Chapter Text
Disclaimer: SVU and its characters belong to Dick Wolf. I own nothing.
Monday morning dawned like any other. The four main detectives of the sixteenth precinct trickled into work after having had a rare two days off.
John Munch was explaining in detail to his partner, Odafin Tutuola, his latest theory on why the moon landing and space exploration were all an elaborate hoax cooked up by the government. Apparently he had read a new book this weekend, and this had explained everything. Fin was listening, but rolled his eyes every time the other man wasn't looking.
Olivia Benson was at her computer, furiously typing up a report that she had put off in her rush to get out of the office on Friday. It had to be on the Captain's desk within the half hour. She was also waiting on her partner, Elliot Stabler to arrive. Having forgotten breakfast that morning, she hoped his tardiness was due to his having made a stop at their favorite bakery for coffee and pastries.
She herself had been a little late arriving to the office this morning. She'd overslept when her alarm didn't go off as planned. As a result, John had beaten her to the coffeepot. While she was much in need of a dose of caffeine, she was not desperate enough to drink a cup of coffee that her colleague had prepared. It was a well known fact amongst the group of detectives that John's coffee was not fit to drink.
She had just finished her report, and sent it to the printer when the Captain came bustling out of his office.
"Benson! Where's your partner?"
His voice boomed with authority.
"Right here Cap"
Elliot Stabler could be heard as he breezed into the room. He was balancing a tray containing two coffees and a bag of pastry in one hand. The other held his keys, phone, and some file folders.
"Sorry I'm late."
"Save it Stabler. Don't bother sitting down, you and Benson are needed at a crime scene."
He waited until he had the attention of both Elliot and Olivia before continuing.
"We've just got a rape-homicide called in. Location is the same abandoned warehouse that the arson squad was investigating last week. Warner will meet you there."
He started to leave, but then as an afterthought added something else.
"Oh and Stabler? Maybe next time you're going to be late because of a coffee and donut run, you could bring enough to share with the rest of the class? No one wants to drink the stuff that Munch makes."
Giving his detective a quick grin to know he wasn't really in trouble, he turned on his heel, and headed back toward his office.
Elliot, having set the folders on the desk, waited for Olivia to throw on her leather jacket. Then he passed her a cup of coffee. She took it with a smile, then followed him out the doors of the precinct to their sedan. They didn't want to keep the medical examiner waiting.
The two detectives walked up to their crime scene, flashing their badges and ducking under the yellow tape. They walked over to where Melinda Warner, medical examiner, was crouched next to the body of a white female with dark brown hair, which had been styled into pigtails.
"What have we got?" Olivia asked the woman.
"No I.D., but she looks to be in her late thirties. Cause of death appears to be from strangulation."
The medical examiner began to explain the scene. She then added on to her statement.
"There is bruising around her neck that seems consistent with a hand print, although there is a pattern present. Whoever did this must have been wearing gloves. I also found ligature marks around her wrists and ankles. No fluids are present, but I did find traces of spermicide, so it looks like your perp used a condom. I'll know more when I get her on my table."
Elliot and Olivia nodded their agreement, then bid their farewells to Melinda. They proceeded to investigate the surrounding area, joining the uniformed officers that were milling about looking for evidence. They split up in separate directions, scanning the scene. Olivia was about to turn around and walk back the way she had come when something under a piece of broken concrete caught her eye.
"El!"
She called out to her partner.
"Got something!"
He came jogging over to meet her as she bent down and picked up the object in her gloved hand, turning it over to inspect it.
"Condom wrapper?"
He asked the question, brows raised.
"Probably not the first this place has seen, but might not be a coincidence."
"No."
Olivia replied, placing the item in an evidence bag and sealing it up.
"And that's not all. Look."
She bent down again, and reaching into a hole in the exterior wall, pulled out a trash bag. As she opened it up, Elliot shined his flashlight inside so they could inspect the contents.
"Gloves, duct tape, rope, condoms."
They spoke in unison.
Elliot called over one of the unis and asked him to bag up the evidence and get it to the crime lab for analysis.
"So, what do you think?"
He asked his partner as they headed back to their vehicle.
"I don't think we're going to find prints on any of what we've found El. I think this guy is toying with us. Either that or he's incredibly stupid."
"Wouldn't be the first time we've encountered an idiot for a criminal,"
Elliot's remark was cheeky, but the truth.
"No, but I just have a feeling that we're going to get more questions before we get answers." Olivia said.
"And I don't think we've seen the last of his handiwork yet, either."
"I hate to agree with you in this instance, but I think you're right."
Elliot said, as he slipped the gearshift into drive and turned the car toward the direction of the station.
Later that morning, Elliot and Olivia were working at their desks when they were called to another crime scene. Munch and Fin were out interviewing a victim on a separate case. That meant this one was theirs to take as well as the case they had caught earlier. As they were about to leave, they exchanged a glance. It was going to be one of those days.
Olivia pulled up to the crime scene, having argued with Elliot that it was her turn to drive. While they normally did trade off, sometimes he drove more than his fair share. Truth be told, although she pretended to fuss about it, she never really minded. Today, though, she had wanted to drive.
They had been called to another abandoned warehouse. Such a thing was not uncommon in the city, but it did seem strange for it to happen twice in the same day.
Much as they had earlier this morning, they flashed their badges and ducked under the crime scene tape. Making their way toward the warehouse, they found Melinda. She was crouched over a body, conducting her preliminary examination.
The body on the ground was that of a woman. She was white, with dark brown hair. Similar to what they'd found this morning, the hair was styled into pigtails. And, like their victim this morning, she also had significant bruising around her throat.
