So it's time for a new chapter for this story. It has been a while. I know that some of my annual readers don't read this story, but some do. So this is for you guys! Enjoy

Chapter 6

I made myself fidget at the thought of what was going to happen tonight. I was afraid. Deftly afraid. I had no idea if Edward was responsible for the murders, although part of me knew that he probably wasn't, and I was anxious to know what he planned on telling me.

"Bella." His voice enters my head and I look up to meet his gaze. He looks worried too; as if I might run off. I wasn't going anywhere now. Not until I have some answers. And I wanted them now. Edward sat down, not taking his eyes off me. He started to open his mouth.

"Skip the small talk, please." I murmur as a waitress arrives and takes our order. Once she is gone, Edward leans forward in his chair and begins his speech.

"I doubt that anything I say tonight will make sense. I also doubt that you will truly believe me." His eyebrows creased and he waited for me to say something. I only waited, watching him carefully. After a moment, he closed his eyes and seemed to listen to the people around us. "I have a .. gift, Isabella." He whispered. He opened his eyes and took in my confused stare. A gush of breath came from his lips and he looked away, behind me, and back again. "I don't know how to tell you to make you believe me." He said, smiling slightly.

"It can't possibly be that terrible." I said. "You didn't kill those women, right?"

"No."

"Then I believe you. So you can tell me why the hell you were at the scene of the crime if you in no way killed the… girl." I almost choked at the end, noticing the waitress putting our drinks in front of us. I waited until she was gone before I motioned Edward to speak. I was both curious and irritated at the same time. Edward shifted his eyes away from mine and they landed on his glass. His long pale fingers pulled his soft drink closer and I could see drops of condensation fall from between his fingers. He took a drink. I couldn't help myself but look as he brought the glass to his lips and drank, his adam's apple gently moving up and down. I looked up to his eyes and saw him looking back. I blushed.

"Will you believe me if I said I was in the wrong place at the right time?" He smirked.

"Why were you there?" I asked. This was when he turned slightly pink. "Please don't lie."

"I was looking for you…"

"Following me, you mean?"

"More like protecting you."

"From what?" I laughed. "Yourself?"

"No." He said sternly. " More like the people who killed the girls that you've been so interested in." His nostrils flared and I sat up straight. I couldn't tell what emotions were on my face, but his sudden abruptness softened. "You shouldn't have been mingling in the crime scenes. They know that you're studying the case. They're angry."

Shaking, I brought my soda to my lips, but I couldn't drink. I put the glass down and tried to think of what to say. "I… How do you know all this?" I whispered.

"Because I know them, and I know that there is no way in Hell that they don't know who you are and what you've been doing." At the moment I didn't care to know how he knew them.

"Do you know why they're killing the girls?"

"Bella, stop meddling, please. You're going to get yourself killed. I already know that they have their orders, and they won't kill you unless they have to, but it doesn't mean they're not going to be watching you."

"Watching me? What do you mean "Watching me"?" I tried not to gasp. I leaned forward. "I'll stop. I will."

"I don't think that's going to help." He whispered sadly. This was when I decided to ask.

"How do you know them?"

He looked reluctant. "Tell me." I whispered.

"Because I was one of them."

"You were-- what!?" I asked. "You're a murderer!"

"Shh… No I'm not. I have never killed anyone. I swear."

"Then why….?"

"It was a group I joined in high school.. They were older, I thought it would be cool. But then I realized what they really were, so I left." He picked at his food that the waiter placed in front of him.

"You left?" I wondered. "How can you just leave a group like that?"

"I can't. I couldn't…"

"So you're still with them…."

"Yes, but I.." I couldn't listen anymore, I stood up and began walking out of the restaurant, swallowing the only mouthful of food I had eaten. I made it out the door and hurriedly walked down the evening crowded sidewalk. I made it one block before Edward caught up with me. I had my sleeveless arms around myself and he had our food in a doggy-bag under his arm. I barely looked at him. I kept walking, and he stayed beside me.

"Are you going to talk to me?" He asked.

"I don't think I need to." I murmured.

"No?" He asked. "Fuck Bella, stop and talk to me, please." He reached out and grabbed my elbow. I stopped and pulled back from him.

"What do you want, Edward. Huh? You've given me your warning. I'm gonna stay away. I'm gonna watch my back. So leave me alone."

"I can't do that, Bella."

"Yes. Yes. You can."

"Bella--"

"I'm not attracted to you, Edward! You can't use the whole hero thing on me, okay? Just leave the hell alone." I turned and walked off. He didn't follow. When I got into my apartment, I locked the doors and called Jasper. He said he'd stay with me tonight. I was grateful, because I had a long story to tell him.

…

The door slammed loudly, echoing off the cement walls. A man, 24 years of age, walks straight to the table and sits down.

"You're late." A voice, half hidden in the shadows murmurs.

"Sorry." He grumbled, relaxing into a lazy position. The other voice growled and he was forced to sit up. "What did I miss."

"If you had any means of punctuality you would know that we found our next victim, well actually we brought up her up on our list. It's best we get rid of this one more quickly. You'll finish her off tonight."

"What's her name?"

"Isabella Swan."