Chapter 18

Despite the lights and sirens, the two detectives did not beat the emergency crews they summoned. Olivia practically leapt out of the car before Elliot could even get it into park. An officer tried to stop her from crossing the crime scene tape but she flashed her badge and he quickly let her through. It was the detective at the front door that stopped her.

"I'm Benson! My son is up there!" She was ready to rip him a new one.

"I understand but we haven't finished clearing the building. I've got guys checking the basement to make sure no one is hiding there. The EMT's are already on their way up to your apartment," he explained. Elliot showed up in time to stop Olivia from trying to get inside again.

"Basement is clear," the radio in the detective's hand squawked. The man didn't even get any words out of his mouth before Elliot just released her and Olivia ran inside the building.

She skipped the elevator, even though she knew that the EMT's would be using the stairs to come down to the ambulance. There was no way the gurney would fit into their elevator – the age of their building meant it didn't meet the new building code requirements – it didn't have to, it was grandfathered in. Taking the stairs, two at a time, she made her way up to her floor. Elliot was right behind her.

"Calvin!" Olivia shouted as soon as she exited the stairwell and began charging toward the apartment.

"Mom!" Calvin's voice rang from down the hall inside the apartment. There was an officer inside holding him for the forensic techs. The EMT's were already heading for the stairs and Elliot pushed her against the wall so they could get out of the way of the paramedics in the hall. They rushed passed the detectives so they could begin their long descent in the stairwell – quickly telling them which hospital they were going to.

"Detective Benson! We have to wait for forensics! Your apartment and this hallway have become a crime scene!" Detective Taylor, from the nearby twentieth precinct, who was standing near the apartment door, barked at her. She had gotten too close to the bloodstained carpet and wall not far outside her living space. She stopped in her tracks, mostly because Elliot made her.

"We can't break protocol. We have to find these guys. You know that Fin would never forgive us," her partner said. Olivia heaved a breath out and nodded. He was right.

"Someone needs to call him," she said.

"I know but only if you promise not to run to Calvin," Elliot gave her a look. She gave him a death glare but he just stayed focused on his phone and quickly dialed Fin's number. He heard Kenny in the background telling him that he'd give the elder detective a ride.

"Ok that sucked," Elliot said, after hanging up his phone.

"How much longer until forensics gets here Taylor?" Olivia demanded.

"Hopefully ten minutes," he responded before moving closer to her so he didn't have to shout.

"How is Calvin?" She wanted to know.

"Officer Warren is taking good care of him and getting his story. While we're waiting, I'm guessing that Calvin called you which is why your partner called dispatch?" Taylor asked.

"Yes. He said that two men were trying to break into the apartment. I've never had any issues in this building and we've only been in this apartment a short time," Olivia told him.

"So could it be something meant for the previous tenant?" Taylor wondered.

"The little old lady wasn't exactly a gang banger," she said.

"Ok so probably something to do with a case you're working on?" The detective asked.

"It has to be," Elliot piped up.

"We're looking for a murderer or possibly murderers so yes, Elliot is probably right," Olivia explained.

"All righty. I'll make sure that forensics keeps SVU informed. The victim?" Taylor wanted to know.

"Sally is my neighbor from downstairs. We're friends. She promised to keep an eye on Calvin while I was at work," Olivia told him. Taylor nodded.

"So she scares them. They shoot her and take off. I've got officers canvassing the neighbors," he informed them.

"Good," she said. That's when they heard the elevator ding and out walked the forensics team. Detective Taylor left the SVU detectives and quickly went to them to explain what they had. Olivia heaved a sigh, losing what little patience she had for protocol. Elliot knew she was close to blowing a gasket. He wanted to take her hand in his but knew he couldn't.

"Ok, they are going to process Calvin first. He's got blood on his hands and he used his shirt to try and stop Sally's bleeding…" Taylor didn't get a chance to finish.

"He told me, I know. Why are they treating him like a suspect? He doesn't have access to a gun – even when I get home, my service weapons goes into the safe," Olivia said.

"We know that he didn't make any of this up. Your front door has damage to it. Probably if Sally hadn't stumbled onto the scene, they would have gotten through that door. It's just protocol – the shirt is evidence," Taylor reminded her.

"I know I just…" she started.

"He's a very special boy. I understand. Give the team a few more minutes and then we'll let you help him clean up. Do you guys have a place to stay for a few days?" The detective wondered.

"They'll stay at my place," Elliot spoke up. There was no room at his place, but Olivia wasn't going to argue. They'd talk later.

"With the door like that, how are we going to keep the scene secure?" She asked Taylor.

"Forensics will probably want the door sent down to the lab. Give me your landlord's number and I'll make sure the door and frame are replaced. He's probably going to want to remove the hall carpet and get the wall painted anyway," Taylor told her. He could see that Olivia was on edge as she flipped through her contacts, finding her landlord's info. He hoped that forensics hurried it up.

"We're done with Calvin," one of the CSU team announced from the doorway. Olivia practically bowled over Taylor and headed for him. Once inside the apartment, she pulled the boy she considered to be her son to her chest, ignoring the blood that was on his hands.

"Is Sally going to be ok?" Calvin asked.

"I don't know but what I do know is that I'm glad you're ok," she told him.

"It was so scary," the young man admitted.

"I know, sweetie. Come on. Let's get you cleaned up. Then we have to grab a few things. We'll be staying at Elliot's until our front door gets fixed," Olivia told him. Calvin nodded and the two headed down to the bathroom.

"Are they going to be ok?" Taylor asked Elliot. They had stayed back out in the hallway.

"They'll be fine. You just catch the bastards who did this," Elliot told.

"Oh count on it," Taylor said. Elliot nodded. He trusted this detective. Now he had to wonder just who was trying to hurt Calvin or Olivia. That was when his phone buzzed. He pulled the phone out of his pocket and saw it was a text from Munch. It read – "Think we figured out sheet. Heard about Sally. On way to hospital." The man was never a great texter. Elliot heaved a sigh and waited for Olivia and Calvin to come out of the apartment.

To Be Continued…