~~ Chapter 21~~

A/N: Beta Dee, u/2285193/Deonne

Okay not much to say here other then there is a bit of gun violence in this chapter. Nothing severe I promise, but it might make some a little bit uncomfortable.

I hope that you all enjoy this chapter.

Thank you all for your patience and reviews. I love each and every one that I get.

Much love

Happy Reading.

Waking up –with the scent of my father lingering in my nose –made me smile. I took in a deep breath of his favorite pillow, before pulling back the sheet and slipping his gigantic slippers on.

Flopping feet and drowsy eyes didn't impress Inspector Clearwater this early in the morning,

"You'd think that you'd be up and ready to start. I mean come on Bella, this is just ridiculous. We're not here on vacation…" He spat.

"I know. I'm sorry." My nose wrinkled in distaste. I reached for the coffee pot and poured myself a cup, "Where do we start… oh wise one?" I smirked, while I took a calculative sip.

Clearwater seemed to be very irritable today. Note to self… do not piss him off.

"We're going back to the Black's for questioning." He shot me a duh look.

I nodded as if it had just registered, while I took another sip. I placed the cup down on the counter, I understand that Billy held out on us and that they knew more then they were letting on, but I truly believe that we're going up a dead end road here."

"How so," Clearwater pressed.

"I mean, Billy would hold out until the death, but Jake… Jake would tell me anything… everything. And I believe he told us all he knew." I smiled.

"Yes, little girl. I can understand Jacob's desire to please a pussy that he's been chasing all these years…" I shot him a death stare,

"But… Billy… Billy would keep his word to Charlie until the day he died, which makes me believe that he's holding out"

"Jake and Billy share everything." I countered.

"Nah, if this threat is so big that it put Charlie and Billy in danger, I'd bet my badge that Billy would protect his son at all cost… even if that meant he had to lie to him."

"So… you don't believe a word that Jake told us?"

"No, I think he told us what Billy and Charlie wanted him to tell you. I think that they were covering their tracks and it wouldn't hurt for Charlie to tell him he wanted you away from the Cullen's."

"So we're back at the Cullen's doorstep. You still believe that everything revolves around the Cullen's… you think that Edward had a hand in killing my father… don't you?"

"Yes." He simply answered. "I think dear old Eddy boy found you out… which you stated he did and he decided to off your father in retaliation." He huffed.

"So explain his disappearance?" I snapped.

"Edward simply fled the scene of the crime." The smug bastard answered.

"You're wrong." I debated, "I agree that my father's murder is somehow related to the Cullen's, but I also believe that someone here is being used as an outreached hand, so to speak." I suggested.

"How so…?" Clearwater pressed.

"If you're correct… where Billy is concerned then it was homeward bound, not from someone from out of town. If my father went to Billy it was because the person was a mutual acquaintance or friend that they both knew and wanted to protect."

"What makes you think that your father was murdered by someone who he wanted to protect?" Clearwater pushed.

I looked up from my coffee, "Because, my father was a smart man. No one could've gotten the better of him, unless he trusted them." I said, suddenly aware of why Clearwater was so interested in Billy.

~~.~~

I was full on rage by the time we pulled up to the quaint little house. I didn't want to believe what Clearwater was suggesting… what my own ill thoughts were suggesting, but it made sense. I was just too messed up and too personally close to the situation to have seen it.

Billy had helped my father raise me when my mom died of Cancer, when I was just a toddler of two. I never knew my mother, but Billy made sure I never did without. If he murdered my father or had a hand in his murder it would be the cruelest of betrayals.

I stared down the door as if it were hells gates anticipating my arrival. Clearwater paused as he started to get out of the rental car and turned towards me placing his hand onto my shoulder. I turned to address him,

"You need to relax… I need your head in this, this time, not your heart. Think like an FBI agent." He tapped his own head as I cocked my gun, nodded and placed it in it's hoister inside my leather coat.

A sleepy Jacob Black answered the door, in nothing more than his white fruit of the loom boxers. I smiled up at him as he suddenly became aware of what he was wearing,

"Jake, is Billy home?" I asked.

"No, he went fishing this morning. Come in." He smiled.

I nodded and walked in, Clearwater at my ankles.

Jake ran down the hall to grab a bathrobe and ran back toward the kitchen where I was helping myself to my second cup of coffee.

When Jake reentered the kitchen Clearwater politely took wing man and sat down at the kitchen table.

"Can I get you two some breakfast?" Jake asked.

"Uhm yeah… actually that would be great." I smiled, but Clearwater didn't return it.

"Oh come on… Jake makes a mean omelet." I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. In all honesty, I knew that if Jake was going to be truthful to me then I had to butter him up. I had to act like nothing at all had changed between us.

