Vanished (2006) s01e03 Episode Script
Drop
Previously on Vanished We're here at the home of Senator Jeffrey Collins, who is about to issue his first public statement since his wife's disappearance.
A crime of national importance Do whatever it takes to get Sara back.
But every clue reveals a mystery It's Amanda McNeal.
She was the wife of Curtis McNeal.
He was the mayor of Atlanta.
.
.
that takes them further from the truth You want to know who took Sara Collins, talk to the senator.
Why would I do that? Best way to get to a man is through the woman he loves.
That's how they control you.
Who? Marcy Collins, the Senator's daughter by a prior marriage was also missing.
Unbeknownst to the Senator, she was at the home of her boyfriend.
What aren't you telling me? Senator Collins' ex-wife, Jessica Nevins, is being sought as a person of interest.
Now a family torn apart by tragedy Mom I told you not to come.
I want to know what's going on.
Why is the FBI looking for you? I'm scared.
This is bad, Max.
is held together by a secret Sara Collins isn't who she says she is, and I got proof.
The cooler was off for ten hours.
Exactly enough time to reduce Amanda McNeal to a putrefied mass.
Our only link to the kidnapper, obliterated.
So, how we doing on the swatch of fabric that Marcy brought in? Trace came back, material's most likely from a cotton blend pullover.
Now, we already know that blood on one side came from Mark Valera.
The guy who abducted Sara from the Biltmore.
Well, someone with blood on his shirt should be sweating.
Right, which is why I checked the other side for perspiration.
We got a DNA match from CODIS.
Marcy Collins's boyfriend: Benjamin Wilson, in the system for possession with intent in '02.
- Issue a BOLO.
- Done.
The senator's ex, Jessica Nevins has been apprehended, they're bringing her in.
You had Max followed, didn't you? We needed to find you.
So, you took advantage of my son's trusting nature.
And you're all right with that, Agent Kelton? Well, I watch the news.
I understand I'm a person of interest.
So, tell me are you interested? Why doesn't the FBI believe you? I called five times, no one's followed up.
Well, they're busy.
Senator just put out a two million dollar reward.
They're dealing with a lot of cranks.
Hey-hey I'm not a crank.
And you don't want a couple million dollars? I want to find her.
Listen, I watch you.
This is your story.
All those other news channels are just trying to catch up.
Have a look.
You can reach me at that number.
I'm not crazy.
And her name's not Sara.
Members of the Judiciary Committee are attempting to carry on with the questioning of Judge Rainer, despite the absence of their colleague, Jeffrey Collins.
The Georgia senator remains secluded in his Atlanta home They want me back in Washington.
You need to get some sleep.
I can't turn off any lights.
I want to believe she could walk in that door any minute.
I don't want her coming home to a dark house.
You have to tell the FBI.
I haven't unlocked that drawer for a week.
This was planted by someone; someone inside this house.
Someone who could be watching us now! Jeff, there are three Bureau agents in the house at all times.
Right.
And they missed this.
It's our wedding photo.
I got to get five million dollars by noon tomorrow.
That's impossible.
There's got to be a way.
Well, there isn't.
Unless What? Your accounts are being monitored.
You'll set off alarms if you so much as touch them.
Jeff, if you're serious about this, if you really want to do this without the FBI then it's got to be through me.
It was the first time we'd met.
The afternoon of her disappearance? Yeah, I called Sara that morning and asked her to meet me at the cafe and told her to please not tell Jeffrey.
Why? Truth is I needed her help.
I wanted her to talk to my husband-- ex-husband-- on my behalf.
What did you want her to say to him? That if she cared about Marcy and Max, as I'm sure she does, to please ask Jeffrey to allow me back into their lives.
I told her I was returning to Atlanta and I wanted to be able to love my children.
What did she say? She said that she'd do her best.
She seemed very sweet.
I'm sorry, I'm not sure what this is.
Well, those are Sara's hairs.
They were found in your hotel room, pulled out by the roots.
I asked Sara to meet me again that evening, at the Biltmore-- the same hotel where they were holding her party.
She came to my room.
She told me that she hadn't spoken with Jeffrey.
She hadn't been able to find the time.
I'm afraid I became upset.
She turned to go, and I reached out to grab her.
I think a few of her hairs may have gotten caught in my ring.
I'm not sure.
And that was the last time I saw her.
So, if we're done looking at pictures A few more.
This is Mark Valera.
He lured Sara Collins out of the ballroom and tied her up in his car.
He was found dead in that same car, with a bullet wound to his head, five hours later.
This is Amanda McNeal, wife of the ex-mayor.
Her body was recovered 18 hours after Valera's.
Except she'd been dead for ten years.
This is the former mayor, Curtis McNeal, who killed himself minutes after identifying his wife.
You can't be suggesting I'm in any way responsible? Well, I'm suggesting that you're not telling me everything.
Perhaps you started something, Ms.
