Pure and Simple
Chapter Five
Pier 6
The Yucca
7:30 PM
"By God Serena can't you do anything right?" Niklos yelled at his younger sister as he took the pan of burning food off of the stove and threw it into the sink.
Serena held her hands up and plopped down in a chair.
"Sorry," she grumbled. "I was just trying to help."
"That's why you should have never left Greece," he chided her. "You want to be just like these useless American women now. You dress like a prostitute, and you don't even care about your education."
Serena only rolled her eyes and went to cuddle Peter when he whined for attention.
Niklos went out to the upper deck to get some fresh air after opening the port holes. The night was clear, but cool, and he knew that he should at least have a light sweater, but he was too upset at Serena to care about the cold. Mindy had gotten herself into a mess of trouble, and as much as he loved his sister, he resented her for being so foolish and then asking him for a handout.
Deciding that a smoke would calm him down, Nkilos stepped out onto the pier and began walking down to the edge. He lit up and inhaled deeply before blowing it out slowly as he walked. He wasn't aware of the heavy footsteps following behind him.
Dmitri Grotevsky balled his fists tightly as he approached his next victim. He looked briefly. The Yucca. He felt his pulse racing as the tension in his body built up, and he felt his finger nails digging into the skin of his calloused hands.
Niklos stopped at the other exit out of the pier and took another long drag from his cigarette. Dmitri seized the moment and attacked Niklos before Niklos could even realize what was coming. Dmitri continued to punch Niklos until he became almost completely limp in his arms.
He dragged him back to the boat. When he went below deck, Serena screamed.
8:05 PM
Mindy bundled against the chilly ocean air that blew in as she walked down the pier to her brother's boat. She huffed a breath when she saw that her brother hadn't turned on the lights to his boat. She flipped the switch once inside the quarters, and she gasped at the sight she saw.
"Niklos?" She screamed. "Oh God in Heaven! Niklos!"
Her brother was lying in a pool of blood, and Mindy knew that he was dead.
"Oh, Niko," Mindy cried as she sat next to him and called the paramedics. "I'm sorry I let them get to you."
Mindy prayed that somebody would pick up.
"Yes," she said, looking around. "I have an emergency…I can't tell you all that. Just come to pier six, The Yucca. A man is dead. Please, hurry."
She hung up the phone and began to gather her things. She quickly gathered her child's things and her sister's things. She made sure that she wasn't leaving any kind of ID behind for the police to find. She knew who was behind this, and she knew that if she told anyone else, that the rest of her family would be dead by morning.
When she heard the sirens, she kissed her brother's palm, gathered up the bags, and left the boat. She knew that there was another exit at the end of the pier and she quickly headed down that way before the paramedics had a chance to spot her.
8:45 PM
Elliot and Olivia drove up to the pier.
"I hate the docks at night," Olivia sighed and Elliot looked at her.
"Why?" He asked.
"Because it reminds me of a really bad date I had when I was eighteen," she answered in a tone that signaled she didn't want to go into further detail.
They stepped out of their squad car and immediately they were greeted by M.E. Warner. She had a grim and exhausted look on her face as she approached them.
"What'd you call us for?" Elliot asked. "I thought this was just a smash 'n grab gone wrong?"
"I though so too until I noticed a pattern," she sighed as she turned and walked back to the small boat. "The victim has similar patterns of bruising and blows to the head like Sherona Anderson and Greg Thomas."
"So, you're saying that it's the same guy?" Olivia asked. "For sure?"
"Yes," Dr. Warner confirmed. "I think he's escalating too."
They walked onto the boat and headed below decks. The small living space was cluttered, smoky, and it smelled like burnt food. There was a pan on the stove, and in general it looked like something the victim had been doing was interrupted with deadly consequence.
"Did you find any ID?" Olivia asked.
"I found a renewed permit in his pocket," the doctor explained. "The victim's name was Niklos Varlos. He just got a permit for sailing tours to the Statue of Liberty."
The detectives furrowed their eyebrows.
"Varlos?" Elliot pondered.
"Mindy Varlos," Olivia broke in. "What, is he the husband?"
"The guy who killed Sherona and Greg Thomas must've been trying to get to Mindy," Elliot surmised. "And I'm guessing Niklos probably wouldn't give her up."