Before either Olivia or Elliot could ask a question, Melinda spoke up.
"Cause of death is strangulation. Just like your other victim, there is a pattern present on her throat."
As she spoke, she pointed out the pattern she was referring to. She continued to walk them through her initial exam. It wasn't long before she was showing them that she had also found ligature marks on this victim too, along with traces of spermicide.
"Do you think the two cases are related?"
It was Elliot who asked the question.
"That's your job, detectives, not mine."
Melinda's tone was flippant, but she wasn't trying to be mean. In truth, she was as equally frustrated as they were. She had barely begun her autopsy on the first victim from this morning when she'd gotten called out to this crime scene. It would take her awhile to determine if the evidence on the two bodies was connected.
As they were talking, more people from the medical examiner's office arrived. They swooped in with a body bag, so that they could take the victim back to the morgue. Once there, Melinda could conduct a more thorough examination.
She told Elliot and Olivia that she would be in touch as soon as she had more information. They thanked her, then left the area. They began to branch out, along with the other officers canvassing the crime scene.
Much as they had done earlier, they split up in separate directions. Olivia was operating on a hunch, and headed toward an area where the concrete was broken apart. Sure enough, she stumbled upon a condom wrapper under a piece of broken concrete. Pulling on gloves, she bagged the evidence.
Continuing to follow her gut, her next stop was the wall. There was a hole in it, just large enough for hiding a trash bag. She wasn't surprised when she reached in and found what she was looking for.
"Elliot."
Her partner was at her side in seconds. Together, they looked through the bag. It's contents revealed the exact same items as the one they had seen this morning – gloves, duct tape, rope, and condoms. Sharing a look, they both felt a chill down their spines.
"Is it just me, or are you feeling a sense of déjà vu?"
Elliot questioned her, his voice a mix of seriousness and dry humor.
She shook her head, not giving him a verbal answer. It definitely wasn't a coincidence that the exact same evidence had been found at both crime scenes. That both bodies had been found in the same manner. Their victims even looked alike.
Once the evidence was secure, she and Elliot returned to their sedan. They had to get back to the station and write up a report. Now that their cases were connected, even more effort would be needed to solve them. Both had the same worry on their minds though. Worry that there would be more questions – more victims – before they found the answers they were seeking.
It was after two o'clock when they arrived back at the precinct. Before they'd left the crime scene, they'd called to see if Fin and Munch had returned. Upon learning that they had, Elliot and Olivia offered to stop by a deli to pick up food for their small group in the squad. Everyone was grateful for their offer, as they had all missed lunch.
Since her partner was driving this time, Olivia took down the orders. She jotted them down on a piece of paper, so she wouldn't forget. It was always easy enough for her to remember what Elliot liked. But she didn't often pick up food for Fin, Munch, or the captain on a regular basis.
Then as Elliot steered the car through traffic, she'd phoned ahead to the deli. It was one the squad frequented often, so they were familiar with them. They told Olivia they would have her order ready as soon as possible.
Fifteen minutes later, Elliot pulled up to the curb. Olivia left the car, dashing in to the restaurant. The order was ready, just as promised. She promptly paid for their food, and left, bag in hand.
When they got back to the station, they passed out the sandwiches. The deli had carefully labeled on each wrapper what was within. They were also pleasantly surprised to learn the deli had included complimentary bags of chips and extra pickle spears at no additional charge. Ever since Elliot and Olivia had stopped a robbery in progress one day while eating lunch there, the owner had always taken good care of them. By extension, they also took care of the squad as a whole. They were always giving discounts, or including extras with their meals.
Once all the food had been passed to their respective people, Olivia threw away the bags. She took her own lunch, and settled at her desk. After unwrapping her sandwich, she stood back up. She'd almost forgotten to get herself something to drink.
Glancing at her partner's desk, she noticed he needed something, too.
Considering the morning they'd had, she knew that by now, he'd be just as sick of coffee as she was. Instead, she went to the vending machine in the break room. There, she purchased two bottles of iced tea.
When she returned, she found Elliot sitting across from her spot, already eating. His food looked different somehow. It was then that she noticed he had taken half of her sandwich, and swapped it out for half of his. Shaking her head, she sat back down. Handing him his drink across their desks, she just gave him a look.
"What? Yours looked better than mine."
He gave her a cheeky grin. This wasn't the first time he'd done something like this. At least he'd only taken half her sandwich this time. In the past, he'd been known to take the whole thing, giving her his in exchange. It was a good thing they usually had the same tastes. That was also the reason why she deliberately let him order first most of the time, so she could plan her choices accordingly.
Instead of replying, she merely reached back across his desk. She snagged his bag of salt and vinegar potato chips, and replaced them with the plain ones she had been given. In reality, she knew they'd end up sharing both bags, but it was the principle of the matter. At least that's how she justified her actions to herself.
After the day they'd had so far, it felt good to have a few moments of levity. Even though they both knew they would be brief. Sometimes, you just needed that break. The camaraderie the four of them had with each other, even with their captain, was good for that. They could be serious when necessary, but they also were able to have lighter moments with one another.
Elliot finished his lunch. He'd known Olivia wouldn't really get mad at him for swapping out halves of their sandwiches. It's partly why he had done it. That and the fact that even though he had ordered one specific thing, he couldn't make his mind up. This way, he'd been able to have both.
Looking across at her, he saw that she had finished, too. Since she was kind enough to get the iced tea earlier, he made a mental note that he would buy her a drink after work tonight. They didn't make it a habit to go out together, but after the day they'd had, indulging in a little alcohol sounded like a good idea.
