x x x
PRESENT
(15 days since the abduction)
Brooklyn
Early that evening, Bobby settles on his couch with the binder open and a few printed pictures scattered between his couch and coffee table. He picks up his ringing cell phone when he sees that it's Elliot.
"Hey, what's up?"
"Who told you about William Coleson's record?" Elliot asks.
"Brooklyn SVU," he replies. "I know a guy there named Sellers. I asked him for the witness list on the Denise Tanney case. He didn't have much time, but said Coleson was clean."
"Liv and I just got back from talking to their lieutenant. Coleson has one DUI. He spent a night in Rikers. There's a moving violation from New Rochelle for driving erratically. Report says Coleson was agitated and a little combative. Might have been drinking, but he tested below the legal limit that time."
"When were these charges?"
"A few days after Denise Tanney's body was found."
x x x
PAST
(14 days since the abduction)
Somewhere in Manhattan
The door to the room opens and barely a second later, Cole is squatting down on the floor beside the bed.
She had been dozing a little here and there, but not really sleeping.
They plan to escape tonight. Cole drew a map of the building which they've both reviewed carefully. They planned how they'll handle different emergencies as they come up.
"Alex…Alex... Wake up," he whispers.
"Wha…? What's going on?"
He leans very close to her ear and whispers, "Change of plans."
"You're kidding me?"
"It's alright. Just listen…"
Hours ago, Cole loosened her wrists restraints and removed the ankle restraints to save them some time. She isn't tied to either of the bedposts. She keeps the blanket over her legs and feet just in case Malik checks the camera.
They leave the blindfold on for the time being. She lifts it up just enough to see him. The lights in the room are on, but more than half don't work. It takes a moment for her eyes to adjust.
He continues to speak in a whisper. "Same initial plan, then we'll go three blocks to the subway. We'll take it to Brooklyn Heights. My place is a block and a half away. I have a couple things you can put on, since I know you don't want to stay in those clothes. We'll drive straight to Vermont and be there by morning."
"That's not the plan!" she objects plainly.
"I promise you we'll get out of this place, but we need to leave town. It won't be for long."
"We have to go to the police. They'll need to start their investigation."
"We'll notify the police later. After we're in Vermont."
She shakes her head. "We're not leaving the state!"
"We have to!" he says adamantly, a little above a whisper. He takes his tone back down. "It's not safe."
"Why?"
"Please, just… Let me explain later. We need to get far away from here! Safest spot I can think of is my place in Vermont. It'll be perfect. They won't find us."
"What's going on?"
He huffs out a frustrated sigh and lowers his head.
He's just anxious, she decides. "I think your original plan is a good one. We'll be fine, the police will protect us," she assures him.
He shakes his head.
"What's gotten into you, Cole?"
"I can't… I'm sorry. I'll explain later. Hell, I'll explain on the way! Okay?"
"Try explaining right now!"
"Alex, please! Not here."
"How about you try trusting me first? Then maybe I'll consider your plan."
She hopes she can work through whatever this is. It's probably the surroundings that has him so uptight.
"Cole?"
No answer.
"Cole, come on."
"I'm in a lot of trouble," he suddenly blurts out. "There's too much about to happen tonight. I'm not ready to go to the police and I need to make sure you and I are completely safe before I can deal with them. Okay? I promise I'll tell you the rest later."
"What sort of trouble are you in?" she presses.
"We're friends…right?"
"Yes, but friends are honest with each other. I'm pretty sure you've been keeping something from me since I first met you. I don't know why that is, or why it's so hard for you to talk about it. But I need to hear the truth."
"I'm not deliberately leaving you in the dark, it's just…"
"Just what?"
He sighs. "I don't know where to begin. Th-they just showed up, I panicked. I thought it would look like self-defense, but everything happened so fast, I—I didn't know we'd end up here," he mutters quickly and nervously.
"You'd better start at the beginning."
He takes a couple deep breaths. "Two men were there when you were abducted. One of them put a cloth over your mouth, two put you into the back of the van."
"That's right. How—?" Her eyes widen.
"One of them was me..."
"What!?"
"It's not what..."
"What were you—"
"Alex, stop! It's not what you think!"
"You'd better have a damn good explanation!"
"The man who put the cloth over your mouth and planned to abduct you is named Nasir. SVU is looking for him. He rapes and tortures women, sends a DVD of himself in the act and then murders his victims. He's called the DVD rapist. Unfortunately, I know more about him than the NYPD!" he groans.
"Why is that?"
