All language subtitles for Law and order S09E13 - Hunters

In the criminal justice system

the people are represented
by two separate
yet equally important groups,

the police
who investigate crime

and the district attorneys
who prosecute the offenders.

These are their stories.

Graphite clubs.

I took five strokes
off my handicap
since I switched.

I don't know.

Nine iron isn't
a nine iron
if it isn't iron.

Come out and
play a round
tomorrow.

You'll see what I'm
talking about.

Promised the wife I'd
clean out the garage.

You want some smokes?

I'm trying to quit.
Pop the trunk.

Oh, damn it.

What?

You'd think somebody
gutted a pig in there.

Your victim took
three shots to the abdomen,
point blank range.

Probably a nine
millimeter automatic.

Any blood
on the seats?

He was shot outside.

Then whoever did it
dumped him in the trunk
and let him bleed out.

Nice. Any ID?

Yeah.
Douglas Bender.

BCl got a sheet on him
while we were waiting
for you.

Anything current?

Conviction in '93.
Grand theft auto.

There's a Bellevue
parking sticker
on the rear view.

Yeah, DMV's running
the plates now.

And, uh,
roll his prints,
just to make sure.

Department truck
towed the Honda
from a no-park zone

at 55th and 11th.

We logged it in
at 12:28 a. m.

Is this something
you guys do
on a regular basis,

ripping off
impounded vehicles?

Or was last night
a special occasion?

We saw the trunk was open,
we looked inside,
we called you.

Just a couple of
dedicated public
servants, huh?

We'll take
your statements
down at the station.

Guess who
boosted cars
for a living.

Maybe Bender tried
jacking a ride and
the owner disapproved.

Hey, the Honda's registered
to a Millicent Sheridan,
307 West 18th Street.

Hope Millicent knows
a good car wash.

Sorry, I don't see
a Millicent Sheridan
on my employee roster.

Are you sure?
Her car's got
a parking sticker

for the hospital lot.

Number N13947.

Millie Bender.
She's a surgical nurse.

Fifth floor, ICU.

Thanks.

We were married
after Doug got out of
Green Haven last spring.

I...

I never got around to
changing my registration.

You're sure
it's him?

We have a picture
taken at the scene.
It's, uh...

I want to see it.

Oh, God, no. Oh!

Mrs. Bender,

how long did you know
your husband?

Six years.
We have a son.
He's five.

So you knew him
before he was
arrested in '93?

We were engaged.

We have to ask, um,

was Doug seeing
any old friends lately?

What are you saying?
He was involved
in something?

Not necessarily.
Maybe someone
carried a grudge.

Doug has a good job.
He sees his parole officer
every week.

Well, we have
to wonder,

what was he doing
on 11th Avenue
last night?

Going to work.

After midnight?

He's been
pulling double shifts
since I got pregnant.

Oh, God.

Maybe it's possible
that wasn't all he'd been
doing to make money.

I...
I don't want to talk
to you anymore.

Can we do this
after lunch?

I only get an hour.
And they've been
cracking down lately.

We'll buy you a hot dog
at the corner.

Bender. Bender.

Douglas Michael.
What are you
looking for?

Anything you got.

Bender's had
the same job
since he's been out.

Uh, no complaints
from his boss.
No trouble at home.

He only missed
one appointment
in 10 months.

When was this?
Yesterday.

He called in and said
he had the flu.

That time of year,
you know.

Look, guys,
it's after 12:00.
I gotta eat.

Bender tells this guy
he can't come in
'cause he's sick,

but he tells his wife
he's working
a double shift?

Stories for everybody.
Reminds me of me
when I was drinking.

Shot in his car?

Man, that's rough.

I'm gonna miss the guy.

You were friends?

Doug did his job,
drew his pay,

and never
turned down overtime.

Around here,
that made him
Employee of the Year.

We heard he
called in sick
yesterday.

He was here in the morning.
He looked okay to me.

So he didn't stay
the whole day?

Nah, he took off early.

When was that?

Around lunchtime.

He got a call.
Sounded pretty upset.

Yeah?
About what?

He said family problems.

I told him he could
make up his hours
on the midnight shift.

Who called him?
His wife?

Somebody named Max.
Collect.

Usually we don't let
our people take calls collect
but Doug was an okay guy.

And that's all he said?
He was having
family problems?

Good enough for me.

Rudy, please report
to the office.

LUDs on the warehouse phone
show Bender's collect call

came from a truck stop
on the Jersey Turnpike.

This Max made
two other collect calls

before he tried
the warehouse.

One to
Bender's apartment,

the other to his wife's
work number at Bellevue.

