Latch Key

Chapter Four

Chambers of Judge Petrovsky

Manhattan Courthouse

10:00 AM Friday

"I have a written police statement from James Matheson that Sharon Zimmerman broke into his apartment, ransacked the place, physically assaulted him and stole said videotape, which the detectives used to pull a confession from my client about the abuse of Jennifer Zimmerman only after he became exhausted of vehemently denying that he ever abused any of Mrs. Zimmerman's children," Harold Rosenberg claimed.

"Your honor," Casey began, knowing that she could appeal to Judge Petrovsky. "The videotape in question was in Sharon Zimmerman's possession only after she retrieved her stolen property."

"Your honor, this is ludicrous," Harold said.

"Judge, this videotape is crucial to putting a child molester and rapist in prison," Casey implored. "The tape shows Mr. Rosenberg's client engaged in oral sex with Jennifer Zimmerman, and a CVS test is in the works to see if James Matheson is the father of her child. I have a sworn statement from Sharon Zimmerman that Mr. Matheson threatened to take her children away if she didn't hand the tape over. He was using his authority to threaten and control Sharon Zimmerman just so that he could prey on her children. Our CSU techs found a camera hooked up in the wall above the kids' bedroom. There was no camcorder found in Mr. Matheson's apartment, so, it's impossible that Sharon Zimmerman stole from him because it's impossible to steal your own personal property."

Judge Petrovsky sighed and looked at Rosenberg.

"Sorry, Mr. Rosenberg," she said. "I have to agree. Yes, Sharon Zimmerman did break in to your client's apartment, but only to retrieve what has been proven to be originally her property. Your motion to preclude the videotape and the confession is denied and everything's fair game. See you at arraignment."

1-6 Precinct

SVU Squad Room

11:36 AM

"Well, this is my lucky day," Casey said as she came in smiling. "After Rosenberg's motion was denied, James Matheson called him and begged to waive a trial. He plead out, allocated. He confessed to sexually assaulting three other young girls in the system. The bastard will be spending the rest of his days in Attica."

"You do work fast," Elliot grinned. "What about Sharon Zimmerman?"

"I'm planning to go ahead with the charges," Casey said. "Even before the sexual abuse of her daughters started, Sharon Zimmerman has left her three children unattended for days at a time, knowing the risks. Huang is going to testify that Jennifer took on the role of being a mother and she got overwhelmed, especially with the sexual abuse and her pregnancy."

"Are you charging Jennifer?" John asked.

"No," Casey sighed. "Considering the emotional and physical hell that girl has been through, I understand why she did what she did. She's not a sociopath. Where is Jennifer now?"

"She's been placed in a foster home," Elliot explained. "Her CVS test is in three days."

"Have you talked to her since?" She asked.

"I am later on this afternoon," John said. "Just to wish her luck."

Elliot sighed. "Did all this happen over two days?"

"That it did," Casey said. "But I'm glad it did. The last think this city needs is fear of ACS. The system is pretty much in tact, and we want to keep it that way."

Cragen came out of his office.

"You guys ready for a new case?" He asked.

Elliot and John looked at each other. "Dare we?" John asked.

"Yeah," Casey said. "Before I get bored."

Eric and Evelyn Pembrook's Home

Flushing, Queens

1:45 PM

Evelyn Pembrook offered John and Casey some water, but they both declined.

"So, you're the detective that helped Jennifer?" Evelyn asked.

"Yes ma'am," John said. "How's she holding up here?"

"Oh, she's doing fine," Evelyn said.

Evelyn was in her middle thirties, with blond hair and bright blue eyes that held nothing but generosity. John knew that Jennifer could trust this family. Eric was a little older, but he was at work. But from the various portraits, John and Casey could tell that they were a loving couple.

"She's upstairs in her room," Evelyn said with a smile. "She's been feeling a little sick because of her pregnancy. She's had nightmares every night, though and Eric has been successful in being the one to comfort her. She's having a little bit of a time trusting me."

"Evelyn?" Jennifer inquired from her perch on the stairs. "Can I talk to them alone, please?"

"Sure sweetheart," Evelyn said. "How are you feeling? Is your stomach still sour?"

"A little," Jennifer said. "Evelyn, please?"

Evelyn grinned and nodded and went into the kitchen to fix Jennifer something that would help her stomach.

Jennifer came downstairs slowly. She now had on some maternity clothes, her belly prominent now that she wasn't in baggy clothing.

She came over and hugged John.

"Thank you for helping me," she said before she sat down. "You too, Ms. Novak. But I still get scared. I get scared that he'll find me and kill me."

"I promise you Jennifer," Casey said firmly, but gently. "James Matheson is never going to get out of prison."

"That's his name?" Jennifer asked.

"Yeah," John said.

"I never knew his name," she said.

Her face was pale, and there were dark circles around her eyes. "How long does it take?"

"What?" Casey inquired.

"The pain," Jennifer asked tearfully. "How long does it take for it to-to go away? I miss Eddie and Megs. I love them so much and I want so badly to be with them, but I want to be there for my baby…"

"These things take time, Jennifer," John insisted. "But, you can't give up, okay?"

The girl nodded.

"Can you guys just do me a favor?" Jennifer asked.

"Sure," Casey said with a smile.

"Please, drop the charges against Sharon," Jennifer implored. "She's real messed up, just like me. It won't help her if she's in prison. I just want you to convince her to let me go. The Pembrooks are thinking about adopting me, and I want to be adopted. I like it here. And Eric and I get along really well. He reminds me of my dad. They said that I could keep my baby…I want my mom to see where I'm at, and let her know that I'm okay. That's all she'll really care about in the end."

Casey smiled and nodded.

Evelyn came out of the kitchen with some toast and some water for Jennifer.

"Thank you," Jennifer said. "I'll try and keep it down. So, can you do that for me?"

John nodded and then handed Jennifer his card.

"You can call me anytime, day or night, okay?" He said.

Jennifer nodded and took his card gratefully.