My story takes place right after the murder of Carissa and the framing of Special Victims Unit Captain Donald Cragen. Detective Nick Amaro's life appears to be in shambles. His relationship with his wife suddenly took a turn for the worse. Frustrated with his lack of attention to his family and home because of the demands of his job, his wife accepted a communications post with the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and took their five year old daughter with her leaving Nick alone, hurt on confused. Olivia fresh off her break up with Executive Assistant District Attorney David Haden attempts a reconciliation with an old friend and former colleague Brian Cassidy much to her new partner's chagrin. Nick doesn't trust Brian one bit which causes some friction between him and Olivia.
May 12th- Residence of Captain Donald Cragen
Soho, New York
Olivia was sleeping so soundly when her phone vibrated on the night stand next to the bed. She sleepily reached for her phone.
"Benson." The next few words startled her awake as she sat straight up in bed as if someone pushed a button that controls the angle of the mattress.
"Captain." Olivia was in shock at what she was hearing from her boss. Brian was in the shower as she rushed to throw on her clothes that were strewn across the floor, evidence from their "rush to passion" hours earlier. When Brian finished his steamy shower Olivia was nowhere to be found.
She received his call on her way to her captain's home.
"Liv what, you just leave no word? What the hell was last night all about?
"Bri I'm sorry it's my captain I gotta go I'll call you later and fill you in."
"Dammit Liv see I warned you. Ok call me." She stuffed her phone back into her back pocket as the taxi pulled up to Donald Cragen's Brownstone. He led his top detective into the bedroom. There was semi dried blood on both his hands as he held them in front of him visibly shaken.
"I called 911 they're on the way. I didn't touch a thing." Olivia's mouth was agape; she was in apparent shock looking at the bloody dead body in his bed.
"What the hell happened?"
"I have no idea."
An hour later back at the precinct they all hovered and hashed over what had happen to their captain.
"So he doesn't remember anything that happened last night?" Fin asked concerned reclining back in his chair.
"He barely remembers the last few days." Olivia said.
"He must have been drugged. I mean things could come back to him in pieces," Munch chimed in sitting on the edge of Elliot's old desk with crossed arms.
Amanda walked over to Olivia's desk.
"I called captains endowment they're sending over counsel."
"CSU said there's no sign of forced entry. Maybe Carissa talked her way in… slipped him a ruffie?" Olivia said pushing back in her chair resting her hands on top of her head trying to make sense of all this.
"Slit her own throat?" Nick added skeptically. Olivia gave him a sharp look like what is it that you're implying?
"See she called me a few times last night. She was anxious, thought she was in someone's cross hairs." Nick said sitting on the edge of his desk futzing with his wrist watch.
"Who's?" Amanda asked somewhat bewildered with Nick's reluctance to defend his captain as the other four immediately did.
"She didn't say. But turns out she had a right to be scared." Nick eyes were slightly cold looking as he darted from Olivia to Fin to Rollins. Munch lowered his head and looked at Nick from over the top of his glasses.
"Of our captain-seriously?" Amanda said eyebrows raised.
"I'm not sayin that." Nick said adamantly.
"What are you sayin?" Amanda started to challenge her colleague.
"He was drugged-we weren't there, none of us knows what happened. You know what happened?" Amaro said as he stared Rollins down.
'No I don't know what happened bu-"
Just then a very tall impeccably dressed gentleman strode into the squad room.
"That is enough, your attention please! Steven Harris I've been assigned temporary captain of Special Victims. Now first things first, I know you all are concerned about Captain Cragen. Here's the reality, SVU can't touch this."
The temporary captain's new rules were not sitting well with the SVU detectives but that's the way things were going to shake rattle and roll until Captain Cragen returned.
A despondent, bitter Nick Amaro skipped out of work for two days prompting the new temporary captain to inquire his whereabouts. Olivia showed up at Nicks later that evening after learning of how her partner interrogated Brian Cassidy in a men's bathroom earlier that day as he lunched with his mother.
Looking unkempt not having shaved in a few days he answered the door. "O-liv-ia what's up?" Nick said wearing sweats and a wife beater t-shirt. Olivia stepped into his home noticing the mess and liter of beer bottles that adorned the floor.
"What's up?" Nick asked.
"You tell me." she said straight forward.
"Wha- you wanna to see my memo book." He said flippantly. Olivia gave him a look.
"We lost contact with Cassidy, talked to his mother said you were the last person that he was seen with."
