Ruthless

Debt

Officer: "No sign of the mother, and the little girl only speaks Chinese."

Elliot: "We got that covered."

George: "You know their names?"

Officer 2: "Landlady says the baby's Suzie. This is Hannah."

George: "Hannah?" he greets, kneeling beside her "Please find my mama." he translates

Olivia: "Honey, is this your mama? Yeah?" she questions, holding up a framed photo "Where did your mama go?"

George: "Mama locked the door and said, give the baby a bottle when the hand points to the red."

Elizabeth: "Every three hours." she hums, looking around a table

George: "I used up all the milk. Suzie was crying. I gave her some crackers, but she kept crying."

Olivia: "How long has your mama been gone?"

George: "A really, really long time."

Elizabeth: "I'd say judging by the empty formula bottles, mom's been gone for at least a week." she informs, holding up an empty bottle found in the trash

•••

Elliot: "Mother's name is Jiao Wu. Illegal immigrant, no criminal record."

Elizabeth: "Checked jails, hospitals, morgues. No sign of her. There's also no husband in the picture."

Cragen: "ACS know the family?"

Elliot: "No, and they said it's going to take a couple of days to find a Chinese foster home."

Cragen: "Well, she taught her six-year-old how to feed the baby, left a supply of formula. Sounds like she planned on being gone quite a while."

Elliot: "Probably shacking up with her boyfriend. It's the number-one reason for home alones."

Elizabeth: "Had the landlady not called the cops, these two kids could've died. Where's Dorothy Summers with her whole concern with a child's wellbeing when you need her." she scoffs, shaking her head

Cragen: "Speaking of which. If you wanna make a good impression you better get home. Case workers tend to ding you some points if you're late for appointments."

Elizabeth: "Yeah." she sighs, blowing air out her lips

Elliot: "Good luck."

Elizabeth: "Mm-hmm."

•••

Candace: "Elizabeth Benson?"

Elizabeth: "Yes."

Candace: "Hi, I'm Candace Burton. Nice to meet you."

Elizabeth: "Hi. Come on in" she hums, stepping to the side as she purses her lips "Wish we could've met on different terms."

Candace: "Trust me. I don't want to be here either, but..."

Elizabeth: "If not you, then who? I get it" she nods "Uh, can I get you anything to drink? Water, coffee? I think we might even have some tea around here somewhere."

Candace: "Maybe a little later."

Elizabeth: "Okay" she nods, motioning around the living room "So, uh, this is it."

Candace: "Hmm. And it's just you and your sister that live here with Amelia, correct?"

Elizabeth: "Yes. Olivia's room is here and mine is at the end of the hall."

Candace: "Okay" she hums, moving towards the kitchen "Do you always leave empty boxes lying around?" she questions, motioning to a few boxes sitting beside the trash can