Alex sipped from her martini glass, letting out a contented sigh as she set it carefully onto the coaster in front of her. "I thought we'd never get him," she remarked. Olivia looked towards her, surprised, "Shows how much you trust us. Novak never doubted our work." Olivia grinned and took a sip of her drink.
"Oh come on Olivia," Alex turned towards her, "the case has been cold for three years because O'Donnell fled the state! We only got him because his job shipped him back to New York. It was pure dumb luck, and you know it."
"Alex I'm shocked. Three years ago we were inches away from closing this case until the confession got thrown out. That was the DA's fault, not ours."
"You mean not Elliot's. Olivia, I know you and he were close, I was just as much his friend as the rest of you, but you can't keep covering for him. He's gone. Its over."
"Why are you bringing this up?! Our perp is caught. He's spending the rest of his life in prison. And instead of being glad we caught him you're attacking Elliot because we didn't get this guy sooner."
There was a pause. Alex could see Olivia's worry and pain over Elliot's sudden disappearance from the precinct and her life. No one had ever told her why. Why did he leave?- they could have gotten through it. Would she see him again?
Alex could see she had stepped too far. "I'm sorry Olivia. I.. I know that I didn't get to know him as well as you did or even as well as Casey did. I'll just keep doing my job and you do yours." Olivia looked down at her drink. "Goodnight, Liv."
Olivia feigned a smile, "Goodnight Alex."
ADA Cabot grabbed her purse from the stool beside her and exited the bar. Olivia gulped her drink slowly, wishing she didn't have to spend the evening alone.
It was Christmas Eve.
"One more Charlie, then I'm out of here," the girl said as she sat down, leaving one stool at the bar between herself and Olivia.
She looked rather young, and Olivia wondered if she were of legal age. The girl saw Olivia's concern and let out a mused giggle. "Its okay. I'm 21. And anyway its club soda."
The bartender slid a glass towards her. "I'm cutting you off after this one Lor."
"Oh shut up Charlie you know I don't even drink. Plus I am so game for that exam tomorrow."
"You always are! I wish I had your brains."
"Yeah and I wish I had your cash flow!"
The two smiled and Charlie went back to work. Loren pulled the newspaper out from the pages of her spiral notebook and noticed the story on the front page. "Whoa," she turned to her left, "You're Olivia Benson, the detective! I read about you guys all the time in The Ledger!"
"Yes I am," she said, surprised, "Good to meet you." Olivia reached out her hand, and the girl shook it with a grin.
"I'm Loren. I'm a senior over at Hudson.. planning to go to law school next year at Columbia. I uh.. I admire you a lot.. you and everyone at SVU. You do amazing work. I've read about your close rates! Maybe someday I'll be your ADA."
"Maybe you will," Olivia smiled slightly and took a sip of her drink.
Loren could sense the awkwardness.. "Sorry.. I... sometimes I talk too much. I'll leave you alone." She began to leave.
"Wait," Olivia turned back towards her. "I'm sorry, its just been a long day. A long week actually. I'm not myself. Please, sit."
"Thanks," Loren smiled.
The two sat in silence for a moment. Olivia looked over at the young college student. "So, what makes you so interested in special victims unit? And more importantly, what is a college student like yourself doing in a bar alone on Christmas Eve?"
"I decided to stay in town for Christmas," she stated frankly.
"Parents far away?"
"Long Island.. but there's just.. not much to go home to. Anyway, you asked about my interest in SVU.. so do you want the long version or the short version?"
Olivia shrugged, "I'm in no hurry." She gazed at Loren sincerely, put down her glass and clasped her hands in front of her.
Loren placed her glass slowly onto the counter. "I left my mom's house on my 14th birthday.. two months after I.." She took a breath, unsure whether or not to continue, but the look in Olivia's eyes told her that it was okay to be frank. ".. after I was raped. My uncle spent a lot of time doing odd jobs at our house, but the minute I hit puberty his eyes left our leaky faucet and went straight to mine if you know what I mean."
Olivia's eyes widened. "Sorry," said Lor, "I uh.. tend to be pretty blunt about things."
"Its alright," Olivia replied, "go on."
