Chapter Four
Isabella walked through the door Edward held open and into the jumble of aromas and laughter in the Schectler Brew Pub. Her stomach knotted with tension. She clutched her hands together in front of her to keep them from trembling.
She scanned the crowd of faces. A pair of dark eyes met hers. Eyes that belonged to the receptionist at the district attorney's office. Jessica Stanley had joined the district attorney's office only a year before Bella's father had died, but she had always been so open and friendly, Isabella used to think of her as a sister. Or at least a friend. But judging by the way Jessica narrowed her eyes at the sight of her and Edward together, Bella's fears about venturing into the brew pub were more than justified. No doubt other D.A.'s office employees would lose their smiles when they spotted her. The pariah. Charlie Swan's daughter.
She shouldn't have come here. Shouldn't have come to the spot Edward said had become the after-work hangout for A.D.A.'s – assistant district attorney's. She should have done as Edward wanted and let him handle questioning Aro Cohen.
No.
She raised her chin and stepped forward into the pub. She would face whatever scorn she had to, to find Luke. Even the contempt of the whole damn town. And if Aro Cohen was carrying on her father's legacy, and if he had helped Smythe in exchange for money, she would face that too.
With Edward leading the way, she marched across the hardwood floor and wound through tables and patrons until they reached a vacant spot at the bar. Jovial laughter and conversation jangled in her ears. Laughed and conversation that stilled as she bellied up to the bar.
Trying to appear oblivious to the stares she focused straight ahead. Two men worked behind the gleaming oak bar, taping the famous Schettler beer and chatting with patrons. But one of the men wasn't with his fellow district attorneys after work wasn't a bartender by trade. Not by a long shot. The tall, honey blonde hair, Texan serving drinks and hobnobbing with his fellow district attorneys after work was one of the best and most dedicated prosecutors in this or any other county. And he used to be her father's right-hand man.
The man her father had tried to kill.
"It's about time you joined us down here, Edward." Jasper Hale's smoky drawl rose over the laughter and hum of the other voices in the bar. "You haven't been in here since my last birthday."
Edward gave him a nod. "I don't want to do too much socializing with the troops, you know. Bad for the image. Pretty soon they'll start seeing me as a human."
"No one could make that mistake." Jasper lowered one lid in a teasing wink.
Isabella was surprised by the camaraderie forged between the two men. They hadn't seen eye to eye on anything before her father's death. Of course, her father had nurtured the rift between them.
Jasper gave Edward one last grin before focusing on her. The smile fell from his lips. "Howdy, Isabella."
Somewhere she found the strength to nod. "Jasper."
A thousand heart beats passed before he spoke again. "The Hefe Weizen is wonderful. You should try it. Alice really outdid herself on this one." His lips stretched into a gentle smile. And accepting smile. "On the house."
Bella's breath escaped in a tortured whoosh. Jasper Witlock had a heart the size of his native state, if he could welcome her after what her father had tried to do to him and the woman he had since married. "Thanks, Jasper."
As if she'd heard Bella's thoughts Alice Brandon Hale rounded the corner into the bar, flashing her husband a wide smile. Even though she was dressed in a boxy apron, the round shape of her pregnant belly was clearly visible.
Charlie Swan's crimes against Alice were the worst of all. He and his accomplice, Harry Clearwaterhad tried to kill Alice's daughter to keep her quiet after she'd witnessed her own father's murder. Isabella had never met Alice. And even after Jasper's reaction, she didn't want to meet her now.
"Jasper I have to go pick up Amanda from her gymnastics class. Can you hold down the fort until night shift gets set up?"
"Sure thing, darlin'."
Alice's gaze landed on Edward. She gave him a big smile and poked her husband in the shoulder. "Haven't you gotten Edward a beer yet, Jasper? It isn't often we have the district attorney himself here. How are you doing Edward?"
Edward returned her smile. "Nice seeing you again, Alice."
Alice's gaze moved to Bella. "Aren't you going to introduce us?"
Isabella held her breath. She would give anything to crawl into a hole about now.
Edward didn't even flinch. "This is Isabella Swan."
Alice's gray eyes widened. "Isabella –"
"Swan." Bella pulled herself up, ready to take Alice's contempt square in the face. "I'm sorry for the hell my father put you through.
