Law & Order: Criminal Intent – Redemption Song Part Five

A/N: Thank you, loyal followers! To my reviewers:

Blucougar57: Thanks for the kudos! Here's your new chapter!

TriStateCopFan: Glad you like the shower! I'm sure I'll be enjoying the shower a HELL of a lot more now, lol! As for 'Big Brother' Bobby, well, let's just say he's not Big Bad Bobby Goren for no particular reason...

Lallyb1743: I said no drooling! wipes keyboard suspiciously okay, so drooling over a naked Vincent D'Onofrio is allowed... and yes, I missed the stubble, but I just watched 'Collective'. Mmmm!

Part five has arrived, dear readers! The usual disclaimers apply, but I own Maria and all other characters not regularly shown on LOCI. Redemption Song belongs to Stevie Wonder, the brilliant singer who influenced Guy Sebastian, who is the most wonderful person I have ever had the pleasure to meet. I am in awe. Now I must have him or Vincent D'Onofrio. Such is my life.

Oh, by the way, last night I watched 'Stuart Saves His Family'. Vincent is THE hottest thing on two legs, rroaw!

Bobby stared at Maria, who obviously had an idea formulated in her head. He tipped his head to one side.

'Do you want to let me in on this?' he asked quietly. Maria's eyes sparkled.

'Not just yet. I have to make sure that I'm on the money before I start jumping down the suspect's throat,' she said. Bobby waved his hand.

'Go on. Why is it so important that Strickland started going to church right after he started seeing Delafontaine?'

Maria began to pace the floor in front of Bobby's desk.

'Theoretically speaking, what if Strickland was connected to the church before the murder?'

'Theoretically, he'd become our number one suspect.'

'That's what I thought.'

'So? We don't have any evidence that Strickland spent anytime at all near that church before he started dating Delafontaine. What's his link?'

Maria stopped, resting her right hand on her chin, her left arm crossed tightly over her chest.

'Did Strickland attend any church before he began attending the Anglican?'

'I'm not sure. We can check it out.'

Maria nodded and continued pacing.

'Also, run a search for Rogers. I want to know what churches he's been posted at,' Maria said, walking back to her desk. Goren chewed thoughtfully on his pencil.

'You think maybe the two are connected?' he asked. Maria looked back. She wasn't smiling.

'For the love of God, I hope not,' she said gravely.

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Dear Daniel, Alex began, then highlighted it and deleted it. Too informal.

Daniel, she began again, then scrapped it. Too heartless. Alex sighed.

Hi.

It's Alex here, remember, the cop from the speed-dating club? Well, we got matched up through this ridiculous thing and I was wondering if you'd like to meet for coffee sometime? It's just an idea.

E-mail me back, even if you don't want to,

Alex.

Alex sat back and re-read the composition on her screen. God, she thought, do I sound desperate.

'Love letter from the guy at the club?' came the snicker. Alex shot a look over her laptop at her comfortably lounging partner.

'Shut up, Goren. Do some work.'

'I have done. We need to hit the streets.'

Alex began subconsciously reaching for her jacket and keys.

'Why? What's up?'

'I've got a few questions for Strickland. Regarding his time at the church.'

'Any particular reason?'

'Not at the moment, but Maria thinks she may be on to something.'

'Deakins give her permission to work the case?'

'I think he's just giving her free reign at the moment,' Goren said softly, shrugging into his jacket. He nodded to Maria, who smiled and continued tapping at her keyboard. Goren turned to Eames.

'Alright, let's go,' he said. Eames jangled the keys.

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'Suppose they find out about us?' Robby Strickland almost screamed down the cell. The other end of the line went dead momentarily. Robby felt a chill of fear. Did it just hang up?

'How can they? You told them that you only started going to the church after you met Sarah. How on earth would you have known me before then?' came the voice at the other end. Robby breathed.

'I don't like this. I don't like this at all. That guy cop, Goren, he has these eyes that can tell if you're lying. You can't read his face! He has this permanently curious expression on his face that masks what he's thinking!'

'Quiet! We've worked too hard to let this fall apart now! I assume you transferred the funds from your parent's bank account?' the voice yelled.

Robby sighed. This was a nightmare. He massaged his forehead.

'Well? I'm waiting, Rob.'

'Yes... the money's in my account. As soon as the murder investigation blows over, we can leave the states,' Robby replied quietly.

'Good boy. I knew you couldn't let me down. You wouldn't, would you? You love me too damn much.'

'You know I do. I just don't understand what leaving the country has anything to do with this.'

'You will Robby, you will. Oh, that reminds me, I'm sorry about Sarah. I know she meant a lot to you. She meant a lot to me, too. I'm just sorry you couldn't break it off in time.' The phone went dead, the engaged tone beeped nonchalantly. Robby looked at the handset sadly.

'So am I.'

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Goren and Eames pulled up outside the familiar mansion, the air completely calm.

'Feels like the calm before the storm,' Eames observed, getting out of the car and closing the door with a snap. Bobby unfolded himself from the SUV and shut his door.

'Or an earthquake,' Goren muttered, tugging his collar up near his ears. The pair made their way to the front door, Goren rapping hard on the solid wood. The sound echoed through the house and out onto the street. Eames rubbed her arms.

'Damn, it's weird here,' she murmured, as the door opened slowly, but not to the maid that they had met before. A middle-aged gentleman, clad in a black business suit with a latte-coloured tie and jet-black hair greeted them with surprise.

'Can I help you?' the man asked pleasantly.

'You'd be Robert Strickland, Sr., is that right?' Goren asked politely. The man nodded.

'I am indeed, sir. Who are you?'

'Senior Detective Robert Goren, this is my partner Senior Detective Alexandra Eames. We're with the New York City Major Case Squad,' Bobby said seriously, flashing his badge. Alex followed suit. The man's face fell.

