A/N:

Hey guys, don't worry! Edward will definitely have to work for Bella to even consider forgiving him, however, they are both adults now compared to at the Academy, so their conversations won't be teenage-drama-throwing-things-and-kicking-in-the-nuts. Sorry about that :-P

Title: The Perfect Partner Program

Author: MarieCarro

Beta: EdwardsFirstKiss

Pre-reader: brwneyedgrl01

Genre: Angst/Hurt&Comfort/Romance

Rating: NC-17

Summary: The summer of 2005 was the summer that changed Bella Swan's life forever. Sent to Ohio by her mother to attend a school for debutante girls not quite up to par, she meets Edward Masen, an apprentice. But is that really all he is? AH

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter Word Count: 3, 086

CHAPTER 20 CONFRONTATION

Two weeks went by, and I hadn't run into Edward again. But it didn't stop me from looking over my shoulder everywhere I went, and my paranoia only grew. I couldn't relax because I always expected him to be just around the corner, watching me, studying my every move.

The thought was insane, really, because Edward wasn't a stalker. He never snuck around the corridors at the Academy. Not at least from what I knew, which I had to admit was very little.

"Little Swan, take a look at these will you?" my boss, Demetri Cardinelli, said and threw down a folder of photos on my desk. The crime scene was gruesome and the murder victim, a man in his forties, stared emptily into space.

The murder had been called in the day before, but Demetri hadn't allowed me to go with the rest of the team to the scene despite my protests. He'd only reminded me that I was on desk duty, but also assured me that I wouldn't be excluded from the investigation.

"What was collected at the scene?" I asked as I studied the photos intensely. "Any personal items?"

"Nothing was taken. He still had his wallet with cash in it, his watch was still on his arm, the shoes were of Italian leather, so they could have easily been sold off, but apart from the hole in his head, he looked untouched," Demetri said and sat down on a chair and rolled it up next to mine.

I looked closer at the photo of the entry wound at the back of the man's head. "I don't see any stippling around the wound or abrasions from the muzzle, so my guess is the killer used a silencer."

Demetri nodded. "Most likely, and listen to this, the bullet was extracted and now, together with the casing, it's nowhere to be found."

I frowned and spread the photos all over my desk to get a better overview. "It all appears to be cold and calculated," I mused. "I don't think the murderer knew the victim."

"What are you saying?"

"I believe this was an execution."

"Sergeant, sir, there's an agent here from the CIA asking for you," a young deputy said, and Demetri frowned.

"CIA? What for?"

"He said it had something to do with the murder in Capitol Hill." The deputy left and Demetri and I both shared a confused look.

"Why does the CIA care for this case?" I asked and nodded at the photos still spread over my desk.

"I have no idea, but let's see what the fuss is about."

I collected the photos and put them back in their folder before I followed Demetri to the entrance hall. A well-combed man in a black wool-coat stood with his back to us. Demetri cleared his throat, and the man turned around, and I almost swallowed my tongue in pure shock when none other than Mr. Edward Masen stood before me in an immaculate dark gray suit and his red-brown hair combed into submission. However, other than the slight falter of my step, and narrowing of my eyes, I didn't give any outward sign of knowing who he was.

He didn't either. He looked completely unaffected when his eyes passed over me, and his face was as cold and calculated as I'd sometimes seen at The Academy. It had not been very often that he had showed me that expression, but I would never forget the chills it gave me every time his green eyes turned into hard-glittering emeralds.

"Sergeant Cardinelli, I presume," he said and held out his hand for Demetri to shake.

"The one and only. And you are?"

Edward pulled out a badge from his inner coat pocket. "Special Agent Platt of the CIA."

As Demetri studied the badge, I glared heatedly at Edward, but he didn't look at me. Not that it mattered because there was no way in hell he could just prance into my station with a CIA badge, a fake name, and mess around with my murder case without answering to me. If not here, then later this afternoon.

Demetri gave Edward the badge back, seemingly satisfied with its authenticity. "Alright, Agent, this is Detective Swan, she works under me in Homicide and has a central role in the investigation of the case you came to talk about."

Edward nodded at me, but I just continued to stare at him and made no move to shake his hand. Demetri reacted at that and frowned, but didn't comment.

"Yes, the murder in Capitol Hill," Edward replied and continued to act indifferent. "I have orders to relieve you of that case as it is now a matter for the CIA. I am here to collect all the evidence and data."

"The hell you are," I lashed out, unable to control the anger I felt building inside, and Edward turned to me.

"I am afraid you don't have a say in that, Detective Swan," he told me calmly, and Demetri grabbed my arm and turned me toward him so that he could talk to me in a hushed voice.

"What the hell, Little Swan? What are you doing?"

