Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Sins Of The Past

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 05:

Bella POV

The key was under the planting box as it has been since Charlie bought this place. Jane texted me and suggested I leave Dani outside and she would meet me inside. I told her no. I could handle this. I was not weak.

Dani and I walked inside together. The staircase.

Descending in a blue dress and a cast on my leg. I always hid how devastatingly painful that injury was at the time. My leg still aches today when it rains.

Rushing up the stairs to my room, Charlie following, Edward meeting me in my room to help me pack my bags. To run. Master Caius never could understand why we bothered running. He pointed out that we had the numbers. We should have killed him then and there. Victoria as well.

Master Marcus said they were cowards.

I remembered Charlie cleaning his shotgun while I brought him beers, hoping to soften him to the idea of Edward being my boyfriend.

I walked into the living room and saw it immediately. Dani gasped.

A blood stain on the floor. Blood from Charlie’s head. I would have to get a crime scene clean up crew in here tomorrow. Any evidence I could have gotten from this scene would have been collected or trampled by one of the two Barney Fife’s I now had working for me. The State police should have taken over this case but I suppose they were too busy… doing whatever the hell it is they do around here.

“Is that a piece of his brain Mom?”

I knelt down and looked closely.

“No. Bone chip from his skull. He was lucky. Bullet must have been very low caliber and not a hollow point to not penetrate his skull any further than it did. Possibly a .22…”

My analysis was cut off by Dani running back outside and from the sound of it, puking in the grass.

Wimp. She stumbled back in looking quite a bit paler than normal.

“You okay there bad ass? Don’t see much of this at Gregory Prep huh?”

“You… you see this everyday don’t you?” she asked me, still staring at the blood stain.

“Of course not. I’m off on weekends. You know that. Let’s put our bags in our rooms and you can relax. I have to go to the Station, call Mom, read the offense report, get a feeling of how screwed I am with the small town cops I have working for me, and look over the evidence if there even is any.”

“Am I going to sleep in your old room?”

“I sure as hell am not. Keep the window locked and you will be fine.”

Dani seemed confused but to her credit just nodded her head. This house would be under 24/7 surveillance. Anyone trying to sneak into this place either through the front door or any window would be in for a surprise. The kind of surprise that leaves them a bloodless corpse.

I continued to take in the living room and stopped cold when I saw what was hanging on the walls. Framed press clippings. My press clippings. Photos and headlines devoted to me and my successes. Apparently Charlie subscribed to the New York Times.

“Looks like you have a fan.” Dani commented, looking at the walls and avoiding the red stain on the floor.

“Yeah…” I had nothing else to say. There were at least ten hanging on the walls. A look around and I could tell a woman lived her. Throw pillows on the couch. Actual drapes instead of blinds.

Charlie was shot four days ago. I was behind the curve. I needed to get busy.

“Let’s go.”

I walked up the stairs and Dani followed. The door to my old room was open. Holy shit.

It was the same. Even the damn sheets were the same. The bed was made but the posters on the wall, the cactus by the bed, that damn dream catcher hanging on the bed. I walked over and ripped it off. It would be going in the trash.

I was breathing way to fast. Calm down Bella.

“Mom?”

“I’m fine.” Edward Cullen kissed me at that spot. He watched me sleep every night. I sat at that window and wondered if this was the night Victoria would kill me. Would it be quick? Would she make it hurt? Would she kill Charlie?

“Mom you are shaking. Why don’t we leave…”

“I’m fine!” I told her angrily. I did step out in the hall. That was bullshit. I would not have a damn panic attack when I entered that room.

“Throw this away.” I handed the dream catcher to Dani. I strode into Charlie’s room and my breathing calmed. That wouldn’t happen again.

Then I hit me again.

Memories of pulling the remains of my clothes off. Blood soaked. I tried to shower and the hot water hit my cuts and I screamed. Pulling large first aid pads and trying to place them on my back even though I couldn’t reach certain areas. Everything hurt. Looking in the mirror from behind trying to come to grips with what happened. Bloody footprints from my room to the bathroom. Charlie had been working. I put a sweat shirt on so the bandages wouldn’t be pressed. Sweatpants. I took wet rags and washed the floor on my hands and knees. I didn’t want Charlie to see the blood. He would go after them all and they would kill him. The blood soaked through some of my bandages but I thought it had stopped mostly. I threw my bloody clothes in a trash bag and stuffed it in the bottom of the trash. Then I limped around the house trying to find money. I needed money. I had to get away. I would get in my truck and drive as far away as possible. Florida. Mom told me I would love Florida. No wolves or vampires in Florida.

