Title - Innocent until proven guilty.
Summary - Bella is an overworked detective who's trying to catch a notorious serial killer, who leaves gruesome, bloody scenes in their wake.
Rating - M for gore, language, mentions of drug use, blood.
"You're late, Bella."
She scoffs and tokes on her cigarette, the smoke fills her lungs and sets her mind working. It's barely 5am on a Monday morning, the rain started coming down on her drive to the outskirts of Forks, to an abandoned building, all boarded up and rotting.
She'd rather be anywhere else.
She pulls the hood up over her head as the rain pours harder and climbs out of her vehicle. A black Toyota Tomoca. A wedding gift from her father a couple of years ago.
With a slam of her car door she shoves her keys in her pocket and steps onto the sidewalk.
It's quite a scene out here. Police cars, ambulances, all kinds of people from different departments. The police tape lining has a small crown gathered no no. Reporters. The whole lot.
Anything to get fresh eyes on the scene, or the first scoop of the 'story'.
Tch vultures.
"It's late. I wasn't on call or taking any new cases."
She retorts and walks next to the officer into the building, dropping her burnt out cigarette on the floor before entering, and stubbing it out with her wet boot.
"I'm sorry Sir, but we needed you here."
Bella's feeling bitter.
It was supposed to be her day off. She should be in bed with her gorgeous wife, wrapped in blankets with her beloved dog Jake at their feet. Maybe coffee for breakfast with pancakes and cream, a shower too. Anything to feel her wife, to see her smile, to spend time with her.
Because God knows she hasn't been doing that much lately.
She shakes her head slightly and steps through the narrow hallway. The wallpapers falling off, the stair bannister looks like it'd collapse under the weight of a feather. There's broken furniture, needles, lighters, cigarettes and ash everywhere. It's dark, all the windows boarded, so she switches on her flashlight as they get closer to the basement.
The stench of blood hits her like a wall of cement and she fights off the urge to gag, instead asking.
"How many this time?"
"Three. Two males. One female." The brunette nods and holds the door open for her to go down. "The worse one yet. I'll wait here."
Taking deep breathes to steady herself she descends downwards. They creek and groan under every step she takes, her boots chipping the wood. She'd hold onto a rail if there were one. Several officers are there also, a couple she's not familiar with. Maybe they were called in from another county.
Her boot touches the cold and damp cement floor and Bella finally sees why she was called out so god damn early.
Her stomach churns looking at them, the image burning into her mind. Blood splattered everywhere. Nail marks ripped into the skin. Bite marks covering their body in every exposed part. Limbs nearly shredded at the joints. Clothes torn and scattered everywhere.
"What the fuck." I'll never get used to this.
"That was my reaction too." An officer says as they approach. An older woman, bright blonde hair, with their badge showing their name as Rose.C. There's a brief pause. "Does it look like it was them?" Bella gets closer and inspects, aiming to find any similarities.
"It looks like it could be. But we'll have to run some tests to be positive."
It's clear this is the one she's after, the nail marks, bites, all similar places. Blood spatter matches up to the other four cases, even similar locations. It's the same guy. But she doesn't want to say that just yet. She needs the evidence to back it up.
Bella's having a hard time coming up with what or who could do something this... horrific. Upon a closer look she's spies the needle marks in their arms, the scars. The old cigarette burns and fading bruises.
No one would miss them, huh? That's why you picked them. Stalked them. Fucking creep.
She's there for another couple of hours. inspecting every inch of the screen, photographing, making notes, barking orders. When she finally gets home her wife is at the island counter, a warm cup of coffee between her pale fingers. She wearing one of Bella's tops, a cute pair of green boxers and a headband to keep her short black hair from her face.
Bella hangs up her wet coat and smiles when she's see her enchanting green eyes watching her. Although sleepy and adorable.
"We missed you this morning." She whines with a pout, kicking her feet since they don't quite touch the floor when she's sitting on those wooden stools.
Bella sighs and walks behind her, wrapping her arms tightly around her waist and kissing her neck. Over and over again. Peppering then down to her shoulder. Slowly pushing the loose top down her arm a little, exposing her.
"Not as much as I missed you, love." She nips at her skin and chuckles at the dreamy sigh that escapes from her beautiful lips.
Mine.
"Do you want me to make it up to you?" Another whine. "Mmm?"
Jake barks at their feet just as Bella's hands travel to her thighs.
"Not. Now." Bella chuckles and pulls her wife back, tugging her off the seat and dragging her into their room. The door slams shut behind them with a lazy kick from Bella, and Jake is left pouting on his own.
It's been 6 months since the first case.
A young couple resting by a river near an old factory.
Torn apart quite literally, and left a bloody mess only for a jogger to discover them the next day. He was pretty shaken up by the ordeal, and understandably so. Bella had spoken to him and he was helpful and answered any questions. He jogged off eventually and Bella took the rest of the day to process what she had seen. It was scarring for her. She'd never seen something so brutal, and even now, months later, it hadn't gotten easier.
She sighed heavily and sunk into her office chair, the bright computer screen illuminating her tired face in her dark office. Only a few stay late, it's usually herself, Mike Newton, and Angela Webber. Both excellent at their jobs, although one slightly annoying and sarcastic.
"Coffee?" Angela smiles down and hands her the to go cup, steam rising from the small hole in the lid.
"You're a life saver."
Angela tucks her dark hair behind her ear and takes a seat at her own desk next to Bella's.
"I'm aware." It's quiet for a few minutes, only Angela's typing can be heard as Bella sips her coffee.
She never wanted this job growing up. She didn't know what she wanted. Maybe retail for her life, but it didn't sound appealing. Not when her dad was the chief of police, or with her mum travelling for business all over the country. Even to Europe if she needs to.
She had to be something like then. Something important.
It clicked as she was finishing up high school that she wanted to join the force and be like her dad. He was all for it, got her into the academy at 18. Worked her way up and now at 24, she's a detective, a bloody good one. Married to the most incredible woman. Has her own home, new car, a precious dog. It's everything she wanted.
So why wasn't it enough?
She sunk further into herself and shut her eyes. There's been too much going on the last few days, she just needs some sleep. That's all. She can think more tomorrow. Her eyes are halfway shut when her phone buzzes. A picture flooding to the screen. A short woman, black hair barely reaching her shoulder, soft green eyes, pale skin, wearing a shirt too big for her with their dog Jake sat beside her.
Perfection.
"Alice?"
Angela pipes as Bella stares at her picture.
"Yeah I should go home."
She switches the computer off and heads out, bidding goodnight to her two friends on the way.
The air is crisp as she walks to her car, her keys in her hands. She's not too frightened of being stalked at night by some weirdo, but the thought crosses her mind as she enters the parking lot. She walks quicker and just about jumps out of her skin when she appears.
Her hand clutches her chest.
"Geez you scared me."
Alice chuckles and jogs over. Smiling beautifully as always.
"I called you silly, I said I was waiting outside. If you would've answered you'd know that."
They kiss briefly.
Bella was too busy with getting into the car she didn't notice the darkened colour around Alice's fingernails or the slight stains on her jeans.
AN : I really enjoyed writing this! I hope you guys like it. If you want, I have a a slow burn Bellice fic posted also called Books & Bruises. It's only the first chapter so far but the next one will be posted this week.
Thank you for reading.
Reviews are love :)