1-2-3 Years...
Chapter Seven
When Alex�s cab pulled in front of her office building her door flung open before she even got a chance to gather her belongings. Gina who had opened the door handed the fare so that Alex could hasten her exit.
�Half an hour late is not what I call coming in early.� Gina complained the moment cab had zoomed off.
�Traffic.� Alex explained almost like an excuse as she paced behind her friend.
�Do you even realize the gravity of this meeting?� Gina asked slamming the door shut of Alex�s office. �Not only are you conveniently unable to reach most of last week, you don�t even bother to come early to prepare for the briefing.�
�G! I told you over the phone my personal emergency last week and I did try to come in early. It was the traffic.� Alex once again repeated her excuse.
�Traffic.� Gina said knowing that it was an excuse.
�Okay you got me. But if there is anyone to blame, it is Olivia.� Alex said with a smile, hoping that her friend would get the jest of her words.
�Damn it Alex, and I thought you were different. I thought you had your priorities right. But of course not, you are like every other D� (dyke)
�G!� Alex snapped loudly unaware of Gina�s intended insult. �Why are you so worked up?�
�Because Alex if you don�t know already, she has the power to shut us down.� Gina answered. �If she does not believe that in the last six months we have yielded results, she can stop this investigation. And we will never know who the son of a bitch was who pointed the gun at Sarah, and threatened her life. Who walked into my home and my family and tried to kill them? Now that you have found Olivia, I am not sure that it is important to you that we catch that bastard but to me it is the most important thing in my life. Because my priorities are not screwed, and my family will always top my list no matter what.�
�Hey hey� now don�t jump to conclusions about me.� Alex warned. �You know this is important to me. And she is not going to shut us down. I promise you.�
Alex took out couple of folders from her bag and held it next to her chest. She also took out her glasses and put it on before she headed out.
Two doors down was the office assigned for the newly arrived federal prosecutor to oversee their investigation. Alex and Gina took a moment to breathe in once they were right in front of the door of their boss.
�So, one last thing before we go in.� Alex said remembering a little detail she had overlooked. �What is her name?�
�Alex I thought you were prepared for this briefing?� Gina yelled with her temperament rising once again.
�I am. I am prepared for presenting our case, I just never bothered to check her name.� Alex guiltily admitted.
�Carmichael.� Gina replied.
�Abbie Carmichael?�
�Yes, Abbie Carmichael.� An affirmation was said by a voice from behind the two awaiting women.
Alex and Gina both turned 180 degrees to see their newest colleague trying to balance a cardboard box and her briefcase.
�Abbie.� Alex greeted with a cheerful smile as she helped another former ADA of New York City by taking the cardboard box. �I cannot believe you are back.�
�I should be the one who should say that. Since the last time I saw your name was on obituary for you.� Abbie was smiling as she continued. �By the way, I meant to apologize that I couldn�t make it to your funeral. Though I did send flowers via internet.�
�That�s okay, as long as you are not going to ask me money back because I am alive.�
The two former acquaintances exchanged few more light banter as Abbie dug into her pockets for the keys to her temporary office. By the time all the three women were seated, Gina and Abbie had been introduced to each other, and Alex and Abbie both summarized how they ended up back in New York City DA�s office building once again. Even though Abbie had taken the case primarily to get away from the politics of Washington�s office, she didn�t mind adding that she had taken it in part because she saw that she would be working with Alex again. The news that got Alex smiling non-stop as she expressed how thrilled she was that Abbie was back.
�So, about the case. How far have you reached?� Abbie asked almost half an hour or so after they had entered her office.
�We had too many leads to work with, but right now we are concentrating on one that we think is the most plausible.� Gina said relieved that the two lawyers finally stopped chit chatting.
�Detective Monahan from Massachusetts had been following this one particular person, who he thinks might be the man behind the Valez crime family massacre.� Alex added.
�And we believe that the one who attacked us in my home and this guy is the one and the same.� Gina said.
