SUDDEN ANNOUNCEMENT/REQUEST!

IF you know an artist/are an artist, I would like to put up a cover image for this story. I mean, my profile pic is nice... but I would like to dedicate something to this story in particular. Please message me privately about this.

Oh, Side Note Part II

I'm kinda shocked that you guys didn't pick up on the clue that I left last chapter. Some of you caught on, but I'll leave you a little hint: it can be physical evidence *wink*

NO SPOILERS! Happy Hunting!

-Kestra

For Edward and Isabella, time seemed to slow down dramatically around them. Both couldn't stop staring at each other. It was Isabella who broke the silence first, "We heard you the first time."

Edward had the decency to blush and yank his fist away. "I'm here for Detective Newton."

"Come in, Cullen," Mike called, waving him inside. He quickly minimized the windows on his desktop and took the manila envelope from Edward. "I don't recall asking for backgrounds, though."

"You didn't, I did."

Edward's head whipped to her and his expression darkened, "You asked for these background checks? On who's authority?!"

"Mine. We're partnered for this case. Ms. Swan accepted the case when I asked for her help. It turns out her point of view has been extremely helpful," Mike stood up, standing beside her. Edward's expression was wiped clean as the two had a stare off between them. Isabella froze as she felt Mike shift beside her, pressing his shoulder carefully against her own. Her brown eyes flew to Edward's, whom was staring intently at her. Emotions warred behind his emerald orbs, but they did not show on his face this time. But she could see his shoulders were tight and his fists were clenched, though.

"Just for this case?" Edward asked.

"Yes, Lieutenant Cullen," Mike hedged, heat beginning creep in. Isabella swiftly stepped away from the two men and took the envelope. She swiftly tore into it and pulled out a thumb drive. Excellent, thank you Angela.

"Ms. Swan, what is on that drive that was so important that I was called first thing this morning and requested, personally, to assist Angela Kyle with this task you so kindly assigned to her above her other important tasks."

Isabella couldn't help the blush that crept up her cheeks at the stress he used to drive his point home. She looked at Mike, whom nodded. "I am assisting with the Halloway case, Lieutenant Cullen. Our perp just gained a set of new balls and began threatening the family if the ransom is not fulfilled." Her eyes darkened. "He, or she left pictures of Jessica Halloway, our victim. Jessica is beginning to show signs of abuse. That's all I'm going to tell you."

Edward's face quickly fell into a mask of rage. "You mean to tell me that you have been on the Halloway Case this entire time?! What the hell have you two been doing? Do you have your thumbs up your asses or someth-" Isabella whipped around and marched up to him.

"If you value any sense of morale in this precinct, you will stop right where you are with that sentence. I will not hesitate to flatten your ass, Cullen. I don't care who you are, or who you were. You have no right to disrespect us!"

"Are you threatening me, Ms. Swan?" Edward folded his arms. Isabella tried, she really did, not to look away from his face and at his arms. His biceps strained against his uniform and his tight fists flexed his muscles. Her eyes found his again.

"I'm not threatening anybody. I am stating a is a fact for you and any others with whom you share chauvinistic tendencies. If you dare to question my work ethics again, I swear to God, you will fucking regret it!"

Mike squeaked slightly as her language quickly gained more color.

Edward's eyes flickered to Mike before looking back at her again. "I would love to see you try."

Without further warning, Isabella set her weight in her feet and shoved. Edward's eyes widened as he flew back and into a seat nearly three feet away. He swallowed as he looked up again, gaining his wind. Isabella's eyes were blacker than night. It was difficult to tell where the deep, chocolate brown started and the pupil began. "I will not be bullied by the fucking likes of you, Lieutenant Cullen. You have been nothing but an asshole to me the entire time we've crossed paths. It will end now. Either tell me what the hell your issue is, or get the fuck out of my goddamned space!"

Edward unfolded himself, standing at his full six-foot-three height. The muscle in his jaw jumped as he clenched and unclenched it. Mike stood back, away from the pair. It would be better if they dealt with it themselves. Isabella readied herself again, half expecting Edward to come after her in retaliation. Hell, it was his right. She made the first move. Somewhere in the back of her head, her mother's and father's voices screamed at her the age old lesson: never throw the first punch. Or in this case, the first shove.

She knew he wanted to. She could see it in his eyes. The rage... the frustration. He wanted to fight her, yet she could sense some invisible chain that held him back. He held up one, slender finger, "This isn't over. We will settle this, once and for all."

