A/N: Partly inspired by RCPD (LOK story on here) but more from my obsession with Law and Order SVU and NCIS.

Info to know: Lieutenant (Tenzin) Captain (Kuvira). Lin is Defense Attorney. Korra, Mako, and Bolin are officers. Baatar Jr. is computer genius and profiler. Asami is psychiatrist. Opal is mortician.

Tiny footsteps dashed up the stairs as two people began fighting. Female shrills interrupted the night. Someone hit a woman. A lamp fell, shattering on wooden floor. Suddenly the woman couldn't breathe and punched at the man above her until she couldn't move anymore. He let her go, then wandered to the fridge looking for a beer. As he drank from a can, he glared at the body on the floor, watching for any sudden movement. He finished the drink and kicked the motionless body. He huffed and carried her outside.

"Gear up! Got a body on North Avenue!" Kuvira yelled into the office room.

Korra jumped out of her seat, tapping her holster for reassurance. Her two partners do the same and run after their lieutenant.

November 3rd, 2015

8:47am

Bronx Park

It's a cool autumn day. Tree leaves had long since gone brown and red and had fallen to the ground. It was what lied under the leaves that mattered. A biker had reported a foul smell coming just off of the trail to an officer patrolling the park. He walked down the slight hill where he found a pile of leaves. The stench was horrid and when he tried to knock the leaves away with his foot, a body was revealed.

Korra scowled with her arms crossed while a mortician examined the body for them. The woman had several burns along her arms and legs. A large cut went across her forehead.

Korra's thoughts were interrupted when the body was bagged. Mako stood in front of her with something in his hand. "We'll get more info when Opal can examine the body. But for now, they found this in her back pocket."

Mako placed a small photograph in her palm. A man and woman sat with a little girl in the woman's lap. A Christmas tree stood in the background. "This must be her and her family." Korra commented. "We've got a lead at least. See if Opal can compare the woman's age to her age in this photo. Who knows if this family is around anymore either? I'll question people around the park if they saw anything."

November 3rd, 2015

11:09am

NYPD Morgue

"Okay, I'd say our Jane Doe's approximate age now is 34. I analyzed the photo and compared to her now and I'd say that the photo is about four or five years old.

"Opal…"

"Meaning that the child in this photo is probably ten years old in the present; the man probably 37."

"Opal, slow down."

"You should check for them or any other family to notify of her passing. The cause of death…"

"Opal!" Bolin yelled, grabbing her by her shoulders. "Breathe." The girl blushed and nodded. Bolin chuckled. "We really gotta work on that hyperactivity."

"Yeah, sure. Uh, anyway, I'd say the cause of death was asphyxia. You see the marks around her neck?" Opal continued more calmly. Bolin nodded as he looked over the body. "She was strangled to death. Her other injuries were premortem; the burns, bruises, and cuts."

They looked back up at the same time, catching each other's gaze. Opal blushed again. "Um, Jr. is working on her identity."

"Um, okay." Bolin replied, but remained standing there.

Opal giggled and motioned him to the door. "I'll let you know when I figure out the time of death. You should go check on the computer geek to see if he's found anything."

Korra saw Bolin return in the corner of her eye and motioned him over to the dry-board. A large photo of their victim was taped to the top of the board along with what info they knew about her underneath. Bolin stopped next to his brother. Kuvira stood in front of them, waiting on the man.

"What did Opal find so far?" Kuvira asked.

"Oh! Uh, our Jane Doe died of asphyxia. All of her other injuries happened before she died."

"Well she's not a Jane Doe anymore." Mako commented.

"She's not?" Bolin asked in surprise.

"Yep," Kuvira stated, pointing to a name under the photo. "Baatar Jr. identified her. Name's Sydney Walker, age 34. Waitress at a local diner. I need someone to see if her boss or coworkers know anything."

Mako and Korra eyed each other and immediately began walking out. Kuvira spoke directly to Bolin. "Guess you're with me again. Her last known address was 219 Boxx Street. Let's go check to see if anyone's home."

November 3rd, 2015

2:14pm

Max's Diner

The door dinged as Korra and Mako walked into an old diner in a local market. A waitress instantly walked up to them with a smile and asked if she could get them seats. Korra shook her head and held up her badge. "Is your boss around? We need to ask some questions."

The blonde frowned and went behind the counter to talk to an older man. He looked up in surprise as she whispered in his ear, then he quickly walked over to them. "What can I do for you officers?"

"Does a woman named Sydney Walker work here?" Mako asked.

The man scoffed and threw his dish rag over his shoulder. "That girl hasn't shown up in days. Consider her fired. Why?"

