Disclaimer: Dick Wolf and NBC own the rights to these SVU characters. I merely play with them when I can!
Author's note: Hello beloved readers…lol. Anyway, I'm so glad you enjoyed the e/o fun that occurred last chapter! I'm afraid that's as personal as it gets, with the case file now taking up the majority of the storyline- BUT heaps of e/o in between. Thanks again to MariposaAngel18 who helped me out last chapter; and has agreed to help me out for my next story. Which I'm proud to say is going along nicely. It should be up next month!! Woo for you! Enjoy this chapter and don't forget to READ and REVIEW!
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Wednesday, 6.15am
"Stabler," Elliot mumbled into his phone after finally uncovering it from the pile of clothes at the end of the bed. He glanced at the clock on the nightstand barely, registering that it was telling him it was 6.15am. He felt Olivia stirring next to him, the sound of his phone raising them both from the sleep that had come surprisingly easy the night before. He stretched his muscles which were protesting both at the workout from the night before, and the early hour at which they were being woken.
The sound of Cragen's voice was far too loud for the time of morning, and Elliot winced slightly as he spoke to him, "We got another Vic," Cragen explained, Elliot's stomach dropped, "you and Olivia get to Central Park now. Be as quick as you can, the press have already caught wind. I'll meet you guys there so I can address them"
Olivia sat up next to him, hanging off his right shoulder, pressing a kiss to the side of his neck, "sure thing cap," Elliot sighed into the phone.
Elliot hung up, turning his head to kiss Olivia, "good morning," he mumbled against her lips.
Olivia pulled the sheets off herself, "I'm guessing that'll change," she replied, pulling on her underwear that was sitting on the chair next to the bed, "another vic?"
Elliot nodded sadly, as they dressed in a companionable silence, despite the heavy feeling they got when faced with such unspeakable crimes.
"Let's see what fairytale he's bought to life today," Olivia sighed, as they headed out into the unforgiving cold.
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The wind blustered around them - the sun barely peeking over the horizon - as they exited the car. As Cragen had mentioned, there were a number of reporters already stationed along the perimeter of the police tape. The bitterness of the wind took Olivia by surprise as she pulled her coat around her even tighter. The weather was definitely reflecting the mood of what was occurring; clouds had begun to converge overhead; the distinct smell of rain in the air. Elliot could see the blue tarp identical to the one hanging a couple of nights ago, tied to some trees in a small alcove of the parkland.
"Stabler, Benson; SVU," Olivia said to the policeman at the tape, holding out her identification. He nodded, lifting it for them to pass under.
It was still quite dark, the cloud cover not aiding in giving any natural light. The CSU techs had instead set up two large floodlights, aiming towards the scene covered by the tarp, and the immediate area around it.
Melinda appeared from behind it, pulling off her rubber gloves, and pulling on a pair of leather ones, "Morning Detectives." She looked tired, whether from lack of sleep or from these crimes, was not clear.
Olivia gave a small smile, "hi Melinda. We were going to see you at the autopsy this morning," she gestured to the blue tarp, "pity it had to be here instead."
Elliot nodded solemnly in agreement, "what've we got this time?"
Instead of answering, Melinda turned and began towards the scene, Olivia and Elliot following her. Behind the tarp, amongst some shrubs and overgrowth, lay the covered body of another too-small victim. The white of the sheet was stark in contrast to the green and brown of the muddy earth that surrounded it.
Elliot shook his head slightly, "you want the real or imaginary name?" Melinda asked, breaking him out of his reverie.
They didn't answer; instead, they crouched at the side of the victim, pausing, before pulling the sheet from the face. A young girl, this time with thick black hair, cut into a bob, lay before them. Her lips were a deep red colour; stained with what they assumed to be lipstick. They also noticed that despite the pallour of her skin, there was a rose tinge to her cheeks, enhanced by blush.
"Makeup," Olivia breathed, running a gloved hand down her cheek, turning it to analyse the make-up that came off.
She had been made up before being dumped. Olivia shook her head in amazement at the tenacity of this guy.
Again, the peaceful look that graced the victim's young features, betrayed the violent nature in which her life was taken. Blood stained the back of the head around the wound, matting her hair, and they didn't need Melinda to tell them how she had died.
Elliot looked up at Warner, "name tag?"
