♪
Cheesecake is a very tricky dessert to work with.
One wrong move
and it shows.
[camera shutter snaps]
To make chocolate cheesecake, you have to be extra patient.
Or things start to break down.
The key to making it correctly is consistency and timing.
Miss either one
and something's bound to go wrong.
All the temperatures have to be the same
or the surface will crack.
Every detail matters.
It looks simple until it isn't.
Too hot and it can curdle.
And believe me, that is not an appetizing look.
Too cold and it can clump.
Also not great, but there are techniques
for getting through that particular disaster.
I guess you could say I have an affinity for cheesecake.
Because it doesn't like surprises.
And neither do I.
[door bell chimes]
Hi there. Welcome to The Golden Ticket.
Why, thank you, kind sir.
The jacket looks so good on you.
Uh, my wife Mitzi can help you with any questions
you might have.
- Oh. - Honey, customer.
Oh, okay. I'll just be one second.
Oh. No problem.
[camera snaps]
I am so sorry.
Oh, please, just finish your photos.
I started just taking photos of the store,
but my following doubled when I included my meals.
Oh, that's brilliant. I would love to follow you.
Thank you.
The crossover has been amazing for business.
Oh. Thank you.
I heard that you sell special coins here.
Yes. We have been known to find rare and unique coins.
Well, my friend said she invested in special gold coins
that have historical significance.
- We have connections. - Yeah.
My husband can get his hands on gold coins
that date back to the Civil War.
No.
Did you know that they hid some of the treasury up here
to protect it at the start of the war?
Oh, I had no idea.
- Mmhmm. - How brave those men were.
I don't know for sure,
but I think it was a General's wife who came up with that idea.
Oh, honey, I bet you're right about that one.
Mm.
Now, I have to warn you, they are very valuable.
The provenance is impeccable, and they come with a C-O-A.
Oh.
[whispers] What's a C-O-A?
A certificate of authenticity.
Oh, would it be possible to look at one?
Well, my husband usually takes care of the sales.
Oh, please, men.
You know, they always go on and on about Bitcoin or some such.
But we women know the value of precious metals
like gold that you can touch, right?
We do. Yeah.
I'm gonna go see if I have any in stock.
Oh, please. Thank you.
It is your lucky day.
[sniffs]
Oh, look! There's smoke!
Just one second, okay?
Shall I call 911?
No, no, it's fine.
[camera shutter snaps]
So sorry.
Is everything okay?
Yeah, yeah. I don't know what happened.
Life is odd.
Um. Oh, coins.
Yes.
Let's talk about coins.
[giggle]
Mmhmm. I love the tiramisu.
It's a classic.
And that's why it won't win. Hannah needs to wow the judges
with something unexpected, unusual.
Right. Okay, maybe I'll work on my Basbousa recipe.
Yes. I love the way you do it
with the pistachios and almonds on top.
Yes, and I love the way it smells in here
when you roast those almonds.
Well, here is one opinion I don't have to wonder about.
Everything you make is delicious.
Mwah.
Please. How would you know?
Excellent sources.
Sorry, I couldn't make it to dinner last night.
I had to take over for Lucas's cases this week.
Again?
Yeah, he messaged the team
saying he needed to take some personal time.
Oh. Well, it's a stressful job. I mean, I can understand that.
His wife wasn't too thrilled
when she called the office this morning,
and I had to break it to her.
That's how she found out? That's terrible.
Yeah, and the rocket docket
doesn't have any patience either.
The rocket who?
The rocket docket.
That's a nickname we have for Judge Talley.
He likes to move at a rocket speed.
Is that a good thing?
I can handle it, but with Lucas's cases,
I'm not going to get much sleep this week.
I have a solution for that.
Oh, you're an angel. Exactly what I need.
And so is that.
Have a good day.
Bye, ladies.
Later gator.
- Later gator? - Mm-hmm.
You are so weird.
All right. What was Chad's excuse
for missing mom's meatloaf Monday?
He ditched one of Delores's dinners.
- Mmhmm. - Okay, I don't blame him.
No, no, he had a very good reason.
His friend is also a lawyer
and needed his help. He had to cover for him.
What happened? He's sick? Having a baby?
No, nothing like that.
This guy Lucas is his name.
Chad says he's a good lawyer, but sometimes
he just gets overwhelmed, you know, stressed out.
And so he needs to take a few days to disappear.
It's happened before.
Yeah, that sounds like a cop out to me.
Probably just had really good concert tickets.
Oh, lawyers do have high-pressure jobs.
Okay, seriously, just tell me, which one is your favorite.
Ready? Go.
- Strudel - Cake.
[Hannah scoffs]
I can't believe the quilting club switched their order
to Whippersnapper cookies.
Yeah, they decided they needed a change.
Well, good for them.
I don't have too many deliveries to make today,
so I should be back soon.
Hey, can you look up on the computer
if we've ever delivered to the Straubs, S-t-r-a-u-b.
Danielle or Lucas?
Okay. Yes.
So their last delivery was blueberry danishes
for an Easter brunch.
Oh.
Blueberry cheesecake. Blueberry muffins.
I'm sensing a theme here.
Hey, do we still have those blueberry lavender panna cottas?
Oh.
Just two.
Perfect. Will you box them up for me?
I'll put these in the van
and then just shoot me a text with their address.
Thank you.
You got it.
[knocking]
Hello.
Hi, I'm Hannah Swensen.
Oh, um, The Cookie Jar.
Blueberry lavender panna cotta.
Yes.
Did my husband order those?
Not exactly.
Your husband is working on a case for the DA's office
where my boyfriend, Chad Norton, works.
Um, would you like to come in?
That would be great. Thanks.
So you were saying that Lucas has been known
to disappear for a few days at a time.
Yeah, he's always been this way.
Even in college,
he would just hit a wall and then need time to unwind.
Did you ever call the police?
I did once, but there's nothing really they can do.
I mean, Lucas is an adult. He can disappear if he wants to.
Besides, he always comes back.
Mm.
This is delicious. Thank you.
You seem worried.
It's different this time?
Well, normally he would maybe go away for a weekend.
Three days at the most.
But this time it's been almost a week.
It is different.
Let me show you something.
Sure.
It's over here.
He usually goes fishing if he needs time to himself.
All of his gear disappears.
He shuts his phone off.
And that's always been my sign.
Maybe he just bought himself some new fishing equipment.
Maybe.
Is it true that you can solve cases that the police can't?
Not officially.
If you could help me find my husband, Hannah,
I would be really grateful to you.
I guess, I-I could try,
especially since the police can't get involved.
Do you mind if I take a few photos?
Not at all.
[camera shutter snaps]
I just feel so embarrassed
that Lucas would leave Chad in a lurch like this.
Oh, don't worry about that. Chad is happy to help.
Hey, do you think maybe Lucas took off to go golfing?
Maybe he was looking for somewhere warmer.
He's not that into golf.
Oh.
I mean, he plays, but just with clients,
and he never really keeps score.
But he is a bit of a cigar guy?
Um, that's probably actually a gift.
He's always coming home with gifts like that
from his clients.
He's a very good lawyer.
Oh, yeah, Chad told me that he is a very good lawyer.
He mentioned to me this big case
that Lucas had been working on last year for the DA's office.
I didn't realize you could do both.
Yes. There are strict ethics regulations in place.
He used to work full time for the government,
but the stress.
