Warning: There's a really gory scene up ahead. Rating will change to M (in about two chapters). Each death will get gorier. (If you disagree with my rating change then please tell me)

Safely in his car and out the winding driveway, Ludwig realizes something. Something that will not hesitate to make itself known, in the most violent way.

Edward Cullen is dangerous, very dangerous.

Vendetta

Chapter Four: Blood and Suspects

Death Toll: 3

My dearest Emily,

I cannot enclose the full details of this case, but you have no need of worry. I have just interviewed one of the victim's boyfriend, only hours ago. I do not believe that he killed his girlfriend, but…How silly of me, I cannot express what I mean to express. There's something about him, the boyfriend, which I cannot grasp. Oh Emily, you are very fortunate to be away from these oddities. There's a secret, a secret that very few people in Forks are aware of. Something tells me that this secret is the key to figure out these murders.

My dear, I cannot write anymore, but I assure you I will write soon.

Your Love,

Ludwig Ibott

He folds the letter into thirds and inserts it into the envelope. He puts the letter in his pocket, meaning to find a post office to mail it. He believes that the post office will faster than the regular mail. With the letter finished to his fiancée, he grabs a folder filled with facts about the case and sits down comfortably in the sofa.

"Thank you again," says Ludwig, "For letting me stay in your house. The hotels are ghastly."

"No problem," says Chief Swan, "Getting anywhere?"

"I'm afraid not."

Chief Swan nods and then finally pops the question that has been on many people's minds, "Why do you talk so…odd?"

"Odd? I do not believe it's odd," Ludwig sighs, "But if you must know, I was bit of a book-lover in my youth. My favorites were among the Victorians, Renaissance, and the like. I suppose it has grown on me."

"Suppose nothing. It has grown on you."

Ludwig laughs lightly before looking at the case folder. He looks outside.

"My, it's rainy."

"Yes, it is. It always rains here in Forks."

"How depressing."

"People here get used to it," says Chief Swan.

"I suppose they do," muses Ludwig.

Chief Swan looks at him and grins, "You don't like it, do you?"

Ludwig grins back and shakes his head, "Look at the sky, it looks so dark and it's only seven o'clock. The rain makes the sky darken quickly."

"I suppose so."

"Ha, I'm surprised there's not many crimes here. I've always thought that criminals would like the eerie weather."

"Trust me, eerie weather here is sunlight for two days straight."

Ludwig allows himself to laugh heartily at the comment and finally decides to focus on the case. Chief Swan focuses on the case as well.

"What did you find out about Edward?"

Ludwig hesitates, "Nothing, that we didn't already know. I feel certain about one thing. Edward Cullen did not kill Isabella, but something tells me that he has a role to play in these crimes."

Chief Swan nods. Then the phone rings.

"I got it," announces Chief Swan. He picks up the phone. "Hello?" There's a slight pause. "What?… No way are you joking? Just now?" Chief Swan's breathing becomes rapid and faint, "Oh no…I'm on my way…Thank you." He hangs up the phone. Ludwig looks up expectantly.

"Someone just called in an emergency. There's" (he gulps) "another murder."

Ludwig's expression turns shocked, "Oh my, really?"

Chief Swan does not answer. He seems to have trouble breathing.

"Sir," asks Ludwig, "Are you alright?"

Chief Swan nods, "Yes…I mean, I just can't believe it. Another murder."

"So soon, too," but Ludwig does not say the rest. This murder may prove to clear Tyler's name. Tyler may not have killed Isabella after all. "Let's go."

"Right," agrees Chief Swan.

The scene is complete chaos and confusion. No one seems sure of what to do. After all, another murder just took place and the murderer, so far, has left nothing. At least, that's what Ludwig can discern from the commotion outside.

"Let me through, let me through!" demands Ludwig, "Please gentlemen, ladies, let me through!"

After much pushing and shoving Ludwig makes his way to the house. Once inside he meets the infamous yellow-caution tape surrounding the living room and he also meets the parents of the deceased.

"What happened?" heaves a rather skinny woman through hard sobs, "What could have happened? She was fine when we left! Why?" She catches sight of Ludwig. "Detective! Detective! Who did this?! Who did this to my little girl?!"

"Ma'am," says Ludwig, interrupting her hysterics, "I will find out soon, but I need to see the body."

