"Law and Order: SVU" belongs to Dick Wolf and Universal Television. No profit is being made from this story.
This section ended up becoming longer than anticipated, so now the next chapter will be the last instead of this one.
Elliot came out of the bathroom and saw Olivia down the hall, talking on her phone. She held up her finger in a give me a minute signal when she noticed him.
"Elliot."
He turned his head and saw Murphy coming out of the squad room directly in front of him.
"We'll be talking in my captain's office," the lieutenant said. "He should be getting here any minute now."
He thought he was doing a good job at holding it together, but the look of concern he saw on Murphy's face told him otherwise.
"Are you sure you're okay with Benson joining us?" Murphy asked hesitantly
He looked at Murphy warily.
"I asked her to join us," he replied shortly.
Murphy nodded.
"Okay," he said.
He was looking at Elliot like he was gauging whether or not the detective could keep his composure. It immediately made Elliot defensive.
"What, Murphy?" he said edgily.
Elliot knew that he had come off a bit more sharply than he had intended, but he couldn't help it.
The hands-down worst part of what had become his life was the part no amount of medication, insomnia, or denial could hide. It made him paranoid, afraid to show his face anywhere, because he felt like anyone who looked at him could see it.
The label of victim was on every inch of him, etched on him, seared into his flesh like an invisible brand. He hated it. He hated it so much that it was hard to see the point in trying any attempt at getting "back to normal." The bleak hopelessness of it was hard to stop thinking about. No one in his life would see him the same way again.
Olivia had been, and still was, amazingly supportive and a huge comfort to him. But in some ways, being with her was more painful than being having been kept away from her for so long.
There was no way that she would ever feel the same way about him as before. How could she? And Kathy...Jesus, he didn't even want to think about what kind of image was in her head of him now.
At the very least, the one thing that Elliot had come to deeply appreciate about Lieutenant Declan Murphy was that the other man had always managed to make him feel a bit more...normal whenever they interacted. Murphy had a way of carrying himself, speaking, and thinking that was refreshing to his now-obliterated psyche. He never regarded Elliot like someone wounded or flawed, the way other people seemed to. It was a small thing, but to Elliot, it was huge.
He had realized after they had met that he actually felt comfortable around Lieutenant Murphy, which at that present time, seemed insane. If that changed, if Murphy suddenly began handling him with "kid gloves" like he appeared to be doing just then, Elliot didn't think be would be able to handle it.
He stared at the lieutenant sharply as Murphy held out a piece of paper toward him.
"This is the number for the dentist I told you about," Murphy said, seeming to be watching his reaction. "I explained the situation. He said he would be happy to fit you in and to just call when you're ready."
Elliot swallowed. He looked almost like he felt guilty. The lieutenant eyed him in surprise, wondering why, but didn't comment.
"There's also a number there for a counselor at the VA," he went on. "I asked some of the guys I know for recommendations and apparently, this guy is the best. He handles all kinds of trauma, not just combat-related." He paused. "I thought you might appreciate having it, just...in case you ever wanted to talk to someone."
Elliot swallowed hard. But he took the paper from Murphy.
"You can also...talk to me if you ever need to," he continued carefully. He seemed to be considering his words. "I get that we don't really know each other that well. It's obvious you are tight with Benson and if you feel better talking to her, that's great. But I want to make sure you hear me right now."
The other man had a sudden intense, almost haunted look on his face and Elliot found that he couldn't look away.
"As of this moment, you're one of my guys," Murphy went on quietly. "And a big part of my job is to make sure my guys are taken care of. If you ever start to feel like things are suddenly too much, call me. If you wake up and can't talk yourself down from a ledge, call me. If you just need to scream at someone, call me. I don't care if it's the middle of the night, if it's been five years, or you're drunk off your ass...if it means making sure you are able to face another day alive, I'll sit on the line in fucking silence all night."
The lieutenant's gaze was warm, brotherly even.
"I've got your back now, too," Murphy finished. "You cool with that? "
A lump lodged in Elliot's throat so big that it nearly choked him. He nodded silently, not trusting his voice.
He was spared from having to try by the sound of the entrance doors opening down the hall. Murphy straightened and immediately headed toward it.
