The Lady Killer

by Paizley Stone

  “Well, she did. I’m sorry, Burns. I know how you feel about her.”

  “Do you want me to go talk to her, Sir?”

  “No, I think it’s best that you leave her alone right now, until we know what we’re dealing with. She could be dangerous, if she’s still in the same state as when she left here. I think she’s high on something right now. Go back to work, and let me finish all this paperwork on her suspension. We’ll talk later.”

  Roy went on up to Homicide. He found Laura and Dan comparing the sketch they had gotten from Liz’s description, with the composite photos of Emily and Nancy. “Hey you guys! Did you hear what just happened to Stacey?”

  Laura looked worried. “What happened, is she alright?”

  Roy shook his head. “No! She threw a fit in Rutledge’s office, and he put her on suspension. She was outside getting into a cab when I pulled in the parking lot.”

  Dan walked over to his partner. “Wow, I’m sorry to hear that, Burns.”

  Laura answered her phone. It was the Captain telling her that he didn’t want anyone leaving, until he got up there to meet with them. She was concerned about this turn of events. “Roy, this is serious! Rutledge is finishing up the paperwork on Stacy, and then he’s coming up here. He wants to talk to all of us together.”

  “Sorry, I just got in. We had a parent-teacher conference at Ryan’s school. Did something happen this morning?”

  Dan couldn’t pass up a chance to tease his buddy. “Yeah, those of us who don’t keep banker’s hours were here for the excitement. Stacey tried to break into our locked file cabinet last night. Dr. Foote has it all on video.”

  “The only thing that I’m banking on is fact that teenagers are a pain in the ass!”

  Laura smiled at him. “I just hope that they aren’t as bad as I was at that age.”

  Dan got a curious look on his face. “Well, that will be an interesting story for a later date.”

  She gave him a mischievous glance. “I’ll never tell.”

  Roy walked over and looked at the pry marks on the cabinet. “She must be on drugs, if she didn’t think we would notice this!”

  Just then, Captain Rutledge walked in. “Yes, that’s the main reason I called her into my office this morning. When Detective Peterson got here and saw that, she called Ralph for the DVD. The four of us watched her go after that cabinet with a giant screwdriver. Sorry to keep you all waiting, but we have some important things to discuss.”

  “Should we go into the break room, Sir?”

  “Thanks, Laura, that would be perfect. Got any coffee made?”

  She went in, poured everyone a cup and they all sat together at the table. Rutledge looked upset. “I lost one of my favorite people today, but I think we actually lost her some time ago to drugs. I don’t even know where to begin, other than to say that we have a real problem.”

  Laura frowned. “Isn’t she gone, Sir?”

  He sighed deeply. “Yes, but she made some extremely threatening comments about you before she left.”

  Laura looked surprised. “About me, Sir? I hardly even knew Stacey Morgan.”

  “I know that, but remember when we found that first body?”

  “Yes, how could I forget it?”

  “Well, when uniforms found that first one, they called in SVU because of the apparent sexual nature of the crime. Then I brought in your team and gave the case to you. At the time, other than Stacey, we had mostly new people on the SVU team. I just didn’t feel that they had enough experience as a group. When we got the second victim, I knew I had made the right choice. I couldn’t have inexperienced people trying to solve a serial murder case. At the time, Stacey never said anything about being upset.”

  Laura looked puzzled. “So, what does all of this have to do with me?”

  Rutledge smacked his lips together and looked at them. “I have something I’m going to play for you, and it isn’t pretty, but I think you really need to hear it first hand.” He reached in his pocket and took out a small recording device, which he placed on the table. They all listened in amazement to Stacey’s rant.

  Roy was the most shocked. “Sir, I wouldn’t have believed this, if I hadn’t heard it for myself. That isn’t the Stacey I’ve known for years.”

  Dan was worried. “Sir, what I get from this is that Laura is in danger from yet another source. Is that correct?”