He glanced up when he saw Fin approach Olivia's desk. The man was attempting to pay for his share of lunch. But the brunette wasn't having any part of it. She simply told him to return the favor someday, and they'd be even. He tried again to insist, but she pushed the money in his hand away. Finally he conceded defeat, and walked away, pocketing the cash once more.
Not long after Fin's attempt, Munch tried the same thing. Elliot was amused by it. Not in his efforts, he knew Munch was a good man. So was Fin. No, he was amused by Olivia's reaction. To be fair, he wouldn't have accepted money from his coworkers, either. Hell, he and Olivia often traded off as to which of them bought lunch. The others just weren't as aware of their practice.
With lunch finished, and their stomachs full, Elliot and Olivia focused their attentions back on work. They were each busy at their computers, typing up reports from the two crime scenes they had been at earlier today.
While Elliot hoped they would get some answers soon, regarding the evidence they had found, he knew better. He didn't want the crime lab to rush, and possibly make a mistake. Especially since they were now processing near identical items from two separate crime scenes. It would be a nightmare in the court system if there were to be a mix-up. Once caught, the perp could walk on even the slightest of technicalities.
Around four thirty in the afternoon, the gray skies had opened up. A steady rain was falling over the city. Cragen came out of his office, a slip of paper in his hands. He headed over to Olivia and Elliot's joined desks.
"Benson, Stabler-"
He began to speak, but Elliot cut him off before he could finish.
"Don't tell me. Another body – abandoned warehouse. Warner will meet us there."
The look on the Captain's face confirmed that Elliot's guess was correct. Standing from their chairs at the same time, they grabbed their NYPD issue rain gear, and headed out the door. Three bodies in one day – this was getting old.
When they arrived, they found that officers first on the scene had acted quickly. A small canopy had been set up over the body, to try and prevent the rain from washing away evidence. With a quick glance at the surrounding area, they saw that Melinda had yet to arrive.
Hearing footsteps, they turned to find the medical examiner heading their way. The three of them continued down the path to where the canopy stood to investigate the body.
When they reached the site, the officers pulled back the tarp. It, too, had been set out to cover the body respectfully. Given the day they'd had already, none of the three were particularly surprised at what they saw.
The victim was female, and appeared to be in her mid to late thirties. She was white, with dark brown hair. Again, the hair was arranged in pigtails. This was really starting to be an eerie coincidence. By all outward appearances, cause of death was strangulation. Like the others, she had ligature marks on her wrists and ankles.
In frustration, Olivia turned away, leaving Elliot to listen to what Melinda had to say. She'd already heard enough. Instead, she walked through the rain to a spot a short distance away.
There it was – just like the other two locations. A section of broken concrete. Preemptively, she pulled on a pair of gloves. Bending down, she reached for the condom wrapper she knew she would find.
She bagged it, although given the rain, she wasn't sure what evidence there would be to find. Walking a few more paces forward, she found a hole in the exterior wall. As if on auto-pilot, she reached inside.
Trash bag. She felt nauseated. A part of her didn't even want to look inside. But she knew she had to. Feeling a presence behind her, she knew Elliot had come over to see what she'd found. Glancing over her shoulder at him, she saw he shared her disgust.
On an exhale of breath, she opened the bag. At the same moment, Elliot turned on his flashlight, so he could shine it inside. The same objects that they had seen before – Gloves, duct tape, rope, and condoms.
Olivia slammed the ends of the bag together tightly, and passed it off to a nearby crime lab technician. She stormed off toward the car, casting a final glance at Elliot. He'd read her expression loud and clear- she didn't want him to follow her. She needed a moment to herself.
He stood in the rain, watching her go. He'd give her some time, then drive her back to the precinct. They definitely would need that drink tonight. Maybe two.
He thought back on the days events. Each crime scene was almost an exact replica of the others. He briefly envisioned himself in some twisted version of actor Bill Murray's movie Groundhog Day. He fervently hoped tomorrow wouldn't be another repeat.
The rain began to fall heavier now, and he hoped Olivia had been alone with her thoughts long enough. Heading up to the car, he opened the door for her, letting her in first. As he was walking around to the driver's side, his phone rang.
"Stabler"
It was the captain, calling for a report on what had happened at the scene. Elliot briefed him, then listened to what the Captain had to say.
Part of him had feared the reason for his call was to report another body.
His fears were confirmed. Cragen gave them information of another scene to drive to. Once again, it was an abandoned warehouse, not far from their present location.
The situation they were dealing with was also worse. They'd known what it had meant when they'd found the third body, but now that they had a fourth, it was compounded even more. It was now evident they had a serial killer on their hands, targeting specific victims. All of the women they'd found had been similar in physical characteristics. They were even close in age.
As he put the car in gear and was about to drive to the next scene, Olivia's phone rang. It was Melinda, asking if they'd left yet. She was still at their present location. She, too, had gotten the call about the most recent body find. The woman wanted to know if she could catch a ride with them. She'd meet someone from the medical examiners office over there.
They agreed, and waited for Melinda to join them at their car. She arrived quickly, having hurried through the rain. She took a seat in the back, setting her bag beside her.
"Thanks for the ride, Elliot. I didn't want to have to wait here to head over with someone from the office."
He gave her a wave of his hand as he turned the wheel, heading back out on the road.
"It's no trouble, Melinda. We figure you're going to have just as much work as us, if not more."
"No kidding. I'm thinking of calling in the medical examiner from Queens to help me out with the autopsies."
She took a breath, clearly frustrated.
"Once the mayor's office gets wind of this, he's going to want them done yesterday. I'm only one person."