"Because two years ago, the sonofabitch raped, tortured and murdered my girlfriend, Denise... Amanda's mom," he frowns, shaking his head. "We were talking about getting married when she finished school."
"I'm sorry, Cole," she offers.
"The police thought I did it! They actually thought I would rape and torture her. I loved Denise! She was my life! But I had no alibi that night. I was at home waiting for her to come back from her class. Amanda was visiting with Denise's folks. Denise had been taking a business class at NYU. She goes to her car and this...this...monster grabs her! Two days later, the police find her body near Pier 2 in Brooklyn."
She sees the anger, frustration and grief rising in him as he speaks. Clearly he hasn't dealt with a lot of it.
He continues. "That same night that they found her, I went over to the NYU campus lot. Her bracelet was missing when they found the body. CSU said it didn't turn up, I went to look for it. I saw a man wandering around near the spot where she normally parks… Denise always picked the same spot, because that's how she finds her car. She forgets where she parks," his voice breaks a little on the words, while the memory stirs up some emotions. "I knew it had to be him!"
Alex nods and frowns. "Lots of serial killers will return to their crime scenes. Sometimes, that's how they're caught."
"I wanted to kill him right there on the spot," he scowls. "Too many witnesses. After that, he disappears. I see him almost two years later in Manhattan. I remember what he looks like, so I follow him. In fact, I kept on following him. Maybe I wanted to confront him. I had to know things. I still felt rage. I didn't know what I was going to do yet."
She nods.
"I found his apartment, his food stops, his favorite bodega, his hang out, which is right here in this building," he points toward the floor.
"Right here?" she repeats.
"Yes. This is where he works."
"But…Malik...?"
He holds up a hand. "I'll get there. I also broke into his apartment. I wanted to see if he had anything on Denise. Even a pony tail holder. I missed her so much," he pauses, fighting back some tears.
"You should have gone to the police!"
"They didn't want to hear it from me, Alex! I was their suspect!" he spits back bitterly. "Now you see why I hate the fucking police!"
She knows he's upset so she lets it go.
"And to make matters worse, the police had some help," he groans.
"What help?"
"The Tanney's. Denise's family didn't exactly like me. I wasn't good enough for her. I'm not a doctor or a lawyer, even though I make a damn good income. The Tanney's are very rich. It's all about status. Denise wasn't like that. She loved me and that's all that mattered. The Tanney's hated me even more after I got her pregnant. They love Amanda, but they still hate me. Denise was so happy to be a mom. Amanda's a gift to us."
She sees something in his eyes when he talks about Denise and Amanda. He loves them deeply.
"Denise and I planned to get married and have more kids. And then I lost her. I know I didn't handle it well. I had a two year old at home. The police thought I was guilty and so did the Tanney's. Lots of trips downtown, lawyers, a bunch of BS…"
Cole continues. "I had a little too much to drink one night. Cops pulled me over, I spent a night in Rikers. The Tanney's grabbed one of their million dollar lawyers and fought for custody of Amanda. They won. So I lost both Denise and Amanda."
"When did the courts take Amanda?"
"Five months after Denise was killed. Fortunately, the courts have been good about visitation."
"You were planning to take her to Vermont...?"
"Yeah. For a weekend. I'm allowed," he replies. "As long as I check in. Hell, she's my daughter!"
"Cole, I'm very sorry for what you've been through. But I have to ask… Why did you lie about Amanda being abducted and held here?"
He shrugs. "I didn't know what to say when I saw you. It was complicated. Besides, you thought I was going to attack you."
"Well… Yes, in the beginning. I didn't know who you were."
"I didn't know you either! But I'd never rape you or any woman for that matter!"
"I know."
"I wanted you to see that I wasn't going to hurt you. I planned to tell you everything after we got out of here. But then… You were getting raped. Just by someone else," he frowns. "I happen to care about you too. In just the short time I've come to know you. You're only the second woman I've known to go through this and you've been attacked multiple times," he shakes his head, frowning. "I didn't want to come apart on you. You didn't need it."
"So how did we end up here?" she asks.
"Getting back to Nasir… I collected what I could, followed the news and police reports. And then you became his next victim."
"You saw him following me?"
"Yes and no. He keeps his distance from his targets. So I didn't know 'who' he was after until it was too late. I just watched and followed. I actually spent an afternoon reading up on psychopaths and serial killers."
"Then what?"
