Blue Skies (2026) s01e07 Episode Script

I think this is the place.
Yes.
"Forest branches in twin pairs"
"the place where she leaned her mirrored arms, dividing the green grove,"
"The place where intersecting lines intertwine."
"Then he walked 12 steps along the spine."
I think this is a "W".
Yes. So, "Mirrored arms and then intersecting lines intertwine."
I think this is it.
This should be it. This is a "W".
One, two, three, four, five,
six, seven, eight, nine,
ten, eleven,
on iki.
Come on.
What's this
Okay. That's a serious question.
Should I use two "y"s when saying "Hey"?
Or should I use an exclamation mark when I say "Hey"?
Should I be worried about you?
Haha. No! If I stop doing that, then you can worry.
This means I've lost all hope.
Nora!
Esposito. Come in.
Connect with Esposito. I'm with Larsen and Blue.
We found a body in Pine Hollow.
You need to come there immediately.
Understood.
Thanks, Chip.
What did we find?
An unidentified male.
It was found this morning by two hikers.
They were on a treasure hunt.
I'll be there
The victim has no identification, no phone, and no fingerprints in the system.
Due to the rigor mortis of the corpse,
Forensic experts believe the person has been dead for approximately 2 to 6 hours.
Do we know the cause of death?
Not yet. We'll have to wait for the medical examiner's report.
But there are no obvious signs of assault.
That was the only thing found near the body.
I didn't know people still wrote by hand It's a lost art.
"Where the forest branches bend in twin pairs,"
"mirror-shaped arms divide"
"Stop where the crossed lines intersect."
"Then walk 12 steps along the spine."
It could belong to the victim or the killer.
Whoever he is, he's a poet.
This must be Bartholomew Brantley,
The renowned local artist wanted to get people away from their phones and towards nature.
Shortly before his death, Brantley published a poem,
Somewhere in Crystal Ridge, there's gold and artifacts
a list of clues leading to a treasure chest.
Our hikers have found the final lead,
Frankly, they didn't find what they were looking for.
Was there no treasure at the scene?
Nothing. My guess is that the person who killed our victim,
He took the gold and ran away.
Can you tell us about this poem?
This is a map. There are ten clues in the poem.
Each clue is independent of the previous one.
Brantley's grandchild has been registered.
Nobody knows the location of the treasure or the answers to the clues.
Except for Brantley himself.
He passed away a year ago and took this to his grave.
How do you know all this, Meeks?
I did some research before coming on stage.
Are you sure, Meeks?
We need to identify the victim.
This means we need to find their last known movements.
These will likely be the steps in the treasure hunt.
I will speak with the couple who found the body.
They must have deciphered the poem to find the final clue, right?
So what happened next?
We must solve the treasure hunt ourselves.
And quickly.
There's a killer out there.
Where are we going?
I've already figured out the first and fifth clues, so we can start there.
I had some difficulties after that.
I hope you do better.
How long have you been working to find the treasure?
This is irrelevant to our topic.
In our treasure park.
In theory, we should know how to find it faster than anyone else.
Deciphering the clues is the only way to follow our victim's footsteps.
I'll tell the Rangers to secure the area and begin their investigation.
Great. Let's connect Tyson to the CCTV and facial recognition system and
Let's see if we can find our victim.
Who would have thought we could make such a great team?
My partner is a really nice guy, sitting right behind you.
Thank you for staying. I know it's been a tough day.
To put it mildly.
My colleague told me that both of you arrived last night.
How did you figure out the clues in the poem so quickly?
Well, we haven't solved it.
We can't really say we've solved it completely.
We never solved it.
Tell me.
We heard about the treasure on a private online forum.
I wanted to try my luck.
We went to that inn last night.
Cliff Edge.
We sat at the bar and talked about our future,
We dreamed about money, things like that.
While I was there, this man was on the phone
We heard him talking about poetry.
He was talking about the ninth clue, and
He gave the exact coordinates.
So you were able to skip solving the previous eight clues.
We just needed to solve the last clue.
Have you spoken to this man?
No. She was constantly on the phone.
Did you understand who he might have been talking to?
