Directed by Peter Levin
Written by Ed Zuckerman & Robert Nathan
Investigating the death of Lois Ryder in an apparent mugging, Logan and Cerreta soon work out that her husband Jonathan, who's from a wealthy and prestigious old-money family, is the real culprit. They initially suspect he was motivated by his discovery of her affair with a co-worker, Dr. Friedman. However, it emerges that Jonathan is in thrall to his domineering, snobbish mother. She disapproved of Lois, but Lois would be entitled to a substantial share in Jonathan's assets if they divorced, so he decided to kill her. Jonathan is arrested for murder when the police find out that he disposed of Lois's jewelry to make her death look like a mugging, but took back a pin she wore that's a family heirloom.
It becomes apparent to Stone and Robinette that the Ryders think they're above the law because of their money and privilege. The prosecutors are determined to win the case. They try to spook Jonathan with the threat of charging his mother with perjury and accessory, but then find that the Ryders paid off the star witness to back out of the trial. With the whole case about to collapse, Stone and Robinette obtain an order for Olivet to interview the Ryders' 10-year-old daughter, but decide that it is too risky to call her as a witness. Jonathan is finally convicted when Dr. Friedman testifies that Lois was indeed wearing the heirloom pin on the night of the murder. After the trial, lawyers for Dr. Friedman's wife contact the detectives; she wants a copy of his testimony to use in her divorce hearing. The prosecutors wearily reflect that even though Jonathan Ryder is now in jail, plenty of other people out there have the same sense of entitlement.
This episode contains examples of:
- Children Are Innocent: Lois and Jonathan Ryder's daughter is portrayed this way.
- Every Man Has His Price: The Ryders bribe a key witness not to testify against Jonathan.
- Inter-Class Romance: Lois and Jonathan were initially this, but the marriage soured under pressure from Jonathan's mother.
- Mama's Boy: Jonathan is very emotionally dependent on his mother.
- My Beloved Smother: Mrs. Ryder controls all aspects of her children's lives, even though they're well into adulthood with families of their own.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: Mrs. Ryder is antisemitic and made her daughter-in-law's life a misery because Lois came from a working-class background.
- Screw the Rules, I Have Money!: The Ryders clearly operate under this belief.
