Hi Everyone... Thanks so much for the people who read my story. I appreciate the comments, reviews and recs. I, also, welcome any suggestions.
This chapter is not pre-read or edited. I am really late for a Wednesday to get this chapter out. So, please, forgive any errors. Yet, it's still Wednesday! I didn't want to bother my girls with reading and editing, last minute.
And as always, Stephenie Meyer owns the characters. I just borrow them for a bit.
XOXOX
Finding Home
Chapter Fourteen: More Mysteries to Solve
From previous chapter:
"Ok, I'm sorry." He clears his throat. "I got carried away." He smiles with a twinkle in his eye. "Let's get a few hours of sleep, then we can ask Mom for Dad's papers."
"Okay." I sigh. "Edward?"
"Yeah?" he answers.
"I'm not trying to be a prude." I yawn. "Or a tease."
"It's okay, Bella. Sleep." He holds me close.
I yawn, again, and mumble, "Night, Edward. Tomorrow, we catch the bad guys?"
"Sure, Baby," he whispers.
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I toss and turn as my dreams flutter from good to bad to damn ugly. At one point, I chase after flying monkeys holding tax returns. There's a white-haired man with a log ponytail who sits at an ornately-carved, wooden desk. Reminds me of a character in Harry Potter. He counts money, throws it into this huge brown bag and he glares at a tearful Esme in the corner of the room. Nothing makes any sense.
I open my eyes to find Edward on his side, staring at me.
With a raspy, morning voice, I say, "Hi."
I get this very serious look. Then, he smiles. "Hi. You okay?"
"Oh, peachy. I've had the weirdest dreams," I squeak out.
"Yeah, I know. You talk in your sleep." He kids me.
I glare. "What did I say?"
"You were mumbling about some monkeys," he says laughing at me.
"Don't laugh," I whine.
"Anything about my dad's papers?" he asks.
"No." I shake my head. "The dreams are way-off dreams. Like flying monkeys with tax returns."
Edward chuckles. "Okay."
"No, Edward, it was all very strange. Stupid, ridiculous strange, but there was some truth to the bazaar lunacy. It all ties in with what Gran was trying to tell me. Your father wasn't careless and he knew what he was doing. Something just isn't right. I just get this sick feeling that things aren't what they seem." I grasp at him.
"Bella, maybe you're taking this all out of proportion. I mean, you're grandmother just died," he whispers.
"No, it's not that. I have felt her before. Edward, I'm not fucking imagining things. She has said things to me and they fell into place." I sigh. "Edward, she knew if I came to live with my father, I would be happy. Gran always knew things."
"Bella, of course, you would be happy. Your dad loves you," he says to me with pleading eyes.
"No, you don't understand. She knew I would meet you. She knew I had to come to Forks. I am just getting it, myself. She wrote me a letter, before she died. She asked Jason to give it to me, after she was gone." Aw, such frustration. He doesn't get what I am saying.
He looks at me and sighs. "I do get what you are saying. It's fucking weird."
"I don't understand it yet, but I will. We have to look at your dad's papers."
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Esme drags a huge metal box from her closet. Edward jumps up to help scoot her away. He carries it out, hoists it up and onto Esme's bed. The strain on his face, muscles in his neck and groan from his lips perk my ears up. I salivate like a Pavlov dog. In the throws of passion. Okay, shake my head and stop that train of thinking.
"What are we looking for?" Esme asks me.
"I'm not sure. We need financial statements. Maybe records of each business? Gran wasn't very clear. And she insisted I listen to the Beatles song lyrics. Something in them."
Alice walks into the room in matching metallic blue robe and slippers. "What are you guys doing?" She crawls on top of the bed, sits cross-legged and thumbs through papers. "Why do you have dad's files out?"
Mags appears at the door, leaning on her crutches. "It was such a bitch getting up those stairs!" she huffs. "What's all the ruckus?"
"Okay, I had this dream," I repeat.
