They both arrived at the precinct, Munch was holding a cup of tea, Fin, was on phone and so was Cragen. The precinct was really pro active and Elliot and Olivia as if they were jumping in the train after departure.
Elliot: What do we have?
Nobody paid enough attention to realize they arrived together.
Munch: Dana Multon, 8 years old. She was supposed to sleep at her friend's Cornelia but as she never showed up Cornelia's parents called Mr and Mrs Multon to know why they didn't drop her off. Mr and Mrs Multon were invited to Mr Multon's boss for dinner and dropped the girl at the corner of the street, Dana had only few meters to walk. But she never reached the doorbell.
Olivia: Any witnesses?
Munch: That's why Fin's on phone: the policemen who arrived first there already began to ask the neighborhood.
Fin hung up.
Fin: Apparently nobody heard a thing. She has just disappeared.
Cragen: Olivia, Elliot, the parents are at the entrance of the building. Talk to them, separately. I want to know if they both have the same version or if there is something wrong with them.
Olivia. Alright cap!
Elliot went to the coffee machine and turned to Olivia.
Olivia: No thanks. I prefer to wait for the mother and offer her a coffee.
Elliot: You're right.
They smiled at each other. This smile meant so much. They knew they were both sorry for the girl, for the parents, new case, new pain, but now they could be there for each other more than before, they had a stronger link than before. Olivia cut the gaze as she saw Mr and Mrs Multon entering the precinct. She walked to her.
Olivia: Mrs Multon? Detective Benson, I'm one of the detectives working to find your girl.
Mrs Multon: Detective Benson, please find her….she's all we have.
Olivia: Call me Olivia. Can I offer you a coffee or a glass of water?
She led Mrs Multon in one of the interview room and Elliot did the same with the father.
Interview room – Olivia and Mrs Multon
Olivia: Tell me about yesterday.
Mrs Multon: What do you want to know?
Olivia: Everything…Since breakfast.
Mrs Multon: Well, like usual I had breakfast with Dana. Andrew was already gone at work. He usually leaves at 6 am to begin at 7am. So we had breakfast together, she asked me if I still agreed to let her sleep at Cornelia's…..I said yes, of course….and then we took our coats, she grabbed her bag and jumped in the car….I dropped her off at school, I went to work. Back at 5pm, she arrived few minutes after. Andrew arrived at 5.30pm, he told me we were invited for dinner at his boss' and that it was really important for his carrier so we had to get dressed…(She cried) …We had to go but Dana was not ready yet, I yelled at her….I said she had to hurry or we would leave her at home….We should have done that! Maybe she wouldn't have disappeared!
Olivia: Don't blame yourself…..please keep going, every single detail is important.
Mrs Multon: She finally packed and jumped into the car, Andrew rushed to Cornelia's house and we dropped her at the corner…..
Olivia: How far was it form Cornelia's house?
Mrs Multon: Not far, I swear!
Olivia: Does Dana often sleep at Cornelia's?
Mrs Multon: It's an habit…They are best friends, Cornelia comes often and vice versa….
Olivia: Do you know Cornelia's parents?
Mrs Multon: Mr and Mrs Anderson are really nice. We met, as our girls spend a lot of time together.
Olivia: I have to ask you this question, Mrs Multon….why have you waited so long before calling the police?
Mrs Multon cried louder: Because Andrew switched off his cell phone! We were so sure she would be safe….we didn't even think about her having troubles….It was so usual for us….letting her sleep at Cornelia's!!! And the dinner was so important for Andrew so he didn't want to be disturbed during the dinner!
Olivia breathed
Olivia: Mrs Multon, can I let you a second? I'll be right back.
She closed the door after her and asked a policeman to watch her.
Meanwhile, Interview room, Elliot and Mr Multon
Elliot: Mr Multon, tell me about that day.
Mr Multon: I left home around 6 this morning. Work all day, back home, told my wife we were waited by my boss for dinner, showered, took the car, dropped my daughter at the corner of the street….dinner at my boss' …
Elliot: Ok…. Do you think of anyone who wants to hurt you or your family?
Mr Multon: Of course not! What the h*ll is this question? I mean….we are normal people with normal life, we don't hide a criminal past, Detective!
Elliot: Sorry, sir, that's a common question in cases like this. Did you notice something these last days?
Mr Multon: Like someone following us?
Elliot: Is it?
Mr Multon: NO! Like I told you, we are normal people!
Elliot: Pedophiles are not normal people, I don't blame you, I have to ask questions to have as many details as possible. We need to begin somewhere, and you don't really seem cooperative.
Mr Multon: Do you have kids, Detective?
Elliot: Yeah, five. Why?
