Web of Lies (2014–…): Season 4, Episode 9 - Searching for Mr. Wrong - full transcript

IN AN ONLINE WORLD,

LOOKING FOR LOVE
HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER.

I THINK
HE MIGHT BE THE ONE.

BUT WITH THAT SPECIAL
SOMEONE ONLY A CLICK AWAY...

I JUST KEPT TELLING HER,
"BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU DO."

...RED FLAGS
ARE OFTEN IGNORED.

AND SHE ASSURED ME
SHE WOULD BE CAREFUL.

YOU, IN THERE.

DEEP DOWN INSIDE,

THERE WERE SOME DEMONS
THAT SHE WAS BATTLING.

HAVE A SEAT
IN MY CAR.



WHO IS THAT IN THERE?
IS THAT A WOMAN?

IN THE SEARCH
FOR LOVE ONLINE,

THE ROAD TO HAPPINESS...

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

...CAN BE BURIED
IN SECRETS AND LIES.

YOU CARE ABOUT THIS?

30-YEAR-OLD NIKKI McPHATTER

SPENT 10 YEARS IN THE NAVY.

SHE IS VERY DRIVEN
IN BOTH HER PERSONAL

AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE.

SINCE HER DISCHARGE,
NIKKI IS PROUD OF THE LIFE

SHE'S BUILT,
WITH A GREAT JOB

AND OWNING HER OWN HOUSE
IN AN UPSCALE NEIGHBORHOOD.

ALONG THE WAY,
SHE'S WORKED HARD



TO PUT HERSELF THROUGH SCHOOL,

EARNING A MASTER'S IN BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION.

ONCE YOU MET NIKKI,

YOU KIND OF FELT LIKE YOU
HAD KNOWN HER FOREVER.

I MEAN, SHE JUST HAD
SOME GREAT ENERGY

THAT JUST REALLY BROUGHT YOU
INTO HER CIRCLE AND HER LIFE.

NIKKI WAS HAPPY, UPBEAT.

EVERYONE LOVED HER.

SHE DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB
EDUCATING HERSELF,

HAVING AND MAINTAINING TWO JOBS,

SOMETIMES THREE.

DESPITE HAVING
A CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

AND A STEADY JOB
WORKING IN CUSTOMER CARE

WITH A MAJOR AIRLINE,

NIKKI IS STILL SEARCHING
FOR SOMETHING MORE.

NIKKI HAD A FANTASTIC FUTURE.

THE ONE THING THAT WAS MISSING,

SHE WANTED A PARTNER
IN HER LIFE.

NIKKI APPROACHES FINDING
LOVE WITH THE SAME DEDICATION

THAT SHE APPLIES
TO EVERYTHING SHE DOES.

AS PROFESSIONAL,
SUCCESSFUL WOMEN,

WE ALL STILL WANTED
THAT RELATIONSHIP.

WE WANTED TO BE MARRIED.
WE WANTED TO HAVE KIDS.

SO SHE LOOKED DIFFERENT PLACES,
LIKE ONLINE DATING.

AND SO SHE USED IT
LIKE WE ALL DID.

WE WOULD ALWAYS TALK ABOUT,

YOU KNOW, SHOULD WE GO
ONLINE DATING?

AND WE'RE LIKE, "OH, YEAH.
I MET HIM AND HE WAS NEAT."

OR, "HE WAS FRIENDLY."
OR, "NO, HE WAS KIND OF CREEPY."

SO, UH, IT WAS
A GREAT TOOL FOR US.

AND IT WAS JUST FUN.

I KNEW SHE HAD MET GENTLEMEN
THROUGH ONLINE DATING.

AND SHE AND I TALKED ABOUT IT.

AND SHE ASSURED ME
SHE WAS DOING EVERYTHING

SHE NEEDED TO DO
TO PROTECT HERSELF.

DESPITE ALL OF
NIKKI'S OUTWARD SELF CONFIDENCE,

THERE WAS A DARKNESS IN HER PAST
THAT MAKES HER VULNERABLE.

NIKKI PUT ON THAT MASK

THAT HAD PEOPLE THINKING
SHE HAD NO -- NO ISSUES.

BUT I THINK DEEP DOWN INSIDE,
THERE WERE SOME --

SOME DEMONS THAT
SHE WAS BATTLING.

NIKKI HAD A TROUBLED CHILDHOOD.

HER MOTHER WAS UNABLE
TO CARE FOR HER,

AND SHE NEVER REALLY
KNEW HER FATHER.

WHAT SHE LACKED
IN CHILDHOOD

IS BASICALLY WHAT SHE LOOKED
FOR IN RELATIONSHIPS.

BUT NIKKI HAS ONE SAFE
PLACE THAT SHE CAN ALWAYS TURN TO.

HI, GRANDMA.
IT'S ONLY ME.

NIKKI'S GRANDMOTHER TOOK HER
IN WHEN SHE WAS JUST A BABY.

I GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU.
ALL RIGHT, YOU SIT ON DOWN.

COME ON.
GO AHEAD.

NIKKI'S RELATIONSHIP
WITH HER GRANDMOTHER WAS REMARKABLE.

SHE LOVED GRANDMA SO MUCH.

I MEAN, YOU -- YOU CAN'T EVEN
REALLY PUT IT INTO WORDS.

IT WAS JUST SO SWEET.

WELL, I HAD TIME
TO MAKE YOUR FAVORITE --

CHICKEN AND SLAW,

JUST HOW YOU LIKE IT.

BUT NIKKI'S GRANDMOTHER
IS SUFFERING FROM ALZHEIMER'S

AND NIKKI IS NOW FORCED
TO TAKE ON EXTRA WORK

TO COVER BOTH HER
AND HER GRANDMOTHER'S MORTGAGES,

LEAVING HER WITH LITTLE TIME
TO PURSUE HER OWN DREAMS.

HERE YOU GO.

