A/N: 1. I do not own Twilight.

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Adjournment

Chapter 3: Senior

Edward Masen Senior walked the grounds of his estate well into the early hours of the morning. His thoughts were stuck in his past, running on a loop in his mind as he traveled from room to room. Ed should have retired years ago, however, the need to tie up loose ends kept him hanging on. Shortly after Elizabeth's death, he had considered just walking away. It certainly would have made things easier for his sons. Specifically Edward. Edward had made it perfectly clear that he never wanted to be in the presence of his father again.

When his sons were growing up, Senior was never ever around. There was always something more important happening at work so, the family dynamic was somewhat skewed from what most would consider normal. They certainly were not 'a happy family'. Ed could not really remember a school play or football game that he had attended. In reality there were probably none that he had made it to, choosing instead to chase demons and try to stay one step ahead of his mistakes. The mistakes that had taken Lizzie from him years ago. It was time to fix things. At least make them better for those he would eventually leave behind. There was so much to atone for.

Elizabeth had been the doting parent. Always there to encourage, to support, to educate. She was the parent that dried the tears and pushed the boys to achieve everything they wanted in life and even though Emmett and Edward had both followed in their father's footsteps as far as career, she never begrudged them their choices. They had both excelled. She had been very proud of her sons. Her death had certainly been hard on Ed but more so on their sons.

Ed found himself standing in the living room about to make his way to his bedroom when he sensed a presence behind him.

"I know you're there." Ed turned around to face the intruder. A kid, no older than seventeen or eighteen, stepped from the shadows.

"Don't worry old man. I'm not here to kill you."

"Why are you here?" Ed demanded.

"The boss sent me to remind you about his payment."

"He always gets his money. Tell him I haven't forgotten and that I will transfer the money tomorrow." Ed started upstairs, "I'm sure you can find your way out."

"There is a second part to his message." The kid waited until Ed was once again facing him to continue. "He wants to meet with you. He says he needs assurances that the next Director will be as easy to handle as you have been."

"Tell him he can have his money, but that Commander Cullen will not be as easy to manipulate. Unlike myself, Cullen is as clean as they come. Now, get out."

"You should expect to hear from him soon." The kid informed Ed as he retreated back into the shadows.

"I'm sure I will."

****adjournment****

"You do realize this will mean all out war with Jamison."

"I do. This is a man that has out maneuvered and evaded every prior investigation against him for the past two decades. We will take him down before I leave this office. Consider it my parting gift to you." Ed smirked.

"More like cleaning up your mess before you leave." Carlisle jabbed back. "You're ready to invest the manpower that will be needed into this investigation?"

"We do this now. You will the resources you need to accomplish your goals."

"I thought you were taking lead on this." Carlisle looked surprised.

Ed shook his head, "We will consider this a transition period. I do want to work with you, but I want you to call the shots so to speak."

"You have an idea of where we need to start with this?"

"We start by firing the first shot." Ed smiled and handed Carlisle a file folder.

After skimming through for a couple of minutes, Carlisle looked up to see Ed's smug expression. "Where did this come from?"

"A very reliable source. Jamison will be shocked to say the least. I need you to organize teams and be ready to brief them this afternoon. Carlisle, we will win this war." Ed promised as Carlisle left to carry out his orders.

Senior turned his desk chair to face the large window and watched the rain pour from the sky. Although it was just shy of eight in the morning, it could have just as easily been night time. This was what it looked like outside the night that Lizzie died. Flashes of lightening. Torrential downpour of rain. Thunder loud enough to rattle your bones.

"Elizabeth? You've been drinking." Ed was shocked to come home and find his wife with a bottle of whiskey in her delicate hands. "What's happened? Is it one of the boys? Are they okay?"

Elizabeth laughed quietly before turning to fully face her husband. "The boys are just fine. Both at school where they belong."

"I think you've had enough of this." He took the almost empty whiskey bottle she had been drinking from her and set it on the table. "Tell me what's happened."

"What's happened. Let's see." She pretended to think things over before replying, "I am married to a monster. I have been sitting here all afternoon thinking about what a monster I am married to."

"Lizzie, -"

"No. I think you asked what has happened. You should know. Yes, I think you should know the reasons why your life is about to fall apart." Her hand twitched as if she wanted to reach for another drink. "You see, I had a thought this morning. I wanted to retrieve my mother's wedding ring from the safe in your office. It was a silly idea really. I couldn't really say where it came from. Sentimental musings? It is her birthday after all. Maybe I just wanted something in my hand that she had touched.

Imagine my surprise to find that you had changed the combination. I called you at work to ask about the new combination thinking maybe you just forgot to tell me. After all, you have been known to be very inconsiderate on occasion. Needless to say, you didn't return my call.

So, I called our son thinking maybe you let him know what it was, for emergencies and lo and behold, I was correct. Emmett knew the combination to the safe in your office when your own wife did not. He made a joke about me 'forgetting' such an important thing.

Really, I wasn't trying to pry into your business, however, when that book fell out, I couldn't help but glance at it before putting it away. Then I realized what it was." Elizabeth glared at her husband. "How could you do this? They have suffered for years not knowing and you can tell them right now where their daughter is. How can you do this? He is your best friend."

"Elizabeth, you don't know everything. That book is only part of the story." It came out in a whisper. He knew she would never keep quiet about what she had discovered. His perfectly constructed life was about to come apart.

"Then tell me the rest Ed. Tell me."

"I can't do that."

