All language subtitles for Murder, She Wrote S07E12 Suspicion of Murder.DVDRip.NonHI.en

Christina can be pretty tough if
she doesn't get what she wants.

Obviously, she wanted you.
Now I guess she's after you.

Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

The silent alarm. Dennis,
you're losing your touch.

He threatened to kill
me. Was he serious?

He said I'd never live
to enjoy my freedom.

No, you get yourself
sideways of an irate husband

and I'm supposed to clean up
your mess. Is that how it goes?

The man threatened her life and nearly
made good on it. That's your business.

Charlie! Don't!

Dennis!

Oh. Hello again.

You know, all afternoon I've
been fighting the war of the roses

with some Japanese beetles.

So far, the beetles
have been winning,

but all of that is going to
come to a screeching halt,

I hope.

I have a new story that I
think you'll find interesting.

It involves my dear
friend Dennis Stanton.

You remember Dennis,
the one-time jewel thief

who is now working
as an investigator

for a major San Francisco
casualty company.

His latest adventure
began a month ago

at an elegant restaurant
in the heart of the city.

A party was being thrown
by one of his closest friends,

the ex-professional tennis
player, Ryan Donovan.

Well, since I still don't know what
prompted this happy occasion,

I will merely wish
you a happy occasion.

To your very good health, Ryan.

May you enjoy it long after
your backhand's deserted you.

Thanks, Dennis. My backhand
deserted me years ago.

Why do you think
I left the tour?

I thought you'd gotten
too old to run around,

after tennis balls, that is.

Did you guys know this
fella actually beat me once?

Six years ago, back
east, when I could still play.

He whipped by butt.

My finest hour. The next day
I stopped playing altogether,

and for the past six years I've
been able to say, in all honesty,

the last time I played tennis

I beat Ryan Donovan.

So what's the scoop, Ryan?
What are we celebrating?

My freedom.

After three years, Alison
and I decided to call it quits.

Looks like you've got
some competition, Dennis.

Pardon? With the ladies.

You may lose your ranking as
the number-one man around town

now that Ryan's
on the loose again.

That, I'm afraid,
will be no contest.

I concede already.

Excuse me.

I thought I saw a familiar face.

Hello, Dennis.

Christina, you look marvelous.

Thank you. Well, a few
pounds here, a few pounds there.

I've been working out.

The last time I saw you was,

oh, Lord, the reception for
the Canadian prime minister.

Now, when was that?
That was over a year ago.

Where's Ben?

He's not here.

Oh, I love that song.

Care to dance?

I'd be delighted.

So, what about you? Here alone?

Not anymore.

It's amazing how you can be so
elusive and still stay so attractive.

Perhaps one
depends on the other.

Dear, sweet Dennis.

Would you like to come up?

Oh, no, no, I must get
back. Oh, please, Dennis.

I'd like to talk.

All right.

Ben and I have been
separated for several weeks now.

We had a terrible
fight, aired it all out.

There's no going back.

I'm sorry. I've
always liked Ben.

He has a certain
charming earthiness.

He's a slob.

It was never any good
between us. God knows I tried.

I must have been out of my mind
showing up at Ryan's party tonight alone.

I guess I just wanted to
prove to myself that I was

still desirable as a woman.

There's never been
any question about that.

Dear, sweet Dennis.

Always the right response
at the right moment.

Once in a while I even
detect a note of sincerity.

Oh, I'm sorry, I
didn't mean that.

It's just that

I've spent four years trying to
make a relationship work, and...

Well, I guess that's something you
haven't had much experience with.

On the contrary. I
spent 24 years of my life

working very hard to make a
wonderful marriage even better.

Oh, Dennis, I didn't know.

Elizabeth and I were
young, too young probably.

The early years were
difficult for both of us,

but we learned to adapt.

After a while I came to
depend on her for everything.

I couldn't imagine
life without her.

And then the doctor told us

she was going to die.

It was long and it was painful.

And when it was
over I thanked God

for releasing her
from her agony.

I am so sorry.

Oh, don't be.

I have wonderful memories.

In that sense, I'm blessed.

But would I do it again with
someone else? I don't know.

I'm not sure.

I think I'm afraid it would
never be the same again.

Oh, I'm sorry, Christina.

You wanted to talk, and
I've done all the talking.

No, no, don't be silly.

I think I'd better go.

Please don't.

Christina.

I need someone with me tonight.