Olivia agreed with her. She was also dreading the added pressure that would come down on them from the top. The mayor's office, along with 1PP, would both want this solved as soon as possible. She didn't blame them for not wanting negative press, but they had to realize that the detectives were only human, not miracle workers. They could only work with the information as they received it.
Elliot pulled up to what they all hoped would be the last crime scene of the day. As they walked toward the abandoned building, they saw that uniformed officers were just beginning to secure the area.
As the rain was still falling steadily, two were setting up a canopy over the body to prevent the loss of evidence. Another group were milling about, canvassing the grounds. Two others were unrolling some yellow tape, cordoning off the area into a restricted zone.
The three of them walked up to the tape. Elliot and Olivia flashed their badges, while Melinda showed her ID. It was really only procedure at this point. The same officers had been at all the scenes today, so they all knew who they were. But rules had to be followed.
They ducked under the tape, and headed over to where the body lay. No one was surprised to see that the victim looked similar to the other three – right down to the hairstyle. It was clear she had been strangled. Melinda estimated her age to be close to that of the previous three.
Eventually, the medical examiner had completed her preliminary exam. Others stepped forward to collect the body, and transfer it to the morgue. Melinda joined them, bidding farewell to the two detectives. She truly hoped she would not see them any more that day.
Elliot and Olivia, though they were exhausted, joined the uniformed officers in canvassing the scene. As if on auto-pilot, they uncovered a condom wrapper. Nearby to that find, a trash bag was located within a wall. It's contents identical to the others they had found earlier that day.
Elliot could barely contain his anger. Whatever monster had committed these acts, was clearly taunting them now. He didn't even need the expertise of Dr. Huang to tell him that. He was now convinced they would find no evidence of value on anything they had recovered today.
Just as he'd had those thoughts, Olivia voiced the same theory. Once again, they were on the same wavelength. It was the reason they worked so well together.
With the evidence secure, and on its way to the crime lab, they excused themselves from the scene. They headed back to the precinct, where they immediately got to work filling out the incident reports. Since they'd been at several crime scenes today, the list was longer than usual.
As they neared the end of their work, Elliot remembered his earlier promise to himself. He had wanted to take Olivia out after work. Granted, his tardiness in arriving home would serve to make Kathy upset, but she'd have to understand. After the day they'd had, both he and his partner were in need of a drink.
"Hey, Liv."
She said nothing, but looked at him from across the desk. He could see the fatigue in her eyes. Maybe this was a bad idea. Perhaps all she really wanted was to go home and get some sleep. He was going to ask her anyway.
"Do you want to go out with me after work, grab a drink?"
She gave him a smile.
"You read my mind, El. I was trying to figure a way to ask you the same, but I know you have to get home to Kathy."
He shook his head, dismissing her concern.
"Let me deal with Kathy. So how about it – are you in?"
"I'm in."
Thirty minutes later, they were settling into a booth at the bar. They'd chosen to sit on the same side, as Munch and Fin would be joining them soon. As they were leaving, they'd extended the invitation to their coworkers.
While their day hadn't been as crazy as Elliot and Olivia's had, both men were also in need of unwinding. They'd accepted. The only one of the group who had declined to join them had been the Captain. It didn't even have to do with the fact that he didn't drink. However, the man did have an early meeting with both IAB and 1PP the following morning, and he'd needed to get his rest.
When someone came to the table to take their order, Elliot requested a pitcher of beer and four glasses. He figured they'd each have one glass, maybe two. They all had to work again tomorrow, so none of them would be getting drunk tonight.
Munch and Fin entered the bar, and spotted them. They had just taken their seats when the pitcher was delivered. The server asked if they'd like anything from the kitchen. Their two male colleagues went first, fighting over the menu.
Elliot declined to order anything. Kathy had been upset enough with him, when he'd called to say he was going to be late. If he showed up at home with a full stomach, unable to eat the dinner she'd cooked and saved for him, he'd really be in trouble.
Olivia, knowing that she had nothing whatsoever waiting for her in her apartment to eat, scanned the menu quickly. Given the day she'd had, food wasn't the first thing on her mind. But she knew she needed to eat something. Not really paying attention to her choice, she selected the chicken fingers. She also selected a basket of fries. She knew it was going to be a large portion. However, she also knew that her partner would help her eat some of it.
As the server left their table to go put in their order, Elliot was already regretting his choice. He'd heard Olivia place her order, and his stomach had growled. It wasn't too late to put in an order, though. He could call the woman back to the table, still get something.
Olivia leaned into his shoulder, whispered in his ear.
"Relax, El. You can just share some of mine. I know you'll still have dinner waiting for you at home, too."
He tried to keep his smile to himself. Once again, Olivia had read his mind. He suspected she had purposely ordered something they could eat together once he'd declined to get anything. In fact, the more he thought about it, he was certain that was what she'd done. Her typical choices tended to be salads or soups. She rarely ever selected fried items for herself. They were a rare treat for her.
Upon seeing the two seemingly sharing secrets, Munch's eyebrows raised. He shared a grin with Fin, then proceeded to tease his two coworkers. After the day they'd all had, the mood definitely needed lightened.
"Something the two of you would care to share with the rest of us?"
Olivia shook her head as she took a sip of her beer. Munch was always determined to find more meaning underneath everything. He was convinced that she and Elliot were more than just partners. Yes, Fin teased them, too, but not to the degree the elder detective did. Neither she nor Elliot ever took offense, though. It was never mean spirited.
The four of them were sitting together, each venting frustrations about the day. Munch and Fin were sympathetic to the case load that Elliot and Olivia had caught. They all figured at some point, they'd be called in to help as well. Perhaps even as early as tomorrow. With this many victims, it would likely be all hands on deck.