"This asshole's full of bullshit," I replied, also in hushed tones. "There's no fucking way the CIA has already been notified of the murder and had time to send an agent."

"Well, what do you want me to do? His badge is legit, and if I don't give him what he wants, I can be suspended for hindering an investigation."

"I'm telling you, Dem, do not give him anything," I pressed, standing my ground.

"I have to, Bella. And if you can't handle it, I'm going to have to send you back to your desk."

I huffed in resignation and then straightened my back. I turned back to Edward and walked up to him to hand him the folder of crime scene photos I still had in my hand. "If you just wait right here, Agent, I'm going to get the rest of the evidence we've collected."

"Thank you, Detective."

As I was about to leave, I whispered to Demetri. "Keep an eye on him while I'm gone. I don't trust a word that comes out of his mouth."

I knew that the only reason I could talk to Demetri that way was because we were good friends and my Dad was the Commissioner. But I also knew he would take my words to heart. As a Detective working beneath him, I was one of the few Demetri had said he would trust with his life.

When I came back with the evidence box, I had attached a piece of paper with a message on the lid. I pointed it out to Edward as I gave him the box, and when he met my eyes, I hissed at him through clenched teeth. "You'd better fucking meet me at this address later, Edward, or so help me God."

He gave me a small, almost imperceptible nod, and then thanked both of us for our cooperation before leaving the precinct. I watched him through the door windows and saw him put the box in the backseat of an inconspicuous black sedan. As he drove off, the cop in me memorized the plates so that I could check them later.

Demetri sighed. "I guess I'm going to write a report for the Captain."

I nodded. "Sure. I'll be at my desk. I have paperwork to finish."

It was impossible to focus on any paperwork for the rest of the day. The only thing I could think about was how much I was itching to leave the station and head over to the address I'd given Edward. But the logical part of me knew that the earlier I went, the longer I'd have to wait for him to arrive. I'd written a time in the message to meet, and it was over an hour until then.

However, I couldn't remain at my desk anymore, so I told Demetri that I was done for the day and that I'd be heading to the shooting range to practice a bit.

"Fine, but be careful. I don't want to hear of any accidents afterward," he said, and I rolled my eyes.

"I didn't lose my ability to handle a gun when I became pregnant, Dem. I'm just going to shoot at a few pieces of paper, not go into battle," I said, which caused him to chuckle. "Sometimes, you're worse than my father."

"I'll take that as a compliment," he replied. "The Commissioner knows how to look after his own."

I smiled, shaking my head as I left and made the ten-minute drive to the range. When I went inside, I was greeted with the grin of Jared Cameron.

"Wow, Detective Swan, twice in one week? I'm starting to think you're here for something other than shooting," he said and winked.

I laughed at him. "Oh, you know I couldn't go another day without seeing your face, Jared." The older man's blue eyes twinkled with amusement. "And I need to release some tension and frustration. If one more person takes the liberty of touching my stomach without asking me for permission, I can't be held accountable for my actions."

"I remember that from when Kimberly expected the twins. She actually punched a sales-associate once."

"Kimberly sounds like my kind of woman. I wish I'd gotten the chance to meet her," I told him sincerely, and he gave me an appreciative smile.

"She would have loved you," he said and then gave me the clipboard to sign in so that I could enter.

I spent the entire hour at the range and practiced my aim. When I felt pleased with that and properly frustration free, it was time to head to the meeting place and get the answers I sought.

I had to park my car a block away and walk part of the way to Jefferson Park's play-field where I'd asked Edward to meet me. I'd chosen it because it was public and always filled with kids and their parents. It would force the both of us to act civil and I wouldn't do anything I'd regret after.

As I got closer, I saw Edward sitting on a bench, obviously waiting for me. He had changed out of the suit and was now wearing normal, casual clothes like he had when we had met at the supermarket. It made him look much less threatening, but I remained on my guard.

He turned my way when I was only a few yards away, and he immediately stood. "Bella," he greeted me, and I gave him a curt nod and crossed my arms over my chest.

"Edward," I said and looked him up and down as I often did when I interrogated suspects. It made them feel naturally uncomfortable, but I should have known such a cheap trick wouldn't work on Edward, the master manipulator. He just stood before me with his hands casually in his pockets, and I sighed as I felt my frustration return. "You want to explain to me what the hell you think you're doing portraying a CIA-Agent? You're interfering with a murder case, and that is a crime that could give you quite some time in state prison if I decide to report it."

"I told you I was in Seattle for a job," he replied cryptically, but I was not satisfied with that answer.

"Since when are you involved with the low-life crime of the streets of Seattle? And what's with the costume and toy badge?" I asked through gritted teeth. I really tried to keep my irritation to a minimum, but I was already feeling the beginnings of a headache, and my feet and back were aching. All I wanted was to go home and kick my feet up in front of the TV to watch some B-movie while eating dinner. But instead, I was here, talking to the man I'd vowed to myself would never get under my skin again.