I had the cash from my last paycheck. I took money from the grocery jar. I had planned to cook linguini tomorrow.

Someone was screaming. That wasn’t a memory. Someone was screaming.

“Mom!?”

I looked at Dani and realized my mouth was open. I was screaming on the floor. I closed my eyes to make it go away.

“Go to your room and close the door. Now.” I heard someone say.

“But… who are…”

“Now!”

I needed to see who this was. Open your eyes Bella…

Cool arms wrapped around me. Humming in my ear. A hand running through my hair.

“Shhhh. You are safe. No one can harm you ever again. I swear it. You are safe.” A soft voice whispered in my ear. The voice that belonged to the woman who along with Aro knew all my secrets. All my fears…

“Chelsea?” I whimpered. Screaming stopped.

“Yes my Bella. You had a panic attack. It is okay. Natural. It is okay. I have you. We are strong. You are strong. What happened here is the past. It is gone.”

“I… I wiped the floor. Blood kept dripping but I wiped the floor. I didn’t want my Dad to know.” I explained.

“I know. I know Bella. Breath slowly for me. Feel my breathing. Match it. Breath with me.”

“Where is Dani?”

“In her room. She will be fine. No one will harm her here. No harm. We are the hunters, not the hunted. Remember?”

I nodded my head. I remembered. My breathing matched Chelsea’s and I opened my eyes and stared into hers. She smiled.

“Thank you for being here.” I told her gratefully. “I thought I was past this.”

“Even the strong need help. That is why the Volturi never travel alone. Right?”

“Yes. This is so emb…”

“Don’t you dare Isabella. Don’t you dare be embarrassed. We are family. I love you. I am here for this, right? We are Volturi. We are strong together. It would have been easy for you to be scared and beg Master Aro to change you years ago. You have stayed strong for Danielle. You stayed in this form for her. Never be embarrassed. Are you feeling better now?”

“Yes.” It was true. I was. Her voice soothed my soul.

“I am going to go. Check on your daughter and let her know you are fine. You are. You are fine.”

“What do I tell her about…”

“Me? Stick with your new plan of telling her to mind her own business. I will be nearby. If you feel this coming on again, step away from everyone and I will be there. I will always be close.”

“Thank you Chelsea. I love you.”

“I know.” She smiled and kissed the tip of my nose quickly, causing me to laugh in shock. Then she was gone. I stood up and walked into Charlie’s room. Taking it all in, I walked back towards my old room to check on Dani.

The pain hit me suddenly as it always did.

Back spasm.

I moaned loudly. Dani opened the door.

“What’s wrong Mom? Your back?”

“Yes. Hand me my bag from the floor. I can’t bend down to get it.”

I searched my bag and pulled out an empty bottle.

“Fuck!”

“Hold on Mom.” Dani ran to her room and quickly brought back a full bottle of Vicodin.

“What the hell Dani?!”

“Keep them.”

“How the hell did you get these?”

“From your room at home. Course that isn’t your name on the bottle so I guess I could ask where you got them.”

Damn it. This damn brat.

“Just take them. I’ll get you a glass of water.” Dani ran off. Many times she had brought me pills on the floor. My back felt like it was on fire. All the excitement of the last 24 hours, I suppose I should have expected it.

Twenty minutes later I stood up from the floor.

“Look you said no more drugs. I just got here. I will throw them away. I’ll flush them.” She explained.

“How many do you have?”

“Not many. Some coke. A little weed. A few bars. Uhh…”

“You flew with this shit in your bag? Are you fucking stupid?!”

“I’ll throw them away!” Dani moved towards her room.

“No! You bring that shit to me. I will throw it away. I want to make sure it is gone.” Or used. I mean I bought the pills anyway.

“Great. My Mom is stealing my stash. Be right back warden.”

Twenty minutes later I pulled up in my black Mercedes to the Fork’s police station. The Mayor was in front smiling. May as well deal with this sooner than later.

