Seth, I'm talking about a plot to kill someone.
I just heard it on the phone.
[Jessica] Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.
She thinks there's gonna be a murder here in cabot cove.
Cabin fever. Had to happen.
I'm well aware that you two think I am temporarily bonkers.
Got a good recipe for crow, have you?
You tell her that Morgan Rogers
says to mind her own business, huh?
Gorcey, come on out with your hands up!
You can't kill me the way you killed the others.
[cheerful orchestral music]
...the eye of the storm hovers off the coast,
while heavy rain and wind batter coastal communications.
The US weather service warns that there may be periods
of relative calm and slacking of rain,
but make everything secure,
because hurricane Ida is definitely on the way.
[sighs]
-Oh, for heaven's sakes. -Lunchtime.
-Aunt Jess, what are you doing? -I was just trying to--
Just trying to throw your back out again.
You heard what the Doc said.
You're not supposed to lean forward.
-Lie still. -Still?
Grady, I'm gathering dust in mind and body.
Oh, it won't be much longer.
Oh, thanks, Grady, but that--
that breakfast you fixed for me this morning...
I mean it, uh, really stuck to my ribs.
You mean my famous tuna omelet?
-Mm-hmm. -Well, wait till you see this.
Tuna surprise!
Oh, darling, you've been surprising me all week.
-But, really I-- -Hello! Hello!
-Oh, Seth? -Hey!
Come on up!
[grunting]
-Jessica. Grady. -Hi.
-Well, how's my patient? -Losing my mind.
-Well, that's the spirit. -No, Seth, I'm serious.
This is my second Tuesday in bed,
and the room's getting smaller by the minute.
Matter of fact, it's Wednesday.
And you better get used to it.
I expect you'll be here next Wednesday too.
That storm out there has a mind of its own.
I think the safest place for you is right where you are.
Oh.
Now, don't be too upset.
I have a nice little present for you.
Look at this. What do you think of that?
-Well, what is it? -[laughing]
Well, it's not jewelry. Don't be worried.
It's called Med-Alert.
Now you just press that button and listen.
-[beeping] -Ta-da.
It's got a range of about two miles.
Now if you need anything, and Grady's not around,
well, you just press that buzzer,
and the paramedics will be here, or I will.
Now please, I want you to humor an old doctor.
[thunder rumbling]
Grady, I think it might be a good idea
to batten down the hatches while the decks are still clear.
Yeah. I'll get right on it.
Outside of a little boudoir boredom, how do you feel?
Hungry.
Let's see what this looks like.
Grady must have bought out every can of tuna in Cabot Cove.
-[Seth laughing] -Oh, Seth.
Please, for pity's sake.
I'll see what I can smuggle in.
Anything.
Good-bye.
[sighs]
[thunderclap]
[chiming]
[man on phone] I had to sleep in the Van.
Damn carburetor went out on County Road 26.
Hello? Hello?
I checked out the estate,
and it didn't look like no problem.
Excuse me, but, uh--
The estate? Are you crazy? Anyone could have seen you.
Relax. There was nobody around.
And none of the locals is gonna recognize me.
I ain't shaved for months.
I'm--I'm terribly sorry. It must be the storm, but I--
Okay, but the old man must be killed tonight!
Yeah, well, the price has gone up.
25,000 grand, cash in advance.
-Grady! -[phone] 25,000 in advance?
Hey, I got expenses.
Bought a new Mark IV,
so the old goat can die in style.
Grady, come quickly!
We made a deal. Don't try and hold me up.
Oh, great.
Yeah, I'll get it one way or another,
from you or from the old man.
Bet he'd be real surprised
if he shook the family tree and a murderer fell out.
-I got it. -No! No, the phone. Listen.
-[click, dial tone] -What about it?
Well, listen! What do you hear?
-A dial tone? -I've got to warn Amos.
Aunt Jess, what is it?
[footsteps]
What's all the excitement, Jess?
-[busy signal] -Busy. Oh, dear.
Well, what are you so het up about?
Murder.
I've got to write this down before I forget it.
Forget what?
-The murder plot. -Now that is a good idea.
Yes, you should do some more work on a new book.
It would take your mind off your troubles.
I'm not talking about a book, Seth.
I'm talking about a plot, a real plot to kill someone.
I just heard it on the phone.
I am not crazy. I know what I heard.
