Elliot slammed the door to the interrogation room, where Joseph Sparelli and his lawyer sat behind a table answering Hector Iglacious' questions.
"Hector, get the hell outta here." Elliot throws some pictures and a bank statement on the table.
"Joseph, you lied to me. We talked to Alaina, your son's first wife. She was more then kind enough to give us all the evidence we need to put you in jail for kidnapping and aiding 4 homicides."
"Alright, I paid her to divorce my son. She was a crook and a whore. I didn't need my son to be tied up in her affairs. What does this have to do with my son and his unfortunate turn of events?"
Elliot's vein in his forehead started to pulse. "You know exactly what this has to do with you're son." He picked up a picture of a baby.
"Yeah, so. That's my grandson Gino. He died of heart failure when he was one."
"That's not what Alaina told me. She told me that the death was made up to protect him from you. You needed him to be the next leader to your dirty business and when you found out they were taking him away that's when you paid her off. It's all in this bank statement."
"Yes, so shouldn't you be going after her? She's the bitch that left her son and Michael. She has more reason to kill my son's family than I do."
Elliot stood up and walked around the table, "Yeah I thought that too. Until, I found his DNA under Ellen Lacey's fingernails. Now how does that happen, Joe?"
Joseph defensively yelled back, "I don't know what you're talking about. I haven't seen that boy in 20 years and this is the first I even knew he was breathing."
Joseph's lawyer butted in, "Joseph shut your mouth. Detective, this is absurd. You're making up stories based on what this woman is saying. Did you ever think that my client was paying her alimony? It's her word against his. Find us some evidence that links my client to Gino and we'll talk then."
"Nobody pays their ex-wife over one million in alimony a year. Here's the kicker Joe, Alaina tells us that her son is alive and working for you. You tell me what you did to your grandson and maybe we'll find Michael with a heart beat."
"Where's my deal?"
"The deal is you get to die at home instead of in the cell I'm gonna put you in."
Joseph and his lawyer talk it over.
"Gino came to me two years ago looking for his father. I didn't want him to contact my Michael, so I shipped him to Mexico to work in my warehouses. I haven't seen him since."
"And have you contacted your warehouses in Mexico to account for his where abouts?"
"Do you think I'm a moron Detective? Of course I did. He's missing."
"So where is he Sparelli?"
The old man crossed his arms and furrowed his brow, "If I knew that, do you think I would be sitting here?"
Elliot pushed the table and walked out of the room. "Hector, find Alaina we need her here now."
Elliot was exhausted. He was tired of dealing with people who would only tell him half of the story and expected full results.
Cragen came up to him as he yawned, "Elliot, why don't you take off and I'll have Fin take over for you?"
"No way. I have to talk to that woman. She knows me. She's gonna talk and she's gonna talk tonight. I'm tired of this bullshit. Ring around the illegal money game."
Cragen handed him a coffee, "After her interrogation I want you out of here."
After another 5 hours on the job Elliot couldn't get a straight answer from Alaina or Joseph. Elliot felt like he was starting at page one. He sat at his desk going over all of the facts and evidence again when Casey walked in.
"Hey El, you look beat, we're going out for drinks. You coming?"
He didn't even look up at her, "naw, I've got to figure this out."
"How's Liv doing?"
"She's good." Elliot just realized he hadn't talked to her all day. "What time is it?"
"It's 9 o'clock. Sure you don't need a drink?"
"No, but Casey can I ask you something serious?"
"You just did."
"No really. If a guy asked you out on a date where would you want to go?"
"If this is about Hector I am seriously not interested."
"No, it's not for Hector."
"Oh." Casey said with a sly smile on her face. "I see. Well, if I know women, especially your kind of woman, I'd say she would love a night on Broadway. I hear "Jersey Boys" is amazing. And there's a new fondue place called Artisanal that she'll love. It's very sexy. Oh, and we went shopping the other day and she tried on this dress. Oh my god, it was beautiful. You have to get her this dress and surprise her with it. It was at Macy's. Size 8. Should I be writing this down for you? "
Elliot was staring in utter confusion, but she kept on going.
"Do you have a pin stripped suite?" She paused and looked at him. "No, of course, you don't. Just stick to black and white." When she was finished writing down all of the information spewing out of her mouth she quickly glanced at her watch. "I have to go. Oh and El, your secrets safe with me." She winked at him and off she went.
Elliot looked at the paper and let out a long loud sigh.
Scene
Olivia hadn't seen Elliot in three days. He was spending every waking hour at the precinct trying to bust the Sparelli mob. She sat in front of her small Casio keyboard and plucked at the keys. Just as she was about to finish the last chord of "Amazing Grace" the buzzer at her door rang loudly. Downstairs was a deliveryman with a box.
"Got a package for Olivia Benson from an Elliot Stabler."
"That's me."
The pimple-faced guy handed her the electronic clipboard and said, "Sign here."
When she got back to her apartment she ripped open the box and found the beautiful black and white dress from Macy's inside. The card read "Dear Liv, I hope you like the dress. I'll be by your place at 5. Be ready for a real date. Your Partner in Crime, El."
She ran to her bedroom and jumped on the bed. She couldn't believe he actually did something like this. It was so out of his element. She immediately called Casey.
"Casey, how did a certain man know that I wear a size eight in a Ruby Rox dress?"
"I don't know Liv. How is that you're actually speaking about this whole very risky topic with me over the phone?"
"Oh Casey, come on. I know you're not blind."
"Yes but lets' keep pretending I am. I'll meet you for coffee sometime during the week and we can catch up in person. I'm kind of in the middle of something."
Olivia hung up the phone and looked at the clock. She had 2 hours to get ready.
