Chapter 34

They had found the body – what was left of it. Melinda and CSU had had to treat the scene like an archaeological dig, slowly but surely, they uncovered bones and bits of fabric. There was no wallet or any form of ID, but it had to be Ron Davidson. Still DNA, if they were able to retrieve any, would be needed to confirm it.

"Poor bastard," Elliot shook his head. He stood over the four-foot-deep hole. It was in the backyard of a country home near the village of Sleepy Hollow in Westchester County. The New York State Police had been called in to assist. Sleepy Hollow had a small police force that was often assisted by Troopers from the State Police and even the Westchester County Department of Public Safety, which included other local police departments.

"We got a cause of death?" Olivia asked.

"The bones are all busted up. They weren't exactly careful when they dug him up and moved him. I won't know if I have all of his parts until I get him back to the morgue," Melinda heaved a sigh from the hole she was standing in.

"Good lord," Olivia heaved a sigh.

"Doesn't really matter how he died. Taglietti told us where his body was and it's on his property. We got the son of a bitch," Elliot frowned. Here lay a good father, who had tried to do everything right by his family, only to be murdered by a man who was shagging his wife.

"You guys aren't going to stand over me all weekend, are you?" Melinda wanted to know.

"Just like old times," Olivia said.

"Yeah, something like that. It's going to take some time to clear this field and make sure we got as many bones as we're supposed to. I found some bits of plastic bag so maybe everything's here, but this poor guy deserves a decent burial. Wouldn't be right to not check the ten feet around the hole in every direction," the coroner admitted.

"The Troopers have the scene secured. We just wanted to make sure Ron was where our murderer said he was. I have to call Carisi, let him know," Olivia moved away from her colleagues and Melinda took her shot at Elliot.

"You guys talk yet?" She asked.

"There hasn't been time to really talk yet, but I can tell she's reluctant. I push her and she'll shut down faster than the Lincoln Tunnel on a holiday weekend," he told her. Melinda nodded and he continued,

"Fin said it was worse than Sealview, but he refused to say any more. I have thoughts go through my head…"

"Let her tell you," the coroner said as Olivia moved back over to them.

"The DA's office is up to speed," she said.

"Good. I'll keep you posted. I'll be back at it in the morning," Melinda told them. Elliot offered her a hand and she climbed up out of the hole. It was getting dark and the Troopers were bringing in generators and lights to help secure the scene overnight. A couple of Troopers would be staying in a squad car, blocking the house's driveway and a few more had gotten some temporary fencing to put up around the hole. Since the hole was visible from the back of the house, a few Troopers would be staying inside the home, keeping an eye on the scene from up high. As they moved back toward the coroner's van, they were approached by Trooper Carlson, who was leading the group at the crime scene.

"Captain Benson, will you and Detective Stabler be staying in Sleepy Hollow?" He asked. The young African American man was very tall, Elliot figured about six foot six, with broad shoulders and an imposing look with his full Trooper regalia on. Troopers wore grey shirts with purple ties, grey pants that have a black stripe down the sides, and they wore tan Stetson hats with a purple band around it. The uniform was pressed as if the Trooper had served in the military.

"We will not; you have things in hand here for our chain of custody. We appreciate the assistance. What about you Melinda?" Olivia asked.

"It's forty minutes back to the city, on a good day. What are you thinking Trooper Carlson?" Melinda gave him a smile.

"The Sleepy Hollow Hotel is offering up a block of rooms for you and your forensic techs if you want," he smiled back.

"I think I will take them up on the offer then. Let me check with the team and see if anyone else wants in," she said.

"Of course," he smiled and the coroner scooted away to the techs who were locking up the CSU van.

"Awful nice of the hotel," Elliot commented.

"It's the slow season. I think the owner figured that the influx of police was probably to his benefit, even if he's giving the law enforcement discount," Carlson chuckled.

"Well, we wish we could take him up on that, but we have to get back home to search for our suspect's son. Again, thanks so much for your help," Olivia stuck out a hand and the Trooper shook it.

"You guys have the guy in custody, right?" Carlson asked.

"Oh, he's rotting at Rikers right now," Elliot told him and also shook the Trooper's hand.

"Good. Should we expect you tomorrow or even on Sunday?" The younger man wanted to know.

"Not unless you need us. If you do, please call me," Olivia handed him a card.

"Will do, ma'am," Carlson nodded. With that the Captain headed back to her SUV. Elliot gave the Trooper a look before asking,

"You serve?"

"Marines. Just got back from Afghanistan about a year ago," the Trooper nodded and Elliot couldn't help but smile.

"Oorah," the detective said.

"Oorah," Carlson smiled and then said goodbye. Elliot walked back to the SUV and climbed into the passenger seat.

"Make a new friend?" Benson smirked.

"Always," Elliot chuckled. They fell into a silence for the first fifteen minutes of the ride. It wasn't uncomfortable but it wasn't like it used to be.

"You have plans for the evening?" Olivia asked suddenly, breaking the silence, as she pulled the vehicle onto the I-eighty-seven highway.

"Other than telling my pillow how much I love it? No," he cracked a joke.

"El…" his name hung there in the air. Her former partner reached over, placing his hand on her thigh. He could feel the tension, but he didn't know what it stemmed from.

"El…" there was nothing with it; like she was debating opening up to him despite knowing him so well. Sure, they'd been apart for a decade, but some things weren't so different. She still felt the electricity between them and she knew that he had to as well.

"I'm right here," he promised.

"I know, but I'm not sure you'll want to be. On one hand, I'm mad. On the other… I'm scared. There's more to it than that it's…"

"You have to allow yourself to feel the pain," Elliot's words struck a chord, "You don't want to become me." In that moment, Olivia's eyes went wide. Her focus never left the road, however. The urge to reach her apartment was stronger now though. From the outside, the job was black and white, but how they felt wasn't. The job would consume a person if they let it. For them it had, sometimes to the point where they didn't know where it ended and they began. Emotionally, they had run to each other. That filled the void and then the band aid was ripped off, the void reopened. Maybe there was still a chance to close it once more, for good.

To Be Continued…

Not long to go to the end. Thanks for sticking with me.