The team had found their lead, and they were running with it.
"We know Casey to Muzurka's directly, so we know that it has to be someone working there that's poisoning her." Elliot announced.
"From the employ list given to us, there are fourteen people who work there," Munch added, "Out of the fourteen, five worked have worked every day for the past three weeks."
They nodded. They knew that one of those five people poisoned Casey. They were going to get this guy, if it was the last thing they did.
"We have the computer labs looking at the security tapes of the hospital parking lot, and we have a sketch artist working with the boys who delivered that package." Elliot continued.
"Munch and I will go interview those employees," Fin said.
"And we'll look at their files, see if any of them had a grudge against Casey."
The team was in full battle mode now. They were going to find out whoever hurt their friend, if it was the last thing they did.
Aaron Sorweid
The kid very relaxed, despite being interviewed by the police.
"I've seen her in there a couple of times," he explained to Munch, "I don't really pay attention to the customers. I just clean dishes. I'm saving up money for a Europe trip with my high-school."
Casey Novak stared at the ceiling, and she realized all the morphine in her system had officially worn off. It honestly sucked. Although she would never be a drug user in her professional life, being in the hospital was a different story. At least when she was high, her mind was easily amused.
"Being confined to a hospital room is so much easier as a kid," Casey said to herself, "Everything is new and exciting, and you don't have to talk to yourself for your own entertainment."
She had gotten the news that she would get to eat actual food for dinner that day. However, it would be a liquid dinner. She would be eating soup, a cola, and ice cream if she was lucky. She would have been very thrilled by this, had Olivia not told her earlier that it was Muzurka's soup that had been poisoning her in the first place. It was her favorite place to eat, too.
She started to hum to herself. It was a familiar tune, but she didn't know the name of it. She was sure it was from some musical. Her brother had been in so many musicals as a kid, she had many show-tune melodies stored in the depths of her memory that always seemed to make their way to the surface when she was in boring situations like this.
"Who will buy my sweet red roses," an older voice sang, "Only two for a penny."
Casey looked at the door, to see Ms. Trudeau. The woman smiled at her, something Casey was not expecting. After the woman had lashed out at her the other day, she didn't expect to see her again.
"That song brings back memories," she said, "I saw Oliver on Broadway three times. It was my favorite show. Do you mind if I sit with you?"
Lily Rubin
A woman in her twenties, who was a bit jittery. Of course, being interviewed by the police probably wasn't how she saw her day going.
"Is this about the lawyer?" She had asked. Munch nodded.
"Did you ever serve her meals?" Munch asked her. The woman quickly shook her head.
"She always came in on my lunch break," she replied, "Am I going to jail?"
"So you really opened my mail?"
Elliot sighed. He knew this would come up.
"I was paranoid, after all the weird things that had been sent to us. Sorry."
Olivia laughed at her partner, and smiled at him.
"It's fine," she said, "Seeing the circumstances, I can't say I wouldn't do the same."
Olivia picked up the CD, and smiled.
"I'll have to listen to this when I get home,"
Elliot nodded, and went back to his research. He was convinced Olivia would chew out his ass for that one. However, she as just as concerned for Casey as he was. He hoped they would figure out this mess soon.
"Hey, I think I've got something," Olivia said, picking up the piece of paper, "Arty Kensington…"
Vanessa Nack
"I have to tell you, officer, this is the most exciting thing that's happened to me all year."
Fin nodded, suppressing a grin. The woman gave him a friendly grin.
"Is this the part where you ask me where I was the night of whenever whoever was murdered?"
"Nobody's died yet," Fin replied, "Did you know Casey Novak?"
"The lawyer chick," Vanessa smiled, relaxing on her chair, "She was hot. I would have asked her out if I thought she was into…well, you know. I think Arty was going to ask her out."
"I would like to apologize for my behavior yesterday," Trudeau said, suddenly. It was out of the blue. For the past ten minutes, they had been having a conversation about zoo animals.
"Oh, right," Casey said, remembering the venom in her voice as the woman snapped at her.
"It wasn't me talking, it was the morphine. I get moody when they put me on the stuff. You, on the other hand, are much more pleasant to be around when doped up."
"You were here?" Casey asked. The woman chuckled to herself, and nodded.
"I was going to apologize, but you were too busy talking to the colorful farm animals on the ceiling."
Casey blushed, hoping none of her co-workers had come to visit her in that state. She would never here the end of it.