"Well, I had some money saved up from birthdays and Christmas and stuff, so I applied for this boarding high school upstate. I also applied for a scholarship, and need based grants. Said nothing to mom about it. She didn't care what I did. So I used my savings to buy a train ticket upstate. Worked my ass off at the school- thank God all my expenses there were covered with my scholarships and grants. So anyway I got this job on campus as a math tutor. Used the money from that to buy clothes and food on weekends. Then, I got accepted to Hudson with a lot of financial aid- otherwise I never could have afforded it. And here I am. I.." she paused, her eyes began to well up. "I never told anyone why I left or what happened to me. My uncle was the mayor."
Olivia's jaw dropped. "The mayor... Edwin Silva?!"
Loren nodded. "No one ever would have believed me.. especially not my mother. She was a drunk.. always yelling. Never sober, never in the real world."
Olivia slowly placed her hand on Loren's. "My mother was also an alcoholic."
Loren looked at Olivia with awe. Before she knew it, Loren was hugging her. Olivia stared straight ahead as the young woman's arms wrapped around her neck. She empathized with the honest vulnerability of this girl who had gone through so much. Olivia could see a lot of herself in Loren.
--------------------------------------------------
Almost 2 months had passed. Though Olivia had slipped Loren her card before leaving the bar that night, she had not heard from her. Olivia had returned to the bar at least once a week since, with colleagues usually, but no sign of her. Charlie, the bartender, said he had not heard from her either. Apparently he had no idea about her life outside of her occasional visits in for a club soda. It was as if the girl had disappeared.
The squad room was quiet that morning. Olivia sat sipping a steaming hot coffee- her third- while finishing up paperwork from the case she had closed the day prior. Times like this were rare at SVU. It seemed as if when one case ended, another began moments later.
"Want to go grab a bite? Looks like a slow day." Amaro asked Olivia, grabbing his coat off the back of his chair.
"Why not," Olivia replied. She placed the coffee cup on her desk and stood.
Before she could take one step, her cell phone rang. "Benson."
The phone crackled and she heard heavy breathing. "I have the girl. She knows you. You have 72 hours, or she dies." More crackling and static, then a thud and a girl's scream. Silence.
Olivia's eyes widened as she slowly lowered the phone from her ear. "Amaro...we have a case."
"What is it?"
"I.." Olivia blinked, then turned to her partner, "I don't know."
"Who was on the phone?"
"A man. I didn't recognize the voice. But he said "'I have the girl. She knows you.'"
"So.. we don't know who the girl is either."
"No idea. It could be anyone."
Fin had overheard all this from across the room. "But the perp called your cell. Has to be someone close enough to you to have that number."
Olivia sat back down. "My cell number is on my business cards... those get circulated all over the place. I give one to every victim, sometimes their families too."
"Okay, so it could be any of them. Any female who still had your contact information," Amaro added.
Munch chimed in, "What if the perp knows you too? Maybe that was his reason to call."
Detective Nick Amaro walked over to the whiteboard. "So for starters all we have is a male perp, female victim... one or both of them connected to Liv somehow. So we're thinking past cases? Previous victims?"
Olivia tried to piece together the little information they had, "So it has to be someone who either had my card on her or in her home when the perp got to her."
"Yeah," Munch said, eating Chinese food, "but the perp had to know you were a detective.. maybe a family of a victim we've helped.. guy turns on girl.. not too uncommon."
"Or someone we tried to help," Olivia's eyes fell to her desk. "We only have 72 hours."
"72 hours?" Fin was perplexed.
"To find her.."
Amaro and Fin exchanged concerned glances. Fin walked towards the case archive.
"Alright," he practically threw a box at Munch, "we're going to go through all the cases Liv worked on in the past 2 years.. call everybody. Get whereabouts of the females. Whoever this girl is, we're going to find her. I'm going to get someone in here to trace that phone call."
---------------------------------
Four hours passed.
Every phone call the team had made was fruitless thus far. All female victims accounted for, and reported no problems or strange activity in their families. It was looking like a dead end.
Rollins hung up after another strike out. "Liv, anyone else who could have your card or your number? Maybe family, friends?"
Olivia thought for a moment. "I don't talk to any extended family.. so I doubt they'd have my cell."
"And friends?" she asked.
Olivia shook her head, "You're looking at them."
Rollins nodded knowingly and went back to his endless phone calls.
Moments later, Fin appeared with a man from computer crimes.
"Got anything on that phone call?" Munch asked.
"Let me guess," Olivia said, "disposable cell."
