Disclaimer: SVU and its characters belong to Dick Wolf. I own nothing.
The warehouse was now a flurry of activity. Flood lights had been brought in, and the area was buzzing with detectives, uniformed officers, and crime scene personnel.
Captain Cragen had also arrived on scene. Elliot was filling him in on what happened. It was with great embarrassment that he'd told his superior officer of the fight he and Olivia had gotten into shortly before they'd split up in opposite directions. Still, he admitted that it was all his fault. Just as he'd been warned, his partner had learned of his deception, and she'd been furious.
None of that mattered now. The most important matter at hand was that they find her, before she come to any harm. Considering the fact that blood had been found at the scene, no matter how small the amount, they had to assume she'd already been hurt. Knowing Olivia, she likely had fought back hard.
Still, Elliot was puzzled. Why hadn't she called out for help? Did she not get the chance? Had he diminished her faith in him that much by his words? He felt sick as he realized the truth. She hadn't called out for help because she was trying to protect him. Even after all the cruel things he'd said to her, after they'd fought so bitterly, her first instinct was to protect him at all costs.
A shout rang out, and everyone looked to see what had happened. Someone had found a baseball bat. It was free of blood, so everyone was hoping that if Olivia had been hit with it, she hadn't been hit in the head. The item was quickly bagged, in the hope of finding fingerprints.
Ryan, who had abandoned his lab to help out on scene, came over to where Elliot and the Captain were standing. His expression was grim. In his gloved hand, he had Olivia's cell phone. The camera app was still open, and he had pulled up the most recent photo taken. He turned the screen so that the other two men could view it.
Looking at the photo, the situation became all too real for Elliot. It was a picture of Olivia. In it, she was bound, a strip of tape over her mouth. By all appearances, she was unconscious. At least, he hoped that was all it was, and not something much worse.
After showing them the photo, Ryan bagged Olivia's cell phone. It would be dusted for prints, then sent over to TARU. Reuben Morales was already waiting for it to arrive, so he could run diagnostic testing on it.
The syringe Elliot had found earlier had already been retrieved, so they could determine its contents. Also, samples of the blood on her badge and the floor had been taken as well. There was also a crew taking imprints of the tire tracks outside the door. It was a small chance, but they were looking for any clues that would lead them to the make and model of the car.
Elliot called out to his Captain. He couldn't believe he'd almost forgotten such an important detail, one that could make or break the case.
"Cap – before I discovered Olivia was missing, I heard a gunshot. It's what caused me to run in here to begin with."
The older man clapped his detective on the shoulder, trying to reassure him. It was obvious that Elliot was in shock. He'd already forgotten that when he'd initially radioed in, he'd reported gunfire.
Turning to the group of people still searching the scene for evidence, he gave the order to look for any spent casings or bullet fragments. He only hoped that the wayward bullet hadn't hit Olivia. She hadn't looked severely injured in the photo, but it had been too dark to really tell. He thought it over for a moment, and calmed himself down. They hadn't found a significant amount of blood on the scene. All her wounds must have been superficial.
"I need more light over here!"
A voice from across the room called out. People scrambled about, adjusting the flood lights accordingly. Soon, the beams were directed as such so that they were shining on the far wall. They all saw it then. A hole, the exact size of a bullet. It had caused the area around it to splinter and crack.
They were unable to retrieve the bullet from the wall without damaging its integrity. Instead, they used tools to cut around the hole, removing a small section of the wall as a whole. Once in the lab, they would have access to better tools. With more precision, they would be able to reach the bullet and examine it properly. It wouldn't be long before they could determine the type of gun it had been fired from.
Captain Cragen knew that it would still be some time before the crime scene investigators finished their work. He also knew that in his current state of mind, Elliot's presence was more of a hindrance than a help. He needed to get his detective back to the precinct, and question him more thoroughly. Especially when it came to the details of their fight. If whomever had taken Olivia had overheard any of their argument, they could possibly use it as leverage to further taunt Elliot.
"Elliot."
He called to the man softly, trying to get his attention. There was no response. The detective just stood there, staring blankly. His gaze was fixed at the spot on the floor where a few patches of blood still remained.
Cragen sighed. He didn't want to abuse his authority, especially given the situation at hand. But there seemed to be no other way to get Elliot to snap out of his trance-like state. Raising his voice, he called out to him again.
"Detective Stabler"
At this, the other man startled, and his head snapped in the direction of his Captain. There was no mistaking the haunted look on his face. Cragen made a mental note to have Huang speak with Elliot when they got back to the precinct. In fact, it might be a good idea if the doctor were to speak with all of the detectives. Hell, he might need to talk to the man himself. Focusing his attention back on the matter at hand, he spoke to Elliot.
"We should get back to the precinct, let CSU finish their work here."
The man nodded, but his movements were almost robotic in nature. This was not the Elliot Stabler he was accustomed to dealing with. He had expected the man to fight him tooth and nail, demanding to stay at the scene.
"Give me the keys, Elliot. I'll drive us back."
Having said those words, he held out his hand. He'd purposely gotten a ride to the scene with Ryan, knowing that his detective would be in no condition to drive back on his own. Elliot reached into his pocket, and withdrew the keys to the sedan. He placed them in Cragen's palm, and followed him out of the warehouse.
Captain Cragen and Elliot arrived back at the precinct a short time later. As it was now nearing dinnertime, Cragen had offered to stop and get his detective something to eat on the way back. The younger man had declined, saying that he wasn't hungry. How could anyone think of food at a time like this? Olivia was missing.
Cragen understood where Elliot was coming from, but knew at some point, he'd have to force him to take care of himself. He didn't want to think about food either. But he knew he'd need to eat, and eventually even sleep. Letting himself fall apart would do Olivia no good. Sooner or later, Elliot would realize that, too.
