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.

SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT: LONG BEACH, CA

Sergeant Maxwell Clark entered his office on Monday morning. As he entered, he discovered a male ADA waiting for him.

"Hello," Clark said. "May I help you?"

"ADA Robert Harding," the ADA said. "You must be Sergeant Maxwell Clark. I'm supposed to be meeting with you."

"No," Clark said. "There's been some kind of mistake. I'm supposed to meet with Casey Novak."

"Casey Novak is off the case and I'm the replacement," Harding said. "She's taken ill."

"First my neighbors keep me up all night," Clark said. "Then my coffee tastes like mud! Now I'm meeting with someone when I was supposed to meet with someone else! Does the world want me to have a meltdown?"

"I was informed you were autistic," Harding said. "Listen. I won't be here long. I just wanted to inform you that the suspect confessed to the rape and is taking a plea bargain. You no longer have to testify."

"That took away a lot of stress," Clark said.

Harding walked out as Wilson walked into the office.

"Hello, Clark," Wilson said. "How are you today?"

"I woke up feeling like it was going to be one of those days," Clark replied. "However, I just found out I don't have to testify in court."

"That's nice," Wilson said.

"I think I'm going to send a get well basket to Casey Novak," Clark said.

"She just has strep throat," Wilson said. "She'll be fine. Don't send her anything."

"Okay," Clark said. "Okay."

Clark's phone began to ring.

"Sergeant Clark," Clark said as he answered.

CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL: LONG BEACH

Clark entered the hospital to see a female SVU detective waiting for him.

"What do we have, Natalie?" Clark asked.

"Hello, Sergeant," the officer said. "An 11-year-old boy, Colton Swanson, was hit by a car and the driver just kept driving."

"A hit-and-run," Clark said. "How is the boy?"

"He's in critical condition," Natalie replied. "They don't think he's going to make it."

Clark followed Natalie to the room where a female doctor stood outside.

"I'm afraid we've lost him," the doctor informed them.

Tears fell from Clark's eyes.

"Sergeant?" Natalie asked concerned.

"I'm fine," Clark said.

Clark walked into the room to see Colton's parents crying, while Colton's brother, Jack, shook his brother's lifeless body.

"Wake up, Colton!" Jack screamed. "Wake up! I want you to wake up!"

"Sergeant Maxwell Clark," Clark said. "I'm terrible sorry for your loss."

"Thank you," Colton's mother sobbed. "That's our 15-year-old, Jack. He's autistic."

"I can tell," Clark said. "I am too."

Clark walked over to Jack. Jack continued to shake his brother's body.

"Jack," Clark said softly. "I'm Sergeant Maxwell Clark."

"I want my brother to wake up!" Jack screamed.

"He is dead," Clark said. "I'm so sorry."

"He can't be dead!" Jack screamed. "He's only 11!"

"I know," Clark said softly.

Jack burst into tears and continued shaking Colton's body.

"Wake up!" Jack sobbed.

Clark grabbed Jack and took him away from the hospital bed.

"Jack," Clark said softly. "He's gone."

"No!" Jack sobbed.

Jack hugged on Clark tightly and cried into his shoulder.

"It's not fair!" Jack screamed. "It's not fair!"

"It's going to be okay," Clark said softly. "It's going to be okay."

"Colton," Jack sobbed. "Colton."