Thirty One: Olivia

I wonder if I'm seeing things or if we really were followed. Elliot's gone home for the day so I set Alex up on his desk. She always gets through her stress with her work. It's one of many things, I'm finding, we have in common.

"We may be here a while Alex, there are 23 matches." I tell her.

"It's alright, I've got plenty to do," she says quietly, turning her attention back to the file in front of her.

I go through and run each name through the database. Four men pop up with priors. The first man, Jeremy Atkins, is still doing time in Rikers, so it can't be him. One man is deceased and the other two are left. Thomas Laboda, was brought in for stalking, but the charges were dropped? Well that sounds like it could be our man. Better check the other guy, just in case. Alexander Halse, brought in on accusations of physical and verbal assault. His didn't stick either? God, it could be either one of these guys. I bring up their files and start to sort through their data.

I hear Alex sigh. I steal a glance; fatigue etched harshly in her features. She removes her glasses and pinches her nose, between her brows. She makes a face as though she's commanding her body to wake up, to see better, to stay alive here.

"What?" She notices me looking.

"Nothing," I say, but she cocks her head to the side and waits. "I just, haven't seen you in a while. I mean, it feels like that anyway. It's hard to imagine but, sometimes I just forget how beautiful you are." She smiles and blushes.

"Oh stop detective," she laughs, "you know I'm coming home with you tonight. It's a sure thing." I shake my head and smile. It feels good, since I haven't done so in a while.

"In that case, I'll work a little faster so we can get the hell out of here."

"Yeah well, I'm starting to get hungry. You think we could pick up some Chinese on the way home?" I eye her with a grin.

"Eating for two already?" She feigns shock and tosses her pencil at me.

"Are you calling me fat!" I laugh, "Oh this is no laughing matter Ms. Benson." She can't keep a straight face.

"Oh, I see it!" I point at her, "I see a smile, you are so full of it." She swats at my hand.

"Get back to work!" She playfully orders.

"You too… slacker." She sneers and holds her hand out.

"I need that pencil back," I shake my head. "Come on Olivia, it's the last one I have left."

Before I can hand it back, a tall man, late twenties, early thirties walks in. He looks around confused until he spots us sitting here. Alex sees my face change and turns around.

"Sir, can I help you?" I ask, my professionalism returning.

"Yeah, I just witnessed a kidnapping. I was coming from Gleason's Gym when I saw this guy drag this girl down a few feet and force her into a van. I ran over to stop him but I couldn't get there in time… he sped off. I missed the plates and everything!" He's out of breath and as I let the words sink in I realize what he's said. Gleason's Gym? That's where Dominic went. Is this a coincidence or is this our guy at work?

"Okay why don't you calm down, have a seat." I motion to the chair aside of my desk. Alex just listens to the guy. She doesn't know the details of her own case, I've made sure of it. She wouldn't know the connection.

"I'm going to call my partner in, okay? If you could do me a favor and just jot down everything you saw. Describe the man, the vehicle, and where you were." I look at Alex and she sees the twinge of fear. How can she tell? "I'll be right back." I look at her and make a face as if to say, 'sorry we're stuck here.'

I head into Cregan's office and dial Elliot's cell.

"Stabler." His annoyed voice comes over the line.

"Elliot, it's me. Listen, you know I wouldn't bother you if it wasn't important but a guy just walked into the precinct saying there was a kidnapping in front of Gleason's Gym."

"Oh shit." I hear Dickie in the background yell at Elliot for swearing. He apologizes softly. "I'll be right there Liv."

I come back into the room and Alex is standing. The guy is not far from her. My heart races furiously as guilt hits his face, and Alex looks distraught.

"Is there a problem?" I say, swiftly walking to Alex's side.

"No Ma'am, I was just asking about Ms. Cabot's baby here." I look at Alex and she's visibly uncomfortable. What the hell did he say to her? She just shakes her head.