Scene
Elliot knocked on the door to Olivia's apartment and then let himself in. "Hey, Liv I'm here."
She was in the bathroom, "Give me a sec. I'll be right out."
Elliot stood by the door in his very sharp suit holding a single purple lily. He was excited and nervous. He felt like an old man. Dating again just seemed weird. The last time he remembered, dating was a lot less expensive, but he wanted to impress Olivia tonight, so he didn't mind going all out for her.
Olivia walked out of her bedroom looking like a bombshell from a classic movie. She spun around in her new dress and smiled, "You've got great taste Elliot Stabler."
"You've got observant friends, Ms. Benson." and he handed her the lily. "I remembered you said lily's were your favorite."
"How are you? I haven't seen you in a few days."
"I closed the case. Well, technically Hector and I closed the case, but if it weren't for you, we might still be at stage one. So lets celebrate." He took her hand and led her to their golden chariot through New York City, the yellow cab.
Scene
Elliot had never eaten fondue before so when the menu came and their options were all served with cheese he wasn't sure what to order. He cleared his throat, "Ok, I have to be honest I'm not sure I know what's good here. Do you have any suggestions?"
"Yeah, let me order for you."
"Please do."
The main course came and Elliot grabbed the long thin fork to eat his filet mignon with.
Olivia laughed.
Elliot paused, "What? Am I doing it wrong?"
"No, you just look funny holding that tiny fork."
He scrunched his eyebrows down and gave her a pondering look. "I would have brought my own fork, but it wouldn't fit on this tiny table."
"Let me see it?" Olivia asked as she grabbed for his fork. "You have to dip it in the sauce or it's just not fondue." She took the fork with his meat on it and dipped it into the pot. Slowly she fed him a piece.
With his mouth full he said, "So this is supposed to be sexy eating? That's what I was told anyway."
She smiled "Yeah, now you feed me."
He dipped her fork in the pot and got close to her mouth. She slowly opened her lips revealing part of her top teeth. Her mouth was pouty and her eyes were slightly closed. Elliot placed the food in her mouth. She chewed, swallowed, and licked her upper lip as she starred into his eyes.
"Ok, that was pretty sexy."
The rest of their night went smoothly. Olivia was feeling like a woman again. They were both laughing and enjoying their lives. Elliot fit just right, right next to her.
Scene
After the show let out Elliot got a call from Munch. "Elliot, we just got a call. Joseph has taken hostage, Alaina Sparelli. Joe wants to talk to you."
"Ok where are they?"
"They're at Alaina's house. We've got back up on their way."
"I'll be there as soon as I can." Elliot grabbed Olivia's hand and hailed a cab.
"What's going on?" Olivia said.
"We've got a hostage situation. I knew that old bastard had his hands in this, but when we found the grandson there was only enough evidence to convict him."
"Did you ever find Michael Sparelli?"
"No, it was too late. Gino killed them all. He was going to be the next in line. Michael was forced to marry Alaina to keep a bond between the Sparelli's and the Bodichello's. When Michael backed out on his end of the deal Joseph had to keep the peace by kidnapping Gino and raising him like his own. Michael kept two identities to keep Joseph and his brothers in the dark about his business. One identity was to make the Sparelli's think they were poor and living in the Bronx, and the other was to have a relationship with the Sparelli's enemies. Michael was doing business with the competition. Gino found Grace in this movie and tracked them down. The rest is history."
The cab pulled up to Alaina's condo, "I guess back up isn't here yet. You stay in the cab, Liv. I'm gonna go check it out."
"No, I'll come." She pulled a handgun from her purse.
Elliot gave her a look.
"What, I'm a cop. You have to carry one."
"Alright fine. Let's go."
They entered the condo. Elliot was first. "Joe? Alaina? You here?"
They heard thumping above them and Olivia nodded upward to the stairs. Cautiously they crept up the staircase and at the end of the hall they saw a room with the lights on. Elliot motioned for Olivia to stay behind.
"Joe, are you here?
"Elliot?" Joe was in the room breathing heavily with a gun to Aliana's head.
"Joe what's going on? This isn't going to solve your problems."
"Put the gun down detective."
Slowly he dropped the gun to the floor.
The old man got closer to him and Olivia had a clear shot of him.
"Detective, I need you to release Gino. I'll go to jail for his charges. I'm the one that told him to do it."
"Joe you know I have no control over that."
"Yes, you do. Now make me a deal and I'll let this bitch walk out the door." His hand shook and Alaina whimpered at the thought of having her head blown off.
"Listen Joe, I can see what my ADA can do, but you're going to have to cooperate by letting her go."
Just then a swap team slammed through the door downstairs and Joe's hand slipped on the trigger causing the life to spew from Alaina's body. Joe aimed the gun at Elliot.
Elliot backed up a bit. "Joe what are doing? We can't make a deal if you kill me."
"You said you couldn't make me a deal anyway."
"I didn't say I couldn't. I said we'd have to talk about it with people of the right authority."
"Well get me those people, now."
"Ok, I'm going to get my cell phone and call my Captain. We'll figure this all out."
Elliot reached into his pocket and Joe's gun went off a second time. Olivia screamed, "Elliot, no!" She fired two shots at Joe and he went down in a heap. Olivia fell down next to Elliot's body and placed pressure on the hole in his chest. "Elliot stay with me. You're gonna be ok."
His eyes blinked and he started to cough. The paramedics came rushing in and Olivia backed away as they took him to the ambulance. She ran down the stairs behind them. "Elliot, I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere. If you can hear me stay strong."
She hopped into the ambulance with him and watched as the paramedics jammed tubes down his throat and pumped his heart. They got to the hospital and she stood in the hallway watching him go further away towards the ER. Her face was in shock and her dress was covered in blood.