Law & Order SVU “Gambler’s Fallacy” Recap & Review

“Gambler’s Fallacy” moved Law & Order SVU even further away from the usual procedural format with a story that has Amanda Rollins’s gambling addiction getting her into a career-jeopardizing situation. As there was no word that Kelli Giddish was leaving the series, most viewers knew going into this episode that somehow Rollins would not lose her job over her error in judgment. To counter that lack of suspense, the writers had the tough job of making her fall from grace - and still keeping her job - into something that viewers would believe. In this case, they did a fine job in weaving an interesting, complex story which gave Kelli Giddish a chance to shine.

The episode was made even more compelling with guest star Donal Logue, a fantastic actor who played both sides of the creepy club manager and undercover Lieutenant with amazing believability. His presence alone took the sting out of the obvious plot twist that he was not who he seemed. Law & Order SVU would really move up a notch in my mind if Donal was a regular.

Something clearly is happening to our beloved SVU team, however. They seem to be slowly losing their sense of good judgment as far as dealing with personal matters. The biggest loss of brains is with Rollins, for the obvious reasons. Addictions can make one take risks and also makes them think they can get away with anything. It’s bad enough Rollins gets behind on her gambling debts, but when she is recognized by a previous underage “special victim” working the club (and who also apparently has fallen back on old bad habits), Rollins is outed as a cop. Instead of biting the bullet and turn herself in, she agrees to do their bidding at first. She later offers sexual favors to one of the club managers, Declan O'Rourke,  in order to save her skin. We are given the impression that she gives him what he wants. Lucky for her we find later that she doesn’t have to go through with it. He’s working undercover and he tells Rollins now she’s got to play along with Sondra, the top manager at the club. This ultimately leads to Rollins getting evidence – a gun - out of the evidence room for a previous crime for one of the club guys, and later, to a rape. Already deep in a hole she can’t escape, Rollins uses questionable judgment when she obtains the evidence using the name of retired Detective Megan Wheeler (Julianne Nicholson’s character on Law & Order Criminal Intent) and then stupidly thinks that she can disguise herself from surveillance cameras just by covering her head with a cap. Desperate people do desperate things, and frequently desperate people, like Rollins, get caught.

Benson, as Sergeant and in charge of the SVU squad, is still trying to find the right balance in working with her detectives. She clearly is getting a little uncomfortable - is it jealousy? - with what she perceived as a brewing “thing” between Amaro and Rollins, telling Fin that “those two, I wish they’d just get a room already.” Granted, we don’t see every waking moment of these character’s lives, but I just don’t see any chemistry at all of that nature with Amaro and Rollins. At what point was Benson made aware of Rollins’ work undercover? Benson admits she lied to Fin and Amaro but when did the lying start? She seemed to know what was going on at the time Rollins was spotted by Amaro and Fin on the video at the Brazilian consulate. Did she know earlier, when Rollins first called in with the flu and Amaro and Fin questioned Benson about it? If so, what was Benson thinking by agreeing to allow a person with a serious gambling problem to get further involved in an undercover operation? I also question Benson’s decision to keep Rollins on the squad because of staffing issues. Rollins truly is a dirty cop and should be moved out. The fact that Declan was undercover changes nothing in my mind; Rollins was willing to go as far as she could to get out of her mess. It was only luck that Declan explained who he was before she had to actually service him. In my own real world experience, when I had an employee who was discovered to be doing something unethical, they were suspended immediately pending investigation, and then fired. It didn’t matter to me that we were short staffed at the time; the company's integrity had to be upheld.  In a job such as law enforcement where your staff is expected to uphold the law, one can’t keep an officer on staff who breaks it. Benson should not have allowed Rollins to stay.

Amaro appears to have delusions of a continued relationship with his wife. Benson drops the bomb on him that Maria, who is worried for Amaro, has been calling her. I’m not sure if I agree with Benson’s timing on bringing this up, and Amaro’s reaction was a little unsettling. Amaro also is mistrusting of Rollins, showing stalkerish behavior toward her. What Benson may have initially worried was a relationship developing with Amaro and Rollins was likely Amaro trying to find out what Rollins was really up to. Amaro’s mistrust is causing him to inappropriately investigate Rollins and it is making him out to be a control freak. His issues with his wife make him seem unstable. This may be the next personal problem to implode.

