"Munch and Fin are talking to the Bishop this afternoon," Olivia told Elliot. "Just to see if there's any known connection between the victims through the church. But it's a long shot."
"So what else do we have?" Elliot asked, in a frustrated tone.
"Very little of substance," Olivia sighed. "Four vics, aged from 28 to 47. All raped. All branded. The branding is worsening. The last victim," she blanched at the memory of the photograph, "suffered particularly badly."
"He resents anyone moving from the Christian church to Judaism," Huang spoke up. "That suggests some trauma in his life that he attributes to those of the Jewish faith."
"Are we sure it's a 'him' and not a 'them'?" Elliot asked.
Huang nodded. "This type of crime is particularly violent. It's a man asserting his power over women who have, in his view, transgressed. It's possible he is working with someone, I suppose, but I very much doubt it."
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"Alex?" Olivia was concerned to see her lover sitting on the floor in the corridor by the door to the apartment. "How long have you been here?"
Alex looked at her watch, as she got to her feet, brushing the dust off her skirt. "Twenty minutes or so?" she guessed. "It's okay, Liv, I had to catch up on my reading," she laughed as she pointed to a fistful of papers that she had been perusing.
"Why didn't you use your key?" Olivia was startled, and leant past Alex to open the door to the apartment, ushering the blonde in.
"I didn't take the key," Alex was a little embarrassed. "We never really discussed it. I didn't want to presume."
"You've gotta be kidding me?" Olivia said. "Alex," she took both of Alex's hands in her own, and looked deep into her eyes. "This is your home now, sweetheart. Our home," she smiled, shyly. "This key," she leant over and took the spare key from the hook, "is yours. I'll get another spare cut sometime. I want you to feel at home. I want you to feel you can relax here."
"I always feel relaxed here," Alex's voice was small. "That was kinda dumb of me, huh?" she smiled as she looked at Olivia. "This is really our apartment?"
"It is," Olivia said firmly, unable to keep the delight from her voice. "And there's only one house rule," her eyes twinkled.
"Which is?" Alex enquired drily.
"You have to kiss your girlfriend as soon as you come in the door. Or as soon as she comes in the door. Whoever arrives first," Olivia grinned.
"I think I can live with that," Alex smiled back. "C'm'ere," she pulled Olivia into a passionate kiss. "Like that?" she asked when they broke apart minutes later.
"Oh yeah," Olivia breathed, her breathing a tad ragged. "That'll do very nicely."
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"Are you nervous?" Olivia slipped her hand in Alex's as they set out for Melinda and Rosie's large ground-floor apartment.
"A little," Alex admitted. "I've always been a little shy," she hated revealing any weaknesses usually, but somehow with Olivia she didn't mind. "It makes me seem a little... stand-offish. That's how I got my nickname," she smiled sadly.
"Nickname?" Olivia asked.
"The Ice Queen," Alex said.
Olivia swallowed. She had had no idea that Alex knew that some people described her in those terms, and her heart ached at the thought that she was hurt by it. She squeezed Alex's fingers. "Nobody that matters calls you that," she told her honestly. "Elliot, the guys, they all know better. They also know how good you are at your job. And Melinda has a quite different nickname for you," she grinned.
"Oh yes?" Alex half-dreaded what Olivia was about to say.
"Oh yeah," Olivia replied. "She calls you The Blonde Bombshell. And I've got to tell you, she's not wrong."
Alex grinned. "Maybe you should keep an eye that we don't sneak off together," she teased.
"Believe me, if she weren't so totally besotted with Rosie, I'd be worried," Olivia smiled.
"What's Rosie like?" Alex asked for the umpteenth time.
"She's wonderful," Olivia replied patiently. "You'll just love her. She's even taller than you are, and she's so kind and sweet. And beautiful, like an African queen. She and Mel fit so well together. I've never seen a couple so happy. And when Gracie came along, it just seemed so perfect. Rosie's a wonderful homemaker, she's a domestic goddess really."
"And Melinda?" Alex enquired.
Olivia laughed. "She's definitely not a domestic goddess," she said. "Don't misunderstand me, if you want something practical done, she's brilliant. She can fix a leaking toilet as soon as look at it. Just don't ask her to cook. Or choose fabrics."
"What does Rosie do for work?" Alex wanted to know.
"She's a professor of African history at NYU," Olivia said. "A real smart cookie. Hey," she detected fear in Alex's eyes. She took her face in both hands, and kissed her gently. "You'll love her. You'll love it at their apartment. They are so relaxed and happy, it's infectious. And Gracie's a peach."
Alex brightened at the memory of the young girl who had won her heart on their previous meeting. "She's a very special little girl," she remembered.
By this time, they had walked the six blocks to their friends' apartment.
"You okay?" Olivia asked. Alex nodded happily, and reached up to ring the bell.
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"They're here!" Melinda told her family, moving to open the door. She enveloped first Olivia and then Alex in warm hugs.
