Absence of the Good

Michael?

Michael, you okay?

Don't move, honey.

It's gonna be okay.

Your mother's very worried about you.

Don't... Michael, don't move!

What time did they get here?

A little after 6.

I thought they weren't supposed to come till 8.

Did you have any breakfast?

You go ahead.

Mr. Barnes, Good Hope Charity. You have the pickup?

One minute.

There you go, guys. Thanks.

Welcome back, partner.

Hey, Glenn. Thanks.

How's Mary?

It's gonna take some time.

And you?

I'm okay.

So you just wanna hang out today? Get back in the rhythm?

You got something?

Just came in.

Hey, Sid.

Caleb! I didn't know you were back. How you doing?

What've you got?

Lynette Gumme. Bible student, 22 years old.

Guy upstairs heard her scream. Called 911.

She put up a fight?

She was a strong young woman, good muscle tone.

These bruises here, it looks like she was strangled...

...l'd say about six hours ago.

Six hours?

Give or take. She might have been suffocated during the attack.

She was killed in the process of being raped.

How long ago did the 911 call come in?

About an hour ago.

The neighbour heard her scream, waited five hours to call?

Thanks, Sid.

It's open.

Mr. Marshall, we'd like to speak to you about Ms. Gumme.

Let me ask you something.

What were you thinking when you saw that gun?

Guy's got one of us for sure. Do you remember what you thought?

What were you thinking?

I didn't want to be in a wheelchair.

You know, bullet in my spine?

I was raised Methodist.

We believe God has already decided...

...whether someone will choose good or evil.

Those that choose evil don't really have a choice.

So you're saying it's not his fault.

I'm saying the decision had already been made...

...whether he was going to point the gun at himself...

...or at you.

I don't think that really helps me if I'm in a wheelchair.

I agree.

Right. We'll talk about it later.

You got it.

- Hey, welcome home! - Hey, girlfriend.

I love it. I really do.

Thanks. So do we.

Wow, you guys have been busy!

You got so much room here.

There are closets bigger than my whole apartment.

Dinner's almost ready. I'm gonna put sheets on the bed...

...then I'll leave you two alone.

You don't have to do that.

Yeah, I know. Now shut up.

Did you have a good day?

Yeah, it was good.

Been busy?

Yeah, pretty busy.

Something smells good.

All right, Agnes.

- Night-night, Roger. - See you tomorrow.

Frankie!

Here, kitty, kitty, kitty, kitty!

Mama's home!

Come on!

Oh, smell the cat food!

She was struck from behind. Blunt instrument.

I would say a hammer. The head, not the claw.

But she didn't fall. She never hit the ground.

He dragged her from the living room.

How do you know?

I found matching carpet fibres in her stocking heels.

They were dragged from there into the bedroom.

Where'd you find blood?

On the sheet and the mattress and a little trace here.

I don't get it.

The guy cleaned up after himself.

Should've used bleach.

Check it out.

He must've sat her in the chair after he killed her.

Why?

Fucker's been playing house.

"Dear Mom: Sorry about the mess, I'll clean up after school. Love, B."

She was only home for minutes. They were waiting for her.

- How'd he get in? - This we do not know yet.

Look at this.

She hasn't got a family.

Her son died eight years ago. No other blood relatives.

And we have confirmed this?

Car accident. Drunk driver hit him.

She had no other family.

Jesus!

A bloody palm print was on the sheet.

The lab's six months behind, if they like you.

If they don't...

What about another kid?

Before she was married, gave it up for adoption?

Lieutenant, the guy tidied up the place.

It didn't feel that rational.

Yeah, well, I assumed that. The woman's head was caved in.

What did it feel like?

Evil.

Unlike all the other murders you've investigated?

We got some others to talk to.

Caleb, listen.

I didn't get a chance before.

I'm very sorry for your loss.

If I can do anything...

Thanks, Lou.

Thanks.

Is it good?

Glenn recommended this place. Those guys come here all the time.

How is he?

He's good.

And Jennifer?

Not so good.

She left him again.

Says she needs to find herself.

It's gotta be tough on those kids.

You know, he wanted to stay home?

What?

Michael.

He didn't want to go to school that day.

He said he was sick.

I made him go.

Detective Dwyer, Detective Barnes. This is Dr. Lyons.

I faxed your report, asked her to consult with you.

I haven't had a lot of time on this, fellas...

...but you should be less concerned with the note...

...than with the cleanup afterwards.

How long does it take to write a note...

...and how long to clean a bloody house?

This guy measuring detergent creeps me out.

Join the club.

- The note doesn't mean anything? - That's not what I said.

The note's an illustration...

...or an expression of whatever delusion brought him into the house.

He's cracked open a window, but don't expect light.

- Doesn't matter who he wrote it to. - Right.

But in some obsessive-compulsive nether region of his mind...

...he thinks he can wipe the violence, the murder away...

...like it never happened.

And then do it all over again.

Possibly.

Dr. Lyons.

Do you have a minute?

One.

I wanted to schedule an appointment for my wife.

For your wife? Why?

Five weeks ago, we lost our son. He was 6 years old.

I'm sorry.

What happened?

An older boy brought a handgun to his school.

He was showing it off to the other kids.

I'll call your office.

All right.

You said for your wife.

Will you be there?

He was your child too.

Yes, I know.

I'll make some time.

Thank you.

Roger, thanks for seeing us.

I'm Detective Barnes and this is Detective Dwyer.

It's funny, you get your regulars on a run...

...but you don't know them, but they become like friends.

Do you remember Agnes Thurmond?

Agnes. That's what I mean.

I knew her, but I never knew her last name.

Did you notice anything unusual, something she said?

No, just small talk mostly.

She'd sit there and fall asleep.

On her feet most of the night.

Now that you mention it, three days ago, I dropped her off...

...and this guy might've been following her.

Did you get a good look at him?

Yeah, pretty good.

Good enough to give a description?

Yeah, think so.

We need you to go to the station. We'll send a car.

Thanks, Roger.

He the one that killed her?

We'll call you.

Detective Barnes' desk.

Hang on.