The Santa Incident
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of LO:SVU or any other show mentioned here. I don't own the rights of the songs either. I'm making no money out of this whatsoever. Don't sue me, I have no money.
12
Slowly the city woke up again. When John and Fin trotted down Riverside Drive in direction of the Riverside Church, the streetlights flickered on. Just in front of the entrance Fin stopped to try his cell phone again. Still, there was no network available.
Intimidating the twenty story high gothic façade towered over the street. The heavy doors were not locked and the detectives went in. The benches were filled with people who had claimed sanctuary when the storm came. A man in the black robes of a cleric approached. He stopped short when John and Fin flashed their badges.
"Officers. What can I do for you?"
"We're looking for two people," Fin said. From out of his coat he got a picture that showed not only Olivia and Elliot but also John, the Captain and himself. He pointed at the two missing when he showed it. "Have you seen them tonight?"
He looked closely at the photo but then shook his head. "No, sorry."
"Well, thank you nevertheless, father."
"You're welcome. - Don't take this wrong, but you look frozen," he replied. "You have a minute to get a cup of coffee?"
Both detectives exchanged looks. Yes, they felt frozen. Something warm to drink would be wonderful.
"Okay," Fin agreed for them. "Thank you, father."
He nodded and went to get two mugs. When he'd provided them with coffee he let the cops alone again to look after the other people who had found shelter here.
John and Fin sat down on chairs close to the entrance. Silently they were sipping their coffee. It was Fin who noticed them first, the two young men staring at them. He called John's attention to them but signaled him not to alarm them by turning around and staring back.
They were nearly finished with their coffee when one of the men stood up. His companion wanted to stop him, but the first waved him off and slowly came up to the detectives.
"Sir?" he asked. "You're cops?"
"Yeah," Fin replied. "What is it?"
Nervously the guy stepped from one foot to the other. "You showed the father a picture. Who are you searching for?"
Fin got it out again and held it up. "The two at the left." In the young man's eyes recognition already lit up. "Have you seen them?"
He swallowed, but after a moment's hesitation he nodded. "I was playing pool last evening. They're cops too, right?"
"Yes, they are," John confirmed. "So tell us what you know."
"They arrested Paul and went to get him to the station. Paul's friends were following them."
They waited but he did not continue on his own.
"And…?" Fin asked.
"We were two of them. At first we thought that they would only want to have some fun, want to play a joke on them. But then they shoved their car from the street." He looked down at his shoes and became silent again.
"What do you want to tell us?" John pressed. "Now, talk to us, son."
"Paul beat them. I didn't realize what he was about to do until he shoved her in his van, bound, helpless. He went to get the other cop, too. He beat him down and also threw him in. That was when Phil and I ran away. I guess Paul took off together with Don and Buster."
His words echoed in their heads and took on meaning slowly. Beat down? Thrown into a van? Taken hostage?
"Will I be in trouble now?" the guy asked. "We didn't hurt them. And I thought about the police after we ran, but then, not a single phone was working. I didn't know how to find someone to help as long as it was still storming."
"Do you know where they might have went?" John asked.
"Paul's parents have a cottage in New Jersey. Paul and his vassals often spend the weekend there. I don't know the address."
"Okay, thank you."
He nodded and went back to his companion.
"Taken hostage?" John mused aloud. "That doesn't sound good."
No, it did not. They would have to go to New Jersey somehow.
Cornwell's piercing, terrified scream of pain followed instantaneously.
"You bitch! You just shot me!" he yelled. "I will sue you!"
"I'm so sorry," Olivia said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "It was an accident."
Cornwell was clutching his upper arm where the bullet had grazed him. It was a flesh wound, nothing life threatening.
"Go!" Olivia ordered him. "Keep moving."
She looked over her shoulder to see if Buster was following. Behind him she saw something that gave her new courage. Way beyond the river the lights went on again.
New Jersey also lit up brightly one building after the other. When they reached a street they recognized that it had already been cleared by a snowplow. Walking was so much easier now.
While Cornwell was trotting along, grumbling unintelligibly under his breath, Olivia turned to Buster every so often to check on him. His face testified to the exertion it required to carry Elliot.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
"No."
"Perhaps I can." Elliot stirred. Even though he was exhausted and in pain he also felt humiliated by having to be carried. "Let me down."
"You sure?" Buster slightly swayed himself but released him only reluctantly.
Elliot chuckled. "No, not really. I'll try nevertheless… if you help me."
Immediately Olivia was at his side.
"You should be cautious with Paul," Buster murmured. "I'll help him."
She glanced at the man who had brought them all into this situation. His stance appeared less arrogant. Suddenly Elliot laughed.
"More than eight million people in a single city and we are as lonely as if we would be in the middle of the Rockies."
Everyone stared at him incredulously.
"What?! Don't you think that's funny?"
"No," Olivia and Buster said at the same time.
Elliot shrugged and regretted it at once as his left shoulder protested against the movement. He panted.
"Your own fault," Olivia snapped. "Now, come on."
At a snail's pace they were approaching the first buildings when Elliot stopped. He turned his head to look over his shoulder. Now the others heard it, too. A motor. From the distance a pair of headlights drew nearer and soon dipped them into its light.
No one missed the sigh of relief Olivia gave at the more than welcome sight. Then the car stopped right in front of them and her heart leapt. It was a big jeep with strong protective rods and a row of lights onto the roof. There were snow chains strapped around the tires. Familiar insignias decorated the side. It was a patrol car.
The officer opened the door and got out of the jeep. Cautiously he laid his hand on the butt of his weapon.
"What are you doing out here?" he asked, sounding not only demanding but suspicious, too.
Olivia flashed her badge. "Detective Olivia Benson, NYPD's special victims unit," she introduced herself. "We had an accident. Can you help us to get to the next hospital? My partner is wounded."
Meanwhile the second officer also had left the jeep. In addition to the headlights he held up a flashlight when he approached her. He eyed her badge with care and gave his partner a sign. Both lowered their hands.
"What about him?" one pointed at Cornwell when they noticed the cuffs.
"We arrested him. Can you take him in custody, please?"
"Of course. Brian, how will we do this? We don't fit into the jeep with all the six of us. Shall I walk with this guy and you'll send us another patrol?"
Slowly his partner nodded. "Yeah," he confirmed. "Will be best. Who's the other guy?"
"A witness," Elliot said before anyone could tell something different. "He helped us."
"Okay, guys. Jump in."
"You'll leave me here?" Cornwell yelled. "She shot me! See the wound?! I need a doctor, too!"
The officer shone his light on him and had only a glance at his injury. "No emergency," he stated and helped the other three into the jeep. He patted the hood and his partner took off.
It was comfortably warm inside of the patrol car. While Buster sat in the passenger's seat, Olivia leaned into the corner of backseat and side door, cradling her partner in her arms, who stretched his legs out on the upholstery. He cuddled up to her, a small smile on his lips.
"Can you do me a favor, Liv?" he asked her.
"What is it, honey?"
"Don't yell at me if I should fall asleep during the ride. I'd be just sleeping, okay."
Olivia could hear that he already sounded sleepy and was not the least bit surprised. She felt him relax against her.
"I won't keep you awake," she said. "I also want to sleep." Desperately, she thought.
Her soft crooning lulled them both to sleep in less than a minute.