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.

Capt. Jenkins motioned for the young detective to take a seat, then he began to speak, "Asher, yeah, I did. There have been a lot of inconsistencies surrounding your handling of the Harrison case. Then it comes to my attention that you have a connection to a person of interest involved in that case that has since being released from our custody, is now dead due to being murdered.

"I would say that you have a lot of questions to answer in the hopes of clarifying your position."

CHAPTER 34: SOME EXPLANATIONS AND SOME UNDERSTANDINGS

Bella was having a hard time understanding and accepting all that Edward had told her. Even, with the news that her father just came hurrying in telling them, was taking time to filter through her thought process. She couldn't believe all of it!

True, some of the things she had been told about Norma, she could believe as she knew that Frank treated Norma as badly as he had treated Bella. He firmly believed that his word was law and that both women were meant to do as they were told by him. That he was more capable to make the big decisions better than any female, family or not.

But, she was having a hard time believing that Norma had committed murder; that is what Edward, her father and Carlisle were telling her. That, although, Bella did shoot Frank, but, so did Norma. It was the shot that came from Norma that had killed Frank and there was proof of that and it was found in the coroner's report. As well by the things that were found by Emmett at Bella's house which also proved that Norma was the one that killed Frank and not Bella. As far as Bella knew, no one else was in the house, but, Frank, when she got home from work that night.

Her room was quiet since all three men had left, but, they were most insistent that Bella let no one know that she was conscious for as long as it was possible. And, it was the quiet that was allowing Bella the time she really needed to come to terms with all that she had been told by Edward and Charlie. Also, the quiet gave her a chance to bring what she knew about Norma's visits into perspective and to put all of those facts into the proper place with everything else she had learnt.

It was really a lot to take in, but, at the same time she wasn't having any problem believing it; really believing it because of how Norma had always treated Bella. She had tried, just as she was now, on several different occasions to think of what she had ever done wrong that would have caused Norma to feel the way she did towards Bella.

However, Bella always kept coming up short on knowing the answer. In fact, once or twice, when the two women had been alone, Bella had asked her sister-in-law what was the problem that seemed to exist between the two of them, but, Norma would just look at Bella like she had lost her mind, then turn away to ignore Bella altogether.

But, as much as Bella wanted to discount everything the men had told her about Norma's part in the case, she couldn't. Bella's mind would snap back to the two times that Norma had come into her hospital room and the things Norma had said. Somehow, it was those two incidents that convinced Bella that it was as she had been told; Norma had truly killed Frank.

"But, how the hell does Norma think she's going to get my share of ISABELLA'S even if I was convicted for a small period of time of killing Frank?" She questioned aloud to the empty room. And, it seemed that the more Bella spent thinking about everything she had been told by the men and even Norma, herself, the more frustrated Bella became.

Then just as she reached her limit of annoyance and frustration, her mind snapped to the one subject that had helped to keep her sane and anchored, even in her catatonic state of mind. THE VELVETY SOUNDING VOICE WITH SUCH CARRESSING TONES THAT SHOWERED NOTHING BUT TENDERNESS AND CARING TO BELLA: EDWARD'S VOICE!

She allowed her mind to walk along that path of the feelings his voice had invoked while she had been unconscious and along the path of what his looks and voice did to her while she was awake staring at the man like an awkward teenager meeting her first heartthrob. The poor man must think that she was a complete -. It was as Bella searched for the exact word she was wanting to use to describe herself that a sudden memory came to mind. And, then the floodgates opened and all memories of what this beautiful man, her lawyer, had said to her each time he was with her. He talked about getting to know one another and having a future (what future? she questioned) together.

Bella wasn't quite certain how she felt about that particular phrasing of Edward's. Not with everything wrong that was happening in her life right now. She wasn't sure where she would end up if her family, friends and Edward couldn't get her cleared of a possible murder charge. Also, on top of that she wasn't ready, mentally or emotionally, to commit herself to another after what she had endured with the last man she had been with: Frank Harrison.

But, Bella was smart enough to realize that she would feel that way about any new relationship she might be open, after a time, to explore. And, with the memories of how safe and cared for she had felt with just hearing Edward's voice; remembering how she, even while unconscious, wanted to hear Edward's voice speaking to her; remembering how his voice brought warmth and comfort to her aching soul even though the man was a stranger to her.

It was while Bella was exploring this avenue of thoughts and memories that, without realizing it, she was slowly closing her eyes and drifting off to a peaceful, natural sleep. One like she hadn't had in a very long time.

XXXXXXX

"What the hell do you mean we all need to go back to the penthouse? What the hell is going on? Why are all of you acting so funny?" The questions kept coming not from one, but, from all of the women. They didn't understand what the problem was and why not one of them was going to be allowed to stay with Bella.

Each time they raised an objection to being herded out of the waiting room and down the hallway to the elevators like cattle, the men would quietly tell the women to hold the noise down and to keep all questions silent for the time being. They quieted down and reserved their questions until they got away from the officer that was stationed outside of Bella's room, but, the looks being passed the men's way promised hell released on earth once everyone was in a more private setting.

XXXXXXX

"Captain, what questions and what position do I need to clarify?" Det. Asher asked he took the seat that had been indicated by Capt. Jenkins.

"You need to explain why you've been sloppy in your handling of the case against Isabella Harrison. Explain why you've avoided taking the time to wait for the coroner's report and all other tests that were pending from the investigation of the crime scene. Then tell me why you've kept any connection to a person of interest in that case to yourself.

"So, see, Detective, you do have a lot of answers needed to clarify the whole situation before I can make a determination of whether you need an Internal Affairs investigation, or, if the matter can rest with just a reprimand put in your file."

