The Murders (2019–…): Season 1, Episode 8 - Stereo - full transcript
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Jada!
Jada!
Hello?
Is someone there?
Get off me!!!!
Vanessa Burton went missing
in 1999 at 18 years of age.
Last seen walking her dog
in the same park her
remains were found.
Cause of death, blunt
force trauma to the head.
There's a depressed fracture
in the parietal bone.
There's no finger prints on the
gift box or cassette tape,
no grave site found.
What did you find on the tape?
It contains 15 songs, but
there's a blank spot
of three minutes and 13 seconds
before the first track plays.
Room for another song.
3:13.
Could be numerology. Or a code.
Or an empty space.
That the track list on the cassette.
They range from "Shank Hill
Butcher" by the Decembrists
to "Frankie and Johnny" by Lead Belly.
Her skeleton was presented as a gift.
Someone's reaching out to us.
The question is why.
And how does it relate
to the cassette tape?
Do they even make those
players anymore?
First things' first,
let's find out what we
can about the victim.
Who did this to our daughter?
We know very little at this time.
How was she found?
Your daughter's remains
were found in a box
on a trail in Deer Lake Park.
That's where she disappeared.
She was found in a box.
With a cassette tape
including 15 songs.
Do you have any idea why a
tape of songs would be found
with your daughter's remains?
No.
I need you to take a
look at these titles.
See if anything stands out to you.
I don't recognize these.
Can you please explain
what is going on here?
Well, we're trying to determine that.
What can you tell me about
Vanessa's life before she died?
She was about to start college
on an athletic scholarship.
She was a competitive swimmer.
We had lost our son,
Wynn, Vanessa's twin,
a few years earlier.
Vanessa took it hard, stepped
away from the pool for a year.
What happened to Wynn?
He, um...
He drowned on a camping
trip at Campbell Lake.
He and Vanessa were there with friend.
Losing our son almost destroyed us.
And then our daughter...
Vanessa had survivor's guilt.
It was tough.
She was delivered in a box, Frank.
I can't go through this
again, I can't do it.
We can bury her beside Wynn now,
and give her a proper funeral.
It's okay sweetheart.
I can't go through this
again, I can't do it.
It's okay sweetheart. It's okay.
Do you remember that audio file
I received a few weeks ago?
The sex recording from
your, um, friend...
He was insistent that
he didn't send it.
I received another anonymous
file a week later,
it had an obscure version of the song
"In the Air Tonight," the
lyrics reference a drowning.
So?
Well, the victim's remains
arrive gift wrapped,
and then we learn her
twin brother drowned?
I can't ignore that.
The song wasn't on the cassette.
I think the killer reached out to me.
You jump to conclusions.
You still have the audio file?
Have tech crime take a look at it.
They did, and found nothing.
Well, there you go.
If he did reach out to
you, he will again.
Til then, let's start
with the yearbook.
It's a Bill Evans trio.
Any chance you have a copy
of "Waltz for Debbie"?
Hmm, I'll bring one in for ya.
Yeah, that would be great.
Give me a week.
Thanks, Floyd.
Hmm-mm.
Hey, Floyd.
Kate.
How's your mom?
She's okay.
She must be stressed with the
election in a couple of days.
Should I call her?
Just say hello
I'm sure she'd love that.
Have a look at this.
Hmm, this is quite the selection.
Anything stand out?
Mostly old murder ballads.
"Pretty Polly", "Frankie
and Johnny", "Tom Dooley",
mixed in with some contemporary cuts.
They're all murder ballads?
Yup.
Evan Walker.
How could that be?
Evan Walker.
Murdered the audiologist.
And now serving a life sentence.
Married his crime to the
song "Long Black Veil",
hung a man because it
was in the lyrics?
He sent a version of the
song to the victim's phone.
Guess what the runtime of it is?
Three minutes, 13 seconds.
The amount of blank space on the tape.
Our killer is referencing
Walker's murder.
We never publicly shared
the details of that case.
Exactly.
Whoever created the
cassette knows Evan.
You're reaching again.
I know one way to find out.
I'm gonna talk to Chen.
All the tracks on the cassette
are murder ballads except one.
It's a song called "Standing"
by Jonny Hetherington.
He's the lead singer of a local band,
Art of Dying.
Art of Dying.
Uplifting music, I'm sure.
They're hard rock, his solo LP isn't.
The song is about the unmasking
of secrets and redemption.
What if the killer showing
signs of remorse?
The gift, the song.
Why not just turn yourself in?
Good question.
He's playing a game.
He's playing a game.
Wow.
I've been expecting you.
Vanessa Burton.
You found her body.
Did you kill her?
Why should I help you?
Hmm?
Tell me about the
significance of the music.
A recording of Stagger Lee.
Killed a man for stealing his hat.
Hardly seems a motive for murder.
Reason enough for him.
What am I supposed to do with this,
hang it on my wall?
Give me something I can
use, you get a turntable.
You must be pretty desperate
to bargain with me.
I mean, the LP's an inspired choice.
But... I'm gonna need a lot more
if you're want to catch
your serial killer.
I didn't say I was looking
for a serial killer.
I wanna visit my mother.
I understand she's dying of cancer.
My sympathies.
Getting you a pass is
above my pay grade.
She doesn't have much time.
