The Closer s04e13 Episode Script
Power Of Attorney
COP 1: 6A-47.
We are Code 6 at the prowler complaint.
Take this side.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR) COP 2: Around back! He's running! Forty-seven requesting assistance.
We are in foot pursuit.
Subject is white, male, wearing dark clothing.
I need a perimeter set up.
And be advised, we have not cleared the house.
COP 1: Come on.
We've got a woman down in the house.
COP 4: She's gone.
COP 5: Come on.
Go, go.
Come on.
Come on.
(DOG BARKING) Thank you.
Evening, gentlemen.
Have we been in the house yet? No, the dog handlers don't want to contaminate the crime scene before the K-9 search is complete.
So in the meantime, we got Tao and Sanchez knocking on doors.
Flynn wrote up a search warrant.
We found a judge a few blocks away that will sign it.
Well, that's lucky.
What happened? The neighbor over there called in a prowler around 10:30 this evening.
Responding officers knock one time, see the suspect run from the back of the house.
They call it in, set up a perimeter.
Additional unit arrives, enters through the back of the house to search and clear it, finds the body inside.
Paramedics pronounced her dead Who is she? Jessica.
Jessica-something.
She only moved in a couple of months ago.
She seemed like a real nice young woman.
We kept meaning to ask her over for dinner.
MAN ON RADIO: All units, stand by.
We have an alert at the back of 632 Devon.
(DOGS BARKING) LEAD OFFICER: Hands! Show me your hands! OFFICER: Get down on the ground now! SID's got a 15-minute ETA.
Watch out for the popcorn there, Chief.
So, it looks like she was on her laptop, probably heard a sound, put the TV on pause to listen.
Then she saw her intruder and bolted from the couch.
He grabs her here.
Now, she's in pretty good shape, so she puts up some kind of a struggle and then tries to escape.
So he grabs her hair at the back of her head So she was running away.
Right, and then flung her around onto the coffee table, giving her that gash on her head.
Then, pins her down and BREND A: Tore off her underwear.
Yes, I see.
The officers who found her said that they found that pillow there on her face, like she had been smothered.
Probably used it to keep her quiet when they knocked on the door.
Then why did he run? She was updating her Web page, Chief.
Check it out.
It's the last thing she wrote.
BREND A: "Missed home today but I'm better now.
"Unpacked some pictures, put them out.
Feels good.
"Gonna be strange celebrating without Mom's strawberry cake tomorrow, "but I like it here, "and only two more weeks until" Two more weeks until what? Two weeks till her fiancé joins her.
It's in her birthday card.
"Jess, started packing my things.
"Can't wait for the move.
Miss you.
So proud.
"Happy Birthday.
Love, Pete.
"PS, Sally wants her tummy scratched.
" Sally must be their dog.
FLYNN: Her name's Jessica Goodall.
She's from Joplin, Missouri.
And tomorrow, she was going to turn 30.
Did someone open this door? It's unlocked.
Well, we all came in the back.
Maybe Jessica forgot to lock it.
A woman who just moved here from Missouri does not forget to lock her door at night.
Maybe she opened it for her attacker.
SANCHEZ: Chief, I found the point of entry! Or not.
You know what? I'm tired of these slip-ups.
Whether it's the coroner, the paramedics or one of our officers, open a door before we've had a chance to document the scene and you've let in the defense.
Sergeant Gabriel, please find out who came through here, and quickly.
Thank you.
SANCHEZ: You see this? He cut the screen around the edge from right to left, nice and square, and he climbed in over that counter.
- She must have left it unlocked.
- I find that hard to swallow.
But even if she hadn't locked the window, how would our intruder know that? You can't see the lock from outside.
Chief, they're bringing the suspect out front for the field show-up.
Thank you.
PROVENZA: "This person is in temporary custody as a possible suspect only.
"And the fact that he is in custody does not indicate guilt.
" Even though he looks like hell from hiding in a tree.
(MUMBLING) All right, all right.
"The purpose of the confrontation "is either to eliminate or identify him as the perpetrator.
" - Chief.
- Lieutenant.
Let's go.
Come on.
Mr.
Evans? Is this the man you saw approaching your neighbor's house? Well Yeah.
Yeah, I guess.
He seemed a little A little taller.
I wasn't wearing my glasses.
My wife was there and she saw him.
Maybe we should be talking to your wife, then.
Well, she's gone to work already.
(BREND A SIGHS) She's a nurse on the night shift.
- All right.
Thank you.
Lieutenant.
- TAO: Thank you, sir.
Right this way.
Lieutenant Provenza, please arrange to have a lineup with Mrs.
Evans as soon as possible.
Who are you? FLYNN: His name is Chris Dunlap.
He's 27, he lives in Burbank, at least according to his driver's license.
That's all we have to go on, 'cause he hasn't said a word.
Well, I just read the little cretin his rights.
GABRIEL: I ran his name.
Dunlap was arrested two years ago for exposing himself to an 8-year-old girl in a public restroom, and then arrested again nine months ago for molesting his cousin's 13-year-old daughter while she took a shower.
- Wasn't convicted on either charge.
- Yeah, well, then he must be innocent.
Sorry, Chief.
This took a little longer than I thought, but I went ahead and enlarged a map of the three-square-mile area around the victim.
In the last six months, there's been seven other rapes.
Two occurred in the last 20 days.
Of those seven, six match your point of entry through an unlocked bathroom window.
Screen's cut right to left, just like this one.
All the vics blonde, in their 20s, and living alone.
All right, Commander Taylor, would you please pull those files and see what physical evidence was collected? Lieutenant Tao, let's run a credit report on Mr.
Dunlap.
Let's see if we can wrap this up tonight.
Thank you.
Hi, Chris.
I'm Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson.
It looks like you got pretty scratched up climbing that tree.
I'd like to have somebody come take a look at you, but first we need to talk.
Chris, something really terrible happened tonight.
And I want you to know that I don't think it was intentional.
In fact, I'm certain what happened to that poor young woman was an accident.
Her name was Jessica.
She just moved here from Missouri.
She was looking forward to her fiancé joining her in a few weeks with their dog.
Today was her birthday.
She was gonna be 30 years old.
And now she's not.
I need to know how you met her.
Chris, listen to me.
I have a witness who will identify you as the person she saw in Jessica's house.
Minutes later, you were seen running from that house by a police officer.
Put that together with our dogs, who are never wrong, finding you in a tree three blocks away, and people are gonna start jumping to all sorts of conclusions.
Now, if you have an explanation for what happened tonight, - I need you to tell me.
- I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Okay, what? What? About what, Chris? What are you sorry about? (DOOR OPENING) - Detective, why are you interrupting me? - His lawyer's here.
You already called your lawyer? You must be Chief Johnson.
Phillip Stroh.
Pleasure to meet you.
Your client has your number on his speed dial, Mr.
Stroh? I've represented Chris before.
- Just this way? - Yes.
Last number dialed, 11:47 pm.
Son of a bitch called his attorney when the dogs had him up in the tree.
(PROVENZA SCOFFS) What is the world coming to? Ham omelet? Chief, I just spoke to the nurse.
She's on her way in for the lineup.
- Scrambled egg whites and turkey bacon.
- (GROANING) Thank you, Buzz.
I went over Chris' financials.
He's got no current credit cards, no loans, no leases, no bank accounts, no job.
