A/N: This was an interesting one for me to write. It sort of took on a life of its own and I had to think of a plausible way to show how the case developed. With this one, as I got lost in the chapter as I wrote, as I always do, the case, itself, gave me such a gross unsettled vibe as I did so.
I ask you to excuse any legal mistakes or inaccuracies. I tried my best :)
This one-shot makes reference to Olivia's sexual past in college that she divulged to Alex on the beach in Chapter 29 of Part II. Apparently, Alex is an elephant and has not forgotten their conversation.
This takes place a little before Part IV; Theo is three and the twins are two.
It took a lot of thinking to produce a "case" that hasn't quite been done and trying to gain a twisted POV and get details right was difficult and I hope you enjoy what came to be.
I would love to hear what you thought of it. Eve if yu didn't like it, I'd like to hear from you so I know how to focus these one-shots and keep them lighter and sexier : )
Enjoy.
Suspicions Confirmed: Detective Skills on Point
OOO
Olivia stared up at the lofted ceiling of the living room, her body lazy. She let her fingertips dance along her stomach as she let the food digest from their lasagna meal. Her upper left jaw was throbbing right now due to a recent dental issue, and she pressed her fingertips to her cheek, moving her lower jaw around. She reached her arms to the ceiling and stretched, letting out a contented moan.
The sounds of her children's slow, deep peaceful breathing could be heard through the monitors on the coffee table, and she knew that they were off in dreamland for the night.
She had had a long past couple of days—Wednesday busy at Haven House and today, Thursday, at the precinct—and was looking forward to Friday. Although she had something on her agenda that she wasn't looking forward to—a trip to the dentist.
"You OK?" Alex's voice entered now.
Olivia looked up at her wife and smiled. "Yeah, Babe. Just…stuffed…"
"Well…" Alex moved closer and sat next to her on the edge of the sofa, "…it was good, though, wasn't it?"
Olivia nodded fervently. "It was delicious, Al. That garlic bread you made was so crispy and buttery and…mmm…" Olivia reached her hand out and intertwined her fingers with her wife's. She brought it to her mouth and kissed it softly. "Kudos to the chef."
"Garlic breath and the dentist tomorrow, Liv." Alex began giggling. "Not a good combination. New dentist, right?"
Olivia nodded and then sat up, legs still in front of her, and patted her lap.
Alex moved to lay on top of her and Olivia wrapped her arms around her belly, the blonde leaned her head back on Olivia's shoulder.
"Dr. Nathanial Grieger, D.D.S."
"Are you nervous? I know how you can get at the dentist."
"A little…" Olivia began letting her fingers trail along the blonde's lower belly.
"Nathanial, huh? Just like that guy from college that you…" Alex let her voice trail off.
Olivia narrowed her eyes, still looking up at the ceiling. "How do you remember that, Al?"
"I remember everything my wife tells me."
"A little scary…"
"No…not scary. I remember you said that Nathan and Josh and Amanda and Stacy were your circle of friends and that you were experimental in those days at Sienna."
"Jesus, Alex. You're like an elephant."
"It's that attorney side of me. I can't help it. People vs. Jovanovic, 2004. New York vs. Ferber, 1972. Manchester vs. the state of New York, 1987. Shall I go on?"
Olivia giggled and wrapped her arms around her, holding her tighter. "No need, Babe. I know you know your stuff." Olivia kissed her left temple.
"And your tooth? How's it feeling?"
Olivia took her left hand to her cheek, moving her jaw around again. "Something's definitely going on in here. It's like a pounding throbbing right now."
"My poor baby…well, hopefully, he'll get you fixed up tomorrow."
"Yeah…hopefully…"
A silence now and Olivia closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of her wife's warmth on top of her.
"So how was he?"
Olivia's eyes popped open. "How was who?"
"Nathan…and Josh and Stacy, for that matter."
"No, Alex. I'm not going there."
"I'd tell you…anything you want to know."
"Like your days with Asher and Chloe and Marissa?"
