Chapter 9 -
Stabler Residence
Monday, January 21, 7:30 p.m.
The Stabler family had actually all sat down to eat dinner together. Maureen was still there but left to go back to her place after eating. No one had a game or practice or anywhere to be, so they all sat around the table after finishing their meal and just talked. Elliot loved it. He hated that he missed so much of this kind of family time, but his job was important and it kept food on this table. Kathleen had taken Eli up for his bath before bedtime and Dickie and Lizzie were cleaning up the kitchen.
Elliot had gone into the living room and was sitting in the middle of the couch, his arms stretched out over the back cushions, his legs propped on the coffee table. His head was leaning on the back of the couch, his eyes closed. Kathy had come from the kitchen after putting away leftovers and stopped in the doorway, just staring at him. She wished things were different between them. Wished they could make this marriage work, be what a marriage is suppose to be, because ultimately she knew that would be best for the kids. It would be best for her and Elliot, too. Divorce is never easy and it always, always leaves its scars even though they are not visible physically, they are scars nonetheless. But, she knew the way they constantly fought and were always at each other left scars, as well. Emotional ones. Could they, should they raise another child in the battlefield that was currently their home? She did not think so. She thought it would be better to cut their losses and try to find some happiness for the last half of their lives. No one deserved to be miserable and that pretty much summed up the relationship between she and Elliot. Miserable. Both of them. And they made everyone around them miserable, too.
But, for now they were still married and she still felt like she had to at least try. Quietly, she made her way to the couch and sat beside him, snuggling up to his right side. She slipped her left arm around his waist and put her right hand on his chest, and kissed his cheek as she sat down. The only acknowledgment he gave, was his right arm coming down around her shoulder and squeezing her slightly and then he returned it to the back of the couch. Her right hand caressed his chest.
"Rough day?" She asked quietly.
"Yea...glad the Cap gave us off early." He said, his eyes still closed
"How is Olivia? Kathleen was so excited that she was there when she woke up." She snuggled closer to him, still running her hand over his chest.
"Yea, she was bouncing off the wall. She's...uh...Liv's...doing pretty good. Doc may let her go tomorrow." His wife's hand was warm. He found himself thinking, not about his wife, but about Olivia holding his hand and how soft her hands were on his rough one.
"That is wonderful. Then her kidneys must be back to normal, right?" Her face was leaning against him as she spoke.
"Uh...no...he said she would have to keep a close watch because they could still get worse." He could feel the warmth of her breath through the material of his shirt. He remembered Liv's breath on his face when he held her close the day they found her in the bathroom.
"Oh...hopefully, she will just get better. She shifted to be able to reach him and began planting small kisses on his neck. "How's the investigation going?" He remembered how soft Liv's lips were when he kissed her while she lay there unconscious.
"It's not going well...very stressful for all of us...she being one of our own makes it worse..." He kept thinking about Pierce kissing Liv and how she did not seem to mind.
"Hmmm...well, I can't do anything about the investigation, but if you want...I can do something about all that stress..." She was kissing along his jaw line and when she got to his mouth, she kissed him properly.
He wrapped his arms around her and roughly pulled her to him, kissing her back. They kissed passionately for a couple of minutes before she pulled away.
She whispered in his ear. "The kids are in the kitchen...let's take this upstairs." Standing, she pulled him up by the hand and lead him upstairs.
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Stabler Residence
Tuesday, January 22, 12:19 a.m.
Hours later the house was quiet. Everyone asleep. Except one person. He lay in the dark, his eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling, thinking. He was married. His wife lay beside him, contentedly sleeping. But, for him, sleep was elusive. He would almost fall asleep and then another picture would flash in his mind or another thought would start the thinking and analyzing process over again. He was married, for Pete's sake. So, why did he feel this enormous weight of guilt, feel like he had somehow just cheated on Olivia. It made no sense, yet he could not distance himself from the overwhelming burden of guilt he felt suffocating him because of actions tonight. He was royally screwed up in the head. Huang would have a heyday picking his mind. He wondered if Pierce stayed the night at the hospital. He hoped he had because he would rather she not be alone, even though Cragen had two cops posted outside her door 24/7. He wondered again, exactly what was the nature of the relationship between Liv and Pierce.
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SVU Squad Room
Tuesday, January 22, 11:10 a.m.