Alice took a deep breath. When she exhaled a polite smile lifted the corners of her lips. "Thank you. I'm sorry for the hell he put you through, as well."
Bella's throat closed. Since her father's death she'd felt ostracized from her former life, her former friends. People who knew she was Charlie Swan's daughter had cooled toward her as if her father's sins had tainted her. She'd lost more than Edward and her father the day Charlie died. She'd lost who she was – who she used to be.
Never had she expected to be welcomed by Jasper and Alice. Never had she dreamed she'd be welcomed back into the fold by the two people her father had hurt the most. "Thank you."
Jasper and Alice's acceptance was small comfort when faced with the hard line of Edward's mouth and the judgmental glint in his eye. She'd lost so much. So much that she'd never get back. No matter how much kindness strangers showed her, she could never regain the relationship that had meant the most to her. She could never undo the choices she'd made.
"So what will it be, Edward, Bella? " Jasper drawled. "Two pints of Hefe Weizen have your names on them."
Edward held a hand. He really should take Jasper up on the offer, try to do more to smooth over the rift that had been between them. But now wasn't the time. "We'll have to take a rain check, Jasper. I need to talk to Aro. Thought he might be here. Have you seen him?"
Jasper nodded and pointed to a booth in the corner. Tall and thin, Aro Cohen hunched over a beer alone. Perfect. He nodded his thanks to Jasper and started across the pub.
Bella walked close enough behind for him to catch the ghost of her scent, even over the aroma of cigarette smoke, fried food and beer. He'd tried to talk her out of coming to the pub with him. As angry as he was with her, he didn't want to see her hurt. And he'd been sure coming here, digging into old wounds Charlie had left in his wake, would only hurt her.
He blew a relieved sigh through tense lips. Leave it to Alice and Jasper to push aside there hatred for Swan to embrace his daughter. Now if Edward could only push aside his concern for Bella and focus on getting answers from Cohen, maybe they would get somewhere.
Reaching his destination, Edward folded himself into the booth, opposite of Aro. He moved over enough for Bella to slide in next to him.
"Hello Aro."
Aro Cohen looked up from his beer. A smile touched with the fine edge of cynicism spread over his lips."Edward, finally coming down from your ivory tower to join the fun?"
Cynicism wasn't uncommon in the district attorney's office. God knew they dealt with enough nasty people doing nasty things to one another to get a bit gadded over the years. But Aro Cohen elevated cynicism to an art form. Edward gestured to the bar. "The fun looks like it's going on over there, Cohen. Not here."
"Are you saying I'm not fun?" Aro Shrugged. "What else is new?" Cohen's gaze flicked to Bella. He sized her up with deep blue eyes that had no doubt melted a few woman's hearts along the way. This time, the smile that spread over is lips was of pure amusement. "I'll be damned. I haven't seen you in a long time, Isabella."
Bella smiled and nodded. "We have some questions for you, Aro."
Cohen crooked a brow and glanced from Bella to Edward. "So the two of you are a 'we' again?"
"No," Edward said without looking at Bella. He couldn't bear to see the hurt look on her face. He leveled a pointed stare on Cohen. "We just came from the prison in Seattle." He paused, watching Cohen's eyes.
If Aro had any reaction, he hid it well.
Edward went on. "It seems you've been out there recently, as well."
"And you want to know why?" Cohen's gaze darted away from them and landed on a waitress walking toward him with a plate stacked with a burger and thick wedges of fried potatoes. "About time. I'm famished."
The waitress served the food. "Would you like to order?"
"No. Thank you." Edward said without taking his eyes from Cohen.
Next to him, he could feel Bella shake her head. Satisfied everyone was taken care of, the waitress left.
"So why were you at the prison, Cohen?"
Aro paused, seemingly sorting through his memory. "What prison was that?"
Edward balled his hands into fists beneath the table. If the A.D.A didn't start giving him some straight answers, he'd either have to charge him with conspiracy or beat him to a bloody pulp.
"The one near Seattle." Bella supplied.
"Oh, yeah. I went there to talk to Smythe, your rapist the governor just let loose." He eyed Edward one corner of his lips crooking into a cynical grin. "But of course, that's why you're asking, isn't it?"
