A/N: Thank you for all the reviews, I am so thrilled with the response I have gotten from you all. Thank you to those who have reviewed every chapter, I really appreciate you guys!
To TD – Thanks for the detailed review as always, I love reading what you have to say. From my experience as a police officer, when I say someone is manipulative, it is a general term, for example, a person can manipulate a situation, a person or evidence. When I wrote the last chapter, Elliot and Olivia were profiling, I know on TV shows the characters are structured in the way they talk, but in reality, when you're profiling you're bouncing ideas off of each other and often say the same thing twice, or say similar things.
I hope this has cleared up your concern in the review – Thanks again for asking xo.
"What the hell have you done?" Kayleigh screamed seeing the broken frames and burnt remainders of her memories.
"I did the one thing you should have done! Why should I live in her shadow? You're either caught up on her still, or you love me. It's simple!"
"I do love you. I need time Dani, it's not like I haven't thought about burning the pictures myself." Kayleigh's tone seemed a little less shrieking now and more calmed.
"You've had years Kay, why am I still a secret? You wanted me, you killed for me! And I'm the one who's made to feel like a criminal? Like my face shouldn't be hanging on the wall. What is this to you? A baby sitter and a quick fuck?"
Kayleigh slapped Dani hard across the face, "Don't you ever say that again!"
Dani cupped her face, "Say what? That you're a murderer? Or that you killed for me? What is it exactly I shouldn't say? Because right now, I have no idea where the hell I stand."
Kayleigh charged at Dani, "If you ever say I killed for you again, I will kill you. Do you understand me?"
Dani didn't know if this was argument threats, or reality, she nodded. "You make me feel loved, show me off like you love me rather than hide me, and I won't."
"You don't get to make that choice. You love me, you put up with me, the good and the bad. I'll show you off when I'm good and ready."
Dani stormed off feeling used and hurt, she grabbed her jacket and pulled it tight around her. Fumbling for her keys she unlocked her car, got in and drove for two blocks; then the tears came pouring out. She couldn't help herself, all she wanted was to be loved, she had been dragged into this situation and didn't see a way out of it. She was an accessory to murder. At least, that's how a court would see it.
Feeling alone, Dani pressed the contacts button on her phone and scrolled down wondering who would pick up her call. She scrolled passed her family, some friends, then one name caught her attention. Elliot Stabler.
Kate Macks was a fresh faced woman, long sandy blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, and a smile that lit up the room. She stopped in the doorway of the one – six and scouted out her old friend Olivia. She smiled one of her wide smiles as she spotted Olivia and called out her name.
Olivia stood and smiled back, together they met in the middle of the one – six sharing a hug, a hug of long time no see, how are you? It's great to see you again.
"It's been too long Liv, how're things?" Kate asked seemingly happy.
"Other than this case, things are good. Better than good actually. How're you and the wife?"
Kate smiled at the thought of her loving wife at home, "Liz is great, I didn't get a chance to tell you on the phone, but look." Kate pulled out two baby photos, "This little man is Chris, and this stunning girl is Marci."
Olivia, stunned gave a huge smile and congratulatory hug. "I'm so happy for you!" she almost shouted, "How old are they?"
"They are both six months."
"Twins?"
Kate nodded, "Twins. Little cherubs."
Elliot stood up, made his way over to Kate and Olivia, "You must be Kate." he held his hand out to be shaken.
"I am, you must be detective," Kate had to think for a minute, "Sorry, I'm terrible with names, Stabler?" she asked, her pitch easing upwards as she said his surname.
Elliot smiled, "Elliot Stabler, can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea?"
"Just a desk and the evidence." she smiled, "I know what cop coffee tastes like, took a month for my taste buds to get back to normal the first time I tried it."
Elliot showed Kate to the desk that had been reserved for her, piles of manilla folders stacked on top of each other waited for her eyes. "Once you're settled, we'll go over everything we have. We need a new pair of eyes on this."
"I just need to check in with your Captain, is he here?"
