A/N: I own nothing.
A/N: Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers for both Like Trees in November and All Will be Well (same story, different title, one under SVU, the other under ER.) They are KaydenceRei, onetreefan, Clarissa, eve1980, LLF, and svu101. You guys rock! Keep reviewing!
The apartment was a sea of blue when Olivia and Elliot arrived. They joined the fray of people and began looking for the body.
"How did he do it?" asked Olivia to the nearest officer.
"Gun shot to the head," he answered gravely.
Olivia frowned. "Where is he?"
The officer jerked his finger behind him. "Bedroom."
Olivia and Elliot walked down the carpeted hall to the bedroom. Voices were coming from the open door of the room. The three people in the room looked up as the detectives entered.
"Detectives Benson and Stabler," said Elliot uncertainly, pulling out his badge as Olivia displayed hers. "Who are you?"
"Detectives Torellson and Fridel," answered the woman closest to them, gesturing to herself, and then her partner. Fridel was talking in low tones to the medical examiner who was bent over the body. "Homicide unit."
Olivia and Elliot did a double take. "Homicide?"
Torellson nodded gravely. "Gunshot would to the head." Olivia and Elliot moved over closer to get a better look. Eric was lying facedown with a pool of blood surrounding his head.
"Kinda hard to shoot yourself in the back of the head, Liv," said Elliot softly.
"You know this guy?" asked the medical examiner from the floor.
Olivia gave a grim smile. "He was the son of our rape victim."
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"So what happened?' asked Cragen sharply as Olivia and Elliot returned.
"GSW to the head," said Elliot. "Homicide."
"Homicide?" clarified Cragen in disbelief. "Where are we on the rape?"
"DNA didn't match anyone in our database," piped up Fin."
Elliot frowned. "Our only known next of kin just died-"
"That's where you're wrong," said Munch triumphantly. "Behold – Abby Wyczenski – or should we say – Abby Lockhart?" He produced the picture of Abby on her wedding day, grinning smugly.
"I've seen this picture before," said Olivia excitedly. "Eric had this picture in his room!"
Munch nodded. "Unfortunately, there's no listing for an Abby Lockhart in New York and we have yet to locate her in another state."
"Well keep looking," said Cragen. "Okay, people, we have two dead bodies in two days, both from the same family. One rape victim, the other one not raped. One suicide, one homicide – we need to find this guy's next vic and fast. I'll call Huang down for a profile. In the meantime-" as assistant approached Cragen and handed him a note. Cragen read it quickly, and then cleared his throat. "In the meantime, Benson, Stabler, crime lab wants you. Munch, Fin – find this Abby!"
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The ride to the police plaza was unusually silent. Olivia stared aimlessly out the window, while Elliot kept his eyes on the road. He finally spoke when he parked the car.
"You okay, Liv?" he asked her. Olivia didn't answer. "You know, it's not your fault."
Olivia turned to face him. "And yet, it feels like it is. Maggie killed herself right before we got there."
"Not right before," Elliot corrected her softly. "The uniforms screwed up too, Olivia. You know they should have gone in and done something."
Olivia gave him a small smile. Elliot took that as a sign to continue. "She was sick for a long time. You know that, don't you? She was off her meds for awhile, like Warner said. You didn't kill her – she killed herself." Elliot squeezed her shoulder.
"She didn't rape herself, though," said Olivia quietly. She opened the door to step out of the car.
"No," Elliot agreed, locking the door. "But neither did you – and we're going to get the guy who did." He smiled at her from across the top of the car. "Come on; let's see what all the fuss is about." Elliot led the way inside.
"Benson, Stabler, good to see you," said the CSU tech as they entered.
"You got something for us?" asked Olivia with hopeful interest.
"We found a really interesting 'something,'" he answered, opening a drawer. He pulled out a sheet of paper. "Read this." Elliot reached over and took it from him.
The writing was scrawled onto a sheet of otherwise blank white paper. Elliot cleared his throat and read aloud: "When you see this body, remember this: You'll be next, for you defied my kiss."
"How poetic," said Olivia sarcastically. She and Elliot exchanged worried glances.
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Dr. George Huang was waiting for them when Elliot and Olivia returned. "Detectives," he greeted them, "I think I may have a profile on this guy." Olivia and Elliot walked closer in interest. Huang walked over to the board that was covered in pictures of Maggie's rape and Eric's murder. "This man exhibits a lot of rage towards both of them," he began in his naturally clam voice, "but I doubt either one is his real target." He walked over to the pictures of Maggie. "Take this one," he said, "Maggie was raped. He rapes to exhibit power, and to give himself the satisfaction he was probably denied from his real target."
"Why didn't he kill her?" asked Olivia curiously.
"Ah, now that's where it gets interesting," said Huang. "This man knew the victim well enough to know she was bipolar and that she was off her meds for awhile."
"Stalker?" asked Elliot.
"No, I don't think he needed to," he answered. "He knew her previously, knew he wouldn't need to kill her personally for her to die."
Olivia nodded vaguely, considering this information. "And Eric?"
"I think your guy's favorite part is the rape because it gives him the most power and revenge. But he wouldn't rape Eric because he thinks that's disgusting. His ultimate target must be a woman."
"Why did he kill Eric?" asked Elliot.
"Because he wasn't sure Eric would kill himself," answered Huang. "He still knew Eric, but Eric was less predictable than Maggie."
"But why kill Eric anyway?" asked Olivia.
"To make his target suffer. His target is connected to both Eric and Maggie, probably by blood. Does Maggie have a daughter or sister?"
Olivia and Elliot exchanged glances. "She had a daughter named Abby."
"I'm not sure yet, but Abby is most likely the ultimate target," offered Huang.
"How soon will he get to her?"
"He'll make her hurt first. If Abby has no other blood relatives, he'll be after her next. However, if there are more people he can kill to hurt her, he will."
"She needs to be warned right away," said Olivia.
"We can take care of that," said Munch. He entered, brandishing a piece of paper. "We've found your Abby Lockhart. She's an ER doctor at County General Hospital in Chicago."