SVU Squad Room. Friday, March 5th.
Casey stormed into the squad room with Olivia, who was smiling smugly, on her heels. Casey had an air of determination and strength around her as she strode up to the Captain and Elliot. "If Jonathan Marcelo is half as bad as his father, then put Karen in the safe house now before I even draw up the arrest warrant!" Casey snapped, her voice daring anyone to disagree with her.
"I'll put Munch and Fin on it," Cragen told her.
Fin had finished showing Karen the safe house while Munch had brought up her bag. Munch threw it on the ground angrily and waited for Fin impatiently. Fin came out of the bedroom with Karen and said, "All right, Munch is going to stay with you 'till the other officers come, while I go back to the precinct and check on something."
"You're leaving me with him?" "I'm left with her?" both Munch and Karen cried, pointing at each other with distaste. They had not gotten off to the best start especially when Karen had 'accidentally' treaded on his toes twice for payback about the German mob comment.
"It's only for a little bit," Fin said.
"Can I talk to you for a second?" Munch asked, grabbing hold of Fin's arm and dragging him off to the side. "I've got a great idea, you stay here with her and I head to the precinct, which is far away from her." Munch stressed the 'her' with extreme dislike that was not lost on Fin.
He smiled quickly and lied, "Sorry, Captain's orders." When in fact, Donald Cragen had only asked for one of them to come back and assist on the Marcelo arrest, and there was no way Fin would miss that. He looked over at Karen, who had been listening, and said, "I'll see you in a bit."
Karen nodded briefly. After Fin left, Munch and Karen stared at each other with an uncomfortably awkward silence. Both Munch and Karen's eyes were cold, dangerous and had a small spark of curiosity. However, if either of them were curious to try and understand the other, they restrained themselves from talking. Yes, they couldn't risk the chance of talking and actually begin to tolerate each other.
After a long period of the uneasy silence where the two sized each other up with their eyes, Karen said, "Watch the door, Mobster." Then she picked up her bag and walked into the bedroom.
Fin, along with Olivia, Elliot and two other uniformed police officers, waited in the lobby of Jonathan's apartment building. Fin checked his watch when he heard the elevator doors open. Jonathan Marcelo stepped out, talking on his cell phone. He spotted the police officers and quickly hung up his phone.
He smirked at Fin and said, "Ah, Detective Tutuola, to what I owe this pleasure?"
"Your arrest for attempted murder and sexual assault," Fin told him bluntly. He pulled out the arrest warrant and showed it to Jonathan. "Here's the warrant."
Jonathan grabbed it and began reading it. His eyes scanned the charges and he threw it right back to Fin. "That's a load of bullshit."
"That's for a jury to decide," Fin said as he handcuffed Jonathan and then read him his rights.
Jonathan Marcelo lawyered up before Fin or Elliot could ask him what his name was. His arraignment went well, for him. The bail was sent only at fifty thousand on the lack of evidence, which he made easily. Casey Novak was staying late in her office preparing for the trail when there was a knock on her door.
"Come in," she said.
"Hey," Fin greeted.
Casey looked up at him and asked, "Is there something I can help you with, Fin?"
"I just stop by to see how things were going with the trial," Fin said.
She hold up some blue papers and said, "Marcelo made bail and his lawyers are making a motion to declare this trial a mistrial on the lack of evidence."
"It won't hold up, will it?" Fin asked, concerned.
"No, but they will make more motions to dismiss his matching fingerprint to the partial fingerprint on the piece of mail and to dismiss DNA match of his hair to the hair found under the victim's nail. Also, to dismiss Ron Weston's testimony on the fact that he isn't a creditable witness. They will probably be able to convince a judge about the latter."
Fin said nothing, leaving an uneasy silence in the room. Casey looked at him and asked, "Fin, why the sudden interest in my job?"
He shrugged in response, which concerned her. "Fin, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm cool," he responded. Then he said, right before leaving, "I'll let you do your job."
Casey stared curiously after him. Lois Preston.