They were still talking among themselves when Elliot's phone rang. It was Kathy. Knowing he would never be able to hear her over the echo of conversations going on in the bar, he excused himself from the table.
"Yeah, Kath."
"Where are you?"
He sighed. He'd already told her where he would be, when he'd called home before leaving the precinct.
"I'm at a bar not far from the station. Like I told you. It was a tougher day than usual, we all went out for drinks."
He'd barely gotten the sentence out when she was questioning him again.
"Does this 'we' include Olivia?"
He brought his fingers up to pinch the bridge of his nose. She was in one of those moods, then. His wife often wavered in her opinion on is partner. Most times, she was grateful for the woman who helped keep him safe in the field. Others, she was highly suspicious, thought that that Olivia must have ulterior motives of some sort. Lately, her suspicions were greater than her gratitude.
"Yes, Kathy. Olivia is my partner, she's included when I go out with people from work."
"How long until you're home?"
He could hear the tension in her voice. If he could envision her now, he could almost see her standing, tapping one foot in exasperation. As much as he loved his wife, it was not a flattering picture in his mind. He hated when she did this, especially when he'd never given her any reason to think he'd be unfaithful.
"We were just served. I'm having one glass of beer, maybe two at most. Then I'll be home."
He neglected to mention the fact that he'd be dropping Olivia off first. That would only incite Kathy's anger further. But he wasn't about to let Olivia walk home. While he had no doubt in his partner's ability to take care of herself, it was still raining. Giving her a ride was the gentlemanly thing to do.
He ended the call. Or rather, the call ended when Kathy hung up on him in a huff. Shaking his head, he headed back inside. There was sure to be a 'discussion' when he arrived home later. He even suspected that the dinner that had been promised to him earlier would no longer be waiting.
As he was heading back to the table, he saw their server was delivering their food order. A second pitcher of beer was also ordered. They weren't really drinking in excess, as the first pitcher had been enough for about one glass apiece.
The server also asked Olivia if she'd like any sauces with her order. She selected two – honey mustard and ranch. She herself preferred the mustard, but knew Elliot was a fan of the other. Since they'd be sharing the food, she felt it only fair he have his preference of dipping sauce.
Just as he took his seat once again, the server returned. She passed Olivia her sauces, and set down two small plates. She'd correctly guessed that the two detectives would be sharing. Their server disappeared for another quick moment, then returned once again, this time with extra napkins for everyone. After ensuring no one needed anything, she left them alone to eat.
Olivia placed the two baskets evenly between herself and Elliot. She passed him a plate, along with the cup of ranch. He accepted the items willingly. Now that he no longer would have dinner waiting for him at home, he was more grateful than ever that his partner was so generous.
As the group ate, conversation drifted from the topic of work to other things. Like they always did, they made a collective promise that they should get together like this more often. Minus the stressful days that preceded it, of course. That went without saying.
At that comment, Munch piped up. Talking around a semi full mouth, he once again tried to convince everyone that they needed their own bar. One that they all were co-owners of together. Everyone at the table groaned, even though they were smiling.
They'd all heard this story often. The one of Munch's colleague in Baltimore who had purchased a bar. How nice it had been to have a special place to go, one just for the detectives. As a result, every so often, Munch would get the motivation to want to open his own bar. He always would try and talk others into joining him in his ventures.
Soon, their food was all gone. The second pitcher had been drained. None of them had any desire to drink any more. The bills had been brought over to the table. Their server, someone who knew the group well, had already separated the checks. She gave one each to Fin, Munch, and Olivia. The cost of the two pitchers was divided equally among the three.
Since he had eaten more than his fair share of her dinner, Elliot insisted upon paying. Olivia opened her mouth to argue, but he wouldn't hear it. Instead, he offered a compromise.
"Just bring the good coffee tomorrow."
He'd told her. Then, as an afterthought, he added something else.
"And some bagels."
She nodded. It was pointless to fight with him, especially when he was this determined. It wasn't that she objected to him treating her, but she was the one who'd ordered the food. She felt she could at least pay for half. But if this was the way he wanted it, so be it.
They left money on the table, enough for their tabs and a generous tip. Then they all walked out together. Standing outside the bar, it was Fin who offered something to Elliot.
"I know you need to get home, man. Why don't you let me drive Liv?"
Elliot was about to refuse the offer, then reconsidered. He did need to get home. The longer he delayed, the more angry Kathy would get.
"Thanks, Fin. I appreciate it."
Olivia chimed in then, and she was pretty upset. Or at least she seemed to be.
"Why don't we let Liv decide for herself how she is getting home? I'm a big girl. I don't need anyone to drive me."
She was met with a look by not just one, but three men. She sighed. Not once had any of these three ever treated her as less than an equal. However, they all looked after her. Sometimes to an extreme degree. Her partner especially. His next words proved her point.
"It's raining, Liv. I don't want you walking home in that."
"Yes, it is. And there's this crazy new invention. It's called an umbrella."
As she spoke, she pulled her umbrella out of her bag. She was about to take a few steps from under the awning of the bar, when she felt a hand on her arm. Shooting the owner of the arm a withering glance, she conceded defeat.
"Fine, you win. I'll let you drive me home, Fin."
No sooner had she spoken, than the rain increased in its intensity. Umbrella or no, there was no way she could have walked home in that. It was a good thing she had given in. Still wanting to get in the last word, she cast a final glance at her partner.
"Shut up, Elliot."