“Hey Mike. How you doing? You look great.” He really didn’t.

“My God Bella. I never thought I would see you again. Outside of all those pictures of you your Dad shows off.”

“I never thought I would be back here Mike.” At least not as a human.

“Well thank you for coming. We need a real cop in this city with your Dad injured. Uhh I need to talk to you about something before we go any further.”

Great.

“Sure Mike. What’s up?”

“Well you are an official City employee now but I was wondering what you had in mind for compensation. Also I appreciate any help we can get but I am not sure we can afford your partners.”

“My partners?”

“Yes. The two gentleman inside? They said they worked with you in New York. A Felix Starsky and a…”

“Let me guess. Demetri Hutch.” I rolled my eyes. Those idiots.

“Yeah. Interesting names. Are they real?”

“Yes. Just a coincidence. Took a lot of ribbing back in New York.” Fucking idiots.

“I see. I don’t think we have a uniform large enough for the Felix guy. Ray is looking for one for Demetri? Yeah Demetri. They sound European. You worked with them in New York?”

“Yes. They are my two main guys. Look as far as payment we are all working for free and none of us do uniforms. Just get us badges and we will be good.”

“Great. Okay. That’s… great. I mean we can give you your Dad’s pay…”

“Keep it going to him Mike.”

“Of course! I just meant we can pay you the same…”

“I’m good. Don’t worry about it. Anything else?”

“I was wondering if we could catch up sometime? Tell each other our life stories maybe. Couple of old friends catching up…”

I checked his finger. No ring.

“I’m gay Mike.”

“Wha… oh… hey good for you. That’s… great. Way to be out there with it. I’m a big supporter of gay marriage and…”

“Yeah I’m not a fan of marriage. Just the gay part. I better get to work. Do the job you aren’t paying me for right?”

“Yeah. It was good to see you Bella.”

“You too Mike.”

Mike walked off dejected. Perhaps if I showed him the mess my back was he wouldn’t be as excited to see me. I marched in to see my favorite seventies cops.

Two Forks deputies were seated at their desks staring at two vampire who had their feet kicked up on desks on the other side of the room. No one was speaking. Felix was smirking. Demetri was out right smiling. The two Forks deputies were sweating.

“God afternoon gentleman. I see you have met my colleagues.”

One of the deputies turned towards me. He was in his fifties, slightly bald and a bit overweight. His uniform was a bit too tight and a slight gut hung over his utility belt.

“Hey there. You must be Bella Swan. We’ve been keepin up with your exploits for years. I was sure glad when Mike told us you were coming. I’m Ray Miller and this is Andy Simms.”

Andy nodded at me and then turned back to Demetri and Felix. Andy was skinny. Very skinny. I had a feeling if he tried to break up a domestic disturbance he would have his ass handed to him by the wife. He appeared to be in his late forties or early fifties. Not exactly Swat team material.

“I need to see the evidence you have collected on my Dad’s scene. Also any cases he may have been working on.”

“The files are on Charli… your desk. All witness statements, not that there were any. Just neighbors hearing a bang. The gun is in the evidence locker.”

“You have the gun?” That was a surprise.

“Yep. Left at the scene.”

“Why is it here? Has any ballistics team taken a look at it?”

“We dusted for prints but ballistics don’t matter. We know whose gun it is. It was his. A rifle. .22 caliber long rifle. Charlie kept it by his back door for whenever critters came in his backyard rooting around in the trash. Low caliber. Being a rifle at close range the bullet never got to maximum velocity. Probably why he is still alive. Bullet itself was one he kept at home. Type you can buy at any WalMart, five hundred bullets for ten bucks.”

“Any prints?”

“Only Charlie’s on the barrel. It was a back loader. He kept the gun loaded. The trigger had no prints so it was wiped. I know it was. Charlie told me he had varmints messing around in the woods behind his house and took a shot at one the other night. No prints tells me it was wiped. His…”

“Yeah, got it. His should have been there. What else?”

“Door wasn’t broken into but Charlie kept it unlocked most of the time.”

“So someone walked in through the kitchen door, picked up the rifle, went into the living room and shot him… where was the gun found?”

“Next to his body.” Andy spoke up for the first time.

“So it was wiped and then instead of being put back in its place, it was dropped. From what range was he shot?”

