This chapter has been redone, with an extra part at the end. Kinda forgot I had already posted the chapter, but it didn't feel finished to me.

Chapter 10 – If He Wants Me

Nowadays, I see myself lying to Jake more often; and it's not that I want to. I am doing it because of him; I don't want to get him further involved in my problems. Finding out that Phil showed up at Jake's shop didn't surprise me one bit. He is here for me. So the only reason for him to draw me out is to attack the people closest to me. Does he think I'm stupid? That I am too dumb to realize when I am being set up? I learned a lot over the years, but for once I am not going to run away from my fears.

If the monster of my past wants me, he can have me, HIV and all...

I've been sitting in Dr. Phillips' office for about twenty minutes before she finally decided to get off the damn phone to acknowledge my existence. I guess my occasional dagger like glares finally penetrated the bubble she was in. I groan when she places the phone on the hook; I want her to hear my agitation.

"I'm sorry, Bella." She smiles, as if a simple apology is supposed to make me happy. "That was one of my patients."

I mumble, "I don't really care."

She looks taken aback by my remark and regains her composure. "What and who has gotten underneath your skin this morning?" She reaches for her coffee mug, brings it to her lips and blows the peppermint aroma around.

"You. Who else?"

She cocks her brow, perches her lips around the rim and sips slowly.

"I've been sitting here for twenty minutes! I should be with my girls!"

The mug bumps against the desk when she puts it down. She grabs her notebook and begins to fumble through it. "Oh, that's right! How could I forget?" She playfully palms her forehand with her hand.

I don't find it amusing. She's messing around with my job.

"So, I'm handing your group back over to you today, but tell me, are you sure you're ready for them?"

"Oh, I've been ready."

"I like your attitude. We're going to discuss this during your next session."

I can't wait to get out of her stuffy office and back to my group. Surprisingly, the girls were in our usual spot, minus Carmen. I take a seat between Caroline and Jackie. "Hey."

"Oh my gosh, Miss Bella we missed you so much!" yells Caroline. She literally jumps out of her seat and nearly knocks me out of mine. Caroline wraps her arms around my neck and hugs me tightly. Her curly hair tickles at my cheek as I turn to look at Jackie who smiles and nods her head.

Once Caroline releases me she settles back into her chair with a faint blush on her cheeks, reverting back to her shy ways. "I'm sorry," she whispers.

I smile and say, "It's okay. It's good that you're opening up and expressing your feelings. So, tell me, how were your past sessions with Dr. Phillips? Any improvements? Anything I should know about?" I look at the girls, waiting for an answer. "Is there anything you want to tell me?"

Caroline blurts out, "Carmen's missing!"

Jackie rolls her eyes at Caroline and whispers through her teeth, "You weren't supposed to tell her that, stupid!"

I wasn't fond of Carmen, but deep down inside I didn't want anything to happen to the girl. After all, she is just a product of her environment. Carmen is known to disappear for weeks on end, but what makes this any different from her previous disappearances.

"I haven't known Carmen as long as you two have, but doesn't she normal do this?"

Jackie shakes her head. "It's different this time because her primary client lives in Port Angeles. He's giving her what she wants, so she decided to stick with him for a little longer."

I already know the client she is talking about is Phil. Who else could it be? "Do you know if she has any other clients in town?"

Caroline says, "No, she doesn't. By now, most of her clients are cut off. She thinks she's in love with that guy."

"Phil," I whisper.

"Wait, the guy you and her were fighting over," asks Jackie, her green eyes wide.

I shiver at the thought of me fighting over the man who ruined my life. "We weren't fighting over him. He's the guy who..." Painful images of Phil molesting me comes to mind and I try to shake them away. "...Who raped and abused me." My fingers tremble in my lap and I nervously shake my leg.

Caroline reaches over to cover my hand with her own. She smiles, asking me to relax with her eyes. I attempt to do so, breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth.

Jackie says, "It's weird how all of this is playing out. Isn't it ironic? He's doing the same thing he did to you with her, except she is willing."

"It's sick," I say, but decide to change the subject. I don't want to talk about Phil and what he did to me or the thought of Carmen being so naïve around him. "When was the last time either of you saw Carmen?"

Caroline says, "About three days ago, she came to the shelter to pick up supplies. Of course, she didn't say anything to me as usual."

I look at Jackie. "What about you?"

"She called me yesterday. She sounded upset. I think something happened between her and Phil. She was screaming about how much she hated you and you're the apple of his eye. Things like that."

