All language subtitles for Hunter S06E14 - Unacceptable Loss

Tonight on "Hunter"...

Liquid cyanide
was poured in a manhole

somewhere near the area.

Mixed with acid that was already
in the sewer and the result

was cyanide gas,
odorless, colorless.

Poor kid didn't
know what hit him.

The DA is not
willing to prosecute

until we can prove intent.

If you allow us to
treat this as a homicide,

we'll prove intent.

It's our stuff.

The cops think they can
trace it back to us.

Can they?

What was the truck doing driving

through a residential area?

Whoever's responsible
for this boy's death

is going to go to prison
for second degree murder.

Smooth move!

I've been working on it.

Hey, you want to come
over for dinner tonight?

I can't.

Dimmer said she might give
us a pop quiz tomorrow.

Bring your books and we can

play some Nintendo afterwards.

Cool!

Cyanide gas, huh?

Yeah.

Toxic Waste Force says
that liquid cyanide

was poured in a manhole
somewhere near the area.

Mixed with acid that was already
in the sewer and the result

was cyanide gas.

Odorless, colorless.

Poor kid didn't
know what hit him.

Yeah.

There's Frankie.

Frankie Mason, head of the
Toxic Waste Strike Force.

This is my partner,
Sergeant Hunter.

Hello.

Ms. Mason, how are you?

Any idea how this happened?

Some jerk tried to
save a lot of money

by dumping cyanide
in the streets

instead of going to a
hazardous waste site.

Any idea who?

No, but we got a good lead.

Yeah, she's right.

One of the guys found
this glove in an area

about six blocks over where we
think the cyanide was dumped.

We found traces of cyanide
on it and on the street

around the manhole cover.

Oh, good.

I'll run the inside of
this glove for prints.

Unfortunately, this
isn't a homicide.

You guys can't really get
involved, you know that.

- She's right.
- I know that.

But we'll run it for you anyway.

- I like your style.
- All right.

Jimmy!

Jimmy!

Jimmy!

That's my boy's bike!

That's his bike!
- Ma'am.

Ma'am.

Ma'am, listen to me.

I'm a police officer.

- That's my boy's bike!
- I know.

Please, listen to me.
Step over here now.

There's been an accident.

Oh, God.

Yes.

Mrs. Morgan, take this.

You'll feel better.

Thank you.

We're very sorry about your son.

I know you'll do everything you

can to find out who did this.

Mrs. Morgan, we're
with Homicide.

Your son's death
will be investigated

by the Toxic Waste Task Force.

I don't understand.

Well, what she
means is we will not

be treating this as a homicide.

But... he... it's...

It's not like he was riding
his bike in front of a bus

or he fell or something.

Someone poisoned him
with... with cyanide.

He was murdered.

It's murder!

Hey, I'd love to prosecute
one of these midnight dumpers,

believe me.

You want to know why we
don't in cases like this?

We can never prove intent.

Let me tell you something,
if some screwball decided

to put a bomb in
the schoolyard, we

could prove intent all right.

That's exactly what this
is, a toxic time bomb,

and it went off.

I know that, but I have
to deal with reality.

There's just no legal
precedent connecting

toxic dumping with homicide.

Well, I think it's about
time we establish one.

Sergeant, a few years ago
a case landed on my desk.

Product liability,
gross negligence.

A mother of three
young children died.

I tried to make a
criminal case out of it.

In fact, I became a
little obsessed with it.

In the end, the judge threw
it out with a reprimand.

Now, I didn't mind that so much.

The look on the husband's
face, on the children's faces,

for them, the law had
just flat out failed,

and it was my fault for
trying to stretch it.

So what are you saying,
we don't even try it?

Hunter, I'm saying it's a
case for the civil courts.

I'm sorry.

I wish it wasn't, but it is.

He's right, you know.

The DA is not
willing to prosecute

until we can prove intent.

If you allow us to
treat this as a homicide,

we'll prove intent.

Look, Captain, whoever
dumped the cyanide

is going to do it again.

I think you're way
out of line on this one.

Look, Charlie, just
give us a couple of days.

A couple of days, huh?

All right.

I guess everyone needs at
least one impossible case.

Keeps you humble.