Fin, meanwhile, the only person who seems to have a stable and happy life, hands a wad of cash to Rollins to help pay down her debt. He should know better that one never gives a wad of cash to a person who has a gambling addiction as usually it will be used to gamble again.

The bottom line is now, nobody trusts Rollins, including the viewers of this episode. Only time will tell whether Rollins can redeem herself.

Here is the recap:

Cast:
Mariska Hargitay – Sergeant Olivia Benson
Ice-T – Detective Odafin “Fin” Tutuola
Kelli Giddish - Detective Amanda Rollins
Danny Pino - Detective Nick Amaro
Raúl Esparza - ADA Rafael Barba

Guest stars:
Donal Logue - Lt. Declan Murphy/Declan O’Rourke
Stefanie Scott - Clare Wilson
Sherri Saum - Sondra Vaughn
Lothaire Bluteau - Anton Nadari
Federico Dordei - Marcelo Guarana
Michael Potts - Sergeant Cole Draper
Fernando Andrade – Beatriz Amarante
Benny Nieves – Calos Riva
John Mondin - Evidence Officer
Karen Tsen Lee – DNA Tech Susan Chung
Jacqui\eline Hendy – Attorney Crane
Caris Vujcec - Detective


Rollins gets ready to leave the SVU squad for the day. When Amaro comments she is leaving a little early, she tells him she is going to Niagara Falls and wants to get a head start. Fin tells her to check out the Canadian side, they have some wild clubs. She tells Fin it is more of a nature trip. Amaro asks if she is going by herself, and Rollins quickly states she is going with her dog Frannie, sarcastically adding  it is really romantic. Amaro asks that she knows she needs papers to take the dog across the border, and Rollins says she’s got it taken care of, calling Amaro “dad.” Amaro then says he will walk her out, he wants to catch the train to DC to see Zara. As he leaves with Rollins, Benson walks out of her office and comments to Fin “those two, I wish they’d just get a room already.” Fin laughs and says he will pretend he didn’t just hear her say that. Benson looks on with some apparent concern.

Later, Rollins pretties up and then heads to a more local secret gambling club. She is playing blackjack and another man also at the table, Marcelo, begins to touch the cocktail waitress who looks at Rollins. Rollins looks back at her and they recognize each other as cop and Clare Wilson, an underage girl part of a previous special victims case. Rollins declines the man’s offer of a drink, saying she should call it a night.

Clare walks into the office and tells one of the managers, Declan O’Rourke, that the blond woman is a cop. Soon afterwards, Declan and one of his muscle guys, Carlos, approaches Rollins as she is cashing out and asks if she is leaving early. She says she is quitting while she is behind. He orders her to come with him. Rollins comments she is not counting cards, if she was, she wouldn’t be down $15,000. But Declan won’t take no for an answer.

He, along with the Carlos, force Rollins into the office where the other manager, Sondra, is waiting. Declan and Carlos pull guns on her and then Declan motions for her to be silent, then rips open Rollins' shirt to check for a wire. He sees there is none, but Rollins looks worried.

As Sondra looks at Rollins' badge and notices she is a detective,  Rollins explains she is there off duty – no gun, no wires, no worries. Declan reminds her she is the one down 15 grand and is also the one standing there half naked with a gun to her head. He introduces himself and says he is pleased to meet her, and Rollins counters that he does not want to threaten a cop. He asks why not, she’s manky. she’s dirty. He thinks she in investigating them but she insists she is there off duty and it has nothing to do with her job. Sondra says it does now. Rollins claims she is making good on it, she has OT. Sondra wants her to prove she is not an informer. Declan says he has a test for her and if she passes, they can discuss how she can work off her debt. Rollins asks if she can do it with her shirt on so Declan hands her back her shirt.

The next day, back at SVU, Rollins is at her desk on her computer and Amaro arrives noticing Rollins’ hairstyle from the night before and he asks about it. She explains it is au naturale. He comments she is in early, asking if Niagara Falls was that bad. She tells him she didn’t make it, saying Frannie got carsick. Amaro sees she is in the DMV database and she says a friend of hers keeps getting tickets even though he parks in a garage and she is just checking it out for him. Amaro cautions her to be careful with favors, she knows how IA can be, whispering that they track everything.

