Original subtitles

MY NAME IS STEVE SCHIRRIPA,

AND I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT REVENGE.

IMAGINE YOU'VE BEEN CHEATED ON OR LIED TO.

I PAID $8,500 IN TOTAL.

[ Female voice ] The number you have reached is not in service.

AND THE NUMBER DOESN'T CONNECT.

YOU SON OF A BITCH.

Schirripa: YOU'VE BEEN FLAT-OUT PLAYED.

IT WAS DEVASTATING.

IT WAS LIKE THE HOUSE WAS PRETTY MUCH WIPED CLEAN.

YES, THERE'S LOTS MISSING! THE FURNITURE IS GONE!

Schirripa: NATURALLY, YOU WANT TO GET EVEN.

WE CAN BUST HIM.NO, JESSICA.

BUT WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND.

THAT'S CALLED "KARMA," AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY...

--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

SO, WHAT'S A GIRL DO TO GET OVER A BROKEN HEART?

WELL, RENOVATE, OBVIOUSLY.

BUT MICHELLE LAI,

AN ENGINEER FOR A SAN FRANCISCO SOFTWARE COMPANY,

DIDN'T HAVE A TON OF MONEY,

SO SHE TURNED TO THE INTERNET LOOKING FOR A DEAL.

SO, BACK IN THE SUMMER OF 2007,

I WAS GETTING TO THE END OF A VERY DIFFICULT BREAKUP.

ESSENTIALLY, HE MOVED OUT.

AND FOR ME, THAT WAS A TIME WHEN I DECIDED TO REMODEL.

THE RENOVATION MEANT THAT I COULD

START DOWN A NEW PATH FOR MYSELF,

AND I NEEDED A DISTRACTION.

DEFINITELY ONE OF THE MAIN PIECES OF THIS RENOVATION

WAS THE KITCHEN --

GETTING NEW COUNTERS AND CABINETS

AND POSSIBLY AN ISLAND.

Schirripa: BUT THERE'S A RIGHT WAY AND A WRONG WAY

TO HIRE A CONTRACTOR.

Lai: I DIDN'T DO THE SMART THING OF ASKING FOR REFERENCES

FROM MY CO-WORKERS.

INSTEAD, I TURNED TO CRAIGSLIST.

Schirripa: MICHELLE LOOKED AT LOTS OF OPTIONS

BEFORE SHE FINALLY FOUND

WHO SHE THOUGHT WAS THE PERFECT FIT.

THIS IS THE KITCHEN.

OKAY.

WELL, WE WILL REPLACE ALL OF THESE CUPBOARDS.

THE CONTRACTOR I MET WITH AND FINALLY DECIDED TO GO WITH

WAS A SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN.

HE'D BEEN IN THE BUSINESS 12-PLUS YEARS

AND HAD PHOTOS HE BROUGHT OVER

WITH BEAUTIFUL REMODELS HE HAD DONE.

AND HE WAS WILLING TO WORK WITH MY BUDGET.

REALLY?WHY WOULD I LIE TO YOU?

Schirripa: MICHELLE CHECKS OUT HIS CREDENTIALS.

HIS I.D. SAYS THAT HE'S REGISTERED

WITH THE CONTRACTORS LICENSING BOARD.

THE GUY LOOKS LEGIT, SO WHY NOT?

SHE SIGNS A CONTRACT.

I INITIALLY PAID HIM $2,500 AS A RETAINER.

AND WE GO OUT, AND WE START SHOPPING FOR KITCHEN CABINETS.

THIS IS THE ONE THAT YOU SAID

YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO WITH BEFORE.

AND I FALL IN LOVE WITH THESE BAMBOO KITCHEN CABINETS.

[ Chuckling ] IT'S WAY TOO EXPENSIVE.

NOT FOR ME.

HE SAYS HE CAN GET A CONTRACTOR'S DISCOUNT.

THAT FITS MY BUDGET.

I PAY $6,000, SO $8,500 IN TOTAL.

THAT'S AWESOME.

Schirripa: SO, AFTER POCKETING MICHELLE'S 8,500 BUCKS,

THE GUY PULLS A MOVE RIGHT OUT OF LEFT FIELD.

HE WANTED TO CELEBRATE THE PURCHASE

OF OUR FIRST REMODELING FIXTURE.

