A/N: I DO NOT own any part of the Law & Order franchise.
The Story Unfolds
Jodi let her red head rest against the cool glass window of the Crown Vic, her flaming cheeks soothed by the thick surface as the remnants of shame, panic, and tears lingered on her skin.
Glancing out the window, she watched as the scenery flew by feeling strangely numb and disconnected to the city that ran through her very veins. She felt empty and deflated, hanging in some sort of limbo while the world around her passed her by without even noticing.
As the car barreled towards her home, Jodi wished they could turn on the siren and go faster. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to curl up in the dark of her home, crawl under her bedspread and close her eyes, clutching a pillow and praying that when she woke up, the entire ordeal would be over. The ride to her home was a cross-town venture, made longer by the night traffic.
In the front seat where Detectives Stabler and Munch, the younger driving while his older counterpart sat in the passenger seat, the two conversing quietly and leaving Jodi to think about everything that was happening in her life. Every now and then, Detective Stabler would pitch her a question, and she knew he was trying to take her mind off things and was extremely grateful, however she did not feel like doing much talking. On the contrary, Jodi simply wanted to be alone, at home in her bed where she could surround herself in the covers and feel safe from the world.
As yellow taxicabs flew by she longed to get away from it all, perhaps disappear into some far-off place where the entire ordeal would have been nothing but a bad dream, and she could wake up to a world where she was a happy college student who came home every night to two parents who loved and supported her.
"Question for you Jodi, and don't take any offense in this but how is it you afford to stay in Sutton Place on a dancer's salary? This is one of the nicest places in the city, I mean I can't afford to live here. I thought you said that you didn't have any relatives here? Are you staying with someone, a boyfriend maybe or a friend?"
Jodi knew that asking questions was a part of the good Detective's job, whoever as he turned his head slightly to address her she almost wanted to scream at the top of her lungs and tell him she did not want to talk or answer any questions right now, and even more, she did not like what he was implying: that she knew her attacker.
"My boss pays for it." She replied curtly, continuing to star out the window at the complex New York City scenery that graced postcards and television shows across the world, creating a fantasy of the most beloved city in the galaxy.
"Your boss? That's weird, can you imagine the Captain buying us a townhouse?" he grinned to Detective Munch, and Jodi found herself glancing over for his response. Much to her relief, the older man simply gave his partner the smallest of grins and faced forward once more, as though he found the whole statement just as unamusing as she did.
"We used to mean something to each other, actually we still do. We were together when I first moved out into the world as an adult. He's been kind enough to know that I need help, and he has money to throw around." She explained irritably, hoping that her tone would still his questions.
"Used to? Something happen?" he asked, and this time Jodi found herself unable to contain her anger.
"Look, if you're implying that Caleb was the one who raped me you're extremely mistaken, alright?" she snapped, and Detective Munch turned to his partner and glanced back at Jodi, as though wondering if he should intervene or not.
"Listen, Jodi, this early in the investigation we can't rule anything out, alright? Everyone and anyone is a suspect, it's the same with every other case. But why don't you tell me about you and your boss, Caleb? It would save us a lot of questions when we have to go visit him."
Jodi snorted in disbelief, crossing her arms over her chest like a teen who had not gotten her way. She could not believe the nerve of Detective Stabler, suggesting that the one person who had looked out for her could have been the guy who raped her.
"I can tell you for a fact that Caleb didn't rape me." She shrugged.
"And why is that? Was he out of town or something?" Detective Stabler asked, swearing as a car pulled in front of them without signaling.
"No, because I know his….I know what he feels like inside of me. When we had sex. He has a very…distinct shape." She shrugged, trying to hold back a giggle as she said the words, flushing brightly. It was true, for Caleb's penis was as unique as unique could be, slightly curved in a way that always seemed to fit into her perfectly, reaching parts of her that no other man or boy ever had.