While he'd said nothing aloud, his grin had spoken volumes. The four detectives said good-bye to one another, then went their separate ways. Munch and Elliot went to their cars, while Olivia followed Fin to his. All of them hoped tomorrow would be a better day.
For once, traffic had been in Elliot's favor. He'd been worried driving home that it would have delayed his return even more. But he'd made it across the bridge and into Queens in near record time.
Pulling into his driveway, he turned off the engine. He waited a minute or so more, hoping the rain would ease up. When he saw that it wasn't going to, he got out of his car, making a mad dash for the door.
He stood in the laundry room for a few minutes, letting the rain drip off his clothes. Shedding his jacket, he hung it up to dry. He also took off his shoes. Grabbing a towel, he wiped himself down a bit, so he wouldn't track water all over the house.
"Elliot? Is that you?"
Kathy's voice called out from the other room.
Despite all his efforts, he found himself getting irritated with his wife. Who else would it be? He'd even called her from the car before he'd pulled away from the bar, to let her know he was on his way home. Besides wanting to keep her informed, he'd wanted to make sure she hadn't needed anything.
Still, he forced himself to remain calm. While he was reasonably relaxed after the time he'd spent at the bar with his coworkers, the stress of the day was still with him. The last thing he wanted tonight was to get into a fight with Kathy. He would have to tread lightly.
"Yeah, Kath. It's me. I'm just going upstairs to change clothes. Be right back."
Instead of saying she was glad he was home, or anything like that, she called out words of warning. Something he was already well aware of.
"Don't track water through the house."
He grit his teeth. So that was how it was going to be tonight. Despite all his efforts to avoid confrontation, it seemed obvious now that his wife was itching for a fight. He'd just have to mind his temper. Maybe he could still make it through.
Now that he was marginally drier, he climbed the stairs. He gathered a change of clothes, and went into the master bath. While he knew he should get downstairs to Kathy quickly, he still took a quick shower. He wanted to wash the chill of the rain off his body. Even though he'd only been in it from the short run from the driveway to the house, he was still feeling it.
As he waited for the spray to heat up, he thought about how glad he was that Fin had given Olivia a lift home. The thought of her walking all those blocks back to her apartment in this weather was terrible. He needed her help at work for this case, not home sick because she'd caught a cold from being out in the rain for too long.
The spray warmed, and he stepped under it. He showered quickly. He also figured it would save him a few precious minutes come the following morning. Maybe even get him a little extra sleep. If tomorrow was to be anything like today, heaven knows he'd need it.
He toweled off, then hung his wet clothes over the shower rod to dry. Dressing in a pair of sweats and a tee shirt, he opted to remain barefoot. It was now or never. Time to face Kathy.
He headed back downstairs. It was quiet, so he figured that meant the children were all up in their rooms, working on homework. Going in the kitchen first, he grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. Then he went into the living room in search of his wife.
He found her on the sofa, staring at the television. Something was on, but he had a feeling if he'd asked he what she was watching, she wouldn't be able to answer. Judging by her expression, the woman was fuming. Sure enough, the next words out of her mouth proved his guess to be true.
"Did you and Olivia have a nice time out together?"
Elliot sighed. He reminded himself to keep his temper in check. Getting angry would only make the situation worse.
"Kath, I told you, I wasn't just out with Olivia. Fin and Munch were there, too."
She gave him a look that said she truly doubted him. That almost hurt more than her words. When had she stopped believing him?
"I don't have any dinner for you. Dickie wanted seconds, so I just gave him yours."
The news didn't surprise him. He'd figured something like that would happen when she'd called him at the bar.
"Out of curiosity, did you eat dinner?"
This was a difficult question. If he told her he didn't eat, no doubt she'd berate him for not taking care of himself. But, if he told her the truth – that he'd shared a meal with Olivia – it would only stir things up more. However, what he and Liv had done was completely innocent. Just like the sandwiches they'd split at lunch. He opted to go with the truth.
"I didn't order anything for myself, no. But I ate."
She looked at him then. It was clear she wanted him to elaborate. With a sigh, he added to his statement.
"Olivia had ordered a basket of chicken tenders and fries. It was too much for her, so she split them with me."
"Of course she did."
Just as he was about to explain things, to reassure her once more that she had nothing to worry about, she stood up. She reached for something on the coffee table that he hadn't seen before. It was a manilla envelope.
She slapped it in his palm, her eyes shining with tears. It was hard to tell if they were coming from a place of sadness or anger. Maybe it was a mixture of both.
"This was delivered to our house tonight. I know the truth, Elliot."
More puzzled than ever, he opened the envelope. He turned it out so the contents spilled into his hands. It was full of photographs. What he saw made his heart leap into his throat, and made him sick to his stomach.
Olivia was in every photo. Some of them contained the two of them together. Judging by the clothes she was wearing, it appeared most of them had been taken today. He even recognized some of the crime scenes they'd been at in the background.
One photo in particular caught his attention. It was of Olivia, exiting her apartment building. She'd just walked out the security door, and was slipping her bag over her shoulder. The camera had captured her profile.
The pictures of them together contained nothing incriminating. The closest thing to intimacy was one in which he was holding an umbrella over her at one of the crime scenes. He remembered the moment. Not long after, she had stormed off to the car, needing some time alone.
"Say something, Elliot. The least you can do now is admit to it."
He counted to ten, saying a little prayer for patience.
"I'm not cheating on you Kathy. The only thing these photos prove is that someone is following Olivia."
With that said, another wave of panic and worry hit him. He looked at the envelope again. It was his name, not Kathy's, written across the front. There was no address. Whomever had delivered it must have done so in person.
