Episode 18/7: Quit Claim

Fan Review by Mari

CAUTION: POSSIBLE SPOILERS!!!

QUIT CLAIM is an episode of both a very simple story and a nice, complex twisted knot to keep you guessing what's next? A woman and her daughter from out of town are struck and killed by a car that doesn't even slow or stop. A silver dodge with a huge wad of cash found inside leads the detectives to a couple who has recently bought a new home, and to a crooked "quick claim" agency that sells homes right out from under their financially troubled owners, at bargain prices, mind you.

The title company is operated by a Dennis Langdon and is nothing more than clever scam for easy money for experienced con-artists. An employed assistant named Kim Brody (guest star January Jones) claims ignorance to her boss's dirty deeds and agrees, as long as she is given immunity for her part in the crimes, to help the police get Langdon. Mob connections to the Fatone family are discovered, and a search is conducted in a cigar club. Green, Lupo and Rubirosa must go undercover to sting Langdon, who is also working under the name of Phil Newsom.

The undercover scenes were good. It was fun to see Lupo and Rubirosa playing a domestic couple, and out of their usual on-the-job attire.

But the sting is thwarted by the big surprise: Langdon/Newsom laying among a pile of bodies at the cigar hangout and Kim Brody on the run. Well, we now know who the most skilled con-artist of the group is. She's good. In fact, she's so good that when Green and Lupo go to her house to cuff her, she STILL plays innocent and dumb...and she's not near done!

Her lawyer, Berbatov, is just the kind of idiot lawyer she probably silently prayed and wished for. Rubirosa (I hope everyone has noticed how much more I've come to like her since I badmouthed her a few reviews ago!!!) notices very shortly after he is appointed to defend Brody that the lawyer is sleeping with his client. How? A woman's intuition and a cutesy girlie sock on Mr. Berbatov's foot. While Lupo and Green search for the mates of the mismatched socks, Lupo spills some more personal tidbits about how he wears socks during sex "because I get cold feet." Well...gee...it is a little more information than we needed, but he sure seems like a nice, considerate guy!!! : ) After all, who likes cold, clammy feet, at ANY time???!!!

Yep, Ms. Brody is using her entire arsenal to get what she wants. Berbatov is a con's wet dream...an idiot pure and simple. When confronted by the police about fraternizing with his client, he keeps repeating, "Attorney-client priveledge...Attorney-client priveledge..." The broken record is finally convinced that he is being used, and will eventually be disposed of, by a femme-fatale, and agrees to record a phone conversation with Brody and bust her ass.

Of course, Brody is no novice criminal. Before they can slap the cuffs on her again, lo and behold! she has gotten in good with the FBI over some terrorism bullshit. Naturally the fibs claim the usual supremacy over local police, and refuse to supply Ms. Brody.

Not to be outdone (is he ever?) Jack McCoy devises an unusual and brilliant (but is it realistic, given our government's post 9/11 terrorism agenda?) strategy that consists of arresting FBI agents and negotiating prisoner exchanges to get Kim Brody back.

McCoy's plan works, but sadly, with only 48 hours afforded to indict, the police simply cannot find all the evidence they need. McCoy, once so intent on throwing the book at Ms. Brody, gives up, but Cutter and Rubirosa move on. In court, Brody continues to pull rabbits out of her hat. She claims that her partner from a few years back, Bobby Sinclair, who was murdered, introduced her to a terrible life that involved kidnapping and sexual abuse, and that she was just an innocent women who was preyed upon. Did I not say this bitch is good? She's even using the jury!

Berbatov offers to testify for Cutter, but the idiot has no solid spoken evidence. Next!!!

Seeing that the con-artist is sure to be acquitted so she can move on with her life of crime, and that she is a cold-blooded killer who, in spite of her feminine attractiveness and petite stature, is dangerous and psychopathic enough to lay out the bodies of 8 men, 7 of whom are notorious mobsters, Cutter is tempted to commit perjury. Rubirosa ducks out, incredulous at Cutter. But it's understandable. He wants this lunatic off the streets...it's easy to be tempted.

But in the end, he does the "right" thing...or at least the ethical thing. Kim Brody gets off scot-free. But at least Cutter doesn't have to listen to anyone telling him how dishonest and unethical he is. You can't win them all I guess.

A very good episode with plenty of twists and a surprising perp. Not my favorite episode, but worthy of at least an A.