A Mystery in Forks

Chapter 2

The coroner was at the hospital- his day job. Since murder was extremely scarce in Forks, he stayed at the hospital, so the officers always had to come to him. He was quite the distinguished man. Side note, he was Bella's partner's father, so giving him a heads up before heading over there was a requirement as well as being prepared to talk about your personal life. He always wanted to talk into detail about everything, not just his findings.

Doctor Cullen was thrilled to say the least when Isabella and Edward met him to discuss the body thirty minutes late. The other detectives, Shawn and Gus, hadn't given him much hope. So a wide smile broke across his face as his son and his partner were ushered in his office.

"Hello, Edward," he went for hugs, "Bella," then returned to his professional nature as red crept up on each of the detectives' faces.

"So Carlisle, what do you have for us?" Bella wasted no time getting to the point of the visit. She wasn't one for awkward small talk, much like her father.

"Well, the man you want to talk about was brutally murdered. Slashes across his abdomen and faces of various lengths and depths, which I thought was odd," the duo nodded their heads in agreement and waited for the doctor to proceed. "The lab wasn't able to find any DNA results from the assailant, only this poor fellow here."

"Anything about the weapon?" What could it be? The inconsistent marks reminded Bella of scratching, "Could this man just be a victim of an animal attack?"

"Hmmm, well, possibly. I could ask the lab to analyze the markings and for anything animal that could be tested."

"But, wouldn't an animal left hair or easily noticeable DNA on the body?" Edward challenged.

Carlisle placed the folder down and sifted through the pictures, comparing it with his previous notes. "You're right, but I do have to agree with Bella. It looks like scratching, almost. Shawn and Gus had no idea what to make of it."

"Thank you so much Carlisle. Would you mind doing a once-over of the body, if the person is still out there then I have to say Forks is no longer safe," Bella turned and left, shortly followed by Edward.

"At least no twenty questions this time," Bella exhaled as soon as they were driving away.

Edward chuckled, "Yeah, it was rather nice. I mean I get annoyed when he does it over the phone, but it drives me insane when he interrogates me when I'm busy."

"I remember last "suspicious death" we were in there for over an hour. I felt like it would have been the same results if I had gone and talked to a psychiatrist."

"He's nosy to say the least. Though Esmè is pretty bad too."

"Well at least your dad can hold a conversation, my dad doesn't do small talk!" Bella declared.

Edward awkwardly smiled, there was no correct response to that statement. Either he agrees that his boss can't hold a conversation or bring attention to her father's major awkwardness. Either is dangerous territory he thought. "Mind if I turn on some tunes?"

"Go right ahead" Isabella watched her partner let out a deep breath, she didn't realize how awkward the last sentence she said was until the words rushed out of her mouth. OH well, she thought and looked at the scenery flying by.

Radio station was just commercials, neither of the other stations had a great choice in music, so conversation died.

Then a little while later Bella's phone rang, in her rushed state, she didn't check the caller-id and was rather surprised. "Barnes? What is it?"

"I'll need you to send me the address right now."

"Okay, thank you." Edward watched his partner's eyes furrow in concentration. "Yes, Alright. We'll be there ASAP. Bye."

"What happened?" Bella looked at the message on her phone before replying.

"There's been another murder. I'm plugging in the address right now, Ellie should tell us where to go shortly. (Ellie is the name for the GPS- just go with it).

"Did Barnes have anything else to say?"

"No, he didn't know much. It was just called in, they're sending in a forensic team down there now."

Edward chuckled. The Forensic team was few of the guys in an old Ambulance with a police sticker on the side. Serious evidence that needed to be reviewed was sent to Port Angeles because the medical team at the hospital wasn't prepared for all of that special processing. So overall one large problem was driving all over the place, and there was never a simple way to get anywhere, one thing he missed about working in the city.

After turning on the lights, the sleek, silver automobile flew through Forks to the crime scene.

"And you are?" said a disgruntled officer blocking Bella and Edward from entering the arearestricted off from the public.

"Detectives Cullen and Swan," was the reply as two badges were whipped out to confirm identification. The man muttered some apology and admitted them.

"What do you have?" Bella approached the commanding officer on the scene and the current forensic team assembled.

"Same M.O. as one last week. Brutal mutilation to torso and face. No one so far has seen anyone suspicious or is able to identify the body," replied the red-haired, gangly man, directing them to the body sprawled on the ground.

"Footprints? The ground is pretty moist around this area," Edward carefully stepped towards the grey-haired man.

"No personal i.d. anywhere?" odd, Bella thought, a killer, cleaning up their tracks or making the process overall difficult, making us waste time and miss important things?

