If SVU Were A Soap…
Part IX
"You can stay with me for as long as you need, Elliot," Brian Cassidy said to his hung-over guest, handing him two caplets of pain reliever. "You can bring your stuff over whenever it's convenient."
"Thanks, Brian, I really appreciate this." Stabler took the pills and leaned back in the living room chair, sighing.
"You feel good enough to work?" Cassidy gave him a concerned squint.
"Yeah, sure; let me call Olivia and tell her thanks." With an effort he stood. "Where's my cell phone?"
Meanwhile, in a "safe house" outside of New York City, Agent Dean Porter closed his cell and turned to Olivia, who was coming from a rear bedroom. "How is she?"
"She's asleep finally," Benson replied. "Poor kid, she really feels bad about leaving her adoptive parents so abruptly with just a brief note. But at least she wasn't there when they were murdered---and I'm thankful for that."
"Well, I have some more good news," Porter said. "According to my colleagues, this isn't the work of ecological terrorists. Of course, the bad news is that the evidence points to an individual wanting to kill the parents---and Cassie."
Olivia's mind was instinctively working, pondering various suspects and motives, when her cell phone interrupted. Excusing herself, she hurried to the bathroom and closed the door. "Hello?"
"Hey, Liv, I just want to tell you thanks," Elliot said.
"No problem, El," she replied hastily. "Look, I won't be into work today; something came up. I'll get back to you later---bye!"
After the hasty disconnect, Elliot stared at his cell phone, puzzled. What could possibly come up that would cause Olivia to miss work?!
Miami, Florida, 3:15PM
After walking her parents and stepmother-to-be to their rental car, Frankie asked excitedly, "Why can't we go to New York now?"
"Don't you have to pack, honey?" Don asked, though his daughter's idea warmed him.
"I don't have a lot of stuff; I can do it in a jiffy," she replied eagerly. "And the Banners won't miss me; I've only been here two weeks."
Don kissed her forehead and cheeks. "It's only going to be one more night, Frankie," he said tenderly. "We'll pick you up first thing in the morning, like the Banners and we agreed."
"All right, Daddy," she resignedly, embracing him tightly, unaware of the furtive surveillance across the street.
So, you're not coming back until tomorrow, eh? Well, that will be time enough for me! I wish I could see the looks on Cragen's face when he learns that there won't be any happy homecoming for that family!