“Range? He was shot in the living room. It must have been close. Room isn’t that big.” Ray told me, showing off his keen observational skills.

“Was it within inches of his head? Was he taken by surprise? What direction was he facing, based on how his body fell? Did the shooter come out of the kitchen, into the living room and fire immediately or did they talk close together. Was he seated across from the shooter? I saw the blood stain still in the house and blood splatter appears he was not facing the kitchen yet the bullet entered his forehead. He was in his recliner most likely and the shooter walked in front of him or had already been seated in front of him. Was a casing found? Where did it land?”

“Look lady read the damn files. Everything we got is in it.” Ray told me annoyed. I knew the feeling.

“No problem. Was Charlie working on any cases that may have had a bearing on this? Anyone wanted him dead?”

“No…” Ray started until Andy interrupted him.

“Yes. Yes there was. Blake Colter. You know as well as I do that guy…”

“That guy what Andy?”

“There has been a lot of Crystal meth flooding the town lately. A lot of kids getting caught with it. Charlie tracked it to Blake Colter. He is cooking it in a cabin with a couple other guys. Three I think. Two brothers, Brady and Colin Littlesea and Paul fucking Lahote. Out near La Push. Charlie found the cabin but couldn’t get a warrant to search. So he kept tailing the guys hoping to catch them dealing. The cabin is private property. Even if he searched it, the evidence would be thrown out without a warrant.”

“Why couldn’t he get a warrant?” I asked, having a suspicion already.

“The County Judge is Abraham Colter, Blake Colter’s uncle.” Andy said quietly.

Okay. That can be dealt with. Paul, Brady and Colin cooking speed. Interesting.

“Where are the case files?”

“Charlie keeps everything important he is working on in the safe in his office. Neither of us know the combination though.” Ray told me. He then took a deep breath.

“Look Bella, your Dad handled everything major around here. Me and Andy here we caught speeders, busted up teen parties, broke up fights at bars. We don’t have the training you do and we aren’t the cops your Dad was… is. But we want to help. Just let us know what you need.”

“I need you and Andy to keep doing what you are doing. Handle the speeders, the underage drinking, the public disturbances. I will…”

Felix cleared his throat.

“We will handle the rest. We will figure out who did this to Charlie.”

“Sounds good. Andy and I usually trade off shifts until midnight and then are on call after midnight. That okay with you?”

“Nothing is changing Ray.”

He and Andy looked a bit relieved.

“Then I guess we better get out on patrol. Let us know if you need anything.”

The two stood up and with a last look at Felix and Demetri hurried to the door.

“Starsky, Hutch, my office, now.”

They beat me there of course.

“Really guys?”

“They are good names. Strong average names that give off a sense of power.” Felix explained. Demetri was holding in a smile.

“Fine… look…

“How are you?” Demetri asked.

“Fine. Why?”

“Everything go well at your…”

“Chelsea told you?” I knew it.

“No!” Felix exclaimed quickly. “Chelsea told Master Aro who told Master Caius and was overheard by Jane who said we were to keep an eye on your emotional state because this has been a lot for you to take in. That’s all.”

I closed my eyes. One of the things I learned very quickly is at least among the inner guard, there are no secrets.

“Okay, I need to get to work. What are you guys doing here anyway?”

“What do you think?” Demetri asked.

“You are going to follow my lead?”

“Of course detective. But the pistol whipping you administered to the large Quileute looked fun. Could I possibly pistol whip someone?” Felix asked.

“I would like to frisk someone.” Demetri added on. “But first why don’t we open the safe and see what Daddy was hiding?”

“Hiding? He kept case files in there.” I pointed out.

“If there were only case files in there he would have given the combination to a trusted deputy in the event something like this happened.” Demetri reasoned.

“True. First I need to look over the case report and witness statements on Charlie’s shooting.”

“What are we supposed to do?”

“I don’t know. Do whatever it is you guys usually do. I need quiet.”

I opened the files and began reading. Ray was right. Four neighbors heard a shot at 9 PM. No one checked because Charlie had varmint problems lately. It wasn’t unusual.

It wasn’t unusual.

What the hell were you shooting at Charlie? In the year I lived with you, you never fired a weapon anywhere near the house.