WHY DON'T WE DISCUSS THE PLANS OVER DINNER?

AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GREAT IDEA

'CAUSE I WAS REALLY ENTHUSIASTIC.

I EXPECT FOR HIM TO BRING A PIZZA OVER

AND FOR US TO CONTINUE TALKING OVER SOME IDEAS.

Schirripa: BUT OUR FRIENDLY CONTRACTOR HAS GOT OTHER PLANS.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M NOT LOOKING TO DATE ANYONE AT THAT POINT.

I WAS JUST LOOKING TO CREATE MY SPACE.

SORRY, I WASN'T EXPECTING THIS.

COME ON IN.

I DECIDED IT'S A SMART MOVE TO GO TO DINNER WITH HIM

BECAUSE HE HAS $8,500 OF MY MONEY.

HE CHOSE A RATHER ROMANTIC RESTAURANT.

I FELT MAYBE HE WAS A BIT LONELY.

I WAS VERY THANKFUL HE DIDN'T MAKE IT

A MORE UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION,

BUT I DO HAVE THIS BIG QUESTION MARK IN MY MIND

OF WHAT TOMORROW IS GOING TO BE LIKE.

SO, IS THIS GUY RENOVATING OR BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP?

HEY, MAYBE IT'S KARMA HELPING MICHELLE GET OVER

THE BREAKUP WITH HER EX-BOYFRIEND.

ONE THING'S FOR SURE --

HE'S GIVING HER THE FULL-COURT PRESS.

AND THAT SAME NIGHT...

Lai: HE TEXTS ME,

AND HE ASKS IF I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO SAN DIEGO THAT WEEKEND.

WHAT IS IN SAN DIEGO?

HE'S REALLY MADE THIS UNCOMFORTABLE.

SO I DIDN'T REPLY IMMEDIATELY.

I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT.

IT'S NO LONGER JUST A CONTRACTOR-REMODEL RELATIONSHIP.

Schirripa: THE NEXT DAY,

MICHELLE TRIES TO STRAIGHTEN THINGS OUT

BY SENDING HIM AN E-MAIL,

SAYING SHE WANTS TO KEEP

THEIR RELATIONSHIP STRICTLY PROFESSIONAL.

OKAY. HERE GOES.

PLEASE DON'T BE MAD.

Schirripa: BUT A FEW DAYS LATER,

MICHELLE STILL HASN'T HEARD FROM THE GUY.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE REMODEL'S GONNA GET DONE.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GONNA GET MY MONEY BACK.

Schirripa: MICHELLE'S "HOW TO GET OVER HER EX" THERAPY

IS BACKFIRING.

DID SHE JUST MAKE ANOTHER BAD CHOICE IN MEN,

OR DID HER E-MAIL SCARE HIM OFF?

[ Female voice ] The number you have reached is not in service.

Lai: I CALLED THE NUMBER FOR THE COMPANY

THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM HIS CELLPHONE NUMBER.

IT GOES TO A CHURCH, AS DOES THE ADDRESS.

Schirripa: MICHELLE'S STARTING TO GET A REAL BAD FEELING

AND CALLS AROUND TO CHECK OUT HER CONTRACTOR'S CREDENTIALS.

THE CONTRACTORS LICENSE BOARD HAS NOT CONCEPT OF WHO HE IS.

AND MY HEART JUST SINKS.

I KNOW I'VE BEEN SCAMMED.

Schirripa: SADLY, MICHELLE'S RIGHT.

THIS TOP-NOTCH CON ARTIST

HIT ON HER AND THEN TOOK OFF WITH HER MONEY.

SHE GOES TO THE COPS, BUT WHAT ARE THEY GONNA DO?

SHE DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A REAL ADDRESS.

BUT MICHELLE WANTS HER MONEY BACK,

SO SHE HEADS TO SMALL CLAIMS COURT,

WHERE SHE HITS ANOTHER WALL.

ONE OF THE MAIN STIPULATIONS OF A SMALL CLAIMS COURT CASE

IS THAT YOU MUST SERVE HIM PAPERS IN PERSON.

SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY LOCATION FOR HIM

OR ANY CONTACT INFORMATION,

THERE WAS NO WAY TO SERVE HIM PAPERS.

AH, YOU SON OF A BITCH.

