Olivia's heart cartwheeled in surprise.

The BOLO they had issued concerning both Maria's car and a general warning about Starkweather had circulated faster to the masses than she had already realized.

But now the appearance of the Braverman sisters now meant that there was a second car in the mix.

It also further begged the question... Was Maria an accomplice, or a prisoner?

The sergeant beckoned to her guests. "Come with me. I have a place we can talk."

Once she saw to it that Annabella and Genevieve were settled in the conference room, Olivia stepped into her office. Just for a few moments.

Alex and Casey were already there. Both were quite interested in what was about to unfold.

"Do you two really not have anywhere to be?" Olivia asked them, incredulous.

"No." Casey said modestly.

"Why?"

Alex was quick to soothe her. "I really will tell you later. A regime change was not incited. Casey and I safe. Rafael, too. Please don't worry."

Olivia extracted a fresh yellow legal pad from a drawer in her desk, and a spare pen from a jar atop a nearby filing cabinet.

"You're welcome to stay for as long as you want to or need to." she looked from one attorney to the other. "All I ask is that you watch from in here. Our chat with Zara was more of a special circumstance because she's only eight. And my partner's child."

Alex was already pulling up the blinds on the observation window and turning on the intercom.

Casey made a shooing motion. "Go. They're waiting."

Annabella and Genevieve both quieted when Olivia entered the room. Here was a woman who commanded respect.

Olivia studied the Bravermans. Other than the fact that they were both recovering from a scare, she noticed that both of them looked quite young. It really stood out.

"Before we begin," Olivia said to Annabella and Genevieve. "I must ask for legal reasons—how old are you both?"

"We that a lot." Annabella gave a soft laugh. "I'm twenty-five. My sister is eighteen. It's just the two of us now."

Olivia was immediately very curious, but stayed the path. "Alright. What kind of car was it that Starkweather took? And where did this happen?"

"It was my black pickup truck." Annabella replied. "We were in the parking lot at our favorite Hispanic market, with our purchases, and Starkweather just... appeared."

Genevieve nodded in agreement. "It was like he had been hiding. Or waiting."

"What happened after that?" Olivia wanted to know.

"Starkweather asked if the truck was ours. I said yes. Annabella gave him the keys." elaborated Genevieve. "The man had a gun pointed at us. I think he have actually fired it if we made a false move. The cops turned up not too long after. I think someone must've called... Sergeant, did we do the right thing?"

"Yes. Neither you nor your sister were harmed." Olivia said firmly. "Did one of the responding officers give you a lift here?"

"Yes. We asked him to."

"Excellent. We can go over all that in a minute, but first—do either of you remember if Starkweather said in particular? Like a name?"

"Mhm." said Annabella. "The man just kept muttering about how he needed to get back to someone called Maria. Would that be the other person your squad is looking for?"

Olivia could only nod. Annabella's words had prompted a new thought: Maria wasn't an accomplice, but a hostage. Finding this woman alive had become their new priority.

"Are you certain that this is the name that Starkweather said?"

"Yes, m'am." said Annabella.

"We couldn't not hear." Genevieve added. "It was more like a screech."

"Alright." Olivia uncapped her pen and held it over the paper in front of her. "Tell me the story now. From the top."

Pediatric Wing

Saint Vincent's Hospital

2:15 PM

Zara was in a private room now.

Her panic attacks had wiped her out.

But... In spite of all the wires and machinery monitoring her vitals now, she lay asleep. One could only hope she was dreaming something nice.

Amanda sat beside the bed. Watching. Lost in thought, with both hands openly splayed over her lower middle. She was quietly soaking in the beginnings of her journey that was motherhood. It all felt surreal. To the extreme.

And Cesaria stood nearby. She was watching the scene. But particularly what Amanda's hands were doing.

The old woman pulled a chair up to Amanda's. It was time for seizing a certain opportunity.

"Mija," she said to Amanda. "I want to talk to you. Do you think we'll be interrupted for awhile?"

Amanda found herself both touched and startled that Cesaria had called her 'mija.' But the she realized that she had been boxed into a corner on purpose.

"I think we'll be okay." Amanda sat up straighter. "Please ask me anything."

So Cesaria went at it like a freight train. "Are you in love with my son?"

"Yes. He is the absolute love of my life."

"Then did you ever look at him while he and Maria were still married?"

"No." Amanda didn't miss a beat at all. "Nick has always been my friend. He even started at SVU around the time that I did. Never would I ever have done anything to jeopardize what we have. I still wouldn't."

