Knife, The (2024)

[bunniefuu]

When I was a kid,

my grandma used to say,

"Life presents choices...

...and choices lead

to consequences."

She'd say, "The choices we make

determine our future."

"And once you make that choice,

"you got to accept

what comes with it,

whether you like it or not."

-Busted. -Ryley was

having trouble sleeping.

-Kendra had a nightmare...

-Shh. Keep your voice down.

Hey. Turn it off.

-Keep it off.

-Okay.

Come on, it's time for bed.

Let's go.

What?

-You smell like beer.

-Beer?

-No, I don't. I don't.

-Dad.

-I don't.

-Yes, you do.

Hey, I don't. Stop it.

-Yeah, you do.

-Stop it.

Don't tell Mom, okay?

How's my room coming?

Uh, good.

Just give me

a couple more days, okay?

Kendra?

Okay.

Good night, Daddy.

Good night, baby.

Smooth.

Sorry.

You ain't getting any,

just so you know.

What?

I didn't even say anything.

-I just laid down.

-Mm-hmm.

The old "Oops, I dropped

my phone, but while you're up,

-I guess we could..."

-Oh, please, woman.

-Don't flatter yourself.

-No?

No. Good night.

Come on.

You know you want it.

Come on, Chris.

Hmm?

-I could do better.

-Really?

-Without a doubt.

-In this neighborhood?

Wait, what's that

supposed to mean?

It's a great neighborhood.

Yeah, ripe with your fair share

of drug dealers, p*mps,

-prostit*tes, male and female.

-Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Hold on, hold on, hold on.

Lest I remind you,

we're paying less per month

to own this house than we were

when we were renting

over on Dearborn.

And that includes

the renovation costs,

-so say what you want.

-Oh, God.

I love it when you talk

renovation finance with me.

Ooh.

Tell me more.

Tell me about the...

subprime second mortgage.

What is happening right now?

What are you doing?

If you want it,

come and get it

-But you better da-da-da.

-Oh, my God. What?

You don't even know

the words, you dork.

-Get out of here. Oh, my God.

-How dare you.

I am over here

throwing myself at you...

Alex, shh, shh.

-But you call me a dork?

-Okay, okay.

Okay, okay, okay. Okay.

Go again. I'm sorry.

Go again.

Okay.

-Mm, mm.

-Mm.

Mm-hmm.

-Mm.

-Mm-hmm.

Come on. Come on.

Come on, baby.

Oh.

Well...

Maybe your phone

really did just...

fall on accident.

Well, now that we're awake,

I guess we could...

I knew it.

But seriously...

-Baby.

-Hmm?

I am way too tired

to actually have sex.

-Yeah, me, too.

-Okay, good.

Hey.

We'll be back, you guys.

We promise.

When we get a little more...

-Uh, energy.

-Energy.

-Yes.

-Get some more energy. Yeah.

We shall return to

our previously scheduled

programming.

Yes.

My back is k*lling me.

Oh, my God.

It's almost 1:00, babe.

What were you doing?

Finished the backsplash.

You did?

I did.

Oh, that's incredible.

You animal.

But you got to call in sick

tomorrow.

There's no way you're

getting up in three hours.

-Mm-mm. Mm-mm. I can't.

-Babe, you got to sleep.

I can't.

I can't take any time off.

I'm paid by the hour.

You know that.

What time's your interview?

-10:00.

-10:00?

That's good.

Mm. You'll be great.

God.

I can't believe

we're really pulling this off.

Yeah.

Seven weeks ago,

that ceiling was a disaster.

Yeah.

Now you just got to finish

Kendra's room.

She's gonna k*ll me.

Okay.

Now I'm going to bed.

-I love you.

-Love you.

Your light.

-Right.

-Yeah.

Good night.

Hello?

Ma'am?

Ma'am, this is

1220 McCullough Street.

You've entered the wrong home.

Ma'am?

You need to leave, okay?

You need help?

Ma'am.

I can help you.

Okay?

It's okay.

It's okay.

Chris?

Chris?

Chris.

Chris.

She broke in.

I'm calling the cops.

-Wait, what-what happened?

-I just told you she broke in.

I came, and she was standing

right there. f*ck.

-911. What's your

emergency? -Mom?

