So I'm back from DC. Finally. Apparently some computer smuggling operation was actually being operated by terrorist cells. Usually we immediately loose jurisdiction on a case like that (ah my initial naive hopes), but instead the Feds turned around and enlisted us. I guess the chain of evidence was back too far into the NYPD to be completely absorbed by the Feds (I'm really surprised the Patriot Act didn't cover that one... :rolls eyes:). So come trial time the DA volunteers me to go down to work with the US Attorney General's office. I still haven't decided whether it's a compliment or an insult, frankly I haven't had time. I don't know why I couldn't have worked in conjunction with the US Attorney General based in the City like I have in past federal cases, but I have a feeling it had to do with military intelligence.

Hadn't been down to that area since well, I was born, and it always amazes me how different it is than New York. Everyone you meet how some government tie... and it's a lot cleaner.

But no longer am I the Fed's toy (they really look down on the NYPD and NY DA's office like we're amateurs as I'm sure everyone who has any experience with them meddling in their cases knows). It's nice to be home and it was even nicer to be back at Cole's.

Back to the daily grind... hopefully MCS hasn't burnt anything down yet (and I mean in the DA department, not even at 1PP, that'd be too hopeful).

So Natalie, my typical teenage "too cool for anything" niece, is still in the City. She's decided she's never stepping foot in Arizona again and is going to live here. She turned 18 at the beginning of December (and went and pierced her eyebrow to celebrate) so there's not much me, my brother or my sister-in-law can do about it. Well, I take that back. Her parents have cut her off and practically disowned her, leaving me as the only close family she has left.

I made a deal with her, she could continue to stay on my couch provided she gets a GED and a job. I'm paying for her GED classes (I'm shocked she's actually going, she had no interest in finishing school even with a semester left, although I later found out she was more credits short than that and had been doing poorly in her school in Scottsdale for awhile). She's also found a job as a cocktail waitress at a goth club called the Pump Room in west Chelsea close to where I live. She's aiming to make enough money to move out on her own and go to art school, we'll see...

I had a nice breakfast with Cole and Max the other day. It was nice and relaxing I can say that much. I'm lucky as hell to have him in my life, most guys just can't deal with my crazy work hours and random disappearances. I guess that's one of the perks of dating a cop, his hours are just as bad, if not more so, than mine.

Other than that just been McCoy's toy working cases. No big MCS ones so I've been lending a in the Legal Training Unit. If that sounds like a punishment, it most certainly is. It's usually where they stick the new, less than competent ADAs. I've been the group "leader" so to speak.

That's about it. With the family situation sorted out, you'll be seeing a lot more of me. That includes you Ms. Rubirosa. I could use a drink.

(OOC- I apologize again for the extended absence, if you read my personal LJ, you'll know I was hospitalized. I'm back and miss you all and want to play!)

So here I was expecting to spend a nice relaxing Thanksgiving alone.

No cooking, no family, nice and calm. A great way to unwind after the DA's office decided to test if I had super human powers and first chair two cases concurrently.y guess is they were feeling the budget cut from the higher downs and decided they no longer needed 20 worthless inexperienced new ADAs and cut it down to 5. The point is after two months of being essentially a ghost (my friends probably think I moved back west, my boyfriend may be dating someone else, and if not I doubt his son remembers who I am anymore) I just wanted to enjoy my vacation before working my way back into normal society.

That was until my 17 year old niece showed up at my apartment this morning. There's still a lot of explaining to do, which I'm sure can be accomplished over a nice Thanksgiving dinner of General Tso's and chow mein.

Even if I have to deal with the family, I'm still not cooking.

You know your life is on the... out of control side, when you forget your own damned birthday.

Maybe it was for the best.

Today I got a call from McCoy to inform me I was being assigned to a homicide case. Seeing as I'm the Major Case ADA and NOT the Homicide ADA I was confused. I figured I'd at least be working with Connie... not against her as opposing counsel.

How can switching an ADA to an appointed defense attorney AFTER said ADA has been involved with building the prosecution's case be legally ethical in the slightest? Guess I wouldn't know, I'm just some lowly senior ADA, not a judge.

Excuse my being melodramatic, but frankly I'm not in the mood for this.

( Private )

I'm going out for a drink.