As they came into the squad room, both Fin and Munch looked up from their desks. Despite wanting to come along earlier, someone needed to focus on the case at hand. Without a doubt, the murders and Olivia's disappearance were connected. Finding what linked them together would be the key.
So far, the only thing they all had in common was the note Elliot had received. He seemed to be the target. While continuing to investigate what they already had, the Captain had them looking into past cases as well. While it would obviously take too much time to look at every person Elliot had ever arrested, it should be fairly easy to see if any had recently been paroled.
Elliot slumped into his desk chair, and dropped his head into his hands. He knew there was something he should be doing, but couldn't figure out what that was. Never before could he remember feeling so consumed with a state of helplessness.
To make matters worse, his mind just kept replaying the argument he'd had with Olivia. The words he'd hurled at her in anger. Telling her to stay out of his life. What if those were the last words she would ever hear him say to her? No. He simply couldn't think that way. They would find her, and bring her back home again.
As his mind continued to spiral, his focus shifted to that of his family. Olivia had already been taken. What if whoever was trying to torment him went after Kathy or the kids next? Even though they hadn't been specifically mentioned in the note, he wouldn't take any chances. Picking up the phone, he dialed his wife.
She seemed surprised to be hearing from him, given their earlier conversation. Once again, she tried to apologize. Elliot shrugged it off, trying to get to the point.
"Kathy, listen to me. It's important."
Hearing the urgency in his voice, she grew quiet. A feeling of dread began to rise up in her stomach. Something was wrong. With his next words, her fears were proven correct.
"Olivia is missing."
He didn't elaborate on the subject, but went on to give her instructions. She was to stay at her parents. The kids were not to go to school. He was going to be sending a police detail to stay with them, they would be parked outside at all times. If she noticed anything suspicious, she was to notify them immediately. Kathy promised she would do so.
"Elliot?"
Just as he was about to hang up, her voice called out to him. He brought the receiver back to his ear.
"Yeah, Kath."
"I have faith that you'll find Olivia. You'll bring her home again."
Hearing those words brought all the emotions he'd been trying to keep at bay to the forefront. Choking back tears, he thanked her, then ended the call. Unable to stay in the squad room, he climbed the stairs to the locker room. Slamming the door behind him, he relished the sound it made.
Anger was coursing through him now, despite the tears that welled in his eyes. He was furious, mostly at himself. If only he'd insisted they stay together. This was all his fault. Anything that happened to her now, any harm that should come to her, it was all on him.
With a shout, he lashed out with a fist. He struck his locker, paying no heed to the pain it caused in his hand. All he knew was that he had to hit something, or he would explode. He struck out again, and again. Before he realized, he was beating the locker in a torrent of punches. Sweat glistened on his brow from the exertion.
When he was spent, he collapsed to his knees. As he rocked back and forth, a low keening sound filled the room. He looked around for the source of the noise, before he realized it was coming from him. Glancing down at his hands, he saw that the skin on his knuckles was broken and bloody. The pain hadn't even registered.
From behind him, he heard the sound of a throat being cleared. He turned around sharply, to find George Huang standing in the doorway.
He stood, wiping harshly at his eyes. While the action rid his cheeks of the tears that had fallen, it transferred the blood from his hands to his face.
Huang regarded him quietly. He knew he'd intruded on a private moment. But he also knew that what he was witnessing was Elliot Stabler at his most raw and vulnerable. For a man who kept his emotions hidden, this was something rare. He crossed the room and grabbed a washcloth and a towel from near the bathroom entrance.
Wetting the cloth, he brought it back over. He handed it to the man in front of him, a silent peace offering. Elliot wiped his face with it first. Then, he gently scrubbed at his hands, taking care not to reopen the wounds. Once that task was complete, he tossed both items in the trash, and took a seat on the bench.
George sat opposite him. He knew he had to tread very carefully, or else Elliot would close up and not want to talk. Just as he was trying to figure out how to begin, Elliot spoke up first.
"I guess Cragen told you about my argument with Liv."
His words weren't really posed as a question, more of an assumption of fact. His shame was so great that he couldn't even bear to look the psychiatrist in the eye.
"The Captain told me nothing, Elliot. Only that Olivia was missing."
The look of anguish on the other man's face at his words was unmistakable. Still, George knew he had to continue.
"Before coming up to find you, I went down to the crime lab. I saw the photographs, and I read the note."
Now Elliot was even more ashamed. George would know for a fact that it was all his fault. Part of him hoped that he would cast blame on him, as he was already blaming himself.
"It seems to me, Elliot, that this individual's prime purpose is to torture you."
Elliot shot him a scathing look, and couldn't keep the bitterness out of his voice as he replied.
"No shit, doc. I figured that one out for myself."
George wasn't offended in the least by the outburst. He'd certainly heard much worse. Keeping his voice kind, he tried again to reassure the detective.
"What I meant was, I don't think he'd harm Olivia unnecessarily. He wants you to be aware of everything he does, gauge your reactions."
Once again, Elliot looked in the doctor's direction. He was starting to understand what the man was trying to tell him.
"You think he'll make contact, then?"
"I'm certain of it."
Elliot felt a surge of hope. If he were contacted, they could trace the call. Find the location. Maybe even get to Olivia before she was hurt. His hopes quickly sunk though, as realization dawned on him yet again.
"He's already hurt her once though. We found blood at the scene."
"You did."
George conceded that fact. He wasn't going to sugar-coat the details. Not even for Elliot. Despite all the emotions the man was facing, he still deserved the truth.
"But the blood may not have all been hers. Or, she could have been injured during a scuffle. You and I both know Olivia would have fought with everything she had."
Despite the gravity of the situation, Elliot had to smile. It was the truth. Olivia would have fought. Having been her partner on more than one sparring exercise, he knew that she could throw a punch. In addition to the police training that she'd received, he also knew she'd taken several self defense classes. The woman could hold her own.
