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.

I apologize to all of you for it taking so long to get this chapter finished and posted. My only excuse for taking so long is due to being sick and the flow of creativity was blocked for the last few days.

With the paperwork finished he needed to talk with Norma Harrison and then to return to the hospital to get Isabella Harrison's statement concerning the night she shot her husband.

CHAPTER 41: OH! NORMA

"Well, Bella, I have specific instructions from your attorney that need to be carried out for your benefit." Carlisle announced after entering Bella's room and closing the door. He saw that all of her family and friends were there giving support to help keep Bella calm after the incident from earlier.

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Esme and Alice were overly emotional by the time they had been taken to Edward's room. Both women had rushed over to either side of the bed while Carlisle took up his position at the foot of the bed and tried to be casual in his inspection of his son's medical chart.

"Mom, Alice, stop! You're about to smother me with all of the nonsense. I'm okay and from what the doctor said I'm going to be fine." Edward was trying to reassure his mother and sister while battling to keep from losing his patience with their overly emotional treatment of him that they were displaying. "Dad, will you please do something about these two?" He finally pled of Carlisle.

And, with that plea, Carlisle did take a firm hand with his wife and daughter. "Come on, you two, you both are aware of what Dr. Jarvis told us, and Edward is doing just fine. With all of this boohooing going on it's going to do nothing but raise his stress level which could cause a delay in his release from the hospital."

So, with that said, the conversation settled down to Edward asking a few questions of what happened after he had been shot. Edward asked how Bella was doing after what had happened and then his concern took on a more professional level. "Dad, I'm concerned about Det. Asher questioning Bella before I've had a chance to be present during that event. Is there something you can do to prevent it from happening until I can be there?"

"There's really nothing that can be done unless I sedate her and keep her that way until you're certified able to move about. And, from the look of things on your chart, that shouldn't be too long off." After Carlisle jokingly made the comment about keeping Bella sedated, he glanced up at his son and realized that Edward was seriously considering the suggestion.

"Edward, get serious, son, you can't really expect me to do that. Consider all that she has already been through. Are you really wanting to keep her unconscious once more? Besides, think about what excuse could be used to sedate her again."

"But, Dad, what else can be done to kept Asher away from her until she has me with her?"

"Edward, I think that you're forgetting that before that woman went completely crazy, Asher had commented that he needed to get Bella's statement about the night that Frank was killed. However, she has stated that either her attorney or her father had to be present before she said anything.

"So, I can't say that I'm in agreement with what you are thinking about asking me to do. It's a move of desperation, not one that had been clearly thought out. I suggest that you allow yourself a bit more time to look at all aspects of the situation before making any decisions or requests."

"But, Dad, I've got to make sure that she isn't forced into a situation where whatever she might say could be turned against her."

At this point, Alice decided that it was time for her to add her suggestion to give her brother something to think about. "I think that you are selling Bella and the rest of us a bit short.

"A plan, since Bella has awakened, has been decided upon and put into place that Bella is never left alone. And, I must say, brother, that from what I've seen so far of her, Bella is quite capable of handling herself. If she doesn't want to talk with Det. Asher, then she isn't going to do so. There is absolutely nothing he can do about it."

"Edward, your father and I have known Charlie and Bella for a very long time. Charlie is very protective of his daughter and he won't let her say a single word to anyone unless either or both of you are present.

"Also, the rest of us know enough to advise Bella to stay silent if anyone tries to question her about anything concerning the night Frank Harrison was killed. So, please concentrate on yourself for the moment and allow us to do what we need to do to aid in this whole screwed up mess." Esme told her son with a bit of impatience being apparent in her tone.

"But, Mom, yo-" Edward started to respond to what Esme had just said only to be interrupted by her.

"Don't 'but, Mom,' me! You know very well what I'm telling you. We all know that you are trying to do your job and that you like to have control of things. However, Edward, we all know as well how you have deeper feelings for your client. That is no secret. We all have watched and seen how you behave around Bella."

Carlisle and Alice, both, were curiously watching Edward's face while Esme was stating the facts of everyone being aware of how he felt, personally, about Bella. And, Alice saw her brother quickly glance in her direction after Esme had finished speaking. All she did was raise an eyebrow questioningly and gave a bit of a smirk at Edward.

Edward thought he had been very discreet about how he behaved around Bella. He had tried to maintain a professional attitude towards her anytime anyone else was around, or, at least, he thought that he had. That is unless Alice told everyone what she had seen in her vision and observed when it had been just the two of them alone together in Bella's room while Bella had been unconscious or in her catatonic state. And, knowing his sister, it was very possible that she had opened her mouth, but, again, it was just as possible that she had remained silent and he had somehow given himself away. It was possible that Esme's statement about him giving himself away, even though he had always tried to be cautious in his behavior with his client, that he did unknowingly give himself away.

After the silence started to hang heavy in his room, Edward and his family moved onto lighter subjects for the time being until they all noticed that Edward was fighting to stay awake. So, they all left as he slowly slipped into unconsciousness.

