The next day in the squad room Olivia violates regulations and does some research on her boyfriend, Adam Pierson, using the databases available to the police. Stabler notices quickly ends he search. "You know that using our system for personal purposes is strictly prohibited." Before Olivia can protest he continues "What did you find out?"

Olivia responds "Until about twenty years ago, he didn't exist…and he barely exists now. He's not an American citizen, he's not a citizen of any country I checked on, he has no driver's license, he has no credit cards or bank accounts, he's never been arrested or gotten a ticket…he's never been in the military." Stabler shakes his head. "Witness protection program?" Olivia shrugs "If he is, we'll never know. But if he was, they would have set up a false identity. He has none, or next to none. The most remarkable thing is the lack of one."

"You said that there was something though…?" Stabler asks and Olivia responds "A normal Google search got one hit. A woman named Ingrid was found decapitated in Seacouver and an unexploded bomb was found at a nearby neo-NAZI rally. The remote control for the device was found near Ingrid's body. A reporter did a 'man on the street' sort of interview with an Adam Pierson. The reporter asked if he thought if whoever killed Ingrid saved the people at the rally but to the detriment of the community. His answer was remarkable…" Stabler encourages "What was it?" Olivia turns toward him and says "Good question, right up there with chicken and egg." The reporter followed up asking if there was an answer. Pierson responded "There is, but you're not ready to hear it" and then he just walked away.

"That's it?" Stabler asks and Olivia nods. "There was a report of the area near the body being damaged by plasma and the power went out at about the time of the murder. The Seacouver PD and the press tried to find him, but nobody ever did…until maybe now."

"He has other places where he lives. What if he has other identities? What kind of person is he?"

There is another thing. It might not be the same Adam Pierson. The incident was about twenty years ago, he would have been a teen…"

The following morning as Olivia eats her breakfast in preparation to go to work the phone rings. It is Dr. Warner, to Olivia's surprise she asks for Adam. After a brief conversation Adam hands the phone back to Olivia. "What was that?" Olivia asks.

"She has a body she thinks I can help identify."

"A friend or relative of yours?"

"I have no relatives, but it might be a friend."

Olivia's cell phone rings. It's Stabler telling her they have a case and he'll pick her up on the way to the crime scene. "Adam, where did the doctor tell you to go to identify the body?"

"The brambles of Central Park." Adam answers.

"It's very unusual to ask to have a body identified by an acquaintance at the crime scene. But that's where I'm going. Why don't you ride with Stabler and I?"

"I appreciate the lift." Adam says as he grabs a buttered roll and wraps it in a paper towel and puts it in the pocket of his coat.

"You're taking food? It could be pretty ugly."

"I'll eat in the car."

Arriving on the scene Adam trails Olivia and Elliot as they approach the group of police crime scene people. Olivia notices that Adam is looking around the area outside of the where the police specialists have congregated and that Dr. Warner seemed to know Adam was approaching before he was in her sight. As Doctor Warner hurries to meet Adam one of the CSI people says "Hey Doc, I wonder what the cause of death was." and several laugh.

Doctor Warner bypasses Olivia and Stabler and clings to Adam. "I'm glad you are in town." To Olivia's surprise Doctor Warner is upset and not the professional she is normally.

To Olivia's shock Adam guides her down the trail where they talk privately. She also overhears him tell Melinda "You should not have called them." And then a phrase which chills her to the bone "The world we see isn't the world they see."

A uniformed officer approaches with the victim's driver's license which Stabler examines as Olivia watches Adam. "I guess we won't need him to identify the body." He follows Olivia's gaze and adds "You'd think she'd wait to see if there was identification on the body before calling a civilian to a murder scene."

"I think he lied. The doctor knows the victim. She called Adam here for comfort." Olivia observes. "They used to live together." Olivia informs him.

"You think she wants him back?"

Olivia shakes her head. "She got him to find me…"

"Hello Olivia." Doctor Warner says forcing herself to control her emotions.

"There was a driver's license." Elliot says as he starts to hand it to the doctor.

