Thank you all for loving the turn this took. I questioned whether to go there or not but it was well received so what the hell...
Thank you to Team Harpy.
Chapter 44
We all look down on her for a moment but my father in law jumps into action after a brief hesitation. Hypocrattic oath and all I guess. Though I could swear I saw him guzzling some liquor moments ago.
Oh well, he ain't my doctor.
Riley goes to call an ambulance as Carlisle keeps working on her. There are loud murmurs of speculation as to why she fell. I just sit back with my arms crossed and watch the Cullens in action.
Carlisle and Riley are the only ones working. Mrs. C is sitting in her chair visibly worried. Esme just poured another drink and toasted the air. Victoria is talking to Emmett. Mr. C is pacing the foyer. James is mumbling something about people dying around him.
Cullen… Cullen is looking at me but I pretend not to notice instead pretending to look at my nails. They're as black as my mood these days.
Finally, the ambulance arrives and Angela is wheeled off. Carlisle demands that Edward drive him to the hospital.
"No."
"Edward, go on. In case someone tries to accuse us of pushing her down the stairs."
"God knows I wanted to," James admits.
"I mean it, we might need damage control."
He looks indecisive then approaches me.
"Listen I have to go."
"So go. Why should I care what you do?"
"I'll be right back." He assured me.
"Don't expect me to be waitin' for ya." I walk away.
He sighs then leaves with his father in tow. Most everyone scatters leaving me and Mrs. C.
"Oh, my Dear."
"What? Like I'm supposed to care?" I go on the defensive even though Mrs. C doesn't deserve it.
"Of course you care. Will you please join me in the den? Just for a moment."
I want to but I can't tell this woman no. She's been so kind to me so I nod.
I follow her to the room and sit down.
"It's so nice to have a moment with you. Even under these trying circumstances."
"I appreciate the effort Mrs. C but don't you think you're trying just a little too hard?"
"Of course you're wary of anyone related to Edward but I'd very much like to give you my point of view about all this."
"I know your point of view. You love your grandson."
She smiles at me.
"I do but I deplore his treatment of you."
"Yeah, it's outrageous, huh?"
"Absolutely. There is no way to defend so many lies of such a serious nature. But there is one truth of which I am sure of."
"Which is?"
"He loves you."
"Well, as they say, he has a funny way of showing it."
"Listen to me, Dear. He loves you in a way he's never loved anyone before you. He's absolutely devastated at the thought of losing you."
"He'll get over it."
"I don't think so. Not this time."
"You know what? Maybe I won't either."
"If you'd only give him the opportunity I believe he'd do anything in the world to make it up to you."
"You're a really good grandma. He doesn't deserve you."
Her eyes twinkle. "Definitely not. But can I tell you what troubles me the most? It's something that troubles Edward too. You seem to believe that he was ashamed to bring you here to meet his family."
"Yeah... um. I did think that." I admit.
"It's exactly the opposite. Edward is ashamed of us."
"That's what he said."
"I assure you that I can speak for all of us when I express our great admiration for you. You are a wonderful young woman."
"I second that emotion." Emmett walks in. "But I think Bella already knows how I feel. I just wish there was a way the whole family could apologize for the lousy way Edward has treated you."
I roll my eyes at his blatant attempt at hustling me.
"And I've tried to do that, Emmett." Elizabeth chastises.
"She's too good for him."
"Edward's behavior was inexcusable, granted. But I'm hoping Bella can forgive him."
"Why should she? He's not going to reform. He is one of the most duplicitous, selfish men on the face of the earth."
"Gee, tell me about it." I raise my eyebrow and he looks abashed. Though he continues on. "He's got no sense of family, no concept of responsibility to anyone except for himself, and it just didn't start with you. He's always been after me because he's afraid I'm going to outshine him."
"I'm afraid Emmett and Edward are very competitive." Elizabeth is desperately trying to salvage this conversation. Luckily Lonnie comes to get her. "I do hope you will think about what I've said and know you are welcome here anytime."
"Thank you, Mrs. C, I really appreciate that."