I'm not asking for
any more than that.

Well, good morning. Or
should I say good afternoon?

Back from lunch so soon,
Rhoda? It's only 3:00.

I had to go get my dress for
my cousin Bernice's wedding.

I'm a bridesmaid.

That makes 14
straight performances

in a supporting role,
but who's counting?

Mr. Butler was looking
for you this morning.

What a surprise. Probably wants
my report on the Drabecki case.

Among other things. And
his mood was not pleasant.

When is it ever? Here we are.

Now, I have to interview
an antique dealer in Carmel,

and it's a lovely
day for a drive.

Is that an invitation?

Sorry, I only have
room in my car for two.

Ooh, business with
pleasure. Who is it this time?

Rhoda, dear, allow me to
maintain a little air of mystery.

Oh, sure, freeze me out.

Just wait till the next
time you want me

to tell some babe you've been
called away to Kuala Lumpur.

That's odd.

Be a dear. If Robert
comes looking for me,

tell him I'm hot on the
trail of the Hope Diamond.

I didn't know it was missing.

It isn't, but Robert
doesn't know that.

I came on at 9:00. Mrs. Hellinger
was gone when I got here.

Are you sure? Sure, I'm sure.

Some guy sent her
a dozen roses, right?

So I called her up
to tell her. No answer.

I still got 'em over
there on the desk.

Well, did you check
her apartment?

No, what for? Out is out.

She said last night that she was
going to sleep late this morning.

Oh, you must be Dennis.

I looked at the card. I
like to keep up on things.

Why don't we check her
apartment just to be sure?

Sure of what?

Sometime during the night she
didn't suffer from a cerebral incident

or a coronary
occlusion or worse.

You know, Mac... Dennis.

Dennis. You've got
a morbid imagination.

Christina?

Just don't touch
anything, all right?

I shouldn't be doing this.

Hey, what are you doing?

Pop, are you there? It's Danny.

Look, if you're there, pick up.

I know it's early
but I gotta talk to...

Hey, buddy, that's a
private conversation.

It's 7:30 on Wednesday morning.

The tax guys were
here again yesterday,

said that you had an
appointment with them.

I stalled 'em, but
they're not real happy.

So get back to me, okay, Pop?

Consolidated Casualty.
Dennis Stanton's office.

It's me, dear heart.

There you are.

I'm on my way back from
Carmel. Anything happening?

Aside from a half-a-dozen
messages, not much.

Robert Butler, Robert
Butler, Robert Butler.

The fourth time he
called he left a message.

It's unrepeatable. And two
calls from a Mrs. Hellinger.

Did she leave a number?

Yeah, right here.

Hello? Christine, it's Dennis.

Oh, Dennis, thank God it's you.

What is it? What's happened?

It's Ben, my husband.

Look, I've got to
see you right away.

Of course. Where are you?

A motel in Tiburon, j just
off the interstate. Belvedere's.

It's the first bungalow.
You can't miss it.

Well, I'm about an
hour and a half away,

but I'll get there
as soon as I can.

Oh, Dennis.

Come in, quick.

Let me look at that face.

No, please.

I think you should see a doctor.

No, I'm all right, really.

Who did this?

Ben?

After last night, I
went to see him.

He's been staying at our place
in San Rafael the past few weeks.

I wanted to have
it out with him.

I had no idea what a
sick, possessive man he is.

Look, last night may not
have meant much to you.

It meant everything to me.

And to me.

Thanks for saying that.

But I mean it.

Your husband is not only
a bully, he's a fool as well.

I told him I wanted a divorce.

Don't worry, Dennis. I
have no designs on you.

But you are the...

the key that has suddenly opened
the door to the rest of my life.

When you told him, is
that when he struck you?

He threatened to kill me.

Was he serious?

Oh, yes.

He said he couldn't stop
me from divorcing him,

but he said I'd never
live to enjoy my freedom.

I think we'd better
go to the police.

What are they gonna do?

Protect me for
the rest of my life?

Christina.

Besides, even if they could,

you know they don't get
involved in domestic quarrels.

Christina,

threatening someone
with murder is a crime.

The very least the police
can do is to put Ben on notice,

keep him at bay.

I doubt very much if he wants to
spend the rest of his life in prison.

Please, you must
protect yourself.

All right. But it
won't be just for me.

He may know about us,
Dennis, about last night.

He had a lot of
friends at that party.

