A/N- Before I say anything, I would like to address the many readers who have red up to this point, yet don't review. Please read and take time to REVIEW. I greatly appreciate it. The only way I can get better is with feedback.

Thanx to LegendaryBlade14 and Lizzie01 for you times and reviews. To Lizzie01: I know its sad but remember, this is my baptism of tragedy to the Lizzie McGuire stories. And don't worry, justice will be served

PsYcHoJo: Thank you so very much for the warm comment. I know SVU by head and heart because it is my all time fav show. Lizzie McGuire though, you have to thank the talented (no really) fanfic authors who write about her life, angst, teenage pregnancies and so forth. They have really been the source of all my information and inspiration. So thank you again, and don't worry, I have it all planned down. And new chapters will be up.

Welcome to the third installment of the case. In the last chapter we were saw the detectives go to work interviewing the family. Now since the psychiatric evidence points to the friends, that is our next stop and the focus of our chapter.

Innocence Lost- a Law and Order: Special Victims Unit case

Stabler and Benson both drive to Hillridge P.S. from Easton soccer field, but something seems to bother Stabler.

"Hey Liv?"

"What is it, Elliot?"

"What did you think of the family?"

"What do mean."

"I mean the mother sure reacted to the news of Lizzie's death, but what about the dad and Matt", asked Stabler.

Benson continues to drive and responds to Stabler. She is also thinking of the same thing.

"Yeah, but remember both have alibi's and certainly no motives, and I certainly don't think"

"I guess" replied Stabler."

"And you told me yourself, a while ago, not everyone reacts in the same way to tragedy", pointed out Benson.

"I guess your right", replied Stabler. While he did agree with his partner about this, he still wasn't fully convinced, but at the moment he pushed it to the back of his mind. For now.

Hillridge P.S. High school

101 Lakefield Rd.

Queens

Meanwhile Detectives Tutuola and Munch finish briefing the principal, vice principal, and the guidance counselor of the situation. They continue to ask the principal questions as he heads to the staff room for coffee and to inform the faculty.

"I can't believe something like this can happen to her. She was a charismatic and bright student"

Both Fin(Tutuola) and John (Munch) join the three school officials in the staff room for a private briefing.

"Did she have any problem with any of the students in particular, maybe ones that she picked fights with?"

"Oh Yeah, Lizzie was always in fierce competition with one of our other girls"

"And who would that be?" inquired Munch.

"Kate Saunders", answered the principal.

"And I take it she was like Lizzie, she was a popularity queen", smirked Fin.

"You kidding, they both had it all, but both competed for in and about everything", the guidance counselor informed the detectives, "fashion, boys, who could cheerlead better, you name it, they competed for"

"And I take it like true high school fashion, it wasn't a pretty sight"

The guidance counselor looked at both detectives, "You kidding, it was like 'Mean Girls' but at least a hundred times worse".

Fin comments softly to Munch

"Yeah all cheerleaders girls are the same", commented Fin.

"Hey watch it, I dated one back when I was in high school", replied Munch.

"Oh, then you have my sympathies", repied Fin.

"Hey there not all that bad, I mean, some are even worse", replied Munch with his infamous sarcastic wit.

Then the detectives revert the questions back at the three administrators.

"So how bad do you really think this thing is between Lizzie and Kate?" asked Fin.

The principal responded, "You couldn't believe how many time I had to straighten both of them out, they were like cats and dogs, I mean lately, it has been about all boys, but personally I'm getting sick and tired of this feud."

"Makes you wonder why become a teacher in the first place?", said Munch

"Believe me, if I could, I wouldn't have be" responded the principal.

"Alright, alright", Fin says trying to get back to the investigations, was there anything serious going on lately between the two"

"Well there something about Lizzie stealing a guy from Kate and shoving it in her face"

"Ouch, that right there is a good enough motive", commented Fin.

"But you can't ask me, I mean I only know this because this is a small school, rumors go around easy, even among the faculty", said the principal, "maybe you should ask Kate herself, or one of her friends.