Can you describe him for our forensic artist?
Certainly.
It's hard to believe Vic and Perp did all of this.
The promise of money makes people do strange things.
It pushes people to their limits.
Blue doesn't seem to be able to find anything.
This is the old mill, or what's left of it.
The next clue: "Under that stone where the dew kissed,"
"Soft moss clings to the morning mist."
"Where the owl's light falls and the branches diverge,"
"A mossy hollow will soon appear."
This is an old-growth forest, ideal for owls.
Puppet owls migrate there in winter.
My mother was a birdwatcher. Owls were her favorite.
Let's go then.
What about the mossy hollow?
East of that bog in Miner's Meadow, with its winding branches
There was a big, old tree.
Algae grow in swamps.
Is there an owl in that tree?
No. Even better.
King, can you hear me?
Go for the king.
They overheard a man talking about coordinates.
Treasure found at Cliff's Edge Inn the previous night.
It seems like an awkward thing to say in a public place.
I thought so too.
The illustrator is finishing them now.
I'll send it to headquarters and get them to release a BOLO.
Try to contact Madge.
Try to get a shot from one of the cameras in the building.
Send it to Bernard. He'll put it through the facial recognition system.
Check to see if there's a match.
Understood.
I think this is exactly the place.
Yes. Look.
How did you know where to find this?
My mother and I used to go for walks. We would play this game.
That's ridiculous.
Brantley uses optics to convey hidden messages in his art.
It uses illusions.
It makes sense that it's one of the stops on the treasure map.
Do you know what algae is good at?
It retains scents very well.
Yes, it works. Blue, call!
Blue, topuk!
I am Officer Larsen and this is Officer Meeks from the NPS.
Is anyone here?
We need to talk to you.
Clean.
I found this.
This is our victim.
Footprints.
Three team footprints.
He wasn't alone in the park.
Shall I get you a cup of coffee?
I'm fine. I have a coffee shop, remember?
Okay. That's a silly question.
About Whispering Pines.
It's as if we have all the pieces of the puzzle,
But none of them match.
Like a newspaper clipping from the Stone Glass Lake murder.
Claire was hiding them for a reason.
Why would they hide them if they weren't important?
I think we should go back to the clues we have.
We should try to find something we missed along the way.
Maybe I should visit Stacey Kanter one more time.
Can you hear me clearly?
Gayet net.
We have identified our victim, Jackson Turner.
In his 30s. His family's
He is a partner at the law firm Turner and Turn. He recently completed a long-term contract.
He proposed to his girlfriend, Emily Warner.
It seems they found the treasure together to start their lives.
and his, in quotation marks:
She wanted it so she could have "the wedding of her dreams."
Her fiancé was notified and came from out of town.
He set off.
I want you to talk to Esposito when he gets here.
I looked into Jackson's social media a bit.
Apparently, she went camping with her two best friends.
So who are these so-called friends?
First up, Eddie Henderson.
He was raised in foster care after his father went to prison.
But it looks like a shining star.
A sixth-grade teacher started a Big Brother program.
I checked the background, it's perfectly clean.
Casey Crawford ise
He was arrested once for aggravated assault, and he has debts.
Judging by the dates, these men
They've been friends since high school.
I analyzed your most recent posts.
Location tracking has been disabled for all three.
They may have separated from Jackson and
They might still be hunting.
We can continue following the clues and see if we can find them.
Understood.
Again. What do you want?
I'm receiving threatening messages from an unknown number.
And you think that's me?
No, I don't think so.
But I think we could both be in danger.
Gel.
There's still no news from Eddie or Casey, though.
I contacted Bartholomew Brantley's heir.
And Meeks, you were right. The actual coordinates on the map.
He insists that nobody knows except Brantley.
He also said that no one had reported finding the treasure.
So the searchers are still out there.
We'll be releasing a Bolo for Eddie and Casey,
We will try to contact them.
We can try to match it with the final photographs in the poem.
I'm sending you your latest posts from yesterday.
Judging by the sun, it's around midday.
Was there a caption accompanying the photo?
Carpe Diem.
My brother.
Yes, this can happen anywhere.
