- - -
Chapter 6 - Progress
That afternoon
"Off the record the evaluation went well, Dr Huang was impressed by your cognitive and reasoning skills. And your smart ass attitude I have to mention, he see's no reason why you shouldn't continue with this investigation and can't foresee it being a problem for you at the review board; he was particularly impressed by your explanation for your anger though, Olivia will have to remember that one. Keep up the good work, any more on the journal or DNA?" Cragen told Amy and then asked the rest of the team.
"Nothing in the journal that stands out, it's actually an old one, chances are it's not even written by Cavanaugh, his records say that his mother was French, I bet it belonged to her." Fin replied.
"Checked the receipts found in his house saying he was out at the time Della was picked up, CCTV from the store clearly shows him." Munch replied.
"Proves he's been lying. DNA?" Cragen asked.
"Any moment now, we're waiting for the results before we bring Della in to give us a formal ID." Olivia answered.
"And in the meantime what are we doing?" Cragen asked hoping his team wouldn't be sat twiddling their thumbs waiting for results.
"Going over Della's statement and checking it with CCTV from the stores on the road she went down, we've got her being pulled into a car, only problem is we can't make out the guy pulling her in or the car." Amy replied with a sigh as she folded her arms.
"What about DNA in the car?" Cragen asked trying to get up to speed on things.
"He took her to school Monday morning and twice last week when she missed the bus; meaning hair and fibres would already be there." Elliot replied.
"So in other words we're still stood twiddling our thumbs until we hear from the lab. If results are positive Elliot and Fin will go and bring Cavanaugh back in whilst Amy and I go and bring Della in to formally identify him when we'll charge him with statutory rape." Olivia added imitating Amy and folding her arms in frustration.
- - -
"Stabler?" Elliot asked picking up his phone. "Ok, thanks." He put down his phone grabbed his coat. "We're on; DNA on inside of condom is Cavanaugh's outside is Della's. Fin you ready?" Elliot asked.
"Oh yeah." Fin replied putting on his jacket and Munch picked up the phone.
"I'll get the parade lined up ready." He said.
"We'll get Della when you give us the go ahead." Olivia replied happy that progress was finally being made again.
"I'll call Casey and tell her the good news." Amy replied picking up the phone and dialling Casey's cell.
"You sure you want to do that? Things seemed pretty tense between the pair of you earlier, I know it should be expected but." Olivia asked.
"I can't stay mad at her forever; my mum told me that when I was seven and she stole my favourite book." Amy replied.
"You two always had a stormy relationship?" Olivia asked noting how many awkward moments there'd been between the pair of them.
"Yeah, Sophie is 5 years older than Casey so it was me who she played with when we were younger, there's a 3 year gap between Cody and Brendan it was the same with those two. Casey and I had Sophie as a common enemy. But still we were always bickering and fighting, some habits are hard to grow out of I suppose." Amy replied as Casey picked up the phone.
- - -
"Novak Special Victims" Casey answered her phone.
"It's Amy, we've got a DNA match on the condom for both Cavanaugh and Della, Fin and Elliot are bringing him in now. I thought I'd keep you informed as to what we're doing." Amy replied knowing she didn't need to say who she was.
"Thanks, I appreciate the heads up, when are you bringing Della in? I'm guessing that you will be."
"Olivia and I'll go for her when Elliot gets back, we'll do the ID parade then formally charge him."
"Good, I'll be there as soon as I can, look Amy." Casey started but Amy cut her off.
"I better go, stuff to do, I'll see you later." Amy replied.
"Sure, take care." Casey said hanging up.
- - -
"Edward Cavanaugh I'm arresting you for the rape of Della Reeves, you do not have to say anything, anything you do say may be used against you, you have the right to an attorney, if you cannot afford one one will be provided for you. Now get in the car." Elliot said slapping the cuffs on Cavanaugh the moment he opened his front door.
"I didn't do anything." He replied as Elliot forced him into the car.
"Well DNA tests and a 14 year old girl say otherwise." Fin added slamming the door shut in Cavanaugh's face.
"I want my lawyer!" He shouted.
"Shut up and we might just let you call him when we get to the precinct." Elliot replied starting the engine and pulling out onto the street.
- - -
Olivia and Amy waited until Elliot had gotten back before they went to get Della, Olivia could see how pleased Amy was to have gotten a result, she just hoped she'd have a reason to keep smiling.
"Afternoon Detectives what can we do for you?" Mrs Reeves asked answering the door.
"Is Della in, we have some news?" Olivia asked in reply, they were shown in and after a few minutes Della arrived holding a fishing rod looking anxious.
"Mum said you've got some news about the case what is it?" She asked sitting down.
"At this moment Eddie Cavanaugh is being formally charged with your rape, we got a DNA match." Olivia replied.
"Thank goodness!" Mrs Reeves exclaimed.
"But there is one more thing we want you to do; it's simply a formal procedure. We need you to formally identify him as your attacker. I know we have DNA evidence but the courts also like to have the victim identify their attacker." Amy said sitting down in the chair opposite Della.
"I don't think I can." Della said.