He must have wanted to
get in touch with Doug
real bad.

Bender's arrest record
from that grand theft auto
in '93.

Our guy had
a partner in crime.

This partner's name
happen to be Max?

Max Sheridan.

As in Millie Sheridan?

Bender's brother-in-law.

Sheridan's had
multiple arrests from
that GTA in '93.

No convictions.

Georgia state cops
want him for jumping bail
on a truck hijacking beef.

I got an APB
from Georgia.

Well, maybe Max is
headed north
to visit his sister.

Yeah, here.

They had
a possible hit
yesterday.

A perp answering
Sheridan's description

robbed a convenience store
in Delaware.

Georgia to Delaware
to New Jersey.

We sure Bender picked
Sheridan up in Jersey?

No.

Find out more
about this happy
family reunion.

I haven't seen Max.
Neither has Doug.

Your brother
called your husband from
a truck stop in Jersey.

Doug left work and
drove down there
to meet him.

You don't know that.

We found a toll receipt
from the Jersey Turnpike
on the floor of your car.

Look, Millie,
Max is family.
We understand that.

We're just trying
to figure out
what happened.

Doug needed money, right?

What would he have done
if Max offered him
a job jacking trucks,

like old times?

Max was in trouble.

He wanted to stay with us,
but Doug said no.

He gave him a ride
into the city and some cash,
but that's all.

Maybe they got in a fight
over how much cash,

and things got
out of hand.

No.

Your brother's on the run
from a Georgia warrant

and he's a suspect
in an armed robbery
in Delaware.

Max didn't kill Doug.

You sound awfully
sure about that.

I know my own brother.

You know where
he is now?

No.

We were at the zoo.

Jackie got a...

These are the...
The police.

Uh, they're here
about Doug.

Janet's my babysitter.

Yeah, we're looking
for this man.

Any chance
you might have
seen him?

Wow, that's some bear
you've got there.

Who gave that to you,
Uncle Max?

Please,
leave us alone.

I guess
when family's in town,
every day's Christmas.

Toll receipt
in the Honda?

If you don't tell her,
I won't.

How much money
you figure
they gave him?

With their take-home?
He's probably
running out of cash.

Let's check his sheet.

Maybe Brother Max tapped
an old buddy for a loan.

I run a clean business.
Strictly to code.

No nudity,
no hooking.

No fun.
What happened
to Sin City?

We're not here
to shut you down.

You heard from
Max Sheridan lately?

Max Sheridan?

You remember.
You and Max were busted in
a hot Jag a few years ago.

Hey, I didn't know
it was stolen.

Ignorance is bliss.
What about Max?

Look, I already told
the other cops.

The ones here
this morning.

Don't you guys talk
to each other?

Well, pretend
we don't.

Max came by last night
looking for
a place to crash.

I gave him some money,
he took off. End of story.

Where'd he go?

Am I in trouble
over this?

You will be if we have to
keep asking you
the same questions twice.

Lanie should know.

Max wanted company.
I gave him her number.

She likes to party.
Strictly between friends.
I'm no pimp.

Yeah, I know,
you run a clean
business.

Here, write down
her address.

Other cops?

I told your buddies,
this guy called last night,

and he said he
wanted to party.

He was at some
roach motel
over on 23rd.

The Yarborough.

You get a room number?

How many times do I
have to go over this?

I don't remember
what room.
It was a real pit.

You gonna hit me, too?

These buddies of ours
do that to you?

No.

I walked into a door.

They told you
they were cops?

They had badges.

John Smith.
Third floor, room 309.

Were there
any other officers here
looking for Mr. Smith?

You're the first.

Is Smith up there now?

I got a bad bladder.
I don't always see
who goes in and out.

Room key.

Thanks.

Police!
Put the gun down!

Drop the gun down!
Put the guns down.

Put 'em down now.

Put your hands
on top of your head!
Do it!

We're bail agents!

We're on the job!

Put your hands
on top of your head!

We got paper on the guy
who rents this place.

We're bail agents.

Hey, Rey,
looks like we've got

a couple of real live
bounty hunters here.

You guys search
this place?

We're trackers,
not cops.

Lennie, look what I
found behind the sink.

It's a nine millimeter.
Same caliber
Bender was shot with.

Did a hooker named Lanie
steer you guys here?

Maybe.
What's it to you?

You're busted,
that's what.

What charge?

Assault and
impersonating an officer,
moron.

Mr. Festov,
your employees
assaulted a witness.

You got
this hooker's statement?
I'd like to see it.

They represented themselves
as police detectives.

They interfered
with an investigation.

