Original subtitles

Ladies and gentlemen, we have one more award for the Critics' Choice for Best

Romantic Mystery.

Now, this is the 20th win for this exceptional novelist, which is why we're

in her hometown of Founders Cove. Meet the author of the latest Selina St.

Cloud mystery, Love is Murder, Alison Chandler.

Thank you.

Whoa, 20 years, huh? We have to stop meeting like this.

I don't think that there's really much left to say that hasn't already been

said, except the fact that I am in amazing company. I mean, Margaret

the winner of the Agatha's Choice Award, Lee Granway, my good, good friend, best

mystery thriller.

And Nikki Weston. Where are you, Nikki?

Best newcomer.

And on behalf of Selena St. Cloud, thank you so much to our loyal readers, the

Cloudies. And Nass Gilbert, my wonderful friend.

So thank you so, so much.

Okay, everyone, that does it for this year's awards. Do not forget about the

book signing in the clubhouse after lunch.

And the taste of Founders Cove, where you can get a taste of Founders Chowder.

We've been serving up seafood for more than half a century, so you know it's

good.

For the last 20 years.

And the next 20.

Speaking of, Selina Fink -Cloud has had a brilliant career, hasn't she?

But maybe it's time to give the old gal a rest.

I don't know if you've been listening, but the old gal just won another major

award and has made everyone a shit ton of money. And everyone at Brenner

Publishing is eternally grateful. I'm grateful, believe me.

But as your agent, if you want me to get you another contract with the famous

six -figure advance, well, you need to broaden your appeal.

I'm appealing just as I am. Of course you are. Of course you are, but look

around you, Ali.

The convention is bigger and younger than ever this year.

And unfortunately, your bloody sales have flatlined.

Look, people under 40, they're not interested in romance.

Oh, please, people under 40 don't know what they want.

Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you.

But the studios do, which is why, unfortunately, your million -dollar

just fell apart.

I'm sorry to see them from the studio. He said they're not interested in

menopausal mystery.

Fine. Report him to HR and bring the movie somewhere else.

There you go.

Next.

It's an honor to meet you, Ms. Chandler. Oh, that's so sweet of you, person

under 40.

To confess, your books actually inspired me to start my true crime podcast.

I'm the one who wrote the case on the Staten Island Slayer. I don't have an

for podcasts.

It's actually built into your phone.

Oh, what is that? Is that a Blackberry or Pager?

Okay, what did you say your name was?

It's Andrea Walker, Andy for short. But can you make it out to Grammy?

My grandma loves your books.

Uh, Andrea Walker, you were on the Today Show. I think that you said my

Selina St. Cloud books were inaccurate and unbelievable.

Don't get me wrong. I think that there is space in the zeitgeist for escapist

boomer fiction. You just can't exactly have teen crumpets with a corpse next to

you on the floor. Every sphincter opens.

Okay.

There you go.

And up between us writers?

Confess isn't a word.

Make the extra effort.

Thanks for the tip.

By the way, is there anywhere around here I can get some aspirin? I think I'm

getting a headache from all the knowledge you're imparting. There's a

in the lobby.

It's closed for remodeling.

Adulting is hard. Next!

Excuse me, aren't you the legendary Alison Chandler? I don't know about

legendary. Hey, I saw you and Nash at lunch. Is everything okay? Nash loves

giving notes of my books, even after they're published.

Say, do you want to join me for dinner? I was headed over to the Muddy Duck. You

know, I've got a seminar tonight. I think I'm just going to unwind a little

Understood. See you tomorrow.

Bye.

A whiskey meet with a whiskey chaser, please.

How's your headache?

Better.

I'm about to get worried.

Don't worry.

I won't bother you.

I honestly didn't mean to insult you.

Apology accepted.

Aren't you going to apologize to me?

Allison Chandler never apologizes.

That is not true.

And you're interrupting.

Oh, I'm sure your fangirl won't mind.