SO, MICHELLE LAI HAS BEEN TAKEN FOR 8,500 BUCKS

BY A CROOKED CONTRACTOR,

AND THEN HE PULLS A HOUDINI.

MICHELLE CAN'T FIND HIM ANYWHERE.

SIX MONTHS GO BY.

SHE'S BACK TROLLING THE INTERNET AND STILL STUCK

WITH HER OLD KITCHEN.

BUT THIS TIME, SHE'S NOT LOOKING FOR A CONTRACTOR.

SHE'S LOOKING FOR A DATE.

IT WAS A BIT OF A LONELY MOMENT,

AND I STARTED LOOKING AT THE PERSONALS.

Schirripa: AND THAT'S WHEN KARMA DECIDES TO STEP UP FOR MICHELLE.

LO AND BEHOLD, I FOUND HIM.

AH, YOU SON OF A BITCH.

Schirripa: THE CONTRACTOR'S GOT A BEARD AND ANOTHER FAKE NAME,

BUT SHE IS SURE IT'S THE GUY WHO SCAMMED HER.

Lai: I GOT VERY EXCITED.

I FELT LIKE I WON THE LOTTERY.

I'M GONNA GET YOU. [ Chuckling ] OH.

Schirripa: AND MICHELLE'S GOT AN IDEA OF HOW TO REEL THIS GUY IN.

SHE'S GONNA CON THE CON MAN.

Lai: "DEAR, COLIN..."

I CREATE AN ALTER EGO,

COME UP WITH A PERSONA OF WHO I AM, WHAT I DO,

WHAT I WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP.

Schirripa: WHEN SHE'S GOT HER FAKE PROFILE JUST RIGHT,

SHE SENDS HIM AN E-MAIL.

I THINK THIS IS PERFECT.

I'M GONNA SET THIS UP AS A BLIND DATE.

HERE YOU GO... YOU BASTARD.

Schirripa: HE TAKES THE BAIT AND AGREES TO MEET.

FOR PROTECTION, SHE BRINGS ALONG A TOUGH-GUY FRIEND

TO HELP SERVE THIS SLIMEBALL COURT PAPERS.

I SET IT UP SO THAT WE'D MEET AT A COFFEE SHOP,

BUT I WILL BE MEETING WITH MAXIM ACROSS THE STREET IN A BAR.

WE'RE BOTH WATCHING, HAWK-EYED, ACROSS THE STREET

TO SEE EACH PERSON GOING IN AND COMING OUT.

THE ADRENALINE JUST KEPT PUMPING.

I JUST WAS ON PINS AND NEEDLES.

BUT HE DOESN'T SHOW UP, AND OF COURSE, I'M THINKING,

"WHEN DID I GIVE IT AWAY? DID I GIVE IT AWAY?"

Schirripa: MICHELLE'S CRUSHED,

BUT, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY --

"YOU CAN'T CON A CON MAN."

IT WAS TIME TO MOVE ON,

WRITE OFF THE $8,500, AND FORGET THIS JERK,

EXCEPT KARMA HAD OTHER PLANS.

TWO MONTHS LATER,

SHE GETS A CALL FROM THE CONTRACTOR LICENSING BOARD.

TURNS OUT THEY'RE GETTING MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS GUY.

HE'S STILL OUT THERE SCREWING MORE PEOPLE,

AND NOW THEY WANT MICHELLE'S HELP TO CATCH HIM.

Lai: I'M ASKED TO GO IN TO

THE CONTRACTORS LICENSE BOARD OFFICE

AND IDENTIFY THE CONTRACTOR OUT OF A LINEUP

OF RANDOMLY SELECTED DRIVER'S LICENSES.

[ LAI CHUCKLES ]

THERE HE IS RIGHT THERE.

THAT GAVE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

THE POWER TO PROSECUTE HIM OFFICIALLY.

I BROUGHT YOU COPIES OF EVERYTHING HE SENT ME.

Schirripa: AND IT WORKS.

PRETTY SOON, MICHELLE GETS A CALL FROM THE COPS

WITH SOME GOOD NEWS.

HELLO. THIS IS MICHELLE.

HER CON MAN'S BEEN BUSTED...

BUT IT'S NOT ON FRAUD CHARGES.

Lai: THE CONTRACTOR IS PICKED UP ON DOMESTIC-VIOLENCE CHARGES.

