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"Law & Order - Los Angeles" guest stars a cameo appearance by Khloe Kardashian. Khloe's appearance is small but sweet, when interviewed by T.J. Jaruszalski (Corey Stoll) and Ricardo Morales (Alfred Molina). Although L&O - Los Angeles is just one part of the L&O Franchise, it is growing in popularity."Benedict Canyon" Episode 12, takes fans on a twisted road as they search for the killer of a young mother, Lily Wagner (Jamie Tate). Shot four times, two shots to her face, this young mother's life is a network of intrigue for viewers. Was it Lilly Wagner's husband, Douglas (Jonathan Scarfe)?
Footwork and brilliant detective skills guide TJ and Ricardo to Lilly's business manager Marty Fox (Robin Thomas) where they learn Lilly placed all her assets in a fund for daughter Katie. Who is running the financial business after Lilly's death? Her mother (JoBeth Williams) will handle the money, Douglas tells detectives.
If there was a falling out between nanny Jill Jennings and mother Lilly, detectives think perhaps Jill's driver may be able to shed light on the problems. Tracking down limo drivers is easy, however, when Ricardo finds Terry Briggs (Jeff Fahey) was Jill's driver he tells TJ that he may be able to talk with this ex-cop and get more information. Meeting up at Pedro's bar the two chat. Morales shares with TJ that Briggs claims to have spent the last three years working in Venice on a vice assignment. Unfortunately for Biggs, he revealed that Harry Rice was his confidential informant. Morales shares with TJ that he thinks Briggs is Lilly's killer.
In interrogation, Briggs tells the whole twisted story, he was Jill's lover apparently Douglas had an affair with Jill. Of course, Briggs believes that Douglas hit on Jill, and the affair was his fault. Having been caught cheating Jill was blackballed all over town by Lilly. But husband Douglas was forgiven and life got better for the Wagner family. Briggs claims Jill ask him to kill Lilly for her. Briggs ask for help from Morales because he says Morales knows what Pelican Bay Prison will be like for him. In return Morales ask Briggs to set up Lilly. However, the sting falls through, and Lilly pretends to know nothing of what Briggs is talking about.
Arrested anyway for the murder of Lilly, Jill goes to trial. Deputy DA Jonah Dekker (Terrence Howard) believes he can make a case, but it falls through and Lilly walks. Briggs lets himself get killed in lock up, Lilly plays it cool and walks away thinking she is free. Needing another connection DDA Dekker and DDA Connie Rubirosa (Alana De La Garza) have pizza at their desk discussing the case. They discover both women, Lily and Jill, had written checks to a common person, Barry Baitos Massage studio. In speaking with the therapist, they discover that he shared information between the two women such as, the party Lily would be attending on the night of the murder.
Briggs is no longer able to testify for the prosecution, since begging Morales to help him while in lock up, Morales tells Briggs it is time to cowboy up and that he is sorry he ever knew the man. Later Briggs allows himself to be killed by a gang member. Due to the loss of the star witness the prosecution must make a stronger case, and they begin in earnest to dig deeper. Realizing defense attorney Steinberg questioned Lilly's mother on childhood events when Lilly was placed in foster care and her mother in drug rehab. Dekker wonders out loud if the two girls may have known each other as children. Here, is the twist that fans did not expect in this L&O episode, since all along the story line felt as if it was a murder due to jealousy, cheating, or money.
Searching up the parents of Jill Jennings, David and Ellie Jennings, Rubirosa finds that these are not Jill's birth parents but foster parents. Jill's real name was Gwen Coulter and she was obviously a troubled youth, found by the foster mother stabbing her doll in the eyes with knitting needles. By their account Jill ran away at 17.
The storyline draws to a close after the visit to Jill's foster parents. Back at the office a meeting takes place Dekker and Rubirosa suggest a plea bargain of 15 years in prison. Steinberg clearly tells the DA's that they must be out of their minds. However, along with Lilly's mother in the room, Dekker shares the facts that foster parents David and Ellie told him there was no car accident and perhaps she had "spondyliosis." Mrs. Jennings says "Gwennie" is that you, the look on Mrs. Jennings face shows fans that she did not recognize her grown daughter. Mom shares that Henry Coulter was Lilly and Gwennie's father. She explains that after she came out of rehab she could only take one child with her, and she chose Lilly because Lilly was just a baby. Dekker takes this one step further by clearing up the venomous feelings that Gwen must have had towards her sister and mother being left behind. Gwen breaks down and screams, "How could you?" Gwen tells of the first foster home the girls lived in and how horrible it was. She shares with her mother, how she protected Lilly while in that home by telling her that their mommy would get better and come get them. However, when the big day came mom didn't take her along but chose to leave her behind.
Another crime discovered, investigated, and solved by the detectives and district attorneys of Los Angeles in "Law &Order - Los Angeles."
"Benedict Canyon" ended on a good note with Dekker sharing drinks with Morales and TJ as a form of apology for his harsh words to Morales. Dekker lost control when he was blind sided in court because of the evening Morales spent drinking with Briggs, but all is well and up next Episode 13, "El Sereno" which airs May 2, 2011.
Resources:
Personal Viewing
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1657081/episodes#year-2011
http://allthingslawandorder.blogspot.com/2011/04/law-order-la-benedict-canyon-recap.html