What was the last stanza in the poem?
"The notch will take you beyond the Aspen Gate."
"To the place where seven bodies and silence await."
"The longest branches go to the left from there, and count your steps."
"In the mountain air".
Look at the reflection in your sunglasses.
This is Aspen Grove campground.
Larsen and Meeks will stay at Aspen Grove until they find more evidence.
Go to the area, everyone is suspicious.
I think you should leave the city.
If I'm receiving threats, it can't be safe for you either.
I'm not sure leaving is the solution.
The smartest thing to do seems to be to give it up.
Did someone scare you?
I was told not to speak.
And now they might think I'm talking.
Who are they?
You won't get the answer you want.
Move on with your life.
I will do the same.
Hey, Bill.
I just spoke to Stacey.
What did he say?
Personally, I could tell you more, but there's no major revelation.
I think someone threatened him.
That same person might be threatening me too.
Bill, we need to tell Jodi.
I know you want to protect him, but
I know what I'm going to tell him tonight.
Keep your phone on. We'll talk soon.
Hey.
I still can't believe it.
Who would do such a thing?
We need your help to find it.
Jackson was a very good person.
Everyone loved him.
You know, he'd never camped before?
He went on this treasure hunt and found a beautiful one.
Let's have our wedding. Let's have a beautiful life.
I'm so sorry, Emily. I can't even imagine.
Thank you.
Would it be okay if I asked you a few questions?
We'll do anything to find whoever did this.
What can you say about Casey and Eddie?
We've known each other since high school.
Eddie spent a lot of time at Jackson's house.
Casey is an artist.
She loved that man,
He learned about Brantley's trade and treasure hunting.
He is the creator.
Do you know anything about getting into trouble with the law?
Yes. There was a creepy guy at the bar who tried to talk to me.
Casey asked him to leave me alone,
But he wouldn't let go, so he punched him.
We dated for a couple of years before Jackson,
But that was a very long time ago.
Do you think Casey still has feelings for you?
No. No, we're just friends.
What if Casey and Eddie realize Jackson is missing?
do you have any idea why they wouldn't report it to the police?
I assumed their phones had no signal.
So, I hadn't heard much from Jackson.
Just last night.
He called me from a restaurant.
It was hard to hear him, but finally the signal came through. So
What did he say?
He told me he loved me and that our lives would change for the better
he said he had a good feeling.
Did Jackson write it by hand?
No. Never. No. Her handwriting was terrible.
He was like a child.
Okay, I'll check out that camp.
Do you want to see this?
Detective Larsen, NPS
Hello.
Is anyone home?
Hello?
Police. Let him go.
We need to ask you a few questions.
What did we find?
Milton Bludso, in his 40s, is an accountant.
He had never married. We found him with an empty treasure chest.
an action camera and a sign that read "Murder in the Woods"
a hard drive.
Treasury chest. No treasure.
It seems so.
As the name suggests, a preliminary search is conducted.
on a watchlist for crime-related internet searches
He says that's the best way to commit murder in a national park.
including the routes. Meeks, the interrogation
Manage. Larsen connects with Ryan.
Continue searching for Casey and Eddie. At this point,
missing persons.
Meanwhile, we received the report.
Jackson died from a stab wound.
The forensic pathologist believes it is a blunt, round instrument.
Approximately half an inch in diameter.
So, it's not a knife.
We are looking for an unusual murder weapon.
I've received confirmation that Brantley's treasure chest exists.
During the download transfer, the action camera footage
I used facial recognition software to scan.
And look who I see. Our victim.
This is Jackson.
Their paths crossed.
Wouldn't Jackson reappear? If this man killed him.
Not necessary.
He was killed in the middle of the night.
Once the transfer is complete, the date and time of our murder.
I can increase the exposure throughout and see if anything comes out.
What happened, Jodi? I got a message from King.
I'm recovering now.
Did he give you any information?
He said there were no officially reported missing persons yet, but that two men were missing.
We found a body this morning.
The victim was on a treasure hunt with two friends. And we must find them immediately!
And we must find them immediately!
A treasure hunt? I didn't know it still existed.
Okay, where should we meet?