Elliot took a second to gather himself as Olivia came back over toward him. She regarded him a bit worriedly and he could only guess what he looked like just then.
He turned around and saw Murphy walking back over. He was accompanied by a middle-aged man in slacks and a dress shirt, wearing a badge on a lanyard around his neck.
"This is my boss, Captain Carl Wilkenson," Murphy said as they approached. He indicated Olivia first, as the captain already knew her. "You know Captain Olivia Benson."
Captain Wilkenson reached for her hand amicably.
"Yes," he confirmed warmly. "You were a sergeant the last time we spoke, I believe." He smiled at her. "Congratulations on your promotion, Captain."
Olivia allowed herself a small smile to indicate her appreciation as she shook his hand and then sobered quickly out of respect for the current circumstances. Captain Wilkenson immediately did the same.
"And this is Detective Elliot Stabler," Murphy introduced.
A surge of goosebumps chose that moment to flare up and Elliot hoped his expression didn't indicate it. It was shocking to hear someone address him with his name and rank like that. He couldn't remember the last time someone had.
He swallowed and reached for the captain's waiting hand, shaking it a bit nervously.
"Pleased to meet you both," Captain Wilkenson said. He held out his arm invitingly toward the bull pen. "Let's go into my office."
Elliot followed in silence beside Olivia as they stepped through the squad room. Captain Wilkenson entered the small office first and went behind his desk.
"Have a seat," he invited, waving toward the chairs in the room.
There were two by the wall and one was in front of the captain's desk. Murphy moved toward one by the wall, but Olivia hesitated, seeing Elliot looking at the chair by the desk uncomfortably. He sensed they were pushing him to take it.
He glanced at Olivia and she acted on impulse, going over to the other chair by the wall and then pulling it up in front of the desk as well.
A look of grateful relief came into his eyes. She gave him a small smile as he took a seat beside her.
The captain had several stacks of papers neatly organized in front of him as he looked over at all of them.
"Lieutenant Murphy tells me you all made an arrest today," Wilkenson said, looking between them. Elliot didn't look up from his intense study of the bottom of the desk. "Am I understanding correctly that you took a federal agent into custody?"
Elliot said nothing.
"Yes, sir," Murphy spoke up. "Deputy Director U.S. Marshal Brent Woodhouse."
The captain looked startled.
"The deputy director?" he said in alarm. He glanced over at Murphy and then back. "You're serious?"
Murphy nodded. Captain Wilkenson narrowed his eyes, seeming like he was doubtful but deciding to humor them.
"He also said this had something to do with 'Operation Rubicon," he continued, speaking to the others.
Olivia nodded.
"That's correct, Captain," she replied.
Captain Wilkenson looked and sounded suspicious as he looked at her. She couldn't blame him.
"That operation was completed last year on my end," he went on. "And I don't recall SVU ever being involved. So I'm curious to know how you know about it, Captain Benson."
Then he looked at Murphy and spoke with a slight edge to his voice.
"I'd also like to know why you're involved, Lieutenant," he said. "You're supposed to be on a completely different assignment right now."
The captain saw Olivia glance at Elliot, who didn't volunteer to speak and seemed to be trying to avoid everyone's gaze.
"Detective Stabler was undercover during 'Operation Rubicon,' too, sir," Murphy told his captain.
Captain Wilkenson seemed surprised as he looked at Elliot.
"I wasn't aware of that," he said to the detective. "When did you go in?"
Elliot could feel the captain staring at him even with his gaze at the floor and felt his face getting flushed. He knew they expected him to speak. His mouth was dry as a bone and his heart was racing nervously.
Olivia replied instead.
"He was recruited sometime in 2011," she said. "According to our former captain."
Captain Wilkenson picked up on her words. He looked at Elliot again.
"How long were you undercover?" he asked.
Again, Olivia was the one to answer.
"We don't really know that right now," she said quietly. "We're hoping to get more information from the man we arrested today."
He looked incredulously at Murphy and then back to the other two. He spoke frankly.
"You don't know?" he asked. "What does that mean?"
He was looking at Elliot and Murphy could hear the warning in his voice, seeing the detective continuing not to meet his eyes. Elliot sensed it too and felt dread swirling in his stomach, traveling sourly up his throat.
