Chapter 20

Saturday

7:42 p.m.

They had come up with two code words for the party that evening: orchid and eureka.

As silly as it was, they had actually thought all morning before coming up with these. Chocolate, concrete, cosmopolitan, Versace, and monkey being among the other possibilities. But they knew that it had to be something that stuck out and not in a what did you say? sort of way.

Should they get separated that evening—which wasn't predicted nor anticipated—the code word would be "orchid" for I need help and "eureka" for we found something.

The surveillance van would be parked close by, just in case, and Fin, Cragen, and the two other agents would be inside, ready for anything that might go down.

Olivia looked at herself in the master bathroom mirror now, stepping back. She was wearing an Italian, black one-shouldered, sleeveless, ruched dress that fell at the knee, her hair up and in a sleek ponytail, three-inch Manolo Blahniks to accompany the dress.

She took a deep breath and let it out before turning the light off and exiting the space, watching as Tony—in her turquoise, off-the shoulder, side-ruched sheath dress with an oblong upper chest cut-out and caramel heels—clasped a thin, gold bracelet to her wrist, evening make-up already applied and on point.

Olivia smiled at her and stepped to the doorway. "See you downstairs."

"Olivia?" Tony asked.

Olivia paused and then turned.

"I just want you to know that…I'm gonna do whatever I need to tonight to hopefully be able to end this."

Olivia nodded. "I think we both are, Tony."

"No…I mean…whatever it takes…" Tony looked at her now, her brown eyes filled with an almost fear. "I'm single. I have nothing to lose. If it means—"

"Tony. Do all you can do to help the case along, yes. But don't sacrifice your dignity." Olivia watched the younger woman now, her face still fretful.

Antonia smiled. "I don't have what you have yet, Olivia. With your wife. I've heard the way you talk to her on the phone…yes, I've listened because I just can't help but to hear that love…when to talk to her, you're completely different than when you talk to me, to other people. There's a comfort, a love in your voice that can't be denied." She smiled. "And I know I don't have what you and Alex have…God, it seems so special…" She looked up at the ceiling before closing her eyes. She reopened them and looked at the taller brunette again, "But when I do find someone like that, someone with that absolute connection, I know I'll feel exactly the same way that you do and I wouldn't ever want anything to ruin it or change it. And…" Antonia looked down again, adjusting the chain bracelet, "…I can't wait for that day." She smiled up at Olivia.

Olivia swallowed, feeling the younger woman's emotions radiating from her, the longing, and she offered a small grin back. "You'll find it, Tony. It might take time, but you'll find it. I didn't find Alex until I was just about thirty…although I didn't know we'd eventually get married at the time..." She smiled to herself. But my advice is…just don't settle."

Antonia smiled. "I would never settle for anything less than true love."

Olivia nodded. "Good." She took another deep breath. "You ready to do this?" She let it out in a slow, cleansing manner.

Antonia smiled. "Ready to find some secrets and bust some bitches."

Olivia chuckled at that. "Then let's go, Tony." She held her elbow out and Tony took it.

They exited the bedroom and headed downstairs, off to fight crime and bust some perps.

9:07 p.m.

Gorgeous people all around—young, middle-aged, elderly. No matter who they were, man or woman, they were attractive and very obviously rich. Olivia's eyes scanned the entire room, noting the wide array and diversity at the party as she sat on a white leather sofa, sipping a glass of scotch on the rocks. Only she wasn't really drinking it. She was only nursing the drink for effect. The ice had long melted and she was left with a diluted, amber liquid that was now rather warm.

She looked back at the sofa across from she and her fake wife and saw that Logan and Miles were seated, ankle crossed over one knee, drink in one hand, in their typical, laid-back manly stances, around six young women—who Olivia knew for a fact were anywhere from fourteen to seventeen in age after having met them earlier on in the party—surrounding them.

She looked at Tony next to her, the shorter brunette sitting with her legs crossed, talking to an older woman to her right, telling her how long they had been there in Easthampton, the fact that they used to live in Bridgehampton, and the like, and they caught eyes.