So now he mostly handles civil cases privately.
What are you doing? What is that?
Malvern. Do you know what this means?
Is that the name of a client or a case he's working on?
I have no idea.
Huh? Okay, well, don't worry about it.
This gives me a lot to start with, and I'll be in touch.
Try not to worry.
Your Honor, the search was entirely lawful.
The coins and the plating machine were located
exactly where the search warrant authorized the officers to look.
The State maintains that the jury is entitled
to consider this evidence.
Rebuttal, counsel?
Briefly, Your Honor, we've provided evidence showing
the officers exceeded the scope of the warrant.
The seizure was unlawful.
And any subsequent reports, scientific or otherwise,
constitute fruit of the poisonous tree.
Very well.
I will take the motion under advisement
and issue a ruling before trial.
[indiscernible chatter]
And that sweet Mrs. Hanford
was in a state of complete panic.
She had us all on high alert
until the spotlight on the cruiser revealed the culprit.
Who?
A brand new garden gnome
her son had given her for her birthday.
[laughter]
So how about you, Chad? Any fun stories for us?
Or is it was always just work, work, work.
Oh, well, I'm covering for a colleague in a hearing.
Mm. The Golden Ticket case.
- Mmhmm. That's the one. - Mmhmm.
I am keeping myself well informed on the matter.
Hm.
- Lolo did some good work on it. - Thank you.
Mm. This is that case.
Mmhmm.
Lolo got some photos of Jacobson's workshop.
I assigned Lucas Straub to this case.
He used to be full time at the DA's office.
He is a great lawyer specializing in fraud law,
and he still does some State cases pro tem.
Until he up and disappeared.
Hannah, what do you mean "he disappeared"?
His wife is worried sick about him.
She said he does go on fishing trips sometimes,
but all his fishing equipment is still at his house.
You spoke with his wife?
Yeah, and I think you should, too.
Without evidence of a crime, there's nothing I can do.
It would be a violation of his rights.
I'm sure Lucas will show up soon
and he can solve this mystery for us.
Maybe we just powder it per order.
Okay, so I'll be back in a few hours.
Errands?
So, where are you going, Hannah?
Nowhere.
What can I get you, Mother?
Oh. You choose.
Well, I do have a new recipe for a Picarones.
What's in it?
It's a Peruvian fritter made out of sweet potatoes.
- No chocolate? - No.
Hard pass.
Today it is chocolate or nothing.
Okay, you're gonna have to bring out the big guns, Lisa.
Opera cake.
Perfect. Make it to-go, please.
Oh. I'll make your coffee to-go too then.
Where are you off to today, Mother?
We darling. That's you and moi.
Where are we off to, then?
Wherever you were just planning to go, Hannah.
To follow up on those clues you got from Lucas's widow.
We don't know if she is a widow.
Lucas might come back any day now
just like Chad said.
That poor woman is distraught,
and we need to give her some answers.
Not to mention that my fraud case is on the line.
It's my first caller.
You said you took some pictures.
Did I?
- Alright, fine. I did. - Oh.
You drive.
I'll eat.
Hey, Lucas, it's Norton again.
So I covered your motion to suppress hearing
for the Jacobson fraud case yesterday.
Doesn't look like Talley's going to rule in your favor,
so give me a call as soon as you can, all right?
Actually, better yet, come into the office.
It'd be good to talk to you in person.
Okay, so I think this is it.
So you're thinking someone here will know Lucas
well enough to give him a box of fancy cigars?
Oh, client or friend?
I figure it's a good place to start.
Ask some of his friends what they think about
his disappearance.
Good.
[door knob jiggles]
It's locked.
Oh.
[Hannah] See anyone?
I see a light on back there.
Maybe there's an employee here we can talk to.
Interesting.
Who would leave the back door to their business
just open like this.
Definitely not wise.
Should we...?
Oh, I guess we are.
Well, I mean, I guess it makes sense, right?
I mean, they left their door open.
Exactly.
As one business owner to another,
we're being good Samaritans, Hannah.
- Yeah. - Come on.
Well, maybe someone is coming back.
Oh, I found some receipts.
Quickly, why don't you check the computer, will you?
Okay. Remember when you used to get mad at me
about stuff like this?
Hannah, I never get mad.
- It gives one the 11s. - Stop it!
Oh. See if any of those drawers say Malvern on them.
Look at this.
[Hannah gasps]
What?
Is that Lucas?
I don't know.
- Uh, [clears throat] - Excuse us.
Sir. Pardon me.
Maybe it's a mannequin.
It's never a mannequin.
[clears throat]
Sir, I'm so sorry.
Hello?
Sir?
[scream]
Who is this?
I don't know, but he's definitely dead.
That's terrible.
Breaking and entering?
Oh, the door was open.
And you are looking to buy some cigars.
There is no need for sarcasm, Ronald.
Why are you here?
Oh, I saw a box of these cigars on Lucas's desk,
and his wife said he doesn't really smoke,
so I thought it might have been a gift.
So I thought...
You thought you would find Lucas.
We had to do something.
But that's not Lucas.
The um... the dead body.
No, it's Paul Jacobson.
Who's that?
A con man.
He owns... owned The Golden Ticket.
Oh, that case that you were working on.
Mmhmm.
- But I thought he was in jail. - Yeah.
He was. He's out on bail.
I think you two should leave, okay?
Mm.
We treat this like a homicide until we know.
Otherwise bag his hands for GSR.
GSR. That means gunshot residue.
Oh, I didn't see a gun, did you?
No.
Until we know exactly what happened here,
it's my job to make sure we cover all the bases.
Aye-aye.
[stammers] Um... um...
Can you make two copies of that for me, please.
Thank you.
Ealing, hey. I was just gonna come find you.
So I told Judge Talley about Jacobson's death.
The rocket dockets is not going to give you much extra time.
Yeah, you're telling me.
How did Jacobson's wife take the news?
Shocked and upset, she seemed blindsided.
Okay.
And you said there was no signs of violence
at the crime scene, right?
What, the cigar shop?
Right. No obvious trauma.
The body was sitting up
in one of those leather smoking chairs.
If I have Hannah's story right.
- Poison? - Possibly.
We're looking at everything. Could be asphyxiation.
Used something soft to not leave a mark.
Why would somebody try and take him out?
Was he turning State's evidence?
Or he did it himself. Couldn't face prison time.
Did Lucas think that there was a bigger player
involved in the fraud scheme?
Somebody that he could point to?
He had mentioned the possibility.
We were planning on bringing Jacobson back in
to see if we could get him to name names
before the trial.
And Mitzi Jacobson?
His wife, was definitely in on the scam.
We know she was selling the merch.
Isn't all this in Lucas's files?
That's a good question.
I don't know. I don't have Lucas's files.
Lucas didn't leave me his files or his laptop.
He just vanished.
All I've got is what he already filed with the court.
That's not much.
No, it's not.
Don't you find it a little strange?
I mean, it's one thing to take off,
but it's another to leave you to cover for him
and not even give you any access to his files.
Hannah said that his wife thinks
this is not his normal disappearing act.
I guess I should pay her a visit.
I'm not going to tell Hannah you said that.
Good.
[chuckles]
Thank you so much for stopping by.
[timer beeping]
Hannah! The timer's going off.
Oh yeah, my cupcakes.
What's got you so distracted today?
My mother and I found a--
Yes, you don't need to say it, I know.