"Look, I'm trying to be patient here," Captain Wilkenson said. "But I expect some answers, Detective. Lieutenant Murphy called me and asked if I would meet with you because he said you needed to tell me some things about 'Operation Rubicon.' He never asks me for anything, which is why I arranged to be here on my day off in good faith that this is important."
He switched his gaze to Olivia.
"There are going to be serious issues with the federal government once they get wind of what you all have just done," he went on. "I'm potentially sacrificing my command now that my lieutenant is part of it and I damn well expect a good reason for it, Captain Benson. Someone needs to give me one."
Murphy was watching Elliot. He couldn't bear watching the detective sit there, probably unaware that he had looked like he wanted to shrink through the floor every time that Captain Wilkenson spoke. It was painful to see him so very obviously nervous and uncomfortable and it seemed cruel to make him continue that way.
The lieutenant was about to just explain everything, to hell with it, when Elliot finally spoke.
"What were you told 'Operation Rubicon' was, Captain?"
His voice was dull and expressionless and sounded out of place after such passionate talking from Captain Wilkerson. The captain looked at him, but he couldn't gather the nerve to meet the man's eyes and instead fixated anxiously on the desk.
Olivia swallowed quietly, every urge inside of her fighting against the intense desire to speak on Elliot's behalf and spare him from doing it. God, just the sound of his voice made it obvious he was struggling to even say anything. It hurt her heart.
The captain's expression seemed puzzled, as if the question was odd to him, but he nevertheless replied without hesitation.
"I was told that there were 'dirty' federal agents who were using undercover sex trafficking operations to make drug deals and extort money," he replied. "And that the operation would involve some of my Vice guys working with the FBI and U.S. Marshals undercover to find out who those agents were."
Elliot let out a breath and forced himself to speak again.
"I was told something different," he said quietly. "The U.S. Marshal that was arrested today told me that the purpose of 'Operation Rubicon' was to find the victims in the sex trafficking operations by befriending the group behind them and posing as a client."
Captain Wilkenson looked confused.
"I never heard anything about that," he replied. "I know that victims were recovered last year after some arrests were made, but no one mentioned anything about anyone undercover with the traffickers. Are you sure it was 'Operation Rubicon'?"
"It's what he said," Elliot said, looking away painfully. "But it was just to make my captain believe they were recruiting me. They were setting me up to go out there. The agent arranged for the traffickers to take me hostage at some point while I was working. They used me to make sure no one would suspect that they were working together to make those deals you mentioned."
The captain's eyebrows seemed to disappear into his hairline. For a minute, there was silence.
"You're trying to tell me," Captain Wilkenson said finally, sounding mystified, "that you were abducted while undercover?"
The detective's voice shook slightly and he couldn't stop it.
"Yes, sir," he said.
The sudden quiet was deafening. The captain struggled to make sense of what he had just been told.
"How could that happen?" he said. He sounded doubtful. "Wasn't your captain checking in on you?"
For the first time, the detective raised his head and stared directly at the captain. The stark horror that was behind his eyes made Captain Wilkenson's breath catch.
"Yes, Captain," Elliot said quietly. "And every time he called, I was forced at gunpoint to lie to him. They made me say that I had decided to stay undercover for as long as the Marshals needed me so that nobody was suspicious."
He was mortified when his voice cracked tearfully. He cleared his throat and stared at the ground quickly, blinking fast and struggling to keep the sudden emotion buried down.
Captain Wilkenson's face changed then. Hearing Elliot becoming emotional seemed to make it all sink in that what he was hearing was the incredible truth.
He stared sympathetically at the detective and his voice softened.
"So when you say you don't know how long you were undercover," he said. "You mean-
"I don't know how long they kept me with them," Elliot finished for him. "I was among the victims that you mentioned being rescued. Brent Woodhouse told the traffickers whenever it looked like his team had found out where we might be so they could move us somewhere else."
Olivia spoke up then.
"It was somewhere around eight years," she said quietly. "Going by private messages from the perpetrators."
For Elliot, actually hearing the details of the time span for the first time was like a punch to the gut.