Other than his cell phone, he's practically off the grid.
Yeah? Thanks, Buzz.
Well, speaking of his cell phone, I dumped it.
The little creep hardly uses the thing.
I mean, other than the call that he made to his attorney last night, from up in the tree, there's a few calls to a delivery company, a few more to a temp agency, and then there's a whole bunch to an address in Burbank, which happens to be his mother's house.
Well, if he didn't have a job and he didn't have any money, - what was he having delivered? - FLYNN: I'll find out.
Prelim from the autopsy confirms that Jessica Goodall was not sexually assaulted.
FLYNN: Well, that's because the cops knocked on the door.
The bastard didn't have the time.
Also, Dr.
Morales, he cut her nails, put them under the scope, didn't find any skin fragments, so she didn't scratch the guy.
- What about prints? - They lifted 37 from inside the location.
They're trying to exclude Jessica's now.
We should know more by the end of the day.
Also, I spoke to the coroner's assistant.
Swears he never used the front door, that he came around back like everyone else.
- Still tracking down the paramedics.
- Excuse me.
Mr.
Stroh, what are you doing in here? - Sorry.
Looking for the vending machines.
- Lf you're hungry, sir, you could take the elevator to the first floor.
Public vending machines are in the same place they've always been.
Yeah, and you can't just go wandering around these halls.
My mistake.
You know, that's the same lawyer that got Chris' other charges dropped.
Morning, Chief.
I've been combing through the files of the six previous rapes, like you asked.
They're getting more violent and more frequent.
The girl he raped before this, he tied to a bedpost, then he knocked her around.
- What about physical evidence? - No prints, no DNA anywhere.
- How did he manage that, I wonder? - He must have worn a raincoat.
Hey, Chief, get this.
You know the company that Chris was calling? He wasn't expecting any deliveries.
He works there.
He's a deliveryman.
Excuse me, Chief.
Mr.
And Mrs.
Evans are here.
- I set them up in the electronics room.
- Thank you, Buzz.
We'll be right there.
Lieutenant, would you please get the delivery logs for these companies? If Chris Dunlap was anywhere in the vicinity of any of these women, I wanna know about it.
Sergeant.
Chris? Ready for the lineup? Just step down the hall.
Thanks.
Mr.
Stroh, I'm sure you know how these things go.
I'm gonna introduce you to the witness, but you're not to ask her any questions.
- Is that clear? - I know the process, Chief.
Hey, Mr.
Stroh.
Phil.
I'm just curious.
You defended Chris for molesting a 13-year-old family member, and you got the charges dismissed.
And now looks like the same guy has murdered someone.
How do you feel about that? Well, first of all, it doesn't look like Chris murdered this young lady to me.
And if you're asking about his previous case, obviously, the state couldn't prove their allegations.
So, if you have a problem with the legal system BREND A: No, I don't think the Sergeant was talking about specifics, just about how you, as a human being, justify defending child molesters.
All right.
Most criminals, they do their time and when they get out of prison, they go on about their lives anonymously.
Sex offenders are registered until the day they die.
They're branded, like animals.
Now, if the state is going to punish them more harshly than other criminals, then it also assumes a special burden to prove their continuing threat to society.
It's my job to make sure the state demonstrates that threat.
So, Sergeant, if your charmingly phrased accusation really does have something to do with how defending suspected sex offenders makes me feel, the answer is, it gives purpose to my life.
Now, I'd like to hear what your eyewitness has to say.
- Wouldn't you? - Absolutely.
Lieutenant Provenza, would you please escort Mr.
Evans out? - Thank you.
- Yes, ma'am.
This way.
Hello, Mrs.
Evans.
I'm Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson.
- Thank you so much for coming in.
- Right out there.
This is Mr.
Stroh.
He's an attorney.
- Yes.
How do you do? - Mrs.
Evans.
Any problem with the selection, Mr.
Stroh? No, looks fine to me.
All right, then.
Mrs.
Evans, you take your time.
Let us know if there's anyone here that you recognize from last night.
Okay.
TAO: Number one, step forward.
Turn to the right.
Again.
Again.
Step back to the wall.
- Number two, step forward.
- (WHISPERING) No.
Turn to the right.
Again.
I remember he was slim and he had dark clothes.
Step back to the wall.
But he had a T-shirt underneath.
I remember the white at his neck.
- Number three, step forward.
- No.
No, he wasn't Hispanic.
Turn to the right.
(CELL PHONE RINGING) If you have a phone, take it out.
Turn it off.
Put it back.
Number four, step forward.
Turn to your right.
Again.
Again.
- Back to the wall.
- I don't know.
He was tall like number five, - but not as large.
- Five, step forward.
- I'm 6'2".
Was he closer to my height? - Hey! Quiet.
(DOOR OPENING) - Chief, can I talk to you? - Yes.
Sergeant Gabriel, would you please take Mr.
Stroh to Interview 1 when we're through here? Mrs.
Evans, thank you so much for your help.
Okay, Chris made deliveries to every single one of these victims days before they were attacked.
That's how come he knew their bathroom windows were unlocked.
He unlocked them himself.
Four.
Six.
Sergeant Gabriel, would you please keep Mr.
Dunlap company for a moment? Mr.
Stroh, I need to talk to you.
- I'm arresting your client.
- For what? Trespassing? Chris Dunlap works as a deliveryman, Mr.
Stroh.
Are you aware of that? You said that the state has a special burden of proof when it comes to sex-crime cases.
Well, here it is.
Your client was in Jessica Goodall's house delivering a dishwasher four days before she was murdered.
He delivered a mattress to Lauren Clark three days before she was tied to her bed and brutally raped.
He delivered a refrigerator to Rebecca Howl - five days before - Circumstantial.
Six rapes and one murder, all at the same point of entry, a bathroom window your client opened when he made these deliveries.
Take this to a jury, and your client faces the death penalty.
- I want to make a deal.
- You want to make a deal? Well, just to satisfy my curiosity, Mr.
Stroh, what kind of deal would you like to make? I don't know.
You get the D A to agree, and Chris will do eight years.
What could you possibly give me that would merit reducing your client's sentence to eight years? The name of the other guy.
It was his partner who raped those women and murdered Jessica Goodall.
(SIGHING) And for eight years, Chris will give you his name.
This may surprise you, Mr.
Stroh, but we're very close to finding Chris' partner on our own.
- Really? - So, if you'd like me to talk to the D A about giving you any kind of a deal, I suggest that you have Chris Dunlap tell me something I don't already know.
And it had better be good.
Chris Dunlap, you are under arrest for murder and six counts of rape.
Sergeant Gabriel, would you please take him downstairs to booking? Thank you.
Have a nice day, Mr.
Stroh.
Now his lawyer says there's another guy.
(BREND A SIGHING) I know you don't like it, but I think you've got to consider the deal.
(SCOFFS) It's not right to let Chris Dunlap walk after only eight years just to get this other guy.
- What does Pope say? - He agrees with me.
Really? He's still smarting from that stupid inquiry after the mall shooting.
No one's letting him forget it.
He managed to delay everything yesterday while we hunted through Dunlap's life, but if we don't find this creep's partner, if this other partner even exists Well, if he doesn't exist, then whatever deal Dunlap's lawyer makes goes away.
At the very least, you put your suspect away for life.
