A/N: Eh. I'm not sure how this chapter turned out. It's kinda meh to me but I'm dying to progress the story line. I have a few twists up my sleeve. Also, I will put a warning in here. There is mention of rape in one of the scenes, so if you're sensitive to that, you have been warned. I don't own SVU or its characters. ENJOY.

Monday – 1:30 p.m.

Fin rushed back into the store, ignoring the startled looks of the tourists at the counter and threw open the swinging doors.

He could see everyone in the room reach for their sidearms, some of whom had them strapped to their hips and others who didn't. He was slightly out of breath from running, which he hadn't done in quite a long time, and his lungs were burning while he gasped for air, but the words fell out of his mouth quickly.

"Rita's gone."

"What? What do you mean?"

"She's not out there where I left her," Fin breathed heavily, his heart thumping nearly out of his chest. He leaned forward and splayed his hands out on the table. He felt Carisi come around the table and touch his back, looking on in concern. Liv came up on his other side.

"Maybe she went back to the hotel- "

"I was just there and she isn't. She wouldn't just up and leave when she knows what's going on. Something's wrong."

"Fin," Amanda said calmly, side stepping Agent Cruz. She bent over the table across from him, trying to meet his eyes, "Stay calm. And keep your voice down."

Fin wanted to snap at her, throw some nasty comment back and tell her to shut up, but that was his worry talking. Rita wouldn't have left the store unless it was important, he was sure. She was smart and she knew walking around alone out here, cartel activity or not, was dangerous.

"She told the woman out there that she had to go back to the hotel, but she wasn't there when I got there. Either she lied and left somewhere, or something happened to her on the way there or back."

No one dared to say anything, but Agent Cruz, Garver, and Barnes all looked each other with grim expressions. This wasn't lost on Fin, and he could feel dread make his blood run cold. Instant mental images of Rita, dead on some sidewalk, clothes ripped and body bloody, cropped up and he shook his head, willing them to go away.

"I'm sure…she's fine," Liv said softly, patting his shoulder. He wanted to scoff, feeling tears burning the backs of his eyes that he wouldn't let fall. It was stupid, he thought, that she was telling him it was going to be alright when her son and Barba, whatever he was to her, could be dead in a ditch somewhere.

He was about to voice that, too, growing angry that she was trying to placate him like one of their vics back home, but turned on his heel with everyone else when the swinging doors opened softly, revealing Rita with a determined look on her face.

Monday – 1:30 p.m.

"One more! C'mon. You can handle it!"

Rita smiled flirtatiously over her shot glass and downed the tequila, slamming it down on the table after she was done. She sucked on a lime wedge and threw that in the glass as well, eyeing the man next to her.

He was getting a little looser now, and his words were starting to slip finally. It had taken the longest time for her to even get him to entertain the idea of sitting with her at the bar. He'd been ready to get her to a hotel, but she played her cards right and forced him to change his mind when he saw she wasn't budging.

She was shocked she was even able to do it. He was the type of man that wasn't interested in getting to know women, or wining and dining them. He more or less wanted to get them back to their homes, screw them, then take off, so it took enormous amounts of uncomfortable flirting and light touches on his bicep to goad him into something non-sexual.

That was the first part of the plan she came up with on a whim, and it worked. The second part, was to get him drunk enough that she could prod some information out of him. There was a fleeting thought that this man might have no idea what was happening or know anything about Rafael and the kids being taken out in the open, and that this was all for naught, but something kept pushing her. She chalked it up to intuition.

"You can handle a lot," the man, Pedro, slurred and hiccupped, obviously impressed she wasn't leaning against the bar to try and keep from tipping over. She shrugged her shoulder and continued to smile at him, even as his hand drifted to her thigh. She fought the urge to jerk away from him.

"What are you doing down here by yourself anyway? It's dangerous for American bitches down here."

