Chapter Seven
Olivia's Apartment
6:30 am
Friday, April 16th, 2005
If she had only woken up earlier. How much earlier, she couldn't tell at the moment. All she wanted to do was turn back the hands of time. She had felt this feeling before. A feeling of sadness. There was nothing she could do. Nothing at all.
At exactly six thirty Olivia opened her eyes. She faced the wall of her bedroom. This first thing she did when she woke up was smile. The night had been one of the best she had ever had in a long. Nobody had made her feel that good. Olivia wanted to get up but she didn't want to wake Jake. Yet she had to get to work. She stretched under the covers and turned over.
That's when she found out. She didn't want to believe, she hoped it was a dream. But last night wasn't a dream and neither was this. He had left her.
She scrambled out of bed naked and her back collided with the bedroom wall. She covered her mouth to keep from screaming although screaming might be the best thing. Warm tears came down her eyes. Seeing something like this never effected her this much.
On the bed was Jake, naked. His blank eyes stared straight at her. Lifeless eyes. His skin was paler than it was last night. Blood was stained all over the bed. There was multiple stab wounds in the back. Jake was gone.
Olivia didn't bother to wipe off his blood that was on her skin. How did she not wake up from this? It didn't seem real. Olivia slowly crumbled down the wall to the floor. She brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs. Seeing somebody's dead never seemed to effect her very much. There was occasional times where she was pulled out because it was too much to handle but when someone you love is lying next to you, dead, you can't help but cry.
And that's what Olivia did. She hysterically cried. Her emotions were out of control. The sight was so shocking and she couldn't handle it. She would never be able to get that picture out of her head.
Olivia wanted to call someone. The police needed to know. But she knew that Special Victims Unit would also come to the scene of the crime and then they'd know everything. She didn't know what she was scared of. Why did it matter if her workers knew she was dating a man. All that mattered was if Cassidy found out.
But what if they thought she was the murderer? That's ridiculous, Olivia thought. How could her own workers, who know her so much think that she killed Jake. But deep down Olivia wasn't so sure.
She tried to stop crying and pull herself together but she was so lost and scared. She couldn't get up from where she sat. She cried for a good ten minutes. Constantly she tried to wipe her tears but they kept coming.
Special Victims Unit
7:02 am
Stabler sat at his desk doing paperwork. Paperwork at seven n the morning wasn't his choice of how to start the day off but somebody had to do it. He looked across from his desk, although he knew what he'd see.
Olivia wasn't there yet. Her desk was just the way she left it yesterday. She was normally always in here earlier than he was. He forced himself not to worry about it. She was probably just running a bit late. She'll be here soon.
Stabler looked back to the paperwork, trying to get his mind off her for once. She was his best friend and partner for about six years now. Wasn't it his place to worry about her? Not being able to sit still, Stabler got up and walked over to the coffee machine and made himself a drink. He needed coffee.
Just as Stabler was drinking his first sip of coffee, Cragen quickly walked over to him looking concerned.
"What is it?" asked Stabler.
"There's been a murder," said Cragen.
Stabler put his coffee down. Cragen never got worked up this much about a murder. He looked worried.
"A body was found at Olivia's house."
Olivia's Apartment
7:16 am
Stabler rushed into the apartment building, after parking his car. He didn't job but run up the stairs and to Olivia's apartment. The door was already open and it was clear the police were already there. Stabler ran in.
A police man approached him quizzically and Stabler showed him his badge.
"I'm Detective Stabler," he said. "What happened?"
"We got a call not too long ago," said the officer. "A man's body was found in the bedroom of Ms. Benson. There was multiple stab wounded to the back, not much more I can tell you. Forensics is already checking the body."
"Do you happen to know where Ms. Benson is?" asked Stabler.
"She's been arrested," said the officer.
"Why?" asked Stabler.
"Well because she was at the scene of the crime with the man's blood all over her."
"Well if she committed the crime why would she call 911 afterwards?"
"She didn't call 911."
"Then who did?"
"We don't know. A man called from a phone booth at six thirty, maybe even a couple minuets before that. He said he witnessed a murder."
Stabler didn't believe it. Olivia Benson killed a man. It couldn't be true. He knew Olivia. She'd never do something like that unless it was defense. Was it defense?
"Was the man raping her?" asked Stabler as he began to walk to the bedroom.
"I'm not sure you'll have to ask forensics," answered the officer.
Stabler entered the bedroom. There was several investigators searching around the room. There on the bed was a naked man, on his stomach. Several deep wounds were on his blood covered back. Stabler couldn't picture. He couldn't picture Olivia stabbing this man in the back, it just didn't seem reasonable.
M.E. Warner was examining the body. Stabler approached her.