Please, actually, I was just leaving. I have a Zoom with my advertisers in ten,

and they're talking big numbers.

Well, don't let us keep you.

You didn't have to chase her away.

But I wanted you all to myself.

Oh, sweetie, you have had way too much to drink. Maybe you haven't had enough.

I've got a bottle of Dom upstairs, and I'm having trouble popping that cork.

Has that line ever worked?

And there's always someone who craves a little bang as a Nash.

Did I tell you I bought a little place on the other side of the lake?

Near the old mill, 33 Sandalwood Lane.

You're not listening, are you?

Of course I am listening.

Tell me, what's bothering you?

Do you think my books are outdated?

You know, I tell you the truth, Alison, and I've always believed in your talent.

You're so damned much of it.

I secretly hoped you'd base a character on me someday.

But we both know you can do better than this last effort.

Okay, not what I wanted to hear. No, maybe not.

But maybe what I needed to hear.

Now that that's out of the way, shall we talk about what I need?

Oh,

I've got to go. I've got a seminar.

Well, why don't you pop around the new place after all this is over? The key's

under the mat.

Good to know.

I just love your new book. Thank you.

Noah.

Let me drop you.

Miss Chandler. Where's your boss?

Detective Ross, he got promoted two weeks ago. He's division chief now. Who

his place?

Jack Kerrigan out of Baltimore.

He's upstairs, but I can't take you up there.

Detective Kerrigan, I have a witness who wants to speak to you.

Santiago, we're taking statements downstairs.

Allison Chandler, I'm a friend of the DC. Yeah, we're taking statements

downstairs. Thank you. Miss Chandler is our honorary mayor and famous author.

She wrote the Selena St. Cloud mysteries.

Oh. Oh.

Never heard of them.

Chief Rossi is a big fan. I don't mean to be rude. You cannot be here. This is

police investigation.

A man committed suicide.

Suicide? No.

Nash Gilbert would have never committed suicide.

You knew the victim?

20 years.

We had a drink a couple of hours ago. We talked.

He propositioned me.

Proposition you?

Turn him down?

I always turned him down. It never bothered him.

Yeah, well.

Something bothered him. He left a suicide note on that laptop.

To die, to sleep, to sleep perchance, to dream for in that

sleep of death. Thank you very much. Okay, like I said, an officer will take

your statement downstairs. Door's over there. Thanks for your help.

You know, I've written you lots of times.

What does that mean?

He was a big city cop on the wrong side of the tracks who just a fortnight

before traded in the chaos of the metropolis for small -town quiet, hoping

the distance would wash away the memories of a divorce that never really

What makes you think any of that is true?

Well, first of all, I know that you just got here because you are staying in a

hotel, but it is not the resort because... You smell like the pine body

from one of the budget motels on the beach.

That tells me that you don't like wasting money, which is further

your wardrobe, which is clearly not new.

I'm guessing that the choices are deliberately noir, hence the whole damn

of God thing.

The part about the messy divorce is a guess, but I bet I'm right.

Door's still over there.

Thanks for the latte.

I'll give you a call if anything else comes up. You're the best, Noah.

What are you doing? I'm getting interviews for my story on Nash Gilbert.

So you are here to exploit my friend's death.

She's jealous because I know how to get people to talk to me.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got work to do.

I am very good at talking to people, which is why I know that Nash's death

not a suicide, because he never would have quoted Shakespeare in a suicide

He thought Shakespeare was an overrated hack in tights, and he just bought a

vacation home near the old mill on the other side of the lake, which a person

doesn't do if they're going to do a swan dive off a balcony.

You're right, and you're wrong.

I am not wrong.

Nash, Seth was murdered not because of your whack theory.

But because there's actual forensic evidence that someone was in the room

him when he went off that balcony.

Like what?

First, the doors in all the guest rooms have electronic locks.

The security told me that Nash's door was unlocked from the inside five

after his death.

