Far From Home [Chicago PD]

Chapter 7: Lady in the Water

    Jon quickly changed into something more casual before driving his partner to her place where she could get changed. After a few minutes she exited her apartment and the two took off with lights going. They pulled up into the park and arrived at the scene in a timely manner. Jon and Kim flashed their badges and ducked under the yellow tape as they approached the edge of the man-made pond. Voight was already there with the rest of the unit present. The M.E. was on scene also examining the body parts already as officers in waders were in the muck of the pond searching for pieces.

    “I can tell you she has been here longer than your other vics have been dead.” the medical examiner spoke. “The water has caused sever bloating but the mud may have preserved the pieces. We still haven't located her head.” She continued to observe the slightly decomposed torso on the tarp. “If I had to guess caucasian female, in her mid to late 30's but I can't be sure about the age until I get her in the lab. It would help if we could locate the rest of the body.”

    “We have the search team on the way. Cadaver dogs and a dive team as well so we can really scour this pond.” Voight spoke up. “CSU is also aware of the incoming extra units. We have unis at the entrances of the park we are going to keep it shut down until all of this woman is found.” Hank turned to Kim and Jon. “You two, take the statement from the reporting witness. He's on the bench over there with a uniformed officer.” He handed them a slip of paper with the witnesses information. The two made eye contact and nodded at one another. They made their way up the slope from the pond to the bench where the middle aged man sat with a look of dismay on his face. 

    “Mr. Belzer,” Kim spoke as she showed her badge and made contact with the gentleman. “ I'm Officer Burgess and this is Detective Cragen. We would just like to go over what you saw before you called 911 earlier today.” Kim had a way of coming across as super sensitive, but all about business at the same time. 

    “I come to the park every night to watch the sunset. This evening I was skipping rocks at the pond. I knelt down to grab a rock from the shallow edge of the pond.” The man was trembling in fear. “That is when I saw a hand in the muck under the water. I fell back right on my ass and screamed like a little bitc-” He cut himself off quickly and looked at Burgess. “Sorry for the language officer.” he turned bright red with embarrassment. Cragen sat next to Mr. Belzer on the bench.

    “Don't apologize sir. We know an experience like this can be quite traumatic.” Cragen spoke. “Do you happen to recall around what time you found the hand?”

    “Yes it was before the sunset. There were young kids playing frisbee right nearby. I told them to get out of here and pulled my phone out. It was 8:13pm if I recall correctly.” the man was still unable to make eye contact.

    “It was very good for you to get the children away from that, Mr. Belzer.” Cragen reached into his coat and pulled one of his cards out. “Like I said earlier we know events like these are traumatic. So if you happen to remember any other small details in the next few days please don't hesitate to reach out. Also on the back there are numbers for outreach programs if you need to talk to someone about this, I know it isn't easy to stomach.” Jon pat the gentleman on the back and stood up. “We are going to have a patrol unit take you home so we know you make it safe. Let us know if you need anything Mr. Belzer.”

    “Thank you Detective.” the man looked at Kim next. “You too, Officer. Although you should be a detective as well. You are very good with people.” Burgess smiled and thanked Mr. Belzer as a uni escorted him from the scene. 

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    “ 'Jane Doe' is yet to be identified and Burnham park is still shut down because we have still not found her head.” Upton spoke as she wrote on the white board the information we had about the scene last night. “Ruzek and Atwater are still there assisting CSU and the search team. Whom are still having no luck.” Cragen sat at his desk tapping his pencil as he was thinking. Then he had an epiphany.

    “Wait, in the last park the head was found in a trash can. In the first one it was under some trashbags. This guy has a pattern of leaving pieces in trash receptacles of all types. In parks you have trash cans but you also have to check the dog waste receptacles and restrooms. Maybe have them check the trash cans just outside the perimeter of the park?” Cragen spoke up.

    “Jon might be on to something, Antonio call Atwater have him relay to the search unit to check any and all receptacles of any type in that park.” Then Voight looked directly at Cragen. “Jon, a word please?” He stood in the doorway of his office and invited the squad freshman in. “Hey I got a call from Capt. Benson this morning.” Hank sounded pretty chipper. “She was curious on how Intelligence was treating you.”

    “I told her the other day that I was fine.” Jon was kind of humiliated that his godmother was calling his new boss to check on him. “I'm so sorry she called to bother you.” 

    “To be honest Jon I'm glad she called.” Jon was taken back by this response. “It gave me a chance to tell her how great your investigative skills are developed.” Voight complimented Jon. “You have a way of looking at things that we are not trained to look at. You see patterns we don't. You have her, your father and the NYPD to thank for that.” Hank stood there leaning against his desk smiling in approval.

    “Th-thank you Sarge.” Jon didn't know what to think.

    “That is exactly why I partnered you with Kim.” The Sergeant continued. “She is good police. Ever since the day she came to the 21st she wanted to be upstairs. I had her personally work every case I could when she was patrol. When there was finally room for her up here, Trudy and I made sure she was taken care of. She deserves to be a detective. Kim could really use your guidance and I would really like for you to be the one to help her out.” The squad leader was relying on Jon and it made him feel good.

    “You got it Boss.” Jon shook Voight's hand before exiting the office. Just then Dawson's desk phone rang.

    “Dawson,” Antonio answered. “Awesome, where at? Great see you guys soon.” he hung up the phone. And stood up from the desk as all eyes were on him. “That was Ruzek. Apparently our boy Cragen here was onto something. Outside of the east exit of the park in a trash can they found our Jane Doe's head.” Everyone looked Jon's way. “Atwater and Ruzek are on the way back here.” Dawson finished.

    “We had a similar case back in New York in Central Park. The perp threw us off by putting some of the body parts on adjoining streets. Only difference was is this guy only had one vic, didn't have a trash fetish and was a rapist.” Jon explained how he figured it out. 

    “Good work Jon.” Voight showed his approval yet again. “Alright everyone, Upton and Halstead get a photo of the head down to Med. I have a good feeling that the pattern will continue and she'll be an employee there, you may get an ID. Burgess and Cragen wait here for the M.E to call she is doing exams as we speak. Antonio you and I are going to take another run at Polsca.” The unit all took off in their separate directions to carry out their orders