Nevins.
You couldn't have known how it was going to end up.
Perhaps it was Sara who started something, Agent Kelton.
Have you thought about that? Kelton.
Local police found Marcy Collins' car abandoned in the woods in the Chattahoochee preserve.
We're not able to reach her, I'm going to the senator's house.
I'm going with you.
Ms.
Nevins, you're free to go, but I am going to ask you not to leave town.
I have no intention of going anywhere.
It's a copy; the original is still on file at the County Pediatric Hospital in Orlando.
Your daughter should be what now eleven? Yes, Jessica, I had a child.
Did you really think that I was afraid to tell Jeff? Well, you haven't.
What do you want? Hmm? For you to disappear.
What else are you hiding? Why haven't you found Marcy? Actually, that's why we're here.
The evidence against her boyfriend-- Ben Wilson-- blood on his shirt-- now puts him at the scene of Mark Valera's shooting.
We have agents out looking for him.
You think Marcy's in danger? That's one possibility.
Senator, it's three days now.
We have leads, but still no communication with whoever took your wife.
We know she had a falling-out with Marcy, but we need to know if that could be relevant.
It's not.
We're wondering if you can help us contact her.
She doesn't return my calls.
We're done here.
I think you heard the senator.
That's enough.
If Marcy's in danger, find her.
Jeffrey, it's a possibility.
What, that Marcy could've have planted that phone? No.
You need to get me that money.
Put a tail on J.
T.
Done.
What, Max? Is Ben with you? Yeah.
Why? Marcy, he's a suspect.
Max, you've got to trust me-- he didn't do anything.
Come home.
If he's innocent, tell the FBI-- help them.
I can handle it myself.
We're going to wait till this all blows over.
Marce, they th they think he killed a guy.
Do you believe me or them? Who was that? The FBI's looking for you.
Ben, maybe we should go home.
I can talk to my dad.
You can talk to him.
You think they'd believe me? I shouldn't have brought you into this.
That's not what I meant.
You can still get out, Marcy.
No, Ben.
No.
I know a place we can go, keep out of sight till we figure things out.
I don't want to leave you.
What do you got? Per your order, we put J.
T.
Morse, the senator's chief of staff, under surveillance.
He left the Collins estate 25 minutes ago.
Five minutes ago, he met with this woman at a parking garage in Buckhead.
No words were exchanged, but he walked away holding that.
Well, nothing says suspicious like a deserted garage and a briefcase drop.
- You I.
D.
the woman? - Got the license number.
Running it through the DMV database as we speak.
Yeah, it's the big day.
Peter Francis Manning turns 21 today What are we even looking at? over here at Muncie's, Happy Birthday.
Here you go, your first beer.
Nicky, come here.
Nicky, come here.
A little service, please, Nicky.
Nicky? Freeze it.
Resolution's not great.
Do what you can.
Sure looks like Sara.
Does the tape have a date stamp? May fifth, '94.
12 years ago.
Same time Sara goes missing from Florida.
Any problems? Told the agent at the door they were files-- security briefings.
Agent Kelton.
Senator, I'm going to have to ask you to open that.
These are classified documents.
Sir, we followed Mr.
Morse to a rendezvous with a Ms.
Annabeth Townsend.
Traced her name from the license on her vehicle.
You had me tailed?! Turns out Ms.
Townsend is the personal secretary for Lance Dunbar, the founder and majority stockholder of Dunbar-Kittridge Commercial Real Estate.
I know who he is.
According to your file, he's a friend.
And one of your biggest campaign contributors.
Sir, it's true that I cannot legally compel you to open that.
Still, we are very curious about a certain five million that was just liquidated from Mr.
Dunbar's accounts.
So, either that's an illegal campaign contribution or you're going to tell us what's really going on here.
They said they'd kill her if I went to you.
What else did they say? You're in hell now-- I get that, but you have got to trust us.
It's your only hope of finding out who did this and getting Sara back alive.
We've been monitoring all incoming communications.
How did they get to you? There they are.
Or should I say, there she is.
12 years ago, one month ago.
I told you.
I'm really glad you came to me, Peter.
I just have a couple of questions.
Shoot.
Why did she leave you? I don't know.
Did she ever ask you for money? Wh what?! No I don't like where this is going.
I'm just trying to figure out why Sara changed her name for four months, moved to Gloucester and then took off.
No, no, no, no, no-- see, you don't get it.
She is Nicky.
Sara-- she's not real.
- I want my tape back.
- Peter No, no, this is your what, your spin? That Nicky was a fraud and I was conned? - I just want the full story.
- I just want my tape back.
Here you go.
Sorry I wasted your time.
We got a copy, right? Digitized and stored.
- I'll format it for broadcast.
- Not yet.
What? We're going to hold on to it.
Don't tell me Pete got to you.
Baby.
What then? Every story's got a beginning, middle and end.
That tape is the beginning.
