Original subtitles

Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

Are you all willing to get hurt, I mean really hurt.

I'm fine.

Was it those men from the mining company?

Indian lawyer goes home to save his people.

Or make one aware he has no home.

It might need your passion.

The money was never recovered, nearly half a million dollars.

So you're after the reward.

The man was murdered by mistake.

I didn't kill anybody!

He packs a suitcase in a hurry,

as if he were running away from someone or something and then he kills himself?

Hey!

Hold it!

Damn them!

I never did get the hang of those things.

Well, it does take a bit of a commitment.

Excuse me, I have to get back to work.

Oh, sure. Sorry.

I mean, I sort of packed it in before they took over the world.

I mean, not that I couldn't have figured it out.

Better hang on, folks.

Looks like we're getting bounced around all the way to Dominion.

I hear they're about to blow up.

Sorry?

Dominion. Trouble-makers. Indians.

Are you familiar with the territorial claims of the Hobart Creek Band,

and how they've been swindled?

Depends on who you talk to.

Or where your prejudices lie.

Perhaps you should try reading what's underneath the headlines.

My pleasure.

They're here.

You're not going through.

Fellas, I don't have time for this.

You're costing Aurora Hills serious money.

So what's it gonna be Mr. Shipley?

You gonna break some more legs?

You've got my promise. The next one's gonna be your last.

Look, if you're, thinking about using that dynamite you stole to stop us,

I'd reconsider very carefully.

See, this is a legal contract between

Aurora Hills and the territorial government,

so as of now, you are all trespassing.

So you tell me.

Are you gonna get out of our way, or we gonna have to move you?

Why don't you try it?

Let me ask you something.

Are you all prepared to get hurt, I mean really hurt

just because George Quill says so?

Fair enough. It's your decision, guys.

Let's do it.

Joe, what are you doing here?

You shut up.

Let me talk to 'em.

We could take the lot of 'em out now, and save ourselves a lot of trouble.

Wade, this is not Vietnam. We're starting a mine here, not a war.

Look, we've got people working on this in Toronto,

and they're sending a lawyer.

Give it few more days. That's all I ask.

Oh, come on, guys.

You're looking at what the wisdom of the council has done for us.

Forget Toronto.

It was their grandfathers who took this away from us in the first place.

That's right.

You really think that their courts and their judges

are going to suddenly start giving it back?

You'll end up in jail, or dead,

without winning anything.

You, Billy, haven't you learned your lesson?

I mean, what about Dave Walton?

Are you willing to make Maggie a widow?

No.

Anyone else?

Okay. Move your trucks and go on home.

You're wrong, Grandpa.

Sorry I took so long, Joe. I was halfway to Pine Falls when you called.

With you here, I should have known I didn't have to worry.

Anyway, I'll be glad when that lawyer of yours gets here.

Maybe. Maybe not.

Look, I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Mrs. Fletcher,

but that old plane's oil pressure gauge was telling me I had a little problem.

But, don't worry, just a valve cover gasket.

I'll get it fixed tomorrow, so why don't you grab yourself a good night's rest,

and I'll get you out of here first thing.

All right, folks, here we go.

Mr. Berkeley, do you happen to know if there's any ground transportation

between here and Dawson Forks?

I believe I can answer that.

Unless things have changed, there's a twice-a-week bus.

Right. And the next one isn't till Monday.

Look, Mrs. Fletcher, I'm going to get you to Dawson Forks

in plenty of time for your connection, I guarantee it.

Yo, Buzz.

Got anything in there for us?

Yeah. Why don't you go ahead?

One parcel. That'll really pay the rent, huh?

You want a little piece of advice, Berkeley?

Not especially, no.

Yeah, well, how about I give it to you anyway?

Your bad attitude ain't helping matters.

Thanks.

Six years, I'm handling all their business, freight,

personnel, the whole shot.

This bozo moves in, gives 99% of it to my competitor in Hudsonville.

All I get are crumbs.

No, don't give it to Silliman. Delay the deposition.

I'll be back in two days, tops.

Any other messages?

Don't miss Pine Falls while you're here.

It's smaller than Niagara, but you stay dryer.

It's a shame you had to come here now,

with the Indians making so much trouble.

You take good care of Mrs. Fletcher for me, Marie. Put it on my tab.

7:00 too early for you?

Oh, I'll be ready. And thank you, Mr. Berkeley.