Amaro walks into the men’s restroom where Fin is standing over a sink. Amaro asks if he had a rough weekend, and Fin says no, it was dope. Amaro asks him if he’s noticed anything off with Rollins, saying that Rollins never made it to Niagara Falls and now she is in early looking at some guy’s parking tickets. Fin says she met a dude, good for her. But Amaro comments that she is already checking tickers for him? Fin wonders why Amaro is so interested, asking if he has something going for Rollins. Amaro says of course not. Benson knocks on the door and then opens it, calling them gossip girls and tells them that they caught a suspect on those push in rapes, it is a juice delivery guy. She motions them out.

Later, Rollins is back at the club. Declan tells Rollins there were a dozen more last night. Rollins exclaims is not her precinct but she did find out when they do their blitzes. Declan says that’s brilliant but he needs the tickets to go away. Rollins objects, saying you can’t fix tickets anymore, they will track it right to her. Sondra tells her she has one more chance. Declan shows Rollins a file and explains that the woman in the photo has been selected by the state of New York to serve as a juror. Sondra adds that it is a victimless crime – insurance fraud - and they want to help her come to the right decision. Rollins is immediately concerned and Sondra tells Rollins that her boss needs her address. Rollins raises her voice and questions that they want the home address of a juror? Sondra motions yes. Rollins continues to raise her voice and states that of she gets caught, she loses EVERYTHING. Declan reminds her they have footage of her gambling in an illegal club – she’s lost everything. He orders Rollins to find her and when she does, to text him a picture and the address, holding out a cell phone for her to take. Rollins reluctantly takes it.

At New York City Civil Court, Rollins tracks the juror from there all the way home, but when she sees that the woman has a disabled son, she deletes the photos she’s taken.

Later, she tells Declan that she could not find the woman. But Declan calls her bluff, showing that Carlos followed her and took pictures, she led them right to her. He grabs Rollins by the hair and she says they can’t do this, the woman has a son and they need to leave her alone. He asks her who would pay the medical bills for her son, adding they are not threatening her, they are helping her. He says Rollins is not helping herself. She gets in his face and shouts that she is not doing anything that will get somebody hurt. He replies he guesses it is over, asking who should he call, her Sergeant? IAB? He adds that jail time for a cop is not a pleasant thing. Before he can dial the phone she frantically tells him to wait. She stands close to him and suggests maybe t here is some other way they can work this out. Declan has Carlos leave the room. Declan sits down in a chair and props up his phone to video the action, and Rollins states that he can’t record this. He reminds her she is not calling the shots, he is. He tells her to come here, and she reluctantly moves toward him. He pulls her down to her knees.

At a later time, Sondra talks to Marcelo at another table, and warns him he’d better make good tonight, her boss is getting impatient. He nods and as Sondra walks off, she tells Clare that Marcelo is cut off from drinks, that’s his last one. Clare tells Sondra to tell Marcelo to keep his hands off her ass. Sondra walks back into the office and asks if everything is OK. Rollins appears to be fixing her shirt and Declan says she passed the third test, she went low and beyond the call of duty. He tells Sondra not to give him the look, now they know she’s not working undercover. Sondra tells him to get out and watch the floor. Sondra pours a drink and tells Rollins whatever she just did for him, she won’t have to do it again. She hands Rollins the drink. Rollins thanks her and sits down, and tells Sondra she will only work for her and to make sure Declan knows that. Sondra thinks he got the message. She pours Rollins another drink. Rollins says her show is impressive and that her club is not on the radar at the NYPD. Sondra asks why would she be, she is an Ivy league educated art history major. Sondra, who is pregnant, says her boy will not have to grow up the way she did. Sondra asks Rollins if she asks herself what it is she wants out of life. Rollins thinks this doesn’t seem so bad. Sondra thinks she can do well for herself here, if she can let go of her working class morality, asking if she can do that. Rollins asks if she can let go of her debt. Sondra says she can work it off. Rollins. As she gets up to leave, she asks how long she has worked with Declan,  Sondra says two years. Rollins asks if she trusts him, and Sondra asks if there is a reason why she shouldn’t. Rollins suggests she not take a long maternity leave; her world is like her own, you work your asses to get where they are and a man comes around and thinks everything should be handed to them. Rollins leave as Sondra ponders that statement.