She surmises that's all she's going to get out of me so with one last kind smile she leaves. Emmett comes to sit across from me.
"I think she's afraid to leave me alone with you."
"I wonder why? There's no need to worry. I can take care of myself."
"That's good cause Edward certainly won't." He puts his hand over his mouth. "Did I just say that out loud?"
"Yes, you did. And it was gratuitous."
"I'm sorry. That was my clumsy attempt at solidarity. I'm sorry about Edward and my own feelings about the way he has treated me are running too close to the surface. I think I was probably overidentifying."
"I can understand that."
"What Grandmother said about you being welcome here anytime? She meant it and I hope you're not going to avoid the family, especially me."
"Emmett, was that a come-on? Cause I am not the woman you need to be worrying about."
"Did you think I was coming on to you? Come on, Bella. Edward and I have enough bad blood without you coming between us." Now he's sitting by me. " I will say this. I think Edward was a fool for the way he treated you."
"Nobody asked you. Not Bella, not me. So if you want to stay in one piece, you'll keep your opinions to yourself." Edward stares Emmett down.
To me he says. "You waited."
"Don't read too much into it. I stayed to talk to your grandmother."
"How is the other Mrs. Cullen doing?" Emmett asks.
I chance a look at him. He is enjoying this way too much. I'll allow it.
"Angela is in the OR with a fractured skull."
"Shouldn't you be there?" I ask.
"I'm exactly where I want to be and no matter how many times you try to push me away I'll come back cause I'm not going to let you go." His penetrating gaze is unwavering as he looks down at me.
"It's your time. Waste it however you want."
"You know the best part of the meeting for me was when you said you refused to divorce me."
"Don't read too much into that one either."
"I'd be happy to recommend a good divorce attorney." Emmett pipes up.
"What we need is for you to butt out."
"Speak for yourself." I stand up. " Emmett I am very sorry our conversation was interrupted. Maybe we could do it again sometime."
"That would be my pleasure. I mean the cottage is just down the driveway."
"Emmett, stay away from the cottage."
"Maybe lunch," I say to Emmett though my eyes are locked on Cullen.
"Maybe dinner?"
'Maybe both. Buh bye." I sideswipe Cullen. "See you. Or maybe not."
He chases after me. "Bella, just stay."
"Look tonight might have been business as usual for you Cullens but us regular citizens can only tolerate so much. Good night, Cullen."
I hear him sigh as I slam my way out of the door.
I'm not so surprised to see Alice still there, nosy as she is. But she still pretends to be working though on what, I don't know.
"You know if you wanted to know what was going on with that family meeting, all you had to do was go."
She gives up all pretense. " I wasn't invited besides I wanted to hear what happened from you."
"Aren't you curious what the sirens were for?"
"I had the headphones on. What sirens?"
"Well at this very moment… if there's any justice at all… I really shouldn't even say this..." I cross myself. "But Angela might be dead as a doornail."
"What do you mean, Angela might be dead?"
"She took a header down the staircase."
"Hold up. Start from the beginning. What happened?"
"When I got there they were in the den. I think it's the den. How many rooms do they have in that place anyway?"
"Too many. Go on." She demands impatiently.
"First of all, Angela is a horrible person. She was telling her almost husband that she was going to file bigamy charges against him if he doesn't divorce me and remarry her."
"He'd never do that."
"That's what he said. That's what I said too. I have absolutely no intention of rolling over and playing dead for that woman." I pause. "Oh, I guess that's a poor choice of words." Oops.
"Wait, did you actually say that you refused to divorce Edward?"
"Absolutely. That is letting the weasel off way too easy. Anyway, listen, once Angie got really clear on that score, she started throwing threats around at the whole family. The woman has no shame."
"That's what I've been trying to tell you. Go on."
"Then my so-called husband calls her bluff. He promises to have her arrested for some scam she pulled. Then he swore to her he would make her the laughingstock of Tacoma which suits me just fine cause that's where I happen to be sitting right now and it ain't pretty."
