TITLE: Of Hearts and Arrows
AUTHOR: RaeAnne
DISCLAIMER: see chapter one
AN: Again thank you so much for the feedback and input. I hope you enjoy this chapter too.
Wishing you a happy holiday RaeAnne ---(-@
Chapter 3:
Of Hearts and Arrows
Butterflies… the insect kept Sam preoccupied a good part of the morning, she sat at the large meeting table before even Bailey was up, going over pages and pages on her lap top, still the connection was fuzzy.
The VCTF was up and running by 6:30. "The SVU team should be here in twenty minutes. We have our plan set?" Bailey asked as he gathered his team around the table.
"We're ready Bail, though what we are looking for is still confusing me," John said leaning back in his chair manner casual.
"He's in a holding pattern himself… he made the intentional movement with the rapes, that's how he got her attention. The murders were to bring her closer, the power is the issue. He's made contact, he's growing bolder, entering her apartment…he'll strike again… soon, but I don't think we'll be able to name the victims, so right now I think we should be trying to find all that can to identify this man. The sooner we do that perhaps we will be able to narrow his list," Sam interjected.
"Agreed," Bailey echoed.
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"We've got to be at Pilot Suites for the VCTF meeting in ten minutes!" Elliot called as he adjusted his tie.
"I know, just about ready," Olivia returned finishing her light make up.
"So what do you think of this VCTF thing?" Elliot asked leaning against the door frame of the bathroom.
"They are the feds, I mean their resources will be a help, but…" she looked for the right word.
"I know," Elliot said folding his arms. She shrugged giving him a small smile. Elliot returned the smile surprised to find his stomach fill with little butterflies and his heart warm. "When did that happen?" he thought quickly his eyes moving over every curve.
"Is there something wrong?" he heard her question but it didn't register.
"Huh?" he moved his riveted eyes back to her face.
"You were starring at me, is there something on my clothes?" she questioned further. "Why do women always ask that? They must know good and well we were starring, but not because there was anything on them, but for the pure fact that they are THEM! Yet still they ask, they must like to see us fumble with an answer!" he growled silently.
"What? No! I was just… just thinking that's all?" he said sheepishly. "Why is he so jumpy?" she thought.
"Well if you are ready I am" she smiled still curious about his preoccupied mind but wisely said nothing.
"Yeah let's go," he nodded moving out of the door way.
"We're going to be so late," Olivia moaned finishing her somewhat stale bagel Elliot had handed her.
"Yeah I know," he sighed ushering out the door. "Got everything?" he asked.
"Yes…wait no… I forgot…" she turned half way down the steps running into Elliot's chest.
"Sorry," she smiled.
"No harm done… What did you forget?" he said eyes locking onto hers.
"I… I can't remember… must not have been too important." She turned back towards the car a blush rising. Elliot fell into step a guiding hand on the small of her back.
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"You're late," Cragen glared as Olivia and Elliot came through the doors of the VCTF command center meeting room.
"Sorry sir," Olivia acknowledged slipping into an empty chair Elliot following.
"All right…first step we are going to review what we know about "Jack" and your "Dawson", Sam feels there is definite overtones that are similar to Jack. While we don't believe that he is Jack, Jack has been known to hire men for various reasons. We believe that Dawson is in deed one of these hired men, though for reasons we don't know.
Our best chance at stopping him is to understand him the best we can. I think that we should re canvas the area, it will help my team to become familiar with the case and with your unit, if that is okay?" Bailey poised the question to Cragen who sat on his left. It was more of a statement then a question, a courtesy formality, that he didn't mind extending.
"Fine," Cragen nodded.
"Great, Detective Tutuola if you and Marcus will check out these victims family members and see if we can place a connection between them and Detective Benson," Bailey said handing them a folder containing five names. "Grace, John and Detective Munch if you could visit the ME and collect any new information, specifically if the victims had any date rape drugs, the files we had didn't mention it. With it being found in the wine bottle it's possible it would be found in others. George, Doctor Haung said he will be joining you later today to help entering the new information into the data banks for cross referencing to get a clearer profile," Bailey paused looking at the remaining two detectives and the captain.
