Cradle to Grave
Directed By: Myles Connell.
Story By: Tom Fontana, Jorge Zamacona.
Teleplay By: David Mills
Lewis and Munch investigate the death of a motorcyclist who was part of a gang called "The Deacons". Pembleton is asked by Commissioner Harris (Al Freeman Jr) to investigate Congressman Jerry Wade (Dick Stilwell), who claimed he had been kidnapped but turns out to have been lying - however, the investigation blows up right in Pembleton's face. Felton and Howard have to investigate a homicide where there's no body.
This episode contains examples of:
- All Bikers are Hells Angels: The "Deacons" are the standard portrait of the outlaw motorcycle gang, and that includes fighting, as Lewis learns the hard way.
- Based on a True Story: The story of Congressman Wade making up a kidnapping story to cover up the fact he was having an affair with his aid was from David Simon's book (though again, it was the Expy of Stan Bolander who handled the case in real life), as was the Black Comedy story of a dead body brought to the hospital before homicide detectives had a chance to investigate it, and then was brought right back to the original crime scene.
- Blatant Lies:
- Felton insists to Howard he's going to give their case his full attention - and then, when Howard's back is turned, Felton changes The Big Board so that the "John Doe" under his name is black (solved) while the "John Doe" case under Bayliss' name is now red (unsolved).
- Despite the fact Commissioner Harris told Pembleton to do whatever it took to make Congressman Wade's case to go away - once they found out he faked a kidnapping story to cover up a lover's quarrel - once the press get ahold of the story, and Barnfather asks Harris if he ordered Pembleton to cover things up, Harris lies and says he made no such order.
- Call-Back:
- When Felton, who has finally found his kids, goes off to be with them, Howard is unhappy and he reminds her of the time she dumped an investigation on him and went on leave, because the case upset her. Howard later reminds Felton of the gifts he bought his kids, which he grabs.
- Commissioner Harris tells Pembleton he's disappointed Pembleton had turned down the job offered him, though he understands.
- Closet Gay: Congressman Wade turns out to be this.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Monk, the dead biker, may have been involved in illegal activities, but he dearly loved his daughter, so much so he agreed to be killed so the gang wouldn't go after her. When Monk's widow is leaving with her daughter and the FBI, she gives Lewis a picture of Monk's daughter, and asks Lewis to put the picture on Monk's grave. Lewis honors this request.
- Resign in Protest: Pembleton is so upset about being betrayed by Commissioner Harris that when Barnfather proposes placing Pembleton on administrative leave, Pembleton instead turns in his badge and his gun.
- Shout-Out: When trying to understand the mentality of the Deacons, Lewis reads Hunter S. Thompson's book Hells Angels.