"What? That is not true. Everyone who knows you, loves you. So when did she fall?"
"What? Oh!" I stand up for this part. A good reenactment is always a plus for telling a story. "So she storms out of the room and goes into the…. Ugh! I'm having mental block! What is the room with all the doors that we go in and out of?"
"The foyer!"
"Yes, so everyone follows her into the foyer and she goes trouncing up the stairs, screaming… like Mrs. Matrolli, the fish monger's wife from back home, right? So she's trouncing up the steps and then she just stops. Halfway up the steps, she just stops. She gets this weird look on her face and then bam! She hits the deck and she's rolling, rolling, rolling down the steps ass over tea kettle. And let me tell you, that is one heck of a staircase to roll down. She finally hits the bottom of the stairs then CRACK! Her head smacks against the marble. Then she lays there, like a lox." By this time I have been rolling on the floor so I get up and await Alice's reaction.
"What did you do?" She's wide-eyed.
"Nothing. My father in law works on her, Riley called 911 and we just stood there looking at each other with our jaws hanging open. Then they took her away, we yapped about it for a while then I came back here."
"Wait a minute are you saying she's really dead?"
"I have no idea. But one thing that came through so loud and clear is that Cullen really, really, really can't stomach Angela."
"That's what I've been trying to tell you."
"Well this is where I don't understand. How can that dog marry a woman he hates so much, I don't care what she was threatening to do to his family."
"He did what he thought he had to do."
"Oh please, he had to be one hell of an actor to make that woman think he liked her."
"He didn't act like he liked her. He made it quite clear he couldn't stand her."
A knock sounds at the door and I answer it.
"Bella, sweetheart."
"Edward" I slam it closed in his face.
"Bella!" He calls.
"No! Take your act on the road. It don't play here no more."
"Bella, that wasn't very nice." Alice admonishes.
"Ask me if I care."
"Listen I know he's really messed things up but he really does love you."
"She's right. She's absolutely right." He pops his head through a now opened window. "If we could just have a civilized, rational conversation, just the two of us." I close the window, relishing for just a moment the sound of his pained howl as the window shuts on his hand.
"Doesn't sound very rational to me." I mock.
"Bella, open the window. My fingers, my fingers." I open the window and he breathes a sigh of relief. I slam down the window at his thank you.
"This guy can't take a hint," I complain to Alice. To him, I say, "Go. Home."
"I am home," is his muffled reply.
"Then go to your room!" I leave him there and drag Alice to the kitchen saying I'm suddenly quite famished. She obliges for a moment but it's short lived.
"Back to Edward. Doesn't the fact that he loves you to distraction mean anything to you?"
"It means he didn't trust me enough to tell me the truth and I can never trust him again with anything."
I roll my eyes as the phone rings.
"Leave me alone!" I yell when I answer.
"Take it easy, it's Emmett."
"What do you want? It's been a long night."
"Well, it's not so much what I want. Grandfather is requesting your presence at a family meeting."
"So what does that have to do with me?"
"There may be a new development in the Angela situation. You are as much a part of the family as anyone else."
"You're joking."
"Not at all."
"So what is she dead or something?"
"Not that I know of. Have you seen Edward?"
I roll my eyes. "Yeah, he's around."
"You better tell him to come. Grandfather wants him too."
"Fine." I hang up then go to the window, knocking on it.
"Hey! You out there?"
He pops up which scares the bejeezus out of me. I open the window.
"Bella, please."
"Save it. Your family wants us up there for some kind of pow wow. While we are on our way there I don't want you to speak, touch or try to make any contact with me whatsoever. Do I make myself clear?
"Yeah." I slam the window back down and he keeps his fingers away. I then open the door and storm past him.
I hear him say something about making progress before he starts running to catch up to me.
Progress, my ass.
They are waiting for us when we get there. Edward goes straight to the wet bar and grabs the entire bucket of ice and sticks his hand in it while I lean against one of the bookcases. He decides to stand by me. I inch further away.
"They ran tests before they took Angela to surgery. She had lethal levels of prescription drugs in her system. They suspect someone was trying to poison her."