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Charlie took the time to call his friend, Capt. Jason Jenkins, to inform him of the current happenings. He wasn't sure if Asher had informed Jenkins about any of it or not. But, since Jenkins had been good enough to share information with him, Edward and the rest of the crew, Charlie felt that he needed to make sure that Jenkins was completely up to date about everything since the last time they had talked.

After he had taken of that, Charlie was going to make sure that Bella wasn't left alone for one single second. No telling when Det. Asher would get it into his head to return to talk with Bella. Sure, she had stated that she wouldn't be making a statement unless her attorney or Charlie was present, however, Charlie was smart enough to know that he couldn't be there every moment. Also, Charlie had no doubt that if given the a chance Asher would try to pressure Bella into speaking, and that could be a problem for Bella if she said something that could be turned against her.

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Carlisle, Esme and Alice returned to Bella's room and gave a positive update concerning Edward's condition. It was then that he had made his statement about Edward giving definite instructions as what he wanted done to keep Bella from being put into a situation of having a confrontation with Det. Asher.

"What are these instructions?" She asked with a bit of hesitation and puzzlement sounding in her voice.

"He wants me to sedate you and keep you that way until he can be present for any statement that you might have to make to Det. Asher."

"Hell no! That you can damn well forget about. It's not going to happen. I'm not a fool and I refuse to be treated like I'm one." Bella firmly told Carlisle and left no room for argument. The stubbornness that Bella had always had, was starting to show itself and this did give everyone, that knew her, a good sign that she was returning to her old self.

Carlisle gave a slight chuckle while holding up his hand to motion for his patient to calm down. "Don't get on your high horse, my dear, since I wasn't going to do it anyway. I told Edward that it wasn't a good idea and both Esme and Alice backed me up on my position.

"The ladies quickly reminded him, in no uncertain terms, that a plan to keep you covered for the time being had already been decided upon and that it was still in place. And, he was also reminded that others were working with him in clearing you of charges as well.

"So, Bella, if you're still in agreement with the plan that has already been laid out earlier to you, I believe that is the best route to go at the present time."

"I was in agreement with it earlier and I see no reason to change my mind now." Was Bella's respond to Carlisle's statement and implied question.

"Okay, we'll continue on as planned. Whatever interference is needed to stop Det. Asher from conducting his intended interview with you will be done."

After that issue was settled to everyone's satisfaction, especially Bella's, the conversation amongst everyone present turned to lighter subjects. But, after most everyone decided it was time to leave, Jasper told them that he was going to stay with his cousin for a while since he wanted to bring her up to date about the dealings going on at ISABELLA'S. Alice told him that she was going to get a bite to eat, change her clothes, go back to visit with her brother awhile and then would return to stay with Bella for awhile after the business meeting, of sorts, was concluded.

XXXXXX

"Ms. Harrison, do you want to tell me why you tried to kill Isabella Harrison? What did you hope to gain by making a move like that?" With asking those two questions Det. Asher was beginning to lay the ground-work for further questioning concerning her part in killing Frank Harrison and for the killing of Alma Johnson, even though the last one wasn't his case. He was hoping that he might be able to get some helpful information to pass on to Martin.

"I gave you my reasoning and statement at the hospital when you arrested the wrong person. So, I have nothing more to say on that subject. You should already have arrested my brother's murderer and you haven't. You've left her free as a bird with only a guard outside her room for any and all persons to be able to enter."

"Mrs. Harrison is under the medical care of her doctor for injuries received the night your brother was killed. However, quite a bit more evidence has come to our attention that Mrs. Harrison might not have been responsible for the immediate death of her husband.

"I don't suppose that you would know anything about that?"

All Norma did was sit looking at Asher as if he had lost his mind by asking her such a question. But, at the same time, she was wondering what he did know about that night and what he was just guessing at. Either way she refused to comment about anything he might ask as she believed he was on a fishing expedition to see if anyone else might have been involved with killing Frank. She was firmly convinced that he had nothing solid to tie her to anything concerning Frank's killing.

After waiting a few minutes to see if Norma would reply to his questions, he continued with telling her that his c-associate, Det. Martin, was handling the case concerning her cousin's, Alma Johnson, death. "And, from what I understand from him, it is believed that Ms. Johnson was murdered; not committing suicide.

"You, know that I think about it, it's funny, don't you think, that you never mentioned that a nurse assigned to Mrs. Harrison's recovery at the hospital, happened to be your cousin? Don't you think that should have been mentioned long before we found out about it?"

As Asher was mentioning Alma's death, Norma didn't realize that her composure had slipped for a moment and a look of confusion along with fear had flashed across her face and appeared in her eyes. But, no matter how long Asher continued the interview, not another word was spoken by Norma. Finally, he gave up and motioned for her to be returned to her cell.

It was his intention to return to the hospital and interview Isabella Harrison.

A/N: Norma is in custody and is still under the allusion that she doesn't have much to worry about. The last shoe to fall into place is the results of the DNA test. After that all of the evidence will begin to fall into place. Also, what is Det. Martin going to do about following the information trail that Asher had suggested? Is the case against Bella becoming weak?

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I wish all of you a very Blessed Holiday and a Great New Year.