CHAPTER NINE

Elliot walked into Shoney's bar, feeling every eye in the place trained on him. He shrugged and started searching faces until he spotted Perry. Perry's most distinguishing feature was his eyes. They were emerald green and shocking against his cocoa brown skin. Elliot walked up to the wiry old man with a smile.

"Hey, man, long time no see."

"Well, well, if it isn't Detective Stabler," He was smiling, but his sparkling eyes held a hint of sadness. "Man, I'm so sorry about Anna. What the hell."

"Yeah, it's been tough," Elliot agreed. "Listen, can I speak to you for a second?"

They moved over to a semi-private booth in the corner. "You want anything?" Perry asked.

"Naw, I'm on the job. Listen, I'm trying to nail down Anna's movements on the night she was murdered."

"Well, she was here," Perry offered, lighting up a cigarette.

"Really?" His aunt in a bar?

"Yeah, she came in, said hello. Didn't last long, you know she was about these type of establishments."

Elliot was intrigued. He could feel his hands start to tingle in anticipation. "Did she talk to anyone, did you notice if someone was taking a particular interest in her?"

Perry shook his head. "Naw, nobody was chatting her up, God rest her soul, but she was sure focused on some honey at the jukebox. Followed her out of here."

Elliot's heart stilled. A possible witness? "She just followed her outta here? A woman?"

Perry nodded his head slowly, smiling. "Yeah boy, you know how Anna was with her do-gooding self...she pegged the woman for a hooker and probably wanted to give a little free advice."

"Perry, think hard. What did she look like?"

"Aw shit man," Perry said, stubbing out his butt with a pained expression on his face. "I only glanced at her once or twice. She was blond, medium height, great legs. I didn't really see her face…matter fact, I don't think she ever turned my way."

Elliot tried not to let his frustration show. "Alright, Perry. Tomorrow there's gonna be a couple more cops coming in, probably detectives, and they're gonna want to talk to some of your regulars."

Perry nodded. "I hope you get this bastard El. This is some sick shit."

×××××××××

"Olivia, I don't know what to tell you," Dr. Greene said kindly. "You're in near-perfect health. The tests show everything's working right except that your blood pressure is a little more than slightly elevated. That may be the cause of the migraines."

Olivia chewed her bottom lip. She didn't know if she was relieved or disappointed.

"I can give you some medication to help control it," he went on, "but, my best advice is to try and relax. Get some more sleep, stay on a regular eating schedule, and try to find a de-stress type of activity. Something that will help you vent out that frustration."

Olivia nodded. It's about what she expected to hear. She thanked Dr. Greene and headed home to get some more rest before her shift.

She was mortified to find Serena puking her guts out in the bathroom after she walked in. She glanced at her watch.

"Serena? Serena. What the hell are you doin' here? You were supposed to be at work three hours ago!"

She gasped for air. "Dammit Olivia! Don't you see I'm sick? I can't go to work barfin' up my breakfast."

"You mean your alcohol?" she spat angrily. She turned and left her to it. She marched into the kitchen and nearly slipped on an empty bottle of Miller Lite. Infuriated, she picked it up and chucked it into the wall, shattering the glass. She looked around the kitchen and noticed the empty bottles lying everywhere.

Olivia suddenly grabbed her head. God.

She struggled to calm down, but the pounding was incessant. Her vision started to blur as she saw two Serenas stumble into the living room and collapse on two couches. She couldn't believe it, the pain had never come on this quick before.

She let out a strangled cry as the darkness enveloped her.