Title: Till Death Do Us Part (2/15)

Author: KatRose

Disclaimer: Simply put, Dick Wolf's, not mine.

Rating: PG

Spoilers: None that I can think of

Author's Notes: The dates for this story are all 2004. I also have to thank kukrae for all her help, wisdom, cheerleading and browbeating me into getting this story written.

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CHAPTER 2

1305 NINTH AVENUE

GREENWICH VILLAGE

APRIL 16 - 10:45 AM

Elliot and Olivia entered a corner bakery and asked for the owner. A middle-aged Russian woman came forward and asked if she could help them.

"Yes, I'm Detective Benson; this is my partner Detective Stabler. We understand you may have recognized a young woman's picture shown around the neighborhood." Handing over the flyer with the dead woman's face on it, Olivia asked, "Do you know her?"

"Oh, she doesn't look so good here," Olga said.

"I'm sorry, ma'am," Elliot said, "but she's dead."

"Oh, dear. That's Lizette Dronin. Um, no, that's not her last name anymore." Olga stood pensively and thought for a moment. "Henry, what's Lizette's last name?" she called to the other worker.

"Cullen. She married that banker a few months ago," came the answer.

"Do you know where we might find her husband?" Olivia asked.

"He's over at First American on Avenue B," Henry replied.

"His name is Nate," Olga added. "I hope you get whoever did that to that nice girl."

"Thanks, we're going to do our best," Olivia said as they walked out the door.

FIRST AMERICAN BANK

415 AVENUE B

"We're looking for a Nate Cullen," Olivia said to the receptionist at the bank.

"He's in a meeting, can I help you?" she asked.

"We need to see him now; can you point us in the right direction?" Elliot asked.

"I was told not to disturb him unless it was an emergency," she replied.

"Miss," Olivia interjected, "we're with the police department. We need to see Mr. Cullen now."

That got her attention. "Let me show you the way."

The detectives followed the receptionist into the back of the bank. She knocked on the door and let herself in at the "yes?" inside.

"Sir, there are two police officers here to see you."

Olivia and Elliot entered the office to find a uniformed officer sitting in the guest chair taking what appeared to be notes. He looked up in surprise to see detectives entering the office.

"Sir, ma'am," he said as he stood. Turning to Mr. Cullen he said, "As I said before, Nate, she's only been missing for two days, so we might have a chance of finding some clues. We'll call you as soon as we know anything."

He started to leave the office when Elliot stopped him by asking, "Who's been missing?"

"His wife, Liz. She disappeared a couple of days ago after lunch with a girlfriend. He filed a missing person's report and because I bank here, I told the boss I'd look into things."

"Officer … Johnson, is it?" Olivia said. "We'll be handling this from now on."

"But ma'am," he started, "I don't understand."

"Mr. Cullen," Olivia said, ignoring the officer, "I'm afraid we have some bad news."

"Bad news?" Nate asked with his emotions tightly controlled. "If you're here and telling Officer Johnson that you're handling the case, it doesn't sound like my wife's going to come home."

"I'm sorry, sir, no she's not," Elliot answered. "I'm Detective Stabler, this is my partner Detective Benson. We're with the Special Victims Unit. Your wife's body was found yesterday evening. We're very sorry for your loss."

Nate stumbled back into his chair, emotions wrenching his face, but surfacing briefly. "How," he cleared his throat and started again, "how did it happen?"

"We're still looking into what happened, but it looks like she was raped and then killed," Olivia said as gently as possible. "We need to ask you some questions about her last known whereabouts and any plans she may have had since you last saw her."

"Yes, of course," he said. "Please sit, I'll be right back." He fled the office, asking the receptionist to get the detectives some water or coffee while he was gone. Both were refused and they waited quietly for Nate to return.

"Ma'am?" Officer Johnson started. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"No, Officer. Thank you though. You're free to go back to your regular duties."

"Yes, ma'am. Let Mr. Cullen know that I'm here if he needs anything."

"Nice kid," Olivia said after he'd left.

"Yeah, eager too," Elliot replied.

A few minutes later, Nate returned. His face was flushed and his lips were white around the edges. Elliot knew the signs of a man who'd been physically sick because of worry and fear. Choosing to ignore the obvious and not add to Nate's discomfort, he started in with some questions.

"When was the last time you saw your wife?"

