Looks like someone wants us to see these photos.
He's dehydrated,
his hands are bruised, his nails are almost gone...
it's a miracle he's alive.
He reacts to nothing, and hasn't said a thing.
Meet XL.
Remind you of something? It's the person who ordered it.
Roberto Klur?
His name is Roberto Klur.
A coroner.
Silver halide salts. The killer handled them.
It's from 1988, a very similar case.
Almost identical, actually.
What a bastard. I can't believe this.
A mental patient wrote that.
Do you know him?
Where did you meet him?
Why this name? Where did you meet this man?
Where did you meet him? Why are you writing this?
- Do you know him? - He's my father.
- Invalid number. - Shit!
God dammit!
Give me that.
Drive, I'll call your dad.
- To us. - To us.
Look at all these goodies. Did you cook all this?
Some of it. I admit I bought the rest of it.
Why won't you tell me now?
Because I'm sober. Much too sober actually.
And in this state of consciousness...
I don't think I can tell you what you'll find out in due time.
Alright then, I'll wait.
Nuria...
after all this time we've been together, or not...
would you move in with me?
- Are you serious? - Dead serious.
What's going on?
Sorry.
Where did you get this?
A man wrote it an hour ago, dad.
- What man? - A patient in a mental hospital.
You did all this because some lunatic wrote my name?
I can't believe this.
No, no, we did what we did...
because this lunatic wrote another name before yours...
Roberto Klur's, who was killed shortly afterwards.
So we're here because your life is in danger, that's why.
Alright, but this is obviously a false alarm, right?
No killer bothered to come here.
I'm sorry. Who is this lady?
Her name is Nuria.
I'm an old friend.
An old friend? How old?
Please, Renzo...
old enough to be taken off your list of suspects.
He's right, it was obviously a false alarm...
so we apologize for barging in like that, Marcos.
That's okay, Marina...
next time just give me a call and have dinner with us.
When was your phone disconnected?
What do you mean?
Marina.
He was here.
That son-of-a-bitch.
- I'm calling Mazzoni. - And I want the lab guys here.
Sorry, I can't stay in here.
I'm allergic to something. I need fresh air.
Alright.
Well, it looks like I owe you an apology.
I don 't get it.
What?
For example, how long have you known her?
So it's that then.
For twenty years.
Twenty years?
Mom was alive back then.
Right.
Right? How could you?
How could you lie and cheat like that?
I didn't lie or cheat. I fell in love.
Come on!
That's not what I mean.
Mom didn't deserve that.
I know she didn't. That's why I stayed with her.
I'm so touched.
Thank you so much, dad. Weren't you glad when she died?
Bastard!
Renzo.
- They forced the back door. - Someone will look after you.
No way! I can take care of myself.
- I'll take you home. - No way!
You can't stay here all alone.
Get this in your head once and for all, I am not alone.
Have some self-respect, you fool.
I want two men guarding the house 24/7.
What do I care? Get Mazzoni to okay it.
You heard him. He won't let anyone inside.
They'll be out here. He can't send them away.
Weren't you a little childish with your dad?
Did I ask you anything?
- Did I? - No.
So stay out of it.
Just stay out of it, alright?
Are you coming?
Marina, do you need a ride?
Twenty years?
Mom was alive back then.
Mom didn't deserve that.
I know she didn't. That's why I stayed with her.
I'm so touched.
Thank you so much dad. Weren't you glad when she died?
Have some self-resect, you fool.
Close that bag, please.
What's the matter?
Just close it.
I'm allergic to something. What's that?
A piece of a metal sheet I found by the door...
they used to force the door open.
Let me see that.
It stinks.
- I don't smell anything. - I envy you.
What is it?
No idea, I've never smelt anything like it before.
- Hello. - This is Gabriela Friedman.
Hold on.
Yes?
How is your dad?
Luckily, he's fine.
I'm glad it was a false alarm.
It wasn't. That animal was there.
My God!
We need his name.
Anything that can help us discover...
what links him to the killer.
What do you suggest?
A picture of XL in the media.
I'll send a photographer over tomorrow.
I don't think so, this could turn into a big mess.
We'll just say we need help to identify a person.
It happens with people we find with no identity.
Alright.
Any information you get.
Any new name he jots down...
or any change you see in him, give me a call.
Sure, bye.
You're such a jerk, you know that?
Ajerk is what you are.
You fool, you couldn't deal with an old disabled man?
Yes but...
the cops showed up.
They got lucky.
It wasn't luck.
It didn't happen by chance, I saw despair in his eyes.
Why didn't you see it?
They knew you'd go there.
They didn't know that. There's no way they could know.
I swear I did everything I could to avoid that.
It could have been a coincidence.
What if it wasn't?
What if they found a way to tell what we're up to?
Right.
We need to fix that before the next step.
This way, please.
We need to take your picture real quick.
- Hello. - Go ahead.
Please, leave.
What happened?
We don't know. We think it was the camera.
What do you think?
- It's just a hypothesis. - What exactly?
We know very little about him,
but he had a very traumatic experience...
that somehow blocked his communication skills.