His smile was brief, as he considered a sobering fact. The syringe they had found at the scene. Who knows what she had been injected with. Despite every effort not to, his mind began to run away from him. What if it had contained a fatal overdose? He shook his head, easily dismissing that terrible thought. No, if that had been the case, his tormentor likely would have left Olivia's body for him to find, not taken her with him. Besides, the note had implied that she would suffer.
Intuiting the other man's thoughts, George chimed in with a few of his own.
"You're thinking about the syringe found at the scene, aren't you Elliot."
The detective could only nod. His thoughts were spiraling again.
"Once I see the report from the lab, I'll be able to help you determine the nature of what she was given. My guess is that it was likely a sedative. Whoever took her wanted her out of commission, so that she wouldn't put up a struggle."
Elliot was getting anxious again. Despite his dislike of talking to psychiatrists, George was someone he trusted. Plus, the man cared about Olivia, too. He felt he could voice his fears without being pulled off her case.
"What about the gunshot I heard?"
George knew this was something that had troubled the other man greatly. He considered the facts he already knew. One shot had been heard at the scene, one bullet had been recovered. Even though they were investigating opposite ends of the warehouse, their proximity was such that Elliot would have heard any additional shots. He quickly surmised that the lone shot fired hadn't been to harm or intimidate Olivia, but to alert her partner.
He voiced these thoughts to Elliot. The further he explained, the more ill the man looked. What if that shot hadn't been fired? He and Olivia had just had a fight. She'd told him not to wait for her, that she'd find her own way back to the precinct. Granted, he wasn't about to leave without her, but what if he had? How long would it have taken then, to discover she'd gone missing?
Despite the fear it had lodged in his heart, Elliot found himself minimally grateful for the gunshot that had been fired. It allowed him to realize almost immediately that Olivia had been taken. Every police officer knew that in missing persons cases, time was the most important factor. Maybe they still stood a chance at bringing her back home safely. Standing up, he indicated to George he was ready to go downstairs at get back to work. He wanted to find his partner.
On his way back to his desk, Elliot stopped at the restroom. Like he had earlier this morning, he splashed water on his face. It wasn't that he was ashamed of his tears, but he wanted people to focus on Olivia, not him.
When he reached the squad room, he found Ryan standing there. With him, was Reuben Morales of TARU. It was clear from the expression on their faces that both had something important to say.
Steeling himself for bad news, he nonetheless said a prayer for something positive. Anything that would give them a clue as to Olivia's location.
"We've found something."
Ryan's first words gave him hope. He directed all his attention to the lab tech. Likewise, so did everyone else in the room. They all stopped what they were doing, and gathered close, to listen to what he had to say.
"Analysis of the blood samples taken have determined that there are two different blood types at the scene. We've proven that the first is Olivia's. We're running the second through CODIS to see if there are any hits."
It was a mix of news to hear. While it didn't come as any surprise, everyone was holding out hope that the blood wasn't going to match Olivia. It confirmed the fact that she'd been hurt, no matter how minor the injuries. But the fact that she'd injured her attacker enough to make them bleed, too...that spoke to her character. She'd fought back, like they all knew she would.
Ryan apologized for not having better news. Elliot shook his head. He knew it wasn't the technician's fault. In fact, he was grateful that the man had completed an analysis this fast. Especially when he already had so much work to do.
Reuben stepped up next, he held a print out in his hand. It was the data report he'd done on Olivia's cell phone. He explained that the only fingerprints found on it belonged to Olivia and Elliot. Heads turned in Elliot's direction at that comment, but the expressions weren't accusatory. The two were partners, it was common for their fingerprints to be on the same things. Even personal cell phones.
"I did find one thing that you'll all find interesting."
As he spoke, Reuben extended the printout toward the Captain. He knew Elliot would want to read it, too. But protocol dictated that he first give it to the commanding officer.
"Someone recently accessed all of the files on Olivia's phone, and transferred them to another device. I'm not able to track that device, but this does mean that whoever did so, has all of her contacts."
Cragen caught on quickly to what the man was trying to say.
"You think they'll use that list, and try and contact us."
Reuben nodded, indicating the affirmative.
"What we can do is put trackers on the phones here. So that when we do get an incoming call, we'll be able to trace it."
He turned to face the man who was most likely out of all of them to receive a call.
"Elliot, if you give me your phone, I can install the necessary software. Even if you're not in the precinct when someone calls you, it will automatically begin a trace."
Without even hesitating, Elliot handed over his phone. He could have cared less if they would have put a tracking device on him. Whatever it took to get Olivia back, he'd do it.
Reuben had come prepared for this very instance. He headed over to one of the desks, and slipped his laptop bag off his shoulder. Setting up the portable computer, he quickly connected the phone via a small cable. Working efficiently, he accessed the correct program, and downloaded the software to Elliot's phone. As he completed his task, the phone on the desk rang. Everyone looked toward it, startled.
"That will just be the program completing."
Reuben's tone was apologetic. He'd forgotten to warn them about that. Everyone was on edge, and he'd accidentally made the tension worse.
"Now, if you get a phone call, just key in a specific code. To make it easy to remember, I selected Olivia's badge number. All you'll need to do is hit the star key, and those four digits, and your call will be routed here to the precinct. We can not only listen in, but trace it as well – all in real time."
It was a lengthy explanation, but the process was simple enough to execute. Plus, he knew Olivia's badge number as easily as he knew his own. The two were ingrained in both his mind and his heart. Still, he fervently hoped that he wouldn't be on his own when he got a call.
With that task done, Reuben began the job of setting up the tracing equipment on the other phones. Ryan excused himself from the group, saying he needed to get back to the lab. He promised to call or come back in person the minute he had any further information. Despite the urgency of all of yesterday's evidence, today's finds took top priority. An officer was missing, and every second counted.
Silence fell over the squad room. Elliot turned to face his Captain. He knew what it was he wanted to ask, he just feared his request would be denied.
"Cap, I want to stay here tonight. I need to be here. Please don't make me go home."