No problem. Oh, and, Marie,

how about we fly down to Edmonton for a movie Sunday night, huh?

Forget it, Buzz.

Come on. Can't blame a guy for trying.

I don't recommend Dominion if you're looking for a husband.

Oh, Mr. McPherson, you are just up these stairs.

It's the second door on your left.

Listen, since you're stuck for the night,

why don't you let me buy you a bite of dinner?

Oh, well, that's very kind of you, Mr. McPherson, but I think...

No excuses, now. I'm not accustomed to taking no for an answer.

Mr. McPherson, Mrs. Fletcher already has an engagement

for dinner this evening, with me.

Yes, I do.

Oh. Just trying to be friendly, is all.

May I put you under contract?

Well, maybe you'll let me take you to dinner.

Seven days?

No blasting, no bulldozing, no grading.

You move a pebble at Hobart Creek anytime in the next seven days,

and you're in violation.

Did your clients tell you about stealing our dynamite?

No. Do you have any hard evidence?

Oh, come on. It's obvious.

Obvious doesn't cut it in a court of law, Mr. Shipley.

And if I hear you've been making public allegations about it,

you're going to get hit with a lawsuit for slander.

Head office said you were pretty smart.

Hey...

I don't know how familiar you are with the local economy around here anymore,

but ever since the lumber mill closed, we're about the only game for 40 miles.

So?

So you'd be doing your clients a real big favor if you let us move forward.

See, they can't get it through their heads

that it'd mean a lot of paychecks for everybody.

Now, you put us out of business, and they'll be screaming about unemployment.

I mean, even you had to leave here to get a decent job, right?

Maybe you ought to ask yourself if you're really

helping your people, Mr. Henderson.

Maybe you already did.

Afternoon, Mrs. Fletcher.

Oh, good afternoon. I'm looking for...

Film. It's right over there.

Marie. Marie called, said she was sending you over.

It's quite an honor, ma'am.

Well, thank you, Mr...

Quill. Like in feather.

Mr. Quill.

Say, that's very good.

Excuse me. I didn't mean to interrupt you.

What kind of a hawk is that?

It's a Northern Goshawk. Don't see many of them around here anymore.

They don't much like blasting.

The film's on the other side of the books.

Grandpa had me put yours at the front.

He's read them all twice.

Joe, for God sakes. Shipley told me about the dustup at the creek.

You said you could keep a lid on it.

What do you want?

I stopped it before anyone got hurt, didn't I?

I told you, it's how it looks.

I've been arguing that Aurora Hills is the aggressor.

Billy Nahanee sure can testify to that.

Anyway, welcome back.

Oh, congratulations on the injunction, too. Yeah.

I bet Shipley's about to throw a piston. Can I buy you a beer?

Can you call a council meeting for first thing in the morning?

No problem.

I said we should have got you into this months ago.

Well, a week doesn't give us any time to relax.

We got to get moving on this petition.

We're penciled in for Tuesday on the treaty commission docket.

Penciled in?

They carve it in stone, the commission's still gonna vote their way.

George?

Right. Last time you saw me, I was in diapers.

Listen, why didn't you just tell the council the truth?

We've got about as much chance of the system going in our favor

as there is of growing palm trees in Dominion.

Or are you just hard up for bucks to keep your BMW in gas and oil?

It's a Jaguar.

And that isn't all you're mistaken about.

They're settling claims all over British Columbia in favor of First Nations.

But if you keep threatening to shoot people,

you're going to screw it up, and none of you will ever get your land back.

And if we lay down for 'em, they'll blast an open pit right through Lower Creek.

The tailings will kill everything in the river as far as Dawson Forks,

and there won't be a hawk or a wolf or a bear left between here and Vancouver.

Go back to Toronto, lawyer.

If you don't keep him in line, I'm out of here tomorrow.

Just as long as he does it right. You'll check on it, huh?

Yeah, I'll check on it today or tomorrow.

Hey, we were just talking about you.

About how you're getting to be a bigger pain in the butt by the minute.

Mr. Shipley's talking to you.

I've got nothing to say to either of you.

Isn't that something?

Up on the creek this morning, I though he never would stop yakking.

What is it? You need that bunch of losers to give you courage?

Is that what it is?

I'm not afraid of you, Bigfoot.

Come on, you punk, get up!

George?

Are you all right?

I'm fine.

We should get you to the doctor and call the police.

