The Granny Killer, 2
From the moment Amanda stepped into the box, I could tell that Dot was interested in her. Exactly why, I couldn't pinpoint it but I knew that there was a connection made. Now was the time to exit and let Amanda work her way into a confession, "Alright ladies," I began as I stood, "I'll leave you to it. If you need anything, Detective, you know where to find me."
Amanda nodded, "Thank you, Doctor," she said as she gave me a sheep smile.
I tucked my hair behind my ear and exited through the adjoining door to Olivia's office. Once it was locked, Fin handed me the headset that connected with Amanda's earpiece, "Thank you, Fin," I said, giving the man a smile, "Rollins, can you hear me clearly?"
We all saw Rollins nod slowly. We had a clear view of Dot's face, which was exactly what I needed in order to guide Rollins as much as I could into the correct direction in order to have a confession, "Good, uh, open up to her, Amanda. Make her feel comfortable and if you can, relate it to your mother."
Amanda sat up straight in her chair and shook her head. I could immediately tell that this was going to be as difficult for her as much as to Dot but Amanda needed to know that no matter what, whether it was the truth or a lie, this was a no judgment zone and nobody was going to make her feel or treat her differently, "Listen, Amanda, I can tell this is difficult for you and I know I'm asking a lot from you but… you can make something up if you'd like. And, I know for a fact that nobody here will look at you or treat you differently, please know that," I finished, accentuating my words with my hands.
It was a few agonizing seconds of silence before Amanda begun, "I'm sorry," she said, running her hands through her face.
"About?" Dot asked, crossing her legs.
"About interrupting the interview with my Lieutenant," Amanda conceded.
"Oh, that?" Dot said, amusement in her tone, "You are not the one who should be apologizing. Your Lieutenant was out of line for shouting at you in that manner, at least her wife has manners."
Olivia scoffed next to me and I could hear Carisi chuckle, "You know," Amanda mused, "Sometimes, when she yells at me like that… it reminds me of my mother."
Dot tensed for a second but as quick as it came, it left, "Really? How so? Was your mother a shouter, too?" she grinned, flexing her left hand atop her crossed knee.
Amanda chuckled, "Yea, and though I tell myself it's because she wants me to do better and be a better detective, I can't help but think that it's because I'm… me."
Dot uncrossed her legs and leaned forward on the chair, "What ever do you mean, Detective?"
"You're doing good Rollins, she's receptive. Keep her talking and keep her interested," I said, crossing my arms against my abdomen.
"I grew up in the south and for a girl that meant a lot of restrictions. My mother, every Sunday would wake us up at the ass crack of dawn just so that we could start getting ready for Sunday Mass," Amanda begun, "It didn't matter if we were on our death bed, we had to go to church and we had to look our best. Then, on Wednesdays we had to be there too for Bible study," she paused momentarily, "I never got to have that 'normal' childhood where Sundays were to be spent with your family at a park or down the block at a friend's house. No, my Sundays were filled with froufrou dresses and socks," she scoffed and shook her head, "You know, when I turned fifteen, I remember one Sunday she woke my sister and I up for church and told us to shower and get ready and to come downstairs for breakfast, in my dreariness, I got ready. I went downstairs and sat and when my mother saw the dress that I was wearing she told me that I was crazy to think that she was going to let me walk out of her house looking like a harlot and she ordered me to take it off, so I did. I came downstairs in another dress and several minutes after, my sister," she scoffed once more, "was wearing the exact same dress I'd been wearing and I smiled 'cause I knew Mama was going to throw a fit."
"But she didn't, right?" Dot asked.
Amanda shook her head, "No, she didn't. She told my sister that she couldn't look more beautiful and I lost it. I told her that how come Kim could wear it but not I, the dress was mine nonetheless. She said that on my body it looked like I was walking with the Devil but Kim looked angelic," Amanda gesticulated, "I was never enough for my mother. She still treats Kim like she's holier than thou and I'm just the disposable thing on the side. Oh, but I am good for money though."
"I'm sorry that happened to you, Detective," Dot said in her most sympathetic voice. It was amazing how she could sound so empathetic but her eyes conveyed a different emotion. It was like she was enjoying Amanda's vulnerability, she felt she had the upper hand and she was not afraid to use it to her advantage. It was sickening to watch.
"Rollins, she has the upper hand," I mumbled quietly, "make her think that she had it better than you."
"Yea, but enough about me," Amanda dismissed quickly, "I'm sure you don't want to sit here and hear how horrid my mother was to me when I'm sure your mother was great to you. You're an only child, right Ms. Klein?"
Dot sat up straighter and flexed her left hand on the table, "I am an only child, Detective but don't be fooled," she said, waving her right index in the air.
"Don't be fooled? I'm a Detective, Ms. Klein, I'm trained to not be fooled," Rollins mentioned and Dot smiled, enjoying the slight flirtatious exchange between the both.
