The Suspects

March 19, 2003

Nora: Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't we have enough evidence to arrest Blair Manning?

Bo: You're not wrong.

Nora: I didn't think so.

Bo: Nora?

Nora: What?

Bo: Are you sure you're up to working on this?

Nora: I want to.

Bo: Yeah, but you don't have to.

Nora: Yeah, I do. I owe it to Sam and I owe it to Matthew. All right, let's -- let's deal with our suspects, ok. As far as we know, Blair Manning was the only person in the room with Sam when he was shot. She claims to have no memory of the event.

Bo: She was drunk.

Nora: Well, so she says, but she's done this before. You can ask Max to show you the bullet wound in his back.

[Bo chuckles]

Bo: What, if at first you don't succeed, then try again?

Nora: Ok, her prints are on the murder weapon.

Bo: Yeah, her prints. Nobody else's prints.

Nora: So, what are you thinking?

Bo: Well, it's Todd's gun. Where are his prints?

Nora: Somebody wiped them off before she picked it up. Blair's not our shooter.

Bo: I think we have more questions than we do answers.

Troy: Bo, excuse me. I got --

Bo: Dr. Maciver, come on in.

Troy: I'm sorry about Sam.

Nora: Thank you.

Troy: How's -- how's Matthew doing?

Nora: He's getting all the help he needs, thanks.

Troy: Ok.

Nora: Excuse me.

Bo: Have a seat.

Troy: Thanks. What can I do for you?

Bo: Well, you were at Blair's house when Sam was shot.

Troy: Bo, Blair didn't do it.

Bo: I'm not saying that she did, but she's hiding something, you know? And I know that you don't want to be charged with obstruction of justice. So, tell me, what's she hiding?

*~*

Troy: Bo, I know that Blair couldn't have shot Sam.

Bo: How do you know that?

Troy: Because she had way too much to drink.

Bo: Well, yeah, but sometimes alcohol can give some people strength.

Troy: No, not Blair. She was out cold. Bo, I put her to bed myself.

Bo: Hmm. And what time did Sam get there?

Troy: I don't know. He wasn't there when I left.

Bo: When was that?

Troy: Uh -- I guess it was about midnight?

Bo: You sure?

Troy: Yeah, because I had gotten a call from the hospital. But you can check on it yourself if you like.

Bo: Thanks. You can go.

Troy: That's all?

Bo: Yeah, for now.

Troy: Nora, Blair and I are just friends. You know that.

Nora: I'm happy for you.

Troy: You know, I still love you.

Nora: Thanks for coming down, Dr. Maciver.

Troy: Right.

Bo: Well, Maciver says that he left to go to the hospital, left Blair's.

Nora: What time?

Bo: Midnight. And he said Sam wasn't there.

Nora: Ok, well, let's call the hospital and check and see what time he got there.

Bo: He's telling the truth.

Hank: Hey. I just saw Maciver leaving.

Nora: You know, I think we should question Blair Manning again.

Hank: Actually, Nora, I have something else for you to do.

Nora: What?

Hank: I was supposed to go to the Palace and meet with a witness about the Franklin case. He just called -- he's going to be late. I need you to take care of that for me.

Nora: Whoa, Hank, I'm completely swamped with this case.

Hank: Welcome to the D.A.'S office. Your workload just doubled.

Nora: Oh, great. Thank you.

Hank: You're welcome.

Nora: Keep me up to speed on this, though, will you?

Hank: Ok. Thank you. Was Maciver any help?

Bo: Confirmed what we already knew. Now, the medical examiner puts death after 11:00 P.M. And before 1:00 A.M. Now, Troy says that he left for the hospital at midnight.

Hank: Which narrows it down even more.

Bo: Mm-hmm. Now, if Sam Rappaport's machine is right -- the time on there -- that means that Todd made his threatening call after 1:00 A.M. You see, if Todd shot Sam, then why would he call him an hour later and threaten him?

*~*

Bo: So, you didn't recognize the gun that was used to shoot Sam?

Blair: No, I didn't.

Bo: How come it had your fingerprints on it?

Blair: Um -- because I -- I picked it up after I saw Sam.

Hank: Why didn't you tell us that before?

Blair: You know, Hank, I don't know. I -- everything had just happened, and I was confused.

Bo: Well, yeah, and you were worried about Todd.

Blair: What?

Bo: Well, you left him a message after you found the body.

[Bo plays tape]

Blair's voice: Todd, I need to talk to you! I found -- what have you done?

What have you done?

[Bo stops tape]

Bo: What did you think he'd done?

