Original subtitles

[♪]

[♪]

[♪]

Misty? What's wrong?

This will sound weird,

but I can't get into our home office.

The door is locked,

and Raymond won't answer my knock.

I'm afraid something's wrong.

Okay, do you want me to call the police,

or the fire department?

Actually, I was hoping

you could help me break the door down.

Oh, uh...

of course.

Yeah.

[door crashes open]

Raymond! Raymond!

Oh, no!

[♪]

[Nick] That was good.

Okay, let's move on to the next one.

Mm!

So good.

It's dark chocolate, so you know I'll like it.

But you still have to try it.

Oh...

Here, let's practice our form.

[laughs]

Turnabout is fair play, you know?

Oh, don't worry,

I can take it as good as I can dish it out.

I can't wait for the real day.

Only two months now...

although, we could just cut to the chase and elope.

I hope you said that as a joke.

Yes, Mother, of course I did.

She's not laughing.

[chuckles]

No, not when there are 120 guests

all excited to help you celebrate.

So...

you've sampled all of the cake flavors.

What's the verdict?

My pick is this dark-chocolate heaven

you just put in my mouth.

It's very good...

but I really like the hazelnut almond.

Mother, you haven't tried the chocolate.

See what you think. You can break the tie.

No, no, I'd rather not tip the scales.

Besides, I have a new listing to set up and...

- [door entry bells jingle] - Oh, here's your maid of honor.

Hi! Sorry I'm late!

No.

You're just in time

to cast the deciding vote on the wedding cake.

[Sally] Oh...

No. No, no. That's way too much pressure.

[Aida laughs]

Just let me know which one you chose.

Bye!

Bye.

Do you mind if I... Thanks.

I don't want to vote, but can I taste?

Because that chocolate looks really good.

Oh, no, you have to vote.

We're at an impasse.

Or we could just ask them

to make one tier dark chocolate

and one tier hazelnut almond.

See how brilliant you are.

Genius. Totally genius.

[chuckles]

We think the kitchen is the house's best feature.

We had it remodeled a few months ago.

It's wonderful.

You've made some excellent design choices.

I would like to enjoy it for another year or two.

But we will be looking out on the ocean

through the kitchen window on the island.

Retiring to Maui has been a dream of ours for a long time.

Well, more Ben's dream than mine.

My dream is to compete

in Seattle's triathlon again next year.

Oh...

[Ben] And you can train on Maui.

[Bianca] And our daughter is here.

You remember Melissa?

She and her husband

are planning to start a family soon...

And she will be a non-stop flight away.

Although if Hal

ever earns enough to support a family,

I will fly back myself and throw him a parade.

[laughs]

[Bianca] Just ignore him, please.

Well, this is a seller's market,

so we can expect a quick sale

if we price it right.

I've pulled some comps to show you.

- Oh, hi, Ms. Teagarden. - Hi.

Mom, I found the box of pictures you were looking for.

I knew you would.

Melissa is helping me go through the junk in the attic

so I can start packing.

Well, these pictures aren't junk.

There's a bunch of me as a baby I've never seen.

Oh, do you want to sit down and look at them together?

[Ben] No, no, no.

If you do that,

you're gonna get sidetracked for the rest of the day.

Just transfer them to one of those plastic bins

and keep sorting.

Dad, it won't take that long. Come on.

I will join you as soon as we finish up here.

[sighs]

Nothing like a daughter to keep you humble.

Yes. Tell me about it.

This one...

Aurora,

I thought you were getting this month's magazines

ready for display.

I know you have a wedding to plan,

but you really must attend to your duties.

The magazines are out, Lillian.

And I was just printing out something

I was hoping you would read in our ceremony.

You and Nick want me to do a reading?

You want me to be a part of the wedding?

We've worked side by side for years.

It would mean a lot to me.

Shakespeare's Sonnet 116.

How apropos.

I would be honored to read it.

You raised a fine daughter, Aida.

I must have misheard.

Did Lillian just pay you a compliment?

It's the magic of weddings.

They bring people together.

[Aida chuckles] That they do.

So...

I forgot to give the bakery the deposit for the cake...

Oh...

...and I have a check in here for them, but...

[cell phone buzzes]

Oh...

My friend at the title company

just said he wants to see me as soon as possible.

I wonder what that's about.

[♪]

[Phillip] Now, Sante Kimes and her son, Kenny,

didn't start with murder.

They began their criminal career

as con artists.

They used other people's personal information

to borrow money in their names.

So, basically, identity theft.

Right.

Only this was before the Internet.

They had to use their charm and elaborate storytelling

to get their marks

to hand over their social security numbers.

From there, they'd use people on their payroll,

notaries who'd sign off on forged signatures,

things like that.

Wow. Pretty bold.

[Phillip] Oh, they had zero shame.

And if their marks caught onto them...

...they killed them.

That was a pretty great presentation, Phillip.

Thanks.

Yeah, I thought I knew a lot about Sante Kimes,

but you knew things that I did not know.

Yeah, I couldn't stop reading about them.

Kenny Kimes was my age

when he was committing murder for his mother.

[Nick] It's not that I'm not interested.

The problem is the research.

The time it's gonna take.

Well, maybe I'll see

if Lynn can authorize some overtime

for one of our officers to do the legwork.

Hey, Arthur,

did I just hear you talking about

the consulting job you offered Nick?

Right, we're hoping he can come up with

a criminal profile for an embezzlement case...

But I told him, with the wedding coming up,

I don't have the time

to pore through all that research.

Well, you have a great researcher

standing right here.

Really, you need help with research?

Yeah, I'm all over it.

It's a lot of dry work...

Tedious stuff, really.

No problem.

I love that kind of stuff.

Like, I seriously think I want to be a detective...

Really?

Well, I always wanted a protege.

[laughs]

All right.

Aida.

We weren't expecting you here today.

I know.

There's just...

an issue I need to discuss with you and Ben...

[Ben] Lift that side.

[Bianca] Melissa and Hal are taking Ben's desk.

There's no way it'll fit in our Maui House.

Why aren't you lifting?

Because it'll topple over.

Just give me a second.

It didn't have to be that hard, you know.

What's the problem?

It's loaded.

Let's go, Melissa.

You're welcome for the desk.

[Bianca] Don't mind them.

They would argue whether the sky was blue.

Why, oh, why do we marry men like our fathers?

[laughing]

Please come inside. I'll pour you some coffee.

[Aida] Sure.

[Ben] Back up.

You're saying

there's an outstanding loan on this house?

Our house.

The house that we paid off five years ago.

That's what the title company tells me.

There is a home-equity loan

in the amount of $500,000

against this property,

taken out a little over two years ago.

Half a million dollars?

Isn't this a joke?

We haven't been paying off a loan!

How is that even possible?

Well, someone's been paying it off.

I mean, there hasn't even been a late payment.

Okay, this makes no sense!

Ben?

Somebody has made a mistake.

This is gross negligence.

I'm gonna make some calls.

[Aida] Ben, wait.

There's something else.

There's also an $18,000 lien against the house,

taken out by a contractor by the name of Tony Gulati.

We have to get this cleared

before we can proceed with a sale.

Well...

that's not a surprise.

Ben hired Tony Gulati to remodel the kitchen

when he started thinking about selling the house.

He never paid the final installment

because the work wasn't finished on time.

Oh.

Wow.

[Arthur] All right.

And this is everything the company gave us...

all their financials, six years' worth.

So what we need you to do, Phillip,

is take note of dates

the flagged bank withdrawals were made.

Look for patterns.

Is the skimming methodical,

regular,

same amounts each time?

Or is it irregular, impulsive?

See what details pop out...

like this withdrawal here, December 23rd.

Maybe someone wants to go Christmas shopping?

There's a story about our embezzler

in there somewhere.

Okay, guess I'll just dig in.

