Ep 18. Maritime

Detective Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and his partner, Detective Ed Green (Jesse L. Martin), investigate a murder aboard a luxury yacht in the Hudson River. The victim is Melissa Gergan (Marika Dominczyk), a former girlfriend of the boat's owner, wealthy businessman Richard Morriston (J. Smith-Cameron).

As they interview the crew and passengers, the detectives learn that Melissa was on the yacht as part of a weekend excursion for several couples. They also discover that Melissa had a history of drug abuse and was possibly involved in a love triangle with Morriston and his current girlfriend, Cynthia Preston (Margaret Colin).

Meanwhile, Assistant District Attorney Serena Southerlyn (Elisabeth Röhm) and Executive Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) prosecute the case in court. They face challenges from the defense team, who argue that another crew member could have committed the murder.

As the trial unfolds, the prosecution and defense teams present their evidence and call various witnesses to testify. The defense attorney tries to paint Melissa as a loose woman with a troubled past, while the prosecution argues that Morriston and Preston had a motive for killing her.

As the trial comes to a conclusion, the jury must determine who is responsible for Melissa's death. The episode explores themes of wealth and power, as well as the lengths some people will go to protect their reputations and interests.