A/N: Alright! Sorry about the cliff hanger, but I'm a quick updater so it shouldn't have been too bad. Anyway I would just like to say thanks so much for the reviews! Hopefully, this chapter will attract more readers, though. Things might be slightly confusing now, but I promise it will all be explained in chapters to come.
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Chapter 2- The Dirty Deed
Edward POV
I was shocked by the sentence he had just spoken. Was he serious? Was this some kind of trap that he was trying to set me up in? I attempted to keep my mouth shut, but I just couldn't. "What?" I asked in utter disbelief, making sure that I hadn't heard him incorrectly.
I watched as Jacob rubbed his forehead once, the smirk never once leaving his olive-colored skin.
"I'm asking you to kill my wife." No, I definitely heard him loud and clear. He sighed loudly and walked over to his massive leather chair and plunked himself onto it. "I'm not trying to trick you, Edward. I know that's what your thinking. But you see, I need someone like you to get Isabella out of the way." He paused a minute and toyed aimlessly with a piece of paper resting on his desk. "I'm sure you've heard that I'm currently running for mayor."
I nodded my head slowly. "Yes, I've heard." I was almost sure the whole damn world knew he was running for mayor. With all the signs, billboards, commercials, and public speeches, how could you miss it?
Jacob smiled widely. "I'm going up against Jasper Hale. You know, the one that this city believes is going to save them all. They love him more then life itself. And the last thing I need is to lose this election to a guy like him. I deserve the key to the city more than he ever will." He took another sip from his alcoholic drink and licked his lips.
My mind was screaming at me, telling me that this wasn't happening. I just couldn't bring myself to believe that one of the most respected guys in the whole state was propositioning me to kill his wife. "With all due respect sir, I still don't understand what any of this has to do with...with killing your wife?"
A smirk tugged at his lips. "Well, that's simple, Mr. Cullen. I need the city's sympathy."
Maybe I was a little slow, but I still couldn't comprehend anything that he was saying. "I...I don't understand."
Leaning forward slightly, Jacob entwined his fingers neatly on his desk. "Edward, do you know nothing about winning the people over?" he asked, all traces of joking gone from his voice. "Do you know how high my votes will go if they feel sorry for me when I've lost the supposed 'love of my life'? The ballets will shoot through the roof." Jacob exhaled through his nose. "I need you, Edward. You're what I am looking for."
I swallowed thickly and clenched my teeth. "Why me? Why not one of the other guys out there?" I asked pointing toward the window that overlooked the courtyard of working prisoners.
He leaned back against his chair again. "A part of me knew that you were going to ask that question, and the good news is that I have an answer. My wife says that she believes that you're innocent. That there something about you that makes it seem like you don't belong here." He stood up from his chair and paced slowly back and forth. "Bella trusts you in a weird way, and you and I both know that trust is a lie."
I inhaled and then exhaled slowly. "Let's just say that I agree to this. How the hell am I supposed to kill her? We got guards up our asses watching every single move we make. So, obviously your plan has some flaws," I stated as I, too, stood up from my chair.
"You see, that's where you're wrong, Mr. Cullen." Jacob shook his head back and forth. "I've been planning this for months, and I believe that it is finally perfect." He laughed with out humor. "Are you in or not?" he asked.
"What's in it for me?" I asked.
He smiled widely. "You'll be a free man, Edward. These walls will no longer hold you back."
The sound of those words made my head swell with excitement and happiness. I nodded my head, considering what he was telling me. Before I agreed to anything, I needed to know his ideas. "Tell me your brilliant plan that you have," I demanded.
Jacob grinned. "Now were talking." He leaned closer to me and set his drink down. "I'm going to get you to my house and when you get there you're going to use the garage code that I give you. When you're inside change out of the orange clothes and get into the clothes that I have laying on my bed. From there, Bella will be home around three p.m. Then you can get her to drive you off the prison grounds where you'll do whatever you want with her. When all is said and done, I want her dead." He paused for a moment to take a breath. "You can drive across the border to Canada and by the time I notice she's gone, you'll be free."
I was impressed. He obviously put a lot of thought into this. I swallowed slightly. "And what if I don't want to do it?" I asked.
He snickered loudly as if I said the funniest thing in the world. "Let's just say you'll wish you were dead by the time I get through with you. Sound good?" he asked.