Lake and Fin had been out for the morning interviewing the father of a victim who was one of Liv and Elliot's cases about three months ago. He was angry at them because the perp had been caught earlier but let go on a technicality and he blamed Benson and Stabler and had threatened both of them. Turned out his job had him working in Europe for the past eight weeks and he and his family had just returned this past Friday. So, it couldn't be him. He also apologized for the threats and told them he knew that the detectives were just doing their jobs. Lake was checking out another possible suspect and Fin had gone to pick them up some sandwiches.
Munch and Elliot had gone to Brooklyn College to check out Mitchell Stanford. He was well-known and well liked by both his peers and his professors. He was active in student government and was the treasurer of his class. He played soccer and ran track. He maintained a straight A average and was set to graduate Summa Cum Laude in May with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance. It also appeared that he would be the salutatorian as long as he did not bomb a test or anything. He was now looking less likely to be their main suspect.
Elliot was leaning back in his chair, with his feet propped on his desk. "I still don't like that kid." He told Munch.
"Me, either, but I just don't see where he would have time or access to do this to Liv. Straight As? Soccer, track, treasurer. And he works 30 hours a week! Gotta admit it just does not give him much free time to be poisoning someone." Munch was twirling a pencil in his hand and rocking in his chair.
"I know. We gotta get a break or come up with something, John. Soon. Liv is going to be getting out of the hospital and we have no idea who did this or how and that means they could do it again!" He was totally exasperated. He turned his head side to side to release some of the tension he felt building.
The phone on his desk rang. He sat up and reached for it. "Detective Stabler, Special Victims Unit. How can I help you?"
"Hey, Daddy." It was Kathleen.
"Hey, sweetheart. Why didn't you call me on my cell?"
"I did. Like five times. You must have it turned off."
He reached for the cell and checked. It was off. He thought he put it on vibrate. This was getting to be a habit. He sighed, turned it back on and set it back on his desk.
"Yep, you're right, it was off. What's up?" He straightened some files on the desk.
"Maureen and I decided to come by and see Liv on our lunch breaks and she's not here. They said she was dismissed at 10:15 this morning. How come you didn't let us know?" She asked him.
A frown covered his face. "Oh...gee...uh...because I didn't know. Well, that's good...I guess." He could not believe she was dismissed and did not even call to let him or the squad know.
"Hang on, babe." He covered the phone. "Hey, Munch. Liv got out this morning...about an hour ago. See if Cragen knows."
"Well, since we are midtown, we thought we'd see if you are free for lunch." He could hear Maureen in the background. 'Tell him, he's buying!'
He laughed at this. "I'm free. But, I need to stick kind of close cause we have a lot to do. So, how about Bert's? It's right across the street from the..."
"Daaaadd! We've eaten there like a cajillion times. We know where it is." She sighed. He could just see her rolling her eyes at him.
"Okay, okay. Give me til 11:45. I gotta finish up this report from this morning. Bye." He smiled as he hung up the phone.
Why didn't Liv call him? He was certain she would have let him know. He tried not to feel hurt or get mad. Maybe she tried. He picked up his cell phone and checked the missed calls again. The ones from Kathleen filled up the small screen but when he scrolled down, he saw that he had three missed calls from Liv. He slammed the phone down. "Crap!"
About that time, Munch walked over to his desk. "Cragen's at One PP. Forgot about that meeting he had this morning."
"She called me three times and I had the phone turned off. Thought it was on vibrate. I'll try her, now." He pressed #1 and send and waited for it to connect. It went straight to voice mail.
"Voice mail." He said to Munch as he waited. "Hey, Liv. It's me. Call me when you get this message. Heard you got out."
He disconnected and flipped the phone shut.
"You think Cragen kept the detail on her?" He asked Munch.
"I'm sure he did. I'll check it out." Munch started dialing on his desk phone.
"Guess I'll finish the report and go meet my girls for lunch." Elliot picked up a pen and started writing.
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Bert's Diner
Tuesday, January 22, 11:25 a.m.
Maureen and Kathleen had found a table near the window so they could watch for their Dad. They were both drinking water. Maureen was looking out the window and Kathleen was taking in her surroundings and all the people in the restaurant.
"I wonder why Liv didn't let Dad know she was getting out?" Kathleen wondered out loud.