I need a gesture in good faith.
Check out the stereophonic.
What is that?
Guard!
That's it?
I just gave you everything.
Tech Crimes traced Evan's
online name in the Stereophonic
Music forum, he goes by Sonic.
We searched his message history,
and found correspondence between
Sonic and Hollis Brown.
Hollis Brown is a character
in a Bob Dylan song
about a man who shoots his wife
and kids and kills himself.
What ever happened to the
good old country song
where a guy loses his dog?
I bet Hollis is the dude.
What else do they talk about?
They were matching murder songs
to crime stories in the news.
Hollis is definitely local,
and references concerts
in the area dating back two decades.
Evan was in Montreal 20 years ago,
so it's unlikely he's Vanessa's killer.
And you think Hollis is.
I mean, Evan mentioned a serial killer
without me saying anything.
Then he gives us this?
I don't trust him.
Hollis is using a proxy server
to mask his internet activity.
We can't locate him.
He could be anywhere.
We think each of the
songs on the cassette
links to a distinctive murder,
just as the blank space on the
tape references Evan Walker's.
Lyrics from each of the 15 songs.
Okay, all right, let's divvy them up,
see if we can match their
stories to known cold cases.
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The song "Pretty Polly"
is about a young woman
lured to the fest and killed.
It's a good reference
for Vanessa Burton.
I've got an unsolved
murder from Halifax, 2009.
A priest goes missing.
Was said to have fathered a child
of one of his parishioners.
Similar story to the
song "Carolina Drama"
by the Raconteurs.
Cold case, Eugene, Oregon. 2001.
Husband disappears after a long
history of abusing his wife,
wife is a prime suspect,
but there's no body.
Dixie Chicks, "Goodbye Earl"?
We've linked 15 songs to 40
unsolved murders across Canada
and the US over two decades.
We need to find a pattern,
to narrow it down.
Evan Walker was right.
He gave us everything.
Except the killer's name.
It's not enough.
Drill down on this Hollis
Brown, find me a real person,
not a pseudonym.
We have dozens of cold
cases across the continent
that connect to these songs,
in jurisdictions that
couldn't close them.
You haven't closed them, either.
What you have is circumstantial.
We need more on the killer.
Kate's developed Evan
Walker as a source.
Let's give him what he wants,
see what else he can turn over.
His mother is dying of cancer.
He's desperate to see her.
Do you realize the kind of favours
I'd have to pull to get
this guy a day pass?
If it helps us catch a serial killer?
Who is out there running free.
Walker gave us our lead.
He's a convict.
He's a convicted murderer.
Walker will say anything
to see his mother.
No.
I'm not putting myself on the
line with what you've got.
So we got the info on Hollis
Brown through Walker's tip.
I don't understand why he needs more.
All we have is a pseudonym,
a list of songs,
and some cold cases that
can possibly relate to it.
Exactly why we need Walker.
Why is the killer revealing
himself to us now?
The murder ballads,
connecting music to crimes,
the 15 songs, the gifts.
He obviously has an agenda.
It's only a matter of time
before he acts on it.
Word is, you had one of the
highest scores at the academy.
So, who is it?
If I knew that, we
wouldn't be standing here.
Enlighten me.
What are they teaching in
Serial Killer 101 these days?
Well, Serial Killers are usually
men with personality disorders
stemming from childhood
abuse or neglect.
They often have violent role models.
They're often reclusive or antisocial,
though they're capable
of holding down a job.
What can you specifically
tell me about this killer?
He's meticulous.
He'd have to be.
He's evaded capture for 20 years.
Obsessed with music.
He researches his victims,
knowing their pain intimately
before he murders them.
See, Evan kills for the thrill of it,
but there's a lot more to it
than that for Hollis Brown.
For him, it's personal.
He has a connection to his victims.
Yes.
So, he'd have a connection
to Vanessa Burton.
Yes.
See, this guy's a predator,
and would stalk his victims
before killing them.
Predatory animals kill
to satisfy a need.
This guy needs to kill.
Evan is inspired to connect
the song to someone
and kill them.
For the thrill of it.
Or Hollis Brown lured
Evan into killing.
Evading capture for all these years,
why correspond with us now?
For what reason?
What is it?
I think it's him.
Well, serial killers are usually men.
With personality disorders
stemming from childhood
abuse or neglect.
They often have violent role models.
He's listening.
They're often reclusive or antisocial,
or they're capable of
holding down a job.
What can you specifically
tell me about this killer?
He's meticulous.
He'd have to be.
He's evaded capture for 20 years.
Whoever was accessing your
phone want get much anymore.
If anyone needs to reach you,
present company excluded,
they can go through the
police switchboard.
They'll patch the call through.
Okay.
How do we know our phones
haven't been compromised too?
If you start receiving
audio files, let me know.
Kate, Nolan, in my office.
How long have you known
about these texts?
I alerted Tech Crimes a few weeks ago,
- but they found nothing.
- A few weeks ago?
And you knew about this?
And neither of you
thought to come to me?
Your personal safety's in question.
You're off the case.
What?!
This is not a debate.
Kate has more insight
into this investigation
than anyone you'd replace her with,
and the killer singled her out,
which makes her our best resource.
Okay.
Make this easy on me.
