Chapter 4
"Is this all above board Captain?" Detective Klass did not want to question the superior officer but she couldn't help herself. She and Betty had climbed into Captain Benson's SUV out in the hospital parking lot. Akiko had a protective detail and that had made the Queens SVU detective feel slightly better about the situation.
"Maybe not but you can't go home and you'd need a protective detail no matter where you go. We're hoping whoever is after you won't try anything at my place," Olivia smiled at her.
"What about Noah?" Amanda asked.
"He's at home waiting with some backup," Olivia winked before pulling the vehicle out of the parking lot and onto the street.
"Oh good. So, you made Scott go home, huh?" More questions from the detective.
"We don't want to pull him into NYPD business. Besides, he'll be safer back in Jersey," Olivia said.
"Safer while Fin does a background check on him?" Amanda raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe," the Captain admitted.
"I already ran one on him. Nothing there but excellent service to his state," the detective told her.
"Why'd you run a background check on him?" Olivia asked as they approached a red light.
"You think I'd let just anyone near Betty?" Amanda teased and Betty chimed in with a bark.
"Uh huh. So, Scott said you guys were meeting for dinner," the Captain pressed.
"We thought we could enjoy a nice meal and get a good walk in. Betty loves her walks," Amanda said.
"Right. Well, we're ordering in at my place," Olivia told her.
"Sounds good but we need to snag some food for Betty. She's used to dog food or Army rations," the detective explained.
"I had the boys swing out and get fresh food that matched what was in your apartment. We couldn't be sure if the food there had been tampered with since our perp was there," the Captain said.
"Appreciate that. You found that ripped up restraining order, I'm guessing," Amanda brought it up as Olivia pulled into a parking spot outside her building.
"We did but better to explain when we get upstairs," the elder woman told her. Amanda nodded and the ladies climbed out of the car before getting Betty out. They headed inside and upstairs to Olivia's apartment.
"Hey El," the Captain smiled at him when he opened the door and let them in.
"Hey yourself. Ayanna was more than happy to loan me out for the next few evenings. Jet is checking for any surveillance cameras near the apartment and doing a deep dive into Akiko's life. She's in touch with Fin in case there is anything actionable. Tonight, you two are out of commission," Elliot explained to them before making sure the hallway was clear and then locking the doors.
"Sergeant Bell didn't mind Jet getting distracted?" Olivia asked as they moved into the living room.
"Nope. We have all our feelers out. There haven't been any developments that we can act on for finding Joey," he admitted.
"Sorry to hear that," she told him. He only shrugged, not wanting to get into it with the Queens SVU detective there.
"Complicated mess huh?" Amanda wondered.
"It wouldn't be my family if it weren't. Detective Elliot Stabler from OCCB, you must be Detective Amanda Klass and this must be the world-famous Betty," he smiled and stuck out his hand.
"Guilty as charged. Nice to meet you," she shook his hand before he petted Betty.
"We didn't order anything because we didn't know what you liked," Elliot meant of dinner.
"I'm not fussy – as long as there's no broccoli or zucchini," Amanda smiled.
"What happens to those vegetables?" Olivia gave her a look.
"Betty turns her nose up at them too," she chuckled. Olivia smiled and asked,
"Where is Noah?"
"Bedroom. He's got some homework. You want to get him?" Elliot wondered.
"On it," she said before heading down the hallway.
"So OCCB huh?" Amanda asked.
"Olivia is my former partner, so SVU first," he said.
"Ah, ok," Amanda nodded. She watched Betty lay down on the floor. It had been a long day.
"Well, we don't need to wait for Betty's dinner. How much do you feed her?" Elliot wanted to know. He went into the kitchen and grabbed the large bag of dog food like he was picking up a two-pound hand-weight and placed it down near the familiar dog bowls. They had been taken from Klass's apartment and checked by forensics before Elliot brought them to Olivia's to clean.
"Two scoops. Three if she's been exercising a lot," Amanda said. He nodded and put the required food into the bowl.
"Betty essen," the detective told her. The dog quickly went to her bowl and started scarfing down her food.
"An extra scoop may be in order," Elliot chuckled.
To Be Continued…