Back at SVU, Benson is on the phone telling the caller they do know they are spread very thin here. She then says she understands and she’s got it. Fin knocks on the door and asks if she has a second for him and Amaro. She motions them in, and Amaro says she has a problem. Benson asks “I have a problem?” Fin explains that Amaro is worried about Rollins, and Benson seems to think it is about the flu. But Fin says she wasn’t answering her phone so they went over to her place with some soup and she wasn’t there. Amaro tracked her cell to a warehouse near the Navy yard and she was talking to some guy that looked Irish mob to him and he thinks it is a gambling club. Fin pipes in that they don’t know that. Amaro goes on to say that Rollins got out pretty late and Fin argues that it might be nothing. Benson cuts them off and thanks them for coming in, she appreciates it and she will take care of it. Fin and Amaro look at each other and Fin walks out. Benson gets up and closes the door and tells Amato she appreciates his concern but she does have a problem with him tracking Rollins’ cell and following her. Amaro claims he did not want to take any chances, not after what happened to her. He insists he is not stalking Rollins, but Benson comments it is funny he should say that. She explains that Maria has been calling her and is worried about him. She asks if there is anything he wants to tell her about. Amaro says he is sorry she pulled her in and she won’t have to do call her again. Benson says good, then tells him to stay away from Rollins too. Amaro walks out of her office and says “yes Sergeant.”

Back at the club, Declan tells Rollins she has one more task: Marcelo, the Brazilian, needs a lift home. When Rollins gets uncomfortable with that, Declan tells her not to flatter herself, he’s not into trailer trash. Rollins takes the car keys and then tells Declan and Sondra that the waitress that ratted her out is 16. Sondra chastises Declan who then says he will take care of it.

Meanwhile, Rollins drives Marcelo back to his home and when she asks Marcelo how they are working him, he explains he is a diplomat with immunity and says he is not going to pay; he owes so much they need him. They get to his home and Marcelo gives her the security code, saying it is hitme44863. The gate opens and Marcelo's wife is there and not happy to see Rollins, who explains she is the designated driver. They all enter the home and sit Marcelo down. Rollins complements the place but his wife says none of it belongs to them,  it belongs to the Brazilian government. She tells Rollins she can go now and to tell them not to call her anymore and to not let him back in their club. She adds her husband has his problems “but you people are worse.” She orders Rollins to get out. Rollins leaves and then gets a message on her phone.

She meets up with Fin in a bar who doesn’t believe she’s had the flu and is skeptical when Rollins says she took a couple mental health days. He offers her his support as far as money but she declines, saying she is moonlighting security as a club. He asks if the club has cards, and then asks if they are asking her to do anything like addresses or licenses and can she just walk away. She says soon, but he reminds her if he is noticing, so are others and this is going to come down on her. She insists she has it under control, and he says she knows where to find him as he offers her a wad of cash. She takes it. He says whatever she is doing he wants her to stop now, he’s not ready for another partner. As Fin leaves, Declan and Carlos come over to Rollins and Declan comments that her partner cares and it’s touching. Rollins hands him the cash and replies she said she’d get rid of him and she did, he didn’t have to come. Declan cautions if Fin keeps nosing around, then it’s a problem. She thinks maybe it is time for her to get out, but Declan says it is too late, Sondra needs another favor. He explains that Carlos got himself into a jam driving a client home a while back. Carlos said he was caught in a speed trap with an unlicensed gun and it was as set up. Rollins says she doesn’t work for the DA but Declan wants her to make the gun go away and with it, the case. She stands up and asks Carlos to confirm he has no record or priors and he insists he does not. Declan asks her to see what she can do.

Later, Rollins goes to the evidence room, wearing her hair up in a cap, and signs in as Detective Wheeler to get the gun. She notices the camera.

She brings the gun to Sondra who tells her this takes care of the interest on her debt this week. Carlos asks since the charges were dropped, his DNA is not in the system, and Rollins explains it never was, it only goes into CODIS unless there is a conviction. Sondra asks when is her next shift at SVU, and Rollins says it is tonight but she can’t take any more sick days, her Sergeant is on her. Sondra asks if there is any chance she can pull a double, and Declan asks if there is something he should know about. Sondra replies if he needed to know about it she would have told him, then tells Rollins she will be in touch.

Back at SVU, Rollins is at her desk playing Solitaire on her computer and Amaro asks her if she’s seen the clock. She says she has a few things to clean up here. A call comes in and Fin takes it, and Rollins recognizes the address as the Brazilian diplomat’s home. She says she’ll take the call, that the guys have been carrying her weight for a while. Fin says he will come with her, and Amaro looks suspicious.