"I finally came up with a plan of my own and approached him. I decided I was going to make him think I wanted in on his sick game. I didn't think he'd buy it, but it actually worked. Then I wanted it to look like I just showed up at the right time and saved some woman's life. That woman turns out to be you. He grabs you. I help him put you in the back of the van. And then…I strangled him."
"You…strangled him? He's…dead?" she poses in disbelief.
He nods. "Never thought of me as a killer, huh? I can't blame you. Why the hell can't I stop Malik?" he groans.
"Did Nasir have a bunch of body guards?"
He shakes his head.
"So what about Malik?"
"After I killed Nasir, I panicked. I started shaking, throwing up. Too much stress. Suddenly, I'm jumped from behind. It's Malik and two of his guys. One of them hits me in the back of the head. They brought us back here. They put you into one room and me in another. They beat me until I told them everything."
"So you do know what they're after."
"Apparently, I wasn't the only person keeping tabs on Nasir. So was Malik."
"Why?"
"You know a man by the name of… Hassan? "
A shiver runs through her. He can't be talking about the same Hassan. Can he?
"Why?"
"I think Malik is some sort of terrorist. He plans to murder this guy, Hassan. Hassan is some sort of political figure...? Or leader...? I'm not sure. I thought someone mentioned Puntland…?"
"What makes you think I know Hassan?"
She never brought that name up to Cole. She mentioned leaving Major Case, having to fire Bobby and her captain being killed on the job. She assumes the Feds are probably moving on with their investigation.
Furthermore, she thought Hassan had gone back to Puntland. She can't bring that up with Cole.
"But you do know him right? I don't know the extent of your involvement. I assume there was a case, but you never brought it up."
"Even if there was, I can't talk about it, Cole."
"I'm saying there's a connection," he replies. "As for me, I don't much about this Hassan. I heard he's someone you don't want as your enemy. Malik wanted to make sure Nasir wasn't trying to interfere in his plans in some way. He saw Nasir following you, but he didn't know why."
"Describe Nasir."
"A little under six feet tall, thin. Age 33. Short, thin hair. His nose looks like it might have been broken and reconstructed. He has a mustache which he didn't two years ago. Sometimes he wore glasses. I'm not sure, but I think they're supposed to be a disguise. He carried a California driver's license. I saw travel documents at his place from Puntland, Malaysia, Libya..."
"Have you ever seen Hassan?"
He shakes his head. "Anyway, there's this shipping container of weapons that Hassan and Malik are each planning to intercept. Malik plans to import the weapons into Puntland. He's obviously working against Hassan. I've spent the last two weeks getting container numbers, weight loads and dock times for the cargo ships for Malik, using my Port Authority access. I don't like it, but if I didn't agree to help, I would be of no use to him. He'd kill me and continue to make your life hell."
"Why would Malik want me?"
"He thinks he can use you to lure Hassan, and then kill him."
"Why does he think Hassan would want me?" Alex asks, shaking her head.
"I really don't know. Probably your link with the police?" he offers with a shrug.
"But that doesn't make any sense!" she says, mostly to herself. Her head is already spinning with the questions she has and she can't discuss any of it with Cole.
"I'm just telling you how I think Malik sees it. This plan to intercept the weapons container is what tonight is all about. Once Malik has what he needs, I'm useless to him. Hassan knows there's a hit on him. He doesn't know it's Malik…so..."
"You think Malik is setting you up?"
"I know it. Malik needs to get rid of me. He'd rather have someone else do it. Hawk was kind enough to warn me. And that's why we have to leave New York."
"No… That's why we need to go to the police!" The Feds will obviously be involved too, she thinks to herself.
"They'll throw me in prison for killing Nasir! You can bet he'll have contacts on the inside. Or maybe Hassan will… I'm not safe in prison, Alex! PLEASE let's just go to Vermont," he begs. "Let's get as far away from here as we can! We'll talk, we'll regroup, we'll figure things out, we'll call your folks. I need time!"
"Running isn't going to help! They'll just add on charges."
"I have until this shipment is intercepted. And then my time is up," he says solemnly.
She reaches for his arm. "It's going to be alright."
Without looking up, he shakes his head and sighs. "I just wanted Nasir stopped..."
"I understand how you feel. Believe me, I understand. You have to know that no amount of justice will bring them back. No amount of justice will make it easier to get over the loss. It's just takes time. I know it's hard to hear that too. I wanted to blow the man's head off for killing my husband! But we have to let the police do their job."
He lifts his head to look at her. "What if they question you about what I just told you?"