Someone may have told him.

He said a couple of things, veiled
things, as if he knew something.

Come on.

Were you followed to that motel?

No, I don't think so. Why?

We've picked up company.

That's Ben's car.

Are you sure? Of
course, I'm sure.

Speed up. Let's
get away from him.

And let him know
we're on to him?

No, there's a police station
about 10 blocks from here.

I may even lure
him to the front door.

Operator, this is an emergency.

Connect me right away with the
San Rafael police headquarters.

Dennis!

Are you all right?

Yeah, I think so.

You're sure it was your husband's car?
- Yes.

Did you see the license
plates? I did, Lieutenant.

Personalized,
BJH60. His initials.

He bought that car for
himself for his 60th birthday.

Ishimine!

Yes, sir? Get an
APB on this car.

Late model, dark Mercedes.

Lieutenant, he's been staying the last
few weeks at our place in San Rafael.

Ishimine, why don't you call
the San Rafael authorities,

check him out?

Mrs. Hellinger, you want
to go with Officer Ishimine,

give him a description of your
husband, address, that sort of thing?

Certainly. Thank you.

This way, ma'am.

Who the hell do you
think I am, a social worker?

Now, now, Perry,
your blood pressure.

No, you get yourself
sideways of an irate husband

and I'm supposed to clean up
your mess. Is that how it goes?

The man threatened her life and nearly
made good on it. That's your business.

Look, what do you want me to do,

put a round-the-clock
guard on her?

Even if I wanted
to, which I don't,

I don't have the
manpower to deal...

This was an
attempt on our lives.

I have the dents in
my car to prove it.

Gee, I hope you've got a
good insurance company.

Then you're not
going to do anything?

Not exactly.

I'm gonna pick
this guy up, if I can.

Then I'm gonna get
his side of this story.

Then I'm gonna decide what,

if anything, I'm
gonna do about it.

As always, Perry,

your understanding
leaves me awestruck.

Hey, you're the one who sneaked into
the wrong bedroom, buddy boy, not me.

Have a nice evening.

And how long will you
be with us, Mr. Schneider?

A day or so.

I'll just leave the
checkout date open.

Will that be a king-size
bed or two doubles?

Makes no difference.

May I see a major credit card?

Why don't you just
put this on account?

Luggage?

Airline lost it.

It should arrive in the morning.

Of course.

It's room 1233.

The elevators are to your left.

Have a nice evening.

And the same to you.

Very nice.

I'd still rather have
gone to your place.

Now, I am the only one who knows
you're booked here, Mrs. Schneider.

Let's keep it that way
until I talk to your husband.

It will be very dreary for you
here, but don't leave this room.

If you need something from
one of the shops in the lobby,

have a bellman bring it up, order
your meals from room service,

and under no circumstances
let anyone know where you are.

You're not staying?
Oh, tempting, but no.

Dennis, I'm sorry I
dragged you into this.

Dragged? Don't be silly.

No one threw a
rope around my neck.

Try and sleep.

Well, Beth, when
will I ever learn?

Play with fire and you
wind up with blisters.

Don't be angry with me.

It's not quite as
sordid as it seems.

Oh, you disagree?

Well, forgive me, darling,
but weren't you the one

who told me to get on
with my life and not curl up

in some corner like a hermit?

You were lying.

Well, of course, you were.

It's all your fault, you know.

If you hadn't gone on
ahead so damned soon...

Stanton.

Oh, good morning, Lieutenant.

Just so you know, I was up half the
night trying to find your pal Hellinger.

Concerned for me, were you?

No, not really. I went
home, went to bed,

then I woke up
in this cold sweat

because I had
visions of this headline:

"Stanton dead, Catalano being
investigated for dereliction of duty."

That's more like it.

We came up empty.

The San Rafael
police checked out

Hellinger's place last
night around 3:00 a.m.

It was locked up
tight. No car anywhere.

What about his
office in the city?

I said empty,
Stanton. Zip. Zero.

The day watch has been given
a description of him and his car.

That's the best
I can do for you.

Well, thank you, Perry.

Now, if I run across him,

or if he tries to run
across me again,

I'll let you know.

Hello? DENNIS: It's me.

Where have you been?
I've been worried sick.

I checked out San Rafael.

Ben's car is there. He isn't.

Are you all right?

Bored silly. Have you ever tried watching
television at 10:00 in the morning?