But I think you two are
pushing rocks up the hill

with your noses on this one.

Hydrochloric acid is basically
harmless and fairly common

in the city sewers.

But when you mix it with liquid
cyanide, you get cyanide gas.

And that gas killed
little Jimmy Morgan.

Listen, I think
you should know this.

We're not treating this
case as a homicide.

Oh, Hunter, if you could
find the people who did this

and get the DA's office to
charge them with homicide,

it would pave the way for
other DAs to take a shot.

Hi.

Hi.

You were right.

There were latent prints
inside that rubber glove.

NCIC traced them
to a Larry Taylor.

And Mr. Taylor is
currently working

at Linder Chemical Company.

This is at
Linder Chemical Company.

May I help you?

I'm Sergeant Hunter, LAPD.

Is Mr. Linder in?
- No, I'm afraid he's not.

He's in Washington DC.

Oh.

Do you know when he'll be back?

Tomorrow.

Is there something
that I can do to help?

Yeah, perhaps so.

Uh, where can I
find Larry Taylor?

Mr. Taylor?
- Yeah.

Sergeant Hunter, LAPD.

Investigating illegal
dumping of toxic materials

into an LA city sewer.

A young boy was
killed last night.

Man, that's awful.

So you're checking with all the
chemical companies, is that it?

Well, not exactly.

You see, we found a
glove near the site.

It has your fingerprints
on the inside.

- A glove?
- Yes.

Must've been one I lost
two or three weeks ago.

It fell off the
back of the truck.

Where'd you find it?

Right near the manhole where
you dumped the liquid cyanide.

That's a bunch of bunk.

Everything I do is
strictly by the book!

Where does this
company dump its cyanide?

All the cyanide we use is
processed legally at the Nelson

Disposal in Chino.

Legally, huh?

Yeah.

We'll see about that.

The boy was
identified as 12-year-old Jimmy

Morgan of Northridge.

He was pronounced dead on
arrival at a local emergency...

Honey!

Back from the wars.

How are you?

Great, just great.

We got the government contract.

I'll tell you, things
keep going like this,

we're going to have
the best year ever.

Wonderful.

What's wrong?

Oh, there was just something
very upsetting on the news.

A 12-year-old boy died
of cyanide poisoning.

Somebody dumped
it in the sewers.

Oh, god.

That's terrible.

I wish you didn't
have to work with it.

It's so dangerous.

What if there was an
accident at the plant?

Julie, I've told
you a thousand times.

All our waste is processed.

It costs a lot of money, but
we do it just so something

like this won't happen.

The mother of that
poor child... if you

could have seen her face.

That's what you get for
watching the late news.

It just depresses you.

Hey.

I've got a terrific idea.

I was thinking on the
plane, why don't you

and I go up to the
cabin this weekend?

Hmm.

We'll go fishing.

You'll fish, I'll watch.

And you have to
clean what you catch.

Fine.

It's so late.

I'll bet you ten to one
it's the night foreman.

I'm home what, five minutes?

Hello.

Ben, it's Larry.

You see the 11:00
news about that kid?

Yeah, I heard
something about it.

Why?

Well, it's our stuff, Ben.

- Really?
- Yeah, really.

The cops have been
out to the plant.

They think they can
trace it back to us.

Can they?

I don't know.

Look, there's nothing
we can do about it now.

I'll talk to you in the morning.

Is something wrong?

No, no.

It's, uh, just a power
shortage at the plant.

They're working on it now.

It'll be done in a couple hours.

Oh, I'm sorry.

It happens.

Hey, you're just
who I'm looking for.

Linder's secretary
called, said that he

would like to meet with us...

If it's convenient.

How long have you
known Larry Taylor?

Larry?

Oh, ever since I
founded the company.

Actually, we go back
farther than that.

He served under me
in the military.

That's why after
all these years,

I just don't see how it's
possible Larry would have

dumped cyanide in the sewers.

We both had the same feelings
about corporate responsibility.

How do you explain the glove?

Well, you yourself said
that it was found less

than two miles from the plant.

It probably did just
fall off the truck.

Well, wait a
minute, Mr. Linder.

What was the truck doing driving
through a residential area?

