R.J. Decker (2026) s02e03 Episode Script

1
[R.J.]
Previously on R.J. Decker
[Emi] I'm Emi Ochoa.
Lucas is my stepbrother.
And that's the man
who almost killed him.
I can't go a hundred feet
without someone asking me
for an interview
about my murdered father.
[Catherine] The task force
that will try
to find your dad's killer,
have you heard anything
from them?
My father
and the DA were close.
Whoever killed him
will not get away with it.
I know I told you
I needed some time,
-but I think
what I really needed was
-A friend.
[Trudy] The state police have
a file on your Emi Ochoa.
[Ryan] Ms. Ochoa?
I'm gonna need you
to give me your hands.
They've got her dead to rights.
She killed her father.
["Holy Holy Holy" playing]
[door opens]
[police radio chatter]
[song continues]
[shutters clicking]
[crowd chattering]
[shutters clicking]
[song continues]
[ song fades]
If you could just let me know
anything you find out,
I would really appreciate it.
Hey, Mel. You arrested Emi?
No, not me and not my guys.
State police.
-Yeah, but it's--
-Part of the task force.
The-The charge is bull.
She didn't kill her father.
-I know.
-Yeah, well, we were
with her that night.
I said, I know.
I was just talking
to my captain,
giving him the same earful
you're giving me,
but the situation's worse
than you think.
They have evidence.
What kind of evidence could
they have if she didn't do it?
Task force executed
a no-knock search
on her condo two days ago.
I didn't know until just now.
They found a nine-millimeter
Beretta compact hidden
in a wall vent.
Ballistics from the gun match
the slugs they pulled
from the victim.
It's the gun
that killed Victor Ochoa.
[door opens]
Emi, Richard,
you both know ADA Coto.
-We assume you want
to discuss a plea?
-You assume wrong.
Then why did you ask to talk?
So that you
and I could talk, Janis.
This whole thing is ridiculous.
[sighs]
How long have we known
each other?
-A long time.
-[Emi] A long time.
My dad backed
your first campaign
when I was still in college.
You're the one who convinced me
to go to law school.
And I was--
You can't possibly believe
I did this.
I wouldn't have, but the facts
are hard to ignore.
What facts?
The gun the police found?
For starters.
Somebody planted it there.
I've been staying
at my brother's place
the last two months.
My-My place has been empty.
Something the police are
clearly aware of, given their
surveillance of Ms. Ochoa.
-We think it's obvious
she's being framed.
-[Coto] It's not obvious to us.
With her father gone,
your client inherits
his real estate empire.
I didn't want
his real estate empire.
Even if I had, I didn't have
to kill him to get it.
He'd always planned
for me to take over.
Your father's guards saw
the two of you
fighting outside his house
the day he was murdered.
From their statements,
it sounded pretty heated.
You know we had
our disagreements.
I'm not denying that.
[Richard] You're also
forgetting
my client has an alibi.
She was at a party
with half a dozen witnesses,
including one of your own
homicide detectives.
By my count, that party
also included two ex-cons,
so maybe don't lean on
the company she kept.
[Coto] Besides, it turns out
that alibi is not so strong.
What are you talking about?
The pool
where the state senator
was found was heated.
Kept his body
at a steady temperature,
meaning the ME had no way
to narrow down time of death.
Meaning your client
could have killed him.
Party or no party.
Emi, I know your father
had a temper.
I know the rumors
he had criminal connections.
I can imagine all sorts
of scenarios
that would change things.
If you didn't have
a choice that night,
if you felt threatened,
I can knock this down to a
lesser charge, but I can only
help you if you talk to me.
I didn't do it.
I would never have done it.
That's all I can say.
Then I'll see you both
at the arraignment.
[exhales]
Yeah, I No, I get it.
-I know it's a big ask.
-[door closes]
She's calling friends
in the department,
seeing if anyone will slip us
the case file on Emi.
Maybe the task force
was circling other suspects.
Maybe there's leads
they dropped, someone else
I can look into, but
-Thanks for hearing me out.
-So far no luck?
-I'll see you tomorrow.
-[phone beeps]
I'm being shut out.
I work with jellyfish. There's
not a spine in the bunch.
To be fair, you are a witness
in the case. We all are.
How was the press conference?
Did you learn anything new?
