Chapter 24:
Harry woke up in much the same position he fell asleep in, expect for the notable lack of Edward pressed against him. He rolled over and snuggled into the pillow by his side, eyes lazily slipping closed again. He was about to fall back asleep when a familiar hand cupped the back of his neck and pulled lightly at his back hairs.
"Morning, love."
Harry groaned and rolled over again, dislodging the hand. "Morning," he sleepily sighed then sat up in bed. Without even looking he knew his hair was mused and he could just barely feel pressed indents from the pillow on his face.
Edward seemed to take great joy in his appearance though. A small smile curled at his lips and Harry flushed at the clear affection in his eyes.
"Have a good sleep?" Edward murmured, loving the state that the little one had woken up in. His black hair was mused messily and he had a few lines pressed into his skin from how he was laying.
With one more yawn, Harry slowly began to stumble out of bed. "Mhhh," he agreed. "I need to brush my teeth." He made his way to the bathroom and pulled out a toothbrush that Edward had gotten for him. He was quick in his mission, and when he stepped back out of the bathroom, Edward was waiting for him with an outfit in his hands.
Harry looked suspiciously at the bundle.
"Nothing bad," Edward said innocently. "I just figured you'd want someone clothes today and I don't want you going home just yet." He still needed to go and search out the scent one more time, see if he could find anything different to clue him in on who had left the pictures. He knew the rest of his family had already searched, but he knew he wouldn't rest until he was able to ascertain the same thing.
Harry took the clothes from him and got dressed in record speed, then took Edward's hand to follow him downstairs. When he saw what was waiting though, he abruptly turned around and tried to flee back upstairs. Iron arms came around him before he could make even one step.
"Don't you know you're not supposed to run from a predator?" Edward chuckled darkly as he swooped Harry up in his arms and threw him over his shoulder. Harry giggled at the motion, struggling half heartedly for a few seconds before giving it, resigned to his fate.
"Don't you know you'e not supposed to just pick people up," Harry echoed. His body shifted as Edward took a few steps downstairs and he clutched desperately to Edward's shoulders. "I won't run again," he promised.
"Uh huh," Edward said doubtfully. He took a few more steps until he reached the bottom, at which point Alice had left her torture chamber and was waiting at the bottom of the stairs with a bright grin on her face.
"Thanks for delivering him!" She chirped. "I'll take it from here."
Harry groaned as Edward put him down and Alice came forward. "Noooo," he fussed, looking longingly at the steps he had almost made it up before Edward had snatched him.
"Be careful with him, please, I'd like to enjoy him today as well."
"Like you enjoyed him last night?" Emmett's voice chimed in. The words make Harry flush even brighter and Edward let out a little growl, but Alice continued on as if he hadn't said anything.
"I'll give him back to you in one piece," she promised. She took Harry's hand and lead him to the scene that had made him bolt back upstairs. In front of their kitchen table was nail polish everywhere, along side face masks and socks and hair brushes and everything else he had no interest in seeing this fine morning.
"It'll be fun," Alice assured him.
It was not fun.
Harry looked down and wiggled his foot, moaning when his nails shimmered as he shifted them. He's told Alice no nail polish but she had promised that this one you couldn't see. Lies.
As soon as Edward walked into the room he flew to his chest and wrapped his arms around him. "Don't let her do that again."
"Alice, what did you do to him?" Edward asked, amusement coloring his voice as he returned the embrace and wrapped Harry up.
"She painted my nails, it as awful."
"His feet are really ticklish," Alice supplemented.
Harry pouted when Edward laughed. The prat was supposed to be on his side, not laughing about it.
Edward walked him away from Alice and to the living room, where Harry could see the rest of the Cullen's lounging in various states across the room. Rosalie and Emmett were cuddling on the loveseat, talking in quiet tones that Harry could just make out if he tried. Carlisle and Esme were watching the news, Jasper sitting next to him and offering commentary every few minutes.
"How late is your dad working tonight?"
"Not too sure. He's getting frustrated, and generally the results in a lot of late nights. He's not making too much progress though so he might call it early. Does he know about the photos?"
Edward shook his head silently.
"Has the new deputy settled in, or does James still have concerns?" Jasper interrupted, head tilted curiously as he stared into Harry's eyes.
"Still worried," Harry's lips thinned out as he thought of the deputy that was quickly crossing the line from unusual to threatening. "James won't leave him at the station alone now, not that he's there much anyways."
That police car had a habit of showing up all around town recently. At first Harry had assumed he'd been put on ticket duty, but the cruiser was showing up more and more in unusual places. Even the high school, despite there being no one to ticket in the public parking lot.
"What do you mean?" Jasper pressed. Edward had stilled next to him and Harry noticed his eyes had darkened considerably. He wondered if it was something he's read in Jaspers thoughts, or if he was somehow missing part of the conversation.
"His cruiser is normally not at the station and I've been seeing him a lot more around town." And the border of the town, and the high school, and once outside his house.
"You're not suggesting…" Edward growly lowly. Harry could feel the stony arm around him tighten briefly.