Just because I burnt dinner didn't mean the night had to commence into a giant argument. I'm not distant, I don't have a problem with drinking or cleaning or keeping my temper anything else and the chicken tasted fine. So much for thinking things would be smooth sailing after the trial. Now on top of all this the public defenders are on strike.

Why am I an ADA again? Maybe I should quit my job and go join my brother, being a nomadic raft guide in the middle of the mountains. Seven years of postsecondary eduction be damned.

Thank god the trial is finally over. It was a lot more emotionally taxing than normal... for whatever reason or another. :shrugs:

Now it's time to relax, relatively speaking. This is assuming Cole still recognizes me.

It's August? Oh.... I guess I lost my calender or something. I kid, I kid, I'm not -that- disorganized... :looks down at desk: Okay, maybe I am.

Seems like just yesterday I was in Canada with Cutter. Black robes and referring to opposing counsel as Ms. Parker... it was absolutely wonderful. Not that I should judge an entire country on a single court appearance. I brought back tacky maple leaf shot glasses for Connie and a stuffed hockey playing moose for Max. Sometimes buying into stereotypes is fun.

Between the case and softball I haven't had time for much. I try to see Cole as much as possible, which is never enough.

I can't wait for the trial to be over. Then I can go back to being plain overworked, from wildly overworked.

I've been on hold with the Bureau of Consular Affairs for almost an hour. Or maybe I'm still on the phone with the Department of State or the  New York passport agency. Who knows. I never knew expediting a passport renewal would be so tedious. It's not my fault the last time I left the country was the summer after I graduated high school.

Looks like we're (meaning Cutter and myself) are going to Canada. Joy... eh. I should probably get back to prepping for the extradition hearing while enjoying this wonderful elevator music.

Maybe I'm just bitter because of the headache I have from last night. Connie... snark much? :grins:

So I did some spring cleaning and found my BlackBerry. I also found a shoe (no, not the one I lost in the squad car), a birthday card I thought I sent my sister back in March (explains why she never returned my call) and some other things I thought I lost for good.  Things aren't exactly organized, but you don't need a rabies shot to dig through my papers anymore.

When I haven't been teaching myself how to set six different alarms (I won't lie, it's been helpful in the mornings) and pull up a web browser to do case research (and check baseball scores) or when I haven't been spending time with Cole, I've been getting ready for the upcoming softball season. I think this year, the DA's office finally has a chance. Connie, Brian, back me up on this one. No more repeats of what happened with the NYPD last year.

OOC- Sorry I haven't been around. May has been crazy. First finals, then moving, then settling into my job, which has been WAY more stressful than I originally anticipated. Things are settling down a bit, so I'll be around more. Once again, I'm so sorry.

So Connie, I'm actually really serious about needing your help to find my blueberry on my desk. The plan is when (and if) we find it, we'll figure out a way to use them well enough to convince Cutter a Memorial Day Weekend learning session is not necessary. Between the two of us, it shouldn't be that hard... Right?

Oh and Cole, the Rockies beat the Cardinals. I just had to mention it... :grins:

Just finished the hedge fund case I got stuck with when Maria got fired on Thursday. Quickest cross I think I've ever seen. It was a pretty cut and dry case, a lot less money than most cases like it. The guy was found guilty of embezzlement but not obstruction. I'm not too upset, it's the former charge that carries the big penalties, including jail time.

I didn't have long to celebrate though. The next day I was handed another case that won't be as easy. It's another case of ADA musical chairs. One of the new guys took care of arraignment on Friday, I'm guessing Peluso has been busy with bigger cases. I'm now first chair. It's a small SVU case, a pretty straightforward rape charge. I can't count how many I've done. But this one is different, the firm representing the defense is none other than Hartwell, Paul, and Associates. Wonderful.


I'm calling Cole. I need to destress before tomorrow.

I take back what I said about Connie's obsessive filing system. If for nothing more than the fact I was almost late for court this morning because my desk engulfed my notes. That comes after being called up last night and dragged over to meet with our expert witness until midnight because he felt as though I hadn't prepped him adequately. Despite those few minor set backs, everything went well at court -and- I found an earring I'd been missing for a month on my desk. No harm, no foul.

( Private )

( E-mail to John Munch )

( Voicemail for Cole Hayes )

If you need to get a hold of me, I'll be out of the office for the next week or so. I won't really have the opportunity to check my voice mail or e-mail, so I may not get back to you. Peluso should have all the current SVU casework, Maria all the white-collar cases. If you need me, you'll know where to find me. If not, then it will have to wait.

