Alison stood next to the body, making notes on her clipboard.
"What do we got, Al." Danny said as he and Baez walked over to her.
"Victim's name is Madeline Gleason. The cause of death is being marked as manual strangulation. But Sid will know more when we finish clearing the body, and he can take her back to the lab." Danny bent down next to the body, looking over it.
"Looks like Madeline Gleason put up quite a fight." Alison nodded.
"She was 19 years old."
"When I was 19, I was living in Alphabet City with some muscle head named Dario," Baez said smiling. Alison forced out a laugh glancing at Danny. Baez noticed the exchange between the sibling stopped. "Oh, Al, I'm sorry." Alison waved her hands, cutting her off.
"Don't be." She wanted to say more, but she spotted Erin walking over to them.
"Morning." Her sister called out to them.
"I'm going to my van. You can brief her." Alison said, tucking her clipboard under her arm.
"What is it this time." Baez asked Danny.
"Erin threw out a bunch of evidence that Al collected at a scene the other day. While Al was on the stand."
"Ouch."
"What do you have for me." Erin said, looking at the three of them.
"You can talk to the detectives or wait and read my report," Alison said, walking past Erin.
"Hey." Antony, who was standing next to Erin, called. Alison stopped clenching her fists. She was better than this. "You can't talk to her like that." He continued. Alison spun on that.
"You don't get to hey me. Not when she nearly ruined my care." Alison shouted at her. She vagally registered Danny standing up.
"Really, Al, we're going to do this here," Erin said, putting her hand on her hips.
"Why not? Since you are so fond of interrupting me in the middle of my work, why not here. At my crime scene."
"I'm the ADA that got this case, so technically It's my scene." Red Alison could only see red.
"Without my work, you wouldn't have a case. Or did you forget how that monster got away because all my work got thrown out the window?"
"You got it without a warrant." Alison shot toward Erin, her fist ready to take a swing at the ADA. Before she could reach her, Danny grabbed her around her waist. She was so mad that the fear that would normally have shot through her didn't come.
"I had a warrant as I said it was sent over by the DA himself. The fact that it was faulty is on him." Erin, unfazed by Alison's reaction, continued to stare down at her.
"He's the DA. He wouldn't make a mistake like that." Alison locked eyes with her.
"That's not what I'm hearing." Erin's face turned ashen and Alison to the opportunity to shove Danny back. "Like I said, I'll be at the van. Let me know when the ADA is gone." Danny lifted a hand, waving at her.
"Sure, thing thanks for your help."
Greg sat in his office, taking a deep breath. He finished the most recent letter last night, and he wanted to throw up. The sick monster writing to her had clearly become more fixated the longer this went on. Adding more details and pictures to every letter. Greg wished he could chock some of the stories off as exaggerations or fantasies. Unfortunately, he lived with the victim and had seen the scars that matched every story. Time, he wanted time to process all the information or block it out what he could. He leaned forward in his chair, placing his head in his hands.
"You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders." Greg looked up and found Mac leaning against the door frame to his office.
"it's nothing. How are you? You and Christina pick a date yet. I know Alison had wanted to ask." Mac walked over, sitting across from him.
"No, Christina wants me to tell Reed before we set a date. I know he's going to be thrilled, but Christina just wants to make sure that he feels like he's part of it." Greg nodded his head. Reed was the son of Mac's first wife, and he and Mac had grown close over the years.
"When does he get back in the country." Reed was a journalist and was currently on an assignment where cell service was a little spotty.
"Next week." Mac smiled.
"So enough changing the subject what's bothering you." Greg tilted his head.
"I assume you are heard about what happened in court with Erin and Alison." Mac looked at him, clearly not satisfied with his answer.
"I think that it was all due respect disrespectful of ADA Reagan. I have spoken with the DA about the mix-up with our warrant, but I requested it myself, and Alison should have had the go-ahead. The fact that it wasn't cleared on the courtside seems strange."
"It's defiantly making things a little more stressful than I would like them." Mac shifted.
"How's the family reacting to Joe." That was clearly the reason Mac had come to his office in the first place.
"The family loves him. There is clearly some tension. I mean, it's not an easy family to join, especially out of the blue like he had to." Greg took a deep breath. "Do you know if he's talked to Stella?" Mac shook his head.
"He's pretty mad at her. He knew who Mary was growing up but didn't know the connection. Stella always told him it was because Mary took a special interest in them. I think that he just wanted answers and got a little more than he bargained for."
"I just hope for his sake that he skips family dinner this week. From what Danny told me, Alison nearly came to blows." Mac raised an eyebrow.
"What stopped her."
"Danny had to physically restrain her."
"I might have to swap Messer or Lindsey onto that case if it's getting that bad." Greg took a deep breath.
"Considering everything, I think it's nice that Alison finally feels like she can get mad."
Alison walked into Erin's office. Her sister glanced up from her work.
"Do I need to call security, or have you decided to grow up for a change?" Alison ate the words. She would deal will Erin later.
"Have you talked to Danny recently?"
"No way," Erin said, not looking up from her file.
