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Chapter 12: Locking On
"It all makes sense," Huang nodded the next afternoon. The address Munch had procured from NYPD records no longer existed, and the team now found themselves waiting for him and Fin to locate a new one.
Elliot narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms. "How exactly does it make sense?"
"From what I've read, Gardner tried several times to transfer to a unit where he could be on the streets and was denied. After the last denial, he decided to take matters into his own hands. That's why he was fired. He started a virus on their entire system."
"Isn't that illegal?" Elliot asked.
Cragen cleared his throat. "I talked with his former supervisor about that -- they couldn't actually prove it was done on purpose or even if it was Gardner who did it."
"Right," Huang agreed. "But he had made some threats. He also said that the NYPD would realize their mistake and come crawling back to him. He believed they would need him. The killer functioned likewise. He didn't go to the police directly -- he did just enough to make us aware of his presence, but he didn't try to seek us outright. He waited for us to go to him. He waited for us to need him."
Elliot squinted his eyes. "I really don't think we need him."
Huang smiled. "No, but in his deluded mind he thinks so. He's finally found away to make the NYPD come crawling to him. Now that he has our attention, he wants us to make sure we know just how talented he is."
"But why rape and torture?" Olivia asked. "There's no history of anything remotely similar to that in his record."
Huang took a deep breath. "I think that's where you come in, Olivia. You said yourself you took his job. He's made you the face of the NYPD. He built himself up to grab your attention and to show you just how superior he is to you. He became so focused on you --" he trailed off.
"Great," she muttered.
Huang shook his head in disappointment. "It all fits -- I should have seen this before."
"Doc, how could you have known?" Cragen asked. "How could any of us have known?"
Huang turned to face him. "It's my job to know."
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
The evening sun had hung low in the sky when he had first arrived, but dark had long since settled.
Munch exhaled deeply as he stepped back out on to the porch of the Gardner family home.
"Take care now," the elderly woman smiled as she shut the door behind him.
Munch used two fingers to rub his temple as he reached for his phone. Good Lord -- does the woman ever shut up?
He crinkled his nose as he listened to the rings.
"Tutuola," the voice on the other end picked up.
"Yeah, it's Munch. Just finished a chat with Gardner's mother."
"What's she got?"
Munch sighed. "Too many damn cats. I'm never gonna get the fur -- or that delectable scent of cat piss for that matter -- out of my clothes."
"Besides that."
A smile appeared on Munch's face. "Well, the old bat doesn't know where he lives. Apparently they aren't that close -- shocker. I wouldn't want to be anywhere downwind of this giant litterbox. Anyway, she does, however, happen to know where he's been making a living. Seeing as I'm all the way out here in no man's land, I thought you could swing by. Got a pen?"
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
It was dark by the time Fin swung his vehicle around the corner of the block where the electronics store was located. He pulled up to the curb and shut off the engine.
As he stepped out of the vehicle, his eyes cautiously swept the area. The street was quiet, but he caught sight of a group of boys standing under a streetlight.
Fin slammed his door shut and walked towards them.
"Hey," he called out, holding up his badge.
Four faces turned to look at him.
"What up?" one asked.
Fin pulled the picture of Gardner out of his pocket. "I was wondering if any of you could tell me about this man."
The boy who spoke grabbed the photo. He shook his head and handed it back to him.
"What about the rest of you?" Fin asked, showing the photo to the rest of the group.
One boy shook his head, but the other two began whispering to each other.
Fin raised his eyebrow. "Care to share?"
The shorter of the two boys stepped forward. "Yeah, I seen him. He works at that ElectroShock place round the corner. Fixed my computer last week."
"Okay," Fin said, slipping the photo back into his pocket. "Know where he lives?"
The two boys shook their head.
"Nah," said one. "Don't even know the dude's name."
The detective sighed. "Thanks," he muttered before making his way to the store.
He knew it would be closed, but he had to make sure Gardner was not hiding out in there.
The store front was dark. There was a light on in the back, but after watching carefully for several minutes, Fin decided it was most likely left on to discourage thieves.
The sign on the door front listed the hours of business.