Another silence now and Olivia could feel her wife tensing up ever-so-slightly.
"Those days are gone, Al. Experimental."
Alex sat up and off to the side, now looking at her intently. "Were they good?"
Olivia smiled and sat up as well. "No, Alex. It was something to do…a way to release stress, me getting to know what I liked. I told you all that."
"Same here, Liv," Alex admitted softly. "They meant nothing…nothing like when I met you, my love."
Olivia felt a lump in her throat and her eyes begin to mist. "Same here, Al…when I met you, it was over. Every past lover forgotten." She smiled.
"Ready to go to bed?" Alex wiggled her eyebrows.
"Absolutely…let's go…"
AAA
Alex felt her wife's thigh tighten further around her hips now, and she watched her face in the dimness of the bedroom. Olivia's breathing was heavy, the brunette trying to keep an even pace, as the blonde continued to thrust her three fingers firmly inside of her, feeling the plethora of wetness of her wife's silky, warm walls.
"Come for me, Liv…" Alex whispered against her wife's mouth.
"God, Al…" Olivia's breathing intensified and she pressed her body further against her.
The grazing of her hardened nipples felt amazing against her own, those bulbous warm breasts sensually pressed against her and then Olivia's head tilted back slightly.
"Ah—like that, Babe. Keep going…I'm almost—" Olivia squeaked quietly and her breathing came out in ragged bursts as Alex felt her walls tighten around her digits, the contractions quick and intense.
Alex smiled to herself and then lowered her head to take her wife's left nipple into her mouth, sucking softly before swirling her tongue around and then placing a gentle kiss there. "How was that?" Alex questioned softly. "Good?"
"Just…" Olivia panted, "…give me a second…" she breathed.
Alex giggled now and she watched the brunette begin to smile. She slowly removed her fingers, feeling an overwhelming amount of wetness from her wife's emission.
"It's…uh…mmmm…." Olivia tried.
"Speechless, Babe?"
Olivia only nodded, her breathing still heavy. The brunette detective pulled her even closer now and buried her face into the blonde's neck, the warm heat she was emitting sending goose bumps all along her own flesh.
"Does your tooth feel better?"
Olivia wrapped her leg tighter around her and placed the palm of her right hand on Alex's backside, squeezing firmly, the brunette beginning to chuckle softly. "My tooth, my body, my mind…everything…"
"Everyone else forgotten?"
Olivia's eyes opened now. "Long forgotten, Babe."
"That's what I want to hear." Alex leaned in now and let her mouth hover over the brunette's before opening and pressing her mouth to her wife's still panting mouth.
Their kiss was gentle, assuring, and sensual. And the blonde knew that her wife would soon be off to a good night's sleep.
OOO
"Well, it looks like you're gonna need a root canal. That tooth is in pretty bad shape." He turned to his assistant. "Sharon, go check on Mrs. Rafferty and see if she's numbed up and ready to go."
"Yes, of course."
The doctor now moved closer, smiling. "I have time to do it right now. My last patient cancelled and I've got an hour…I see on your records from the other dentist that you need to be sedated for dental procedures?" He turned around and took a file folder from the counter ledge.
"Yeah. For any kind of invasive procedure. I'm not good with pain in my mouth."
"Who is?" he smiled. "Well, we can numb you up and sedate you and then get started?" He raised his eyebrows.
"I prefer to have a ride home after being sedated and my wife is teaching class all day."
"Your wife?" He smirked. "A woman?"
"That's usually what a wife is…" Olivia narrowed her eyes.
"How long have you been married?" He placed the folder back on the counter and turned to her, moving to place his hands on the right armrest of the chair, but taking hold of her arm instead, his fingers making contact with her forearm, curling them to hold it gently, his thumbs stroking her skin.
She looked down briefly, fighting her gag reflex, and then back up at him. "Four years now…" Olivia watched his eyes scan her, roaming over her body.
"It is chilly in here," he commented, eyes fixed on her upper chest.
"Wh—?" Olivia looked down at her black, silk blouse, noticing exactly what the dentist was noticing.