Rita kept the fake smile plastered on her face and twirled a piece of hair between her fingers, pretending to play innocent, like she wasn't trying to get him drunk and talking. "Just needed to get away. I've always loved Mexico. The beaches, the food...the men."

Pedro hummed, his hand drifting up further. Rita stopped it, hand gripping his wrist and catching his attention. He looked pissed for a moment, but turned back when another shot was dropped in front of him. He threw it back and slammed the glass down, but Rita ignored her own.

"Although…I suppose it is dangerous…with those scary cartels down here and all."

Pedro chuckled, ran his tongue across his teeth, "We're only scary if you fuck with us."

There it was. She highly doubted he even let slip that he was cartel, or maybe he didn't care. Maybe, he was trying to impress or her calm her fears by telling her that. Her eyes drifted down his arm, noting the various tattoos loitering his arms that all held the same, familiar design. The words were proud against his skin, or they must have been, if he had them tattooed continuously. She had an inkling it was the name or motto of the cartel he was part of, but he didn't seem too interested in talking anymore, as he leaned forward, invading her personal space.

Rita kept staring at him and didn't say anything, watching as his eyes trailed from her mouth, to her chest, and to her exposed legs where his hand squeezed her thigh. His mind was starting to drift dangerously towards a place she didn't want it to go.

"I don't know. Last night, those scary guys took that man and those two kids…and they were from a cruise. I mean, what did they ever do?"

Pedro shook his head, "Nothing. If the boss wants it done, then that's what's done."

Rita nodded, feeling her heart begin to race. The alcohol was getting to him the more he drank, making his lips loose, like she intended, but her confidence in getting him to speak was waning the more he leaned into her, his eyes filled with drunken desire that was beginning to make her skin crawl.

He got close enough to drag his lips across her jaw before she backed up, a split-second idea forming in her mind as she stood and grabbed his bicep. She wobbled a little, knowing the alcohol had gotten to her just a bit more than it should have, and she tugged on him, batting her eyelashes. He smiled predatorily at her as he stood as well.

"Do you want to walk me to my room?"

He looked her up and down and didn't answer. Instead, he dropped a bill on the bar and slung and arm around her waist, pulling her into his side possessively. She leaned into him, trying to ignore the stab of guilt she felt piercing her heart. If Fin saw her right now, leaning against this man who was stroking her hip and pulling at the cuffed leg of her shorts, she wasn't even sure what he would do.

Yell? Fight? Just turn away? Rita swallowed the nervous lump in her throat as they walked back towards where the store was that she had walked out of earlier…where they were set up, trying and failing still to come up with a plan. Fin would understand. Once he worked past the fact that she put herself into a lot of danger, he would understand. Hopefully, he would be happy with what she was about to do.

"Let's stop here," she pointed towards the store, seeing a few tourists exit with a few shopping bags, "I need to grab something."

"I don't have time."

Rita felt a slight bit of panic when he pulled her close forcefully, and tried to keep her from straying away from his side again. She was able to squirm away a little and turn to face him, pressing her hands against his chest and standing on her tip toes to whisper in his ear.

"Let me grab something and I'll let you do whatever you want to me."

When she landed back on her heels and ignored the spiral of nausea splitting her stomach at his vicious smile, she knew she had won this. He followed her willingly into the cool air of the store, hand wrapped around her wrist, as if he was trying to keep her from running away.

Yolanda looked at her with impossibly wide eyes as the two stepped into the shop and Rita had only a split second of eye contact with the woman to calm her before Pedro broke away from her, walking towards one of the coolers where racks of cheap wine and beer sat. He grabbed up a six pack and waved it at her. She smiled and tucked some hair behind her ear, eyeing the blue doors with urgency.

"Excuse me, do you have a bathroom?"

Yolanda looked at her slightly confused. Rita looked to see Pedro staring at her as well, and when she didn't respond, he slammed the beer on the counter and leaned forward, his growling Spanish words sending tendrils of fear through as he threatened the woman with bodily harm if he didn't answer her.

