Chapter 7: Caught

"Police," Elliot said pounding on the door of an apartment complex. "Open up."

From inside they could hear a woman's voice say, "Police, what the hell Dave?" Footsteps could be heard walking toward the door.

"No don't," yelled Dave.

The woman opened the door. "Can I help you officers?"

"Yes ma'am we're looking for Dave Mercer does he live here?"

"Shit," said Dave and he bolted out the back window.

"We've got a runner," Elliot said on his radio.

"On it," replied Fin who was all ready covering the back.

"How long has Dave lived here?" Elliot asked.

"A few months," replied Cheryl.

"And you would be?"

"His best friend," she said crossing her arms.

"I see. Ma'am you need to come with me."

Outside Fin continued to chase Dave out on the street but Dave tossed obstacles in his way. A cop car pulled up at the end of the street. Dave was too busy looking back to notice.

Fin tossed him on to the car. "Where you running off there too, Mercer?" he asked.

"Nowhere, just time for my daily run."

"Right," said Munch. "I find that hard to believe when you've got three cops on your ass."

Fin pulled out his handcuffs. "Dave Mercer you are under arrest for the rapes of Madison Clemons, Emily Cruz, Abigail Nash, and Grace Kelerman." Fin intentionally left out Olivia's name. "You have the right to remain silent anything you say can and will be against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney if you cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed to you. Do you understand these rights?"

"Go to hell," Dave spat.

"Funny," said Munch, "That's where we were gonna send you.

"How many times do I have to tell you I don't know anything," said Cheryl getting annoyed at being interrogated.

"Well humor me," said Elliot. "Let's go over it again. You've been best friends with Dave since kindergarten. That's a long time."

"Our mothers were in the same Lamaze class together. Is that a crime?"

"No but aiding and imbedding a fugitive is."

"I didn't aid and imbed him. I haven't spoken to Dave in over 7 months."

"For being best friends that's a long time to not go without talking."

"I was in Toronto on business. You can call my boss to confirm the time."

"We'll do that."

"Look Dave just called me this morning. He said that he was in some trouble and needed help."

"Did he tell you what kind of trouble?"

"I'm not sure he wouldn't tell me. He just said that he didn't have much time so for the past six months he'd been busy correcting some wrongs of his past."

There was a knock on the door and Cragen entered the room. "Detective we have something you need to see."