"I see."

"We should call the police." Caroline pulls her hand away from my own and tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. "It's the only thing we can do."

"They won't believe us. We're damaged goods living out on the streets. They'll probably think we're crackheads or something. Besides, Carmen is always running away; I'm sure they know her history by now."

"I am going to talk to Dr. Phillips about this. We need someone the police may actually listen to."

Jackie snorts and folds her arms across her chest. "What makes you think the police are going to listen to her? She's an activist for us, they aren't going to listen to her. The system is crooked, Bella. When are you going to realize that or do you already know?"

If only I had someone to turn to, someone who is on my side. Charlie, I need you.

I can talk a big talk, but in reality I honestly don't know what to do. I want to do great things and take down the bad guys like before, but now...it seems different. What am I getting out of it? Phil probably wants to torture and kill me, but I'm already dying. What's the point? Should I continue to let him roam free? Should I continue to let him play out his sick fantasies on innocent little girls? Of course not, but what power do I have. I don't have a voice. I am a former prostitute, so who the hell is going to listen to me. Activists, counselors? Yes, but who says they have such a powerful voice that will take down one person. Hundreds of young girls and women all over the world are being used by sick men like Phil. I...Carmen is one in a hundred, but I have to try. If I can save just one, it will show me there is some hope.

The Forks Police Station is small, it's about the size of a small local bank. There is a picture of Charlie in his uniform hanging by the front door. Cubicles are scattered outside offices, which I assume are for the lower ranking officers. No one seems to notice me as enter the building with confusion on my face, so I go to the nearest cubicle where an older, pudgy officer is sitting. He has pictures of his grandchildren, I assume plastered across the wall of his work area. Sticky notes are stuck to his desktop.

I clear my throat. "Ahem, excuse me, sir?"

He looks up from his monitor. "Just one minute." He closes a few windows on his screen and looks up. "Yes, yes, how can I help you?"

"Hi, my name is Isabella Swan. I'm...Charlie's daughter."

The police station seems to grow quieter. I can feel their eyes on me, people peeking over their computer screens to get a better look at me. It had only been a few months since Charlie's funeral and yet they still stare at me like I'm a poisonous spider. I'm the laughingstock of Forks, the former police chief's prostitute daughter. I feel like it's written across my forehead in big, bold, red letters.

"Well," he says, "how can I help you today?"

I don't have a clue how to go by this, so I say, "I need you to arrest someone."

"Arrest someone?"

"Yes, Phillip Dwyer, he is a rapist and is violent towards women. I believe he has kidnapped a young lady."

He looks weary as he listens to my story, but as soon he opens his mouth to say something, a much younger gentleman exits from a door, which I assume is the chief's office, Charlie's former office. He is a few inches taller than me, dark black hair and brown eyes. He looks so young to be a police chief.

"Miss Swan, I presume?" He asks, approaching me with his hand extended.

"Yes, and you are?"

"Sheriff Sheraton. R.J. Sheraton." He flashes me a small smile, revealing crooked teeth. "It's an honor to meet you. Your father was a very respected man in Forks. I hope I am able to live up to his legacy."

So this is the man who has taken over my father's job. I don't see anything special about him, but he must be really good. "Nice to meet you."

"Officer Lowes, I will take over from here."

Officer Lowes turns away to return to whatever he was doing on the computer. Sheriff Sheraton smiles again. "Please follow me."

I do so and he leads me into his office, which Charlie once called his own. He offers me a seat in front of his desk, before he sits down too. "So, what's the problem, Miss Swan?"

"I need help to catch a criminal, his name is Phillip Dwyer. I believe he is the one who caused my mom's accident."

"Well, do you have proof?"

"Yes, I have proof. My mother's words are my proof. Who else would try to kill her?"

He clasps his fingers together on top of the desk and sighs. "Do you know if this Phillip person is still in the area? Do you have an address?"

"I know he is still around because he threatened my boyfriend." I lean forward, pleading with my eyes. "I know you don't believe anything that I am telling you, but you have to believe me, sir. My family is in danger!"

He smiles, but something tells me he isn't buying my plea. "I will help you unless you answer one question."

"Yes, what is it?"

"Is it true that you are a prostitute?"

I sigh. When will people just let it go? Get over it. That was my past, not my future. "I was a prostitute, but not anymore. I have a job, a home and a man who loves me unconditionally. I am a different woman now. Please, don't let my past hinder your decision." I'm practically begging him to say yes, but he is the law. He can easily turn me down and no one will care.

