[gentle chiming music]
[suspenseful music]
[door creaking]
- Hello?
Anybody here?
Mother.
[glass shattering] [woman shrieks]
Edgar? Are you still here?
Amelia?
Anybody?
[woman gasps]
[woman screams]
- Misty, the power's back on.
Are you all right?
Misty! Misty!
[audience applauding]
- Thank you.
We'll have a short intermission before resuming
with act two of our murder mystery play.
Do you have your suspects in mind yet?
And don't forget, we have a special performance
of the play coming up in conjunction
with our True Crime and Mystery Conference.
Get your tickets now because we are almost sold out.
Thank you so much.
[audience applauds]
[light music]
- If you were to meet this young man
you'd think he was a great kid.
Straight A student, about to start college. Pre-med.
You'd never suspect he could bludgeon both parents to death,
leave their bodies lying where they fell
and then use their credit cards to finance
a trip abroad with his girlfriend.
That's exactly what this killer did.
It would be six weeks before the police found the bodies.
Everyone who knew him, they were surprised
when this young man was arrested for the murders,
because he was so, and I quote "Lovely",
according to a neighbor.
So how could he do it?
Hmm?
Well the psychologist who examined him later had an answer.
Narcissistic personality disorder.
Narcissists are self-centered individuals
lacking in empathy.
- But they're able to convince others
they're the nicest people, right?
- Exactly.
Even in the midst of committing unspeakable crimes,
narcissists weave themselves a fantasy
in which they are such incredible people,
they're entitled to anything they want.
And they're entitled to remove anyone in their way.
So how do we spot a narcissist?
Well, there are nine traits to help us identify one.
[phone chimes]
- Oh, sorry.
My sister is expecting her baby any minute now.
And she's on her way to the hospital.
I have to go.
Sorry, Nick.
Hate to miss your first talk for us a member.
So interesting.
- Text me a picture of the baby.
- I will.
Oh, Ro have a great time
at the True Crime and Mysteries Conference next week.
- Oh, you're not going?
Because I just got some brochures in the mail if you want.
- I can't. New baby in the family.
- Bye.
Please go on Professor Miller.
- Thanks. Now back to the nine traits.
[gentle music]
- "From motive to murder."
What kind of conference is this?
- Oh, it's an annual thing at a resort in the mountains.
For true crime and mystery buffs.
There are authors, forensic experts, all kinds of speakers.
- Ro said that guy who does that great true crime podcast
was there last year.
- Oh yeah.
And so was the district attorney who prosecuted
the Green River killer. So cool.
- Yeah. My favorite part is the mystery theater
the first thing.
They kick things off with a little who done it action
at the theater next to the resort.
- Yeah. Real Murders members get a big discount on rooms.
You should come Davis.
- I wish I could, but I got a college reunion back east.
Unfortunately I'll have to miss "Curating true crime
literature for libraries with Aurora Teagarden."
- Wait, what?
Ro is a speaker of the conference?
Oh boy!
- I loved your presentation.
It's almost as if you're a professional teacher
or something.
- Yeah. Well the club members asked a lot tougher questions
than the usual college freshmen.
- Well we know our stuff.
Although that's a new statistic,
about how many murderers end up getting caught
because they told someone what they did.
It's gone up.
- Narcissism has gone up.
Remember trait number eight,
excessive need for praise and attention.
- Have I told you how attractive you are
when you speak psychology?
- Have I told you how much I'm looking forward
to getting out of town next week?
- Just you and me
and 200 other true crime and mystery buffs.
- You might've mentioned you were a speaker
at the conference Ro.
- Oh, it was just finalized last Friday. Why?
- "Investigating the small town homicide
with Lynn Liggett Smith, Chief of Police Lawrenceton PD."
You don't think Lynn would back out
just because of Ro would she?
- I hope not.
We have two kids under the age of five.
We need a vacation.
Like we really need a vacation.
[light music]
- Hey there.
- Hi.
- You about ready to hit the road.
- Yeah.
I'm just getting my visual aids together for my talk
and then I'm headed over to get Sally.
- Your presentation is about
how you choose library materials?
- It's much more fascinating than you might think.
And I'm going to be talking about how the police use grammar
and syntax to analyze writings
and identify suspects in murder investigations.
- Anything you talk about sounds interesting to me.
- Sounds deadly to me.
- Deadly? Hah.
Lilian that was funny.
Oh, you didn't mean it to be.
- So you ready to hold down the fort for a few days
without Ro here.
- Sadly, I won't be here either.
But we'll be leaving the front desk in capable hands.
- Yeah. Lillian's taking a few days off to meet another
librarian friend she met online.
A male librarian.
- If you insist on gossiping about me,
at least wait till I'm not standing before you.
- Lilian, a romantic rendezvous?
- I wouldn't put it in such course terms.
- Where are you meeting him?
- His hometown.
But that's all I'll say.
My private life is exactly that, private.
- I think she's more excited than she lets on.
Here, carry this? - Sure.
I wish I was riding up with you guys
but I'll be up right after my faculty meeting.
Is Phillip going with you?
- No, he's going with my mother.
- You talked Aida into a true crime mystery conference.
How'd you do that?
[light music]
- I thought this was a librarian conference.
You said you were speaking about curating library materials.
- Yes and you said that you haven't had a decent vacation
in years and you could use a few days in the mountains.
- Yes, surrounded by nice, you know, quiet librarians
not murder and mayhem.
What is relaxing in that?
- Look around this place Aunt Aida. It's beautiful.
What could be bad about being here?
- You know, we could still just cancel, you know
I can go home and spend time with the kids.
- Honey, your mother wants to spend time with the kids.
It's a free room. It's a nice view.
- It's Aurora Teagarden, every time I turn around.
[Arthur clears throat]
Oh and there she is before we even get to the door.
- Lynn, who would have thought we'd be speaking
at the same conference.
- Hello Ro, Aida and Phillip, the latest recruit.
- Gee Smith, you look like how I feel.
Taken hostage.
- Oh, come on now we're all gonna have a good time.
It's gonna be fun.
- This really is beautiful.
- See, I told you.
Come on, let's go check into the conference desk.
- All right.
We'll see you in a bit.
- Yep.
- You will never guess who I just talked to. Robert Brown.
The author.
He wrote that amazing book on the Lapidus case.
- Yes. That book was so good.
His research was stellar.
I'm gonna go tell him.
- All right. I'm gonna go to my room.
- Linda. Hi.
- Ro. Welcome back.
Thank you for saving me by agreeing to be a speaker
for that last minute cancellation we had.
- Nice of you to come to the rescue.
- Oh no. I was happy to.
- Ro, this is Robert Brown, our keynote speaker.
- Yes. I know. I know.
I was about to fawn all over you.
The behind the scenes details in your book were amazing.
- Compliments, my trip's been worth it already.
- Sorry to interrupt,
but the printer just delivered our new signs.
Where should I put this?
- Right beside the desk is fine.
Tonight's mystery, "A Very Foul Play."
We've been running it on the weekends for a few months now.
Ro, as speakers, you and Robert will play a part in it.
It's a conference tradition.
Speakers take over from some of our regular actors.
And I think I see another of our speakers over there.
- Yes. Our chief of police Lynn Liggett Smith.
This is Linda, she owns the murder mystery theater next door
and runs the conference.
- Nice to see you again Linda.