My word against theirs? Thanks, Mrs. Fletcher.

The smartest thing you can do is forget about it.

Peter?

Hilda.

Oh, my God, I don't believe it.

I'm sorry I startled you. I guess my vision was clouded.

You don't see too many $1,500 suits around here.

Or faces from the past.

Except for the uniform, you haven't changed.

You have. Especially your uniform.

You look gorgeous.

The worst part was having my mother say, "I told you so."

You know it wasn't you.

I was running away from turning out like my dad,

from being an outsider, from limited expectations.

So you just went out and reinvented yourself.

Yeah, well, that sort of describes it.

And I suppose one of your reinventing yourself rules was don't call or write.

Hilda, the place I was in back then...

Hey, hey.

We agreed no apologies, no recriminations.

Anyway, it seems to have worked.

And it can't have been easy, you getting through law school

with all of that baggage you were dragging.

I was motivated.

So, you got everything you wanted?

The fancy car, house on the lake, wife and 2.4 kids.

The car and the condo. I've been too busy to deal with the rest of it.

Well, this business with the mining company

and the First Nation's claim on Hobart Creek,

that could take more than motivation.

It might need your passion.

Well, I think I still might be capable of that.

How about a little slack on that creek thing, Joe?

What do you think I was doing out there this morning?

You're both lucky nobody got hurt.

That's not what I'm talking about.

That hotshot lawyer you brought in, he's just making things worse.

Now the home office has got its back up.

Sounds to me like he's doing his job.

Okay, Joe. Look, let me ask you this.

Have you ever thought about what would happen to this place

if Aurora Hills pulled out of here altogether?

We are just trying to be good neighbors here.

You just don't get it, do you?

It's not about jobs, or money.

It's about our land.

We don't want you people coming out here, destroying the wildlife,

polluting the water, the land.

It stops now, here, at Hobart Creek.

Give me a break, Joe.

You're telling me you're not gonna use that land?

Maybe. But on our terms.

And incidentally, beating up on my grandson isn't going to help the situation.

Yeah? Well, he started it.

Or didn't he tell you that part?

He didn't tell me anything. He didn't have to.

Now, get out of my store!

Okay, you listen to me, old man. Let me tell you something.

See, next week that lawyer's gonna be back

in his Toronto high-rise doing his big city number,

but you and me and your grandson, we're still gonna be here.

You underestimated Peter Henderson once already.

Yeah, but that legal tap-dancing doesn't travel too well.

Not here.

See, I can only be pushed so far, Joe.

Now, you want to be a responsible grandfather,

you tell George just how dangerous it can get out here.

Shipley,

you can't teach the wolf how to live in the forest.

No, you listen.

What it comes out to is that Henderson has

made fools out of all our big-shot lawyers.

You ready to blast?

Hey, pal, I am ready to blast just as soon as you untie my hands.

I'll see what I can do. Right.

I'll be in touch. Later.

Bye.

This First Nations nonsense.

I don't envy you.

Yeah, it doesn't want to go away.

Now, what were you saying?

You were talking about a bank robbery, Mr. McPherson?

That's correct.

Eleven years ago, First Atlantic Bank, it was, in Ottawa.

Maybe you heard of it. Bank's still offering a $25,000 reward.

No, I don't think I recall it. No.

Well, a police officer was killed,

and the money was never recovered.

Nearly half a million dollars.

The police believe a Nicholas Jensen Davis was the perpetrator.

Of course, he's undoubtedly changed his name.

I... I have reason to suspect

that he's somewhere in this part of British Columbia.

Are you a police officer?

Retired. I was in charge of the investigation,

and as you can imagine, it's been an on-going source of frustration to me.

I mean, this thing going unsolved for all these years, and a police officer killed,

and all that, it was a...

Yeah, Helen, that's my wife,

she says it's an obsession,

but I prefer to think of it as tenacity.

So you're after the reward.

Not exactly, Mr. Shipley.

You see, it's my guess that this Davis fella still has most of the money.

A lot of it was in large denominations and easily traceable.

And I've got a hunch that he'd be willing to pay a lot more

than the reward to keep his identity secret.

But all of this is, uh... It's just a theory, right?

Uh-uh. It was, until I saw a photograph

in the Ottawa Gazette last week.

It was a bunch of Hobart Creek Indians

facing down a representative of the Aurora Hills Mining Company.

A Richard Shipley.