The envelope and its contents would have to go to the crime lab. Although after Kathy had looked through them first, he doubted many other fingerprints would remain. Also, he remembered all the sets of gloves they had found today. Still, he was desperate to find another clue.
Kathy though, was determined to argue her point.
"You can't even admit to it. Someone knows you're lying. And they care about me. Even if you don't."
Elliot had heard enough. He still managed to keep his voice even though.
"Kathy, this envelope was addressed to me. It was meant for me to get, not you. Why did you even open it in the first place?"
She couldn't come up with an answer. He gathered the photos in his hands, so he could put them back inside the envelope. As he was about to insert them, something at the bottom caught his eye. He turned the envelope upside down, and a piece of paper fluttered to the floor.
He bent down to pick it up. There was something on it, but it wasn't handwritten. No - this was typed out, likely printed from a computer. His eyes scanned the page, and as he read, he felt the chills consume him yet again.
Detective Stabler, I hope you enjoyed the gifts I've left for you today. They were all lovely women. I'm sure you will be pleased to learn that I didn't let them suffer for long. Now I've set my sights on someone else, someone you know very well. If you don't find me first, I'm going to find her. Unlike the others, she will suffer. And it will be all your fault.
"Shit"
He swore aloud. He reached toward his pocket, searching for his cell phone. Then he remembered that he'd left it in the bedroom. He raced upstairs, oblivious to the fact that Kathy was calling after him.
He grabbed his phone, and was dialing the Captain before he could get back to the living room. He stopped in the kitchen on his way, picking up a plastic storage bag. It wasn't an evidence bag, but it would serve it's purpose. He wanted to preserve the note as much as he possibly could.
"Cragen speaking"
The captain's voice rang out over the phone.
"Cap, it's Elliot."
He briefed the Captain to the situation at hand. Told him about the photos that had been waiting for him when he arrived home, and the note.
Cragen wasn't taking any chances, especially when one – or more- of his detectives were possibly being threatened.
"Meet me at the precinct tonight, as soon as you possibly can. We'll discuss a game plan."
"Yes, sir."
When Elliot ended the call, he looked toward Kathy. She would not be happy about this news. Then he had another thought. What if his wife and kids were in danger, too? He had to get them to safety.
Putting his hands on her shoulders, he spoke to her urgently.
"Kathy. I want you to pack up some things – for yourself and for the kids. Take them to your mothers."
Her voice was incredulous.
"You're kicking me out? If any of us is leaving this house, it's going to be you, Elliot. You're the one who cheated."
He shook her, gently. He was desperate to get through to her. First, he had to get her to listen to him.
"Kathy, will you just listen? I'm not cheating on you. Never have, never will."
Her eyes searched his face, she'd heard the sincerity in his voice. But those pictures. She still had her doubts. Plus he was so different these days. It made her so certain that something was going on between him and Olivia, even if he wouldn't admit it.
He gestured to the envelope, drawing her attention to it once more.
"Those pictures – most of them are from today. There was a note, too."
Now that he saw she was listening to him fully, he tried his best to explain. He didn't want to frighten her, so he kept details to a minimum.
"I don't want to frighten you, but the note implies that someone is after me. Not me directly - their target is Olivia."
As the words registered, Kathy's eyes widened. She began to understand why Elliot's movements had been so rushed, why that phone call had been so urgent.
"Whoever sent the note made no mention of it, but I need for you and the kids to be safe, too. That's why I want you to leave."
When Kathy spoke next, her voice was wavering. It was obvious she was trying not to cry. She had been on the verge of tears many times tonight, but now it was for a whole new reason. Fear.
"Will you be coming with us?"
He shook his head. This wasn't going to go over well.
"I can't. I have to go into work. And -"
He paused, not wanting to add the rest. It was sure to incite her anger once again.
"I have to go check on Olivia."
Sure enough, Kathy's eyes flashed as her temper flared. She pushed at Elliot, her hands against his chest.
"Olivia is a cop, Elliot! Just like you are! She can take care of herself!"
Elliot tried again, taking his wife's hands in his own. She tried to pull them out of his grasp, but he held on. When he spoke, he kept his voice calm and reasonable.
"She is. But she's not invincible."
He let her consider what had been said, then added one final piece.
"I can't tell you what we saw today, Kath. I won't put that in your head. But I will tell you this – I don't want my partner to meet the same fate. I'd never forgive myself."
Kathy let out a resigned sigh. This was a fight she wasn't going to win. She and the kids would be going to her mothers alone. Though she loved Elliot for his protective nature, she wished he would let Olivia protect herself sometimes. Still, she didn't wish harm upon the woman. If whatever happened that day was too bad for Elliot to even mention, then it must have been truly awful.
She pulled her hands out of Elliot's and made her way to the stairs. Her first stop was the kids rooms, telling them to pack a few things. They would be leaving within the hour. Then she headed to the master bedroom.
That's where Elliot found her, packing a bag for herself. He had come upstairs to change clothes before returning to the precinct. She raised her eyebrows, but kept quiet as she saw him packing a bag, too. In addition to a few extra suits, he also stashed several pairs of jeans and sweats in his duffel.
"Where are you going to go?"
Despite her promise to herself that she wouldn't ask, curiosity got the better of her.
Elliot hesitated, stopping in the midst of putting his toiletry case in his bag. What he had to tell her would not be received well. Still, he wanted to tell his wife the truth.
"I have to discuss things with the Captain first, but I'm probably going to go stay with Olivia."
Kathy dropped the pair of shoes she was holding. They fell to the carpeted floor, landing with two soft thuds. She probably should have thrown them at Elliot, rather than dropped them. How could he say such a thing to her?