- Detective Smith and Chief.
Thank you so much for being a part of our conference.
I have just the part for you in our mystery tonight.
- Oh yeah. About that.
Acting is really not my thing.
- No, you'll make a marvelous inspector.
You're already a detective.
- The audience really gets into it.
Trying to guess the murderer.
- [Linda] Yes. Monica can tell you everything you need
to know about it.
She joined our regular cast recently.
- Can I be in it?
- Linda, my cousin Phillip.
- I'm like really into mysteries.
- What do you think Monica?
Do we have a part for him?
- Well, Joe's always asking for a night off.
He could take Joe's part. - Awesome.
- But what we really need is someone to play our matriarch.
Tamra's still sick.
- What about you, Aunt Aida?
I mean, you said you were in plays in college.
- Yes. She's been in several. I have photos.
- Oh no, no, no.
That was decades ago and I have no interest
in being part of a murder mystery.
- Oh, come on Aida.
We hostages need to stick together. Right?
- Then it's settled.
We meet the theater at 3:00 PM for a quick run through
and then head back for the show at ...
At 5:30.
I'll see you all at the theater.
- Oh looks like we have all the weapons
from the game "Clue."
- You think?
- All right, you two, we have to keep going.
Robert, could you put those candlesticks
by the vase up there? - Sure.
- Ro, when you hear your cue, you will enter over here.
You don't have to memorize your lines,
you can hold your script.
And Robert you'll enter through here with Detective Smith.
There.
And our grandam has made her entrance.
Ellen Winthrop has gathered the family
to name who will inherit her fortune.
This play really revolves around your character Aida,
So if you could just project as best you can.
- Ah, word gets out that I'm going to choose an heir.
And for once, no one is late.
- Wow.
- If I'm going to do it, I might as well do it right.
- Bravo.
[everyone applauding]
- You sure I won't hurt you?
- No, it's rubber. See?
Harmless.
Although I'll act like you just gave me a mortal wound
and pop a fake blood pack.
[Monica grunts] - Ah.
Wow. You're good.
- Thanks.
- Monica. What are you doing?
- Brett, what are you doing here?
- Broken up not even a week.
You already have a new boyfriend.
- [Monica] Yeah. Well and what if I did?
- Then there's something wrong with you.
- Me? You're the stalker here.
- I'm here because my dad made Linda another offer
and she turned it down.
- Well, she does that.
- Someone needs to tell her she's going to regret it.
- Look, I don't know who you are.
But I think you should go.
- Nobody cares what you think.
- [Lynn] Is there a problem?
- Mind your own business lady.
- Care to repeat that?
- No, I'm going.
Okay, I'm going.
- Thanks Chief.
Not that I couldn't handle that guy, but-
- Of course.
- What is Brett Stauberg doing here?
Is he harassing you again Monica?
- He said his dad made you another offer on the theater.
I don't know how you resist. It must be a lot of money.
- I will never sell to Boyd Stauberg. Never.
Now it's time to rehearse your entrances. Let's go.
- Thanks for defending me from Brett.
Chivalry isn't dead after all.
- Excuse me. I'm looking for my girlfriend.
Strawberry blonde. Incredibly cute.
Have you seen her?
- Nick, you made it. - Hmm.
- Well?
- I like it.
[Arthur chuckles]
- What do you think?
- I think you're having fun. Admit it.
Hey Nick.
You two will never guess who just arrived at the hotel.
- Lillian.
What are you doing here?
- I'm trying to awaken from this nightmare.
They didn't mention this conference when I booked my room.
Your conference!
- So this is the hometown of your internet friend.
- Oh, I would have left immediately,
but I haven't met Andrew yet.
Perhaps I should text him.
- Lillian this is a big resort.
I'm sure you can keep away from all this.
- I'd still be covered in the tacky film of crime.
I have to go.
- Beg your pardon?
Could you tell me where the lounge is?
I'm supposed to be...
Lillian.
- Andrew?
- Well, you're even more compelling in person
than your photo.
[both giggle]
This is my coworker, Aurora Teagarden and her beau Nick.
They're here for the True Crime and Mystery Conference.
- It's quite the event I hear.
- Yeah.
- You know, they say the mystery theater
is an amusing place to bring a date so,
we could go this evening?
- Oh, I don't think Lillian would ever-
- I'd love to.
- Great. So shall we enjoy a libation first?
- Oh yes. [laughs]
- I think Lillian just met her soul mate.
- Love is grand.
- This should be fun.
- Yeah, I can't wait to see Lynn up there.
- I intend to give Meryl Streep a run for her money tonight.
- Has anyone seen Monica?
- Over there. - Right.
Hey Brett? Is that your name?
You shouldn't have come back here.
- Phillip, please, I got this.
- If he's bothering you, then you should-
- You know she was just using you earlier
to make me jealous.
- Stop.
And you, you don't need to follow me around okay?
I can take care of myself.
- Monica wait- - Leave me alone.
- Drama begins before the curtain even rises.
- Phillip, are you all right? - Yeah.
[gentle music]
- Take your places everyone. It's showtime!
- Oh Lillian. Hi.
Come sit with us. - No thank you.
- You wouldn't want all of us on your date either.
[audience applauds]
- Thank you.
And welcome to the LB Mystery Theater Company.
My name is Linda Bennett.
I am the writer and director of tonight's show,
"A Very Foul Play."
[audience applauds]
Act One sets the scene
for a dastardly crime based on a true story.
Before the curtain falls, a body will be discovered
and our mystery launched.
We'll then have an intermission
and you can make your best guess
on who you think the killer might be.
So pay very close attention so you don't miss any clues.
Ladies and gentlemen, "A Very Foul Play".
[suspenseful music]
- Stop dawdling Edgar, come in.
You don't want to miss the chance
to inherit my grandmother's fortune, do you?
- I don't know why she picked me.
- She's eccentric. You never know.
- Misty Fortune.
Of course you're the first to arrive.
- Hello cousin.
- Wait. You're the famous stunt pilot, Amelia Coldheart.
- Yes. I've broken more records than any stunt pilot alive.
Of course there aren't many left alive.
[audience laughs]
and you're Edgar Allen Foil, Aunt Ellen's driver.
- I am.
But what I really want to do is write mystery novels.
- You want to be-
[audience applauds]
You want to be a writer eh?
You should reconsider. Ridiculous profession.
[audience laughs]
- Uncle Henry, who is this you're with?
- An old friend, Inspector Shirley Holmes,
private detective.
Now there's a profession.
- Ah, word gets out that I'm going to choose an heir.
And for once no one is late.
- That's you. - Oh, it's me.
- Would you pardon me for just a moment.
- I notice a broken vase on the floor
over there Mrs. Winthrop.
I hope nothing's amiss.
- No. Just a clumsy maid.
And where is Lydia, it's time to serve the wine.
- I'll fetch it, Aunt Ellen.
- You're all doing such a great job, especially your mother.
- Yes. I think she missed her calling.
Why is Brett Stauberg still here?
- He's like a bad penny that keeps turning up.
But you have to get back out there.
- Wine and cheese.
- You didn't bring a knife for the cheese.
- I have a knife.
- I'd say that's overkill.
[breaker flips] [Monica gasps]
- That's not supposed to happen is it, Monica?
- Shh, the stage crew should get the breaker.
- Is that supposed to happen?
