Disclaimer: I don't own Law & Order SVU
Title: Desperate
Author: ReadingRed
Chapter Eleven: Domestic Dispute?
"What do you say we go pay a little visit to Dan Hoffman and the good town of Rye?" Stabler said as they left the attorneys office.
"Sure, just give me a minute to call the baby-sitter and tell her I might be a little late." Olivia said getting her phone out to dial the baby sitter.
"Wait, why don't I call Kathy and see if she'll pick him up when she get's the kids, that way he'll get to spend a little more time with Dickie and the girls, just in case." Stabler left the sentence unfinished but she knew what he was leading to. He wanted Tommy to be able to spend some extra time with his friends just in case he had to go back to Dan Hoffman. Finding the man was looking to be a two edged sword.
Olivia had had a hard time finding a baby sitter that she trusted to watch Tommy so Elliot recommended the woman who watched his kids after school. The woman, Marcy, was great with Tommy and she was willing to watch him during the day and Elliot's kids after school. Being there let Tommy spend time with the Stabler kids who he had grown attached to.
"You think Kathy would be willing to watch him?" Olivia asked as they walked to their car.
"Of course Liv, she loves Tommy." Elliot said before calling his wife.
"Hey Kathy, it's El. How's your day been? Good, I'm glad to hear it. Listen. Olivia and I are heading out to Rye, we've got a lead on Tommy's father. We might be a little late getting back into town. Would you mind taking Tommy home when you go get the kids? It should only be a couple of hours at the most. Thanks, I'll tell Liv. Love you." Elliot said before hanging up the phone.
"She said she's happy to watch Tommy, and that she'll take good care of him. And to make sure we put the bastard behind bars" Elliot said with a laugh.
The reached the car and Elliot unlocked the doors.
"You want to drive or should I" Elliot asked.
"You should drive, I'm not sure I'd be able to focus right now to be honest."
The drive to Rye was silent for the most part. Both Stabler and Benson were too occupied with their own thoughts to carry on a conversation.
They decided to go first to the Rye police station and see what they could find out about Dan Hoffman before confronting the man himself.
The police station was small but seemed to be working efficiently. They walked up to the front desk and asked to speak with a detective. The secretary pointed them in the direction of an overweight man with a bald patch, if he'd had a donut in his hand he would've been the stereotypical small town police officer.
"Detective?" Stabler asked walking up to the man.
"Chief actually, Chief Rossanno. What can I do for you?" He asked.
"I'm Detective Stabler, and this is my partner Detective Benson. We're from NYPD's Special Victims Unit, about Tommy Hoffman." Stabler said.
"Tommy Hoffman? Dan Hoffman's son?" Chief Rossanno asked shaking his head.
"Yes." Benson confirmed.
"No. You got your wires crossed. Tommy's down in Florida with his mom. Little winter getaway."
"Yeah? Anything go on in this town that you don't know about?" Benson asked.
Rossanno laughed, taking Benson's statement as a compliment. "I happened to bump into Dan last week at the Elks Club, he mentioned it."
"What kind of guy is Hoffman?" Stabler asked.
"Nicest guy in the world" the Chief answered. Successful real estate agent sells big houses to folks escaping crime in your city." Benson was beginning to see what the attorney meant. Hoffman had friends in the police department; he had a great reputation, and money. She would've had a hard time convincing the people of Rye that Dan Hoffman broke the speed limit, let alone trying to make them believe that he was abusive.
"Any history with family problems?" Benson asked.
"None, they're a good family."
"So your officers have never responded to a domestic dispute over at the Hoffman's" Elliot asked skeptically.
"You're barking up the wrong tree. Dan Hoffman's done more for this community than anybody." Rossanno said. The man turned and picked up a newspaper from a filing cabinet behind his desk. "Here, picture of him in the Rye Journal. I'm telling you, you must have the wrong Hoffman's, no way Dan's mixed up in anything."
Benson and Stabler left the Rye Police Station a little bit worse for the wear.
"Well that was a colossal waste of time. All anyone in there can do is sing Dan Hoffman's praises. They're supposed to be cops. Why can't any of them see Hoffman for the monster he is?" Benson said as she climbed into the front seat of their car.
"Do you want to do question Hoffman now?" Stabler asked gently.
"No, I want to go home. I want to see Tommy."