Illusive Perception

(Chapter Thirteen: Progress)

Marlena Price paced the floor of the interrogation room as Cragen, Elliot and Olivia watched her through the glass.

"How are we going to approach this?" Cragen asked.

"I'd like to just go in there and smack her around until she tell us where Jennifer and that baby are," Olivia growled.

Elliot snickered. "She's really got you worked up."

"Every word out of her mouth has been a lie, Elliot. Jennifer and her baby could be dead or dying somewhere for all we know and this woman does is pump out lie after lie. We are no closer to the truth than we were before we spoke with her."

"I don't get it. Why would she come in here and report Jennifer missing if she is just going to tell all of these lies to keep us from finding her? If Marlena wanted her gone for some reason, you would think it would be a good thing that no one knew Jennifer was missing."

"Unless people started snooping around." Cragen added. "Maybe someone was onto her, knew she had something to do with Jennifer's disappearance. No better way to throw the cops off your trail than to appear to be helping with the investigation."

"Maybe the husband figured her out. Then she had to make him go away, too. But why would she try to get rid of Jennifer? She wanted that baby. Why not wait until after they have the baby to make Jennifer disappear?" Olivia thought out loud.

"Maybe she changed her mind," Elliot said looking at his partner.

Olivia sat at the desk in the interrogation room staring at the table with her stomach churning as Elliot lead the interview. Marlena Price paced the floor in front of Olivia and sobbed, so far not saying anything that could help them find Jennifer.

"Cut the bullshit, Marlena!" Olivia inserted into Elliot's conversation. She raised her head to look at the panic in the woman's eyes. "Why would you want to make Jennifer disappear?"

"I don't know what you are talking about. I reported her missing! I don't want anything to happen to Jennifer. I am worried about her and the baby."

"Alright," Elliot said pushing out a chair at the table, "the sit down and talk to us."

"I don't know what you want me to say," Marlena Price sobbed.

"You can start at the beginning," Olivia said tilting her head to stare Marlena down. "And tell us the truth. Because we're gonna find out one way or another, Marlena. And it is really going to help you out a lot if you worked with us."

Marlena stared at Olivia then took a seat in the chair in front of her. "I lied to you about the baby. My husband and I did try. For years, we tried. But that stopped about four years ago. Then my husband decided he didn't want a baby."

"So how did you go from there to adopting Jennifer's baby?" Elliot asked.

"Ray came to us wanting money to pay for the abortion. I begged David to let me adopt the baby. He finally gave in."

"Ray's current girlfriend, Katie tells us that Jennifer decided to keep her baby. You and your husband had a lot of money invested in that kid. Thousands of dollars in doctor's bills, a new apartment so Jennifer didn't have to share a dorm room while she was pregnant, not to mention the cash allowance you gave her each month for allowing you to adopt her child. It must have really pissed you off when she changed her mind."

"We were upset or I was, my husband only agreed to adopt the baby to shut me up."

"So you go and you talk to Jennifer, try to reason with her. She can't care for this kid on her own. She cannot offer that baby as good a home as you can. Single mother still in college," Elliot suggested.

"Yes. But she wouldn't listen."

"What happened?" Olivia asked feeling a bit nauseated.

"We argued and she left, but I didn't hurt her. I swear."

"What about your husband?" Elliot asked as Olivia held her hand against her stomach.

She scooted her chair out and moved quickly out the door. Elliot watched as his partner left the room.

He cleared his throat and looked back at Marlena Price. "Where is your husband right now? We'd like to bring him in and ask him a few questions."

"I don't know."

"You don't know? You told the other detectives he was on a work related trip to Maine." Elliot stared her down. "But you and I both know that is not true. Where is he, Marlena?"

"I don't know. He woke me up in the middle of the night and said he was going away for a few days. He told me to call his work in the morning, so I did. I don't know where he went."

"And you have no way to contact him?"

"No."

After Elliot finished the interview with Marlena Price, he went in search of his partner. He walked into the bullpen, but Olivia was not at her desk.

"Fin, you seen Liv?"

"She shot through here like somebody set her on fire. Headed for the ladies room. That was about ten minutes ago."

"I sent her to the cribs to lie down," Cragen announced. "She stumbled out of the ladies room, looking like Hell. It was obvious she was sick. I tried to get her to take the rest of the day off and go home, but she refused. I told her to go lie down for a bit."

Elliot tapped softly on the door to the cribs. He pushed the door open slowly and stepped inside.

"I brought you some tea."

Olivia groaned a little and raised up on the bunk making room for Elliot to sit beside her.

"You okay, Liv?"

"Yeah. I didn't eat anything this morning and my head is killing me. I'm just a bit nauseous, it will pass."

"This case is really getting to you."

"No more than usual. I just worry about Jennifer and that baby, if we don't find them soon…"

"I know. Why don't you go on home and get some rest? When I get home I will fix us a nice dinner and we can unwind together. Relax a little bit and start over tomorrow."

"I don't know, Elliot."

"Liv, you need a break. This is your first case back. And it isn't easy."

"It never is."

"No, I'm just thinking maybe you jumped in a little too deep, too fast. Take a little break. I will let you know if we find anything."

"Okay," Olivia exhaled rubbing her fingertips against her temple.

Elliot walked her down to the sidewalk in front of the precinct and flagged her a cab. He kissed her gently and closed the car door after she climbed inside.

It was around five thirty that evening when Elliot opened the door to her apartment. The lights were out and the only sounds came from the back of the apartment. He tossed his keys on the table beside the door and made his way down the hall.

"Olivia?"

Half way to the bedroom he noticed the bathroom light was on and the door was opened just a bit.

"Liv?"

Elliot pushed the door open, but the room was empty. On the sink sat a white plastic stick. Elliot reached down and picked up the tester in his hand. He held his breath and stared at the results printed clearly in the little window.

"It's negative," Olivia said from behind him. "Must just be a touch of the flu."

Elliot took a deep breath and turned around to look at the tears in her eyes. He tossed the test strip into the trash can and wrapped her in his arms.

"It will happen," he mumbled against the side of her neck as he kissed her gently.

"It's been four months," she said shaking her head.

"It's only been four months. Some people try for years."

"Elliot, when you were with Kathy you didn't have any trouble at all getting her pregnant. You and I have been having sex so often I am surprised either of us even want it anymore. And nothing. I was late. Only a few days, but then the nausea. I was so sure."

"Come here," he said picking her up and carrying her to the bed. Elliot laid her down and climbed into the bed beside her, then pulled the blankets up around them. "We'll just have to keep trying," he whispered.

"What if something's wrong with me?" She asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, if there is a problem, obviously it is not with you. You have five children. We know you're fertile."

"Honey, just because you don't get pregnant in the first four months doesn't me that you never will."

"I know. But let's face it, I am not as young as I used to be. Maybe…."

"Maybe, we should just keep trying. If we give up now, it will never happen. If you are worried sweetheart you could see a doctor."

"Do you think I should?"

"I think if you are worried then it is worth checking into."

"Okay, then I will make an appointment."

Elliot kissed her tenderly. "I love you, baby."

"I love you, too."

"Why don't you rest here? I'm gonna got fix us some dinner. Pour a couple of glasses of wine and light a few candles. We can go to bed a little early and just relax. I can hold you in my arms until we both fall asleep."

Olivia smiled. "You are so amazing."

"You are pretty amazing yourself," he said kissing her. "Now get some rest. I'll wake you for dinner."

Olivia smiled as Elliot kissed her forehead and turned off the bedside lamp.