We need an ambulance right away

to McCullough and Simpson.

-Somebody just broke into

my house. -Oh, my God, Mom.

-What happened? Mom!

-Please.

-Kendra, wait.

-I don't know, but she's

on the ground bleeding

to death, ma'am. Please hurry.

-Is she dead?

-Don't touch her.

Okay, how did she

get on the ground, sir?

I don't know,

I don't know, I don't...

We just need a f*cking

ambulance! Listen to me!

There's a woman dying

on my kitchen floor!

Mom, is she dead?

Ryley, I swear to God!

What's your address, sir?

Uh, uh, 1220 McCullough Street.

Okay, an ambulance

and deputies are on the way.

Is there anyone else

in the home with...

I-I heard a noise...

from our room.

I got up. I came in here.

I turned on the light.

Oh, wait.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

No, no, no, no, no.

I heard a noise.

I heard a noise. I came in.

I went...

I went to the door.

I went to the door.

I went to the...

I went to the door.

-I went to the door. I went

to the door. -Okay. Okay.

I went to the door.

It's okay, baby.

Whatever it is,

it was self-defense.

Okay?

Yeah. Yeah.

Is that her knife?

Okay.

Okay.

Yeah. Yeah.

Daddy?

Are you gonna be in trouble?

Stupid...

Oh...

Mom, I don't think

you should be touching her.

No, no, no, no, no,

Alex, what are you doing?

-She's still breathing.

-Don't touch her.

Don't do anything.

Just leave her alone.

Where the f*ck

is the ambulance?

-Girls, go to your room.

-No.

We wait.

We wait.

Kendra, put your sister down

and come right back.

Okay.

-I panicked.

-Don't say that.

I did. I did.

But she hit you first,

right, Daddy?

That's right, baby.

Sweetie, go grab me

some pajama pants, okay?

-Okay.

-Okay.

We got to make sure we know

exactly what we're saying

before we start talking

to the police.

They'll look at us,

and they'll look at her,

and they'll come

to their own conclusions.

And they'll separate us and...

ask us questions.

Including the girls.

Right. Okay.

Uh...

I just... I can't remember.

Anything?

No.

It's okay.

It's just shock, baby.

It's normal.

We only have a few minutes,

okay, so let's talk it through,

see if anything comes back.

Okay?

Uh, show me the steps, okay?

All right, I-I came in.

I heard a noise. I came in.

The door.

The door was open.

I went to the door.

I went to the door.

Okay.

Keep going.

You heard a noise.

Look at me.

You heard a noise.

You came in.

The door was open.

There was a woman

in the kitchen.

She attacked you.

You tried to defend

yourself, but...

...you didn't touch her

or do anything.

You just put your hands up

to defend yourself.

And then she fell

and hit her head.

Yeah.

Yeah.

She fell, and she hit her head.

Yeah.

Mommy, I don't want to talk

to the police.

It's okay, baby.

Everything's gonna be fine,

okay?

Hey. Thank you.

Okay, I found it.

Look.

"You may use deadly force

if such force is necessary

"to prevent death

or great bodily harm

to yourself

or to another individual."

So it's like Mom said.

You were defending yourself,

so it's fine.

All we have to do

is tell the truth.

Right?

Right.

But it could get

a little complicated.

Okay. It's gonna be fine.

Everything's gonna be fine,

okay?

All right?

Is it the police?

Uh, it's first response.

Could be EMor the fire department.

I'm not sure.

I hope it's the ambulance.

Everything will be fine.

Everybody, relax, okay?

Just relax.

The truth, guys.

All we have to do

is tell the truth.

We'll be fine.

-f*ck.

-Police!

On the premises now. Stand by.

Is this your home, sir?

Yes, sir.

Are any of you armed?

-Anybody injured?

-No.

Where's the intruder?

She's right there

in the kitchen.

Got it.

Was she carrying a weapon?

Uh, yes.

How's it looking?

Victim is not breathing.

No pulse.

Starting CPR.

Confirming victim is not

breathing and has no pulse.

Starting CPR.

Need an ambulance right away.

Ten-four.

Ambulance is en route.

Should be there any minute.

Copy that.

-Is there anyone else here?

-Uh, no. It's just us.

And my daughter's asleep

in the back room.

