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I hope you continue to enjoy this story.
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.
WHEN THE MOON COMES OVER THE MOUNTAIN
All by myself at twilight
Watching the day depart
And with the fading twilight
Happiness fills my heart
When the moon comes over the mountain
Every beam brings a dream, Dear, of you
Once again we stroll neath the mountain
Through that rose-covered valley we knew
Each day is grey and dreary
But the night is bright and cheery
When the moon comes over the mountain
I'm alone with my mem'ries of you
*(Howard Johnson / Harry Woods) Kate Smith & Her Swanee Music - 1931 Nick Lucas - 1931 Leo Reisman & His Orch. (vocal: Ben Gordon) - 1931 Radiolites - 1931 Sam Lanin Dance Ensemble - 1931 Kitty Wells
11 a.m., Thursday, January 8th 1931. Clearfield City Hospital.
Carlisle arrived at the hospital for his shift; he entered the Doctors lounge to find two police detectives interrogating one of his nurses. Grace Rennie, the small blonde haired woman was in tears. "What is going on here?" Carlisle asked the two policemen sternly.
His gold eyes fixed on both men meeting their gazes with authority.
Both men took a step backwards, a little startled by the interruption.
Detective Haus was a stocky man in his forties; he was balding and had a permanent scowl on his face. His partner Dupper was a small thin man in his late fifties with a deceivingly mousy look to his appearance.
"I am Detective Haus and this is my partner Detective Dupper." The stocky man said gruffly as he flashed his badge at Carlisle.
"We are here investigating an information leak in the train yard murders." Haus continued,
"And you must be Doctor Cullen?"
"That is correct." Carlisle replied curtly, " But if you think Nurse Rennie is responsible you are wrong."
"Now why would you say that Doctor?" asked Dupper, "She is actually our lead suspect since her husband is the reporter who wrote the news article."
"Regardless of who Nurse Rennie is married to Detectives, she couldn't possibly be your 'leak' because she wasn't here." Carlisle explained, "She has been on leave the past two weeks and has just returned today."
"Two week leave for what?" Haus asked.
"My mother was very ill," Nurse Rennie, replied through her sniffles, "I've been nursing her back to health."
"How do we know you didn't come to the hospital on off hours and look through the records?" Haus accused.
"My mother lives in Phillipsburg, I didn't return until early this morning by train." Nurse Rennie frowned at him in response.
"Detectives," interrupted Carlisle, "If you would like to interview me or an of the other Doctors involved, fine; but you are not allowed to harass the nursing staff."
Haus huffed and Dupper raised an eyebrow.
"The nurses have no involvement with autopsies and they are off limits in your interrogations." Carlisle stated firmly, "Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal." Replied Dupper.
"You may go now Nurse." Carlisle stated sympathetically to a grateful Nurse Rennie as she left the Doctor's lounge.
Haus and Dupper turned their attentions to Carlisle.
"So Dr. Cullen," Haus began, "since Nurse Rennie is eliminated as a suspect that would make YOU our prime suspect in this leak."
"Detectives, I have never met any reporters, and my own family was unaware of the murders until the newspaper's morning addition." Carlisle responded calmly.
"And we're to take your word?" Haus snorted, "May, I remind you Doctor this is a murder investigation and unauthorized leaks to the press can be viewed as obstruction to the investigation."
Carlisle stood there unruffled, his demeanor projected confidence and honesty.
"I assure you Detectives," Carlisle began, "I wish to help with the investigation not hinder your efforts."
"Tell us who else had access to the autopsy reports." Dupper requested.
"That is the disturbing part," Carlisle replied, "I was the only one."
Carlisle continued talking, "Except for conferring with Doctors Foster and Archibald in a very minor capacity, and orderly George Lehman assisting in moving the bodies; no one has access to the information that the reporter some how obtained."
He was starting to look dismayed, "As a matter of fact, I have all the reports under lock
and key, I have no idea how the information could have been leaked to the press."
Haus and Dupper went off to question Doctors Foster and Archibald, after lecturing Carlisle on the importance of keeping certain details of the investigation out of the press. They had to schedule a later time to interview Lehman, since he usually worked the graveyard shift. They found Doctor Foster to be helpful and his testimony corroborated Carlisle's story. Doctor Foster was as insistent as Carlisle that the police should not bother the nursing staff. Doctor Archibald was more than a bit arrogant and condescending towards the officers and even suggested the leak originated from the police department. It was late in the afternoon when they headed back to the police station to file their reports.
Meanwhile Lieutenant Shaw and Officer Van were headed towards the Clearfield National Bank. The interview with Principal Thorton provided very little new information. Thorton stated Scott Davis never arrived for the interview, there was no response to any further correspondence from the school. Principal Thorton was shocked to find out the Scott Davis was one of the murder victims.
They arrived at Andrew Ratcliffe's office as Mayor Caldwell was leaving.
