Tarnished
Chapter Seven
1-6 Precinct
SVU Squad Room
9:30 AM Monday
Munch sauntered into the squad room and he pushed the suspect board aside, going over to his cluttered desk. He sighed and shoved a stack of paperwork onto Fin's desk, and then he sat down and reclined in his chair, awaiting his assignment for the day. Elliot was at his desk, looking over crime scene photos of Bianca Lewis and her dead boys.
Fin and Olivia came into the squad room bearing breakfast, and Munch was the first to stand up and dig through the bags. Olivia slapped his hand away.
"Pay up first buddy," she said, holding out her hand.
Munch took out a ten and placed it in her hand before she pulled out his meal.
Elliot came over and retrieved his breakfast and he gave Olivia the money he owed her.
Fin got his breakfast and Olivia took the one from the bottom before going into Cragen's office and handing him breakfast. They had a long day ahead and they each had an early call out to canvas the crime scene again at Bianca Lewis's house.
Warner wouldn't be finished with the autopsies until later on in the week, but they were trying to decide if they had enough to bring the Sadlers in for questioning and compel him to give a DNA sample. The day was bright and brisk, and there was only a need for light coats. Despite the fine weather, there was a dark cloud hanging over the detectives, the image of the two dead boys still very fresh in their minds.
They contacted the absent husband, Harry Lewis and he would be in from Pittsburgh on Tuesday evening to view the bodies. He wasn't a suspect because he had no motive, and he had a credible alibi.
The suspect list was still down to Christian and Josephine Sadler.
"Okay, so we have two murders," Olivia began as she took a bite out of her breakfast taquito. "First Marissa Barlow, who is directly connected to Christian Sadler by an affair and a baby, and then two days later, Bianca Lewis and her two boys are murdered, and she's directly connected to Marissa Barlow."
"What're you thinking?" Munch asked as he inspected the board.
"I'm thinking that Marissa Barlow was a crime of opportunity," Olivia explained. "And that Bianca's murder was more…calculated."
Elliot leaned back in his chair.
"That makes sense," he agreed. "Marissa was caught in the middle of a big lie…a lie that lasts the rest of Christian's life and that would ruin his reputation, break up his family…I can see him murdering Marissa, but I can't see him murdering Bianca Lewis. I mean, she was just a secretary. She was so far removed from what was going on. I'm thinking Bianca was a random target."
"Or somebody obviously feels threatened by her," Cragen said. "Call Novak. We've got enough reasonable doubt to bring in Christian Sadler and his wife."
"Yeah, we can't leave her out of the equation," Fin said as he rearranged pictures. "It's perfectly possible that Judge Sadler could have wanted a little justice on her own terms. She could have just as easily strangled Marissa as her husband could."
"Yeah, but I just can't picture it," Olivia said with a sigh. "I mean, she's got battered wife written all over her. The signs of physical abuse are there. If anything, I don't think she has a freakin' clue what the hell is going on."
"Still, bring her in," Cragen said. "We need to get to the bottom of this."
Just then, Green and Fontana entered the squad room.
"Hey guys," Olivia said with a smile. "You keep stepping on our turf, what gives?"
"We think we may be dealing with the same killer," Ed explained handing her a file folder. "Seven similar murders over the last five years…three of these women have gone missing, and four were killed alternately by strangulation and a single gunshot to the head."
Olivia handed the file to Cragen and he flipped through it.
"This is starting to make sense," he said. "Any leads on these murders and disappearances?"
"Yep," Fontana nodded. "All the women were connected with the Sadler family, but that leads ran cold since they had a credible alibi every time."
"Let me guess, the women in the family?" Fin asked.
"Yeah," Ed said as he went over to make himself a cup of coffee. "We had a possible suspect in custody, but he wasn't the guy. We have picked up every murder for hire, psychopath, and guy with a mother complex and nothing."
"Well, Christian is looking pretty damn good for these murders," Olivia said as she pulled out her cell phone and dialed Casey's number. "Hey Case…you were sleeping? Aww…hey listen, we need you to call a judge and get us a warrant for Christian Sadler's DNA…yeah, like today. Thank you sweets."
She snapped her phone shut.
"Casey's getting the warrant," Olivia said as she picked up her coat.
"Mind if we come with?" Ed asked as he grimaced at the coffee.
"Nope," Elliot said.
"By the way, you guys' coffee is shit," Ed groused as they walked out.
Sadler Home
Upper Manhattan
10:50 AM
Josephine was cleaning Henry's bathroom because he had left it such a mess after he got ready for school. She picked up his pajamas and folded them neatly before setting them onto the counter. She wiped down the tub and the toilet, making sure not to use too strong a cleaner. He wasn't a messy boy, but he was still a boy.
