6 June
Council Room of Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church

Captain Cragen caught the "Oh, shit" look on Elliot's face.

And I completely agree…

He waited until Elliot finished jumping to his feet, an action mirrored by Fin and Judith, before making the introductions.

"You all know Chief of Department Sullivan. Chief deMichelis is head of the Internal Affairs Bureau. Detective Otten, this is IAB Agent Sergeant Ed Tucker; the rest of us already know him."

To know him isn't to love him….

Chief Sullivan took the chair at the head of the table. He unbuttoned his jacket and smoothed his tie against his chest. Chief deMichelis took the chair on his right, angling his lean frame into it and sitting bolt upright. Tucker placed the folders between the two chiefs then sat at his superior's right, leaving two chairs between him and Fin. His brown suit's wrinkles were wrinkled, a sign of how long and bad his day had been.

And it's not going to get any better….

Cragen walked past Tucker to sit between him and Fin. As he was getting settled, Fin whispered, "What the hell is this, Cap'n?"

Cragen glanced at Fin, Judith, then Elliot.

I see the suspicion and worry behind those poker faces.

"It's not as bad as you think."

His hushed reassurance only raised eyebrows.

It's okay—I don't believe it, either.

Chief Sullivan cleared his throat, waited a moment then began, his baritone voice enunciating each word with precision.

"Ten days ago, Officers Delgado and Henry were found dead at the American Inn on Flatbush Avenue. We released the causes of death as murder-suicide; Joseph Delgado shot his lover Karen Henry, then killed himself with his service weapon. Although no note was found, the reason for his actions was his affair with Officer Henry, either a lover's quarrel or fear of discovery."

Sullivan paused, his lips twisted as though tasting something nasty that he could neither spit out nor swallow. He and Chief deMichelis exchanged a glare; deMichelis broke away first.

"What I'm about to tell you and every thing else discussed at this meeting must go no further than the people here in this room—understand?"

He waited until the three SVU detectives acknowledged their agreement.

"We were wrong. Officers Delgado and Henry were murdered."

Three pairs of eyes widened. Chief Sullivan waited for questions that no one asked, then he continued.

"Detective Evon Skelton of Brooklyn South Homicide was the primary on the case. IAB took over the case and closed it, but he had suspicions about the crime scene and he continued the investigation on his own. Skelton took his findings to his CO, who went to Chief of Detectives Conrad, who brought it to me. I reviewed this case and then brought in Chief deMichelis."

Judith shifted in her chair and rested her chin on her left hand. Cragen noticed a big smile hidden behind her fingers.

Her old unit made IAB look like idiots. I smiled about it, too. Didn't do me any good….

Sullivan paused and Chief deMichelis took up the story.

"We examined the officers' lives, families, and finances to see who might have a motive to kill them. We found that both Henry and Delgado were making regular monthly withdrawals of $500 in cash on the same day with no record of where the money went. Last month, the amount jumped to $750."

Elliot let out a surprised hiss at the number. Cragen nodded in agreement.

That's over 15 of take-home pay—some one had their hooks in deep.

"Neither officer had any outstanding loans, other than car loans and Delgado's mortgage; both lived within their means. Neither has a history of gambling, drug use, or any other activity that would require regular cash payments or that might open them up to blackmail threats. Their spouses are clean; their families are clean. Other than their affair, we found nothing. This leaves the possibility that they were being blackmailed because of their affair. When the monthly amount was raised, they refused to pay more and were killed."

Chief Sullivan added, "Since no one intentionally kills the golden goose, these murders probably served as an warning to others in the same circumstance. Our premise is that some person or persons has set up a blackmail scheme targeting NYPD personnel."

Chief deMichelis dropped his gaze to the table top and shook his head as if wishing he were elsewhere.

"It would be almost impossible for someone outside the department to run such a scheme," deMichelis said. "It would be very difficult for someone to run it from inside; there's always the chance that IAB would discover the affairs and then the blackmail. This leads me to a terrible conclusion: that the blackmail demands and the murders are the work of IAB agents."

Cragen's stern glance caught Elliot's and Judith's attention before they could speak. He was not fast enough to stop Fin.

"Crooked rats. Who'd of thought?"

Tucker turned to face Fin. "Go on and laugh, damn you—it isn't funny to us. We screen every one of our people and we watch them tighter than we watch you. With the hate coming at us from all sides, we can't afford even the slightest suspicion of corruption."

"Caesar's wife," Otten said.

