You'll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You'll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life's a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.

Previously...

He removes his hoodie and Jacket. The humidity of the rain getting the best of him. He wipes a hand slowly down his face to remove the moisture and sweat. A lump has formed in the bottom of his throat. He's finding it hard to swallow but he pushes his doubts down, puts the van in Drive and pulls away

Fretti stood in front of the bathroom mirror, gripping the sink. Staring at his reflection. The fluorescent bulb in the small bathroom flickered off and on. They had been crossing the country for two days now, making one last stop at this little hole in the wall motel, one hour outside of Long Island. It was 2am, his body wanted him to sleep, his mind had other plans. He turned on the faucet, cupping his Hands with the cool Liquid before splashing it on his face. He grabbed a towel and slowly blotted off his wet face, never taking his eyes of the mirror. The last years had taken its toll, the creases around his eyes and in his forehead. the grey sprinkled throughout his abundant facial hair. He hung the towel over the shower, flipped of the light switch and exited the bathroom

The room was dark expect from the glow of the antique TV centered in the middle of the room. it perched on a dresser between each of the double beds. Panache sat against the head board clad in T-shirt and boxers heavily engrossed in the rerun of The Family Guy on the television. Fretti moved to his bed and slipped between the cool covers. With his hands intwined behind his head. He gazed up at the ceiling. He didn't know how this was going to play out, but he sensed something was going to give. Panache let our a roaring laughter and Fretti grabbed the pillow next to him and tossed it in Panache's direction. "Keep it down". Fretti growled.

"What's with you?" Panache laughed "You seem to be jumpier the closer we get to New York"

Fretti kept his gaze focused on the ceiling.

...

Sonny Carisi Jr. had always been the nicest guy. The guy that everyone could count on. That boy in high school that had always been in the "friend" zone. Family man, Pilar of society and one big schmuck... who constantly had the habit of falling for women out of his reach. One particular woman was sitting next to him as they were driving downtown. He and his partner, Amanda Rollins were heading down to the Medical examiners office to discuss the findings of the Victim in thier newest case. Carisi upon discovering was a pedophile gleefully renamed him "Mr NOnads in honor of his missing body parts. Amanda's voice broke him from his thoughts. "Hey? "You know... Jessie has been asking if your coming this weekend ?" His heart warmed with the mention of the little ones name...now there was ONE female that had his undying love and devotion. "You tell Little Miss Jessie that I will set something up this weekend"

Now only if her mommy had felt the same way.

Medical examiner office

The ME's office always had the same smell. The smell of Antiseptic with a hint of death. Amanda and Sonny checked in at the front and went back to discuss the findings with the Medical Examiner. Melinda Werner was the assigned ME for SVU cases from what they had understood she had a long respected history with SVU.

They knocked on the door and walked in. Melinda was elbow deep into another autopsy. "Hey guys." She greeted them cheerfully. "Let me clean up and I will meet you in my office" she turned to them still elbow deep "really guys, no coffee or anything?"

20 min later they all sat in her office, case file in front of her.

"The victim died of a gunshot wound point plank to the

forehead. The testacles were rather crudely dissected post Morton."

Sonny winced upon the mentioning of the former

Toxicology revealed levels of cocaine and marijuana, not that it has anything to do with the case but the victim also had stage III cirrhosis of the liver.

"So... he was shot, mutilated and dumped" Sonny commented

"So it appears". Answered back Melinda

"There is one more thing" Melinda spoke has she reached into her desk drawer. This was on the victim She handed them a evidence bag with a business card. "The pants he was wearing had an inside pocket...one of techs found it" Melinda held the bag up for them to peer at the business card "Chris Kellerman, Department of Alcohol tobacco and firearms?" Amanda read from the card. Sonny spoke up "Snitches get Stitches"

Or in this case ditches" Melinda replied as she stood up to signal that thier meeting was over. "Next time you wonderful people can bring me coffee"

Liv, Fin, Amanda and Sonny were all huddled around the smart board. Amanda began. He was found dumped in the trash dumpster by waist removal workers at 715 am in the morning on the 18th. Signs showing the victim was killed between 1 and 4 am the night he was dumped. Victim was shot point blank to the forehead and the Testicles were removed post mortem with a jagged object." Upon hearing the last statement both men in the group groaned loudly in protest. Olivia rolled her eyes and Amanda let a laugh escape her. "One business card was found upon persons, belonging to an ATF agent."

"Did you try the number on the card?" Liv asked. "Yes". Amanda replied "but it's been disconnected, I have a call into ATF to get more info on this Kellerman." Amanda finished. "So what are we thinking here? Is this a sex crime or a robbery gone bad?" Olivia asked the group.

Silence permeated the group...

"Ok". Liv went on. Let's spread out Fin, you and Sonny notify next of kin and see what info you can get. Rollins stay on the ATF lead."

Amanda received a call back minutes later from ATF. They verified that the man on the business card was one of their

Agents and he was currently under deep cover. "How deep is deep?" Asked Amanda "I mean we found his card in the pocket of a murdered snitch". There was a pause on the end of the line. The callers friendly tone changed into one of need to know. "We appreciate your interest in our ATF agents safety, but I can assure you we can do our job mam." Amanda rolled her eyes

Back to playing the doe eyed school girl. "I didn't mean to assume for a minute that you couldn't do you job, I was just concerned for the safety of one of your agents." The man paused for a second. "We appreciate your concern, this is a need to know operation and we will use our resources to get to the bottom of this, thank you for the heads up, you enjoy your day man". CLICK

"The SOB just hung up on me"

Yelled Amanda slamming the phone down loud enough to bring Olivia out of her office. "What's going?" Liv questioned

"ATF just got very paranoid when I started poking around about their agent, Rollins replied. "it was "need to know" and apparently I didn't need to know because he hung up on me!" Amanda raged with frustration.

"Let me make some calls" liv replied. "See if I can find something out". She called over her shoulder has she walked back to her office.

Department of ATF

Freeman hung up the call from the lady cop. The call did not go well. He stood up from his chair and grabbed his jacket heading out to the parking garage to his SVU. Once inside he made the call.

"It's Freeman" he said

"Your man didn't clean out the pockets, the cops found a business card I have a name...

TBC

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