Part One:

“It’s not pretty in there detective.”

Elliot Stabler turned to look at the ME as two drenched detectives approached him. Both were growing familiar faces in the squad. The one on the right, Teagan Brenner her dark hair pulled back in a slick ponytail. The other, Tristan Hawke, blonde hair dripping water down her back.  “How so?”

“Freely speaking?”

Glancing at Hawke, he nodded giving the newly promoted detective freedom to voice her opinion after they stepped on the covered patio.

“Makes Helter Skelter look like a pool party.”

Brenner’s green eyes glanced at her partner. “Speaking freely rights revoked.” She muttered opening the door and entering the house followed by Elliot. “No one heard a sound. The vic is a one Mai Lin, Chinese—I think.”

“Got a green card.” Munch called from the back. “Stuffed with the unmentionables.”

Taking the card, Elliot knew Fin and Olivia were currently working another case. That left Elliot and Munch to work with Hawke and Brenner. How fun to train a detective with this kind of a case.  Going to finger where his wedding ring was, Elliot remembered that he was now separated. Kathy had left him.  “Neighbors.”

“Heard nothing.” Hawke stated as a smidge of silver shown on her tongue. Elliot wasn’t sure but he thought he could remember the rumors of her having a tongue ring. Something that was supposedly gotten during an undercover case, he didn’t want to know. “With the thickness of the walls, I lean to not believing.”

“Everyone one here doesn’t like to pry Hawkey.” Munch stated to the new girl. “Chinese especially they are the silent ones.”

Hawke looked at Munch. “Thanks for the history lesson.” She fired back before Elliot saw the tongue ring again.

“Get a spacer for that.”

“Retainer.”

Elliot looked over at her. “A what?”

“They’re called Retainers.” Hawke replied.

“Fork over the cigars!” Brenner called from the kitchen. “I get a Cuban!” She added holding up the very large diamond engagement ring.

Part Two;

 Moving to Brenner’s side, Elliot looked at the ring. “Rich people and money.”

“Yet she doesn’t have enough to pay for her bills.” Hawke muttered. Jumping slightly as Munch stepped to stand by her right side, she stood startled. “Could you not do that!” She fired at him.

A chuckle escaped Brenner’s lips. “Easy Munch the newbie is easily startled.”

“Har-har.” Hawke fired back, before handing Munch the bills and moving out to the porch.

Elliot shook his head. “You’re suppose to be training her.”

“Training not babying.” Brenner pointed out after a minute before moving back to the bedroom. “Difference. I can’t hold some one’s hand while we question a 13 year old about their rapist.”

Glaring at Brenner’s back for a minute, he glanced over at Munch. “What you think?”

“I think rich Mai-Lin was some one’s little Chinese Surprise.” Munch guessed. “And some one didn’t like it.”

Elliot nodded as he side stepped the body and pulled back the sheet. “ME say she was raped?”

“Even pointed out the tools.” Munch stated. “And get this.” He pulled back the bottom end of the sheet to reveal missing skin. “Hannibal Lecter anyone?”

“Her attacker ate part of her?” Elliot replied as he covered up the body.

“ME didn’t find it anywhere around here.” Munch stated. “Probably took it with him.”

Feeling slightly sick, Elliot moved out to the porch to find, Hawke standing staring out at the rain. “You okay?”

“Fine.”

Elliot heard the tongue ring clicking against her teeth as if she was thinking about something else to say. “Let me see that thing.” He told her, feeling that it might cause her to relax slightly.

Turning, Hawke looked at Elliot. “You sure?” She asked with a mischievous eyebrow. When Elliot nodded, she stuck out her tongue to show him the silver stud resting in the middle of it.  

When she pulled her tongue back in, Hawke noticed Elliot’s look of interest. “It was a quick thing…Got done in college.” She clarified.

“And yet you can’t work with a beaten woman.”

“It bugs me.” Hawke fired back. “Doesn’t it bug you?”

“Yes.” Elliot replied. “But use it. It will get you through the case.”

“Thanks for the pep talk.” Hawke commented with a  grin. “Perhaps I shoulda stuck with UC.”

“Nah, those bills…wouldn’t have caught em.”

