A/N: Hello again and welcome back! Warning for this chapter: difficult subject matter in Edward's POV.
My love and thanks to all who have read, reviewed, followed, and/or fav'ed Surviving. Big hugs all around!
Twilight is not mine, Surviving is!
CPOV
"With all due respect Mr. Cullen, we can't just allow you to come." Aro states calmly. "This is an investigation."
"I can help!"I run my hand through my hair and look over at Detective Marcus. "Please let me help you find my son."
"Look Carlisle." Marcus sighs. "I get it. I really do. If it was my kid I would be doing the same thing you are. But you can't be there when we question them."
"But maybe I can get them to talk…They know me. They know my family." I try to reason with them.
"Yes, they do. But that didn't stop them from helping with the kidnapping of your son and Ms. Swan." Aro says coolly.
His words hit me like a ton of bricks. He's right. These people have been in my home. Attended our fundraisers. Cheered for Edward at his football and baseball games. Brought us a casserole and offered us their sympathy when the kids went missing.
The anger I've kept bottled up suddenly explodes. I turn and grab my glass; half full of scotch, from my desk and hurl it across the room. The sound of the glass shattering spurs me on. "I'll fucking kill them!" I say, pacing my office.
"Carlisle." Marcus puts his hand on my shoulder but I shrug him off.
"Don't." I say, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Don't tell me to calm down. I trusted them." My eyes water and my voice comes out unsteady.
"I know Carlisle, I know." Marcus claps me on the back before he sits down. "You can't be in the room with us but maybe you can watch from behind the two way mirror."
I meet his eyes and give a tight nod. I need to be there. I need to hear it for myself. When Alice ran into the house yesterday and announced that they were involved, I froze. I didn't believe her. I didn't want to. But after listening to her explain it and watching the video again I couldn't believe I missed it myself.
"Alright now that that's settled." Aro stands, grabs his coat, and opens the door. "Marcus can give you a lift to the station." He walks out and closes the door softly.
"How are you going to get them to come to the station?" I ask, sitting down behind my desk. "What if they call Felix and tell him they are being questioned? What if he…" I stop. I can't bring myself to finish that sentence.
"Relax Carlisle." Marcus soothes. "We've put the word out that everyone in town will be questioned at some point this week. They are being told that they are in the first batch do to their impending move."
The Copes' were due to move at the end of the week; their motel having sold about a week ago. I shudder to think what would have happened if Alice didn't figure this out before they left.
A knock at the door rips me from my dark thoughts. "Come in."
"Esme asked me to check on you." Jasper says as he steps into the room. "We heard a loud crash and she wanted to know if you needed anything."
I lean back in my chair and close my eyes. "I'm alright, Jasper. We have to head to the police station soon and I need Alice to stay here." I open my eyes and meet his. "Can you stay with her until Esme and I get back?"
Marcus looks over at the sound of Esme's name. "I don't know if that's a good idea. Do you think she can handle it?"
"I have no doubt in my mind. My wife is a lot stronger than you think." I smile at Esme as she steps into the room.
"Is everything okay?" She glances between me and the broken glass.
"Yes love." I stand up and cross the room, pulling her into my arms and placing a kiss on her forehead. "Detective Marcus is going to drive us to the police station and the kids are going to hang out here with Alice until we get home."
"The police station?" her head twists to look at Marcus.
"Your husband has been very... vocal that you both be there during the questioning." He throws me a small grin and stands. "Speaking of which, we should get going. I'll meet you outside." He pulls his coat on and heads out the door.
I grab my wallet and pull out a few twenties. "Here Jasper. Make sure Alice eats please." I hand him the cash and tuck my wallet away.
"I will. Thanks." He slips out the door quietly.
"Are you ready, my love?" I grab Esme's hand.
"As I'll ever be."
"Mr. and Mrs. Cope." Aro smiles and shakes their hands. "Thank you for coming in today. We know how busy you must be, what with the sale of your motel and all. Please have a seat."
Esme and I stand close to the mirror, my arm wrapped around her shoulders. We've watched Marcus and Aro interview about a dozen people so far, but this is why we're here. They know where the kids are…they helped that bastard take my son. My hand clenches into a fist as my anger begins to rise.
'Must stay calm. Must say calm' I think as Aro slides into his seat and Marcus leans against the wall behind him.
