Chapter Three: Lost and Found

The squad was getting frustrated. There was no sign of Aaron Wilcox anywhere, and things were becoming increasingly difficult. Casey had been informed on Donnelly's current situation. She refused to see or speak to anyone. Arthur had finally given up, and now he was probably at home pacing. Don cleared his throat as he stepped into the squadroom. "He's been off the map for about twelve hours. Why hasn't someone seen this screw-up yet?"

"Well, there has been no activity on his credit or debit card. His passport hasn't been used yet. We have no way to track him right now..." Elliot was staring blankly at his computer screen as he said this. "How's Donnelly?"

"She still refuses to see anyone. Branch has tried calling her, but no luck. I think it's Wilcox who scared the hell out of her."

"I dunno… It just seems so unlikely that Liz would be intimidated by this prick." Novak re-entered the squadroom after speaking to her boss on the phone. "She's never been one to be quickly intimidated."

"Especially when she was Bureau chief…" Munch smirked remembering the cases she tried when Alex was against doing it. "She was one to 'make little kids cry'." Fin sniggered at that. "You're pretty good at doin' that yourself."

"Well, did Branch tell you anything about what made the judge keep quiet?" Don raised an eyebrow at his detectives. "It would help with this. Do you think she'll recuse herself?"

"No. She has dealt with this cas since its opening statements. I don't think she'll give up on it. As for what made her like this, Branch heard her screaming as he was coming to check on her. He found out that she had been threatened, and well… She was heard saying "Let me go! God damn you…" If you can make sense of that, let me know." She glanced around for any volunteers. "Didn't think so."

"Well damnit…" Cragen shook his head and returned to his office to make some calls. The whole unit felt as he did now: trapped, useless, and overworked. Elliot's phone rang, and it surprised him at the number he saw across thr front. "Dani?" The whole squad's eyes went to him. Dani Beck had gone back to her old job after that confrontation with that little girl. "What's goin' on?" His facial expressionchanged quickly as he heard her panicked voice. "Okayo-okay. I'll be right there. Hold on. Stay on the phone!"

He got up, grabbed his coat, and fumbled in his pocket for his car keys. "Hey, you stay on the phone. I'm coming." It was clear that something was up, and he looked to Olivia. "You comin'?"

"Yeah." She quickly slipped on her coat and they both hurried out the door. Casey tilted her head to the side, and John smirked. "No matter how hard they try, people can't stay away from SVU."

"Oh brother…" Fin muttered this with mock annoyance. I'm surprised Monique Jeffries hasn't kicked your boney ass yet."

"For your information, she hasn't because she isn't pissed off by me all the time…"

"Yeah right."

Elliot was driving faster than the law recommended, but it was needed. Dani had called him out of the blue, and it seemed she was in trouble. Olivia gave him a look. "El, what's goin on?"

"You know when you worked with the feds? Well, I had a replacement partner…"

"Yeah. I've met her." This came as a surprise. "You have?"

"Yeah. I had just gotten back, and I wasn't ready for SVU quite yet. I came to see you, but you were interrogating someone. So anyway, what happened?"

"Well, that was Dani who called, and she said something about that girl…." He concentrated on driving now. "The girl that was a littlee psycho? The one that tried to burn her place down saying they'd be together?" Elliot looked up sharply at that. "How'd you know about that?"

"It was in her file. Do you think she's tryin' to finish what she started?" He shrugged. It was impossible to tell with that kid. She had learned a little too much about Dani for her or Elliot's comfort. "I dunno…. If she got a cance, that girl would do it."

They pulled off the main road and entered a quiet area away from the city lights. Since her husband had died, Dani lived away from the wild, stressful, and confusing city life. It seemed to remind her of him and his death. "I only came out here once…"

"Why?" Olivia was curious now. "Because after one of our cases, we both needed someone to talk to, and since you weren't around, I guess she was the next best thing." He pulled onto a narrow street , and from there he could see smoke billowing up from the house on the far end. "Shit!" He slammed his foot on the gas, and the sedan took off. Olivia was staring transfixed at the fiery scene when they pulled up. Columns of smoke were desecrating the navy sky, and flames were eating at the house from the inside out. "Come ons! I'll need your help in this!" Elliot's shout brought her back, and she rushed out o the car with the hope that the young cop was still alive in that mess of fire and ash.

Arthur paced his study as the news came on. The basic stock market reports consumed the first fifteen minutes, then it went to air raids in Iraq. Well obviously there isn't anything local in the news tonight… He cut the television off with a sigh. It was odd what Liz had screamed before he had entered. She wouldn't say a word, but she handed him something written in shaky script. The folded paper burned in his coat pocked, so he finally opened it and read:

Blackness was all it was. I fell through cold blackness, and my thoughts echoed around me. I saw images of what I was thinking… Then I saw you reaching out. I tried to get to you, but you faded away as I was about to. What does it mean? A voice said "It's too late"… What does it mean, Arthur? When I hit solid ground, I felt pain… Someone was testing me. I don't understand…

He stared at it as he read it again. Someone was testing her? "Liz I wish you'd call or something… I don't understand. Was it a dream? Was it a hallucination? God, throw me a bone here!" He picked up his cell,and called her home number, hoping against hope she'd answer, but that didn't happen. Before it even reached her voicemail, he hung up. It's useless…"Damnit , Liz!" He turned to the door and proceeded to leave his study, but a voice stopped him.

"I told her it was too late…"