At this, Detective Stabler cleared his throat loudly, shifting in his seat uncomfortably and Jodi took a moment to bask in his discomfort, silently avenging the destruction of her ego and integrity over the past few days. Following her attack she had been poked, prodded, and asked question after question, even when the answers could barely escape her lips for the humiliation she felt. It was nice to finally watch someone else writhe beneath the spotlight if even for a brief moment.
"So what happened between you two…if you don't mind me asking?" Detective Munch asked, his voice soft and warm, easing Jodi slightly as she looked up, meeting his eyes in the rearview mirror.
As her emerald eyes pierced his brown ones, Jodi and the detective stared at one another for a long moment, Jodi finding herself willing and ready to answer any question he threw at her without hesitation or argument.
"We just weren't…meant to be I guess. It didn't work out." She replied, barely a whisper, her eyes never leaving the mirror. Detective Munch quickly looked away, and Jodi found herself longing for him to look at her once more, and pay the slightest bit of attention to her young person. He made her feel as though everything was going to be fine and that she was really truly human, something she desperately needed.
"So what, you broke up with no hard feelings?" Detective Stabler jutted it once more and Jodi became immediately tense, sitting back in her seat and hardening up beneath his inquiry.
"That's exactly what happened." She muttered.
"Look, why don't we save the questions for the boyfriend." Detective Munch turned to his partner and Jodi silently thanked him, wanting to reach out and give him a hug as his partner finally shut up and let them be on the way back to her townhouse.
"What are you looking at? You think she's going to go somewhere?" Elliot asked, glancing at his partner as he noticed him glance in the rearview mirror for possibly the billionth time in the last ten minutes.
"I'm just checking to see if she's okay." Munch replied defensively, and Elliot pursed his lips, raising his eyebrows as his eyes flittered to the rearview mirror. Sure enough, Jodi Stanford was huddled comfortably in the backseat, tucked into a corner with her eyes closed as she rested fitfully against the window.
In that moment, clad in a large hoodie and pants, she looked like any other ordinary teenage girl, not the sexual prowess who had an attitude that could melt butter.
Elliot for the most part was taken aback by her obvious resentment towards everything with the exception of Munch, who for some reason handled her with kid-gloves. The other detectives were quick to notice how protective he got of her, pulling others back when he noticed her discomfort which had naturally sparked curiosity amongst the detectives of the Special Victims Unit. John Munch was not one to generally get too attached to victims, and when he did, it seemed to always go back to his personal life, leading Elliot to wonder just what or who Jodi reminded him of that he wanted to protect so badly.
When Elliot glanced at her once more, trying to figure out what drew John to her young form, he momentarily found himself wanting to reach out to her, sliding and arm around her and assuring her everything would be alright. She looked so much like Kathleen, innocent and fragile in her slumber that for a moment he forgot that each and every night, she shed her clothes for dozens of men to see.
He had a hard time identifying with a girl who put herself on display for the entire world to see. Elliot had seen it all in this job, he had been forced to sympathize with prostitutes and sexual deviants, and while he believed rape was the most despicable of crimes, the situations often spawned anger within him, as a part of him thought these women had it coming to them. It was insensitive and politically incorrect, but it only made sense that a woman who revealed herself to so many generally put themselves out there for something like this to happen.
To contradict her attitude and profession, it turned out that Jodi was an excellent student at NYU, with a history of academic achievement, and notable dance skills. In fact, many people that he had spoken to (all of them male of course) had assumed that Jodi would attend Juilliard, her choice to go to NYU for Psychology causing surprise among many. Her professors had described her as dedicated and a cheerful girl, essentially the very thing he least expected when he heard where she worked.
Elliot was unsure just what to make of her, even as the noisy sounds of the city receded into peace and tranquility, an illusion cast by the elusive and prestigious neighborhood which was home to the wealthy, influential, and famous.
As he turned onto her street, Elliot could not help but gape in awe at the magnificent townhouses, each more massive than the last. Finally, he stopped the car in front of the address which must have been Jodi's glancing up and raising his eyebrows as he gazed at the building.