- I don't know.
- What's going on?
[breaker clicks] [tense music]
- Everybody stay calm.
- No. Something's wrong.
[switch clicks]
[audience applauds]
Monica?
[foreboding music]
That isn't stage blood.
- She's dead.
[audience gasps]
[ominous music]
- We've had a breaker flip before
but never during a performance.
I kept thinking one of the crew
would go back there to reset it.
I finally set it up myself.
- All right. Thank you.
- You do not have to answer
any questions right now, Phillip.
- Oh, that's right. I'm getting you a lawyer.
- Why? I didn't do anything wrong.
- We know that.
But the police here, they don't know you.
- No, I need speak to them. We all do.
How else will they find out what happened to Monica?
- We already know what happened.
Monica Swanson was stabbed to death right there.
And you, Phillip Pifer
were seen by over a hundred witnesses holding the knife
that likely inflicted her wound.
- I didn't kill her though.
[Aida and Ro both speaking at the same time]
- Detective Reynolds.
Lynn Liggett Smith, Chief of Police Lawrenceton PD.
I think that I can help here.
- I've been told who you are Chief.
You don't have jurisdiction here.
- I understand that I don't have any authority here
but I really think I can be of assistance.
- You, come with me.
- Phillip don't say anything.
We're getting a lawyer.
- Aunt Aida said her line.
I pulled the prop knife from my pocket
like I was supposed to.
Then the lights went off.
I didn't know what to do so I whispered to Monica.
"Is this supposed to happen?"
- Monica? The girl who told you to leave her alone
in front of the whole cast right before the show started.
- That's not what happened. She was-
- Go back to what happened on stage.
- I asked her if this was supposed to happen
and I heard her say, "No."
- So you located her in the dark, by the sound of her voice.
- You're making a big leap there.
- You'll get your turn.
- I was waiting in total darkness.
Then someone knocked into my arm
and made me drop the prop knife.
I reached down to find it. I picked it up.
The lights came on and Monica was lying there, with blood.
I didn't understand.
Her character wasn't supposed to die
until the end of the act.
And the knife in my hand, it wasn't the same one.
It was different.
- That's true.
I saw the prop knife in his hand when the lights went out.
I heard some footsteps go by me in the dark.
I heard something fall on the floor.
- It's not your turn yet.
- Have you talked to Brett Stauberg?
He was backstage lurking all day, harassing Monica.
- Phillip never even met this girl until today.
- It took them all of 60 seconds to get my name, number
and ask me if I'd seen anything.
- Same here.
"We're sending you back to your room.
wait to be contacted."
- These people are not impressed with my badge.
They won't let me go back.
And Lynn's not answering her phone.
- Ro's not answering hers either.
- Well, should we wait here for them?
- They're pretty adamant about us all returning to our rooms
and sitting tight until they get our statements.
- I want to find out what these three know.
- Okay. - Thank you.
- I keep thinking it must be a mistake.
That lovely girl.
- I still can't figure out how it happened.
- Well, I'm determined to.
I can think of a possibility or two.
- All right, Brett.
You want to tell me what you were doing here tonight?
- I was waiting for Monica,
like I always did when she had a performance.
- From what I hear you two were no longer an item.
- We broke up and got back together all the time,
everyone knows that.
- And yet, she loudly told you to get lost
right before she went on stage.
- That's just her way of teaching me a lesson
embarrass me or whatever.
- Linda and I saw him walk towards the back
where the breakers are, just before the lights went out.
- Yeah, I was leaving.
I was halfway to my car, when I thought "No.
Monica asked me to come so I'm gonna wait for her."
So I came back in
and that's when I saw her lying here on the stage.
Everyone crowded around her.
- So you're saying Monica invited you here tonight?
- Yes, she texted me. Look!
- Brett! Put the phone back in your pocket.
- Who's that?
- Boyd Stauberg, the bane of my existence.
- Mr. Stauberg, sir,
I'm gonna need you to wait outside while we-
- Wait while we what Detective?
- Grill my son without his attorney present.
- Dad.
I agreed to talk to him.
Someone killed Monica and I want to help.
- You can help by keeping your mouth shut,
going outside and getting in my car.
- Now hold on. We're not done here.
- We're well past done.
I understand you have a kid, right here.
Seen standing over the victim, holding the murder weapon,
yet, he's not in cuffs. Why?
No answer.
Okay. I'll call your boss and ask him.
Brett, we're going.
[somber music]
- Read the kid his rights. Put him in cuffs.
- No, no, no, no. - You can't do that.
- Detective Reynolds, a word in private first.
I would extend you that same courtesy
if you were in my jurisdiction.
He's letting us take Phillip back to his room.
- Oh, thank goodness.
- But he's assigning an officer to keep tabs on him.
- You went out on a limb for us. Thank you.
- They're telling us we're free to go.
I'm scared.
And I have a conference full of guests.
- I don't blame you
but we know that Phillip didn't kill Monica, which means-
- The killer is still on the loose.
[soft music]
- Since they asked you not to leave town
until they get your statement
we can try again, dinner tomorrow night?
- May I call you and let you know?
I do know that I am glad to have met you.
- You have no idea how much I hate this.
That they suspect me.
- Come on, let's get you to your room.
- It's going to be okay Phillip.
- Yeah. We'll figure it out. Okay.
- Goodnight. - Goodnight.
It was so dark in there.
I could only see dense shadows
but I know that someone moved past me.
I could hear it. I felt it.
Phillip didn't do it.
- No one believes Phillip did it.
- Well the police seem to, they almost arrested him.
If it wasn't for Lynn...
We can't let them arrest the wrong person.
We have to make sure they catch the right person.
- Then that's what we'll do.
[solemn music]
- Aurora!
They just dragged Phillip out of his room.
They're arresting him. - What!
- Come on, let's go.
- Excuse me, Detective Reynolds.
What do you think you're doing?
- I'm doing my job. - Ro.
- A job I should have done last night.
- Obviously it's not right that Phillip was arrested,
but I have to say, I get it.
- Yeah. So do I.
After a murder, the police department feels a lot
of pressure from different directions to make an arrest.
- Yeah. The mayor, the district attorney.
To not arrest a suspect seen by that many people
holding the murder weapon
it could be seen as a dereliction of duty.
- No, I don't see how going after an innocent kid
is helping anything.
It puts the focus on the wrong person,
gives the guilty person time to cover his tracks.
- I just talked to Bubba Rankart,
he's arranged for a local criminal attorney that he knows
to meet us at the police station.
- See ya.
- Okay. So they've officially announced
they've canceled the True Crime Mystery Conference.
- Okay. - Makes sense.
- I'm so sorry.
I was half hoping the police would make me cancel,
when they actually did.
- Yeah, I'm truly sorry, Linda.
- I needed the revenue from this conference to keep going.
Now I'm refunding registration fees.
It's gonna ruin me financially.
Though I guess that was inevitable.
The theater's already having a slow season.
And now with the police shutting it down completely
for the foreseeable future
I probably will have to sell to Boyd Stauberg.
Boyd always gets what he wants.
- Linda I just. I'm so sorry.
- Thank you.
If you'll excuse me, I need to help these people.
- Please let me know if there's anything that I can to help.
- Thank you.
- I feel so bad for her.
- Well, I'm disappointed too.
Now I won't get to hear your talk.
