16th PRECINCT
966 WEST 88th STREET
MANHATTAN
Last year, the week of Christmas had not been a quiet one for Olivia and the squad because at the very last minute, they'd caught a case. Hopefully, it wouldn't be like that this year, what with Alex, Casey, Sophia, Harper, and Melissa in their lives now. They'd all overcome numerous obstacles and found their way to each other. Everyone was at the beginning of their happy endings. For all that, Olivia was determined to make this the best Christmas ever for her family.
At the same time, she still remembered that they still had the matter of Garrett Rhys to sort out… and it still had her in some trepidation. The whole mess could go any which way.
Leave it to Harper to prove her point.
"Olivia?"
The lieutenant grew startled when she heard her name being called, because she had been lost in thought, wondering about any last-minute presents that she still needed to get.
"Harper? What are you doing here?" she half-admonished. "You shouldn't be out!"
"Ahorrarme!" (Olivia was taken aback—not only had her sister snapped at her, but she'd also said something along the lines of "Spare me!" in Spanish) "I didn't come here alone, but I have a question!"
Harper wasn't in a mood to be trifled with, so Olivia rose walked around the desk to talk to her. "Ask away."
"Have you seen Trevor, or heard from him?"
"What?" Olivia said in surprise. "Trevor? Not since the party last night."
This was not the answer that Harper had wanted to hear, so she immediately left the office and spoke to someone just outside.
"Olivia said no."
Harper's companion could be heard letting out a cry of despair, and when Olivia poked her head out, it was just in time to see a woman collapse at Harper's feet. After a moment, forced herself to slow her breathing down, so she didn't go into a panic attack, like her body was threatening of her. Olivia never seen this woman before, but she had a feeling that she already knew who this was.
"Maisie?" Olivia said gently as she knelt in front of her. "Are you Maisie Langan?"
She nodded, and brought herself to look at Olivia. Maisie was extremely beautiful, with her fair skin, hazel eyes, and red hair; she even had a kind face, and if Melissa had been there, she wouldn't have hesitated to call her a princess. This woman was in every way Trevor's physical opposite, and yet, Olivia wouldn't have expected anything less.
"Yeah." she sat in a more comfortable position on the floor. "I'm Maisie Langan, and it's about time we met, Olivia. I'm just sorry it isn't under better circumstances."
"I am, too, Maisie, but why did you come here…?"
Suddenly, it dawned on Olivia that it had become very quiet in the squad room. Everyone, including the people she didn't regularly talk to, were watching them.
"Go back to work, all of you!" she said in exasperation, looking around. "Go!"
They did, and Olivia watched Maisie clean herself up when offered a tissue box. Maisie's voice wavered when she spoke.
"I know that you and Trevor haven't always gotten along, but he's the father of my children, and we've been married for over twenty years, but I just didn't know where else to go! He's my best friend!"
"You came to the right place, and bygones are bygones because he helped me adopt my son, and my new baby girl. Trevor's also friends with Harper, and that means a lot to me." Olivia gave Maisie a pat on the shoulder. "If anything, Trevor is like a brother now."
Maisie blew out a breath of relief. "Oh, thank you, Olivia. I called his work building, but nobody has heard from him, and then Harper suggested to come here."
Olivia became confused. "What is going on? And why is Harper with you?"
"It's kind of a long story…"
"But it must be important if you felt that you had to come to the SVU. Do you think you can stand, Maisie? We're actually at my office."
The younger woman stood and followed Olivia inside. Harper brought up the rear, closing the door behind her and taking a seat beside Maisie.
"I've been hanging out with the Langans because they're nice people, and they're like surrogate parents. It's also so I won't be alone when I go in to labor… since that could be any time now."
Opposite them at her desk, Olivia took this in stride, and then spoke to her new acquaintance. "Thank you for looking after my sister. I really appreciate it."
"You're very welcome, and even though Harper going to work for my husband, we think of her as family. She's a real joy, and the kids are enamored with her."
Maisie tried to smile, but it faltered as her thoughts went back to the situation at hand. Olivia took the initiative in changing the subject.
