Disclaimer: To the tune of the Mexican Hat Dance They're not mine, they're not mine, they're not mi-ine, they're not mine, they're not mine, they're not mi-ine, they're not mine, they're not mine, they're not mi-ine, they're not mine, they're not mine, they're not mine!

CHAPTER FIVE

DOINK-DOINK

"She had lethal amounts of ecstasy in her system," said the doctor. "Thank God we got to her when we did."

"Who made the call?" asked Olivia.

"Call was placed by a neighbor downstairs in her parents' building. Heard a commotion, thought something bad was going on, called 911."

"Where were her parents?"

"Her mom's in New Jersey visiting a sick aunt for another day and her dad was at the store."

"You said it wasn't a suicide attempt," said Elliot. "How do you know?"

"There's bruising around her jaw's hinges that wasn't there when she was raped. Someone held her mouth open and

forced pills down her throat."

"Did she regain consciousness at all?"

"Only for a second."

"Did she say anything?"

"Just that she was hurting," said the doctor. "I've got rounds."

As the doctor walked off, Elliot and Olivia peered into the hospital room in the ICU. Stephanie's bright red hair surrounded her battered head, and her dark bruises were apparent even from their distance.

"So Stephanie is raped one night, goes to another part of town, and then gets drugged almost to death? That's not a coincidence."

"No, it's not," said Olivia. "But how did whoever it was find her?"

"I'd like to know that too. She says she didn't know her attacker, but how else would he know where she was? I'm going to get Munch to get her phone records and see if anything looks crooked," said Elliot as he dialed.

DOINK-DOINK

"Well, I have good news and bad news," said Warner. "Which do you want first?"

"I'll take the bad," said Munch.

"You would," said Fin. "What is it?"

"She was definitely murdered. There were huge amounts of heroin in her blood, and the puncture from the syringe on her right thigh has bruising surrounding it, indicating it was forced into her leg instead of gently inserted."

"So what's the good?"

"They found the syringe and it was covered in fingerprints."

"Bastard doesn't take the syringe with him?" asked Munch.

"Apparently not."

"Any match on the prints?"

"Unfortunately, no, but we'll keep trying."

"That should have gone with the bad news," said Fin.

"Sorry. At least we know the cause of death."

"Yeah, overdose, but that's hard to –"

"No, it wasn't the overdose that killed her," said Warner. "The heroin wasn't able to work its way through her body, so it must have been injected only a minute or so before she died. She had internal bleeding from being beaten. The heroin, I'm guessing, was just an added precaution."

"Make sure the job gets done," said Fin. "Okay, thanks."

"No problem. Anything else comes up, I'll let you know."

DOINK-DOINK

Munch and Fin returned to the squadroom to find Caroline covered under yet another heap of papers. She was on the phone and looked anxious. She began yelling in a language Fin couldn't distinguish. Munch, however, looked amused as Caroline slammed down the phone.

"What was that all about?" he asked.

"The putz at the doctor's office got on my last nerve," she fumed.

"What the hell were you saying, girl? You sounded possessed," said Fin.

"Just er iz a niderrechtiker kerl," she muttered, taking up her pen again.

Fin looked helplessly to Munch.

"Yiddish. Means something like he's a low-down good-for-nothing."

"How many languages you speak?"

"Four besides English: Polish, French, Russian, and Yiddish," said Caroline. "We mutts have to be able to communicate with the most random of people. My parents spoke Yiddish, French, and English around the house, and I happen to think Polish and Russian are pretty languages. What did Warner have to say?"

"Antonia's cause of death was internal bleeding from being beaten and after that, the perp injected her with heroin to be sure she didn't make it," said Munch.

"DNA? Fingerprints? Anything?"

"Yeah, we got all that, but no matches," said Fin.

"Damn it," said Caroline.

"Yeah. And while we're damning stuff, I've got to get to ACS to work out some of that stuff with the Kohlers," said Fin, walking off.

"When do you get to stop all this paperwork?" asked Munch.

"When I'm done with it," said Caroline touchily.

"Sorry."

"No…I didn't mean…yeah. Sorry. I'm just edgy."

"I can tell. You need to talk?"

Caroline hesitated. "I'm okay."

"All right. Well, you know my number. Call me anytime."

"Thanks, John."

Munch sat down. Cragen suddenly came bustling in looking furious.

"Why the hell didn't you call me the second you found out about Hayley Wernberg?" he demanded.

There was a silence. Munch and Caroline glanced at each other and Caroline shrugged.

"Who?" asked Munch.

"Vic from this afternoon."

"When did you find out about her?" asked Munch. "I haven't heard anything."

"Well, someone did. They're over there now investigating. I only know because some guy called it in saying the cops were freaking him out."

"Hold on. Start over. What happened?"

"Eighteen-year-old NYU student raped in her dorm," said Cragen. "Are you saying you really haven't heard anything?"

"Well, where have you been?"

"Court."

"I'm on it," said Munch.

"Caroline…go with him," said Cragen, as though it were against his better judgment.

"Hell yes!" Caroline stood up immediately and snatched her coat. "I'm outta here!"

"You know, when I first met you, I thought you'd turn out to be quiet," said Munch.

"Ha!" Caroline let out a hearty chortle. "Shattered that delusion, didn't I?"