A/N I have re-written parts of this. I thought that there were too many jumps in the plot, so I tried to create a more flowing theme. I know I am using Logan and a first name instead of the last, but Garfield is the name of a cat, and it will forever be the name of a cat. I just could not in good conscience use it. I would get confused.

I want to mention to Rating. Right now it is 'R' and it might seem a little steep, even with the description of the mutilation. However, in later chapters there will be adult sexual situations, and therefore, the 'R' rating.

I would also like to mention Reviews. I love reviews, good, bad, flames, etc. I would like it if everyone reviewed; however, I know that will not happen. So, if you do review, please be kind about it. If you are going to criticize, please be constructive about it. Offer suggestions and ideas about how the story could be better. Don't just be cruel.

I believe that is all right now. I shall not take up any more valuable reading time.

Part A

Raven walked into a building that was in the better part of town. It was in a gated community, and had a security guard posted at said gate. So, why she was getting a call to investigate a supposed suspicious death was beyond her. But, she got the call and left her warm and inviting bed so inspect it.

The building had police standing out front, guarding the crime scene from the public. They all knew her by sight and so let Raven in without any questions. As she was walking up the stairs, Raven smelled a coppery substance in the air. If she could smell the blood all the way down here, something bad must have happened. When Raven got to the floor where the smell was the strongest, she knew it would be worse than what she'd ever seen before.

On the wall at the entrance blood was smeared. It looked like someone dipped paint in a paintbrush and splattered it on the walls. When she got into the living room, the couch was washed with blood. 'That must be where the person was killed.' There was an empty spot on the couch, an interruption in the blood spatter. A trail of smeared blood was leading towards the bedroom. On the bed was where Raven found the body. In life the victim would have been beautiful. Her hair was a soft curly blonde, and her skin would have been a perfect milky cream color. Even in death, if one could get past the mutilation, she was beautiful.

The victim's chest cavity was ripped open, her heart missing. Her legs were swollen and bruised, as were her arms. The only part of the victim not disfigured was the face. Raven hadn't seen anything like it in all her years of solving crime. This wasn't just a murder; it was an insult to the victim. She walked closer to the bed to get a better look, but was stopped by a voice.

"Her name is June."

Raven looked up startled, her hand going to her gun. Coming out of the shadows was a woman. When she was fully emerged, Raven noticed she didn't have any blood on her. She was tall, taller than Raven, with red hair, and eerily bright, emerald green eyes. She was slender and wearing a light beige business pantsuit, with a lilac shirt and black boots.

"Who are you?" Raven wasn't taking any chances; sometimes the murderer came back to the scene of the crime. She kept her hand on her gun, just in case, and prepared herself to call for help if needed.

"I am called Kori. You must be Raven." It was not a question, but a statement. The two women stared at each other, sizing the other up until Logan walked in. Logan was Raven's partner, one she grudgingly accepted. His past was shady and uncertain, but he'd earned Raven's trust, one of a very select few.

Logan walked in and looked around at the bloodied room. He barely glanced at the bed, not wanting to go there quite yet. It was still too soon after breakfast. He instead took inventory of the room, sizing up who the victim was.

Overall, it was a typical chick room. Pastel curtains, beige carpets, cosmetics, little nick-knacks. The only thing really out of place was all the blood and the corpse.

When Logan spotted Raven, his eyes widened when he saw who else was in the room. 'It can't be.' Seeing a face from his past brought back some unwelcome memories.

He mentally shook his head and readied himself to look at the bed. The body seemed peaceful, if a person could overlook the gaping hole in the chest. He remembered that face well. June. She was like a sister to Logan. But that was another life, in another time.

Logan managed to not jump when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He knew immediately who it was.

"Logan?"

"And that is why I am a vegetarian."

"Logan!" Raven snapped at her partner, disgust in her voice.

"Sorry Raven, but it gets to you. I had to say something. It never ceases to amaze me what one human being can do to another."

"Yeah, but still. Your sense of humor comes up at the worst times, and it's not even very good to begin with."

"Yeah, yeah. So, who's that?" Logan decided to keep his knowledge of Kori to himself until he could figure out what was going on.

"Her name is Kori, and that's as far was we got. I don't like the looks of her."

Logan couldn't help it, so with a mischievous grin; he said to Raven, "I dunno, she looks pretty good to me."

Raven glared at her partner, but didn't say anything.

"Sorry. So let's see what we can find out."

