As always special thanks to our beta, kitchmill, for being amazing and super-fast with this one. And, of course, our pre-readers Mana Liz and Judyblue95.

Let's see what Edward's been up to ...

EPOV

Goddamn it!

The sound of the door slamming echoes behind me. I stomp off the porch and straight to my car. Fuck this shit! I don't know why I even bothered. She used me as a fuck while she was out of commission. I pace around my car trying to get a grip before I drive off and kill myself or somebody else. The anger flowing through my veins has me irrational. I grip my hair and give it a firm tug then scratch my hands through the scruff of my beard.

Fuck Emmett! Who does he think he is stepping between me and her like that? He doesn't know her or what she needs. That's me; I know her.

Pace, tug, scratch.

She has to know I'd do anything to be with her now. Hell, even this job can't keep us apart. I'd quit it in a second to be by her side.

I stop dead in my tracks and the light bulb turns on. That's exactly what she's doing. She thinks she's saving my job.

Of course, that's it! My pacing slows and my breathing takes on a more normal pattern. I wonder where she got such a shitty idea. With a heavy sigh, I make my way to the driver's side, making a decision immediately. There's only one thing left for me to do.

I pull out onto the highway with one destination in mind. If she won't let me be there and watch over her, then I'll do it another way. I drive to the local Walmart and go inside, ready to arm myself with everything I need to make this mission more bearable.

I trust McCarty, I really do, but I promised her I'd watch over her, and that's what I intend to do … as much as I possibly can. I still have to show up for work, but I'm free until Monday morning when the trial starts.

I leave the store three hundred fifty bucks lighter, but I have everything I need to spend the weekend keeping my promise.

When I pull back into the long, tree-lined drive of the safe house, I look for any opening to hide my car. Just a little way down, I spot what I'm looking for. I get out and clear the way for my car to make it through the trees, then I pull into a little hideaway spot, making sure to go behind and replace the branches I moved.

With my car safely out of sight, I grab my tent and backpacks and start toward the woodline that surrounds the cabin. I trudge through the thick brush until I see the cabin through the trees. Now, time to find a suitable spot to set up camp.

After a little rearranging, I have a good site to set up my tent. When that's done, I climb into the lower branches of a nearby tree and pull my binoculars to my eyes.

Perfect.

I can see down the driveway clearly and have a perfect view of the front door and Bella's bedroom window. I can even see into the living room as long as the curtains stay like they are now.

~~~~~WS~~~~~

After a piss behind a log and a Snickers bar, I'm ready to go for the night. Taking my spot on the branch, I relax against the trunk and look to the cabin. It's well past dark, and lights are starting to turn off.

Finally, I lay eyes on Bella. She just entered her bedroom. Her face looks tired and weary. She goes straight to her bed and flops down. She's facing the window, and when my eyes connect with hers through the lens, I feel as if she's piercing my soul. One look at her face and I know I'm right about her reasons for doing this. Her eyes show pain and sadness. Deep in those brown depths, I see all the longing she hid earlier. It takes my breath away.

We stay like that for what feels like hours: me staring into her beautiful soul, her none the wiser, lying on her bed so deep in thought I wonder if she'll sleep at all.

Turns out, she doesn't. Her night is restless and turmoil filled. So many times I want to climb down from this tree and go to her, but then I remember, she turned me away. She thinks her reason is good, but it still pisses me off.

When the sun has barely risen, a vehicle slows on the highway and turns into the drive. Immediately, I go on high alert. Jumping down from my perch, I go to my tent and grab my gun then climb back in position to see who it is as soon as possible.

With my binoculars at the ready, I take in the incoming car as soon as it's in my sights. I recognize it immediately. I sigh in relief, but then grit my teeth. What the fuck is he doing here?

The chief's car comes to a halt right out front, and he ambles up the steps. When I turn my binoculars back on Bella, what I see there makes me suck in a huge gulp of air. She's standing in just her bra and panties, looking through her bag for more clothes. I should turn away, but I'm frozen. The sight of her pale, creamy skin brings image after image racing through my mind. Images I never want to have to live without again. I shake my head to clear it and tear my gaze from the scene in front of me.

I will get my girl back!

I slide down from my perch and take care of business, wondering the whole time what the chief wants with Bella this early in the morning. Has he decided to mention he's her father? Does he need to go over the trial again?

Oh shit! I'm not sure of his reason for being here, but there's one thing he's sure to tell her.

He's named me the shooter, and she doesn't have a clue. I didn't get the chance to tell her last night. She's going to lose her shit when he drops that little piece of info.

I lean against the tree trunk, eating a granola bar, just watching the cabin, wondering what's going down inside. It isn't long before I get my answer. The chief comes out the door with Bella not far behind. His voice is low and I can't make out the words, but Bella's are loud and clear. "So fuck you! It's your fault! All of this is your fault!" She's irate and I want to go to her more than ever.

Fuck this; I can't take it anymore. She needs me more than this police department does.

As the chief drives away, I'm already gathering my gear. There's only one thing left to do. I need to be there for her, and if she thinks the chief's standing in the way, then who am I to allow that? Quickly grabbing my things, I start the journey back to my car.

