Mr. Ricco

A murder charge is dropped against Frankie Steele, the San Francisco militant defended by liberal attorney Joe Ricco. The court's decision leaves Steele free to operate, at least temporarily, while the political optics stay unsettled. Ricco takes on the case, hoping to challenge the prosecution's narrative, even as tensions in the city rise.

Shortly after the charge is dropped, two police officers are killed in a shooting. An eyewitness, the young son of Ricco's friend, identifies Steele as the man seen leaving the scene. The identification sets the stage for renewed pursuit of Steele.

The boy's identification of Steele raises the stakes for Ricco and Cronyn. Investigators reexamine Steele's movements and connections to the Black Serpents. The community grows more polarized as fear and anger spread.

Cronyn and his men raid a hideout of Steele's Black Serpents. Steele manages to slip away during the raid. In the ensuing chaos, racist cop Tanner shoots and kills Calvin Mapes, then plants a gun on him and arrests his brother Purvis Mapes.

Irene Mapes, who works in an art gallery, asks Ricco to defend Purvis Mapes. He agrees and begins uncovering evidence that Tanner was at fault. The case deepens the personal ties between Ricco's circle and the punishment of corrupt police.

In exchange for Ricco's representation, Purvis Mapes reveals where the fugitive Frankie Steele can be found. Ricco uses the information to locate Steele while maintaining his promise to Purvis. The reveal shifts the balance of power in the pursuit.

Ricco is invited to the opening of a new art exhibit by Irene Mapes and meets Katherine, a woman he grows romantically involved with. The personal connection offers Ricco a reprieve from the case, while complicating his professional duties. The art world setting also foreshadows the final twist.

A sniper attempts to shoot Ricco at his home, and an elderly neighbor spots a man who resembles Steele. In response, Cronyn assigns a cop named Barrett to tail Ricco wherever he goes, though Ricco suspects the motive may be more personal than professional.

Ricco goes to a church in search of Steele and finds him. Steele denies killing the cops but blurts out that he did murder Mary Justin. A fistfight follows, sending Ricco to the hospital with injuries and leaving the wider case unresolved.

Regretting that he helped free a guilty man, Ricco apologizes to Mary Justin's brother. The brother refuses the apology and accuses Ricco of being an accessory in the murder, underscoring the emotional toll of the case on families.

Racist cop Tanner is found murdered, and Cronyn's men respond by moving to capture Steele. The murder tests the fragile alliances between the police, the black community, and Ricco's defense team. The investigation tightens around Steele's whereabouts.

At the art gallery's black-tie event, Ricco brings Katherine as his date and Barrett accompanies them. A sniper wounds Katherine and Barrett; Ricco retrieves a weapon and gives chase as more officers are wounded. The killer is revealed—appearing to be Steele, but the body turns out to be Mary Justin's brother in disguise.