Logan put on his most charming face and walked straight into his past.

Part B

Kori watched as Logan, a person she never thought to see again, walked up to her. He'd grown since last she saw him, but he'd also gotten more handsome. She knew he was doing well for himself.

"So, Kori was it. What are you doing here?"

He was pretending not to know her because of Raven. Kori decided she could accept his wishes.

"I am the one who found her." Kori was making it a point to only answer the question and nothing more. She was not one to divulge information freely.

"Why don't we step outside in a more clean environment?"

Kori nodded and followed the two out of the room. She never once looked back. Once in the living room, while not cleaner, at least it didn't have a corpse; they got back down to business.

"So, you found the body?"

"Yes." Kori didn't bother stating that she had just said that.

"About what time was that?" Kori noticed that only Logan was asking the questions. Raven was watching, observing and taking notes. They worked well as a team, putting up a united front. Raven would be the stoic, quiet observer, while Logan would put the person to whom he was speaking at ease.

"I arrived here at six-thirty this morning."

"Why so early?"

"It is the time I usually come here."

"Why?"

"It was a habit we started a while back. We would drive into work together after we dropped off Declan at the daycare."

Logan nodded while Raven wrote in her notebook.

"You know her well then?"
This time it was Raven who spoke, and Kori gave in to her impulse to be a smart-ass.

"I know her well enough to pick her up at six-thirty every morning.

Without missing a beat Raven came back.

"How about well enough to kill her?"

There was a silence so strong that the proverbial pin could have dropped. Logan looked away uncomfortably, while Raven looked Kori straight in the eye. Kori stared back. It was a contest of wills, with neither combatant backing down.

"Yes, I do know her that well. However, if that is your subtle way of asking me if I killed her, if I could have possibly done that to a woman I consider my sister, then the answer is no."

Raven narrowed her eyes at Kori who just stood serenely under the glare. It was Logan who broke the silence.

"Sorry about that. It is procedure of course, but it could have been done a bit more delicately." The last bit was thrown in for Raven's benefit, who just shrugged at the comment. Logan was torn. He knew that Kori was the most logical suspect right now, well her and any boyfriend or husband of June's, but he knew Kori, and everything she had done for him in the past.

"Kori?" A small and quiet voice interrupted anything further that might have happened. The three adults turned to look at the intruder, only to find a little boy. He had blond hair, and big blue eyes that were still puffy from sleep. He was wearing a pair of blue pajamas and holding a teddy bear. He appeared to be about four years old.

"Declan. Honey, what are you doing here?" Kori knelt down and picked up the little boy, who thankfully didn't seem to notice the décor of the living room. Kori spared barely a glance at the other two before she hurriedly walked out of the scene of such death.

When she got to the lobby of the building, Kori put down the little boy and took a good look at him. His eyes seemed unfocused, and his skin was clammy. She ignored the sound of two sets of footsteps behind her and continued to check out her Godson.

Logan was the one to speak. "Was he there for what happened? How could he have slept through it?"

"He was drugged. Look at his eyes; they're dilated and non-reactive. His skin in clammy and cold. His eyes are also out of focus. He wasn't conscious for any of it. Declan, honey, what was the last thing you did last night?"

"Mommy putting me to bed and giving me a kiss. I told her not to do it anymore because it was gross, but she said she would always do it because I was her little boy."

"Do you remember hearing anything last night that sounded weird to you?"

Declan shook his head no, and raised a fist to rub his eyes.

"Kori, I don't feel good."

"I know, honey. We are going to get you to the hospital so they can fix you. Okay?"

"Yeah. Where's Mommy?"

Kori didn't answer; she just picked him up and started walking to the door.

"Where are you going?"

"The hospital." Kori kept walking squinting her eyes against the sun when she got outside. The day was in direct contrast with the events that happened in the room in an uptown apartment. It was bright and sunny and warm. Birds were chirping and kids were out playing. People were happy. Didn't they know that someone in their neighborhood was just brutally murdered? Didn't they know that June was mutilated, her body beaten and bruised, her heart ripped from her chest for the entire world to see?

"We aren't finished talking to you yet."

Kori stopped walking, clutching the little boy to her. She looked at Raven, scowling, and at Logan, his eyes betraying his internal struggle with that he knew and couldn't tell Raven.

