Benson Residence
"Don't move." She wants to punch him in the face. Don't move? Who is this man?
"Kathy is at the door Elliot." She gives him a, "What the fuck?" look as she tries to pull his hand out of her pants but he isn't having it. It's like he's a man starved.
"Elliot, I'm serious." There's disrespectful and then there's an entirely different level if she lets him finger her while his wife is on the other side of the door. She sits up when he finally releases her and tries to dress but Elliot starts licking his fingers and it's the sexiest fucking thing she's ever seen. Her mouth waters, literally waters. But she steals herself against his ministrations and manages to button her pants and pull on her shirt. They can't deny what they were doing. She is about to ask what they should do when he strides to the door, yanking it open so hard if he wasn't standing there, it would've hit Kathy in the face.
"Really Elliot?"Kathy seethes. Olivia stares at them, unsure of what to do. This isn't her fight per se and she's rewarded with the blessed relief of inaction when her phone begins to ring.
"Fin, what do you have?" Kathy finally looks over at her and Olivia feels herself shrinking in on herself. She can't take the scrutiny so she half turns, putting an invisible barrier between them.
"DA says there isn't enough evidence to get a DNA warrant. They need more." Olivia feels a migraine coming on. Kathy Stabler is in her apartment, the DA, the case, Elliot… It's all too much.
"How is there not enough evidence? We have the knife, we have him dead to rights connected to those two, we-"
"Liv, I know." Elliot has turned to her, eyes tracking her facial expression. She notices Kathy noticing him notice her. Enough of this shit.
"I'll be in shortly." She goes to her bedroom to grab a jacket and when she's back in the living room Kathy is gone.
"I don't want to know. Let's go." She simply says to him as she walks to the door.
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SVU Bullpen
"We have to get either him to confess or he walks." Fin tells her, just as irritated as she is.
"Then we get a confession." She says as she takes off her jacket. She's exhausted; physically, mentally, and emotionally. She needs a few days off, to rest and recoup. She needs to get away from her partner who is currently boring holes through her with fierce intensity.
"How do you plan to do that?" She feels the frustration coming and presses her fist against her palm. This damn case. It was a nasty one all right.
"Let's go back to the beginning." She walks up to the board, eyes taking it all in. "Both vics met John Moyer around the same time?" She asks turning to the two. "We never confirmed that exact time frame, did we? The Randalls told us that Sawyer introduced Danielle to James but never said when. We also don't know the how of Sawyer's meeting James either."
Elliot nods, crossing his arms. "What is a 25-year-old man doing to come into contact with a 17-year-old girl?" Fin nods.
"Let's go ask him." Their suspect is clammy when they enter the interrogation room, pacing and biting his nails. Neither detective speaks to him as Fin takes his seat at the table. Elliot chooses to stand in the corner; his usual intimidating pose. Olivia exhales watching them all in the observation room, observant eyes missing nothing.
"I didn't kill them!" Their suspect finally explodes when the silence becomes too much for him to bear. "We were…" he sighs, reddening, "A family. I would've never hurt my babies." The three detectives all start, momentarily unable to hide their shock. Fin is the first to school his features.
"You knew both Danielle and Sawyer were pregnant?" Fin asks, sitting up straighter. With a jerky nod, James sits across from him, feeling as if he might be gaining an edge.
"We planned it. The three of us. Sawyer got pregnant first, an oops but we were all so stoked that she told Dani she should also get pregnant. That they've experienced so much of this life together they should share this one thing also." Elliot is furrowing his eyebrows, biceps jumping as he makes fists against his crossed arms.
"And neither woman got jealous of the other? Jealous of this arrangement?"
"No. I mean it. We were happy."
"Happily pimping them out?" Elliot goads. The other man starts to cry.
"No, that part of our lives was over. With the babies coming I didn't, we didn't want them in those dangerous situations. Besides, they both deserved better than the way I was treating them. But we decided to start fresh. Dani wrote her parents, Sawyer did too. I don't know if they ever got their letters but I swear, I'm not responsible for this." Fin and Elliot share a look as Fin gets up, ready to end the interview for the moment.
"One more question," Fin watches him closely. "Where did you get the knife?"
