Juliet and Juliet?

Chapter 11

As Alex rounded the corner of the 'L' shaped corridor her mouth fell open and the air left her lungs, 'Oh my God!' her mind screamed.

The body of Detective Olivia Benson lay unmoving on the floor at the far end of the hallway, 'What is that?' she thought as she raised a hand to adjust the black glasses that adorned her face. She squinted in an effort to get a better look at the floor beside Olivia, her eyes riveted to the motionless figure, 'Oh no. Oh God, please no.'

It was blood.

Olivia was lying in a pool of her own blood.

She had to help Olivia, she had to. She couldn't just walk our with this mad man and leave her. She couldn't. She wouldn't. 'Please don't be de-' she refused to finish the morbid thought, the very idea too distressing. She picked up her pace and began to move with urgency, with purpose towards Olivia.

A restraining, bloody hand on her upper arm pulled her back slightly, "Easy there Counselor, remember we're 'live' on candid camera. Yankee is down, my 'directive' is to secure your safety and escort you out the building," he gripped her tighter, "that doesn't include breaking free from your protective detail, even if there is a dead cop on the floor." he snarled into her ear through a fake smile.

'Dead,' echoed Alex, 'She can't be...not Liv.'

Agent David Brennan, decorated member of ESU's Special Tactical and Weapons Team, was a rogue agent on an unstoppable mission.

He let go of Cabot's arm and tried to focus on what he had just heard in his ear piece. Goldie had ordered the 'Go Team' not to enter the floor, to 'Hold' their position. He mentally processed all comms he had listened to between the Lieutenant, the Command Post and the teams of agents that were by now, he guessed, outside on the stairwell.

He cast a look down the hallway to the fallen Detective lying on the floor, 'Such a shame Yankee, paramedics are right outside that door,' he mused to himself.

He schooled his thoughts, turning his attention to the part he now had to play, 'Keep it cool Davy boy, you're almost out. Escort her to the SUV, get cleaned up, accept the accolades for surviving an attack from one of America's Most Wanted, show 'remorse' for my 'fallen' colleagues and cha-ching, pocket the cash. Easy money.' he smiled.

No sooner had he thought that when his eyes caught movement on the illuminated red display of the elevator.

'Showtime,' he thought.

They had almost reached Olivia. Brennan looked down to make sure she wasn't moving and then leaned into Alex, pressing his body against her back, "Don't think I won't," was all he said.

Alex tensed, remembering his earlier words, "I'll put another bullet in Benson."

She looked down tearfully at Olivia as they passed her lifeless body and made a decision. She watched the elevator intensely as they walked, wondering who was going to step out.

'Connors,' she thought, 'can't be, he couldn't get into the building could he? No, this bastard is taking me to a car. If it's not Connors, it mus-' she was cut off as the man behind her spoke.

"Retriever, this is Brennan," he paused, "Anyone, anyone hear me?"

Alex was confused, he was obviously talking with ESU but she had no way of hearing the response.

"I've got 'the package.' Connors took out 'Team 1' on the stairs, the roof is compromised. Repeat the roof is compromised. Heading to exit 4 via stairwell. Does anyone copy?" he said convincingly as he released the talk button on the mic at his throat.

'Ding'

The familiar sound announcing the arrival of the elevator jolted Alex into action. She pushed backwards, colliding forcefully with Brennan. He stumbled.