Breathwood. Do you know about it?
Sometimes I take my climbers there.
See you soon.
Thanks. See you.
Well done.
This is all a misunderstanding.
Let's talk about the facts.
Firstly, there are internet searches about how to bury a body in a national park.
Then there's the hard drive labeled "forest murder."
You have a hard drive labeled "forest murder".
This disc contains footage from the day before our victim's death.
Finally, there is Bartholomew Brantley's treasure chest.
This box was taken from the place where we found the body.
We know this because a pit was dug where the treasure should have been.
There's a simple explanation for all of this.
I'm writing a novel. It's a mystery about a murder committed in the woods.
I know it sounds exaggerated, but it's true.
In my research, I learned about treasure hunting
and I thought this would be the perfect backdrop for my story.
That's not a very revolutionary idea.
Call it what you will, I went to the park.
I plugged in my camera and by chance
I came across a treasure chest. It was just sitting there.
empty, exposed.
Whoever found the treasure was clearly in a hurry.
And they left him behind.
Come on, Milton, you don't expect me to believe all this, do you? Because
You seem to have killed an innocent man for inspiration.
I didn't kill him.
I've never even seen him.
It's in the pictures.
We must have passed each other in the park. I'm recording everything.
Besides, why would I kill him?
Perhaps you wanted to add some non-fictional elements to your story.
fiction.
Check my hard drive. You'll see.
The moment you find the treasure chest, you'll see it's empty.
Timestamped and everything.
I was alone. They were all there.
The king wants to see you.
The bell saved the day.
Tyson reviewed footage from approximately the time of the murder.
He was almost back at the main camp.
He was alone when he found the treasure chest.
It seems so.
Anyway, have those images been manipulated? Or has the timestamp been altered?
Yes, it's highly unlikely, because that comes from the original data.
It comes from the original data.
Hey, buddy. Hey.
What did we find?
Hey.
Eddie ve Casey.
Almost 24 hours have passed since anyone saw or heard from them.
There is very little cell phone network coverage in the area.
If they are novice campers on a treasure hunt,
They might have forgotten their portable chargers.
It's possible. The truth is, his friends are missing.
And now he is dead.
These men have not been found. They are not at the place where they camped.
The cell phones didn't send a signal to any tower. None.
They were not seen on the security camera.
Meeks and I were in Aspen Grove, the treasure that brought us here.
Where the last clue on the map is. Just where.
We need to find where we're going.
Here.
"Now. Look for the tree that bends gracefully."
"It was dug deep into a place where the roots had eroded over time."
"Along its trunk, where the shadows spread."
"The earth takes a deep breath."
"Then he leaves."
So we're looking for a place that's rising and a place that's falling.
The tides come and go.
But we don't have an ocean.
We have water levels that fluctuate, especially.
Veilwater Creek.
Veilwater Creek.
It's not just a pretty face.
It's not just a pretty face.
What's this?
While reviewing Milton's footage, I received a notification.
Do you remember the man the couple heard at the inn?
The man who claimed to know where the Treasury was?
Yes, from the forensic drawing and
I found a match in the security footage Cliff mentioned last night.
Drake Brantley.
Bartholomew Brantley's grandson.
This got interesting.
What do we know about him?
Brantley is the sole heir to the fortune.
Perhaps he regretted having to give away a portion of his father's inheritance.
I'll find the license plate number. I'll access the CCTV footage.
I'll see if I can track it.
Bring Madge here and have her talk to us.
Sheriff.
In 20 years, I haven't been able to take you fishing five times.
And now you are here.
I enjoy fishing as much as everyone else.
Of course you'll love it.
Ok.
Yes, yes, yes. I know him.
He arrived last night and sat at the bar.
He didn't tell me much.
She was chattering on her phone the whole time, which I think is too much.
It was rude, but what can you do?
Did you manage to catch any part of his speech?
No, I didn't have time to eavesdrop. It was too crowded.
Anything that can help us.
Well, I suggested he give his speech outside,
And that's exactly what he did. He got the clue.
Can you tell us anything else?
Yes. He booked a room last night.
He left this afternoon. You probably just missed him.
