2. Part 2 Shock

Boston's witch burnings

By: Fire Wolfe

A/N: 'Telepathy or thoughts', "Speech"

Disclaimer: Please see Part One

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Part 2 Shock

The shock hit Willow hard. She doubled over in agony and cried out. It was like this every time a slayer fell sometimes it was enough to almost cause her to lose consciousness. Over the years she had managed to build up some defenses and during apocalypse season when all hands were on deck and many were injured or died she took extra precautions. However it had been a relatively slow month and Willow had taken the day to spend with her love. In doing so she became distracted with the simple joy of living.

She and Kennedy were at the Washington house visiting Buffy and Faith who were on their annual tour of the American houses. While the Council was primarily based in the United Kingdom the heads of the Council made a point of visiting the various houses around the world every few months or at the very least once a year.

The Washington House had been the last on this year's tour and it was the perfect place for them all to meet up at. They had as a group toured the capital and spent time with Dawn who ran this house and school. The younger Summers had taken to leadership like a duck to water and her slayers were very loyal to her. It was heartwarming to see how close they were. Coming here last before returning to London helped recharge the group and allow for some family time. Buffy missed Dawn a lot but she knew that her baby sister needed her own place and space. Washington was one of the safer houses and schools and by allowing Dawn to run it she gained the experience she needed in a relatively safe area. It was not ideal but it was the best compromise they all could come up with because for Dawn to advance in the Council she needed field experience and this was the best place for it.

In London she was too well known and guarded to ever really be taken seriously. Giles had become very protective of those he considered his children and Dawn being the youngest was still the most protected. He did not care that she had become a first rate watcher or Wicca. He instead saw his little girl and his protectiveness with Buffy have had driven poor Dawn to distraction. Only her threat to leave and perhaps join Xander in Africa had allowed them to come up with this compromise. Besides Dawn was actually really good at the diplomatic work and she had great contacts in Washington and had Sam and Riley as back up. The compromise had worked and now everyone was happy with the situation for the most part. However now Willow was hunched over in agony Kennedy ran to her side and caught her before she collapsed.

"What has happened?"

"Molly and Mary are dead as are Helena and Bree. I felt them die someone shot Helena and Bree and Molly and Mary were sacrificed I heard the demon laughing as he stole their life force."

"Oh shit."

'This was bad and it was not something we could let happen. I held Willow as she wept and looked up seeing Buffy and Faith run in both looked pale and gutted. The last of the chosen both felt the deaths of the mini-slayers just as my Willow did. Buffy more so than Faith but she still looked devastated and angry. Not that I blamed her because the death of a slayer was always personal to us. We might not all be friends but we were all sisters and we all had to have each other's backs. In this case however I could see Faith looked murderous of course the slayers who were murdered came from her home town so I got it. I really did. It was like when Haley had died in Detroit last year it was personal. I looked at Faith and nodded. I would so have her back just like she had mine then. We might not always get along but, we got the need to stand together.'

"We have to head out there." Faith said.

"Yeah, we do, Dawn call Giles and fill him in. We won't be on the afternoon flight. We have some investigating to do here. We need to know what has happened. This is the third attack of a coven and slayers this year and I for one am tired of being behind the bastards doing the killing. We need to get to Boston and check this out."

"Ok, I'll call him but he isn't going to be happy. He would want to send someone from Cleveland to check it out."

"No offence to the Cleveland slayers but they did not find anything about Haley and by the time we got there the trail was cold. All I could do is be there for her grandmother and that was hardly enough. No I agree with Buffy we have to check this out. Besides we got Faith here and Boston is her old stomping grounds she will be able to help a lot. I don't think anyone from out of town will do so well."

"Thanks Kennedy. I appreciate the support. Look you all know me and Robin did not end well and I know he trains his slayers well but this is out of their league. It's not like the majority of them can blend in and hit off with the locals. "

"Ok, but Giles won't be happy. I can hear him now; however he will get it I suppose. Plus Xander is flying in with about six new slayers on Wednesday and should distract him somewhat." Dawn said. "Wood will simply have to deal. He has his hands full with the hell mouth in any case."