Second, there was a scuff on the base of the lamp consistent with his struggle.

And third, there were drag marks on the carpet indicating that someone dragged

Nash to that balcony.

Trust me, as soon as security tells the cops about the locks...

They'll pivot from suicide to murder.

Well, even if that is true, you are still exploiting someone's death by

some dime -store novel version of it for the Internet.

But that was a dime -store.

Oh.

He was a friend and a mentor, and he will be missed by everyone. Thank you.

Sounded like an Insta -quote to me.

I'm grieving the loss of a friend. A good friend.

I cared for.

I'm going to find out what happened, and you better not get in my way.

Allison Chandler.

Green. Dirty Link. Come here.

I didn't think you were going to make it this year. I got a call from my mother.

Poor Margot was going apoplectic over Nash -Kilbert, so I jumped on a standby

flight, and here I am.

Who's Margo?

Margaret Sterling, the novelist. Sorry, you're... Of course, I'm not sleeping.

Nice to meet you.

Hi, Holden. I am sick of talking about me.

I want to hear about your new girlfriend.

Oh, how do you know I have a new girlfriend?

Well, I saw the ring on your finger. It's not a wedding band, but a promise

ring, perhaps?

Well, you know, I just thought it was finally time to take the plunge, you

Settle down. My business is going well. It's now or never kind of thing.

Great. I am so happy for you. Well, the problem is, is that I just can't seem to

get over my crush on you.

And I was thinking... You okay?

Yeah, there's just a guy over there who's trying really hard not to be

I don't see anybody.

Nothing.

Look, I gotta go, and you should check in. Already done.

We're in 437.

It's so good to see you.

Catch you later, Abigail.

Okay.

you doing here you said that nash just bought a vacation house on the other

of the lake so i gave my chat bot the search parameters and here we are chat

ai it's a brave new world i better be nicer to my doctor speaking of tech

the deal with the security cameras at the resort it's a privacy thing

to town council so if people have them they just don't work right because

considered what

Witchcraft? Oh, laugh it up. They burned women at the stake here in 1691. Pretty

sure that it was Salem in 1692.

Where do you think they got the idea?

Good luck with your investigation.

Oh, I solve mysteries for a living. I think I'm good to go.

But are you, though?

Because you make up evidence, and this is legit.

Anyway, better go put this key back under the mat where it belongs.

Oh, I know what you're doing.

Yeah, you're trying to get in my head.

But guess what? It's not going to work. Because?

I'm canceling you. Isn't that what people from your generation do to people

annoy them?

They cancel them and you are canceled.

I can't even.

That's not a sentence.

Hey, Ronald, have you seen Nikki?

Nikki? Yeah, I saw her heading over to the park.

There's that Taste of Founders Cove thing going on. Where are you?

Oh, you're, uh, you're breaking up. Uh, I don't see... Hello?

Allison Chandler, always making a splash.

Who the hell are you? And why are you following Nikki Weston?

Tate Mullaney, I'm Nikki's boyfriend.

Actually, he's her ex -boyfriend.

How the hell do you know that?

Tate, I have told you a million times, okay? I've moved on. You need to leave.

Okay.

I'm sorry.

I just wanted to talk to you.

I'll go.

I hate to be mean, and Tate is such a great guy. It's... I found someone else.

He just won't let go.

It must be awful to lose your stepfather on top of all this.

You know he was my stepfather?

Well, I know... There was a photo of you in Nash's house with an inscription on

the back.

Things were complicated.

Is that why you went to see him when you got here?

I never said I saw him. There were blue fibers on the armchair in Nash's study,

and they perfectly matched the tassels on your bag.

Is there somewhere you and I can talk?

Just the two of us?

Absolutely.

Nash and my mom got married when I was five.

He ignored me until three years ago.

When she died. And that's when things got complicated.

My mother came from old money.

She left me millions, but Nash controlled the trust.

So you went to see him when you got here to talk about it. He told me that

everything's been invested.

