What are you running from, sweetie?
Um, I'm not running. I...
It never ends well.
Go home to your mom before it's too late.
No... No!
No!
You didn't go outside, did you?
I did, I'm sorry. I was hungry!
Police! Open up!
Andrew Jensen.
No...
No, no, no.
No!
It was all my idea.
I asked him to get the room.
Andy! Andy!
It's okay. It's okay!
What's gonna happen to her?
This is so stupid! He's my boyfriend!
He didn't do anything wrong!
You're Erica Bennett, right?
Yeah. So?
You're 15, right?
I'm practically 16, but I...
And that's Andrew Jensen?
He's my boyfriend, I just told you!
And he's 21?
Right.
Get another boyfriend.
Hey, Mom?
Do we have anything to eat?
Why aren't you in bed?
I was gaming.
Honey, it's late.
Go to sleep.
How could you?
Oh, my gosh!
Jeez.
God, I thought you were...
I'm so glad you're safe.
Do you have any idea what you did to me?
It's been three days!
She was at a motel outside town.
Motel?
Erica was staying with a Mr. Andrew Jensen
for the last three nights.
You were in a motel with that guy?
You know him? Andrew Jensen?
I know who he is.
You're not supposed to see him anymore.
I want to press charges.
What? Mom, no!
We're on it.
No! This is crazy.
He's my boyfriend.
I asked him to get me the motel.
He was just trying to help me.
I know what he was trying to do.
Go to your room.
I'm so sorry, Detective.
Mrs. Bennett...
It's O'Brien now.
Ms. O'Brien,
this can't keep happening.
- It's the third time this year. - Right.
We need our police out there doing police work,
not tracking down lovesick runaways.
Of course.
Look, I...
I know that your father being gone
has been hard on you,
and I'm struggling myself...
I don't care about your divorce.
Of course you do.
Your entire...
Our entire lives
have been upended by his actions.
I don't wanna talk about this.
Okay! Okay, fine.
I know that you're looking for independence,
but this older man...
He's 21, not 60!
- And you're 15! - So?
So it's illegal, Erica.
Do you understand that, right?
And if you're ha...
If you're being intimate...
Oh, my god, Mom, we're not talking about...
Are you?
We're not talking about this!
Look, my job is to protect you.
It's to keep you safe,
and I'm trying my hardest here.
I'm gonna be late for school.
Come home straight after!
No hanging out with Liam either, okay?
And this conversation isn't over!
Mom...
do you think she's going to run away again?
I hope not, sweetheart.
I thought you were gonna tell me
if you were feeling like running away again.
I was feeling like running away again.
Right.
Why do you think you have that urge?
'Cause I feel like a prisoner.
I mean, ever since the divorce,
she's been, like, clinging on to me, or something.
I can't wear what I wanna wear.
I can't date who I wanna date.
Well, you are 15.
Exactly!
I'm 15, I'm not 12,
but everybody treats me like I am.
I mean, we're in love!
Just get off our backs!
Tell me about him then.
How did you two meet?
We, um...
I was at the library,
and...
it's dumb, but I really like these books...
they're science fiction,
but not the stupid kind, they're legit,
and, anyways, he was there,
and he was looking for the same book in the series,
and he just listened to me,
and he thinks that I'm smart.
He's not like the mean guys that go here.
I mean, he's interesting,
and he understands me.
We don't fit in.
We're different.
It's just, the world is...
loud,
and... it's hard,
and it's cold,
but...
when I'm with him, it's quiet,
and it's easy,
and...
it's warm.
We're gonna be together forever.
I hate that Art's the only class that we have together.
I know.
At least we get to work in the same group, though.
Yeah, that's pretty good.
Glad that worked out.
Hey.
Hey...
I'll see you in Art.
See you.
I'm glad you're not dead.
Pretty mean prank to pull on your mom, though.
She'll live.
You missed the Music Bowl.
What?
We had tickets to the Music Bowl,
and you never showed up.
Oh, I'm really sorry about that.
Did they arrest him?
Yeah, and then they let him go.
It was so stupid.
Is that him?
Gotta go!
Oh. Don't get murdered.
There you are.
I'm so glad you're okay.
I missed you.
I missed you, too.
Are you okay?
Yeah, I'm fine. I'm fine.
I mean, with everything that happened with the police.
How are you?
Fine, yeah, whatever.
It was no biggie.
I mean...
they made me stay the night in jail.
- What? - Yeah.
So that wasn't so, you know, cool,
but I survived, so whatever.
That's insane.
Yeah, it's just...
'cause you're underage,
- technically, I guess... - Barely,
and it was my idea.
Did you tell them that it was my idea?
Yeah, okay, but it doesn't matter,
because I'm the adult, right,
and the room was in my name and all.
But it's not like you forced me!
- No, I know, babe... - I mean, I'm not a child!
- I know... - And you're my boyfriend,
and we're gonna get married!
I know, I know, I know, just...
Look, they...
They told me I shouldn't see you anymore.
What?
Yeah, they were just, like, really intense about it,
saying how it could, like, affect my future employment,
go on my record,
you know?
No.
So, maybe
we just, you know,
cool it for a while?
No, you can't be serious.
No.
I just gotta be careful, okay?
It's not because I don't love you, babe.
I can't believe this.
I don't believe you're doing this.
I'm sorry.
This is the worst day of my life!