"Well I love Giles dearly but we are here and we are not abandoning our slayers." Buffy said. "Let's go get packed. Faith we will find the ones responsible and they will pay."

"I know B, but this just brings back some bad memories." Buffy pulled her sister slayer into a hug.

"We dealt with that and we will deal with this together as a team. Now let's go get packed. Dawn could you call for a flight for us. If we are going to be dealing with the locals we will need to have come in by conventional means, plus I want Willow at full power just on case. We will also need passports with diplomatic status especially for Faith."

Faith rolled her eyes. "Yeah, pardon or not it should help. Cause the locals they have long memories and I was not exactly an upstanding citizen back then."

"You were a kid who did the best you could." Willow said. "We got your back Faith. I won't let anyone hurt you me and Kennedy and Buffy will be right there with you."

"Hey don't forget about me. I'm coming to." Dawn said.

Everyone spun around to look at her.

"Look Boston is to close for comfort. I would rather deal with the bads there then here. So I'm coming along."

Buffy began to protest then fell silent.

"Ok you may have a point. Call Riley and Sam and fill them in, we may need their help too. I also want you to call Andrew he can fly in from his check of the Detroit house and take over here while you are gone. The girls all know and trust him so he's the best option. We also have to give Wood the heads up. Whatever is going on may make a run for the hell mouth. He and the others need to be warned. The last thing Rona and Molly need is to be caught off guard."

That shocked everyone but she got her sisters worry she did not like it but the practical side of her wanted Dawn protected and she would be that if she was with them plus taking care of the hell mouth and the houses was all part of her job as the co-director of the council. Warning Robin Wood and the Slayers on site was only right. Taking Dawn with them reduced the potential of her becoming a target.

'Every one moved out to take care of their jobs to head to Boston. I have to admit being worried. Looking over at Faith I saw she too was pensive. This was so not going to be easy. My Willow pushed her tears aside and began giving orders to her coven members they would pack all the Magical and medical supplies we needed. I just prayed we would not need either.'

Willow gave Kennedy a quick kiss grateful for her support. This was not going to be a happy time but they owed it to their girls to check out the scene.

RRRRRRRRRRRRR

"Frost you might not want to come in here." Korsak said. He looked around the warehouse paling at the sight. His stomach lurched. "This is beyond bad." He fought his own stomach as it rebelled.

"Yeah, it is. Maura be careful I think the bodies may still be burning." Jane said walking in pulling on the purple gloves. The stench made her wince but she pushed it aside to check out the crime scene. 'Frankie was so not kidding this is really bad.'

Maura Isles followed the homicide detectives into the burnt out warehouse. For once she cursed her designer gear as she stepped over burnt out beams. It was clearly not going to work for this scene. She would have to change.

"This was clearly an attempt to conceal the bodies." Korsak said looking a little upset. "It was really sloppy it definitely draws attention."

"Yes, it does it goes to the state of the killers mind. He wants the bodies found, but perhaps not easily identified." Maura said. She stopped and pulled out on jumpsuit. Pulling it on she tied the drawstrings with care. She slipped out of her shoes and placed then into her bag pulling out some boots that were far more suited for the smoldering ruins. They would protect her feet from the hot ash. This was one of the worst scenes she had seen in recent months and that was saying something given their recent cases, it seemed that they were doomed to catch every crazy out there.

"Well who ever did it he took out four people," Jane said as she walked around the bodies. "Two of them have been shot multiple times but the others are tied up and I don't see any gunshot wounds. It looks like they were killed by a knife."

Maura gave her a look that said guessing was not wise. Jane simply shrugged.

"Maybe he killed them differently for a reason." Korsak said. "I mean it almost looks ritualistic."

Maura jerked at that statement then looked around the ruins. She frowned."Vince has a point those burns are in a circular pattern."

