Get it? Hell-A as in L.A.
Big circuit party.
Circuit party?
Ah. Okay. Gay Culture 101.
Circuit parties are kind of like gay
raves. They go on for three or four days.
There's like one a
month all over the place.
A white party here, a black
party there. Hell-A in Los Angeles.
Uh, anyway, every year during
Hell-A week, we get a spike in ODs.
Most of them get claimed right
away, but every once in a while...
we have an out-of-towner
that hangs out for a while.
Yep. I think we've got
your John Doe here.
Oh, Fritz! Uh, I mean, Special
Agent Howard. Uh, what a surprise.
Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson,
this is Special Agent Jerry Moore.
What are you doing?
Someone in your Missing
Persons Division called around...
to find out why your sudden
interest in Austin Blair.
I tried to keep it quiet.
Hey, hey, guys, guys.
That's him. That's Austin.
Damn it.
Oh, man. Damn it.
Well, look at the bright side.
At least he's not
missing anymore.
Let's see. Your guy
was found in an alley.
Aspirated vomit in the
lungs. Typical in an OD.
I ordered a tox screen of
the common trail mix of drugs.
- X, GHB, meth.
- What'd you say, trail mix?
Circuit party boys like
to DJ their own high.
X for dancing, GHB
and meth for sex...
K for the comedown.
In this case, though, it was only
GHB and alcohol in the vomit.
Hmm. Most likely died in
the alley where he was found.
- Why do you say that?
- Hell-A has a medical staff on site.
Prevent someone
drowning in their own vomit.
They plan on treating overdoses?
More like they plan on covering
their asses if someone dies.
Exactly.
Thank you so much for the, uh,
background here. Much appreciated.
- The FBI looks forward to your full report.
- Is the doctor working for us or for you?
I work for the county.
This morgue is neutral territory.
Like Switzerland, without the money.
What...?
The L.A.P.D. found Austin Blair.
We deserve to know why
we were looking for him.
All right, but we need to
keep this inside the FBI.
How do you intend to do that?
So due to a recent crossover
with a federal investigation, uh...
the bad news is we have to sign these
forms and be, uh, deputized into the FBI.
And, once we're
formally included...
they have to tell us what
happened to this Austin Blair...
and why it's
apparently our problem.
- What's this? FLYNN:
We're joining the FBI.
But it's only
temporary, like love.
Do we get badges? They
have really cool badges.
Lauren, this is, uh... This is
some really top-secret stuff.
Very hush-hush, um...
Uh, Buzz, would you mind, uh, escorting
Lauren into the electronics room...
while we have our briefing?
- Not at all.
Thanks. Oh, and, Buzz,
ahem, why don't you, uh...?
Why don't you show her
one of my old interviews?
How about the one with
you and John Wilkes Booth?
Uh, was Austin's death
a murder or an overdose?
Sign, and we'll tell
everything we know.
This agreement is binding and
shall remain in effect for 48 hours...
during which time we expect
you all to behave like FBI agents.
I solemnly swear to act
as stupid as possible.
Okay. Are there any questions?
Well, yeah, how did
Austin Blair end up dead?
- We don't know.
- Wait a minute.
We track this guy
down, we find the body...
and you guys tell us nothing?
I mean, this is
our big briefing?
Yeah. Welcome to
the FBI, everyone.
Right hand in the air, we do not know
if Austin's death was a murder or not.
But let's say it was a homicide.
- What would you guys do next?
- Notify his next of kin.
His father's already
on his way down here.
- Sounds good.
- Hm, thank you for your, uh, cooperation.
Uh, hold on. Hold
on, hold on, hold on.
Hold on.
Am I working with my
husband or the FBI?
- Yes.
- On an overdose or a murder?
Maybe both. The second we
know more, we'll let you know.
So far, I find being an
FBI agent very frustrating.
Oh, Lauren. Lauren, I... I
am so sorry, sweetheart.
But, uh, it looks like
I am back on duty.