Seth, I picked up the phone to dial the weather service.
Now, somehow the lines got crossed,
and I heard two men plotting to kill and old man tonight,
and I have got to warn Amos.
Oh, good Lord. The line is now dead.
Look, one of you has got to find Amos
and warn him about this hired killer.
-Hired killer? -A hit man?
Here in Cabot Cove?
Stop it, both of you!
Oh, I-I'm sorry. I...
Please, I've got to talk to Amos right away.
All right, Jessica. All right.
You just lie back and relax,
and we will contact Amos for you.
Yes, we'll do it right away too.
Oh, boy. I was afraid of this.
Yesterday, I caught her watching a rerun of My Mother the Car.
[Letitia] Operator, may I help you?
Oh, thank goodness, Letitia.
It's Jessica. My phone was dead.
Yours and half the town's, Jess.
How's that aching back?
Well, right now, it's more like a pain in the neck.
Letitia, I need your help.
Around 2:00, my phone line
was crossed somehow with an ongoing call.
Could you find out who made it?
Hmm, I don't think it's traceable, Jess.
Oh, would you try? It's very important.
And don't let that break in the storm fool you.
Hurricane Ida is dancin' her way up the coast,
and before you know it,
she'll be tangoin' in Cabot Cove.
Do you like to tango? I love to tango.
A while back, I was a tango teacher right here in town.
-You ever in my class? -Nah.
You sure look familiar.
Let me see your feet. Never forget feet.
Look, lady, I don't care about hurricanes or dancin'.
All I want is for--
[tires squealing]
Have you got a men's room?
Oh, right through that door, turn to your left.
Little late today, Sheriff. Problems?
Usual this time of year, Mona.
Storm warnings, hurricane watches,
folks gettin' fidgety.
Believe I'll change my order today.
Let me have a prune danish and some milk, huh?
Been drinkin' much too much caffeine lately.
It's bad for the system.
-I'm just gonna wash up. -Believe it's occupied, Amos.
Door's open.
[engine turning over]
[tires squealing]
For cryin' out-- You crazy!
Hey!
Oh, great. New York drivers even in Cabot Cove.
-Sheriff. -Oh, hi, Grady.
Pull up a stool.
How's your aunt doin'?
Oh, great, uh.
Well, I mean, not so hot.
Well, physically, she's terrific, but, uh--
Spit it out, son.
If you've got a problem, let me know.
I'm here to help.
Well, um-- She thinks there's gonna be a murder
here in Cabot Cove tonight.
Cabin fever. Had to happen.
A woman as active as Mrs. Fletcher.
Yeah. Well, that's what the Doc and I thought.
But I don't know. She's really insistent.
Where'd she get this cockeyed idea?
Maybe she better tell you.
Well, with the storm on the way,
I've got plenty to do.
But don't you worry, son. I'll calm her down.
I am calm. I am very calm.
But, ma'am, a hired killer?
Look, I heard it as clearly as I hear you, Amos.
A murder being plotted.
Now just hold your horses.
Even if you did hear somethin', doesn't mean it was Cabot Cove.
Why your line could have been crossed up with a satellite feed
from anywhere in the whole country.
Not anywhere. Cabot Cove.
The hired killer even mentioned County Road 26.
Aha! Now there you see.
We don't even have a County Route 26.
Yeah, but we used to.
Jenson Road was called County Road 26
until it was renamed five years ago, remember?
She has you there, Amos.
Look, the killer said he planned
to use a Mark IV on his victim.
He's gonna run him down with a car?
[scoffs]
According to my weapons manual,
a Mark IV is also known as a .45 caliber Colt automatic.
-That could do the trick. -Now look here, Mrs. Fletcher.
You know, you've been stuck in here an awful long time.
Now don't you start on me.
I'm well aware that you two think I am temporarily bonkers.
Oh, that is simply not true.
Look, it's all right.
If I were in your shoes, I'd probably be dubious too.
But-- But, Amos, you have got to believe me about this.
Look, from what I was able to hear
through the static and the bad connection,
an old man living in a Cabot Cove estate
is going to be shot to death tonight
by a killer with a .45 caliber automatic,
who was hired to do the job by a man with a raspy voice...
who's a member of the victim's family.
I don't suppose there's any harm in lookin' into this.
What do you think, Amos?
Hmm? Oh! Right, Doc. Right.