Welcome to the exciting world of detecting.

Oh, hey, Nick,

I...

I know your brother is gonna be your best man,

but since he's out of town,

I thought I could get together with your groomsman there

and help out...

throw a bachelor party?

The bowling alley

has this fun bachelor party set-up...

Oh, yeah?

That sounds like a pretty good time.

You know, I was gonna ask you to be one of my groomsmen, too,

but Roe thought Lynn

might not be so keen on the idea.

Oh, that's...

[Lynn clears her throat]

Roe didn't think I would want my husband

to be in the wedding

of the woman he dated before he married me?

Imagine that.

It's the thought that counts.

[Tony] Hello!

I could use some help here!

Excuse me.

[Officer Heard] Sorry, Detective.

That's okay. How can I help, Mr...?

Gulati.

Tony Gulati.

I'm here to file a complaint.

I just got a voicemail from a former customer,

Ben Avery.

Threatening me.

I want him arrested for intimidation or harassment,

whatever law that breaks.

[♪]

Okay, so with your list, and Nick's,

and yours, Aida...

that brings us up to 142 guests for the wedding.

That's... a lot.

Well, a lot of people want to help you celebrate.

Yeah. Isn't that nice?

Mother, when will the invitations be arriving?

Mother, what is it? Is everything okay?

Oh... oh, yeah. Sorry.

You know my new clients, the Averys?

Well, the title company

discovered a home-equity loan on their house

that they have no idea existed.

I mean, it's really quite a mystery.

A mystery?

I'd be glad to look into it if it would help.

No, thank you,

I'm sure it will be cleared up soon.

I asked the Averys to meet me here...

Oh, and there's Bianca Avery now.

Bianca!

We're just finishing up a wedding-planning lunch.

You remember my daughter, Aurora?

Hello.

And this is her friend, Sally...

Sally Allison.

I read you in the paper all the time.

Oh!

And this is Amanda Gaines.

She owns this restaurant.

Well, co-owns.

Ben and Bianca are investors.

They have a piece of the pie.

[Bianca] And thank goodness,

because that piece of the pie

may be the only thing feeding us soon!

Oh, I hope your loan snafu isn't as bad as all that.

Oh, it's... it's not.

I'm being dramatic. I'm sure we'll figure it out.

Let me know if I can help.

Hope you ladies enjoyed your lunch.

Oh, we loved it.

The chicken salad is so good.

Sorry, I just have to get back to work.

[Aurora] Yeah, me too.

Mother, I hope you solve your mystery.

Maybe we'll see you at the library, Bianca?

At least one or twice more before we head off to Maui.

Bye.

Please, sit down.

How ironic the Averys are dealing with a strange loan.

Fishy loans were at the bottom of the Kimes' murder spree

Phillip talked about last night.

Well, I hope this story has a happier ending.

Have you learned anything from the bank?

And where's Ben?

He refused to come with me.

Aida, we are in the middle of a terrible fight.

The loan seems to be legitimate.

It's being paid off monthly by autopay

from an account number that we don't recognize.

Well, you're going to have to go to the police.

Exactly what I told Ben!

But he doesn't want to.

That got me thinking maybe...

he went behind my back

and did it himself.

Do you really think that could be it?

I don't know,

but I had to ask, and that did not go well.

He walked into his office,

slammed the door,

and he hasn't talked to me since.

It just seems to be the way that are going with us lately,

one blow up after another.

I'm sure it's all going to be okay.

But going to the police is an absolute necessity.

Yes!

I know it and you know it.

Aida, maybe you could come back to the house with me

and try to convince Ben?

Oh, of course.

[Bianca] Well, Ben may be able to ignore me,

but I'm certain he won't ignore you.

Hal, what are you do...

Ben!

He's dead.

Hal...

What did you do?

[♪]

[♪]

[Aurora] So Hal was standing over Ben's body?

Do you think he killed his father-in-law?

Oh, I hope not.

I mean, the police are holding him for questioning,

but... thank you.

But Hal swore that Ben was dead when he got there...

and...

Do you know if Hal and Ben were at odds over anything?

Melissa did say that they butted heads,

but I don't even know what that means exactly.

What about the loan mystery?

Did you find out anything more from Bianca?

Only that the loan was being paid

from an account that Bianca didn't recognize.

She have any guesses

who might have taken out the loan?

Besides Ben?

No.

So she thought Ben applied for the loan

behind her back?

Roe...

maybe later?

Yes.

Mother, we'll let you rest.

You've had quite a shock.

[Aida] Okay.

[Nick] We'll check on you in a little bit.

Okay. Thanks.

[♪]

I can practically hear your wheels turning.

Someone took out a fraudulent loan

on the Averys' house.

My guess is that when Ben Avery discovered it...

He was killed to cover it up.

My mother hasn't answered my texts since we left.

I'm worried.

Why don't I head back over there,

make sure she's all right?

Would you?

She seems to have an easier time confiding in you

than she does me.

I don't know why.

It's because mothers like to appear

strong for their daughters.

That makes me feel better.

See how good you are comforting?

While you're there,

maybe you could ask her about Hal, see if he...

Roe, I'm going over there to listen, not ask questions,

but if she wants to talk about it, she can.

I'm very happy for her...

she's getting you for a son-in-law.

Well, I'm happy for me

that I now have two Teagarden women in my life.

- Text you when I'm with her. - Okay.

[cell phone ringing]

Sally, hey.

Yeah, I know, it's terrible...

which is why we need to find out

what Arthur knows about Hal Needham.

Were you able to narrow down the time of death any further?

No.

The coroner just gave me the same time window.

So between 2:15 p.m.,

when neighbors saw Ben Avery checking his mail,

and 2:50 p.m., when they found the body.

Right.

So Hal Needham could have killed him

just before Aida and Ben's wife walked in.

Too bad the neighbor didn't see what time he got there.

Well, we're going to have to keep him in custody for now.

In the meantime,

Bianca Avery finally turned over her husband's cell phone.

Take a look at this.

So, what,

Ben Avery only made two local calls that day?

Yes, one to his wife in the morning,

and the other to Amanda Gaines two hours before he died.

All right, well, that's not so strange

if they owned that restaurant together.

Yes...

The texts are what interest me.

Whoa, look at that.

He and Hal Needham had some testy exchanges.

[Lynn] Definitely not a lot of love between those two.

Look at this.

Last text sent.

1:56 p.m.

Less than an hour before he was killed.

To Tony Gulati.

The contractor who was in here earlier

to complain about Ben threatening him.

[Lynn] "I'd like you to stop by so we can hash things out."

Okay, we need to get Gulati in here ASAP.

Yes, we do.

This is Ben Avery's daughter's place?

Hal and Melissa Needham's house.

Bianca can't receive condolence calls

at her own home, of course.

Crime scene, right.

But, if Hal is a suspect, kind of awkward...

Melissa insisted.

Said her husband was innocent,

and she wanted to do this for her mom.

I don't see my mother's car.

I told her she might want to stay home,

try to decompress today.

And my etiquette-loving mother listened to you?

Ha!

[Sally] Hey.

You're just in time for the big showdown.

Showdown?

Between who?

It is crazy you would even consider...

that Hal would kill my father.

It's like I'm living in a nightmare.

I understand that this is a rough time for you.

Yes!

Which is why I need my husband!

I don't understand why you're holding him

if you're not going to charge him.

Which is why I came to speak with you.

Until we have a chance to gather all the facts...

Hal told you the facts.

He was trying to help my Dad.

Melissa.

This isn't helping. You need to trust the police.

How? When they're ignoring

the one person who probably did kill Dad?

Tony Gulati.

[Arthur] I assure you,

we are exploring every possible suspect.

Then why isn't he in custody?

I heard him arguing with my father.

He blamed him

for ruining his rating with the business bureau.