CSU was searching high and low for anything that might give them something to go on.
"Again, there's no stab wounds, gunshot wounds, or evidence of drugging," Warner explained. "Niklos was killed with bare hands and feet. The depressions in his head indicate that he was stomped on several times. He most likely died within minutes of the first blow."
"What the hell is wrong with this guy?" Olivia asked.
"Well, if he got to Niklos, he's definitely going to get to Mindy in no time," Elliot said.
"Detectives!" A CSU tech yelled from the small bedroom flanking the living area.
Elliot and Olivia went into the room.
The tech held up a picture of a baby and a pacifier he'd found under the cot.
Elliot snapped on a pair of gloves and took the picture.
"There was a baby here?" Olivia asked.
"Let's not jump to conclusions," Elliot said. "This stuff could've been down here for months."
"I'd check the back of the picture," the tech said before leaving the room.
Elliot turned it over and Olivia looked over his shoulder.
"Look at the date," she observed. "The picture was taken two weeks ago. There was definitely a baby here and now that son of a bitch has him."
"Bright Expressions," Elliot read the company label.
1-6 Precinct
SVU Squad Room
9:40 PM
The detectives were dead on their feet as they walked into the squad room.
"You two look like something out of a Wes Craven film," Munch remarked as he prepared his things to get ready to go home.
"John, you're lucky that I'm too tired," Olivia said grumpily. "Or else I would kick your sorry, wide awake ass."
"Ooh, I'm scared," he teased as he walked out.
Olivia plopped into her chair at her desk and sighed.
Elliot went over to fix a cup of coffee.
"Okay, what do we know?" Olivia asked.
"So far, nothing that can't wait until tomorrow morning," Cragen answered. "Go home."
With that, he walked back into his office.
Elliot sipped at his coffee and gathered up his things.
"I'll drive you home," Elliot offered.
Olivia just nodded tiredly and pulled on her coat.
The night was calm and chilly, and all Olivia wanted to do was bundle up, crawl into bed and just sleep her life away. Unfortunately, she could only sleep for about seven or so hours and that was good enough for her, even though she was beyond exhausted.
"Elliot," she began as they walked out to the car. "About earlier today…"
"Liv, I'm sorry," Elliot interrupted. "I don't know what came over me. I guess-"
"I liked it," she blurted out before she could stop herself and he looked at her with surprise. "And it's scaring me."
Elliot was speechless.
"Yeah," he sighed. "It's scaring me too."
Olivia nodded as they got into the car.
Olivia Benson's Apartment
10:00 PM
There wasn't a time that Olivia could recall being nervous around her partner.
This was the first time that she'd ever felt herself being unraveled in front of Elliot. They stood close, almost nose to nose, looking into each other's eyes, silently asking for permission; waiting for one of them to give out and let go. Of course, both of them being strong willed people, it turned into a staring match, both of them silently hoping that something would give.
Finally, both conceded, and they inched forward ever so slowly.
When their lips met, the same tingling sensation from earlier in the day was again elicited and Olivia felt her entire body turn to jell-o as Elliot cupped her face gently in his hands. The kiss was soft, intimate, and undemanding, and soon, it turned into short, gentle samplings, their lips meeting again and again and again.
They both pulled away, and Olivia grinned slightly. Elliot smoothed over her hair and pushed it behind her ear as he looked into her eyes.
"Good night," she whispered as she opened up her apartment and slinked inside. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night Liv," he said before walking down the hallway.
Olivia closed the door and leaned up against it, her legs slowly giving out under her as she slid to the floor. Her heart was pounding in her chest and she was in desperate need of a drink. Had her partner just kiss her again? The moment had finally happened and she never imagined that it would be so…perfect. Again.
Olivia sat on the floor, confused and shaking her head.
Elliot Stabler's Home
Queens
10:40 PM
When Elliot pulled up to the house, he noticed that there was another car parked out front. When he looked closer, he realized that it was Maureen's car, and it was then that he realized all that had transpired over the last forty minutes.