At the scene, Fin and Rollins hear that it is the Brazilian diplomat’s home, the perp used the security key pad, enters, pulls a gun, ties the husband up and rapes the wife. He took some cash but left her jewelry and electronics. Major case is sending over their art crimes expert to assess the stolen art work. Fin listens to Marcelo complain about what took them so long, and Marcelo sees Rollins and his eyes grow wide. Rollins states she is going to take the wife. As Marcelo explains to Fin what happened, Rollins slowly walks up the stairs and overhears what is said. Marcelo states, contrary to what he said to the first detective, that now the intruder wore a mask and he did not see his face. Rollins speaks to his wife Beatriz who is clearly upset when she recognizes Rollins and recoils, thinking that she is there to put pressure on her. She says she gets the message and knows what to do Rollins stoops down and touches her arm. Beatriz slaps it away in horror, and then says she doesn’t remember anything and then asks to go. Rollins walks off.

Later, on the scene with the Rollins, Amaro, and Fin, Benson questions that the diplomat told the responding detectives that he saw the rapist’s face but then told Fin the rapist was wearing a mask. She asks how is the wife, and Rollins comments that she shut down, suggesting she was in shock. Fin thinks they know the perp and are afraid of them, Amaro adding that the assailant knew them and their door code and which paintings to steam. Benson wonders if the rape was to throw them off – and Amaro wonders if it was to send a message. Rollins offers to pull the front door security video and check for other cameras on the block.

Back at SVU, Rollins races through some video as Fin asks if there was anything on the front door. Rollins explains that video is gone and the perp must have taken it but she has another camera from across the street. Fin tells her to slow down, she’s going so fast he can’t see a thing. She assures hum she has this and asks if he has anything from the lab. Fin explains that the victim wouldn’t do a rape kit and CSU recovered semen and hair from t he crime scene and they are running the DNA. Amaro enters and advises he visited the Brazilian consulate and they were less than helpful. Fin gets off the phone and says they got a hit on the DNA, and it is Carlos Riva. Rollins is shocked. Fin says he just had a gun charge dropped, but Rollins asks how did they have his DNA then? Fin explains Carlos had a misdemeanor charge last fall for stalking in the fourth degree. He got plead down to domestic assault Amaro comments that it is a good thing New York finally authorized all crimes DNA. Rollins uncomfortable says he must not have realized that, he must have thought that once the gun charge was dropped his DNA would not be in the system. Fin quips that they are looking for a dummy. Amaro notices Carlos was a driver at a Chelsea art gallery and suggests they follow up with the gallery to see if he still works there. Rollins is getting more nervous and then says she’s been on 16 hours. Fin tells Rollins to go home and he and Amaro have this. She races off and Fin says to Amaro, “Whatever you’re thinking – don’t.”

Fin and Amaro are at Nadari Gallery and speak with the owner Anton Nadari. He looks at the photo of Carlos but says he doesn’t recognize him. He doesn’t deal with the delivery men and can check if he worked for security. Amaro continue to press to get the address but Anton blows them off. As Amaro and Fin move to leave, Amaro asks if he is familiar with a painter Beatriz Amarante. Anton says she is one of Brazil’s significant talents. Amaro asks if he carries his work, and he says no, she is not on their radar.

Outside, Fin notes that Carlos works in an art gallery and the Brazilian art was stolen. Amaro thinks it is strange Carlos just had a gun charge dismissed yesterday for lack of evidence.

At the club, Rollins yells at Declan, realizing they had the gun charges dropped so Carlos could rape his wife without worrying about leaving DNA. Declan explains this had nothing to do with him, this was all Sondra. Sondra looks satisfied and Rollins walks up to her and questions that she ordered an assault on an innocent woman. Sondra coldly says she had fair warning and so did he’ Marcelo thought he was untouchable and they had to send him a message. Declan shouts that it was stupid, that’s why he’s supposed to be part of these decisions and now Sondra has compromised an asset. Sondra asks why does he think she is here? Declan says she raises red flags because of this cock-up and they have Carlos’ DNA. Sondra blame it on Rollins,  who then screams that Carlos looked her in the eye and told her he had no record. Sondra laughs, saying he lied, he’s a criminal! She tells Rollins she should have run his name through the computer before she told them his name was out of the system. She orders Rollins to clean it up, and when Rollins asks what if she says no, Sondra throws back at her the stealing of the gun from evidence. She says that is a felony. Declan wonders how Rollins can fix this but Sondra says Rollins will come up with something. Rollins says she will need a DNA sample form Carlos. Sondra calls him in.