Not if I can help it.

Look, sit tight
for a while longer.

I've got a couple
more stops to make,

and then I'm going down to
Ben's offices to poke round.

Oh, Dennis, be careful.

The police may have told his
sons, Danny and Joey, about us.

I'm not one of their
favorite people,

and Danny's got
a terrible temper.

I can look after
myself, dear heart.

I'll call you later.

Rose, get Joey and tell
him to get in here now.

Thanks for holding
on there, Mr. Brennan.

You know, I think the problem is

that the man that you spoke
to, my brother Joe, he...

Well, he used the
wrong price schedule

in order to give you that quote.

Oh, no, sir. No,
no, it's our fault.

We intend to take
responsibility for it.

And if you have
any further problems,

please call and ask
for me personally.

And thank you. Bye.

What's up, Danny?

What is the matter
with you, Joey?

For four years Pop
and I have been trying

to cram this business
into that rock head of yours

and you still screw up.

What? "What"!

The Brennan job. We're
gonna eat 900 bucks

because you got
chop suey for brains.

Would you get off my back?

It's not my idea
I'm working here.

It's the old man's, okay?

Oh, yeah? Well, what
are you gonna do instead?

You gonna go to law school?
You gonna be a doctor?

You gonna find somebody
else who's gonna pay you

what you drag out of
this company every week?

In your dreams, pal!

Yeah, right.

So, do you know
where the old man is?

No.

Rosie said the cops
are looking for him.

Yeah, well, the cops
are crazy. You know Pop.

He probably went off to
Tahoe for a couple of days.

Probably to get away from her.

Mr. Hellinger? Mr. Hellinger?

I'm Danny Hellinger.
Can I help you?

I'm Dennis Stanton. I'm
looking for your father.

You're the guy told the
cops my father tried to kill you.

Leave us alone here, Joey.

Come on, Danny.

Go on and get out.

Mr. Stanton.

Okay, what's going on?

Precisely what I want to
know from you, Mr. Hellinger.

Last night, your father,
or a reasonable facsimile,

ran me off the road.

You and my stepmother, you mean.

The lady asked me for help after
your father used her as a punching bag.

Is that what you used
her for the night before?

You have an ugly sense of humor.

Yes, well, I'm not very polite
when it comes to Christina.

Yes, Rose?

Leon Vandermeer
is on the line, sir.

Tell him I'll call
him right back.

Leon Vandermeer. That's
pretty high-powered legal advice.

Not that it's any
of your business.

Look, Stanton, I don't
know where my father is,

and even if I did,
I wouldn't tell you.

When was the last
time you saw him?

That's none of your
business. Now, look, I'm busy...

Two days ago

he failed to show up for a
meeting with the tax people.

Now, how long before
that was he missing?

He's not missing, and I
saw him Sunday morning.

Now goodbye, Mr. Stanton.

Listen, take some advice.

Stay away from Christina.

My father, he's an old man.

He's in love with her. He
doesn't know any better.

But I do.

If you hear from him, call me.

Yes, yes, fine,
fine. Yes, right.

Well, thanks for the
use of your phone.

No problem.

You sure you don't want to work
out? I can get you some sweats.

No, no, thanks.

The lady is bored silly

and threatening mutiny if I
don't get back to her right away.

Anything serious?

No, not really.

Tell me about Ben and Christina.

What about them?

Well, I'm caught up in rather
a strange situation, Ryan.

Since you invited
them to your party,

I thought you may be
able to fill in some blanks.

You know Ben. Older
guy, sort of a roughneck.

San Francisco didn't exactly
warm to him, despite his success.

That's the kind of town this is.

It's hard to buy your way in.

And the lady?

Socially ambitious.

She wanted to
come in from the cold.

Juice?

No.

Christina and I
had a fling last year.

It was falling apart between
Alison and me even then.

Christina started
getting serious.

I reminded her
she had a husband.

We had a blowout. That was that.

Ben's been missing
since last Sunday.

Probably needed a
change of scenery.

Christina can be pretty tough if
she doesn't get what she wants.

Obviously, she wanted you.

Now I guess she's after you.

Good evening, Officer.

May I see your
license, please, sir?

What's wrong? Did
I miss a stop sign?

Would you step out
of the car, please, sir?

Well, I'm quite sure
I wasn't speeding.

Face the car, hands
spread in front of you.

Now, really.

