Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or Charmed.

Chapter 23

It's been almost a week since I spoke to Edward.

I'm not sure what to think.

I waited all night for his call when he left. It never came. I eventually sent a quick text checking on him before I went to bed. The next morning, still no response.

Perhaps he was busy, the case he was working on seemed overwhelming and I didn't want to disturb him or distract him from his work. But It was unlike him to not send a text or call just to check in with me.

The next two days my calls to him went straight to voicemail and that's when my worry kicked into overdrive.

He'd never been this silent before. Was he okay? Was he avoiding me? Perhaps he was just too busy… but that thought pissed me off. He was never too busy to send a simple text.

I tried not to talk to Rose and Alice about this. I only let Rose know he was away on a last-minute business trip and postponed our dinner. Perhaps I was just being paranoid and the last thing I needed from Rose was an 'I told you so.'

But a nagging thought persisted, what if something happened to him and I had no way of knowing? His field of work could get dangerous. What type of people had he put away for crimes? How many people might want revenge? I couldn't stomach the thought of something happening to him. If this silence continued I knew I had to do something.

It's Saturday when I decide enough is enough, five days since I last heard from him. If I haven't spoken to him by Monday I'm going to his apartment and office to look for him. I needed to see if he was avoiding me or if something worse may have happened.

God, please let him be okay.

Monday morning comes and I'm up early and dress quickly. Edward is normally in his office by 8 am if not earlier. If he's back in San Francisco, no doubt that's where he would be.

I'd taken off from work for a few days because it's finals week, but now I'm glad I won't have the extra distraction and can focus on locating Edward.

It doesn't take long to reach the high-rise that houses Edwards office. I watch the floor numbers light up in the elevator and my anxiety grows as I get closer to his floor. What am I going to say if he's here? What if he was ghosting me? What if he used this opportunity to dump me but didn't want to hurt my feelings?

No. I can't think this way. I'm sure everything is fine. There must be a logical reason why he'd go silent on me for a week.

I just can't think of one right now.

I exit the elevator cautiously and head to his office passing the empty receptionist desk. It's too early even for her. Arriving at his office, my heart jumps at the sight. His office door is cracked slightly. He's here. He's alright.

I'm going to kill him for ignoring me.

I'm not sure what I expect to find as I push open the door. Perhaps him and a client, maybe him hard at work at his computer or leafing through some paperwork.

But I see none of those things.

Standing over his desk is a woman with bright red hair pulled back in a tight bun, dressed in a perfectly tailored pants suit. Beside her is a taller man with dark hair dressed in a similar dark suit. They both pause and turn toward me at the same time.

I'm lost for words not sure what to say to the strangers in my boyfriend's office.

"Can we help you?" The woman speaks first. Her piercing green eyes are pinned on me.

"Yes, I'm looking for Edward. Who are you?" I say in an even voice much to my surprise.

"Well, so are we. Maybe you can help us? Are you a client of his?"

"No, a …friend. I'm Bella," I don't want to say too much.

"Bella, is that like Cher or Beyoncé, or do you have a last name?" The man quips.

I clear my throat. "Swan, Bella Swan."

My nerves begin to kick into overdrive. Who are these people? Why are they looking for Edward and going through his things? Where the hell is Edward?

The woman steps forward.

"Well, Ms. Swan I'm Agent Anderson. This is Agent Jones. We're with the D.A Bureau of Investigation and as I mentioned before we're trying to find Mr. Masen."

Holy Shit. Investigation? Why are they investigating Edward? I knew my gut feeling wasn't an overreaction. Something is wrong.

"Well, I'm afraid Edwards out of town on business. He's working on a case right now," I state.

The man snorts.

"Well according to his files, Mr. Masen hasn't had any major cases in several months," Agent Jones gestures to a folder in his hands.

What? That can't possibly be right. My head is spinning at this revelation.

"That can't be right, he's been working on a big case lately… I've seen him," I stutter out.

I notice all the files and paperwork strewn across the desk. The drawers and file cabinets are open as if the agents have been combing through every piece of paper. As if they're looking for something significant.

The agents both glance at each other, having some silent conversation.

"Is something wrong? Did something happen to him?" The fear is bubbling up in my throat as I begin to think the worst has happened.

"Well, that's what we're trying to figure out. No one's heard from Mr. Masen since last Monday. No one can locate him so we've been called in. Which brings us here," Agent Anderson folds her arms, questions burning fiercely in her eyes.

I'm speechless, nothing they're saying lines up with the man I've gotten to know over the last few months. For all I knew he was away hard at work, but now that may not have been the truth.

Agent Jones comes around the desk.

"Ms. Swan, did he mention anything about where he was going and why?"

"He just stated that he had an important case he had to work on and was heading out of town for a deposition. The entire thing had been stressing him out lately…" I trail off, the wheels in my mind are spinning.

"Well, as we stated that can't be true. All he's done is file extensions on his few assigned cases, but there's been no scheduled hearings or meetings…he hasn't been working on anything," he repeats.

"Makes you wonder what he's been doing with himself?" Agent Anderson adds.

I glance away, I can no longer handle their interrogative gazes, there's something accusatory behind them. And these fresh revelations have rocked my world.

I clear my throat and attempt a blank face.

"I'm sorry I wish I could be of more help," I state.

"Hmph, well if you think of anything that may help us or if you hear from him, here's my card," Agent Jones hands me a small piece of cardstock and I take it before shoving it in my purse.

"Will do," I murmur, and with a quick nod, I hightail it out of there and to the elevator. They didn't believe me, I could see it all over their faces. Nonetheless, I can't give anything else away right now. Not until I figure this thing out.