"Oh God, oh God! First Bella, then her boyfriend, now Lauren! Oh no! Why?!" Police lead her away as she continues to babble hysterically, but Ludwig extracts one thing from her histrionics. Tyler Crowley was Lauren Mallory's boyfriend. They are connected.

Ludwig taps a nearby policeman on the shoulder, "Where is the body?"

"Right here," he answers and shows Ludwig to gruesome, bloody scene.

Ludwig pulls out a handkerchief and puts it to his mouth, "Oh my."

The body and the scene is that grotesque. The body lays sprawled out on the ground, bruises spot the body in various places, almost like she had been thrown against the wall…multiple times. One of the arms bends at an odd angle and the other is snapped, white bone thrusts out of the skin. One of the legs also has bones pierced through skin, multiple times. The neck, shoulders, and one of the feet are dislocated. Blood is everywhere, spilling from a gash in her side. The blood dries on her hair and body.

'This is not the way for a person to die,' muses Ludwig sadly.

Something interrupts his musings. He finds an odd pattern of blood that leads to another room. With a shock, he realizes that the patterns of blood are footprints. Excited, he follows the bloody footprints until catches the unusually strong odor of cleaning supplies. Ludwig takes a step back, and takes a deep breath before venturing into the strong odor and the room.

"Whoa," Ludwig coughs. The strong odor is especially distinct and strong in the bathroom. There's a puddle on the floor with an empty bottle of Bleach cast aside. The bloody footprints also end here. Ludwig now realizes what happened. The murderer, realizing how bloody he was, must have doused himself with bleach to clean himself of all the blood.

Ludwig walks quickly out the room and back to the rest of crime scene, happy to be able to breathe again.

"Ludwig?" asks a voice. Ludwig looks up and sees Chief Swan.

"Yes?"

"Where were you?"

"I had found something interesting, so I went to investigate."

"What did you find?" asks Chief Swan curiously.

Ludwig pauses, and then says, "Perhaps a little later?"

The dead girl's family holds the funeral two days after her death. Ludwig, along with Chief Swan, attends the tragic event.

"I'm so very sorry for your loss," says Ludwig.

"You will find the murderer, won't you?" says the father angrily, "You find him and bring him to me! He's going to get a piece of my mind!"

Ludwig gulps, especially at seeing the near manic gleam in the man's eye.

"Yes, sir, I'm working very hard."

The man nods and turns to join his wife in mourning. Ludwig turns away to give the couple the some privacy. As he walks away, he sees a teenage girl talking to Doctor Carlisle Cullen, the very man Ludwig needs to speak to.

"Doctor Carlisle Cullen?" calls Ludwig, "A word, if you please?"

The doctor opens his mouth to speak, but the young woman beats him to it.

"Mr. Ibott?" she asks. He has to admit, it is very unsettling how everyone in this town seems to know him. "My name is Jessica Stanley."

"Hello, Ms. Stanley," says Ludwig trying to talk to the doctor.

"I can help, with the murder case," she says.

"Mmm."

"No, really I can! All three of them are connected, the victims, I mean," she says.

Ludwig looks sharply at her.

"What do you mean?"

"We all sit at the same lunch table," she says matter-of-factly.

Ludwig draws a puzzled expression. Part of him thinks it is merely coincidence, but…

"You sit, er no, sat with them?" asks Ludwig, suddenly worried.

She nods; apparently she has already seen the danger.

"Who else sits, sat, at that table?"

As she answers him, he feels the sudden, chilling urge to look toward the exit. And in the chilly, foggy night, he sees two red eyes stare at them through the window.

Author's commentary

Yes! My author's commentary will be in italics! This hopefully will be easier for you to read the comments if you wish.

Carlisle was supposed to have a bigger part in this chapter (he has a big one in the next chapter) and there were supposed to be more "suspect" part, but hopefully you can remember who sits at that lunch table. I bet you didn't know Ludwig had a fiancée, don't worry, neither did I 'til I typed this chapter. There will be some romance. Keyword: SOME. Not a lot. She has a bigger role than originally, but it won't take any focus off of Ludwig and the murderer.

Before anyone asks and comments, let me point something out. BELLA IS DEAD. She is NOT A VAMPIRE. No offense, but I'm not too crazy about Bella…(so, she's dead…)

Hope I didn't burst anyone's bubble there, but the next chapter is: Interview with Dr. Carlisle Cullen.

As always, REVIEW. I know you aren't reviewing (no offense to the people who are, kudos to you! .)...Just tell me what you like, don't like, etc.