"I'll be at the hospital, I will stay there. I'll give you my cell phone number. You can call me anytime you wish; you can even follow me to the hospital. Either way, I am going there and that is where you will find me. I need to contact Austin. He needs to be told. I won't leave the hospital until you speak with me again." And so saying, Kori turned around and walked to her car, parked just down the street.

Raven was going to say something again, most likely to stop her, but Logan put his hand on her arm and shook his head no.

"We'll speak with her again. Right now, you and I have to get back inside."

Logan took one last look at where Kori was currently driving down the street before he headed back upstairs back to the scene of his friend's murder.

Part C

After taking Declan to the hospital, Kori tried to contact Austin, June's husband. He was currently out of state, so had no idea what happened to his wife. So far she had been unsuccessful in getting a hold of him, but she would keep trying.

The doctors examined Declan, but found nothing seriously wrong with him. He was drugged, apparently with Valium, not enough to hurt him, but just enough to knock him out. Luckily, Declan had not been the target, and thankfully, he didn't wake up to find his mother. June had signed a power of attorney allowing Kori to decide any medical treatments for Declan in a parent's absence, and right now, the doctors wanted to keep Declan in the hospital until the effect of the Valium wore off. They didn't know the dose he was given, and they wanted to be sure things would be all right.

Now all she had to do was call into work and cancel the meeting, then try and call Austin again, and…the others. She sat down in one of the plastic chairs and let the enormity of it all fall down on her. Oh, she didn't cry, not here and not now, but she wanted to. Goodness how she wanted to cry. Her best friend, her sister, was murdered. And she was murdered in such a way. It was ritualistic, and familiar. She looked up at the sound of footsteps on the floor, masking any signs of weakness she may have shown. It was Logan, followed closely by Raven. Both were looking grim.

"Kori how is the boy?"

"Declan is fine. He was drugged with some Valium, so that would explain why he didn't hear anything. The doctors want to keep him here a while longer because of the dosage, something to do with that. They want to be safe."

"Do you know where Austin is?"

"Yes. He is currently out of state. He had a meeting that he had to take personally. I have already left a few voice messages for him to come home."

"We have some more questions we'd like to ask you."

Kori looked at Raven and nodded her consent.

"Do you know of anyone who would want to kill June?"

"Not off the top of my head."

"Anyone threaten her? Harass her? Anything like that?"

"Not that she ever told me. And she would tell me if something like that happened. As far as I know she didn't have any enemies that would want her dead."

"Where were you last night between eleven-thirty and two-thirty?"

"I was at my home office, finalizing some details for a meeting we had today."

"Anyone who could verify that?"

"No I live alone, but it would be logged on my computer. I turned it off at about one-forty I think, then I drank a glass of wine and went to bed."

"Okay. Thank you. We will be in touch with you."

Raven asked all the questions, her voice a steady monotone. She made notes in her little notebook, all business. Logan was watching Kori, trying to decipher what was going on in her head. Usually she was as easy to read as a book, but it looked like she learned to hide her feelings pretty well. Kind of like another person he knew.

Raven started walking out and when she noticed Logan wasn't with her, she stopped and looked back. He was standing there, looking at Kori. They knew each other, she could sense it, but what she didn't know was how well.

"Logan?" Her voice was sharper, more impatient than it probably should have been, but she really didn't like Kori.

"Just a minute Rae."

Logan took a step closer to Kori. He put his hand on her shoulder and could feel her tense, just a little.

"Kori. Are you going to be alright alone?"

"Yes, Logan. I will be fine, thank you. You must catch up with your partner before she decides to arrest me anyway."

"Yeah. Listen, I want to be there. Call me when the plans for the funeral are made. Call me if I can be of any help. Hell, just call me, okay."

Kori managed a little half smile and nodded her head. Logan smiled too, and squeezed her shoulder before letting his hand drop. He took out a business card and handed it to her. Then he turned and jogged to catch up with Raven.

She didn't say anything on the way to the car. She didn't say anything on the way to the morgue to check out the progress the M.E. was making with the body. He was backed up, so it was only a preliminary report. She didn't say anything on the way back to their office. She didn't say anything when they were at the office. It was only after she filed the paper work and made a few calls that Raven decided to talk to Logan.

"You know her."

Logan looked up from what he was doing and looked at Raven. She was dressed in her usual black outfit, and her shiny black hair was down and straight as usual. She really didn't look happy about his knowing Kori.

"Yes, I know her."

"How long?"

"Over a decade. Although I haven't seen her in the past five years."

