TITLE: Law & Order – Stolen Moments

AUTHOR: D M Harper.

SUMMARY: First meetings often go horribly awry, leaving bad impressions. A/U

RATING: Rated MA for sexual content

PAIRINGS: ADA Abbie Carmichael & OFC; Detective Olivia Benson & ADA Alexandra Cabot.

DISCLAIMER: This story is the work of an over imaginative mind and the basic wish of many gay women who watch and enjoy certain television shows, to see a little v-vroom between two female characters. I like to dabble with the subtext and do so for fun and not for profit. There is no intent to infringe on the copyright of NBC Universal Television or Dick Wolf. This entertainment does feature consensual sexual interaction between two females, so if you are underage or unable to view due to restrictions in your part of the world, be gone with you and take my sympathy with you. If you find such material offensive, too bad, so sad, you chose to enter this web site of your own free will, hence you have no one to whine to expect yourself - now bugger off!

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Please take the time to review; it's what feeds to the Muse and keeps the stories coming!

Chapter 1

Detective second grade Stephanie Lynn Richards, twenty eight years of age with long blonde hair and five foot eleven, ambled into the Homicide Squadroom of the New York City Police Department's 27th Precinct and straight away recognised first grade Detective Leonard Brisco. He was seating behind his desk talking on the phone and making notations in his tattered notebook.

It was a chilly Monday morning, the first day of January 2001 and the youthful detective's first shift with the two-seven. Since earning her gold shield in 1999, Richards had worked the past three years as a detective with the 34th Precinct's Vice Squad. The three-four was the detective's first assignment after graduating from the NYPD Academy in 1995 at the age of twenty three.

She stood motionless for a moment or two and watched Lennie as he conversed with an unseen caller. Brisco was a long-time family friend and best pal to her father Paul and one of the reasons why she filed a form 57 requesting a transfer. Stephanie had grown up with a profound respect and love for the man she called uncle and was overawed to be working at the same Precinct, let alone the same Squad.

Lennie finally glanced her way and caught sight of her. He ended the phone call swiftly and sprang out of his chair. "Hey Kiddo, what are you doing here?"

Stephanie dropped her departmental issued duffle bag onto the floor and approached him, "I'm the new addition to the Squad." She watched his smile widen before embracing him tightly.

"No kidding," he finally replied happily. "Lieutenant Van Buren told us we were getting some hot shot from the three-four, but I never thought in a million years it would be you." He stepped back and added, "Welcome aboard Steph, it's really good to have you here."

Stephanie smiled broadly, "Thanks and I couldn't be happier."

Waving his hand around the room, he commented, "As you can see, it's just you and me. Everyone else is off until the eighth and hopefully we won't catch too many jobs in the meantime."

Stephanie grinned cheekily, "We can only hope and I'm rearing to go."

Lennie sat on the corner of his desk and inquired, "So how come you never told me about the reassignment?"

"I wanted to surprise you." She picked up her workbag and withdrew a plastic container full of cookies. Handing it to Lennie, she said, "Mom sent you these and ordered me to tell you to come visit for dinner on Wednesday."

"I'll give her a call later, how is she doing?"

"Good, real good, so you want to show me to my desk?"

Straightening up, the seasoned detective led her to the empty desk in the far left corner, "Your partner will be Detective 2nd grade Eric Adamson. He is a great cop, has two kids and a lovely wife named Sally. You will get to meet them all sooner or later."

Stephanie pulled out her nameplate and placed it on the desk.

"I'll show you the locker room Kiddo then buy you a cup of java," suggested Lennie. Screwing up her face in disgust, Lennie suddenly remembered and patted her on the left shoulder, "Oh that's right, you don't drink the stuff."

Stephanie jokingly replied, "I believe I may be the only cop in New York who doesn't."

Opening the locker room door, Lennie announced, "Here we go. Yours is Jackson's old one, just rip off the tape and put your name up later."

Stephanie scanned the rows of cabinets until she located the right one. Retrieving a selection of toiletries and a folded towel from the bag, she placed them on the top shelf. Taking out her off duty Glock, she secreted it under the cloth. Looking at Lennie, she smirked, "I see you still lug around that old thirty eight."

"Yep, she's been faithful to me over the years and hard to let go of."

"When is your Commanding Officer due back?" Stephanie asked while securing the locker door.

"Tomorrow and you will really like her. She's a damn good boss," answered Lennie with a smile.

"I seem to recall you telling me that once or twice over the years."

"Yeah, well she must be good if I like her." He led Stephanie on a tour around the Precinct before returning to the Squadroom for a cup of coffee and several cookies.

