Bad Girl (Lyrics by Madonna) -------------------------

Something's missing and I don't know why

I always feel the need to hide my feelings from you

Is it me or you that I'm afraid of

I tell myself I'll show you what I'm made of

Can't bring myself to let you go

I don't want to cause you any pain

But I love you just the same

And you'll always be my baby

In my heart I know we've come apart

And I don't know where to start

What can I do, I don't wanna feel blue

Bad girl drunk by six

Kissing someone else's lips

Smoked too many cigarettes today

I'm not happy when I act this way

Bad girl drunk by six

Kissing some kind stranger's lips

Smoked too many cigarettes today

I'm not happy, I'm not happy

Something's happened and I can't go back

I fall apart every time you hand your heart out to me

What happens now, I know I don't deserve you

I wonder how I'm ever gonna hurt you

Can't bring myself to let you go

This way

I'm not happy this way

This way

I'm not happy this way

Kissing some kind stranger's lips

CHAPTER ONE

"Emily, for the last time."

"Ah, come on Mom," Emily pleaded, rolling her eyes. "Everybody's going to be there."

"Yeah, but is everybody grounded?" Faith asked sweetly.

"No, because they don't have you as their mom," Emily said, just as sugary.

"Emily, listen carefully: This is me, telling you, not a chance. For the last time."

Emily stared at Faith, frustrated. Then with a flip of her curly hair she stormed off to her room. Faith sighed wearily. Every day was a battle with that girl, she thought unhappily. She searched for her jacket. Lately, she couldn't seem to keep track of her belongings.

"Fred.have you seen my jacket?"

"Is it in the bedroom?" he asked, his eyes glued to the Spurs game, Miller Lite in hand.

"No," she muttered to herself. Dammit, she thought. She couldn't find it anywhere and she loved that jacket. It was suede too. Dammit.

"Faith, you're gonna be late for work," Fred warned.

She took one last cursory look around the apartment before throwing her hands up in defeat.

"See ya'll tonight," she called, exiting the apartment. ×××××××××

"Hey, let's get started," Swersky called, waving his hands for quiet. The cops of the 55th precinct took their seats. Lieutenant Swersky quickly scanned a copy of the announcements.

"Okay, we've had another body pop up last night," he said as the room groaned collectively. It was the fifth murder in six weeks in their precinct. The victims were all males, white, between the ages of 35-40 and heavyset. While the method of killing varied, each body was found completely naked except for duct tape in the shape of an "x" across their mouths. The cops and detectives of the 55th had been scrambling around, desperately trying to drum up clues as to who was responsible for the horrific killings.

"Good thing I'm in tip-top shape," Bosco whispered to Faith. She rolled her eyes.

"The paper is hinting towards a serial killer," Sully supplied. "Is that officially the case?"

Swersky hesitated. "Officially, no."

"But."

"But, I would be extra careful if I fit the description of the victims," Swersky said carefully.

"Sully, you might wanna start hitting the gym, it could do you some good," Bosco suggested.

"You might wanna pull your head out of your ass, might do us all some good," Sully shot back.

"Hey, just trying to help, we wouldn't want to find you duct taped up in a ditch somewhere. The paperwork would be sick."

"Alright, alright, eyes and ears open out their people," Swersky said, closing out the meeting.

Bosco and Sully shared a few more jabs before parting ways. Outside in the squad, Bosco turned to Faith. "Hel-lo. Earth to Yokas, come in."

Faith glanced at her partner. "What Bos?"

"You've said about two words since you came into the house."

Faith shrugged. "I lost my jacket, I'm a little pissed."

"The brown suede one? Didn't you lose, like, some pair of earrings the other day?"

Faith shook her head wearily. "I'm losing my mind Bos."

"No, you're just getting old!" Bosco chimed in cheerfully.

Faith shot him the death look as they pulled out into the city.