“Liar.”

Elliot chuckled at that comment. “After two days of background digging.”

Turning to look at Elliot, Hawke nodded. “Right.”

“Don’t force it Tristan…you’ll be fine.” Elliot replied. “Just get the retainer.”

Sticking out her tongue at Elliot, Hawke re-entered the house followed by Elliot.

Part Three;

What Elliot would have done to seeing Olivia at her desk. Instead, he entered to find Hawke, a half eaten pizza and a rock cd playing at medium yet annoying volume.

Moving over to it, Elliot picked up the Cd to discover it was actually classic Rock. “Blue Oyster Cult.” He read and then remembered several songs. ‘Don’t fear the Reaper’, ‘Burning for you’, and of course, ‘Fire of unknown Origin’. “Great choice Hawke.” Elliot commented startling her.

“What?”

Elliot couldn’t see any silver, instead it was a blue clearish ball. “Only spacer I had.” Hawke told him. “I’ll hit the piercer’s tonight and get a clear one.”

“Find anything?” Elliot asked looking at the extra mushroom and banana pepper pizza.

Waving a hand, Hawke stood and moved to the fridge and got herself the remnants of her Gatorade. “Mai-Lin, make you happy.” Hawke replied. Noticing Elliot’s blank face, she continued as Brenner entered arguing over something on her phone. “I contacted a friend of mine over in Chinatown. Dropped the name Mai-Lin. Well turns out she’s a mail order bride, came over here in 2005, got hitched. Hubby didn’t want her mooching his money so she became a waitress at the Peaking Dog Restaurant.”

“Not bad.” Elliot replied.

“But there’s more.” Hawke stated. “Mai-Lin was in the process of getting a divorce. AND!” She paused and took a drink. “The house was rented to a Susan Wilder.”

Brenner nodded as she hung up her phone. “Who is currently residing in Gen Pop in California.” She added.

Elliot looked at Brenner and then at Hawke. Both women sighed as Brenner went and grabbed a bagel. “We can’t hold your hand all the time, Detective. The ball was ours and we scored.”

“No argument there!” Elliot commented as Munch entered. “The women are a point ahead.”

“Who would have guessed.” Munch commented seeing Hawke’s hole in the knee leather pants. “Spend the night?”

“Nah, came at two.” She replied as Brenner returned.

“Peaking Dog Restaurant?” Brenner asked. “I say we give it to the boys…let them catch up.”

Hawke leaned back in her chair. “Right, I need to shower.”

“And I need to see an informant.” Brenner agreed. “Enjoy boys.”

Part Four;

Munch was silent as he and Elliot drove to the restaurant. Unlike his travels with Fin, Elliot was easier to get along with. “What did you tell Hawkey?”

“She’d get it.” Elliot answered. “You remember what it was like being the new kid on the block with a gold shield.”

“Yeah, back when the black hats wore black hats.”

“And smoke cigarettes with special handshakes.”

Glaring at Elliot, Munch didn’t grace that with a response. Suddenly Elliot wasn’t so easier to get along with.

Finishing the ride in silent, Elliot looked at Munch. “Peaking Dog Restaurant.”

“How much do you want to bet that their main course is Rin Tin Tin?”

Not answering, Elliot held open the door for Munch only to be greeted by a man who stood in front of them like a brick wall. “I was told T.H would be coming.”

“Hawke sends her regards but can’t make it.” Elliot replied. “I’m Elliot Stabler and this is John Munch.”

Rubbing the area of where his thumb would be the man nodded before escorting them to a table in the back away from customers. “T.H helped my rù kŏu,” Seeing the blank faces on both detectives. “my father. The men that did this to me,” He commented holding up his hand, “Were determined to shut down the restaurant, my father would not pay…he went to T.H and she came…we only deal with Tristan Hawke.”

“I understand that,” Elliot replied. Hawke hadn’t told him that it was going to be like pulling teeth getting information from this guy. “We’re here about Mai-Lin.”

Silence took over the group as the man some how evened Elliot up in his mind. “Mai-Lin worked here part time, waitress.” He stated. “Was let go…unable to speak English.”

“Her green card stated she could speak English.”

