don't waste it.
We can always get more scotch.
Mmm...
I wasn't talking about the liquor.
What do you say we go somewhere
that has a bigger play area, huh?
Name it.
The sunrise beach hotel.
I'll meet you there in ten minutes, baby.
Mm. Mmm...
Okay.
Don't lose your ambiance.
This is Marion Kinsey.
Fine, sweetheart.
I'm leaving now.
Good night, nan.
Ma'am, are you okay?
Oh... yes, I think so.
What about him?
I'll check.
I'll check.
I don't know what happened.
He was driving so fast
it was almost as if he
was trying to hit me.
Is he all right?
No, ma'am.
Don't look, ma'am, don't look.
I think he's dead.
Oh, my god.
I k*lled my husband.
Want to get some of
these people out of here?
Oh, you got it, sarge.
Folks, you'll have to step back.
You ever wonder what it is
with all these looky-loos?
Oh, you mean, what's the turn-on?
Yeah.
I don't know... maybe it's
one of those "thank
god it's not me" things.
Yeah.
You always see the good in people.
I thought this was about looky-loos.
It is, it is. I mean...
I just think they're sickos that get off
on watching carnage.
They can see all they want on the news.
Yeah, well, it is better to
watch the game at the stadium
than it is on TV.
What, you saying you agree with them?
No! No, no, don't turn this around.
How did you ever miss going to law school?
Okay, okay, here are
the skid marks from his car
going down the road over there.
No skid marks from the wife's car.
Maybe she didn't have
time before the collision.
Sergeants, this is what
we pulled out of the car.
Can I get you to sign for it?
Yeah. Uh, make sure I get copied on
that paint analysis, okay?
You got it.
Thank you.
Thanks. So when did the m.E.
Estimate the time of death?
Around :.
Alcohol level was one-eight.
Well, let's take a look at this stuff.
It's Christmas, cassy.
This is for you.
Mm, let's see.
Two hours before the victim got
this ticket for a burnt-out headlight.
No mention of being blitzed.
Well, he should have
stopped by the repair shop
instead of the... whoa!
Bar.
Tom, take a look at this.
Whoa.
Hey, take a look at this bank transfer.
Cassy: We really appreciate
your coming down here
like this, Mrs. Kinsey.
You sure I can't get you a coffee?
Thank you, no.
Listen, we just have
a few more questions.
There's something
I'd like to clear up first.
What I said to the road worker.
That it looked like your
husband tried to hit you.
Yes.
I'd like to retract that if I could.
When I said that...
I didn't know that...
That he was in the car?
Yes.
Well, why would that change how it looked?
Please, sergeant.
I've just accidentally
k*lled my own husband.
I'm going to have enough difficulty
talking about that.
I don't need any further complications.
Well, the problem with that
is it's already part of the record.
We're not planning on making this public.
It just seemed like...
It sounds insane
but it looked like the car
accelerated just before it hit.
It must have been the shock
of seeing those headlights
coming at me.
Wait, both headlights?
What?
You saw two headlights?
I don't know, it all happened so fast.
Does your husband do business in Illinois?
No, he's an architect.
All his work is local.
Cassy: What about you?
Do you do any banking in Illinois?
No. Why are you asking
me all these questions?
Man: Marion?
Marion: Thank god you're here.
So sorry, I came as soon as I heard.
Excuse me.
You would be...
Allen mcgrath.
My brother.
We're just about finished.
Good. Uh, I'll drive you home?
I'd like to do something
about the way I look.
Yeah, down the hall,
second door on the left.
Thank you.
How well did you know her husband?
The world's a better place without him.
How so?
Mcgrath: He was an abuser.
He abused alcohol, he
abused his marriage vows.
I can't prove it
but I'm sure he abused Marion a few times.
You're not delivering the eulogy.
Don't get me wrong.
I didn't wish my sister widowhood.
When she's done grieving
she'll realize how well rid of him she is.
What makes you think he hit her?
I'd go over there at night.
She'd be wearing dark glasses and makeup.
That's not Marion.
So you had no idea
that she'd press charges.
No. But if she had, I would
have k*lled him myself.
You don't think this is
anything but an accident?
No. No, we're just dotting and crossing.
You know, I really want
to get her out of here.
So, if you have any other
questions that I can answer
please, give me a call.