You tell me exactly how
you're going to conduct
an investigation and not
wind up like the 15 people
who died before you.
Nolan works it with me.
24/7, where I go, he goes.
You good with that?
Yep.
All right.
You're with Kate, day and
night, no exceptions,
and there's a surveillance
team on your watch.
Thank you.
There's one more thing.
Go on.
We give Evan Walker that day pass.
And by we, you mean me.
Tell us about your
relationship to Hollis Brown.
I wanna see my mom first.
We pulled a lot of
strings to get you here.
You'll answer our questions first.
Not until I see her.
Well, this was a waste of time.
Let's go.
Fine by me.
Wait, wait, wait. Hold on, hold on.
All right.
I met Hollis about three years ago.
We share a mutual
appreciation of music.
Murder ballads.
This is how we meet in dept knowledge.
About a year ago our correspondence,
he noted a recent murder that
bared resemblance to a song.
So, we started looking for
others, comparing stories.
It was a game, until one
day, it became apparent
that Hollis knew details
of a murder outside of what
was reported in the news.
How long ago was that?
About two years.
In what city?
Toronto.
What did Hollis think
of your handiwork,
murdering someone to the
song "Long Black Veil"?
I haven't heard from him since.
All right.
We'll talk after your visit.
City heads to the polls tomorrow?
Finally.
Are you ready to be
the mayor's daughter?
She's gonna win, trust me.
And it's gonna be a lot easier for you
to get dinner reservations.
Easy.
This is for you.
Where'd you get that?
Hollis.
He left it with my mother yesterday.
This Hollis do this confident.
He must have known about our
visit to Walker, right?
Or he listened in on us.
Why would he give us a
silver whistle on a string?
With a skull on it?
I dot know, he's alerting us?
There's something I
keep coming back to.
The tape that was left in the gift box
was labeled in felt marker.
That case we had last
month with the rapper?
I remember inside the recording studio,
everything on the console
was labeled and marked
in felt marker.
It's like an industry standard, right?
He's in the business..
I mean, even what's written
on the label, "dub master."
That's pro lingo, right?
Yeah, yeah, I mean it
makes perfect sense.
Kate, you're amazing.
Hey.
You've got to be kidding me?!
Leah, Leah, come on. Come on, stop!
I guess we're even now, huh?
It's, it's my partner.
Kate.
Well, that's ironic.
What's going on?
There's a threat on her life.
Doesn't that make it
dangerous for you too, then?
I'm not worried about me.
What are you doing here?
It can wait.
Come on, come on.
You're here.
What is it?
I got a job offer.
In New York.
I was hoping you wouldn't get it.
Thanks.
I don't want you to leave.
It's a chance to start
over, for both of us.
If you come with me.
Is that what you want?
It's never been about you, Nolan.
I mean, it's your job.
You're always working, I
might as well live alone.
Nolan sprung for coffees.
You owe me.
Figured as much.
What's all this?
I've mapped the locations
of our 40 cold cases
over the last two decades.
Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Kingston, Ontario.
Eugene, Oregon.
I'm trying to find
some sort of pattern.
In order to hit this many cities,
our killer must have a
reason to move around.
What if our guy's in
the music business?
Musician.
Or one of the road crew.
It makes sense.
There have to be towns that
are regular tour stops..
Could eliminate a lot of places.
Okay, well, let's contact
the musician's unions,
and cross reference touring
artists with their crews.
There can't be that many who
have worked on the road
for two decades.
I know an old roadie myself.
Of course you do.
It's customary to thank your
crew in the liner notes.
Could be looking for a manager,
a sound guy, a driver.
Several circuits that bands travel,
except tours in small towns.
Ah.
There we go.
This is the Art of
Dying's last road crew.
Jameson.
Yeah, how long have they
been union members?
Got it, thanks Meg.
Meg spoke to the local union rep,
and found three names
that fit our profile.
Decker Simpson, Burt
Cogburn, and Robert Henkin.
All local guys who toured
the road for decades.
He's a sound engineer.
Robert Henkin.
You know this guy?
Yeah, he comes in often.
What's he listen to?
Rob's got eclectic tastes.
He was in just the other day.
Ordered up a copy of Bill Evans Trio.
"Waltz for Debbie".
What do you know about this guy, Floyd?
Worked the road for a long time.
He may have bought a
murder ballad in the past,
but Robert's a quiet guy, Kate.
I don't think I'd make
him for a serial killer.
Robert's the orphan of
Tracey and Jorgen Henkin.
When he was 10 years old
he witnessed his father
kill his mother,
then turn the gun on himself
in a murder-suicide.
It's a similar story to the
one told in Bob Dylan's song,
"Hollis Brown".
"Hollis Brown" is the one
name of Robert Henkin.
He and Walker corresponded for years.
Turns out Robert is a sound engineer,
he's worked with touring live
bands for over two decades.
Okay, that all seems to track, but...
How is this guy connected
to Vanessa Burton?
Robert Henkin was working
at Campbell Lake
at the time of Vanessa's
brother's drowning.
We have our connection, then.
He also has a gun charge as a minor.
They found a 38 in his locker.
He ticks every box.
Where are Nolan and Kate?
We think the whistle might be
a nod to Vanessa's swimming.
She was a competitive swimmer.
The insignia on the
whistle is the team logo
of Vanessa's high school swim team.