Does anybody else
hear violins?

I'm gonna start crying
in a minute.

Go ahead,
keep pushing your luck.

We got paper on Sheridan.

That gives us the right
to do whatever we have to
to pick him up.

You can't charge my guys,
and you know it.

You're just mad 'cause
we got there first.

No, we're just mad because
your man-hunting technique

seems to involve
punching women.

Why?
That whore says we
roughed her up?

Okay, gentlemen,
you're wasting our time.

Mr. Sheridan is
the prime suspect in
a murder investigation here.

What's your point?

Our interest
trumps your interest

in apprehending him
for a Georgia bail violation.

My interest is
the $350,000 bond
my outfit's Atlanta branch

put up guaranteeing
his appearance in court.

If we don't bring him back
inside eight days,
that bond goes away.

And we lose
our bounty fee.

If you,
or Mr. Granada,
or Mr. Difka,

interfere in
this investigation again,

I'll have you all held
for obstruction ofjustice.

Do it.
We'll file suit
for false arrest

against your department,
the D.A.'s office,

and each one
of you personally.

We're done here.

The law considers
a prisoner on bail to be

in the legal custody
of his bail bondsman.

If he skips,
bounty hunters have
wide leeway to catch him.

And if they
catch Sheridan
before we do?

Finders keepers.

Just find him first.

Welcome to
the wild, wild west.

Ballistics came in
on the nine millimeter
we found.

It's not a perfect match,
but there's
a 70%% chance

it's our murder weapon.

Serial numbers
were filed off.

Send it to the FBl lab.
Any prints?

Not on the gun.
Plenty in the room, though.
Mostly Sheridan's.

A few from
our bounty hunters.

And a nice clean set
on a whiskey bottle
from this guy.

Eddie Dow.

Works for a trucking outfit,
and he's on parole
for hijacking.

Well, seeing how
hijacking seems to be
Sheridan's line of work,

maybe he got in touch
with Mr. Dow for a job.

Mr. Dow isn't here.

A couple of other detectives
picked him up an hour ago.

That would be
Detectives Granada
and Difka?

Oh, you work with them?

We're members of
a mutual admiration
society.

Thanks.

Sheridan called Dow
before he left Atlanta.

We figured
they connect up
sooner or later.

You know,
you could have saved us
a lot of time

by telling us about Dow
before this.

You don't pay my bills.

Where's Dow?

Your bounty hunters
hauled him out of his garage
an hour ago.

I'm supposed to
care about that?
I ask for results.

How my people
do their job
is their business.

Well, make it
your business.

'Cause if we don't talk
to Dow real soon,

we're gonna have to
talk to you,

and it won't be in such
cozy surroundings.

I've got a lawyer.

There are a lot of
precincts in town.

He may have trouble
finding you for a few hours.
Or days.

This is bull.

Call our bluff.

Give me a minute.

Busy.

You know,
I once had an idea about

putting my money
into a place like this.

So you could have
a financial interest in
keeping the crime rate up?

That makes sense
for a cop.

Granada and Difka dropped
Dow off at his house
five minutes ago.

Cooperation, Al.
It's the grease that makes
the world go 'round.

I told you, I fell down.

From what,
the Empire State Building?

These guys
broke your nose,
Eddie.

Why are you
protecting them?

I'm not
protecting anybody.

You're protecting
Max Sheridan.

Yeah? Who's that?

You were
in his hotel room
yesterday, remember?

You had a drink together.

I drink with
a lot of people.
I'm a friendly guy.

So what did you boys
talk about? A job?

I don't know
any Max Sheridan.

Why would I talk to him
about a job?

He's a driver
and you boost trucks.

Sounds like a match.

You got a lot of pages here
from the 718 area code.

Is that where we'll find Max?
In Queens? In Brooklyn?

You want him,
you find him.

Those bounty hunters offer you
a taste of their fee
if you gave him up?

Screw you.
I want a lawyer.

Either he sold Sheridan
for a piece of the reward,
like you said...

Which means our guy
is already on his way back
to Georgia.

...or Eddie has
a job for Max that's worth
more than the reward.

The beating he took,
my money's on
Eddie holding out.

I talked with OCCB
about Dow.

Word is, he was a driver
on that Lufthansa haul
back in the '70's.

This guy specializes
in airports.

JFK and LaGuardia are
both in the 718 area code.

Track down that number
on Dow's pager,

and book him for
violating his parole.

He should be more careful
who he drinks with.

Heads up.

That's it.

Hello, Eddie?
Hello, Eddie, you there?

Hello?
Eddie, I can't hear you.
Hello?

