Original subtitles

Tonight on Hunter.

Liquid cyanide was poured in a manhole somewhere near the area, mixed with acid

that was already in the sewer, and the result was cyanide gas.

Odorless, colorless. Poor kid didn't know what hit him. The DA is not willing

prosecute until we can prove intent. If you allow us to treat this as a

homicide, we'll prove it.

It's our stuff.

The cops think they can trace it back to us. Can they? What was the truck doing

driving through a residential area?

Whoever's responsible for this boy's death has got to go to prison for second

-degree murder.

Cyanide gas, huh?

Yeah. Toxic Waste Force says that liquid cyanide was poured in a manhole

somewhere near the area, mixed with acid that was already in the sewer, and the

result was cyanide gas.

Odorless, colorless. Poor kid didn't know it hit him.

Yeah.

There's Frankie.

Frankie Mason.

Head of the Toxic Waste Strike Force. This is my partner, Sergeant Hunter.

Hello. Miss Mason, how are you?

Any idea how this happened?

Some jerk tried to save a lot of money by dumping cyanide in the streets

of going to a hazardous waste site. Any idea who?

No, but we got a good lead.

Yeah, she's right. One of the guys found this glove in an area about six blocks

over where we think the cyanide was dumped. We found traces of cyanide on it

on the street around the manhole cover.

Oh, good. I run the inside of this glove for prints.

Unfortunately, this isn't a homicide. You guys can't really get involved, you

know that. She's right.

I know that. We'll run it for you anyway.

I like your style.

All right. Jimmy!

Jimmy!

Jimmy! That's my boy, Spike!

It's Spike!

Listen to me. I'm a police officer. That's my boy, Spike!

I know, but please listen to me. Step over here now.

There's been an accident.

Miss Morgan, take this. You'll feel better.

Thank you.

We're very sorry about your son.

I know you'll do everything you can to find out who did this.

Mrs. Morgan, we're with homicide.

Your son's death will be investigated by the Toxic Waste Task Force.

Well, what she means is we will not be treating this as a homicide.

But it's not like he was riding his bike in front of a bus or he fell or

something.

Someone poisoned him with cyanide.

He was murdered.

It's murder.

Hey, I'd love to prosecute one of these midnight dumpers. Believe me.

Want to know why we don't in cases like this?

We can never prove intent.

Well, let me tell you something. If some screwball decides to put a bomb in the

school yard, we can prove intent all right. That's exactly what this is, a

time bomb, and it went off. I know that, but I have to deal with reality.

There's just no legal precedent connecting toxic dumping with homicide.

Well, I think it's about time we establish one.

Sergeant, a few years ago, a case landed on my desk.

Product liability, gross negligence.

A mother of three young children died.

I tried to make a criminal case out of it.

In fact, I became a little obsessed with it.

In the end, the judge threw it out.

With a reprimand. Now, I didn't mind that so much.

The look on the husband's face.

On the children's faces.

For them, the law had just flat out failed.

And it was my fault for trying to stretch it.

So what are you saying? We don't even try it?

Hunter.

I'm saying it's a case for the civil courts.

I'm sorry.

I wish it wasn't.

But it is.

He's right, you know.

The D .A. is not willing to prosecute until we can prove intent. If you allow

to treat this as a homicide, we'll prove intent.

Look, Captain, whoever dumped the cyanide is going to do it again.

I think you're way out of line on this one. Look, Charlie, just give us a

of days.

A couple of days, huh?

All right.

I guess everyone needs at least one impossible case.

Keep you humble.

But I think you two are pushing rocks up the hill with your noses on this one.

Hydrochloric acid is basically harmless and fairly common in the city sewers.

When you mix it with liquid cyanide, you get cyanide gas.

And that gas killed little Jimmy Morgan.

Listen, I think you should know this. We're now treating this case as a

homicide. Oh, Hunter.

If you could find the people who did this and get the DA's office to charge

with homicide, it would pave the way for other DAs to take a shot.

There were latent prints inside that rubber glove.

NCIC traced them to a Larry Taylor, and Mr. Taylor is currently working at

Linder Chemical Company.

This is William.

May

I

help you? I'm Sergeant Hunter, LAPD. Is Mr. Linder in?

No, I'm afraid he's not even Washington, D .C.

You know when we'll be back?

Tomorrow?

Is there something that I can do to help?

Yeah, perhaps so.

Where can I find Larry Taylor?

Mr. Taylor?

