Ep 9. A Perfect Day

In Cold Case season 3 episode 9, titled "A Perfect Day," a wealthy family is left reeling after the murder of their patriarch, Charles Danville. The case was closed years before with no known suspects, but when Detective Lilly Rush and her team re-open the investigation, they discover that the family's perfect image may have been a facade hiding dark secrets.

Charles Danville was a highly regarded business owner with a seemingly perfect life and family, but when he is found murdered in his office, his family's dirty laundry begins to spill out. His wife, Jean (played by Mary Mara), is a pill addict with a penchant for spending Charles' money recklessly. His son, Jamie (played by Jerry O'Connell), is a gambler with a significant debt to a bookie. His daughter, Olivia (played by Larisa Oleynik), is dealing with her own personal issues.

As Lilly and her team interview members of the Danville family and their associates, they begin to unravel a web of lies and deceit that ultimately led to Charles' untimely death. Along the way, they encounter resistance from the family's high-powered attorney, who does everything in his power to keep the investigation from uncovering too much dirt on the Danvilles.

As the investigation progresses, suspicions begin to arise about each member of the Danville family. Was Jean driven to murder Charles for his money? Did Jamie resort to violence to pay off his debts? Is Olivia hiding the truth about her father's death to protect herself and her own secrets? The answers to these questions and more are uncovered in a gripping episode of Cold Case.

"A Perfect Day" is a classic example of Cold Case, with its intricate plot twists and layers of deception. The writing is sharp and the performances are top-notch, with each member of the Danville family bringing their own unique brand of dysfunction to the screen. The episode also highlights the lengths that some people will go to maintain their image, no matter how ghastly the reality may be.

Overall, "A Perfect Day" is a standout episode of Cold Case that delves deeper into the human psyche and the lengths that people will go to protect themselves and their secrets. It's a gripping episode that keeps the audience guessing until the very end.