"Maybe she just wanted to be alone...and you know Dad...he would have insisted on going home with her and making sure she was all right and everything." Maureen answered.
"Do you think there is anything between them? Really?" Kathleen asked her.
"I think they have a really unique bond...but if you mean like has Dad cheated on Mom...no. And I don't think we need to be speculating." She answered her sister. She had debated on telling her about how their Dad reacted to finding Liv.
"Yea...I supposed you're right. I need some more water...where is the waitress?" Kathleen looked around and saw no one. "I'm going to get a refill. Want some more?"
"No. I'm fine. Thanks." Maureen smiled at her sister.
Kathleen went to the counter and saw a young man with his back to her filling orders.
"Excuse me...may I get some more water, please." She asked him.
As he turned around, she recognized him as someone from one of her classes. "Sure. Do you want more ice, too?" He asked, taking her glass from her and looking up at her.
"Oh...hi, Michael. I didn't know you worked here." She smiled. He was cute. He had dark wavy hair and beautiful brown eyes. She noticed his name tag. "Why does your tag say 'Stan'?"
"Uh...that's my name. Stan Michael. But, everyone calls me 'Michael' most of the time...I've been here almost two months." He replied, smiling at her. "Kathleen, right?"
"That's me. Are you still going to Hudson? I haven't seen you around lately." She took the full glass from him.
"No. I need to save some money to pay for another semester." He shrugged.
"Oh. Well, maybe I'll see you around later...I better get back to my sister." She smiled and left.
She went back to their table and sat down. Looking over her shoulder at Michael, she spoke to Maureen. "Hey, check out the guy behind the counter. He is totally cute! He was in my chem class at Hudson last year. His name is Michael. What do you think?"
Maureen looked toward the counter, but he had his back to her. "Well, his backside looks pretty good." She teased her sister. He turned around and Maureen got a good look at him. "How well do you know him?" Her eyes narrowed as she watched him.
"Not that well. He's kind of shy." Kathleen said, looking at him again.
"What did you say his name is?" Maureen thought he looked familiar, but could not place him.
"Michael." Kathleen glanced back at him again.
"What's his last name?" A frown had taken the place of the teasing smile.
"Mmmm...Michael. His tag says 'Stan' and I asked why and he said it was his name. His last name is Michael, but most people call him Michael." She was a little concerned over the look on Maureen's face. "What's wrong?"
Maureen shrugged. Stan? Stan? "Nothing...he just seems familiar, that's all." She decided she would go get her own refill, to see him up close. Perhaps that would trigger something in her memory.
"Hi. I need a refill...water...please." She smiled at him and he smiled back. She noticed the name tag said 'Stan'. Suddenly, it dawned on her. Stanford. This was Mitchell Stanford, except that his mustache and goatee were gone. She was positive this was the young man in the pictures her Dad had all over their breakfast table the other night. Her heart began to pound rapidly.
"Sure. No problem." He smiled at her. He was very nice looking.
"My sister said she went to school with you. Mitchell, right?" She asked him. But, if it were him, why did Kathleen know him as someone else? Why did he say his name was something else?
"No. Michael." He seemed uneasy for some reason.
She decided not to say anything about 'Stan' being on his name tag. "Oh...well, sorry...must have misunderstood her." He handed her the water. "Thanks." She went back to Kathleen and sat down.
"Kathleen, I need to go talk to Dad. Wait here and try to keep an eye on your friend." She got up to leave.
"Maureen! Why? What is going on?" She was getting worried.
"I'm not sure. Something is not right. I just need to talk to Dad, okay. I won't be long." She took her coat and headed for the door.
"Maureen!" Kathleen exclaimed as her sister left her alone.
- - - - - - - - - - -
SVU Squad Room
Tuesday, January 22, 11:30 a.m.
"Hi, Maureen. Heard you were taking your old man out for lunch. What about your old Uncle?" Munch kidded with Maureen when he saw her coming into the squad room.
"Hey, Uncle John." She went to him and hugged him. He wasn't really her uncle, of course, but he had been around most of her life and seemed like he was family.
"Maureen. Thought I was meeting you two. Where's Kathleen?" Elliot looked up from his report.
"She's got us a table. Dad, can I see those picture of the Stanfords again?" She asked him
"Why?" He started looking for the Stanford file.
"I've got the file right here." Munch told them, picking it up and holding it out.
