"Right this way," Olivia helped Montserrat into Rafael's office. Rafael reached the desk first and pulled out a chair for Montserrat.
"Thank you," Montserrat said to both of them. It was a struggle to sit without having to basically drop herself down and hope that she didn't miss, but almost nine months into a pregnancy made every daily activity a challenge. Her dark brown eyes flickered between the ADA and the Sergeant while an awkward silence fell over the room.
The two had obviously been expecting a fierce detective willing to literally run away from them out in the hallway. Instead, they had a pregnant detective who would eventually need help getting up from her chair.
Montserrat Novak was an average height woman with fair skin. She had dark ginger hair that was wavy with straight bangs covering her forehead. "Casey mentioned your name," Montserrat said to Olivia. "She said I would have to talk to you…"
"Yes, um…" Olivia briefly glanced at Rafael, both lost on how to even begin with the woman and their situation. "I have to be honest, we are a little perplexed about this situation..."
"Because...I'm pregnant? Or because I fled from a crime scene?" Montserrat's humor relieved some of the awkwardness in the room.
Rafael smiled as he took his own seat across her. "Both."
She smiled back. "I don't run from crime scenes. I'm a Detective, but...this time it's different."
"Right, we can understand that," Olivia pulled up the chair next to Montserrat. "We've been looking for you, Montserrat."
"I'm sorry," Montserrat tucked some hair behind her ear. "I...I panicked. You understand that I'm not at my best state right now. I do more waddle than walk or... anything else at this point."
"Why did you leave?" Rafael asked the hard question she knew she'd have to face sooner or later. "We have paramedics claiming you were slashed with a knife..."
Montserrat raised the hand that was indeed bandaged. "I took care of myself. And I just wasn't supposed to be on the street at that time. I'm..."
Both Olivia and Rafael gave her a minute for her to continue, but it seemed like Montserrat was having trouble.
"Miss Novak, we really need you to talk," Rafael's voice seemed to startle her out of her thoughts.
"I'm-I'm a...surrogate mother," she swallowed hard and looked at the two who were surprised (yet again). "We made a contract - the couple and me - and one of the rules was I needed to be home by nine."
"The attack happened at ten," Olivia recalled, slowly beginning to understand where Montserrat was getting at. "You broke one of the rules of the contract."
"It's for the baby's protection," Montserrat shrugged in her seat. "The couple are two of my friends and they just want to make sure I'm safe and...me being on the street at that time was unsafe."
"You being at that street helped that woman stay alive," Olivia thought that would ease Montserrat's guilt.
"How is she?" Montserrat hadn't been able to sleep last night thinking about the poor victim she'd left to the paramedics. It felt awful being so unhelpful and the guilt was eating her up.
"She made it. She'll heal."
"Physically, but emotionally?"
Olivia made a sway of her head. That was always a tough question. "Listen, Montserrat, we need you to give your statement for this case. You're the only witness in the scene. Do you think you can do that?"
Montserrat nodded her head. "Of course. I'm a Detective, I know how things go."
"Really?" It was clear Rafael was referencing her fleeing the crime scene. He wasn't inclined to believe her rightaway, no matter how hard Olivia looked at him right now. "Because the last time somebody told you to stay put, you ran away."
"Yeah, I know," Montserrat sighed. "That was very unprofessional. But I'm not going anywhere this time, I swear. And I am sorry for the...the trouble and headaches I know probably casued you guys."
"The important thing is you came back," Olivia said in an attempt to keep the atmosphere amicable. She got up from her chair. "Why don't we go to my office back at SVU and you can tell us what happened? Is that okay?"
Montserrat nodded her head. "Yes, um, yes…"
"You're going to be fine," Olivia promised her. She could see Montserrat's bandaged hand from the attack but other than that the woman herself seemed to be just fine.
"And please don't flee anymore. For real. It would make our job just a tiny bit easier," Rafael's sarcastic request made Olivia silently scold him but Montserrat chuckled.
"These days I don't do a lot of running. Last night was just adrenaline and inattentive cops. I try to run now, you'd catch me in three steps."
"Two."
Montserrat opened her mouth but ended up laughing again. "I'm not that slow."
Olivia still shook her head at the ADA but thanked God Montserrat had a sense of humor.
~0~
Montserrat thought it was her walk of shame when Olivia brought her into SVU's bullpen. Employees looked up from their work and others stopped their conversations just for a moment to get a look at her. Olivia led her down the room but, to Montserrat's misfortune, she stopped by a couple desks.
"Hey, you found her," Fin was still laughing inside from the idea of what Casey Novak had to have faced for this woman to be here now.
All Montserrat could offer was a smile. The group of detectives were first and foremost taken aback by Montserrat's pregnancy. It was a detail no one disclosed about after all.
