Disclaimer: Olivia, Elliot and the gang do not belong to me; I can only take credit for the bad guys and the story/situation you are reading. Dick Wolfe – you rock!
Rating is for naughty language, because real cops have filthy mouths. Graphic violence (discussion of rape/murder) in this chapter (fidelity to the show as romance develops).
Reviews: Please. Your reviews bring sunshine to my day. And while I don't want to single anyone out (because each review on this story gives me the push to continue –thank you SO much!), I just wanted to give a special thanks to Mrs. Elliot Stabler. You almost made me cry!
A/N: I know I'm a slacker with the updates – my biggest apologies. And I know I'm really slow with the whole romance thing – trust me, I wanted them kinky and hot years ago! But soon enough…
Chapter Eight
The car ride to the crime scene was one of the longest in recent memory. In actuality, it was under ten minutes from Elliot's hospital to 22nd, made even faster by the light traffic. But her own mind betrayed her – even with the radio on as a distraction, and construction noise filtering through the closed windows of the undercover cruiser, she couldn't stop thinking.
Images of the former crime scenes jumbled together in the back of her mind, Elliot's voice punctuating the pictures with details of the file. "The act of dressing them up could have been caused by guilt. Hell, maybe it was even soothing to him." Who? And what kind of man would find applying make up to dead girls soothing? "If he had an accomplice, Liv, don't you think he would have narked?" So why didn't he? In all the time that Clarkson was in custody, why didn't he give them another perp to take the fall?
If the constant replay of the case wasn't enough to fill her thoughts, the situation she had just left had thrown her mind into a spin. The right side of her throat tingled, almost as if the flesh had been branded. She still felt his mouth there, warm lips, and then wet, as he tasted her skin.
"Damn," Olivia groaned, squeezing the steering wheel tight. The memory would make her smile if it had been between her and some past lover. But this was Elliot – Elliot, her partner of nearly a decade. The person she cared more for than anyone else. Love, Olivia, be honest with yourself…
She blinked. How could this happen? It couldn't happen. This wasn't some fucking fairytale and there couldn't be a happily ever after. Damn, they were both hardened sex crimes detectives, what would they do, move into the suburbs and make babies? It was ridiculous that she was even thinking this, that after all these years…
"Maybe it's something that's been there all along, Liv."
"Stop it," she whispered, trying to push Elliot's voice out of her head. She couldn't do this now, she couldn't think about her partner and the last five days. It was emotionally taxing her, and there was the job. And the job always came first.
Olivia could tell she was close to the scene without even reading street signs – the plethora of news trucks lined up on either side of the road gave it away. Finding a spot, she parallel parked the car. She turned off the ignition and leaned back in the driver's seat, closing her eyes. Absently, her hand slipped into her pants pocket, her fingertips brushing against the cool beads. She caressed the rosary, letting her mind clear in response to the movement.
Olivia sighed, opening her eyes and glancing down the street at the crowd developing. She pocketed her keys and pulled out her badge, then zipped her jacket closed before getting out of the car.
The crowd of civilians gathering around a crime scene was normal – people were usually drawn to the morbid, and would push against the police tape to get a view of death. While sometimes it was a hindrance, some of the spectators might have actually witnessed something that might be crucial to the investigation. It was the mess of reporters that had Olivia's stomach sinking further. The media had already caught on, but worse, the amount of media here was a bad omen. They knew this wasn't just another dead body in NYC, but one of many of the same string. So like flies to a corpse, they swarmed with their lights and cameras, all of them pushing to get the best bite.
Olivia bit her lip as she neared the edge of the crowd. But how did they get here so fast? Did a cop tip them off? Worse yet, did the killer?
She tried to stay low profile as she moved through the crowd. The last thing she wanted today was to be jumped by some reporter. She wouldn't talk with any of them, of course, but she didn't want to be held up or photographed. She needed to get to the body, not deal with the media.
The scene came into view as Olivia maneuvered between the people mingling closest to the line. The perimeter of the scene was marked off with yellow police tape with several uniforms making sure no civilians crossed. A large tarp was pulled up like a vinyl curtain several feet high, sufficiently blocking the body and the CSU techs processing it from curious eyes. Fin was talking to two uniform cops in front of the tarp, in a discussion so adamant he hadn't noticed her yet. Olivia's gaze drifted upward; the sign "Glickman's Gallery & Frames" hung above the front doors of the store. Olivia wondered at the significance, if any, of the perp's choice to drop the body here. It was outside this tiny shop, on the sidewalk, in plain view.
He wanted us to see. Maybe that's why he beautifies them, dresses them up – it would be obvious to place them in an area where people would get to see his "work".
She grimaced at the thought as she flashed the closest cop her badge, ducking under the tape. She held back a grin as several of the reporters saw the action, all of them seeming to vault towards the tape to get close to Olivia. Too late.
