Profiler (1996) s01e21 Episode Script
Venom (1)
PROFILER 1X21: VENOM (1) Nothing but trash! Life don't hold no patience for bein' stupid.
Now, clean it up! You don't find clothes in books.
You don't find money in no books! All you get's a bunch of jackass about nothin' and that's just what you get in your head! Shut up! You just shut up! We know what's best.
You shut up! I can't stand seeing you hanky! Carter! You move yourself, now.
Move it! Keep movin'! It's all your fault 'cause that child ain't right in the damn head! My fault?! Automatic clutch.
Amazing what you get for a lousy 89 grand.
Detective Paul Isaacs, L.
A.
Sheriff's homicide.
You would be the feds from Atlanta.
I'm Bailey Malone.
This is Dr.
Sam Waters.
Dr.
Grace Alvarez.
Nice to meet you.
You, too.
We left the scene intact.
Let me give you the tour.
Time of death was about eight hours ago, judging from the body temp.
What do we know about him? Donald Haste.
Neighbor found him 'cause his dog was making a racket.
Some kind of computer programming genius, and he has some fancy patents worth a bundle.
How big a bundle? - DET.
PAUL ISAACS: He was trying to buy the Dodgers.
I guess that won't happen.
Notice the hemorrhaging in the eye.
An intriguing amount of lividity.
A dendrobatid toxin.
From what? I think from these.
Yeah.
I figure maybe they came up through the sewer pipe, like rats do.
It'd have to be a very long sewer pipe, like from here to South America.
They're from the rain forest.
Precisely.
And Los Angeles is a desert.
These little cuties crossed state lines.
That's why I called in you big guys.
Frogs don't sting and they don't bite.
No, but they carry an arbovirus infection, like hemorrhagic fever or dengue.
Bailey.
I think it's a variation of a kids' game called spill & spell.
Could be a chemical notation.
You think it's a signature? - SAM: Could be a clue.
It's complex, symbolic more elaborate than it has to be.
Someone took the effort to make sure that we would know that.
Beautiful, aren't they? We'll do the autopsy in the L.
A.
Morgue.
Sung, you'll have to maintain chain of evidence.
And we need to bring one of the frogs, too.
Take two.
They're small.
No puncture wounds or bite marks.
But the capillary damage deserves an Oscar.
He was dead in less than a minute.
The steam opened his pores.
Yeah.
It's supposed to be good for you.
Topical venom.
Went right through the skin.
Nature's wily, more so than people.
Mostly in L.
A.
, All I see are bullets and knives but this is real science.
What's the matter? Frances skipped out again.
Didn't come home last night.
- SAM: Boyfriend? I wish.
Definitely venom from the frogs.
Highly lethal.
We'd never suspect if we didn't know.
Damn things are so small.
- So are fleas.
- Plague gets you every time.
Ok.
Basically, this is the finished product.
This is what you get at the newsstand in the swimsuit issue, but it starts something like this.
Kind of like a before and after a little less perfect.
So Haste created software to electronically alter photographs.
Mm-hmm, for computerized mass publishing.
And there's easy stuff you can do, like change the background, add some clouds, change the color of her suit, glisten up her skin, and then, for the Guccioni crowd, voila! - Man-made.
And lucrative.
Yeah, but I don't think this is about money.
Haste was killed by means of nature pure, untouched.
Now, why would somebody go to all that trouble? Maybe somebody didn't like his work.
Or what symbolize.
- Haste didn't have any family.
He left his money to Stanford.
We're looking into partners, lovers you name it.
Keep looking.
Hey, man.
- The powers that be said you called.
What else did they say? Uh, just that it might be "interesting," was the word I think they used, if I got my butt down to Atlanta.
What's up? The ATF owes me some quid pro quos.
I wanna call one in.
Yeah? You know John Grant.
Sure.
He's a good man.
Bailed me out of a couple of tight situations, actually.
He quit the VCTF, went back to the Atlanta Police Department.
Why'd he quit? Personal.
I need a replacement.
You have the qualifications, you know how we work, and you get things done.
Whoa that's an amazing thought it would be a big-time change, wouldn't it, Bailey? It beats defusing bombs for a living.
Maybe.
Heh.
You know, Bailey, I'd have to think about that for a minute.
- We'll make it temporary.
- I'll work it out with the ATF.
Ok.
Well, uh, let me think about it, and, uh I'll get back to you.
Sure.
Amazing.
Bailey, if I say yes, do I have to get a haircut? Call it a trim.
We'll talk about the gum after you take the oath.
Ha! Right.
This is one of the little guys who make all the noise up in the canopy of the rain forest.
The indigenous people of Colombia call it a poison dart frog because they take its venom and put it on the tips of darts and arrows.
It's secreted from tiny glands in the skin of the frog.
So all you have to do is touch this thing and you get poisoned? It is the most lethal toxin found in any amphibian and most reptiles.
- - - It is deadlier than the bite of a king cobra.
You come in contact with it, and you're dead in less than ten seconds.
Grace, what about the dice? Pumiliotoxin "B.
" Venoms have an extremely complex molecular structure.
- Put together the right way, b-c19-h33-no3 is the poison dart frog's venom.
Most amphibians and reptiles are shaded for camouflage, but this little guy's colors say, "look at me.
Admire me.
I am beautiful, I'm unique, but I am a touch-me-not.
I am the deadliest of my kind.
" Haste created a process to alter natural beauty.
Maybe the killer's telling us that's why he was killed.
That's a long way to go.
- It's complex, like venom.
Mm-hmm.
Well, it's illegal for individuals to import dangerous animals.
I'll get George on a list of companies and medical labs who bring them in for research.
And the infectious disease agency, for any other incidents involving a poison dart frog.
My, my, my.
- Hey.
Hmm.
Hey.
How you doing? You tired? - I am totally exhausted.
- That's great.
That's normal.
Morgan says I'm starting to show.
Well, maybe with your clothes off.
No.
Maybe a little in your face.