Or if the other guy's real, then you get his name and take him off the streets.
Chris Dunlap walked into these women's homes.
He assessed their vulnerability.
They probably tipped him after he chose them as victims.
He's a monster.
He deserves to go away for the rest of his life.
Now, if this other guy is really out there, then he's dangerous.
The longer you wait, the more likely he is to disappear forever or attack again.
Look, it's not a fair deal, and I know this isn't how you like to hand off cases to the D A, but, honey, hey, at the end of the day, it may be necessary.
Chief, Lieutenant Provenza and Tao got a warrant to search Dunlap's place to see if we could find anything that might tip us off to this mysterious second man.
And Sanchez is talking to a kid who does deliveries with Dunlap.
He's kind of a long shot, but he does have a juvenile conviction for burglary, so, who knows? Chief, if you ask me, they're playing us.
They're making up a SODDI defense so they can buy more time.
- Making up a what? - SODDI.
"Some other dude did it" defense.
But considering our witnesses couldn't ID the suspect, we may be wrong.
I don't know.
Chief Johnson, any luck? We haven't found Chris' partner yet, if that's what you're asking.
(SIGHING) May I speak with you for a moment? I tried explaining things to the Deputy D A, but I can't hold him off.
He's, like, half a block away, and he wants the deal.
- For eight years? - I don't like it, either, (BREND A GROANING) But it has to be this way.
Bring back the suspect.
Get his lawyer.
I'll be back in a minute with the DD A.
I'm sorry.
Detective Sanchez, any chance the guy who made deliveries with Chris - might be his partner? - I'm sorry, Chief.
The alibi's good.
(BREND A SIGHS) He did say that Chris asked to use the bathroom a lot during deliveries, which is against the rules.
And that he liked to look at the customers' pictures, the ones in the frames.
Co-worker said it was creepy.
Commander, where are we with the rest of the victims? We've been going through the rape files.
Five of the victims either can't remember what happened, or never saw the assailant's face.
Apparently, he wore a mask or something, pantyhose.
- What about the sixth victim? - Lauren Clark.
She saw him.
Never ID'd him from the books.
Dunlap wasn't in the books.
- You want me to bring her in? - Yes.
But we're supposed to evaluate her state of mind before we put her through that, so, no, not yet.
Sorry, Chief, but there's nothing where Chris Dunlap lived that would point to the so-called other partner.
But he's awfully strange.
He lives in the attic at his mother's house.
Very little furniture, a mattress on the floor.
Oh, hold on.
Lots of lingerie catalogs.
And a big wad of cash stuffed in one of his shoes.
Close to $5,500.
Yeah, now, we asked the mom about it, she said she's helping him to save up to fix his face.
- What? - Plastic surgery.
Yeah, mommy seems to think that her little boy needs to be better-Iooking.
And got all the brochures, too.
You know, Botox, rhinoplasty.
GABRIEL: Chief.
Chief, I finally spoke to the paramedics.
They said that they went through the back door of Jessica's house to get the body, that they never touched the front door.
- Chief Johnson? - Yes? - You remember DD A Garnett.
- Yes.
Just one second, please.
Sergeant, what do you think this is, on Jessica's front porch? Looks like popcorn.
None of our guys went out this way, so who tracked it outside? Our officer chased Chris out the back door while the murderer walked right out the front! - Chief Johnson.
- Yes? Your office, please.
Now that you have confirmed the existence of Mr.
Dunlap's partner, I don't have to tell you, in the interest of public safety, we are compelled to act.
- I don't agree to the eight years.
- It's not up to you.
Let's be clear here, Garnett.
For the record, you are insisting on making this deal despite the fact that the LAPD needs more time to investigate.
Good, you understand.
So I shouldn't have to explain it again.
Can we get on with it, please? (BREND A SIGHS) The D A's office is willing to consider the eight years if your client will tell us who his accomplice is, assuming said accomplice actually committed the murder and the sexual assaults.
And here I thought you were close to finding said accomplice on your own.
I don't like being manipulated, Chief Johnson.
Mr.
Garnett, you can have the name.
But now my client wants probation.
- What? - Sir, there's a murderer at large.
- Then you'd better hurry.
- You are an officer of the court and therefore obligated to aid in the capture I am well aware of my obligations, Chief Johnson, in particular, as they relate to my client.
Now, he has some very important information that should be passed on to you, but I need to know he's getting the best deal possible.
And how do we convince you that eight years is reasonable? - Show me your evidence.
- We are not doing that.
Convince me that you have something substantial against him.
I am not opening up my case.
- He's got no incentive to give - There is no way! If you do, I'll talk to him.
Maybe we can reach a compromise.
- Compromise? - Someplace in the middle.
- It is eight years, or there's no deal! - Hold on one second.
Mr.
Stroh, could you excuse us for just one moment, please? Thank you.
I refuse to put my evidence on display here.
Excuse me? What evidence? As far as I can tell, you don't have any.
The investigation is barely 24 hours old.
To be manipulated into a plea agreement - for probation at this point is ridiculous! - You wanna know why I'm reduced to this possibility? Because you haven't found me a killer.
We need some time to go through the old cases.
A few days! With an active rapist on the loose, a guy who just murdered someone? No way.
(SIGHS) I think this is a mistake.
And you are the reigning expert on mistakes, Chief Pope, but this can't be one of them.
Now, do I do this with her or without? Victim four, Kim Stansbury, raped January 12.
Do you have any physical evidence linking my client to the scene? No.
- No blood, no semen, no hair? - No.
No.
No.
Same as all the rest.
- Any fingerprints ID'd to my client? - BREND A: Not yet.
STROH: Any victim IDs or independent witnesses that can place him at the scene? No, but we do have him delivering a refrigerator to her six days before the incident.
Victim five, Rebecca Howl, raped January 20.
Any physical evidence? We have him delivering a refrigerator to her five days before.
Victim six, Lauren Clark.
Should I assume the same as the preceding five? Actually, she says she can identify the assailant.
Interesting.
But do you have any blood, semen, hair, or any other physical evidence? No.
All right, lastly, Jessica Goodall.
Anything? Other than the fact that your client was seen running from the back of the victim's house by a Los Angeles police officer and found hiding in a tree STROH: Okay.
Thank you.
I will discuss this with Chris, and, if he's in agreement, I'll write up the proffer to state that, in addition to the details of the crimes, he will reveal the name of his partner.
- We can meet in the morning, and - No.
We're doing this tonight.
You've got five hours, sir.
Fine.
Mr.
Garnett.
Chief Johnson.
- This is the right thing to do.
- Not for Jessica Goodall.
Excuse me.
Chief Johnson.
Stroh is here.
- You ready? - As I'll ever be.
What's the offer? His client gives up the name.
We split the difference, four years.
(BREND A SIGHING) This accomplice has a methodology.
He's not gonna strike again while we have Chris Dunlap in custody.
We have time to look for him.
We're gonna find the guy a lot faster once we know his name.
Can we just execute the deal? Please? BREND A: All right.
Mr.
Stroh.
Chris.
You've read the statement and agreed to provide testimony as to the truthfulness of the facts within this document? Four years for the name, provided we can verify its validity.
Mr.
Stroh, maybe it's my ears, but for the life of me, I can't hear what your client is saying.
- Chris.
- Yes, I'll testify.