"This is Detective Montserrat Novak," Olivia introduced the woman despite it being unnecessary. They all knew who she was. "These are Detectives Tutuola, Munch, Rollins, Amaro and Carisi."
"I heard you were looking for me. I'm sorry for the trouble I caused," Montserrat sighed. She felt like a broken record apologizing to everyone but they did deserve one.
"We're just glad you're here," Amanda honestly said. "If you need anything…"
"A chair, actually," Montserrat sheepishly looked at Olivia. She had a hand on her back and was gently rubbing circles to sooth the back pain.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Olivia, in an embarrassed state, led Montserrat towards the interview room where she figured Montserrat would be more comfortable on the couch. Montserrat bid goodbye to the detectives as she followed Olivia. "I'm sorry about that," Olivia honestly apologized.
"Don't worry about it," Montserrat took a seat - fell towards the end - on the couch. "I'm a nuisance for everyone in this state."
Olivia smiled. "Not here. Can I get you anything before we start?"
"No thank you, I'm fine."
"Okay," Olivia gathered a legal pad and a pen to jot down whatever Montserrat was going to say. She just hoped it would be useful to nail the perp completely.
"Before I start, I want you to know that the reason I retracted my transfer application was because of me," Montserrat surprised Olivia with the sudden topic. "I really wanted to be here but, um...this happened…" she gestured to her pregnant stomach, making Olivia momentarily question the manner in which Montserrat had said it. It almost sounded as if Montserrat was regretful or...resentful.
"That's fine, it really is, but if anything you would have just been on desk duty," Olivia slowly said, still studying Montserrat's demeanor of the moment.
"Mhm," Montserrat stared at her hands over her stomach. There was something not right about this but Olivia decided to focus on the current case before she dug into anything else.
"So, um, is it alright if we start?"
"Yes, of course. Um, let's see," Montserrat took in a breath while she gathered memory of the previous night. "I was coming home from, um...somewhere, and it was pretty late - well, it ten o' clock. Maybe it's not that late in reality but my contract said I have to be home before dark so…" Montserrat shook her head, "Sorry. Um, I was walking down the street when I heard noises. It was a woman - she was screaming. There was a man pushing her against a wall. It was clear he was trying to attack her. He smacked her head, there was something shiny pointed at her face. She cried for him to stop but he was so aggressive…"
"Do you remember what the woman was wearing?" Olivia asked after finishing up a note. "We need to make sure we're talking about the same victim."
"I know," Montserrat nodded, not needing to remind Olivia the process wasn't new for her. "It was dark so I couldn't see a lot but she was wearing a shiny dress. It sparkled a lot. The man, he was wearing a jacket um...a beanie. He looked young, to be honest. He was lanky too."
"You got a good look at him," Olivia briefly looked at Montserrat's bandaged hand.
"Yeah, when he attacked me," Montserrat confirmed. "I wasn't carrying my gun so I was at a disadvantage apart from the pregnancy. But I couldn't walk away. The woman was screaming for him to get off her, to stop it, but the bastard didn't listen. I…" she suddenly chuckled a bitter chuckle, "It was ridiculous but...I threw rocks at him that I found over a car's hood. It was all I could do."
"It's not ridiculous," Olivia reassured her. "You probably saved her with that."
"Yeah because he turned on me with a knife afterwards," Montserrat sighed. "I got scared when he started coming for me. He said just because I had a big stomach it didn't mean he couldn't do the same to me. If there was ever a time I wish I was on the job, it was then. He came at me and I tried fighting him off - which is how I got this-" she raised her injured hand, "-and then I managed to punch him. He dropped the knife and...I guess he got scared when he heard sirens so...he ran."
"One of the neighbors made the call to police," Olivia informed her. "We haven't been able to get any pictures from him since our victim hasn't woken up yet. Do you think you would you recognize him if you saw him again?"
"Oh yeah. I could talk to a sketch artist if you want."
"That would be really helpful," Olivia smiled softly at her. "Is there anything else you remember? Anything you want to add to your statement?"
Montserrat thought about the horrendous night for another minute. "Actually, yes. I believe the man called the victim by a name."
"Her name?"
"It sounded more like a nickname. He said 'c'mon, Hales, you know you like me' while he attacked her," Montserrat was sure of it and it showed. "He had to be someone that girl knew and probably rejected at some point."
Olivia agreed. They at least now had another alternative to search for their suspect. "Thank you Montserrat. Now, I have to ask, are you willing to testify if this goes to trial? Which it most likely will."
"Yes, of course I would," Montserrat nodded. "You just give me a time and date."
Olivia lightly smiled at the woman. "Thank you."
Montserrat attempted to get up on her own but the couch seemed to suck her back in. Olivia tried her hardest not to laugh, even quietly, but Montserrat side glanced her. "It's funny, I know. Everyone laughs. Look at Montse, she can't even stand up or sit down anymore."