Erica, I don't have a choice!
Liam, what are you doing here?
I'm so sorry...
You're still seeing him?
Dad?
You-you called Dad?
You were gone for three days.
Three days with this loser,
and now you miss curfew?
And you're skipping classes?
You're such a jerk.
He's the only one you ever talk to.
He's the only good thing that I've ever had in my life!
Oh, oh, I-I'm sorry,
was expensive volleyball camp last summer not enough?
Or the $300 shoes you wanted?
Or the car you keep begging me for
when you turn 16!
Dan, that's not helping...
No, she has everything she could possibly want,
and it's still not enough.
- You're a spoiled little brat. - Okay...
No, you don't know me!
And you don't even live here!
You wanna blow up your life on some idiot, that's fine.
- No, Dan, stop... - You can't do that!
You're making it worse!
You do it on someone else's dime, young lady!
I hate you!
I should go.
Okay.
Thanks, Liam.
You've got to be stricter.
You're too soft.
She needs rules.
Oh, I've been strict.
I have so many rules,
I can't even keep them straight,
and it's a fight at every turn!
So fight harder.
I don't wanna fight at all!
I didn't sign up to do this on my own.
It's a three-hour drive, Carrie...
and I've got work, the baby.
It-it's just...
I still call her, right?
Every Friday, we talk.
So I'm trying my best here, but it...
Okay, it's fine.
It's fine.
I'll figure it out.
Four months
since Ana Martinez vanished near Lakefront Park,
and despite ongoing searches,
there remains no trace,
and police are fearing the worst.
Okay. Thanks for that update.
We'll be keeping a close eye on this story
as it develops.
In other news,
a new environmental study out of Boston Univ...
Hey, can I get five minutes?
Please?
Come on, we used to talk all the time, remember?
I'm not six anymore, Mom.
I know.
I know, um...
I keep trying to figure out how to talk to you,
and I think that I'm doing it right,
and then nothing works,
and you keep pushing me further away, and...
I wanna fix us, but...
I don't know how.
There's a girl missing, from around here.
She's about your age,
and she's been missing for four months.
She was just walking somewhere,
and then...
never came home.
If that were to happen to you or Joey, I...
I'm sorry.
I just, I feel trapped sometimes.
I know.
I know you do.
I've needed you a lot more since your dad and I split.
I know.
Just, after almost 20 years of marriage,
I was just blindsided...
but that's our stuff, not yours.
I'm still trying to figure out my footing here,
and that's not fair to you.
I'm so sorry.
If it makes you feel any better, we broke up.
Oh.
Yeah.
Are you okay?
No.
I know that you think
he was trying to take advantage of me.
He is a lot older and...
But he understands me
and he's a good person.
He really is.
He loves me.
I thought that he loved me.
Of course he loves you, sweetheart.
You're wonderful.
I know how much you cared about him,
but you will find another boy who loves you just as much,
if not more,
and he'll be the same age,
and it won't be so hard.
Are you making breakfast?
Am I having a stroke?
I wanted to do something nice.
They're actually pretty good.
Syrup?
Put them on potatoes...
I appreciate the help, sweetie.
But they're not mashed potatoes.
I was stupid.
This is yours.
Joey, come on, honey, we're gonna be late.
I gotta drop you off first.
Oh, thank you, honey!
Hey, I'm riding up front today.
It doesn't matter, we drop you off first.
I'm still riding in the front.
Fine!
What?
It's so nice to see you happy.
It's a good day.
It's a really good day.
- Bye. - Bye, honey.
Oh. Erica!
You forgot your lunch, honey!
Thank you.
Oh!
Mm.
What's that for?
I love you, Mom.
I love you, too.
Bye.
All right, it's been a month.
I've apologized every day.
Are you really still mad at me?
I'm not mad.
I just can't tell you anything,
because you're just gonna go run off
to your new best friend,
my mother.
I don't even know what to talk about.
I was worried about you.
I thought that creep was gonna drop your body in a ditch.
He's not a creep.
Okay?
Whatever.
I like you better now that he's gone, anyways.
Your mom told me
when I was dropping off comic books for Joey.
Okay, point proven!
Hey,
can I get you guys anything?
Yes, I will get the chicken strips,
and...
cheese sticks,
and the fries,
and a large soda.
- Okay. - And he's paying for it all.
I swear, sometimes, I just wanna kill that bitch.
Oh, Joey, we gotta get you to bed, come on.
You said I could stay up till Erica gets home.
I know.
Do you think she ran away again?
No, honey, she's just with Liam.
Come on, bed.
Let's go.
I'll be right up!
Goodnight, honey.
Sleep tight.
Erica?
Erica.
Honey?
Daniel.
Wait, wait, it's Erica.
She's gone.
Erica Bennett.
Brunette, 5'2", brown eyes.
Last seen by Liam Wilson
at the Mills Bowling Alley at 5:30 p.m. last night.
Okay, so what are the next steps?
We've been through this.
Yes, and you've said it yourself,
the first 72 hours are the most important.
She's run away multiple times.
This time, it's different.
It isn't. Statistically, it isn't.
She didn't take anything with her.
- Ms. O'Brien... - She didn't take clothes,
she didn't take a toothbrush, nothing,
there's nothing. Nothing!
Could have been a spur-of-the-moment thing.
It wasn't. Listen, I'm telling you,
she has been happy, all month.
It just...
it feels different this time.