It's pretty.
Yeah? Thanks.
- No, really.
- No, no.
- Sam, let's go.
Ok.
- Uh, I'll see you later, all right? Ok, hon.
Thanks.
- Don't you look at me! - Hands behind your back! Please, don't hurt me.
Shut up, trash! And don't be so stupid! I don't wanna hear you! Listen to me.
I killed someone in California.
Oh, my god.
I'm going to kill someone else.
Four hours from now! Can you remember that? In a Mercedes car in Savannah, Georgia and I'm going to do it with this.
- almost had a damn heart attack.
Oh, here.
These are those things that kids play with.
George, run every combination on these letters.
Last time there was chemical compound.
These dice don't have any numbers on 'em like the other ones.
Five dice.
We're talking a couple of hundred thousand combos.
Try venoms - the most deadly.
Better check Latin for species, too.
Took them two hours to bring Mr.
Frederick here from Jacksonville.
In thirty minutes, the four hours are up.
I never even saw her, but I just could swear that she was gonna kill me.
No.
That's not what it was about.
She wanted to use you.
She's taunting us.
It's a test of wits.
She values intelligence.
She has no patience for ignorance.
The real question is, why did she come to your house and choose you? How do you fit into her game? Look I'm just a normal guy not the smartest kid in class, not the dumbest kid.
Whatever game that lady's playing, I don't want any part of.
Ok.
Thanks for coming in, Mr.
Frederick.
- - You can take him home.
I got something.
I'm working against 2 databases here toxins and venomous animals.
A-t-r-a-X.
Atraxin, which is a protein, and atrax - Rubustrus.
Atrax rubustrus.
It's a venomous spider.
- Hello? - Good-bye.
- Hmm? - Aah! This is from a spider? A very aggressive one.
George said it leaves bite marks worse than most snakes.
It's called a funnel web.
It's from Australia.
Drop for drop, it's a thousand times more lethal than the black widow.
Hey.
Uh, her name is Marilyn Weathers, 38, C.
E.
O.
of a conglomerate called Faircott Corporation.
They're big in the soft drink and snack food business.
I'll have a complete list for you soon.
What about the phone call in or out? In, but it came from a pay phone.
Look for a connection between Faircott and Haste.
Maybe they knew each other.
Um, they found this on the console.
Pretty small.
Creepy, though.
Can you imagine? In your car.
Let Grace have fun with that.
Right.
She puts the spider in the car, maybe in the phone, then makes a call, makes sure it's agitated.
Where did she put the letters? Maybe she didn't.
No.
She's too specific, too precise.
Bailey, be careful.
May I? Roll 'em again.
Loaded.
It's another taunt her way of saying things are gonna come up the way she wants, no matter what.
- So, how'd it go? - Convenience store hit? Six witnesses six different versions of what happened, six different descriptions.
People witness a crime, sometimes they get confused.
You seen Bailey lately? I mean, since you left? No.
I've been watching that building over there.
Bunch of real wacko loons stolen goods, drugs, weapons.
I got an undercover inside.
So guess who's sleeping on the mattress next to his last night? Bailey Malone.
- The pride of his loins.
- His daughter? You ever meet her? Well, we're gonna crash that place tomorrow night, and I want you in.
If there's trouble we can both give Bailey the bad news.
Hey.
Take a picture of us your little helpers.
Here.
Come on, girls.
Here we go.
Ok ok.
On 3, you say "fromage.
" One, two, three - ALL: Fromage! Ah, magnifique! Oh, I got it.
What's with the camera? It's an old hobby I'm trying to revive.
Sort of an escape from dark corners.
Cool.
Chloe's medium rare, right? Yep.
You know, I think she loves you almost as much as she loves your burgers.
Good taste in burgers, good taste in men.
Little girls tend to think in simple terms, now, don't they? Yes, and then they grow up and get complicated.
Shut up! And sometimes they turn bad.
So what did, uh what did Bailey want the other day? He wanted me to replace John.
He didn't say anything about it? Yeah, he told me.
He, uh, didn't tell me when he was gonna talk to you, but he wanted to know what I thought.
What do you think? Well, what do you think? That I'll blow it off in a minute if it bothers you.
It doesn't bother me.
Then what? Well, come on.
You have two people who are involved, and they start working together And it turns out they can't handle it.
Well, maybe, yeah.
It's not like people haven't done it before.
- Yeah? And who would that be? Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn.
I haven't seen Darren Amber since art school in New York, which is eight years, and he is now this big shot on the gallery circuit.
He says he wants to put me on the map, whatever that means.
It means that a celebration is in order.
It's too bad we don't have any sugar cookies.
Hey, yes, we do! - We do? You're kidding me.
- Oh, my gosh.
I made the big ones for you.
Give one to your mama.
Mmm! Ok this is from hospital records in Arkansas, some place called Pea Ridge, not even a whistle stop.
- How long ago? - Ten years.
Couple of squatters.
Carter and Shirley Poole were found dead in their trailer.
There was no foul play, no theft, no sexual assault.
- - - Only trouble was the bodies were not discovered for six days.
Trailer was closed, no air conditioning.
They were pretty far gone.
What was the cause of death? The local county coroner freaked 'cause of possible disease.
You know, small town, they're not exactly forensic scientists, more concerned about public health, so he had the bodies cremated.
Well, that doesn't do us any good.
Nope, but he did take blood samples and he sent them to F.
I.
D.
A.
, and they had traces of b-c19-h33-no3.
Poison dart frog venom.
Yes.
The F.
I.
D.
A.
thought that the bodies were so degraded, they just wrote it off as an unreliable result.
Figures.
According to mother nature, there aren't supposed to be any poison dart frogs in Arkansas.
Ok.
I have these autopsy photos Shirley Poole and now, take a look her husband Carter.
The mailman Bert Frederick.
The mailman looks a lot like Carter Poole.
You're saying this guy has been dead for ten years? -Mmm-hmmm - Nathan, find Frederick.