“Must be a lie. Fluent Chinese, but no English…”the man paused as if something was coming to memory. “Only one customer did she refuse to wait on.”

“Who was this?” Munch asked.

“Dark hair, slim, gave name as Doctor Anders.” The China man stated. “She claimed he was wëixiăn, dangerous.”

“Dr. Anders,” Elliot repeated. “Get a first name.”

“No! Paid by Credit card always.” Pausing he stood abruptly as if seeing a ghost. “Now, tell T.H that this slip will be permitted but must be her next time. Father will not have any others here!”

“Thanks,” Munch replied, “We’ll pass it on.”

“Let’s have the ladies check out Dr. Anders shall we?” Elliot commented.

Part five;

Brenner looked around her as she entered the small pediatrician office. Oddly he didn’t seem like the one to be eating Chinese women but still, it was a crazy world out there. “I need to speak with Dr. Anders.” She stated holding out her badge. “It’s important.”

“Important is a word I hear all the time, Miss Brenner. I just don’t think a flashy badge will make any mom hurry up.”

“Uh-huh.” Brenner replied. “The badge says Detective. Now I get to chat with the doctor or I send you home early because I arrest him and maybe you if you decide to be a smart alec.”

Grumbling something the nurse looked at the badge again before cocking her head to the door and letting her in. “Office is third on the left. He should be in there working on paper work.”

“Thank you,” Brenner stated before following the directions. Entering the office, she looked at the doctor and realized one thing.

The description was way off.

Dr. Anders had no hair. No toupee was found around him and he was nearly eighty. So much for the flesh of victims keeping you young crap. “Dr. Anders?” She asked.

“Yes?”

Brenner had just struck out. But the trip should have some information to squeeze out of it. “Have you ever been to a restaurant by the name of Peaking Dog?”

Anders lowered his pen. “My dear, I am a vegetarian. Do you know that eating Man’s best friend is cruelty to animals?”

And he was a regular tree hugger. Brenner was going to kill Hawke for letting her be the one to investigate this one. “I’m sorry, I’m detective Teagan Brenner.” She pointed out. “Have you ever had any issues with identity theft.”

“No.”

“Okay, then,” She paused unable to form any other questions. “Perhaps the Chinese man had the name wrong. “Have you ever been to Chinatown?” She asked finally.

“Oh yes, lovely place.”

“I bet it is.” Brenner muttered before giving the doctor a tight lipped smile. “Thank you for your time.”

Part Six;

Re entering the squad house, Brenner bopped Hawke on the head with her notebook. “China man was a bust.” She told her partner.

Turning to look at the other woman, Tristan was confused. “Yes Tommy Phan enjoys being wrong.” She bit back as Elliot and Munch came back in.

Seeing Hawke at her desk with stacks of catalogs, Elliot seemed confused. “How’s the paper trail?”

Hawke did everything but smile as closed the magazine. “There are over sixteen thousand mail order brides, and grooms, They are all from poor areas but are beautiful. She reached for one of the catalogs and opened it to the earmarked page. “Our vic, came from Beijing, called and got a pager number. Don’t think anyone is going to leave me a message.”

“Anyway we can find out who married her.”

“Oh that’s the easy part.” Hawke replied. “I think.”

“We can run her name though the license bureaus.” Brenner informed her partner.

Munch looked at Elliot seeing that the two women were handling the case pretty well. “Maybe we should take a vacation.” He muttered as the phone rang. “Munch.”

Elliot smirked but listened to Munch’s hot headed conversation. “What is it?” He asked after a minute.

“Mai-Lin…she never got an autopsy.” Munch replied.

Brenner’s eyes did little to hide her confusion. “What?”

“Some one stole her body.” Munch answered. “According to surveillance tapes, it was street beat cop. Blonde hair, wire rimmed glasses. Switched bodies.”

Elliot’s anger rose. “And they are just now noticing!” He snapped.

“Well, wonder cop had an accomplice. They however seemed to know where the camera’s were…never faced them.” Munch replied.

Cragen entered looking at all of them. “Body found near the Hudson.” He told them, “Hawke, Brenner get on the new body, Elliot Munch the morgue. Find the body.”