"You're letting your mind run away with you again, Kathy."
Wrong thing to say. He knew it the instant the words left his mouth. It was too late to take it back, though. Instead, he tried to explain the best he could.
"If someone is truly after her, Liv is going to need a protective detail. She's never willingly accepted one."
While he didn't often talk to Kathy about things at work, he briefly explained the Richard White case. How, the first year of their partnership, Olivia had been stalked by a suspect. She vaguely recalled the incident, remembering how Elliot would leave extra early so he could drive his partner to work. Even back then, he'd always been worried about her.
While Kathy was softening to a degree, Elliot knew she still didn't fully understand. He tried again.
"She'll never accept a detail. But she'll accept me. I can watch over her, without making her feel like she can't take care of herself."
Kathy's anger returned full force. She began throwing items into her bag, not caring how they landed. Once she was done, she zipped it up, and threw it over her shoulder.
"I'm sure you and Olivia will have a lovely time sharing a bed together."
Elliot scrubbed his palms down his face, sighing. Two steps forward, and one step back. They were back to this again. He was done fighting, though.
"Kathy, I could tell you until I'm blue in the face that I'm not having an affair with Olivia. It's up to you whether or not to believe me. My only priority is to keep her – plus you and the kids – safe."
"Why does she come first, then? Are we not that high on your list of priorities?"
Elliot stifled a groan that threatened to escape. There was no reasoning with her, now that she was in this kind of mood. They would only continue to go around in circles.
Walking around the bed, he gave Kathy a hug. Knowing she wouldn't be receptive to any other types of affection, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. Then he turned to leave. He stopped at the door of the bedroom to say one final thing.
"I know you're mad at me, but please, call or text me when you get to your mothers. Spare me that worry."
She nodded her agreement. She would do as he asked. Turning back to the bed, she began to pack the last of her things. The sound of Elliot's footsteps as he descended the stairs echoed up to her. Despite every effort to control her emotions, tears streamed down her cheeks.
Elliot arrived at the precinct. He left his bag in the trunk, and headed up to the squad room. Captain Cragen was waiting for him in his office.
They ignored any pretense of greetings. As soon as Elliot stepped into the room, Cragen held out his hand, demanding to see the envelope. He was already wearing gloves.
The Captain flipped through the photos, the expression on his face becoming more worried with each one he looked at. Elliot could tell the moment he had come across the one of Olivia leaving her apartment building. Both of them knew it was not a good sign the photographer knew were she lived.
Next, his superior officer read the note. To Elliot's dismay, he had read it aloud. Despite knowing he would have to at some point, he was not ready to see or hear those words again so soon. The mere implication that anything could happen to Olivia, that the next body they found could be hers, terrified him.
"So what do you think, Elliot?"
Cragen put forth the question, though he had a few theories of his own.
"Most likely it's someone I've arrested before. The tone of the note, the threat, is all too familiar for it to be random."
The Captain nodded his agreement. Then he posed another question to his detective.
"How do you want to handle this?"
Elliot considered his answer carefully. He was grateful that he hadn't been taken off the case. By rights, Cragen had every right to do so. He could have easily benched both himself and Olivia. But it meant so much to know that the man trusted his judgment.
"Send the photos and note to the lab, see what they can find. Maybe there will be a connection to the evidence we uncovered at the crime scenes today."
It was doubtful, but worth a try. Even the most skilled criminals messed up sometimes. Then there was the other matter at hand – Olivia.
"She'll never agree to a detail, Cap. You know that. And I can't put one on her without her knowledge. Not after last time."
They both remembered the time when the squad was chasing Eric Plummer. The man had targeted Olivia's previous cases, murdering three people connected with them. By extension, she had been a target too. When she'd refused a detail from Cragen, Elliot had taken it upon himself to get her one. He'd used his contacts with the FBI to have someone follow her, protect her. She'd been furious with him.
"What do you suggest, then?"
Elliot explained that he'd already sent his wife and children away for their own safety. Though the note had made no mention of targeting his family, he wasn't taking any chances.
"I'll go over to Olivia's tonight. Tell her that Kathy and I had a fight, ask to crash at her place for a few days."
He saw the skeptical look on Cragen's face. He wasn't sure if his suggestion wasn't believable, or if the man had a problem with his two detectives sharing a living space.
"She'll believe me, Cap. She already knows Kathy and I were fighting tonight."
He neglected to mention the reason why he and his wife were fighting. The last thing the Captain needed to know was that Kathy suspected him of having an affair with his partner. Even if her suspicions were unfounded. They had to deal with enough gossip from their fellow officers.
After thinking it over, Cragen agreed. But there was a condition.
"If you – or Olivia – receive any more threats, I want both of you in a safe house. No arguments."
"Agreed."
He didn't say anything to the Captain, but he didn't plan on mentioning to Olivia yet that she was in possible danger. Would that backfire on him? Possibly. But he'd rather risk her anger than risk her life. If she thought someone was out to get her, she'd deliberately set herself up as bait in order to protect him. He couldn't let her do that.
Cragen bagged up the photos, envelope, and the note. He told Elliot he would drop it off in the evidence lab on his way out. As a final thought, Elliot mentioned that his wife had touched them, too. Her fingerprints would need to be excluded. When he spoke to her later tonight, he'd have her come to the station tomorrow so that could be taken of.
Elliot looked at his watch. It was only a little after ten o'clock. Olivia should still be up. He headed down to his car, and started driving to her apartment. He hoped that this case would be resolved quickly, before he had to admit he was hiding something from her. Before she would figure it out for herself. Or else, he'd have not just one, but two women mad at him.