"He would have access," Jasper shrugged.
Harry looked between the two men, eyes crinkling in confusion at the half conversation. Then, the realization hit him. "You think the deputy could have put the photos in the house?" His voice sounded uneven, even to himself, but he couldn't help the spark of fear that filled him at the thought.
Edward seemed to sense his unease at the thought, and he pulled Harry into a quick embrace, hands soothing down his sides until Harry could feel some of his unease dissipate. "It's a possibility," he admitted.
"There's no need to worry though," Edward soothed, thumb coming up to try and smooth the crinkle on Harry's brow. He didn't like seeing the look of worry on his mate's face. "It's just a thought, love, nothing concrete. We have to look at all possibilities."
It was just a thought, Harry knew, but one that was suddenly making a lot of sense. And like Jasper had said, the deputy would have had enough access to make those papers appear.
"What else?" Harry pressed. From the way Edward was looking at Jasper and Carlisle, he knew the photos weren't the extent of their silent conversation.
He squinted up at Edward and leaned back so he could oversee the stony face. HIs eyes were black and much more worried that Harry had ever seen them. "What aren't you telling me?"
Jasper quickly glanced at Edward and received a minute nod in return. "We've had our suspicions about the deputy, after James mentioned the lack of background details. It's relatively common in our world - it's hard to create documents with a realistic timeline when it spans several decades or centuries."
"He doesn't look anything like you though," Harry noted. "He's got blue eyes."
Jasper nodded but didn't say anything more. Harry could fill in the blanks. Blue eyes meant he wasn't a vampire, and yet, Edward and Jasper still looked concerned.
Harry allowed Edward to lead him into the kitchen where a plate of muffins was set out on the counter. Esme had been baking a lot more recently, and when Harry had embarrassingly told her that she needn't to feed him, she had shrugged it off and insisted that she'd always wanted to bake but could never find a reason.
Harry hopped up on the counter stool to eat his muffin, munching away happily while Edward stood next to him growing his phone. He finished his muffin then jumped off the stood, tugging at Edward's sleeve as he did so.
"I've got to go home and get some clothes," he pointed out, voice unsteady as he suggested it. "And you probably need to go eat something too."
Edward let out a human sounding sigh as he slid his phone back into his pocket. "I'll drive you over. You can pack some things while I run out quickly to snag a deer. I'll send Rosalie or Emmett along with you."
Harry shook his head stubbornly at that. Admittedly the thought of going home alone sent a tendrils of fear up his chest, but he didn't want to burden the Cullen's anymore than necessary. "I won't take very long, and you'll be back quickly, right?"
Edward reluctantly nodded. "30 minutes."
"I can do that," Harry agreed. "I can write a note for James too, just in case he doesn't have his phone on him."
Edward's eyebrows creased momentarily showing just how unhappy he was, but a second later he was pulling Harry towards the door.
The drive to his house was short, shorter than he remembered. Then, with one more turn, they were pulling into the neighborhood and in front of the house. "30 minutes," Edward reminded again before tugging on Harry's neck to pull him into a quick kiss."
"Hmm, good luck with your deer hunting!" Harry tried to look confident as he jumped out of the car and waved Edward off. The Volvo stayed in his driveway until Harry reached the door and tentatively turned the knob. Then, as soon as he was inside, he heard the engine start up and the volvo drive away slowly.
30 minutes. Harry started with the essentials - his own toothbrush, hairbrush, deodorant, then moved on to a few of his favorite clothing items that would also him until this case was wrapped up. He wondered if James would notice the missing items, or if he would even care. His father had never been one for traditional rules and he didn't seem to bothered about Harry spending the night at the Cullens, assuming, of course, that Sirius Black had already told him.
He was carrying his bag of clothes downstairs when a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, and he quickly ran to the door to pull it open, expecting to see Edward on the other-side.
Instead he saw his fathers deputy. His hand froze on the doorknob and he briefly debated shutting the door, until a foot found it's way between the gap and it was pushed open with a familiar ease.
"Deputy," Harry greeted nervously, not quite sure why his body was tense but knowing well enough to trust his instincts. "James is out right now. I'll be sure to tell him you dropped by. Were you here to talk about the case?
"In a sense," the deputies smile widened and he took a step in, at which Harry took a few steps back to maintain his distance. "and I'm not here for James. I'm here for you, Harry. Such an interesting little thing…"
Harry's confusion grew as Tom took another step inside, his movement so fluid that it reminded him of Alice. And that's when the realization hit him. Jasper and Edward were right.
"Why aren't your eyes red," Harry blurted before he could help himself. Something had been off about the deputy before, something dangerous and uneasy lurking beneath the exterior, but Harry had never assumed him to be another vampire. Not with his ordinary features. Blue eyes, something that was unheard of according to the Cullens.
Harry reached for the phone in his pocket, but his movements weren't stealthy enough. "No, Harry. That phone stays off for the duration of this conversation, or you'll find Edward facing more than just mountain lions in the woods."