- Get him back in here now.
Ok.
Now for the part I really don't like.
To tap into the F.
I.
D.
A files, you have to have an F.
B.
I.
Access code, right? The system keeps a record of anybody who logs on for security reasons.
Now when I accessed the Pea Ridge file a little while ago, I saw that somebody else had been in there before me, a couple of hours.
Take a look at the name under mine.
Jack.
How the hell does he fit into this? Nothing we know about this fits his profile.
Unless it just changed.
Maybe he's taken on a partner.
Maybe he got married.
Maybe he's a damn woman, too.
George, let's find out if the Pooles have any other family members.
Bailey, I found Bert Frederick.
Right in there, sir.
You must be Bailey Malone.
Yes, and you? Byron Jarvis, Mr.
Frederick's counsel.
What happened? A man identifying himself as an F.
B.
I.
Agent came to visit my client at his home.
He asked a few questions, he didn't like the answers, and he beat my client within an inch of his life.
- You say an F.
B.
I.
- Agent did this? Special F.
B.
I.
Agent Jack Trades from your office.
Look, anything further will be said in a court of law.
The guy who did this is an impostor.
He's a serial killer called "Jack of all Trades.
" He isn't from the F.
B.
I.
, and he sure as hell isn't from my office.
Perhaps you didn't understand me.
In court, Malone! Mr.
Jarvis.
What the hell is it, Sam? Reads the newspaper, taps into F.
I.
D.
A.
, almost kills Frederick.
What, is he trying to screw up the investigation? I don't know.
Jack considers himself the best, the ultimate taunter.
- - Maybe he doesn't like this lady's competition.
So why doesn't he just kill her? That may be the worst part.
He's already a step or two ahead.
My name is Darla Turner.
I was down at Hessie's this bar I go to.
I was just goin' to my car and I - I'm sorry.
I'm not used to talkin' to cops and F.
B.
I.
That's ok.
Most people don't have to, but you can really help us, Darla, so just take your time, ok? After she put that hood on my head, she said I was stupid, nothin' but a piece of trash.
I ain't but I know what it feels like to be told.
Then what, Darla? She said you all are stupid, too.
She called you the Federal Bureau of Idiots.
Said she was trying to play a game on you, only it was too hard, so to make it easy, she put those on my lap.
Did she say what they mean? It's like the answer to a puzzle.
It's the next person she's gonna kill, and she's gonna do it tomorrow at dawn, right in your own backyard.
Atlanta.
- It's not chemical.
- Could be initials.
Six combinations more, if it's just two initials and the third letter stands for something else.
We need to cross-reference by profession.
Glamour industry The photographers, models publishers.
Use your imagination.
Did you ever know some people named Carter and Shirley Poole? No.
You ever been to Arkansas? No.
Was I any help? - Yes, you were, a lot of help.
- They'll show you out, ok? Thanks.
I want twenty-four hour surveillance.
She sent us two look-alikes for a dead couple.
George, do we know about any other family yet? Nobody working for the sheriff was around back then.
I talked to the county coroner's office.
They had to dig out the Poole case file.
The man who did the blood work retired, but they should find him by tomorrow.
As soon as he turns up, we'll wanna be there.
There's one interesting angle.
There was a genealogy chart, standard for deaths by an unknown disease.
It lists a daughter, name and age unknown.
That's the killer.
She uses dice from a children's game, and she berates these people, like parents mistreating a child: "You're stupid.
You're a piece of trash.
" - Emotional abuse.
Yeah.
She didn't get hugs and kisses.
She was shut off, blindfolded.
- That's why she's using the hoods.
Sent into a dark room or a closet.
Like someone saying, "you don't count.
I don't wanna hear you.
" - Repressed intellect.
This woman is very brilliant, something that her parents weren't.
She's attacking the glamour industry false beauty.
- She has a problem with her appearance.
- Deformed? Disfigured? No.
I actually think she could be beautiful herself.
Maybe she thinks that's all people notice about her.
We've got about six hours till sunrise.
All right.
I'm Bailey Malone.
Christine Logan.
I left several messages then camped in the lobby then refused to leave.
Evidently, it's easier getting a meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The Joint Chiefs aren't as busy as I am.
I'm an investigator hired by the Faircott corporation to look into the death of Marilyn Weathers.
Your background check says I'm with the secret service the criminal side, not diplomatic protection.
Specialty in Forensic handwriting.
Care to sit down? Faircott's high-profile.
The idea that their C.
E.
O.
Was poisoned doesn't sit well in a company in the fast-food business.
Murder doesn't sit well with me in any business.
As a professional courtesy, I wanted you to know that I was on the case.
And I think that we can save duplicated efforts.
I was waiting for the bottom line.
All I want is access to your case file, however you feel comfortable.
Naturally, I'll share everything about the Faircott's employees.
As a professional courtesy, you can look but only from here.
Fair enough? Fair enough.
This is the Atlanta Police Department.
You will move toward the vehicle.
Your other hand! Now! - Come on.
Don't fight it.
- Where is she? Thanks.
Excuse me.
Frances? I'm John Grant.
I know your father.
You one of his storm troopers? - Well, I used to be.
- I work for Atlanta P.
D.
now.
Yeah, well, can you tell your honcho over there that I didn't do anything? That's kind of what they all say.
I don't do drugs, ok? I've never touched a gun in my life, and I didn't steal anything.
I mean, I was just hanging with these guys.
- I mean, is that some huge crime against humanity? If I get busted they're gonna send me back to Baltimore and I can't do that.
Please believe me.
Please, because nobody else does.
Give me a minute.
Lou.
What do you got on her? I'm working on it.
It's probably gonna be a long list.
Possession? Drugs? Guns? By association.
So she gets out before the 11:00 news, and you still have to do all the paperwork.
You got a point? - Let me take her home.
- Maybe in another life.
Oh, come on.
She's Bailey's daughter.
If she gets busted, youth authorities are gonna take her away from him.