Captain Cragen sighed. He had expected such a request from his detective. Just not this soon. It was still early yet. Knowing that if he denied what had been asked of him, Elliot would find a way around it, he decided he would give in. With a few conditions, of course.
"You can stay here, Elliot."
The man in front of him sighed audibly with relief. Cragen held up a hand, halting his response.
"I have a few conditions though."
The detective met his eyes, and nodded earnestly. It seemed he was willing to do whatever was asked of him, so long as he was permitted to stay.
"Someone will drive you to Olivia's to get the rest of your things, I don't want you living in the same clothes for days."
Elliot nodded. That was a simple enough request. He had a feeling the others wouldn't be as easy.
"Also, you will eat – it doesn't have to be a lot – but you will eat. Lastly, I expect you to get sleep in the cribs when you need it."
The man standing in front of him opened his mouth, presumably to argue. Cragen gave him a harsh look, letting him know that these terms weren't negotiable. Not wanting to test his superior officer's limits, he agreed. The last thing he wanted was to be taken off the case. He wanted to be there the second they found Olivia. More than that, he had to be. The first thing he wanted her to hear from him was an apology. Not just for the harsh words he had spoken to her, but for being such a bad partner and letting her get taken.
Olivia groaned as she gradually came around. She became aware of a few things. One, she was seated in a chair, her arms bound behind her back. Her ankles were also fastened together. If she had to guess, it was with the same duct tape that covered her mouth. A section of rope was wrapped around her waist, securing her to the chair itself. She focused on keeping her breathing even, since she was only able to breathe through her nose for the time being.
Judging from the headache she had, she was still dealing with the effects of whatever sedative she'd been given. She vaguely remembered being injected with something. Looking around, she took in her surroundings. Where was Elliot? Had he been taken too? Her breathing quickened.
Despite her anger at her partner, the last thing she wanted was to see him hurt. She fervently hoped that whoever had taken her hadn't taken Elliot as well. Hearing footsteps, she knew she had a decision to make. Should she pretend to still be unconscious? Or should she let her captor know she was awake? Deciding upon the latter, she held her head high, ready to meet whomever it was who had taken her face to face.
Someone came into the room, and her head turned sharply to look at them. Much like they'd been in the warehouse, this individual was dressed head to toe in black. They were also still wearing a mask, making it impossible to identify them. What she could see clearly though, were the eyes. They held something sinister. A look so chilling, it caused a shiver to go down her spine. She made every effort to hide it though, determined to show no fear.
"I see you're awake, Detective."
Her captor's voice was chilling. It seemed completely devoid of emotion, and matched the look in his eyes. And yet, there was something about it she couldn't quite place. As if she had heard this voice somewhere before. Did she know her captor? Was he someone she had arrested in the past? Between being unable to decipher any physical features, and her still groggy mind, she was couldn't tell.
The man took several steps closer to her. It was then that she noticed the bottle of water in his hands. Just as she'd made up her mind to refuse anything he gave her, lest it be drugged, she noticed it was still factory sealed. She hoped, then, that he would give her a drink. That he hadn't come to taunt her with it. She hadn't had anything since the coffee at lunch, and after the drugs coursing through her system, she was very thirsty.
Before she was completely ready for it, he reached out. With harsh movements, he ripped the tape from her mouth. Despite her every effort not to, she couldn't help crying out as the adhesive peeled away from the delicate skin of her lips.
Next, he uncapped the water. Cupping the back of her head in one hand, he used the other to bring the bottle to her lips. She drank greedily, uncertain of how much he would allow her to have. Sure enough, before she'd even come close to quenching her thirst, he had pulled the bottle away.
"That's enough for now. I'm not doing this for your comfort, I just don't want you dying on me too soon."
Though it took great effort, she did not look away or even flinch at his words. She knew they were meant to frighten her. They did. It also helped her to realize that her captor would not be feeding her at any point. His goal would be to keep her as weak as possible.
Her mind also wandered to her conversation with Kathy earlier that day. The note that the woman had told her about. Whatever this was, it wasn't directed at her personally. She was just collateral damage in some grand scheme designed to hurt Elliot. She knew they planned to torture him first. What she knew without question, though, was that she was not meant to survive this ordeal.
She laughed, despite the situation she was in. Not if she had anything to say about it. Whomever had taken her clearly didn't know her very well. If they thought for even a minute that she was going to follow the rules and be docile, they had another thing coming. No matter what the outcome, she was going to fight with everything she had.
Her laughter only served to infuriate her captor. He lashed out, striking her across the face. She didn't cry out, but merely glared at him in response. It didn't matter that she was still bound, there was a fire in her eyes.
Crossing the room to where a small table was set up, he grabbed a roll of duct tape off it. Tearing off a small section, he returned, taping her mouth once more.
His next actions, Olivia was not prepared for. He walked back to the table, and removed three objects – a hairbrush, a pair of scissors, and a hair tie. He walked back over, coming to stand behind her. Even though she'd promised herself not to, she couldn't help but flinch when she felt his fingers run through her hair. It had grown out so much, ever since the time she had cut it short. She was loving having it longer again. She knew what was coming, and felt herself tearing up.
He was going to cut her hair. Without a doubt, she also knew he was going to send it to Elliot. To taunt him. She wasn't upset for herself. It was just hair. It would grow back. But Elliot – getting something like that would torture him on so many levels. It would make him feel helpless.
Her thoughts faltered. It would certainly make the Elliot she knew feel helpless. She wasn't sure what it would do to the man who had yelled at her today. While she and her partner had certainly fought before, today's argument topped the charts. What if he meant what he'd said? Looking back, she knew her own words had been out of anger.
In her current situation, she couldn't be sure about what he'd said. She'd like to believe that Elliot had discovered she was missing, had raised the alarm. But what if he hadn't? What if he'd taken to heart her comment about finding her own way back to the station? What if he'd already left the warehouse? Her mind swam as her thoughts began to spiral.
