Chapter 3: Catching Up
Organized Crime Task Force Headquarters
Long Island City, Queens
8:15 AM
With all the respective assignments having been given, Detective Jet Slootmaekers chose to return to the headquarters of the Organized Task Force headquarters, as she felt more comfortable working on familiar turf and with her own sophisticated computer equipment. Detective Elliot Stabler and Sergeant Odafin "Fin" Tutuola had accompanied her there.
The OC Task Force was housed in a repurposed factory building in Long Island City. Stabler was busy at his desk, going over the various reports filed by members of Manhattan Special Victims on the 2016 Glasgowman stabbing case, while Slootmaekers was busy at her own desk trying to find the current whereabouts of Perry Gilbert, Mia Harris and Zoe Harris. Tutuola, meanwhile, was busy trying to prepare some fresh coffee.
"Damn!" Fin exclaimed as he grimaced at the sight of an especially stale, dirty coffee filter which he had just managed to pry from inside the coffee maker, "You guys know that it's Twenty-Twenty-Two now, right? They do have these things called Kuerings."
Stabler looked over at him and chuckled in response. "Sorry Fin," he said, "One Police Plaza damn near threw a fit when Bell asked for a new copy machine."
As he threw the grubby filter into the trash, the Manhattan SVU sergeant eyed the brand-new, pristine-looking copier. "Yeah," Fin replied, "But it looks like you got it anyway."
Stabler shrugged his shoulders. "Hey," he said, "What can I say? The Sarge is better at making friends at One-PP than a lot of us are."
"Guys," Slootmaekers interrupted after hanging up the receiver of her desk phone, "I think I've found where these girls are."
Stabler and Fin crossed over to Slootmaekers desk and observed what was on her dual computer screens. "What've you got, Jet?" Stabler asked.
"It looks like Mia Harris works as an assistant teacher at the Leon M. Goldstein High School for the Sciences in Brooklyn while also studying Psychology at Hudson University," Slootmaekers began explaining, "Her sister Zoe, meanwhile, is listed as a theater student at Tisch School for The Arts and she also works part-time at an Easy-Ex parcel store on East Eighth Street."
"What about Perry Gilbert?" Fin inquired.
"She was apparently discharged from the Psychiatric Center at eighteen," Slootmaekers continued, "She lived with her mother and stepfather in Prince's Bay, Staten Island for a while before moving in with Enzo Ricci at the Eighth Avenue apartment last spring. She works as a front desk agent at the Park Milano Hotel, but according to their manager, she has the day off today."
Stabler nodded. "Is there anything more on her family?" he queried, "SVU's reports said that she lived with her single mother in an apartment on Dyckman Street back in Two-Thousand-Sixteen."
"Barbara Gilbert," Slootmaekers replied, "She married to her longtime boyfriend Mark Hedley in April of Two-Thousand-Eighteen. They now own a home out in Prince's Bay, like I mentioned."
Stabler then got a look of realization in his eyes. "Oh yeah," he said, "I know Mark. He's a State Trooper assigned to Troop NYC. I met him at a police benefit about a year ago and I've crossed paths with him and his troop mates a few times since then. I've never met his wife, though."
"How do you want us to handle things, El?" Fin asked.
Stabler thought for a minute before replying. "Alright," he replied, "Why don't you and Jet head out to Brooklyn and try to find Mia Harris. I'll go pick up Dani and head out to Staten Island and talk to Mark and Barbara."
Slootmaekers nodded in agreement. "The school's web site says that it's currently in summer session," she said before looking to Fin, "I have a small favor to ask, though, if you don't mind."
"Shoot," Fin replied.
"When we do manage to track down Mia," Slootmaekers said, "Do you mind if I do most of the talking? She might relate better to me."
Fin nodded. "No problem," he replied.
Stabler's cell phone then chimed with a new text message. "Speak of the Devil," he said after quickly reading the message, "Dani just heard from Kat Tamin that Enzo Ricci just woke up at the hospital. I'll call Liv and Eames."