"I needed some answers."
"Yeah? Is that why you locked him in a men's room?" Olivia said rather disgusted with his non chalant attitude. Nick stiffened looking squarely at her.
"Well it turns out he was holdin back about Carissa. He told me she and Ganzel had a private cell. Ganzel was the last person she spoke to that night." He said matter of fact.
"And he just volunteered this?" Olivia said frustrated. Nick pushed with his foot some of the empty beer bottles out of his way and reached for his half drank most likely very warm bottle of beer.
"Yeah once I put a gun to his head." Nick said grinning and chuckling raising the bottle to his lips.
"What! Are you kidding me!" Olivia grabbed the beer from his hand obviously angry spilling some of the amber liquid as it sloshed inside the bottle.
"I'm sorry Nick let's take it outside I don't want to wake up your family." She turned towards the door but suddenly stopped and turning around slowly listening to his sad declaration.
"They're…they're not here. Maria…she accepted a job in D.C. took Zara with her…but it's temporary." The worry began to wash over her with Nick's marital situation and déjà vu steadfastly took over reaching back in her mind to her former partner Elliot Stabler and his marital woes. Olivia moved closer to where Nick was sitting. He stood up seeing her inch closer not wanting an ounce of sympathy from her.
"Nick I'm so sorry." Olivia said coming closer to him
"It's late and I need to try and sleep." He hooked his thumbs to the side of his pockets. Olivia walked to the front door placed her hand on the frame then slowly turned and looked at her partner somberly.
"And show up tomorrow." She said heavy with concern. He met her gaze and they held their stare for a few moments before Olivia was out of sight.
Monday May 14th, Manhattan Criminal Court.
Donald Cragen was arraigned and amidst the vigorous argument of his counsel, he was denied bail and remanded to solitary confinement to Riker's Correctional Facility. Over the next two weeks the SVU team worked around the clock to free their boss from jail and clear him of the bogus charge he was alleged to have committed.
Olivia was devastated when Cassidy who was working undercover for the D.A.'s office was shot. He was set up by Bart Ganzler who ran an escort/prostitution ring which Cassidy was imbedded with trying to help the D.A. bust Ganzler. Bart didn't trust Brian and was paranoid that Cassidy was onto him so he arranged a hit on him. Olivia felt after thirteen years Brian had matured so she allowed her feelings to resurface with him.
Olivia held Brian's hand in the back of the ambulance as he was clinging to life.
"Hang in there Cassidy." Her voice cracked with deep emotion. Other than the blood that was smeared on her blouse her feelings for Brian were obviously in full view on her sleeve. She tried her best to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill at any moment.
Hours later Mercy General Hospital-
Brian came through surgery just fine. Olivia was pouring him a glass of water and filling him in on Bart Ganzler's attempt to kill him. She didn't hide the fact that she wanted to make a go of it with him this time around. He mirrored her sentiment and they shared tender kisses.
Captain Donald Cragen was cleared of all charges and because of detective Olivia Benson's acute skills she uncovered that D.A. Paula Foster was corrupt in having a hand in setting up her boss. Nick was going over a case file when Olivia came into view carrying a cup of coffee.
"I heard David Haden turned in his resignation." Nick said with not an ounce of concern. Olivia looked his way then turned her attention back to her desk then slowly turned so they were face to face.
"He had nothing to do with all of this." She said in David's defense.
"Even so Foster reported to him he should have known." He said matter of fact. Nick sensed he was close to crossing the line with his partner and things were already strained as it is. He didn't want to drive the hurt any deeper that Olivia felt over breaking up with David.
"Sorry." He said looking down at his desk. He switched off his desk lamp and grabbed for his coat on the back of his chair.
"Nick I know that you're still angry." They stood for a moment in silence just looking at one another. "We should talk," she said with sincerity.
"Ok." He turned to walk out. "We'll do that," he said over his shoulder. Olivia stood watching as he left feeling that empty feeling again.
"Captain Cragen returned to his duties and put his "house" back in order pairing up once again his two top detectives.
June 2012-
Summer rolled around and it was a hot already for June. Temperatures were breaking all kinds of records. People were looking everywhere for some cooler relief. Nick and his captain were first on scene at the town house on the Upper East Side. Olivia came from around the fire truck to join them.
"So cap why is this an SVU case? This definitely is a homicide case for arson." Nick said looking a lil perplexed.
