Law & Order SVU “Lost Traveler” Sneak Peeks

Here are two sneak peeks from Law & Order SVU “Lost Traveler” which will air on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 10 PM ET on NBC. The clips feature Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Danny Pino, and Kelli Giddish.

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Lost Traveler" can be found at this link.


Please note: These video clips are available for a limited time only and must be removed shortly after the episode originally airs, so please catch them while you can!







Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU Interviews With Andre Braugher, Lisa Joyce, Cedric Sanders

From Wolf Films, here are three Law & Order SVU video interviews. The first is of Andre Braugher discussing his (recurring) character Bayard Ellis in "True Believers"; the second is of Lisa Joyce on her role in “Missing Pieces”; the third is Cedric Sanders from "True Believers."








Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU "Lost Traveler” Advance Photos

Here are some advance photos from Law & Order SVU “Lost Traveler” which will air on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 10 PM ET on NBC. The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Danny Pino, Kelli Giddish, and guest stars Scott Winters (as Det. Joe "Doom" Dumas) and Alexandra Silber (as Nadia Grey).


My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Lost Traveler" can be found at this link.

Photos by: Will Hart/NBC © NBCUniversal

Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “Spiraling Down” Episode Information

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU, “Spiraling Down”:


Law & Order SVU “Spiraling Down” Air Date December 7, 2011 (10 PM ET/9C Wednesday NBC)

WHEN A LEGENDARY FOOTBALL STAR (GUEST STAR TREAT WILLIAMS) IS ARRESTED ON PROSTITUTION CHARGES, ATTORNEY BAYARD ELLIS (GUEST STAR ANDRE BRAUGHER) CENTERS THE DEFENSE ON HIS CLIENT’S MENTAL STATE, CAUSING A MEDIA FIRESTORM. SPECIAL APPEARANCES BY JERRY RICE AND WARREN SAPP.

A military colleague (guest star Dominic Fumusa) of Detective Amaro’s (Danny Pino) wife reports his 14-year-old daughter missing. The detectives find the girl (guest star Kay Panabaker) working as a prostitute under a possessive pimp (guest star Jon Michael Hill). They quickly set up a sting operation to entrap Johns on rape charges with a minor, and arrest aging pro quarterback Jake Stanton (guest star Williams.) Detective Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and ADA Cabot (Stephanie March) seek to make an example out of the football legend, but the case is thrown into chaos with the return of defense attorney Bayard Ellis (guest star Braugher), who questions Stanton’s mental capacity after years of injuries on the field. Also starring Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Dann Florek (Captain Donald Cragen) and Kelli Giddish (Detective Amanda Rollins). Beth Chamberlin and Laura Benanti also guest star.

# # # 

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Spiraling Down" can be found at this link.


Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “Educated Guess” Recap & Review

Law & Order SVU “Educated Guess” was an episode without a lot of action or frills, yet it told a very compelling story. It’s a case where someone who has questionable mental health has been abused by a relative for years – and no one believes her. When another person who also has mental stability issues of his own witnesses an attack, the abuse comes out into the open (thanks to a judge who forces the investigation with SVU). Even more sickening than the girl’s mother dismissing her daughter’s claims of abuse because she felt her daughter was crazy was her Aunt Bella’s apparent denial and cover up of her husband’s dirty little secret. Bella seems to want control over every situation, unfortunately for her the secret can’t stay hidden under the bed forever.

Again, SVU is making good use of the entire cast, giving everybody (except for Captain Cragen) a hand in working the case. I can’t explain why, but this episode seemed to have a heavy Law & Order Criminal Intent vibe to it; I suspect that it is from the opening scenes where we are given a view into the crime as it happens. I missed having a presence from the DA’s office,  but based on how the case was worked, it didn’t seem necessary to have one. The story was also a bit predictable, especially when it was established that the two sisters are living in a duplex. Still, the acting on the part of the guest stars – especially Carrie Preston who was perfect as the over-controlling Bella – was very enjoyable and helped to tell a very intense and believable story.

We also find that “something” happened to Rollins on her previous job which triggered her to leave, but we don’t find out exactly what. There were also instances where the team members complemented each other for a nice job; this shows that the detectives are beginning to behave as a real team working towards a single goal. It was a nice touch having Benson reassure Amaro that her old partner had similar feelings as Amaro was experiencing,  and also give him insight into how she has learned to cope working special victims cases. All in all, this was a fine episode and I believe this is one of the best seasons we’ve seen from SVU in many years.

Here is the recap:

Cast:
Mariska Hargitay – Detective Olivia Benson
Ice-T – Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Richard Belzer – Sergeant John Munch
Dann Florek – Captain Don Cragen
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Danny Pino - Detective Nick Amaro

Guest stars:
Carrie Preston - Bella Zane
Natasha Lyonne - Gia Eskas
Tim Guinee - George Zane
J. Smith Cameron - Diane Eskas
Karen Young – Dr. Meg Whitmere
Gavin-Keith Umeh – Charles Lee
David Pittu – George’s Lawyer

A guy is running in the park and calls out to Amber, who is standing off the trail.  She takes off her clothes and he follows her into the brush. Elsewhere in the park, Rollins is jogging and comes up to Fin, who is sitting on a park bench. She asks if he has seen anything and he tells her it is late and he doesn’t think the guy is going to show. Rollins comments that the man groped 10 women in the last 6 weeks and she doesn’t think he will stop now. Fin thinks it is getting too cold. They hear a man call out asking where did you go, and he runs out of the bushes just wearing his shorts. He seems to be talking nonsense. As Rollins and Fin try to control the building crowd, the man collapses. He looks up and Rollins and Fin and sees the girl standing behind them wearing just her underwear. She is laughing at him. He says she is just a bitch, and Fin looks around and asks who is he talking to? He says it is his girlfriend Amber and she is right there. He asks them to make her stop. Rollins notices the man is burning up and Fin calls for a bus to the pysch ward.

At LaGuardia Psychiatric Hospital, Rollins tells Fin the guys Is not nuts, he’s just having a bad trip. She says she can tell the difference as she grew up around both and her sister had it rough. Fin says they all come from something.

Inside the hospital, they speak with the security police Captain Lee, who said he just saw them pinch the “naked fish” on YouTube. They also speak with the doctor and Rollins tells him she thinks it is PCP. The doctor says the patient is his for now and he will run tests, and the police captain says there is no need to baby sit and the police captain suggests they go home. They leave.

Later, the patient is being watched by a security officer, and he complains he is sick. But when a hospital alarm goes off, the office leaves the patient to check it out and she tells the man to stay there. He makes a quick exit out of the room and as he tried to find a place to hide, he hears a woman crying out and when he opens a door, he sees a woman being raped and a man yells for him to shut the door. He does. He calls out of help, saying “Rape! Rape!”

Later, in the hospital, there is a hearing for Darren Bickford, the almost naked crazy man from the park. He claims he saw a girl get raped last night. As he insists about what he saw, Rollins and Fin give each other a glance of disbelief. He says he told the doctor and the guard. The judge asks Fin and Rollins to investigate but Rollins protests, saying that the suspect was caught masturbating while in a drug-induced hallucination. The judge asks if he was seeing things when he witnessed the rape and Rollins says she would have no way of knowing. The judge tells Rollins “Then don’t speculate.” She tells them they will reconvene in two weeks and she expects to hear from them on Darren’s complaint.

Back at SVU in interrogation, Fin and Rollins question Darren. He explains what he saw at the hospital, saying he saw the man raping a woman and her also being choked. He could not see the man’s face. He also adds the woman was wearing a hospital bracelet and she had a big scar on her arm. He says she was in ward 6 and she is real. The detectives hear a knock on the interrogation room window and Fin and Rollins walk out of the room to a waiting Munch, Benson, and Amaro. Munch asks if they can farm this out but Rollins tells him not according to the judge. Benson doesn’t know why the man would lie. Munch says they have a description, they should go to LaGuardia and find her.

Law & Order UK “Fault Lines” Recap & Review

The season finale of Law & Order UK “Fault” is based on the original Law & Order episode “Just a Girl in the World”
from season 20. In that episode, Detective Lupo compromises a case when he becomes involved with a witness who turns out to be involved in the crime.

