Disclaimer: Doesn't belong to me, oops forgot to say that last
time!!!
She lay contentedly in his arms, happy just to exist in that moment, basking in warmth and safety. She was totally at ease with Mike, something she rarely felt with her husband these days. Kathy's love for Elliot wasn't gone, but it had changed in so many ways. For now she didn't want to think about that - about him - because it would have ruined the rare moment of peace.
One of the reasons she went over to Mike's was the way he had decorated his bedroom. She knew he smartened it up considerably for her visits, but still it struck her as amazing. He had a low bed, without bedposts, incredibly comfortable. A scent of lavender or rosemary was always on the air, just enough to be noticed, but just little enough to be elusive. It was painted a gorgeous blue, calming to her senses after a houseful of children and stress. And there was quiet.
A shrill sound interrupted her reverie - irony which didn't go unnoticed as she curled her lip in annoyance. Kathy reached across Mike, dodging the affectionate, light kiss of her lover, and picked up her mobile phone. She stabbed irritably at the plastic, just about hitting the "answer" button.
"Hi Elliot." She said sleepily. Mike waggled his eyebrows conspiratorially.
On the other end of the line, Elliot sounded tired, shocked - not like himself at all. A jolt of concern went through her unexpectedly. "I'm coming home on time tonight. We found another body."
"Oh my God!" She exclaimed, sitting up clumsily. "Was it....like the others?"
When she didn't hear anything at the other end of the line except static crackling, Kathy felt her heart jump all over her chest. She had read the papers like everyone else in the city. He had refused to talk about it, even when their daughter had tried to get information out of him by trickery. Elliot was totally clammed up about this one - Cragen's influence was a factor, Kathy knew.
"Yup." He finally said, although there was a vague note in his voice that suggested he might be hiding something from her.
Kathy decided not to press the point right then. She didn't need to have a heart-to-heart with her husband while lying in bed with her lover. Her brain could not handle that one. So instead she went along with it. "OK. Well - I'll see you at home, honey."
"Love you, Kathy."
She avoided her lover's intense gaze. "Love you too." Kathy said gently.
She switched the phone off, so as to avoid any further calls, and put it back on the bedside table. There was an air about Mike's bedroom now, and it was neither lavender nor rosemary. It was finality. He was looking at her with eyes that had already discovered what they didn't want to know. Seeking reassurance he wouldn't get. Suddenly Kathy realised how deep in this fling she'd got herself. Elliot she loved. However difficult things could be, she loved him. Mike she lusted after. It wasn't remotely the same thing.
"You're not coming back." Mike sighed. It was a statement of fact, not a question. As he uttered it, the little spark in his eyes that was totally connected to her flickered out. This was best though, in the long run, for all of them.
Kathy smiled sadly. "No. Probably not."
* * * * *
Munch sat very reluctantly in Iain Culshaw's kitchen. The guy had been Holli Griffin's fiancé, so they were being as delicate as possible without letting up the questions they needed to ask. He was pretty shaken up, as was to be expected. Actually, he was quivering like a leaf. Munch for one, had not wanted to take this part of the investigation, but he had noticed Stabler's mood that morning. Bear with a sore head didn't even cover it, and who could blame him? They certainly didn't need him round delicate situations like this right now.
Culshaw's face was grey, heavily-lined. At fifty years old he had definitely been the senior half of the relationship. He looked terrible. Blotchy skin, red-rimmed and bloodshot eyes. Either Culshaw was genuine or he was one hell of an actor.
"Mr Culshaw," Munch began gently, "when did you last see Holli?"
"Uh - Iain, please. We had an argument last Tuesday -she stormed off." He murmured. "But I rang her to apologise. We were going to dinner tomorrow night to make up for it."
"If you don't mind me asking - what was the argument about?"
Iain looked up at the two detectives and smiled sadly. "It was about where we were going to go on our honeymoon."
Munch exchanged a glance with Fin. Yeah, they were pretty much feeling sorry for this guy now. Whatever the age differences, whatever the differences in how much money they earned - he had obviously really loved her.
"Iain, did she seem at all distracted to you? Unhappy?" Fin asked, leaning forward over the kitchen counter, trying to catch what the guy was saying more clearly.
Culshaw sighed. "Apart from being pissed at me? No." He stretched out, revealing the length of his arms and fingers. "Holli was a pretty fiery character. She stood up for herself. That's why I loved her."
"Was there anyone who might have had a problem with Holli - at work, or in her private life?" Munch persisted.
