Title: Just Another Gamble
Author: Sara and Lizzie
Rating: T
Disclaimer: We don't own Law And Order: Special Victims Unit. If we did, our favorite detectives would be together. We don't own anything that we mention in the story that is owned by anyone else.
Author's Note: It's been awhile. We're sorry, we've been busy. We hope you still want to read this. And if you so still want to read this, please review. We're slaves to your opinions. Also, check out our other SVU story, "The Ties That Bind".
The 1-6, 4:00 pm
Blair Roberts stepped tentatively into the precinct. Two steps in the door, it became clear that her Coach sandals, Gucci mini skirt and popped collared Lacoste polo, and massive Chanel sunglasses didn't quite help her blend in here.
"Hi Blair." Olivia said, approaching her. Blair smiled. Olivia was totally still pretty. If Blair looked like thatwithout plastic surgery when she got older, she'd be a very happy girl.
"A girl named Jessica Coletti told us she noticed this boy following you."
"Sure, I know Jess." Blair said easily.
"We caught the guy. We wanted you to see him. Maybe you've noticed him around before? What we're going to do is take you to our interrogation room where Detective Stabler is holding him. You'll be able to see him through the glass, but he wont be able to see you."
Blair nodded. "Let's roll."
Together, she and Olivia walked to the interrogation room. Blair screwed up her face and looked through the glass. Olivia was taken aback when the victim started laughing.
"I know this boy." She said. "Is there anyway to talk?"
Olivia pressed the intercom button. Blair leaned in. "Pathetic, Adam. Pathetic."
His head snapped up. "Blair?"
Olivia opened the door, and gestured for Blair to go in.To Olivia and Elliot's surprise, the boy stood up and Blair hugged him.
"Adam Sharp." She said. "He wants to date me."
"Do not." The boy said flirtaitously.
Olivia caught Elliot's eye and smiled in spite of herself.
"So you followed me." Blair said, a coy smile on her face. "Not so stealth, considering we go to the same school."
Adam shrugged sheepishly. "I was worried."
"Also why you moved into the townhouse across the street, or was that more of an easy access move?" Blair asked with a grin and a raise of her perfectly groomed eyebrows.
"Wait." Elliot said. "Did you see when she came home the other night?"
Adam shook his head. "No. I was already gone by then. But I did see an older looking guy in a Columbia sweatshirt outside for awhile before I went out."
Columbia University, 5:21 pm
Fin strode into the Dean's office at Columbia like he owned the place. The receptionist raised her eyebrows. "Do you have an appointment?"
Behind Fin, Munch flashed his badge. "Sex crimes. We need to see the Dean."
She picked up the phone. "One second, detectives."
Office Of The Dean, Columbia University, 5:25 pm
Munch and Fin shook hands with the Dean. Fin signaled with a nod of his head to Munch that he would take this one. Fin better understand the merits of kissing ass.
"We appreciate you taking time to meet with us," Fin started. "We have a situation that may involve a Columbia profesor."
The Dean's face paled a bit. "My secretary said you were with sex crimes?"
"Special Victims." Fin concurred.
"Do I want to know?"
"Probably not, but I've got to tell you. A girl who was born because her mother was raped was raped last night. By a man we presume to be her father."
"But you don't think…."
There was silence. Munch stepped in. "If we could have a list of your teaching staff, and a little more extensive information on any science profs you have. We also need to know if anyone missed any classes recently."
The Dean hesitated. Munch smiled. "The more help we get from you, the harder we'll work to make sure the media doesn't find out about any of this."
The 1-6, 6:18 pm
At the sound of paper hitting the metal of her desk, Olivia looked up, with raised eyebrows. Elliot towered over her.
"They got the list of teachers." she remarked
"Fast."
"Ironically." Elliot raised his eyebrows, not wanting to delve into what that meant just now. Olivia sighed. "Let's go through it."
He sat down at his desk, and cut the files into what looked like half. He heard Olivia get up, and when she sat down there was a cup of coffee on his desk, as well as hers.
"Thanks." He said, meaning it.
"We could be here awhile." She said non commitally.
And right she was. Elliot looked at the clock two hours later, and still his search had turned up nothing. "I just went through half the faculty at Columbia that has any communication with the undergrads, and none of them have a record." He said.
Olivia leaned back in her chair. "Well, it would be hard to get hired at an Ivy League School if you had a record."
"You didn't find anything either."