Hello.

You're our lucky
caller of the day.

What's this all about?

Why don't you tell us?

What?

We already talked to Eddie,
but we'd like to hear
your side of it.

I don't know
what you mean.

Well, the way Eddie tells it,
this hijacking was your idea.

He says you came to him.

He said that?

This isn't just
a local beef, John.

Crimes on airport property
are covered by the Interstate
Commerce Commission.

That's the Feds, Johnny.

Foreign cargo...

You might even have to
do time
in the country of origin.

Yeah. How's
your Turkish, John?

Look, why don't you
help yourself out?

Tell us what you had
going here, huh?

I work night maintenance
at Terminal Seven.

Eddie gave me 500 bucks
to keep the gate open

and to help his driver
load a truck.

He tell you
the driver's name?

Max.

What time's this
supposed to go down?

10:00.

Hope you don't have
any dinner plans.

Container 12 to gate 36.

Container 12 to gate 36.

Sheridan's late.

I'm beginning to
lose my faith in man's
inherent dishonesty.

Got a radio call.
Your Lieu wants you
back in the city.

Multiple victim shooting.

412 West 18th Street.
Tenant's name
is Janet Tuckman.

Millie's babysitter.

Two DOA's,
one wounded.

Medics don't know
if he'll make it.

They called it in.

They say they have papers
on one of the victims.

Get their version?

Yeah, they say self-defense.

Guy they were
here to pick up
pulled a gun.

Who's dead?

Neighbors ID'd
a Janet Tuckman.

Drivers license
on the other one
says "Millicent Sheridan".

Bender.
Her name was
Millie Bender.

Lennie...

Always eating
our dust,
huh, Briscoe?

Don't even
think about it!

Take it easy,
take it easy.

He was hiding
under the bed.

We're real sorry
this happened,

but Sheridan pulled a gun.

The guy's. 38?

Never fired.

You cowboys
emptied two shotguns.

What, we should
let him get off a few
just to even the odds?

You got a beef
with anyone,
it's him.

Detectives Briscoe, Curtis.
Mark Branson.

Mr. Branson is counsel
for Correctional
Assistance Services.

They own Mr. Festov's
bail bonds.

We're not
the enemy, Detective.
We're allies.

How do you figure?

CAS is as much a part
of the criminal justice
system as you are.

Bail bonds?
Mmm-hmm.

Prison administration,
inmate transportation,

jury consultants.
12 states.

And they say
crime doesn't pay.

Difka and Granada were
in lawful pursuit
of a fugitive.

If we turn up evidence
that your clients acted

without sufficient regard
for potential loss of life,

we'll hit them with
everything we have.

Bottom line,
are they under arrest?

No.

Then assuming Mr. Sheridan
survives his injuries,
we'll be in touch.

One more thing.
How did you find Sheridan?

You beat it
out of Eddie Dow?

That's it?
Two dead and one shot,
and they walk?

Sheridan could have
surrendered.

It was his choice
how this was going to
play out,

not Granada
and Difka's.

They had to go in
with shotguns?

Against an armed felon
who killed his brother-in-law,
who was ready to kill them.

How much firepower
would you have
walked in with, Rey?

I don't know what I
find scarier, Abbie,

clowns like these
having a free pass
to break the law,

or one of our own A.D.A.'s
taking their side.

Max Sheridan is
the bad guy here.

He's alive.
His sister and
the babysitter are dead.

It's overkill.

But Max Sheridan is
a coldblooded murderer.

Like it or not,
Granada and Difka did us
a service by catching him.

A service?
They're outlaws.

I'm going to check on
their weapons permits.

I don't care
if they forgot the period
after their middle initial,

I'm having their
permits yanked.

And I'm putting
Festov's business license
under a microscope.

Are we done?

Our righteous
indignation satisfied?

We're not
charging these guys.
What about Sheridan?

He'll live.

Get him arraigned.

On the record.
Counsel are present.

The charges are
three counts of Murder
in the Second Degree.

How does
the defendant plead?

Not guilty, Your Honor.

People on bail?

Remand,
Your Honor.

The defendant is wanted on
an interstate warrant...

Yes, yes.
The defendant is
remanded to custody.

Court is adjourned.

Ms. Carmichael, I read
the ballistics report.

Odds are almost
one in three

that Sheridan's
nine millimeter

isn't the weapon
that killed Bender.

Ballistics put
the likelihood of a match
at 70%%.

Let's take
those odds
to a jury.

Without Sheridan's
prints on the gun,
you can't prove it's his.

So whose was it,
the hotel maid?

Two words.
Reasonable doubt.

