A/N: My most profound apologies for the lateness of this update! Work has really been kicking my ass and I wanted to post all of these parts together so... Anyway, at least it is a BIG update! I hope you enjoy it and thank you so much for all of the reviews! They let me know you are still interested!
P.S.: I know there are a lot of opinions in regards to who is the taller of our two lovely ladies. In most of the scenes I have seen, Alex has her beat by at least an inch or two, and since that works for me, I am going for! LOL
She barely made it.
Sliding into her customary spot on the last bench in the back of the courtroom, Olivia watched the bailiff walk out and announce that court was back in session.
Alex heard the courtroom door swing shut and turned, rolling her eyes when she caught sight of the detective.
Olivia would have been worried if she hadn't seen the corners of the ADA's mouth turn up slightly in a smile she couldn't quite suppress.
"The People call Detective Olivia Benson." Alex kept her gaze impassive as the brunette walk by her on the way to the witness stand, but she had to admit… it was hard. Olivia was dressed in a snug black skirt and matching jacket over a crimson shirt. Not for the first time, Alex took note of just how good the detective looked in black and red. Glancing down, her eyebrows rose slightly when she saw that Olivia was wearing heels. Their height clearly outlined the muscles of her calves and the blonde found herself wondering if the skin covering them was as soft as it looked.
Realizing that the bailiff was done swearing Olivia in, Alex mentally shook herself, her lips thinning in surprise when it took longer than it normally did to refocus her thoughts. She glanced at the jury before moving to stand before the detective who was now looking at her with a pleasantly curious expression on her face.
"Detective Benson, can you please describe the events that transpired on the afternoon of June 24th of this year?"
Olivia's voice was warm, her manner open as she addressed the ADA and the jury. "At approximately two forty-five that afternoon, my partner and I were at 236 Stewart Street speaking with a witness involved in another case. As we were leaving the residence, we were approached by a neighbor who informed us that Tabitha Neal, a fifteen year old girl who lived across the street had run out of her house in tears earlier that morning. The girl had been bloody and bruised and was calling for help. Her father, Victor Neal came out of the house and grabbed her by the arm, dragging her back inside after threatening the neighbor with violence should she call the police."
"What was the neighbor's name?"
"Allison Montgomery."
"Did Ms. Montgomery report the incident?"
Olivia shook her head sadly. "No she did not. She was worried that Mr. Neal would follow through on his threats. He is known throughout the neighborhood for his quick temper."
The defense attorney shot to his feet. "Objection, Your Honor! Hearsay!"
Alex looked up at the judge over the tops of her glasses, causing Olivia's heart to skip a beat. "The comment was directly stated to Detective Benson and is being presented to explain the neighbor's state of mind, Your Honor."
The Judge looked at Alex sternly. "Then I suggest your witness restate her answer."
The ADA arched one eyebrow and looked at Olivia expectantly.
The detective sighed. "Ms. Montgomery stated that she was well aware of Mr. Neal's temper, having witnessed him strike another neighbor over a dispute involving a dog defecating near the steps to his home. In addition she had seen Mr. Neal react violently in numerous other situations."
The defense attorney frowned and sat back down.
Alex's smile was imperceptible to anyone but Olivia. "Please continue Detective Benson."
She nodded. "We knocked on the door to the Neal residence and presented our identification, announcing who we were. Before we were able to ask any questions, we heard someone call out to us from inside the residence. Mr. Neal proceeded to try and shut the door in our faces, but my partner managed to subdue him while I entered the home."
"And what did you find inside?"
Olivia glared at the defendant. "We found his daughter tied to a bed upstairs. She was naked and had been badly beaten. When I removed the strip of cloth she was gagged with she informed me that her father had raped and beaten her several times. She was taken by ambulance to Bellevue where a rape kit was done. Semen was found inside of the victim."
Alex pursed her lips. "And that semen belonged to?"
"According to the DNA results it was an identical match to Victor Neal." She tried to keep her eyes from following Alex's hand movements but the long fingers that alternately waved in the air and gripped the banister between them were hard to resist. When the ADA extended her index finger and pointed at the floor as she asked her next question, Olivia had to struggle to hold back a smile.
"And what was the defendant doing while you were freeing his daughter, Detective Benson?"
This time she did smile. "He was yelling from the street."
"Yelling what?"
"That 'The little bitch deserved it!' and that she 'Put out for the whole neighborhood!'."
The defense attorney was back on his feet. "Objection, Your Honor! My client had not been properly Mirandized at that point so any comments he may have made are not admissible!"
Olivia could see the feral look that flashed through Alex's eyes.
"The People maintain that said comments were made in the heat of the moment, Your Honor. No questions were asked, the defendant's admissions were given freely and with malice. They qualify as an Excited Utterance and should be allowed."
"I agree." The judge looked sternly at the other attorney. "Overruled."
"What happened at that point Detective?"
Olivia shifted as Alex's attention returned to her, still heated by her recent victory. "My partner arrested Mr. Neal and took him into custody while I accompanied Tabitha to the hospital."
"And what occurred at the hospital?"
"During the course of the examination and the collection of the rape kit it was discovered that Tabitha Neal had been a virgin at the time of her father's initial attack."
Alex graced her with a small smile and nodded slightly. Olivia could read her expression easily.
Let's see them try and blame it on the victim now!
"No further questions."
She watched Alex return to the Prosecutor's table, enjoying the slight swagger in her step so much she almost missed the first question from the defense.
"Ms. Benson-"
She shifted her attention to the attorney standing in front of her, taking in the expensive suit that did nothing to hide the slime that showed through from underneath. "Detective Benson." She leaned back in her chair, her posture easy but her eyes hard.
He blinked, a slight flush the only indication of the anger he felt at being corrected. "Detective Benson," The derision in his voice was clear and she noticed Alex's tiny grin from across the room. Nothing like insulting the savior of a fifteen year old rape victim to kill your rapport with a jury! "You stated that when my client opened his front door, you heard his daughter call out for help, is that correct?"
"No."
He blinked again. "I can have the court reporter read that part of your testimony back to you."
She leaned forward again, her eyes turning to bits of ice. "And if you did, you would hear that I stated Tabitha Neal called out to us. I never said she called out for help. That would have been difficult, considering she was gagged at the time."
He swallowed; a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. "So you are stating that you could just tell that she needed help? Is that some kind of sixth sense cops have?"
Olivia shook her head; smiling softly. "I think it went something like this…" She covered her mouth with her hand and proceeded to scream, startling the jury, causing most of them to blink and sit up straighter as the defense attorney turned a strange shade of white.
From the Prosecutor's table, Alex looked down at her lap and pressed her lips together to keep from laughing out loud. God, I love you Olivia.