The Apartment Building of Olivia Benson
The Landlord's Apartment
September 3, 2011 11:00am
(Cragen's POV)
I knocked on the door and waited a minute then saw Olivia's landlord peek through the window. When he saw me, he opened the door and asked what I needed. I asked him if he remembered anything strange about Olivia during the days in question. He told me that she left her apartment alone around 4:00pm the day of the murder and returned around 2:00am with a cop. He told me that she was passed out in his arms, he quickly flashed his badge, and he carried her up to her apartment. I asked if he remembered the cop's name but he didn't. When I asked if he remembered what the cop looked like, he asked me if I thought he was stupid… then told me that he remembered enough. I called for a sketch artist to come meet with him.
Before I left the apartment, Liv's landlord asked me a question that made me hate him. With a snide look on his face he asked: "how quickly can you get that apartment cleaned out? I want to rent it out while that pretty little cop's in jail." I grabbed hold of the door and slammed it shut in his face.
Cragen's Office
September 3, 2011 1:00pm
(Cragen's POV)
I was sitting in my office trying to get some work done on another case when I heard a knock at the door. I hollered for whoever was outside to enter and saw the sketch artist walk in with a printout of the "cop" who brought Olivia home.
I couldn't believe what we'd just uncovered! Although a full investigation had to be performed, I knew who Olivia had spent some of her missing time with.
I asked for Harris' phone records. As I looked, I noticed a call that was placed about 20 minutes before the approximate time of death. It was a 10 minute call. Not long enough to sign his own death warrant, but long enough for any number of other things to happen.
I called for a forensic optics tech and asked him to meet me in Liv's hospital room. I wasn't going to leave anything up to fate anymore.
Belview Prison Ward
September 3, 2011 1:30pm
(Cragen's POV)
When the tech and I walked in, Eliot looked at me quizzically. I told him that I couldn't discuss what was going on but that he had to leave for a bit. He protested, claiming that it was his job to guard her and I replied that he could guard her just fine from right outside of the locked door.
Liv was sleeping peacefully and I wanted to make sure she stayed that way. Quickly and quietly the tech installed a microscopic camera in the corner of the room. The camera would relay live footage of the room to my computer and cell phone.
I unlocked the door and opened it… and found Eliot steaming mad. He was "fed up with me not trusting him" and he "wanted to know what the fuck was going on!" I told him to check his temper and took him into the room. Quietly but firmly I told him that I was still his boss and if he wanted it to stay that way, he was going to have to trust me. He'd made his bed and now he had to sleep in it.
Belview Prison Ward
September 3, 2011 2:00pm
(Benson's POV)
I woke up and overheard Eliot and Cragen fighting. I cleared my throat as best I could. They both shut up and came over to me. I took each of them by the hand and told them that if they were going to keep fighting over me, they could both leave me and not come back. I think I got through to them… at least they're pretending to get along now.
Awhile after Cragen left, the door opened again and Parker came into the room. He told El to go home and go to bed… that he was going to be guarding me for the rest of the day. I gripped El's hand tighter, not wanting to let him go.
I watched as he stood, walked up to Parker, and said through gritted teeth, "If you lay a hand on her, you'll have to deal with me!"
I almost laughed as I heard Parker reply, "you're just as bad as I am… we're both in it for the 'benefits'." I saw that evil glare in Eliot's eye that only comes out when he's grilling a suspect he really can't stand.
He stomped on and ground his heel into Parker's foot and said, "we're NOT the same! I found one girl that I had a connection with and I treat her in a loving fashion… you'll do anything with a fucking vagina!" With that, he stormed out of my room. I watched as Parker walked towards me and trembled at the sick smile that was stretched across his face. I wanted to scream for help, but I knew I still couldn't use my voice very well. I tried to move farther away from him, but the cuffs would only let me go so far. He walked closer and closer and I began to realize that there was no way out this time.