"I think that we're dealing with a serial killer." Erin took her glasses off, looking at her.
"And I have a feeling you have evidence to back that statement up." Alison walked over, handing her two files.
"I got a match to two homicides from long Island." Erin opened the file.
"I assume that you talked to the detective in charge of that case."
"It was just handed over to a new detective. He's in the process of catching up on the case." Erin lifted her hands.
"Then go talk to the old detective and come back."
"I can't," Alison said, crossing her arms.
"And why not."
"She's missing." That got Erin's attention.
"What do you think?" Alison raised an eyebrow.
"So, you want my opinion." Erin slammed her hand on her desk.
"Don't give me that now. What's bugging you."
"I can't get a hold of Danny or Baez."
Greg pulled up to the street where the officer had started assembling to look for Danny and Baez. Jamie, who was leading it up, spotted him. Excusing himself, he walked over to Greg as he got out of the car. Joe Hill, his nephew close on his heels.
"What are you doing here?" Jamie asked.
"What do you think? I'm here to help look for them. They've been missing for almost a day. Sean stayed with me and Alison last night." Greg said, glancing around at the other officers.
"I mean…" Jamie glanced down at Greg's leg. "there's going to be a lot of walking, and with what happened a few weeks ago, I mean Alison…." Greg held his hand up, limping to the back of his car, where he pulled out his crutches.
"I'll be fine." He smiled at Joe. "Good to See you." Joe nodded.
"Happy to help." Jamie, still clearly not pleased with Greg showing up, shifted slightly.
"You two head down that street. Log every house you check and report back here if you get suspicious. I'll go with Antony." Greg and Joe nodded, heading down the street.
"Sorry, you get stuck with me," Greg said. Joe shook his head.
"I be honest, I was afraid I was going to get stuck with some that would start asking questions. I don't have to worry about you."
"Jamie wouldn't have asked questions." Joe shrugged his shoulders.
"Not about why I'm here but all the other stuff."
"Right, well, don't worry. I married into this crazy family. I know everything there is to know about them. If you need anything, just ask. Because if you ask one of them, they will circle the wagons faster than Messer when the coffee pot is empty."
"Thanks, Greg; I really appreciate it." Greg chooses his next words carefully.
"That's what it's for." He wanted to say family but knew that wasn't what Joe wanted to hear.
They slowly made their way from house to house.
"I could just do this, and you wait on the street," Joe said as Greg made his way up another set of stairs to the front door. He had taken to leaving his crutches leaning against the fence, so he wouldn't have to deal with them.
"No, I don't want you up here and me down there." Joe looked at him as he knocked on the door.
"Is this a protective uncle thing or just you think." Greg smiled.
"A little of both." The front door opened, and a man stood in front of them.
"NYPD," Greg said, having to raise his voice over the loud classical music that was playing. "I'm Detective Sanders, and this is Detective Hill." He said, pointing to Joe. "Can we ask you some questions?"
"Sure." The man said, nodding. Greg pulled out his phone, showing the man pictures of Danny and Baez.
"Have you seen either of these two people." the man shook his head.
"No, Sorry." Joe pulled his phone out, showing a picture of the victim they had been looking into.
"How about this one?"
"No, did something happen to them?" The man asked, looking between the two of them.
"They're missing," Greg said.
"You heard or seen anything unusual," Joe asked, glancing over the man's shoulder.
"Nothing that I'm used to, but I'll keep an eye out," he said, closing the door. Blocking out most of the music. Joe looked over at Greg.
"You ready." Greg raised an eyebrow.
"Ready for what." Joe pointed in front of them.
"Stairs."
Alison sat in the chair across from her dad.
"I don't get why I can't go down there. I mean, Greg is down there, and he only had one good leg." Frank looked up from his notepad where he was making notes on a speech he was giving.
"Alison, Mac asked you to process the rest of the evidence, and Greg was free." Alison, who was sitting sideways in her chair, looked over at him.
"And why am I sitting here with you and not down there looking now." He smiled at her.
"You're keeping me company." The door opened, and Erin walked into the office, pausing at the sight of Alison.
"Any news." She asked, handing Frank a cup of coffee. Giving an apologetic smile at the fact she didn't know to bring a coffee for Alison.
"No, not yet," Frank said. "You would be the first person I called." Alison shot up at that.
"What about me?"
"You're sitting in his office, Al," Erin said, exacerbated.
"So are you," Alison said, turning back to her notepad.
"I have enough fire to deal with today. I don't really want one in my office." Frank said. Alison swung her feet in front of the chair.
"Great, then I can go." Frank held up his hands.
"Please, Al." he looked over at Erin. "Let put one fire out today." Alison leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms.
"It's Erin's fault, or did you not read the report." Frank looked at his youngest.
"Oh, I read the report, including the one earlier where you nearly knocked your sister out." Erin rolled her eyes.
"She would not have knocked me out."
"Please, Erin, I could knock you out easy." Erin stood up, towering over her sister.
"You'd have to reach me first."
