AN: So here is something that is a lot different from anything I have ever written before. In that I've never really written crime and mystery or multiple chapter, so everyone will just have to bear with me. If you have any feedback or reviews, they would be greatly appreciated.

I'm trying to base it on the crime show format, so, I'm hoping that's how it will work out, so this is really just the cold open.

Funnily enough, the situation is AU, but hopefully the characters aren't too OOC. Obviously, things that would have happened in this world would change a character a bit.

Don't worry if your favorite character hasn't appeared yet, most of the regular suspects are going to show up at one point or another. If you want to tip the cards in their favor, just send me a review and we'll see what happens.

Thanks to Becca, who doubles as my Beta and the bad influence encouraging me to write. So really, send hate mail her way.

Prologue

"Ladies and gentleman, we have a new member of the company joining us today." Cooper Anderson, Director Extraordinaire, announced to the cast and crew of Chicago as they say before him. "Since Rachel here," he started as he pointed to her, who nodded in his direction, "is moving on to greener pastures from our humble little stage." He paused to allow his assembled audience to laugh at his joke, humility was rarely in Cooper's bag of tricks, "So coming into the company as our understudy for the role of Velma Kelly, I present to you, Ms Marley Rose!".

As Marley came up on the stage, there was applause of ranging enthusiasm. Rachel Berry, being the most enthusiastic of them all, loved to help the understudies and teach them that they will be brilliant, but will never be as brilliant as her.

Marley, nervously waved to the crowd, "Thank you so much, I look forward to learning so much from all of you". The other girls in the company looked less than thrilled at the new interloper.

"I give her a week, before Rachel has made her cry for some misdemeanor" Wade 'Unique' Adams, who played Matron Mama Morton, said in an undertone to the rest.

"Please, I give her two days before one of Rachel's stalker bloggers crush her with negative reviews, or bring up all the dirt they can find, not that I think there is much dirt on this one. She probably warmed up by singing with squirrels in Central Park on the way over" Tina Cohen-Chang, a member of the company, scoffed before walking off stage, without a backward look. The rest of the girls returned to their gossip.

Blaine Anderson, Cooper's younger brother and the Stage Manager walked over to Marley to introduce himself.

"Are they always like that?" Marley asked as she pointed to the rest of the cast.

"For the most part, they require an adjustment period to make sure someone has earned their part and didn't get it by sleeping with the director" Blaine said with a roll of his eyes.

"But.. I didn't do that." Marley squawked out, pleading with her eyes to Blaine for him to believe her.

Blaine laughed, and put his hand on her shoulder, "can never be too sure in this industry."

Blaine and Marley talked for a few moments longer and started to see that everyone was heading out, after all, the theatre was dark that night and they were just there for the meeting, rather than a show, so they wanted to quickly get out to get on with their night off.

"You coming?" Blaine asked, pointing to the door.

"No, I think I want to practice a little bit, is there a tape deck or something I can use since I doubt the band wants to stick around?"

"You can never be sure, even though Brad is the band leader for this production, getting him away from a piano can be a bit of a challenge, so he is normally good to ask, but I think he has a gig tonight playing somewhere. But you never quite know with him, he is a bit of a puzzle"

Blaine was only to happy to show Marley the ropes of out of hours practice time, before making his farewells and heading home.

Before too long, Marley Rose, new to the Broadway stage stood proudly in the middle, practicing the vocals for "I Can't Do It Alone", she had to have them down, with some movement for her rehearsal session with the choreographer, Jesse St James tomorrow. She had heard stories about Jesse and like the rest of the cast, he wanted people to prove themselves.

She had gone through the entire number, but there was someone else in the theatre that had their own act of desperation.

Just as Marley reached the final line, and started to belt out "ALON...", the final note was never able to reach the rafters, as in the midst, someone had come behind Marley, covered her mouth and slit her throat. "Not with me around..." a voice slowly sung out as the air left Marley's lungs and blood leaked from her throat until the life of Marley Rose was no more.

The next day, Blaine was opening the theater early with his boyfriend Kurt.

"Kurt, you said if we did this that I would get to be Glinda this time!" Blaine whined out, as Kurt was running towards the stage. "Oh, we are doing Wicked this time?" Kurt turned around to take a hold of Blaine's scarf, "You don't want me to be the Maria to your Tony?" Kurt whispered in an attempt of vocal seduction.

Blaine gave into the charms of his boyfriend, "Ok, but we are starting at the dance!"

"Done!" and Kurt ran to the stage, only to slip. Blaine hurried over, and noticed the damage, "Did you cut yourself on something? That's a lot of blood..."

Kurt said nothing, he simply sat, dumb struck as he surveyed the scene around him, his body froze when he saw a body lying in a heap on the floor. "B-Blaine, it's not mine... call 911"