Hmm. I understand. It was
great to meet your friends.
Really?
- Okay, you be careful out there.
- Oh, tell that to the bad guys.
Whew, isn't she beautiful?
You should watch
how you kiss her.
Your gun almost went off.
You have no idea.
Dr. Blair, thank you for coming. We
would have been happy to come to you.
No, I'd rather not have
police in my waiting room.
And just so you know, I'm not
getting Austin another attorney.
If he's still involved with
drugs, that's his problem.
All right, then. Why
don't you have a seat?
We have a couple questions
we'd like to ask you about your son.
My stepson. I adopted Austin
when I married his mother.
One good thing about losing my wife,
she didn't live to see what became of him.
- Why was he arrested?
- Oh, we haven't arrested him, sir.
Can you tell me the last time
you saw or spoke to Austin?
Yeah, about a month
ago. Little longer.
I spoke with him on the
phone. What happened?
Can you tell why
it's been so long...
Did you not hear what I asked
you? What happened to Austin?
Sir, I'm sorry to inform you...
that your stepson passed
away over a month ago.
Austin's dead?
How?
Well, uh, it appears to
have been an overdose.
You people.
Wait. Can he just...?
- Uh, sir? Doctor? Sir?
- Dr. Blair, please wait.
I have surgery
across town in an hour.
Just call me with how I should
go about arranging for his funeral.
You may be in shock.
- You probably...
- Don't talk to me about shock.
- You don't think I know about shock?
- We need to know...
if Austin had any enemies or anyone
who might have had a reason to...
You're looking for a why?
My God. Drugs
don't give you a why.
You want to know
about Austin's life?
Try talking to that kid that's
answering the phone at his house.
You mean his boyfriend?
How should I know who he is?
Sit down. Now, what's your name?
Travis. Travis Myers. What's
going on? What's going on here?
Did you find Austin?
Put that down. I don't
have permission...
We don't need permission,
okay? We have a search warrant.
- Is there anyone else in this house?
- No.
Do you know where Austin
is? Is he in jail or something?
When's the last
time you saw him?
I reported him gone a month ago.
Hey, will you stay away from
there? Get out of there. You can't...
Sit down.
Hey, Buzz, up here.
Lieutenant.
Oh.
- Party time. TAO: The
fridge is full of these.
I brought my test
kit. My guess is GHB.
All right, so we know your
boyfriend is doing drugs.
- Is he selling them, as well?
- Will you get out of my house?
This is not your house, so
you're the one who's getting out.
I'm not going anywhere until
you tell me where Austin is.
Yeah? Okay. You want
to know where he is?
We found your boyfriend in the
morgue. He died a month ago.
What? That's how
you tell people?
We're arresting
you for possession...
- You bastards! Let go!
- Of a schedule-1 substance...
and the murder of Austin Blair.
- Austin!
- Uh, yes, Chief.
- Lieutenant. Did you find anything?
Uh, yeah. We found the
boyfriend with lots of loose cash...
and a fridge full of GHB.
Chief, I don't think this was just
some guy that the FBI wanted to talk to.
- Why do you say that?
- Well, Sanchez found a business card.
Whose business card?
Special Agent Fritz
Howard, with the FBI.
- Hi.
- Oh, my goodness.
So the FBI asks you
to find this Austin Blair...
who turns out to be a dead drug dealer
who has your husband's business card.
So your fellow FBI agents,
ahem, i.e. your squad and me...
are wondering if he might
have been an informant.
If you're asking me if I
knew that going in, I did not.
Okay? So we'll discuss it later.
So the FBI has an
operation that goes south...
and they expect
us to fix it for them.
You know, maybe you should
just not bring your dead pets to work.
Hello? FRITZ: Are you alone?
No.
- What do you want?
- Step into the back hallway.
Look, I'm gonna figure this
out. I promise. I just have to...
Just... Excuse me.
Hi. What?
Why didn't...?
Why didn't you just tell me
you were missing an informant?