The two officers glanced at each other before Korra produced a photo from her pocket. It was of the girl on the examiner's table. "Maybe this will jog your memory."

The man looked back and gasped. "She's dead?!" Korra nodded. "H-How? She was healthy for all I know."

"We're still figuring that out." Korra lied. "Is there anything you know about her family?"

The man seemed flabbergasted when suddenly the other waitress spoke up from behind the counter. "Their relationship wasn't good." All three of them looked at her in wonder. She sighed and walked away from the counter. "From what I know, her husband was abusive. Lately she had been talking about leaving him to keep their daughter safe. I could tell things were getting worse when she didn't bother covering up the bruises."

"How often did that happen?" Mako asked, pulling out a notepad.

The woman shrugged. "She mostly worked while her daughter was at school. I don't know if she did that to protect the girl or what. But she was almost always hurt somehow."

"Do you know what the husband does for a living?" Korra asked.

The waitress waved her hand in the air as she thought. "Um, I think he hopped around from doing construction and plumbing and labor of the sorts. They aren't the wealthiest people, officer."

Korra and Mako glanced at each other again. "Well, I guess that's all for now." Mako said. "We might be back if we have more questions. Thank you for your time."

November 3rd, 2015

2:55pm

Boxx Street

Kuvira knocked on the door to apartment 219. Bolin stood behind her scanning the neighborhood. The door creaked open and a scruffy man stood there. "Can I help you?"

Kuvira showed her badge. "Police business. Does Sydney Walker live here?"

The man huffed and took a step back. "She did, but she left a few days ago."

Kuvira rose a brow as she got a glance at the inside of the home. "Are you the husband? Why did she leave? "

"Yeah, I'm her husband, Derek. We got into an argument. It's not uncommon, but then she left. Tried taking our daughter with her but I wouldn't let her. She said she'd be back with a lawyer to get her but I haven't seen her since. Did something happen?"

"She's missing." Kuvira lied.

"Where's your daughter now, sir?" Bolin asked with a slightly nicer voice.

"She's staying with our cousins. I actually have to go pick her up in a little bit, so if you don't mind…" He said as he reached for his jacket.

Kuvira eyed him for a minute. "Do you mind if we search your home? Maybe she left something behind that might help us find her."

Bolin glanced at her, but then immediately looked at the father. "Um, I really need to get going. I doubt she even left anything important here. We're not very wealthy. You might have better luck with her friends at work. Can we just do this later?"

"Sure, sir. Would tonight be better?" Kuvira asked nicely. Now Bolin definitely knew something was up.

"Um, maybe the morning would be better. You'd have all day to search without us in the way when I take her to school."

"Okay, sir. Thank you for your time."

Kuvira guided Bolin back to the squad car. She drove around the corner and stopped just a block away from the apartment. "Captain, what's going on?"

"Don't you think he's acting a little odd? He admitted that they fight a lot, then tried to change the subject to their daughter then to her work. He wouldn't let us in the house even though he thinks she's missing. I've just got a weird feeling about this guy."

"Yeah, he did seem a little weird." Bolin commented.

The man soon skipped down the stairs to his car and drove away. Kuvira tailed a short distance behind him. "So we're following him to see if he really picks up his daughter?"

Kuvira smirked. "Correct. See, you're starting to pick up on things, newbie. While you're at it, call your brother. I want a warrant to search the apartment."

November 3rd, 2015

3:13pm

Bedford Elementary School

"Thanks so much for your help. We really appreciate it." Korra thanked the principal of the nearest elementary school to woman's address. She had asked for any students with the last name Walker and found one match who looked strikingly like the girl in the Christmas photo. The daughter did go to school here, but she'd been absent for 5 days. They talked to her teacher, who said that girl often kept to herself. When she had gotten close to her, she said she had seen bruises on her arms. She reported it, but the school was taking it's time. The teacher said that if she was being abused, it didn't start until a month or two ago.

As Korra was exiting the school, her phone rang. "Korra here."

Bolin spoke on the other side of the phone. "We visited the apartment. Husband was home, acted odd. He wouldn't let us in. Did you find the school the daughter went to?"

Korra stopped in the courtyard as kids were beginning to leave the building. "Yeah, I'm just now leaving."

"Let me guess, the girl wasn't there."

"Nope. They say she's been absent for 5 days today. On the border of calling home if she misses too many days."

"We need a warrant for the apartment. He's hiding something for sure."

"I'm on it, Bo."

Kuvira continued to follow the man's car. They were driving awfully far to visit a relative. They went as far as the pier, which is where Derek stopped. The captain pulled over before he could spot them.

