CHAPTER FIVE

"I can see her not copping to the theft, but why lie about the cigarettes and condoms? Are you sure they are hers?" Elliot took a bite out of his tuna melt.

"Well, then whose are they? Huh? Did the tooth fairy leave them?" Olivia picked at her salad.

Elliot ran his hand down his face, trying to wake up. He had gotten a frantic phone call from his youngest daughter last night. She tearfully recounted a horrible nightmare she had that concluded with him being killed. He sighed.

"Christ," he mumbled. It would be easier to handle if he were actually there.

"Yeah, Christ," Olivia mimicked, misunderstanding his plea. "Don't take up for her. It's aggravating."

Elliot blinked in confusion. "Oh yeah. No. I'm not taking up for her. You're right."

It finally dawned on her that her partner was rather preoccupied today. When had she gotten so self-centered?

"How are things with the kids?"

Elliot sighed again. "Lizzie is having nightmares about me dying…again."

"It's tough on a kid, with the news programs and such," Olivia said gently. "She's just worried about her dad."

Elliot shook his head in understanding. His cell rang, and he reached for it. "Stabler."

Fin's grave voice filled his ear. "Elliot…your aunt…he got Anna."

Stabler froze at the mention of the name. "Anna? What? My Aunt Anna?"

"Yes. It's bad Elliot…"

"What happened?" Elliot was finding it a bit hard to focus.

Fin filled him in quickly on the details. Olivia listened in shock to Elliot's side of the conversation. He quickly disconnected. "We gotta go."

Olivia hastily threw bills on the table. "The Duct Tape Killer? Your Aunt?"

"Yeah, yeah. It's bad."

"Where are they?"

"The subway entrance on 44th."

×××××××××

Fin's mind was numb as he listened to the M.E.'s description. He looked up to see Olivia and Elliot rushing up to him. Silently they stared, Elliot's face a mask of horror and disbelief.

"Are you okay?" Olivia asked.

Elliot shook his head. No. There was blood everywhere. Everywhere.

"You want to tell us what happened?" she coaxed Fin.

"Some homeless guy found her body near the construction, you know, where they're xpanding the tunnel," Fin began. "Same MO as the others, but he slashed her numerous places. We can't locate the weapon."

Olivia glanced at Elliot and gave him a reassuring squeeze. He shook off her arm and started pacing. "I need to call my mother."

Olivia shivered. At that moment, Warner and her assistants were guiding the stretcher up the subway steps. Olivia, Elliot and Fin watched, each trying to cope with their horror. The procession ended at the coroner's van as they deposited the body and roared off.

"Shit," Fin whispered, plaintively. "What did a defenseless old lady do wrong?"

Elliot felt a cold fury overtake his grief. He stared at the spot where the van once stood. The bastard.

"The bastard," Elliot said out loud. Olivia and Fin swiveled their heads toward him. Olivia didn't like what she saw. Elliot had that look. The look of revenge and destruction.

"El," Faith said, struggling to remain calm, "we're gonna get him. Believe that."

"Yes, we're gonna get him," Elliot replied, his voice dropping a few inches. "Or die trying."