Intruder was alone?

Yes, as far as I know.

-Clear the house.

-Mm-hmm.

Yeah, copy that. We made entry.

We're, uh, going room to room.

Will advise.

Central, get the First Precinct

squad on the air.

All clear.

Copy.

Confirming no one else

on the premises.

Ten-four.

Is squad on the air?

Yeah, Carlsen's on the air.

Detective, I need you

to come over to my location.

1220 McCullough Street.

Well, give me a couple minutes.

Listen, I want everybody

to step outside of the house

till we know what

we've got here, all right?

Yes, sir.

Let's go.

-Kitchen.

-Got it.

I need to get Ashley.

Do not move.

Approaching

McCullough Street now.

Ten-four.

That was fast.

Just finished a job

a couple blocks from here.

How we doing?

Another B and E.

Victim is female.

Unconscious on the floor,

armed with a knife.

Possible homicide.

Premises secure.

Family unarmed.

Yet to question them.

Was waiting for you.

I set up the whole crime scene.

Right, let's keep it that way

till we see what

the hospital has to say.

Listen, when you get there,

let us know right away

if she's likely or not, okay?

-Right away.

-You got it.

And keep an eye out for

any bruises that start to form.

-Take pictures.

-Yes, ma'am.

So, what do you think?

Looks like you got

a half a dozen bank robbers

tied up in a corner over there.

Yeah.

Something doesn't feel right.

I sensed it when I walked in.

They were real nervous.

One of them probably

just k*lled somebody.

I don't know.

I'll figure it out.

You always do.

Hello.

My name is

Detective Frances Carlsen,

and I'm gonna need to speak

to each of you individually

about what happened here

tonight.

It shouldn't take very long,

and I'll appreciate

your patience and cooperation

in this matter.

Okay?

It's okay. You can talk.

Well, we were just

hoping you weren't

gonna have to separate

the girls,

'cause they're a little scared.

What's your name?

-Ryley.

-Mm-hmm.

And what's your name?

-Kendra.

-All right.

Ryley and Kendra.

Do you know why

we separate people

when we ask them questions?

Not really.

Oh, it's because

it gives us a chance

to see if everybody's

telling us the truth.

You see, if we separate you

and all your stories match up

without hearing

the other person's story,

well, then we pretty much know

we got the truth.

And that's what tonight's

all about-- getting that truth.

Okay?

So, how would you feel about

being put in one of your rooms

with one of my officers,

wait for me to come

and ask you some questions?

That be okay with you guys?

Ah, no?

That's what I'm talking about.

It's much better

if you answer for yourself

without checking

on someone else for help.

There are

no wrong answers here,

as long as it's the truth.

Are you okay with my plan?

Are you gonna hurt my dad?

Oh, no. It's okay, honey.

No one's gonna hurt Daddy.

-Come on, guys.

-It's okay. He'll be fine.

-It's all right.

-You can go with the officer.

There we go.

Come with these guys.

-They're nice guys.

-It's okay. It's okay.

I'll be right back.

Padilla,

keep an eye on 'em, please.

Here we go. All right.

Padilla.

The f*ck were you thinking?

Huh?

-I don't know.

-You don't know.

That's f*cking great, Alex.

That's great.

sh*t.

Hey.

You can't remember

what happens to you

when someone's

breaking into our home?

You can't remember

how that person ends up

on the ground

with a knife a foot away?

You're a Black man

in America, Chris.

Protecting you--

that's what I was doing.

Okay, ready?

Want to step this way, ma'am?

Nice house.

I never could have afforded

a place like this at your age.

Here you go.

Oh, don't worry about it.

It's standard.

We record everything.

If you don't want to talk

or you want to...

call an attorney, it's okay.

I personally think we can

take care of this right here

without having to go

to the station and make

a whole big scary thing

for you guys.

But I do have to record it.

Okay?

Mm. Uh, it's fine.

Honestly, we just want

to put this behind us

as quickly as possible.

Thank you.

I don't think

I ever got your name.

-Alexandra.

-Alexandra.

And your husband?

Chris.

Uh, Christian.

Great.

So, Alexandra, walk me through

what happened here tonight.

Well, um...

I... I heard a scream

from the kitchen.

I came out running.