As soon as I air it, every other reporter's on equal footing.
I want the whole story, not just the beginning.
We've dusted it, ear and mouthpiece swabbed; keypad's too small to retain much detail.
Only prints we found are the senator's.
What about the SIM chip inside? Phone numbers dialed, address book data? It's brand-new, never used, except to receive the text and video message and that they could have sent from anywhere.
Our best shot is to get a position of the cell phone tower when they call again.
Are you set up for that? We'll find out at noon.
Kelton.
Forensics just got back from Ben Wilson's house.
Found something interesting in a guitar case.
A 1911 Colt.
The gun used to kill Valera.
Ballistics check out.
Shoots nine millimeter parabellum.
The only one of its kind in the state.
Okay, it's time to go wide.
Let's call a press conference, alert the public: Ben Wilson wanted for murder.
Whose place is this? A friend of mine.
Name's Quinn.
She helped me get clean.
Quinn's always been there for me.
Even back when nobody else was.
Damn, code's changed.
We should get back to the car.
Quinn.
Hey, Ben, how's it going? You must be Marcy.
Standing by.
Ready to tap and trace.
It's noon.
What if our times and theirs don't match? Wait.
It's the fax.
The fax?! Change coordinates.
"You have half an hour.
Rita's Soup and Salad, Cascadia Plaza.
Sit next to the black jacket.
Come alone.
" You have to wear the wire, sir.
There's no time.
That's the idea, Senator.
Whoever's doing this-- they want to keep us off balance, not give us enough time to react.
So they know I brought you in on it.
We have to assume.
Well, then Sara may already be dead.
Look, let's just make sure they don't kill you.
Put it on him.
Kelton.
Listen, covert tac team's en route.
Downtown, lunch hour, should be plenty of cover.
Well, they better make it snappy-- we got 25 minutes.
We traced the fax to a retail copy place.
Called the clerk.
The original is still in the machine.
Could he I.
D.
who sent it? No.
It was time-delayed.
We're checking with the store's security cams.
They fax him in his own house while they know we have him surrounded by agents.
You think they know we know? I'm positive.
Get him a vest.
Stowed the car.
Around the corner.
You two making friends? Quinn was just telling me how you two met.
Yes.
I was auditioning guitar players, and in comes this skinny kid.
Way too skinny.
But, uh he had something going on.
She tell you how she likes to take in strays? What do you always say? It's too early in the day.
"To every sojourner, on whatever path, help and refuge at the speaking of the word.
" Yeah, so we're like family.
You can stay here as long as you like.
Ben, you got a moment? Sure.
So how much does she know? I'm in place.
In place.
In place.
RF is clear.
I don't like it.
It's a busy public place, lot of pedestrians.
So? So it's where we'd want a ransom drop.
There's plenty of cover for the tac team.
There's no easy escape route.
Why'd they pick it? authorities downgraded the emergency standby as the hurricane appears to be veering away from the coast.
Houston residents who had been preparing to evacuate their homes are breathing a sigh of relief.
And there's been a dramatic development in the Sara Collins kidnapping case.
The public's asked to be on the lookout for Ben Wilson, wanted for questioning in the murder of Mark Valera.
The gun used to shoot Valera was found in Wilson's home earlier today.
Wilson's been linked with Senator Collins' daughter Marcy.
He was briefly detained by the FBI on the night of the kidnapping as a possible suspect in the case, but was later released.
The 23-year-old musician and club promoter 911.
State your emergency.
911.
Please state your emergency.
This is Marcy Collins.
I know you're looking for Ben Wilson.
He's with me.
What's wrong? I needed to get some fresh air.
Who were you talking to? I was trying to call Max.
This is about Quinn, isn't it? Come on, Ben, look at her.
Let's get out of here.
You're my girl, Marcy.
He's here.
Audio, how's our signal? I can hear his every breath.
We have a good visual.
Check it out.
WCN.
World headquarters, broadcasting 24/7.
Journal Constitution offices are there, middle ten floors.
Channel 2 News.
Media central.
Think it means anything? We'll know soon enough.
Can you guys hear that? It's coming from the jacket.
And so it starts.
Don't say anything.
Just listen.
All right, they're talking to him.
How do we tap and trace? Can't.
Not unless we grab the phone.
Take off the hat.
Take off the glasses.
Pick up the money.
"First, he undergoes the trial by water.
" Approach the water.
Step in, Senator.
Go to the steps.
What's he doing? - What do we do? - Just wait.
Go up the steps.
Keep going.
Stop.
Turn around.
Put it down.
Open it.
It's a diversion! Kelton! Scrub Jay! Abort! Crow's nest, eyes on the senator! Back up.
Get out of the way! FBI! Stay back! Back off! Go down the steps.
Back! Please stay back! Get back! Everybody back up! Hey, what is it? Guy who looks like Collins opening a suitcase of money.
