Homicide: Life on the Street s04e19 Episode Script
Map of the Heart
Load it up.
Hold up.
- Let's go.
- OK.
Come on.
You don't love me As I know now Cos you left me Baby And I've got no place to go now No, no, no - When was the last time you had sex? - None of your business.
- You brought it up.
- I was askin' how your date went.
I don't think a three-week hiatus from carnal knowledge in the age of herpes, HIV and venereal warts is that abnormal.
- I don't know why you're defensive.
- I'm not defensive.
- Why don't you wanna talk about it? - I just don't.
- You're hidin' something.
- I ain't.
What's the deal? Muhammed Corson, 20-year-old street dealer, shot in the head.
- Witnesses? - Not likely.
You're seein' someone, aren't you? - What? - I'm talkin' to him.
- None of your business.
- None of my business? - I'm your partner.
Give it up.
- Nope.
I don't kiss and tell, babe.
- They didn't want drugs or money.
- Just his life.
About every full moon, some woman drops trou in front of me.
During the fire investigation, there was this Veronica Velez chick, and there was the hooker who did the naked water ballet.
If I try to romance a woman, I wake up with a pillow between my legs.
There's been another shooting reported in at Utah Place.
I'm workin' here.
Your lieutenant asked that you and Detective Lewis respond.
It's only four blocks away.
- Detectives, it's slippery in here.
- You spilt your coffee? No.
There are three victims shot in the head, blood everywhere.
One two, three.
Shot to the back of the head.
Black-wrapped grams.
Looks like these shootings are yours too.
Great.
With all this overtime, I'll never get schtupped.
- Mr Flemming? - Yeah.
- You live next door, right? - Yes.
- This way, please.
- We'll get you outta here in a minute.
The name of the family was Mathias? What was the family's name, sir? Calvin Mathias was the husband, Marta was the wife.
- Was this their son? - They killed Yancy, too.
You hear any shots last night or this mornin'? No.
- Any yelling or screaming? - No.
Nothing.
- You know what the Mathias family did? - Yeah, I know they dealt drugs.
- That didn't bother you? - It did.
If you're out of work, it's more of a sin to be on welfare than to deal drugs.
You just live a little longer.
- Where's Richelle? - Who? Richelle, their little eight-year-old.
- You sweep the place? - Yeah.
I mean Lewis, I've found her.
Hi.
It's OK, sweetheart.
Come here.
All the bad guys are gone.
Come here.
I got you.
Well, well, Kellerman.
Up to now there's been a whodunit here, a dunker there, but now you have got four.
Four drug-related deaths, no witnesses.
It looks like you'll pop the big-time detective cherry on this one.
Ask for as little help as possible.
If you close these cases, it's your glory alone, instead of looking like we bailed you out.
- If I screw it up? - We don't share the stink with you.
Good luck, Mike.
Kellerman? Yeah.
- It's pretty, isn't it? - What? How the board stands here.
A silent sentry to the dead and gone.
I love the way the red and black meld together in harmony, a haiku of colour and vengeance.
- It's pretty.
- Ah.
Uh-oh.
Look here.
You're upsettin' the balance.
You see, Mike, you need just a little red.
This is too much.
I'd do something about that.
Maybe some more black.
- I'm trying, Lieutenant.
- You're trying.
I love that.
That makes me happy, and you want to keep me happy.
- Talk to anybody in Narcotics? - No, not yet.
Not yet.
Not yet.
Keep me smilin', Kellerman.
I like potato chips.
Want some potato chips? Huh? No? Here you go.
Sorry, these are the best crayons I could find.
Is it OK if I asked you a few questions? - Why were you in the closet? - Mummy told me to hide.
- Hide from what? - The angry men.
You remember how many angry men there were? Did you see any of 'em? Remember how many voices you heard? - Did Mum or Dad say any names? - I just heard gunshots.
- Do you know what time that was? - Richelle.
Baby, I'm here.
Oh.
I'm Detective Kellerman.
This is my partner, Detective Lewis.
Meldrick Lewis.
Amy Jennings.
I'm Richelle's godmother.
- What happened? - You want some coffee? Here.
Come here, Richelle.
It's all right.
I'm gonna show you somethin'.
Come on.
Let me show you somethin'.
Come here.
Someone they knew, or were doin' business with, executed them.
God! - Poor, ignorant woman.
- Who's that? Marta Richelle's mother.
I used to be best friends with her.
Can you do me a favour, and write your address down for me? We'll keep an unmarked car outside your house.
Why? If whoever killed the parents realise they're missing a witness, they might come lookin' for her.
I'll make sure a squad car escorts you home today.
- Fine.
- Thanks.
Richelle, come on, honey.
Come on.
Let's go.
Can you give me a daytime number? Er Cheswolde High School.
I'm a teacher.
- Thanks.
- Thank you.
- You're a dog.
- What? - D-O-G.
Dog.
- What? Dog.
The body is not cold, and you're tryin' to make the godmother.
No, I'm not.
But she's not hard on the eye.
You got that right.
So where are we goin'? Narcotics, who'll give us the clues, so we can solve the case.
The Mathiases got some drain holes installed in their heads? That's cold.
The family was executed.
- You know Muhammed Corson? - Yeah.
Why? He was killed the same mornin'.
Guess we won't be botherin' him tonight.
- What weapon was used? - .
44 Magnum.
Grams wrapped in black magazine grade paper? Bodies together? Mouths taped with silver duct? Uh-huh.
- Drack.
- Drack? You're lookin' for Alonso Fortunado.
His street name is "Drack".
Used to be a track star.
He runs dope out of a tavern called Bar None on Ponca Street.