THIS DEFINITELY MAKES ME REFLECT ON

THE TIMES WHEN WE SPENT SPEAKING ALONE TOGETHER.

Schirripa: I HATE TO ASK,

BUT WHAT'S THE FIRST THING A GUY LIKE THIS IS GONNA DO?

YOU GOT IT -- HE MAKES BAIL,

THEN HE MAKES TRACKS AND DISAPPEARS AGAIN.

Lai: WHEN I FIND OUT HE SKIPPED TOWN,

MY HEART SINKS,

'CAUSE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE EXPLAINS

THAT IT'S LIKELY HE'S ESCAPED THE STATE.

I WAS REALLY DEPRESSED AT FIRST.

Schirripa: AND THEN SHE GETS REALLY PISSED.

SHE STILL WANTS HER MONEY BACK AND TO PUT THIS GUY AWAY.

SO INSTEAD OF DATING SITES,

MICHELLE STARTS SURFING SCAM MESSAGE BOARDS.

SHE FOUND THIS GUY ONCE. MAYBE SHE CAN GET LUCKY AGAIN.

I HAPPENED ACROSS A SCAM WEBSITE,

AND HIS NAME IS MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES.

Schirripa: YOU SEE, THE THING ABOUT BAIL-BOND COMPANIES,

THEY WANT THEIR MONEY BACK, TOO.

AND THIS "CONTRACTOR" OWES THEM $20,000.

SO THEY'VE SENT A BADASS BOUNTY HUNTER AFTER HIM.

AND SINCE MICHELLE ALREADY HAS THE GOODS ON THE GUY,

SHE WANTS TO JOIN FORCES TO HELP TRACK THE CONTRACTOR DOWN.

[ RINGING ]

LAI: Hi. This is Michelle Lai.

I HAVE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUGITIVE COLIN MURPHY.

WHAT YOU GOT?

WHAT SHE GOT IS THE FAKE NAME THE CONTRACTOR USED ON HER.

WITH THAT INFORMATION, THE BOUNTY HUNTER DISCOVERS

THAT THE GUY STOLE THE NAME AND I.D. FROM A FRIEND OF HIS,

AND NOW THAT FRIEND IS PISSED, TOO,

AND MORE THAN HAPPY TO RAT OUT THE CONTRACTOR.

Lai: THE FRIEND STARTED HELPING

AND GIVES THE LOCATION OF THE CONTRACTOR.

Schirripa: THE BOUNTY HUNTER IS ON THE MOVE,

DRIVING ALL NIGHT TO TRACK DOWN HIS MAN.

THE BOUNTY HUNTER ARRIVES AND IS STAKING OUT THE ADDRESS.

Schirripa: IT LOOKS LIKE THIS "CONTRACTOR'S"

SCAMMING DAYS ARE DONE.

THE BOUNTY HUNTER CALLS ME,

TELLING ME HE'S GOT THE CONTRACTOR.

Man: HEY, MICHELLE.

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, WE GOT OUR BOY

SO I'M REALLY EXCITED.

OH, MY GOD! [ LAUGHS ]

Schirripa: OUR CON MAN WAS CHARGED AND CONVICTED

OF A WHOLE BUNCH OF CHARGES,

INCLUDING THE SCAM HE PULLED ON MICHELLE.

BUT FOR NOW,

SHE'S GONNA HAVE TO WAIT FOR HER MONEY.

THE CONTRACTOR GOT FIVE YEARS.

I WISH HE HAD GOTTEN MORE.

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WAS REALLY IMPRESSED

WITH ALL THE SLEUTHING I DID,

TO THE POINT WHERE THEY OFFERED ME A JOB.

THIS BOGUS CONTRACTOR MESSED WITH THE WRONG GIRL.

Schirripa: YOU'VE GOT THAT RIGHT.

NOW, MICHELLE DIDN'T TAKE THEM UP ON THE JOB OFFER,

BUT AFTER SAVING SOME MORE CASH,

SHE DID RENOVATE HER CONDO

AND SHE GOT A BRAND-NEW BOYFRIEND.

NOW, THAT'S HOW KARMA CONSTRUCTS A HAPPY ENDING.

PRETTY NICE ANTIQUES, RIGHT?

SO, WHAT IF THEY WERE STOLEN FROM YOUR GREAT-GRANDMOTHER?