- Hey, guys, watch out! - Look out, look out, look out! Stay back! Back up! Stay back! Stay Back! FBI! Go up the steps.
Everybody back up! Back up! Go through the door.
Now.
Where is he? Connection's being jammed.
We lost him at the door, bottom of the steps.
East out.
We lost him.
"And so has he passed the trial by fire.
" Well done, Senator.
Keep walking.
Stop.
Turn right.
Down the stairs.
Go through.
We're in! All right, I'm headed to the lobby of Cascadia One.
I need you to patch me back into the senator now.
I need that patch up! Almost there.
Go through the door.
Left.
Left.
Stop.
Get into the elevator.
Throw the phone away.
Throw it away! Get that open! How do we stop it? It's express.
There's no access before the roof.
Welcome to Cascadia Tower rising 1,800 feet above sea level.
Once at the top, you'll enjoy an exciting view, day or night, of Atlanta, Jewel City And now comes the trial of silence.
Have you been silent, Senator? You know who we are.
We've met before.
Confirm the ninth.
What do you mean?! Confirm the ninth and she lives.
How do I know she's alive? For then comes the trial by blood.
Stand back! Stand back.
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Sir We have medical personnel standing by.
I'm fine.
- Senator - I need to go home.
What happened in there? It went up, it dropped.
Sir, Senator, stop! I don't take orders from you! Ben! Ben, please pull over.
Ben! Marcy, listen to me, listen to me.
- You need to get out first.
- No, Ben.
Tell them that I forced you, that I made you come with me.
Ben, I know what you did.
I'm sorry.
Sorry? Sorry for what? You okay, Miss Collins? He's not armed.
Please don't hurt him.
Sir, step out of the car! Put your hands up! Turn around, walk backwards! Stay back here.
What are you going to do to him? He's going to be fine, ma'am.
Just stay right here.
Put your hands on the hood.
Hold on.
That money, someone put it in his car.
I had that money in my hands.
The guy took it from me.
Ma'am, we still got to bring him in.
The guy must have put the money in his car! He's being set up! Ben! No! Ben! Stop! He's being set up! Adam, you said you made a copy of the Nicky Johnson tape.
I can't find the file.
The whole hard drive's corrupted.
She's gone.
The director was sitting with the AG in Washington, watching it live.
The media, the national media is on a feeding frenzy.
Is that a concern? The manhole was set for remote detonation with a charge of C-4 containing RDX.
It's restricted military ordnance.
All U.
S.
stock is serialized, recorded.
- Any bases report theft? - We're finding out.
How'd they override the elevators? The system is computerized.
Possibly a hack from a remote location.
We're still trying to trace it.
This could not have gone any worse.
Oh, I don't know.
It's the Miller case.
Nathan Miller all over again.
Be prepared because that's what they're gonna say.
Another failed ransom drop! This was never about the money.
This was set in motion to drive a wedge between the senator and us to prove to him that he can get past us and our security and that he can't trust us.
And it worked; he's not talking.
She's still alive.
And you know this because? The way he looked at me when he stepped off that elevator.
They made Jeffrey Collins jump through hoops to put him in a place where we couldn't reach him.
For what? To communicate something to him and to him alone.
They isolated him in an elevator to give him a message? I'm sure of it.
Kelton.
Gotcha.
They just apprehended Ben Wilson.
Marcy Collins was with him.
A dangerous prank, domestic terrorism or a payoff gone wrong? Authorities won't say which, as just hours ago, witnesses saw Senator Jeffrey Collins open a suitcase full of hundred dollar bills at Cascadia Plaza in downtown Atlanta, then watched it explode in what some onlookers describe as a literal fountain of cash.
Moments later, while the crowd and police were distracted down below, our WCN camera captured this exclusive footage: Senator Collins trapped in an elevator plunging almost 30 stories before landing safely at the lobby floor below.
According to FBI Public Information Office, Ben Wilson has been taken into custody in connection with Mark Valera's homicide.
Wilson has been romantically linked to Marcy Collins, Senator Collins' daughter with his first wife, Jessica Nevins.
There's been no further word from the Collins camp.
The senator has secluded himself, speaking only to his family and staff.
I remember this song from the wedding.
Sara loved the melody.
It's Bach's "Little Fugue.
" Dad, I've been watching the news.
What they put your through Everything's okay.
Yeah, but all that money, and the elevator What was going on out there? You just need to know I'm doing everything I can to get Sara back.
Go ahead.
Hello.
Um, can I ask who's calling? Uh, Dad? Yeah.
It's for you.
Who is it? Hello? Hello, Jeffrey.
Who is it? On the elevator, you asked for proof of life.
That's right.
You were a corduroy jacket today.
Sara says she bought it for you last Christmas.
Let me talk to her.
Let's talk about Second Samuel 12:7.
- Dad? - Second Samuel 12:7-- "And the prophet Nathan said to King David, 'Thou art the man.
'" I don't understand.