He's probably looking
for the shortest route.

Well, I don't buy that.

Look, Sergeant,
I'm just as concerned

about this as you are.

Remember, it was
me who called you.

Yeah, after Larry
Taylor called you.

Of course he did.

He was upset about your
suspicions and so am I. Diane,

you want to come in here
for a second, please?

The point is, I'm
willing to open

my books to you right now...

Today.

Diane, would you make copies
of all the transactions

between us and Nelson Disposals
and give them to the officers.

Certainly.

Thank you very much.

You're welcome.

Look, Mr. Linder, Larry
Taylor may be saying one thing

and doing another.

If you suspect he may be cutting
corners for personal gain,

I suggest you tell us right now.

Let me tell you something.

I've known Larry
a very long time

and I'll stand
behind him because I

honestly believe he wouldn't
do something like this.

Linder's records are
pretty straightforward.

He can account for every
ounce of liquid cyanide

he's disposed of.

You believe him?

Please.

If I believed every
document I got

from the chemical
companies, we wouldn't

catch anyone for dumping.

It's just that I'd be more
skeptical if it wasn't Nelson

Disposal handling his waste.

What do you mean?

Howard Nelson runs the most
reputable firm in the state.

He's a decent guy, not
the kind to be involved

in something like this.

And you don't think
I should check him out?

Check him.

Howard Nelson?

That's right.

Sergeant Hunter, LA Homicide.

Oh, yeah.
Your office called.

Little off the beaten
track for you, isn't it?

Well, a little bit.

I'm investigating a homicide
that occurred in Los Angeles.

A little boy, Jimmy Morgan,
was killed from cyanide gas.

Oh, yeah.

I read about it.

It was terrible.

What can I do for you?

I understand you handle
all the toxic waste

disposal for Linder Chemical.

Yeah, I have for more
than five years now.

Would it be all right if I
took a look at their records?

You think Ben
Linder had something

to do with this thing?

Well, it's a possibility.

I don't understand.

I mean, we handle the
disposal of all their cyanide.

If there was anything
unusual, we'd know about it.

What do you know
about Larry Taylor?

Well, he delivers all
of Linder's waste products

out here, but I barely know him.

I see.

This paperwork only
covers the last 12 months.

I can get the rest of you
on microfilm if you need it.

Yeah, I greatly appreciate it.

Thank you.

The Toxic Task
Force people usually

investigate these incidents.

Yes, they usually do.

But whoever's responsible
for this boy's death

is going to go to prison
for second degree murder.

It's about time!

Calm down, Howard.

It's not the end of the world.

Don't tell me to calm down!

That cop knows this moron dumped
that cyanide in the sewer!

Watch your mouth!

That was never the deal!

He was supposed to be dumping
it out in the Mojave Desert!

Business is up, Howard.

They put the squeeze on Larry.

Nobody ever expected
anything like this to happen.

The boy's dead, Ben.

Don't you understand?

God knows,
we're all sorry about what

happened to the boy.

But we have to go on.

Nothing anybody can do is ever
going to bring that kid back.

Well, it's not
going to happen again.

What does that mean?

It means I'm out.

Find someone else
to cover for you.

It's not that simple, Howard.

I did what you wanted.

I covered for you with that cop.

But that's it!

It's not enough.

Look, I just landed a
government contract.

That means we're all going
to make a lot of money.

But I can't do it for the
price I bid without you.

Look, Larry's not going to
dump in the sewers anymore.

We're going to find
something else to do.

How... Howard, don't let me down.

I'm sorry, Ben.

You're sorry?

Well, I'll tell
you, you'd had been

a lot sorry if I let your
company slide into bankruptcy!

I saved your butt!

Now you're going to hang me.

We're going on, Howard.

We're going to be careful,
but we are going on.

You could be dead wrong
about Linder on this one.

What do you got, a glove?

Yeah, with Taylor's
fingerprints on the inside.

There are still people out in
the street killing each other.

I am having a tough
time justifying

the man hours on this one.

Well, just a second now.

McCall is doing an
in-depth background check

on Nelson Disposal as we speak.

Sergeant Hunter.

Oh, Ms. Morgan.

Yeah, come on in.

This is our Captain,
Charles Devane.

