Directed by Christopher Zalla
Written by Richard Sweren & Gina Gionfriddo
Lupo and Bernard investigate when a teenage boy is found dead in a park. A girl who called 911 to report his death would be a key witness, but they cannot find her. The victim turns out to be Caleb Friendly, who was staying in New York with his brothers Luke and Patrick. All three boys were former members of a fundamentalist Mormon sect called Church of the True Path; they were expelled because of Patrick's crush on a girl named Michelle (Jena Malone), whom the church's leader Wyatt Landon (Colm Meaney) wanted for himself. The detectives learn that Michelle is living with a couple who provide refuge for boys that have been kicked out of True Path. Michelle was forced to marry Landon, and has now run away from him. She is the one who reported Caleb's death.
Michelle states that she had agreed to meet Caleb in the park. He claimed he could prove that Landon was committing welfare fraud, and this would help her get custody of her and Landon's children. However, Luke says that Caleb was lying and had agreed to lure her back to Landon in exchange for being re-admitted to True Path. With evidence against Patrick, he is charged with murder. When the prosecutors learn that Michelle (then 15 years old) was forced to marry Landon (who's in his 50s), they try to charge him with attempted kidnap and the welfare fraud.
A judge is initially very sympathetic to Michelle, and Landon's attempt to have her arrested for child abandonment fails. But it is then discovered that Michelle is pregnant. She believes the baby to be Patrick's. Landon's counsel orders a DNA test, which proves he is the father. Michelle decides that God wants her to go back to Landon and their children. Cutter wants to prosecute Landon anyway but McCoy insists they drop it - he feels that this is Michelle's last chance to make a choice about her own life and her decision should be respected.
This episode contains examples of:
- The Bad Guy Wins: Landon avoids all charges and gets Michelle back.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Caleb agreed to lure Michelle to be kidnapped by other church members and be taken back to Landon (who is strongly suggested to have abused her.)
- Cain and Abel: Patrick and Caleb. Played with in that they both have elements of each role: Patrick killed Caleb, but Caleb was prepared to endanger Michelle so he could go back to True Path whereas Patrick tried to protect her.
- Daddy DNA Test: Landon's counsel order one when it is discovered Michelle is pregnant.
- Old Man Marrying a Child: This is common practice at True Path. Michelle married Landon when she was 15 and he was 52.
- Religious Stereotype: The members of True Path embody several elements of this. It's stated that their beliefs are so extreme that the mainstream Mormon church doesn't want to be associated with them.
- Removing the Rival: This is why True Path regularly expels young men within the church - so they won't be competition for attractive young girls that the church elders wanted to marry.
- Scary Minority Suspect: Reversed. Luke and Patrick, who are white suspects, are terrified of Bernard because he's black.
- Star-Crossed Lovers: Michelle and Patrick
- Teen Pregnancy: Michelle is still under 20, and on at least her third of these.