"Lieutenant," Caldwell greeted him sternly, "I was very distressed at the newspaper reports this morning, and all this talk of the Clearfield Ripper is bad for business."
Shaw frowned in response, "Yes sir, we'll do everything we can to catch him."
"You see that you do." Sneered Caldwell as he walked off.
After Caldwell was gone Van sighed "Can't have a few bodies about that's bad for business." He mimicked sarcastically.
"You're a real Jack Benny, Van." Shaw stated dryly.
"Come on Lieutenant you know I do good impersonations." Van replied.
Shaw rolled his eyes then turned to the secretary Miss Wilson and said, "I'm Lieutenant Shaw, here to see Mr. Ratcliffe please." And he showed her his police badge.
"Yes, sir." She quickly buzzed Ratcliffe on the intercom to announce them.
"Right this way Lieutenant," Miss Wilson lead the way into the banker's office.
"Shaw, what is this about?" Ratcliffe asked.
"We possibly identified one of the murder victims from the train yard." Shaw explained,
"A Mr. Robert Applegate, and we are retraced his last reported days to this bank."
"Applegate?, I don't recall …" Ratcliffe started to reply.
"He traveled from Philadelphia for an interview here about two years ago." Van offered.
"Oh now I remember, he did interview but he never returned for the second interview." Ratcliffe added, "Afterwards, we even received a call from the Philadelphia police about him missing."
"Do you have any records from the interview?" Shaw asked.
"I'm sure we do, Miss Wilson go retrieve any files we have and give them to the Lieutenant." Ratcliffe ordered.
Miss Wilson left the office immediately and Ratcliffe turned his attention to the officers once again.
"Do you recall anything about Mr. Applegate?" Shaw asked.
Ratcliffe looked thoughtful, "Nothing extraordinary, he was intelligent , modestly dressed and if I remember correctly he had a slight limp."
"I'm surprised you remembered that much." Van replied.
"I think the fact the Philadelphia police called and the man became a missing person," Ratcliffe said, "helped to commit him to my memory."
Miss Wilson reentered the office carrying a file folder. "It's not much." She stated, "but I hope it helps." She handed the file to Shaw.
Ratcliffe sat behind his desk with a sigh, "I was sure that the murdered men were homeless vagabonds." He frowned and continued, "And now I learn that's not the case."
"We are working around the clock to solve this case," Shaw continued, "If you can think of anything else about Applegate please let us know." Shaw finished.
"Thank you for your help," Van told the secretary, "here's our card, call if you recall anything else." Both officers left the bank and headed to the police station.
"What now lieutenant?" Van asked.
"We go over everything until we catch this monster," Shaw replied determinedly, "I have a bad feeling if we don't catch him soon, he's going to kill again."
11 p.m., Thursday, January 8th 1931, The Cullen House.
Carlisle returned home quietly entering the house he could hear Chopin's Nocturne being played on the piano. Esme was in the parlor, listening mesmerized by the music while she was darning socks. His heart swelled at the domestic scene, his wife's faced glowed warmly under the lamplights. Edward was playing the notes delicately on the piano Carlisle could not resist taking Esme's hands and leading her around the parlor in a waltz.
"You are so beautiful my love." he whispered in her ear.
She looked up at him with a joyful smile. "You make me feel like we are dancing on clouds." She replied, "How was your day Doctor Cullen?"
"Dreary, I think," he replied softly, "until now."
He never understood how lonely he was for more than a few centuries, until he had his son and wife. They gave him more than he ever thought he could have and much more than he could ever think to ask for in his existence. His happiness in his family was intense and sublime. "How was your day sweetheart?" he asked, "Did you and Edward enjoy your day out on the town?"
"It was marvelous!" she said, "We both enjoyed it." She proceeded to tell her husband the day's events, the high school interview with the Principal. She told him of Edward's excitement on starting music lessons and his interest in her work at the soup kitchens and shelters. "We even had time to go to the department stores." She said, "You both need new shirts, gloves and scarves."
"I can't have the humans noticing you both running around under dressed in the cold weather." She continued.
"Heaven forbid." Carlisle chuckled, "And did Edward like the school?"
"Carlisle, I think he did," she replied, "He was even laughing today at the antics of Henry Shaw's boy." She explained what had happened and also the visit from the Lieutenant and officer Van. He was pleased and interested about the police finding possible identities to some of the murder victims.
He told her of his day and the police interrogations at the hospital.
"Carlisle," she responded, "how could they even suggest the you would leak information to the press?"
"That's the thing Es," he replied, "there is no possible way anyone could have given certain details to that reporter." Then he stated firmly, "Unless it was the murderer that told the reporter."
Her eyes widened in surprise, "But why would the killer do that?" she gasped.
"I think he wants frighten people" He said grimly. "Don't worry, won't let him continue."
He kissed her cheek and held her tighter as her whirled her around the room. The music played on he danced with his love as he showered her with kisses.