Don't patronize me.
Mrs. Fletcher, now you just relax
and let me poke around, hmm?
But as sheriff and as your friend,
I guarantee that no one in Cabot Cove
is gonna be murdered tonight.
[wind howling]
[two gunshots]
Grady! Grady! Get up here fast!
Sometime last night.
Mr. Rogers was a widower and the owner
of the JL Rogers Lumber Mill,
among various other holdings.
Aunt Jess? What--
To repeat, millionaire lumber magnate
Jedediah Rogers was found shot to death
on his estate just north of Cabot Cove.
More details as they become available.
Sheriff Tupper.
Oh, you feelin' any better?
I believe I'm ready to answer your questions now.
I know this is a terrible shock,
and I hate to put you through this, Ms. Rogers, but--
I understand. And it's Ms. Cameron.
-Oh, but I thought that-- -My mother was a Rogers.
Grandpa took me in when my mom and dad died
in a plane crash years ago.
You and your grandfather lived alone in this house.
That right, Ms. Cameron?
Yes, I've been staying with him
since I returned from school three months ago.
Last night, did you hear anything?
No. I had an early dinner, and I fell asleep in my room.
Nothing woke me, not even the storm.
-Hmm. -[wheels clicking]
Okay, I think that does it for now.
And I sure am sorry about your grandfather.
In there.
Well, Amos.
Got a good recipe for crow, have you?
'Cause that's what we're gonna be eatin'
when we tell Jessica about this murder.
Oh, come on, Doc.
Don't tell me you never heard of coincidence?
Coincidence? 10:00 last night.
An elderly gentleman on an estate shot to death
by something that looks very much like a .45?
Sure there's some similarity,
but Mrs. Fletcher said that her murder
would be the work of a hired killer.
This was the work of a burglar.
How do you know that?
The way the window was broken,
so he could reach in for the latch.
Jed must've heard it, picked up that poker,
and tried to fight off the intruder.
But he was armed and shot poor Jed
before he could strike a blow.
I'm Morgan Rogers.
Jessica also thought a member of the family
might be behind it.
If so, your first suspect just walked through the door.
Morgan Rogers.
-Sheriff! -He's all yours, Amos.
-Morgan. -Doc.
I want you to know how sorry I am, Morgan.
Yeah, yeah, sure. Look, uh,
your deputy, on the phone, he said it was a thief.
-You got the guy? -No, not yet.
Damn!
[sighing] Just a sec.
Three weeks ago, I told one of the boys at the lumber mill
to install a burglar alarm system in this place.
You know how it is.
You get busy, forget to follow up, now...
I, uh, hope you don't mind,
but I got a couple of questions I got to ask you.
Sure.
You mind tellin' me where you were
last night around 10:00?
You accusing me of killing my daddy?
Oh, no. No, Sir. It is my job and all.
I was at home, alone, working in my woodshop.
Right. That's good. Fine, Sir.
Now, uh, about your brothers,
you told one of my deputies that you'd notify them.
Well, I told Adam.
Found him down at the beach house
havin' a little champagne brunch
with some bimbo he picked up in Portland last weekend.
How about Gordon?
I left it to Adam to tell my younger brother
and that delightful wife of his.
Uh, look, Sheriff, if there's nothin' else,
I've got quite a few things to attend to:
the cemetery, the funeral, the will.
Well, I--
Updating the news,
millionaire lumber baron Jedediah Rogers was found
shot to death this morning in his Cabot Cove estate.
The sheriff's department believes that Rogers
was shot by a surprised intruder.
More details as they become available.
-[TV clicks off] -"Intruder".
Gee, I'm really sorry, aunt Jess.
I guess you must have known him pretty well, huh?
Actually, Grady, I only met him a couple of times.
He was something of a roughneck, but I liked him.
I never met his sons at all.
They never socialized much
with the rest of the Cabot Covers.
-[busy signal] -Still busy.
Yeah.
Grady, it's obvious that I'm gonna be trapped here
in this bed, but I can still think.
And the first thing that I think is
that Amos Tupper is gonna need all the help that he can get,
which means I'm gonna need your help.
Me?
You're going to be my eyes and my ears.
I want you to go over to the Rogers place
and find out what's going on.
Give me a complete rundown.
Perhaps if you could make me a sketch of the murder scene
and find out how the family is reacting.
