Disclaimer: Surprise…I don't own them…
CHAPTER SIX
DOINK-DOINK
"Munch."
Munch's phone had ringed, thankfully breaking the tense silence that had been the car ride so far. He answered and heard Olivia's semi-frantic voice.
"You've got to get to the Turner household."
"Why?"
"Elena Monceau was supposed to be taking Jessica in for a few days until Mrs. Turner could collect her."
"What for?"
"Mr. Turner is abusive. Elena says that Mrs. Turner called her and begged her to look after Jessica until she could leave her husband, then she would go and get her. Mr. Turner beat her and Alan and raped Jessica. Make sure the DNA matches Mr. Turner for Jessica's rape kit to be sure he's the only rapist."
"You think he killed Jessica too?"
"It sounds like it. Elena was supposed to be meeting Melissa and Jessica at Central Park to transport Jessica to her apartment. She saw both of them leaving with a man wearing a hat and sunglasses – could have been anyone. She panicked and called the police about a possible pedophile in the park. She didn't want to approach because she thought if she did, it would set Turner off."
"So you're saying the call I responded to was made by Elena?"
"Yes! You've got to question Mr. Turner. He could have been the one taking Melissa and Jessica away. And if so, he'd know where Melissa is."
"Okay, got it. I'll go now. You take Turner's picture around the park. See if anyone noticed him, even with the hat and sunglasses. You never know."
"Okay."
"Just get there before he finds out we're on to him and does something desperate."
"I will."
Munch hung up and made the turn to head towards the Turner residence. Fin didn't say anything – he had probably been able to hear the whole conversation anyway. Caroline, on the other hand, predictably leaned forward.
"Speaking to me again?" asked Munch.
"What happened?" she asked, the faint spray of freckles on her nose wrinkled in curiosity.
"We're going to question Mr. Turner. According to Elena Monceau, he's our rapist."
"What's the DNA say?"
"Well, we don't have it back quite yet. If it matches Jessica's, though, we'll know."
"Not if she has an uncle. And doesn't she have an older brother?"
"What's your gut tell you?" asked Fin.
"Let's check out this dad some more."
No one was at the Turner home when Munch, Fin, and Caroline arrived. Fin pounded for a good three minutes, but no one responded. When they turned to leave, Caroline put her hand on the railing.
"Ow!" she exclaimed, pulling her hand back sharply.
"What?" asked Munch.
"I don't know. Something poked me."
"Where could he have gone?" asked Fin, steering the topic back to Turner.
"No clue. Where's his work?" asked Munch.
"He works from home, he said."
"Maybe he ran an errand."
"Yeah. We'll try again in a little while. In the meantime, let's find out what we can about Alan's whereabouts and where Mr. Turner could be besides home. Maybe he has some regular appointment at this time. Or maybe he's stashing Melissa's body somewhere," said Caroline.
"We don't know she's dead," Munch pointed out.
"Do you think she's alive? If he's our guy, he didn't think twice about killing his daughter and pouring acid on her stomach. I don't think he'll have much guilt about killing the babysitter – who, incidentally, was helping get Jessica out of the house so that Alan and Mrs. Turner could escape. Something like that would send an abuser into a rage because they'd be losing control over their family."
"I know that."
"If Mr. Turner is really an abuser – beating his kids, raping his daughter and probably his wife – what's to stop him from doing the same to Melissa? And has anyone even asked about Melissa yet? Or are we fixated on Jessica? Because if we find Melissa and find Turner's DNA anywhere on her, we can nail him for that and then nail him for the rest, if that's in fact what happened. I think what we should do is –"
"Look," said Munch, losing his patience with Caroline's endless matter-of-fact speeches. "Why don't you leave this to us and just observe?"
"Mr. Turner abused his wife, Jessica, and Alan. No telling what he did to Melissa," said Caroline, totally ignoring Munch's outburst as they all climbed back into the car.
"I'll buy it for now. I still want to know how no one saw him taking them away."
"Someone did. Elena."
"Okay, fine. So how come no one saw him leave the body there?"
"I don't know, Caroline, let's find out together, shall we?"
Caroline looked slightly wounded and fell silent. Fin gave Munch a quick Look. Munch didn't want to, but he apologized anyway.
"Sorry. I don't mean to snap."
"Not like I've gotten anything else from you people since I got here."
"Well, that's why I'm apologizing."
"Hey, Caroline," said Fin suddenly, turning to face her. "You okay?"
Munch glanced in the rearview mirror. Caroline looked very pale and her face had gone strange, as though she were trying to work out a hard math problem.
"I don't know," she said. "Can I step out for a second?"
Munch pulled the car over and stopped. Caroline got out and leaned against the trunk for a second, taking deep breaths. Fin turned to Munch.
"What's up with her?"
"Did I upset her that much?"
"I don't know. Does she seem like a crier?"
"Yes."
"John, get out of the car," said Fin suddenly.
Munch got out and realized that he couldn't see Caroline. The men went around the back of the car and found her kneeling on the ground, vomiting violently. She looked up at them, shaking, and threw up again. Fin put a and on Caroline's back as she choked and held the few locks of hair that had broken loose back with the other.
"It's all right. Deep breaths."
Caroline leaned her head back, took a breath, and immediately lost consciousness.
"Damn! John, call a bus!"
Munch dialed the number and told the dispatcher the information. Fin checked for a pulse, all the while muttering "stay with me". As he looked at Caroline's pretty but sickly face and Fin struggling to keep her alive, Munch wondered just what the hell the Special Victims Unit had gotten themselves into.