You know the drill.
We enter her
into the National Crime Information Center
Missing Persons File,
release a bulletin,
conduct an investigation.
It all takes too long.
Here, I put this together.
It's her guidance counselor, the teachers,
Liam's contact information, the bowling alley.
Maybe there's a camera that we can take a look at?
We'll do everything we can, okay?
She'll come back, they always do.
Except Ana Martinez, right?
Tell me you will at least look into the ex-boyfriend.
If she's anywhere...
That we will do.
What's going on?
Mr. Jensen.
Erica Bennett is missing,
again.
We'd like to look inside.
Okay.
You talk to Erica recently?
Um... yeah.
I mean, no, I-I didn't.
I-I-I haven't.
We broke up.
You look nervous.
You didn't kill her, did you, Andrew?
No. God, of course not!
I-I'd never hurt her. I love her.
You love her?
I thought you broke up.
Yeah, I... We...
I-I love her, but...
I mean, you told me it could ruin my life.
I-I just...
Look, I-I-I didn't do anything wrong.
When did you break up with her?
It was, like, a few weeks ago.
Day after the arrest.
I just, I told her I couldn't do it anymore.
She's too young.
It just doesn't look great for you, Andrew.
We've barely finished processing your first charge,
and now your victim is missing again.
She's not my victim.
How are your scales coming?
Huh?
Apparently, not very well.
You live here by yourself?
Yeah.
Where were you three days ago on August 31st?
Working for Hudson Electronics,
a few miles away.
My boss can vouch for me.
Let's take a look upstairs.
This your bedroom?
Yeah.
You see my problem here, right?
Last time she went missing, she was with you.
Now, only a month and some change later,
she's gone again.
You're telling me that, this time,
it has nothing to do with you.
Help me out here.
Make it make sense.
I, uh...
I-I got her a motel room,
because she said if I didn't, she'd kill herself, okay?
I mean, what was I supposed to do?
I broke up with her like you told me to,
and now you're saying she's missing?
Don't leave town.
Nothing at Jensen's house.
He's got an alibi for the night of the 31st.
It sounds to me like she's got a broken heart.
Probably ran off
to try and lure him back with dramatics.
Keep your head up.
She'll come back as soon as she realizes
he isn't worth it.
Erica?
Erica!
So sorry.
Oh, excuse me, sir? Um...
Have you seen this girl?
She was here about a month ago.
Sure, yeah,
I remember her.
Cops made a big fuss, poor thing.
Have you seen her since?
Ma'am, we get a lot of runaways here.
She's not a runaway.
She's...
She's my daughter, and she's missing.
Add it to the wall.
Detective?
Carrie O'Brien's here. She's asking to speak...
Detective Richards?
You've been avoiding my calls.
- Carrie... - It has been a month.
Have you spoken to the ex-boyfriend again?
Jensen's clean,
and I don't think he has anything to do with this.
I think the idiot actually really loved her.
Loves her.
What?
You said "loved".
She's still alive.
Do a news conference.
Do a press release.
Do a frickin' radio show.
Do something, please.
Let our neighbors know that they can help find her.
Hell, they could even help find the other girl, too.
Give my daughter a chance.
Carrie, we have been doing ev...
If you don't,
I will call my own press conference,
and that will not look good for your department, Detective.
Okay.
One month ago,
15-year-old Erica Bennett
went to school and never came home.
Just like Ana Martinez, six months ago.
These families miss their daughters.
Please, if you see Erica, or Ana,
call the number on the screen.
Thank you.
Erica, honey.
If you're watching this,
please come home.
I'm not angry.
You're not in trouble.
I swear you're not in trouble.
I... I love you.
We love you,
and I miss you very, very much.
So... please, come home.
Okay, honey?
Just come home.
I appreciate it very much.
Of course.
Thank you,
for what you said.
I'm Martina.
I'm Ana's mom.
Oh, gosh, I'm so sorry
about everything you've been through.
You too.
This is my number.
Please call me
if there's anything I can do to help.
Okay.
Thank you.
Months since Ana Martinez and Erica Bennett went missing,
but now more girls are missing...
Mom?
Mom!
22-year-old Callie Porter, 26-year old Shawnee Mason,
19-year-old Gloria Carbone,
and 14-year-old Lana Bolski
have all disappeared over the last few months...
Mom...
Now officers are wondering,
is someone targeting young women in Hudson?
Exactly. That's what's on everybody's minds.
Do you think Erica was...
No, honey. We'll find her.
Um, hey, play your new video game, okay?
Right now, we don't know what the suspect looks like.
There's been no identity, so far,
but, again, fear is growing here in the community,
now spreading across the State of California.
I'm so glad you called.
Would you like some tea?
Yes, thank you.
With 50 volunteers,
I think we could cover the county
in just a few weeks.
Further with more help.
Oh, this must have taken you...
Months.
My husband worries I'm obsessed,
and I am.
The cops think...
She's a runaway?
Yeah.
Yeah...
Oh, those aren't very good.
They're-they're not bad.
You're lying. They're terrible.
What do you say we give Richards another shot?
Yeah.
Yeah...
I'm thinking
we could gather everyone at the bowling alley.
That's a great idea.
Detective,
this is...
Mrs. Martinez.
How are you holding up?
A little worse than last week.
Why don't you come into my office?