Something wasn't right here. Something was off and the sex crimes detective in her was now intrigued, yet on high alert at the same time. She needed to know more. Persuasion and flirtation and making him think that she was all up for it might get her the information that she needed.
She smiled demurely now. "Dentist's offices are always too cold, in my opinion."
"Keeps us on our toes."
"Are you married, Dr. Grieger?"
"I am…but we have an open marriage. We love whomever we want. How about you?"
"I love my wife, but…I'm with you on that one. Love is love and there's more than enough to go around, right?"
He watched her now, studying her and smirking. "I don't discriminate based on age, gender, race, or marital status. And your wife? How does she feel about loving other people?"
"She feels the same as I do…" Olivia smiled.
Dr. Grieger nodded. "Well, my wife and I are having a dinner party Saturday, just a few other couples coming over. She's gonna make her famous pot roast and cheesecake. We would love it if you and your wife could join us. I think you'd have a really good time."
Olivia smiled again, biting her lower lip seductively. "Sounds like an interesting night…" she winked, "…I'll talk with her about it and let you know…"
Olivia approached the reception desk to make an appointment for her root canal. She looked at the petite brunette behind the desk and smiled as she looked up. "Hi…I need to make an appointment for a root canal?" She decided she would make the appointment in order to not create any suspicion and cancel it at a later date.
Stacey, or so her name tag read, smiled back, her small brown eyes full of something the brunette couldn't quite place. "How does a week from today sound? Four o'clock?"
"Sounds perfect." Olivia moved closer and took her shield from the right pocket of her suede jacket and held it in front of her, just high enough for the tiny woman to see.
She eyed the gold badge and then looked up, her eyes now even more fretful.
"What can you tell me about Dr. Grieger? Good reviews?"
"I—I don't know…he…" She looked past Olivia briefly and then back at the detective. "He seems to get rather…friendly…" Then horror on her face now as she looked past her once more.
"We got her all set up and scheduled?" Dr. Grieger's voice came up behind her now.
Olivia smiled at the woman, trying to convey reassurance in her gaze, before turning to the dentist. "All set. See you next Friday?"
He handed her a card now. "That's my home number. Maybe we'll see you sooner?" He winked.
"I'll let you know…" she offered.
AAA
Alex entered through the garage door and closed it behind her, the faint scent of something burning filling the space and the sounds of Harry Connick Jr. singing It Had to Be You, the big band sound bouncy and smooth. "Liv?" She moved to the island and placed her attaché and wool coat on top, her eyes going to her wife seated at the kitchen table and then the stove which had something virtually boiling over on top. She moved quickly to turn the burner off, and moved the pot of, what looked like gravy, off of the element. "Olivia?" She turned back around and watched her wife.
The brunette was engrossed in something on her lap top. "Hey, Babe…" she offered, eyes not leaving the glowing screen. The kids were in their booster seats at the table, all with crayons in their hands. They smiled when they saw her.
"Hi, Mommy!" Theo cheered.
"Mama!" Isabel shouted, smiling.
"Hey, my babies!" Alex moved to kiss all of them and then eyed her wife before moving back to the hot food. "What's in the oven, Babe?" Alex leaned over and peered in at the sizzling pork chops inside which appeared to be browning much more than what she knew her wife wanted. "Are we trying to burn the house down, Babe?" Alex took the pot holders and removed the dish from the oven.
"Yeah…no…" Olivia was up now, headed toward her. "I was just doing a little research on my new dentist."
Alex turned to her now, studying her wife's expression, weariness across that caramel complexion. She leaned in and kissed her quickly. "What is it? Everything OK?"
Olivia took a deep breath and angled her head to the side. "Something's not right, Al."
"What do you mean?"
"He…propositioned me today and invited you, as well."
"Swinging?"
"Maybe just that. Could be harmless but I got a strange vibe. He invited us to his house for dinner tomorrow night. He was very…outwardly vocal about his marital situation. And when I tried to talk to the receptionist, I showed her my badge and she freaked out. Something's not right."