Tell me what author wouldn't love to unravel the mystery
of how to get libraries to order their books.
Not to mention that I'm sure you would have been offering
some theories about last night's murder.
- Yeah, well maybe next year.
I'll see you later Robert.
- Oh you will.
- I should meet my mother at the police station
to see Phillip.
- Oh, I'll go.
I can put on my reporter hat while I'm there.
See what I can find out.
- Okay. - Good.
'Cause we need to go see Boyd Stauberg.
- Yes. We need to find out who really did this.
And right now he is an obstacle, or a suspect.
Here are three, no four different stories
about Boyd Stauberg and his strong arm business tactics.
How he used the legal system to push out a homeowner,
an allegation of bribes to the zoning board.
- When the word ruthless is in the headline.
- Look, I'm sorry, but there's no way around it.
Brett's got to submit to an interview.
- My son did not kill Monica Swanson.
- Maybe not, but Brett had a rough history with her.
He was at the scene.
He's got to answer some questions.
- You have someone in custody.
- Because you went crying to the mayor.
Look, I know you're trying to protect your kid Boyd,
but don't worry I'm not gonna railroad him
into a false confession.
I mean, frankly, I don't see him
pulling off a crime that complicated.
- Hi, excuse me.
- May I help you?
- Yes. I'm Sally Allison from the Lawrenceton Times,
I'd like to talk to Detective Reynolds please.
- Sorry. He's not here.
- Do you know when he'll be back?
- No idea.
- Do you know if he's going to have a press briefing
about the murder that happened last night.
- You can sign up for press briefing alerts.
We send out texts with details when we have them.
- Okay. How often is that?
- Once a week usually. I really have to be going.
- Oh okay. But...
- Have they tried to talk you into answering questions
without a lawyer present?
- No.
It's like they locked me up,
now they just keep walking past me like I'm not even here.
It's weird.
- I think they know that Phillip did not kill Monica.
They're just using him as a sacrificial lamb.
- I know who can help.
Ro and the rest of the Real Murders Club
members who are here.
- What?
If you had stayed away from that group in the first place
you wouldn't be in this mess.
- I'm guessing you don't like that idea.
- No I don't.
But I also know my daughter.
- We sat at a table on the right side of the stage
and we got there just before the show started.
- Did you notice anyone suspicious lurking around,
looking impatient, waiting for the show to start?
- No, no, nothing like that.
The curtain rose and they were just a few minutes
into the play when the lights went out.
Everyone seemed to think it was part of the show.
- So you were both sitting at the table
when the lights went off?
- Yes, that's right.
- Okay. Before we start naming suspects
I think we need to talk about how this murder happened.
- We know how it happened.
Monica, knife, theater.
- Yes. But was it planned?
Did someone turn the lights off
in order to carry out the killing?
- Or did someone decide to take advantage
of a circuit breaker being tripped?
Do we know if the police found prints on the breaker box?
- Oh, Detective Reynolds isn't saying anything
about what they might have?
- No, I think it had to be planned.
First there's the knife.
- Yes Ro, that knife is a problem all right.
- [Ro] Arthur, take a seat.
- You all don't mind if Lynn joins us do you?
- Oh.
- Lynn, we're thrilled to have you.
On a temporary one-time only basis I'm sure.
- Exactly.
- Detective Reynolds has cut us out of the loop.
We're not sure if that means
he's compromised by local politics.
- Oh I think he may be.
We overheard Reynolds talking to Boyd Stauberg.
and it was clear that Boyd has influence with the mayor.
- And how the investigation is being conducted.
- Well, maybe like, like Sally said, just this once,
it makes sense for us all to work together.
Especially since Phillip was wrongly accused.
- We really appreciate your insights Lynn.
If the local police are hindered in any way
from solving this crime.
- [sighs] You were discussing the knife.
- Yes. There is no way that someone could spur of the moment
come up with a real knife to replace the prop knife.
- Let alone know the right moment to shut down the lights,
commit the crime and then make the switch
that set up Phillip.
- About that switch, if Phillip had the prop knife,
then got stuck holding the real knife-
- Then where'd the prop knife go?
- Yeah.
- Detective Reynolds is interviewing
everyone who was at the theater that night
over at the station right now.
- They searched everyone on stage, cast, crew.
They searched the entire theater.
- Brett Stauberg wasn't onstage.
Of course he says he wasn't in the theater when it happened.
- Yeah. But does anybody actually believe that?
- [Ro] Did the police question him too?
- Here we go, suspect number one, Brett Stauberg.
- Brett has a clear motive.
He's a spurned ex.
And he's seen that play numerous times.
He would know when the right moment came.
Although he was genuinely upset over Monica's death.
- He could have been upset with himself, overdoing it.
- Or maybe he's upset because he figured his father did it.
That's the guy who's at the top of my list, Boyd Stauberg.
- Yeah. Boyd could have grown tired
trying to talk Linda into selling.
And we know that the city already approved
his proposed plans to turn the theater
into a luxury condo complex.
- How do you know that?
- Research skills.
- Well, it could be that sabotaging Linda's theater
with the murder of the girl who just dumped his kid
checked several boxes for him.
- But he wasn't at the theater.
- The guy's rich.
He could've hired someone in the cast.
- Somebody who already didn't like Monica-
- Okay, stop.
This is excruciating.
The real issue here is that we know nothing about Monica.
We don't know who was in her life,
who she got along with, who she didn't get along with.
- Yes. But that would only be the issue in connection
with the people who are on the stage, in that theater.
- Then every member of that cast
has to be put on the suspect list.
- Oh no, not Robert Brown I hope.
He's such a good writer.
- Yes him and Linda Bennett too.
She was there.
- But does that make sense,
for her to sabotage her own theater?
- Lynn's right.
If we knew more about Monica, then we'd know who
would make sense to add our list of suspects.
If this was our case- - Lillian?
What is it?
- I think I might have another name to add to your list.
My friend Andrew, at the theater last night
he disappeared just before the lights went out.
And just now when the police asked him about it, he lied.
[somber music]
- Yes, I'm not from the local police department,
but I'm doing some foot work
and it's come to my attention that you-
- That I lied, when I gave my statement.
I was afraid I wouldn't get away with it.
- Hmm mm. Care to explain?
- After all I've heard about your Real Murders Club
I guess I shouldn't be surprised to see you here.
- Well, I'm surprised to see you.
Did you know Monica?
- Me? No, but I am a true crime writer after all.
Don't often get a research opportunity like this.
Who knows, this case could be the subject of my next book.
- But shouldn't we both feel bad
showing up at Monica's mother's house.
- Where else are we going to find her friends
and family all in one place.
- But now's not the time to ask them a lot of questions.
- I haven't asked any.
I just stand and listen to what people say about her.
[gentle music]
- What is Boyd Stauberg doing here?
- The plot thickens.
- I'm sorry. Mr. Stauberg is out at the moment
and I don't expect him back until this afternoon.
- I guess we can come back.
Do you see what I see?
- [Arthur] That's Monica Swanson.
- Excuse me. When was this photo taken?
- Oh, that was at our company retreat almost a year ago now.
- The woman in the photo, Monica Swanson.
Why is she in the picture?
- Was she Brett Stauberg's date?
- That was before they were dating.
Monica used to work here.
She was an intern for Mr. Stauberg.
The photo further down is after they started dating.
[phone rings] Excuse me.