I hold it together until the elevator doors slide shut with me tucked inside. I press my back against the wall in an effort to calm my breaths which are coming out in short gasps.

What the fuck is going on?

Edward's been lying to me this entire time.

He hasn't been on an active case in months. Why would he lie to me? What has he been doing all this time? And if he isn't working… where is he now? Is he okay? What could have happened to him?

I have even more questions than I came in with and my fear has increased tenfold. It's overwhelming as I contemplate my next move. I have to find Edward and not under the watchful eyes of the D.A Bureau of Investigations.

I pull myself together as the elevator reaches the first floor, resolving myself to two things.

I'm going to find Edward and I'm going to find out what the hell he's really been doing.

"Edward! Are you in there?" I yell. I've been knocking on his apartment door for several minutes to no answer. One of his neighbors even stuck their head out with an inquisitive stare. I didn't let it deter me.

After about five minutes I consider leaving.

Maybe he really is gone, vanished without a trace. His job hadn't heard from him and neither had I. Maybe something bad has happened to him. And if I wanted to find him where the hell would I even start to look? Who could I talk to? He'd been so closed off about his family back in Chicago so I had no idea who to contact, who to reach out to. For all I knew he was an island, closed off to everyone, no family or friends. This was a failed plan before I even started it.

But I knew one thing…I couldn't give up now.

I'm pacing in the hallway in front of his door as I hatch my plan.

Perhaps I could talk to his landlord and get access to his place. It was a long shot but maybe there were clues insides that could tell me where he'd gone. And if that didn't work I'd go to the police. They knew him well through their work together, maybe they could open a missing person's report into his disappearance.

Just as I'm finalizing my next course of action in finding my missing boyfriend, I hear the doorknob wiggle faintly. I freeze in my tracks, eyes widening. Then, oh so slowly it cracks open, and I see him.

Edward's familiar green eyes peer out at me around the cracked door. I'm so shocked I stand there for a few seconds gaping at him. Then the excitement overcomes me so that I mindlessly rush the door, pushing it open as he feebly tries to halt me. But it's as if he's too weak to put up an effort, and I'm inside face to face with him.

That's when I see it.

"Edward! You're hurt!" A large red stain runs along his abdomen soaking his white t-shirt, his face is clammy, eyes cloudy, and his breathing labored. He attempts to pull the wrinkled button-up closed around him, a slight grimace on his otherwise impassive face.

"Bella it's nothing…what are you doing here?" His voice is weak but firm, maybe slight anger simmering underneath the surface.

"Looking for you, obviously," I murmur and gently push him further into his apartment, he puts up a small struggle but allows me to shut the door and lead him to his couch. He staggers forward before dropping into it as if he can no longer hold his weight up.

I take a quick second to survey him. He looks exhausted and disheveled, he obviously hasn't shaved in a few days. And he's in pain…serious pain.

Gripping my hair in a panic I glance down at his shirt. The red stain has grown.

"Edward you're bleeding, what happened? Are you okay?"

I drop down in front of the couch to get a closer look at the wound. He flinches away from my hands.

"Edward, you have to let me look at it, you're bleeding," I say firmly.

"Bella, you really shouldn't be here," he's glancing behind me every few seconds as if expecting someone. His normal cool and collected persona has been replaced with paranoia and slight panic.

"The hell I should. Edward, you're hurt."

"Bella, please," he says again but he doesn't put up a real fight as I gently push him back to lay on the couch.

"You have to lay down, come on, easy." I help him get more comfortable after adjusting the pillows beneath him and try to lift his shirt up. "Who did this to you?"

He shakes his head letting out a small shudder.

"Let me take a look at it," I try again, but he catches my hand before I can lift his shirt. I lock eyes with his and I know my face says it all.

'Please let me help you.'

A beat passes before he lets go of me and closes his eyes again in resignation.

Shakily, I lift his shirt.

"Oh Edward," I breathe.

The wound is several inches deep and large, obviously the result of a knife.

"We have to get you to a hospital," I say as confidently as I can.

"No!" He moves to sit up, I gently push him back down. "They'll find me there."

"Who will find you?"

"It doesn't matter," he grimaces.

"Edward, honey we have to get you to a hospital," I try again. Now that I know someone is still after him, I realize the gravity of the situation.

"No, Bella. I mean it." His pain-filled voice is firm.

"I'm not going to let you die," my voice is frantic even to my own ears.

"Baby, I'm as good as dead already," he whispers.

"No, don't say that! I'm not going to let that happen. Don't move," I say firmly.

Rushing off the couch I shoot into the bathroom and rummage through his medicine cabinet and shelves. There's nothing I can use to even attempt to clean and dress the wound.

"I have to help him," I mutter, running my hand through my hair.

"Edward?" I make my way back into the living room, his eyes are still closed, his chest moving steadily as if he's sleeping, but I know he isn't.

"Edward I'm going to clean this wound, and patch you up ok?" He nods weakly. "You don't have anything here for me to do that with. I'm going to run to the pharmacy and grab a few things. Okay?"

He nods again, a tiny smile is there. I stroke his face and take a deep breath trying to contain the emotions threatening to well up. Who would do this to him? Why? What the hell happened while he was away?

All I know is I have to remain strong and level-headed, I knew what to do. I was going to make sure he made it through this and whatever he was facing, we'd do it together. I love him and I wasn't letting him go without a fight.

"I'll be back. Don't move," I whisper, giving him a quick forehead kiss.

He doesn't open his eyes as his words come out weakly through a tiny smirk.

"Where am I going to go?"