Spenser: For Hire — Season 3
A lot of people think I like to get even. They're dead right.
About this season
Mystery and suspense series based on Robert Parker's "Spenser" novels. Spenser, a private investigator living in Boston, gets involved in a new murder mystery each episode.
Episodes (21)
1. Homecoming
Aired 27 September 1987 • 60 min
A cop who helped send a gangster's son to prison years ago has been hiding, cause the gangster wants to get him. But now he wants to come home, so he and his father, asks Spenser to act as intermediary. While the gangster is unwilling to settle for nothing less than seeing him dead. Spenser tries to see what he can do. At the same time Spenser has to deal with Susan, who came back to town, and would like to see if they have a future, but this case is taking up all of his time.
2. My Enemy, My Friend
Aired 4 October 1987 • 60 min
A streetwise young kid gets involved over his head in the underworld. Spenser and Hawk try to protect him from would-be killers.
3. The Heart of the Matter
Aired 11 October 1987 • 60 min
Lt. Quirk faces his mortality when he suffers a heart attack. Spenser and Hawk protect him from revenge-minded villains as he recovers.
4. On the Night he Was Betrayed
Aired 1 November 1987 • 60 min
Spenser helps an old friend, an alcoholic priest who tries to help homeless teenagers, when he gets involved over his head.
5. Sleepless Dreams
Aired 8 November 1987 • 60 min
Spenser becomes obsessed with an apparently suicidal woman after a chance encounter on the street.
6. Consilum Abditum
Aired 15 November 1987 • 60 min
Susan is in trouble when her claims of sexual harassment lead her college counselor to retaliate by hiring a hit man to keep her quiet. Spenser gets arrested for getting involved in a fight.
7. Thanksgiving
Aired 29 November 1987 • 60 min
Spenser runs into an old friend while visiting a recreation of a Puritan village. Spenser does everything in his power to exonerate said friend when he's accused of a brutal slaying. As he uncovers more and more, Spenser begins to think it might be hard to clear the name of a guilty man.
8. Gone Fishin'
Aired 6 December 1987 • 60 min
Spenser's fishing trip is interrupted when he has to protect a young man who's not allowed to marry the girl he loves.
9. Child's Play
Aired 20 December 1987 • 60 min
A sniper takes some shots at Spenser and Susan, and a young boy ends up dead in the crossfire. Spenser sets out to determine why such a tragedy happened and track down the shooter.
10. Skeletons in the Closet
Aired 3 January 1988 • 60 min
Spenser and Hawk find themselves on opposite sides of the same case. Spenser is hired to retrieve a stolen journal containing information damaging to a judge's career. Hawk is hired by the thief to extort money from the judge.
11. The Siege
Aired 10 January 1988 • 60 min
Hawk and Susan along with other people are held captive in a post office. Richard Brooks later seen on Law and Order during Season's 1 & 2 plays one of the hostage takers.
12. Arthur's Wake
Aired 16 January 1988 • 60 min
Spenser protects an old friend, Arthur, after he's assaulted and robbed. In the course of his investigation, Spenser comes across disturbing information connecting Arthur with racketeering.
13. To the End of the Line
Aired 23 January 1988 • 60 min
When Frank's niece dies of a drug overdose, Spenser and Frank go after the men responsible.
14. Play it Again, Sammy
Aired 30 January 1988 • 60 min
Sammy Backlin calls Spenser for protection when he's being hunted by a 'vicious horde of bloodthirsty assassins'.
15. The Big Fight
Aired 6 February 1988 • 60 min
One of Spenser's old trainers lures Spenser to a deserted warehouse where Spenser is supposed to be killed, to get out from under a gambling debt. Spenser survives, then turns around and protects his trainer from the goons now after him.
16. Substantial Justice
Aired 5 March 1988 • 60 min
Spenser protects a theater owner from gangsters, but begins to suspect she's not as innocent as she appears.
17. Company Man
Aired 12 March 1988 • 60 min
Spenser suspects insurance fraud when a building blows up. Susan has a possibly cancerous mass removed.
18. Watercolors
Aired 19 March 1988 • 60 min
Spenser protects a child artist after the child witnesses a mob execution while painting in the forest.
19. Hawk's Eyes
Aired 26 March 1988 • 60 min
Spenser investigates the death of a friend apparently involved with white supremicists. Hawk is rendered blind by an explosion.
20. McAllister
Aired 30 April 1988 • 60 min
Spenser assists a lawyer in proving the innocence of his client, a Navy seaman accused of murdering the captain's daughter. The only witness is a missing Polish sailor.
21. Haunting
Aired 7 May 1988 • 60 min
Spenser investigates an old child kidnapping case when he tries to track down a teenage girl's biological parents.