DUCKY POV

What in the world has my little Bella gotten herself into? I do not know how to even react. Since the first time I met her, saw her big, chocolate brown eyes, I have loved this little girl with all my heart, like she was my own. And now my innocent girl has a murderer on her back. I need to know what is going on. And the best way to do that is to ask not Bella herself, but someone who will be as invested in her safety as I am.

I picked up my phone and called the number of my very old friend. He, as was expected from him, did not pick up, so I had to call his place of work.

"Forks Police Station. How may I help you?" The voice of a female operator came on the line.

"Yes, may I speak with Chief Swan, please?" I asked, clearing my throat slightly.

"May I know who is on the line and what is it regarding?"

"Please tell him it is Dr. Mallard on the line. He will know who I am." I replied.

"Very well, Sir. Kindly hold the line while I transfer your call." Soon, the "on-hold" jingle started playing on the line.

"Ducky! I have been expecting your call." The gruff voice of Chief Swan came on the line.

"How are you doing, old friend? It has been too long since we met." I was reluctant to get to the unpleasant part of the conversation.

"Yes, it has been quite a while, hasn't it? I last met you before my Bella came to stay with me." You could hear the love in Charlie's voice as he spoke of 'his' Bella.

"Speaking of Bella, I got a wonderful surprise a couple of days ago! Couldn't you let me know Charlie? I could have helped her settle down. She could have stayed with me in fact. It would do me good too. You know how lonely I get since mother passed away."

"You know kids these days. They want to make it on their own. Bella was always an independent girl. She did not want any help."

"Yes, well. It was great to see her nevertheless. There is something I wanted to ask you Charlie. I don't want you to worry in any way."

"That itself worries me Ducky. What's wrong? Did something happen? I knew I should not have sent her alo..." Charlie started rambling.

"No, no Charlie." I cut him off. "Nothing of that sort. Bella is fine. She is safe. Settling down nicely here. The team takes care of each other, Charlie. They won't let anything happen to her."

"Then why say you don't want to worry me? That definitely does mean it is something I will worry about."

"Ah well, I wanted to ask you if Bella was in any kind of trouble before she came here? Recently? Or even as far back as high school?"

"Trouble? What kind of trouble? Just be straight with me, Ducky. What is going on?"

"I don't know how to tell you this Charlie. I don't want you worrying unnecessarily. I'll just come out and say it. We found Bella's photograph in the pocket of one of our murder victims. Said murder victim is also the chief suspect in the murder case Gibbs' team is currently investigating; of which Bella is a team member." I rushed through the details, wanting to get them out.

"What? How did her photograph land up there? What kind of trouble has she landed herself in now? This girl will be the death of me. I swear to God, ever since she has moved to Forks in her junior year Ducky, it has been one incident after another. Always involving those damn Cullens! Luckily those incidents stopped after they left. Now I wonder what she has done!" Charlie exclaimed in frustration.

"The Cullens? You think they are connected to this somehow?" I asked with trepidation.

"Yes, I felt they were directly or indirectly responsible for whatever happened while they were here. Including putting my baby girl in a depression by leaving her in the goddamn woods!" I had never seen Charlie so vocal before. "But Ducky, how could they possibly be responsible for what's happening now."

I kept silent, knowing I did not really need to answer his question. His groan in response showed that he understood what my silence meant.

"Don't tell me that girl has gone and gotten herself mixed up with them again. As soon as she leaves this place she runs to them. I should have been expecting it, but I believed her when she said that she did not have any means to contact them, nor knew where they were."

"Now, now, Charlie. I don't think Isabella was lying to you when she told you that. She was probably as surprised as you would have been in her place. She met them at the hospital after her accident. Apparently, young Edward and his father were the first at the scene of the accident and were able to help expedite the removal of Isabella from where she was trapped inside the car." I told him hurriedly.

There was silence down the line for a moment, before Charlie erupted. "Accident? What accident? I didn't get any news of an accident that Bella was in. Ducky, I trusted you to look out for her! That also includes calling me if something like this happens."

Oh dear.

Luckily, at that moment, the elevator doors pinged and Gibbs and Bella came into the room. "Charlie, I've got to go. Work calls, unfortunately. Don't worry, Bella is fine. Just a mild concussion, that's all. She was discharged from the hospital as soon as she gained consciousness." Somehow I knew as these words came from my mouth, that Charlie was probably not finding them all that reassuring.

"You're talking to Dad?" Bella had a look of horror on her face, I'm sure she was imagining the yelling she would be expecting from her father the next time she spoke to him.

"Ducky hand her the phone right this instant. I'm not going to let her avoid my calls for the next few days." Charlie ordered me, knowing exactly what was running through his daughter's mind once she realized I was talking to him.

I handed her the phone with an apologetic smile. "Charlie wants to speak with you, Bella."