Olivia held the glass in front of her face now, motioning oh-so-slightly with her head toward the sectional opposite them before looking back at the large piece of artwork above the fireplace mantle. It was of a young woman with dark hair clasped behind her, wearing a burgundy skirt, a white, short-sleeved silky blouse that was open in the front, just barely revealing the inner parts of her breasts. She was angled to the right, in a floral chair, her eyes either closed or downturned, thinking, her left hand over her right knee, her left elbow on the arm of the chair.

"Do you like it?" a female voice questioned to her left.

Olivia looked up to find Camila standing there, smiling, a glass of wine in her hand. She was wearing a bronze-colored sequined dress that was way too short for her fuller frame, and her hair was in a classic French twist.

Olivia looked back at the painting. "It's beautiful. So realistic. So detailed."

"It's a Lucio Amitrano. It's an original."

Olivia laughed lightly. "I've never heard of him, but it's really amazing."

Camila leaned closer now, whispering, "The woman reminds me of you, Olivia. Oh, and by the way…"

Olivia took a tiny sip of her drink and licked her lips, keeping her gaze across from her on the opposite sofa, still feeling Camila's predatory eyes on her, and continuing to watch as Logan, Miles, and the six women all stood and made their way out of the room.

Her eyes followed them until they disappeared from sight.

Olivia looked back up at the older woman. "Yeah?"

"The photo canvas of you?"

Olivia swallowed as Camila leaned in once more.

"I put it in my bedroom, Olivia. Right above the bed…and you wouldn't believe the use I've gotten out of it over the past few days."

"Use?" Olivia raised her eyebrows.

Camila bit her lower lip. "You know, sometimes we all need a little external stimulation to get off?"

Olivia took a deep breath, feeling Tony move closer to her right side now, pressing her body to hers.

"Not really, Camila…" Olivia looked to her right and smiled at Antonia, "…Tony and I…me in particular…don't have any problems…getting there or getting off." She looked at her young partner. "This one has an amazing mouth and tongue." She smiled at Tony and leaned in.

Antonia leaned in as well, "Look who's talking, Vibratongue."

They kissed slowly, mouths parting, tongues brushing slightly, before Antonia pulled away, and for the first time, Olivia saw slight arousal in her new partner's flushed cheeks.

"Vibratongue?" Camila asked.

Antonia continued, "Just a little nickname I call that amazing organ inside her mouth," Tony winked up at Camila.

Camila looked visibly aroused, yet visibly fuming. There was no denying that every time that she and Antonia showed affection in any way, the buxom woman's blood pressure rose.

"Sweetie?" Olivia began.

"Yeah, honey?" Antonia answered.

"Uh…join me in the bathroom for a few minutes?" Olivia raised her eyebrows at her fake wife.

"Absolutely…" Antonia oozed.

The two ladies stood now and Olivia took Antonia's hand, leaving a dumbfounded Camila standing there by herself.

They headed down the hallway and Olivia moved to push Antonia against the wall, gripping her hands on either side of the agent's head, pressing her hips into the younger woman's, beginning to kiss her neck, but speaking quietly in her ear as she placed her kisses randomly.

"I'm gonna…" Olivia continued, "…go and…check out…some of these…rooms…but…I…" she continued kissing, making her way along her jawbone now, "…want you with me…"

Olivia stopped and they looked at each other. She could feel Tony panting slightly against her mouth, her eyes almost glassy, her pupils dilated.

Antonia only nodded.

"We'll…pretend…" Olivia continued kissing the other side of her neck now, "…we're making out…if anyone…walks in…" She stopped now, lifting her hips off of the young woman now. "OK?"

Antonia's breath had quickened and she simply nodded once more.

Olivia pulled away and took her hand once more before she tested a knob, seeing it was locked, and then moving to the next one.

The next one was locked, as well.

"Damn it," Olivia said softly.

"Maybe upstairs?" Antonia finally managed.