The Rat Fisher is about to reel in his nest egg.
- Who's the Rat Fisher? - That afterbirth there.
He's trying to buy a key, and make $50,000 on his life savings.
Beats waitin' to hit the Lotto.
- Let's cornhole this puppy.
- Let's get him! Damn! Damn.
Urgh! That is why you should just say no to drugs.
Let's see if Drack's at Bar None.
You burned me out But I'm back at your door Like Joan of Arc Coming back for more I nearly died I nearly died We need backup down here, please.
Face the bar! - Where did you get the grams? - I don't know.
- Know Drack? - I don't know nobody.
- What are you? A monk? - I dunno.
Start knowing somethin', cos I got you holdin' a half ounce.
I dunno nothin'.
I gotta sleep.
Please, let me sleep.
- Where did you buy your dope? - In the bathroom.
- You buy it from Drack? - Let me close my eyes.
No.
Don't go to sleep on me.
Who did you buy your dope from? Was it Drack? Dutton, throw some water on him.
- You get anythin'? - No.
I keep wakin' him up.
He keeps fallin' asleep.
He mumbled somethin' about a club Drack hangs out in.
Let's check that out.
These people have nice rides.
It don't seem right.
Huh? No one ever said the good fight paid well.
You ever been tempted? - Never.
- So you know what I'm talkin' about? Any cop would know.
You walk into a crib.
You see a stack of green sittin' there, nobody lookin'.
- You ever do it? - No.
- Could you? - I can understand how some poor bastard in blue might be tempted.
There's a lot of money to be had.
If I ever see you do it, I'll shoot you in the nads.
Bet.
Hey, he don't look like no bloodthirsty dope dealer.
- Black duster, mountain boots.
- Like a walkin' rock video.
Hey, Drack! Yo, what's up? You Alonso Fortunado? - How much time I got to answer? - We just wanna chat.
I can talk here, y'all.
We got a boss who does things by the book.
Give us a little of your time.
Damn, fellas.
I got a date inside all lathered up for me.
She'll wait.
Why don't both of you come inside, relax? I'll buy you both a doughnut and a beer.
I'm losin' my sense of humour.
Little early in the relationship for that, don't you think? What we got on the fearsome Dracula? Nothin'.
Not even a traffic ticket.
- Maybe we got the wrong guy.
- Told you.
You distribute narcotics and haven't been caught? - You smart or lucky? - Both.
Not enough of either.
- You went to Lake Clifton High? - Yeah.
Me, too.
I grew up in Lafayette Court.
You're lucky to be sittin' there then, huh? - I was class of 1980.
And you? - '88.
'88 You have, er Mrs teague for Civics class? - We called her "the Babe".
- Uh-huh.
- Was she good-lookin'? - Hell, no.
She swung a ruler like she was the Sultan of Swat.
She was a good teacher.
Kept your attention.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You graduate? - 3.
1.
- 3.
1? Why you didn't try to go to college? A fertile mind, like you've got.
- I tried to get a scholarship.
- Dope money too good? - No grey areas with you, is there? - You sell dope, Alonso? - What y'all make a year? - None of your business.
- $50,000? $60,000 with overtime? - With lots of overtime.
W Wait a second.
That's your excuse? - An honest living doesn't suit you? - It's about havin' choices.
Either go to college, or deal drugs? Ever worked a 12-hour shift and not made the rent? Come sit over here.
Try on these shoes.
I walked out the projects in my shoes.
- Then you should walk back.
- Say what? What? You should show You're an example to the kids, man.
that's beautiful.
- Do you know the Mathias family? - Yeah.
- Muhammed Corson? Know him? - Yeah, I knew him.
You should be usin' the past tense.
They're dead.
Where were you late last night, early this morning, huh? - In bed.
- Alone? I'm never in bed alone.
Are you? You were gettin' piped when they got whacked? - Yeah.
- You can prove that? Come check my sheets.
How much did the Mathiases and Corson make sellin' your dope? I answer that, I might incriminate myself.
- Had no bone to pick? - No.
- And nobody ever sold you short? - Nah.
- Who killed them? - Ain't me.
You used to kill, though, right? - I never taked a life.
- Give us more than this.
- I ain't got more to give.
- Well, you know what? It's late, so why don't we put Mr Fortunado up for the night? Then we can start tomorrow.
Would you like a smoking or a non-smoking cell? - Check out Mahoney.
- Ma who? - Luther Mahoney.
- Who that? A very low-key, proper dude.
He actually finished college.
- Was he killin' your dealers? - Ask him.
- You cross him? - Ask him.
So you're a misunderstood drug dealer.
Is that it? Dope and gettin' high are as American as apple pie.
You see them blimps flyin' over Camden Yards? They ain't just sellin' fruit juice, they're sellin' high.
It might just be beer, but it's a high.
Get out.
Damn.
That's a damn shame.
It's a waste.
- He chose that life.
- Nah, Mikey.
People like him go in that direction, they don't necessarily know that's what's gonna happen to 'em.
Anybody could make a bad decision.
Even you.
Look at your first marriage.
He keeps making them every single day.
That's the waste.
You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'? Huh? No.
Mikey, we got our own drug war on our own streets.
Don't you people recycle? No, no, no You don't love me As I know now What you want? - Who we got? - Forrest Pindell.
That's the cat you rousted from that bar the other day.
He looks different without a face.
Gee's here to offer support and wisdom.
- Got any advice? - Yeah.
He spits when he yells.
Just step back a bit.
What a beautiful day, huh? You smell that? - Yeah.
- Yeah, Gee.
Spring is just around the corner.
Life is renewed, reaffirmed.
We're pushin' ice cream up a hill with a stick on this one.
