Chapter 30

Manhattan SVU, Manhattan, New York

Thursday, January 16th 2016

6.28 pm

Olivia and Ed Tucker sat facing Munch in the interrogation room. Commissioner Mathew Rockwell was stood outside making sure that Fin, Elliot nor Nick could listen in on the interrogation.

"Detective do you understand that you have the right to have a lawyer and or your union rep?" Tucker asked.

"Yes and I waive my right to counsel." Munch replied.

"Ok Detective where were you last night?"

"Home." Munch replied. "I've already told you that I have no alibi but I didn't rape anyone."

Luckily for Olivia and Munch the door swung open and Miranda Pond walked in with a smug grin on her face.

"I hope you're not talking to my client without me." She said smugly and Olivia felt relieved that the lawyer had arrived.

"I didn't ask…"

"My retainers already been paid." Miranda smiled without looking over at Olivia knowing the Captain could lose her job if it was ever found out she was paying for the defence.

John knew though, as soon as Miranda's mouth opened he knew who called her.

"We'll leave you to your client counsellor." Olivia said making Ed Tucker follow her out.

"That was hopeless." Ed snapped.

"Instead of trying to get him to confess you should try finding evidence." Olivia snapped angrily before marching to her office, the last person she wanted to talk to was Ed Tucker because he was convinced that Munch was guilty and she was sure he was innocent.

She paced her office where Nick, Fin, Elliot and Mathew had joined her, she had to wait for evidence to prove his innocence because IAB had put up barriers to stop them from getting anywhere.

When Miranda joined them in the office she was ready to get to work.

"So what have you got?" Miranda asked closing the door.

"Nothing, IAB took the CCTV tapes and we can't get copies." Olivia replied.

"I can get those, they can give them to me now or on discovery. They have to hand any evidence over." Miranda replied.

"I ran the MO through VICAB we have two open cases with a similar MO." Nick said handing Olivia the files.

"Ok… to find who raped Melissa we need to solve these cases, if we're investigating these IAB can't stop us." Olivia said.

"Good idea, how long can you keep this from IAB?" Miranda asked.

"They can search VICAB themselves I don't have to hand this over." Olivia replied glancing at Rockwell who nodded in agreement, they were interrupted by a knock on the office door.

"Enter!" Olivia called.

Ed Tucker walked in and scowled when he saw them obviously having a secret meeting.

"Olivia uh we need to interview your eldest daughter." Ed said and Olivia and Elliot gasped.

"No way!" Olivia hissed.

"We have to, she's close to the vics age and she has regular contact with the suspect." Ed replied.

"No way I have every right to refuse you talking to my daughter…right Miranda?" Olivia asked glancing at the defence attorney.

"That's right." Miranda replied.

"Olivia either let us talk to Melissa or I wright you up for hiring Detective Munch an attorney, I'm sure if we check your accounts we'll find a transfer from your account to Ms Pond's right?" Ed replied.

"That's blackmail!" Olivia yelled.

"No its fact Captain Cragen now either turn over you daughter or I'll talk to the ADA about taking you to court for hiding a material witness."

"But… but… no way!" Olivia snapped angrily.

"I guess we'll see you in court. I suggest you get your own attorney too it would be quite obvious to everyone if you turned up with the same attorney as the rapist."

"John Munch is NOT a rapist!" Olivia yelled as Tucker walked out. "Elliot call Trevor now!"

Olivia dove to her desk and grabbed her cell phone.

"Nanny Sue listen to me if any police turn up there asking to speak with Melissa you refuse, tell them you don't have parental consent and unless myself or Elliot is there no one is to talk with Melissa ok? Thank you." Olivia hung up and turned to Elliot.

"Trevor's on his way but we're not going to get to court till tomorrow." Elliot explained.

"Miranda?" Olivia asked.

"I'm going to speak with John and tell him to hang tight until arraignment in the morning." Miranda said. "And don't worry Ed Tucker doesn't have a leg to stand on about your daughter."

"Thanks." Olivia said before going over to her desk and sinking into her seat. "Nick and Fin start digging through those files and do what you want to prove that John Munch didn't rape any of them." Olivia said firmly.

Once Olivia was left with just Elliot and Commissioner Rockwell her mind went into overdrive, she could understand Tucker wanting to talk to Melissa but there was no way that Munch would ever lay a finger on her daughter… was there?

She hiccupped as sob that brought Elliot rushing to her side. He wrapped his arms around and her as she cried hard even though he had no idea why she was crying, he understood that she was still a little hormonal from having George.

"What if he did it El?" She asked as she began to calm down.

"What do you mean Liv?" He asked as he stroked a hand through her hair bringing much needed comfort to his wife.

"What if Munch did do this?" Olivia said and Elliot turned to look at her.

"What are you thinking baby?" He asked her as he looked right into her dark brown eyes.

"That we should let Tucker talk to Mel." She whispered and Elliot shook his head violently.

"No way Olivia, Melissa doesn't need these images in her head and she will also find out that her uncle is being accused of being a rapist." Elliot replied.

"But what if he hurt her?" Olivia asked. "She's not been to Munch's place alone since July when Ali and Eli had that bug."

"You don't really think he could have done it do you?" Elliot asked and Olivia shook her head.

"I don't want to think it El but when did we ever stop believing the victims?" She asked sternly.

"Don't put Melissa through this Liv." Elliot pleaded.

"She's my daughter Elliot… if he hurt her…"

"Don't Liv, there's no way he did he knows we'd kill him." Elliot snapped, there was no way he was going to believe that his best friend laid a hand on one of his children even if biologically Melissa wasn't his.

"Call Tucker, I'm going to call Nanny Sue and tell her to put Melly in a taxi." Olivia sighed grabbing her phone but Elliot grabbed her wrists.

"Think about this Olivia…" He warned.

"I'm thinking about MY daughter Elliot, and what's best for her." Olivia snapped.

"She's as much my daughter as she is yours…"

"That's not what you were saying before Cali." Olivia hissed getting to her feet.

"You know I didn't mean that!" Elliot snapped angrily both of them ignoring Rockwell who was watching and listening intently.

"Didn't you? Because Nicole still isn't sure of you!" Olivia snapped. "She's seven years old and she isn't sure whether or not you love her because you're not her Daddy!"

"That's unfair Olivia! I just want what's best for Melissa that is all don't throw this in my face every time we have a disagreement about Mel or Nic who as it happened are biologically not mine!" Elliot argued, he wasn't going to back down.

"Just call Tucker Elliot and don't make this about you for once! This is about Melissa and Munch!" Olivia snapped before walking out of the office, she couldn't stand being near him when he was being like that.

Ok so I am still not sure whether or not Munch is guilty, I haven't thought that far ahead yet lol sorry it's been a while since I updated this story too, it's been a tough one to write.