I MEAN, I KNOW HOW I'D FEEL.

BUT WHAT IF YOU WERE JUST 12 YEARS OLD?

TO GET OVER A MOUNTAIN OF HURT LIKE THAT,

YOU'RE GONNA NEED A LOT OF KARMA.

WELCOME TO FITZGERALD, GEORGIA,

A SMALL, QUIET TOWN,

AND THE HOME OF JESSICA'S GREAT-GRANDMA

WHO PASSED AWAY SEVEN YEARS AGO BUT IS STILL SORELY MISSED.

JESSICA SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE,

FROM THE TIME SHE WAS BORN

UP UNTIL MY GRANDMOTHER'S PASSING.

IT WAS LIKE OUR SECOND HOME.

I HAVE LOTS OF MEMORIES AT MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE.

I BASICALLY GREW UP THERE.

IT WAS REALLY NICE. I JUST LOVED HER HOUSE.

Schirripa: THE HOUSE WAS JESSICA AND HER MOM'S ONLY CONNECTION

TO THE PERSON THEY LOVED MORE THAN ANYTHING,

AND NOW IT'S BEEN ROBBED.

Jessica: WELL, I WAS COMING HOME FROM CAMP,

AND MY MOTHER, SHE WAS CRYING.

AND SHE SAID, "SOMEBODY BROKE INTO MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE."

Stephanie: MY GRANDMOTHER'S NEIGHBOR CALLED ME

AND TOLD ME THAT THE YARDMAN WHO CAME BY

SAID THAT THE BACK DOOR WAS WIDE OPEN

AND THAT THE HOUSE WAS JUST TOTALLY RANSACKED.

Schirripa: RIGHT AWAY,

STEPHANIE AND JESSICA HIGHTAIL IT TO THE SCENE.

SO, WE WENT DOWN TO FITZGERALD, AND WE SEE THE DAMAGE.

Schirripa: WHEN THEY GET THERE, THE COPS HAVE COME AND GONE,

BUT THERE'S EVIDENCE EVERYWHERE

THAT THE HOUSE WAS COMPLETELY TRASHED.

Jessica: IT WAS DEVASTATING.

IT WAS LIKE I WALKED THROUGH,

LIKE, A HOUSE THAT WAS JUST TAKEN THROUGH

A TORNADO OR SOMETHING.

LIKE, HER HOUSE WAS PRETTY MUCH WIPED CLEAN.

Stephanie: THOSE THINGS ARE PRICELESS.

THEY WERE DEAR TO MY GRANDMOTHER,

AND THEY WERE PART OF MY HISTORY.

JESSICA WAS JUST AS DEVASTATED AS I WAS,

BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER HAD TO EXPERIENCE

ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE.

IT WAS SAD. IT WAS SCARY.

THEY JUST DESTROYED HER HOUSE, AND I FELT KIND OF VIOLATED.

NOW, THAT'S A TOUGH LIFE LESSON FOR A KID,

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL JESSICA LEARNED.

BREAK-AND-ENTER ISN'T, LET'S SAY,

THE COPS' TOP PRIORITY.

YES, THERE'S LOTS MISSING! THE FURNITURE IS GONE!

SINCE NO ONE'S BEEN HURT,

THE COPS PUT THE CASE ON THE BACK BURNER,

BUT TO JESSICA, SOMETHING'S JUST NOT RIGHT.

Jessica: THE POLICE SAID THAT

THERE WAS, LIKE, NO BROKEN WINDOWS OR ANYTHING,

AND SO THEY THOUGHT SOMEBODY HAD A KEY.

I KNEW THIS WAS WRONG,

BECAUSE MY PARENTS WERE THE ONLY ONES WITH KEYS.

Schirripa: SO, IT WAS RIGHT ABOUT THEN

THAT JESSICA DECIDED TO GROW UP,

TAKE MATTERS INTO HER OWN HANDS, AND TRY AND SOLVE

THE CASE OF HER GREAT-GRANDMA'S STOLEN PROPERTY.

YOU SEE, AS KARMA WOULD HAVE IT,

THE SUMMER CAMP THAT JESSICA CAME FROM

JUST BEFORE SHE GOT THE NEWS ABOUT THE ROBBERY,

WAS TRAINING HER TO BE A JUNIOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

WELL, MY MOTHER FORCED ME TO GO TO THE JUNIOR D.A. CAMP.

