Sins of the Father

4

Bellevue hospital.

Thursday

7:00 pm

Olivia peered through the glass window of the hospital room at their latest victim, Angela Bennett. Her white, dotted gown only intensified the paleness of her skin in contrast with the dark purple and black bruises splotched on her forehead around a large bloody bandage. She was so still, but it was not a peaceful stillness.

Olivia didn't look away when she heard the familiar footfall of Elliot's heavy steps.

Elliot's reflection in the glass was pensive as he too, observed the condition of their latest victim. "EMS says they found her naked in the backseat of her car, unconsious," he said.

Olivia's eyes went wide, "Who called it in?"

"Apparently, she did."

"We should get Munch to get a copy of the recording."

"He's already on it," Elliot said, turning to Olivia. "What did the doctor say?"

She sighed. "He doesn't know how much she remembers, he thinks she might have some form of amnesia."

Elliot rubbed the bridge of his nose and looked up at Olivia."You ready?"

Olivia was as ready as she could be. "Yeah."

They walked in to the room, Olivia in the lead. She walked up to the bed slowly. "Angela?" she asked. Angela's eyes fluttered open and she blinked in confusion at the detective.

"Hi, my name is Olivia,"she said softly, "I'm a detective with the special victims unit." Pointing to Elliot, she introduced him, "This is my partner, detective Stabler." He made himself as non-threatening as possible and stood simply at the far corner of her bed.

Mentally, Olivia walked through the steps she would take to help Angela recover details from her attack. "Can you tell me what happened Angela?"

Angela looked blankly at the detective, but her eyes were fearful, as if she was trying to recall a distant nightmare. "I don't know." she said. "I was getting in my car, and then I was here." She stopped, frowning. "Do you know where my clothes are?" She looked around the room nervously, one hand gripping her gown, as if she was trying to rip it off.

Olivia came up beside her. "Someone took them, do you know who took your clothes?" Maybe Angela knew her attacker, maybe she could identify him.

"How could someone take my clothes? I was wearing them." Angela sounded alarmed and confused. Olivia didn't blame her. Waking up naked and bloody in your own car was a very shocking experience.

"We think you were grabbed from behind, and your attacker smashed your head against the door of the car." Elliot said carefully.

Angela's eyes drifted upwards, lost in thought. "I... I don't remember."

"Angela, at some point you woke up and called 911 from your cellphone, you told them that you had been raped, do you remember that?" Olivia asked.

For a moment, Angela just stared in shock. She swallowed a few times and then asked, "Where are my clothes?"

"Angela, do you know why you're here?" Olivia asked. She dreaded the answer, if Angela couldn't remember what happened, they may not have a case. Worse yet, she might not want to remember. Olivia sighed and sat down next to Angela. "You were attacked from behind and knocked unconscious." The detective swallowed and continued, "While you were unconscious you were raped." Her voice caught on the last few words. She watched Angela's body language and tried to guess her state of mind.