"Anytime we have two children burned to death the D.A. wants answers before it hits the front page news plus he thinks special victims." Cragen told his detective as they both watched the EMS team carry the children's bodies wrapped in white sheets.
"Ok what are we looking at?" Her captain asked her.
"You remember the Whitfield case five years ago?
"Father was convicted of raping his daughters." Cragen answered.
"So now we have two dead girls ages twelve and eleven. The mother is being transported as we speak to St. Lukes with over second degree burns. The brother was rescued along with family pets by a very brave neighbor." she said.
"So where's father?" Nick asked agitated.
"Mother and father were divorced after the father was charged with molesting his two daughters. The ex-wife turned him in. My gut says dad took out his revenge, hires someone in prison to do his dirty work."
"Son of a bitch takes revenge by killing his two kids?" Nick was angry. The abuse of children and unwarranted death he took personal. The three watched with long faces as the NYFD and other stations put all their effort into extinguishing the five alarm fire.
Olivia turned her attention to the doctor being treated for heavy smoke inhalation. Saviors of children always struck a chord in her heart.
"Hold on a minute Nick let's not jump to conclusions until we've dotted all of our I's and crossed all of our T's. Work with the A.D.A. on this. Another new one to get used to this year, Rafael Barba is his name. Rough around the edges at first but I trust you two can break him easy on how SVU works."
"I'm beginning to see why it's a revolving door in the D.A.'s office," Nick said turning to look at Olivia. She returned his gaze then they both went to seek out Barba.
"Olivia a minute please."
"What's up captain?" she wondered.
"Uh your partner-how's he holding up? Olivia paused before answering.
"He's fine cap'n he's working through it."
"You two are good as well?"
"Yeah."
"Good."
Saturday August 22nd 5:30 p.m.
She dabbed her finger behind her ear and then between her cleavage with her favorite perfume. She looked through her jewelry box deciding which pair of earrings best suited her outfit. She checked herself not once but twice in the mirror before hearing a knock at her door. Olivia was going on her first date with Doctor Carter Steadman. Carter was a pediatrician at Presbyterian Hospital. They met when the SVU squad caught a case of a 5 alarm house fire two months ago. He had lived next door to the family for years and thought very highly of them. Carter was devastated when he found his friend who was also a doctor of endocrinology at Presbyterian could commit such a bastardly act and with his own children for that matter. Miraculously animals' sense dangers first before humans do. The dog and two cats managed to escape through a basement window that had blown out due to the extensive heat.
Several firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation and the others made it out safely. The fire was extinguished with help from other local stations responding as well. Olivia walked up to the bus where Carter was being treated and thanked him for his heroic gesture but before she walked away she asked him why.
He removed the oxygen mask, his face still showed traces of soot and his face beaded with sweat.
Charles and I did our residency together. They were a good family…close, vacationed every year in Europe… He diagnosed my father with colon cancer ten years ago and saved his life. I just don't understand why. He had the perfect family, the perfect wife. He burned the house down didn't he?
That's what we're going to find out. I'm sorry, sometimes we think we know someone and it turns out to be they lead a secret life. Olivia told him. Here's my card, if you can think of anything more about your ex neighbor please don't hesitate to call. Thank you you've been very helpful doctor.
I will detective thanks, he said putting back on the mask.
Olivia admired his courageousness but also knew safety measures were in place for a reason.
They saw each other again when Olivia and Nick were on a case involving a pedophile. As they walked into Presbyterian hospital's emergency room they were directed to the pediatric trauma ward. Doctor Steadman saw them from his position behind the nurse's station scribbling on a clip board then turning it over to the charge nurse. The detectives were headed to the boy's room. He noticed Olivia right away.
Detectives may I have a word with you? Carter said. Olivia turned in his direction.
Hello, she said remembering him.
Olivia noticed this time more clearly how strikingly handsome he was. He had none of the black soot and sweat that adorned his face a few months ago. He stood about 6'foot 1, short light brown hair, warm hazel eyes, AND no wedding ring.
"Uh this is my partner Detective Amaro.
"Nice to meet you detective." The two men shook hands.
So what are we looking at here doc? Nick said giving him the once over.
"Ten year old male was brought in this morning. He has some bleeding in the rectum that we've stopped and some deep bruising around the groin and testicles. Clearly he's traumatized but won't say a word to anyone as to what happened. The parents are frantic because they have no clue what's going on, they just brought him in when mom discovered lots of dried blood in his underwear. I'm going to have the social worker come take a look at him.