"Sawyer bought it as a gift. I collect them."
"And you always carry it?" Elliot picks up the questioning, feeling close to something. They get a headshake.
"No, believe it or not, I don't carry any of them. They're normally in a case in our living room."
"Hmm" Elliot hums walking out.
"He seems truly distraught," Olivia tells them once they're in the observation room. "I almost…" She sighs. "I can't believe I'm saying this but I almost believe him."
Fin nods in agreement. "I wonder if we can get a warrant to search his house. See if the knife is missing or not."
Olivia walks out of the observation room, nowhere in particular to go. She's thinking maybe she'll go to their favorite bodega and grab a tea when she runs into none other than Kathy on her way out.
"We need to talk." Kathy tells her, leaving zero room for discussion. What can she do? Say no? Really? She's the one who fucked up, time to own it.
"Yeah, all right." Olivia looks around for Elliot, hoping he'll somehow get her out of this conversation. No luck. She leads Kathy to the women's locker room which is thankfully empty.
"Kathy look-"
"Save it. I really wish I could bring myself to slap you, to pull your hair or something." She runs a shaking hand through her hair and takes a steadying breath.
"Just … how dare you, Olivia?"
Olivia is flooded with shame. Kathy is right, how dare she? She is completely in the wrong.
"I don't know what to say."
"As pissed as I am at you, he is the one that holds most of my anger. But damn it Olivia you really messed up here."
Olivia nods, unable to speak. When she realizes her steam has sputtered out, Kathy turns on her heel and walks out leaving Olivia staring at a row of lockers, dumbfounded. She walks to the sinks and splashes cold water on her face, trying to collect herself and stop looking so lost. When she's done her best she walks out of the locker room and straight into Elliot's chest.
"I'm sor-" she begins but stops at the expression on his face.
"What did she say to you?" His voice is hoarse as he nudges her backwards back into the locker room. He crowds her, barely letting her catch her breath.
"She was pissed Elliot, rightfully so. But she said as angry as she is with me, her wrath is truly towards you." Olivia chuckles wryly.
"She was actually, extremely civil all things considering." He grips her chin and examines her eyes and when he's satisfied with what he finds there, he gently massages her jaw with his thumb.
"I'm so sorry Liv. I'm sorry she showed up at your place. I'm sorry she felt the need to confront you here, I'm sorry…"
"It's fine. We did this. We don't get to have a free pass because it's getting uncomfortable or hard."
"I don't think it's hard." He says softly leaning in. "In fact, this is as easy as breathing. We are as easy as breathing." He captures her lips in a kiss so soft and chaste she melts. Despite this colossal thing that hangs between them.
"Your wife,"
"Ex,"
"Wife," she begins breaking the kiss. "Has now caught and confronted me about this. Just because she asked you for a divorce doesn't mean this," she motions between them, "Is all right to continue. We really do need to stop Elliot." He sighs, looks up at the ceiling and then around the empty lockeroom.
"I don't think we should. I think we should give us a go." Her breath stops. She replays his words in her mind, unable to respond. She feels as if she's going to hyperventilate. Elliot is offering her everything and she's tempted, oh so tempted, but still part of her screams at herself to hold back.
"I can't do this right now." She moves to walk past him but his grip on her elbow traps her in place.
"Stop running Liv."
"I'm not. I just need time El. You… This… This is a lot."
"Is it? Is it really?" He almost sounds as if he's begging her.
"Yes! Especially given the way it's… Begun. You have kids Elliot. Kathy's right I know better. Look, let's get through the case and then maybe we can work something out."
"We aren't a problem that has to be fixed Liv. Nothing has to change." He pulls her into his chest, cradling her head.
"Elliot everything will change." She says into his chest. "Just please give me some time." He wants to fight her on this but he knows this is what they do. This push-pull of conversations, will they/won't they. So he concedes, albeit temporarily, in order to prevent her from completely shutting him out.
"Okay." He gives her sides a squeeze. "We need to meet Fin at Moyer's house anyway. We got the warrant." And for the first time in what feels like too long, she smiles a genuine smile.