Nolan and Kate are following it up now.
Good work.
Is that what I think it is?
I don't like the look of this.
Hello?
Hello?
Hello, Kate.
Hi, Robert.
Do you like the song?
Not what I'd expect from you.
Well, they all can't be
murder ballads, can they?
We should meet in person.
We should.
We do have a lot to talk about, Kate.
Name the place.
All in good time.
What is it that you want?
I think the better question, Kate, is,
what is it that you want?
Do you prefer to be
called Robert or Hollis?
Rob...
Did you know that sound travels
four times faster underwater?
Kate?
I did not know that.
You're drowning, Kate.
But I am gonna save you.
Soon.
He's stalking you.
The song is about redemption and
holding people accountable.
I think it may be specific to me.
He said he wants to save me.
Should I be worried about
your safety, Kate?
No.
I've been issued a new
phone and a computer,
and I'm under surveillance.
You're concerned this person
knows about the coverup
of your gun being stolen
and consequently the death
of your partner, Mike Huntley.
Do you know why you came
back to counselling
after you tried to stop?
To talk to someone I can trust.
Yes.
Most times, that's what
people are looking for,
just someone who sees them
for who they really are.
The killer thinks I understand him.
Maybe you do.
Coffee?
Yes.
Thanks.
What do you got?
Robert Henkin's life was shred
in his parents' murder-suicide,
he's lived with guilt
and grief ever since.
Vanessa Burton stood on the shore
and watched as her brother drowned,
she was consumed with guilt for
several years after his death.
Jeff Donnelan killed his best
friend in a car accident.
I can only imagine the
guilt he suffered.
Robert thinks he's doing
his victims a favour.
An angel of mercy.
See that?
What's that?
Land deed.
Robert's father owned the factory
where his parents'
murder-suicide happened.
Henkin Gems.
Yeah, they process rocks and minerals.
It was in the case file.
The company became Robert's
after his father died.
Factory's been vacant for 30 years.
Guess what forensics found
in that silver whistle he left for us?
Polished stone.
What if he's been inside the factory?
Obsessed with music,
he researches his victims,
researches his victims,
victims, victims, victims...
knowing their pain intimately
before he murders them.
Knowing their pain intimately
before he murders them.
The reason he died.
He researches his victims
Researches his victims
Obsessed with music.
Kate, do you copy?
Kate, do you copy?
Well, that's a relief,
to have someone to confide in.
But it doesn't absolve me.
I made a mistake my
first week in homicide.
My partner wanted to protect
me and try to cover it up.
And that's why we were at the
apartment the night he died.
All because of my mistake.
I got him killed.
I'm the reason he died.
I'm the reason he died.
I'm the reason he died.
All because of my mistake.
All because of my mistake.
I'm the reason he died.
All because of my mistake.
I'm the reason he died.
All because of my mistake.
I'm the reason he died.
I got him killed. I got him killed.
Police mourn the death.
Police mourn the death of
celebrated homicide detective,
Michael Huntley.
After shots were fired
last night at 200-
Kate!
You turn that off, this cop dies.
I've already killed one today.
Please.
Just do what he says.
He already killed my partner.
Yeah.
Come on, Kate.
Move.
Come on.
That's right, Kate. Come on.
There she comes.
Hey there, Kate.
Good girl.
How about you drop that gun?
Drop it.
Put it down.
Drop it.
Oh, come on Kate?
You remember Michael Huntley, Kate?
Don't make that same mistake twice.
There you go.
Now, put that big heavy gun
down on the floor. Yeah.
Good girl.
Now kick it over to me.
Kick it.
Now here's the thing, Kate.
I've been looking forward
to this moment for so long.
Just you and me, alone.
Have you?
Oh Kate, you're gonna love
what I have on my playlist.
What do you want?
I want the same thing you want, Kate?
You know, remember, we
wanna be free from pain.
I can help you with your pain, Robert.
Yes, I know.
I know, cause we're
kindred spirits, Kate.
I'm gonna help you,
you're gonna help me.
We're gonna save each other.
Hey, you know, I knew you were special
the moment that you put
Walker behind bars.
You were the only one
in all those years.
Only one that could connect
a murder and song.
You see, everyone wants to hear
their tragedies in a song.
Now, do you think someone's
going to write a song for us, Kate?
'Cause that would be...
Come on.
Is that what you want?
To be immortalized in a song?
I already told you what I wanted.
You don't ever listen, Kate.
Please.
Please don't do this.
There's nothing to fear, Kate.
Chen removed your police detail.
Which means, you don't have
to look at my mug 24/7.
Nice work on the case.
Thanks.
You're going to fit in here, Kate.
I just talked to Leah.
How'd that go?
She wants to give us another chance.
That's what you wanted, right?
She got a job offer in New York.
Means I'd have to leave.
I thought you should have these.
You removed them from evidence?
It's not evidence.
The secret's yours.
Congrats Mom, you're the Mayor.
Thank you honey for
being so supportive.
Of course.
And as much as I dislike
you being in homicide,
I've seen firsthand
how lucky the city is
to have an officer like you.
Your father would be so proud.
You said something to
me a few days ago,
and I'm not sure I
responded to it well.
What was that?
You said you wanted to focus
on the things that matter,
including our relationship.