Grady?
It is Grady Fletcher, right?
Sure, but, uh--
Leslie. Leslie Cameron.
Oh, hi.
Oh, gosh, you don't remember.
Six years ago,
you were spending the summer at your aunt's.
Andy Thomason's fishing boat.
We were stuck out on the water all night.
Oh, yeah, I remember that.
You also remember that scrawny kid in the baggy jeans?
Face full of freckles, teeth full of braces?
That was you? Aw, come on.
It was me.
I've got the pictures to prove it.
Well, what are you doin' here?
It's where I live. I mean, I did.
Jed Rogers was my grandfather.
Oh, gee, I didn't know. I'm really sorry, Leslie.
Um, what about you?
I thought you were an accountant or something.
Oh, I'm here helping my aunt Jessica.
She thinks...
Thinks what?
That my grandfather's death was maybe something else?
Look, uh, can we talk somewhere?
Sure.
Grandpa made me this swing when I was nine,
just after my parents died.
Look, Grady, I know this might sound strange,
but I had a feeling something like this was going to happen.
What do you mean?
I mean, I don't believe for a second
he was killed by any burglar.
Ever since I came back from Europe, it's been awful.
Grandpa fighting with all of them:
Morgan, Adam, Gordon.
They said he was too old to run the business.
Adam wanted him to sell out.
Grandpa was beginning to hate the sight of them.
A few days ago, he told me he was changing his will.
Leslie!
Your aunt, does she really think this might be murder?
Uh, uh-huh.
I have something that might help her,
but I can't show you now.
Leslie! Now!
Later.
Now, I loved my father, Sheriff,
and you have my undivided cooperation
in bringing his assassin to justice.
Morgan said he located you at the beach house, Adam.
Is that where you were last night around 10:00?
Yes, I invited a young lady up to go sailing.
Ah, Ms., um... what is her name?
In a hurricane?
Well, Sheriff, since sailing was out of the question,
we decided on something else that we both enjoyed.
[laughs]
[coughs]
Sheriff, she'll be more than happy
to verify my whereabouts.
Uh, if you'd like, I, uh--
I have her phone number in Portland.
Do you have any idea
where your brother Gordon was last night?
I really couldn't say.
I, uh-- I just talked to his wife, Dody.
They were at their cabin by the lake.
She said they'd be back
right after her prized Persian finished its afternoon nap.
Frankly, Sheriff, if she treated Gordon with the same affection
she shows that pampered little puss,
their marriage would look a whole lot less
like a rerun
of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.
Now, if you'll excuse me, Sheriff.
Oh, sure thing, Mr. Rogers.
And what was in that drawer
that both Morgan and Adam looked into?
-[thunderclap] -Nothing. It was empty.
Grady, what is this
on the wall of your sketch?
Oh, that's a portrait of Leslie's grandfather
by Arliss Bygraves.
Good likeness.
And this is where the body was found?
Right. In front of the fireplace.
Sure appreciate you givin' me
your tuna pot pie, Mrs. Fletcher.
[laughing]
In all this excitement, I forgot lunch.
Oh, you sure you wouldn't want some?
Hm? Positive.
Well, there's plenty more.
Amos, what about that medical report?
Well, it's still unofficial,
but Doc says a .45 slug entered through the back.
Doc figures that the thief shot him around 10:00.
Amos, the killer was not a thief.
[laughing] Sure, he was.
Got the old fella's wallet, watch.
And left behind a valuable painting
and that necklace in the safe?
Oh, well, doggone it!
Maybe the burglar got scared off somehow.
Or maybe whoever did it tried to make it look like a burglary,
but didn't do a very good job.
It was a burglar. The broken window.
Broken to make it look like someone forced his way in.
Oh, you're not gonna start that stuff
about the hired killer again.
He was hired by a member of the family.
The man with the raspy voice.
Come on now, Mrs. Fletcher.
I know all three Rogers brothers,
and it doesn't seem to me like any of 'em has a raspy voice.
I know what I heard Amos.
Aunt Jess, you said yourself it was a bad connection.
Lots of static.
You really didn't catch it all.
Grady, I am not imagining all this.
Look, wait.
If you're gonna hire someone to commit murder,
then you would make very sure that you had an ironclad alibi.
-Right, Amos? -Makes sense.
Only one problem.
No one in the family has got one.
