"In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories."
It Comes with the Badge
Last time:
Christina,
I missed you terribly last night. I hope you're having a wonderful Christmas. Elliot and Olivia are getting married! I think there's something else you might want to know. I might be going undercover for the Velez case... I switched to the DEA while Olivia's on maternity leave. He's been raping and murdering young girls, Christina. One's that look just like Alex did. I won't be set up as a potential victim, I made sure, so don't worry. I'll let you know how it goes. I love you too, darling!
Sincerely,
SammieChapter Fifteen
Undercover
Ryan bit her lip gently as Camellia Anders, the DEA's stool pigeon, introduced her to Cesár Velez. It took all her self-restraint to flirtatiously extend her hand and shake his. "I'm Cindy, Cindy Blakeford."
He kissed her hand with a repulsively wet kiss, "I'm sure you know who I am..."
Camellia smiled. "Cindy here's looking for someone to hook her and a few of her friends up. She says she's willing to pay top dollar."
Sam interrupted her, "Assuming I get top of the line material, that is."
Cesár's eyes were unabashedly wandering over her body. Ryan felt terribly uncomfortable in the miniskirt, stilettos, camisole and suit jacket she was wearing. It was definitely not her style, but with all the diamond bracelet, earrings and necklace that Detective Stratford had hung on her, she looked richer than Paris Hilton. "Of course, the lady will get the cream of the crop. Assuming, that is, that she shares her company with me as well."
Camellia nodded. "She's been so informed."
"Well," Ryan put her hands on her hips, "That depends on what sort of company you're expecting." She stood up straight. "I'll be blunt. You won't get sex out of me."
"But I'm available." A tall blonde, Ryan's co-worker, walked up to her side. "I'm Clarissa Reynolds. Cindy's best friend." Ryan couldn't believe Detective Kindra Laki was being so bold. This was only her third undercover op. She was wearing a white mini-skirt, a red tube top and red stiletto sandals.
Cesár's eyes explored her body with equal interest. "While your friend here is more my type, I suppose you will do." He turned back to Ryan. "You play hard to get, I like that." He gave a hearty laugh and a slimy smirk.
Ryan smiled. "I'll put on any sort of show you want, you can tell people we're together... The works, I just will not sleep with you."
Camellia looked impressed, but didn't say anything.
"Alright then, I'll take you both on board." He leaned back in his chair. "I can get you only so much a week until I know that I can trust you." He turned to stare straight at Ryan again. "I want you to attend a dinner with me tomorrow night. Some associates of mine from Columbia will be visiting. They're very important people so you will need to make a very important impression." He turned to Camellia, "Call Carmen and make sure she takes this girl shopping. This outfit won't do."
Ryan looked down at her outfit. What was wrong with it? "I'd love to."
Cesár grinned. "Take your friend, Clarissa, with you too. Anything you buy will be on me." He stood, embracing Clarissa first and then 'Cindy.' His hand roamed over her body as he embraced her, grabbing her ass firmly. She fought back her gag reflex and grinned, purring in his ear. Don't blow your cover. Just act.
Pulling away from him, she kissed both sides of his face. "It was a pleasure doing business with you." She handed him a card. "That's my cell number on there."
"A lawyer? Wow..." He looked interested.
She smirked. "Defense lawyer, I handle the drug lords' cases quite often. It's all hush-hush. If you ever need help, you know who to call."
Clarissa extended her hand. "She'll contact me, I'm afraid my husband does the working at my house." Ryan bit back a snort, so Clarissa, a cop, was playing the ritzy bitch wife. Thrilling.
---
Olivia's stomach had swollen much larger in the past month and she was beginning to waddle around. February still held the icy bite of winter when she left to picked up the kids wrapped tightly in a sweater. Mariah sat in a car seat in the back. Turning on the radio, she headed to pick up Kathleen, Liz and Dickie.
---
Elliot sighed wearily as he arrived back at the station house. With the Velez case under the DEA's command, he and Serenity had little to do. As soon as he sat down though, a young girl walked in to the bull pen. Her pretty green eyes were red-rimmed and her cheeks tear-stained. He walked up to her quickly, "Can I help you?" From a closer vantage point she looked about ten years old.
