Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or Charmed.
Chapter 19
Friday evening brings a much-needed girl's night for Alice, Rose, and me. With all the craziness lately, it's nice to just have a night hanging out with my girls like we use to before the boyfriends and drama.
We're scattered around the living room, Clueless playing in the background on the T.V. Chinese food containers, chips, cookies, and ice cream litter the table in front of us. We've long turned our attention from the movie that we've seen a thousand times each. Alice is bombarding me with questions on my and Edward's sex life, much to my chagrin.
"Giver or receiver?" Alice clutches a pillow in her arms, leaning forward, focused on me as if I'm her favorite movie.
"Definitely a giver," I wiggle my eyebrows in response.
"Ooh, you have a winner, Bella. I love a man who isn't selfish, how big?"
Rose snorts.
"Alice! Conversation over," my face is pink now as I reach for my wine. This is my third glass and I must say I'm feeling every sip so far.
"Okay," she pouts sadly, before stuffing a few chips into her mouth.
We're all quiet for a few moments before Rose turns to me.
"Hey, Bella, did you ever hear back from the police station?"
Alice perks up. "Police station? What police station?"
"I did, they found nothing Rose," I sip my wine
"Booo, well we'll keep on looking," she gives me a small smile, she knows how much finding this Jenks person means to me.
"Umm hello?" Alice pouts again.
"Sorry, it's nothing major Ali. I contacted the precinct Charlie last worked about a person I was interested in," I finish with a sigh.
"Who is it?" She leans forward curiously.
"Someone who he was writing to. We found a letter when we went to my parent's storage. We started cleaning it out."
"Wait, you went to the storage? And didn't tell me!" She understood how reluctant I'd been to open that chapter of my life again.
"Alice, I practically forced her to tell me where she was going and I invited myself along. You think I was gonna let her go alone?" Rose says.
Alice pauses for a second before nodding and agreeing.
"Yeah, I get it… I just feel kind of left out. You guys are running around trying to solve mystery's and didn't even tell me."
"That's the thing Ali, I don't know who or what the hell I'm looking for. But seeing the letter from my dad sparked something inside of me and I want to know who he was writing to before he died…I want to know more."
A silence overcomes us, each one of us processing my words. It's been so long since I've talked about my parents so openly and they understand the significance.
"Well, will you let me help with this mission at least?"
"Alice it's n-" I stop abruptly before sighing. "Sure."
"Yay!" Laughing I shake my head at her cheers. "Now I have more Edward questions."
"Alice!"
"Speaking of Edward, where is he from anyway?" Rose asks suddenly. It gives me pause but I answer.
"Chicago, Rose."
"Hmm," she nods as a peculiar look crosses her face.
"Something you'd like to share with the class?" I arch an eyebrow.
"Nope," she pops the p and shoves a scoop of ice cream into her mouth.
I sigh with a shake of my head and ignore the weirdness that overcomes Rose whenever I talk about Edward. It's starting to annoy me. For someone as outspoken as she is, she's awfully quiet when it comes to him, and I sense judgment. Deep down I know that when the time comes to discuss it, it'll be a fight. And that's the last thing any of us need right now.
There's a curt knock at the door.
"I'll get it!" Alice sets down her tub of ice cream before jumping up and bouncing to the door. She's gone for hardly a few seconds and comes skipping back in the room with a medium-sized box covered in gold wrapping paper.
"Ladies one of us has a surprise!" she squeaks.
"Who would deliver that so late?" Rose questions but she's up on her feet quickly, just as curious as Alice and me.
"Check to see who's it is," I say following Alice to the table
The box has a small card on top and Alice quickly opens it.
"And the lucky lady is… Bella. There's no name on who it's from, but I can guess," she wiggles her brows.
"Really?" my heart flutters.
Edward.
It must be from him. How thoughtful. I don't know how I got so lucky.
"Well open it! I wanna see!" Alice literally bounces up and down and slides it over to me.
Rose has a small smile but doesn't say anything. I know she's dying to know what it is though.
"Okay, give me a second," I'm just as giddy as I unwrap the gold box, it doesn't weigh very much.
Edward didn't give anything away when we last spoke a few hours ago. He was finishing up a few assignments at the office before heading home. He said he didn't want to interrupt our girl's night but promised me to give him a call before I went to bed. He probably wanted to hear my reaction to his gift. I wonder what it is…
Finally, after tearing off the paper, I slide the lid off the box. It takes a moment to realize what I'm looking at but Alice's scream snaps me back to reality.
"Oh my God," I murmur.
Lying in the box…is a dead rat.