Everyone starts talking at once.
"What if she's a junkie?" Emmett asks over the din.
"No such luck." Dr. C says. "I talked to her primary physician. He said there is no history of chemical dependence or drug abuse."
"What were the drugs?" Mrs. C asks.
"A combination of Oxycontin which you take for your back and Xanax which I imagine any number of you all have in your possession."
Everyone starts talking again.
"Excuse me. Excuse me!"
"Everybody shut up!" Edward yells. Everyone quiets. "Bella has something to say."
I shoot him a dirty look and he just grins at me. " Are you suggesting that someone in this house poisoned Angela?" I ask Mr. C.
"No. I'm suggesting someone in this room did."
Everyone starts denying it all at once.
"That's a heavy accusation, Grandfather," Riley says.
"So is murder."
"Attempted murder." James pipes in, a drink in his hand.
"When will this family learn that you don't solve problems by killing them. It merely exasperates matters." Mr. C sinks in his chair and washes his hand over his face.
"Don't you get started on Jason Jenks again." Victoria warns.
"Why not? It was that murder that brought Angela into our midst to begin with."
"Accidental murder." James makes another circle around the room with a refreshed drink. I back out of his way.
"You don't have to qualify that. He's still dead." Esme laughs lightly, her eyes glazed over with what I assume is tequila.
"Could we resist laying all the blame at James' feet? What's done is done."
"Can everyone just calm down?" Edward asks.
"You know, Edward, you are the one who has the most motive."
"What? I got rid of her by having her investigated."
"Excuse me. But I got rid of her by proving she really wasn't married to you to begin with." I negate.
"Bella has a good point."
"Shut up, Emmett." Edward hisses.
"The fact remains that someone was trying to do away with the woman. While I might agree with the sentiment, I will never condone it. So, whoever is responsible, I demand that you come forward right now."
Everyone backs away.
"It wasn't me," Riley says.
"No one is accusing you, Dear."
"I think this has Ed written all over it."
"Nonsense Victoria."
"Grandfather doesn't kill people. He prefers to torture them slowly."
Mr. C glares at Edward.
"You know if anything, this sounds like James. He does have a history."
Victoria is now glaring at Edward. "If I hear Jason Jenk's name one more time, I'm going to scream."
"Okay. How about Laurent Bertrand?"
"Who's he?" I throw my hands in the air.
"Victoria's lover."
"Former lover! And James didn't kill him. He tried to but as far as I know, he's alive and well."
"Dad tried to drop a building on top of him." Emmett helpfully lets me know.
I rub my temples.
We hear the doorbell ring and Riley offers to get it as Lonnie has apparently retired for the night.
I drop in front of Mrs. C. "Who are these people? And how did you get related to them?" I ask her.
"They are not so bad once you get to know them." She smiles at me fondly.
"Yes, they are." Edward objects. "And now you understand why I was trying to keep this family away from you."
"Oh give me a break. The thought of you being above all this has got to the biggest joke of all." James lectures.
"No one is telling me what I want to hear. Now somebody will take the responsibility for this debacle."
Everyone starts their denying again while I just keep quiet. I notice Riley come in and he shouts at them to shut up. They have company.
He opens the door to reveal the Police Chief, Phil Dwyer. I don't know him personally but I've seen him here and there.
Everyone just stares at him trying to seem innocent which is laughable from what I've seen tonight.
"Phil, how are you?" Mrs. C asks.
Edward rushes over to shake his hand which only transfers the melting ice to his hand. Phil grimaces then wipes his hand on his pants before shaking his head in amusement. He must be used to them.
"Phil, may I offer you a drink?" Mr. C offers.
"No, thank you."
"How's Samantha?" Victoria asks.
"She's fine. She sends you her love."
"We must do lunch soon."
"How about those Mariners?" Dr. C exclaims.
"I'm a football fan. Ed, may we speak in private?" His eye catches mine as he notices me.
"Hey, don't mind me. I came in at halftime." I smile sweetly then bolt to the other side of the room.
