- Brenda tangles with a meddling deputy D.A. as she investigates a butler's possible murder made to appear as suicide.
- Brenda and her team investigate the death of Albert Turner, butler to the rich but highly-dysfunctional Dutton family. Found hanging from the flagpole at the rear of the house with a overturned step-ladder nearby, his death has all the trappings of a suicide, which the coroner confirms as the cause of death. There's little Brenda can do, but pesky DA Thomas Yates thinks otherwise. He was prosecuting Albert for murder but thinks that one of the three Dutton children is actually culpable for the death of their stepmother (who inherited the family fortune) and now for Albert. At Brenda's request, the coroner reviews his findings and, considering Albert's advanced arthritis, rules out suicide. Each Dutton is guilty of something, but which is guilty of murder?—garykmcd
- The Dutton driveway gate is locked, none of the siblings know the code for entry, Brenda arrives with a bench warrant for the Dutton butler, who is supposedly in the house but not responding. Gabriel explains to Brenda the Duttons are locked out of the home of their late father because of the will. Brenda pulls a patrol car up and parallel to the gate, gets on the hood and climbs over the barrier. Gabriel follows her inside the house, only to find the butler hanging out back on a rope from the flag pole, with the big ladder on its side lying nearby. Gabriel lets Provenza inside the yard with everyone else. The Duttons are staring at Albert, the butler, hanging just out of the rear entryway.
While Deputy D.A. Yates introduces himself to Brenda at the crime scene, he identifies the victim hanging from the flagpole as definitely Albert Turner. Yates came looking for Albert because he did not show up in court today. The body crashes to the floor of the foyer, and Brenda requests no one touch the body other than the coroner's staff, in view of the broken glass caused by the fall. Yates affirms he was trying Albert for the death of the former Mrs. Dutton, Angelina. Brenda quips, that seems like a waste of time. Chief Johnson invites attorney Bloom come by her office tomorrow afternoon and she needs Gabriel to request a quick autopsy, to determine the cause of death. She also wishes Lt. Provenza to secure the crime scene until the body is removed. Chief Johnson leaves with her familiar thank you all very much, saying so nice to meet you to DDA Yates.
Attorney Bloom is in Brenda's office informing her of his position in the Dutton family. Albert Turner was indicted for killing Mr. Dutton's widow. Bloom utters indicted, but not convicted. Bloom adds his entire practice exists solely to handle their affairs. Albert was on bail, taking care of the house, and Bloom also represented him. Bloom continues to reveal everyone hated Angelina Dutton. She changed the will, benefiting the Dutton children far less than were originally granted before the marriage. Albert was on an agreement to be taken care of for his life. Brenda queries Bloom, who do you think killed Angelina Dutton? Bloom leaves Brenda by snidely saying he would not want to speculate on that, but he and Albert spent their careers straightening out after the Duttons.
DDA Yates comes to Brenda's house stating they got off on the wrong foot the other day. Brenda shoots back with that was because it was in your mouth. Yates reveals he doesn't believe Albert Turner killed himself. He helps Brenda with the dirty kitchen by drying while she washes the dishes. Billionaire Roland Dutton fell in love and married a stripper, Angelina, who later died of an overdose. Yates insists he believes Albert never had any part of her death, he was just simply an easy target. Yates offered Bloom a deal for Albert, just wanting to know which of the Dutton children did it. Dennis Dutton has a history of violent behavior. Ten years ago, he beat his girlfriend with a golf club, going overseas until the best witness against him died in a car accident. Yates pleads for help from Brenda in finding the killer of Angelina and Albert. Deputy D.A. Yates blatantly apologizes to Brenda for his prior condescending behavior. His request includes getting the coroner to re-examine the body and determine Albert's death was not suicide.
Brenda watches Provenza's interview of Albert, the Lieutenant is proud to say the butler did it, but Brenda has Buzz rewind the tape to show a cane draped over the chair next to Albert in the interview room. Next, the coroner inspects the corpse closer to find a degenerative joint disease, arthritis severe enough to prevent him from ever climbing the ladder found at his hanging. Det. Gabriel and Chief Johnson receive news from Dr. Crippen upon further review he declares Albert Turner's a homicide. He couldn't possibly have carried out the suicide by carrying the ladder from the garage, drunk and on pain medication for his arthritic hip, hoisted himself up the ladder, tying himself to the flagpole with the rope and hanging himself.
Brenda's plan is to do a background check on the latest victim then call in the Dutton's for further questioning. Whatever reason they can find for inviting the Dutton children to HQ will be pursued. Deanna Dutton is picked up for possession of a controlled substance by Det. Daniels at a nightclub. Detective Sanchez and Officer Susanna Walsh pick up Delvin Dutton at a bar for solicitation of Sanchez while Walsh stands aside while the pair talk price. Delvin tries to pick up Sanchez and gets busted with Walsh cuffing him at the bar. At HQ, Brenda requests a complete financial check on Albert from Lt. Tao, when Attorney Bloom enters her office complaining she picked up the Duttons without allowing him to hear from them beforehand. Gabriel interrupts their conversation stating the reason they couldn't find Dennis Dutton because the District Attorney's office picked him up last night. She interrupts Yates while Dennis sits at the table in the D.A.'s office. Attorney Bloom arrives and scolds the D.D.A. and Brenda for holding Dennis. Yates asks Dennis where he was at the time of Albert's murder and he claims he was at home. Brenda demands to know how Dennis made a living while he was in Switzerland and Bloom explains he handles all the Dutton finances, providing all the children with an allowance.