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During our knee-deep paper search, Charlie calls me and I fill him in on my dreams. He will arrive home in a few hours and will join us in the never ending saga of "Gran's clues".
"I never questioned that woman in life and I'm certainly not going to question her in death. If anyone could talk from the grand beyond, it would be Lizzie," Dad says over the speaker on my cell.
"Here, here, you're a smart man, Charlie Swan," Mags agrees, lifting a paper up, as she sits next to Alice on Esme's bed. "Lizzie had a sense of the other side. God, that woman knew things without anyone telling her anything."
Edward grabs my hand and squeezes. "I'm sorry I didn't believe you."
I shrug and smile up at him.
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As soon as Charlie arrives, we all huddle in the living room. Jasper sits next to Alice. One more head to help the search. After six pizzas, two apple pies, a few beers for Mags and Dad, we stretch and take a break.
Well, not Charlie. He still looks over the files.
"Bella, what was the number in the Taxman song?" He scrunches up his brow in deep thought.
I stupidly run the lyrics through my head and I sing, "One for you nineteen for me."
Charlie holds a folder and grabs two plies that stick together. When he pulls them apart and shuffles through all the paperwork, his eyes widen.
I look over at him. "What?"
Charlie turns to Esme. "Did you see this?" He hands the folder over to Esme.
She gasps, "No."
Charlie smiles. "Well, well."
Jasper, Alice, Edward and I all say at the same time, "What?"
"It appears there's an insurance policy," he says, as he clears his throat, "that wasn't cashed in."
Edward stands, walks over to Esme and she shows him the file. "We never saw this."
"But if you notice, Edward, that's a copy," Charlie explains.
"Then, who has the original?" Mags asks.
Charlie looks like a fat cat who swallows the canary. "Bella, what did that guy look like with the money in your dream?"
I describe to Charlie, as Charlie looks at Esme. "He had long, whitish hair in a ponytail, really beady blue eyes, about your height and he looks like Draco Malfoy's dad in Harry Potter."
Esme gasps and covers her mouth. "My God." She stares at me. "James Hunter."
Charlie points to Esme and the papers. "Did you see the amount, Esme?"
She looks through the pages, looks up at me and says in a surprise whisper, "Nineteen million."
"Holly shit, Lizzie, did it again!" Mags shouts.
Jasper mouths, "Holy fuck!"
But I frown and shake my head, "That's not all of it."
"What? There's more money?" Edward asks me.
"It's not about money. There is something else." I stare blankly and whisper out.
Charlie grabs my hand. "What is it, Bells Honey?"
"I don't know. It's more like a feeling, Dad. I just don't know." I look him in straight in the eyes.
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Charlie and I walk into our kitchen. I lean against the counter, as he sits on a chair at the table.
"You want to talk about it?" Charlie asks me.
I grab a beer out of the frig and hand it to Charlie.
He takes the beer. "Thanks."
"To see James Hunter counting money with Esme cringing in the corner means something. Like he was holding something over her head. The weirdest part is that I've never seen this guy." I sit at the kitchen table, across from Charlie. "Can you check him out?"
"I don't have tangible evidence, Bells. I believe what you saw," he grumbles.
"But if you had the proof?" I question.
"Sure, I can get a search warrant and fry that sneaky bastard's ass. I will never know why Carlisle went into business with him. They were bitter enemies," he states, shaking his head.
"Better to keep your friends close and your enemies closer?" I raise an eyebrow.
"Touche`!" Charlie nods.
"It's weird they never found that insurance policy," I mumble out.
"It was sandwiched between to other documents," he explains.
"Yeah, but why does James Senior have the original? Did Carlisle give it to him?" I sigh. "I don't think so. Or did the sneaky SOB take it?" I tap my fingers on the counter. "Yeah, that's my belief." I plop up onto the counter top. "Dad, James Hunter is a dangerous guy, right?"
"Bella, he's never done anything." Charlie stretches in his chair.