So consumed was she in these thoughts, that she wasn't cognizant of her captors actions. She barely felt a thing as he pulled her hair back into a low ponytail, securing it with the tie. She wasn't aware when he sawed through with the scissors, removing the section of her chestnut locks.
She only noticed when he came to stand in front of her, waving his prize. As if that weren't cruel enough, he also chose to taunt her verbally.
"I'm sure your partner is going to love his present. I'll be calling him shortly, and I'm certain he's going to want proof you're actually with me. Do you think this will convince him?"
Unable to respond, given the tape over her mouth, she glared at him again. He reached out a hand, stroking the side of her face. She tried to pull away from his touch.
"Now, now, detective. If you want to stay alive, you're going to have to be friendlier than that."
He ran his thumb over her lips through the tape, then dropped his hand. Stepping away from her he turned to leave, taking her hair with him. He stopped at the door, turning to say one final thing.
"I'll be back to see you later. Rest well."
With that said, the room plunged into darkness. He'd turned out the lights on her? Now she truly was at a disadvantage. She'd have to rely on her hearing to be able to tell if he was coming back now.
She decided she would follow his advice. Not the part about being friendlier – there was no way in hell that was going to happen. But while she was alone, she was going to try and rest and relax. She had to save her energy. If she ever got free of her restraints, she'd need the strength to fight back.
As best as she could, given her current position, she tried to relax the muscles in her shoulders and arms. It wasn't easy, considering they were bound behind her still. While she didn't relish the thought of being tied up at all, she hoped that he would move her at some point.
She thought she'd noticed a twin bed in the room earlier, maybe he would allow her to lie down.
The thought also occurred to her that at some point, she would need a bathroom. It was inevitable. Maybe she could convince her captor to untie her then. Or at the very least, bind her hands in front. It would give her an advantage. She could fight back then, maybe even attempt an escape.
With no way of knowing if anyone was coming for her, she knew that she had to rely on herself. But she wouldn't give up hope on Elliot. Not just yet. Not until she knew, for certain, that he had meant what he said earlier today. If he didn't respond to the prompts or taunts her captor was going to send, then she would know that his words today rang true. That he truly wanted her to stay out of his life.
In the other room, the masked man gathered together the hair he had collected from the detective. He wasn't going to send it just yet. First, he would have to call her partner. He'd decided to wait until the morning to do that. Make the man sweat a little.
By now, he was certain they'd found all the 'gifts' he'd left behind at the warehouse. The only thing that worried him was the fact that he might have left some of his blood behind, too. Once again, he cursed the bitch of a detective who had hit him. He hadn't expected her to fight back so hard.
He thought it would be so easy – sneak up behind her, hit her with the bat. It had been a good thing he'd brought along the sedative as backup. Also, it had worked in his favor that she hadn't called out for her partner. He'd overheard their fight, and couldn't have planned it better.
Their fight was something else he planned to use to his advantage. He'd learned a few skills while in prison. A fellow inmate had been a computer genius, and had taught him how to manipulate audio and video.
When he talked with Stabler, he knew just what to do to taunt the man. To provoke him to say certain things. He'd even record the conversation. Then, he planned to alter it...make it seem like the detective didn't want to find his female partner. Or even care about what happened to her. He smiled sadistically as he thought about what would happen when he played it for Detective Benson – he couldn't wait to watch the fire die in her eyes as she gave up all hope.
Elliot left Olivia's apartment, locking the door behind him. It had felt strange being at her place without her, even if he was just there to retrieve his things. He was also surprised that the Captain had let him come on his own. He'd expected to have been given a chaperone. Ultimately, he realized that all available hands were needed at the station, not baby-sitting other detectives. It was time he got his shit together, and started acting like his head was in the game.
He jumped when his cell phone rang. Immediately on high alert, he looked to see who was calling. He felt a mix of emotions to see that it was Kathy. While he was relieved that she was checking in, he had hoped that someone would contact him about Olivia. At least now, he could maybe get back to the precinct first.
Putting the call on speaker, he clipped it to the holder on his dash. He wanted to start driving back, and needed to keep his hands free. As he drove, he listened while Kathy explained how things were going on her end.
She told him that she'd picked up the kids. The officer assigned to them had escorted her to and from the school, where the kids had all been participating in extra-curricular activities. She'd spoken briefly to the principal, outlining the situation. They had been very understanding. They arranged a way for the kids to keep up with their assignments while they had to be kept out of classes. The only one of the Stabler children unhappy with this was Dickie. Upon hearing the news that he'd be kept home from school, he was looking forward to a break.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Elliot couldn't help but laugh at that. Dickie wasn't a poor student, but it was always a struggle to get him to actually study. If he could find a way out it, he'd always take it.
Before hanging up, Kathy had one final question. What to tell the kids regarding Olivia. She'd been their father's partner for seven years, and they all knew her well. The woman always had a gift for them on their respective birthdays, or at Christmas. Elliot thought it over, and as much as he hated keeping secrets, opted not to tell them. He told his wife to just tell their children that he was involved in an important case, and couldn't get away.
Just as he was ending his call, he'd arrived back at the precinct. He found a parking place, and gathered his things. Once inside, he quickly stashed them in his locker. Then he was back at his desk, determined to get back to work.
Upon his arrival, it was Fin who left next. Elliot realized he must have had a confused expression on his face, because Munch explained to him what was going on.
"We talked it over while you were gone. We're all staying here tonight. Fin just went to his place to pick up a few things. It's my turn after that."
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Elliot realized just how much everyone cared for Olivia. It also dawned on him that now, they truly would be working around the clock. With everyone staying at the precinct, they would likely trade off and sleep in shifts. He'd take it. Anything that increased the chances of finding his partner sooner as opposed to later.