Later, Rollins passes along the DNA sample to the lab tech. She says it was from a man the victim was having an affair with. She tries to use the fact that the victim’s husband is a diplomat and it is a routine suspect elimination which would avoid a diplomatic nightmare.

Meanwhile, Amaro is looking at the video footage from when the gun was taken from evidence and clearly sees it is Rollins signing in as Megan Wheeler who retired 4 years ago.

Afterwards, Amaro and Fin bring the bad news to Benson, showing Rollins on the evidence video and two nights ago at the consulate. Fin also mentions Rollins bringing in the elimination DNA sample. When Amaro asks if she knows what this means, she snaps that she know what this means and she will handle it. She tells them to stop digging now and not to tip Rollins off and pretend everything is normal. When Amaro begins to object. She says she is commanding officer and this is on her. Amaro leaves the office. Fin stays behind to tell Benson that he would never go behind her back, but Rollins needs to know that they know. He is her partner, and if it was Amaro, Elliot…Benson looks back at him and doesn’t answer.

Later, at a bar, Benson and Fin speak with Rollins who says she gets it. But Benson is skeptical, saying that Rollins fixed a rape case and asks if she knew that beforehand. Rollins says “No, I swear to god.” Benson retorts, “Well that doesn’t mean much, coming from you.” Fin suggest she turn herself in to IAB and she says they will put her in prison. Benson agrees they will, saying she got involved with this crowd and had to know nothing good would come of it. Rollins explains she was trying to work herself out of it and just be done. Benson emphasizes she IS done, and she is here as a courtesy to Fin, she is calling IAB. When Benson moves to leave. Rollins stands up to stop her and asks if she can turn herself in and just give her a few hours to figure out something with Frannie. Benson says 8:00 AM tomorrow morning, whatever she has been doing or whoever she has been working with it is over, she is taking Rollins in. Rollin gives a sad look to Fin who looks sadly back at her.

Elsewhere, Amaro approaches Declan who is outside his car and punches him in the gut. He tells him to stay away from Rollins. Declan, who had dropped to the ground, asks Amaro if he is the boyfriend, saying Rollins isn’t half bad, once you get past the used part.

At the club, Rollins explains to Declan and Sondra that they are not just taking her shield, she is an accessory to rape and that means prison time. Sondra said she never met Rollins and if she tries to cut a deal, her boss will put a bullet in her head. She says he’s done it before, citing a cop from the 12th who ate his gun, it wasn’t a suicide. Rollins grabs a gun and points it at Sondra’s pregnant tummy, telling her if she doesn’t think she will shoot, she doesn’t know her at all. Declan tries to calm things but Sondra tells him to shut up. Rollins tells him to put his gun on the desk and also his drop gun. She asks him to step back and keep his hands up. She tells Sondra she needs to see her boss to get out of the country. She tells Sondra to call him and tell him she needs to see him. Sondra does so.

Later, they meet up with the boss – Anton Nadari – at the gallery, and Rollins still has a gun pointed at Sondra’s tummy. She tells Declan to get Anton’s gun and put it on the table. When Anton voices concern over the baby, Rollins realizes he is the father, telling Sondra nice work. Rollins wants a passport and a million dollars, and Anton asks what fantasy world is she living in. She mentions all his galleries are laundering money and Sondra says they can wire her the money. She also wants a jet, saying she will go as far as she can get and she is taking Sondra with her as insurance. Sondra says she is too far along to fly, and Rollins claims yes she can, because IAB is on to her. Rollins states tomorrow they will be in Switzerland or Sondra will be giving birth to a baby boy in prison.

Declan seems to move toward the gun on the desk. Sondra tells Anton they have enough, they should all go. Sondra bends over in pain and Rollins tells her to sit down. Declan moves a chair in so Sandra can sit and while Rollins is distracted he grabs the gun and hits Rollins in the face with it, knocking her to the floor. He grabs her gun and points a gun at Rollins while Anton tends to Sondra. Anton tell him to kill her, but Declan points one of the guns at Sondra and Anton, and, speaking with an American accent, tells them both to get their hands in the air. He says he is Lt. Declan Murphy, NYPD. He points the other gun at Rollins and says they are all under arrest.