You can't keep her.
Nobody wins.
- Let me take her.
Full responsibility.
I'll owe you one.
Bailey will owe you one.
Here's my home and work numbers and my add in case you need to tell the uniforms where to drop you off, or if you don't feel like coming back here.
- Here.
Take it.
Atlanta jail is not a nice place to spend the night.
Believe me, it could happen.
Hey, look I don't know what you've heard about me, but it doesn't sound good.
It's also not true.
So tell me what is true.
Well ahem my dad doesn't understand me.
I mean, how could he? We hardly know each other.
I mean, do you have any idea what that's like? It's tough on both sides.
Yeah.
Like, ever since I've been here, he treats me like I'm a marine and we're in boot camp.
I can't go out, I can't see my friends, can't even call my mother.
And every time I try to put on my music, he says, "everything after Mozart is redundant.
" Well, he might have a small point there.
Shut up.
I think he's scared of me emotionally.
Why don't you try talking to him, instead of running away? That's the problem.
He doesn't talk.
He commands.
And besides, he doesn't even listen.
You listen.
It's easier.
I don't know you.
And if you did, you wouldn't? - Oh heh heh.
I didn't say that.
- Well, good.
Ha ha! Where have you been? No hugs and kisses, daddy? Don't give me attitude, Frances.
Where have you been? I was with some friends.
Your so-called friends are all in jail.
I had nothing to do with that.
You're in for a dime, you're in for a dollar, especially with felons and dope dealers.
Why does it always have to be guilt by association? Why do you always have to associate with people who are guilty? Fine.
Then hold the cell next to Charlie Manson for me.
Is that it? That's where you're headed.
Thanks for bringing her home, John.
Listen, I I know this is none of my business, but I think you've got a serious problem with her.
Tell me something I don't already know.
She knows how to play it.
Somebody taught her good.
You need some help.
You need to find some way to get through to her.
- You had me scared, Frances.
- I didn't know where you were.
I know.
I guess, I, uh wasn't thinking.
Don't you think it's about time you started? Not for me.
For yourself.
Sancha W.
Gomez, S.
W.
G.
, Vice president of Rogers Media Resources.
They do millions of dollars a year in advertising with Faircott.
I figured there might be a progression from the man who created a way to make artificial beauty to the person who mass-produced it To the advertisers who sell the products it makes.
Well, is he home? It's ringing.
- bnKeep trying.
- Let's go.
Yeah.
Yeah, I want the complete blitz radio, tv Mr.
Gomez.
F.
B.
I.
- Just a minute.
- Mr.
Gomez.
F.
B.
I.
F.
B.
I.
? What's going on? - You may be in danger, sir.
- We need to talk to you.
Is this a joke or what? No, it's no joke.
Uh, Jerry, I got to get back to you.
No, no, no, no.
The F.
B.
I.
And a bunch of cops just busted my backyard.
I mean, it's the damnedest thing you ever ohh! Get the paramedics! They're some kind of sea snake, probably juveniles.
My guess is the chlorine got them.
"Robin"? She thinks we're slow.
We haven't figured out who she is, so she's going to tell us.
Why didn't Gomez know he'd been bitten? I don't know how sea snakes get the job done.
I have to get them back to the lab and take a look.
Sam.
Oh, thanks.
Yeah? I'd like you to meet Christine Logan.
Samantha Waters.
Christine's former secret service.
She's now working on the Marilyn Weathers murder case for Faircott.
The "Dear Congressman" case.
- Back in the middle ages, yes.
Ms.
Logan was one of the ones who helped bust that guy who was sending the letter bombs to the members of the House of Representatives.
The guy from Minnesota.
You got the similarities in the handwriting that ultimately led to him getting caught.
That was very nice work.
Thank you.
- Excuse me.
- Uh, so how did you find out about this? I know a lot of cops.
Any thoughts? Our killer puts on quite a show.
But when they're this flashy, doesn't it usually mean they want to get caught? I don't think so.
Not this time.
Everything she does is guaranteed not to let us stop her.
She gets more clever with each one.
Well, she's following a Q.
D.
routine once daily.
- It's called pelamis platurus "little white sea snake" to you and me.
And you don't want them in your swimming pool.
Why didn't Gomez feel anything? Well, a combination of factors: The teeth are tiny, he was actively exercising, and he obviously never saw them.
They produce a neurotoxin.
First it paralyzes, then the paralysis kills.
By the time you feel the first symptom, it's over.
Well they can't carry much venom.
They don't have to.
On a toxic scale of one to ten, their venom rates about a thirty.
One drop can kill three people.
She used a dozen.
Guess she wanted to make sure.
Man, I hate these creepy-crawly things.
Give me a nice, clean plastique bomb any day.
Each killing is more complex, the taunting more direct.
She wants us to zero in and appreciate what she's doing.
By giving us Gomez's initials with loaded dice? So how is she finding these animals? Probably has some contacts with a pharmaceutical lab.
She's smuggling them in.
- "In poison, there is physic.
" Henry IV.
So maybe she works in one of those labs.
We're checking every single lab to see what animals they bring in.
You're as up-to-date as we are.
Glad to have you on board.
Thanks.
Bailey? They found the medical examiner in Arkansas the one who cremated the Pooles.
His name is Rodell Peety.
Nathan, you and Coop go talk to him.
We need to know where they came from, and if they really have a daughter named Robin.
- Oh watch each other's backs.
- Jack has a bead on our every move.
Her name is Marjorie Brandt, 26.
She does makeup demonstrations in a department store.
Now the taunt is the victim.
You have to help me! I read about those those people who got poisoned in the newspaper.
They that's what's going to happen to me, right? You've suffered some kind of envenomation.
And you don't know what it is? She she said she said, um "three hours.
" That should help you, right? Huh? You have to figure out what what this was, what was in the water, what what bit me.
She was right.
I I only have less than an hour to live! - Nurse! - Get it off of me! Bailey, what did she want? - Information.
- Seems like she has a lot already.