- I've got to talk to Linda.
[foreboding music]
- That's Monica's mother.
- I can't hear what he's saying to her, can you?
- What are you doing here?
I told you what was inappropriate.
- I just went back to the theater.
- You did what?
- I have to talk to her mom.
Tell her how sorry I am now.
- How's that going to sound, hmm?
Coming from the man she dumped,
the man that many people think killed her.
- Who thinks that?
You?
You said you believed me.
- Son, listen to me.
I know you didn't do this.
And if you hadn't gone back there that night
no one else would think it either.
- Monica asked me to go.
I have to tell her mom that.
- Brett.
- Wow, did not expect to hear all that did you?
Robert?
- Andrew, you gave me a start.
- You told your friends that I lied
about not leaving the table that night at the theater.
- Well, they're not really my friends
and I haven't told the police yet.
- I can't tell you how much I admire you for that.
- You do?
- Yeah. Well, you're a person of true moral scruples.
I'm obviously not.
- You're not?
- No, or I wouldn't have lied.
I was so embarrassed.
I get so nervous sometimes.
And my heart races and I get lightheaded.
And that night I was just so bowled over by you.
At the play I thought I could sneak away,
do my deep breathing exercises to calm down.
- Goodness. Why didn't you say something?
- Why didn't I say something to the police officer,
it's 'cause, 'cause you were next to me and I,
Don't know. I didn't want you to think I'm weak.
But I didn't realize I'd be putting you
in such a such a moral quandary.
I mean that it would cause you to think that I'm...
Anyway.
Can you forgive me?
- No.
- The last time they saw Linda, she said she was headed
over to the theater to pick up some files from the office.
- Maybe we can catch her there.
[suspenseful music]
- Hey, that's Robert Brown.
- It's unlocked.
- Well then that must mean Linda is already in there.
- Where is he?
- Back there?
- I'll find the house lights.
- Robert.
[dramatic music]
- I have no idea how that got into my coat.
- Aah!
[lights smashing]
- Ro!
- Are you hurt?
- No, no I'm fine.
- I'm sorry. I was startled.
I'm so sorry.
- Linda no! Fingerprints.
The prop knife fell out of Robert's coat.
[tense music]
- I swear on my royalties.
I have no idea where that came from
or how it got into my coat.
- And yet you almost killed the person who saw it fall
out of your coat.
- That was an accident.
I told you I was startled, first by the noise I heard
when I was grabbing my coat,
then by the sound of the door opening behind me.
My adrenaline...
I just backed into the wrong spot.
- I don't see why we shouldn't give him
the benefit of the doubt.
- Thank you.
Now I haven't seen or touched this coat
since before the show the other night.
I left it in behind the fly system.
- Have you been back in this theater before today.
- No, I was trying to avoid being here.
I just wanted to get what I needed for my office and leave.
- If the coat was here since the other night,
it would come up in your crime scene photos wouldn't it?
- All right, what I want to know
is why you came looking for it now.
- I heard the Stauberg boy say he'd come by the theater.
So I thought if he got in, I could get it, get the coat.
It's a $1,500 coat.
- Back up.
You're saying Brett Stauberg came by here today.
- Yes, that's what he told his father.
He was here.
It could be, he was the one
who slipped that knife into my coat.
- Coming by here and actually coming inside
are two different things.
- No one was supposed to be in here, including my staff.
- That includes you too Linda.
- Brett must've come inside because the door
to the theater was open when I arrived.
- Well, I don't see how.
Unless well, Monica had a key,
I mean maybe he got ahold of hers.
- Monica Swanson had a key to this theater?
- Yes, several of my regular cast members had a copy.
- So there are keys to this place floating all over town.
Great.
Let's get this dusted for prints.
See what we come up with.
In the meantime, you're not to leave town
until I give you the okay.
- I'm not going anywhere.
- Detective wait.
I don't know how that prop knife got in that coat
but I do know that my cousin Phillip didn't put it there.
- Says who?
- When would he have had the chance?
- We'll see how the investigation plays out.
- No, you can't keep holding him.
There are too many other suspects
and not just Robert, there's Brett Stauberg, his father.
You must know that Monica worked for him.
- Like I said, we'll see how it plays out.
Excuse me.
- Ro! Ro! Hold on.
We should call Lynn.
- Okay.
- I have to tell you again how sorry I am to my clumsiness.
I hope you can forgive me.
- I don't trust that guy.
- Well, I knew Monica had been an intern for Boyd Stauberg.
She told me it was a miserable experience.
Said the only good thing she got out of it
was meeting Brett.
Of course, that was before she broke up with him.
- Did she say why she ended things with Brett?
- Not really. We weren't close that way.
But I heard them arguing once.
Brett wanted her to go out for dinner
with him and his father.
She didn't want to go.
Said she couldn't even be in the same room as Boyd.
- And what do you think of him?
- Boyd is not a good person.
Every building he's put up is there
because he drove someone out of business,
stole someone's dream
and now he's probably going to get mine too.
- Why hire Monica when you knew she interned
for someone working so hard to put you out of business?
- You can't blame the rabbit
for wandering into the wolf's den.
At least she managed to get out,
but I fear that might be why she was killed.
Stauberg revenge.
Brett or Boyds, I don't know.
Maybe it's all the same.
I really have to get back to work.
Sorry.
- Linda. - Yes.
- How well do you know Robert Brown?
- Very well.
We've been friends for a long time.
- Has he attended many of your plays.
- Yes. He's been to the theater many times.
Why do you ask?
- Because I think he may have intentionally
just tried to harm Ro.
- Hm, why would he do that?
- Let's let Linda get back to work.
I am fine. Really.
- I know, that just scared me.
I really did not want to lose you.
- The DA has agreed to have Reynolds
give us regular updates.
- Thank goodness.
- And he agrees that the case against Phillip is weak.
- They're going to release Phillip
into your custody, Chief Smith.
- Finally reason prevails.
- That means you're responsible for him
and for anything he might do.
- Sure.
- He's not going to do anything.
He never even did anything wrong in the first place.
- As part of the agreement
Phillip is not to leave the hotel
until Detective Reynolds is satisfied he poses no threat.
- Fine. He's not going to go anywhere, right?
- No.
Oh.
[gentle music]
- Thank you, Mr. Watson.
Thank you.
- Oh, okay.
Yep. You're welcome.
- [Ro] Linda said that Monica had only worked at the theater
for three months and she wasn't friends
with anyone else in the cast, but she was pretty sure
that it was Boyd or Brett that killed Monica.
- Oh, I don't think it was Brett.
He was heartbroken at Monica's mother's house.
His father on the other hand.
- Is no one else bothered by the fact
that Robert Brown had that prop knife in his pocket
and he almost killed Ro when she saw it.
- It was an accident I think.
- Well, I'm bothered, but he didn't even know Monica.
What motive does Robert Brown have to kill her?
- What motive indeed?
- Hi. I'm sorry.
I didn't...
I'm gonna go sit down.
- Ms. Teagarden.
I'm still feeling awfully bad
about what happened at the theater.
- Yes. Well I'm still standing.
- I'm glad, but I'm very shaken by it all.
I'm completely unnerved being in the thick of a murder case
rather than a detached observer.
It's difficult not to get carried away by fear.
- Oh, I feel for you.
- Thank you.
Maybe all this will shake me out of my writer's block.