~~~~~WS~~~~~

Arriving at the precinct, I make my way to my office, hoping not to be spotted and caught up in mindless conversation. When the door closes behind me, I take a deep breath and sit at my desk, firing up my computer.

With my mission complete, I hit print, collect my letter and slide it into an envelope then make my way to the chief's office. I enter his office with the confidence of an officer who no longer cares about his job.

His head snaps up. "Cullen, what're you doing here?"

I slap the envelope on his desk and stand there silently.

With cautious movements, he retrieves the letter. "What's this?" He holds it up for me to look at.

I tense. His tone implies he knows exactly what it is, and this won't be as easy as I hoped. "My resignation."

He drops the letter to his desk and pushes it toward me. "No, I don't think so, Cullen."

Doesn't he realize that by handing in my resignation, he's no longer in the position to be giving me orders? "Sir, with all due respect, I can and I am!" My tone is firm, my anger at the whole situation barely restrained.

The fucker chuckles. "Sit down, Detective." I continue to stand. "That's an order!" His fist slams on the desk, and in true subordinate fashion, my ass hits the seat. I can't help it, it's ingrained in me to follow the orders of my superior.

"Let me make one thing clear, Detective: I don't plan on accepting any resignation from you at any time." He points his finger at me. "You're one of the best damn detectives I've ever had the pleasure of working with, and I'll be damned if I lose you because you can't keep it in your pants!"

I stop him right there. "Careful, Chief; you're crossing a line," I grit.

He sighs. "Look, I get it, really I do. This is one of those things you're going to have to put up with a little longer. The trial starts Monday, and after it's over, I have no say in what Bella does." He raises his eyebrows. "But until then, she's under Emmett's protection, and that's final."

If he won't accept my resignation, my only other option is to flat out quit. He's left me no choice. "I'm sorry that it's come to this then, but, Chief—"

"Hold up. Let's not make a decision you'll regret," he interrupts.

"I won't regret it," I tell him with a sureness I feel to my core. "I'll do anything for her, and right now she needs me!" I pound my fist into my chest. "I need to be there with her, not Emmett."

He looks contemplative for a second then leans back in his chair. "So what exactly is your plan then? After you leave your job, I mean. You still can't go to her while she's under protection."

"I … uh …" I'm at a loss. I never even considered that I wouldn't be able to be there with her. Either way he's got me by the balls, and by the smartass smirk he's sporting, he knows it.

Bastard!

"Now that that's settled, let's talk about the trial." He grabs a folder off the corner of his desk and slides it over to me. "There's a list of questions in there you need to be prepared for. You'll be the first prosecution witness called, and most likely Bella will follow. Now, that being said, I want you to leave the courtroom as soon as you're done. Are we clear?"

Now it's my turn to smirk. "Yes, sir." I salute him. There's no way in hell that's happening and he knows it.

He slumps in his seat. "You're dismissed, Detective."

I take the folder and make my way to the door. Before I can make it out, he stops me one more time. "Oh, and for future reference, if you're going to defy direct orders, the least you can do is hide your car better."

I pale and stutter. "How …"

