The Cop and the Psychic

She's a fortune teller in a traveling carnival, reading futures for her survival. He's a homicide detective trying to find a serial killer. Will he believe her when she asks for help?

A/N: Fran's wonderful red pen edited this chapter with ease.

A/N: I have to rec this drabble by Pandora's Box is Heavy that has me giggling.

:/ s/ 13218250/1/ Emergency-Room-Encounter

Chapter Three:

BPOV

I stay in my trailer all morning, drinking coffee and cleaning. There really wasn't much to do but Nanny's words, 'Idle hands make you think,' keep running through my mind. My trailer is spotless.

There's a knock on my door.

I push the flower-print curtain over the window to the side to see a waiting Edward, looking down with his hands on his hips.

Opening the door, I invite him in. "Hey."

He climbs the three steps and stands in my living room area, slyly scanning my small space. "Hey."

"How are you?"

He shrugs. "Keeping busy."

"Can I get you a drink?" I extend my hand for him to sit on the sofa.

As he sits, he smiles. "No, thank you." He clears his throat. "Look, Mike told me about your conversation."

I huff sitting on a chair across from him. "He's good at getting information out of a person. I said too much."

He shakes his head. "No, no you didn't."

"Yeah, I did. I don't usually talk about my abilities, but I was rattled. When Dad would find a suspect, I kept my emotions in check about the crime."

He leans forward with his elbows over his knees, tilting his head. "Jesus, Bella, you thought you saw Alice."

"I'm so sorry. I had no idea Ariss was your sister, let alone, Alice."

"Bella, I was amazed by the details in your drawing of the family crest; they were very accurate. But hearing you say 'Heiress' gave me chills. I knew then, that the victim was her, but I didn't want to believe it."

"I am so sorry."

"It would have taken us weeks to have found her. Aside from our grief, you saved my family time from the worry. Ariss liked to take off without a word, so we wouldn't have known."

"But if I only saw this sooner, maybe I could have …" I trail.

His large hand wraps around mine. "Don't." He stares into my eyes with a reassuring smile. "It is what it is."

I stand and turn around. "Edward, I don't know who I'm dealing with, but this killer has found a way to send messages through my dreams."

"They're your premonitions."

"They're more than that. He sent me another last night, warning me to back off. He said I might have the gift of sight, but not the knowledge of understanding. He can do as he wants and I'm powerless."

"That's your fear talking, Bella, Psychology 101."

I'm insistent, "No, he's using some kind of magic. He's blocked me from seeing him. That man could walk right up to me, and I wouldn't know it was him."

"But you saw him in your first dream."

"Only his back and he was wearing a large, long cape."

"What about his voice? Do you recognize it?"

"The thing is, I hear, but I don't hear. I know it's a male voice, but I can't decipher its tone. I don't have a clue."

"Well, I found an ornate, golden button that may be from that cape."

"That's what you picked up from the ground?"

"You saw me?"

I nod. "Yeah, I'm usually good with details. Did you turn it in as evidence?"

"No, I have it. I had it checked for fingerprints, and it was clear. No one has touched it without gloves."

"But you're withholding."

"I'm waiting."

I volunteer, "I could do psychometry."

"Which is?"

"Well, anything that's held, or in someone's possession holds their energy. A sensitive, psychic can read that energy and tell a story."

"You've done this?"

"Dad would bring me evidence all the time, once he believed. I'd hold the object and close my mind."

"Wow. I'm starting to think you should work for the police force as a secret weapon."

I smirk. "I did."

He smiles and his eyes crinkle, hitching my breath.

Edward shakes his head. "Um, I did have a good reason for seeing you. Well, two."

"You want me to help you with the case," I monotone.

"That, and the funeral is tomorrow. My mom and Alice would like you to sit with us."

"Yes, I'd like that."

"And the Forks' Police Department wanted to place a guard on you, but Waylan beat us to it."

"A guard?"

"You're a witness, in a roundabout way. You need protection. Waylan was very insistent. When I told him it would be undercover, he protested."

Edward impersonates, 'We don't want no stickin' cop scarin' people off. Charlie taught me all about them, and Bella's family. He'd want me to protect her'. He laughs. "So, he has his guy dressed as a maintenance man, an ex-Marine. Mike checked him out, and he works for a security company in Port Angeles."

"I'm surprised he doesn't have Junior follow me around."

"He said he would get you killed; he's too damned stupid."

We laugh.

My smile falls. "I feel terrible doing that."

"I know." He hesitates. "The Chief won't allow me to work on this case."

"Conflict of interest being the victim is your sister?"

"Something like that. Mike, too, since he's my partner. And Jasper."

I frown furrowing my brows. "Jasper?"

"He's Alice's boyfriend, my best friend."

I sarcastically ask, "Is there anyone left who can do the investigation?"

"We have a few guys that are top-notch."

"But you plan on doing your own detective work."

He smiles. "I got myself assigned to you. Well, it wasn't hard. You're Charlie's daughter. So, when the ex-marine isn't around, I'll be with you."

I shyly smile.

"Bella, no one knows you were Charlie's snitch ... in a sense. Mike and I are the only ones. We'll keep it that way."

"And now, I'm yours?" I realize what I just said. "Um, you know what I mean." And my stomach loudly growls.

"Let me take you to lunch."

"We can eat in the dining tent. I'll introduce you everyone, and maybe, we'll get a glimpse of the ex-marine."

EPOV

Bella leads the way to the dining tent on the other side of the rides. She holds the entrance flap open for me, and I walk through, taking in the surroundings. Picnic tables are scattered throughout the space, filled with carnies eating and talking. There's a group that sits to the left. I recall meeting Chewy.