Safe House, Location Unknown. Saturday, March 6th.
"All right Munchie, are you in or out?" Karen asked a malicious smile on her face.
The two had amazingly hit it off once Karen started questions about Munch's theories. She had heard from other cops about Munch's extremely bizarre theories, and once she heard them, she automatically agreed with half of them.
Now Munch gazed at his cards and stroked his chin. They were playing Texas Hold'em and Munch had already lost his twenty three dollars and once he ran out of money, he had lost his suit's jacket, watch, shoes, socks, tie and pants. He was down to shirt, glasses or boxers and he didn't want to lose any of them.
Karen let out an annoyed sigh and started humming the Jeopardy theme song. She was wearing Munch's tie hanging loosely around her neck. Munch shot her a glare and said, "I'm thinking."
"Think faster, it's not a life changing decision," she retorted.
There was a knock on the door. Karen stared at the door fearfully while Munch grabbed his gun and walked up to the door. He looked through the peephole and let out a quiet sigh. He opened the door and asked, "What are you doing here, Fin?"
"Captain wants double shifts on… Where are your pants?" Fin asked suddenly.
Munch looked down at his long, lanky legs, with just his dark blue boxers covering him and he had to suppress a blush. Karen giggled and said, "He's horrible at poker."
"Okay," Fin said slowly. "Munch, can I see you for a second?"
"Sure." Munch followed Fin into the kitchen area and asked, "What's up?"
"Man, you've not only got a bony ass, but bony legs to match," Fin said, staring at Munch's legs.
"What do you want? Why are you here?"
"There was a car parked outside of Karen's daughter's school, with two ex-cons in it, staking it out," Fin told him quietly.
"Think Marcelo sent them?" Munch asked in a whisper.
"Too big of a coincidence for it not to be."
Munch frowned and stroked his chin. Fin peered over at Karen and said, "Not a word to Karen, she doesn't need this stress."
Munch nodded and walked back over to Karen. He checked his cards and tried to act like nothing happened. "All right, I'm in."
Karen stared at Munch. He was trying to show no emotion on his face and was succeeding. That's what frightened Karen the most. She glanced over at Fin, but his face was always set in stone and nothing seemed different. She looked back at Munch and tried to peer into his eyes that were hidden behind his glasses.
"You in?" Munch asked.
Karen just nodded, halfheartedly.
As soon as Munch flipped the final card, he was going to lose horribly. He tried to keep a poker face, but a grim frown sneaked its way onto his face.
"I'm all in, how about you?" Munch asked, trying to look as though he was suppressing a smile.
"What?" She asked distantly. She hadn't been paying attention; she was too busy trying to stop all the pessimistic thoughts from entering her mind.
"I'm all in," Munch repeated. "You in?"
She shook her head and pushed twenty three dollars towards him. She said jokingly, "I'll pay you twenty three dollars for you to keep your shirt on."
"Ha ha, cute," Munch mumbled as he took back his money.
"I'm going to go take a shower," Karen said, getting up and slowly walking back to the bedroom without another word.
Munch and Fin exchanged glances. Fin looked after her and asked, "You think she knows?"
"No, she's just upset she never got to see me naked," Munch retorted, as he got up and followed Karen.
He knocked on the door and asked, "You okay?"
"Yeah," Karen said, barely audible.
"I'm going for Chinese. Want anything?"
"Salad," she muttered through the door.
"Okay." Munch turned to Fin, gave him an encouraging tap in the arm and whispered, "Good luck."
As Munch left, Fin knocked on the door and said, "You know, you probably won't be able to find a salad at a Chinese restaurant."
Karen flung open the door and asked, "Mind telling me what the bloody hell you're doing here?"
"What?"
"What's the real reason you're here?"
Fin didn't answer her. He didn't want to lie to her or tell her the truth. Thankfully, he didn't have to because there was a knock on the door.
"That would be Munch needing directions," Fin said as moved to answer the door.
