Love at the Outback
The murder...
"16, white female. Looks like death by strangulation, stomach was sliced open, M.E. says post mortum. Panties were stuffed in her mouth. The labs gonna run a rape kit and get it to us tomorrow morning..."she began, finally looking up at him. "Hey El..." he looked back at her. "Sorry..." she said simply.
"About what?" he asked. She smiled.
"The interruption" he smirked.
"Don't sweat it." He took a breath as he kneeled down, looking closer at the body that lay lifeless before them, bruised and battered. What kind of beef could anyone have with a 16 year old girl bad enough to kill her... he thought as he took a closer look. Suddenly he looked at her face and his eyes widened as he looked past the swollen black and blue eyes. "Liv..."he called out, looking back at her. "It's Stacy..." Her eyes became just as wide as her partners when she recognized the victim for the first time since she'd gotten there.
"Jesus..."she whispered. He stood up and looked around, doing a double take as he noticed her tiny purse laying a few feet away.
"Found her purse" he said walking towards it, extracting a glove from his coat pocket, slipping it on as he carefully picked it up. "Wallets still in here, credit cards, cash, drivers liscense...all here." he said standing back up.
"So why kill the girl and not take anything?" she asked looking back down at the body.
"This was personal. Somebody she knew wanted her dead." he said not being able to take his eyes off of Stacy. The same girl who was always so bright and cheerful. Full of life, even. Always offering a warm smiled and a kind welcome. He just couldn't imagine who would want to do this to her. She was just a kid, what could anyone possibly have against her?
SVU Squad Room
Tuesday, 11:00 PM
"Who the hell would want to murder a 16 year old hostess from the Outback Steakhouse is what I want to know." Munch said as he hung up the phone. He sighed before continuing. "I just got off the phone with her parents. They said she was at a part with a bunch of her friends from work. They're on their way down here. Elliot nodded.
"Okay so we find out who's party it was and question everyone who was there."
"And we've got to question who works or has worked at the Outback Steakhouse since Stacy's been there." Fin chimed.
"We'll get employee records first thing in the morning." Elliot replied before turning to Olivia. "What way to be welcomed back" She could speak, she just stood there shaking her head.
SVU Squad Room
Wednesday, 8:30 AM
The phone rang twice before she picked up, dejavu striking Elliot as he heard her voice.
"Hello?" He smiled.
"Hey" he said softly.
"Hey...what happened last night? I thought you coming back." she asked.
"I know. I was. I'm sorry. Listen, I need you to come down to the station." She sat straight up in bed.
"Are you okay?" she asked and he smiled again.
"Yeah, baby, I'm okay, I just need you to come down for a second."
"Okay. I'm on my way" she said as she got up and pulled a pair of ripped up jeans on and a crimson shirt.
"Okay. I'll see you when you get here." he said standing up from his desk.
"Kay. bye" she said hanging up and pulling the shirt down over her head. She grabbed her Detroit Lions baseball cap and her keys and headed out to the Police Station, SVU division. It was getting colder by the day but still not cold enough to where a coat, at least not during the day. She inhaled the smell of fresh pretzels being made on the corner of Park Ave as she descended the stairs into the subway station. The ride wasn't very long. She took it down to Christopher Street and walked the three blocks past Bleecker street to 10th street. Walking into the large building, she was pointed in the direction of the Special Victims Unit. She'd never been in this part of the precinct before and she shuddered at the memories of the last time she'd been in a police station. Fin looked at her as she walked through the double doors, obviously looking for someone in particular.
"Can I help you?" he asked softly but still startling her a bit.
"I'm looking for Detective Stabler?" she asked gently.
"He's in a meeting with the captain but he should be right out. You can wait right here." he said offering her the chair next to Elliots desk. She sat and smiled at Fin.
"Thank you." he nodded and went back to review to employee records, making a list for he and Munch and then one for Elliot and Olivia. They'd cover more ground faster if they split up.
"M.E. says T.O.D. was between 6 and 10" Olivia said.
"Alright start questioning all Outback employees and find out which ones were at that party last night. Someone had to have seen Stacy leave." They both nodded and walked out of the office. She caught his eye almost imediatley and he couldn't help but smile to himself as he walked towards her. She finally looked up and noticed him walking over to where she was sitting, a chill running down her spine as he got closer to her.
"Hey" she standing up.
"Hi" he said rubbing her shoulders and winking at her.
"So what am I doing here?" she asked looking up at him.
"Riley?" Liv said softly. "Do you remember me? I'm Detective Benson." Riley smiled and softly nodded.
"Of course, I remember you. How was your vacation?" she asked. It took her a second to understand that Elliot had obviously told her that she'd gone on a vacation.
"It was good." she began smiling. "Riley, we need to ask you a few question. Let's go somewhere where we can talk okay?" Riley nodded. they went into one of the interrogation rooms and she sat down on one of the chairs, looking up at Elliot. She felt a tingle between her legs as she watched him move across the room. The lighting giving him a wolf like presence."Riley, do you know Stacy Braddick?" Olivia began.
"Yeah, we work at the Outback Steakhouse together. She's a hostess. Olivia nodded and Elliot took his turn suddenly going into cop-mode.
"Do you know who's party she was going to last night?" Riley nodded.
"Ricky Chin. He's another server. He usually throws a party about once or twice a month." she said. Elliot nodded.
"Where does Ricky live?"
"Columbus and 69th" Elliots eyes widened.
"Bit pricey on a servers salary, don't you think?"
"Well, he's also a key employee and he started bartending a couple of months ago. Besides, his girlfriend lives with him. Her parents pay for all her sutff."She said matter of factly. Elliot nodded again.
"Riley, where were you last night between 6:00pm and 10:00pm?" Olivia asked. Riley and Elliot smiled to themselves. Liv rolled her eyes.
"I was on a date." she said simply.
"With who?" Elliot shot her a questioned look.
"Liv?"
"You know I have to ask" she said not looking at him. "Who were you with last night, Riley?"
"Detective Stabler" she replied. He felt a tug in his lower regions and swallowed casually as he shifted a little in his seat. Liv nodded.
"Alright, we'll be in touch. Call us if you think of anything." she said standing slowly.
"Wait a minute..." Riley exclaimed. She looked confused. "You still haven't told me why I'm here." Elliot glanced at Olivia and she nodded knowingly. "Elliot, what's going on?" she asked again. He spoke softly.
"Riley...Stacy was attacked last night." he paused "She didn't make it." She was frozen.
"What?" she whispered. Tears forming in her eyes.
"We found her in Central Park..."
"How?" she asked, the tears threatening to fall down her cheeks.
"She was strangled to death" he said as softly as he could.
"Oh my God" she said more to herself.
"I promise, we're going to find whoever did this." He said reaching out for her hand and slowly linking his fingers with hers. She looked up at him, the threatening tears now cascading down her cheeks as she nodded. There was a knock at the door and Fin poked his head in.
"Captain needs us." he said simply. Olivia nodded.
"Alright, we'll be right there." Fin nodded in acknowledgement and closed the door once more.
"Come on, I'll take you home" Elliot said standing slowly.
"No, it's okay. I'd kind of like to be alone." she said softly. He nodded.
"Alright. I'll stop by and check on you a little later" She smiled sadly at him and he smiled back, leaning down and kissing her softly and briefly on the lips. They walked out of the interrogation room and he watched her leave as he walked towards Cragens office for the second time that morning.
"Alright, change in plans. Munch and Fin go down to the Outback and question the employees. Find out who was at that party, how long Stacy was there and who she left with. Benson, Stabler go talk to Stacy's parents, get any information you can on what happened before the party. Find out if she had any enemies."