This is Ms. Morgan,
Jimmy's mother.

How do you do?

Uh, very sorry to
hear about your son.

Thank you.

I realize that you're very busy.

But I... I just
spoke to Mr. Reyes

in the district
attorney's office

and he told me how
difficult it was

going to be to prove anything.

Well, it's... it's a
very complicated case,

unfortunately.

I wanted to tell
you how grateful

I am that you're pursuing this.

Something like this
should never happen again.

If one child's life
can be spared...

Thank you very much.

Ms. Morgan, we're going to
do everything we possibly can.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'll let you get back to work.

Thanks for coming down.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Keep digging.

Hey, I've been looking for you.

What's up?

I've been going over public
records trying to figure out

who's behind this
dummy corporation

called Majestic Investors.

They bought into
Nelson Disposal at 51%,

and that's when Nelson
was deep in the red.

Well, who owns Majestic?

Well, this is the part I like.

The chief operations officer is
listed as a Julia Fitzgibbons.

Fitzgibbons is the maiden
name of Linder's wife.

Mrs. Linder?

Yes.

I'm Sergeant
Hunter, LA Homicide.

I was wondering if I might
be able to have a word

with you and your husband.

Of course.

Thank you.

What is this about?

It's about your
company, Nelson Disposal.

I have no idea what
you're talking about.

Well, Majestic owns
50% of Nelson Disposal.

Majestic?

Yes, your company.

Excuse me.

If you want to know
about Majestic,

I suggest you talk to me.

Come in.

Excuse me.

Yeah, sure.

You know, Mr. Linder, the one
thing I still don't understand

is, why did you buy
into Nelson Disposal

through a dummy corporation?

Why didn't you just buy into
it through Linder Chemical.

What are you implying?

Well, why did you
have to disguise it?

Disguise?

Look, Sergeant,
if my competitors

knew I was doing business
with that company,

Nelson would've lost
all the contracts.

It would've been a
conflict of interest.

Look, you got any more
questions to ask me,

I'll meet you in your
office with my attorney.

OK.

I want to thank
you for your time.

Thank you, Ms. Linder.

I'll let myself out.

What's this about
Majestic Investors?

It's not important.

Then why was he here?

Well, they're just
doing their job.

Probably checking with
every chemical company

in Los Angeles.

I just happened
to be on his list.

Hey, look at me.

You don't really think I'm
involved with something

like that, do you?

No.

No, of course not.

Hunter, Ben Linder can
own or purchase any company

he wants under another name.

I understand that,
but this guy's guilty.

You can't confuse circumstances

with the hard facts I
need to prove it in court.

Well, wait, wait a minute.

What do you think I'm going
to do, give you a bad case?

Look, I feel the
same way you do.

But you've got to come up with
a strong enough case for me

to justify giving it priority.

There are pressures here
that you don't know about.

And there's a mother
who deserves to have

an answer for her son's death.

Boy, you are some piece of work.

What do you want me to do?

If I prove intent, will
you prosecute Ben Linder

for second degree murder?

Find me that evidence.

Get that thing outta here!

What?

I'm not doing business
with you anymore!

- What are you, nuts?
- Move it!

Hey!

Tell Linder to find
another dump site!

Yeah, I'll tell him.

I'll tell him he can't
dump on his own property.

It's still half mind
and I run this operation!

Are you having a
problem, Mr. Nelson?

No, there's no problem.

I'll tell Mr. Linder
what you said.

Move it now!

That guy is squirrelly, man.

I'm worried.

Take it easy.

In a few days, this whole
thing will blow over

and Nelson will calm down.

Yeah, and what if
he goes to the cops?

He wouldn't do that.

Well, I'm going to have a
private little conversation

with him just to make sure.

No, you leave him alone.

Don't you understand, he's
got the same problem we have.

What he's got is
a guilty conscience.

If he talks, he
goes to prison, too.

So forget it.

Besides, he's got
a son he adores.

He wouldn't do that.

Now get out of here.
I've got a customer coming.

Right.

Yes, I... I understand.

OK.

Thank you.

Bye-bye.

What's up?

I've been talking to some
of Linder's competitors.

Every one of them says that
Linder has been a real problem

for them in the past year.