Martina and I are starting a volunteer group
to help find Erica and Ana,
and the other girls, too,
and you... the station doesn't have to do anything.
We are purely independent.
We're just done waiting around, so...
I think that's a great idea.
Oh.
Good.
In fact,
I think I can get the department
to approve some supplies,
and maybe even a small team.
Nothing huge, now.
I don't want to over promise,
but we've got a few folks
who have experience with searches like this,
know what to look for.
Cooper here is one of them.
I'll get started on the approvals today.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
I'm on your team, you know.
I've always been on your team.
Hmm.
So what are we thinking?
Jeez...
From this morning.
Lana Bolski.
We've got a lead on a suspect,
a guy named Jeremy Carver.
He was seen talking with her the day she went missing.
Rap sheet to make your blood run cold.
Thank you so much for coming.
We'll sign you in over here.
Here.
So use... use this,
and when this fills up...
- Hey. - Hi.
We're doing this.
We're doin' this.
- This is a great turnout. - It's such a good turnout.
Call the number if you see her.
Detective?
Yeah?
Brody here says
he has some information about Erica Bennett.
Okay.
Yeah, um...
So... a while ago,
um, that girl in the-
that girl in the flyer there,
she, um... she came into the alley,
and she was with some dude,
and they were fighting.
He seemed pissed off.
Go on, tell her.
Okay, um...
Well, it's just, I remember him saying something like,
someday, um, he's gonna kill that bitch.
How old was he,
the kid who threatened her?
Like, her age.
Erica's age.
Were they on a date?
I don't know.
Um... no.
Maybe.
And why are you only coming forward now?
Well, I forgot.
I-I, um...
until I saw the flyer,
and then, I-I remembered her face.
I thought she was hot.
Hello?
Carrie, it's Detective Richards.
I tried you at home.
Please tell me you're not parked
outside the ex-boyfriend's house again.
I am not parked outside the ex-boyfriend's house again.
How well do you know Liam Wilson?
He's like family.
He's been Erica's best friend
since, like, forever.
He's basically a brother to Joey.
What?
We just got a tip.
We think he might have something to do
with her disappearance.
What's going on?
Liam Wilson, we are bringing you in for questioning
in connection with the disappearance
of Erica Bennett.
What?
But you admit you two were fighting.
It wasn't a fight,
it was...
I mean, we had fought, like I said,
but we weren't anymore.
We ribbed each other,
that's just how we talk...
talked.
I-I just...
I didn't trust him.
She pretended to be tough,
but she was so sensitive,
so fragile,
and I-I was worried
that he was drawn to those parts of her,
preying on it maybe.
I-I...
I missed her.
She was my best friend, and she just...
I-I'd never hurt her.
I was just joking around.
It was a dumb joke,
but I'd never hurt her, I swear.
I swear.
Thanks for coming.
I didn't really want my dad finding out about all this.
No, I'm so sorry you had to go through that.
I mean, this is ridiculous.
Thank you.
Can I ask you something?
Yeah. What?
Do you ever just... wonder.
I mean...
sometimes, I just feel so guilty.
Like, if I had just accepted Andrew,
or if I had supported Erica...
I wonder the same thing all the time.
I just replay everything in my head
over and over and over again,
and... and I still just ask myself, you know,
"What if it is my fault?"
You're a good friend.
Let's get you home.
Yeah.
Come on, Finny.
Come on.
What's that?
Oh, my god!
Hey!
Coroner's report came back.
The body is Ana Martinez.
She's been dead for quite some time.
So we think it could be...?
A serial killer?
It could.
What a mess.
You couldn't possibly have more bad news?
Remember that guy we picked up on fraud a while back?
Lange?
Real hairy, eager to rat?
That's the one.
Wants to talk.
No thanks.
Little busy.
Serial killer, and all.
Yeah, I thought you'd say that.
So, that guy who's awaiting trial
for killing that Bolski girl a few years back...
Jeremy Carver?
Yeah.
Lange's befriended him in prison.
Carver's been telling him
that Bolski wasn't his only victim.
He better not be messing with us.
Okay.
I'm listening.
So...
Carver and I, we go, uh...
we go back.
I know him from before.
Vacation buddies?
Something like that.
He's been talking, a lot.
Get specific.
About girls he's hurt,
girls he's killed...
years ago,
before this arrest.
Other than just the girl you had charged him on.
Lana Bolski.
At first, I was taking notes,
but then,
I convinced him to write a confession letter
under a different name.
Under a different name?
Yeah.
I told him that if he wrote a detailed confession letter
about the girls he murdered,
and signed it off as someone else,
I'd take it to the cops,
and you would let him go.
You know, because you'd think
someone else admitted to the killings, not him.
That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.
Yeah, well,
Carver's one of the dumbest monsters you'll ever meet.
Terrifying,
but damn stupid.
You got the letter?
More than just the letter.
The freak drew maps.
Maps?
Of where he buried the girls.
Give 'em to me.
Funny, now that I'm here, I, uh...
I can't seem to remember where I, uh... where I put 'em.
We'll help you get a reduced sentence.
You know what, I just remembered
where they were.
Pleasure doing business with you, Detective.
Just bag that up over there.
According to Carver's map, this one is...
Shawnee Mason.
Callie Porter.
Still no Erica.
She's out here somewhere.
Yeah.
I have to tell Carrie.
Jeremy Carver has just confessed to the murder
of your daughter.
