The Mentalist

Absolutely. Sir, I'll let you know as soon as I know anything.

Not at all. It's my pleasure.

Crap.

Director?

Bertram wants regular updates.

Somebody involved in this case must be connected.

Well, maybe we'll get lucky, catch a dunk.

We're due an easy one. Ugh, you shouldn't have said that.

Said what? "We're due an easy one". Now we're jinxed.

Sorry.

Amber Sutherland, documentary filmmaker.

The house is a rental.

She's been in Crane Creek for about two months

making a campaign video for mayor Kenyon Bagshaw.

Isn't a campaign video overkill

for a small town mayor? Well, Bagshaw's moving up.

He's running in a special election

for the house of representatives. Surprise. Connected.

Agent Lisbon? Chief Arnold Nail, Crane Creek P.D.

My men responded to a shots-fired call last night,

found the body. Agent Cho, Agent Rigsby.

Your men search the area?

We found a .38 in a trash can down the street.

Serial number shows it reported stolen from a man one town over,

about a year ago. We're gonna need that.

Got it. And just so you know,

I get it. CBI's in charge. We're here to assist.

Thanks, chief. We don't always get a welcome.

Well, I said I get it. I didn't say I liked it.

Looks like the killer tossed the place. Anything missing?

Apparently, Amber had a lot of high-end video equipment.

There's no sign of it, so

we figure the killer took it. Robbery gone bad?

No, there's a lot of other valuables left behind.

Okay, get a list of what's missing

and call Jane and ask him why he isn't here already.

Patrick Jane, CBI. I'm on the way to a crime scene.

Do you know how fast you were going, sir?

Do I get a prize if I guess correctly?

- 13 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. - Oh.

I need your license and proof of insurance.

I'd love to, but, uh, we got a murder to solve.

Evidence degrading, killers perfecting their alibis.

First 48 hours... You know that, right?

License and proof of insurance.

I mean, is this really necessary?

Aren't we all part of the Justice League?

Do you think Aquaman would give Batman a ticket?

Just consider that.

Step out of the car.

There's no sign of a struggle. She probably knew the killer.

But if it was personal, why take her video equipment?

Agent Lisbon, we might have something.

One of my officers is engaged in a pursuit off a traffic stop.

Driver was acting crazy. Could be our guy.

Don't say a word.

Vehicle is a blue Citroen, about 30 years old,

California plates.

See what you did?

Pull over right now.

Morning, Lisbon.

Let me see your hands!

Did I miss anything?

Agent, I'm not opposed to extending professional courtesy,

but your man ignored a reasonable request

from my officer and fled.

He will pay the ticket. Meh. Speed traps. Legalized extortion.

You want people to slow down?

Park out in the open, where they can see you.

But no, you lay in wait,

like thieves in the night. He will pay the ticket today.

I'm not gonna pay it. Jane!

I won't pay it. I'm not paying it. Stop... stop that.

Extortionist.

If Mr. Jane will go to City Hall

and settle this today, we can move on. Thank you.

I'd like an apology.

Oh, really?

Dream bigger, pal. You're not gonna get one from me.

I said we'd move on.

Yes, we're moving on.

Don't know why you were in such an all-fired hurry to get here.

I'll tell you who killed that woman.

Who's that?

Local scumbag named Ronald Crosswhite.

Killed his wife two years ago.

He was indicted for murdering his wife.

Oh, he did it, all right. Sergeant Rowley.

Why isn't he in prison?

There was a... screw-up.

Evidentiary paperwork got filed late.

Judge excluded some security footage.

Critical evidence. Crosswhite walked.

Aha.

And you're the one that screwed up.

That's why you can't stop looking

at that poor woman's body... Because you feel responsible.

Also explains why when there's a murder in town,

you're out working the speed trap.

You smart-ass. Stand down. Now.

Yeah. Looks like we both have

a little problem controlling our underlings.

Underling?

Even if Crosswhite did kill his wife,

what does that have to do with Amber Sutherland?

Saw the two of 'em together day before yesterday.

Now she's dead.

No way that's a coincidence.

Underling? Really?

- Lisbon, would you explain to this man I'm... - You need to stop.

I'm a consultant. He's a consultant.

I'm not below or above. Shh... shh.

I am to the side. That's enough.

Ginger Crosswhite was 31. Worked at City Hall, DMV clerk.

Shot and killed in their living room two years ago.

The D.A. claimed Crosswhite did it for insurance money.

He had an upholstery shop that was struggling.

And he walked? Well, Crosswhite claimed

he came home from a drive and found the body.

A security camera image showed him arriving home

an hour before he said he got there. Destroyed his alibi.

But sergeant Rowley missed the deadline

to file the search warrant,

- the judge excluded it, and the case collapsed. - Good work.

The mayor's wife is coming in to the office.

Her name's Jessica Bagshaw.

She was supervising Amber Sutherland's video work.

I'll get her statement. Okay. Be careful.

They have a lot of pull.

Teresa Lisbon, toughest gal west of the Pecos,

and you're scared of a small town mayor and his wife.

Yeah?

Mr. Crosswhite, we're with the CBI.

I'm Agent Teresa Lisbon. And I'm Patrick Jane.

We want to ask you some questions

about Amber Sutherland. Tom Rowley tell you about me?

Yes, he did.

That's my buddy Tom.

Can we come in?

How did you know Amber?

She, um...

She was filming me for a documentary.

The one about the mayor?

No, this was about my wife's death.

What are you doing?

Your wife looked lovely. She had a very gentle face.

Put that down.

Why?

Just put it down.

Fair enough.

So Amber was making a documentary about you?

Yeah. She... she did a couple interviews.

She said she'd need to... to raise money to finish it.

That must have been nice for you... Tell your side to Amber.

Mm.

You have no idea.

The man who killed my wife is still out there.

But everyone in town thinks I'm the killer.

It's... it's around me all the time...

It's like being underwater.

Feels like I can't breathe.

Well, if you didn't kill your wife, what'd you do to her?

What?

You're the guiltiest-looking man I've ever seen...

the theatrical squalor,

forcing yourself to live with the hatred of your neighbors.

If you didn't kill your wife, then why the self-punishment?

You need to get out of here.

Now.

I have to agree.

Well, it's just an honest opinion,

a legit question. I'm doing my job.

Okay. Have a nice day.

It just seems insane... Amber, gone.

She worked closely with you.

She was with us pretty much every day,

the last couple of weeks.

We'll need to speak with your husband, mayor Bagshaw.

Of course. He's forging away on the campaign trail.

Elks clubs and coffee klatches.

Do you have any idea why someone would want to hurt Amber?

I can't imagine.

I mean, she was just...

Such a gentle soul.

You know anything about her personal life?

She seeing anybody?

Um, she had been on a few dates with Zach Gladden.

He works at City Hall.

Was she close with anyone else?

Maybe someone with the campaign?

What is it that you're suggesting?

Nothing. Just...

She was pretty and...

And my husband is attractive and charming and powerful.

Right?

Um, that's not what I was suggesting.

It's how rumors get started. Um...

We have no interest

in having a pretty dead woman attached to the campaign,

if you get my drift, agent?