As for the gunfight
at the O.K. Corral,

I hear ballistics
might never sort it out.

You'll be lucky
to get an indictment.

Correctional Assistance
Services filed

a Federal habeas
corpus petition
in District Court.

They want to take
Sheridan back to Georgia.

First their bounty hunters
treat our city
like a shooting gallery.

Now they want to
take home the Kewpie doll?

Am I missing something?

This writ of habeas corpus
looks a lot like
an extradition request.

We are simply requesting
that the court enforce
the lawful contract

between my client
and Mr. Sheridan.

What contract,
Mr. Branson?

In return
for my client bonding
Mr. Sheridan's bail,

Sheridan agreed to appear
before an Atlanta court.

Counsel is demeaning
the writ of habeas corpus,

the last refuge
of an accused.

This amounts to
a motion of replevin.

Now there's a term
I haven't heard
in a long time.

Mr. Branson would
have you believe

the issue is
his client's right

to enforce his contract
with Mr. Sheridan.

But this is
really an attempt to treat
Mr. Sheridan as property.

As if he were
repossessing a car.

The property
in this case happens
to be a human being.

The district attorney
is muddling the facts,
Your Honor.

The fact is that the defendant
is facing a hijacking charge
in Georgia,

verses three
homicide counts
here in New York.

Who has the more
serious claim,
counselor?

Georgia has
backed its claim with
an indictment, Your Honor.

Has New York?

We arraigned him
this morning.

Under the statute,
you have five days
left to indict.

If you haven't done so
by then,

Mr. Sheridan will be
on the midnight train
to Georgia.

We need to connect Sheridan
to that nine millimeter.

What are the police
waiting for?

For the FBl lab
to get back to them about
the serial numbers.

Lean on them.
We fought to hold
onto Sheridan.

Let's make sure
we can put him away.

We got a serial number
from the Feds.

The gun's registered to
a Teri Barak,
address upstate, near Troy.

Counting the nine millimeter,
he's got 22 weapons
registered.

Most of 'em handguns,
all on Federal permits.

If Canada
ever invades New York,
this guy's ready for a fight.

So how'd
the nine millimeter get from
Barak to Max Sheridan?

Maybe he sold it.
Maybe he lost it.

Maybe you ask him.

I never owned a pistol.

And the only Max
I ever knew
was Schmeling.

The boxer?

Ah, well,
you call him a boxer.

I call him
a Kraut pantywaist.

You know,
I fought that Nazi bastard
10 rounds in '37.

He never
laid a glove on me.

"Teri Barak,
the Rooster
from Brewster"

I thought your name
sounded familiar.

So none of the weapons
registered under your name
actually belongs to you?

Oh, you're pretty fast
on your feet, huh, kid?

Nice TV set.
Where'd you get it?

I think his son brought it.

Come on!
I don't have a son.

No. No.
A fan give me that.

Yeah, all he wanted
was some autographs.

Sucker.

You happen to remember
this fan's name?

His name?

Yeah, uh,
it began with a...
With a "V".

I forget.

You people will
have to leave.

I have to give Mr. Barak
his bath.

Come here.

You say I got a gun.

And I say,
"Great, give it to me.

"There's an orderly
around here
I want to shoot. "

Barak barely knows
what day it is.

He knows he went
10 rounds with
Max Schmeling.

In 1937.

So who supposedly
sold him this gun?

Well, according to
the paperwork,

a dealer named
Armand Libretti.

He has a Federal license
but no gun shop.

It cuts down
on overhead.

So this Libretti sells
a nine millimeter
to Max Sheridan,

a felon with a sheet,
and uses Barak's name
on the permit?

He'll never admit it.

I don't know
any Max Sheridan.

You don't remember
the felons
you sell guns to?

I don't keep
those kind of records.

The ATF does.

They traced
the gun licenses
you arranged.

A 72-year-old paraplegic.

A blind grandmother
in Queens.

And my personal favorite,
the guy who died three years

before you sold him
two. 38's and a Magnum.

He's the best-armed corpse
in Greenpoint Cemetery.

Look, I give you the names
of the people I sold to,
what do I get?

We drop local charges and
hand you over to the ATF,

with you as
a cooperative witness.

- I want to walk.
- That's not gonna happen.

This is
a limited time offer
for 10 seconds only.

You've already used eight.

You want me to
write this down?

You gonna to
record it, or what?

Start with Max Sheridan.

I told you,
I don't know the guy.

You sold him this gun
sometime in
the last five days.

Nine millimeter HK.
I don't handle
a lot of these.

If this is one of mine,
I didn't sell it to this
Max what's-his-name.