-What? -No, ma'am.
Here.
Morgan, he says that he was workin' alone in his woodshop.
No witnesses.
Adam was in the family beach house
with a lady from Portland.
Except the lady's no lady.
She's got an arrest sheet as long as a chorus girl's legs.
And-- And Gordon, he was workin' alone in the mill.
His wife, Dody, was alone at the cabin by the lake.
And Leslie says she was asleep upstairs.
Oh, dear. But that doesn't make any sense.
You mean, it doesn't fit in with your theory.
Well, what about this business with the desk drawer?
That sounds very suspicious.
Yes, ma'am.
You know, right now, I think that we should focus
on the hired killer before his trail gets cold.
If we could find him,
maybe he will lead us to the raspy-voiced man.
Yes, ma'am.
Now on the phone, the killer said he'd grown a beard
so that the locals wouldn't recognize him.
That means he used to live around here.
Yes, and he hasn't been around in five years
because he didn't know that County Road 26
had had its name changed.
Also he's driving a van with carburetor trouble,
so you might check with Charlie and Gus
at their service station.
Aunt Jess.
Yesterday, outside of Mona's Diner,
a bearded guy in a white van nearly ran me down.
Yeah, that's right, Gus.
Big fella, wearin' a beard,
drivin' a white van with New York plates.
Now if he comes in,
you call me back and stall him till I get there.
Thanks.
[phone ringing]
-Sheriff Tupper. -Amos.
I just got off the phone with Mona.
That bearded stranger that was in her diner yesterday,
I think it was Abel Gorcey.
-Gorcey? Gorcey... -You remember.
He worked at Rogers' mill until Jed caught him stealing.
That's right!
And Jed's testimony put him in prison for--
five years.
And if you recall, after the trial,
Gorcey swore he'd kill Jed when he got out.
Great work, Mrs. Fletcher. Looks like I've found my killer.
Call you back as soon as we track him down.
Bye, Amos.
Charlie. Pull the Abel Gorcey file.
Get out an APB on him. He's wearin' a beard now.
And he's drivin' a white van with New York plates.
Gordon, you're not jealous of my prize Persian already?
I've only had little Muff-Muff a week.
But, Dody--
And after all the channels I went through
to document little Muff-Muff's lineage,
you keep your runny nose to yourself.
Did you ever think he might be allergic to you?
Better look out, Gordon,
or you're gonna be sleeping in the basement.
-Funny, Adam. -Excuse me.
Listen, Dody, I'm sorry.
But I'm going to have to hold fast on this.
-Don't be ridiculous, Gordon. -Folks, please.
My apologies, Sheriff. Uh, we came to find out if--
We came to find out what you're doing
to catch the thief that killed our dear Jed.
Doin' everything possible, Mrs. Rogers.
We're sure you are, Sheriff, but we feel that, uh--
Actually, all of us feel that this case
has gotten bigger than Cabot Cove.
We'd like you to bring a special state investigator in
just to give you a hand.
No need for that.
Practically got a suspect in custody.
Oh, really? Who?
Sheriff, I've got the APB out on Abel Gorcey.
Abel Gorcey? What's he got to do with this?
[phone ringing]
Hello?
Jessica, Letitia.
I'm really sorry, but I've tried everything.
'Fraid that 2:00 p.m. you accidentally overheard
just isn't traceable.
Yeah. Well, I appreciate your help.
Thank you for trying.
O-oh, hold on a second, Jessica.
Sheriff Tupper wants to make an emergency breakthrough.
I'll connect you right up.
Mrs. Fletcher? We got him.
What is it, Amos? Got who?
Abel Gorcey.
I'm on my way up to the cabin at Red Rock Bluff.
That white van was spotted there
about 20 minutes ago.
Charlie, you two come around behind from the left.
You and I will come in from the right.
And don't let him see ya.
Abel Gorcey! This is Sheriff Amos Tupper.
Throw out your weapon and come out.
We've got you surrounded.
Gorcey, come on out with your hands up!
-Sheriff! -Not now, Charlie.
Sheriff! I don't think he can hear you.
Hmm?
He fell down the stairs?
That's the way I see it.
After he shot Jed,
Gorcey got himself drunk
and tumbled down those steps to his glory.
Call it poetic justice.
That seems very strange.
Nothin' strange about it. Gorcey was the killer all right.