Right hand behind
your back, please.

What? Not even a
Breathalyzer test?

Now the left.

May I ask what
this is all about?

Sure.

At 6:00 p.m. an all points bulletin went
out on you and your car, Mr. Stanton.

You're wanted for questioning in the
murder of a man named Benjamin Hellinger.

I'm delighted I've finally found
a way to amuse you, Lieutenant.

I'm a sucker for the
three stooges, too.

Mind if I sit down?

When I tell you to.

Wait outside.

Well, you finally blew it,
Stanton. I knew you would.

You mean, once a thief, always
a killer. Doesn't quite follow.

No, what follows is that you've got
a natural born contempt for the law.

Only, this time the stakes
are a little bigger. Sit down!

Thank you very much.

We finally got you
this time, buddy boy.

You know, I'm only sorry we gotta
turn you over to the San Rafael cops,

who, by the way, are on
their way here to pick you up.

Well, before they get
here, why not fill me in?

Just what exactly am
I being charged with?

Oh, you wanna know what we got?

I'll tell you what we got.

Around 4:00, the San
Rafael cops get a tip

that you've been lurking
around the Hellinger place.

Now, they find Hellinger's
Mercedes in the garage.

It wasn't too tough to
figure out that you found him.

I didn't, but go on.

Well, when they went inside,

they found him in
the steam shower

with an ice pick
through his heart.

Now, they call the forensics
guy to dust for prints.

He finds a lot of fresh ones all
over the car, inside the house,

and they're not the victim's.

No, they were mine.

I rest my case.

Well, for what it's
worth, I didn't kill him,

and there was no
body in that shower

when I was there at
10:00 this morning.

For what it's worth,
I don't believe you.

Oh, think, Lieutenant.

Do you really think
that I'm stupid enough

to commit such a clumsy
and obvious murder?

Yes.

Or brave enough to kill a man
face to face with an ice pick?

Well, now, that
part doesn't fit,

but I can live with it.

This tip, where
did it come from?

Over the phone. They
didn't leave a name.

What?

The officers from San Rafael
are here to pick up the prisoner, sir.

We'll be right out.

By the way, the San Rafael jail,

you're just gonna
love the cuisine.

Charlie! Don't!

It's okay, Charlie, he's
not going anywhere.

Get in the van, quick.

Shut the door.

Now walk around to the front
and get behind that wheel.

Now.

Get some help!

Oh, excuse me. I wonder
if you could help me.

My wife seems to have fallen
asleep and I've forgotten my keycard.

I got nobody in there,
sir. That's a checkout.

Mrs. Schneider checked
out just after 6:00.

We refunded $102.12

from the cash she'd
given us on account.

Strange she didn't
mention it when she called.

By the way, I can't remember whether she
called collect or charged it to the room.

It was around 4:00, San Rafael.

Oh, yes, yes, here it is.

555-4851.

The call was made at 4:15,
and she did charge it to the room.

Mind if I take a look?

Excuse me, Mr. Schneider, do
you have some sort of identification?

Of course.

Well, never mind. I'll check it
with my wife when I get home.

Thank you so much.

San Rafael Police
Department. May I help you?

Hello?

Hello?

Hello?

Let me get this
straight, Mrs. Hellinger.

Last night after you and Stanton
left my office, you went to a hotel.

Yes, the Albion.
But he didn't stay.

He was concerned
about my safety,

and his own, of course.
He was very angry.

He told me to stay in the room until he'd
found my husband and had it out with him.

But I never
thought he'd kill him.

You've got to believe me.

You stayed in this hotel,
what, all night, all the next day?

Yes.

I had breakfast
sent up around 8:00

and lunch shortly past 1:00.

The maid came in sometime in
the morning to make up the room.

I don't remember exactly when.

Oh, and around 3:00,

I had some magazines
sent up from the newsstand.

Dennis told me not to leave
the room for any reason.

We'll check it out.

Well, why did you leave?
Did Stanton call you?

No. I saw the report of my
husband's death on the news.

I was frightened.

I just wanted to get home.
That's when I called you.

I'm posting a man
here in the apartment

just in case Stanton
comes here looking for you.

Thank you.

You got nothing to worry
about, Mrs. Hellinger.

We're gonna get him.

The silent alarm. Dennis,
you're losing your touch.

All right, where is he?

Sir, I don't know.

Oh, don't be ridiculous.
You always know.