My heart was pounding so hard. This could be my chance to get out of here; to set everything right; to let the truth be told. So I did what my gut told me to do. "Alright." I paused a short moment. "I'll do it." A wide grin spread across his face. "But," I began, "if I get caught, you're going down right along with me."
Jacob didn't respond, only continued to stare. He tore his gaze from my eyes and picked up a black pen, writing numbers down on a yellow post it. "This is the garage code and the alarm code to my house." Jake ripped it from the pad and handed it to me. I went to take it from him when I accidentally knocked a plaque off his desk sending it to the floor. "Smooth," he said obviously not caring much about the object. "Pick it up and see yourself out. One of the guards will be waiting to take you to the nurse. I'll come by your cell when I need you," Jacob stated before walking to a different part of his office.
I bent down to reach the object when I noticed the tape recorder he had been using earlier was still going. He must have dropped it when he was practicing his campaign speech. I glanced back to see Jacob with his back to me. With out any second thoughts, I took the tape from the recorder and replaced it with a new one. Quickly, I shoved it in the bottom of my shoe. I knew for a fact that this would come in handy later.
Hastily, I walked to the door, reaching for the knob. "Oh, Edward?" Jacob called. I glanced back him, my hand still grasping the handle. "Tell anyone about this, and I'll be sure to kill you myself." I nodded my head once and then headed out the door.
Jacob was right. One of the security guards was waiting, patiently outside of his office. "Hands behind your back," he commanded. I obeyed, maneuvering my arms so they were behind me. The guard locked the shackles around my wrists tightly before grasping my upper arm to lead me to the doctor's office and then most likely back to my cell where I would be excused from work today.
Jacob's offer came at me like a pound of bricks, shoving me to the ground. I could hardly believe what I had gotten myself into, but there was no other way. I had to get out of this prison, to get away from these jail walls that would enclose me for the next twenty years.
We walked to the room where a female doctor waited to check out my face and hand from the incident with Mike Newton. She wrapped my knuckles in white gauze pads and sprayed the cut on my cheek bone with some disinfectant. I flinched as the liquid seeped into my wounds.
The woman smiled slightly. "How'd you get this?" she asked, pointing to the marks on my knuckles and face.
I shrugged my shoulders. "Just a stupid fight," I replied with out meeting her gaze.
"Oh," she said, nodding. A short silence lingered betweetn us while she fixed my scrapes. "So what are you in for?" She asked. "I've never seen you around."
I looked at her face in disbelief. "I've been here for the past two years, but most of the time, I usually avoid fighting." I paused a moment. "And I'm in for man slaughter," I said, my tone with no traces of emotion.
My words apparently shut the nurse up. Who would want to talk to a murderer anyway?
With one final cotton pad pressed to my face, she excused me. "You're all set."
"Thanks," I mumbled before walking out the door where the same guard was waiting for me. He did the usual; hands behind my back, put the handcuffs on, and held onto my upper arm like I was a child in trouble. Except this time, I didn't send him a death glare that I normally sent to the guards. This time I kept my eyes fixed on the floor with no feeling at all in them.
I didn't know if I was doing the right thing. But I knew if I didn't do it, he would find someone else and then add some shitty lie to my record saying I did something when I really didn't. After all, if anyone had that kind of power is was Warden Jacob Black. He was fake. and everyone believed any little thing that he said. They treated him like he could do no wrong.
The security guard brought me to my cell and slammed the iron door behind him. I looked around the room, feeling several different emotions all at once. First, happiness. This would be the last time that I had to see these dreaded walls. I would get to leave today and very soon. Second, nervousness. What if I got caught, and then they put me back in here for life? Like I told Black: If I go down, he's going down with me. And I was feeling scared. Not for me, of course, but for Bella. Jacob said that she believed I was innocent; that I didn't belong here.
So I decided. I knew what I was going to do, and I knew what had to be done. I would go along with Jacob's plan, and then, I would let the truth be told about the murders. One thing I knew for sure was that I was not a killer.
I went to go rest on my bed, to just close my eyes for a few moments. I had never felt so exhausted in my life. So I drifted asleep...
--
"Cullen!"
I stirred slightly at the sound of my last name and awoke from my short sleep that left me restless. Looking over my shoulder, I saw Jacob with my cell door open. Immediately, I got up from my bed and walked over to where he stood, waiting for his orders.
