A dead body is found at Holy Redeemer Cemetery; Munch and Russert take the case. A
barking dog is found next to the corpse, which is eventually calmed down and put inside a
squad car. The body has ligature marks on the neck, which point to death by strangulation;
there are also many defense wounds. A wallet inspection reveals that the dead man, Edgar Rodzinski, was a
retired police officer; he had probably come in a car, which was now missing. Munch and
Russert interview the cemetery owner, who tells them that he saw nothing despite the fact
that no one can go in and out of the cemetery without him knowing; the detectives go back to
the squadroom, where Lewis looks at the board and says that he knows a Jake Rodzinski, now a
detective in check and fraud, from his academy days. Meldrick suddenly realizes that the
dead man is Jake's father.
Lewis, Munch and Russert find Jake with his partner, Pez McCadden, and tell him the bad
news. Jake heads down to the morgue and stares at the body for a while; Lewis meets him there and
gives him the dog found at the cemetery, which Jake recognizes as Edgar's dog Max.
Back in the squadroom, Lewis receives a call from Officer Rogers, who tells him that Jake
is at the spot where his father died- right next to his mother's grave. Lewis rushes
down to Holy Redeemer, where Jake suggests about teaming up themselves and starting their
own investigation; Meldrick replies that it's not their case to investigate.
Lewis tells Russert and Munch about a wake being held at Jake's house; Megan decides to
go, which also forces Munch's hand. There they meet Augie Distel, Edgar's old partner,
who announces that the Fraternal Order of Police has issued a $20,000 reward for information
leading to an arrest. Jake is not pleased to see Munch and Russert in his house and tells
them to pay their respects by finding his father's killer.
Next morning arrives and Jake apologizes to Munch and Russert for his outburst; he also gives
them a new lead. It seems that Edgar was stabbed in the stomach in 1966 during an extortion
probe; the case file is dug up and the detectives find that Edgar had interviewed the
primary witness 19 times. Munch and Russert go see Paula Schwenk, the witness, who tells
them that her son was the one who stabbed Edgar; Paula and Edgar apparently were having an
affair that the son was not happy about. Munch and Russert arrest Alan Schwenk only to
find out that he had nothing to do with Edgar's death. Jake meets up with his own suspect,
a parolee locked up by Edgar who swore revenge; without warning, Jake assaults the man and is
arrested himself. Lewis goes over to Central Booking, pays Jake's bail, and takes him
home. Jake is suspended by the department for his unwarranted outburst.
The cemetery caretaker visits the squadroom, the smell of a $20,000 reward suddenly jogging
his memory. He recalls that his daughter's boyfriend, a loser named Kenny Damon, had
visited the graveyard and tried to strangle him with a piece of rope. Edgar's missing car
is found with tons of evidence in it, including Damon's fingerprints and a coat hanger
wire that appears to be the murder weapon. Munch, Russert and Lewis arrest Damon, but before
the can leave, Jake and Pez show up. Jake has a staredown with Kenny Damon and suddenly
assaults him. Megan angrily informs Meldrick to tell Jake to keep his hands to himself.
The trial of Kenneth Damon starts, but Danvers surprises the detectives by saying that
he has doubts about the strength of their case. The prosecution presents overwhelming
DNA and fingerprint evidence that link Damon to the murder, but the defense fights back,
pointing out that Jake Rodzinski had beaten up a man who had no involvement in the case and
that the cemetery owner had revealed vital information only after a large reward had been
announced. The verdict takes longer than expected but eventually arrives; to the shock of
everyone in the courtroom, Kenny Damon is found not guilty of all charges. A talk with a
juror reveals that only three jurors had an opinion about the case; two said guilty and
one stubborn man said not guilty, with the nine others only wishing to go home for the
weekend. The stubborn man had eventually won the opinion of the majority, who were very
tired and wanted to leave. Jake, appalled at the lack of justice,
confronts Damon and tells him to sleep with one eye open. |
Starring
Richard Belzer Det. John Munch
Andre Braugher Det. Frank Pembleton
Reed Diamond Det. Mike Kellerman
Isabella Hofmann Det. Megan Russert
Clark Johnson Det. Meldrick Lewis
Yaphet Kotto Lt. Al Giardello
Melissa Leo Sgt. Kay Howard
Kyle Secor Det. Tim Bayliss
Guest Starring
Bruce Campbell Det. Jake Rodzinski
Zeljko Ivanek ASA Ed Danvers
Max Perlich J.H. Brodie
Donald Neal Augie Distel
John Haynes Walker Det. Pez McCadden
Jack Dougherty Mr. Prochnik
Wendell Jordan Kenny Damon
Michael Willis Darin Russom
With
Brian T. O'Connor Alan Schwenk
Kristin Rohde Ofcr. Sally Rogers
Ralph Tabakin Dr. Scheiner
Martha Thimmesch Carol Rodzinski
Sharon Ziman Naomi
|
|