�I am glad you think so Agent, but do you have any proof to back that up.� Abbie asked.
�Not yet, we are working on it.� Gina replied.
�How are you doing so?� Abbie whose one responsibility was to check up on what was happening asked, as she opened a file that she had prepared highlighting all her queries.
�Right now I have federal crime lab working on all the blood splatters that were found in Valez family room where everyone was shot. Now, if we find even one blood sample that does not belong to any of the victims, then we can start looking for the person who bled but walked out of that room alive.�
�Sounds very tedious. It is my understanding that there were 15 people murdered in that room. Which means a lot of blood samples to go through one lab alone, did the crime lab give any indication as to when they�ll be done?�
�Right now, no.�
�I am sure it is sitting in the back room of some office who have other more important things to do. How about using the New York City Crime lab since it did take place here?�
�We could request the city but with the work load it already has, I don�t think the PD will want to take on a federal case load.� Alex replied since she had already pitched in that idea before.
�Okay but we could find a precinct that is not overloaded or put in a request for a crime lab to volunteer. Somewhere some CSI officer might be willing to put in some extra hours. We cannot waste time waiting for the federal lab.�
�I will circulate a request.� Alex volunteered.
�Now the reason why we believe that there should be blood from our guy in the Valez family room is because there were three bullets fired from one of Velez�s guys which is not accounted for. We believe that he was shot in that room, and right now I have Agent Brody going through hospital records to find any one who was hospitalized on that day or the next day. Now, we feel that this guy has enough money to buy the doctors so; we are looking for anything that one was hospitalized for since a doctor could easily put a misdiagnosis on papers.�
�That is good. You are looking for anyone who was hospitalized for about a week or so about five months ago. That might be well over hundreds of people, how do you plan to narrow the numbers?�
�Because one thing we know about this guy is that he is connected to my past. That is the filter we are going to use once we have the names.� Gina said.
�Are you also working on people from your past?�
�Yes, we are almost done locating the where about of most people from her high school, college and academy years.� Alex answered pulling out a list. �We were hoping that you could get us at least a permission for a distance surveillance for few of them who have brushed against the law at one point or the other. Assuming that, it was while in incarceration they came to know Valez.�
�It is a long shot but I can try and get that authorized.� Abbie said taking the list. �You do realize that there is another investigation going on assuming that there is someone who is trading off secret agent�s real names for a price. But, FBI is really hoping that yours was an isolated case and this part of your theory is proven correct.�
�I know and I assure you that I am right.� Gina answered with confidence.
�Then I see that you have accomplished a lot in these six months but I do see that your team is spread thin. How can I help?� Abbie asked impressed that the investigation had taken very important strides in what seemed like a right directions.
�I need few more people. For one I want Detective Monahan from MA. I also want to work with need warrants to get records of Valez�s legitimate businesses.�
�Alex you can try and get a state court order for the books. Looks like most of his businesses was in New York State.�
Alex nodded and jotted down for reminder.
�And I�ll make arrangements for Detective Monahan to be transferred to our team, and also put in a request for additional agents.� Abbie outlined her own work pile.
By the time Alex was back in her office with Gina, Abbie had loaded them both with enough work to last them over a month.
�Was she always this driven?� Gina asked.
�They didn�t call her a slave driver for no reason.� Alex answered remembering the ADA who was known for working two units at the same time. �She used to be ADA for homicide and SVU, till I took over SVU and she was transferred to narcotics. Then she moved to Washington.�
�So, in other words I can kiss my lazy days good bye.� Gina joked. �Anyway I wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier. I didn�t mean to snap at you.�
�That is okay.�
�So, how is the home front? How is Liv?�
�She can�t stop blaming herself for accusing Ray, but other than that she is good.�
�I didn�t really get the whole story with this Ray guy. Who is he again?� Gina asked since Alex had only given her a very abridged version.