But the only thing he ever invested in was a vacation house for himself.

So I still haven't gotten a penny, and now I have to pay for my own wedding.

It's none of my business, but you and Tate just broke up.

And now you're marrying someone you just met?

We've actually known each other for a while.

We went to see a play together before I flew up here, and he drove me home

afterwards and proposed.

I had really hoped that Nash would understand that now we needed the money

start our new lives, but he didn't care.

And then I got mad at him, and now he's dead.

It's going to be okay.

Nash is the one who got me my first job.

I was ghostwriting this book for someone that he knew, and it's not like I even

ever got any credit for it because the author was totally paranoid about being

found out.

But still, if it wasn't for that first gig, I might never have had the

confidence to write at all.

Nikki, I need you to really think about who could have hated your stepfather

enough to kill him.

I don't know.

Maybe talk to Lee Granway?

Lee? Yeah, they used to yell at each other all the time when I was a kid.

And I heard that they got into a fight yesterday.

Hey!

Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

My lips are sealed this time.

You are not going to bamboozle me into telling you anything about Nikki.

Like the fact that Nash got her a ghostwriting job or that she just

boatload of dough. How do you know that?

Tate Mullaney was wearing a hoodie that said Iron Robot on the back.

It's a 90s alternative rock band.

So I asked around, and the only place in Founders Cove that plays 90s alt -rock

is the Roundhouse.

It's a dive bar next to the movie theater. So I went there, bought him a

and he spilled the tea.

I could never do that.

Well, Nick, you wouldn't talk to me, but I should talk to you.

Do you want to grab a coffee?

As long as you're buying.

Hi.

Can I have a venti oat milk caramel macchiato, please? But could you put it

recyclable grande cup? And also with a half of vanilla and chocolate drizzle,

but only at the bottom. And can you also steam the oat milk, but don't make it

too hot?

Thanks. That was longer than my third marriage.

There's nothing wrong with wanting things the way you want them. I couldn't

agree more.

I'd like one large black coffee, please.

Is that the best you've got? I like keeping things simple.

Which is why you've been married how many times?

Oh, sassy.

Sassy? Who even uses that?

word i bet your mother used it a lot my mother disappeared when i was 10 and

before you start in on how i'm drawn to solving mysteries because of her i have

tried to find her but i can't at least not yet so i'd much rather talk about

coffee what i wanted to say is that i'm impressed

with you You got in and out of that hotel room before Kerrigan even knew you

were there. I got kicked out. Well, it's because you're famous and people notice

you. Well, aren't you an internet celebrity person? Yeah, I was for like a

second. But truth is, all that stuff about advertisers with big dollars was

total bullshit.

What happened?

When I was in college, I wrote a story on the Staten Island Slayer. And someone

said that I could make a whole bunch of money if I turned it into a podcast.

So I did. And it went viral.

And I started making bucket loads of money, and it was all awesome until my

manager stole literally everything from me, including the rights to my name, The

Andy Walker True Crime Show. Didn't you read your contract?

Of course I read my contract.

I just didn't understand it.

Anyway, I went back to writing, which is what I've always wanted to do in the

first place. That's why I came to this convention, to try and find a book

But everyone said no, because they think my podcast is shit. And it is shit, but

it's not my podcast.

So now you know how deeply ironic and desperate my life is. Oh, well, thank

Please, you aren't ironic and desperate.

After I win yet another award, my publisher wants to retire Selena Fade

because young readers like all that forensic crap that you're so good at.

Okay, wait a sec.

I have an idea, and just think about it.

What if you and I write the book about Nash together?

What? No. God, no. What? Think about it for a second. We have very different

skill sets.

All right.

It is funny because Nash did say he wanted me to write about him someday.

Okay, for the sake of discussion, if we were to give it a try, you would have to

relocate to Founders Co. because I don't do the Zoom.

Roger that, partner. I don't have a life, so moving wouldn't be a problem.