I'd like to make that effort, too.
Jada!
Jada!
Hello?
Is someone there?
Get off me!!!!
Vanessa Burton went missing
in 1999 at 18 years of age.
Last seen walking her dog
in the same park her
remains were found.
Cause of death, blunt
force trauma to the head.
There's a depressed fracture
in the parietal bone.
There's no finger prints on the
gift box or cassette tape,
no grave site found.
What did you find on the tape?
It contains 15 songs, but
there's a blank spot
of three minutes and 13 seconds
before the first track plays.
Room for another song.
3:13.
Could be numerology. Or a code.
Or an empty space.
That the track list on the cassette.
They range from "Shank Hill
Butcher" by the Decembrists
to "Frankie and Johnny" by Lead Belly.
Her skeleton was presented as a gift.
Someone's reaching out to us.
The question is why.
And how does it relate
to the cassette tape?
Do they even make those
players anymore?
First things' first,
let's find out what we
can about the victim.
Who did this to our daughter?
We know very little at this time.
How was she found?
Your daughter's remains
were found in a box
on a trail in Deer Lake Park.
That's where she disappeared.
She was found in a box.
With a cassette tape
including 15 songs.
Do you have any idea why a
tape of songs would be found
with your daughter's remains?
No.
I need you to take a
look at these titles.
See if anything stands out to you.
I don't recognize these.
Can you please explain
what is going on here?
Well, we're trying to determine that.
What can you tell me about
Vanessa's life before she died?
She was about to start college
on an athletic scholarship.
She was a competitive swimmer.
We had lost our son,
Wynn, Vanessa's twin,
a few years earlier.
Vanessa took it hard, stepped
away from the pool for a year.
What happened to Wynn?
He, um...
He drowned on a camping
trip at Campbell Lake.
He and Vanessa were there with friend.
Losing our son almost destroyed us.
And then our daughter...
Vanessa had survivor's guilt.
It was tough.
She was delivered in a box, Frank.
I can't go through this
again, I can't do it.
We can bury her beside Wynn now,
and give her a proper funeral.
It's okay sweetheart.
I can't go through this
again, I can't do it.
It's okay sweetheart. It's okay.
Do you remember that audio file
I received a few weeks ago?
The sex recording from
your, um, friend...
He was insistent that
he didn't send it.
I received another anonymous
file a week later,
it had an obscure version of the song
"In the Air Tonight," the
lyrics reference a drowning.
So?
Well, the victim's remains
arrive gift wrapped,
and then we learn her
twin brother drowned?
I can't ignore that.
The song wasn't on the cassette.
I think the killer reached out to me.
You jump to conclusions.
You still have the audio file?
Have tech crime take a look at it.
They did, and found nothing.
Well, there you go.
If he did reach out to
you, he will again.
Til then, let's start
with the yearbook.
It's a Bill Evans trio.
Any chance you have a copy
of "Waltz for Debbie"?
Hmm, I'll bring one in for ya.
Yeah, that would be great.
Give me a week.
Thanks, Floyd.
Hmm-mm.
Hey, Floyd.
Kate.
How's your mom?
She's okay.
She must be stressed with the
election in a couple of days.
Should I call her?
Just say hello
I'm sure she'd love that.
Have a look at this.
Hmm, this is quite the selection.
Anything stand out?
Mostly old murder ballads.
"Pretty Polly", "Frankie
and Johnny", "Tom Dooley",
mixed in with some contemporary cuts.
They're all murder ballads?
Yup.
Evan Walker.
How could that be?
Evan Walker.
Murdered the audiologist.
And now serving a life sentence.
Married his crime to the
song "Long Black Veil",
hung a man because it
was in the lyrics?
He sent a version of the
song to the victim's phone.
Guess what the runtime of it is?
Three minutes, 13 seconds.
The amount of blank space on the tape.
Our killer is referencing
Walker's murder.
We never publicly shared
the details of that case.
Exactly.
Whoever created the
cassette knows Evan.
You're reaching again.
I know one way to find out.
I'm gonna talk to Chen.
All the tracks on the cassette
are murder ballads except one.
It's a song called "Standing"
by Jonny Hetherington.
He's the lead singer of a local band,
Art of Dying.
Art of Dying.
Uplifting music, I'm sure.
They're hard rock, his solo LP isn't.
The song is about the unmasking
of secrets and redemption.
What if the killer showing
signs of remorse?
The gift, the song.
Why not just turn yourself in?
Good question.
He's playing a game.
He's playing a game.
Wow.
I've been expecting you.
Vanessa Burton.
You found her body.
Did you kill her?
Why should I help you?
Hmm?
Tell me about the
significance of the music.
A recording of Stagger Lee.
Killed a man for stealing his hat.
Hardly seems a motive for murder.
Reason enough for him.
What am I supposed to do with this,
hang it on my wall?
Give me something I can
use, you get a turntable.
You must be pretty desperate
to bargain with me.
I mean, the LP's an inspired choice.
But... I'm gonna need a lot more
if you're want to catch
your serial killer.
I didn't say I was looking
for a serial killer.
I wanna visit my mother.
I understand she's dying of cancer.
My sympathies.
Getting you a pass is
above my pay grade.
She doesn't have much time.
I need a gesture in good faith.
Check out the stereophonic.
