PS118 was a dingy looking building that stood out against it's new, modern surroundings. Colorful works of art done by the students filled the windows offering some color and friendliness to the place. Olivia approached the front doors of the school. She grabbed the left door and pulled. When it did not open she attempted the right door but it two was locked. She stepped back looking around for something she may have missed. After a minute she noticed a small black box with a speaker mounted to the left. A sign posted above it read:
ALL GUESTS RING BELL FOR ASSISTANCE
She pressed the button and listened. The box rang several times before a women's voice spoke.
"How can I help you?"
"My name is Detective Benson with Manhattan SVU I am here to speak with the school nurse." Olivia replied.
"Please come in. The principal, Mr. Porter, and officer Phillips will meet you inside." A buzzer sounded, followed by the loud click and thunk of a heavy lock. Olivia pulled on the left door and entered the school. The afore mentioned two people met her just inside.
"Detective my name is Donovan Porter, the principle of PS118. This is our school resource officer Derek Phillips. If you'll come with us we will take you to the nurses office."
"Thank you." They set off down one of the hallways. Olivia pulled out her notebook and started to ask questions.
"Mr. Porter what can you tell me about the suspected abuse?"
"Not here please." Mr. Porter glanced side to side and behind him as if to check for anyone listening as he answered. Olivia immediately became suspicious of the mans odd, shifty behavior. She made a note of it in her notebook and followed in silence.
After several silent minutes Mr. Porter came to stop outside the nurses office. He opened the door and ushered Olivia in. The office was small and simple. Several cabinets set against one wall, a desk against another and a door leading to a three-piece bathroom set into a third. In the middle was a standard doctors office exam table.
"Mrs. Graham this is detective Benson from Manhattan SVU. Detective this is Eloise Graham our school nurse." Mr. Porter hurriedly made the introductions while closing the door behind him. Olivia moved towards the back of the office. With the furniture and four adults the room became a lot smaller and moderately uncomfortable.
Eloise Graham was a plump, middle-aged woman with limp brown hair that fell just to her shoulders. She wore aged slacks and a button up blouse. Olivia's first impression was that of a women who had long since burned out.
"Mrs. Graham are you the one who reported the signs of abuse? What can you tell me about what happened and what can you tell me about the specious bruises?" Olivia asked.
"Yes mam. One of our second graders got into a fight with a fifth grader. The second grader got the worst of it, bloody nose and a fat lip. When I was looking him over for other injuries I noticed a very distinctive bruise on his back and several on his buttocks and the back of his legs. His name is Hanley Gains. He is a quite kid, loner, gets bullied. I've talked to him several times and referred him to the guidance consular." Mrs. Graham answered.
"What did you gather from talking with him?"
"He seemed fine. It's as if he was happy to be alone. He said his brothers are rough on him and that he doesn't get to leave the house much making it hard to get away from them. He's learned how to take a beating."
"How many siblings does he have?" Olivia asked.
"Three. Mia is the youngest, maybe five, Avery is seven and Macy is twelve. Only Hanley goes here. I am not sure where they go to school." Mrs. Graham answered.
"Ok. What can you tell me about the parents?" Olivia asked.
"Mrs. Gains is a lovely women. I talked to her once when Hanley was sick. She was like any other mother, concerned. She didn't come to get him though, sent the nanny."
"What about Mr. Gains?"
Mr. Porter had been leaning against the closed door suddenly stood upright catching everyone's attention.
"Mrs. Graham what do you know about Mr. Gains?" Olivia asked again.
"I have never met him." Mrs. Graham's answer was short and she seemed suddenly subdued like a dog trained to fear its handler.
"That is enough about the family. Lets stick to the injuries you found Mrs. Graham." Mr. Porter said speaking up. Derek the resource officer moved slightly towards Olivia. She became very uncomfortable with the current situation and wished she had back up. She wanted to investigate Mr. Porters and Derek's actions, but not wanting a confrontation and to keep things moving she pressed on.
"Mrs. Graham tell me with more detail about today." Olivia began to take notes but never took her eyes off Derek.
After a brief ten minutes Olivia was being ushered out the front door by Derek. Mr. Porter was with them until they reached the office then left saying he had urgent business. Once the door closed and locked behind Olivia she returned to her sedan. Her next stop was the Gains neighbors.
