Chapter 9

Edward POV

Carlisle and I went to the Port Angeles police station together. I had felt there was something wrong with the man, but I had been too wrapped up in my own emotions, my own torment, my own failures, that I had failed once again. I should have been listening to his mind, verifying is words—but instead, I had been selfish. I shuddered in internal rage. It was no wonder she had gone.

I had no idea if he was simply some sick man looking for a thrill or something more serious. How would he have pulled this off? Something was wrong.

Immediately in entering the station, I breathed his scent. I gave Carlisle a significant look. He had been here. I immediately followed the trail, disregarding the man who stopped to help us. Nothing would stop me now.

"Hey, wait, where are you going?"

Stopping at an operating desk, I turned, finally acknowledging the junior officer's existence.

"Who works here?" I demanded shortly.

"Mitchell Ross. He hasn't been in for a few days actually."

"Where does he live?"

The man frowned. "Why are you asking? And who are you exactly?"

I turned to Carlisle speaking lowly—too swiftly for the officer to catch.

"Mitchell Ross is Russell Cramer. I don't know why he's posed as a detective. I'm going to find him."

Carlisle nodded and stepped up to the officer smiling comfortingly. The man relaxed as Carlisle began explaining the dilemma.

The officer's thoughts provided me with the address, it was a rundown part of Port Angeles. I entered the apartment building and after inquiring with the concierge, she helpfully parted with a key to his apartment.

Outside the door, I could hear a body moving about within. Soundlessly, I inserted the key and entered. The man never saw me coming—not until he felt me that was.

Grabbing his neck, I whirled him around. "Where is Mitchell?" I demanded, barely keeping my temper in check.

The man was no stranger to violence and seemed to assess the situation instantly. He struggled briefly, but was too strung out on—it smelled like cocaine—to fight much. He gave up soon.

"I don't know, I don't know," he began crying.

I had no tolerance and threw him to the floor. "You know."

"I told him not to do it! I swear, I told him not to do it!" The man was gasping for air on the floor, shuddering.

"Do what?"

The man looked up through the tears in his eyes.

I was sure I looked like a demon. My eyes were black, my stance predatory. "He wouldn't listen. Always fooling around with that damn radio. But he never intercepted a call before. Never done that before."

"Intercepted a call?" I was losing patience quickly. I pinched the bridge of my nose attempting to relieve the pressure.

"The dumb idiot. He heard Uncle Stan talking about some girl—" Edward froze. The man stumbled but continued. "Well then when Mitch heard about her being found cause he was working as a volunteer operator, he just didn't turn in the call. Went himself. I thought that was it. You know? Just see if she knew anything about Uncle Stan?"

Edward was burning internally with the craving to destroy, but his face showed nothing. He needed to hear it all.

"I'm losing patience." He spoke coldly.

The man tripped over himself to continue. "But he kept obsessing, saying she would was rich. Rich people would want her back. Said, that—"

"When," Edward cut him off ruthlessly, his eyes boring into the hazy dilated pupils.

"Today," the man whispered as though expecting his impending demise.

Edward restrained the urge to kill him though. The man hadn't done anything except withhold information. The others though …

Edward nearly flew from the building. He had left Bella alone and he had left her unprotected. When would he stop letting her down? Exposing her to danger?

He ground his teeth as he found Carlisle outside the police station and slammed the car in drive. Petal scraped against the floor, they shot forward and he explained on the way. Bella wasn't answering her phone, but he called ahead to Alice and Jasper anyway.

But if she was on their ground …

He would get to her in time.

Bella's POV

Jake had pulled me back to myself once, which is why I had gone back to him this time, but it wasn't working. Sitting on his couch in his garage, I couldn't shake the numbness. Nothing would be alright. Even my sun couldn't fill me with warmth. I was just cold inside. It felt like they had sucked out my happiness when they had taken me.

And I didn't want to let them get away with it. Let them take one more day from me. But I couldn't stop. It was all true and I couldn't stop it. The truth. The pain. I was helpless.

Jake tried to smile. "Hey, Bella I know you've—you know—but things can get back to normal now. You're okay."

I smiled emptily. I had never felt good enough for Edward, but now? I would never be. He deserved someone good.

A car pulled up outside and Jake walked out.

"Hello?" I could hear him asking. Then he popped his head back into the garage. "Bella, there's a police detective out here for you."

Maybe they had caught them. It was an attractive thought and I pulled myself to my feet, walking outside into the gray light.

"Detective Cramer?" I watched as he walked to me.

He smiled and I felt hope. Maybe if they were really caught I would feel better. I tentatively returned the smile.

"I have some good news Miss Swan."

A/N: So there you have it, the first chapter in a long time! Please make sure and review to let me know what you think, I love hearing from all of you. Thanks for reading!