"Detective Benson, I would like you to go over your apartment again with Sam," Bailey tried to be tactful in his request, but it was his wife who held the social graces, and who helped smooth the matter.
"It helps me to a get a feel for what happened… it helps me get into his head better," Sam said quickly with a smile.
"Detective Stabler, Captain Cragen, if you would accompany me, I'd like to talk to the remaining families," he finished, retaking his chair.
"Sounds fine, when do we re group?" Cragen asked.
"We'll meet back here at 2:00 for lunch and see where we're at," Bailey answered.
"Got it," Cragen said rising his unit following. Olivia glanced at Elliot as they filed out of the room. "Be careful out there," he whispered into her ear as he passed. "You too," she said. He winked and followed Cragen and Malone out.
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"So Dr. Malone how long have you been doing this?" Olivia asked as they were stuck in light traffic.
"Mmm, a while now," Sam replied folding her hands
"How long has this Jack been after you?" Olivia questioned.
"A while now…" Sam laughed.
"You seem to be handling in well," Olivia remarked in a questionable tone.
"I've been at it for a while. It was hard… awful at first. I shut myself away from the world. After my first husband was killed I retired from the FBI, focused on my daughter.
"You have a daughter?"
"Yeah, Chloe, she was seven at the time of her dad's death, she now thirteen! Bailey brought me back to the FBI when he put the VCTF together. You know as scary as living with Jack was… learning to live without fear was even harder."
"How so?"
"Well I escaped my pain by shutting it out; by ignoring it I thought somehow it would go away. I went back to the FBI still in danger but empowered, not by self imposed solitude but by the security of friends and the knowledge that I controlled my life not Jack. I realized that my past didn't have to cripple my future. We still haven't caught Jack, but I have learned to live again."
Olivia was silent pondering the statements. "I commend you Dr. Malone, it must have been a battle," she said her heart listen to Sam's words more then her mind did.
"Please call me Sam,"
"All right, Sam. How did your daughter handle everything? I mean at seven she must have been terribly traumatized by everything,"
"She was, but she is tough. I had worked the FBI with Bailey before Tom, my first husband, was killed. We were good friends and he stepped in becoming a strong figure in her life when we came back. It's funny, he was so protective of us… anyway he became a father figure to her. She still talks about Tom and knows that he is her father… but Bailey is her Dad. He was essential in helping her adjust… me too really," Sam finished watching the cars move by.
"You've come through some pretty amazing stuff," Olivia said flatly mind wondering, her hands tightened on the wheel as her apartment came into view.
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"Why the butterflies? I haven't figured it out yet," Sam said absently as he looked over the bedroom. "They were here?" she mused looking at the drawer.
"Yeah, I found them last night. He was in here after the first night," Olivia said the words turning dry on her tongue.
"You have no idea why the butterflies?" Sam said eyes still on the drawer which she had placed on the floor. She walked to the door and then back focused on the bed and the angle of the dresser.
Olivia watched in curiosity. "No... I have no idea. I mean I like them… since I was a little girl, but other then that…." She trailed raking her mind for anything else. "Wait! When I was in Jr. High, I ran for class president and a butterfly was my sort of mascot… if that helps," Olivia offered. Sam took in the information before falling to her knees at the side of the bed. Olivia moved from her position in front of the closet to see what Sam was looking at.
"Is that an arrow?" Olivia breathed.
"I think so," Sam said pulling out a long elaborately made arrow with a shiny yellow tip. The shaft on the arrow appeared to be a little over a foot long, thin pink and red satin ropes drape over it.
"Is the tip gold?" Olivia asked believing it to be. Sam nodded baffled by the arrow.
"How did you know to look there?" Olivia asked as she bagged the item.
"When he came in he chose to leave things on the floor… the butterflies, he made a point of saying he "stood over" you, it just seemed like he wanted something around you at all angles," Sam said trying her best to explain her gut feelings.
"So it appears we have two clues to explain… the butterflies and the arrow," Olivia said bitterly. Sam studied her for a moment before responding.
