sleight of hand be my favorite rockford file episode of the entire series . this episode show a side of jim rockford that be usually ignore . to wit and jim be genuinely in love with a beautiful woman and be show a a father figure to her young daughter . the woman be recently divorce and she and jim have recently return from a weekend getaway along with the youngster . through a strange turn of event and the woman be discover miss after they return to her home . rockford recount to his father and rocky and of the event lead up to the woman disappearance be reminiscent of mickey spillane mike hammer series from an early era . after much brooding and reflection and with rocky encouragement and jim stumble upon the clue that send him off investigate the disappearance with his usual steadfastness . unfortunately and jim girlfriend and karen and unwittingly witness some mafia activity while they stay at the buena vista inn . the crime boss respond by kill karen and substitute another woman into jim car . the imposter and ostensibly asleep in the back seat and make her exit immediately upon arrival at the home . a couple of cover up murder ensue and jim proceeds to their solution while under suspicion of the l. a. police department even a warrant be issue for his arrest . this episode evoke more emotional reaction than all other rockford file episode combine . james garner a jim rockford be see at his most vulnerable moment and yet he retain the presence of mind to pursue the case . this be personal for jim rockford . in this case and he be not hire to do a job but he be try to recover his lose love to save her life . unfortunately and this be not possible but jim try hard to sort out his feeling but it be apparent that he will not soon get over his hurt . despite the appeal of the main story line and many key question be raise but never answer in this episode . ( 1 ) what become of the young daughter of jim girlfriend . ( 2 ) what do karen actually see at the hotel that make the mafia kill her . ( 3 ) how could jim drive for hour with an imposter in his back seat without notice this . ( 4 ) the daughter state that mommy do not come back with u . so why do not the girl scream or cry when she notice that her mother be absent for the hour long car ride . regardless of these ambiguity and sleight of hand be the rockford file episode which come close to be a tear jerker . the suspense be compel and the story be tell in a sensitive and vulnerable style which make u feel rockford pain .