Partner? No, not partner.

Assistant. You've never even written a book before. But you just said Selena

Cloud got the boot. You just said your podcast went to shit.

You know what? We're done here. Oh, yeah, we are done. We're hella done.

that's right. I know how to use the Urban Dictionary. So you should know

not the Zoom.

It's the Zoom. I'm canceling you again.

Are you two okay?

Yeah. Yeah?

Okay. Either you get a good look at the driver.

No, the windows were tinted, but it was a black SUV, no plates.

Okay. Do either of you have anyone that would have any reason to want to hurt

you? No.

Well, maybe. I mean, we've been asking people about Nash's murder.

Did I not tell you to stay away from the investigation?

Well, you didn't tell me that I couldn't ask people questions.

I have a constitutional right to ask questions of anyone I want to ask

of, which is a run -on sentence with a double negative ending and a

But I'm angry, so just deal with it. Put out a bolo on a black SUV, no tags.

Also, have patrol check the woods off the interstate. People are always

rid of interesting things up there.

Like what?

I'll leave that to your vivid imagination.

I'm no expert on reading people, but I'm loving this. Enemy's the love at heart

for you, too.

You must have hit your head.

Allie, I thought you had a seminar this morning. Well, we finished early, so I

thought I'd work on my swing.

Need a little more practice.

I learned a long time ago not to underestimate you.

Nash used to say that.

It's so strange that he's gone.

Yeah, even stranger the police think it's murder, not suicide.

I heard.

I also heard that yesterday wasn't the first time that you and Nash blew up at

each other.

You've been talking to Nikki.

Did she tell you what the arguments were about?

I'm guessing they had something to do with the ledger that Nash had under his

desk.

You know, when you and I first started, we lived and died by the reviews of

three or four major critics.

So when I heard Nash Gilbert's opinion was for sale, I signed up.

I paid the bastard for five years.

Why'd you stop?

Oh, critics lost their clout because of all the self -appointed reviewers

online.

I saw Nash the day before he died.

He tried blackmailing me again.

Wasn't happy when I said no.

So you didn't start paying him again?

If there's another set of numbers in that ledger, Nash was scamming someone

else. And before you ask about an alibi, I was at the Muddy Duck till midnight

the night of the murder. The police are going to want you to prove that.

Well, I can.

Nash went off the balcony at 11 .30 p .m. I was still at the bar at 11 .53.

See for yourself.

Right under the picture.

Ms. Chandler.

Look, I know you think that I'm an arrogant little shit.

But I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for the way that things ended

yesterday. I sincerely doubt that.

Okay. Yes, I have said some mean things about your work.

But the reality is... You're a best -selling author.

To be your assistant and learn from someone like you is the chance of a

lifetime. So, is the job offer still available?

Absolutely not.

Yeah.

Someone tried to kill us.

And if they succeed, we will be equally dead.

So, we're equal partners or not partners at all.

Does this mean we share a byline?

Yes.

But you're on probation.

It wouldn't be the first time. Why am I not surprised?

Okay, so I spoke to NOAA and they found the SUV.

It was reported stolen three hours before it nearly ran us over.

Any prints?

No, it was wiped clean. But they did find a partial under the steering wheel,

they're working on a match.

Well, I spoke to Lee, and he's got an alibi for the night of the murder.

Yeah, so does Nikki.

One of her fans said that she was rehearsing a TikTok video and Ash did

dive. So we're nowhere unless we find more evidence.

Did Nash have a car here?

Oh, boy.

Ladies, how can I help? We were working on a novel on Nash Gilbert and we

thought we'd come check out his car. Oh, maybe you should write about something

else. Like an annoying cop with a big ego and a small jurisdiction.

Hey, you missed something.

What's that?

What's that? Oh, makeup case.

With the letters AC on it. Oh, that's where that went.

It's been missing for years.

I had a...

New one made. You can keep it.

Oh, that's interesting.