She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, before reaching out to take the phone from my hand. "Hey, Dad!" she said, keeping a buoyant tone in her voice, though you could clearly see the anxiousness on her face.

There was a long pause, in which I'm assuming Charlie was busy reaming Bella out. "No, dad. Listen... Dad... I didn't... No I did not know they were here. I was shocked to see Edward at the hospital... No, I am not getting back together with him, Dad... Yes, I'm sure... No, I'm sorry I did not inform you, it was just a minor thing... Yes, they are all here. I met Emmett and Jasper... No not yet. I will be going over once the case is over... Don't worry, Dad!..." Suddenly, there was a confused expression on her face. "Wait, what? I don't know what you are talking about. What photograph?" I closed my eyes, not wanting to see Gibbs' angry expression for forgetting to tell Charlie not to mention the photograph to Bella. "I have no clue about any photograph. I will talk to Ducky and call you later Dad... I promise... I love you too, Dad... Bye." Bella put the phone away and looked at me and Gibbs before asking us "What is my Dad talking about? What photograph was found?"

Gibbs sighed and moved to sit, gesturing to me and Bella to do the same. He looked at Bella and said gently, "We did not tell you this earlier as we did not want to worry you. While Ducky was going through the belongings of Dave Jones, the second murder victim, he found a photograph in the victim's pocket. It was your photograph, Bella. Or a younger you anyway. We were wondering if you knew this man in any way."

"I do not know anyone named Dave Jones" Bella said, still looking confused. "Why would he have my photograph?"

"That's what we want to know, Bella." I said, slanting the photograph I had taken of Dave across the table to her.

"Is this the guy?" she asked me, picking up the photograph to have a good look at it.

"Yes, this is the Dave. Maybe you know him by a different name?" Gibbs asked.

Bella shook her head, frowning. "No, I've never seen him before." Suddenly, she looked up at us her eyes widening. "Wait, do you think I had something to do with his murder?"

BPOV

I was shocked, a million thought running through my head at the same time. Trying to remember if I had ever seen this man before, why he would have my photograph in his pocket. So this is why they were all behaving so weird in Abby's lab. They all must have discussed this when I went to get the Caf-Pow. And here I was worrying about Gibbs finding out about the kiss Tim and I shared. Tim. My heart sank thinking of the expression on his face as Gibbs led me away toward Ducky's autopsy. He looked upset. And angry. I wouldn't be surprised at either emotion. I mean, if they all felt I was involved in this, it is the least that can be expected from them. I guess now there won't be anything left for Gibbs to find out. I won't be keeping this job for much longer, that's for sure. I was already a suspect in a murder. And I'm sure Tim would want nothing to do...

I was awaken from my reverie by someone shaking my shoulder, trying to get my attention. I blinked, looking up to see Ducky looking at me concernedly, whilst Gibbs looked on with a blank face.

"Isabella, are you alright?" Ducky asked me gently.

"Yes, I'm fine." I said, sitting up straighter. I knew I had not done anything wrong. I would not go to jail if I was not guilty.

"Bella let me be very straight with you. I do not like bullshit. I am not the kind to beat around the bush. So I am telling you this straight up. We know you are not responsible for this murder. So don't think we are asking you these questions because we are trying to get you to admit your guilt. First of all, you were with Abby the night he was murdered. Secondly, he was a hit man who was known to accept marks for money. Now, considering we found your photo in his pocket, we are assuming that you were supposed to be his next victim, and not the other way around. His fingerprints were found on the gun that killed our Lance Corporal. The same gunshot the bullet that was lodged in our tire when we had the accident. Now, I am assuming that he was killed because he was unsuccessful in his bid to get rid of you. What we want to know is, do you know who might be out to murder you? Have you made any serious enemies in the past?" Gibbs said.

For a few seconds, all I could think about was that they knew I was innocent. They did not consider me a murder suspect. My shoulders sagged with relief. Then I started thinking about the questions that he had just posed to me.

"No." I said, shaking my head. "I cannot think of anyone who would want to murder me."

"Are you sure about that, Isabella?" Ducky asked me.

"Yes. I have not made any enemies. This is my first big case here. Earlier, they were all minor offences. Nothing too serious." I said. "How did he die?" I asked Ducky.

"He died of exsanguination. All the blood was drained from his body."

Hearing that, I grew pale, whispering a name that still gave me nightmares. "Victoria!"

A/N: - I know what you all must be thinking, FINALLY! I cannot apologize enough for the delay in posting this chapter. That said, I can also say I have no other chapters ready so the next update would also be a while. I will do my best to get it up for you all as soon as I can..

Thanks for sticking by me all this while! Your reviews do mean a lot to me! I will be getting to the reviews in some time. I will reply to all of you I promise!

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