Sue came home at eleven. Neighbors heard a scream. Ambulance and Ray showed up quickly. Ems report show he was breathing very shallow. Almost unnoticeable. Heart beat was feint. Hospital reports…

Crime scene photos.

“Isabella…”

“Fine Felix. Breakdown was earlier. Got it out of my system.”

He was sitting in his chair. No he was shot standing. He may have stood up from the chair. The bullet impact wouldn’t have blown him back. He stood, was shot, and then stumbled forward towards the shooter. He fell before he made a second step. Face first. Face first on the ground. In the dirt…

“Isabella!”

“What? What?” I looked up, Demetri’s voice breaking my trance.

“May I see the photos?”

“Of course Demetri.” I handed them across the desk.

“So what do you think Bella? This drug dealer? He is in league with three of the wolves correct?” Felix asked.

“Yes. I think we need to bring them in.”

“Dead?”

“No. Let’s play it straight. I need to talk to them. Find out if they had anything to do with Charlie shooting or my… we need to bring them in. If they are strictly drug dealers we can put them away. If they shot Charlie because he was close three of them can go to prison. One, the shooter dies. The other three take it up the ass for the next fifty years. But I don’t want to start a blood bath early.”

“So if we are going to play it straight how are we going to raid this laboratory of modern chemistry? The Magistrate won’t play ball.” Demetri pointed out.

“Exactly. So we kill the Judge. Make it look like a suicide. Do it tonight. In the morning, I can request a warrant from a Judge appointed in the interim. They have twenty four hours to appoint one. The District Judge will most likely appoint someone from the Prosecutors office immediately if I request a warrant. He will sign the warrant.”

“If he doesn’t?” Demetri asked.

“Then we kill that fucker too. Suicides are an epidemic. Now get, you two. I’m fine. You have a suicide to plan and carry out.”

“Okay sister. You will be fine?”

“Of course. Go. And stop pretending Jane and Alec aren’t nearby.”

“I believe Caius and Athenodora are nearby actually.” Felix smirked.

“Where is my Jane?”

“Master Aro is registering her for school of course. I believe you need to register your darling princess as well. Have a good day Chief.”

Starsky and Hutch were gone before I could blink.

Left alone for the first time all day I took a deep breath, popped a pill and turned to Charlie’s safe. It had a simple electronic lock on it. Looked liked four numbers.

0913.

Access granted. Charlie wasn’t a hard guy to figure out.

I pulled out the files. There were a shit load of files. The top packets had Lahote Colter written on the top. The majority of them were unmarked. I spread them out and stared at the contents spread across my desk stunned. The photos. The DNA reports.

Oh Charlie. What did you do?

Sam POV

They all came. I wasn’t sure if they would.

Jacob. Quil. Embry. Jared. Paul. Seth. Colin. Brady. Paul.

“What the hell do you want Sam? You aren’t alpha anymore. We don’t have to answer to your beck and call.” Jacob said.

“What happened to your eye Jake?” He had a large cut on his temple.

“Ran into something. Don’t worry about it.”

“Why the fuck isn’t Leah here?” Embry asked.

“I didn’t ask her to be here.”

“Jake I heard you got to see Bella today. Now that you have seen the real thing up close are you going to have to make any modifications to Angela? Breast enhancement or anything? Maybe butt implants? My boy at the hospital said Bella had a mighty fine ass. Better than before. Most women don’t get hotter with age. Take Angela for example. Your sister too for that matter. But leave it to the leech lover to come back like a fucking wet dream.” Paul noted. “Course I heard her daughter was a piece of ass too. Got your eye on her maybe?”

“Enough. Everybody shut the fuck up and have a seat.”

“Fuck you Sam. We don’t have to listen to your shit.” Embry said angrily. What are you so angry about Embry?

“Leah isn’t here because she can’t tell me what I want to know.”

“What’s that Sam?” Seth asked quietly.

“I want to know which one of you fuckers is the father of Bella’s daughter. And we aren’t leaving until I know.” I pulled my gun from the back of my jeans and laid my hand on the table.

No one said a word.

Until Quil spoke.

“Maybe we should also talk about the fact that some people moved into the Cullen’s old place today. Rita at Forks Reality told my Mom they were strange. Scared the hell out of her. Pretty pale. She swore one of them had red eyes. Something tells me they aren’t the Cullen’s and they aren’t interested in treaties.”