Sins of the Father

12

A/N: Thanks for reading! 

Interlude.

The cop didn't believe me, but I really was mugged in the subway. If I had known that buying a cup of coffee to cool my nerves would lead to my death, well, I would've taken the first flight outta here. But, the guy was just doing his job.

And I was just trying to help.

See, when you're in the chair, looking at a cop who's got you pegged for a rapist, what do you do? I couldn't confess to something I didn't do. And I was scared, but I watched enough cop shows to know he didn't have anything on me. So I just imagined the guy- Stabler, I think, in boxers with little hearts of them. Guess he didn't like that.

He told me what this asshole did, and I could feel the anger spitting out of me. I could never do that to my worst enemy. I'm married, I'm a father, if anyone so much as looks at them funny-

Anyway, I just want to get the story straight. For my daughter. For my wife.

I'm a contractor for a reno company. We do whatever. Bathrooms, kitchens, basements, you name it. We've got some good guys who do good work. Me, I don't do the physical stuff, I just handle the clients and the suppliers. While back I get a call from this guy Richardson, he wants some work done. Turns out I know the him from first year college. We were roommates, but I hadn't seen him since I dropped out, and he decided to join the Navy. Nice guy, a little weird sometimes.

It's been years since I seen him. I came by to drop off the bill and he asks me to stay awhile and chat. I ask him about the Navy. He shrugs, said it didn't work out. He asks me about Veronica, I tell him we just had our first baby.

"Oh." He says and ends the conversation.

I go home and in the course of dinner, I mention Richardson to Veronica.

"Jimmy?" she says, "Oh my god, I haven't seen him in years. He had such a crush on me."

"Really?" I put my fork down and chew the roast slowly.

Veronica recovers quickly. "Oh, it was nothing," her hand covers mine. "We never hit it off." She sipped her water, "One time, before you and I were steady, I was at Bo's grill with some friends and I thought I saw you in the crowd, but I didn't want to seem clingy or anything, so I pretended not to notice. Then the waitress comes by and tells me some guy from table five bought me a drink. I thought it was you, and I went over to thank you but it was Jimmy instead. You guys sorta look alike."

Stepha squawks and waves a fist. Veronica feeds her some peameal baby food. I change the subject, ask about upcoming holiday time. Veronica wants to make a trip to Jersey to see her mom soon.

The next day, I end up at an apartment to do a quick kitchen estimate at the Beyers residence. An old man answers the door. I tell him I'm here to do the quote. I start measuring and checking the plumbing, and that's when I notice the card on the counter.

A police business card. SVU, it says. Detective Olivia Benson. None of my business right? But I was just there, yesterday. I give the man a quote, and tell him I can set up for an appointment next week. He gives me her card. She works for the Sun. Call before four, he says, and closes the door without another word.

Thursday morning I'm out and about, picking up supplies and making appointments. I just dropped off a bill at the Bennett residence and head to a nearby cafe to get a coffee and do some paperwork. It's part of my routine, since my office at the shop is usually too crowded, and the phone is constantly ringing. That's when I see Richardson. I smile and nod. He gives me an impish grin. I return to my work. He sits down near me, facing the door, and reads a paper.