Rita looked at her apologetically as Yolanda nodded and pointed around the corner, where Rita knew there was a small bathroom, right next to the swinging double doors. She nodded and picked up a chocolate bar, throwing it on the counter.

"Could you? I'll be right back," she smiled sweetly again, twirling some hair around her finger. She felt stupid and disgusting acting this way, but it worked wonders on his drunk mind. He kept his eyes on her as she excused herself and made a show of acting as if she was unsure of where it truly was.

"Don't take long," he said after her and before he disappeared out of sight, she winked at him.

"I won't."

She quickly bypassed the bathroom door and quietly slipped into the backroom to see Fin staring at her with wide eyes, mouth open and relief flooding his face. She was quickly swept up in a hug, but she pushed away from him with an apologetic look.

"There's a cartel member out front…I think he might know something about Rafael and the kids."

Monday – 1:40 p.m.

Rafael was shaking by the time the front door swung open and he tried to act like he'd just been lounging on the bed casually, and not like he had found the passageway to a room underneath the house.

He was almost positive they had heard the bed slamming into the wall, which happened by accident in his haste, in an effort to push it back exactly into place, but when Juan walked in, a lit cigarette hanging from his mouth and even more bags in his hands, he was positive that they hadn't heard anything and Rafael had successfully gotten away with something.

The kids were looking at him from the couch, unsure, and he stood up and crossed over to them, squatting down in front of them. "Watch TV. Don't talk."

Noah and Jesse nodded, and Rafael had to run his fingers through Noah's greasy hair just to reassure the boy nothing bad was going to happen. At least, he hoped nothing bad was going to happen. He was quickly learning that Juan's visits could yield either good or bad results, especially after what transpired just a few hours before.

Rafael walked around the couch and stood just in front of it, meeting the man's eyes as he busied himself at the counter overlooking the living room space. "I brought more food. Some juice for the kids. Bread. Meat. I, uh…got some pull-ups? For the girl. Got some underwear for them, another change of clothes for all of you. Shampoo. Toilet paper. Basic shit."

Rafael furrowed his brow, noticing how the man blatantly refused to look at him longer than for a few seconds. Rafael didn't exactly mind, and he was grateful that they had some supplies that could keep them somewhat clean and fed. "Thank you."

"Don't." Juan slammed the pack of juice boxes on the counter and sent Rafael a mean glare. He suspected this wasn't exactly normal treatment for their victims, but he wouldn't voice that opinion. Rafael had caught earlier at Juan's face, when he cut the camera, called off his men and let him retreat into the house with the kid's. He saw the frown and tense shoulders. He didn't like listening to the kids scream.

It was different when it was just Rafael, getting beaten and pushed to the ground with guns in his face. But the children? It must have been a split-second decision and one that he regretted.

"This should hold you for a few days until we're done. After that, we'll cut you free."

Rafael nodded, glancing over towards the bed, where he now knew the door was sitting underneath. He briefly wondered if Juan ever thought that he would find it. He couldn't be so naïve to think that the victims that were brought here never searched for a way out. Or, maybe he could be. Maybe he thought that kids being here would limit the chance that door would be found.

"I brought some of these movies, too. My daughter likes them well enough. I think they will, too."

"You have a daughter?"

Juan looked at him sharply, pulling out some of the DVD's he waved around a second ago. He nodded after a moment and Rafael didn't say anything back, mind still wandering back to the room underneath the house. He didn't have a flashlight, and asking for one would seem suspicious, and trying to think of a reason for one would likely fail. The lamp could reach a good distance, but it wouldn't work if he decided to head down there.

Rafael choked back a cough as some of the smoke from the man's cigarette wafted towards him. He bit the inside of his cheek, watching some ash fall from the end of the stick and onto the counter. Juan cursed and wiped it away, looking over at him. The man raised a bushy brow and pointed at his cigarette.

"I brought some of candles, too. Sometimes the power shorts out here and it takes a while to get it back on. In case that happens, keep these close," Juan said, taking out a pack of long white candle sticks and a matchbook, placing them on the counter by the clothes he was unpacking.