No, that's not possible.
She's not...
No.
You sure he's telling the truth?
We have good reason to believe so.
No, I would know.
She's not.
I'm so, so sorry.
So what did he say?
He wrote a confession letter.
Erica, along with the other missing girls,
were named in it.
How do you know he's not lying?
Because he pointed us
to the locations of their bodies.
Using his map,
we've been able to find Shawnee Mason
and Callie Porter.
Did you find Erica?
Not yet, no,
but...
I have every reason to believe we will.
Okay.
Well...
my daughter is alive.
You haven't found her body because she's alive.
Carrie, please.
He was telling the truth about all the other girls.
Okay, well, you can trust a psychopath,
but I'm gonna trust my gut.
My daughter is alive.
Come back when you find her.
Please, just find her.
She was a vivacious and caring daughter.
Adventurous.
She was a force...
and she was kind,
and loving, and funny.
She was her own person.
Even as a kid, she knew who she was
and what she wanted,
and she was going to give us hell
until she got it.
She was stubborn
in the best kind of way.
She never gave up.
Today would have been her 18th birthday,
and I hope
we can all gather a bit of her strength
as we say goodbye today.
This doesn't feel right.
Mom...
Thank you, everyone, for coming.
Please do stay for coffee and pastries.
Thank you.
- I love you, Mom. - I love you, Joey.
Beautiful tribute.
Thanks, Martina.
I'm so sorry, Carrie.
I know it feels horrible now,
and it stays horrible,
but the closure, it helps.
Carrie, please, no.
You have some nerve showing up here.
I-I'm sorry. I'll go.
Are you crying?
Do you have any idea what it feels like,
to sit here not knowing if my daughter is actually...
I don't know what you did,
but I know you had something to do with this,
and I am gonna figure it out,
and when I do, I will make sure you rot in prison.
Erica?
The court will now proceed
with the sentencing of Jeremy Carver
for the murder of Lana Bolski...
the manslaughter of Ana Martinez...
the murder of Shawnee Mason,
the murder of Gloria Carbone,
the murder of Erica Bennett.
I can't believe this is happening.
I know, Carrie.
I know.
There's been a change, Your Honor.
I would like to inform the court
that Jeremy Frederick Carver
is not guilty
in the murder of Erica Christine Bennett.
As you can see, she's very much alive.
What?
It's so nice to see you so happy.
It's a good day.
It's a really good day.
Bye.
Bye, honey.
Erica!
You forgot your lunch, honey!
Thanks.
Aw, what's that for?
I love you, Mom.
I love you, too.
Get it together.
Okay. Where?
We can go to my place if you want.
Your place?
Yeah. My parents won't be home, so.
- Should be fun. - All right.
- Hey. - Hey.
I'll give you two some space.
Sounds good.
See ya.
Why do you look so... weird?
I don't look weird.
You look weird.
'Cause I am weird.
Also, I wanna go bowling after school.
Yeah, I could go bowling.
Great.
Remember how we used to do this all the time,
and it was super fun,
and you didn't hate me?
I don't hate you.
Yeah. I kinda miss that.
I know. Me too.
You're my best friend.
You know that, right?
I know.
You're mine,
and I know that you hate him.
No, no, no, I don't hate him.
I never met him,
but he did break your heart,
so I kinda hate him forever now.
I just miss him so much.
You're a really good friend.
Well, obviously, bitch, come here.
You want a ride home?
No, I'm gonna walk.
See you tomorrow.
Hey.
What are you doing here?
You can't be here.
Please, you still love me, right?
Erica, of course. Of course, I love you...
Can't you just let me in?
I just need to talk to you for a minute.
Please.
I miss you, just... Just let me in, please.
Shh, shh. Baby, it's okay. Come on, come in
Okay, okay.
Erica, it's good to see you,
but we're really not supposed to...
This last month, it's been awful.
I pretend like I'm fine on the outside,
but on the inside, I just feel like I'm dying,
and you won't even call me back!
It's not because I don't want to.
It's the cop, she freaked me out.
You don't think it's killing me, too?
I love you so much.
I need to be with you.
Please.
Okay.
Please.
Okay, babe, we'll figure it out.
Us against the world.
You can stay here tonight.
I'm making breakfast.
Great.
Can I take your shirt?
Yeah, of course.
You need to buy syrup.
Whatever Erica wants Erica gets.
Do you have a piano?
No.
Oh, I have a keyboard.
Can I use it? I've always wanted to learn
how to play.
Whatever Erica wants.
So you grew up here?
Until I was 12.
When my parents died,
I went and lived with my grandparents in Oregon,
but when I turned 18,
I found out they left the house to me,
so I came back, moved in.
It was a little lonely at first.
Does it still feel lonely?
No.
Can you pick up the new Motherboard book?
- Yeah, that's out now. - Yeah.
I forgot about that.
Me too. Me too.
Thank you.
Did you see this?
Oh, don't look at that.
It'll just make you upset.
I'm so lucky.
So, we can work on the wiring until 11:00 a.m.,
when they open for business.
At this rate, we'll be here for months.
Yeah.
Is it just me,
or are you pretty happy today?
You're practically giddy.
You got a date or something?
Maybe.
- Ah! - Okay, let's go,
we haven't got all day.
What's going on? What-what are you...?
Mr. Jensen.
Erica Bennett is missing,
again.
We'd like to look inside.
