Disclaimer: Why didn't someone freakin' tell me that the Kraken can't leave the water. I'm gonna see if Ursula the Sea Witch will take my voice in exchange for letting me have SVU. It's worth a shot…
Now onto the Meat and Potatoes
Lizzie
Meetings and messages
"Casey, do you have somewhere we can talk alone?"
Novak murmured a yes and exited the court, completely unaware of the glances she was getting. They didn't speak again until Novak had found an abandoned room in the office.
"Elliot, where are you? We've all been so worried. How'd you find out about Liv?"
Stabler wasn't in the mood to explain at the moment but he figured that since he was asking Novak to go out on a limb she deserved to know the whole truth.
For the next hour Novak heard about Stabler's adventures and misadventures. When he told Novak about their trafficker the ADA began to understand what he wanted from her.
"Casey, Liv won't come home until she's sure this bastard'll go down. She doesn't want him starting a brothel on our watch. I need someone I can trust looking around, reading files, and anything else to try and find the men working on this plot."
Novak knew what Stabler was about to ask and while she knew she didn't have the time, it was Benson they were talking about, one of her closest friends.
"You want me to be that someone, Elliot?"
Stabler didn't pause before confirming what Novak had thought.
"Any idea where I should start, Elliot?"
Stabler pondered that question carefully. He didn't want Novak put in unnecessary danger.
"Start with contacting immigration. See if we can get a list of names of those who immigrated from Latvia to the United States within the past two years. After you get those names, find out how many of them are in the city still. Track down those that are."
Novak's heart was pounding. This would require her to file for several warrants with skimpy evidence. "I'll try, Elliot, but it's not gonna be pretty. Also, who am I supposed to work with?"
Stabler pulled the phone away and stared at it. What kind of stupid question was that? Novak should have been able to figure that out. If he and Benson weren't around than, obviously, she should work with;
"Munch and Fin but don't tell Cragen."
"Elliot," there was something in Novak's voice that didn't sound right. "Munch and Fin are in Latvia. They haven't found you yet?"
This was more news to Stabler. Why the hell would Munch and Fin be here? He voiced this question to Novak.
"Cragen sent them after you. The Chief of Ds will fire your ass if he finds out where you went."
Stabler had gone from calm to furious in seconds. "Why the hell would they fire me? I didn't leave for a fun vacation. If I did, don't you think I'd pick somewhere besides Latvia?"
Novak knew snapping at Stabler wouldn't help. Everyone knew about his sometimes uncontrollable anger. She decided that explaining the situation calmly and rationally, always showing that she supported his decision, was best.
"Elliot, we all know why you took off. None of us thinks you're partying while your partner's missing. No one thinks you're taking advantage of the situation. However, the Chief of Ds isn't as understanding. If he finds out you took off without the proper amount of leave, than they'll fire you."
Stabler knew Novak had nothing to do with this but that didn't stop him from being angry with her. Deciding that killing the messenger would accomplish nothing, Stabler wished Novak luck and told her he'd be in touch. His last suggestion was to work with George Huang and anyone she felt she could trust.
Novak hung up feeling almost more confused than before Stabler had called.
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The next day Benson found a way to make contact. A man in his mid thirties brought Stabler a note. He had shaken hands and introduced himself as Maxim Popov.
"Liv calls me Max so feel free to copy."
Max's accent was thick and he wasn't as fluent in English as Yaburov but Stabler was still able to maintain a conversation with him.
"I knew I be not able to communicate…good, so Liv write note herself."
Stabler had thanked Max and invited him to come in for a drink.
"I no think so, Detective Stabler, I get back home before I missed."
Stabler had smiled and shaken the man's hand as he had left.
"Thank you so much. I owe you a debt of gratitude."
Max had inclined his head to Stabler before leaving. As soon as he was gone, Stabler went over to read Benson's note:
El, everything is fine and my cover hasn't been blown. I might have found a link to New York. I've become more desperate and have often faked being too intoxicated to walk to my room so I'll crash in one of Yaburov's couches to eavesdrop. After most people have gone to bed, I look through the house for anything unusual. I'm not sure Yaburov sleeps because he's often having meetings at two, three in the morning. They sometimes discuss New York but they often speak in Russian or a language I don't understand. I hope to have a clue for you soon.
