title: memory - chapter nine
author: duck
rating: pg-13
author's note: i wanted to have this done a week ago before my vacation, but alas! here it is, how many months after i started it? incredible mad props to kukrae for not killing me over this.
disclaimer: this is the part wherein i say they're 'not mine,' which they aren't. i also wanted to say 'PLATYPUS!!' anyone who can work in that word to a disclaimer and have it make sense is the coolest. obviously, i'm not cool like that.
- Interrogation Room -
- 12:45pm -
Olivia sat as calmly as she could, struggling to keep her stare from becoming a glare. The woman across the table looked more like a scared girl, afraid of the punishment she was sure was coming. If she hadn't looked downright terrified, Olivia would have had a harder time controlling her anger.
She'd felt so strange lately; like nothing in her life quite fit anymore. Her rapidly vacillating moods were confusing her, and from Elliot's behavior she surmised they were throwing him for a loop too. She hadn't actually taken his suggestion of counseling seriously, but maybe she should reconsider. Then again, she was a mature adult trained in how to deal with rape; she didn't need a therapist talking down to her about how she should handle her problems. If she really felt bad about something she just needed to talk to Elliot about it. He always made her feel better.
A slight shift in the table brought her out of her thoughts as Marna settled her hands against it. She caught Olivia's eyes and said, "What are we going to do until my lawyer gets here?"
"I'm not supposed to talk to you," Olivia said, keeping her voice as bland as possible. She masked a glance at the one-way mirror with a stretching motion. She knew Elliot was behind it, perhaps with Cragen too. The three of them had talked before Olivia entered the interrogation room. There was still the possibility that Farley had used his girlfriend's SUV, but from Marna's behavior, Olivia was nearly certain it had been her.
"If you're not supposed to talk to me then what are you doing in here?" Her nerves lent and angry edge to her words, but she seemed a bit stronger, a bit more defiant. Olivia just shrugged; she knew how to deal with irritated suspects.
"I'm just here to keep an eye on you. And in case you decide to waive your rights and want to talk."
"I don't need anyone to 'keep an eye' on me," Marna snorted derisively.
Olivia just pressed her lips together in an unfriendly smile. She wasn't going to screw this up, no matter how many of her buttons Marna tried to push.
"What happens if you talk to me?"
Olivia didn't say a word.
"What would you do if I just started screaming? I bet if I started to insult you you'd talk. Would it be admissible in court if I threatened to have your parents killed?"
She resisted the urge to snicker at that and just smiled benignly. Marna obviously mistook it for a worried grimace because she kept at it.
"Are you married? I could probably have your husband and children murdered too. This is all hypothetically speaking of course. I'd never actually do any of this. Though I suppose threatening to off your partner too would actually do you a favor."
Olivia just rested her chin on her hand and didn't stop staring. Marna lowered her head and gave her a conspiratorial grin. "Seb told me about you and him, you know. I'm sorry you're stuck with such an idiot, truly I am," she half-whispered, though she looked anything but. "Daddy knows some people in the police department if you're interested. I'm sure he could get you a different position."
Olivia bit back the urge to ask if that was hypothetically speaking too. Being a smartass could only lead to problems. Still, she almost felt like she was wasting her time just sitting here. She wished Marna's lawyer would hurry up and get there to demand time alone with his or her client. It would give her an excuse to go out and compare notes with Elliot.
"When's my lawyer getting here?"
Olivia just shrugged again. Not soon enough, she thought.
It was another ten minutes in fact before he showed up. Olivia felt herself freeze up as he strode through the door with a demanding sort of confidence. It was the defense lawyer from her and Elliot's rape case.
"This interview is over, Detective Benson," he said, a mild sneer playing around his words. She gave him equal measure back.
"How'd you land such an expensive client?" she asked.
"Your only experience with me," he said, waiving his hand in the air, "was pro bono work. The average tax bracket of my clients is much higher, I assure you."
Olivia stared at him in open-mouthed shock. "You represented scum like that for free?"
"Please," he said, fake dismay oozing from every inch of his face, "it was an interesting opportunity to work with case law." His features twisted grimly. "Besides, it made for some fun community service."
She ignored his last comment and stood to move to the door. "Well unless this paying client starts talking, she's going down for attempted murder."
"Doubtful," he laughed. "It's clear her boyfriend borrowed her car in an attempt to get rid of a woman accusing him of rape."
