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APOV

My foot taps the faded beige tiles of the hallway outside the Chief's door, my arms crossed as I let the wall support my weight.

This is fucking ridiculous.

After everything I did for Edward when it came to Bella, not only did he let it blow right the fuck up, but he hasn't done a goddamn thing to fix it. I couldn't even get him to answer my calls while he was on his sabbatical, and today he breezes in and holes up in the Chief's office for hours without so much as a, 'Hey, Ang, thanks for holding the fort down while I was going off the rails.'

I've been waiting as patiently as I can for him to come out and explain himself. And I've done so good listening to my husband and not meddling in business that isn't mine, but…

He gives me no choice.

He obviously isn't going to do the right thing and fix this, so I guess I'll have to.

I at least have to try because there's some stupid part of me that cares about the big oaf, and I'm not about to let him fuck up the only thing I've ever seen make him happy.

It only takes me a few minutes to load the videos I need onto my phone, and then I'm on my way.

Bella's new apartment building is gorgeous, tall, and modern, and once I'm inside and flashing my badge to the doorman, I see why she loves it. Exposed brick and wood elements contrast the modern glass and metal in a way that makes the place cozy.

But knocking on Bella's door still feels foreboding.

She probably won't even hear me out. I wouldn't if I were her. But I have to try—for Edward.

The lock finally turns, and Bella opens the door, shock coloring her features before she mumbles an 'oh hell no,' and goes to close the door.

I stick my foot in the door in the nick of time, wincing when the heavy metal crushes it.

"Please, Bella. I'm here on completely unofficial business. I just ask for five minutes of your time, and I'll be on my way."

"Move your foot, Detective Weber. Unless you have a warrant, I suggest you leave."

"I don't, and I don't need one. This is about Edward. Please…"

She's silent for a few beats; then, the door slowly creaks open.

"I didn't even bring my cuffs. Or my gun," I joke, holding my hands up in surrender.

"Five minutes," she finally states, stepping to the side to let me in.

It's a cute place, and almost immediately, a dirty-looking little cat comes up sniffing at my shoes. The poor thing is so ugly; it's cute.

"Aw, who is this?" I ask as I kneel down to scratch her folded ears.

"That's Gremlin," she barks coldly. "Four minutes."

Nodding, I stand back up, fiddling with my phone while I speak.

"I just wanted to give you another perspective on how Edward feels about you. Not that it makes any difference now, but I did tell him he should come clean to you long before he did. But, Isabella, he was already so in love with you, he couldn't stand the thought of losing you. As soon as he realized that, he gave up the case. He handed it off to me."

I pressed play on the sound recording of our conversation right after they slept together, and he realized he couldn't be involved anymore. How fierce he was about protecting her. Even the part where he agrees to eventually tell her.

Isabella's face is...pensive. I see pain there, but I'm getting her thinking, and that's all I need right now.

"And then, when you guys split up the first time, he went to the bar to apologize to you and make things better, but you were talking to the very woman he thought had potentially hired you to kill him. He showed up at my house wasted, and I told him how we suspected you were out for Jacob Black now."

She rolls her eyes, but I push on.

"I know. And I'm so sorry. Just...listen to his response."

I press play on the video, showing a disheveled, messy Edward on my couch with his head in his hands. I've never been so thankful for the HD cameras I installed in my living room.

"I love her, Ang. I don't care what she is; I love her. If that's what she wants to do, I'll run with her. She's the other part of me. I'm not going to live without her."

Isabella gasps, her eyes growing glassy with unshed tears.

Something tells me the idiot never said those words to her.

"He loves me? But…" She finally starts.

"I think you know the answer to that. He messed up. Royally. A few times. But he's a good man who loves you, and I know if you give him a second chance, you won't regret it."

But I can see her shutting down, slipping on a mask of indifference, which is fair since the only interaction she's had with me wasn't exactly positive. I don't expect her to cry on my shoulder or anything.

"Am I still being watched?" She asks, changing the subject.

"No," I shake my head. "We deleted you from the database as soon as we cleared you. We don't have the manpower to watch everyone, and you are neither a danger to others nor a danger yourself."

Isabella nods, and I reach out to squeeze her arm.

"You won't hear from me again if you don't want to, Isabella. I just wanted you to have all of the facts before you tossed away something that could be the best thing to ever happen to either of you." I pull my card from my pocket and hand it to her, watching her fingers shake when she takes it from me. "Just think about it, okay? He doesn't even know I'm here, and he won't unless you want him to. There's my number if you need me, though. I know it seems like it, but we're not bad guys."

"Isn't that what bad guys say?" She sniffs, laughing a little.

"Yeah, but I mean it," I wink. "Have a good day, Isabella. I hope to see you again eventually."

See you tomorrow!