Like hell we don't think
there's anything more here.
Yeah, but why should we tell him?
She did say "headlights," plural.
Mm-hmm. But if he was trying to hit her
why was it his car that left skid marks?
On the other hand...
Here's the accident scene.
Here's Kinsey's house.
He drives past the exit to his
house, two miles further north.
Because he knew his
wife was on her way home?
Uh-huh. Maybe he thought
he would run into her.
In the biblical sense.
Ryan, St. John... the
Kinsey guy had a daughter.
Tom: Yeah?
She's got to be notified.
Come on, Harry.
Lipschitz: She lives with her mother
Kinsey's ex-wife.
Go. Notify.
Tom: Hands down, this is
the worst part of the job.
Yeah, but what's the alternative?
You know, they should have a special unit
that does just nothing but this.
Like what? Singing telegrams?
"Violets are blue. Roses are red.
Sorry to tell you that
your loved one is dead"?
I still think your standard
opening is the best.
Yeah, right.
Oh, Ms. Whatever-your-name-is
we've got some bad news
about your ex-husband.
Good!
Excuse me?
Good. The world's a
better place without him.
So you weren't on exactly
friendly terms with him?
No terms at all.
I never heard from
him, neither did charlene.
Is that your daughter?
Mm-hmm, the word "your" being singular.
You see, Dennis never expressed
the slightest interest in her
either monetarily or emotionally.
So what happened?
Wrap his car around a telephone pole?
More or less.
Mmm. Was there a woman in the car with him?
Is that what broke up your marriage?
Yeah, yeah.
That and the drinking
and the abuse, verbal and otherwise
and on, and on, and on, and on, and on...
Wait a second, you guys
said you're from homicide.
Was he m*rder*d?
We're just trying to get all the facts
concerning the accident.
If it was an accident, you mean.
Was he paying you alimony?
None.
Tom: Child support?
When I could thr*aten it out of him.
There are laws.
And there are also lawyers
and his were a lot better than mine.
It's the way he ran his business, too.
Wasn't he an architect?
That was a sideline.
His main profession
was screwing people over
and he was pretty good at it, too.
Trust me; I have the
divorce agreement to prove it.
Mom?
Um, charlene, sweetie
these police officers have
some bad news for you.
Well, it's awful to say but I was relieved
when the daughter started to cry.
There's that "there's some
good in every person" thing again.
I can't help it.
It's just the way I am.
Yeah, well, you know what I think?
Dennis Kinsey's going to
test that theory real good.
Cassy: What do think...
Potential customers?
I don't think architects make cold calls.
Hey, just for fun
why don't you run the
names through the computer?
Yeah, just for fun.
Sergeant Ryan?
Yeah.
I'm Gayle whittaker with hamner insurance.
Oh, thanks. This is my
partner, sergeant St. John.
I'm the claims adjuster
on the Kinsey accident.
Yeah, we're just putting that together.
Might it be something
other than accidental?
It's a little early to say; Why do you ask?
Recently, Mr. Kinsey sent us a check
to enhance his wife's
life insurance policy.
How much enhancing did he do?
Double, to $,.
And there's a double indemnity clause.
Of course. While he was at
it, he upped his own policy.
We're going to hold off
on making any payments.
Would you keep me abreast of any situation?
Uh, yeah, absolutely.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Keep her abreast?
Don't, Tom.
Oh, please.
Well, well, well.
What?
Cassy: The four names?
All of them were convicted
of vehicular homicide.
Coincidence? I think not.
And none of them served
more than three months.
A guy nobody likes
upped the insurance on his wife's life.
Transfers money to an out-of-state bank
shoves a wad of cash into his briefcase...
Why do the lyrics from "bad to the bone"
keep running through my head?
How about bringing me up
to speed on that accident?
I'm on my way in, Harry.
Why don't you call the courthouse?
Find out if the guy
really did this research.
I'm all over it.
So, he figured to k*ll her
serve his time and walk out a rich man?
$, a month? At an
hourly rate, that's not bad.
Yeah, still, there's a lot of blank spaces
that got to be filled in.
We're on it.
Of course, it will be the first time
I busted a corpse for attempted m*rder.
At least we don't have to worry
about the D.A. screwing up the prosecution.
Cassy: Mm-hmm.
Okay.
