CHAPTER TEN

"Elliot, you're missing a partner," Munch deadpanned, exiting the room.

Elliot looked impatiently at his watch, catching Cragen's eye. Announcements were over and there was still no sign of Olivia.

"She hasn't called in…what's goin' on?"

"I don't know Cap...this ain't like her. She's the responsible one," he muttered. He hoped she was okay. Especially after hearing about her migraines.

"I'll give her apartment a ring," Elliot said, jumping up.

No answer. He called three more times and got the machine each time. He then tried her cell, but it was off.

"Sit on the desk until she arrives," Cap ordered.

Groaning, he headed to the first floor. "She better be hurting or she's gonna pay," he grumbled to himself.

After taking a call from an old lady missing her cat, Fin approached Elliot.

"You in trouble or something?"

"Naw, my partner's just MIA. What's up?"

Fin rolled his head. "I need a massage."

"Uh, I reserve my talents for the ladies."

"Shut up, Elliot. Anyways, no dice on Shoney's."

Elliot's hopes fell. He thought they were so close.

"The best we got was some guy saying the lady was dressed in pink and white. Oh, and she's got a nice set of knockers."

"To go along with her legs," Elliot joked half-heartedly, remembering what Perry had said. "Jesus, doesn't anybody look at a woman's face?"

"Ask me that again, Stabler."

Elliot thanked Fin. Momentarily forgetting Olivia, he looked over the possibilities. His aunt either struck out with the chick or she heeded her advice. She was more than likely the last person to see her alive.

The last person...a seed of an idea started to grow in Elliot's mind.

"Fin, wait." The detective turned around on the stairs, expectantly.

"My aunt…she wasn't sexually assaulted."

"Yeah, but that's not relevant."

Elliot's interest was piqued. "Why's that?"

"Four out of the nine victims had sex before death, one of whose wife is claiming that it was her. And two had evidence of latex on their privates." Fin could see where Elliot was going with this. Slowly he walked back to the information desk. "What are you thinking?"

"Well, there's a good chance this woman was the last person who saw my aunt alive. Besides the killer. The trail turns cold after she followed her out of that bar. How do we know our killer isn't a she?"

×××××××××

Olivia felt as if she were floating to the surface of a very deep ocean. She struggled to reach the light, suddenly sitting up gasping for breath.

She looked around. She was in her bed. How had she gotten in here? Usually she woke up where the attack took place. Her head was nursing the remnants of the migraine. Groaning, she swung her feet over the side of the bed, her eye catching the clock.

"Oh shit!" she exclaimed. It was a quarter after five. Her hand flew to her mouth. She had been out for like five hours. Why didn't someone wake her? She was late for work, extremely late for work. She rushed into the living room.

She spotted Serena laying out on the couch, the remains of her stomach contents staining her work shirt. A blanket was slung over her legs. She was gaping at Olivia, as if she'd seen a ghost.

"Why didn't you wake me? I overslept, do you know how late I am?"

Serena continued to stare. "…When did you get home?" she asked in a small, irritated voice.

Olivia looked at her, confused. "I never left…I'm late for work. I, I was in the bedroom, where you put me."

Shaking her head visibly, Serena spoke up. "Olivia," she said carefully, "You weren't here."

"Yes, Serena I was in the bedroom, sleeping," Olivia said patiently.

Again Serena felt the fear she first experienced when her daughter jumped her about those damn cigarettes. Then the money...what was going on with her daughter? Bravely, she said, "Olivia…I think it might be a good idea for you to take a break from that job…you know? I woke up, found a blanket in your room and you were not there. Nowhere in sight."

Olivia was speechless. Her mother was looking at her as if she were crazy. Nowhere in sight? Then where the hell was she?

Olivia fought the nausea that threatened to exit her stomach. "I've gotta call work," she said, frantically searching for the phone. She quickly dialed the precinct.

"16th precinct, Detective Stabler speaking."

Olivia was so glad to hear his voice. "El…El it's me."

"Where the hell are you?"

She looked back at her mother and moved off into her bedroom. Shutting the door, she let the tears flow. "Elliot," she whispered. "I'm losing my mind."