In "Fault Lines," Sam Casey gets caught thinking with another part of his body that is not his brain. As a result, he enters into an intimate relationship with a woman who claims to be a victim of a crime. The problem is she’s the victimizer, not the victim. Because of her deception, the detectives and the CPS pursue and prosecute the wrong man. Despite the fact that Sam made a huge error in judgment, I find myself liking him more and more with every episode, even though I am sure that DI Natalie Chandler must be wondering what she got herself into with him.

Ronnie also attempts to dish out some sage advice, and Sam quickly shuts the door on him, saying he doesn’t need a father. Hopefully Sam has now learned that Ronnie wasn’t lecturing just for the sake of hearing himself talk.

I wondered why the forensics lab where the murder victim worked was even allowed to touch evidence dealing with this case. I saw this as a huge conflict of interest. I suppose for purposes of the story, it allowed them to write in a nice twist with the blood evidence.  I also thought Sam remained too involved in the case, even after his lapse in judgement in the ID parade and after Ronnie had concerns that Sam had become intimate with the witness.

This was the last episode in this current season for Law & Order UK. As of this writing, I haven’t seen anything regarding the renewal of the series. These last 7 episodes that just aired on BBC America are scheduled to begin running in the UK in January 2012 so hopefully we will get renewal news soon afterwards. I certainly hope Law & Order UK continues on as I thoroughly enjoy the characters, the actors, the stories, the writing, the staging of scenes and location shots, the camera work - everything about the show. And I want more!

Here is the recap:

Cast:
Bradley Walsh: DS Ronnie Brooks
Paul Nicholls: DS Sam Casey
Harriet Walter: DI Natalie Chandler
Freema Agyeman: CP Alesha Phillips
Dominic Rowan: Senior CP Jake Thorne
Peter Davison: Director CPS

Guest stars:
Lydia Leonard: Lucy Kennard
Patricia Potter: Yvette Dyer
Jessica Gunning: Angela
Nicola Sanderson: Joy Ackroyd
Jennifer James: Chloe Abbot
Alexander Perkins: Pete
Ariyon Bakare: Carl Lucas
Luke Roberts: Tom Hartson
Ranjit Kirshnamma: Judge Gunner
Benedict Wong: Eli Smart
Jordan Young: Jeremy Barton


Joy Ackroyd and Chloe Abbot are out drinking and stop at their friend Kelly’s house. Chloe gets out of the car and Kelly’s front door is open so she walks in. She finds Kelly dead on the floor laying in a pool of blood.

Later, DS Ronnie Brooks and DS Sam Casey are on the scene. Kelly Mahon worked in forensics, in the same department as her two friends, Joy and Chloe, and she was supposed to be on a night out with Chloe and Joy. Pete from the lab says she was stabbed six times in the chest. The dishwasher was running when Chloe got there and a large knife was in it. The dishwasher buttons were wiped clean. She has defensive wounds on both hands. When Sam comments that it looks like she put up a good fight, Ronnie says it was not good enough.

At MIU. Ronnie and Sam speak with Chloe who said they were supposed to be out for Teddy’s birthday but Kelly never showed. She was finishing up some blood work and Chloe called her at about 8:30 and Kelly told them she was on her way home in a cab. They all use Kwik Kall Kabs. When the others left, she and Joy went to check. Kelly was supposed to be getting married next month to Tom Hartson.

Ronnie and Sam tell DI Natalie Chandler that the cab checks out. She tells them to check if the driver saw anyone hanging around outside the flat.

At Kwik Kall Kabs, they speak with the driver and he said he watched Kelly go in the house. He’s driven her before. He didn’t see anyone outside her flat and he went on to his next call in Gramercy. They tell her that Kelly is dead. Sam says they might need to speak to him again. Afterwards, Ronnie tells Sam they should have Ange run some background on the driver just in case, and also speak to her fiancé.

Law & Order SVU “Lost Traveler” Episode Information

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU, “Lost Traveler”:


Law & Order SVU “Lost Traveler” Air Date November 30, 2011 (10 PM ET/9C Wednesday NBC)

WHEN A ROMANI BOY VANISHES ON HIS WAY HOME FROM SCHOOL, THE SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT MUST PENETRATE HIS INSULAR COMMUNITY TO FIND THE UNLIKELY ABDUCTORS. GILBERT GOTTFRIED, RON RIFKIN AND GAVIN LEE GUEST STAR.

A Romani child disappears on his way home from school. Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Amaro (Danny Pino) interview the distraught parents, who are distrustful of the police. The initial investigation leads Fin (Ice-T) and Rollins (Kelli Giddish) to the powerful leader of the Romani community, but he denies any involvement. The family remains hopeful their boy will be found, especially when they discover his cell phone is still active. With the help of their TARU tech (guest star Gottfried) and a meddling newspaper reporter, the detectives narrow the perpetrators to a mentally challenged neighbor, throwing the tight-knit Romani community into turmoil. Also guest starring Ron Rifkin and Gavin Lee. Also starring Dann Florek (Captain Donald Cragen) and Richard Belzer (Sergeant John Munch.) Special appearances by Stephanie March (ADA Alex Cabot), Tamara Tunie (M.E. Melinda Warner), and Linus Roache (Bureau Chief Mike Cutter.)

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Lost Traveler" can be found at this link.




Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

SVU on Location With Mariska, Danny Pino, Treat Williams

Here are a few pictures of Mariska Hargitay, Danny Pino, and guest star Treat Williams filming on location in Manhattan for Law & Order SVU on November 9, 2011.

Photos by Getty Images North America

Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “Russian Brides” Recap & Review

Law & Order SVU “Russian Brides” was about one Russian bride who was part of an extortion scheme which included murder as a part of the plot. It was probably one of the most action packed SVU episodes that I can recall. It also was an excellent feature for Dann Florek, who, for too many times in years past, has been virtually ignored. In this episode, Captain Cragen goes undercover to convincingly play a lonely man with lots of money in order to snag the murderers, and Cragen fits the bill perfectly. We also get a glimpse into Cragen’s story with his late wife, Marge and how he worries for his SVU team. I’ve always believed that Cragen had a deep inner sadness, and this episode made me feel even more sorry for him. One can only hope that someday Don Cragen will be able to find happiness.

Timothy Busfield was perfect as the man who felt his wife had been kidnapped and murdered, only to find he was just one of many who had been duped.

SVU seems to be opening more episodes with a “Law & Order Criminal Intent” feel, which gives viewers a look – without giving too much away in this case – of the crime at hand. This episode skillfully used almost everyone in the main cast - except for Munch, the only guy who I think knows some Russian. This likely would have saved them a lot of trouble, especially at the end where they rely on Lena to read back a text message in Russian, which she seems to be making up as she goes along. While I give this episode very high marks and feel it offered a fantastic story, I thought that the case was handled sloppily at times and there were some plot holes. Not having someone who reads or can interpret Russian on hand when they are clearly dealing with the Russian mob is a huge mistake. The officer getting shot in his squad car with his own gun – aren’t they supposed to use holsters that lock? – another mistake. (I would like to know exactly how Lena got the gun from him.) And why would Lena shove the gun through the fence and then crawl through it…she couldn’t hold on to the gun and crawl through the hole at the same time?  If they were able to verify Lena had a daughter, why couldn’t they also verify that she was dead? I could go on and on but I don’t want anyone to think that I didn’t like this episode. On the contrary – I loved it.

Here is the recap:

Cast:
Mariska Hargitay – Detective Olivia Benson
Ice-T – Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Richard Belzer – Sergeant John Munch
Dann Florek – Captain Don Cragen
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Danny Pino - Detective Nick Amaro

Guest stars:
Stephanie March - ADA Alex Cabot
Tamara Tunie – Dr. Melinda Warner
Timothy Busfield – Daniel Carter
Izabella Miko – Lena


A woman walking down the street sees a car pull up and a man calls out to her. He tells her stop, then to come back and to get in the car, and she runs. The driver chases her in the car and then on foot, catching up with her. She is trapped when another man cuts off her escape route. When she turns back she is captured. Another man gets out of the back seat of the car with a large duffel bag and walks toward her as we hear her scream.

The next morning, two busboys taking out the trash find her body next to the trash dumpster.