He looked around once and then turned to me and whispered, "The guards are all on lunch break, except for the ones at the entrance and at the exit so it's going to be easier than I thought to get you to my house."
I nodded my head, continuously as he handcuffed my arms, probably to make it look like he was taking me to the courtyard in case we were stopped. "You still have the alarm and the garage code?" he asked, merely above a whisper.
"Yes," I said simply.
"Good."
I glanced up at the video camera that had its wires clipped and the lense smashed. Apparently, Jacob made sure he left no traces of his involvement behind.
With that we walked briskly and silently to the side door of the prison. I had never knew that this door led out to the homes that were placed on the prison grounds. Everyone here thought it went to the courtyard. Sneaking out of here would have been a snap if I had known about that.
Jacob dragged me by my arm as he led me to his shiny, black Mercedes Benz. The windows were tinted a dark black color so I definitely wasn't worried about anyone seeing us. He glanced around once before he shoved me into the back seat where he instructed me to lay down. So I did, with out any questions or hesitation.
I watched as he went to the front seat and started the car. "You remember the plan?" he asked, still keeping his eyes on the road. Jacob looked relaxed and definitely at ease. Almost...content?
"Yes, I remember it," I responded. I paused a moment debating if this was the wrong question to ask, but I spoke anyway. "Do you not love your wife?" I asked, but then quickly added more. "I mean, if you loved her you wouldn't want to kill her."
A smile crept across his face. "There was a time when I did love Bella, but, now, things have changed. And there are sacrifices we have to make." He stopped a moment. "Bella and I don't really click anymore. Besides, I'm sure you've noticed that I have Leah now. Bella's death will simply just help me get my job as mayor. I'll mourn for a few months and then continue with my duty."
We were only driving for about three minutes when the car came to a complete stop. I looked at Jacob who appeared to be surveying the grounds of any guards; obviously they would notice my orange attire. "Alright, no one is around. You can get out," he said before unlocking the doors.
I sat up and turned my body slightly allowing him to remove the shackles from my wrists. He did it quickly and then reached over the seat, opening the door. "Remember the plan," he reminded me.
"Okay," I said before rushing out of the car. I hurriedly walked over to the garage and entered the code written on the yellow post-it note. "1-2-2-4-enter," I whispered, saying the code aloud. With that, the garage door began to slide up. I glanced around once, watching Jacob's car leave the driveway.
Quickly, I closed the garage door and rushed into the house. Almost immediately, I shut off the alarm with the code that was given to me.
The house was like a mansion, typically, but I had no time to admire the home. It was already 2:50 p.m. Bella would be home in ten minutes. So I rushed up the two flights of stairs, mentally yelling at myself for not asking which room was his. There were so many doors that led to various rooms that could have been theirs.
Trying to cut down my search, I looked for the room with clothes resting on the bed. After all, he said that they would be waiting for me. It was the room at the end of the hall that was theres. So I briskly undressed and threw on the navy blue jeans and light blue button-up that Jacob would lend me.
Snapping each button shut seemed to take forever, but the task was finally done. I glanced down back at the bed where there was a silver pistol and cash sitting. I swallowed hard and picked up the gun in my hands. The time on the alarm clock caught my eye saying 2:57 p.m. Instantly, I reached for the black jacket and wrapped it around my body, placing the gun and money in the left pocket.
I ran down the stairs, taking two steps at a time, and waited by the front door silently where Bella would be entering. I took the gun out of my pocket and held it firmly in my right hand. My heart was thudding loudly while my breathing remained uneven. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a minute, trying to rid all of the negative outcomes that could be the result.
My eyes shot open when I noticed the door begin to open, and just as I was expecting, Bella walked inside. Her chocolate colored eyes were fixed on the envelopes of mail in her hand so she didn't notice my presence at first.
I waited for her to close the door behind her before I made my occupancy known. Like a theif in the night, I came up behind her and pressed my hand against her mouth while the one with the gun remained at my side. Bella sucked in a ragged breath and jumped slightly as she looked out of the corner of her eye at me. "Don't scream," I commanded in a whisper.
Her breathing was extremely heavy as her whole body tensed up when I pressed the gun to her head. "Don't kill me. Please," she pleaded, the words muffled by understandable against my hand.
I brought my lips to her ear. "You're going to do what I say and then nothing will happen to you, got it?" I stated quietly as if others were here to witness this.