Blair: Nothing. I -- I called him because something about the kids.

Bo: So you didn't think that he'd shot Sam?

Blair: He didn't do it! He didn't!

Bo: But how do you know that?

Blair: Because I know, Bo. I just know.

Bo: Well, then, how do you explain all this evidence against him?

Hank: Victor lord's ring, the bloody glove, the fact that he's missing.

Blair: It doesn't mean anything.

Bo: Why not?

Hank: Do you know where Todd is, Blair?

Blair: No, I don't. I wish I did. I really, really wish I did.

Bo: Yeah, because then he could help you.

Blair: What?

Bo: Well, when you shot Max, Todd took care of you, even tried to hide the evidence.

Blair: Oh, now -- now, wait -- wait a minute --

Hank: Yeah, and when that didn't work, Todd threw suspicion on someone else.

Blair: Hank --

Bo: Is that what this is all about, Blair? Is Todd covering for you?

Blair: You guys think I killed Sam.

Hank: You and Sam had been involved. You had gone back to Todd before. Maybe you were going to do it again and Sam tried to stop you.

Blair: No -- no! No! That is not what happened. I did not kill Sam Rappaport.

Bo: So it was Todd?

Blair: No, he didn't do it, either. He didn't do it.

Hank: Look, you don't have to protect him. We've got enough to put him away --

Blair: He didn't do it!

Bo: Then who did?

Blair: Mitch Laurence did!

Blair: After I spoke to Mitch, I saw him.

Bo: Blair --

Blair: He threatened my kids, Bo. And he went after Todd. I know that he did.

Bo: Did Mitch admit that he killed Sam?

Blair: Yes.

Hank: He said to you, "I killed Sam Rappaport"?

Blair: He didn't come right out and say, "I killed Sam," but he said something like "bad things happen to good people"! You don't believe me.

Bo: So you think that Mitch killed Sam to keep you from testifying about the kidnapping?

Blair: Yeah.

Hank: And made him disappear?

Blair: Yes.

Bo: Why does he go to all that trouble, though, Blair? Why didn't he just shoot you?

Blair: I don't know, Bo. I don't -- I don't know! But you just -- you have to arrest Mitch! You have to, please!

Bo: Blair, your whole story -- it just doesn't make much sense. You know, it's based on two conversations that nobody can corroborate.

Blair: So you guys aren't going to do anything?

Hank: Blair, it's not enough.

Blair: Yeah, well, what is enough? How many people have to die before you guys do anything?

[Phone rings]

Bo: Buchanan. All right, get some people out there. Found Todd's car.

Blair: What? Is he all right?

Bo: He wasn't there. It was in a long-term parking lot at J.F.K. Airport.

Blair: What?

Bo: So if Todd did shoot Sam or if he's just covering for someone who did, it looks like Todd has fled the jurisdiction.

Jen: I needed to see you, Commissioner.

Bo: You can go now, Blair. That'll be all.

Blair: So you don't need me anymore?

Bo: Not for now, but don't leave town.

Blair: Jen, I am so sorry. I'm so sorry about your father.

Jen: Yeah, is your ex-husband sorry, too? What are you doing to catch Todd Manning?

Bo: What -- what do you know about Todd Manning?

Jen: He -- he killed my father!

Bo: Do you have any proof of that?

Jen: No, but he's the only one who has a motive, right?

Bo: Jen, right now we're doing everything we can to find the person that's responsible for your father's death.

Jen: Like what?

Bo: Well, we're following up on several very promising leads. And as soon as we get any information at all, I'm going to let you know, ok? Now, where can I find you?

Jen: Well, I was going to stay at my dad's, but -- I can't. Not right now. So -- I'll be at the palace hotel.

Bo: Ok. I want to talk to Mitch Laurence again.

Hank: I know what you're thinking.

Bo: How the hell did Jen Rappaport come up with Todd Manning as a suspect?

*~*

Nora: Lindsay?

Lindsay: What do you want?

Nora: I -- I just want you to know that you're more than -- well, I wanted Jen to know that she's more than welcome to come by the house anytime to see Matthew. I know he'd love to see her. It'd remind him of his daddy, and I'm sure it would probably be good for Jen, too.

Lindsay: Well, I'm going to leave that up to her.

Nora: Ok. I just want you to know Bo's working very hard to solve this case.

Lindsay: Yes. Bo always works very hard.

Nora: And so am I, through the D.A.'S office.

Lindsay: You are?

Nora: Absolutely. As a matter of fact, I saw in the police report that you were at the house just before the police showed up?