She looked at herself in the spotless mirror. She had an angry bruise on her cheek. Christian had slapped her so hard that she fell into the dining room table. It was ugly and garish against her porcelain skin, and no amount of foundation could cover it up. It was her fault that her life was going the way it was going. She loved Christian so much, and she wished so much that he would get help for his anger. She knew that there was something going on; some buried thing that caused him to hate her so.
She gave him two beautiful boys, the best years of her life, gave him her heart. What more did he want from her?
Nothing is ever going to be enough, she thought to herself. How much longer am I going to stay? Until he kills me in a rage he can't reign in?
Josephine shook her head.
She walked out of Henry's bathroom and she went into her son's bedroom. She placed his pajamas on his neatly made bed and then rearranged a few things before smiling. She loved her boys so much.
She jumped when she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist and she realized that it was Christian. She knew that she was helpless as she melted into him. It had been so long since he had just held her so gently and lovingly. It was a surprise to her, but he was amazingly gentle and nimble with her, as if he had come to his senses.
He kissed her neck softly and then turned her slowly to face him.
Christian loved his wife, but just not the way he knew he should. He wanted to change, to address the issues that had plagued him since he was a child, but when he got angry, it felt so good to have the kind of power over someone that he had over his wife. But when he saw what he did to her, it caused the slightest bit of pain somewhere in his heart. But he needed this kind of control over her; it was like a drug. It was better than sex, better than alcohol…even better than making money. If he ever lost that control, he'd surely unravel.
Josephine hugged her husband tightly, sobbing into his chest.
"Christian," she sobbed. "I love you so much. What's wrong with us? Why can't we always be like this?"
"We can," he whispered into her ear. "Just understand me. Understand me."
Josephine felt her chin being tilted up to greet his solemn eyes, and his lips descended upon hers. She kissed him with all the fervor and passion of a woman who hadn't been treated as such in a very long time, and she craved the slow gentle lovemaking that they used to have. She loved him straight through all of his faults and his anger and his abuse. She prayed to God that this was the turning point in their marriage as they made their way to their bedroom.
They became a tangle of sheets, skin, and limbs as they made love like the couple she knew they could be. For a single moment of absolute bliss as she climaxed, she felt happy and free and loved. All of the empty, dark places in her heart were being filled, if only temporarily.
Christian sighed out her name as he released into her, his eyes closed tightly, fighting off the tears that were coming.
"Understand, Josie," he strangled out. "Please."
She wrapped her arms around him as he collapsed onto her, sweaty and panting, and she kissed his forehead.
"I understand," she whispered breathlessly. "I love you so much. I'll help you. I understand."
Just as they settled in to sleep, the doorbell rang, and Josephine sighed in agitation.
Why now? She asked herself. Please don't let this ruin the mood. I think I'm getting through to him.
Christian rolled onto his back and rubbed his hands over his face.
"Can you get that?" He asked softly.
"Okay," she said, leaning over and kissing him. "I'll be back, okay? We'll talk."
He nodded.
Josephine got up out of bed and grabbed her robe. She put it on quickly and patted away the thin sheen of sweat on her face and neck as she trotted down stairs to the door.
She pulled open the heavy door and she saw four people, two of them familiar, standing on her doorstep.
"Detective Benson," she said with a slight smile. "Detective Stabler. What brings you here? And you two are?"
"I'm Ed Green, this is my partner Joe Fontana," Ed reintroduced. "Remember us?"
Josephine's face fell.
"No, you're not putting my family through that kind of hell again," she said tearfully. "Why are you here?"
"Judge Sadler, why are you protecting him?" Olivia implored, looking at the bruise on Josephine's cheek. "Nice bruise."
"Go away, and leave us alone," Josephine cried. "Please, I'm begging you."
"I'm afraid we can't do that," Elliot said as he pushed past her. "Where's your husband?"
"I can't," Josephine sobbed.
"Josephine, do you realize that you're a suspect in a murder investigation?"
At that, Josephine, stopped crying long enough to let the words sink in.
"What?"
"Josephine?" Christian said as he came downstairs. "What the hell are they doing here? Haven't you done enough damage already? And you two…"
He looked at Fontana and Green.
"You're lucky I don't sue you both personally for harassment," Christian threatened.
"As much as I'd love to continue this little family reunion, we should get down to the precinct," Elliot said.
1-6 Precinct
SVU Squad Room
Interrogation Rooms 1 & 2
11: 57 PM
Dr. George Huang stood behind the one way mirror looking at Josephine Sadler. The woman looked rather dismayed and emotional. She had been crying since she arrived at the station, and the bruise on her cheek wasn't hard to miss. She had fading bruises on her wrists. The woman had long, flowing hair that she had elegantly put back with turtle shell hair clips, and she had on slacks and a casual pink blouse.
