My friend havers refreshed my memory today. She had just noticed that Manny Beltran, the man who had murdered Eames' husband was the doctor who attended Kevin Quinn when he was brought into Emergency at the beginning of the show.
It's hard to catch these details when you've only seen this episode once or twice. We're so caught up in an Eames-focused emotionally-charged episode, that we forget to watch for those juicy gifts given by good writers.
I got to thinking about the episode aside from the Eames factor and realized that Joe Dutton's murder was the "gift" that kept on giving. Manny Beltran murdered Joe Dutton nine years before this episode takes place and in this episode Manny Beltran, now a doctor, attempts to save the life of Joe's then-partner, Kevin Quinn. A nice twist.
At the end when finally cornered, Beltran explains to Goren and Eames he's tried to make amends by becoming a doctor, by saving hundreds of lives. Eames replies "It doesn't make up for the one you took away."
Although Manny Beltran may have only pulled the trigger and killed one man, he is ultimately responsible for Kevin Quinn's death and the death of his own cousin, Alfred Minaya.
If Beltran had turned himself in at the time, they would not have imprisioned the wrong man for Joe Dutton's murder (Ray Delgado is also a victim here), thus sending Ray's son on killing spree to avenge his father's imprisonment.
Victor Delgado may also be a victim. Except now he's a murderer, too. And his father will be set free.
This episode was written by Warren Leight and Siobhan Byrne O'Connor.
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