Chapter 12: Baby in the Chair (part 4)
Disclaimer: Not mine. I have tried every trick in the book, but Mr. Wolf is just too clever. Someday…
A/N: Wow. I am willing to bet that most of you hate me. I have been gone for so long. I'm sorry. There are no excuses. I feel terrible, but I'm back. For a little while at least. Anyway, I'm tired of this unfinished story hanging over my head and I must needs finish it.
Okay, so are there any Escape the Fate fans out there? I love them!! I've also recently gotten into Kate Voegele, Kate Nash, and Sara Bareilles.
BTW: Does anyone know if the writer's strike is ending? I've heard that it is and I've heard that it isn't. Also, do you guys agree that Dick should just hire someone from fanficton to be a writer? Seriously, how good are we?
Have you guys ever wondered if the actors and the directors and the writers ever read our stories for inspiration? I know if I were them I would.
Anyway, I've made you guys wait long enough…so without further ado…
ENJOY MUCHLY!!!!!
"Have you ever considered the possibility that, maybe, just maybe, the world isn't out to get you?" Fin asked Munch only half-kidding.
"Yes, I have...for about 5 seconds, but it's just not possible."
"I swear…" But whatever Fin was going to say was forgotten as Elliot and Olivia walked back into the squad room. Elliot looked relieved, but Olivia still looked guarded. Head down, looking self-conscious Olivia sat at her desk and stared blankly at her computer screen. Elliot didn't sit; rather, he walked to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup of sludgy, day old coffee.
Grimacing he tossed the cup, untouched, into the wastebasket and looked accusingly at Munch.
"What?" Munch said defensively shrugging. "I was busy…working on a case...no, paperwork." He said lamely.
Elliot opened his mouth but Fin cut him off. "The captain wants you and Olivia in his office. Says you've got another case."
Olivia and Elliot glanced at each other. To Munch and Fin it looked like they wanted to nothing other than bolt from the room and never look back. But, sighing resignedly, they stepped into the captain's office and sat at the two chairs in opposite the captain.
After gazing at them intently for a minute, the captain explained that they had another child-centered case. This one looked like plain old neglect, but there were a few red flags.
"Like what?" Olivia asked looking like she would rather be anywhere but here.
"Here, just read the file." He handed them both copies and said they were dismissed.
Leaving the office, both were aware that all eyes were on them. Sitting at her desk, with Elliot leaning over her shoulder she opened the file and began to read aloud.
"The victim is…was a 9 month old. Apparently, her parents went on the first vacation they'd had since she was born. They had called the mother's aunt to come and watch the child for the week, but she was running late. After being assured that the aunt would be there soon the couple decided to go ahead and leave."
"Some parents." Elliot muttered.
Nodding her head in agreement, Olivia continued, "The parents came home, a week later, to find the child where they left it, in the high chair. The baby was long dead and maggots were already eating the swollen child."
Olivia stopped and Elliot took over.
"The aunt had been killed in a car crash on the way to her niece's. The baby starved to death."
"Well, I see what the captain meant about red flags." Olivia said.
Elliot agreed. "When the police identified the aunt they should have tracked down the nearest relatives, which would have been the niece, and they would have found the baby."
To anyone else this case may have looked like a freak occurrence; a case that had somehow slipped through the cracks. But not to Elliot and Olivia. They knew the truth.
And, looking at each other, they knew it was time to share what they knew. Things were spiraling out of control. Soon, something really terrible was going to happen and that case would indelibly hit closer to home.
TBC
A/N: Much reviews if I should continue writing. Thanx!!!!!