Pure and Simple
Chapter Eight
1-6 Precinct
SVU Squad Room
10:30 AM
"Everyone, I want you to meet Detectives Chris Johnson and Turner Buckley, from Narcotics," Cragen introduced.
Elliot had a look of frustration as Chris avoided eye contact with him. Olivia elbowed him and the tension didn't go unnoticed by Cragen.
"Is there something I should know about detectives?" He asked.
"No, sir," Elliot said as he shook the other detectives hand. "Elliot Stabler."
"How ya doing," Buckley greeted him before turning to Olivia. He was instantly attracted to the woman, and he wasn't that good with hiding his feelings. "Hi."
"Hi, Detective Olivia Benson," she said, shaking his hand firmly.
"Yeah, I've heard a lot about you," he chuckled. "Tough lady."
"Uh, thanks," Olivia said, turning to Chris. "Hey."
"Hello Ms. Benson," Chris waved nervously.
"Anyway," Cragen continued, confused at how subtle everyone was being. "You'll be working together to bring this Quentin Iberson down. Let's get down to business shall we?"
"Uh, yeah," Chris began, opening up a file. "Quentin Iberson. Apparently, Narc's been after this guy for about five years or so. Buckley and I heard about the little girl and they tossed it to us to handle. This guy has his hand in everything from drugs to underground gambling."
"And now he's got his hands on a Russian assassin out to do his dirty work," Elliot said.
11:45 PM
The detectives sat in one of the conference rooms with a pile of files and Mindy. She had gotten a little rest and she was prepared to divulge everything about her former boyfriend.
"Okay Mindy, go ahead," Cragen said.
Mindy sighed and looked at Olivia, who nodded at her, indicating that she would be alright.
"Quentin has many interests," she began. "Business, gambling, sports, cars. Everything. He can have anything he wants with the right amount of money. When I met him, I didn't know how much of a monster he was until I was trapped with no money, no skills, and no job. He promised me that he'd put me in school, but it never came to pass for me."
"He forced me to work in his clubs as a stripper and a prostitute," she lowered her head and began to cry. "He made me take drugs so I can work long hours for his benefit. He treated me like I was nothing and I tried to get out, but he abused me and said he would kill me if I ever left. One night he was drunk and high and he raped me. I ran away from him when I found out I was pregnant with Peter," she wiped her tears. "I knew I had to get out for my baby's sake. Quentin hasn't bothered me until now."
"Tell us about the drugs Mindy," Chris asked.
"Ah, the drugs," she sniffled. "Well, he hands out the cocaine at his clubs mostly. But he deals with all the major drugs out of his home in some city. Uh, Sara-Sara or Tome, or Toga something."
"Saratoga?" Olivia asked. "He has a home in Saratoga?"
"Yes," Mindy said. "The only way I can ever have hope of getting my Peter back and the little girl is if I go back to him. I'm prepared to do that, even if it costs me my life. I'm sick of running, and I just want to live my life."
"Mindy, you don't have to do this," Cragen said. "Just your account alone can-"
"No, you don't understand," Mindy said firmly. "I have to because I'm his favorite. Despite me running away, he trusts me. He loves me above any other girl. If you all go after him, he'll just run and he can make himself almost like he does not live at all. If that happens, there will be no way of getting the children back."
The sun shone brightly in the room, and dust hovered in the air and collected on the cherry wood business table and on the fake, tacky ficus nestled in the corner of the room.
"What does India Anderson have to do with all this?" Elliot asked.
"Quentin has many children," Mindy said. "He has about three more children all by different mothers. He supports them with his money. Some more than others."
"What about this Dmitri Grotevsky?" Cragen asked.
"I know nothing beyond what he's done to try and get to me," Mindy said. "I have to go back to Quentin."