Really? A condom that's old enough to be on Medicare is interesting?

You know what's interesting?

The fact that your fingerprints are all over Nash Gilbert's study. You didn't

wear gloves? You did. Have you ever watched Law and Order? Okay.

Do you have someone who can vouch for your whereabouts at the time of the

incident? I just finished a panel. I was talking to someone. Does someone have a

name? What are you, the alibi police?

That's literally who he is. Exactly who I am.

Okay, what are you going to do now? Arrest me? No, I'm not.

I'm not going to arrest you.

Fine. Let's go.

Where are you? What is happening?

I don't know. Where are you going? To the station.

What? Where are your handcuffs? I'm not going to handcuff you. Oh, come on. Come

on. I've never been handcuffed before.

Well, that's not entirely true. Look, just, we may have more questions for you

later. Just don't need time.

I'm not leaving town. I have a seminar later and a hair appointment after that,

which I can't miss because there's a press thing tomorrow.

And as far as what you found in Nash's car, yeah, that's right. Done some stuff

with Nash I'm not proud of. But don't you dare slut shame me because I know

you've done some skanky things you're not proud of. Okay, this is not about

So you're Miss Chandler's new writing partner?

Yep. If I can find a place to live, this town is expensive and I am dead broke.

All right, come on, let's go. Maybe we can...

Grab a coffee sometime.

No, no, no. She's going to be very busy.

It's just a coffee. Yeah, you haven't heard her order.

Okay, we can go.

Hey, Miss Chandler, you still have that guest house, right?

What about it? Well, Andy was saying she's having a hard time finding a place

live, so I thought... Oh, well, it's being remodeled, and I'd have to get

permission from the town council if someone were going to live there full

Yeah, no worries.

I can find a place of my own.

That looks great. Hasn't anyone told you that it's not ladylike to talk with

your mouth full? Not since the ball. It's never failed. I can't believe it.

Nikki Weston and Margaret Sterling.

You're both such classic authors, and you have such incredible flair with your

characters. Can I have a picture?

Well, that doesn't look good.

Hey, Granway.

You're under arrest for the murder of Nash Gilbert.

Wait, wait, wait. Okay.

Slow down, slow down.

Yesterday you were going to arrest me and today Lee.

But the last time I wasn't going to arrest you.

Lee was at the muddy dock when Nash got murdered. He's got a cell phone video to

prove it. Nash Gilbert died at 11 .30 p .m.

Witnesses have Lee Granway exiting the pub at 10 .30 p .m. Well, they're wrong.

Cell phones don't lie.

Yeah, sorry to barge in, but if you know how to access the metadata, you can

change the date and time on his cell phone. There you have it. Ignore her.

I'm afraid that's precisely what the killer did in Mr. Granway's new novel.

that doesn't mean that... This is right, Allie.

When I heard what happened to Nash, I knew I was going to be a suspect, so...

did what I had to do.

Freedom is right.

I didn't kill anyone.

You're okay?

I'm never wrong about these things. Allie, you are looking a little pale.

The gift shop in the lobby is open again. Go get like an energy bar or

something. I'll be fine.

Come in.

I hope I'm not interrupting.

No, uh, no, I was working on the Gilbert case. I guess working on my speech for

the farewell banquet for your convention.

You're the guest speaker?

Yeah, Ross, you couldn't make it, so you're stuck with me. What, uh, what can

do for you?

I am told that this is what people do when they want someone to talk to them.

Well, I'm told that people do that when they want to apologize to someone.

Fine. I got a little overly dramatic yesterday, and I'm sorry.

So, donuts?

Yeah. Yes, please.

What I also wanted to say is that I've known Lee Granway for decades.

We went to college together.

He's a close friend.

Nothing romantic, though, but close.

But just not in a romantic way. Okay, so just a close, non -romantic friend who

falsified evidence.

What was he supposed to do? He knew you were going to ask for an alibi.