"If you all will excuse us." Mr. C and Ed leave the room.
"I thought you said a report wouldn't be filed until morning?" Mrs. C asks Dr. C.
"That's what I was told." He shrugs.
"Then who called the police?" Esme asked.
"Well, I am going to guess it wasn't the murderer."
"Attempted murderer."
"Okay James, you've made your point." Victoria elbows him.
"Shouldn't we keep this at a low roar?" I asked.
"Stay out of this, I'll handle this," Edward tells me. "Everyone keep your voice down." He hisses.
I will kill him.
"Well I resent Grandfather thinks any of us tried to kill her."
"I don't blame him. We all wanted her out of our lives." Esme snorts.
"Yeah but not like this. I'm afraid I don't have an alibi."
"They couldn't have meant you, Riley." He smiles at me.
"There's your alibi. Innocence by virtue."
"Shut up Emmett."
"Both of you shut up." VIctoria hisses.
"Methinks Emmett doth protest too much."
"Let me tell you something, Edward, If I had tried to kill her there would be nothing attempted about it."
"Was that a dig at your father?" His mother hisses.
"If the shoe fits."
"Edward, let's discuss who had the strongest motive."
"No, let us discuss Paul Lahote." James looks at me in horror. "I know…"
"He was already dead. I just tried to hide the body."
"Who was Paul Lahote?"
"No worries, Dear. James didn't kill him." Mrs. C grins at me.
"What must Thanksgiving dinner be like?" I ask.
"Oh, it's a riot. Everyone argues about who gets to carve up the turkey." Esme slurs.
"I tried to warn you, Sweetheart."
Mr. C enters the room alone.
"Is he gone?"
"For now."
"How on earth did he find out already?"
"He didn't. He was here investigating the Collin Flynn murder."
"Oh. Great. Who is Collin Flynn and what did you do to him, James?" I ask.
"That one we're clean on, Sweetheart."
"Will you stop calling me that?"
"Can we get back to the business at hand? Whoever tried to kill Angela step forward now."
Everyone goes back to asserting their innocence when I notice Mr. C eyeing me.
"Well there's one county that hasn't been heard from yet." He muses.
I stand up straight. "Excuse me?"
Edward follows his eye line. "Grandfather, don't. You. Dare."
Mr. C walks towards me but Edward steps in between us blocking him. "It really makes very good sense and we don't know her well after all. And if there was ever anyone with a motive for a crime of passion, it has to be Bella." He tells Edward then focuses his attention back on me. " It's okay dear, you can trust us."
"Yeah, I don't think so. You know, Mr. C, I was taught to respect my elders but I gotta tell you, you're a nutcase. You are all certifiable." I make my way out of the room. Edward follows me. "Bella."
"Oh no."
"It all has to come out sometime. Now you tell us the truth now and we will stand behind you later on."
I look at him incredulously. "I'm blowing this popsicle stand," I say before storming out of the room.
I hear Edward scream at Mr. C. "What the hell were you thinking?"
And I thought my family was Looney Tunes…
Edward
The next morning, Grandfather is waiting at the bottom of the staircase for me. I knew I should have gone back to the penthouse but staying here means I'm just that much closer to Bella. And for now, that is about as good as I'm going to get it.
"You sleep?" I ask him.
"No. And I've been waiting since four am to talk to you."
"Well, here I am." I walk past him in search of some coffee.
"We need to get our story together for when Phil comes back sniffing around."
I roll my eyes as I set the carafe back down. "Everyone has the same exact story already. She went up the stairs then she came back down them… hard. They say there is a combination of lethal drugs in her system. I didn't put them there."
"If I don't believe you, how do you expect Phil to?"
"Maybe you did it."
"That's ridiculous."
"Grandmother?"
"No…" We say simultaneously.
"Mother has Xanax." I muse.
"So does Victoria and she has plenty of motive."
"But when would anyone have had time to drug her?" A thought occurs to me.
"The only one who knows for sure would be Angela. And she's not talking right now. The hospital said she was still unconscious. But she would probably take the drugs and make them think we did it."