Say yes. Say yes. Say yes.

~Ten Minutes Later~

For ten minutes I listened to him ramble on and on about his thoughts on prostitutes, until he said something that made me slap him. I was quickly escorted off the premises fuming with anger. He said that all prostitutes are nothing but disease ridden insects. How could they choose a bastard like him to take my father's place! What is wrong with these people?

As I pace outside of the police station, I have to find somebody who will help me, since Forks lame ass police department is officially useless. I take out my phone and scroll through my contacts. I don't want to bring him into the picture, but he is sick and twisted enough to help me get rid of problem. I press my phone against my ear and pray that he answers.

"Hello. Who is this?" His older voice echoes throughout the speaker.

"Hi. This is Isabella Swan...Yes, Bella. I need your help. No, no, I am not in jail. No, JB isn't in jail either. But I would like to put someone in jail. Trust me, it will be worth your wild."

Later on that I night, I find myself on a dark, dreary road with my pistol at my side waiting for my last resort to show up. I told Jake I was going to get some toilet paper, but at this point I don't think he believed me. Raindrops splatter against the window and lightning flashes in the background. Music from my radio plays lowly from the speakers. I have to get rid of Phil and this seems to be the only way. Further down the road, I see a car approaching in a slow speed, it suddenly stops and flashes it's lights. I sit up straight. This must be him. I flash my lights twice and the car pulls off onto the side of the road. In the darkness, I can barely see him get out of the car and run through the rain towards my car. He knocks on the passenger's side window and I quickly unlock the door.

The door opens and suddenly closes. He pushes the wet hood back revealing his gray hair. "It's nice to see you again, Bella."

"It's nice to see you again, Detective Hernandez. It's been a while. I'm sorry for calling you in such a short notice."

"Well, Bella you know there are two things I fucking hate. Spoiled brats and fucking old ass pedophiles." The flash of the lightning lights up the car and I see a menacing grin on Hernandez's face. "Oh, the things I'll have done to him."

"Do what you please with him, but I want him dead."

He turns toward me and asks, "Are you really up for this again?"

"Yes."

"What I have in mind isn't going to be an easy task."

"Why do you say that?"

"You're gonna have to break up with JB in order for this to work. I know you're not up for that."

"I'll do it."

Hernandez has to do a double take and his mouth drops. "What?!"

I stare at him with seriousness in my eyes and no hesitation in my voice. "I said that I will do it."

He laughs, pulls the hood back over his head and reaches for the door handle. "That's all I need to know. I'll let you handle the breakup and I'll call you in a week with information. Oh, and Bella?"

"Yes?"

"Don't get JB involved in this."

I sink into my seat as he gets out of the car. "I won't."

The door slams and I jump suddenly. The thought of breaking up with Jake lingers over my head, but for some reason I don't feel terribly upset. A part of me wants him to leave me and the other half wants him to never leave my side. In order for this to work, I have to stay strong. I can't show any signs of weakness.

When I get home, Jake is sitting at the dinner table. Candles are lit, soft music is playing in the background and there is food on the table. He pushes away from the table, smiles and walks over to me. Jake kisses me on the cheek and lips. "Sit down," he says, ushering me to the table. He pulls my chair out and I take a seat. The plate in front of me consisted of steak and potatoes. It looks tasty, but I'm not in the mood to eat.

I look up and Jake has two wine glasses in his hand. He places one in front me. "Jake." He then disappears into the kitchen and returns with a bottle of wine. "Jake."

It's like he is in another world, ignoring my call. He places the full glass back in front of me before pouring his own and sits down. He looks up and smiles. "Whatever it is. Whoever it is won't ruin tonight." Jake picks up his fork and stabs it into a slice of potato; the metal scrapes against the plate.

I look at my plate and clench my fists against my thighs. I can do this. The lie rolls off my tongue slowly. "I can't do this anymore. I can't be with you. I'm sorry. I've found another."

Author's Note: Hi ya'll! Omg, it's been ages. Life kicked in and I've been on an almost 8 month long volunteering adventure from New Jersey to New Orleans. I'm back home now or good or until I get a job. But tonight, I decided to put on my writing music and FINALLY, FINALLY completed this chapter afters months. I kinda remember where I was going with all this. So I apologize if it wasn't up to par. Anyway, thank you to all my old and new readers for checking every now and then. I do appreciate it! :D I can't guarantee you that I'm back on a normal writing schedule because finishing this chapter was a spur of a moment type of thing. Review if you're still enjoying it!