Good.
Would you sign this, please? Thank you.
Okay, you state here that you were charged with finding women on your delivery that would best fit your partner's type.
- Is that correct? - Yes.
He He likes blonde hair.
So you would unlock the windows and watch them for a few days? To make sure there were no roommates or boyfriends, right.
And once you were sure? He'd pick a night.
We'd go in together.
I'd watch the street, and he'd He'd be with them.
You state that you've never actually participated in any of the sexual assaults yourself - No.
No.
that you acted only as lookout for your partner, and in return, he compensated you monetarily.
- CHRIS: Yes.
- How much? - $1,500 apiece.
- Wow, that's a lot.
I'm sure you must have been worth it, though.
In fact, if we weren't talking about rape and murder, sounds like you'd make an ideal employee.
Now comes the hard part, and you had better tell the whole truth and nothing but, so help you God, or this deal for four years goes away.
What's the name of your partner? It's okay, Chris, go ahead.
- It's him.
- Excuse me? - What the hell? - It's Mr.
Stroh.
He's the (BREND A SCOFFS) - Chris.
Chris, this is not funny.
- What? What? Did something change? Enough! That's it! You, outside now! Just when you thought you heard it all.
Would you mind telling me what the hell's going on in here? Chief Johnson, I am as shocked as you are.
Believe me.
I explained to him very specifically what he needed to do.
If you're pulling some kind of a stunt, so help me.
I was thrilled with four years.
In fact, I think it's what he deserves.
I told him so.
I can promise you it's not gonna get any better.
I don't know what to tell you, except that I can't represent him if he's accusing me of this.
No.
No.
You wrote up this proffer, sir.
We are not going anywhere until we get a name.
All right.
Hold on.
Hold on.
Now, Chris, just so we are perfectly clear, this deal that you just signed Where's Mr.
Stroh? What did he say to you? Well, he said you should get yourself a new lawyer, - for starters.
- CHRIS: What? - BREND A: Frankly, I don't blame him.
- I don't understand.
'Cause this game you're playing - is a waste of everyone's time.
- But he promised me that if I kept my mouth shut, - he'd take care of everything.
- All his hard work, - you're ruining it.
- No, I swear Chris! If this is some crazy attempt to get a better deal, you are climbing up the wrong tree, again! And if you don't straighten up, and right this second, instead of four years, you're looking at the death penalty! Do you understand me? I'll ask you one more time.
What is the name of your partner? - (CRYING) It's It's Mr.
Stroh.
- That's it.
We're through here.
No, wait! Wait! I'm telling you the truth! He just wanted to see what you had on us before I talked to you.
Why would he need to do that? He wanted to make sure you didn't have any evidence on him.
- Good God.
- CHRIS: I swear.
I swear.
I swear, I wanted to tell you everything from the very beginning.
But Mr.
Stroh, he said that if I ever was caught, I was supposed to call him right away.
(CRYING) And when that girl got hurt and when the police came, he told me He told me to run out the back door, and when I couldn't get away, I did what he told me to do.
'Cause Mr.
Stroh, he told me He said that even though I hadn't done anything as bad as him, that I would go to jail for as long as he did if I admitted anything before I got a deal.
Why did you do those things for him? CHRIS: He saved me from jail.
And he wanted to help me with my face.
So when he asked me to use my job to help him find these I didn't want to let him down.
So I found a girl.
I found a really pretty girl that I knew he'd like, and I unlocked the window, and we went in.
And the money, you can find it in my room.
I'm saving it up 'cause my mom says she can make me handsome.
Hey So, wait, is Is that it? Do I Do I Do I get my deal? You have anything to say, Mr.
Stroh? I guess I'd have to say he's crazy.
I mean, he sounded so convincing, he almost had me believing him.
(SIGHING) But, come on, let's be honest.
That story is absurd.
Yes, it is.
Mr.
Garnett, it seems to me that your presence here could be a conflict of interest.
If you stay, you risk being called as a witness.
Seems strangely self-destructive of Chris, don't you think? Knowing that a lie would ruin his chances to walk in four years? True.
He blows his deal.
But you can't use anything he said against him.
Or against me, for that matter.
Because, unfortunately for Chris, even if he was telling the truth, even if I was an accomplice, in order to have his statement admitted in court, you'd need some sort of corroborating evidence linking me to at least one of these crimes.
And, as you and Mr.
Garnett made abundantly clear earlier today, you have no such evidence.
So, if I'm not mistaken, we're through here.
We have a witness, Mr.
Stroh.
Your sixth victim, Lauren Clark.
She says she can make an ID.
Right.
I forgot about her.
- You bringing her in? - Yes, we are.
So is there anyone you'd like to call? Your lawyer, perhaps? No.
That's very considerate of you.
Thank you.
But since I am a lawyer, I think I'll be just fine.
And my advice to me would be to wait.
So, I'll wait.
Right here, if that's okay.
Miss Clark, I'm Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson.
Thank you so much for coming down here so late.
No, that's okay.
It's just scary thinking that I might see him again.
- My stomach's in knots.
- I understand.
Why don't you have a seat here? Now, I wanna tell you that none of these men in the lineup can see or hear you.
Okay? You're perfectly safe here.
You just take your time, all right? - Ready to go, Chief.
- Okay.
I'm sorry.
Wait.
What if I know one of them? Who? Him, number 2.
I don't remember his name.
- You know him? - Yeah, he stopped by my work a few hours ago.
He's a lawyer.
Phil, I think.
And he said I'd probably be coming down here tonight.
(BREND A GASPING) Is that bad? He can't tamper with a witness in his own case.
Six hours ago, it was his client's case.
He'll say he was questioning her, which, at the time, he had every right to do.
He knew where she worked.
He couldn't have known that without Without looking at our files.
Remember the part where you insisted that we show him everything? You ever make a deal with the devil, Mr.
Garnett? This is probably what it's like.
Thank you, Sergeant.
STROH: Chief Johnson.
Did the search warrants served at my home and office get you anywhere? No.
But you had plenty of time to dispose of anything incriminating while our investigation was focused on your client.
I'll admit to being mildly interested in how you managed to rape seven women without getting a mark on you.
How about I didn't rape seven women? Oh, I'm sorry.
Six.
One you just murdered.
For which your former client may now be facing life in prison.
Well, he's obviously a dangerous guy.
Criminally immature.
But his next attorney will probably throw out most of what you've done here.
I'm sorry for wasting so much of your time.
I really should have mentioned meeting Miss Clark when I left this afternoon, but it totally slipped my mind.
She didn't seem terribly bright, did she? Pretty, though.
Mr.
Stroh, you may think you're walking away from this a free man, but I assure you, you are in more trouble than you could possibly imagine! I hope that's not a threat.
I would hate to have to bring a lawsuit against the city for violating my civil rights.
I know your accomplice.
I know the women you raped - and the woman you murdered.
- I don't know what you're talking about.
And with the help of every law-enforcement agency in the county of Los Angeles, which, as of today, will become a permanent fixture in your life, I will hunt relentlessly to tie you to these crimes until the day you die.
Really? What is it you hope to accomplish? To see you on trial for murder, Mr.
Stroh.
Well, then, you must feel terribly disappointed in the way things have turned out here.
(SIGHING) Look on the bright side, Chief.
- At least it's over.
- It's not over.