Tucker shifted his attention to Judith. "Yeah, like Caesar's wife—we have to be more honest, more trustworthy, cleaner in thought, word, and deed than the fucking Boy Scouts. Knowing some of us are dirty—it just hurts."

He slumped back in his chair as if gut-punched, his pain stirring a tiny bit of pity for him with Cragen.

How the might have fallen. Must be hard to learn that you're not all-powerful.

Chief Sullivan picked up where the IAB chief had left off.

"On my recommendation, Chief deMichelis and Sgt. Tucker checked IAB's records for any mention of Officers Delgado and Henry. They found nothing—no files, no situation reports, no signs that any misbehavior on their parts had been officially noticed. We feared that further investigation would attract the attention of any crooked agents so we considered other ways to…"

Chief deMichelis cut him off. "…to catch the skels who did this. I can't claim them as IAB, not if they bypass procedure, blackmail fellow officers, and then kill them."

Cragen watched the chief clench his fists and press them into the table top.

Are you angry because your people are murderers or because they bypass procedure?

Chief deMichelis continued to speak. "We decided on a sting run by outsiders, people who weren't IAB and who had the experience to head up such an operation. Chief Conrad and I devised a feasible scenario for the operation, then his assistant Denise ran through every unit and squad. Manhattan SVU was the only good match for the expertise and operatives required."

"This wasn't a sex crime. Why us?" Elliot asked.

Sullivan smiled. 'Because Detectives Tutuola and Otten have undercover experience, both as operatives and in heading up such operations. Because you are the lead detective for your unit and can allocate resources and cover for absences. Because Captain Cragen and Detective Otten will make excellent bait."

Cragen felt the breeze from three heads snapping around to stare gape-mouthed at him.

Now you know why I'm furious. Nothing like being ordered to compromise myself with a subordinate, especially by a man I call 'friend.'

"Under Sgt. Tucker's leadership, Captain Cragen and Detective Otten will attract IAB's attention while Stabler and Tutuola monitor their actions, record all communications with them and—if all goes well—draw out the blackmailers."

Identical smug smiles spread across the chiefs' faces at the unfolding of their plan. Even Tucker perked up. SVU's reaction was not as joyous. Fin's eyes narrowed until they almost folded in on themselves. Elliot worked his jaw side to side then clenched down like a pit bull on rawhide. Judith's face set hard and sharp, a look Cragen remembered Marge using on him during his drinking days.

" 'Attract IAB's attention'?" she said, her voice a sneer aimed at the Chief of Department. "That's a truly interesting way to say 'You will shred your reputation, squander your unit's respect, and gainsay everything you've ever taught your rookies and family.' Afterwards, do the crooked rats plead out, everything slides under the rug, and we all go back to normal?"

Cragen watched Chief Sullivan' s face redden from his starched collar to the tips of his ears.

Uh, Judith—you do realize this is an order, don't you?

The Chief's gaze remained on Otten, but it lost focus as though he were deep in thought for a good five seconds. He then cleared his throat and gave Otten a politician's smile.

"No, nothing will be swept under the carpet. There will be full disclosure, a press conference…."

Both Chief deMichelis and Tucker shot upright in their seats.

"We agreed that there'd be no—"

Chief Sullivan cut deMichelis off with a wave of his hand.

"That would leave them with their reputations in tatters and no way to rebuild them. I won't do that to my people."

Elliot caught Cragen's attention and mouthed "Like hell."

"And I'll personally make sure," Chief Sullivan continued, "that anyone impacted by your and Donnie's involvement in this operation knows why—full disclosure on that count."

"That deal include me and Stabler?"

All the pent-up IAB rage and frustration that Chief Sullivan had waved away now shot straight at Fin. The detective ignored both Tucker and Chief' deMichelis' glares to stare directly at the Chief of Department.

"Why should it, Detective?" Chief Sullivan asked.

"Because my partner's not here. Stabler and Otten's partners aren't here, neither. That means we're gonna have to lie to them. I don't do that."

Fin crossed his arms and leaned back, his eyes narrowed as he glared at Chief Sullivan. Across the table, Elliot joined the rebellion.

"And I'm not putting my captain's safety in anyone else's hands. SVU runs this, not Tucker. He wants to advise and assist—fine, we can use his help—but we're in charge."

Elliot leaned his left arm on the table and joined his adamant glare to Judith's and Fin's.

Chief Sullivan met those glares for a moment, then leaned over to confer with Chief deMichelis, hands muffling their mouths. Tucker slumped back in his chair, his tired eyes focused on the table top.