I WAS FEELING CONCERNED
BECAUSE I'M LIKE,

"NIKKI, IF YOU DON'T
TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF,

YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE
TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT

YOUR GRANDMOTHER.

SLOW DOWN."

WITH FINANCIAL PRESSURES
AND A BUSY JOB FOR AN AIRLINE,

IT'S NOT EASY TO SLOW DOWN.

BUT DESPITE THE LONG HOURS
AND TIRING WORKLOAD,

HER JOB HAS ITS PERKS.

AS AN EMPLOYEE
WITH U.S. AIR,

WE WERE ABLE TO TRAVEL.

WE COULD GET OFF FROM WORK

AND JUST GET ON A FLIGHT
AND GO WHEREVER WE WANTED.

SOMETHING'S GOT TO HAPPEN FOR
ME, AND I JUST KNOW IT WILL.

AND NIKKI UTILIZED THAT.

SHE WOULD DATE GENTLEMEN
IN DIFFERENT CITIES,

AND I WOULD TELL HER
TO BE CAREFUL,

AND I KNEW THERE WERE
A COUPLE OF SITES SHE WAS ON

AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT.

I JUST SEE MYSELF
IN A WHOLE NEW PLACE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

BUT I WAS CONCERNED

BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK
SHE KNEW ENOUGH.

IGNORING HER FRIENDS' WARNINGS,

NIKKI CONTINUES TO SEARCH
INTERNET DATING SITES

AND TAKES FULL ADVANTAGE
OF HER AIRLINE PRIVILEGES.

SHE WOULD, YOU KNOW,
MEET PEOPLE IN NEW YORK,

NEW JERSEY, FLORIDA.

SHE HAD THAT LUXURY.

SO SHE WASN'T JUST STUCK

WITH MEETING PEOPLE HERE
IN CHARLOTTE.

AND ALTHOUGH SHE IS AWARE

OF THE RISKS
OF MEETING STRANGERS,

NIKKI KEEPS HER ONLINE
DATING ACTIVITIES PRIVATE.

SHE DOESN'T EVEN
REVEAL DETAILS

TO HER CLOSEST CONFIDANTS.

SHE WAS OPEN TO INFORMATION

THAT SHE WAS WILLING TO SHARE,

BUT SHE DID NOT
SHARE EVERYTHING.

BUT ONE OF NIKKI'S
ONLINE CONNECTIONS

IS GETTING MORE SERIOUS.

THEY MESSAGE EACH OTHER
DAILY AND ARRANGE A DATE.

WHILE NORMALLY SECRETIVE,

NIKKI EXCITEDLY SHARES DETAILS
WITH HER SISTER, LaTOYA.

EVERY TWO WEEKS,
WE WOULD MEET UP

AND DO OUR HAIR,

MAKEUP, AND JUST HAVE FUN.

HOW 'BOUT THIS COLOR,
GIRL?

GIRL, ARE YOU
TRYING TO BLIND ME?

THIS PARTICULAR TIME,

SHE WANTED TO SIT DOWN
AND TALK ABOUT HER NEW BOO.

YEAH, YEAH.
WHATEVER, TOY.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, SHE WAS
VERY EXCITED.

SHE SAYS, "TOYA, I WANT TO
TELL YOU ABOUT THIS GUY."

GIRL, THIS ONE
IS JUST DIFFERENT.

MM-HMM, LIKE ALL THE REST.

I MEAN, HE IS JUST NICE,
YOU KNOW?

I SAID, "OKAY,"
SO I LISTENED.

AND I FEEL LIKE SHE WAS READY
TO TELL ME SOMETHING.

I WAS WAITING.

AND SHE SAID,
"WELL, TOYA, THIS --

THIS GUY...

HE'S DIFFERENT."

THE THINGS HE BE
TELLING ME, GIRL.

MM-HMM.

I THINK HE MIGHT BE THE ONE.

WELL, I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT THIS GUY IS RIGHT FOR YOU.

I'M TELLING YOU, TOY.

LISTEN TO ME.

AND I SAID, "OKAY,"
SO I LISTENED.

AND SHE WAS TELLING ME
SOME DETAILS,

BUT NOT ALL DETAILS.

AND I SAID, "OKAY.

BUT YOU BE SAFE
WITH THIS GUY."

YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE GUYS
THAT YOU JUST MEET,

I JUST DON'T KNOW
ABOUT THEM.

WE CAME UP WITH THIS THING
THAT YOU CALL ME

WHEN YOU GO ON A DATE.

LET ME KNOW.

FOR THE FIRST FEW
WEEKS AFTER THEY MEET IN PERSON,

THINGS SEEM TO GO WELL FOR NIKKI
AND HER ONLINE BOYFRIEND.

BUT HE LIVES NEARLY 100 MILES
AWAY IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

THE DISTANCE SOON PUTS A STRAIN
ON THE RELATIONSHIP

AND NIKKI BEGINS
TO DOUBT HIS COMMITMENT.

THINGS STARTED TO TURN
IN THE RELATIONSHIP FOR NIKKI.

AND I KEPT TELLING HER,
"DON'T RUSH IT.

IF YOU'RE NOT SURE,
IT'LL ALL SHOW."

FINALLY.

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

OH, YEAH.

WELL, WE ARE ALL BUSY.

I GOT TWO JOBS
AND A GRANDMOTHER

WHO BASICALLY NEEDS
EVERYTHING DONE FOR HER.

YOU COMING OR NOT?

DON'T LET ME DOWN AGAIN.
IT IS YOUR TURN.

SHE WAS LIKE A DAUGHTER
TO ME.

I HAD THAT INKLING.
AS A MOTHER,

I KNEW SOMETHING
WAS REALLY NOT WELL.

30-YEAR-OLD NIKKI McPHATTER

HAS OVERCOME
A DIFFICULT CHILDHOOD

AFTER BEING ABANDONED
BY HER PARENTS.

DESPERATE FOR LOVE,

SHE'S RECENTLY MET
SOMEONE SPECIAL ONLINE.

