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.

"Damn, my friend, that means that he is going to have to disqualify himself from the Harrison case and anything else that might be remotely associated with the main case. Cause it could be argued that it creates a conflict of interest." Charlie remarked aloud to no one in particular.

CHAPTER 26: AND THE LIGHT SHINES BRIGHTER

"I think, before we all start jumping to conclusions that are only thoughts trying to take hold in our minds, we need slow down and find out more facts concerning this information. We don't know if Det. Asher was deliberately handling this case in such a haphazard manner because he was trying to do a coverup.

"A coverup due to recklessness or because of a remote family association through marriage." Edward cautioned the others. He knew that the voice of reason had to rule in this instance to make sure that nothing was going to mess up his case in getting Bella Harrison cleared.

No one offered any comment in regard to what Edward had said, but, they all did look at Capt. Jenkins to see if he had anything else to say about the case or any further information about Det. Asher. However, Jenkins had nothing else to add at the moment and said so by letting them know, "I'm still doing some checking into how Det. Asher has been handling this whole affair, but, thought that you would be interested in the two facts of Alma Johnson's unexpected death and about the fact that he had once been married to the Johnson woman."

After Jenkins made his statement, he turned to look at Emmett and asked to be told what was expected for the crime team to find inside the house. And, without hesitation, Emmett revealed what he had discovered in the downstairs powder room, what he had found, or, rather, didn't find in the kitchen and finished with his discovery in the master bedroom. Once Emmett had finished describing all that he had found, Jenkins looked at Emmett for a few seconds before he asked, "Do you have proof to back up all that you're telling me about the powder room and kitchen?"

"Most certainly do. I'm not the only one that can provide the evidence that you're requesting. Anyone of Bella's family or friends can show you pictures taken on various visits and dates that can back up my statements and the pictures that I'm about to show you."

"In that case, show me the pictures that you're talking about." Jenkins challenged Emmett to do.

And, without pause Emmett complied with the Captain's request. He pulled out his phone and began by showing picture after picture with the date showing on each photo. Then the last pictures he showed to Jenkins were of the ones he had taken earlier that day. It was a no brainer as Jenkins compared the pictures of earlier dates and the ones shown of today's date. Everything that Emmett had stated was proven. But, still more was needed to make Emmett's statements more solid.

"You say that any member of the family or friends can show the same sort of pictures you just produced?" Capt. Jenkins asks of Emmett. And, it took no hesitation on Emmett's part to nod his head and asked Jenkins how he wanted proof given to him.

Before Emmett could ask how he wanted to see the photos others had that were like the ones he had just shown, Edward made the suggestion, "Emmett, why don't you give Capt. Jenkins the phone numbers of the people he request and let him do the contacting to make the request for the photos to be sent here immediately? That way no one can say that you had time to influence or shared photos before the authorities had a chance to check things out."

Charlie was quick to agree with Edward's suggestion, the same as was Jenkins. That way the validity of Emmett's findings and statements concerning his discoveries in the house would be without possible rebuke or tarnishment.

It didn't take long for phone numbers to be turned over to Capt. Jenkins and he chose randomly, the persons he wanted to contact to request two photos of each location, the powder room and the kitchen, from each person. And, it seemed that as soon as he had sent the text off, each person didn't hesitate to respond immediately to his request. He looked at each photo and all that he received did nothing more than verify what Emmett had told him about Isabella Harrison's habits.

It seemed that Mrs. Harrison did always maintain an available hand towel in the downstairs powder room and always kept a dishtowel within reach in her kitchen. But, the thought of why everyone would happen to have a photo of the two rooms quickly sprang to mind, so, he asked that very thing of Emmett.

"Because from time to time Bella would redecorate, when the asshole she was married to would let her, and she would take pictures and send them to us." Emmett answered.

"So, with what you know of Mrs. Harrison's habits, you believe that with the hand towel being out of place and the dish towel missing, that someone else was in the house and that it was the third person that actually fired the second shot that killed Frank Harrison."

"Exactly. Someone used the hand towel in the powder room and threw it down in a hurry for some reason. Next, I believe that they used the dish towel from the kitchen to wipe away any possible evidence from upstairs after killing Frank." Emmett explained his theory to the others. He paused for a moment, as if there was something else he wanted to say and needed to give it some thought before uttering it.

"Then coming to a decision, Emmett continued, "I believe that someone was at the Harrison home and had to visit the powder room for whatever reason, although, I do have my opinion, when Bella Harrison arrived home from work and the altercation between her and Frank took place. This person was able to overhear the whole exchange and decided to take advantage of the situation on the spur of the moment.

"However, once the act was committed that person knew they needed to get rid of any evidence that anyone else had been present in the house. So, quickly did what needed to be done to eliminate what was thought they needed to be gotten rid of."

"Hmm. That is possible." Jenkins agreed with a bit of hesitancy. He still hadn't entered the house yet, although, the crime team had. And, without saying anything to anyone, he was making sure that all interested parties connected to Isabella Harrison, was kept out of the crime scene while another investigative search was done inside the house. That way no one would be able to interfere with the investigation. Jenkins had also brought his copies of the paperwork included in the original police file, but, had left it in his vehicle. This file held copies of all photos taken during the first investigation and search from the night of the killing.