  “Unfortunately, Murphy, you’re right. That’s why I came up here to talk to all of you. I don’t know Stacey any more either, and I don’t know what to make of her involvement in this case. Laura, do you have an alarm system in your apartment?”

  “Yes, I got it after Alan and I broke up. I changed the locks, but he still got in again by climbing up the fire escape and jimmying the window.”

  “Is it still activated?”

  “No, when he finally accepted the break up and went away, I stopped the service.”

  “I’ll call them today and have them set up an emergency activation. They’ll do that for the police department. Just get me their number.”

  “Do you really think that’s necessary, Sir?”

  Dan looked exasperated. “Laura, now you have two psychos after you, and they might be connected! What are you thinking?”

  She gave Dan a dirty look. “Do you happen to be Captain Rutledge today?”

  Rutledge laughed. “I couldn’t have said it better myself, Detective Murphy. He’s right, Peterson. I know you are Miss Tough Guy, but I am giving you a direct order. Get me the number of that monitoring service, and I’m calling them today!”

  “Yes, Sir, I have it in my wallet. I know you’re just trying to protect me.”

  “Good, I’m glad we’re on the same page, because you’re really not going to like this next part. From now on, someone has to follow you home. If one of these two can’t do it, then a patrol car will be assigned.”

  Laura sighed. “Do you think these people will be following me, Sir?”

  “I have no idea how all of these women got taken, but I want to be sure the next one isn’t you. Stacey just went off the deep end and blames you for losing this case. I don’t think it would be a giant leap, in her warped mind, to blame you for her suspension. I want that alarm set every day when you leave, and if you can, keep it on at night also. I want you to be escorted to your door, and have them wait until you are safely in the building before they leave. In the morning, if you leave before daylight, I want you to call and get an escort, just to make sure you get to your car safely and to the precinct. Are we all clear on this?”

  Dan could tell Laura wasn’t happy about these arrangements. “She will do it, Captain, even if she isn’t pleased about the restrictions.”

  She looked at Dan with resignation on her face and then turned to Rutledge. “I hate all of this, Sir, but I agree that we don’t know what we’re dealing with. After her outburst, it seems even more possible that Stacey is some kind of accomplice. Maybe he hypnotized her, or she has an evil twin sister.”

  “Unfortunately, I think it’s more likely that she has been seduced by the lure of some kind of drug. It isn’t impossible for a serial killer to have a female accomplice. If she was taller, I might even believe that she was posing as these women we’ve been trying to find. None of this makes sense to me, but I have a strange feeling that once we find out, it won’t be what we expected. She could be sleeping with this guy and doesn’t even know that he’s the killer.”

  Roy couldn’t decide what to do, but he knew that keeping quiet was wrong. “Sir, normally I wouldn’t betray a confidence, but right now I think it’s necessary to this case. Stacey is a lesbian. She couldn’t be sleeping with this psycho.”

  “Thank you for sharing that, Burns. It won’t leave this room, right guys? But regardless of why, she still hangs out with our two suspects. My buddy seemed to think that Stacey and Della might be dating David and Michael.”

  “Not unless she had a big change of sexuality, along with her new drug habit. About six months ago
, she told me that a lady friend was moving in with her. She didn’t tell me who it was, but she seemed very happy about it.”

  Rutledge looked thoughtful. “Actually, knowing how open she is about everything else, I’m surprised that Stacey kept that a secret from most of us. We all would have been happy for her.”

  “Well, Sir, from what she told me I don’t think her parents would have approved, and she was afraid of them finding out. She told me that her mom had been planning her wedding for years!”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, Burns. In light of all this, we will continue the tail on Vitale. I will let you guys get back to work. I need to go inform Detective Warren of Stacey’s suspension. She and Vitale will be alone in SVU from now on. If anything comes up, let me know right away.”

  Laura got the phone number of her alarm provider and gave it to the Captain as he walked to the elevators. The mood in the office was solemn. No one wanted to believe that Stacey had gone so far off base, and they didn’t know what to do to help her. Laura felt bad, because she might be the source of Stacey’s pain. “Gosh, Burns, I feel like I’m to blame for all of this.”