"Finally some good news."
xXxXxXxXxX
James Mowyer Residence
37 Lispenard Street #3They're gloved up, game faces on as they enter the apartment of their suspected killer. It's nice, airy, open concept but she isn't here to admire the real estate. She is here to observe, gather evidence.
"Besides the knife collection, what are we looking for?" Fin asks her as he moves further into the room.
"Honestly, something, anything, that will give the DA enough to tie him to these deaths. He said he was happy that both Danielle and Sawyer were pregnant. Wouldn't hurt them. That the three of them were turning over a new leaf. If that's the case, why are they dead?" No one has an answer so no one says anything.
She approaches the knife case and fucking hell the knife is there. Good quality leather sheath, knife appearinig to be five inches which keeps it just on this side of legal.
"It's quite the collection." Elliot says coming to stand next to her, looking at the assortment of knives.
"Who needs that many blades though?" Fin rhetorically questions as he stops moving items on a bookshelf. "Hey, look at this." Fin holds out a piece of folded paper. When Elliot flips the paper open, Olivia begins to read aloud.
You are beyond scum. You have ruined my daughter's life. No child of yours will ever be considered my grandchild. Do not contact us again or I will go to the authorities and state harassment.
"It's unsiged," she says when she's read the letter again to herself. "Clearly it's from one of the victims parents. But which?"
"I'll go to Sawyer's parents again if you go to the Randall's." Fin volunteers. They finish the search of the scene.
xXxXxXxXxX
926 W 4th St
West Village, NY
"I wrote the letter." His wife gasps, looking at him with wide, horrified eyes.
"What? Doug. Why would you write something so heinous? She was changing her life for good this time!" The detectives share a look before Olivia takes the lead.
"Mr. Randall," she says calmly. Not giving him a chance to address his wife. "What prompted you to write this?" The older man seems to have aged a decade since the last time they saw him. His skin is sallow, dark circles under his eyes, some weight loss. He shrugs, sighs.
"I thought it was another ploy for money. Over the years he'd have Dani come around for money. Always some new story, some excuse. This time, he came to me. Approached me as I was leaving the office. Said that the girls were pregnant and that all the other shit was behind them."
"Did he ask for money?" Douglas Randall shakes his head.
"He didn't but I assumed this was a new ploy. Appear sincere and then next thing I know he's sending my daughter to ask me for money. I find him absolutely abhorrent. I don't care if says they were cleaning up their acts, it doesn't erase the last 16 years!" He thunders.
"The times my wife would make herself sick with stress or worry. The times we've bailed her out of jail. The times we caught her in our home looking for items to steal!" He stands quickly, impassioned.
"She was whoring herself out for Christ sakes! So I told him to never contact me again but he didn't listen. I emailed the letter to him as a cease and desist if you will." He shakes his finger in Elliot's face, the detective also standing when he began his rant. That's when Olivia sees it. She tries to tell herself she's not seeing what she is but unfortunately it doesn't work that way.
"We understand," she says softly, slowly, rising herself. "Thank you for your time." Elliot doesn't miss the almost imperceptible headshake she gives him and he smartly keeps his mouth closed until they're at the car.
"Want to tell me why you cut me off in there?" He places his forearms on the roof of the car looking over at her, confused.
"We need another warrant El."
xXxXxXxXxX
Benson Residence
This case is too much. She managed to fill Elliot in on their drive back to the precinct and even he was slackjawed when she finished explaining her theory. She left him to fill in Fin & Cragen in because she just needed a break. This one was just tough and she wanted, no needed, just a few hours to breathe and be alone. Of course her mind naturally drifts to Elliot. He was soon to be divorced and he was asking her for everything. How would this work? Could it work? Did she want to try? Well, obviously she wanted to try but she was petrified. If they crashed and burned there would be no going back. They would be over, for good. She'd have to leave Manhattan SVU. She reaches for her phone to text him when he calls, as usual, right on time.
"How you doing?" His voice is…different. Not soft but not his usual tone.
"This case is awful." She tells him honestly. She wanted to be alone but now that he's on the phone she's glad he called.
"Want me to come over?"
"No," sighs, "Yes." She is killing herself with how powerless to him she is.