New York Presbyterian Hospital
20 Minutes Later
Captain Benson and Deputy Inspector Eames entered the Main Entrance at New York Presbyterian Hospital.
"I appreciate you guys letting me be hands-on with this case," Eames said, "Ever since I got my promotion and moved upstairs at One-PP, I have to say that I really do miss pounding the pavement like Goren and I used to do when we were Major Case detectives."
"We're glad to have you," Benson replied, "And how is Goren doing these days?" she asked.
"Pretty well," Eames said, "We've been e-mailing regularly since he retired from the department and became a Psychological Operations instructor for the Army. As of two weeks ago, he's at Fort Bening in Georgia."
"Good for him," Benson replied, "I'm sure he's really proud of you, especially since you've been filling in for Chief Moran lately."
The NYPD's incumbent Chief of Detectives, Kenny Moran, had been on sick leave for the last 8 weeks after he was injured in the line of duty. He had been assisting patrol units in their pursuit of a reckless, intoxicated driver, and was in the process of setting up spike strips on West 45th Street in Times Square when he was suddenly struck by the suspect in a red 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
The resulting violent impact left Moran's right leg very badly broken in 3 places. The excessively inebriated 25-year-old male driver was soon apprehended and was now subsequently facing numerous charges. The Commissioner's Office was quick to appoint the very experienced yet newly promoted Deputy Inspector Eames to be the Acting Chief of Detectives for the time being.
"Well," Eames said, "When I took this promotion, it was with the understanding that I'd be able to move over to the Counterterrorism Bureau, but I guess we'll cross that bridge once Chief Moran's back on his feet."
Benson put an arm around her friend. "You'll get there, Alex" she said with a very encouraging tone, "I have the utmost faith in you."
The pair then met up with Detective Kat Tamin and Sergeant Quincy Ming outside Enzo Ricci's hospital room. "Okay guys," Eames said, "What's the story with Mister Ricci in there?"
"He regained consciousness about twenty minutes ago, Inspector" Tamin explained, "The doctor said that the stab wound he suffered missed his scrotum by only a few inches."
The young detective could feel Sergeant Ming's palpable uneasiness upon hearing that information. "The nick he sustained to his femoral artery was successfully repaired in the operating room," Tamin continued, "He's one lucky dude to survive all that, in my opinion."
"Did he say anything to you guys?" Benson asked.
Sergeant Ming shook his head. "No ma'am," he replied, "He's still kind of groggy, but I asked the nurse to hold off on giving him any more pain meds until he speaks to you guys."
The sergeant's cell phone chimed, at which point he glanced down at his phone. "You'll have to excuse me," Ming continued, "Lieutenant Beck wants me to hold down the fort back at Warrants while she heads to Staten Island with Detective Stabler."
"That's fine," Eames replied, "Thanks for the help, Sergeant."
Sergeant Ming then nodded a silent goodbye to Tamin before heading out.
"That reminds me," Benson said, "Kat, would you mind meeting Sergeant Bell over at the Easy-Ex Store on East Eighth Street? She's going to interview Zoe Harris and would appreciate some backup."
Tamin nodded. "You got it, Captain" she said, "I'll see you guys later." She then headed out right behind her sergeant.
Benson then gently knocked on the glass sliding door of Enzo Ricci's hospital room.
"Come in," a swimmy, almost faint male voice said from inside.
Benson slid open the door and entered the room with Eames on her heels.
Enzo Ricci laid face-up on his hospital bed. The 5'4 dark-haired, olive-skinned 19-year-old sported a messy curled hairdo. Despite his clearly Italian complexion, his skin was pale, and he was dressed in a hospital gown and special gripped yellow hospital socks. He also had an oxygen canula in his nose.
"Hello Enzo," Benson said in a very soft and caring tone, "I'm Captain Olivia Benson." She then motioned to Eames. "This is my colleague, Deputy Inspector Alexandra Eames. We're with the NYPD."
