Author: Crimson Vampire Goddess
Rating: R to NC-17
Disclaimer: I, Crimson Vampire Goddess, being of unsound mind and a body of no-one's fricking business, hereby declare that though I play with the story and the characters they, unfortunately, in no way belong to me.

The crows faught over nests in a dead, leafless tree in the cemetery as the church bells rang. Down below a small group of people assembled around a freshly dug grave and the casket of Harmony Kendal.

"Ay, but to die and go we know not where;
To lie in cold obstrution and to rot..." Godley quoted as he and Tara watched the funeral from afar.

"A simple "Rest in peace." would suffice." Tara said as she watched a group of unfortunates comfort each other. One of the girls stood out; long red hair and clear green eyes caught Tara's attention. 'Beautiful...' She thought as she stared at the girl 'Far too beautiful to be an unfortunate.' A loud crash put an end to Tara's thoughts. Looking up she saw that they had dropped the casket and by the reactions of the mourners it had opened revealing the corpse of their friend.

Quickly throwing the flowers she held in her hand in, Willow began to walk away followed closely by her friends.

"Good afternoon ladies. I'm Inspector Maclay, this is Sgt. Godley. We are investigating the murders of Winifred Burkle and Harmony Kendal." Tara said as she approached the group.

"Yes, we understand that they were both friends of you...ladies. Close friends and we were rather hoping you could help us out." Godley added receiving dirty looks from the clearly offended women.

"Don't know nothing..." Cordelia said before walking away.

"Me neither" Kendra said following Cordelia.

"Why you bothering us? You ought to be botherin' McQueen." Jenny said angrily.

"Is he the boss of Nickel Street?" Tara asked.

"Only the heart and soul of the gang. Isn't it your job to be knowin' that small detail?" Willow asked coldly. 'She's beautiful, but if she'd done her job Fred and Harmony would still be alive.' Willow struggled with being angry with Tara and attracted to her.

"And what makes you think McQueen did this to your friends?" Tara asked 'She's mad at me. God, why does she have to be mad at me? Why can't we start on a clean sleight; it would make things a whole lot easier.'

"Can't prove nothing by me." Jenny said before motioning for Willow to follow her. But she didn't. Willow stood staring at Tara as if trying to work out something that was bothering her.

"You're Willow Rosenberg. Is that right?" Tara asked already knowing the answer.

"That's right."

"Well, Willow, unless one of you is willing to testify against McQueen I can't do anything." Tara said.

"Surely, Inspector; an educated person like you; you could do anything you set your brilliant mind to. I'm an uneducated whore. What's your excuse? Why are you so bloody useless?" Willow spat holding back tears before walking away.

"Come now, love, it'll be alright."Tara heard as turned to watch Willow leave the cemetery with Jenny comforting her. A strange feeling overtook her at the sight of Willow distraught and all of a sudden she was angry...very angry. Angry at whoever it was that had seen fit to cause such a beautiful girl so much pain and whoever it was that left her no choice than to live the life she was living.

Later that night Willow sat in a ratty motel room gazing at one of the few positions she had. A picture of a red head little girl and a wire haired dog playing happily in a grassy front yard.

"Is that you?" Jenny asked quietly as she sat down beside her on the bed.

"Before my father died, back in Ireland..." Willow nodded.

"Is that when you came here?"

"Yeah, when I was eight. My dad was Irish but my mum was English. She moved us here. "To be closer to her family" she said... but really it was just so my grandpa could watch me while she turned tricks."

"That was back when things was good...comparatively of course." Jenny said. It was quiet for a moment before Cordelia spoke.

"I was thinking, you said those men who took Dru and her rich artist man as well. You said they was clean shaven and their clothes was neat."

"Yeah, so?" Willow asked not following Cordelia's train of thought.

"They wasn't criminals then, not the Nickels boys anyway. They was unusual perhaps even official." Cordelia said quietly.

"What you gettin' at, Cordy?" Kendra asked.

"We could go to the papers! Get paid for the story, you know. "Where is Drucilla?" that sort of thing. I mean the papers are always desperate for stories right? It's a mystery too." Cordelia said confidently.

"I don't know..." Jenny said apprehensively.

"Oh, come on, it's a good idea. What do you think, Willow?" Kendra said excitedly.

"I'm thinking we should talk to that Inspector Maclay." Willow said seemingly lost in thought.

"No!" Cordelia and Kendra said simultaneously.

"If we go to the papers they might hurt Dru or even kill her."

"What? Worse than kidnappin' her and how do we know they 'aven't killed her already?" Kendra asked.

"I don't know, but I think we're better off talkin' to that inspector." Willow said.

"You are young and naive, but you'll learn that coppers aren't to be trusted." The door suddenly burst open and a dirty young man walked in.

"Four whores. That's what I thought. You only paid for one bloody person." The man yelled.

"They're my guests." Willow said.

"Guests? Well let me welcome your guests, your highness." The man said sarcastically before throwing a pan at cordelia and then anything with in reach at the rest of them yelling at them to get out.