Chapter 30
I stand back and watch Josh and Edward. This kid constantly amazes me. After everything he's been through, and I know that he cannot be entirely comfortable, he hasn't voiced one complaint; not even about being in hospital.
Edward is promising him everything under the sun. His love for Josh is blatantly obvious, and I find myself wondering what kind of father he'd be; that he could have been, if his son were alive today.
My feelings about Edward have undergone a complete about turn when compared to my first impressions of him. And it's not just because of his astounding good looks and impressive presence, or the incredible sex. I'm seeing the good in this man. Yes, he's flawed, more flawed than anyone I've ever known; but he's compassionate, loving and kind. He loves his family unconditionally, and the way he was with me last night solidifies my newly developed feelings for him.
I wonder whether these were the same qualities, which drove Lauren's obsession, the reason she went to such extremes to have him.
But I immediately discount any rationale that would excuse what she did to him. She drugged him then took advantage of his weakened state and in the process, she destroyed the core of the man. Nothing can excuse that.
I recall her distraught state this morning. The way she crumpled when he told her that she disgusted him. Her concern for Josh appeared to be genuine, but both her behavior and what she said, was highly alarming. And thinking about the events of the morning, I also remember my latest vision of the car hurtling its way toward us, I'm still battling to make out the details of the license plate flash.
"Uncwle Edward, I'm hungwy and thwirsty." Josh's rasps.
"I know, buddy, but remember what uncle Edward told you…. about what kind of food you can have right now?"
"Lik….likawids?"
I can't help my broadened smile, he's just so adorable.
"Yep, just liquids, bud."
"But I wanna hotdwog," Josh whines.
Edward turns and looks at me, at a loss for what to do, and I try to help.
"Hey, Josh, do you like Jell–O?"
"The wed kind?"
I turn to Edward and mouth 'Bingo'.
"Of course, the red kind!" I say with exaggerated enthusiasm.
"No."
Edward grimaces at me.
"The gween kind. I want gween and owange juice."
"You've got it. Be right back."
I leave, to find green Jell-O and orange juice.
I pass Edward, Jasper and Alice on my way back. They're standing outside Josh's room, and he's regaling them with the details of Lauren's surprise visit. Alice practically has to be restrained. She threatening to run Lauren over repeatedly. "Then, she can bloody know how it feels!" she yells, eyes literally popping, her face flushed with rage.
Jasper and Alice demand that Edward tell the police about his suspicions, and he agrees to do so as soon as he leaves the hospital. He informs them that he wanted to alert them first, in case Lauren shows up at the hospital. I leave them to it and enter Josh's room.
I had to make the drive to the local delicatessen, as the hospital did not have lime Jell-O on the menu today. I didn't mind in the least; my efforts are more than rewarded as I watch him enthusiastically tuck into the dessert.
He practically scowls at me when I offer to feed him.
"How's the Jell-O, Josh?"
"Gweat," he mumbles and reaches for his orange juice and sips from the straw. "Mmm, I wove owange juice."
"Me too. It's my favorite." I run a hand over his soft, dark hair.
"Fwordida owanges."
"What's that, Josh?"
"Owanges come fwom Fwor-widahh." He informs me helpfully.
"Uncwle Edward told me."
Suddenly, I get another flash. It's clearer this time. The license plate details. Hit has an orange on it. The car that hit Josh and Edward was a black sportscar with Florida plates.
"Your uncle is totally right, buddy." I respond absentmindedly. The trio returns, and I gently grab Edward's arm.
"I need to talk to you," I whisper. He frowns, but nods and leads the way to the lobby.
"What's wrong?"
"I didn't want to mention any of this in front of Josh and his parents. And I didn't tell you before, because I thought it was meaningless. But it's clear now, and I feel certain that I'm right."
"What are you talking about, Bella?"
"I've been having flashbacks of the accident."
His brows knit together.
I'm hesitant to tell him, remembering his destructive display after Lauren's departure. There's a big chance that in his fury, he'll do something rash.
"And?"
"They're sketchy."
"Bella, would you please just tell me what you remember?" His voice escalates.
"I remember seeing the license plate."
"You remember? That's…. man, that's good news! Come." He pulls me over to the nurse's station and asks for a pen and paper.
"Here, write down the number, and I'll give it to the police when I stop by the station."
"Edward, I don't know the plate number, I…"
"But you just said you saw it." He looks irritated.
"I remember seeing the plate, not the number, but I do know that it's a Florida license. They're very distinctive."
"Florida plates?" he frowns in confusion. "Lauren doesn't…."
I grab his arm and lead the way to a more private area.
"It was a black car, I'm pretty sure that it's a sports model, but the license is definitely from Florida. This probably clears Lauren, but didn't you say that James lives in Florida, and that he and Lauren have been in touch?"
A look of pure fury suffuses his face.
"This doesn't clear her, Bella. She may not have been driving, but she's up to her neck in this. They're both going to pay for what they did to Josh!" He turns and slams his fist into the wall behind him. We've gained the attention of everyone in the nearby vicinity.
He strides purposely toward the elevator.
"Where are you going?" I finally catch up with him. "Edward, you can't go and see Lauren. You're too angry!"
"I'm going to the police, Bella. Are you coming?"
.
.
.
"Let me get this straight, Doctor Masen. You think your wife tried to kill you and your nephew?" The detective looks at Edward in confusion.
"That's exactly what I'm saying. Now what are going to do about it?"
"It's not that simple, Doctor Masen. You can't just accuse someone of something this serious, and expect us to just accept you at your word and arrest the person. We deal with facts. Now, why don't you tell me why you think your wife is behind this?"
Edward scrubs his face roughly, but fills the detective in, leaving out small, yet important details.
Now the man is not only looking confused, he's looking decidedly skeptical.
"What are you waiting for? I've told you everything, now I want both her and James arrested for what they did to my nephew."
"Although I sympathize with you, it doesn't work that way. I will have to question your wife and find out if there is any evidence to support your accusations. This James character is a different story." He takes Edward's statement over to a filing cabinet and places it into a folder. Edward follows him.
"What do you mean, he's a different story?"
"Well, if what you say about James is true, and he's not a resident of our jurisdiction and there's a possibility he may have left the state, we will have to liaise with the Florida police in our investigations."
"What?" Edward practically bellows.
"Sorry, but it's the law. Besides, you haven't told me why your wife and this guy would want to do this. There has to be a reason. I suspect that you are not telling me everything, and believe me, it would speed up the process greatly if you did, Doctor Masen."
"This is fucking ridiculous. My nephew and I were damned near killed, and you're treating me like I did something wrong. I want to speak to the head of this department."
"Fine, I'll get him, but he'll say nothing different than what I just said. Wait here."
Edward runs his hand through his hair and perches the other on his hip, huffing in frustration. I walk over to him and rub his arm comfortingly.
"This is unbelievable. Did you hear that?"
"Yes, I heard everything."
"I won't let them get away with this, Bella."
"I know you won't. There is a way."
He waits impatiently for me to elaborate.
"You have to tell them why Lauren and James would want to do this. You have to tell them everything, Edward."
A look of denial instantly morphs across his face.
He clenches his jaw repeatedly. He's at war with himself, and it kills me to see him like this. I know just how much he fears having this knowledge in the public arena.
His eyes burn into mine, he exhales loudly. "For Josh, I'll do this."