  “Don’t be silly. Stacey has made this entire thing up in her head. I’m just not sure why she blames only you. All three of us have been working on this case together for months. And I can’t figure out why she’s discussing our case with her partner Della Warren.”

  “Yeah, I really don’t care for that Della. I’ve never done anything to Stacey personally. Maybe it is a Lead Detective rivalry thing. Whatever it is, I feel bad for her.”

  “You can feel bad all you want, just don’t feel guilty. I’ll tell you the same thing you told Rutledge. Stacey has to be responsible for her own actions. You didn’t make her come up here and go through our things, or scream obscenities at the Captain.”

  “Yes, I know that. I just hate to see one of our own going down the tubes. Well, let’s get back to work. Maybe if we solve this case, we can find something that will clear Stacey. You know, if we can get her back to her old self, we could be her family. All of us would support her lifestyle choices. It must be terrible to have a family that you love, who doesn’t love you enough to accept you just the way you are.”

  CHAPTER 16

  Laura was sound asleep when she got the phone call at five in the morning. It was the Captain, telling her that Detective Murphy would be on his way over to pick her up. He wouldn’t give her any details, just told her to be ready. She jumped out of bed and got dressed quickly. She was very worried but had the presence of mind to make some coffee while she waited. Within minutes Dan was there knocking on her door. “Hey, your ride is here.”

  She handed him a travel mug at the door. “What in the world is going on, Dan? The Captain would only tell me that you were on your way here.”

  “Rutledge didn’t want to tell you over the phone, but it’s Stacey. He got to Stacey! We haven’t called Burns, because the Captain doesn’t want him at the scene. Let’s go.”

  Laura sat numbly in the car and let Dan drive, while she sipped her coffee. She couldn’t believe what was happening. It was an even bigger shock when they pulled up to the same deli building again. “You have got to be kidding! He used this same scene again?”

  “Yeah, this guy must have brass balls!”

  “That’s it! I’m asking for a permanent surveillance on this place, until we catch this guy. When I get my hands on him, he isn’t going to have any balls, brass or otherwise!”

  Dan laughed to himself. He got a real kick out of her feistiness. At the same time, he knew the soft side of her didn’t want to see the condition of Stacey’s body, which was something that he wasn’t looking forward to either. In his mind, he was thinking even more seriously about leaving Homicide after this case was done. He just didn’t have the stomach for it any more, and he thought it might be better for their relationship not to be in the same department. He gulped down the last of his coffee before he spoke. “Thanks for thinking about the coffee. I needed a jumpstart for this one. I guess we have to go in there, huh?”

  She just closed her eyes and sighed deeply. “I am so tired of this, Dan. I just want it to be over. This is going to be a hard one. I’m glad Rutledge decided to spare Roy.”

  “Yeah, me too. I like to give him a rough time, but I look up to the guy.”

  “He likes giving it back to you, also. That’s how I knew you were going to make it on our team. People have to work at earning Roy’s respect. You had it right away.”

  “Laura, to be honest with you, I don’t know how much longer I can deal with this. I don’t want to upset you more, when I know that you’re already upset, but I might be leaving after this case is solved.”

  Her stomach did a giant flip-flop. “What do you mean leaving, are you moving out of state?”

  He quickly grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it. “Silly woman! As long as there is some hope of a relationship with you, I wouldn’t even leave this city. I meant Homicide. Now let’s go in and get this over with.”

  They walked through the front door and then continued back into the warehouse. Ralph was already there. He shook his head when he saw her coming. “Laura, I don’t know what to say.”

  “Me either, Ralph. Looks like the same MO. Poor Stacey! Even after her psycho rant she didn’t deserve this, but none of these women did. Roy kept telling us that we should warn her about socializing with our suspects. How long has she been here?”

  “Only about two hours. There was an anonymous 9-1-1 call from a payphone down the block. Whoever it was, just dialed the number and left the receiver dangling. The dispatch person sent a black and white to investigate. When they didn’t find anyone, they started searching the area. This door was open and the lights were on, so they came inside and found her. Where’s Roy?”