"True," said the man, "but I did get this. I was able to increase the volume of the background noise after cutting out your caller's voice. Listen to this:"
The detectives leaned in close to the computer and heard loud static. "Here it comes," he said. They leaned closer. Olivia held her breath. The sounds of breathing got louder, then a soft moan. "Don't," a girl's voice cried softly, "she didn't... she doesn't deserve this... I.." Then a slap. Whimpering. "Oh God.. why. Olivia." The voice trailed off and then there were sounds of soft crying. Then the thud, scream, and then it was over.
Olivia listened to all this wracking her brain for the possible identity of this poor girl. She turned quickly towards her partner. "I know that voice."
"Yeah?" Fin waited.
"I know I've heard that girl's voice. Did you hear how she said my name? Oh-livia."
"Yeah.. so?"
"Everyone else pronounces it Uh-livia. This girl.. I have spoken to her before.. I remember her. .. I just don't remember.. "
Olivia sat back at her desk, disappointed and frustrated with herself for not remembering.
Cragen walked out of his office holding a newspaper. The image on the front page caught Olivia's eye.. she could not look away. She leapt from her chair and grabbed the paper. "Where's the fire?" Cragen was surprised.
Olivia unfolded the paper to look at the cover story. "Former NYC Mayor Silva: facing charges for pedophilia." The case on Edwin Silva had closed two weeks prior by Brooklyn SVU. It was set to begin trial the next day. Silva had retired in Brooklyn and been convicted of molesting his maid's daughter after Mrs. Silva had caught him in the act.
Olivia speed read the story, her mind was racing. "The girl. I know who she is. Loren."
"Who's Loren? Silva was caught molesting Tiana Hernandez."
"No.. Silva is a repeat offender. Where is he now?! He has Loren. He is the one who called! He must be!"
Olivia's fellow detectives stared blankly at her, not knowing how to react. Olivia explained the whole thing.. how she had met Loren at the bar, how she looked so young but said she was 21.. how Silva had raped her when she was 13 and how she had left home and studied and worked and how was a student at Hudson hoping to be an attorney. The story made sense, "but its missing one thing," said Cragen. "Silva's set to start trial tomorrow.. why would he add fuel to the fire by committing another crime?"
"He knew he would be getting 25 to life.. why not? It makes sense. Maybe he saw that Loren had my card and thought she had tipped off the wife..? If she was his first victim, maybe he blames her."
Huang had been listening from the far corner of the room while sipping coffee calmly and quietly. "It does make sense. A lot actually. If he thought it was over for him anyway- ruined marriage, soiled reputation- then he may well have done something extreme."
Cragen looked to Olivia, "Bring him in."
-----------------------------------------------
Eight hours gone.
Olivia and Amarro sat on the couch in the pristine Silva residence. Olivia surveyed the area- looking at pictures on the walls, family photos, hoping to see something that would lead her to Loren.
Before she could snoop too much, Mrs. Silva walked into the room with a tea tray. "I don't know why you're looking for him here," Mrs. Silva said, "I haven't talked to the bastard since the day I caught him with that little girl."
"Mrs. Silva," Olivia began.
"Please, call me Noreen. I'm changing back to my maiden name anyway- McAllister."
"Is that Loren's last name?"
"Loren.. troubled young girl. Her mother, my sister, never knew what to do with her."
"Loren told me her mother was a drunk."
"Well," Noreen blushed slightly, "Sylvia did have her problems with the bottle now and then.. but I never saw any signs of abuse.."
"Being an alcoholic is all consuming. My mother was one. I know what its like."
Noreen placed her cup carefully on a coaster on the coffee table in front of her. "I'm sorry to hear that.. but Loren ran away from her mother when she was only 14. The girl had problems of her own that had nothing to do with my sister."
Olivia put her clasped hands on her knees and leaned closer to Noreen. "Noreen.. are you aware that Edwin raped Loren seven years ago?"
"Raped!" Noreen was shocked. "I had no idea! That was his niece. I always thought he was trying to help her- he'd talk about setting aside money for her college.. taking her to Paris with us.. he loved that little girl."
Olivia's gaze pierced into Noreen. "Or at least I thought he did.."
Olivia and Nick headed to the car.. "So no one knows where he is," Olivia stated.
"Only one who might is his lawyer, and we know she's not going to talk."
"No kidding," Olivia agreed, "So now where do we look?"
Nick's phone rang, "Amarro."
As soon as he hung up, Olivia spoke, "So?"
"That was Rollins. They found Mr. Silva."
--------------------------------------------
Back at the station, Munch and Fin grilled Silva.