- But he has communicated. - What do you mean?
He gave us Klur's name, then my dad's.
I know of nobody with his mental capacity.
He was making progress...
isolated, but progress nevertheless.
So what happened?
I do think the flashbulb opened a mental door he was closing.
He can't bear seeing whatever he escaped from...
so he closed his eyes and got defensive.
HELP US IDENTIFY THIS MAN. CALL 0-800-IDENTIFICATION.
It has sugar.
If this is about last night, I'm sorry.
You need to put yourself in my shoes.
- That's what I did. - I don't think so.
- And I'm jealous. - What do you mean?
That your dad lives close to you, he is there for you.
He loves a woman, and has plans, whether you like it or not.
My dad's last plan was shooting himself in the mouth.
- Okay, I'm stupid. - Right.
What?
You're worse today.
You should've seen me get out of bed.
A handful of that shit could kill me.
What?
That piece of metal we found at your dad's.
I opened the bag and it was like spraying him with mustard gas.
What is it?
No idea.
Don't you remember?
It's both mental and olfactory, my nose doesn't remember that.
Do your homework.
It's a chemical like so many in lots of products...
in drug stores, hardware stores, paint retailers...
hair dyes, what do I know?
There're many possibilities. Don't worry, I'll find out.
It sounds like BS to me.
That nose thing sounds like BS to me.
If you're that good, then prove it.
Did you just smoke?
Is that all? Even my kid knows when I've smoked.
Really?
Would he know you smoked it 45 min ago in the men's room?
That you peed and didn't wash up after?
And you laced your coffee with booze you got in your desk?
That's amazing.
Can we use your nose to imitate fancy perfumes?
We'd be rich.
Not a bad idea, let's see what Internal Affairs thinks about it.
I was just...
I was just joking. Where's your sense of humor?
Ask them if they can see the house.
Okay, two things, first, keep your eyes peeled.
Secondly, my dad can't see you, alright?
Great. Sorry about that.
This is all we have right now.
That's not much.
No, but it makes us ask ourselves a few things.
Like what?
The number one question. Is this a serial killer?
There's just one victim, we can't say it's a serial killer.
Renzo, your dad could've been victim number two.
Supposing he was, so what?
That forces us to outline a pattern.
What pattern?
We know he's a copycat.
Klur's murder was identical to one he himself investigated.
That's the closest we are to a pattern.
Right, I agree with you.
Good. Thank you.
But the most important question of all is...
if the killer tried to copy a case my dad closed...
which one is it? Dad closed a lot of cases.
Let's check the files.
I can't believe this has happened.
- I just don't get it. - Don't mess with me!
- Let me tell you something... - Get lost!
If you keep making mistakes...
your victims will organize a survivor's club.
Stop it. Stop it!
Well... okay.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
I'm on your side, okay?
Let's get our priorities straight.
What do you think is number one?
Getting rid of that bastard?
Right.
Good boy.
Don't talk to me as if I were a puppy!
In today's headlines...
olice are searching for a sixteen-year-old girl
who was reorted missing.
- Renzo. - Yes?
This is all we have on your dad.
He was really good.
Thanks.
He closed some very interesting cases.
Thank you very much.
I knew most of them to the last detail.
Thank you very much.
Should we go through those now?
All I need right now is some fresh air.
Shall we?
Renzo? Mariano.
What have you got for me?
I went to the lab yesterday.
We can discard food products, medicines, cleaners.
I need you to come back here and go over Marcos' files.
Sure, as soon as they fix my car.
It broke down in the middle of the road.
I'm on the tow truck on my way to the shop.
- They seem happy together. - They do.
What about kids?
Have you ever thought about having kids?
Yes, I have.
I once thought it would be a good idea.
But my common sense was stronger than my selfishness...
so I discarded the idea.
What's so selfish about having kids?
Is that a question?
Because our world is a trashcan.
It's dirty, unfair...
and dangerous.
And it's not getting any better, it's the opposite...
so bringing a kid to a place like this...
isn't exactly a good thing to do.
That makes sense.
What about you?
Me? No way. I wouldn't be a good father.
How do you know?
I don't like kids, for one.
I mean...
they inspire nothing in me.
I'm not moved by them, like most people are.
I don't know.
What's that smile about?
We have quite a lot in common.
I don't like kids either.
Hello, Mariano.
Renzo...
yes, I'm sorry, I know what that smell is.
I know what it is.
It's calcium oxide and it's quite harmless.
Calcium oxide reacts with water...
to produce calcium hydroxide and acetylene.
This gas has a very characteristic odor and is very flammable.
What is it used for?
Acetylene is used in soldering equipment...
because of the high temperatures.
Why an oxide?
I don't know, I only know it wasn't too common...
because I had never smelt it before.
Maybe he uses it daily.
Wasn't there a chemical in the Klur case?
Silver halide.
Checking these ordinary cases is a waste of time.
How come?
Because the Klur case isn't ordinary.
There was a plan, a skinning, and a messy room.
This whacko isn't picking out ordinary crimes...
but crimes that made the headlines...
that people talked about for weeks, not this.