Through their entire exchange, Marna had sat quietly, wide eyes swinging back and forth as each of them spoke. But at Dayton's suggestion of Farley's guilt, she leaped to her feet, protesting violently. "No! No! It wasn't Sebastian!"
"Marna, just sit down and don't say a word. I'll have you out of here soon enough."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Olivia said, resting her hand on the doorknob. "We found dried blood on the grille of your Explorer. All we have to do is match it to the vic and we can nail your ass to the wall." She eyed Marna closely. "And don't expect any help from your boyfriend. We called him earlier; seems his story's changed."
The fearful look on her face prompted an explanation. "He only recalls being with you until four o'clock. We pulled his phone records to confirm his new story. He was on the phone with his parents at the time you told us you were having make-up sex."
"That's uncalled for," the lawyer interjected coolly.
Olivia twisted the doorknob savagely. "You better figure out her story because she's about to get passed off to Homicide, and those ADAs aren't nearly as nice as ours about making deals."
She threw the door open and stepped through, slamming it shut behind her. She wasn't too surprised to find Alex and Cragen waiting next to Elliot, but she fixed her gaze on her partner alone.
"What's he doing here?" Her derogatory emphasis on the pronoun left no doubt as to whom she was referring. Elliot's careless shrug was only skin-deep, and he couldn't hide the pain in his eyes from her. In an instant she'd shoved aside her hurt surprise at seeing the man who'd defended their rapist. She felt a momentary wave of guilt for not dealing with her emotions; it was making her a bitch to deal with, she knew. She promised herself she'd get as much therapy after this case as Elliot wanted her to get. It rang slightly hollow, even in her mind, but it assuaged the guilt. For now.
"Let's just forget about him," she said. She turned and gave Alex a small smile. "We're passing this off anyway, right?"
Alex's blond hair bobbed as she dipped her head. "Much as I'd love the personal satisfaction of convicting her myself, this is Homicide's domain. They'll finish up the investigation and then their ADA can handle it."
"You'll try Farley, though?" Elliot asked.
"He may be out on bail, but I've got the city's most sympathetic victim. My only problem will be prepping her for trial."
"If anyone can do it, you can, Alex," Cragen offered.
"The fact that the rest of the evidence is nearly ironclad doesn't hurt," Alex said with a self-deprecating smile. She raised her eyebrows in Olivia's direction and she realized Elliot had moved to lean against the wall next to her. "I'll call you two about your testimony soon?"
Olivia glanced at Elliot, wondering if he'd deliberately moved closer or if he'd just gravitated to her unconsciously. Deciding it didn't really matter, she turned back to Alex and nodded. "And tell whoever gets her case we'll be expecting a call from them too."
"I'm sure they wouldn't accept it any other way."
"I want you two to take her down to processing," Cragen said, giving them an impenetrable look. "They'll get her to the right people in Homicide." He looked at Alex and gestured to the door. She nodded a good-bye before falling into step behind him.
Olivia watched them go for a moment before turning back to her partner. "You don't want to give this case up, do you?" he asked her.
She smiled, well aware of his new found sensitivity to her. "I suppose not, but I don't mind it nearly as much as I was expecting to. Maybe I'm just tired of dealing with the callous cruelty all these kids seem to display towards one another."
"In any case," Elliot said as he pushed away from the wall, "they're not really our problem any more."
"Still," she said quietly, wondering if now was the right time to discuss his suggestion of therapy, which had been hovering in the back of her mind. If she broached the subject now while she had the willpower, she couldn't back off from it and avoid it like she knew she would. "Still, I think I have some..." she trailed off, half-heartedly stabbing the air with her hand.
"Problems?" Elliot filled in helpfully.
"Big ones. Every time I should have a valid emotional reaction I keep it back, only to explode later at something I shouldn't."
"I've already talked to Cragen about exercising our counseling options," Elliot said with a wary grin. She felt the familiar surge of irritation, but from his expression she knew he'd expected it. She restrained her impulses, squared her shoulders, and smiled.
"Well, let's get her down to processing so we can discuss it more and move on to our new cases. Didn't we get assigned that molestation case that came in earlier?" She moved to the door, laughing inwardly as he trailed closely behind her, clearly not expecting it to be that easy.
The instant she stepped into the room, Marna jumped to her feet and began to plead. "Please, I can't go to jail! I only did it because she was trying to ruin my life. You can't arrest me!"
Olivia just closed her ears to Marna's cries and led her out of the room.
