THE ADAMS CHRONICLE

Spoilers ahead in this follow-up post to the Patricia Breslin tribute.....

Speaking of "Crooked Road", that episode of 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' in which Patricia Breslin co-starred, she wasn't the only character who was using an alias.....

Richard Kiley played Harry Adams, the lead investigator in that case, but he wasn't married to Ms. Breslin's character. And his name wasn't "Harry Adams" either.....

Quite a scandal was engendered once the town of Robertsville was busted for their illegal schemes.  (The justice of the peace, the police department, and at least the local mechanic plotted to fill the town's coffers from outsiders driving through.)  The case made national headlines, which brought fame and attention to Kiley's character and plenty of job offers in law enforcement from all over the country. He was able to pick and choose his destiny and he eventually decided on accepting the offer to become the police commissioner in Los Angeles.

How the mighty eventually fall, because it's the contention of Toobworld Central that the true identity of "Mr. Adams" was that of Mark Halperin, one of the murderers investigated in a case that would be known as "A Friend In Deed".

Once out in Los Angeles, Halperin soaked in the social circuit where he eventually met and married a millionairess named Margaret. (Maiden name unknown) The love in that marriage soon faded yet neither one of them wanted a divorce. For Margaret, it was probably out of pride and concern for her standing among her friends. But for Mark, it was because he had become desirous of her money.

So when the opportunity presented itself, he murdered her and tried to make it look like a notorious burglar had committed the deed.

What he didn't count on was that the homicide detective running the investigation was a lieutenant by the name of 'Columbo'......

The same argument could be made for Richard Kiley as was made for Ms. Breslin - any one of his "present day" guest star roles that occurred between these two appearances could have been Mark Halperin, still working undercover and using an alias.

But after the 'Columbo'?  I think his dance card was full......

BCnU!