Chapter 10
Everyone turned around and faced the Defense Attorney, Casey Novak.
"I will need a moment with my client," she said, walking past Cabot, Stabler and Cragen.
As the door shut behind her, Harnes (Liz) walked away.
"Don't you want to watch?" Cragen called.
"No, thank you. I've seen enough," Harnes called back.
"She's too involved," Cabot said.
"Gee, how could you tell?" Stabler asked.
"I mean it, Elliot. Does she know the perp?" Cabot asked.
"Yeah, it's her brother," Benson said, quietly.
"Why is she on the case?" Cabot exclaimed.
"By the time we found out, she was the only one who Amy would talk to," Cragen said.
Stabler wasn't paying attention to them. He was watching Novak and her client.
"Elliot?" a voice asked breaking his thoughts.
"What?" he asked, taking a deep breath.
"What's wrong?" Benson asked, stepping up beside him.
"Nothing. Just thinking," he said with a chuckle.
Benson wasn't convinced. She followed Stabler's gaze and watched Chris Harnes smirk as Novak talked to him.
"Elliot, what's wrong?" she asked one more time.
"How can someone do that?" he asked, staring into Harnes' eyes.
"Do what?" Benson asked, as Cragen walked away and Cabot entered the room.
"Rape a little girl, let alone his little sister?" Stabler asked, turning from the window and walking away.
"Alex was half right," Benson said, following him into the sleeping quarters.
"About what?" Stabler demanded as he laid his head on the top bunk of the nearest bed.
"Liz isn't the only one who is too involved?" Benson replied.
"'Too involved'? You think I'm to involved!" Stabler said, whipping around and facing Benson.
"Yes, you are," Benson said, not batting an eye.
"How am I too involved?" Stabler asked, towering over her.
"Because you have a son and daughter the same age as Liz was. You can't be sure…" Benson said, before Stabler interrupted her.
"I am damn sure my son is not doing that to my daughter! His sister! His twin sister!" Stabler said, his voice raising.
He glared at her and turned from her. As he exited the room, Harnes sat up in the bed in the corner.
"I'm sorry, Liv," she said.
Benson turned around and crossed her arms.
"For what?" she asked.
"For everything. I didn't mean to cause trouble between you and Elliot," Harnes said, walking up to the woman.
"We're always having problems. It's nothing new," Benson said, shrugging.
"You need to be with your partner," Harnes said, walking past her and to the door.
"What do you mean?" Benson asked, as Harnes opened the door.
"Cabot's right .I am too involved. I'm pulling myself off the case," Harnes said, leaving Benson alone.