While he wanted to focus on nothing but Olivia, he also knew she would want him to devote his attention to their other case. Plus, he knew the two were related. He was determined to find justice for those four victims that had been found yesterday. Even with his partner missing, that hadn't diminished.
Reaching across to Olivia's desk, he pulled off a file. In it, were copies of photos that had been taken at the crime scenes yesterday. As sick as it made him, he forced himself to study the pictures. There had to be a pattern there.
Even though they had yet to identify any of the women, the scenes were practically identical. Right down to the position of the bodies. A light bulb went off in his head. The bodies – what was it about them? Yes, the hair.
All of the women had been wearing the same hairstyle. Pigtails. He knew that wouldn't have been their first preference, and was likely forced upon them. He also didn't need Huang to tell him that the reasoning behind it was sexual in nature. Whomever had done this was trying to make these women look like little girls.
The wheels in his mind kept spinning faster. That meant they weren't looking for your 'typical' rapist. It opened the door to other possibilities, and even convicted pedophiles could be potential suspects. Some had been known to rape women, after making them look more child like.
Turning to his computer, he accessed the database of files. He was much more grateful to have the system at his fingertips. Going through old cases by hand would have been so time consuming. He entered a few keywords, and the search was underway.
While he was waiting for that to load, he looked up and saw that both Fin and Munch had returned. Cragen, too came out of his office. Looking at his watch, he noticed that it was nearing seven thirty at night. It dawned on him what the Captain was going to say.
"Elliot. You need to take a break, eat something. I'm not opposed to you working this case, but you have to take care of yourself."
Cragen regarded him warily, as though he were anticipating an argument. He was surprised when the younger man not only agreed, but offered a compromise.
"I will take care of myself Cap, I promise. What if I were to order something in, so I can keep working at my desk while I eat?"
Before the Captain could agree, Fin and Munch chimed in, saying that sounded like a good idea. They too, hadn't eaten. Everyone decided upon ordering Chinese. Someone found a menu in a desk drawer, and everyone took turns scanning it. Orders were written down, and then phoned in. It was scheduled to be delivered shortly.
With that subject settled, Cragen turned his attention back to what Elliot had found out. Not that he hadn't been interested before. He simply couldn't risk one of his detectives passing out on the job while another was missing.
"Something tells me this is personal, Cap. So I'm going through the database of old cases."
Cragen listened while Elliot explained. It made sense. He, too, thought that whomever had done this had a prior connection with his detective. Someone that had been arrested in the past. With luck, the second blood sample found in the warehouse would provide a positive DNA hit. Although, even if it did, that wouldn't put them any closer to finding Olivia. They'd have the who, but not the where.
The computer made a beeping noise, signaling that the search was complete. Elliot began scanning the files. As he did, he was flooded with memories of cases past. Faces of past criminals flashed before his eyes. They were intermingled with another face that kept flashing in his mind – the last photo he'd seen of Olivia on her cell phone.
That picture, in particular, was ingrained in his brain. He would go as far as to say it was haunting him, and he'd only just seen it for the first time a few hours ago. He also kept replaying their argument in his mind. He knew he had to forget about it. He'd have to force it out, so it wouldn't dominate his thoughts. There would be plenty of time to focus on that later. Right now, he needed to devote all his time and energy to this case. Olivia deserved that.
He'd been focusing on the cases for so long, sorting through them alphabetically by last name. Looking away from his computer, he took a brief break to rest his eyes. The same time he did, a delivery person arrived in the squad room with their order. Captain Cragen, took the money that had already been pooled together, and paid the man. He took the box of food, and set it down on Olivia's desk. It hurt him to do so, but hers was the only one not in use at the moment.
Elliot stood, but before collecting his dinner, went to the break room. It felt strange to only be purchasing one drink from the vending machine. He was always so accustomed to buying them in pairs. One for himself, and one for his partner. A brief smile flitted across his face as he remembered just the day before. While Olivia had come in here to get their drinks for lunch, he had swapped out halves of their sandwiches.
Shaking his head, he pushed the memory aside. He hit the correct buttons on the machine, and waited for the beverage to drop. Collecting his drink, he moved back to the squad room. Only his food remained on Olivia's desk, everyone else was already eating. Taking it, he also grabbed the last set of chopsticks. Sitting back in his chair, he turned to the computer.
Olivia was dozing lightly in the chair. Despite her every effort to stay awake, some of the sedative she had been given still remained in her system. She wasn't so far out of it though, that she couldn't hear her surroundings. Upon hearing approaching footsteps, she opened her eyes and raised her head.
Her captor materialized in the doorway. Before she was quite ready for it, the room was flooded with light. Blinking against the brightness, she held her head higher. As he stalked toward her, there was a glint of an object in his hand. She tried not to shrink away in fear when she saw he held a knife.
Rather than come directly toward her, and stab her with it, he knelt down at her feet. Using the knife, he cut through the tape that bound her ankles together. His next move was to remove the rope that was tied around her waist. With that done, he grabbed hold of her elbow, and jerked her to a standing position.
With the knife at her throat, he spun her around and prodded her to walk forward. She did as he directed. He led her into a small hallway, and around a corner. The next room she saw was a bathroom. Despite all her anxieties, she couldn't help but feel relief.
There were no windows to this room, only the lone door they had used to enter. There was no shower or tub to speak of. Just a toilet and a small sink. Still, it was better than nothing. There was one other thing she hoped for – privacy. While she wouldn't be able to take advantage of a chance to escape, she still didn't want this man in the room with her while she used the bathroom.
She got her wish, in a manner of speaking. Raising the knife again, he instructed her to turn around. She did as she was told. It wouldn't do her any good to anger him right now. She felt her hands pull apart as he cut through the tape that bound her wrists. When he yanked the tape off her skin, she had to bite her lip, as he hadn't been gentle.
"Despite my better judgment, I'm going to give you some privacy. The door has no lock, so don't even think about that. You have five minutes, then I'm coming back in."
