A/N: So, I threw a chink into your perceptions and now it may or may not be Mike. You will learn who it is soon enough. Just FYI… I am from Texas and only recently moved away, and we do say ya'll even when we are talking to one person. I used it in another story, and someone said that was plural, and yes, it kind of is, but Texas is a whole different country. We say ya'll to mean one or many, and all ya'll is plural. Enjoy the new chapter!

Chapter 10 – Conversations and Orders

"Mike, I need you to do some extra patrols in town," Charlie ordered his deputy. He had been filled in on Alice's vision and although he typically turned a blind eye to many things… because otherwise he may lose his life if he knew too much about the Cullen's, he couldn't turn away from the threat of possible murder, not in his town. He had spent the night before talking to Jacob, and the alpha had told him what was heading their way, but nothing else, and if Charlie could prevent something from happening, he would do what it took.

"Is something wrong chief?" The deputy inquired. At home this man was his father-in-law, but at work he was his boss.

Rubbing his hand over his face, Charlie was a bit unsure about how to address the issue without sounding like he was crazy; which is the sole reason he put Mike on the job. Since he was married to Leah, the deputy knew all about the supernatural occurrences that surrounded Forks and those things that none of the other "normal" citizens knew about. Looking up, Charlie made sure that the door to his office was shut before he spoke, "I received a tip from Jake. I'm not sure when or how, but a body will be found behind one of the restaurants. It will be a female with mid-length blonde hair, early twenties, about 5'8", and she isn't from this area. We need to see if we can find her before someone else does."

Mike quirked an eyebrow and shook his head, "Are you sure about that chief? I mean…"

"Look, I choose to not know how everything works, and it's better that way, but when I am told Alice had a vision, I go with it. She has always been right. Now, since you are aware of the different… people we have around here, I am assigning you the task. No one else here knows about the wolves or anything else, and we need to keep it that way, not only for the Cullen's but for the tribe as well. Are you going to do the job or not?"

It wasn't like he had much of a choice. Charlie was giving him an assignment and he needed to do the job, and besides, the chief was right. In working with the police, they were able to give a small level of protection to the tribe… and unfortunately that extended to the vampires as well. Nodding, Mike agreed, "I'm on it."

"Good. I will be helping as well. Concentrate on the center of town around the café, but don't exclude the other areas. We don't know if she will be dragged there afterward or if it will happen there. Hopefully we will be able to prevent this from happening though."

"Do we have a sketch of the girl?"

"I asked Jake to bring me one if he could and he said we should have by the end of the day. Until then, go ahead and start your patrols. We can get the others in on it when we have the sketch and say that she is a missing girl that we need to be on the lookout for or something."

"Sir, when did this vision happen?"

"Yesterday. The Cullen's and both packs will also be looking around, but I want to be sure to stay ahead of this since if a body is found, it will fall to us to solve the murder and I want a lid on anything that could affect the packs."

"Understood."

Charlie looked up and shook his head, "If this is anything like what happened six years ago, I really don't want to think about the implications. Everyone around here was scared to death, and I couldn't really blame them. I was too. We need to stop anything like that from happening again."

"Yes, sir."

"Now, go on and get out of here. I know you are supposed to meet Leah for lunch, but everything we talked about here is not to be repeated. Leah will have her own meeting with Jake. I don't want anyone hearing this talked about. Rumors spread around here like wildfire," the police chief gave his son-in-law a very pointed look.

"Don't worry. I won't talk to her or anyone else," Mike stated and left the office in order to meet his wife for lunch. If a dead body was found could it be one of the Cullen's that do it? What about the stranger that Seth just imprinted on? The deputy wondered if there was a way to run the Cullen's out of town and break the bond his brother-in-law had with them. A dead body that implicated them might actually work. Shaking his head, he ran his hand through his hair before he got into his car to meet Leah.

Back at the Cullen house, Chris stood looking out the tall window in the bedroom she and Seth had been given. She had almost protested sharing the room with her mate, but had kept silent because right now she needed him more than anyone else… even if he did smell like dog. It was amazing how fast she was able to get used to the smell, and although still unappealing in many ways, his wasn't as strong or as bad as the others. It was almost comforting to her now, and that is exactly what she needed. Even the remote possibility or a minute thought that someone could lose their life because of her unsettled her and she knew Seth was the one man she could trust and depend on, someone who wouldn't leave her and would always be there for her even far into the future.

Thinking about their future together, she had to admit that she didn't look upon it with fear or derision anything longer; it was something to be anticipated… if they could make it through this current trial. There had always been something about her own species that had turned her off. They could fight and be dangerous, which she liked, but they were typically full of themselves and there was something that turned her off. Even the person that changed her; the only reason she stayed with him was mainly out of fear and unable to find a way out. It had been more of a prison than a relationship. And then she met Seth, who she had an instant connection to. He was most definitely not a vampire and once she got past the shock (and the smell), she realized they were kindred spirits. There was something rugged and real about him that no other man she had met before possessed, vampire or human. Seth was a proud man who had been lonely and searching for his mate. He loved life and living, and he wanted to protect his family, his tribe, and his friends. Unlike many of the wolves, he didn't discriminate and actually wanted to be friends with the vampires. He yearned for more than what he had been given, even if he did love his life and the people that surrounded him. Chris on the other hand had been forced into this life and tried to learn how to cope, but that isn't saying she didn't want more from this life or her previous. She had always wanted to stretch her wings and truly live for herself, to find love and someone that understood her, and she wanted to believe there was more destined for her than what she had experienced.