Later, Detectives Benson and Amaro are on the scene with ME Warner. The girl has no purse and no ID but has a butterfly tattoo on her back. The busboys said the body was not there an hour ago, no one heard any screams or saw anything. Warner confirms she was raped by noting the bruising on the thighs and blood on the panties, and blunt force trauma to the head. They flip the body and see that the girl’s face is totally obliterated. Amaro comments that her face is gone, and ME Warner observes that it looks mechanical, not chemical, and that the teeth were pulled, roots and all. Benson notices there are no fingertips either, adding that these butchers knew their business. Amaro notices there is another tat that has Cyrillic writing, and asks if any of them know how to read Russian. Benson replies “I wish.” Amaro comments there are no dental records and no face and fingertips but they left the tattoos. Benson thinks they didn’t want them to know who she was but wanted to be sure somebody got the message.

Back at SVU, Captain Cragen walks in and asks the detectives what they have, Benson replies that the Jane Doe is a female, white, late 20s-early 30’s, raped and murdered. Rollins said they canvassed the neighborhood and no one saw or heard a thing, Fin adding it is like the body materialized out of thin air. Amaro had a buddy in the gang unit look at the tattoos and the butterfly is generic and could have been done by anyone, but the one tat is specific to the Russian mafia, most likely done in the motherland. Benson adds it is the mark of a prostitute and the words mean “Mother, forgive me.” Cragen comments they are getting an idea of who they are dealing with here. Rollins gives them the results from the preliminary autopsy report – sand was found in the victims vagina and rectum and there were cuts from bits of glass and debris. The time of death is 8-10 hours before discovery. Cragen adds she was murdered on a beach and dumped at the restaurant, and usually it is the other way around. Fin thinks they wanted the body found.. Benson recalls the ME collecting sand samples after the Gilgo Beach murders, and Cragen says yes, they wanted to see if the victims had been moved from other sites. Rollins adds the sand was made up of fine particle and white mason, indicating it is from a repaired beach – meaning the city spread the sand. There are only three repaired beaches in the area: Rockaway, Brighton, or Coney Island. Amaro says Coney Island is almost exclusively Russian and they call it “Odessa by the Sea.” Cragen says if this is Russian mob it will scare people off so he tells them to start with the butterfly and maybe they can find out who this poor woman was.

At Brighton Beach, Fin and Amaro show the photo of the tattoo around and come up with nothing. Fin thinks most of the people are illegal and don’t want to talk to cops and a girl who disappears is not their problem. Amaro adds especially if they don’t know who wanted her gone. Fin says witnesses are like children; they respond to bribes and threats. Amaro adds they are easy to trick. They walk into a restaurant and Fin goes to look for the manager while Amaro looks at a wall of photos. He sees a photo of a girl with the butterfly tattoo on her back with a man. Fin shows the tattoo photo to a woman who is barking orders to others, and asks if any of her customers have that tattoo. She says no. Amaro shows her the photo that was posted on the wall and she says she does not speak English. Fin suggests to Amaro to call INS for some translators and Amaro comments they will have to shut the place down until they get there. The woman can suddenly speak English. saying they have a big party coming in. She identifies the woman as Lena and the man is Daniel. They had their engagement party there last Friday. Amaro asks if they paid with a credit card.

Later, Warner is in the morgue while Benson waits. Amaro enters and tells her they have a first name for the girl – Lena. She had a fiancé, Daniel Carter, 48, widowed with two kids in college, and runs a nonprofit NYC habitation and he lives in Kips Bay and Fin and Rollins are headed there. There is no connection to the Russian mob – on paper. Amaro says Benson is a not a romantic but they just got engaged. Benson replies Amaro knows the stats, when a woman is murdered – and Amaro finishes the sentence that you start with the man in their life and that is why he is a firm believer in divorce. He adds when you feel that thing building you just have to get out. Benson asks if Amaro’s parents got divorced, and he says yes, and his pop liked to bounce his mom off the walls. The day he left they had a party and it was one of the happiest moments of his life. Benson asks if he ever talks to him, and Amaro replies the last thing he heard is he got in trouble and went back down to Miami. He asks Benson if this was TMI and she says no. He asks about her father and Benson is momentarily taken aback and then says it is a long story.

Warner comes out with the autopsy results and tells them the woman was worked over and raped vaginally and anally. They used power tools to sand off her face and saw off her fingertips and dead before the worst of it. Benson comments, “small favors”. As Benson and Amaro leave, she asks him again what Lena’s finance did and Amaro says he runs a nonprofit, building houses for the homeless. Benson comments this would give him access to power tools.

At the apartment of Daniel Carter, Fin and Rollins go to his apartment with the super – Luis - and when there is no answer to the knock on the door,  Fin reminds him he has keys and they can knock down the door but it is up to him. Luis unlocks the door and Fin and Rollins enter with guns drawn but no one is there. Rollins waves Luis in and he identifies Lena from a photo in the apartment, saying her last name was Russian. He tells them Daniel was not the jealous type and Lena was his sunshine. When Luis asks of something happened to her, Rollins asks him to call Daniel on his cell phone and that Daniel may be in trouble and running scared and thinks Daniel will talk to him. Luis calls him and Fin tells him to put him on speaker. Daniel answers the phone and asks Luis why he is calling him and Luis says he has a package for him and UPS won’t let him sign for it. Despite Luis begging, Daniel won’t tell him where he is and he hangs up. They hear music in the background and Fin takes Luis’ phone to have TARU trace the number.

Elsewhere, Amaro tells Benson there was no GPS on the phone and the call triangulated from a too-wide area. When Amaro tells Benson that Rollins heard kids and music, Benson notes there is a carousel at the pier and they found a body there last fall. Amaro radios for everyone to converge on the Chelsea Piers Park carousel area.

Amaro and Benson approach the carousel and Amaro radios that they have him, at 12 o’clock and they are moving in. Benson calls out to Daniel Carter, who is standing by the carousel. He frantically tells them to go away, adding that he didn’t call them and they will kill her. Benson asks kill who, asking if he means Lena. He says yes, and they have to go away. Benson looks at him and says nothing, and Daniel asks where is she, and then asks is she dead. He sobs and adds they said they’d bring her here, and that was the deal, he paid. He continues to sob and cry out, “I paid” as he falls to his knees.

Later, Benson lead Daniel to the interview room with his lawyer. His lawyer pulls Benson aside and says Daniel is a friend and asks her to go easy on him. She reminds him they are investigating a murder, and he says he understands but Daniel’s wife died 3 years ago from cancer and Lena brought him back to life and Daniel is not prepared for this. Benson asks if his a criminal attorney and he says he is primarily tax law. She suggests he go in and tell his client to tell the truth

In the interview room, Amaro shows Danny the photos of the tattoos and ask if he recognizes them. He identifies where the tattoos were on her body. He asks to ID the body and Benson says later. Benson asks how did he meet her, and Daniel's lawyer urges him to tell them everything. Daniel thinks it will sound cheap – we went on a Russian Bride web site - yourczarina.com. Benson comments they’ve seen scams on sites like that, but Daniel says this was not like them. He said a friend would go to Russian on business and meet 8-10 girls from the site, sleep with them all and marry none. He was divorced and it was like a sex trip for him. When Benson asks Daniel what about him, his lawyer reminds Benson this was his fiancée. Daniel said he was going through a lonely time and started trolling, nothing serious, and then he saw Lena’s profile and there was just something about her right away. Amaro asks if they Skyped, and Daniel said that was not allowed. They chatted a few times on line IM-ing. He had to fly to Moscow to meet here and she took him everywhere, even to St. Petersburg where her family was originally from. He shows them a photo of the two of them in St. Petersburg. She wanted to know everything about her. Amaro asks if this was all platonic, and Daniel says no, he didn’t want them to think…he adds they had a real soul connection. Benson asks if it went both ways and if Lena introduced him to her friends and family, and Daniel says no, she was careful . She had been in an abusive relationship and was scared of her ex, he was stalking her. Amaro questions if that is what Lena told him, and Daniel informs him that he saw him and he was following them. One night he made a big scene in front of the hotel. About how he wanted her back and he could see how terrified she was. Benson asks if that is when he convinced Lena to move to New York City. He says yes, it was like a fairy tale and he was getting a second chance. Benson asks how long they lived together before she disappeared, and he replies 2 months, the night after the engagement call he got a call from the kidnappers asking for $100,000 and all he had was $80,000 but that was his life savings but he never hesitated. Benson wonders why he didn’t call the police, and the attorney says Daniel was told not to call anyone, that they would kill her. Amaro asks where he dropped the money, and Daniel told him it was in a garbage can at Brighton Beach, and they were supposed to bring Leno to the carousel. He says he gave them everything he had and they still killed her. Amaro asks if he has any other photos from his Russian trip on his cell phone, and he says hundreds, and video.