The captain took a slow breath. He took a paper from the stack in front of him, glancing over it.
"This debriefing mentions that there was an unexpected 'John Doe' among the children recovered," he said. He looked back up at Elliot uncertainly. "It was you, Detective?"
"Yes, sir," he said quietly. "It was me."
He looked at Olivia.
"Did you know about this?" he asked. "Your captain should have been told about the assignment when you took over command."
She looked pained as she shook her head.
"No," she replied. "Detective Stabler was my partner in 2011, Captain. He was on leave and preparing to retire when the assignment began. I was told he had put in his papers and wasn't returning to duty. I no idea anything had happened to him or that 'Operation Rubicon' even existed was until I asked Lieutenant Murphy for his help a few weeks ago."
Olivia held the captain's gaze.
"And, just to be clear, involving Lieutenant Murphy was a personal decision that I made independent of any present case," she said. "I believed that the circumstances warranted calling him after I was informed that Detective Stabler was back."
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
"I will own every action taken by Lieutenant Murphy during this arrest," she went on. "He was following my orders. I chose to help my partner, sir. And I make no apologies for it. I realize there will be consequences, but I respectfully ask that you don't extend any to him."
Murphy couldn't believe what he was hearing. She had essentially kept him off of the chopping block by offering herself. Olivia intentionally ignored the fierce look of disapproval he was trying to glare over at her and stared boldly at the captain instead.
Olivia watched the captain stare at Elliot for a long moment, his face wrinkled with sympathy and disbelief.
Murphy was surprised when his captain turned toward him with a calculating look.
"Tell me about why you made this arrest today, Lieutenant," he said evenly.
Murphy spoke confidently.
"U.S. Marshal Brent Woodhouse stole Detective's Stabler's credit card and ID and purchased plane tickets to come to New York," he replied. "After hearing Detective Stabler describe what this man had done to him, I believed there was a credible threat to his safety and also to the public."
Captain Wilkenson narrowed his eyes slightly and then nodded.
"That sounds like a sound assessment, Lieutenant," he said seriously. "That's all I need to know."
He regarded Olivia.
"I'm going to need the contact information for your former captain," he said.
She nodded.
"Of course," she replied.
"If you'll allow me to be so bold," he went on. "I appreciate your loyalty, Captain Benson. It says a lot that you are willing to go so far to support your partner, even at the risk of your own career." He nodded over at Murphy. "And the same goes for you, Lieutenant. I'm proud of your willingness to help a fellow officer. It shows an incredible amount of integrity."
He looked back at Elliot.
"As far as I'm concerned, Detective Stabler," he said. "I have no problem getting behind this. I will personally make sure that no one here receives any push back from this arrest. I will even take responsibility myself for telling the federal government and the department brass that I approve it." He
His expression turned grim.
"And even though it hardly even begins to do any justice," he went on. "Let me just say that I completely believe what you've told me. I am incredibly sorry for everything you had to go through."
Elliot had to swallow several times before he could reply.
"Thank you, Captain," he murmured thickly.
He nodded at them.
"Lieutenant," Captain Wilkenson said. "Stay, if you will, please." Murphy nodded. "Captain Benson, Detective Stabler, thank you for meeting with me. I'll be in touch once I've got a better handle on how we're going to proceed."
Olivia nodded once and began getting to her feet. She looked over at Elliot to see him doing the same.
"Thank you, sir," she said. She nodded at Murphy. "Lieutenant."
She gently touched Elliot's back to compel him to accompany her as they walked out.
Captain Wilkenson watched them leave.
"Close the door, Murphy," he ordered.
The lieutenant got up and did so. He blew out a breath and sat in the chair that Elliot had just vacated. Captain Wilkerson sat back in his chair, looking disturbed
"Good Christ," the captain said bluntly. He stared at the lieutenant. "How in God's name can something like this happen?"
He didn't seem to be expecting an answer. Murphy had known the captain a long time and had no problem speaking freely.
"I don't know, Captain," he replied, looking at the man heavily. "But what concerns me more is that the real 'Operation Rubicon' might not have identified everyone involved in it. Elliot identified at least one person that we suspected but never found during the assignment. There could very well be others."
Captain Wilkenson looked pensive.