Amos, I stand in awe of your gift for blind certainty,
but as so often happens, you are dead wrong.
-What? -Seth, what is it?
What have you learned?
Very simply, there is no way
that Abel Gorcey could have killed Jed Rogers.
Rogers died about 10:00.
Now I triple-checked my findings,
and I'm sorry to tell you, Amos,
that Gorcey cracked his skull at around 7:00,
three hours before Rogers was shot to death.
What do you mean he was dead before Jed Rogers was shot?
-He was the killer! -[sighs]
Seth, are you sure?
Yeah, I'm positive, Jess.
[chuckles]
Well, I certainly would like to stay around
and watch Amos work his foot out of his mouth,
but hurricane Ida is closing in, and the evac center beckons.
Now I want you to rest.
And I want you to let her.
-Be seein' you. -Good-bye, seth.
Is there somethin' wrong, aunt Jess?
Grady, don't you think it's a little suspicious
that a hired killer accidentally falls to his death
mere hours before the deed was done?
Oh, now, Mrs. Fletcher, don't you even say it.
You mean, he was murdered too?
But why? Why murder your hired killer?
Maybe blackmail, Amos.
During the phone call, Gorcey more than hinted at it.
Perhaps when the raspy-voiced man
delivered the demanded cash in advance,
the blackmail question was raised again,
and Gorcey was killed.
If you ask me, you're fishin' without bait.
There was no sign of foul play. An accident, plain and simple.
Well, either way, we've got a problem.
If Gorcey didn't kill Jed Rogers, who did?
The man with the raspy voice.
Yeah, he had no choice but to kill Jed himself,
because you remember, he said,
"the old man must be killed tonight."
But it could have been any one of the three sons,
because none of them really had an alibi.
And I keep tellin' you
that none of these fellas has a raspy voice.
Yeah, I know, I know.
But, you know, I've never actually spoken to any of them.
And, Amos, what sounds like a raspy voice to me
might not sound like a raspy one to you.
Yeah, I suppose it would be useful
if you could give a listen to what they sound like.
Say, maybe I could wire myself for sound.
Tape their voices, kind of incognito-like, huh?
You know, aunt Jess, that's not a bad idea.
Well, I-- I suppose it might work.
Ah, I'll get right on it.
Oh, Amos, while you're recording their voices,
why don't you get their alibis for 7:00 p.m.?
The time of Gorcey's "accident,"
just in case there was foul play.
Mm-hmm. Just in case, huh?
Grady, there's something else that needs exploring,
and I need you to do it.
Well, sure, anything.
Gorcey demanded $25,000 in advance in cash,
which means the person who hired him
had to get it from somewhere.
The bank. Sure.
See if Amos can discreetly find out if one of the suspects
had made a large withdrawal in the past week or so.
Okay.
Then I want you to go see Leslie.
Ask her about that desk drawer
that her uncles seemed so interested in.
They were looking for something, all right.
That's why I hid it...
where they couldn't...find it.
A diary?
Grandpa'd been keeping it for months.
He was sure one of my uncles was reading it,
so a few days ago, he gave it to me for safekeeping.
Boy, he sure didn't like his sons much.
No.
Grady, it contains all the changes
he was going to make in his will.
He'd planned to meet with his lawyer
the morning he was found dead.
He cut everyone out of the will except me.
Your uncles knew about this?
Everything.
The changes and when he was planning to make them.
I don't care about the money. I really don't.
I just want to get away from here.
Go to New York. To fashion design school.
The only reason I was staying was because of grandpa.
You're not going back to Paris?
No, I wanna get on with my life.
I guess she'll be pretty rich, huh?
I don't think so, Grady.
Jed never actually changed his will.
Either way, it doesn't narrow our list of suspects
since all three brothers were to be cut from the will.
Did Amos learn anything from the bank?
Naw. It's a dead end, aunt Jess.
He said he double-checked the accounts
for the three brothers.
No major withdrawals in the past two months.
It just doesn't make any sense.
Unless whomever hired Gorcey never intended to pay him.
You lost me.
I thought it was strange to hire a killer
who publicly threatened Jed Rogers's life
instead of a complete unknown.
But it would make sense if the plan
was to shoot Gorcey in the act of murdering Jed.
[machinery buzzing]
Look, Sheriff, I'm sorry,
but I really have to complete
this quarterly inventory analysis
by the close of business today.