I have nothing but confidence in you and Detective Kellerman.
We got a street fight goin' on.
I could never live in California like my daughter.
No seasons.
I need seasons.
I need change.
That warm, happy feeling that arrives when the May sun touches your face, and tells you everything will be OK.
- You know that feelin', Mike? - Yeah.
Good! That's good.
I've never seen him that pissed off before.
I know.
What? - Where's Meldrick? - He's urinating.
- How's the multiple going? - It's goin' really well.
- You could use some advice.
- I've got everything under control.
- You've got five murders.
- I've still got an hour for lunch.
- It's just one case.
- What? Think of it as one case, instead of five murders.
- Six.
- What's this? was killed in Canton.
A gypsy trucker who drove from South Florida to the northeast.
He was hauling cocaine, about a 150 ki's.
He did this before, he owned an apartment building and a Grand Banks trawler.
Narcotics said the shipment belonged to Luther Mahoney.
You heard that name? This dealer named Drack we talked to mentioned him.
- Maybe Drack hijacked the load.
- No honour among drug dealers.
If somebody stole my drugs, I might get ornery.
It explains why Drack's dealers are gettin' whacked.
I'll see if the narcs have an address.
I've run across this Luther Mahoney once or twice.
He's like Kevlar.
Nothing ever gets to him.
Thanks.
Don't let this get you down, but drug killings only have a 20% success rate of conviction.
Er - Detective Kellerman? - Hey, how you doin'? - Good.
You need a spot? - No, thanks.
- You work out? - No.
My brothers did, though.
They were always around the house flexing and grunting and sweating on the furniture I bet my sister said the same thing about me.
How's Richelle? Sleep is hard to come by, but she's OK.
That's good.
- You gonna raise her? - I'm gonna try.
- Good.
She'll be in better hands.
- Thank you.
- You have kids? - No.
- You married? - I was.
- Me, too.
- Really? - How long you make it? - A year and a half.
You got me beat.
I made it 14 months.
- Dating again is fun, huh? - Ah! Tell me about it.
The thought of that first kiss with someone is terrifying, let alone sex.
I make an idiot of myself in front of a woman I like.
You aren't right now.
I'm a handful, anyway, or so I've been told.
She was wrong.
Who? Whoever told you that.
Hey, Kellerman! Excuse me.
- Meldrick, seen your partner? - Er yeah.
He's workin' out.
In a multiple homicide he finds time to pump? He says it relieves stress.
Watcha got there? - Luther Mahoney's address.
- We'll be on the road in a minute.
- Has he got somebody spottin' him? - He's cool.
- You feelin' better? - What? - Was it good? - Don't be a pig.
Me be a pig? Me? I wasn't closin' the deal on the squat rack.
It was the bench press, and nothin' happened.
You can tell me.
- Oh, there's nothing to tell.
- You're lyin'.
- You're jealous.
- I'm happy for you.
- I'm in love.
- Yeah, right.
I am.
She and her church are organising a peace vigil Friday night to stop the street violence.
She came to ask if one of us would help organise it, get a good showin' of cops.
That's an excellent idea.
The people you want to be there are the gang bangers doing the killin'.
- They don't RSVP to these events.
- I told her we'd be there.
You like her.
I must really like her.
My stomach's killin' me.
What a day.
A good place for a drug dealer to do business.
Why did you stop here? - Help you, fellas? - Kill anybody lately? - No.
- Then you can't help us.
- Luther Mahoney around? - Robbery? Vice? Narcotics? - Homicide, actually.
- I'll get him.
Boss, Homicide.
- Homicide? - Homicide.
- I'm Luther Mahoney.
- I'm Detective Kellerman.
Homicide, huh? The best of the best.
What can I do for you? Confess.
We just wanna ask you a couple of questions.
Let's go outside.
We got this new merry-go-round.
I wanna take a look at it.
Are you the coach? You manage this place? Yeah, I manage, run, own and finance it.
- Business that good? - Can't complain.
What exactly is your business? Guys, I need this runnin' before three.
The other night must have caused an interruption in the cash flow.
Pardon me? This truck loaded with fresh new kilos of coke with your name got ripped off.
You can't buy merry-go-rounds, if that keeps up.
- I dunno what you're talkin' about.
- Sure you do, Luther.
Dig deep.
Guys, I run a youth centre, a day-care.
I run a free kitchen.
I buy books for the school when the tax money won't cover it.
That's very impressive.
How do you do all of that? - I'm smart.
- How do you pay for that? I'm smart.
I'm taking care of my neighbourhood.
So the Mathiases must have lived in a different zip code.
Not to mention Muhammed Corson.
- The one without the face.
His name? - Pindell.
They worked for Drack.
Heard of him? Live by the dope, you die by the gun.
At least that little Mathias girl lived, though, right? - Did you kill 'em? - No, and I don't know who did.
You know somethin'? I believe you because you're too smart to have blood on your hands.
If you even hinted to anyone that you wanted them dead that's all I'll need to lock your ass away.
Where were you two nights ago, around about midnight? Chicago.
Is that you or me? Happy hunting, guys.
- About time.
Where you been? - Some of us got day jobs.
- What's your name? - Dean.
Dean Hoover.
They call me Deano Hoover.
- You want somethin', Deano? - No, just adrenaline, man.
I'm gonna help you out.
I was speeding yesterday, but I'm clean now.
Thank you.
- Let's hear it.
- I got brought in last night.
I was tryin' to buy this hooker when this cop comes and hauls me in.
You believe that? I'm waitin' to make my bail.
This brother next to me is jacked up on dope.
He's talking about ripping Drack's heart out and eating it.
He wants to eat this guy's friggin' heart! It's shocking.