[end]
author: duck
rating: pg-13
author's note: i wanted to have this done a week ago before my vacation, but alas! here it is, how many months after i started it? incredible mad props to kukrae for not killing me over this.
disclaimer: this is the part wherein i say they're 'not mine,' which they aren't. i also wanted to say 'PLATYPUS!!' anyone who can work in that word to a disclaimer and have it make sense is the coolest. obviously, i'm not cool like that.
- Interrogation Room -
- 12:45pm -
Olivia sat as calmly as she could, struggling to keep her stare from becoming a glare. The woman across the table looked more like a scared girl, afraid of the punishment she was sure was coming. If she hadn't looked downright terrified, Olivia would have had a harder time controlling her anger.
She'd felt so strange lately; like nothing in her life quite fit anymore. Her rapidly vacillating moods were confusing her, and from Elliot's behavior she surmised they were throwing him for a loop too. She hadn't actually taken his suggestion of counseling seriously, but maybe she should reconsider. Then again, she was a mature adult trained in how to deal with rape; she didn't need a therapist talking down to her about how she should handle her problems. If she really felt bad about something she just needed to talk to Elliot about it. He always made her feel better.
A slight shift in the table brought her out of her thoughts as Marna settled her hands against it. She caught Olivia's eyes and said, "What are we going to do until my lawyer gets here?"
"I'm not supposed to talk to you," Olivia said, keeping her voice as bland as possible. She masked a glance at the one-way mirror with a stretching motion. She knew Elliot was behind it, perhaps with Cragen too. The three of them had talked before Olivia entered the interrogation room. There was still the possibility that Farley had used his girlfriend's SUV, but from Marna's behavior, Olivia was nearly certain it had been her.
"If you're not supposed to talk to me then what are you doing in here?" Her nerves lent and angry edge to her words, but she seemed a bit stronger, a bit more defiant. Olivia just shrugged; she knew how to deal with irritated suspects.
"I'm just here to keep an eye on you. And in case you decide to waive your rights and want to talk."
"I don't need anyone to 'keep an eye' on me," Marna snorted derisively.
Olivia just pressed her lips together in an unfriendly smile. She wasn't going to screw this up, no matter how many of her buttons Marna tried to push.
"What happens if you talk to me?"
Olivia didn't say a word.
"What would you do if I just started screaming? I bet if I started to insult you you'd talk. Would it be admissible in court if I threatened to have your parents killed?"
She resisted the urge to snicker at that and just smiled benignly. Marna obviously mistook it for a worried grimace because she kept at it.
"Are you married? I could probably have your husband and children murdered too. This is all hypothetically speaking of course. I'd never actually do any of this. Though I suppose threatening to off your partner too would actually do you a favor."
Olivia just rested her chin on her hand and didn't stop staring. Marna lowered her head and gave her a conspiratorial grin. "Seb told me about you and him, you know. I'm sorry you're stuck with such an idiot, truly I am," she half-whispered, though she looked anything but. "Daddy knows some people in the police department if you're interested. I'm sure he could get you a different position."
Olivia bit back the urge to ask if that was hypothetically speaking too. Being a smartass could only lead to problems. Still, she almost felt like she was wasting her time just sitting here. She wished Marna's lawyer would hurry up and get there to demand time alone with his or her client. It would give her an excuse to go out and compare notes with Elliot.
"When's my lawyer getting here?"
Olivia just shrugged again. Not soon enough, she thought.
It was another ten minutes in fact before he showed up. Olivia felt herself freeze up as he strode through the door with a demanding sort of confidence. It was the defense lawyer from her and Elliot's rape case.
"This interview is over, Detective Benson," he said, a mild sneer playing around his words. She gave him equal measure back.
"How'd you land such an expensive client?" she asked.
"Your only experience with me," he said, waiving his hand in the air, "was pro bono work. The average tax bracket of my clients is much higher, I assure you."
Olivia stared at him in open-mouthed shock. "You represented scum like that for free?"
"Please," he said, fake dismay oozing from every inch of his face, "it was an interesting opportunity to work with case law." His features twisted grimly. "Besides, it made for some fun community service."
She ignored his last comment and stood to move to the door. "Well unless this paying client starts talking, she's going down for attempted murder."
"Doubtful," he laughed. "It's clear her boyfriend borrowed her car in an attempt to get rid of a woman accusing him of rape."
