Perspective

"Alex, do you have any idea how dangerous this creep could be?" Stabler burst out in frustration. The detective's white oxford shirt was rolled up to the elbows; his electric blue eyes held the remnants of his anger at today's case.

"Elliot, we just don't have the basis for a search warrant yet," Alex Cabot insisted for what felt like the ninth time in as many minutes. She felt the beginnings of a headache gathering at her temples, but didn't let on. Her sapphire blue eyes were as cool and professional as the rest of her demeanor – down to the tailored black suit and polished shoes.

"If I bring this case before a judge," Cabot continued, "I'll get laughed out of chambers. You need to find a better probable cause than the say-so of an elderly neighbor."

"That neighbor has been living across from Jansen for five years, and we've never had any problems with her," Stabler countered, thumping his desk for emphasis. "And so what if she's elderly? That means she doesn't count?"

"Of course not," Cabot snapped; irritation flashed in her eyes for a brief second. "But hearsay just isn't a valid reason to search people's houses. You know, if that's our standard for a search warrant, neighbors could just start filing reports against whoever they felt like! Most judges are going to see that as a dangerous precedent."

"Alex," Benson cajoled from a seat at her desk, "can't you at least present it and see what the judge thinks?"

Olivia was trying to be nice, but that almost made it worse. Cabot closed her eyes for a moment, willing her right eye to stop throbbing.

"I could," she finally said. "But if the judge turns it down and we try again – even if we have better evidence – the defense is going to say we're just trying to nail Jansen no matter what."

"He's connected to two homicides," Stabler growled. "We ARE trying to nail this guy."

"Look, I want to prosecute him as much as you want to arrest him," Cabot said. "But I just can't do that on the evidence you've presented me with. I need more."

"We can get more with a warrant," Benson said.

"Look, I don't make the rules," Cabot snapped. "Has it occurred to you that maybe you need to do more to finger Jansen before a judge will agree with you? That maybe this guy isn't guilty after all? We have procedures for a reason."

She was met with a pair of unimpressed stares. Her head was officially throbbing.

"All right," she surrendered with a sigh. "I'll talk to the judge. But I can't make any guarantees."