Waylon knocks and pokes his head in. "Phil Dwyer to see you."
Grandfather and I share a look. "Bring him in."
We both stand when he enters. "Back so soon?" I ask.
"Imagine my surprise when a case file ended up on my desk this morning implicating the Cullens in the alleged poisoning of one Angela Weber Cullen."
"Just Weber." I speak up.
He stares me down and I sit.
"Poisoning? I ask. He hands me a lab report listing the two drugs I already knew would be on there. "What am I looking at here?"
"These two drugs were in her system and her doctor has no record of her being on either so this has turned into a criminal investigation. So I have a few questions."
"Please have a seat." Grandfather offers.
"I think I'll stand."
"Suit yourself." Grandfather sits next to me.
"Do you want your attorney present?"
"That's not necessary. What would you like to know?"
"Who was present preceding Angela's collapse?" He takes out a recorder.
"The entire family. Angela insisted on it to discuss her position in the family in light of Edward's marriage to Bella Swan."
"So this was a planned meeting?"
"Yes," I confirm.
"Okay, who exactly was here?"
"Edward and I, and Angela of course."
" James, Victoria, Esme, Carlisle, Riley, Emmett, Waylon, and Grandmother." I finished.
"Is that everyone?"
"No. Don't forget Bella."
I shoot Grandfather a look and I swear I'd kick him if I could.
"Two wives in the same room. Bet that was interesting." Phil says.
"They had quite the showdown but Bella held her own. She's a feisty young woman."
"I see. I presume Angela was going to bring bigamy charges against you?"
"Actually that was the reason for the meeting. But by the time she was ready to leave, she'd been persuaded that wasn't in her best interest."
"How was she persuaded?"
"Quite simply. We would keep quiet about certain events in her past that had come to light in exchange for peaceful exit on her part."
"And she agreed?" He asked Grandfather.
"Oh yes. She knew the risks were too great and I knew she wouldn't press charges once I had proof of her indiscretions."
"Okay."
He doesn't say anything for a minute. "So who's your prime suspect?"
"Well, I can imagine you might hold some ill will towards her."
"That may be an oversimplification. But I had no inclination to kill her. I neutralized her in other ways."
"And what about Ms. Swan? I'm sorry, Mrs. Cullen. What are her feelings for or against Angela?"
"Grandfather chuckles. "Less than cordial."
"Bella is incapable of hurting anyone." I object.
"I've been in this business too long to believe anyone incapable of anything."
"You don't know Bella."
"I intend to rectify that right now. I'll need to talk to the rest of the family as soon as possible but first I would like to talk to Bella. Is she here?"
"No, but you might find her down at the cottage. That's where she set up her music studio."
"I'll take you down there." I offer.
"No, thank you. I prefer to talk to her alone." He turns on his heel and walks out and I slam my hands on the table in frustration.
"I told you to lay off Bella and what the hell do you do? You send Dwyer down to the cottage practically salivating."
"He would have questioned her at some point anyway."
"You set her up!"
"You can't swear she didn't do it."
"Yes, I can."
"The only way you could be certain is if you did it yourself."
"I know Bella."
"My impression of her is that she is a very passionate woman."
"Yes, she is. She loves life and love and music and murder requires a different kind of passion."
"It's all out of the same fabric and besides, she's not family."
"She's my family."
"She doesn't act like it except when it suits her."
"That seems to be the same complaint you make about me."
'I wish you two could make up your mind. Seems to me that this is the chance of a lifetime for her, marrying a Cullen."
"And what does she get for it? Blackmail, bigamy, and possible murder charges."
"At least we aren't lacking in drama." He laughs.
A thought occurs to me just then and I can't help but laugh. "Do you realize that in your desire to deflect suspicion onto Bella that you truly made a stupid move?"
"Why's that?"
"It's James' neck and I'm not really inclined to care," I smirk.
"What are you talking about?"
I lean close to him.
"Bella knows the whole story about James and Bella doesn't lie."
