Chapter 2:

Meeting the boss

The 1-6 stationhouse.

Stabler and Benson had brought the witness, Jake Drago in so he could brief Capt. Cragen concerning the disappearance of his girlfriend, Michelle.

Elliot knocked on the open office door of Capt. D. Cragen to get his attention. "What do you need, Elliot?", the man asked from behind his desk, and glancing up from a recent report from Fin.

"I brought in the boyfriend of the missing singer, Cap" Elliot said, noting the papers in his captains hand. "'m also having Morales take a look at the video that was sent to the witness's cell. It turns out that the victims boyfriend is a former Marine Gunnery Sergeant." He tried to hide a smile, as it was nice to see a former comrade. "His name is Jake "The Dragon" Drago."

"Then he's a friend of yours? You know I can't let you get any more involved in this case, Elliot."

"Don't worry, Cap. Its been years." Offering a smile to relax the older man.

Cragen nodded and followed Stabler out into the bullpen.

Fin and Munch were talking with Jake and Liv 'til Elliot and Cragen walked up. "Start from the beginning on what happened last night?"

Jake looked at Stabler, who nodded back.

Jake took a deep breath and exhaled. Then he started telling about what happened last night.

"Are you sure she didn't just up and split? You know how these women singers are these days?"

Jake looked at Fin with a kind of glare that could freeze water. "My girlfriend wouldn't just up and split! She was wounded and kidnapped last night, you asshole!"

Jake was beyond pissed. He was livid and shaking with anger and rage.

"Whoa, man! Chill! I said she could have, doesn't mean she did."

Jake reined in his anger and apologized for exploding at Detective Tutuola.

"Naw, don't sweat it, man. We're cool. I've heard you guys a couple of times. She has a beautiful voice. For an up and coming metal band, you have some potential. When we get done with this case and we find her alive, I'll hook you guys up with some producers I worked with back in the day." Then he offered his hand out to Jake.

He took the offered hand and shook it. "Deal." Then he looked to his former Marine buddy with such a sad look in his eyes that it reminded Detective Stabler about how he almost lost is partner and dear friend, Detective Olivia Benson several months ago.

"Don't worry, Jake. We'll find her. I give you my word, we will find her. I won't rest 'til she's found."

He smiled a bit and nodded his thanks to Elliot.

"Elliot, why don't you take him back to the hotel for tonight."

"Sure Cap."

The Park Central New York Hotel lobby.

Both Elliot and Jake sat down in one of the sofas and chatted a bit before Stabler went back to the stationhouse.

"So, when did you get out of the Marines, Jake?"

"I got out about 3, 4 yrs. ago. Then I met Mike and her band when I answered an ad in the paper. We've been together as a band since but her and I started dating about a year ago. I don't know what I'll do if we can't find her, El. She's not just the lead singer for our band, El. She's my GF. We have to find her!"

Jake was getting so agitated that he started to cry. Elliot couldn't believe that his former Marine buddy was crying and wasn't afraid to show it. He loved Mike that much. Elliot knows what its like to love someone that much. Kathy means that much to him. His children, too.

Stabler put his hand on Jake's shoulder and told him not to worry and that they will find Mike.

Jake looked up at the detective with teary eyes and smiled a bit. "I know you will, El. You were never a quitter. I gotta go tell the rest of the band what's going on. Keep me in the loop?"

"Of course. Get some sleep and I'll stop by in the morning and we'll go over more details."

Jake nodded and got up from the sofa. He headed for the elevator to go up to his hotel room.

Elliot watched his long time friend with an ache in his heart. He hated to see his friend in this condition.

Elliot got up from the sofa and headed out the door of the hotel and out to his car. He got in and started the car. Put it in gear and headed back to the stationhouse.

The 1-6 stationhouse. Elliot walked in and everyone stopped talking. They looked at him as he walked through the bullpen and over to his desk.

"El, everything ok?"

He looked up at his partner, Detective Olivia Benson. "Jake is so upset about this, Liv. I hope we find his girlfriend and find her alive. I don't like being the bearer of bad news for anyone, let alone my friend."

Liv walked around her desk and stood next to her partner. She put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed it.

"We'll find her, El. We always find our victim. One way or another, we find them."

Elliot put his hand on hers and squeezed it lightly. "I know, Liv. I know."

Just then, Cragen walked out of his office and saw the look on Elliot's face.

"Elliot, go home. You need to separate yourself from this. Its starting to effect your thinking."

Detective Stabler looked up and across the bullpen to his captain. "I'll be fine, Cap. Munch and Fin get any more information from the rest of the band?"

"They should be on the way back now. They didn't get much from the rest of the band. They were inside the hotel when their singer was kidnapped, but there was some people outside the hotel that saw what happened. Including the valet."

"The valet? Jake didn't mention there was a valet. I know Jake has changed since I last saw him, but…."

"Do you think he may have hired someone to kidnap her?"

"I hope not, Cap. But he is a former Marine, so it could be possible. I'll find his CO and have a talk with him. Maybe we'll get more info and ask Casey if she could get a warrant for Jake's medical records from the Marines. Maybe there's something in there that we don't know about. Some kind of failed performance eval. Or reprimands. Anything we can find will tell us what he's done before he left the Marines."

"I'll get Casey on it right now, Elliot. If you can't keep it professional,…"

"I'll step aside. In fact, I think I will step aside. If I find out he had her kidnapped, I might throttle Jake. But I want to be kept in the loop."

"Understood, Elliot. I'm glad you're doing the right thing. Go spend time with your family. I'll let you know if we have any new leads."

"Thanks Cap."