And it turns out that it's a guy who was about
to go on trial for selling fake gold coins.
Oh, yeah, I read about that in the paper.
The Golden Ticket?
Yes, exactly.
And one of our customers was one of the people conned
by Paul Jacobson and his wife, Mitzi.
Wait. What?
I thought you were looking for the missing lawyer.
That too.
But you know, that lawyer was prosecuting
the case against the Jacobsons.
Coincidence? Maybe, but maybe not.
Oh.
There's a lot going on in Lake Eden.
Hey, I'm at the market. Do you need anything?
Uh, no, I just went.
[Hannah] Me too.
Why are you at the market?
Oh, because I found out that the woman who's on trial
for selling fake gold coins loves this store.
Didn't she just find out her husband is dead?
I understand that she's probably not here today
doing retail therapy.
I just think maybe someone here will know her
or have some insight into her relationship with her husband.
[Michelle] Not everyone is on a first-name basis
with their grocer, Hannah. That's just you.
Are you kidding me?
Rainy Cove is the first place I look.
He loves to fish there.
She's here.
[Michelle] Seriously? Mitzi Jacobson?
No, Danielle Straub.
[Michelle] Okay, now you've completely lost me.
Danielle is the wife of the lawyer who's gone missing.
[line beeps]
Hm.
Okay.
Given the circumstances,
we will agree to a delay of trial.
Your Honor, my client would prefer not to delay.
She's waited for justice long enough.
What Mrs. Jacobson wants now,
more than anything, is the opportunity
to clear her husband's name.
No one wants to delay these proceedings any longer,
than necessary, Your Honor,
but the State may need a few days.
Justice delayed, is justice denied, counselor?
Trial starts Monday.
You got a second?
This is a nice surprise.
What can I do for my favorite prosecutor?
You're just saying that
because I'm the only one that's ever beat you at trial.
I plead the fifth, so?
I need a favor.
You don't usually beat around the bush.
What is it?
I need a copy of the files.
For this case?
For the Jacobson case, yes.
The State needs an entire copy of the case from me,
the defense, for a trial that starts in four days.
Mmhmm.
[laughing] No problem, Norton. Happy to help.
Thank you.
No. Thank you.
This will be fun.
See you Monday.
[laughing]
[gasps]
Okay, okay. I know you like grocery shopping,
but, Hannah, this is getting ridiculous.
What are you doing here?
Well, you hung up on me earlier, and that had me worried.
Besides, it sounds like all the good tea is here.
They have great tea, aisle 9.
Not actual tea, Hannah.
Never mind! Update me.
Oh, okay. So there is Danielle Straub.
When she was talking to me,
she was acting very worried about her missing husband.
But now look at her
like she doesn't have a care in the world.
She does have a really good sweater.
I heard her talking about her husband's favorite fishing spot.
Mm.
I know he left his gear behind, but maybe--
You're going there, aren't you?
Do you want to come with me?
Uh, no, I have a better idea.
I have new photos to develop.
So while you go on a wild goose chase,
why don't I take your groceries home
and I'll put them in my fridge?
Oh, no, I don't need any of this, but thank you.
Oh, yeah. No problem.
I'll just put all your groceries away.
Hello there.
Fish here often?
Shh!
Best spot in Lake Eden.
Oh.
I've heard that.
My friend fishes here all the time.
Maybe you know him.
Lucas Straub.
Yeah, he was supposed to meet us here, but must have missed him.
He's okay, isn't he?
Well, that's actually what I'm trying to find out.
You said you think you missed him.
What makes you think he was here?
Found one of his rubber boots.
I think it's his anyway.
Best way to ruin business shoes, wear them down here.
That makes sense.
Um, where did you find that?
Well, we usually start around the bend
and then work our way up.
Okay. Great.
Thanks.
♪
Oh, no.
♪
Hannah.
Chad! [sigh of relief]
Okay. So this was or is-is Lucas's favorite fishing spot.
I talked to his buddy who said that he thought Lucas had left
one of his boots out here,
so I came and looked around, and I found that.
You didn't touch it, did you?
No. No, I mean, I used this
to make sure that it wasn't a... you know.
It's probably a good call.
I mean, the water probably washed away
most of the fingerprints, but it's good to be safe.
Why do you think Lucas would toss his laptop
in the lake?
I mean, what does that mean?
Unless maybe he really did want to just disappear
and start over... good this time.
Or?
Or someone else threw his laptop in the lake.
Someone hurt him.
Chad, do you think that you're in danger
for taking over his cases?
Let's let's not assume anything, okay?
Hey, Ealing, I need you to send a tech down to Rainy Cove.
Thanks.
Whoa! What happened here?
Oh, I had to ask the defense for their case files.
And they left it--
A mess? Yeah. Reciprocal discovery.
They have to hand over the files,
but as you can see, they don't have to do it nicely.
You're just gonna have to start from scratch
- organizing everything? - Mm-hmm.
Maybe you'll get all the information
from Lucas's laptop now.
You know, maybe you can salvage something
from his hard drive.
The serial number confirms it was Lucas's laptop,
but the water damage is severe.
It could take months to know what, if anything,
we can pull from it.
- Trial starts Monday. - I know.
Is anyone else thinking what I'm thinking?
That someone in these files
damaged Lucas's laptop on purpose to hurt the case.
And maybe it's the same person who killed Paul Jacobson.
Hannah, I've got detectives on it.
Lucas had a number of private cases also.
We're getting a full list. I'll look into them all.
It's about time.
Hey, he didn't have cause until now,
so just give him a minute to catch up to you.
Plus, he's got a lot of rules he's got to follow.
Oh, this is one of the couples that gave
their entire life savings
to buy those fake gold coins from Mitzi Jacobson.
Paul and Mitzi Jacobson were the worst kind of frauds.
They scam people out of everything they owned.
I'm going to make sure
that Mitzi faces the consequences for what they did,
with or without Lucas's help.
[sighs]
I don't get it either.
[meows]
Well, it's frustrating to me too, Moishe.
I don't know why Paul Jacobson
was at this particular cigar shop.
I mean, what was he doing there? You think it was a coincidence?
No. You can't have my dinner too, buddy.
You have your own dinner.
And I don't know how he died.
Why he died there, of all places.
You're a good boy. You're a good boy.
Is that the only photo in his office?
Yeah, the one of him fishing.
Why?
Do you see something?
Well, don't you find it strange
that he doesn't have a picture of his wife?
I mean, he has a photo of him catching a fish,
but not of his wife.
I mean, I will say I got the sense
that Danielle was withholding something
when she was showing me around her husband's office.
Like, maybe they're not as close as she wants you to think.
Yeah, right.
Maybe she's just pretending to be a worried wife,
and she's just waiting for someone to find
his body months or years from now.
That is a huge leap.
Do you think it's weird
that Lucas doesn't have any photos with his wife
in his office?
No, I don't think it's that weird.
I mean, every couple's different.
Maybe they just aren't the selfie types.
Yeah, and if she was up to something,
why would she ask you to help find Lucas?
Well, maybe she thought Hannah could get inside information
from her situation-ship with Chad.
Or maybe through Ron.
You know, since him and mom are together.
Okay, enough.
And if Danielle Straub thought
I was gonna hand over insider information,
she doesn't know me at all.
[both] Preach.
Hi. Are you that baker?
Oh. Uh, yeah.
I also do some baking.