Yeah.

Sergeant Hunter, LAPD.

Investigating illegal dumping of toxic materials into an L .A. city sewer.

Young boy was killed last night.

Man. Stop.

So you're checking with all the chemical companies, is that it?

Well, not exactly. See, we found a glove near the site. Has your fingerprints on

the inside.

Glove? Yes.

Must have been one I lost two or three weeks ago. Fell off the back of the

truck. Where'd you find it?

Right near the manhole where you dumped the liquid cyanide. That's a bunch of

bunk. Everything I do is strictly by the book.

Where does this company dump its cyanide? All the cyanide we use is

legally at the Nelson Disposal in Chino.

Legally, huh?

Yeah.

We'll see about that.

Honey? Back from the wars.

How are you?

Great. Just great.

We got the government contract.

I'll tell you, things keep going like this, we're going to have the best year

ever.

What's wrong?

Oh, they were... Something very upsetting on the news.

A 12 -year -old boy died of cyanide poisoning. Somebody dumped it in the

Oh, God, that hurt.

I wish you didn't have to work with it. It's so dangerous. What if there was an

accident at the plant? Julia, I've told you a thousand times.

All waste is processed.

It costs a lot of money, but we do it just so something like this won't

The mother of that poor child, if you could have seen her face... That's what

you get for watching the late news. It just depresses you.

Hey, I've got a terrific idea.

I'll see you on the plane. Why don't you and I go to the cabin this weekend?

A little fishing.

You'll fish.

I'll watch.

And you have to clean what you catch.

Fine.

It's so late.

I'll bet you 10 to 1 it's a night foreman.

I'm home, what, five minutes?

Hell. Ben, it's Larry.

You see the 11 o 'clock news about that kid?

Yeah, I heard something about it. Why?

Well, that's our stuff, Ben.

Really? Yeah, really. The cops have been out to the plant.

They think they can trace it back to us.

Can they?

I don't know.

Look, there's nothing we can do about it now.

I'll talk to you in the morning.

Is something wrong?

No, no, it's just a power shortage at the plant.

They're working on it now. It'll be done in a couple hours.

I'm sorry.

It happened.

Hey, you're just who I'm looking for.

Linder's secretary called.

Said that he would like to meet with us.

If it's convenient.

How long have you known Larry Taylor?

Larry?

Oh, ever since I founded the company.

Actually, we go back farther than that. He served under me in the military.

That's why after all these years, I just don't see how it's possible Larry would

have dumped cyanide in the sewers.

We both had the same feelings about corporate responsibility.

How do you explain the glove?

Well, you yourself said that it was found less than two miles from the

Probably did just fall off the truck.

But wait a minute, Mr. Linder. What was the truck doing driving through a

residential area?

He's probably looking for the shortest route.

Well, I don't buy that.

Look, Sergeant, I'm just as concerned about this as you are.

Remember, it was me who called you.

Yeah, after Larry Taylor called you. Of course he did. He was upset about your

suspicions, and so am I.

Diane, do you want to come in here for a second, please?

The point is, I'm willing to open my books to you right now.

Today.

Diane, would you make copies of all the transactions between us and Nelson

Disposals and give them to the officers?

Certainly. Thank you very much. You're welcome.

Look, Mr. Linder, Larry Taylor may be saying one thing and doing another.

If you suspect he may be cutting corners for personal gain, I suggest you tell

us right now.

Let me tell you something.

I've known Larry a very long time.

And I'll stand behind him because I honestly believe he wouldn't do

like this.

Linda's records are pretty straightforward.

He can account for every ounce of liquid cyanide he's disposed of.

You believe him?

Please. If I believed every document I got from the chemical companies, we

wouldn't catch anyone for dumping.

It's just that I'd be more skeptical if it wasn't Nelson disposed of handling

his waste.

What do you mean?

Howard Nelson runs the most reputable firm in the state.

He's a decent guy.

Not the kind to be involved in something like this.

You don't think I should check him out?

Check him.

Howard Nelson?

That's right.

Sergeant Hunter, LA Homicide. Oh, yeah, your office call. A little off the

beaten track for you, isn't it?

Well, a little bit. I'm investigating a homicide that occurred in Los Angeles.

Little boy, Jimmy Morgan, was killed from cyanide gas.

Yeah, I read about it. It was terrible.

What can I do for you?

I understand you handle all the toxic waste disposal for Linder Chemical.

I have for more than five years now.