Then who did you
sell it to?

Gil Freeman.
Couple of months ago.

Where do we find him?

Where you put him.

He's in Rikers.

Yo, I didn't shoot anybody.

Not lately.

You've been here
six weeks.

We want to hear
how your gun ended up
in Max Sheridan's hands.

What good's it gonna do me
if I talk to you guys?

We'll talk to
the A.D.A.
handling your case.

Now, what did you do
with the gun?

Well, ask the bastards
who grabbed me
for jumping bail.

They took it
when they broke my arm.

Were these
police officers?

Son of a bitch
bounty hunters.

You know,
I'm gonna sue.

You gotta love 'em.

After you called, I went back
over the CSU reports and
the crime scene photos.

When the shooting started,

Millie was in this position
and the babysitter was here.

Sheridan was in
the hall doorway leading
to the rear bedroom.

And Granada and Difka?

Judging from
the dispersal patterns,
they fired from a point

two feet inside
the room here.

Putting the women
between them
and Sheridan.

Would Sheridan reach for a gun
with his sister in the way?

Well, the women
could have moved after
the shooting started.

So we're back to
square one?

Not quite.

I examined
Sheridan's. 38.

Bullet damage to the grip
and blood spatters
are inconsistent with

Sheridan holding it
in his hand
when he was shot.

But if it was
still in his waistband?

Well, that would fit.

The gun could have
fallen out
after he was shot.

Sheridan never even
drew his weapon, Adam.

They shot him

and killed Millie Bender
and the babysitter
in cold blood.

And they did this carnage
to cover up the fact
they shot Douglas Bender.

Why kill Bender
in the first place?

Weren't they
after Sheridan?

When we
have them in custody,
we'll ask them.

Is your expert absolutely sure
that Sheridan still had
his gun in his waistband?

No. But she
considers it
most likely.

Sheridan has
confirmed this scenario?

We spoke to his lawyer.

He says Sheridan
can't remember
what happened.

So you have him
and his faulty memory.

You have a prisoner,
this Freeman fella,

with every reason to
implicate the bounty hunters
who arrested him.

And you have
a crooked gun dealer.

Some witness list.

It's a good beginning.

Your opinion.
Arrest the bounty hunters.

If they don't know
what kind of case you got,

maybe one of 'em will be
dumb enough to talk.

What's this Bender guy
got to do with us?

You and your partner
killed him and dumped him
in his car, Andy.

I realize you've busy
since then,
blowing babysitters away,

so it probably
slipped your mind.

Never happened.
Oh, yes, it did.

And we can put you together
with the gun that shot him.

You know squat.

You got squat.

We've got
a murder weapon

that might as well
have your name on it.

We've got proof Sheridan
never drew his gun.

We have
motive for a conspiracy
to commit murder.

Still sound like
squat to you?

Smells like it, too.

I'm a good judge
of people, Andy.

You worked security
in a department store

before you went into
this line of work.

What happened to
Bender and those two women
must've made you sick.

Not like your partner.

If this was his idea,
you don't have to
go down with him.

I'm done here.
I want a lawyer.

I got nothing to say.

You want to charge me,
be my guest.

Granada wants a lawyer.
They're not buying our bluffs.

Let's bring 'em up
for arraignment.

Docket 8763,
People v. Andrew Granada
and Ronald Difka.

Two counts each
Murder in the First Degree,

one count each Murder
in the Second Degree.

One count each
Attempted Murder in
the Second Degree.

Busy boys.
Let's have your pleas.

Not guilty.

Not guilty.

Bail application.
The People have the honors.

The evidence against
Mr. Granada is rock solid,
Your Honor.

People ask for remand.

Your Honor,
Mr. Granada is
a bonded agent.

In that case,
he shouldn't have
any trouble raising bail.

I think one million dollars
has a nice ring to it.

As to Mr. Difka,
the People consent to ROR.

Granted.
Any objection,
counselor?

Your Honor,
I'm not sure that...

Yes or no?

No objection, Your Honor.

Defendant Difka is
released in his
own recognizance.

Buy yourself a lottery ticket.
Seems to be your lucky day.

Docket number 27665.
People v. Pete Nepston.

Wait a minute. I want...
I want to talk to you.

One count Aggravated Sexual
Abuse in the Second Degree.

What kind of game
are you playing here?

Why was his
co-defendant released?

That's not a question
I'm prepared to answer,
counselor.

What does your client
want to say?

Mr. Granada isn't
making any statements

until we get
an explanation...

Ron tell you I
shot that guy
in the car?

Mr. Granada...
No.