It is.
English-SDH
We are Code 6 at the prowler complaint.
Take this side.
(KNOCKING ON DOOR) COP 2: Around back! He's running! Forty-seven requesting assistance.
We are in foot pursuit.
Subject is white, male, wearing dark clothing.
I need a perimeter set up.
And be advised, we have not cleared the house.
COP 1: Come on.
We've got a woman down in the house.
COP 4: She's gone.
COP 5: Come on.
Go, go.
Come on.
Come on.
(DOG BARKING) Thank you.
Evening, gentlemen.
Have we been in the house yet? No, the dog handlers don't want to contaminate the crime scene before the K-9 search is complete.
So in the meantime, we got Tao and Sanchez knocking on doors.
Flynn wrote up a search warrant.
We found a judge a few blocks away that will sign it.
Well, that's lucky.
What happened? The neighbor over there called in a prowler around 10:30 this evening.
Responding officers knock one time, see the suspect run from the back of the house.
They call it in, set up a perimeter.
Additional unit arrives, enters through the back of the house to search and clear it, finds the body inside.
Paramedics pronounced her dead Who is she? Jessica.
Jessica-something.
She only moved in a couple of months ago.
She seemed like a real nice young woman.
We kept meaning to ask her over for dinner.
MAN ON RADIO: All units, stand by.
We have an alert at the back of 632 Devon.
(DOGS BARKING) LEAD OFFICER: Hands! Show me your hands! OFFICER: Get down on the ground now! SID's got a 15-minute ETA.
Watch out for the popcorn there, Chief.
So, it looks like she was on her laptop, probably heard a sound, put the TV on pause to listen.
Then she saw her intruder and bolted from the couch.
He grabs her here.
Now, she's in pretty good shape, so she puts up some kind of a struggle and then tries to escape.
So he grabs her hair at the back of her head So she was running away.
Right, and then flung her around onto the coffee table, giving her that gash on her head.
Then, pins her down and BREND A: Tore off her underwear.
Yes, I see.
The officers who found her said that they found that pillow there on her face, like she had been smothered.
Probably used it to keep her quiet when they knocked on the door.
Then why did he run? She was updating her Web page, Chief.
Check it out.
It's the last thing she wrote.
BREND A: "Missed home today but I'm better now.
"Unpacked some pictures, put them out.
Feels good.
"Gonna be strange celebrating without Mom's strawberry cake tomorrow, "but I like it here, "and only two more weeks until" Two more weeks until what? Two weeks till her fiancé joins her.
It's in her birthday card.
"Jess, started packing my things.
"Can't wait for the move.
Miss you.
So proud.
"Happy Birthday.
Love, Pete.
"PS, Sally wants her tummy scratched.
" Sally must be their dog.
FLYNN: Her name's Jessica Goodall.
She's from Joplin, Missouri.
And tomorrow, she was going to turn 30.
Did someone open this door? It's unlocked.
Well, we all came in the back.
Maybe Jessica forgot to lock it.
A woman who just moved here from Missouri does not forget to lock her door at night.
Maybe she opened it for her attacker.
SANCHEZ: Chief, I found the point of entry! Or not.
You know what? I'm tired of these slip-ups.
Whether it's the coroner, the paramedics or one of our officers, open a door before we've had a chance to document the scene and you've let in the defense.
Sergeant Gabriel, please find out who came through here, and quickly.
Thank you.
SANCHEZ: You see this? He cut the screen around the edge from right to left, nice and square, and he climbed in over that counter.
- She must have left it unlocked.
- I find that hard to swallow.
But even if she hadn't locked the window, how would our intruder know that? You can't see the lock from outside.
Chief, they're bringing the suspect out front for the field show-up.
Thank you.
PROVENZA: "This person is in temporary custody as a possible suspect only.
"And the fact that he is in custody does not indicate guilt.
" Even though he looks like hell from hiding in a tree.
(MUMBLING) All right, all right.
"The purpose of the confrontation "is either to eliminate or identify him as the perpetrator.
" - Chief.
- Lieutenant.
Let's go.
Come on.
Mr.
Evans? Is this the man you saw approaching your neighbor's house? Well Yeah.
Yeah, I guess.
He seemed a little A little taller.
I wasn't wearing my glasses.
My wife was there and she saw him.
Maybe we should be talking to your wife, then.
Well, she's gone to work already.
(BREND A SIGHS) She's a nurse on the night shift.
- All right.
Thank you.
Lieutenant.
- TAO: Thank you, sir.
Right this way.
Lieutenant Provenza, please arrange to have a lineup with Mrs.
Evans as soon as possible.
Who are you? FLYNN: His name is Chris Dunlap.
He's 27, he lives in Burbank, at least according to his driver's license.
That's all we have to go on, 'cause he hasn't said a word.
Well, I just read the little cretin his rights.
GABRIEL: I ran his name.
Dunlap was arrested two years ago for exposing himself to an 8-year-old girl in a public restroom, and then arrested again nine months ago for molesting his cousin's 13-year-old daughter while she took a shower.
- Wasn't convicted on either charge.
- Yeah, well, then he must be innocent.
Sorry, Chief.
This took a little longer than I thought, but I went ahead and enlarged a map of the three-square-mile area around the victim.
In the last six months, there's been seven other rapes.
Two occurred in the last 20 days.
Of those seven, six match your point of entry through an unlocked bathroom window.
Screen's cut right to left, just like this one.
All the vics blonde, in their 20s, and living alone.
All right, Commander Taylor, would you please pull those files and see what physical evidence was collected? Lieutenant Tao, let's run a credit report on Mr.
Dunlap.
Let's see if we can wrap this up tonight.
Thank you.
Hi, Chris.
I'm Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson.
It looks like you got pretty scratched up climbing that tree.
I'd like to have somebody come take a look at you, but first we need to talk.
Chris, something really terrible happened tonight.
And I want you to know that I don't think it was intentional.
In fact, I'm certain what happened to that poor young woman was an accident.
Her name was Jessica.
She just moved here from Missouri.
She was looking forward to her fiancé joining her in a few weeks with their dog.
Today was her birthday.
She was gonna be 30 years old.
And now she's not.
I need to know how you met her.
Chris, listen to me.
I have a witness who will identify you as the person she saw in Jessica's house.
Minutes later, you were seen running from that house by a police officer.
Put that together with our dogs, who are never wrong, finding you in a tree three blocks away, and people are gonna start jumping to all sorts of conclusions.
Now, if you have an explanation for what happened tonight, - I need you to tell me.
- I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Okay, what? What? About what, Chris? What are you sorry about? (DOOR OPENING) - Detective, why are you interrupting me? - His lawyer's here.
You already called your lawyer? You must be Chief Johnson.
Phillip Stroh.
Pleasure to meet you.
Your client has your number on his speed dial, Mr.
Stroh? I've represented Chris before.
- Just this way? - Yes.
Last number dialed, 11:47 pm.
Son of a bitch called his attorney when the dogs had him up in the tree.
(PROVENZA SCOFFS) What is the world coming to? Ham omelet? Chief, I just spoke to the nurse.
She's on her way in for the lineup.
- Scrambled egg whites and turkey bacon.
- (GROANING) Thank you, Buzz.
I went over Chris' financials.
He's got no current credit cards, no loans, no leases, no bank accounts, no job.