What is that?
Guard!
That's it?
I just gave you everything.
Tech Crimes traced Evan's
online name in the Stereophonic
Music forum, he goes by Sonic.
We searched his message history,
and found correspondence between
Sonic and Hollis Brown.
Hollis Brown is a character
in a Bob Dylan song
about a man who shoots his wife
and kids and kills himself.
What ever happened to the
good old country song
where a guy loses his dog?
I bet Hollis is the dude.
What else do they talk about?
They were matching murder songs
to crime stories in the news.
Hollis is definitely local,
and references concerts
in the area dating back two decades.
Evan was in Montreal 20 years ago,
so it's unlikely he's Vanessa's killer.
And you think Hollis is.
I mean, Evan mentioned a serial killer
without me saying anything.
Then he gives us this?
I don't trust him.
Hollis is using a proxy server
to mask his internet activity.
We can't locate him.
He could be anywhere.
We think each of the
songs on the cassette
links to a distinctive murder,
just as the blank space on the
tape references Evan Walker's.
Lyrics from each of the 15 songs.
Okay, all right, let's divvy them up,
see if we can match their
stories to known cold cases.
_
_
_
_
_
_
_
The song "Pretty Polly"
is about a young woman
lured to the fest and killed.
It's a good reference
for Vanessa Burton.
I've got an unsolved
murder from Halifax, 2009.
A priest goes missing.
Was said to have fathered a child
of one of his parishioners.
Similar story to the
song "Carolina Drama"
by the Raconteurs.
Cold case, Eugene, Oregon. 2001.
Husband disappears after a long
history of abusing his wife,
wife is a prime suspect,
but there's no body.
Dixie Chicks, "Goodbye Earl"?
We've linked 15 songs to 40
unsolved murders across Canada
and the US over two decades.
We need to find a pattern,
to narrow it down.
Evan Walker was right.
He gave us everything.
Except the killer's name.
It's not enough.
Drill down on this Hollis
Brown, find me a real person,
not a pseudonym.
We have dozens of cold
cases across the continent
that connect to these songs,
in jurisdictions that
couldn't close them.
You haven't closed them, either.
What you have is circumstantial.
We need more on the killer.
Kate's developed Evan
Walker as a source.
Let's give him what he wants,
see what else he can turn over.
His mother is dying of cancer.
He's desperate to see her.
Do you realize the kind of favours
I'd have to pull to get
this guy a day pass?
If it helps us catch a serial killer?
Who is out there running free.
Walker gave us our lead.
He's a convict.
He's a convicted murderer.
Walker will say anything
to see his mother.
No.
I'm not putting myself on the
line with what you've got.
So we got the info on Hollis
Brown through Walker's tip.
I don't understand why he needs more.
All we have is a pseudonym,
a list of songs,
and some cold cases that
can possibly relate to it.
Exactly why we need Walker.
Why is the killer revealing
himself to us now?
The murder ballads,
connecting music to crimes,
the 15 songs, the gifts.
He obviously has an agenda.
It's only a matter of time
before he acts on it.
Word is, you had one of the
highest scores at the academy.
So, who is it?
If I knew that, we
wouldn't be standing here.
Enlighten me.
What are they teaching in
Serial Killer 101 these days?
Well, Serial Killers are usually
men with personality disorders
stemming from childhood
abuse or neglect.
They often have violent role models.
They're often reclusive or antisocial,
though they're capable
of holding down a job.
What can you specifically
tell me about this killer?
He's meticulous.
He'd have to be.
He's evaded capture for 20 years.
Obsessed with music.
He researches his victims,
knowing their pain intimately
before he murders them.
See, Evan kills for the thrill of it,
but there's a lot more to it
than that for Hollis Brown.
For him, it's personal.
He has a connection to his victims.
Yes.
So, he'd have a connection
to Vanessa Burton.
Yes.
See, this guy's a predator,
and would stalk his victims
before killing them.
Predatory animals kill
to satisfy a need.
This guy needs to kill.
Evan is inspired to connect
the song to someone
and kill them.
For the thrill of it.
Or Hollis Brown lured
Evan into killing.
Evading capture for all these years,
why correspond with us now?
For what reason?
What is it?
I think it's him.
Well, serial killers are usually men.
With personality disorders
stemming from childhood
abuse or neglect.
They often have violent role models.
He's listening.
They're often reclusive or antisocial,
or they're capable of
holding down a job.
What can you specifically
tell me about this killer?
He's meticulous.
He'd have to be.
He's evaded capture for 20 years.
Whoever was accessing your
phone want get much anymore.
If anyone needs to reach you,
present company excluded,
they can go through the
police switchboard.
They'll patch the call through.
Okay.
How do we know our phones
haven't been compromised too?
If you start receiving
audio files, let me know.
Kate, Nolan, in my office.
How long have you known
about these texts?
I alerted Tech Crimes a few weeks ago,
- but they found nothing.
- A few weeks ago?
And you knew about this?
And neither of you
thought to come to me?
Your personal safety's in question.
You're off the case.
What?!
This is not a debate.
Kate has more insight
into this investigation
than anyone you'd replace her with,
and the killer singled her out,
which makes her our best resource.
Okay.
Make this easy on me.
You tell me exactly how
you're going to conduct
an investigation and not
wind up like the 15 people
who died before you.
