Author's Note:

Shout outs to Dixie.f.9, Just4Me, annsteph, rosmarlin thank you for following my story. I hope you enjoy and I appreciate your thoughts and feedback. I'm still getting used to the editing functions to the fanfiction site so I'm hoping the little glitches that repost aren't too annoying. I'll try my best to post once a week. Have a great weekend.

Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and is gracious enough to let me play with her characters and Twilight Universe. 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.

St. James Infirmary

It was down by old Joe's barroom, on the corner of the square
They were serving drinks as usual, and the usual crowd was there
On my left stood Big Joe McKennedy, and his eyes were bloodshot red
And he turned his face to the people, these were the very words he said

*Cab Calloway & His Orchestra
Read more at songs/view/3530822107858959322/#dCCqSrpFFW3Xqscu.99

9 a.m., Monday, January 5th 1931. Clearfield City Hospital, Clearfield Pennsylvania.

Lieutenant Henry Shaw was waiting in Dr. Cullen's office watching Officer Van examining the anatomical skeleton hanging in the corner. "Van would you stop playing with that thing, it's not a toy!" Shaw rebuked his partner gruffly; "I don't understand you sometimes."

"Sorry Lieutenant, I just got curious." Van replied shuffling his feet in embarrassment.

Carlisle heard the conversation from down the hall and carefully hid the smirk on his face before he entered his office. "Lieutenant, I added the additional autopsy reports to the two that arrived on Friday." The Doctor said as he walked over to his desk and sat down. "The other remains your Deputies brought in from the site were three so we have five bodies in total. All the decedents are male between Seventeen and Twenty-five years of age. The bodies were dismembered and then decapitated, none of the heads have been found."

Carlisle gave a heavy sigh, "As if that isn't bad enough, the evidence shows the victims were tortured for days, and were still alive and conscious when they were dismembered and finally beheaded." Carlisle frowned as he continued, "These young men were crudely operated on with surgical saws and scalpels, and their fingers, toes and testicles were removed before death. And their internal organs were removed after death."

Shaw gasped in disgust, "What kind of sick monster does something like this Carlisle?"

"Lieutenant," Carlisle continued softly "Henry, the killer could be a butcher, taxidermist or even a someone with medical experience, possibly a Doctor."

"Time of deaths?" Shaw asked.

"The first victim died approximately two and a half years ago. Each victim died six months apart. The last victim died almost five months ago." Carlisle said sadly.

Van spoke up then, "Lieutenant, there have been no missing person reports filed in the last two years so I'm guessing the victims aren't local."

Shaw replied, "Agreed, they're most likely homeless hobos traveling the rails".

"Van, keep looking through missing persons reports just broaden the area, tell the Deputies to keep searching for the heads and tell Dupper to keep the rail yard under surveillance." Shaw continued to bark orders as Van started out the door.

"Carlisle, the Police Department is under pressure from the Mayor's office to keep this case quiet." Frowned Shaw. "The Mayor doesn't want to cause unwarranted panic."

Carlisle's brows knitted together as he chose his words carefully. "Henry, there is a strong possibility that the murders will continue until the killer is caught."

Lieutenant Shaw ran his hand slowly across his face, he sighed and gave Carlisle a response, "I spoke with the Chief and he agreed with me, that we will have to tell the public something soon." Carlisle closed the folder that held his report and handed it to Shaw. "Well, Henry, I know that Mayor Caldwell can be difficult during the best of situations and it being an election year I imagine that just exasperates his mood."

Shaw chuckled in response, "Carlisle you're being optimistic."

"Speaking of optimistic, how is your lovely wife?" Carlisle asked.

Shaw welcomed the change of topic. "Sadie is well, she mentioned Esme would be missing the Ladies Auxiliary meeting tonight due to family obligations?"

"Yes," Carlisle's eyes lit up when speaking of Esme, "We are extremely happy that her brother Edward has finally arrived to live with us." Carlisle continued, "It has been difficult the past few years without him, she's worried about him greatly, after their parents died." Carlisle smiled, "Esme will be spending this week getting Edward settled in, he'll be attending the high school in town."

"I'm sure Harry and Margaret will be able to show Edward around school." Shaw said mentioning his son and daughter.

Carlisle quietly walked from behind his desk to his office door, "That would be splendid Henry," Carlisle raised his finger to his lips signaling silence to the Lieutenant. "I'm sure Edward will appreciate that."

Carlisle opened the door suddenly and surprised George Lehman the hospital orderly hovering at the door. It appeared he was caught listening in on Carlisle's conversation.

"Why hello George, can I help you with something?" Lehman jumped in shock and his face looked like a bug-eyed bullfrog.

"D-Doctor Cullen!" stammered George as he handed Carlisle a folder. "I have a follow up report from Doctor Archibald."

"Thank you George, you can go now." Carlisle replied, "And George, I trust you will be discreet in this matter."