�He was Jena and Olivia�s good friend. But then he and Jena had Eve and Olivia got out of the picture. I don�t know the exact detail so don�t ask me.�
�She didn�t tell you?�
�I didn�t ask.� Alex replied honestly. �And I know, that I deserve an answer. Believe me, I know that. But I don�t want the Saturday night to repeat. So I am not going to push Olivia for anything. I�ll give her the space she needs.�
�Well, it is your relationship and your say. But be careful Alex you don�t want to give Liv too much space.�
�I know that. But I don�t want to drive her crazy, especially since Jena seems to have done that enough to affect her even till today. Guess what she did? She sent Ray�s funeral invitation with �not welcome� written on it. Can you believe that? Somebody holding a grudge for so long.� Alex asked.
�Some people do.� Gina�s answer was spoken from experience.
"G! Come on now, you need to let it go.� Chris� voice came loud and clear on the phone as Gina settled on her chair in her own office. �I should have known that you were up to something the moment you started being friendly with Alex. It was all because of Olivia.�
�I would have let it go, if she had hurt me. But she hurt you. You had nothing to do with it, yet she didn�t think once about you when she went with that dyke.� Gina�s bitterness was still strong.
�G! It is not like I don�t hate what happened. And I do blame her too. But I don�t need revenge.� Chris who would rather have a hand on fight with Olivia had device a plan for her downfall, answered.
�Don�t worry Chris, it is not going to be my doing. Liv is once again digging her own grave. Just this time I am going to make sure she gets buried in it.� Gina replied with satisfaction.
�I like Alex G, please don�t hurt her.� That was all Chris had to say. If her best friend wanted Olivia to pay for the all the wrong that had happened in her life, she was not going to stop her.
�I thought she was different, but I am not sure anymore. Liv is dragging her to become just like her. A dyke with screwed up priorities.�
�G! Don�t hurt Alex.� Chris warned before she put down the phone.
Gina�s views were too strongly engraved for her to try and change it, so like always, she just let Gina be as she turned to the half naked man in her bed.
�Let me guess, that was your friend because of whom I can�t meet Sarah. Or to whom you can�t tell that you are divorced.� He said seeing her serious face.
�She has very strong views about what a mother should be. And I am not going to break that view. Many people have hurt her, I am not going to be one of them.� Chris said turning and lying back on the bed.
�But sweetheart, I don�t think you are a bad mother if you got divorced with the father of your child. You both are good parents just not good couple. I am sure she can understand that.�
�If she did would I be hiding you from her or Sarah?�
�Then she just seems crazy to me.�
�She is not crazy she is just a little eccentric about few things. And this whole mother topic is one of them. She is like my sister, like my family so I will indulge her eccentricity.�
�And she has always been like this with your life.�
�Yes.� Chris said getting up and putting on her t-shirt. Now that the conversation was not of romantic nature, she did need to be naked. �Except for when she was in college. I had actually chosen a college different than hers, hoping to disintegrate my life from hers. At first I thought she would come running to my college. But then she met this other friend, and she actually finished the whole four years without butting into my life. And at that time I realized that how much I wanted her butting in. So, after graduation I convinced her to join the Police Academy with me, instead of going to military academy like she had planned.�
�So, in other words you need her in your life as much as she needs you.� He figured aloud. �Then what happened to that friend she met in college?�
�Let us just say that they had some problems.� Chris said with an amused smile. The fact that Jaq and Gina never saw eye to eye was always good news to her.
�Is your friend gay?� Chris� boyfriend asked.
�You crazy.� Chris laughed. �G would never allow herself to be gay.�
�I don�t think one allows oneself to be gay. Do you think that being gay is by choice?� He asked surprised at Chris� ignorance.
�No, but to G, everything is about choices. And she would never choose to be gay. Because of her mother.� Chris laughed at the ridiculousness� of the thought.
Once the laughter had subsided she pondered on it for a moment and wondered why she never thought of that.
