Wow! I'm really surprised this has been getting such a positive response! * Huge grin * originally, this was an X-files Idea (But it works better with Law and Order because I really don't think the FBI would be involved with every-day homicides)
Princess Charity: Thanks for the note! * You'd figure it'd be spelled differently huh? I'm so new at this…I feel like a freshmen in some big high school (Lol) *
A/N: As a slight note-The Ring is a HUGE phenomenon in Japan. They have like-five TV specials-five movies-a series of comics-and probably cookware relating to it (eyes narrow) expect me to mention this a lot.
ALSO-the "Day one, Day two, day three" rather then the usual dates in relation to the places where the characters are is another ring reference. Remember, you have seven days…and then you die…
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Day Two Continued
5th avenue
"Oh-"
The EMT lost it. Curtis gripped his arm tightly and rushed him away to the posh, Upper East Side sink.
"Well, this one looks absolutely charming." Lennie closed his eyes and counted to ten, "Are we going to have our crime scene personnel bag the bodies with eyes closed since it appears that they can't muster up enough courage to get a single stiff into-"
"Victim ID-" A coroner appeared around the corner, "Name is Sandra Mackenzie, Columbia art and film student." The Coroner held up a photo dispassionately, revealing a girl with long black hair and bright, almost eerie blue eyes. Curtis took the photo, thanking her before realizing that Sandra looked very, very familiar.
"Cat!"
A small gray and black striped Tabby jumped from the arms of a CSI investigator and headed toward the door.
"Catch it!" Lennie jumped after it, much to the glee of the crime scene team. He stopped, glaring at all of them-and finally stopping at Curtis who chuckled lightly at his partner's humorous exploits.
"What's so funny?" Lennie grumbled, "That cat might have some important-"
"Got it." A man came in carrying the creature-claws away from his chest-the animal yowling furiously, "A newshound caught her outside."
"Great." Lennie said sarcastically, "The hound caught the cat huh? Do we have some kind of presence outside?"
"Come on Lennie." Curtis returned, looking tired. The same MO as before had greeted their eyes the minute they walked into the crime scene. The puddles of water, the strange pictures-
"Hey!" Curtis turned and nodded at a CSI investigator who was dancing eagerly from foot to foot. Her short blond hair was wind-blown-probably from outside. She held up an evidence bag eagerly.
"Look!"
Like a kid with a new toy. Or a great accomplishment. Something in her mannerisms reminded Curtis of his own girls.
"What do you have?"
The object in Question was a standard issue ballpoint pen-probably made by Bic. However-directly on the underside-was a large bloody smear.
"Wow." Lennie took the bag from her gently, the investigator resisting slightly, afraid to part with her bone, "It looks like the murderer might have decided to give us a big fat clue."
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Interrogation Room
Day Two Con
Robert Rodriguez glared at the two of them, a re-do of a previous scene.
"You must be really desperate." The actor had lost all of his previous fear however-downplaying the impact that his co-stars hoped to have, "I mean, calling me back-"
"Shandra's dead Robert." Curtis said softly, "We just came from the crime scene."
Rodriguez froze. Outside the sun drifted past in a high arc, the gradual life of New York swinging on.
"Bullshit."
"No…" Lennie said, "I'm-afraid not. Fortunately," Lennie said, almost grudgingly, "This completely clears you from our suspect list." He nodded, gracious, "However-we'd like to ask you about Sandra."
Rodriguez was beaten. He slumped in his worn in chair, his eyes downcast. The sorrow in the room was palpable.
"We're very sorry."
"I bet you are." Robert pushed himself off the chair with sudden emotion; "You guys are going out after poor loco fools like me when you could be catching professor Charlie's and-Sandra's killer."
His eyes softened at that, looking up at Curtis and Briscoe beaten. He shook his head and leaned against a wall, curling in on himself, away from the two of them.
"Tell us whatever you can Robert." Curtis looked up, understanding, "You and Sandra had a thing I guess."
Robert laughed, turning away.
"She-uh-" Lennie spoke up, scenes like this were difficult to deal with, "She left her cat, we didn't know what to do with it-so we left it in the care of a neighbor."