"We will catch him," Sam said purposefully.
Olivia felt a chill move through her. "I'm not worried," she said adamantly.
"You forget, I've been here before. I've been reckless and blindly brave to prove a point, it cost me dearly. I'm not saying to lock yourself away and resign yourself to be a terrified victim, but realizing that there is a sicko out there might help you keep perspective. It's a tough road you're on, but you've got a good man watching your back… that always helps," Sam said trying to comfort yet warn Olivia of the road ahead.
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"What have we found out?" Bailey asked once both the VCTF and the SV unit were seated at the table lunches in front of them.
"The families were little help. They didn't think that their daughters were seeing anyone. The descriptions we got from some of the witnesses were vague at best. The police sketch artist has the descriptions and is working on a compost," Marcus gave his report flipping his notes. Bailey nodded.
"The ME couldn't offer much help either, no more then we already had. Tests came up negative for any drugs, date rape included," Munch offered.
"Yes, and I went back over the bodies and I found nothing that would add much to the report. No special markings, nothing that could point conclusively to ritual killings. Clean stab wounds, sharp smooth blade, about three and half inches wide and gauging from the angle and depth of the wound six inches long. No excessive force, rather ordinary… for murder anyway," Grace added.
"We came pretty much up the same way with our families too," Cragen said.
"We found something," Sam said laying the arrow on the table. The group looked it over silently.
"Why haven't you had it sent over to the lab yet?" Bailey asked picking it up.
"We just found it at Olivia's, we thought bringing it here for everyone to examine before sending it down would be helpful," Sam said. Bailey nodded his approval sending it down the table.
"It looks like it's possibly made of silver with a gold tip, not pure though it's too firm," George Fraley noted turning it over.
"We thought the same thing," Olivia agreed. Elliot had been silent so far, his afternoon not progressing very well.
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3 Hours Before
"Stabler," Elliot answered his shrilling cell phone as he followed his captain and Agent Malone to the car.
"Mr. Stabler this is Mark Thompson, attorney for your wife," the man paused.
"I know who you are," Elliot said with disgust.
"I couldn't get a hold of your attorney, though I did send the papers. What I am calling about is to notify you that there is a restraining order on you to no come with five miles of your wife, children and not to contact them by phone or other wise," the slimly attorney said.
Elliot felt sick, "On what grounds?" he spat.
"My client feels that what is going with the man your unit is purposing that her and her children would be in harms way if she isn't efficiently protected from you,"
"You've got to be kidding! Because I am cop I can't see my kids?"
"I'm sorry, the judge issued it this morning, you can get a hold of your attorney and he will explain it to you," the attorney said then hung up. Elliot hung up his phone and climbed into the car, slamming the door behind him making both Cragen and Malone look back.
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"Do you have any idea why there would be an arrow at the apartment?" George Haung asked Sam. "No, not yet, the butterflies are important, and tie in here somewhere… once I get them figured out the arrow should fall into place, I just haven't made the connection yet," she sighed picking at her Chinese take-out container.
Containers of food were spread out on the table all in varying types, Thai, Italian, Mexican and plain cheeseburgers. Papers were strewn about pens, high lighters, markers, pencils, and most every type of research book you could think of littered tables chairs and any other available work space in the once large room.
"George," Bailey said re entering the room carrying more papers.
"Yes?" both men answered.
"Sorry, this George," Bailey smiled pointing to Fraley.
"What up?" George asked taking the offered papers.
"Can we get these up on the video screen? I just got these from the lab, they are pictures of the butterflies and arrow, I thought they might be able to help get some thoughts moving," Bailey answered.
"Will do," he nodded hitting a few keys on his lap top and sending the pages through the scanner.
"How are we doing?" Bailey asked Sam.
"Okay, the more I look the more everything becomes blurry, I don't understand why I can't get a handle on this guy," she sighed.
"Okay the-…." George started but was cut off by two men bursting through the double doors of the meeting room.
"We are looking for a Detective Stabler" a tall man with a black suit, matching tie and white shirt said with his partner a replica, only shorter standing beside him.
