Mark Wheeler

Columbo (Peter Falk) tries to outwit a military academy commandant (Patrick McGoohan) who plans to create his own job security by killing the school board chairman.

Pam acquires a new friend, Leanne, but is unaware of her shady past. When J.R. sees the two girls together he decides it's a great opportunity to ruin both Ben Maxwell's reputation, who is Cliff Barnes' backer, and Pam's at the same time. J.R. blackmails Leanne into getting Maxwell as well as Pam into a situation which would appear to be compromising to the hidden photographer J.R. has hired, believing that he can eliminate both problems together.

Lucy falls in love and delights everyone, especially J.R., with the news that she is marrying Kit Mainwaring III, the only son of another powerful oil-rich Texas family. J.R. views Lucy's upcoming marriage as a way to join the two families into an independent oil dynasty and when he learns there's trouble in paradise, he is determined not to let anything disturb his plans.

Robbins falls for a public defender representing a psychopath, who is trying to eliminate witnesses to a murder.

An infant in need of immediate medical attention is missing, Sgt. Broadhurst has been kidnapped, and a maniacal bomber is on the loose. Guest star: Teri Garr.