"Can I get you anything to drink? Water? Coffee?" Aro asks leaning back; appearing not to have a care in the world.
"No thank you." Mrs. Cope smiles. "So any word on the kids?" she asks, looking genuinely concerned.
"That's actually why we brought you in today." Marcus pushes off the wall and slams the photos of Edward and Bella down on the table. "We were hoping you could give us your thoughts on these."
Mrs. Cope pales and puts her hand over her mouth while Mr. Cope stares at the pictures. "Oh those poor kids!" She sobs.
I was taught that you never raise a hand to a woman, but at this moment I'm almost willing to make an exception. How dare she cry over this! She helped make it happen!
"You're right…those poor kids. What did Bella ever do to deserve this? She was born into the wrong family, I guess." Aro leans forward, pushing the photo of Edward lying beaten on the floor closer to them. "And Edward. Star of the baseball and football teams. A kid you watched grow up into the young man he is today. What did he do? Fall in love?"
"Are you accusing us of something Mr. Volturi?" Mrs. Copes' voice comes out in a rush. "We never laid a hand on those kids!" She screeches.
"Nobody said you did Mrs. Cope." Marcus looks at the mirror and I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. They are playing right into the detective's hands! "But maybe you know who did. Maybe you witnessed them being taken. Maybe even played a small part in it."
Mrs. Cope sits back and grabs Mr. Copes' hand. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Let me fill you in on your two options." Marcus pulls out a chair and straddles it. "You tell us everything you know and help us get them back, alive, and we try to knock down some of the charges you're facing if it's found that you were, in any way, involved."
"Or we find out ourselves." Aro cuts in; his smile long gone. "And you spend your golden years behind bars. Never seeing each other again. Or that wonderful son of yours…Caius is it?"
Mrs. Copes' mouth tightens and she looks at her husband, who is still staring at the pictures. "My, my, my, Caius has quite the record doesn't he Marcus?"
"That he does. Grand-theft auto, petty theft, assault, assault with a deadly weapon, stalking, money laundering…should I go on?" He looks up at the Copes' but they say nothing.
"Hmmm…seems last time he was brought in for questioning was down in Arizona. A homeless woman was brutally murdered down there in September. He was spotted driving a black SUV near the crime scene."
"Oh dear god!" Esme gasps. "Bella's mother! The black SUV!" Her tears run down her cheeks and I feel a lump at the base of my throat.
"Witnesses say he wasn't even trying to be discreet. It was almost like he wanted to be brought in. Possibly to throw the scent off his boss? Of course charges were never filed against him. There was no evidence to pin him to the crime. But there wouldn't be, would there?" Marcus gives them a small smile.
"Your son must owe Felix quite a bit if he was willing to take the fall for a murder. So much that you were willing to help with the kidnapping of innocent kids." Aro stands up and walks behind them. "So I'll ask you this one time and one time only. Do you have anything you'd like to tell us about the disappearance of Edward Cullen and Isabella Swan?"
EPOV
"Come on Eddie, get up!" Felix taunts me. "Get up you worthless piece of shit!" He laughs as he kicks me again.
I groan and roll over. The pain is almost unbearable. I hurt everywhere. My eyes land on Bella. She is fighting the restraints on her arms; trying to get free, trying to get to me.
"I said get up." Felix grabs me by my hair and pulls me to my feet. I cry out and he pulls harder.
"You and Bella are going to put on a little show for me." He pushes me towards a pile of blankets in the corner. "Caius." He calls over his shoulder and I see him unlock Bella's handcuffs.
The moment she's free she runs to me and throws her arms around me. I stumble back at the force, but pull her closer to me. "Are you okay?" Her hands touch every part of my chest and back.
"So Caius said things were getting pretty heated in here the other day." Felix smirks, his eyes dancing between Bella and me. "I want to see this for myself."
I pull Bella behind me. "No." I spit out through clenched teeth.
"No?" He questions, his smile fading. He takes a step towards us and I move back, trapping Bella between the wall and myself.
"You really have no self-preservation do you?" He crosses the room in a flash and backhands me so hard I fall to the floor. I look up and see Bella pinned to the wall by Felix, one hand wrapped around her neck the other holding a gun to her temple.