Thank you.
Hey.
Hey. They checked at the courthouse.
Someone named Kinsey
did check out the articles.
The thing of it is, it was Marion Kinsey.
So, how many does this make?
Eleven.
Just our luck.
This guy gets a citation in an area
with five bars per block.
Why do they do it?
Why put so many bars so close together?
So the drunks can bar-hop
when they're driving.
Civic-minded devils.
Man: Yeah, I served him last night.
Tom: Good memory.
He was easy... sitting in a booth
with a good-looking brunette.
Way it looked, the two of them
were trying to swallow each other.
I had to ask them to leave.
They were pretty out of it?
No, the way their faces
were locked together
didn't leave much time to drink.
It was embarrassing other customers.
It's not like this is some
x-rated porno place.
I mean, it's just a
friendly neighborhood bar.
You remember when he left?
:, :, around in there.
You think you'd recognize the
brunette if you saw her again?
I'm not sure.
Mostly I saw the back of their heads.
He go get himself into trouble?
He went and got himself dead.
Car crash.
Hey, I got receipts for his drinks.
I mean, he got blasted
it didn't happen here. I mean...
We know, it's a friendly neighborhood bar.
Thank you.
If he's telling the truth
about Kinsey being in decent shape
he would have been bombed
somewhere between : and :.
He's a little old for a chug-a-lug.
I don't think that's a
habit you lose with age.
What about the woman?
I don't know.
Maybe he got drunk,
couldn't perform, she split.
Best call she'll ever make.
Cassy: So you remember giving
this guy a ticket?
Woman: Oh, absolutely.
Nice looking, mid-thirties.
So, how long you guys been in homicide?
Uh, ten years.
Yeah.
You must have gotten in
when you were my age.
No, not quite.
When you stopped Kinsey, was he weaving?
Did you smell alcohol on his breath?
Officer: No, nothing.
And I breathalyze
people at the drop of a hat.
And this guy, he didn't
give me any reason to.
Ryan...
Wait, weren't you the primary
on the Zimmerman case?
Yeah, I was.
That was cool
how you figured how the victim...
Actually, sergeant St.
John figured that out, but...
The two of us worked together.
Like we're trying to work on this one.
Right... right.
Yeah, I get it.
Did he seem like he'd taken
some prescription drug?
No, he was totally lucid.
So, how'd you start out?
Oh, uh, well, I started out in a patrol car
then moved up to robbery...
So, you think that's a
good, like, jumping-off point?
As good as any.
Oh, right.
Right.
Was there anything unusual
you noticed about Mr. Kinsey?
Only the way he took the ticket.
Did he bitch about it?
No, he just asked me
to write it up as fast as possible
like he was in a rush.
Anything more, ma'am?
No, that'll do it.
You think maybe I could drop by some time
and ask you some questions?
Yeah, sure.
Anytime.
Thanks. See you.
She's a nice kid.
"Ma'am"?
That is the first time a cop has ever
called me ma'am.
So what?
So! I thought you had to be at least
before somebody calls you ma'am.
No, no, after , you're fair game.
Oh! Now you tell me!
Come on... ma'am.
It's not funny!
Woman: You're telling me that
my daughter gets nothing!
Dennis made me first beneficiary.
Charlene was named second.
So I'm afraid she's going to have to wait
for her inheritance.
For my sake
I hope that's a very long time.
You talked him into that.
I didn't talk him into anything.
It was his idea to leave
his daughter nothing?
He never discussed it with me.
Yeah. I find that hard to believe.
I find it hard to believe
that we haven't even buried him
and all you can talk about is money.
Yeah, well, money's
like the right to vote...
It only matters if you haven't got it.
Charlene: My father would
take care of me
before he'd worry about you.
You're probably still in shock
so I'm going to try and be understanding.
Hey! Where do you get
off patronizing my daughter?
Fine.
You want some straight
talk? Here's some straight talk.
How many times have you seen your father
in the last two years?
You can't count them on two hands.
And who can blame him?
With all the makeup she wears
she looks like a streetwalker.
He was probably embarrassed
to be seen with you.
I intend to see my daughter taken care of.
I promise you
you'll regret it.
Let's go.
The kid hit me.
I saw.
Evidently she has her father's genes.
Pity the poor man who marries her.
