Deep Water

Episode 203 (#13) - September 18 1996

March 19, 1992:

Detective Jack Pendergrast is meeting the kidnappers of Phillip Brackley the son of Warren Brackley a wealthy lumber owner. The kidnappers want one million dollars delivered for the younger Brackley’s release. Pendergrast is ready with the money when a shotgun is thrust through the window of his car and he is killed. Pendergrast, the money and Phillip Brackley all disappear, leaving Pendergrast’s partner Jim Ellison, recently of Vice, to wonder what happened.

Present Day:

Pendergrast’s car has been discovered in a tributary of the Cottonwood River with Brackley’s body in the trunk. The Internal Affairs Department feels this is more than enough evidence that Pendergrast took the money and ran and Ellison helped. Ellison is adamant that Pendergrast had nothing to do with the kidnapping or the murder. However, Pendergrast’s past gambling debts and other vices are working against him.

IA decides to suspend Ellison pending a full investigation. Ellison reveals to Simon and Blair he had a fling with Jack’s then girlfriend Emily and they were together the night Jack and the money disappeared. Simon refuses to allow it to end there and allows Ellison access to Pendergrast’s car to further investigate. Ellison finds small bumps in the door panel consistent with shotgun pellets with his sense of touch. He also locates Jack’s body on a list of John Doe’s found four years ago in the river.

With himself and Jack cleared, Jim and Blair track down the real kidnappers, Monique Brackley and Brackley’s assistant, Art Landis. They decided to kill the younger Brackley to inherit the lumber business from Warren Brackley.

Episode Oddities:

  • Henri is seen in the background at the re-burial of Jack Pendergrast, not listed in credits
  • Lawyer Dent’s license plate on his red Dodge changes from 741-SFU to 741-FSU after the crash

Canon Tidbits:

  • Jack drove a 1957 or 1958 Chevy license JACKS TOY
  • Jim drove a GMC truck four years ago
  • Sheila Irwin’s car has license 466-FKO
  • Jim bought the loft four years ago with a $50,000 down payment. The money came from back pay he was due from his tour in Peru
  • Blair shows Jim how to use his senses to retrieve memories

Main Cast:

  • Detective Jim Ellison: Richard Burgi
  • Blair Sandburg: Garett Maggart
  • Captain Simon Banks: Bruce A. Young

Guest Stars:

  • Jack Pendergrast: Joe Cortese
  • Sheila Irwin: Jamie Rose
  • Warren Brackley: Dick O’Neill
  • Monique Brackley: Katherine LaNasa
  • Emily Carson: Lori Triolo
  • Art Landis: Michael Richard Dobson
  • Serena Chang: Lesley Ewen
  • Housekeeper: Helena Yea
Thanks to Shelley Knepley for information provided.

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