"What are you thinking, Liv? You're not suggesting we actually go to dinner at his house, are you?"
Olivia only looked at her. "Fin ran his name through the system and found nothing. But I found some other alarming things on the internet."
"Like what?"
"Let's get dinner on the table and we can talk…"
"Your tooth?"
"Not fixed but I made an appointment…which will most likely not happen. I have to find another dentist, Al..."
"Well...eating these slices of shoe leather should be fun for you, then," Alex smirked.
"I'll chew on the other side," Olivia added.
Kid's own food cut, a dinner of softer, leftover, homemade almond flour-crusted chicken tenders for them and pork chops for the ladies, along with mashed potatoes with gravy, and softr, boiled cauliflower served, and they were nearing the end of their meal.
"I found a blog forum made by one of his ex-wives and it's not pretty…"
"What does it say?" Alex cut one of the tough chops now, sawing into it with vigor.
"She talks about his deviance…acts that she didn't want to be a part of…a lot of details that are pretty sick. And then, after those postings, other women replied on there. Women complaining of fondling them while in the dentist's chair, advances made toward them. Even a couple who attended he and his wife's parties. And there's some kid stuff on there, Al. Mothers complaining about him and what their children said…"
"Jesus…" Alex stopped, fork and knife in her hands. "What about reviews online? Yelp? Anything there?"
"Nothing. Which is why I think, somehow, he's scrubbed the internet clean in some way. Probably erased or didn't approve reviews. There's not one anywhere in there...good or bad, Al."
"That's pretty strange, Liv."
"I know…" Olivia jolted momentarily and then winced now as she chewed.
"Babe, be careful…"
"They're a little tough. Sorry about that, Al." Olivia smiled.
Alex continued, "I knew something was going on when I walked in and I smelled burning and saw you so into what you were doing, so focused."
Olivia looked at her now, not a hint of jest in her expression. "I think we should go and find something on this guy."
"Liv…we can't just nose around without just cause." She watched her wife's concerned eyes now. "But I trust your judgment. I know when you have a hunch, you're usually right."
"Well, I think we should go, Alex. I think there's way more than meets the eye on this one. My hunch is that it's more than simple…" She looked at the kids who were eating and then back at the blonde, "…swinging…" she said softly.
Alex was leery but eyed her wife again. "Tomorrow night?"
"Yeah…I can call Lana…we'll go…see what happens."
OOO
The initial shock and her impression of the Grieger's brownstone had been overwhelming. Once she and Alex had arrived, they were greeted by Nathaniel and his wife, Annette, and met the three other couples who were already inside, drinking, plates in hands from the buffet they had laid out.
After their coats had been removed and handbags and clutches taken to the guest room, the detective's eyes had immediately flashed to the artwork on the walls—hard to miss. There were nudes of various figures. Men, women, and children. Some were of in innocent poses, and some were in more obscene situations. And then, when the children had finally made their appearance and had been introduced to the crowd of guests, Olivia fought the urge to cuff the dentist on site when she realized the images of the children in the paintings were an uncanny resemblance to his own kids.
They had eaten and had been sitting around talking for a while before Olivia excused herself to use the restroom.
Olivia exited the guest bathroom, wine glass in hand, and began slowly down the hallway, clenching her jaw as her mind swirled, putting pieces together, an immense sickness fluttering around her stomach. She approached a closed door, noticing that there were two that seemed to be that way, and reached for the brass handle.
"Is there something I can help you with?" Annette Grieger's voice questioned.
Olivia took her hand away from the knob and looked at the attractive, onyx-haired woman of just over six feet in height. "I was just looking for the—" Olivia stopped herself, quickly trying to formulate a lie. "God...this is embarrassing, but…I tried looking under the cabinets in the guest bathroom for a feminine product…I just started…and thought I might see if there was one somewhere in a bedroom, perhaps? I'm desperate…" she smiled.