Grandfather's eyes widen and he makes a beeline for the door. I block his exit. "Where are you going?"
"To the cottage. She might tell Phil."
"Yes, she might just do that."
"We've got to stop her!"
"This was your idea to deflect Phil away from the family. You can't stop the boomerang effect now."
"But she surely has some code of honor. Some respect for family."
"Code. Yes, she does have a code. She is a decent, hardworking woman who knows what the truth is." I smile fondly. "You're right. She's not a Cullen."
"Well now if you're implying…"
"She's the one who has been hurt the most in all this. She's the one that has paid the price for Angela's blackmail- not you, not James, not me… Bella. And I am sick of protecting this family and hurting her in the process. So I hope she does tell Phil the truth. Let it come out in the open and what happens, happens."
I make my exit and ignore him calling my name in desperation as the realization of what he has done washes down on him.
Bella
I'm on the couch staring off into space. I can feel Alice watching me, waiting, wanting to say something.
Finally, she opens her mouth to speak. "Bell…"
"They're certifiable. The whole lot of them. Totally and completely certifiable."
"The Cullens?"
"Of course, the Cullens. The word dysfunctional was created for people like them. I mean, I know families you know." I sit up. "The pack I come from they love nothing more than a good quarrel. The words come straight from the brain, right out the mouth. You can't even keep track of all grievances and feud between them but it's like normal ya know? We keep going together cause we are a family but this pack. You should have seen the way they turned on each other, like a pack of wolves. You should have seen the way Mr. C. came at me."
"They're really not that bad."
"Oh really…" I give her a disbelieving glare.
"You know maybe you understand what Edward has had to go through. When he was Masen he was free from all that. He didn't have to be a Cullen."
"But he didn't stop. I just didn't know about it."
"No he loved who he was when he was with you. You made him believe in himself and made him believe in you."
"Don't Alice. Don't do this to me." I warn as I turn my back on her.
"I know you don't want to hear this and maybe you'll just stop being friends with me forever but I just want you to know that yes you are the best thing that has ever happened to him and you two really belong together."
"Stop." I start pacing.
"I'm sorry this has happened to you but I am also sorry that it happened to Edward. I mean he stopped being who he was because you loved him and now he just can't go back to being Edward Cullen…"
"Stop. Just Stop! Don't you get it? I need to be mad. I need to be angrier than I've ever been in my entire life and I need to stay that way because if I don't it's gonna hurt so much and I'm gonna die!" I scream at her.
Alice looks pained and she gets up and slowly wraps her arms around me.
"I'm sorry, Ali. It just makes me so angry. My best friend and my husband…"
"You haven't lost us." She whispers.
"But I lost the trust. And trust means everything to me." I pull away. "And I don't want to keep erupting at you. I feel like Mount Vesuvius. I really want to make up and stay made up. I mean we're friends and we're partners and BAR is way too important to let everything go down the drain because of a little bigamy."
She laughs and I force a smile.
"Be careful, you might get your sense of humor back." She warns.
"Maybe next year when I have a little distance but right now what I need from you is a promise."
"Anything."
"The truth. Always. Because there is nothing more I cherish more at this point."
"I can do that."
"You promise?"
"I promise and I will try to avoid the subject of Masen… Edward… uh."
"Ugh. Cullen. Just call him Cullen."
A knock sounds at the door. "Oh that better not be…"
I go to open it swinging it open defiantly and freeze when I see Phil Dwyer.
"Oh. Hey, come on in."
"Thank you." He says to me. "Alice."
"Hi." She gives him a little wave,
"I'm sorry to surprise you like this but I have to talk to you about the attempted murder of Angela Weber. Alice can you excuse us please?"
"Sure thing." She throws a concerned look at me before gathering her things and assuring me she'll be back soon.
Once she's gone we size each other up. I decide to just go for it.
"I didn't do anything to Angela. I did not poison her. I did not run her over in her shiny red Audi. And I didn't push her down the big curvy staircase at the Cullens. I would've liked to, but I didn't."
"Before we go any further, let me inform you are entitled to an attorney if you want one."