Olivia closed her mini note pad. If you'll excuse me we're slammed at the moment. Nice to see you again detective…under much better circumstances.
You too, Olivia replied. Nick looked at them then followed his partner into the room.
When they ran into each other a third time a month later it was at a local Chinese take-out. He was eating his dinner at one of the three small tables aligned in front of the restaurant's window. Olivia hadn't noticed him as she walked in to pick up her order.
Carter finally asked her out.
It seems we keep meeting one another. Last week the coffee shop now here. If I didn't know any better I'd say you're stalking me, he said with a slight chuckle. She turned to where he was sitting.
Doctor, she addressed him. I called ahead so that would make you the stalker. She reciprocated with a smile.
Late night? He inquired.
Yeah…you?
Double shift-I'm just grabbing dinner till it's time to head back. I recommend the lemon chicken with extra sauce.
Been coming here for years and I agree Chan makes it like no one else in the city, Olivia said smiling at him. Her order was rung up and she paid.
Care to join me? Carter asked hoping she would accept.
I would any other time but it's been an extremely long day so I'm just gonna go home and wind down then be up all night with nightmares for eating this late. They both laughed.
Good night Doctor.
Carter, please call me Carter.
Ok then call me Olivia. She was almost out the door before he stood up.
Olivia…He stuffed his hands in his pants pocket, met her gaze for a few seconds then took his hands out.
If you're not seeing anyone, he turned his wrist watch completely around his wrist. She looked at him trying to hold back a smile.
I…I haven't had to do this in a while. Olivia smiled at him clutching her bag of food.
Do what? Olivia asked. He let a small chuckle escape his mouth.
Ask a woman out, Carter said returning her smile. Olivia studied him for a second.
Chan was counting up the evening receipts and couldn't help but over hear and smiled witnessing the interaction.
Olivia kept her gaze on the doctor.
Not what you're thinking, he said with a tiny laugh holding up his hand as if he were telling her to slow down.
I wasn't thinking anything except for saying yes to your invite. She said lifting her eyebrows at him. He smiled at her.
Dinner next week? He looked hopeful at her.
Yes I'd like that, she said smiling. His smile was interrupted at the vibrating/beeping of his pager hooked to his waistline. He tilted it and looked to see who it was from.
I'm being paged for emergency surgery. I'll call you, he said lightly touching her elbow then stepping back a few steps gathering his barely eaten meal to discard into the trash. Chan waived him off.
No throw away my food. I box up for you and drop off at hospital.
Thanks Chan, he said. He and Olivia exited the restaurant and he hailed a taxi as she went her way after saying good bye.
Brooklyn Fare August 22nd 2012
7:30 p.m
He thought she never looked lovelier. They ordered the house wine. The atmosphere was cozy and romantic. Soft music twinkled from the ceiling.
"To a wonderful evening," Carter held up his glass and they tapped their glasses lightly. Olivia's smile was warm and radiant and he took a strong notice at what a beautiful smile she had.
"How long have you been on the police force?" he asked. Olivia took a sip of her wine, swallowing then setting her glass down. She let the flavors of the wine settle in her mouth before answering.
"Eighteen years."
"What made you want to join the sex crimes unit, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Ahh…it's a long story." Carter took the hint and thought she or someone close to her was violated.
"How about you?" she asked.
"Me…twenty years. I guess you could say playing doctor as a kid gave me a head start." They both laughed after a second.
"That was pretty lame huh? Sorry." He said laughing lowering his head in shame trying rebound from that bad one liner.
"Yeah it was," she said shaking her head smiling over the remark. They locked eyes and smiled for a few seconds and he could tell she was pondering how young he looked and wondered.
"I'm forty two soon to be fourty three detective in case you're wondering." The doctor looked at her smiling as he picked up his glass and took a swig of his wine. Olivia was a bit relieved there was not a large gap in their ages. She had put him somewhere between thirty five and forty.
"It's ok if you want to ask what happened. I hear a lot that I'm too young to be a widow."
"I wasn't sure if you were ready to talk about it." She said. Carter looked at her then to his glass of wine then rubbed his index and thumb together.
"Susan was coming back from her parents, they live in Maryland and there was this tractor trailer." He stopped for a second. "The truck rammed her from behind as she waited for the green light. Driver had fallen asleep killing her instantly and our unborn child." Sadness and shock came over her as she listened.