Olivia and Amarro walked into the squad room and Olivia thrust her coat upon her chair without a pause. "Where'd you find him?"
Rollins walked towards her. "You'll never believe this. We got him at the Grand Hotel on 85th.. with a hooker. Couldn't have been older than 16."
"Wow.. get anything out of him yet?"
"He claims he hasn't seen Loren since her 14th birthday. We got him to admit to the rape, but without a complaining witness we won't have a case."
Olivia looked over at Cragen, who was observing Munch and Fin at work. "I want a crack at him."
Cragen could see that Olivia was not going to take no for an answer. "Go for it."
------------------------------------------
Three hours later, after close to 24 were lost, Silva had gotten them nowhere. He denied all allegations about Loren, and Huang was beginning to believe him.
Cragen pulled Olivia out of the grilling room. "Cut him loose," said the ADA.
"Why?! He is lying! He has to have Loren somewhere, and in 48 hours she's going to die."
"I don't think he does," Huang chimed in, "he has nothing left to lose at this point- he is facing other charges, he knows he's going to jail for the rest of his life. Sleeping with the prostitute at that hotel was his way of a last hurrah- I don't think he has Loren."
"Alright," Olivia conceded, "then who does?"
---------------------------------------
Any familial involvement had been eliminated from the case.
27 hours gone.
Amaro and Rollins had both caught about 2 hours of sleep in the crib, but Olivia was chugging coffee and pressing on. She would not rest until this case was closed.
She and Fin tracked down some friends of Loren's at Hudson, and were now searching her small dorm room. Olivia dug through desk drawers full of papers, pens, pencils, books, electronics. No organization whatsoever, and not even a hint of where she might be, or who might have her captive.
"What's going on here?" a girl walked in carrying a brown leather shoulder bag. Her blonde wavy hair hung to just below her shoulders, and her bright blue eyes stood out amid-st her pale complexion and a few light freckles around her nose.
"I'm Detective Benson this is Detective Tutuola- we're here investigating the disappearance of your roommate, Loren."
"Loren's gone?!"
Fin turned towards her from the closet, "She's your roommate. You didn't notice she was gone?"
"I never really see her.. she's never here on weekends or when I come back at night. She always comes back way late- seems like a hardcore partier but all she ever talks about is wanting to be a lawyer and help people. Weird. Now can I please have some privacy?!"
"Not until we find what we're looking for," Olivia stated flatly.
"So uh.. what ARE you looking for?"
Fin opened the closet door, "We'll know when we find it."
"Whatever." The girl tossed her bag onto the floor, kicked off her pink pumps, and sat at her desk.
Olivia looked over, "Do you have any idea where Loren was spending all her time?"
"I told you," she rolled her eyes, "Girl is a total skank. Always partying."
"How do you know she was partying?"
"We're in college.. where else does anyone go that late at night?"
"Fin look at this," Olivia gestured to a large posterboard tacked to the wall above Loren's desk.. newspaper clippings of cases SVU had closed.. articles about law- several mentioning former ADA Casey Novak, pictures of Paris, London, Rome, cut out words... "'Free,' 'compassion,' 'admire,' 'happiness', 'joy.' This doesn't seem to me like a girl who spends her nights out on the town. When I met her she seemed so innocent and sincere."
"Come on Liv," Fin replied, "she's in college. All kids party in college. Its natural."
Olivia shook her head and continued looking for something that might be of help.
Fin pushed all the hanging clothes to one side, and as he looked down, noticed a large blue tupperware container standing up on end, making it further concealed when clothes hung in front of it. He pulled it from the closet and opened the lid.. "Whoa," he said, picking up one item at a time.
"What is it?" Olivia walked towards him and knelt down.
The blonde turned sharply to see what was going on behind her, "Oh my God! I told you! A total skank."
Fin took out each item of barely-there cloting and pair of high heeled shoes and Olivia studied it with eyes wide. "This is not the wardrobe of a normal college girl..." she said, worried.
Fin replied, "Looks like Loren might be moonlighting as a hooker."
-------------------
That night, Munch, Fin and Amaro took to the streets, canvassing every well known prostitution area, showing Loren's picture to every working girl they came across.
After three hours, with 35 gone, the identity of Loren's pimp was discovered.
"Yeah her daddy is Mad Money Max. But you didn't hear that from me. Hangs out at the diner on 63rd and Broadway."
------------------------
Olivia walked into the diner with fire in her eyes. She had so only about 18 hours to find Loren, or... her mind would not let her think of that. She was going to find her. She had to.