With that, he left the room, closing the door behind him. Not trusting his time limit, she used the facilities quickly. The last thing she wanted was him walking in on her. While he hadn't touched her inappropriately yet, she wasn't taking any chances.
After using the toilet, she washed her hands at the sink. Then, she decided to tempt fate. She'd already determined that this man wasn't going to feed her. He'd only given her water once, and that was hours ago. Thanks to the drugs she'd been given, her thirst was still raging. Would he know if she took a drink from the sink here? Turning the faucet back on, she was careful not to make the sound of rushing water too loud. Cupping her hands under the flowing stream, she brought it to her mouth.
While she was sure it wasn't the best quality of water she'd ever had to drink in her life, it served its purpose. As she had done before when he'd held the bottle to her mouth, she drank greedily. She took care not to drink too much, though. The last thing she wanted was to need the bathroom again in too soon a time. That would definitely make the man suspicious. She didn't want to lose what little privilege she had.
Turning off the faucet, she wiped her hands dry on her pants, as there was no towel. She had just started to turn around when the door flew open. Just as she'd suspected, this man hadn't waited the full five minutes.
Before she was quite prepared for it, he was behind her, and the knife was back at her throat. He led her back into the small room she'd been kept in. Instead of tying her back up in the chair, he walked her over to the bed. Her heart began to pound in her chest. What could possibly be his intention now?
As though reading her mind, he chuckled darkly. As he had before, he reached out to trail a hand down her face, then his thumb across her lips. She pulled away from his touch. This action only served to anger him more, and he slapped her. The force of his palm striking her cheek stung more than anything, but didn't cause any real damage.
"Lie back"
She would not, she thought. She wouldn't just give in. Knife or no knife, she was determined to fight. Launching herself off the bed, she used her head as a battering ram, catching the man in the chest. It caught him off guard, and he stumbled backward.
Her next plan of attack was to wrap both hands around the wrist of the hand holding the knife. Squeezing it in a death grip, she shook until he let go. He swung at her with his free arm, the hand balled into a fist. It caught her on the side of the head. Still, she wouldn't be deterred.
Like she had in the warehouse, she fought for all she was worth. She brought her knee up, catching him in the groin. When he doubled over, she dropped her elbow down hard, striking him in the back. This caused him to fall to the ground.
With her captor temporarily down for the count, Olivia searched for the knife. Her eyes scanned the room quickly, but she couldn't find it. He must have fallen on it. She was going to take her chances and run.
She had taken a few steps toward the door when she felt a hand close around her ankle. She lost her footing, and the floor rose up to meet her. She hit the ground hard, striking her chin as she fell.
Still, she wouldn't give up. Rolling over on her back, she drew her knees up to her chest. As her captor was standing, she timed another kick to the groin. She then struck out with her leg, sweeping him at the knee. It knocked him back to the floor. On hands and knees she tried to crawl away. At this point she was panting from the exertion, but nowhere near ready to give up.
She had almost made it to the door when her leg was pulled backward sharply. She tried to yank it out of the man's grasp. She chanced a glance behind her, and just as she did, she saw him stab a syringe in the back of her knee. He pressed down on the plunger, and within seconds, she felt her body grow warm as the drug filled her system. She slumped on the ground, motionless.
This was different to what he had used before. Olivia hadn't lost consciousness. Her eyes remained open. She was aware of everything going on around her. She just couldn't move. She felt as the man picked her up, and carried her over to the bed.
"Bitch. I was going to leave you untied for awhile. Since you've tried that, though, what you'll get is worse than the tape."
He reached into his pocket and withdrew several zip ties. He used one to bind her wrists together, making it as tight and uncomfortable as possible. Then he took a second, and looped it through. Raising her arms over her head, he fastened that one to the bars on the headboard. He repeated the process with the remaining two zip ties, using them to secure her ankles.
His final step was to put another piece of tape over her mouth, silencing her. Thanks to the paralytic he had given her, she wouldn't be able to move or speak for hours. But he wasn't taking any chances. She had already proven to be very resourceful. Twice now she had attacked him, and very nearly escaped. He couldn't risk her making it three times, or even getting away altogether.
He then went to the table, and retrieved a Polaroid camera. The photo he was about to take would be sent to her partner. Combined with the hair he had collected earlier, it would make quite the package. He took the photo, not caring whether or not her eyes were open for it. Either way would serve a purpose.
Before leaving, he made sure she was looking at him. Then, he slowly removed his mask, revealing his face. Her eyes – the only part of her body she was able to move – widened in shock. Good. She definitely recognized and remembered him. Without saying another word, he turned and left the room.
Elliot had finished with his meal awhile ago. He'd followed it up with an antacid. He wasn't sure if it was the food, his nerves, or a combination of both, but something was giving him an upset stomach.
As he ate, he'd kept plowing through the case files, trying to find a connection. Maybe that had even contributed to his indigestion.
He stood for a moment, giving himself a brief reprieve from the computer screen. He'd made it all the way to the "M" list of the files though. He was steadily getting through the alphabet. Heading over to the corner, he poured himself a cup of coffee. Maybe a dose of caffeine would be just what he needed to help him plow through the rest.
Taking a sip of the hot beverage, he glanced around the squad room. Fin and Munch were at their desks. They too, were going through computer files. Unlike him, they were looking for any recent parolees from prior cases that could be connected. So far, neither of them had come up with any hits.
The Captain had yet to come out of his office since dinner. Elliot knew he'd been busy fielding phone calls. They were all trying their best to keep this situation quiet, and within the department. If the press got wind of it, all hell would break loose. How would the citizens of the city ever trust the police if they couldn't protect one of their own?
As his mind headed back down that path, more thoughts of self-deprecation filled his mind. Would Olivia ever trust him again? He'd been a complete ass to her today. He thought back to the night prior, when he'd shown up at her door. Without any question, she'd let him in. She always did. He didn't deserve a friend like her, but he wanted her in his life.