The two detectives sat at Lennie's desk and he enquired, "So, why the transfer Kiddo?"

"I needed a change of scenery and to escape the rumours."

Lennie raised his eyebrows in astonishment and shook his head, "Jesus, I really thought that nasty business would have died down by now."

"Nope not yet, so I did the honourable thing and left to take the pressure off," replied Stephanie matter-of-factly.

"Well, all I can say is the three-four's loss is definitely our gain."

"Thanks for the resounding endorsement Lennie. So, are you working any cases at the moment?"

"No, you have arrived at the right time. Everybody loves everyone in the Big Apple and there have been no murder sprees so far this holiday season."

Stephanie laughed at his analysis, "Let's hope it stays that way, although this will be a nice change from Washington Heights, North Harlem and Inwood."

"Well Steph, you certainly did receive a baptism of fire when you joined the force."

"That I did and I wouldn't have it any other way."

Lennie finished the last of his beverage, "How's your brother Jeffrey doing?"

"He is currently on holiday in Malibu."

Lennie light heartedly jested, "Knowing him, he will be chasing girls and causing havoc."

"I have no doubt of that."

Lennie stood up from his chair and took his coffee mug over to the kitchenette sink to rinse it out. The phone on his desk trilled. "You take it Detective Richards," he suggested.

Stephanie reached for the receiver, "Homicide, Detective Richards speaking."

"Hello Detective, this is Sergeant McKenzie on the front desk. I just got a call from two Officers over in Central Park. They got a dead body for you guys."

"Okay Sergeant, thanks for the call."

The Sergeant gave details of the location then hung up. "Hey Lennie, we got a D.B. over on West Drive, Central Park."

Grabbing overcoats off the rack, the two detectives rushed out of the room.

-0-

Doctor Elizabeth Rodgers from the Medical Examiner's Office was leaning over the body of a grey haired, fifty something male with an obvious gunshot wound to his forehead.

"Hey Doc, bit brisk this morning," declared Lennie while blowing on his hands. "This is Detective Stephanie Richards, my partner during the festive season."

Rodgers looked up briefly, "Detectives."

"Time of death Liz?" asked Brisco understatedly.

"From the state of rigor, I'd say around eleven last night. He is fairly well covered by snow which would explain why he wasn't discovered earlier."

Stephanie pulled a pair of latex gloves from the inside pocket of her black overcoat and put them on. Crouching down, she examined the bullet entry wound, "Powder burn and bruising to the skin. The shooter was positioned up nice and close when he discharged the weapon, he was definitely making a statement."

"Correct," agreed Rodgers. "It would indicate the muzzle of the weapon was pressed against the skin for some length of time."

"Looks like maybe a 9mm forty calibre was the choice of weapon," added Stephanie.

"Very good Detective," noted Rodgers, impressed with the young woman's knowledge and insight. "There is no identification on the vic which doesn't help your case."

"Hopefully we will get a hit from his fingerprints," posed Lennie. "It looks like we might have either a bad robbery or a planned execution."

Stephanie stood up, "I am thinking it was a well thought out plan. He is still wearing an expensive tie pin and a pinkie ring. That watch on his wrist is worth at least five grand. The perp left behind some pretty expensive bling."

Lennie chuckled softly, "Your dad always said you were the brains of the family."

The M.E. straightened up, "So you two know each other?"

"Yep, this little gal grew up calling me uncle. Her father and I were partnered together back in the good old days of 1969."

Stephanie grinned at the doctor, "This man taught me everything my father didn't."

Liz Rodgers smiled back at the detective, "We will have to get together sometime so you can impart all of Brisco's secrets."

Stephanie and Lennie both laughed at the Chief Medical Examiner's suggestion.

"You're a riot Liz," commented Lennie deadpan.

"Only in your mind Brisco," fired back Liz smartly.

"I know you know that isn't true, Munch over at the one-six is still pining over you."

Liz smirked, "Well, he can pine all he wants, me going out with him is never going to happen."

Lennie joked light heartedly, "Poor Munch."

"Poor Munch my frozen ass, the guy's been married three times and didn't he sleep with your ex-wife?"

Stephanie took the opportunity to leave the other two to trade witticisms while she meticulously searched the area surrounding the immediate crime scene. She was slow and methodical so as not to disturb any evidence that may have been left behind.

CSU Technical Officer Jake Coleman, a handsome man of twenty nine with short jet black hair, joined her while she was bent over and picking up a rumpled piece of notepaper.

"Nice ass Detective," he huskily commented.