Would it be all right if I took a look at their records?

Do you think Ben Linder had something to do with this thing? Well, it's a

possibility. I don't understand. I mean, we handled the disposal of all that

cyanide. If there was anything unusual, we'd know about it.

What do you know about Larry Taylor?

Well, he delivers all of Linda's waste products out here, but I barely know

I see.

This paperwork only covers the last 12 months. I can get the recipe on

if you need it. Yeah, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

Do toxic task force people usually investigate these incidents?

Yes, they usually do.

But whoever's responsible for this boy's death is going to go to prison for

second -degree murder.

It's about time.

Calm down, Howard. It's not the end of the world.

Don't tell me to calm down.

That cop knows this moron dumped that cyanide in the sewer.

Watch your mouth.

That was never the deal. He was supposed to be dumping it out in the Mojave

Desert. Business is up, Howard.

They put the squeeze on Larry.

Nobody ever expected anything like this to happen.

The boy's dead, Ben.

Don't you understand?

God knows we're all sorry about what happened to the boy.

But we have to go on.

Nothing anybody can do is ever going to bring that kid back.

Well, it's not going to happen again.

What does that mean?

It means I'm out.

Find someone else to cover for you. It's not that simple, Howard. I did what you

wanted. I covered for you with that cop. But that's it. It's not enough.

Look, I just landed a government contract. It means we're all going to

lot of money.

But I can't do it for the price I bid without you.

Look, Larry's not going to dump in the sewers anymore.

We're going to find something else to do. Howard.

Don't let me down.

I'm sorry, Ben.

You're sorry?

Well, I'll tell you you'd have been a lot sorry if I let your company slide

bankruptcy!

I saved your butt!

Now you're gonna hang me.

We're going on, Howard.

We're gonna be careful.

But we are going on.

You could be dead wrong about Linder on this one. What do you got, a glove?

Yeah, with Taylor's fingerprints on the inside. There are still people out in

the street killing each other. I am having a tough time justifying the man

on this one. Wait a second now. McCall is doing an in -depth background check

Nelson Disposal as we speak. Sergeant Hunter?

Oh, Miss Morgan.

Yeah, come on in.

This is our Captain Charles Devane. This is Miss Morgan, Jimmy's mother. How do

you do?

I'm very sorry to hear about your son.

Thank you.

I realize that you're very busy, but I just spoke to Mr. Riaz in the district

attorney's office, and he told me how difficult it was going to be to prove

anything. Well, it's a very complicated case, unfortunately.

I wanted to tell you how grateful I am that you're pursuing this.

Something like this should never happen again.

If one child's life can be spared... Thank you very much.

Miss Morgan, we're going to do everything we possibly can.

Thank you.

Thank you. I'll let you get back to work.

Thanks for coming down.

Thank you.

Keep digging.

Hey, I've been looking for you. What's up?

I've been going over public records, trying to figure out who's behind this

dummy corporation called Majestic Investors. They bought into Nelson's

at 51%, and that's when Nelson was deep in the red.

Well, who owns Majestic? Oh, this is the part I like. The chief operations

officer is listed as a Julia Fitzgibbons.

Fitzgibbons is the maiden name of Linder's wife.

Mrs. Linder? Yes?

I'm Sergeant Hunter, L .A. Homicide. I was wondering if I might be able to have

a word with you and your husband.

Of course.

Thank you.

What is this about?

It's about your company, Nelson Disposal.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

Well, Majestic owns 50 % of Nelson Disposal.

Majestic? Yes, your company. Excuse me.

If you want to know about Majestic, I suggest you talk to me.

Excuse me.

Yes, sure.

You know, Mr. Linder, the one thing I still don't understand is, why did you

into Nelson Disposal through a dummy corporation?

Why didn't you just buy into it through Linder Chemical?

What are you implying?

Why did you have to disguise it?

Disguise? Look, Sergeant, if my competitors knew I was doing business

company, Nelson would have lost all the contracts. It would have been a conflict

of interest. Look, you got any more questions to ask me, I'll meet you in

office with my attorney.

I want to thank you for your time.

Thank you, Miss Linder.

I'll let myself out.

What's this about majestic investors?

It's not important.

Then why was he here?

Well, they're just doing their job. He's probably checking with every chemical

company in Los Angeles.

I just happen to be on his list.

Hey, look at me.

You don't really think I'm involved with something like that, do you?

No.

No, of course not.