She nodded slowly, her long red hair falling over her shoulder. "I think I'm pregnant." The young girl sobbed hard, leaning against his shoulder for support. Elliot motioned for Serenity to come over and she did.
Serenity sat on the other side of the young girl. "It's okay honey," she put an arm around her and freed Elliot to go talk to the Captain. "What's your name?"
"Lani Strell." More tears streamed down her cheeks.
"How old are you, honey?" The young detective spoke soothingly, trying to calm the young girl.
She sniffled, "Eleven and a half." Her fingers toyed with a tissue that she'd dampened and crumpled in her palm.
Serenity smiled. "It's okay Lani, you're okay. Do you know who the daddy of your baby is?"
Lani opened her mouth to speak before clamping it shut and looking desperately at Serenity. Serenity looked rather clueless, calling to Elliot for help. Elliot took one look at her and pointed to his right. "Down that hall on the left. Serenity, get her to the bathroom!"
Realization dawning on her, Serenity rushed the young girl to the bathroom and waited outside. After several moment, she heard the toilet flush, the sink run and then the door open. "Sorry." She looked terribly embarrassed.
"It's all right," Serenity led her out to her desk. "Now, do you know who the father of your baby is?"
Lani shook her head. "I'm not sure."
Now it was Detective Brown's turn to feel nauseated. "Well, have you slept with anyone recently?"
The young girl looked confused, "What do you mean? I sleep with Bobo."
"Who's Bobo?"
Lani grinned, "My toy clown."
Serenity did not have a good feeling about this. "Do you know what sex is, Lani?" She shook her head. Damn, someone had done a great job of sheltering this girl. Detective Brown took a deep breath, "Okay Sweetheart, I'm going to ask you a very personal question but it's important that you answer truthfully..."
She nodded slowly. "Alright."
"Has anyone ever touched you here," Serenity motioned to her own chest, "Or here?" she motioned between her legs.
Lani looked up at her with her intense green eyes and nodded slowly.
Serenity smiled supportively, "Alright, now can you tell me who?"
The ten year old shook her head. "No..."
"Why not?" And this had looked so promising... Serenity sighed.
"Daddy said I couldn't. I told him, and he said not to tell anyone."
Serenity looked to her partner. "You got the home address yet?"
Elliot held up a slip of paper, "Yeah." Serenity led Lani in to talk to George before pulling on her coat.
"The kid says she told her dad who molested her... But her dad told her to keep her mouth shut."
"Great, I've got the feeling we're going to be dealing with a lot of lawyers on this one." He frowned and headed out to the sedan.
---
Life was just getting more and more hectic with the four kids in the house. Olivia tried to order the pizza while Kathleen whined about needing the phone and Liz and Dickie argued in the next room. She covered the mouthpiece and glared at Kathleen, "Go tell your brother and sister to keep it down!"
Stomping her foot in irritation, Kathleen walked out of the room. Olivia finally finished the order and hung up the phone. Something wasn't right, she felt dizzy and the room began to spin. A sharp pain seared through her abdomen. "Kathleen!"
"I'm trying!" The girl yelled, thinking Olivia was talking about the bickering twins.
"Kathleen, call Maureen. I think there's something wrong with the baby." She couldn't very well drive herself to the hospital, she could hardly hold herself up. Kathleen ran in and stared at Olivia in shock a moment before picking up the phone and urging her sister to hurry over.
The young girl helped Olivia on to the couch. "Should I call 911?"
Olivia shook her head, "No, not yet." God it hurt, her whole lower body was searing with pain. She was only seven months along! The baby wasn't due for three months! Her mind raced at all the possibilities and it only make her worry more. "Get you sister and brother upstairs and have them play a game or something, I don't want them worried too. Oh, make sure the front door's unlocked first."
Kathleen nodded obediently as Olivia cringed again. Bloody hell! If labor is worse than this than Elliot was SOL; one kid would have to suffice.
