IF LOOKS COULD TRULY KILL

Disclaimer: The Cullens, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline.

CHAPTER 1: PROLOGUE

"I told you no. There is nothing you can do to convince me to give you another chance. All you want to do is control me and my life. There is no love and never has been between us. We only thought there was." The woman shouted.

The neighbors heard the arguing, but, and you could tell both a man and a woman were involved. The woman was shouting, but, the man was softer spoken. At this point, they were hesitating to interfere with the arguing, not really knowing who and what were involved.

After a bit all was slight for a brief time and then suddenly a loud bang as a door was thrown open and the woman entered the hallway. The sound of her heels hitting on the floor as she rushed towards the stairway was loud and rapid as if she was running. Then the rushing sound stopped just as quickly as it had begun.

"We belong together and no one else can have you." Was heard the softly spoke voice of the man. There was a hush for a second and then a scream.

"NO! EDWARD! N-"and all was quiet again.

Doors were being opened and as people begin to step into the hall to see what had happened the shadow of a man was seen leaving while staying in the darkened areas of the hallway going down the stairs and out the front.

Rushing forward they saw the woman lying at the foot of the stairs on the landing just below. Her body was position at odd angles. Some rushed forward to see if they could help while another called 911. The police and ambulance arrived about the same time. She was quickly loaded into the back of the ambulance and rushed to the hospital while the police were still busy taking statements.

"You say her name is Bella Cullen? Has she resided here very long? Do you have any idea who she was arguing with?" Each person gives the same information.

Her name was Bella Cullen and she had lived there for about a year. She was very quiet and seldom went out and hardly any visitors. No complaints, kept mainly to herself, but, always had a kind word for whoever she met coming or going and helpful where she could. They knew she was separated from her husband and he has been to see her from time to time. A very handsome fellow, but, seemed determined to get her back. They argued quite a bit, but, not to the degree that had taken place tonight.

They didn't see, or, even, hear him arrive and all was quiet until the arguing started and then she rushed towards the stairs and yelled 'no' and called his name. That was how they knew who had been here and caused her to fall down the stairway.

The police thanked everyone for their cooperation, finished with the area and the apartment the victim lived in before packing everything up and heading back to the station. Tanya Denali and her partner Carmen Santiago were the officers in charge of the case. They headed to the hospital to check on the condition of Mrs. Cullen before going to see the estranged husband. It seems that he might have gotten a little over zealous tonight in his efforts of trying to get his wife back.

At the hospital they weren't able to get too much information since the attending doctor was with Mrs. Cullen in surgery. It seems she was in pretty bad shape and it was a live or death situation. The two officers requested that a guard be placed to protect Mrs. Cullen during her stay in the hospital beginning immediately after she comes out of surgery.

Detectives Denali and Santiago left to head over to the Cullen residence. It wasn't hard to find since everyone knew who the Cullen family was. Edward Cullen was the CEO of Cullen Publishing Company. One of his brothers, Emmett Cullen was owner of Cullen Construction while his wife Rosalie Cullen was a top model that was featured in most of the magazines out on the market today. And, the other Jasper was owner of Cullen Engineering. The parents, Carlisle were world renown for being a leading cardiac surgeon and his wife, Esme had her owner business of interior designing.

Right now, their biggest problem was to locate any family on Mrs. Cullen's side and inform them of the tragedy. Next, they needed to question Edward Cullen and possibly, arrest him for attempting to murder his wife.

They arrived at Edward Cullen's home the same time he was pulling into the drive. As their car came to a stop behind his, they all were getting out of their vehicles at the same time.

"Good evening, officers. What can I help you with?"

"Mr. Cullen, at this point, I wouldn't say a word since we are placing you under arrest for the attempted murder tonight of your wife, Bella Cullen." And as Det. Denali reached to handcuff his hands behind him, Det. Santiago read him his Miranda rights.

He started to struggle and demand at the same time that they tell him what the hell they were talking about.

"Mr. Cullen, if you don't settle down we will be forced to use the teaser on you. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, but, what the hell are you talking about? I haven't seen Bella in two days. Is she all right?"

"Mrs. Cullen is at the hospital undergoing emergency surgery at the present time to try to save her life. The only question that I have for you at this time is does she have any family members that we need to notify?"

"Yes, her father, Chief of Police, Charlie Swan, a sister, Alice, and her mother, Renee Dwyer who resides in Florida." During this time they all moved towards the Police Cruiser that had pulled up behind the other two vehicles.