Through their entire exchange, Marna had sat quietly, wide eyes swinging back and forth as each of them spoke. But at Dayton's suggestion of Farley's guilt, she leaped to her feet, protesting violently. "No! No! It wasn't Sebastian!"
"Marna, just sit down and don't say a word. I'll have you out of here soon enough."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Olivia said, resting her hand on the doorknob. "We found dried blood on the grille of your Explorer. All we have to do is match it to the vic and we can nail your ass to the wall." She eyed Marna closely. "And don't expect any help from your boyfriend. We called him earlier; seems his story's changed."
The fearful look on her face prompted an explanation. "He only recalls being with you until four o'clock. We pulled his phone records to confirm his new story. He was on the phone with his parents at the time you told us you were having make-up sex."
"That's uncalled for," the lawyer interjected coolly.
Olivia twisted the doorknob savagely. "You better figure out her story because she's about to get passed off to Homicide, and those ADAs aren't nearly as nice as ours about making deals."
She threw the door open and stepped through, slamming it shut behind her. She wasn't too surprised to find Alex and Cragen waiting next to Elliot, but she fixed her gaze on her partner alone.
"What's he doing here?" Her derogatory emphasis on the pronoun left no doubt as to whom she was referring. Elliot's careless shrug was only skin-deep, and he couldn't hide the pain in his eyes from her. In an instant she'd shoved aside her hurt surprise at seeing the man who'd defended their rapist. She felt a momentary wave of guilt for not dealing with her emotions; it was making her a bitch to deal with, she knew. She promised herself she'd get as much therapy after this case as Elliot wanted her to get. It rang slightly hollow, even in her mind, but it assuaged the guilt. For now.
"Let's just forget about him," she said. She turned and gave Alex a small smile. "We're passing this off anyway, right?"
Alex's blond hair bobbed as she dipped her head. "Much as I'd love the personal satisfaction of convicting her myself, this is Homicide's domain. They'll finish up the investigation and then their ADA can handle it."
"You'll try Farley, though?" Elliot asked.
"He may be out on bail, but I've got the city's most sympathetic victim. My only problem will be prepping her for trial."
"If anyone can do it, you can, Alex," Cragen offered.
"The fact that the rest of the evidence is nearly ironclad doesn't hurt," Alex said with a self-deprecating smile. She raised her eyebrows in Olivia's direction and she realized Elliot had moved to lean against the wall next to her. "I'll call you two about your testimony soon?"
Olivia glanced at Elliot, wondering if he'd deliberately moved closer or if he'd just gravitated to her unconsciously. Deciding it didn't really matter, she turned back to Alex and nodded. "And tell whoever gets her case we'll be expecting a call from them too."
"I'm sure they wouldn't accept it any other way."
"I want you two to take her down to processing," Cragen said, giving them an impenetrable look. "They'll get her to the right people in Homicide." He looked at Alex and gestured to the door. She nodded a good-bye before falling into step behind him.
Olivia watched them go for a moment before turning back to her partner. "You don't want to give this case up, do you?" he asked her.
She smiled, well aware of his new found sensitivity to her. "I suppose not, but I don't mind it nearly as much as I was expecting to. Maybe I'm just tired of dealing with the callous cruelty all these kids seem to display towards one another."
"In any case," Elliot said as he pushed away from the wall, "they're not really our problem any more."
"Still," she said quietly, wondering if now was the right time to discuss his suggestion of therapy, which had been hovering in the back of her mind. If she broached the subject now while she had the willpower, she couldn't back off from it and avoid it like she knew she would. "Still, I think I have some..." she trailed off, half-heartedly stabbing the air with her hand.
"Problems?" Elliot filled in helpfully.
"Big ones. Every time I should have a valid emotional reaction I keep it back, only to explode later at something I shouldn't."
"I've already talked to Cragen about exercising our counseling options," Elliot said with a wary grin. She felt the familiar surge of irritation, but from his expression she knew he'd expected it. She restrained her impulses, squared her shoulders, and smiled.
"Well, let's get her down to processing so we can discuss it more and move on to our new cases. Didn't we get assigned that molestation case that came in earlier?" She moved to the door, laughing inwardly as he trailed closely behind her, clearly not expecting it to be that easy.
The instant she stepped into the room, Marna jumped to her feet and began to plead. "Please, I can't go to jail! I only did it because she was trying to ruin my life. You can't arrest me!"
Olivia just closed her ears to Marna's cries and led her out of the room.
[end]