"Wednesday morning. We had breakfast together, I kissed her good-bye and went to work," Nate replied.

"Do you know what she had planned for the day?"

"She had a doctor's appointment and then was meeting a girlfriend for lunch."

"Do you know the friend's name or the place they were meeting?"

"Her name is Dede Rayner. She was our wedding coordinator and our matchmaker if you want to know the truth," Nate said with a wistful look on his face. "Lizette was so beautiful when I first met her, I fell head over heels. Dede helped make that happen. Then she helped plan the wedding."

"Do you know where we can find her?" Olivia asked.

"Probably at her office. She works over in Greenwich Village. Runs a wedding planning company out there. Here's the address and her phone number," he said writing the information down. "Do you know when I might be able to see Lizette?" he asked with a break in his voice.

"You should be able to go down to the morgue this afternoon. Just give this number a call to make the arrangements," Olivia said, handing over a Victim's Service business card. "They'll be able to help you with any questions or counseling if you want it. Again, we're sorry for your loss."

"Thank you," he said, sinking into his chair.

AISLE BE THERE

GREENWICH VILLAGE

"We'd like to see Miss Rayner," Elliot said to the receptionist.

"She's with a client at the moment," he said only glancing at the couple in front of him, "but if you want to fill out this paperwork she'll be with you shortly."

"Ah, Kevin," Elliot said reading the name plate on the desk, "we're not getting married, I'm already married. We're with the police."

Kevin's head shot up from his magazine to get a closer look at them. "Oh, you look like a cute couple, I just figured …" Olivia held back a smirk, but laughed inside, knowing she could use this to torment Elliot later on.

"That's alright, Kevin," Olivia said, "but we need to see Miss Rayner now."

"Let me go back and tell her," he said getting up from his desk.

A few minutes later Kevin returned to escort the partners to the executive office. "Miss Rayner," he said in way of introduction, "the police are here."

"Thank you, Kevin," she said. Motioning to the detectives she said, "Please sit. Can Kevin get you anything to drink?"

"No." "No, thank you," they answered in unison.

Elliot took charge of the questioning. "Miss Rayner, we understand you knew Lizette Cullen."

"Yes, she was one of my success stories."

"How so?" he asked.

"My matchmaking services, of course," she replied coolly, yet professionally.

"We understand that you met for lunch on the day she disappeared. Can you tell us about her state of mind?" Elliot asked.

"She was happy. She's a newlywed and thrilled with her life. We had lunch and then parted company."

"Do you know where she was going after she left you?" Olivia asked.

"I believe she was going to do some shopping. Something about a surprise for her husband. Don't know what exactly she meant, but she had a secretive look on her face."

"What makes you say that?" Elliot asked.

"Are you married, detective?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Then you should know what I'm talking about. That look a woman in love gets when she's about to surprise her husband or lover with something very special," she explained.

"Any ideas what her surprise could be?" Olivia asked.

"No. She didn't tell me and I didn't pry. A woman should have her secrets after all, even from her friends. Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course," Olivia replied.

"What happened to her?"

"She's dead."

"When, when did that happen?" she asked.

"She was found yesterday."

"Do you know what happened yet?"

"We're still investigating. That's why we'd like to talk to anyone that might have seen her or talked to her after she left you."

"I wish I could help. But she didn't tell me where she was going. I'm sorry," she said with the threat of tears in her voice. "I really liked her."

"If you think of anything, please give us a call," Elliot said handing over his business card.

"I will," she replied. "I hope you catch whoever did this to her. She was a good woman. She'll be missed."

The detectives walked out the office door and headed out of the building. Just before exiting, Olivia stopped at Kevin's desk and asked, "Kevin, do you have the name of the restaurant Dede and Lizette had lunch the other day?"

"Yeah, lemme get it for you." He wrote down the name and address and handed the slip of paper over to Olivia. "I heard what happened. If there's anything I can do, just call me. I know people all over this area, maybe they can help too."

"Help how?" Elliot asked, coming back to the desk.

"Ya know, keeping our ears to the ground. My friends are all over the place."

"Thanks," Olivia said, "but I think we got it. However," she added, "if you do hear something, give us a call."

"Will do."

Heading back to their car, Olivia turned to Elliot, "Do you think she knows something?"

"I don't know, but it definitely doesn't feel right. Something's off," he replied.

"Yeah, something."