What the fuck is there to settle?! Nothing, that's what! She almost screamed those words at him, but he had already disappeared out the door, slamming it behind him. She could hear him, muffled through the door. "What the fuck are you all staring at?! If you have time to sit and do nothing, you have time to beat the street!" Noise immediately erupted from the other side of the door. People were scrambling to get tasks done... and to avoid the lion that emerged from the office of one Detective Mike Newton.

Isabella sucked in a breath and fell into the chair across from his desk, slamming her fists into the wood.

"Whoa! Easy there!"

"He just pisses me off. What the hell is his damage?!"

"Cullen has... issues, I admit. But he's a good cop; no he's a great cop. Look, his story is not mine to tell. If things end up calming down between the two of you, he might tell you." Mike knew better than to touch her. He learned the last time that surprising one Isabella Swan, Private I. was not a wise idea. Any ideals he had about a romantic relationship flew out the window at the display of her temper. It was not something he wanted. He just hoped that it wouldn't get her into trouble. He prayed that if it did, that whatever God was out there would have mercy on the cop who arrested her.

Isabella sucked in a deep breath, fists clenching hard as she turned to face him. A deep, red blush had colored her cheeks and down her neck. Mike held his breath, stunned by the beauty for a moment. "I'm sorry, Detective. My temper got the best of me."

"Honestly, he had it coming," Mike calmly answered. "But I'm not the one you should be apologizing to." Isabella nodded, gathering up the files in her hands. She handed him the thumb drive. "What's this for, anyway?"

"If we are going to find Jessica, I have a feeling that we can find her by looking into our suspects pasts. All events leading up to a disappearance or a kidnapping is in their past actions. Now that Miranda Lois has shot to the top of both our lists, I think we should look into her first. Go ahead and dive into this. I've asked Angela Kyle to do extensive backgrounds on each person. If you find anything alarming, you know how to reach me."

"Do you want me to send a copy to your email?"

"I instructed Angela in my file to make two copies. One for official record here at Seattle PD, and one for my own case file."

"You've covered all your bases," Mike grinned. "You would make a stellar detective, no matter what branch you decided to perch in, Ms. Swan."

Isabella tensed, turning away and walking out of the office. Her dark brown eyes scanned the room, searching for Edward and stopped on Captain Emmett McCarty. If anyone knows how to find Cullen, it's him. Emmett was in deep conversation with another officer when she approached. She kept her eyes trained above the nose so not to read his lips. Emmett looked up and a jovial grin lit up his features. "Bella! How lovely to see you!" he boomed.

"It's Isabella," she corrected. "I was wondering if you knew where Lieutenant Cullen is?"

"Edward?" his joviality dropped and he ran a hand through his dark brown curls. "Is he in trouble?"

"N-no, but I have something I need to tell him."

"Cullen left about five minutes ago. He said he was going to beat the street on another warrant he's been hunting. Honestly, I don't know exactly where he is."

An ex-bounty hunter that's gone off radar? A tingle of worry crept up Isabella's spine. "Do you think that's wise?"

"Officer Ramirez, I will catch up with you later. Tell the Missus I said hello," Emmett grinned. The officer nodded and left them. Emmett threw his arm around her shoulders, easily directing her path towards the elevators. "Let's go get some lunch, Isabella!" he laughed loudly as if she said some sort of joke. Eyes turned towards them and Isabella couldn't help but blush at the attention. Right as the doors started closing, she could hear the first whispers behind her starting. Fuck me.

((Flashback))

It took some work but Miranda finally walked out of the Solarium. Francesca stood swiftly and moved to meet her. A natural nurturer, no matter who it is, Isabella thought. "Ms. Andrews?" Francesca lifted her head immediately at her call. "Please come with me."

Francesca Andrews nodded, moving with slow, measured steps into the Solarium. When Isabella closed the door, she turned to the governess. "Please, have a seat."

"I don't understand something," she spoke softly. "I was the one who realized Jessica was missing... why am I only being interviewed by you now? Detective Newton interviewed me first. But you went to Sondra Halloway first."

Isabella watched Francesca carefully before sitting down. "I needed you to calm down. Detective Newton has a different interrogation style to my own. With Jessica missing, you were obviously extremely worried. Which makes you a perfect governess to her; you care about her."

"Like my own children," she whispered, eyes tearing up. "Why... why would someone kidnap Jessica and make such outlandish demands?! It doesn't make sense!"

"Not all criminals make sense," Isabella told her. "At least, not at first. When we catch him or her, we will ask that very question."