I swing my legs from the counter top and grip the edge. "Hmm, he hasn't been caught doing something, you mean?"
"I guess so," he agrees.
A light bulb goes on in my head. "Dad, if he does have the original, then, why didn't he tell Esme? He took their home and cars away. They have been living in a small, dumpy apartment with little to eat. Who does that and why?"
There is a soft knock at the back door. Charlie gets up and opens the it. He rubs the back of his neck and chuckles. "I was wondering when you'd show up." He steps aside to allow Edward entrance.
He shyly looks at me. "Hey."
I smile. "Hey."
Charlie looks at the both of us. "Okay, I'm going to watch my game... in the living room... on my flat screen." He grabs another beer out of the refrigerator and pats Edward on the shoulder. "Hurt her and I will be forced to shoot you." He walks away, chuckling to himself, "Ooo boy, tsk tsk."
I look at Edward and quickly stare at the floor. Hmm, need to do some spot cleaning.
"What was that about?" he says, watching Charlie walk out of the room.
"Don't worry he likes you. You're just nabbing me up too fast." I explain to him.
"Do you think I am?" He gives me a pouty face and places his hands on my hips, standing in between my legs.
I scoot closer, put my hands up around his neck and kiss him lightly on the lips. "Oh, you'd better be nabbing me up."
This time, Edward kisses me with full force. A lip lock to be reckoned with. who hoo. He tickles me and I giggle.
Charlie shouts out, "I can hear you two from here!"
Edward pushes back quickly and gets serious. "Well, I came by to tell you I have to work. Emmett called me in to teach a class. Do you want to come with me?"
"Yeah." I smile up at him. Kiss him and yell out to Charlie, "Hey Dad, Edward has to go teach a class. I'm going to go with him. Okay?"
"Sure, just don't be too late," he shouts out.
"Can I bring you back anything?" I ask.
"No. I'm good. Just be careful." He preaches.
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When Edward walks out from the changing room, he stands proud and bows with respect to Emmett. Both men are a fifth dan black belt. Tae Kwon Do Masters. Their uniforms reflect their standings. I drool, as I watch Edward stand before his students.
He teaches a class of nine year old killers. Edward puts his rugrats through their regiment of beginning katas, which are choreographed patterns of gangly arms and legs in awkward positions. He then pairs his kids to spar. I watch these little murderers of the Tae Kwon Do House of Ro-Em perform their mini battles. As much as Edward instructs them to spar, he doesn't seem to get through to them the simplicity of the competition of the sport. One lanky deviant purposely kicks Edward on the back of his leg by surprise. Edward turns to correct himself with absolute concentration and grace. The convict-to-be smirks, as he bows with (dis)respect. I want to smack the crap out of him. He walks away with a hateful grin. I plan to keep my eye on him for the rest of the time. And I swear I love kids, but this future, Leavenworth inmate rubs me the wrong way.
To be honest, I prefer T'ai Chi Chuan to Tae Kwon Do. And I have a black belt, too.The Tae sport challenges and strengthens, but I like the calm and peace that's softer and slower in T'ai Chi. It's like a graceful ballet of movement, girlie style. I think of Gran and her crazy tie dress.
By the time we get ready to leave, I want to strangle Edward's assailant. The devil's spawn with dagger eyes and jerky movements of a Mafia hitman! I can tell he doesn't like Edward. I wonder if Edward knows this.
Emmett locks up and we part ways. Ah, but mutant baby ninja sits on a bench near the entrance, waiting for his ride. A dark tank of a car drives up and James Hunter rolls down his window. Oh My God, I am right. He is the devil's spawn. I stare at James Hunter. White hair in ponytail. I get the goose bumps and the sweats. I feel sick to my stomach, when our eyes meet. He literally bores a hole through my brain and I finally look away. Brat child gets into das boot and James Hunter drives away.
I look at Edward and say, "And I thought Junior gave me the creeps." Then, I throw up. Edward holds my hair and rubs my back in long strokes, as I am on my knees, grasping my stomach and wrenching my guts out in the gutter of the street. Something we can tell our grandchildren in years to come.
