Author: Umgaynow
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters... if I did they would certainly have a lot more fun than under the rule of the evil ME empire... I am only using them briefly for my own nefarious and vicarious purposes... I promise to put them back where I found them when I'm done, perhaps slightly rumpled, but not soiled.
Feedback: Please leave feedback on the A Woman in Uniform thread on the Kitten Board. Note: Character thoughts are in italics.

Willow squirmed in her office chair, the delicious soreness between her legs a pleasant, if painful reminder of the previous day's activities. I can't believe how much it turned me on... being dominated like that... I don't think I've ever been so aroused in my life... and Tara... oh my God... sooooooo hot... well, as Ms. Calender used to say, in order to truly learn, we must explore... hehehe... but still... I can't help wondering... all those accessories Tara had... no... I don't want to know...

"Rosenberg!"

"Yes, sir?"

"Here's the skiptrace on that last one... maybe you can make some sense out of this mess... you're the one who's always extolling the virtues of that profiling nonsense... let's see if you can't prove me wrong," the captain's voice softened, "We could really use a break on this one."

Detective Rosenberg sat for hours, poring over the background files on the six victims. There has to be a connection here somewhere... there has to be... I'm just not seeing it... come on, concentrate, damn it... look at it a different way... what am I missing? Oh my God... that's it... missing... what's missing... I think maybe... just one more to check... yes... that's it... MEN... there are no men in any of these files... none of the victims have ever been married... one just got out of a convent... one is definitely a lesbian... and from the look of it, all these others might be family too... or at least they've never been involved with a man... no way... it can't be...

She forced herself to walk calmly into the captain's office and explained her theory.

"Yeah... so... maybe they're lesbians... so are you."

Willow glared at him, "Giles... don't you see? Virgins... someone is sacrificing virgins!"

"A cult?"

"I suppose it could be... I'll have a look through the GFW file... maybe something will click."

"Alright... and Rosenberg?"

"Yes, captain?"

"Good work."

"Thanks."

The redhead was sitting at her desk, paging through the General Freaks and Weirdos file when her phone started singing to her. Mmmmm... Tara. She flipped the phone open and the message came up.

Hi Baby... thinking of me?

Only every time I sit down... and every time I pee

I'm sorry if I was too rough with you yesterday

No need to apologize baby... I loved it

I noticed

I miss you Darlin'

Me too... am I going to see you tonight?

I hope so... might be late though... think I may have gotten a break on the case

S'ok... I could do with a good night's sleep

You're not the only one... but I'd sleep better in your arms

They're all yours Lover

Shit! Xander's yelling for me... I'll call you later OK?

No prob... back to work you slacker!

Hey!

I love you Willow

I love you too Baby... bye

Willow walked over to where Xander was checking the security tapes from the brownstone. "What's up, Harris?"

"I think I found your blonde," he pressed the play button, "Isn't that the hottie from Pride?"

Oh shit! Tara!! The redhead watched as her lover walked into the elevator, all dressed in leather, her guitar case in her hand. Well, that doesn't prove anything... she said she was stuck in an elevator... and it was out of order when I went to the scene... yeah, that must be it...

"Naaa, that's not her... must be another hottie."

"My mistake... you know me and women... you all look alike to me," he teased, "I'll keep checking these and see if she turns up anyplace else."

"OK... keep me posted."

Well shit! Fuck! Damn! This is a lovely new development!

When Willow got back to her desk she found a Post-It stuck to her keyboard. WENDY CALLED. Wendy was the CSI team leader on the Smiler case... not that there were really any other cases... this was Sunnydale after all, not LA. The redhead dialed the number, grinding her teeth in dread.

Oh come on, Rosenberg... just because she was in the building... This is Tara we're talking about here... don't be an idiot... not only is this woman your heart... this is also a woman who captures bugs and releases them outdoors instead of killing them... she couldn't take a life... never mind six... she won't even eat meat, for chrissake.

Finally the ringing stopped and she heard someone pick up, "Hey Wen... it's Willow... got something for me?" Please make it something that vindicates my girlfriend.

"Hi, Will... believe it or not it's finally happened... we found a partial print at the scene... on a guitar pick of all things... it was in the hallway outside the bathroom."

"Did the victim play guitar?"

"Well, if she did play, then she didn't keep it in her apartment... chances are the pick belongs to the killer."

FUCK! "Thanks Wen... let me know when you get a scan on it."

She hung up the phone, crumpling the message into a tight ball and hurling it with great force against the wall. "Harris!"

Her former partner poked his head around the corner, "Hey Willster... whassup?"

"Where'd you put the rest of those tapes from the upstairs hall?"

"I'll get 'em for ya."

"Thanks, Xander."

"No... thank you... I thought I was gonna have to watch 'em all myself."

"Hey... no prob... anything for an old buddy, right?"