Aro took a bite of his burger. "Damn. I forgot to ask for ketchup. I can't stand being without it." He set the burger on his plate and opened his briefcase, that was set beside him on the table. Reaching inside, he pulled out a handful of foil packets containing ketchup. Ripping open a packet, he spread the condiment on his burger. He ripped open another packet.
Once more evasion and Edward would have to risk an assault charge. "Put down the damned ketchup, Cohen."
Aro raised surprised eyes to his face.
"What did you talk to Smythe about?"
Sighing, Cohen set down the ketchup and shook his head. "Nothing earth-shattering. Same old, same old. Remember that assault case where one convict jumped another in the county lockup? Just about killed the guy?"
"I remember."
"Smythe was a witness. It happened a while ago, back when he was still in jail, before he was transferred to Seattle."
Edward leaned forward in the booth. "The page you signed in on in the visitor's log was missing. Do you know anything about that?"
Cohen bit into his burger. When he finished chewing, he shrugged. "What is all this about Edward? You think I helped Smythe stage the recent rape? Shades of Fitz?"
Edward tried not to notice Bella squirm beside him. She raised her chin in that damned determined way of hers. "Did you?"
Cohen turned his smile on her. "Although I can almost understand Swan using the system for his own profit. I do still have enough scruples left not to unleash a rapist scumbag like Smythe."
Edward narrowed his eyes. He wanted to believe Cohen. But then what one wanted to believe and what was true often weren't the same thing. God knew, he should have learned that lesson long ago. He'd have enough teachers.
He glanced at Bella. Her forehead knotted with worry. Her lips tightened into a line.
Following Edwards gaze, Cohen watched her, as well. "Sorry to disappoint you, Isabella. But I guess I'm not as bad a guy as you thought."
She shook her head. "It's not that, Aro. We just need to find out who did help him."
"Hmm. Maybe I can help, after all."
Edward tensed. He leaned over the table. "Spit it out Cohen."
"There was a hearing for the jail assault case a week ago, and I had to spring Smythe for a day to testify. He had a girlfriend in the gallery. At least that's what it looked liked. She was smiling at him, lots of eye contact while he was on the stand. Sick woman."
"Who was she?"
"That's the interesting part. I ran into her one other time this week. She testified in one of my cases. Her name is Victoria Melbring."
Bella gasped.
Edward turned to her. "Do you know Victoria Melbring?"
Bella nodded and swallowed hard, as if trying to find the courage to face something she didn't want to face. "She's a forensic chemist. She works with me at the crime lab."
...
"HAVEN'T YOU HEARD?"Lauren Mallory looked down her generous nose at Isabella. A conspiratorial grin on her face.
Bella wasn't in the mood for guessing games. Last night had been hell. She'd spent it in Edward's spare room again after he'd refused to let her stay in her home until a security system was installed. She'd have rather stayed alone. He hadn't said two words to her all night. He'd merely retreated into his library with the telephone. So much for his promise not to shut her out.
She bit the inside of her bottom lip. She didn't know if she could stand one more night without Luke safe in her arms. She needed answers right now. And fast. She'd come straight to Lauren just for that reason.
A brilliant but lonely forensic chemist, Lauren had made other people's business her hobby. She spewed gossip the way Fourth of July spewed fireworks. And that's why Isabella was circulating in the crime lab's break room, to find out what Lauren knew.
"I'm so out of the loop, Lauren. I haven't heard anything. What happened?"
Lauren's eyes sparkled, as if all the gossip stored in her mind was gunpowder and by asking that question, Bella had just set flame to the fuse. "Victoria Melbring does not work here anymore."
Isabella's heart plummeted. "Why not?"
"She quit two days ago. Didn't even give a notice."
"Two days ago." How coincidental that Victoria should quit the very day Smythe was released from prison. "No notice?"
"Not a peep. I didn't even know she was going to quit. But that's not the good part." She lowered her voice and leaned toward Bella over a table littered with candy wrappers and a paper bag lunch. "You'll never guess where she got a job."
Back to guessing games. "Where?"
"Think big company, lots of bucks. And they don't hand out jobs like at a parade. Let's just say she must have and in."
"Where, Lauren? Where did Victoria get a job?"
Lauren grinned, her whole body tensed with the excitement of being the keeper of gossip in demand. "Smythe Pharmaceuticals."