The photo's kind of fuzzy, but I... I thought it might be worth a trip up here.

And?

And now I'm convinced

that it will be worth a lot more than the airplane ticket.

$100,000 more.

That's interesting.

And just what assurances would this Davis fella have

that this'd be the end of it?

My word. And my reputation.

Twenty-five years on the force, and I never so much as accepted a free cup of coffee.

My needs are real simple, Mr. Shipley,

a small cushion for my missus and myself.

But I don't think Mr. Davis has much choice.

Say 8:00?

Okay, but not here, at my house.

A cabin on the logging road, about three miles north of town.

My name's on the mailbox. About 10:00.

Oh. Well,

I'll need some form of transportation, I guess.

Here, take my truck. It's out front.

Well, that's very generous of you.

10:00, then.

Oh...

Mr. Shipley, should anything happen to me

I have left an account of all this with my missus.

And in case of her having any sort of accident,

I've seen to it that this information will turn up

in the hands of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Jessica, I'm sorry I'm late.

Oh, you're forgiven.

Any resolution to your transportation problems?

Well, our pilot tells me that the plane may not be repaired by tomorrow morning.

And that wedding in Vancouver?

4:00 p.m. Even if we got off at dawn, as he promised, it's still going to be tight.

Oh, I'm sorry that took so long.

We haven't been this busy since the blizzard.

And what with cooking, and turning down beds, and waiting tables...

That's all right.

I'll send Rita over to take your order.

Thank you.

Well, how's George?

Nobody can find him.

The best thing he could do is stay out of sight till I get this thing settled.

You're probably wondering why I took this case.

Well, the question had crossed my mind.

And it's fairly obvious that it crossed yours, too.

Trickery and deceit.

Joe Quill did a guilt number on my firm.

Talked them into handling the case for way less than our usual fees.

And then he told them I'd put him up to it.

As the token First Nations partner,

they were only too glad to dump it on me.

I can see where it might have a certain PR value.

Indian lawyer goes home to save his people.

You may be in the wrong profession.

Anyway, I got half a dozen big cases pending,

and all I want to do is get this over with and get out of here.

Coming home can sometimes open old wounds.

Or make one aware he has no home.

Truth is, I've never felt completely

comfortable in the world I chose to live in.

And now you're reminded that you don't quite belong in this one, either.

That says it pretty well.

My mom died when I was five. Dad was an alcoholic.

He was never around much.

Joe Quill more or less raised me.

Well, no wonder he wanted to see you again.

I suspect that with feelings as mixed as my own, I was a handful.

Dad died when I was 17.

I left the next day and never looked back.

Do I detect just a touch of regret?

Just.

Okay, guys, be careful where you step.

We'll get a better take on this in the morning,

but I want an exact location on everything,

even if it's a gun wrapper.

Mr. Shipley, I need to double-check a couple of things.

Look, Sergeant, I already told you everything I could.

And I appreciate it, Mr. Shipley.

But when Mr. McPherson phoned,

did he mention the name of the company he represented?

Yeah, Federated Equipment.

They're a well-known manufacturer of mining machinery.

I told him that I didn't have any free time today.

He said he had to leave first thing in the morning.

So you agreed to meet him here tonight,

and you loaned him the keys to your truck?

It was in town, parked in front of the office.

I told him I'd leave the keys under the seat.

I had to run out to Hobart Creek to make sure the equipment was secure.

And you got here right after the explosion?

Yeah. About a quarter after 10:00.

I saw the explosion from the logging road.

You know, I have to tell you, Sergeant,

this explosion was meant for me, and I would bet the ranch it was George Quill.

Your stolen dynamite.

Sure makes sense, doesn't it?

Noon? BUZZ ON PHONE: Yes, ma'am.

And what's the latest it might be?

Tomorrow.

Oh, dear. Mr. Berkeley, are you sure there isn't any alternate transportation?

Well, just that bus that leaves on Monday.

I was afraid of that.

I'm sorry. All right.

Well, in case you get it fixed in the next 45 minutes, I will be in the restaurant.

Okay, you got it, Mrs. Fletcher.

Thank you. Bye-bye.

So, what is it that you were looking for?

I'm not sure.

Who he was. Why he was killed.

Well, Sergeant Dupont, it looks as if

I'm going to have plenty of time to answer your questions.

Oh! It's a shame about the plane.

Thanks, Marie.

Maybe my luck will improve and he'll fix the plane in time.