"They call you Mad Money Max?" Fin approached the pimp, placing a firm hand on his shoulder.
Max puffed smoke from his cigar, and let out a small cough as he replied, "Depends on who's asking."
Olivia held up her badge, "Detective Olivia Benson."
Fin got straight to the point, "Where's Loren?!"
"Don't know any Loren."
Olivia immediately came closer and began putting Max in handcuffs, "Alright. Maxwell Atwood, you're under arrest for the kidnapping of Loren McAllister. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can & will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney- if you cannot afford one, one will be appointed to you."
-------------------------
Back at the station, Olivia walked into the interrogation room with confidence and anger in her eyes. She held the case file, and was not planning to leave the room until Max had told her EVERYTHING about Loren's whereabouts, and what he had done to her. Amaro entered following her, and stood against the wall as she sat in the chair across from their suspect.
"So.. Maxwell Atwood. I hear you're pretty big and bad on the streets. This one of your girls?" Olivia thrust the picture of Loren towards him.
"Yeah.. that's Loren. She's one of my finest.. Sexy little thing."
"Hey!" Olivia began to yell, but held back her rage.
"What, bitch?! She's legal."
Amaro approached rapidly, pulling Max's head back by grabbing a handful of his hair. "Listen, Max. We don't have time for your games. We just want to know where Loren is, and what you did to her."
"What're you talkin' about man?! I ain't done nothin' to her. I told you she brings in the dough. You think I'd do somethin' to change that?!"
"I think," Olivia spoke again, "you wanted her all to yourself. So you kidnapped her, raped her, tortured her.. anything to keep her in your grasp."
"That's bullshit!"
"Where were you yesterday morning around 11?"
"Asleep... Late nights, late mornings."
"Got anyone to confirm that?"
"Sure.." Max grinned, "got my girl Willow.. she was laying next to me."
Olivia sighed, "We're going to need Willow's phone number."
--------------------------------
When the two detectives walked out of the room, Rollins, who had been observing along with Cragen and Munch, decided to speak. "I don't think its him..."
"Neither do I. It doesn't make sense that he would give up the revenue Loren brings in on the streets.."
"Yeah," Cragen added, "but he's our only lead. Liv, what else have we got?"
"Well, we've cleared family.. we spoke to Loren's roommate and other acquaintances at Hudson, no one seems to have any ideas."
"No one knows about the double-life either..," said Amaro, "brilliant pre-law student by day.."
"..seedy hooker by night."
"It still doesn't make sense to me," Olivia leaned against the wall, "When I met Loren, she was just so sweet and sincere. Why would she be living a double life?"
"Maybe she didn't get as much scholarship money as she said," Rollins replied.
"Paying for college with street money," said Munch, "there's got to be an easier way."
Cragen noticed the time. Only 12 hours remained. "Is there anyone else who might know how to find this girl? Liv, think back through every step we've taken on this case.. anyone who interacted with her regularly is now a suspect."
"What did Loren do in her free time?" Rollins asked.
Olivia's eyes widened. "Charlie.."
Munch turned towards her, "Who's Charlie?"
"Charlie the bartender. He was there when I met Loren- he knew her. She called him by name. They were friendly. I've been back there since then, often.. He's been there every time but she hasn't."
"Maybe they had a falling out?" Amaro suggested.
"Or something more.." With that, Olivia was off. She grabbed her coat from her desk and headed towards the elevators.
Fin looked to the Captain, who nodded. "I'll get the car, Liv!" Fin pulled the keys from his pocket and walked quickly towards the back staircase of the precinct.
----------------------------------------
The squad car pulled up to the bar, and Olivia ran out, leaving Fin in the driver's seat. She anticipated that they would have to relocate quickly and did not want to waste any time.
Upon entrance, she noticed an unfamiliar face tending the bar.. "Where's Charlie?!" she demanded, leaning over the counter.
"Lady, have a seat. I'll be with you in a second."
"Hey pal," she held up her badge, "I'll ask one more time. Where the hell is Charlie?"
"He ain't working today. Probably at his apartment."
"I'm going to need his address... and a phone number."
As soon as she had gotten Charlie's information, Olivia raced out to the car and immediately called Amaro at the precinct. "Hey Nick, I'm texting you Charlie's cell number, I need you to call and trace it. We're on our way to his apartment, but I'm guessing he's going to be MIA."