Other than his cell phone, he's practically off the grid.
Yeah? Thanks, Buzz.
Well, speaking of his cell phone, I dumped it.
The little creep hardly uses the thing.
I mean, other than the call that he made to his attorney last night, from up in the tree, there's a few calls to a delivery company, a few more to a temp agency, and then there's a whole bunch to an address in Burbank, which happens to be his mother's house.
Well, if he didn't have a job and he didn't have any money, - what was he having delivered? - FLYNN: I'll find out.
Prelim from the autopsy confirms that Jessica Goodall was not sexually assaulted.
FLYNN: Well, that's because the cops knocked on the door.
The bastard didn't have the time.
Also, Dr.
Morales, he cut her nails, put them under the scope, didn't find any skin fragments, so she didn't scratch the guy.
- What about prints? - They lifted 37 from inside the location.
They're trying to exclude Jessica's now.
We should know more by the end of the day.
Also, I spoke to the coroner's assistant.
Swears he never used the front door, that he came around back like everyone else.
- Still tracking down the paramedics.
- Excuse me.
Mr.
Stroh, what are you doing in here? - Sorry.
Looking for the vending machines.
- Lf you're hungry, sir, you could take the elevator to the first floor.
Public vending machines are in the same place they've always been.
Yeah, and you can't just go wandering around these halls.
My mistake.
You know, that's the same lawyer that got Chris' other charges dropped.
Morning, Chief.
I've been combing through the files of the six previous rapes, like you asked.
They're getting more violent and more frequent.
The girl he raped before this, he tied to a bedpost, then he knocked her around.
- What about physical evidence? - No prints, no DNA anywhere.
- How did he manage that, I wonder? - He must have worn a raincoat.
Hey, Chief, get this.
You know the company that Chris was calling? He wasn't expecting any deliveries.
He works there.
He's a deliveryman.
Excuse me, Chief.
Mr.
And Mrs.
Evans are here.
- I set them up in the electronics room.
- Thank you, Buzz.
We'll be right there.
Lieutenant, would you please get the delivery logs for these companies? If Chris Dunlap was anywhere in the vicinity of any of these women, I wanna know about it.
Sergeant.
Chris? Ready for the lineup? Just step down the hall.
Thanks.
Mr.
Stroh, I'm sure you know how these things go.
I'm gonna introduce you to the witness, but you're not to ask her any questions.
- Is that clear? - I know the process, Chief.
Hey, Mr.
Stroh.
Phil.
I'm just curious.
You defended Chris for molesting a 13-year-old family member, and you got the charges dismissed.
And now looks like the same guy has murdered someone.
How do you feel about that? Well, first of all, it doesn't look like Chris murdered this young lady to me.
And if you're asking about his previous case, obviously, the state couldn't prove their allegations.
So, if you have a problem with the legal system BREND A: No, I don't think the Sergeant was talking about specifics, just about how you, as a human being, justify defending child molesters.
All right.
Most criminals, they do their time and when they get out of prison, they go on about their lives anonymously.
Sex offenders are registered until the day they die.
They're branded, like animals.
Now, if the state is going to punish them more harshly than other criminals, then it also assumes a special burden to prove their continuing threat to society.
It's my job to make sure the state demonstrates that threat.
So, Sergeant, if your charmingly phrased accusation really does have something to do with how defending suspected sex offenders makes me feel, the answer is, it gives purpose to my life.
Now, I'd like to hear what your eyewitness has to say.
- Wouldn't you? - Absolutely.
Lieutenant Provenza, would you please escort Mr.
Evans out? - Thank you.
- Yes, ma'am.
This way.
Hello, Mrs.
Evans.
I'm Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson.
- Thank you so much for coming in.
- Right out there.
This is Mr.
Stroh.
He's an attorney.
- Yes.
How do you do? - Mrs.
Evans.
Any problem with the selection, Mr.
Stroh? No, looks fine to me.
All right, then.
Mrs.
Evans, you take your time.
Let us know if there's anyone here that you recognize from last night.
Okay.
TAO: Number one, step forward.
Turn to the right.
Again.
Again.
Step back to the wall.
- Number two, step forward.
- (WHISPERING) No.
Turn to the right.
Again.
I remember he was slim and he had dark clothes.
Step back to the wall.
But he had a T-shirt underneath.
I remember the white at his neck.
- Number three, step forward.
- No.
No, he wasn't Hispanic.
Turn to the right.
(CELL PHONE RINGING) If you have a phone, take it out.
Turn it off.
Put it back.
Number four, step forward.
Turn to your right.
Again.
Again.
- Back to the wall.
- I don't know.
He was tall like number five, - but not as large.
- Five, step forward.
- I'm 6'2".
Was he closer to my height? - Hey! Quiet.
(DOOR OPENING) - Chief, can I talk to you? - Yes.
Sergeant Gabriel, would you please take Mr.
Stroh to Interview 1 when we're through here? Mrs.
Evans, thank you so much for your help.
Okay, Chris made deliveries to every single one of these victims days before they were attacked.
That's how come he knew their bathroom windows were unlocked.
He unlocked them himself.
Four.
Six.
Sergeant Gabriel, would you please keep Mr.
Dunlap company for a moment? Mr.
Stroh, I need to talk to you.
- I'm arresting your client.
- For what? Trespassing? Chris Dunlap works as a deliveryman, Mr.
Stroh.
Are you aware of that? You said that the state has a special burden of proof when it comes to sex-crime cases.
Well, here it is.
Your client was in Jessica Goodall's house delivering a dishwasher four days before she was murdered.
He delivered a mattress to Lauren Clark three days before she was tied to her bed and brutally raped.
He delivered a refrigerator to Rebecca Howl - five days before - Circumstantial.
Six rapes and one murder, all at the same point of entry, a bathroom window your client opened when he made these deliveries.
Take this to a jury, and your client faces the death penalty.
- I want to make a deal.
- You want to make a deal? Well, just to satisfy my curiosity, Mr.
Stroh, what kind of deal would you like to make? I don't know.
You get the D A to agree, and Chris will do eight years.
What could you possibly give me that would merit reducing your client's sentence to eight years? The name of the other guy.
It was his partner who raped those women and murdered Jessica Goodall.
(SIGHING) And for eight years, Chris will give you his name.
This may surprise you, Mr.
Stroh, but we're very close to finding Chris' partner on our own.
- Really? - So, if you'd like me to talk to the D A about giving you any kind of a deal, I suggest that you have Chris Dunlap tell me something I don't already know.
And it had better be good.
Chris Dunlap, you are under arrest for murder and six counts of rape.
Sergeant Gabriel, would you please take him downstairs to booking? Thank you.
Have a nice day, Mr.
Stroh.
Now his lawyer says there's another guy.
(BREND A SIGHING) I know you don't like it, but I think you've got to consider the deal.
(SCOFFS) It's not right to let Chris Dunlap walk after only eight years just to get this other guy.
- What does Pope say? - He agrees with me.
Really? He's still smarting from that stupid inquiry after the mall shooting.
No one's letting him forget it.
He managed to delay everything yesterday while we hunted through Dunlap's life, but if we don't find this creep's partner, if this other partner even exists Well, if he doesn't exist, then whatever deal Dunlap's lawyer makes goes away.
At the very least, you put your suspect away for life.