Okay.
You talk to Erica recently?
Um...
yeah.
I mean, no, I-I didn't.
I-I-I haven't.
We... We broke up.
You look nervous.
You didn't kill her, did you, Andrew?
No. God, of course not!
I-I-I'd never hurt her. I love her.
You love her?
I-I love her, but, I mean,
you told me it could ruin my life.
When did you break up with her?
A few-few weeks ago.
Day after the arrest.
It scared me.
I told her I couldn't do it anymore.
She-she's too young.
It just doesn't look great for you, Andrew.
We've barely finished processing your first charge,
and now your victim is missing again.
She's not my victim.
How are your scales coming?
Huh?
Apparently, not very well.
Where were you three days ago
on August 31st?
Working for Hudson Electronics,
a few miles away.
My boss can vouch for me.
Let's take a look upstairs.
Okay.
This your bedroom?
Yeah.
You see my problem here, right?
Last time she went missing, she was with you.
Now, only a month and some change later,
she's gone again,
and you're telling me
it has nothing to do with you.
I broke up with her like you told me,
and now you're saying she's missing?
Don't leave town.
Andy?
- Erica? - Andy?
Erica, where are you?
Andy?
Oh! Oh, you found that.
- Are they gone? - Yeah.
I, um...
I-I found it when I was moving the furniture.
That was scary.
Yeah, yeah, I, uh...
I-I-I think we need to come clean.
What?
Yeah, I-I can't live like this. That was awful.
I mean, they hate me, the cops, they...
They'll arrest you again, and they won't let you go!
You'll go to jail, and not just for one night!
We don't know that.
We know that.
My mom told me.
It's... It's illegal, us being together,
and, I mean, Andy, you just lied to them.
Oh, I'm such an idiot.
No, you're brilliant,
because now they think you live here alone.
This is the safest place for me to be, for both of us.
These past few days,
they've been the best days of my life.
Mine too.
So why would we let go of that?
We're meant to be together,
it's was all that outside crap that was in the way,
but we're good.
We're right.
It's us against the world.
Us against the world.
Maybe we could sell the house,
and I could buy some land.
I like that idea.
Can we get goats? Goats are cute.
And a horse?
- I like horses. - And bunnies.
Bunnies are hell a cute.
Almost as cute as you.
One month ago,
15-year-old Erica Bennett went to school
and never came home.
Erica, honey,
if you're watching this, please come home.
Mom...
I promise you're not in trouble.
We're not angry, I swear.
I just...
I love you so much.
We love you so much,
and we just miss you... miss you so, so much.
So, just please, come home. Okay, honey?
Just come home.
I'm starting to feel bad.
I don't like this.
I just hate that she's scared.
Yeah.
I didn't mean to...
I thought that we would just do this for a little bit...
Yeah.
I mean, I didn't think that this would happen.
Should I send her a letter?
They're gonna arrest me.
What?
If-if you contact your mom, they're gonna arrest me.
It's like you said.
I'd go to jail.
They're never gonna let us be together.
Not-not until you're 18.
That's so long from now.
I don't know how I'm gonna wait that long.
Maybe just a little while longer?
Yeah.
I'm just not ready to...
Yeah, me either.
A little while longer,
and then I'll tell everyone.
It's romantic, really.
Right, right.
It's...
It's-it's romantic.
It is.
Erica?
It's 7:30.
I'm gonna... I'm gonna head to work.
You okay?
Don't you wanna say goodbye, or...
I need to go shopping.
What?
I need to get new clothes.
But I-I just... I got you some new clothes last week.
W-we're trying to save.
No, no, they're just not fitting right,
and th-they're not my style,
and I don't like the way that they look on me.
Why do you need new clothes if you don't...
Sorry for wanting to look nice for you.
What about this?
How about you pick some things out of this catalogue?
You know, don't worry about the price.
You can try them on.
Whatever doesn't fit, I'll return.
It will be fun.
Yeah.
Okay.
Thank you.
I'm sorry, it's just...
it's getting really stuffy inside,
and I just...
I wanna feel fresh for you.
You always look fresh to me, babe.
You're beautiful, I love you.
Hey...
You slept here all night?
Mm-hmm.
Again?
Well, it's a half-day. I'll be back soon.
Okay.
I love you.
You didn't wanna drink a beer with me?
I don't know, I just...
Sometimes, I just-I just need some time alone, babe, okay?
I-I'm either working,
or I'm here,
and, you know, you're-you're always...
Where can I go?
My face is plastered around town.
I know, that's not what I meant, I just...
You don't like me being here?
No, I love you here.
I love you more than anything, okay?
I just...
Sometimes, I just need some space.
Okay?
Every person needs some time alone.
Not me, that's all that I have...
No, I'm sorry. Let's not...
All right, we-we're both making sacrifices, but...
you're worth it.
Really?
Of course.
Sorry.
It's okay.
Jeremy Carver,
who's awaiting trial for the murder of Lana Bolski,
has admitted to killing
several other missing women in the area,
including Erica Bennett,
Shawnee Mason,
and Callie Porter.
Erica, come here! Quick!
Yeah?
are trying to contain the community terror
amidst a slew of missing girls...
What?
while nerves remain very high at this point,
and you can feel the tension in the community right now
as investigators try to put the pieces together...
I don't understand, how did this...
I've never seen that man in my life.
What do we do?
I don't... I don't know.