Ben Linder can own or purchase any company he wants under another name. I

understand that, but this guy's guilty.

You can't confuse circumstances with the hard facts I need to prove it in court.

Reyes, wait a minute. What do you think I'm going to do, give you a bad case?

Look, I feel the same way you do.

But you've got to come up with a strong enough case for me to justify giving it

priority.

There are pressures here that you don't know about.

And there's a mother who deserves to have an answer for her son's death.

You are some piece of work.

What do you want me to do?

If I prove intent, will you prosecute Ben Linder for second -degree murder?

Find me that evidence.

What, are you nuts?

Move it!

Hey! Tell Linda to find another dump site!

Yeah, I'll tell him. I'll tell him he can't dump on his own property.

It's still half mine and I run this operation!

You having a problem, Mr. Nelson?

Nah, there's no problem.

I'll tell Mr. Linda what you said.

Move it now!

Guys. Squirrelly, Ben.

I'm worried. Take it easy.

In a few days, this whole thing will blow over and Nelson will calm down.

And what if he goes to the cops?

He wouldn't do that.

Well, I'm going to have a private little conversation with him just to make

sure. No, you leave him alone.

Don't you understand he's got the same problem we have? What he's got is a

guilty conscience.

If he talks, he goes to prison, too.

So forget it.

Besides, he's got a son he adores. He wouldn't do that.

Now get out of here.

I've got a customer coming.

Right.

Yes, I understand.

Okay, thank you.

Bye -bye.

What's up?

I've been talking to some of Linder's competitors.

Every one of them says that Linder has been a real problem for them in the past

year. The guy has underbid all of them on government contracts, and some of the

managers have come out flat and said that they don't know how this man can

so low.

Well, I know how he's doing it. He's cutting corners.

Which allows him to get the big contract. Which means he's producing

waste. Absolutely.

How much toxic waste do you think he's dumping illegally?

Well, I couldn't tell you exactly, but it's enough to pose a major hazard to

community, and Linda has to know that.

Would you be willing to testify to that? Oh, I would look forward to it. Okay,

look, what I've got to find out now is how much toxic waste he's giving to

Nelson and how much he's putting down the stores.

Yeah, but for that you need documentation.

Yeah. Do you think he's keeping two sets of books?

Possible, but how are you going to find those books?

That's my problem.

Hello?

Hello, short stuff.

Okay, so you're big stuff.

What's up?

Of course I haven't forgotten about your ball game on Saturday. I wouldn't miss

it for anything.

Look. Tell your mom I'll pick you up at 9 o 'clock sharp, okay?

You know I love you, don't you, Blake?

I love you very much.

So long, slugger.

Hunter Homicide.

Listen, I've got some information for you on this illegal dumping case.

And the little boy.

Yeah, who's this?

Hello?

Hello?

I don't believe this.

This isn't happening. He was on the phone to a cop.

How could you? Your friend Howard was gonna sell us out. You don't know that.

Well, now I know he won't. Don't worry, Ben.

Don't worry. Shut up!

Get your hands off me.

Get out of my sight.

Why won't you tell me?

I told you I have a meeting at the plant. At 9 o 'clock at night?

Foreman called. Something came up. When?

When did he call?

No, that is not good enough. Well, it was always good enough for you before.

Since when are you worried about my work? All you ever cared about was

or not the money kept rolling in. Now I gotta go.

I want to know the truth about why you used my name on that dummy corporation

buy part of Howard Nelson's company.

Was it so that you could dump cyanide in the sewers? I told you it was for tax

reasons. You tell me what you think I want to hear.

But right now, I want to know the truth, Ben.

Are you responsible for that child's death?

died instead of that kid leave me, I would have.

You did this?

For what?

To save money?

I did it to keep the company from going under.

I wanted to keep it alive.

How do you think I made payments on this house?

How do you think I paid for every single thing you got?

Your clothes, your car, all your constant trips to Europe.

Now it's my fault? I didn't expect this to happen.

What are you going to do?

I could go to this Sergeant Hunter.

Tell him everything.

I'd go to jail.

We lose every single thing we've got.

Julia, I would do this.

I would do this if you would forgive me.

Hi. What is it?

You said you would tell her.

I know. You said you would tell her when you got back from Washington and you're

back.

Diane, this isn't the right time.

Isn't it? Well, you know what? I don't think there's going to be a... No, wait,

wait, wait, wait a second. Just wait a second. Please, listen to me.

Just listen.