"Will this affect your ability to work on the case?"

"No, why?"

"She is our prime suspect. If she is guilty, you cannot hesitate to do what is necessary. Don't let any feelings you have for her get in the way of you doing your job, or I will take you off of this case."

Logan was just about to protest when Victor walked in. Victory was big, black and had an attitude to match. He was also the best person to have watching your back. He was a sort of silent partner in the crime solving business. With his underground connections and reputation, he could get into and out of a lot of places Raven and Logan wouldn't want to touch. Victor walked in; greasy from working on his car, a.k.a his pride and joy.

"Why would you take Logan off a case?"

Victor poured himself some coffee, and sat down in a chair that he managed to make look like a miniature.

"A woman was murdered in her room. Her chest was opened and her heart removed. The rest of her body was mutilated. Her husband is out of town, but after some checking, he seems to have an alibi, and Logan knows the only other prime suspect."

Victor merely raised an eyebrow at the brief description of the crime, but he grinned when Raven mentioned the last bit.

"Is she at least hot? What's her name?"

Raven rolled her eyes, but Logan didn't even crack a smile. Victor caught sight of that and immediately all mirth left.

"Kori."

Victor lifted an eyebrow, "who was killed?"

"June."

Victor shook his head and left the room, Logan following soon after.

Raven wasn't sure she liked the fact that Victor seemed to know both the victim and suspect as well. She looked down at her notes, trying to get a fell for what happened to that woman. However, her mind kept straying to Logan and Victor and their connection to the deceased. And their connection to Kori. Raven went to the computer and decided to do some research on her prime suspect.

Name: Kori Anders

DOB: Exact Date unknown.

Age: 23

Occupation: rumored to have a connection to Tamaran Industries.

History: No record of any kind before five years ago.

There was no information of any kind on Kori Anders. She didn't even have a parking ticket. Most definitely nothing linking her to any kind of homicidal acts of violence.

Not finding anything on Kori Anders, Raven decided to find any information of Tamaran Industries. Turned out it was a modeling/fashion industry. They make clothes, but didn't design them. They also sponsored several models. It also seemed Tamaran Inc. generously donated to charity; youth groups, non-profit organizations, and sponsored some shelters. However, there was nothing blatantly linking Kori Anders with the company.

All in all, it appeared to Raven that Kori was a woman who did not want to be easily found. But whom was she hiding from?

Logan followed Victor to the garage. Victor leaned against his car, absently rubbing it. Logan sat in one of the rolling chairs.

"June. I can't believe that. She was…" Victor trailed off, not certain how to describe someone he hadn't seen in over five years.

"She's married, and has a kid. Declan is her son, he's four-years-old, and was present when June was being murdered. Thankfully he was drugged, so wasn't awake for it. And her husband was gone on a business meeting. Kori found the body, and new, she is Raven's number one suspect for the job.

"Man, Kori would never kill someone, especially not the way Raven described the murder."

"That's the Kori we know then, Victor. Remember, Kori didn't leave when we did. In fact, I'm sure after she helped us leave, Kori got the punishment, and you know how harsh those punishments can be. Kori spent a year alone in that place. Who knows how much she changed. Victor, I saw her today, in that room. I know she was a sort of nurse back then, and that she's seen a lot of heavy stuff, but in that room, it was like…I dunno, she was clam and collected. Almost as if she wasn't affected by the sight. And I was most definitely affected by the sight. She had most definitely changed."

"But still, in any worse case scenario, could you imagine Kori butchering somebody. I mean, you remember how close she and June were. Could Kori, any variation of Kori, do that to anybody, let alone a friend?"

"No, but she's changed. You didn't see. Remember how you could see everything she was feeling by looking at her face, in her eyes. I couldn't do that. In fact, I think she may be better at hiding than Richard. I don't like thinking that she could become withdrawn, but Victor, we need to face that this Kori is not necessarily the same Kori we knew. While, I honestly don't believe she killed June, we still don't know her anymore."

"Yeah. So, when's the funeral?"

"Don't know yet. I gave Kori my number; she is supposed to call with the details. It'll be weird seeing everyone again. That is, if they even show up.

"Think Richard will show?"

Logan smiled at that question. Richard was a good friend, but he was a sore spot for everyone, mostly Kori. "It would be a show worth seeing; the reunion of Richard and Kori. I bet you she's way pissed at him."

