21. Faith — Episode — Law & Order: Criminal Intent

21. Faith

Goren and Eames investigate the death of a wealthy publisher killed by a car bomb. During the investigation they discover that the victim was murdered after he demanded to meet a disabled girl he had been supporting. She is known as an orphaned and elusive teenage author whose personal tragedies have spawned best-selling books and profitable charities. After interviewing one of her editors they begin to suspect that the girl in question does not even exist; no-one can say they have ever met her. They suspect her foster parents are running an elaborate fraud.

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The story

Spoilers ahead. Coverage follows the scope labeled below.

Plot summary

Goren and Eames investigate the death of a wealthy publisher, Douglas Lafferty ( Remak Ramsay ), apparently killed in a car bomb but who had already been murdered. During the investigation they discover he had recently demanded to meet "Erica" an orphaned and disabled girl whose heart-wrenching and successful book he had published but whom he had never seen. The detectives also begin to doubt Erica's existence and suspect the girl's foster parents are running an elaborate money-making fraud. After interviewing Christine Wilkes ( Polly Draper ), editor of the book and one of Erica's greatest supporters, the detectives believe she killed her boss Lafferty. The Major Case Squad then sets up an elaborate trap to expose both the "foster parents" and Wilkes for their crimes. Inspired by the Kaycee Nicole hoax.

Credits

Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, Law & Order: Criminal Intent season 1. HTML formatting and reference markers removed.

Original text and revision history

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