Rafael felt his mind go blank, zoning in on the candlesticks.

"Alright, I'm out of here. I'll be back tomorrow in the morning. Be dressed and ready to leave. The boss wants to meet you."

Rafael nodded, forcing his eyes away from the unexpected gift on the counter and watched the man leave the house without a glance behind him. He didn't move until he was positive the vehicle had left, and only the guards remained outside of the door.

"Uncle, I thirsty," Jesse piped up, tapping on his arm to gain his attention. He nodded at her quickly went about grabbing two juice boxes from the newly acquired items, all the while rethinking this entire situation.

It could be mere coincidence that Juan had brought the exact items he needed to properly go below the house and search, but it could also have been a set-up. The man could have been planning on Rafael finding that door under the bed, and bringing candlesticks and matches? That perfect timing was suspicious.

So suspicious, he almost thought it better that he not go through with the possibility of roaming around down there. Maybe it was better if he wait out the week. Let them do what they need so they could get home and get this nightmare over with. But, then again, how did he know that was a guarantee?

He handed the kids their juice boxes and went about sorting through the bags, ignoring the two items that sat separated from everything else. Once the food was put away, and the rest of the items were stacked along the counter, he joined the kids on the couch, grabbing one of the few books on the bookshelf to begin reading. He needed to take his racing mind of something else for a little while.

Monday – 1:42 p.m.

"…What?"

"We don't have time to ask questions," she said quietly, ignoring Fin's questioning gaze. She turned back and opened the door a hair, double checking that she was still in the clear.

"Rita, what did you do?"

"Did you hear what I said? There's a member of the cartel, the one that could have taken Rafael and the kids. He's out there and he probably has more information. Go get him!"

Agent Cruz turned around and muttered something to one of the many agents set up along the wall. With a few taps on the keyboard, a clear black and white image was blown up on the computer screen of the front of the store. It was obvious they hadn't been watching the store front. The man leaned forward, audibly gasped and spun around to look at Rita. The woman looked unsure when Agent Cruz walked towards her.

"How the fuck did you lure Pedro Carrea here?"

Rita sighed angrily, knowing her time was waning. She was going to have to go back out there. She suspected Pedro, now that she knew his name, wasn't the type of man to be kept waiting. He would probably be banging on the bathroom door any minute now, demanding they leave.

"Does it matter? Go get him! We're running out of time!"

Cruz sprang into action, slipping his side arm out of the holster on his side. He looked to Liv, Carisi, and Amanda, and nodded at them. "Back me up? He's a mean son of a bitch."

Fin didn't bother watching them file out. Instead, he grabbed Rita's arm gently and looked at her, pinning her with his concerned gaze. Rita closed her eyes and swallowed, "I know you want answers, but not right now, ok? I did something stupid and that's all you need to know right now."

"Rita…"

He stopped when the commotion out in the front of the store grew loud, angry Spanish words among the scuffling brought Fin out of his daze and he pushed past Rita, telling her stay there. She almost scoffed at him, like she was going to go out there and help, but she didn't push it. Instead, she sat at one of the abandoned chairs around the table, and concentrated on the smattering of red pins sticking out of a map as the commotion grew louder.

Liv was the first to tackle the man to the ground, throwing everything at him that she could.

He caught her right in the eye, and she could feel it swelling and throbbing now, against the ice pack she held to it. She was leaned back against the far wall, next to Carisi, who had a bloody nose, but didn't sustain much more damage. Amanda, Fin, Garver, Barnes and Agent Cruz looked a little rough, with their clothes skewed, but it was a small price to pay for what they had gained.

"Fucking Pedro Carrea. Shit…you know how long we've been trying to find you? Bring you down?"

Agent Cruz had the biggest smile on his face, his pearly whites nearly blinding against his tan skin. "Jesus. Wait till headquarters hears this shit. They're gonna piss their pants."