We didn't know Austin was
missing. He could have just run away.
Looking for him ourselves could have
jeopardized a major drug investigation.
Look, your team finding him
makes it look more ordinary.
Oh, wonderful. My
wildest dreams achieved.
- We're ordinary.
- Hey, look, look, the good news is...
everything is going very well.
What is everything?
And how's it going well?
Look, this is
what I can tell you.
We caught Austin dealing
GHB at a circuit party.
We offered to let him go if he would help
us with an investigation I can't talk about.
But then he disappeared.
Disap...? He didn't
disappear. He died.
Well, granted. It's not ideal...
but you have retrieved vital
evidence from his house for us.
- You have a potential suspect in custody.
- Suspect in what?
Dr. Morales assumed
it was an OD.
His stepfather assumed it
was an OD. Why shouldn't I?
Okay, but let's just pretend Austin's
death looks just a little more like murder.
And you found some boy living in
his house with lots of drugs and money.
- What would you do then?
- I would treat the boy like a murder suspect.
Well, if that's your instinct.
We found $30,000 worth of
GHB, plus another $80,000 in cash.
And when Missing Persons asked you
if Austin had a drug or alcohol problem...
what did he say, lieutenant?
He Said, "Not that I know of."
All those drugs,
all that money...
and you didn't know that
Austin was a drug dealer?
- He wasn't a user.
- That's not what the autopsy said.
What else, lieutenant?
He said he last saw
Austin going out at night.
When asked where, Travis
answered, "I'm not sure."
Look, I was afraid that if you
guys knew where he'd gone...
you'd think he'd been partying
and wouldn't look for him.
But he'd call if he
wasn't coming home.
Home. His home. Where you
sure made yourself comfortable.
Living his life, selling his drugs,
maybe, spending his money.
I only use it to pay his bills. I
have a job of my own, okay?
I'm saving up to go to college
out here, establishing my residency.
Oh, I'm not sure I see
college in your future.
I might be able to find a permanent
spot for you in a California facility.
I was afraid to throw the drugs out because
I didn't know who might come for them.
Or who might show up
asking for the money.
Did you fill out this useless
Missing Persons report...
so that you'd look more innocent
when we found Austin's dead body?
- No.
- You don't look innocent.
- You look guiltier by the second.
- What do you want from me?
What I want is you to tell me exactly what
happened the last night you saw Austin.
- Start cooperating.
- I am cooperating.
I'm cooperating. I'm cooperating.
What do you think that I'm doing? God.
So Travis...
would you describe
yourself as the jealous type?
Did you call the police because you
thought Austin was cheating on you?
In fact, how do we even know...
- that the two of you were a couple?
- We were.
Then why did he go to an after-hours
dance party and leave you at home?
Austin... Austin didn't
want me with him because...
he said that he had this big
meeting with his boss at Hell-A...
and that just sounded
lame. So yeah...
when he drove off and left
me at home, I was jealous.
And when he didn't come home
and when he didn't pick up his cell...
I called to see if there
really had been a meeting.
And his boss told me that Austin
left the party with somebody else.
So I just didn't know
what to believe anymore.
Hang on, hang on. So you're telling me
that Austin was an employee of Hell-A?
He wasn't just dealing drugs?
Dealing drugs was his job.
Austin flew all
over the country.
- Everywhere that his boss held a party.
- Now we're getting somewhere.
At all these different parties,
Austin flew in with a supply...
of GHB to sell?
No. You can't take all that G
on a plane. Those are the rules.
Whose rules?
Peter Benjamin's rules.
- He was Austin's boss.
- Stop the interview. Stop it.
- But she's not done yet.
- Buzz, pull the plug.
- I don't work for you.
- Chief Johnson, stop.
We have what we need. FBI
rules. You signed an agreement.
Um...
Wait. Is that what
you needed to know?
That's all for now,
Travis. Thank you.
Can I see him, please?
Austin. Can I see him?
Excuse me.
