Ep 5. The Taker

Ironside season 1 episode 5, "The Taker," follows the case of a wealthy woman named Elizabeth who has been conned out of her life savings. Ironside and his team investigate the case, following a trail of clues that leads them to a charismatic man named Harry Collings. As they delve deeper into the investigation, Ironside realizes that Collings is a master manipulator who preys on vulnerable women for financial gain.

The episode opens with Ironside and his team interviewing Elizabeth, who tearfully recounts how she trusted Collings with her money after he promised to invest it for her. However, when she tried to withdraw her funds, she discovered that Collings had disappeared with all of her savings. Ironside immediately suspects that Collings is a con artist and sets out to investigate him and bring him to justice.

As the team starts to investigate Collings, they discover that he has a long history of conning women out of their money. They track down his former victims, including a single mother who lost her home and her children's college funds to Collings' scams. However, despite their best efforts, Collings seems to have covered his tracks well, leaving no evidence behind that would lead to his arrest.

Ironside becomes increasingly frustrated with the case, as Collings seems to be always one step ahead of them. However, he refuses to give up and continues to pursue every lead, working tirelessly to gather enough evidence to prove that Collings is the culprit.

As the investigation heats up, tensions between Ironside and his team start to rise. Mark, the young rookie on the team, pushes back against Ironside's tough approach, arguing that they need to be more compassionate towards Elizabeth and his other victims. Ironside, however, remains focused on the case and refuses to let his emotions cloud his judgement.

Just when it seems like Collings has evaded capture once again, Ironside and his team catch a lucky break. They discover that Collings' latest victim, a wealthy widow, has agreed to meet with him at a luxury hotel. Ironside and his team set up a sting operation, arresting Collings as soon as he shows up to meet with the woman.

With Collings finally in custody, Ironside and his team are able to close the case, returning Elizabeth and his other victims' money to them. Ironside reflects on the case, noting that sometimes the greatest obstacle in solving a crime is not the evidence or the suspects, but the people involved. He acknowledges that he and his team had to learn to work together and use their collective talents to solve the case and bring the criminal to justice.

Overall, "The Taker" is an engaging episode that explores the dangers of falling prey to con artists and the importance of teamwork in solving complex crimes. It showcases Ironside's determination and grit as a detective, and sets the stage for future episodes that delve deeper into the personal struggles of the characters.