Chapter 1

Friday

8:37 p.m.

Alex took a deep breath and let it out in a long huff. She was ready to leave this party. Olivia knew she didn't want to come in the first place, but of course, her wife wanted to be social and expand their circle of friends. This time it was a social parents group they had found through another couple—Walter and Amal Heinemann—who also had Aunt Carolyn, Fin's Aunt, watch their kids daily, just like the Benson-Cabots.

It wasn't a bad party. It was just that Alex was exhausted. She had just finished a long case and had just completed her first year of teaching at the law high school. And, on top of that, having twin babies and a toddler boy at home had been draining, as well—even though only in the evenings and on weekends.

Yet here they were. Being social.

But the blonde knew she hadn't been very social that evening. Even now, she had removed herself from the sofa where she had been parked for the past hour or so, and had decided to stretch her legs, and was now standing just in between the kitchen, living room, and hallway that led to the front door.

She just wasn't feeling it and had chosen to spend the past couple of hours nursing the same glass of Chardonnay and people-watching, an occasional conversation thrown her way. But it was no wonder no one was approaching her this evening. She was sure her please-don't-talk-to-me aura could be interpreted from beyond the solar system.

She brought her white wine to her lips, watching Olivia in a silky, cap-sleeved black shirt dress, in the far corner of the Brooklyn townhouse of the Heinemann's, sitting on the piano bench facing outward, two middle-aged men standing in front of her, both with one hand in their pocket, a drink in the other hand. Alex also noticed a blonde woman standing off to the side, watching the interaction. Watching Olivia.

Alex laughed lightly and shook her head and took another sip.

Her wife's animal magnetism strikes again.

Alex took a final sip of her wine, tilting her head back to down the remainder, feeling and hearing her phone chiming from her purse. She fell back into the obscurity of the hallway before she set her wine glass on the telephone alcove next to her. She looked down, seeing the name Alyssa, and slid the screen as she simultaneously walked slowly toward the front door.

"Alyssa?" Alex asked, folding her left arm over her middle and looking down at her mint and black leopard print shirt dress, her tan heels.

"Yeah, Hi, Mrs. Benson-Cabot—"

"Alex…please, Alyssa…" Alex smiled.

"OK, Alex…it's the twins…"

Alex's heart jumped briefly. "What is it? Are they OK?"

"Y-yeah, they're OK. It's just that Isabel is really crying and whining and hasn't stopped in like…" Alyssa's voice caught, "…like an hour, hour and a half…I've given her milk, a snack, held her, changed her diaper, sang to her, put her in the playpen with Grace…I'm just…and Theo keeps going to the garage door and checking to see if his mommies are here...he's...I'm..." she stammered.

Alex took a deep breath. "OK. It's OK, Alyssa. My wife and I were gonna leave at nine, but we can head home now." Alex stepped to the corner separating the hallway from the large living space where her wife was. She spotted the brunette, who happened to be standing now, taking her glass from the top of the piano, and heading toward her.

The blonde moved back towards the front door now and then turned, watching Olivia slink towards her in that flowing dress and those strappy heels, her hair down. "She's right here. I'll tell her and we'll head that way." She kept her focus on Olivia who was now even closer, a concerned look on that caramel face.

"Sounds good, Mrs.—I mean, Alex…"

Alex smiled, her eyes moving down along her wife's upper chest, her gold necklaces, before returning her focus to her mouth and then her eyes again. "See you soon."

"What's going on?" Olivia breathed, a hint of the Southern Comfort whiskey she had been sipping that evening on her breath.

"That was Alyssa…she said that Isabel has been crying nonstop and I don't want to leave that poor seventeen-year-old there any longer. I think she's panicking."

Olivia nodded slowly. "OK. Um…let me just get my clutch and say goodnight to Walter and Amal and I'll meet you at the car."

"OK, Babe. And I know your feet hurt—I can tell by the way you're walking—so I won't make you walk the four blocks to the Rover. I'll go get it and pick you up, right outside." Alex smiled and pecked her wife before pulling away and heading toward the front door.

OOO

Olivia took a deep breath, watching as her wife left the townhouse and closed the door behind her. She rubbed her lips together and then moved back into the space. Walter Heinemann was walking up to her, his wife Amal close behind.

"Everything OK?" Amal asked, one hand supporting the base of her glass of red wine, the other cupping the bowl. Her sleek black hair was in a low bun, her teeth jarringly white against the pallor of her skin and the red hue of her lipstick.

"Yeah…um…our babysitter…she's young…maybe a little inexperienced…one of our twins, Isabel is crying…she—"

Amal placed a hand on her shoulder. "No need to explain. The kids come first." She smiled.

Olivia nodded. "Thanks. This party was great, though. I'm glad we got a chance to come."

"You're sure your wife was OK tonight? She seemed…unhappy…maybe not feeling well?" Walter Heinemann furrowed his brow.