"It will be a false name." Doctor Warner says ignoring the license and Adam nods.

The doctor and Adam walk up and view the severed head and then retreat. They confer privately before Olivia approaches them again.

"How did this get to be a Special Victims case? Was there a sexual assault?" Olivia asks.

"No. I requested it be handled by SVU. I pulled in a couple of favors" Doctor Warner explains.

"Why?" Olivia asks.

"The victim was special…. I can't tell you why." Doctor Warner says as her emotions building up again.

Olivia takes the doctor to a park bench. "Melinda, I don't know what is going on here, but I'm going to treat you as an acquaintance of the victim, and I want you off of this case as a M.E."

Melinda breaks down and clings to Olivia. "Thank you."

"I need to know everything about the victim."

"I can't tell you. I can't tell anybody."

"You must."

"I can't."

"You can't or you won't?"

Adam arrives and motions for Olivia to follow him. As they pass Stabler Adam says in a soft voice but one of command "Sit with her…. Please." Stabler makes a bit of a face but does so.

When they are out of earshot of everyone, Adam says "She should not have called you. She can't tell you very much… it is very hard to explain why. What I can tell you is that the victim was her student. I can tell you where he lived recently. I will warn you that you will find that he didn't exist until about twenty years ago."

"He's only about eighteen…" Olivia observes.

"None the less…. The reason he was killed had nothing to do with what you will learn about him from investigating his apartment."

"What did it have to do with?"

"It doesn't matter. You're going to have to make this case on forensic evidence."

"Why do I think you already know who the guy that did this is?"

"I don't. Have they found a sword yet?" Olivia is shocked by the question. "Find it and check for blood. Her student was good. He would not have gone down without drawing some blood."

"We can check the hospitals for anyone coming in cut."

"You'll only find dead ends. The person that took his head would not have gone to a hospital. You must work quickly or he'll be gone."

A crime scene investigator approaches. "Detective, we found a blood trail going north, but it fades out within a hundred yards. The perp must have been wounded."

"Did you find a sword?" Olivia asks.

"Yeah, to the north, thrown into the brush, the perp must have ditched the weapon he used. We'll dust it for prints. There is another weird thing. Several trees were burned as if they were recently struck by lightening, but there was no storm last light."

Olivia nods and the investigator heads back to resume work. "It's the victim's sword." Adam whispers.

"So what the hell is going on here? Guys dueling to the death like it were some sort of game?" Olivia says.

"Something like that Olivia." Adam says under his breath.

"How would you know?" Olivia asks.

"I can't explain. If you're going to catch the person that did this, you can't be distracted. Gather your forensic evidence and hope you get a hit on the DNA, or whatever else you do."

"Are we going to have more…?"

"I hope not. Melinda may have done the smart thing in calling you in after all." Adam smiles, but it is a troubled smile. Olivia looks at him intently trying to fathom the unsaid under story of what she's been told.

"What are you not telling me?"

"A great deal, but trust me, it doesn't matter."

"I'm finding it very hard to trust you right now." Olivia growls.

"Give me your hand." Adam says as he takes the back of Olivia's hand in his palm and places it on the left side of his long coat near his armpit and slides it down his side. Olivia is shocked and yanks her hand back as she realizes he's carrying a sword. "There are things in this world beyond your experience."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that the limits of reality are not where you think they are."

"What I felt… was that what I think it was?" Olivia asks and Adam nods. "Are you involved with this?"

"No."

"I'm going to need to check that weapon for blood."

"You realize that I was with you all last night…." Adam says with amusement as Olivia glares at him. "I'm going to take Melinda out of here."

"I need to interview her."

"No, you don't…. work the forensics."

"Don't tell me how to run an investigation."

"Am I under arrest? Is she?"

"I could arrest you for carrying a sword in the city…"

"Give me your note pad." Olivia complies and Adam writes some notes in it and gives it back. "Meet me at this location at noon. Bring your partner."

Adam strides off to gather Melinda. "Wait." Olivia commands to no effect.