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Twenty minutes later, Edward with his arms around me takes me into the auto supplies store to use their bathroom. I wash my face and rinse out my mouth. I can't believe my stomach couldn't hold anything down. I still feel a bit woozy.
As I walk out, I find Edward leaning against the wall. He jumps forward and rubs my shoulder.
"Bella, are you feeling better?" He moves the hair away from my eyes, flips it behind my ear and strokes my cheek.
"Yeah, I'm okay. Thank you for being with me." I smile up at him.
He kisses my forehead. "No problem, Baby."
We walk out of the store and head for the truck, hand in hand.
"So, there are three sicko Hunters, huh?" I ask, stretching my neck from side to side.
"You should be there, when James Senior and Junior come to pick Jared up. They tell him to kick and bite his sparing partner. Emmett has asked them so many times to stop the nasty shit," Edward huffs.
"So he's a thief and a rotten father," I blurt out.
"Well, Jared hates me, if you saw him tonight." He opens the passenger door for me.
"Yeah, I saw. What was that all about him kicking you with your back turned?" I get into the truck.
"Jared looks up to his brother. So, when I stopped hanging out with James, he got pissed off and sicked his little bro, Jared, on me." He closes the door and runs to get into his side of the truck.
"That kid's going to end up behind bars," I empathically announce. "Hopefully, we can figure out what is off and daddy will do some time, too."
"You really believe he did something, Bella?" Edward asks.
I look into his eyes. "I was saying to dad, tonight, before you came over that if James Senior has the original insurance policy, then, why did he take your home, your cars and not give you your rightful inheritance? And Edward, I know Gran is trying to tell us something."
"It would be fucking great to find out the truth," He starts up the truck. "Let's get you home. School tomorrow."
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I keep the Mustang home and drive to school with Edward. "Bella, why take two cars, when we are going to the same fucking place?" Why argue?Besides, I get to hold his hand, as we walk into the school. I claim Edward Anthony Cullen as mine.
Edward looks amazing. The new hair cut shows his gorgeous jade eyes and long, dark lashes. His bronze hair still falls onto his forehead in chaos, but it's sexy, soft and highly yummy. The extra weight, from the cookies to the brownies, gives him a broader look. He fills out his shirts and jeans rather nicely, I must say. And most of all, he let me pick out his clothes. No we do NOT match. He wears a black, Aerosmith T-shirt under a black knit hoodie, dark boot-leg jeans and black and white converse sneaks. I did try to get him to wear an over shirt, but he wasn't having it.
Edward parks the truck, walks out and opens my door. When he grabs my hand, his palms are sweaty. Aw, he's nervous.I give his hand a squeeze. "You look great!"
He smiles, "Thanks."
We start to walk towards the building and every face looks our way. No one even tries to look away. They stare. With mouths open. You think they never saw two people hold hands. But it's the new girl and the very new Edward Cullen. He's wide awake, stands tall and knocks their socks off. I feel so proud. I actually smile my ass off.
Edward bends his head to mine and whispers, "Why are you smiling?"
I look right a him and say, "I'm so proud to be with you."
And Edward grabs me and kisses me. Not a peck. Not on the cheek. But smack dab on my mouth. If he didn't have his arms around me, I'd be a pile of mush on the ground. There are more stares with open mouths and whispers. Edward and I are quite the spectacle.
He breaks from the kiss. "Thank you, Baby."
My mouth is wide open and Edward takes a hand to close it.
"Yeah. Um, right." Sea legs. Walk, Bella.
We go into the building to get to our lockers, turn the corner and we stop short. Our lockers have multiple dents and the doors are off the center. We see dark faded-red spray paint zeros with slash marks threw them. Poor maintenance people
Alice stand to one side in horror with her locker open. "It was our lockers that Charlie was talking about, Bella. Someone spray painted, pounded and filled them with some kind of goo."
