The Closer s05e04 Episode Script
Walking Back the Cat
BRENDA: Fritzy, is that you? Oh.
You cooked dinner.
Yes.
Things are slow at work so l I went to the grocery store.
And thought I'd cook dinner.
[CHUCKLES.]
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.
[BRENDA CRYING.]
FRITZ: It's okay.
It's all right.
- They put him in a plastic bag.
- Her.
They put her in a plastic bag.
BRENDA: 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.
[COUGHS.]
Like spreading her ashes around someplace that was important to her.
Where? She was never allowed to go outside.
[SIGHS.]
Let's eat dinner.
[SIGHS.]
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? [BRENDA WHIMPERS.]
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.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
PROVENZA: And this is where it all happens.
Uh, this is the, this is Major Crimes.
My desk, right here.
LAUREN: Very nice.
PROVENZA: Uh, ah, look.
[CHUCKLES.]
- There he is.
LAUREN: He looks exactly like you.
[PROVENZA & LAUREN CHUCKLE.]
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.
[FLYNN CHUCKLES.]
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.
[CHUCKLES.]
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? [MAN CHUCKLES.]
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.
FLYNN: 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 Iooking 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, 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.
[DOOR OPENS.]
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.
MORALES: Hey, hey, guys, guys.
That's him.
That's Austin.
Damn it.
Oh, man.
Damn it.
[MOORE SIGHS.]
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.
MORALES: 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.
[PEOPLE SNICKER.]
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? BUZZ: 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.
GABRIEL: 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.
[SIGHS.]
Oh, Lauren.
Lauren, l 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? [BOTH CHUCKLE.]
[PROVENZA MOANS.]
- 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.
[BUZZ SIGHS.]
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.
[SIGHS.]
You people.
GABRIEL: Wait.
Can he just? - Uh, sir? Doctor? Sir? BRENDA: 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.
GABRIEL: 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.
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS.]
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 PROVENZA: 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? PROVENZA: We're arresting you for possession - You bastards! Let go! of a schedule-1 substance and the murder of Austin Blair.
TRAVIS: Austin! [CELL PHONE RINGS.]
[TRAVIS SOBBING.]
- 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.
[CELL PHONE RINGING.]
You know, maybe you should just not bring your dead pets to work.
- Hello? FRITZ [OVER PHONE.]
: Are you alone? No.
- [WHISPERING.]
What do you want? - Step into the back hallway.
[IN NORMAL VOICE.]
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? TAO [ON SCREEN.]
: He said, "Not that I know of.
" BRENDA: 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.
TRAVIS: 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? [SCOFFS.]
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? [SIGHS.]
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.
TAO: 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.
TRAVIS: 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.
[CRYING.]
BRENDA: If Benjamin had something to do with Austin's death I should be conducting the interview.
We've invited you to observe.
[BRENDA SCOFFS.]
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 [SIGHS.]
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.
[TECHNO MUSIC PLAYING OVER COMPUTER SPEAKERS.]
FRITZ: This is where the party is just getting started.
Now, there's Austin handing off the GHB.
BRENDA: Mm-hm.
FRITZ: 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? MAN 2: Are you all right? MAN 1: Oh, no.
FRITZ: 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 BRENDA: Ahem can you tell us did, um Did any, uh Did any individuals receive medical attention during Hell-A? BENJAMIN: 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.
[WHISPERING.]
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? [TAPE RECORDER BEEPS AND CLICKS.]
[IN NORMAL VOICE.]
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.
[WHISPERING.]
Well, then you better just hush up then and be grateful.
FRITZ [ON RECORDING.]
: So Austin recovered? BENJAMIN: 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.
BRENDA: 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.
BRENDA: 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.
[CAR ALARM BEEPING.]
Don't worry, doctor.
I'll get it.
[CAR ALARM CHIRPS.]
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.
[ON SCREEN.]
I can explain why I have his car.
BRENDA: I would love to hear that, sir.
BLAIR: 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, l 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? BRENDA: 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.
MOORE: 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.
[SIGHS.]
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.
[BLAIR SIGHS.]
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 l - 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.
FRITZ: 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.
BRENDA: 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-Ioyal, even in death.
She was super-Ioyal.
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.
