STRUGGLES

Disclaimer: The Cullen's, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline.

The awesome and talented dowlingnana searched out my errors and corrected them. She also makes the banners for each of my stories.

Emmett didn't say anything else to Alice, but, he did see that things weren't adding up concerning what he had just been told. He reached for his phone as he was continuing on his way out and was waiting for Edward to answer.

CHAPTER 24: DISCOVERIES

Bella knew, by some instinct, that her mind had retreated to a different place and time; to somewhere that neither Frank nor Norma could reach her to cause her further pain and agony. The question of 'Why' this was happening was something that wasn't in her current memory or thought. Oh, she knew that on a different plane that those facts might present themselves, but, to reach for those memories would be pain and that wasn't something she could take anymore; she had reached her limit.

She was aware of voices talking to her, some she recognized, one of those being her father, Charlie Swan, and some she didn't, but, one particular voice, her mother, Renee, that she was hearing, puzzled her because Renee shouldn't even be here at all. Renee lived in Florida and that is where she normally stays, so, why was Bella hearing her voice? But, other voices, new voices they were to her, could be heard as well and she had no idea why they would be talking to her.

Frank had nearly managed to convince her that she was worth nothing and was of no value except as a means to be able to live a more comfortable lifestyle because of her financial worth; a lot more comfortable than what he was able to provide. That fact, and the fact that she was also a convenient housekeeper, cook and his sex toy when he wanted, how he wanted, but, not worth being loved and definitely not worth anything else. But, no matter what happened, she had learnt her lesson the hard way, not to cross him or her family's lives would be at risk. He had proved that with her mother the one time she did threaten to leave him and get a divorce.

And, as these last few thoughts began to trickle to the edges of the mental place where she felt safe, Bella would run back to the center of the absolute place where she was able to retreat completely from the things that caused her the greatest stress; a place that didn't allow Frank and Norma to exist.

But, there was one voice, although, she didn't know who it belonged to, that would speak to her, when it was present, even just being in her room and her hearing it, that filled her with a sense of calm, of belonging, being cherished, being safe and most of all being wanted; being wanted just for herself and not what she could provide or do. It was strange, but, that was the way it made her feel and, should she dare think it: loved. How was that possible when she didn't know the owner of the voice and he didn't know her?

Bella knew she was loved by her father, mother and cousin. Even, her friends, Emmett, Rosalie, Angela and Ben, loved her on a certain level, but, this voice was different. Somehow, it made her want to return just to meet the person it belonged to, but, at the same time she was afraid that Frank or Norma might find a way to harm the owner of the beautiful voice if they saw that she might have an interest in that individual, no matter how innocent that interest might be.

No, she couldn't do that; there was no way that she could in good conscious be able to justify putting an innocent person in such a situation that could prove to be fatal for them. If something happened to the owner of that delicious voice because of her, she wouldn't be able to live with that sort of guilt. So, she decided to enjoy hearing that voice, whenever it came to visit with her, without involving it in her problems.

Then she had to be honest, at least, with herself that her hearing that voice every so often as she did had her wanting to return to the present and to open her eyes. She wanted to just trust that all was going to be okay and that she could and was strong enough to help deal with the present circumstances. And, as much as she might want to do that to just to be able to look upon the face of the person that owned such a beautiful voice, she refused to risk it and put that person in danger. But, she did allow a response by a slight squeezing of his hand in hopes that would be enough for him to be content. For him to be content for now and to know that she heard him. But, coming that close to the edge of returning to reality, she feared staying for too long, so, after the slight squeeze she returned to her safe place.

XXXXXX

Edward had just left Mrs. Reasoner's office when he got the call from Emmett telling him about Alice's disclosure concerning the two nurses attending to Bella Harrison, back to back. So, after hanging up from that conversation, Edward stepped back in to speak with Mrs. Reasoner once more.

As he appeared in the doorway, the good lady looked up from what she had been reading and raised an eyebrow in question before asking, "Was there something else, Mr. Cullen? I thought we had concluded our discussion for the moment after I told you that I needed to speak with the hospital's legal advisors."