Yeah. You're--
You bake cookies or cakes?
Oh. Anything really.
Cheesecake, it's my favorite.
Every time I follow a recipe, it always turns out
the way it looks in the photos, in the cookbooks.
Oh.
Have you ever written a cookbook?
No, I haven't.
Are you a content producer?
I-I produce desserts.
I mean, for social media.
I take videos of all of my desserts
under a different name, of course.
- Of course. - Mmhmm.
My husband, may he rest,
dragged me into a difficult situation.
I'm sure you've heard.
I have read about it in the paper.
Well, as soon as they clear my name,
we should collab.
Oh.
But don't say anything.
No, just think about it.
We can swap recipes.
Hannah.
Oh. Hey, Lonnie.
Michelle told me you were staking out a grocery store.
Okay, I wasn't really staking out,
but I had heard that Mitzi Jacobson goes there,
so I wanted to-- oh, sorry.
Hey, Hannah. Did you bring any cookies?
Um, yeah.
Yeah, they're at that coffee station.
Great.
Um, Sheriff, I wondered-- Ron, Ron, I wondered
if you and I could talk a little bit because, um...
So I was explaining to Lonnie
that I went to the grocery store.
Which one?
The one on Nelson Street.
Oh, they have the very best produce.
Mother.
What are you doing here on a Sunday?
You first.
Any news on the Lucas Straub case?
Oh, no. I was talking about the Jacobson case.
Oh, um, please don't discuss anything with your mother
about the Jacobson case.
Why?
She's a witness.
Your mother's testifying in the Jacobson trial.
Hm.
I just can't believe it.
You're actually going to put my mother on the witness stand?
Yeah. The evidence she provided was pivotal in the case.
She is my star witness.
Oh, great.
She's going to dine out on that forever.
Well, she deserves to be proud.
I'm worried about this case, with Lucas being gone,
and whatever happened to Paul Jacobson?
Well, the M.E. discovered that--
Ooh.
The point is, we still don't know the cause of death.
It could be exactly what it looks like.
What will that mean for Mitzi?
Well, we know she's a smooth operator.
We know she's good at selling the coins.
A lot of people lost their savings
investing in what she promised was a sure thing.
Can you prove that she was in on it?
I mean, maybe she just believed her husband
when he said they were real.
Her signature is all over the forged documents.
She had to know where the coins were coming from.
Do you know where the coins were coming from?
Who made them?
[sighs] I mean, according to these files,
Paul didn't know where they were from.
And maybe somebody behind the scenes,
an outside source.
Someone who is willing to kill Paul Jacobson
to prevent him from testifying.
It is possible.
Hannah, look, I got to get back to work.
Oh, okay.
Call you later.
Yes. Sunday.
You know, my mother makes pot roast, so.
One blueberry muffin and some coffee.
Thank you.
I was hoping you might have some news for me.
Oh, well, I mean, I have made some progress,
but nothing definite.
Well, I've tried everything on his desk.
Usually he writes down his new passwords,
but nothing has worked to access his cloud.
Have you tried variations on the word Malvern?
Yes, but I didn't want to try too many times
because I didn't want the account to get locked.
Oh, that's smart.
There's been no activity on his phone
and he hasn't used his credit cards or anything.
Do you happen to notice anything different
about his behavior before he disappeared?
Was he more security conscious,
like closing the blinds or locking the doors
or anything like that?
I mean, if he was, I-I didn't notice.
How are you doing these days?
Honestly, it's been hard.
I had to force myself to go to the gym.
Just nothing seems real.
Hey, I was wondering if you were up for a workout.
This is a workout.
I've been walking all over Lake Eden
trying to take photos for my new display.
Oh, you know,
my customers are going to be thrilled at the chance
to buy a Michelle Swensen original at The Cookie Jar.
Well, we'll see.
I have to put together a cohesive collection first.
That sounds good.
I don't want to get in the way of your creative process.
Since when?
Okay, so I found out that Danielle
goes to this class at the gym,
and I heard she's on her way to Heavenly Bodies right now.
So I wondered if you would take the class
and maybe try to get some gossip while you're there.
[sighs] You so owe me for this.
Thank you.
Jury selection went well.
I think so too.
Then one of us misread the room.
You sure you don't want to offer us a deal?
It's not too late.
If you're looking for a deal.
My guess is
that jury selection went better for me than it did for you.
All I need is one juror sympathetic to a new widow.
Oh. All the jurors will be sympathetic
to the victims that the Jacobsons conned.
Boring financial mumbo jumbo.
You'll be lucky to keep them awake.
Mm.
While you're under oath,
do you mind if I ask you a few questions?
- Mm. - Like what is in that meatloaf?
Oh, this is Joanne's melt in your mouth meatloaf.
Mm.
Did you know that Chad called you his star witness?
- Chad said that? - Uh-huh.
Well.
I just don't know how you're gonna know what to say.
I can't imagine it.
Oh, well, honey,
it's not dissimilar to being on stage.
Chad told me to connect with the jury,
explain everything to them.
Explain what exactly?
Oh, no.
He also told me not to talk about my testimony,
and so I shall not.
I think that'll be the hard part.
I mean, being a witness
is actually pretty straightforward.
All you do is answer questions.
Your photos will do all of the work.
Chad did say that eyewitness testimony
is notoriously unreliable.
I guess people just have bad memories.
As an actress, my memory is impeccable.
Hannah, what is the latest now on Danielle and Lucas Straub?
Oh, uh...
Michelle, you were supposed to go to Danielle's fitness class.
Did you get in?
Oh, yes. No problem.
It's a great class, actually. I might go back.
Thank you.
Okay well, drumroll, please. Was Danielle at the class?
Oh, yep. She was definitely there.
And?
[gasp]
What's the scoop?
Okay, fine. All the ladies were gossiping
about Danielle's behavior recently.
Really?
Her husband is missing.
Of course she's going to be behaving differently.
Not in the way you'd think.
Apparently, she's been sporting
a brand new pair of diamond earrings,
and she rocked up to class in a brand new car.
What?
I knew she hasn't been telling me everything
but to buy a new car when her husband's only
- been missing for two weeks. - Mmhmm.
You know what they say, ladies?
It's never the murder, it's always the marriage.
Okay, but we don't know for sure
that Lucas is even dead, let alone murdered.
[distant crash sound]
It's probably just Moishe.
He's always getting into trouble.
I wonder where he gets that from.
- [meows] - I don't think it's Moishe.
[Moishe purrs]
[whispers] Okay.
[all screaming]
Hannah, your window is open!
You left it like that in this weather?!
What does that say?
"Stay out of my business."
Okay. Maybe we stay at mom's security fortress tonight.
I'll pack up the meatloaf.
- Leave the meatloaf. - Go! Go!
♪
Oh, hello.
I'm glad I caught you before you started.
Yeah, I'm on my way right now.
Are you feeling ready for your opening statement?
Well, I did spend all night writing it and rewriting,
so I better be ready.
Okay. Hear me out.
Morning Glory muffin, brain food.
Super healthy. Not a lot of sugar.
Okay.
You know, it looks delicious, but I'm going to pass.
But everyone up there is gonna love those muffins.
Sorry. Can you repeat that?
His throat was swollen shut. And how could that happen?
Airborne triggers?
It could have been something he ate?
[woman] That is delicious.
No obvious common allergens.
...yeah, definitely.
It's hard to choose, isn't it?
