Love at the Outback
Discovering Jake
"Mrs. Braddick, we're Detectives Benson and Stabler...we need to speak with you about your daughters whereabouts last night." Olivia said softly.
"Certainly. please...come in Detectives." They stepped in carefully, not wanting to make much noise for some reason unknown to them. Elliot began round one.
"We're very sorry for your loss." The woman nodded thankfully. "Mrs. Braddick, can you think of anyone who would want to hurt Stacy?" he continued.
"No, Stacy was a good girl. Everyone loved her." she explained.
"What time did she leave to go to Ricky Chins party?" Olivia asked
"Around five o clock. Stacy loved spending time with her co workers. Most of the other hostesses go to her school." Elliot nodded smiling sympathetically and took his turn.
"Did Stacy have a boyfriend or was she seeing someone?" The woman thought for a moment.
"She never said anything to me about a boyfriend but she used to get a lot of calls from a boy named Jake." Olivia nodded.
"And where can we find Jake?"
"I know that he works across the street from the Outback, where Stacy worked." They exchanged the knowing glance.
"Mrs. Braddick had Stacy been acting unusual within the past few weeks?"
"She had a stomach flu a few weeks ago, but other than that, she was her usual self." Elliot nodded.
"Do you know if she was meeting anyone before the party?" He asked. The woman didn't hesitate in her answer.
"Jake. They were going together."
60 W 23RD street
They must've questioned every hostess, server, bartender, manager and up until the last busser, everyone seemed to have pretty much the same story. "Stacey got there with some guy, partied and dance a little. Her and the guy started yelling at eachother. She left first the he left a few minutes later." But no one knew the guy's name, just that he and Stacy may have been dating. She told the same story but seemed to know more than anyone else had.
"I used to be a hostess, I was promoted to busser about a month ago. Stacey and I were pretty close, even after I wasn't hostessing anymore." She stated.
"Briana?" Munch asked looking at her through his tinted glasses. She nodded. "Who's Stacy's boyfriend? What's his name?" he asked
"Jake. He works at the toy store across the street."
"Does Jake have a last name?"
"Rodgerson" she replied. Fin stepped in.
"How long was she seeing Jake?" she looked at him, acknowledging him.
"Not long. About two or three months."
"They ever fight?" he asked
"Not as far as I know." she retorted, but seemed as if she were hiding something. Could've been something small but Munch was positive it was something she wasn't telling them.
"Where does Jake live?"
"I'm pretty sure he lives in Chelsea. On 7th Avenue. But I'm not sure where exactly" He nodded and handed her his card.
"Okay. If you think of anything that may help, even if you don't think it means much, give us a call." She took the card and nodded, before turning around and walking towards the back of the restaurant. He turned to Fin and smiled.
"Want to play a game?" He asked
"What?"
"Let's play Find Waldo, but I vote we find Jake instead of Waldo. What do you think?"
"I think you've finally snapped." he said walking out of the restaurant knowing Munch would be right behind him. "Let's check across the street maybe we can get an address."
"Alright, fine. If you want to do it the ole fashion way" he said trying to catch up to Fin. They walked across the busy streets and into the toy store. The man at the counter gave them a smile even before they flashed their shields. "We're looking for Jake Rodgerson." Munch informed him.
"He's not here. Today's his day off."
"You got an address?" Fin asked. The man nodded rapidly, excusing himself momentarily before he returned with the manager who had a file in his hand.
"Hello, Detectives. My name is Ryan Handers. I'm the manager here. I understand that you're asking about Jake Rodgerson."
"Yeah, we're looking for a home address. We'd like to talk to him." Fin said
"He's not in any trouble is he?"
"No, we just want to talk to him." Munch answered in his usual easy tone.
The manager nodded and opened the file reading the address aloud as Munch wrote it down on his note pad.
"Thank you." Munch said before they walked out just as self assured as they'd walked in.
Chelsea
They knocked on the door sternly.
"Jake Rodgerson. police, open up!" The door opened casually to reveal a medium height young man. Very handsome and extremely muscular for his height.
"How can I help you?" he asked softly.
"Stacy Braddick. Do you know her?" Munch asked with a little sternness in his voice.
"Yes. She's my girlfriend." he said matter-of-factly.
"You have a fight last night?" Fin inquired as Jake invited him in. He smiled.
"Doesn't every couple fight once in a while?"
"Yes but usually they work it out, no one ends up dead." Munch stated Jake looked confused.
"What are you talking about?"
"Stacy's body was found in Central Park last night." Munch said bluntly and Jakes face fell in disbelief. "Where were you last night between 6 and 10?"
"I went to a party with Stacy...we got into it. She left and then I left. I tried to find her to apologize. I called her but she didn't answer her phone. I figured she'd call me when she was ready to talk things over. So I just went home."
"Alone?" Fin asked, Jake nodded.
"What were you fighting about?" Munch asked
"She thought I was using her to get to my ex-girlfriend...Stacy was always jealous but in a cute way, you know? Nothing as serious as last night. We'd never actually fought about it. She just kind of blew up, I guess. Words were said...it kind of got out of control, that's why she left." Fin nodded as Munch asked another question.
"Who's your exgirlfriend? What's her name?"
"Riley Hamilton, she works at the Outback with Stacy." They exchanged a glance.
"Thanks Jake, if you think of anything else, give us a call." Fin said handing over his card. Jake nodded again and accepted it. They walked back down the stairs and over to Munchs' car.
"Riley Hamilton...that's-"
"Yeah...I don't think Elliot's going to like this" munch stated as they got into his car and drove back to the station house.