Steven Rishard

Detective Olivia Benson (Emmy-winner Mariska Hargitay), still deep undercover in Oregon as "Persephone James," is called upon by ADA Novak (Diane Neal) to help present evidence that will strengthen the case against a brutal rapist. This case will have a dramatic impact on Benson's critical work in Oregon, but ultimately, her testimony in the rape trial will lead her back to the Special Victims Unit.

As Carnival arrives in New Orleans, Albert unveils his new plumage, and Delmond discovers a new sound; Annie heads to a rural celebration with Harley, while Davis looks for an alibi to party in town; Hidalgo combines business with pleasure on a Zulu float; Toni and Sofia struggle with their memories of Creighton; Antoine club-hops with his sons while LaDonna avoids the fracas; and Cornell offers Sonny a second chance away from all the revelry. In New York, Chef Ripert gives Janette time off to attend to personal business and Fat Tuesday.

Thomas Reddick, an African-American CEO of a publishing company, is found dead in a stairwell on the Upper West Side. He had been shot point blank in the chest. His grieving widow tells Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Green (Jesse L. Martin) that her husband was working long hours, and was most likely shopping for a present for their anniversary. So Briscoe and Green search for leads at the office of Pavilion Publishing where he worked. Reddick left his building around 7:30, and had just come out of a meeting with attorneys (his company had just acquired several new publications and with those new publications, came numerous lawsuits). The detectives start by running down some of the plaintiffs in these suits, but one that catches their attention is the boyfriend of a woman who was suing Pavilion because they were going to publish pornographic pictures of his girlfriend. But his alibi checks out and they're back to square one.

King Silas (Ian McShane) sends Jack (Sebastian Stan) and David (Christopher Egan) to Gath to reinforce the peace agreement. David quickly learns that the trip is much more than just a diplomatic tour when Gath asks for an unusual and dangerous favor. Michelle (Allison Miller) discovers that her health care bill may have created more problems than it solved. Meanwhile, Silas faces the potential crisis of a deadly plague entering his city. Also stars Eamonn Walker, Susanna Thompson, Dylan Baker, and Wes Studi.