Yep, so it's my fault that your boyfriend lied to the authorities.

First, he is not my boyfriend. Second, he did not kill Nash.

The lab confirmed he falsified the metadata on his cell. What he did was

-protective. It came from a place of fear, not guilt.

Yeah, or maybe your close non -romantic ex -boyfriend is simply playing you. You

know what? I came here trying to share some valuable personal insight, and all

I've gotten is sarcasm and disrespect.

Sarcasm and disrespect.

Where have I heard? Oh.

Isn't that what Luna St. Cloud says to Detective Frank Barra at the end of your

first novel? Oh, I knew you were lying when you said you hadn't heard of my

book. Yeah, because I thought you needed a good taste of humble pie. Oh, well,

you need to go on a diet.

Oh, my God.

Did your luggage explode?

Lose the tune, okay? We've got work to do.

This is called an investigation board. The police use them all the time. Oh,

God's sake, I know what an investigation board is, okay? You lose the tune. Go.

Great.

So we've got two suspects.

Lee Granway and Nikki Weston. Nikki isn't a suspect.

She benefits from Nash's death.

You can't be sympathetic and a suspect at the same time. It happens all the

in your books.

Not all the time. Would you please just listen to me?

Nikki has an alibi and Lee doesn't. Okay, but that... Before you interrupt

it's kind of sus that he forged evidence, but it doesn't prove that he

Nash, even though he's been arrested for it.

Okay, keep going.

Then there's the ledger, which is our key piece of evidence. It documents that

Lee was paying Nash, but there's another set of numbers, which could mean

there's another suspect out there.

Okay, if you know who it is, spit it out.

This is actually the part where we work together, remember?

You spin some crackpot theory, and I find the evidence.

Well, we didn't need a board for that. And besides, what kind of board is this?

It's a mess, and you need photos for a real board.

Wait a minute.

Could there be another secret that Nash was hiding?

Like what?

Nash got Nikki a ghostwriting job for no credit. She said that the author was

paranoid that her readers were going to find out. Which means Nash could have

been blackmailing the author.

How did you figure me out? There was a fan taking pictures just before Lee got

arrested, and she said that you and Nikki have the same classic style.

No wonder they're the same. Nikki wrote your book as well as her own.

I was terrified that my audience would think I'd lost my touch if they knew I

used a ghostwriter.

So Nash threatened to go public and you paid him to keep it quiet?

I did.

For eight months. But then I told him I was done. It's better to live with the

consequences than live with a lie.

But please, don't tell Reed.

He worries so much about money, even though he tells me not to.

Reed's business is doing great. Not as great as he wants you to believe.

He's downtown right now shopping for things he can't afford.

I hate to ask, but... I was at my screening that night.

200 people saw me.

Now I'm the one getting a headache.

The gift shop in the lobby's reopened. Maybe an energy bar would help.

Reed said exactly the same thing. Maybe the two of you need an energy bar.

Wait.

Were those his exact words? The gift shop reopened? Why are we talking about

gift shop? Because explain to me how Reed would know that the gift shop was

closed if he didn't get here until after it reopened, which was after Nash died.

Well, he couldn't, unless he was here before Nash's death.

What if Reed drove up here from Hartford the day of the murder, killed Nash,

drove back to Hartford overnight, and then caught the flight back up here the

next morning?

Do you have a shred of evidence to support anything you just said? No.

But I bet we can find something in his room.

437. He told me when he checked in.

And he's downtown shopping.

Okay.

I'll take the dresser. You take the closet. Just hurry. Okay.

I can't believe that Reed could do something like this.

Oh, my God.

Look at this.

What's in the pocket?

A ticket from the Hartford Red Theater?

Two nights before the murder.

Nikki said she went to go see a play with her new boyfriend on the Wednesday

before she got here.

What if Reed is the new boyfriend?

Reed needed the money, and he already knew Nikki from the convention.