"Maybe," Olivia answered. "If we can get up there without the typical entourage?"

"I saw Kaia go up there a little while ago with two men and a woman? I don't know if they're still up there?"

"Maybe the best way is to get a tour from Camila. That way, if there are any rooms that she won't let us in, we can question why and gauge her reaction? What do you think?"

"It's worth a shot."

Olivia nodded. "OK." She looked at the next door and it was open. Assuming it was the bathroom, she headed into it and closed the door behind her.

And it was.

Olivia switched the light on, a three-wicked sandalwood candle burning next to the gold fixtures of the sink, and moved to stand in front of the commode, folding her arms.

Tony locked the door behind them.

"OK… Olivia said to Tony as well as the men in the van, "…we're going to do some snooping…" she continued softly, "…code words are still in place." She looked at Tony who was furrowing her brow and looking at something behind the brunette.

The younger woman pointed. "Is that a line there?"

Olivia turned to see what Antonia was talking about. She squinted and inched closer to the silver and gold designed wallpaper to find a razor-sharp line in the foiled covering that seemed to go up, across, and then down, like a door. "Oh, my God…" she said softly.

The brunette detective began pressing on the wall now—inside the line, outside the line, on the top of the line, Antonia doing the same.

"There's gotta be something here," Olivia said, still feeling and looking at Tony.

Suddenly, the wall moved, revealing a camouflaged door that opened away from them.

"Shit…" Antonia said softly.

Olivia pushed the hidden barrier open and revealed a room—boxes and boxes piled up. They entered and the older brunette moved up to one, noticing that it was taped closed. She angled her head and looked at the return label—Amazon Shipping—and then who it was addressed to: Forester-Keene Agency.

"From Amazon to the agency," Olivia offered. Scanning the other boxes, she saw that the rest were labeled the same way.

"Olivia…" Antonia said quietly from the other side of the room. Smaller boxes, no labels on the boxes whatsoever. "These are different."

"We need something to cut these open with…" Olivia moved back into the bathroom now and quietly began going through the three drawers in there. She found a box of wooden matches and figured she could use the blunt end of one of them and cut the tape. After all, she had done it before with a pencil. Why wouldn't a wooden match work?

She headed back and handed Antonia a few matches before she began cutting the tape to the Amazon boxes, slicing at the plastic and attempting to remain quiet.

Finally, she opened one to find about fifteen lifelike dolls, Lifting one by the shoulder, she found that they were pliable, silicone, and absolutely looked like real babies. "Dolls…that's what I thought."

She turned to look behind her. "Anything over there?"

A silence now and the brunette detective moved up to see Antonia staring into one of the smaller boxes.

"Shit…Olivia…" Antonia said, her eyes wide.

Olivia looked into the box to find clear bags filled with white substance. There were, at least, six kilos in the box. "Are they all like that?"

Antonia nodded, opening another. "They are."

"Jesus." Olivia lifted her dress and removed her phone from the lace thigh band where she had kept it and snapped a quick photo of one of the boxes. "Eureka," she said into her mic.

A pounding now, coming from inside the bathroom.

"Olivia?" Camila's voice.

Quickly, they closed the boxes and entered the bathroom, pulling the door closed behind them. She turned the faucet on and then walked up to Antonia and messed her hair from her chignon and then ran her thumb over her lips to smear her lipstick.

She then tousled her own hair and wiped her lipstick off with the back of her hand. Pulling Antonia to her body, she unlocked and answered the door, breathless. "Dammit, Camila!" she huffed. "Can't you give us a few more minutes?" She looked at Tony who was panting, her chest heaving.

Olivia smiled and reached for her fake wife's lower lip, wiping and smirking.

"This is a party. People have to use the bathroom. If you two wanna do that, at least, go up to one of the bedrooms."

Camila did not sound, nor did she look, amused.

"Understood." Olivia smiled, looking back at Antonia. "I just couldn't help myself…all that talking about getting off…" She winked and looked back at Camila.