What are you saying?! King David thought he could hide from God, but God sees everything, and so do we.
What?
A crime of national importance Do whatever it takes to get Sara back.
But every clue reveals a mystery It's Amanda McNeal.
She was the wife of Curtis McNeal.
He was the mayor of Atlanta.
.
.
that takes them further from the truth You want to know who took Sara Collins, talk to the senator.
Why would I do that? Best way to get to a man is through the woman he loves.
That's how they control you.
Who? Marcy Collins, the Senator's daughter by a prior marriage was also missing.
Unbeknownst to the Senator, she was at the home of her boyfriend.
What aren't you telling me? Senator Collins' ex-wife, Jessica Nevins, is being sought as a person of interest.
Now a family torn apart by tragedy Mom I told you not to come.
I want to know what's going on.
Why is the FBI looking for you? I'm scared.
This is bad, Max.
is held together by a secret Sara Collins isn't who she says she is, and I got proof.
The cooler was off for ten hours.
Exactly enough time to reduce Amanda McNeal to a putrefied mass.
Our only link to the kidnapper, obliterated.
So, how we doing on the swatch of fabric that Marcy brought in? Trace came back, material's most likely from a cotton blend pullover.
Now, we already know that blood on one side came from Mark Valera.
The guy who abducted Sara from the Biltmore.
Well, someone with blood on his shirt should be sweating.
Right, which is why I checked the other side for perspiration.
We got a DNA match from CODIS.
Marcy Collins's boyfriend: Benjamin Wilson, in the system for possession with intent in '02.
- Issue a BOLO.
- Done.
The senator's ex, Jessica Nevins has been apprehended, they're bringing her in.
You had Max followed, didn't you? We needed to find you.
So, you took advantage of my son's trusting nature.
And you're all right with that, Agent Kelton? Well, I watch the news.
I understand I'm a person of interest.
So, tell me are you interested? Why doesn't the FBI believe you? I called five times, no one's followed up.
Well, they're busy.
Senator just put out a two million dollar reward.
They're dealing with a lot of cranks.
Hey-hey I'm not a crank.
And you don't want a couple million dollars? I want to find her.
Listen, I watch you.
This is your story.
All those other news channels are just trying to catch up.
Have a look.
You can reach me at that number.
I'm not crazy.
And her name's not Sara.
Members of the Judiciary Committee are attempting to carry on with the questioning of Judge Rainer, despite the absence of their colleague, Jeffrey Collins.
The Georgia senator remains secluded in his Atlanta home They want me back in Washington.
You need to get some sleep.
I can't turn off any lights.
I want to believe she could walk in that door any minute.
I don't want her coming home to a dark house.
You have to tell the FBI.
I haven't unlocked that drawer for a week.
This was planted by someone; someone inside this house.
Someone who could be watching us now! Jeff, there are three Bureau agents in the house at all times.
Right.
And they missed this.
It's our wedding photo.
I got to get five million dollars by noon tomorrow.
That's impossible.
There's got to be a way.
Well, there isn't.
Unless What? Your accounts are being monitored.
You'll set off alarms if you so much as touch them.
Jeff, if you're serious about this, if you really want to do this without the FBI then it's got to be through me.
It was the first time we'd met.
The afternoon of her disappearance? Yeah, I called Sara that morning and asked her to meet me at the cafe and told her to please not tell Jeffrey.
Why? Truth is I needed her help.
I wanted her to talk to my husband-- ex-husband-- on my behalf.
What did you want her to say to him? That if she cared about Marcy and Max, as I'm sure she does, to please ask Jeffrey to allow me back into their lives.
I told her I was returning to Atlanta and I wanted to be able to love my children.
What did she say? She said that she'd do her best.
She seemed very sweet.
I'm sorry, I'm not sure what this is.
Well, those are Sara's hairs.
They were found in your hotel room, pulled out by the roots.
I asked Sara to meet me again that evening, at the Biltmore-- the same hotel where they were holding her party.
She came to my room.
She told me that she hadn't spoken with Jeffrey.
She hadn't been able to find the time.
I'm afraid I became upset.
She turned to go, and I reached out to grab her.
I think a few of her hairs may have gotten caught in my ring.
I'm not sure.
And that was the last time I saw her.
So, if we're done looking at pictures A few more.
This is Mark Valera.
He lured Sara Collins out of the ballroom and tied her up in his car.
He was found dead in that same car, with a bullet wound to his head, five hours later.
This is Amanda McNeal, wife of the ex-mayor.
Her body was recovered 18 hours after Valera's.
Except she'd been dead for ten years.
This is the former mayor, Curtis McNeal, who killed himself minutes after identifying his wife.
You can't be suggesting I'm in any way responsible? Well, I'm suggesting that you're not telling me everything.
Perhaps you started something, Ms.
Nevins.
You couldn't have known how it was going to end up.
Perhaps it was Sara who started something, Agent Kelton.