Bailey.
Jack.
Just what we need two maniacs making us look like fools.
Now, clean it up! You don't find clothes in books.
You don't find money in no books! All you get's a bunch of jackass about nothin' and that's just what you get in your head! Shut up! You just shut up! We know what's best.
You shut up! I can't stand seeing you hanky! Carter! You move yourself, now.
Move it! Keep movin'! It's all your fault 'cause that child ain't right in the damn head! My fault?! Automatic clutch.
Amazing what you get for a lousy 89 grand.
Detective Paul Isaacs, L.
A.
Sheriff's homicide.
You would be the feds from Atlanta.
I'm Bailey Malone.
This is Dr.
Sam Waters.
Dr.
Grace Alvarez.
Nice to meet you.
You, too.
We left the scene intact.
Let me give you the tour.
Time of death was about eight hours ago, judging from the body temp.
What do we know about him? Donald Haste.
Neighbor found him 'cause his dog was making a racket.
Some kind of computer programming genius, and he has some fancy patents worth a bundle.
How big a bundle? - DET.
PAUL ISAACS: He was trying to buy the Dodgers.
I guess that won't happen.
Notice the hemorrhaging in the eye.
An intriguing amount of lividity.
A dendrobatid toxin.
From what? I think from these.
Yeah.
I figure maybe they came up through the sewer pipe, like rats do.
It'd have to be a very long sewer pipe, like from here to South America.
They're from the rain forest.
Precisely.
And Los Angeles is a desert.
These little cuties crossed state lines.
That's why I called in you big guys.
Frogs don't sting and they don't bite.
No, but they carry an arbovirus infection, like hemorrhagic fever or dengue.
Bailey.
I think it's a variation of a kids' game called spill & spell.
Could be a chemical notation.
You think it's a signature? - SAM: Could be a clue.
It's complex, symbolic more elaborate than it has to be.
Someone took the effort to make sure that we would know that.
Beautiful, aren't they? We'll do the autopsy in the L.
A.
Morgue.
Sung, you'll have to maintain chain of evidence.
And we need to bring one of the frogs, too.
Take two.
They're small.
No puncture wounds or bite marks.
But the capillary damage deserves an Oscar.
He was dead in less than a minute.
The steam opened his pores.
Yeah.
It's supposed to be good for you.
Topical venom.
Went right through the skin.
Nature's wily, more so than people.
Mostly in L.
A.
, All I see are bullets and knives but this is real science.
What's the matter? Frances skipped out again.
Didn't come home last night.
- SAM: Boyfriend? I wish.
Definitely venom from the frogs.
Highly lethal.
We'd never suspect if we didn't know.
Damn things are so small.
- So are fleas.
- Plague gets you every time.
Ok.
Basically, this is the finished product.
This is what you get at the newsstand in the swimsuit issue, but it starts something like this.
Kind of like a before and after a little less perfect.
So Haste created software to electronically alter photographs.
Mm-hmm, for computerized mass publishing.
And there's easy stuff you can do, like change the background, add some clouds, change the color of her suit, glisten up her skin, and then, for the Guccioni crowd, voila! - Man-made.
And lucrative.
Yeah, but I don't think this is about money.
Haste was killed by means of nature pure, untouched.
Now, why would somebody go to all that trouble? Maybe somebody didn't like his work.
Or what symbolize.
- Haste didn't have any family.
He left his money to Stanford.
We're looking into partners, lovers you name it.
Keep looking.
Hey, man.
- The powers that be said you called.
What else did they say? Uh, just that it might be "interesting," was the word I think they used, if I got my butt down to Atlanta.
What's up? The ATF owes me some quid pro quos.
I wanna call one in.
Yeah? You know John Grant.
Sure.
He's a good man.
Bailed me out of a couple of tight situations, actually.
He quit the VCTF, went back to the Atlanta Police Department.
Why'd he quit? Personal.
I need a replacement.
You have the qualifications, you know how we work, and you get things done.
Whoa that's an amazing thought it would be a big-time change, wouldn't it, Bailey? It beats defusing bombs for a living.
Maybe.
Heh.
You know, Bailey, I'd have to think about that for a minute.
- We'll make it temporary.
- I'll work it out with the ATF.
Ok.
Well, uh, let me think about it, and, uh I'll get back to you.
Sure.
Amazing.
Bailey, if I say yes, do I have to get a haircut? Call it a trim.
We'll talk about the gum after you take the oath.
Ha! Right.
This is one of the little guys who make all the noise up in the canopy of the rain forest.
The indigenous people of Colombia call it a poison dart frog because they take its venom and put it on the tips of darts and arrows.
It's secreted from tiny glands in the skin of the frog.
So all you have to do is touch this thing and you get poisoned? It is the most lethal toxin found in any amphibian and most reptiles.
- - - It is deadlier than the bite of a king cobra.
You come in contact with it, and you're dead in less than ten seconds.
Grace, what about the dice? Pumiliotoxin "B.
" Venoms have an extremely complex molecular structure.
- Put together the right way, b-c19-h33-no3 is the poison dart frog's venom.
Most amphibians and reptiles are shaded for camouflage, but this little guy's colors say, "look at me.
Admire me.
I am beautiful, I'm unique, but I am a touch-me-not.
I am the deadliest of my kind.
" Haste created a process to alter natural beauty.
Maybe the killer's telling us that's why he was killed.
That's a long way to go.
- It's complex, like venom.
Mm-hmm.
Well, it's illegal for individuals to import dangerous animals.
I'll get George on a list of companies and medical labs who bring them in for research.
And the infectious disease agency, for any other incidents involving a poison dart frog.
My, my, my.
- Hey.
Hmm.
Hey.
How you doing? You tired? - I am totally exhausted.
- That's great.
That's normal.
Morgan says I'm starting to show.
Well, maybe with your clothes off.
No.
Maybe a little in your face.
It's pretty.
Yeah? Thanks.
- No, really.
- No, no.