Lindsay: So?

Nora: I just wanted to know if maybe you saw something strange -- you know, anyone leaving or anything like --

Lindsay: No, no, I didn't.

Nora: Ok. I mean, you don't have to think about it right now. Just sometimes nothing seems unusual at the time --

Lindsay: I just told you I didn't.

Nora: I just want to find Sam's killer. Don't you?

Lindsay: What are you accusing me of?

Nora: I'm not accusing you of anything.

Lindsay: Yes, you are. You're saying that I didn't love Sam.

Nora: What?

Lindsay: You're saying that I don't care enough about him, not -- not enough to -- to find his killer.

Nora: No, Lindsay, that's a bit of a stretch.

Lindsay: I loved Sam more than -- more than I ever knew. More than he ever knew. I'd do anything to bring him back.

Nora: Now -- I loved him, too, more than I ever showed him, and -- but I'm going to show him now by fighting for something that he can't -- justice.

[Glass breaks]

Nora: Lindsay -- hey, are you all right?

Lindsay: Huh? I don't know. I've been a little shaky ever since I found out what happened to Sam.

Nora: You know what? Maybe you need to go home.

Lindsay: No, what I need to be is alone.

Nora: Ok. I know how devastating this has been for you, for all of us. But, Lindsay, maybe you need a little help in dealing with this, ok?

*~*

Bo: Ok, thanks.

Hank: Anyone seen Manning?

Bo: His car was checked into the lot at J.F.K. Early this morning, and nobody matching his description got on any airplane.

Hank: Well, maybe he put it there on purpose just to throw us off.

Bo: Ah. What I think we have is another question without an answer.

Mitch: Good evening, gentlemen. Such a pleasure to see both of you again.

Hank: The pleasure is all yours. Have fun.

Mitch: So, Commissioner, what can I do for you?

Bo: Where were you last night?

Mitch: Why do you ask?

Bo: Just answer the question.

Mitch: Hmm -- I thought it was only suspects that were required to answer questions.

Bo: Now, you're not going to refuse to cooperate, are you?

Mitch: Of course not. I have nothing to hide. Last night I made a purchase for my home.

Bo: What'd you buy?

Mitch: Does it matter?

Bo: When was the last time that you saw Todd Manning?

Mitch: I'm not sure. I believe it was when he came to my home with a gun and threatened to kill me.

Bo: Why didn't you report the incident?

Mitch: Well, I considered it, but then I thought about poor Viki. She and her family have been through so much lately.

Bo: All because of you.

Mitch: I still don't understand why I'm here. Is Mr. Manning claiming that I've harmed him in some way?

Bo: Mr. Manning isn't claiming anything. Mr. Manning is missing.

Mitch: What does that have to do with me?

Bo: Maybe nothing. Or maybe you wanted to make sure that he never threatened to kill you again.

Mitch: I'm a man of god, Commissioner.

Bo: Oh, yeah -- an eye for an eye.

Mitch: Whatever you may think of me, I certainly can't be Todd Manning's only enemy. And you and I both know he was a very violent man.

Bo: Yes, he was. Is there any particular reason that you refer to him in the past tense?

*~*

Mitch: "Was"? "Is"? What's it matter?

Bo: Oh, it matters. Since you said that Todd Manning was a very violent man.

Mitch: He was -- in past dealings with him.

Bo: Ah. So you have no reason to think that anything's happened to him?

Mitch: No. Although, I must admit I I wouldn't really mind if something did. His haunting, stalking, and threatening me was getting a bit tiresome.

Bo: When was your last contact with Blair Manning -- since you kidnapped her, I mean?

Mitch: I'm sorry. I thought I was presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

Bo: Laurence --

Mitch: But in answer to your question, I can't recall the last time Blair and I exchanged a word.

Bo: Not even on the phone?

Mitch: Not even on the phone.

Bo: What about Sam Rappaport?

Mitch: Oh, yes. Jennifer's -- I see. Someone's murdered, mugged, they get their purse snatched, and you --

Bo: When was the last time that you saw Sam Rappaport?

Mitch: I ran into him recently at Rodi's, but we hardly spoke. Will that be all, Commissioner?

Bo: Well, you still haven't given me an answer to one of my earlier questions.

Mitch: Which was?

Bo: What did you buy last night?

Mitch: Art. I bought some art.

Bo: From where?

Mitch: Lindsay Rappaport's gallery. So, if we're through, I bid you adieu.

[Phone rings]

Lindsay: Hello?

Bo: Lindsay, this is Bo. I need to talk to you about Sam.