Amanda's eyes were getting tired from staring at the screen, they were going through the footage for a long time, and looking at random people seemed to lead nowhere.

"I'll be right back" Carisi left the room, he needed a break as well and decided to take a few breaths of air out of the building.

Amanda would have loved to go outside, she needed to look at something else, but every time she thought about moving it was as if Noah appeared in front of her eyes, where was he? Why was he taken? Will they find him?

"Well?" Murphy stepped out of the office, he had so many things to take care of replacing Benson, who was technically replacing him.

"Nothing yet" Amanda turned to him "we've been through so much footage, even if he's caught on camera – we only see his back, can't tell if Noah's with him"

"It's all we have right now, until Benson remembers" he was about to go back to the other room when Amanda turned her attention back to the screen.

There was something there "Lieutenant" she said and he looked at the computer, the man was there, and he turned his head.

It was only for a second, but it was also much more than they had. Amanda tried to make the picture bigger, so they could see him better.

"I will ask TARU to work on this video" she reached for the phone.

"Wait" Murphy leaned in "I think I've seen him before"

Amanda was surprised, Murphy only got back after Benson's attack, there was the short time he'd spent with them before going undercover again – did he recognize him from that time?

Murphy didn't bother filling her in, he quickly got up and rushed to the office. Amanda followed him and watched as he started searching for something, she had no idea what he was looking for.

Amanda didn't say a word, what was he looking for? It took him a bit of time but he must have found it because he stopped going through the files and papers and looked at a newspaper article.

"What is it?" she finally asked and got closer to him.

"It was on her desk, I didn't pay attention to it until now" he handed her the article.

'A mother and daughter die in a fatal car accident'

Amanda skimmed through it but her eyes focused on the photograph at the bottom, it was the man from the video. He was standing next to a woman and a little girl.

"Catherine Ernest with her daughter Emily and husband Garry" she read out loud "the name sounds familiar?"

"No" Murphy shook his head "I thought the man on the footage looked like him"

"He does" Amanda agreed¸ she didn't recognize the name or any of the people in the picture "I will go see what I can find out about him" Amanda walked to the desk and typed the name Garry Ernest, hoping to find any information about him.

Carisi got back just a few minutes after she had sat down, he could tell from the look on her face something was going on.

He didn't have to ask anything, she raised her eyes at him "Garry Ernest?" she hoped the name meant something to him.

"Garry Ernest?" Carisi tried to think, he couldn't remember him but the name did sound familiar "look" Amanda gave him the article and looked at him.

"Wait…" he said "I remember now…" he looked at Amanda.

"And?"

"It wasn't my case" he replied "Benson and Amaro dealt with it, they investigated but nothing came of it"

"Get the report about the accident" she told him "I'll call Fin" she stood up and grabbed her phone.


"I remember him" Fin answered after Amanda informed him about their findings "it was Amaro's case, Benson and he were working hard on that one, but there were no evidence"

"Was he a suspect?" she asked.

"The girl's biological father came to the station, he told Amaro that he had suspicions that someone hurt his daughter, he thought it was Ernest, her stepfather, the husband, so they checked him out, tried pushing, but they all insisted nothing had happened"

"So he never touched her?"

"No one did, the biological father made the whole thing up, I can't remember all the details"

"Thanks Fin, I will update you once we have more"

Amanda walked back to the room and saw Murphy standing next to Carisi "what is it?" she asked them.

"I got the report" Carisi told her, his voice was lower "the accident wasn't accidental, it was ruled as a suicide"

"Oh god" Amanda shook her head "I just talked to Fin and he told me the biological father came in saying the stepfather molested the girl"

"Get the address now" Murphy ordered Carisi.

"Fin said that Benson and Amaro worked on it, the stepfather lied" Amanda continued.

"You think this is some kind of revenge?"

"Could be" Amanda shrugged.

"Here it is" Carisi gave them the address.

"Let's go" Murphy turned to go to his office before leaving "we need to check his place"


The three of them hurried to the house. They had their vests on, but Murphy decided not to wait for the SWAT team, it has been too long as it is, they had no idea what to expect, did he hurt the child?