"What's the story?" he asked her. Greetings weren't necessary, this was important.
Warner turned around to see Stabler.
"Well I don't know much," said Warner. There are exactly six wounds in his back. I can't tell you exactly when the man was stabbed but I can figure that out. The stab wounds are in the shape of an "O"
"O for Olivia," mumbled Stabler.
"I'm trying not to believe that," said Warner.
"Do you think she did it?" asked Stabler.
"I hoping she didn't," said Warner.
"Well was this man of ours raping Olivia?" asked Stabler.
"According to her he wasn't and I could of told you that by his position. He was sleeping when he was stabbed."
"Well then what was this man doing in her bed?"
"They were sleeping together."
"That can't be possible. She would tell me if she was dating a man."
"Well it was from her mouth."
Stabler paced the room. This was too overwhelming.
"Have you found the murder weapon?" asked Stabler.
"Not yet," Warner answered.
"Actually we have," said a voice. Another forensics officer walked up with a blood covered blade in his hand. He handed to Warner and she examined it. "This is definitely what Oliv–" She caught herself from saying Olivia's name.
Stabler shot her a glare.
"The murder used this weapon to kill Jake."
"Jake?" asked Stabler. "That's his name?"
"According to Olivia," said Warner.
"Why is it always 'according to Olivia', or 'Olivia that's what Olivia said?" Stabler burst out. "Do you not believe what she's saying, Melinda? Do you actually think that Olivia Benson, one of your close friends, killed this man? You know and I know, and we all know that Olivia Benson would never kill a man unless it was self defense!"
"Mr. Stabler," said Warner. "Don't tell me what I should believe. Yes Olivia Benson is my friend but when you have a crime scene where all the fingers are pointing to her, what else am I suppose to believe. I want her innocent just as much as you."
"She is innocent," said Stabler and he walked out.
Interrogation Room 3 of Special Victims Unit
8:32 am
Stabler looked at her through the glass. She sat at the table with her head in her hands. He couldn't tell if she was crying. For some reason he stopped himself from going in although he did get the permission to. All he could do was stand there at look.
"Haven't gone in yet I see."
Stabler turned around to see Cragen with his hands in his pockets.
"She didn't kill that man," said Stabler.
"I know but that isn't for me to decide," said Cragen.
"I know she didn't do that. Olivia Benson would never do that."
"Then go in there and talk to her. I'm sure she's waiting for a friendly face."
Stabler glanced at Cragen and then turned to the door. He approached it and put his hand on the knob. For a couple of seconds he stopped, staring at the knob. He was afraid. Afraid to find out that Olivia might have actually done it. But then he knocked that thought out of his mind and continued to believe the words "She's innocent". He turned to knob and pushed the door open.
Olivia's head lifted up and she saw her partner, her closest friend, entering the room. He shut the door behind him and then he just stood, unsure of what to say. Olivia didn't know what to say either, so she did what she thought she should do. She got up out of the chair and walked over to Stabler. When she reached him she hugged him so tightly. Stabler was a bit shocked by the action but he accepted it and wrapped his arms around her.
"I didn't do it Elliot," said Olivia.
"I know," Stabler said.
"When I was taken in here, they all gave me weird looks. Everyone just stared at me and didn't say a word."
"Don't worry about it Liv."
She let go of him.
"Please tell me you believe me," said. Olivia.
"Of course I do," said Stabler. "I trust you."
She smiled and then went back to sit down. "I'd never kill him. I have no reason to."
"Don't worry, if your innocent, you'll be proven innocent."
"Elliot, you and I both know that isn't true," said Olivia. She walked over to the window and stared out of it. "I woke up and found his eyes just staring at me."
"Liv," said Stabler. At the moment, he didn't care who the man was in her bed or whether they had a relationship. He didn't want to hear about him because he was indeed jealous. "You don't have to tell me about it."
"His eyes were just so, blank, and lifeless and I knew he was dead. I couldn't believe it. I jumped out of bed and found that his side was covered in blood and that I had some blood on myself. I couldn't believe he was dead. Who would want to kill him? He was a nice guy. I was scared to call the cops because I didn't know what Special Victims Unit would think. And then after five minuets there was a banging on my door and it was the police. I rushed to wipe off the blood and then I grabbed some clothes and brought them in. It only took two seconds of seeing the body before they arrested me."
Stabler didn't say anything. He wasn't sure what exactly to say. She should of called the police in the first place.
Olivia turned around. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," said Elliot. "You'll be proven innocent and I'm going to help."
Olivia gave him a weak smile. "Thanks."
"I'm going to fix this," said Stabler. "I promise." He left the room.