Later, in the bullpen, all the detectives and Cragen watch the video with Daniel and Benson asks him to focus on the people in the background. In a video from the party they spot a man in the background taking pictures of Lena. Daniel says that is Lena’s ex. Cragen pulls the detectives aside and tells them to get the image to real time facial recognition database, NCIC, and Interpol. Rollins says she got something on yourczarina.com which is hosted by a rogue provider which has an office in Manhattan. They claim to do internet security with the company name of Quicksecure. Cragen asks what are they waiting for?

At the office of Quicksecure, when Rollins asks for details on the web site, one of the guys refuses to give it to her, telling her to come back with a search warrant. Rollins says she doesn’t think he understands. Fin gets in the guy’s face and says to get something straight, telling him to spit out the lollipop before he smacks it out his mouth. As the guy takes it out of his mouth, Fin tells him he is not a 5 year old, and Rollins threatens to call the Feds. The guy says they aren’t doing anything illegal. Rollins says their business is a front and their server is illegal and they are going to hold him responsible for all of the crime on all of the sites. Fin says they will shut his little toilet down and put his ass in jail, adding, “You understand me? Jail, where you’re gonna be sucking on something else.” The guy agrees to help him out and gives him he information, and asks them if they are cool. Rollins, as she makes a phone call, says yeah they are done here. As Fin and Rollins walk out, the FBI walks in. The guys gets pissed that they lied, and Rollins replies, “Ain’t life a bitch!”

Later, Fin and Amaro speak with a woman and accuse her of having yourczarina.com run off their computers. She says this is a travel agency and they have to find a bride themselves. She offers to let them check her computer and records, saying she runs a legitimate business. While she agrees to everything Amaro notices a man who appears to be deleting information on one of the computers. As he tries to run out the door Amaro nabs him. Fin asks him what he is running from as Amaro cuffs him. The man looks back at three men watching from the boardwalk.

In SVU interrogation, Cragen, along with Fin, question the travel agent guy who says he just books flights. Cragen asks him to identify the man in the photo form Daniel’s phone, and the guy says they do not know why they are dealing with. Cragen asks him to tell them. He says the man is a killer but this one lives by the code – he is Russian Mafia and if he talks they will kill his family and friends and his dog. Fin says he is scared of the wrong people, and as Cragen says to release him, Fin adding that everyone in Brighton Beach saw him picked up and talking to the cops. They will drop him off on the same boardwalk, Cragen adding that everyone will know he cooperated. He says he is screwed no matter what. When Cragen says if he helps them, they will help him.

Later, Cragen tells Benson and Amaro that they have a name - Liev Bodrov “The Butcher” who is wanted on multiple charges of murder, prostitution, and racketeering. He did 10 years in Vorkuta Gulag in Siberia in the 90s and escaped and they haven’t caught him. Benson says she heard back from Interpol – 4 other murders fit the MO in Moscow, Johannesburg, Vancouver, and Munich. Cragen comments if The Butcher is running an international prostitution and kidnapping ring, saying that is just great, Benson adds that each victim was found with no face, the teeth removed, and the fingertips cut off with no way for them to trace. Amaro mentions that they all had the “Mother forgive me” tattoo. Cragen thinks he is branding them so the mark knows his czarina is dead. Cragen lets out a sigh.

Later, Benson walks into a diner where Daniel is waiting at a table in the corner. He thanks her for meeting him there. He tells her he did his own search on line and shows her a page with a photo of a woman named Irene. He says it is a different name and haircut but that woman is Lena. He thinks she is alive but Benson says they do not know when the photo was taken. He says it was taken after she was kidnapped, he gave her the necklace she is wearing at the engagement party and she disappeared the next morning. He thinks she was playing him the whole time. He says those people faked everything but Benson reminds him there is no fake body in the morgue. Benson asks him to show him how to set up a date on a web site like this.

Later, while walking outside, Cragen tells Cabot that they want to wire up an undercover and send him out on a date with Lena – AKA Irene. Amaro says the UC needs to be her type – lonely, mature, and with money. Cabot asks Cragen if he is sure he needs the wire, as the suspect can say something exculpatory and she has seen it backfire. Amaro says these are dangerous people, adding if the UC gets lured somewhere they need to be able to protect him. When she asks how quickly they need the wire, Cragen says yesterday, these are career criminals with a global network. Cabot agrees and adds she will see if any of the DA’s investigator fit the profile. But Cragen tells her they have it covered – he is going to take it. Cabot asks him when was the last time he was undercover, and Cragen quips probably before she or Amaro were born. She smiles and reminds him that no matter how tempting it might be, he can’t get intimate with a suspect – it would undermine his credibility at trial. He looks at her closely and say he will try to control himself.

Back at SVU, Fin tells Cragen that TARU set up a laptop in his office so he can IM Lena and it won’t trace back here. Fin asks if he wants to come in there with him, and Cragen says not a chance. Amaro starts to suggest how to handle it, but Cragen finishes the sentence to chose an identity that is close to his own. When Cragen says he knows the drill, Amaro teases him that he didn’t know they had tape recorders when he graduated the academy. Fin adds at least they didn’t have to inflate his bank account because he hasn’t spent a dollar of his pay on his wardrobe. “Thank you very much for your help fellas but I’ve gotta prepare for my cyber date.” Fin says, “Knock it out, killer” and Cragen replies, “I heard that.”

At the Duchess Hotel, Cragen is at the bar and Rollins walks up to him and whispers that Lena is getting out of the cab and she arrived alone but they made two guys at the end of the bar. She suggests he get Lena up to his room and they will move in once they are there. She says he will do fine and he looks good, and she walk off. Lena arrive and approaches Cragen, who is using the name Michael. He flatters her and she says he is handsome. Cragen says he has a face for radio, and she tells him his eyes are kind. They sit at the bar for a drink, and he tells her he is having a club soda, admitting he is not a drinking man any more. He says that should not spoil her fun. She says a man that doesn’t drunk – she is new for him already.

At dinner, Cragen and Lena talk about his work with the Children’s Rights Coalition while Benson and Fin watch and listen nearby. He says he stands up for victims that have no voice and worries more about his staff as it takes a toll on them. She asks who worries about him. She asks if he has been married and says he is a widower, and Marge, his wife, died a long time ago. She had a miscarriage and they tried to adopt but he thinks he was too busy all the time and that was his biggest regret. She says he is a man and it is not too late. He laughs and says enough of his violence, he wants to know about her. He asks if she has been married or has children, and asks who are you. She says he hears sad stories every day and tonight she just wants to enjoy and she hope he is enjoying it too. He replies that she knows he is.

Cragen picks up the check, and says his favorite bartender said they don’t have to go home but they can’t stay here. She touches his hand and says she does not want to go home and he says he was a room upstairs with a beautiful view.

They head up to the room and when she kisses him in the hall he balks. He explains that he is old fashioned. When she comments that he got a room, he says he promises to be a gentleman. She asks that maybe they should wait for a second date and when she begins to walk off he tries to pull her back. When she starts to run, Cragen radios she is on the run and Rollins stops her in the hallway at gunpoint and Fin comes in to cover. Rollins moves to cuff her and Lena says they can’t arrest her and they don’t understand, and begs Cragen to help her.

In the hotel room. Fin tells Cragen not to have a drink, he knows he wants one. Cragen is upset that Lena made him. Fin says he did a good job. In the other room, Benson tells Lena she is not the one they really want, it’s Liev, but they need her help. Fin hands her a glass of water, and understands she is scared but says they can relocate her and put her in witness protection. As Cragen walks in Lena says she only has one daughter and Liev already has her. She is worried that they will kill her if they find out she is with the police. She cries and says this is how he controls people and she doesn’t really want to do these things. Benson tells her to tell them everything. She says Liev runs a mail order bride site here and in Russia. Benson says it is just a front for his blackmail operation. Lena adds prostitution. She meets wealthy men through the site and makes them fall for her. She pretends to have a jealous ex and she gets kidnapped and Liev takes all their money. Fin tells her she left out the part about them killing and disfiguring a girl that looks like her. She admits yes, and says at first she did not know he was killing the girls. When Benson asks her to tell them who are the bodies, she says they are prostitutes who work for Liev who have no family and are illegal and no one will miss them. Benson mentions no mothers to forgive them, and she asks what does that mean. Fin explains the tattoos and she says the Russian one is his brand and the butterfly is hers, she had that tattooed before she met Liev. He said it made her special. Benson says she is special, she dies and they live. Lena cries that she begged to stop but he won’t let her and he says she is the best at the job and she is trapped because of her daughter. He moves her from country to country and she never knows where she is. She sees her every once in a while for a few hours in a safe house. She asks for her phone so she can show them. Benson gives her the phone and shows her a photo, saying her name is Anna. Benson hands Cragen the phone and while he looks at the photo, there is a knock on the door.

