Chapter 4
"Hey Jules. Are you feeling better?"
She didn't look so good when she answered the door. But we all knew better than to tell a female they looked bad. Even if they looked like hell. She scooted her feet along back to the bed to lay down. When I felt her forehead she was burning up. All of a sudden she sprang out of bed and was running towards the bathroom.
Something was definitely wrong. "Gus find out how to get a hold of Doctor Cullen. Jules is really sick. I am staying here with her until then."
After I helped her back to bed. I went and got a wash rag. Then ran it under the cold water. I placed it on her forehead and then sat beside her. She was so pale and her body was so hot. Being close to her, I could feel the heat coming off of her.
When the knock came on the hotel door I was expecting Cullen but I got Lassie instead. "Why are you in O'Hara's room Spenser?"
"I came by to check on her and she is worse than she was before we left."
"O'Hara what's wrong?" Jumbled up words were all that came from Jules when she responded to him.
It seemed like forever before Gus showed up with the good doctor. They stepped outside while he examined her, I wasn't going anywhere though.
Doctor Cullen glanced over the shoulder a lot. He never made direct eye contact when talking to me. Jules shivered whenever he touched her bare skin. I simply just didn't like him was my last observation.
"What have you eaten today?"
"We ate at the diner and I had a burger with some fries. Oh and a piece of cherry cobbler."
"I think it's possible Ms. O'Hara you may have food poisoning. We need to get you to the hospital for some test so I can be sure. Then I can treat you."
Food poisoning, we all had the same food Juliet ate. So it didn't make any sense to me. I ran the day back through my mind. I came up with a blank. Except for the fact Bella was setting at the counter by the pie display. She was alone reading when the waitress took out the cobbler and served it up. "Shit Jules got the last piece."
"I'm sorry Mr. Spenser, did you say something?"
"No, I didn't say anything. Maybe you have bad hearing Doc?"
We waited for the ambulance to come. They were taking Jules to the hospital but at this point, I didn't trust anyone outside my circle. "Lassie, I need for you to go with Juliet. But whatever you do, do not leave her alone."
"What's going on?" There wasn't time for me to explain this in detail to Lassie. He probably wouldn't believe me anyway.
"I got a vision and I think Jules was poisoned on purpose. We may all end up being targeted on this case. I don't trust Doctor Cullen either, I'm getting a bad vibe about him. You have to trust me on this one. You know how much I care for her."
"Okay Spenser, I'll play along. But if you're jerking my chain, you know I will not hesitate to shoot you."
"Yeah Lassie, I got that part. We will check in with you later."
Gus waited until Lassie was out of ear shot. "What's really going on Shawn?"
"Bella or the waitress are the only ones who could have poisoned Juliet's pie. The waitress dished it out on to the saucers then served them immediately afterward. Jules got the last piece. Bella was setting at the counter alone when the waitress served ours to us."
"Oh damn. Bella is a blood sucking pie poisoner." A very serious look or perhaps fearedlook crossed Gus'face when it came out.
"It's looking that way Gus."
"While you were gone, I looked up some of the Quileute legends on the computer. I don't like this town or what I found out about them either." We made a quick stop by our hotel room before we decided what our next move would be. Gus truly believed you could find out anything you wanted to know through Google. In this case, I'll be damned if he wasn't right.
They believed each person had their own guardian and they would pray to it, along with the sun and Tskati. Much of their original religion was lost and forgotten after the Europeans came.
In the beginning there were five tribal societies. They were the elk hunter, the fisherman, the whale hunter, the weather predictor and the medicine man. The medicine man honored their ancestors and gods with a dance. Which later lead to the folklore; tribal men walked the earth like a normal man. But had the capability to transform to an animal form to protect their tribe from extinction. The legend was told they worshiped the wolf and it was their chosen form to take.
When I click on the other tab Gus had up on the computer. How do you protect yourself from a werewolf? Only use a silver bullet as werewolves are scared of them and it's the only way to assure their heart will stop. In some countries you protect yourself with a branch of a yew tree or an ash twig.
"Really Gus?"
"I'm not taking any chances Shawn. You got to admit there is a lot of crazy shit going on in this little town."
"That there is my friend. I somehow think it evolves around Bella. So that's where we will start our investigation." This time Gus and I were taking the same path to the conclusion of the case. It almost upset me Bella could possibly be involved. Yet on the other hand, if she was guilty, I would not ask her out on a date.
On the way to Bella's house, Gus insisted we make a stop at the grocery store. The girl at the checkout looked at us as though we were from Mars. "Do you have any silver bullets, wooden stakes or yew tree branches?"