Then the principal looks up and asks

"Why, are you thinking that Kate might have something to do with this?". The principal starts showing obvious signs of unnecessary worry. This is evident to the detectives.

"Please sir, it's all part of the investigation" assured Fin.

"One more thing", asks Munch. "Was there anyone else that might have had a major beef with Lizzie?"

At this point the guidance counselor steps in.

"Yes, Lizzie had started to have major problems with one of the boys she knew. Larry Tudgeman", the counselor

"Oh, and what kind of trouble are we talking about?", asked Munch.

"Well, I'm talking about harassment issues. Lizzie would keep blowing him off and Larry would keep on following up on her, it was getting kind of freaky" the counselor responded.

"What! Harassment issues? Didn't you confront them or inform the parents", Fin questioned heatedly.

"I tried but we did all we could"

"What do you mean all you could, need I remind you that the girl is dead"

"I mean, its pretty hard to when the victim doesn't seem to care", the counselor said

"How so?", asked Fin

"Well, with Lizzie, he was an awful annoyance, but all she seemed to care about was herself, her popularity and her image. We tried to confront Lizzie, but she would insist, even argue that it was nothing and that we should stop being so 'paranoid'. It seemed like she wanted to deal with this herself", the counselor answered.

"Wait, why the hell would she not care", inquired Munch.

"I don't know, your gonna have to ask her friends about that", responded the counselor.

"What about Larry?" asked Fin.

"Well, when we confronted him, he was adamant that Lizzie loved him, and that she will one day realize it because he himself will make her realize it. He insisted that they were in love and that we had no business in our personal affairs. Besides both Larry and Kate have the type of parents that don't take squat out of their business careers for their kids, short of their deaths", said the counselor

"And what did you think of Larry's argument?", asked Munch

"I thought it was b.s. just like you, but with an indifferent and even encouraging victim, there's not much we can do"

"Lovely, a stalker, with a victim not caring", Munch commented to Fin quietly, emphasizing the word stalker.

"In your opinion how would you describe Larry" inquired Fin to the couselor.

"He was a social outcast, a recluse, and the only way of living was with the notion of Lizzie being with him, but again you have to ask her friends, they would know something better than we do"

Just then the principal intervened.

"So", the principal concluded, "I'm afraid there is nothing else much we can give you but we will be more than happy to help you in any way we can."

"Thanks, we'll let you inform Lizzie's class, but we will need to talk some of her friends.", responded Munch.

"Not a problem", answered the principal as all walk out to inform Lizzie's class and the school about the news, "you can talk to them after your announcement".

Just then Stabler and Benson arrive. All four meet to exchange information opinion and hypothesizes. Meanwhile everyone in Lizzie's class is informed of Lizzie's death. They obviously limit the details about the circumstances, but the reaction is not less unpleasant. All are shocked, most are grieving, others are crying. Especially hard hit was David Gordon, Miranda Sanchez, and the girls in Lizzie's cheerleading posse. Unfortunately, Kate was away from school the whole day, while Larry had to leave early for an afternoon dentist appointment, both were excused by their parents (with the parents not giving much thought). When all is said and done with the students, the bell had rung signaling the end of the school day. At this point, at the agreed request of all the detectives, Miranda Sanchez and David Gordon are held back at this point.

At this point Benson and Fin begin interviewing a devastated and crying Miranda Sanchez, that is after they tell her the grizzly circumstances of her death

"I can't believed she's gone, what the hell happen, I mean how did this happen, I mean what the hell...." Miranda continued, sobbing and sniffling. Miranda throws away her tissue, while Fin gets hands her a new one.

"Listen, I know you may not be in the mood to talk to us right now, and I can see how much Lizzie meant to you", began Benson.

"Oh, detectives, Lizzie meant so much to me. I mean we've been best friends since we were kids, I mean just last weekend she came over my place like she always did, and to think that she's...", Miranda starts stuttering before she starts sobbing again, "g...gone, I mean I'll do anything I can to help".

"Miranda, I know that you cared for Lizzie. The best way for you to help us is to answer our questions. I mean this is so that we can find whoever did this and bring him to justice"

"Alright then" Miranda replied.

