Obligatory Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, the SVU universe, or much of anything else, actually. I do own this plot line that keeps me awake at night. Dick Wolf owns the L&O:SVU world.
A/N: Here's the awfully short chapter I promised last night. The original plan was to merge it with the next chapter, but since that chapter is shaping up to be massive and also doesn't flow as well given what's covered in either chapter, I decided to split them, making this scene short. Just think of it as one of those brief times between commercial breaks. :)
Chapter Three: Finding Elliot
Hudson University
Office of the President
The two detectives sent in search of the elusive Elliot Stabler walked into the Hudson University Administration Office, seeking out someone in charge who could help direct them to Elliot's whereabouts. They found themselves in the office of the university's president, where they had been ushered after identifying themselves to the secretary in the outer office.
"Good morning. I'm Sergeant Munch, and this is my partner, Detective Tutuola, with the NYPD," as he briefly flashes his badge. "We need information on the whereabouts of a member of your faculty, urgently. This is a life-or-death matter."
"Of course, officers. For whom are you looking?" replied Andrew Williams, the university's president.
"Elliot Stabler. We believe that he is an adjunct professor in Criminal Justice," replied Munch.
"Ah, yes, of course! He's one of our most popular professors already and he's only been here one semester. We're actually planning on offering him a tenure-track position. Let me see if I can find out if he's in class now."
"Carol," he calls out to the secretary who had admitted them into the office, "can you find out when Professor Stabler's next class is?"
"Yes, sir. Give me a few seconds and I'll have that information for you," Carol replied as her fingers flew across the keyboard.
"Okay, I've got it. You're in luck officers; he just started a lecture seminar class about ten minutes ago. Do you want the location?"
"Yeah, that'd be great," Fin replied, as he looked over at John and rolled his eyes, as if to say 'well, what did you think we were here for?'.
"Alright, Professor Stabler's class is in Hamilton Hall, Lecture A. Here's a campus map—," she was interrupted by President Williams.
"That won't be necessary, Carol, thank you. I'll drive the officers there now in the campus rover. It will get them there much quicker."
"Thank you. We appreciate it," John said.
The three men quickly walked outside and around to the back of the building where a vehicle similar in appearance to a golf cart was parked.
"This is our campus rover. We use it when we need to respond to urgent issues on campus. It's a bit faster than your average golf cart, but is well-suited for navigating on campus grounds."
Within a few minutes, they pulled up outside a building, typical of college campuses designed in the Gothic architectural style. A sign out front proclaimed it as Hamilton Hall.
"Lecture A is on the ground floor, all the way to the rear, last door on the left. Please let Professor Stabler know that the university is ready and willing to assist him in whatever manner he may need to handle this situation."
"Thank you, President Williams. We certainly will," Fin said.
With a parting handshake, the two SVU veterans walked into the building that was currently playing host to their erstwhile former colleague.