Cragen walks into the other room and Rollins, who is there with Cabot. Rollins says she checked out Lena’s ID. She is there on an expired work visa but she does not have a criminal record in Russia. She does have a daughter 4 years old. Cabot says they will use Lena to get to Liev, and Amaro says that is if he is not already spooked. Rollins comments that as far as Liev knows, Lena is still in the room hooking her mark. Cabot asks how will they draw him out, and Amaro says Lena will know. When Amaro says they have it, Cragen says he will handle it. He tells Amaro and Rollins to leave the room and asks for Lena to be sent in.

With Cabot and Benson, Cragen tells Lena that right now they have to consider her as part of a conspiracy to commit extortion and murder. She says she is in big trouble and to help herself by helping them get Liev. She wants to get her daughter back. Benson says they will do what they can be she has to cooperate. Cabot says if she wants a deal she must tell them about Liev’s operation – co-conspirator, names, date, victims, places, and she will have to testify. She say no. Cragen says OK, and then says after their date, what was to be the next step with him. She says she would call Liev and tell him she had a big fish on the hook and then she would set up another date and Liev would be watching. Cragen tells her to set it up.

The next morning, at the Frying Pan Restaurant, Cragen and Lena wait at a table and Rollins and Amaro are close by. Lena tells Cragen she knows what he thinks of her but they need to look like they are lovers. She tells him to come closer and smile and kiss him. Otherwise he will know. She kisses him and thanks him for helping her get her Anna back. As Liev approaches, Cragen and Len continue to look affectionate. Liev looks around and seems suspicious of Amaro and Rollins and they both get up. He turns to walk out and Benson is there blocking his way. He looks for an exit but when Amaro announces “police, drop your weapon” Liev fires at him and Rollins shoots back, hitting him in the chest. He drops to the ground. Benson disarms him and Lena rushed to him and screams where is she? Amaro tells Lena that Liev is gone. She screams that they will never find her and the soldiers will kill her. Liev’s phone rings and Benson looks at a text message on the phone which is in Russian. Benson asks Lena what it means and she replies it is one of Liev’s people asking where to meet them after and that they have Anna. She says one of the safe houses is in Brighton Beach.

The detectives arrive at the house with armed backup and Lena waits in the back of the car with Cragen, saying she is scared. He says it will be OK. They hear someone shout on the radio that they are NYPD, and shots are fired from automatic weapons from inside the house. Benson calls on the radio that there is an officer down. Cragen exits the car and tells Lena to stay there. Amaro sticks his head out the door and tells Cragen they are clear, the others are down. Fin got shot but the vest stopped the bullet. Benson races out and says that all the rooms where checked and the daughter is not there. Suddenly, there is gunfire from outside. They race outside and see the police officer that was in the car with Lena is shot dead and Lena is running off. Amaro chases her and Cragen warns him that Lena has his gun. Benson gets on the radio to alert the others and then says “I want this bitch caught now.”

Lena races thought the allies with Amaro chasing her. She gets cut off by a fence and throws the gun underneath and begins to climb through a hole. Amaro calls out to her and, with his gun drawn, tells her not to move or he will blow her damn head off right now. She reaches for the gun but Benson and Cragen come up on the other side and Cragen tells her to freeze, and he secures the gun. She smiles at him and gives him a eerily happy look. As Cragen walks off, Benson tells Lena to get up and then cuffs her. Lena laughs.

Back at SVU, Daniel says that the DA wants him to testify and he asks if he has to, he will look like a fool. Benson says this woman is very good at what she does, and that any man would fall for her.  Daniel says the newspapers said she walked into a trap and she said she had a daughter. Benson confirms that she did have a daughter but 4 years ago the child was abducted and murdered in St. Petersburg and Liev found the killers and took them out. Since then, Lena has been in his debt and they worked together as a team. Daniel thinks maybe he made her do these things. Cragen shakes his head. Benson tells Daniel that Lena shot a 22 year old officer at point blank range and that Liev may have brought Lena into his world but she has since crossed over. Daniel says there is another side of her and he knows they don’t believe him but there really is. Cragen says he believes him. Daniel says OK, he will do what they want. Cragen shakes Daniel’s hand and Daniel, along with Benson, move to exit Cragen’s office. But Cragen calls Benson back. He says “About that stuff I said on the wire…” and Benson asks, “What stuff?” She turns and walks out and he nods his head and says, “OK.” As Cragen sits at his desk. Looking out to the squad room, we fade to black.



All Text Content (Recaps, Review, Commentary) © allthingslawandorder.blogspot.com unless otherwise noted



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Law & Order SVU “Educated Guess” Promo

Here’s the promo for Law & Order SVU “Educated Guess” which will air on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 10 PM ET on NBC.

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Educated Guess" can be found at this link.




Check out my blog home page for the latest Law & Order information, on All Things Law And Order.

Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “Russian Brides” Sneak Peeks

Here are a few sneak peeks from Law & Order SVU “Russian Brides" which will air on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 10 PM ET. The videos feature Mariska Hargitay, Danny Pino, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish, Tamara Tunie, Dann Florek, and guest star Timothy Busfield. (The promo is also listed below.)


Please note: The episode video clips are available for a limited time only and must be removed shortly after the episode originally airs, so please catch them while you can!

















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Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “Russian Brides” Advance Photos

Here are advance photos from Law & Order SVU “Russian Brides which will air on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 10 PM ET. The photos feature Mariska Hargitay, Danny Pino, Kelli Giddish, and guest star Timothy Busfield (as Daniel Carter).



My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Russian Brides" can be found at this link.

Photos by: Will Hart/NBC © NBCUniversal, Inc.

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Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU “Educated Guess” Episode Information

Here are the details for a new episode of Law & Order SVU “Educated Guess.”

My recap and review of Law & Order SVU "Educated Guess" can be found at this link.

Law & Order SVU “Educated Guess” Air Date November 16, 2011 (10 PM ET/9C Wednesday NBC)

WHEN AN EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED MAN CLAIMS HE WITNESSED A RAPE, THE SVU MUST DISCOVER WHAT IS REAL AND WHAT IS IMAGINARY WHEN THE ALLEGED VICTIM (GUEST STAR NATASHA LYONNE) TURNS OUT TO BE A PATIENT IN A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL. CARRIE PRESTON ALSO GUEST STARS.

A man in custody at a mental hospital claims to have witnessed a rape in a break room. Despite the witness' shaky credibility the SVU begins an investigation, but the alleged victim, Gia Eskas (guest star Lyonne), denies being assaulted. Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Rollins (Kelli Giddish) struggle to piece together what really happened to this young woman, especially when her aunt (guest star Preston) and mother say Gia has been repeatedly institutionalized, and has cried rape in the past. Also starring Ice-T (Detective Odafin Tutuola), Richard Belzer (Detective John Munch) and Danny Pino (Detective Nick Amaro).





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Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order SVU Deleted Scene “The Letter”

Here’s a deleted scene (titled "The Letter") from season 13 of Law & Order SVU, where Benson receives a special note from Stabler.




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Also, see my companion Law & Order site,These Are Their Stories.

Law & Order UK “Dawn Till Dusk” Recap & Review

Law & Order UK “Dawn Till Dusk” was based on the original Law & Order episode “Mayhem” from season 4. The only thing that these two episodes had in common is they both showed a day in the life of the detectives and the prosecutors, with a clock ticking off the time that has passed. The cases themselves were not similar at all.

