Lady Liberty

It has been 3 days and no one has found a thing on the son of man. He's like a shadow that slips under floorboards. Every available detective has been working hard to find more information on the where-abouts of Olivia Benson and her abductor. Elliot was sifting through the papers on Olivia's desk once again hoping that she had found something that would help them. After 3 days of interviewing the family and friends of Jacklyn, Regina, and Lauren, so far all that he could come up with was that they all attended the "Women of the Future" banquet in September. That was one week before the first victim, Lauren Armond, went missing. Munch was in the back room watching endless footage from the security cameras, and Fin was on the phone with the computer tech lab.

Fin put down the phone and got everyone's attention, "Ok listen up. Tech lab said the e-mail address belongs to a James Preston. None of our records bring him up in the system, so either he's made himself another identity or this is his first time with the public eye. They also traced the e-mails and found that it was used at 10 different locations. Five of those locations are Internet cafes, 3 of them are from his victim's offices, one of them is from an address in Jersey, and the last one was from this office. I've already questioned the Internet cafes and left all of the pertinent information about our perp. Besides the back of his head, we have no visible picture of him from security cameras. The tech lab just called about the website history on his victims computers and they found that our perp checked his e-mail. The computer here at the office was used for e-mail checking and paper printouts. They also found out that he was receiving e-mails from all of his victims two days before each of their missing persons dates. These were all e-mails setting up the meetings in which he posed as different clients to abduct them. So far the only hard evidence we have is the Jersey address that belongs to a Margaret Turintin. Margaret has some hard money and also attended the "Women of the Future" banquet. Right now, we're thinking she could be his next victim or that she was going to be his next victim."

Munch threw the remote control down, "I've got a repair man here signing in at the security desk. I'd say this is our guy, but his face is not visible. He's wearing a low baseball cap in all of these shots and he knows exactly how to turn his face away from the cameras. He's checked in everyday so far, so he must work here. He's the only guy that has entered the building in our time frame. Security says his name is Jimmy Smith and he just started working here 3 months ago. He conveniently disappeared the day Olivia went missing. Hasn't been back since. Security also described his face to have scars all of it. We have him with a sketch artist right now. I'm going to sift through the first couple of days he started here. He had to have messed up somewhere."

Elliot added, "So he was here right under our noses and not one of us noticed? Where are his paychecks going?"

Fin replied, "It's a P.O. Box and he has never used it. He just got the box to get the job."

Elliot sighed, "So what you're saying is we got nothing."

Fin held up a slip of paper, "We have this Jersey address. Let's go check it out."

Scene: Home of Margaret Turintin

Elliot and Fin drove to a rich suburb just past the New York boarder in New Jersey. There they knocked on a big red door and a little old man in a suit answered, "How may I help you?"

Elliot pulled out his badge, "NYPD. We need to speak with Margaret Turintin."

The old man asked, "May I ask what this is involving?"

Elliot replied, "Police matters. Sir, if Margaret Turitin is home we need to speak with her immediately."

The old man invited them into the parlor, "One minute gentlemen. I'll have to prepare the lady for your visit." He bowed and shuffled out of the door.

Fin and Elliot sat in the floral patterned room on tiny chairs. Fin broke the silence, "I feel like I've stepped into the ugly museum."

Elliot ignored him. He felt like a clock was ticking at one hundred decibels in his mind.

Finally, the little old man shuffled back into the parlor and announced his lady, "Gentlemen, Ms. Margaret Turitin."

Margaret was an older woman with a hard face. Her dark blue dress looked like it had been stolen from a disco ballroom for the rich and her hair was tight in a French twist on the back of her head.

"Good afternoon gentlemen, how can I help you?"

Fin spoke first, "Margaret, we have reason to believe that your computer is being used by a homicide suspect. Do you know anybody by the name of James Preston or Jimmy Smith?"

Margaret sat in a big orange chair and her eyes grew wide as he spoke the names, "Well, of course I do. James Preston is my son."

Fin gave Elliot a look and turned his back to Margaret. "Ma'm has James visited you in the past 3 days?"

Margaret replied, "Detectives, I haven't spoken or seen my son in 10 years, so I don't know how he could possibly be using my computer. What kind of trouble is James in?"

Fin sat forward, "We can't discuss the information at this time with you, but it is important that we find him. Is there any way that he could have broken into your home and used it without you knowing?"

Margaret replied, "I have the best security system money can buy, I'm sure that would have been quit impossible."

Elliot was getting agitated by this whole conversation, "Ma'm, is there any information you can give us about James' where-abouts? It is very important that we reach him as soon as possible."