Have you thought about that? Kelton.
Local police found Marcy Collins' car abandoned in the woods in the Chattahoochee preserve.
We're not able to reach her, I'm going to the senator's house.
I'm going with you.
Ms.
Nevins, you're free to go, but I am going to ask you not to leave town.
I have no intention of going anywhere.
It's a copy; the original is still on file at the County Pediatric Hospital in Orlando.
Your daughter should be what now eleven? Yes, Jessica, I had a child.
Did you really think that I was afraid to tell Jeff? Well, you haven't.
What do you want? Hmm? For you to disappear.
What else are you hiding? Why haven't you found Marcy? Actually, that's why we're here.
The evidence against her boyfriend-- Ben Wilson-- blood on his shirt-- now puts him at the scene of Mark Valera's shooting.
We have agents out looking for him.
You think Marcy's in danger? That's one possibility.
Senator, it's three days now.
We have leads, but still no communication with whoever took your wife.
We know she had a falling-out with Marcy, but we need to know if that could be relevant.
It's not.
We're wondering if you can help us contact her.
She doesn't return my calls.
We're done here.
I think you heard the senator.
That's enough.
If Marcy's in danger, find her.
Jeffrey, it's a possibility.
What, that Marcy could've have planted that phone? No.
You need to get me that money.
Put a tail on J.
T.
Done.
What, Max? Is Ben with you? Yeah.
Why? Marcy, he's a suspect.
Max, you've got to trust me-- he didn't do anything.
Come home.
If he's innocent, tell the FBI-- help them.
I can handle it myself.
We're going to wait till this all blows over.
Marce, they th they think he killed a guy.
Do you believe me or them? Who was that? The FBI's looking for you.
Ben, maybe we should go home.
I can talk to my dad.
You can talk to him.
You think they'd believe me? I shouldn't have brought you into this.
That's not what I meant.
You can still get out, Marcy.
No, Ben.
No.
I know a place we can go, keep out of sight till we figure things out.
I don't want to leave you.
What do you got? Per your order, we put J.
T.
Morse, the senator's chief of staff, under surveillance.
He left the Collins estate 25 minutes ago.
Five minutes ago, he met with this woman at a parking garage in Buckhead.
No words were exchanged, but he walked away holding that.
Well, nothing says suspicious like a deserted garage and a briefcase drop.
- You I.
D.
the woman? - Got the license number.
Running it through the DMV database as we speak.
Yeah, it's the big day.
Peter Francis Manning turns 21 today What are we even looking at? over here at Muncie's, Happy Birthday.
Here you go, your first beer.
Nicky, come here.
Nicky, come here.
A little service, please, Nicky.
Nicky? Freeze it.
Resolution's not great.
Do what you can.
Sure looks like Sara.
Does the tape have a date stamp? May fifth, '94.
12 years ago.
Same time Sara goes missing from Florida.
Any problems? Told the agent at the door they were files-- security briefings.
Agent Kelton.
Senator, I'm going to have to ask you to open that.
These are classified documents.
Sir, we followed Mr.
Morse to a rendezvous with a Ms.
Annabeth Townsend.
Traced her name from the license on her vehicle.
You had me tailed?! Turns out Ms.
Townsend is the personal secretary for Lance Dunbar, the founder and majority stockholder of Dunbar-Kittridge Commercial Real Estate.
I know who he is.
According to your file, he's a friend.
And one of your biggest campaign contributors.
Sir, it's true that I cannot legally compel you to open that.
Still, we are very curious about a certain five million that was just liquidated from Mr.
Dunbar's accounts.
So, either that's an illegal campaign contribution or you're going to tell us what's really going on here.
They said they'd kill her if I went to you.
What else did they say? You're in hell now-- I get that, but you have got to trust us.
It's your only hope of finding out who did this and getting Sara back alive.
We've been monitoring all incoming communications.
How did they get to you? There they are.
Or should I say, there she is.
12 years ago, one month ago.
I told you.
I'm really glad you came to me, Peter.
I just have a couple of questions.
Shoot.
Why did she leave you? I don't know.
Did she ever ask you for money? Wh what?! No I don't like where this is going.
I'm just trying to figure out why Sara changed her name for four months, moved to Gloucester and then took off.
No, no, no, no, no-- see, you don't get it.
She is Nicky.
Sara-- she's not real.
- I want my tape back.
- Peter No, no, this is your what, your spin? That Nicky was a fraud and I was conned? - I just want the full story.
- I just want my tape back.
Here you go.
Sorry I wasted your time.
We got a copy, right? Digitized and stored.
- I'll format it for broadcast.
- Not yet.
What? We're going to hold on to it.
Don't tell me Pete got to you.
Baby.
What then? Every story's got a beginning, middle and end.
That tape is the beginning.
As soon as I air it, every other reporter's on equal footing.
I want the whole story, not just the beginning.
