Again, thank you for the overwhelming positive response. It means a lot to me. Sorry this took so long – it was my birthday and I also went on holiday! But I'm back now. Enjoy. L – x

The second body was found just two days after the first. Jane and Maura received a call at the same time, both nodding as they explained they'd be along to the crime scene shortly.

"Are you sure you're okay to do this?" Maura's voice was gentle as she rested her hand on Jane's forearm.

"I have to catch him, Maura. There has to be justice." She smiled as she felt Maura's thumb rub comforting circles on her skin.

"We'll all be right there beside you."

They travelled together in Jane's car, silent except for the odd remark about people they passed, or things that had interested them in the news that morning. Tension hung thick in the air and when Jane had to stop at a red light, her legs began fidgeting and she had to wipe the perspiration from her palms onto her pants.

"Jane, it's going to be okay. It's just another case, like any other day."

"Something about this case just isn't right, Maura. It gives me the jitters." Maura smiled.

"You never really get used to it, do you?"

"It's not that, so much. I mean, it's awful and horrible and I wish my job didn't have to exist. I'm just worried about you."

"Please, just focus on catching this man. Besides, now I know how to fire a weapon, I should be fine." She smiled coyly, an action which Jane had to return.

They arrived at the large bungalow, just a few blocks from the first victim's house, and Jane could see that already, dozens of reporters were swarming the front lawn.

"How in the hell did they get here so fast?" She unbuckled her seatbelt angrily and stormed out, flashing her badge at the officer in uniform standing guard at the police tape. He looked a little shaken as Maura stepped closer to him confidently, a kind smile her form of apology on Jane's behalf.

Once inside, they both grimaced. The smell of charred flesh wafted through the halls of the lavishly furnished abode. Both women covered their faces with latex clad hands and grimaced.

"She's been here at least a week." Korsak motioned to them to enter the living room where he was standing. His nose wrinkled. Jane's brow furrowed.

"She's been here longer than the first vic? How come nobody reported her missing?"

"Something of a recluse, according to the neighbours. The nice lady next door only noticed the smell this morning when she was doing some work in her garden. Not sure how she didn't notice before now, but she did make me a very nice cup of coffee." He grinned and blushed slightly when Jane shook her head in disbelief.

"If we could focus on the task at hand here, Korsak." Her tone was playful and she winked at her colleague. The elder man returned to examine the crime scene.

"So, we've got a recluse and a housewife. What connects the two of them, hmm?" Jane's question was more to herself than to anyone else. She muttered to herself as Maura bent to examine the body.

"Wounds are much the same as the other victim, soles of the feet burnt. Single bullet wound to the head. She would have died instantly."

"Yeah, after being tortured and raped. Jesus." Jane's eyes seemed to brighten as she came to a realisation.

"Frost, check to see if both our vics were church goers. I can't help but feel like there's something biblical amongst all of this."

Maura looked up at Jane, a disturbed look on her face.

"Jane, he took something from this one." She motioned down to the left hand of the victim. The ring finger had been severed at the base and Jane had to swallow back bile. She leaned down to take a closer look.

"Was she married?"

"No sign of anyone else living in the house, but we'll check up on it." Korsak answered before he and Frost left to continue the investigation back at the station.

Jane stroked her chin, deep in thought, seemingly in a trance until Maura placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Let the CSI's sort this out, there's lots to be done back at the station. I need to autopsy this body to find out if she was definitely raped. You need to find out who she actually was! Do it for them, Jane."

Jane could only nod and placed a hand over Maura's. Amongst all the fear and hatred she felt for this case, she couldn't escape that she had felt a previously unexperienced emotion when Maura had bent over in front of her. It was the same feeling she had gotten when Maura had placed her hand on her shoulder, stroked a thumb across the exposed skin beneath her shirt. She swallowed and shook her head. Whatever it was, it would have to wait. There were more pressing matters at hand.

Once back at the station, Jane uncovered the victim's name.

"Shelley Longfield, 54, divorced. Lived alone since she split from her husband eight years ago. He lives in Hawaii now." Korsak read from the computer screen, glasses resting neatly on his nose.

"Someone will have to notify him, if he's next of kin." Jane wandered into the office with a freshly poured cup of coffee in one hand and a case file in the other. She took a sip, checking to see if Maura was around as she did so.

"He's not. She changed it to their daughter, Sally."

"Damn it, she had a daughter? She local?"

"Moved to Hawaii with the father. Must have been some divorce."

Jane set her coffee down on the desk and opened the file.

"Wait a minute. The guy's preying on women who he knows will be alone. He must know a fair bit about their lives. The coward's only going in for the kill when he knows he won't be disturbed. Son of a bitch." She rubbed her eyes, reaching for her coffee but stopping when she heard the familiar sound of high heels on the floor.

"What's that in your cup, Jane?"

"Erm…camomile tea?"

Maura merely rolled her eyes and turned to the rest of the office.

"Ms Longfield was indeed raped, just as the first victim was. In fact, their wounds are almost identical aside from the obvious puzzling issue of the missing finger."

"It wasn't recovered at the crime scene. Should we put out a BOLO?" Korsak sniggered as Frost fist bumped him.

"Alright, gentlemen, if we could retain some sort of professionalism whilst we're at work." Jane rolled her eyes. "Any word on whether they were church goers?"

Before Korsak or Frost could answer, Maura raised her hand.

"There was another note inside the victim's mouth." They gathered around as Maura retrieved the plastic wallet from her file.

Do not allow a sorceress to live

"Exodus. Pretty short and sweet, don't you think?" Jane whispered under her breath.

"A sorceress? She was a witch?" Jane rolled her eyes and turned to Frost.

