THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or Kagome. These characters belong solely to Rumiko Takahashi and Viz.
Oh,and the SVU characters belong to Dick Wolf's company!
I do however own my own creations.
Chapter 4
As promised, Satoshi had Yasha and the demon workers visit Dr. Takeda's office near Central Park. Using a closely guarded demon method, he carefully filtered the demon blood out of each sample and replaced it with other, human, blood from long dead humans. Satoshi had the samples sent over for analysis. All but Yasha's came back clean. Yasha's came back inconclusive. The same inconclusive results came back on the samples sent to the state lab for analysis, thanks to some demon intervention. The detectives were back to square one.
TWO WEEKS LATER:
"This victim is the same as the last five.", said Warner, at the morgue, "Only our perp is getting more careful. Nothing under the fingernails but we're getting the same silver hair."
"And all the DNA comes back inconclusive from the state lab.", said Benson, then moved away when her cell phone rang.
"I'm coming up with the same analysis. Human mixed with dog. I don't know, maybe we have a perp with a dog that does his dirty work and we're getting the samples mixed together.", said Warner.
"Is that really possible, doc?", asked Stabler.
"I don't know. I'm at a loss right now.", replied Warner.
"Ok. Right, Capt.", Benson said into her cell phone, "Elliot, let's go. Capt. wants to see us at the station. See you later, Melinda."
"Bye guys.", said Warner.
AT THE STATION HOUSE:
Olivia, Elliott, and Munch stood around the wall where Captain Cragen had pictures of the victims and the locations where they were found pinned up on the board. They were trying to find more connections between the victims,
"First, we have Melinda Beckett. 23. 4 months pregnant. Found at the Rockefellor Center. Caucasian. Secretary. Then we have Susan Mercer. 18. 5 months pregnant. Found at an office building under construction. Black. High school student. 3rd, we have Donna Webster. 26. 3 months pregnant. White. Paralegal. Found at an apartment house in the Upper West Side. Next, is Ryann Hernandez, 19. 6 months pregnant. Hispanic. College student. Found at the Museum of Art. Then we have Valerie Mercedes, 21. 7 months pregnant. Hispanic. Homemaker. Found at the Opera House. Finally, Leann Jonston, 17. 4 months pregnant. Caucasian. High school student. Found at New York Library.", Cragen listed the victims off, one by one.
"The only connection between them seems to be the pregnancy.", said Benson.
"Yea. That and some mysterious DNA that the medical examiner is convinced is part dog.", said Stabler, dryly.
"Maybe this isn't a job for the SVU as much as it's a job for the SPCA.", commented Munch.
"All Dr. Warner can come up with is some DNA that is part dog and part human?", asked Cragen.
"That's what she's saying.", said Benson.
"You know all these medical labs. Maybe they've created some kind of mutant half-human, half-dog creature and it escaped.", said Munch, as his the rest of the team stared at him. He shrugged and said, "You got a better suggestion?"
"We need to find another connection. There has to be something we're missing.", said Stabler.
"There is.", said a voice from behind them. It was Fin. He came into the group and threw a file folder on a table. He walked over to the chalkboard and picked up a piece of chalk. Drawing a line from each building to the top of the board he stated, "The Rockefellor Center. The office building. The apartment house. The Art Museum. The Opera House. The Library.", the lines came to a point at the top, "One name. Kateitenma."
"What are you saying?", asked Cragen.
"What I'm saying is that all these buildings are owned by the Kateitenma family of Japan. They own half of New York City.", said Fin.
"So the Kateitenma family is somehow behind these murders?", asked Stabler.
"Or they are being targeted.", said another voice. It was Dr. Huang, who entered the conversation, "If I recall, similar murders to these occured ten years ago in San Diego. Not the same. But similar MO. The people weren't pregnant, but they were sliced open like your victims were. Those murders were never solved."
"How do you figure then, that they are being targeted?", asked Stabler.
"I don't. I'm just going on the fact that all the murders were on their property. Or, it could be that the perp knows the properties and feels safe dumping his victims there.", said Huang.
"Such as a family member.", said Stabler.
"Olivia. Elliot. Go interview this family. Get all the information you can.", said Cragen.
"Right, Capt.", they chorused together.
Fin jumped in, "They're renting a Co-Op in Park Avenue. Here's the address."
"Thanks Fin.", they said as the two headed out.
Kagome was sitting on the couch in the living room with Juliet. Juliet was doing some embroidery and Kagome was reading the newspaper. They heard the bell ring and the spanish demon maid answer it. She heard the visitors announce themselves,
"I'm Detective Stabler and this is my partner Detective Benson from the New York City Police Department. May we see Mr. Kateitenma?"
"Senor Kateitenma is not here. But, the Senora is here. I will take you too her. Follow me.", said the maid as the detectives came in and she closed the door.
Kagome thank the gods she had the where-with-all to put a normal spell over the apartment so that everything appeared at it should to a human, when the detectives walked in with the maid. She stood up as the maid presented them,
"Detectives Stabler and Benson from the New York City Police Department, Senora."
"Thank you, Maria. You are excused.", Kagome said,as the maid left, "Hello Detectives, how are you?"
"We're fine.", said Benson, who looked at Stabler and Stabler looked back at her,
"Please, have a seat. Allow me to introduce my daughter, Juliet."
"Hello, Juliet.", said Benson, "Forgive me, Mrs. Kateitenma, I must say, you are quite young looking to have sons as old as you do. Even to have a daughter her age..."
"Yes. It's in the genes. My whole family looks very young. We're blessed. I've been told you've been interested in our ages and I'm flattered. We Japanese have our secrets."
"Yes. Apparantly you do.", said Stabler, in his classic sarcastic tone.
"Mrs. Keteitenma, is there anything you can tell us about your son, Inuyashaichi Kateitenma?", asked Benson.
"Like what? He had nothing to do with these murders, I can tell you that."
"We never suggested he did. Unless you know something we don't...", said Stabler.
"I know nothing, detective. I was in Canada when the first two murders happened. My son was here when the other four occured."
Just then the door opened and shut and Kagome looked up. Inuyasha and Yasha entered the room,
"Dad. Those are the detectives I told you about.", whispered Yasha.
Inuyasha looked at Kagome and said, "Koshii, don't say anything to the police."
"I said nothing, dearest.", said Kagome, as she got up and took Juliet by the arm, "Come dear. Detectives, you can talk to my husband from here on out. Goodbye.", and she left the room.
"Detectives, I would appreciate it if you would leave. Should you want to discuss anything with me, please contact my son, Satoshi Kateitenma and arrange it through him.", Inuyasha said, as he led them to the door and opened it, "Goodbye, detectives."
Benson and Stabler left as the door shut behind them,
"Did you see that? The father and son looked almost like twins.", said Benson.
"And none of them look older than about 30, if that. The wife looked like she was 18."
"Well, we can't arrest them for looking young but, I'd like to have her doctor.", said Benson, as they headed out to the car.