BUT SHE'S NOW STARTING
TO HAVE DOUBTS.

WHAT'S UP?

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

WHY HAVEN'T YOU
PICKED UP ALL LAST WEEK?

YOU KNOW WHAT?
I DON'T NEED THIS.

EXCUSE ME?
THIS?

HERE?
NOW?

THIS IS ABOUT WHAT I NEED.

COME ON, NIKKI.
I COME ALL THIS WAY NOW.

I WOULDN'T DO THAT
IF I DIDN'T LOVE YOU.

HEY, COME ON.

WOULD I?

THERE WAS JUST THIS
SOMETHING INSIDE OF HER

THAT FELT HE WASN'T
BEING HONEST.

LISTEN.
YOU ARE ON YOUR FINAL WARNING.

YOU BEST BE
EXTRA SWEET TO ME.

WHATEVER YOU SAY, BOO.

WHATEVER YOU SAY.

THINK I'M PLAYING
WITH YOU.

HEY, I'M GONNA PLAY
WITH YOU LATER.

- DO YOU EVER STOP?
- NOPE.

NIKKI'S FRIENDS HAVE NOTICED

THAT SHE'S BECOME
WITHDRAWN AND UNHAPPY.

HER BEST FRIEND, AKILAH,

IS ORGANIZING A GIRLS' TRIP AWAY

TO GIVE NIKKI
A LITTLE R AND R.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE
SOME NICE FOOD,

SOME NICE DRINKS.

SHE HAD NEVER BEEN
TO NEW ORLEANS

AND I LOVE THE CITY,

SO WE DECIDED TO MAKE A TRIP,

A LITTLE GIRLS' GETAWAY.

AND WE -- AT THAT POINT,
WE WOULD KIND OF CATCH UP ON,

YOU KNOW, WHAT LIFE WAS DOING.

BUT WHATEVER WAS BUGGING NIKKI,

SHE IS NOT OPENING UP
TO HER FRIEND.

THANK YOU
FOR ORGANIZING THIS.

OKAY, WELL I'LL JUST
TALK TO MYSELF THEN.

SORRY, GIRL. THERE'S JUST
SOMETHING I GOT TO DO.

YEAH, MAYBE SHE FELL
IN LOVE WITH HIS CHARM

OR, YOU KNOW,
MAYBE SHE WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW,

"I HAVE THIS REALLY
ATTRACTIVE GUY

THAT'S INTO ME,

BUT I KNOW MY FRIENDS
WOULDN'T REALLY CARE FOR HIM,

SO I'M GONNA TRY TO KEEP IT
TO MYSELF."

ARE YOU GONNA TELL ME
OR IS IT TOP SECRET?

NO, IT'S NOT SECRET.

IT'S JUST --
IT'S LIFE, YOU KNOW.

SHE WASN'T THE TYPE OF PERSON

THAT WANTED TO BURDEN

OTHER PEOPLE WITH HER ISSUES.

BUT I JUST COULD FEEL
SOMETHING WAS OVERWHELMING HER.

YOU KNOW WHAT, KILAH, GIRL?
IT DOES NOT EVEN MATTER.

YOU --
IT -- IT IS ALL GOOD.

LOOK, SHOW ME
WHERE WE GOING.

OKAY, WELL THIS
IS WHERE WE'RE GOING.

READY FOR A BREAK,
NIKKI AGREES TO GO AHEAD

AND BOOK THEIR VACATION
FOR MAY 15th.

- HOLD ON. GO BACK.
- OKAY.

BUT THAT'S STILL
TWO WEEKS AWAY,

AND WORKING LATE SHIFTS
AT THE AIRPORT

ISN'T MAKING LIFE
ANY EASIER.

SHE CLOCKS OUT AT 11:10 P.M.,
EXHAUSTED.

NOW NIKKI HAS
THREE DAYS OFF TO REST.

FOUR DAYS LATER, COLLEAGUES

NOTICE THAT NIKKI
ISN'T AT HER DESK

FOR HER WEEKEND SHIFT.

BY THE END OF THE FIRST DAY

ON WHICH NIKKI SHOULD'VE
RETURNED TO WORK,

SHE STILL HASN'T SHOWN UP
OR CALLED IN.

I THINK MY FIRST THOUGHT
WAS, "OKAY, NIKKI.

WHERE'D YOU GO?"

ONE THING THAT NIKKI WAS,
WAS COMMITTED AND DEDICATED

TO WHATEVER SHE
PUT HER MIND ON.

I MEAN, SHE WAS NOT
ONE TO MISS WORK.

AND WHEN, YOU KNOW,

THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME
THAT SHE DIDN'T REPORT,

I WAS LIKE, "OKAY,
SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT."

HI, THIS IS NIKKI.

PLEASE LEAVE YOUR NAME
AND NUMBER,

AND I'LL CALL YOU BACK.

THAT UPCOMING WEEKEND, SHE AND I
WERE SUPPOSED TO BE GOING AWAY.

SO I CALLED, TEXT, CALL,
DIDN'T GET A RESPONSE,

AND SO I WAS CONCERNED.

HAD REACHED OUT TO SEVERAL
OF OUR MUTUAL FRIENDS

TO SEE IF THEY HAD
HEARD FROM NIKKI,

AND NO ONE HAD HEARD FROM HER.

72 HOURS LATER,

THERE'S STILL NO WORD
FROM NIKKI.

AT THAT POINT, I DECIDED
TO GO TO NIKKI'S HOUSE

'CAUSE SOMETHING
JUST DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT.

NIKKI?

NIKKI?

I WAS LIKE,
"OKAY, SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT."

BECAUSE THIS IS NOT LIKE HER.

I'M LIKE, "NIKKI,
IF THERE'S SOMETHING

THAT YOU NEED HELP WITH,

LET US KNOW.

ARE YOU HIDING?

ARE YOU OVERWHELMED?

DO YOU JUST WANT TO KIND OF
SEPARATE YOURSELF

FROM EVERYONE RIGHT NOW?