Liv rolled her eyes as Cruz, Garver, and Barnes all exchanged a few excited words, doing nothing but pissing off the angry man that sat tied to a chair with duct wrapped around his mouth and head. Liv zeroed in on him, feeling nothing more than contempt for him. His eyebrows were furrowed over black eyes, and he was tense, almost as if he could break free from the bungee cord ropes they tied him up with.

Her eyes shifted to Fin and Rita, who were quietly exchanging heated words in the corner. Rita wasn't backing down and neither was Fin, especially after she had explained what she did. It was stupid and a very bad call that could have ended in her being raped or murdered, but Liv had to admit that she was glad the woman took the risk. She saw an opportunity and took it, no matter how dumb it was.

This could lead to something and Liv hoped it would. They were running out of time and with every hour that dwindled away, her hope was going with it. But, she was staying strong and so was Amanda.

"Can we get on with this?" Carisi interjected, irritation layering his tone. He brought the bloody rag away from his nose and cursed when he still felt the blood dripping a little, "Our window is closing and this fucker might know something."

The man's dangerous gaze slid over to her and Carisi and Liv stared back at him, willing him to try something stupid. That look on his face was making her hand itch.

"Pedro, Pedro, Pedro," Garver stepped up, and squat down right in front of him. "Got caught up in a pretty smile and a nice pair of legs, eh? Can't say I'm surprised."

Out of the corner of her eye she could see Fin bristle and Rita lay a hand on his shoulder, willing him to remain calm. Liv knew the man was close to snapping, something she hadn't seen from him in a long while. She hoped it didn't happen. They needed this guy to remain conscious.

"Oh, what was that? Are you saying something?" Pedro's voice was muffled by the tape, rendering it incomprehensible, which Garver enjoyed way too much. Liv was growing quite irritated with the theatrics and stepped in before Cruz or Barnes could.

"Move," Liv commanded, all but pushing Garver out of the way. She pulled a stray chair up to him and sat right in front of him. She fished her phone out of her pocket and quickly pulled up a picture of Noah, flashing it at him.

"This is my son. He was kidnapped at a restaurant two nights ago with my friend Rafael and her," she pointed behind her at Amanda, "daughter. Do you know where they are?"

Pedro tipped his head back and rolled his eyes, shaking his head. Even through the tape, Liv could see a hint of a smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. She pursed her lips and willed herself to calm down before she continued, "You're in the cartel that might have taken my son. We've already established that. Have you seen him? Do you know where he is? Don't make me ask a third time."

Pedro quirked an eyebrow and moved his lips under the tape, as if he was trying to move it out of the way so he could speak. Liv moved forward and ripped an edge, tearing it away none to gently so she could hear what he had to say. Once it was pulled away from his lips, he licked them and smiled at her, "Suck my dick."

Liv was out of her chair and her fist slamming repeatedly into his face, striking his nose and eyes and cheek and jaw. Anywhere she could hit him with that nice right hook she had, she did. Cruz and Garver bodily pulled her off of the man, trying to calm her down, but Liv saw nothing but red.

She rushed him when she broke free of the agents and grabbed him by the neck, putting all the pressure she could against him. His chair tipped back and his head slammed into the wall, his eyes wide as his air supply ran out.

"Tell me where they are now!"

"Olivia!"

"Liv, stop!"

She breathed through her nose but kept her hand strong and firm, despite Carisi trying to yank her off of him. Fortunately, for Pedro, there were men much stronger than her physically that finally pulled her off him, but that didn't succeed in lessening her rage. She kicked a chair out of her way and paced the room, blowing air out of her nose like a bull ready to attack.

"He knows something," she said, glancing at the man who was swallowing harshly and glaring at her. She turned to him and stepped up again, stopping when Carisi put himself between her and the man. She merely stepped to the side to see his face, "Tell us what you know."

"I don't know anything."

