In Law & Order: SVU season 26 episode 1, "Fractured," Detective Kate Silva (Juliana Aidén Martinez) joins the SVU squad, having transferred from homicides. The episode starts out with Olivia picking up Silva, noting the detective hasn’t been assigned a car yet. As the two drive to the gun range to meet the rest of the squad, Olivia tells Silva her dad is "good police." He’s been a cop for 35 years and the deputy commissioner for 10. Silva says she’s been working for Olivia for three weeks and this is the first time Olivia has brought any of this up. Once at the gun range, Silva mentions to Velasco (Octavio Pisano) her theory that Olivia is testing her, and he tells Silva not to overthink it.
Silva's skills are put to the test even more when Olivia (Mariska Hargitay) gets a call about three law school students/roommates being attacked, with one of them brutally murdered. As the investigation kicks off, the spotlight of suspicion is placed on the fourth roommate, but did he do it?