Excuse me.
Analysis? He's counting two-by-fours.
Won't be but a few seconds.
I'm just tryin' to get the facts.
Allow me, Sheriff.
[sighing]
From 5:00 to 8:00, we were dining at Mona's
with the union supervisor.
We weren't dining. We were negotiating.
What-- What the hell are you gettin' at anyway, Tupper?
Everybody knows Abel Gorcey killed daddy.
'Fraid not.
He was dead three hours before your daddy was shot.
And even though he didn't live long enough to do the job,
I have it on good authority
that Gorcey was hired to kill your daddy.
What "good authority"?
Jessica Fletcher's.
She overheard a phone call
where Gorcey was hired to commit the murder.
Hey, the news crew isn't gonna hang around forever.
So if you want to be on television,
you better get out there now.
Now, look, Amos,
I think Fletcher's confusing fiction with fact.
You tell her that Morgan Rogers
says to mind her own business, huh?
Well, come on, fellas,
let's go show the world how nice we are
before that damn storm hits again.
[thunderclap]
[tape rewinding]
Wow. Hurricane Ida's not fooling around this time.
Sounds almost as bad in here as it looks out there.
Havin' a few technical snafus is all, Doc.
Now, the first one you're gonna hear is Gordon.
Look, sheriff, I'm sorry,
but I have to complete this quarterly inventory analysis--
No, that's not the man I heard on the telephone.
Can't figure why this is happening.
There.
Next one you're gonna hear is Adam's voice.
[gurgling, heartbeat]
Or Amos's digestive system.
Well, from 5:00 to 8:00, we were dining at Mona's--
now that doesn't sound right either.
-Mm-mmm. -No, it doesn't.
I thought I detected a slight murmur.
Perhaps you ought to come in for a checkup, Amos.
Everybody knows Abel Gorcey killed daddy.
Oh, fraid not.
Thank you, Jessica.
It was a good try, Amos.
In fact, good enough to tell me that none of those voices
was the one I heard on the phone.
Look, maybe I was wrong.
Maybe the raspy voice belongs to someone else,
a fourth party.
Maybe the voice on the phone was disguised.
Why? Gorcey knew who he was dealing with.
And they didn't know that I was on the line.
Well, one thing's for sure.
All three brothers had an ironclad alibi
for the time of Gorcey's death.
Mona confirmed it.
All three were sittin' there in her diner,
arguin' with a union bigwig.
Well, I still can't believe
that Abel Gorcey's death was accidental.
Aw, doggone it, Mrs. Fletcher.
Why can't you just accept the fact--
-Quiet, A-amos! -Hmm?
Shh.
Our family feels a terrible loss,
that goes without saying.
But our grief has brought us closer together.
[meows]
[sniffing]
He sure is allergic to that cat.
[Gordon sneezes]
Of course. Listen.
[voice deepens] But we have complete confidence
in sheriff Tupper's ability to handle the case.
That's him.
That's him-- That's the raspy voice I heard on the phone.
We're sure that, uh,
whoever killed Father will soon be brought to justice.
That's him.
Aunt Jess, I am really proud of you.
If you hadn't overheard that phone call
and been able to identify Gordon Roger's voice,
he'd have gotten away with murder.
Well, I'm just sorry
that I couldn't have prevented a murder.
There you are.
-Grady, really I-- -No, it's not tuna.
Pepperoni pizza for the star witness.
Grady, I could kiss you.
In fact, I think I'm going to.
No. No.
You're not supposed to lean forward.
Allow me.
Anybody home?
No, we went for a jog in the rain!
Come on up, Seth.
You know, this is a first for me.
I've never seen a night that ain't fit for man nor beast.
Well, that doesn't stop Seth Hazlett.
That's a real doozy blowing out there, folks.
-Did you hear from Amos? -Not yet.
He said he'd call when he had Gordon in custody.
-Pizza, Doc? -No. No, thanks.
I'm on my way down to the harbor.
I just thought I'd stop in and check up on my patient.
Flooding again?
Yep, and the sandbaggin' crew
is runnin' a-might short on manpower.
I'll lend you a hand, Doc.
Well, thank you, Grady,
but I'd rather have you stay here with Jess.
Oh, don't be silly. I'm fine.
Grady is needed down at the harbor.