And, uh, when I got there,

we all saw Chris all upset

and some woman on the floor

holding a knife,

and we called the police.

And that's it?

Yeah.

Okay. Well, I might ask you

to step that out for me a bit,

but I have

a few questions first.

When you arrived, you said,

"We all saw Chris" there.

Did the girls get there

before you got there?

Um...

I don't know exactly

who got there when.

I mean, I was there first,

uh, but...

It was all around

the same time, I think.

You... We all heard a noise

and-and came running,

and it was...

it was pretty chaotic,

um, so I don't know

who exactly got there when,

but-but like I said,

it was around the same time,

more or less,

as far as I can remember.

All right, well,

we might revisit that as well.

And, uh, you mentioned that

"we called the police,"

but it was your husband

who called, correct?

Uh, yes.

Okay. And did you come

in contact with the victim?

The victim?

The intruder. Yes.

Um... uh, well, like I said,

uh, by the time I got there,

she was, uh,

already unconscious, so...

So you didn't have any contact

with her at all?

Um...

I mean, I-I...

I did check to see

if she was breathing.

So you did actually touch her?

I... I-I-I mean, I-I just...

I just ch-checked to see

if she was, uh, alive or not.

Of course.

Where did you touch her?

Uh, I don't exactly remember.

Um, I checked her pulse, um...

Her neck or her wrist?

Uh, uh...

I-I... I think I, um...

I-I-I grabbed her coat

and put my head near her chest

to see if she was,

um, breathing.

Wait, so you grabbed her coat

and put your head

up to her chest?

Uh, it... something like that.

Uh... I...

I don't exactly remember.

Well, you're gonna

want to remember this part.

They take fingerprints.

These details matter.

Uh...

honestly, it was, uh,

just really crazy

and-and just really chaotic,

so...

-I understand.

-I just... I don't remember

exactly, um,

who did what exactly

and when.

Okay.

All right.

I, uh...

I want to talk

about that knife.

Did you recognize it?

Uh, no. No, not really.

Not really?

Um... uh...

I don't understand.

Uh, it looked like

a regular knife.

Uh, w-we have

a few of them, so...

Oh, so it was

one of your knives?

No, no, um...

it looked like

one of the ones we may have.

But you said it looked

like a regular knife.

It did.

Which could mean

it came from anywhere.

Exactly.

Would you like

a glass of water, Alexandra?

No.

Look.

You are being interrogated.

This is currently

a crime scene,

so if what you've told me

is true,

there's nothing to worry about.

You don't need a lawyer.

It'll all be over very quickly,

and everything's gonna be fine.

But if what you've told me

is in any way not true,

it will not be fine.

So... I'll offer you a chance

to tell this story again

from the beginning,

keeping in mind

what I just said.

I know this is a confusing

and difficult moment. I get it.

So if you made any missteps

telling me the first time,

it's okay.

Not a problem. We can fix it.

But the truth...

Mm-hmm.

The truth here is everything.

You understand me?

Hey, want a smoke?

-Uh, no, thank you.

-Okay.

You want a jacket or something?

-No.

-Hmm?

I'm good.

Let me know.

It's cold out here, man.

So, what do you do

for a living?

I'm in construction.

Wife?

Uh, she's a teacher.

-Second grade.

-Mm.

What's with the face?

Uh, she's got an interview

in the morning, so...

Mm. Fingers crossed.

Hey, thanks.

So, construction.

Uh, yeah.

That's got to be tough.

Long hours,

on your feet all day.

What do you do for the pain?

Uh, just fight through,

I guess.

I hear you there.

Had back surgery a while ago.

Couldn't pick up my kid.

On my own.

Got to get up for work

in the morning.

Just still

fighting through. Mm.

I take medication, too.

Prescription.

So...

Tell me what happened

here tonight.

Uh, well, I was asleep in bed,

my wife and I,

and, um, I heard a noise.

I came into the kitchen,

and that woman

was standing there.

Hmm.

And, uh...

Then what?

-Christian?

-I'm sorry.

Uh, I...

I asked her to leave,

and she wouldn't.

And about how far apart

were the two of you standing

at this point?

Uh, I don't know--

ten, 12 feet.

So you were talking for a while

before anything happened?

Well, not for a while.