Okay, let's see...

Mr. McPherson didn't happen to tell you why he came to Dominion, did he?

No, no, he didn't.

He might have mentioned it to Peter Henderson.

We all flew together...

I know about Mr. Henderson.

Well, I was starting to say that as we were checking in,

I did happen to notice the contents of Mr. McPherson's attaché case.

I don't see it here,

but I saw what appeared to be an Ottawa Police Department file folder.

Interesting.

We haven't found an attaché case,

but his wallet ID indicated that he was a retired police officer.

And so I can't emphasize this too strongly,

the next two weeks are critical.

Getting past the treaty commission is only part of it.

After that, I'll be making my moves,

and Aurora Hills attorneys will be making theirs,

and if you're making waves back here, we won't stand a chance in the courts.

So please, for the sake of our goals and our land, just hang tight. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Listen, I sure hope you can bring this off.

I know I made the right choice, Peter.

So did you.

But there was something else.

Something you didn't say in your speech.

Yeah. I hope the hell none of your...

Of our people had anything to do with this McPherson fella's death last night.

Peter? Joe? Where's George?

I have some questions to ask him.

Yes, the trees are down, and I'll have it cleared by the weekend,

so you can start on the foundation on Monday, right?

As long as everything's clear.

Okay, thanks. Bye.

I'm sorry. A new house. I swear, the pyramids were built faster.

Have you, by any chance, heard from Mr. Berkeley?

No, I haven't. It's...

Oh, there you are, Mrs. Fletcher.

Buzz, Hilda was looking for you.

She wants to see what you know about McPherson.

Nothing. Just tell her I left already, okay?

It's fixed?

Gassed and ready to go. Now, we get moving now...

Empress Victoria.

We'll make your connection at Dawson Forks with time to spare.

That's wonderful. I'll just go upstairs and get my bags.

Mrs. Fletcher, Sergeant Dupont wants you to get over to the RCMP station right away.

It was nothing.

I told you to keep your mouth shut.

And I told you I didn't ask you to come here.

I'm sorry to be delaying you like this, Mrs. Fletcher,

but between the two of them, I don't... Blame me, Jessica.

I just didn't want to see George talk himself into any more trouble.

I understand, Peter.

Look, it was just about over by the time I got there, Sergeant,

so I really don't know who started it, but Mr. Shipley and the other man...

Brian Wade, from your description and Rick Shipley's statement.

Well, they appeared to have beaten George quite badly.

That doesn't contradict what Shipley and Brian Wade told me, either.

They both stated that George struck the first blow.

Really?

They're lying.

George isn't exactly famous around here for his caution.

Either way, it just gives him one more reason for wanting to kill Shipley.

And since you can't account for your whereabouts last night

or the night the dynamite was stolen from Aurora Hills Mining...

Peter, if you can't guarantee he's not gonna take off on us,

I'm gonna have to hold him.

I'll call the firm and have them send out a criminal lawyer.

I don't need a lawyer, damn it!

I didn't kill anybody!

Anyway, thanks for taking the time, Mrs. Fletcher.

I'll be glad to give you a lift over to the landing strip.

Sergeant Dupont, you mentioned

that the company that Mr. McPherson supposedly worked for

had never heard of him?

Federated Equipment.

Have you recovered his attaché case?

No. Why?

Several things just don't track for me.

I mean, first, why would he have lied to Mr. Shipley?

Mrs. Fletcher, are you suggesting that Mr. McPherson wasn't murdered by mistake?

That he was the intended victim?

I'm suggesting that you know very little about Mr. McPherson

if you're going to charge George with his murder.

Apparently Mr. McPherson retired from the Ottawa police force seven years ago,

with an impeccable record.

Which doesn't tell us much.

Except it makes me even more curious about why you haven't found his attaché case.

I'm sure George will eventually clear all that up for us.

You know, that police folder...

I wonder if Mr. McPherson was here on official business.

Why, if he was no longer on the force?

Look, it's all academic, anyway.

The man was murdered by mistake, by George Quill,

whose intended victim was Rick Shipley.

Now, come on.

We better be getting you to your plane.

Unless...

Sergeant, would it take you too far out of your way

to stop by the murder site for just a few minutes?

You said two eyewitnesses place Shipley on the logging road,

just before they heard the explosion?

Yes. Neither of whom even like the man.

