‘True Detective’ recap: The plot thickens as Ani crashes a decadent party

By infiltrating an exclusive bacchanal where wealthy men cavort with high-priced hookers, investigators close in on a trail of corruption leading from Vinci to Sacramento on “Church in Ruins,” Episode 206 of HBO’s “True Detective.”

Ani Bezzerides (Rachel McAdams), Ray Velcoro (Colin Farrell) and Paul Woodrugh (Taylor Kitsch) are determined to uncover evidence of collusion between Vinci City Hall and state agencies.

A prime target in this hush-hush probe is Atty. Gen. Richard Geldof (C.S. Lee), who just launched his gubernatorial campaign with a suspiciously large war chest.

Other characters in this whodunit include shady investors in a multibillion-dollar rail project and land scheme, and the not-yet-revealed torture-murderer of Vinci City Manager Ben Caspere.

To further the investigation, Bezzerides secures admission to an “Eyes Wide Shut”-style orgy by reaching out to her sister Athena (Leven Rambin), an art student who formerly made money as an online porn actress.

“You’ve gotta dress like you’re worth $2,000 a night,” Athena explains to her sister, warning that if the men behind the sleazy website are bad, these scary party organizers are “way worse.”

The organizers are Tony Chessani (Vinicius Machado), the unstable son of Vinci Mayor Austin Chessani (Ritchie Coster); and Blake Churchman (Christopher James Baker), the slimy pit boss at a casino operated by gangster Frank Semyon (Vince Vaughn).

“You sure you want to work this party?” Woodrugh asks Bezzerides, knowing the Ventura County detective will be unarmed as she’s subjected to brutal security guards and approached by rich men expecting easy sex.

Woodrugh and Velcoro will lurk outside the decadent gathering, however, and attempt a ninja-like rescue if necessary.

When Bezzerides enters the mansion wearing a brunet wig, she spots some key suspects in the corruption probe. The attorney general is in attendance, plus Jacob McCandless (Jon Lindstrom) of the Catalyst Group, an assortment of speculators snapping up cheap land adjacent to the rail project.

Woodrugh scores one for the investigative team by breaking into an upstairs room and stealing contracts filled with incriminating signatures, including that of Osif Agronov (Timothy V. Murphy), a Russian mobster who just committed $12 million to buy property along the rail line.

Bezzerides, meanwhile, becomes increasingly vulnerable when she’s forced to take drugs and starts to experience flashbacks of her childhood in a hippie commune where she was victimized by a sexual predator.

Soon she’s grabbed by Mr. Wyman (Brett Rice), an oilman ready for carnal contact.

“Don’t make me have to find you, Miss,” Wyman ominously says when Bezzerides excuses herself to find a restroom. That’s where she discovers Vera (Miranda Rae Mayo), a missing person who could help solve the Caspere murder case.

“We gotta get you out of here,” Bezzerides exclaims as she lifts stoned Vera to her feet and staggers for the exit.

Although she’s disoriented, Bezzerides manages to fight off Wyman when he manhandles her. Then she’s nearly strangled to death by a guard before stabbing him with a table knife.

As she speeds away in a car with Woodrugh, Velcoro and Vera, she begins to realize what just happened.

“They gave me something,” she says in a panic. “I think I killed someone!”

In other developments, Velcoro makes a painful deal with his ex-wife Gena Brune (Abigail Spencer). He will cede custody of their son Chad (Trevor Larcom) if Gena keeps quiet about the results of a paternity test.

The test will reveal if Veloco or a serial rapist is Chad’s biological father.

“Whatever they say, whatever stories you hear,” Velcoro tells Chad during a supervised visitation, “I am your father. You are my son. I will always love you!”

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