Pink Tops - Recap

young woman, Eleanor Ortega, is found shot twice, dead, on a rainy, dark, cold night in a bus shelter in northeastern Sacramento. Jane and Lisbon are called to investigate. Jane, using his remarkable powers of
observation, discovers a single hydrangea flower petal, remarks upon it, hands the petal to a puzzled Lisbon, who asks what is the significance of it. Perhaps a flower lover, Jane quips. Jane pronounces the
dead woman as someone who played some sort of stringed musical instrument. How do you know that, Lisbon asks. Jane sniffs her fingers, says pay attention to the slightly piney scent of rosin and look at her fingers: the wear on the fingertips indicates someone who played such. Lisbon shakes her head in admiration.

Meanwhile, at the same scene, a young African-American boy named Anthony Rome is watching the goings-on, bumps into Agent Cho, steals his cruiser keys and tries to take it for a joy ride. He is caught and taken to CBI headquarters, where he continues his mischief. He manages to swipe Van Pelt's cell phone from her desk, using it to send a rather risque text to Rigsby who has temporarily been assigned to watch the lad. Distracted, Rigsby doesn't notice that Anthony has stolen his car keys, is trying to leave the building via elevator. Anthony is apprehended by Cho before he makes good his escape. Cho puts the boy into a holding cell for the night. Anthony tries to get away, but no luck. Cho asks him what is really going on here? Anthony confesses that his father, Lawrence Rome, has been put in jail pending a triial and has been accused of robbing a liquor store. Anthony says his father is innocent. He wants to get inside and free his dad, stole the cruiser keys to get caught. Anthony says that the Southside Mafia gang wants to jump him in next week, that doing so will keep Anthony's father from going to prison. Cho says he will see what he can do to help Anthony's dad. The lad settles down for the night.

Agent Van Pelt inquires of Eleanor's estranged mother, a grocery store worker, as to what she might know of her daughter's life and murder. The mother admits that the last time they talked, she had fought with her daughter over the phone, that they had not been close for some time. The mother mentions Eleanor's ex boyfriend, Orlando Iglesias, may be the murderer, that she had placed a restraining order on the
man because she was afraid of what he might do to her daughter. The mother bursts into tears and breaks down. She says that she would never kill her daughter!

Jane visits the Northern California Symphony Orchestra where he finds the orchestra practicing a piece, led by conductor Vincent Manheiser, who has a fearsome reputation of being rude. On a brief break, Jane talks quietly to one or two of the orchestra members about the deceased Eleanor. They urge Jane to leave while he can because Vincent will be very angry if he is found there. The practice resumes and Jane confronts Vincent in front of all the orchestra members, which really makes the conductor angry. When Jane openly accuses the man of murdering Eleanor, he loudly commands the agent to leave the
premises, which Jane does, but not before telling Vincent that he will be keeping an eye on him.

Cho questions Anthony further, discovering that the boy's father is taking the rap for the store robbery for a member of the Southside Mafia gang, namely Jaden Stevens. Anthony tells Cho where
to locate the man. Cho promises Anthony that he will do all he can to help his father, if he truly is innocent. Anthony insists that he is, indeed. He also tells Cho that Orlando Iglesias the dead Eleanor's ex-boyfriend, is also a gang member and where to find him. Acting on this information, Cho and Van Pelt stake out the indicated house for a bit and see Orlando pull up in his car. Orlando spots the agents, takes off, a brief chase ensues.
The agents catch and cuff Orlando, take him to headquarters where Lisbon interrogates him about the death of his ex, Eleanor. He says he truly loved the woman, would never have hurt her, does not
know who killed her. He admits that Eleanor's mother did talk to a judge about placing a restraining order on him after the couple's breakup, but that it had not been needed.

Jane and Lisbon attend a fundraising event that night for the orchestra, talking to orchestra members about Eleanor. Who among them might have wanted to murder Eleanor? Jane begins a rumor there, insinuating
that Eleanor had been having an affair with one of the members, just to see what might develop. As time goes on at the event, a woman approaches the agents, saying she has just heard some
of the most scandalous news ever! She says that the dead Eleanor had been having a tawdry love affair with the conductor, Vincent. Jane claims shock and amazement, then the agents' attention
is diverted to the second floor balcony where a blond woman, Constance, an orchestra member, is attacking the conductor! The agents hurry up the stars and Lisbon drags the woman off the conductor.
The woman, Constance, tells the agents that she had been in love with Eleanor, was furious to find out that that Eleanor and Vincent may have been involved romantically, tried to convince Eleanor to leave him, but failed. Lisbon tells Constance that
she is guilty of murder because the gun that killed the deceased was found in Constance' car. Constance swears she did not kill Eleanor. Afterward, Jane tells Lisbon that Constance did not kill Eleanor. Lisbon doesn't believe him to which he replies, wait and see.

Cho makes it a point to talk to the senior Rome, tells him he will do what he can to help him. Rome is cynical, demands to be let free. Cho talks to Rome's lawyer, hammers out a deal. Van Pelt and Cho
stake out Jaden Stevens' house, find him there, give chase when he tries to run. He is caught, handcuffed, taken to head quarters, interrogated, found guilty of the store robbery. Rome is released and reunited
with his son, Anthony.

Jane returns to the orchestra building where he finds them in practice. He climbs up on the stage, begins to question the members, interrupting their exercise. He asks who among them stood to profit
from Eleanor's death? They look at each other, then begin to point fingers. A young man named Kieran looks suspicious in word and action and Jane points the finger at him. Kieran first denies murdering
Eleanor, then confesses right there. He says that Eleanor could not play as well as a certain orchestra member that he cares for, that he wanted the deceased out of the way so that this certain woman could
be promoted to Eleanor's position in the orchestra. He admits that he walked to the bus shelter that night, shot Eleanor point blank in the chest twice and took the hydrangea bouquet she had
been holding. Unbeknownst to Kieran, he had left a single flower petal behind, but that had been enough for Jane to come to his decision. Kieran admits that he had tried to frame Constance, but Jane had managed to see through that. With a knowing smile on his face, Jane takes Kieran into custody. Conductor Vincent is now convinced of Jane's investigative abilities, seems impressed.




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