Stabler walked to his desk and sat himself at his seat. He rested his hands in his head. He already believed she didn't do it but everything was pointing to her. Elliot rubbed his eyes and got another coffee. He brought it back to his desk and sipped it slowly. What could he do to help Olivia?
Then it hit him. The anonymous call was a bit suspicious. He had to find out who made that call. The officer said he called at about six twenty. Stabler put his coffee down. He got up and walked down the hall to a room.
Special Victims Unit had a man by the name of Mr. Greenfield. He worked and helped the unit track down where phone calls came from and such. When Stabler walked in Mr. Greenfield was sitting at his desk, and seemed to be doing nothing.
"Hi Mr. Stabler," he greeted. "How may I help you?"
"Did the police happen to send you the location of the call from that phone booth?" asked Stabler. "The man called saying he witnessed a murder. The call was at about 6:20."
"Actually I think they did," said Mr. Greenfield. The short man walked over to his computer and began quickly typing things and clicking things with the mouse. Stabler hated computers and never really understood them. After a short minute, Mr. Greenfield turned back to Stabler. "The call was just a few blocks away from Ms. Benson's apartment. The person called at 6:20. The booth is right on the corner of Ms. Benson's street."
Jefferson Road
8:59 am
Stabler parked his car on the side of the street. He saw the phone booth right on the corner and he could also see Olivia's apartment from where he was. He stepped out of his car and locked the door. He approached the phone booth.
From standing at the phone booth he looked around to see if he could see any stores. Quite possibly there might be a store with a camera. Fortunately there was a jewelry store right across from the phone booth. There had to be a security camera somewhere in that store.
Stabler crossed the street, and entered the jewelry store. A man with a large, dark moustache quickly noticed him and began to walk over. The store was completely empty.
"How may I help you?" asked the man.
Stabler showed the man his badge as he looked around the store for a security camera. "I'm Detective Stabler, Special Victims Unit," Elliot said introducing himself.
"Well then how may I help you Mr. Detective?" asked the man. It wasn't long until Stabler caught sight of a video camera. It was hung in the corner of the small store, on the left side and by the angle of it, it probably caught a glimpse of the phone booth.
Stabler turned to the store clerk. "How long does that camera record?"
"May I ask why?" asked the man.
"Just answer my question," demanded Stabler.
"It records all day and night," answered the man.
"Was it recording this morning at six twenty?"
"Most likely yes."
"I need to see the tape."
Special Victims Unit
9:43 am
A man by the name of Mr. Le was the first person who looked over the tape. He quickly found that, because of the distance of the phone booth, he'd have to zoom closer on the film. After about fifteen minuets of making the image clear he brought Stabler back into his office with disappointing and shocking news.
Stabler crouched over the screen and watched the video as Mr. Le played it.
At six eighteen two men approached the phone booth. One was a man with a shaved head. He wore dark glasses and a suit. He carried a briefcase in his left hand. The other man Stabler couldn't believe he saw.
Brian Cassidy was the second man approaching the phone booth. He cautiously was looking around the street. The two met at the phone booth and were talking. By the hand movements, it was clear that both men were trying to let the other go into the phone booth first. In the middle of the conversation, the tape stopped.
"What the hell happened?" asked Stabler.
"The tape ended," said Mr. Le. "It ran out of room to record."
Stabler was dumbstruck.
"Damn it," he muttered. "Try and get a positive ID for that man with the sun glasses."
He walked out to find Cassidy. After only about ten steps, Captain Donald Cragen stepped in front of him.
"What are you doing Elliot?" asked Cragen.
"Trying to prove Olivia is innocent," answered Stabler simply.
"Come to my office," said Cragen.
"Sorry Cap," said Stabler. "I have things to do."
"Elliot," began Cragen, "get into my office now. That's an order."
Stabler walked to Cragen's office, with Cragen following him. The two entered the room and Cragen shut the door behind them.
"What is it?" asked Stabler.
"Elliot," said Cragen. "We have other detectives on Olivia's case already. You're taking this case emotionally and unprofessionally. Olivia might be your partner and friend and I know you want her innocent but I don't want you on this case."
Stabler approached Cragen and looked him straight in the eyes. "Captain, let me ask you this," began Stabler. "If you're best friend were in trouble, what would you do?"
Cragen didn't answer. Stabler backed away from him and stood for a couple of seconds and then walked out. Stabler walked up to Munch who was sitting at his desk.
"Where's Cassidy?" he asked.
Munch looked up. "He called in sick but to tell you the truth I think he's faking it."
"Where does he live?" demanded Stabler.
"Thirteen Washington Street," answered Munch. "In apartment 3C."
Stabler grabbed his keys just as Munch got up. "Is something wrong?"
"No," answered Stabler. "Not at all."