"Cut the bullshit, Carrea," Cruz said, his light-hearted tone from earlier gone with the excited smile. "We have you in custody. You're dead to the Knights, now. We let you out, spread the word you told us things no one is supposed to know, you'll end up dead, naked, hanging from a tree in front of your mamí's house."

"You don't know anything."

"I know plenty. Little things the Cartel doesn't think anyone would care about. Where you stash your shit. Where your safehouses are. Where you take those little girls to when you're high and wanna get off."

Pedro froze, his expression changing from one of defiance to a blank, far away, disbelieving look. The room grew deadly quiet and Liv made a disgusted face. Her stomach churned at the words.

"How would your brother react if he knew what you were doing to his thirteen-year-old daughters every Thursday and Friday when you pick them up from school?"

It was quiet for a long while after that. Pedro and Cruz stared at each other, never breaking eye contact. Liv shook her head and ran her fingers through her hair. She locked eyes with Amanda, who had tears shining in her eyes. The woman didn't need to voice her fears for Liv to know what they were. The same exact thoughts were running through her head.

"Tell us what you know and maybe that disgusting shit won't be made public when we throw you in a jail cell in Mexico City. You know how those crazy mother fuckers feel about pedos. You'll be someone's bitch in no time."

Pedro had the decency to seem somewhat affected by those words and Liv was glad. Cruz had chipped away at something, and it was enough to get answers. She marveled how such a hard man was broken in just five short minutes.

It took another long minute before the whispered words left Pedro's mouth and the hope that had been dwindling in Liv's body had come back full force with just two words. The only two words he would give them.

"The mountains."

Monday – 8:59 p.m.

The kids were bathed for the first time in a few days and he was relieved to see them in clean clothes, tucked under some blankets on the couch while a movie played on the television. Rafael sat in between them, running his fingers through Jesse's hair, since that was the only way he was going to get her to sleep.

Noah had taken longer, tucked into his side as he talked quietly to Rafael, asking why this had happened and when they could go home. He had answered the best he could, but he sensed the child knew that Rafael didn't know himself, and gave up asking after Jesse started to snore softly.

He fell out soon after, spread out on the other end of the couch with his feet propped up on Rafael's thigh, dead to the world with a belly full of food and soft blanket wrapped around him. The couch wasn't the most comfortable, having sat on it for hours and getting up with an aching back when he had to make something for dinner for them.

He was going to have to move them to the bed, but first…

He had been mulling over the candlesticks and the matches all day. He forced himself to stay sitting on the couch, despite his hands itching to move the bed, throw that door open and descend into the darkness with his newly acquired items. He weighed the pros and cons, his mind constantly going back and forth all day as he moved around the house, serving dinner and bathing the kids quickly in the tub.

The cons ended up outweighing the pros by far, but there was still that little voice in the back of his head that was telling him to do it, nagging at him to just go down there and look. If he was quick and looked around, what harm could be done?

Juan said that he wouldn't back until morning, and Rafael was almost confident that those armed guards outside the door couldn't hear much of anything inside the house. They hadn't peeked their heads in once since they arrived, so the likelihood of them doing so while he was down there was slim.

He bit his lip and stood up, quietly, gently untangling his hand from Jesse's blonde locks and moving Noah's feet to the side. He walked to the kitchen and grabbed the items, looking them over in his hand as he walked towards the bed. He pulled the nightstand and bed both far away just so he could open the door. He grabbed the lamp from the nightstand and brought it down to the floor, the light shining in just the tiniest bit. He still couldn't see anything, but he could see a small ladder leading down there.

He swallowed the lump in his throat as he opened the candles, the plastic that covered the crinkling loudly, but not enough to wake the kids. He sat there for a moment, biting the inside of his cheek as he looked down into the pitch-black hole. There were so many things that could go wrong, but he was holding out some hope for that 1% of possibilities that something could go right. It was a small chance, but it was there.

"Fuck it," he whispered to himself and swiftly lit a candle, the small flame enough for him.

He descended without another thought or word.