"Oh God I am so sorry. Was this recent?"
"No. It'll be six years this spring and we had just found out she was pregnant two months before the accident." A moment passed between them and Olivia reached across the table and touched the top of his hand. Slowly and loosely his fingers curled around hers.
"You have kids?" he asked wanting to lighten up the conversation.
"No, no children. I wanted them and I've never been married but to the job."
"I know what you mean. This is a first for me, getting out like this…and enjoying myself too," he said smiling at her. Olivia matched his smile.
After a lot of good casual conservation getting to know one another more and a delicious dinner, succulent dessert that they ended up sharing, he paid the bill and they exited the restaurant.
"You like piano bars? He asked her as they waited for the valet to bring his car forward.
"I do." She answered tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"I know of a really nice place up the street if you'd like to end the evening on some beautiful keys." His car arrived and Olivia smiled her trademark smile at him as he opened her door for her.
"Ok."
Two hours later 11:57 p.m.
Carter held his hand out as Olivia exited the car. He walked her to the entrance of her building. "I had a great time tonight Olivia. Thank you."
"I did too." They both smiled standing very close to each other.
"Good enough to go out with me again?"
"I think that can be arranged," she told him arcing her lips into a smile. She let go of his hand first then turned away. He waited until she was safely inside before retreating to his car. When the elevator doors closed and her floor was selected, Olivia gripped her keys, inhaled and smiled closing her eyes.
Thursday August 30th 2:00 p.m.
"I'm glad we could meet up for lunch," he said picking up a slice of pizza handing it to her.
"Me too we've been swamped this week," she said. They decided to lunch outdoors since the weather had taken a turn for the better recently. They stood separated by a table with the pie in between them. New Yorkers bustled about the sidewalks and familiar sounds of car horns and construction work filled the air.
Thanks," she said accepting the slice of pizza from him.
"So I've been thinking. How would you like to take in a concert in Central Park tomorrow then have dinner at Tavern on the Green?" He asked.
"Sounds like a plan," Olivia said smiling really taking in his eyes.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked as he noticed her folding and unfolding her pizza.
"Look at you so sure of yourself. You really think it's that good." Olivia said putting the slice up to her mouth.
"This is my place, it's better than that good." He told her anticipating the results from her taste buds.
"Alright we'll see." She bit into the cheesy delicacy then licked the corner of her mouth where some of the sauce had deposited.
"Well?" Carter looked at her.
"It's alright-not bad," Olivia continued to chew smiling at him.
"Aha ha, NOT BAD? That's the best slice in the city," He said.
"Ok I give it high marks for the right amount of cheese, the crust is perfect but the sauce is just too sweet." She took another bite. He waited.
"Sweet is what makes it so great, there's crushed carrots in the sauce," he said chewing.
"Carrots in tomato sauce?"
"Yes," he said adamantly.
"That's blasphemous!" she said laughing. "You clearly haven't been to Matranoe's."
"Is that that new place that just opened up in Park Slope?" he asked.
"Mmm it's good," Olivia said raising her eyebrows flirtatiously nodding at him.
"Yeah?" the doctor said. No sooner did a blue and white pass by siren blaring. They both turned their attention to the police vehicle maneuvering its way through afternoon city traffic. Seconds later an ambulance blew by them.
"That's not a routine call somebody's down" Olivia said looking at him tossing her pizza onto her plate. Carter threw down his half eaten slice of pizza too as they followed the ambulance that pulled over one block up.
Olivia waved her badge and he is hospital id as they darted out in front of a taxi. Paramedics were tending to a teen aged boy lying on the ground bleeding out from his side.
"Hey doc," the paramedic said looking at the doctor putting on the latex gloves he grabbed from the back of the bus. "Not enough business in the ER now you making house calls?"
"What do we have here?" the doctor asked as the paramedic cut open the boy's bloody shirt.
"My guess…gsw."
"Tape off this whole block from end to end this whole things a crime scene!" Olivia pointed to each corner ordering the uniformed officers standing by watching. Olivia looked passed Carter and the paramedic to another boy much younger standing on the sidewalk watching, his shirt and hands soaked in blood. He was crying. Olivia approached him.
"Hey are you hurt?" The young kid shook his head no, tears rolling down his face.
"It's gonna be ok sweetie, can you tell me what happened?" She touched his shoulder gently. The boy continued to shake his head.
"Can you tell me your friend's name?"