Harry slowly removed his hand from his pocket and shifted uneasily as Tom fully crossed the threshold of his home and swung the door shut behind him. "You're a perceptive little one, aren't you?"
His vice was deceptively soft, soothing, but Harry knew better than to think he was harmless. He held his stance and waited for Tom to answer, but the deputy took his time.
"You do know, of course, that some vampires have powers. Some have the ability to understand a mind…or see into the future. Some have the ability to change their appearance, or control emotions."
"And you?"
"Dear one, I can do it all. Did you know it only took one touch, one meeting until James' mind gave way your secrets. So close to the surface…clearly James was worried about you."
Confused, Harry stayed silent.
"It's a shame James doesn't know the whole truth, isn't it. No, I had to get the rest of the details from that family you adore."
Harry was itching to ask how, but clearly Tom assented the attention and acknowledgement. In a burst of stubbornness, Harry turned his head away and refused to engage. A chuckle met his efforts and Tom took a few steps closer. "Of course, I would have preferred to get that from you. But your stubbornness isn't only a personality, is it?" Tom mused. "Did you know most vampire's carry over their biggest attribute? You'd be unreadable as a vampire. A closed off wall…"
"Uhh, thanks, but I have no intentions of that."
Tom took another few steps closer, steadily making gain and it took everything in him to stay still. 'You aren't supposed to run from a predator,' Edward had said. And while he was joking then, Harry knew the words were true. He eyed Tom out of the corner of his eyes and nervously flicked them away when the crimson eyes met his stare dead on.
"Come now, little one," Tom cooed, voice taking on a soft quality that make Harry want to shed his skin. "It wouldn't be so bad, now would it? Didn't you like my gift?"
Harry realized with a start what gift he was referring to, and he cursed himself for taking so long to connect the dots.
"Not a very good tactic to convince someone to come with you," Harry pointed out. HIs tone was dry, even while his heart beat loudly against his chest. "I'm not quite sure it achieved its intended purpose."
"On the contrary," Tom took one silly step forward but Harry stood his ground. "That would never be you again, mon cherie. You would be the powerful one."
Another step forward and Harry realized he was rapidly running out of time. Edward was still gone, and even if he wasn't Tom was very clear with his threats. James was off uncovering another body.
Tom eyed Harry again, taking notice of how the black haired boy was almost vibrating with the need to move. "I have another gift for you." He said lowly, a smirk curling at his lips when Harry met his statement with a fiery glare.
"I don't want it."
"James is currently digging up a body that was murdered a little over a week ago. Another victim of the unknown killer. Wouldn't you like to know who the evidence will point to? All you need to do is say the word and I could easily arrange some evidence to be found."
Harry tensed even more at that, mind going a thousand miles a minute to figure out just exactly what tom was implying. Was that a threat to himself? His family?
"Not you, sweet one. That wouldn't help us out now, would it?" Tom's smirk grew into a smile as the look of confusion merely grew more prominent, white teeth nibbling at the pink libs until he could begin to see an indent forming. Before the little one could even blink, Tom was right in his space, crowding him back against the corner. As expected, Harry's back stiffened and he leaned back, eyes growing just a bit more wild. Beautiful.
"I'm thinking about someone who's done an injustice. Wouldn't you like to get even, Harry? Deal a little vengeance of your own? He spent enough time torturing you that surely you'd be glad to see him face the same."
Oliver. They were talking about framing Oliver for murders he didn't commit. Or rather, likely didn't commit, though Harry still firmly believed the man would be more than capable. Still though…"no thanks."
"No? Perhaps then someone else could be guilty. How quickly do you think the town would turn on the beloved Cullens? Deep down people are suspicious…uneasy."
Harry stood firm, eyes distrusting and he tried to lean back away from Tom. He didn't give in to the threat, instead choosing to say nothing. He didn't want to give the vampire any more ammunition.
It was a few seconds of tense silence then the vampire took a step back, eyes turning light again and body loose. "If you'd like to reconsider, you may meet me at the police station tonight at 7pm. I trust I'll see you there."
Harry stood shock still as Tom disappeared through the door, retreating as silently as he's come in. Tom was a vampire then, and Jasper's suspicions had been right. He pulled out his phone quickly, fingers fumbling a bit with the keypad before he was able to dial Edward's number. It rang for a few quiet seconds then Edward's calm voice answered clearly.
"Are you almost here?" Harry asked, trying to keep his voice straight and normal sounding.
"I am. Is everything okay?" The calm voice hardened as it asked the question that Harry could answer. "Harry?"
"Mhhmm," Harry hummed, not trusting himself to answer in an even tone.
"I'll be there in two minutes. Would you like me to stay on the phone?" Edward's voice was calm again, but Harry knew enough to sense the darkness behind the calm. His words were clipped, voice hard instead of the smooth cadence that Harry normally heard.
"I'm okay, thank you," Harry finally answered. "I'll see you in a few minutes," he hung up the phone and took a few deep breaths, trying to get his heart rate under control before Edward arrived.