OR IS THERE A LOT MORE
TO THIS STORY

THAT YOU DON'T WANT ME TO KNOW?"

NIKKI McPHATTER HAS
BEEN MISSING FOR THREE DAYS.

AND HER BEST FRIEND,
AKILAH WEAVER,

IS CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY.

NIKKI?

NINE TIMES OUT OF 10, PEOPLE
REPORT AN ADULT MISSING,

THEY COME BACK.

BUT WE'RE LIKE SISTERS...

OF COURSE, THE POLICE WERE
LIKE, "WELL, SHE'S AN ADULT,

SO, YOU KNOW,
ADULTS GO MISSING SOMETIMES."

THEY DON'T WANT TO
BE BOTHERED.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE,

THEY SOMETIMES HAVE ISSUES

THEY DON'T WANT TO SHARE.

THERE'S NO WAY
SHE WOULD MISS WORK

AND NOT CALL IN, NO WAY.

THAT IS NOT NIKKI.

THEY ASKED ME, YOU KNOW,

THE NORMAL QUESTIONS
THAT THEY ASK

WHEN SOMEONE GOES MISSING,
"WHAT DO YOU LOOK LIKE?

HOW TALL ARE THEY?
WHAT WAS THE --

WHAT WAS THE LAST CONVERSATION
YOU HAD WITH THEM?

WHAT WERE THEY WEARING?"

WERE THERE ANY ISSUES SHE
MIGHT'VE BEEN RUNNING AWAY FROM?

SHE KEEPS A LOT
TO HERSELF, I KNOW.

BUT THERE'S NO WAY
SHE WOULD MISS WORK.

SO AT THAT POINT, I --
I WAS CONCERNED

AND PUSHED THAT
THEY WOULD GO AHEAD

AND WRITE UP
THE MISSING PERSONS REPORT

AND ACTUALLY START
LOOKING FOR HER.

THE NEXT DAY, DETECTIVE FLAGG

OF THE MISSING PERSONS UNIT

AT THE CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG
POLICE DEPARTMENT

IS ASSIGNED TO THE CASE.

THIS HER LAST NAME?

YEP.

EVERY OTHER CRIME
THAT WE INVESTIGATE,

THERE'S A BODY.

THERE'S A CRIME SCENE.

THERE'S A WEAPON.

THERE'S -- THERE'S SOMETHING.

THERE'S A VICTIM
WHO CAN GIVE THEIR STATEMENT.

WHEN YOU'RE MISSING,

THE VICTIM'S NOT THERE
TO BE INTERVIEWED.

SO THE CHALLENGE
IS TO PUT TOGETHER

THE PIECES OF THEIR LIFE

AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S NORMAL.

BUT WHAT REALLY DRIVES A CASE
ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS

IS THE RESPONSE OF THE FAMILY.

NIKKI?

NIKKI, YOU THERE?

NIKKI?

WHEN YOU HAVE A SISTER
WHO DRIVES UP HERE

AND BREAKS INTO
HER SISTER'S HOME,

THAT MEANS THAT THERE IS REALLY,
TRULY SOMETHING WRONG.

NIKKI?

NIKKI, YOU HERE?

WHEN I ENTERED
IN HER HOUSE,

IT WAS BASICALLY

AS IF SHE WAS RUNNING
TO THE STORE, COMING BACK.

THAT'S HOW HER HOUSE WAS LEFT.

SHE ENTERS THE HOME,
AND SHE BEGAN SEARCHING,

SEARCHING JUST FOR FOUL PLAY,

ANY EVIDENCE AT ALL --

BLOOD, COMPUTER RECORDS,
PHONE RECORDS,

ANY INDICATION AT ALL AS TO
WHERE SHE WENT AND WHY.

LaTOYA ACCESSES NIKKI'S COMPUTER

TO SEARCH HER ONLINE HISTORY.

I WAS VERY CLEARHEADED
BECAUSE I HAVE A JOB TO DO.

SO I STARTED SCROLLING
DOWN HER E-MAIL.

AND HER E-MAIL INDICATED

THAT SHE WAS ACTIVELY
ON AN ONLINE DATING WEBSITE.

I LOGGED IN, AS
IF I WAS HER, OF COURSE,

AND I MESSAGED THE LAST PERSON
SHE SPOKE WITH,

WHICH WAS RICO TARANTINO.

I DIDN'T SAY MY NAME.

I JUST SAID, "HEY,
CAN YOU CALL ME ON THIS NUMBER?"

AND MAYBE FIVE MINUTES LATER,
HE CALLS.

HELLO?

NOW, I'M STILL LOGGED
IN AS MY SISTER.

SO HE THINKS IT'S NIKKI.

THIS ISN'T NIKKI.

NO.

IT'S HER BIG SISTER,
TOYA.

UH, I'M JUST CHECKING
SOME THINGS OUT FOR HER.

MM-HMM.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
THAT YOU AND NIKKI TALKED?

AND HE REPLIED,
"IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME AGO."

AND I SAID, "OH, REALLY?"

YEAH, BUT I'M LOOKING AT HER
YAHOO MESSENGER RIGHT NOW.

AND I CAN SEE
Y'ALL BEEN TALKING.

AND SILENCE, OF COURSE.

BUT I CAN SEE
WITH MY OWN EYES

THAT Y'ALL BEEN
TALKING ON MESSENGER.

YEAH, WELL,
SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT.

MY HEART WAS BROKEN
WHEN HE LIED...

BUT YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN
TALKING FOR A WHILE.

...AND SAID HE HADN'T SPOKE
WITH HER IN A LONG TIME

'CAUSE I KNEW

IT WAS MORE RECENT
THAN HE WAS INDICATING.

AND THAT BROKE MY HEART.

YES, SIR.

THIS IS LaTOYA McPHATTER,
NIKKI'S SISTER.

I GOT A PERSON Y'ALL
NEED TO CHECK OUT.