Cesaria immediately began to like Amanda even more. "Then I trust you know the state of Nick's and Maria's marriage towards the end?"

Amanda immediately remembered not only being Nick's drinking buddy at the bar around this time, but also a shoulder to cry on. She never complained. Being there for him was her only goal. In return, she had learned every ounce of Nick's actual family drama.

The detective said, "It was bad. Nick told me everything."

"Everything?" Cesaria echoed in surprise.

"Mhm. We're best friends, and we know all of each other's dark secrets. Nick loves me for who I am. And I love him the same."

"Incredible." Cesaria's next words came out a little shaky. "Nick is my only son... Do you understand me?"

Amanda did. "I do."

"My son was already hurt by someone he was very serious about. If it happened again…" the warning tone was inescapable.

Amanda looked Cesaria square in the eyes. "I could never do anything like that to Nick."

"Then do you know what my ex-husband was like with me?"

"I do." Amanda repeated. "Nick told me because he knows I can keep a secret. Did it ever get worse than the physical and verbal stuff?"

Cesaria was blunt. "I would have ended up in jail if it had."

Amanda sobered up. "I could never dream of even raising a hand to Nick. Or Zara. I know firsthand what spousal abuse does to a person."

Cesaria's heart skipped a beat in an un-fun way. "Mija, who...?"

"It was my dad. He would hit my mom, and she was convinced that she deserved it, so she wouldn't fight back too hard."

"Are your parents divorced, then?"

"Yes. They've been divorced for a long time now. I haven't seen my dad in a long time."

Cesaria's curiosity got the better of her for a moment. "Would your father be the type to show up here?"

"Only if he wanted something." Amanda sneered. "But it would also be just like Big Jim to show up with a young wife and new kids they didn't have the decency to tell my sister or myself about. Alerting my mother? Forget it."

Amanda's voice dripped utter disdain.

Heeding this cue, Cesaria motioned to Zara. "Did you mean it earlier when you told my grandbaby that you love her?"

Amanda's mood instantly brightened a thousandfold. "Absolutely. I've cared for Zara since the day I met her. She has always been aware on some level."

"Which is why she ran to you when she saw you at the precinct." Cesaria realized. "Tell me this: what do you think of Zara's mother?"

"It breaks my heart that Maria did all that she did. But I can't pretend she never happened. Maria is a bell that can't unrung. I can accept that." Amanda said honestly. "But all I want for Zara is to help her find her new normal."

Cesaria was quite moved by Amanda's candor. "It says a lot that you're here with Zara now."

Amanda smiled. "Sergeant Benson gave me permission earlier to look after Zara should the need arise, but I still would have come."

"Oh? Because Nick is in the field?"

"Yes. And Zara has always had a lot of trust in me." Amanda said. "I didn't want to break it today by not coming here with her."

Cesaria continued to be moved by how open Amanda was. "Then would you make Zara call you 'mommy,' or anything of the like?"

Amanda shook her head. "I would not. Zara decided on her own—half her lifetime ago—to call me Mandy. And that's totally cool."

"Good." Cesaria's tone was now very approving. "Have you and Nick told Zara that she is to be a big sister?"

Amanda promptly sputtered, "How did you know?"

Cesaria winked at her. "You were giving yourself away while you watched Zara sleep."

"Well... Zara doesn't know. Our friends at work do, but Nick and I have only known just a dash longer."

"Did you tell him during the case before this one?" Cesaria guessed.

"That is exactly what happened." Amanda said in amusement. "Everything has gone super fast. No real time to slow down."

Cesaria sounded almost knowing as she spoke her next words. "Amanda, is there anything else? Your behavior says yes. I am a vault if you wish to tell me. And I am not angry that you already haven't. Don't worry."

This last part was added when she noticed Amanda stop to think things through.

"Nick asked me to marry him when I told him about the baby. I told him yes, but there isn't a ring yet. Zara is unaware. Time has just not been our ally as of late."

Amanda's word came out in a fast ramble.

But Cesaria said nothing. Instead, she allowed Amanda to talk herself out. She obviously had a lot to get off her chest.

"You really aren't mad?" Amanda finally asked her.

"I am not. You and Nick have your lives together. I respect that. And I am overjoyed for you both. Everything will be safe with me until you two say go."

Cesaria stood and hugged the detective.

"Welcome to the family, Amanda. You've had my approval to marry Nick for quite some time already. I just wanted to get to know you a little more."

She hugged Amanda again.

"I love you."