He leans back in his chair and locks his hands behind his head. "Detective, I'm not the chief of police for nothing. See you Monday morning, bright and early."

~~~~~WS~~~~~

I make a stop by what used to feel like home, just to shower and change clothes. Looking in the mirror, I see a shell of myself. Dark circles surround my eyes and a week's worth of scruff lines my jaw. With no time to wallow, I get dressed and leave.

Before making my way back to my lookout spot, I stop for food. Armed with a Big Mac combo, supersized, I drive back to keep watch over my Bella.

This time I make sure to hide my car better. If the chief spotted it, then the criminals will too. When all is set up once more, I crawl in my tent and try and get some shuteye while I know Emmett's on watch.

I wake up feeling just as weary as I was before. After looking at my watch and seeing I only slept three and a half hours, I shut my eyes again, hoping I can drift back off. It doesn't work. My mind is running nonstop. This trial is becoming the bane of my existence. What I used to thrive on has suddenly become something I want over and done.

I stretch my weary muscles and climb from the tent. The sun is drifting lower and will set soon. I pull open my backpack to grab a coke from my mini cooler then take a walk around camp trying to work out the kinks. Sleeping in a tent isn't so fun when your legs cramp and your back creaks.

Taking my perch, I focus my binoculars on the cabin, looking through every crack and crevice for any sign of Bella. When I finally spot her, it's not where I expected at all. She lies across the porch swing, book in hand, completely engrossed in the words on the page. The gentle breeze blows through her mahogany locks as the swing sways back and forth.

Back and forth.

The motion is hypnotizing. As if she can feel my eyes boring into her, she raises her head and looks around. Watching her through the binoculars gives me more of an advantage than I should have. Goose bumps rise on her skin, and her breathing picks up just a tad. It's like she knows there are eyes on her. Quickly, she retrieves her things and enters the cabin, hiding herself from my vision.

For the rest of the night I keep watch. All is calm, and it appears she and Emmett have built a camaraderie of sorts. They chat often, and a smile or two forms on her lovely face throughout the evening.

When it's time to retire for the night, she gives him a kiss on the cheek and heads to her room. I switch to the other window for a better view. I make a promise that this time I won't invade her privacy. The next time I see her like that, it'll be because she wants me to. I climb from my perch and take care of my own business, allowing her time to change for bed.

When only the lamplight remains, I climb back up and resume my stalking. I reason that I'm protecting her, but even I know that watching someone when they don't know it is wrong. I just can't look away. For the rest of the night, while she sleeps peacefully, I watch.

A jolt to my foot wakes me early the next morning. I come to my senses and immediately locate my gun.

"Calm down, Cullen. It's just me," I hear from below. Emmett stands there looking up at me. "What the fuck are you doing out here, man?" He crosses his arms over his chest. "Didn't Bella tell you to leave?"

I leap down from the branch and slip my gun in the waistband of my pants. I step right up in his face. "Yeah, she told me to leave, but as you can see, I didn't go very far." I motion to my campsite.

He huffs. "Man, you look like shit. Go home, go to bed, shave that mountain-man face off and be ready for trial Monday. I got this."

"I just bet you do," I sneer. "Looks like you're getting mighty cozy in the cabin."

He scrubs his hands over his face and stares straight at me. "What are you on about now?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe the fact that you're with Bella one night and she's already kissing you!" I'm acting crazy, but who does he think he is trying to take my place in Bella's life?

He rolls his eyes and starts laughing. It isn't some little chuckle laugh either. He's bent over at the waist, taking in huge lungfuls of air, as he brays like a donkey.

It does nothing but piss me off more.

I push him. "Shut the fuck up!"

He stumbles back a little and laughs harder. Finally, he sobers up and grabs me by the front of my shirt. "Look, man, I don't know what that girl has done to you, but you've lost your fucking mind. You need to get a grip and it needs to be soon."

I stare into his eyes, and his expression says it all. He's almost at his breaking point. Emmett and I have been friends since I first came here. He's what I'd call my closest friend in Forks. We've worked cases together and hung out after work on occasion. He and Rose are both hard-working, honest people, and I trust them. Right now he's about fed up with me.

Maybe it's time I give him the ultimate trust.

I pull back and remove his hands from my shirt. "Emmett, you have to know that's my life in that cabin. If anything happens to her, I won't survive it. So I'm telling you now, it's on you"—I poke my finger in his chest—"and if you fuck up, it'll be like you let me die, too."

"I get it, man. I swear to you, nothing is going to happen to her." He pats my shoulder. "Now, off you go. We'll both be there Monday, I promise you."

I take a deep breath and look around my campsite. Can I really go home and leave her in Emmett's care?

I scuff my foot across the ground and grab two handfuls of hair. "Fuck!"

Emmett stops my mini tirade with a firm grip to my shoulders. "I. Got. This. Now pack up and go," he urges.

I give in, the slump of my shoulders saying it all. He smiles. "Good. Let me help you pack up."

We gather up my stuff, and he trudges through the woods behind me. "You know you don't have to follow me. I'll leave on my own."

He chuckles. "I know, man. I need to do a perimeter check anyway."

I cough. "Bullshit."

He cracks up, but still continues following me. When my stuff is loaded, he gives me a firm pat on the back. "You're doing the right thing."

"For your sake, you better hope so." I get in the car while Emmett clears the path for me to drive away.

When I get home I go straight to my bathroom. Time to make myself presentable. I shave first then turn on the hot water and begin to shed my clothes. When I'm under the spray, I let my muscles relax and think of Bella.

The images come unbidden behind my eyes.

Goose bumps breaking out on her skin. Her in only panties and bra as I spied yesterday morning. I know what she's hiding under those garments, and it's those images that begin to flash rapidly behind my lids.

Her plump, red lips wrapped around my cock.

Riding me with the sexy confidence of a siren.

The sounds escaping her as she finds her release.

My hand starts wandering and skims my cock, rock hard at standing at attention. I grip it firmly and, in one long, slow motion, go all the way to the top, enclosing the head in its skin.

Release down, squeeze up.

The images fly through my mind as my motions speed up.

Legs over shoulders as I pivot and pound.

Taking her from behind, plump ass in the air.

The way she tugs my hair as I lick her pussy.

My breathing escalates and stomach muscles quiver.

Pounding into her, legs wrapped, only the wall for support.

The fire of our first kiss in the rain.

My balls tighten.

Coming in spurts down her throat.

I release.

Sagged against the shower wall, I will my mind to lose those images, the ones that'll break me if I can never have them again.

Suddenly, I feel dirty. A dirty, old man getting off to a nineteen-year-old girl. A girl who's turned him away. The more I consider it, the more I think it might be for the best. I took advantage of her with my age and position of authority. How could I have let myself get so far off track? I grab my body wash and scrub. I scrub my body to cleanse it and, all the while, hope to cleanse my soul, too.

I stay until the water runs cold.

My soul turns cold.

I get dressed in sleep pants and a T-shirt and make my way to my bedroom. At least I never had her here. I'd never be able to bear it without her. I flop across my bed and don't recall anything else.

