Law & Order Organized Crime “High Planes Grifter” Recap, Review, Discussion

Things are coming to a head with the Organized Crime team. With Reggie arrested and in custody, the goal is to get him to flip on Jon Kosta and his criminal organization, which includes Albi.  This is no easy task, as Reggie is fiercely loyal to  Albi, but a lot of that is out of fear.   Reggie’s mother is Albi’s sister, so Reggie’s family ties keep him similarly tied to Kosta’s organization.   While viewers knew this time was coming, that didn’t mean this episode was without drama.  Tension continued to build, not just for the team as they worked to provide the evidence needed for a grand jury indictment, but also for Stabler, as his cover was at the highest risk for exposure than it had ever been. This was a high-stakes episode with an explosive ending, both in the figurative and literal sense. The writers have done an excellent job of crafting a story that, even though you know where it’s headed, still delivers the drama. 

I was surprised that Reggie never asked for a lawyer, unless he knew deep down that if Albi or Kosta knew where he was at, he’d be killed.   His mother  Agniezjka (Agnes)  is a piece of work; she has to know she just sold out her own son for the sake of the organization.   

It’s sad to see that the court reporter could be so easily bought, and clearly not realizing the full scope of what kind of organization she was dealing with.   She paid for her greed with her life. 

 Here is the recap: 

Reggie is in interrogation, being questioned by Bell and Brewster in regards to the murder of the mayor’s wife, witnessed by a half dozen people.   They try to convince him to help them to lock up the others in the organization.   They bring in large boards showing all they know about the organization, trying to get him to tell them who is the mastermind.  They bring up money laundering and Bell mentions the phones the task force got into the Kosta organization and how the task force got copies of every message send on them.  

Reggie thinks that they don’t know what they are dealing with when it comes to Albi.  Brewster brings up that Edmund Ross is also in custody and the DA’s office will make a deal with only one of them so Reggie’s testimony – and Reggie – could be obsolete in a few hours.  Bell and Brewster try to convince him to help himself and help to take down the KO but Reggie says that will never happen.  Bell tells him to just hold tight a minute, and soon after Reggie hears someone buzzing into the room.  He keeps his head down and a familiar voice begins to talk and when Reggie looks up, he sees it is Stabler – AKA Eddie Wagner AKA Eddie Ashes.  

Reggie goes into a rage and throws the table where he is cuffed.  Stabler gets him to sit down and Reggie threatens to kill him.  He asks what is Stabler’s real name, and Stabler says he did what he had to do.  Reggie clearly feels betrayed.  Stabler says his family sold him out, that the family sent him out without backup and knew he couldn’t do the assassination. Stabler explains they sent Reggie out to die – Reggie was supposed to finish the job but then get killed - suicide by cop.  Stabler explains how the family would take Reggie out but Reggie yells for Stabler to get out and asks why would he do this to  him.  He says he gave everything to Stabler,  but Stabler says Reggie belongs to a family that trafficks young girls.  Stabler asks who does he think killed his father and put the bullet in his mother’s brain?  Stabler says he has Reggie’s back, but the clock is ticking so Reggie has to make a decision.  

After he leaves the room, Stabler goes to Louis Chinasky who is in a cell and tells him he is there for his own protection but Louis continues to object, saying it is against the law. 

Back in the squad room, Brewster reminds Stabler the grand jury is due soon but Stabler wants to check with Jet to show him what Albi is texting to who he thinks is Reggie.  She tries to answer the questions to sound like Reggie’s answers.  Stabler has to help her respond to a question involving his mother and if they should bring his mother food. They think it is a code and Stabler tells her to answer to remember no anchovies as she is allergic.  They seem to buy it. 

Stabler speaks with Bell and Brewster and when Bell mentions Stabler said the clock is ticking but did not mention a deadline. Stabler says Reggie is ready to fold but he has one more card to play. 

Elsewhere,  Reggie’s mom Agnes is being called into a doctor’s office, and when she’s told that her son is probably running late and they should get started, she follows her in.  Once getting to  another room,  they open the door and Bell is there, showing her badge, asking for a few minutes alone. 

Back in Kosta’s office, Kosta and Albi have bought into the text messages but wonder where is Reggie and think Eddie will know and to get Eddie down there. 

Meanwhile, Stabler testifies to the grand jury and explains his undercover work and the extent of the Kosta organization and the crimes they have committed.  Stabler explains how the drug organization works. They control the whole supply chain and they are the most dangerous organization they have seen.   The ADA says they will present the evidence over the next 2 days. 

Back in holding,  they bring in Reggie’s mom to see him.  They remove his handcuff and leave them alone to talk.  He tries to assure her but she is clearly distraught.  She slaps him and he says he is sorry.  He admits he did this to himself. 

In the grand jury, Stabler continues to explain the operation and what they learned.  But someone comes in and Stabler has to leave.   Outside the grand jury, Bell explains that Albi texted and they need to see him, and while this is risky, Stabler agrees to do so.  Stabler also asks about Louis and he is told they got him a one-way ticket to Ft. Lauderdale with $10,000.  Stabler moves to head to meet with Albi and when asked what is his plan, he says he will fly by the seat of his pants and don’t say anything stupid. 