Bella nodded her head quickly as I dropped my hand from her mouth and grasped her forearm. "Just tell me what you want and you can have it. I promise. Just...just..." Her voice trailed off as tears of fear filled her eyes.
I inhaled slowly as I dragged her to the garage where her car was. I opened her door for her and shoved her inside the driver side. Instantly, I was in the passenger side of the car, sitting on the floor instead of the seat. I had the gun aimed at her as her eyes full of fright stared down at me.
"Where are we going?" she asked, her voice cracking several times.
"Start the car," I demanded. She did as I told her after she opened the garage door. "Now, drive to the exiting gates and get me off the prison grounds." I paused a minute. "Act normal because if they notice anything, I promise I will shoot you."
Bella nodded her head several times and closed her eyes, swallowing hard. "Okay."
I waggled the gun slightly. "Drive!" I whispered loudly.
And she did. Her facial expressions went from being afraid to completely normal, the way she had looked when I saw her in Jacob's office this afternoon. One thing she was good at was putting on an act. I ducked down lower into the floor as we approached the gates where the security guards would be waiting.
She honked the horn once and then pointed to gates with a wide smile. I couldn't see, but the guards must have opened it because we kept driving at the same speed. "We're out," she whispered down to me, her face going back to its panicked state. "Where do I go?" she asked, slightly shaky.
I sighed loudly as I got off the floor and sat in the passenger seat. "Drive to the nearest gas station," I said reaching for my seatbelt.
I couldn't believe it. I was out of there, finally. No longer was I caged in by those stone walls with barbed wire. I was free, for now.
My body turned to glance over at Bella who was gripping the steering wheel so tight that her knuckles were turning white. Her breathing was coming fast, almost like she was hyperventilating. Her legs shook profusely as she pressed on the gas. "What are you going to do with me?" she asked, her eyes fixed on the windshield. Her voice was full of angst and anxiety.
I didn't answer her. Instead, I looked out the window, watching the sidewalk pass us by. "Just relax," I said, trying to sound reassuring.
Bella inahled slowly before she pulled into the Shell Gas Station where there were barely any cars. "Perfect," I whispered aloud. I took off my seatbelt and commanded her to follow. With trembling hands, she opened her door. "Give me the keys," I demanded. Bella placed them in my hand slowly.
Quickly, I pressed the trunk button, causing it to open. I looked around several times before I whispered, "Get in."
She looked at me like I was crazy which I probably was. "What?" she asked in disbelief. "You..you can't...I..."
I interrupted her rambling. "Get in the trunk," I said through gritted teeth.
If she moved any slower, I knew someone would see us so I reached for her arm and helped her in. Bella fought slightly, but didn't make a huge scene. "No. No. Please don't do this," she begged in a whisper.
I cut off her words when I slammed the trunk shut. Briskly, I walked inside the gas station and decided to plot my trail. Behind the counter was a woman reading a magazine. She stopped abruptly when she noticed my presence. "What can I help you with, gorgeous?" she asked trying to appear sexy.
Hoping that I still could be charming, I spoke. "You wouldn't happen to know how to get to I-55 from here, now would you?" I asked leaning over the counter.
She beamed and leaned closer to me. "Well, I do, but I won't tell you."
A fake smirk tugged at my lips. "And why is that?" I asked in a whisper.
The woman smiled widely and twirled her blond hair with her fingers. "Because then you'll leave."
I licked my lips and drew back a little. "How about this?" I paused a moment. "I'm going to be back here next Thursday. How about you and I catch a movie and then dinner later?" I lied smoothly. I wrote down a fake number and pushed it toward her.
She bit her lip trying to fight the grin that threatened to come. "Well, there's nothing to it. All you have to do is follow 82nd street and then make a left on Cicero Road. Before you know it, I-55 is on your left."
Smiling widely, I replied. "Thanks," I said before turning back to her. "And I'll see you Thursday."
With that, I walked out the door. I couldn't help but wonder if this woman would change her mind when she knew that I was a convicteded murderer who just escaped from jail. I laughed slightly at the thought.
As I approached the car, I could hear Bella screaming for someone to help her. There were no cars around so of course no one would be able to hear her pleas. I tapped the trunk lightly, letting her know that I was back. Immediately, she silenced herself.
I stepped into the car and began to drive, but I wasn't going anywhere near I-55. I had to remain one step ahead so that I wouldn't get caught. I would need to throw the police off my trail...
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