Maureen took it and opened it. She pulled some pictures out and found a couple with Mitchell Stanford. "Dad, there is a guy working at Bert's that Kathleen knows from Hudson and he says his name is Michael. But, Daddy, I really think it is Mitchell Stanford." She explained.
Munch and Elliot traded looks, knowing what this could possibly mean. Munch jumped up, came to Elliot's desk and sat on the corner. He spoke to Maureen. "Okay. Let's go over this again. Kathleen knows a guy working at Bert's. She said his name is Michael. But you think it is Mitchell Stanford."
"No. I am sure it is Mitchell Stanford, except he does not have a mustache or goatee. And another thing...his name tag says 'Stan'. He told Kathleen it was a nickname." Her eyes shifted between Munch and Elliot.
"That's easy enough to change. He shaved." Elliot's mind was asking a million questions. His eyes were narrowed as he looked at his daughter. "Are you sure it is him?"
"Yes, I am positive, Dad!" Maureen exclaimed.
"But, when would he have time to work there and the accounting firm? We saw the print out of his schedule. He pulls thirty hour weeks..." Munch did not want to jump to any conclusions.
"I don't know...maybe Cilano wasn't sure exactly when the kid was there...he said they had seventy plus employees..." Elliot reminded him.
"Maybe you're right. Liv eats at Bert's a good bit...so, if it is him working there...he would have the opportunity to tamper with her food. And 'Stan' could be short for 'Stanford'. Elliot, what if he gave a different name?" Munch was trying to put things together.
"And she gets drinks from there at least once a day...sometimes more. She has been a whole lot better since she hasn't been at work...come to think of it, she had gotten better the first time she was hospitalized and Cragen made her take a couple of extra days off..." Elliot remembered.
"Yea...she got better cause she wasn't eating or drinking anything from Bert's!" Munch jumped up. "What are we waiting for? Let's go talk to this guy!" Munch was half way out the door.
Elliot was right behind and soon caught up, passed him and led the way. Maureen trailed closely behind the two detectives.
- - - - - - - - - - -
Bert's Diner
Tuesday, January 22, 11:45 a.m.
Kathleen saw her Dad, Maureen and Munch coming across the street. She got up and met them at the door. She had seen Michael go into the back of the diner and he had not come back out for at least five minutes, maybe longer.
"Hey, Kathleen...where is Michael?" Maureen asked as they met up.
"He went into the back a little while ago...hasn't been back out." She told them.
Elliot told the girls to stay put and motioned for Munch to go around to the back door in the alley and he went through the swinging door separating the kitchen from the front counter area.
"Hey, what you think you are doing! This is for employees only!" One of the cooks shouted at him as he came into the kitchen.
He flashed his badge at the guy. "Detective Stabler, NYPD. Looking for one of your employees...Stan...know where he is?"
"He was here a few minutes ago...saw him come back here...but you can see he ain't here now." The cook told him, glancing around the room.
"You got a manager here?" Elliot asked him, still looking around to see if he Stan was there
Munch came in the back way, shrugging his shoulders. "No sign of him out back."
"Uh...yea...that door on the right...that's the manager's office." The cook pointed at the back corner of the kitchen.
Munch and Elliot made their way back there. Munch knocked and they heard someone holler. "What is it?" Elliot opened the door and looked at the man sitting at a desk running numbers on a calculator.
"I'm Detective Stabler, NYPD. This is my partner, John Munch. We're looking for one of your employees...Stan...got any idea where he is?" Elliot told him.
"Bob Arnesen." He extended his hand to them. "What's he done?" He was checking a sheet of paper tacked to the wall. "He's on shift until 2:30. He should be out front."
"We just need to talk to him." Munch said.
Arnesen got up and walked through the kitchen with Munch and Elliot right behind. He went out front and spoke to girl working the counter.
"Janie...you know where Stan is?" He asked the young girl.
"He said something came up and he needed to leave. It's getting busy out here...need someone to help me." She told him.
"Mr. Arnesen...can you tell me if this is your employee?" Elliot held out the two pictures of Mitchell.
"Sure looks like him...but Stan is clean shaven. Looks like him, though." He nodded his head.
"What is his full name, Mr. Arnesen?" Munch asked, look over his glasses at him.