He said it would cost him clients and money...

I heard Tony Gulati

say the words, "You're going to be sorry."

If that isn't a threat, why don't you tell me what is?

Yes, Ben Avery invited me over there,

but I'm not crazy enough to take him up on it.

You're telling me you just ignored his text?

Why wouldn't I?

It was a waste of effort to talk to him.

So you didn't like him?

No.

Doesn't mean I killed him.

Where were you between 2:15 and 2:50 p.m. yesterday?

2:15, I was on my way

to give a quote to a potential customer.

Appointment was 2:30,

I usually try to show up a little bit early.

Well, I would like that customer's name.

No problem.

I'll tell you, though,

you're on the right track with the daughter's husband.

And why would you say that, Mr. Gulati?

When I was working on

the Averys' kitchen a few months back,

this Hal guy...

would show up,

take food from the refrigerator,

shoot the breeze.

When Bianca and Ben weren't home?

Right.

One time, I heard him talking on the phone.

I heard him say... I quote...

"The old man's getting too close to the truth."

And, if he were to find out,

he'd probably drop dead from a heart attack.

Hal was kinda laughing,

said it'd be just fine with him.

Hmm.

Hey.

Hey, you're still here?

After that grilling from Avery's daughter?

Oh, you heard that?

Great.

Excuse me.

There's someone else I need to talk to.

Who does he need to...

[Arthur] Excuse me.

Amanda Gaines.

[whispers] I'm going to find out what that's about.

[Arthur] Our understanding

is that you were the last person that Ben Avery spoke to.

Yeah, well, he called me at the restaurant yesterday.

It was still the lunch rush,

so... around 1:00 p.m.?

Right, and did he say why he was calling?

Yeah, something about

a fraudulent loan against his house.

He wanted to make sure

there was nothing borrowed against the business.

Uh-huh.

And where were you yesterday between 2:15 and 2:50 p.m.?

Hmm, well, I was at the restaurant,

working on purchase orders.

Can anyone confirm that?

Any of my staff.

All right, well...

You're really good

at that whole nonchalant eavesdropping thing.

It's a librarian skill.

They're quiet on their feet.

Funny.

So I just heard Arthur say

Amanda was the last person Ben called.

They owned Raintree Restaurant together.

Really?

Wonder how that came about.

Well, Melissa told me

that she met Amanda at a yoga class last year,

and then she introduced Amanda to her parents...

Actually, they introduced themselves to her.

After I told them

what amazing dinner parties Amanda throws,

it was my Dad that talked Amanda into opening a restaurant here.

He offered to invest,

even though she didn't need his money.

Why is that?

Amanda's a trust-fund kid.

You should have seen how much fun he had

working with her,

planning the menu.

We did taste tests in my Mom and Dad's kitchen.

Dad said he wanted to open a Raintree Restaurant

in Maui, too.

I don't think Bianca will be moving to Maui anymore.

Aida told me she didn't want to go in the first place.

She also told me Bianca wondered

if Ben originated that loan behind her back.

That loan must be the key to the murder.

Oh, I'd bet money on it.

I wonder if the police know anything more about it.

[Nick] Well, now's your chance to find out.

Officer Heard must have something important

to tell Arthur.

Okay, your turn. Go eavesdrop.

I don't have silent librarian feet.

Well, okay, I'll do it.

To no one's surprise.

Forensics says there was no sign of a break-in...

Which we knew already...

[Officer Heard] Prints were everywhere

in that kitchen, though...

Melissa's, and quite a few of Hal's.

Well, no surprise there.

[Officer Heard] Hal's prints showed up

all over the drawer,

where Bianca said they kept extension cords.

And Gulati says

he overheard Hal telling a friend

his father-in-law couldn't die soon enough.

It's not looking good for Hal.

No.

But Gulati isn't exactly a reliable witness either.

I'm assuming his prints

were all over that drawer as well?

Yeah, but you know whose prints we didn't find on that drawer?

Prints that we would expect?

Bianca Avery's.

- Really? - Yeah.

[Sally] So?

I've already heard enough.

Enough for what?

To call a Real Murders meeting.

So according to Lynn,

there were two sets of fingerprints,

besides the victim's,

found on the drawer in the Averys' kitchen,

where the extension cord was kept...

Meaning the murder weapon?

Right.

And the prints belonged to Hal Needham and Tony Gulati.

Both of whom have legitimate reasons

for their prints to be on that drawer.

[Sally] Yeah, but, for all we know,

the killer could have worn gloves

and not left any prints behind at all.

[Aurora] True,

but what's strange is

Bianca Avery's prints were not on that drawer.

A drawer in her kitchen.

Well, that could mean

she typically kept things she didn't use in that drawer.

Or she put on gloves to kill her husband.

Wait, Bianca Avery a suspect?

Would a woman her age

be able to strangle a man who outweighs her?

Well, if she had the element of surprise on her side, maybe.

I mean, she is a triathlete.

They're quite strong.

She also had Aida come with her to find the body.

A smart killer

would not want to be the one to call the police.

Bianca would have had the easiest time

originating the loan.

What if she did, and Ben figured it out?

Or Ben got the loan, and Bianca figured it out.

Either way, a fight over it could have turned deadly.

But aren't the Averys well off?

Why would either of them

need to borrow half a million bucks?

Maybe one of them had secret debts.

The police will pull their financial records

and get an answer to that.

I'll be hanging around the station

for the next few days

doing that research.

I can try and keep my ears open?

Good.

Now, what about Hal Needham and Tony Gulati?

Well, I'm supposed to interview Melissa tomorrow for my story.

I can ask her

about her husband's relationship with her father.

I'm thinking Gulati is a good bet.

A contractor could easily get ahold

of people's personal information...

I don't know about easily.

Well, I mean, if they're ordering

a bunch of expensive supplies for a remodel,

they might ask to run a credit check,

make sure you're able to pay up.

But if Gulati's working in the house,

he could just snoop around until he found what he wanted.

Says the world's foremost snooper.

I also sound out

Ben's last phone call was to Amanda Gaines.

What if she's the one who procured the loan

and Ben figured it out?

But she was at the restaurant at the time Ben was killed.

She could have had an accomplice...

Amanda drives a Jaguar and carries a $2000 purse.

And Melissa said

she lives off of a big, fat trust fund.

I don't think she needs the money from a fake loan.

Yeah.

I agree it's a long shot.

I like the Raintree Restaurant.

I can have lunch there tomorrow,

get chatty with Amanda,

one trust-fund kid to another,

see what comes up.

What will you be looking into tomorrow, Roe?

Nick and I have

some important wedding business in the morning.

Now, what about the format of the ceremony?

The Book of Common Prayer, or something a little different?

I was thinking traditional vows.

Really?

I thought we'd be writing our own vows.

You did?

Well, 140 people are coming.

They're going to expect to hear

"for better or for worse, in sickness and in health..."

Roe.

The wedding should be about us, not about our guests.

But I don't want to disappoint anyone.

Sometimes, I wish it was just close friends and family.

Is that true?

We've been planning a big wedding...

because I thought that's what you wanted.

Well...

I do want to make my mother happy.

But would you be happier with a small wedding?

[♪]

This is all so frustrating.

Why do you suppose

the police would think that Hal would want to...

I mean...

I heard they found

some texts on your father's phone...

Yeah, Hal and my Dad bumped heads,

but that's only because they were so alike.

In what way?

They both love to argue, for one.

Yeah? About what?

Silly things, I bet.

My Dad likes to offer unsolicited advice

to my cousin Lizzy's husband.

It drives him crazy.

My Dad meant well.

But he had no idea

what it was like to be laid off, the way Hal was.

Hal's a computer programmer, and his business went bust.

Oh, that's so hard.

He gave Hal no credit

when he started his own consulting business.

Oh, he's a consultant?