"Got it," Amaro replied. "I'm ready with the tracing software. Calling the number now..." There was a short pause as the phone rang. Rollins was going to be acting as Charlie's caller. She heard him answer, short of breath, "Hello?"
Amanda spoke sweetly, "Hey. Is this Joshua's phone?"
"Uh no.. this is Charlie. And you are?"
Olivia's heartbeat quickened. Fin floored the gas pedal as the siren bellowed. Amaro typed furiously as the software tracked down the phone's location."
"Well that's close enough," Rollins sweet-talked him, "you looking for a good time too, Charlie?"
"I uh.."
"Oh come on baby, you know you want to say yes."
Amaro's eyes lit up, "Got it. He's in Jackson Heights. Sending you the address now."
"Got it, thanks." Olivia hung up the phone and saw the Queens address, "only 2 blocks from his apartment."
----------------------------------
The car skidded to a stop in front of the building. It was an old brownstone, now abandoned. Boards covered the windows, and a condemned notice was pasted on the front door. Blue and whites were already there, yielding guns, ready to back up Olivia and Fin. The partners exited the car, wearing bullet proof vests, and guns in hand. Fin turned to Olivia, "You ready?
Olivia nodded.. the two approached the door slowly and quietly. The blue & whites were instructed to stay back.
When they got to the door, Fin and Olivia looked at each other, and with one smooth kick, Olivia got the door wide open. They stealthily walked in the door, holding guns outstretched, checking around every corner for signs of life.
They parted ways, Olivia going right, through the kitchen, crawling with cockroaches, and Fin going left, through the living room with several rotten floor boards. Olivia got to the back of the house.. there was a locked door. She could hear something.. soft whimpering.. coming from the other side. She yelled, "Fin!"
He came running and immediately cut the lock open. The door swung open.
Loren.
She was sitting on the floor.. hands tied behind her back and a gag tied around her head, holding her mouth open. Her hair was matted.. her black halter top revealed cuts and bruises on her shoulders, and even more on her bare legs below her neon green skirt. Panties were on the floor, across the room. There was a dampness on her skirt, between her legs- she had been raped, again. Tears streamed down her face as she looked up at Olivia.
Fin untied her quickly, but Olivia was frozen.
Moments later, as Fin was helping Loren off the ground, a figure approached from the shadows behind Olivia. "Liv!" fin yelled, looking to the person behind her.
Olivia turned around instantly and saw Charlie standing directly behind her with a large kitchen knife. Olivia's gun was pointed directly at his chest.
"Put the knife down Charlie," Olivia coaxed him.
Loren clutched Fin's arm with terror in her eyes.
"No!" Charlie was impotent.
"Charlie listen to me. If you don't put down the knife, I'm going to pull the trigger. Now just put the knife down slowly, and we can all walk out of here alive." Charlie's hand shook.. he was caught. Suddenly, his knife wielding arm was being jerked behind him. Amaro placed the perp in handcuffs. Olivia looked to her new partner, "Get him out of here."
Amaro grabbed the knife from Charlie's hands, dropped it on the floor in front of him, and led the perp outside, "Charles Sutton, you're under arrest for the rape, assault and kidnapping of Loren McAllister. You have the right to remain silent..."
Olivia began to leave, but Loren's voice stopped her. "Olivia.. I'm sorry." The detective stopped for a moment, but never turned back, and continued towards the front door.
Loren's tears overtook her, she sobbed, resting her head on Fin's chest. "Let's go," he said softly.
--------------------------------------
Loren laid in her hospital bed, awake, but motionless. Her phone rang.
She sighed when she saw the caller ID, "Hey Max."
"Girl why the police all over me?! They were looking for you- where you at?!"
"I uh.. in the hospital now."
"STD?!"
"No!.. I got into a bad situation with this guy and.. whatever. I'm fine."
"When you coming back to work then?"
"I don't think I can, Max."
"What?!"
"I can't.. I'm not coming back. I'm going to find a real job."
"Yeah right.. you'll never make the dough you get wit' Mad Money!"
"I don't care Max. We're done." Loren hung up the phone and tossed it onto the chair beside her bed. She sighed, and continued staring out the window.
Loren closed her eyes, but just as she was falling asleep, there was a soft knock on the door. Loren rolled over to face the door. She rubbed her eyes, "Olivia."
"How you feeling?"
"Okay I guess. Thanks for saving me. I know I.."
"I'm just here to take your statement," Olivia said, getting out her pad & pencil, "Can you tell me what happened?"
