"I want this as smooth as possible." Olivia said. "Remember to round everyone up, but remember one of them is a UC detective, so by the book." She drew her gun and cocked it. "Let's move in."

The SWAT team burst the door to the meet house and swarmed.

They announced and filed inside.

"Round them up, put them all in the wagon." Olivia ordered. "You are all under arrest and you're being taken to ky precinct for questioning."

Elliot replaced his gun. "You think one of these guys knows something?"

"Probably not." Olivia said. "But, the more we know and the more we rule out the better."

"I think this dealer had something to do with it." Elliot said assuredly. "Makes the most sense."

"Don't count your chickens." Olivia cautioned. "You know these things don't always play out like expected."

"Yeah." Elliot agreed quietly.

"Let's roll." Olivia said.

"Wait, I wanna take a look around real quick." Elliot said.

"I don't think you're going to find anything." Olivia said.

Elliot put gloves on and looked around the room. "Bunch of drugs and paraphernalia but I don't see anything of note." He followed her out to the street. "I want to question this Bobby D with you."

"You don't really need to be in any interrogation until Dickie is no longer a suspect." Olivia said. "I'm not going to have a possible conviction or evidence thrown out because of impropriety."

"I'm going to be in the interrogation." Elliot repeated.

"Fine." Olivia said impatiently. "I will do the talking. You just sit there."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

"It's about time you came to question my client." Lawyer Phil Vernon snapped when Olivia let them in.

"Sorry about that, had some other business to take care of really quick." Olivia said. She sat down and took the files from Elliot. "So, we've got you on drug charges, aggravated assault, deadly assault, etc. Our ADA is outside right now ready to authorize the highest level of punishment for you."

"Would you like to explain how you came upon this evidence?" Phil Vernon questioned.

"Sure, here's the file," Olivia said, "had a couple UC's working your client for a while."

The lawyer and his client looked through the files.

"Let's get that ADA in here to talk a deal." Phil Vernon requested.

"Well, we have a deal, if you're willing to listen." Olivia said.

The lawyer nodded.

"We want a meeting with your boss." Olivia said, pointing at Bobby D.

"With Dogg?" Bobby D said in surprise. "Why?"

"It's pertains to a case SVU is working." Olivia said vaguely. "You don't need to know too much about it. In exchange for getting us this meeting we're willing to tell the DA, the judge, etc that you were a cooperating witness and to go easy on you. You're looking at fifteen years, possibly more with your record. Prison isn't so nice. Help us out and we'll help you out."

Bobby D stared at her for a moment. "All for a meeting with Dogg? Y'all are SVU, that's like kiddy diddlers and subway gropers, what did Dogg do to get y'all's attention?"

"That's classified." Elliot said.

Olivia cleared her throat. "If you're amenable to this then I'll send the ADA in right now to work out a deal."

"Take the deal." Elliot urged sternly.

Bobby D conferred with her lawyer and nodded. "Okay," he said to Olivia, "let's talk to the ADA."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I asked you to keep your mouth shut in there." Olivia said quietly. She shut the door to her office. "I let you be in the room as a courtesy on condition you didn't speak. I'm not trying to give you a hard time but the more you say the bigger the risk that some sleezy lawyer is going to find out who you are and why you're here." She sat down. "Do you want me to solve this case and clear Dickie or not?"

Elliot exhaled loudly. "Yes, I do. I'm sorry. I'm grateful for what you're doing."

"Okay." Olivia said with a definitive nod. "Thank you."

Elliot sat down at his desk and glanced at her. "Can I ask you a personal question?"

Olivia turned to him, impatience on her face. "What?"

"I saw you couple nights ago at the bar with some guy." Elliot began. "You looked happy. It was nice seeing you like that. He the boyfriend or something?"

To his surprise, Olivia smiled very faintly. "No, he's not the boyfriend. He's a friend who shares the same feelings that I do. Neither of us is in a position to be in a relationship. We worked together, previously, and he was transferred but we still like to see each other. And, every now and then, it's nice to have someone to go home with that cares." She shrugged.