I just asked her to leave,

but, you know,

she wouldn't, and, um,

so I remember

I moved closer to her.

Uh, but I wasn't threatening

or anything.

-I just...

-It's okay. Keep going.

Um, yeah,

then she just sort of...

...jumped out at me.

When you say "jumped out"...

She attacked me.

With the knife?

-Uh, yeah.

-What...

Did you get cut at all?

Uh, n-no, I don't...

I don't think so.

No. No.

But it all happened so fast,

and, um,

you know, I didn't really

see much, and then...

then when she came at me,

I just put my hands up,

and-and, uh, you know,

she was out of it

-at that point, so...

-Hmm.

Drugs, maybe?

No, I don't...

I don't think so.

Um...

Anyway, like I said,

it happened so fast,

and next thing you know,

she's on the ground,

and-and the tile and, uh, uh...

Yeah.

Look, I know you're scared.

But I promise you,

there are laws

that play in your favor here.

I mean, if she was

a real threat,

an intruder coming at you

with a knife and all...

What I'm saying is,

if you went off on her,

we'll see it in the autopsy.

The forensics-- we'll see it.

So it's better to tell me

exactly what happened,

how it happened.

That's what I'm doing.

No, no, not really.

It's kind of vague.

I mean, I'm hearing things

like maybe she came at you

but not really swinging

that knife.

And then maybe

she fell and died?

I didn't say that.

Oh, you want me

to play it back?

-It is cold out here.

-Mm.

Hang tight.

Listen, I just wanted to talk

to both of you.

I'm getting

conflicting stories here,

and I need to get down

to the bottom of it.

Figured it'd save us all

some time.

Okay. What's confusing?

Well, a number of things.

For instance, you say

the victim attacked you,

but there's no signs

of that anywhere.

No cuts, no bruises.

And you say you heard a scream,

saw the victim on the floor,

but you can't remember

who got there when

or what happened next.

And you said you touched her

or checked her pulse,

but you can't say where

or when or how.

Look, I'm just trying

to help you out,

keep you guys from

some potentially serious

consequences.

But I can't help you

unless you give me

a straight story-- both of you.

-Okay?

-We-we told you what we know.

I'm not looking

for what you know.

I'm looking for what happened.

Exactly what happened.

So, I'm gonna try this again,

and I need you to think clearly

and think calmly, okay?

Okay, so...

a woman breaks into your house.

You find her, correct?

Yes.

And she has a weapon

when you see her-- a knife--

and she attacks you, correct?

Yes.

Uh, hang on.

Yes, she did.

And did you have

anything with you?

-Were you armed at all?

-No, I-I was not.

There's no reason

someone like this

would break into your house,

correct?

What do you mean?

Well, is there any reason

that a person...

Okay, but how is that relevant?

It's all relevant.

When you've been

in my line of work

as long as I have,

it's all relevant.

But what are you implying?

I'm not implying anything.

I'm simply asking a question.

This is a breaking

and entering case.

And in this neighborhood,

that usually happens

for one of two reasons:

the person knows

of something specific

in the house that they want

or they're just stopping by

to say hi.

And it's rarely

the latter, so...

-I'm gonna ask again...

-No.

We did not invite a criminal

into our home.

Okay.

Okay. All right.

Uh, I'm gonna take it back

to the knife for a second.

You said you had a number of

knives that look similar to...

I did not.

But initially,

you assumed it was

-one of yours, correct?

-No. No, ma'am, I-I did not.

W-Wait a minute. Don't accuse

my wife of assuming anything.

Either she said it

or she didn't.

You don't get to determine

what she meant.

You're right.

And stop calling her

"the victim."

She's not the victim here.

She broke into our home.

She frightened our family,

so she's not the victim.

Okay.

All right, look.

It's getting late, and I'm just

gonna be straight with you.

In a moment, I'm gonna

have to go into your house,

and I am gonna take statements

from both of your daughters,

and I will very quickly

get to the bottom

of what happened here tonight--

all of it.

-Now, you have a choice.

-Excuse me, Detective.

Baby's crying.

Detective Frances Carlsen.

Questioning Ryley, a minor.

Mother is present.

-Thank you.

-No problem.

Hey, Ryley.

Uh, what you doing?

-Just coloring.