"Okay, why are you looking for Trevor?"
"Because I can't find him!"
"Pardon?"
"He stayed the night at the hotel after the party because he had some work to do, for a case he's just finishing up, and we live in Woodhaven."
Olivia connected the dots. "And so Trevor decided that it made sense to stay the night in Manhattan, rather than go all the way out there, late at night, or trek back to his office to work?"
"Yes, and he's done it plenty of times before—even more before the kids were born—but nothing has ever happened."
"Of course. Has he been under strain, or anything of the sort lately?"
"Only the kind that comes with closing a big case during the week of Christmas. I've seen this movie before, Olivia—I know how it ends!"
Harper jumped in, speaking to her friend in a tone of hushing. "I told you that we're not going to let things get that far. Olivia can help."
"I definitely can," the lieutenant chimed in. "But I would love some context, please."
Maisie took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Trevor always tells me where he's going, and things like that, especially when he stays the night out here. I didn't hear anything this morning, when I got the kids ready for their day programs, or even after I dropped them off. My husband is an early riser, so I know that I would have heard from him by now."
Olivia checked her watch. "It's barely nine in the morning. How do you know that you're not jumping the gun?"
"Because the last time I had this feeling of dread, or trepidation, or what have you, we found out that our son had neuroblastoma. Arjan was diagnosed when he was a little baby, and he's almost three now, but he's been in remission since he was one-and-a-half."
"Oh, my goodness, Maisie. I'm so glad he's better."
"We are, too." Maisie glanced at Harper, and saw that she was patiently waiting for her to get back on topic, so she did. "Trevor would have at least sent a good morning text, but zilch. I know him."
"I believe it." Olivia looked now to Harper. "And when did you arrive into the picture?"
"About an hour ago—Maisie picked me up from the hotel because I was ready to go. We even went to breakfast, too."
"And nothing from Trevor?"
"No."
"When was the last time you saw him?"
Harper thought about it. "Last night, at the party, when I thanked him for inviting me and I went up to my room."
"Did you know that he was going to stay the night in the hotel, too?"
"Yes, but he didn't say anything about what he was working on, because he said it would all be over by the time I start working for him in an official capacity."
"Do either of you remember anything like a room number?"
"510." Maisie said. "Trev told me because 5/10—May tenth—is our anniversary."
"So that would be what," Olivia put on her reading glasses and quickly jotted the information down a piece of notebook paper in from of her. "The tenth room on the fifth floor? Would this be the same hotel from the party last night?"
"Yes." the other two said together.
Olivia put her pen down and spoke to her visitors in a serious tone. "Something is most definitely afoot, I won't deny that. Did Trevor tell either of you about anyone he could perhaps be meeting today?"
"He didn't tell me, but then again," Harper said after another pause of thought. "He shares more things with his wife than he does with me, for obvious reasons."
Both Harper and Olivia looked to Maisie Langan. Her mind was racing because her fear was growing; she'd always known that being married to a New York City defense attorney came with its fair share of challenges, but Trevor had never disappeared before. All the same, she did her best to focus.
"He didn't say anything about meetings at his building, but he did mention having a meeting with Judge Donnelley and Alex Cabot, in the judge's chambers, at the courthouse."
Olivia's heart lurched in panic, and she immediately called her fiancée's office phone. When there was no answer, she dialed Alex's mobile. Nothing.
Olivia steepled her fingers, trying not to let her panic show even more. She began scrambling internally, trying to remember if she'd spoken to Alex after they'd parted ways that morning after leaving home. But she was coming up blank.
"Olivia," Harper said suddenly. "What if this is about Garrett Rhys?"
Maisie blanched. "The guy you told me about over breakfast?"
"Mhm."
"Then Trevor and Alex could be laying somewhere in a hospital, unable to communicate."
Maisie Langan did sound like a harbinger of doom, but after what Olivia had heard about Garrett, both from Alex and Zacharias, she wasn't going to immediately discount what she was hearing now.