"Who is he?" Elliot asked. "He looked familiar but I couldn't place him."

Olivia cleared her throat. "His name is William Dodds."

Elliot snapped his fingers. "He was the chief for a while." He grimaced. "He was fallout from your Rob Miller case. They were buddy-buddy weren't they and he defended Miller for a while."

"That's not the whole thing, but, to put it simply, yes." Olivia said.

"Well, you looked happy." Elliot said.

Olivia stared at her computer screen silently for a moment. When she spoke her voice was almost inaudible. "I am happy."

Elliot looked at her briefly and smiled softly. "Good."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"You sure you're good with this?" Olivia questioned nervously, making urge Fin's wires were covered.

"I got this, Liv, don't worry about me." Fin insisted. "You forget that I used to do this for a living."

Olivia smiled patiently. "I know."

Fin turned and checked himself out. "Man, I haven't dressed like this in years."

"Well, it's Flashback Central up in here lately." Olivia remarked wryly.

They hopped out of the van.

"You good with this?" Elliot questioned.

"You two, didn't take long to start talking alike." Fin remarked. "Come on, this guy's waiting."

"We'll be in the van." Olivia said. "Remember, if things turn sideways just request assistance. We've got our team and Narcotics waiting."

"It'll be cool." Fin said. "See y'all in a little while." He started off down the street.

Olivia and Elliot climbed back in the van and settled in front of the monitor.

"You think this is going to lead to anything?" Elliot asked.

Olivia shrugged and rest her chin on her fist, studying the monitor. "I hope so." Her eyes started drifting closed and she jerked awake.

"You good?" Elliot asked.

"My son," Olivia yawned, "caught whatever my nanny has. I was up all night."

"Its rough." Elliot said. "I remember how often the twins used to bring home bugs. Double Trpuble in more ways than one." He cleared his throat. "Look at them now."

"You can't think like that." Olivia said. "Dickie needs help and he wants it, that's the opposite of trouble in my book."

"Yeah." Elliot sighed, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed. "Your kid is perfect, how would you know about problem children?"

"My son is definitely not perfect." Olivia laughed quietly. "He has his moments. But, he's smart and he's good. He's just a kid. Took me a long time to realize that a kid is a kid regardless of how long it took me to get one. He is my miracle but he is no Messiah."

Elliot laughed quietly. "Damn, only took you eight or nine years to figure this shit out."

"He's seven and a half," Olivia snorted, "that half may not mean much to us but to Noah it's everything so if you ever age him in conversation you better remember it or you get a lecture on how being seven and a half is totally different than seven."

"How so?" Elliot asked in amusement.

"Well, his bed time went from eight to eight-thirty." Olivia said. "He can walk across the street without holding my hand. He can go anywhere on the playground without me following. He can have sleepovers. Its a big deal." She laughed and shook her head. "He's very precocious."

"He obviously adores you." Elliot remarked quietly.

"Eh," Olivia said with a casual smile. "I'm all he knows. Its just been me and him since my last relationship ended. He thought of Ed as a father and it made him sad when he left."

"Ed?" Elliot inquired.

Olivia looked away. "Uh, Tucker. Ed Tucker."

Elliot's jaw dropped. "IAB-Rat Squad- Skeletor Tucker? The one who tried to take our entire team down more than once? That Tucker? Liv, he arrested you for murder!"

"In his defense he did have DNA." Olivia defended. She waved her hands. "Look, he changed. My whole point is people change. In ten years a lot of things changed."

"I changed." Elliot shrugged.

"Oh? How so?" Olivia asked stiffly.

Elliot sat up and pointed at the camera. "Tell you later on. Fin's in."

They put their headphones on and watched the screen.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"My man." Bobby D greeted, "how the hell are you?"

Fin shook his hand. "I'm good, my brother. Is this all set up?"

"Madd Dogg is eager to meet you." Bobby D said. "C'mon." He went to a wrought iron gate and lift the cover on a security code panel. He punched in a code. "Alright, here we go."

They went up the front walk of a large brownstone and Bobby D knocked on the front door.