If Benjamin had something
to do with Austin's death...
I should be conducting
the interview.
We've invited you to observe.
And do everything the stupid FBI
way without any recorders or cameras.
- Can I take notes?
- We have one person taking notes...
- during an interview.
- I'm happy with that being me.
Look, do you want
noodles or rice?
Are you gonna let me ask
Peter Benjamin questions?
- You can participate with follow-ups.
- Oh.
Look, this is our very
first crack at this guy.
- Which, which, which?
- Rice.
Okay.
Now, while we eat, I am
moving Kitty over here.
No, no, no. I hate this feeling of
not knowing everything you know.
And on top of everything
that happened to poor Kitty.
That is not gonna work.
Fine.
One FBI agent to another...
are you using this
investigation to get back at me?
No.
My first loyalty is to you.
Just like I am sure
your first loyalty is to me.
Right?
- Right?
- Of course it is, yes.
Okay, then.
- Thank you.
- Okay.
I'm gonna show you something,
which later you have to pretend...
you are watching for
the first time, okay?
Okay.
The night we lost
him, Austin Blair...
was wearing a wire.
This is where the party
is just getting started.
Now, there's Austin
handing off the GHB.
Mm-hm.
That's the recovery room
with the medical staff.
Goes on like this until...
Austin wanders
into the bathroom.
- Looks like he's not doing well. MAN
1: Hey, man. Hey, man, you all right?
Are you all right?
MAN 1: Oh, no.
And he just passes out.
So, Mr. Benjamin,
that's the end.
Now let's start
with the beginning.
Can you describe your relationship
with the deceased, Austin Blair?
Austin worked for me at different
venues across the country...
and from what you said
earlier, it now seems obvious...
he was going off
dealing drugs on the side.
May I follow up?
Did you actually see Austin
Blair leave the Hell-A party...
- on the night he disappeared?
- Uh, no.
That's odd, because
you told Travis Myers...
that you saw Austin
leave with another man.
Travis. When I told the kid
Austin left with someone...
I was speaking more
about a historical pattern.
You know, Austin, he
never left by himself.
Mr. Benjamin, returning
to the party itself...
- Ahem...
- Can you tell us...
did, um...
Did any, uh...
Did any individuals receive
medical attention during Hell-A?
Of course.
We have two recovery
rooms staffed specifically...
for people who,
you know, overdo it.
Would one of those
have been Austin Blair?
Okay.
Now, not to stomp on
a dead kid's reputation...
but, as we all
saw the footage...
obviously, Austin was dipping
heavily into his own supply.
He crashed in a bathroom.
He was brought to our doctor, put
in a recovery position on his side...
to prevent him from choking
on what might come up...
and rehydrated with a saline IV.
And when he got to
feeling better, I fired him.
- So Austin recovered?
- Yes.
And I assume, at some point, he
got in his car, and he drove home.
Really? Follow-up, please?
I have three witnesses who
saw employees of Hell-A...
drag Austin Blair, unconscious,
out into an alleyway...
This. We never agreed
to take questions...
implicating my client
in criminal activities.
Okay, okay, I think
we need a break, okay?
Agent Johnson?
- Can we, uh, convene in the hallway?
- Oh, absolutely.
Enjoy your bagel, Mr. Benjamin.
Hey. hey.
Do you really have three witnesses
who saw Austin Blair being dragged out?
Of course not. How could I?
Brenda, if the FBI lies in an interview
our case can get thrown out of court.
- I'm not going to federal court.
- Yeah, but technically...
you are in the FBI.
You're willing to just sit there and let
this guy eat bagels and lie up a storm?
What would you do differently?
When suspects lie to
us, we have to lie back.
Fritzy, if we all stop
lying to each other...
how will we ever
get to the truth?
If you think you can
remember some stuff...
Benjamin said in this interview.
I'm pretty sure I can.
Well, then say Austin
didn't die of an overdose.
What would you do then?
For heaven's sakes. You
want to know what I'd do?