Bail was set
at a number Emi could meet.
She's being processed
and released now.
But other than that,
nothing good.
[sighs] Apparently,
the no-knock warrant that led
the state police to the gun
was the result
of an anonymous tip.
Whoever made that call
was lying their face off.
That night at the party,
no way did Emi just show up
from murdering her own father,
and she wasn't heading out
to murder him either.
I think I've been a cop
long enough to know.
Do you think there's any way
we could identify the tipster?
Odds are, it's the same person
who planted the gun, right?
I mean, do you know anybody
in the state police?
[inhales] Oh, I can dig up
some digits,
but don't get your hopes up.
My own lunch buddies aren't
talking. Staties aren't gonna
be much warmer.
[phone ringing]
[clicks tongue] Uh, hey, buddy.
I'm not sure if you heard,
but now's not really a good--
It's gone right to voicemail.
I'll just leave a message.
-No, Wish. I'm here.
-Yo, Arj.
-Can you hear me?
I can hear you.
-Well, guess I missed you.
Anyway,
there's a fella at the bar
asking for you. Friendly sort.
Asked me to give you a ring.
Well, what you gonna do?
I'll just tell him
he should try you another time.
All right, talk soon, buddy.
-What?
-No, it's Wish.
I'm pretty sure
he was only pretending
like he couldn't hear me.
It was like he was performing
for someone.
And he used the term
"friendly sort."
Back at Apalachee,
it was our code
for certain guys to avoid.
Like sometimes you'd meet
someone and you could just tell
they'd killed people.
It didn't matter how they acted
or what they'd say.
It was in their eyes.
You think he's trying
to tell you someone like that
is at the bar?
-Not just at the bar.
He's looking for me.
-[keys jangle]
Yeah, Wish was warning me
to stay away.
So naturally,
your first response
is to head right over.
If it's a problem
with my name on it,
I can't just leave it to Wish.
[sighs] Will you at least lie
to me that you'll be careful?
[R.J. whistles] Hey.
-Oh. Why do I even bother?
-What?
Do you have some kind
of death wish or something?
Or you just not listening?
Well, maybe I worry about you
just as much
as you worry about me.
-You ever think about that?
-Lord help us both.
Okay. The guy you called about,
the friendly sort,
he still here?
All right.
Should you get a sense
that he's gonna put
holes in you,
-do me a favor
and kindly step outside.
-[scoffs]
-Okay, yeah.
-I just mopped.
I'm R.J. Heard you
were looking for me.
Ah, Mr. Decker.
My name is Augustine.
Didn't heed
your friend's warning, I see.
Yeah, well [chuckles]
You could tell
I was on that call,
and yet you don't seem
very surprised I showed up.
I've looked into you,
Mr. Decker.
I have a sense
of your character.
It's why I'd like to hire you.
I'm sorry, Mr. Augustine,
was it? I appreciate
the interest. I do.
But as it turns out, I'm not
taking on any new clients
right now.
My dance card, it's kinda full.
I'm aware. At least,
I believe I am.
A friend of yours,
Emilia Ochoa,
has been arrested for murder.
You have strong feelings
for this woman.
You believe she's been framed.
And so, unless I've misjudged
you, you're going
to try very hard to prove it.
You know all this how?
As I said, I've had a chance
to observe you.
-Aha.
-I also suspect
you're not being paid.
Even if Ms. Ochoa offered,
you would not accept,
but perhaps you'll take
my money instead?
[chuckles] Sorry,
I'm gonna need you
to back up for a second.
You want to pay me to do a job
you already know
I'm doing for free?
-I do.
-Because?
Because while you believe
Ms. Ochoa's being framed,
I myself am certain of it,
and my employers would very
much like to know who
her father's real killer is.
Would $50,000 be enough?
["Don't Fall
Brother" playing]
You can't fall, brother ♪
So, he give you any sense
of who these employers
of his are?
No, but, uh,
I think we could venture
a guess. Gang or cartel.
Yeah, unsavory types
that Victor was doing business
with before he died.
Yeah.
You remember
where I keep my slim jim?
Toolbox in the back
of your jeep?
Yeah, exactly.
I saw some keys on the table.
It's a rented Ford Escape.
I assume it's in the lot.
All right.
If I break into his car,
what am I looking for?
Anything.
