"Monty? Let me tell you about the day," Cragen said, calling me into his office. "Your quick processing help us catch her perp before he could get a proper getaway. He's already been arraigned, and we don't have any more crime scenes for today, so go home."
I didn't like that idea, but I obeyed.
I gathered some quick ingredients on my way home, and I cooked them quickly back at the apartment. I wrapped two dishes to look like one and drove over to Mercy to see John, who was awake and watching a baseball game mindlessly.
"I'm nearly catatonic I'm so bored. Please tell me your day was better."
"It was okay. I went to my appointment after getting some good sleep, and I went to work afterwards. He didn't have anything for me so he sent me home."
"What's in the bag?" John asked. I grinned, looking around.
"I brought myself some dinner, if you don't mind me eating in front of you," I whispered, showing him that I had two plates without showing the nurses outside. "It's a healthy stir-fry, and hopefully it won't give you heartburn."
"It could make me burst into flames and I'd still eat it. Anything is better than that poison they were going to serve me," he spat.
A knock sounded at the door and we looked up to see Olivia.
"I thought I'd stop by and see you, and drop off a treat, but I see you've already got something," she grinned. John had already shoved a bite into his mouth, so he couldn't say anything. "Monty, thanks for that all-nighter. Having his DNA within four hours helped us track down her rapist quickly."
"I do what I can," I responded. She nodded, looking over to Munch while he ate then back to me.
"We really like having a crime scene leader working so close to us, especially if it helps us get our guys faster. Technology I know is a help, but so is man power."
"How many of us are there now?" Munch asked, his plate cleared.
"Just Fin and me," Olivia sighed. "I'd count you, Monty, but you're our specialist. You can't do both at the same time."
"That's what Cragen wants, but he's still relaying most of the work to you two. I was under the impression that you'd have reinforcements soon since the caseload won't stay down forever," I replied. She nodded in agreement as Munch reached for a bucket. So much for his home cooked meal.
After making sure he was okay, Munch asked us to leave while he navigated to the bathroom with a nurse's help. Olivia and I went for a walk around the building, stopping in a breezeway that overlooked the street.
"I was really worried about him when I heard he was here, but I know not to say anything. He isn't the sentimental type, no matter what the occasion, but especially when he's the one being doted on. I'm surprised he lets you anywhere near him."
"Fin told me he was rather lonely, so maybe he feels he can relate to me, that or he knows I'd be lonely too. I have friends here, but nothing like I had back home."
"I've been meaning to talk you about Georgia. What was it like working with the GBI with your best friend?"
"She always had my back, no matter what the situation, and I always had hers. Once we were caught in a drug raid together, and she punched a perp to keep him from him from shooting me. I've helped her in the same way, and...after everything with Sean, our bond got stronger. She knew him too, and we did couple things all the time before he passed, but nothing like what we did afterwards."
"I heard that she helped you find a place to live. Why did you move?" she asked. I sighed. "If you don't want to answer, it's okay."
"It's fine. Um...there were too many memories there. Sean and I moved in together, and we made that house a home together. Without him, I just couldn't stay without being depressed. I had a job to do, so I left. Leslie helped me find a suitable rental, and she'd help me find an apartment if she were here."
"How is it living with Munch?"
"It's weirder living without him since I feel like I'm invading his home, but it's nice. He even helped me try to find a unit in the building, but they were all out of my price range. Most of them were higher than I would like as well."
"I imagine country living is a lot different than living here."
"Completely different," I responded, following her back to Munch's room. "It was always quiet where I lived, and now there's constant noise. My mind and ears will never be the same," I grinned, following her into Munch's room where he had turned on his television to a game.
Olivia's phone rang and she stepped out to take the call. Munch shifted on the bed as I took my regular seat.
"The nurses said the medicines I'm on probably made my stomach more sensitive, so I have to stick with their food. If it kills me, you can have the apartment."
"Oh, John, at least try not to be pessimist," I smirked. "I've done some shopping for the place since some things were running out, if that's okay with you."
"It's your home too as long as you're staying there, so pick up anything you need," he responded, glaring at the chattering announcers on the screen. "I wanted to watch him pitch, but I guess I'd have to be there."
"No games for you until you're healed."
"Yes, Mom," he said sarcastically as Olivia returned to the room.
"Cragen needs us," she whispered. She smiled to Munch. "We can't wait to have you back, John."
"I can't wait to be back. Are you sure I have to stay here?"
"Yes, John," we replied together. He scoffed at us as we left together.
On the way to the crime scene, Olivia briefed me using Cragen's words.
"He said the victim is a twenty-three year old woman who's been abused before, but this is the first time she's been raped. She's currently still at the scene, and they're waiting to transport her until one of us gets there. Fin is caught in traffic, so we'll likely be first."
"Was she injured?" I asked. Olivia, who was driving, nodded.
"She's conscious and stable, but I'm using this siren for a reason," Olivia whispered, using a small bike lane to help her pass cars.
Soon we were at the scene, which was highly chaotic. Other officers were there trying to do the job of my technicians, and I sent them all away once I saw they were the problem. Eventually it was just my team and I processing the scene, until Fin arrived from across the city.
"Where's Olivia?" Fin asked.
"I thought she went with the victim when they transported her. She even gave me the eyes to the car so I could take it back for her."
"She's not at the hospital like Cragen wanted. I'll put out the bulletin and start looking for her. You keep doing what you're doing, but watch yourself," Fin said sternly, speeding off.
We were very cautious but still thorough, and soon every piece of evidence we could gather was in our truck. I asked my team to wait while I called for orders. Cragen sighed when I asked.
"Join up with Fin at Central Park. Her badge was found there, but I don't think there's a scene," he replied.
I sent my team back to the precinct to begin processing, then I raced to Central Park. Once there, I quickly found Fin and the scene. Fin had already bagged the badge and the items around it, but I looked around for more while he kept up with officers on foot via radio. He was also in communication a Mercy team (headed by Munch, which I wasn't happy about), and another team manning the streets under Cragen's command, meaning this scene was about as chaotic as I remembered a missing person case being.
"There's something more near the tunnels that you should check out. Dailey, go with her!" Fin commanded. The officer watched my back while I made my way there and processed what I found (an old, stained t-shirt and a notebook a lot like Olivia's).
After another hour with nothing, I was sent back to the precinct to process the evidence as quickly as possible. I immediately found fingerprints on her badge (a man who wasn't in the system), hair on an old chip bag found nearby (one from Olivia, another from an unknown person), and a strange substance on the old t-shirt.
As I began running further tests, I received word that they had another lead that sent them far from the crime scene: near the harbors. My heart sank, but I kept my eye on the jobs at hand.
I talked with my team, who gave me what little they had without extensive testing.
"The fingerprint matches mine," I whispered, comparing the two computerized files. The team agreed, and I immediately ran to check my more extensive testing of the print. And since the same odd substance from the shirt was on a shoe found at the rape scene, I knew to rush that test along as well.
Another hour passed without word from anyone, but I kept working. Finally, I found a man for my prints, a man who was supposed to be in jail: the I-rapist copycat.