Chapter 1:

The bright mid-afternoon sun gleamed off Detective Olivia Benson's sunglasses as she squatted down on the edge of the pier to talk to a diver. Nothing had been found thus far and her partner had yet to arrive, so she turned back to her sole witness.

"Are you sure you saw a car drive off this pier, Mr. Labeau?"

He ran a hand through his messy hat-hair before crossing his arms over his chest. "You think I'd mistake seeing a car drive off into the river?"

"Well, it was still dark at four a.m. and foggy. So you might have been mistaken."

"Trust me Detective; I know a four cylinder Volkswagen when I hear one."

As if on cue, to keep her from taking out her frustration on their sole witness, Detective Elliot Stabler jogged down the pier to meet her.

"What'd I miss?"

Olivia filled him in as he shucked off his coat and rolled up his sleeves to try and beat the oppressive heat.

"And exactly what are we doing here? I doubt this is a special victim's case." Elliot groused.

"Almost everyone else is on holiday for the Fourth."

"Great." He deadpanned.

"Where've you been?" Olivia prodded.

"Dicky closed the toilet lid on his thing…again."

She grimaced. "The kids aren't dealing with the separation too well, are they?"

His only reply was a noncommittal grunt.

Two heads popped out of the water about 30 feet apart, each with raised hands. After a few minutes of conversing with these two, the head of the dive team swam over.

"Seems Tommy and Eric both found what you're looking for."

Both detectives frowned at him.

"There're two cars down there. Each with their own dead body."

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Benson, Stabler, and Munch stood across the two dead bodies from Dr. Melinda Warner, Medical Examiner for the Manhattan Police Department.

Detective John Munch looked at the pale, slightly bloated girls in front of him with a pained expression. "Let me take a wild shot here; they drowned, right?"

"Nope. Christine Century and Julia Anderson were both dead before they ever hit the water."

Elliot's eyes flickered down to the two girls who were no older than his daughter, Maureen. "They were murdered?"

"Broken necks. Some one did a number on them." Warner pulled back the pristine white sheet on Julia's arm. "Bruising on their upper arms and pelvic regions. Definite signs of rape."

Olivia leaned forward with a hopeful expression on her face. "Please tell me you found something."

"Sorry Detective. All he left were hints to his size. And he was a big boy judging by the handprints on their upper arms and the extent of the pelvic bruising. The only thing I can tell you for sure is that Miss Century died at least two weeks before Miss Anderson."

Elliot let out a breath and Olivia pushed a hand through her hair. "Thanks Doc. Call us if you find anything else?"

"No problem."

John leaned towards the good doctor. "Yeah, when're you gonna call me?"

She didn't have to say anything. The look she gave him spoke volumes and John made a beeline for the door.

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"Benson…Hey, Doc. Got something for us?" She listened on her cell for a few seconds and a smirk pulled at the corner of her mouth. "Thanks. You're the best."

Elliot watched as she grabbed her coat and pulled her badge out of her desk. "What's up?"

"Warner found a hair on Julia Anderson. DNA said it belongs to Todd Saxon, her boyfriend."

"Didn't we talk to him?"

"Maybe we just didn't ask the right questions."

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August 1998, Manhattan

Elliot sat up strait and watched as the jury filed back to their seats in the front of the court room. He elbowed Olivia and both sat forward, intent on what was said next.

The judge reviewed the paper in his hands and gave it back to the bailiff to give to the jury foreman. "On the first count of murder in the first degree, how do you find the defendant Todd Saxon?"

"We find the defendant guilty."

"And on the second count of murder in the first degree, how do you find the defendant?"

"We find the defendant guilty as charged."

The judge banged his gavel once on the block. "The guilty party will be remanded until his sentencing date. Court is now dismissed."

They watched the young man break down and cry as he was led away, and Elliot felt a pang of worry twinge in his gut. "Did we do the right thing, Liv?"

"I don't know Elliot. Right now, I just don't know."