A quote rang through Cragen's head.

A threefold cord is not easily broken…assuming they need our skills more than they want obedience….

Finally, the conferring ended. Chief deMichelis shot Cragen a dirty look while Chief Sullivan gave the team his best "you win, but I'm still Chief" smile.

"Your suggestions make sense," Chief Sullivan said. "Detectives Stabler and Tutuola, this is your baby. Daily progress reports will be made directly to me. When the operation is concluded, we'll make certain your partners and any one else impacted by this know the whys and wherefores for any required subterfuge. Sgt. Tucker, for this assignment only, you report to Detective Stabler. Stay and fill them in on the case. Anything else?"

Cragen shook his head.

I know that smile—that's all we're going to wring from Tommy Sullivan.

"In that case, good evening and good hunting."

Chief Sullivan left, followed by Chief deMichelis. In their wake came silence. Cragen checked his detectives, all of whom were looking at one another with the glazed stare of people barely missed by a lightning bolt.

Elliot broke the quiet first. "I should have asked for a pony."

"Naw," responded Fin. "A Ferrari, then you get lots of horses."

"Black or red?" Judith asked.

"Titanium. That color's got class."

Tucker stared at the four of them. "You guys got balls. First Cragen stands up to the Chief, then you three."

Elliot leaned toward Tucker, his elbow still resting on the table as though they were sharing a friendly lunch. He bared his teeth in what no one would mistake for a smile.

"That's Captain Cragen to you, Tucker."

The IAB agent placed both hands on the table and began to rise from his chair, then he sat as slowly down, swallowing whatever he'd planned to say. He ignored Stabler's taunting grin to speak to Captain Cragen.

"Sir, my apologies. I meant no disrespect to you. Please understand—I don't like the position my CO put me in, but whatever it takes, as long as it's by-the-book, I'll do it. I want these bastards.

Cragen appraised his words and the earnestness in Tucker's eyes.

I want these bastards, too—that's why I didn't quit over this.

"It' s okay, Sergeant," he said, voicing his thoughts. "I don't think any of us likes the position we're in right now. I do know that all of us will play well together."

He stressed the word "all" and started pointedly at Stabler, who answered the implied command with a nod.

"Now, if you'll fill my detectives in on the case…."

Tucker opened the top folder and passed four copies of the case files to Cragen and his detectives.

"These are copies of Agent Hagemeyer's DD-5, his closing report, and Detective Skelton's reports on the crime scene. You can see why we closed the case and why Skelton disagreed with us. There also are financials for Delgado and Henry, their bank records with the weekly withdrawals highlighted, and all the forensic reports.

Elliot, Fin, and Judith thumbed through their stacks of paper. Fin stopped at the financials, Judith the forensics. She held up three photos; one showed the two officers dead in the motel bed The second showed the bed after the ME had taken the bodies. The third was a copy of the second with an outline of the bodies drawn on it.

"This is what made Detective Skelton question IAB's findings?"

"Yes, the spatter patterns," Tucker said. "Blood and GSR under Henry's arm shouldn't have been there if Delgado had shot her, then himself. Skelton thought that the perps came in while they were asleep, used Delgado's weapon to shoot Henry, then forced the gun into Delgado's mouth and shot him. His struggles may have disturbed Henry's body, moving her arm over the blood and gunshot residue."

"Evon has a good eye," Otten said. "There's less than an inch of overlap. Tucker, you shouldn't blame your people for missing it."

Tucker turned up a corner of his mouth, grateful for the bone tossed him.

"However," she continued, "you can fault them for thinking they were capable Homicide detectives."

Fin's head snapped up. She ignored his glare.

"If IAB had left Evon on the case, it wouldn't have been closed as a murder-suicide. Suicides don't warrant burial with honors and it's almost as shameful to be killed in a lover's quarrel. IAB's high-handedness caused two injustices."

"I took care of that," Cragen said. "I told the Chief that, once this is over, Officers Henry and Delgado will get memorial services with appropriate honors. That was my price for agreeing to this circus."

Elliot chuckled. "Circus—that says it all. We got trained animals; we got clowns; we got…."

Cut it out, Detective.

Stabler caught the message in his CO's dark eyes and ended his sentence with a tight smile. Fin filled the awkward silence by pointing to a page of financial records in his file copy.

"These cash withdrawals started nine months ago. Did Delgado and Henry keep their affair going all that time or was their last fling also staged?"

"We don't know," Tucker told him. "No one we interviewed knew of their affair."