The name hit Isabella like a well-aimed fist. Now they were getting somewhere.
...
EDWARD COULD TELL Isabella had news the moment she poked her head into her lab where he was sitting in front of her computer, waiting for her. Her eyes glittering like brown diamonds. Her cheeks flushed with color. The way she used to look, back when their biggest troubles were deciding which restaurant to chose among the dozens flanking State Street.
So different from the drawn look of fear she'd worn for the past few days.
She motioned him across the hall and into a vacant trace evidence lab and shut the door behind them, leaning back against the barrier.
"So?"
"Victoria Melbring quit two days ago. She has a new job."
The news zinged along his nerves like and electric charge. "Don't tell me. Her new job is with Smythe Pharmaceuticals."
"Bingo."
Edward reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. "Do you have a number for them?"
Isabella just nodded. She disappeared from the lab for a few moments then reappeared with the Seattle phone book.
Edward paged through the thick book to locate the number and punched it into his phone.
"Smythe Pharmaceuticals," A professional-sounding woman's voice answered.
"I'd like to speak with Victoria Melbring, please."
A pause stretched over the line. "I'm sorry, there's no one here by that name."
"Are you saying a chemist by the name of Victoria Melbring does not work there?"
"That's right sir."
"Thank you." Edward punched the end button and slipped the phone back into his jacket pocket. "Damn. Is your gossip guru known for inventing stories."
Isabella watched him, the sparkle gone from her eyes, a furrow between her delicate brows. "No. Usually she just sticks to repeating them. But why would Victoria tell Lauren she had a job at Smythe Pharmaceuticals if she didn't?" Bella stuffed her hands into her pockets. "Unless Victoria expected to be offered a job but the offer never came."
"We won't know until we find her."
"So now we have two missing persons. Victoria Melbring and the alleged rape victim, Tanya Cleever."
He nodded. "That's what it looks like."
"I suppose we'd better get looking." She turned and grasped the doorknob, but didn't pull it open. "Wait!"
"What is it?"
She spun to face Edward, the sparkle back in her eyes. "Maybe we don't have to find Victoria to learn whether she stole that sample of Smythe's sample from the crime lab."
"I'm listening."
"When we take a blood sample for DNA or serum testing, we have to add a preservative to it so the liquid blood doesn't coagulate and start to decompose like blood normally would. The preservative is called E.D.T.A."
The name of the chemical rang a ball in Edward's memory. It had made the news during the O.J. Simpson case. "Isn't E.D.T.A. Present in blood naturally?"
"Only in trace amounts introduced by preserved food or other household products. But the blood sample taken from Smythe by the lab will have a very high E.D.T.A. content. If Victoria stole the blood from the lab sample, the blood found under the recent rape victims fingernails will have an equally high E.D.T.A. content."
"Trace amounts at most."
"How long will testing take?"
Isabella pursed her lips together like she always did doing mental calculations. "If we get a specialist who's used to doing the testing and you put a little clout behind the request. I'd say we could have results in about a day."
He couldn't stop the grin from spreading over his lips. "Set it up."
"I'll ready the sample myself. And I'll label the samples anonymous."
"Good thinking."
Isabella shot him a triumphant smile that hit him like a punch to the gut. He used to burst with pride at the thought of having this brilliant woman in his life, his bed. Whenever she made a contribute to a case, or found the answer to a tough problem as she had just now, he'd always felt like crowing.
He mentally shook his head. He no longer had a reason to be proud. Bella wasn't his anymore he hadn't wanted to truly face that before, he only reminded himself of the baby she'd hid from him.
He glanced at his watch. The day was trickling away.
Isabella opened the door to the evidence lab. "Hi Lauren." she smiled at the light haired woman and waited for her to walk past before stepping into the hall. She turned back to glance at Edward. "It'll just take me a few minutes to get the testing under way.
"So is should be complete by –" The beeping of Edward's cell phone cut off his thought. He retrieved it from his pockets and pressed the button. "Masen."
"I've got some news." Emmett Cullen's voice boomed over the line.
"What kind of news, Emmett?"
"Important news. Meet me at your office."
"Will do." Edward punched off the phone and met Bella's confused gaze.
"We have to go to my office. Cullen has news."