What kind of consulting does he do?

Yeah, he helps businesses

get their computer networks up to date.

He was actually doing really well.

He just bought a new truck.

I don't know what's going to happen to the business now.

This whole thing

just feels like the end of the world to me.

People don't get how it can be a mixed blessing,

getting checks from a trust fund.

It gives me freedom.

I don't have to work.

Sometimes, I do feel aimless.

You seem to have solved that dilemma.

Yes, the restaurant is my passion project.

That's what I need...

to choose a project.

Sometimes, it's not a matter of choice.

I didn't always have a trust fund to fall back on.

It was only when my father died,

five years ago,

that I started getting checks.

It was nice chatting with you.

Enjoy your lunch.

[♪]

[Arthur] Alright, here's the latest.

Gulati's customer

says he wasn't early for his appointment,

he was actually 15 minutes late,

meaning he didn't get there till 2:45.

Enough time to commit murder.

[Arthur] Yes.

So did Gulati lie,

or is he just a busy guy who lost track of time?

I finally heard back from the bank

that issued the bogus loan on the Avery house.

Payments weren't coming

from any account owned by the Averys,

or their daughter, or her husband.

Don't tell me it's Gulati.

No.

Recognize that name from anywhere?

Raymond Wagner?

So we haven't been planning the wedding of your dreams?

It's hard to untangle what my dreams are

from what my mother's dreams are,

Sally's are...

what yours are.

How many people would be at your dream wedding?

All I need is two.

You and me.

[text alert chimes]

Oh.

I have a bunch of texts...

from Sally, Davis, and Phillip.

I'll tell them to meet us at the library.

[Sally] Oh, good, you're here.

Okay, so Hal Needham

started a computer network consulting business

that's done so well

he can afford a brand-new truck...

but he doesn't even have a website yet.

That doesn't make sense.

So is the consulting business

just a cover for living off bogus loan money?

I'm wondering the same thing about Amanda Gaines.

She told me her trust fund

started paying out at her father's death.

But I looked her father up online,

and he's alive and well

and living in a trailer park in Mesa, Arizona.

She lied.

So she's not getting money from a trust fund?

How does she pay for those $2000 purses?

[Nick] Well, trust fund or not,

Amanda Gaines has an alibi.

Well, Tony Gulati said he had an alibi...

turns out he doesn't.

Arthur thinks Gulati lied about his alibi.

Well, exaggerated anyway.

So he wasn't with a customer when Ben Avery was killed?

No.

And I have more scoop.

Lynn says they got the info

on the account that was paying off the Averys' loan.

It's in the name of Raymond Wagner.

Anyone know who that is?

[Sally] Roe? Where are you going?

To her computer.

I don't understand what you're saying.

Money from an account in the name of Raymond Wagner,

your husband,

is paying for a home-equity loan

in the name of Ben and Bianca Avery.

That's impossible.

My husband is dead.

But his credit report

shows quite a bit of recent activity.

Well, then someone must have made a mistake.

Because my husband was killed.

Three years ago.

Did you notify the credit bureau

of his passing?

No...

I didn't know I had to.

Usually, the executor of the estate does that.

That was me, but...

I guess I was just so upset.

The police here

have never figured out who killed my husband.

Raymond Wagner was murdered?

- Click on that news report. - Aurora.

What does library policy say

about allowing patrons behind the desk?

- Shh, shh. - [female reporter] Police say

this is likely the case of a home invasion.

An unknown assailant

climbed up a trellis at the back of the home

and gained access into a home office.

Now, the owner of the home,

Raymond Wagner,

apparently scared the intruder,

and a struggle ensued.

Wagner was killed by strangulation with a cord.

Strangled with a cord.

Like Ben Avery.

That could be a signature that points to the same killer.

I'm sorry, I'm just in shock right now.

Raymond was a really great guy.

If Raymond Wagner was killed three years ago,

how could he have been paying the Averys' mortgage?

[♪]

Okay, these are all the articles

about Raymond Wagner's murder.

Let's see if we can piece together what happened.

[Lillian] This is not your living room, Aurora.

If you want to meet with your morbid little group,

take it home.

Or to the Veterans' Hall.

Anywhere but here.

We could try

that new restaurant across the street.

Sold.

[Arthur] What's next?

We've got Officer Heard following up.

[Arthur] Hopefully, he turns up something.

We'll just go through the files again.

Just got the police report on the Wagner homicide.

Thank you.

[Aurora] Raymond and Misty Wagner

were living in Seattle when he was killed.

He was an insurance agent and she was a schoolteacher.

So the night he was killed,

Raymond and Misty had dinner in their dining room,

then Misty reports she went out to run errands...

[Sally] Okay, Misty was grocery shopping

when she got a text from her husband

that made her hurry to check out and drive home.

It said, quote, "Weird stuff is going down.

Could be very bad for us."

[Lynn] Neighbor David Kotkin

noted that he heard a crash sound

from the backyard next door at 8:05 p.m...

Kotkin looked out back,

and the motion-detector light from next door had turned on,

but the brick wall prevented him

from seeing into the Wagners' yard.

[Phillip] Misty Wagner says she got home around 8:20,

and went looking for her husband,

but found the home-office door locked.

Her husband did not respond to the repeated knocks,

he did not respond to her phone calls.

She said she could hear the phone ringing

on the other side of the door.

Okay, that just gave me chills.

Kotkin reports that at 8:25 p.m.,

the victim's wife knocked on his door,

concerned for her husband,

asked him to come help her break down the door...

[Nick] With a neighbor's help,

Misty Wagner entered the office,

and found her husband's body slumped at the desk,

the electric cord of the lamp still wrapped around his neck.

Home-office window unlocked.

No other signs of a break-in.

Partial print on window not belonging to the Wagners...

no match found.

A torn-open envelope with a bank logo

was found on his desk.

[Aurora] Let me see that.

What do you want to bet

that envelope contained a letter from the bank

that told him something about a loan in his name?

[Arthur] Okay, so I checked,

and there was a second mortgage on the Wagner house,

which Misty Wagner claimed to know nothing about.

Taken out four months before Wagner was killed.

Paid automatically

every month from an account in a name that led nowhere.

So a fake name.

And another fake loan.

Okay, so we know how the murders are similar.

[Nick] The method...

strangulation with a similar ligature...

which really points to one killer.

Right. But how are they different?

Well, there was no break-in at the Avery house.

Still, it was someone familiar enough with the house

to know there was an extension cord

kept in that one particular drawer.

If we could just figure out

if any of the suspects in Ben Avery's murder

had a connection to Raymond Wagner,

we'd know who originated the fake loans.

And we'd have our killer.

[Bianca] Raymond Wagner?

I've never heard of any such person.

Yeah, I don't understand.

You're saying a dead man

was paying for a loan on my mom and dad's house?

Well, if someone stole your parents' identity

in order to secure the loan,

it seems likely that he or she

stole Raymond Wagner's identity as well.

These days, to get a loan,

you no longer need

to meet with a loan officer face to face.

All the paperwork through the process

can now be signed electronically...

Well, except for

the final copies of the loan documents.

They need a notarized signature.

I mean, ours did.

Yours did, too, right, Mom?

Uh...

yes.

[Aurora] When I've closed escrow on a house,

my signature on the final loan documents

had to be notarized.

That's a good point.

How could any of our suspects have pulled that off?

Well, remember how Sante and Kenny Kimes did it?

They had a crooked notary on their payroll.

So we should get a copy of the Averys' loan documents

to see which notary signed off on it.

Is that possible?

Well, Aida is the Averys' real estate agent.

She should be able to get a copy

of any document attached to the house.

She just needs to get Bianca Avery to request it.

I'm gonna call her right now.

Okay, so the loan documents on my parents' house?

Have you seen them?

No, we've got a subpoena out to the bank,

but we're still waiting for them to comply.

