A wealthy businessman is killed in Central Park one night, and his
ex-fiancee Wendy Jenkins (Suzanne Pleshette) the only and only logical
suspect: The murder happened near her apartment, the deceased was walking
her dog, and of course his turning her down seems to be the perfect
motive. Plus a gun fitting the caliber of the bullets he was murdered
with, was registered in her name, and she claims she has given the weapon
to him long ago. Only detective Casey Jones (Beverly Garland) is anything
but sure about this, mainly because the way Wendy has cried when she
learned about her ex's death sounded real. So Casey investigates further
and soon finds the deceased's secretary Susan Connor (Molly McCarthy) is a
bit too quick to lay the blame for the death on Wendy, and comes up with
evidence after evidence to corroborate the story - evidence that could
just as easily be fabricated. And at one time, she even confesses she
actually was in love with the deceased. So Casey has an idea: She tells
Susan where the police will search for the murder weapon next (even though
it's a place that already has been searched), then follows Susan around
town to witness her takint the gun from a locker at the trainstation and
trying to hide it where Casey has hinted the police hasn't searched yet -
which is as good as confessing the murder. Above all else, this
story is let down by its predictability - the guilty party gives herself
away to the audience way too soon and way sooner than Casey actually
suspects her. Also, the finale, in which Susan threatens Casey with the
murder weapon lacks any real suspense - after all, why would you reload a
gun you have just emptied in a murder if you desperately try to get rid of
it? One of the lesser episodes of Decoy.
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