"No kidding. I remember how she was after he left. Those were some bad times for everyone. Nobody liked seeing Kori upset."

"Yeah. So, Logan, do we tell Raven? And if we do, how much?"

"Victor, that is the sixty-four thousand dollar question. How much do we tell her without telling her anything, but not make it seem like we're telling her nothing."

"Man, I have no idea what you just said. But she like you more than she likes me, so you tell her."

"Thanks for dumping it all on my shoulders."

Victor laughed, and then went over to pour himself some water. Raven walked in then, and told Logan that they were going to the morgue.

They went into the examining room in the morgue, a place that never failed to totally creep Logan out. Raven walked through, completely unaffected by the sights and smells of death. She walked right up to the body.

"The killer did most of my work for me. However, not really up to my standards. It was messy; whoever did this butchered the poor girl. I can't really tell you much. Her arms and legs were broken while she was alive. The person started cutting her chest while she was alive, but thankfully she was drugged so she didn't feel much for long. I can't tell you what kind of knife was used or how large because it is a mess in there.

"Find anything of interest?"

"Yeah, I found a chip, like a poker chip, inserted in the victim's lung. It's over there. It has one side black and the other side yellow."

Logan froze when he hears bout the chip, and he would swear his heart almost stopped beating when he heard about the colors. How many more surprises is he in for?

"Logan, are you alright? I think you stopped breathing."

"The smell of human insides and formaldehyde got to me. I think I'll wait outside."

Once outside, he pulled out his cell phone and called Victor.

"Victor, the M.E. just found a yellow and black chip inside June's lung."

"I…how is that possible. I thought she was dead. That building and all those stones fell on her."

"Yeah, well. I guess it was a mistake not looking for a body."

"No kidding. Man, Terra's back."

Part D

Kori called Logan; the funeral was set for a week later. There were a few people with whom June worked. Raven recognized them from when she pulled the employee files. There were a few, however, that Raven could not place as family or co-workers or as anyone June associated with. There was nothing ostentatious or gaudy about the ceremony, and hardly anyone wore black. They were wearing soft colors: pale blues, baby pinks, pale yellows. Kori was wearing a lily purple Dress. About three days after June was murdered, Austin came back. When he was told what happened, the man crumbled and cried in Kori's arms. June was his world and he seemed so lost now that she was gone.

Raven was standing on the outskirts of the cemetery, watching. She was there to keep an eye on Kori, and because Logan asked her to come. She still didn't know his story, but she would. Logan was standing next to Kori and Victor. Everyone there said a little something about June. It was the usual things heard at a funeral. She was nice, she was sweet and kind and smart and funny, and, and, and.

Raven was startled when she heard the roar of a motorcycle behind her. When she turned around, she saw said motorcycle. The rider was wearing black riding leathers, gloves, pants, boots, jacket, everything. His helmet was pure black as well. When he took off his helmet, a main of messy ebony hair was revealed. A tanned, sculpted face lie beneath the unruly mass of hair. Before turning to face his audience, he put on a pair of dark reflective sunglasses.

"Is it over?"

His voice was deep and melodic, husky from lack of use.

"They just lowered the casket into the ground."

He smirked, and said, "Good, I'm right on time." Then he walked toward the now four people remaining around the grave.

Logan looked up and saw Raven looking at something behind her. He couldn't see because a copse of trees was in the way. He looked back down into the grave, at the casket that was just lowered. He had so many memories of June, and none of them meshed with the last image he had of her; lying on her bed, a bloodied mess, and her chest gaping open.

Logan looked up again and finally saw to whom Raven was speaking. Logan smirked, then looked over at Kori. This was going to be interesting. He poked her in her side, and when she looked at him, frowning, he nodded his head in the direction of Raven and the new arrival. Her eyes widened and one word formed on her lips.

Kori was in a daze. The funeral of someone she loved dearly was taking place. It seemed so surreal. She didn't remember any of the service. Kori made it a point to remind everyone not to wear black. That wasn't what June wanted. She wanted people to celebrate her life, not morn her death. She couldn't have known how she would die though. Still, Kori felt it necessary to honor June's wishes.

Kori was holding the dagger in her left hand and looking in the grave when she felt Logan poke her side. Confused and a little annoyed, she frowned up at him, and then noticed his smirk. When he nodded his head in the direction in front of them, her confusion turned to shock. Her eyes widened, and one word formed on her lips at the sight of the man sauntering towards them.

"Richard."