Mac decides to take Stella with him to Albany instead of Danny and me. Which is probably better because this case is really starting to piss me off.
But now I'm stuck at my desk writing up stupid reports that were due weeks ago while Danny's in the Lab running tests. Tests on the knife, trying to get prints and blood sample run off. Hawkes told us that Kevin died a few hours before Eric based on the autopsy and when I interviewed people from the neighborhood, the man that owns the deli around the corner told me that Eric was there around Kevin's time of death.
We all have our theories about what happened. Maera finds out he boyfriend dumped her for his best friend. She comes to the
City, goes to the apartment and argues with Kevin, hitting him with the pipe when she doesn't get her way. She drags the body to the window and pushes it out, down into the dumpster below. Eric comes back as she's doing this and she kills him, stabs him to keep him because she hates him, too and to keep him quiet.
Alot to do, considering Maera's size, and you'd think Mac'd consider that. But Gisele told us that it was Maera who left for the City. Still, my gut tells me something else is going on. I just won't say that to Mac.
I've been staring at the same report for an hour, now, and the words and letters are blending together. Just a jumble of symbols and I thank God when I hear my phone trilling, indicating that I have a text message. I look at it and from Danny, telling me to get to the Lab, he has something.
When I walk into the Lab where Danny's working, he looks up and gives me a lop-sided grin. I give him a weak one back and ask him what he's got.
"Well, the prints from the knife match the prints from the windowsill."
"No surprise."
Danny glances at me. "Well, there's also another blood sample on the knife. Sometimes attackers nick themselves." I nod. That should help some. "Plus, I just thought maybe you'd need away from your desk."
I sigh and sit down on the stool next to Danny. He looks at me, still sporting that lop-sided grin and I can tell he's worried about me. About said as much last night, and I can't really blame him. This case's just rattled me for whatever reason and normally, I can handle myself pretty well. Hold back the deeper rage and instead offer little quips and verbal jabs at the perps. This case is just ... oddly different in the way it's effecting me.
"Anything from Mac and Stella?" Danny interrupts my thoughts and I shake my head.
"Nah, but they're going straight to the Murphy's house when they get there and try to get back as soon as they can." I glance at my watch. It's nearly three, so they should be there soon.
I know I should probably get up and finish those reports, but just the thought of them gives me a headache. Danny must feel my pain because he looks at me again and smirks. "Wanna go make-out in one of the utility closests?"
I smile slightly. "As nice as that sounds, I should get back to work."
Danny's still smirking. "Alright, fine, I'll just ask Aiden later." I shake my head. He's done that before and gotten smacked for it.
"How about dinner at my place after work?"
I nod. "Sounds good." He gives me one last smirk before I turn and leave for my desk.
If at all possible, the next hour goes even slower. Stella calls around 4:30 and at first I think that he's just calling me to tell me they're there.
"Flack."
"It's Stella."
"Oh. You there yet?"
"Yes, and we've already interview her. Maera confessed, much to her mother's dismay. We're bringing her in now."
"... What? What happened?"
"We asked her why she went to New York and she just broke and down told us everything. Her mom was yelling her, but she just kept going. Look, I have to go. We'll be back late, but Mac wants you guys there when we get there. So be at the precinct around 9:30."
"...Ok... I'll talk to you later." The dailtone buzzes in my ear and I sigh. There's something screwy about this. But I can go home in a few minutes and then come back. I should go get Danny.
Something's not right.
As soon as Maera gets out of the car, I can just feel it. She couldn't've done this.
Sure part of it is the physical aspect-- Maera seems even smaller than the first time I saw her. She's barely over five feet and about 110 pounds and Kevin's about 5'10". But it's more to the point, she doesn't have the personality to do it. And I know Mac would probably yell at me for just trusting my instinct, but she just couldn't have done this.
I join Mac outside the interregation room and wait for Danny to finish taking Maera's fingerprints and a DNA swab. He leaves the room and nods to us, heading back to the Lab to compare the prints to those on the knife and windowsill. I look at Mac and nod, entering the room.
Maera looks up at us when we walk in and when her eyes meet mine, I can feel it. No, she didn't do it.
Mac and I sit down across from her and Mac speaks first.
"Ok, Maera, you need to tell us what happened."
"I... I already did."
"I know, but you have to tell us again."
She looks at me and I give her a little smile. "It's ok. Just tell us what went on."
She nods and
takes a deep breath before starting. "I came here to confront
Kevin about breaking up with. He... he told me before that it wasn't
my fault and that he just couldn't be with anyone. I knew he was
coming to the city, so I followed him. I got the address off the
internet and drove. When I got to the apartment..."Maera bites
her lip and I can see the tears in her eyes. She clears her throat.
"Uh... I'm sorry, um... I got to the apartment and
met Eric
at the door. Kevin was in the living room. I uh... I can't remember
much, it all just... just happened so fast." She chokes back a
sob and covers her mouth. "Um... Eric and I, we got into it. I
followed him into the kitchen and Kevin was tellin me to leave and I
grabbed a knife and backed him back into the living room. Kevin was
still yellin' at us and Eric went to grab the knife, but I stabbed
him. Kevin ran to Eric and then jumped for me and I hit him with the
first thing I could find. He fell against the open window and I--I
pushed him out." She looks at me again. "I am so sorry. I
was just.. just so angry. I mean, he just broke up with me and came
here trolling for girls?" She lets out another sob and wow, that
story really doesn't match
the evidence.
