DISCLAIMER-NOT MINE. Only own characters you don't recognize
So this is the story that me and photography194 are writing together. It is the first story we have both done with another person so we hope it turns out well! The funny thing is that we just started talking after I re-posted my other story Sunday night and now we are actually pretty good friends even though she lives across the country from me and we have never met...anyways, the point is, we had only been talking for 24 hours and we already had the first chapter edited and ready :) And that ends my rant. Please comment!
PS-Elliot is divorced in this and the point of view switches frequently
Any and all commenters get a shout out!
Elliot's Point of View
I walked into the precinct at 8:17am; I was late. Luckily for me Cragen was still in his office with the blinds closed. Fin and Munch were sitting at their desks working the case we had been investigating for a few weeks now. I grabbed a cup of Munch's awful coffee and took a seat at my desk.
"Where's Liv?" I asked Fin as booted up my computer.
"I haven't seen her. She must be running late like her partner! Fortunately, for you Cragen's in his office. Man, how come whenever you are late Cragen is always in his office? Every time I show up late he is standing in the damn hallway waiti-"
"Hey guys, sorry I'm late. My alarm didn't go off." Olivia said as she tried to catch her breath.
Olivia looked exhausted; I knew she hadn't been sleeping well since we caught this case. The case was sent to our precinct by the Chief of Detectives, he said that this case will be a big one and if we crack it then both Olivia and I are in line for a promotion. Although, the promotion peeked our interest that is not why we took the case. Olivia and I made a pact a long time ago agreeing that we would never deny anyone a chance to seek justice for what was done to them. Anyway, when case was handed to us there were four victims. The victims were children from different social classes and areas. The children were being abducted and murdered; they would be abducted two at a time, one girl and one boy. A week later the children were found in a parking garage with fresh clothes on, and they were washed clean. A little over a week two more bodies were found in exactly the same condition. That's when some other detectives made the connection and felt it was a special victims case. Now, a week and a half later and we have two more bodies, which gives us a grand total of six bodies in a month. The sad part is that we were having trouble identifying the first four victims kids. 1PP was not allowing us to send their photographs to the media, and nothing came up for missing persons.
All cases that involved children always got to us, but this case in particular had Olivia on the verge of tears. I keep meaning to ask Olivia what's wrong, but I can tell that it is something much more then just being sensitive, or PMS.
"Don't worry about it liv, your partner was late too." Munch said sarcastically.
"Both of you were late?" Cragen asked as he walked out of his office.
"I'm sorry Captain. My alarm didn't go off, and then I had to take a shower and… I'm really sorry." Olivia explained almost on the verge of tears.
"It's okay. I'm not mad at anyone. I realize this is a tough case, but if you are going to be late I would just like a heads up."
"Next time Captain." I said, "Alright, I guess we should get to work."
"Okay, so tell me we have a new lead?" Cragen asked as he walked towards the board.
"Actually we do. I was looking over the files CSU sent us a few nights ago when I noticed something. The clothing all the kids were wearing had the same tag. The tag was faded, but I thought CSU could use some kind of technology and bring out the words. This morning in my mailbox there was an envelope CSU sent over which contained the name of the store where the clothes were bought! The store is called Dimples & Dandelions, it's on East 50th St. and 5th avenue." Olivia Explained
"Good work, go check out the store. Fin and Munch you keep trying to identify those kids."
Olivia and I exited the building and headed to our squad car, but I got side tracked by a coffee and doughnut cart.
"Liv, I'm going to get a GOOD cup of coffee. Do you want one?"
"No thanks. I'll wait in the car."
I ordered a coffee and a cheese Danish and then headed to the car. Before I got inside the car I could see Olivia beginning to cry. I slowly entered the car and put my coffee and Danish down.
"Hey, liv? What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I'm okay. Let's just go." She said, wiping the tears from her face.
"No, I've had enough. You haven't been able to sleep, and you're emotional, what's wrong? I know this is a tough case, but these types of cases don't usually affect you this much. Come on, Olivia, you can tell me."
"Just drop it. I'm OK, really…I will be okay. I just need some time. Can we just go?"
"Fine. Yes, let's go." I started the car and drove off. The drive to the store was filled with Olivia's sniffling.
