MT. SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK
NOVEMBER 10TH
"Hi, I'm Detective Stabler, and this is my partner, Detective Benson. Um, we were wondering where the new potential rape victim that came in about five minutes ago was?"
The nurse at the counter looked through her record then looked back up and pointed down the hallway. "Go down there, and turn left, it's the first room on the right wall."
"Okay, thanks." He said with a smile, and nodded towards the hall to Olivia and they both walked towards the ward.
As soon as they got there, the doctor shook hands with each of them in turn, then introduced himself.
"I'm Dr. Bogen, I've just finished examining your victim. I don't know how she survived. She's... very badly wounded." He said with a touch of fatigue.
"Well, we're the detectives working on this case. What are the chan—"
"Doctor!" One of the nurses shrieked from behind the curtains. Dr. Bogen rushed behind the curtains to see what was the matter but it was already obvious to Stabler and Benson what had happened. The never-ending beep told them very clearly that their victim was dead.
"To the morgue, then." Elliot said in a depressed tone as they walked out of the room.
MEDICAL EXAMINER, MELINDA WARNER
CITY MORGUE
NOVEMBER 10TH
"What's up, doc?" Elliot said as he approached the stainless steel table where their vic laid, hidden by a white sheet over her body. "Wow. They got her here fast."
She smiled sardonically and went to the other side so she could face Olivia and Elliot properly.
"Her name's Eliza Custer. We lifted her prints and looked for her in the database. Match came up on records. She was accused of stealing a pair of boots from the 504 Broadway Bloomingdales in SoHo, but charges were dropped." The M.E. lifted the corner of the sheet and lifted up Eliza's left hand. "You see those large slashes from the top of her arm – around armpit level – down to her wrists? I can tell you right now, I think your perp had intentions to fully flay her, if the good old NYPD hadn't interrupted his attractive moment. These cuts," She continued, lifting the flaps to show the cuts on her other arm and legs. "Have traces of rust on the edges. The knife this guy used wasn't Mr. Cleaned pro-attack. I'd say by the thin lining of the etches say that these were made by an exacto knife."
"Is that all?" Olivia said blankly before remembering what Elliot had told her in the alley.
"No," She said, and lifted up the bottom half of the sheet just as Fin and Munch came in and stood next to Olivia and Elliot in time for the grand reveal.
"Oh, well, that's just—That's just too beyond nasty for me to say anything sarcastic right now." Munch said, grimacing as they all saw the aftermath of a violent slashing of Eliza's lower area.
Fin stared for about a quick three seconds, then turned away. "That's sick." He said to himself, but loud enough for everyone to hear.
Olivia shook her head, frowning like Elliot, as she looked at the poor girls scars.
"Perp must have really hated her."
16TH PRECINCT
NOVEMBER 11TH
Cragen handed their victims file to Olivia as he addressed her fellow Detectives.
"I had a look at Eliza's file as soon as the M.E. called. Looks like other than the alleged robbery, she was pretty clean. Nothing out of the ordinary, it says she was born in New Jersey and is..." He paused. "Was attending NYU. Elliot, Olivia, I think you should handle the school. Munch, Fin, you cover the Bloomingdales where they reported her robbery." He nodded to them and returned to his office.
BLOOMINGDALES
240 BROADWAY
SOHO
NOVEMBER 11TH
"Yeah, I know of her. She's the only person in the history of everything to have ever attempted to steal something from this Bloomingdales." The young sales attendant said with a scoff as she put up new sweaters on the rack. Munch and Fin exchanged annoyed looks as they followed the snotty girl down to the hats and accessories area.
"Well, why's that?" Fin asked, putting a hand on the ski hat she was going to put up and snatching it away.
"Because," She said, snatching it back and putting it up on the hook, causing Tutuola to look disbelievingly at her, then at Munch. "Our manager's like, the scariest old guy in the world. You chew gum, he'll make you chew it outside so you don't risk accidentally forgetting to wrap it in the packaging and throw it away in the nearest garbage. He's very inhumanly hygienic. Don't mess with Sir Sanitary Freak."