Thanks, Madge.
You know where to find me.
Tyson. Madge is keeping Drake's room at the inn.
To search for the murder weapon or any trace of Jackson's DNA
we need forensic experts.
I'll take care of it right away. I scanned Drake's license plate number, and I was able to do it.
To monitor their movements via CCTV.
What was the last known location?
I am clear.
Okay, we'll go and check it out. Text us the make and model.
Understood.
It's a great place to clear my head and get away from all the noise.
Now, why did you really want to see me?
The reason I asked you about Stacy Kanter is
I think it might have something to do with what happened to Claire.
What do you want to say?
I don't think what happened to Claire was an accident.
I was there, Bill.
And I saw the reports.
This is your sorrow speaking.
You're still in denial.
No, Al, I don't.
Okay, I'm listening.
I don't know what happened or who did what. But things aren't right.
I need your help.
Look, Bill, I don't understand how Stone Glass and what happened to him came about.
Claire is connected.
But everything you need.
I want you to run a number.
Find out who it belongs to.
Certainly.
Give it to me, and I'll take care of it for you.
Talk to me, Tyson.
Brantley's SUV was just spotted entering the city from Front Street.
He doesn't seem to be in a hurry.
You're a quarter of a mile away.
Casey Crawford?
Blue. Go!
Blue. Blue.
Hey hey hey. Get out get out get out.
Sir, we'll ask you to get out of the vehicle.
We have witnesses who heard you talking about buried treasure. Why is that?
I just I wanted it to end.
My grandfather had pure intentions. I loved him very much.
But because of this, my family and I received death threats.
This is a treasure hunt.
I'm very sorry to hear that. So, what about this phone call?
I created a private online forum, pretending to be a fan.
After that, I knew there would be people looking for me at the inn. If
If I disguise myself a bit and speak loudly enough,
One of them might accidentally overhear me and find the treasure, and
I thought my family would finally be safe.
Who was on the other end of the phone?
Nobody. Okay, check the call log.
Okay. It was all a show.
You said you didn't know where the Treasury was.
Only your grandfather knew.
I made this statement before he passed away. And it was true at the time.
He left the answer to me in his will.
I've kept it a secret from everyone until now.
So none of this has anything to do with your inheritance.
The last thing I need is more money.
My grandfather left me a fortune.
What about the bloody screwdriver?
I left my keys locked in the car.
Okay. Here's a guide showing you how to get inside using a screwdriver.
I found the video. I got in my car, but not without getting my war wounds.
Okay, one last question.
Where were you last night between 12 and 4 a.m.?
I was in my room at the inn.
I couldn't sleep, so I ordered room service in the middle of the night.
Do you know who did this?
We're trying to understand this. Let's just focus on you. Between 12 o'clock
Where were you between 4 o'clock?
I was sleeping in my tent.
Is there anyone who can confirm this?
Check my smartwatch.
Okay. We'll do that. Tell me about last night.
We decided to take a break and have a meal at the inn.
Jackson was talking to Emily on the phone.
I set up a table for us.
Eddie bought us drinks.
At the bar.
Yes. You get your drinks from there, right?
Do you get angry often, Casey?
No. I just
For example, when he is arrested for aggravated assault.
I was protecting him
Emily? We know her.
You still have feelings for him.
No. I love him as a friend.
I can't believe he's dead.
I've known him since ninth grade.
Were you close?
Why didn't you call anyone when you realized she was gone?
We were camping along the way.
We were gathering our supplies to follow the clues and move on to the next one.
We couldn't reach Jackson. If he comes back and his belongings are gone
We thought it wouldn't be good. So we left it to him. He was just bored.
And we thought he wanted to go ahead to find the treasure.
Weren't you angry that he found the treasure all by himself?
No, Jackson wouldn't do that.
Even if she found it on her own, she would have shared it with us.
Even if she found it on her own, she would have shared it with us.
What if that's not the plan?
He wouldn't.
When did you last see Jackson?
We returned to our campsite and went into our tents.
When I woke up, he was gone.
Eddie said he left a note saying he would be back and that we shouldn't wait for him.