Liv
Stabler breathed a sigh of relief after getting this. He quickly scribbled a reply and had it ready to hand to Max when he returned around midnight that evening. It took a while to figure out what he wanted to say. He didn't want to sound like he was overprotective or doubting her abilities. Finally, he settled on filling her in about Novak and any name Benson could get would be helpful:
Liv, I called Casey Novak yesterday and updated her on the situation. She and George are going to start up an investigation by looking through immigration records. Casey's a little nervous about getting warrants with our flimsy evidence but I don't doubt they'll pull it off. Be careful when eavesdropping. I doubt this bastard would be sympathetic to you. Keep in touch.
Elliot
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Munch and Fin had little to no luck the next few days. They had no idea how many miles they had trekked and both were beginning to think Stabler might have left the country. They were in constant contact with Cragen, who informed them that Stabler had made no other large transactions, meaning he hadn't purchased a plane ticket.
"If Stabler doesn't want to be found, than he won't be. I need you guys here because the work load is starting to add up so come home tomorrow. I'll speak with the Chief of Ds and try to preserve Stabler's job. Hopefully I still have the same influence I once did."
Munch and Fin had proceeded to the local airport and purchased plane tickets first to Paris and than to New York. They'd be home by midnight the following day, factoring in the time change. Fin had called Cragen immediately, informing the Captain that they would be back in the office by nine the next morning.
"You can take an extra day off to catch up on rest and get rid of jet lag."
Fin had looked at Munch and repeated Cragen's offer. Munch had shaken his head, and Fin spoke for both of them.
"Truth be known, Cap, I think we'd both like to just get back to work and put this behind us."
Cragen understood and iterated this. "But if you need extra time, all you have to do is ask."
Fin had given his and Munch's thanks and hung up. Munch, who had been watching television during the conversation, seemed to have taken in everything.
"I'll be glad to get home."
Fin nodded and flopped on his bed. "Thought you were watching tv?"
Munch shrugged and turned off the television before sitting down on his bed. "Whole damn thing's in Russian so I can barely understand it. Just wasn't in the mood to speak with Cragen."
"Well get over that because we'll be home tomorrow."
Munch went over to his suitcase and pulled out a book. "At least I have one thing that's not in Russian."
"You read while I nap."
Fin had barely turned over and Munch had just gotten to the second paragraph when there was a knock on their room door. Fin sat up and Munch put his book down. Both men exchanged looks.
"Comin'," Fin called while Munch kept his hand near his gun. Fin looked out the peep hole and when he turned around, his face held a look of disbelief.
"I'll be damned." He opened the door to behold Elliot Stabler standing outside. Munch's arm slumped to his side. They had been looking for Stabler for what felt like an eternity and he had found them.
"Elliot?"
Stabler nodded and stepped into the room. "I heard you guys were here and I decided I could use a little help."
"With what?"
Stabler gestured to the two coats lying on the chair.
"Care to go for a walk?"
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Stabler, Munch and Fin spent a large percentage of the day wandering the city, Stabler explaining what was going on.
"Liv is refusing to leave until we find out about the New York brothel. She's trying to learn more but most of the conversations are in other languages other than English or another that she knows. She'll get a name soon, I hope. I wanna get the hell outta here before her cover's blown."
Stabler had been pleased that Munch and Fin had not inquired into the situation in great detail. They had mostly listened intently.
"This guy named Max is keeping the lines of communication open between us. He brings letters to me from Liv and than takes 'em back."
Munch and Fin exchanged looks at this statement. "Are you sure you can trust this Max guy?"
"Yes." Stabler knew Munch and Fin weren't convinced but Stabler knew his partner's handwriting. "The letters are coming from her. I'd know if they weren't."
"There's just something I don't like about the whole situation."
Fin nodded his concurrence with his partner. "Just be careful and don't include anything too personal."
