Chapter 5

"So that restraining order," Olivia said after dinner had been finished and the dishes cleared. Noah was busy playing with Betty on the floor and the dog seemed to be happy to have someone to play with. That left the adults on the couch and the large comfy chair just a few feet away.

"Yes, I had started filling one out for Akiko. She was having a problem with a coworker. We argued because she didn't want to start trouble but this guy… I knew there was already trouble," Amanda explained.

"Did she talk to HR?" The Captain asked.

"Yes, and it only got worse. They basically told him to stay away from her and they sent him home for the rest of the day. When Akiko complained that it seemed fairly weak punishment the HR lady said that she couldn't do more to officially write him up," Amanda said.

"What happened?" Elliot was surprised as well that human resources seemed to brush it off.

"There were little Post-It notes getting left on her desk with messages – dirty ones. She didn't know who was leaving them so she asked her cube neighbors if they'd seen anyone. One had noted that this guy swung by claiming to be dropping reports off. No one thought anything of it. So, Akiko figured it was this guy because there were no reports on her desk, just a Post-It note," Amanda said.

"Seems pretty conclusive. How dirty are these messages?" Olivia asked.

"She wouldn't tell me but if they were bad enough to bring to HR then…" the detective heaved a sigh.

"Bad enough. What made you think to elevate it to a restraining order?" The Captain wanted to know.

"HR was doing nothing and the notes were supposedly getting more disgusting. Akiko kept handing them to the HR lady and all she would keep saying is that an official write up would ruin the guy's chances of getting promoted and Akiko was like – don't care, do your job. I told her the only way to get anyone at her office to pay attention was to present them with a formal restraining order. You give them one of those and they have to make it so this guy can't come by her desk – maybe make him work a different shift. Akiko thought that if she made it official that she might lose her job. I told her – we were in this together. I told her I wasn't going to let her worry about losing her job. We'd figure this out and if this company wasn't going to do something about this asshole, then I was going to," Amanda told them.

"She ripped up the restraining order," Elliot said. The detective nodded.

"She told me that she appreciated everything that I was doing but she didn't want to suck me into this. There had to be another way to deal with it. I relented and said that I had to get to work and we'd talk when I got off shift but…" Amanda heaved a sigh.

"Did you give this name to your Captain?" Olivia immediately grew concerned that they'd been wasting their time.

"First thing when they told me Akiko'd been attacked. They found the bastard at work. My Captain gave him a good talking to," Amanda said.

"Which is why we're looking at your old cases," Olivia nodded.

"Yes. Akiko didn't have anyone in her life – except me and Betty. She tends to keep to herself. We kind of bonded over Betty, which is why I trust her to walk her. To think that some asshole hurt her because of me… I just…" the detective shook her head. Betty left Noah and put her head on Amanda's lap; she whined softly. The detective smiled slightly and petted her head.

"She wasn't online dating or anything?" Elliot asked.

"If she was, she didn't tell me," Amanda said.

"I think we're looking at this wrong," the OCCB detective told them.

"How do you mean?" Olivia asked.

"Well maybe someone in the neighborhood got the wrong idea about Akiko and you. They see you two out together with Betty or maybe they see the same dog but with you individually. I mean it could be as simple as that. Whoever attacked Akiko knew that she was important to you. Now, it doesn't matter to me or Olivia or anyone on the unit if you two were in some sort of relationship. You can be honest," Elliot said.

"If someone had gotten that idea then they'd be in trouble. Scott wasn't just coming over for dinner and a walk," the detective gave him a look.

"Ah so you and Trooper Gonzales," Olivia smirked. She had kind of figured.

"He's my first real relationship since Jared – and he's definitely been around the neighborhood with me and Betty," Amanda told them.

"Ok so I don't think anyone would go there – but we are definitely missing something. The way Akiko was assaulted… a lot of rage but yet…" Elliot lowered his voice and trailed off.

"I know. That's why I can't wrap my noodle around it," Amanda admitted.

"Well tomorrow, you and that noodle, and Betty are coming to work with me," Olivia said.

To Be Continued…