Bella shouts to them, "Hey, we'll be right over." And she points to the guy behind the serving tables.

As we approach, Bella introduces me, "Claus, this is my friend, Edward. Edward, Claus, our master chef extraordinaire."

I extend my hand, and he reciprocates with a hardy handshake. "Edward, it's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you, Claus. The food looks great. What do you recommend?"

"For lunch, Bella likes to eat a burger, a little too rare for my liking. I have hot dogs, chicken wings, fries, and mac and cheese. Today's dessert is chocolate cake." He smiles at Bella. "Her favorite."

I nod. "Good to know."

I'm an eclectic eater, so anything Claus creates is fine by me. Bella and I sit with the others, out plates filled with mooing burgers, mac and cheese and a whopping piece of cake to share.

As I bite into the sandwich, I taste all the unique herbs and spices. The rareness of the burger drips down the side of my mouth, and Bella quickly wipes it carefully with a napkin. I nod a 'thank you.'

Anxiously, she awaits my reaction.

I swallow and say, "It is a great burger."

She excitedly announces, "Am I right? Seasoned to perfection, barbecued on the outside, and so rare on the inside."

"Almost a tartare."

She shakes her head. "Without the capers."

Nervously, Chewy quietly asks me, "Mr. Edward, I won't be in any trouble?"

"Actually, you were a great help, Chewy. Don't worry yourself, man." I pat him on the back.

He sighs with relief, continuing to stuff his mouth with fries.

Sam, Seth, and Paul fall into the conversation.

Seth brags, "Bella needs to bring you on Italian night after we close. Claus prepares sausage and peppers, lasagna, baked ziti, and garlic rolls dripping in olive oil. Makes my mouth water just talking about it."

"And Claus can sit with us." Paul smiles. "He has some great stories."

Paul adds, "And don't forget the cannolis, zeppoles, and spumoni ice cream."

I wink at Bella. "I'm sold."

Renata bursts through the curtain very excited. "He said, 'Yes' to me!"

Bella smirks. "So, you finally convinced him?"

Renata fans her arms out over her head bending her right leg to an angle. "Could anyone not resist this?" She laughs, smoothing down her tank top.

"What'd you do to 'convince' him?" Sam asks.

She frowns at Sam. "I talked to him … nicely. No more giddy giggling. And I got the most radiant smile."

Renata sits on the other side of Bella and squeezes her arm. "We're going out tomorrow night."

"That's great," Bella coos.

"It's just a movie and pizza, but it's a date!"

Bella turns to me filling in the spaces. "Renata has had a crush on our new maintenance guy, Jake, for the past few weeks."

I nod. "And he asked her out."

Renata interrupts. "No, not exactly. I asked him."

Bella placates, "But he said, 'yes,' Ren."

"Yes, he did," she sings.

All of us laugh.

~TCATP~

Bella and I exit the dining tent, and I walk her to her trailer.

She admits, "You know, I'm really glad we officially open on Saturday."

"But it was decent of Waylon to observe Ariss' funeral and delay it a day," I say.

"He and Dad have always been close. Waylon is like an uncle."

"Were you close to Junior growing up?"

"We really didn't have the chance. Maybe, a few times running in the backyard. His mother ran off with him when he was around six or seven. Waylon never said anything and Dad never asked. When I decided to live with my mom before starting NYU, I heard from Dad that Junior showed up at Waylon's door."

"Really?" I look on with great interest.

"Yeah, he said that Waylon took him in without batting an eye."

"Did he ever say where he went with his mom?"

"No … He rarely speaks. He has this pronounced stutter," Bella sympathizes. "He was always kind of shy. All of us here barely see him."

"What does he do?"

"He's an accountant, so he does all the books for Waylon."

"Did someone mention my name?" Waylon approaches with a huge, mountain of a man.

"I brought Edward to one of Claus' lunches," Bella quickly spurts.

Waylon laughs. "I keep telling this girl she needs to cook her burger! I want you to meet Ray Slater, here."

She gives Ray a finger moving wave. "Hey, Ray." I shake his hand. "Ray."

"That's Edward, Ray," Waylon tells him.

"You're the cop watching, Bella, too," his deep voice bellows.

"Yes."

"Well, we're headed over to Claus' feast. Are you going to be around for a while, Edward?" Waylon asks.

Bella surprises me, "Edward agreed to take me shopping to get a dress for tomorrow."

Waylon apologizes, "Sorry, Edward, my condolences to you and your family."

"Thank you."

"Well, we should get going." She fidgets.

"I'll see you later, young lady." Waylon points at Bella.

She rolls her eyes as we walk away. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to put you on the spot, but Ray gave me the creeps."

I huff. "He is huge."

"And there's something odd about him."

"He didn't look you straight in the eyes," I admit.

"Yeah." She clears her throat. "I don't need to get a dress; that was just an excuse."

"Would you like to go to my place?"

She looks at me with great surprise, placing her hand on her chest. "Do I look easy?"

I smile. "No, but I was hoping you'd do some psychometry."

"Ah, get it." she kids. "I'm only good for my psychic abilities."

I smile. "I'm hoping."

A/N: I'd like to address two things. Yes, Chewy is Hispanic. But if you followed his actions, he took a piece of gum to chew, as he spoke to Bella and the others in the first chapter. No, he was named by all the Anglos in the carny. His name is Chewy, after chewing, not Chuy! You missed the pun, some of you had to make this clear to me.

Also, I don't hide the fact that I'm a professional psychic. What I haven't divulged is that I've worked with a few police departments on different cases. Seeing things, I can relate to … honestly.

One more thing, the heiress comment from Bella. She heard heiress, not acquainting it to the name of Ariss, Alice's twin sister.

Psychics don't always understand what we're given.