"He's not my friend he's my brother." He said sobbing.
"He's got massive internal bleeding he's gonna die if we don't get him out of here now let's go let's go let's go!" Carter shouted for the gurney. The doctor leaned down close to the boy's face.
"Don't try to talk. You're gonna be ok." They lifted him up and placed him in the back of the ambulance. Doctor Steadman climbed in with him. Olivia watched standing with the younger brother, her hands on his shoulders. She gave Carter a nod as the back of the doors closed and the bus took off.
Friday evening August 31st Presbeteryan Hospital Pediatric Surgical Ward.
Doctor Steadman had just finished signing paper work. He took the stethoscope from around his neck and placed it in the pocket of his white coat. The elevator doors chimed, opened and out walked Olivia looking around then spying him at the nurse's station. All eyes were on her. She looked beautiful donning a floral pattern knee length cocktail dress with a tiny strand of baby pink colored pearls around her neck. Her scent was evident as Carter got a whiff under his nose and turned his head. She looked stunning was all he could think of. He looked at his watch and the she looked stunning thought quickly changed to damn I blew it.
Hi Olivia, I'm sorry I know I'm late we still have time to catch the last half hour of the show though," he said gloomily clicking the top of his pen closed and putting it in his coat pocket. He quickly shook his coat off.
"I swear sometimes it takes me an hour to just get out the door." He said.
"I know that feeling. It's alright Carter will postpone tonight," she said with a small smile. "What's the prognosis on Samuel?" she said deeply concerned.
It had been a robbery gone badly. The family was facing eviction so the brothers had robbed a bodega to help pay the rent but ended up being robbed of the money they stole by a bystander in the store watching everything going down. There was a struggle for the money in the alley where the boys were chased and Malcolm accidently shot his brother trying to fend off the robber on top of his brother. Kids with guns troubled Olivia a great deal.
"So far so good he's critical but stable. Vitals are strong no sign of infection brain scan was normal." They walked past the pediatric icu and stopped in front of Samuel's room. His family surrounded him.
"If you had to give a prognosis what would it be?" Olivia asked looking into Samuel's room; he was hooked up to a ventilator then she looked to Malcolm who sat on the edge of the bed holding his brother's hand.
"I'm optimistic, cautiously optimistic," he said with a semi smile. "Are you going to charge Malcolm?"
"No…accidental shooting went on my report and the owner's not pressing charges against either boy but they have to work off the $600 they took."
"Family's been through hell and back," Carter said nodding in agreement with her.
"How bout some dinner? We can pick up where we left off." He glanced at her sideways.
How about my place?" Olivia offered meeting his gaze. He lowered his head, his lips revealing a quaint smile.
"I meant Matranoes, my pizza place." She said in a full lipped smile. He swooped an arm around her shoulder gently pulling her to him as Olivia's arm swung around and rested against his hip and together they left.
September 2012
It was business as usual as case after case was investigated during the sweltering summer. Olivia strode into the "house" as usual with her favorite morning beverage, a large decaf cinnamon dolce latte with soy milk in her right hand and a copy of the morning addition of the Times folded and tucked under her left arm. There was an extra pep in her step, an extra beat in her heart. The precinct was bustling and it wasn't even 7:15 a.m. yet. She spied Nick on his phone as she set the paper and coffee on her desk and prepared to pull out her chair to take a seat and dig into the day's business but her captain was a lil quicker than her.
"Liv don't get comfortable just yet." Cragen said briskly walking out of his office over to her desk.
"Morning to you too," she said looking perplexed at him.
"Fin and Rollins are over at Bellvue. A baby was brought in an hour ago, dehydrated, unresponsive, pupils dilated."
"Sounds like an overdose," Olivia said eyeballing her captain. Nick hung up the phone looked towards Cragen and his partner and made his way towards them.
"Baby's still in critical condition," Nick said. "Tox screen came back positive for heroin." Olivia looked stunned.
"Heroin? You can't be serious?" Olivia said looking from her captain to her partner.
"Afraid so."
"What piece of crap wants to do this?" Nick said.
"That's what the department pays you all to do. My guess is that it was smuggled over the border and ended up in the wrong hands. The Mexicans find all kinds of ways to mule drugs into this country. Fin and Rollins interviewed the mother; she said the baby was fine this morning after feeding him then dropped him off at day care. Mom also said she bought the baby food at her local Bodega on 17th and Taylor. Amanda and Fin are sitting on the mother at the hospital just in case. You two get over to that Bodega and shake the owner, find out where the shipment of food came from." Olivia grabbed her jacket, Nick was right behind her grabbing his suit jacket as well.