Go on.
I ask him, "What's up with that heart-eating stuff?" He tells me how he'd left his sister's house, and saw Drack walking in.
- So? That's nothing.
- Yeah? Well, get this.
Drack was out of shape at his sister for shorting him money.
She liked to sniff herself.
- His name? - I'm gonna ask his name? Good point.
- I got the sister's name, though.
- What's that? Marta.
Marta Mathias.
- Open up.
- Where you goin'? W What about me? What about me? What about Deano, huh? What about my reward? What about droppin' my charges? Give me some cigarettes at least! I'm goin'! Jailhouse informants are one step up from sidewalk spit.
If Drack's cleaning house and these killings are related.
He did 'em all.
- You're goin' after him? - Yeah.
Frank and tim will cover the night club.
- We'll go to Drack's house, huh? - You guys want backup? We don't need QRt parade on this one.
Well, then be unreasonably cautious, huh? - Good work, Mike.
- Don't pat my back yet.
It'll jinx me.
Ever been high? Define your terms.
Stoned, wrecked, wasted or otherwise beside yourself as a result of chemical inebriation.
Er yes.
- What drug? - 'Shrooms.
- Timmy, you were a day tripper.
- No, no.
Just once when I was 16.
- Some friends and I went skiing.
- What was it like? Well, I cried for eight hours, and then ate 50 snowballs.
- Snowballs? - Yeah, yeah.
Cotton mouth was brutal.
I've never snorted, swallowed or injected a drug.
My system is pristine.
I've got nothing in common with any drug addict.
What do you take for a headache? - Aspirin.
- Aspirin.
Approved for over-the-counter use by the FDA, the Food and Drug Administration? Shut up.
- Why did you cry? - I was terrified.
You know, as the sky turned red and faces are coming out of the trees like Like out of, er"Wizard Of Oz.
" And then I had to remember how to breathe.
It was just awful.
Frank, is this some sort of smoking competition you're in? It helps me relax.
No.
You smoke because you're an addict.
- Yes, I'm a junkie, tim.
- No, you're no junkie.
You wouldn't kill anyone for cigarettes.
Wouldn't I? You tellin' me you never inhaled? You never inhaled? There's Drack.
Drack, could we talk with you? I got the back.
You gonna kill me? Huh? You gonna kill me? Answer me! Well, well, well, super cop.
Watcha gonna do now, huh? Watcha gonna beg for? Your life? Why you after me? Didn't you go see Luther? Why are you houndin' me for, huh? Talk to me! talk to me! - I was gonna arrest you.
- That's funny.
I got the gun.
I got your life in my hands.
Who's arresting who, you dumb mother? Who told you I was your man? You got clocked goin' into their place.
I did? You wanna know why? I was tellin' them to lock their doors.
Some crew had just ripped Luther off.
I knew he was comin' for me.
You're chasin' the wrong man, Einstein.
Mahoney's the angel of death.
Why couldn't you believe me? I'm tired of runnin', man.
I've been runnin' all my life.
I ain't gonna do it no more, y'all.
- Why did you pull the trigger? - You scared me.
- Is that a good feelin'? - No.
- You like that? - No.
Then, I proved my point.
You came to take my life, and now I'm gonna I'll give you back yours.
Take it.
I ain't innocent of a whole lot of things, y'all, but I ain't guilty of what you're after.
- He didn't slip out the back.
- Let's go.
- What happened to you? - I fell.
Well, you never know I'll call you right back.
What's up? - You two should meet.
- How's that? We busted this guy for beating a dealer half to death.
He was packin' a.
44 Magnum.
Is that a fact? Run it through Ballistics? Mmm.
Matched on every one.
Yeah, yeah.
I did them all, all right.
Just get me a lawyer.
Why did you do it? Unless you're from the Maryland Bar, I'm done talkin'.
- Do you know Luther Mahoney? - No.
I thought you said you were done talkin'.
- Let's go.
- thanks a lot, boys.
Merry Christmas! Hey, Gilligan! Gilligan! - Permission to come aboard? - Denied.
Damn, I can say you've looked better.
- You think? - I may have the cure for you.
Narcotics found the weapon that killed Corson and the Mathias family.
- Where? - They rousted some junkie with it.
So they ran a ballistics test.
Guess what? It matched.
- Your big case is down.
- It's not.
That junkie tried to set a record for killin' dealers.
- Mahoney set the guy up.
- Yeah, probably.
We could spend the rest of our life tryin' to prove that.
Mahoney comes out clean.
Oh, that pisses me off.
Yeah.
Things be that way sometime.
Let's go fight some more crime.
Get your ass up.
In this corner, representing the pride of the Baltimore City Police Department, Michael "I Can take A Whoppin"' Kellerman! You need a heating pad? Maybe some Bengay? - Just my space, thanks.
- OK.
Kellerman? There's something different about you.
I can't put my finger on Oh.
That's it.
- Black is beautiful, isn't it? - Yeah.
- Oh, thanks.
- Hey, look who it is.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- How you doin'? - Good.
What happened? Well, it's pretty ugly, isn't it? Yeah, er - Look, I was - this is Danny.
- Danny, this is Detective Kellerman.
- How you doin'? - How you doin'? - OK.
Yeah? Good.
Nice meetin' you.
Amazing grace How sweet the sound that saved A wretch like me I once was lost But now I'm found Was blind But now I see Give him room! Call an ambulance! Get your little girl outta here! Get her outta here! Call an ambulance! Hang on, man.
Hang on.
Call an ambulance! Hang on, man.
We got the shooter.
Two uniforms got him here.
He's dead.
What a waste.
