The Mentalist 4X18: Ruddy Cheeks
Added 2025-11-10 17:00:17 +0000 UTCThe CBI investigates the murder of cancer patient Archer Braddock, whose buried body was uncovered by escaped tigers. He is survived by his live-in adult daughter Liesl, and estranged adult son Aden (August Emerson).
Archer, a recovering alcoholic, had kicked Aden out a year ago over drug addiction. He had recently married Helen (Rebecca McFarland), a fellow cancer patient he met at a support group.
Jane unmasks Helen, who had faked cancer to marry and inherit from a dying wealthy man, and she is booked for fraud, though she did not kill him.
They meet Nurse Administrator Betsy Firth and Dr. Scheck who were treating Archer. Scheck wants access to the body for research as per contract.
Jane tracks down Archer's last appointment by tracking down 'the tea of clarity' sold by Brother Josef. Brother Josef asks for access to the body to "release his energy so he can cross over peacefully."
Aden turns himself in and says Tran, his dealer, had been asking questions about his father's wealth. When they go to question Tran, Cho's constant pill-popping for his back pain makes him fall asleep on the job and Rigsby is nearly shot. Tran alibis out.
Jane announces that the coroner will do the autopsy the next day. Lisbon and he hide at the mortuary that night and arrest Brother Josef when he arrives. However, the body is stolen after they leave.
Jane realizes the killer's next move. They rush to the Scheck Institute, where they find Nurse Firth cutting up the body and burning it to destroy the evidence. Firth had been taking bribes to place people in drug trials. She had missed Archer's damaged liver. As a result, Scheck's drugs were killing Archer faster than the cancer. She knew an autopsy would reveal her mistake and her corruption.
Aden decides to reconcile with his sister and go to rehabilitation.
Humbled by Rigsby almost getting shot, Cho flushes his painkillers down the toilet.
