A/N: This chapter isn't very long - but never fear, there will be another update before I got to bed. I just needed to break this up so I can have one chapter that is ONLY the interrogation that you all know is coming. So stay tuned if you're still up. (and some of you may have 2 chapters when you wake up) - P.S. Thanks for all the kind words on this story.
CHAPTER 4
Not long after Olivia hung up with Alex, Fin let her know they had Jerry – Amber's dad – in an interview room.
"What's his deal?" Olivia asked.
"Amanda's talking to him now," Fin said. "But you know, he's 'worried' about his daughter and Brandi. 'What are we doing to find them?' You ask me, it all sounds a little rehearsed."
"You talked to him?"
"For a few minutes until Amanda got there," he said. "I … uh…got a hit on some security footage that Brandi may have been seen very early Monday morning."
"That's great," Olivia said. "That means Alex may not have been the last person to see her."
"Actually, Liv … She was seen in Cabot's neighborhood, just a few blocks away from her apartment."
Once again, Olivia's heart sank.
"Are we sure it was her?" Liv asked, reaching for anything.
"I'm going to see the video now, but my man sent me some screengrabs, and it sure looks like her," Fin said. "But that doesn't mean anything. Anything could have happened on her way home. And I don't yet know if the girl was with her. Whoever took 'em would have had to go back to Brandi's neighbor to get Amber."
Olivia nodded. She didn't like it, but Fin made a reasonable point. "Where are we on any security footage from Alex's apartment complex?"
"You know these high-class people, think you gotta do everything on their schedule. They're getting it, but you know, they're going to need time to prepare it and make sure they don't 'violate' any rights of their other tenants … 'Least that's what their lawyer said," Fin said.
"They called a lawyer already?" Olivia said, rolling her eyes and wondering if Alex didn't have anything to do with it.
Fin nodded. "I should have it soon. I told them we just wanted anything related to Alex or Brandi."
"Well, keep me posted. Alex will be here at 1:00," Olivia said.
"Speaking of that, I think maybe I'll go have lunch about that time," Fin said.
"Don't even think about it," Olivia said, giving him a small smile, the only smile she could force out.
#
12:55 p.m.
Olivia had looked at her watch a dozen times in the last hour before Alex was supposed to arrive. She dreaded it but also wanted to get it over with and clear things up. Of course, more than anything, she wanted to find Brandi and Amber – even if that means treating Alex like a suspect.
And she was.
Olivia was keeping an eye on the squad room, waiting on Alex. Amanda and Carisi were talking to Andrea and Jerry off and on – both of them insisted on staying around until Brandi was found, both were distraught. Everyone was well aware Brandi and Amber had been gone much longer than the typical time police need to find people for a good outcome.
"Got something you need to see," Fin said with a serious look on his face. Olivia knew it couldn't be good. He handed her an iPad with video, which caused Olivia to clinch her jaw with anger. The two of them exchanged a look that said they both feared the worst.
Olivia sighed and then she heard it. Both of them did and immediately snapped their heads to the squad room at the familiar sound of the clicking high heels. Not quietly clicking. The 'I mean business' clicking.
Alex Cabot was in the squad room and on a mission.
"Alex, thanks for coming," Liv said, exiting her office to greet Alex. "Is your attor—-"
Alex didn't let her finish. "You searched my apartment? Couldn't have given me a little professional courtesy that my phone and laptop was about to be confiscated during a phone call?"
"Alex, I—" Olivia tried to explain that she couldn't. She couldn't appear biased.
"Save it, detective," Alex said, bitterness think and intentionally not using Olivia's name or rank. "Let's get this over with."
"Don't you want to wait for your attorney?" Olivia said, looking around expecting Langan to walk in any minute.
"I don't need an attorney," Alex said. "Because I'm innocent."
"Alex…" Olivia said.
"I know my rights," Alex said. "And I'm willing to waive counsel. Now, can we get this over with because I have real criminals I need to get back to prosecuting."
Olivia closed her mouth tight, to keep from saying something back. She was angry and confuse and was certainly not going to let Alex push her around.
"I'll take you to Interview 2," Rollins said.
"I'll be right there," Olivia said to Rollins, purposely not addressing Alex, who walked off toward the room without Rollins. Rollins quickly followed.
"No attorney?" Carisi said. "I figured Cabot would know better than that."
"Oh, Cabot knows exactly what she's doing," Liv said, watching the blonde all the way to the interview room. "It's a power play. She's trying to tell us she's not worried about it, like it's barely worth her time."
"Yeah, I bet you and Rollins see the Ice Queen in there," Fin said to Carisi, assuming they would question Alex.
"The Ice Queen?" Carisi asked.
"No," Liv said. Both men looked at her to see what she meant. "I'm doing this interrogation."
She picked up a notepad and file from the table and Carisi gave a worried look to Fin.
"You sure about that, Liv?" Fin said. "Or want me to help?" He was hoping she would at least let him in.
"I said I got this," she said more forceful and took off toward the interrogation room.
Now Olivia was the woman on a mission.
A/N 2: I promise, I'll be right back with the next part.
As always, your reviews are appreciated. Love it, hate it, have ideas? Let me know with a comment or on twitter -rileyclocks!
