some columbo episodes have a higher degree of mysticism than others. murder by the book for example, an episode that while having very little time with columbo actually on screen, has him appear from thin air. in his first entrance, he materializes out of a darkened hallway to comfort the widow of the victim.

another instance is particularly drawn attention to toward the second half of the episode, when columbo shows up to the cabin of the murderer, without visible means of conveyance

he has an explanation of course, he parked in the shade in the back to protect the car's paint, apparently, but you can't help but feel that he's at the right place at the right time by some combination of chance, he just 'wandered in,' and 'magic,' as the frequent harasser of columbo, jack cassidy calls it