Where he's staying,
who he works for,
what he had for breakfast.
This guy obviously
knows more about Victor's dirty
laundry than we do.
That makes him a new lead.
You keep him busy
till I get back.
-That's the plan.
-All right.
-There you go.
-[chuckles]
Your friend thinks
I'm dangerous.
[chuckles] Yeah, is he wrong?
You haven't said much
about your friends.
Do you mind if I ask
what their interest
in the Ochoas is?
I'm here
as their representative.
That's all you need to know.
Okay.
[chuckles]
Okay, different question.
I know why I'm sure
Emi Ochoa is being framed,
but what makes you so sure?
I arrived in Fort Lauderdale
three weeks ago.
The Victor Ochoa case
had been moving slowly.
My employers
were growing restless.
I searched
Ms. Ochoa's residence
well before the police did.
The gun was not in the vent
where they found it
when I looked.
So you were in Emi's house?
-Mine too?
-Why would I?
Are you also a suspect
in Victor Ochoa's murder?
-Can't say I didn't
have motive.
-[scoffs]
If I searched the homes
of everyone with motive
to kill Victor Ochoa,
-I'd be a busy man indeed.
-[chuckles] That's true.
Which reminds me,
I have other places
to be this evening.
For the $50,000 I mentioned,
I have one request:
that you share everything
that you discover with me
before taking it to the police.
-Do we have a deal?
-No. I mean
Sorry. No, not yet.
-Is the money not enough?
-No, it's not that.
I'm still working through
all the things
you're not telling me.
I mean, it's no secret
Victor was in bed
with organized criminals.
Makes me think you're a fixer
for some bad people.
Some bad people who had
a lot of money invested
in Victor.
Can't be cheap owning
a state senator, after all.
Whoever killed them,
that cost them an asset,
you're supposed
to find this person.
Once you do,
it's your job to serve justice.
A version of justice, anyway.
How am I doing so far?
[scoffs]
[sucks teeth] As I said,
I'll be a client,
and my money is good.
All these other matters
are immaterial.
Well, I guess I have to decide
if they're immaterial to me.
Can I think about it?
Of course.
Just don't think too long.
-I'll be in touch.
-Okay.
[exhales]
Hey. How'd it go?
Broke my slim jim. [grunts]
No, the car did,
when it refused to unlock.
Bruised my ego too,
if I'm being honest.
However, I did notice something
when I looked
through the window:
a tag hanging off the mirror,
and there was an emblem on it,
like a rabbit's head facing
one direction and a flamingo
facing the other.
[R.J.] Yeah?
-This what you saw?
-[sucks teeth] That's it.
[R.J.] It's a resort.
The Lucky Bird Inn.
I've tailed a few cheating
spouses there.
The tag tells the valet
you're a guest.
Uh-huh. Well, I'd say
that's worth the price
of a slim jim.
[shutter clicks]
[shutter clicks]
[sighs]
[lock clicks]
-[exhales] Hey.
-Hey.
-[R.J. breathes deeply]
-[sighs]
How you holding up?
-Uh, not great, actually.
-Yeah.
I take it the media is all over
Lucas's place now too?
-Like flies on you know what.
[chuckles]
-Yeah.
I get you checking in under
a false name, but Elizabeth
Borden, as in Lizzie Borden?
You really think famous
parent-killer is the best way
to go for an alias?
Gotta keep a sense
of humor somehow.
-Also, Lizzie was acquitted.
-That's true.
I've been thinking
of you a lot today.
Oh.
-Yeah?
-How you've been where I am.
Someone you don't even
know telling a lie
that could get you sent
to prison.
[sighs] It's a pretty
terrible place
to be. [clears throat]
It is.
I know you want to help me.
I appreciate it.
I just don't know
if I deserve it.
Why don't you let me
be the judge of that?
-R.J.
-Hey, the help's coming,
whether you like it or not,
from all of us.
-But we're gonna need
your help too.
-[sighs]
Starting with this.
What do you think?
You seen this guy before?
Maybe he and your dad
met at some point, or
Not that I recall, no. I
You said he tried to hire you?
Yeah, he did. He did,
but there's no way
I'm taking the job.
I just said I'd think about it
to stay on his good side.
[Emi] What's with
the armadillo?
I don't know. It felt out
of place with this guy.