He shook his head and swallowed hard. "I've been wondering how it went down. I want to think that the perps found them in bed and didn't force them to undress and crawl under the covers. That would be worse."

Fin ducked his head to focus on the papers before him. Cragen heard him mutter, "You don't know worse."

Damn right, but Tucker's at least trying. I didn't think he had it in him.

Elliot finished scanning his copy and flipped its file shut.

"Why do you and the chiefs think ra—I mean IAB agents are behind this?"

"Statistics. The number of on-the-job affairs is below normal and has been for at least ten months. Per Chief deMichelis' orders, I ran the numbers for the last five years. I found the number first dipped eighteen months ago; that decrease grew over the next six months and has held steady since."

"How many are there usually?"

"That's not germane to this operation."

"So," Elliot said as he reasoned through Tucker's info, "a report of two uniforms playing Hide the Salami comes in from a field associate, someone intercepts it, confronts the uniforms and tells them 'Pay up or IAB takes your job and pension'—that's the idea?"

Tucker nodded. "Yes and that's as far into our workings as I'm allowed to take you."

Elliot rubbed his jaw as he finished his thought. "Our job is to dangle Cap and Judith in front of a bunch of ra—field associates and IAB agents until one of them bites. Where's the best place to find these agents?"

"Don't worry about that," Tucker said. "I do the assigning, so I'll make certain Captain Cragen and Detective Otten are noticed. If the report ends up in the proper channels, then we'll know we haven't hooked the right fish."

Judith cocked her head and looked at the IAB agent, her eyes and smile bright.

"So, what are we required to do? Is dinner together enough or do we have to scare the horses in the station house?"

Cragen snapped his jaw shut in time to stop a guffaw.

I haven't heard that euphemism in years.

"We thrashed that one out earlier today," he told the team. "There will be no horse-scaring near or in the One-Six in the hopes that the rest of SVU won't catch on. As to other places—Judith, are you sure you're on board with this?"

Detective Otten looked directly at him.

"Actually, sir—I have all sorts of misgivings. If rumors about us start to spread, we'll have no control over what people think. Despite what the chief promised, repairing our reputations might be impossible. A captain and his detective—it's too juicy to ignore."

"That wasn't what I meant."

Cragen gave her a long searching stare, which Judith returned with a confident smile.

"Captain, I started out in Vice. I'm okay with this."

Great—that makes one of us.

"Then," Cragen said, "let's get things going. Sergeant—how fast can you get things set up at your end?"

"Tomorrow. All I need is a location."

"Not close to their homes," said Elliot. "or near the One-Six. Judith, you're north Brooklyn and Cap is Bensonhurst. That leaves Manhattan North, the Bronx, Staten Island, Queens…. I know a good Italian place near here; want to start there?"

Judith met Cragen's gaze. "Works for me, sir."

"Okay, Italian it is," he answered. "Elliot, you arrange for ears for Judith—I'll never manage to hide an earpiece—and radios for you, Fin, and Tucker….

Logistics occupied the next twenty minutes. After radios, surveillance vehicles, locations, and other details were settled, Cragen asked, "Sergeant, what does it take to get IAB to notice us?"

"Normal dinner conversation isn't enough," Tucker told him. "You can discuss a case with your subordinate over spaghetti and we won't bat an eye. Have too many dinners, hold hands, kiss, PDAs of any sort—that sets our antennas quivering. Act like you are intimate and we'll assume that you are intimate."

Judith nodded. "So we're in for a series of intimate dinners paid for by the brass. Sounds fattening."

"You could be sitting in a car eating cold Chinese and listening to those intimate dinners," said Elliot. "Which brings up a point—if we ever have to track you and Judith separately, we don't have enough people. Skelton and his CO know about this situation. Cap, do you think we can draft them if we need them?"

Cragen nodded. "Don't see why not. Check with Chief Sullivan when you call him tomorrow. One more thing—we can't meet as a group without attracting the wrong sort of attention. Elliot, you and Judith be in my office after the shift meeting to finalize tomorrow night, then Elliot can coordinate with Fin and Tucker. We'll vary the attendance each day so no one catches on. Any questions?"

Tucker said, "This operation needs a name."

Well, since we are pulling them out of the fire for IAB….

"Chestnut."

The finality in Cragen's answer cut off any discussion. He ignored Fin's muttered "What about Rat's Ass?" and brought the long meeting to a close.

"Go home, people—we're looking at some long, strange nights and we'd better be ready."