"No, I didn't." she said. "But Elliot, I've got a feeling. He knows her. He tracked her down through her college, and he stalked and he raped her, and I think he's her father. College is the only thing that makes sense."
"Are you sure this isn't because your mom was that age when she got raped?"
Olivia's head shot up, and her eyes met his. "Elliot." She said sternly. "This has nothing to do with me."
He opened his mouth, considering snapping back at her, but the ringing of her cell phone inturrupted him.
"Benson." She said wearily throwing her name off her tongue. She nodded. "Set up around her?" she asked.
Elliot watched her carefully, as she frowned. "Any connection?"
Her frown deepened. "You're kidding. We're on our way."
Elliot looked at her questioningly. She picked up their coats and tossed him the keys. "Warner. They found a girl in a suite at Mercer hotel. Beat up. Running clothes set up all around her. Blair Roberts was at the same party."
Mercer Hotel, Midtown, 11: 34 pm
Melinda Warner watched the detective approach. She felt like rolling her eyes at their palpable chemistry. They bounced off of each other, and took in the scene together, almost like they knew the other one was catching all the details they didn't.
She almost smiled to herself. How amusing that everyone could see it but the two of them.
They walked to her, both with the same inquisitive expression. She spoke. "Victim's name, Amanda Kimmel, of Brown University. Parents live at 5th and 79th. She was a planner of the party that was to be thrown here tonight. They reserve the club, a couple of suites. The way those cops over there filled me was that she went to uh, prepare a suite for her and her boyfriend."
"Where's the boyfriend now?"
"Charity dinner with his parents at The Frick." A random passing cop called out. "We called him. He was coming late to the shindig."
Elliot nodded, absorbing it. Olivia looked around the room. "What's with the running gear?"
Warner shrugged. "I'm not a detective. But I'd say the scene is set like Blair Robert's room."
"Is that why they called us?"
"I did a preliminary check before they put her on the bus. She had some bruising around the breasts, but nothing that would indicate she'd been raped. They'll do the kit at the hospital, just to make sure."
She nodded at the pair, and made her exit. Olivia spun around slowly, taking in the room. "Elliot. She lives on 5th Avenue."
"So?"
"So these clothes are beat up and old. They're not hers."
"So someone brought them here to set the scene."
Olivia flagged down the same young detective that had told them where Amanda's boyfriend was. "Bag those." She said, pointing to the clothes.
"We need to talk to Blair."
In the lobby of The Mercer hotel, sat a stylish girl, who looked obviously distressed. She was surrounded by a few other well dressed boys and girls, who looked to be around her age. It was early, but the nightlife was just kicking off. People milled around the lobby, dressed to impress.
The elevator doors opened, and a tall man with striking blue eyes, wearing a long coat stepped out, followed by a slim, attractive woman in a brown leather jacket. Not too many inhabitors of the hotel noticed them. But trapped in the small elevator, they were painfully aware of each other.
He was thinking about everything that happened to him in the last twenty four hours. The fear he felt when he thought he might lose her. She was such a constant to him. Every day, every hour, every case, she was there. He was thinking about the guilt that he felt, because he didn't feel more for the loss of his wife. But mostly, he was thinking about the way his lips had felt when they touched hers.
Her thoughts were less structured, less rational. They were flying through her head, and terrifying her. She thought about the way her stomach jumped when she heard him say it. They were getting a divorce. She thought about how awful she felt for being happy about it. She thought about the way he had pressed his forehead to hers. She thought about all the unanswered questions, and the power she felt she had surrendered. But mostly, she thought about sliding her hands over his stomach, and kissing him again.
Blair Roberts, dressed impeccably in Chloe jeans and a vintage looking Dior camisole, surrounded by what looked to be her close knit group, saw them immediately. She stood and went towards them.
Detectives Benson and Stabler ushered her into an empty room.
"Is Amanda ok?" she asked frantically.
"She's at the hospital now." Elliot said.
Blair's eyes filled, but she defied the tears, refusing to shed them. Olivia reached out and touched her arm affectionately.
"How do you know Amanda?"
Blair smiled. "We went to high school together. She's up at Brown now, but she's home like, every weekend. Her boyfriend still lives in the city."
"Blair," Olivia said gently. "There were a bunch of old sneakers, and running clothes around the room where Amanda was attacked."
Blair dropped her head into her hands. "How does he know this?" she burst out angrily. "We run together!"