And she told him she was inheriting her mom's estate, so he turned up the charm

and got her to dump Tate.

But when Nikki told Reed that Nash wouldn't give her a dime, he drove up

try and convince him.

And then when Nash said no, he pushed him over the balcony. Look at the play

they saw in Hartford.

Hamlet. That explains the suicide note.

I am calling the police. Yeah.

I'll take that.

Get in.

Oh, Gabe, you don't have to do this.

I said get in. Well, I can't fit in there.

Do you want me to cut off an arm?

I think we can squeeze.

Don't panic.

I have a plan.

It better be good.

I will do that. I will do that.

I will do the taillight thing. What? What are you talking about? If you would

get your elbow out of my lady parts, I will show you.

Okay.

One,

two, three.

Oh, yes.

Let me get my hand out.

Okay. Oh, no.

Miss Weston, how can I help? I'm not sure.

Allison Chandler's not answering her phone, and she just missed a panel.

With everything that's going on, I just... All right, well, we'll check it

Thanks for the heads up. Hey, Jack. Yeah?

Lab calls. We got a hit from the print in the SUV. Talk to me.

Reed Sterling. He was arrested two years ago for fraud, but the charges didn't

stick. You bringing him in?

He's not at the hotel, but we just got a call from a motorist on the interstate.

Said she saw a hand waving out of the taillight while at the car in front of

him. What?

It's a rental registered to Reed Sterling.

I bet he's on his way to where he dropped that SUV.

Faster, come on.

Right there.

Not how you hold a shovel.

How in God's name do you know how to hold a shovel? I'd compost.

A shovel helps you separate the greens from the brown, like a lasagna.

Stop talking.

It's really hard.

Okay, dear God.

Okay,

watch.

See? Doing a great job.

But let's keep in mind that you are not making a lasagna. You are digging our

own graves. So maybe pump the brakes a little bit. For God's sakes, just shut

and dig!

Okay, you don't have to yell!

Enough. Enough!

Freeze!

Don't move!

I would not do that.

Cuff him.

Reed Sterling, you have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law.

In conclusion, as the new chief detective of Founders Cove, I'm honored

in front of such an esteemed group of mystery writers.

Solving crimes is both art and science. We need free thinkers as well as

analytical minds that can support theory with fact. Mystery writers, mystery

writers do both. Some better than others.

So here's to all of them. Let's give them a big round of applause.

All right, well, that's the end of our formal program.

But before we enjoy some music, let's all raise a glass in memory of our dear

friend, Nash Gilbert.

Go.

Dear friend, I guess we shouldn't say anything about the blackmail part.

Not the time or the place.

Agreed. Hey, Allie.

I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for us. Oh, you

love a good happily ever after.

Hey, Nikki.

Must be hard for Nikki to find out that Reed was the killer.

Well, she seems to have recovered.

True. So, uh, what did you think of my speech?

Oh, it was pleasant.

Yeah, good.

Good.

I was going for pleasant.

You know, Rossi called and he said he's authorizing you to hire me as a

consultant on an as -needed basis.

Oh, he did, did he? Okay.

So, please don't hire writers to be consultants, and you know that. You know

what I think? I think you just want to spend more time with me.

Maybe I just want to spend more time learning about crime scenes.

Maybe.

I'm going to go apologize to Lee Granway for, you know, wrongfully arresting

him. Yeah, it's usually a good idea.

Boomers are so cute when they flirt. Okay, first of all, I was not flirting,

second of all. I'm not a boomer.

I'm a 10X, sir. Right, the generation that brought us parachute pants. Good

point. Look, do not lose this. I'm not giving you another one.

Why don't you change your mind?

We have a book to write, and I cannot have you straggling in in the middle of

the afternoon.

Curfew is at 10 o 'clock on weekdays and no ravers.

Okay, the word is ragers, and I haven't had a curfew since high school.

The town council did not want me to let you rent the place. They took a boat and

climbed it from the top.