Exit Prentiss Carr (4 Oct. 1974)

This Rockford Files story has James Garner already on the job checking up on the whereabouts of the estranged husband of Corinne Michaels. He and Michaels had some history prior to Rockford going to prison. In any event he traces the husband to Bay City where he finds him dead.

The problem is Rockford found him dead by breaking and entering his house though with his investigative training he was careful not to leave evidence of his being there. That might have been a mistake but Rockford is on the horns of a dilemma. If he admits he was in the house he's guilty of breaking and entering otherwise he has to accept the police verdict of suicide.

It also could make him a murder suspect and it calls into question just Michaels hired him for, possibly to buttress an alibi.

Of course it's murder and a very small clue like a charge receipt that cracks the case open.

One consequence of this is that Jim Rockford will probably avoid taking cases in Bay City. He made Chief Stephen McNally's force look real bad, especially detectives Warren Kemmerling and Mills Watson. They're not likely to forget.