Vengeance
Chapter Five

Starbucks Coffee
8:32 AM
February 22nd, 2011

"I hate redheads," It decided bitterly, shooting the barista at the counter a dirty glare. This human parasite had insisted upon the Vanilla Bean Frappuccino, no whipped cream, no extra toppings... Hell to the no! What It needed was some black coffee—and perhaps a shot of Whiskey wouldn't be all that bad either, but It wasn't greedy of course.

"Cadee," replied the elderly man standing beside her with the roll of his eyes. "You are a redhead."

It shook its head, and pulled its being from the human parasite—known to her mortals friends and relatives as... Cadee. Had the woman not been who she was, It would have found a more... competent host. But with It's personal agenda, and Cadee's fuel for revenge, they made quite the pair. Even if Cadee was frightfully unaware of the consequences of her actions.

"Thank you Captain Obvious," Cadee snapped. "What the hell does that have to do with—"

"You just said that you hate redheads, Cadee—"

"Hhmph!" Cadee cried. "I said no such thing!"

Interrogation Room
8:47 AM
February 22nd, 2011

"This is preposterous," Casey bellowed, banging her hands on the table. "There's gotta be some sort of mistake here, why would I kill ADA Greylek! I've never met the woman in my entire life, let alone be the one to kill her in cold blood. I—I didn't do it! I'm innocent!"

"She was your replacement, Counselor," Munch replied with a shrug, pacing the room. "It's understandable, those feelings of... resentment? Hatred? Annoyance? She took—no, she stole your job. You wanted revenge."

Casey rolled her eyes. "Munch... John, we've known each other for a long time. I would never do such a thing, and the fact you've insisted I was guilty from the beginning, is, quite frankly, insulting."

"What's insulting is the fact that you murdered a woman in COLD BLOOD!"

"I DIDN'T!" Casey screeched, bolting upright.

"Whoa," Munch instinctively moved back. If the redhead had it in her to kill a fellow ADA, he didn't know what else she was capable of. Serves them all right, Munch thought to himself. He'd spent days trying to convince his squad of her guilt. But, he supposed that it was a lose/lose situation. Either Casey was innocent, and he was dead wrong... or she was guilty, and his good friend was a cold-blooded killer. Munch shook the thoughts from his head. "Let's talk about the night in question, Counselor."

"I've already told you, Munch. I was home."

Munch flicked through his notes. "Anyone able to corroborate your story?"

"I was alone," she sighed.

"Ah," Munch nodded.

"Why do you have to say it like that!? Why can't you just hear me out for once in my life!?"

"Because, Casey, DNA doesn't lie..." Munch replied. "And it all points to you." He dropped the manila case folder down onto the stainless steel table. "I already know that you killed Greylek, I just want to know why? Why did you slit the throat of Kim Greylek on February 17th, 2011?"

Casey was speechless. Her smiling face looked up at her, so innocently unaware. It didn't make any sense. She was innocent...

"Nothing to say?"

"I'm being framed," she muttered, eyes wide.

"Nothing at all?"

"Munch," she pleaded, looking up directly at him. He had to believe that she hadn't done this horrible act! She worked to prosecute people who murdered innocent lives! She would never turn the tables and commit such a heinous crime herself. Honestly.

Munch sighed. "It pains me to do this, Casey."

"Please."

Munch stood. "Casey Novak, you are under arrest for the murder of Assistant District Attorney Kim Greylek. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be appointed to you. Have you heard and understood these rights?"

Casey nodded, completely numb, as Munch slapped the cuffs onto her wrist.