Chapter 5

Olivia

The squad is exhausted. We have all worked round the clock since that morning. After Alex brought dinner earlier, Elliot and I took a 4 hour break in the crib. Munch and Fin took the first 4 hour shift patrolling along with squad cars. Detectives from all over Manhattan are volunteering to patrol in hopes of blindly finding our perp. All of the radio units are avoiding unnecessary stops tonight. Mainly, they are looking for suspicious activity. Since we don't have more to go on than the profile Dr. Huang gave us 2 days ago, we are just hoping.

I think profiling is pretty cool. I respect what Dr. Huang does but sometimes it doesn't help. Like now, we don't have one suspect but we know our suspect hates women. We also know he is likely a shift worker who has an average paying job. He has probably been emasculated by a female who played a significant role in his development. The profile says he is most likely a white male between 30 and 35 years old. It's amazing when I can interview a subject and see where the profile fits. More times than not, he's right. Some days, I wish the profile would name the responsible party.

Cases like these make me question my abilities. I don't ever tell Elliot but I'm sure he has the same doubts. I know I'm good at what I do. I make a difference in people's lives. I help victims find a voice and face the monsters in their lives. I love the impact I have. I do. I hate seeing people at their most vulnerable. There are times when somebody calls me later to say thank you and tell me about their life. Those moments make all of the sleepless nights and lost weekends worthwhile. I just worry when we have a case like this. I worry we, as a team, have met our match. I worry this is the guy who won't stop.

Tonight, it's a fairly nice night. Elliot is driving for the first half and it really feels like we are just cruising around Manhattan. We have a deal with the radio, driver chooses the station. We are listening to 80's rock, not my favorite but it's his. Traffic isn't that thick at this hour and we seem to see a patrol car at least every time we turn a corner. Part of me hopes this will work as a deterrent and one less life is lost tonight but part of me hopes we can catch him despite our heavy presence.

Elliot hasn't said much since we left the station. He's usually quiet when we work like this. He's worried. He usually gets quiet when he worries. I don't know how he can do this job with his family. I'm sure it changed him. His wife is always upset with the hours he works and he is missing his kids growing up. I don't think I could do it if I had a family. I do believe he stays because he wants to make the world a safer place for his daughters.

"Liv, did she corner you earlier?" It's funny that he asks about Alex while I'm thinking about his personal motivations and how they influence his career.

"We spoke. I didn't think she would remember the roof is my hiding spot."

"You gonna let her off the hook?"

"I don't know what I'm doing with her, El. She was so important to me but I don't think forgiving and forgetting is possible."

"She's sorry, Liv. She made a mistake and she knows it. She can't change what she did and she's very aware of it. I know I keep giving you my opinion when you haven't asked. All that happened between you is the past. Let it stay there."

I look at my partner and slowly shake my head, "El, our relationship was also in the past. I just don't want to think about it right now."

I decide to distract him and begin telling him about my one night stand with Amber. It makes him laugh when I say I heard the voice clearing. I'm not promiscuous at all and even when I try, it doesn't work. We are laughing about my disaster when I notice a white male in a ball cap helping a woman walk down the block. The woman seems barely able to hold herself up but there aren't any bars or restaurants on this block, only office buildings.

"El, stop. I want to see where they're going."

He pulls up alongside a curb and cuts the lights. We watch in silence as the man begins almost dragging the woman. She doesn't seem to be a willing participant. She keeps trying to turn away from him but she loses her footing with each attempt. I call out on my portable for another unmarked car. Two different cars respond saying they are in route and one patrol cars calls saying he is one the opposite side of the block and will park there.

We both climb out of the car and start walking toward the pair. The man happens to look over his shoulder and smiles when sees us approaching him. He stops walking and the woman nearly falls.

I make sure he can see my badge on my belt as Elliot and I approach. This man has no real reaction to us other than smiling. The woman he's trying to hold against him begins pushing his hands away from her but he hangs on tighter. I'm guessing we are about 40 feet away from him and he's still standing there.

"Sir, we're detectives with Manhattan SVU. Could we have a quick word with you?" Elliot is taking the lead here. I just keep walking and watching.

"Yes, sir. What can I help you with?" This man seems too calm.

"I'm Detective Stabler and this is my partner, Detective Benson. Is your companion feeling ok?"

"I'm sorry, sir. She had a little too much to drink earlier. She's not good at handling her liquor."

"And your name sir?"

"Ben. Ben Andrews. This is my girlfriend, Stacy."

"Sir, where was she when she was drinking?"

"A few blocks over. We just had wine with dinner. She will be okay when I get her home."

I take a few steps closer because this woman is not in control of her body. She still hasn't spoke to us. When I'm standing directly in front of them, I ask him, "Mr. Andrews, could you let go of Stacy for a moment? I'd like to speak with her."

Our backup is now 15 feet behind Andrews. Andrews just gives me an odd look and asks, "Have I done something wrong, Detective?"

"Sir could you let go of your girlfriend?"

Andrews gives me a defiant look and says, "No officer, if I let go of her she will fall."

One of the other detectives, I think his name is Green, walks up and pulls the woman away from him. She's nearly unconscious but manages to mumble, "Don't know him."

Andrews takes off running across the street and nearly gets hit by a car. My weapon is drawn and I'm right behind him running. Elliot is calling out on his portable. The second detective, Harris, passes me and is closing in on Andrews. Andrews cuts back across the street and begins heading north, the same direction he was going when we first saw him.

This guy is fast. Harris is probably 10 feet from him but I feel like I'm running through quick sand. I'm not getting any closer. We cover 3 blocks pretty quickly. I feel like my lungs are about to burst. Just before Andrews makes it to another intersection, Harris launches himself through the air. Harris collides with Andrews and both men go down. Elliot and I reach the fighting pile and begin pulling Andrews away from Harris. We keep him on the ground and I begin cuffing him while El keeps him down.

The patrol car pulls up at this moment and two officers jump out with guns drawn. Once Andrews is cuffed, one of the officers drags him to his feet and starts a quick pat search. He stops at the man's waist band and raises Andrew's shirt tail. Andrews has a small pistol in a holster inside of his waist band. When the pistol is removed from the holster and secured, Andrews wallet is removed from his back pocket.

I take the wallet and pull out his ID. I verify his name and take note of the address listed. One patrolman moves Andrews toward the patrol car and the other opens the back door of the patrol car. Andrews is placed in the backseat. Elliot instructs the officer to take him to the 16th and the car is gone.

We walk back to Detective Green. He has sat Stacy on the sidewalk and she's using a light pole to hold her upper body off the ground. He advises us that a bus is in route for her.

Once the ambulance arrives and takes Stacy to the hospital, Elliot and I just stand still for a moment. Neither of us are sure if we've caught the guy we were looking for but we have stopped something bad from happening.

That's all I have for tonight. It's funny that I spent 2 hours typing this chapter but it will probably be a 5 second read. Hope ya'll enjoy it. I have definitely learned that I should always review the stories I like.