"Um...no. We're all sold out."
If this store really sold these items. Then maybe there was more to this town than I originally thought.
"Gus you stink with all that garlic hanging around your neck."
"I don't care, I told you I am not taking any chances."
"Quick get behind the bush." Gus wasn't moving fast enough because Bella was pulling out of her driveway. So I helped him out with a shove. That's detective work 101. Don't be seen by the person in which you are getting ready to illegally enter their house.
"Get off of me Shawn."
"Thanks for breaking my fall buddy."
I had the essentials in my pocket for this occasion. Black paint for our faces, a flashlight and a half eaten bag of skittles. After I painted my face up, I handed it to Gus. Only he smacked my hand and tube went somewhere on the ground. "I don't need that shit."
"No need to be snippy about it Gus."
"Skittle?"
"I don't want any skittles either Shawn."
Headlights again, damn this was the busiest street for such a small town. "Get down." I was doing the low craw across the yard with my elbows.
"I'm not doing that either. I just did a scrub and moisturizer on my elbows. Do you know how long it takes me to do that? I'm not ruining it for this. Nope, no way no how."
"Okay. Have it your way buddy." So I kicked his legs out from underneath him. Gus would be on the ground with me one way or the other. Only it didn't work out as I had planned. He was a little upset and wanted to settle it as he put me in a head lock.
We heard a gasp from someone. Which was why we finally brought our wrestling match to halt. It was an older lady walking her little doggie. Older people were so sweet when they have an animal they're so attached to.
"Evening Ma'am. My friend lost his contact lens. Did you find yet?"
"Yep, I got it." Gus fake put it back into his eye.
The little doggie however, wasn't as stunned as the woman was. It came over and lifted its leg on my foot. I thought about kicking it of course. But I wouldn't want to bring any unnecessary attention to us. So I let it go.
We made it securely to the side of the house. I found the perfect entrance into the house, a large tree by an open window in the back.
"Give me a boost Gus."
"No."
"I can do this." Jumping up I tried to grab a hold of branch. When I finally got one, I wasn't going up the tree. More like I was swinging back and forth on the branch. I let go and hit the ground with a thud.
"Shawn." While I was laying on the ground, Gus's head popped out of the open window.
"How did you get up there?"
"Through the front door. It was unlocked."
"I'll be right there buddy. Good work." I gave him the thumbs up before he disappeared from the window.
The wooden stairs creaked with each step I took. When I reached the room Gus was in, it was the place we came to search, Bella's room.
While I was searching through the drawers, I found something interesting. I took a deep inhale of the tiny thong panties.
"Damn it Shawn. We are not here so you can perv on Bella. Now put them back."
Pictures of her and Edward folded in half. Anger and a break up happened at some point. Two unused tickets to Arizona. Letters she wrote but never gave to Jacob. A love triangle.
"All of Bella's shoes say size eight."
"Shhh."
"Don't shhhs me Shawn."
"Seriously, someone is in the house. Be quiet." The stairs were creaking with each step they took.
We both dove into the closet. The footsteps were getting closer to Bella's bedroom. Then the sound was going farther away from us.
"It's Charlie." The door closed behind them. "Let's get the hell out of here." Before we made it to the front door a key was inside the lock. "Shit, hide Gus."
"Bella is that you?"
"Yeah Dad."
"Did you pick up the poison for me?"
"It's in the back of the truck. Don't you feel a little guilty about killing them? Edward said to make sure it doesn't make skin contact."
"No I don't. They are becoming a nuisance and they have to be gotten rid of. I am going to do it tomorrow."
They went to unload the truck. Gus and I ran like hell out the back door. We just kept running until I was out of breath. "It's a father and daughter killing team with the boyfriend thrown in for good measures. It's no wonder the cops don't have any leads on the cases. Then the Doc covers up what they have done. It's the perfect setup."
"What are we going to do?"
"This may run deeper than just Charlie, Bella, Edward and Doctor Cullen. We take a nap then find out who else is involved." I always done my best detective work after a good nap.
Before I went to bed I called Lassie. Jules was sleeping and he was going to stay with her for the night at the hospital. Dad and Chief Vic were sleeping when I woke them up to make sure they were okay as well. Chief Vic just hung up. But the old man didn't. "Shawn do you know what time it is?"
"Yeah pops I do. I think you're right."
"I guess I don't mind being woke up as much if you're willing to tell me I'm right. What am I right about?"
"I'm pretty sure Bella is involved along with Charlie. Watch your back when they are around. Don't eat or drink anything. I'll fill you in tomorrow. I love you Dad."
"I love you too kid."