Loren looked at the ceiling. "I was.. working.. Friday night. It was getting really late. I was going to do one more and then call it a night. I was walking down the street when suddenly someone grabbed me.. He covered my mouth and told me not to scream. He had a knife to my throat. He made me drink something... I must have blacked out because the next thing I remember is being in that room with him. He was touching me all over... all of a sudden he pulled my underwear off and hiked up my skirt. He raped me. I was screaming and crying and yelling for him to stop." She had been holding back tears, which finally overtook her. She wept. "He.. he was my friend! I.. I didn't want it to be ruined if he found out what I did.. I had to keep it a secret. But this is all my fault, I..."
"Loren, this is not your fault. You are the victim here," Olivia said softly. "Now, go on."
"After he raped me, he started hitting me.. with anything that was nearby; boards, my own shoes.. that's when he found out I had your business card. I kept it.. ever since you gave it to me. It fell out of my purse and he saw it. Thought it would be funny to send you on a wild goose chase I guess.. I begged him not to, the whole time.. that's when he pushed me back and slammed my head against the floor and I screamed ... And then he just left. I don't know how long he was gone. I didn't know if he was coming back at all, but he took my phone, and I didn't know... I thought maybe he was still in the house, that he could kill me if I tried to leave... So I waited. I was finally getting up the courage to try and escape when he came back. I was trying to get out the window when he came in. He pulled me back and shoved me onto the ground. Raped me again and hit me across the face for trying to escape. He left the room, locked the door... that's when I heard you guys get there."
---------------------------------------
Back at the precinct, Fin and Rollins had Charlie in an interrogation room- his state appointed attorney sat beside him. Alex Cabot walked in the door, holding her briefcase, "I've got arraignment scheduled for 9am tomorrow. Our case is rock solid, you're going down Charlie."
"We want a deal!" the lawyer pleaded.
"The only thing close to a deal you'll get is the CHANCE of parole after serving the sentence for each charge consecutively- plead guilty. Sign a confession." She shoved paper and pen towards him.
Charlie looked towards the attorney, who nodded. They both knew it was the best they would get.
Charlie looked down, and began to speak, "Loren used to come to the bar all the time.. she'd sit there and study, drink her club soda. Occasionally she'd order fries or something. I liked her- she was so friendly, really cute.. funny. I asked her out one day. She said no; said she didn't have time to date because of school and stuff. I was upset, but I got it. Couple weeks later I was out with some friends, we went to a club.. stopped at a light and I noticed some girls- hookers- on the sidewalk. And there she was. Loren. Walking the streets, sleeping with any guy who walked her way. And I'm sitting there like a chump. I actually liked Loren- I wanted to be with her. And she tossed me aside so she'd have more time to screw these douche-bags on the street. I was pissed. Wanted to teach her a lesson..."
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It had been three days since Olivia took Loren's statement at the hospital. She was schedule to be released that night. No one from the precinct had talked to her since, so Rollins decided to stop by and see how she was feeling- and to let her know that Charlie would never hurt her or anyone else, ever again.
She walked into Loren's hospital room holding a chocolate bar and a get well card, the kind that sings when you open it.
The room was empty, a nurse walked in, with new linens to put on the bed.
"Where's Loren?" Rollins asked.
"Girl that was in here earlier- she checked herself out a few hours ago, early this morning! We wanted to hold her for until the evening for good measure, but she insisted. We couldn't make her stay."
"Any idea where she went?"
"She didn't say."
"Well, did anyone come get her?"
"She mentioned having to meet somebody.. Max? Thought maybe he was her boyfriend.."
"Thanks.." Rollins walked out the door, and immediately called Olivia.
"Benson," Olivia answered the phone.
"Hey Liv, I just went by to see Loren at the hospital."
"Yeah?"
"But she's not there. Checked herself out this morning."
"What?! Is she okay?"
"I hope so.. the nurse said she was going to see Max."
"Oh God," Olivia sighed, sitting at her desk.
"I know her case is closed now, so technically we're done here but.."
Olivia cut her off, "I'll find her."
"Thanks. I know that girl adores you."
Olivia smiled slightly, but was unsure how to feel, "Thanks."
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A few hours later, Olivia went to see Max. As she walked into the smokey hotel bar, he spotted her.
"Why Detective, didn't think you'd be back to see me! What can I do for you?"
"I'm looking for Loren," she said, standing above him.