The guy has underbid all of
them on government contracts,

and some of the
managers have come out

flat and said that
they don't know

how this man can bid so low.

Well, I know how he's doing it.

He's cutting corners.

Which allows him to
get the big contracts.

Which means he's
producing more toxic waste.

Absolutely.

How much toxic waste do you
think he's dumping illegally?

Well, I couldn't
tell you exactly,

but it's enough to pose a
major hazard to the community,

and Linder has to know that.

Would you be willing
to testify to that?

Oh, I would look forward to it.

OK.

Look, what I got to find out
now is how much toxic waste

he's given to
Nelson and how much

he's putting down the sewers.

Yeah, but for that
you need documentation.

Yeah.

Do you think he's keeping
two sets of books?

It's possible, but how are
you going to find those books?

That's my problem.

Hello.

Hello, short stuff.

OK.

So you're big stuff.

What's up?

Of course I haven't forgotten
about your ball game

on Saturday.

I wouldn't miss it for anything.

Look, tell your mom I'll pick
you up at 9 o'clock sharp, OK?

You know I love you,
don't you, Blake?

I love you very much.
So long, slugger.

Hunter, Homicide.

Listen, I've got some
information for you

on this illegal dumping case...

And the little boy.

Yeah, who's this?

Hello?

Hello?

I don't believe this.

This isn't happening.

He was on the phone to a cop.

How could you?

Your friend Howard was
going to sell us out.

You don't know that.

Well, now I know he won't.

Don't worry, Ben.

Don't worry.

Shut up!

Hey, get your hands off me.

Get outta my sight.

Why won't you tell me?

I told you, I have a
meeting at the plant.

What, at 9 o'clock at night?

A foreman called.

Something came up.

When?

When did he call?

No, that is not good enough.

Well, it was always good
enough for you before.

Since when are you
worried about my work?

All you ever cared
about was whether or not

the money kept rolling in.

Now, I got to go.

I want to know the truth
about why you used my name

on that dummy
corporation to buy part

of Howard Nelson's company.

Was it so that you could
dump cyanide in the sewers?

I told you
it was for tax reasons.

You tell me what you
think I want to hear!

But right now, I want to know...

The truth, Ben.

Are you responsible
for that child's death?

I never expected it to happen.

It was just a freak accident.

Oh, my god.

Oh, my god.

Julia.

If I could have died instead
of that kid, believe me,

I would have.

You did this?

For what?

To save money?

I did it to keep the
company from going under.

I wanted to keep it alive.

How do you think I made
payments on this house?

How do you think I paid for
every single thing you got?

Your clothes, your car, all
your constant trips to Europe.

Now... now...

Now it's my fault?

I didn't expect this to happen.

What are you going to do?

I could go to this
Sergeant Hunter.

Tell him everything.

I'd go to jail.

We'd lose every single
thing we've got.

Julia, I would do this...

I would do this if
you would forgive me.

No, I don't want that.

Oh, Ben.

I love you.

I have to go.

Hi.

What is it?

You said you would tell her.

I know.

You said you would tell her when

you got back from
Washington, and you're back.

Diane, this isn't
the right time.

Isn't it?

Well, you know
what, I don't think

there's going to be a right...
- No, wait, wait, wait.

Wait a second.

Just give me a second.

Please, listen to
me, just listen.

First of all, I've got a lot of
major problems in the business.

And I can't just go
to Julia and tell

her I'm leaving her without...

Without lawyers and things.

I want you to have the
best of everything,

and I can't do that if
the company goes belly up.

Well, why didn't you tell me
that you were having problems?

Beca... because I
didn't want you to worry.

I know the kind of stress
you've been under...

Pretending at work,
meeting in secret.

Besides, I think
you're wonderful.

Come on, let's eat.

Oh, Ben.

All right, so this guy
Linder's cheating on his wife

or maybe he's just looking
for some shoulder to cry on.

How does this help us?

Captain, there's a case
building here somehow.

- Yeah, I thinks she's right.
- All right.

So what about you?

What do you got
on Howard Nelson?

Well, I tried his house.

He's not home.

His secretary says he hasn't
shown up for work this morning.