Her phone rang as they were in route to the Bodega. She pulled it from her back pocket looked at the screen then silenced the phone and tucked it back into her pants.
They pulled the sedan up to the entrance and walked in looking to the check-out counter at the young Chinese girl who couldn't have been more than 15 years old. "Where's the owner here?" asked Nick looking around because he didn't see anyone else behind the counter. A customer pointed out the proprietor to Nick and Olivia. A man was coming from the back of the store.
"You the owner?" said Nick.
"Yes why do you ask?" He was carrying a large box full of cigarettes on his shoulder.
"That shipment just come in?" Olivia asked.
"Last night," he said as he unlocked the cage then pulled the cartons of cigarettes out and began stacking them.
"When was the last shipment of baby food delivered?" Olivia said keeping an eye on the back of the store as well the front area. Nick walked behind her looking down the aisle.
"Uh shipment came two days ago."
"Who's your delivery company?" Olivia looked at the young girl texting on her phone. Nick walked back to the front of the store with several jars of baby food.
"This food is past its shelf life, you aint selling it any longer so pull it off the shelf now." Nick ordered the owner.
"Hey I asked you who the delivery company is." Olivia said sternly. Olivia spied the young girl looking at the mirror hanging above giving a panoramic view of the aisles. When Olivia turned around she saw a man heading for the back of the store.
"Nick out the back I got the front!" Nick sprinted to the back of the store yelling for the man to stop. Nick pulled his gun as the man ran out of room to run. He surrendered his hands with his back to Nick.
"Why you running man?" The dude didn't say anything just huffed heavily through his nose. Both the owner and the man were brought in for questioning.
16th precinct-
Captain Cragen look disgusted as the owner sat in the box spilling his guts to Fin and Amanda. Nick and Olivia tagged teamed the delivery driver.
"I told you man I just make the delivery I don't know nothing about no heroin in the food!"
"Why'd you feel the needed to run from my partner and me then?" Olivia said standing behind the nervous suspect.
"I thought you guys were gonna bust me on back child support."
"You don't pay for your kid!" Nick said leaning into his face.
"I lost my job so I couldn't pay and the bitch took me to court. All I did for her around her place fixing this fixing that and the broad still wanna squeeze my balls dry!"
"That ain't the only thing gonna be squeezing your balls if you don't come clean and tell us whose running the heroin operation." Olivia said with disgust in her voice.
The driver wouldn't budge after an hour of sweating him in the box so Nick and Olivia took a breather.
"Cut him loose, you don't have anything on him. His financials are clean, no recent priors." Cragen ordered.
"But Cap'n he's hiding something. He was sweating like a pig in there." Amanda added.
"You two keep a tail on him for now." Cragen looked to Fin and Rollins. The five of them walked back into the squad room when Fin reached for his phone.
"Ok thanks for calling," Fin said. "That was the doc the baby just died." Heavy eyes wandered from one to another.
At the end of the day Olivia shuffled and prioritized paper work that had been mounting on her desk. She opened her desk drawer and grabbed her phone that was ringing. She and Amanda were the only ones left in the squad room except for Captain Cragen who was in his office with his door closed. Nick got out first to catch the 4:45 train to D.C. Fin was close behind. Olivia tapped the ignore call option on her phone.
"You headin out soon?" Amanda asked.
"Yeah I am, you?"
"Gonna go shoot some pool then head home." Shortly thereafter Olivia said good night to her partner. She called Brian back.
"If I didn't know any better Liv I'd say you're ignoring me."
"I'm not ignoring you Cassidy I was on a case."
"I've been calling you all week. Meet up for a drink?"
"I can't."
"Can't tonight or can't ever?" What's really going on Liv? What, we see each other once maybe twice this summer!" He was annoyed at her reluctance. There was silence for a moment.
"Ok Liv I get it, you really haven't changed at all."
"It's not like that. It was good between us Cassidy AND I thought it was going somewhere until I found out Carissa wasn't even cold after your six month courtship when you suddenly fell out of love with her."
"You don't understand Liv, you and I have a connection.
"Oh I understand all right Brian; it's not going to happen."
"Right…well have a nice life Liv." Olivia sighed flipped the phone over and tucked it in her back pocket then collected her things.