NARRATOR [ON TV.]
: Of the more than 1500 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.
You cooked dinner.
Yes.
Things are slow at work so l I went to the grocery store.
And thought I'd cook dinner.
[CHUCKLES.]
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.
[BRENDA CRYING.]
FRITZ: It's okay.
It's all right.
- They put him in a plastic bag.
- Her.
They put her in a plastic bag.
BRENDA: 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.
[COUGHS.]
Like spreading her ashes around someplace that was important to her.
Where? She was never allowed to go outside.
[SIGHS.]
Let's eat dinner.
[SIGHS.]
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? [BRENDA WHIMPERS.]
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.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
PROVENZA: And this is where it all happens.
Uh, this is the, this is Major Crimes.
My desk, right here.
LAUREN: Very nice.
PROVENZA: Uh, ah, look.
[CHUCKLES.]
- There he is.
LAUREN: He looks exactly like you.
[PROVENZA & LAUREN CHUCKLE.]
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.
[FLYNN CHUCKLES.]
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.
[CHUCKLES.]
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? [MAN CHUCKLES.]
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.
FLYNN: 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 Iooking 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, 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.
[DOOR OPENS.]
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.
MORALES: Hey, hey, guys, guys.
That's him.
That's Austin.
Damn it.
Oh, man.
Damn it.
[MOORE SIGHS.]
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.
MORALES: 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.
[PEOPLE SNICKER.]
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? BUZZ: 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.
GABRIEL: 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.
[SIGHS.]
Oh, Lauren.
Lauren, l 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? [BOTH CHUCKLE.]
[PROVENZA MOANS.]
- 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.
[BUZZ SIGHS.]
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.
[SIGHS.]
You people.
GABRIEL: Wait.
Can he just? - Uh, sir? Doctor? Sir? BRENDA: 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.
GABRIEL: 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.
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS.]
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 PROVENZA: 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? PROVENZA: We're arresting you for possession - You bastards! Let go! of a schedule-1 substance and the murder of Austin Blair.
TRAVIS: Austin! [CELL PHONE RINGS.]
[TRAVIS SOBBING.]
- 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.
[CELL PHONE RINGING.]
You know, maybe you should just not bring your dead pets to work.
- Hello? FRITZ [OVER PHONE.]
: Are you alone? No.
- [WHISPERING.]
What do you want? - Step into the back hallway.
[IN NORMAL VOICE.]
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? TAO [ON SCREEN.]
: He said, "Not that I know of.
" BRENDA: 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.
TRAVIS: 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? [SCOFFS.]
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? [SIGHS.]
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.
TAO: 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.
TRAVIS: 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.
[CRYING.]
BRENDA: If Benjamin had something to do with Austin's death I should be conducting the interview.
We've invited you to observe.
[BRENDA SCOFFS.]
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 [SIGHS.]
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.
[TECHNO MUSIC PLAYING OVER COMPUTER SPEAKERS.]
FRITZ: This is where the party is just getting started.
Now, there's Austin handing off the GHB.
BRENDA: Mm-hm.
FRITZ: 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? MAN 2: Are you all right? MAN 1: Oh, no.
FRITZ: 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 BRENDA: Ahem can you tell us did, um Did any, uh Did any individuals receive medical attention during Hell-A? BENJAMIN: 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.
[WHISPERING.]
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? [TAPE RECORDER BEEPS AND CLICKS.]
[IN NORMAL VOICE.]
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.
[WHISPERING.]
Well, then you better just hush up then and be grateful.
FRITZ [ON RECORDING.]
: So Austin recovered? BENJAMIN: 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.
BRENDA: 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.
BRENDA: 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.
[CAR ALARM BEEPING.]
Don't worry, doctor.
I'll get it.
[CAR ALARM CHIRPS.]
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.
[ON SCREEN.]
I can explain why I have his car.
BRENDA: I would love to hear that, sir.
BLAIR: 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, l 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? BRENDA: 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.
MOORE: 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.
[SIGHS.]
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.
[BLAIR SIGHS.]
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 l - 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.
FRITZ: 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.
BRENDA: 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-Ioyal, even in death.
She was super-Ioyal.
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.
NARRATOR [ON TV.]
: Of the more than 1500 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.