Margaret asked, "Even if I knew, why should I tell you?"

"I realize you're only trying to protect your son, but if we could talk to him, we could clear this whole situation up. Do you know where we could find him?"

"I haven't a clue detectives."

Fin pressed her with more questions, "Are you sure? Do you have any other homes or properties that he could be staying in?"

"Why yes. I have many homes and offices. My late husband, Boris Turintin, was the President of Tyco International."

A light bulb went off in Elliot's head, "Do you own offices in any of these buildings? " He flipped the pages of his notebook and handed it to her to read.

Margaret look at the page, "Where did you get this information from?"

Elliot tried to explain without giving away too much information, "There have been three women from each of these office buildings found raped and murdered. We believe your son knows something that might help us find our perp."

Margaret cried, "Oh dear god, that just can't be."

Fin took the notebook from her hand, "Unfortunately it can. Can we get permission to search any of the properties that your son might be located in?"

Margaret replied with force behind her voice, "Absolutely not. Those are private. I can't have you traipsing about my private homes. There would be no reason for James to be there in the first place. He had made it very clear the last time we spoke that he wanted nothing to do with me."

Elliot was boiling inside, "Ma'm, if you don't give us those addresses and the permission we're just going to get a warrant and come back."

Margaret huffed, "Well you do that detectives, but I'm not giving you a thing until I have to."

Elliot stood with anger in his eyes, "Listen lady, a very dear friend of mine is going to die if we can't find her in the next three days. Now if you have any information about your son you better hand it over."

Margaret was speechless and appalled by Elliot's manner. She scuttled to the door and paused to think about it, "7845 E. Chestfield, Dannemora, NY. That was James' favorite home. That's where we lived before I married Boris. I kept the home especially for him. If he's not there I can't help you."

Elliot pushed past Margaret, and she wailed in disgust. Fin walked by and said, "Excuse me. And thank you for your help. If you think of anything else, give us a call." Fin flicked a card at her and she took it by the corner and waved it toward her butler.

Scene

In the car ride to Chestfield St, Elliot hoped that they weren't too late. The sun was going down when they neared the building. It was a dilapidated home in the middle of a small rundown town near the City.

Fin was the first to speak when they stepped out of the car, "Looks like Margaret Turintin was moving on up when she married Boris."

The house looked completely empty and dark. Some of the windows were boarded up.

Elliot looked inside one of the windows and couldn't see a thing, "If he's in here, he's probably not going to answer the door."

"So what are you suggesting? Breaking and entering?"

That's exactly what Elliot was suggesting, but he answered, "No, lets scan the outside of the house first. I don't want this guy getting away again. You call for back up."

Elliot headed for the backyard and Fin pulled out his cell.

Elliot can see that there was a basement, but the windows have been sealed with concrete. The back yard was all cement. There were three patches of freshly laid concrete towards the back of the yard. Next to the holes was a jackhammer and a half dug up chunk of concrete. Elliot wasn't sure what that was all about, but he had his hunches. When he returned to the front of the yard Fin was waiting for him.

"Back up is on its way. What are we looking at back there?"

Elliot replied, "Most of the windows are boarded up or sealed with concrete. It appears that the only way out is the back door."

"Ok I'll take the front, you take the back."

Fin knocked loudly on the door, "Police open up."

Elliot headed for the backdoor. His heart was racing and he had a knot in his stomach.

Scene

Olivia lay on the bed in the dark. There was a small nightlight on in the corner with a mocking bird on it. After her first attempt of freeing herself, James taped her mouth shut for the next two torturous rapes. James has been gone from the room for what seemed like hours to Olivia. She was still tied up and her body was weak from lack of food and water. Her only hopeful thought right now came from the blue clouds and purple flowers that hang above her head. She was about to close her eyes from exhaustion when she heard a knock and a voice. She thought it was an illusion in her mind, but she listened hard for another one. She heard it again. She tried to scream through the tape, but it was muffled. She kept making as much noise as her voice box could take. James came barging through the door.

"Looks like our plans are going to change my friend."

He pulled out a gun and Olivia thought that was the end of her. He stood behind her with the gun to her head, "One peep from you and I will blow your brains out right here."

Olivia clenched her eyes tight and shook with terror. James quickly loosened the straps holding her to the bed.

Scene

Upstairs Fin saw a figure rush past the hallway inside and disappear through a door.

Fin yelled, "NYPD. Open the door."