Nolan works it with me.
24/7, where I go, he goes.
You good with that?
Yep.
All right.
You're with Kate, day and
night, no exceptions,
and there's a surveillance
team on your watch.
Thank you.
There's one more thing.
Go on.
We give Evan Walker that day pass.
And by we, you mean me.
Tell us about your
relationship to Hollis Brown.
I wanna see my mom first.
We pulled a lot of
strings to get you here.
You'll answer our questions first.
Not until I see her.
Well, this was a waste of time.
Let's go.
Fine by me.
Wait, wait, wait. Hold on, hold on.
All right.
I met Hollis about three years ago.
We share a mutual
appreciation of music.
Murder ballads.
This is how we meet in dept knowledge.
About a year ago our correspondence,
he noted a recent murder that
bared resemblance to a song.
So, we started looking for
others, comparing stories.
It was a game, until one
day, it became apparent
that Hollis knew details
of a murder outside of what
was reported in the news.
How long ago was that?
About two years.
In what city?
Toronto.
What did Hollis think
of your handiwork,
murdering someone to the
song "Long Black Veil"?
I haven't heard from him since.
All right.
We'll talk after your visit.
City heads to the polls tomorrow?
Finally.
Are you ready to be
the mayor's daughter?
She's gonna win, trust me.
And it's gonna be a lot easier for you
to get dinner reservations.
Easy.
This is for you.
Where'd you get that?
Hollis.
He left it with my mother yesterday.
This Hollis do this confident.
He must have known about our
visit to Walker, right?
Or he listened in on us.
Why would he give us a
silver whistle on a string?
With a skull on it?
I dot know, he's alerting us?
There's something I
keep coming back to.
The tape that was left in the gift box
was labeled in felt marker.
That case we had last
month with the rapper?
I remember inside the recording studio,
everything on the console
was labeled and marked
in felt marker.
It's like an industry standard, right?
He's in the business..
I mean, even what's written
on the label, "dub master."
That's pro lingo, right?
Yeah, yeah, I mean it
makes perfect sense.
Kate, you're amazing.
Hey.
You've got to be kidding me?!
Leah, Leah, come on. Come on, stop!
I guess we're even now, huh?
It's, it's my partner.
Kate.
Well, that's ironic.
What's going on?
There's a threat on her life.
Doesn't that make it
dangerous for you too, then?
I'm not worried about me.
What are you doing here?
It can wait.
Come on, come on.
You're here.
What is it?
I got a job offer.
In New York.
I was hoping you wouldn't get it.
Thanks.
I don't want you to leave.
It's a chance to start
over, for both of us.
If you come with me.
Is that what you want?
It's never been about you, Nolan.
I mean, it's your job.
You're always working, I
might as well live alone.
Nolan sprung for coffees.
You owe me.
Figured as much.
What's all this?
I've mapped the locations
of our 40 cold cases
over the last two decades.
Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Kingston, Ontario.
Eugene, Oregon.
I'm trying to find
some sort of pattern.
In order to hit this many cities,
our killer must have a
reason to move around.
What if our guy's in
the music business?
Musician.
Or one of the road crew.
It makes sense.
There have to be towns that
are regular tour stops..
Could eliminate a lot of places.
Okay, well, let's contact
the musician's unions,
and cross reference touring
artists with their crews.
There can't be that many who
have worked on the road
for two decades.
I know an old roadie myself.
Of course you do.
It's customary to thank your
crew in the liner notes.
Could be looking for a manager,
a sound guy, a driver.
Several circuits that bands travel,
except tours in small towns.
Ah.
There we go.
This is the Art of
Dying's last road crew.
Jameson.
Yeah, how long have they
been union members?
Got it, thanks Meg.
Meg spoke to the local union rep,
and found three names
that fit our profile.
Decker Simpson, Burt
Cogburn, and Robert Henkin.
All local guys who toured
the road for decades.
He's a sound engineer.
Robert Henkin.
You know this guy?
Yeah, he comes in often.
What's he listen to?
Rob's got eclectic tastes.
He was in just the other day.
Ordered up a copy of Bill Evans Trio.
"Waltz for Debbie".
What do you know about this guy, Floyd?
Worked the road for a long time.
He may have bought a
murder ballad in the past,
but Robert's a quiet guy, Kate.
I don't think I'd make
him for a serial killer.
Robert's the orphan of
Tracey and Jorgen Henkin.
When he was 10 years old
he witnessed his father
kill his mother,
then turn the gun on himself
in a murder-suicide.
It's a similar story to the
one told in Bob Dylan's song,
"Hollis Brown".
"Hollis Brown" is the one
name of Robert Henkin.
He and Walker corresponded for years.
Turns out Robert is a sound engineer,
he's worked with touring live
bands for over two decades.
Okay, that all seems to track, but...
How is this guy connected
to Vanessa Burton?
Robert Henkin was working
at Campbell Lake
at the time of Vanessa's
brother's drowning.
We have our connection, then.
He also has a gun charge as a minor.
They found a 38 in his locker.
He ticks every box.
Where are Nolan and Kate?
We think the whistle might be
a nod to Vanessa's swimming.
She was a competitive swimmer.
The insignia on the
whistle is the team logo
of Vanessa's high school swim team.
