Chapter 5
Fin and Amaro arrived on the scene, moments after Melinda did. This time there had not been an anonymous nine-one-one call but instead a meter maid found the body when she investigated the smell of bleach coming from the vehicle which had collected multiple parking tickets over the last two days. Given the temperature outside the process of decomposition was considerably slowed which allowed the facts of the murder to remains. Getting out of the car, the elder detective shook his head.
"What's up?" Amaro asked, still not sure about his temporary partner's moods yet.
"You don't think this is some giant coincidence?" Fin wondered as they headed over to the body.
"What do you mean?" Nick was confused.
"Well somebody comes to take Calvin away from Liv and Elliot while this serial killer is trying to get SVU's attention?" Fin supposed.
"I think you hung out with Munch for too long," Nick shook his head.
"Well I don't think he did. You know how that note was signed with an "F"?" Melinda spoke up.
"Yeah, not much to go on," Fin said.
"That's because this body doesn't have Amanda's name carved into it, it has yours," the coroner said, showing the detectives what she meant. The elder detectives name was carved into the victim along with his badge number.
"I'll call the Captain," Fin backed away from the scene and Nick continued to talk to Melinda.
"She's blonde, so this guy doesn't really have a type," he said.
"It would appear so. I'm not sure how much help I will be with this one either. The guy used so much bleach, that she stuck to the trunk interior," the coroner heaved an exasperated sigh.
"My guess is that this is probably her car," Nick told her.
"It would track with his MO, public place with nothing that traces back to him," she shrugged.
"The Captain wants us to hand this over to Major Case," Fin said as he came back to the two.
"What? This guy is targeting our squad," Nick was upset at the decision.
"Seems he didn't have a choice. IAB called and they want everything handed over to Major Case ASAP," Fin explained.
"IAB? Why are they sticking their nose in?" Amaro wanted to know.
"I have no idea. Something weird is going on. Captain says that the whole unit is suspended with pay until further notice," Tutuola didn't like it one bit either.
"Then since we're off the clock we better get over to Social Services and find out what is going on," Nick said.
"Agreed," Fin nodded. They waited until the Major Case detectives arrived so they could hand over the crime scene and then headed over to find Rollins.
"What do you mean IAB is involved?" Elliot asked Captain Cragen when he arrived at the hospital. It had been longer than ten minutes like the doctor had promised and the detective was getting nervous out in the waiting room.
"They think someone in the unit is perpetrating the crimes. They can't explain how the perp got the badge numbers and they aren't taking any risks. The case has been handed to Major Case and the unit is officially under investigation," Cragen said.
"They seriously think that we would go out and kill young women? To what point and purpose?" Elliot wanted to know.
"We've got a leak and they want it plugged. Someone has to be helping this guy. I don't like it any more than you do but for now, we play by their rules," the Captain told him.
"This will do nothing to help the custody case," Elliot sunk into a nearby chair.
"What do you mean?" Cragen asked as he sat down next to him.
"The supposed family members have a claim that Social Services is taking seriously because somehow they found out that Liv and I are not doing well financially. Her medical bills have taken a toll and let's face it; disability checks and her pension are not enough money. The only reason that we were able to go on vacation was because we took out a loan. I mean we're not getting behind on our bills but things are tight. Then because she's getting disability checks, Social Services, thinks that means that she can't take care of the kids. The kids are her life. She doesn't have any trouble with them. Now if it comes out that there's even the slightest possibility that I'm a dirty cop, they'll take both Calvin and Charlotte away," Elliot buried his head in his hands.
"When is the hearing?" The Captain wanted to know.
"Next week. Rollins said that the receptionist was a little more forthcoming than the social worker," Stabler said.
"That doesn't give us much time does it?" Munch pondered.
"No but I think I know just the person who can help us," Barba quickly grabbed his phone and dialed Casey Novak's number.
To Be Continued…