Elliot stood in the back yard ready to fire at anyone who came out of the door. All of the sudden he heard sounds coming from the basement. He started yelling, "Olivia? Olivia. I can hear you, keep talking. Olivia!"

Olivia heard that familiar voice and her heart came to life. "Elliot, please find me. I'm right here", she thought as James tied her hands and feet together.

Scene

Elliot kicked the back door open. Fin was already inside when he got there. Fin pointed towards the door with his gun and they slowly went to the basement.

Scene

James drugged Olivia, wrapped a blanket around her and lifted her over his shoulder. In the corner of the room was an old throw rug. He kicked the rug aside and disappeared into a tunnel.

Scene

When Elliot and Fin made it to the room, they found it empty.

Elliot saw the bed and the blood and nearly passed out. Fin eyed the tunnel in the corner, "Elliot, there." They both ran into the tunnel.

On the other side of the tunnel Elliot and Fin saw a hidden driveway that lead to the highway. In the dirt driveway they could see fresh tire tracks. Elliot fired his gun into the dirt, "Damn it!"

Scene

Elliot and Fin walked through the doors of the squad room. It was midnight but the room was all a buzz, with every detective on duty. Cragen saw them and waved them over, "Elliot, Fin, nice work finding his home base. So far they've been able to find evidence that links him to all of the murders. Now we just have to catch him."

The next 24 hours were gut wrenching. Elliot barely ate and slept in 4 days and he was ready to go out his mind. There wasn't word of him anywhere. They had a high volume of men guarding the Statue of Liberty and the detectives were keeping Margaret Turintin on a tight string. Elliot shuffled through the evidence when his cell phone rang. It was Maureen's number.

"Maureen. What are you doing up at this hour?"

Maureen was crying on the other line, "Daddy, I saw the news. Is Olivia going to be ok?"

Elliot's eyes watered, "We don't know yet, honey. I'm doing everything I can to find her."

" I know you are Daddy. I'll say a prayer for her tonight."

"I'm sure she'd like that. Maur, I love you."

"I love you too Daddy"

"Don't think about it right now. Sweet dreams."

"Good night Dad."

"Goodnight Baby doll."

Elliot's eyes swelled with tears. He headed to the bathroom to blow of steam. All of the tension building up inside of him ran out through the tears on his face. He thought of his kids and was glad that they were still safe. He'd never felt so sick and hopeless in his life.

Scene

The next morning Elliot was getting ready to leave the squad room to bring Margaret Turintin in for interrogation. As he sat at his desk his phone rang. It was Olivia's phone. Somebody had turned it on.

"Olivia?"

There was only noise and then a faint voice, "Elliot? (pause) He's making the deal now. (Pause) Come and get me." Then she hung up.

Elliot freaked out, "Trace this call. That was her. Somebody trace this call. We gotta get to Liberty Island now."

Everyone in the room got to their feet. Elliot, Cragen, Fin and Munch dashed for the door.

Scene

A man in a garbage collecting van, pulled off of the Ferry to Liberty Island. He waved to the guards on the other side. The guards said to him, "Hey Marve how's your day?"

He replied, "I'm fine, what's going on here today? It took me 20 minutes to get through a security check point."

The guard nodded, "Yeah, some sick asshole, kidnapped a cop, and he's supposedly ditching her here."

Marve replied, "Man, that's pretty screwed up."

"If you ask me it's a big waste of time. The chicks probably dead already. But you know how it is; we gotta make it look like we tried to help her. Waste more time and tax dollars, instead of fixing the problem before it starts."

Marve laughed, "How the hell does a cop get kidnapped anyway?"

The guard joked back, "Beats the hell out of me. See you later Marve."

Marve drove towards the statue. Olivia moaned in pain and hunger in a hidden compartment under the van.

Scene

By the time Elliot and the rest of the crew made it across on the ferry they could hear screams and gunshots. Elliot jumped over the ferry gate and forced himself past the guards holding his badge. There in front of the statue was Olivia, tied to a pole attached to the foot of the first floor. She was completely naked. There was police tape wrapped around her chest and waste, her mouth was taped shut, her left hand was tied to a box, and her right arm was taped to a torch that was lit. She was holding it above her head and her head was limping to the side from exhaustion.

Elliot took one look at her and screamed, "Olivia!"

She mumbled and cried.

Elliot ran full speed for the entrance of the building and ran for the stairs to the base of the statue. A guard ran behind Elliot. He yelled at the guard, "How did he get past you? The statue is closed."

The guard replied, "I don't know, the only guy I let up there was the maintenance man."