THE CAMP TEACHES STUDENTS ABOUT FORENSICS AND LAW.

DURING JESSICA'S SESSIONS, WE HAD A FORENSIC CLASS.

AND DURING THE CLASS, THEY TALKED ABOUT

FINGERPRINTS AND GATHERING EVIDENCE

AND THAT KIND OF THING.

Schirripa: SO, ARMED WITH WHAT SHE LEARNED

AT JUNIOR D.A. CAMP,

JESSICA LAUNCHES HER OWN INVESTIGATION.

AND IT'S NOT TOO LONG BEFORE OUR YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES

UNCOVERS HER FIRST CLUE.

Jessica: I OPEN UP THE GARAGE, AND APPARENTLY,

THE DOOR TO GET INTO THE HOUSE

THROUGH THE GARAGE, IT WAS UNLOCKED,

AND SO I SAID, "THEY GOT IN THROUGH THIS WAY."

Schirripa: BUT JESSICA'S JUST GETTING STARTED.

Jessica: I SAW A BROKEN WINDOW, AND I SAW A SHOPPING CART,

AND SO I BELIEVE THEY GOT ON TOP OF A SHOPPING CART

AND THEY WENT THROUGH THE WINDOW.

Schirripa: IT LOOKS LIKE THE COPS MISSED SOME KEY EVIDENCE,

AND FOR AN AMATEUR,

IT LOOKS LIKE JESSICA'S GOT A PRETTY GOOD THEORY.

I SHOWED THEM SOME FINGERPRINTS THAT WERE AROUND THE GARAGE,

BUT THE POLICE SAID THAT,

"OH, THIS ISN'T ENOUGH FINGERPRINTS

TO SEND TO THE FORENSICS LABS."

Schirripa: SOUNDS LIKE JESSICA'S HOT ON THE TRAIL,

BUT THE POLICE STILL AREN'T READY TO MAKE AN ARREST.

WHY?

POLICEMEN BELIEVE THAT IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO LOCATE DEFENDANTS

UNLESS THERE'S SOME OVERWHELMING PIECE OF EVIDENCE.

SO, WHAT DOES JESSICA DO?

SHE KICKS HER INVESTIGATION INTO OVERDRIVE

AND WONDERS WHAT BURGLARS WOULD DO WITH A BUNCH OF ANTIQUES.

ON A HUNCH, SHE CHECKS OUT A LOCAL PAWN SHOP.

Jessica: THE ECONOMY WASN'T THE BEST,

AND SO A PAWN SHOP, OF COURSE,

WILL GIVE THEM MONEY FOR FURNITURE.

Schirripa: ONCE AGAIN, 12-YEAR-OLD JESSICA'S HUNCH

IS RIGHT ON THE MONEY.

THAT'S GREAT-GRAN'S STUFF, RIGHT?

AND NOW KARMA WANTS HER TO WRAP UP THE CASE.

IT'S LIKE, "OH, WOW, MOM. IT'S RIGHT HERE."

THIS KID'S ON A ROLL.

SHE'S FOUND THE STOLEN GOODS, BUT CAN SHE COLLAR THE CROOKS?

YOU HAVE MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER'S STUFF.

EXCUSE ME?

TO FIND OUT MORE OF WHAT I THINK ABOUT THESE STORIES, GO TO...

SO, AS YOU CAN SEE,

12-YEAR-OLD JESSICA IS A NATURAL DETECTIVE.

WHEN HER LATE GREAT-GRANDMA'S HOUSE WAS ROBBED,

SHE WANTED TO CRACK THE CASE,

AND NOW SHE'S CLOSING IN ON CATCHING THE CROOKS.

THESE WERE TAKEN AT MY GREAT-GRANDMA'S HOUSE.

WE WENT TO THE MANAGER OF THE PAWN SHOP,

AND I ASKED HIM WHO BROUGHT THESE THINGS IN,

BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO TO PAWN SHOPS,

YOU HAVE TO GET PHOTOCOPIES OF YOUR I.D. TAKEN.

THAT'S HER LAMP.

Schirripa: BINGO.

NOT ONLY HAS JESSICA FOUND THE FURNITURE,

SHE'S GOT A FACE AND AN ADDRESS FOR ONE OF THE ROBBERS.