And in these shattered arms You're still alive Could I be Walking higher?
Hold up.
- Let's go.
- OK.
Come on.
You don't love me As I know now Cos you left me Baby And I've got no place to go now No, no, no - When was the last time you had sex? - None of your business.
- You brought it up.
- I was askin' how your date went.
I don't think a three-week hiatus from carnal knowledge in the age of herpes, HIV and venereal warts is that abnormal.
- I don't know why you're defensive.
- I'm not defensive.
- Why don't you wanna talk about it? - I just don't.
- You're hidin' something.
- I ain't.
What's the deal? Muhammed Corson, 20-year-old street dealer, shot in the head.
- Witnesses? - Not likely.
You're seein' someone, aren't you? - What? - I'm talkin' to him.
- None of your business.
- None of my business? - I'm your partner.
Give it up.
- Nope.
I don't kiss and tell, babe.
- They didn't want drugs or money.
- Just his life.
About every full moon, some woman drops trou in front of me.
During the fire investigation, there was this Veronica Velez chick, and there was the hooker who did the naked water ballet.
If I try to romance a woman, I wake up with a pillow between my legs.
There's been another shooting reported in at Utah Place.
I'm workin' here.
Your lieutenant asked that you and Detective Lewis respond.
It's only four blocks away.
- Detectives, it's slippery in here.
- You spilt your coffee? No.
There are three victims shot in the head, blood everywhere.
One two, three.
Shot to the back of the head.
Black-wrapped grams.
Looks like these shootings are yours too.
Great.
With all this overtime, I'll never get schtupped.
- Mr Flemming? - Yeah.
- You live next door, right? - Yes.
- This way, please.
- We'll get you outta here in a minute.
The name of the family was Mathias? What was the family's name, sir? Calvin Mathias was the husband, Marta was the wife.
- Was this their son? - They killed Yancy, too.
You hear any shots last night or this mornin'? No.
- Any yelling or screaming? - No.
Nothing.
- You know what the Mathias family did? - Yeah, I know they dealt drugs.
- That didn't bother you? - It did.
If you're out of work, it's more of a sin to be on welfare than to deal drugs.
You just live a little longer.
- Where's Richelle? - Who? Richelle, their little eight-year-old.
- You sweep the place? - Yeah.
I mean Lewis, I've found her.
Hi.
It's OK, sweetheart.
Come here.
All the bad guys are gone.
Come here.
I got you.
Well, well, Kellerman.
Up to now there's been a whodunit here, a dunker there, but now you have got four.
Four drug-related deaths, no witnesses.
It looks like you'll pop the big-time detective cherry on this one.
Ask for as little help as possible.
If you close these cases, it's your glory alone, instead of looking like we bailed you out.
- If I screw it up? - We don't share the stink with you.
Good luck, Mike.
Kellerman? Yeah.
- It's pretty, isn't it? - What? How the board stands here.
A silent sentry to the dead and gone.
I love the way the red and black meld together in harmony, a haiku of colour and vengeance.
- It's pretty.
- Ah.
Uh-oh.
Look here.
You're upsettin' the balance.
You see, Mike, you need just a little red.
This is too much.
I'd do something about that.
Maybe some more black.
- I'm trying, Lieutenant.
- You're trying.
I love that.
That makes me happy, and you want to keep me happy.
- Talk to anybody in Narcotics? - No, not yet.
Not yet.
Not yet.
Keep me smilin', Kellerman.
I like potato chips.
Want some potato chips? Huh? No? Here you go.
Sorry, these are the best crayons I could find.
Is it OK if I asked you a few questions? - Why were you in the closet? - Mummy told me to hide.
- Hide from what? - The angry men.
You remember how many angry men there were? Did you see any of 'em? Remember how many voices you heard? - Did Mum or Dad say any names? - I just heard gunshots.
- Do you know what time that was? - Richelle.
Baby, I'm here.
Oh.
I'm Detective Kellerman.
This is my partner, Detective Lewis.
Meldrick Lewis.
Amy Jennings.
I'm Richelle's godmother.
- What happened? - You want some coffee? Here.
Come here, Richelle.
It's all right.
I'm gonna show you somethin'.
Come on.
Let me show you somethin'.
Come here.
Someone they knew, or were doin' business with, executed them.
God! - Poor, ignorant woman.
- Who's that? Marta Richelle's mother.
I used to be best friends with her.
Can you do me a favour, and write your address down for me? We'll keep an unmarked car outside your house.
Why? If whoever killed the parents realise they're missing a witness, they might come lookin' for her.
I'll make sure a squad car escorts you home today.
- Fine.
- Thanks.
Richelle, come on, honey.
Come on.
Let's go.
Can you give me a daytime number? Er Cheswolde High School.
I'm a teacher.
- Thanks.
- Thank you.
- You're a dog.
- What? - D-O-G.
Dog.
- What? Dog.
The body is not cold, and you're tryin' to make the godmother.
No, I'm not.
But she's not hard on the eye.
You got that right.
So where are we goin'? Narcotics, who'll give us the clues, so we can solve the case.
The Mathiases got some drain holes installed in their heads? That's cold.
The family was executed.
- You know Muhammed Corson? - Yeah.
Why? He was killed the same mornin'.
Guess we won't be botherin' him tonight.
- What weapon was used? - .
44 Magnum.
Grams wrapped in black magazine grade paper? Bodies together? Mouths taped with silver duct? Uh-huh.
- Drack.
- Drack? You're lookin' for Alonso Fortunado.
His street name is "Drack".
Used to be a track star.
He runs dope out of a tavern called Bar None on Ponca Street.
The Rat Fisher is about to reel in his nest egg.
- Who's the Rat Fisher? - That afterbirth there.
