STRUGGLES

Disclaimer: The Cullen's, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline.

The awesome and talented dowlingnana searched out my errors and corrected them. She also makes the banners for each of my stories.

Jenkins wondered if he should bring all of this to the attention of Charlie Swan and his daughter's attorney, Edward Cullen, or, just check into it himself before talking to anyone about what he suspects? So, it was after a little thought that he decided to call Charlie and get the name of the detective he had hired to check into his daughter's case. That way by working with that private detective things would be kept on the quiet side until it was time to reveal the facts they discovered.

CHAPTER 21: ARE WE GETTING A BREAK

"Charlie, I need to talk with you and need for you to set up a meeting with you and two of your people, as well, since I need undisclosed help gathering some evidence concerning your daughter's case."

Charlie Swan was a bit surprised to be receiving a call from Jason Jenkins this soon after the visit he and Edward Cullen had paid to his old friend. The thought, 'what could have changed?', quickly ran through his mind before he replied back by asking, "Who and When? Would it be a waste of time at this moment to be asking what's going on?"

"Let's leave all explanation until our meeting. I need to speak with you, your daughter's attorney and the private investigator that is looking for evidence that would clear your child. To say any more over the phone without the complete explanations of my suspicions might cause your people to head off in a direction other than what they would need. So, if you will get with them and let me know when you three can meet with me. Then once I hear back from you we'll set up a place because I don't want it happening here at headquarters. No questions as everything will become clearer once we all meet and I can explain some things to you."

After a bit, more conversation and Charlie realizing that Jenkins wasn't going to give away any thing other than what he had already said would be a waste of time hassling him about it. They both spent the rest of the time in general conversation before saying bye and each hanging up.

It didn't take Charlie long to begin making the move to call Edward and Emmett, but, he was delayed by Renee and some of the others present at the time Charlie had received his call to demand what was going on. He dodged all of the questions by answering honestly at the time and by giving just enough information to satisfy their curiosity for the time being. However, he knew that once he, Edward and Emmett disappeared for a while then more questions would begin to bombard all of them once they reappeared.

Finally shaking loose from the curious, but determined questioners, Charlie made his phone calls. Both Edward and Emmett were a little surprised to be hearing about a police captain wanting a private meeting. "What the hell is going on?" is the same question that Edward and then Emmett asked as Charlie explained about the call he had received from his friend.

Edward had been with Charlie at the police headquarters and had been introduced to Charlie's friend as help was requested. Capt. Jason Jenkins had struck Edward as a forthright officer that didn't take any shit from any of his men, even though he was an I.A. captain. He had felt a sense of calm and honesty from the man that Edward didn't feel with Det. Asher. The attitude from the two different men were poles apart in their approach to handling things. Edward had more confidence in Capt. Jenkins abilities to be fair and impartial than he did with Det. Asher who seemed to be very opinionated about what had happened and about who did what to whom. But, by the time Charlie had gotten off the phone talking with the two men he was able to call Jenkins back and make arrangements for everyone to meet at a restaurant not far from the hospital.

XXXXXX

Edward had been sitting with Bella when he received the call from Charlie about the requested meeting from Capt. Jenkins. He was very curious as to what could have happened in the short period of time since he and Charlie had spoken with Charlie's friend. Had he managed to discover something, or, someone that could be of help? Had he discovered some damaging evidence against Bella that no one had any knowledge? These were just a couple of the many questions that seemed to start flying around in Edward's mind.

And, truth be told Emmett was having pretty much the same reaction with the questions and the wondering of what could be going wrong next. He was working his butt off trying to get all of the necessary information together to get Bella cleared of any and all the charges of abuse and the murder of her husband. But, it's a hell of a long road since Bella had managed to hide evidence of the abuse she had endured at the hands of her husband, Frank Harrison, over the years.

At the appointed time, all four men arrived within moments of each other, but, the first one to get there was Emmett and he had found a table in the back of the restaurant that was in a corner and it was far enough away from everyone else, so, there was very little possibility that someone would over hear their conversation.

Even though, he wasn't sure of the reason for all of the secrecy, Emmett had a gut feeling that the tide was about to shift in a direction that was going to be earth shaking for all of them; especially, Bella. Although, appearing outwardly calm, Emmett was feeling a highly-charged nervousness that he was hard pressed to explain, other than the feeling that events were about to slap them in the face. Good or bad, he wasn't sure, but, he told himself to be prepared for whatever was coming at them now.

All of the events that have happened since Bella's distress call to Charlie hadn't given anyone a chance to absorb the situation before another rapidly came at them. Everyone, he knew, was working as hard and as fast as they could to try to get things set right for Bella, but, they all seemed to be nothing, but, high brick walls and complete dead ends.

After Emmett's arrival, Charlie was next followed by Jenkins and then Edward being the last to arrive. And, with everyone seated the waitress came over to inquire as to their drink order and then if they wanted to order from the menu. All four only wanted coffee, but, nothing else. The talk, after the introductions were made, remained general until after the drinks had been served and Jenkins was assured that there would be no interruptions for a bit of time. It was then that he pulled a folder out of a briefcase that he had been carrying.