'You'd be here about Robby, wouldn't you?' he asked sadly. Alex looked at Bobby.

'Actually, we just came to ask him a few questions, but maybe you can help us,' Eames said. Strickland nodded.

'Come in, Detectives. I'll be with you in a minute.'

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Robert Strickland sat across from the detectives; his long, thin hands wrapped around the steaming cup of white tea. Taking a sip, he eyed the cops balefully. Goren had since swigged his tea back and was currently sitting upright in his floral haberdasher armchair, note book open, while Eames was delicately sipping on the edge of the cup.

'What information do you need, Detectives?' the man asked. Goren tapped his pencil on his notebook.

'How long have you been in NYC, Mr Strickland?'

'Since before I was married. My parents moved us here when my father took over my grandfather's real estate business,' Strickland said. Bobby grinned smugly at Eames. Alright, smart arse, cut the crap, she thought. Leaning forward, Alex continued.

'And you've been here ever since?' she asked. Strickland nodded.

'I met Robby's mother at college. We dated for three years, married just after we graduated. Robby's at the same college that we went to.'

'That's where he met Sarah Delafontaine,' Goren said, standing up and moving across the room. Strickland's eyes followed him.

'Yes, that's right,' the real estate agent said, allowing a frosty note to climb into his tone. Alex put her cup down.

'You didn't approve of Sarah?' she asked. Strickland pursed his already thin lips.

'No, she wasn't... appropriate for Robby. She was studying a music major when they met. She had a lovely voice. I heard she was being offered a lucrative record deal, but was made to put off taking it by her priest.'

Goren was examining a photo that was sitting on a side cabinet.

'What was Robby like as a child?' he asked. Strickland shrugged.

'Quiet boy, never went out much. Very close to his mother. I fail to see what that has to do with Robby's involvement in Sarah's death,' Strickland argued. Both Alex and Bobby snapped their heads up.

'So you knew Sarah was dead,' Alex asked slowly. Strickland tightened his grip on the china cup.

'Yes, I knew. Robby came home and told his mother and I that something terrible had happened to her.'

'When was this?' Goren asked. Strickland shrugged.

'A day or so ago. I can't remember.'

Goren shot Alex his It's-time-to-go look. Alex stood up.

'Thanks Mr Strickland, you've been very helpful. We'll keep you informed of the investigation,' Alex said professionally. Goren stepped away from the photo and headed towards the door. Any second now... Alex thought. Goren stopped. Here we go, Alex thought smugly.

'Your family... d-do you ever go to church?' Goren asked. Strickland looked in disbelief at him, glanced at Alex, then back to Goren.

'My family are staunch Catholics, Detective Goren. We've attended the same church since we moved to NYC.'

'And which one was that?'

'The Catholic Church down on fifth avenue. Big cathedral. Can't miss it.'

'What's the Father's name?'

Strickland's face darkened. He stood up and began to pace.

'We just had a new priest inducted. Unfortunately, the last one was accused of child molestation and was excommunicated from the church. The allegations were never proven, but still...'

'His name?'

Strickland looked up.

'Ian Rogers.'

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'Coincidence, my foot,' Alex grumbled as she jogged to keep pace with her partner back to the SUV. Bobby whirled around and Alex almost smashed into his chest.

'This is it, this is what Maria wanted me to find. I can't believe I didn't see it before,' he muttered, running a hand anxiously through his hair. Alex looked at him exasperatedly.

'Bobby? A little insight would be useful!' she said. Goren looked down at her.

'Think hypothetical for a moment, Eames. What if Robby had been abused by this priest as a child? But, as an only child and being gay, he enjoyed it and convinced himself that he was in love with him,' Bobby said, eyes glittering. Alex opened her mouth.

'Gay? What do you mean...?' she stuttered.

'What if Robby would do anything for this priest? His family are staunch Catholics, he's always in church. The priest decides to use this to his advantage, He starts extorting money from the boy,' Bobby continued, unaware that Eames had asked him a question.

'Then what?'

'Then, the church gets wind of this operation and excommunicates him. The family continues going to church and Robby loses his opportunity to meet with his lover. So Rogers puts him in touch with Sarah Delafontaine, an aspiring singer, who attends his new denomination and who he knows is single. That gives Strickland the excuse to go to the church,' Bobby continues, hands waving above his head. Alex watched him curiously.

'Then Robby pulls a few of his parents' influential strings and offers to help Sarah get a record deal. Rogers throws Sarah off the scent of his extortion by trying to stop her taking the deal,' Alex theorised. Bobby nodded.

'But how does that link them to the murder?' Alex wondered aloud. Bobby scratched his head, then waved his hand.

'Delafontaine was in love with Strickland. Maybe he felt something for her. Maybe she stumbled across his secret and threatened to tell his parents. Rogers gets mad at this and threatens the boy. If he doesn't cut all contact with her, he'll kill her himself and dump Strickland.'

'So to stop her spilling the beans and save his own relationship, he picks her up from practice, he stages a fight and he kills her. Rogers doesn't record the boy being at the church, because he needs him out of prison,' Alex continued. Bobby opened the door and got in the car. Alex followed him in and started the engine.

'Well, at least he needs him out of prison long enough to get out of the country,' Alex murmured. Bobby shot her a look.

'You think he might?'

'Maybe.'

Bobby sat back in his seat and stroked his chin slowly. This was a tricky one.

'That's a heck of a lot of "maybes" running around, Eames,' he muttered as she pulled out of the short road.

'Deakins is going to want solid evidence. So is Carver. You can't do an arraignment on "maybe".'

Eames sat tapping the steering wheel at the lights. She turned to her partner.

'I think it's time to interrogate,' she murmured. Bobby nodded.

'I think you're right,' he replied.