The Cage (The Killing)

"The Cage," the second episode of AMC's *The Killing*, aired on April 10, 2011, following the pilot. Veena Sud wrote the installment, with Ed Bianchi directing. The episode deepens the murder investigation of Rosie Larsen, bringing in new suspects and fresh evidence.

In the morgue, Stan Larsen silently identifies his daughter’s body while his wife, Mitch, turns away in tears. At the station, Detectives Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder interview the grieving parents. Mitch, still in shock, mentions Rosie’s broken fingernails; Stan describes her as a quiet, family-oriented girl who had recently ended a relationship with Jasper Ames. Lieutenant Oakes presents a butterfly necklace and a key chain with a bird emblem, then asks Sarah to investigate the Richmond campaign, noting campaign car keys were found in the ignition. Sarah urges the Larsens to keep Rosie’s death private, but Holder reassures Stan that the killer will be found.

At Richmond’s office, Holder questions the candidate directly about alibis, while Sarah advises him not to go public about the campaign’s involvement. Richmond’s staff, Gwen and Jamie, push him to issue a statement linking Rosie’s death to his own wife’s to gain sympathy, but he refuses. He later confides to Gwen that someone in the office tipped off a reporter about the Yitanes endorsement via e-mail and orders an internal investigation.

Holder learns the campaign car was reported stolen Saturday morning, with keys left in the ignition for convenience. He questions Rosie’s friend Sterling, who says she lost track of Rosie at the dance and assumed she was with Jasper. Jasper brags to Sarah about picking up an older woman at a bar Friday night; she confiscates his cell phone. He claims his relationship with Rosie was brief. Jasper’s father, Michael, ends the interview and slaps his son. Back at the station, Holder considers Jasper the prime suspect, noting he could afford the expensive shoes Rosie wore. Oakes adds that Jasper had a prior arrest for auto theft.

At City Hall, Gwen reports no suspicious e-mails among staff, and Jamie says no staff members are suspects in Rosie’s murder. Yitanes arrives, demanding to know the secret she’s been asked to hear. Sarah takes Richmond aside, promising to make him look good if he stays quiet until midnight, or as if he’s obstructing a child-murder investigation if he doesn’t. Richmond agrees, t