"Girls, please, I don't want to imagine what your mother would say if she saw you like this. It's like you're 10 and 23 again."
"Yeah, and one of us is still a kid." Erin glared down at her. "Honestly, it's like she never grew up." There it was. Alison saw the change in Erin's eyes. The fight that had been there vanishing in a second. All this time, she had seen her just as her sister. But now, she was looking at her like a victim. Alison Had grown up, but it had been forced. "You should have checked the warrant," Erin said, sitting down, her voice flat. Alison opened her mouth, but Frank held up his hand, stopping her.
"Mac looked it over. The version Alison got should have checked out. The issue is in your office." Erin tilted her head.
"But the DA did it himself." Frank leaned forward in his chair.
"I have reason to believe that you have been looking into the current DA for corruption." Alison looked between the two of them. "You did this to throw the DA off." Erin smiled at him.
"Who told you? Greg." Alison's mouth dropped open.
"No, Antony. He was concerned when you and Greg were in accidents within a few days of each other." Alison could feel all the pieces clicking together. "My only question is why Alison. You could have ended her career." Erin took a deep breath.
"The Antony got a tip. One of the names on the list was starting to take note of Alison. The case involved one of their lowers. I had to get it dropped, or something might have happened to Alison."
"You should have let me make the call." Erin nodded.
"I know, but these people are powerful. You're finally free just in time for someone else to take an interest in you." Alison's mind instantly shot to the letter. They didn't know, and it was going to crush the whole family.
"When this case goes to trial, I'll present what happened. That should fix most of it." Frank looked between the two of them.
"Seems I got one fire out today."
Greg and Joe sat on a park bench. Greg had an ice pack on his knee to help keep the swelling down. He would be stiff tomorrow, but thankfully all the houses they had left didn't have stairs to the front door.
"You know I remember when it happened," Joe said, nodding toward Greg's knee. "I remember Ma telling me that she was going to be late home because a cop had been injured." Greg nodded, rubbing his knee.
"Did you know it was me?" Joe shrugged his shoulders.
"It's strange because I know the most about you and Alison because of Mac and my Ma. I mean, I was even at your wedding." Greg looked over at that.
"Really. I mean, Stella was in it, so it makes sense." Greg stared at his face trying to remember if he recognized him. He would have to pull out the wedding pictures later and look.
"Yeah, I came with Reed and Mac since Ma was already, they. You probably thought I was one of Reed's friends." Greg's phone rang, and he pulled it out, listening.
"Sure, think Jamie." Greg tossed the ice into the trashcan next to them, getting to his feet.
"What's up."
"Jamie found an address in the victim's bag it matched near where the car. And one of the streets we checked."
They stood in front of the door where the man had been playing loud music. All the other houses had checked out, and this was the last one.
"Police Open up." Greg called out again. Joe walked down the steps and over to one of the windows, looking into the house. Something wasn't right; Greg could feel it. "Anybody home." He tried again.
"Ma'am," Joe called out. Greg looked over at him. "There's a woman in there. She just not responding." Greg nodded as the hair on the back of his neck stood up.
"Hey, Joe, listen." A found metallic banging could be heard coming from somewhere in the house. It was in a distinct pattern. "Get on, ESU, have them respond."
"5-4 task force detective requesting ESU respond to this location." Joe radioed in before hurrying back over to Greg. "You good," Joe asked. Greg didn't respond, breaking the window in the door. He reached in, opening the door.
"Police anybody in here." He called out as he entered. He and Joe started clearing the place calling out police and Danny's name. Greg joined the room where Joe had seen the woman's feet. "Joe, get in here." They both looked at the body of a dead woman with a bag over her head. The victim Danny had been looking into this morning.
"5-4 task force detective 10-13 to our location." Joe radioed into dispatch. Greg made his way over to the door to the basement where the banging was coming from. There was a large board wedged under the door nod along with keys in the lock. Gritting his teeth, he kicked the wood away before opening the door. Taking a deep breath, Greg hurried down the stairs. Where he found Danny kneeling next to Baez. Who was sitting on the basement floor?
"You guys alright." Greg asked, scanning the room.
"I am she's not." Danny said, the exhaustion in his voice. Greg looked up at Joe, who stood at the top of the stair.
"EMT' down here." The EMT hurried over to Baez, and Danny backed up Greg reached over, pulling Danny into a hug.
Alison leaned against Greg's shoulder as they flipped through the photo album.
"I can't believe that Joe was there," Alison said, pointing at another picture where he could be seen.
"Yeah, I'm glad he was. It seems right that he was there." Alison nodded.
"We should get some of these printed for him." She pointed at one that was the two of them and Joe standing by the dessert table.
"I think that would be nice." Greg turned his head, kissing the top of her head. "You were absolutely beautiful that day." Alison ran a hand over a picture where some of her scars would have been visible. She had the photographer edit them out even though Greg told her that she didn't need to. She took a deep breath.
"I know that you finished the letters." Alison felt his body tense. "You can tell the family I'm ready for them to know." Greg's hand on her gripped her a little tighter.
"I'm not ready to talk about it with them yet."