Chapter 2

Olivia swallowed hard and thought about the names she heard, Quinn Olivia Anderson. She thought Anderson and now Cleary, there was no way. Fin's face said he was thinking the same thing she was. Quinn yelled out, "What now? You make a weird face every time something is wrong."

Olivia apologized, "I know your mommy isn't alive, but what was her name?" Quinn wondered why the questions and shock, "Harper…" Olivia stopped her, "Harper Anderson?" Quinn blinked, "Yeah duh my last name is Anderson, it's a given. Geez, are you sure you're a cop?" Olivia laughed at her.

Pippa Cox, a social worker, showed up. Olivia asked what her dad's name was, but she only offered Joe and that she never met him. They needed pictures of her bruises. Fin stood outside the door as the nurses took pictures of her back and butt. She begged Olivia to stay after a huge tantrum about the picture taking. Her butt had one similar mark as her back, but from experience, there didn't seem to be any other evidence of ongoing abuse.

Olivia walked out with Pippa Cox by her side. Meredith Cleary was called and on the way. "Liv, you know both of those names." Fin and Olivia knew exactly who Harper Anderson and Meredith Cleary were. Before Fin joined the squad Harper Anderson was a rape victim. She was raped by Kenneth Cleary, Meredith's husband. After Fin joined the squad, the case resumed when Harper began stalking him. When Meredith could no longer ignore the evidence right in front of her, she shot her husband Kenneth dead. Meredith Cleary got off on self defense. "Liv, can you believe this? Craziness."

Olivia shook her head, "Gosh, Harper isn't alive. I wonder what happened. I lost track of both of them after Meredith was acquitted." They both stopped when they saw Meredith walk down the hall. She had aged, but not much. She was just like they remembered. She had jewelry, makeup, and wore a beautiful pants suit and heels.

She recognized them immediately, "Detectives, it's been a while." She looked in the room at her problem child, "About 11 years. Funny her mother brought me trouble, now her. How much trouble am I in now?" Olivia almost questioned her because of that statement. Quinn said they were together like a couple, but Meredith seemed cold towards her.

Before she could, Pippa stepped in, "I'm actually the one that phoned you. The detectives are here for protocol. We can use this room down the hall to discuss the next steps." Olivia, Pippa, and Meredith sat down together.

Fin sat with Quinn and watched her eat a burger and fries. "Hey, put the milkshake down and eat." Quinn had a little temper, but with a stern look or tone, she corrected it pretty quickly. He definitely thought the belt was over the top. Cragen called and was updated on the school, but he filled him in on the Harper Anderson and Meredith Cleary update. He was beyond shocked.

Olivia and Pippa sat with Meredith and she didn't wait, "So, what steps. I've known and helped take care of Quinn since she was a baby. I named her Quinn." She looked at Olivia, "Harper wanted your middle name for her, because you helped her so much. She never forgot you."

Pippa heard about the connection, "Is there another family member to take her until we clear the matter?"

Meredith sighed, "I'm it! Clear the matter. I spanked her, she moved. Did you even ask her what happened? I don't abuse her." That was an odd statement to make and it made Olivia and Pippa nervous.

Pippa disagreed and the fact that she was openly explaining it like it was fine only made it worse. "Mrs. Cleary, spanking on the buttocks with an open hand is fine. You may not use implements or leave marks. I'm recommending parenting classes and until you finish them, she will need placement."

They waited to see the reaction. That was a slap on the wrist. Meredith became enraged, "You know what, take her, she isn't mine. Years ago I was upset and traumatized. Her mother saw my weakness and I killed my husband because of her. Then I was actually dumb enough to fall in love with her. I thought we fit and belonged together. I guess I was wrong, probably about a lot of things."

They both saw the rage and became more concerned. This well put together woman was crumbling in front of their eyes. Pippa became more concerned, "You also have a 17 year old son, correct?"

Meredith laughed, "Yeah and he looks just like his rapist father. Take him too." Pippa and Olivia watched her become a monster. Fin heard voices from the hall and pulled out his phone. "Hey, watch some YouTube while you eat." He stepped out and watched Meredith Cleary storm out.

They headed to the squad while Pippa had to pick up Kyle Cleary. When they walked in Olivia saw Amanda. She gave Olivia a small smile and Olivia returned one. She felt something during that kiss and eventually they would have to talk about it, right now they had a case. They brought the team up to speed and all the information possible was pulled up on Harper Anderson and Meredith Cleary.

