Chapter 1
"In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous. In Long Beach, California, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit: Long Beach Division. These are their stories."
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA: February 14: 8:30 PM
Three teenage girls, one with brown hair, one with blonde hair, and one with red hair, stepped out of a car wearing matching dresses. They giggled as they approached the Torrance High School.
"I can't believe we're crashing a Valentine's dance," the girl with red hair said.
"I know," the blonde haired girl said. "This is going to be so fun!"
"What if we get caught?" the brown haired girl asked.
"Shut up, Kimberly," the blonde girl said. "No one cares."
"Don't tell me to shut up, Bridget," Kimberly said.
"Both of you shut up," the red haired girl said.
"Why don't you, Eliza?" Bridget asked.
"Let's stop fighting," Eliza said. "We're about to have the time of our lives."
As the girls entered the courtyard, where the dance was being held. As they walked around, three teenage boys approached them.
"Wow!" one boy exclaimed. "A blonde, a brunette, and a redhead!"
"This is a big school," another boy said. "But I don't think you go here."
"We don't," Eliza said. "We're crashing. Our school."
The third boy walked over to Eliza.
"My name is Roger," the boy said. "You look absolutely gorgeous. Care to dance?"
"Of course," Eliza said.
As Eliza and Roger danced, Bridget and Kimberly watched and smiled. A female chaperone walked over to them.
"Excuse me," the chaperone said. "Are you girls students at this school?"
"No," Bridget said.
"Bridget!" Kimberly shouted.
"I'm going to have to ask you to leave," the chaperone said.
After Bridget and Kimberly left, Eliza and Roger continued dancing. The same chaperone walked over to them and tapped Eliza on the shoulder.
"She's my date," Roger said.
"Does she go to this school?" the chaperone asked.
"I go to school in Long Beach," Eliza replied. "That's where I live."
"You're going to have to leave," the chaperone said.
"Fine," Eliza said. "It was nice to meet you, Roger."
Eliza walked through the school and out the front to see the car and her friends gone.
"They seriously couldn't wait for me?" Eliza asked aloud to herself.
Eliza walked back to the courtyard where Roger stood waiting for her.
"You rebel," Roger said. "Coming back for more?"
"My friends ditched me," Eliza said. "Can I get a ride home?"
"Of course," Roger replied.
Eliza sat in the backseat of Roger's car as Roger drove.
"Thank you so much for the ride," Eliza said.
"You're welcome," Roger said.
Roger suddenly came up to a parking lot and stopped his car.
"Roger?" Eliza asked.
"What do you say we have some fun?" Roger asked.
"What kind of fun?" Eliza asked.
"I have a condom in my wallet," Roger replied.
"No," Eliza said. "I don't want to do that."
Roger started to crawl into the back seat. Eliza quickly went for the door handle, only to discover it wouldn't open.
"Child locks," Roger said in a scary tone. "You never can be too safe."
"Roger!" Eliza shouted. "I'm saying no!"
Roger held Eliza down and began kissing her neck.
"Get off of me!" Eliza screamed. "Somebody help me!"
No one could here Eliza scream, as they were in the middle of a huge, deserted parking lot.
LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA: February 15: 3:30 AM
Eliza entered her home with her dress torn and her face covered in bruises. As she entered the living room, she noticed her mother, Bria, sat on the couch waiting for her.
"Where the hell have you been?" Bria asked angrily. "I have been worried sick!"
Bria noticed the bruises and the tears on Eliza's dress.
"Sweetie?" Bria asked in a worried tone.
"Mom," Eliza sobbed. "I was raped."