The revelation washed over Munch as he hurried down the hall to the forensics lab. The reason Seth Havard had been able to leave his apartment twice without ever reentering it, why he had acted differently during each witness interview, why he'd been able to pose as an accountant and kept repair tools from a janitorial job, why he had a solid alibi even when being identified unmistakably as a the doer. Twins. They were looking for not one man, but he and his identical twin.

It all made sense. They would have identical DNA and finger prints, one could be out and about on camera while the rapes and murders were taking place, it was the perfect setup. Finally, the break he needed. Now he just needed Warner to confirm it.

Speak of the devil. Warner was locking the door to the Forensic lab wrapped in her pea coat, back to the oncoming Detective. "Hold up, Doc!" Munch called, quickening his pace.

Warner looked over her shoulder and groaned. "What do you want?" she spat, turning and tieing a scarf around her neck.

Munch stopped in front of her, looking taken a back "What's with that attitude?" he questioned "You look like you just smelled a dead body."

"Oh ha ha." she mocked dryly "You're a real riot, John."

"Come on, whats up?" he asked, genuinely concerned.

Suddenly, there was a gloved finger in the large nosed mans face. "I've reexamined three bodies in the past 24 hours and ran about twenty-five separate prints and DNA samples for YOUR case and all I've been getting from you is impatience and attitude." she hissed "So yeah, I'm a little displeased to see you."

John looked apologetic. "I'm sorry, Doc, I've just been stressed..."

"We all are." she shot back at him.

"I know..." John trailed off "This ones just gettin to me..."

And it was. He'd barely had an accumulated 8 hours of sleep over the past four days. Warner surveyed him for a moment before sighing and placing her hands on her hips. "What do you need, wise guy?"

Munch shot her a grin. "What are the odds in the DNA found at the crime scene being from three different people?"

"Three?" She asked, eyeing him "I only found two sets."

"What if I told you one set came from two people?" he tossed back.

"If you're going to insult me, you can turn right back around." She hissed, moving to stroll past him.

But she stopped dead in her tracks. Earlier, she had noticed a miniscule difference in the DNA from two different hairs. Every other point was a direct match so she had ignored it. But now..."What are you trying to say?"

"How possible is it that our perp had a twin brother?"

Hours after Warner had slammed open the door to her office and she, with Munch's assistance, had begun sifting through all the DNA testing done on the crime scene, morning light had crept into the precinct. Coffee mug in hand, John stared triumphantly, with half lidded eyes, at the fruits of his and the good doctors labor. He held, in his hands, a DNA comparison, proving, beyond reasonable doubt, that they were after twins.

His backside met the soft cushion of his chair. He released the paper on to his desk and leaned back, running his long fingers over his lined face. For the first time since that dreadful phone call to Cragen's office four days ago, he felt relieved. Finally, he'd cracked the case. He'd managed to find the missing piece in this insane, twisted puzzle. He closed his eyes, taking only a moment to rest.

Seconds later, he heard the doors to the squad room swing open. Elliot and Fin walked in, arguing hautly. "I told you, the kid's innocent. It's the father we should be looking at!" Stabler growled.

"And I told you to stop making all kids into victims." Fin threw back, shaking his head and heading for his desk.

The two were obviously disagreeing over a new case that had landed on Stablers lap yesterday. He'd likely asked Fin's opinion, a mistake since the two often had different views in victimology and profiling. "Trouble in paradise, ladies?" Munch quipped, looking towards them over the rim of his glasses "If you two get a divorce, I'll want the gift back."

Fin rolled his eyes "What gift? You're to cheap to buy anyone a wedding gift."

Munch snickered. "You seem to be in a better mood today, John." Stabler commented, already making himself busy with the coffee pot "Did the government finally admit the JFK assassination was a conspiracy?"

"Don't play with my hearts desires like that, Elliot." Munch squinted, pointing a finger at him
"It's not nice and you know it."

Stabler chuckled and raised his hands in mock surrender. "But I did make a break in the Clome case."

"Get out of here." Fin responded to the smug looking gentleman "Did ya get the guy?"

"Not yet, but I'm one step closer." He answered.

He lifted the folder with the DNA files off his desk and tossed it it gently on to Fin's. "Read and weep, Fin my boy."

The well dressed detective scooped up the file and opened it. Stabler made his way over with two mugs of coffee. As the two skimmed the file, Munch leaned back in his chair, satisfied with himself. "What are we looking at here?" Stabler asked, confused.

But before Munch could answer, Olivia strolled in to the squad room. immediately upon seeing John in a self satisfied manner that had been out of his character for quite a few days now, called over "How'd the twin theory work out for you?"

Stabler's eyes went right back to the folder. "Wait, the perp has a twin."

Munch's smile widened to near Steven Tyler levels. "He does indeed."

Benson came around the desks to look at the documents, accepting the coffee mug Stabler offered her. "Well all be damned." She breathed, sipping from her mug.

She straightened up. "Have you gotten the sketches circulating?" She continued, Stabler and Fin still trying to make sense of the scientific garble.

"I'm waiting for Cabot now." He nodded, standing to pour himself another cup of joe.