"There was an issue that has just been brought to my attention, ma'am, as I had stepped outside your office. It is that matter that has brought me back in to ask a generalized question."

"Mmmm…. I suppose it can't hurt to answer a question that is based upon a general topic. So, what is your question?"

Edward took a moment to consider how to phrase his question without sounding like he was criticizing her procedures of how she handled her nursing staff. If he asked the question wrongly then the lady would develop a lot of animosity against him and the entire case which would make her very reluctant to help in any way.

"Mrs. Reasoner, before I ask my question, please, understand that I mean no criticism whatsoever of how you are handling your staffing procedures. But, the call I just received brought to my attention that something out of the ordinary happened the other day and I am just wanting a clarification of the matter." At this point, as Edward paused Mrs. Reasoner looked at him, but, only nodded her head for him to continue.

However, her curiosity got the better of her as he was taking his time to ask his question, so, she asked one of her own. "Mr. Cullen, what is it that took place that wasn't of the normal procedures of my staff? And here I'm assuming this does have to do with the treatment of your client, correct?"

"You are correct. Each time I've visited with my client, or, a member of her family has been here it has been observed that every so often a nurse will enter her room to check her vitals to make sure nothing is wrong.

"But, it so happened that the other day that procedure changed; not one nurse, but, two, back to back within minutes of each other were observed performing the same checks upon my client.

"So, my question is this, was there some reason that was or is unknown to any of us, myself or her family, that might require such action? Was a new staff member being trained or any other such reasoning for this action?" Edward asked and then quietly watch Mrs. Reasoner while she sat and looked at him in stunned silence.

But, it didn't take long for the dear lady to collect herself and to respond, "That isn't normal procedure, and there have not been any new hires for that floor and no additional staff has been added to Mrs. Harrison's case." And, that was the information Edward expected to hear, but, he needed to have it confirmed before moving forward to try and discover what had happened. But, he was quickly jerked out of his thoughts when Mrs. Reasoner stated further, "I will definitely be checking into that situation immediately. Thank you for bringing it to my attention."

So, with that said, Edward knew that he had been most effectively dismissed. Mrs. Reasoner rose from behind her desk and was moving toward her door. Standing back to allowing Mrs. Reasoner full access to her door, she left with Edward following closely behind. She went in one direction while Edward headed in another. He wanted to make one more stop by Bella's room and then he was going to go back to the penthouse to talk with his sister and get his questions ready for the D. A. It seemed the more this case moved forward, more questions became apparent, but, most of the answers were still lacking.

XXXXXX

Emmett had gotten the key for Bella's home from Jasper because that was where he felt he needed to be. His instinct was telling him that the answers were there in the house; the answers that would help explain some of the new questions that are arising after looking at the file that Capt. Jenkins had given them a copy this morning. Because of that file, three main questions needed to be answered. All other questions stemmed from those three.

The first question is how does Norma Harrison know so much about what happens, in private, between her brother and his wife? The second question was who fired the second shot, the killing shot, that last night that Frank Harrison was abusing his wife one too many times? And, the third question is how does Alma Johnson fit into all of this?

As he sits in his car while his mind continues turning these main questions over in his mind, Emmett knows in his heart of hearts that the beginning of getting the answers lie within the house he is about to enter. But, while sitting there contemplating these questions, he, also, feels his control of his emotions start to slip. All of the emotions he felt when he had heard the news concerning the circumstances surrounding Frank and Isabella Harrison.

He had felt such a shameful sense of exhilaration for Bella's release from Frank Harrison's control and abuse because of his death. Then the feelings of loss, despair and depression threatened because of Bella's condition and what Emmett knew would be rushing at her because of the manner in how her husband had died. She was going to be facing an uphill battle and he was determined that it would be a battle that she would win no matter what was demanded of him and how he had to do it.

Little did he know from that very moment just how intense this battle was going to become. Just as he had no idea how twisted things would appear that would need the time to be unraveled. And, all of this crossed Emmett's mind quickly as he felt his tight control start to slip which would allow him to be swamped by the very emotions he held in tight rein. And, he just as quickly jerked himself back to the task at hand and the importance of finding the answers that he sought at this establishment.