Unless you've asked the bank for them already, Mrs. Avery?

No. That never occurred to me.

[♪]

You know, we still need to have a conversation

about what kind of wedding we really want.

Oh...

well, let's talk about it over dinner.

I have some steaks in the fridge.

I could make a salad,

you could fire up the grill.

Best idea I've heard all day.

[phone ringing]

Hello, Mother. What's up?

Bianca Avery still hasn't returned my call,

but I called my friend at the title company

and asked him to check on the files for the house,

and it just so happens that he had a copy,

and he messengered them to me.

How nice you have friends in just the right places.

Well, I've been doing this a long time, darling.

And I will drop off the documents tomorrow,

but I...

I trust that you will share them with the police.

Yes, Mother.

I appreciate it.

And Nick appreciates it.

And I'm sure Lynn and Arthur will appreciate it.

Good night, darling.

Good night.

[♪]

Mother, can I get you anything?

[Phillip] I can't believe this happened.

I'm just so angry, I can't even...

[weakly] Oh, Phillip. No, it's all right.

Really. I'm going to be okay.

Do you know, I would like some water.

- Okay. - Thank you.

How long does it take to read a CT scan?

Lynn said her officers

haven't been able to locate anyone

who witnessed the attack.

But she's hoping to find security footage

from one of the other houses on the street.

She's sending an officer down to speak with you

when you're feeling up for it...

...see if you can remember anything about your attacker.

I don't, really.

It happened so fast...

I do remember

watching a hand pick up the envelope I was carrying...

With the loan documents?

[Aida] Yeah.

Mother, I am so sorry

that I asked you to do something that put you in danger.

No. Getting loan documents

is something that...

it's a typical part of my job.

You didn't ask me to do anything

I haven't done a million times, honey.

[Nick] The real question is,

is what was in those documents worth hurting you to get them?

Whoever did this to you

clearly has something to hide.

Well...

it must be something

that would tell us who killed Ben Avery, right?

[Arthur] Thank you for agreeing to meet with me

after hours.

Sure...

Again, I apologize

for not getting in touch with you earlier,

but, of course,

our legal team had to review the subpoena...

Right, I understand,

but I'm assuming you've got the go-ahead now...

Uh, yes,

but...

there is a problem.

I tried to download the document for the Avery loan, but...

seems they're irretrievable.

The file's been corrupted.

I don't know what you mean.

There's gotta be a backup file

in some archives, or on the cloud?

That's the thing,

the corrupted file overwrote any other version...

or maybe they were corrupted from the beginning?

Or I suppose there's an outside chance

there was a hack of some sort...

You don't know?

I've opened an IT investigation, of course.

but...

no.

This is alarming, to be sure.

Yeah...

What about a hard copy?

We typically don't keep paper files after a year.

Have you tried the title company?

[sighs]

I just spoke to Arthur.

He said that there's no way

that even the police

could get a copy of those loan documents?

That doesn't seem possible.

I guess anything's possible if the culprit is clever enough.

Or knows a good hacker.

I'm friends with some computer majors at school.

Maybe I could...

No, you could not.

Am I missing something here?

If Aida was able to get a copy

from the title company,

why not go back to them?

Arthur tracked down Aida's friend

when he was done at the bank,

and apparently, he was in a hurry,

so he sent Aida

the only hard copies they had on file,

thinking that he would easily be able to download another.

Mother, who knew

you were trying to get a copy of those loan docs?

The only person I'm sure of is Bianca Avery.

I left her a voicemail asking for them.

Does that mean Bianca's the one that attacked you?

Is that plausible?

Could Bianca Avery be tech-savvy enough

to plant a virus on a digital file?

Or ruthless enough to try and take down Aunt Aida?

Hal Needham is a computer-network consultant.

I'm sure he could figure out

how to hack into

whatever network that file lived on.

Possibly, but Hal Needham is in custody.

There's no way he could have attacked Aida.

[Sally] I still can't believe

there's no other way

for us to get a copy of those documents.

Wait...

I usually ask Jan in my office

to make backup copies of anything that comes in.

Aurora, why don't you try her?

Wait, Mother, are you saying

there might be another copy in your office?

If Jan did her job...

and she always does her job.

[Phillip] Seriously, though.

If we need a guy

who can figure out a digital footprint...

[Aida, croaking] Phillip.

Don't make me get out of this bed.

Okay.

[text alert chimes]

Jan made another copy of the loan documents!

Aida, you're brilliant.

No, I'm just organized.

She said she'll scan it.

I'll have her email it to me.

Aurora...

I mean, I'll ask her to email it to Lynn.

Also.

We hope you feel better soon, Aida.

Bye. Thank you for coming.

Yes, Mother.

We all need you to feel better.

You just proved how lost we'd be without you.

[♪]

I know if it was up to you, you'd keep him in custody.

Yeah, well...

...the DA was right,

without any physical evidence on him,

or the body,

connecting him to the crime,

there's not enough to charge him.

Plus, the fact that we had him in a cell

when Aida was attacked

would seem to exonerate him.

Unless he had an accomplice.

True. He definitely had the background

to pull off whatever hack

corrupted the file with those loan documents.

I just...

I've been over every single page of these documents

with a fine-tooth comb,

and I can't find anything in here

that would be worth nearly killing Aida Teagarden.

Eric Weiss...

Nope, no such notary in this county or the state.

So it's another fake identity and a fake notary.

That doesn't really tell us anything.

It tells us we need to go see Bianca Avery,

find out if she notices anything off.

There has to be something else in these documents

that someone wants to stay hidden.

I don't think we should go see Bianca, Roe.

What if she's the one who attacked your mother?

No, I think we should stay

as far away from her as we can.

No. No, no.

You see that face?

She thinks she's going to talk me into it.

Not this time, Roe.

Not this time.

All this information is accurate.

I wish I knew how they got it.

You don't see anything that raises any questions?

Oh! I forgot the cream and sugar.

It's okay. We don't need any.

Oh, I'd like cream, please.

Okay.

What are you doing?

And how did you talk me into this?

Bianca could be the killer!

She knew your mother was getting those documents,

and here we are waving them around in front of her,

letting her know that we have them.

If she comes back in here with a gun, Aurora...

Well, I'm glad to know

that your mother wasn't seriously injured, Roe.

No, but she does have a concussion.

They're gonna keep her at the hospital a bit longer

just to be safe.

Well, I was worried that she was borrowing trouble,

trying to get ahold of those documents.

What makes you say that?

I just had a bad feeling listening to her message,

and that's what exactly what I told Melissa and Amanda.

Wait. Amanda Gaines and your daughter

were with you

when you listened to my mother's voicemail?

Did they hear it, too?

Yes, we had it on speaker.

You know what, I would like some sugar, please.

Of course.

Did you hear that, Roe?

I'll talk to Davis,

see if he can find out where Amanda Gaines was

when my mother was attacked.

Do you think you can find out

what Melissa Needham was doing then?

I don't know, maybe...

Nick and I will go talk to Raymond Wagner's widow.

See if she can connect either Melissa or Amanda

to her husband.

I'll let Bianca know I'm leaving.

Oh, no, you don't. If you go, I go.

- Fine. - Fine.

Everything okay?

- Fine. - Fine.

[♪]

She's not home.

Do you mind waiting a while?

You remember the news stories about Raymond Wagner's murder?

The neighbor who helped find the body?

Oh, David Kotkin.

Maybe we ask him

if he's seen any of our suspects visiting next door?

Couldn't hurt.

[♪]

Yes?

Hi.

We're looking for a David Kotkin?

- Is he home? - Who?

David Kotkin.

Oh! The former tenant here.

Sorry, he's long gone.

I've been here a couple of years now.

Okay, thank you.

[car approaching]

Oh, look.

She's home.