Olivia had only just released Melinda when Gracie came running up the corridor and flung herself at her favorite auntie, giggling as Olivia swept her into her arms and swung her round. Olivia smiled as she saw Rosie coming towards her, and lowered Gracie to the floor to hug Rosie. "Wow," she pulled back to look at the pregnant woman. She put both her hands on Rosie's prominent stomach. "You look amazing," she said.
"I look fat, you mean," Rosie grinned as she spoke.
"No, seriously, you're beautiful," Olivia was sincere. Her friend was blooming, happiness emanating from every pore. She looked over at Gracie and saw her hugging Alex fiercely, and was relieved and delighted to see Alex looking relaxed and happy, smiling widely at the enchanting child.
When Gracie finally relinquished her hold on Alex, Rosie strode towards her, holding both hands out and taking Alex's in her own. "You are so welcome," she said warmly, leaning forward to kiss the blonde on the cheek. "I cannot tell you how pleased I am to meet you. We've been telling Liv for years that she needed the love of a good woman, haven't we Lindy?" she looked over at her partner. "I have to say," Rosie looked approvingly at Alex, "Liv has always had exquisite taste."
Alex blushed. "I'm so happy to be here," she said. "Though I can't believe you are hosting us when you are so near to your delivery date. How long is it to go now?"
"Thirteen days, give or take," Rosie told her.
"And then I'll have a little sister!" Gracie interrupted with a grin.
"And will you like being a big sister?" Alex knelt at the child's level, unconsciously stroking her soft cheek.
"I'm going to love it!" Gracie said. "Mom and Ma are going to show me how to help to take care of the baby. And I'm going to teach her all sorts of things."
"Things not related to doggy doo, I hope?" Melinda failed to keep a laugh out of her voice.
Olivia looked askance. "Rosie and I found something... unexpected under the pillow last night," Melinda told her. "I swear, if she hadn't realized it was plastic, Rosie would have given birth there and then!"
Gracie grinned mischievously. "Jeffrey Cotton lent me his poo," she explained. "I had to find somewhere fun to put it. Jeffrey's in love with me," she added, in a wise tone.
"Oh yes?" Olivia tried to keep a straight face. "And how do you feel about him? Is he potential husband material?"
"Nah," Gracie said. "He's sweet, but I'm going to marry Clifton. He's nearly eight," she whispered, conspiratorially into Olivia's ear.
"An older man, huh?" Olivia said. "Well that sounds a very sensible decision to me."
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Rosie served a delicious banquet of mainly Nigerian foods, which were all bursting with flavor and, to Alex's uninitiated palate, were very exotic but nonetheless delicious. "I don't think I've ever eaten so much," Alex waved away the offer of a third plateful of caramelized bananas. "That was wonderful, Rosie. Thank you so much."
"Can we go play on my trampoline now?" Gracie grabbed Alex's hand.
"Oh no," Melinda told her daughter, laughing. "We've all had far too much to eat to even consider using the trampoline. Anyway, Gracie, I think it's about time you had your bath and then went to bed." She looked at her watch. "You really should have been in bed nearly an hour ago."
Gracie pouted. "But I want to show Auntie Alex my bedroom."
Rosie got to her feet, and put her hands on her daughter's shoulders. "I tell you what, Gracie, how about you take Auntie Alex to see your bedroom, while I run the tub? And then, maybe if you ask her very nicely, Auntie Alex will read you a story when you're tucked up in bed?"
Alex nodded enthusiastically. "I'd love to," she said, her eyes shining. Olivia was delighted to see that Alex was as taken with the child as she was.
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Once they had said their goodbyes, Alex casually took Olivia's hand and pulled it into the pocket of her woollen coat, their fingers intertwined.
"So that wasn't so bad, was it?" Olivia asked gently.
"It was wonderful," Alex told her. "They are such a cute family. You're right, Rosie is the sweetest. How long did you say they had been together?"
"Nearly ten years," Olivia smiled.
"And they are still so in love," Alex tightened her grip on Olivia's hand. "Do you think we'll be like that in ten years?"
"Definitely," Olivia's reply was prompt and firm. "I can't imagine ever not being in love with you, Alexandra. I have truly never met anyone like you. Just looking at you makes me happy. Being able to touch you is exquisite."
"So you don't think I'm an Ice Queen then?" Alex's voice faltered slightly.
Olivia stopped walking, turning to face Alex. "You are so far from an Ice Queen," she told her tenderly. "You're warm, and kind and sensitive. You are far from cold. In fact," she grinned shyly, "I think you are the hottest woman I have ever met." She leant forward and brushed her lips over Alex's, deepening the kiss as Alex responded. She slipped her tongue into Alex's mouth, gasping as their tongues mingled playfully. She felt her own breathing quicken, and reluctantly pulled back. "Let's get you home," she said huskily, "I think we need to work off some of that food."
Alex smiled. "Any particular exercise you have in mind, Detective?" her voice had regained its playful tone.
"Oh yes, Counselor," Olivia grabbed her hand and starting walking fast towards their apartment. "Care to join me?"