Elliot made it to the top out of breath. He was wheezing for air as he rounded the corner where Olivia was tied. There on the other side was James, dressed for the part in his suit and mask.

"Elliot, you're a good cop after all. Olivia was worried you weren't coming."

Olivia yelled through the tape. Her arm was getting tired of holding the torch, but she couldn't drop it or the bomb in her left hand would take flight.

Elliot took no time to play games with James this time and he pointed his gun to fire it at James.

James stopped him, "Elliot if you shoot me this whole statue goes up in flames." Elliot saw a wire attached to James' body. The wire ran up to the box in Olivia's arm. He also saw another wire running from the bottom of the torch to the box. The man laughed as he saw Elliot slowly realize what was going on and said, " Olivia is holding more explosives then she can handle, aren't you Olivia?"

Olivia forced her eyes to stay open while her arm muscles shook with pain.

Elliot lowered his firearm, "What do you want James?"

James replied, "I want world peace."

Elliot yelled back, "You have a funny way of showing it."

Olivia's arm started to fall and Elliot yelled at her, "Olivia, don't do it. Hold on. You're strong. You can do this."

James teased, "Yes Olivia, show the world how strong women really are."

James started bantering on in an almost psychotic state of mind, "When all the women are mine I shall return to heaven where god will place me at his right hand side. The sins of the United States lay in the palm of my hand."

Just then Elliot heard voices behind him and Margaret Turintin and a crew of police men entered. Margaret pushed through them with a cry, "Oh, James, what are you doing?"

James pulled the mask off of his face and answered angrily, "I'm doing what you taught me mother."

Margaret's footing fumbled and she stuttered, "James, James, this is insanity. Undo that wire."

James yelled, "Never mother."

All of the sudden Margaret pulled out a pistol and changed her tone, "James Alfred Preston, you are a no good waste of a little boy. You listen to your mummy right now and take off that wire."

Elliot yelled, "No, Margaret, put the gun down."

James backed up, "You ruin everything mother. Don't you love what you created you evil whore?"

His voice was shaky and he kept backing up.

Olivia cringed as goose bumps ran up her body. Her arm fell a little more as the wind off of the water blew onto her bare skin. Elliot cried, "Olivia, hang on for me. For me, Liv. We can do this."

Olivia looked down at him and pushed her arm back up in the air. She just wanted to die at this point. Her mind went in a dark place and she clenched the muscles in her arm. Breathing in and out to make the pain as bearable as possible.

Margaret got closer to James, "James, so help me god, you will obey me or god will send you straight to hell."

James kept backing up and he became too upset by his mother to notice the wire rip off of his chest. He fell over and Margaret shot him in the head. Fin came from the other side of him, "Freeze Margaret." He forced the gun from Margaret's hand and read her her rights while he cuffed her and took her away.

Tears were rolling down Olivia's cheeks as Elliot climbed to the side of the wall to release her slowly falling arm. "It's ok. It's over, Liv. Just give me a second." He stood face to face with her. One hand held him to the building and the other held her arm with the torch in it. "Can someone get me a blanket?" he asked as Olivia shivered beneath his body. Their eyes met, but Elliot could see she was in a bit of shock. Her body fell limp as he held her to the wall. She nestled her head under his chin and almost passed out.

The bomb squad was rushing around Elliot to disarm the bomb. The torch was taken from Olivia's hand and there was a beep from the box she was holding in her left arm. The nightmare was officially over. Elliot pulled the tape from Olivia's mouth and brushed her hair from her eyes. Her eyes were closed and Elliot nudged her awake, "Liv, don't pass out on me now. We're almost out of this." She looked at him with tired horror stricken eyes. She faintly spoke with a raspy voice, "I knew you'd find me."

He smiled he was so glad to hear her voice. For a moment he thought maybe she was going to stay in a state of shock, "I'm glad you knew, because I was getting a little worried."

She smiled, "It took you long enough." Elliot laughed and knew her spirits weren't completely broken. Elliot took out his pocketknife and started to cut the police tape and rope holding Olivia onto the building. The ropes loosened and Olivia slid down onto Elliot. He tried desperately not to look at her for fear it would cause her embarrassment, but he caught a glance of the dried blood on her thighs and he knew it was going to be a long recovery. Her bare feet rested on his shoes and he hide her body with his as one of the cops on duty handed Elliot a dark blanket. She wrapped it around herself and stepped onto the cold ledge. Elliot asked, "Are you stable?"

"Yeah" she said softly.

Elliot jumped down and held his arms out for her to crawl into. He carried her down to an ambulance and Olivia held onto him like she would never let go.