As we started our breakfast I asked, "Jake, the last time we spoke Billy said," I flipped through Clearwater's notes, ""Boy, we were told to keep it to ourselves. It was Charlie's dying wish." I read.

"Yes, that sounds about right." Jake answered, and Clearwater's eyebrows went up about an inch.

"So you were both with my father when he was taking his last breaths then?" I continued to eat my eggs.

"Yes, he was right there, in front of the couch, while I held him in my arms." Jake confirmed my suspicions.

"So was my father shot here or did he show up here?" I asked.

Jake seemed oblivious to what I was asking. And because of that I knew that he was left out in the dark by his own sneaky father.

"I don't honestly know Bells. I mean I was out with dad fishing and when we got back here he was lying on our living room floor all covered in blood." Jake made circular motions on his chest as to where he recalled my father's blood.

I nodded, "So who moved him to our house Jake? Did you and your dad move him?" I asked.

Jake suddenly seemed spooked and quickly stood up from his chair, "Bella, are you accusing my father and I of murdering Charlie?" He asked with hurt filled tears in his eyes.

"No, no, Jake. I'm just trying to find out who this person was. And in order to find out the truth I need everyone to be truthful to me. You're not in trouble or your father, but I will need you to come down to the station to file a report. I need to clarify that my dad was here and then moved to my house. Okay?" I smiled up at him and he nodded.

"Can I get dressed first?" He asked.

"Of course… I'm enjoying my omelets." I smiled as did he.

"That's great work Swan… great work." Clearwater whispered out in encouragement.

I nodded and watched Jake throw on his jeans and a black T-shirt. I knew that I was on to something, but I hated that Jake was somehow an accomplice without even knowing he was.

~~ .~~

Down at Forks station, Jake was giving his statement when all hell broke loose. Billy Black came in with his hunting riffle cocked and ready to fire.

"You bring my boy out here right now!" He screamed. "We had nothing to do with Charlie Swan's murder. He was my friend. He was family!" He yelled.

The three police officers that were on duty hid behind their desks, with their guns drawn and ready to shoot.

I knew that if I didn't intervene that I would not only loose my father, but my dad's best friend and the closest thing I had to this case to get answers.

"Billy," I threw up my hands and tossed away my 22. "Don't shoot. It's me Bella." I said arms still straight in the air.

A sudden chill ran down my spine as I stared down the barrel of Billy's shotgun.

"You…? Why would you arrest my son… why?" Billy cried out.

"No, one arrested Jake. He's just giving an official statement." I assured.

"He already gave his statement." Billy angrily yelled out at me and shook his gun. I stood still and looked him in the eye.

"Billy, he's here because you never told us that you moved my father from your house to ours. Why would you do that?" I questioned.

Billy lowered his gun and scratched the back of his head for a second before answering, "Charlie told me to." He cried.

"Why would my dad tell you to take him home and not the hospital?" I cried back.

Billy took a step closer with tears falling down his cheeks. "He was as good as gone when Jake and I got home Bella. If I were to have driven him to the hospital he would've only died on the way. He didn't want us to have to go through all of this… these questions." He cried harder as did I.

"That sounds like dear old dad." I said as I made my way to the broken man and held him in my arms.

We cried together like that for a long while.

"Billy, these police officers here are going to arrest and book you, but I'm going to make sure that all you get out if it is possibly your gun license revoked and probation." I told him.

"Bella, they can't take my license. That's how I feed my family." He cried harder.

"Billy, let Jake hunt for awhile. You can't come into a place throwing around your shotgun. You're lucky that this is all you're going to get out of it." I smiled kindly as he nodded and handed me his shotgun.

"You'll have to spend the night in a cell, but I'll be here first thing in the morning to drive you home." Billy nodded as did a shocked Jake.

"Now, I will also expect a statement from you as well and I want all the truth Billy not just part of it." I suggested.

Billy nodded in understanding.

As I turned from a handcuffed Billy Black I stopped and said, "I want to know what you're keeping from Jacob as well."

Again Billy nodded.

"Well done Agent." Clearwater patted me on the back.

I knew that I'd done well, but as much as it felt good… it felt equally as bad. The Black's were good decent people, who were at the wrong place at the wrong time and were trying to fulfill their best friends dying wish.

After walking Jake out and insisting that Clearwater take him home I headed back into the Forks station and right to my father's office. I pulled out his big leather chair sat down, placing my boots upon his desk and opened his cigar box. When I had one between my fingers I leaned back in the chair and pulled the single cigar back and forth across my nose familiarizing myself with its potent scent.

I would wait here all day and night if I had too. Billy Black would tell me the truth first. No one else's ears would hear of his confessions. I would make sure that I helped him –my father's best friend –in anyway that I could.

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Until next week Fan fic world

April