Title: Troubled Return

Summary: Another case, another perp and another victim. But what is it about this victim that left the SVU detectives shocked???

Disclaimers: I've tried but I don't own them, (tears flooding down her cheeks)

Author's note:

Sorry this took so long.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was five days since Alex was attack and the detectives were no closer to finding out who their perp was. Alex was still in a coma and the doctor didn't give her much hope of waking up soon. Her bedside table was filling up with get well-soon-cards, flowers and other things.

The detectives had re-canvassed the crime scene, gone though all the evidence again, anything and everything that they had found. They were desperate to find out something to prevent this case from getting cold.

The next day, they received a letter that was posted to Alex. However the name on it was addressed to 'Melanie Brooks'. They all looked at the letter curiously. The return address was in San Francisco. Olivia carefully opened the letter. It was typed.

Melanie,

How's New York and how are you? Life in San Francisco isn't as colourful without you. I got a new clerk. Her names Lisa Mese. Don't know if you know her. She isn't nearly as good as you were. I think you would make a wonderful A.D.A. New York's surely lucky to have you. Maybe you could change your mind and come back to San Francisco? I would really like that.

Anyway, Marsha's good. She seems a lot happier then usual. Must be the therapy. The kids are fine. George got into the basketball team. He went hyper about it and can't stop talking about it. Susie keeps telling him to shut up. Her school decided not to suspend her, thank god! I should really thank you shouldn't I, Melanie!

I got a case, it's quite bizarre. A child is murdered, he had twenty-eight stab wounds and the mother and father were in the room. They both say that each other committed the crime, and claim that their innocent! No one else witnessed the crime and the evidence points to both of them. The knife that was used to stab the child had both sets of fingerprints on it. They say it was the kitchen knife that they used to chop up they food with. They both have clean records, not even a parking ticket. It's a bizarre case, right? Lisa, my new clerk, isn't very opinionated. What would you do? The People are charging both of them and they refuse to be in the same room as each other except to testify against each other. Anyway the jury found them both guilty on murder in the first degree. Unbelieve what people do to each other.

It's getting late. I'm taking Marsha out to dinner tonight. If you need anything just ask, okay? Also, I've got friends in New York. If you need a recommendation or anything like that I would be happy to give it to you. I miss you heaps.

Love,

Mark

Olivia stared at the Love. She handed it over to Elliot who skimmed though. He frowned.

"Mark?" said Elliot aloud as Munch snatched the letter off him.

"Envelope?" asked Munch after he had finished reading it

Olivia handed him the envelope. He studied it.

"Sounds like a Judge to me, clerk, case." Commented Fin, "You think he might know something about her attack."

"Doesn't sound like it." Remarked Munch, "You don't ask 'how are you?' to someone in a coma."

"Still we should check him out." Said Olivia

They worked on it. By noon, they found out who he was. Mark Barton, forty-three, born and raised in San Francisco, a criminal Judge who mainly did homicide cases. They decided to check through the list of criminals that he sent to jail while Alex was his clerk. Most of them were still in jail however a few just got out. They checked though each one and discovered that not one of them had been to New York. Disappointed with the result, Olivia and Elliot decided to travel to San Francisco to question the Judge.

They arrived at the San Francisco police station the next morning. They decided to get it over and done with it as soon as possible. They left their luggage in the police station and straight to the court house. Soon enough they found Judge Barton's chambers. They knocked on the door.

"Come in" they heard so they pushed open the door.

The man in the chair looked up at them, curious at what was going on. He had a strong facial structure, and brown, chestnut hair.

"How may I help you?"

"I'm Detective Stabler and this is Detective Benson. We're from the New York. We were wondering if we could ask you a few questions."

"New York?" he asked as his eyebrows knitted together, "Sure."

"You know a Melanie Brooks, am I correct?"

"Yeah Melanie, she was my clerk. Is she in …?"

"Did you know that she had another name?" interrupted Olivia

"Another name? What do you mean?"