Agnes is still with Reggie as Bell and Brewster enter.  They continue to put pressure on both of them to testify to the grand jury.   Reggie explains they want him to turn on the family and what it means.  Brewster explains they can both go into witness protection.  She looks coldly at Reggie. 

Stabler gets back to the gym and gets a slightly odd vibe from Flutura.  He meets with Kosta and Albi and tries to use an excuse that he did another fire and that Reggie was supposed to be with him but was a no-show.  Kosta wants Stabler to give him the name of the small job Stabler did and Stabler gives him Maldonado’s name and then his phone.  Kosta calls the number and Maldonado answers and asks Eddie if it was done. Kosta hangs up and buys Stabler’s story.   Kosta explains Reggie’s trouble and when Reggie gets scared he does stupid things.  They ask him to continue to try to contact him and when Stabler asks where do they want him to take Reggie, Kosta leaves the room. Albi says they don’t care what he does to the body, just bring back something to prove it was him. 

Back in the interrogation room, Stabler plays back a recording of what Albi said about killing Reggie.  Stabler brings back in his mother who is shocked to see Stabler.   Stabler explains Albi’s hit on Reggie.  She wants to talk to Albi but he tells her no.  He explains he must testify, he has no choice.   He says whatever she wants him to do he will do it.  She talks into his ear and he asks if she has to testify too. Stabler explains the more she helps them, the more it helps Reggie, but he thinks she can give her statement in private with the ADA and court reporter. 

Later, Reggie testifies how you are born into the KO. When it's mentioned that Albi ordered the attack on his father which caused his mother’s brain injury, he states he has no idea if it is true.  A juror asks if he has ever received a direct order from Kosta. 

Back in interrogation,  ADA Chen comes in with a court reporter, Miss Brooks,  and explains the process. Agnes gives Brooks a look over. She promises to tell the truth.

Back in the squad room, there are concerns they don’t have Albi on the stand and a direct link to Kosta. Edmund Ross is now the key witness and they are going to Rikers in the morning to review his testimony.   Moennig asks for a few minutes with Bell in her office.

Meanwhile, Agnes arranges an accident with her water and when the ADA moves out of the room to get napkins, Agnes looks at Miss Brooks coffee grounds and them writes a note to her, asking her if she is interested in $50K to make her troubles go away.

In Bell’s office, Moennig explains he is putting her back in charge of the Organized Crime task force.   She can keep Cho and Maldonado and it is not decided about Nova.  Moennig is stepping away from Criminal Intelligence and that Brewster is now a Lieutenant and will take his place.  She is less than thrilled.

Later, Miss Brooks meets with Albi and Kosta at the gym and explains Agnes’ message.  She gives them the message – writtem in another language – and she explains the grand jury and Reggie being there.  Albi pays her in cash with an extra $5,000, and as she turns to leave he shoots her in the back.  She falls dead to the floor. As Albi and Kosta leave the room, Albi tells the guys to clean up the room but Kosta says they don’t have the time with the grand jury, just get  her out of the way, he doesn’t want to trip.  

Elsewhere, Bell meets with Nova about her meeting with Kilbride. Nova explains he hooked her up with the Marcy Killers and doesn’t know she is a cop.  Bell explains she was there on a personal matter, with her wife. Bell asks her to keep quiet about Kilbride as she may be her Sergeant soon and doesn’t want anyone else to get interested in Kilbride before she can figure out his end game.

Stabler, Bell, and the DA are at Rikers and question Edmund Ross and how he was involved with Flutura.  He kept the black book for Kosta. Edmund would get names of rich, influential, and vulnerable men and Kosta wanted him to keep account of which girls and what they would like to do.

Elsewhere, Stabler meets with Louis as he is being taken away to the airport for Ft. Lauderdale and wishes him luck.  Louis thanks him.

To the grand jury, Jet explains how the phones worked and Bell explains what she has seen during the investigation. Stabler explains the code – “besa” – which means to keep the promise, and unquestioning loyalty to the criminal enterprise.

Later, back at Rikers, Stabler and Bell arrive and it appears Edmund has hung himself in his cell.

In the grand jury,  the ADA explains the grand jury decided, in light of what happened to Edmund, to move forward without further testimony.  The foreperson says the grand jury is unanimous in the decision to issue provisional indictments against Jon Kosta, Albi Briscu, and 17 members of the alleged Kosta organization for charges of racketeering, felony sex trafficking, 3 counts of murder in the first degree.   Stabler congratulates Bell for her leadership and Bell thanks him for great work.  The ADA also thanks them as they got a true bill on all.

In a hotel, Reggie sees all the cop cars below and seems comforted…until she explains she did not break besa.

Meanwhile, the arrests begin at various locations – including Luka’s arrest -  but Kosta and Albi and Flutura are nowhere to be found and it looks like someone tipped them off.

Bell and Stabler hear from Jet that she had Albi and Kosta on surveillance entering the Besa Boxing gym over an hour ago and no one has come out since.  Bell tells her to call for additional units, they are going in.  They arrive and see Louis exit the building.  Stabler asks what is he doing, and  Louis says he just wanted to…The building explodes, throwing Louis to the ground and Bell and Stabler flying back.  The building burns as we fade to black.