Chapter 3
"The bastard is crafty, I'll give him that," Fin said as he hung up his desk phone and turned to the others in the squad room.
"What's up?" Nick asked.
"The call to nine-one-one came from a burner phone," the elder detective told him.
"That's not helpful," Elliot shook his head and stood from his seat. He headed over to the electronic board and punched up all the information they had. Mostly "all" meant the body and the crime scene photos.
"Anybody from Rollins list come up hinky?" Elliot asked.
"Most of the people she wrote down didn't know her badge number. Some form Atlanta knew her old one but doesn't play into our problem," Nick explained.
"So we're nowhere until Melinda finds something on the body," Fin said.
"Basically," Nick nodded.
"This may sound like a stretch but do you remember that case about ten years ago out of Long Island? Where the killer was carving words into his victims' bodies?" Elliot turned around from the board and looked at Fin.
"That guy is doing life up at Attica. They moved him out there thinking he'd live longer," Fin said.
"Is he in Gen. Pop.?" Elliot wondered.
"Segregated unit. They didn't want him out and about with the other inmates," Fin replied.
"So he never had any cell mates?" His friend asked.
"Not as far as I know. I'll run a check though," Tutuola nodded and got typing away at his keyboard.
"Who is this guy?" Nick asked.
"There was this sicko who kept abducting people and carving them up. The detectives out there would find body parts that had been removed and each body part had a number carved into it. The guy carved up the victims before chopping off parts. Typically the victims died of blood loss and shock from the carving," Elliot explained.
"That's nasty," Amaro shook his head.
"And stupid. He had been careful not to leave any evidence behind on the bodies but when he was carving up his last victim he got sloppy. His blood mingled with her blood and then in an effort to disguise it, he departed from his MO. Tried dumping the body in the water and the local PD caught him in the act. Never once did he show any remorse and even at his trial he said he'd do it again if he could. The voices inside his head were telling him to do it. Defense attorney tried an insanity defense but the whole thing about realizing that he'd contaminated the body and was trying to get rid of it, it didn't really work, especially since he took the stand and basically admitted he was trying to get rid of the body without getting caught," Elliot told him.
"Well there goes that theory," Fin spoke up.
"Why?" Elliot asked.
"The guy has been alone in the segregated unit since he got there. They even made sure to keep the cells on either side of him empty. They only things he talks to are the walls and the roaches," Fin explained.
"Any other cases with similar MO's?" Nick asked.
"Running a search now," the detective nodded.
"Hey guys," Rollins said as she walked back into the squad room.
"You're not supposed to be here Rollins," Fin stood up.
"It was stay here or have a protective detail follow me everywhere," the blonde admitted.
"Do you know this girl?" Nick asked as he showed her a headshot of the victim.
"No. I've never seen her before," Amanda shook her head.
"We're missing something," Elliot huffed and turned back to the board. Just then the Captain walked into the room from his office.
"Fin, Amaro, head over to the Morgue. Melinda has something for you. Rollins sit at your desk. Stabler, my office," Cragen dispatched orders and everyone went to where they were supposed to.
"What's going on Captain?" Elliot asked as Cragen shut the door to his office.
"I just got a call from Calvin. He hasn't been able to reach Liv and Social Services took him from school and have him down at their office," the Captain said.
"Social Services? What is going on? Why can't he reach Liv?" Elliot asked.
"Good questions that I don't know the answer to. I've sent some uni's to your apartment. Grab Rollins and head out to see what is going on with Social Services," Cragen instructed. Elliot quickly turned and left the office.
"Rollins with me," he didn't slow down as he grabbed his coat. She quickly grabbed her coat and headed out with him.
"Where are we going?" She asked as they got into the elevator.
"Social Services. Something very weird is going on," Elliot explained. He quickly exited the elevator and Rollins rushed to keep up. They got into the car and Elliot put on all the lights and sirens as they made their way down through the city. Rollins tried calling Olivia as they drove but she did not have any luck.
"Where is my son?" Elliot asked as he walked up to the receptionist and pulled out his badge.
"He's with the Social Worker," she stammered. Obviously Calvin was the only one in the office at the moment.
"Where is the Social Worker?" Elliot gritted his teeth as he spoke.
"You have to understand, my partner is a little anxious. He can't reach his wife and he has no idea why his fifteen year old son is down at your office," Rollins stepped in before things got messy.
"I just answer the phones. Please let me get Mrs. Rothschild for you," the girl said. Quickly she picked up the phone and dialed someone's number. In hurried words, she told the social worker that NYPD was here and she had best get out to the front office.
"Dad?!" A shout came from behind the door that Elliot assumed led to the individual offices.
"Calvin?!" Elliot responded as he headed for the door. He didn't get far as the Social Worker opened the door. She stood at five foot and had thick glasses on. Her mousy brown hair was in an updo and she wore a brown skirt with cream button down shirt and completed the outfit with a brown jacket and white sneakers.
"Elliot Stabler, I presume?" Mrs. Rothschild asked.
"That's Detective Stabler. Why is my son here?" He said through gritted teeth.
"Sir, your adoptive son is here because his custody has been thrown into question. I am placing him into foster care until the nature of his custody can be established," Rothschild explained.
"What? Olivia and I adopted him using all the correct paperwork almost two years ago. What are you talking about?" Elliot demanded.
"It seems that biological relatives have stepped forward and seek to obtain custody. As such, the case has been assessed and it has been deemed that given the nature of Calvin's current living arrangements, that it is preferable that he be removed to foster care," it was at this moment that Elliot almost lost what little cool he had left.
"What do you mean?" Rollins asked before he could say anything.
"When Calvin was placed with Olivia Benson, as part of the original arrangement, it was due to the lack of biological relatives and the fact that Miss Benson was more than capable of handling a teenage boy on her own. As it has come to our attention, she no longer works and is on disability. That coupled with the fifteen month old at home and the fact that recent events place the family in debt, when biological relatives came forward seeking custody, it was determined that Calvin should be removed from his current home. I'm sure the paperwork was sent to the home as well. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to finish," Rothschild said. With that the Social Worker turned and the door shut in his face. Elliot almost barreled through the door and confronted her when two uniformed officers entered the office.
"Detective Stabler?" The taller one asked.
"Yes?" He whirled around.
"There's been an accident sir. You need to come with us to the hospital," his partner said.
To Be Continued…