Chapter 4 – Background Reading.

Both Olivia and Elliot arrived at the office earlier than usual hoping that the files would be there waiting and to their surprise they were. Armed with a large pot of coffee the pair of them set to work reading. It wasn't long before Olivia's emotions began to get the better of her and Elliot noticed tears streaming down her face. She'd been examining the photo's that the police and the hospital had taken of the injuries she'd sustained, looking at them Olivia found it amazing that Amy had no visible scars that they knew of.

"I know I shouldn't let it get to me but I can't help it." She said wiping her eyes.

"I know, it's hard to believe that it happened to the same Amy we know, but it did and now here we are. I've just found her statement, part of me doesn't want to read it but the other part does." Elliot replied showing Olivia a piece of paper, she moved her chair round next to his so that they could both read it together, although the handwriting was tear stained they could tell that it definitely belonged to Amy.

- - -

I was on my way home from my soccer game, we'd played our biggest rivals and we'd won. I always walked home on my own, sometimes one of my brothers or sisters came to meet me but they only really did that when they were trying to get in mums and dads good books. It was still pretty light but it was getting colder, I was still in my kit because I wanted to get home for dinner as soon as possible, my eldest brother George was making my favourite. I heard footsteps behind me as a walked down the alley away from the school. I didn't think much of it at first but then I turned a corner and they were still there, I looked behind me and saw him, once I'd realised who it was I felt ok, Mr Grant was the guy who lived round the corner from us, he'd only just moved in but he seemed like a nice guy. But then he tried to grab hold of me, I told him to leave me alone but he didn't he grabbed my arm and wouldn't let go, I shouted but there was nobody there. He picked me up and carried me off to somewhere I didn't recognise. He tried to take my shorts off, I told him to leave me alone, I told him I wanted to go home, I kicked and punched him but he started doing the same to me only he was using some sort of stick, he was really hurting me and I was so scared. He put some tape over my mouth and round my hands then he took off my shorts and, then my pants, I tried to get away from him put he pinned me down, he was hurting me and I was terrified, I wanted someone to come and help me but there was nobody around. When he'd done he hit me over the head with the stick, the next thing I knew there were these two dogs near me, I was so scared, and then I was taken to hospital, all I wanted was for everything to stop and rewind. I wanted to go home, I wanted my parents, I didn't like how he'd made me feel. He'd raped me, even as a 13 year old I know what it is, Mr Grant raped me.

Amy E Novak

Mary E Novak – Parent.

"The pictures tell us the rest." Elliot said pain obviously in his eyes. "Someone she trusted, someone her parents knew." His voice expressed his anger; he couldn't help thinking of something like this happening to one of his own daughters.

"It's a little vague but it's to the point, there's no mention of her birth mark though." Olivia observed her eyes red from the stream of tears that had been flowing.

"She was wearing her kit still so it would have been visible. Hold on do we know where it is?" Elliot asked not realising Casey had arrived at the office looking exhausted.

"Outside of her right calf, a circle. She has a Yankees tattoo on her hip but she didn't have that then, I can't tell you when she got that because I don't know myself. She had her shorts and top on but not her soccer socks, just normal ones with sneakers so her birthmark would have been visible, only long socks cover it. There's no mention of it because it wasn't an issue back then, or at least it didn't appear to be one. None of the family ever gave it a thought; it's just like I don't know how to describe it. Now it's got her worked up, she was scrubbing at them with wire wool to try and get rid of them; she had a good go at them I can tell you, bled through the bandages last night. I take it you've got the name from the file?" She asked wearily sitting down in Amy's chair like she had done the previous day, for some reason she found being in the chair comforting.

"Mr Grant, lived round the corner at the moment." Elliot replied unsure on how to respond without upsetting or disturbing the young ADA.

"Winston Grant, a new neighbour or he was back then, he'd been to our house when he'd just moved in. It's what people in the area did, new neighbour invite them for dinner. We thought he was safe, after the allegations and the case were dropped he left town. What happened definitely rocked the peacefulness of Oceanside, in fact it rocked the whole of Nassau County. I'm trusting you'll keep Amy out of this unless absolutely necessary, she's in no fit state to do anything at the moment." Casey said not asking but telling them.

"The file will tell us all we need to know, how are you holding up?" Olivia asked rounding on the ADA; she knew it was important to make sure Casey knew that people were thinking about her also.

"Tired, Cody and I were up all night talking and watching her, debating over whether or not to tell our parents. We're going to wait and see how the case progresses unless Amy decides she wants them to know, she's the most important one in all of this, it's her rapist that's once again roaming the streets of New York. We're only spectators to her torment and fear."

"I know this is an out there question but do you have any idea where Grant went after he skipped town?" Elliot asked and Casey shook her head. "Figured as much, you just give Amy our love the next time you see her, I'm going to run a check on Mr Grant." He said standing up and leaving the two women alone.

- - -

"Don't worry she'll be fine." Olivia reassured Casey by placing a hand on her shoulder.

"You should see her Olivia, it's even worse than when I found her passed out on the floor, she's not reacting, it's like the lights are on but nobody home. Then there's where she was scrubbing its all red roar, she must have put a huge amount of pressure on it. And the worst thing is I know she's in so much pain but there's nothing I can do to help her, nothing. There's nothing nobody can do for her, I'd just gotten the old Amy back and now she's gone again, and this time I don't think she'll be able to pull through." Casey said beginning to sob as Olivia pulled her into a hug, she could feel Casey's sobs and her heart went out to her. Munch looked up concerned and Olivia just nodded in reply so he went back to work. After a few minutes Casey began to regain her composure.

"I'm sorry." Casey said spotting the tear stains on Olivia's jumper.

"It's fine, don't worry, I'm sure Amy will pull through this ok, but you know Casey I think you should let your parents know, I mean the pictures been on the news a few times now. There's every chance they've seen it, besides as much as I know how strong you are, I doubt you and Cody will be able to manage her on your own. You need some rest and I bet he does too." Casey nodded in agreement, she was exhausted from staying up all night watching Amy, and she'd seen the picture on the news numerous times and was certain the rest of the family would have done too. Her phone then began ringing, Casey took one look at the caller id and sighed, it was her mother and Casey would have put money on knowing why she was calling.

- - -

"Winston Grant, been living in Miami for the last few years, I've contacted the PD there and I'm waiting to see what they've got on him. As for us there's no record of the allegations for some reason, all he has is a few parking tickets. But there is a recent address." Elliot said with a slight smile walking into the office.

"Good, Fin you go with Munch once we've gotten the warrant, call Elizabeth Donnelly she's working on this one herself believe it or not, called me an hour ago to tell me the good news, apparently she's as anxious to get this guy as Casey and us." Cragen said as Olivia was about to stand up but he motioned for her to sit back down; he knew she wanted to go with Munch and Fin; actually she wanted to go instead of them.

"But." She started.

"He's a violent rapist, I know you're tough but I'm not taking the risk, I want you to go and buy those chocolates Amy loves and go with Elliot to give them to her." Cragen responded.

"But." Elliot said.

"You'd smash his head into the nearest wall the moment you saw him, Munch and Fin have more self control. And I think you two have more chance of getting anything from her, not that I'm pressing you or anything but I'm intending on getting the case reopened, all the evidence is still in lock up, DNA testing's much better than it used to be. Maybe Warner and CSU can find something that was missed so we can do this guy for the double." Cragen replied knowing that this would put the two detectives at ease. Even though they both knew that he didn't want them anywhere near Grant until they had him right where they wanted.

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