Are you sure, aunt Jess?
Oh, positive.
I'll get my jacket.
Oh, I almost forgot.
Say, Letitia brought this over to my place.
Told me to bring it down to you.
Ah, yes, the computer records from the phone company.
A little bit late.
Something on your mind, Jess?
Do you ever get the feeling
that you've overlooked something obvious?
That you've, uh, done something wrong?
Yeah.
Every time I vote for Amos.
Why?
Abel Gorcey's death.
You see, Gordon couldn't possibly have been involved,
but... well, I still can't believe that it was an accident.
Woman, quit your fussin'.
That murder business is over and done with.
Okay. All set, Doc. We'll be back soon.
And don't worry, aunt Jess.
I'll lock the front door on the way out.
I'll be by to check on you tomorrow promptly.
Now, Jess, you rest.
And you'll be careful, you two.
[phone ringing]
Hello?
Mrs. Fletcher? Amos here.
Just wanted to tell you our man is in custody as we speak.
Good work, Amos.
Nasty night out.
You better get that nephew of yours
to fasten the place down, okay?
Well, he and Seth have gone to help sandbag the harbor.
You sure you're gonna be all right alone?
Thank you for your concern, Amos.
-I'll be absolutely fine. -Okay.
Be by in the morning to get Jed's diary.
Be needin' that for evidence.
That and your testimony'll be sending Gordon away
for a long, long time.
Well, I'll see you tomorrow, Amos.
[phone ringing]
Hello?
Jess? I didn't want to disturb you.
But I thought I'd find out if your phone is workin'.
Well, it is now.
Lines are down all over town.
Our repair crew's got more than it can handle.
Oh, did you get the phone records I sent with seth?
Oh, yes, yes, thank you.
Ah, I was just looking at the one that confirms
the 2:00 p.m. call at Gorcey's cabin,
the one that crossed my line.
Well, that was placed
from Gordon Rogers' private line at the mill.
Glad I could finally be of help.
Yes, but here on the same record,
it says that someone made a 30-minute call
from Gordon's mill line at 10:00 p.m.
now, that is the exact time that Jed was murdered at the estate.
Gordon made that call.
Yeah, but he couldn't have.
I'm afraid you're wrong there, Jessica.
He made it all right. Person-to-person out of state.
Placed the call myself.
Oh, dear.
Letitia, can-- can you get me Amos?
He has the wrong killer.
Letitia? Oh, dear Lord. Don't go dead on me now.
Hello?
Oh, no. [sighs]
[thunderclap]
Grady?
[footsteps, stairs creaking]
[groans]
Now, don't-- don't be foolish.
Uh, the police are coming.
You-- You can't kill me the way you killed the others, Dody!
I want the diary now.
[police siren]
Oh. [sighs]
[crying]
Seth, I'll never question doctor's orders again.
[beeping]
I guess that little gizmo came in handy after all.
Sure stopped Dody in the nick of time.
I suspected Dody right off the bat.
Forgetting Amos' bat,
when did you realize Dody was the killer?
When it was too late.
As soon as Letitia told me Gordon was on the phone
when Jed was killed, I knew that we were wrong.
And then I realized it was the 2:00 call from the mill
that got crossed with my line.
Dody was supposed to have been at the lake cabin,
but she couldn't have been.
She had to have been with Gordon, with the cat,
or Gordon wouldn't have sounded raspy on the phone.
Which meant she knew all about Abel Gorcey and the murder plot.
Knowing Dody, it was probably her idea.
Oh, I'm sure it was.
At 7:00, she got rid of a potential blackmailer,
Abel Gorcey, took his gun,
and at 10:00, she killed Jed Rogers.
Before the old man could change his will.
Well, now that all that's settled,
I have an announcement to make.
I've decided that lying around in bed
can be hazardous to my health,
so tomorrow morning, I'm gonna be up and about.
-Ah, Jess. -Don't Jess me, Seth Hazlitt.
And as for you, Grady, your services are terminated.
I want you packed and on the 5:30 bus to Boston tonight.
Tonight? Aunt Jess, I--
Not another word. Scoot!
Okay. Sure.
Oh, oh, uh, and-- and Grady?
Ah, Leslie called about an hour ago.
She told me to tell you
that she's planning to be on the 5:30 also.
Something about going to New York?
Right.
[cheerful orchestral music]