As Deanna is vomiting in the toilet her attorney is asserting her alibi for killing Albert. Deanna was sequestered at a rehab in Malibu when the murder took place. Devlin sits in an interview room ask for Julio to interview him. Brenda summons Julio, the arresting officer, to join them in the interview room while his fellow officers watch. Devlin provides the name of the hustler he was with when Albert was murdered. Devlin also provides Brenda with financial information explaining where the money comes from to fund his reckless behavior and that of his sister's drug supply.
D.D.A. Yates shows Brenda pictures of Cristine Berringer, Dennis Dutton's former girlfriend, indicating the Dutton's don't take rejection very well. That picture was taken a few hours after she broke up with Dennis. Brenda has Yates exit promising to share information in the near future as she is getting signs her officers are finding information. Lt. Tao informs Brenda James Bloom has Dutton's endurable power of attorney to handle the Dutton's business affairs, he controls all the family finances, in fact he runs the company. Albert had an account opened by wire in Geneva two weeks after Angelina died; five million dollars held in certificate of deposits automatically renewed every ninety days, except it was reversed last Friday afternoon in the name of Dennis Dutton. Provenza announces he was wrong, he has the fingerprint analysis he hands Brenda; the ladder was wiped clean at Albert's place of death. Provenza quips, I doubt if he wiped the ladder clean after he was declared dead.
Gabriel enters declaring shots fired at the Dutton house. Brenda declares it her lucky day because she didn't know how she was going arrest the Dutton children again. In the Dutton house with attorney Bloom present, Brenda requests an explanation. The explanation doesn't work with all arguing amongst one another, so Brenda has them all arrested to be interviewed together, a group therapy session Brenda chides Bloom.
All the Dutton's are in the interview room with Bloom and Yates. Brenda assumes, in front of everyone, that whoever murdered Albert also murdered Angelina. Deanna was in rehab when Albert was murdered, however, a search of her house revealed a supply of Vicodin. Chief Johnson said we found Vicodin in Albert at the autopsy, which does allow for a prevailing conspiracy potential. Yates adds how do we know you did not share those pills with your brothers and they didn't drug Albert. Bloom insists he removed the supply of drugs from Deanna's house last month and the months before when he dropped her off at rehab, which he promises he will testify to in court. Brenda is satisfied, well that's good enough for me, Deanna, you can wait in the hallway. Devlin announces he has already proven he had an alibi, but Brenda comments you have said you had the gate passcodes, so you could get in and out. Why would Devlin kill the family butler, if Albert killed Angelina he obviously made the children fabulously rich, suggests Bloom. Brenda puts up another argument when Bloom declares Devlin did not have the passcodes, he stole the remote control when you found Albert's body. He gave the remote back to Bloom after Dennis shot at him. Yates probes Bloom, would you willing to swear to that in court as well? Bloom declares I would. Well then Devlin, you can wait in the hallway with your sister.
Brenda queries Dennis, where did the source of the five million dollars Dennis received by wire come from? Bloom explains after the incident with the former girlfriend, Dennis was never allowed access to any of the funds. Bloom signs a waiver for Brenda to validate the issuance of funds restricted by the will and controlled by Bloom. Well then, Mr. Dutton, would mind waiting outside for a moment please? Dennis compliments Bloom on a job well done. Yates speaks to Bloom, congratulations, once again you have helped a murderer go free. Brenda speaks to Deputy D. A. Yates, if you had been listening carefully, someone just confessed; why Mr. Bloom. Brenda speaks to Bloom, thanks to you, the Dutton children all have concrete unbreakable alibis and you were the only one left with the motive, means and opportunity. Yates looks at Bloom, my god, you took the drugs from Deanna's house, only you and Albert had the passcodes to the gate. Brenda adds, and you were the only one who could transfer funds in and out of Dennis' account. You signed this waiver for us to check the validity of the transfers. We discovered you gave Albert five-million dollars. That was an advance on his inheritance. Then why did you take it away? After Mr. Yates offered him a deal you transferred that money out of Albert's account and into one held by Dennis. And why would you have done that because you knew Albert was going to die.
Yates speaks to Bloom, Angelina was liquidating the company, hiring all new attorneys. You spent your entire life straightening up after the Duttons, always around the family, but never really a part of it, that's hard. Killing people, maybe a real Dutton could get away with murder, but not you. Now, you're a good attorney, you know what we're going to find. Yates declares, I am going to trace all of these cash transfers to and from Albert, right back to you. Aren't I James? Bloom is still standing and appeals to them; will you take the death penalty off of the table? Yates responds, if you confess to both murders right now? Bloom sits, reflects by saying, the only thing I really regret, is killing Albert, that was too bad, I'm going to miss him, but I'm really sorry I never got the opportunity to knock-off those horrible children. Is there a chance I could plead insanity?
As Brenda tidies up her office, Dennis Dutton stops by to trade quips, and Chief Johnson has the final word, be careful what you wish for Mr. Dutton.
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