A/N- Thank you for tuning into the second chapter. I know I am a few days late and for that I do apologize. I'm really hoping people enjoy this chapter because I had a lot of fun writing it. Warning still stands for triggers in later chapters.
Chapter 2
tor·ture
NOUN
the action or practice of inflicting severe pain or suffering on someone as a punishment or in order to force them to do or say something:
synonyms:
infliction of pain · abuse · torment · ill treatment · maltreatment · harsh treatment · punishment · persecution
"Alright everybody, listen up. This what we have so far. At approximately 10:45 last night, William Lewis, complaining of chest pains, was transferred from Rikers to Bellevue prison ward where all attempts to resuscitate him failed." Olivia announced in the middle of the squad room. The whole precinct was in the bullpen, making a semicircle around her. It was for everyone's benefit to brief everyone with the details. That way no one would underestimate him.
Pictures of Lewis, in his many aliases cluttered the cork board on her right while the monitor behind her displayed his most recent victim covered in bruises and her car that Lewis got away in. All the visual reminders, the collage of photos of him, photos she had seen before. One that she had studied over, for hours. That was in the beginning. They were so naïve. To realize the true monster behind the lens.
"Ten minutes after being pronounced dead he suddenly came back to life on the gurney, and he was held overnight for observation. At some point Lewis apparently convinces the Officer on duty to uncuff him. He then snaps the officer's neck. Lewis was discovered missing at 8:45 this morning." She received the phone call at nine. If only she had paid more attention to the surrounding streets, though probably it would have not been useful. The city was in a frenzy already. Alerts were sent out to the public and the whole force was looking for him.
Why on earth would that officer take those handcuffs off?
"But how'd he get out of that ward?" Lewis was recognizable with the large scar on his face. The man had been in the news multiple times, so it was a shock that he was able to escape the hospital.
"Still don't know." Olivia answered. Not even a few hours and he already has killed. The way he was able to manipulate people was practically an art form. In the matter of seconds he'd earn your trust and in the same moment put a bullet between your eyes. Lewis's charm was able to fool many people. The one's who weren't ended up dead or worse. Olivia thought of Officer Hamilton and the way that Lewis shot him while she was tied up in the back seat. This correctional officer had met the same fate. She wondered what had gone through his mind.
Did he know that he was going to die?
"This nurse was found raped, beaten, hanging in the closet. Still hasn't regained consciousness." Olivia pointed to the screen. The young nurse's injures were severe, especially on the short amount of time that Lewis probably had. He had beaten her so significantly, no one knew the exact permanent damage yet. Did he knock her out first or was she awake and alert for it? Not like being out of it was any better. Lewis's assault on the young woman was a blitz attack. Lewis was obsessed to violence, to hurting people. Like an addict getting his fix after going through withdrawals. He had to get it out of his system before his next plan.
"He left wearing light blue hospital issue scrubs from the west entrance. We have an alert out on the nurse's vehicle. Which is a white Camry, New York plates. N-S" Rollins became to read off the license plate number.
"Don't even bother. He'll ditch it before he escapes Manhattan."
"He may not be leaving Manhattan." Olivia stated. It was time to tell them that he contacted her. The only one who knew as of right now was Fin. He didn't pry too much on, but he didn't know the exact details. When she got to the precinct, there was already buzz going around about his escape. Fin had caught her in the hallway, asking if she was ok. Her classic "I'm fine" response came out, even if it wasn't the truth. She didn't want people to crowd her with a million questions. Finn took her answer as her not ready to discuss. He would put his inquiries on the back burner for now.
It wasn't her intention to hide anything from her squad, but she didn't want people to look at her again like some victim. That day she started her sick leave after the kidnapping, leaving Cragen's office. The stares from them, it was embarrassing, made her feel all too vulnerable.
"Why would you say that?" Amaro asked.
"Because he called me this morning from the nurse's cell phone. He said that he misses me." Olivia disgust showing all over her face.
"Which is precisely why I've been ordered to take command of this unit." A man said pushing towards to the center of the huddle. Everyone's attention went straight to him of his unexpected entrance. His appearance was mildly rough looking. He had shaggy brown hair which contrasted his scruffy beard of a more reddish brown with patches of grey.
"Excuse me?" At first, she thought what asshole is coming in to interrupt this important briefing. The voice was familiar though.
