"Excuse me, do you know where we can find Mr. dePasquale," Elliot asked, flashing his badge.
"Yeah. He's over there," a cameraman said, pointing to a man with Italian features sitting in a director's chair.
"He's Georgie's father alright," Olivia said as they walked towards him. She had his same skin tone and facial features.
"Alright, take it once more from the top," Richard shouted.
"Mr. dePasquale, we need to talk to you for a moment," Elliot said, flashing his badge. Members of the set began to murmur as the shot was interrupted.
"Can't it wait," he asked, glancing over at them. "We're in the middle of a scene."
"Afraid it can't," Olivia said crossing her arms. "Is there someplace we can talk in private?"
"My trailer," he said, motioning outside. They followed him to his trailer, sitting down on the couches.
"Where were you last night, around ten," Elliot asked, leaning his arms on his knees.
"Here, wrapping up for the night," he said, looking at him with confusion.
"Can anyone corroborate that?"
"I was alone," Richard said, "Why do you ask?"
"Meredith Hughes was found dead early this morning," Olivia said. She watched his face for an sign that he wasn't shocked by the news.
"Jesus," he said, his face paling. "How?" He was obviously shocked with the news.
"We're still looking into that," she said. "You and herwere romantically involved?"
"Yeah," he said, "She was a young actor looking for a way to get a part in a movie. It wa a long time ago, though."
"She ever tell you she had yourdaughter," Olivia asked.
"Christ, no," Richard said, "I didn't give her a part. It'd already been promised to another actor."
"Guess Meredith wasn't to happy about that," Elliot said.
"She wasn't," Richard said, "We broke it off after that. Didn't hear from her again until we worked on another movie. We're in negotiations to start another movie together."
"When was that," Olivia asked.
"About four years after we had broken up," Richard said.
"Were there any hard feelings during that movie," Elliot asked.
"No," Richard said, shaking his head,"She never mentioned a kid."
"Georgie would have been three and a half or four," Olivia said. "Her publicist said that Meredith wanted her kept out of the public eye."
"Not a surprise," he said, "An illegitimate child is no way to help a beginning actress. Is…she alright?"
"She's fine...physically," Olivia said. "Do you want her information?"
"No," he said, "The last thing she needs is her dad getting into her life."
"That may be the only thing she needs," Elliot said. "We need you to come down to the station for more questioning in regards to the death of Meredith Hughes."
"Yeah," he said, still in shock, "Whatever you need. I just need to call my lawyer."
"Where were you last night," Olivia asked, sitting across the table from Richard and his lawyer.
"I was alone, working in my trailer. We had just finished wrapping up for a day," Richard said, glancing over to his lawyer.
"Did anyone see when you left," Elliot asked.
"Just the guard at the front gates," Richard replied. "He keeps track of the people that come and go from the lot."
"When's the last time you spoke to Meredith Hughes," Elliot asked.
"Monday morning," he said, "We were in negotiations for a new movie."
"How had the negotiations been going?"
"Fine," he said, "We were close to an agreement on payment."
"Did you know of anyone that had been threatening Meredith," Olivia asked.
"No," Richard said. "Our conversations were strictly business related."
"Did you have a romantic relationship with Meredith?" She leaned against the table, facing him.
"Yes," he said, "Fifteen years ago."
"Why'd you break it off," Elliot asked, leaning back, his arms crossed.
"She didn't get the part she wanted, so she ended it," Richard said. "Look, I don't understand how me answering all these questions is going to help you find out who killed Meredith."
"For someone that hasn't seen her romantically for fifteen years, you seem pretty torn up about her death," Elliot observed.
"Meredith was a world class actor," he said, "Her life will be greatly missed." He looked down at his hands, his whole body spelling out his grief.
"Alright," Olivia finally said, "I think we've got enough for today. Mr. dePasquale, thank you for your time."
"It was no problem," he said, "I hope you find the bastard that did this." He left the room, leaving Olivia and Elliot in the room. He met her eyes and could read the look in her eyes- she agreed that Richard dePasquale seemed innocent.
The phone rang in Olivia's apartment late that night, waking her from a deep sleep. "Hello," she said, trying to wake up.
"Detective Benson," a shaky voice asked. "It's me…Georgie."
"Georgie," she asked, sitting up in bed, "What's wrong?"
"He's trying to get to me." Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Georgie," Olivia asked, pushing the volume up on the phone. Suddenly a loud scream filled the room and she dropped the phone, cursing as she rubbed her ears. She grabbed the phone and pulled on a sweatshirt, grabbing her gun before running out the door.