"I can't attest to something that I didn't witness. They'll question me about the rapes and get as much information on Malik. I'll also say that I sense your life is in danger for helping me get out. You'll be under police protection until they know it's safe. You'll contact a lawyer before you speak to anyone about Nasir. I've got some names I can recommend."
"I don't like lawyers either."
"There's a few I don't like. But there are some good ones and they will protect your rights. The information you have on Malik and Hassan is worth a lot."
He sighs heavily. "Alex, I am sorry for keeping things from you. Are we...okay?"
"I don't like it when people lie to me. Especially friends."
"For what it's worth, I didn't like it either."
"Good. So the original plans are still on?"
"Yes. In three hours this place is just an ugly memory." Cole gets up off the floor. "Better go back to my post before this starts to look suspicious."
"Okay."
"Bye, Cole."
"Bye."
She hears the door close as he leaves.
Knowing he'll be back to wake her up, she settles back and falls asleep.
x
Cole wanders down the corridor toward the spot where he's told to remain.
He knows he won't be able to sleep and he's starting to get hungry.
It's after 11:00pm and he's not sure he can wait until the next opportunity to eat. Whenever that is.
While Malik and Hassan are each consumed with this weapons shipment, he's probably got a window. He'll grab a couple sandwiches for himself and Alex. He hopes he can talk her into eating something. She has to be hungry as well.
But to leave, he must take one of Malik's goons with him.
He looks around for Hawk, but he's occupied. Rodden would just tell him to fuck off.
Drakes isn't much better, but he agrees.
He walks down the sidewalk toward the deli, with Drakes lagging a few feet behind.
He's about to cross an alley way as a black Lincoln pulls through. The front end of the car points toward the street and blocks his path. The only way for him to get to the deli is to walk around the back of the car.
He tries to hurry around it. As soon as he reaches the back bumper, the car door opens and a man steps out.
"I appreciate your help in finding my shipment, Mr. Coleson," Hassan begins. "But now your work is done."
That has to be Hassan, Cole reasons, although he's never seen a picture.
Very tall, thin black man. Neat appearance. He speaks with a heavy accent.
Cole turns and starts running down the alley way as fast as he can.
The second passenger of the Lincoln is already waiting for Cole near the alley way dumpster. He intercepts and fires two shots at close range. Cole collapses.
The Lincoln backs further into the alley way until the bumper reaches the spot where Cole fell.
They carefully put his body into the trunk.
The car leaves the alley way, heading for the Bronx.
x
Alex awakens several hours later. No sign of Cole.
She has no concept of time anymore, but she fears they could have missed their chance.
A few more hours pass before the door opens again.
This time, it's Malik.
x x x
PRESENT
(Late afternoon - 16 days since the abduction)
Brooklyn
He's still off the case, but Benson and Stabler are keeping him in the loop.
Benson called him a few hours ago with a homicide report from the Bronx PD.
William Coleson's body was pulled from the Hudson River that morning. He took two gunshot wounds to the chest. Ballistics report isn't in yet. The ME said he'd been dead for 24 to 36 hours.
He really wanted to interview this guy.
The Tanney's didn't offer much.
He's a little curious about why Coleson was killed. It's not as pressing as finding Eames, the victims or the perp, but he decides to keep tabs on that case too.
The best he can do now is move on to the next cold case victim.
Meanwhile, SVU is tracking down the owner of the Erling property near East River Park. Most of the bodies have turned up within a few blocks of it.
This perp has to be keeping the women somewhere. An old warehouse, a studio, or maybe an apartment building?
His phone rings suddenly and it's Benson.
"This is Goren."
"Hey Bobby… We found the owner of the Erling property," Olivia begins. It sounds like she's in her car from the background sounds. "It's a guy by the name of Erik Kent, from Philadelphia. He bought it from the last Erling heir about three years ago."
"Great. How do we reach him?"
"We can't… Erik Kent died from multiple stab wounds six months ago in Philadelphia. Strangely, the property is still in his name."
"Someone's paying the bills," they say in unison and grin.
"I'm about to check it out. Where are you?" she asks.
"My apartment."
"Brooklyn, right?"
"Yeah. Can I…meet you there?" he asks, hoping she'll let him poke around a little, even if he can't help.
"I'll come get you," she answers. "I was visiting with a vic who lives in Brooklyn when Fin called me with the news. Elliot's in court, so I could use the back up. What's your address?"
He gives it to her. "You sure your captain won't mind?"
"Nope, I called him first. By the way, he says you're officially back on the case. Don't worry about Tucker or IAB. See you in 10-15 minutes."