- Sam, let's go.
Ok.
- Uh, I'll see you later, all right? Ok, hon.
Thanks.
- Don't you look at me! - Hands behind your back! Please, don't hurt me.
Shut up, trash! And don't be so stupid! I don't wanna hear you! Listen to me.
I killed someone in California.
Oh, my god.
I'm going to kill someone else.
Four hours from now! Can you remember that? In a Mercedes car in Savannah, Georgia and I'm going to do it with this.
- almost had a damn heart attack.
Oh, here.
These are those things that kids play with.
George, run every combination on these letters.
Last time there was chemical compound.
These dice don't have any numbers on 'em like the other ones.
Five dice.
We're talking a couple of hundred thousand combos.
Try venoms - the most deadly.
Better check Latin for species, too.
Took them two hours to bring Mr.
Frederick here from Jacksonville.
In thirty minutes, the four hours are up.
I never even saw her, but I just could swear that she was gonna kill me.
No.
That's not what it was about.
She wanted to use you.
She's taunting us.
It's a test of wits.
She values intelligence.
She has no patience for ignorance.
The real question is, why did she come to your house and choose you? How do you fit into her game? Look I'm just a normal guy not the smartest kid in class, not the dumbest kid.
Whatever game that lady's playing, I don't want any part of.
Ok.
Thanks for coming in, Mr.
Frederick.
- - You can take him home.
I got something.
I'm working against 2 databases here toxins and venomous animals.
A-t-r-a-X.
Atraxin, which is a protein, and atrax - Rubustrus.
Atrax rubustrus.
It's a venomous spider.
- Hello? - Good-bye.
- Hmm? - Aah! This is from a spider? A very aggressive one.
George said it leaves bite marks worse than most snakes.
It's called a funnel web.
It's from Australia.
Drop for drop, it's a thousand times more lethal than the black widow.
Hey.
Uh, her name is Marilyn Weathers, 38, C.
E.
O.
of a conglomerate called Faircott Corporation.
They're big in the soft drink and snack food business.
I'll have a complete list for you soon.
What about the phone call in or out? In, but it came from a pay phone.
Look for a connection between Faircott and Haste.
Maybe they knew each other.
Um, they found this on the console.
Pretty small.
Creepy, though.
Can you imagine? In your car.
Let Grace have fun with that.
Right.
She puts the spider in the car, maybe in the phone, then makes a call, makes sure it's agitated.
Where did she put the letters? Maybe she didn't.
No.
She's too specific, too precise.
Bailey, be careful.
May I? Roll 'em again.
Loaded.
It's another taunt her way of saying things are gonna come up the way she wants, no matter what.
- So, how'd it go? - Convenience store hit? Six witnesses six different versions of what happened, six different descriptions.
People witness a crime, sometimes they get confused.
You seen Bailey lately? I mean, since you left? No.
I've been watching that building over there.
Bunch of real wacko loons stolen goods, drugs, weapons.
I got an undercover inside.
So guess who's sleeping on the mattress next to his last night? Bailey Malone.
- The pride of his loins.
- His daughter? You ever meet her? Well, we're gonna crash that place tomorrow night, and I want you in.
If there's trouble we can both give Bailey the bad news.
Hey.
Take a picture of us your little helpers.
Here.
Come on, girls.
Here we go.
Ok ok.
On 3, you say "fromage.
" One, two, three - ALL: Fromage! Ah, magnifique! Oh, I got it.
What's with the camera? It's an old hobby I'm trying to revive.
Sort of an escape from dark corners.
Cool.
Chloe's medium rare, right? Yep.
You know, I think she loves you almost as much as she loves your burgers.
Good taste in burgers, good taste in men.
Little girls tend to think in simple terms, now, don't they? Yes, and then they grow up and get complicated.
Shut up! And sometimes they turn bad.
So what did, uh what did Bailey want the other day? He wanted me to replace John.
He didn't say anything about it? Yeah, he told me.
He, uh, didn't tell me when he was gonna talk to you, but he wanted to know what I thought.
What do you think? Well, what do you think? That I'll blow it off in a minute if it bothers you.
It doesn't bother me.
Then what? Well, come on.
You have two people who are involved, and they start working together And it turns out they can't handle it.
Well, maybe, yeah.
It's not like people haven't done it before.
- Yeah? And who would that be? Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn.
I haven't seen Darren Amber since art school in New York, which is eight years, and he is now this big shot on the gallery circuit.
He says he wants to put me on the map, whatever that means.
It means that a celebration is in order.
It's too bad we don't have any sugar cookies.
Hey, yes, we do! - We do? You're kidding me.
- Oh, my gosh.
I made the big ones for you.
Give one to your mama.
Mmm! Ok this is from hospital records in Arkansas, some place called Pea Ridge, not even a whistle stop.
- How long ago? - Ten years.
Couple of squatters.
Carter and Shirley Poole were found dead in their trailer.
There was no foul play, no theft, no sexual assault.
- - - Only trouble was the bodies were not discovered for six days.
Trailer was closed, no air conditioning.
They were pretty far gone.
What was the cause of death? The local county coroner freaked 'cause of possible disease.
You know, small town, they're not exactly forensic scientists, more concerned about public health, so he had the bodies cremated.
Well, that doesn't do us any good.
Nope, but he did take blood samples and he sent them to F.
I.
D.
A.
, and they had traces of b-c19-h33-no3.
Poison dart frog venom.
Yes.
The F.
I.
D.
A.
thought that the bodies were so degraded, they just wrote it off as an unreliable result.
Figures.
According to mother nature, there aren't supposed to be any poison dart frogs in Arkansas.
Ok.
I have these autopsy photos Shirley Poole and now, take a look her husband Carter.
The mailman Bert Frederick.
The mailman looks a lot like Carter Poole.
You're saying this guy has been dead for ten years? -Mmm-hmmm - Nathan, find Frederick.
- Get him back in here now.
Ok.
Now for the part I really don't like.