I'm not letting
that nut job
pull me down.

I'll tell you what
you want to know.
Off the record.

Until we work out
a deal.

Fine.
You have the floor,
Mr. Granada.

I didn't shoot Bender.
Ron did.

Why?

It was sort of
an accident.

We thought he was Sheridan.

Ron, he's got a short fuse.

It's what got him
kicked out of the Marines.

Dumping the body?
Planting the gun?
Whose idea was that?

It was all Festov.

Ron called him
after Bender got shot.

Did Festov tell you
to shoot Sheridan?

No. Sheridan pulled a gun.

Festov just said
bring him in,
dead or alive.

Murder two?

This is nonsense.

Three dead.
That's nonsense to you?

Two were shot
in self-defense.

We've already been
through all of this.

They were
the unfortunate
bystanders

in an attempt to
frame Max Sheridan for
the murder of Douglas Bender.

You're dreaming.
Anyway, it's got nothing
to do with me.

Mr. Difka, at least,
was acting on your orders.

We have his
cell phone records.

He called you
minutes after
Bender was shot.

You told him
to cover it up.

Mr. McCoy,
I'll say this again.
This is nonsense.

I'm filing a motion
to have
all charges dismissed.

On what basis?

Why would my clients cover up
something that wasn't a crime?

Doug Bender's shooting
an accident?

Mistaken identity.

They took Bender
for Sheridan.

It happens.

Nothing overtly
criminal about that.

Why was it
so important to Festov

to make it look like
Bender was killed
by Sheridan?

I see an accident,
I think lawsuit.

Could be Festov was worried
about a civil action.

Well, if the accident was
foreseeable,
it's wrongful death. Maybe.

What exactly got Difka
kicked out of the Marines?

Call the Pentagon.
Find out.

Mr. McCoy's theory is
that my client
conspired with Mr. Granada

to conceal a shooting
that wasn't criminal.

That's only
the half of it.

They concealed it
because Mr. Festov was
afraid of a lawsuit

arising out of
Doug Bender's killing.

That's ridiculous.
What lawsuit?

Festov hired a man
with a record of violence,

handed him an arsenal,
and gave him carte blanche

to capture fugitives
dead or alive.

Difka was a disaster
waiting to happen.

The man has
no criminal record.

He has
a military record, Judge.

He was an MP
in the Marine Corps,

until a dishonorable
discharge in 1991,

following a court martial
for a near-fatal assault.

The second in
Corporal Difka's career.

This isn't relevant.

It is relevant because
Festov knew about it.

He received a copy
of Difka's record

in response to
a routine personnel check.

How does that make
Mr. Festov responsible

for Difka's accidental
shooting of Doug Bender?

The shooting was foreseeable.
It's depraved indifference
homicide.

That's why they
burst in on Mr. Sheridan
with guns blazing.

What Mr. McCoy sees
as nefarious and criminal

is simply standard and
legal operating procedure
for bail bondsmen.

Three murders
are standard
operating procedure?

Difka and Granada were
acting as bail agents
in pursuit of a fugitive.

They were entitled to
use deadly force.

Difka was acting
at the behest
of Mr. Festov.

He told Difka
to kill Sheridan.

Well, if you have
any real proof of that,
bring it on.

I have
Mr. Granada's statement.

Ambiguous at best.

I want to hear it
from the horse's mouth.

We figured on Sheridan
making for his family,

so we went
to his sister's place
and waited there.

At around 9:00,
we saw him get into
a blue Honda.

We gave pursuit.

Did you catch him?

We lost him downtown.

We did a grid search
looking for the car.

Ron...

Mr. Difka,

he was pissed 'cause
we were driving all night.

How angry was he?

He said
when we caught up
with Sheridan,

he was gonna
rip his arms off.

Go on.

Around midnight,

we saw Sheridan
headed north
on 11th Avenue.

Ron cut him off,
yelled for Sheridan
to get out.

The guy gets out,
reaches for his pocket,
Ron shoots him.

The guy's dead.

Only it wasn't Max Sheridan.

No. We checked his ID
It was Doug Bender.

When Bender reaches
for his pocket,

why didn't you
fire your weapon?

It was drawn,
wasn't it?

I wasn't sure
he was reaching for a gun.

What did you do then?

Ron called Festov.

We dumped the body
in the trunk and took off.

Why did you do that?

Ron said Festov said
if we report it
to the police,

it would tip off Sheridan
that we were on to him.

Back at the office,
Festov told us
to find Sheridan,

plant the nine millimeter
on him.

Did he say why?

Not to me.

Did he give you
any other instructions with
regard to Mr. Sheridan?