He's trying to buy a key, and make $50,000 on his life savings.
Beats waitin' to hit the Lotto.
- Let's cornhole this puppy.
- Let's get him! Damn! Damn.
Urgh! That is why you should just say no to drugs.
Let's see if Drack's at Bar None.
You burned me out But I'm back at your door Like Joan of Arc Coming back for more I nearly died I nearly died We need backup down here, please.
Face the bar! - Where did you get the grams? - I don't know.
- Know Drack? - I don't know nobody.
- What are you? A monk? - I dunno.
Start knowing somethin', cos I got you holdin' a half ounce.
I dunno nothin'.
I gotta sleep.
Please, let me sleep.
- Where did you buy your dope? - In the bathroom.
- You buy it from Drack? - Let me close my eyes.
No.
Don't go to sleep on me.
Who did you buy your dope from? Was it Drack? Dutton, throw some water on him.
- You get anythin'? - No.
I keep wakin' him up.
He keeps fallin' asleep.
He mumbled somethin' about a club Drack hangs out in.
Let's check that out.
These people have nice rides.
It don't seem right.
Huh? No one ever said the good fight paid well.
You ever been tempted? - Never.
- So you know what I'm talkin' about? Any cop would know.
You walk into a crib.
You see a stack of green sittin' there, nobody lookin'.
- You ever do it? - No.
- Could you? - I can understand how some poor bastard in blue might be tempted.
There's a lot of money to be had.
If I ever see you do it, I'll shoot you in the nads.
Bet.
Hey, he don't look like no bloodthirsty dope dealer.
- Black duster, mountain boots.
- Like a walkin' rock video.
Hey, Drack! Yo, what's up? You Alonso Fortunado? - How much time I got to answer? - We just wanna chat.
I can talk here, y'all.
We got a boss who does things by the book.
Give us a little of your time.
Damn, fellas.
I got a date inside all lathered up for me.
She'll wait.
Why don't both of you come inside, relax? I'll buy you both a doughnut and a beer.
I'm losin' my sense of humour.
Little early in the relationship for that, don't you think? What we got on the fearsome Dracula? Nothin'.
Not even a traffic ticket.
- Maybe we got the wrong guy.
- Told you.
You distribute narcotics and haven't been caught? - You smart or lucky? - Both.
Not enough of either.
- You went to Lake Clifton High? - Yeah.
Me, too.
I grew up in Lafayette Court.
You're lucky to be sittin' there then, huh? - I was class of 1980.
And you? - '88.
'88 You have, er Mrs teague for Civics class? - We called her "the Babe".
- Uh-huh.
- Was she good-lookin'? - Hell, no.
She swung a ruler like she was the Sultan of Swat.
She was a good teacher.
Kept your attention.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You graduate? - 3.
1.
- 3.
1? Why you didn't try to go to college? A fertile mind, like you've got.
- I tried to get a scholarship.
- Dope money too good? - No grey areas with you, is there? - You sell dope, Alonso? - What y'all make a year? - None of your business.
- $50,000? $60,000 with overtime? - With lots of overtime.
W Wait a second.
That's your excuse? - An honest living doesn't suit you? - It's about havin' choices.
Either go to college, or deal drugs? Ever worked a 12-hour shift and not made the rent? Come sit over here.
Try on these shoes.
I walked out the projects in my shoes.
- Then you should walk back.
- Say what? What? You should show You're an example to the kids, man.
that's beautiful.
- Do you know the Mathias family? - Yeah.
- Muhammed Corson? Know him? - Yeah, I knew him.
You should be usin' the past tense.
They're dead.
Where were you late last night, early this morning, huh? - In bed.
- Alone? I'm never in bed alone.
Are you? You were gettin' piped when they got whacked? - Yeah.
- You can prove that? Come check my sheets.
How much did the Mathiases and Corson make sellin' your dope? I answer that, I might incriminate myself.
- Had no bone to pick? - No.
- And nobody ever sold you short? - Nah.
- Who killed them? - Ain't me.
You used to kill, though, right? - I never taked a life.
- Give us more than this.
- I ain't got more to give.
- Well, you know what? It's late, so why don't we put Mr Fortunado up for the night? Then we can start tomorrow.
Would you like a smoking or a non-smoking cell? - Check out Mahoney.
- Ma who? - Luther Mahoney.
- Who that? A very low-key, proper dude.
He actually finished college.
- Was he killin' your dealers? - Ask him.
- You cross him? - Ask him.
So you're a misunderstood drug dealer.
Is that it? Dope and gettin' high are as American as apple pie.
You see them blimps flyin' over Camden Yards? They ain't just sellin' fruit juice, they're sellin' high.
It might just be beer, but it's a high.
Get out.
Damn.
That's a damn shame.
It's a waste.
- He chose that life.
- Nah, Mikey.
People like him go in that direction, they don't necessarily know that's what's gonna happen to 'em.
Anybody could make a bad decision.
Even you.
Look at your first marriage.
He keeps making them every single day.
That's the waste.
You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'? Huh? No.
Mikey, we got our own drug war on our own streets.
Don't you people recycle? No, no, no You don't love me As I know now What you want? - Who we got? - Forrest Pindell.
That's the cat you rousted from that bar the other day.
He looks different without a face.
Gee's here to offer support and wisdom.
- Got any advice? - Yeah.
He spits when he yells.
Just step back a bit.
What a beautiful day, huh? You smell that? - Yeah.
- Yeah, Gee.
Spring is just around the corner.
Life is renewed, reaffirmed.
We're pushin' ice cream up a hill with a stick on this one.
I have nothing but confidence in you and Detective Kellerman.