The other three men were eyeing the folder as if expecting it to do something dreadful. Then Charlie was the first to speak by asking, "What does that file contain, or, should I be asking?"

"Charlie, this is a copy of the file about the incident concerning your daughter. As I promised, I did look over the entire thing and realized that quite a few things were missing, either by neglect or by assuming things without doing a deeper investigation.

"Also, more questions have arisen since receiving the coroner's report that seem to have been overlooked. No one, and when I say no one I'm talking about Det. Asher, has done a follow up by going back out to the house to look for the answers to those questions.

"I don't have the answer to the question as to why it hasn't been done, but, I will be checking into that very shortly since it appears to now be an Internal Affairs matter, be assured. However, the things that have been neglected by others I thought it would be a good idea if, after meeting with you, Charlie, her attorney and the private investigator you have working the case, I laid out the missing information then your team might be able to uncover the answers." Capt. Jenkins explained as he looked at three stunned men sitting at the table with him.

So, without further ado Jason Jenkins went over each piece of information he discovered had missing evidence, or, raised more questions. He told them about the second bullet wound which the coroner said was the killing wound. And, then mentioned that no one looked for a second slug since the clip only reflected one empty casing. "It seems that, in spite, of the new information, all investigation of this case has stopped and Det. Asher is determined to close the case with charging Mrs. Harrison with murder in the first.

"Charlie, what is even stranger is that he closed the case without waiting for a statement of some sort from Mrs. Harrison, once her doctors had cleared her enough to be able to talk to him.

"No, my friend, something is going on here with Det. Asher and I will find out what it is and set things to right. I can't tell you that I'll be able to clear your daughter, but, I can promise that her case will be investigated fairly.

"Now, with the information I've given you on the quiet side and handing over this copy of the case file, do you feel that your team would be able to make head way with discovering the truth?"

Charlie, Emmett and Edward, all reached for the file at the same time, but, Edward was just that nanosecond faster than the other two. And, as he pulled it towards himself, Charlie thanked Jenkins and then asked, "Does this file contain everything that the D. A. will be seeing?"

Jenkins nodded yes and then explained that it will be up to the D. A. to determine if there is enough to continue with charges being brought up against Bella. "If it is decided that there is then a Grand Jury hearing will be called and the case will be put in their hands for deciding." Jenkins finished explaining. "But, of course, you, Charlie and you, Mr. Cullen, realize this already."

The file was passed from one person to another before coming back to be placed in front of Jenkins. He placed his hand on the folder and pushed it back to the center of the table with the explanation that this is a copy just for their use. And, with that information Edward took charge of it once again and told Emmett that he would make a copy of all the information, so, Emmett would have a better idea of where to search. With that being said, Emmett nodded his acknowledgment of Edward's promise. He was eager to look at the information more closely and then to get to work on verifying what was in there and finding the answers to the questions Jenkins had mentioned.

After a bit of more of small talk Jenkins rose and said goodbye to everyone and promised Charlie that he would keep him updated on the I A investigation of Det. Asher. Then the three men sat silently for a minute or two before breaking the silence trying to fully comprehend the impact of the information that had just fallen into their laps.

"Do you two realize that this just might be the answer to getting Bella cleared and finding the real killer? It could also lead us to Norma Harrison. I did notice that her complete statement was in the file." Emmett remarked to no one in particular that was seated at the table with him.

"Emmett, from what I could see there's a lot of things that Det. Asher hasn't shared with us or Edward concerning this case." Charlie said with a lot of bitterness sounding in his voice as well as some contempt beginning to build towards a fellow officer of the law.

"You're right about that. As Bella's attorney, I'm supposed to have all information available to me by the police and the District Attorney's office when it comes to their investigation against my client. It is a means of having all charges dismissed if it can be proven in court that any, no matter how small, information was withheld from me. And, when we leave here I'm going to be heading down to the D. A.'s office and have a long talk with the ADA that's going to be handling this. It'll be the means to stop any further harassment towards Bella for the time being. It'll also be enough to get the guard removed from her door at the hospital; at least, until, or, if, formal charges are filed which shouldn't be until after the Grand Jury hearing once I take this action." Edward remarked as he was looking through the file once more.

But, when his actions suddenly stopped it drew the full attention of his two companions. "What's wrong, Edward? Did you find something of value? And, about the procedure of law concerning Bella, the police can file charges and we would have to bond her out, even before a Grand Jury hearing."

"I think I may have, but, not sure. The complete statement given by Norma Harrison is here and she is saying that all of the abuse was on Bella's side towards her husband. But, Charlie, Emmett, some of the information in her statement indicates that she knows the truth and might have an agenda of her own. And, Charlie, you're correct about the bonding out of jail."

"You're going to have to tell me what facts you're talking about once you can get me a copy of that file, but, in the meantime, I've been able to discover some information about our Alma Johnson. Did either of you know who she might be related to?"

A/N: What is Emmett about to tell Charlie and Edward? Did he find out who Alma is really related to? Will Edward's stated actions be of help to Bella and give everyone enough time to find out the truth? Does Det. Asher have an ax to grind or is he so confide in the facts as they stand that he doesn't feel that he needs to check any further?

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