I'M GIVEN A NAME AND THIS
IS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO ME

BECAUSE NO ONE YET
HAS TOLD ME THIS NAME.

HIS NAME IS RICK.

YES, SIR.

I GOT HIS PHONE NUMBER.

MM-HMM.

RICK TARANTINO IS
THE FIRST REAL LEAD

IN THE SEARCH FOR NIKKI.

YES, SIR.
THIS IS DETECTIVE FLAGG...

WITH HIS LIE, HE IS SQUARE

IN THE CROSSHAIRS
OF POLICE SUSPICIONS

AND THEY GIVE HIM A CALL.

WE'RE --
WE'RE LOOKING INTO

THE WHEREABOUTS OF A,
UH, NIKKI McPHATTER.

A FRIEND OF YOURS?

WHAT'S THE LAST TIME
Y'ALL SEEN HER?

WHAT I LEARNED
DURING THAT CONVERSATION

WAS ACTUALLY EVEN
MORE INTERESTING.

I FOUND OUT THAT HE HAD
RECENTLY BEEN SEPARATED

FROM HIS EMPLOYMENT
WITH THE AIRPORT.

THIS IS A TROUBLING
SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES FOR ME.

DO YOU MIND
IF I GAVE THEM A CALL

JUST TO VERIFY
THAT INFORMATION?

YES -- YES,
I HAVE THE NUMBER.

SO AT THIS POINT, THIS IS ONE
OF OUR PRIMARY SUBJECTS

THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN
BECAUSE HE'S LEFT HIS EMPLOYMENT

AND HE SEEMS
TO BE NOT FORTHCOMING

ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP.

POLICE NOW SUSPECT
THAT RICK TARANTINO,

A FORMER COLLEAGUE
AT THE AIRPORT,

WAS THE LAST PERSON
TO SEE NIKKI ALIVE.

EXTREMELY CONCERNED
ABOUT HER FRIEND,

FRAN EDDINGS DOES SOME
DIGGING AT WORK.

AS CUSTOMER
SERVICE AGENTS FOR U.S. AIR,

ALL OF US CAN LOOK
INTO HER PROFILE

AND SEE IF SHE'S FLOWN ANYWHERE.

SHE HADN'T FLOWN.

WITH MORE QUESTIONS
BUT NO SOLID EVIDENCE

OF A CRIME, DETECTIVE FLAGG

IS UNABLE TO ARREST
HIS CHIEF PERSON

OF INTEREST, RICK TARANTINO.

HE REQUESTS NIKKI'S BANK
AND PHONE RECORDS

AND ISSUES AN APB
WITH PHOTOGRAPHS

OF NIKKI AND HER CAR.

HAVE A LOOK AT THIS
FOR ME?

DESPERATE FOR MORE LEADS,

DETECTIVE FLAGG
WIDENS HIS SEARCH.

YOU HAVE TO INTERVIEW
ALL OF THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

THEY'VE TOLD SOMEBODY WHERE
THEY WERE GOING TO GO.

SOMEBODY HAS TO KNOW.

AND IT'S BY TALKING
TO ONE OF HER COWORKERS

THAT DETECTIVE FLAGG
LEARNS OF A DISTURBING CALL

THAT NIKKI MADE
A FEW DAYS EARLIER.

- WHAT TIME?
- AROUND MIDDAY.

I WAS JUST HAVING COFFEE.

SHE SAID SHE WAS DRIVING
TO SOUTH CAROLINA

AND SHE RUN OUT OF GAS.

THEN, SHE SAID,
"I RAN OUT OF MONEY.

CAN YOU PUT $50
INTO MY ACCOUNT?"

AND THAT AIN'T LIKE NIKKI.

THIS SEEMED VERY STRANGE
TO THE FRIEND AND --

AND DEFINITELY SEEMED ODD
TO US THAT, YOU KNOW,

HERE WAS A REPORTEDLY
MODEL EMPLOYEE

WHO SEEMED TO HAVE
EVERYTHING IN ORDER,

AND THEN SHE WOULD
RUN OUT OF GAS

AND NEED TO CALL
AND ASK FOR MONEY.

DID SHE SAY
WHERE SHE WAS HEADED?

YEAH, I --
I THINK COLUMBIA.

COLUMBIA?

DID SHE SAY WHY SHE MIGHT
BE HEADING TO COLUMBIA?

I BELIEVE SHE'S GOING
TO MEET A GUY.

WHAT WAS THE NAME
OF THIS GUY?

TEDDY?
TEDDY.

I THINK IT WAS TEDDY.

WELL, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH, MA'AM.

AND SHE GAVE ME A NAME OF TEDDY.

THANK YOU.

BUT REALLY, THERE WAS NOT
A WHOLE LOT OF INFORMATION

AS TO THE FULL NAME
OF THIS PERSON,

WHERE DOES HE EXACTLY WORK,
A PHONE NUMBER.

NOTHING ELSE FURTHER
TO GO ON AT THIS POINT

IN THE INVESTIGATION.

AND THE POLICE AREN'T
HELPED BY NIKKI'S HABIT

OF KEEPING HER LOVE LIFE SECRET.

I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT A TEDDY.

SO WHEN I'M HEARING

FOR THE FIRST TIME
FROM HER COWORKERS

THAT OH, YEAH, SHE DATED
A GUY IN COLUMBIA,

IT WAS NEWS TO ME.

THE FACT THAT SHE WAS
ASKING FOR MONEY,

THE FACT THAT SHE
TOLD OUR FRIEND

THAT SHE WAS STRANDED,

NEEDED 50 BUCKS TO GET HOME,

NONE OF THIS IS PART
OF NIKKI'S CHARACTER.

NONE.

BUT IT'S NOT LONG

BEFORE DETECTIVES GET
AN UNEXPECTED BREAK.

McPHATTER BANK RECORDS.

WELL, COME ON.
GET THEM OVER HERE.

THANK YOU.