"I promise you that he will not come anywhere near you, he won't even speak to or see you, I'll be there at your side the whole time, so will your mum." Amy replied looking the girl in the eye, Amy knew exactly what she was going through but Olivia and Mrs Reeves had no idea, all they could see were two rape victims trying to get on with the task at hand, for a moment Olivia understood why Casey was acting the way she was around her sister and made a mental note to apologise to her at the first opportunity.
"You promise you'll be there?" Della asked Amy.
"I promise I'll be with you the entire time."
"Ok then I'll do it." Della replied nodding her head.
- - -
"Everything set up?" Casey asked as she arrived at the precinct and found Olivia stood in the hall.
"Yeah, Casey I owe you an apology." Olivia replied.
"What for? You've done nothing wrong." Casey said trying to think about what Olivia was referring to.
"I finally saw what you see."
"Sorry?"
"Amy was speaking to Della at the house and I just looked and saw her as, I don't know." Olivia struggled to find the words.
"Saw her as a victim instead of a detective or instead of my younger sister. It's the eyes isn't it?" Casey asked and Olivia nodded. "Most of the time you can see the sparkle from the laughter but there are moments when you can still see the pain, I see it, my mum sees it but she doesn't. Now you understand why I urged George to do his evaluation as soon as."
"I think that could have waited but I do think there's something there. Maybe talking with Della will help?"
"Over the years she's spoken to countless therapists, experts and other people, I doubt reliving it all for some girl is going to help." Casey replied.
"We each deal with things differently Casey, how did you deal with it?"
"Shock, it sent shockwaves through the neighbourhood, I spent months looking over my shoulder when I was walking home. For a while I even felt embarrassed over the whole situation, now I can't believe I ever felt like that. But then one morning I got up and found Amy lying passed out on the living room floor, a bottle of scotch in her hand and two empty bottles of gin on the table. I realised that her life that had been turned upside down by what had happened and felt guilty for how I was feeling; I wanted to do something to change what she'd been through. I was pissed at the guy for getting off; I wanted to make sure people like him got what they deserved. Amy was the reason I decided to become a lawyer, she's the reason I'm stood here today, and I hope that one day I'll be able to make things better for her."
"And if this case helps her do it?" Olivia asked.
"I doubt it will but either way I'll give it my all to ensure that this one doesn't get away. We couldn't get her rapist off the streets but I sure can get this one locked up." Casey replied.
- - -
Ten men were lined up against a wall, on the other side of the screen Amy, Olivia, Casey and Mrs Reeves stood with Della who was walking up and down looking at each of them, each time she stopped at the same person and stared at him.
"Number 4, Eddie, he's who raped me." Della said breaking down, immediately Amy jumped to her side and nodded at Olivia who went to speak to the officer at the door.
"You did fantastic Della, I'm proud of you. For me the identification was the hardest bit, you see I didn't get a look or know who mine was." Amy said putting a hand on Della's shoulder.
"She'll have to face him in court won't she?" Mrs Reeves asked Casey.
"We can do it via a video link if Della prefers, given her age and the circumstances that can be arranged." Casey replied.
"I want to do it." Della stated through the tears to the astonishment of the women stood around her.
"Are you sure?" Amy asked.
"Did you?" Della asked looking Amy in the eye, although Della was only 14 she was almost as tall as the detective.
"No, my case was dropped before then, not enough DNA evidence, it was only my word against a well respected pillar of the community, I was a 13 year old school girl who had a crush on the guy from saved by the bell." Amy replied.
"But I bet you would have?" Della asked hopefully.
"In an instant." Amy responded with a nod.
"Then I will too." Della stated.
- - -
"Good work today, can I drop you off at home?" Casey asked catching up with Amy at the elevator.
"I'm meeting the guys at the hospital, it's only a few blocks away, I could use the air." Amy replied.
"Olivia sees it too."
"Sees what? How annoying you can be?"
"That and the fact that you can't hide your feelings all the time, she saw the hurt and fear in your eyes this afternoon. You've gotten better at hiding it over the years but it's still there, you can't deny that. But I'm not going to push you, if you're happy the way you are then its fine with me but I can't suddenly stop being your annoying older sister, it's my birthright."
"Fine, you let me get on with things my way and I'll do the same with you." Amy replied as the doors closed.
"But that's not all." Casey said, "Did I ever tell you why I wanted to become a lawyer?"
"Because you wanted to be rich and powerful, become president and rule the world?"
"Close, the real reason, and the reason I told Olivia was because of what happened to you, I wanted to make sure people like the guy who raped you got what they deserved and that people in your situation didn't have to go through what you did."
"Am I supposed to be thankful?"
"No, I'm telling you because I want you to understand why this case bothers me almost as much as you. I'm scared that if I fail, I'll be letting you down, like the legal system let you down all those years ago. I don't want to be responsible for hurting you, my worst memory is of going downstairs and finding you lying there, at first I thought you were dead, and then I realised just how much you were hurting and I never ever want to see you or anyone go through that again." Casey replied as the doors opened.
"Neither do I, and that's why I intend to be there for Della every step of the way." Amy said following Casey out onto the sidewalk.
"I know. So do you want a ride?" Casey asked.
"I need the air to clear my head. Thanks anyway, I'll see you." Amy replied fastening up her coat and walking off down the street leaving Casey feeling better than she had in a while.