He smoked a cigar, "Yeah.. she came to see me this morning. Gave me my cut."
"Where is she now?"
"Don't know.. we're done."
"What do you mean?"
"She broke off our business arrangement. Thinks she's going to find better work.. a 'real job'.."
Olivia's phone vibrated. It was a text from Fin, "Talked to the roommate.. no leads on where Loren is." Olivia needed to see her, "Do you have ANY idea where she would have gone?"
"Said she was going to think things over..." he said, putting out his cigar.
By the end of the day, there had been no sign of her. The precinct was quiet, and Craged exited his office. "Everybody go home, get some rest."
Amaro grabbed his coat, "Thanks Captain."
They all began to leave, slowly, when Rollins stopped Olivia. "Any word on Loren?"
"None.." Olivia was worried.
"I'm sure she'll turn up. Girl seems to have a good head on her shoulders."
Olivia nodded, "I hope so."
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Instead of going straight home, Olivia decided to take a walk through Central Park. It was chilly, but not terribly cold, and the sunset was breathtaking in its haze of pinks and oranges and blues, all intermingled, bringing forth the night sky.
She held her Starbucks latte, sipping it slowly, strolling down the path and taking in the air. Olivia rarely got peaceful time alone like this, so she was breathing in every moment.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a figure sitting atop some large boulders in the distance.. She turned to face the person. The sun was almost entirely set, but the little bit of light still illuminating from it hit the figure's face as they turned to the side, grabbing the beverage from beside them. She knew that face. She approached, silently, until she was standing mere feet from the person.
"Nice night."
The person looked up, "Olivia!"
"Why'd you leave the hospital Loren?"
"I was fine.. and I needed to think."
"I heard you went to see Max," Olivia sat down beside her.
"Yeah. Gave him his money. Then deleted his number from my phone. I'm done with that life."
"I'm glad to hear that," Olivia sipped her latte.
"So what're you doing out here?"
Loren was wearing a light brown pea coat, and had a baby pink shaggy scarf wrapped around her neck. Her jeans were ripped, and Converse tennis shoes looked like they'd seen better days. She sipped her iced mocha. "I love it out here.. I always come out here to clear my head. Its the perfect view."
Loren gazed down upon the ice skating rink, and the bare trees. Above that, there was a skyline of buildings- their lights glittering out the windows.
"Its lovely," Olivia agreed.
They sat for a moment in silence. Loren spoke. "Olivia... I'm really sorry about everything. I know I made you think I was think awesome person when we met, and.. I really do want to be a lawyer. And I really look up to you. I always read these articles and its like.. you are the person who I want to be. But instead, I was a stupid whore. And now.. I don't know who I am."
Olivia turned to face Loren, "Loren, who do you think I am?"
Loren was unsure what to say at first. She thought... then shook her head. "Perfect. You catch the bad guys. You are a power house, you're kind, sincere.. and you saved my life. I just don't feel..."
"Worthy?" Olivia finished her sentence.
Loren looked at her and nodded. "I don't always feel worthy either. But it doesn't matter what happens to us, its how we respond to those things that matters."
Silence. Loren looked into the sunset.
"Loren, you were raped. Multiple times. You were betrayed by men in your life, men you trusted. You left home before most kids even know how to wash their own clothes! You're a survivor, and its a miracle you're still alive!" She paused. "You know. I can't imagine going through what you've gone through," Loren looked at her.
"I've been assaulted, but I've never been raped. And I've been slashed with a perp's knife, but never to the point where I was in the hospital for more than a night. Now all you have to do is decide what to do from here on out."
Tears began to fall from Loren's eyes. "I saw so much on the streets Olivia.. Awful things. I can't believe.."
Olivia stopped her, "That life is over for you now. You are more than that."
"How come you didn't talk to me after you guys found me?"
Olivia looked down at her cup.. "I guess I didn't know what to say. Loren, I've been at SVU for a long time. I guess.. when I found out you were a working girl, I was... disappointed and"
"I know," Loren said, "I misrepresented myself to you.. but no one knew. And nothing I told you was a lie."
Olivia nodded. "I know. And listen, if you ever need anything- anything at all," Olivia grabbed Loren's phone which was visible in her small purse, "I want you to call me," she said, entering her number into the phone.
"Thanks Olivia. I'm glad you found me."
Olivia grinned, "Me too."
The sky's pink and orange had faded into a purple, then the sun was gone and the crescent moon lit the sky. Silence.
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