"Okay, Bella, tell me what the hell you saw."

I took a deep breath, hoping that my dad would quickly see the truth of my words. I was starting to feel horrible about this whole thing.

"I had forgotten about my purse, Dad. I left my purse on the bar. Watching the tape made me remember."

"Yeah? So?" Charlie said impatiently.

"So, when I went back to the bar to grab my purse, which just took a second, the bartender, Jake, was talking to another guy sitting at the bar. Right when I walked up, I heard the customer guy say, 'Is that the guy? Your partner?' and then Jake laughed and said, 'Him? No way. Doesn't know a fucking thing... he's just the star.' And then they both laughed."

I fumbled with the remote for a second.

"I'm sorry, Dad."

"Sorry?" Charlie said, his voice escalating in volume. "What the hell do you have to be sorry for, Bells? You're the damn victim! It's that sonofabitch Cull-"

"Dad!" I yelled, interrupting him. "That's what I'm trying to explain, if you would listen for a minute!"

He took a deep breath, and his skin color improved quickly, changing from purple to red.

"Watch the tape, Dad."

I rewound the tape, and hit "play." Then, I narrated.

"Okay, here I am walking back up to get my purse, and look at the guy, the customer." I paused the tape. "Now, watch him. He nods his head in Edward's direction, and then he says, 'Is that the guy? Your partner?'" Then, I hit "play."

"Okay, got it." Charlie was back in cop mode. "Keep going." I paused the tape again.

"Now, watch Jake. He laughs and says, 'Him? No way. Doesn't know a fucking thing. He's just the star.' Then they both laugh." Charlie nodded, and I hit "play" again.

Charlie watched, nodding, rubbing his chin with his hand. He was thinking. That was a relatively good sign, in my experience.

"Rewind it," he said gruffly. "Play it again."

So I did.

He stared at the television, mumbling to himself, then he suddenly walked out of the room. He returned a few minutes later with his team, and it was obvious they were very confused, that Charlie hadn't told them about the new development.

"Tell them, Bella," he said. "Tell them what you told me."

So I repeated the entire thing, laid it out just as I had done for Charlie, played the videotape over and over until Harry finally grabbed the remote from me so that he could play the parts over that he was interested in. They all took notes. Discussed. Analyzed.

Then, they all left the room, even Charlie, and I sat in the interrogation room and waited.

For hours. I walked. I paced. I went to the bathroom. I drank a Coke. I ate some pretzels. Memories of that night were swimming around in my head, and I kept pushing them down, torn between what I thought I knew and what I felt.

Finally, Charlie returned, sitting next to me, with a hand on my shoulder.

"Bells, honey. It looks like we were wrong about Cullen." He swallowed hard. "Like I was wrong. Looks like he was a victim too, just like you." He rubbed my shoulder and tried a small smile. "I'll make it right with him."

He explained to me that they found the young guy from the bar and questioned him. His name was Seth something, and he quickly gave up Jake, told them all about the setup. How Edward was innocent, how he didn't know anything about the cameras or the pictures. He said that the pornography ring had contacted Jake and given him a shitload of money to keep an eye out during the convention, to identify a good-looking guy who looked like he would bring women to his suite. Then he gave them his suite number, and they set everything up, just waiting for the right night. The night I was there.

Jake was still in custody, from his earlier questioning, and they charged him immediately. The investigation would continue, and he felt confident that they would find everyone involved in Jake's criminal enterprise.

Finally, Charlie walked out of the room, and I just sat there for a minute, trying to comprehend the day's events. I had a sudden ache in my stomach, and before I knew it, I was crying uncontrollably. It all hit me at once... that night, the pictures, thinking Edward was involved, having to tell my Dad, and finally, the relief in knowing that Edward was as innocent as I was. That he wasn't a horrible person. That he didn't do this to me.

I thought briefly that we might find comfort in each other's company, having gone through the same ordeal, but quickly dismissed that idea. I didn't think I could ever see him again. It was too painful.


Well, now you know. :)

Edward was completely innocent all along. Maybe a little cocky with his actions, but innocent of this crime. And they seemed to have a connection more than just the physical. Wonder if they will ever see each other again?

I know some of you wanted him guilty, some wanted him innocent. I hope this works one way or another.

A big thank you to Libbybelle, who found a pretty big plot hole in my last chapter, and I was able to fix it before anyone else noticed! Whew! Thanks!

And thanks again to all of you. So supportive, so positive. This has been a fabulous, humbling experience for me. Love you all.

One more chapter to go, in the morning.

All things "Twilight" belong to Stephanie Meyer. The remainder of the perversion is all mine. :)