Stabler thought back to the letters he had written. If Benson hadn't been the one receiving the letter than he would have just revealed their entire plan. Shaking his head, Stabler put those thoughts from his head. He trusted Max and he should have expected Munch and Fin to be skeptical because they hadn't met him.
"Liv trusts him and that's enough for me."
Munch and Fin must have agreed because they didn't say another word against Max.
"Have we thought about getting Liv out and just heading for home? I'm sure that this Yaburov guy isn't home all the time. I'm sure there's a time when we could rescue Liv."
"Thought of that," Stabler answered. "I asked her and she said that if it was discovered that she was a rat, he'd destroy all the evidence that she could use to incarcerate him. He'd probably kill all the young women in his New York brothel. Without that we have no evidence and he'd be tried here in Latvia. The courts here suck and he'd be out the next day and starting a new brothel, possibly on the remains of the old one."
"How about showing up and arresting Liv for crimes back in the States. Yaburov already knows you're an American. Might as well make it known that you're a cop."
Stabler found this idea appealing but he knew Benson would never forgive them if they interrupted her work.
"Let's just have a little faith in Olivia for the time being. If push comes to shove, we'll drag her home."
"Agreed," Munch and Fin stated together. "Let's head back to the hotel and see if that Max shows up again."
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Max showed up around ten that evening. He handed Stabler, who thanked him, a note and Max promised to return around midnight for the reply. As soon as Max was gone, Stabler went down to Fin and Munch's room. Neither Munch nor Fin trusted Max completely and both thought it would be best if they kept themselves out of sight for the time being. Together, they read the letter.
Elliot, I have a name for you. I'm not sure how good of a lead this is but I hope it helps. Yaburov mentioned an American on his list by the name of Kendal Evans. He said that everything was in place and they were simply waiting for Kendal Evans to get a report on profits. I waited for a while and Yaburov got a call around four this morning. He greeted Evans by name, they talked a bit and then he hung up. He declared the business a success. I think Yaburov met Evans when he was in college. I think he became a Latvian citizen, but I'm not sure. Hope this helps Casey and George.
Liv
Stabler grabbed his new phone and dialed Novak's number. When she didn't answer he phoned Huang, who answered.
"George, it's Elliot, I have a lead for you. Try the name Kendal Evans. Call me if you get anything. Where's Casey…in court? Okay, yeah."
Stabler hung up and turned to Munch and Fin.
"Casey's in court but George thinks she'll be out shortly. He's gonna run the name and call us back."
The three men sat quietly for thirty minutes. It was getting late and Stabler had hoped to have information for Benson. A closed brothel would be best. Then he'd visit Benson in person, arrest Yaburov and all of them would be on their way home to New York.
Finally, the phone rang. Stabler grabbed it.
"Stabler…yeah…damn…keep digging…yeah."
Stabler hung up and turned to Munch and Fin. "They have a match." Stabler paused. "Actually they have three hundred matches. We're gonna need more information."
Munch was thoughtful for a moment before raising a question. "Did they run his name through the system? We could look at those with criminal records."
"Already done and they narrowed it down to one hundred. They then went on to look at those with violent crimes and narrowed that down to five. If we can get a better description, we'd be in the money."
Stabler quickly scribbled his reply.
Liv, contacted George and Casey and they have narrowed the suspects down to five. We need more of a description. Anything you can get for us?
Elliot
As Stabler sighed his name he muttered a brief prayer that soon their crazy adventure would come to an end.
"Now and forever, you are a part of me and the memory cuts like a knife. Didn't we find the ecstasy, didn't we share the daylight? When you walked into my life.
Now and forever, I'll remember all the promises still unbroken. And think about all the words between us that never needed to be spoken
We had a moment, just one moment that will last beyond a dream, beyond a lifetime. We are the lucky ones some people never get to do all we got to do.
Now and forever, I will always think of you."
Carole King – Now and Forever
Author's Notes: You reviewers are making my day! Also, thanks to anyone who's read it and not reviewed. Hope you're liking it.
Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate and I'll see you tomorrow night:)