"Sadamoto?" Robert's eyes widened, "Oh god…then she…" his eyes dropped, now moist, "Jesus…Sandra…"
"Take your time." Lennie said, "We understand this is difficult."
"Goddamnit…" Robert curled his hand into a fist, "I told her to be careful! Ever since she got those phone calls at the college-"
Curtis looked up. Outside the interrogation room, LT watched intently.
"Phone calls?"
Robert was sniffling now, the shock of seeing a grown man cry was lost on the detectives, and they saw it so much in New York…
"It started a week ago." Robert said, his voice choking, "She-She got one on Sunday-some practical joker who was watching too many movies." He laughed harshly, "You know that one movie-the one with that chick-we had to watch it-"
"The Ring?"
"Yeah." Robert growled, "The Ring. The guy called and told her she was going to die in seven days." He shook his head, frowning, "I got on the phone at the end, and told the bastard that if he ever called her again that I'd find him and-"
"Yeah," Lennie put a restraining hand on Robert's shoulder, "What others?"
Robert put his head to his chest, "Oh God-I'm such a fucking mess-"
"Its alright." Curtis stood up, "We understand this is difficult."
"No, this guy who called-it was creepy, I thought he was going to stalk her or something." Robert shook his head; "He'd leave messages on her phone-always the same message."
"We can check the phone records and-"
Robert continued heedless, "He'd always say…always…"How does it feel to know that you're going to die?"
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Outside
"Well." Lennie pulled open the door, "I know we're dealing with one sick puppy."
"Wasn't that obvious?" Lt. suppressed a smile, "But at least we know one thing." She turned her attention back to the room, where Curtis was getting Rodriguez stats-his vital information in case they needed him to contact him-or worse-to testify.
"Yeah?" Lennie put his hand on his hip, "What's that?"
"The chick from the ring? Only called once. Whoever our killer is…" Lt. Watched the scene for a moment longer before turning away, "He's human."
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College of Fashion and Design
"Margo?"
The room was filled with students, carefully studying a naked man reclining on a purple cushion looking like Caesar reborn-sans grapes.
"May I help you?"
The teacher was a thin man, his bright blue hair hung into his eyes-the small silver cross glinted like some fallen star or celestial booger hanging perpetually on his nose. Five studs hung in one ear.
"Yeah," Lennie moved foreward, anxious to be out, "We're looking for Margo Callahan," Lennie glanced down, "She's supposed to have this-"
"Margo!"
A slim red head, wearing coke bottle glasses that clashed horribly with her fashion attire-appeared at the back of the room.
"Class, continue with Pierre, Margo-I'd like you back in five." He clapped his hands, and like automatons they returned to their positions. Margo followed, her head bent to her chest.
"Is this about Sandra?"
They were only a few minutes in the hall, and already she was asking questions.
"That was prompt." Curtis said surprised, "How'd you know we wanted to ask you about Sandra?"
Margo blushed, "I…saw it." She shook her head, "I saw it…"
"That a confession?" Curtis chuckled lightly, "It would sure help our case some." Lennie remained on his guard, watching as Margo lowered her eyes.
"Well…no…I…um.." she bit her lip, "I saw it…in a dream."
Silence. The sounds and sights of New York began to drift about again outside. Ambient Sound-background to increase the dramatic tension.
"A physic." Many professed it, but Margo seemed to confess it. She shook her head, like clearing away clouds and sighed. Her denial of this "Gift" made him almost want to believe her-almost.
"You didn't warn her?" Lennie said skeptically.
"I tried to." Margo said quickly, "We-we had Mai's class together and I tried to speak up-but-" she shook her head.
That fits. Lennie remembered Robert's confession about the phone calls, "How does it feel when you know you're going to die, isn't that right Margo?"
"No!" Margo panicked, "No! No!"
Lennie grabbed her shoulder, "So, you didn't make those phone calls?"
"Why would I?" Margo sniffled, "Shandra was my friend."
She pushed Lennie away and hugged her chest tightly, not looking at any of them. Curtis looked her in the eye, pleading.
"Do you know who did?"
Shandra looked up at them with red eyes. Inside the classroom-the teacher was clapping at something.