It was a house at the end of a small street, there were a lot of toys scattered outside, it was clear a family used to live there. As they moved towards the door Amanda thought that a family doesn't live there anymore.

They drew out their guns when they got to the door, not wanting to risk it.

"NYPD" Murphy said as he knocked, there was no answer and he tried again.

Nothing.

The detectives exchanged a look and Murphy tried to open the door. It was locked so they had to break it.

"Mr. Ernest" Carisi called, but it was quiet.

There was another floor and Murphy ordered the two detectives to check it out while he covers the first one.

Amanda and Carisi walked slowly and quietly upstairs. Carisi turned right while Amanda turned left. She saw him go into a room and walked into a different one herself.

Garry Ernest was there.

He was sitting on a chair, facing the door with a gun in his hand.

"Hello" he said.

"I'm detective Rollins" Amanda looked around quickly, there was a small bed and there was someone sleeping in it.

At least she hoped he was asleep.

It was Noah.

"Let's not make this situation anymore dire Mr. Ernest" she tried.

"Too late for that, wouldn't you say?" he raised the gun so it was now pointed at her face.

How stable was he? Stable enough to plan this kidnapping, it has been about two weeks since the wife and daughter had died so he had time, probably stalked her, tried to find the best way to get away from there. He did a pretty good job too.

But he lost his wife and her daughter, because of a lie. He never hurt the girl, but now she was dead.

"What is it that you want?"

The man shrugged and it seemed he wanted to say something when Amanda heard someone getting closer, probably Carisi.

"Rollins?" Amanda left the door open and he saw her standing there, her gun drawn and another one pointed at her.

"Stay away" Garry shouted.

"Ok" Amanda tried to calm him down "detective Carisi will stay back, right?" she didn't look at him, kept her eyes on the other man.

"Yes" the detective said quietly and walked out of the room but he stayed by the door for a moment before rushing downstairs to call Murphy.

"Mr. Ernest, how is the boy?" she asked.

"Why?" he raised his voice "you think I hurt him? You all think I hurt her"

"I know you didn't hurt Emily" she continued "please don't hurt him"

"Please is a nice word" he whispered, he got up and moved towards the bed, not taking his eyes or the gun off of her. When he was closer to the bed he pointed the gun to the kid, Amanda felt her heart racing.

"Is she dead?" he asked.

"No" Amanda knew he referred to Benson.

"She isn't?" he sounded somewhat disappointed "then she might as well suffer"

"Don't do it" she raised her gun.

"Are you going to shoot me? We both know you won't take that risk, not with my finger on the trigger"

He wasn't wrong, shooting him could risk Noah.

"Why don't you let him go" she offered "tell me what it is you want and I will try to help you, I will stay until you decide, you do not need the boy"

"I haven't seen you before" he changed the subject.

"You're right" she nodded "I'm from a different squad"

"A better one I hope" he said "can't trust this one"

"There's nothing I could say" she tried calming him down again "but this boy is innocent, let him go, I will stay, you will have your leverage"

They both heard Carisi and Murphy walking up the stairs and Garry thought about her offer. He pointed the gun at her.

"Carisi" she called "come on in"

"Slowly and without your weapon, or I shoot"

"Did you hear that?" Amanda asked, it was dangerous but they had to take the risk.

"Yes" Carisi replied "I'm walking in" he handed the gun to Murphy who was hesitant about this plan, but they had to think fast.

Carisi walked into the room raising his arms "no weapon" he said.

"Take the boy and go, I will stay here for a while" he gave her a concerned look but she nodded, afraid they had no other option at the moment. She had to stall, to get him to lower the gun.

Carisi walked to the bed and gently picked up Noah, he was asleep and didn't even stir when Carisi moved him.

"Now leave" Garry ordered "and close the door, if you come in I shoot her, I've got nothing to lose, you shoot me I'm going to shoot her, I hope you care enough about one of your own"

Carisi nodded and walked out with Noah, he closed the door behind him, giving Murphy a look.

Amanda heard the creak of the door being closed. It was now only her and Mr. Ernest.

His gun still pointed at her.


No Nick in this chapter, just like on the show itself :-)

I will update soon.