The L Word

Chapter Three


He walked into the precinct on double time, eager to see her face again. When he opened the doors that read “Special Victims Unit” he paused and let out a breath. Opening the doors he saw her at her desk talking to Munch. He smiled to himself as he noticed how her nose scrunched up when she laughed.

“Hey” he heard from behind him. He turned to see Olivia striding towards him. “I checked with Melinda, nothing on the lugs but she found markings on them that came from the clip of another murder case from ‘76.”

“Ashley’s sister remembered her saying something about a guy she was dating. Older guy, couldn’t give us a name though. Roxy and I found a picture of them in her room, we’re going around asking if anyone’s ever seen him before.” Munch added coming up from behind his desk. Elliot nodded and glanced at Roxanne who smiled at him as she brushed past him.

“Great. Liv and I will check with CSU maybe they’ve found something on Ashley’s clothes.”

“Tell me you got something” Elliot said as they walked into CSU lab unit.

“I traced the last call she made from her cell phone. She called a number in Greenwich Village at 9 pm” Brian said.

“M.E. said she was killed around 11. Who did she call?” Elliot asked.

“I’d check with the service provider for a name. Whoever she called was in her ‘five’, which means she has T Mobile and so does, the caller. She has them programmed in her phone as ‘Babe’.” He replied.

“That might be the boyfriend we’re looking for.” Olivia said softly, glancing at Elliot who nodded back.

“There’s something else” Brian continued as he walked to where the victims’ clothes laid out on the far end of the table. “The blood type on the shirt doesn’t match the victims or the DNA from the rape kit or the sample found on her face.”

“So we’re looking for two perps.” Elliot said still looking at the bloody shirt.

“Not likely. The DNA inside the victim was human. But the DNA that was on her face was canine. I’d say you’re looking for someone with a dog.”

“Thanks” He replied as they left the lab. Olivia flipped open her phone, a disgusted look still on her face.

“Munch, check out T Mobile for this cell phone number that was program into the vics’ phone. 917-642-3571, it may belong to our mystery boyfriend. Alright.” She opened the passenger side door of Elliot’s car before she hung up.

“Hi my name is Detective Munch and this is my partner Detective Maddox, we need you to give us the name of the person with this cell phone number.” He said when they approached the desk of the T Mobile office. The young woman behind the desk accepted the slip of paper with the number on it, nodded slowly and put the number into the computer.

“Steven Daughtry.” She said after mere seconds.

“Do you have an address?” Roxanne asked. The woman nodded and printed the information out for them.

“Thank you.” Munch said before taking the information that the woman offered. They walked out into the street and John called Elliot. It rang once before he heard Stabler’s stern voice.

“Stabler”

“Hey we think we got the boyfriends name. Steven Daughtry. Roxy and I are going to pay him a visit right now.”

“Alright. We’ll meet you back at the station house.” He said hanging up and turning to Liv who was looking over the forensics report. “That was John, they got his name. Let’s go to Ashley’s school and see if any of her friends have heard of him.”


They knocked on the door almost at the same time but Roxy’s knuckles touched it first so he retrieved his arm back down to rest at his side. After a few seconds, a woman opened the door and smiled.

“Yes, can I help you?” she asked innocently.

“Mrs. Daughtry? My name is Detective Maddox, this is my partner Detective Munch. We were wondering if your son was home.” She asked politely.

“I don’t have a son.” She replied.

“Do you know a Steven Daughtry?” John asked.

“Steve is my husband. What’s this about?” she asked annoyed.

“We’re investigating the murder of Ashley Willbanks. We believe your husband may have some information that could help.” Roxy replied.

“She was my daughter’s tutor in middle school but we haven’t heard from her in years.” The woman stated with curiosity in her voice. “You think my husband had something to do with her murder?” she asked with irritation clearly in her voice.

“No, we just want to talk to him, that’s all” Roxy eased. The woman shook her head and sighed.

“You’re wrong. Steve could never hurt anyone.” She stated defensively.

“Where is your husband now?” Munch asked curiously.

“He’s at his office in Midtown on 8th. He’s a psychiatrist.” She replied.

“Thank you.” She said once again before they turned, walked back down the porch steps and got into Munch’s car.

“So Steven and Ashley have an affair, Ashley threatens to tell his wife and he shuts her up.” Munch offered as they made their way to Midtown.



“Or, another possibility is that Ashley pulled the plug on their relationship, and if he couldn’t have her, no one could. Cliché…but very possible.” She threw back, looking over at him.

“Another bad Lifetime movie.” She giggled and shook her head at her partner. “So how long have you been on the force?” He asked trying to make conversation.

“Six years, four of them in SVU.” She replied. “You?”

“Too long.” He sighed. “I worked in homicide for a long time, didn’t want to retire yet so I transferred to SVU.” He explained. “Where’d you transfer from?” he asked as he parallel parked next to the sidewalk.

“Narcotics.” She replied softly, almost in a whisper, as she stared out the window. He took in a breath through his nose, noticing her tone and recognizing it as a bad memory but decided not to push it just yet. He was beginning to like his new partner.