Pity the poor women who married her father.
Mm-hm.
Yeah.
Okay.
All right, thank you.
So a woman who works with Marion Kinsey
said she got a call
from her husband that
night and she left right away.
Not according to this phone bill.
The only call he made was to his home.
Maybe he used a public phone.
He had a cell phone.
How about we go ask her?
You think the rental's hers?
Well, the Porsche wasn't
in any condition to drive.
She must have been one strong-willed lady.
You know how hard it is
to let your lungs fill up with water
without coming up for air?
I'll take your word.
Any signs of trauma?
No, not even a trace of a print.
But the autopsy will tell us more.
Any ideas why she
might have k*lled herself?
We think she might have
m*rder*d her husband.
Oh?
You got a t.O.D.?
It's going to be vague.
The warm water throws it off.
Same with the liver temp.
Call you after the autopsy.
Thanks.
Don't tell me you believe any of this.
At the moment, I've got no reason not to.
She kills her husband
and then commits su1c1de?
It's not unheard of, cass.
She gets dressed up to
drown herself in the bathtub?
Maybe she's modest.
Oh, yeah, right.
There's a towel missing.
Cassy: There's
her husband's towel.
Yeah, but...
The question is, where is hers?
Well, maybe the housekeeper
just put one in here.
No way. You don't put out just one.
Why not?
It's just not done.
Um, could you have your people
see if you can find a towel
with the monogram "mk" on it?
Ryan.
Yes, Harry.
No.
But we've already done that once.
I know we're the primaries, but...
Yeah...
You're damn right
I'm upset about it, but...
Let me guess.
He wants us to notify the brother.
And imagine how he's going to take it.
I can't stand it.
Where did you learn to do that?
In Thailand.
The golden triangle?
In a manner of speaking.
Oh, no.
Let the housekeeper get it.
She's on vacation.
Oh, oh, I've got to get that.
Hurry back.
The meter's running.
Tell me about it.
Can we come in?
I'm afraid we have some bad news.
My parents died when I was .
Marion was .
We moved in with
relatives, but I raised her.
Actually, we raised each other.
She was the only person in my life
that I really, really cared about.
I'm sorry, can I get you some... coffee?
Something stronger?
No, we're fine.
I think I'll have something stronger.
Mr. Mcgrath, how would you describe
your sister's behavior
in the last few days?
You mean, before the accident?
Yes.
She was...
I guess "distracted"
would be the right word.
We talked every day.
Last week she was
rushing to get off the phone.
Was she depressed or worried?
Depressed, no.
Worried isn't right.
More like preoccupied.
Like she was planning a party
and wanted everything to be perfect.
She certainly didn't sound suicidal
if that's what you're getting at.
Mcgrath: Wait a minute.
Are you saying you
don't think it's a su1c1de?
We don't have a reason to think otherwise.
Unless you can tell us something else.
No, what would I have to tell you?
The only person who might have k*lled her
is already dead.
Her husband?
Exactly.
Well, we've ruled him out.
Allen, are you coming back to bed?
In a minute.
All right. I'm waiting.
Mrs. Mcgrath?
Not very likely.
Look, do you have a card?
In case I think of anything?
Cassy: We'll let
ourselves out.
Thanks for your cooperation.
There's got to be somebody else
that can deliver the bad news.
Like who?
The chaplain, he's trained for that.
No, he helps us cope with our problems.
Well, I'm having a problem.
My way of coping is to send him
to deliver the bad news.
Let's get out of here.
Tom: Did you get the prints
off the Cadillac?
Prints?
Yeah, we got prints.
About different sets.
You run them through n.C.I.C.?
Yeah, sergeant, that's
what we do with prints.
We got zip.
The only match we
could find was to his wife.
What about civilian channels?
I don't follow. The department
of motor vehicles
armed forces... anybody that
takes prints as a matter
of course.
That'll take a while.
Maybe you'll get lucky.
I'd like that.
What's with her?
You know what you said about getting lucky?
You just did.
I don't follow.
You're still talking baritone.
Last guy made a crack like that
is singing in the soprano
section of the choir.
So what I've got is water in her lungs.
Death by drowning.
Time of death between : and : P.M.
Traces of valium in her system
which isn't unusual in cases like this.
You calling it su1c1de?
Can't find a reason not to.
