Chapter 2

I'm not a criminal

Stables, Fin, Munch and Benson was as frustrated as Craigen. During the interrogations, he just witnessed, made him none the wiser. None of the girls would talk, too afraid of what was going to happen to them if their pimp found out or of going to jail. All the detectives knew was their names printed on their ID cards and they were probably fake too but it was all they had for now.

"They're not gonna talk, Cap. They're too scared." Olivia leaned against the wall outside a squad room, looking in through the glass at the youngest looking girl, Samira. The detective had chosen to question her alone, thinking she could somehow get through to her or break her. Since she appeared to be the youngest, Benson thought she would be the easiest target but she was so wrong! Not a word had she spoken and Olivia was running out of options.

"I don't blame them, Liv. I probably wouldn't talk either. The other girls are the same. Munch and Fin are going through missing kids database to see if they were reported missing. Their families could still be out looking for them. What did Stabler find out?"

Liv chuckled. "They are all denying buying sex. Claiming they were just hanging out, drinking a few beers and that they didn't know there were gonna be any girls there. The two pimps are in denial too. Saying there is no crime in hooking up with several good looking girls tat the same time. He's questioning the Madam of the house next. Maybe she'll give us something." She sighed. "Its so frustrating. We all know what we are looking at, we just need one lead. One single lead to continue from here."

"Cap?!" Elliot approached looking somewhat passed. "Ms Rollins won't answer to me. She wants to speak to someone in charge."

Craigen sighed in defeat. "Okay. El, why don't you help Fin and Munch going though missing people. Liv, come with me. She might be more comfortable with a female detective. These teenagers has to come from somewhere. Let's find out ASAP, shall we?"

"Yes, Cap." Elliot was already on his way.

Olivia followed Craigen into the interrogation room where the blonde was waiting. Sitting down by the table with her head down Olivia thought she almost resembled a child, she looked so small. Clearing his throat the Cap broke the silence. "I'm Captain Don Craigen and this is one of my detectives Olivia Benson. I heard you wanted to speak to someone in charge." He sat down in the empty chair across from the blonde. "Speak."

Blue eyes suddenly appeared, resting on the captain's stern face. The emotions playing across her features confused Olivia. She saw anger, fear, defeat, exhaustion and desperation. She had dark circles under her eyes, indicating lack of sleep. Her small frame looked frail and brittle, almost sickly. Her hands, resting around a plastic cup half filled with water, were shaking and she quickly let go to disguise the trembling.

Finally, she spoke up. "I'm...," she tried to clear her raspy throat. "I know those guys." She shifted slightly in the uncomfortable seat. "I can help you out and..."

"So, you're looking to get a deal?" Craigen interrupted.

Amanda sighed and slightly shook her head, letting a few strands of hair fall into her eyes but she didn't seem to care. "No," she said, "it's not like that."

"Well, what's it like then?" Olivia shot back. "Cause you are looking at criminal charges Ms Rollins." Slowly the brunette stepped closer to where they were seated. Craigen hadn't moved from his spot. "Wanna tell us what you know?" The detective took a seat next to her captain.

Amanda sighed and closed her eyes. Licking her suddenly dry lips she spoke. "I'm undercover." Her eyes met Liv's, hoing to see some kind of reaction there but the brunette hadn't moved one single facial muscle. Stone face.

"For who?" Craigen demanded, his voice raised.

Amanda scooted forward, leaning her elbows on the table trying to grasp their attention. "Look, I've been tracking this ring for over two years. I know what..."

"For who?" The captain's voice let her know that he was being serious.

Blue eyes flickered between Don and Olivia. Deciding whether to tell them or not. She didn't want to risk losing everything she had worked so hard for. Over two years of hard work down the drain. Would she risk it? She had to. There was no way she could get out of this situation.

Olivia watched as tears filled the woman's eyes and her whole body slumped deep into the chair. "They have my little sister."

Don looked over at Olivia, his eyebrows raised. Liv released a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "Okay." she sighed calmly, running a hand through her hair. "Um, where is your sister now?"

"I don't know." Amanda said in a sharp tone, anger showing. "It has taken me this long to get so close to getting her back and then you guys came busting in ruining my operation. I'll never find her now." Tears rolled down pale cheeks but she refused to cry openly. Qickly she brushed them away with the back of her hand. "I'm not a criminal." She couldn't afford to break down. She had to stay strong for her own sanity and for her sister. This was not the time or place for a mental breakdown.

Craigen spoke up. "What's her name? Did you report this?"

Amanda nodded. "Her name is Kimberly Rollins. Kim for short. I reported a missing person's file but nothing happened. Nothing was being done." Again she wiped at her tears.

"Was she taken here in New York?" Olivia wanted to know.

"Yes, over two years ago. I couldn't believe nothing was being done so I... I decided to track her down myself." Again, she closed her eyes trying to stop the tears coming through.

Don turned to Olivia. "I'm gonna make a few phone calls." He stood up and left the room.

Olivia knew he was going to see if her story added up by checking her report. The two women were left alone and Olivia could sense the hope just pouring out of the blonde in front of her. She looked devastated and lost. The detective sighed. "If this is true, everything you've told us, we will find her."

Tired eyes never looked up from their downwards position. "You can't promise me that."

Sighing again Olivia wanted to reach out and place a hand over the smaller woman's but she held back. She always found a need to show physical attention towards victims but she wasn't comfortable enough in this situation to do that just yet. This could all be noting but a lie. "I can promise that we will do everything we can to find her."

Amanda looked into brown eyes but nothing was said.

A few minute passed before the captain returned. "I just confirmed your story. A report was made by you, Ms Rollins but I don't know why appropriate action didn't take place. I'm surprised and somewhat disappointed that this never reached my squad's attention. It should have and I apologize for that." He made a brief pause. "What do you know about this ring? Who runs it and how many girls are there?"

Amanda swallowed, feeling a lump forming in her throat. "Even though I've been tracking them for over two years now I don't know a lot. It took me just over a year to gain their trust. I'm just about to get a hang of things. Who is who and which girls belong to which pimp and so forth. She was suppose to be there tonight. Kim was suppose to be there. I was gonna buy her back." Amanda sniffles.

Olivia looked confused. "How do you know she was gonna be there tonight?"

"One of the girls gave me her number. She is one of Kim's friends, saying that she would be there but none of them showed up. I don't know what happened."

Olivia asked if it was one of the girls they had already interrogated but Amanda shook her head. "No. All I know is that she goes by the name Katia. There are constantly new girls coming and going. I don't know how many there are but Katia and Kim are the two girls who have been around the longest. You have to help me find her." Her desperation was obvious.

Craigen walked up to Amanda. "Do you still have that number?"

Amanda thought twice before she answered. "Yeah, but it's my only connection to Kim. If I give it to you and you screw it up everything is lost. I can't risk that. I won't."

Don sighed. "Look, I know you're scared but this is the only lead we've got. We've got the right people, equipment and facilities for these kind of things. Its our job and we are darn good at it. This number could make this situation a whole lot easier."

Looking at Olivia, Amanda thought she saw honesty and empathy written on her face. She knew they were right but giving them the number could mean losing Kim forever.