"Uh - my daughter and her didn't get along, but my daughter lives in Germany with her husband and their kids. And her boss was always shouting at her, but Holli would shout right back. Holli knew how to look after herself is my point." Iain Culshaw rose gingerly from his stool and padded quickly across the kitchen tiles in bare feet. He pulled open a door, took something out, and ambled back. "This was Holli's personal organiser. I'm surprised she didn't have it with her when - you know."
He handed over what might have been described as a "well-loved" book. It was crammed full of extra bits of paper, Post-It notes and assorted bits and pieces. Once upon a time it had been a beautiful black leather organiser, a perfect Christmas present. The gold leaf decoration was gone, but the indentation of Holli's initials remained on the side, which itself had been patched up over and over with Sellotape...staples...God only knew what. Fin turned it over in his hands. Clearly it had been very expensive item once. He slipped it into a plastic bag, then into his pocket.
Munch had asked their final few questions in the meantime, and was just thanking Iain Culshaw for his time. Every bone in his body was telling him that Culshaw was no killer - the same went for Fin - but instincts were not always correct. There was a good chance that he could be an opportunistic copycat. Although he had a good alibi, they had yet to check it out.
According to the man, he had been working very long hours in order to forget the argument with Holli and make up some mistakes made by a colleague. Two birds, as he pointed out. After that, the previous two nights he'd spent in company. Once with his ex-wife, going to speak with their son Thomas' principal at his home (that had provoked a loud row on the way home). Once with work colleagues, at a leaving party for one of the secretaries, a popular woman.
Just as they had finished shaking his hand and were getting up to go, Culshaw's hand flew to his forehead. He swore and began stammering something out. Fin sat the poor guy down and waited for the words to flow.
"A-a-an ex- he used to pester her. There was a restraining order once. Ramon. Yeah, I think his name's Ramon. And some of her neighbours weren't all that nice."
Munch raised an eyebrow. "Can you tell us anything more about this Ramon?"
"Uh-" he paused -"only that he used to work in the Starbucks at the end of her block. They fired him - but they might know where he went to, a few of them used to go out drinking with him according to...Holli." He trailed off, looking absolutely devastated. Both Munch and Fin realised it was time they left.
* * * * *
Olivia had spent the whole morning watching her partner like a hawk. He had calmed down some, but the appalling mood he'd arrived for work with had not been entirely lifted. Thankfully his intense irritability had borne some fruit, as far as questioning Holli Griffin's workmates was concerned. They'd found out a little more about the young receptionist.
Apparently (and this had been confirmed during a phonecall from Fin), Holli had had a long-running feud with a jealous ex, Raymond Ziegler. It had eben a messy breakup, largely due to her relevation that she had been cheating on him for virtually the whole time they'd been together. First with another ex, who turned out to be a cop with a perfect alibi, then with Iain Culshaw. From what they could ascertain, there was some doubt about her feelings for Culshaw amongst the gossips in the company.
They were back at the office now, partly waiting for Munch and Fin to get back from pestering Forensics (who had taken to disappearing every time an SVU detective came anywhere near them), and partly comparing the information they had on Griffin so far with that from the Parks and Whitfield cases. It didn't look too good. If you went by young women, Parks was the "problem" in the pattern. If it was by social status, Whitfield bucked the trend. Plus the killer appeared to be pretty efficient. No DNA.
"What's up, campers?"
Olivia jumped, her heart taknig a triple-jump up through her throat. She span round and glared at Munch, but couldn't keep it up for long. They exchanged tired smiles. Fin strolled in with the Captain, behind his older partner, and nodded in greeting at Benson. All four noticed that Elliot had not even looked up.
"OK," Cragen sighed, "Benson, Stabler - what've you got?"
Olivia took up the lead, well aware that her partner wouldn't. "Well they brought up Raymond Zeigler and another ex of Holli's. He works in Narc - Nick Galliano."
Cragen raised his eyebrows in interest. "Really? Galliano?"
"He's got an alibi. We haven't been able to find Raymond yet. Apparently Ms. Griffin was not faithful. At least not with Zeigler. She cheated on him with Galliano and Culshaw." Olivia informed him. She took a deep breath. "We also know that she suggested more than once that it was Culshaw's money and social status that kept her around."
"There could be other boyfriends then." Fin pointed out. "And Culshaw gave us this."
He pulled the plastic bag containing the battered but still identifiable personal organiser out of his pocket. As he ahd known it would, it created a great deal of interest. Who knew how many people Griffin ahd been strining along? It was possible too that she had had a change of heart. And how had Culshaw's children (aside from the daughter in Germany) felt about her presence in their father's life? Too many questions.