"Mr. Cullen can you give us the numbers so we can call them, or, do we need to locate them ourselves?" Edward gave them all of the information, but, requested they call his father while during their notifying. And on that note he was forced into the police car to be taken downtown and booked for aggravated assault and attempted murder.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Hello?"

"Is this Chief Swan speaking?"

"Yes, how can I help you?"

"Chief Swan, this is Det. Denali and I am calling with some bad news. Your dau-"

"Bad news? This is concerning one of my daughters?" he asks only to look up to see Alice walking down the stairs with raised eyebrows curious about the call her dad was involved in.

"Yes, sir, your daughter Bella Cullen. She was inv-"

"Bella? What the hell is wrong with Bella?" At the mention of Bella's name Alice sit down to listen to the conversation.

"Chief Swan, please, allow me to finish a statement and I am sure your questions will be partially answered."

"Okay." He agreed.

"Mrs. Cullen was assaulted earlier tonight resulting in causing her to fall down a flight of stairs. She is now at the hospital undergoing emergency surgery, but, before you ask, no we have no idea of the injuries at this time. We were told that her surgery was immediate due to the life or death circumstances that her injuries were threatening her with.

"Anything else, I'm not at liberty to repeat or tell you over the phone. Would you like for me to inform the rest of the family or is that something you will want to do yourself?" Det. Denali asked.

"No, I'll do it. Her mother is going to freak the hell out as it is." He commented. Then added, "My daughter, Alice, and I will be on the next flight out to Chicago. Have you been able to get a hold of the Cullen family to let Edward know?"

"Mr. Cullen has been informed and is we us now." Was the only response given to his question.

After he hangs up he tells Alice what he had been told. She sits quietly for a moment before the tears begin to flow. "Dad, call the airlines and get us tickets out immediately. Then call Mom. I'll see about getting us packed and ready."

So, Charlie picks up the phone to call the airlines, then the station to let them know that he will be gone for a few days that something had happened to Bella and he was needed in Chicago. Next, he sighed a heavy sigh before dialing Renee's number to inform her of the situation. And, just as he had predicted, she freaked the hell out. As that conversation ended, Alice walked back down to let her Dad know she had them all packed. He needed to get the luggage and load it in the car so they could get going.

Charlie and Alice got to the airport in Port Angeles in record time and boarded they flight heading for Chicago.

XXXXXXXXXXX

In Jacksonville, Florida, Phil Dwyer was holding his sobbing wife and trying to give her some comfort as he called the airlines to get reservations out on the next flight. He explained about it being an emergency situation and asked that they give him a call back as soon as they could see what they could arrange for him and his wife.

It wasn't long, maybe, thirty minutes, before the phone rang and it was the airlines telling him they had his family booked for the flight that was due to leaving in ninety minutes. Phil thanked them, told Renee so they could get packed and on the way to the airport. They made it in time and were on the way to Chicago.

XXXXXXXXXX

As Det. Denali hung up the phone after talking with Chief Swan, a commotion could be heard moving in her direction. Det. Santiago was busily doing the paperwork from booking Edward Cullen, allowing him his one phone call and getting him situated in lockup.

Looking at the door she sees the whole family Cullen coming in, stop for a moment to ask a question, look at her and move towards her with extreme anger on some of their faces.

Everyone trying to speak at once until Carlisle Cullen tells everyone to shut the hell up. "Why is my son being detained on trumped up charges?" he demands to know.

"Sir, I will be happy to answer your questions, but, first you are going to have to get control of yourself and the rest of your family.

"Now, answer me one question and then I will be happy to answer all of yours." She states very quietly. "Do you know, personally or any member of your family, for sure where your son was tonight and are their witnesses that can prove it beyond a shadow of doubt?"

"I know where he said he was and that is good enough for me."

"Unfortunately that isn't good enough." She responds and then begins to tell them about Bella Cullen, the condition she is in at present time at the hospital and what witnesses heard and saw.

A/N: Edward is in a mess at present time. Was it him that was with Bella when she was injured? Or, someone else? What is her condition that was so life threatening that needed immediate surgery? What caused the separation between Bella and Edward? Was she seeing someone else during the separation?

This story will update once a week and I hope you will enjoy it the same as you have my other ones.

I always look forward to hearing from each and every one of you, even if you just do an alert. Please, take the time to review. I am always happy to answer back.