God help me, he thought to himself. I kissed my partner of seven years again. Either I'm the most impulsive, irrational jackass on the planet, or I'm following my heart. And while I was making sure to completely floor Olivia, I forgot about my children. That's probably why Maureen is here. Jeez, what's wrong with me?
He cut off the engine to the car and got out quickly. He ran up the steps to the front door and opened it. He saw Maureen and Chris cuddled up together under a blanket watching a movie. He slipped back into cop mode, ready to jump on the young man for even being that close to his daughter, under the blanket where he couldn't see their hands, on his couch in the dark.
Elliot felt his chest tightening and he loosened his tie as he flipped the switch to the living room. Maureen and Chris jumped and turned.
"Oh, hey dad," she said in surprise. "You scared us."
"Hi," he said, looking at Chris. "What are you doing here? And why are you that close to my daughter?"
"Dad," Maureen said in a scolding tone.
Chris scooted away from Maureen and smiled nervously.
"Hi Mr, Stabler," he said quietly.
"Anyway," Elliot began, shaking his head. "I'm sorry sweetheart. Thanks for looking out."
"It's okay," Maureen said, turning off the movie. "Dad, I know you're stressed and I know you work hard. Just give us a heads up every once in a while okay?"
Elliot smiled.
"Okay," he sighed, turning to Chris. "And you," he began, feeling his chest tightening again. "Just, keep it in your pants."
"Dad!" Maureen shrieked.
Elliot gave her a pensive look before he headed upstairs to check on the rest of his brood. He peeked in on Kathleen, who was still up studying. She sighed and continued to study, ignoring him.
Elliot came in slowly, sitting in the chair at her cluttered desk.
"If you don't want us anymore, you could just say so and get us over with," Kathleen huffed, making Elliot tense with anger at her tone.
"Hey, watch it," he warned.
Kathleen only rolled her eyes and closed her book and put it on the floor. She climbed into bed and turned away from her father.
"I'm going back to grandma's tomorrow," she said, burrowing her face in her pillow. "At least I know I'm thought of over there."
Elliot sighed and went over to his angry teen. He smoothed down her hair as she began to cry. She turned over and hugged her father tightly, sobbing into his shoulder.
"Daddy," she cried. "I'm sorry I said that. I'm just mad because I miss you being around all the time. When you work too much I feel like you don't care about us. I want you and mom back together. I want things to be normal again."
"I know baby," he whispered. "I'm sorry for not being home as often as I should. I want things to be normal too, but Kathleen, things don't always work out quite the way we want them to and we have to accept it."
"I have to accept being a statistic?" She asked, pulling away. "I have to accept that my parents are getting a stupid divorce?"
"As bad as that sounds," Elliot sighed. "Yes, you do. Then, you have to move past it and adjust. I know you can do that. I promise you, things will get better. I love you."
"Love you too dad," Kathleen sighed, wiping her tears. "Good night."
"Good night," he said before going to check up on the twins.
Lizzie and Dickie were snoring, unaware of their father's presence in either of their rooms.
After he checked up on his kids, Elliot headed back downstairs and he felt his chest tightening again and a vein popping when he saw Maureen engaged in a passionate liplock with an already-in-deep-water-and-skating-on-very-thin-ice Chris. Elliot curled his hands into tight fists at the entrance to the living room.
"What the hell are you doing?" He asked, the couple breaking away at the sound of his voice. "None of that in my house."
"Dad!"
Sherona Anderson's Apartment
South Side
1:40 AM
Helen awoke with a start as she heard shuffling in the front of her apartment. Objects were being thrown to the floor and furniture was being pushed aside in the darkness of the apartment. She thought at first that she was dreaming, but when her door opened slowly, she felt the fear and her heart began to pound harder and harder.
Two towering, dark figured stood in the doorway. Helen reached over to the phone, but she felt her hand being grabbed and she was pushed onto her back, being subdued by the intruder. She felt a sharp sting across her face as the intruder slapped her hard.
Her heart was beating all kinds of strange beats, and she felt her entire body beginning to go numb.
India heard the commotion way before her grandmother did, and she knew exactly what to do. It was what her mother taught her to do one weekend.
As India hid in her safe place, she heard the men turning her bedroom inside out looking for her. Every breath she took sounded loud and disruptive, despite her being quiet as a mouse. The only light in the small space was the dim glow of her grandmother's cell phone. She looked at the card stuck to it and dialed the number quietly while the noise was still disruptive.
