PRAYERS ANSWERED
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.
"That part I haven't worked out as yet, but, I'm sure that Charlie Swan would be able to find a way. That I truly believe in my heart of hearts. But, the biggest difficulty will be getting him to understand everything and to know that time is short."
CHAPTER 28: NEARLY DONE
Edward and Michael arrived back at Edward's family home, not realizing the hour at which they had arrived until the old grandfather clock his mother had sitting in the foyer chimed the midnight hour. That explained to Edward why the house was quiet and it seemed that no one was up and about, that is until he heard voices coming from the kitchen.
So, both he and Michael began walking in that direction. It wasn't until he got closer to the kitchen that he recognized the voices; it was Charlie Swan and his father discussing some information that had been revealed earlier during the meeting with his sisters and their spouses. He halted in the doorway to listen to what was being said before he made any decision as to how to present his information to Charlie Swan.
"Charlie, what are we going to do about Carlotti? It had to have been him that framed Edward as a means of punishing me. And, how do we know for sure that it wasn't his bunch that was responsible for the taking of your Bella all those years ago?"
"Carlisle, slow down, my friend. It could have very well been Carlotti that was responsible for the taking of Bella, but, no evidence was ever found that connected him. He was watched for a period of time, but, the description we had from the two witnesses that observed the strange redhead woman and sneaky, their words not mine, man that was hanging with the woman was never seen approaching Carlotti.
"True, we can't rule it out, but, the evidence just isn't there. And, again, for his kids and yours to be acquainted with each other is out of the ordinary, but, that brings us to the question of 'why wait so long' and 'did he really know that your Edward was a friend of his children'? There are more questions to which the answer comes back to the same question about time. Why would he wait so long before getting revenge on you?
"There are too many possible answers to go off accusing someone without having all of the facts. We need to gather more information. There has to be something somewhere that was overlooked. Someone that knows something that they aren't aware of knowing."
"That sounds odd and a bit farfetched." Carlisle commented in a very puzzled manner as what Charlie had just said because it didn't seem to make much sense and he wanted a clarification of that statement.
"What I mean is that someone saw something taking place that wasn't out of the ordinary, or, wasn't really worth paying too much attention that no alarm bells were mentally ringing, so, they have no idea how important that small bit of information might or could be."
Edward and Michael, listening to the conversation, realized that the missing piece had just fallen into place. Someone at the club that night would have seen what happened between R. J. and Harper which caused him to pull her out of the club. Also, someone might have seen Felix in the club at the same time. If those two things were uncovered and put with the information Edward had then the whole story would shift to the actual party that had committed the murder; it would reveal Felix.
But, Edward realized that part of the story he was going to have to leave it to Charlie to discover the answers. The job that he needed to do now was to turn over everything that he and Michael had found. Full details and locations needed to be given and it would definitely take some time and effort to get all of it told.
"Well, Edward, it would seem that this is the best time to present what you have." Michael urged his young charge.
"What? Oh, yeah, I know; I was just a bit lost in my thoughts for a moment." Edward explained as he agreed with Michael. It was then that he looked around for the necessary material that would be needed to carry on a conversation with the two human men seated at the kitchen table.
XXXXXX
After Bella had begun showing signs of falling asleep, Charlie, Renee and Carlisle, all, decided that it would be a good time to leave the young patient alone for a bit so she could get the much needed rest she required for getting better. It was as they were all heading for the elevators that Esme appeared getting off of one.
The two couples went down to the cafeteria for some coffee and to discuss Bella's improved condition. After that topic was exhausted the conversation turned to the meeting that had taken place with the Cullen daughters and their spouses. The most important fact that resulted from that meeting was to find out that the Carlson family had changed their family name from Carlotti to its present American version.
Then Esme was the one to ask the all important question, "Charlie, how are you going to move forwards with the information that you've been able to gather thus far?"
"To be honest with you, I'm not sure just yet. It's going to have to be turned over to the right person that will be willing to take the time to do a proper investigation and check out all leads." Both Carlisle and Esme looked at Charlie in a strange way as he was drinking his coffee. As he looked up at his two friends and saw the quizzical look on each of their faces he raised his eyebrows as if to question what their problem might be.
"Charlie, we thought that you would be doing the investigating yourself?" Esme questioned.
"Esme, I will be coming back and forth to check up on the progress that is being made with the investigation, but, I do have to go back to Forks for work. But, don't misunderstand, while I'm there I can reach out to other resources that are available to do some background checking on certain individuals.