Or if the other guy's real, then you get his name and take him off the streets.
Chris Dunlap walked into these women's homes.
He assessed their vulnerability.
They probably tipped him after he chose them as victims.
He's a monster.
He deserves to go away for the rest of his life.
Now, if this other guy is really out there, then he's dangerous.
The longer you wait, the more likely he is to disappear forever or attack again.
Look, it's not a fair deal, and I know this isn't how you like to hand off cases to the D A, but, honey, hey, at the end of the day, it may be necessary.
Chief, Lieutenant Provenza and Tao got a warrant to search Dunlap's place to see if we could find anything that might tip us off to this mysterious second man.
And Sanchez is talking to a kid who does deliveries with Dunlap.
He's kind of a long shot, but he does have a juvenile conviction for burglary, so, who knows? Chief, if you ask me, they're playing us.
They're making up a SODDI defense so they can buy more time.
- Making up a what? - SODDI.
"Some other dude did it" defense.
But considering our witnesses couldn't ID the suspect, we may be wrong.
I don't know.
Chief Johnson, any luck? We haven't found Chris' partner yet, if that's what you're asking.
(SIGHING) May I speak with you for a moment? I tried explaining things to the Deputy D A, but I can't hold him off.
He's, like, half a block away, and he wants the deal.
- For eight years? - I don't like it, either, (BREND A GROANING) But it has to be this way.
Bring back the suspect.
Get his lawyer.
I'll be back in a minute with the DD A.
I'm sorry.
Detective Sanchez, any chance the guy who made deliveries with Chris - might be his partner? - I'm sorry, Chief.
The alibi's good.
(BREND A SIGHS) He did say that Chris asked to use the bathroom a lot during deliveries, which is against the rules.
And that he liked to look at the customers' pictures, the ones in the frames.
Co-worker said it was creepy.
Commander, where are we with the rest of the victims? We've been going through the rape files.
Five of the victims either can't remember what happened, or never saw the assailant's face.
Apparently, he wore a mask or something, pantyhose.
- What about the sixth victim? - Lauren Clark.
She saw him.
Never ID'd him from the books.
Dunlap wasn't in the books.
- You want me to bring her in? - Yes.
But we're supposed to evaluate her state of mind before we put her through that, so, no, not yet.
Sorry, Chief, but there's nothing where Chris Dunlap lived that would point to the so-called other partner.
But he's awfully strange.
He lives in the attic at his mother's house.
Very little furniture, a mattress on the floor.
Oh, hold on.
Lots of lingerie catalogs.
And a big wad of cash stuffed in one of his shoes.
Close to $5,500.
Yeah, now, we asked the mom about it, she said she's helping him to save up to fix his face.
- What? - Plastic surgery.
Yeah, mommy seems to think that her little boy needs to be better-Iooking.
And got all the brochures, too.
You know, Botox, rhinoplasty.
GABRIEL: Chief.
Chief, I finally spoke to the paramedics.
They said that they went through the back door of Jessica's house to get the body, that they never touched the front door.
- Chief Johnson? - Yes? - You remember DD A Garnett.
- Yes.
Just one second, please.
Sergeant, what do you think this is, on Jessica's front porch? Looks like popcorn.
None of our guys went out this way, so who tracked it outside? Our officer chased Chris out the back door while the murderer walked right out the front! - Chief Johnson.
- Yes? Your office, please.
Now that you have confirmed the existence of Mr.
Dunlap's partner, I don't have to tell you, in the interest of public safety, we are compelled to act.
- I don't agree to the eight years.
- It's not up to you.
Let's be clear here, Garnett.
For the record, you are insisting on making this deal despite the fact that the LAPD needs more time to investigate.
Good, you understand.
So I shouldn't have to explain it again.
Can we get on with it, please? (BREND A SIGHS) The D A's office is willing to consider the eight years if your client will tell us who his accomplice is, assuming said accomplice actually committed the murder and the sexual assaults.
And here I thought you were close to finding said accomplice on your own.
I don't like being manipulated, Chief Johnson.
Mr.
Garnett, you can have the name.
But now my client wants probation.
- What? - Sir, there's a murderer at large.
- Then you'd better hurry.
- You are an officer of the court and therefore obligated to aid in the capture I am well aware of my obligations, Chief Johnson, in particular, as they relate to my client.
Now, he has some very important information that should be passed on to you, but I need to know he's getting the best deal possible.
And how do we convince you that eight years is reasonable? - Show me your evidence.
- We are not doing that.
Convince me that you have something substantial against him.
I am not opening up my case.
- He's got no incentive to give - There is no way! If you do, I'll talk to him.
Maybe we can reach a compromise.
- Compromise? - Someplace in the middle.
- It is eight years, or there's no deal! - Hold on one second.
Mr.
Stroh, could you excuse us for just one moment, please? Thank you.
I refuse to put my evidence on display here.
Excuse me? What evidence? As far as I can tell, you don't have any.
The investigation is barely 24 hours old.
To be manipulated into a plea agreement - for probation at this point is ridiculous! - You wanna know why I'm reduced to this possibility? Because you haven't found me a killer.
We need some time to go through the old cases.
A few days! With an active rapist on the loose, a guy who just murdered someone? No way.
(SIGHS) I think this is a mistake.
And you are the reigning expert on mistakes, Chief Pope, but this can't be one of them.
Now, do I do this with her or without? Victim four, Kim Stansbury, raped January 12.
Do you have any physical evidence linking my client to the scene? No.
- No blood, no semen, no hair? - No.
No.
No.
Same as all the rest.
- Any fingerprints ID'd to my client? - BREND A: Not yet.
STROH: Any victim IDs or independent witnesses that can place him at the scene? No, but we do have him delivering a refrigerator to her six days before the incident.
Victim five, Rebecca Howl, raped January 20.
Any physical evidence? We have him delivering a refrigerator to her five days before.
Victim six, Lauren Clark.
Should I assume the same as the preceding five? Actually, she says she can identify the assailant.
Interesting.
But do you have any blood, semen, hair, or any other physical evidence? No.
All right, lastly, Jessica Goodall.
Anything? Other than the fact that your client was seen running from the back of the victim's house by a Los Angeles police officer and found hiding in a tree STROH: Okay.
Thank you.
I will discuss this with Chris, and, if he's in agreement, I'll write up the proffer to state that, in addition to the details of the crimes, he will reveal the name of his partner.
- We can meet in the morning, and - No.
We're doing this tonight.
You've got five hours, sir.
Fine.
Mr.
Garnett.
Chief Johnson.
- This is the right thing to do.
- Not for Jessica Goodall.
Excuse me.
Chief Johnson.
Stroh is here.
- You ready? - As I'll ever be.
What's the offer? His client gives up the name.
We split the difference, four years.
(BREND A SIGHING) This accomplice has a methodology.
He's not gonna strike again while we have Chris Dunlap in custody.
We have time to look for him.
We're gonna find the guy a lot faster once we know his name.
Can we just execute the deal? Please? BREND A: All right.
Mr.
Stroh.
Chris.
You've read the statement and agreed to provide testimony as to the truthfulness of the facts within this document? Four years for the name, provided we can verify its validity.
Mr.
Stroh, maybe it's my ears, but for the life of me, I can't hear what your client is saying.
- Chris.
- Yes, I'll testify.
Good.