[car door closing]

[Misty] No, sorry...

Your police detective asked me about this guy before.

I don't recognize his wife either.

What about her?

Wait, I think I do know her.

I can't remember her name...

This woman is Amanda Gaines.

Yes! Amanda!

She owned the restaurant

where I threw Raymond's 40th birthday party!

Cafe Angel I think it was called.

[♪]

So Misty Wagner told you she knew Amanda Gaines

because she catered

Raymond Wagner's birthday party?

And she gave Amanda her social security number.

Well, why would a caterer ask that?

She told Misty it was part of her routine

to run a credit check

because she had been burned by clients

not paying their final bill.

And Misty didn't think that was odd?

She was so focused on the party,

she didn't give it much thought, she said.

But Roe and I have a theory.

Oh! And she's not here to try and sell it?

Did pigs begin to fly and I didn't notice?

She wanted to be here,

but she's picking up Aida from the hospital.

Oh.

Sorry, go ahead.

So, we think Amanda Gaines

is using the cover

of a restaurant and catering business

to gain access to her clients' personal information.

She then steals their identity

and applies for loans against their houses.

And, why would she do this in this theory of yours?

To finance a lavish lifestyle.

You've seen what she drives...

and Davis found out

that she lied about her dad dying

and leaving her a trust fund.

Well, it would fit

with Ben's last call going to Amanda.

If he told her something to make her worry,

he was getting too close to the truth.

That would be motive for murder.

Okay, well, speculation is not evidence.

I can see how the coincidence is compelling,

and we will definitely

take a closer look into Amanda,

but she does have an alibi for Ben's murder.

[Nick] What if she was working with someone?

Arthur, you remember the last Real Murders meeting,

about Sante Kimes...

Sante wouldn't have been able to pull off any of her schemes

without the help of her son, Kenny.

Well, we are considering the possibility

of co-conspirators...

But we do have to take it one step at a time.

We need to go through all the financial records

of the victims and the suspects

to get a better picture,

so, please, just leave it to us.

[Arthur] Look, thanks for letting us know

what you learned,

and we'll follow up with Misty Wagner.

Okay, I hope so,

because that's a huge connection we found.

Yeah, I know. Just leave it with me.

- Okay. - Thanks.

I don't get

why Lynn isn't jumping all over your theory.

Maybe I should go

give her my talk on Sante and Kenny Kimes.

Nick said Arthur at least seemed open to it,

but if he can't convince her...

He should tell her

how Sante worked her cons like a pyramid scheme

that would fall apart without a constant influx of cash.

That's what it was, wasn't it?

A pyramid scheme...

Right.

Half the money from the loans she got

was used to pay off the other loans.

The other half she used to buy cars, to travel...

So, if Amanda Gaines is living off fake loan money,

then, like Sante Kimes,

she'd always have to arrange new loans...

Yeah.

Phillip, you've just given me an idea...

Now, the question is, will Nick go for it?

The customer you said you met

at 2:20 the day Ben Avery was killed

told us you didn't actually arrive until 2:45.

[Lynn] Why did you lie, Tony?

What, you don't want to talk about that?

Okay, why don't you tell us

if you've ever done any work in Seattle?

Like, maybe for these people?

Raymond and Misty Wagner?

Oh, you recognize them?

I'm not talking anymore without my lawyer.

Make the call.

[Lynn] Go ahead.

We'll resume this when your lawyer is present.

You said to let you know

when I tracked down the forwarding address

of Raymond Wagner's neighbor.

David Kotkin?

He moved to Corinth?

Well, then.

I have an assignment for you.

Okay, so we told you

why we think it's most likely Amanda Gaines

who took out the fake loan on the Avery House...

But it'll take a while

for the police to build their case.

You really think she got an accomplice

to kill Ben Avery?

Well, there's one way to find out.

We're going to set a trap.

[knocking on door]

David Kotkin?

Yes?

Officer Heard, Lawrenceton P.D...

I have a few questions

regarding a murder in which you're listed as a witness.

Ah...

Yeah, you, uh...

you must be talking about Raymond Wagner.

Such a shame.

Still gets to me.

A good man, a good neighbor.

And poor Misty...

Do you want to come in?

This will only take a minute.

We saw from the police report

that you heard the crash of the window breaking,

but didn't actually see anyone

in the Wagner backyard at the time.

That's correct.

But you did notice

someone walking down the driveway

on the other side of the house

when you were with Mrs. Wagner to break down the door.

Yeah, it was dark, but I did see someone.

Just a flash of a face, really.

I'd like to ask you if you recognize this person.

No.

I'm pretty sure the face I saw was male.

What about...

either one of these guys?

Hmm...

Yeah, actually...

That could be him.

So Roe and I will pretend

the caterer for our wedding fell through,

and then we'll get Amanda to offer to cater for us.

Misty Wagner told us

Amanda automatically asks for a social security number,

but if she doesn't,

we'll ask her

to extend us credit till after the wedding.

So you're thinking

if Amanda needs to keep the money flowing,

she won't be able to resist

taking out a loan against your house?

But she's met you guys.

How are you going to con somebody

who already knows you?

Actually, that will work in our favor.

Yeah, it will give Amanda a feeling of safety with us.

It's why con artists spend so much time

getting friendly with their marks.

It lulls the mark into a false sense of security.

Yeah, but isn't she too savvy to fall into a trap like that?

[Nick] Maybe.

But people with high intelligence

are often more easily tricked,

because they assume they won't fall for it.

I read a book about a con artist

who was so impressed with his own intelligence,

he'd leave little clues behind,

you know, little things, like inside jokes, anagrams.

I know who you're talking about.

He called himself T. Cortinas.

[Sally] Yes!

It's the words "con artist",

but just with the letters rearranged.

[Nick] That's right.

He got a psychological reward

from outwitting people in plain sight.

You're going to con a con?

I'm in.

So what's your plan?

Well, first, we have to drop the bait...

And then we'll set the hook.

[Aurora] Davis and Phillip will have drinks

at the Raintree Restaurant,

and make sure

Amanda can hear us talking about me owning my home.

[Phillip] Ow!

Couldn't we come up with a better signal?

No, I think after they get married,

they'll live at Roe's house.

It's all paid for. No mortgage.

[Davis] She's a librarian. How'd she pay off her house?

A friend of hers left her a house way back when,

and she's bought and sold a few houses since.

Took her a while to find one she loves.

[Davis] Hmm.

We can do that, right?

Absolutely.

If Amanda needs to keep a steady income from new loans

to keep her pyramid scheme afloat,

a completely paid-off house will be a very tempting target.

She can get a bigger loan that way.

[Nick] And then later,

Roe and I will show up to the restaurant for dinner.

[Aurora] And then we'll call Amanda over to the table

and compliment her on her food,

and then Sally, as maid of honor,

will join us and tell us the caterer had to cancel.

[Sally] Wait!

You want me to go in there with a made-up story?

Roe, you know I can't lie.

You're right.

You have the world's worst poker face.

Okay, is there another logical person?

[Davis] What about Aida?

The bride's mother?

Uh, no.

That's not gonna happen.

Sally, we need you.

You can do this.

All you have to do

is come over to our table

and tell us that there's an issue with the caterer,

which there is,

so, technically, it's true.

[Aurora] On my signal,

Sally will come up

and inform us of the caterer issue.

[indistinct conversation]

Hi. Excuse me. Bad news.

There's a problem with the caterer.

[Nick] When Amanda hears this, that's the crucial moment.

As any good con artist will tell you,

it helps to get the mark

to suggest the course of action you want them to take.

Meaning we can't ask her if she'll cater our wedding.

We need to get her to offer.

We might have to postpone the wedding!

Your mother would be very upset.

Well, all the good caterers are booked up far in advance.

What are we going to do?

[Nick] Looks like we're just going to have to go home

and do some research.