"I'll start off by saying that I haven't seen a report back from the coroner's office, nor, have I received anything back from the ballistic test about the bullet removed from the body.

"Next, as far as I'm aware I'm not connected to any person of interest, as you phrase it, that has any direct concern to the Harrison murder.

"And, lastly, I'm not aware of any mishandling, sloppy or otherwise, of the Harrison case.

"Now, I think that answers your questions, Sir." Asher cockily remarked to Capt. Jenkins.

"Don't get cocky with me, Det. Asher. I'm the one that will bring you down in less than a heartbeat. The facts I stated are true facts and I have the proof of what I say. You have screwed up this investigation from every way that you could. In fact, you did it in such a manner that has me wondering if you're on the take."

"The hell you say!" Asher responded while barely controlling the volume of his voice. He had forgotten, almost, who he was talking to, but, quickly recovered before too much damage, if any, could be done to his career. Or, before he insulted the Captain beyond repair. So, in a quieter tone of voice he asked for the Captain to be more precise in telling him the facts as to what the Captain was referring.

"I'll be happy to fill you in and in return you can explain your actions concerning each and every event that I'm about to tell you. Maybe, then you'll be able to understand why I'm more than just a little concerned about your handling of the Harrison case."

And, it was without further discussion that both men began the give and take of the questions and answers for the case.

XXXXXXX

Everyone arrived back at the penthouse, but, each group was showing a different frame of mind. The men knew what needed to be shared and seemed a bit reluctant about how to start, but, the women were upset for two reasons; one, they had been kept in the dark about all of the secrecy that was going on, and, two, they had been herded out of the hospital like they were nobodies with no explanation being offered in the slightest.

The questions demanding explanation began as soon as the door closed behind the last male to enter the main living area of the penthouse. And, it wasn't just one woman demanding answers, but, all of them standing as if one. And, it wasn't one man that was being expected to give an answer, but, all of them.

"Well, someone had better begin with the explanations, or, the consequences for any more delaying will be severe." Both Esme and Renee, each, commented; Esme while looking at her husband and son and Renee as she looked at her ex-husband. Of course, Rosalie was sternly looking at Emmett and Alice was giving Jasper the stink eye since both women were just as impatient for an explanation as were the older two women.

Edward, after breathing a heavy sigh, began explaining why the information was withheld while they all were still at the hospital. "Bella has regained consciousness, but, we don't want anyone to know at the moment or the guard at her door will have to pass the information along to Det. Asher. And, the detective will arrive demanding to talk with Bella immediately." He paused for a moment, but, before he could continue, Renee interrupted.

"You mean to tell me that my daughter is awake and all of you refused to inform me of that fact while we were at the hospital?" She questioned in an extremely aggravated voice while slowly advancing towards the men.

It was Esme that reached out in time to halt any further advancement by Renee as Esme demanded for Edward to begin at the beginning and warned, "Leave nothing out!"

Edward wasn't the only one that was observed having his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, each man was seen taking a swallow, all of the men felt the same fear as was shown by the same reaction. The way Renee and then finally, Esme, spoke and their tone of voice, left nothing to the imagination about there being bad repercussions if the guys didn't share all that they knew.

So, everyone took a seat and Edward began talking. He left nothing out, but, at certain points he did refer to Charlie or his father for each of them to fill in the details that they had more knowledge than he did. It took a while, but, finally, the women had to agree that what they had just been told was better left unsaid at the hospital.

But, what was even more upsetting to all of them was the fact that Norma Harrison had been allowed into Bella's room, not once, but, twice, and was able to cause the mental upset that she did to Bella.

It was agreed that the women would resume the same pattern of visitation with Bella, so no one would be any wiser to the fact that Bella was fully conscious and understood all that was going on around her.

XXXXXX

"Capt. Jenkins, I can see now with all of the explanations and the paperwork that you've shown me, that you might come to the conclusions that you have concerning my handling of the Harrison case. However, I can assure you that, although, I did have some preconceived notions about the facts, I still hadn't closed the case. I've been waiting to be able to talk with Mrs. Harrison to get her statement surrounding the events of that night.

"And, about my connection to Alma Johnson, it's true we were married for a brief period of time, but, our two careers just didn't create the right private relationship for either of us; there was just too much tension as we seemed not to be able to fully leave our jobs outside of the home. So, we divorced. But, now that she's dead and it is looking like its murder, I've left that case in the hands of another officer.

"I had truly forgotten about Alma's connection to the Harrison family. And, the sad part about all of this is that no one from any family has come forward to help with any final arrangements for Alma, so, I'm handling things on my own, at my own expense. I'm also trying to get all of her affairs in order and see if she had a will of any kind that could tell me who will get what."

"All right. I'll accept what you've told me, but, you must admit that you have been rather reckless in your handling of the case. And, it is because of that that I'm going to put the reprimand in your file along with the notation that you realize your mistakes and are planning to conduct your future investigations in a more professional manner.

"I do recommend that you do what -" But the Captain was interrupted by the insistent ringing of Det. Asher's cell phone. And with knowing how important taking calls can be when working cases, Jenkins motioned for the younger man to answer his call.

Without further hesitation, Asher did as instructed and was observed by Jenkins as the detective shot to a more straightening of his position and the raising of his eyebrows. "Of course, Ms. Harrison, I would be most interested in speaking with you."

A/N: Okay, so what can Norma be up to now? Why is she calling Det. Asher? Capt. Jenkins seemed satisfied with the answers that Asher gave him, but, he's still making a notation in Asher's file. Then we have the women bullying the guys about what they were refusing to tell the women at the hospital. The guys did show some fear of the women.

Thanks for reading and looking forward to your reviews and thoughts.