"I want you at MCC tomorrow morning, Murph," he went on, referring to the Metropolitan Correctional Center where federal detainees were booked. "Have a little chat with the guy before his bail hearing."
He gave Murphy a direct look that wordlessly told what he was implying.
"Make sure he knows it would be in his best interest to give up some names."
Riding back to Elliot's house, the atmosphere was as quiet as it had been before. But it felt lighter to Olivia. Elliot stared out the window as they drove, seeming to be taking in the sight of the passing streets.
It appeared as if talking to Captain Wilkerson had lifted a weight off of him and she was glad for that.
She wasn't sure yet what was to come down the line in regards to SVU taking part in the case. That road was going to be hard enough, but for the moment, Elliot had definitely earned the contentment that he looked to be enjoying just then.
It put a smile on her face as she drove. She made sure not to make it too obvious, so as not to embarrass him.
She pulled in beside the Stabler house and turned off the ignition, but Elliot didn't move to unbuckle or get out. He sat there for several moments, flexing his fingers and looking nervous.
She looked over at him, her face concerned.
"You alright?" she asked.
Elliot inhaled through his nose and glanced at her, swallowing. He seemed like he wanted to say something but was afraid to.
She looked at him sympathetically, hating to see the anxious expression on his face. He was probably overwhelmed with emotions and she hadn't said a word the whole time, thinking he wanted the silence.
"Hey, " she said gently. "Tell me what's on your mind, Elliot. Please?"
"He shook his head and seemed both apologetic and uncertain of her response.
"I ...haven't told you everything that went on while I was there," he finally admitted.
He didn't have to elaborate. She knew what he meant.
She was slightly surprised.
"Oh," she said gently. "Well...that's ok. I would never pressure you to. I hope you know that."
She had hoped to reassure him but it seemed like it had the opposite effect. He seemed to have something on his mind that he wasn't sure about saying. His breathing was becoming quick and stressed.
Then suddenly, he burst out, as if unable to keep holding the words in.
"There was a woman," he said. "In the basement."
Olivia's insides froze. She forced herself to wait for his cues before speaking and just give him space to decide whether or not to keep going. But inside, her heart stuttered in dreadful horror at the words.
"I didn't know it at the time," he said brokenly "It was the only time that I was ever taken upstairs to meet with someone and they put a blindfold on me first." He sounded choked. "That had never happened before, so I knew something bad was coming."
"They tied me to a bed and then left," he continued shakily. "And I'm laying there, not able to see anything, when all of the sudden, a female voice is nearby asking if I want her to help me."
Tears slipped out and he couldn't stop them.
"I thought...it was you," he whispered, hanging his head. "I couldn't help it. It just...sounded like your voice. I said, 'yes, yes, please, Liv, help me'...and then she laughed and said I could call her whatever I wanted if I was into that and I realized it wasn't you."
She felt like she had been punched in the stomach.
"I'm sorry," he said in agony. "I'm sorry, Olivia."
He couldn't keep going, sobs shaking him, and she immediately moved forward. She moved toward him, feeling like she might puke.
Elliot met her immediately and she embraced him desperately.
"I'm sorry," he whispered again. "I just...missed you. I kept imagining you were there with me."
Olivia pressed her hands against his back fiercely. She ached for him. She rubbed her hands up his shoulders and pressing her face against his head intimately for a long moment.
"I'm not going anywhere," she said softly. "I can promise you that. I'm here now and I always will be."
Hearing what he'd just confided felt to Olivia like a piece of her soul had been sucked out. His breath shuddered as he held onto her for a long moment.
"I think I want to stay here, Liv," he murmured finally, pulling out of the embrace. He glanced out at the house and then at her hesitantly. He seemed uncertain of how she was going to react. "Is it okay with you if I go back home tonight?"
She smiled warmly.
"Of course it's okay," she said. "You don't have to ask my permission, Elliot. You've got a permanent invite to my place, anytime." Her eyes twinkled. "Go be with your family. You've got a granddaughter waiting to be spoiled."
His face split into an instinctual grin of delight and he opened the door, getting out. She went with him inside to collect her son and say goodbye to Kathy.