NIKKI'S BANK RECORDS SHOW

SHE'S RECENTLY
USED HER DEBIT CARD

TO WITHDRAW CASH
IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

OKAY.
OKAY, WE GOT SOMETHING.

$50 AT AN ATM
FROM A BANK IN COLUMBIA.

WHEN THE DETECTIVES ALERTED ME
THAT HER BANK ACCOUNT

WAS IN USE,

I SAID,
"OH, MY -- OH, MY GOD."

WHICH BANK?

WACHOVIA.

WE NEED TO GET THAT
SECURITY FOOTAGE.

I WAS LIKE, "YAY."
I WAS LIKE,

"OH,
SHE JUST LOST HER PURSE.

SHE'LL COME AROUND."
YOU KNOW.

POLICE
CHECK THE SECURITY FOOTAGE

FROM THE ATM TO MAKE
A POSITIVE ID ON NIKKI.

THIS IS A MOMENT OF TRUTH.

POLICE FINALLY HAVE
A BREAK IN THE CASE

OF 30-YEAR-OLD NIKKI McPHATTER,

WHO'S BEEN MISSING
FOR 11 DAYS.

SECURITY FOOTAGE SHOWS
NIKKI'S BANK CARD

BEING USED BY
AN UNIDENTIFIED MAN

AT AN ATM IN COLUMBIA,
SOUTH CAROLINA.

YOU HAVE GOT
TO BE KIDDING ME.

COULD -- COULD YOU REWIND THAT
PART RIGHT THERE, PLEASE?

THANK YOU.

THIS IS A SHIFT
IN OUR INVESTIGATION.

THIS IS THE FIRST ACTUAL
HARD LEAD THAT WE HAVE.

BUT THE QUALITY
OF THE FOOTAGE IS POOR.

UNBELIEVABLE.

NO FACE,
NO LICENSE PLATE.

WHO -- WHO IS THAT IN THERE?
IS THAT A WOMAN?

DESPITE BEING UNABLE TO
MAKE ANY POSITIVE IDS,

DETECTIVES NOW HAVE
A SOLID BREAK.

THIS NEW EVIDENCE
DIDN'T JUST CHANGE

THE GEOGRAPHY OF THE CASE
FROM CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA,

TO COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA,

BUT IT ALSO CHANGED
THE FOCUS OF THE CASE

FROM BEING
A MISSING PERSONS CASE

TO POSSIBLY
A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION.

DESPERATE TO HELP IN
THE SEARCH FOR NIKKI,

FRAN AND AKILAH ORGANIZE
HER FRIENDS AND COWORKERS

TO ASSIST THE POLICE.

MY HEART WAS BREAKING

BECAUSE I KNEW
WHAT I WAS DEALING WITH.

UH, FOLKS.

IF I COULD JUST GET
YOUR ATTENTION FOR ONE MINUTE.

I HAVE A SHORT HISTORY
IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, MYSELF.

AND I KNEW THAT NOT FINDING HER,

WE WERE ALREADY
BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL.

WE'RE ALL HERE FOR ONE THING.

TO FIND NIKKI McPHATTER.

A MISSING PERSONS
REPORT NOT RESOLVED

WITHIN THE FIRST 72 HOURS

OFTEN TURNS INTO
A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION.

WHEN THE CASE CAME
TO HOMICIDE UNIT,

THE FIRST THING WE WANTED
TO DO WAS TO, UH,

EXECUTE A SEARCH WARRANT
IN HER HOUSE.

SO VARIOUS DETECTIVES
WERE ASSIGNED CERTAIN ROOMS

AND EACH DETECTIVE THOROUGHLY
WENT THROUGH THAT ROOM.

POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING

THAT MIGHT SHED LIGHT ON THE MAN

WHO IS USING NIKKI'S BANK CARD

OR THE IDENTITY OF TEDDY.

THE SEARCH QUICKLY UNCOVERS
A CELLPHONE NUMBER

NEXT TO HIS NAME.

THE FOLLOWING DAY,
DETECTIVE HOPKINS CHECKS

THE PHONE NUMBER FOUND
AT NIKKI'S HOUSE

AGAINST HER CELLPHONE RECORDS.

BINGO.

THAT NUMBER WE FOUND
AT HER HOUSE,

IT'S ALL OVER HER RECORDS.

FROM THE VICTIM'S
PHONE RECORDS,

WE DETERMINED THAT THERE
WAS AN INDIVIDUAL

BY THE NAME OF THEODORE MANNING

THAT HAD BEEN IN CONVERSATION
WITH HER ON HER CELLPHONE.

FITCH, CALL THAT NUMBER.

HELLO, SIR.

AM I SPEAKING
WITH THEODORE MANNING?

I AM?
EXCELLENT.

SIR, HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

DETECTIVE FINCH WENT
DOWN TO THE AREA

WHERE THEODORE MANNING
RESIDED

AND MET HIM AT --
IT WAS KIND OF LIKE

A POST OFFICE
PARKING LOT NEAR HIS RESIDENCE.

YOU'RE THEODORE MANNING?

HAVE A SEAT IN MY CAR.

NOW, THEODORE.

I UNDERSTAND THEY
CALL YOU TEDDY.

- YEAH, I'M TEDDY.
- TEDDY.

YOU OKAY
IF I CALL YOU TEDDY?

GO FOR IT.

TEDDY, YOU EVER SEE
THIS GAL BEFORE?

NIKKI McPHATTER.

I KNOW HER.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU SAW HER?

A WHILE AGO.

AND WHAT'S A WHILE?

WEEKS.

WEEKS?
COME ON, MAN.

NIKKI McPHATTER CALLED A FRIEND

ON MAY 6th SAYING

SHE WAS TRAVELING
TO COLUMBIA TO MEET UP

WITH SOME GUY
NAMED TEDDY.

WHAT DATE YOU SAY?

I SAID, "MAY 6th."

YEAH, NOW THAT
YOU SAYING IT,

SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT.