The morning went just as I expected it to once we all met up. Dad was still a nonbeliever. "Do you really expect me to believe Charlie Swan is a serial killer?"
"We heard everything. They are working together to poison us. They are planning on killing again today. I just don't know who the target is yet."
"Just how did you get this proof?" Of course the old man would ask me that shit.
"We broke into Bella's house. She wasn't the one who made the foot print though. All of her shoes are size eight."
"Breaking and entering is not submissive in a court of law. We need beyond a shadow of a doubt proof." Pops went to follow Charlie. We would know his every move. We took watching Bella.
"We don't have a car to follow her around in."
"Maybe we don't need one. Follow my lead Gus."
While Bella was stopped at the gas station, we jumped in the back of her old truck. We covered up with the large tarp she had draped over the evidence, the poison.
We rode around on bumpy roads, over to the Cullen house with her and then home. Yet we got nothing. Not one trace of evidence of them trying to commit a murder today.
"Maybe we're wrong Shawn."
"We're not wrong Gus. We just haven't proved it yet my friend."
Dad called me and sounded a little winded on the other end of the line. As though he couldn't catch his breath. "Charlie..Chief Vic. You gotta stop it. Picnic in the meadow. Going to poison her."
"Shit." Bella parked her truck in the drive with the keys still in the ignition. "Lets go."
Bella took us on a wild goose chase to throw us off the trail. While the master mind behind it all, Charlie, scammed poor innocent Chief Vic into believing he wanted to take her out on a date. She would never see it coming and we had to save the day. So, we stole Bella's truck and the evidence.
Thankfully my photographic mind could remember where we went to investigate the murder a couple of days ago. We parked the old truck and took off running to stop this from taking place.
There they were with a blanket spread out on the ground. Chief had a drink in her hand. Charlie had just put a strawberry up to her lips.
"Gus you know what to do."
We took off running towards them screaming it. "Don't eat it Chief, he's the killer."
Gus knocked down the glass of wine she had in her hand to the ground. Then he proceeded to make her spit out the juicy poisonous berry she had in her mouth. But the Chief had always been a fighter.
"Come on girl, work with me here." Gus bent her over and forced her mouth open with his fingers.
Charlie got a surprise tackle by me. For being so old, he still could really move. It was the blow to the head with the wine bottle that got him off my chest.
"What in the hell are you two doing?"
"No need to thank us Chief. It's all in a days work."
"Thank you? You want me to thank you?"
"No. I said there is no need to thank us."
Charlie started moving around. He grabbed his head and went to set up. Now was my time to shine. I placed my fingers to my temple. "It was you and Bella doing the killings. That's why no one ever had any clues or suspects to who is committing these crimes. There is a truck load of poison sitting over there. We overheard you and Bella talking about the plan to poison us and get rid of us once and for all."
"I don't know what the hell you're talking about. I was going to use it get rid of the squirrels in my attic."
"Huh..squirrels in your attic?"
"Yeah, the squirrels in my attic."
"That would have been our second guess of what you were going to do with the poison. Right Shawn?"
"You bet ya, little buddy."
Jasper~~~~
It took some doing on our part to get the wolves to agree to a meeting with us. If it wasn't for Bella, they would have declined again.
"We need to move their investigation far away from Forks as we can. With other vampires lurking here, it's going to cause all of us a problem. The Psychic knows there is something not right. I felt what he felt; he was feeling deception, doubt and most of all disbelief in what we said. It's best for all of our interest if we do it quickly too." While I had their attention finally, I gave the wolves my best pitch to sell it. It wasn't just the vampire's asses on the line. It was theirs as well.
"Why do we have to be a part of this? We're not blood suckers that have killed innocent people."
"I understand how you feel about us Jacob. But we all have a secret to protect from the outside world. Along with making sure Bella stays safe."
"What is the plan Carlisle?" Sam was sensible about the approach to find a good solution to the situation. Not that he cared about us at all. But he was a good leader who strongly cared about his own people.
"I am going to refer you to Jasper. Sam, I ask you keep an open mind about it. Jasper the floor is yours, son."
"We keep them busy with crimes to investigate. Move each one farther away from Forks. Until this place is just a distant memory for them.
"What kind of crimes?" This was where I lost Sam. His emotions were a strong no before I even told him. But, I put it out to them.
"Murders."
"You're insane if you think for a moment we will participate in it."
"Fake murders Sam. We stage the crime scene with blood and no corpse. Carlisle will be the one signing the reports so no one will ever know it is blood from the hospital we used. It will look like a serial killer instead of the supernatural world doing it."
I hope you enjoyed reading me!