You're going to have to.
I can't find what isn't there.
It's there, damn it.
Hey, he's not the bad guy.
Cassy: No.
The real bad guy's out there
thinking he's smarter
than we are, and he's not.
Well, at the moment, I'm afraid he is.
No, sterling, I'm not going to buy that.
This is no time to get obsessive on me.
Well, now is as good a time as any.
I've been over this body
three times.
What's this?
Tom: It's a scrape.
Morton: That's what it is.
Yeah.
Like this one.
Yeah, sort of.
It's a pinch.
When you catch your skin in the zipper?
The only difference is
her Mark doesn't have blood on it.
Because it was zipped
up after she was dead.
Uh-huh.
Enough valium to substantiate
a lack of resistance?
Probably.
And enough for a woman
to have held her down?
Yeah.
So the k*ller held her
down by her shoulders
so the clavicle wouldn't be broken.
How am I doing?
From an obsessive standpoint, I mean.
You knew she was this strong
when you married her?
Yeah, pretty much.
I admire your courage.
Marion was working with somebody.
The woman in the car with her husband.
After the husband left
the woman makes a call to Marion.
Cassy: She leaves the office
just in time
to run into her husband
on that curve in the road.
You were right about the prints, sergeant.
What have you got?
A full set, right and left.
Kicked out on a g*n registration.
A woman named Gayle
whittaker? Recognize the name?
We sure do.
Thanks.
Tom: So you don't deny being
with Dennis Kinsey
the night he was k*lled?
No. I was trying to
close a deal on his policy.
That's not the way the
bartender described it.
Look, sergeant, I've been selling insurance
for a very long time.
I do what I have to do to close...
A lot of which isn't in a sales manual.
I didn't have a g*n on him.
How well did you know his wife?
We met a couple times.
Cassy: That's all?
That's all.
We'll ask you one more time.
You can ask me a hundred
more, you still get the same answer.
What's the point?
The point is Marion Kinsey
k*lled her husband.
And she had an accomplice.
Tom: Someone
tipped her off
when Dennis Kinsey left that bar.
So she could time her drive
to intercept him.
And we think that someone was you.
What possible reason
would I have for doing that?
To split the insurance
policy on Dennis Kinsey.
I told you he'd taken out a policy on her.
Yeah, but did she take out
additional insurance on him?
Not that I know of.
So you wouldn't mind
if we double-check your record?
Yes, I would mind a great deal.
Have you asked Marion about this?
We can't.
She was k*lled last night.
k*lled?
Tom: Spare us
the performance.
What the hell does that mean?
We think you got scared
she was going to talk, so you k*lled her.
No, I... I was out with
my friends last night.
I-I-I didn't even get
home until really late
and there is no way...
That you're going to pin a m*rder on me.
Tom: We got your prints off
the phone at the bar.
We know that you tipped off
Marion Kinsey when Dennis left that bar.
That makes you an accessory to m*rder.
That's what we're going
to pin on you.
So, you got the lady to cop to accessory?
Yeah, she and the wife
took out a policy on Dennis
and they were to split the proceeds.
She denies k*lling the wife.
And her alibi checks out.
So, we can close out
on the husband's death.
We're still open on the wife.
Well, you got two big
insurance policies, right?
So, who are the beneficiaries?
The husband's daughter on his
and the husband on his wife's.
Cassy: The wife's policy was
meant as a red herring.
Nobody ever thought to
put a second beneficiary on.
And as the wife took them both off
as part of the setup...
You got zippo for a motive.
Uh-huh.
Lipschitz: Well, guys...
Sure beats the hell out of me.
Thanks for your input.
Well, sure, that's why I'm here.
Tom: I asked the right question.
About the beneficiaries?
Yeah.
Okay, we got mom and daughter.
How do you want to go at them?
Separately.
Meet back here and compare notes?
Done and done.
Hi, charlene.
Do you remember me?
Yeah, you're the cop.
It's nice to know I made an impression.
What are you doing here?
I just need to ask you
a couple of questions.
Why? Is Marion making a big deal
about the fact that I slapped her?
No.
Marion's dead.
No kidding?
Yeah.
How do you feel about that?
Maybe there is a god.
No, seriously.
That was seriously.
Where were you yesterday
evening between : and
Home.
Alone?
With my mother.