Karen sighed angrily, slammed the door shut and locked it. Fin peered through the peep hole, but a hand was covering it. Fin kept the chain lock on, and started to slowly open the door. Suddenly a swift force kicked opened the door, pulling the chain lock of the wall, and hitting Fin in the nose and knocking him back on the ground.
Fin groaned, and raised his hand to his nose. It was swollen and he felt a small trickle of warm ooze come from his nose.
"Hands up," a rough voice commanded.
Fin looked up. There were two big bouncer looking guys standing over him, pointing their guns at him.
Fin raised his hands, glaring at the two. The smaller of the two searched Fin for his gun, and tossed it aside. He turned to the bigger one and said, "Find the girl. Long bark hair, British accent. Think you can handle that?"
The bigger one grunted, and headed down the hall. He reached the bedroom, and tried the door. It was locked, and he knew this was the right one.
He kicked open the door. Karen screamed in fright and backed herself against the wall. She had her hair wrapped up in towel, and a bathrobe on.
"Who the heck are you?" she asked with a very thick southern drawl.
"Who are you?" the man asked.
"Lulu May, Haggiens," Karen answered, still in the southern accent.
"Lulu May Haggiens?"
"Yeah, that my name Cowboy." She paused and asked, "Is this because of the insider trading?"
"What insider trading?"
"That's why I'm here, the company I testifying against is for insider trading."
He looked her over and asked, "Do you have a kid?
"How dare you attack my virtue like that! I ain't never been hitched, let alone gaven birth," Karen cried offended.
"How do I know you aren't lying?"
"Why would I lie about something like that?"
"Let me see your hair," he said, grabbing at the towel.
"What? Hey!" Karen cried as she tried to pull away from him.
He ripped the towel off head and looked at her hair. It was dark, but not long. It didn't even reach her shoulders. He had the wrong place.
"Damn it!" he muttered. He looked over at her and said, "You never saw me."
"Saw who?" she responded innocently.
She let out a sigh as soon as he left the room.
The larger guy hit the smaller one and said, "We're done."
"Good."
The larger one started to head out the door. The smaller one went to leave also, but stopped. He turned to Fin and gave him a swift hard kick. Fin groaned, and rolled over on his side.
Fin wanted to move and check on Karen, but his body would not obey. Finally, after what felt like infinity to him, Karen came out of the bedroom, fully dressed.
"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with panic once she saw Fin lying on the ground, bleeding.
"You're alive?" Fin asked, amazed.
"Are you okay?" she asked again.
"Yeah, I'm cool," he answered her as he struggled to get up.
"Stay down," she said, pushing him to the ground. "I'll get something for that nose."
She quickly stood up and started rummaging through the freezer. She found a bag of frozen peas and carrots, and grabbed it along with a couple of paper towels.
She knelt down next to Fin, wrapped the peas and carrots in one of the paper towels and then placed it on Fin's nose. He winced at the pressure, and looked at Karen.
"What happened to you hair?" he asked.
"I cut it," she answered him, as she moved to clean up the blood on his face.
"Why?"
"I don't know. I heard them and got scared. I thought maybe if I cut my hair they couldn't recognized me, they would leave. All I had to lose was some hair," Karen told him.
Fin was about to say something, when they heard the sounds of someone coming towards the apartment. Karen grabbed Fin's discarded gun and pointed it at the door, just as it creaked open. Munch appeared in the doorway, gun in hand. He spotted the two on the ground and put his gun away. "What happened?" he asked.
"Two guys came here, Marcelo probably sent them," Fin told him.
"If Marcelo sent them, why isn't she dead?" Munch asked.
Fin looked up at Karen for the answer. She shrugged and said, "I guess they'll believe anything someone tells them."
Munch nodded and helped Fin up. "Come on; let's get you back to the precinct." He turned to Karen and said, "You should probably too."
"You think?"
Fin sat in his chair at the precinct, while Karen sat on the desk making sure Fin kept his head back and the ice on his nose. He winced as she touched it softly.
"Don't touch it," he said.
"I'm just trying to make sure you didn't break it," Karen told him.