"Alright, Maera, we'll be right back." Mac stands up and I follow him out, leaving Maera alone.
As soon as we're out of the door, I turn to Mac. "There's no way she did it."
Mac looks at me. "Just because she didn't know he was gay?"
"No, because after you left, Hawkes told Danny and me that Kevin was killed first, a few hours earlier than Eric.
Danny walks up to us and Mac opens his mouth to say something, but Danny interrupts him. "We've got another problem." I look
at Danny. "Her fingerprints don't match. And Jane has the DNA now, it should be done soon, but I'm doubting it'll match up either." And so, we're back to square one.
"If she knows she didn't do it, why's she copping to it?" Danny asks and Maera was really emotional, but there's no way she could've seen it happen because she'd've known what happened. But she does know who did it. And one look at Mac's face show he knows this.
"Let's go talk to Miss Murphy again."
We go back in and she looks at us warily. I move a seat and sit beside her, Mac across from us, and I look her directly in the eyes.
"Maera, you have to tell us the truth."
Maera looks slightly taken aback, but manages to stutter out, "I-I am."
Mac shakes his head. "No, you're not. The evidence we've collected tells a differrent story."
I touch her arm. "C'mon, you have to tell us." I say softly. She looks at me and shakes her head, sobs beginning to escape, her tiny frame shaking. "Hey.. it's ok, tell us who're you protecting?"
Maera's crying in full force now and I hold her hand, much in the same way I comforted Ms. Jacobs. "You need to tell us. For Kevin and Eric." There's a knock at the door and I glance over to see Danny standing there. Mac gets up and goes to the door and
Danny hands him a folder, explaining it's contents. I turn back to Maera. "It's gonna be ok. It's alright."
Mac shuts the door and comes back to the table, setting the folder in front of him. "Maera... we found a small amount of blood on the handle of the knife used to kill Eric Rogers. It came from the murderer. It doesn't match you."
Maera nods slowly. "I know."
"Your DNA, however, is a 7-point match to the killers, which means a mother or father. And since the unknown DNA was female..." Mac trails off and I can't believe it. Maera's taking the fall for her mom?
Maera's still shaking slightly and her voice trembles when she speaks but at least she does. "I uh... My mom left and I followed her. I didn't know where she was going and I got lost in the city. I've been here a few times, but... anyway, I went to a library and looked up Eric's mom's address and went to the apartment, just to see if Kevin and I could talk. But when I got there, my mom was... Eric was already..." Maera sobs again and she can't control it. She's shaking like crazy and she grips my hand. "I didn't know why she was so upset when Kevin and I broke up, I didn't understand. I don't get why she did this!"
I swallow the wave of sadness and let the anger I've been feeling come in full force. I get up and walk out of the room and down the hall.
Mrs. Murphy is just sitting there reading, like there's nothing going on, like her daughter didn't just try and confess to save her mother's sorry ass.
I move forward, but a hand on my arm stops me. I turn around and Mac gives me one of his looks, the one that say "You do anything stupid, I will kill you." I stop and let out a shaky breath. Mac walks past me and gestures for two uniforms.
"Mrs. Murphy? Can you come with us?"
I still can't get over it. That woman was going to let her daughter confess and go to prison for a murder she committed. What kind of person would do that?
I'm sitting in my living room on my couch, staring up at the ceiling. Mac sent me home after confronting Mrs. Murphy. She tried to deny the whole thing, blame it on Maera. Still is. But I'm willing to bet she just couldn't take seeing her daughter rejected for another guy.
Danny had been called to another case right after he handed the folder to Mac. It's not that I expect him to come to my apartment every night, but I'd like to see him. Especially after today, but I'm not keeping my hopes up. It was really late and I think Danny just wanted to go home and crash. Not that I can blame him. So it's a surprise when I hear footsteps walking up to my door.
I hear my apartment door open and shut and I look at Danny when he walks into the room. He flops down beside me and groans. "I hate decomps."
I do, too. Especially when you can still smell in on a person. "You smell horrible."
Danny looks at me. "Thanks. Ya ok?"
I shrug. "I just don't get it."
Danny smiles slightly. "All that means is that you're not like them." He takes my hand and squeezes it, offering the same comfort I've been giving to everyone the past few days.
I nod. "What're you doin' here?"
Danny smirks. "What, I'm not allowed here?" I just blink at him. "Fine, I was checkin' up on ya. And we both have the day off tomorrow." He looks at the DVD player. "Uh... today, I mean." I look at it, too. It's 12:14.
"Yeah, we do." I give him a small smile and Danny leans in to kiss me. Except I pull away from the smell. "Uh, gross. You need a shower."
Danny smirks. "You gonna wash my back for me, Don?"
I stand up, pulling him with me. "Oh, I'll do more than wash your back." We're half way to the bathroom when Danny tugs on my hand. I turn around and look at him. He licks his lips and sure he still smells like death, but I can deal with it. I lean down and kiss him, hard and all teeth and tongue and we stumble back into the bathroom.
Maybe Danny can offer a different kind of comfort.
