A/N: Wow! I'm loving your reviews, guys!


"Any updates?"

I shake my head, sighing as I meet the concerned gaze of Liv. "No, not that I know of."

It's been almost two weeks since I discovered Matt's body. So far, the detectives haven't found anything useful... Actually, that's not entirely true. The crime scene investigators were able to find trace amounts of DNA beneath Matt's fingernails, but the results haven't come back yet. It's definitely something - better than nothing - but I'm trying not to get my hopes up.

As if on cue, my phone rings, and I can see on the display that it's Detective Collins - the lead on Matt's case. Hesitantly, I pick up, and under the watchful eyes of Liv, I bring the device to my ear. "How can I help you, Detective?"

"Detective Parker," he greets, tone even and unreadable. "It's about the investigation... The DNA. We got a match."

Finally. It will all be over now.

Taking a deep breath, I ask, "Who is it?"

"He's known to you, actually." Curiosity has my ears perking. "I understand SVU was investigating him until just recently." My stomach fills with dread. "... Adam Brown."

I think my heart has stopped beating.


"I should be there."

"You know why you shouldn't," Liv says, not unkindly.

"He taunted me. He murdered my ex-" which, admittedly, I'm not that sorry for, "-and dropped him off at my apartment as if he were doing me a favor." Was it? A favor? "He targeted me."

"Which is exactly why you need to keep your distance," Fin says, his face grave. "You don't want to give his lawyers a defense."

Amanda nods. "Homicide is already on their way to arrest him. It'll be over soon."

"We couldn't get him for hurting those women," Nick adds, "but he'll still go down for murder."

Carding my fingers through my hair with barely restrained nerves and tension, I shoot up from my seat. "I need to get some air."

I don't wait to see their understanding looks and nods. Instead, I head straight for the elevator, then straight for the door, then straight down the street toward an undecided designation. I don't know where the hell I'm going. I just need to walk, move, do something other than just sit and wait.

But it's when I round a corner that someone collides into me. Raising my head, I'm about to apologize - but then I see his face. It's him. Brown.

"Hello, Ellie," he smiles, "let's go for a ride."

Shocked still, I'm too slow to react when he injects something into the side of my neck. I see, feel, smell and hear him as he drags me away, but I can't do anything about it.

I can't do anything because before I know it, I'm falling under, drowning, sinking into an abyss of darkness.