Sounds like he got cold feet.

Yeah, well, maybe.

Look, I'm going to
drive back out there.

I've got some people to talk to.

I haven't seen Howard all day.

I'm a little worried.

He's usually the first one here
in the morning and the last one

to leave.

When's the last
time you saw him?

About quittin' time.

He was still in his office.

Was his car here this morning?

No.

Tell me, what's
all this out here?

Well, once the toxic
waste have been treated,

we bury it in that
pit out there.

They found Nelson's car about
five blocks away from here

outside a local bar.

No sign of Nelson.

Sergeant Hunter,
I think we got something.

Just go through the whole list,

and afterwards I'll talk to
you about how far we should go.

Sergeant Hunter.

Mr. Linder, I have
an arrest warrant

for a Larry Taylor for the
murder of Howard Nelson.

Howard?

Dead?

We found his
fingerprints on the murder

weapon buried with the body.

It couldn't have been Larry.

I can't believe this.

Well, I think you can.

Wait, if you think I had
anything to do with Nelson's

death, you're crazy.

We'll see what
Taylor says about it.

Taylor!

Hold it right there!

Hold it right there, Taylor.

Freeze.

Taylor!

I guess you heard.

I know, Linder won.

Sorry.

Linder claims that Howard Nelson

and Larry Taylor were
responsible for all

of the dumping.
- Yeah, I know.

And Reyes went for it, right?

Well, he and the
Toxic Waste people

went through the paperwork
at Linder's office

and they didn't find anything.

Look, you know the score.

Without hard documentation that
Linder knew what was going on,

Reyes still can't prove intent.

Now you know, Larry
Taylor was our only shot

at nailing Linder.
- Yeah, I know.

And he's dead.

So now what do we do?

There's nothing more we can do.

It's over.

Ben.

Julia.

You shouldn't be here right now.

I heard what happened.

Julia.

I had nothing to
do with the death

with either one of those men.

I... I know.

If only you hadn't
dumped that poison...

I just have to live with that.

Can you really do that, Ben?

What do you suggest?

Maybe you have to
go to the police...

That's crazy.

Tell them everything, just
explain the circumstances.

They'd put me away for 20 years.

They tried.

They can't, they have no proof.

Because Howard
and Larry are dead.

My going to prison isn't
going to bring them back.

You'd be alone.

Ben, I got the papers
from the bank you...

Oh, uh, hello, Mrs. Linder.

Julia, go home.

We'll talk about this later.

What's the matter?

This woman is going
to bury her son today.

And the bastard
responsible for his death

is going to get away free.

I know.

You know, if we could
have only nailed Linder

for the murder of that boy,
maybe the next guy who decides

to dump toxic waste
in the city sewer

would think twice about it.

At least Ms. Morgan
would have that.

Now what am I going to tell her?

Why don't you
just tell her that?

Come on.

Let's go.

Mrs. Morgan, I just wanted
to say how sorry I am.

What's Mrs. Linder doing here?

I don't know.

Kind of peculiar,
don't you think?

I just read about what
happened and I wanted...

I wanted to say how badly
I feel for your loss.

I'm going to go talk to her.

I'll be right back.

Ms. Linder.

Somewhat surprised to
see you here today.

I read about it.

I just felt badly and
I wanted to attend.

You know, your husband's
responsible for that boy's

death, don't you?

I have to go.

Are you going to the funerals
of all your husband's victims,

Ms. Linder?

What do you want?

I want your help.

Now, there's got to be records
that explain exactly what's

going on at Linder Chemical.

Whatever Ben is, he is
my husband and I love him.

And he loves me.

Are you sure about that?

You OK?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Uh... kind of a low thing
I did to Ms. Linder.

Probably would have found
out about the affair anyway.

Sergeant Hunter.

What the hell?

What's going on here?

I have a warrant for your arrest

for second degree murder.

That's nonsense.

We have the
evidence, Mr. Linder.

That's impossible.

Your wife gave us a key
to a safe deposit box.

Inside it, we found
your real set of books.

We also found $500,000 in cash.

That's the money Howard
Nelson kicked back to you.

You ought to feel real good
about yourself, Mr. Linder.

You're about to make history
in California criminal law.