-Yeah?

You must be pretty tired,

I bet.

No. I always stay up this late.

Oh?

Is everything okay now?

Almost.

I just have to ask

a few more questions,

and then we'll be all done.

Ryley, do you know

what happened here tonight?

Yeah.

A lady broke into our house

and tried to hurt my dad.

Anything else?

Hmm?

Do you remember seeing

your dad tonight at all?

I mean,

before the lady broke in.

Yeah. He said good night to us.

You notice anything different

about him at the time?

Hmm?

Seemed pretty normal?

Yeah, but he smelled.

Like what?

Beer.

Sometimes he drinks beer

even though

he's not supposed to.

Not supposed to?

My mom doesn't let him drink

because she says

"he's not himself"

when he drinks alcohol drinks.

Hmm.

Yeah, I can understand that.

You remember anything else?

Hmm?

What about when the lady

broke into your house?

Did your dad say what happened?

Uh-huh. He panicked.

What's that?

He said he panicked.

You know, Ryley, you're

the one person in this house

who doesn't seem nervous.

Oh... It's okay.

Um, here.

Here, I'll help you draw.

Yeah.

It's okay. It's all right.

You know, your dad

was really smart

to call us when he did.

You know that, right?

Hmm?

Can I talk to my mommy?

Go to sleep

Go to sleep

Go to sleep, little baby.

Sorry.

Ryley's asking for you.

Is everything okay?

Oh, she'll be fine.

Go to sleep

Little girl, go to sleep.

I'm gonna talk to Kendra now.

Where can I find her?

She's in the living room.

-Thank you.

-I'll be right there.

No, it's okay. I got it.

Give me a second.

I should be there.

Give me...

M-Ma'am, I'm... Ma'am.

-Mommy?

-You okay?

Okay, just give me

a second, baby.

-Kendra?

-Kendra, wait.

-Don't say a word.

-Kendra?

Please escort her back

to her bedroom.

Kendra, don't say a word.

-Ma'am. Ma'am, let's go.

-Don't touch me.

-Kendra, just listen to me.

-Ma'am...

Kendra, I need

to ask you some questions,

get your understanding of what

happened here tonight, okay?

-Please just-just wait.

-Ma'am, stop.

No. Kendra,

just don't say anything.

Alexandra, I can either

interview her here now,

like we all agreed,

or we can take her

down to the station

and do this differently, okay?

-No. No.

-Ma'am, stop. Ma'am.

-Please escort her

back to the bedroom. -Let's go.

Do not touch me.

Kendra, just listen to me.

-No, I just said... Excuse me.

-Ma'am, stop. Ma'am.

Kendra, you know

what's happening here, right?

It'll be all right.

Breathe easy.

Look at me, sweetheart.

I'm not gonna hurt you.

Just want to talk to you.

Can I just speak

to my daughter?

I don't understand

why you're trying

to talk to her without me.

She is a minor.

I am her parent.

Wait, sweetie.

Just don't say anything.

Ma'am.

-Ma'am, stop. -Mommy?

-Excuse me.

Hey, sir. Hey.

Hey, get back here. Hey, sir.

-Sir. Hey.

-Hey.

-Incoming. Hey!

-Whoa, whoa!

Okay, okay, okay.

-Keep your hands where

we can see them. -Okay, okay.

-Don't move.

-Okay. Okay.

Okay, okay.

Do not move.

Okay.

-Keep your hands up.

-It's okay.

-Hey. Hey.

-Okay.

Okay. Okay.

-It's okay.

-Okay. Okay.

Okay.

Okay. Okay.

-Stand down.

-Okay.

Okay.

She needs her pump.

She has asthma.

She needs her pump.

-Please. Hurry.

-Please.

Where is it?

In the bathroom.

Go get it.

Okay. Okay.

It'll be all right.

It'll be all right.

Mom.

It's okay. Shh.

Just breathe, Kendra.

Just breathe, okay?

Let it go.

There's a process.

Talk to you for a minute?

Let's be thorough.

It's fine, baby.

You're gonna be okay.

It's been a long night.

I know you guys

have been through a lot.

It's enough. Okay?

My kids are scared.

My wife is scared.

-I understand.

-We don't want to press

any charges on that woman.

We just want it to end, please.