Benson looked mildly impressed. She was happy to see John in better spirits. The past few days had really taken a toll on the older man. He'd been irritable and irrational, well, more so then usual. Sleep had evaded him heavily and, even though he obviously still had not managed shut eye, he seemed more alive and awake. She came around to lean next to him as he turned, full mug in hand and joined her. "Gotta say, John," Fin finally spoke, closing the folder and sliding it back on his partners desk "That's impressive."

Munch raised his mug towards Fin before taking a swig of sweet caffeine. As the morning chatter picked up, nights discussed, cases complained about, Munch, for once, didn't participate. He allowed himself just a small reprieve before he faced this case with renewed vigor. He was worn out, beat, tired. It took every bit of strength he had to keep himself up right against the ledge. "Ready to call it a day already, John?"

Munch opened an eye to leer at ADA Cabot as she sauntered up to the coffee maker, already holding a cardboard Starbucks cup. "The sun's only just come up, assistant district attorney." he shot back, taking in an exaggerated sniff of his coffee "And the java is fresh. Call it a day? Not on your job."

Cabot chuckled before laying one hand on her waist and leaning on the desk with the other. "So what do you have for me?"

"Not as much as you'd like but more then we thought." John responded, pulling out the two sketches "I need both of these circulated."

"Both?" Alex raised an eyebrow, taking the papers from him "This looks like the exact same sketch."

"Aye but look closer, dear Cabot." he began one of his routines "For things are not as they appear!"

Alex's eyebrow was in danger of disappearing into her hairline. "Twins. The perp has a twin."

She looked over the drawings again. "Twins? Guess that helps eliminate reasonable doubt."

After a soft sigh, Cabot shrugged. "Alright, John. They'll be all over by the evening news."

"You're a doll, Alex." He grinned, toasting her with his mug.

She waved away his gesture and headed for the door. "Next call I get from you better be for a warrant!" was her response as her figure sauntered out the door.

Duty called for the older detective. He had a full day ahead of him filled with search organization, manning the tip lines, phone calls...

That's right. Ann was supposed to be released from the hospital today. He'd listened to the message in the early hours of his third sleep deprived day. She'd called his cell and said that she was insisting on an early release so she could observe the movers who'd she'd called to set up her new apartment which she'd managed to some how procure with the furniture she purchased and over-nighted online. Must be good to have a private fortune.

He couldn't be bitter. She had gone through a terrible event and a new, well furnished home was a good way to help start over. Well, the PD cops weren't going to brief themselves. Munch drained the last of his coffee and set his mug back on his desk. He grabbed his files on the case, threw on his coat and hollered for Fin.

"Come on Fin! Let's nail these bastards!"

"This is a channel nine news breaking bulletin." came the professional voice of the news caster doing the nightly news "Our top story tonight, suspects identified in a string of murders being committed across the city of New York. After thirteen dead, the latest victim of the killers now being called "The Twin Terrors" miraculously survived. journalism student Ann-Marie Clome was brutally attacked in her home several nights ago."

"With strength anyone should admire, she managed to escape from her captors and make it to the police where she was able to identify the men who were responsible."

Two images flashed on to the screen. It was two identical sketches. "These are the artists renderings of the suspects. They are identical twins but one has a scar over his left eye. They masquerade as one man, usually pretending to be an accountant or a maintenance man. These men are very dangerous and should not be approached."

Munch clicked the off button on the remote. Finally, a small wave of relief flowed through him. For the first time since he'd taken this god forsaken case, he was able to get information to the public. The only information they'd with held was the connection to the oolong tea, because, well, you can't give everything away. Now that they had the eyes and ears of New York on their side, they might actually find this guy.

Stretching, Munch felt the sleep he'd been evading for so long start to seep into is his body. What a feeling it was to, after so many days of coffee induced zombie-like action, to finally accept exhaustion. He was sure he was going to be out like a light as soon as he hit his couch.

But, as life has a way of handing him wild cards just when he's about to fold a hand, as he had begun to dial the number for a local cab service, the phone on his desk let out a shrill ring. He sighed long and low. The contemplation of just letting the phone scream on into the night passed through his mind. reluctantly, he removed the phone from it's receiver. "Special Victims Unit." he answered, blocking a yawn.

"Detective Munch? Is that you?"

Munch's ears perked up. "Ann?"

"I...I'm sorry to call you so late...they just let me out of the hospital..." she sounded dejected.

"That's alright." he lied, rubbing the sleep from his dark bagged eyes "What can I do for you?"

The phone line was silent for a moment, almost as if she'd hung up. "Is there somewhere I can meet you?" she asked abruptly "I...I don't know who else I can talk to..."

There was a sharp breath. With the air that entered her lungs, Munch felt a pang somewhere in his chest. He thought for a moment. "There's a dinner three blocks from the precinct, open all night."

She was controlling her voice fairly well for someone choking back tears. "Thank you, Detective."

"I told you, call me John." he responded, trying to cheer her slightly.

"Right...I'll see you there..."

The line went dead. Munch dropped the phone on the receiver. She sounded awful and that worried him. Had the perp been sending her death threats? Was she ok?

I guess he'd find out. So much for hitting the sack...

FINALLY. I'm so sorry it's taken ages to update! I've had quite the the bus months and awful writers block! But here it is, chapter 9! This is the kinda...in between chapter leading up to a big scene. So it's a little flat. but bare with me! I promise it pics up!

Thanks again for reading!
~Sven