First of all, I've got a lot of major problems in the business.

And I can't just go to Julia and tell her I'm leaving her without lawyers and

things.

I want you to have the best of everything, and I can't do that if the

goes belly up.

Well, why didn't you tell me that you were having problems? Because I didn't

want you to worry.

I know the kind of stress you've been under.

Pretending at work, meeting in secret.

Besides, I think you're wonderful.

All right, so this guy Linder's cheating on his wife. Or maybe he's just looking

for some shoulder to cry on. How did this help us?

Captain, there's a case building here somehow.

I think she's right. All right, so what about you? What do you got on Howard

Nelson? Well, I tried his house. He's not home.

His secretary says he hasn't shown up for work this morning. Sounds like he

cold feet. Yeah, well, maybe. Look, I'm going to drive back out there. I got

some people to talk to.

I haven't seen Howard all day.

I'm a little worried.

He's usually the first one here in the morning and the last one to leave.

When's the last time you saw him? About quitting time.

He was still in his office.

Was his car here this morning?

Nope.

Tell me, what's all this out here?

Once the toxic waste has been treated, we bury it in that pit out there.

They found Nelson's car about five blocks away from here outside a local

No sign of Nelson.

Sergeant Hunter, I think we got something.

Let's go through the whole list, and afterwards I'll talk to you about how

we should go.

Sergeant Hunter.

Mr. Linder.

I have an arrest warrant for Larry Taylor for the murder of Howard Nelson.

Howard? Dead?

He found his fingerprints on the murder weapon buried with the body.

It could have been Larry.

I can't believe this.

Well, I think you can.

Wait, if you think I had anything to do with Nelson, you're crazy.

We'll see what Taylor says about it.

Taylor!

Hold her right there.

right there, Taylor. Bring.

Taylor!

Guess you heard. I know. Linder won.

Sorry.

Linder claims that Howard Nelson and Larry Taylor were responsible for all of

the dumping.

Yeah, I know. And Reyes went for it, right? Well, he and the toxic waste

went through the paperwork at Linder's office and they didn't find anything.

Look, you know the score.

Without hard documentation that Linder knew what was going on, Reyes still

prove intent.

Now, you know.

Larry Taylor was our only shot at nailing Linder. Yeah, I know. He's dead.

now what do we do?

There's nothing more we can do.

It's over.

Ben?

Julia, you shouldn't be here right now. I heard what happened.

I had nothing to do with the death of either one of those men.

I know.

If only you hadn't dumped that poison. You have to live with it.

Can you really do that, Ben? What do you suggest?

Maybe you have to go to the police. That's crazy. They put me away for 20

They tried.

They can't. They have no proof.

Because Howard and Larry are dead.

My going to prison isn't going to bring them back.

Ben, I got the papers from the bank. You... Oh, uh... Hello,

Mrs. Linder.

What's the matter?

This woman is going to bury her son today.

And the bastard responsible for his death is going to get away free.

I don't know.

If he could have only nailed Linda for the murder of that boy.

Maybe the next guy who decides to dump toxic waste in the city sewer will think

twice about it.

At least Miss Morgan would have that.

Now what am I going to tell her?

Why don't you just tell her that?

Come on.

Mrs. Morgan, I just wanted to say how sorry I am.

What's Mrs. Linda doing here?

I don't know.

Kind of peculiar, don't you think?

I just read about what happened and I wanted... I wanted to say how badly I

for your loss.

I'm going to go talk to her. I'll be right back.

Miss Linder?

So much surprise to see you here today.

I read about it.

I just felt badly and I wanted to attend.

You know your husband's responsible for that boy's death, don't you?

I have to go.

Are you going to the funerals of all your husband's victims, Miss Linder?

What do you want? I want your help.

Now, there's got to be a record that explains exactly what's going on at

Chemical.

Whatever Ben is, he is my husband and I love him.

And he loves me.

Are you sure about that?

You okay?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Kind of a low thing I did to Miss Linda.

Probably would have found out about the affair anyway.

Sergeant Hunter?

What the hell?

What's going on here?

I have a warrant for your arrest for second -degree murder.

That's nonsense.

We have the evidence, Mr. Linder.

That's impossible.

Your wife gave us the key to a safe deposit box.

Inside it, we found your real set of books.

We also found $500 ,000 in cash.

That's the money Howard Nelson kicked back to you.

You ought to feel real good about yourself, Mr. Linder.

You're about to make history in California criminal law.