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Olivia arrived at the neighbor's brownstone. She parked on the opposite side of the street and watched for several minutes taking in the scenery. It was a typical upper west side neighborhood. Fancy, well-kept, clean rows of connected buildings three or four stories high. Each had its own unique door and front stoup. Some had gates, others had small grassy areas, and a few had stairways to a basement unit.
She made her way across the street. As she did she noticed a man standing down the street. He definitely did not fit in with the neighborhood. She made a mental note and continued.
She knocked on the door of the neighbors. After a few minutes the door opened to reveal a young child, maybe four or five. Olivia bent down to his level.
"Hello there. What's your name?"
"Landon." The young boy answered. From somewhere inside the apartment a women's voice called out.
"Why is the door open?" the women belonging to the voice appeared. She was in her early twenties, had dark hair, slender build and was wearing NYU sweatpants and an I heart NYC t-shirt.
"Detective Benson with the NYPD. I wanted to ask you some questions about your neighbors the Gains." Olivia said showing her badge.
"Landon go into the kitchen please." The little boy smiled then ran off down the hallway. "I'm Baily I work for the family as a babysitter." The girl said.
"How many days a week are you here?" Olivia asked.
"Four days. Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, usually for two or four hours. I go to NYU the rest of the week." Bayle answered.
"What do you know about the Gains? Do you ever watch their kids? Have play dates or anything?"
"No I have never watched their kids, they have their own nanny. I only ever see one of the kids, Hanley he is seven I think. I see him getting picked up in the morning and dropped off in the evening. Hired car like something out of the movies, the driver meets him at the door in the morning and walks him to the door in the evening. Wont even let him walk by himself always has him by the arm. Talk about over protective."
"It is the same driver everyday?" Olivia asked.
"Yeah. Except this morning it was a different guy. The regular one never says a word, just hard faced all business. The guy this morning was smiling a little and said hello to the kids waiting for the bus." Bailey answered. "Hey did something happen?" she added becoming curious.
"One of the kids got into a fight at school and we are just following up. Bailey can I ask how long have you been working here?" Olivia questioned.
"Two years." Bailey answered.
"What can you tell me about your interactions with the Gains?" Olivia asked.
"I have only met the parents once. The dad had Hanley by the arm in the back yard and was clearly angry; never hit him though, just yelling at him. Mrs. Gains I have seen a few more times. She takes Mia, the youngest, out to the park all the time. She is quite the social butterfly." Bailey answered.
"Mrs. Gains?" Olivia asked.
"No no. Mrs. Gains speaks only to be polite. Mia will talk your ear off. She is always trying to sneak over the fence to play with these kids." Bailey said giggling.
"How about the other two kids? Do you see them?" Olivia asked.
"Avery and Macy. No I don't see them very often. Avery will be out in the yard playing every now and then. Violent kid that one usually beating the snot out of Hanley." Olivia finished writing her notes.
"Thank you. You have been really helpful and if you think of anything else please call. Appreciate your time." Olivia handed her a card and walked down the stairs. She pulled out her phone and dialed a number. As it rang she noticed the man from before was still there but he had moved closer to her and had moved to the same side of the street. The phone stopped ringing and a voice answered distracting her from the man.
"Captain the nurse didn't have much to add but the principle is hiding something. I talked with the neighbors babysitter she said there are four kids. Hanley gets picked up every morning by a driver and dropped off every afternoon. Same driver every day except today. I am headed to the car agency next." She listened for a moment. "Yes captain. I'll be back to the precinct after the car agency." She hung up the phone and returned it to her pocket. She turned to head back to her car picking her head up just in time to see the man from down the street over take her.
It happened in an instant. She was forced to the ground her arms pinned at her sides causing her head to slam the concrete. She fought hard to pull free and access her gun but the man shifted his position on top of her. She felt the air leave her chest and a strong pair of hands wrap around her throat. She gasped for air as blackness edged its way in. Her arms and legs stopped moving without her wanting them to. It was the brains last attempt to get oxygen before it could no longer survive. Her head was spinning and her thoughts were of death, the end and how this was not the way she wanted to go out. The last thing she saw was the man's eyes suddenly widen with fear then the feeling of his weight leaving her chest. Air filled her lungs but not fast enough for the brain. The blackness moved in and she was out.