Amanda beamed. She hadn't expected the conversation to like this at all. It also made her feel very loved, just then.

"Wow. Thank you." Amanda watched Cesaria gather her purse but leave her coat. "Where are you going?"

"To pray. I'm also hoping to find a new outfit for Zara in the gift shop: something tells me that the only clothes and shoes to her name are what she wore to the SVU."

Amanda hadn't thought of this yet and wanted kick herself. "Best of luck."

Cesaria bobbed her head in acknowledgement and took her leave.

Zara stirred a few moments later. When she opened her eyes, her heart lifted when she noticed who was at her bedside now.

"Mandy," Zara said softly as she was beset with blatant déja vù. "I'm lost."

Amanda's tone grew maternal at the turn of a dime. "You tanked out at the station two times. This is the hospital."

"How did I get here? An ambulance?"

"Uh-huh. Abuelita and I came with to look after you."

Zara felt a little calmer. "Is daddy working on a clue? Or was that a dream?"

Amanda did everything in her power not to laugh. "Not a dream. I promise that that part is also real. Abuelita went to pray."

"Then… Did anybody find mommy?"

Amanda felt guilt towards her little charge for the second time that day. "No. But everyone is looking. Is there anything you need?"

Zara held her arms out to Amanda. Her body language was universal.

Amanda sat with her on the bed. Embraced her. Zara melted into the affection. Even gave Amanda a pat on the back.

"I'm scared." Zara whispered to her protector.

"I know, baby girl." Amanda rubbed Zara's back and kissed her on the top of her head. "You're safe now. Nobody is going to let anything happen to you. Zara, that is another promise I'll keep."

"Okay." Zara's koala-like hold on Amanda lessened slightly. "Thank you. I love you."

Amanda's heart tightened with affection. "I love you, too."

Nick was in disarray.

His mind was a flurry of so many different feelings. Why did his life have to be this chaotic?

He and the others had returned from The Holland Tunnel, intent on sharing their breakthrough.

But then… Alex had urged him and only him to head over to a very specific part of the hospital.

Zara was in trouble. She was as healthy as a horse. Usually. So how had she taken a nosedive? Out of the blue?

Yet Nick's heart melted completely when he finally made it to his daughter's room.

Amanda could be seen on the bed. Zara was in her arms. Both of them were quiet. Behaving like this was an everyday occurrence. Nick's very next thought was that he needed to really find an engagement ring. ASAP.

Zara was faced away from the window, so she didn't see Nick.

But Amanda did.

"Hey, you." she said softly to her fiancé as he entered the room. "You have no idea how happy I am that you're here now."

Nick pressed a kiss to Amanda's lips. "And I couldn't get here fast enough."

Amanda smiled at him but then flickered her eyes downward. "Talk to her."

Nick reached out and caressed Zara's hair. "You in there, princesa?"

Now Zara was quick to turn around. She burst into tears at the sight of her father.

"You're here!" she hugged him. "Did you finish the clue you were working on?"

"I did." Nick wiped Zara's tears. "Now I'm here. To be with you."

"Mandy's been taking care of me. I love her." Zara leaned back into Amanda's hold. "Abuelita went to pray."

"That's good." Nick rubbed Zara's arms. "Do you remember why you're here?"

Zara moved off Amanda's lap fast. Like she'd been shoved.

The adults moved away to give her space. Maybe Zara could work through this part on her own.

"Mommy told me to get my backpack." she began slowly. "Where is it?"

Amanda pointed to a countertop by the bathroom. "Over there. Do you need it again?"

Zara trembled as she shook her head. "Mommy was driving the car. But she seemed so scared."

"Any idea why?"

"Uh-uh. But…" Zara's eyes widened in horror as yet another big thought slammed into her brain.

"Talk it out." Amanda encouraged. "You're not in trouble."

"Tolan was in the seat beside mommy's. He made me get out and close the door. Then they drove away. I thought they were finding a place to park!"

Big fat tears welled up in Zara's eyes.

"Am I ever gonna see mommy again?!"

Pushed to the limit, Zara's body expressed itself the only way it could. By vomiting.

Nick moved in immediately to help his child.

Amanda moved back: she didn't know if pregnancy would make her a sympathy puker, but she didn't want to test it out at the moment. Why was her life so noisy?

But then the detective noticed a 'CALL NURSE' button within reach, so she pushed it. Zara needed sorting out. Pronto.

Still… From what they had gotten out of Zara's recollections, one thing was plain.

Maria wasn't an accomplice.

Because she was a victim.