Mother: I was here last night
all evening.
With your daughter?
Mm-hmm. She was upstairs, studying.
So the two of you are each other's alibis?
Oh, come on, sergeant.
Are you suggesting that she
and I decided to k*ll Marion
like some sort of mom
and daughter activity?
I think you knew that
she was the beneficiary
of your ex-husband's insurance
if anything happened to his wife.
Hmm, well, that never occurred to me.
She would also get the estate
whatever that was worth.
Look, officer...
I tried everything that I could
to get my daughter financial
security after the divorce.
Yeah, but you failed.
Yes, I failed.
And then I committed myself
to raising charlene by myself
which I have done and
which I take a lot of pride in.
My point being?
I wouldn't have k*lled
Marion to get his money
any more than I would have k*lled him.
So you believe the kid?
Yeah, do you believe the mom?
Yeah.
Which leaves us with the brother.
If for no other reason
than the process of elimination.
Yep.
Tom: Somebody's here.
Hey, hey, hey!
Open up!
Go to the front.
I'll take the driveway.
Hey!
Ow!
Ow!
You're under arrest.
Man: For what?
For ruining my slacks!
You okay?
Yeah. What were you doing in the house?
Just taking what that deadbeat owes me.
Mcgrath. Who?
He owes me two grand.
For what?
That fancy Cadillac
which they're about to repo.
So, what are you telling us, he's broke?
Flatter than road k*ll under a semi.
That guy owes money all over town.
Mcgrath: I really think I should have
my lawyer present.
So call a lawyer.
The minute he's in the room, we don't deal.
There's nothing to deal about.
Really?
What about this?
That mean something?
From your sister's bathroom.
Tom: We found it
in a dumpster.
Like I said, that's supposed
to mean something?
And we found these wrapped up in the towel.
Marvin? Hi, it's Allen.
I'm at home.
I've got a couple of detectives here
that are questioning me
about Marion's m*rder
and I thought, uh...
I know, exactly.
Yeah, you should be here
if I'm going to answer
any of their questions.
All right, fine, see you in a bit.
So much for dealing.
He really does think
he's smarter than we are.
And he's not.
I'm sorry, is this designed
to get me to start talking?
Because I think that's a waste of time.
I don't care whether you
talk or not, we got you.
Question is whether
you make it easy or hard.
Now, we would prefer it easy.
You cop, make a confession
they work out some long-term sentence
and you don't fry.
But it's your choice.
I'm sorry.
Um, does this really work with suspects?
I mean, do they blanch
in the face of your wrath
and fall crying to the floor
confessing their guilt to the heavens?
Cassy: I don't recall
any of them
falling to the floor.
A lot of blanching, though, definitely.
I bet you ten bucks I can make him blanch.
I don't know, he's pretty good.
Ten bucks.
What the hell, you're on.
Great.
You see, you stumbled
into the perfect setup.
Your sister wanted to k*ll her husband.
The insurance agent was the accomplice.
So you figured if Marion shows up dead
we'd either call it a su1c1de...
Or blame the agent.
Either way, you're free and clear.
Um, but my motive would be?
Uh-uh. No talking
unless you have a lawyer present.
I'm sorry.
And we know you weren't
on the insurance policy.
But your name was on the will
as the inheritor to her trust fund.
Which was still worth $ million.
$ million... that's exactly the amount
that you went through over two years.
You can prove that?
Uh-uh, no talking
unless your lawyer's present.
See, what happened here was
you drowned her, you dried and dressed her.
Because you didn't want her found naked.
Which was considerate.
Yes.
But you should have burnt the gloves.
You thought if we dusted
for prints, we'd smear them.
But what you didn't realize is
that we can cover the gloves in super-glue
and get a print off them, which is enough
to nail you for m*rder one.
That's a blanch.
Man: Sergeant St. John?
Yeah.
I apologize for what
I said before.
I know it was wrong.
You understand why?
Yes.
Because you shouldn't speak to a woman
that way.
Especially an elder.
An elder?
I think you should go now.
But I'm not done.
Oh, no, you're done.
Go.
Yeah, go now.
I'm proud of your control.
Yeah, a paragon of self-restraint.
Grace under pressure.
I'm just a role model for those
who'd follow in my footsteps.
Excuse me, ma'am.
Ma'am?