"Did you see that?" I said to both the room and Amanda, "Rollins, flirt with her again. Make it less subtle this time."
"So, what does a beautiful woman like your self do to end up in a police precinct being interviewed by a Lieutenant and a shrink? I'm sure they didn't bring you in to discuss their anniversary," Dot smiled and narrowed her eyes, searching Amanda's face.
I smiled and nodded at Amanda's handy work, "Great job, Rollins."
"Well, they were asking about several clients of mine and though I told your Lieutenant that I didn't know them, I did. I worked very closely with each of them in the planning of their events," Dot leaned back and pinched the bridge of her nose, closing her eyes, "They were nightmares to be around."
Amanda shifted in her seat, "I know, I know, not yet though. She's opening up, keep her talking… for now," I answered to her body movement.
"Nightmares?" Amanda asked.
Dot opened her eyes and brought her hand down, "Yes, nightmares," she begun, "Take Greta Savelievna," That's victim number four, "I was hired to help plan her daughter's wedding. Being a Russian immigrant, first-generation in the US, she wanted her daughter to have the best of the best in little to no time. We were constantly at it. The more she yelled, the more I shut down internally but never failed to deliver. And, in the end, you know I thought I was going to get an apology from her but no. The day of the wedding she told everybody that the event wouldn't have looked the way it did if it weren't for her that I was just there to 'see things through'," Dot was angry, she was upset at how she'd been treated by Mrs. Savelievna, "They're still paying for my services but I don't know if I'll see a payment now that the great matriarch has kicked the bucket," she finished with a scoff.
"Wow, I—I'm… wow," was all Amanda could say but it was all she needed to say. Dot had already opened up to her and now, no matter what, she was going to answer Amanda's questions, regardless of what they may be.
Dot was attempting to reel in her anger. After all, she couldn't let it show. Not in front of us, not in front of Amanda. She still thought she was in control and still had the upper hand in all of this; it was a matter of playing it correctly. I noticed once more that she was fidgeting that left hand and quite honestly, it was driving me insane not knowing why she did that or what caused it, "Amanda, notice how every time she gets uncomfortable she flexes her left hand and wrist?" Amanda crossed her legs and gave a slight nod, "Touch her, see how she responds and ease the question in."
Amanda was quick on her feet, before Dot could pull the hand away, Amanda grabbed it and the look of sheer terror and shock that dressed Dot's eyes was once I would've paid to see over and over again, "I've noticed you flex this hand a lot, are you in pain?" Amanda said, playing with the other woman's fingers.
Dot had tensed but was beginning to relax the more Amanda had contact with her skin. She released a gust of wind from her chest, her shoulders slumped forward, and her head lulled on her neck; She's enjoying the intimacy, "Detective," Dot husked.
"You can call me Amanda if I can call you Dot," Amanda mentioned matter-of-factually.
Dot smiled and blushed, "No, Amanda, I am not in pain."
Amanda continued playing with Dot's fingers, "Then, why?"
Dot searched Amanda's face, her mouth parted in thought. She shook her head and looked down at their hands, "It's a long story."
"Well," Amanda said, "I'm listening."
She sighed, "Much like your mother, my mother too was a fanatic of church and pushing me into the teachings. My father in the other hand just wanted me to happy but he died too soon for my liking. After my father died, my mother was worse towards me," she paused, "One day, I thought she was going to be working late and I had invited a friend over, a female friend. I knew I was attracted to the fairer sex from a somewhat young age but that wasn't something I could divulge to my mother. She walked in and caught us holding hands."
"Fuck," I mumbled.
"What? What?" Olivia asked, approaching me.
"What did your mother do to you, Dot?" Amanda asked.
"She threw Olive out and told her that she was no longer welcomed in our home," Dot answered, her eyes watering, "She broke my wrist and two fingers in the process. Then she made me go out with this boy in our neighborhood, Donald. It was okay in the beginning until he wanted sex from me," she sniffled, looking away, "He sodomized me."
"Oh, Dot," I said, bringing my hand to cover my mouth. I hated to do this now but it was enough to continue the interrogation. Amanda had done wonderfully, "Close it up, Rollins. You did amazing!"
"You know, Dottie," she begun, releasing her hand and bringing her own to her lap, "all of our victims have a left broken wrist and fingers and they were sodomized. Did you do that?"
Dot looked up at Amanda, her tears escaping and a smile forming on her lips, "Yes," she whispered.
"What happened?" Amanda asked.
"They reminded me so much of my mother. The yelling, the constant nagging, the interminable imperious attitude… I could see it in their eyes," she said, Amanda hummed in response, "In their daughter's eyes, I could see that the behavior exuded during the coordination of the event was something that they'd been exposed to throughout their lifetime. I only did them a favor," she finished, leaning back on the chair and wiping at her fallen tears.
Amanda nodded and snickered, "No, Dot, you did your self a favor. Those girls, their families—they're in suffering. They're mourning the lost of their mother, wife, grandmother… just because of your selfish act."