"How would you know if I broke it?" Fin asked.
"I used to be a ball magnet. No matter what sport I played, the balls would hit me. Especially in dodge ball," Karen told him. Then she muttered angrily, "Vile game, created only to make fat children cry."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I was a fat child," Karen started.
"I don't believe that," Fin said, his eyes running down her body.
She blushed and continued, "In my school it was required to win the dodge ball game by making on of the fat children cry."
"I loved that game," Fin told her with a smile.
Munch came back with Cragen, to explain why they were at the precinct. As they were walking up to Fin and Karen, Cragen asked, "Who's the girl?"
Karen turned her head, and Cragen realized who she was. "Sorry, you just look different with short hair… Wait, why do you have short hair?"
"She cut it when the two guys came to the safe house," Fin told him.
"All right, what happened?"
"Two guys kicked the door in, and when one of them went to Karen's room-" Fin stopped, and looked at Karen.
"I just told them I was Lulu May Clampett," Karen said.
"And he believed you?" Cragen asked.
"Not the sharpest tool in the shed," Karen replied with a shrug.
Cragen nodded and asked, "Any idea how they found her?"
"Probably followed someone," Munch said, looking over at his partner.
Fin picked up on that and asked, "Are you blaming me for this?"
"I'm not saying it's your fault, just that you and Marcelo have a history together, so I wouldn't be surprised if he told his people to follow you," Munch defended.
"Let's wait till Olivia and Elliot get here, then we can figure out a plan for what to do with Miss Barley," Cragen told the three of them.
They nodded and as soon as Cragen had his back turn, Fin snarled at Munch, "They didn't follow me."
"I never said they did. I just said you were the more obvious choice if Marcelo was to follow someone."
Before Munch and Fin could really start arguing, Elliot and Olivia walked in, carrying a crying baby.
"Hey guys," Olivia greeted them as she tried to soothe the irritated baby. She spotted Karen and asked, "What's going on?"
"We had a little problem at the safe house," Fin told them.
"Like what?" Elliot asked.
"There were two unwelcome visitors that stopped by and broke Fin's nose," Munch said with smile.
"Oh, that explains why you look like crap," Olivia quipped.
"Good you're back," Cragen said. Then he noticed the screaming baby and asked, "What is that doing here?"
"ACF won't be able to pick him for a little while," Olivia told him.
"Well, keep it under control," Cragen said.
The baby started crying louder and nothing Olivia did seem to soothe it.
"Here, I'll take the baby," Karen said, holding out her arms. "I'm not doing anything useful."
Olivia handed over the baby, and Karen began trying to soothe it. She started swaying with the baby in her arm and humming slightly. She distanced herself from the detectives, who started working on a plan to keep her safe, and sat down on a bench, still gently rocking the baby. After a little while, the baby was still fussy and Karen started to sing softly to it.
"Dancing bears. Painted wings. Things I almost remember. And a song someone sings. Once upon a December."
"Not bad," a gruff voice commented.
Karen looked up in surprise and saw Fin standing beside her. She flushed a light pink and mumbled some thanks.
"You're pretty good at that," Fin said, referring to the now sleeping baby.
"It comes with the territory of being a single parent," Karen told him. Then she asked, "How's your nose?"
"It's better," he told her.
"Can you do this?" she asked as she managed to slightly twitch her nose with out moving her jaw.
"No, but I could never do that," he told her with a smile.
"Hey Fin, get back over here," Munch called.
"I'll be right back."
Karen sighed and looked at the sleeping baby in her arm, tears forming in her eyes.
"That sounds good," Fin said. "I'll go get Karen."
Fin went over to the bench to where he left Karen. No one was there. He looked around desperately and spotted the baby in the arms of a uniformed officer.
"Hey, where's the woman who gave you the baby?" Fin asked urgently.
"I don't know, she headed towards the exit," the officer said.
"Oh crap," Fin muttered. He quickly searched through the precinct and still couldn't finder.
"Hey Caption," Fin called.
"What?"
"She's gone."