"Lieutenant Murphy?" Rollins seemed surprised to see him.
Finally, a face to go with the person that had saved Rollin's ass a few months ago. If it wasn't for him, she would have been fired, in jail or worse, dead. She never thought about what his appearance was but seeing him now in person the personality suited. He had that undercover vibe about him.
"Sergeant Benson. We've spoken on the phone." Apparently, he knew exactly who she was. It didn't help that her name was in the papers and on the news this past year. Other members of the force loved the publicity, lived for it. She never liked the limelight. It made almost no chance for her to go undercover in the future. It made her paranoid.
"Yes, we have. What are you doing here?"
"One PP didn't call?"
"No, they didn't."
"That's classic. You can't be in charge of a manhunt when you're the target of the man you are hunting."
"I know William Lewis better than anyone." This had nothing to do with her kidnapping. Plenty of times she had people tracking her, mainly bitter perps awaiting revenge on her or her partner. That came with the territory of being a cop. Olivia thought herself as the perfect person to lead this case. She would know his routine. Hell, she had spent so much time with him that, she could predict some of his moves. Murphy didn't know this guy. Reading a case file or seeing it the news is very different than experiencing it firsthand.
"And I'll be relying on that."
'He is our suspect, and this is my unit." Olivia raised her voice a bit. Too many times other units wanted to dip their fingers in their pie. Some commanders and captains are reaching for the promotion and capturing William Lewis would give them some of that exposure and definite extra credit to bump them up a rank. Murphy didn't seem that way, but who knows. There was no way that he was going to sit on the sidelines.
"No longer. As of this moment I am acting commanding officer of SVU. We're in this together. He's been out three, maybe four hours. He's already killed a brother officer and raped again. The department's on alert, but you know his patterns. We'll see this through to his capture. Rollins, I'll need a breakdown of his known associates, his profile, prison contacts. Anything and everything."
"We've already started on that."
"Then finish it." He demanded.
How could he just start giving out orders? She felt blindsided by this maneuver. Had the department had reason to take the unit from her? She had only been in charge for a few weeks. Yet there hadn't been any issues, so this was unexpected. Did they think she wasn't capable of arresting Lewis? Had the trial broken her reputation? The tidal wave of questions and thought overflowed her.
"Actually, I was just about to have Fin and Rollins go to Rikers. I was gonna go to Bellevue." Olivia tried to correct, attempting to gain back leadership.
"You're not going anywhere." Lieutenant threw back at her. He wasn't backing down.
"With my partner Nick Amaro."
"No, we've met."
"Yes, we have." Amaro glared at the man now in charge.
Something had went on between the two of them.
"Amaro can go to Bellevue with Rollins. Fin, is it? Go to Rikers." "You're to stay here or a hotel. Intelligence will provide until Lewis is apprehended."
"I don't need protection." Olivia said almost too loud. She was tired of having people coddle her. She hated hotels. She wouldn't be able to get any sleep. The bed was always too soft or lumpy, sounds of creaks and bumps that were abnormal to here would keep here up. Hotels had a coldness to them; it wasn't her home. Sadly, any kind of security she felt in her apartment was striped away when she was face to face with Lewis that night. It was a no win situation.
"It's not your decision. Is that the captain's office? I'll be needing it." After giving his orders Lieutenant Murphy strode to her office. Olivia didn't even get a chance to veto the instruction. She trailed, wanting to persuade him into letting her work this. She knew what to expect from Lewis.
"This conversation you had with Lewis, - he say anything else?"
"No." He gave her a look. The look of a parent when they think their kid is lying. Lewis had kept things short in their video call. If he had prolonged the call, there would be a chance his location could be traced, or she would recognize where he was. Why would she hide anything?
Murphy made her look weak, obsolete in front of her subordinates. His timing couldn't have been any worse. He would have her on such a short leash from this point on. All the rules would have to followed, and everything constantly monitored.
"He was really pronounced dead?"
"He rose like Lazarus." Again, with this Lazarus phrase, saying it like God had risen him, more like the devil. Lewis was just extremely lucky. Give the man a lottery ticket. Comparing him to Lazarus was extremely generous and borderline offensive. It felt like people described him at indestructible. It instilled more fear.
"Look, this is, uh, temporary, right?" Olivia swayed the conversation for a change in subject.