We've dusted it, ear and mouthpiece swabbed; keypad's too small to retain much detail.
Only prints we found are the senator's.
What about the SIM chip inside? Phone numbers dialed, address book data? It's brand-new, never used, except to receive the text and video message and that they could have sent from anywhere.
Our best shot is to get a position of the cell phone tower when they call again.
Are you set up for that? We'll find out at noon.
Kelton.
Forensics just got back from Ben Wilson's house.
Found something interesting in a guitar case.
A 1911 Colt.
The gun used to kill Valera.
Ballistics check out.
Shoots nine millimeter parabellum.
The only one of its kind in the state.
Okay, it's time to go wide.
Let's call a press conference, alert the public: Ben Wilson wanted for murder.
Whose place is this? A friend of mine.
Name's Quinn.
She helped me get clean.
Quinn's always been there for me.
Even back when nobody else was.
Damn, code's changed.
We should get back to the car.
Quinn.
Hey, Ben, how's it going? You must be Marcy.
Standing by.
Ready to tap and trace.
It's noon.
What if our times and theirs don't match? Wait.
It's the fax.
The fax?! Change coordinates.
"You have half an hour.
Rita's Soup and Salad, Cascadia Plaza.
Sit next to the black jacket.
Come alone.
" You have to wear the wire, sir.
There's no time.
That's the idea, Senator.
Whoever's doing this-- they want to keep us off balance, not give us enough time to react.
So they know I brought you in on it.
We have to assume.
Well, then Sara may already be dead.
Look, let's just make sure they don't kill you.
Put it on him.
Kelton.
Listen, covert tac team's en route.
Downtown, lunch hour, should be plenty of cover.
Well, they better make it snappy-- we got 25 minutes.
We traced the fax to a retail copy place.
Called the clerk.
The original is still in the machine.
Could he I.
D.
who sent it? No.
It was time-delayed.
We're checking with the store's security cams.
They fax him in his own house while they know we have him surrounded by agents.
You think they know we know? I'm positive.
Get him a vest.
Stowed the car.
Around the corner.
You two making friends? Quinn was just telling me how you two met.
Yes.
I was auditioning guitar players, and in comes this skinny kid.
Way too skinny.
But, uh he had something going on.
She tell you how she likes to take in strays? What do you always say? It's too early in the day.
"To every sojourner, on whatever path, help and refuge at the speaking of the word.
" Yeah, so we're like family.
You can stay here as long as you like.
Ben, you got a moment? Sure.
So how much does she know? I'm in place.
In place.
In place.
RF is clear.
I don't like it.
It's a busy public place, lot of pedestrians.
So? So it's where we'd want a ransom drop.
There's plenty of cover for the tac team.
There's no easy escape route.
Why'd they pick it? authorities downgraded the emergency standby as the hurricane appears to be veering away from the coast.
Houston residents who had been preparing to evacuate their homes are breathing a sigh of relief.
And there's been a dramatic development in the Sara Collins kidnapping case.
The public's asked to be on the lookout for Ben Wilson, wanted for questioning in the murder of Mark Valera.
The gun used to shoot Valera was found in Wilson's home earlier today.
Wilson's been linked with Senator Collins' daughter Marcy.
He was briefly detained by the FBI on the night of the kidnapping as a possible suspect in the case, but was later released.
The 23-year-old musician and club promoter 911.
State your emergency.
911.
Please state your emergency.
This is Marcy Collins.
I know you're looking for Ben Wilson.
He's with me.
What's wrong? I needed to get some fresh air.
Who were you talking to? I was trying to call Max.
This is about Quinn, isn't it? Come on, Ben, look at her.
Let's get out of here.
You're my girl, Marcy.
He's here.
Audio, how's our signal? I can hear his every breath.
We have a good visual.
Check it out.
WCN.
World headquarters, broadcasting 24/7.
Journal Constitution offices are there, middle ten floors.
Channel 2 News.
Media central.
Think it means anything? We'll know soon enough.
Can you guys hear that? It's coming from the jacket.
And so it starts.
Don't say anything.
Just listen.
All right, they're talking to him.
How do we tap and trace? Can't.
Not unless we grab the phone.
Take off the hat.
Take off the glasses.
Pick up the money.
"First, he undergoes the trial by water.
" Approach the water.
Step in, Senator.
Go to the steps.
What's he doing? - What do we do? - Just wait.
Go up the steps.
Keep going.
Stop.
Turn around.
Put it down.
Open it.
It's a diversion! Kelton! Scrub Jay! Abort! Crow's nest, eyes on the senator! Back up.
Get out of the way! FBI! Stay back! Back off! Go down the steps.
Back! Please stay back! Get back! Everybody back up! Hey, what is it? Guy who looks like Collins opening a suitcase of money.
- Hey, guys, watch out! - Look out, look out, look out! Stay back! Back up! Stay back! Stay Back! FBI! Go up the steps.