However, before she could say anything more, there was a knock on the door and the visitor opened without waiting for Olivia's permission. It turned out to be Elliot.
"Excuse me, lieutenant," he said seriously. "But we have some more people here who are looking for you."
"Send them in, El, please."
He stood to the side, and in watched Judge Donnelley, Casey, and for some reason, Kathleen. Olivia and her company stood out of respect for the adjudicator.
"What are you doing here, judge?" Olivia asked of Donnelley.
The judge looked around, and then spoke in a tone of exasperation. "Oh, sit down. Especially the two of you."
At this last part, she meant Harper and Casey. Relieved, both pregnant mothers moved to the sofa, and Elliot took the chair Harper had vacated. Olivia and Maisie resumed their seats, too, and along with everyone in the room, they gave their attention to the judge, because it looked like she was about to say something.
"I am here," Donnelley said, addressing them at large. "Because for the first time in thirty years of knowing Trevor Langan, he has failed to show up for a scheduled meeting with me. I know that some of you are thinking that I might be jumping to conclusions, but I am not because I've known him for so long—he always lets me know if he'll be late, or if something happens to disrupt any meeting we have scheduled. I came over here instead of calling because Alex Cabot was also meant to have met with us, but didn't show. Now I can't reach her, or find her, so I'm sure you all understand why I'm concerned."
The judge turned to Maisie, and spoke gently to her.
"You can't find Trevor, either, can you?"
Maisie sighed shakily. "No, I can't. I came here because I didn't know what else to do."
"We will find him."
Meanwhile, Olivia looked over at the lone redhead of the lot. "Cassandra, how did you get roped in?"
"I was passing by the judge's chambers when she started looking for Alex, and she 'roped me in' to help her search. But I think that she just wants to keep me in front of her because when things go awry, some of the family seems to always be involved."
"That's the nail hit directly on the head, Miss Novak." Donnelley praised.
Olivia now spoke to Kathleen, who had yet to speak since arriving. She was also on the sofa, and luckily, Olivia knew the young woman well enough to know that her current expression was her thinking face.
"Where are your kids right now?"
Kathleen broke from her train of thought to respond. "They're with Maureen, and they're happy."
"Good, but what made you come out here from Queens? That's where Missus Langan came from, this morning."
"Olivia, I can't find Zacharias. I'm not one to easily jump to conclusions, either, but he went for a run a few hours ago like he does, every morning."
"Your tone suggests that he should have been back by now."
"Well, he should have—Zach rises at five," Kathleen explained. "And he works out on the jogging trails in Astoria Park, rain, snow, or shine. He's always back at seven to shower, and to be there when the kids wake up."
"And he's always back at seven?
"Always."
Once again, Olivia tried not to let her panic show. "Have you pinged Zacharias' phone?"
"Yes, but I don't think I'm doing it right. I need help."
Olivia surveyed the room and noticed Fin, Amanda, and Carisi all crowded in the doorway. "Have you three been here the whole time?"
"We have, lieutenant." Amanda called. "What do you need?"
"For you, Rollins, to work on pinging Zacharias McFadden's phone, as well as Trevor's. Kathleen and Maisie can help."
Amanda bobbed her head and took her leave. Kathleen and Maisie followed her out.
"And us?" Carisi wanted to know.
Remembering her notes from earlier, Olivia tore the piece of paper off the notepad and handed it off, watching it until it got to Carisi.
"I would like for you and Fin to this address—that's the hotel where Trevor stayed last night."
Carisi examined the paper, and then looked curiously at Olivia. "Is this also his room number?"
"Yes."
"Then we will report back ASAP."
He and Fin left quickly, with Donnelley calling after them to drop her a line if they ran into any warrant-related troubles. Elliot departed, too, off to Trevor's office building to do some investigating there, to cover their bases.
When they were gone, Olivia walked over to Harper.
"I'm not stopping you from anything, because I'm your sister and not your mother, but if you stay, I have a job for you."
"Really?" Harper said in surprise. "How's that?"
"Without getting her too freaked out, I would like for you to call Sophia."
"And ask if she's heard from Alex or Trevor?"