Olivia put down her note and pen to help her get up. "Would that be Casey by any chance?"
"Mm, I don't think I should speak ill about an ADA who happens to be my cousin."
Olivia laughed. "Alright."
"Again, I'm really sorry for not staying last night. From now on, anything you need for this case I'll be here."
"And we thank you for it," Olivia said as she walked Montserrat out of the room. "I know our victim will too."
"Where can I leave my contact information? I moved so whatever you had on file isn't up to date anymore."
"Uh, you can leave that with one of my Detectives," Olivia said as her phone buzzed in her pocket. She picked it out of her pocket and saw the text left for her. "Actually, yes, leave that with one of them while I head to the hospital." She looked up to see everyone staring at her. "Hayley Connors woke up. Nick, care to join?" Nick gave a nod and got up from his chair with his jacket in hand. "We'll be in touch," Olivia told Montserrat before heading out with Nick.
"You can leave your information here," Amanda motioned Montserrat to her desk. She had a sticky note and pen waiting for Montserrat.
"Thanks," Montserrat walked over and picked up the sticky pad.
"Now when we do get the perp we'll need you to do the formal ID…" Amanda explained but Munch cut in.
"I think she knows the procedure," Munch reminded her, giving Montserrat a small smile. "Isn't that right, Detective?"
"Yes," Montserrat smiled back and handed Amanda the sticky pad and pen. "Olivia also said I could talk you about a sketch artist."
"You think you got a good view of the perp?" Finn asked, exchanging glanced with Sonny. It would be a real step up from what they had so far.
"Yes," Montserrat recognized that look of relief all too well. It was so frustrating to have next to nothing on cases. "And like I told your Sergeant, I'll do anything I can to help."
"You sure you're Casey's cousin?" Munch's question made her chuckle. "Not that Casey never helped, but..."
"My cousin has a fantastically hard attitude," Montserrat finished for him. "I tell her that and she still gets pissed off. "Maybe she gets that from her mom. We're related on the paternal side. Our fathers were brothers."
"Were?" Sonny looked at the others in case they knew about it.
"Casey's father died in the military," Montserrat figured Casey would have at least mentioned that but then again she didn't really know ADA Casey - she knew her cousin Casey. "She never mentioned me?"
"Uuh..." she heard Fin go before shrugging. "Lots of work around here, little time to talk."
"Right," she playfully rolled her eyes. "Anyways, can we do that sketch of the perp please? I have to go, so..."
"I can take you," Sonny stood from his desk, all too cheerful to do the task. "You're going to help us a lot with this."
"That's what I'm aiming for," Montserrat chuckled and followed him.
~0~
When Montserrat returned to her apartment, which was inhabited by the couple awaiting the child she carried, she was forced to tell them the truth about things. They were good people, they were her friends, and ultimately they would find out on their own.
Leah Saunders moved around the kitchen table serving lasagna to her husband, Michael, and Montserrat. "I just don't think getting yourself into that situation is the best thing right now," Leah was voicing her opinion in the kindest, civilized manner she could muster. "You're about to pop - literally - and you already got blood pressure to worry about. Is testifying and all that really necessary right now?"
"Considering this woman was raped and beaten, yes I think it is necessary," Montserrat picked up her fork to start eating. She was about to dig in when a scent caught her nose. "Is that brownies I smell?"
Leah playfully rolled her eyes. Michael chuckled in his seat. For the entire pregnancy, Montserrat experienced a series of cravings but the one that stuck throughout it all were the brownies. Leah took to making brownies daily just for her.
"Eat first," Leah pointed Montserrat to her plate. "Brownies come afterwards."
"You spoil me," Montserrat dug her fork into the lasagna.
"It's the least we can do after what you went through," Leah blurted as she took her seat. Montserrat froze just as she was about to take her first bite of lasagna. Leah's eyes widened when she realized her words and immediately set to amend for them. "Montse, I'm so sorry I didn't mean to bring that up. I'm-"
Montserrat warmly smiled at her friend. "It's okay. Don't worry about it."
"Don't say that. It is something to worry about," Leah felt terribly guilty for her careless slip.
Michael reached for his wife's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, then glanced at Montserrat. "Montse, you know that you seeing a therapist isn't grounds for breaking the contract, right? If you need a ride, Leah or I can take you."
"I should have said something, I'm sorry," Montserrat licked her lips nervously. "I just wanted to keep it away from people...I don't know. I'm sorry."
"It's difficult, I know. But please, next time just tell us."
Montserrat nodded. "I will. Thank you."
"And as for this whole case thing, we know you're not stopping—"
"I am not."
"And we get that. It is part of your job, but take it easy, alright? We'll be there for you, anytime you need us."
Montserrat sighed with relief. "That means a lot, believe me." Her friends both smiled at her, their promise to stay with her was the leverage she needed at the moment to continue with this until she could get back on her feet on her own... literally.