CHAPTER FOUR

Federal agents joined up, and soon the once chaotic scene was now indistinguishable. Foot officers working the case had no idea who to take orders from, who to report to, and more importantly what to do. With this breakdown in communication occurring, I had to help out in any way I could, which sent me to Mercy Hospital to interview the rape victim, and to check on the new commander, since Munch's doctors quickly begged and received their replacement leader.

With Munch sedated and doing well, I focused on the victim, who had just returned from surgery when I arrived. The rapist had slashed her arm, cutting the muscle to wear it needed to be repaired. She barely reacted to seeing me, but the three officers behind me and the two outside the door scared her.

"What's going on?"

"Do you remember talking to Detective Benson?"

"Yeah, I thought she rode with me here," she replied.

"It doesn't appear that way. She's gone, and it appears she's been kidnapped."

"I remember the paramedics saying something about 'there's no room for you or her.' Could that help her? I hope you find her: she saved me from my childhood."

"We're going what we can, but that's a good lead. If you think of anything, here's my cell number," I whispered. She nodded sternly, and I felt in my heart that she wasn't playing me. But I knew from her crime scene that we were dealing with the I-rapist's copycat, who hastily gathered the calling cards he was able to leave, and I knew the paramedics and anyone watching them would hold our clues.

After calling in this piece of information, I was sent back to the scene for more investigating. I talked to local business owners, who gave the usual "we didn't see anything" act. They were willing to give me their camera footage, which I immediately went back to the precinct with.

By now, night had fallen, making the footage more valuable. I sat up at Munch's desk with his portable TV that could play VCR tapes (which I thought no one used anymore). I played with the placement until I found the incident. I scoured the scene, eventually finding the evidence we could use to help find him.

Cragen answered my call immediately.

"He was wearing an EMT uniform at the scene. He took Olivia into a moving van though, which was driven by somewhere else," I said quickly.

"Your techs just called. The substance at both the scene and the park matched a corrosive acid used to eat through the impurities on delicate metals. Can you get any more clues with that van?" he asked.

"I'll get back to you," I responded.

I quickly hung up and took the tape to the technical services. They helped me enhance the tape to see the license plate and driver. We called in the numbers, but then it was back to waiting.

I helped process menial evidence with my team until eleven. My phone rang soon after, and Cragen announced that the FBI had officially kicked the NYPD off the case, saying "we had our time, now it's their turn."

"I'm not objecting," Cragen whispered. "If this doesn't get us more man power, nothing will."

I knew from that statement exactly why he hadn't hired anyone: they didn't want him to. I let him go further, but he did not.

"Go check on Munch and go home, Monty. Fin's already there checking up on our victim, but he said you did a pretty good job with what time you had. Good work," he whispered. I thanked him, but the call didn't go much further.

At midnight I walked into Munch's room, against the orders of an orderly. Munch told him off, letting him know it was for work purposes. The door was closed and I pulled up my chair to where I could talk without being too loud.

"What's the latest news? They cut me out of the loop hours ago."

"The FBI took over," I replied, sighing. "We weren't fast enough for them, so now they want their turn. We found some good evidence for them, and hopefully we can find enough to find her."

"Everything always works out," Munch whispered. I did a double take on his words. "What?"

"Why is 'Mr. Pessimist' being positive all of the sudden?"

"Olivia and I have known each other for many years, and I want her to be okay. Things like this have happened before though, and we always come out okay," he replied quietly. I sighed again.

"We never had this happen in Georgia. Sure, we had abductions occur in the state, and we've had serial murderers and rapists. But we've never had a serial rapist's copycat-slash-accomplice kidnap a Special Victims caseworker, let alone an officer get abducted period. I know New York has its share of problems, but I didn't think this was one of them either."

"We can't help that the world we live in is surrounded by dark and evil forces, and we can't help that even the highest powers available are sometimes just as corrupt as the evil they're supposed to fight. That's the world, and I've always believed that."

"I used to believe in the world so much. I didn't think it was all bunnies and rainbows, but I didn't think that Satan had taken over. Now I'm beginning to wonder with all the horrible things I've been through this year. And to make matters worse, this text from Leslie says that she and Drew are near divorce. I know that happens too, but...what happened to the happiness? It's like it all died with Sean," I sighed. John did too, and I felt his arm touch my shoulder.

"All of the world's happiness can't die with one person, but...I'm not even going to try to be positive with you. I can just ask that you attempt to be positive, and that you be very careful tonight."

"I'm not even tired," I whispered, realizing I might get kicked out without a good reason to stay.

"I'm exhausted because damned nurses keep bothering me every ten minutes," John sighed. I smirked.

"Hospital living isn't fun, huh? Be glad you haven't been navigating city traffic all evening."

"I prefer it to radio chatter, and they took that from me before seven. It's my arm that's hurt, not my brain."

"But all of you should rest. I feel like I'm disturbing you by keeping the conversation going because you need your sleep."

"Fine, but have someone escort you home," he whispered a moment after I had stood from my chair.

"Who said I was leaving?" I asked. I walked over to his window and looked to the city below. It made me miss home seeing so many lights and so few stars, but it was too late now: I was in New York to stay, at least until the job was done, yet it never was.

"I thought you'd like to know there's a memorial tomorrow for the victims of the I-rapists and their families. It's at the harbor tomorrow morning," Munch whispered. I turned around quickly. "What did I say?"

"I've got to call Cragen," I whispered, digging through my bag to find my purse. When I did, I realized it was ringing. Investigators had made the same realization, and they were canvasing the event space while Cragen asked what I knew about it. But since it was Munch who told me, I knew to put him on the line.

Once he's expended all of his knowledge on the event, he ended the call. We sat in silence waiting for a response, but after thirty minutes, we'd received nothing. I sat in the chair, my head in my hands, until I heard someone knock at the door lightly. It was Fin, who came in despite the yelling orderly.

"Cragen was asked not to make any more calls after me to prevent security issues," he whispered, closing the door in the orderly's face and flashing his badge. "They found Olivia, but it isn't good. The sick freak made her wear clothing with acid on it. Her torso is okay for now because she managed to get the shirt off when she was in the park, but he tied her to a support beam underneath an event stage at the harbor. She'll be here soon, but...they don't know if she's going to make it."

"What's the security issue?" I asked. Fin sighed longer than I wanted him to, but he gave me his answer.

"There were five others tied below and no sign of the rapist. Three of the five were already dead, the other two close to it. Olivia was his last victim and his most personal, as was the rape he committed earlier. She didn't mention she was his relative until she realized they were looking for DeAndre Tucker. Apparently he wore a mask this time," Fin whispered.

"Where do we go from here?" I sighed.

"I'd say home, but I'm afraid to go there, and you shouldn't be out either."

"I think I'll stay here. There will be agents all around here once Olivia arrives, and that will keep me close to the work."

"I'm having someone escort me home, but if that's okay with John here, then it's okay with me."

"I don't think she'll like it here, but maybe if she sees how it is, she'll help me get out of here."

"John, those doctors are keeping you here for a reason, so keep your ass tied to that bed like you're supposed to," Fin said sternly. "Good night though. I'll tell this tight wad out here what you're planning."

"I don't need anything special, so don't say anything. He'll figure it out."

"Fine. See you tomorrow," he nodded, leaving the room.

The barrage of sirens let us know that Olivia was here. The tension in the room rose and stayed high as John and I sat in silence, listening to each other breathe without being able to sleep.