"Cragen left for LA this morning, he should be back in a few days. Munch is filling in, but I don't know where he is." Olivia said softly.
Just as Olivia finished talking Munch strolled in the one six, he slammed a book down on Olivia's desk. "Look at this! It's a totally mockery."
Olivia took the book off the corner of her desk, "Melissa Lockhart's husband." she read aloud.
"It's a book based on Dale Waverson's death. Someone's making money off the case."
"That was quick! It's been what, three, four weeks maximum." Elliot said.
"Well, whoever wrote this, has their own opinion on it. Their ending is a lot more conclusive than what we have."
"What does it say?" Elliot asked.
"According to Melissa, her husband, 'Dave'," Munch air quoted, "Was killed because he was in debt, so much so that it tore their family apart, and after Melissa was slammed for taking everything, she killed him." Munch had read theatrically.
Kate sat with her eyes scanning over Munch, she said nothing until he spotted her, "You must be Kate, welcome to the nut house." he smiled, the tension he had held in his eyes and voice seemed to drift away like clouds on a semi windy day. No effort at all. She liked him.
Kate smiled back at him, "I am, you must be John Munch."
"She's good." Munch said smiling at Olivia, "How did you know?" he joked.
"You look like someone who should be called John Munch, that's all. It had nothing to do with your ID or Olivia telling me about you."
"Ah! I see." he smiled, "Let's get to work on this case. First things first, you two go and find the scum that wrote this book."
"Isn't there an author printed on the cover?" Olivia asked.
"Nope, this book was written anonymously. The author didn't want his or her name known. Used an alias, Andrea Wiloflax."
"A pseudonym." Kate said listening intently.
"A what?" Elliot asked.
"A pseudonym, Sue Doe Nim." Kate sounded out the word for Elliot. "Sometimes authors write under alias names or pen names if they don't want people to know it was them who wrote it. Famous writers have done it in the past to see if their books are sold because of their fame, or their content."
"Oh right, where do we start?" Elliot asked taking the book.
"It was published by Paige Turners, the new mystery books publisher." Munch told them all.
"They've found some really great starter authors." Kate said, "They only publish crime and mystery novels."
Olivia looked at Elliot, she saw her friend next to him; she was stuck, what did she do now? She needed to tell him and she needed to tell him soon. But how?
Kayleigh had already missed two days of work, she had been driving around for two hours trying to find Dani. Cameron was due to be picked up from school in ten minutes, but she couldn't let Dani get irrational, she could destroy everything, she had to find her.
She spotted the green car, the wonky licence plate and smiled, she knew Dani's car a mile off. She knocked on the window and saw Dani with her head forward, she had been crying. Dani rolled down the window,
"What do you want?" she said sniffing.
"I want you." Kayleigh replied.
Dani looked at her, "You going to get in?"
Kayliegh got in the car, she looked over at her partner, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you, or to shout. I was just, I didn't think I was ready to let go."
"It's okay, but if you weren't ready, you shouldn't have let me in your life. It's not fair Kay."
"I know it's not baby, I'm so sorry. Forgive me?" Kayleigh's puppy dog brown eyes glistening for Dani, her lower lip sticking out slightly.
"One more thing."
"Anything."
"Treat me like I'm your girlfriend, not a secret."
"Done." Kayleigh said leaning over the seats and kissing Dani. "Let's go home baby."
"Elliot, we need to talk." Olivia said.
Elliot's heart skipped a beat, this was a nightmare starting to unravel. "What is it? Are you okay? Are we okay?" he asked barely keeping his panic at bay.
"Elliot, I don't know how to say this, so I'm just going to come out with it. I skipped a period."
Elliot's eyes lit up, "You're pregnant?"
A/N: Things are really starting to change now. Cragen is gone. Kate's joined the detectives to lend a hand. Masterson has killed? Dani is... well, what is Dani exactly? Who wrote the book? And Olivia's pregnant? Please review and let me know what you think. Thank you – Beth xo