Olivia smirked and nodded before opening her mouth. "She's fine. She…she's just tired."

"As we all are," Amal chuckled, grasping the brunette's forearm.

"Well, I gotta go. Alex went to get the car."

"Say no more and if you need an older…maybe more experienced babysitter? Just let me know. I have a few reliables on speed dial," Amal offered.

Olivia flashed her smile once more. "Sounds good. We might just do that." She headed out of the living area and towards the hallway. Entering the front bedroom where the coats and purses were located, she moved to get her black, sequined clutch from the top of the satin comforter and then headed back out of the room, almost bumping into another being as she looked down to remove her cell phone.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," the woman smiled, her hands somehow gravitating to hold the brunette's elbows.

"It's OK…" Olivia smiled, stepping to the left to go around her, "…have a great evening."

"What are you rushing off for?" the woman asked.

Just short of the front door handle, Olivia paused, turning. She eyed the woman warily—honey caramel wavy hair, dark roots and eyebrows, bold features, glossy lipstick. She was fuller figured but in a bustier, thicker way. Far from fat, but definitely enjoyed some of life's culinary luxuries.

The woman continued, "It's just…I got here late and didn't get a chance to talk to you. I noticed you, right away…you definitely exude something." She smiled moving to where Olivia was now. "I'm now sorry I got here as late as I did. If I had known…not for myself, I'm married, but I have a friend that would absolutely…" her eyes scanned the brunette's figure now before returning her gaze, "…love to meet you."

"I'm also married." Olivia held up her left hand.

"Well, that doesn't mean a small group of like-minded women can't have an enjoyable evening. Right?" The woman stepped even closer now, almost touching the brunette with the front of her body.

Olivia brought her lips inward now, looking through the glass that flanked the door to see the Rover sitting there, headlights shining East. But the windows on their SUV, especially at night, were so obscured, she couldn't see her wife's form, much less her face. She turned back to the woman. "Maybe we'll get a chance to chat next time." She smiled. "Goodnight."

She turned the handle and stepped outside, closing it behind her. Rushing as fast as she could in her ridiculously high and uncomfortable heels, she headed down the steps and to the car, quickly getting inside and slamming the door shut.

Letting out another breath, she closed her eyes.

"Liv?" Alex asked, placing her hand on her left forearm. "Everything OK?"

Olivia turned and looked at her wife's face, her own expression softening at seeing the concern there. The brunette grabbed Alex's hand and brought it to her mouth kissing it tenderly. "Let's go home to our babies."

Alex smiled broadly. "Mommy Super-Duo to the rescue." She put the car in gear and headed down the street.

Why did that woman look so familiar? Olivia rested her right elbow on the door ledge, her hand over her mouth, narrowing her eyes, thinking.

Where have I seen her? On the news? The paper? TV?

She couldn't place where she had seen that woman but knew she had.

It was a mystery that may or may not be solved.

And Olivia was fine with that.

They had gotten home and as soon as Olivia had picked Isabel up from her bassinet, her crying had stopped. Alex drove Alyssa home and then returned. They had both changed and gotten ready to turn in, and were now just lying in bed, both staring up at the ceiling.

Olivia raked her fingers backwards through her hair. "Thanks for going with me tonight." She turned her head to the left to look at her wife.

"Of course," Alex said softly.

"I know you didn't really feel like being there."

Alex smiled now and turned her head to face her. "I managed." She moved closer to the brunette and wrapped her left arm around her. "Was it that obvious?" Alex giggled.

"Yeah. Yeah, it was, Babe. You didn't even leave your spot on the sofa or try and come sit next to me the entire time we were there. People thought you were mad at me." Olivia smiled, knowing this would pique her wife's interest.

Alex lifted herself onto her right elbow, hovering over the brunette. "Mad at you? Really? Who thought that?"

Olivia reached up and cupped the blonde's jaw. "Don't worry about it. You didn't want to come. You came for me. And I appreciate it." She smiled.

Alex resettled herself back onto the brunette's body. "I just enjoyed watching you all night, Liv. Making magic. Watching you do your thing."

Olivia couldn't help but chuckle. "Do my thing?"

"Yeah. That kavorka. The one you've always had. I just…it helped just to watch you tonight…in your social element."

"So…" Olivia squeezed her wife tighter, "…you sitting there, watching me be social was good for you?" Olivia looked back up at the ceiling. "In what way, Al?"

"Knowing you're mine. That I get to sleep in the same bed as you. Look at you. Touch you…" Alex yawned and moaned. "Just makes it all better." Alex moaned again and snuggled even further into the brunette.

Olivia kissed her wife's temple and smiled. "OK. You're pretty easy then…"

"Well, you already…" Alex yawned again, "…know that. Now, don't you? You're the one who made me easy, Liv." Her voice faded.