Get me back in the good graces of my publisher.
- Well, that's a noble goal.
- Enjoy your meal.
You are not going to chalk up what happened today
as Robert being clumsy, are you?
- Sally can't see his motive to commit murder, but I can.
- Well, you can't believe that he's doing all this
just to get material for a new book.
- No. But remember my talk.
I can believe he's a classic narcissist
capable of committing unspeakable crimes.
[ominous music]
[light music]
- Hey, where's Lynn and Arthur.
We need to talk about next steps.
- Well, they went for a walk to get some fresh air.
- Fresh air sounds wonderful.
What do you say Phillip.
- Lynn said I can't leave the hotel,
that I have to stay parked here so she knows where I am.
- Oh, it's a briefing alert.
Police are actually gonna give a press briefing.
I will call you after.
- Yeah. Okay.
- Hi Lillian. Bye Lillian.
- Bye.
- Well she didn't stop and talk to you.
Do your friends still think that I'm the one who-
- Oh no, I explained it was a misunderstanding.
Please. Don't worry about it.
- Since you're stuck here Phillip,
why don't you keep an eye on Robert Brown?
If he comes out of his room, keep track of where he goes
and who he talks to you.
- Nick!
He can't afford to get any more involved
than he already is.
- I don't want to sit with the word "suspect"
hanging around my neck either.
I need to clear my name.
- It's not a bad idea, mother.
There's no risk in Phillip
sitting there with a book observing.
- All right, well then I'm going to be sitting right here
with my book too.
- What are you guys going to do?
- I think it's time we take another trip
to Stauberg Development.
See ya.
- At this time, we are processing various hairs and fibers
found on or near the victim.
But as the stage was full of people contaminating the scene
we're not sure where that will lead us.
Yes.
- What about particular suspects?
- No, we're not prepared to discuss suspects yet.
I'm sorry that's all we have time for at this moment.
We'll notify you as soon as we have more information.
Thank you.
- But Detective Reynolds. I have another question.
He didn't tell us anything we didn't already know.
- Yes, sir. I'll let them know.
Mr. Stauberg had to go down to the warehouse.
If you'd like to make an appointment for another day.
- Well, do we really want to keep coming back here?
- I mean, he's just going to tell us that he hasn't seen
Monica since she left the company.
I'm sure the police have already asked you that,
if Monica has been back since she left the intern position?
- Right, and the police already know the answer
I'm sure they've asked a bunch of people around here
the exact same question.
- Oh yeah.
They'd compare answers, make sure no one lied.
- I didn't lie.
I told them that she was here last week, that she always
brings some cookies from this bakery he likes.
- You're not enjoying your book?
- Jail was more interesting than this.
[suspenseful music]
There he is. Robert Brown.
He got some water.
That's it.
Now my battery's almost dead.
I'll have to go get my charger.
- Okay. Well I'll man your post till you get back.
- Excuse me, Mr. Stauberg.
We need to talk to you about Monica Swanson.
I was with her on stage when she was killed.
- I've got business to attend to,
but you're free to make an appointment.
- No, this can't wait.
Now that we know Monica never stopped working for you.
- Monica's internship here ended six months ago.
- And yet she still showed up here on a regular basis.
Brought you cookies?
Sounds like someone kissing up to the boss.
- She's dating my son, wanted me to like her.
- And yet she was working pretty hard
to convince Linda Bennett that she didn't like you.
I think that you told her to get a job with the theater
and encourage Linda to sell to you.
- And I think you have a very vivid imagination.
- Oh I do.
I do.
And I imagine that Monica might've grown tired
of playing double agent,
you know, tired of the whole Stauberg bag of dirty tricks.
- Maybe she was threatening to tell people
about your business practices.
Maybe the press, maybe the police.
- You people are barking up the wrong tree.
But be sure to tell Detective Reynolds that one.
I bet he gets a laugh out of it.
[suspenseful music]
- Phew, didn't realize how much I needed that.
Maybe we should bring the kids back here sometime.
- Yeah, or maybe we could keep it just for us.
- Oh, there you are. Phillip's missing.
- What? What do you mean missing?
- He went to his room to get his charger
and then just never came back.
And now he's not in his room.
He's not in the restaurant.
He's not in the lobby.
What if the person who's trying to frame him
for Monica's murder came looking for him.
- Mother. Why is Phillip texting me not to be mad at him?
- Wait, you've heard from him.
He's okay?
- He texted her 30 seconds ago.
- Yeah. All he said was "Don't be mad."
- Wait, he just texted again.
- "I've taken a taxi to meet Brett Stauberg at his house."
- What! He left the hotel.
After I vouched for him, I gave my word.
- All right. Let's just try and catch up with him
and we'll bring him back okay?
- Mother, Nick and I will stay here with you
and I will try to get ahold of Phillip.
I'm sure he had a very good reason.
- Oh, he better have an amazing reason.
- Remind me to never get her mad at me.
[suspenseful music]
- Front door's wide open.
- That's not good.
- Really wish we had our firearms.
- Hello? Phillip?
- [Phillip] In here.
- Phillip, are you okay?
- I checked. He's dead.
- It's one of the candlesticks from the stage.
- [Lynn] Phillip, you need to step away.
- Come on.
- [Lynn] Detective. You need to slow down.
- [Arthur] Look Phillip is a witness.
You heard what he said.
- [Lynn] Brett Stauberg invited him here.
- Brett slipped a note under my door.
He said he knew who killed Monica.
And to meet him here at this address.
- [Lynn] Yes, he left the hotel, but he had a good reason.
- [Arthur] He saw Brett running out of the house,
then went inside and found Boyd dead.
- Enough.
I am not conducting my interview
with my suspect in this driveway.
Now you need to leave, go back to your hotel.
- There are security cameras mounted everywhere.
It's not gonna be hard to corroborate his story.
- If you say one more word. Just one.
I'll have you in cuffs next
for interfering with my investigation.
- We're not trying to interfere,
we're trying to explain to you what happened.
- It's okay. It's okay.
We understand.
We will be available if you have any questions.
Look we're going to call the attorney Phillip.
It's gonna be okay.
- So you think Brett killed his father
and is setting Phillip up to take the fall again?
- We won't know until Brett is found.
- I know the first thing I need to find:
that note that Brett slipped under Phillip's door.
- I never should have let him out of my sight.
I knew he was so determined to help us out.
- Well I think he was making a noble effort.
- Noble yes, smart, no.
He never should've gone to meet a murder suspect
all by himself.
- And who do you suppose taught him moves like that?
- Phillip said he left the note on the desk.
I don't see a note.
- Bed's made.
- Trash is empty.
- Housekeeping must have just been here.
Excuse me. We need to talk to you.
- We just want to look in your trash.
- Is this the trash from room 512 in here?
- No. You need to ask the manager first.
- This is very important.
- Oh, what's this?
- No, you're gonna get me into trouble!
- Yeah, but we just have to find one little piece of paper.
- Stop! This is against the rules.
- Aurora!
- Oh, I'm sorry.
I did not mean to upset you.
- Very, very, very sorry.
- So we'll take this note to Detective Reynolds.
That'll prove that Phillip was telling the truth.
- I'll call the lawyer and tell him to meet us there.
- And hopefully we can convince Reynolds to treat Phillip
as a witness and not a suspect.
- A very unlucky witness.
