Well, it's time again to post my disclaimer. It's been quite a few chapters since I last put it up, and Mr. Wolf deserves his due praise at every mention of the names Bobby or Alex...

So: I do not own any part of Law and Order: Criminal Intent aside from the 1st season DVDs. Sadly Bobby, Alex, Deakins or Carver don't belong to me, but it makes my day that Dick Wolf lets me borrow them. This story is based off of 419 scammers, but is in no way related to any actual scam. Any coincidences are purely coincidental. Please don't sue.

Also, language warning- not that any of you reading this haven't used the f-word before...

Chapter 16

Peter sat in the chair at the center of the table facing the glass, his lawyer at his side. He sat stoned faced until the door opened and Goren walked in. He was wearing a dark blue suit with a light blue shirt with a rich pale green tie. Alex, who was wearing long black pants and a delicate pink shirt, followed him in, unaccompanied by her crutches.

Peter saw her blue cast and a smile flickered across his face. Alex threw her notebook on the table and kicked the door shut behind her with her injured foot. It slammed closed, the sound ringing in the grey brick room.

"So, who would like to go first?" asked Bobby. "Detective Eames and I have a lot to say, but we'd love to hear from you as well."

"Alright, I'll o first," he said, leaning back in his chair. He put his hands behind his head in a relaxed position. Silence ensued.

Alex stepped away from the door where her injured foot had still been propped from where she slammed it shut. "That's very funny, Peter," she said.

"I believe it's out turn," said Bobby to her. "Would you like to start Detective Eames?"

"With pleasure, Detective Goren. I think I've got a bit more to say than you did," she said, turning to Peter.

"Only natural," said Bobby civilly.

Peter looked from one to the other. They were smiling nicely at each other. They seemed to be communicating without words- all with those stupid grins on their faces…

Suddenly Bobby tossed his notebook on the table next to Alex's, and threw himself into the chair across from Peter, making more noise. That's when Alex began.

"Before we address why exactly you are here, let's get one thing straight: If you lay another hand on me or my partner, I'll put a bullet through your foot, then I'll put one through your balls, got it?"

"That is totally out of line, Detective," interjected his lawyer.

"Sorry," replied Alex unconvincingly. Bobby smiled as he looked at the tables, his thumbs twiddling innocently.

"So," she said, her voice relaxing back into its normal tone. "We know your sister was the first victim- we tracked the guy who killed her. Turns out he was based out of London, not Nigeria. We found his flight records. He made 5 trips to and from New York. He made a 6th trip out, but never went home."

"Maybe he decided to set up home base closer to his victims," said Peter.

"Actually, we think he vanished into thin air," said Bobby.

"Very astute, Detective."

"Oh, but there's more," said Alex. "Around his 6th trip to NY is when his e-mail account went from being accessed on a London phone line to a New York line- this all happened shortly before we called you in and began our little 'correspondence.' So- what did you do with Sam's body?"

Peter sat in his chair and smiled patronizingly at them. "Congratulations, Detectives. You have finally done your jobs- done a little 'investigating.' However, I'm afraid I don't know the slightest thing about 'Sam's body.'"

"Let's not get smart," spat Alex, but Bobby had other things on his mind.

"I've also figured out why you attacked us- actually, it was my partner who said it. She's smarter than most people give her credit for. She said that you 'went after us because we were investigating the cases.' That's why you did it, isn't it? Because we took too long?"

Peter sat there, and while he remained silent, his entire body seemed to shake.

"What was it Peter? That it took them so long to have the sense to realize it was over their heads? Or that they had to call in Major Case to do something you had already done?"

"No!" Peter shouted as he started to stand. He closed his eyes to compose himself as he sat back down.

"Peter, I think it's best if you don't say anything," said Peter's lawyer, putting his hands on Peter's shoulder. He shook him away.

But Bobby was in full swing (and full head tilt) at this point. "What was it then? Were you mad that we were chasing the killer? Did you hire him?"

"How dare you accuse me of having her killed! If you knew the length to which I went-"

"What lengths, Peter? She was your sister- the sister of someone who baited the very people who killed her! You let this happen!"

"No! I didn't! I didn't know! I just- it just… happened. The instant it happened again, I knew. And I waited, and waited, and WAITED! And you did NOTHING!"

"But you had to do something, didn't you? You track his down, you baited him, and you killed, him, didn't you?"

Peter sat in the silence. "The police weren't doing anything. Weren't doing their damn jobs! Supposedly the city's finest. I was able to find him- to track him down."

"Peter," his lawyer said feebly.

"And kill him!" interjected Alex.

"You blamed the police- someone had to pay for your sisters death, and the police didn't do it, so you did," said Bobby.

"Why not set out to educate people? Spread the word- create awareness?" asked Alex.

"Awareness!" snapped Peter incredulously. "Awareness? Awareness didn't save Ada! Awareness didn't save those other four women- action! Action stopped it! Action you wouldn't take!"

"Where is the body, Peter?" asked Alex with a forceful tone, her hands propped on the table.

"Somewhere he deserves to be," spat Peter.

The lawyers hung his head and sighed…those damn detectives…

Bobby sat deep in thought. "Action," he muttered. "The police weren't taking action, so you did and-"

"You were still too blind to see it!"

"So you decided to show us action!' asked Alex, putting her injured foot on the table. "One hell of a way to show us action!"

" You weren't trying! Cocky sons of bitches, treating it like- like it was less than murder! But I did the dirty work. I did your jobs. Even once you figured out what needed to be done you let your feelings get in the way!" Alex looked taken aback. "Don't look at me like that, Alex- it's so fucking obvious- I bet you two can't keep your hands off of each other! You shouldn't be allowed to work together-"

"Don't you dare- Don't you ever-" said Bobby rising from his seat.

"Bobby," said Alex softly, putting her hand on his arm as he sat back down.

"See! See what I mean? You guys- all of you - putting yourselves before the people you are supposed to protect! You sat there in your pretty little rut while you let my sister die- you let her DIE!" Peter was shaking; the vein in his temple was throbbing.

"So you tracked down her killer and killed him," said Bobby.

"Someone had to," said Peter, defeated.

"I think we're done here," said Alex, gathering her notebook and opening the door. Bobby took one last look at Peter and followed Alex out.

Back in the observation room, Peter could be seen conversing with his lawyer. Alex and Bobby walked into the room to find Deakins looking through the glass. The look on his face said it all. He had heard what Peter had said and was connecting the dots as they stood there in front of him, their arms brushing against each other.