A/N: A shout out to my anonymous reviewer! So glad you liked it!


Chapter 9

"I'm not sorry he's dead so if that's what you're looking for, I can't help you," Annabelle said. Olivia had gone over to see the young woman and her mother regarding the recent developments in the case. Elliot was covering for her back at the precinct, telling the Captain that his partner needed to run home after a call from her landlord.

"I wouldn't expect you to be but I wanted you to be prepared. The DA can't ignore his death and some detectives will be coming to talk to you," she told her.

"Because I would have the ability to get to him in jail?" The young woman asked, her eyebrows rose not believing the detective could believe she had that kind of reach.

"Because they have to run down every lead and that is going to include his victims. I just wanted to let you know and to tell you that they are just doing their jobs. We don't get to pick our cases and despite what he did we have to make sure a killer is not wandering around the city," Olivia chose her words carefully. This was not a time to tell her that they don't get to "pick the vic" as they so often said.

"You could have told us this over the phone," her mother, Louise, pointed out.

"I wanted to see how you were doing. I meant what I said about you needing anything," the detective told them.

"Well we're doing ok for now. Therapy has been helpful for the both of us but this is going to take a long time," Louise said.

"It is going to take as long as it takes. You can't rush it but I know the feeling of just wanting to be better," Olivia smiled slightly. Most of her experiences had been with physical trauma but given the cases she'd worked over her career, she knew mental trauma could be worse.

"We appreciate you looking out for us," Louise smiled back.

"You can call me if you need anything. Doesn't matter what time of day," the detective reminded them. Before anyone could say anything else, there was a knock on the door. Annabelle looked at her mom who shrugged and got up to answer the door. Olivia stood, figuring she'd better go anyway, when she heard,

"I'm Detective Lupo and this is my partner Detective Bernard and we're with the NYPD. We need to talk to you about Judge Tuft."

"Ah yes of course. Come in detectives," Louise invited them in where they promptly bumped into Olivia.

"Benson from the one six right?" Lupo asked.

"Yes. Casey from the DA's office said you guys were handling the case now," she said.

"We are, so mind if we ask why you're here?" Bernard raised an eyebrow.

"I was just checking in. Wanted to make sure everyone was all right. I do that with a lot of the people we've helped," Olivia told them nonchalantly. It was only partially true but she didn't want them to think she was obstructing their investigation.

"Ok if we swing by the precinct later? We have some questions of our own," Lupo said.

"Of course. We'll be there," with that Olivia left. Once out in the hallway, she called Elliot.

"Stabler," he answered.

"I'm heading back in," she said.

"You get anything from her?" Elliot wondered, which meant Cragen wasn't nearby.

"She wasn't upset but I don't see her having the reach to do this. The more I think about it the more I wonder if this is an inside job," Olivia admitted.

"True but you made a good point about women using poison more than anyone else," he said.

"But that also would have been the only way to get to him due to his protective custody situation," she frowned as she exited the building and headed for the car.

"Also a good point. If you're convinced that Annabelle or her mother didn't do it then there's nothing to do but batten the hatches for IAB," Elliot pointed out.

"Oh joy. Fin back from his appointment?" She wondered.

"Yup and Munch just left for his," he informed her.

"Leaving us for last then huh?" Olivia rolled her eyes as she fired the up.

"The best is always last," Elliot chuckled.

To Be Continued…