Olivia Benson's Apartment
1:50 AM
Olivia turned over in bed as she heard the jingle on her cell phone. It had stopped ringing as soon as she was aware that it had rung in the first place. She groaned and wiped her eyes as she reached over for it. Her pager beeped and vibrated itself onto the floor and she sucked her teeth in agitation.
Then her cell phone rang again as soon as her pager finished its dramatics.
"Alright," she huffed tiredly. "If this is you Stabler, I'll make it worth my while to drive to Queens for once. Olivia Benson."
All she heard on the other end was fearful breathing, and commotion.
"Hello?" Olivia tried again. "If this is some kind of weird crank call-"
"Olivia?" A small voice asked quietly.
"Yes, this is she, may I ask who's calling?" Olivia inquired.
"Olivia?" The small voice asked again.
"India?" Olivia asked. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?"
"There's somebody in our house," the little girl whispered. "They're saying bad things. They're hurting grandma."
Olivia could hear the commotion and the voices in the background and she immediately got up and put on her shoes and grabbed her jacket. India started crying.
"I'm on my way baby," Olivia reassured the little girl. "But you have to listen to me okay? I have to hang up and call my friends to come help me okay?"
"No," she cried.
"Sweet pea, I promise I will call you right back okay?" Olivia said as she ran down the stairs and out the door to her car. "We'll hang up on the count of three okay?"
"Okay," India said quietly.
"Okay," Olivia sighed as she sped down the street. "One, two, three. Hang up."
When she heard the line go dead, she called another precinct.
"Detective Olivia Benson from the 1-6 special victims unit to the 1-5 we have a home invasion on the south side at the 18347 apartments, third floor, apartment 238. There's a little girl inside, I'm keeping contact with her, I need unis over there now."
"1-5 copy that," the dispatcher announced.
Olivia hung up and dialed India again.
Sherona Anderson's Apartment
South Side
2:00 AM
Quentin Iberson kicked various objects around in the old woman's room out of frustration. Dmitri was tearing the rest of the apartment apart as he stood in front of the ailing woman. Helen wasn't aware of it, but she was suffering from a heart attack and if help didn't arrive soon, she would surely die.
She took in the man. She had seen him before and she had like him before because he made her daughter happy. Quentin had been over for dinner, had taken good care of Sherona until he found out that she was pregnant with his child.
He was yet young; twenty seven yeas old and he had dark, exotic skin, chiseled features, and well muscled. He had on a custom made sweat suit on with a black beanie. His dark eyes bore through Helen as he hounded her constantly about her missing granddaughter.
"I already told you," she began breathlessly. "I don't know what happened to India. She's supposed to be in bed."
"You better not be screwing around with me old woman," Quentin warned. "I want my daughter now."
"Why, you didn't want her five years ago when Sherona first had her," Helen spat. "You don't really want her. You're going to treat her like property, just like you did Sherona."
"Shut up!" Quentin yelled again.
All of a sudden, in the quiet, he heard a cell phone jingling ever so quietly.
Helen feared the absolute worst then.
Quentin went into India's room.
Olivia Benson's Car
2:15 AM
"Please India, pick up baby," Olivia chimed.
"Olivia?"
She smiled in relief.
"Good job sweetheart," Olivia praised. "You being so brave right now. I'm almost to you, okay? Just stay calm for me."
"Okay," the little girl whispered.
It began to rain again as Olivia continued to make her way over to India.
"Can you tell what's going on right now?" She asked asshe sped through a red light.
"I can hear a man's voice," India whispered. "But he's quiet now. Grandma's crying for me."
"Do you know them?" Olivia drilled. "Does your grandma know them?"
"I don't-"
Olivia jumped at the shrill scream that filtered through her cell phone and she let a small sound of her own escape.
"India?" Olivia said into the phone. "Sweet pea? C'mon India talk to me please."
Olivia felt her heart palpitating as she heard India scream again and a man's voice shouting at her to be quiet. Then the phone went dead.
"Oh God, no," Olivia panted in fear. She threw her phone onto the passenger seat and floored the accelerator.