"Enough of this self-pity and doubting; I've a job to do and it's time to get it done." Emmett spoke the reprimand that was aimed at himself, aloud. And, as he finished speaking the last word, he reached out to open the car door and then exited the vehicle. From there he walked up to the porch, ducked underneath the yellow police tape and inserted the key into the door of Bella's home.

He slowly went from room to room looking at everything that came to mind; seeking anything that might shed some light upon the happenings that took place behind this house's closed doors that were unseen by the world outside of these walls. But, as he looked around it came to Emmett's attention that only certain rooms had been searched by the police and others had been left untouched. The kitchen, the living room and the master bedroom were the three that had been invaded, not just by Bella and Frank, but, by the EMT's and the police.

However, he knew from what he had read in his copy of the file Jenkins had handed over to them, nothing was found other than what was expected to support a case of murder against the survivor: Isabella Harrison. But, Emmett continued on through the rest of the rooms on the first floor, the office, the back living area which looked out onto the groomed backyard and the powder room.

It was in the powder room that he felt that something was out of place, but, at first, he couldn't tell immediately what was wrong. Then finally he did realize what he saw. The clean hand towel that Bella always kept available on the rack near the sink was haphazardly tossed on the floor.

Before heading up to the second floor, Emmett felt drawn to the kitchen, even though, it had already been searched. He wasn't sure what he would find there, or, if there was even anything left to find, but, he felt drawn to that room, nonetheless.

At the doorway he paused and looked around and at first, he didn't notice anything missing. True, the place showed signs of Frank's presence since the knife he had grabbed was missing from the rest of the knife set, but, everything else at first glance seemed to be as it should be. However, as he was about to turn around to leave, some thing caught his attention which caused him to pause. It was upon closer inspection that he realized that the hand towel which Bella always had present and close by, was missing.

But, with a shake of his head, he glanced around once more to see if there was anything else out of place that he might have missed the first time he looked around the room; there was nothing else that he could see. It was then he decided to move on upstairs to see what he could find.

He did wander up and down the hallway looking into the bedrooms up there before heading into the master suite. He saw where Bella had fallen as she made her call for help, but, he didn't linger there since there wasn't anything he could think to find. So, he turned and walked to the far side of the bed where Frank had died.

And, as had been the case in all of the other rooms, he didn't notice anything unusual at first. So, he closed his eyes, briefly, then slowly opened them and that was when he saw the faint impression; the rug that Frank had laid upon had been moved and Emmett had assumed that it had accidentally been moved when Frank's body had been loaded onto a gurney to be taken away. Emmett saw one hole in the rug and wasn't sure why it was there. He knew Bella well enough to know that nothing like that would remain long in her home because Frank wouldn't accept it. So, he reached out and moved the rug to see what might lie underneath it.

He was confronted with the fact that nothing was wrong with the floor, no evidence of a bullet which might have passed through Frank's neck. It had been stated in the police report after the area had been searched that no sign of the bullet striking anything was found. And, Emmett, for just a moment, thought that he might have found something.

That if Frank had been shot the second time while lying down then it would explain the hole in the rug, but, there should have been a hole in the floor underneath the rug, as well, to match up with the hole exactly. But, there was nothing. So, in frustration, he tossed the section that he had flipped up back down into place.

And, it was the amount of force he used that caused the rug to shift and what was then found that caused Emmett to freeze in stunned shock.

A/N: We had a chance to see what was going on in Bella's mind and how she was feeling about things. Edward has been made aware of two nurses performing the same duties for Bella back to back and is questioning the reasoning for it.

Emmett has formed major questions that he feels the answers will lead to the true killer of Frank Harrison. He starts seeking answers at Bella's and Frank's home. So, far he had discovered two things out of place, but, taken the time to consider the impact that information might prove. Then lastly, he makes another discovery that shocks him into a stunned state of motionless. What did he find?

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