We got a street fight goin' on.
I could never live in California like my daughter.
No seasons.
I need seasons.
I need change.
That warm, happy feeling that arrives when the May sun touches your face, and tells you everything will be OK.
- You know that feelin', Mike? - Yeah.
Good! That's good.
I've never seen him that pissed off before.
I know.
What? - Where's Meldrick? - He's urinating.
- How's the multiple going? - It's goin' really well.
- You could use some advice.
- I've got everything under control.
- You've got five murders.
- I've still got an hour for lunch.
- It's just one case.
- What? Think of it as one case, instead of five murders.
- Six.
- What's this? was killed in Canton.
A gypsy trucker who drove from South Florida to the northeast.
He was hauling cocaine, about a 150 ki's.
He did this before, he owned an apartment building and a Grand Banks trawler.
Narcotics said the shipment belonged to Luther Mahoney.
You heard that name? This dealer named Drack we talked to mentioned him.
- Maybe Drack hijacked the load.
- No honour among drug dealers.
If somebody stole my drugs, I might get ornery.
It explains why Drack's dealers are gettin' whacked.
I'll see if the narcs have an address.
I've run across this Luther Mahoney once or twice.
He's like Kevlar.
Nothing ever gets to him.
Thanks.
Don't let this get you down, but drug killings only have a 20% success rate of conviction.
Er - Detective Kellerman? - Hey, how you doin'? - Good.
You need a spot? - No, thanks.
- You work out? - No.
My brothers did, though.
They were always around the house flexing and grunting and sweating on the furniture I bet my sister said the same thing about me.
How's Richelle? Sleep is hard to come by, but she's OK.
That's good.
- You gonna raise her? - I'm gonna try.
- Good.
She'll be in better hands.
- Thank you.
- You have kids? - No.
- You married? - I was.
- Me, too.
- Really? - How long you make it? - A year and a half.
You got me beat.
I made it 14 months.
- Dating again is fun, huh? - Ah! Tell me about it.
The thought of that first kiss with someone is terrifying, let alone sex.
I make an idiot of myself in front of a woman I like.
You aren't right now.
I'm a handful, anyway, or so I've been told.
She was wrong.
Who? Whoever told you that.
Hey, Kellerman! Excuse me.
- Meldrick, seen your partner? - Er yeah.
He's workin' out.
In a multiple homicide he finds time to pump? He says it relieves stress.
Watcha got there? - Luther Mahoney's address.
- We'll be on the road in a minute.
- Has he got somebody spottin' him? - He's cool.
- You feelin' better? - What? - Was it good? - Don't be a pig.
Me be a pig? Me? I wasn't closin' the deal on the squat rack.
It was the bench press, and nothin' happened.
You can tell me.
- Oh, there's nothing to tell.
- You're lyin'.
- You're jealous.
- I'm happy for you.
- I'm in love.
- Yeah, right.
I am.
She and her church are organising a peace vigil Friday night to stop the street violence.
She came to ask if one of us would help organise it, get a good showin' of cops.
That's an excellent idea.
The people you want to be there are the gang bangers doing the killin'.
- They don't RSVP to these events.
- I told her we'd be there.
You like her.
I must really like her.
My stomach's killin' me.
What a day.
A good place for a drug dealer to do business.
Why did you stop here? - Help you, fellas? - Kill anybody lately? - No.
- Then you can't help us.
- Luther Mahoney around? - Robbery? Vice? Narcotics? - Homicide, actually.
- I'll get him.
Boss, Homicide.
- Homicide? - Homicide.
- I'm Luther Mahoney.
- I'm Detective Kellerman.
Homicide, huh? The best of the best.
What can I do for you? Confess.
We just wanna ask you a couple of questions.
Let's go outside.
We got this new merry-go-round.
I wanna take a look at it.
Are you the coach? You manage this place? Yeah, I manage, run, own and finance it.
- Business that good? - Can't complain.
What exactly is your business? Guys, I need this runnin' before three.
The other night must have caused an interruption in the cash flow.
Pardon me? This truck loaded with fresh new kilos of coke with your name got ripped off.
You can't buy merry-go-rounds, if that keeps up.
- I dunno what you're talkin' about.
- Sure you do, Luther.
Dig deep.
Guys, I run a youth centre, a day-care.
I run a free kitchen.
I buy books for the school when the tax money won't cover it.
That's very impressive.
How do you do all of that? - I'm smart.
- How do you pay for that? I'm smart.
I'm taking care of my neighbourhood.
So the Mathiases must have lived in a different zip code.
Not to mention Muhammed Corson.
- The one without the face.
His name? - Pindell.
They worked for Drack.
Heard of him? Live by the dope, you die by the gun.
At least that little Mathias girl lived, though, right? - Did you kill 'em? - No, and I don't know who did.
You know somethin'? I believe you because you're too smart to have blood on your hands.
If you even hinted to anyone that you wanted them dead that's all I'll need to lock your ass away.
Where were you two nights ago, around about midnight? Chicago.
Is that you or me? Happy hunting, guys.
- About time.
Where you been? - Some of us got day jobs.
- What's your name? - Dean.
Dean Hoover.
They call me Deano Hoover.
- You want somethin', Deano? - No, just adrenaline, man.
I'm gonna help you out.
I was speeding yesterday, but I'm clean now.
Thank you.
- Let's hear it.
- I got brought in last night.
I was tryin' to buy this hooker when this cop comes and hauls me in.
You believe that? I'm waitin' to make my bail.
This brother next to me is jacked up on dope.
He's talking about ripping Drack's heart out and eating it.
He wants to eat this guy's friggin' heart! It's shocking.
Go on.