Well, there's no evidence of a trip wire,

so even if the charge could have been detonated with a timer,

Mr. Shipley would have no way of knowing when the victim would arrive.

Exactly.

The killer had to have watched Mr. McPherson get out of the truck

and cross the foot bridge, from right about here...

With this wire, strung over to an explosive charge fastened to the bridge.

And the detonating device?

We're assuming a plunger or a battery.

So far, we haven't found a trace of either one.

Yeah, well, you won't find any footprints, either. Ground's too hard.

Better be careful, city boy. Your roots are showing.

Here's a piece of yellow paint.

Could be enamel of some sort.

I'll send it to Edmonton for analysis.

Jessica, if you're going to get to Vancouver in time for that wedding...

Thanks, Hilda. You're right.

Peter, I hope everything turns out.

For you, and the Hobart Creek Band and George.

I appreciate that, Jessica.

I wish I could say I was certain that he didn't do it.

And believe me, so do I.

My God, I've known George since he was...

Unit Three calling Unit One.

Unit Three calling...

Unit One here. What have you got, Des?

Your killer, Sergeant.

The case of dynamite that was stolen from Aurora Hills Mining,

they just found it, buried under the floor of George Quill's cabin.

There are exactly three sticks of dynamite missing.

Okay, then there must have been three sticks missing when I took it.

I never looked inside. And I did not kill anybody.

Then why did you steal the dynamite?

I hoped it would keep them from blowing up the creek for a few more days.

From killing all those animals,

and frightening all the others, and destroying their homes.

George, didn't you realize that the mining company had additional explosives?

It was the only case in the office.

I figured I got it all.

We'll know if George is telling the truth

as soon as Shipley returns my call.

All right, I'll try Shipley again.

Yeah. Brian Wade here.

Is Mr. Shipley in?

No, I haven't seen him.

Maybe you can help me.

Do you keep an exact inventory of your dynamite stock?

Usually, yeah.

The thing is, since the trouble with the Indians started,

we haven't been running a real tight ship around here.

So we don't have an exact record of how much of that dynamite we've used lately.

Thanks, Brian.

Tell Rick to call me anyway when you see him.

Sergeant, I don't think he's going to be calling anybody.

Have you seen this before, Mr. Wade?

Yeah, he kept it in his desk.

Would you say he's been depressed lately?

Not that I can tell, no.

You didn't like him much, did you?

That's not what he paid me for.

Aurora Hills Mining. Sergeant Dupont speaking.

Hey, Hilda, can Shipley come to the phone?

No, he can't come to the phone.

Well, two hours ago he just booked a seat.

Really? Yeah, to Dawson Forks.

Well, I don't think he's going to make it.

He won't make the flight?

Right. Great.

Well, that's interesting.

Two hours ago, Rick Shipley books a seat

on Buzz Berkeley's flight to Dawson Forks.

He packs a suitcase in a hurry,

as if he was running away from someone or something, and then he kills himself?

Hilda, I think we should put in a call to the Ottawa Police.

You're reading my mind.

Joe, look on the bright side.

At least we know George couldn't have killed Rick Shipley,

and so does Hilda.

But all that... What do you call it...

Circumstantial evidence. They could convict him on that, couldn't they?

Well, yes, they could, Mr. Quill, but...

Peter, Jessica. That stuff came in from Ottawa.

First off, Ottawa PD says McPherson worked

on a bank robbery investigation 11 years ago that was never solved.

The First Atlantic Bank.

And there's still a reward being offered

for the apprehension of a man named Nicholas Jensen Davis.

Which could be why McPherson was here, looking for Davis.

I took your suggestion, Jessica, and phoned McPherson's widow.

She confirms that this case has been a preoccupation of his for years.

But why would he lie to Rick Shipley?

Why not just admit he was after a fugitive?

Well, suppose he didn't lie, Peter.

Suppose Rick Shipley lied to Hilda.

Of course, he was the fugitive, and McPherson wasn't after the reward money.

It was blackmail.

I wish I had your intuition, Jessica.

Nicholas Jensen Davis' mug shots.

Rick Shipley, 11 years ago.

That's why he wanted to leave town.

I had the Ottawa Star forward their stories on the robbery,

but they're not much help.

Maybe Shipley had McPherson killed by someone else.

You know, like a hired assassin.

I don't know, Joe. Damn thing's got me totally stumped.

Anyway, I'm afraid George is still...

"Stumped." I think that's it.