Olivia pulled Harper to her feet. "Yes. When you get your answer, come tell me or Amanda. Can you do that?"
"Yes." Harper said confidently. "I can do that."
"Good girl." Olivia patted her on the shoulder. "We'll give you the room."
Harper nodded, already reaching into her pocket for her phone, so Olivia helped Casey to feet, too, and they and Judge Donnelley left the office.
"Why is it, lieutenant," Donnelley wanted to know. "That the odd things always happen to your squad?"
Olivia sighed. "I wish I knew. I've been asking myself that for almost two decades now."
As the trio arrived at the media center, in the far corner of the room, they saw Amanda hard at work, trying to locate the phones of the missing people. Kathleen and Maisie were watching.
"All we need now," Olivia murmured. "Is for a miracle to fall out of the sky."
Her words were barely out of her mouth when she jumped at the sight of Maisie Langan all but jumping out of her own skin. The others also noticed, and they immediately gathered around her.
"What is it?" Olivia pressed.
"My phone rang, but it's on vibrate; the sensation is very strong." Maisie checked the device, looking at the Caller ID. "Where is the Saint Bartholomew Hospital?"
"Staten Island." Amanda said quickly.
"We never go there."
"Go on." Kathleen urged. "It could be about Zacharias or Alex, too."
With shaking fingers, Maisie put her phone on speaker. "This is Maisie Langan. Who am I speaking with?"
A smooth, professional voice answered. "I'm Keegan Greenfield, the main director at Saint Bartholomew Hospital. Are you the wife of Trevor Langan?"
"Yes."
"I advise you come out here, posthaste. We have some things to discuss."
Maisie had a one-track mind. "I haven't been able to find my husband this morning, and he's a high-profile defense attorney. Is he husband alive?"
"Yes, m'am."
Olivia got her say in, too. "This is Lieutenant Olivia Benson, of the Special Victims Unit in Manhattan. Director, do you have an army Private First Class there, by the name of Zacharias McFadden?"
"As a matter of fact, we do." (Nearby, Kathleen went weak in the knees from relief) "How did you know?"
"His wife is with me, too, and she hasn't been able to find him, either. Please tell me that Mister McFadden is also alive."
"He is, and by all means, bring Missus McFadden along, too."
"I will, director. Thank you."
Maisie hung up her phone and looked to Olivia. "What now? Do Kathleen and I come with you?"
"Yes. That would be good." Olivia turned her gaze to Casey. "I'm roping you in on this one."
"Sounds good to me."
Pleased, Olivia looked over at Donnelley, regarding her with an arched eyebrow. "I certainly don't have the power of persuasion over you, Your Honor, but you're free to go at any time."
Donnelley shook her head and sat in a chair astride Amanda's work station. "Oh, no, Olivia. I want to see how this one ends."
"Okay, then. Buckle in."
Amanda spoke up. "That leaves me holding down the fort, huh, lieutenant?"
"Yes, please. Harper's going to come deliver some information to you in a minute, and I would appreciate a call about what she says."
This puzzled Amanda, but still, she said, "Yes, lieutenant."
"Very good. We'll be back in awhile."
As the unlikely party journeyed to Staten Island shortly thereafter, Olivia found herself wondering what to expect when they got to the hospital. She'd only just met Zacharias the day before, and his chat with her, about Garrett Rhys had been enlightening, to say the least, because it had given them some headway into what was now a case. But then there was Trevor. They'd butted heads, more often than not, but now that she knew just how charming and nice of a guy he really was, it was going to be strange, if not jarring, to think of him as a victim.
That last part, Trevor's involvement, was because Maisie Langan had fallen into her life. Olivia supposed she should be grateful for it.
If she wasn't, or if Maisie hadn't shown up at all, and this whole scenario still arisen, who knew how fast they have gotten a clue about the vanishings, especially Alex's? And whatever this was, the SVU was in over their heads, yet again. Olivia also just knew that Garrett Rhys was at the heart of the matter.
None of this was a coincidence, and the catalyst was all because of Maisie.