"Y-Yes sir Doctor Cullen." was George's stuttered reply as he escaped quickly down the hall. Henry blinked and tried not to laugh, "Is he always that awkward?"

"No, only when he get's caught listening at doors." Carlisle smirked.

_oOo_

6 p.m., Monday, January 5th 1931. Doctor Cullen's House, Clearfield Pennsylvania.

Esme had her sewing kit out, she was making alterations to Edward's wardrobe, or at least she was trying to make the alterations. "Oh, for Heaven's sake Edward, please stop fidgeting. I never thought I would have to tell a vampire to keep still." She rolled her eyes. He arrived in only one set of clothes, his shoes were worn, and the sleeves on his suit coat were becoming frayed. She insisted on getting him new clothes and Esme wouldn't be satisfied until they fit properly.

"Esme, I don't mean to be ungrateful but you shouldn't be going to so much trouble," Edward said lowering his head, "I don't deserve all this fuss and attention."

"Why would you think that?" Esme asked. "Edward, if anything you deserve much more."

"No, I don't." He stated. "I went against everything Carlisle taught me, I hunted humans and set myself up as judge and executioner. I rationalized to myself that the beasts deserved death." Edward sighed, "If that hypocrisy isn't the worse kind of blasphemy, I don't know what is." He finished sadly.

"You know Carlisle and I don't think badly of you, we don't judge you."

She replied to him gently, "We are vampires, we have vampire natures, I have killed humans also Edward, do you think so horribly of me?"

Edwards's eyes widened, "Esme, I could never think badly of you," he replied passionately, "I have never met a mind as caring and loving as yours. You had unintentional slips, that were probably partly my fault for not watching you better when you were a new born." He frowned and continued, "I intentionally hunted men and told myself it was a just cause, I was a fraud. It's not the same."

"Don't you dare take the blame for my actions. I killed innocent people, the only crime they committed was being at the wrong place at the wrong time!" she glared, "you at least made sure those men couldn't kill again."

"I…I'm sorry." Edward whispered, "I didn't mean…"

"I know you didn't mean to upset me." Esme said gently as she reached up and touched his cheek. "Don't you see Edward, that we both feel regret for killing, that we don't want to be killers, we can't change what we are or change the past but we can strive to do good during our existence."

"Thank you." Edward replied as he looked down into her eyes. "I've missed you and Carlisle." She beamed up at him, "And it's a good thing you came home, your shoes are so warn, probably from all that running you like to do." Esme fussed, "Edward, shame on you for not taking better care of yourself." She clucked as she went back to the alterations. "Honestly, no more philosophical discussions or debates with Carlisle if it results in this self-loathing." She fretted. "You don't see yourself clearly at all."

Edward chuckled, "Esme, I could sprout another head and you would still speak kindly of me."

"Nonsense," she replied, "now keep still, I'm almost finished with the pinning."

Edward didn't mean to move, he was working on a new musical composition in his head, and he kept moving his hands and fingers in time to the notes in his head. "I want to get back to playing the piano." Edward hadn't realized how much he missed playing the piano until Esme led him into the music room the night he returned. He was rendered speechless by the fact that they kept his old piano. He wanted to surprise Esme and Carlisle with the composition he was writing, it was a tribute to them. It just wasn't quite right yet. "Fine, The sooner you keep still," Esme started, "The sooner I will finish, then you can get back to the piano." She smiled at his impatience.

Edward lifted his head and looked towards the front door. "Carlisle will arrive home soon." Esme's response was immediate "That does not get you out of this fitting any earlier." He sighed as she continued her work. Carlisle would still take another fifteen minutes. Edward did his best to remain still and Esme finally finished as Carlisle walked up the driveway. "Done." She said as Edward sped off to change into his old clothes, he was back downstairs as Carlisle entered through the door.

"Esme love," Carlisle greeted her with a kiss. "How was your day?" he asked as he presented her with a small bouquet of crocuses. She looked up at him returning his kiss, "Beautiful, thank you." She said smiling.

"Edward would you please go out to the car and bring in the box on the back seat." Carlisle smiled at Edward's reaction to his request. He could not contain his excitement when he read Carlisle's mind and realized what was in the box.

"Outstanding!" was Edward's response as he blurred out the door towards the car.

"Human speed please!" Carlisle called laughing after him, "we have to keep up appearances!"

"Carlisle," Esme asked, "what is going on?"

"Well my love," he responded, "you went to a lot of trouble to put electricity in this house when you restored it, I thought it was time to bring some modern technology into the house." Edward came running in carrying a box, "He bought a radio!" he exclaimed.

They set the radio up in the parlor. Edward and Carlisle made their own improvements to it by extending radio reception with their own version of the outdoor antennae.

Esme looked on in wonder as she heard the radio play music then the news and she particularly enjoyed the comedy and mystery shows. She felt contentment sitting with her family enjoying the evening together.