"Some religious extremists call recluse women witches. It's ridiculous, like a woman can't even be single and not have to rely on a man…" She trailed off as she realised a lot of people were staring at her. Maura smiled sadly and shrugged her shoulders.

"Fancy coming to church with me, Maura?"

"Oh, well, thank you for the invitation Jane, but I thought you knew I'm an atheist and I would feel wrong going to pray with such a devoted Catholic as you…" Korsak muffled a chuckle and Frost returned to his desk to hide his smile.

"No, genius, both our vics were church goers. I'm going to ask if there's been anyone suspicious around the local churches recently. Besides, devoted Catholic? Could you tell my mother that next time you see her?" Jane laughed and motioned at the plastic wallet still in Maura's hand. "And bring that with you."

Maura looked mildly put out as she frowned at the office, quickly turning to follow Jane as she walked to the exit.

Once at the church, Maura could appreciate why people were drawn to religion. The church was impossibly tall, rising into the sky and almost reaching the clouds. Inside was even more magnificent, with wooden pews further than Maura could see without straining her eyes, and gold laid on practically every surface. The priest that greeted them was younger than Maura was expecting.

"Reverend Jonathan Parker, how can I be of assistance?" The two women shook the hand that was offered to them. He held on to Maura's hand a little longer than Jane's, something that didn't go unnoticed by the detective. She felt something akin to jealousy in the pit of her stomach, but told herself that Maura was incredibly beautiful and it wasn't surprising a young man would be taken in by her.

"We're investigating the murders of two women with something of a biblical theme to them. The murderer's leaving bible passages for us at the scenes. Have you had any new worshippers here lately? Anyone who looks a little shifty? If you can remember anything, anything at all, that'd be great."

"Well, I'm only relatively new myself, but there have been a few people who don't come and say hello at the end of prayer sessions. Almost all of the regulars come to me to chat or talk about any problems they may be having. Does that count?"

"Do you have names for these people?"

"They may have signed their names in the book, come with me, I'll show you."

They moved towards the large, leather bound book at the entrance of the church and Jane noticed her own mother's signature. With a jolt in her stomach, she made a mental note to tell her mother to move churches. Noting down the names the reverend signalled to, Jane thanked him and motioned to Maura to leave.

"Well, he was nice."

"Did you think?" Maura looked confused.

"Well he seemed to like you."

"Oh please, he's a priest. They like everyone, Jane. It's their job."

Jane could only smile and nod and suggest they head to the pub. Maura agreed this would be a good idea. They sat down at a booth, Jane sinking back into the plush leather with a groan and a beer in her hand. Maura's elegant fingers toyed with the stem of her wine glass as she observed her friend. The sharp cheekbones were highlighted by the spot lighting and her long, slender neck made Maura's face feel warm.

"This is just what I needed, after today. Hopefully those names will give us a lead." Jane's voice brought Maura out of her trance and she smiled, taking a sip of her Pinot Noir.

"Hey, Maur, you okay?"

"I'm just tired, I think."

"Wanna go home? I'll drive you."

"Oh."

Jane cocked her head.

"I just hoped you'd stay with me again tonight."

Jane was slightly taken aback by the request, eyes glazing with tears for some reason. She swallowed and rested her hand on Maura's.

"Of course, whatever makes you feel safe. Come on, let's go." She put an arm around Maura's shoulders and felt her friend lean into her. It felt, right, somehow. Like this is how they should always be. She felt cold when Maura left her embrace to get into the car.

Once they arrived at Maura's, Jane's ears pricked at the slightest sound. She looked around, instincts blazing and fingers itching at her holster.

"Stay behind me, Maura." She felt Maura cling to her back as she unholstered her gun. There should have been an officer in uniform for most of the day, but it was way past his shift now. Unlocking the door, Jane swung her gun around, eyes darting around the room to check for anything untoward. There was a package on the kitchen counter.

"Expecting anything?"

Maura could only shake her head. The box was small, rectangular and Jane moved to open it slowly. Her fingers trembled and she looked up at Maura, who looked just as terrified as Jane felt.

"Stay back, Maura. It could be dangerous."

Once she opened the box, she gagged and stepped back. She usually had a hard stomach, from years of working in the police, but the fact the object in the box was in Maura's house made her want to lose her lunch.

Maura could hold back no longer and peered inside the box, eyes widening as she saw the finger, complete with golden ring, resting on a bed of tissue paper.

"Jane… He's been here, hasn't he?"

Jane could only stare at the box in disbelief as shock coursed through her veins.

"We have to go, Maura. I'll call CSI and get them down here. We're staying at a hotel tonight."

"Jane, I really don't want to be forced out of my house. We'll just check and lock all the doors."

"Maura, don't you get it? He got in here even with a guard outside. He has a key! It's not safe for you here."

"Jane, I'm not a child."

"But I can't let anything happen to you, Maura. I just can't." She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her friend, unable to stop herself from nuzzling her face into soft, golden waves.

"I can't lose you, Maura. I'm terrified." The admission caused Maura to pull back and gaze into dark eyes.

"You won't lose me, Jane. Ever." She moved her head forward and grazed her lips across Jane's, testing the reaction. Jane's pulse was racing and her cheeks reddened as she felt her heart pounding against the inside of her chest.

"Maura, what was…"

"Shh, don't speak." Maura moved to kiss her again, and this time Jane was ready for it. She captured Maura's lips with her own, hands moving to her waist and pulling her closer. She wasn't sure what was happening or even why but she knew she liked it, and good things didn't happen to her very often.

As they continued to kiss, and Jane pushed Maura backwards into the kitchen counter, the front door opened silently. A gloved hand pulled it towards its owner, who was sneering at the scene as he felt his pants becoming tighter around his groin. Without a sound, the door was closed again, neither women any the wiser.