Eames pulled a wheeled stool over to the foot of Enzo's bed and sat down on it. "You can call me 'Alex' if you'd like," she said, "We'd like to ask you some questions about what happened to you last night."
Enzo then pressed a button on his bedside remote control, which then elevated the head of his bed so he could face the two women better. "I figured as much," he said before briefly groaning in pain.
"Would you mind just walking us through what happened?" Benson asked.
Enzo nodded and cleared his throat before beginning his explanation. "My girlfriend, Perry, was out working the night shift at her hotel job," he said, "I had the night off myself, so I decided to just veg out at the apartment and watch some TV."
Eames noted all the details in her memo book. "And when you say 'Perry'," she said, "You're referring to Perry Gilbert. Correct?"
"Yes ma'am," Enzo replied, "We've been together for about five months now. We met when I installed some new carpeting at the Park Milano. That's what I do for work, I install floors and carpets for a company in Roosevelt Island."
Benson nodded. "Okay," she said, "And your relationship with her has been going okay lately? Any fights or problems recently?"
"Not really," Enzo explained, "I mean, all couples fight, and we're certainly no different in that sense, but we've been getting along fine as of yet."
"Let's get back to what went on in your apartment before," Eames interjected, "You said that you decided to just hang out and watch TV while Perry was at work. Did anything in particular happen?"
"I ordered some Chinese food for dinner," Enzo said, "The guy came and delivered it at around Nine-Thirty. I finished eating about fifteen minutes later and decided to go take a shower. I wanted to be out and back on the couch in time to watch the start of Eleven O' Clock news."
"And were you?" Benson inquired.
"Yeah," Enzo replied, "I glanced at the wall clock in the kitchen when I got out of the bathroom, and it said 'Ten-Forty-Five'. I sat back down on the couch, and I heard a noise."
"What kind of a noise?" Eames asked.
"Like the sound of the window just above the kitchen sink being opened from the outside," Enzo replied, "I went back out into the kitchen, and I saw a dark figure standing there. I couldn't tell their gender or facial features, or anything like that. I barely had time to say anything before I felt this sharp, harsh burning pain in my crotch. I looked down and realized I'd been stabbed."
"Yeah," Eames said, "I guess they missed your scrotum by an inch."
Enzo got a sour look in retort. "That's what the doctor said when I woke up from surgery," he replied, "Could you guys do me a favor and thank that female cop who put pressure on my wound for me? Without her, I don't think I'd be here."
"We'd be happy to pass that along for you," Benson replied, "I just have one more question if you don't mind, do you know of anyone with anything against you or your family?"
"I'm going to respectfully stop you there, Captain" Enzo replied, "I'm well aware of my family's ties to organized crime in and around this city, and I'd like to insist to both you ladies that I personally have nothing to do with any of that. My father, uncles, and grandfather all consider me to be the black sheep but screw them."
Eames put both hands up. "Of course, Enzo" she said, "We didn't mean to offend you. But do you have any enemies at all?"
"Not that I can think of," Enzo replied, "I get along well with people at work, my relationship with Perry is going well like I said before, I don't gamble, nothing like that. I'm happy to talk to you ladies, and I appreciate your eagerness to investigate what happened to me, but I really don't think I can help you any further right now. I just want to recuperate and get better."
Eames stood up from the stool and moved over next to Benson. "We completely understand. Just please know that you can call Captain Benson or myself if you do think of anything down the road." The 2 women then put each of their respective NYPD business cards on the nightstand.
"I'll be sure to do that," Enzo said, "Thank you for your help."
Benson and Eames then left the room and went back out into the hallway. "Did you catch what he said about his kitchen window?" Benson asked.
Eames nodded and took out her cell phone. "Yep," she said, "I'll call CSU and have them recheck Enzo's fire escape area for any additional evidence. That's obviously where the perp made entry."