Just said
to bring him in,
dead or alive.

What did you
take that to mean?

What it means.

Dead or alive.

Either way,
we get our money.
We get paid.

Now, Mr. Granada,

the police determined

that Sheridan's gun
was still in his waistband
when he was shot.

Did you see him
reach for his gun?

No.

Ron saw him.
He yelled, "Gun" and
started shooting.

So did I.

And Millie Bender and
her babysitter?

Everybody was
running and screaming.

We didn't know who
was packing what.

We couldn't,
we couldn't take that chance.

And all this because
Mr. Difka yelled, "Gun"?

Yes.

Mr. Granada,

do you have any regrets
about the deaths
of Doug Bender,

and his wife,
and their babysitter?

I don't know.
Bender looked like
he was going for it.

Ron said that Sheridan...

We couldn't
take that chance.

I just don't know.

Mr. Granada, do you know
a man named Phil Warner?

Used to.
He's dead.

He was a bail agent.
I used to work with him.

And he died apprehending
a fugitive in New Jersey?

Shot three times.
Point blank.

Because he hesitated.

The guy got
the drop on him.

How long have you
been a bail agent,
Mr. Granada?

Three years.

Are you licensed
by the state or
Federal government?

Drivers license
and a gun permit.
That's all I need.

And before you
place someone in custody,

are you required
to identify yourself,
as the police do?

No. Why give up
the element of surprise?

Do you read a person
his rights?

They give us a name,
we take him in.

Ever kick in a door
to get your man?

Part of the job.

Ever kick in
the wrong door?

Sometimes you get
a bad tip.

And have you ever
been investigated

by any state
or local authority
for any behavior

arising out of a bad tip?

A few times.

Delaware, Pennsylvania.
Once in Indiana.

They decided we were
within our rights.

And based on your experience
as a bail agent,

do you think
you and Mr. Difka

were within your rights
when you shot Doug Bender,
Max Sheridan,

Mrs. Bender and Ms. Tuckman?

Within our rights?

As a bounty hunter.

Yeah. I guess.

Nothing further,
Your Honor.

In Taylor v. Taintor,
the Supreme Court says
that bounty hunters,

they may pursue
into another state,
and if necessary,

break and enter
the subject's house.

For better or for worse,

the bounty hunter
may use force,
including deadly force,

to effectuate
a just recapture.

Doug Bender's shooting
was lamentable,
but not criminal.

Ron Difka's zealousness
just doesn't rise
to the level of homicide.

A shooting in anger?

Covering it up
by killing unarmed women?

Mr. McCoy is using
the first shooting
as evidence of

a criminal motive
for the other two.

Yet the first shooting
was in no way criminal.

Mr. Branson's position
would give these men
unfettered discretion...

They're bail agents.

The Supreme Court gives them
just that discretion.

Taylor and its progeny
are nearly a 100 years old.

And they've never
been overruled.

Your Honor, the bail bondsman
and his agent serve
a legitimate societal need.

Without the bail bondsman,
most criminal defendants
could not post bail.

And without
the bail agent,

the bail-jumper would
threaten the existence
of the entire system.

A properly trained
and regulated bail agent
may be a necessity,

but as it stands,
there are no regulations.

A society that tolerates
or turns a blind eye
to this kind of behavior

is one step from barbarity.

The point remains,

bail agents can do
most anything without
fear of prosecution.

I don't say it, Your Honor.
The Supreme Court does.

Mr. McCoy, your theories
of the crimes make sense,

given the motive
that you ascribe
to the defendants.

Unfortunately,
you can't substitute
theory for evidence.

This court shares
the People's outrage

at the conduct
of these bail agents.

It seems that
the Fourth Amendment's
protection

that persons should be
free from unreasonable
search and seizures,

ought to apply
equally to them
as to police officers.

But what little law
there is on the subject
indicates otherwise.

The Supreme Court
has given its imprimatur,
however long ago.

And the legislature,
in its wisdom,

has not seen fit
to eliminate this scourge.

As to the shooting
of Doug Bender,

the depraved-indifference
homicide charges
are dismissed.

Insofar as the allegations
that Millie Bender,

Janet Tuckman,
and Max Sheridan

were shot as
part of a conspiracy,

this court sees
insufficient credible
evidence

to sustain the indictment.

No crime, no cover-up.

Three people dead,
and no one's accountable.

Justice on a budget.
What'd you end up
charging 'em with?

Tampering with evidence.
An "E" felony.

Oh.

We arraigned them,
they posted bail.
$2,000.

And they walk away
from three murders.

We can always hope
they jump bail.