Olivia ignored the questions being yelled at her back. She walked over to Fin and the two uniforms.
"…need to find her. Have Kindersley do the composite. And have them start now. She might be the best thing we have."
Both the cops nodded and walked off towards the perimeter.
"Hey, what was that about?"
Fin turned, his expression dark, mouth pulled out in an angry line. Seeing it was her, his face softened. "Shit, am I glad you're here. Incompetent bastards are going to fuck up this case for us."
She glanced at the retreating uniforms and then back to Fin. "What happened?"
"The first uniform on the scene had a witness. A fucking witness. Some hooker named Devine. So Devine says she saw the guy who dumped the body. Devine was supposedly with a John, finishes her blow, jumps out of the John's car, and sees the perp get into his car and speed away."
"Car?"
"It was dark and this chick was smacked, but she told Officer Bradshaw that it was a late model Honda, red or maroon, four door. Maybe an Accord."
Olivia blew out an exhausted breath. "Well, that narrows it down."
"No shit," Fin replied with a humorless laugh. "So supposedly she got a good check on this perp. But Officer Bradshaw lost her before he could bring her in for a composite or any other useful info."
"What?" Olivia stomach dropped even further.
"Yeah. Officer Bradshaw left Devine leaning against his cruiser while he called for backup. This hooker was cranking something fierce and needed a hit. She ditched him."
Olivia sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Great. So we lost our only witness."
"I sent this dumb shit to composite. While he gets a draw up of Devine, there are uniforms canvassing the area for any info from other working girls about this pro."
"So she called in the body?"
"She called in something – they couldn't understand her. That's why only one cop was sent."
Olivia nodded silently in response. Frowning thoughtfully, she looked around the mess of people on this side of the line. "Where's Cragen?"
Fin glanced over her shoulder, pointing out Cragen with a characteristic jerk of his head.
Olivia turned and looked back into the swarm of people. Cragen was with several other people at the edge of the building. One of them Olivia recognized instantly.
"Damn."
Fin grunted from behind her. "Yeah. This is big, bad shit, Liv."
Her Captain was in deep discussion with Deputy Commissioner Vargo and two suits she could only guess were police PR. Cragen's kind eyes caught hers and he acknowledged her with a small nod. He was apparently going to be held up for awhile with Vargo and a discussion on the obvious press conference. She did not envy him.
Olivia turned back to Fin. "CSU's still working on the body?"
"They're almost done. Melinda's just finishing the initial…"
"Detectives." If on cue, Doctor Warner was peaking around the tarp curtain, her brown eyes shifting from Fin to Olivia. "I'm finished with the superficial exam and CSU has completed processing. You can come back."
Olivia followed Fin around the tarp, the vinyl effectively protecting the sight of the girl and at the same time giving them several feet of space around her corpse.
Olivia blinked, her throat suddenly going dry at the sight of the body. Yes, she was in the same age and race group as the others, her face was made-up in that same precise, professional manner, but…
"Damn, Liv. She looks like you." Fin voiced her thoughts, his knees popping as he knelt on the other side of the body next to Doctor Warner. Olivia remained standing even though her legs suddenly felt weak. She would not show it.
The girl appeared to be between 9 to 12 years of age, prepubescent like the others. She was Caucasian, with dark brown hair, and even with the milky white film that had formed over them already, her open eyes where obviously brown. The make-up was expertly applied, but very familiar. Black smudged eyeliner, brown and taupe eye shadow and mascara. Very light blush, glossy lips. Even the girl's hair mirrored Olivia's short style, with the same soft highlights.
"I noticed that as well," Doctor Warner's tone was quiet, but firm. "I thought Cragen would have mentioned it to you."
"He's, uh…he's been with the Deputy Commissioner since I showed up," Olivia replied, feeling at a loss for words. She turned to Fin.
"I didn't know, Liv. First time I've seen the body," Fin answered her unspoken question.
Trying to ignore the obvious for now, Olivia finally knelt down on the other side of the body. "So what can you tell us, Doc?"
Doctor Warner quirked an eyebrow at the turnabout, but went along with it. One of the smartest detectives Doctor Warner worked with, she trusted her colleague's actions during an investigation.
"Well, she probably didn't die here. Lividity shows that the body was moved after the initial kill, but not too long after. Outside temperature compared to her liver temp, taking into account the lividity and onset of rigor, I'd estimate she's been dead for about 8 hours."
"How did she die?"
Doctor Warner looked from Fin to Olivia. "That's the difference between this victim and the other three. The other females died from exsanguinations; they bled out from the mutilation to their genitalia. This victim hardly shows any external trauma. There are bruises on her wrists from some sort of binding, probably rope, and she may have been raped, but there are no external lacerations. Right now, I'd say she was probably poisoned or smothered. The autopsy and tox screen will give us a definite answer."
