Part 2

Grissom turned to Willow as they pulled up to the crime scene, "My first homicide, pregnant wife found her husband cheating on her."

"That sounds pretty cut and dry."

"You'd think so, but the murder weapon was a frozen leg of lamb and it was committed by the neighbor. Always follow the evidence trail no matter where it might lead."

Gil raised the crime scene tape so that he and Willow could go under it. Willow noticed a blonde head in among the group of police standing and waiting. A smile began to spread when she realized that Buffy had been assigned to this case.

With the hellmouth closed in Sunnydale they were able to take jobs and still fight the forces of darkness. Buffy had excelled at the police academy and had her pick of where she could go. Giles learned that the demonic activity was on the increase in Las Vegas and they all agreed that it would be an ideal location. Close enough to Los Angeles if Angel needed help and a large enough city that their activities hopefully would go unnoticed.

Brass broke away as he saw Grissom slide under the crime scene tape, "You're not gonna believe this one."

"Jim Brass this is Willow Rosenberg, newest recruit."

Brass nodded, "Must be the night for new recruits. Got one on my team, too." Brass pointed over to where Buffy was now interviewing a witness. "A hot shot new recruit from California. You should see her on the weapons range. She's amazing."

Willow bit the inside of her mouth to keep from smiling at the sound of pride and envy in Brass' voice.

Brass motioned for Gil and Willow to follow him. "Neighbor grew concerned when she heard shouting, a flash of bright light and then a pop. She called the police and that's when we found this." 

Gil knelt down next to the body while he pulled on his gloves. He reached in and pulled out the victim's wallet. His eyes widen slightly and he turned to look over his shoulder at Brass.

Brass' lips quirked with a smile, "Exactly. That's why I said you're not gonna believe this."

Grissom handed Willow the wallet after her gloves were in place. Willow looked at the driver's license and then down at the victim. "I thought Progeria only occurred in children."

"It does. See here?" Gil pointed to the victim's face. "He doesn't have the pinched nose or small face."

"Another DNA mutation?" Willow asked as her mind grappled with the wrinkled white haired twenty five year old that was laying in front of her. If he had been mummified she might have casually asked if there was a mummy exhibit touring.

Gil looked at Willow, "Let's see where the evidence lies? Dust for fingerprints and see if you can find out what caused the flash of light and pop the neighbor described."

Brass pointed to Buffy who had finished talking to an onlooker. "Let me get the rookie. She took the neighbor's statement."

Brass yelled, "Summers!"

Buffy looked over as Brass yelled her name and saw him motion her over. She smiled when she saw the flash of red hair. She thought she had seen Willow when the criminalistics came on scene but she hadn't gotten a good look. Buffy made her way to where Brass was waiting.

"Buffy Summers, this is Gil Grissom, CSI."

Buffy smiled briefly in acknowledgment.

"I understand you took the neighbor's statement."

"Yes, sir."

"Did she describe the flash of light?"

Buffy pulled open her casebook and read her notes, "Neighbor stated that at 0200 she heard muffled yelling. She went to the window to investigate where she saw two silhouettes through the neighbor's window and she stated they appeared to be arguing."

Grissom looked at the window and then back to the position of the body. "Go on."

Buffy continued, "Neighbor then states that a weird red glow filled the victim's room. That was when she heard a pop. She states that when the glow faded there were no longer silhouettes in the window. That was when she called 911."

"A weird red glow?"

Buffy looked down at her notes, "Yes sir. Those are her words."

Brass chuckled, "Maybe little green men from Roswell came up and abducted the young Mr. Mitchell and left his aging clone."

"Did she describe the other silhouette? Was it shorter, taller, male, female?"

Buffy nodded, "The shouting voices were male and she states the shadows were about the same height."

"Thanks, Summers. Why don't you take a break?"

Buffy nodded and made her way over to where Willow was dusting for prints.

"Hey, Wills. I didn't think I'd see you on my first case."

Willow smiled at Buffy, "What are the odds huh?" Willow lowered her voice, "Any slayer wiggins at the scene?"

Buffy shook her head no, "Just slight wiggins but nothing to call Giles about. You don't think another Ampata type do you?"

Willow glanced over her shoulder at Grissom as he examined the body. "Definitely something to ask Giles about. I mean what are the odds of a twenty something male looking like he is in his eighties? Did the witness describe the popping sound?"

"Yeah, she said it sounded like those cops shows where they use silencers."

Willow looked at the window facing the street to where the body lay to the nearby walls. "Did the officer on the scene see any bullet casings to indicate there were shots fired?"

"Nope, bullet free zone and I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary when I arrived except you know the oddness of the victim."

Something caught Willow's eye as she walked around the crime scene. She turned to Buffy, "Do you know if the electricity was off or if the victim was expecting anyone romantically?"

Buffy's eyebrows raised but before she could answer Willow, Grissom interrupted their conversation. "What'd you find, Willow?"

Willow pointed to some burnt candles. "They're not utility candles and I don't see a romantic setting. I was just wondering why there were burnt candles."

Grissom indicated for the photographer to take a picture of the candles, "Everything is a clue until it's ruled out."

Buffy leaned into Willow and whispered, "Spellcasting?"

Willow picked up the candle and sniffed, "Sage, it can be used in cleansing rituals. See if the victim was into magick."