Willow walked into the captain's office with the box of tapes under her arm. "Hey chief, I've got a couple more interviews down at that brownstone... so I'm gonna cut out early... I'll check these at home tonight if that's alright with you."

"Yeah... go ahead... let me know if you turn up anything."

"Sure, Giles... thanks."

Willow pulled up outside the Sunnydale Public Library, her stomach tied in a sheepshank knot. There has to be some other explanation... there just has to be... it's not like Tara's the only guitar player in town... OK, Rosenberg snap out of it... worrying doesn't solve anything... what we need is action... time to prove our girlfriend's innocence... I can't believe this... I'm breaking the law for love... hiding evidence... my existence has turned into a freaking Lifetime movie.

The redhead went directly to the periodicals room, in search of newspapers for the days leading up to the murder. She scanned the want ads, trying to find the listing for the audition Tara had mentioned. BINGO!

Back in the Mustang, she dialed the number. Just when she was about to give up and terminate the connection, he answered with a sleepy "Yo... " Willow shook her head in disgust, Musicians!

"Hi... this is Tara Maclay's manager... I believe she had an audition scheduled with you earlier this week... "

"Yeah... that's right... never showed though."

"Yes, well... there was a bit of a mechanical problem... have you hired anyone yet?"

"Naaaa... seems like every broad in this town thinks she's Britney fucking Spears."

"Yeah... I hear ya there... would it be possible to reschedule? I gotta tell you, Tara's really stoked about the idea of jamming with a band." Go Willow! Woo-hoo with the musician-speak.

"That'd be cool... I was just about to scrap the whole girl singer idea altogether and go back to my dad's polka band... at least it's a steady gig."

"Just let me make sure I've got your address right."

"Sure... it's 332 Benson." SHIT!

"Thanks, man... I'm sure you'll dig Tara... she's got a voice that'll melt the stitching right outta your shorts." Well, she does!!

"Cool... I'll look forward to hearing from her."

FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! and oh yeah... FUCK!!

There was no two ways about it, that had been Tara on the tape. Willow had really been hoping her eyes were just playing tricks on her. So, she was in the building... that doesn't make her a killer... you have a point there... but what about the guitar pick? You just had to bring that up didn't you?

The redhead dialed her girlfriend's number, taking a few deep calming breaths. Well, calming in theory anyway.

Tara picked up on the first ring, "Hi, lover... "

"Hey baby, how you doing?"

"I'm feeling a little lonesome... why aren't you here?"

"That's kind of why I called... "

"This better be good... I saw the doctor today and he said I need a large daily dose of Willow smoochies."

"Oh really... well, I hope it's not one of those life or death things... cuz I'm not going to be able to make it tonight... I'm up to my eyebrows in work... well, not literally of course... cuz hello, that'd be a lot of work... and this is a small town... well, not small but small-ish... so not that much crime... so really it would have to be figurative and... "

"Willow... "

"I have this huge pile of tapes I promised the captain I'd look through."

"Uh-huh... you and your porn," she teased, "I could come over to your place and we could watch 'em together."

"Very funny... but it's not anything that thrilling I'm afraid... just boring old surveillance tapes... but since it's police business they're for my eyes only... sorry baby."

"I know you can't see me right now... which is a shame, really... cuz I look really hot... but trust me... I'm pouting."

"Sorry I can't be there to suck on that protruding lower lip for you, sweetie... maybe we can have a long lunch tomorrow?"

"Mmmmmm... I know what I want to eat."

"You are soooo bad... anyway, we'll have to wait and see... work, ya know... "

"Are you OK, Will? You sound funny."

"Just tired I guess... it's been a long day."

"Well, don't you stay up too late watching that porn."

"Yeah yeah yeah... I'll see you tomorrow baby... get some sleep tonight, OK?"

"Ooooh... are you telling me I'm gonna need my strength tomorrow?"

"Maybe... " the redhead said coyly. What the hell was I thinking... she can't be guilty... not an option... no way... uh-uh.

"Alright, I'll let you get to work... I love you, Will... "

"I love you too, sweetie... I'll see you tomorrow."

"G'night lover... get some sleep you."

"Yes, ma'am... " Willow giggled.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh, nothing... just thinking of yesterday... you know... yes ma'am."

"I see my little harlot."

"Hey, none of that... I need to be able to concentrate on my work... I can't be fantasizing about hot blondes in leather all night." Nope, just looking for them at crime scenes.

"Hot blondes?!?!"

"Blonde... singular... not blondes... you know you have my heart, baby."

"And you, mine, lover... I guess I ought to let you go... cuz I really don't think I have the control to keep myself from flirting with you... I love you, baby... g'night."

"Night, Tara... love you too."

Willow tossed the phone down on the seat and rested her head on the steering wheel in despair. "Grrrrrrrrr... .this is so not the life I ordered. Damn it!!"