Chapter 3
"Forensics has the letter but I have no idea how the person who sent it knew to address it to me," Cragen frowned. They were all meeting in the bullpen to discuss this latest development.
"Well how many press conferences have you done?" Munch wondered from the seat at his desk. Over the years it had to be close to fifty, if not more.
"That's true but what average citizen keeps track of that? I mean, I'm just a face on TV and forgotten just as quickly as what you ate for dinner," the Captain said. He'd perched himself on the corner of Olivia's desk closest to their board.
"I would have to agree, no offense Cap," Olivia said, turning her head toward him.
"I'm wounded, Liv, of everyone here, I didn't expect it from you. Kenny maybe…" Cragen feigned hurt, putting his hand on his chest.
"Hey!" Kenny was pretending to be upset, getting out of his chair and moving to plunk down on the corner of Munch's desk.
"Got it from his Uncle," the elder detective chimed in. By now, Fin was smirking, almost chuckling from his desk.
"So our suspect likes to pay attention," Elliot said through his own smirking at his desk.
"So it would seem. Even if the surveillance tapes are gone through, I don't think we have to worry about Karen and Mark. The bartender remembered them. TARU is scanning the video now to confirm," Kenny spoke up.
"In a crowded club?" Olivia raised an eyebrow.
"They're regulars and they hung out with other regulars that night. We have at least six other people who saw them," the younger man explained.
"Ok so let's move off of them. If TARU finds something then we'll go harder at them. What have we got?" Cragen wondered. Fin left his chair and moved to the board.
"Christina Lawrence is dragged into an alley, raped, and beaten. No one saw our rapist. Susan Johnson was alone in her apartment, raped, and then beaten, which unfortunately led to her death. Melinda is still working on the autopsy but as of right now, the murder may have been an accident," he said.
"Any DNA? Fibers?" The Captain wanted to know.
"No DNA. Our perp used a condom, which given his first attack, must have been a heck of a thing. Usually when a perp attacks and drags someone into an alley, its spur of the moment. Most don't have protection on them," Olivia frowned.
"I think we need to start assuming that nothing our guy does is spur of the moment," Elliot said.
"I would concur. I'm putting a call into Huang. We need some help here. In the meantime, I want his MO put into ViCAP. No way has he nailed down his method with just two victims. Also, get on Melinda and forensics. We're going to need all the ammo we can get. When are Susan's parents coming in?" Cragen asked.
"They aren't," Munch said with disgust.
"Pardon?" The Captain gave him a look.
"According to them, Susan chose her lifestyle and it is what got her killed. They want her body shipped home but they won't come and get her," Fin explained.
"They do know that being gay is not a choice right?" Olivia asked.
"I don't think they care about that. They care that she was going against God and making them look bad at church," Munch shook his head. Looking over at her partner, Olivia saw him clenching his fists. As a Catholic, he knew that some preached that being gay was against God but he also knew what he saw at his job, and it rubbed him the wrong way when someone would throw away any relationship with their children.
"Get to work," Cragen heaved a sigh and headed back to his office.
To Be Continued…