"Jessica has always been a bright star. I know she will make the Halloway family wonderful again. Ryan and Ivory look up to her and strive to make their futures just as bright as hers despite their beginnings."

Isabella nodded, "Why did you adopt the twins?"

Francesca closed her eyes as if to steel herself. "I was eighteen when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The doctors said that there was no saving any children, they had to remove my ovaries completely. But as time progressed for me, I watched my friends, and eventually Sean Halloway and Samantha Halloway have a beautiful baby girl. I wanted that. I wanted that feeling... that love."

"You knew the Halloways before Jessica was born?"

"Yes, Sean and I went to school together."

"You did?"

"Yes, Princeton University."

"An Ivy League School, that is impressive. But you taking a job as a governess... that is below whatever degree you have achieved."

Francesca smiled, "I won a scholarship from the Don Halloway Foundation of Bright Futures."

"The one set up in memory of Sondra Halloway's husband?"

"Yes. Don Halloway had so much love and respect for those not born to the wealthy society. So when he died, Sean created the foundation to allow Don's dream to live. Sean and I literally ran into each other at the main entrance." Francesca giggled softly, "He was a perfect gentleman. He helped me to my feet and introduced himself. When he learned who I was, he got this... infectious smile that lit up his eyes and said to me, 'Congratulations on stepping into a bright future. Are you going to open the door?' I didn't understand what he meant at first. I thought he meant it literally. So I went to the door and opened it. When I did, Sean just laughed and said to me, 'We're going to be great friends.'"

"What did you go to study?"

"I loved writing, it brings me joy and in turn I can share that joy with others. That's what I made my presentation to the Foundation about... Sean told me later that he had watched my entire presentation and that's how I was awarded the guarantee that I wouldn't have to worry about making a living while being at Princeton. He said I had a gift for screenwriting... and with my documentary and my story that I had written, he agreed that my talents could benefit hundreds, even thousands, of people."

There's more, there's a warmth in her eyes. She loved Sean Halloway.

"It sounds to me you had a lot in common."

"We did... but after he found out that I couldn't have children, it caused some heartache between us."

"You two were dating then."

Francesca closed her eyes, a tear running down her face. "I accepted that I couldn't be what Sean wanted or needed. He told me that my being unable to bear the Halloway Family children made our romantic relationship impossible. No matter how much we cared for one another. It took time but I accepted that. When he met Samantha, though, Sean was glowing around her. He truly loved her with his heart and soul... that's something I never had with him." Her eyes watered even more and more tears fell down her face. "Samantha and I were good friends too. I attended their wedding as Maid of Honor. It was the happiest days of their lives before Samantha found out she was pregnant with Jessica."

"I see..."

"When Sean and Samantha died... I was given a letter that was kept with his will. It was from Samantha. She said she was afraid for her daughter's happiness should they have died unexpectedly. She wanted to ensure that she had every joy possible. In her letter... she asked me to watch over and take care of Jessica like my own. So when Sondra Halloway opened the position for a governess, I jumped at the opportunity. Samantha's fears were well founded... Sondra had already been trying to groom Jessica into an image she wanted."

"What was she like, as Sondra was 'grooming' her?"

"When Sondra was around, Jessica was cold, calculating... she has a brilliant mind. But when Sondra wasn't around... well, she could never really groom Jessica's parents out of her. She knew the love they held for her. It's something that I try to instill in her every day."

"It's working."

"I know. I know of Ryan's feelings for Jessica. But I am afraid... I'm afraid that he will be denied love like I was."

"Why?"

"I'm not aware of all of Sondra Halloway's conditions for Jessica to succeed as Head of the family. But if she had it her way, Jessica would be married to someone of social status and wealth that complimented the Halloway's own power and lineage."

Back to the Romeo and Juliet problem, Isabella noted.

"Why did you adopt the twins?"

Francesca's hazel eyes lifted and met Isabella's brown ones. "I actually met Ivory first. She was rehearsing dance at a YMCA with a rag tag troupe that gathered from other foster homes. Their instructor was Esme Cullen... she's such a beautiful woman. I had stopped to watch and Ivory had been dancing so freely that I just felt... connected to her. I can't explain it. Mrs. Cullen had approached me and asked which one was mine. When I told her none, she told me that many of the children in the troupe were up for adoption. When I heard that, I jumped at the chance to meet Ivory personally. I found out after our first meeting that she had a twin brother, Ryan. I was scared taking on two children. I had only felt such a strong connection with Ivory. 'I can't be separated from Ryan. It's either both of us or nothing,' those were her exact words.