She walked up to the corpses that were tied to the iron posts imbedded into the floor. The bodies almost seemed set up for a sacrifice of some sort." She pulled back the burnt clothing of one of the victims and gasp. The runes were still clearly visible despite the body having been torched. She gasped as she read them. The iron posts suddenly had significance. She hated to make guess but, Jane was right these women most likely died by having their throats cut and bled out.

"What is it Maura?"

"I, I am not sure." She said trying to put off her lover. She knew that Korsak was right this was a ritual and a very evil one at that. She pulled the shirt back from the body and almost cried out as she recognized the crystal around the woman's neck. She felt tears begin to flow. She could not identify the body at once because of the burns but she knew what she was and where she came from.

Frankie came into the warehouse. "Janie Frost and I found some purses and wallets. We might have some id on the victims. Someone just tossed them, the credit cards and id are all here but if there was any cash it's all gone."

"Who are they?"Jane asked.

Maura turned and saw the purses. She wanted to cry out as she recognized the Coach purses. She had bought them as gifts for her friends because they had thought they looked like fall day.

"Molly Megan Murphy and Mary Rose O'Shea I would guess that the other two will turn out to be Helena Rossi and Bree Anne Fitzpatrick." Maura said sadly.

"Maura what, you know them?"

"Yes I bought them each a purse like that for Solstice last year."

"Ah Solstice," Frankie asked "What is that?"

"It's a pagan holiday celebrated by Wicca which Molly and Bree both practiced. They were good friends with Helena and Bree. I've known them for several years they make made most of the candles I have at my house along with my shampoo and other beauty supplies. They ran a small shop not far from here specializing in herbal medicines and products."

Jane nodded knowing full well Maura preferred the specialized hand crafted items. She pushed back her hair and pulled out a tie. This case had suddenly become personal once more. Could they never catch a break?

"We should call your assistants to help. Maura these are people you know and…"

"Jane I am not stepping aside. These ladies were my friends and I will help find their killer. Now please help me cut them down. I …I cannot bear to see them tied up like that."

Jane sighed and moved to help her love. She did not agree but she did understand the need to find justice for a friend. She helped Maura gently lay the women down.

"I can see their throats were cut and that runes of some sort were carved into them. That makes Korsak's idea of sacrifice make sense. The burning however may now have far more significance them simply disposing of the bodies. Historically burning a witch was to steal their power and send them to hell."

"Maura you….don't have to do this we can call in someone."

"I will not let Pike in on this. He is at best a fool. No I will take care of them. This may be far more …Jane this could only be the beginning. These ladies belonged to a coven and they may become targets as well."

"What's a coven?" Frost asked though it was muffled as he had a handkerchief over his face and he was clearly fighting not to lose his breakfast. "Well I know it's about witches and stuff but I thought they were peaceful and loved everyone?"

"Really Frost? I am certain some are like that but I would guess there are some that are bad too. I mean only someone evil would burn innocent women like this."

"How do you know they were innocent?" Frankie asked."I mean not to disrespect your friends or anything but maybe whoever did this had a beef with them, maybe thinking they did them wrong or something."

"I don't know." Maura said."All I can say for the moment is that these ladies died in a most painful way. We need to get them back to the morgue so I can do a full exam and give you more information. However your idea has merit as many even in today's society fear witches. It makes no real sense but this is still the case."

"Yeah well we need to get this cleared up. We are drawing a crowd and I don't think these ladies deserve to be gawked at." Jane said. She scanned the crowd and spotted one of Doyle's men. "I'm going to do a sweep. Frost, Frankie stays with Maura please."

"Korsak could you come with me please, you know this area pretty well."

"Yeah, I'm with ya Janie."

Jane glared at him for that nickname but understood why he used it. It was his way of showing his love and affection. Despite them not being official partners anymore Jane knew he would always have her back. She trusted him in many ways far more than even Frost but, she needed the little bit of distance that not being partners allowed. It was selfish but it kept her sane. The two detectives slipped out and followed the informant.