Elliot took Eliza in his arms almost immediately upon seeing her. Kathy shared a knowing smile with Olivia, both of them knowing that, most likely, he would hold her every spare minute he had.
Kathy wasn't sure what to say when he returned from where he had been with Olivia. He sank into the couch, snuggling a sleeping Eliza against him, and his eyes slid closed.
He looked exhausted. His eyes were swollen, too, as if he had been crying and it worried her.
She bit her lip, standing hesitantly in the middle of the living room. It felt foreign having him back home after so long and she found herself unexpectedly nervous.
"Can I get you anything, Elliot?" she finally asked softly.
His eyes opened and he looked over at her without moving. A glowing look came over his face that surprised her. He seemed to be drinking in the sight of her, savoring her face. He smiled, so warmly that it was beautiful, and Kathy was helpless not to return it.
"I could eat, I think," he replied.
She smiled. "I can heat up some Chinese if you want."
Elliot nodded, cuddling Eliza closer and settling back against the couch cushions with a sigh.
"Sounds good," he said. "Thank you."
She went into the kitchen and fixed him a plate of food, warming it in the microwave. She wasn't sure if he would want to eat it in the kitchen or stay in the living room and went back to ask him.
When she came into the living room, she saw that he was asleep where he sat, still holding onto their granddaughter.
Eliza seemed content and slumbered heavily, breathing audibly against Elliot's chest. Their exhales were almost in sync. Kathy came over and carefully extracted the baby, trying not to wake either of them.
Elliot looked dead to the world, but she fretted that the couch would be uncomfortable for him. She shook him gently and he jerked awake with a gasp. He locked eyes with her and she was shocked at the look of confused fear that he gave her for a brief second.
"You want to go up to bed?" she went on. "You might be sore sleeping here."
Elliot rubbed his face and straightened up. He couldn't have argued that he wasn't tired if he'd wanted to.
He looked conflicted. Kathy took a chance and reached out slowly to stroke her fingers tenderly over his face. His eyes fluttered closed and he leaned into her touch like it was automatic.
"Yeah," he murmured. "I think I will."
He suddenly kissed her palm and then her fingers, so lightly that she wasn't sure if she had actually felt it. He still had his eyes closed and didn't see her look of unexpected surprise.
He got off of the couch and followed her up the stairs. She went into Eliza's room and placed the infant in her crib, tenderly smoothing her hand over the baby's hair.
She turned around and was startled to see Elliot standing just inside the doorway. He looked uncertain and slightly emotional, staring into the room.
It suddenly occurred to her that the last time he had been there, the room had been Eli's and decorated for a toddler boy.
Kathy went hesitantly toward him. He blinked rapidly and avoided her eyes when she came to him.
"Elliot," she said sadly, reaching out to stroke his cheek.
"I'm okay," he said. His voice sounded shaky as he looked at her bravely. "I just...have to get used to it." He gave her his best attempt at a smile. "Don't worry. I'll be alright, Kath."
Kathy felt like crying. She smiled as best she could and nodded, checking her watch. It was nearing dark.
"Eli had to go work on a school project earlier," she said quietly. "I'll be going to pick him up soon. I'll bring Eliza with me so you can get some sleep."
Elliot nodded.
They stood there a minute, each trying to deal with the undeniable awkwardness they were both feeling. She didn't know how to process the situation, having been living for so long carrying the anger and despair of believing he had walked away from their family. Knowing then that only had she been wrong, but that he was traumatized, made her slightly afraid. She was scared of doing something to make him feel worse.
"Do you need anything?" she finally asked, unsure of what else to say.
He looked so weary and broken just then that it was hard to see. He shook his head.
"No," he replied softly. "Thank you."
He seemed to hesitate, like he was considering touching her, and then didn't. A feeling of despair ran through her but she tried not to let it show.
"Ok," she said.
He turned and went to their bedroom. She watched him go, feeling heavy, and then grabbed the baby monitor before going back downstairs.
Elliot stepped into the room slowly and blew out a breath. He stripped off his shirt and went to get under the covers, desperate to turn off his brain.
And then he looked at Kathy's nightstand and saw photos of his daughters sitting there. His heart sank painfully.