"Don't want one, don't need one. Telling you the truth. It's as simple as that."
"An attorney is for your protection. It's the law."
"Yeah, and the law says I can loathe Angela so long as I don't bust her chops. I do loathe her, so sue me."
"I appreciate your candor but it still doesn't mean you didn't do it."
"That's true. God knows I had plenty of motive."
"You're not alone there." He chuckles.
"No the whole Cullen clan has motive up the wazoo."
"Alright let's start with Edward. And take all the time you need."
"What? You want like a whole case history?"
"Something like that." He gets his recorder ready.
"Well probably do me some good to review all the lies I've been living with. Alright. Let's see. I met Masen Whitlock in a hotel bar in Port Angeles. He insulted my singer, I dared him to do better and he did, so naturally, I fell in love with the clown. Then he begged me to marry him on his lying knees. Idiot me."
"So when did you two get married?"
"About a week before the witch got her nails into him."
"And why did he marry Angela?"
I get up and go to my desk, biting my nail the whole way. "Maybe he married her because she's a blonde. Don't they have more fun? Or maybe he married her for the same reason they have different colors M&Ms… a variety…"
"How about the real reason?" He gets up and walks over to where I just sat at my desk.
"Go ask Cullen."
"Oh, I will, rest assured."
"I haven't done that lately."
"Do what?"
"Rest assured."
"Why did he marry her?"
"Go ask the Cullens."
"I will but right now I'm asking you. What are you not telling me?"
I pick at my nail furiously. "It's not that I'm not telling you anything."
"The truth huh?"
I look him dead in his eyes. "The truth means everything to me. Everything. I've just been lied to, by my best friend and the man I married. So don't tell me I don't value the truth. But sometimes it's just not nice to talk about other people. Gossip is what my Ma calls it. Well us Swans, we just don't go for it. Oh!" I break my nail off and curse. "Look at what I've done. Why am I protecting him?"
"I don't know, why are you? What did Edward do?"
I whirl around. "Edward didn't do anything. It was Angela."
"Angela?"
"Yeah, Angela the fake Cullen. She was blackmailing the whole family. The whole fam damily." I try to put my nail back together.
"Just how did she blackmail the family?"
"Alright, so Angela got ahold of some info about James accidentally killing some guy who was wailing on some hapless female. Anyway, I think the family was covering it up. But good old Angie got ahold of the information and used it to blackmail Edward into marrying her. I don't know how it happened, but it happened."
"Who was this guy, do you know?"
"The guy that got offed?"
"Yeah."
I shrug. "I don't know."
"Was the name Jason Jenks?"
"Yeah I think it was."
"Okay, Mrs. Cullen." I cringe. "You've been a great help."
"What's gonna happen now?" I ask.
"I honestly don't know. But I'll be in touch if I have more questions."
I nod then lead him out and set about fixing my nail. I shrug off the guilt I am feeling about telling someone's business. I didn't kill anyone and try to cover it up, they did.
I also know that I just confirmed to a police officer that Cullen committed bigamy. I might hate the guy but I don't want to see him in jail either. I think about what Alice was saying earlier but then I shake it off. Stay angry, stay bitter. I don't need to soften up or I'll let all those feelings in and I can't have that right now.
I need to make him suffer and then let him go. He can ride off into the sunset with his buckets of money and I can… I can, what? Watch him find someone else more suitable for him and settle for someone who makes me feel a tenth of what I felt for Masen.
I'm not angry or bitter enough to deny that the fire I felt for Masen can't be replicated- not in this lifetime.
What am I even doing? It's too raw right now to determine what my future will be and with who. I just need to get him out of my system and move on.
But with a look later that night at my wedding pictures enclosed in my nightstand drawer, I know that will be easier said than done.
And when I quietly blow out a candle on a cupcake on my birthday a few days later, I know the wish I make is not the wish I want.
Playlist:
I'm Just Being Honest- Weezer
Potential Break Up Song- Aly and AJ
Lonely- Justin Beiber
So what do you think about the Cullens now?