UH, SHE AIN'T
STAY TOO LONG.

SHE SAID SHE HAD TO GO
SEE A FRIEND OR SOMETHING.

SHE AIN'T SAY WHO.

AND YOU DON'T KNOW
WHO THIS FRIEND IS.

NOPE.

HAVE YOU SEEN HER
AFTER THAT?

NOPE.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU GIVE ME A CALL
IF YOU THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE.

- CAN I GO NOW?
- YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT.

TEDDY IS NOW CONFIRMED

AS THE LAST KNOWN PERSON
TO SEE NIKKI ALIVE,

BUT THERE IS
NO PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

TO LINK HIM TO ANY CRIME.

WE NEEDED TO KNOW, UH,
WHETHER HIS STORY LINE WAS ACCURATE.

SO FROM THIS POINT
IN THE INVESTIGATION, UH,

TURNS TO WE GOT TO
GET IN HOUSE

AND WE GOT TO GO THROUGH
HIS BELONGINGS.

OKAY, SO YOU ORGANIZE
THE SEARCH WARRANT,

AND I'LL CALL COLUMBIA,

LET THEM KNOW
THAT WE'RE COMING.

WITH NIKKI MISSING
FOR TWO WEEKS NOW,

ANY HOPE OF FINDING HER ALIVE

IS RUNNING OUT.

DETECTIVES TURN UP
THE HEAT ON THEODORE MANNING.

WHILE DETECTIVE FITCH CONDUCTS
A SEARCH OF HIS PROPERTY,

MANNING IS BROUGHT
IN FOR QUESTIONING.

SO HOW OFTEN
DID YOU SEE NIKKI?

10, 12 TIMES, MAYBE IN,
LIKE, SIX MONTHS.

JUST CASUAL.

REALLY?

YEAH.

IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS
LIKE ON HER PHONE RECORDS.

LOOKS LIKE YOU
TWO TALKED A LOT.

WHILE WE'RE INTERVIEWING HIM,

DETECTIVE FITCH REMAINED
AT THE RESIDENCE

WITH THE CRIME-SCENE UNITS
AND PROCESSED THE HOUSE.

AND HE'S TEXTING US,
TELLING US HIS FINDINGS.

SO DURING THE COURSE
OF OUR INTERVIEW,

WE'RE ASKING MANNING,

"WELL, WHAT ABOUT THIS
AND WHAT ABOUT THAT?"

WHY'D YOU NEED JUGS
OF BLEACH, TEDDY?

MAYBE THE BLEACH HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING.

I DON'T KNOW.
BUT BLEACH IS INSTRUMENTAL,

USUALLY,
IN A CRIME SCENE COVER-UP.

AND WHEN'D YOU
BUY THIS BLEACH?

DOES MAY 7th MEAN
ANYTHING TO YOU?

IT'S JUST WE FOUND
A RECEIPT FOR BLEACH FOR

MAY 7th AT YOUR HOUSE.

WHEN WE WERE
INTERVIEWING HIM

AND WE FELT LIKE WE WERE
CATCHING HIM IN VARIOUS LIES,

YOU REALLY FEEL LIKE
YOU'RE ON TARGET.

I AIN'T BUY THAT BLEACH.

WHO DID?

A FRIEND.

NAME OF?

KENDRA.

TEDDY GIVES UP A NAME --

KENDRA GOODMAN.

DETECTIVE HOPKINS ARRIVES
AT KENDRA'S HOME

TO CONDUCT A SEARCH.

100 MILES AWAY
IN CHARLOTTE,

NIKKI'S DISAPPEARANCE
IS TEARING HER FAMILY APART.

GRANDMA WAS CRYING
AND SHE WAS PLEADING,

"TOYA, PLEASE FIND NIKKI.
SEE WHAT'S GOING ON."

DURING THE SEARCH OF
KENDRA GOODMAN'S APARTMENT,

WE LOCATED SEVERAL
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

UH, PARTICULARLY,
TWO JUGS OF BLEACH.

WHY WOULD YOU BE BUYING
BLEACH WITH TEDDY MANNING?

UH, JUST --
JUST CLEANING.

KENDRA,
IF THEODORE MANNING

ASKED YOU
TO BUY THIS BLEACH,

THEN HE HAD
SOMETHING IN MIND.

SO YOU THINK CAREFULLY
WHAT YOU SAY NOW.

SUSPICIOUS OF WHAT
THEY FIND INSIDE KENDRA'S HOME,

DETECTIVE HOPKINS
ASKS TO SEARCH HER CAR.

GO OPEN THE TRUNK.

THE VEHICLE IS IDENTICAL
TO THE ONE

IN THE BANK SECURITY FOOTAGE.

NIKKI McPHATTER HAS BEEN
MISSING FOR MORE THAN TWO WEEKS.

SECURITY FOOTAGE SHOWS A MAN
USING NIKKI'S BANK CARD,

THEN DRIVING OFF
IN A CHEVROLET LUMINA.

AND POLICE HAVE NOW
DISCOVERED AN IDENTICAL CAR

PARKED IN KENDRA GOODMAN'S YARD.

GO OPEN THE TRUNK.

UH, KENDRA, CAN I GET YOU
TO STAND OVER THERE?

IS THAT YOUR JEWELRY,
KENDRA?

OKAY.

NOW WE'RE GETTING
SOMEWHERE.

DURING THE SEARCH
OF KENDRA GOODMAN'S CAR,

WE LOCATED SEVERAL
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

PARTICULARLY
SOME JEWELRY.

AT THIS POINT,
WE DIDN'T KNOW

WHETHER THAT JEWELRY
WAS THE VICTIM'S JEWELRY.

NOW, LISTEN TO ME, KENDRA.

WE CAN SEE WHEN
YOU'RE TELLING US THE TRUTH.

YOU NEED TO BE
HONEST WITH ME NOW.

COME ON NOW, KENDRA.
TIME TO OPEN UP.