I understand you feel that way,

but unfortunately,

-it doesn't work like that.

-I don't care. I don't care.

-I don't care.

-Someone broke into your home.

Ma'am, with all due respect,

listen.

Listen to me.

I'm asking you to end this

for the sake of my family.

Please.

Please.

A crime was committed.

Oh, my God.

The intruder could potentially

lose her life.

I cannot leave this place

until I finish my process.

Does that make sense?

Listen, I know it was

a scary scene out there,

and I am sorry.

We can give her some time,

get her breath and relax,

get it together...

...but I got to talk to her.

I got to complete my report.

I do that, and I promise

we will be done.

Do you understand?

Hmm?

Brought you a refill.

I just want to say

how sorry I am

about this horrible night.

And I know it all feels

pretty scary.

I probably feel

pretty scary, too,

but I promise I'm not.

I know you guys have been

through a lot tonight.

I just want you to know I'm...

I'm here to help.

Thank you.

You bet.

So, Kendra, I'm supposed

to record your statement,

and I just want to make sure

you're okay with that, hmm?

Detective Carlsen.

Questioning Kendra, minor.

Parents are present.

So...

Kendra, I'm just gonna

start with you

like I started with everyone.

Can you tell me

what you remember from tonight?

What happened earlier?

Yeah.

So, we came into the kitchen

when we heard, like,

a loud noise

or something like that.

And when we got there,

my dad was on the phone

with the police,

and my mom was standing

over the lady.

The lady that broke

into your house?

Okay, so the lady

that broke into your house

is on the floor.

Good.

Do you know how she got there?

Self-defense.

What do you mean?

My dad was defending himself.

She tried to hurt him,

and he defended himself.

Hmm.

And she had a weapon?

Yeah. A knife.

Okay, so let's go back

a little bit.

Your dad is on the phone

with the police,

and your mom is standing

over this lady.

Mm, anything happen

before the police came in?

Kendra, I've been having

a terrible time

trying to find the truth

of what happened here tonight.

And you seem like

the type of person

that can help me get there.

So I'm gonna need

your help, okay?

I'm gonna tell you

what I think happened,

and you just let me know

if I'm on the right track.

Sound good?

Okay.

I think a strange woman

broke into your house,

your dad found her

and he got scared.

Understandably.

But then I think he got mad

because he worked really hard

to get you guys this house--

a nice, safe house.

Someone breaks in,

tries to hurt his family?

And then when he tried

to get her to leave

and she didn't want to,

I think he got really mad.

Hmm?

I think he may have hurt

that woman.

And when you guys saw her

bleeding on the floor,

I think someone realized

how bad it would look

when someone like me

showed up, right?

So your parents

called the police

because they're smart folks.

But I think that...

that knife...

I think that knife

belonged to your dad, maybe.

And I think it had been

in the house the whole time.

And I think that one of you...

one of you thought

it might be a good idea

if you just picked it up

and put it in the woman's hand.

Just to make it look

a little bit better.

And if you tell me who did it,

you can save your family

a whole lot of trouble.

Probably some jail time.

Kendra.

I think you're really smart

and really, really brave.

You just tell me who did it,

it'll all be over.

We'll leave.

It'll all go back to normal.

The truth is I pretty much

already know who did it.

I just need you

to confirm it for me.

I know it was your mom

who did it.

It wasn't her.

If it wasn't her, who was it?

Long night.

The name Mary Duvall-Thompson

sound familiar to you?

Mary Duvall-Th...

Mary Duvall-Thom...

-No.

-No.

That's the name of the lady

who broke into your home.

Thankfully,

she's gonna be all right.

Thank God.

Yeah, looks like she was just

knocked unconscious,

had some bleeding.

Nothing to cause

any major issues.

In fact,

Mary is alert and active.

It's funny how

that happens sometimes.

Hmm.

What'd she say?

-What'd she say?

-Well, yeah.

Did she give a reason

why she broke into our home?

No, we haven't

questioned her yet,

but apparently,

she lives in the neighborhood.

There's been a lot of drug

dealing around here lately,

you know, people trying

to make an extra buck.

And, uh, every now and then,

you get a user showing up

in someone's house

looking for

whatever they can find.

But why us?

Don't know.