"Stan Michael. Why? Is it a fake name or something? He said he was student trying to earn money for college. He passed the drug test so I didn't see a reason to do any heavy background check on him." He explained.
"We think his name is Mitchell Stanford and we need to question him about his possible knowledge of a crime."
"Got a home address? Actually, we'll need any information you have on him." Elliot told him.
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Benson Residence
Tuesday, January 22, 4:30 p.m.
The doctor had told Olivia to rest as much as possible for the next couple of days. Well, she was not good at resting and besides she had just rested for two and a half days in the hospital. There wasn't a lot to do around the apartment, but she had done a load of laundry and changed the sheets on her bed and made it up. She vacuumed and wiped down the bathroom and did some other little odd and end jobs to clean and tidy her home. She made some hot tea and sat down on her couch with a novel she had started reading months ago and tried to get interested. She could not. She read and reread the same page over and over and could not have told you anything on that page if her life depended upon it.
She kept thinking about Elliot and that she wanted to see him. She thought about all the things she heard him say while she was unconscious. She remembered how he held her hand, stroked her arm, caressed her cheek. She remembered his kisses and words of...yes...words of love. She thought perhaps it was all a dream. But then she remembered the look in his eyes and how they 'talked' like they used to and there was no doubt what his eyes said to her. She thought about that night at O'Reilly's when she told him how he has not been there for her lately. He made her promise they would finish their talk later. Later never came because she got sick and ended up in the hospital. She wondered what he would have to say if they did ever finish that talk.
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SVU Squad Room
Tuesday, January 22, 5:30 p.m.
Munch and Elliot had gone to the address Arnesen had given them for Stan Michael's apartment, or whoever he was. He was not home and none of his neighbors remembered seeing him that day. They spent four and a half hours sitting across the street from the building, but he never showed up. Cragen called them in and after a brief meeting with the crew he told them all to go home and be back by 7:00 a.m. Wednesday morning. He never did eat lunch with the girls. In fact, he never ate at all.
Olivia had called Elliot while they were on the stake out, returning his call and they had talked briefly. He decided to call her before leaving the precinct. He wanted to see her, but did not want to drop in without asking if he could. He thought back to before, when they had been getting along, and how he would have just gone over and she would have let him in and neither of them would have given it a second thought.
They seemed to be getting along a whole lot better since her illness and hospitalization, but he knew that things between them were not what they used to be and that they both still were walking on eggshells. He was aware that their relationship was quite fragile at this point. He knew the wrong word or action could possible sever it while the right words and actions could continue to strengthen it, heal it. He looked forward to seeing her, spending some time alone with her. But, he did not want to chance finding Pierce there. He was in no mood to play nice and was afraid he would end up decking the guy. So, he opened his cell and dialed one.
"Hey, Liv. I was wondering if you'd mind if I dropped by for a little while? I mean, if you don't have plans or company or anything." He sat at his desk twirling a pencil between his fingers, hoping she would say it was okay.
"Uh...I guess...uh...sure...if you want." She was hesitant because she really wanted to see him, but she did not want him to come over because he felt obligated.
"You don't sound like you want me to...is Pierce there or something?" He knew her well enough to know something was off.
"No...no...I mean, no, Pierce called a while ago...they have some case they are going to be working late on...he won't be here. And, yes, I'd like you to come by...I just don't want you to feel like you have to, you know." She told him.
"Liv, you know I don't feel like I have to...I want to see how you are, okay? When's a good time for you?" He asked her, hoping it was soon.
"Whenever you get off...it's not like I am doing anything important." She chuckled.
"All right, then. Got to take care of couple things here, but I'll see you in about twenty to thirty minutes." He smiled as he closed his phone. He was going to see Olivia. He was surprised that the intense pounding of his heart was not echoing throughout the squad room.
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A/N: Whoa! You guys ARE still there! Thanks for all the reviews! And great ones, at that!!! And for taking the time. Guess I was just feeling a little down and now I am way pumped!! " ) Bensler
tamk3: Concerning the containers that should have been checked - Good point! I guess the trash had already been picked up since it was Saturday morning that she had juice/tea from Bert's...she took tea back to the office...and it was not until late Saturday night they got the diagnosis. Or maybe she took her own mug and had it filled and then washed it out? No...no, she told him it was 'to go'. See, I need you guys to keep me straight! ") Bensler