A gaurd in a black leather jacket and gloved opened the door. A Desert Eagle was in his waist band.

"Dogg is expecting us." Bobby D said.

The gaurd waved them inside. "He's on the patio."

Bobby D led Fin through the house. "Isn't his crib wild?"

"I'm surprised that its decorated in 1800s style. I was expecting nice, modern shit. This place is like Versailles." Fin remarked. He looked down at the rug he stood on and stepped off so he didn't track mud on it.

They went through a library in the back of the house and through a set of French doors.

"Madd." Bobby D greeted.

"Robert." Madd Dogg greeted. He rose. He was a hulking man, nearly seven foot and at least two hundred and fifty pounds of hard muscle. Yet, he had a kind face and extended his hand readily. "Its good to see you." He was also older than Fin was expecting. He'd been expecting a thirty year old, this man was closer in age to himself.

"Madd, this is Finton Fletcher, the brother I was telling you about." Bobby D said.

Fin extended a hand. "Its an honor."

"The same." Madd Dogg responded. "Have a seat, gentlemen."

They joined him around an electric fireplace.

"Our mutual friend here tells me you're having supply issues and I might be able to help." Madd Dogg said.

"I was being supplied by a young man I heard works for you," Fin began, "he's gone and he didn't leave word where he was going. I can't get anyone to sell to me now because, well, you can understand how your dealers feel getting involved with a stranger." He shrugged and smiled.

"What is the name of my dealer, Mr. Fletcher?" Madd Dogg asked.

"A young kid, white boy, Sandler or something." Fin said.

"Stabler, perhaps?" Madd Dogg prompted.

"That's him." Fin said. "Yeah, he was supplying me for the better part of two years and now my supply is dried up. I've got a lot of customers getting pretty angry at me and I can't start a new supply chain."

"Stabler, he was a little pet project of mine." Madd Dogg said. "He, unfortunately, no longer works for me. You see, he lost something that belongs to me and until his debt is paid he cannot participate in money-making activities."

"I'm not making accusations," Fin said quickly, "but, I heard through the grapevine that someone rolled him and his girl. The girl is dead. Stabler's in the wind. Do you know anything about that?"

Madd Dogg smiled patiently. "I have no ill-will towards you, Mr. Fletcher, but I'm sure you can understand that I cannot discuss business with a stranger."

Fin nodded. "I understand."

"As it is, I do sympathize with you," Madd Dogg said, "I can help with you supply problems. Our friend here, Robert, will supply you from now on."

"Thank you." Fin said. "I'm grateful."

"Can I help you with anything else?" Madd Dogg inquired.

"You've been a huge help." Fin said. "Thank you. I won't take up anymore of your time. Thank you, Madd."

"Robert, show our friend out and come back to see me." Madd Dogg instructed.

Bobby D walked Fin out and safely down the next block. "Are we good, officer?"

"Yeah, we're good." Fin said. "ADA Carisi will see the tape, know you helped. He'll take that into consideration."

"Look, I know about Stabler." Bobby D said. "He screwed up."

"Did Dogg roll him and kill Courtney?" Fin asked.

Bobby D faltered. "Courtney's dead?"

"Someone beat that girl to death." Fin said.

Bobby D covered his mouth. "Dude, Courtney was Madd Dogg's girl before she was Stabler's. She left him for Stabler."

Fin furrowed his brow. "Look, he's going to get curious if you stay gone too long. Come by the squad room when you're free and clear."

Bobby D cleared his throat. "Alright." He took off down the street.

Fin returned to the van and climbed in. "Did y'all hear that?"

"Courtney was dating Madd Dogg?" Olivia questioned in confusion. "And, left him for Dickie?"

"You sound surprised." Elliot remarked.

"Don't get me wrong," Olivia said quickly, "Dickie's a good-looking kid, but why would Courtney leave a guy like Madd Dogg for Dickie?"

"Maybe she liked him." Elliot said.

"Well, I think the deck just got a little more stacked against Madd Dogg." Fin said.

TBC