Have you read this yet?

Three times they mentioned
Consolidated Casualty.

Oh, and this is nice.

"Dennis Stanton, convicted
two years ago for grand theft,

"received a suspended sentence
and five years’ probation."

That's just going to do
wonders for our reputation.

Sir, honestly, I have no
idea where he is, but...

Now listen, Miss Markowitz.

The minute he calls,

I want to know about
it, you understand?

Yes, sir.

I am not going to take
any heat for this guy.

The next thing you know you'll
be seeing my name in the paper.

Consolidated Casualty.
Mr. Stanton's office.

Like hiring him was
my idea, which it wasn't.

Oh, hi, Mom.

Do I take that to mean
that you can't talk now?

You got that right. The
guy's a real schlemiel.

Oh, I see. Robert's
there with you.

Of course, he is.

Wait. Mom, why are you crying?

Who's got shingles?

All right. Miss Markowitz,
remember what I said.

The minute he calls.

Yes, sir.

Where are you? No, don't
tell me. I don't want to know.

For the record, dear
heart, I did not kill that man.

You think I don't
know that? So who did?

I'm working on it, though
I have a pretty fair idea.

The widow Hellinger with
a little help from a friend.

A few weeks ago, Ben
Hellinger changed his will,

leaving his half of the community
property to his son Danny.

How did you find that out?

You don't need
to know that either.

Now listen carefully.

The night before last, Christine
Hellinger stayed at the Albion hotel

registered under the name
of Schneider. Room 1233.

She made one phone call
to the San Rafael police.

That was the anonymous
tip that led them to me.

But before that, she had to
have made at least one other call.

Now, I need you to
find out that number.

How am I supposed to do that?

That friend of yours,
the computer hacker.

Sheldon? You want
me to call Sheldon?

It took me three months
to get that guy off my back.

You know, Rhoda,

if this miscarriage
of justice succeeds,

more than likely, you'll find
yourself back in the secretarial pool.

I'll get right on it.

Good girl. I'll be in touch.

Catalano.

Where are you?

Immaterial. Now listen to
me carefully, Lieutenant.

I'm going to help you win a
departmental commendation

for solving the
Hellinger murder.

No, we got it solved.

You get your butt in here
before you get it shot off.

There are three
things you have to do.

First, have forensics check over
the entire house for traces of blood.

He wasn't killed
in that steam room.

We know that. It
was the living room.

Why you stuck him in the
shower I haven't figured out yet.

Two, ask those San
Rafael patrolmen

if the freezer chest in the garage was
padlocked when they found the body.

Freezer chest?

And third, find out
from the pathologist

if any of Hellinger's
internal organs

showed evidence
of frozen tissue.

Look, quit trying
to cloud the issue

and just get in here
and give yourself up.

I'll be in touch.

Wait a minute! Stanton!

Yes, sir?

Give me the medical examiner.

Do you always
drive that skillfully?

Only when I'm aiding
and abetting a felon.

You okay?

Oh, never better.
Did you get it?

I want you to know that
this is costing me dinner

with Sheldon and his
parents, Saturday night.

Remind me to put
you in for a raise.

Put me in for a raise.

555-8290.

Now, unless I'm mistaken,

this is either the Hellinger office
or Danny Hellinger's home number.

You're mistaken. I
already checked it out.

The number is listed
to Joseph Hellinger.

Brother Joey.

But of course it is!

Left at the lights, Rhoda,
then three blocks and pull over.

Wait a minute.
That's a police station.

Yes. I've decided
to give myself up.

Come in.

Here he is, Lieutenant.

So you finally got
smart. Good thinking.

Now, before you start
on the lecture, Lieutenant,

I think I've figured this out.

That makes two of us now.

Would you mind closing
the door on your way out?

Yes, sir.

The pathologist's report. The internal
organs do show signs of having been frozen.

In the garage freezer
chest, no doubt.

Yeah, the San Rafael
cops said there was no

padlock on the chest
when they investigated.

It was empty.

It was locked when I was
there earlier in the morning.

So someone, not Mrs. Hellinger,

came back after I left,

removed the body
from the freezer,

stuck it in the steam
shower to thaw out

in an attempt to mask
the real time of death.

Which could have been as
long ago as Sunday or Monday.

And I was out of town
until Tuesday morning.

For the record, Stanton, I no
longer consider you a suspect.

Oh.

Just a gullible patsy.

