A/N My muse is keeping me busy in other things, sorry. I'm beta reading now by the way if anyone is interested.
"This had better be good," Elliot growled, answering his phone. He and Fin were almost to the car when the call came.
"Detective Stabler?" a smooth voice came across the line. "I believe we have something that belongs to you…" Elliot froze for a moment, the wheeled around and ran right back into the lab. He motioned frantically at the phone in his hand, and Fin immediately caught on. He ran ahead to tell the lab monkeys to start tracing the call.
"Nicolai? Sterns?" Elliot asked. The smooth voice laughed.
"Nicolai works, I suppose."
"So Carlotta's getting you to do her dirty work," Elliot said, trying to buy time as the lab monkeys typed away, trying to get definite fix on the call's origin.
"I have my reasons," Nicolai said loftily. "Let's keep this simply though. My associates and I are in the possession of a certain female detective I believe you are rather fond of." Elliot's teeth clicked and he tightened his jaw.
"Where's Olivia?"
"Olivia," Nicolai said, drawing out her name as if tasting it. "Yes, I think Olivia and I will have a lovely time."
Elliot had to count to ten before he could say anything. "What do you want? Did you call just to taunt me?"
"Well of course not Detective, that would just be counterproductive," Nicolai said smoothly. "And I am not a counterproductive person."
"What do you want?" Elliot growled out.
"Why, a straight swap of course. You give us that obnoxious little loose end, you know the one, Rebecca?" Elliot's eyes narrowed. "And we will give you back the love of your life."
"She isn't the love of my life," Elliot said immediately.
"Please, Detective, no lies, not between us," Nicolai laughed.
"You know the NYPD would never do that," Elliot said.
"But you would, Mr. Rogue Angry Detective, to save, as I said, the love of your life," Nicolai said as if this was a very obvious fact.
"And how would you, Carlotta and Sterns get away? There's nowhere you could go where we couldn't find you," Elliot pointed out.
"Let me worry about the travel details," Nicolai said lazily. "But if you meet us at The Grand Theater, you know, by Rebecca's old asylum, you will get Olivia back."
"Why there?"
"Because it's a crowded place Detective, and we wouldn't want you unexpectedly shooting anyone now would we? One hour, out front, you and Rebecca alone."
"And if I don't?"
"Why, then Olivia Benson ceases to be of any use to me."
"How do I know she's still alive?" Elliot asked almost desperately. "Let me talk to her."
"No, Detective. You're just going to have to hope I'm not lying when I say she is still breathing." Elliot looked down at his phone as the line went dead. He turned to the techies.
"Tell me you know where he is."
"We do, here's the address, fifteen minute drive from here," Fin said.
They ran to the car, already calling Cragen, telling him what happened.
"The warehouse is owned by a company that went under months ago," Fin said into the phone as Elliot whipped around a corner. "Elliot and I are headed there now, we should be there soon."
"What about this meet at The Grand Theater?" Cragen's voice asked.
"There's no way it's real, they'd see Rebecca, probably shoot her, and get outta there. Wouldn't even bring Benson." Fin grabbed the oh-shit-bar as Elliot flew around another corner.
"Why bother at all?" Cragen asked. "The cat's pretty much out of the bag, we know it's Carlotta, she knows we know, why didn't she just skip town?"
"Because there's one personality flaw that won't let her," Fin said, clinging to the dashboard. "She's a vindictive bitch."
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Olivia strained to hear anything from the three people. Once their voice retreated until she could no longer hear them, she started testing out the bonds. Tight, professional.
Great, she thought. Professional bad guys.
She tried to work out of the ropes but it only made them tighter. She groaned, knowing there was no way out without seriously messing up her hands and wrists. She pushed her tongue out of her lips, cringing at the bitter taste of the duct tape covering her mouth. As gross as it seemed, she started licking around it until the adhesive was loose. A few flexes of her mouth and jaw and the tape was basically off, only holding on by the sides of her cheeks. Enough that she could scream if necessary.
She heard the voices and footsteps approaching again and she froze. The door opened and she heard someone walk into her little room. The footsteps stopped and she felt the breath of someone on her face.
"Olivia," the man hissed. "We had a little chat with your 'partner'. We are meeting him and Rebecca in an hour to do a straight trade, your life for hers. And when I say 'we', I mean me and my Glock. So, have fun rotting here." He patted Olivia's head and walked out. Olivia groaned, still trying to work on her bonds.
Son of a bitch!
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Elliot and Fin sped into the parking lot of the broken down warehouse.
"Where the hell's the backup?" Elliot asked they jumped out of the car.
"Still ten minutes away," Fin answered.
"Not good enough," Elliot said. He took off in a run toward the warehouse.
"Crazy bastard," Fin muttered under his breath, running after him. They were ten yards from, the warehouse when automatic gunfire burst around them. They cursed and ducked for cover behind one of the vans.
"Now what, alter boy?" Fin yelled over the gunfire.
Thank you reviewers!
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