Before she knew it, Chris had started to talk to Seth and confide in him during their short time in Charlie's old house. It had been surprising and comfortable; and she realized it was something she didn't want to end. It had become their time and place… and here, she felt out of sorts and worried. Yes, part of it was the situation, but she heard a couple of the others talk about the fact she had mated with a wolf. She wanted to pull her hair out and yell, scream, cuss… anything to make them stop, but in the end, she did nothing and decided to try to keep the peace since they had to share the same abode. She wasn't even sure why she did that since she had never cared before; however, the current situation threw them all into unknown territory. Yes, they had come across enemies before, but right now there was no telling who the enemy was. Could it be someone in their own backyard, or was it a completely stranger? There was really no way to tell until the crime took place, and no one wanted that. Everyone in the house was on edge, and the two alphas were doing what they could to make sure their packs stayed in check. Chris would do what she could to keep the peace, but she could not wait to return to their little house where they could laugh, joke, talk, and enjoy each other without others interfering.

"Ya'll know that if you bottle it in, it will eventually explode. Don't you," Jasper stood in the doorway of the room Chris and Seth were staying in and studied her for a moment. Seth was on the reservation meeting with both packs about the vision and the implications.

Whipping around, Chris found the southern vampire and the scourge of the south standing behind her, "Jasper! Don't ye know, ye shouldna sneak up on someone?" She had heard all of the stories about Major Jasper Whitlock and when she finally met him, she was terrified… only to find he was a kind and goodhearted man.

"I didn't think it was really possible to sneak up on another vampire unless the stalker is using a gift, or unless the stalkee isn't payin' attention. My guess is the latter. Your emotions are all over the board."

Chris turned to stare out the window again and finally answered, "Sometimes I tink it might hae been better if I dinna come."

Nodding, Jasper replied, "I can understand that, but if you hadn't, you wouldn't have met Seth."

"Aye, but ten he wouldna be goin trough this."

"Honey, there is no way to know if you coming here triggered anything. There is a possibility that even if you hadn't come, we would be dealing with this anyway."

"Aye. Jasper, did ye know the first time ye saw Alice that she was it for ye?"

"Hmm, I did. I walked in and saw her sitting at the counter and knew she was there for me and me alone. The others were much the same. Rose carried Emmett just to get him to Carlisle so that he could be changed and prevent his death. Edward was able to fight his baser instincts that screamed at him to kill Bella because not only was she his singer, but she was his mate. Even if he was an idiot more times than I care to count and I wanted to jackslap him from here to hell's fire many times."

"Why ten do they talk about Seth an' I like it is wrong?"

Jasper knew immediately what she was talking about. Rose and Emmett had thought it was strange… Rose more so than the big man, but they had still made a couple of comments, and being in a house where the majority of people were vampires, it was no wonder Chris had heard everything. Shaking his head, he sighed, "You have to almost think about where they came from. Different wasn't always accepted. Rose hated the thought of Edward dating a human in the beginning. I don't think she hates this, but it is odd. Has she said anything hateful or spiteful?"

Shaking her head, Chris answered, "Nay. They jut talk like tis too different."

"Well, when it comes to them, I wouldn't let it worry ya'll. They aren't exactly the picture perfect couple," he chuckled.

"I'm worrit."

"I know and I hate to say this, but things like this happen in the world every day. You shouldn't feel guilty unless you do the crime yourself."

"And Seth?"

"Seth is a good kid and a fighter. He will make sure both of you come out on the other side. You just have to believe in him and the relationship between you."

She snorted, "Ye make me sound like a cradle robber."

"Well honey, when you have been around as long as I have, he is a kid; however, he really is a good guy and very different from the other wolves. He has always been more accepting and open to us, and never held a grudge against us. He fought alongside us because he wanted to be our ally and friend, and not because of a treaty or because he was ordered to. He wanted to protect the tribe, but he wanted to fight with us as well. He supported us. I think someone up there always knew he was meant to be with a vampire. If it had been anyone else, well I don't think it would have been as easy for either one of you." Jasper paused for a moment before he said, "Ignore what anyone else says. You can't control who you are destined to be with, and in your case it is Seth. What others think or say doesn't matter. The only thing that does is the two people in the relationship."

"Tank ye, Jasper."

"Now, come on, I need to take a copy of the sketch down to Charlie and you look like you could use a break. Let's go," the former major smile and walked away from the room expecting Chris to follow, knowing she would.

When they got to the police station, they both walked directly to the chief's office and Jasper knocked on the door alerting the other man to their presence, "Hey Charlie. Jacob said you wanted a copy of the sketch."

Looking up from a file on his desk, Charlie grinned and waved the duo in, "Yah. Thanks for bringing it over. It's good to see you again, Chris." He had only met his stepson's imprint a couple of times, but there was something about her that he just automatically liked, and he couldn't say that about everyone that in the Cullen abode.

"Gud te see ye too, Charlie," Chris smiled at her father-in-law and sat down in the seat he had indicated. They only talked for a few minutes before they were interrupted by one of the deputies and from the way he was glaring at her and Jasper, they decided it was best to head home. She remembered meeting him only one time and she always got a hostile vibe from him. Unfortunately he was her brother-in-law… in a way. "Bye Charlie," she said as she walked out the door with Jasper right behind her.

"What were they doing here?" Mike asked as soon as he closed the office door.

Charlie shrugged, "They brought the sketch and visited for a few. Here, take a look at this and be on the lookout."

Mike took the paper and glanced down before gasping, "This can't be right!"