Everybody back up! Back up! Go through the door.
Now.
Where is he? Connection's being jammed.
We lost him at the door, bottom of the steps.
East out.
We lost him.
"And so has he passed the trial by fire.
" Well done, Senator.
Keep walking.
Stop.
Turn right.
Down the stairs.
Go through.
We're in! All right, I'm headed to the lobby of Cascadia One.
I need you to patch me back into the senator now.
I need that patch up! Almost there.
Go through the door.
Left.
Left.
Stop.
Get into the elevator.
Throw the phone away.
Throw it away! Get that open! How do we stop it? It's express.
There's no access before the roof.
Welcome to Cascadia Tower rising 1,800 feet above sea level.
Once at the top, you'll enjoy an exciting view, day or night, of Atlanta, Jewel City And now comes the trial of silence.
Have you been silent, Senator? You know who we are.
We've met before.
Confirm the ninth.
What do you mean?! Confirm the ninth and she lives.
How do I know she's alive? For then comes the trial by blood.
Stand back! Stand back.
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Sir We have medical personnel standing by.
I'm fine.
- Senator - I need to go home.
What happened in there? It went up, it dropped.
Sir, Senator, stop! I don't take orders from you! Ben! Ben, please pull over.
Ben! Marcy, listen to me, listen to me.
- You need to get out first.
- No, Ben.
Tell them that I forced you, that I made you come with me.
Ben, I know what you did.
I'm sorry.
Sorry? Sorry for what? You okay, Miss Collins? He's not armed.
Please don't hurt him.
Sir, step out of the car! Put your hands up! Turn around, walk backwards! Stay back here.
What are you going to do to him? He's going to be fine, ma'am.
Just stay right here.
Put your hands on the hood.
Hold on.
That money, someone put it in his car.
I had that money in my hands.
The guy took it from me.
Ma'am, we still got to bring him in.
The guy must have put the money in his car! He's being set up! Ben! No! Ben! Stop! He's being set up! Adam, you said you made a copy of the Nicky Johnson tape.
I can't find the file.
The whole hard drive's corrupted.
She's gone.
The director was sitting with the AG in Washington, watching it live.
The media, the national media is on a feeding frenzy.
Is that a concern? The manhole was set for remote detonation with a charge of C-4 containing RDX.
It's restricted military ordnance.
All U.
S.
stock is serialized, recorded.
- Any bases report theft? - We're finding out.
How'd they override the elevators? The system is computerized.
Possibly a hack from a remote location.
We're still trying to trace it.
This could not have gone any worse.
Oh, I don't know.
It's the Miller case.
Nathan Miller all over again.
Be prepared because that's what they're gonna say.
Another failed ransom drop! This was never about the money.
This was set in motion to drive a wedge between the senator and us to prove to him that he can get past us and our security and that he can't trust us.
And it worked; he's not talking.
She's still alive.
And you know this because? The way he looked at me when he stepped off that elevator.
They made Jeffrey Collins jump through hoops to put him in a place where we couldn't reach him.
For what? To communicate something to him and to him alone.
They isolated him in an elevator to give him a message? I'm sure of it.
Kelton.
Gotcha.
They just apprehended Ben Wilson.
Marcy Collins was with him.
A dangerous prank, domestic terrorism or a payoff gone wrong? Authorities won't say which, as just hours ago, witnesses saw Senator Jeffrey Collins open a suitcase full of hundred dollar bills at Cascadia Plaza in downtown Atlanta, then watched it explode in what some onlookers describe as a literal fountain of cash.
Moments later, while the crowd and police were distracted down below, our WCN camera captured this exclusive footage: Senator Collins trapped in an elevator plunging almost 30 stories before landing safely at the lobby floor below.
According to FBI Public Information Office, Ben Wilson has been taken into custody in connection with Mark Valera's homicide.
Wilson has been romantically linked to Marcy Collins, Senator Collins' daughter with his first wife, Jessica Nevins.
There's been no further word from the Collins camp.
The senator has secluded himself, speaking only to his family and staff.
I remember this song from the wedding.
Sara loved the melody.
It's Bach's "Little Fugue.
" Dad, I've been watching the news.
What they put your through Everything's okay.
Yeah, but all that money, and the elevator What was going on out there? You just need to know I'm doing everything I can to get Sara back.
Go ahead.
Hello.
Um, can I ask who's calling? Uh, Dad? Yeah.
It's for you.
Who is it? Hello? Hello, Jeffrey.
Who is it? On the elevator, you asked for proof of life.
That's right.
You were a corduroy jacket today.
Sara says she bought it for you last Christmas.
Let me talk to her.
Let's talk about Second Samuel 12:7.
- Dad? - Second Samuel 12:7-- "And the prophet Nathan said to King David, 'Thou art the man.
'" I don't understand.
What are you saying?! King David thought he could hide from God, but God sees everything, and so do we.
What?