We still can't rule out manual strangulation,
even though there was no bruising.
All right, that complicates things.
[Lonnie] All right, keep me posted. Thanks.
[Lonnie sighs]
There's a few left if you want a cookie.
Did not think I was gonna be hungry today,
but now that I'm looking at 'em.
I might just take one.
Rough day?
We still have no idea how Paul Jacobson died.
I'm starting to get the feeling
that it's going to be ruled a homicide.
Oh.
Are you here to see the sheriff?
Yeah. Yeah, I mean,
I know he's gonna yell at me, but I can take it.
Sheriff loves to yell at everybody, right?
All the time.
He's always yelling about something, if--
Hi Ron. Good morning.
I didn't want to interrupt. What were you saying?
Un-nuh.
- I know. - Un-nuh.
I was just coming to talk to you about
the Lucas Straub case, that's all.
We're working on it.
I know, but I thought you should know,
I heard something about Danielle, his wife,
that she's been spending a lot of money
since he's disappeared.
She bought herself a pair of diamond earrings
and a new car.
Okay, that's good to know.
Good.
Well, and, um, here's some cookies.
Hannah.
Please take your security more seriously.
Maybe upgrade the system.
Definitely. That's an excellent idea.
I- I will do that.
You got cookie on your face.
Don't bother. I don't even get a mention.
A what?
And he calls himself a journalist.
Who?
Cecil, whatever his name is.
[both] Plotnik?
The ink slinger.
Aren't you supposed to be getting ready
for your testimony?
Are you going to be testifying?
Mm, indeed.
I'm scheduled for later this week.
Mm.
I'm gonna drop those shadows and talk straight.
It means I'm going to tell the truth.
Ah.
Oh.
Any progress on this missing attorney?
I'm gonna swing by the golf course today.
[laughs] Hannah.
Honey, you're gonna have to come up with
better golf puns if you're going to fit in
at a country club.
Just be careful.
Last time you followed clues from his desk.
You found a dead body.
I'm just going to a golf course.
You know, to find out
if Lucas was trying to become a member or something like that.
Well, good luck, dear. Stay out of the sand traps.
Now, that's a much better golf pun.
Hello. I'm here to deliver two dozen cookies.
Oh, um, all catering goes downstairs.
Right.
I mean, I did check there first, and I just couldn't find anyone.
Oh, well, it's the off season. We're short-staffed.
I was thinking of buying
some golf balls for my boyfriend.
He's a lawyer. Lawyers in golf, am I right?
Yeah, we do get a lot of them around here.
He golfs here with his friend who's a lawyer, too.
Lucas Straub.
Do you know him?
Doesn't ring a bell.
[Hannah] I talked to the guy running the driving range
and then a groundskeeper, and then I found out
they weren't doing any events that night,
so I left.
But you left them the cookies?
Yeah, of course I did.
I mean, that's how I know they're not gonna complain.
Okay, well, I don't know why you bothered.
His wife told you he's not a golfer.
Well, maybe he goes there with someone else as a guest
or taking lessons or something.
But it doesn't matter anyway,
because I wasn't making any progress at the golf course.
Hm. Well, obviously someone thinks you're getting close
because they threw a brick through your window.
Fair point.
Okay, enough about this.
You promised we could watch a movie if I stayed here tonight.
What do you think the cinnamon toast popcorn balls are for.
Follow me.
Thank you.
Malvern, Pennsylvania.
Civil War coins?
[tense music]
[knocking]
Hey! Ooh, close the door.
Do you even check to make sure it was me?
Of course I did. Don't be ridiculous.
So Ealing told me what happened.
Why didn't you say anything?
Because I didn't want to bother you.
You have a lot going on right now.
Hm. I did a perimeter check of the property.
Seems pretty quiet out there.
Thank you. I do have reinforcements.
Oh, yeah.
Moishe is very brave and all.
[Michelle] It's me. I'm the reinforcements.
Sorry. It's a small house.
Can I, uh, get you some coffee?
And you can tell me about your first day of trial.
Well, first day was good, but I can't stay.
I got to get back to the office.
Oh.
Okay. Well, I'll put it in a to-go mug.
How about that?
And, um, I'll give you
some of my leftover special corn chowder.
Ooh, what makes it so special?
Some people say it's spicy.
[Michelle] Not spicy enough.
The peanut gallery. Sounds perfect.
Why don't you tell me what your plan is for tomorrow?
Well, I got to put the forensic banker
and the IRS agent on the stand.
Hm. That sounds complicated.
And boring.
Juries, they like crime scenes and DNA,
and it's just a bunch of math.
I'm sure you'll find a way to make it interesting.
I hope so.
This is the only real concrete evidence I have
against Mitzi Jacobson.
Her signature is all over the paperwork,
and she definitely knew that those coins
were not real antiques.
Thank you.
What about my mother?
I'm gonna put her on the stand at the end of the week.
I'm going to save her as a closer, as my last witness.
Somebody the jury will really listen to.
Well, you definitely found the right person for that.
Hey, have you seen the word "Malvern"?
Or maybe it's a name on any of those files
with the Jacobson trial.
Malvern?
No, but I still got a lot to go through.
Why?
I saw it written on Lucas's desk,
but I'm working on it.
Maybe it's nothing.
With you, it's probably something.
You know, I also ran into Mitzi Jacobson
at the market.
She told me she's into cooking and baking.
She's a social media influencer.
Okay. Do you think that's important?
I don't know.
She seemed pretty confident that she's gonna clear her name,
and then she wants to bake with me or something.
Well, that's not going to happen for three to five years.
I won't hold my breath.
Thank you.
- Mm. - Mm.
[Michelle] Now that's spicy.
Easy.
[laughs]
"In the first few days of prosecution witnesses
"have not been filled with glitter or gold."
It's a trial.
It's not supposed to be showy or entertaining.
Well, didn't you say Chad was worried
the jury wouldn't be impressed?
This is a reporter?
He's supposed to report the news.
I'm canceling my subscription.
Okay, well, what about this?
"Mitzi Jacobson appears very understated, even circumspect,
"a far cry from the swashbuckling,
"historical tales her victims allege
"she invented to sell her wares."
That's paragraph 15.
They should have started with that.
Isn't your mother testifying today?
Yes. Lisa, to be honest, I'm a little nervous for her.
Oh, that's the perfect dress for going to court.
- Thanks. - You'll make Delores proud.
Oh.
Oh, I'm gonna be late.
Hannah don't run.
You're not used to wearing heels.
Pardon me.
Oh, Chad, I know.
Hey, Delores. Just in time.
Could we go over the questions one more time, please?
I've been practicing.
No, we don't want to sound practiced, okay?
Don't worry about it. Just be yourself.
Not right now, guys. Guys, not right now, please.
Sorry.
Hey, you're gonna do great.
Listen to the question, pause, answer in one or two sentences.
- Okay. - Alright.
It's hot in here.
I would like to call Delores Swensen to the stand.
I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth.
[Judge] Proceed, counselor.
Please state your full name for the record.
[mic feedback]
Mrs. Delores Swensen.
That's Delores with an "E".
And what do you do for a living, Mrs. Swensen?
Oh, a little of this, little of that.
I'm a private eye, so that's part detective,
part problem solver, and sometimes part therapist.
[jury chuckles]
Yeah.
Michelle... Mother is doing great.
Of course she is. Did you doubt it?
