Chapter 1

Detective Bette Porter awoke to her phone ringing at two in the morning. She had just gotten off a forty-eight hour shift after solving on of the many open cases on her desk. She finally settled down to sleep when her telephone rang. She felt for the phone in the dark, “Yeah.” She answered half asleep. “When? Ok I’ll be right there.” She hung up and ready herself for yet another case. Bette has been a police officer for the past eight years. She was a brilliant police offer and she was also a compassionate one as well. Because of the sensitive nature of the cases and her personality, she was asked to join the special victims unit, which she has been a part of for the past five years. Her partner and best friend, Detective Alice Pieszecki along with Captain Phyllis Kroll and Detectives Shane McCutheon and Tasha Williams have been working together since the birth of the department.

Bette arrived on the scene and consulted with Alice about the situation. “What do we have Max?”

“Caucasian female, in her early twenties, raped and strangled. The young couple over there found her.” Max reported. Max Sweeny was a forensic pathologist at the District Medical Examiner’s office. He has been involved in almost all of their cases. “Time of death could be sometime within the last twenty-four hours.”

“Any sign of a struggle?” Alice inquired.

“There are some scratches on her inner thigh and vaginal area.”

“Looks like she took a beating too.”

“It would appear so, but I wont know for sure what the cause of death is till we take her in. He used a condom and gloves”

“What about hair? Skin? She must have struggled.”

“Nothing. And I am not so sure we’re looking for a guy.”

“What do you mean?”

“The footprints are too small. Unless it’s a little person, the perp can very well be a woman or teen.”

A few days have passed and the detectives have been working hard on the case. They had all the evidence they needed to arrest the suspect. Bette and Tasha teamed up to pay the suspect a visit. Alice and Shane stayed back at the station as they were working on the reports of an old case which they finally closed the previous week. Helena Peabody, the forensic psychiatrist, gave in her report after an interview with both the victim and her assailant. “Guys, ADA Haspel is no longer assigned to sex crimes.” Phyllis announced as she approached Alice and Shane at their desks.

“What happened?” Alice inquired.

“Well he was transferred out of the state. District Attorney spot opened up in New York.” She informed them.

“That’s awesome.” Shane exclaimed.

“Yeah, so sometime today we should meet the new ADA.”

“Any ideas who it is?”

“Not yet.” Phyllis turned and headed for her office.

“Ok.” Alice said. “Hope it’s a she.”

“Tasha’ll kill you.” Shane whispered.

“Hey no harm in watching.” Alice defended herself.

“Oh guys, tell Porter and Williams I want to see them when they get in.” Phyllis said before she entered her office and closed the door.

“You and Tasha have plans for later?”

“Just some R & R. We’ve been so busy lately so we decided to make tonight about us. What about you?”

“I’ll probably meet up with Bette and Helena at the Planet.”

AT THE APARTMENT OF ALEX FITZ PATRICK

“Wait, do you hear something?” Tasha put her hand in front of Bette stopping her from knocking. “She’s here.”

“Ms Fitz Patrick. It’s Detectives Porter and Williams. We have some questions we’d like to ask you.” There was a crash, “Fitz Patrick.” Bette identified themselves.

The door flew open, “She’s not here.” The woman informed them.

“Who are you?”

“Tina Kennard ADA.”

“What are you doing here?” Bette asked slightly annoyed.

“Working. What are you doing here?”

“The same.”

“Wait.” Tasha interrupted, “ADA? What happened to Haspel?”

“He got transferred.”

“Oh.” They both answered.

“Well if you will excuse me, I have work to do.”

Both Tasha and Bette looked at each other in disbelief as Tina searched the apartment careful not to put anything out of place. “Um Tina?” Bette started.

“Its Ms Kennard or ADA Kennard thank you.” Tina corrected her.

“Oh sorry. Ms Kennard.” She stressed on the ‘Ms’, “Don’t you think you should leave the snooping to us?”

“You guys can search the apartment too, but sometimes you miss things so I prefer to do things myself.”

“Okaaay.” Tasha rolled her eyes. “She’s got a stick up her ass.” Tasha joked quietly to Bette.

“Humm and a nice ass it is.” Bette commented. The two women stood checking out Tina’s ass as she bent over the table.

TBC?