The, uh, name on the tag
was World of Hope.
It turns out it's a charity
that sends toys
to child refugees.
I checked their address
against Augustine's receipts.
A few days ago, he pumped gas
about a half mile away
from their headquarters.
You're thinking
he paid them a visit.
Don't ask me why.
Could be he's just
into plushies.
[chuckles] I I don't know.
I've heard the name before.
World of Hope. I
I remember my dad saying once
that the people behind it
were contributors.
To what?
His pocket or his campaign?
Why would a charity
need to bribe a state senator?
I don't know,
but it's the first connection
I've been able to make
between this guy and your dad.
Gonna pay them
a visit in the morning.
If they were bribing my father,
do you really think
they'll just come out
and tell you?
Who can say no to me?
[brakes squeal]
Your friends
at the station know
you're helping me out?
What's it to you?
Well, Ochoa was
a pretty loaded name
even before Emi got arrested.
I'm guessing they wouldn't
appreciate you pitching in.
Since when do I give a crap
about what anyone thinks?
Besides, I like me just fine
when I'm right
about everything.
Hello!
FLPD.
Hello?
It's empty.
This was going
to Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Stuff in this crate
isn't so cute.
-Those are AR-15s.
-Uh-huh.
And this one's full
of rocket launchers.
[man] I hear you say
you're police?
Yep, now that's too bad.
Both of you, hands up
where I can see 'em, please.
-Okay. Yeah.
-Hey, take it easy
with that thing.
I'm fine. Two of you just do
as I say,
and no one has to get--
-[phone buzzing]
- [automated voice]
Call from Mama.
Oh, hell.
-Of all the dang--
- [automated voice]
Call from Mama.
I mean, I don't know.
Maybe just call her back?
I'm not sending my mama
to voicemail.
-Really?
- [automated voice]
Call from Mama.
[man grunts] Hold on.
[Mel] Whoa!
Your truck?
That thing holds
one round, right?
'Cause mine holds 16.
Crap.
[Mel] You're in a heap
of trouble, Doyle.
Firing rocket launchers
at police
is taken kind of seriously.
Plus, the feds are gonna have
lots of questions about you
smuggling weapons out
of the country
in crates that say "toys."
I'm gonna save y'all some time.
I I got one word for ya.
Protective custody.
Yeah, that's
that's two words,
but please, go ahead.
The folks that paid
for those guns?
They already sent the guy
to bust my fingers
just 'cause
I hung on to a few keepsakes.
Keepsakes? As in, you were
skimming weapons
off the shipment?
I don't even want
to think about
what they'll do to me
for losing the whole bunch.
Let me ask you something.
Guy that did that to your hand,
what was his name?
Yeah. I just know him
as Mr. Augustine.
Never got a first name.
That's the guy
I was telling you about,
who tried to hire me.
And you're worried that
the group he works for,
-they'd be able to get to you
in prison.
-Like that.
Only the DA's office
can offer you a deal,
but I can tee it up for you,
assuming you tell us
what we want to know.
-Anything.
-Who are those
weapons going to?
[stammers]
A group called
Nan la Selle in Haiti.
Augustine works for 'em too.
I don't really follow politics,
but some kind of civil war
going on down there.
The Haitian government's
basically in collapse.
Armed gangs are fighting
for control of the country.
I assume Nan la Selle
is one of those gangs.
[R.J.] The charity.
It's basically a front
for shipping guns, right?
Couple of crates that go
out are filled with toys,
so they pass inspection.
Next couple of crates
that don't have
to pass inspection
are filled with assault rifles
and RPGs.
Where did all those
weapons come from?
Now, that part, you got
nothing on me. I bought 'em
all perfectly legal.
So you can turn around
and sell 'em to people
that can't buy 'em legal.
-Pretty sure
that part's a crime.
-Yeah.
Victor Ochoa. You heard of him?
Florida state senator?
Like I said,
I don't follow politics.
Well, he was murdered.
We're trying to figure out
who did it.
Were you you thinking
I'd know who did it?
'Cause if there's someone
you want me to say killed him,
just tell me the name.
I'll say whatever you want.
-Not really how we do things,
Doyle, but
-[sighs]
thanks.
["La Ultima Cumbia" playing]
[song continues]
Mr. Decker, perfect timing.
