Chapter 3
Olivia is shocked after reading the letter. She is speechless. Tears well up in her eyes. Chantal Jackson is confused about what has happened. While she looked after Noah, the policewoman was always seen as a strong personality. She cannot comprehend what has happened at this moment. Determined to leave the captain alone for the time being, she leaves the room.
She looks for little Olivia and discovers her next to the officer's desk. She goes there.
"Are you all right, Olivia?" the social worker asks the teenager.
"Yes, everything's fine. The man in the photo my dad gave me is here too. He's in the break room right now." For a brief moment, Miss Jackson ponders which photo might be meant, but then she remembers what Olivia Marsden told her. A photo she received from her father the last time they saw each other shows him with his sister and a man whom Simon described as his brother-in-law. Determined, Miss Jackson goes to the break room to inform Olivia Benson's husband about the affair with his wife.
The social worker asks, "Are you Olivia Benson's husband?" Elliot lifts his eyes from the table where he is sitting. This question makes him smile briefly. Apart from undercover investigations, he has never been referred to as Liv's normal husband. Only Kathy has ever referred to him as the work husband.
"No, I'm Elliot Stabler, a former colleague of Olivia Benson. Why do you ask?" Elliot answers the question and asks a counter-question himself.
"Mr. Stabler, your colleague's niece showed me a picture of you, Miss Benson and the girl's father. When Olivia's brother gave the picture to his daughter, he said you were his brother-in-law."
"Um. I haven't seen Simon for about 15 years. I left for Europe in 2011 and have only been back for just under 2 years." Before I left for Europe, neither Liv nor I had any contact with Simon. So I don't know why he referred to me as Liv's husband," Elliot continues.
"I see. Well, I work in social services and was responsible for the guardianship of Miss Benson's son at the time. I also had to agree to the adoption. We've been looking after the family of Ty Harrison and Olivia Marsden since an incident 11 years ago. Now Tracy, the mother of both, has asked me to take Olivia Marsden to her aunt Olivia Benson as she is in hospice. Tracy had also given me a letter for Captain Benson. When Miss Benson read it, she started crying and I decided to leave her alone as she wasn't responding either. Since Mr. Marsden said that you are his brother-in-law, I assume that Miss Benson and you had a very close relationship. Could you please check on her and reassure her?"
When Miss Jackson asks this question, Elliot jumps up and runs to his former partner.
After returning from a crime scene, Fin Tutuola is startled by how briskly Elliot rushes towards the conference room, accompanied by Joe Velasco.
"What's going on here, Churlish? Why is an Organized Crime investigator rushing into the conference room and where is Captain Benson? The two are rarely separated in this squad room."
"I have no idea, Sergeant. A social worker brought a girl named Olivia into the squadroom and wanted to talk to the captain alone. Then she left the room alone and spoke to Olivia. She then went to Detective Stabler, who was waiting for Captain Benson in the break room. They came in shortly afterwards."
Fin decides to speak to little Olivia first before addressing his superior.
"Olivia, would you please come with me so we can talk to you and the social worker?" The teenager nods and stands up, whereupon the sergeant orders: "Joe, you come with me!"
Miss Jackson lingers in the break room, still awaiting the return of Detective Stabler. She observes Olivia Marsden enter, accompanied by two investigators. Fin immediately recognizes which social worker it is and addresses her: "Miss Jackson, I'm pleased to see you. Is Olivia one of your charges? And what does Captain Benson have to do with this?"
The social worker asks uncertainly: "Do we know each other?"
"Yes, please excuse me. I'm Sergeant Fin Tutuola. You were in charge of the case of Noah Porter, now Noah Porter Benson. This is my colleague Detective Joe Velasco."
"How can I help you?" Ms. Jackson asks.
"You know, Olivia Benson is like a sister to me, and I'm really worried right now because Detective Stabler ran so fast to the conference room where Olivia is supposed to be sitting, and he usually only does that when there's something going on with Liv."
"The teenager is Olivia Marsden, Captain Benson's niece. After Captain Benson received a disturbing message that really upset her, Detective Stabler went to see her."
"All right, Joe, go back to your desk." Although Fin is not completely satisfied with the answer, he leaves the room and heads to his desk with the teenager. He realizes that it's best if Elliot reassures his superior. At the same time, Joe Velasco also leaves the room, as ordered by his superior.