It's surrounded by vines and red roses. Almost creepily romantic...and revolting. I feel chills rack my body as my stomach begins to churn.
"What the fuck!" Rose shrieks grabbing the top and shoving it back on the box.
I think I'm going to be sick. I've seen worse …way worse. But the idea that someone would send something so cruel and downright bizarre as this shakes me to my core.
Who would send this?
Alice is screaming and Rose tells her to calm down. I'm frozen but Rose springs into action grabbing the box and carrying it outside, making sure to keep it as far away from her body as she can.
"Oh, my God! Bella, are you okay? Who would send that? We need to call the police?" Alice shrieks.
Rose is in front of me rubbing my shoulders
"Bella honey take a deep breath, it's okay."
I nod, though I'm still speechless.
"Do you know who would send something like this?"
I shake my head. Not Edward. I know it wasn't him.
As if she reads my mind Alice pipes up.
"That couldn't have been from Edward."
"Do you think Jacob?" Rose asks.
I can only shake my head. It couldn't be from him we were on good terms again and that wasn't something he'd be capable of doing.
"Probably someone connected to James?" Alice questions.
My blood runs cold. Was there someone out there who wanted to scare me, threaten me because of him?
"I'm calling the police," Rose says.
"What? Rose no," I snap out of it and grab her arm as she pulls out her cell phone.
"Bella this is a sick joke, or it could be some type of threat towards you. Who knows. But I refuse to sit here and do nothing. We're not going to let some sick fuck mess with you," the anger in her eyes nearly silences me. Protective Rose is out and I know nothing will stop her.
Reluctantly, I nod. She's right. Perhaps the police can investigate and pull fingerprints from the box. We had to get to the bottom of this.
Half an hour later two police officers are at the apartment. One is questioning me, while the other is investigating the box. After taking photographs and brushing for prints, Officer Poole asks me if I know of anyone who may want to hurt me.
I explain to him my recent involvement with the robbery and James Smith. He furiously takes notes, nodding occasionally. Rose interjects at times when she feels I'm not sharing the full story. I roll my eyes internally.
The police are starting to wrap up when I hear tires screeching and a car pulling in front of the door, footsteps make their way up the steps furiously.
"Mr. Masen? What are you doing here?" One of the policemen, I believe Officer Lee, asks in confusion.
My eyes instantly turn towards the figure in the doorway.
Edward.
My heart jumps quickly before pounding double time. What is he doing here? In the midst of all the confusion, I'd forgotten to let him know what was going on. I assumed he thought my girl's night with Rose and Alice was going on without a hitch. But here he stood at my apartment door, scanning me and the place quickly as if checking for injuries and damage.
"Bella," he breathes so quietly I almost think no one else hears it.
Officer Poole clears his throat heading over to Edward giving him a brief handshake.
"I didn't realize they'd sent help over inspector," he clears his throat almost uncomfortably before continuing. "Rest assured we have it all under control."
Edward's eyes return to me before answering Officer Poole.
"I wasn't sent over, I heard about a call from this address and wanted to check on Ms. Swan personally. She was a witness on a recent case of mine and I wanted to ensure she was taken care of."
He came to make sure I was alright. I can't help my small smile at the thought.
"Ah, well we were just wrapping up," Officer Poole nods, a knowing look on his face before heading over to his partner, I guess to give us a moment of privacy. I'm sure it's not very common for an A.D.A to accompany them on minor house calls.
"Bella," he takes a few steps toward me, giving me another quick once over and a tiny almost unnoticeable breath of relief escapes him.
"Edward, I'm so happy to see you," I breathe as he wraps me in his arms. I see the officers attempting to look anywhere but us.
"Are you okay? What happened?" his voice is urgent.
"I'm fine, it was nothing serious, just a bad prank," I know my smile is weak. "What are you doing here?" I'm so glad to see him but I'm curious as to how he knew there was an incident.
"I was stopping by the precinct to drop off a file. I overheard your address on the scanner and that an officer had been dispatched to it. I didn't think twice before speeding over here. I didn't know what to think," he grasps my hands tightly, worry painted on his face.
"There was a knock and someone left a box with my name on it…there was a dead-" shaking my head, it's still hard to voice. Clearing my throat, I continue. "A dead rat."
I can't decipher all the emotions that rapidly cross his face, but I identify the main one; fury.
Edward looked ready to kill, a look I'm not sure I'd ever seen from him.
"Was there a note?" His words are measured. I shake my head.
"Just flowers surrounding it and a small piece of paper on top with my name."
"Do you have any idea who would send this?" He asks.
"None, we think it may be connected to James."
"Hmm maybe, excuse me for a moment," he goes to speak with the officers as Rose and Alice return to my side.