To tap into the F.
I.
D.
A files, you have to have an F.
B.
I.
Access code, right? The system keeps a record of anybody who logs on for security reasons.
Now when I accessed the Pea Ridge file a little while ago, I saw that somebody else had been in there before me, a couple of hours.
Take a look at the name under mine.
Jack.
How the hell does he fit into this? Nothing we know about this fits his profile.
Unless it just changed.
Maybe he's taken on a partner.
Maybe he got married.
Maybe he's a damn woman, too.
George, let's find out if the Pooles have any other family members.
Bailey, I found Bert Frederick.
Right in there, sir.
You must be Bailey Malone.
Yes, and you? Byron Jarvis, Mr.
Frederick's counsel.
What happened? A man identifying himself as an F.
B.
I.
Agent came to visit my client at his home.
He asked a few questions, he didn't like the answers, and he beat my client within an inch of his life.
- You say an F.
B.
I.
- Agent did this? Special F.
B.
I.
Agent Jack Trades from your office.
Look, anything further will be said in a court of law.
The guy who did this is an impostor.
He's a serial killer called "Jack of all Trades.
" He isn't from the F.
B.
I.
, and he sure as hell isn't from my office.
Perhaps you didn't understand me.
In court, Malone! Mr.
Jarvis.
What the hell is it, Sam? Reads the newspaper, taps into F.
I.
D.
A.
, almost kills Frederick.
What, is he trying to screw up the investigation? I don't know.
Jack considers himself the best, the ultimate taunter.
- - Maybe he doesn't like this lady's competition.
So why doesn't he just kill her? That may be the worst part.
He's already a step or two ahead.
My name is Darla Turner.
I was down at Hessie's this bar I go to.
I was just goin' to my car and I - I'm sorry.
I'm not used to talkin' to cops and F.
B.
I.
That's ok.
Most people don't have to, but you can really help us, Darla, so just take your time, ok? After she put that hood on my head, she said I was stupid, nothin' but a piece of trash.
I ain't but I know what it feels like to be told.
Then what, Darla? She said you all are stupid, too.
She called you the Federal Bureau of Idiots.
Said she was trying to play a game on you, only it was too hard, so to make it easy, she put those on my lap.
Did she say what they mean? It's like the answer to a puzzle.
It's the next person she's gonna kill, and she's gonna do it tomorrow at dawn, right in your own backyard.
Atlanta.
- It's not chemical.
- Could be initials.
Six combinations more, if it's just two initials and the third letter stands for something else.
We need to cross-reference by profession.
Glamour industry The photographers, models publishers.
Use your imagination.
Did you ever know some people named Carter and Shirley Poole? No.
You ever been to Arkansas? No.
Was I any help? - Yes, you were, a lot of help.
- They'll show you out, ok? Thanks.
I want twenty-four hour surveillance.
She sent us two look-alikes for a dead couple.
George, do we know about any other family yet? Nobody working for the sheriff was around back then.
I talked to the county coroner's office.
They had to dig out the Poole case file.
The man who did the blood work retired, but they should find him by tomorrow.
As soon as he turns up, we'll wanna be there.
There's one interesting angle.
There was a genealogy chart, standard for deaths by an unknown disease.
It lists a daughter, name and age unknown.
That's the killer.
She uses dice from a children's game, and she berates these people, like parents mistreating a child: "You're stupid.
You're a piece of trash.
" - Emotional abuse.
Yeah.
She didn't get hugs and kisses.
She was shut off, blindfolded.
- That's why she's using the hoods.
Sent into a dark room or a closet.
Like someone saying, "you don't count.
I don't wanna hear you.
" - Repressed intellect.
This woman is very brilliant, something that her parents weren't.
She's attacking the glamour industry false beauty.
- She has a problem with her appearance.
- Deformed? Disfigured? No.
I actually think she could be beautiful herself.
Maybe she thinks that's all people notice about her.
We've got about six hours till sunrise.
All right.
I'm Bailey Malone.
Christine Logan.
I left several messages then camped in the lobby then refused to leave.
Evidently, it's easier getting a meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The Joint Chiefs aren't as busy as I am.
I'm an investigator hired by the Faircott corporation to look into the death of Marilyn Weathers.
Your background check says I'm with the secret service the criminal side, not diplomatic protection.
Specialty in Forensic handwriting.
Care to sit down? Faircott's high-profile.
The idea that their C.
E.
O.
Was poisoned doesn't sit well in a company in the fast-food business.
Murder doesn't sit well with me in any business.
As a professional courtesy, I wanted you to know that I was on the case.
And I think that we can save duplicated efforts.
I was waiting for the bottom line.
All I want is access to your case file, however you feel comfortable.
Naturally, I'll share everything about the Faircott's employees.
As a professional courtesy, you can look but only from here.
Fair enough? Fair enough.
This is the Atlanta Police Department.
You will move toward the vehicle.
Your other hand! Now! - Come on.
Don't fight it.
- Where is she? Thanks.
Excuse me.
Frances? I'm John Grant.
I know your father.
You one of his storm troopers? - Well, I used to be.
- I work for Atlanta P.
D.
now.
Yeah, well, can you tell your honcho over there that I didn't do anything? That's kind of what they all say.
I don't do drugs, ok? I've never touched a gun in my life, and I didn't steal anything.
I mean, I was just hanging with these guys.
- I mean, is that some huge crime against humanity? If I get busted they're gonna send me back to Baltimore and I can't do that.
Please believe me.
Please, because nobody else does.
Give me a minute.
Lou.
What do you got on her? I'm working on it.
It's probably gonna be a long list.
Possession? Drugs? Guns? By association.
So she gets out before the 11:00 news, and you still have to do all the paperwork.
You got a point? - Let me take her home.
- Maybe in another life.
Oh, come on.
She's Bailey's daughter.
If she gets busted, youth authorities are gonna take her away from him.
You can't keep her.
Nobody wins.
- Let me take her.
Full responsibility.