Recognising the voice, she spun around, "Hey Jake, good to see you."

Smiling cheekily, he said, "Likewise Steph."

Stephanie unwrapped the paper and shouted to Lennie, "HEY BRISCO, OUR VIC MAY HAVE BEEN A LOCAL BOOKIE. I'VE GOT A MARKER HERE FOR TWENTY LARGE; IT CERTAINLY FITS IN WITH HIS ATTIRE."

Jake handed her an evidence collection bag from his kit, "We may be lucky and lift some prints."

Stephanie dropped the piece of paper into the plastic bag and Jake sealed it for her. He made a notation on the label then Stephanie signed it.

"Good find Richards," said Lennie. "Let's go speak with the uniforms and organise a canvas of the area."

"No worries," replied Stephanie. "I'll see you later Jake."

"Will do, I'll get back to you with the results as soon as I can."

"Thanks."

"By the way, you still owe me a date."

"Yeah I know," answered Stephanie coyly. "How about drinks and dinner Friday night at Chester's Bar and Grill?"

Jake grinned broadly at the suggestion, "You've got yourself a date Steph."

"Okay, I'll meet you there at seven thirty."

"See you then."

Stephanie re-joined Lennie then the two detectives spoke to the officers who were on horse patrol and discovered the body at the commencement of their shift. The Patrolmen had no probative information for the detectives, but assisted with the canvas, which also proved to be fruitless. No one in the immediate vicinity of the area had heard or seen anything that could assist the investigation.

-0-

Junior Assistant District Attorney Peter Rothwell, forty, five foot seven with black hair, walked into the Squadroom of the 27th Precinct and greeted Lennie, "Morning Brisco, you got anything for me?"

"Hey Counsellor and yes as a matter of fact," replied Lennie as he pointed to Stephanie. "ADA Peter Rothwell meet Detective Stephanie Richards formerly of the three-four's Vice Squad."

Stephanie stood up and approached the Attorney with an outstretched hand, "Pleased to meet you Sir."

Rothwell shook her hand and beamed, "Nice to meet you too."

"We caught a homicide three hours ago over in Central Park," began Lennie. "The well-dressed male victim is unidentified at this stage, but the Crime Lab is running his prints through AFIS as we speak."

Stephanie continued with the remaining details to the seemingly engrossed Attorney.

"All right," said Rothwell. "Keep me apprised and if you need any warrants, give me a holler."

Lennie waved to him, "Will do Counsellor."

The helpful Attorney departed and Stephanie asked, "Is he the regular Assistant District Attorney who handles the Squad's cases?"

"No, it was Rothwell's turn to work over the Christmas and New Year period. He and Christine Turner are the only Attorneys on duty from the Manhattan DA's Office until the eighth."

"Hopefully we won't pull another case." Stephanie giggled at the absurdity of her own statement.

"That would be nice, but highly unlikely," agreed Lennie before returning to paperwork.

Within seconds Stephanie's cell rang, "Homicide, Detective Richards speaking."

"Steph, Jake here, I got a match from AFIS on your vic's prints. I've just faxed over the details to you and I'm still trying to lift a useable print off the notepaper."

"Okay and thanks Jake." She turned her head to the left, "The fax machine is beeping now, thanks again." She hung up and collected the two pages of printouts. "Hey Lennie, we got an ID on our victim." Reading the first page, she handed to it over when she was finished.

He quickly studied the data then confirmed the information, "So, this mug Eddie Carlton is an ex-con from Philly running a gambling racket here."

"It looks that way. He certainly is an unknown here and hasn't come to the attention of Vice yet, so I assume he is new in town. We need to get our hands on his client book and track down everyone who owed him twenty grand."

"At least we have his address now and can go check it out," suggested Lennie.

-0-

The two detectives returned to the station at sixteen ten hours with one name unaccounted for in Eddie Carlton's client book. Of the fifty names in the diary that Lennie had located in the drawer of Carlton's home office, there were only six who owed twenty thousand. After six hours of chasing down the names, Frank Simon was the only person they had yet to locate.

Stephanie sat at her desk and typed Simon's name into the computer system while Lennie sat at his desk eating a pastrami sandwich.

"You sure you don't want half of this Kiddo?" he asked.

"I'm positive." She looked at the monitor and announced, "Simon's got previous for assault and armed robbery. He spent seven years in Sing Sing where he received a further five years for assaulting a Corrections Officer."

Lennie stood and walked over to her desk, "I'd put my money on him being our guy." His desk phone rang and he went to answer it, "Detective Brisco, homicide."

