Chapter 7 – Casey's statement

Precinct

"We decided that she'll come back when she's ready, she's not wearing any shoes, doesn't have a coat or any money so she's not likely to get too far." Casey told Olivia she arrived to make her statement; Elizabeth Donnelly had just arrived also.

"So she didn't take it too well?" Elizabeth asked catching the end of the conversation.

"Wants to be left on her own, part of me understands the other part wants to knock some sense into her to get her to open up, she's gone on a lock down. Anyway, I'm here to make my statement, better get it over with sooner rather than later, there's not a lot I can do in Long Island, she'll show up when she's ready. At least the bastards locked up where he can't get to her." Something Casey wished Amy knew.

"But she doesn't know that does she?" Elizabeth said as if she were reading the ADA's mind as they led Casey into the interview room, Casey sat on one side of the table the two older women on the other.

"Casey you know the routine here, all I want is you to say on the record how you know Winston Grant, Ms Donnelly is here to ensure that we do things by the book." Olivia told the ADA, although she was personally unsure as to why the Bureau Chief was there, as far as she was aware Donnelly barely had anything to do with Amy and she was only Casey's boss.

"It's fine. I know Winston Grant because he used to live round the corner from my parents in Long Island, and also because over 13 years ago he raped my younger sister Amy and got away with it because there was no evidence." Casey said calmly.

"Can you state your full name for the record?" Olivia asked writing on the piece of paper in front of her.

"Cassandra Amy Novak." Casey replied as Olivia wrote down her name and got her to sign the statement.

"Thanks Casey, I'll have a word with Cragen and see if we can circulate Amy's description see if the Long Island Cops can find her." Olivia replied leaving the two lawyers in the room.

"How's the case going?" Casey asked her superior.

"Good, how's Amy?"

"Scared, that's the best way of describing it. And she's pissed off, just like me. I don't mean to be rude but why are you here? There's no real need and there are plenty of other capable ADA's who could be working on the case, you don't even know Amy." Casey snapped standing up, not knowing why, in effect she was releasing her anger and it was just unfortunate that it was her boss who was feeling the brunt of it.

"Believe it or not when she first joined the force your little sister did something that impressed me greatly, I've been watching her career with great interest ever since believe it or not." Elizabeth responded gently, her tone was such that it caused Casey to sit down.

"Come on then what did she do? Let you off with a parking ticket?" Casey asked airily.

"She went above and beyond the call of duty for someone and word spread round the DA's office, you know how it is; her actions that day showed just how good a police officer she is. I think we could both do with some fresh air, let's go for a walk." Elizabeth stood up and Casey followed suit.

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They walked in silence for a few moments until Casey felt the need to talk.

"I'm sorry for almost blowing up in there, it's just, I don't know." Casey sighed.

"All beginning to get to you and once again you're unable to do or say the right thing, I understand Casey, although I can't say I know what you're going through and I won't pretend to either." Elizabeth replied.

"What did she do that impressed you so much then?" Casey asked wanting to hear something about her sister that might make her smile.

"From what I was told there was a mugging at one of the subway stations in the village, an elderly woman had had her handbag stolen and she was distraught, for a number of months this woman had been saving up to go see a show on Broadway with her granddaughter and the tickets were in her bag. The woman was inconsolable until this rookie showed up and began talking to her, she told her this story about how her grandmother had once had something similar happen and they hadn't been able to go where they'd wanted. The victim asked what they did and Amy told her that they never got to go to I can't remember where, instead they baked cakes and had one of the best days they'd ever had together, it didn't matter where they were it was just the quality time they'd had. Now I don't know if the story is true but I do know that it really meant a lot to the old woman, I think that Amy was around the same age as her granddaughter. The guy was never caught and the handbag and tickets were never recovered but sources tell me that this old woman and her granddaughter went to see the show and a certain cop cancelled her holiday time in favour of doing lots of overtime. She cared about the victim and did something to make an old woman very happy, some might say she was soft and got too emotionally involved with the woman and her plight, but I don't think it's a bad thing to have a few cops with feelings out on the streets of New York. You want some coffee?" Elizabeth asked Casey who was stood thinking.

"Ireland." Casey answered to the amazement of Elizabeth.

"I'm not quite with you there Casey?"

"Amy was supposed to be going to Ireland with our grandma, I was so jealous that I wasn't going with them, they were going to see some family members who lived out there still. Three weeks before they were due to go Amy was raped so the trip was cancelled, then one Saturday we all had to be somewhere but Amy didn't want to be left in the house on her own so she went to our grandma's. We got back that night and discovered they'd been baking all day, hundreds of cakes. It was one of the few times back then that Amy had been happy and felt safe, she was smiling when we picked her up. A few weeks later I remember asking her if she wished she'd gone to Ireland and she said no, spending the day somewhere she was safe and loved was what she'd needed and from then on the pair of them were inseparable. Amy could speak to grandma better than she could to any of us and I think it was all down to that day in the kitchen, there's something special when your grandmother shows you how to bake a cake." Casey finished with a smile, by now they'd gotten their coffees.

"When did she die?" Elizabeth asked judging from Casey's tone that she had passed away.

"The week after Amy graduated from the police academy, she was so proud that day, we all were. A few months later Amy was meant to be going with some friends to Ireland only she pulled out at the last minute saying she couldn't afford it, Dad offered to lend her money but she declined, she always has hated borrowing money – now I know why. You really think that's a sign of how good a cop she is because she bought tickets for some woman and her granddaughter to go to the theatre?"

"Yes and so do you, and do you know what else I know?"

"That this coffee is terrible." Casey replied throwing her cup in the bin after tasting it.

"That you showed a lot of courage today by formally naming that guy and the other day when you realised who he was." Elizabeth put a reassuring hand on Casey's shoulder.

"I just hope that Amy has the courage to face her own demons." Casey replied, she hated to say it with such little energy in her voice, everyone else was being so optimistic and cheery but she just couldn't help it. In the back of her mind she doubted that Amy would be able to cope with having to go through with a prosecution again, another part of her also doubted that the forensics team would be able to find any evidence.

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