.
She lay contentedly in his arms, happy just to exist in that moment, basking in warmth and safety. She was totally at ease with Mike, something she rarely felt with her husband these days. Kathy's love for Elliot wasn't gone, but it had changed in so many ways. For now she didn't want to think about that - about him - because it would have ruined the rare moment of peace.
One of the reasons she went over to Mike's was the way he had decorated his bedroom. She knew he smartened it up considerably for her visits, but still it struck her as amazing. He had a low bed, without bedposts, incredibly comfortable. A scent of lavender or rosemary was always on the air, just enough to be noticed, but just little enough to be elusive. It was painted a gorgeous blue, calming to her senses after a houseful of children and stress. And there was quiet.
A shrill sound interrupted her reverie - irony which didn't go unnoticed as she curled her lip in annoyance. Kathy reached across Mike, dodging the affectionate, light kiss of her lover, and picked up her mobile phone. She stabbed irritably at the plastic, just about hitting the "answer" button.
"Hi Elliot." She said sleepily. Mike waggled his eyebrows conspiratorially.
On the other end of the line, Elliot sounded tired, shocked - not like himself at all. A jolt of concern went through her unexpectedly. "I'm coming home on time tonight. We found another body."
"Oh my God!" She exclaimed, sitting up clumsily. "Was it....like the others?"
When she didn't hear anything at the other end of the line except static crackling, Kathy felt her heart jump all over her chest. She had read the papers like everyone else in the city. He had refused to talk about it, even when their daughter had tried to get information out of him by trickery. Elliot was totally clammed up about this one - Cragen's influence was a factor, Kathy knew.
"Yup." He finally said, although there was a vague note in his voice that suggested he might be hiding something from her.
Kathy decided not to press the point right then. She didn't need to have a heart-to-heart with her husband while lying in bed with her lover. Her brain could not handle that one. So instead she went along with it. "OK. Well - I'll see you at home, honey."
"Love you, Kathy."
She avoided her lover's intense gaze. "Love you too." Kathy said gently.
She switched the phone off, so as to avoid any further calls, and put it back on the bedside table. There was an air about Mike's bedroom now, and it was neither lavender nor rosemary. It was finality. He was looking at her with eyes that had already discovered what they didn't want to know. Seeking reassurance he wouldn't get. Suddenly Kathy realised how deep in this fling she'd got herself. Elliot she loved. However difficult things could be, she loved him. Mike she lusted after. It wasn't remotely the same thing.
"You're not coming back." Mike sighed. It was a statement of fact, not a question. As he uttered it, the little spark in his eyes that was totally connected to her flickered out. This was best though, in the long run, for all of them.
Kathy smiled sadly. "No. Probably not."
* * * * *
Munch sat very reluctantly in Iain Culshaw's kitchen. The guy had been Holli Griffin's fiancé, so they were being as delicate as possible without letting up the questions they needed to ask. He was pretty shaken up, as was to be expected. Actually, he was quivering like a leaf. Munch for one, had not wanted to take this part of the investigation, but he had noticed Stabler's mood that morning. Bear with a sore head didn't even cover it, and who could blame him? They certainly didn't need him round delicate situations like this right now.
Culshaw's face was grey, heavily-lined. At fifty years old he had definitely been the senior half of the relationship. He looked terrible. Blotchy skin, red-rimmed and bloodshot eyes. Either Culshaw was genuine or he was one hell of an actor.
"Mr Culshaw," Munch began gently, "when did you last see Holli?"
"Uh - Iain, please. We had an argument last Tuesday -she stormed off." He murmured. "But I rang her to apologise. We were going to dinner tomorrow night to make up for it."
"If you don't mind me asking - what was the argument about?"
Iain looked up at the two detectives and smiled sadly. "It was about where we were going to go on our honeymoon."
Munch exchanged a glance with Fin. Yeah, they were pretty much feeling sorry for this guy now. Whatever the age differences, whatever the differences in how much money they earned - he had obviously really loved her.
"Iain, did she seem at all distracted to you? Unhappy?" Fin asked, leaning forward over the kitchen counter, trying to catch what the guy was saying more clearly.
Culshaw sighed. "Apart from being pissed at me? No." He stretched out, revealing the length of his arms and fingers. "Holli was a pretty fiery character. She stood up for herself. That's why I loved her."
"Was there anyone who might have had a problem with Holli - at work, or in her private life?" Munch persisted.