THIS ADDRESS IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM GRANDMA'S.

THEY WERE PROBABLY AROUND 17, AND ONE WAS 18.

WE CAN BUST 'EM!

NO, JESSICA, LEAVE THAT TO THE POLICE.

I WANTED THEM TO GO TO JAIL BECAUSE WHAT THEY DID WAS WRONG.

AND I WANTED ALL OF MY FURNITURE BACK

BECAUSE IT MEANT A LOT TO ME.

[ RINGING ]

WALKER.

DETECTIVE.

We found the furniture.

AND WE HAVE AN ADDRESS OF WHO STOLE IT.

MA'AM, WHAT'S THE ADDRESS?

AFTER I GAVE THE PHOTOCOPIES OF THE I.D.s TO THE POLICE,

THEY SAID THAT THEY'LL TAKE THIS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS NOW

AND THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING ELSE.

MA'AM, DO NOT GO THERE YOURSELF.

Yeah, we'll investigate it from here.

I THINK JESSICA BECAME SOMEWHAT OF AN IRRITANT,

BECAUSE UNLESS THERE'S SOME REALLY OUTSTANDING EVIDENCE

THAT POINTS CLEARLY TO SOMEONE'S IDENTITY,

IT'S DIFFICULT TO TRACK THEM DOWN.

BUT JESSICA DID IT.

Thank you kindly.

Schirripa: BUT DID THE REAL SHERLOCK HOLMES

EVER LEAVE IT TO THE COPS AFTER HE FOUND THE BAD GUYS?

WELL, NEITHER DID JESSICA.

SO, MY MOTHER AND I DECIDED TO GO SHOPPING,

AND WE REALIZED THAT WE WERE NEAR ONE OF THE STREETS

WHERE ONE OF THE BURGLARS LIVED.

HEY, MOM, THAT'S HIM!

ARE YOU SURE?

YES!

AND WE SAW HIM

AND A WOMAN WHO COULD BE HIS MOTHER NEXT TO HIM.

WE CAN FIND OUT IF HE REALLY BROKE INTO THE HOUSE OR NOT.

I WASN'T REALLY NERVOUS TO APPROACH HIM.

I THOUGHT TO MYSELF,

"HE'LL PROBABLY TELL ME MORE THINGS

THAN HE WOULD THE POLICE."

HEY, DO YOU LIVE HERE?

YEAH, WHAT'S IT TO YOU?

DO YOU KNOW NUMBER TWO GLENN HERON AVENUE?

UH, NO.

I THINK YOU DO.

'CAUSE I'M PRETTY SURE YOU STOLE MY GREAT-GRANDMA'S STUFF.

Stephanie: AND HE'S LIKE, "NO."

SHE'S LIKE, "THE HOUSE THAT YOU BROKE INTO.

THE POLICE HAVE YOUR I.D.s."

HE GAVE IN, AND HE SAID, "I BROKE IN."

Schirripa: JESSICA GOT THE PERP TO CONFESS,

AND IN FRONT OF HIS MOTHER.

HIS MOTHER DID GIVE HIM A HARD TIME AND, YOU KNOW,

TELLING HIM, "BE A BETTER MAN.

BE A POSITIVE INFLUENCE IN SOCIETY."

Schirripa: FINALLY, THANKS TO JESSICA'S EVIDENCE,

THE COPS CAN MOP UP THE CASE AND ARREST THE TWO SUSPECTS.

Jessica: YES, MOTHER KNOWS BEST.

BECAUSE GOING TO THE CAMP, I LEARNED SO MANY THINGS,

AND IF IT WASN'T FOR MY MOM,

I PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE HELPED THE POLICE CAPTURE

THE TWO GUYS WHO BROKE INTO MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE.

Stephanie: WHEN I SIGNED HER UP FOR IT,

I HAD NO IDEA THAT IT WAS GONNA LEAD TO CRIME SOLVING.

I BET THOSE CROOKS NEVER HAD A CLUE

THEY'D BE TAKEN DOWN BY A KID LIKE JESSICA.

AND RIGHT NOW, I'M PRETTY SURE

THEY'RE STILL SHAKING THEIR HEADS AND SAYING,

"MAN, KARMA'S A BITCH."