"You should ask Shandra's boyfriend." Margo said softly, "He'd probably know."
"We talked to him." Lennie said, moving foreward, "He was just as clueless as we are."
Shandra frowned, she studied them carefully, and "You talked to Jack?"
"Jack?" Curtis was confused, "No, Robert-Robert Rodriguez."
Margo shook her head, "Jack…Robert wanted there to be a thing with Margo-unless-" the truth dawned on her quickly, "Oh no…she wouldn't have slept with-oh…" she put a hand to her mouth.
"Margo, was Shandra getting a little action on the side?"
"No…" Margo shook her head quickly, "Aww Shandra! You told me you were going to break it off! You told Mai you were going to break it off!"
"Margo! Who's Jack?"
"Her biochemistry professor."
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Columbia science department
Day three
Curtis and Briscoe had waited a day before proceeding to question Jack Lawson-Professor of Bio Chemistry. They found him sitting amongst his beakers and test tubes, absorbed in the reading of some scientific Journal
"Professor Lawson?"
Jack raised his head, "Can I help you?"
"I'm Detective Briscoe," Lennie inclined his head toward Curtis, "This is Detective Curtis. We're investigating the death of one of your students, Shandra Mackenzie."
Lawson's eyes widened.
"Oh god…Shandra? I didn't even-" he chuckled, his laughter dying in a choking gasp, "I've been working in the lab really late-I didn't even hear about it-"
"See, we got a tip Professor Lawson-a tip that said you might have some information on some mysterious phone calls that Shandra was getting."
This time, when Lawson laughed it was high and shrill, "What makes you think I'd know? We've had nothing but a strictly plutonic relationship?"
"But you called Shandra-last night." Lennie continued, "From this phone." He pointed to a generic white telephone, "Anything you'd like to say about that?"
"Professor Lawson." Curtis appeared silently, like a cat behind him, "Is this your daughter?"
Curtis held a framed photograph. The resemblance between Shandra and the girl was uncanny. In fact, the child looked a lot like the infamous horror icon that had been occupying the public's time.
"Yes." Lawson's voice was very soft, "That's Samara."
"Where is she now?"
Lawson turned away from them, a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
"She passed away. A few months ago." He shook his head softly, "I'm sorry-its just-"
"Its alright." Curtis patted the man's shoulder sympathetically, "I have daughters of my own, and I can only imagine how it must feel to…"
Lawson shook his head, "You…don't know anything." He wrapped his blond head in his arms, "Please…please just…"
"We'd like to leave you alone Dr. Lawson." Curtis said softly, "But these questions need to be answered. Were you and Shandra having an affair?"
Lawson said nothing.
"Isn't it true…" Briscoe stepped up to bat, "That you and your wife divorced about the same time that your daughter died?"
Lawson acknowledged with a nod.
"So…sleeping with your student? Don't the Japanese have a word for that?" Briscoe asked Curtis, "We're not as concerned with the aspects of the affair as we are with the possibility that you might have something to do with her death."
" I would never-" Lawson pointed his finger at Lennie, glaring with anger, "Hurt Shandra." He shook his head; "You have to understand-ever since Samara's death-"
"I understand." Curtis's voice was soft, "Thank you for your time professor."
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Outside in the hallway
"Well," Lennie said, "Did you think that was suspicious?"
"Oh beyond a doubt." Curtis said, "Did you see what was in his lab Lennie?"
"Besides the fact that it was completely deserted? I mean don't people like Lawson usually have teams of researchers?"
"Not just that." Curtis said, "Tobacco plants. Lots and lots of tobacco plants."
"Really?"
"Lets find out what professor Lawson is working on." Curtis said, "And Why he'd have to be growing so much Nicotine."
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Office of Yoshimoto Sadako
Department Chair of Biochemistry
"Jack Lawson?" Sadako was a strikingly pretty woman, with an air of confidence and wisdom about her, "God…terrible about his daughter huh?"
"We'd like to find out what Professor Lawson is working on." Lennie said, "Why's he growing all that Nicotine?"