He watched as she wiped more tears and played with her wedding ring. Her leg was bouncing with nervousness, and she paled.
Josephine got up and vomited into the small trashcan that was in the room.
Olivia and Cragen came in.
"How's she doing?" Olivia asked as she saw the judge doubled over, vomiting. "Is she okay?"
"She's far from it," George said. "She's crying non stop, nervous, shaking. Either it's guilt, or she's definitely afraid of something. I do believe that she's a typical battered wife. Always the victim, yet trying to pretend not to be one. Especially in her position. A judge who's a battered wife?"
"I'm sure that's what she's been thinking," Cragen said. "Olivia, go in there and talk to her. Give her some water and make sure she doesn't need the hospital. George, I need your take on the husband."
Huang nodded and left the office. Olivia went to the refrigerator and retrieved a bottle of cold water before she entered the interrogation room.
"Here you go Josephine," Olivia said softly as she sat down. "Are you feeling alright? Do you need to go to the hospital, get checked out?"
"No, I'm fine," Josephine sniffled. "Thanks for the water. Where's my husband? I want to go home. Please, just leave us alone and let us go home. I'm begging you."
Olivia sighed and put her hand on Josephine's arm. "Josephine, we know that you're afraid, and we know that your husband has been hitting you."
"Stop it," Josephine growled, getting up. "My husband does not hit me. He would never do that."
"Then why do you have that bruise on your cheek?" Olivia asked calmly. "Why are there bruises on your wrists hmm? Are those 'accidents' too?"
Josephine put her hand on her forehead and sat down, sobbing.
"You don't understand," she sobbed. "We just made love like we used to. He touched me like I want to be touched. I'm helping him. He wants to get better, and the more you cause problems, the harder it gets to get him to come back to me. I love him so much, and we're so close to healing our marriage and out lives."
"Look, all we need is the truth," Olivia pressed. "You could end up in jail if you keep covering for him. We know he killed Marissa," Olivia said as Josephine shook her head in disbelief. "Yes, he did and you're covering for him. You know something about what happened to her."
"NO I DON'T!" Josephine yelled. "I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!"
Interrogation Room 2
12:15 PM
"So I hear that you like to beat on your wife," Ed said as he sat down in the chair across from Christian.
Christian smirked and adjusted his suit jacket.
"You heard wrong," he simply stated.
"Oh come on," Elliot egged on as he inched closer to Christian. "You work at a big company, there's a lot of pressure involved there, and you take it home to your wife and instead of talking about it, you choose to beat the shit out of her and tell her it's her fault."
Christian stood up and faced Elliot.
"Like I said before, you don't scare me Detective Stabler," Christian said in a low voice. "None of you do."
"Man, sit your ass down," Ed said angrily. "What makes you think we're afraid of you?"
"Is there a realquestion?" Christian asked as he walked over to the window.
"Yeah, where were you the night Marissa Barlow was murdered?" Elliot asked, rolling up his sleeves.
"At home with my wife," Christian said. "In bed."
"Oh, that's rich," Ed said, shoving his hands into his pockets, chuckling. "Can you believe this man? He actually expects us to believe that lame ass story. How 'bout this? Why don't we haul your ass in on the other seven women you murdered because they pissed you off."
Christian turned.
"Not that again, Detective Green," he sighed. " I had nothing to do with those women. The most I'm guilty of there is adultery."
"Well, this time you're guilty of two counts of murder," Elliot said as he paced back and forth. "Marissa and her fifteen week old fetus."
At that, Christian physically deflated, and his eyes showed shock and confusion.
"Ah, now we've got your attention," Ed said as he sat back down.
"No, that can't be possible," Christian said, scrambling for excuses. "She wasn't pregnant."
"Because you paid her to have an abortion," Elliot said. "But guess what? Marissa couldn't do it, so she's been carrying around your baby because we know you and her were going at it. So she's pregnant with your baby, she's talking to your wife constantly, and you're thinking she might spill the beans."
"And then, her friend Bianca Lewis is found dead along with her two boys two days later," Ed continued. "It looks like you let this get a little out of hand here, Christian."
"I DIDN'T KILL ANYBODY!" Christian yelled. "This is bullshit! That baby wasn't mine, and Marissa was just a little crazy slut out to ruin me!"
"It's always about you, isn't it?" Elliot asked. "Everybody's out to get you. Once we match your DNA to the baby's, it's all over for you Sadler. So the sooner you start talking, the better chance you have of not getting a needle stuck in your arm."