blues and greens (barson)

xxxv.

Monday, March 20th 2023 Olivia found herself in the box with Fin.
She hadn't entered the interrogation room in months but upon the realization that this particular perp had been working with Carlos Hernandez, the leader of the former gang BX9, she was itching to get in there.
The perp, Alejandro Castillo, had been released from prison only months ago. Which made it all the more clear that Hernandez had meant what he'd told Barba and Benson back when she was a sergeant working to put him behind bars... that he'd do his bud because prison was ripe for new recruits.
Olivia was standing in the corner, observing the mannerisms of Alejandro, trying to get a read on him as Fin pressed him.
She'd thought BX9 was defunct, even what she'd heard from Vice was that they only had two or three notable members left and the rest were low on the totem pole and barely worth a second glance.
Alejandro laughed when Fin informed him of that, "just because we're better at staying under the radar since O.G. don't mean we aren't runnin', papi."
"You're too young to be a member of the original," Fin commented, "you'd only have been 12 or 13 in 2014 when we took down O.G."
The boy, barely in his twenties, snorted but didn't speak.
Fin changed the topic back to the current case, trying to go back and forth to catch him off guard and get a slip.
Alejandro wasn't listening though, his eyes had fallen on Olivia, "you're Benson. Aren't you?"
Olivia arched an eyebrow, leaning forward off the wall a bit, "that is what I said when I introduced myself."
"Captain, now. Huh," Alejandro nodded, "O.G. told me about you."
The captain remained unsurprised.
"Told me to give 'Sergeant Benson' a message."
Liv have a 'go on' gesture.
"I didn't do what you're saying," he glanced at Fin with a smirk, "and Isabela will tell you I didn't. She's my girl. Helped me get here to deliver the message."
Part of her didn't believe it, but there was something far too calm about this kid.
"O.G. wanted me to tell you that he remembers you and he remembers what he said. He don't make empty threats, bonita," he pulled off one of his shoes and pulled at the sole until it came loose and took a flash drive out, "for you."
There was a knock on the window, calling her from the room.
Fin picked up the flash drive and followed her out.
"Isabela recanted," Carisi informed as they closed the door to her office, "said the same thing he's saying."
Liv looked toward Rollins, who'd kept her maiden name for work purposes, "she called you?"
The blonde nodded, "whole thing's a ruse, Liv. They were tryin' to get to you."
Olivia felt a bit nauseous but her face was steady and unemotional, "Amanda, get that flash drive to TARU. Have them make sure there's no viruses or anything on it."
Fin handed the drive to her and she headed for the door.
"Carisi," Liv looked at the ADA, "is there anything we can do? Charge them with?"
His jaw worked as he glanced back through the one-way glass, seemingly considering, "I can call my superiors."
She nodded and watched as he went out the door.
"Liv," Fin looked at her.
Without looking at him she went to her desk and sat down, rubbing at her face.
"Liv?"
She hummed in acknowledgment now.
"What the hell is all this about?"
Pursing her lips, she looked toward him, recalling now that she didn't note to her squad that he'd threatened her before. She'd just become the C.O. of SVU and didn't want to make herself look weak. The only people who knew about the threat made to her were her, the man who made it, his lawyer... and Barba.
"There was a threat made," Olivia admitted after a long silence, "I didn't think anything of it. All bark."
"Who else heard it?" Fin looked furious.
She didn't respond immediately.
"Liv."
Olivia rubbed at her temples, "well, his lawyer..."
Fin was silent as if waiting because he knew there was more.
"And Barba."
"Barba."
She nodded, "he said I should have some sort of protection and I said I didn't need it."
Fin pursed his lips.
The office door flew open with a flash of blonde, "I'm sorry to interrupt."
"What is it, Rollins?"
Fin turned to look at her.
"I got the flash drive over to TARU and barely sat at my desk and they already started emailing me the photos," she had a tablet in hand.
"It's photos?" Olivia inquired.
Amanda nodded and sat the tablet on the desk between Liv and Fin.
On it was a photo of Olivia in front of the precinct.
"There's a ton of them," Amanda whispered.
Liv reached over and started sliding through them, there was easily hundreds of photos over at least a year maybe two... maybe more. Pictures of her, her and Noah, the entire squad, and a few of her with Elliot. Then it got more concerning as it was her and all four kids at the park, she and Rafa. Nausea grew with each swipe.
"There's more there now than when I first came in," Amanda informed.
"They're uploading them to us right now," Fin commented.
There weren't any from the apartment building.
There was a knock on the office door.
Fin, who hadn't said a word, stood and walked across the office to the door.
"Hey," Liv heard Rafael's voice.
"What're you doing here?" Fin asked.
It wasn't a malicious question, it was the middle of the workday.
"My case went to jury?" He shrugged, "I came to take Liv to lunch if she wanted. I called but there was no answer."
Olivia looked at her phone and, sure enough, two missed calls and a text.