I open my locker to find a sticky residue over my books and papers. "This is disgusting."
Edward sees the same in his locker and shuts it with force. "He's gone too fucking far, this time." He tries to storm off, but I catch his arm.
"Oh no, you don't," I yell.
""I'm picking this battle," he shouts.
"Not without me!" I stomp past him. "I'll kill him!"
Edward grabs for me, but I get past him and run to the next hallway. I see James and lunge for him. "You fucking asshole!"
I bend quickly and do a full leg sweep and James falls flat on his back, wiping that arrogant smile off of his face.
James screams at me, " God, you're a fucking bitch! What the hell is your problem, now?" He sees Edward. "C'mon Cullen, don't you have any control over your crazy ass girlfriend?"
Edward gives me a look to move aside (which I actually do move) and he reaches down and grabs James by the neck, "You want to fight. Then, fight. No sneaky little brother back shots, no ganging up with your friends behind the bleachers and no back stabbing manipulations by Lauren Malory. One on one, James. And leave Bella the fuck out of this."
A group of kids start to stop near both boys and yell for a fight. Lauren and Jessica stand to the side, as Lauren gives Edward a head to toe once over. I'm ready to pounce on her.
Lauren yells out, "Looks like someone's got his panties in a knot. Oooo, maybe it's his girlfriend."
I step in front of her and mirror Edward's move and grab Lauren by the neck. "You have something to say to me, skank?"
"Are you crazy? Let me go!" she squeaks out at me.
Three teachers show up and get everyone to move on. Mr. Banner looks at Edward and me. "You two have a reason for choking Mr. Hunter and Miss Malory?"
Edward answers and point at James, "James' the one who messed up our lockers."
Mr. Banner looks at James, "Is this true, Mr. Hunter?"
"I don't know what he's talking about, Mr. Banner," James innocently states. "His crazy girlfriend knocked me down. Then, Cullen was on top of me."
Mr. Banner shakes his head at James, "Well, let's all take a walk to the Principal's office."
A few groans and they head down the hallway. James stares at Lauren, hiding in a corner. He whispers, "You know what to do!" She nods and runs off.
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Mr. Banner holds the door to the Principal's office for Edward, James and me. As we enter the room, the Principal sits at his desk with Charlie across from him.
I look at my father in shock. "Dad, what are you doing here?"
He turns, looks at James and says coolly, "Catching a vandal."
James defends myself, "Hey, I didn't do anything."
"Cameras say differently, son. You're under arrest." Charlie stands.
"Call my dad, he'll handle this with OUR lawyer," James yells.
"Oh, don't you worry. Your dad will be called." Charlie growls. "And your other friends are already down at the station, singing their stories. Now, turn around."
James turns around, as my dad cuffs him and reads him his rights. Dad looks at me. "See you at home later?" I nod. Charlie guides James out of the office.
"This ain't over, Cullen. It's all your fault." James shouts, as Charlie walks him down the hallway. "You're a bitch, Bella!"
Charlie pushes James. "Hey, watch your mouth. That's my daughter!"
Edwards and I laugh, as the Principal shoos us out of his office, "Go to class. And no more of the karate stuff!"
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After school, we drive home in record speed. Edward parks the truck in the garage, heads down to his room, while I make us a snack.
It doesn't take five minutes, I hear someone talking to Edward. A female someone. A shiver rides up my spine. I hear moaning and groaning. I quickly hit the stairs. When I get to the bottom step I freeze. Lauren Mallroy is all over Edward on the sofa. She is stark naked, kissing him while pinning him down.
Lauren looks up, turns to me and giggles, "Oh my."
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Well, well... Look what James had Lauren do... Now, the questions is... What is Bella going to do? More mysteries and answers to come.
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recs: all completed
Horse Play by AngelGoddess1981
Beautiful Stranger byNJNYTwiGals
A Pound of Flesh by Jaxon22
Full Disclosure by Betty Smith
Meet the Masons by FictionFreaks95
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