But we'll get

to the bottom of it.

You know,

just out of curiosity,

how much did you have

to drink tonight?

He doesn't drink.

Christian?

Baby, tell her.

Christian?

-Baby.

-Um, I...

You have a lot of trouble

sleeping at night?

-Do I...

-I noticed a couple

of unmarked medicine vials

in the bathroom.

Yeah, those are pain pills.

He has a bad back.

Xanax, OxyContin?

Controlled substances.

It's for pain.

Mm, you take

those two together,

you get a lot of confusion.

Start to forget things,

stumble here and there.

You add alcohol

to the equation,

-you're really in trouble.

-Yeah, I-I know.

Prescription, right?

Right.

Look, we'll take care

of the intruder.

She'll pay for what she did--

you have my word.

We're just checking

on one other thing,

and then we'll be

out of your hair.

Oh, here we go.

Give me a second?

Yeah.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

-What aren't you telling me?

-Shh.

-Baby.

-Shh.

All right.

Mm-hmm.

So you giving me the okay?

All right.

Chris, you lied to me,

didn't you?

What?

That is your knife, isn't it?

No.

Yes.

Yes, it is.

I'm sorry, Mommy.

And based on the information

gathered here tonight,

we have reason to believe

that that knife was placed

in the intruder's hand.

No.

Unfortunately,

that is a felony--

tampering with a crime scene.

So, Christian, I'm gonna

have to place you under arrest.

What?

-No. No. -Sir, I need you

to step forward, please.

-Don't. No, wait.

-Daddy.

-Sir. Sir.

-No. No. No.

-I need you to step forward.

-Do not do this. Please.

-Please. No. -Daddy.

-Don't do this.

-Step forward.

-Just-just... just wait.

Just don't take him, please.

Sir, I need you

to step forward.

-Put your hands behind your

back. -Wait, wait, wait, wait.

-No, please.

-Let him go, ma'am.

-Please. No, don't do this.

-Please don't leave. Please.

You have the right

to remain silent.

-Let him go, ma'am.

-Please listen to me.

Anything you say can and will

be held against you

-in a court of law.

-Dad, I'm sorry. Please.

-Please. Oh, God. -You have

the right to an attorney.

-Sir, wait! -If you cannot

afford an attorney...

-Please.

-Mom, Daddy, do something.

-...one will be appointed

for you. -No, no.

-Mom! -No, please. Please.

You're making a mistake.

Do you understand the rights

that have been read to you?

Stop. Stop.

He didn't do anything.

-He didn't do anything wrong.

-Sir, do you understand

the rights

that have been read to you?

-Sir!

-Please.

-No, don't do this.

-Mom, do something. -Please.

Don't take my husband! Please.

Ma'am,

take your children inside.

-Please. -Ma'am, why don't you

take your children inside.

No, don't tell me what to do

with my kids!

I always believed

that the choices we made

belonged to us.

And no matter what,

the decisions

and the consequences

were left for us alone

to deal with.

No regrets.

No going back in time.

I was wrong.

I asked my grandma once,

"What happens when you make

a bad choice?"

She said, "You pray to God,

"ask for forgiveness

"and hope you don't leave

the ones you love

to deal with your mess."

Bernard 33,

496, what's your status?

43. Code four.

Appears scouting party's GOA.

Bernard 33, ten-four.

41 for obstruction of justice,

city of West Towson,

1220 McCullough Street.

Where's 10-45?

Obstruction of justice,

1220 McCullough Street.

RD is reporting two individuals

in a physical 515.

Mary Duvall-Thompson,

53 years of age,

and Christian Pettis,

38 years of age.

RD states male, Black,

in possession

of controlled substances

with intent to sell.

Female, white, possible client,

enters home.

RD states

a physical 515 ensues.

Female's knocked unconscious.

Male then obstructs evidence

at the scene.

Currently en route to station.

Victim in stable condition,

alert, receiving medical.

Ten-four.

45, did you say victim

is possible client?

45, that is correct.

45, do we have

any priors on the address?

We'll check.

Thank you, 45. Ten-four.

Thank you, 42. Ten-four.

Ten-four.

Thank you, 45. Ten...

Correction. Did you say 10-28?

Confirm.

Thank you, 45. Go ahead.