Original Airdate: November 7, 1995
Written by: Stephen J. Cannell and Juanita Bartlett
Directed by: Russ Mayberry
Crusading journalist Susan Alexander (Joan Van Ark) is almost forced off the road to her death while driving on the highway. She believes that the attempt on her life is connected to her inquiry into the case of convicted murderer Dave Kruger (John Lawlor), and that she is getting close to the truth.
Kruger was convicted 6 ½ years earlier for killing his girlfriend, Cheryl Wilson. There were no eyewitnesses to the crime itself, but witnesses did hear a loud fight between the couple. Hearing about the case, Jim Rockford is sympathetic to the idea that an innocent man shouldn’t be in prison—as he would be, based on his own experiences. He is less enthusiastic about taking the case when he hears that someone has tried to kill Susan, but agrees to meet with Kruger.
The trail is cold, in part because the police file of the case is missing. After a meeting with Dave’s partially demented defense lawyer (William Prince) they try Cheryl Wilson’s mother. Another woman, Shirley Atwater (Sandra Smith) is now living in Mrs. Wilson’s house. Shirley says that she has been renting the house from her cousin since Mrs. Wilson died. As that lead seems to be a nonstarter, they speak to Patrick Elber (Milton Selzer) the medical examiner who did the autopsies on both Cheryl and her mother. As far as Mrs. Wilson goes he asserts that she died of heart failure.
While Dr. Elber’s diagnoses seem to be the end of the road as far as finding the truth goes, Jim finds himself bothered by the way Shirley Atwater spoke about the house, sounding more possessive than a transient renter would be. They take another visit to her house, only to find Shirley Atwater has been murdered. Becker and the LAPD, sending her dental records to Sacramento, reveal that she was actually Cheryl Wilson. Jim and Susan unravel the case, the truth being that Patrick Elber conspired with the Wilsons to fake Susan’s death for insurance money, framed Dave Kruger, and killed the other two to cover his own tracks.
Tropes present in this episode:
- The Coroner Doth Protest Too Much: The coroner in this case is a conspirator in fraud and murder, so his word in Mrs. Wilson’s death obviously can’t be trusted.
- Clear Their Name: Susan is trying to do this for Dave Kruger.
- Doesn't Like Guns: Susan Alexander in part goes to Rockford for security and is taken aback when she learns that he doesn’t carry a gun, because he doesn’t want to shoot anybody. He does wind up shooting in the general direction of a couple of people, though.
- Frame-Up: As Susan insisted, Dave Kruger was framed for his girlfriend’s murder, when she wasn’t even dead at the time.
- Horrible Judge of Character: Has to be said about Dave Kruger, as he was in love with a woman who chose to let him hang for her murder.
- Intrepid Reporter: Susan Alexander is willing to face danger to her life in order to get her story and see justice done.
