Catholic cathedral, Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, the next morning
Wearing a conservative black skirt suit with a navy blouse, Olivia was sitting in the pew near the front. Her mother, in a black dress, was beside her, holding Maddie on her lap. Clad in a dark blue sailor dress, little girl sat quietly, one gloved hand clutching her older sister's.
Looking around, Olivia found familiar faces amid the seas of blue and black. A grim-faced Lennie Briscoe sat beside his wife Ellie and their two daughters. Presently, they were joined by a solemn Kenny, who was clad in his police cadet uniform. Not surprisingly under the circumstances, he didn't notice his ex-girlfriend watching him.
She was able to find other parties known to her. Behind the Briscoes sat Brian and Karen Torricelli and their two grown sons. Detective Flynn leaned forward to whisper in the latter's ear. Sergeant Anita Van Buren sat next to him; on her other side her husband Donald put a tentative arm around her shoulders. And several pews behind Olivia were Benjamin Stone, Paul Robinette, and Mr. & Mrs. Adam Schiff.
I'm glad the District Attorney is here. The police need to be reminded that they're not alone in this fight for justice.
Then she turned her attention towards the right front pew. Sitting beside her bleary-eyed father was Mike Logan. Olivia felt a sense of relief when she recalled her latest appointment with Dr. Olivet. Due to a cancellation, the later had been able to see Mike for an hour. Emerging, his eyes had been red, but he had seemed less tense.
"Thank you," he had said to Olivia, his eyes revealing emotion that she had never noticed before.
Despite the sorrowful occasion, Olivia had found her interest piqued. What went on in there? Does Mike hold back that his feelings that much? I've seen him with the Greevey boys and Maddie, and he's mentioned his siblings, so I know he has a heart under his armor, but he's never seemed so…wounded? Vulnerable?
Just then, the service began. Olivia's thoughts immediately flew to back to present, and she gave Maddie a supportive kiss on the check. Looking straight ahead, she saw the black-veiled Aunt Marie sitting beside her son Max. A lump came to Olivia's throat: The first time I saw M.J. was at Mother's funeral. She knew right then that she would do whatever she could to help the boys, just as Aunt Marie and Uncle Max had helped her when she first came into Marmee and Daddy's lives a near-lifetime ago.
Later, at the Greevey home, Olivia was in the kitchen preparing a plate for her little sister when the district attorney entered.
"How are you doing, Ms. Cragen?" he greeted with an extended hand.
"I'm…I'm coping," she replied, shaking his hand.
Nodding soberly, he said, "You're very fortunate to have had a man like Max Greevey in your life."
She knew he wasn't referring to his saving her. "I-I know," she replied softly with a smile. "I'll always love him."
"And that's why you want to help solve the Talmadge case," he said.
She was momentarily speechless. News certainly did travel fast among law enforcement! "Yes, sir, I do," she managed to reply after a quick pause.
"I'd like to see that case closed," Schiff said, nodding. "And I hope that whatever you have accomplishes that goal. However, have you given any thoughts to what you would do if it didn't?" His eyes were concerned.
"Yes," Olivia replied slowly, "Dr. Olivet--I'm seeing her at the moment--and I discussed it." She didn't feel comfortable enough to reveal anything further.
"Good," he said, seeming relieved. "Mr. Magadan has caused enough pain as it is. Take care of yourself, young lady." He then exited the room.
Hanging her head, Olivia closed her eyes and sighed, recalling the last session she had with Dr. Olivet.
Dr. Olivet: So you're going forward with assisting the police?
Olivia: Yes. It's better to try and fail than not to try at all.
Dr. Olivet: Do you really believe that?
Olivia: Yes. I know it sounds cliché, but if I don't do anything I'll always wonder 'What if?' Besides, if I'm right, little Stephan could be reunited with his grandparents in a matter of weeks.
Dr. Olivet: And if you're wrong? How will you take that emotionally?
Olivia: I'll be…unhappy, but I'll just keep my ears open until another tip comes up.
Dr. Olivet: But 'another tip' may not come up, Olivia. Your father could tell you about the cold cases on file. The Talmadge case could be one of them. If so, how will you react?
Olivia: (after a long pause): Nothing will keep me from getting on with my life or pursuing my career goals.
"And nothing will either," she said to herself, grabbing a plastic fork and wrapping it inside of a napkin.
"What did you say?"
Startled, Olivia turned to face Kenny, who stood in the nearby doorway holding his hat.
"I was just thinking out loud, Ken," she said as she went to embrace him. In the seconds she held him the scent of Old Spice hyper speeded her back through the most memorable parts of their relationship: their first homecoming dance, their first date in her mother's car (she had become eligible to earn her license before him), their first date using his mother's car (after he had earned his license), their junior prom, their senior prom, and the fateful night that they--
"I'm so glad you're all right, Livvie," he said as they parted.
"Thanks, Ken," she said, sighing. "But, I'm not 'all right.' I need to…take care of a few things." She reached for her sister's food.
"You mean the Talmadge case?" He gestured for her to precede him out the kitchen.
"I'm going to try to crack it, Kenny," she declared firmly as she walked into the living room quickly.
"Hey, easy does it!" he said, following her with the wrapped utensil. "I'm all for it. I mean, I wish I could help you solve it."
"That's OK; Phil and I are on it," Logan, sitting next to Maddie on the couch, cut in as he took the paper plate and carefully placed it on the child's newspaper-covered lap. "In a couple of days we're going to get started." He snapped his fingers for the fork and napkin.
"So where does Livvie fit in?" Ken inquired, handing Mike the items.
"What's it to you?" Logan's voice had an edge to it.
Taking a hint, the police cadet solemnly excused himself and joined his uncle in the dining room.
"Why are you mad at Kenny, Mikey?" Maddie asked.
Because a few days after I saw your sister buying a pregnancy test kit in Staten Island, your daddy mentioned her spending that same day at St. John's in Manhatten! "I really want to solve this without any outside interference."
"But he's learning to be a police officer," she continued, sticking a fork into a piece of lasagna. "So he must know somethin'."
"But I'm already a police officer, so I know more," Logan explained patiently.
"Oh." She began to eat her meal.
"Still, you could have been a little nicer," Olivia put in from her perch on the arm of the couch.
Sighing, Mike agreed. It's in the past, and who knows; it could have been me at that age. "Excuse me." He rose and went into the dining room.
Leaning over to caress her sister's ponytail affectionately, Olivia wondered: Why do I have the feeling that there's more to that fare-up than the Talmadge case?