Title: Too Little. Too Late.

Author: Ebony-Jayne

Notes: As the squad keeps digging they follow a lead that may just be the case breaker…Sorry I took so long to update. It's a busy time of the year for me. I'll try to get this story finished in the next couple of weeks.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or the show or the storylines on the show. I do, however, own the characters that I make up so please don't steal them. Any resemblance to anyone or anyplace is a coincidence.

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Chapter Five: Onto Something

"Catriona Ellington?" Olivia asked as she entered the interrogation room.

"Yes ma'am," the girl affirmed. Her mother watched Olivia suspiciously.

"Mrs. Ellington would you like to stay with your daughter while we question her?" Olivia asked.

"I'll stay with her," she answered coldly.

"Ok, Catriona you are a friend of Alleigh Holloway's yes?" Olivia asked.

"Yeah. I was a friend of Alleigh's," Catriona replied.

"Did you know she was a cutter?" Olivia asked.

"Yeah. We all did. Y'know I tried to tell Madeline that it wasn't just a phase. She wouldn't listen to me," Catriona told Olivia.

"Yeah. She didn't like hearing otherwise from me either," Olivia told her.

"They were the classic refrigerator parents. That poor kid was so starved of attention. I have six kids but I still have plenty of attention left. Gavin and Madeline only had Alleigh and couldn't spare any attention for her," Mrs. Ellington told Olivia. "Gavin was a little better than Madeline but still not flash. I tried hard to get Alleigh to open up to me but she was just so closed off. I thought I was finally getting through to her and then this."

"Mrs. Ellington were you close with Alleigh's parents?" Olivia asked.

"Not close but we were friends," She replied. "I guess you can call me Janine Detective-?" she searched for a name.

"Just Olivia will do. I think I'll have a chat with you on your own after I've finished talking to Catriona," Olivia told her.

"Right. I'll be quiet for now," Janine smiled a little.

"Catriona, did Alleigh ask you anything weird I the last few days or weeks before she died?" Olivia asked.

"Yes. She asked me to help her kill herself," Catriona told her.

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Behind the mirrors Elliot and Casey flinched.

"God she must have been so desperate," Casey's voice shook and Elliot gave her shoulder a squeeze.

"Yeah I know," he said softly, patting her gently on the back.

They watched as the interview continued.

"She wanted me to smother her with a pillow and then hang her so it looked like a suicide," Catriona's voice shook as she told Olivia this and Janine rubbed her daughters back gently. "I let myself get talked into a lot of things but killing my best friend wasn't one of them," she said softly. "I think Bridgette told you that she changed? She did. Drastically. After I said no she sulked even more for a couple of days and then all of a sudden she changed. I think that was when she found someone to help her," Catriona told her. "That's all I know. I swear to you," Catriona said grabbing Olivia's hand.

"Thank you for talking to me," Olivia told the girl, squeezing her hand.

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"Mom give you anything?" Elliot asked later after Olivia had finished talking to Janine.

"Not really. Mostly just background on the parents. Not pretty at any rate. They pretty much left Alleigh to fend for her self most of the time," Olivia told him. She ran a hand through her short hair and sighed. "She wasn't happy Elliot. That much is glaringly obvious."

"Detective Benson!" a woman called out across the squad room.

"Yeah?" Olivia called back.

"This just arrived for you," the woman was now beside Olivia and she handed her a piece of paper. There wasn't anything much written on the paper. Just a few words: 16th Precinct parking lot. 10.30pm – Cat.

"Cat?" Elliot asked.

"Catriona. I knew there was something more! I could see it in her eyes!" Olivia said triumphantly.

"Are you going to go?" Elliot asked.

"Yeah. And I'm going alone," she said to her partner.

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At 10.30 that night Olivia pulled her coat tighter around her body. It was really cold out. She heard a rustling behind her and turned to find Catriona standing behind her.

"Catriona. How about we go somewhere warmer?" Olivia asked.

"H…Hell yeah," Catriona shivered.

"I know a place that does really good hot chocolates at this time of the night," Olivia suggested.

"Sounds good," Catriona smiled a little.

Ten minutes later they were sipping hot chocolate in a little coffee shop. They had chosen a booth down the back so they would be virtually undisturbed.

"Do you have something you want to tell me Catriona?" Olivia asked gently.

"Yeah. I wanted to tell you at the interview but my Mom wouldn't leave us alone. Y'know how she said she couldn't break through to Alleigh?" Catriona asked.

"Yes," Olivia replied.

"I think she did. And I think she…she…she," tears started pouring down Catriona's cheeks. Olivia reached over and grabbed her hand. It seemed to help. "Olivia I think that my Mom was the one who helped Alleigh kill herself!"

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