Unbuckling his seatbelt and turning off the car, Elliot turned around, reaching back and tapping Jodi lightly on the arm.
"Hey Jodi…we're at your house." He said softly, trying to awaken her. Instead, Jodi simply twitched, muttering something before cuddling up even more. Sighing, this time he shook her lightly, only to have her slap his hands away and wrap her arms around her body, eyes still closed.
Trying to fight a smirk from forming, Elliot opened his door, closing it behind him before throwing open Jodi's and leaning forward, her hair glistening brown, her skin pale for just a moment. For a moment, Elliot found himself looking at one of his girls, and reminiscing about the days when they would fall asleep during long car rides, and he and Kathy would have to carry them into the house.
It was when Elliot pried Jodi's arms apart though and slipped his hand into the pocket of her hoodie, searching for the key to her home, that he realized she was certainly not his daughter. Inadvertently, his hand brushed one of her breasts and he found himself tensing up before pulling away from her, feeling the urge to get as far away from her as possible.
Spinning around, he beckoned his partner over, forcing Munch to take over the search for her house-key. Glancing across the street Elliot squinted, doing a quick sweep of her apartment before Munch called his name and held out a hand, brandishing a small key on a chain.
"Stay here, I'm going to check out the place." Elliot commanded, taking the key and making his way across the street.
With a hand inching towards his gun, Elliot felt himself shut down as he prepared for what may or may not be inside of Jodi's home. Glancing over at John, he jogged up the front steps, standing at the front door with anticipation before grabbing his gun, ready for what may await him.
John found himself unable to think as he leaned over Jodi, completely surrounded by her smell, an overpowering scent of amber that ceased all thought process in his mind.
As he leaned over her, John found himself wanting to go further, burying his face in her neck and letting her sultry aroma fill his nostrils. He wanted to peel back the clothes from her skin and look at the body he had seen last night, the body he had not stopped thinking about.
The previous evening, John had found himself laying up in bed, completely unable to get the image of Jodi's body out of his mind. Her breasts, so round and large, with nipples that he could just imagine becoming taut beneath his touch, and her flat stomach which boasted the subtle outline of hard muscle. It was evident Jodi worked hard to maintain such a figure, and indeed she succeeded at it. And then there was her backside, a work of beauty in and of itself, perfectly round and plump. All he could think about was bringing his hand down to her ass, squeezing it tightly and listening to her moan beneath him.
These thoughts had plagued John, plagued him in a way that left him both completely horny, disgusted, and extremely confused on how exactly to handle the situation. Jodi was merely a fraction of his age, young enough to be his granddaughter even, and here he found himself fantasizing about her. Even outside of that, she was a case, an active case.
But it was in the way she looked at him, the way her tone changed every time she addressed John that she snared him, like the most evil of creatures. John found himself also resenting her, as he resenting every beautiful woman who used her looks and charm and weasel money out of a man. This was a girl who made her living off of the money of men, simply by showing off her body, and here she had a home more expensive than anything he would ever own. It infuriated him, it made him envious, and overall, it appalled him.
Yet in his revulsion, John could not even look at Jodi without feeling a mixture of emotions he hadn't felt since he was a teenager. He yearned for her attention and approval, after all, the affections of a young woman were all any man wanted. But more than anything, John silently found himself hoping in a far-fetched delusion that perhaps Jodi would be the solution to his loneliness, loneliness that only continued to grow with the passage of each and every year. John was nearing 60, single once more with not so much as a date staring him in the face.
He knew nothing would ever happen between them (nothing could), however John continued to imagine the possibilities, and with each one saw himself sitting next to Jodi, a beautiful young woman as he looked at the rest of his days.
Bending over, he tried to wake her up gently, watching as her eyes fluttered open, thick dark lashes framing those emerald eyes.
"Hey, we're at your home." He said softly, heart pounding in his chest as her eyes settled on him.
"Okay." Was all she said, a small smile climbing over her face, eyes still tired.
"Place is safe, bring her in!"