"Well, you should have asked. It would have been no problem," she smiled. "These rooms are closed for a reason, Olivia…" she slowly advanced toward her now, getting uncomfortably close. She reached out and placed her hand on the brunette's bare shoulder—Olivia wearing a sleeveless black dress—and let her finger tips trail down her arm. "I have some in my bedroom. Follow me…" she smiled.
Olivia followed her down the hallway now and into the open door of the master bedroom.
"We're glad you and your wife could make it." She opened a cabinet underneath the sink and retrieved a tampon from a box before handing it to Olivia. "And it's a shame. This definitely puts a damper in any plans I had with you and your beautiful wife…a shame because you and your wife and I could have had some fun…you're absolutely gorgeous, Olivia…and just my type, too…"
Olivia clenched the feminine product in her hand and tried a smile. "Thanks for this…"
"No problem. And…" she moved close again, her eyes dipping down to the brunette's cleavage before leaning in closer and letting her mouth hover over her right ear, "…if you need anything else let me know…"
"I will…thank you…"
AAA
"I need to talk to you…" Olivia's gaze met her own as she returned from the bathroom and sat close to her on the sofa.
There was only one other couple sitting with them and they had been chatting about a new exhibit at the Guggenheim, while the other couples had disappeared upstairs.
"We need to call the sitter," Olivia's gaze was intense. "We need to let her know what time we'll be home."
"It might be a late night for you…" Henry, a man in his fifties winked.
"If all goes well…" his wife, Nora, offered.
Alex swallowed and looked back at Olivia. "You're right, Babe. Let's call…"
They both stood and made their way into the foyer and Olivia took her by the elbow, standing close.
"You have to try and see what's in those two rooms, Al. I did and almost got busted. Something Annette didn't want be to discover is in there…"
Alex eyed her wife's perfect makeup and those wavy, chestnut locks, her tanned expression full of intensity. "I can't just go snooping around, Liv. Not without a warrant. If I get caught...I won't be able to explain it..."
"Go look, Alex. I guarantee that whatever's in there, you'll get the warrant you need. I have a gut feeling."
Alex nodded. "For you, Liv…" she declared softly.
Olivia tried a smile. "Thanks, Alex…"
"I'll wake up a judge. It was horrendous, Liv…" Alex turned to face her in the Rover.
When they got into the car, Alex had gone through the details of what the opening of those two doors revealed—one was an adult room that held whips, chains, other restraints, more paintings, these far worse than the living room. But it was what the other room contained that made Alex's stomach turn with an acidic sensation. The other room had a child's white brass trundle bed in it, and attached to the bed were the same restraints, only smaller in size, along with various kiddie porn paintings, and stuffed animals all over the room.
And the room had reeked of urine.
After the discovery, Alex had made her way back into the living area on wobbly legs to return to her wife, the blonde beside herself with nausea and the overwhelming desire to vomit. They had said their goodnights, claiming that one of the kids wasn't feeling well back at home, and then made their way to the car.
"Just go, Liv. Please. I need to be away from what I know is just behind those walls and windows. I'll call Judge McElroy and get the warrant and let Lana know we'll be a littler later than we planned. You go and call Fin and do what you need to do."
Olivia nodded and turned the ignition, the large vehicle roaring to life, the brunette not having any words for what had just happened.
They made their way down the street, eager to get the Grieger family's children out of harm's way and the husband and wife behind bars, where they were inevitably going to end up.
Especially if she and her wife had anything to say about it.
"Docket number 165789, the people versus Mr. Nathanial Grieger. How does your client plead?" Judge Johnson questioned.
"My client pleads not guilty."
"Not guilty?" Alex bellowed. "Your Honor, Mr. Grieger's house was searched last night and there is sufficient evidence to show that he is a twisted, sick individual and that his kids should be taken into protective custody. This man is a sexual threat to not only children but adults, as well. He's a threat to society and a deviant to the public. The people request remand." She glared at Mr. Grieger.
"Mrs. Benson-Cabot, save the details of the evidence and the personal attacks and opinions for the trial." She faced the defendant now. "Mr. Grieger is remanded to Rikers, no bail set. Trial will begin Monday at eight a.m. sharp." She hammered her gavel once. "Next case?"
