CHAPTER 12
Benson and Stabler waited for Troy Bolton at Sing Sing again. The two wanted to take another crack at Bolton and maybe this time he would break. Bolton again entered the interrogation room, wearing an orange jumpsuit and handcuffed.
"Where is she, Bolton?" Benson asked again before Bolton even had a chance to sit down.
"Where's who?" Bolton said expressionless.
"You know who. Gabriella Montez...your pregnant girlfriend or ex. Whatever her status currently is with you." Stabler said and Bolton looked at him with surprise and worry. "Yeah, we know. So what happened? She told you she was pregnant so you dumped her and she threatened to sue you for child support. Is that it? But you weren't going to let her get away with it, were you? So you made her disappear." Stabler said right in Bolton face, coldly.
Bolton's fists clenched and his face flushed red out of anger. He then began to rub a crucifix around his neck and he closed his eyes as if he were praying. Bolton got up and walked to the locked door. "Guard. I'm done here. Good-bye, detectives." He said so coldly.
The guards came in and took Bolton back to his cell. Benson and Staler left the prison. It was obvious that Bolton was not going to talk so that just left the old-fashioned way: look and hope to find a lead.
"Just in: Gabriella Montez, the only daughter of Gabriel Montez Jr. of the Gabriel Montez Foundation for Hispanic Immigrants, was just reported missing today. She was supposed to be home in Albuquerque taking some time off from NYU. But according to sources, Ms. Montez never returned home or was never seen leaving New York. The NYPD's prime suspect is none other than convicted serial rapist Troy Bolton, who reportedly did know Ms. Montez.
"The Gabriel Montez Foundation was started by Ava Montez, an immigrant from Columbia, who's husband Gabriel, also an immigrant from Columbia, was brutally murdered by white supremecist co-workers after receiving a coveted position at a well-known construction company. Mrs. Montez, who was pregnant with her son at the time, was rewarded with $1,000,000 which she use to start the Foundation. Gabriel Montez Jr. continues to run the Foundation today.
"Gabriel Montez Jr. married Yelena Cortez-Montez in Mexico. Mr. and Mrs. Montez had two children, twins Gabriel III and Gabriella. Gabriel Montez III was unfortunately murdered at the age of 16 and the case still remains unsolved.
"The Montezes asks if anyone has information regarding Gabriella's whereabouts, please call the number on the screen."
The squad room watched the news report and then the phones began ringing non-stop. "Here we go. Think we'll find a solid lead?" Stabler asked as he sat down at his desk and picked up the phone.
Benson just shrugged as she too picked up the phone. "Special Victims Unit, this Detective Benson."
Hours passed and not one solid lead until...
"Special Victims Unit, this is Detective Stabler."
"Detective Stabler...I have some information on Gabriella Montez. And please don't hang up. I'm telling the God's-to-honest truth." Said a nervous male voice.
"I'm listening, Mr..." Elliot pressed the phone closer to his ear and listened intently.
"The day before Bolton got arrested...I saw her...with him...at a private hospital not to far from where he lives. It's called the Manhattan Hope Hospital. They came in at around...between 8:30 and 9:00. She was unconsious. she was there all night. Okay."
"Listen, can I please get your name. I may need to talk to you again." Stabler said as calmly as possibly so he wouldn't scare the guy off.
"I could lose my job just telling you everything I just told you." The man said.
"So you work at the hospital?" Stabler as he wrote down on a small note pad.
"I got to go." The man said nervously.
"No, wait!" But it was already too late. The man had already hung up the phone. He put the phone back on the hook and noticed that Olivia was eyeing him. "I think I just got a potential lead." The two grabbed their jackets and raced out of the squad room.
They arrived at Manhattan Hope Hospital to see some people of higher class and wealth all around. Politicians' wives, heiresses and heirs, business men and their families, and many more.
They walked up to the reception desk and flashed their badges. "Can I help you, officiers?" The nurse at the counter asked sweetly.
"Yes, we received a tip from a reliable source that Gabriella Montez was here a few weeks ago. She may have needed emergency medical attention." Benson explained to the nurse.
"Let me call her doctor." The nurse then picked up the phone and paged a Doctor Tyler, one of the OB/GYNs. Benson noticed a security camera and pointed at it. Stabler nodded.
A few minutes later, Doctor Emma Tyler greeted the detectives and invited them into her office.
"For the record, is Gabriella Montez a patient of your's or not?" Stabler said, just getting to the point.
"Yes, she is and that is all I can say." She said with a stern face but also calm.
"We just want to know if she was here a couple of weeks ago. She came in here unconscious and with someone. That much we know. How long were they here is what we want to know." Benson said with a small smile and polite voice.
"Gabriella collasped, and that is all I will say about her present condition..."
"Just save it, Doctor. We know she's pregnant so please don't try to avoid the subject." Stabler interrupted in
"She experienced dizziness and then she collasped and she was rushed here for medical attention. For her's and the baby's safety, we made her stay overnight for monitoring." Dr. Tyler explained.
"That explains why she wasn't at the apartment when we arrested Bolton." Benson whispered to Stabler. "Was a man with her?"
"Yes, the baby's father, Alex. He never missed an appointment after he found out she was pregnant. He stayed all night, holding her hand." Tyler smiled as she descibed what a saint the baby's father was.
"Are you sure he stayed all night? He didn't leave for maybe an hour or so?" Stabler asked, leaning forward in his chair.
"He never left her side...at least not until he got a call from someone named Jake, Jim, John, or something. He didn't want to leave but she made him go. She told him she would be fine and that she would see him later that night. And then he left but he didn't come back that night, which was odd." Tyler recited what she remembered of that night.
Benson and Stabler exchanged looks. "But I was worried about Gabriella later that night." Tyler added.
"Why?" Benson asked concerned.
"I came in to discharge her. Another man was in there and he was comforting her because she crying. He saw me walk in and turned off the t.v. He helped her into the wheelchair, packed up her things, and they left together." Tyler went on.
"Can you descibe the man? And did she say a name?" Stabler asked.
"About 6'4, muscular, light brown hair, brown eyes. I think she said his name was...John. I'm not a hundred percent sure but I think it was John." Tyler answered. Benson and Stabler again exchanged looks. The two stood up and shook Dr. Tyler's hand.
"Thank you for your time." Benson then stopped at the doorway. "Do you know what was on the t.v. that night?" Benson asked real quick.
"Just the news announcing Troy Bolton's arrest. Alex and this John both bore a very strange resemblance to Troy Bolton. Alex always thought that was funny. Well, I hope that I have been a big help to you, Detectives.
And do you mind us looking at your security footage?" Benson quickly added.
"If it helps find Gabriella, then not at all."
The two exited the office and walked down the hallways. "Alexander is Bolton's middle name." Benson stated.
"And Hunter knows more than he letting on. It sounds like Bolton was here all night. What I want to know is this: If she's Bolton's alibi…why didn't he mention her?" Benson agreed with her partner and they exited the hospital.