"I'm Elliot Stabler," Elliot said moving from the corner of the room towards the center.
"I'm Agent Davis, my partner Martinez, I'm afraid we have some news," the taller said opening his badge.
"Agent Malone, VCTF, what is going on? We are in the middle of an investigation here," Bailey said coming up beside Elliot.
"This is a family matter Agent Malone, we aren't here to interfere," Martinez said.
"Someone tell me what is going on!?" Elliot said anger rising, along with anxiety.
"Sir, can we please go outside?" Davis asked holding a door open.
"Fine," Elliot said pushing past them into the hall.
"We have a car outside," they said leading him outside.
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Elliot felt his heart began to pound as they made it outside. The snow covered walks were dingy and the road was ugly with black colored slush. He felt his heart drop when he saw the car was running, a driver leaning against the hood.
"What is going on?" he demanded.
"Sir, there is no easy way to say this… your wife has been in an accident, she is at are at Angel of Mercy Hospital downtown, we are here to get you," Davis said slowly.
Elliot felt like he was going to choke, he couldn't breathe, his head spun and he felt numb. The words floated around in the air barely registering.
"What… what…happened?" he asked wetting his suddenly dry lips.
"Sir, we need to get you to the hospital, we will explain everything then," Martinez said opening the door of the waiting car.
"What about my partner, someone needs to tell her what is happening," he said turning back to the building in a daze.
"Sir, Agent Davis is going to tell them, we need you to come with us now… please sir." Martinez said placing two hands on his shoulders and directing him to the car.
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1 Hour Before
"Come on Maureen bring your brother and sister, we have to get going, we are meeting Jerry in five minutes, we are going to be late!" Kathy called coming through the door of the hotel room.
Suitcases were spread around the room, clothing heaped into them with no certain order. They had been biding their time in New York city on the advice of Kathy's lawyer. But that was all coming to an end now, she had been successful in creating a loop whole, the restraining order had been a brilliant idea, she now had the perfect excuse to leave the city. She smiled to herself at her cunningness. Kathleen followed her in carrying lunch.
"Mom, do think that doing this to dad is really the right thing to do?" Maureen asked helping to close Lizzie's over stuffed suitcase.
Kathy glared at her eldest daughter and said in disgust," What isn't fair Maureen is what your father has put us through these past few years! He spends more time at his job then with us, he likes spending time with his slut partner more then us, and he deserves this!"
Maureen glared back her mother every once of her angry. She opened the door and sent the twins down with their suitcases to the waiting van before speaking to her mother. "Hey Kathleen will you help the twin's load this stuff?" she asked taking the food from her sister. Kathleen nodded heading back out the door. Maureen sat the greased spotted paper bags on the night stand and turned back to her mother.
"What isn't fair, what isn't right, is this, you standing their in all your high and mighty glory accusing dad of having the affair that you've actually been having! Dad does his job with the help of female partner, you try and convince us that this "Jerry" is a long lost cousin; the twins don't even believe that mom! This isn't right!" she declared stomping her foot to get across her point.
Kathy just looked at her daughter with disgust. "If you don't like it darling daughter… leave, you're eighteen, go run, leave!" she said with a sing song voice.
"I would, but I promised dad to take care of the twins and Kathleen, and I mean what I say," Maureen said with sting.
"Leave Maureen, you are not welcome here, leave!" Kathy said finally losing it, picking up the lamp and hurling towards her.
Maureen froze in fear as the lamp shattered beside her, the light bulb bursting with blue and white sparks.
Without speaking she grabbed her key's and headed for the door.
"Where do you think you are going with that missy?" Kathy asked following Maureen onto the walkway. Maureen didn't answer just raced down the steps.
"Get in the car!" Maureen yelled to the twins and Kathleen who were standing by the van.
"What?" Kathleen asked.
"Get in my car, not the van, the car now!" Maureen yelled desperately. They looked at their crazed mother, their desperate sister and went towards the Ford Taurus eyes wide in fear.
"You'll never get away with this Maureen!" Kathy yelled franticly. Maureen looked back only once before climbing in and slamming the door.
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