-For?
-Shrimp creole.
A family recipe.
I assume you prefer it
less spicy.
That's
thoughtful.
If I was here to kill you,
you'd already know it.
The knife is
is a trophy of peace.
Ah.
Please. Sit.
How can I refuse?
Thank you.
You've done an impressive job
investigating me.
I'm guessing you're here
because you heard
about Doyle Koven's arrest?
As a result of you looking
into me, obviously.
[chewing]
Don't worry. I'm not angry.
You did what I would have done.
-Viognier?
-No, thank you.
You're not convinced.
I saw what you did to Doyle,
and that was just for skimming.
You're worried that
for costing us
an entire shipment of weapons,
I do more than break fingers.
Doyle stole from us.
You have not.
However, you are supposed
to have been
looking for Mr. Ochoa's killer.
I have been.
And maybe I'm closer now
that I understand a few things.
Your employer, Nan la Selle,
they had Victor in their
pocket, didn't they?
They needed smuggled
American weapons
to fight their war,
and a well-greased state
senator could help keep
those weapons coming.
Say a bill was introduced
to tighten up the ports,
Victor would be in a position
to make sure that bill failed.
Now you see why
my employers need answers.
Suppose a rival group
was behind the murder
as part of a plan to cut off
our arms supply, hmm?
If that were the case,
we'd need to respond.
And what
if that wasn't the case?
What if the murder
was unrelated?
-Do I still break fingers?
-[scoffs]
Or do I do worse?
This would be at my discretion.
You won't be accepting
my offer, will you?
I can't just hand someone
over to you,
no matter what they did.
To be honest, I'm more insulted
you're not eating.
Oh.
[chuckles]
-It's actually very good.
[chuckles]
-Hmm.
Can I ask you a favor?
You decline my request
and then ask one of your own?
I still need to find
the real killer,
and that helps us both.
Proceed.
I have a feeling you have
someone inside
the investigation
[stammers] a task force
member, maybe.
You knew the gun
was hidden inside a vent.
That wasn't made public.
Now, I'm not asking for
your source, but if I'm right,
it-it sure would help a lot
to take a look
at that case file.
I'll see what I can do.
-Okay.
-[phone chimes]
[clicks tongue]
I have to make a call.
You, uh Well, uh, you just
make yourself at home.
Oh, before I forget,
I have to ask.
What's with the armadillo?
[Augustine] Ah.
A present for my daughter.
She's five.
So you break a few fingers,
you stop by the gift shop.
Just another business trip.
[line ringing]
Hey, I got your text.
I just heard you were shot
at today.
Technically, yes.
With a rocket launcher.
[chuckles] Well, it missed.
I've been thinking.
[stammers] I've been thinking
I can't do this anymore.
You can't do what anymore?
Any of it.
That's why I asked you
to call me back-- so I could
tell you I made a decision.
Okay.
I'm gonna call my lawyer
in the morning.
I'm gonna tell him
to take the deal I was offered.
[sighs]
-I told you not to come.
-Well, you said some
crazy things.
I'm here to make sure
you don't do crazy things.
Taking the deal
I was offered isn't crazy.
Actually, it is. You know why?
'Cause you're innocent.
-Am I?
-Yes, you are.
I may not have killed
my father,
but he is dead because of me.
I mean, after he threatened
to have you sent back
to prison, that was it.
I decided he was the one
who needed to go to prison.
What I didn't understand,
what I failed to understand,
is that he couldn't go
to prison,
because if he did,
it would make someone
else vulnerable.
Someone dangerous.
Someone with secrets
they knew he would spill.
-I never saw it coming.
-Emi, it's not--
I should've I should've
known how much danger
I was putting him in.
Victor made his own bed.
You know he did.
-What about you?
-I can--
What's gonna happen to you
that I don't see coming?
Nothing is gonna happen to us.
You were almost killed today.
If If you had died
[breathes shakily] or Mel,
that would've been on me too.
I would've had to live with it
for the rest of my life.
[sucks teeth] The case
they have against me,
it may be a frame,
but it's-it's a good one.
I fight it, I could go
to prison
for the rest of my life.
I take the deal,
I make things easier
on everyone, including myself.
Okay. What about the person
that actually
did kill your father?
They're still out there.
You do this, they go free.
They walk.