"Who says it's a costume?" he questioned me, but I just raised my brow at him.

"Oh, my apologies Agent Platt, I had you confused with someone else there for a minute," I said sarcastically. "Just cut the crap, Edward. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. You can't deceive me again. I'm smarter this time."

"There was never a time when you weren't smart, Bella. Just a tad bit naïve."

"Yes," I agreed. "And I played right into your hands, didn't I? But not this time. This is my territory, and I won't allow you to piss all over it."

Edward sighed and pulled his hair. "It wasn't my intention to come here and stir things up. I had no idea that you'd become a cop."

"I don't give a fuck what your intention was. You're here and you're stirring things up. You're messing with my work, and I'm not going to stand for that, so tell me the truth, now," I demanded and tried to stare him down.

"I can't," he said. "I'm not allowed to discuss anything with you. It's classified information."

I scoffed in disbelief. "You'll never be able to convince me you work for the CIA. If you did, you would have used your real name."

He nodded. "That's true. And that's all I can give you."

I shook my head. "Tell me why you took my murder case."

"I was only following orders," he insisted.

"Yeah, I've heard that before. That's all you do, isn't it? Follow orders. Without a single thought of the consequences," I said bitterly. It didn't matter that it had been thirteen years since the Academy and Edward had broken both my heart and trust. I remained bitter about it because it still had lingering effects on me even after all this time.

"There are a lot of things in my past that I wish I could change," he told me. "But I can't, so instead, I'm doing my best to create a better future."

"A better future for who?"

"As many people as possible," he said, and his tone appeared sincere. But there was no way I would trust a word he said before I had hard evidence that backed up his tale. "I didn't take your case for the fun of it. There is a reason, one I sadly can't share with you, but it exists, and believe me when I say it's for your safety that I took it out of your hands. It's way above your pay grade."

"According to who?" I continued to push.

"According to those I work for."

"You mean your aunt?"

He shook his head. "I haven't worked for her for years. Last time I talked to her was when she called to let me know that you knew the whole truth."

I shook my head in skepticism and looked down at the ground and then went to sit down on the bench. My back was giving me hell, and it had started to feel like someone was repeatedly stabbing me in my lower spine. I groaned when I got the weight off my feet but gasped when the pain in my back shot up all the way to my head.

"Are you okay?" Edward asked, immediately reacting with worry.

"Why do you care?"

He crouched down before me. "Contrary to your belief, I'm not a complete douche." He glanced down at my stomach. "You're not about to give birth, are you?"

Despite myself, I chuckled at him. "Not likely. I'm barely six months along. I just need to breathe a bit."

"Okay, then." He remained crouched before me but looked around awkwardly as if he hoped someone would miraculously show up and tell him how to act around a pregnant woman in pain.

Another sharp pain sliced through my body and I clenched my fist. My entire midsection felt weird, and not a good weird like it did whenever my baby moved. I carefully breathed through it, and it felt better, but I decided that I'd go to the hospital and have it checked out, anyway. I was a little paranoid since it was my first baby, and I felt entitled to it.

"Look, Edward," I said to regain his attention, and he turned to me, his eyes insecure and forehead creased with worry. "I meant what I said at the parking lot the other week, but if you're going to stay in Seattle and stick your nose into my work and business, I want you to tell me straight away. No more surprise ambushes at the station, okay?"

"You have my word," he promised. "It will actually make my job easier to have someone on the inside."

I frowned. "Forget that. I'm not going to be your inside informant. I'm not going to give you anything else until I get some kind of confirmation that what you're doing isn't illegal." I rose from the bench with slight difficulty and started to waddle toward my car.

"Where are you going?" he asked and walked around me to stand in my path.

"If you need to know, I'm going to the hospital to see my obstetrician," I said and tried to pass by him, but similar to the supermarket, he side-stepped me.

"You said you were fine."

"I did not," I argued. "I said I wasn't likely to give birth, but that doesn't equal fine, so move out of my way, Edward."

"I'm not about to let you drive yourself to the hospital if you're in pain. I told you, I'm not a complete douche." He gestured the opposite way with his hand. "My car is right over there. I'll drive you. It's no problem."

"I don't want any favors from you."

"Then don't see it as a favor. See it as a small step toward repentance."

I stared into his pleading eyes for a moment, but then relented and allowed him to lead me to his car. Just this one time, I was going to allow him to help me.

A/N:

Do you think Edward is with the CIA? What's wrong with Bella? Why is she in pain? Any Mom's recognizing the pain she's experiencing?

Next chapter will be on Wednesday, and we'll get some more conversation between the pair!

Stay Awesome :-D