"You look so much like your mom." Felix leans in and runs his lips along her jaw. "Do you know that? Do you know how much I wanted her? All the things I wanted to do to her?" He drags the gun down her body.
I try to stand up but Caius pushes me back down, pushing the barrel of his gun into the back of my head. "I wouldn't do that if I was you." He threatens and I watch in horror as Felix hooks the gun onto the waistband of Bella's shorts and pulls them down.
"STOP!" I scream and look at Bella. Her eyes show how terrified she is. "KEEP YOUR FUCKING HANDS OFF HER!"
Felix looks over and smiles. "What's the matter Eddie boy? Don't like seeing me touch her? Well tough shit." He says before he pushes her roughly onto the pile of blankets. He gets on top of her and straddles her waist. She hits his chest and kicks her legs, trying to buck him off.
"I do love when they fight back." He grabs both her hands in one of his and pulls her body up. "Now, since I'm in a good mood today I'll give you one more chance. Are you going to give me a show or am I going to make my own?" He looks over at me.
"Edward." Bella pleads, tears streaming down her beautiful face. I nod and slowly get to my feet.
"Good. I've always enjoyed watching. Especially your mom." He looks back down at Bella. "I wonder if your pussy looks as sweet as hers did."
He releases her hands and stands up. "Make it good." He pushes me down to Bella.
"I'm sorry baby. So sorry." I pull her into my arms and kiss her lips gently.
"It's okay Edward. I love you." She kisses me back.
"I'm not a patient person." Felix is leaning against the wall, gun at his side, staring down at us.
Bella's hand grabs the hem of my shirt and pulls up. My body is bruised and scarred. Fresh wounds covered in drops of blood. She leans down and kisses each one and my eyes tear up. I can't do this. It would be just like rape. It is rape.
"Edward. Please." Bella begs feeling my reluctance. Our eyes meet and I crash my mouth to hers. If I don't, he will. I can't let that happen…I won't let him touch her that way.
My hands shake as I pull her tank top off. She lays back and I cover her body with mine, trying to keep Felix from seeing her. She trembles beneath me and our lips meet again. My body begins to respond to the feel of her pressed up against me. My mind knows this is fucked up, but my body wants her. I hate myself for it.
"Eddie boy, sit back and pull Bella's panties down. I wanna see that pink pussy." Felix inches closer.
I take a deep breath and sit back. Just as I hook my fingers into the top of her panties, the door flies open and Chris runs down the stairs.
"What the fuck?" Felix pushes off the wall and stalks toward Chris. "What did I say about interrupting me when I'm down here?" He lifts his gun and aims it at Chris.
"Sorry boss, but there's a situation." He leans in and whispers into Felix's ear and seconds later they both take off up the stairs.
"Stay with them." Felix growls as the door slams shut.
I grab Bella's shorts and shirt and hold a blanket in front of her so she can dress without Caius seeing. "I love you Bella." I wrap the blanket around her and pull her into my lap after she's dressed. I rock us back and forth, humming softly.
"Edward?" Her voice is low.
"Yes my love?"
"I know this is going to sound completely insane but I wanted you before. I wanted to be connected to you." She hides her face in her hands.
"Hey." I pull her hands away and pull her face up. "Never be embarrassed to tell me what you're thinking or feeling. I wanted you too. I always want you, Bella. In every way."
She rests her head against my chest and I lean back on the wall. "Do you think he'll be back soon?" Before I can answer the door swings open and Felix walks slowly down the stairs. I tense up and hold Bella tighter.
"So Caius, it would seem that your parents were brought in for questioning." He walks towards him. My eyes widen and my mind goes wild. Did Alice crack my codes? Are the police on the way?
"Why in the fuck were they brought in? We covered our tracks. There should be no reason for them to be questioned." Caius rubs the back of his neck, glancing nervously at Felix.
"You sure about that?" Felix pulls his gun out and hits Caius across the face with it. Blood gushes from his nose and mouth and he stumbles backwards.
He raises the gun, pointing it at Caius' head."You better be glad the whole town is being brought in or it would have been a lot worse. Now get upstairs and get them on the phone. Make sure they didn't open their goddamn mouths."
Caius shuffles up the stairs; pinching his nose to stop the blood flow, and Felix follows closely behind him. He stops at the top of the stairs and turns back to us. "I'd get some rest if I was you. I'll be back for my show soon."