Mr Multon: So you surely have an idea of the kind of shock we can have when you were told your daughter has disappeared?
Elliot: Yeah…sure. But please, just answer our questions…the less time we spend on arguing, the more time we'll have to find the person who has your daughter, Mr Multon. I let you few minutes to think about it.
He left and asked a policeman to watch him.
He came back to his office and saw Olivia talking to Cragen.
Cragen: What do you have?
Elliot: The father's really not cooperative, but he is in shock…I let him some space to breather and I'll go back. What about you Olivia?
Olivia: Mother seems to be clear. I don't think she is hiding something.
Elliot: Do we have news from Cornelia and her parents?
Cragen: Munch and Fin went there. They arrived few minutes ago, we are waiting for their phone call. Let me call CSU and I'll keep you informed. Go back to the parents.
He went to his desk.
Olivia breathed
Elliot: You alright?
Olivia: Yeah…. I'm pretty sure the mother is not involved.
Elliot: Do you want me to talk to her? Maybe the father will be cooperative speaking to a woman?
Olivia: Ok, let's do that.
She passed in front of him. He caught her hand and made her turn to face him, still holding her hand.
Elliot: Hey….we'll find her, ok?
Olivia: I know….
Elliot: Liv…
Olivia: It's ok, El, I'm fine.
He watched her walking away.
She entered the interview room.
Mr Multon: Who are you?
Olivia: Detective Benson. I just interviewed your wife,
Mr Multon: And now it's my turn because Detective Stabler messed up?
Olivia: He didn't mess up. He thinks you are hiding something and that's make him angry because it's about your daughter's life.
Mr Multon: I don't hide a thing! I'm just a father who lost her daughter! I want to see my wife, where is Jo?
Olivia: She's talking to my partner. So you left home early and went back at 5.30 pm?
Mr Multon: Yes! I begin at 7 am, short time for lunch and leave work at around 5 pm.
Olivia: Good relationships at work?
Mr Multon: Let my co workers out of this! Let my job out of this! I can't lose my job, so please! I have good relationship with my co workers, with my boss, and maybe I'll be in charge soon of a big project, from the beginning till the end!
Olivia: What's your job?
Mr Multon: I'm an architect!
Olivia: Why don't you want us to interview your co workers? Are you having an affair at work?
Mr Multon get angry.
Mr Multon: You have no right to ask this!
Olivia: Yes I do! We've seen a lot of cases with love affairs outside of marriage involved!
Mr Multon: I don't have an affair at work!
Olivia: Not at work? So?
Mr Multon stood speechless.
Olivia: Please Mr Multon. It's about you daughter's life! We are not here to judge you.
Mr Multon: She'd never hurt Dana, please believe me.
Olivia: Her name?
Mr Multon: No, please….I can't tell.
Olivia: She's married too?
Mr Multon: Yes…. She has a family. It happened once….and then we couldn't stop. I try to avoid her as much as I can but every time I see her….
Olivia: A neighbor?
Mr Multon: Please….I won't tell more. Believe me, she's not involved. Can I see my wife?
Olivia: Ok.
She led him to the interview room but saw Elliot and Mrs Multon talk to another couple with a girl, same age as Dana.
Olivia: Elliot?
Elliot: Olivia, Mr and Mrs Anderson came to testify.
Olivia saw Mrs Anderson look at Mr Multon. She turned her hair and saw Mr Multon's face. Their glance meant more than "I'm sorry for your daughter". She understood.
They joined the group.
Mr Multon: Claire, Peter…
Mr Anderson: We'll do our best to help the police, Andrew.
Mr Multon: Thank you, Peter.
Olivia: Mr and Mrs Multon, you should go back home, you'll stay with a policeman in case of a payback phone call.
Mrs Multon: Thank you Olivia.
Olivia: I'll call you as soon as we have news.
They both left.
Elliot: Mr and Mrs Anderson, Detectives Munch and Tutuola are waiting for you; you'll have to repeat what you told them before.
Fin came to lead them to the interview rooms.
Olivia: El…we've got a problem. Mr Multon confessed he's having a love affair.
Elliot: Did he tell you with who?
Olivia: He refused, but said he sometimes can't escape seeing her, that she is married….and the way he looked at her….my bet it's Mrs Anderson.
Elliot: Wow…nice. Ok… we'll have to ask her to confirm.
Olivia: Wait, El…I'm not sure it is the best thing to do…I mean… She won't confess that easily….
Elliot: Unless she has nothing to hide….We could pretend she is suspected as Mr Multon told us they are lovers….
Olivia: Ok, I'll check with John and Fin.
Elliot: Alright. I'll talk to Cornelia.