I'm making progress here.
I am. Something
is gonna shake loose.
It is. Just give me
one more day.
Don't call your lawyer
tomorrow.
Give me one more day.
[phone ringing]
I'm sorry. Yeah.
-[Catherine] Where are you?
-I'm with Emi. Everything okay?
[Catherine] It most definitely
is not.
Both of you need to come
to the house. Now.
Couple hours after we dropped
Doyle Koven in holding,
he asked to speak to the lead
in the Victor Ochoa case.
I had to pull in a huge favor
to get a copy of this.
Yes, sir,
a Beretta Px4 compact carry.
Small profile, reduced recoil.
Looks just like
the one I sold her.
[detective 1] Her being
Emilia Ochoa?
[Doyle] Yeah,
that was her name.
Mentioned her daddy was
some big-shot politician.
Victor Ochoa.
When we talked to this guy,
he'd never even
heard of Victor.
It gets worse.
-What did this woman look like?
-[Doyle] Pretty.
About your height.
Long brown hair,
big brown eyes.
[detective 2] We're gonna
show you some photos.
If you see the woman
you sold the gun to,
let us know.
[Doyle] That's her,
right there.
Lady like that,
she leaves an impression.
[detective 2]
When did you sell her the gun?
-I've never even seen
this guy before.
- [Doyle] Couple of years ago.
-I certainly never bought
a gun from him.
-We know.
She said there'd been
some break-ins in her building.
Made her nervous.
Said she wanted to be able
to defend herself.
[R.J.] So someone got to him
after he talked to us.
Yeah, he said he'd do
anything for a deal.
Obviously, somebody put him
in a position to get one,
coached him on what to say.
[Emi] No, not somebody.
I know who's framing me now.
Emi, what are you doing here?
Who let you in?
Oh, uh, your assistant was away
from his desk,
so we decided to make
ourselves at home.
Hi, I'm R.J. Decker.
Your office prosecuted me once,
but I don't believe
we've had the pleasure.
-Emi, what the hell is this?
-[exhales]
I heard a story yesterday.
A man named Doyle Koven told
the police I bought a gun
from him.
He said it was because
I was worried about
some break-ins
in my building two years ago.
[sighs] The part about me
buying a gun, that was a lie,
but the part about me
being worried about some
break-ins, that was true.
And I did go to see someone
about it.
Only it wasn't Doyle Koven.
It was you.
You said you would talk
to someone, get some more
patrol cars in the area.
But because I knew,
I-I was asking for
a special treatment,
I never shared my concerns
with anyone else.
Just you.
Did the break-ins stop?
I don't think I ever asked.
You told Doyle Koven
what to say.
Because you killed my father.
Emi, why would I do that?
Probably because
you're just as dirty as he was.
After all, he put you
in this office.
No way he does that
if he thought
you were above a bribe.
I recently found out
that one of the pockets
he was in
belonged to
a Haitian military group.
Nan la Selle.
You've heard of them.
I assume it's because
you're in their pocket too.
And knowing my father, he
he probably made
the introductions.
Told them it would be
a good idea
to have a DA on the payroll
in case one of their people
gets arrested.
Yeah, all this to say
we think you knew enough
of each other's dirty laundry
to assure mutual destruction.
The last time I saw Victor,
he reminded me you were
one of his oldest friends.
He called you to his house
that night, didn't he?
Pressured you
to drop the case against him.
But that put you
in a tough spot, didn't it?
Because if you didn't do
what he wanted, he would
have taken you down with him,
but letting him walk, that
would have been career suicide.
Case was too high-profile,
so you thought
of a third option.
You shot him.
Can you prove any of this?
Because if all you have
to suggest that I killed
Victor is a gun dealer
who knew a story I also knew,
well, there's a much
simpler explanation.
The gun dealer is telling
the truth, not to mention,
if I was in possession
of the murder weapon
this whole time,
why would I have waited so long
to frame you?
I have to say,
if your plan is to try
and sell any of this to a jury,
I like my odds.
You're both gonna get out
of here now,
before I add trespassing
to the charges against you.
Emi?
I told you I was willing
to plead this down.
Take the deal before
I change my mind.
["Shakedown" playing]
Hey, I don't know
if you saw my text.
Sofia's having dinner
at Charlotte's,
so I just dropped her off.