"It was never professor." Sadako took her seat behind a monolith desk, "Dr. Lawson doesn't teach-but he acts as an advisor to several research projects." She removed a manila folder from the bowels of her desk and rifled thorough it, looking for the answer to their original question.
"Was Dr. Lawson involved with anyone?"
Sadako frowned, "Um…I think…Lemme see…" she handed Briscoe a folder, "This is Dr. Lawson's Research information-and the grants he's applied for." She looked proud, "He's brilliant."
"So…" Curtis pressed the question, "Is he involved with anyone?"
Sadako wrinkled her nose, "No. Not since his wife divorced him." Sadako sighed, "He's poured himself into his work ever since then…"
"We heard he might be involved with a student." Lennie said, "Not a Bio Chemistry student, A Shandra Mackenzie?"
"I wouldn't know anything about that."
"This is fascinating work." Curtis had his nose buried in the folder; "I don't understand half of it-is he trying to work on a drug that would actually break peoples addiction to cigarettes?"
"Yes." Sadako looked proud, "Helping those with unconquerable addictions-it would be more effective then the patch it would have a calming affect about the brain-actually reducing the need for nicotine."
"Incredible."
"Yes." Sadako smiled, "Who told you that Jack was involved with a student?" the smile remained-fake-a façade that was impenetrable.
"Oh, a student friend." Briscoe said, careless, "We can't divulge these sort of things." He nodded, smiling, "You understand."
"Of course I do." Sadako smiled, "Please, let me know if I can be of any more assistance."
"We'll be sure to do that ma'am." Curtis stood, smiling, "Thank you for your time."
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Precinct
Day Three Continued
"Gentlemen." Lt. Was tired, lack of sleep and encounters with newshounds had left her exhausted, "The heat is on to get this thing solved."
"We've got some good leads with Shandra's supposed affair." Lennie said, "Dr. Lawson at the Columbia Department of Bio Chemistry-"
"Oh…" Lt. raised her eyes suddenly, "He's connected to it?"
Lennie paused, "You've heard of him?"
Lt. Sighed, "It was all over the papers-you didn't hear? A few months back…"
"Wait a second." Curtis froze, "He's the guy who was believed to have drowned his own kid?"
"Drowned?" Lennie glowered at the two of them, "I'm sorry, does somebody want to fill me in?"
The story they told was horrific
Mrs. Lawson had come home from a weekend at the office-she worked for Fox studios-to their farm near Albany. She had found Jack out cold-apparently sleeping off a fit of drink. The well near their property was uncovered.
Samara was missing.
Mrs. Lawson walked out to the pasture to find Samara's shoes-pink Barbie shoes-standing patiently beside the well. She called the police-who dragged the bottom of the well and came up with her body.
Naturally, the police suspected the father-who could not account for his whereabouts the time when he was supposed to be home watching their daughter.
"Man…" Lennie's mind drifted to his own girl, "That poor guy. Did he do it?"
"We don't know." Lt. Said, "Obviously he was stripped of his teaching position-he did a month in a physc ward at Rikkers." She shook her head, "But there was no conclusive evidence, and the Albany PD handled it anyway."
The phone rang-startling all of them.
"Hello?" Lt's head dropped, "Yes, we'll be right over."
"Let me guess." Lennie put his hands to his temples, in a mocking imitation of Miss Cleo, "I see…I see…another body on our hands."
"Bingo." Lt. Pointed a finger, "Get on it boys."
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Home of Mrs. Anna Beth Gish.
"I…I went out…" Anna Beth choked, "Oh god!" she began to sob, "I went out and…"
Curtis pushed in the door to find a patrolman interviewing a hysterical older woman, wrapped in a house robe.
"Mrs. Gish?" The patrolman was confused, " You were only gone for how long?"
"A half an hour!"
"Hey Lennie." Curtis was studying the stiff-the horror of the crime wearing off, "Take a look at this."
"Oh…" Lennie ignored the woman's sobs, "I just don't know what my husband's going to say!"
In the Center of the room-covered by a white sheet-Lay the Video professor who had taken over Montague's class-the Woman Mai.
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A/N: Cliffhanger! As always with Law and Order-nothing is what it seems. I hope you guys are enjoying this! J