Fin starts questioning Miranda.

"Now, do you know anyone that might have had a personal grudge over Lizzie recently"

"With all the boys Lizzie has been with its hard to keep track, but I doubt any of them could have done this"

"Why do you say that"

"Well, Lizzie had all of them wrapped around her fingers like puppets, so I'm certain it couldn't have been them"

"Then who do you think would have done this"

"Problably Kate"

For a minute, neither detectives interviewing Miranda had expected that but they were very interested in the rationale behind it.

"Well what make you so certain it was Kate Saunders"

"Because Kate had that type of rage. She had the black heart that could do this"

"Well, what do you mean"

"You see last month Lizzie started openly flirting with Ethan, Kate's boyfriend, and on top of that, Kate and her posse caught Lizzie and Ethan making out under the bleachers not long after that"

"Ouch, that must of pissed her off"

"You damn right it did, Kate and Lizzie almost had a real cat fight over it if the vice principal hadn't showed up to calm everyone down."

"You said that Kate had a black heart. What do you mean, I mean, was she really that bad.

"There's something you don't do in this school and that's crossing Kate, believe me, rumor has it that she has some kind of psychiatric condition, where she could explode when people got her mad the wrong way"

"alright, now how long have they known each other", asked Benson.

"Oh, they used to be best friends a long while ago, we all did, before middle school. But when middle school began, well Kate was popular and Lizzie wasn't, but Lizzie was happy, she was one of us (referring to her and Gordo), she even started dating Gordo. But..."

"But what?", asked Fin.

"You see, the real resentment started with high school. Lizzie had changed in a Kate sort of way. You see Lizzie started to gradually become more popular and more noticed than Kate herself. Soon enough, Lizzie became better than Kate, but not as close to us as before. I mean there were some parties where Lizzie got an invite but not Kate. I mean never did I think that it was possible, but then again Lizzie started being more like Kate herself"

"I can imagine that Kate resented that"

"Kate could not bear being second best to someone who she, and everybody else for that matter, thought to be rejects."

"Do you know if Kate or anyone else made any serious threats to Lizzie"

"Oh yeah" answered Miranda.

"Well, I certainly don't mean to disrespect Lizzie, Miranda, but I considering what we know about Lizzie and her apparent change in heart, do you still consider her a friend?", asked Benson.

"Oh yeah, We're still close. I'm her confidant. I mean I love Lizzie. We've been best friends for the longest time and always will be, I mean I love Lizzie", Miranda kept going on.

"And where were you on the night", Fin started asking.

Miranda replied, "I was at home, we had to finish off securing our place just in case the stor...hey, wait a minute, you think that I had something to do with this? Because if you do, I..."

"Calm down Miranda, it's just standard procedure"

"Oh, ok", Miranda relented.

"Now, were just going to need your contact information and if you have anything for us, don't hesitate to call", said Fin.

"Thank you I will, I mean I have to seriously go home any ways"

"Long commute?"

"Yeah, I have to ride the subway for a while

"To where?"

"Oh, I live by Matteo street, in South Central Brooklyn"

At this, both detectives shot up and looked at each other. "South Central Brooklyn!", they thought. That was in the same area that they found Lizzie. After writing down her info, Miranda left, hardly able to contain her tears. As both look at the paper they noticed.

"Hey Fin look, 154 Gotts Street Apt.1A", said Benson.

"Yeah, that's only 2 block from the alley where we found Lizzie", replied Fin.

With that information, they call up their boss, Cragen, prepare to build a case, and wait for their partners to finish with David Gordon.

In the meanwhile, Stabler and Munch were interviewing a devastated and distraught David Gordon.

"This can't be true, this can't be true...", Gordo started mourning.

"I know this has been hard on you. It's been hard on everybody...", started Stabler.

"No, you don't understand, I never got to tell her how I truly feel, I mean I never got Lizzie to love me again, like she used to"

With that Gordo broke down again with his head in hands and him breaking up again. Munch saw this was the time to be stern but still compassionate.