"Anyways, I am sorry for the way I acted. It was incredibly rude of me. I guess you could say I have some un-solved issues with sex crimes," the woman sighed. Casey noticed the sorrowed look in the woman's eyes as she said the last part, and bit her tongue. She wanted to ask, but it wasn't her place.
"By the way, I'm the one who told that reporter you died."
Casey's eyes widened. That wasn't what she expected the woman to change the subject with.
"What?"
Patricia Greeley
The woman wasn't a cheery as she was the last time they'd met. Not even close.
"You really think one of my employees tried to harm Ms. Novak?" She asked, concern layered in her voice. Munch nodded. He had a feeling that the woman could have hired a person with blood all over their body, and believe it was paint.
"Did any of them seem particularly interested in her?"
The woman stared down at the table, thinking.
"Well, I'm sure it's nothing, but Arty always gave her this weird look when she came in."
"Weird how?"
Patricia shrugged.
"I don't really know how to describe it," she replied, "Like, he knew her from somewhere. It was as if-"
The woman paused, and a look of horror crossed her face.
"Oh no…" she sighed, rubbing her head. Munch was interested.
"What does that mean?" he asked. The woman's gaze went towards the ceiling.
"Arty's dad was convicted for something money related about five years ago," she explained, "The family lost everything. He said he went from being high class to nearly living on the streets. Casey said she worked white collar crimes before…I never put it together. Arty was such a nice kid. I didn't think he could do anything like this."
"Damn reporter was sniffing around the hospital, no respect for people's privacy. He didn't care there was a woman who almost died in a hospital room trying to recover, he only saw a big story."
Casey was still stunned. She knew she would go home to messages from friends and family desperately trying to find out if she was alive. Because she wasn't home to answer her phone, she was sure there were people already trying to find out about her funeral arrangements. So far, the newspaper hadn't admitted their mistake.
"So you told them I died?"
"Not exactly," the woman replied, "I went up to him and asked him 'Are you here about the lawyer in that room'. I pointed to your room and he said yes. I told him the lawyer in your room died, and even though the doctors did everything they could to save her, she croaked."
"That's a really stupid move for a lawyer," Casey said. The woman laughed.
"It wasn't a lie, though," she said, "The lady in here before you really was a lawyer, and she really did die. I only said the lawyer in your room; he never bothered to ask who. It's his own fault for not double checking his story."
Casey had to suppress a grin. In a way, it was almost a really bad prank.
"Arty Kensington, twenty-three. The son of Edward Kensington. Five years ago, he was convicted for his role in a large pyramid scheme. The family lost everything, and our little ADA was the prosecutor on that case."
It was almost over. They finally had a good suspect for the crimes.
"Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbest identified his picture as the one who paid them to deliver the package," Elliot added, a grin on his face. He couldn't wait to bring this guy in. It was all going so well. Everyone on the team wanted to walk into Casey's hospital room, and announce they had found her would-be killer.
"According to Patricia Greeley, he was a regular costumer at Mazurka's, and applied for a job two weeks after Casey started coming in," Munch said. It was looking very good for them. Finally. All they had to do was bring him in, and get him to confess. It would be easy.
It was then Cragen came into the room, a solemn look on his face. The team looked at him. They had a feeling this wouldn't be good news.
"Patricia Greeley was just found beaten and raped. She was just barely alive. She's on her way to the hospital now."
"Was it Kensington?" Olivia asked, clenching her fists. Just when they were getting good news, this had to happen.
Cragen sighed.
"Maybe, but that's not all," he continued, "Judge Lena Petrovsky was just admitted to the hospital for a heart attack. Guess what was found in her system."
"Levodine," Elliot sighed. He hit his desk, suppressing a frustrated yell.
"Elliot and I will go pick up Kensington," Olivia said, looking at her partner. She could understand his frustration. Just when they found him, his acts had sent not one but two more people to the hospital.
"I guess we'll check in on our newest victims," Fin said, sighing.
This newest information would either make this case easier, or harder. On one hand, if Arty had left DNA, then they had him for that. On the other hand, now they had to link him to Petrovsky.
And so the chaos continued.
Thank you dove in love, Ranowa Hikura, Sister of the Light, W.S.C Magica De Spell, VampirePrincess86, and pineapplegrl77 for the reviews! As I've mentioned before, you guys are cooler then a ice rink. I love you all for it.
Please tell me if I have any blazing grammar errors, here. It keeps me from getting sloppy, and it helps me always give you all the best, because that's what you deserve.
Thank you for reading!