"Individuals that are now coming into the light once more, and, I have the old records that I can shift through comparing what we knew then to what we know now. Those particular records aren't here, but, back in Forks and Port Angeles." He explained as enlightenment dawned upon both Carlisle's and Esme's faces. They realized that what Charlie was telling them was that the investigation would be going on in two different places, and by doing that it would bring the past to the present which would possibly help filling in all of the pieces of the puzzle.
"Okay, but, you'll be in charge of the investigation taking place here as well?" Esme asked.
"Esme, I will make sure that I'm listed as the lead investigator on this case, but, the most important thing that you two need to keep in mind is that this is now a closed case. I'm going to have to find just the right person, as I mentioned, that will be willing to help with this.
"Cold cases aren't the most popular cases to work because most of the time the results end up being the same as what it all started out as: concluded, unsolvable or a dead end. In other words, a career killer."
Nothing else was said about the case as the evening wore on and everyone decided to head back to the house to try to get some rest. The only difference was that Renee and Esme decided to remain at the hospital because they didn't want Bella to be alone. So, Charlie and Carlisle left the two women behind with the means to get back once they decided to leave the hospital.
XXXXXX
Michael saw Edward looking around and asked him what he was searching. In turn, Edward said that he was looking for some paper, plenty of paper, and a pen so he could begin telling Charlie and his Dad what had been discovered with all of the information needed to verify the information. "My young friend, it's time for you to remember your education of the spirit world and what you've learnt so far. You need to remember how to interact with the corporeal world.
"Do you remember the lady in the alley and then how you talked with Bella before she became sick? Talk with Chief Swan and your father in the same manner. Tell them what you need to say."
"Do you believe that I'd be able to maintain the required stability long enough to tell them everything? Why don't you do it since you're more experienced at that sort of thing than me?"
"You know better than to ask that of me. This is your quest, your chance of redemption, not mine. This was explained to you from the very beginning. It is for you to accomplish from beginning to end. As I told you in the beginning, I'm only here to help you, but, I can't interfere or tell you what to do, those decisions have to be made by you, and you alone, with no outside influence to sway you one way or the other.
"Do you think I'll be able to relay all that needs to be said? Michael, it will take quite a bit of time to tell him everything. Do you think my concentration will hold that long to get everything said?"
"It won't if you keep doubting yourself. Look at how far you've come and at all that you've been able to accomplish. That should answer your question and show you how determined you are. But, I'll add this bit for you as a means of motivating you; remember what all you want to do once your back in your human life and who you want to seek out to be with. Those thoughts and goals should strengthen your resolve." Michael told him and then watched as various emotions crossed Edward's face as the different thoughts of what he had been reminded floated through his mind.
"You're right, I can do this. I have to do this because I have too much to lose otherwise: a new life and the girl of my dreams." Edward made that declaration aloud for Michael's sake, but, also, for his to remind himself that he could do it. He had done it in the past and could do it again.
With a mental lift of his head and a straightening of his shoulders as if bracing himself for a difficult task, Edward made his move towards Charlie and then stopped as he gave more thought as to who he should approach first to begin telling his tale. It didn't take long for him to make up his mind and to step forwards once again, only this time he was moving towards Carlisle.
Bending down he whispered in his father's ear, "Dad, I'm here and I need to tell Chief Swan a lot of things that will clear my name. Will you let him know that I'll be talking with him and need for him to listen very carefully?
"Ask him to listen and then to repeat aloud what I'll be telling him so you can write it down for him. There's a lot to say that will list names, places and dates that will lead to the true murderer. And, I'll even give the information about who murdered R. J. and why. The only thing I won't be able to tell you is as to all of the reasons why I was framed, but, I believe that with the information I'll be giving and the investigating into these facts that everything will be brought to light."
From the first moment that Edward had started speaking Carlisle had jerked to attention which drew Charlie's eyes to his friend and Charlie observed all of Carlisle's facial reactions very closely. "Carlisle, what's wrong?" He questioned.
But, before he could receive an answer Carlisle rose to his feet and quickly left the kitchen for a matter of minutes and when he came back he had paper and pens in his hands. And, it was at that moment that Edward moved over to Charlie and bent down to begin talking, but, his father was the first to speak and informed Charlie what was about to happen to which Charlie had a stunned looked on his face that seemed to manifest itself even further when Edward did begin speaking.
A/N: Edward has made his choice and is now ready to continue with bringing his search to a conclusion. Should Edward have any feelings of remorse about the fact that he is having to point the finger at one of his life long friends? And, is Charlie correct about the way he told Carlisle and Esme how he was going to be handling the investigation?
Thanks for reading and looking forward to your thoughts and reviews.