Olivia looked back down at the young girl, whose current made-up state so intimately matched hers. A sudden thought drew Olivia's gaze to the girl's hands – like her own fingernails, they were evenly filed and painted with a simple clear polish. Olivia closed her eyes, going through her memories, trying to picture the fingernails of the other three victims.
"Doc, did you take clippings of the girls' fingernails?"
Doctor Warner's eyebrow quirked again. "Two of the girls we were able to obtain clippings; the third was a nail biter. Unfortunately, we did not find any DNA. None of the victims had a chance to scratch the perpetrator."
"Do you still have them?"
"We should…"
"What are you thinking, Liv?" Fin interrupted Doctor Warner, his dark gaze narrowed in response to her sudden questioning.
"Well, the FBI has a directory of house and auto paints…do you think they keep a file on nail polish?"
Fin grunted in disbelief while Doctor Warner's curious expression changed to thoughtfulness.
"I don't know, Olivia. They do keep the different chemical breakdowns of perfumery by brand. It started back in the nineties, something with animal oils and exportation, so I suppose other cosmetics…"
"Really?" Fin's eyes widened in surprise. He then grunted, his mouth turning down. "Figures. The man's got records on everything and everybody." Catching what he just said, he rolled his eyes. "Fuck. That sounded like Munch."
Doctor Warner gave him a sideways look while Olivia chuckled.
"Well, hopefully in this case, it'll help us identify something specific used on the victim," Olivia replied. "Can you look into working with the FBI lab on those fingernail clippings after autopsy?"
"The FBI has already been calling me, Detective. I think they believe they are taking this over."
"Oh, hell no."
Olivia ignored Fin, her attention still on Doctor Warner. "I wonder how they see it as their case. Unless they have information we don't."
"I think that is one of the things Captain Cragen is discussing with the Deputy Commissioner," Doctor Warner replied. "The two men with them are FBI."
Olivia grimaced and glanced over at Cragen and the other men, who were barely visible through the side of the tarp. What was worse than her initial guess of police PR? FBI. She was getting rusty – usually she could spot a Fed from miles away.
She looked back at Fin, who was staring at the face of the victim again, and then to Doctor Warner. Olivia followed the Doctor's gaze upward.
"Damn," Olivia muttered. The first few lazy flakes of snow were falling from the cloudy grey sky. She pushed to her feet, the other two following her lead and standing.
"Well, I need to get this body covered," Doctor Warner told them. "I'll be doing the autopsy today, by the way. Because this is a serial, it's been pushed to the front of the line."
Olivia nodded wordlessly. Both her and Fin stepped back and watched as the paramedics came around from the other side of the tarp with the stretcher. A peculiar feeling settled in Olivia's stomach as she watched the two young men place the small girl into a black body bag, closing the zipper over the oddly familiar face of the child.
Doctor Warner nodded at them both and followed the paramedics out from behind the tarp.
"Olivia?"
She turned back to Fin.
"He did that on purpose. Made up this vic like you. It's too much of a coincidence. Once we find out who this girl is…maybe he even cut her hair like yours..."
"Yeah." Olivia swallowed the uncomfortable lump in her throat. "It must be because I killed Clarkson. This other perp…I guess they considered themselves friends? And this is a warning?" The question was barely audible.
Fin was scowling. "A warning of what?" The implications of it went through his head. "You need protection."
She shook her head. "Fin, don't go there. If Cragen hears you…"
"…if I hear you?"
Both of them turned at the sound of their Captain's voice.
"Cap."
"Olivia, I apologize that I didn't get to speak with you before you saw the vic."
She shook her head. "It's okay."
His hand was on her shoulder. "Olivia, this changes everything. We're not just dealing with a serial killing rapist pedophile. We're dealing with a serial killing rapist pedophile that just chose to make up his victim to look like you."
A shiver went through her body, and while she was sure Fin didn't notice, her proximity to Cragen would have given it away. He was right, holy shit, he was right, and she felt the terror of it chill into the marrow of her bones. Her hands balled into fists, and she focused on the small sting as she dug her fingernails sharp into her palms. The pain cleared her head, steadied her, where nothing else could in this situation.
"Please don't take me off the case, Cap," she spoke, her voice soft, but thankfully even.
"I'm not, Olivia. But I'm assigning you protective detail as of now." He paused, expecting an argument. Fin was also looking intently at Olivia, waiting for the outburst. Instead she stared back at him silently, her face reflecting none of her inner turmoil.
"Fine." She glanced at where the body of the unknown girl had been, a thousand thoughts pulsing through her head. Any fear she had, she would use it to her advantage. If this bastard had done this to scare her away, to warn her off, he had just played into her hands. She would find him. There was proof, there was evidence, and she knew she could sort through it to get to this perp and stop him. There wasn't any other option.
She looked back at both men, and when she spoke, her voice was strong. "So what are we waiting for?"
Cragen nodded, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. He glanced at Fin, and then back to Olivia.
"Okay, then. Let's get to work."