Law & Order: CI Season 4 Episode 2 The Posthumous Collection

The episode "The Posthumous Collection" is the second episode of the fourth season of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. It follows the detectives of the Major Case Squad as they investigate a series of murders connected to a wealthy publishing family.

The episode opens with the discovery of the body of a young woman who had been strangled and left in an alleyway. The detectives quickly learn that the victim, Lily Price, was an aspiring writer who had submitted her work to Morgenstern Books, a prestigious publishing house headed by the wealthy Morgenstern family.

As the detectives begin to investigate Lily's death, they discover that several other people associated with Morgenstern Books have also been killed. All of the victims had one thing in common - they had submitted manuscripts to the publishing house that were rejected.

The detectives soon learn that the head of Morgenstern Books, Malcolm Morgenstern, had a particular grudge against Lily and the other victims. Malcolm believed that their writing was inferior and that they were wasting his time with their submissions. In retaliation, he began systematically killing them, hoping to teach them a lesson about the value of good writing.

As the investigation continues, the detectives face several obstacles, including a lack of evidence and the unwillingness of the remaining members of the Morgenstern family to cooperate. However, they eventually piece together enough information to make an arrest and bring Malcolm to justice.

The episode concludes with Detective Goren reflecting on the tragic nature of the case - the victims were all "making art" in their own way, but their creativity and talent ultimately led to their deaths. The episode serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked arrogance and ego.