"She was on the Witness Protection Program. Her name is Alexandra Cabot."

"No I didn't know that. Is that why she left?"

"We think so." Elliot paused, "she was attacked five days ago."

Judge Barton look shocked, "Is she okay?"

"She in a coma."

"Oh my god!" Judge Barton put his hand over his mouth, his eyes started to dart.

"Did she make any enemies here?" asked Olivia after a while

"Enemies… Not that I knew of. Most people liked her. You need me to make identification?"

"No that's been done. Did she have any other friends?"

"Um… yeah she was close to Daisy Martins. She's Judge Cade's clerk."

"Thanks" Olivia turned around and headed for the door. Elliot followed.

"Hang on, can you tell me what she was before Witness Protection?"

Olivia stared at him. She remembered the 'love' at the bottom of the letter.

"She was our A.D.A."

"Yours?"

"Yes our squads."

"Oh thanks."

Olivia nodded. Once they where outside Olivia spoke. "Let's go home."

"But Liv, we still need to find out more about this life she lead."

Olivia stopped walking. She was trying to hold back tears. "What if she didn't want to come home? What if she liked this life better? You read that letter." She shook her head and started walking again.

"Liv, you know she didn't. She came back."

"But what if she just came back to say hi, collect her old identity back and then decided to go back to San Francisco? I don't want to find out that her 'new' life was better then her old one."

Elliot didn't have anything to say. Olivia did have a point. They didn't talk until they were back at the police station. They collected their luggage and went to the Inn they were staying.

The room was dull and dark. There were two beds. The carpet was grey and there were patches of moss growing on the walls. There was a small antique looking television. Olivia sat on the bed. It sank down with her weight and looked like it was going to collapse. Olivia didn't care. Elliot was on the phone to Munch.

It seemed like hours before Elliot got off the phone. Olivia already went to have a shower and was lying on her bed.

"Liv, what if Alex's attacker didn't want to hurt Alex but wanted to hurt Melanie?"

"Munch's idea?"

"Don't you think I could have thought about that?"

Olivia smirked. "Take that as a yes. Well you heard the Judge. Everyone here liked her."

"He didn't say that. He said most people liked her, not everyone!"

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Close enough."

Elliot sighed. "You wanna get some dinner?"

Olivia shrugged and got up. Elliot smiled at her.

--------------------

Meanwhile back in New York, Munch and Fin decided to give a list of Alex's neighbours to Olivia and Elliot. They were searching through when they discovered something very interesting. Alex's next door neighbour had a rap sheet. He was a convicted rapist. He was twenty when he raped a girl and was sent to prison. He was released three years ago.

--------------------

Elliot and Olivia were watching TV when Elliot's cell phone went off.

"Stabler" He nodded a few times and scribbled down an address, then hung up.

Olivia looked at him.

"It was Munch. He said that Alex lived next door to a convicted rapist."

Olivia looked shocked. "You think he did it?"

"Let's pay him a visit."

---------------------

Munch was asleep when his cell went off. He started cursing and answered his phone

"Munch"

He sighed and said "Be right on it."

He sat up, looked at the clock. It was one in the morning. He picked up his phone again and rang Fin.

Half an hour later, they both were back in the station.

"I'm here now, so tell me why you had to call me at one?"

"Our guy isn't home. His neighbour said she saw him leave with a suitcase about a week ago."

"So he could be here now? Couldn't you have done it?"

"No"

Fin shook his head and yawned.

"Stop Yawning!"

"Why?"

"Because it makes me want to yawn"

"And that's bad how?"

"Because I'll loose brain cells and I have no intention to because as slow as you are."

"Munch, look at this." Gestured Fin, "A plane ticket to New York a day before Alex was attacked, then a ticket brought three days later to Connecticut."

Munch stared.

"Who's the slow one now?"

"That was just luck!"

"Whatever"

"Connecticut here we came."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Author's notes:

What you think? Any suggestions, advice? Coz I'm all ears! :D