"Well, if you want…" Camila smiled now, moving closer, "…when the party ends…we can all have our fun…Kaia's staying late, too."

This woman just didn't quit, Olivia mused.

But the brunette smiled, nonetheless. "Sounds like we might be able to take you up on that…as turned on as I am this evening." She looked at Antonia. "What do you think, Sweetie?"

"Share you?" Antonia smiled. "As long as Kaia is on the giving and receiving end, too, I'm down…"

Olivia bit her lower lip and then furrowed her brow, looking back at the older woman. "Speaking of Kaia, I haven't seen her yet this evening."

Camila smiled. "Oh, she's here. Don't you worry. She's doing some entertaining right now. But she's here."

Olivia only nodded.

The three began walking back down the hallway to enter the living area.

"Do you think I could get a refresher on my scotch? The other one wasn't strong enough."

"I'll get Ray to get you one…stronger this time." Camila winked and then moved away.

Olivia let out a breath and moved closer to Antonia, taking her hips in her hands, their mouths almost touching. "That was close."

"It was. One eureka, though…"

"Here you go…" Camila said cheerily.

Olivia turned and took the drink from her and then took a small sip. "Mmm, much better."

"When my baby has a drink…she likes it with power…" Antonia cooed, moving even closer to Olivia.

"Mmmm, I do, Tone. You know me well." She leaned into the shorter woman. "Wanna go for a little walk on the beach? Just for a few minutes?" she whispered, smiling. "Finish what we started before we were interrupted?" She bit her lower lip and wiggled her eyebrows.

Antonia nodded slowly, smirking.

Olivia held her hand out and Antonia took it before the detective led her toward the doors and out of the house to the pool area that would lead them down a board walk and to the beach.

9:31 p.m.

Alex carefully laid Theo into his crib and covered him with his baby blue blanket. He was out. They had had a longer than usual amount of time at the beach that day and the sun's rays had exhausted all of them.

She leaned over and kissed his cheek and then stood erect, smiling.

She had already showered for the evening, brushed her teeth, and had changed into her pajamas of short navy shorts with white polka dot and a matching, short-sleeved button down top, her feet bare. She had bought a new book online, about a woman who goes home for a summer visit and runs into an old friend. She was looking forward to cracking open and it was waiting for her on the coffee table of the study, Casey and her parents already having gone to bed for the evening.

She took the monitor and then moved to the door and opened it, heading down the hallway to the TV room. Sitting on the sofa, she brought the throw over her legs and then leaned to her left to grab her book, before bringing it to her lap and letting out a sigh and closing her eyes.

She was tired, as well. The sun had definitely kissed her skin that day and she was sporting a light burn, but it wasn't anything painful or serious. She had just applied moisturizer and knew that on the following day it would be better and also to not stay in the heat for as long as she had that day.

She cracked the book open now to the first page and looked at the words:

The long and winding road was one that was familiar to me. In my childhood this road was a comfort, a path that I knew would take me to a summer salvation filled with joyful days and peaceful nights.

She smiled, already enjoying that simple first paragraph, reminding her of when she came back home to this very beach house, when she heard noise to her right and she turned her head.

Her father was entering, his navy and white plaid robe on, his blue eyes twinkling, and she smiled at him.

"Hi, Princess…"

"Hi, Daddy," she cooed. "Couldn't sleep?"

"No, no…just coming down to get my reading glasses. I thought I had another pair upstairs but I can't find them." He lifted a throw pillow on the other sofa. "Here they are." He smiled and put them on.

"You OK, Pumpkin?" Bill Cabot looked at her over his lenses.

"I'm good, Daddy…just a little pink from today. But nothing bad." She lifted her short sleeve and looked at her shoulder.

"Your cheeks are pink, my girl."

Alex only smiled. "Mom's complexion. Johnny got your slightly more tanned skin."

Her father only smiled, moving to sit next to her legs on the sofa and placing his left hand on her knee, smiling. "Aside from the slight sunburn…you, OK?"