Well, actually, I was a little nervous for her.
Okay, well, that is a you thing.
Okay. Okay, fine. You're right.
Oh, I think the recess is over. I just wanted to let you know.
Okay, thanks. Bye.
How did you determine that the coins were fake?
Oh, they were very convincing at first.
I will give you that.
But?
The weight was off,
and the etching wasn't quite right, either. Hm?
And what was the next step?
My client hired me to find proof
that The Golden Ticket
was selling forgeries, on purpose.
And that is a very different kettle of fish,
if you know what I mean.
[jury laughs]
Oh. Please explain.
I created a distraction
to lure Mrs. Jacobson outside her shop
so I could photograph the back room,
her desk, the equipment, everything I could see.
And when you took these photographs,
did you disturb or move anything?
No.
Did you open any cabinets or drawers?
Oh, honey, there wasn't time for any of that.
No.
Are these the photographs that you took?
May I?
These are some of them.
Yes.
Uh, how would you characterize
what you captured in these photos?
This is a behind the scenes look
at The Golden Tickets operation.
Everything they were up to.
The hidden equipment
they didn't want the customers to see,
the certificates of authenticity.
Ah! Oh, they were just churning them out.
How long have you been a private eye?
A little over two years now.
Two years?
Hm. All right.
Is that a question?
No. No. Just, um, thinking aloud.
Why would someone come to you for this case?
Why didn't they go to the police?
Objection. Calls for speculation.
I'll withdraw.
You were hired by a private client, not law enforcement.
That's right.
And you're paid when you produce results.
I'm paid for my time.
Oh, results help, though.
[scoffs] Results help everyone.
Including you.
So if the photos didn't show anything incriminating,
this case would end and your work with it.
Objection.
I'll rephrase.
You had every incentive
to find incriminating evidence, didn't you?
No.
- No? - No.
If I manufacture evidence, I lose my license,
my livelihood and my reputation.
I did not need to invent anything
because the Jacobsons
were doing just fine on their own.
Do you normally handle cases of this nature, Mrs. Swensen?
I mostly handle cheating spouses.
Ah.
And let me tell you,
it's not always fun having to tell the client
that they were right.
But this time, my client was thrilled
with the proof that I provided.
And I took it to the Sheriff's Office that day.
[sighs]
All right, let's talk about this distraction
at the store.
It's too bad that Chad and Ron couldn't join us.
I mean, it wouldn't be a great look for Chad.
- I know. - He'll be with us to celebrate.
Thank you. When he's won.
It's a date.
Mother, congratulations. You were great today.
Thank you, daughter.
Mm.
So, how are you doing tracking down Lucas Straub.
Oh. Well, I have confirmed
that he was definitely working on The Golden Ticket case.
That it was the last thing he did before he disappeared.
Oh, dear.
He had written a note on his desk.
It said, "Malvern".
The city in Pennsylvania?
I mean, it could be, but I did some research.
It's also the name of a ship from the Civil War.
Legend is that it carried gold coins for the North.
Sounds like a story that Mitzi and Paul would have cooked up
to sell their rotten pieces of tin.
Another thing I can't figure out is why Lucas had
that box of golf balls on his desk like that.
He doesn't even like golf that much.
You should go back to the golf course.
I need to check the computer
to know for sure if he's not a member.
This time use a different strategy.
Pull a double.
Wait. No, don't tell me.
It means...
take Michelle with me.
Un-nuh.
It means...
[whispers] Go undercover.
Covert. Incognito.
It's not a bad idea.
- Hm. - [phone buzzing]
Oh.
It's you.
It's Danielle Straub.
[whispers] What? Oh, answer it.
Hello, Danielle. Hi.
What?
Hey, Hannah. Something weird just happened.
I was wondering if maybe you could come by my house.
Uh, I mean, of course. Are you okay?
Yeah. I'm fine. Well, at least, I think I'm fine.
I was just hoping maybe you could help.
Yeah. No, I'd be happy to. I'm on my way.
She wants me to come to her house.
Now?
Yeah.
Huh.
Let's see what fate is dealing tonight.
- Check. - Check.
[Hannah] Should we take this to go?
[Danielle] I am so glad you're here.
[Hannah] Yeah, of course I'm glad you called.
And you should meet my mother, Mrs. Delores Swensen.
It's a pleasure.
I think my husband has been here, like, recently.
What makes you think that?
I don't know,
there's just some things that are different.
Maybe it's my imagination.
Why don't you just start by pointing out
the things you've noticed.
When I came home from the gym, I found this.
And it's not normally like that?
No.
I'm a neat freak.
I would never leave a cupboard like this.
Huh?
And there's more.
And his office chair is not in the same place either.
Oh.
This is a spectacular piece, Danielle.
Did I see this at the antique store on Fifth?
You may have.
I yearned for it for a very long time.
I just recently pulled the trigger.
Oh. Um, Danielle,
could you please show me to the powder room?
Of course. Um, it's right over here.
I know it's late, but would you like, um, a coffee?
Oh, no.
Thank you, though.
Are you okay to stay here alone?
Yeah, it may seem weird,
but maybe if I'm here, he'll come home.
Oh.
Um, I forgot to ask you.
I saw your car in the driveway. Do you like it?
Because I was thinking of getting one myself.
Oh, that old thing.
I, honestly, I hardly even notice it.
Oh.
Thank you for coming here so quickly.
Of course, and please feel free to call anytime
if you notice anything more.
Yes.
Oh, we have dinner in the car.
- Ciao. - Literally.
[Hannah] I only found a first name and a phone number.
Can you do a reverse search?
No. What is that?
I have an account.
Okay. Oh, well here. Let me give you the number.
You know, I could also just try calling it.
It wouldn't be the worst idea.
You could call in the morning,
offer some sort of free cookie giveaway.
Oh, yeah.
It's one of the lines to Oak Ridge Meadows.
The golf course?
- Hm. - Huh.
Requires another look.
And...
did you check out that cigar box?
Look, it's sitting there almost like it's a trophy.
Well, I did look at it. It's still sealed, brand new.
But I still have no idea how or why Paul Jacobson
ended up dead at that cigar shop.
I have to go back there, too.
And we don't know
if it was Lucas Straub at that house today either.
You're right about that.
It could have been the person
trying to scare me off this case.
♪
[exhales]
No.
No, no.
Okay, okay. Malvern Incorporated.
Okay. 1452 Sunnyside Lane.
The Golden Ticket?
So that means that Paul Jacobson
owns the cigar shop too.
Pick up. Pick up.
So you never actually interacted with the defendant,
Mitzi Jacobson, yourself?
No.
You've never even laid eyes on her until today.
No.
Thank you, Your Honor.
Counsel.
Your Honor, I have no questions for this witness.
You can step down.
[jury mumbles]
Hey, we are pretty sure Paul Jacobson was poisoned.
Oh, I'm pretty sure it's not very convincing to a jury.
The M.E. thinks airborne or ingested.
There's a biohazard crew going over the cigar shop
as we speak.
His throat didn't just close by accident.
There's no evidence of manual strangulation.
I get it. There's not a lot to go on.
She's going to rule a manner of death, undetermined
unless something else turns up.
Juries don't like undetermined, either.
I'm just giving it to you straight, Chad.
This is where we are.
I understand,
and I appreciate your hard work, but I need more.
Give me something concrete, beyond a reasonable doubt.