The voice tore them both away from the moment, and John turned his head, looking to Jodi's home as Elliot's retreating form became his focus of attention. Next to him, he felt Jodi shift slightly before she put a hand on his arm, causing him to jump slightly, praying he wouldn't have a heart attack.
"I just wanted to say thanks for being so nice to me. This has really sucked for lack of better words, and you've just been so kind." Jodi said, and John dared himself to look into her green lamps, sickening thoughts of romance and sunsets entering his mind.
"You're welcome." He answered, and the two sat there in silence, Jodi's dainty hand still on his arm, and John unable to move himself from her touch.
Home of Caleb Frank
New York, New York
Thursday, October 22
"Caleb Frank?" Olivia asked, pulling out her badge as the front door of a top-floor penthouse suite swung open, revealing a dark-haired man with grey eyes in his early 40's or so, subtle flecks of grey speckling his short black hair.
"That's me." He raised his eyebrows inquisitively in a grey sweater and jeans that Olivia could tell probably cost more than everything in her closet put together.
"I'm Detective Benson, I'm with the Special Victims Unit. Can we talk?" she tilted her head to the side, studying him subtly as his gleaming smile disappeared quickly, replaced with a somber expression that was perhaps a bit too sad for her taste.
"Yeah, come in. I'm assuming you're here about Jodi." He said gravely, stepping aside and letting Olivia into his home.
"Yes, I am. I'd like to ask you a few questions if that's alright." Olivia stated as she moved into his home, barely able to keep herself from commenting aloud on the lavish place of living.
"Yeah, yeah. Do you want a drink or something?"
"No, I'm alright, just someplace we can sit down and talk."
"Okay, here this is fine." He motioned to the living room, and Olivia followed, hints of his cologne catching her nose, a scent she didn't even recognize. It could have been custom.
Sitting down on a plush black couch, Olivia continued to watch Frank sternly, observing any strange details that could give him away as Jodi's rapist.
"So you're Jodi's employer, am I correct?"
"Yes."
"How long?"
"About a year. Right after she turned 18."
"And you two were…involved then if I understand correctly?"
"Yeah."
"So…how old are you exactly Mr. Frank?"
"Call me Caleb, please and I'm 43."
"So you dated an 18 year old who was still in high school, then gave her a job at your strip club?" Olivia pursed her lips, barely able to hide her disgust.
Immediately, Frank's face clouded over with anger and his eyes flashed furiously as he opened his mouth, glaring at Olivia.
"Jodi's really mature for her age, alright? She's always dated older guys, even before me. Besides, she's 18, it's legal, and she wanted a job at the club. Came in with me one night and said that it was the perfect place for her."
"Is that how you hire your workers? Seduce young girls?"
"If anything it was she that seduced me. I just got out of a fucking 15 year marriage. Young girls don't generally hang around in underground BDSM scenes. That's where I met her. She offered to be my sub and from there we formed a real relationship."
"So what, you're her sugar daddy? Sutton Place townhouse, expensive clothes and jewelry? I thought you two weren't dating anymore, now why would you be paying for those things for her?"
"Do you have any idea how much I make in a fucking year? She's young, she needs help. I'd rather have her holed up in a place that barely costs me anything than living in the worst part of town where she can get raped or killed."
"Yeah, and ironically she did get raped. So tell me Caleb, where were you on the 20th?"
There was a long pause as he simply stared at Olivia, face suddenly turning so red that for a moment she feared he might have a heart attack.
"You fucking pigs. You're saying I raped the girl who stopped me from putting a gun to my head after my wife left me. I'll tell you where I was, I was in my fucking office at the fucking club like I am every single fucking night."
"Can anyone corroborate that?"
"Yeah, they can, now get out!"
Despite his poorly-contained anger, as Olivia left his apartment with a list of people who she was sure would back up his alibi whether it was true or not, she found herself certain that he was not their rapist. She had seen the best of actors, but the way he reacted by the simple mention of her rape, over-protective and violently furious, a part of her believed his story, and that meant they were as close to catching the killer as they were from the start.