"We're going to find out who sent this honey," Alice squeezes my hand and Rose just looks pissed. I nod and give her a small smile.
The police officers head out and Edward returns to us.
"Rose, Alice, how are you doing?" He asks, sympathy clouding his voice.
"Just a little shaken, but I think we'll be ok," Alice murmurs.
"Yeah, we'll be fine, even better when you all find out who did this," Rose says
Edward nods solemnly. "You have my word this will be dealt with quickly."
"Yeah, I'm sure," Rose says coolly. I shoot her a look, I don't appreciate her tone with Edward.
I don't know if he chose to ignore it or just didn't pick up on it, but he simply nods and turns his attention back to me.
"We're going to investigate this Bella I promise; do you feel safe staying here tonight?
"We'll be okay," I nod, though he probably sees through me.
"Well we're going to have a detail placed here for a few days just to be on the safe side," he states pulling out his cell phone.
And I know not to argue with him.
Alice and I are in the kitchen the following morning slamming down cups of coffee when Rose storms in. We could hardly sleep after the box was delivered, both too shaken up to comfortably rest. As Edward said, there was a black sedan parked outside of the apartment all night and still there now, no doubt watching our place like a hawk. I must admit a part of me did feel much safer. And it really made my heart flutter to know Edward cared so much, going above and beyond to guarantee our safety.
"Here, these are for you," Rose drops a bag on the counter and pulls out three small boxes. She hands each of us one, keeping one for herself.
I gasp mockingly.
"Oh, you shouldn't have," I bat my lashes at her.
Alice joins in, placing her hand on her chest. "Did you go to Tiffany's?"
"Ha-ha," Rose deadpans. "Listen, there are too many weird and dangerous things happening around here lately. So, I got us all something we may need to protect us."
Opening the box, I see a large bright pink tube of lipstick. Alice's box contains the same thing.
"Um Rose how will makeup protect us?" Alice tilts her head, holding up the container.
"Open it," Rose says.
Following her order, I twist off the cap.
"A taser," I breathe.
"Nice," Alice turns her taser disguised lipstick in her hands. "Where'd you find these?"
"At a small shop in Chinatown. I figured we need to arm ourselves until we figure out what the hell is going on."
"Why not guns?" Alice pipes up. I stare at Alice as if she's crazy. I doubt we'd need something so drastic. I'm sure the rat was a practical joke, sick, but probably a harmless prank by some teenager.
Or that's what I was trying to convince myself of.
"Trust me I considered it," Rose rolls her eyes. "The process is lengthy, we need something now."
Nodding, I examine the gift. It really is a clever defense. Someone probably wouldn't even see it coming.
"Bella, what do you think?" Rose asks. I realize I've been quiet up until now.
"Um, well while unexpected it's very appreciated. Thanks, Rose," she nods in response a small smile on her face. I know how much she hates to be out of control and this was something she needed to do for us. She was protective by nature and this was her way of looking out for me.
"Of course, Bella. And we're not going to stop until we find the sick fuck who would send that to you."
I nod because my throat is starting to choke up.
"Well this will be nice to have, added protection," Alice zaps hers in the air.
"Alice, only when you need to use it okay? And keep it charged," Rose says sternly.
Alice waves her off. Laughing, I transfer mine to my purse.
"Well, with Edward on top of things I'm sure we'll have the person found in no time," I say.
"Yeah, he's on top of a lot of things lately," Alice giggled, wiggling her eyebrows. I give her a small push. She's not wrong though.
Sighing, Rose leans against the counter.
"Bella, how much do you really know about Edward?"
Not this again.
"What do you mean Rose?"
"I'm just saying since Edward has come into your life, crazy things are happening, strangers lurking around and now dead rats showing up at our door."
"You know what Rose, now is not the time okay? Those things have nothing to do with Edward, in case you didn't realize he's trying to protect us," I try and keep the peace, now is not the time for a fight. And with Rose being so opinionated I could feel one arising.
"No Bella I really want you to hear this, I love you and I'm just concerned."
"About what Rose? What?" I can't help but raise my voice as the anger rises. How dare she? I support her in everything. Everything. And for the first time, I have something good, no beyond good, perfect. And here she comes spouting off this bullshit.
Perhaps the anger on my face gives her pause, but she goes quiet. When she starts to speak again she's interrupted by a knock on the door.
"I swear that better not be another box," I grab the lipstick/taser and head towards the door.
Checking the peephole, my anger is replaced with confusion before turning into elation and I can't get the door open fast enough.
Standing on the porch with wide smiles on their faces, practically vibrating, are my parents.