Stabler, Bell and the task force scramble to track down a murderer before he takes desperate action. Jamie blames himself when a mistake leads to further tragedy. Jet makes a crucial discovery that could save a child's life.
The Organized Crime Task Force identified the man who murdered Henry Cole. They know precisely how he did it. It was all an elaborate scheme to offer the appearance of a tragic accident. However, Stabler and Bell can't yet prove that it was a conspiracy to help the Silas family move forward with construction on their casino. To accomplish that, they need answers from the killer. Kenny went to Teddy's nightclub to receive payment. He never got it. He ran from the police before making it to the bathroom to collect the cash. He sets off on a madcap fugitive run in the hopes of evading capture. Of course, he isn't doing too well either. He was also bitten by the rats. Treatment is available. It doesn't have to be a lethal outcome for him. That may still be his desire instead of turning against the powerful people who ordered this hit. Those menacing figures were already able to turn his trusted sister against him. Kenny didn't end up dying over this betrayal. He thought he could make a run to Canada and be safe from all these threats. That wasn't true because he could no longer trust his own mind. He was reckless long before he stole a car with a baby in the backseat. That provided a searing connection to his childhood that made this much more personal. Suddenly, he was no longer trying to escape the dangerous figures and police who were after him. Instead, it was all about continuing to care for his baby sister because their abusive father wasn't around. He lost her once. He wasn't going to let that happen again. Moreover, the squad needs Kenny alive. He is the only lead they have. That doesn't stop Bell from making a public statement about Henry's death actually being a murder. That will shake up the dynamics of this investigation too. She has to be very careful with every action she takes. Stabler gets to be the wildcard. He doesn't have to focus on the accountability coming from the superiors within the police department or the press. He doesn't want that pressure. He simply wants to do a good job. He accomplishes that by focusing on the task at hand. That's the only way he can make it through every day. Otherwise, he would beat himself up over all the mistakes he has made and the lives lost along the way. He offers that same advice to Jamie, who mourns an officer killed by Kenny while making his escape from the city. It may not be healthy at all. Stabler ends up punching a mirror in a bar after all. No one is coping well with the stress of the job and their personal lives. Life keeps moving forward. They are all trying to survive as best they can. They make mistakes. They are constantly flailing. That energy radiates throughout the episode as the cast is jumping from one location to the next. That propulsive energy is searing as it commands the tone of the story.
Pearl wants to know if her husband ordered Henry's death too. She hires a private investigator to dig up everything she can about Teddy. It's then devastating when he reveals how his family owns everyone who could possibly provide leverage to Pearl. The Silas family already has deals in place to pay people to prevent them from investigating their actions. As such, Pearl has to accept whatever Teddy does in their marriage. He is free to have affairs and order people's deaths. She can't fight back. She's powerless. Everyone remains loyal to him. She has to step in line. That's similar to previous stories the show has offered about the various crime families of New York. The men lead with this audacity while expecting their wives to loyally serve them. It's not a new or particularly challenging story. So, nothing with Teddy and Pearl seems incredibly unique as of now. That may all change once the detectives start investigating more closely. Right now, it's easy for Bell to forget her own child because her work demands so much attention. She doesn't know how to find that balance. She does a lot of good. She disarms Kenny so that no one gets hurt during this encounter. She trusts Bobby as her new partner even though he just joined the task force. He knows precisely what she wants even though she drops her gun and handcuffs herself to a table. Her priority is the baby. She is clear-eyed about that. She made a promise. This baby is in pain and needs relief. That comes immediately from the medication. It also comes from the mother's love. That's just as powerful. Bell needs to make that reunion happen. Nothing can prevent that. That's mostly a twist to escalate all the drama. That's apparent through every step of this manhunt. Things go from bad to worse for Kenny as the resources he thought he could rely on weren't so helpful. He survives all of it. That's incredulous at certain moments. He kills a hitman before he can finish the job. He kills Dede for betraying him. He never wants to harm the child. That's just a consequence of the dangerous and desperate path he has followed. The actions of the present were made possible by the despair and trauma of the past. That has to be recognized in order to move forward. It's so much easier to repress all the darkness. That trips up the detectives as well. They aren't perfect. They make mistakes. They hope to learn and grow from them. But it's also devastating as the weight of this job becomes all too real. They could loss everything if they aren't too careful. The powerful people of this world want to make that happen so that they remain in charge. They can't let anything threaten that. The police have resources. They have the tools to target these criminals. Some threats simply feel too big to ever be reasonably held accountable because of the privilege and control they exert over so many spheres of influence and power.