Oh. Hey, Michelle. Guess what?
Hey.
So many customers have commented on your new photo wall.
They're already making inquiries.
Oh that's nice.
Well, this one will finish off the display.
Beautiful.
Hey, mom told me you got a new lead.
A couple, actually.
I found out that the guy who owned The Golden Ticket
also owned the cigar shop.
Okay, so I guess it makes sense that he died there.
Does it?
I'm not sure.
I don't know exactly what it means,
but what I was thinking was that maybe Lucas
bought those cigars and then wrote down Malvern
because he was investigating the Jacobsons.
I thought he wrote down a phone number.
Well, that too,
and I researched the phone number with mother's help
and found out that it's for the pro shop at the golf course.
So I think I have to go back there
no matter what day it is.
It's Friday.
The 13th.
Well, good thing you're not superstitious.
Did you just knock on wood?
What do you want some salt to throw over your shoulder, too?
What century are you living in?
You can never be too careful.
Exactly.
So anyway, can I borrow your plaid pants?
Hannah, you can't handle my plaid pants.
I can handle your plaid pants.
And I'm going to a golf course. I need them, I have to fit in.
Fine. On this one occasion,
I will let you borrow my plaid pants.
But don't say I never give you anything.
Oh, I won't.
Urgh!
[knocking on door]
Delores said you asked for these.
Oh, yeah.
The source is always the best.
- Oh, what's this? - I didn't see that.
Hey, if you're not going to eat this.
Don't you even think about it.
Oh, okay.
Here, you can have this.
Yeah. No, thanks.
- What? - Un-huh.
I didn't even know this was here.
[chuckles]
"Nothing sweet, I promise.
"You think better on a full stomach."
That is true.
Oh, she posts a lot.
Hi.
Okay.
Thanks.
Hi there.
- You want to give it a try? - Yeah.
[Golf pro] So just feel the weight in your hands.
It's gonna be exactly the right size.
What was that?
One sec.
I'll just go take a look.
[sighs]
[gasps]
[Golf Pro] Anybody know whose clubs these are?
- [Golf pro] Anyone? - [Hannah] Oh!
Goodness.
Sorry, Your Honor.
Your Honor, now that the State has arrived,
the defense is ready to proceed.
Please.
We call Mitzi Jacobson as our final witness.
[courtroom mumbles]
Hey, I know it's Friday,
but let's all stay focused and try and get through
as much as we can this afternoon.
Thank you, Your Honor.
Hm.
Okay, Rod Bascomb.
Guest room use.
Guest rooms?
Huh?
[cell phone rings]
Hey, did you know they have guest rooms at the golf course?
I think that's where Lucas has been staying
this whole time. I'm gonna go talk to him.
That sounds like a bad idea.
Well, I know, but I can't think of anything better.
Okay, fine. Then we need a code word
in case you get in trouble.
I think this is it.
Be serious, Hannah. That is a terrible code word.
No, no, I found a housekeeping thing,
and one of the rooms has trash outside of it.
A bunch of snack bags and to-go containers.
That must be him.
Okay, so what are you saying?
That he snuck out on his wife
so he could eat a bunch of junk food?
Maybe it's that simple. I gotta go.
No safe word. Don't hang up. Hannah!
So what did you do for the business?
Well, mostly I did whatever Paul asked me to do.
Like what?
I don't really have a head for business.
My main passion is cooking and baking.
But when Paul would come home with coins to sell,
he would tell me about the coins.
Tell me about the history
and how much he wanted to sell them for.
And?
And I would try to sell them the way that he wanted me to.
Did you never question your husband?
Question the authenticity of the coins?
I loved my husband.
I never in a million years
would think that he would ever lie to me or anyone.
Housekeeping.
You don't work here.
Hello, Mr. Straub.
I'm Hannah Swensen.
O-kay.
Look, I don't know how you found me,
but now's not a very good time.
Your wife sent me.
She's worried sick about you.
Listen, Lucas, I understand you have a lot you're dealing with.
You don't understand anything.
And just one final question, Ms. Jacobson.
Did you have any way of knowing
that the coins your husband was selling were fake?
No. Absolutely not.
I would have never gone along with that.
Thank you.
Your witness.
Mrs. Jacobson, you just testified that your husband
was the one to bring the coins to sell.
Yes.
And you had never seen them before that?
No.
Hm.
Your Honor, the State would like to admit these photographs
as Exhibit P.
Objection. Lack of foundation.
Your Honor, these photographs were taken by the Swensen Agency
and previously produced to the State during discovery.
Now, several of these photographs
were not submitted by the defense.
Objection withdrawn.
Exhibit P is admitted.
Thank you.
I would like to draw your attention
to the equipment on this desk. Do you know what that is?
No.
Well, that's on your desk but you don't know what it is?
Asked and answered.
Sustained. Next question, Counselor.
Can you at least read to me
what the label on that machine says?
Uh... electroplate.
Electroplate.
And what is sitting on top of the electroplate machine?
Well, it looks like a pair of glasses.
Mmhmm. And what color are those glasses?
Um...
Here. You know what,
here's a closer image of those glasses.
It might help you out a little bit.
Pink.
[jury mumbles]
Okay. Thank you very much.
I'll give you all a minute to look at these photos.
I don't just owe, a little bit of money.
And the people I owe money to, they're not messing around.
It started off with, you know, just some unknown messages.
Those people following me, then threats at my house.
They didn't, by chance break a window, did they?
How did you know about that?
Well... I... It was just a guess.
I'm also guessing they're not the type of money lenders
to allow you to make layaway payments.
No, and they certainly don't like people
sniffing around their operation.
Why don't you tell me how you met Ron?
I left the DA's office full time so I can make my own hours.
No one would get suspicious.
I met Rod down at the racetrack,
and I started this really big win streak.
Enough to buy a new car?
Exactly.
Danielle and I even got to pick out the color and everything.
And then?
And then I hit a really big win.
Rod, he brought me these victory cigars.
The feeling there's nothing like it.
Except those weren't just any cigars, were they?
The fact that those cigars
are owned by the guy I'm prosecuting.
This is a major case.
And now I'm in a compromised position.
The defendant, Jacobson,
he could tell the judge about my gambling
tank, my credibility at court.
I'm taking bribes.
The cigars, they could be the tip of the iceberg.
So you're saying the Jacobson's defense team
could use your behavior to muddy the waters at trial?
Exactly.
But if you really wanted this conviction,
why did you throw your laptop in the lake?
Don't you understand? It's all I could do.
Anything connected to me was tainted.
The only way to salvage the Jacobson case
was to let Chad do it himself.
Wow, you really thought that through?
But what about Danielle?
Look, she knows I go to the racetrack.
Sometimes I buy her things when I win.
But how am I going to tell her that I sabotaged
my entire law career?
Oh, I think she figured out more than you know.
I mean, she wanted me to find you,
but she was covering for you, too.
Really?
So that's one less thing for you to worry about.
I'm here a while.
Have you figured out how you're going to pay them off?
I had no idea
that my husband was going to pass away, your Honor.
How could I?
That wasn't the question.
I just want everybody to understand, that's all.
Paul has been careful about his nut allergy his whole life.
It's not like a regular peanut allergy.
People know about that.
Almonds are much more rare.
I never thought that Paul would take his own...
You knew your husband had a nut allergy?
Objection. Relevance?
Your Honor, the witness introduced the subject.