~~~~~WS~~~~~

"State your name and position for the record," Prosecutor Black says.

I swallow. "Detective Edward Cullen. I'm a detective for the Forks Police Department."

"Do you recognize the defendant?"

I nod. "I do. James Hunter."

"You were the lead detective on the Stanley case. Is that correct, Detective?"

"It is. I had help from other officers, but they answered to me."

"And who did you answer to?"

I motion toward the chief. "Chief Swan is my direct superior."

He changes tactics. "Could you tell me what put Mr. Hunter on the suspect list in the murder of Jessica Stanley?"

My eyes flick to Hunter, and I smirk before responding. "Sure. You see, Mr. Hunter is a pimp, and when a prostit—"

"Objection, Your Honor! There has been no proof set forth that my client has any such profession."

Prosecutor Black speaks up. "Your Honor, the evidence will show that the defendant is in fact a pimp and the victim was a prostitute who worked for him."

Judge Cheney bangs his gavel. "Overruled, but present some evidence, Counselor."

This is how the day goes. Constant questions and fruitless objections. Pages among pages are entered as evidence. My time on the stand paints a picture, a clear image of all the mistakes Mr. Hunter made.

Once the prosecution has woven a tale of murder, they hand me over to the defense. The questions take on a more accusatory tone, but the answers remain the same.

The truth.

Mystery POV

Our fingers collide as we both try to hit the up button at the elevator. I feel like I've been electrocuted as soon as they make contact. We both jerk back in embarrassment.

"Uh, I'm sorry."

With a simple nod, all is forgiven. I have no idea what that even was. We enter, and I press the fourth floor. With another nod, I know the number is the same.

As we ride I can feel the stare burning through me. Eyes that won't leave the side of my face. I stand in complete stillness allowing the perusal.

When the bell dings, I step aside and allow everyone to exit first. Taking a deep breath, I shake myself back into the purpose of this trip.

With my focus back to the job at hand, I calmly walk down the hall toward the courtroom. I enter just as the defense is making its opening argument. James Hunter is a piece of shit and will get what's coming to him; of this I have no doubt.

First to the stand is Edward Cullen, the lead detective on this case. I sit and take notes of the key factors of his testimony, looking for anything that doesn't fit, any slight fluctuation that would make me question his actions.

When the defense finally utters, "No more questions, Your Honor," Judge Cheney issues a ten minute recess. I lift my eyes to glance around the room and am caught in the firm stare of burning, green irises.

I remain in my seat, locked in a blazing stare down. When I can't handle the intensity any longer, I look down and begin studying my notes. Once the presence no longer lingers, I make a quick trip to the restroom and settle back in, waiting for the next witness to be called.

"All rise," the bailiff announces.

"Be seated. Prosecutor Black, call your next witness," Judge Cheney commands.

He stands. "Yes, Your Honor. The prosecution calls Isabella Higginbotham to the stand."

Ahhh, one final Mystery POV until all it is revealed (sooner or later lol). We love reading your guesses though ;)

Thanks so much for all of your words. We love the passion some of you have for these characters, good and bad.

See you soon! ~ Fyre