Hudson University Medical Center/ December 3/ 6:01 PM
Olivia leaned against the wall in the long, too-bright hallway, her hands deep in the pockets of her leather coat, trying to stretch the kinks out of the muscles in her neck. She was telling herself unsuccessfully that the insistent gnawing in her stomach was not hunger – she'd have a chance to eat and really sleep once they had put this case to bed. To her left was the door to Nina's room, where Eric Pressman was supposed to be telling his wife about his affair with Lacey. So far they hadn't made a sound loud enough to hear out in the hall.

She looked to her right, where Elliot was in the middle of a phone call with Munch. He was pacing a little bit, and his brow was contorted above his blue eyes. Finally, he flipped the phone shut. Olivia waited expectantly.

"Remember Dr. Campbell in the ER?"

She nodded.

"Well, she was right – the perp did use a paintbrush to rape Nina."

"How do you know that?"

His eyes slid toward Nina's door. "They found it while canvassing the neighborhood, behind a dumpster two blocks away. It's not an artist's brush, more like a housepainter's, and definitely with paint on it like it's been used before. Lab has it now, and the blood and tissue all over it belong to her without a doubt."

"But no fingerprints."

He sighed, shaking his head. "Munch says the lab is working on where the perp might have gotten it from, you know, stores and suppliers."

Olivia nodded, thinking.

Just then, Eric slunk out into the hallway and stood there, eyes downcast, looking generally worthless. The two detectives looked at him, then at each other. Was there anything to say?

Melanie leaned out of the doorway. "Detective Benson? Can I speak with you?" Olivia looked back at Elliot, then followed Dr. Pressman into her daughter's room.

Nina was engulfed by tubes, wires and bandages in a bed at the far end of the large room; Melanie led Olivia to two chairs closer to the door.

"How's she doing?" asked Olivia.

The skin around Melanie's eyes was puffy and bluish, but she looked directly into Olivia's face, her jaw set. "There's no real change now, but she is going to wake up soon."

Olivia wasn't sure if this belief was based on Melanie's medical experience or just incredible optimism, but she hoped she was right. "Melanie, did Eric tell you about Lacey Goldstone?"

She raked her fingers through her dark hair. "Yes. He told me." Olivia said nothing, only watched her. "What I wanted you to know is that I've suspected for awhile that Eric wasn't faithful."

Olivia raised her eyebrows. "Why stay with him?"

Melanie's answer was certain and clear. "Loyalty to the idea of a family for my girls. Detective, they didn't deserve to lose their father just because he couldn't be committed to me and our marriage. He's the best father you can imagine." She raised one finger. "And listen to me – he is not a rapist."

"Well, Eric's alibi checks out. We know he didn't do it."

Melanie wasn't finished. "But he also told me about this suspect you have – the student's boyfriend. Zack or whatever. And I told Eric that if his dirty little affair put Nina's safety in jeopardy and led to her rape, then it is his fault. If that's what happened, I will take my girls and leave so fast …" She closed her eyes.

"Melanie, we've questioned Zack and now we've released him. He's got an alibi too and he's not the man we're looking for."

The doctor's brown eyes snapped back open. "Are you sure?"

Olivia nodded. "I can tell you that we have found an important new piece of physical evidence. Have you or your husband had any painting done recently? At your apartment, maybe, or your offices?"

She shook her head, confused. "Painting? No. Why?"

Olivia took a deep breath. "We've found the object that was used to penetrate your daughter. It was the handle of a paintbrush."

Immediately, Melanie's hand flew to her lips. "A paintbrush?"

Olivia stayed quiet.

"A paintbrush. In my sweet, sweet girl," murmured Melanie, sliding deeper into the chair. "Can you tell who it belongs to?"

"That's what we're working on now. Now that you've had a little time … think back. Can you remember anybody following you? Anything strange you noticed?"

Melanie frowned, thinking hard. "We've been so busy lately … Nina was sick with that cold, and Maya had it before that. She got it at preschool. I can't think of anything. Do you think it could be a random attack, like Eric thought at first?"

"We're still investigating," offered Olivia, which was her usual answer to speculation. But she knew that was next to impossible – a random attacker who wanted to rape a child would not climb through the window, commit the atrocity with other people in the apartment, and then leave. He would take the child from her bed, rape her somewhere else, and then dump her, alive or dead, anonymously. This attacker had clearly wanted to send an angry message. But to whom? And what was he trying to say?

By this point, Melanie was getting restless and anxious to get back to Nina across the room. She rose and walked over to her daughter, standing over the bed with her arms crossed, as if willing the child to open her eyes and speak. Olivia followed, keeping her distance.

Elliot appeared in the doorway. "Liv?"

She started to excuse herself, then realized Melanie would not hear her. She followed her partner out into the hallway, where she noticed Eric now sitting against the wall, his face blank.

"Captain wants us back at the station," said Elliot, tucking away his phone and heading for the elevators.

Olivia couldn't help hoping they'd have a chance to grab some quick food on the way there.

TBC