- Oh, we know the police are looking for Brett.
- Oh, Oh, I completely forgot to tell you.
So I grilled a reporter at the press briefing
who knew Monica.
He told me that Brett used to take her to this one
particular Stauberg Development construction site.
They'd bring wine and food and-
- A construction site?
That's an interesting place for a date.
- Apparently it was really scenic and romantic.
- A romantic construction site?
- Well it's more like somewhere he would go to hide.
- So how do we find a list of Stauberg construction sites?
There's probably at least a dozen of them.
- Well, they would've had to file permits
with the city before any construction
and the best place to search the city's database-
- The library. I'll go.
I need a quiet place to work on my story for Macon.
- Okay. - Okay.
- Book Browse. Erudit.
Must be nice to have a big city budget.
May I help you?
- Lillian?
Well, I hope he didn't quit our library and take a job here.
- Oh, I'm simply watching the reference desk for Andrew
while he takes books to a patient too sick to come in.
- Oh, well, if I'm not mistaken
a non-employee behind the desk is against the rules.
This new romance of yours Lillian
has turned you into quite the rebel.
Don't worry. I won't tell a soul.
I just need to take a look at the city permit database.
Do you think you could help me out?
- Yes.
- Hey Ro.
Hi. Yeah, this is taking longer than I thought.
It seems that this database
is only searchable by permit number.
- How many have you found so far?
- [Sally] Five.
- Well, what kind of information does it give for each site?
- Well, there's a lot of technical stuff.
- Does it give any kind of description for the development?
- Let me see.
Yes. Yes.
I have an office building, a shopping mall, wedding venue.
- Wait. A wedding venue?
That's romantic and scenic.
Do you remember the picture we saw
of Monica and Brett at the Stauberg office.
- The one where it looks like they're standing
in front of some kind of chapel that's being built.
- Yeah. The scenery was gorgeous
and there was a sign in the background.
It was something terrace.
- Woodlands Terrace.
- [Ro] Yes, that's it.
- Yeah. I've got it right here.
It was completed about a month ago.
- Okay. Send me that address as soon as you can, Sally.
- You got it.
- And there's Phillip getting out of the taxi.
Just like he said he did.
I think someone intent on committing murder
isn't going to arrive in a taxi, do you?
- And there's Brett Stauberg leaving in a hurry.
- Oh Phillip, if only you wouldn't go in the house.
- Seems this video along with the note found
in Phillip's room corroborates his story.
- To the letter.
- Yes. And his prints were not on the candlestick
used to kill the victim.
- So you can let him go?
- Well, I can't hold him for the murder of Boyd Stauberg
but that doesn't mean I should let him go.
- Come on.
- It's for his own protection.
Look, we got a killer out there who likes leaving
Phillip behind to take the blame.
I think we should look into why that is.
And since I can't trust Phillip to stay put in the hotel,
I'd like to keep him here a little longer.
- Can we fight that decision?
- We can.
- But he's hoping you won't.
- He'll at least be safe here.
I'll call it a processing delay.
- [Brett] I knew someone would find me.
Did you call the cops?
- Yes, but we were hoping that you would tell us
what happened to your father.
- Karma, I guess.
- [Nick] Did you kill him Brett?
- What? No.
He was lying there dead when I got home.
I thought he'd be at work.
- Why did you ask Phillip of all people to meet you?
- He has no idea what it's like living here.
My dad, everyone's afraid to go against him.
Monica thought that this Phillip guy was okay.
Seems dumb now to think that he would be able
to help me figure out what to do about...
My dad was so mad at me
for going back to the theater that night.
I knew that meant that he was probably the one who-
- You believe your father had Monica killed.
- I don't want to believe it.
But he told Monica, he gave her this big job at the company
if she could get Linda to sell.
And then she started to like Linda
and suddenly she got all mad at my dad for pushing her.
That's why she broke up with me.
She lumped me in with him.
I think she threatened my dad.
Like said, she'd go to the cops
if he didn't leave her alone.
And my dad, he doesn't let that type of stuff slide.
- Who do you think he got to do it Brett?
- There was this guy, an accountant.
He cooked people's books.
He was in prison for awhile.
My dad helped him when he got out, he gave him money.
He made him respectable in exchange for favors,
accounting usually, but sometimes...
- Sometimes what?
- I don't know.
You'd never suspect this guy.
He, he seemed like a straight arrow.
He got a new name, a new job.
- What's his name?
- Now? Andrew something.
He works at- - At the library.
[suspenseful music]
- Your friend's been here a while.
- Oh, I wouldn't call Sally a friend.
More of an acquaintance.
- She's searching for construction permits
for Stauberg Development.
What would she be doing that?
- Oh, probably something to do with that horrid murder case.
She and her friends are never happy
unless they're neck deep in muck.
[phone vibrating]
Andrew you're acting nervous.
- Would you mind keeping an eye on the desk a little longer?
- I'm not sure that I'm comfortable
breaking the rules again.
- Andrew's last name isn't Wakefield.
He was in prison for six years
for various white collar crimes related
to his former career as an accountant.
- His cellmate once worked with Boyd Stauberg
and introduced them.
- And the police believe Andrew killed that young woman
for this Boyd person
while I sat at the table waiting for him.
- They believe that his date with you was a cover
for being at the theater, yes.
- It seems he used you again to cover the reference desk
while he went to kill Boyd.
He was clocked in the whole time. Perfect alibi.
- And the police believe he committed this other murder?
- Well, they're still piecing together their evidence.
Although his fingerprints aren't on the murder weapon
and the security camera at the back
of the Stauberg residence had been disabled.
- But Brett said that's one of the favors
Andrew would do for Boyd.
He'd arrange for former prison buddies
to do things like disable CCTV cameras.
- You're telling me I aided and abetted a cold-blooded
killer, but I just can't believe that of him.
I can't believe he would take another life.
- I'm so sorry, Lillian.
- So it turned out to be the mild-mannered librarian
no one would have suspected huh?
Not exactly a riveting character.
Maybe he has an interesting background to mine.
[pensive music]
- All checked out.
Oh, and don't be surprised
if the next time you invite me on a trip I say, no.
- Well, since the conference got canceled
I have to come back next year.
- Oh, at least I've time to talk to you out of it.
We'll see you in Lawrenceton.
- Bye guys. - Drive safe you two.
- What are you thinking?
- About Lillian. Just feel so bad for her.
- Yeah. It'll take her some time to trust again.
- I don't know.
She's always so sure of our own opinions
which is why it's bugging me
that she's so certain Andrew can't be guilty.
- Hi Ro, Nick, have you guys seen Robert?
- He was here a little while ago.
- I was packing up my boxes from the convention
for next year and I came across this.
It's a manuscript. I'm sure it belongs to him.
- Well, why don't you just leave it at the front desk?
- Good idea. [laughs]
I should head back to my office.
I've got hundreds of online orders to process.
It turns out having a real murder happen
in a mystery theater is good for sales.
- Well never underestimate the lure of true crime.
- Preaching to the choir.
Oh!
Of course. Right when I'm in such a hurry.
- Oh Linda, it's okay. We're not in a rush.
I will drop this at the front desk.
- You are saving me again.
Look forward to seeing you at the conference next year.
And I'm guessing we're going to have a lot
more people attending.
[pensive music]
- Aurora Teagarden are you reading a writer's manuscript
without his permission?