"I'll be in the crib Liv." The guy goes to sit back down and as his back is turned, she squeezes my arm as she walks away from me. I turn my attention, now to the man, who I suspect to be a prick.

"What did you say you're name was?" I ask coldly.

"Anthony Scott."

"Anthony, are you a member of Gleason's Gym?" I ask, whipping out my notebook.

"Sure, isn't everyone in that area? That gym has the best equipment, this end of the city." I catch him eyeing the crib and I glare harshly.

"Do you have a problem with our Assistant District Attorney?" I ask bluntly.

"Not at all, she's really something. Is there a Mr. Assistant District Attorney?" He asks, his eyes never leaving the door at the top of the stairs.

"Yeah, you're lookin' at him." His eyes snap back to my face and I challenge him with the hardest look I can muster. "Did you come down here to help a victim or are you scouting for an easy lay?"

"Damn, you don't mess around do you? I should have figured though. All women cops are…" he looks at me with disgust and I can feel my temperature flair.

"They're what? Go ahead say it." I feel myself get defensive and I want to back off but I can't help it.

"Maybe I should go." She says awkwardly, standing up. I take the paper from where he was sitting and look at it.

"You came to report a crime so report it. Looks like you didn't have much to say. Or was your mouth taking care of that?"

"Hey, I don't have to take this. I don't need someone like you talking to me like that." He sneers. I only hope Alex can't hear us.

"You walk out that door, you are obstructing justice. Write down what you know and you won't even have to talk to me. Better yet, you won't have to talk to me at all because after I have the information I need from you, we can take it from there." My smile is sarcastic and mocking.

"Fine, but only because I'm a good Christian and I owe it to that girl," he replies, sitting slowly back into the chair. He writes as fast as he can, but his handwriting is surprisingly legible. He writes for about ten minutes and hands me the paper.

"Thank you. If we have anymore questions, I'll have my partner Elliot Stabler contact you." I tell him.

"Contact me for what?" Elliot waltzes in. Anthony turns, almost relieved to see another human being.

"This is Anthony Scott. He witnessed the kidnapping." Elliot senses the edge in my voice and looks at me long enough for me to raise my eyebrows and give Anthony a look behind his back. "He was being a 'good Christian' by reporting it."

"Do you mind if I speak with you privately Det. Stabler?" Anthony asks.

"Sure, why don't you head into this room over here and I'll be right in. Let me just get myself situated." Anthony retreats into the interrogation room.

"A real piece of work, this one." I say bitterly.

"How much damage could he do in twenty minutes?" Elliot asks.

"Enough. He was hitting on Alex. I got a little nasty when he started asking about her personal stuff. He pegged me right away." Elliot smirks at me. "What?"

"You sure to stand up for your ladies," he jokes. I crack a smile but he doesn't like it anymore than I do.

"I'll be back in a minute," he says, retreating to the room, notepad in tow.

I head up the stairs to see Alex. "Hey," I say opening the door slowly.

"That guy is a jerk," she says emotionless. She's laying on the bottom bunk of one of the cots.

"Well, Elliot's talking to him right now. What did he say to you?" I ask curiously, squatting down to meet her at eye level.

"The usual scum bag things. He was just shamelessly hitting on me. Then I stood up to get some coffee and he came over and touched my stomach. He was asking about the baby. It was really uncomfortable." I nod. " I heard what you said to him Liv." I suddenly get really worried.

"I'm sorry, it just.. I just said it without thinking." I search for excuses.

"Don't worry about it. I thought it was nice; you standing up for me like that. In a way." She smiles sideways and I smile back at her. I cock my head to the side so our faces are parallel. "I'm so tired Olivia. I'm tired all the time."

"I know," I say brushing the hair away from her face. "Let me close things up downstairs. You rest here, and once that asshole is gone, I'll take you home, okay?" She yawns and nods wearily at me. Her eyes slide closed momentarily but open as I carefully slip the glasses off her face. "I'll be back in a bit." I fold the glasses and put them in my shirt pocket and head downstairs to close up.