Thanks to everyone for the kind reviews of all the stuff I've recently posted.
Chapter Nine
Alex Eames often dreaded the sound of a phone, any phone, ringing. Since the start of what the press called the Library Slasher, her hatred of the sound had grown stronger. As she left work, Ross told her to shut off her cell. ("If we really need to find you, we will," he told her. "You and Goren are starting to look like ghosts…You need rest if you can get it.") She shut off both her phone and her mind for the early part of the evening and managed to enjoy the time with her family. But she limited her alcohol consumption to a couple of beers and avoided the topic of work. The latter wasn't unusual; Alex rarely talked about the job to her family. She was discrete and had no desire to worry her parents. The one exception was if any member of her family dared to make any disparaging remarks about her partner. Such comments brought a spirited defense from Alex, and her family learned to keep any negative thoughts about Bobby to themselves. There were no such remarks through the evening, but shortly after the cake and ice cream were handed out, Alex's cop brother found her in the otherwise empty kitchen.
"Word is that you've got a tough case," he said.
"Word is right," Alex sighed.
He pulled a beer from the fridge. "Word also is that there's some trouble among the detectives…"
A spark of anger flamed in Alex. She loved this brother, as she did all of her family, but he was the most protective of her family. He was a very good cop, but very conventional, and it was that quality that assisted his rise in the department. He didn't understand Bobby Goren, and in the early days of Alex's partnership with Bobby had encouraged her to consider a transfer. Alex knew that her brother had always kept an ear to the ground for any rumors about Bobby's behavior and that he considered her partner somehow responsible for the recent attack on her.
"My partner has not been the problem," she said, trying to control her voice. "But there are no real problems…especially after today…"
Her brother sipped his beer. "Lex…Like I've told you…Working with him may not get you noticed in the right way…"
The spark of anger flamed. "I've told you before," Alex said coldly. "I'm not in this job to get noticed…in the right or wrong way…And if having the best solve rate in the department doesn't get you noticed in the right way, I don't know what does…"
"But, Lex…you nearly got…He's been shoving you away…"
"He did not nearly get me killed…He was as much a victim in that as I was…" Her eyes flashed at her brother. "And things are good between us now…You're one of those cops who've never given him a chance…He busts his butt every day to solve cases and make the department look good…And he works…The answers don't just appear before him…All guys like you can do is stand around and criticize him…Call him weird and crazy…You know nothing about him…"
The vehemence of her defense of Bobby stunned her brother, who backed away from her.
"I'm sorry, Lex…Really, I am…But Goren says so little…He doesn't defend himself…and I worry about you."
"He doesn't defend himself because he feels like no one listens to him." Alex's anger eased as she sensed her brother's motives were good. "And you don't have to worry about me, at least as far as Bobby's concerned. He's always looking out for me…I plan to be his partner as long as he'll have me…"
After her encounter with her brother, Alex had no desire to return to the party. She made her apologies, said good night, cuddled her nephew, said good night again, and finally reached her car. As she drove away, she wondered why she reacted so strongly against her brother's comments about Bobby. "They weren't that different from what he's always said…And, God knows, we've been having a rough time lately…When did I start caring more about Bobby than my own family…When did I…" Alex shook at the revelation; she pulled the car over and stared at the dark road. "When did I fall in love…Oh, God…no…no…I can't…" She gripped the steering wheel as if it was a life preserver. "No…not me…not Bobby…not him…It's not just that he's my partner and it's forbidden…It's wrong…He's got so many problems…I don't know if he's capable of loving anyone …Or thinking that anyone could love him…But he's such a good man…Oh, God…what am I going to do?" She rested her head on the wheel, its cool surface providing some solace.
The thought of Bobby reminded her that her partner was probably caught in his own purgatory at the moment. Alex pulled out her cell, turned it on and checked for messages. She expected and hoped for one from Bobby, but the only number displayed was Olivia Benson's.
"No," Alex thought. "Not another one…"
She responded to Benson's message and called the detective. Olivia answered quickly. There was bad news—another missing woman who fit the profile of the victims—but there was also the first really good news they'd had in the case—Bobby's ideas had led to a possible suspect. Could Alex help her talk to the missing woman's family, who lived just outside the city? Alex swallowed and said yes. She met Olivia at the Corelli family home, and found herself interviewing Anthony Corelli. Mr. Corelli was a not quite stocky man with dark wavy hair and dark brown eyes. Alex thought he'd be a handsome man if not for the red rims and dark shadows around and under his eyes. Olivia had quietly taken charge of the two Corelli children, a frightened and handsome six-year old boy and a puzzled but cheerful two-year old girl. Alex watched Olivia with the children out of the corner of her eyes; she realized that the other detective's manner was very like Bobby's. At that moment, Alex missed Bobby very much. She'd asked Olivia not to call Bobby unless he was definitely needed. Olivia nodded sympathetically, and Alex sensed that she understood why Bobby shouldn't be disturbed.