"It took months of meetings with both the foster parents and with the twins... it took time to establish the relationship that we had. Ryan was... troubled."

"Troubled?"

"Yes, he was in fights a lot in school. His foster parents often went to the school to pick him up after a suspension or a detention was handed down. It took time... but I caught him in a fight one day outside of school." Francesca's eyes darkened. "I watched him fight. But you know what the fight was about?"

Isabella shook her head. "He was an orphan and a brother, two minutes older than his sister. It was her that was being threatened, not him. When they spotted me, the attackers ran off. Ryan will not tell me the whole story to this day. But his eyes were so cold, he asked, 'Do you want to adopt me now?' And I hesitated. But I told him I did. It didn't matter that he was fighting; it was the fact that he fought to defend someone he cherished was what made him a good person. He, to me, was noble and I loved that in people. He reminded me a little of Sean that way; nobility I mean. The following morning, I officially made the movement to adopt Ryan and Ivory as my own children."

Isabella sat in silence after her story, watching Francesca carefully. It was hard not to feel an attachment for her; especially after the heartfelt story she shared. She pulled air in and centered her thoughts. "Can you take me through your movements from the day before the kidnapping and through the morning you realized Jessica was missing?"

"I home school Jessica at Sondra Halloway's insistence. I completed Jessica's lessons and left for the day when her ballroom dance instructor came around three in the afternoon. I returned around five-thirty when Sondra had called me directly insisting that I return for a meeting."

"What did she want?"

"She was afraid that Jessica was going to try and run away again."

Oh?

"Jessica was very hesitant with plans for her birthday party and stated such to her great-grandmother. Sondra was scared that she was going to run."

"Is it a valid fear?"

Francesca hesitated for a moment, "I... I had heard from some of the staff on whom had been invited to the party. The Castielle's were among them; Aro in particular."

"Aro and Jessica dated previously, correct?"

"Yes."

"Was there any hint of Aro being abusive?"

"Not... physically no. But the pair did not get along. Aro is nineteen and he will be turning twenty soon. He never laid a hand on Jessica as far as I am aware. But she broke the relationship between them."

"I see."

((End Flashback))

"You're worried about Cullen, that's noble of you despite your run ins with him. He can be a bit of a hard ass," Emmett sat down, biting into his Cuban sandwich. "But my question is why?"

"I'm not worried about him," she deflected.

"Yes you are, or else you wouldn't question if letting him out was wise."

"He's an ex-bounty hunter."

"And you're an ex-sheriff's deputy, what's the difference? You both go after criminals just the same." Isabella blushed and looked away, barely touching her burger and fries. "Look, all I'm saying is not to jump to conclusions. Give Cullen some slack, he had a rough time adjusting to this side of the fence. He's a hard ass, but he's one of the best cops I know. You can trust him."

"I don't foresee us being friends," Isabella told him.

Emmett shrugged, "That's your choice. But I hope that doesn't deter you from the precinct. You've made quite an impression among many of the detectives. Rumors are flying that you and Newton are an item," he joked.

"What?! I never mix relationships with work! Ever!" Isabella shot up from her seat.

"Anyone with half a brain knows that. Although, I have to admit Cullen was sporting some nice red cheeks when he left the office today."

"N-nothing happened between Detective Newton and I."

"Ah, so something happened between you and Cullen."

Isabella bit into her fries, refusing to answer.

"To answer your question, yes I think it's wise to let Edward do his thing. He's a sharp hunter and he won't get deterred. The guy's got goals and he won't rest until he achieves them."

He knows his story, she thought. "You two have history?"

"Yeah, we do. Tell me, madam P.I., what do you think of me? Do you think I'm a threat to society much less my unit?"

"No."

"Then trust my judgement. I stretched my neck out for Edward. He's a good guy that hit a rough spot a couple years back and that's all I'll say on the topic. Whatever beef you have with each other, keep it out of my unit. Rumors fly and I would hate to have the chief come down to check on things."

If Jacob called him and Captain McCarty has faith in him... perhaps there is something good under that stony exterior.

WHEW! Chapter 7 people!

*fans self*

I would like to take a moment and thank my dearest friend and NEW BETA Shelindrea for helping me edit and reword part of this. This project literally starts out as a stream of consciousness piece. Then I go in and do the editing, but I ALWAYS miss something.

Shelindrea, you are an awesome-matic-tastic angel!

Now! On to Chapter 8!

Oh Gods... x.x

-Kestra