Chapter 23
"Why did you call us down here? Finally admitting your case is garbage?" Oscar Papa's lawyer, Jericho Swope, asked as the Captain and the ADA approached them in the interrogation room at Rikers.
"Captain Duarte is getting your client convicted after his death," Benson smirked. Carisi wanted to see if there was a reaction. Not so surprisingly, neither man across from them at the table flinched.
"You did know that prison phone calls are taped right?" Carisi asked. Swope looked at Oscar.
"Of course I knew," the gang leader said.
"So, then what I'm about to play shouldn't come as a surprise to you," Benson pulled out her phone and opened the audio file. The conversation that she and Rollins had heard earlier. Swope inwardly cringed. His client had been careful until that. Even though it wasn't a direct threat the jury wouldn't have to make a big leap to get to murder. The Captain of the Bronx Gangs unit was scheduled to testify and then he gets killed, with his client talking about the dead man.
"I'll plead guilty to the murder but not the rapes," Oscar Papa told them.
"Ordering the hit of a police officer and the death of that officer – that's automatic twenty-five to life. Then there's the matter of the attack on Captain Benson and her son and the death of Benny. That's another twenty-five to life to be served consecutively," Carisi wanted to be sure that Oscar Papa would be behind bars for a very long time. Before his lawyer could speak up, the gang leader said,
"Deal. I can still run BX9 from prison. Bars won't stop that. You know, Captain Benson…"
"What?" Olivia gave him a look.
"I didn't think it would happen, but I have developed a soft spot for you. You went toe to toe with me for your son. You were willing to sacrifice everything for him. You're a good mom," Oscar Papa told her.
"If that's true, swear to me that Noah is safe," Olivia said to him.
"You have my word. Noah will not be touched. He is safe. I got what I wanted. You got what you wanted. We're even," Oscar Papa nodded. Relief washed over her, but she did not show it.
"Get us the paperwork?" Swope wanted to know.
"As soon as I get back to the office," Carisi promised. The two stood and headed out of the cell. After stopping to retrieve their personal items at the sign-in area, they left Rikers. Once outside, they moved to Captain's vehicle, all with complete silence between them. Olivia put her keys in the ignition but didn't turn the SUV on.
"It's over Liv," the ADA spoke up after a minute or so.
"I know. I'm going to drop you off and then pick up Elliot. We have to get Noah home," Olivia said.
"You got it. I'll call Rollins," Carisi told her.
"Please do," with that the Captain fired up the vehicle and pointed it back towards Manhattan. The trip seemed to blur by and before she knew it, she was entering OCCB.
"Captain Benson! Everything ok?" Jett asked.
"Where is Elliot?" Olivia wanted to know.
"He and Sergeant Bell are interrogating a suspect. Can I help?" The computer genius wanted to know.
"Oscar Papa confessed to killing Captain Duarte. It's over. I can bring Noah home," the Captain explained.
"Well as soon as they're done in there, I'm sure the Sergeant can loan you Stabler," Jett smiled.
To Be Continued…