"Then I'm going to the Cullens. They deserve to know where their daughter can be found. She is a fourteen year old child, Ed, not some pawn to be used in one of your games."

Ed grabbed her by the arm as she turned to leave the room. "Elizabeth. I really wish you hadn't found that book." He closed his eyes. Elizabeth screamed.

Yes, that night had looked very much like it did right that moment. Ed took a minute to think about how appropriate that actually was. This would end on his terms. Nothing else would be acceptable.

"Lauren, would you please set a meeting with both of my sons for one o'clock today. Make sure they know that canceling is not an option." Ed instructed his personal assistant.

"Yes, sir." She affirmed.

Ed spent the rest of his morning basically closing out old files, making sure everything was up to date and also ensured that his will was current and would need no further changes. Of course the boys already inherited from their mother. Her family had been reasonably wealthy and they were the sole heirs. The money they would get from his estate would let them and any future children they would have, live very comfortably. Ed had joked that Emmett would probably retire himself when he received the money, but he wasn't really sure what the two of them would do.

Just before one, the intercom came to life when Lauren notified him that his sons had arrived. He acknowledged their arrival as they walked through the doorway into his office.

"Emmett, Edward, please have a seat."

Neither man spoke as they took the two empty chairs that sat facing Ed's desk.

Emmett was dressed in dark trousers and dark blue button down which was covered by his leather jacket. He looked as if he had gained at least ten more pounds of muscle since Ed had last laid eyes on him. To those who'd never met him, Emmett appeared calm and very nonchalant about being in the office. Those that knew him could see the tension pulsing underneath the seemingly unflappable facade.

Edward, on the other hand, appeared hostile and barely able to tolerate being in the same room with the eldest Masen. Ed was actually surprised that his youngest had shown up for the meeting even if it was an order for him to do so.

"I suppose you're wondering why I needed to see both of you today." Ed waited for something, a nod, a question, but none were forthcoming. Finally he continued. "I wanted to let you know that I will be retiring from the agency in three months. Carlisle will be taking over after I leave and in the meantime, all of our resources will be devoted to an investigation into Sebastian Jamison. I expect you both to provide the support that Commander Cullen needs during the transition as well as during the course of this case." Ed didn't know what he expected, but the two expressionless men sitting in front of him served to push his buttons so to speak. "You know, I can keep you both here all day. You might want to pretend that what I am saying is relevant to the both of you in some way. Do you have questions at least?"

"I have questions - " Edward started but was interrupted.

"Now is not the time. Don't start this here." Emmett cautioned his younger brother.

Edward remained silently seething in his anger, glaring at the older man.

"You think we can take Jamison down in three months? That's seems rather ambitious to me." Emmett steered the conversation back to business.

"We are investing all of our resources to make this happen quickly." Ed explained. "I will let you both report directly to Cullen for the duration of this case. I was hoping that we could set personal feelings aside, but I can see that won't happen."

"Yes, sir." Edward got up to leave. He had his hand on the door knob when Senior told them to expect a call from his lawyer within the week. A second later, Edward left the office. Emmett followed less than a minute later and managed to catch up at the elevator.

"You have got to stop doing this shit, Junior." Emmett started.

"Don't call me that!"

"You need to calm down. He can ruin your career here. Do you realize this or has all rational thought left your mind for the moment?" Emmett watched as Edward worked to get his temper under control. "Do you want to know why his lawyer will be calling?"

"Well, you're smiling so it has to be good news. Is the old man dying?" Edward quipped as they both stepped into the lift.

"Not dying, but he is handing over the keys to the fortune when he retires. Says we should be able to travel and do everything Mom wanted for us while we're still young."

"He can keep his damn money. I don't want anything from him."

"Fine. More for me." Emmett grinned.

"Jackass."

"You're just jealous because I have more muscles, a better car and now more money than you do."

Edward couldn't help but laugh at his brother's antics. "Maybe I should take his money. I should do something with it that would he would absolutely hate."

"Give it away. That ought to piss him off."

"Enough about him. How was your date last night?"

"Rosalie is a goddess. I don't know how I got so lucky. You cannot let me screw this up. I mean she's the most beautiful woman in the world and if that's not enough, she's going to be a physician's assistant, and she loves classic cars. I'm telling you, it's like God made her just for me."

"And it doesn't hurt that she is just as perverted as you are. You're right. It's a match made in heaven."

"Well, it would be if her Dad wasn't still pissed that we are dating." Emmett qualified.

"Whose idea was it to keep that from him?"

"Actually it was Rosie's idea. I have been living in fear that Cullen would find out and have me killed for even looking at his daughter."

"It would serve you right if he did. However, it sounds like you think she's worth it."

"If he killed me today, I would die a happy man. The things that woman can do with her-"

"I do not want to hear about your perverted sex life, Em."

"You're loss. I'm sure I could give you some pointers. When is the last time you got laid, man?"

"None of your damn business Eugene."

"I've told you not to call me that."

"Yes, well. It serves its purpose when I need you to shut the hell up about something. Now, doesn't it?"

"I feel a change of topic coming on." Emmett maneuvered. "So, what do you think about this Jamison situation?"

"As with everything Senior is involved in, I don't think everything is as it appears." Edward huffed. "He's up to something. Why else would he start this right before he retires?"

"Maybe we'll find out more after Commander Cullen's briefing." Emmett reasoned. "Let's head that way."

"Just promise me one thing. When the old man retires and leaves this building for the last time. Promise me I'll never have to see that bastard again."

"That's the plan, little brother. That's the plan."