Ep 24. Vaya Con Dios

In the season 10 finale of Law & Order, titled "Vaya Con Dios," the detectives of the 27th Precinct take on a complicated case involving a Mexican drug cartel, a corrupt businessman, and an innocent victim caught in the middle.

The episode opens with Detectives Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin) investigating a triple homicide at a bodega in Washington Heights. The victims, all young men with ties to the local drug trade, were killed execution-style with a gun used in several other unsolved murders. As they dig deeper into the case, the detectives discover that the gun can be traced back to a cartel operating out of Mexico.

Meanwhile, Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) is dealing with a high-profile case of his own. He's prosecuting a wealthy businessman named Charles Dillon (Brian Cox) for embezzlement and fraud. Dillon, who hired a hitman to kill a former business partner, has tried to cover his tracks by funneling money through offshore accounts. McCoy is determined to put him away for a long time.

But the two cases collide when Dillon's former partner, a man named Hector Rivera (Julio Oscar Mechoso), shows up as a witness in the triple homicide. Rivera tells the detectives that he was friends with two of the victims and that they had been trying to leave the drug trade. He also reveals that he witnessed a meeting between the cartel and Dillon, during which Dillon offered to use his connections to help smuggle drugs into the city.

McCoy sees an opportunity to take down Dillon for good by linking him to the cartel and the murders. But things get complicated when Rivera is targeted by the cartel and goes into hiding. Briscoe and Green frantically search for him, while McCoy tries to convince him to testify. But as the trial approaches, it becomes clear that Rivera may not make it to the stand alive.

The tension builds to a thrilling climax as the detectives race to protect Rivera and bring the cartel to justice. Along the way, they encounter corrupt cops, dangerous smugglers, and unexpected allies who help them navigate a complex web of lies and deception.

In the end, "Vaya Con Dios" delivers a satisfying conclusion to an intense and multi-layered season of Law & Order. With its sharp writing, compelling characters, and gripping storylines, the show continues to captivate audiences and solidify its place as one of the most iconic crime dramas of all time.