If I Had a Little Hammer - Recap

A van marked Ridel Baby Supplies pulls up to a hospital delivery dock. The driver gets out and goes to the nursery. Meanwhile, head nurse Robbins tells the desk nurse to make her rounds. She goes to the nursery and finds all the babies missing.

At the station, Hammer and Doreau come in to find all of the parents of the missing babies giving statements. Trunk tells them what happened and Hammer is less than sympathetic. Doreau asks them to be assigned to the case and Trunk figures it's a black market baby-selling ring. A couple, the Yates, come in asking for help and Trunk assigns Doreau and Hammer to talk to them. The parents haven't given their baby a name yet and Hammer has an idea or two. Doreau vows to get their baby back and Hammer warns that cops can't make promises like that. She suggests her maternal instincts are coming into play and Hammer is less than enthused at the idea.



The partners go to the hospital and after Hammer disposes of a man parking in a handicapped spot. They talk to Robbins, and Hammer barges into a delivery. Hammer avoids the sight, noting he's never seen a birth before. Robbins insists she's told the police everything she knows and Hammer notes she was the one who lost the babies. Back at the station the next day, Hammer finds Doreau dozing off: she's been up all night trying to get a lead. Hammer has an informant who is meeting him at a car wash, Shy Eddie. Hammer tells Doreau she can come along but not to look at him. They arrive and Shy Eddie gets in the back. They pull into the car wash, but Hammer realizes that the windows don't roll up. Shy Eddie directs them to the Bayside Adoptive Agency and tells them to pretend to be a couple looking for a baby. They pull out and Shy Eddie runs way while Doreau suggests they go undercover.



Hammer and Doreau go to the agency and Doreau hints they're looking for a baby and Hammer drops a lot of money. The woman claims they don't sell babies but Doreau explains that Hammer is infertile. However, Hammer manages to antagonize her and she orders them out. Doreau figures they're legitimate but the receptionist directs them to a party that can provide them with a baby-seller. At Hammer's apartment, they hide all of his police items and Doreau admits she's surprised it's relatively normal. Their contact, Felix, arrives and quickly agrees to a deal in return for $50,000. He notices a pair of handcuffs and Doreau is forced to "explain" how they keep their marriage exciting. Felix goes to Ridel Baby Supplies and goes through his files to find a baby... and meets with Nurse Robbins. He needs the Yates' baby, which matches Hammer's requirements, but he's always been sold. Felix orders Robbins to get the baby back.



Trunk provides the partners with $50,000 and orders Hammer to watch it at all times. They meet with Felix and make the payoff at Ridel, where Felix offers them baby food appetizers. Robbins arrives and recognizes them from the hospital. She turns off the lights and she and Felix make a run for it. Doreau goes after Robbins while Hammer chases down Felix. Felix runs out of ammo while Doreau spots a pair of shoes which turn out to be empty. Robbins tries to run down Doreau with a forklift while Felix crawls up a pile of boxes and Hammer shoots them out from under him. Doreau manages to board the forklift and finally knocks out Robbins while Hammer captures Felix. They demand to know where the children are and Felix reveals they're all in the files. They take them down to the station, once Doreau reminds Hammer to take the money.



Later, Trunk commends the partners for recovering the babies. Doreau notes she couldn't have done it without Hammer. The Yates come in with their baby and want to name it after Sledge... until they learn what his name is. They have Hammer hold their baby and take a photo, and Hammer quickly hands it back.

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