"Mr. Gordon, I know that Lizzie's death meant a lot to you. I was apparently no secret that at one point you were both more than just friends, and that you still think of her as more than a friend. But we need you to pull yourself together man! I assure you that the best way we can find and punish this perp is if you help us, by answering some question, because frankly that's gonna get a hell of a lot more done that just crying"

Even though even Stabler thought that was a little excessive, it did the trick.

"I'm sorry detectives, it just..." started Gordo again.

"Don't worry just take your time", assured Stabler, taking the job of questioning on himself.

Then Stabler began questioning, and to lighten the mood asked...

"I understand that you and Lizzie go a long way back"

"Oh yeah", Gordo replied. "we go back to the playpen", Gordo reminisces, "In middle school it was me, Lizzie, and Randa. We were thought of as rejects by Kate and her posse, but we didn't care, we were happy. I mean, me and Lizzie, we went to Rome toghether and afterwards started going out. Man those were good times."

"How was high school like for you guys", asked Stabler.

"Well, I personally don't care much for popularity, but my Lizzie was a different story. Still though I would like to be closer to her, but if she's happy I'm happy.", replied Gordo.

"Don't take this the wrong way", started Munch, "But it seems like Lizzie was using you, I mean treating you as nothing more than a scab and you still have this feeling for her, I mean, I'm no love expert but..."

This was to test Gordo. The detectives saw this as a chance to bring Gordo out as well as for him to continue to give us background information.

Gordo was feeling a little taken aback by this.

"Excuse me, but I'm always there for Lizzie, whenever, wherever. I do love her, and I want to be with her for the rest of my life." Gordo exclaimed.

Both detectives are taken aback by the strength of Gordo's words, but obviously allow him to continue.

"And I may feel like this, but I want to see Lizzie happy, I mean for me and her, it's friendship first, love second" finished Gordo.

"Now, Gordo, do you know anyone that Lizzie had a problem with, because we need to know", inquired Stabler.

"The only person I could think of is the Tudge"

"Larry Tudgeman?", confirmed Munch.

"Why him", asked Munch.

Munch and Stabler both wanted to hear the full details of this account. This aspect was very important.

"Because he had an obsession. It was scary. I mean it was like 'fatal attraction' ", answered Gordo.

"That bad, huh?", asked Stabler.

"A thousand times worse, actually", commented Gordo

"Now what exactly do you know about her and Larry Tudgeman", Munch asked.

"Oh, Tudgeman, man he was crazy about her. I mean literally crazy"

"But how crazy was Tudgeman"

"Well you have to understand, we all knew Larry in middle school. At one point she even dated Lizzie."

"What! You mean they dated?", asked Munch.

"Yeah, It was a favor and Lizzie said she enjoyed it, but she didn't feel much for him. Larry on the other hand grew feelings for her."

"How bad were those feelings?", asked Stabler

"It was worse off after the second date", said Gordo.

"Wait, there was a second date?", asked Munch.

"Yeah, they went to the homecoming dance in freshman year, that's when Larry really started to spiral down the staircase to insanity, I mean after that it Larry would call Lizzie more and more. He would talk about serious dates, a chance for a 'meaningful encounter', engagement, marriage, and even names of future kids. It got so bad, Lizzie had to block his number on her home phone and get a new cell phone number"

"That sounds bad", commented Stabler.

"That's not the end of it. I mean she would get unwanted Christmas presents, Valentines day treats and Valentines, even under the threats of whoever was going out with Lizzie.", Gordo finished.

Stabler then redirects the interview

"We were told that it was kinda serious, I mean we think so you ever discuss that with her, maybe get her to talk to the authorities, set Mr. Tudgeman straight."

"Well", Gordo continued "she seemed to be playing mind games with Larry. You know, accept gifts, throw a compliment or what not and then. But always, she still seems to enjoy toying with his entire being, I mean Lizzie's the worst. I mean, even though it pains me to see it, if you see her openly flirting, that's naturally Lizzie. But when Tudgeman's around, she does it ten times worse. Plus, she forces him to serve her and humiliate himself over her, and on top of that she'll still raise his hopes just to enjoy the reaction and expression on Larry when she devastates him again, either by letting him down hard in front of everyone (and I mean everyone), publicly humiliating him, or worse off, openly making out with one of her football stars."

