Olivia and Elliot looked at one another. " Is there any proof?"
" Not anymore there isn't. The cop that accidentally walked in on them…" Cragen mimed pulling a trigger.
" Dead." Olivia sighed and sat down. " So what are we supposed to do?"
" I want you and Elliot to talk to her."
" And how, exactly, are we supposed to do that without dying? Captain, this guy has killed any cop that steps into his clubs."
" That is what bullet-proof vests are for, Elliot. Anyway, I want you to talk to her. Stay away from the others. Wait until she is alone."
Two days later everyone was sitting in the squad room. Munch and Fin were throwing a koosh ball back and forth. Everyone looked up as Cragen walked in, stopping in front of Olivia and Elliot's desks. " We just got word that a big party is being thrown at the Black Day Nightclub. You two need to be ready by 8:00. Now, there is a strict dress code if you don't want to stand out."
" Let me guess," Elliot stood up, " we have to wear black."
" All black. I've had two officers do your shopping for you. Here." He handed both Elliot and Olivia a bag. " Go get dressed and meet back here."
Once Elliot and Olivia had come out of the bathrooms and sat back down, Cragen started.
" As you see, you are both dressed in black jeans, shirts, and leather coats. This is standard for the Black Day Nightclub. Clothing wise, you won't stand out. Both of you have on bulletproof vests as a precaution. Now remember, Avita and Netro are extremely close. Look for one and you will more than likely find the other. This is a file I pulled on Avita. You have two hours to look it over."
Olivia and Elliot watched the captain leave. Munch and Fin got up and joined them at their desks. Soon enough, papers covered their desks. " Get this, Avita Cantanova, whose original name was Jess Williams, lived with her two parents in the suburbs of New York, twenty minutes from the city. She was born in October of 1989 to Jack and Jennifer Williams."
" Jack, Jennifer, and Jess." Fin looked over the papers at Elliot.
" Yes. They died in a…. double homicide. The murderers were never found."
" Oh my God. Elliot look at this." Olivia leaned across the desk. " A close friend of the family Isaac Krishton adopted Jess after his friends murders."
" Maybe Isaac and Netro are the same person?"
" Or it could be one of his many alias's. Netro and Avita both have over twenty different aliases in different countries. Not counting the ten or so they have in the United States alone." Munch looked at them. " No one knows his true biological name. Netro Cantanova is only another alias, but his main one."
" A bit coincidental with the death of her parents isn't it? I mean maybe this guy planned them just to get the kid." Fin stood up and walked to the board. " We know this dude has had sex with her. Maybe he just wanted a life companion."
" And he looked for it in a three year old?" Olivia shook her head. " I don't buy it. I think this attraction they have to one another was just a thing that happened. I think that Jack and Jennifer Williams were involved in his dealings and probably, with their new baby, wanted to pull out. Punishment for wanting to pull out of something as involved as this is death."
" So he took her in out of remorse?" Elliot looked at the picture of Netro skeptically. " I just don't see it in this guy."
" Maybe he took her in because he actually cared about her. I mean this three year old would have posed no threat to him. He may have thought ' Hey, I take this kid in I can train her to kill and be my successor.'" Munch shrugged.
" Olivia, Elliot." Cragen came out of his office. " A car is waiting for you outside. It's an unmarked Mercedes. You are arriving together and an officer is acting as your chauffer."
" Well this is great." Olivia and Elliot sat in the back of the car as it pulled up to the club. The vibrations from the music inside could be felt in the car. " So, we go in?"
Olivia nodded. " We do. Come on."
Inside the club, past the guards, all you could see was black. A hundred or so people crowded the dance floor. The music was intense electronic sounds vibrating off the walls. Elliot leaned in to be heard. " There isn't a single girl in here that is over twenty."
" Yeah, but we're not here for that. We have to blend in. Come on, let's find Avita."
" Liv." Olivia turned back and followed Elliot's gaze to the balcony above them. Avita was standing alone, looking over the crowd. As they watched, Netro came up behind her and placed a hand on her waist, whispering to her. Avita nodded. Not ten seconds later, Netro came down the stairs and walked towards the exit. " Now's our chance."
Elliot led them to the stairs. They were about to go up when a heavily built man came down the stairs, blocking their way. " Hey. You guys aren't supposed to be here. What are you doing?"
" We wanted to talk to Netro Cantanova." Elliot met the man's suspicious gaze.
" Netro stepped out. Why is it you wanted to see him?"
Elliot leaned in and whispered, " We need a hit man. This guy's been bothering us. We don't want him around anymore."
The man leaned back and studied their faces for a minute before nodding. " Avita Cantanova's still here. You can talk to her. Follow me." He turned and Elliot and Olivia followed him up the narrow stairs. When they reached the balcony the man held up a hand for them to stop and stepped off into the darkness. A few minutes later, he returned. " She'll see you." With that, he went back down the stairs.
Elliot and Olivia watched after him and were surprised as a voice came from in front of them. Whipping around, they saw, who was undoubtedly, Avita. " You are the ones here for business?" Elliot nodded. " Follow me."
Avita led them across the balcony to a door on the left. She stepped to the side motioning for them to go in. Olivia stepped in after Elliot and looked around. The room was entirely black. Avita flipped a switch by the door and a dim light glowed over the room.
" Please, sit." They did so, on a couch across from the two chairs, one of which Avita occupied. " I am told that you want a hit man. Might I ask who it is for?"
Elliot slid the picture the captain had given them across the table. Avita picked it up and looked at it carefully before placing it back down.
" How did you know to come here? I don't believe I have ever seen you before."
" A friend of ours told us about Netro. He didn't mention you."
" I am his daughter. I take care of business when he is gone." She smiled at them and crossed her legs, picking a cigarette off the table and lighting it.
Elliot restrained himself from saying anything as he watched her blow smoke from her mouth. " How soon can it be done?"
Avita nodded and sat forward, uncrossing her legs. " What are you paying?"
" What's your rate?"
Avita was about to answer when a knock sounded at the door. The door opened within seconds and Netro Cantanova looked over them before his eyes rested on Elliot.
" Avita?"
" They want a hit man."
" Ah." Netro stepped inside and closed the door. Olivia watched him as he sat down next to Avita. He too was dressed in black. His pants were leather and matched his jacket. Both were obviously custom made. His shirt was black with the silver chain of his necklace laying on the neckline. His jet-black hair was slicked back. It went to his shoulders and draped across his right eye as he sat down. The hair was slightly wavy and a goatee covered his chin, sunglasses perched on his head even though it was night. " I am Netro Cantanova."
" They know. A friend of theirs told them about you."
" Really?" Elliot and Olivia met his eyes, keeping their faces emotionless. " Well, I am always glad to be the subject of conversation. Has Avita helped you?"
Elliot nodded. " We were just discussing pay."
" Yes, I believe the normal rate will do for you. Any specifics? Do you wish there to be a specific method of death?"
" Whatever suits you."
Netro smirked. " Good, good."
Avita flipped open a notebook. " Names?"
" Jack and Jennifer." Elliot saw Avita pause before writing their names. " Our first names should be sufficient."
" Of course. Avita, the job goes to Janik. And the name of your annoyance?"
" Don Cragen. He's a cop who's been investigating my source of money for years."
" I know the feeling. A man's way of bringing in the Benjamin's is his own private business."
" Definitely."
" Avita mark the day for…Friday. I find that Friday is always a good day to die. As for payment," Elliot met Netro's gaze as it turned to him. " Five-hundred grand."
Elliot smiled. " Done."
" Wonderful." Netro extended a hand, which Elliot took, followed by Olivia. " You must come out to my balcony with us."