We get to see a little bit more of how these characters go through the day, and we learn the most about Sam Casey. Sam's temper, which has been evident in every episode, comes back to haunt him when one of Jake’s cases is almost tanked because Sam is accused of intimidating one of the men on trial. Maybe this will be the wake up call for Sam to simmer down and cool his jets? We also see that Sam has a problem with an ex, and also has a son. Sam’s short fuse is evident when his ex calls him and asks him to watch their son for the night, and he hangs up on her. In the end, Sam’s apparent love for his son seems to win over his annoyance with his ex. While I do miss Jamie Bamber, Paul Nicholls – as Sam Casey – is an excellent replacement and I find myself becoming interested in his character. I also noticed that towards the end, Ronnie called Sam “son” (which is what he called Matt) and I am not sure if Ronnie had referred to Sam as “son” in earlier episodes.

I have to admit that with more than one case going on and the detectives and the prosecution being involved in various stages in these cases that I started to lose track as to which solicitor represented which defendant. The fact that they all wear wigs in the courtroom doesn’t always help especially when there is more than one defense solicitor of the same sex. Alesha is a much stronger character than she was in the first series, and she takes charge very easily.   (I enjoyed the brief banter with Jake about her filing skills.)

Poor Ronnie – his day gets ruined when he can't make the game that he was so hoping to see, and despite his attempt to not know the score, someone unwittingly blurts it out at the end. While Jake seems to have finished the day in the win column, there still appears to be a murderer out there. But, as Ronnie says, that is for tomorrow.

Here is the recap:

Cast:
Bradley Walsh: DS Ronnie Brooks
Paul Nicholls: DS Sam Casey
Harriet Walter: DI Natalie Chandler
Freema Agyeman: CP Alesha Phillips
Dominic Rowan: Senior CP Jake Thorne
Peter Davison: Director CPS

Guest stars:
Adrian Rawlins – Roland Hextor
Patricia Potter – Yvette Dyer
Jessica Gunning – Angela
Walter Chubb – Jonathan Carlton
Ralph Laurila – Gareth Markham
James Weber Brown – Julian West
Robert Morgan – Donald Walker
Helen Blatch – Mrs. Hextor
Jessica Turner – Amanda Granger
Andrew Brooke - Abraham Roach
Crispin Redman - Judge Redman
Ebony Gilbert - Cathy


With the sound of a clock ticking, and with the time at 6:24 AM, two officers walking the street in the financial district see a man staggering down the street, and another man apparently sleeping in a parked car. They attempt to wake the man in the car, but he is dead from an apparent shot to the head,

DS Ronnie Brooks and DS Sam Casey are called to the scene. The dead man has been identified as Derek Strachan. It does not appear to be a robbery. The detectives speak with the staggering man – Clive Cooke – who tells them their company closed a big deal and they were celebrating. A bra and a torn blouse were found in the car, and it looks like the bullet wound may be from an air gun. Ronnie thinks it shouldn’t take too long to find a half naked woman running around in London.

At MIU headquarters at 7: 18 AM, DI Natalie Chandler says the woman was Louise Dawson and this was her first date with Strachan. She ran to the market as she knew there would be people there. Natalie tells them to get her story and she will notify Strachan’s next of kin.

The detectives speak with Louise who says Strachan seemed nice but admits she lives with a boyfriend and they are working through some issues. She says he is not the jealous type and said it wasn’t him who killed Strachan. She says some bloke just shot Derek from across the road. Sam suggests Louise get with an officer to get an eFit of the man who shot Derek.

Later, Ronnie shows the sketch to Natalie and she says it looks like Harry Hill. Ronnie says he will ring his agent and have him arrested. Natalie says “Excellent. Case closed, I’ll tell Derek’s family.” She asks Ange how she is getting along, and Ange says there are hundreds of CCTC cameras but they belong to private businesses and it will take her all day. Natalie is surprised that considering the area no one saw a man getting shot in a car. Ronnie says at that time of the morning the area is deserted. Sam adds this means they will have to get out and pound some pavement.

At the Asia Fusion Wine Bar at 8:12 AM, a man working there says Derek left about 2-2:30 and he had hooked up with a city chick. He also said Derek has a girlfriend,

Ronne and Sam speak with Derek’s girlfriend Chloe, who finally admits that Derek is a cheat. She thinks he would have stopped once they became engaged, and  Ronnie agrees with her despite the looks on his and Sam's faces which means they don’t think that for a minute.

Afterwards, Ronnie thinks Chloe is just hurt and wouldn’t have Derek shot. They wonder about the office party and Clive Cooke, and Sam wonders if maybe Clive wasn’t the only one who missed the last tube home.

At Hooperwood Associates at 9:02 AM, they speak with Miss Hayes at the company who said she left about 4 and took a cab and didn’t see anything unusual They show her the sketch of the man and she said she saw him a few weeks before. He was following her and she thought he was a pervert so she was ready to do some serious damage with her stilettos. She gets flirty with Sam and he seems to flirt back. She said the man jumped into a Mondeo and then drove through a red light. As the detectives leave, she tells Sam that if he wants to know anything else to just call her.

Outside, Ronnie tells Sam she would eat him for breakfast and Sam quips that he would let her. Ronnie wants to get Ange on the traffic cameras and hope with all the Mondeos in London they can catch the one going through the red light. As they get into the car they hear a frantic call coming over the police radio. Ronnie realizes the location is right around the corner so they race to the building,

When they get inside the lobby and are at the elevators, they aren’t sure which floor the call came from. Ronnie heard 5th and Sam heard 15th. They decide to take the stairs, with Ronnie trying hard to keep up with Sam while running up the stairway. They get to the 5th floor and see a commotion – a man is laying on the floor with a wound on his head and another man has what seems to be a stab wound on his chest. Sam tries to calm the man who was stabbed. The man on the floor is unconscious but alive so Ronnie asks someone to call for an ambulance.

Later, the stabbed man, Abraham Roach, say the man who stabbed him is his brother Carl. He hit his brother with a paperweight. Sam tells him once that is stitched he will have to come down to the station, and Abraham says he was just defending himself. He asks his is his brother and hears from another office, Tommy, that his brother is critical but stable. Ronnie asks Tommy to be the officer in charge and Tommy says just this once. Tommy asks Ronnie to email him his witness statements as soon as possible and he will take it from there. As Ronnie races away with Sam in tow, he tells Sam he has to be clocked out a 6:00 at the latest. Sam asks if he has a date, and Ronnie says yes, with a leather chair in the Director’s box at Upton Park. Sam asks him how he swung that, and Ronnie answers friend who know friends. Sam then asks him why did he swing that? Ronnie says that is totally unnecessary.

Back at MIU, Natalie asks Ronnie and Sam if they left a City DC to mop up a job this morning. Ronnie admits he did, saying it was a family argument that went wonky. She tells Ronnie they are pushing for it to come here and he will have to investigate. Ronnie squawks about all his paperwork and Sam says it was just a row with brothers. Natalie testily explains that Carl Roache died when he reached the hospital, and that makes it murder and puts it on his desk.

In the interrogation room, Ronnie and Sam are questioning Abraham Roach with his solicitor Amanda Granger present, telling her Abraham admitted to hitting his brother with a paperweight, Sam says that witness said it was a heavy metal paperweight that Abraham stuck his brother with great force. Against Amanda's advice, Abraham says he and Carl run a catering company with corporate clients which has been faltering the last few months. He did a deal for someone to buy them out and they would have lost some money but most people would keep their jobs but his brother thought he betrayed him. When his brother found out he stabbed him with a letter opener and Abraham hit him with the nearest thing. The solicitor says it was self defense, and Abraham sobs that he killed his brother.

At MIU at 10:40 AM, Ronnie is on the phone trying to get information on cabbies. Sam in on the phone with Cath who says he is at work. She asks who is going to have Ben and Sam says he can’t look after Ben tonight and he already told her. He adds he has two murder cases. Ronnie hangs up with his call and Sam picks up on another call and tells them to hold. He gets back with Cath and she says they have to sort this. He says he has to go and she sternly tells him not to hang up. He hangs up anyway and throws the phone down. Ronnie asks if there is trouble and strife, and Sam says she can’t expect him to drop everything every time she needs a babysitter.

Ange tells them that she got a call from Camden and they have a Roland Hextor at their station who drives a blue Mondeo who just went through a red light at Camden Loch. Ronnie said if he has thick rimmed glasses she can come to the West Ham match tonight. Ange says he does have thick rimmed glasses, “but you’re all right – Ta!”