You're right.
All murders are mediocre, improvised...
and can be explained in just three paragraphs.
- Sorry, we're closing. - Sure.
- That'll be 50 pesos. - Okay.
- Here. - That's okay.
The D'Angelo case in 1989.
- What about it? - Calcium oxide killed him.
What do you mean?
The report doesn't say much.
- We should go see your dad. - Right. Let's go.
Boys, I...
I need to get some rest. May I?
Sure.
Are you sure?
Get some rest. I'll keep an eye on XL.
- Call me if anything... - Go home. Don't worry.
Coffee's on me tomorrow.
Large.
Deal.
Thanks, see you tomorrow.
Okay.
D'Angelo?
Yes.
I did close this case.
Let me know if you need anything else.
We don't need anything. Go to bed.
- Okay then. Good night. - Good night.
Good night.
What do you need to know?
How long have you been living together?
You woke me up to ask me that?
No, this report isn't very helpful.
Who was D'Angelo?
He was a moneylender.
He cashed checks and made pre-payday loans.
He charged very high interest rates...
but there was always someone deserate enough to ay them...
until he seems to have found someone who wasn't.
Someone refused to ay him.
They found his body
two days after his partner reported him missing.
According to the coroner...
it took him almost two days to die.
What did calcium oxide have to do with it?
He just exploded.
Exploded how? I don't understand.
His stomach, liver, lungs and intestines... boom!
They made him swallow a pound of calcium oxide.
Calcium oxide reacts to water by producing certain gases...
which filled up his stomach, lungs and windpipe.
After half an hour, he must've been in pain.
Wait a second. Don't gases look for a way out?
Yes, they do, but not in this poor bastard.
They plugged up his anus, his mouth...
and one of his nostrils...
so he wouldn't die quickly.
Got it.
The killer?
I went through D'Angelo's list of clients, or victims...
and I found a Mr. Vega, a scrap metal dealer.
You need a basic tool to operate that kind of business,
a blowtorch, which uses acetylene...
which is a mixture of calcium oxide and water...
which produced the gases that killed D'Angelo.
I did the math and there's no doubt in my mind.
Is he still in jail?
He was never convicted.
He assaulted me when I tried to arrest him.
I had to kill him in self-defense.
What does the D'Angelo case have to do with this investigation?
We think this killer is a copycat.
His first victim, Klur...
has a lot to do with the case he just copied.
So you think he wants to kill me just like D'Angelo was?
I don't get it. Why not some other case?
Instinct, Dad. Let's go.
- Just a minute. - Your girlfriend is waiting.
Good night, sir.
What's your problem?
You could be a little nicer to me. I let you live.
Is that a fact?
Depending on how much you value your life, sure.
Very little to nothing.
I don't think I'm that important.
You don't? I don't believe you.
If I didn't think my life was worthless...
I wouldn't be risking it since I was 16.
What do you want anyway?
Carlos says since we met, you haven't been to the club.
- No, I haven't. - How come?
I'm waiting for you to blow your brains out first.
So you're scared of me?
There are three kinds of people I don't bet with.
Kids, jerks and crazy people.
And I am?
I think you're a big boy.
I'm going to bed now if you don't mind.
I killed a guy.
- So why tell me? - I can't tell anybody else.
Was it a bet?
- That's what it's all about. - I know.
Go home, have a glass of warm milk...
and count the sheep jumping over the body.
In fact, I enjoyed it.
The money?
No, I enjoyed watching him die.
That whacko must be wondering how we knew...
whether it was a coincidence, or his mistake.
And if it's a mistake, which one?
That will stop him for at least a while.
We've stopped too.
At least, until we identify XL.
But he doesn't know that.
Hi, this is Gabriela.
I thought about something I'd like you to hear.
Call me back.
Come back here, bitch.
Come back here I said.
Come here, come here.
Stay where you are.
Come here.
I said come here.
Where are you going, bitch?
That's enough.
Stay out of it. Go to bed.
You don't let me.
- You need help? - Yes. Go right ahead.
That's not necessary. It was just an argument.
Are you sure?
You could file a complaint.
- We don't need your advice. - I won't.
- He will kill you. - What did you say?
You'll kill her, and I'll kick your ass.
- Is that a threat? - Yes, you piece of shit.
Who is it?
Come in.
Before you come in, what do you have to say?
I won't ask you for a commitment this time.
This time there won't be any commitment...
or curfews, or any questions.
Or complaints.
You still have your whims and fancies.
All around me.
Vodka, right?
Right. Vodka.
There's something I'd like to ask you.
Is it absolutely necessary?
Yes.
Okay, ask.
When you went to see XL...
Yes?
...did you know I was there?
You worked there the last time I saw you.
Is that a yes or a no?
You could've been working elsewhere.
Okay, I knew for sure when...
When I was told who we had to talk to.
- I have another. - Make it the last one, please.
- Last one. - Good.
You could've chosen not to come to my office.
I could have.
I thought you never wanted to see me again.
Me, too.
After all, does it matter?