Alex nodded. "Yeah…better than when we first got here. It's still hard, though."

"I know it is, Alex…it's hard to be away from the one, or the ones, you love."

"It is…" Alex declared softly.

"I imagine it's hard for our detective, too."

Alex smiled. "I know it is…I told her she'd better come back. You know how it is in Easthampton. The celebrities, the restaurants, the mansions…" she cocked her head to the side.

"Now, what would make you say she wouldn't come back?" Bill Cabot furrowed his brow.

"I was just kidding, Daddy. It was a joke."

William held up his left forefinger now, patted the blonde's legs, and stood from the sofa, moving to a wooden armoire that they kept folded quilts blankets and extra pillows in. She turned to find him coming back with an album—a photo album—and watched as he began turning the pages.

He stopped on a page and then sat where he had been perched. "Look at these photos and tell me what you see…" He handed the opened album to her and she set it on her lap.

Her eyes immediately began tearing at what she saw. It was she and Olivia's wedding album. Olivia looked amazingly gorgeous and the blonde did, as well, but what came off of the pages and was present in every single photo was the joy, the happiness, the absolute elation of what represented, not only their wedding, but their lives together every day.

"Does that look like a woman who is ever thinking about never coming back?" Bill Cabot asked.

Alex shook her head slowly, feeling the tears filling her eyes, as she sniffed. "No, it doesn't."

"That looks like a woman who thinks you're the sun, the moon, and the stars. She's a woman who would do anything for you and the kids. Someone who'll never leave your side, no matter what. Olivia is a woman who loves you more than I've ever seen anyone love another person."

Alex only nodded, her vision now impeded from her falling tears. "I know," she said softly.

"And you know what?" he asked, lifting her chin with his forefinger.

"What Daddy?"

"I see the exact same in your eyes whenever you're with her, when you talk to her, when you think about her."

Alex nodded emphatically.

"Right?" he asked, smiling.

"You're right."

"So, asking that question is not only silly, but also an absolute impossibility."

Alex nodded again, feeling her face contort with emotion as her father leaned forward and took her into a hug.

They held each other and he began rubbing her back slowly.

"Olivia is coming back soon and I can't wait to watch you two interact again." Bill pulled away and held her hands on her lap. "Watching you two, and now you two with your children, is the highlight of when you all come to visit." His blue eyes crinkled. "And when we come into the city to visit, of course." He winked.

"Of course, Daddy. We love when you come to visit, too."

He smiled again and began standing. "She'll be back soon, Pumpkin." He patted her leg again and leaned forward and kissed his daughter's forehead. "And we'll all be here waiting."

Alex nodded again. "We will."

"Good night, Alex."

"Good night, Daddy. Sleep well."

Bill Cabot nodded and moved out of the room and out of sight.

Alex took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She reopened them and leafed through the album, smiling, feeling that familiar lump in her throat once more. She came to a photo of Olivia only, a close-up, her veil off and her reception dress on.

Leaning into the glossy page, she kissed the photo softly. "I love you, Babe…"

Closing the album, she set it on the coffee table and lifted her novel once more, knowing that her father was right. There was happiness, a wonderment that existed when she and her wife were together. Of that there was no doubt. She closed her eyes, her book open on her chest, knowing that Olivia would be home soon and all would be right with the world once again.

10:01 p.m.

Olivia looked through the window of the enclosed beach guest house, Tony standing behind her. They had gone on a quick walk and then decided to check out the lights coming from around five hundred meters from the shoreline, just through some trees that they had spotted on their way back. It was on the other side of the pool and appeared to have people inside, the entire space lit up in the night.

Olivia squinted at what she saw, her eyes widening. "Jesus…eureka."

Outdoor sofas.

Naked bodies.

Miles.

Logan.

Kaia.

The six girls they had met.

Sexual organs exposed.

Sexual organs in orifices

Sexual organs in hands.

People standing.

People sitting.

People having sex.

People screwing.

Underage girls right there, in the confines of this exposed space.