At a later date with IAB, the video Declan took of Rollins moving to service is playing. When Rollins had knelt to the floor, Declan stopped her and, speaking without his accent, he told her whatever she was planning to give him, he is not interested and he does not want her claiming he ever was. He explains he works for Manhattan vice. She asks if he has a shield and he replies not when he is working. He adds that the color of the day is green; the date of her appointment to NYPD was 6/22/2011, she was winked in, in exchange for some dead weight they shipped off to Atlanta. She asked if he is going to turn her in, and Declan said he should, but he is not risking two years of undercover work because of a dirty cop. He adds this is how this plays out: Sondra wants a pretty detective running errands for her and that is exactly what she will do. Rollins will have to report directly to him, officially on loan to vice. She agrees. Declan turns off the recording and tells IAB Sergeant Cole Draper that at that point on, Rollins was a fully operating UC. Draper questions Declan that he had an NYPD officer involved in a criminal enterprise, he should have come straight to them. Declan counters that he took 2 years trying to connect Sondra to Nadari and Rollins did it in three days. Draper brings up the way she did it, mentioning the rape and asks if Rollins knew about that. She states she didn’t and is sick about it. Declan adds he will regret it to the end of his days. Draper says he understands they have Riva in custody and Declan says they got DNA through proper channels and Riva will plead to rape 1 and grand larceny. Draper notes that Anton put him up to it, a man the NY Times just profiled as a superstar international art dealer. Declan says it was a cover story, the illegal gambling was just the tip of the iceberg, the Feds and the NYPD accountants are having a field day going through his financials. Declan says he has his entire confession from wire in a ring he wore in the gallery. Rollins says they will get him on money laundering or theft, art forgery, extortion, rape, murder of a cop, and his pregnant accomplice is turning state’s evidence. Draper comments she’s the pregnant woman Rollins pulled a gun on. Declan comments that he is sure Draper understands that is the nature of undercover work, sometimes you have to violate protocol and use questionable methods to obtain results. Draper testily says the ends justify the means, and Declan replies that’s right. Draper closes his file and counters he wishes it were that simple. He informs them he is taking this upstairs and they haven’t heard the end of this. Declan comments that given Rollin’s exemplary performance, she’ll keep her shield or HE will take it upstairs. Draper says nothing and then walks out the door. Rollins gives a slight smile to Declan.

Outside, Rollins tells Declan he could have busted her when she first walked inside the club and saved himself a lot of grief. He replies he could have but when she came in that back room, he saw someone who was about to hit rock bottom, Rollins claims her higher power was looking out for her. Declan doesn’t know about that but he does know this, Declan Murphy believes in the possibility of redemption, that one or two venal sins don’t define you and the choice is hers, hoping she makes better decisions than she had lately. Rollins asks how much her Sergeant knows about how they met, and Declan says he finessed it but that Benson is smart, he suggests Rollins come clean and stay clean. She nods her head. He takes her hand, and tells her “May the road rise to meet you, detective.” He walks off.

Back at SVU, Rollins is trying to explain all this to Amaro and Fin, asking what is she supposed to do, she was working undercover. Fin is upset that she didn’t tell him, and Amaro asks if Benson knew. Rollins replies that Benson had to. Fin is upset that Rollins couldn’t trust him, asking how did vice know where she was? Amaro tells Fin to let it go. Rollins stands up and shouts that they deserve to know, and just as she seems to be ready to spill it, Benson calls her into her office.

In Benson’s office, Benson tells Rollins she is not happy about any of this; she had to lie to Fin and lie to Amaro. A woman was raped. Lt.  Murphy swore that neither he nor Rollins knew about that. Rollins says she didn’t and there was no way she would have gone along with this had she known. Benson questions how Rollins wound up working undercover in a gambling club? Rollins sighs and says she already knows, she fell behind at the club and they found out she was a cop and used it as leverage. She just got lucky that Lt. Murphy was UC. Benson says Lt. Murphy may trust her – but she doesn’t. Rollins looks ready to cry. Benson adds if they weren’t short staffed she would transfer her – today. Benson gives her an icy glare. Rollins replies that she deserves that. She pauses and then shrugs, fighting the tears, saying she doesn’t know if she can get back to her good graces but she will try. Benson coldly replies, “Okay. We’re done here” and she sits down at her desk. Rollins exits the office to see Fin and Amaro turn and stare at her. As she seems to be thinking about what happens next, we fade to black.




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