The Usual Suspect's pt 1

Buffy and JJ were rolling into Baltimore, Maryland after Bobby had put them onto this track. Buffy couldn't believe the last crazy three months.

The truck pulled into the motel's car park. The assistant took one look at JJ and tried to roll out her brand of charm. The assistant had an easy smile, "I'm sorry but we have no double rooms."

Buffy in her own way was impressed she almost sounded sincere. Her smile was anything but friendly, "That's okay a single King will do."

As soon as they entered the room, they started the routine of settling in. JJ set the wall up with all the information that they had found, while Buffy put the bags away and dropped a few things into the bathroom.

Buffy came back in and booted up her laptop and JJ stared at the wall.

"So what links them? Ghost girl?"

Buffy was browsing the databases on her laptop, looked up at the question, "Not sure. I mean the guy was a lawyer, that's never of the good."

JJ turned quickly looking at her, "So you don't think it's a vengeful spirit? Big on the vengeance."

Buffy started to pace as she became more frustrated, "The signs point to a spirit but vengeance, I'm not so sure. Those types of spirits don't play hide n seek, they go straight for the kill."

In the last three months, they'd travelled the country solving cases as they went. At the same time, their relationship had developed from light and flirty to a fairly deep relationship. It was for that reason that JJ knew while she may be frustrated, she was also laughing.

"Okay what gives? Something has got you smiling."

She smirked, "Well the local police have arrested two suspects in connection with the Giles murders. One Kennedy Wynters on suspicion of murder and one Willow Rosenberg on an accomplice charge."

Now JJ understood his girlfriend's amusement, "SO you want to go visit them tomorrow?"

In a way this would be good for her, Buffy knew old doors still needed to be closed if, things were going to continue to be positive.

Buffy woke first as the sun filtered through the blinds. She rolled in JJ's arms, "Hey wake up, cases to solve."

If JJ needed any proof how much the coming meeting was exciting Buffy this was it. He usually found it incredibly hard to rouse his girlfriend without a caffeinated beverage.

What he did do though was take advantage of her position as he pulled her in closer for a kiss, "You sure?"

She was enjoying the distraction of his kisses, especially as they reached the nape of her neck, "Tempting but we need to solve this case. Then we can celebrate."

"Promise?"

She smiled at him, "Time to be Feds."

Police station

The on-desk officer paid attention to the attractive couple who walked through the door. The woman gave him a bright smile, "I'm Special Agent Winchester this is Special Agent O'Neill. We need to talk to the Detectives in charge of the Giles case."

The curiosity factor meant that they didn't have to wait long. A Female detective came forward, "What's the US Military's interest?"

Buffy took the lead, "Well originally it's because Mr Giles was working on some cases for us."

The male detective who'd arrived just after the female looked a little shifty JJ asked, "And Now?"

JJ broke down the attitude, "We're still required to investigate but the accomplice you picked up is someone of interest to us."

Buffy noted the rough abrasions on the female detective's wrists, as she was lead to the interrogation room, "Can you wait outside?"

In that moment, she was every inch the federal agent, "Hello Ms Rosenberg. I'm here to ask you a few questions."

As she activated her jammer she watched as her old friend turned around in shock, "What! I don't understand. You can get into trouble impersonating an officer."

Buffy couldn't believe her old friend, her stance turned cold as she chucked her badge on the desk, "Who is pretending?"

Confusion coloured Willow's face, "I don't understand."

Buffy chuckled, "That much is true. I'd love to know how you expect to fight something incorporeal."

Willow watched her old best friend. Someone she had not met in months, standing in a smart pantsuit, hair tied back. It was clear to Willow that this Buffy was someone she didn't know."

"Buffy it's clearly a ghost."

Buffy bit back her smile, "You think it's a vengeful spirit. What's your plan?"

Willow answered as if she were a student reciting a textbook, "Exorcise the ghost."

Buffy shook her head in amusement, "The only way to deal with a vengeful spirit is to burn and salt its bone."

Willow was becoming incredibly unbalanced by this meeting, "We don't know where Dana Shulps is buried."

Buffy's smirk widened, "Spook 101 when spirits appear in this way, it means they are after justice. I'll give Gunn a call for old time's sake."

She then turned without looking back and banged on the door to signal she was finished. Buffy noticed the female detective's nervousness and the way she was playing with the cuffs of her suits.

Buffy went to the least intimidating she could play, "Come on. I'll buy you a coffee; you can catch me up on the case."