Disclaimer: All I own is a Black Dog Yoga shirt.

Author's Note: This chapter ended up just sort of being a "learn some more about the new detective and have some comic relief" chapter. Next up is a more freaky-deaky one, hopefully.

CHAPTER THREE

DOINK-DOINK

"John, I promise he wasn't taking pictures of us."

"How do you know that for sure?"

"Because he was pointing the camera about ten yards to the left of us."

"It could be a trick camera with the lens off to the side. Hidden. It's happened before."

"Oh, God, here we go…"

"Besides, if you live in a big city, you could be photographed up to twenty times in one day. You do know that, right?"

"I'm sure, Munch."

"It's true!"

"I never said it wasn't!"

"And then there's the fact that Big Brother can easily intercept cell phone calls. That guy could have heard my conversation with Olivia earlier, heard the dirt about the case, and gone there to take some pictures. Damn journalist."

"You think a reporter listened in on your cell?"

"I'm just saying it's a possibility."

"John?"

"Yeah?"

"Stop talking."

Munch hadn't let go of the strange cameraman he spotted outside the second victim's apartment building. Fin knew for a fact the guy wasn't taking pictures of them – they were obviously of the couple about ten yards away – but Munch remained convinced that it was somehow a government conspiracy. They entered the precinct and were greeted by Olivia.

"Hey! What took you guys so long?"

"Munch drove," said Fin.

"Ah. Okay, we need to –" Olivia began.

"Well, excuse me if I go the speed limit," interrupted Munch defensively. "You drive like you're trying to escape a cheetah."

"At least I get us where we need to be."

"So do I!"

"About twelve years later."

"Hey, ADD boys? Focus on me, please. Our new vic is Antonia Mendez. She was twenty-two, single, and worked at Fluffy's Bakery on 55th and 7th."

"Who saw her last?" asked Fin.

"We're trying to establish that. We haven't talked to her co-workers yet."

"How about you an Elliot take that?"

"Elliot's got some school thing for the twins. He took off."

"I'll go with you," said Munch.

Munch and Olivia left to go talk to the employees at the Bakery. Fin sat down opposite Caroline, who was still buried under a mountain of paperwork and still snacking on donuts.

"I'd have thought you were one of those girls who thought about your figure all the time," Fin remarked.

Caroline gave him what could only be described as a "vulture face".

"Sorry," said Fin.

"No, it's cool," said Caroline. "I actually could care less about my figure. I was just blessed with a good one. Plus I run two miles a day, so I can pretty much eat what I want."

"So, what's the paperwork?"

"Just stuff about the poisoning. Incredibly boring. And then some stuff about the transfer. Also boring. Is there anything you want to distract me with?"

"No one's told you anything yet?"

"No! And I'm going crazy. Please, let me play cop for a little while!" said Caroline, throwing her pen down and taking off her square glasses irritably.

"Well, there was this morning's rape victim, Stephanie O'Neill, and then we had another who didn't make it named Antonia Mendez. We're still waiting to hear from Warner on anything medical that could help us out."

"Any connection?"

"Not that we can tell. They don't work together, they're different ethnicities, live in different parts of town…only thing they have similar is that they're both single, pretty, and close in age. And no signs of forced entry either time, but Stephanie says the guy posed as a police officer to get inside."

"Do we think it's the same guy, then?"

"No idea. Doesn't look that way, but it's a possibility."

Caroline sighed and sat back in her chair. "Let me tell you, I miss Homicide so far."

"Come on, that couldn't have been any easier than this."

"I don't know. Maybe I just miss home."

"Who the hell would miss Albany?"

Caroline laughed. "No, I mean I miss home. The people."

"Your family?"

"Yeah. My sister, mostly. She's just…she's everything to me. I can't wait until I can get her out here."

"She's moving in with you?"

"Hopefully. See…she and my mom just don't get along. Nothing wrong with either of them…my mom's basically Martha Stewart on speed. You know, like always fluffing the pillows and hosting Tupperware parties. My sister, Catherine, is a total flaming liberal who's all about feminism. Oh, and she's a lesbian. Not really what my mom's a fan of."

"How old is she?"

"Nineteen. She was supposed to get her own place, but it just…didn't happen. I don't really know all the details. Anyway, she's going to move out here and stay with me until she can get her own place."

"Hey, Caroline?" said Fin suddenly.

"What?"

"Pull up your shirt."

Caroline looked down and noticed that her cleavage was very apparent. She blushed and pulled up her shirt, laughing, and then zipped her jacket as well.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

"I actually have to take off as well…I've got a doctor's appointment."

"You okay?"

"Yeah. Just a check-up. See you later."

"Bye."

Caroline gathered her things and smiled at Fin. She threw away her coffee cup and left, smashing a hat onto her head before leaving. Fin reached across her desk and pilfered a donut.