Emmett, Charlie and Edward watched as Capt. Jenkins walked back to the vehicle he had used to arrive to the scene. He reached inside and pulled out a file then placed it on the hood of his car. Next, Jenkins was observed to be quickly flipping through the file and then he suddenly stopped. The three men saw Jenkins look at something in the file and then looked at his phone before looking back at whatever it was he seemed to be comparing. But, before the three could ask questions about what Jenkins was doing, for that's what they assumed he was doing, an officer exited the house and walked over to Jenkins.

The conversation conducted between Jenkins and the officer was done in quick, but, hushed tones. No part of the exchange between the two could be overheard by anyone else. Finally, the officer that had come from the Harrison house left and Jenkins shook his head before closing the file and replacing it back into his car then he walked back over to the three men: Charlie, Emmett and Edward.

Once Jenkins had joined the three, he looked at them and then shook his head once more before telling them what he had been told. "It seems that quite a bit was overlooked during the first investigation. And, Mr. McCarty, from what was found it seems that your assumption was correct.

"The hand towel that you saw lying on the floor had specks of blood on it. This will be taken to the police lab for DNA testing. Also, a clear set of fingerprints were found on the sink and along with a small splatter of blood.

"The second thing that was discovered this time was in the kitchen; it lacked fingerprints from anyone except on the doorframe.

"Then, lastly, where you, Mr. McCarty, found the bullet hole from the second shot had an unusual finding as well. This entire room lacked any fingerprints as well except for on the doorframe entering the room.

"The first investigation didn't do any dusting for fingerprints because of the evidence they saw at the time of their arrival. It still should have been done, but, wasn't.

"The prints found will be ran against any records that might be in the system for whatever reason to see if we can match them with the owner. However, the most puzzling of all was the fact that neither Mr. nor Mrs. Harrison's prints were found in the kitchen or the master bedroom. And, they should have been all over the place since they were the owners of this place.

"I'll keep you posted as to the findings once I have them. It seems that Det. Asher has a lot of answering to do to a lot of Internal Affairs questions." And, with, Capt. Jenkins turning to return to his car and he left as the crime team was finishing up with its packing up in preparation to leave also.

From the moment Capt. Jenkins had finished speaking and left, the three men were left speechless. They seemed to be in complete shock due to what they had just been told. But, it was Charlie that recovered somewhat first, and spoke, "Well, I'll be damn! Emmett, it seems that your assumption was dead on. Now, I'd like to know who was in that house.

"Who was in the house and what occurred before Bella arrived that would require the use of the powder room to clean up any blood?" Charlie commented in a tone as if he was thoughtfully musing his mind's wonderings aloud. Then he turned to look at Emmett once again to ask, "Emmett, as stated, you seemed to have hit the nail on the head about someone being there before Bella, but, I'm wondering if you have an idea of who might have been there?"

"Yeah, I do, but, I don't think you're going to like hearing it. Nothing has so far been proved against her."

"Her? You believe it was Nor…." But before Edward could complete his statement Emmett interrupted and said, "Norma Harrison is who I believe was there. It's Norma Harrison that has the most to gain, in many ways, with the death of her brother, Frank."

"Norma Harrison isn't hurting financially, that I know of, so, what could she be gaining by killing her brother?" Charlie questioned.

"Chief Swan, from what I know of the Harrison family situation, Norma was treated in the same manner by Frank as he treated Bella. He was brutal to both."

"But, Emmett, how could that be? They lived in their own homes." Charlie questioned and commented.

"Sir, from all of the investigating that I've been doing concerning Bella's case and the accusations against her, I've also uncovered a lot about the Harrison immediate background. The one thing that I missed was the connection between the Harrison's and the Johnson family history.

"I only covered Frank's upbringing because usually that is where the abusive nature begins. Frank's father dominated, by force, both Frank's mother and Norma. He taught Frank that it was a man's place to keep the womenfolk in their proper place and that it was expected the man ruled and had say over all things. That a woman had no rights except what her man chose to grant to her."

"Damn! What a screwed-up family?" Was the only comment Edward made.

At that point, all three men left without saying another word. They each were, more or less, getting lost in their own thoughts about what they had been told.

XXXXXX

Back at the hospital, Esme and Renee took time to go down to get some coffee while Phil stayed behind with Bella. He was a bit uncomfortable sitting and talking with his step-daughter while she was unconscious. It all, to his way of thinking, seemed to be nothing more than a one sided conversation that he really believed she couldn't hear, or, understand.

He heard the door open, and as he turned towards the sound, he saw a nurse that he hadn't seen before enter and walk over to the bed. Once there she told Phil he would have to leave while she checked Mrs. Harrison wounds and her vitals. There wasn't anything unusual that he could see, so, the fact that she was new didn't really raise any alarms as far as he was concerned. So, he walked out into the hallway and spent some time talking with the police guard that was still posted by the door.

Inside the room the nurse bent down to whisper in Bella's ear, "Bitch, go to hell. I've handled everything for you to be found guilty of killing Frank. You will be executed for his murder while I will be free of him and living the life that I've been denied most of my life. You lose; I win."

The nurse didn't stay any longer, but, as she closed the door behind her, she didn't hear the sound that started out as a low moan, but, began to gain in volume as the moan turned into an all out banshee wail.

A/N: So many things are starting to come to light. Is everything that Bella was just told the final awareness that is going to pull Bella out of her coma? Is the nurse going to be caught? Any idea about all of the evidence the police found during the second investigative visit?

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