IN THE POLYGRAPH INTERVIEW,
SHE WAS NOW READY TO TALK.

AND READY TO
TALK MEANT TO US

THAT SHE WAS READY
TO DIVULGE SOME --

SOME THINGS THAT SHE KNEW.

SHE ADMITTED THAT SHE, INDEED,

WAS WITH THEODORE MANNING

AND DID DRIVE HIM
TO THE ATM TO USE A CARD.

HE GETS IN A --
IN A BLACK...

BUT THEN, KENDRA ADMITS

TO SOMETHING
FAR MORE DISTURBING.

GO ON.

TEDDY TOLD ME
THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING

THAT HE NEEDED TO DO.

HE -- HE GOT INTO A BLACK CAR
AND HE TOLD ME TO FOLLOW.

SO I FOLLOWED
RIGHT BEHIND.

AND THEN WE WERE
OUT OF TOWN

AND IT WAS ALL WOODS
AND --

AND TREES.

ALL RIGHT, GO ON NOW.

HE JUST DROVE DOWN
THIS DIRT TRACK AND THEN HE --

HE TOLD ME TO STOP
AND WAIT.

AND THEN HE --
HE KEPT DRIVING.

THEN SUDDENLY
HE WAS RUNNING OUT.

- LET'S GO.
- WHERE ARE WE GOING?

JUST DRIVE, MAN.
JUST DRIVE!

WHERE IS THIS DIRT TRACK?

JUST WAIT HERE, MISS.

I REMEMBERED
THIS THING'S MOVING KIND OF FAST

AT THIS POINT.

KENDRA SAID SHE COULD TAKE US
TO WHERE THE CAR WAS TAKEN.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE DID.

WHEN I SAW THE --
THE SKULL IN THE --

IN THE -- THROUGH
THE BURNED TAILLIGHT,

OBVIOUSLY, IT --
YOU GET A REACTION.

IT'S -- IT'S --

IT'S A HORRIFIC WAY
TO DISPOSE OF A BODY.

IT'S JUST A TOTAL DISRESPECT
FOR THE DEAD.

AND JUST -- AND IT GOES
THROUGH THE BRUTALITY OF IT.

DENTAL RECORDS
CONFIRMED THAT THE BODY

IN THE BURNED OUT CAR
IS NIKKI McPHATTER.

WHEN THEY TOLD ME
THAT MY SISTER WAS FOUND,

I WALKED OUT OF THE HOUSE.

AND I RAN.

I WAS GOING TO GO GET HER.

MY UNCLE CAME AND GOT ME.

HE SAID, "TOYA,
YOU CAN'T GO GET HER.

SHE'S GONE."

AND I SAID, "OKAY, UNCLE."

TEDDY MANNING IS IMMEDIATELY

ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF MURDER.

TEDDY KNEW THE GIG WAS
UP, IN MY OPINION.

WHEN YOU SPOKE TO HIM, HE WAS
VERY CALCULATING IN HIS ANSWERS.

SHE WAS BEING ALL CRAZY, MAN.

TEDDY MANNING'S ACCOUNT

OF WHAT HAPPENED
TO NIKKI McPHATTER

IS THE ONLY STORY POLICE
HAVE TO GO ON.

NO, NO, NO.
I AM 30 YEARS OLD, TEDDY.

I'M NOT GONNA PLAY...

SHE'S LIKE, "I WANT A FAMILY.
I WANT KIDS."

AND I'M LIKE,
"GIRL, IS YOU CRAZY?"

WE AGREED THAT THIS IS
STRICTLY FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS.

- LISTEN. HOW ABOUT THIS?
- WHOA, WHOA, HEY.

YOU SAID,
"FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS."

EXCUSE ME?

AND SHE JUST
KEEP PULLING ON ME.

SHE KEEP PULLING ON ME.
AND I GET THE GUN OFF HER.

AND I PUT MY FINGER ON THE
TRIGGER, MEANING TO SCARE HER.

AND...

THE HELL YOU DOING?

AND THE GUN GOES OFF.

AND SHE --
SHE JUST SLUMPS...

...RIGHT THERE.

I PERSONALLY DON'T BELIEVE

THAT IT WAS
AN ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING

BECAUSE THE AUTOPSY
REVEALED THAT --

THAT, UM, NIKKI McPHATTER
HAD BEEN SHOT

IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.

AND I JUST CAN'T ENVISION
A SCENARIO WHERE A --

AN ACCIDENT COULD TAKE PLACE

AND SOMEONE BE SHOT
IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.

YOU KNOW WHAT?
FORGET YOU, TEDDY.

GIRL, WHAT YOU MEAN
FORGET ME?

I'M ALL YOU GOT.

MY SISTER WAS NEVER THE PERSON

TO START AN ALTERCATION AT ALL.

TO SAY SHE PICKED UP
A GUN FIRST...

...NOT TRUE.

WE FELT LIKE WE HAD
A VERY STRONG MURDER CASE.

BUT TEDDY ISN'T
CONVICTED OF MURDER.

HE'S CONVICTED
OF VOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER

AND ESCAPES THE DEATH PENALTY
AND IS GIVEN 30 YEARS IN PRISON.

KENDRA GOODMAN RECEIVES
3 YEARS IN PRISON

FOR ACTING AS AN ACCESSORY
AFTER THE FACT.

TEDDY KILLED HER.

TEDDY BURNED HER.

TEDDY LIED.

IT WASN'T IN SELF-DEFENSE.

HE SHOT HER...

...IN THE BACK
OF THE HEAD.

SHE DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE.

I MEAN, THIS TRAGIC
EVENT WAS A LESSON

FOR ALL OF US TO, YOU KNOW,

MAKE SURE THAT WE TELL SOMEONE
WE'RE GOING ONLINE DATING.

YOU KNOW, NOW,
WHEN WE MEET A NEW GUY,

WE GET ALL THAT INFORMATION

BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT
ANOTHER NIKKI TO HAPPEN.

WE REALLY DON'T.