Opens at eight. Fin checked his watch. It was just after ten. Guess that gives me about nine hours of shut-eye. Sounds good.
He gave one last look at the store and then strolled back to his car. Once inside, he cracked out his cell phone and reported back to his partner and then to Benson. After hanging up, he slid down in his seat and closed his eyes.
The ringing of his cell phone woke him up. He answered it without opening his eyes.
"Tutuola," he mumbled.
"Fin, you get anything yet?"
He recognized Olivia's anxious voice and cracked open an eye. The faint light of early morning greeted him.
"Shit, what time is it?" he asked.
She sighed. "Seven thirty-eight."
Fin ran a hand across his eyes. "Uh, store opens at eight, Liv."
"I know. I just wanted to make sure you were up."
"Don't worry -- I am now," he yawned.
"Someone could be there early, you know."
Fin sighed and reached for the door handle. "I'm getting out of the car right now."
He stumbled into the street, stretching the kinks from his back, and then made the trek back to the store.
The door was locked, and the front of the store was still unlit. Fin shaded his eyes and peered into the window. He caught sight of movement in the back of the store and he pounded on the window.
A man's head appeared in a doorway. He made a motion to shoo Fin away, but stopped when the detective slammed his badge up against the glass. He then immediately came towards the door and unlocked it.
Fin stepped inside.
"What can I do for you, officer?" The man eagerly asked.
"Detective Tutuola, Manhattan SVU." Fin could tell he was a morning person. He hated morning people.
"What can I do for you, detective?" the manager corrected.
"Does this man work for you?" he asked, holding up the photo.
"Oh, yeah -- that's Earl alright. He's off today, though. Called in sick -- Nasty stomach virus. He's been out nearly a week already."
Fin ignored the manager's concerned tone. "Earl?"
"Earl Gardner. Is he in some kind of trouble?"
Fin snorted. "You could say that. This guy got an address?"
The man narrowed his eyes. "Well I'm sure he does."
Fin sighed. "Do you have it?"
"I may," the man said, concentrating on Fin's face. "Can I see your badge again?"
Fin rolled his eyes, but obliged.
The man studied it for a second, and then nodded. "I'll go check my records."
The manager disappeared again through the doorway and the sounds of computer keys could be heard. As Fin waited, he looked about the store.
A computer geek's wet dream, he thought as he glanced at all of the electronic equipment. Munch would love it.
He smiled briefly as he imagined the conspiracy rants that all of the products would elicit from the mouth of his partner.
"Here it is," the man's voice rang out as he re-entered the room. "I ran you a copy of his employee records."
"Thanks," Fin said as he snatched the paper and turned to leave.
"One more thing, if you would, Detective."
Fin glanced back. "Yeah?"
The manager frowned and folded his arms against his chest. "If this is anything more than an unpaid parking ticket -- kindly inform Mr. Gardner that he is no longer employed here."
"You got it."
Fin stepped outside onto the sidewalk and heard the door being locked behind him. His hand went immediately to his phone and he punched in the number.
It was picked up on the first ring.
"Liv -- I got it."
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Thirteen minutes and some odd seconds later, Stabler brought their vehicle to an abrupt halt outside of the apartment building. As the two stepped out onto the street, several heavily armed officers rushed past them.
Benson tightened a strap on her vest, and pulled out her gun. She fell into line behind the other policemen as they silently filed up the stairs to the second floor.
The two lead officers stopped outside the door marked 2E. One caught Olivia's gaze. Ready?, he mouthed.
She nodded her head.
The man nodded back and then pointed to his men, who then used a battering ram to knock in the apartment door. The group stormed into the room and checked every room.
"It's clear, Detectives."
"Damn it," Olivia muttered in response.
"She means thanks," Elliot explained.
The unit commander gave a small smile and a nod of understanding.
"We'll wait around a while downstairs if you need us," he said before disappearing out the door. His men followed him.
Olivia sighed as she finally re-holstered her weapon. "This guy is seriously pissing me off!"
Her partner closed his eyes and nodded. "I know -- "
He stopped suddenly and the two locked eyes. The phone had begun to ring.
