Nicole looked out of the limo window, she admired all the sites New York City had to offer, her day dream was shattered suddenly as the brakes screamed across the road, her body thrown from her seat the floor. She laid there for 30 seconds before moving, she had blacked out, touching her head she felt the hot trickle of blood from her eyebrow. A small pop was heard, Nicole buried her face in her hands as the glass divider shattered between her and her driver, the door swung open and a large man got in the limo followed by a smaller, older man.
The frightened woman dared to peep through her fingers to see the men, the bigger man dragged Nicole into his lap holding her arms behind her back, she let out a small squeal, she couldn't move.
"Hello Nicki, miss me darling?"
Nicole opened her eyes, her blood now seeping into the right eye from her cut brow, she didn't let her shock show but she couldn't believe who was now sat in front of her.
"You owe me Nicki Darling" The slim man unfastened his belt, and wrapped it around the 28 year old's neck pulling it tight. He unzipped his trousers and pulled at her skirt revealing her underwear.
"I see you still like the expensive stuff" He smirked as he slapped her bruising face. Nicole closed her eyes and held her breath, she knew what was coming next and refused to be awake for it.
"What happened?"
"The limo was seen screeching to a halt, two men got out, shot the driver then piled in to the back and attacked the woman" the on scene officer said crossing under the crime scene tape with Olivia Benson.
Looking in at the driver who was still slouched in his chair, wearing a full Chauffeur uniform, Olivia observed the single gun shot wound to the head.
"This is execution style, what happened to the woman, have you got an ID yet?"
"It looks like she was raped and tortured" replied the on scene officer.
"Where is she now?"
"Still in the back"
"Dead?" Olivia questioned.
The on scene officer looked at Olivia "We're waiting on the bomb squad".
Olivia looked at him in shock, "What?"
"Whoever she pissed off not only knows how to execute with one shot, but also knows how to make bombs, she can't move, thing is she needs to go to hospital and soon, she's bleeding heavily".
Olivia looked at him then headed over to the open limo door, she saw a weeping girl, who was propped up sitting in a pool of her own blood, the belt still tight around her neck, the blood on her face now dry.
"Hi" she paused "My name's Olivia Benson from the Special Victims Unit, how're you doing?"
"I'm scared" she sobbed looking at Olivia through terrified blue eyes, her brown hair matted with blood and semen. "My arm aches, I just want to let go"
"You're doing really good, keep holding on, the bomb squad will be here soon, then we'll have you on the way to hospital, okay".
Nicole nodded, her arm that was holding up her stiff body was now shaking.
"What's your name?"
"Nicole, Nicole Darling"
"Do you know who did this to you Nicole?"
She nodded "James Redford and his dogsbody, Paul Valentino"
"Do you know why?"
"I was his girlfriend, we were going to get engaged but I left, he hated me for it, and he hated that I had my own money and means to leave, I was the only person in his life that wasn't dependant on him for money". Nicole whimpered as her arm became more and more painful, shooting pains began jabbing at her muscles, her breathing had become harder.
Olivia nodded, she was about to speak when she was called away from the car.
"Bomb squad is ready to take over"
Olivia turned to face the car, "Nicole, the bomb squad are here, i'm going to be right over there, waiting for you okay". Leaving to a safe distance, Olivia watched nervously as the bomb squad took over.
It was 30 minutes before Nicole emerged from the limo, CSU was now on the scene, Olivia ran to Nicole's side clutching her arm as she stumbled to the paramedics.
At Mercy General, Olivia waited for the results of the tests, she sat waiting for Elliot who still hadn't shown up to work, she took out her phone and tapped in his speed dial and called him.
"Damn it Elliot" she moaned to herself as the answer machine kicked in, again. Just as she hung up her phone rang.
"Benson"
"Olivia, Elliot is still a no show, I'm sending Fin to you now, still at Mercy?"
"Yes Captain still here" she didn't ask Cragen about Elliot, she knew he's tell her although she was silently worried about her partner.
"CSU are going over the limo now, Munch is working on the victim, turns out she hasn't done anything since birth".
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said, there are no records of her living anywhere, working, school records, her record's clean but we have no trace of her other than the day she was born, I know she's the victim Olivia, but we need to get her talking".
Olivia agreed "I'm just waiting to talk to her, as soon as I know anything, you'll know".
Both the Captain and detective hung up, sighing Olivia couldn't understand how this woman was a undead ghost. She looked up spotting the doctor working on Nicole.
"Excuse me, Detective Benson, Special Victims, I came in with Nicole Darling. I was wondering if you could help me, I need to know if she's ever been admitted for anything, I don't need dates ect, just need to know if she's ever been in hospital prior to today and after birth".
Doctor Laura Reading looked at the detective, her long brown hair hung straight just below her shoulders resting on her white jacket.
"Can I ask why?"
"She's a ghost"
Laura looked at Olivia "To be clear, you only want to know if Miss Darling has been in hospital after her birth?"
"Yeah, don't worry I don't want to know anything to break patient doctor confidentiality". Olivia smiled half heartedly.
"Okay, let me check" Laura headed over to the computer, sat behind the desk and began typing. She looked up at Olivia "You're right, either she's extremely lucky or she is indeed a ghost".
"When can I talk to her?"
"She's with a nurse now getting pain relief, you can talk to her in 5 minutes".
Olivia thanked Laura before heading back to the waiting room, she called Cragen again confirming that she was indeed a ghost.
"How're you feeling?"
Nicole shrugged her shoulders, "As good as I can feel considering I was strangled and raped".
Olivia stood next to her bedside, "Nicole I need to ask you a couple of questions" she waited for a 'go' response, as soon as Nicole had nodded Olivia continued. "You told me earlier that James Redford and Paul Valentino had hurt you, can you tell me what happened?"
Nicole took a deep breath "I've only been in New York for a few hours, I was meant to be visiting a friend. I was day dreaming, staring out the window, when I was thrown from my seat, Tom slammed the brakes on, I went flying"
"Tom's your driver?"
"Yes he's worked for me for years now, we always travel together"
Olivia gave a small nod indicating her to continue telling her what had happened.
"I heard a pop, not very loud it was like a muffled gunshot, I buried my head in my hands still on the floor, not that it helped I should have got out and ran. That's when Paul almost ripped the door off and got in followed by James. Paul picked me up off the floor, I could barely see from the blood in my eyes, he held my arms behind my back, that's when James took off his belt and almost strangled me with it. Then I held my breath till I passed out, I knew what he was going to do, well, minus the bomb, and damn sure wasn't going to be awake for it". Nicole spoke coldly, there was little emotion in her voice, her eyes stayed dry, this was very rare and even shocked Olivia slightly.
"Nicole, I have to ask you something" she paused searching for the words, "Nicole as part of our investigation, we carry out background information on our victim, to learn about their past, from that we can narrow down who to look at, but there is no trace of you other than the fact you were born in Florida".
Nicole looked at Olivia and spoke with distain, "I'm a private person, Detective Benson, it's not wise to know everything about everyone all the time. This is one of those times".