Here. I quit the stupid FBI.
And from now on the L.A.P.D. regards
the death of Austin Blair as a murder.
That's what we wanted anyway.
Well, then you better just
hush up then and be grateful.
So Austin recovered?
Yes.
And I assume, at some point, he
got in his car, and he drove home.
Dr. Morales found no puncture
wounds on Austin's body...
so no IV was given to rehydrate.
Peter Benjamin lied. And
according to the tox screen...
Austin took 4 grams of GHB
over the usual recreational dose.
Maybe someone spiked his drink.
Because they knew that
Austin came wearing a wire.
And look. Look here.
This pocket's been ripped...
and the camera lens appears
to have been located here...
where this missing
faux pearl button was.
- Faux what?
- Faux. It's French for fake.
- You know, like a faux relationship.
- Yeah, ha, ha.
Yeah, lieutenant, how many more
new suits are you going to buy, sir?
One a day, if that's what it takes.
What a bunch of cynical bastards.
All right, everyone,
please focus.
Here are the rest of his effects:
A belt, wrist band, a watch.
Set of car keys.
No wire anywhere.
And just looking
at this stuff...
with the ripped shirt pocket,
the missing wallet, the OD.
On the surface this looks
like a guy who got mugged...
because he was too bombed
to find his car and drive home.
Wait, wait, wait.
Too bombed to drive home.
Benjamin said something
about Austin driving off...
except he was found in an alley.
So where's his car?
We haven't found
his vehicle anywhere.
Maybe someone has
another set of keys.
- Travis, do these look familiar?
- Yeah, I think they're Austin's.
- Do you happen to have a spare set?
- No, I drove my own jeep out here.
Austin was nervous about
anyone else driving his dad's car.
Don't worry,
doctor. I'll get it.
Oof, there. That's better.
Dr. Blair, this is a warrant
to search the premises.
Uh, sir, perhaps you can
explain why your dead son's...
I'm sorry, stepson's
car is in your garage.
Why are you doing this?
Why? Don't you know, doctor?
Drugs don't give you a why.
I can explain
why I have his car.
I would love to hear that, sir.
Because it's mine.
I registered it to Austin
for insurance reasons.
He was supposed to send me the payments.
When he stopped, I took the car back.
- How'd you find it?
- I went to his house.
But here's the
confusing part, sir.
Austin never made it home from
Hell-A, and neither did his car...
- so how did you pick it up at his house?
- I don't know.
- Maybe his friend, what's his name?
- Travis. He didn't have the keys.
Look, I... I know you're just
doing your job, but honestly...
I've got to be at
Cedars by 4:00, so...
- They know you're not coming.
- We called ahead.
- We've also searched your office.
- You what?
Where my colleagues found supplies
for a professional-grade drug lab.
No, no, no. Whatever you
think you've found there...
has a medical application.
Fifty liters of
gamma-Butyrolactone?
The main precursor
in making GHB?
What exactly is the application
for that, medically speaking?
This may be obvious. I care
a great deal about my cars.
Gamma-Butyrolactone, it cleans
the chrome wheels and such.
Did you know that your wheel
cleaner comes from China?
It's chock-full of
unique impurities.
We could match the GHB that
we found at Austin's house...
to that which we
found in Austin's body.
And connect it all...
to what we found at your office.
Can you do any of that
at the county crime lab?
Uh, probably not. Actually,
you can't do it anywhere.
- She always lie like this?
- I hope not.
You ever hear of a man by the
name of Peter Benjamin, doc?
Let's see if this jogs your memory. You
were in the drug business with your stepson.
The FBI caught Austin dealing.
They promised they'd go easy
on him if he gave them his supplier.
They were asking him to turn on
the man he thought of as his father.
No, no. Hold on, hold on a
second. Just hold on here.
- You are jumping to all sorts of conclusions.
- All right, let me make this easy on you.
The L.A.P.D. doesn't care about the
GHB. We won't be arresting you for that.