�You know now that you have said it though, may be she is. After all she always ends up being real close to only lesbians. Let that be Jaq or Liv or now Alex. You think unconsciously she is gay and she is seeking friendship with lesbians in an attempt to come to terms with herself?� She asked since he was the one to make the connection, she hoped he had more insight on it.
�I don�t know. She doesn�t necessarily have to be gay. She could be straight and seeking something from lesbian women.�
�She is seeking a mother.� Chris who had never really tried to dissect her friend�s inner thoughts found herself surprised to find deeper reasons.
�What?�
�Nobody wants to hate their mother. And I am sure G doesn�t want to either. But because her mother did leave her, she does. Now, her mother was gay. And now she wants to find a gay woman who is a mother first and a lesbian second. She wants to be proven wrong.� Chris explained.
�When a woman becomes a mother, every woman is a mother first and everything else second.�
�I know but G just needs to meet one such gay woman so that she can come to terms with her feelings for her own mother. I am sure there is a gay mother out there who is willing to forgo everything for her child. Like even die for her child. And hopefully she will cross path with G.� Chris hoped aloud.
�As long as your friend is not the one who makes the poor woman to choose between her life and her child.� Chris� boyfriend joked.
�Knowing G, I wouldn�t count that out.�
�Who is this again?� Munch asked unable to believe what he was reading.
�Eve�s mother. Jena Rollins.� Fin answered.
�And you think she is gay?� Munch asked even though the evidence was right in front of him.
�Yes, she has always been an active member of the local GLBT centers. She gave us such a hard time, yesterday that I decided to dig a little on her.� It had been a week since Fin and Munch had taken over the case and yet with Jena refusing to allow the cops from talking to Eve. So, Fin decided to do a little background on Jena to know what her deal was. �That is when I found out that she was gay. It is not like she is trying to hide it. Seems like she is always been very out.� Fin explained.
�How did you miss that?� Elliot directed his question towards Munch.
�So, Elliot you said Rollins and Olivia were quarrelling like scorned lovers may be it wasn�t Ray who was the �lover�.� Fin decided to put in his comment.
�What are you trying to say?� Elliot retorted protectively. He never liked it when people made wrong assumption about his partner.
�Nothing.� Fin retreated knowing Elliot�s nature.
�Except, what is the reason our former ADA is still living with Olivia?� Munch asked out of the blue.
The shocked two men followed his gaze to know the reason behind his question. Alex had just entered the precinct and was walking straight to Olivia�s desk.
�Liv said Alex was having trouble finding a place in the city.� Elliot answered but even his gaze was transfixed on his partner who had just seen the former ADA.
�And I thought Cragen said he could get her a place in his building. Did she even try finding a place?� Munch asked, as though Elliot was the one who needed to answer.
�I think Cabot already found what she was looking for.� Fin answered watching Olivia put on her coat and getting ready to go.
�Okay guys I am done for the day.� Olivia said unaware of their conversation.
�Bye guys.� Alex waved at the trio as well.
�Bye Olivia. Bye Alex.� The three men said almost in unison.
�How did I miss that?� Munch wondered as soon as the two ladies had exited.
�This is just ridiculous. And you shouldn�t waste your time making wrongful assumption.� Elliot wasn�t about to believe anything said about Olivia unless Olivia herself said it to him. �If it matters to anyone, she dates men okay. I know that because I have met couple of her dates. And she dates a lot.�
�May be she switched sides. For Alex I would switch or turn or do triple flips if she only asked.� Munch who was still staring at the door pulled Elliot�s strings.
�Stop it now. And concentrate on the case. You better get past Jena and get Eve�s statement. If Novak doesn�t charge Davis with homicide, you guys will be seeing a side of Liv that I don�t want to think about.� Elliot said walking away from the pair.
�She is not gay.� He said to himself as he sat on his chair frustrated that he allowed Fin�s words to make sense.