So what did you think when you woke up in the morning and he was gone?
What did you think when you woke up in the morning and he was gone?
I assumed he was going to take the treasure for himself.
Why did you assume that?
That was the only logical thing to do.
Emily wanted an extravagant wedding.
I think Jackson must have felt pressured to find the treasure.
So you didn't think something was wrong?
Could something have happened?
That wasn't my first instinct. No.
Of course. Why did you run away?
Isn't treasure hunting illegal? I thought you were going to arrest us.
I thought they were going to arrest us. And I don't have the money to pay the fines.
I'm not going back to prison.
Once was enough.
Okay. We've released Drake.
Forensic experts examined the screwdriver.
And Drake's blood came out.
But only Drake's blood.
And Madge confirmed her alibi.
I ordered room service late at night and
He hasn't left his room until this afternoon.
He's out there. What we need is
A ranger says they found something next to the body.
It looks like a fountain pen.
Yes, it looks like it's fallen apart.
This may have cracked during the stabbing force.
The ranger says the fingerprints were wiped away.
There are traces of blood inside the pen.
It says CC next to it.
Casey's initials.
Something doesn't add up here.
Motif. Murder weapon.
He escaped.
Hold Casey. Release Eddie.
When can I get my phone back?
The moment you sign these.
What's this?
Release forms. You are free to go.
Ve Casey.
He needs to stay a little longer.
Don't you think it has something to do with it?
I really can't say.
This was Forensic Medicine.
No fingerprints were found, but Jackson's DNA tested positive.
At least we have a murder weapon.
Why?
I need to see Eddie's photos from the campsite.
Just stacks of papers with notes written on them.
Give me the paper that was left next to the body.
A poem?
Tyson. Action camera shot just before Milton finds the treasure chest.
I need to see the images.
Immediately.
Major Eddie.
We need to go to the treasure where the body was found.
I hope we're not too late.
Meeks.
Come on, son.
Come on, buddy.
He's not here.
I think she went this way. Come on.
What are you doing here?
We would like to ask you the same question.
Edward Henderson, you are under arrest for the murder of Jackson Turner.
You are under arrest for the murder of Jackson Turner.
I need to search your bag.
Your role as the innocent teacher almost fooled us, Eddie.
How did you know?
You were all at Cliff's Edge Inn last night.
You went to a bar and heard someone had the exact coordinates to the treasure.
You heard from someone who has the exact coordinates to the treasure.
You also wrote along with the last stanza of the poem.
You're still a teacher who uses cursive handwriting.
There is a distinct G with a tail.
Many people don't write like this.
I first noticed this on a piece of paper at the scene,
Then in the annotated tests in your tent.
And finally, on your evacuation forms tonight.
You left in the middle of the night thinking you would find the treasure yourselves.
Nobody would know.
You didn't consider that Jackson would hear about your breakup and follow you.
But she wanted the money for an extravagant wedding.
And you wanted it all for yourselves.
What are you doing, man?
What are you doing? You know I need the treasure.
Vay! Hey hey hey hey hey hey.
You stabbed him with Cassie's fountain pen.
Jackson.
After killing Jackson,
You needed a different place to bury the treasure.
Earlier that day, you wanted to borrow a fountain pen to take notes on test papers.
The paper found at the scene was written in a shaded style.
feathery ink.
Jackson's blood was found in the pen.
And we have footage of you leaving the scene.
From another camper's action camera,
On Jackson's death timeline.
And now you are here,
with the treasure.
Hello.
I just meant it was a good job.
I didn't get a chance to say goodbye, but I heard he caught his man.
Yes. We caught them.
I'm sorry, my dad is calling.
You need to open it.
No problem. I can call him.
It's late. It might be important.
You're right. Thank you for your help today.
Satisfaction.
Hello, Dad.
Hello son. Are you busy?
No, I'm spending a night at home with Blue.
Can I stop by?
Is there a problem?
I wanted to leave a box of my mother's belongings behind.
Memories, photographs, things like that.
I thought it would be good for you to have them.
I also wanted to talk to you about something.
Yes. Of course. Come on.
Sounds good. Bug. See you soon.