I don't know if you're aware,

but we cater here.

Would you like to see our catering menu?

I don't know...

It wouldn't hurt to take a look.

[Amanda] Yeah, no pressure.

I'll just go grab it,

and you can take it home and think about it.

That would be nice.

Thank you.

Well...

the lure is in the water.

Let's hope she bites.

So, you actually found a connection

between Hal Needham and Raymond Wagner?

Yeah.

Both men worked in the computer industry.

And six months before Wagner was killed,

Hal Needham manned his company's booth

at a trade show Wagner attended.

So it wouldn't be too farfetched

to see how they would have connected there.

- [knocking] - All right.

David Kotkin's here.

Great. Send in the lineup.

Mr. Kotkin.

I'm the Police Chief here in Lawrenceton,

Lynn Liggett Smith.

And this is Detective Arthur Smith.

Good to meet you.

So Officer Heard told us

that you thought

you recognized one of our suspects

as being on the premises of the Wagner house

the night that Raymond Wagner was killed.

That's right.

[buzzer sounds]

And here comes our lineup now.

[Kotkin] Oh, wow.

It's just like on TV.

I feel nervous all of a sudden.

Don't worry, they can't see you.

Um...

I think you'll be very happy

with the butternut squash ravioli.

[Nick] That sounds good.

We really appreciate you

stepping in on such short notice.

And right after losing your business partner.

Must be such a stressful time.

Glad I could help.

Number of guests?

140.

And we know what that will cost per head

according to your quote,

but...

We still haven't received our deposit back

from our previous caterer yet.

[Nick] Yeah, and cash flow,

it's tight with all the wedding expenses.

Are you sure we can't ask your mother?

Nick, I told you,

we are not allowing my mother to pay for this wedding.

[Nick] Okay.

I'll tell you what.

I can waive the deposit and extend you credit.

Oh, that would be great.

- [Amanda] Okay. - Thank you.

All I need now is your social security number

for a credit check.

No problem.

It's very hard to keep smiling at her

when I think she might have had something to do

with putting my mother in the hospital...

I agree, it is very hard.

You know, we still need to finish that conversation

about the size of the wedding.

Yeah, I've been thinking about that.

I know you think you need to invite over a hundred people

to make your mother happy,

but all I want...

all I'll ever want...

is for you to be happy.

I think I told myself a big wedding was for her,

but...

really, I want those people there for me.

I want them to all see how lucky I am,

that I get to marry you.

Ah, Roe.

I'm the lucky one.

Now...

hopefully, we'll get lucky enough

and catch Amanda trying to get a loan in your name.

[Kotkin] Um...

okay,

I know number four

is the guy that I pointed to in the photo that you showed me,

but...

now that I see him in person, I'm not so sure.

I mean, the guy that I saw struck me as smaller.

I just...

I really don't want to point the finger

at the wrong person.

How's that, Mother?

Darling, it's fine,

but I don't want to be resting.

I have work to do.

Sorry, doctor's orders.

Okay, so I found a vase for the flowers.

You are so sweet, Sally, but please stop making a fuss.

[phone ringing]

I'll turn your ringer off.

[Aida] No.

I can at least talk to my clients.

Hello.

So how's Operation Con the Con going?

Oh, so far so good.

Amanda has my social security number now.

I informed all three credit bureaus

there might be an attempt

to block my security-alert system...

Okay, why would you...

Well, I'm sure Amanda,

or whatever hacker helps her,

has probably figured out

how to block identity-theft systems

for her marks,

so we have to stay one step ahead of her.

That's smart.

But what if she figures out that you're trying to trap her?

I mean, she could be the killer, Roe!

And then you just went

and painted a target on yourself.

- That's... - Sally!

What is going on?

Did I just hear you say

that Aurora is some kind of target?

Did you?

What is going on?

I don't know what you mean...

You are a terrible liar.

Actually, I'm getting better.

Sit down and tell what is happening.

Mr. Needham.

Excuse me,

you were told specifically

to exit through the rear of the building.

Yeah, well, I'm parked out front.

Yes, well, we can't have you running into our witness.

This is ridiculous.

Chief,

Aida Teagarden is on the phone for you,

says it's an emergency?

Stay with him.

Yes, Aida, what is this about an emergency?

Are you okay?

Mother, please don't do this...

Lynn, I need you to talk some sense into my daughter.

Apparently, she has set up a sting operation

with the owner of Raintree Restaurant...

Oh, don't you dare try to leave!

You have to help me clean up this mess!

What do you mean?

What sting operation?

I'm sorry I couldn't be more certain.

I only got a glimpse of the guy's face.

We appreciate you driving out here.

Please.

[Lynn] Hey, hang on a second.

You let Roe turn herself into bait for Amanda Gaines?

To try and lure her into taking out a loan in Roe's name?

That's why I'm here, to explain...

Explain why she's interfering with a police investigation?

Again!

[Arthur] Thanks again, Mr. Kotkin.

We... we'll be in touch.

You're David Kotkin?

Could you wait a minute? I'd like to have a word.

No, no, no, you don't need to wait.

You're free to go, Mr. Kotkin.

Thank you.

All right. We will be there shortly, Aida.

If you think I'm going to let you shield Roe

from the consequences of her actions,

you can think again.

Arthur, let's go.

This won't be pretty.

- [Lynn] Arthur! - Yep!

[♪]

A sting operation?

Okay, that is going too far, Roe,

even for you.

What better way to prove

she's in the business of phony loans?

Yeah. We figured it was worth a shot.

If she doesn't bite, no harm no foul.

You don't know that!

If she's guilty,

you may have compromised the case against her.

You know what,

I should arrest you both for obstruction of justice.

I didn't call you and tell you about it

to arrest them...

She didn't mean that literally.

- I wouldn't be so sure of that... - [text alert chimes]

I always thought

I'd end up visiting you in jail someday, Roe.

I just got a text alert from the credit bureau.

A loan company just pulled my credit report.

That means Amanda Gaines is going for it.

She's trying to get a loan in Roe's name.

Now that Amanda has taken the bait,

why not let it play out,

see what we can learn about her fake-loan racket?

Okay.

Setting aside the legalities of gathering evidence that way,

there's just too many variables out of our control...

too many risks.

But what about the risks

to the other people that Amanda may target

if she's not stopped?

All right.

We will take a wait-and-see approach

with this sting operation.

That's not what I was hoping to hear.

[Lynn] Don't worry, Aida.

Roe will solemnly swear

to run everything she does

in regards to her little operation

through me.

[Aurora] No problem.

And the first thing I'll tell you

is I just heard from Amanda.

She's asking Nick and me to stop by her office again

to go over our menus.

Well, if David Kotkin is in town,

I think we should give him a call.

I'd love to know

what he was doing at the police station,

what he has to say.

I doubt Lynn will cough up his info.

[Aurora] I'm a librarian.

I have access

to an excellent people-search database.

Look...

Bianca Avery.

There's her office.

[gasps] Nick!

Nick?

I can't find a pulse.

She's dead.

Yeah, we'll stay right here.

The police are on their way.

How did this go so wrong?

I would have never wished such a horrible end for Amanda.

She was strangled, just like the other two victims.

[sighs]

I'll just be a minute.

Okay, just hurry, before the police get here.

Okay.

[♪]

[♪]

I know what you're thinking, Roe,

but we don't know

that Amanda's murder had anything to do with us

or what we were trying to do.

I think it did.

Seems like the restaurant

has security cameras here in the dining room,

but none in the office area.

All right, so we have to assume

the killer came through the back delivery entrance

and bypassed the kitchen.

None of the staff saw anything.

[Aurora] Okay, obviously,

Amanda had a co-conspirator who turned on her.

Thought Amanda was about to get caught

and would be pressured to name her partner in crime...