She nodded, pulling the evidence bag out of her jacket pocket, "Snow White"
Elliot took the bag from Melinda, moving the tips of his fingers over the black script, almost as though memorising the cursive handwriting with his hands. He went to pass it to Olivia, but paused as he saw what she had uncovered. Olivia had moved the sheet from the girl's left hand, which showed the same restraint pattern the other two victims had, had. However, it wasn't the mark that had momentarily stopped his actions; it was the way in which the girl's hand was positioned in a claw-like manner that had.
Olivia gave Melinda a questioning look, "was she holding something?"
Melinda nodded, bending over the case that was at the base of one of the flood-lights. She pulled out a bag, handing it to Olivia, who sighed heavily. It was an apple, blood red in colour; and along its side there was a bite-mark, the same size a small child's teeth would make.
"Her name's Madeleine Hughes. Eight years old. Reported missing by her parents late yesterday afternoon when she didn't get off the bus coming home from school"
Olivia nodded, rising off her haunches, "she was restrained like the others; did you get anything from under their fingernails?"
Melinda shook her head, "we didn't get anything, which isn't strange in itself. Normally, if there's nothing under the nails, there'd be some kind of defensive marks; whether against the attacker or just to fight against being tied up," she crouched, pointing at the girl's wrist, "these clean marks would indicate that there was no fighting back at all. So I ran a tox-screen. It came back positive."
Olivia and Elliot exchanged a look, "positive for what?" Elliot asked, pulling out his notepad.
"Versed. It's a powerful sedative that causes full-body paralysis, but keeps the mind completely aware. There was enough pumped into their system to knock them out the entire time they were help captive. I'm guessing she was given the same treatment," Melinda said, looking down at Madeline.
Olivia leant down and re-covered her face and arm, "let's get her out of the cold"
Melinda nodded, heading towards the group of CSU techs standing near the second flood-light who were waiting to transport the body.
They turned their attention from the scene, towards the police tape, where the reporters were now joined by early morning joggers and curious residents that lived up the street. Cragen and the Police Commissioner were the current focus of attention; reporting and informing as much as they were allowed; broadcasting to the thousands of families watching from the warmth of their homes. Cragen finished what he was saying, and turned to make his way toward the crime scene.
"He looks pissed," Elliot commented, as he placed his notepad back into his coat's pocket.
Olivia nodded, "wouldn't you be? These reporters…" what exactly the reporters were was never made apparent because Cragen had finally reached them; anger evident in his eyes.
"One PP is up my ass about this case. Tell me we have a lead?"
Olivia shook her head, as Elliot pulled his notepad back out, reading off it, "sorry Cap. The only thing we've got apart from the scene this guy's given us, is that the victims were injected with Versed pre-mortem. No footprint this time, but the motive and signature are the same. We're looking at the same perp"
Cragen sighed heavily, standing in silence next to his detectives. They watched as the group surrounding the black and yellow police tape began to disperse now that the Commissioner had made himself scarce. Their breaths were heavy, coming out in white puffs as they mingled with the cold air.
Finally, Cragen dropped his shoulders, turning to Elliot and Olivia, "I'll call Huang, see if I can't get a profile for us."
Elliot's phone began to trill, and he reached deep into his jacket's pocket, pulling it out, "Stabler"
Olivia and Cragen watched as his eyebrows raised, "ok, thanks. See you back at the house," he flipped his phone closed, "Munch and Fin were re-canvassing the first crime scene and noticed one of the stores along the strip had a video-camera trained in the park's general direction. They're seeing if they can get anything from there."
Cragen looked slightly relieved, "at least it's something to work off."
"What should we do? Canvass the park?" Olivia asked.
Cragen shook his head, "There may be something to the theory you were pressing on about yesterday afternoon"
Olivia looked surprised, "really?"
Cragen nodded, "Madeleine attended the same school as the Wilcox's"
"That could be a coincidence," Elliot suggested.
Cragen looked thoughtful, "maybe. But they were also in the same English class on Tuesday afternoons. Head to the school, ask some questions and see what you can find. We need anything we can get right now"
As soon as he finished, he headed back down the slight incline towards his sedan, followed by the remaining reporters hoping for a scoop. Elliot and Olivia waved goodbye to Melinda as they walked against the wind for their own car. Just before they got there, drops of rain began to fall steadily against the pavement; and invariably the crime scene. Any other evidence they'd hope to find would be gone by the day's end; as would perhaps, the hopes of those children's families.