He went over, sat on the edge of the bed, and picked them up one by one. He stroked the beautiful images of their faces and swallowed quickly, returning the frames to their places.
He looked around him. Panic, despair, and unbearable sadness sat on his chest like an elephant.
Olivia sat up after Noah had gone to bed that night and spread the contents of the file that Murphy had given her out in front of her.
She couldn't stop thinking about what Elliot had said. It gnawed at her uneasily.
"I haven't told you everything that went on while I was there."
What he had revealed thus far about his ordeal was horrifying. Thinking of him experiencing that hell was already painful enough.
What if there were details in the file that were even worse?
She swallowed hard and then began going through the sections she had separated.
Emails from top positions in the FBI and U.S. Marshals were in one pile. They dated back to 2011 and communicated with the captains of Vice and Narcotics from Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn. It seemed 'Operation Rubicon' had spanned several areas of the city as federal agents began working undercover with different departments.
She thumbed through them, skimming the messages. The gist of them confirmed what Murpy and Captain Wilkerson had said. The operation had been created in response to suspicions of agents pocketing drugs and money from the undercover assignments as they worked on them.
When she got to one that said "SVU" in the recipient line, Olivia slowed down and read closer:
To: Donald F. Cragen (SVU)
From: Christopher H. Wright.
Date: 06/01/11
Subject: Operation Rubicon
Captain,
I have been notified of a new federal operation that will require an undercover member from the Special Victims Unit. As of right now, it will entail anywhere from a 2-4 month commitment and will be headed by the California sector of the U.S Marshals Agency.
You are, of course, free to use your discretion in selecting who to send. But, given the recent IAB clearance of Detective Elliot Stabler and the reason for the investigation, it is my recommendation that you approach him for this as an alternative to returning to duty. I am aware that he is still on leave, but I do not feel it is prudent at this time to allow him to return to the office environment.
If you decide to send another detective, be advised I will be initiating a department transfer of Detective Stabler to a more closely-supervised division, such as the Bail or Property Clerk's Office when he returns from leave.
Sincerely,
Christopher H. Wright, Chief of Detectives
Olivia blew out a breath.
Their captain had been strong-armed into a corner. He was probably unsure whether or not Elliot really wanted to retire, which is why he recommended leave first.
Maybe Elliot had indicated that he wasn't ready after all. Cragen would have been forced to send him to a position that would have been demeaning and humiliating.
She knew Don Cragen. He had always looked out for his detectives. There was no doubt that he would have been thinking of what could happen if he were to do that. It would have destroyed Elliot, psychologically and emotionally, and his family would suffer the brunt of the loss of income because the new assignment presented a significant pay cut. He had probably thought sending Elliot undercover would be easier.
He wouldn't have ever suspected the men he was entrusting Elliot with were capable of the savagery that they had been. He would have no reason to.
Elliot wouldn't have, either. She didn't even have to guess at that.
It was hard to fathom the thought of their former chief conspiring to set him up. As much as everything seemed to indicate that had happened, she still hoped it wasn't true.
She set the emails aside and picked up the next pile of papers slowly. As she looked over the one on top, she surmised that they were crime scene reports taken from the U.S. Marshals who had participated in the rescue of the victims in 2019.
She had to stop and brace herself before starting to read them.
The first three she read told mostly the same thing. The agent had come upon a child or group of children shackled together on mattresses, barely dressed, appearing physically abused and malnourished. Some appeared to be teenagers, others practically toddlers.
One of the agents reported that they didn't speak or give any verbal responses when asked questions about their physical well-being. He said they almost looked "zombie-like."
Her breath caught dreadfully as she continued to read the next one and saw it was the one she was looking for.
It was from the agent who had found Elliot.
Reporting Party: Deputy U.S Marshal Evan L. Fogerty
Summary:
I arrived at the location indicated to be holding an unknown number of victims on September 13, 2019, at approximately 2245 with five other U.S. Marshals. Upon gaining entry, we observed several male and female juveniles secured on mattresses with chains. Once seeing that other agents were tending to them, I continued further inside the facility to check for other victims.
A few yards away, I encountered a white adult male gagged with a strip of electrical tape and bound with zip ties to a nearby water heater. He was nude, appeared severely beaten, and looked to be possibly suffering from hypothermia.