Nolan and Kate are following it up now.
Good work.
Is that what I think it is?
I don't like the look of this.
Hello?
Hello?
Hello, Kate.
Hi, Robert.
Do you like the song?
Not what I'd expect from you.
Well, they all can't be
murder ballads, can they?
We should meet in person.
We should.
We do have a lot to talk about, Kate.
Name the place.
All in good time.
What is it that you want?
I think the better question, Kate, is,
what is it that you want?
Do you prefer to be
called Robert or Hollis?
Rob...
Did you know that sound travels
four times faster underwater?
Kate?
I did not know that.
You're drowning, Kate.
But I am gonna save you.
Soon.
He's stalking you.
The song is about redemption and
holding people accountable.
I think it may be specific to me.
He said he wants to save me.
Should I be worried about
your safety, Kate?
No.
I've been issued a new
phone and a computer,
and I'm under surveillance.
You're concerned this person
knows about the coverup
of your gun being stolen
and consequently the death
of your partner, Mike Huntley.
Do you know why you came
back to counselling
after you tried to stop?
To talk to someone I can trust.
Yes.
Most times, that's what
people are looking for,
just someone who sees them
for who they really are.
The killer thinks I understand him.
Maybe you do.
Coffee?
Yes.
Thanks.
What do you got?
Robert Henkin's life was shred
in his parents' murder-suicide,
he's lived with guilt
and grief ever since.
Vanessa Burton stood on the shore
and watched as her brother drowned,
she was consumed with guilt for
several years after his death.
Jeff Donnelan killed his best
friend in a car accident.
I can only imagine the
guilt he suffered.
Robert thinks he's doing
his victims a favour.
An angel of mercy.
See that?
What's that?
Land deed.
Robert's father owned the factory
where his parents'
murder-suicide happened.
Henkin Gems.
Yeah, they process rocks and minerals.
It was in the case file.
The company became Robert's
after his father died.
Factory's been vacant for 30 years.
Guess what forensics found
in that silver whistle he left for us?
Polished stone.
What if he's been inside the factory?
Obsessed with music,
he researches his victims,
researches his victims,
victims, victims, victims...
knowing their pain intimately
before he murders them.
Knowing their pain intimately
before he murders them.
The reason he died.
He researches his victims
Researches his victims
Obsessed with music.
Kate, do you copy?
Kate, do you copy?
Well, that's a relief,
to have someone to confide in.
But it doesn't absolve me.
I made a mistake my
first week in homicide.
My partner wanted to protect
me and try to cover it up.
And that's why we were at the
apartment the night he died.
All because of my mistake.
I got him killed.
I'm the reason he died.
I'm the reason he died.
I'm the reason he died.
All because of my mistake.
All because of my mistake.
I'm the reason he died.
All because of my mistake.
I'm the reason he died.
All because of my mistake.
I'm the reason he died.
I got him killed. I got him killed.
Police mourn the death.
Police mourn the death of
celebrated homicide detective,
Michael Huntley.
After shots were fired
last night at 200-
Kate!
You turn that off, this cop dies.
I've already killed one today.
Please.
Just do what he says.
He already killed my partner.
Yeah.
Come on, Kate.
Move.
Come on.
That's right, Kate. Come on.
There she comes.
Hey there, Kate.
Good girl.
How about you drop that gun?
Drop it.
Put it down.
Drop it.
Oh, come on Kate?
You remember Michael Huntley, Kate?
Don't make that same mistake twice.
There you go.
Now, put that big heavy gun
down on the floor. Yeah.
Good girl.
Now kick it over to me.
Kick it.
Now here's the thing, Kate.
I've been looking forward
to this moment for so long.
Just you and me, alone.
Have you?
Oh Kate, you're gonna love
what I have on my playlist.
What do you want?
I want the same thing you want, Kate?
You know, remember, we
wanna be free from pain.
I can help you with your pain, Robert.
Yes, I know.
I know, cause we're
kindred spirits, Kate.
I'm gonna help you,
you're gonna help me.
We're gonna save each other.
Hey, you know, I knew you were special
the moment that you put
Walker behind bars.
You were the only one
in all those years.
Only one that could connect
a murder and song.
You see, everyone wants to hear
their tragedies in a song.
Now, do you think someone's
going to write a song for us, Kate?
'Cause that would be...
Come on.
Is that what you want?
To be immortalized in a song?
I already told you what I wanted.
You don't ever listen, Kate.
Please.
Please don't do this.
There's nothing to fear, Kate.
Chen removed your police detail.
Which means, you don't have
to look at my mug 24/7.
Nice work on the case.
Thanks.
You're going to fit in here, Kate.
I just talked to Leah.
How'd that go?
She wants to give us another chance.
That's what you wanted, right?
She got a job offer in New York.
Means I'd have to leave.
I thought you should have these.
You removed them from evidence?
It's not evidence.
The secret's yours.
Congrats Mom, you're the Mayor.
Thank you honey for
being so supportive.
Of course.
And as much as I dislike
you being in homicide,
I've seen firsthand
how lucky the city is
to have an officer like you.
Your father would be so proud.
You said something to
me a few days ago,
and I'm not sure I
responded to it well.
What was that?
You said you wanted to focus
on the things that matter,
including our relationship.
I'd like to make that effort, too.