That's what?

Hilda, those red and yellow batteries over there,

are they the kind that could have been used to set off that dynamite charge?

Absolutely. But...

Have you sent off the yellow chip of paint to Edmonton yet?

No.

Good, because I don't think it will be necessary.

I don't believe that Rick Shipley committed suicide.

I think both he and Hamish McPherson were victims of the same killer.

Mrs. Fletcher, we still have time, if you want to get out of here.

Well, my plans have changed, Buzz.

I don't think we'll be flying out today.

Okay. Whatever.

All I can say is, you picked a rare time to visit Dominion, Mrs. Fletcher.

The whole 10 years I've been here, there hasn't been this much going on.

Well, it's certainly been a lot more dramatic than I expected it to be.

It really is a shame, you're missing that wedding, and all.

Well, it turns out that the bride and groom aren't leaving on their honeymoon

till tomorrow afternoon, so I'll be there in time to wish them bon voyage.

Speaking of weddings, that photo that I saw on the counter

when I checked in, what happened to it?

Oh, it fell. The glass broke.

I haven't had a chance to get it fixed yet.

I don't think that's true, Marie.

What do you mean?

I think that you've simply hidden it.

Why would I do that?

So that nobody around here would recognize

that your late husband was the police officer

who was killed in that Ottawa bank robbery 11 years ago,

and possibly make the connection that you might have murdered

both Hamish McPherson and Rick Shipley.

You must have loved him very much to kill two people on his behalf.

You're joking with me, right?

Why would I want to kill either one of them?

Mr. McPherson, I... I never even met him until yesterday.

You didn't intend to murder him,

you thought you were killing Shipley, who murdered your husband.

Constable Frank Naismith.

All right, Frank was my husband.

We were married less than two years.

But I didn't kill anyone.

Yes, you did, Marie.

And this will prove it.

A tell-tale paint chip that will correspond to the one

that's missing from the battery you've been using to blast

the tree stumps on your property.

The same battery you used last night to detonate the dynamite.

Your dynamite, that killed Hamish McPherson.

God!

I have been face to face with Shipley every day.

Every day since he got here, what, four or five years?

That man destroyed my life, and I never even knew.

How did you know I'd been dynamiting tree stumps?

This morning, when I stopped here at the desk,

you were talking on the phone...

Yes, the trees are down, and I'll have it cleared by the weekend,

so you can start on the foundation on Monday, right?

It didn't register with me at the time,

any more than the fact that the photograph of you and Frank,

which was on this desk when I checked in yesterday, was missing this morning.

The bridge was a mistake.

I didn't mean to kill McPherson.

No. But when Shipley got home and discovered McPherson's body,

he realized he was the real target.

Sure. He thought George was trying to kill him,

and he thought he'd done him a favor by getting rid of McPherson.

I have a feeling it was one of those "good news, bad news" situations for Shipley.

I'm sure that Mr. McPherson was smart enough to have warned Shipley

that he had himself covered,

that if anything were to happen to McPherson,

Shipley's secret wasn't safe anymore.

That's why Shipley was hurrying to leave town.

You took McPherson's attaché case.

Don't you see?

If you find the file, you get Shipley, you can arrest him.

Well, I didn't want that. That man killed my husband. I wanted him for myself.

Yes, you did, and you went after him.

This time, successfully.

Using Shipley's own gun, you shot him

and then you put the weapon in his hand, making it look like suicide.

Eleven years is a long time.

Every minute of it, thinking what my life would be like with Frank.

He was a good man.

He was just doing his job.

He didn't deserve to die.

Okay, well, we're off at last, Mrs. Fletcher.

Yeah.

Jessica, my office just called.

The Northern Goshawks that George saw on Lower Creek...

Uh-huh.

They're on the endangered species red list.

There'll be an extended moratorium on any mining in the area.

They say it could be years.

Long enough for our claim to be recognized.

Oh, George, that's wonderful.

Thanks, Mrs. Fletcher, for everything.

That goes for me, too.

Now, I'm hoping to persuade Hilda to let George off on that dynamite theft

in return for community service.

You think you can pull that off from a high-rise in Toronto?

Actually, I was thinking it might be better if I stayed on here for a while.

For my client, of course.

Of course.

Plus, there is some old business I need to wrap up.

Really? Well, just keep in mind, this is my home.

Hey, it's mine, too.

Well, one of them, anyway.