  “Rutledge was nice enough to leave him out of this. He’s going to take it hard; they’ve been friends for years.”

  “The Captain can’t be taking this very well himself. I know he was fond of her.”

  Laura looked down. “Is that a rat under the body?”

  “Yes, strange, huh? We put that camera up in your office for rat prevention, and that’s what psycho boy decided to leave as his symbol. I’m wondering if there’s a bug somewhere that we don’t know about. This seems like too much of a coincidence to me.”

  “You’re right. I’ll have you look into it later. I don’t understand why he killed her. She had quit the force and wasn’t a threat to him any more. It isn’t even close to the eleventh of the month. The fact that he’s breaking his pattern isn’t a good sign.”

  “Hmmmmm, maybe she was killed because she quit. She wasn’t useful to him any more if she couldn’t get the inside information.”

  “Ralph, you’re good! But she was also trying to solve the case on her own. He may have killed her because she was getting too close, and he was afraid that she could tell us more about him. I’m beyond trying to figure out why this guy does what he does. I just want to find him and put him away!”

  He patted her shoulder. “I know how you feel. Where’s your shadow?”

  She looked over by the entrance to the warehouse. Dan was standing there watching them. “He’s having a rough time with all of this. The fact that he knew the last two women personally is hard on him. I think he’s going to quit Homicide, once this case is over.”

  “How do you feel about that?”

  She smiled slowly. “I think it might make it easier on our social life.”

  “Don’t tell me that you’re actually going to give that boy a chance!”

  “That young Irishman has weaseled his way right into my heart.”

  Ralph stuck out his bottom lip. “Does this mean I don’t have to divorce my wife after all?”

  “Leave it to you to make me laugh during a horrible crime scene. No, she’s safe for now.”

  “I can’t think of anyone who deserves happiness more than you. After what you went through with Alan, I was worried that yo
u would never come out and play again.”

  “Thanks, nothing is going to happen until I solve this case, but it gives me something to look forward to. Do you need us here any more?”

  “No, I’m sure the Captain will be waiting for you. I’ll finish up here and get any reports back to you, ASAP. I’ll also send the butts out for DNA analysis.”

  “Okay, see you back at the station.” She walked over to where Dan was standing. “Are you ready to get out of here?”

  He looked nervous. “I hope I haven’t let you down by not going over there with you and Ralph. Stacey and I only met a couple of times, but I liked her. That is, before she went all psycho on us. I’m glad that I’m not the one who has to tell Burns.”

  “No, you haven’t let me down at all. I understand completely. Just knowing that you’re here and going to drive me back to the precinct is enough. I know these scenes are hard to take, even when you don’t know the victim personally. Let’s get out of here.”

  He took her by the arm as they walked, and when they got to the car he opened her door for her. They rode along in silence for quite a ways. He knew that she was thinking hard about the case, and they were both sad about Stacey. “Are you okay?”

  She turned her head towards him. “Yes, sort of. I feel very defeated, Dan. Normally, I get a case, and I have a feeling right away about who I’m looking for. This one has been a riddle right from the beginning. I just want it over with.”

  “Hang in there. I have a feeling that we’re going to get a break on this one real soon.”

  “Do you really have a feeling, or are you just trying to cheer me up?”

  He gave her one of his heart melting smiles. “Both.”

  Captain Rutledge and Roy were waiting for them in his office. Laura walked in and gave Roy a big hug. “I’m so sorry about this. I know that sounds hollow, but I really do care about your feelings. We had no idea that he would kill again this soon.”

  “Thanks, I know you care. The Captain and I were just discussing the fact that a pattern change isn’t good for us. Now, we don’t know what to expect. As far as Stacey is concerned, I’m not sure what to think. She has changed so much lately. Who knows what she was doing? She might have been helping him, for all we know. Like we said earlier, she had to be responsible for what she got herself into. I just want the bastard put away!”