I did not attempt to move him after releasing him and provided rudimentary comfort care until medical personnel arrived. He did not respond when I spoke to him, but displayed verbal distress when paramedics came to move him to an ambulance.
Olivia swallowed and picked up a stack of photos that had been taken of the attic where the victims had been held. She flipped through each one, her stomach churning.
Filthy mattresses, stained with urine and blood.
Chains with shackles.
Buckets of human waste.
Trays of molded food.
Cockroaches.
Her breath stuttered involuntarily, seeing one that showed a large hole in the ceiling directly above a rusted water heater.
Elliot was tied to the water heater.
Tears of pain filled her eyes.
How long was he left there, wet and freezing from the elements coming in?
She set the photos down without looking at the rest. She would go back later, but she couldn't stomach more right then.
She moved on to the third pile. They were medical reports from Bridgeport Hospital, where the victims had been taken for examination the night of their rescue. There was an individual report for each person and accompanying photographs.
The very first one showed images of a Black boy, probably the age of her own son, and she felt a maternal ache in her heart. He looked emaciated, his ribs visible, and had circles of exhaustion under his eyes. There were bite marks near his groin.
A photo had been taken of his wrists and ankles showing large red-purple marks from being shackled. The report identified him as "Male Child Doe A." It was indicated that he had been sodomized repeatedly.
She gently set the paper aside and looked at the next.
"Female Child Doe A" had a large bruise covering the left side of her face. The rest of her face was dirty, smudged with black. It was noted on the photo of her wrists that she had a broken finger. She had been raped and sodomized.
She went meticulously through each one of them. These were all somebody's children. She couldn't bear to skim them indifferently, as much as she wanted to get to Elliot's report. They deserved for someone to see them.
There were seven male and six female "child Doe's" in all and it only took a minute before she started to notice a pattern that deeply disturbed her.
Some of the children had an inflamed, infected wound on their bodies that looked deep and painful. Someone had carved crude initials into their skin.
Finally, she steeled herself and went to the page on the bottom. She forced herself to read it in it's entirety before looking at the photos.
"Adult John Doe"
Patient presented to the ED in a semi-conscious state. Blood pressure seemed low based on appearance, but a reading could not be taken due to the patient exhibiting frequent outbursts of incoherence and agitation.
Patient appeared to be intoxicated with narcotics. A full toxicology screen was recommended based on the presence of slurred speech and dilated pupils.
A first physical exam was attempted but not completed because the patient became extremely distressed when touched by hospital staff. He consented to oral administration of 2 mg Lorazepam 45 minutes after arrival and a second attempt at a physical exam was successfully conducted.
Injuries found during the exam included:
-fracture of maxilla bone and nose
-missing upper left molar
-bruised pectoral muscle, ribcage, and stomach
-fractures in left and right wrists
-dislocated shoulder (evidence of previous incorrect resetting)
-laceration of the penis
-lacerations and abrasions to the anus
The words became blurry. Olivia held her breath.
Then she read the next line.
An infected wound was observed on the victim's stomach that appears to be letters but cannot yet be confirmed.
The tears slipped free. She picked up the photographs as they trailed down her cheeks.
Left side profile. His cheek was sunken, severe weight loss visible, and heavily bruised around the jaw. The right profile was the same.
Separate photographs of his wrists and ankles showed deep purple ligature marks dug brutally into the flesh. The marks were thinner than the ones seen on the children and were obvious as being made by plastic zip ties.
A photo of his torso showed his ribs painfully visible, affirming that he had been practically starved. His chest and stomach were covered with bruises the size of fists.
He had initials carved into his stomach, just like some of the children had.
Olivia stifled a sob. She placed the current one she held aside and picked up the next.
She felt like she couldn't breathe when found herself staring fully into Elliot's battered, bruised face. Both eyes were blackened.
But, after everything else, it was his expression that broke her. He wasn't looking directly at the camera, but the look of terror and anguish she saw made her think of a cornered animal. It was raw, it was inhuman, and it was excruciatingly terrible.
Olivia dropped the photo, letting it flutter to the floor, and in the privacy of her bedroom, finally let herself weep.