With Hextor in interrogation, they tell him he is there for questioning about a murder but he says he didn’t see anything. No one at Camden Station told him why they wanted to see him. Sam tells him they are arresting him for the murder of Derek Strachan and Sam reads him his rights. Ronnie offers to call him a solicitor but Hextor insists he hasn’t done anything. He denies being near Bank station that night. When Ronnie asks if he can tell them where he was, he says that is none of their business. He says he hasn’t killed anyone and they have no right to ask about his private life, citing article 8 of the European Convention on human rights. Sam says a murder inquiry trumps that, but Hextor says he is not telling him where he was. Ronnie shows him a photo of Derek and Hextor says he does not recognize him. Ronnie tells him he was shot this morning and someone matching his description pulled the trigger. Hextor says he wants the solicitor now.

Later, while Natalie observes the video feed, Sam tells her all they have on Hextor is a traffic offense. She tells him to organize an ID parade and she will get Louise Dawson back in. Ronnie asks for a section 18 to search his home. She says, “Consider it done.”

At Hextor’s home, Ronnie makes small talk about sports as they search. Sam interrupts to show him an air gun he located in a cabinet.

In the forensics lab, the technician tells them to run an air pistol without a license it can’t have more than 6 foot pounds of muzzle energy. Sam questions whether that could shoot someone from across the street. The technician says this gun is old and the gun in Hextor’s flat predated the law and is a lot more powerful. It would not go through bone but could damage internal organs. She will know for sure if this is the gun once she gets the bullet back from the PM.

Later, Sam and Ronnie are in interrogation with Hextor and his solicitor Mr. Carlton. Carlton questions the witness statements and ID and says this is all circumstantial. CP Alesha Phillips, who is observing via the video feed, says she hates to say it but he is right. Natalie tells her not to start. A woman walks into the room and hands Natalie a file, saying she will want to read this. Chandler shows Alesha the file and then says “shit" and walks out of the room. Natalie walks into the interrogation room and halts the interview, and Ronnie notes he is stopping it at 11:55. Natalie says Hextor is free to go. Carlton says she will be in touch with her about wasting his client’s time, and Natalie says she looks forward to it. When Hextor and Carlton leave, Natalie shows them the ballistic report which says Strachan was shot with an air rifle, not an air pistol, and this means their prime suspect is free to leave and the killer is still out there.

Back at CPS, Alesha explains to Senior CP Jake Thorne that the witness picked Hextor out of the ID parade. She was sure at first but then picked up someone who looked similar. Alesha said it is circumstantial and tells him DI Chandler wants Hextor locked up until they can prove it one way or the other. Jake is pacing and says he is not sure they are allowed to do that. Alesha tells him to please sit down. He says he is sorry, he always gets like this when the jury is out. He tells her Yvette Dyer made an impressive closing speech. Alesha asks if this is for the kids who stabbed the teacher, Gareth Markham and Geoffrey Greene, adding she thought he said it was a “back of the net”. He said they always make him more nervous. She offers to do the PCMs but he wants to be around court in case the jury comes back. CPS Director Henry Sharpe enters the room and says he got a call from Yvette Dyer and he is going to see her now. Gareth Markham is claiming he was intimidated – by a detective.

At Dublin Lane Chambers at 13:04, Dyer argues the issue with Thorne and says this may mean he has no case. He says she is just looking for a way out. Dyer wonders what if he is telling the truth, and tells Jake she is going to argue that the jury be discharged and the case thrown out. Jake is incensed and says he thinks her head of chambers is enjoying this as he knows he is about to lose and hopes this about face will save him. Dyer says Donald did nothing to encourage this – and Jake counters he did nothing to stop it either. She says they are taking their client at his word, and Jake moans that they have to do all the legwork. Alesha calmly says the answer is to sort this as quickly as possible and asks which detective did this. Gareth says it was Sam Casey.

Back at MIU, Natalie complains that she has better things to do than digging through old case files, but Alesha says they have to go through the original evidence to prove it is a bogus claim. Sam moans “bloody hell.” Natalie gives in and asks Sam if it is bogus. Ronnie starts to joke that Sam slapped around to get a confession, and she tells him not to even joke about it and says he has a busy enough day as it is. Sam says he will do it but it is absolute bollocks, he interviewed Markham who grassed up his mate and that us all there is to it. Ronnie gets up to leave and Natalie asks where he is going. He said he is going to lead on the Harry Hill case, something 6 months ago is ringing some bells. Natalie asks Alesha if she has a minute.

Alesha follows Natalie into her office where Alesha tells her the whole case will collapse unless they can show Gareth is lying. Natalie asks why this is coming up now, and Alesha says he is desperate and defense is pushing it. Natalie says if there is any truth to this it will have to go to internal affairs, and Sam could lose his job. Alesha says yeah and then she asks Natalie how well she knows Sam. She heard from his superintendent in Manchester that he could lose his rag occasionally, but she does not believe someone from MIU could do this. A reputation like that reflects on everyone and she is not having it. Alesha asks how long does she have. Natalie explains she can pretend she came to her tomorrow morning but then she has to make the call.

At Crown v Markham at 14:12, Dyer is making her case for intimidation. Jake says they are going through all the relevant papers and this claim could be dismissed by the end of the week. The judge thinks Jake can dig out the relevant details this afternoon. Jake reminds the judge a policeman’s reputation is at stake as well as the trial. The judge gives him until the end of the day, and tells him time is ticking.

Afterwards, Jake tells Alesha he needs something within the hour, and when Alesha can’t believe it Jake says he thinks Judge Richards fancies Yvette, and Alesha says he is not the only one. Jake says she won’t let it lie, and she replies she will do what she can but Sam doesn’t file like she does. Jake tells her NO ONE files like she does. She agrees and he tells her to hurry up. She tells him to get off the phone.

Elsewhere, Ronnie talks to another detective about another case involving an air rifle where Roland Hextor was picked out of an ID parade. They brought him in an questioned him and had to let him go as nothing stuck. All he cared about was getting home to his mom because he lived with her. Ronnie said they have him living in a one bed flat in Wapping. The detective thinks he could have moved since but then he loved in a semi in another location.

Ronnie and Sam speak with Hextor’s mother who said he cooks for her because she has arthritis. She says he has a another place where he lives and commutes to his job in Westminster. He gets a boat every day, St. Catherine’s to Embankment Pier. She says he is a writer. He never talks about it. Ronnie notices a photo on the mantel which she says was Roland’s dad who died of lung cancer and who had fought in the Falklands. She thinks he wanted Roland to follow him into the Army. They took him to the firing range and taught him how to shoot a gun and a rifle. She doesn’t think there are many writers who can strip and M15.

Back at MIU, Alesha is with Natalie saying she has all the paperwork but she will need a big space to go through it. Natalie suggests an interview room. As she walks out of Natalie’s office she runs into Ronnie and Sam, and Sam asks her if she has everything sorted. She tells him not quite and she walks off.

Ronnie tells Natalie that a blue Mondeo was nicked for speeding in Epping Forest 20 miles after the shooting six months ago. He adds Roland also knows how to use a rifle. Natalie tells him to see if a second interview in one day will shake him up a bit. Sam is standing at the doorway looking at Ronnie and Alesha go off, and Natalie asks if he is still with us. He says yes and he will go pick up Roland Hextor.

With Hextor back in interrogation, Hextor denies anything but Sam brings up the old shooting of a couple who got “steamy,” accusing him of shooting one of them in the chest, asking if he has trouble with public displays of affection. Hextor says he hasn’t been to Epping Forest. Sam says it check out and to stop lying to them. Carlton thinks they don’t really have anything and Sam threatens Hextor that the next step will be his mom and they will be in her place and turn her life upside down. Hextor says they wouldn’t. Ronnie says for Hextor to tell them where he was so they can eliminate him from the inquiry. Hextor says he can’t, and the solicitor says his client will say nothing more until he talks to the CPS. Ronnie tells him to do that and they will introduce Hextor to the custody sergeant and Sam adds it will be to charge him for the murder or Derek Strachan this morning and for Peter Spencer 6 months ago.

While Alesha and Natalie watch via the video feed, Sam continues to press Hextor to tell the truth, and Alesha notices that he does have a temper. Natalie says so does she and it is not enough to discredit an experienced detective. Alesha says she is worried that there is 17 minutes missing from one of the taped interviews. Sam terminated the interview and the uniform did get Markham until 17 minutes later. Natalie says he could have been doing anything, and Alesha says including intimidating the witness. In the next taped interview, Gareth admitted to being at the scene of a crime.