“Shall we asses the Daughtry?” He joked. She turned to face him, smiling again.

“Yes, lets.” She replied getting out of the car.

“Nice office.” John mumbled as they walked into the offices of Dr. Steven Daughtry.

“He’s a cliché already. Check out the color paint on the walls; Tope-so cliché.” She responded in the same soft tone. They walked towards the front desk and asked the receptionist if they could speak to him. The older woman nodded and called him from the phone on her desk.

“There are two Detectives here who’d like to speak with you.” She said into the phone before motioning for them to enter the office. “I’m sending them in” She hung up just as he opened the door. Roxanne looked up at their suspect and felt her heart beat pick up slightly. This man was drop dead gorgeous. Perfect she thought as they entered his office. He stood at about 6 feet and had jet black hair, bright blue eyes and a sexy dimple right in the middle of his chin.

“Detectives, how can I help you?” he asked smiling at them. John glanced at Roxanne as he took out Ashley’s picture from his pocket.

“Dr. Daughtry, do you know this girl?” he asked.

“Oh wow, I haven’t seen Ashley in a while. How’s she doing? Is everything alright?” he asked with genuine concern.

“She was murdered two nights ago.” Roxanne revealed, finally finding her voice.

“No. It can’t be Ashley.” He began as he sank slowly into the chair behind his desk. “Are you sure?” he asked.

“Positive.” She managed to reply. Christ, I hope we have the wrong guy. It would be such a damn shame to put that pretty face behind bars. She thought to herself as John continued.

“Can you tell us why she has you programmed into her cell phone as ‘Babe’?”

“I wouldn’t have the slightest idea I haven’t seen or heard from her since she tutored.” He replied, suddenly growing a little defensive.

“Aw come on” Roxanne urged “Beautiful girl like Ashley? Got to be a reason why she would call an older, married man ‘babe’.”

“You said the magic word, detective. I’m a married man. I would never cheat on my wife.” Steve replied standing up. “Now, if you’ll excuse me. I have a patient coming in five minutes.” They took the hint and started for the door when John turned back to Steve.

“Uh just one more thing, please” he began. “Do you mind telling us where you were on Saturday night?”

“I was at a friend’s house watching a boxing match until 1 AM. I can give you his name, if you wish.” he replied with irritation clearly in his tone.

“That would be very helpful, thank you.”

“Jerry Frezza. His office is just below mine. Now if you don’t mind-“

“Of course, our apologies and if you can think of anything else that may help us, give us a call.” He said holding up his card. Steve took it and closed the door after them.

“Well he’s lying.” Roxanne mumbled as they got back into his car. “It’s a shame too. He’s a good-looking guy. He’s got a family, a kid, a good job.” She pointed out. John shrugged.

“It’s always the ones who have everything to loose. Typical. Let's check out this friend in 'the office just below his'” He mocked eliciting a soft chuckle from Roxanne. They went down stairs only to hit a dead end with the friend who alibied their only solid lead.

“Let’s hope Elliot and Olivia got somewhere with the ’76 murder.” She replied as they drove back to the precinct.

As soon as they came through the double doors, his eyes caught hers. She smiled as she approached the pair sitting at their desks, open files in disarray across both.

“Well, Steve’s not giving anything up anytime soon. The guy was a total cliché.” She said tossing her jacket onto her chair and stalking over to the board.

“Well, check this out; in Chicago 1976 a young woman was shot in the park, found raped and beaten. Same gun, same DNA found across her face.” Liv announced sitting on the corner of her desk.

“They have any suspects?” Roxy asked, jumping up and walking to where Liv was at the mention of Chicago.

“Two. The boyfriend, Tyler Handsfield, and her History teacher, Justin Maybrook; both had alibis and neither one matched the DNA found on the body.” Elliot replied coming up to stand next to her.

“OK, first victim was Audrey Kelster,” Craigen began as he taped up Audrey’s picture. “14 years old, shot once in the chest, raped and found the next day in the park. No witnesses. Last seen at school, staying after class to take a make up history exam.”

“So they liked the History teacher.” Roxy said nodding as Craigen nodded back and continued.

“They never found the murder weapon so it has to be our guy. CSU says the sperm on both the victims’ faces comes from a canine. So we’re looking for someone with a dog or access to dog sperm.”

“Ugh. Now I’ve heard it all” she replied walking back to her desk and going to the computer.

“Second victim is Ashley Willbanks, 16 years old, shot twice; once in the chest and once in the groin, raped, mutilated and found in the park, once again the next day. The only things these two cases have in common are the gun and the dog sperm. Olivia, call the doc, see if we can’t narrow it down to one particular breed of dog. Roxanne, you think you can reach out to someone in Chicago SVU and have them send over their notes on the open homicide?”

“Already on it, captain” she replied from her desk with the phone up to her ear. “Thanks.” She replied before she hung up. “They’re faxing everything over now.”

“Good. You and Stabler take another look at it. Munch, check VICAP for similar M.O.’s. Let’s hope our perp only has these two dead bodies to his name.”