Fire Part 2
Directed By: Nick Gomez
Story By: Henry Bromell and Tom Fontana
Written By: Jack Behr
After a second building is burned and another dead body is found, there's even more pressure on Bayliss, Pembleton and Kellerman to solve the case. Russert informs Giardello Barnfather will let him have another detective to replace Bolander and Felton if they solve the case. Because Kellerman is able to do so, Giardello offers him the job. Kellerman initially turns it down, but changes his mind. Munch decides he wants to take the sergeant's exam as well, but doesn't show up on exam day, with Howard alone taking the exam.
This episode contains examples of:
- Even Evil Has Standards: The mysterious informant (who had contacted Pembleton in the previous episode as well) is a burglar, but is disgusted at the fact two kids were killed in the fires.
- Four Eyes, Zero Soul: Gavin Robb (Adam Trese), the chemistry teacher who turns out to be the arsonist, is somewhere between this and Affably Evil - he's cold and uncaring when Bayliss, Pembleton and Kellerman are interrogating him, but apparently, he's kind to homeless people and he loves dogs (which Kellerman uses to get him to confess).
- Good Cop/Bad Cop: Played with - Robb thinks Bayliss, Pembleton and Kellerman are pulling this on him, but Kellerman tells him he's the bad cop in that he's not as smart as the other two, only to prove he is.
- I Never Said It Was Poison: Kellerman seems like he's letting Robb go when he casually asks, "Why did you kill the dog?", to which Robb, an animal lover, instinctively replies, "I didn't know the dog was there," giving himself away.
- Obfuscating Stupidity: Kellerman plays this to the hilt to get Robb to confess. That, as much as getting the confession, is what leads Giardello to offer Kellerman the job of Homicide detective.
- Serial Killings, Specific Target: Robb admits he set the first fire to cover up the second fire, which was a straight up murder, so the police wouldn't connect the two, and he didn't know the first victim would be there.
- Side Bet: Giardello and Lewis both make bets on who will do better on the sergeant's exam, Howard or Munch. They both bet on Howard.
- Teacher/Student Romance: Robb refuses to confirm or deny it, but it is strongly implied that he killed Bonnie Nash because they were having a sexual relationship and something threatened to expose it.
- Two-Part Episode
