Grant, I agree with you, but when friends ask these kinds of questions I also laugh and say because it was in the script. I learned long ago I can pick these kinds of things to death, instead I have decided to just enjoy them as they are, besides I am usually running my two brain cells at full capacity by just watching and chewing
I love the rich visuals and music in this episode, but for most of the show I felt Ruth Gordon was overacting. However, at the end, after she's been caught, I love how her cheekiness suddenly deflates, and she gives a wonderfully heartfelt performance: "Veronica will split when she hears... I don't suppose you could make an exception in my case... ?" I also like the interaction between Columbo and Abigail's attorney: "I'd say something APPEARS to be missing." I can't remember exactly how Columbo responds, but it's something like, "You're a very good attorney, sir. A very good attorney." A great scene.