Ep 3. The Three Million Dollar Piracy

Banacek season 2 episode 3 titled "The Three Million Dollar Piracy" sees Banacek take on a complex case involving the theft of a luxury yacht. The episode begins with an insurance magnate, Carl Desmond, hiring Banacek to recover his missing yacht, the Desmondís Daughter. The vessel was worth three million dollars, and it had disappeared from a Boston dock, presumably with a sizable crew of experienced sailors who had knowledge of the yacht's complicated navigation system.

Desmond's Daughter had been moored in Boston Harbor awaiting its owner, Carl Desmond, and a party of friends to come on board for a transatlantic voyage to the Caribbean. However, as the yacht's captain, a man named Parnell, discovered after he finished his last inspection the night before, the yacht had been stolen.

Banacek sets to work to track down the missing yacht, and he immediately uncovers some disquieting clues. He discovers that Carl Desmond had recently taken out several large insurance policies on the yacht, adding up to more than the vessel's worth. Banacek also discovers that the yacht was not just a simple pleasure craft but was also equipped for some top-secret government work.

Banacek tracks down the captain of the stolen vessel, a man named Parnel, who turns out to be an old naval officer who was disgruntled over being discharged early and never receiving his full pension benefits. Parnel had evidently gone AWOL from a military position and had spent some time in a Central American country before returning to the United States with some inside knowledge about the navy's mapping and communication systems.

Banacek realizes that Parnel, with his experience in naval navigation and communication systems, was the only person who could have stolen Carl Desmond's yacht. Banacek then sets out to discover how the yacht was stolen, where it was taken, and what is being done with it.

The subplot of the episode involves a romantic intrigue involving Banacek's associate, the beautiful and intelligent Carlie Kirkland, who discovers a secret about her father's business dealings. She is then faced with a difficult decision as she tries to reconcile her love for her father with the knowledge of his ethical lapses.

Overall, the episode features Banacek's sharp mind and deductive skills as he puts together the missing pieces of the puzzle surrounding the yacht's theft. Banacek must navigate the nefarious dealings of a disgruntled naval officer, a wealthy insurance magnate with questionable business practices, and a top-secret government operation involving sophisticated communication and navigation systems. Along the way, Banacek uncovers some surprising truths and unexpected twists before ultimately solving the case and bringing the stolen vessel back to its rightful owner.