- - -
Chapter 5 – Evaluation
Next day
Precinct
"He's perfectly sane, no diminished mental capacity at all, no delusions of grandeur. The only thing I've picked up on is the fact that he's a compulsive liar, he's good, you'll have to work hard if you want to trip him up. But I think it's possible, keep asking him questions and he'll eventually tie himself in knots." George told Olivia after he'd done the evaluation on Cavanaugh.
"I'll leave the interrogation to Elliot, what about Della?" Olivia asked.
"I see no evidence that she's lying, I've listened to the tapes, spoken to her guidance councillor, I've no doubt that she's telling the truth. But there is one thing."
"Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like this?" Olivia asked putting her hands on her hips defensively.
"Amy Novak." George replied.
"What about her?"
"I'd like to do an evaluation on her."
"What?" Olivia asked shocked.
"I was contacted by the review board and her Captain at Vice, he thinks that she's got issues that need dealing with, and ADA Novak agrees."
"You spoke to Casey about this?" Olivia asked surprised at what she was hearing.
"I let her know after the Captain called me, she suggested I get it done ASAP."
"When was this?" Olivia asked.
"Yesterday afternoon."
"Before I went to see her no doubt, she said she had her own way of dealing with things. I just can't believe she's done this. When are you going to speak to Amy?" Olivia asked her mind racing.
"As soon as she gets here." George replied.
"Right can you do me a favour and leave it until I've spoken to her?" Olivia asked.
"This needs to be done, if she fails to participate she could be put back on suspension, the moment I see her I'm talking to her." George replied leaving.
- - -
"Good morning." Amy said as she sat down opposite Elliot.
"What's put you in a good mood, a certain handsome fellow in a towel by any chance?" Elliot asked with a cheeky grin.
"No Elliot I didn't see you after your shower, however I have had some good news." She replied smiling.
"Spill then, I'm just dying to know." Elliot said wondering what had her so excited.
"Condoms." She said causing Elliot to spit out the coffee he'd just began to drink all over her.
"Sorry," He said passing her a tissue, "what about them, have you been making balloons with them? I thought we'd gotten past that stage of development."
"Making balloons is better than putting them over your head to look silly. They found three in his trash, lab's running DNA checks on them now; if we get a match then we've got him." She added with a smile as she wiped her face with the tissue and took another one from Elliot.
"Great, how soon will we know?" He asked.
"Soon as." Amy replied as Olivia and George joined them.
- - -
"Chances are we may have that DNA match after all." Elliot told Olivia.
"Great, Amy can I have a word please?" Olivia asked shooting George a sideways look. Amy nodded and followed Olivia away from the group.
- - -
"What's up?" Amy asked after Olivia had taken her to one side.
"George is going to be doing an evaluation of you, he say's your Captain and the IRB asked for it, if you fail you'll be back on suspension. He's here to do it now and Casey knows about it, she thinks it's a good idea." Olivia replied knowing she was being a grass but she wasn't bothered, she wanted to make sure Amy knew what was going on.
"Thanks for the heads up, but if anyone needs the evaluation I'd say it was my sister, she just over reacts because I don't break down in tears every time someone says the word rape."
"I'll leave you two to settle that on your own, I just wanted to give you a heads up. I don't want you to do anything to get you thrown off this case, I get the feeling you're going to be useful to us before it's finished and I don't want to have to go behind Cragen's back to get you to help, understand?" Olivia asked.
"Yes boss." Amy replied looking past Olivia's shoulder and spotting Casey walking down the hall towards them.
"Hey guys how's it going?" Casey asked cheerily.
"I know why you're here Casey and you're wasting your time." Amy replied walking off to find George.
"He told you didn't he?" Casey asked Olivia who didn't look happy.
"I think it's strange that after only knowing her for a few days I appear to have more faith in Amy than you do, she's the key to this investigation. Della will only talk to her; if this evaluation gets her suspended then the fault lies with you. It was your encouragement that got George here today. You've surprised me Casey." Olivia replied.
"I know Amy better than you; I know when something's bothering her and her emotional wellbeing means more to me than this case." Casey replied walking off.
- - -
Interview room
George was sat across the table from Amy, whilst Casey, Olivia and Elliot were watching from the other side of the screen.
"So Amy, tell me about yourself." George said.
"I don't need an evaluation." She replied.
"I believe you were recently suspended for hitting an arrestee is that correct?"
"You've read the file, but yes I did hit him. He grabbed my ass, I was uncomfortable and reacted. I appreciate that my reaction was a little harsh and that I could have done something else about it but I reacted in the heat of the moment."
"Do you do that a lot?" George asked making notes.
"Sometimes, but then again most people do, part of my job is being able to react to situations that other people can't, it's what I've been trained to do. I know I shouldn't have hit him, he shouldn't have touched me, as the record shows I put in a formal complaint myself and the assault charges brought against me were dropped."
"You have an answer for most things don't you?"
"I get asked a lot of questions, mainly concerning my emotional wellbeing."
