Olivia Benson had worked for the Special Victims Unit for a long time. Long enough that cases sort of blurred together into one big smear on the face of humanity. Granted, she wasn't a bitter woman. In fact, out of the SVU team, she was probably the one with the greatest positive outlook. Shifting her kneeling position slightly, she sighed and tugged the corner of the tarp over the lifeless body as her partner returned to her side.
"She matches the pictures." Elliot's voice was heavy as he handed the glossy photograph of a naked child down to her. Parents, relatives took pictures of their kids playing with siblings in the bathtub, or running through the sprinkler in diapers on a hot day. This particular snapshot was a far cry from innocent or endearing. A child's frame wasn't meant to be displayed seductively, it wasn't meant to be enticing. Olivia nodded once and stood, sliding the picture back into the manila envelope Elliot held.
"We got here too late. I wonder how many other girls this pervert has been abusing." Her tone was even, but there was an underlying current of anger and frustration at having arrived so late. There was always the "if only" voice playing in the back of her head, and it got louder at moments like this.
"So far we've got nothing," Elliot glanced back down to the covered body and let out a little sigh. "They've checked the apartment over, no phone hook ups, no Internet or electricity – the guy was practically ascetic. Even the kitchenette is empty except for a melted bag of ice." He scratched the back of his head lightly before shoving a hand in his left pocket. "They're dusting for fingerprints and trying to find out what they can from the Landlord, but he doesn't speak English well." Olivia nodded, her mind quickly moving to the next step.
"Let's see what his neighbors have to say."