- A writer is found shot to death while he was writing a tell-all book about Georgia's most prominent political family, the Douglases. James Douglas' ex-wife, Vanessa, is accused of the murder but Matlock agrees to defend her.
- Steven Cassidy is found shot to death in his house. At the time, he was writing a book about Vanessa Douglas. Cassidy was writing a book about her marriage to her ex-husband, former senator James Douglas, before he was killed. Apparently, Cassidy was going to portray Vanessa negatively. Sylvia Richland, a television interviewer testifies that she saw Vanessa enter Cassidy's house the night of the murder. Matlock is approached the next day by Dr. Sarah Perlman, a good friend of Vanessa Douglas. She asks Matlock to be Vanessa's lawyer, and he agrees. Matlock learns that Vanessa, in need of money, agreed to help Cassidy write a tell all story about the Douglases, "Georgia's most fascinating family." Vanessa reveals to Matlock that she actually loved James, but Wilson, his father, forced her away. Matlock at first fails to see what motive Vanessa would have. At the end of their interview, however, Matlock learns that James had a mistress, but Vanessa did not know who and that Vanessa had no alibi. Matlock eventually agrees to take the case. Immediately afterwards, Matlock learns from Julie that the murder weapon was found in Vanessa's car. Sylvia Richland tells Michelle that at 10:30 the night of the murder she saw Vanessa walk into Cassidy's house. Richland tells Michelle that she was parked out front, hoping to get an interview from him. Apparently, Cassidy had not been answering her phone calls. Matlock goes to the Douglas estate and learns from Wilson Douglas that Cassidy had came to the Douglases to corroborate Vanessa's stories. Matlock also learns that Vanessa had emotional problems and the Douglases were afraid that the she would create an embarrassing situation for the family. Matlock goes to Perlman's house and finds Vanessa panicked and saying that she is going to go away. Perlman tells Matlock that Douglas can become very "high-strung." Tyler tries to access the computer but cannot. He thinks he is saved when Lamont Turkel comes into Cassidy's and tells Tyler that he is from the DA's office. Turkel accesses the computer and finds nothing. Tyler and Turkel look around Cassidy's bookshelves and Tyler finds the disc hidden inside a book. Turkel then hits him over the head with a book and burns the disc in the kitchen. Tyler after recovering from the blow subdues him and finds out that Turkel was hired by James Douglas. Matlock approaches the Douglases about the matter and serves them a subpoena. In the courtroom, Matlock starts a line of questioning to Lt. Brooks, suggesting to him that the murder weapon, a .45 might be too unwieldy for a woman. Julie objects and Judge Beaumont sustains. Sylvie then takes the stand and identifies Vanessa Douglas as the person who entered Cassidy's house the night of the murder. Matlock cross-examines and brings to light that in fact, Cassidy had called Richland in the weeks prior to the murder. Matlock then forces Richland to reveal that she had been James Douglas' mistress who Vanessa had referred to, which Cassidy had figured out. The court recesses for the day, but Matlock confronts Vanessa and accuses her of the murder. Earlier when they had visited Cassidy's house she had said that the doorbell did not work and that one needed to knock, but according to Richland the killer had knocked. Vanessa remains coy and tells Matlock that his job is to defend her, regardless of the circumstances. The next day, Matlock, while questioning Richland, stages an approximate recreation of what Miss Richland would have seen. He asks Vanessa to leave the room and for the bailiff to turn off the lights. A woman enters the room and as the lights slowly comes back on, Richland identifies the woman as Vanessa Douglas. When the light comes back on, however, the women is revealed to be Sarah Perlman, who is the next witness. While questioning her, Matlock accuses Perlman of controlling Vanessa with her access to addictive sedatives. Cassidy had found that out while interviewing Sarah Perlman. Matlock also points out that she and Vanessa also occasionally swapped clothes and are the same height and build. Matlock does this to try to convince Vanessa to confess. She asks him to stop destroying Sarah and Matlcok tells the judge that his client will change her plea.
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