Olivia lowered her chin now. "I repeat…eureka and close in…eureka and close in…now…we're not waiting for a warrant." She looked at Antonia now and saw that her face was equally as shocked.

"We need to get out of here."

"Do you ladies like what you see?" a female voice now.

They turned to find Priscilla standing there, smirking.

"Uh…" Olivia smiled. "Yeah…just watching for now…"

"Why not come closer…where you can see better?" she asked.

"Uh…" Olivia tried again. "Like I said…Tony and I are good. We just like—"

"Watching, I get it…" Priscilla's face became serious then, her eyes steely.

Olivia only stared her down. "Are those girls from your agency?"

"That they are," Priscilla commented.

"And I know, for a fact, they're underage." Olivia's gaze remained intent.

"And how is that a problem for you?" Priscilla asked.

"It's not a problem for me, but it's a problem for the girls and for you if anyone finds out." Antonia chimed in now.

Priscilla looked at her. "So, it is…" She eyed Antonia up and down.

"Look, Camila and I get what we want…money…and my ex and his friend get what they want…"

"Sex," Olivia said, feeling her fingers begin to curl into a clenched fist now, attempting to control her anger.

"Exactly. Sex with beautiful girls."

Olivia decided not to say anything more about the young women in there. She wasn't about to stand there and argue with this woman who had just admitted to her greed and to her ex-husband's pedophilia.

They would get theirs. It was only a matter of time.

"Where's Camila?" Olivia asked.

"Why?" Priscilla asked, taking a step back.

"Just wondering when she's gonna pop out," Olivia continued watching the other woman scrutinizingly.

"Don't worry about Camila. She deals with other things in our marriage partnership."

"Drugs?" Olivia asked.

Priscilla's mouth dropped open but there was a slight smirk there, as well.

"We accidentally found the room. How did you transport them? The dolls? Giving the dolls to the students?" Olivia continued on.

"You sound like a detective…Detective…" Priscilla smirked.

They stared each other down for a few moments longer.

"You think I didn't know?" Priscilla raised her eyebrows. "We have our people too, Olivia. We followed that man from your party, that DJ and, as you say, your art agent, all the way back to some sort of monitoring station house. We also had eyes on your house. It made me wonder…if you two are so happy, why does Olivia Libretti sleep on the sofa? Didn't make sense." I also did a Google Image search on you and found that you are a Manhattan detective with SVU."

Olivia's mouth parted. "This house is going to be surrounded at any second. And you knew the whole time?"

"I knew," Priscilla smiled. My wife didn't."

"So, you wanted her to get caught?" Antonia asked.

Priscilla looked at Tony. "I wanted her to go to prison for a long, long time. All three of them."

"But you're a part of it, too. You'll be going to prison just like her," Olivia reminded her.

"And it's all worth it to see my business partners sporting Dior orange."

"So, them getting caught and being sent away is worth you going, also?" Olivia narrowed her eyes.

"I always told her…if I'm going down, you are, too."

"And it was all for the money?" Antonia asked.

"Money makes this world, that you see right here…" she motioned with her arms outward, "…the cars, the houses, the paintings, the help…go round…"

"And your wife coming onto me and you pretending it bothered you?" Olivia asked.

"All an act. I don't give a flip who she fucks." Priscilla smiled. "At least she has good taste." She winked.

Voices now.

In the distance but getting closer.

All around.

Some screaming.

Some shouting.

Music stopping.

And Olivia moved away from Priscilla, away from Antonia to the other side of the pool and just stood, watching as officers swarmed the premises, arrests were made, and the party and the illicit business that they had witnessed that night finally saw the justice light.

She felt sick to her stomach. She felt weak in the knees. Her mind was spinning with the revelations of the evening.

She folded her arms, hugging them against her in the slight chill of the evening and closed her eyes.

Her undercover operation was officially over and she could finally breathe a huge sigh of relief.

A/N: Thank you for reading. I would love to hear from you. Thank you for reviewing!