Ana Martinez.
The missing teen was an exceptional student,
a beloved daughter, with a big future...
What are we gonna do?
I-I don't... I don't know.
I don't think there's anything we can...
You're... You're not 18 yet,
so our relationship is still...
But I'm not dead.
My mom can't think that I'm dead!
Carver is expected to stand trial
in the next month...
This is insane.
Maybe it's better.
What?
No, I-I mean, this... this whole thing.
Say we tell your mom,
wh-what would she even say?
I mean...
I think we're probably criminals, right?
Not just me.
I just don't think there's a version of us coming forward
where we can still be together.
Maybe it's-it's better for you to just be...
Dead?
and I hope
we can all gather a bit of her strength
as we say goodbye today.
Thank you, everyone, for coming.
Please, do stay for coffee and pastries.
Thank you.
- Beautiful tribute. - Thanks, Martina.
- Carrie, please, no. - You...
You have some nerve showing your face here.
I'm sorry, I'll go.
I know you had something to do with this.
I don't know how, but when I figure it out,
I will make sure that you rot in prison.
How was it?
Andy?
Andrew...
how was everything?
Aw... cake?
It was awful, okay?
I-I can't believe
I, like, let you...
let all this happen.
You were the one who said that we shouldn't come forward,
who said that I was better off dead.
I didn't know what to do.
I wasn't willing
just to walk into a jail cell, Erica.
Are you saying that this is my fault?
That's not what I meant.
You invited me to stay here!
I never invited you.
You showed up at my doorstep and you never left!
You said that I couldn't leave!
I never said that.
- You implied it. - Okay, you wanna go?
Just go!
You want me to go?
You...
You told me you'd kill yourself if you stayed at home,
do you remember?
I don't wanna go.
I don't want you to go either.
I'm sorry.
No, I'm sorry.
I feel like I need to get out of here.
I have an idea.
- For a little bit and... - Okay, okay.
Do not peek, okay?
- Where are we going? - Shh.
I feel like I'm gonna fall.
Oh, my god.
Okay...
keep going, keep going.
Okay.
This is where we met!
Oh, my god.
Let's go see if our books are here.
This is so great.
They have it!
This was really sweet.
I really miss the world.
Thank you.
You're welcome,
and happy birthday.
I love you.
I love you!
Us against the world.
Ms. O'Brien, there must be some relief to know,
after all these years,
what happened to her.
Another round!
You better slow down, cowboy.
Well, I'm just trying to let off some steam.
Maybe you should come out with me
more that once a year, man,
and look, I got that new girl
I could set you up with from work.
Ah, no.
She's blonde.
Blue eyes.
She's cute, man.
You would absolutely love her.
What is up with you, man?
Nothing. I'm good.
Mm-hmm. Okay.
Ooh...
That is one sad story, huh?
Can't imagine how the families must feel, you know?
What if I told you she's at my house?
What, that girl?
You're not talking about the dead girl, are you?
She's not dead.
Man, what are you talking about?
Look, all right, she was my girlfriend.
She wanted to run away,
so I let her crash with me,
and now it's been years.
Are you serious?
No!
Of course not.
I'm kidding, okay?
I gotta go.
No, no, hey.
Andrew!
Okay...
Is everything okay?
What's going on?
I don't know. I, uh...
I had a few drinks, and...
I-I told Roy about you.
What?
What are you saying?
No, no, it's fine, it's fine, it's fine.
Andrew, what did you say?
Please just tell me what you said...
Y-Your picture, it was all over the bar, the TVs.
I-It just freaked me out.
I-I-I-I told him...
you were at my house.
No...
No, but I-I told him I was just joking.
- It-it-it's fine. - What?
There's no way he'd actually believe me.
We just need to lay low a little while longer.
Lay low? Andrew, I've been laying low
for almost four years!
I can't lay any lower!
Andy?
Erica?
Mom?
No.
Police Tip Hotline, how can I help you?
Um, I...
I ran away.
Okay.
Well, I'm glad to speak with you tonight.
How long have you been away from home?
It's... It's been a while.
I've been living with someone.
Um, but I saw this man on the news, and...
he's been charged with...
my murder.
I just wanna go home, but I don't know how.
And I'm 18 now.
It's important to know that I'm 18,
and no one forced me to.
N-No one forced me to stay away, it was just...
it was just a big mistake.
Erica, I've been-I've been reading on this Carver guy...
I need to tell you something.
No, he's bad news...
No, I did something really stupid...
Police! Open up!
We have a warrant!
Should I hide?
Yeah, hide, hide.
It's been a long time, Mr. Jensen.
We have a warrant to search the premises
on suspicion that you've been harboring a runaway.
Is Erica Bennett living in this home?
Andrew, is Erica here?
Last chance.
Can I get a lawyer?
Erica?
Are you okay?
I'm sorry.
How did you find me?
We got a tip.
Your boyfriend told someone you were living with him.
So what now?
We take you the station,
and then the courthouse.
Are my parents there?
Yes, they are.
The murder of Gloria Carbone,
the murder of Erica Bennett.
I can't believe this is happening.
I know, Carrie.
I know.
There's been a change, Your Honor.
Go on.
I would like to inform the court
that Jeremy Frederick Carver is not guilty
in the murder of Erica Christine Bennett.
As you can see, she's very much alive.
Oh, my god...
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry, Mom.