Anthony Corelli offered nothing to help the case.
"You think," he whispered, tears in his eyes, "that …that monster…in the news…has her?"
Alex paused; giving bad news to families and friends was always easier with Bobby near. "It's a possibility," she finally admitted. "But not certain…We're doing everything we can…"
They left the Corellis with information about Victims' Services and promises to call as soon as they had any news. Alex knew the sight of the two children clinging to their father would haunt her dreams long after the case ended.
As they walked to their cars, Olivia told Alex about Mrs. Czechowski's disappearance. Alex groaned. "Bobby'll take that hard," she said.
Olivia looked at her sympathetically. "Yea…Elliott will too…"
Alex's eyes narrowed.
"I know," Olivia said quickly. "He's not your favorite person right now…But Elliott was thinking of the victims…He's not a cruel man…"
"Where is he?" Alex asked, her opinion of Stabler softening slightly in the face of Olivia's loyalty.
"Following a possible lead on the suspect," Olivia said. "The Clarets own a farm near a town called Claremont…"
Olivia's cell phone rang. As Alex waited for her, the soft snow flurries that had dotted the night sky turned to a full scale storm. The snow drove the detectives into Olivia's car. Olivia frowned as she listened to her phone. She thanked Fin, closed her phone, and turned to report to Alex. Fin and Munch had visited the Claret family residence in Manhattan; the family claimed no knowledge of Gregory's recent activities, but a maid, leaving the home after her shift, offered her opinion and knowledge of his character and activities. She was decidedly not an admirer of Gregory Claret, and reported that he was banished to the family's farm.
Olivia stared out at the increasing snow. "Stabler is going right into two storms…"
"Bobby," Alex said. "May be dealing with some storms of his own."
Alex followed Olivia as they headed back to the city. The swirling snow and wind made driving increasingly difficult, and Alex fought to keep Olivia's taillights in view. When the other detective's car swerved to the side of the road, Alex barely managed to avoid slamming into its bumper. Guessing that Olivia had lost control in the snow, Alex rushed from her car. Olivia was already stepping out of her car when Alex reached her.
"I just got a call from Captain Cragen," she said, her voice full of worry.
"Stabler and Goren…"
Fear seized Alex.
"They met and went to check on the Claret farm…They found Angela Corelli alive…but there was a bomb…They're both hurt…Bobby…" Olivia struggled to soften her words. "Bobby may be hurt badly…"
The world shifted away from Alex's feet. She nearly crumbled, but Olivia caught her. "Are you ok?"
Alex straightened. "Yea…We…need to get to them…How far is …"
Alex insisted on driving; Olivia handled the phone. A bulletin was already out for Gregory Claret; Fin and Huang were also on their way to Claremont and would bring the Corellis with them; Munch would continue to work back in Manhattan. Cragen and Ross would deal with the press, the brass, and different agencies. Alex, silently cursing the snow that slowed their progress, drove and desperately tried not to think of the worst case scenarios regarding her partner.
"Did…Cragen…tell you anything about Bobby?" she ventured when Olivia finally finished the last of the many calls.
"Just…just that he helped save Angela Corelli…and probably saved Elliott's life…" Olivia said softly. "He said that Elliott told him that Bobby freed her…that Bobby was in and out of consciousness…He's going to be ok, Alex."
Alex tried to concentrate on the road. "Why…why was he there?"
Olivia hesitated. "Elliott called him."
The storm kept Alex from glaring at Olivia.
"Alex," Olivia pleaded. "Elliott apparently called him because he wanted Bobby to know what was going on…Bobby was driving away from Carmel Ridge…and volunteered to back up Elliott…Elliott didn't ask him to come…But if Bobby hadn't been there…Angela Corelli might not still be alive…" She choked. "Elliott might be dead…Elliott's convinced Bobby saved them…"
Alex let out a deep breath. "Stabler…he trusted…trusts…Bobby…"
"Yes," Olivia said.
Alex concentrated on the road for several miles. "If," she finally said. "Bobby was coming back from Carmel Ridge that early, he must have had a tough visit…"
Olivia tried to offer some consolation. "We do have a strong suspect…a victim was saved…"
"Yea," Alex said. "I just hope the cost wasn't too high…"
End Chapter Nine