Would you sign this, please? Thank you.
Okay, you state here that you were charged with finding women on your delivery that would best fit your partner's type.
- Is that correct? - Yes.
He He likes blonde hair.
So you would unlock the windows and watch them for a few days? To make sure there were no roommates or boyfriends, right.
And once you were sure? He'd pick a night.
We'd go in together.
I'd watch the street, and he'd He'd be with them.
You state that you've never actually participated in any of the sexual assaults yourself - No.
No.
that you acted only as lookout for your partner, and in return, he compensated you monetarily.
- CHRIS: Yes.
- How much? - $1,500 apiece.
- Wow, that's a lot.
I'm sure you must have been worth it, though.
In fact, if we weren't talking about rape and murder, sounds like you'd make an ideal employee.
Now comes the hard part, and you had better tell the whole truth and nothing but, so help you God, or this deal for four years goes away.
What's the name of your partner? It's okay, Chris, go ahead.
- It's him.
- Excuse me? - What the hell? - It's Mr.
Stroh.
He's the (BREND A SCOFFS) - Chris.
Chris, this is not funny.
- What? What? Did something change? Enough! That's it! You, outside now! Just when you thought you heard it all.
Would you mind telling me what the hell's going on in here? Chief Johnson, I am as shocked as you are.
Believe me.
I explained to him very specifically what he needed to do.
If you're pulling some kind of a stunt, so help me.
I was thrilled with four years.
In fact, I think it's what he deserves.
I told him so.
I can promise you it's not gonna get any better.
I don't know what to tell you, except that I can't represent him if he's accusing me of this.
No.
No.
You wrote up this proffer, sir.
We are not going anywhere until we get a name.
All right.
Hold on.
Hold on.
Now, Chris, just so we are perfectly clear, this deal that you just signed Where's Mr.
Stroh? What did he say to you? Well, he said you should get yourself a new lawyer, - for starters.
- CHRIS: What? - BREND A: Frankly, I don't blame him.
- I don't understand.
'Cause this game you're playing - is a waste of everyone's time.
- But he promised me that if I kept my mouth shut, - he'd take care of everything.
- All his hard work, - you're ruining it.
- No, I swear Chris! If this is some crazy attempt to get a better deal, you are climbing up the wrong tree, again! And if you don't straighten up, and right this second, instead of four years, you're looking at the death penalty! Do you understand me? I'll ask you one more time.
What is the name of your partner? - (CRYING) It's It's Mr.
Stroh.
- That's it.
We're through here.
No, wait! Wait! I'm telling you the truth! He just wanted to see what you had on us before I talked to you.
Why would he need to do that? He wanted to make sure you didn't have any evidence on him.
- Good God.
- CHRIS: I swear.
I swear.
I swear, I wanted to tell you everything from the very beginning.
But Mr.
Stroh, he said that if I ever was caught, I was supposed to call him right away.
(CRYING) And when that girl got hurt and when the police came, he told me He told me to run out the back door, and when I couldn't get away, I did what he told me to do.
'Cause Mr.
Stroh, he told me He said that even though I hadn't done anything as bad as him, that I would go to jail for as long as he did if I admitted anything before I got a deal.
Why did you do those things for him? CHRIS: He saved me from jail.
And he wanted to help me with my face.
So when he asked me to use my job to help him find these I didn't want to let him down.
So I found a girl.
I found a really pretty girl that I knew he'd like, and I unlocked the window, and we went in.
And the money, you can find it in my room.
I'm saving it up 'cause my mom says she can make me handsome.
Hey So, wait, is Is that it? Do I Do I Do I get my deal? You have anything to say, Mr.
Stroh? I guess I'd have to say he's crazy.
I mean, he sounded so convincing, he almost had me believing him.
(SIGHING) But, come on, let's be honest.
That story is absurd.
Yes, it is.
Mr.
Garnett, it seems to me that your presence here could be a conflict of interest.
If you stay, you risk being called as a witness.
Seems strangely self-destructive of Chris, don't you think? Knowing that a lie would ruin his chances to walk in four years? True.
He blows his deal.
But you can't use anything he said against him.
Or against me, for that matter.
Because, unfortunately for Chris, even if he was telling the truth, even if I was an accomplice, in order to have his statement admitted in court, you'd need some sort of corroborating evidence linking me to at least one of these crimes.
And, as you and Mr.
Garnett made abundantly clear earlier today, you have no such evidence.
So, if I'm not mistaken, we're through here.
We have a witness, Mr.
Stroh.
Your sixth victim, Lauren Clark.
She says she can make an ID.
Right.
I forgot about her.
- You bringing her in? - Yes, we are.
So is there anyone you'd like to call? Your lawyer, perhaps? No.
That's very considerate of you.
Thank you.
But since I am a lawyer, I think I'll be just fine.
And my advice to me would be to wait.
So, I'll wait.
Right here, if that's okay.
Miss Clark, I'm Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson.
Thank you so much for coming down here so late.
No, that's okay.
It's just scary thinking that I might see him again.
- My stomach's in knots.
- I understand.
Why don't you have a seat here? Now, I wanna tell you that none of these men in the lineup can see or hear you.
Okay? You're perfectly safe here.
You just take your time, all right? - Ready to go, Chief.
- Okay.
I'm sorry.
Wait.
What if I know one of them? Who? Him, number 2.
I don't remember his name.
- You know him? - Yeah, he stopped by my work a few hours ago.
He's a lawyer.
Phil, I think.
And he said I'd probably be coming down here tonight.
(BREND A GASPING) Is that bad? He can't tamper with a witness in his own case.
Six hours ago, it was his client's case.
He'll say he was questioning her, which, at the time, he had every right to do.
He knew where she worked.
He couldn't have known that without Without looking at our files.
Remember the part where you insisted that we show him everything? You ever make a deal with the devil, Mr.
Garnett? This is probably what it's like.
Thank you, Sergeant.
STROH: Chief Johnson.
Did the search warrants served at my home and office get you anywhere? No.
But you had plenty of time to dispose of anything incriminating while our investigation was focused on your client.
I'll admit to being mildly interested in how you managed to rape seven women without getting a mark on you.
How about I didn't rape seven women? Oh, I'm sorry.
Six.
One you just murdered.
For which your former client may now be facing life in prison.
Well, he's obviously a dangerous guy.
Criminally immature.
But his next attorney will probably throw out most of what you've done here.
I'm sorry for wasting so much of your time.
I really should have mentioned meeting Miss Clark when I left this afternoon, but it totally slipped my mind.
She didn't seem terribly bright, did she? Pretty, though.
Mr.
Stroh, you may think you're walking away from this a free man, but I assure you, you are in more trouble than you could possibly imagine! I hope that's not a threat.
I would hate to have to bring a lawsuit against the city for violating my civil rights.
I know your accomplice.
I know the women you raped - and the woman you murdered.
- I don't know what you're talking about.
And with the help of every law-enforcement agency in the county of Los Angeles, which, as of today, will become a permanent fixture in your life, I will hunt relentlessly to tie you to these crimes until the day you die.
Really? What is it you hope to accomplish? To see you on trial for murder, Mr.
Stroh.
Well, then, you must feel terribly disappointed in the way things have turned out here.
(SIGHING) Look on the bright side, Chief.
- At least it's over.
- It's not over.
It is.
English-SDH