COLD CASE

The Fruits Of Knowledge

By J. B. Tilton (a.k.a. NoAzMale) and Teri Thibeault (a.k.a. Tessalynne)

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Rating: K+

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Disclaimer: "Cold Case" and all related characters and events are the property of Jerry Bruckheimer and the CBS Corporation, except for those characters specifically created for this story. This is a work of fan fiction and no infringement of copyright is intended.

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(Authors' note: This story takes place between season 1 episodes "Look Again" and "Gleen".)

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The squad reopens the case of a man who was convicted of murdering his daughter when new evidence comes to light that indicates he may actually be innocent.

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PROLOGUE

June 15, 1995

"Ted, she won't be any trouble at all," Charlotte pleaded. "You spend very little time with her. All she wants to do is spend some time with her father. Is that so much to ask?"

"Look, I'm going to be busy working," Ted replied, not at all in the mood for the conversation. "It's not like I'll be able to spend much time with her. And the nursery isn't exactly a good place for an 8-year-old. Especially one like Cari. You of all people know how sick she is. I just don't think the nursery is some place she needs to be."

"She's not going to be any trouble. She's got her backpack with her that has several books. She can just sit in the corner and read while you work. But she'll feel like she's spending time with her daddy. That's all she wants. Please. Do it for me. She spends most of her time cooped up in the house and you rarely have any time for her."

Ted looked at his wife. The last thing he wanted was to be saddled with a sickly 8-year-old. He had work to do and he didn't want to be bothered with watching Cari, even if she was his daughter. But he knew that Charlotte wouldn't let up until he relented.

"Okay, fine," he said finally. "As long as she sits in the corner quietly and read her books. I can't be bothered with her while I'm working."

"She won't be any trouble, I promise. I'll go get her. She'll be so happy."

"Yeah, whatever. I'm leaving in a few minutes. Just make sure she's ready when I do."

"She's in the back yard. It will just be a couple of minutes. Thanks Ted. You won't regret this. I promise you won't."

"Just get her ready," said Ted, his temper wearing thin. "I've got a lot to do and I need to get to work as quickly as possible."

Charlotte kissed her husband and headed for the backyard to collect Cari. Maybe things were turning around. Maybe Ted was finally mellowing toward their daughter. As she headed for the backyard she said a silent prayer.

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July 10, 1995

Several police cars blocked off both ends of the street. A coroner's wagon was sitting near a culvert that was located between the two roadblocks. Two men were in the ditch to the culvert carefully removing what looked like the body of a young girl. A policeman was holding a backpack looking through it for any type of identification that might be found in it.

"Got it," the policeman called to the detectives who were talking with the woman who had discovered the body. "It looks like this is the girl. There are a couple of books in here with the name Cari A. Mendelson printed in them."

"Bag and tag it," said one of the detectives. "Doc, any idea how long she's been in there?"

"A few weeks," said the medical examiner. "The body is pretty decayed. And in answer to your next question, I won't know the cause or time of death until I've had a chance to perform an autopsy. The body was jammed in the culvert pretty good. My guess is she was dead when she went into the ditch. The rain must have caused a flashflood that washed her body into the culvert. It got jammed in there causing the water to pool up. Plus there's extensive signs that some of the local animals have been at the body."

"Any signs of abuse or anything like that?" questioned another detective.

"I can't tell," said the medical examiner. "Like I said, the body is in pretty bad shape. I'll rush the autopsy. I should have my preliminary report for you in a few hours."

"Thanks, Doc," said the first detective. "This poor kid has been missing for 25 days. If it's the Mendelson girl. What about identification?"

"Well," said the medical examiner, rubbing his chin, "I don't think I'll be able to identify the body except through dental records or possible even DNA. If you can have the parents send their child's dental records over to my office I should be able to have a positive ID for you very soon."

"I'll get right on it," said the second detective. He turned to the first detective. "What do you thing? An accident?"

"I don't know," said the detective. "It's only a couple of miles from the nursery where he said he took her that night. I think we'll wait until the Doc has finished his autopsy before we question the Mendelson's again. Until we have a cause of death."

"Good idea. I don't know about you but I never did buy his story about the girl running away. Something about it just doesn't sit right with me."

"I know the feeling. Let's keep this as quiet as possible until we have some definite answer from the coroner. Then we'll go back and see if Mr. Mendelson's story has changed."

The second detective just nodded as they turned and headed for their car.

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