The sun pierced through the window and shone brightly, squinting, Olivia opened her eyes. She smiled, Elliot had spent the night. Pulling herself up she watched him sleep for a few minutes, he woke up and smiled at her.
"Hey" Olivia said dreamily.
Elliot propped himself up slightly, leaning in, he kissed her lips. Smiling beneath his lips Olivia was pulled on top of her partner, they had never been so in tune. Their fingers intertwined, a perfect match.
"Damn it" Elliot mumbled, Kathy was phoning him, again.
"Ignore it" Olivia said kissing him still.
Reaching for his phone Elliot answered, "Kathy, I'm sorry I didn't call" A silence fell across the room, "I'm fine" a few choice words later, Kathy hung up the phone. Olivia found herself in the crook of Elliot's arm, her leg cross hatched over his. Looking at him with a seducing smile, her eyes gleamed, she stroked his muscular body. Elliot instantly relaxed, he leant in and kissed Olivia. She giggled slightly as he rolled on top of her.
A slam on the door made both the detectives jump, Olivia slipped out of Elliot's warm grasp. Wrapping a sheet around her naked body, she went to the front door. No one was there, but a letter had been taped to the door. "El" she called, her tone had changed, she was no longer a dreamy lover, she was a frightened detective.
"What is it?" He said almost charging through the apartment.
Pulling open the door further, Elliot saw the letter. There was no name on the letter, just a photo, someone had captured their initial embrace. Elliot took the letter down, opening it, he was horrified.
'"Liar Liar,
You cried on her shoulder,
You played with fire,
I saw you smile when it was over."'
/
"You know what? I was hungry on the way over here" Munch said staring at the photos that had been displayed in the interrogation room.
Fin smirked, "I knew they were at it! It's so obvious".
Munch picked up one of the photos and stared at it for a moment, then flipped it a couple of times, "I never know how people get themselves in these positions".
Elliot and Olivia arrived at the precinct, scanning the room, they noticed Munch and Fin were stray. Munch approached the detectives with a grin, 'I know your dirty little secret'. "Get much sleep last night guys?".
Elliot and Olivia shared a glance, "It was great being back in my own apartment".
"What about you El?" Fin asked standing side by side with Munch.
"Sleep is sleep" he replied.
"Where did you sleep last night El? Because Kathy called here six times looking for you, only you weren't in the crib" Munch jeered.
"And you weren't at home" Fin added.
Grins appeared on both Munch and Fin's faces, Elliot had a sinking feeling. They knew. Munch out stretched his hand, Elliot and Olivia's faces dropped.
"Where did you get that?" Elliot said snatching the photo.
"Not that, them" Munch grinned, "We all knew it".
Elliot stared horrified, Olivia blushed. "Does Kathy know?" Elliot asked panicked.
"Not unless this creep made more than one copy. The rest of them are in there" Fin said holding out his hand in the direction of the the interrogation room.
/
"You think he knows?" A female voice asked, a quiver in her throat attacked her speech.
"No. By now they know I am involved, but I left no trace of you. They will never know" the male replied.
"When is the next body due to be found?".
"In about seven minutes".
"It all went to plan?".
"Yes".
"Thank you" It seemed so stupid thanking him for killing, but she had to thank him. "And we're clear, you never attack the boy".
"All clear".
/
A deathly scream shot through the ears of everyone at the 1 – 6 precinct, people on the street scattered, police officers with cocked guns ran in numbers.
A young boy, he could be no older than nine lay decapitated in the road. Olivia held back the vomit threatening her mouth. Elliot stood captivated by his fear.
The street was cleared, witnesses were gathered and bought in to the precinct. None of this made any sense to the detectives, why was he so brutally killed? What made this boy different? Why was so much attention paid to this victim?
/
"Cause of death was decapitation, a boy matching his description was reported missing yesterday. Poor boy" Doctor Warner said sympathetically. "His name is Elliot Rayleigh, he's eight years old".
"His mother is on her way to identify his body" Olivia said getting off the phone.
"He was tortured, all his fingers nails have been pulled out, along with six toe nails, he has cigarette burns on his legs and bruising to his thighs, arms and chest. I would say he was pinched".
Olivia shook her head, she was speechless. Nothing about this victim made any sense. "You think it could be a copy cat?".
"I doubt it, I came up here to deliver this" handing over a letter in an evidence bag. "I found it in his rectum".
The information sent a shudder through Olivia's body, she called for Elliot, Munch and Fin.
'"Partners.
Such a beautiful concept.
Like a family away from home.
You put your trust in them,
for them to destroy you"'.
Cragen had finally come out of his office, the colour in his face had diminished, "You need to see this". Sitting at a computer, he pulled up a website.
"'Tick Tock,
life is too short,
it's taken for granted'"
Cragen read aloud, he scrolled down slightly showing eight pictures. Each picture had a name and age written underneath it. All of them were called Elliot. All of them were reported missing.
'"To find me, you have to look closer, to the smaller details. You know who I am, you know oh so well. Look in your heart, before I take another. You know how to stop me, you know my every move, my every thought, feeling. You know me Elliot. "'
"Elliot, I want you to make a list of anyone and everyone who has a problem with you, I don't care how far you have to go back. Do it" Cragen instructed.
Elliot nodded, "Sure" his emotions seemed to be put on hold. He had become an empty shell, he was running on empty.
"Olivia I want you to help Elliot".
/
"It's done".
"I take it it went without any glitches".
"Yes".
"I have a job for you tonight. Elliot Stabler Junior" The woman's voice was cold.
"I thought you said we don't touch that kid?" Ian was confused.
"Plans change" The phone went silent. "He needs to learn a lesson".