"Hello Detective, Liz Rodgers."

"Oh hi Doc, what do you have for us?"

"Carlton died from a close range single gunshot to the temple. Death was instantaneous as the forty calibre bullet caused massive trauma to his grey matter while it travelled out the back of his skull. CSU recovered the slug and shell on scene and ballistics is testing them now. Except for the bullet wound, your victim was in good health. There were no signs of defensive marks or other injuries."

"Thanks for the call Liz and the rush job," replied Lennie gratefully.

"You are welcome and it was the only autopsy I've had all day."

"Well, that's a good thing when business is slow for you, it means a quiet time for us for a change."

"That's very true Lennie."

"Uhm, I was wondering," stuttered Lennie.

Liz interrupted, "I would like to have a coffee with you."

Lennie chuckled, "That obvious hey?"

"Not really, I was beginning to think you'd never ask. You have been skirting around the idea for years."

"My only excuse is I've been out of the dating scene a long time."

"We have that in common, but I am glad you asked."

Stephanie glanced over at Lennie and smirked. Logging on to the Department of Motor Vehicles main frame, she searched for Frank Simon's updated address and printed out the page with his details. Removing the sheet from the printer, she waited for Lennie to finish his call with the doctor.

"I'll give you a call when I'm done here unless it's too late," he said.

"I look forward to your call Lennie, bye."

Lennie placed the receiver in its cradle, "That was Doc Rodgers."

"No, I would never have guessed," replied Stephanie dryly.

Lennie laughed briefly, "You know, you get being a smartass from your father."

"Lennie, you say that like it's a bad thing."

The senior detective chuckled again, "I gather that is the address of our suspect?"

"You got it. Let's go pick him up for questioning. I'll call Rothwell and have him draft an arrest and search warrant."

-0-

Two uniformed officers from the 27th Precinct moved to the rear of the white painted modest home on 126th Street as Detectives Brisco and Richards walked up to the front door.

With weapons drawn and aimed forward, Stephanie took up position to the right of the door while Lennie took the left.

Lennie kicked the door with his left shoe and declared loudly, "Frank Simon, New York City Police, we have an arrest warrant. Open up the door and show yourself."

The direction went unanswered for several seconds until the door slowly opened to reveal a surprisingly calm forty six year old, balding, medium height Frank Simon.

"Show us your hands," directed Lennie.

Simon did, both were empty and Lennie moved in to cuff him, "Frank Simon, you are under arrest for the murder of Eddie Carlton, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you. Do you understand these rights as they have been explained to you?

"Yes I understand," replied Simon. "The gun is in the top drawer of the bedside table. The bastard was killing me with his daily interest."

Stephanie held cover over Lennie while he finished handcuffing and frisking the suspect. The uniforms came through the back of the house and escorted Carlton to their patrol car.

CSU officers arrived moments later and assisted the detectives with the search.

-0-

Lennie bid Stephanie farewell at ten fifteen while Simon was in a holding cell at Central booking awaiting arraignment in the morning and ADA Rothwell had a solid confession to present to the court.

Stephanie declined Rothwell's offer of a night cap as the pair made their way out of the Precinct and went home to her apartment in Greenwich Village.

Opening the door of her three bedroom apartment, Stephanie was greeted by her brother's Burmese cat, Brewster. Placing her gear on the hallway table, she bent down and picked him up, "Sorry I'm home so late buddy. I was busy chasing the bad guys. Let's go see what delights we have in the fridge for us to eat."

Brewster was more than happy with his shredded turkey breast and Stephanie was content with a tub of yoghurt and a banana. After eating, she played the four messages on her answering machine. The first was from her mother reminding her to call her Aunt Jessica tomorrow for her birthday. Next her brother Jeffrey skited about how good the weather was in Malibu and he told her to call tomorrow to fill him in about her first day at the two-seven. The third message was from her gym reminding her she was scheduled for a sparring session with Colin at six am Wednesday morning and the last was from Lennie telling her how good it was to have her on the Squad. She laughed loudly when he asked if she could bring in more cookies in the morning.

Making her way to the bedroom, Stephanie stripped off her clothes and took a long hot shower. Donning a pair of winter pyjamas, she set the alarm for six, turned off the lamp and snuggled into the unused pillows. As she drifted off to sleep, Brewster jumped onto her hip and inched his way upwards. Purring loudly, he clawed at the covers until Stephanie lifted them and allowed him access. He curled up in the crook of her arm and vibrated louder. Stephanie drifted off listening to the deep sound of his contentment.

-0-

Chapter 2 posted!