Oh, my God, sweetie, it's okay.
- I'm sorry, Dad. - That's okay.
I've never seen Mr. Carver
or any of the witnesses in my life.
He had nothing to do with it. I just...
I just ran away.
Oh, here they come.
Erica, how could you do this to your family?
Ms. O'Brien, can you ever forgive your daughter
for such a terrible lie?
I'm so sorry.
Okay, let's go.
Erica!
Can you tell us how you're feeling?
What's gonna happen to Andrew?
Hopefully, he goes to prison for a very long time.
Mom, he had nothing to do with it.
I love him.
Please, please don't press charges.
Look, if you're gonna be mad at somebody,
be mad at me.
Seriously?
Joey...
Give him time.
He lost years of his life to...
Well, Jim, as you just heard right there,
the community is very unsympathetic
for Erica Bennett.
I'm glad she's safe,
but all those resources spent on her...
it's a shame is what it is.
She should go to jail.
What a horrible thing to do.
There's a lot of questions
that still need to be answered.
We will be pressing for that in the coming days,
but right now,
there's a lot of relief
that Erica has been found safe.
It's fine.
I deserve to be punished.
Oh, honey.
Punished.
Oh, I don't even know where to begin...
I know.
I know, Mom.
No, honey, you don't know.
You don't know what it's like
to have your daughter be missing for four years.
Everyone telling you that she's dead...
but I knew.
I knew in my gut.
But only to find out
you were, what, a mile away,
and you couldn't pick up the damn phone?
I'm so sorry.
I know that I wasn't a perfect mother.
I know, but...
Mom, no...
I mean, I feel like you and Joey always knew
how much I loved you,
how much I'd be there for you.
I'm so sorry.
Hello?
Hi, this is the National News.
We'd like to tell your daughter's story.
It's the National News show.
They-they want to tell your story.
So many people find it hard to believe
that you would have put your family
through so much pain,
tat, if you really loved them,
you would never have done this to them.
I do love them.
Honestly, I didn't mean for any of this to happen.
I just got in deeper and deeper,
and I couldn't climb out.
You were afraid?
Yeah.
It just kinda snowballed,
and it got out of hand.
Hey.
Sorry I'm late.
It's okay.
I, uh... I just...
I just wanted to say
I'm-I'm glad you're okay, but...
I-I don't think I'm ready to be friends again.
Liam, I didn't mean to hurt you.
But you did.
Goodbye, Erica.
But wait...
What made you decide you couldn't go home?
I thought I'd be sent to prison,
I thought I'd be sent away.
I was afraid of the consequences.
I can wait a year, easy.
I'm just so glad it isn't longer.
Things are so much better.
I mean, you being an adult makes all the difference,
and your mom dropped some of the charges.
I know.
Will you tell her thank you?
I will.
I love you.
I love you, too.
What was it like when Erica was away?
How did you feel?
The pain, it's...
It's hard to imagine the pain.
It's, like, every day,
I would just think about her, and...
You know, what... what was she doing?
Or...
Like, what did she look like that day?
The longer it went on, the worse it got.
Hey!
Do you wanna, like, hang out,
or we could see a movie or something?
You think I wanna just see a movie...
with you?
Joey, I miss you, and...
Wow. I...
Your, like, stunt...
For four years,
I've been living like...
a ghost, or something.
Mom was never around,
even if she actually was.
Whenever anything good happened to me,
I felt guilty for even thinking about being happy.
All anyone wanted to do was think about Erica.
What happened to Erica?
Let's all be sad about Erica.
I wish you had just stayed away.
$115,000
to be paid back to the City of Navoto
for resources related
to the false police investigation.
Yes, Your Honor.
Of course, Your Honor.
And how are things now?
At the moment, it's hard.
She's going to have to rebuild that trust with me...
but I love my daughter.
All I wanted was for her to be happy...
safe.
I still want that for her.
Okay,
and... open.
Welcome home.
Us against the world.
I never meant to hurt my mom,
or my brother, ever.
I just wanted to live my life
the way that I wanted.
Are you working to mend your relationship with them now?
I am.
With my brother, it's...
it's hard,
but I'm hoping that with time, it gets better.
Me and my mom, we're working on it.
We wanna be okay with each other again,
you know?
Is that everything?
What's it like going back to Andrew's house?
Is it like a prison,
or do you think of it more as a home?
It's home.
Are you sure?
Yes.
Now, a lot has been made of the fact
that you were a child
and he was an adult.
Do you think you were making these choices yourself?
Yes.
Yes, I was.
But, you know, psychologically,
do you accept that maybe he had some control over you?
No, that's not true.
Thought you might like it.
Thank you for having both of us.
Oh, honey, I'm so glad you came.
Really?
Yeah.
'Cause I just worry
that things aren't fully okay between us yet.
Oh, honey, it is.
I-I want it to be.
I-I don't know if I was too negative.
- No. - Or...
Was I doing anything to make you uncom...
No. No...
Okay.
I just wish things were easier.
I think it will be...
with time.
I just don't want to lose you again.
Oh, Mom, you're not gonna lose me again.
I love you.
Honey...
I love you, too.
Help me clean this mess up?
Fine.
What do you hope for your future, Erica?
I just wanna live my life,
in peace,
and freedom,
not in hiding.
I don't want anyone to judge me for who I love.
I just want to be free.
You know?
I just want to be free.