It wasn't in his nature to apologize. Yes, when he would have fights with Kathy, he would. But when it came to him and Olivia, they would simply brush it under the rug. They wouldn't speak for a few hours, and then they would let it go. One would buy the other a cup of coffee, or they'd go out to a bar. Then they'd never speak of it again.
He wouldn't do that this time. He owed her an apology. Not only for the way he spoke to her, but for keeping her in the dark. What could he have possibly been thinking? Yes, he was worried about her, but she deserved to know. Everyone told him this was going to blow up in his face, and it had. He knew no one was predicting things would escalate to this degree, and held no anger toward anyone but the person who had taken Olivia. And himself.
He drained his coffee. More out of habit than need, he poured himself another cup. Taking that with him back to his desk, he sat back down again. Even though he knew he shouldn't, he looked at his watch.
Five hours. Olivia had been missing for five hours. And they still hadn't received any contact. At what point should he start getting nervous that there wouldn't be any at all?
George Huang reappeared in the squad room. He'd been helping out with case files too. Now, he asked to speak to Fin. It dawned on Elliot that the psychiatrist would be talking to everyone in the squad. A colleague was missing, everyone was bound to be effected. In addition to checking in with their well-being, he was likely assessing their capability to remain on the case. Since he hadn't been sent home, he guessed that he had passed, despite his earlier outburst.
Thinking about that moment caused him to study his knuckles. They'd stopped hurting a few hours ago, but still were bruised and swollen. He knew if Olivia were here, she'd be the first to admonish him for taking out his anger on the 'defenseless' lockers. It hadn't been the first time he'd done something like that. Not that she minded him hitting things when he was angry. She just preferred he use the punching bag in the gym. Something that offered a little more forgiveness than metal.
Shaking the thoughts from his head, he focused back his attention on the task at hand. Olivia needed him to do this. He couldn't be wasting time letting his mind wander. Scrolling through the list, he was through the rest of the "M" names in no time. When that didn't turn up any possible leads, he typed in a few keystrokes, and moved along in the alphabet.
He'd made it through the "N" section, and was halfway through "O" when Fin returned. It was now Munch's turn. For once, the older man didn't crack any jokes about having to see the psychiatrist privately. Elliot understood why. While he and his partner had a special relationship, everyone had a soft spot for her. He knew he wasn't the only one worried about her safe return. The other men had proven it by committing to stay at the precinct until she was found.
The phone on his desk rang. He stilled. Could this be the call he was waiting for? Knowing that he could begin recording at the press of a button, he answered.
"Special Victims Unit, Detective Stabler speaking."
He felt a mix of emotions when the caller was revealed to be Melinda. While she had no new information to report in terms of DNA or identification of the victims, she had found something interesting. Upon completion of the second autopsy, she'd learned that the woman's natural hair color was blonde, not dark brown. Whomever had killed her had dyed it.
Elliot thanked her for letting him know, then ended the call. The sick feeling in his stomach returned. Temporarily abandoning his computer search, he looked at the photos from the day before again. If their perp was dying the victims hair dark brown, that meant he didn't select them on purpose. They were just random. Olivia had been the real target all along.
He knew that Olivia would be devastated to learn that one, let alone four women had been killed and raped in an attempt to get to her. But when he found her, he wouldn't keep it from her. He'd made that mistake once already. No, he would tell her the truth. Then he would be there to help her come to terms with it.
Thinking about that fact caused his mind to wander. Maybe she knew already. Perhaps whomever had taken her had revealed his sick, twisted game. They had, after all, thought to take a photo of Olivia to leave behind. Purposely fired a gunshot to draw Elliot's attention. It was almost as if they wanted to get caught.
Elliot looked at his watch again. It had been a couple hours since Ryan was in the squad room last. Surely a DNA hit would have popped by now. He promised himself he would get to the "R" section on the list, then call the lab tech. He was almost done with the "O's", as it was a fairly short file.
So absorbed was he in his work, that he barely looked up when Munch returned. With him, came George Huang. Having completed his initial assessment of everyone in the SVU, he was now focused once again on helping. He stood at the board Olivia had set up earlier that day, studying the photographs.
"Are these the only pictures we have?"
He asked the question after spending several minutes looking at the pictures of the dead women. Something was brewing in that mind of his, just no one could figure out what yet.
"There are more in this file"
Elliot handed over the file as he spoke. It was filled with other pictures taken from the crime scene, as well as the reports from the evidence they had logged.
George was still studying the file when Ryan O'Halloran came rushing into the squad room. He had been running so fast to get there, he was out of breath. He held a printout in his hands. Whatever information it contained must have been something drastic, because his hands were shaking.
As anxious as he was to hear what the lab tech had to say, Elliot didn't glance up from the computer immediately. He had just reached the "R" files. He was scrolling through the list of names, and something in his gut told him he would find his answer. Still he listened when Ryan spoke.
"I got a hit on the DNA. I don't know why it didn't pop sooner, this guy's definitely in the system."
He was interrupted when Cragen came out of his office. He'd heard the commotion, and wondered what was going on. Plus, he had just received a troubling phone call.
"What is it Cap?"
Fin's question filled the air. Ryan's news temporarily forgotten.
"I just got a call from Rikers. Apparently there was a breakout last week. A prisoner escaped, and a guard was killed. They only got around to informing us now."
At the same time Fin asked the Captain who the prisoner was, Munch questioned Ryan who hit on the DNA. The man couldn't take the suspense any longer. He was anxious to find out just who had taken Olivia.
Elliot's eyes fell on a name, and his stomach turned. For a very real moment, he thought for certain he was going to lose his dinner. He knew now what both the lab tech, and his Captain were going to say.
The name was glaring at him from the computer screen. It almost seemed like it was mocking him.
"Who was it?" Munch questioned again, impatient now.
The Captain, Ryan, and Elliot all answered simultaneously.
"Gordon Rickett"