"What do you think to that?"
"I'm used to it, I've seen shrinks, been interrogated by my family, I've talked to other people so I know what to expect from you." Amy replied folding her arms.
"What do you expect?" George asked sitting back in his chair and putting his pen down.
"Well you'll start by saying I had a horrible childhood with what happened to me, you'll ask if I blame myself or anyone close to me. Then you'll mention high school; ask me if I had boyfriends stuff like that, same for college - which by the way is irrelevant because I've been a cop since I left high school. You'll ask me about work and my anger issues, and then you'll ask about my relationships with men and my family to see if I'm ok. How did I do?" Amy asked a satisfied grin on her face.
"You're right you did know what I was going to ask. But what about your answers?"
"I was 13 and I was raped, it was a horrible experience and for a time it messed me up but I got over it. It wasn't my fault it happened and it wasn't anyone else's fault, I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, it could have happened to any of my friends or even my sisters, one of whom I know is watching this. As for high school, well I was on the soccer team, in the band, went to dances and was like everyone else, no I didn't have a boyfriend but that wasn't because of what happened on my part it was more because I was damaged goods in their eyes along with the fact that I was short and fat with bad hair. I enjoy being a cop, it's the only job I ever wanted to do and I'm good at it when I get the chance to be doing my job. As for anger issues have you ever heard of PMT? The guy caught me at the wrong time of the month and suffered for it."
"All good answers, now what about relationships?" George asked making notes.
"I've had them, I've got male friends, in fact I live with two, yes, I share an apartment with two men, straight men before you ask. And I've even had a relationship with one of them, but that was before we moved in together."
"Why did it end?"
"I could ask you the same about your past relationships. We ended things because he was going to be away for a semester and we didn't want the hassles of a long term relationship. We didn't start up again when he came back because he was involved with someone else and now we're best friends."
"What about intimacy with them, did you?"
"Sleep with him?" Amy asked.
"I'm a good catholic girl Dr Huang, however I'll admit that I'm careful when it comes to guys but part of that is because I know what a broken heart feels like, there's only so much ice cream a girl can eat before she throws up and turns into a whale. And yes part is because I have issues over what happened to me but that's to be expected isn't it?"
"I'd be surprised if it wasn't an issue, what about your family? I understand you're from a large one."
"I'm the youngest of 6 children, I get on pretty well with them all, a few try to interfere with my life, they think they know what's best for me, I get irritated but I get on with it, I know that they only act like they do because they care. As the youngest and smallest they want to look after me and protect me, I think a reason for them being so smothering sometimes is because they think they didn't do enough to protect me 13 years ago. I just deal with it; the truth is they'd have been the same if it had happened to any one of us. We're close I know they'll be there if I need them, and they know I'd be there for them if they needed me, even Casey. As annoying as she is she's my sister and I love her and I know that she has my best interests at heart." Amy replied looking at the screen where she knew Casey was stood watching.
"What about this case you're working on, how does it make you feel?"
"I empathise with Della because I know what it's like to be in her shoes, I know how to ask the questions and get the answers. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little involved because it is an issue that I've experienced but I don't think it's hindering the investigation and it's not pushing me towards a breakdown. I'll be angry if Cavanaugh gets off with it because I know he did it but in the end all I can do is the best I can, it'll be down to the courts to convict him. My primary concerns are Della and making sure the police investigation is thorough and precise to dive the DA's office all the evidence they need to secure a conviction. Is there anything else you want to ask me?" Amy asked.
"No that's everything. Thank you it's been most insightful." George replied shaking Amy's hand.
- - -
Other side of the screen.
"The only emotion she's showing is irritation." Casey said to Olivia and Elliot.
"I'd be irritated to in her shoes. I can't see anything wrong with her, in fact I don't even want to watch this, I'm going to chase up the journal translations." Elliot replied leaving the two women alone.
"Answer for everything, she's not giving him much to play with." Olivia smiled watching Amy predicting the questions.
"She's always been smart." Casey replied not taking her eyes off of Amy, the two just stood in silence listening and watching Amy's reactions until they were done. "I just thought she thought I was interfering." Casey said referring to Amy saying that she had her best interests at heart.
"Well you are in a way, but then like she said all sisters are. I think the two of you need to sit down and talk things through before it tears you apart." Olivia replied heading off to see how Elliot was getting on. A few seconds later Amy walked past her gave a weak smile and left the office, Casey didn't know where she was going she was more concerned with speaking to George.
"So?" Casey asked hopefully.
"I can't see a problem and my report will reflect that, the issues Amy is facing are to be expected given both her past and her job. Also she's one of the smartest people I've ever met, an answer for everything and half of the time she was one step ahead of me. Clean bill of health for the review board you should be pleased." George replied.
"Good I'm glad. I better get back to work, will you send me a formal copy of the report."
"Technically I shouldn't have told you this, you know all there is the rest I suggest you sit down with Amy and talk it through, for your sake if not for hers." George replied heading off to write up his report.