A bustle in the courtroom now and Alex gathered her papers in front of her. She watched as the bailiff removed Mr. Grieger from the courtroom and then looked at her wife who was sitting in the gallery.
The brunette looked exhausted, as she knew she must have looked. They hadn't slept the night before and had gotten the kids ready for Miss Carolyn early that morning, wanting so desperately to continue normal life and make sure that their own children were loved and taken care of. With so much evidence against the dentist, Olivia had already had her time in the interrogation room with him, Fin in a separate room with Annette Grieger, and both had remained steadfast to their stories and swore that nothing was going on and that the paintings that covered the walls of their brownstone were simply works of art.
All of the evidence, including the canvas paintings, had been confiscated, taken to be tested by the crime lab and used later for exhibits, and bagged—including the toys in the bedrooms, and Olivia and Fin had cuffed and read the Grieger's their rights before carting them off to the station.
With the evidence they had and what she had seen, herself, the blonde felt emotionally unstable. Now that they had children of their own, it was even more difficult to stomach situations and travesties like this.
She approached her wife and Olivia placed a hand underneath her elbow, pure empathy in those chocolate pools. No words were necessary as they made their way out of the courtroom, out the doors, down the elevators, and out of the building.
OOO
Olivia ushered the twins and Theo inside the townhouse and they giggled and shouted their greetings when they saw their blonde mother sitting on the sofa sipping from a white mug, casual in a pair of gray sweat bottoms and a pale pink long-sleeved T-shirt.
She placed her mug on the coffee table and then stood, squatting in front of them to hug them all, kissing their cheeks repeatedly and holding their little waists. "My babies…"
Olivia could hear the shakiness in her voice, saw the tears in her eyes. "Hey, Al…"
"Hey, Liv…the kids' snacks are on the table…" she tried a smile as she stood.
"Kids, get your snacks, babies…" Olivia commanded gently.
"Dat, peena bot!"
"Yes, peanut butter, Izzie…" Alex offered.
The kids made their way to the kitchen table and the ladies moved to help them on their booster seats, beginning to eat their bananas and peanut butter happily, light indiscernible chatter coming from all three.
Alex moved into the kitchen and stood next to the refrigerator, folding her arms, her eyes still on their three little ones.
Olivia moved up to her and placed her hands on her waist. "Al?"
Alex's eyes filled with even more tears. "Those poor Grieger kids…" she whispered.
"I know, babe…" Olivia moved closer and wrapped her arms around her wife, "…that bastard and his wife are gonna rot…they're going down hard for this…you'd be proud of the things I said to him in the box today…" Olivia smiled.
"Oh, I have no doubt, Liv…" Alex's voice was soft. "Something about his balls, I'm sure…"
Olivia's voice was low, "I might have mentioned something about ramming them down his throat and him being constipated for days when he tried to pass them through."
Alex pulled away, the blonde not able to keep from smiling. "That's my girl. My Bad Ass detective," she mimicked her wife's soft voice., both not wanting the children to hear. She placed both hands to cradle the back of the brunette's head, "…I love it…"
"And my wife is gonna have his ass in a sling in court…" Olivia smiled.
"Undoubtedly, Liv…undoubtedly…"
The Griegers were found guilty on all counts and were sentenced to a total of 45 years, 25 for Mr. Grieger and 20 for Annette. They had gathered more than enough evidence to put him away, including ten hard drives of pure, incomprehensibly sick kiddie porn, some of the children in the files as young as two years old.
The Grieger's children were now staying with their grandparents in Massapequa and were being well taken care of, away from the disgusting minds and practices of their parents, and were attending school and therapy daily.
And Olivia and Alex were proud, once again, that they had worked as a team to take another sicko off of the New York City streets and put them away for a long time.
Please review and let me know how you liked it! And even if you didn't. I know this was a weird one. The next one will be back to the normal ones you like!
Patricia