I'll allow it.
Mrs. Jacobson, I know this is incredibly difficult.
Thank you.
But I just want to clarify
that you did know your husband had a tree nut allergy.
Of course, I did.
He had an EpiPen.
He's always been very cautious.
I can imagine.
His reaction was severe?
Clearly.
He died.
About that.
Do you know what he ate before he passed?
I don't know.
I was busy doing a social media post.
I didn't even know anything happened
until the Sheriff came to talk to me.
Hm.
Your Honor, may we approach?
Your Honor, the State requests a brief recess.
Come on, counselor, we're almost done here.
We'll begin closing arguments on Monday morning.
Your Honor, a very important matter has arisen,
and I need to address it before we stop for the day.
Five minutes.
Thank you, Your Honor.
I know, I know. It's crazy.
I mean, Lucas is on his way to talk to the sheriff right now.
I mean, Ron.
Oh, poor Danielle.
Hannah, she's gonna need someone to sit with her
while Lucas is being interviewed by Ron.
Hold on a second, Mother. It's Chad.
Hi, Chad.
I was just telling my mother.
You are not going to believe what I found.
Hannah, I can't play games right now.
I need you to listen to me.
I'm not playing a game. I just wanted to tell you that--
Hannah, I need you to get down to the courthouse ASAP.
It is very important. Thank you.
Okay.
- Mother... - I'm here.
Sorry about that.
But actually, can you go sit with Danielle
at the police station?
I have something else I have to do.
Oh. Don't worry.
I will go keep the lamp on.
What?
I'll go sit with her, Hannah.
Okay, great. Thank you.
Just get them all printed and bring them to me ASAP.
Okay.
How long have you been building
your social media influencer account?
A couple years.
And what type of videos do you make?
Um, mostly at home stuff.
Specifically?
Honestly, Your Honor, does counsel have a point here?
I apologize, Your Honor, but this is going somewhere.
Go ahead.
Cooking videos.
And what was the last video that you posted?
I don't know.
I haven't really been in the mood
since my husband passed away.
Permission to show the witness State Exhibit Q?
Maybe this will refresh your memory.
Oh, yes.
A chocolate cheesecake.
Do you follow a recipe?
Yes, I post the recipe online.
Thank you very much, Mrs. Jacobson.
That's all the questions I have for you.
Your Honor, I know this witness is not on my list,
but the State would like to call Hannah Swensen to the stand
as an expert witness to provide rebuttal testimony.
[Ms. Neilson] Absolutely not. Your Honor, this is outrageous.
Mr. Norton cannot just pull witnesses out of thin air
to drag this process out forever.
I'll decide who can testify in my courtroom, Ms. Neilson.
There better be a good reason for this.
Oh, there is, Your Honor.
Miss Swensen, are you in the courtroom?
Uh, here.
Present. I mean, uh...
Yes.
[Judge] Come forward, please.
I was on the golf course.
You look great.
Oh, there you are.
Hi.
You know what you need,
one of these double chocolate cookies.
Thank you.
Um, should we go sit?
Sure.
I can't believe he's actually finally coming home.
Believe it.
He has one stop to make,
and then the two of you are going to figure things out.
Tell me,
was it the horse racing?
Well, it's not my story to tell.
But Lucas promised Hannah he would tell you everything.
Well, whatever it is, I'm sure we can work it out.
Mmhmm.
I have contacts
who do this sort of thing for me all the time.
What do you mean?
Re-home a few of those impulse purchases
that you couldn't resist.
Oh.
Do you mean these?
I'm sorry.
What qualifies you as an expert baker?
Oh, I wouldn't say I'm an expert.
So you're not an expert?
I studied at École Ferdinand in Paris,
where I focused on pastry and dessert.
I've received top marks at culinary schools
all around the world.
And I have run and owned a successful bakery
in Lake Eden for almost 20 years.
I've eaten at The Cookie Jar.
I think she's qualified. Don't you, Miss Neilson?
Yes. Fine.
Butterscotch marshmallow cookies?
[clears throat]
Thank you.
Um, Mr. Norton, get on with it, please.
Thank you, Your Honor.
Miss Swensen, I'd like to bring your attention
to State Exhibit Q.
Could you please...
identify this for me?
A chocolate cheesecake.
Is that it?
Take your time.
It's not one of mine.
How do you know?
Cheesecake is tricky for a lot of people.
And this technique shows signs of inexperience.
You know, I'm sure it was delicious.
It's just, you know, got some mistakes.
Can you elaborate on what some of those mistakes are?
You have to have a lot of patience
when you're cooling a cheesecake after baking.
And I can see here that there's beads of condensation
that tell me that the cheesecake was rushed into the fridge.
Anything else?
Uh, sure.
So the classic cheesecake crust
is made of ground graham cracker,
but this baker decided to add nuts to it
to the crust for some reason.
At the last minute, it seems.
They're not very well blended together.
I'm sorry, did you say nuts?
Yeah.
Almonds, judging by the color and texture.
[courtroom mumbling]
I'll have quiet in my courtroom.
If you cannot contain your emotions, please leave.
In your expert opinion,
would you say that these almonds were added intentionally?
Oh, yeah. Because you can tell that these almonds
have been chopped loosely by hand
and then mixed in with the ground graham cracker.
It's two different consistencies.
I mean, maybe it was a last-minute decision.
Your Honor, may we approach?
Hannah Swensen, you are amazing.
I hope you know that.
- Oh. Thank you. - Mm-hmm.
I'm just glad that I was able to help Lucas and Danielle.
Do you think he's going to be in a lot of trouble
for the gambling?
Well, he's not going to work for the State anymore.
But I think the Bar Association
will probably only give him a short suspension.
I hope so.
So how's it feel
to officially have the judge rule you an expert?
I'm so embarrassed.
I almost ruined the whole thing by saying
that I wasn't an expert.
No. It was totally fine. You recovered very quickly.
We really have to wait for my mother and Ron to get here
before you tell me everything that happened
in judge's chambers because I really need to know.
No, I'll tell you.
Um, so she she admitted that she made all the fake coins herself.
So Mitzi figured out
that Paul's scheme to ruin Lucas's reputation
during the trial wasn't going to work so she--
Made him a scapegoat.
Knowing that he was allergic to tree nuts.
It's so awful.
And then today, at trial, she perjured herself
when she talked about baking that cheesecake.
And that's when it hit me what she must have done.
You know, almonds are tricky.
They're not normally considered an allergen.
Not like peanuts.
It's kind of amazing that you figured that out.
Do you have a tree nut allergy?
No, I do not.
But you saw them in the photo.
I mean, they weren't exactly obvious.
Unless you know more about baking
than you've let on.
Your mom?
Uh, no.
No, she, uh, was not allergic to anything, either.
No.
But she was a baker.
Hm.
And that's why you don't eat the desserts that I offer you.
Because your mom was a baker.
You know, she would have loved you.
I wish you could have met her.
[Delores] Hannah!
Oh, honey, you are the town hero!
Nice work, Hannah.
Norton.
My little expert, daughter.
Oh, Hannah, this is what you were wearing in court?
Oh, yeah,
because I didn't have time to change.
I'm sorry.
You know what? We love you anyway.
Get over here.
Yes, we do.
This calls for a bubbly.
Come on, let's have some champagne.
Yeah. You know, we bought a bottle.
Can we have two more glasses, please.
♪