"Why's he stopping here? He said he was picking up his daughter." Bolin questioned curiously.

Kuvira didn't bother responding and simply watched him. The man walked up to the pier and leaned against a wooden docking log. He just stared out into the ocean forever.

Kuvira suddenly growled. "He's wasting time. He must know we followed him."

"Maybe not…" Boling commented as Derek suddenly began walking away towards a seafood restaurant just down the block. Kuvira jumped out of the car as he disappeared. "Stay here, Bolin."

Kuvira dashed into an alley and peaked out of the corner to the window. Derek was shaking hands with another man and they sat down together at a table. A closer look revealed that the man was a wanted felon for prostitution. 'What's going on here?'

The Captain grabbed her walkie-talkie. "Bolin, we've got a problem. Derek is meeting with wanted felon Zaheer Lotus. Hold on… I think he just passed Derek a check."

Bolin gasped at the name. "Lotus?! Should I call backup?"

"No. Call Korra. If she's got the warrant I want her at the apartment now. We need to find either evidence that Derek did this or find his daughter."

November 3rd, 2015

6:02pm

Boxx Street

Korra stared down the apartment intensely. A nudge to her shoulder broke her out of the trance. "C'mon, they may be 30 minutes away, but he could leave their sight at any moment. We need to get in and out before he comes back." Mako explained.

Korra nodded and they both got out to enter the building. She kept an eye out for anyone nearby while Mako picked the lock. With a click, they were in. They scanned the first floor before starting to take a closer look at things. The place was rundown. However, besides the messiness, they could tell a scuffle of some sort took place in the living room. The rug was shoved against the wall. A photo frame and a lamp were shattered on the ground. The curtains were barely hanging onto the wall.

"Something definitely happened here. No wonder he didn't want Captain in." Korra commented as she found spot of dry blood on the couch.

Suddenly her phone buzzed. "Korra, he's leaving the diner. It looks like he's headed back home. You've got less than 30 minutes to do what you need to and leave."

Korra scoffed as she picked up the frame. "We've got a warrant. He doesn't have a choice but to let us in."

"I know, Korra." Kuvira growled. "But I'd rather he not know we were there. We need him to think we're on his side until we figure out what happened."

Korra motioned to the disfigured couch for Mako to take pictures of the scene. "Kuvira, something definitely happened here. There are signs of a fight. I think this is the perfect time to bring him in and question him."

Kuvira was about to reply sarcastically when suddenly there was a loud thump from upstairs. Korra instantly put down the photo and grabbed her gun. Mako copied her just as fast. "Captain, I'm gonna have to call you back."

"Korra, I'm trying to tell you it might be the kid!" Kuvira yelled.

Korra froze and glanced at Mako. "I'll let you know what it is, Kuvira." She put her phone back in her pocket. "Be careful. She says it might be the kid." She relayed to her partner.

Mako nodded and together they scan the upstairs rooms one by one. They didn't have long before Derek would be back. The first room they stumbled upon was the parents' room. Korra quickly covered the room and found blood-spotted bedsheets and a tray of cigarettes. "Guess we know how she was burned now." She commented. Before her partner could reply, another bump came from the next room.

One stood on each side and Korra nodded at him to enter. Mako kicked down the door with his gun drawn and Korra ran in behind him. She gasped when she saw what was making the noise.

A young child was crying on the bed. Her hands were tied to the headboard. There was some blood on the single sheet underneath her. The room had a certain stench to it. Korra's heart dropped as she soon realized what had been taking place in this room.

Korra put her gun away and showed her palms to the girl cautiously. "It's okay, kid. We're police. We're here to help. Can I untie you?"

The girl nodded and shook as Korra carefully stepped closer and untied the rope. As soon as she was released, the girl caved in on herself. Korra carefully pulled her into her lap. She removed her jacket and placed it around the child. "What's your name?"

"Riko Walker… What's yours?" The girl sniffled as her tears stopped.

Korra squeezed her eyes shut. They found the daughter. "I'm Officer Korra Sato. I'm here to help you."

Mako stared at them in astonishment. "Uh, Korra, she needs to go to the hospital."

The woman sighed. "Right. C'mon, he's gonna be here soon."

Suddenly the front door slammed open and shut. Korra jumped up, wide-eyed. "Shit! That can't be him already!"

Mako shut the door and hid behind the backside of the door. Korra nodded and patted the girl's back. "Sweetie, just stay right here on the bed. Don't move, even if your father comes in."

Riko nodded and shuffled to the corner of the bed. Korra stood in front of the bed, almost as if to shield her, and pulled out her gun once again. She would not let anything happen to this girl again, not as long as she had something to say about it.