I'll owe you one.
Bailey will owe you one.
Here's my home and work numbers and my add in case you need to tell the uniforms where to drop you off, or if you don't feel like coming back here.
- Here.
Take it.
Atlanta jail is not a nice place to spend the night.
Believe me, it could happen.
Hey, look I don't know what you've heard about me, but it doesn't sound good.
It's also not true.
So tell me what is true.
Well ahem my dad doesn't understand me.
I mean, how could he? We hardly know each other.
I mean, do you have any idea what that's like? It's tough on both sides.
Yeah.
Like, ever since I've been here, he treats me like I'm a marine and we're in boot camp.
I can't go out, I can't see my friends, can't even call my mother.
And every time I try to put on my music, he says, "everything after Mozart is redundant.
" Well, he might have a small point there.
Shut up.
I think he's scared of me emotionally.
Why don't you try talking to him, instead of running away? That's the problem.
He doesn't talk.
He commands.
And besides, he doesn't even listen.
You listen.
It's easier.
I don't know you.
And if you did, you wouldn't? - Oh heh heh.
I didn't say that.
- Well, good.
Ha ha! Where have you been? No hugs and kisses, daddy? Don't give me attitude, Frances.
Where have you been? I was with some friends.
Your so-called friends are all in jail.
I had nothing to do with that.
You're in for a dime, you're in for a dollar, especially with felons and dope dealers.
Why does it always have to be guilt by association? Why do you always have to associate with people who are guilty? Fine.
Then hold the cell next to Charlie Manson for me.
Is that it? That's where you're headed.
Thanks for bringing her home, John.
Listen, I I know this is none of my business, but I think you've got a serious problem with her.
Tell me something I don't already know.
She knows how to play it.
Somebody taught her good.
You need some help.
You need to find some way to get through to her.
- You had me scared, Frances.
- I didn't know where you were.
I know.
I guess, I, uh wasn't thinking.
Don't you think it's about time you started? Not for me.
For yourself.
Sancha W.
Gomez, S.
W.
G.
, Vice president of Rogers Media Resources.
They do millions of dollars a year in advertising with Faircott.
I figured there might be a progression from the man who created a way to make artificial beauty to the person who mass-produced it To the advertisers who sell the products it makes.
Well, is he home? It's ringing.
- bnKeep trying.
- Let's go.
Yeah.
Yeah, I want the complete blitz radio, tv Mr.
Gomez.
F.
B.
I.
- Just a minute.
- Mr.
Gomez.
F.
B.
I.
F.
B.
I.
? What's going on? - You may be in danger, sir.
- We need to talk to you.
Is this a joke or what? No, it's no joke.
Uh, Jerry, I got to get back to you.
No, no, no, no.
The F.
B.
I.
And a bunch of cops just busted my backyard.
I mean, it's the damnedest thing you ever ohh! Get the paramedics! They're some kind of sea snake, probably juveniles.
My guess is the chlorine got them.
"Robin"? She thinks we're slow.
We haven't figured out who she is, so she's going to tell us.
Why didn't Gomez know he'd been bitten? I don't know how sea snakes get the job done.
I have to get them back to the lab and take a look.
Sam.
Oh, thanks.
Yeah? I'd like you to meet Christine Logan.
Samantha Waters.
Christine's former secret service.
She's now working on the Marilyn Weathers murder case for Faircott.
The "Dear Congressman" case.
- Back in the middle ages, yes.
Ms.
Logan was one of the ones who helped bust that guy who was sending the letter bombs to the members of the House of Representatives.
The guy from Minnesota.
You got the similarities in the handwriting that ultimately led to him getting caught.
That was very nice work.
Thank you.
- Excuse me.
- Uh, so how did you find out about this? I know a lot of cops.
Any thoughts? Our killer puts on quite a show.
But when they're this flashy, doesn't it usually mean they want to get caught? I don't think so.
Not this time.
Everything she does is guaranteed not to let us stop her.
She gets more clever with each one.
Well, she's following a Q.
D.
routine once daily.
- It's called pelamis platurus "little white sea snake" to you and me.
And you don't want them in your swimming pool.
Why didn't Gomez feel anything? Well, a combination of factors: The teeth are tiny, he was actively exercising, and he obviously never saw them.
They produce a neurotoxin.
First it paralyzes, then the paralysis kills.
By the time you feel the first symptom, it's over.
Well they can't carry much venom.
They don't have to.
On a toxic scale of one to ten, their venom rates about a thirty.
One drop can kill three people.
She used a dozen.
Guess she wanted to make sure.
Man, I hate these creepy-crawly things.
Give me a nice, clean plastique bomb any day.
Each killing is more complex, the taunting more direct.
She wants us to zero in and appreciate what she's doing.
By giving us Gomez's initials with loaded dice? So how is she finding these animals? Probably has some contacts with a pharmaceutical lab.
She's smuggling them in.
- "In poison, there is physic.
" Henry IV.
So maybe she works in one of those labs.
We're checking every single lab to see what animals they bring in.
You're as up-to-date as we are.
Glad to have you on board.
Thanks.
Bailey? They found the medical examiner in Arkansas the one who cremated the Pooles.
His name is Rodell Peety.
Nathan, you and Coop go talk to him.
We need to know where they came from, and if they really have a daughter named Robin.
- Oh watch each other's backs.
- Jack has a bead on our every move.
Her name is Marjorie Brandt, 26.
She does makeup demonstrations in a department store.
Now the taunt is the victim.
You have to help me! I read about those those people who got poisoned in the newspaper.
They that's what's going to happen to me, right? You've suffered some kind of envenomation.
And you don't know what it is? She she said she said, um "three hours.
" That should help you, right? Huh? You have to figure out what what this was, what was in the water, what what bit me.
She was right.
I I only have less than an hour to live! - Nurse! - Get it off of me! Bailey, what did she want? - Information.
- Seems like she has a lot already.
Bailey.
Jack.
Just what we need two maniacs making us look like fools.