Oh.
-R.J. told you what happened?
-Oh, yeah.
The district attorney
of Fort Lauderdale
is a murderer,
and Emi is still
on the fast track to prison.
How was your day?
Compared to Emi's, a walk
in the park, but at least
her head's back in the game.
There's no way
she'll take the plea now.
Mm-mmm.
What am I smelling?
Oh, a frozen pizza.
I wasn't exactly
in the mood to cook.
How long have you
been heating it?
-[oven beeps]
-[both coughing, chuckling]
-Oh.
-I'll make some Bolognese.
-[Mel] Oh, God. Oh, God.
-[sighs]
Did someone from
the squad finally come through
and get you the case file?
No. R.J.'s new friend,
Augustine, the one who works
for the Haitian gang.
R.J. has a copy too.
What if he paid Lake a visit?
-Who?
-Augustine.
Maybe it puts the fear
of God in her, she confesses.
The way R.J. described him,
I don't think he's
in the "fear of God" business.
More like the meeting
God business.
We sic him on Lake,
we have no control
over how he handles her.
He could just make her
disappear. She doesn't show up
for work tomorrow.
And then Emi's still
on the hook for murder.
-Mm-hmm.
-Is there anything helpful
in there?
I mean, most of what's here
we already knew.
The only exception is this.
Forensics found
some weird residue on the gun.
Lake did a good job
cleaning it.
There were no prints, no DNA,
but I guess she missed
some gunk in the crevices.
"Acrylic, sand, blue pigment."
Task force hasn't
identified it yet,
but they know it's not
from Victor's
house, not from Emi's condo.
But I'm wondering
if it could help us
track where the gun has been.
Do you remember
when the HOA was talking about
putting a pickleball court in
up the street?
[scoffs] Of course I do, babe.
I did a deep dive,
wanted to make sure
the materials they were using
weren't toxic.
Respectfully, the hell does
it have to do with anything?
I'll give you three hints:
acrylic, sand, blue pigment.
The blue residue
the task force found,
chemical makeup is the same
-as the stuff in that bucket.
-Okay.
So it makes up the playing
surface on a pickleball court.
Me and Cath are HOA.
They wouldn't sign off
on one going up
in our neighborhood,
not because the chemicals
were bad, but the noise.
Other communities, they were
tearing themselves apart
over pickleball.
It's the racquets.
They don't have strings.
-Hit a ball with one
-You get a pop.
-A loud one, over and over
and over.
-Mm-hmm.
People who live near courts,
they get angry.
And sometimes,
they get violent.
Okay, so what's the theory?
The same gun that was used
to kill Victor was used
in some pickleball fight?
Okay. Here.
Multiple incidents
the past year
of people vandalizing courts.
Mm-hmm.
Not seeing any mention of guns.
No, but look at this one.
What if the gun was never
on a pickleball court?
What if it was
in a pickleball court?
[sighs]
Now, it's not that I don't
appreciate the police coming
to take another look,
especially not
with such a handsome officer.
He's not police.
-He's still handsome.
-You're very kind.
Like I said on the phone,
we decided not
to pursue charges.
Whichever one of our
residents is the vandal,we'll
just handle it internally.
Okay. Well,
the thing is, Pearl,
Detective Abreu and I,
we don't think
this is vandalism.
Other incidents, we saw people,
they splashed paint
on the courts,
others tore up the nets.
I mean, this, to me, looks like
someone took
a jackhammer to it.
Almost like someone was
trying to dig something up.
All right, say we're right,
and Lake did bury the gun here.
We don't find a way
to connect it to her,
it means nada.
[shutter clicking]
Think I just did. Hey, Pearl?
Yes, gorgeous?
The cart there, that's
the community logo on it?
-That's us, Coconut Harbor.
-Coconut Harbor.
-And that's on all the carts?
-Yes.
Okay, this thing
you're obviously onto
but not sharing with me,
you think it'll be enough
to convince a jury
Emi's innocent?
Definitely not.
But it's not a jury
I gotta convince.
Because we need to know that
Derek understands
the terms. And, um
I'll catch up with you later.
Detective Abreu, Mr. Decker.
Has Emi had a change of heart?
Now that you mention it,
she did seem
more cheerful today,
but I'm guessing
that's not what you meant.
