Disclaimer: My toy box but not my toys.

...

Punch. Punch. Kick. Jab. Dodge.

Jasper held the punching bag in place as Bella practiced her self defense skills that he was always insisting she attend classes for.

"Do you think he hired someone to do it? I don't think he actually did the killing, but I don't think Biers is innocent." She huffed out, placing another kick to the side of the bag.

"Nice kick...Something is off about his story. He increases her life insurance nearly 6 months before she dies, he comes home late from a poker game, and she's dead at the bottom of the stairs. He calls 911 approximately 20 minutes after his cellphone pings that he's home. Why wait? If I came home to find my wife dead, I'd call immediately. But his prints or DNA aren't on her. He didn't touch her, pick her up, check her for a pulse. No CPR or anything. It doesn't add up."

"He claimed that she had been drinking and mixing pain pills. That she fell. But the injuries she sustained don't match the story. Plus her toxicology didn't show any medications at all."

"Minimum alcohol level?"

Her eyebrows furrowed as she nodded, ponytail swaying as she would bob and weave, punching with all her might. With the sweat running down her forehead and getting into her eyes, she took a step back and grabbed her water bottle.

Suddenly a deep voice sounded from behind her, "I'd hate to be the one who meets up with you in a dark alley."

Jasper and Bella turned around to see Jacob standing there, looking at them with a smile on his face.

"Jacob! Hi! I didn't know you'd be at the gym today." Bella said quickly, glancing at Jasper, "This is Jasper. My best friend and... partner. At the firm. " Jasper mentally sized him up as he stepped forward, extending his hand to Jacob to shake it.

"Nice to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you." Jasper said sternly.

Jacob's eyes narrowed slightly, "Likewise. So you're the guy who kept my girl up late last night, right?"

Bella smirked slightly and nodded, "He sure was. We hung out at my place and he helped me work on my latest case. Right, Jazz?"

Jasper gave a curt nod, not speaking. If he only knew just what I was doing to 'his girl'.

"Oh yeah! The Biers case, right? Too bad, I liked him. He was a good kid."

Jasper raised an eyebrow, "Knew him well then?"

Jacob laughed and shook his head, "Not too well. Through a mutual friend. Well hey, Hells Bells, call me today and we'll set up dinner." Jacob kissed her cheek and gave a nod to Jasper before walking away.

After he retreated, Jasper's mouth dropped and he stared at her. She looked at him hesitantly, "What?"

"That's him. That's the guy you're stringing along this time. What the fuck? He is arrogant, egotistical-..."

"Okay!" She laughed, "I never said it was going to last. So he mentioned getting married. So what? He takes me to dinner, pampers me, tells me I'm pretty... And dates other girls sometimes too..." she gave a slight shrug of her shoulder.

"And you're okay with that?" He asked quietly.

"Who am I to judge? I do the same thing. I've done the same thing for years. Broken so many hearts. Hurt so many people..." she ended in a whisper.

"...But you keep doing it because you don't believe you deserve better. Well you do. You deserve the best. And I'll prove it to you someday..." he rested a hand on her lower back and planted a kiss on her forehead before beginning to punch the bag.

...

Bella stood next to her desk, her button down blouse, knee length skirt and sky high heels giving her the powerful appearance she tries to exude. She leans over the desk to read her files, hoping for a new perspective to jump out at her.

Silence wraps around her and she glanced out the window. Dark night skies greet her and she then realized just how late it was. The desk phone rings and she hits the speakerphone button. "Bella Swan speaking.."

"Bella, baby. I just got out of a late meeting. I was thinking of picking up Chinese food. Meet you at your place? Say, oh, 9:00?"

Bella glanced at her watch. 8:25.

"Yeah, sure, Jake. I'm shutting down my work now.. I think I need a run. Clear my head. I'll meet you at my apartment."

She hung up the phone and went into her office bathroom, changing into her running clothes. A knock on her door startled her.

"Bella? Are you still here?" Jasper's voice set her heart back to normal. She stepped out of the bathroom, carrying her sneakers. Jasper raised his eyebrows, "You're running? This late?"

Bella nodded, "Jacob is meeting me at my apartment. He's bringing food. I figured I'd get my run in and kill 2 birds with one stone."

Jasper crossed his arms and leaned against her doorway, "Let me change and I'll run with you. I'll just catch a cab from your place to mine. You know how I feel-..."

"I know, I know. Hurry up, you have 5 minutes to meet me outside and then I'm leaving you behind ." She began to put her phone into her armband and stretching.

Just under five minutes later, Jasper was walking outside. She gave him a once over and popped her buds into her ears. Without a second glance, she took off running, vaguely keeping track of him running beside her.

The pounding of the pavement under her feet keeping a steady rhythm as her mind wandered. Photos of the crime scene flashing in her head, the blank expression in her dead eyes haunting her.

"Bella...Bella...Bella!" A voice screamed, causing her to snap her head to the side. Headlights capturing her in their beams as Jasper tackled her to the ground, pushing her to the side. Her head smacked the concrete as his body came to lay on top of hers, shielding her from the speeding vehicle. Tires squealing as the car sped away without stopping.

Breathing hard, Bella looked up at Jasper.

"That wasn't an accident. That car sped towards you. Somebody just tried to kill you." Jasper whispered.

...