Look at this. It was on Amanda's desk.

It's a loan application in my name,

with my signature already forged and notarized.

And no, I didn't touch it.

Like I said...

no control over the variables.

All right, so who else

knew about this sting operation of yours?

Just some Real Murders members I trust.

And my mother found out from Sally,

and she called you.

That's all I know of.

Actually, I know of someone at the station

who might have overheard us talking about it.

Hal Needham.

You're right.

I saw him, too, watching and listening.

All right,

so we're going to have to get him back to the station

for further questioning.

You two can come down later and give us your statements.

Wait, Officer Heard.

We also saw Bianca Avery

here having lunch when we arrived.

Just so you know...

Okay. Thanks.

I have a class in an hour, but I'll get it covered.

I don't want you to be alone until they catch Hal,

or Bianca, or whoever it was who killed Amanda.

Thank you,

but I'm supposed to work a shift at the library.

I won't be alone.

Why don't you go teach your class,

and come pick me up when my shift is done?

Okay.

Okay, Aunt Aida.

What kind of tea would you like?

We've got mint or...

Hey, what's going on?

Melissa's a little upset.

Well, of course I am!

Someone else was killed today,

and once again,

your daughter is pointing the finger at my husband.

[Phillip] Wait, what?

Someone else was killed?

Yes! Amanda Gaines was murdered at her restaurant.

Oh, no!

And now the police are looking for my husband again,

which is ridiculous,

because he was with me today.

Okay, so...

where is he now?

Why don't you just tell Aurora we have been through enough?

And if she doesn't stop trying to make my husband look guilty,

I promise you,

I'll put an end to it.

Phillip, please call the police

and tell them what just happened?

Yeah.

All right, thanks, Phillip.

We still don't know where Hal Needham is?

Yeah. Well, his wife just showed up at Aida's house

and threatened Roe.

So, I got the depressing basics of Amanda Gaines' murder

from the police,

but I was kind of hoping you could give me

some details for my story.

Roe? Hi?

Oh. Sally, hi.

What's that?

The loan application on Amanda's desk.

She forged my signature on it.

And look,

it's the same fake notary, Erik Weiss.

Those are just like

the documents on Ben Avery's house.

Yeah, except this time,

Erik is spelled with "K" and not a "C."

Hmm...

No notary in the state under that spelling either.

[phone rings]

Hey, Phillip, what's up?

Just wanted to give you a head's up

about what's going on,

make sure you're with Roe.

No, but I'm heading to the library right now.

Good.

Because Melissa Needham was just here,

and she has it out for Roe.

Really?

Just so you know, Sally, we close in five minutes.

Okay.

Ah, Erik Weiss?

I know that name.

You know an Erik Weiss?

No, I know the name.

It's the real name for Harry Houdini,

only it's spelled with a "Z" instead of an "S" at the end.

Wow, Lillian. How did you know that?

There are lots of books in this library.

Astonishingly, not all of them are about true crime.

Some are actual biographies

about figures important in popular culture.

Remember what Nick said

about con artists using secret codes

in their fake identities

to make themselves feel more clever?

Yeah...

I guess using the real names of famous magicians

as fake names is kind of clever.

We have to think of other famous magicians.

I know one!

My Dad took me to see David Blaine once.

David Blaine...

No, that's his real name.

Oh, there's also Penn and Teller.

Also their real names.

Do you remember when we were in high school?

There was that one magician your mother loved...

he was always on TV.

Oh, yeah! I know who you mean.

I think we just found the killer.

David Copperfield's real name is David Kotkin.

You mean...

like the guy who lived next door to Raymond Wagner?

The one who helped his wife break down the door

and find his body?

Yes.

And Nick said he saw him at the police station

when they were talking about

our sting operation against Amanda!

He's got to be her co-conspirator.

But that means that David Kotkin...

Or whatever his real name is...

Is Ben Avery's killer.

And Raymond Wagner's...

and Amanda's...

I've got to print this.

We have to call Lynn.

- [printer whirring] - Wait!

- [Sally] What? - No, wait. Wait.

She's going to say

we don't have enough to prove anything.

I can just hear her asking

how she's supposed to get an arrest warrant

with an article about David Copperfield.

Well, she'd have a point.

I mean, maybe we're wrong about him being the killer.

We are not wrong.

But we do have to figure out a way to find more proof.

It's him!

David Kotkin!

I recognize him

from that news video we watched on Raymond Wagner's murder!

Okay, Sally, try to stay calm.

He doesn't know we know,

but one look at your face and he will.

[Sally] I'm not looking at him.

But what is he doing here?

[Aurora] I left him a voice message

about an hour ago,

telling him where I work.

He's probably here to find out what I know.

Okay, what do we do now?

You're going to leave and call Lynn.

And Nick.

Well, what are you going to do?

I'm going to con the con into giving himself away.

Aurora,

I told this man we were about to close,

but he's insisting he needs to speak to you.

I'm David Kotkin.

You left me a message.

Yes, Mr. Kotkin.

I've been hoping to speak with you.

- It's nice of you to come in. - Sure.

I was in the area, so...

Lillian, we won't be long.

Why don't you go home and let me lock up?

Oh, because it's my job, not yours.

I'll give you 10 minutes, no more.

So, my fiancé told me

he saw you at the police station today.

Oh!

Did you happen to hear

what he was discussing with the Chief?

Some of it.

It sounded pretty crazy.

Something about a sting operation?

Yes, we figured out a woman named Amanda Gaines

has been stealing people's identities,

getting fake loans,

and when those people...

like your neighbor, Raymond Wagner...

found out,

she had them killed.

Wow.

That really is crazy.

But how can you be so sure

that's what was really happening?

Well, the fact

that Amanda was murdered earlier today

is pretty solid confirmation.

Murdered?

Oh.

[Sally] Oh, Nick! Roe's inside with the killer!

Hal Needham? Or Melissa?

Neither. It's David Kotkin!

She figured it out just before he came in.

Did you call Lynn?

Yes!

- [Nick] Okay, stay here! - Okay.

Who did the police think

might have killed this Amanda person?

Well, her co-conspirator.

Huh.

And who do they think that is?

Maybe it's that Hal Needham guy

that they were hoping I could identify?

That's one theory.

I have another...

I'm all ears.

[Lillian] Aurora, how many times

have I asked you not to leave your personal items

on the printer?

Um...

Stay back! Stay back!

You do as I say

or I'll stop her breathing, do you understand?

Lillian,

stay calm.

I'd rather not.

[Kotkin groans]

[♪]

Nick!

I have an idea. Come on.

[♪]

[Aurora] Now!

[Arthur] Freeze, Kotkin!

Let that serve as a warning

to any other criminals

who think they can make mischief in my library.

[♪]

[Sally] Roe, why don't you give everyone an update?

Well, we now know David Kotkin's real name.

We know he and Amanda

had been working together the last five years,

and the police confirmed at least nine phony loans.

Kotkin was very good

at leaving corrupted files behind to obscure his trail.

The police think he committed another murder,

besides the three we know about,

this one in Tacoma.

Well, my new friend and I

are giving a heartfelt thank you to the police

and to you, Aurora,

and to your fiancé,

Professor Miller.

I know you had a few other friends helping you out.

Yeah, like Lillian.

Yeah, don't mess with librarians.

It was nothing, really.

All of you... you never gave up.

You made sure we'd see justice for our husbands,

made sure we could sleep at night,

so thank you.

Excuse me.

I owe you a big thanks, too.

You found the person who put me in the hospital,

and I don't know why

that man chose a life of tricking people,

stealing from them,

harming them in every way possible,

but...

But it's good to know that he won't harm anyone else again.

Yes.

And now that you're about to be married, Aurora,

I hope that you will be less likely

to throw yourself into such dangerous cases.

From now on, it's gonna be all about love.

[♪]