All I care about is finding the
person who murdered your stepson.
And then you and I are done.
All right.
All right.
Listen, you have
to understand just...
Just how much money
I lost in the crash.
And you see, Austin, he
introduced me to this Peter Benjamin.
At first, things went very well.
And then the FBI
caught Austin dealing.
Austin thought that I could...
just stop making the GHB.
Get rid of the equipment.
He would feed the feds
Peter. We would both go free.
That was very naive.
How?
Peter Benjamin was in much
the same place that I was.
His portfolio was in ruins, attendance
was down, the party revenue was nothing...
compared to what he made selling drugs.
So when I told him that I wanted out...
Well, he grew very
angry. He threatened me.
I had no choice but to tell him
what was going on and why.
So Austin tried to protect you,
and you went and got him killed?
No. No, no. No. Peter said,
well, he would just fire Austin...
make him useless to the FBI.
It wasn't until afterwards, when
Peter called me, when he ordered me...
to come pick up
that car that I...
- That I found out what really happened.
- That's awfully vague, doctor.
That Austin had been killed.
And Peter Benjamin said that I
had better keep the GHB coming...
or the same thing would
happen to me. And that is a quote.
Listen, you gotta believe me.
I'm telling you
the truth. I swear.
I believe you.
If you'll take a moment
to write all that down...
the L.A.P.D. will be
releasing you from custody.
- Special Agent Howard.
- Yes, Former Agent Johnson.
Suppose you were
running a major dope case...
and the L.A.P.D.
found your supplier.
What would you normally do
under those circumstances?
- I'd trade my murderer for your doctor.
- On one condition.
Austin's money stays here.
Why?
- Finally gonna repaint this place?
- That's my business.
You don't need that cash to
close your case. Deal or no deal?
Deal.
- And thank you.
- You're welcome.
Dr. Blair, it's been a real
pleasure. I'll see you when I see you.
Gentlemen, I expect Peter
Benjamin in this building...
as quickly as humanly
possible. Thank you.
You see?
Did this not turn out exactly
the way I said it would?
Hmm. What does she
want the money for?
Oh, I have no idea.
- Sergeant.
- Ah, Special Agents Moore...
and Howard of the FBI.
The doctor will see you now.
Dr. Dennis Blair,
you're under arrest...
for the manufacture and distribution
of a class-1 controlled substance...
tax evasion, racketeering, and
conspiracy to commit murder.
- Chief?
- Yes?
I put, uh, Travis
in your office.
Oh. thank you.
- This is from evidence lock-up.
- Thanks.
Oh, uh, lieutenant, you
look so different today.
Well, it's a new style.
- Ahem, country gentleman.
- I call it "Mister Rogers."
It's going to be big next year.
Well, it's... It's
very becoming.
Be nice.
Where's his shirt?
Uh, we have to
keep that, I'm afraid.
It's part of our murder
case against Peter Benjamin.
Oh, okay.
There's one more thing, though.
We can't prove where
that money came from.
You were living at his house.
For all we know, it's yours.
No. I don't want it.
Look, Travis, you no
longer have a place to live.
And getting your things out of Austin's
house is going to be extremely difficult.
I want Austin. Not this.
It's not disloyal to Austin's
memory for you to have this money.
You were saving
up to go to college.
Let's have something
good come out of all this.
Okay?
If I hadn't tried to get your mind off
of Kitty by asking you for a favor...
And if I hadn't
brought Kitty to work...
Pope never would have handed
me that Missing Persons case.
He was super-loyal,
even in death.
She was super-loyal.
I think she'd be very proud.
So which one of Kitty's
babysitting DVDs...
do you want to watch?
"Cheetah in the
Land of the Lion"...
or "Birds of the Amazon"?
Killing versus mating.
You choose.
Of The more than
1 5 00 species...
of birds found in the Amazon basin
none is more loyal than the macaw.
Known to mate for life...
these beautiful animals
fiercely defend their families...
from any predator,
large or small.