Olivia knew Harper was around during the trial. She also knew Harper and Meredith planned it, she just couldn't prove it. Harper Anderson gave birth to Quinn a few years after Meredith killed her husband. No father was listed on her birth certificate. So the name Joe wasn't helpful. She and Meredith lived together and she died of cancer when Quinn was three. "Yep, Meredith Cleary has custody." They had swabbed Quinn for DNA at the hospital, but they would have to hope a relative would hit.

Meredith Cleary was cleared of all charges in self defense. She collected all of his inheritance and money. Kenneth Cleary was loaded. They lived in an upper Manhattan condo. Things seemed to be normal. "No employment, but look at that number. I wouldn't work either."

Olivia went in to talk to Quinn. She was released when they left and had been playing quietly. Quinn frowned, "Where is Mer? Is she mad at me for running?" Quinn looked so innocent. She was and they needed her to talk.

Olivia explained, "Quinn, parents sometimes spank their kids, but using a belt is extreme. That's not right, so until we figure things out, you can't stay with her." Quinn seemed confused and immediately wanted Kyle. Olivia gave the nod and Fin brought in her big brother. "Kyle!"

He picked her up and spun her around, "Hey troublemaker!" He was tall, with blonde hair and blue eyes. He looked like his father. Olivia began to wonder if it was Meredith's punishment for the murder.

He put her down, "Hey Quinn, I'm going to talk to them okay. Everything's okay." He was older and had been told exactly what was going on. He was also very forthcoming. "I was young when it happened, but when your father is labeled a rapist then murdered by you mother, well the money, moving to Manhattan, some things you can't outrun you know. When I turn 18 the first thing I want is my last name changed."

He sighed, "I love my mom, but she hasn't been right since she pulled the trigger. She left me with Harper when the trial was over. I didn't even really know her. She left me with her for months and one day just came back. I used to ask where she was all of the time and then I stopped, because Harper became my mom."

Kyle told them they were a family, but they started to fight, because Harper dated an older man named Joe. "I met him a bunch of times. He was nice and used to throw the baseball with me. He said I reminded him of his son. He seemed sad, because he never saw him anymore. Quinn was born and I never saw him again."

Olivia wrote information down as he talked. Fin questioned him about his mother and Harper's relationship. "When my mom came back I remember her being quiet and sad. She was back but she wasn't. Harper helped her come back. They slept in the same bed and seemed fine. The fights started when Harper told her she was pregnant by Joe. Then she had Quinn, they were so happy, it was like old times. We were a family and they got back together, but Joe was gone."

Kyle gave them a sad look, "Everything was fine until Harper got sick. It happened so fast. I lost both moms that day. For months I took care of Quinn. Mom didn't leave, but she wasn't there."

Kyle had been playing grownup for a long time. He loved Quinn. "Harper would pop us if we acted up, nothing crazy or over the top. I was making noodles for us and I dropped the pot and hot water splashed on Quinn's leg, it burned her pretty badly." They looked at him and became worried, his body language was changing.

Olivia stopped him, "Kyle we can take a break if you need to." Fin stepped out to grab him a drink. Kyle promised he was fine and assured her it was good to talk about it.

Fin passed him the drink and he took a sip. "I watched her clean it up and Quinn screamed loudly. She yelled at me that she would get in trouble if we took her to the hospital. Quinn still has a small scar. She made me stand there. I watched her rock her until she was calm and asleep. She put her in her bed and came back to me with a belt. She beat me that day across my legs where Quinn was burned. She said she wanted me to feel her pain."

Fin and Olivia both looked at the doubled sided glass. Cragen, Munch, and Amanda stood there shocked. They continued to listen. "I learned that day. My mom wasn't right. I was good after that, wouldn't mess up, I was scared to mess up. Quinn isn't me, she has fire and guts. Between them it almost became a battle of wills. Her punishments aren't normal." Kyle told them she always beat with a belt, wouldn't feed them dinner or breakfast, and Quinn would get put into the closet for hours. "She tries to break her, but you can't break Quinn."

Olivia stood outside the door and watched Quinn smile and laugh with Kyle. "They act like nothing's wrong." Olivia smiled hearing Amanda's voice. "Kids don't always sense the bad. Kyle knows though, he's a good big brother for not letting on. I wish I could have protected my sister like that." Olivia watched her walk away and smiled because Amanda was trying to let her in a little, but was sad because of what she said. Amanda's life wasn't a fairytale.

Pippa found them a temporary placement with a good family. "Bye Olivia. Will you see me soon?" Olivia nodded and promised. Quinn gave her a big hug, waved at Fin, and grabbed her big brother's hand as they walked out to leave.