"I know I did, Babe. I know I did. Such a bad influence." She smiled. "Goodnight, Al. The whole weekend ahead of us."

And they did have the whole weekend. And Olivia was excited to spend time with her wife, with her new and budding family, and was looking forward to each and every minute.

Monday

9:03 a.m.

Olivia brought her lips inward, taking a deep breath. "So…undercover?"

Cragen nodded, hands in his pockets. "We have a house that's getting set up as we speak. Your job is to infiltrate the neighborhood, become a part of the locals, get to know them, gather info…"

"But Captain…what does this case have to do with SVU? Shouldn't the DEA take this one? I mean…as far as we know, it's just—"

"A drug ring with possible trafficking. There have been reports of numerous cars, different makes, models, all hours."

Olivia chewed on the skin inside her lower lip, arms folded, leaning against the wall. She narrowed her eyes and took another deep breath. "Sounds more like drugs." Her eyes went to her captain. "Don't you think?"

"Sounds like it but local agents feel it's more." He moved around to stand behind his desk. "They've had their eyes on this particular residence for three months—a one Camila Benetti, her wife Priscilla Keene—and have found nothing. They've only spotted various women coming and going. Time to switch to plan B…and you're gonna find out."

She watched her superior, knowing there was more.

"We have an agent coming in to work this with you."

Olivia nodded slowly. "Work it with me…"

Cragen offered a small nod. "Agent Antonia Berlusconi."

Olivia smirked. "Seriously? With that name?"

"You'll be a couple…married...last name Libretti…we have a house set up in Easthampton…four bedrooms, a pool, cameras, mics, discreet monitoring twenty-four seven. You and Agent Berlusconi will get yourself established, make yourselves known, begin entertaining, become entertained…and do it fast."

"How long is this gonna be, Cap? You make it sound like a multi-week stakeout. Alex can't handle three babies alone. And we were planning on taking the kids to her parents' next weekend and staying there a few weeks," Olivia said matter-of-factly.

"I'm sorry, Liv. You're the best person for the job. And you know it."

Olivia studied her superior, thinking.

Olivia knew who wouldn't be entertained. Her wife. Alex would be through the roof. Not only would she be gone an indefinite amount of time, but her brunette wife would also be playing house with another woman.

No, Alex wouldn't be happy. Not at all.

And truth be told, neither was she.

Olivia swallowed. "And this is the only way?"

"It's the best way we could think of, detective."

Olivia scratched her head brusquely and exhaled loudly, not realizing the aural reaction.

"And there's absolutely no one else who can do this, Captain?" Brown eyes met brown.

"Liv…" Cragen came around his desk now, "…we need someone from SVU and someone from the DEA. You're my best detective and I thought infiltrating would be easy for you to do, especially with your past experience with undercover ops."

"Yeah…" Olivia swallowed hard, "…this is…this is a little different, Captain. I wasn't betraying my marital vows back then." She managed a small smile, feeling her emotions coming on now, willing them away.

"Like I said, you're the only one I trust to get this done in a professionally fast way. It has to be done and if all goes right, it'll be over sooner than we thought."

Olivia looked back and forth between Captain Cragen's eyes, seeing the trust, the concern, the resignation.

Olivia nodded now. "OK." She cleared her throat of the rasp. "I have to talk to Alex, though. She's gonna be livid."

"You'll get through to her. Make her come around."

"I hope so…"

Cragen moved to his desk now and lifted a folder before moving back and standing in front of Olivia. "This is the woman we have our eye on…" he handed her the folder, "…Camila Benetti."

Olivia took the folder and opened it.

The face looking back at her was the same face that she had met when she was leaving the party, and it all came back to her in a rush.

Honey hair. Black roots. Bold nose and mouth. Forwardly crass demeanor.

Camila Benetti. She now recognized her as a cast member during the first year of the Real Housewives of Easthampton. But that was seven years ago.

So, she was the target.

Olivia took another deep breath before bringing her lips inward. "She was at a party that Alex and I attended on Friday."

"Does she know you're married?" Cragen asked.

"I definitely made that clear…but I don't think she knows who I'm married to."

Captain Cragen smirked, placing his hands in his pockets. "Do tell."

"Alex wasn't in a party mood and she pretty much kept to herself all night. We didn't even walk out the front door together when we left."

Cragen nodded slowly, narrowing his eyes. "And that's gonna be your cover. For all she knows you are married to someone else."

Olivia took another deep breath, feeling her chest begin to tighten. "To Antonia."

Captain Cragen only nodded in agreement.

Olivia didn't feel good about this but she knew she had a job to do. Her captain was counting on her to get this job done and get it done fast and without issue.

It wouldn't be easy to tell her wife, nor would it be easy to carry this case out.

But she knew it had to be done.

Getting Alex to understand would be the hard part.

This would occur a year before Part IV begins.