"No m'am, I'm sorry but there's no sign of anything personal on his body or nearby," the officer paused before suggesting, "Maybe the murderer cleaned the scene?"

She nodded her head and leaned over the body, taking in the impressions on the ground and lacerations across the body. "So would you say there was a struggle Matt?"

The seasoned officer, glanced around, then back at the victim. "Possibly, but we won't know until the body is closely examined in the lab and tests are completed. This isn't looking good champ."

Bella looked up at her mentor on the force who gave her a sympathetic smile, which she returned before slowly standing up. The fellows were starting to wrap everything up and load it in the vehicle.

"There's some trampled ground over here," Edward called out. Isabella was there in a flash, eager for a lead.

An oddly shaped imprinted area was completely flattened behind some trees farther back in the woods, only noticeable by someone with keen observational skills. "What do you make of it?"

"I don't know." A cop came over with a marker that was quickly placed before the detectives proceeded deeper into the woods. Every chirp, snap, and rustle kept them on alert. More information was key to solving a mystery. They just needed to find it, preferably before the sun set, Bella thought.

Twenty minutes passed with the detectives in different directions, scouring the entire forest. Bella's shoes were starting to rub incessantly against her bare ankle, the day she chose to wear low socks of course she'd be doing the most walking.

"Hey the witness wants to know if he can leave," crackled over the radio. Isabella sighed, nothing was found. The witness couldn't leave before we've had a word, so the only option was to return.

"Not yet" was the quick reply and the detectives trekked back to the roadside. They assumed the man in a workout outfit was the man because he was looking around anxious and jogging in place to stay warm, the wind had picked up slightly.

"Good afternoon sir, we'd like to ask you some questions," Edward began, extending his hand in a cordial manner, which was vehemently refused.

"I've already talked to the police who are you?"

"We are the detectives on this case sir and would appreciate if you cooperated," Bella rolled her eyes at him sizing up her and her partner.

Revealing the badges finally convinced him to talk. "So do you just want me to start from the beginning?"

"Yes."

"You see, I was out on my usual run when I noticed something on the side of the road, down in that ditch over there. It was pretty brightly colored, so I went to check it out. I saw the body, called the police, and that's about it."

Edward looked at Bella, they were both thinking, really?

The man looked expectantly at the officers of the law before him, waiting for questions.

"Are you sure that's everything? Every little detail you remember helps us piece together the puzzle."

"I don't think there's a puzzle to solve it looks like an animal attack to me." The matter of fact reply was irritating, who exactly did this guy think he was?

Bella couldn't stand it anymore, her partner was being too delicate with the witness' crappy attitude. "Sir, do you have any qualifications to make that observation?" He shook his head, thrown off by her fierce tone. "Okay, well I don't want to hear your opinion. We are here to listen to you recount of events from earlier. Unless in your opinion you saw something out of place, I really don't have time for your lack of respect."

Edward glanced at his partner, wondering why she was so testy today, the man looked as though he was about to drop to the ground and resort to the fetal position, his pride no longer intact.

"Sorry detective, I didn't mean to come off that way." He paused and Bella raised her eyebrow in interest. "You see I kind of need to get home to pick my daughter up from school and don't want her to get upset because I'm late."

An excuse? Using his daughter as an excuse, the nerve of this pompous, old….

Edward interjected at seeing his partner's ravenous glare, "Sir, I'm sure she'd understand."

"You'd think, but she pays no attention to me. Thinks I'm an embarrassment or something. That's why I need to hurry up, can't have her upset." Edward resisted the urge to roll his eyes, this man was so oblivious. Who's the parent in that situation one could only wonder.

"Detectives!"

Bella and Edward turned to the officer beckoning them over.

"I'm sorry sir, but it looks like they have something for us, so I guess …" she looked at her partner who was giving her a "be nice" look. "I guess you can go pick up your daughter. We'll be in touch if we have any more questions. Also, if you think of anything further, feel free to stop by the police station."

The man let out a sigh of relief and he smiled. "Thank you. Now you have a nice day." He almost skipped away.

"Now that was very civil, I'm proud of you," whispered Edward as they approached the huddle mass of blue.

There was a quick gleam in her eyes, but it was gone in a flash, "What is it?" She had her hands on her hips and everything.

"After the body was taken away, a few more officers canvassed the area," there was a nod to continue. "They came across something rather interesting. There was a bag in a ditch not too far away."

"People throw things off the side of the road all the time. What's so special about this one?"

"I think it was the victim's," was the reply as the detectives were led to the evidence.

A/N: I know, not a super thrilling chapter, but don't worry they'll get better! The story just needed to be set up! I hope you enjoyed it and please review and I'll put up the next chapter faster:)