Yeah, we were hoping to
have a little talk with you,
but we think this is one
you're gonna want
to have in private.
Please.
[R.J.] You know, you asked us
a good question the other day.
If you had the murder
weapon all along,
why'd you wait almost
three months
to use it to frame Emi?
My friends didn't have
an answer for you then,
but we think we do now.
It's because, originally,
you never planned
to frame anyone.
You were okay with
the murder going unsolved.
That's why you buried
a gun under a pickleball
court that was being built.
Took us a minute to figure out
why you picked that spot.
Then my handsome colleague here
remembered something.
[chuckles] Yeah,
when I was in your office
the other day,
I-I saw a photo of you
with an elderly couple.
Your parents, right?
Dominic and Roseanne Lake.
In the shot, there was a golf
cart with a logo for a seniors
living community on it.
-Coconut Harbor, yeah?
-[Mel] We were there
this morning.
We confirmed your parents
are residents.
They're the reason you knew
that pickleball court
was going up.
[R.J.] You know, I gotta give
credit where it's due.
Burying a gun under
all that, that was
it was a good plan.
I mean, good chance nobody
would have ever found it.
-If you just left it there.
-But you didn't.
Probably, if we had to guess,
because word reached you
that a representative
of a group that was bribing
you had come to town.
Mr. Augustine.
Suddenly it was dangerous
to leave Victor's murder
unsolved.
You need a patsy.
You needed Emi.
So you dug up the gun,
you planted it, you called
in the tip about it yourself.
Do you plan to take all
of this to court? Be my guest.
No, the last place
we'd take it
[chuckles] is court.
We'd take it to Mr. Augustine.
Or at least I would.
See, there are lines you
don't cross when you work
in the justice system.
News to you, I'm sure,
but I-I'm offering
you a chance to confess.
Because by the time Augustine
finds out you're the one
that killed Victor,
you'll already be
in protective custody.
Take the deal.
Take the deal
before I change my mind.
[Latin music playing]
Fort Lauderdale is reeling
tonight over reports that
District Attorney Janis Lake
has confessed to the murder
of State Senator Victor Ochoa.
The state senator's daughter,
Emilia Ochoa,
was arrested for the murder
earlier this week,
but with today's
stunning development,
all charges against Ms. Ochoa
have been dropped.
[sighs]
In other news, invasive
potatoes are wreaking havoc
-on plant life in the Orlando--
- Hold on, hold on, hold on,
hold on.
They never said your name.
Now, how in the hell
did they never say your name?
Well, considering I only got
a confession
by saying I'd give the DA up
to a Haitian military group,
probably for the best.
Reminds me. Your buddy
Augustine dropped something
off for you today.
Huh.
Now, if this is a threat
for turning the DA over
to the cops instead of him,
-don't tell me.
-Okay.
-Unless I'm being
threatened too.
-Right.
No, don't want to know.
You actually like this guy,
don't you?
Speaking of strange,
ineffable friendships.
Hey, all charges dropped.
Just heard it on the news.
Incredible.
[sighs] You say it like
you had nothing to do with it.
[R.J. chuckles]
Hey, come on.
-Thank you.
-Anytime, anytime.
Um
Can I talk to you for a second
outside, though?
This sounds serious.
Ah, well, I mean,
it kind of is. It's just
The other night,
you were saying
you blame yourself
for what happened to your dad.
And I-I was just kind
of hoping,
I mean, now that we know
who's really responsible,
that
That I'll cut myself
a little slack?
I mean, you know,
maybe this much.
I'll admit, knowing
the truth helps, but I
I I still have a lot
of work to do.
If you asked me 15 years ago
what I wanted to do
with my life,
I would have told you
I wanted to help people.
I'm just taking everything
that's happened to me
as a wake-up call.
I just need to, I don't know
try to find that version
of myself again.
Like a missing person's case.
-Right. Like a a missing
person's case.
-I mean
I mean, if only
I knew a good PI.
I'll have to check my calendar.
I'm very in demand these days.
Check it inside over a beer.
Let's do it. But honestly,
I don't think
you can afford me.
No, I'm serious.
My rates are going up.
-[Emi] You don't say.
-Oh, I do say.
["You Ain't Alone" playing]
You ain't alone ♪
Just let me be
Your ticket home ♪