Unrequited

Chapter 13

The next day, Mia Rodriguez was found at a friend's house a mile away from the cleaners. Fin and Rollins questioned her for hours with Olivia watching the interrogation. Mia revealed that she and Stassi had dated at one point and broke up because of her relationship with Pilar. Pilar moved in with them and she and Mia became involved behind Stassi's back but recently decided to be In a relationship. Stassi was still unaccounted for and Mia had an alibi for the crime.

"This is a mess," Olivia comments turning down the volume to the interrogation room.

"Lesbian love triangle," Barba shakes his head. "The press is going to have a field day with this one. So we really think Mia had nothing to do with it?"

"Look at her she's completely distraught," she says sitting down at her desk. "My gut tells me no."

Carisi and Rollins walk in from interrogation with a folder on Stassi's background. "Crazy hunh?" Amanda says handing the folder to Olivia who puts her glasses on to read. "Stassi Kimball born in Louisiana, a few priors for simple assault. Nothing big."

"So what are we thinking? Stassi hired someone to do this?" Barba asks.

"Apparently she has some sheisty connections to a gang here locally. Mia says there were some guys in and out the house a lot and her and Pilar were thinking about moving into their own place," Rollins reports.

"I should hope so," Barba replies with his usual sass. "Can she identify any of these men?"

Carisi nods.

"So we have nothing basically?" He asks and everyone looks at him apologetically. "Welcome back indeed."

Olivia instructs the team to keep looking for Stassi and have Mia work with a sketch artist. There was no DNA at the crime scene and the fingerprints could be explained away if the men were in the house on a regular basis.

"Never gets easier does it," Barba remarks looking at the crime scene photos. "This was brutal. They ripped this woman apart. All possibly because of a stupid love triangle. How hard can it be to just make a damn decision about who you want to be with?"

Olivia stills for a second and it doesn't go unnoticed.

"You ok?"

She takes the glasses from her head, her bottom lip sucked in while she thinks over what to say. It's only been a couple of weeks since she's seen him and so much has changed since then.

"Yeah," she sighs.

"Come on," he puts the folder in his briefcase and grabs the brown jacket that perfectly matches his slacks and suspenders. Always dressed to perfection.

"Where are we going?"

"Let's go grab a quick drink. Usual spot. By the time we get back they should be done with the sketch artist."

"And Mia?"

Looking over to the distraught woman he answers, "Cut her loose. She has an alibi. We can't hold her."

Olivia exhales and sits back in the chair, her fingers interlocking behind her head.

"Umm did you hear me? Let's get out of here."

"You saw this. This case is all over the place. Now's not the time to leave."

"That's actually what makes it a perfect time. Come on."

Barba starts to walk out ahead of her and she smiles as silhouette disappears towards the elevators. He doesn't know her more than anyone else but he knows her well enough to know that she will follow. And she does.