"Really, that's rough", commented Munch

"Tell me about it", repiled Gordo

"One last thing, Mr. Gordon, can you tell me where you were last night?" asked Stabler

"I was with my parents in Newark, attending a psychology conference hosted by the AMA, why?", answered Gordo

"Just proper procedure, don't worry", said Stabler, "Alright, that'll be all, so thanks for you time and if you need anything give us a call, but not before you give us your contact information, just in case", Munch said giving his card as Gordo was preparing to leave."

"Sure, sure" Gordo replied taking the card and getting his pen out of his pocket.

After Gordo records his information and leaves with Miranda. The detectives head back to the precinct to brief the captain, build a case, hypothesize what happened, and to receive new information and orders.

Back at the Precinct

After briefing each other and the captain on the whole information that was gathered from the administration, Miranda, and Gordo. Captain Munch agrees that it is time to act and after orting out all the info, begins ordering the detectives.

"Alright, then I guess that's settled, the only ones with motives and the means are Kate Saunders and Lawrence Tudgeman", concluded Cragen. "Then I guess that leaves those two as suspects. But I don't want to jump on that just yet, at least not before we find any real proof of where they were, like witnesses that is."

Cragen then gives out orders

"Liv, Elliot. Investigate Kate and canvass her neighborhood, it's a residential area, someone had to have seen something. Also talk to her friends, her family, and her neighbors, see if they know anything, or more importantly know where Kate was or was heading to."

"Fin, you and John Munch. You two handle Tudgeman and check to see if any abnormal behavior is present. And more importantly, find out where he was the night of the murder. Because if this guy turns out to be a stalker I want his M.O. ID'd and I want him stopped.

"And furthermore" Cragen continued, "I'll get more men to canvass not only Lizzie's neighbours, but Miranda's. We need to see if anyone saw anything".

"Miranda, sir", questioned Stabler.

"I know, but I'm with Liv on this one. I have a feeling Miranda had something to do with this, I mean the fact that it happened as close as it did to Miranda's place was no coincidence, especially with both Lizzie and Gordo living in Astoria"

Benson added, "I mean remember what Miranda kept saying"

"What?", inquired a confused Fin.

"I love Lizzie?", completed Benson.

"They were best of friends", replied Fin.

"Still", Benson said.

The detectives get to work. Benson, like Stabler before, still keeps that part in the back of her mind.

A/N: Thanks for reading. I know it was kinda long, but you have to admit it sets the mood. I chose not to write the briefing up with Capt. Cragen, because (1) it's almost 3 a.m. and I have to get some shut eye, (2) it's too tiring and I'm sorta lazy and (3) It would just annoy you. All you need to do is put two and two together and ask your what could possibly happen next, I mean it is a case.

Just a few comments. Taking the good advice of LegendaryBlade14, I have added more emotion to the characters, especially Miranda and Gordo. And a comment, Gordo loves Lizzie, and even though regular guys would not tolerate and care like this, may I remind you that the writing is on the wall that Gordo is not a regular guy. He truly loves Lizzie more than anything in the world, and is willing to give up anything for her. He is also willing to sit painfully as Lizzie goes through her available 'pool of guys' for the chance that she will come back to him, and that's why he always loves her.

What will happen in the next chapter? Well, both Kate Saunders and Larry Tudgeman become the first two official suspects in this case, so not only can they be interviewed by the SVU team, but even interrogated. What will happen when the detectives look for them. Where will they be? What will they find? What will they find out?

And by the way, in the next chapter both Ethan Craft and Ronnie Creston will both arrested and be interrogated, not interviewed, but criminally interrogated. Why do you ask? What did they do? Will they be charged by the D.A.'s (District attorney's) office. (It's related but) Does it have something to do with Lizzie. That I can't tell you now...you'll just have to read the next chapter. Until then.

GFMarshall