Casey stumbled into her office, trying to balance her coffee, briefcase and opening the door. Suddenly the door was opened for her, and she saw a uniformed NYPD officer on holding it for her.

“Um, thanks.” She looked at the officer, slightly confused.

“No problem. Are you ADA Casey Novak?” The man asked her with a flat tone to his voice.

“Yeah, that’s me.” She walked over to her desk and set down her coffee, then tossed her briefcase on the floor, knocking over a pile of depositions in the process. She made a mental note to pick them up later.

“Your boss said I could find you here.”

“Yeah, after all it is my office,” she shrugged as she started clearing a space on her desk. She couldn’t get a read on his tone or why he was there. The only time the NYPD came looking for her was when the detectives needed a warrant or had a suspect in custody. “How may I help you?”

“Do you know a Charlie Fitzgerald?” He asked. She froze in mid-step. Charlie? Taking a deep breath she turned to the officer.

“Yeah. I do. Why?” She questioned warily.

“We found his body under the Queensboro Bridge early this morning. He had this in his pocket.” He pulled out a crumpled, stained piece of paper and handed it to Casey. She didn’t reach out for it, she didn’t move at all. In an instant it felt like she’d plummeted into an ice bath, her blood ran cold. She had to remind herself to breathe when she realized she’d stopped. “It’s your business card Ms. Novak.”

“I-I…” She collapsed into her chair.

“Are you okay?” He asked, though his tone hadn’t changed any. She nodded weakly. “We thought he was just another homeless DOA until we found your card in his pocket along with a full bottle of prescription Loxa-something. Something for schizophrenia. Did you have a case against him?”

Casey shook her head. “No… no. I-how did he die?” She stammered, trying to fight back tears.

“We’re not sure. A mixture of alcohol poisoning and exposure we think.” A pained silence filled the office. “Would you by chance be able to provide information for next of kin?”

Casey barely managed to nod. “A sister. In Seattle.”

For the first time a sympathetic look came over the cop’s face. “I’ll come back later and get the information. I’m sorry.” Casey said nothing as he walked out the door, shutting it softly beside him.

As if in auto-pilot, she grabbed her briefcase and dug through it, tossing papers across the room. When she reached the bottom she pulled out a crumpled photograph. It was still in her briefcase, where she put it when she shattered the frame it was in a few months ago. With tender fingers, she tried to smooth out the wrinkles. It was the only picture of her and Charlie she had left. She burnt the rest in a drunken stupor shortly after she left him, the night after he almost broke her nose. All these years he’d been so close… All these years and now he was gone. Setting the picture on her desk, she collapsed on top of it. She buried her face in her hands, sobs racking her body.

(OOC- This is based off a cannon event that happened this season in SVU. I finally decided to introduce it here, as it's an important part of Casey's character (IMHO).)

 

I'm an aunt... again. For the 7th... make that 8th time. I think. Don't hold me to that. I'll have to do an official count later. 

Her name is Elizabeth Faith and she born sometime late Saturday night in Colorado, which made it very early Sunday morning when I got the phone call. It's really just what the Novak family needs, more sprogs. Actually she's a Birnbaum, not a Novak, but the idea is there. I am really happy for my sister. My siblings can have as many kids as they'd like. As long as I can stay out of the child production game, everything is great.

Now it's back to court. Oh joy. I'll update on that later.

I'm back to first chair for the next white collar case.

I guess Maria, the new girl (well she's not so new anymore), had such a tough time sitting first chair for the first part of our contract fraud case, she's back to second chair. The trial was really elementary and a slam dunk, but she was careless with a witness and almost got a mistrial declared. I ended up having to step in and cover for her and finish up the trial in her place. :rolls eyes: I've always wanted to spend my time putting away corrupt contractors taking tax payer money for million dollar bus stops. Well actually, we put the contractor away last month. We just indicted the city official who took the bribe and will be trying him starting tomorrow. It'll hopefully be another quick trial.

It's so easy. It's nothing to brag about. Paper trails, bribes, forged checks, phone conversations... the solid evidence is so easy to find. There's no skill involved, no gray areas of morality. Just bad guys screwing people out of money, and in the worst case scenarios, blackmailing people.

We're due in chambers in a few hours and I have to hunt down Maria and prep her. Joy.