"Great. Thanks, Benson. I'll wait for you outside."
x
PRESENT
(16 days since the abduction)
~Somewhere in Manhattan…~
Nearly two days have passed since she last saw Cole. She doesn't have a good feeling about it.
Malik showed up the night they planned to leave and attacks her again. This had to be the worst by far.
She's used to the power rapes and the punishment rapes.
But not this.
Malik was livid. Whatever caused this anger, he had every intention of taking it out on her.
She wonders if it has anything to do with the shipment Cole spoke of.
Did something go wrong that night?
As she was trying to get away, he picks something solid and strikes her knee cap. Now, any pressure she applies or any flex of the knee is excruciating.
After that attack, he disappears.
It's been a day and a half, and she hasn't heard a sound in that hallway.
No Cole. Not one member of Malik's brute squad or Malik himself. Total silence.
She hopes the Feds were watching the weapons drop and busted the group.
She decides to take a chance on another escape.
Alex moves along the hallway very sluggishly. Crawling would be giving herself too much credit. She can't crawl. She's using her hands, arms and upper body to push herself along. The pain is unbelievable at times. Not just her knee, but her back, her head and pelvic area. Other parts of her are just numb. She presses onward.
It would probably take her less than a minute to get from the room they've kept her in, to the outside if she could walk. It takes her almost thirty minutes just to reach the stairs to the ground floor.
She's tired and this is taking a lot of effort.
She has these short spells where she feels a little faint, dizzy. Almost like blackout spells. She knows this can't be good. Maybe it's pain, hunger, thirst. She hasn't eaten in a couple days.
She isn't sure whether a few seconds or a few minutes pass in this before she's alert and able to move again.
Then at last, she reaches the ground floor level.
Sunlight filters into the hallway from a few windows. Even though she can't feel it, she sees it. She pushes herself a little harder. She scream for help. Maybe someone outside will hear her.
She's almost to the door.
Once again, she finds herself feeling faint.
x
Bobby and Olivia arrive and get out of the car.
In front of them, there is a large brick, eight story building. A chain link fence surrounds most of the parameter.
Olivia immediately spots a man lurking just outside the building. It looks like he's intending to go inside.
"POLICE! Stay where you are!" Olivia announces.
The man sees them and takes off running. They chase after him.
Olivia reaches him first, knocking him to the ground. "Why did you run? Did you hear me tell you to stay where you are? Let's see some ID!" she demands.
"Don't have it!" he blurts back.
The man is about six foot two, large build, Caucasian, early 30s. She pats him down, finds a wallet with driver's license and a small handgun.
"Well… What do we have here?" Olivia says, showing the handgun to Bobby. She glances at the name on the license. "Were you planning to use this handgun, Mr. Drakes?"
"I-it's not mine. I—I found it!" Drakes blurts back.
"I'm going to check inside," Bobby quietly tells Olivia, who nods in reply.
Olivia pulls him up off the ground. "I guess we'll have more to talk about when we get to SVU."
x
Bobby tugs on the outside door handle, but finds it locked. He starts to search for another door until something inside catches his eye.
He peers through one of the glass panes on either side of the steel door. The hallways are rather dark, except for traces of daylight that filter in from different windows.
He sees someone inside lying still on the floor near the doorway.
Eames.
"CALL A BUS! I GOT HER!" Bobby yells back to Olivia urgently.
He quickly checks the ground near the door, finds a loose chunk of cement and uses it to smash the glass pane. He sticks his arm through the opening, unlatches the door and throws it open.
He doesn't see a sign of anyone else, but he remains alert.
She's lying on her right side, about ten feet from the door.
Looks like she collapsed. Knowing Eames, it happened while she was trying to get out.
God help the person who tried to get in her way, he thinks to himself.
"Eames!"
He's nervous until he sees that she's breathing and there's a pulse. A weak pulse, but she's got a pulse. Relief washes over him.
There's bruising, some old cuts and dried blood on her arms, legs and face. There could be multiple injuries. He sees significant swelling and discoloration on her left knee.
She's barely clothed. Just a torn top and pair of shorts.
He takes off his trench coat and wraps it around her, then squats down beside her.
"Eames…? Can you hear me?"
She begins to stir slowly. Her fingers move a little at first. Her eyes open, but it takes her a minute for things to come into focus.
Bobby.
She peers up at him and a faint smile appears.
Please don't let this be another dream, she begs.
"Bus is on the way," he tells her softly.
Right on cue, he hears the sirens closing in.
x x x
TBC…
Next, Chapter 8 - Reunion