Helpless

(Chapter Eleven: Disturbing Behavior)

Olivia stared out the window into the rain as Elliot paced the floor behind her.

"Cragen is pissed, Liv. We're gonna have to go back soon."

"I figured we would have heard from Porter by now," she admitted watching the rain pound off her car in the parking lot. "It wasn't supposed to be this way. I figured we would have found something by now."

"You found that flash drive. That's something. Let's go over what we have," Elliot said dumping a file of notes out onto the hotel bed.

Twenty minutes later they still sat rereading notes. Then there was a knock at the door. Olivia shifted her eyes to look at Elliot.

"You'd better get that," he said. "Could be Prince Charming."

Olivia picked up the file from the bed and hit him in the arm with it as she walked over to open the door. Before she did she looked through the peek hole to see who it was.

"It's Porter," she said looking back at Elliot.

Elliot shuffled the papers on the bed tucking them back into the file and placing the file into the drawer of the nightstand. He looked back at Olivia and nodded his head.

She put on a smile and opened the door. "You came back," she said staring up at Porter.

"You asked me to, Olivia."

"Come on in," she said moving aside and allowing him to enter the room.

Elliot watched the dark haired man as his eyes scanned the cheep motel room. "Nice place you got here," Porter said in a sarcastic tone as his eyes came to rest on Elliot sitting on the edge of the only one bed in the small room.

Elliot smiled, knowing exactly the question that was on Porter's mind.

"So," Olivia said taking a seat on a small desk in one corner of the room leaving the chair open for their guest, "have you got anything for us?"

"Actually, I do. The name of the man your victim was working with to embezzle the money from the company he worked for." He handed Olivia a paper with the name and a short biography about the man.

"Davis Parker?" Olivia read the man's name from the page in her hand.

"They worked together for nearly nine years. From what I can tell they had been running this operation for the past few years. I'm guessing Parker realized that his partner was working with the F.B.I. Somehow he knew that your victim had enough evidence to take him down."

"Parker was afraid our victim would flip him for a deal," Elliot thought out loud. "So he hires a couple of locals to go in and rob the family. Threaten him, spook him. Maybe they didn't count on the entire family being home. Or house guests. So they are roughing up Kate's father and wake Kate and Max. They come in and try to stop the attack, things get out of hand and the attackers over power them. They tie them up and try to use them to convince Kate's father to hand over the flash drive."

"Only the flash drive isn't at the house, it's at the office," Olivia added.

"He has nothing to give them," Elliot continued. "So they kill the family in front of him think that will be enough to make him talk. They think what they want is surely in the safe, lead him upstairs to open it for them and kill him. But what they are looking for isn't there. They get greedy and take a few jewelry items instead. Only to realize that when the news of the murders went public the items were reported missing. So they pawn them to get rid of the evidence of the crime."

"We need to talk to that pawn shop and see if they have anything we can use," Olivia said. "If we can identify the men who were in the house we may be able to get information from them that will help us take down Parker. What I don't understand is if Parker worked with Kate's father then why didn't he already think to check the office for the flash drive?"

"He probably did. Keep in mind he probably wouldn't have known that he was looking for a flash drive. Just evidence. And I am sure he wouldn't have thought to look underneath the desk. I am sure he checked the office first. When he couldn't find it then he sent the men to the house to get it," Elliot replied.

"We have to find a way to talk to this Parker guy without tipping him off," Olivia suggested.

"You can't do that. It would jeopardize my case."

"Look I know that you have to do what you have to do, focus on the money trail. But I will not let these murderers go unpunished."

"Olivia, I understand your seeking justice. Kate was your friend. But you cant just got stomping around and ruining an ongoing investigation for the F.B.I."

"So what, now the murders don't matter anymore?"

"I didn't say that. All I am saying is that it is strictly out of friendship that I am even having this conversation with you."

Olivia raised her eyes to glare at him.

"Rightfully and legally the moment I found out you had information on my case that you were refusing to turn over, I should have called and had you arrested."

"Arrested?" Olivia scoffed.

"For obstructing justice. Standing in the way of a federal investigation. You are with holding evidence Ms. Benson, that could close my case. But instead of turning it over, you feel the need to use it to get me to help you. Until now I have been cooperative with your little charade, but you are really starting to piss me off. If you continue with this unauthorized investigation, I will have no choice but to have you arrested."

"Now wait a minute," Elliot said standing in her defense.

"No, El. Let him think whatever he wants," Olivia said walking toward the door. "It is Detective Benson and I would like you to leave now, Agent Porter." She opened the door and motioned for him to leave.

"Detective Benson," Porter said getting up in her face. Olivia stared into his eyes as his nose rested only centimeters from hers. "I suggest you turn over any evidence you may have that could further my investigation."

"What makes you think I have anything that could help you?" She asked with a smile.

"Detective Benson I was hoping we could work this out without any trouble," he said grabbing Olivia by the arm.

"Okay," she said jerking out of his grasp. "What do you want?"

"Don't be coy, Olivia. I want the flash drive!"

"Oh, okay." Olivia walked across the room and picked up the small black device from the nightstand beside the lamp. "Here you go," she said tossing it to him.

"Now if you don't mind," Elliot barked holding the door open and guiding Porter out onto the sidewalk.

Elliot closed the door and leaned against it. "That's just great."

"What?"

"You just gave Porter the only piece of actual evidence we had toward a lead."

Olivia smiled. "You mean this?" She asked pulling the flash drive from her bra. "Do you really think I would sell out that easily?"

"No," Elliot said with a smile.

"But as soon as he figures out what is on that flash drive he is going to be pissed. We have to get out of this hotel. Tonight, now, Before he comes back." Olivia grabbed her bag and stuffed her things into it as Elliot gathered his. "I don't really think he shares your taste in music, Elliot."

Elliot laughed. "Probably not. You know, it's a real shame that you and agent Porter aren't friends anymore."

"Yeah, well I wont lose any sleep over it. Let's get out of here."