I ask him, "What's up with that heart-eating stuff?" He tells me how he'd left his sister's house, and saw Drack walking in.
- So? That's nothing.
- Yeah? Well, get this.
Drack was out of shape at his sister for shorting him money.
She liked to sniff herself.
- His name? - I'm gonna ask his name? Good point.
- I got the sister's name, though.
- What's that? Marta.
Marta Mathias.
- Open up.
- Where you goin'? W What about me? What about me? What about Deano, huh? What about my reward? What about droppin' my charges? Give me some cigarettes at least! I'm goin'! Jailhouse informants are one step up from sidewalk spit.
If Drack's cleaning house and these killings are related.
He did 'em all.
- You're goin' after him? - Yeah.
Frank and tim will cover the night club.
- We'll go to Drack's house, huh? - You guys want backup? We don't need QRt parade on this one.
Well, then be unreasonably cautious, huh? - Good work, Mike.
- Don't pat my back yet.
It'll jinx me.
Ever been high? Define your terms.
Stoned, wrecked, wasted or otherwise beside yourself as a result of chemical inebriation.
Er yes.
- What drug? - 'Shrooms.
- Timmy, you were a day tripper.
- No, no.
Just once when I was 16.
- Some friends and I went skiing.
- What was it like? Well, I cried for eight hours, and then ate 50 snowballs.
- Snowballs? - Yeah, yeah.
Cotton mouth was brutal.
I've never snorted, swallowed or injected a drug.
My system is pristine.
I've got nothing in common with any drug addict.
What do you take for a headache? - Aspirin.
- Aspirin.
Approved for over-the-counter use by the FDA, the Food and Drug Administration? Shut up.
- Why did you cry? - I was terrified.
You know, as the sky turned red and faces are coming out of the trees like Like out of, er"Wizard Of Oz.
" And then I had to remember how to breathe.
It was just awful.
Frank, is this some sort of smoking competition you're in? It helps me relax.
No.
You smoke because you're an addict.
- Yes, I'm a junkie, tim.
- No, you're no junkie.
You wouldn't kill anyone for cigarettes.
Wouldn't I? You tellin' me you never inhaled? You never inhaled? There's Drack.
Drack, could we talk with you? I got the back.
You gonna kill me? Huh? You gonna kill me? Answer me! Well, well, well, super cop.
Watcha gonna do now, huh? Watcha gonna beg for? Your life? Why you after me? Didn't you go see Luther? Why are you houndin' me for, huh? Talk to me! talk to me! - I was gonna arrest you.
- That's funny.
I got the gun.
I got your life in my hands.
Who's arresting who, you dumb mother? Who told you I was your man? You got clocked goin' into their place.
I did? You wanna know why? I was tellin' them to lock their doors.
Some crew had just ripped Luther off.
I knew he was comin' for me.
You're chasin' the wrong man, Einstein.
Mahoney's the angel of death.
Why couldn't you believe me? I'm tired of runnin', man.
I've been runnin' all my life.
I ain't gonna do it no more, y'all.
- Why did you pull the trigger? - You scared me.
- Is that a good feelin'? - No.
- You like that? - No.
Then, I proved my point.
You came to take my life, and now I'm gonna I'll give you back yours.
Take it.
I ain't innocent of a whole lot of things, y'all, but I ain't guilty of what you're after.
- He didn't slip out the back.
- Let's go.
- What happened to you? - I fell.
Well, you never know I'll call you right back.
What's up? - You two should meet.
- How's that? We busted this guy for beating a dealer half to death.
He was packin' a.
44 Magnum.
Is that a fact? Run it through Ballistics? Mmm.
Matched on every one.
Yeah, yeah.
I did them all, all right.
Just get me a lawyer.
Why did you do it? Unless you're from the Maryland Bar, I'm done talkin'.
- Do you know Luther Mahoney? - No.
I thought you said you were done talkin'.
- Let's go.
- thanks a lot, boys.
Merry Christmas! Hey, Gilligan! Gilligan! - Permission to come aboard? - Denied.
Damn, I can say you've looked better.
- You think? - I may have the cure for you.
Narcotics found the weapon that killed Corson and the Mathias family.
- Where? - They rousted some junkie with it.
So they ran a ballistics test.
Guess what? It matched.
- Your big case is down.
- It's not.
That junkie tried to set a record for killin' dealers.
- Mahoney set the guy up.
- Yeah, probably.
We could spend the rest of our life tryin' to prove that.
Mahoney comes out clean.
Oh, that pisses me off.
Yeah.
Things be that way sometime.
Let's go fight some more crime.
Get your ass up.
In this corner, representing the pride of the Baltimore City Police Department, Michael "I Can take A Whoppin"' Kellerman! You need a heating pad? Maybe some Bengay? - Just my space, thanks.
- OK.
Kellerman? There's something different about you.
I can't put my finger on Oh.
That's it.
- Black is beautiful, isn't it? - Yeah.
- Oh, thanks.
- Hey, look who it is.
- Hi.
- Hi.
- How you doin'? - Good.
What happened? Well, it's pretty ugly, isn't it? Yeah, er - Look, I was - this is Danny.
- Danny, this is Detective Kellerman.
- How you doin'? - How you doin'? - OK.
Yeah? Good.
Nice meetin' you.
Amazing grace How sweet the sound that saved A wretch like me I once was lost But now I'm found Was blind But now I see Give him room! Call an ambulance! Get your little girl outta here! Get her outta here! Call an ambulance! Hang on, man.
Hang on.
Call an ambulance! Hang on, man.
We got the shooter.
Two uniforms got him here.
He's dead.
What a waste.
And in these shattered arms You're still alive Could I be Walking higher?