A misdemeanor at worst.

So who did kill the guy?

Christina Hellinger. Huh?

But she needed help
to create the illusion

that he was still alive
while I was being set up.

Help from whom?

From her stepson Joey, a
wastrel with a love of money.

Now, his father had
cut him out of his will

and left everything to
his elder son Danny.

I'm sure that Joey agreed
to help the widow out

for a hefty slice
of her inheritance.

Yeah, but can we
take that to court?

I doubt it. On the other hand,

if you set two untrustworthy
people on a collision course,

anything can happen.

Now, may I suggest
a plan of action?

No. Fine.

All right, let's hear it.

Firstly, alert the media
that I've been recaptured.

Secondly, make sure that
Christina Hellinger knows about it.

Ryan? Christina Hellinger.

Well, I'm fine now, but
it's been a terrible ordeal.

I guess you heard. They caught
Dennis Stanton trying to leave town.

I can't imagine why he did it.

I suppose if you've lived
most of your life outside the law,

murder comes easy.

Ryan, I know this probably
seems inappropriate this soon,

but I'd like to see you. I mean,

now that you and Alison
are no longer together.

Well, I just thought that you
might be feeling a little lonely,

and God knows I could use
someone to talk to right now.

Of course.

Well, perhaps when you get back.

You will call me?

Yes, I understand.
Sorry I bothered you.

Too bad, Christine.
More rejection?

Dennis. But they
arrested you again.

Oh, arrest is one thing.

Keeping me behind bars
is quite another matter.

Since your doorman
knows me by sight,

I dropped in through
your bedroom window.

Oh, not the police.

When we've meant
so much to each other.

What do you want?

Why, you, of course.

I realize I'm not quite the
social lion that Ryan Donovan is,

nor nearly as wealthy,
but I do have my attributes.

You must be crazy.

I do know that you killed Ben.

In a fit of anger, I'm sure.

No one would commit such a
sloppy premeditated murder.

You are crazy.

All right, if I can't have you,

let's settle for cash.

A small share of
your inheritance.

I must warn you, Christina.
You know, your plan won't work.

The pathologists aren't stupid.

They'll know that Ben was killed
several days ago and his body frozen.

And then, of course,
you always run the risk

that Joey will talk.

By the way,

did he inflict those bruises on
your face or were they do-it-yourself?

I don't know what
you're talking about.

On the other hand, we do
have a reasonable alternative.

Suppose, for the
sake of argument,

that you and I were together
at my place on Sunday

all day and all evening,

I could swear to it.

I'm listening.

As for Joey, well,

he was furious with his father.

He drove to San
Rafael to confront him.

They got into a terrible
row over the new will.

And he stabbed
him with the ice pick.

In a panic he stuffed
the body into the freezer

while he figured
out what to do next.

When he saw you and I together

at Ryan Donovan's
party, it came to him.

He drove his father's car to make
it appear that Ben was still alive,

and then framed me for murder.

You, of course, were completely
blameless in the whole affair.

Joey will claim otherwise.

Who'll believe him? He's
never liked you anyway.

Striking out at you
would be only natural.

Any sort of personal
involvement between you and me,

that wouldn't be part of it.

No offense,

but all things considered,
I'd rather have the money.

All right, how much?

Say a million.

And what's to stop you from
coming back a year from now for,

oh, say another million?

The threat of jail.

Having perjured myself, I
could hardly go to the police

without implicating myself
as an accessory after the fact.

Your move, Joey.

Okay.

What kind of deal can I make?

Oh, listen to this
one. Marvelous.

"The case was broken open
through the efforts of Dennis Stanton,

"an investigator for
Consolidated Casualty,

"at one time considered a
prime suspect in the murder."

Crazy lady.

She thought she had a
chance with Ryan Donovan.

And everything
that went with him.

Now she is what I call

a social climber.

Dennis!

Terrific job.

Really terrific job.

Why, thank you, Robert.
How nice of you to say so,

considering I didn't save
the company one thin dime.

Money? What's that?

I'm talking about press.

I'm talking about the kind of
publicity that money can't buy.

No chance of me
converting that enthusiasm

to a few days off?

Days off? Not a chance.

As a matter of fact, I have a
couple of new cases for you.

If things keep going
the way they're going,

I might get that transfer
to the New York office.

Ciao.

New York!

New York.

This one's yours.
I'll take this one.

Right.