They slipped around the corner. "Detectives, the boss said this is bad. He heard some stuff was going down but we were too late to stop it. Look those ladies in there were good people. Decent like. So this is what we got for yeah." He handed Jane a disposable flash drive." Joey got a picture of the dude who did this. He downloaded it to that drive. We hope it helps."

Jane looked at the thug and nodded. "Tell your boss thanks."

"Yeah, I will, Look Rizzoli we ain't on the same side but we will help with this cause it going to hurt the boss's territory. He don't like killing in his area that for no reason and this ….this has no right reason. It's evil to kill good people like that. Those ladies took care of a lot of people kept them safe and well they did not deserve this."

Korsak looked at the thug not quite believing he was saying this. Because he knew the man was a cold blooded killer it was unnerving to see him genuinely upset. "We will catch the murder if we can."

"Yeah well I hope so cause if Molly or Mary's Da gets them first or Doyle well it won't be nearly as pretty. Hell I'll help them. But the boss figures the more eyes out the better plus he knows they were Maura's friends and he worries she could become a target. Wish she'd be a regular doc it make life so much easier."

Jane snorted at that not willing to admit she agreed. "Yeah well Maura is stubborn like that. But she's good at her job too. We will solve this."

"Yeah, I hope so. Ah, some help is coming in I think; we heard from our contacts that some big time people from Washington will be here soon. They know the ladies to and they are so not happy about this. Rizzoli I know you think we are scum and all that but, for Maura sake and your own don't piss them off they make us look like fluffy kittens for all they are the white hats. Oh and the red head Willow Rosenberg don't piss her off please. The blonde Buffy Summers would only rip off your arms and I don't want to even think what Faith would do. She's a lot like her old man a real chip off the block even if she did not intend to be, so please don't piss them off I like Boston standing."

"Huh? Ok whatever. Hey what's your name? I mean we can't just call you thug one?"

The thug sighed and slipped back into the shadows "It's Whistler but don't tell them I gave you the heads up they don't like me much." 'Well I did warn them.'

Jane looked at Korsak."Such a charming fellow, I can so see why they don't like him."

"Yeah, well he's a stone cold killer Janie, so if he's worried we should use care. Hell he makes Doyle seem like an innocent."

"Ok, let's take that look around. Maybe we can find something." Jane said. "So you think this Faith is Doyle's kid?"

"It would not surprise me. I just hope she's a better sister than Caylin."

"Yeah that not be too hard of an order, I mean really the way Caylin acts is crazy given everything. Did I tell you that Maura is having Hope over for dinner Saturday along with Constance?"

"She is? I thought they were not speaking, I mean Maura and Hope that is."

"Yeah well it seems Hope wants to try to be there and Constance well she's been trying to. Somehow they both ended up getting invited on Saturday. It should be interesting. At least Caylin is back at school. I might not like the girl but, she deserves a chance at making a life I guess."

"Yeah, maybe but she was hard on the doc. It wasn't fair really but maybe in time she will grow up."

"Maybe, let's head back in. The CSI's can finish this." Jane said. They walked in and Jane spotted something sticking up. She moved with care and picked it up. "Hey Vince what do you make of this?"

"Looks like some kind of weird knife; never seen one like it before except maybe in the movies."

"Well maybe we will get lucky and it will be the murder weapon." Jane said carefully bagging the weapon. "It does have some brown spots on it."

Vince chuckled at that. "You are so whipped Rizzoli."

"Well yeah, but Maura has a point it makes no sense to jump to conclusions."

Vince laughed as that. It was good to break the tension.

Maura looked up her eyes going wide as she saw the bag Jane carried. "Well I do believe that Detective Korsak's theory may become fact. That is a ceremonial dagger used in ritual sacrifices."

The detective's smiles and laughter faded as it suddenly became all too real again.

TBC...