15 minutes later we had reached the store; we would have gotten to the store faster had it not been for the usual Manhattan traffic.
"You feel okay to go inside?" I asked
"Yeah, I'm okay. Thanks for asking," Olivia took a few deep breaths and opened the car door allowing the spring air to enter the car. I followed Olivia into the store.
"Hi, I'm detective Elliot Stabler, and this is my partner Olivia Benson. Could we ask you a couple of questions?" I asked flashing my badge at the girl at the counter, whose nametag read Susan.
Susan finished up her sale and then said, "Of course, sir, how may I help you?"
"Hi, did these outfits come from your store?" Olivia asked as she pulled out the photographs of the clothing the children were wearing.
"Yes, they did. I can tell by the beautiful stitching!" Susan said as she walked around the store fixing the clothing on the racks.
"Do you know who bought these items?"
"I would have to check our records." Susan Replied.
"Can you please do that?" Olivia asked nicely.
Making her way back to the counter Susan asked, "Do you have a search warrant?"
"No, Ma'm, but we can get one and come right back here and do this all over again." I answered, "Or you can just help us out and show us now."
I'm sorry Detectives, but –"
"I have a warrant!" exclaimed our ADA, Casey Novak, as she was running into the store.
"Casey? How did you know we would need one?" Olivia asked as she walked to meet Casey at the door.
"Cragen told me you two were coming here, I figured you would a need a warrant to get any information"
"Thanks, Case. Now, we have a warrant and we need you to show us your records for who bought these items" I said throwing the pictures of the clothes onto the counter in front of Susan.
I could tell Susan was not happy with this, but she dragged herself to the computer and began typing. "Okay, there is one person who has bought those items recently." Susan began typing again, "It is a woman; she paid with a credit card, and her name is Cassandra Williams."
"Thank you very much. We will be in touch if we have any other questions." Olivia said as she walked out. Casey followed Olivia, and I followed Casey out of the store.
As I was about to get into our car I realized that Casey did not have a car, "Casey, do you need a ride?"
"Yeah, if you don't mind. I took a cab over."
"Yeah, no problem. Get in!" Olivia said happily.
"Did you guys identify the kids yet?" Casey asked as she looked at the pictures of the children from the morgue.
"Yeah, we did." Said Fin getting up from his desk and walking towards the board. "Let's start with the first two kids. This girl is Lana Burke; she is 6 years old and was taken on her way home from school. This boy is 3 years old and his name is Ryan Chase; he was taken from the playground while his babysitter was supposed to be watching him. The other two kids are siblings, Claire Whitcomb and Caleb Whitcomb, ages 7 and 5."
"How come we had such a hard time identifying these kids?" Casey asked, taking a seat at Munch's desk.
"They weren't in the system. Their parents were the parents we hate: rich, snobby, uncaring parents, they just thought their children were with friends. That's what the adults said at least." Explained Fin.
"Why would parents have kids and then not care for them? It's just, it's just…it's not fair to the child!" Olivia cried.
"Liv, I will charge the parents with neglect. Unfortunately, they most likely will only get fined." Casey explained.
"It's not even worth it, I just don't think its fair to the children."
"Anyway, so now we have identified the kids and their parents are arranging the funeral. Did you get anything from the store? " Munch asked
"Yeah, we have the name of the woman who bought the clothing. Let me see if I can find an address for her." I said as I walked to my computer and searched for an address. A few minutes later I found the address, "230 East 147nd St., that's her last known address."
"Alright. All four of you go. Casey, you get an arrest warrant and call them when they have it."
Olivia walked up to Cragen and said in a very soft voice, "Wait, I have an appointment remember?"
"Kathy is gone right now so I have to get my Lizzie and Dickie from school." I said as Munch and Fin walked out the door.
"Oh that's right. Go. You both might as well go home after. I'll see you both tomorrow then." Said Cragen as he waved a hand as in saying goodbye. Olivia and I walked out of the precinct together, but separated outside.
"Night Liv. See you tomorrow! Have a nice night."
"Uh yeah. Bye Elliot see you tomorrow." She said distractedly.
Like? I hope so :) Review and tell us what we can do better!