At CPS, Sam tells Jake and Alesha that nothing happened. She asks how he can account for the 17 minutes. Sam says Gareth wanted a fag before he went back to the cells and he went with him to the cage and a few uniforms on the way saw them. Sam says no one saw Gareth have the cigarette, Natalie says that does not mean a thing, they will have cameras on the cage for that period. Jake asks if that is with sound. Sam pounds his fist on the desk and says this is unbelievable. Jake says yes it is but he doesn’t care if he lit his cigarette or beat him senseless with an iron bar, right now a respected head teacher is waiting outside court for a jury to return a guilty verdict for two teenagers who stabbed him and left him for dead. Sam says he wants those kids just as much as he, and Jake says good, because if he finds Sam did anything to jeopardize the verdict, he will be calling internal affairs.

Later, as Jake and Alesha walk down the street, Alesha says she will check the CCTV for when San was at the cage with Markham. Jakes says it doesn’t matter, there is no recording of what was said so the accusation still stands. Alesha thinks it will at least show that Sam was telling the truth about where he was. Jake asks what if Markham says Sam knew there were cameras so he chose his words carefully. He says it makes no difference, Markham still has to retract his statement.

Back in court, Crown v Hextor is up and Hextor pleads not guilty and Jake asks for remand. Carlton asks for bail, saying the only thing against Hextor is a traffic offense. Judge Richards holds him on remand. Up next is Crown v Roach, and Abraham Roach pleads guilty. Everyone looks shocked. Judge Richards ask Jake for the selected highlights and Jake does not seem prepared and then tells the judge that, along with the defense, expected the plea to be not guilty. The defense - Amanda = asks for a brief adjournment.

In another room, Amanda asks Jake for help, saying that Abraham is not guilty and that Abraham defended himself and did not mean to kill his brother, He feels guilty but is not guilty in the eyes of the law. He asks her is she is in Donald Walker’s Chambers, and she says yes. Jake adds that she has influence over the decisions he males. She asks what he wants, asking if this is about the teenager crying foul. He says yes, Gareth Markham tried to get away with attempted murder because he is terrified doesn’t realize the seriousness of what he’s done. Jake says Donald is letting it ride in hope to derail the whole trial for the sake of a win. Jakes says this is not why we do this and Amanda says Donald can be a little – Jake says stupid – but Amanda says myopic when it comes to the chamber’s reputation. Jake says this will damage it and trash a policeman’s career. She asks what he needs. Jake says he will put in an offer of manslaughter to Roach which he will happily plead guilty to, if she gets him a meet with Donald – today.

At CPS, at 16:47, Jake meets with Donald who tries to blow Jake off but Jake says Donald’s client should stick to telling the truth. Jake tells Donald to sit Gareth down and explain in small words what it means to lie to a court of law. Donald does not think he is lying. Jake thinks he is playing the system. Donald says he is sure Judge Richards will be happy to bring the jury up to speed with his suspicions tomorrow, Jake says he wants this sorted out in the next 10 minutes of the case could be thrown out. Donald says that is Jake’s problem. Henry Sharpe walks in and asks Donald how is he and Donald says he thinks Henry’s senior prosecutor was trying to accuse him of something but he is not sure what. Henry says he thought he gave him clear instructions for Donald to have a word with Gareth Markham and to drop the claim or they will pull his chambers in front of the standards board. Henry said if they did that he would have to review all their barristers to make sure they are competent to be on the Attorney Generals list. Donald is aghast. Henry adds that all the outsourced prosecution work would have to go elsewhere. Donald says “you wouldn’t” and Henry replies, “I would. And I will.” Donald says that is tantamount to blackmail. Henry and Jake look and each other and answer in unison. “yes.”

In court, the judge asks Markham if he is now saying he was not intimidated and if there was a reason for his change of heart. Jake indicates that the defense explained the seriousness of perjury. Markham apologizes to the court and the judge considers the matter closed and they will resume in the morning. He tells Markham to count himself lucky.

Afterwards, Dyer tells Jake that Donald is spitting blood, and Jake says he is not surprised. Jake asks to meet at the Cheshire in an hour, and Dyer says “a pint of pride.?” Jake says “always.” Alesha apologizes for interrupting but says Mrs. Hextor is camped outside their office.

Back at MIU, Ronnie and Sam are looking for any evidence that Roland is a serial killer. Ronnie moans he is never going to make the kickoff. Sam suggests he could get there for halftime, and when Sam’s phone rings, Ronnie asks if it is Cathy. Sam says he doesn’t think she believes he has a job. Ange tells them she got the CCTV from this morning but she couldn’t find the Mondeo registered to Hextor anywhere near the crime scene. Sam asks what about the CCTV from Embankment Pier. She says it is ready to watch on her computer but she has to go. Ronnie asks if it is a second date and he hasn’t led on he is an ax murderer? She says with his pecs she forgives him. They say goodnight and she leaves. Sam goes off to look at the footage.

At CPS at 18:23, Hextor’s mother said her son would not hurt a soul. Jake says he has no alibi and the evidence matches, and he mentions Epping Forest. When she asks about that, Alesha says his car was spotted there speeding, heading away from a crime scene. She said that was her, she took the car to Essex. She was picking up his birthday present and she did not want him to know she took the car so she paid the fine.

At MIU, Alesha tells Sam the news and that she wanted to tell him first hand. He asks if Jakes hates him and she says he just does not want to lose. She says she doesn’t hate him either. Ronnie said he will if he doesn’t get his backside in gear and help him with this. Alesha says that it is his way of saying he likes you too. As she leaves, Ronnie and Sam say goodnight and Sam thanks her. Sam says it was Mrs. Hextor driving the car in Epping Forest but everything else leads to Hextor. Ronnie shows him the video from about 8:30 last night and they see Roland and Ronnie recognizes the guy behind him but doesn’t know where from. Sam says if that is a routine, they can get down to the pier in time to meet them. Ronnie says maybe the game will be nil-nil draw and he will be there in time for the replay, and asks no one to tell him the score.

At Embankment Pier at 20:27, while they wait, Sam tells Ronnie that the uniform that said he would take Markham from the cell to the cage was late. He’d been on a lad’s night out and he’d had one too many. Ronnie says it is alright son, he doesn’t have to explain everything to him. They see their man and Ronnie stops the man and identified himself. The man says his name is Julian West. Ronnie asks if he knows Roland Hextor, and West asks what this is about. They tell him it is an ongoing inquiry and West seems surprised. Sam tells him it is a murder inquiry and Ronnie says Roland is refusing to give his whereabouts between the hours of midnight at 6 in the morning. West says that he was with him in his tiny flat in Wapping. He says Roland is terrified of the press finding out about them. West asks if he quoted article 8 to him and Ronnie says yes. West says Roland had taken it upon himself to protect them against any invasion into their private life. West says his is the MP – a backbencher - and Rollie is on the speech writing team for the defense minister and always wanted to work for the military, something to do with his father, West says if Roland is not telling them anything it is to protect them – to protect him.

Back at MIU, Ronnie brings Jake up to speed and tell Jake not to tell him the score. Ronnie tells Sam that Roland is a free man as Jake is happy with Julian’s statement and the paperwork has gone to Ashbridge. Sam asks if they should pick him up, and Ronnie says that is the least they could do with the day he’s had. Sam says he will get his coat, and Ronnie says he doesn’t think so, Sam has other things to deal with. He motions for Sam to look behind him, where Cathy is standing there holding Ben. Sam looks flustered and Cathy says she didn’t know what else to do, that Mum can’t have him. Sam takes Ben and gives him a kiss, and Cathy tells Sam not to let him stay up late watching Toy Story again. When she leaves, Sam asks Ronnie why he lets her get away with it. Ronnie grabs his coat and heads out, and tells Sam it is because Sam is Ben’s dad.

At Ashbridge Prison at 21:55, Ronnie gets Roland who asks Ronnie if anyone else knew and Ronnie says no. Ronnie says if he would have only been honest from the beginning. Roland says his private life is private. Ronnie says he could have been in there a long time. Roland mentions was surprised at the TV room and they were showing the footy and they beat the Hammers 2-nil. As Ronnie stops and rolls his eyes, Roland said it was a great game and he would have loved to have been there. Roland realizes that the real killer is still out there and they still have to catch him. Ronnie says he knows. Ronnie says that is for tomorrow.


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