"Open the door." She finds herself in front of the door grinning at him goofily.
"Hi."
"Hi." He hugs her, kisses her ear. He leads her to the couch where he pulls her against him. When she begins to tense because, uh, space, he kisses her ear and sits on the couch.
"I just want to hold you." He tells her softly. In this moment, it's all she wants. "Want to talk about the case?" She shakes her head against his chest when he pulls her to sit in his lap.
"No. I know come tomorrow we'll be in it again and I've said I need a break but I seriously do."
"Then maybe after the case we take a few days?" He looks hopeful.
"El-"
"I know. I'm not trying to push."
"A few days would be nice though." She says softly, placing her hand on his thigh. She may as well face the music, she's as incapable of taking space as he is of giving it to her.
"Look about us," she looks at a place over his shoulder. "If we do this and it doesn't work I can't stay. I can't Elliot. I'd have to leave Manhattan SVU. So I don't thnk it's worth the risk." There. She said it. So why does she feel as if her hurt is being removed from her chest? She blinks rapidly refusing to let the tears fall. She really almost allowed herself to give in to this, she wants it so badly.
"Olivia," his voice is thick with emotion. He rests his forehead against hers before continuing. "What makes you think it wouldn't work? It's us." She shrugs. She's not sure she has a reason. She could tell him that they don't communicate effectively. It's true, they either ignore or they blow up. She could also tell him that the way the relationship began is less than ideal. She can't say it's because he's her superior because he's not. So instead she just lamely shrugs.
"I'm scared." She admits. At this a tear escapes. He catches it with a soft kiss to her cheek.
"Hey, none of that. I'm scared too but I know it'll be good. We'll be good."
"Be patient with me." she tells him, pulling his face to hers. He nods as he captures her lips.
xXxXxXxXxX
SVU Bullpen
"Mr. Randall when did you purchase the knife in that photograph?" Olivia is outwardly calm. Inside however, a tidal wave of emotions are raging war within her. He shrugs.
"I don't know exactly. A few years ago if I had to guess. What's this about?" He crosses his legs underneath the table.
"Did you know that James Moywer has the same knife? In fact, it's almost an exact replica of this one."
"You don't say."
"We pulled DNA from the knife tip, want to guess what we found?"
"Do I need an attorney?" She arches an eyebrow.
"Do you feel as if you need one?" She can see him grind his teeth. Her calm demeanor is affecting him.
"I think I want to know what's going on here." He says agitatedly.
"Danielle's blood was on the knife Mr. Randall. Why did you kill her? Were you angry that she was finally turning over a new leaf? You felt she deserved to feel some of the pain you felt? Or was it that she was reaching out to her mother and not you and you were jealous?"
"I want a lawyer!"
"Certainly." Just as calmly as she began, she leaves. No fuss. No threats. No intimidation tactics.
"Think he'll fold?" Fin asks as she enters the observation room.
"No yet. Not until we let Mrs. Randall talk to him." She had noticed the knife sheath in a meagerie the last time she visited the Randall home. A conspicuous place for such a weapon. She'd convinced the ADA to go on a limb and push hard for a search warrant of their home. Poor Mrs. Randall had been absolutely manic. First her daughter, now her husband was the accused? But she sat in another interrogation room pulled together. What Olivia couldn't figure out was the why of it. That's what she needed Louisa Randall for. She walks into the room she's in and give her a smile.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Olivia asks the grieving mother. She nods steadily.
"I don't want to believe he's capable of the disgusting things he did to her. To Sawyer. But I need confirmation. I need to know why. So I can begin to heal." Olivia takes her hands, eyes shiny.
"You're being very brave." She says softly.
In the end, against his attorney's advice Douglas Randall confessed to murdering his own daughter and her best friend. His motive? How dare she turn her life around and feel as if she didn't have to pay back an ounce of the pain she inflected. The tongue portion? So she couldn't spew her, "I've changed," shtick to him. He couldn't, or wouldn't, say why he sexually assaulted the two women and Olivia would have to live with that. All in all, Douglas was given the death penalty and Louisa Randall filed for divorce. She felt she gave her all to this case and could say she was happy she saw justice served.