CHAPTER 21

"Montez. Gabriel Montez." Alvarez said. And Benson looked at Stabler with a shocked expression.

"So you're saying that Gabriel Montez hired you to kill his son-in-law?" Stabler asked getting over the shock.

"He doesn't know they're married. I didn't tell him. At first, he made an invisible bodyguard for Gabriella. And then..." Alvarez covered his mouth with his hand.

"Tell us how this all started." Benson said calmly.

"After all the charges were dropped, he made me keep an eye on Gabriella. Two years. Two years before her and Troy met again. She was so happy. I kept it from him for as long as I could but when Gabriella wanted to go to New York for grad school..." Alvarez paused again.

"You had to tell Montez why." Benson finished the sentence for him and Alvarez nodded.

"And then that's when he told me to take Troy out of the picture. So he helped me get a job as his bodyguard and helped me get a new identity. But I couldn't do it. I had so many opportunities but I just couldn't. That's when he came up with a plan to make the state do it for us."

"Framing him for murder." Benson added in all the facts.

Alvarez nodded again. "But he said we had to make him look like a monster. So he picked out the girls and he made me..." Alvarez had tears streaming down his cheeks now. "He said that they were disgraces to their kind and deserved it."

"How were they disgraces?" Stabler asked.

"They partied, slept around, did drugs, all sorts of things. But then he said we needed one last victim."

"Why Marisa?" Benson asked.

"Montez helped her get a scholarship and a visa. He said she owed him as well. And if she didn't, he would have us both deported. We can't go back to Puerto Rico!"

"It's ok. We understand. Keep going." Benson said sounding sympathetic.

"We had rough sex and then she made me drug her. I borrowed Troy's truck, he would let me take it all the time. I gave her the credit card and showed her which way to run. And then I took the truck back and waited for Troy to come back."

"What about the baby? Does Montez know?" Stabler asked.

"Yeah. He knows. That is why he wanted Troy dead by now so he can send Gabriella away in order to put the baby up for adoption. He thinks she broke her vows of abstinence." Alvarez snickered.

"You said that big brothers protect their little sisters. What did you mean?" Benson asked. Alvarez looked at her and then it became completely clear. "Gabriella is your sister." She stated instead of asked.

"Montez is not that much of a saint as the public thinks he is. He was married to my mother before his current wife. And then I was born and I looked...I looked white. He freaked and she told him that my grandfather was white. The next day he filed for an annulment saying that she was unfaithful. He even destroyed all the records of their marriage. I hate him more than anything, but I love Gabriella. And one day I hope she can forgive me."

"That may take awhile since you framed her husband for murder." Stabler said sarcastic.

"I've done worse...I-I killed...I killed our brother." Alvarez admitted and Benson and Stabler froze. "For years I watched them grow up without knowing I existed. And then when I ran to my father for protection, he made me their invisible bodyguard...He wasn't supposed to die!"

"Tell us everything that happened that night." Benson asked.

"He asked me to take a few guys and rough Gabe up. We were just supposed to be teaching him a lesson. I was watching from a distant making sure they didn't take too far. Then..." Alvarez hesitated and wiped his eyes. "And then one of them pulled out a knife and stabbed Gabe. It took me by complete surprise. They ran off and I ran over trying to help but...but he died in my arms."

"How did Montez take it?" Stabler asked leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

"He smiled. He said that was the plan all along." Alvarez said with a angry expression. Benson and Stabler looked at one another.

"Why would Gabriel Monez have his own son killed?" Benson asked.

"Because...because...because Gabe was gay." Benson looked at Stabler. "He was in the closet but he knew. He said he rather have a dead son than one that was gay." Alvarez continued with an angry expression on his face. "And now he claimed that if I killed Troy he would acknowledge me as his son. I can't believe I fell for it. He probably wanted me to keep my mouth shut."

"Yeah. Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, and Accessory to Murder would put a damper on business." Stabler said sarcastic.

"No. I have information that can land him in federal prison." Benson and Stabler leaned forward when they heard this.

"We're listening." Benson said.

"If I talk, I want Witness Protection and this includes Marisa." Alvarez said firmly.

"We'll have to make a call. Just one more question: Do you know where Gabriella is?" Benson asked.

"Why do you think I sent you that picture. I was hoping you guys would find her in time to save Troy." Alvarez said desperately.