"Selfish?" she snickered, "Amanda, you're telling me that if I did to your mother what I did to those other women, you wouldn't be relieved that she finally got what she deserved?"
Amanda shook her head, "My mother doesn't deserve that. She never laid a hand on me. Neither did those other women."
"Oh," Dot scoffed, "now who's acting holier than thou, Detective?"
"I'm done," Amanda said as she stood, "Is that enough for a collar, Lieutenant?"
Dot tensed as Amanda removed her earpiece, "You fucking bitch," Dot sneered, "were they feeding you everything? Was the pretty little doctor feeding you the lines?"
Amanda turned around with a smile, "I got an admission, that's all that matters."
Dot stood quickly, "Are you letting her fuck you, Amanda? Or, do you have the hots for your Lieutenant?" Amanda tittered and shook her head, "Oh, that's it. You have a mommy complex. You want your Lieutenant to yell and scold you and then fuck you, don't you?"
"Liv, you need to get in there, now," I mentioned to Olivia.
"I don't think that's the greatest idea right now, Tori."
"Now, Olivia!"
As I'm telling this to Olivia, Dot jumped the table and reached for Amanda. Thankfully the Detective was quick on her feet and was able to step to the side and pin her right arm behind her back, "Dot Klein, you're under arrest for the murders of Scarlet Tomlinson, Jules Nash, Edith Colby, Greta Savelievna, and Samantha Cooke-Appleton."
At that moment, Olivia and Fin entered the box. Fin took over reading the Miranda rights, "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. Do you understand these rights as they've been read to you?"
"Yea, whatever. Say what you want, Detective but those girls and their families are free now because of me," she said with clenched teeth.
"Get her out of here, Fin," Amanda said as Fin dragged Dot to the holding cell.
Olivia motioned for Amanda to enter her office through the adjoining door. At first, she seemed reluctant but conceded nevertheless. I walked forward, removing my headset and placing atop Olivia's desk, "Amanda," I said breathily, enveloping the woman in a warm embrace. I knew that this interrogation had been strenuous for Amanda and it was a given that she was somewhat uncomfortable with the subject in play but she pushed forward and got the admission out of Dot. From what Olivia and I had talked about at home or during random conversations, Amanda was never good with being coddled but in all honesty, I couldn't help but feel for the woman in my arms. My mother and I never had the greatest relationship and it took me nearly dying for a second time for her to come to terms and step forward and mend our broken relationship. Yes, now, my mother was part of mines and my children's life but even so, it was still hard at times, as she didn't understand certain choices of mine.
Amanda had been hesitant to the hug that she was now trapped in but after lingering moments she had given in to the embrace and as now breathing shakily in my arms. If she was anything like Olivia, the act we were performing was to be enough for her. After being exposed, bore raw in front of her colleagues and to a complete stranger, I was sure she didn't want to talk. At least, not at the moment; she would go to Olivia when time came, of that I was sure about. In the three, almost four years of my marriage with her superior, I'd seen their relationship blossom and flourish. Neither of them was apprehensive of each other anymore. Amanda was always invited to our home and our kids seemed fond of each other in more ways than one. It did Olivia good to have another female in her life, another woman to share the stories that she was—still—too squeamish to open up to me about.
Once I felt Amanda relax in my arms, I let go. She smiled at me and breathed easily, "You did great in there, Amanda," Olivia commended.
"Thanks, Liv," she replied with a smile.
"If it serves for anything, Dot was just trying to rile you up in there," Olivia said.
"Oh," she tittered, "I know. You know my sexual preferences, Liv. I don't think Dot understands that in her troubled mind," she paused, "but thank you."
"You're welcome," I said, meant more as a question than a statement.
Both women chuckled at my addled response, "We wouldn't have done it without you, Doctor," Amanda responded.
"Oh," I said, smiling at them, "it was nothing, really. Just doing my job."
"You did more than that, Victoria," Amanda relented, "Y—You…" she sighed.
I smiled, "You're welcome, Amanda. I'm here for you guys," I leaned in and whispered, "and not just because I'm married to your aggravating commanding officer," I winked as I finished, eliciting giggles from the blonde detective.
As Amanda and I were having our exchange, Olivia's phone rung, "That was the Chief of D's," she said as she hung up, "He wants mandatory psych evals for everybody involved and yes, that includes me, Dr. Reyes-Benson."
I smiled and blinked slowly, "Who's going to do your evaluation, Lieutenant?"
"You," she relinquished.
"T—That's a conflict of interests, Liv. I—I can't," I stuttered quickly, "As per whom?"
"Fitzgerald," she grinned smugly as she approached me. She leaned in and captured my lips quickly, "I'll have the dates for you to perform those evaluations. We'll start with you," she turned to address Amanda, "Rollins."
She nodded and gave a genuine smile, "Yes, Lieutenant," she said as she exited the office.