"Uh - my daughter and her didn't get along, but my daughter lives in Germany with her husband and their kids. And her boss was always shouting at her, but Holli would shout right back. Holli knew how to look after herself is my point." Iain Culshaw rose gingerly from his stool and padded quickly across the kitchen tiles in bare feet. He pulled open a door, took something out, and ambled back. "This was Holli's personal organiser. I'm surprised she didn't have it with her when - you know."
He handed over what might have been described as a "well-loved" book. It was crammed full of extra bits of paper, Post-It notes and assorted bits and pieces. Once upon a time it had been a beautiful black leather organiser, a perfect Christmas present. The gold leaf decoration was gone, but the indentation of Holli's initials remained on the side, which itself had been patched up over and over with Sellotape...staples...God only knew what. Fin turned it over in his hands. Clearly it had been very expensive item once. He slipped it into a plastic bag, then into his pocket.
Munch had asked their final few questions in the meantime, and was just thanking Iain Culshaw for his time. Every bone in his body was telling him that Culshaw was no killer - the same went for Fin - but instincts were not always correct. There was a good chance that he could be an opportunistic copycat. Although he had a good alibi, they had yet to check it out.
According to the man, he had been working very long hours in order to forget the argument with Holli and make up some mistakes made by a colleague. Two birds, as he pointed out. After that, the previous two nights he'd spent in company. Once with his ex-wife, going to speak with their son Thomas' principal at his home (that had provoked a loud row on the way home). Once with work colleagues, at a leaving party for one of the secretaries, a popular woman.
Just as they had finished shaking his hand and were getting up to go, Culshaw's hand flew to his forehead. He swore and began stammering something out. Fin sat the poor guy down and waited for the words to flow.
"A-a-an ex- he used to pester her. There was a restraining order once. Ramon. Yeah, I think his name's Ramon. And some of her neighbours weren't all that nice."
Munch raised an eyebrow. "Can you tell us anything more about this Ramon?"
"Uh-" he paused -"only that he used to work in the Starbucks at the end of her block. They fired him - but they might know where he went to, a few of them used to go out drinking with him according to...Holli." He trailed off, looking absolutely devastated. Both Munch and Fin realised it was time they left.
* * * * *
Olivia had spent the whole morning watching her partner like a hawk. He had calmed down some, but the appalling mood he'd arrived for work with had not been entirely lifted. Thankfully his intense irritability had borne some fruit, as far as questioning Holli Griffin's workmates was concerned. They'd found out a little more about the young receptionist.
Apparently (and this had been confirmed during a phonecall from Fin), Holli had had a long-running feud with a jealous ex, Raymond Ziegler. It had eben a messy breakup, largely due to her relevation that she had been cheating on him for virtually the whole time they'd been together. First with another ex, who turned out to be a cop with a perfect alibi, then with Iain Culshaw. From what they could ascertain, there was some doubt about her feelings for Culshaw amongst the gossips in the company.
They were back at the office now, partly waiting for Munch and Fin to get back from pestering Forensics (who had taken to disappearing every time an SVU detective came anywhere near them), and partly comparing the information they had on Griffin so far with that from the Parks and Whitfield cases. It didn't look too good. If you went by young women, Parks was the "problem" in the pattern. If it was by social status, Whitfield bucked the trend. Plus the killer appeared to be pretty efficient. No DNA.
"What's up, campers?"
Olivia jumped, her heart taknig a triple-jump up through her throat. She span round and glared at Munch, but couldn't keep it up for long. They exchanged tired smiles. Fin strolled in with the Captain, behind his older partner, and nodded in greeting at Benson. All four noticed that Elliot had not even looked up.
"OK," Cragen sighed, "Benson, Stabler - what've you got?"
Olivia took up the lead, well aware that her partner wouldn't. "Well they brought up Raymond Zeigler and another ex of Holli's. He works in Narc - Nick Galliano."
Cragen raised his eyebrows in interest. "Really? Galliano?"
"He's got an alibi. We haven't been able to find Raymond yet. Apparently Ms. Griffin was not faithful. At least not with Zeigler. She cheated on him with Galliano and Culshaw." Olivia informed him. She took a deep breath. "We also know that she suggested more than once that it was Culshaw's money and social status that kept her around."
"There could be other boyfriends then." Fin pointed out. "And Culshaw gave us this."
He pulled the plastic bag containing the battered but still identifiable personal organiser out of his pocket. As he ahd known it would, it created a great deal of interest. Who knew how many people Griffin ahd been strining along? It was possible too that she had had a change of heart. And how had Culshaw's children (aside from the daughter in Germany) felt about her presence in their father's life? Too many questions.
.