- Mm hmm.
- So what is it?
Is it a draft of Robert's new book.
- I need to get this to Lynn and Arthur.
And I also need my computer.
I need to do some digging into Robert Brown's past.
- I just want to go on record
that what you're planning is not a good idea.
- Nick, remember what you said in your talk at Real Murders.
Narcissists who kill have the need to tell someone
how smart they are.
- But it doesn't need to be you.
It could be me.
You know how often my students confess things to me.
- All right, here I am. Let's hear it.
- Aurora received a manuscript box from Linda Bennett
who said she'd found it here at the resort.
She assumed it belonged to Robert Brown.
- Robert Brown?
- It's the story about a murder of an actress
who's stabbed to death
in the middle of performing at a mystery theater.
After the lights unexpectedly go out,
with a knife that's picked up by another actor
who ends up getting the blame.
- Then a real estate developer gets bludgeoned
to death in his own home.
- So Brown has been writing
about everything that's been happening.
- This is 400 pages long.
There's no way it was written
in the few days since the murders.
- Which means these killings were planned
for weeks before they were carried out.
- This manuscript is a blueprint for premeditated murder.
- So how does the story end?
- It doesn't. It's unfinished.
- We found a set of fingerprints
on the candlestick that was used to kill Boyd Stauberg.
They match the set of prints that we found the other day.
- Let me guess Robert Brown.
- So that's it then.
- Here's the thing.
I don't think Robert Brown is guilty.
- What?
- But I think I know who did kill Monica and Boyd Stauberg.
I just don't have proof, which is why I need you
to put a wire on me so I can get the killer to confess.
Are you sure you can't see anything?
- No. I'd never guess you wearing a microphone.
I don't see why I can't do this.
- Because you're not a librarian.
You don't speak the language of books and authors.
- I'll be listening the entire time.
If it all goes south, you can count on me. Okay?
[knocking on door]
[suspenseful music]
- Hi Aurora.
- Linda.
Thank you for meeting with me.
- I was happy to. What can I help you with?
- I need to talk to you, about this.
- Okay sure. Come on in.
[ominous music]
I didn't think I was going to see you again until next year.
- [Ro] Well I didn't feel right leaving
until I knew what to do with this manuscript.
- [Linda] I've made us some tea. Let's sit.
- [Ro] Thank you.
- [Linda] I thought you were gonna leave that
at the front desk for Robert to pick up.
- I was, until I realized that Robert didn't write it.
- Oh, I just assumed.
I found it in the main ballroom where Robert
had all his materials sent for his keynote speech.
- Did you read it? The manuscript?
- No. I just glanced in the box.
Did you read it?
- Well, it was hard not to
after you dropped it right in front of me.
- I felt bad about leaving you and Nick to pick it all up.
Cream and sugar.
- [Ro] No, thank you.
- So, why do you think it isn't Roberts?
- For one it's fiction.
Robert writes nonfiction, true crime.
- Hmm. Well, he did tell me that he was having a hard time
finding the right case to write about next.
Terrible case of writer's block.
Maybe he decided to try a hand at mystery.
- How'd you know, it was a mystery if you didn't read it?
- What else would Robert write about?
- She's doing a good job.
- You called Robert a dear friend.
He must have been if he confided
his writing troubles to you.
- We go pretty far back.
- At least a decade right? In fact, when you dated.
Oh, I'm a librarian.
I know how to do an image search through archived files.
And something tells me that while you may be friends now
your romantic relationship didn't end well.
Only a bitter breakup would make you try to pass off
that manuscript as Robert's
and try to frame him for murder.
- I don't know what you're talking about.
If it's not Robert's, it's someone else's.
Three other writers were going to speak at the conference.
- I'm a librarian.
Do you know how many times I've helped students
run their assignments through grammar software?
I can use that same software to compare grammar and syntax
to match the author of a paragraph, a page, a book.
And the writer of this is the same writer as this,
"A Very Foul Play" by Linda Bennett.
You dropped that manuscript
in front of the wrong person, Linda.
- That wasn't the plan.
I was going to leave it in Robert's room
so that the maids could find it.
But then you had to hunt down Brett Stauberg
and he had to point to the wrong person.
Andrew Wakefield is not the one I wanted to bring down.
So, I had to accelerate my plan.
I picked the person most likely to be nosy
and want to read that manuscript.
I see I've underestimated you.
You've also underestimated me.
- We have to get her out of there.
- I'll take the stage entrance.
- We'll take the front.
[tense music]
- You came in here to confront me, knowing I used the match
to this candlestick to kill Boyd Stauberg.
- That's how you got Robert's prints on it.
You had him carry those candlesticks
up here during rehearsal.
- That's right.
You see, I don't let anyone stand in my way.
Not Monica Swanson with her hidden agenda.
Always undermining me, trying to get me to sell.
Not an entitled bully like Boyd Stauberg
who was trying to rob me of this theater and my legacy.
And certainly not Robert Brown,
who, the minute he tasted success,
he just dumped me like yesterday's garbage.
Not you Aurora Teagarden.
- Linda locked it after they went in.
- Luckily I got a key.
- You are not going to undo weeks
of planning and effort and risk.
- Ro!
- Back here.
I'm wearing a wire Linda, the police have heard everything.
- Then I've got nothing to lose.
[tense music]
- Ro!
- Up here!
[tense music continues]
- Right there.
- I don't have a clean shot.
- You need to get up there.
- There's nowhere to run.
Ah!
[Linda groans]
- Ro! Ro! I got her. I got her.
- You okay?
[light music]
- There they are!
- Oh thank goodness you're all right.
Oh, what were you thinking?
Wearing a wire to confront a killer.
- You promised you wouldn't tell my mother.
- I didn't.
I told Sally thinking she could come back here
and help me talk you out of it.
- Well, and I told Aida
because you didn't expect me to worry all by myself.
- Well as you can see I'm fine.
- Yeah you are.
I wasn't worried.
Well, not that much.
I knew you'd get what the police needed.
- Yeah, she got that and then some, she was incredible.
- I have to say Ro, that was some helpful work.
- Thank you, Lynn.
And I have to say,
you'd make a great member of the Real Murders Club.
- Yes, she would. But she won't.
- Oh no.
This out of town adventure
doesn't change anything back home.
I expect all of you club people
to stay out of police business.
Understood? - Yep.
- Had to tear myself away from my computer to thank you.
I was told it's your sharp eye that saved me
from taking the fall for Linda Bennet's crimes.
- Never giving up on the truth is important.
- So is truth and accuracy in writing.
In fact, I was wondering if the good detectives here
might have a few minutes to give me the law enforcement view
of the case, which will be the subject of my next book.
- Oh, sure yeah, we can do that.
Lynn?
- Why not?
- I wonder what's going to happen to Andrew.
I'm sure he's in pretty hot water
over what he did for Boyd.
- Oh yeah, the police will definitely be questioning him
especially after what Brett said.
At least I can tell Lillian
that Andrew wasn't the killer when we get home.
- That sounds so nice. Can we all finally go home?
- I just have one last thing I'd really like to do first.
- Okay.
- Why did you wanna bring me back here?
Wait, you're not about to- - Not yet.
But I would like you to take in the surroundings
just to get used to the idea.
So what do you think?
- Oh, I could definitely get used to the idea.
[upbeat music]