Ep 3. Profile of a Killer

Man with a Camera season 1 episode 3 titled Profile of a Killer follows the story of Mike Kovac as he investigates the murder case of a young woman. The episode opens with a news report about the corpse of a woman being found in the park. Mike happens to be at the scene, taking pictures for the newspaper. He is approached by the police who inform him that the victim was strangled and the case is under investigation.

As Mike develops the pictures, he realizes that he captured a shot of the killer fleeing the scene. He shows the picture to the inspector in charge, who recognizes the suspect, Charles "Chick" Reardon, a notorious criminal with a long rap sheet. The inspector asks Mike to shadow Reardon and get more evidence against him.

Mike starts his investigation by visiting the places Reardon is known to frequent. He meets his old acquaintances and gathers information about his habits and whereabouts. He also befriends his girlfriend, Sheila, who works as a lounge singer at a local club. Sheila is hesitant to talk to him, but Mike charms her with his friendly demeanor and starts helping her prepare for her upcoming singing gig. He also shows her the picture of Reardon and asks her if she recognizes him. Sheila denies knowing Reardon but Mike suspects that she's lying.

Mike's investigation leads him to a seedy apartment complex where Reardon lives. Mike breaks into the apartment to get some evidence, but he is caught by Reardon, who comes home unexpectedly. Reardon recognizes Mike as a newspaper photographer and threatens to harm him. Mike manages to escape and logs a complaint with the police. The police raid Reardon's apartment but find nothing incriminating.

Mike's next move is to track down Reardon's accomplices. He follows one of them to an abandoned warehouse where the gang is planning their next heist. Mike takes pictures of the meeting and sneaks out undetected. He shows the pictures to the inspector, who uses them to bust the gang and arrest Reardon's accomplice.

Mike realizes that Sheila is in danger and decides to help her out. He follows her to a bar, where she has a showdown with Reardon. Reardon demands that she sing at his club, or face dire consequences. Mike intervenes and threatens to expose Reardon's criminal activities to the police. Reardon backs off, and Mike escorts an overjoyed Sheila home.

The episode ends with Mike's newspaper publishing the story of Reardon's gang's bust, and the inspector congratulating Mike on a job well done. Mike writes in his diary about the satisfaction of bringing criminals to justice and the thrill of investigative journalism. He concludes with a poignant line about the inherent danger in his line of work but the excitement it brings.

Overall, Man with a Camera season 1 episode 3 is a thrilling crime drama that showcases Mike Kovac's skills as a photographer and investigative journalist. The episode features tense action sequences, well-written characters, and a compelling storyline that keeps the viewers engaged. The finale of the episode is particularly satisfying, with Mike's quick thinking and resourcefulness helping him to solve the case and save a life.