Edward Cullen, FBI Special Agent & Psychic

Chapter 26

Summary: Edward Cullen is the unacknowledged grandson of Harry Houdini from whom he's inherited strong psychic abilities. Together with his closest friends: a Hoodoo man, two Witches from the Louisiana Swamps and an honest to God Guardian Angel, they work to solve crimes that ordinary law enforcement is unable to solve.

Warning: Subject matter is of an occult and supernatural nature. Some scenes may be difficult for some to read. Just remember that this is a work of fiction and a product of my imagination this is a work of fiction, and as such I've taken "liberties" with some things. However, there are Hoodoo men or Root Workers in real life who can do unbelievable things. There are also powerful psychics who prefer to call themselves witches as well as there are Guardian Angels, but I have never seen one myself. So with the above in mind, please just accept this as a work of fiction and enjoy the world I'm creating. Things don't really go "bump" in the night, do they?

Disclaimer: Ms. Meyer started it all. I've borrowed her characters, but this storyline is mine.

A/N: My undying thanks to my Beta JoanOfArt; buggins74 and AnakinsRealMom who pre-read for me, and Gabby for her back up on the psychic stuff. Wouldn't be able to do this without you!

~o0o~

Previously:

"Not to worry, my friends, things are about to change." Lauren's eyes go misty once more, and I know she's seeing what I'm talking about.

"Oh, you're right Edward. Poor Bella, but...but she's going to be okay with it. This is what is going to lead to Bella being with us."

"What?" I question. "What do you mean Lauren?"

"Bella is going to be withus!"

~o0o~

BPOV:

"Captain Molina," Bella says as she knocks on his open office door, "you wanted to see me?"

He looks up at her from his computer,"Ah, yes Detective Swan. Bella, please come in. Go ahead and shut the door and have a seat." He does not look happy.

As Bella sits down she sees a thick file with her name typed on the tab.

Captain Molina picks up the file with her name and opens it. "The reason I've

called you in here is to tell you that you've been placed on administrative leave until further notice. You'll still be drawing your regular salary, however, until the board meets and determines if you are to be returned to regular duty." What he's saying is delivered like he's reading the newspaper; flat, no inflection, no emotion.

Bella sits there not believing what she's heard.

Captain Molina looks at her expectantly, then adds: "That's all."

"Captain...I don't understand. What have I been charged with? It's my right..." Bella starts.

Her boss, just raises his hand to stop her from speaking. He seems to fall into himself. "Look, Bella. You've made some powerful enemies within the department and your failure to solve this case has given them a wedge. You've been an exemplary officer and discharged your duties on every job, until this current one. I didn't want to assign it to you...it wasn't my idea, and it's not helping matters that your palling around with these... psychics."

Bella explodes before he gets a chance to finish. "Palling around with? It wasn't my idea to call them into this case, Captain. You told me yourself that I had to work with them..." She doesn't even get a chance to finish herself as he raises his hands in surrender.

"Look, I know that. This isn't and wasn't my idea. I have to take orders too!"

Bella rises and looks hard at the captain. "Alright. I understand." She took the carrying case with her badge from her belt and removed her police issued 9mm from her shoulder holster and laid them both on his desk. "My letter of resignation will be on your desk as soon as I can get it typed." She turns her back on the captain and opens the door.

"Bella, wait. I'll write you the best personal letter of recommendation that I can and mail it to your home after I get your resignation. I'll try to squash the IA investigation so it doesn't appear on your work record. I think all they want is for you to just... go away." The captain looks very upset. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry."

Bella stood there with her back to him, never even looking at him, she just opens the door and makes her way to her office. She didn't look at any of the other detectives who were in the open "bull pen" area at all and ignored all of the derogatory remarks and cat calls as she walked through to her office space. She packed up what few personal belonging she had on her desk into her carry all after she'd typed out her letter of resignation, making a copy for herself, then left the building without looking back.

~o0o~

Just as Edward had said, he received an email from the Chicago office informing him that his services were no longer required in the LA area. The FBI's Director had more urgent needs for his "abilities", and another agent was being assigned to the LAPD as a liaison. He was to return to the Chicago office for reassignment.

What Edward did, however, was to request a leave of absence saying that he wanted to use up what vacation time had coming. He needed a rest. His request was granted since he'd never taken any vacation time the whole time he'd been at the Chicago office. He returned to the suite that Sam and the girls were occupying to tell them the news.

Bella showed up about two hours after she'd left.

"What's with all the goons in the hallway?" Bella questioned.

Sam laughed and the "girls" giggled. "They belong to one of Edward's many dubious contacts."

Bella just raised her eyebrows and filled them all in on what had happened in the interview she'd had with Captain Molina. She didn't feel bitter, which amazed her and worried Angela. Lauren wasn't at all surprised and looked very smug. They didn't question her further. Just accepted what she was willing to share with them.

"So, where's Edward?" Bella questioned.

"Down stairs in the small bar." Sam replied trying to pretend nothing had changed.

"Ok. I think I'll go down and join him. I could use a good stiff drink myself." Bella turned without saying anything else and left the suite.

She found Edward sitting in a booth reading a newspaper just like nothing was going on in the world.

"Mind if I join you?" Bella asked him.

Looking up, seeing it was Bella, he folded his paper and put it on the seat next to him. "No. Not at all. How'd it go?"

"Don't play coy with me, Special Agent Cullen. I know you knew what I suspected before I even left, and of course I was right. As of..." She looked at her watch, "forty five minutes ago, I am no longer a member of the LAPD." The waiter arrived and Bella ordered herself a scotch neat. The waiter nodded.

"Yes, you're right, of course, I heard what you suspected. But why did you suspect?" Edward was really curious how she knew it was coming.

Bella laughed, "Just one of my hunches."

Her drink arrived along with the refill for Edward's beer that he'd finished.

They looked at each other for a couple of beats, then each took sips from their drinks.

"So, what's changed with you Edward, that you're drinking during working hours?" Bella asked.

"Pretty much the same as happened with you. It appears that our perp has friends in very high places. I'm on official leave of absence/vacation right now. I have a lot of vacation time coming. I still have very strong contacts, however. That will come in very handy, but I won't have any clout to speak of." He took a deep pull from his beer and set it back onto the table top.

"Well, I want to see to it that this asshole is caught or killed. Right now I'm leaning towards killed!" Bella said it louder than she'd intended, but no one else seemed to be paying attention to her.

"We may not seem to be taking an active part in the capture, but trust me, we shall be very active." Edward's face and voice held firm resolve. "Come on Bella, drink up, we have work to do."

They both downed their drinks, Edward paid the tab, and they went back up to Sam's suite.

~o0o~