"Progressing well there, Drew?" A stern voice from behind them said with a cough.
"Yes, Mr. Turnbull." She said quickly, then shot a look at the detectives and scuffled away.
"How may I help you?" Turnbull asked, putting his hands on his aging hips.
"This is my partner, Detective Munch, and I'm Detective Tutuola. Mind telling us about the woman who you said tried to rob your store a few months back?" Fin asked, taking his pad out.
"Ohhh…" The manager said with asperity as he shook his head. "That little girl should have known better. She wasn't even good at it, you know! Didn't even bother to hide the boots. She stuck them in her purse and just walked towards the door. She kept on walking even as the sensors started ringing. I," He coughed. "I caught her myself, don't you know? At my age, you usually don't get a lot of action, but oh-ho boy, did I catch the thief..."
"Do go on." Munch said, not looking impressed.
Harold Turnbull looked at him irritably for interrupting his saga, and then continued, "Well, I got her by the arm and asked her what she thought she was doing. She looked completely amazed that the boots were there. She pretended she didn't know how they got there! Kept on telling me that someone probably snuck them into her bag without her knowing. I told her, next time you want to get away with that story, make a better job of concealing exhibit A! She kept on insisting and insisting that if I let her go, she wouldn't set foot in here again. It was quite the fight, but she got the best of me in the end. I got her fingerprint and got it into the police though. To get her on the files. Damn ruffians." He sniffed and walked away without another word.
"What a lovely man." John commented before leaving the store with Fin.
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
GREENWICH VILLAGE
NOVEMBER 11TH
Dean Valmont looked absolutely taken aback at the news of Eliza's death.
"Any troubles with her lately? She seem a bit down, annoyed, distracted?" Olivia asked as she sat down across from the Dean in her office.
"Why... no! I don't think so! Well, I mean, NYU has a lot of students, Detective, and I can't count for all of them… but from what I know, Eliza was a perfectly good student! I knew her mother well. She was a... Psychology major, I do believe..." She typed a few things into her computer and read the screen. "Yes, she was doing quite well in that class. I think her teacher should tell you a bit more. Conrad Thiessen, he's in the Psychology building, not too far from here. 6th Washington Place."
Conrad Thiessen was just closing his briefcase and heading for the door as Olivia and Elliot came walking into his office.
"Um, who are you?" He said, eyeing them suspiciously.
"We're from the NYPD, we're here to talk to you about the death of one of your students – Eliza Custer? We hear she was doing good in your class and were hoping you could tell us a bit more about her." Elliot said.
Thiessen stopped and paused for a minute, then said. "You're kidding me, right?" He smiled, wagging his index finger at the two of them. "This is a prank, isn't it? Did Benny send you to do this to me?"
Olivia and Elliot both took out their badges.
"Sir, we are hardly on a level of kidding around." Olivia said. "Why don't you have a seat?"
Conrad's eyes widened as he slowly sank into his chair.
"So, what can you tell us about Eliza?" Elliot asked.
"D... She um... Her s..." He stammered. "I'm sorry, detectives, I'm sort of..."
"Take your time." Olivia offered.
"I uh—S-she was a perfectly bright student. One of the best in my class... but you didn't hear it from me." Benson nodded, urging him to go on. "I don't know what went on in her personal life, but... she did seem a bit sidetracked the past few days. I think maybe it had something to do with her parents, but I wasn't sure. I overheard her talking to one of her friends when they were leaving class." He quickly explained.
"I see. Does this friend have a name?" Elliot asked, looking at Olivia.
"Oh, uh, Sarah... Sarah Truman... she doesn't live on campus though. I have all my students phone numbers and addresses in a folder though... You know, just in case." He opened his desk drawer and took out a beige folder. He searched through the different paperclipped papers and finally took one out. "There. Sarah Truman."
"Okay. Thanks for your help, professor." Elliot said, taking the paper from him. He then followed Olivia out of the classroom.
Muchos gracias to erail beki, jedi knight for the corrections and suggestions. And thanks to littlesweetcupcake for the review! Hope this chapter holds up a bit more.