The Pledge

She said it.

She said it.

She did.

With some precipitation in the Central Valley.

Reno area, a little milder. Looking like a low 37 degrees

and a high at 42.

The low-pressure system continues into the Sierras.

We've got some snow flurries at times down at about 5000 feet.

And we are going to see some hazy sunshine in the morning.

Yo, Mick.

Yeah, okay.

Thank you.

- Good morning. - Jerry.

- There you are. - Morning.

Plug that fridge back in. I thought it was going with you.

I put everything in boxes. Everything except your pictures.

Every time I pack pictures, something gets broken and I get blamed.

So you can do that yourself.

Don't forget lunch with the lieutenant.

- 1:30! - It's at...

- It's at 1:30. - At the Luau.

It's at 1:30 at the Luau.

Thank you, Jean.

I'm out here if you need me.

Driver of the yellow car, Reno police. No more parking on the street today.

Move it.

Come on, Stan, you're late.

Surprise!

Congratulations, Jerry.

- I saw you parking on the street. - You saw that?

Hey, Larry. You outlasted me.

Hey, thanks for coming.

- Good to see you. Thanks. - Congratulations.

Isn't that smart?

Thank you. Thank you.

Knowing you like we do, Jerry

we thought it was about time you went got and that marlin

you been dreaming about for all these years.

So the whole department, officers, staff...

volunteers, everybody, we all pooled our nickels together...

and got you this ticket.

It's supposed to be the best marlin fishing in all of Baja.

So go catch a big one for us, Jer.

Gee.

Well.

Appreciation all around.

What can I say? You shouldn't have.

But you did...

and it hits me deep.

Thank you.

I'm going back to the station. Get Becker County on the phone.

- You guys should go on. - It'll be dark when we get there.

Thanks.

What's up?

- Juvenile homicide. - Becker County.

Possible sexual assault. Little girl.

Why isn't the local handling it?

Our hard-core crime unit assists that jurisdiction now.

Jerry, for christ sake, you're retiring.

Well I still got six more hours.

As far as I'm concerned, you're gone. It's Krolack's case.

- He's in charge, his call. - It's fine with me.

- If you want to leave your own party. - My coat's upstairs.

Good evening. Elena Ryan, just outside of Reno.

Behind, you have the crime scene...

where the body of a young girl has just been found.

And we have emergency vehicles coming in and out of here.

We have state troopers, we have Reno police.

Bruising and lacerations evident on the interior of both thighs.

Bruising and possible wrist fractures due to restraints.

Neck slashed.

Did you get her age in there?

She was a second-grader. I guess about 7 1/2, 8.

Coupled with initial signs of lividity

all indications are the victims body was not moved from place of death.

We checked the entire perimeter.

Even with the snow, this path's the only way in or out.

- So what the fuck are you standing on it? - Oh, I'm sorry.

And other weather-related contamination

Whose fucking pen is this?

Oh, Jesus, that's... It's mine. Pardon me.

Any sign of a weapon?

No, but, I mean, a knife like that, you could chuck it pretty far.

- Assuming it was a knife. - How long before you can wrap this up?

Couple more minutes.

I'll let the coroner know he can pick her up.

The buttons.

Have the lab guys check for prints on the buttons...

on both the coat and the dress.

Goddamn it.

Strom, secure all the buttons for lab work...

before you move her out.

- Guys, get the buttons. - Let's go, big guy.

What about the little girl's parents?

Duane and Margaret Larsen.

They got a turkey farm about 10 miles from here.

- Good people. - Go ahead and pick her up now!

- Have you interviewed them? - No.

We haven't told them yet.

None of us knew what to say!

Jesus Christ.

Nobody told the little girl's parents.

- Is this the little boy right here? - Yeah.

Evening, son.

Chilly out here, isn't it?

Why don't you take him to your station. I'll talk to him there.

- Right. - Anything on the suspect or his truck?

Hang on.

Highway Patrol got anything?

Todd said he put it out there.

It's out statewide, and I got Highway Patrol on it.

Congratulations.

Now, who's gonna tell the parents?

Does anybody here know them?

I got one of my deputies, but he'd rather not.

He'd rather not.

Most Wednesdays, Ginny stays in town...

for music lessons with my mother.

But when she's behind on her homework

she comes straight home.

So her grandmother would've assumed that she came home?

We always let Ginny...

Yes.

Excuse me.

- Pastor Holcomb's on his way over. - Thank you.

Would you mind not smoking in the house, please?

Sorry.

It isn't possible.

There can't be such a devil.

There are such devils.

I want to see my daughter.

I don't think that's a good idea, Mr. Larsen.

I know what I'm saying might sound cruel but...

I think it's better if you don't go to your Ginny now.

Why would it be better for me not to see my daughter?

Why would that be better?!

Because we hardly dared to look ourselves.

You can go to your Ginny tomorrow evening.

Then there won't be anything that's...

- What? - She'll look like she fell asleep.

Believe me.

Who did this?

We intend to find out, Mrs. Larsen.

Do you promise me that you will?

Yes.

Yes, Mrs. Larsen, I promise.

By your soul's salvation?

Do you swear...

by your soul's salvation on this cross...

made by the hands of our daughter?

Yes.

Yes, on my soul's salvation.

You've sworn by your salvation.

We will pray.

Detective!

Detective Black?

Looks like they got him.

Highway Patrol picked up a match on the truck with an Indian driver.

I gave you a new headband, Toby. I know you lost yours.

Toby, I can't see your eyes, buddy.

You'll like this.

Let's see it.

Toby, you've already served time for one charge of juvenile rape now.

Statutory. The girl was 16 years old.

Toby, would you tell him that rape is rape?

You got three years of juvenile, you got some burglary...

you got some theft, grand theft.

Multiple counts of marijuana possession. Then that first rape.

Section Four. Man's got a mental handicap, Stan.

No.

Well, number one, that might not take the violence out of you.

Number two, I'm gonna get a confession.

And number three, I'm gonna do it in record time.

How you doing, chief?

Scared of this thing? Let's get it out of the way then.

Who you talking to, chief?

You got those little voices in your head?

- You a policeman? - Yeah, I'm a policeman.

- I want to be a policeman too. - You do, huh?

Policeman drive me here very fast. Drive me fast.

- I'm just a trapper. - We don't need this.

I trap beaver today.

Fifteen pounds or 25...

or 35, something like that. Maybe 80.

You mean beaver or you mean "beaver"?

- Beaver. - Beaver? Pretty, young pussy?

- I don't know you joking me. - You don't know if I'm joking?

- I don't know. - No?

I'm not joking you. So you catch beaver, huh?

Yeah, I...

- Yeah, I catch beaver. - You catch beaver? Little girl?

You catch little girl today, huh? You rape little girl?

Is that what you did?

I rape, I rape.

You raped her, huh?

Yeah.

He could be talking about the other rape, the one on his record.

We got positive I.D. from the kid.

This is a small town. Just let him do his job.

Tell me about the girl.