Defending Jacob

So don't wanna go for my run.

We need to talk.

One.

Two.

Three!

What?

You wanna tell us what this is?

You were snooping in my room?

I was. Not your mother. That's not the point.

It's just something I got. It's not a big deal.

Not a big deal?

Then why didn't you tell us?

I only hid it because I knew you'd freak out.

You got that part right.

Did you buy it online?

No, at the army-navy store in town.

I paid for it, by the way, with my own money.

I'm just saying.

When was this?

I don't know. Couple months ago.

Ever bring it to school?

Just once, to show some people.

Who?

Derek, Dylan. I was just like, "Hey, check this out."

Have you ever used it?

Like for what?

For whatever you use a knife for.

You read Derek's post, didn't you?

- Why would he write that? - 'Cause he's an asshole. That's why.

You didn't answer my question. Have you ever used it?

Like to stab somebody?

No. How could you even ask me that?

Because I have to.

Because I have to know with absolute certainty

that this isn't the knife they're looking for.

- Well? - Andy, he just told you.

Can't believe this, that you even think that about me.

- Of course we don't. - Yeah, whatever.

Hey, hey. Look, we believe every word you've said.

We just wanna know why Derek wrote what he wrote.

We thought he was your friend.

He is.

- It's not a big deal. - Not a big deal?

Jake, he accused you of murder in a public forum.

No one means what they say on there.

That's what kids do, they just talk shit and they try to sound cool.

That's all it is.

So you're not at all bothered by what he wrote?

I mean... Yes, I am, a little bit, but he was just being a dick.

No one takes it seriously.

Honest.

I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the knife, okay?

Can I have it back now?

That's not even remotely funny.

Well... I bought it. It's mine.

Not anymore.

I'm gonna be late for school.

Well, I can drive you, if you wanna wait a few.

No, it's fine. I'll walk.

What time will you be home?

I don't know. I might stay for math.

Come here.

I love you, okay?

Love you too.

Hey.

I shouldn't have yelled.

God. Fucking Derek. What kind of idiot writes that online?

So what do we do now?

Do we need to report it?

No. God, no. What's to report?

It's just he's been accused and we know about it.

It's not like the police aren't going to find out anyway.

- It's right there online. - It's not a credible accusation.

There's no reason to bring the whole world down on Jacob's head.

Trust me, it's better just to let this go.

What do we do with it?

I don't know. I'll put it somewhere.

Are you sure?

Honey, it's not a crime to own a knife or to be a stupid teenager.

Thank God. We'd have to lock up half of 'em.

And here you go.

Hi.

- Can I help you? - I certainly hope so.

And she wanted this item we didn't have.

So I try to explain that we don't have it.

But she was supposed to get it, so she starts flipping out.

And then she started yelling at me, throwing a tantrum.

I was, like, getting nervous.

'Cause she was coming at my neck, so then eventually I called the security.

Guard came, tackled her right down.

Since when do we even have security?

Turns out we do. And they're pretty good as well.

I'm sure it is.

Leonard Patz.

Detective Peterson. Newton Police Department.

I'd like to ask you some questions, sir.

- Hey. - Hey.

I can't stop thinking about it.

I have to assume that every kid in school has seen those posts.

Their parents too, probably.

Cara gave me this look this morning when I came in.

Her daughter's a sophomore at the high school.

Honey, if people wanna gossip, they're gonna gossip.

It doesn't mean anything.

- I was thinking I should call Dina. - Who?

Dina Yoo. Maybe she has some insight into what's going on with the boys.

At the very least I could ask her to talk to Derek.

Tell him not to post any more of these reckless comments.

I think that's a mistake. My gut says that if Jacob's not upset by it, then...

He says he wasn't upset. That doesn't mean he isn't.

Honey, I got to jump off. I'm at the station.

There may have been a break in the case.

- Really? - Yeah, there's a guy we like for it.

The cops just picked him up, so I got to get in there.

Okay.

I hope it's something. You'll call me later?

Of course. Bye.

Bye.

Same kind of kid you showed interest in before.

- Morning. - Hey, morning.

How's it going?

Well, they got him to admit to being in the park the morning of.

And that's it so far.

- What, you got him in the broom closet? - It's the remodel.

The interrogation room is the only room we don't use that much.

Is my lawyer here yet?

You said my lawyer was coming.

She's on her way.

Look, I never hurt anyone, okay?

- Just look at my file. You'll see. - This has nothing to do with your file.

We're just trying to get a clear picture of what happened in the park.

You can understand why we'd be curious.

Same kind of kid you went after last time. Same type.

I'm not feeling very well.

You want something from the machines?

No, thank you.

We're pissing in the wind.

- How long you been at him? - Almost an hour now.

Good, let him sit. Get him thinking.

We don't have that kind of time. His lawyer's on the way.

This is what I was worried about.

- Take another run at him. - Andy.

Tell him you found the knife. See if that gets you anything.

What?

I don't think he's our guy.

I can't pin it down. It's just a hunch.

I'm on the fence, but I'm not feeling it either.

This is our only lead.

I'm getting pressure from my office, from the community.

You don't think I'm feeling it too? It's all I hear about.

- If you want us to try again... - I do.

You're the boss.

I have a headache. Can I please go?

Leonard, we're trying to exclude you here.

We wanna rule you out.

Okay.

Well, I told you.

I was in the park because I walk there every morning.

And I was nowhere near where the kid got killed.

I never go that way. Ever.

I mean, I don't even know who the kid is.

You know, I've never seen him. Never heard of him.

You know.

What about the knife?

What knife?

Do you own a knife?

I mean, yeah, I have some for cooking.

How many would you say?

- Did you say 207? - Yeah, that's right.

Okay. Thank you.

I don't know.

Andy, don't tell me this stunt was your doing.

Joanna. Patz is yours?

No. I'm just covering for a friend.

May I see Mr. Patz, please?

He's only here as a potential witness, not a suspect.

Right, and I just got drafted by the Celtics.

You need to come clean.

You got a real class act here.

You read his file? I tell you, I don't know how you guys do it sometimes.

Now that is a shame, because you would be good at it.

Trust me on this.

Of course, you'll switch off the camera and the microphone.

Yeah, of course.

We'll give you another room, if you want one.

That's not necessary. We won't be here long.

Besides, I trust ya.

Enough to let me keep questioning him?

No. I trust you too much for that.

Detectives.

Mr. Patz, I'm Joanna Klein.

You're my lawyer?

Just for today.

Ms. Cronin is stuck in court. She asked me to fill in for her.

Okay.

The final answer is therefore 5X.

- Did you see what he wrote? - I can't...

If you have 2X...

Derek is always saying shit.

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