"Everything is, including your command here. You knew someone would come in eventually." He spoke as he started moving all the things on her desk. The blatant disregard of her belongings. The comment struck a rather sensitive chord in her. This unit was her stability. Spending over fifteen years of her career made it her home. Maybe somehow, she had this pipedream that had her in charge of Special Victims.
"Can I get my messages?" Could he give her a minute to process any of this? Jesus. He was rather pushy. She grabbed a few post its off her desk.
"This is your protective detail." Olivia looked behind her to see two very young detectives.
"I'm Detective Delano. This is Detective Carlson."
"You're our principal. We're your new best friends, shadowing you 24-7.
Yeah. Fucking Perfect. She would be able to eat, sleep or shit without them knowing. A protective detail, more like babysitters.
"Just for the record I didn't request this." She said glaring at the officers, starting to walk out of the office.
"Won't last long. We're gonna get this guy."
Yeah. She hoped sooner rather than later.
Olivia pulled her phone out again. She scrolled down until she found Barba's number and texted him.
-William Lewis escaped from Bellevue. He's in the city. Call me ASAP. –
She a walked over to the soda machine, not that she wanted anything, but just to pace.
"Hey. You ok?" Fin caught sight of her, after rounding one of the corners.
"Just a really bad morning." Her voice was cracked a little, but she wasn't going to give anyone the satisfaction of having a breakdown. She wasn't in the middle school bathroom; she could handle this. If only she could punch something, Lewis's face sounded great right about now.
"When I get back?" Fin asked. Olivia nodded, knowing that they would talk about it eventually. God bless that man for being her rock through this.
1038am
Olivia sat at her desk, going through traffic camera footage, trying to make out any direction on to where Lewis might have headed to. As of right now, nothing. The car went on highway 278 and was lost at one of the first exits. The car was then found abandoned at parking lot.
So far there was the cop and the nurse, but no others reported, no missing people yet. It was odd. Lewis was a loose cannon, unable to contain his urges. They would have heard something by now. Maybe Lewis decided to make a run for it and head to either border.
Olivia let out the deep breath she was holding in.
She tapped her fingers on the desk, trying to distract herself. She kept looking at her phone, hoping the screen would light up with a message from Rafael. Just some indication that he was aware.
Something just didn't feel right. With no response or call she began to worry. Even with him being in court all day, she at least would hear from him at some point. Barba was practically glued to his phone answering the multiple messages about other cases. He was a great multitasker.
She didn't know his exact schedule today with all the chaos this morning, so she instead called directly to his office.
"Good morning this is the office of Assistant District Attorney Rafael Barba, how can I help you?" The cheery receptionist's voice spoke over the phone.
"Hey Carmen, it's Olivia. Is Barba there?
"Oh, Sergeant Benson! No, he called in today. He said to reschedule all his meetings today and to take messages for all his calls."
Her heart skipped a beat. It was Alice Parker all over again.
NO NO NO NO NO NO!
"Sergeant Benson, Are you there? Hello?" Carmen's voice was heard on the receiver. But she was already going into panic mode.
Lewis got him.
Barba never called in sick, that wasn't him. Last year he got the flu, he wore a mask and brought a whole tissue box with him into court and suffered through it. He would have messaged her or called her. He would have made contact. She tried to think of an explanation. Some reason why he wouldn't be at work. Hoping that he was hungover or had a lucky one-night stand. It was too close to be a coincidence.
Olivia hung up, dialing Barba's cell phone. The ringing went on forever, then to voicemail. She was about to hang up, until she heard the voicemail.
"This is Rafael Barba's phone. He's not available at the moment-"Lewis's voice smugly giving the voicemail message. Olivia hung up in disgust. For him to personally record that voicemail was another act to torture her. She was half tempted to throw her phone across the room. Hearing the plastic shatter against a wall would soothe her anger, temporary.
Lewis was never known for his discretion. He didn't care that the police or anyone for that matter knew what he did or that he would do. He wasn't planning on going back to jail. There would be no court case, no jury no jail sail. There was only one way out for him, a body bag. It would be a final showdown. Lewis would never stop. His reign would only conclude the moment his pulse stops, for good.
His normal circuit had already begun. A path of bodies would be left behind. They would have to try to get ahead of him. Lewis was smart, he knew how to get away with this many times. He was always a few steps further.
A/N- Very excited to see where this story leads. Feedback is much appreciated. See you soon!