---
Ryan looked appalled at the short black cocktail dress that Carmen had picked out for her. It had a plunging v-neck that showed off her smaller breasts. Her long legs were accentuated by four-inch heels. She dreaded having to go out in this outfit. Carmen seemed to love it though and told her it was just right.
Clarissa was wearing a floor-length red dress that clung to her voluptuous curves. It too had a deep halter neckline, but her breasts were much more accentuated. As she stepped towards the mirror, a dangerously high slit crept up to her mid-thigh.
Weakly staring at herself in the mirror, Ryan sighed resignedly before going to take it off. Carmen would buy it, she would wear it. She had no choice, she had to do this. Ryan took a deep breath and slid back in to her business skirt and suit jacket. A chain of soft pink pearls dangled around her neck. She was dressed a lot like how Alex used to dress, and it made her miss the ADA more. Tonight she'd go to this event that Cesar was hosting, and she'd wear that dress, but she wouldn't have to like it. She was doing this for Alex, she couldn't mess it up. Taking a deep breath, she walked out of the dressing room.
---
"Mr. Strell? Detective Stabler, Manhattan SVU. This is my partner Detective Brown," he held up his badge and Serenity did the same, "We'd like to ask you a few questions."
A man with dirty blond hair and a receding hairline looked from Detective Stabler to Detective Brown. "Come in Detectives." He opened the door wider to let them by. "Is this about Lani?"
Serenity sat down on the couch in the living room, watching him intently. "Did you know that your daughter is pregnant?"
"What?" Mr. Strell looked alarmed.
Elliot smirked, "You're a good actor Mr. Strell, but your daughter told us that you already knew."
He shook his head, "No...She must've meant her mother's new husband. I haven't seen her in two years... Can I come see her?"
Serenity sighed, "I'm afraid that if you don't have at least partial custody that we can't allow it.
Elliot frowned, "Well, we could take you down for questioning... And you might happen to get a glimpse of her on the way..."
His eyes lit up, "Yes. Thank you."
Serenity looked at Elliot in surprise, "You know we shouldn't do this..."
Elliot shook his head, "I'll feel better for doing it. A man should be able to see his daughter, especially after finding out that she is pregnant."
Mr. Strell followed them out to the sedan, where he climbed in to the back and was escorted to the station.
Once they were in the interrogation, Elliot frowned. "Do you have your ex-wife's address? Or her name will do..."
"Um, yah. Her name's Janet Kross." He looked in the direction he'd seen his daughter. "How could she let this happen to her?"
Serenity left to look up the name as Elliot sat with him. "I'm not sure. Your daughter told us that her father, or now we're assuming she meant her step-father, knows who got her pregnant. We'll find out who it is."
Mr. Strell looked very stressed out, "Is she going to have the baby?"
Elliot shrugged, "A psychiatrist is with her now..."
Captain Cragen walked in, "Elliot..."
He walked out and joined the Captain. "What is it?"
"Serenity just called the Kross house... She's not been remarried. She's not even dating anyone..."
Elliot looked at the father through the two-way mirror. "Bastard." His fists were clenched in anger. He opened the door and glared at the man. "Thought you'd try and pull one over us!?"
Mr. Strell looked confused, "What?"
"Your ex-wife isn't remarried! Detective Brown just spoke with her on the phone!"
"That's not true!" He looked angry, "I did NOT know that my daughter was pregnant! I haven't seen her in two years! Have your psychologist ask her that!"
---
Olivia groaned loudly as her OB ordered her to stay off her feet, confining her to bed rest for the next three months. Maureen gave her a firm glance as she led her out to the car, "You'd better listen to her too. I'll pick up the kids from school. I'll tell the kids to make sure you aren't on your feet too much."
She shot the eldest Stabler girl a rather annoyed look. "I can't stay off my feet for three months! I'll get so fat!" Olivia laughed faintly as she listened to herself.
Maureen smiled, "You'll be fine, now let's get you home and call Elliot."
End Chapter Fifteen
