Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any of the characters they belong to Stephanie Meyers and I do not own CSI either. I just wanted to put them together and see what the finished product looks like.
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For One Night Only – Chapter 4
Pete just glared at me his eyes blazing darkly with anger, his jaw clenched tightly, his whole body was rigid with tension and his hands were wound so tightly into fists his knuckles were white. I swallowed again unable to look him in the eyes the tension that filled the room making me more anxious than I already was the shit was about to hit the fan and I was going to get the brunt of it. Of course I deserved it but I would never admit to that.
"Bella Please look at me." Pete's voice shocked me as to how calm it sounded despite his stance, I looked up and wished to god I hadn't.
"That's better." His voice still calm as his fists jumped up and banged back down on to the desk loudly making me jump. "Do you realise what a fucking fool you have made of me?"
"What? How did I manage that?" I stammered out and I could feel tears prick my eyes.
"On Friday I told Masen that we had no fucking evidence that the Romeo Killer was in New York even though Masen insisted and showed me evidence that he had."
"Who's the Romeo killer?" I asked confused.
"Oh of course you were late then you did a fucking runner as soon as you got into the meeting." Pete said annoyance was evident in his voice, "I should suspended you for your behaviour."
"I'm sorry." I said feeling ashamed about my actions that morning but I was not really myself that morning. Lack of sleep, hunger and utter humiliation of what I had done the night before played a big part in my actions that morning.
"Fuck Bella I don't want apologises I want answers." He spat out, "For a start why didn't you tell me Masen was the guy you were running from when you left Las Vegas?"
"I was devastated when I first moved here and I honestly thought it was none of your business." I replied holding my head high.
"When you run out on an important meeting because of personal issues then it is my business." He stated angrily, "Don't worry when he gets here he's getting a piece of my mind also."
"He's coming back?" I felt the blood drain from my face.
"Yes he needs to see the evidence first hand," He said gesturing to all my gifts, "Oh by the way he's more pissed at you than I am."
"I don't see why." I mutter under my breath then said more loudly, "So when does he arrive?"
"Don't panic you wont see him." He laughs humourlessly.
"Are you Ok?" I ask gulping.
"Bella I don't think you realise the magnitude of your situation do you?"
"What situation?" I asked back.
"Bella who sent you these gifts is a fucking serial killer." He sat out angrily, "Your stupidity of not telling me about these could have cost you your life and it definitely cost the lives of two citizens of New York. How the fuck does that make you feel?"
"Two people died because of me?" I stutter and I could feel panic slowly gripping my chest and squeezing my lungs tightly making it difficult to breathe.
"Yes." He spat out, "Maybe if you had shown me these gifts at least one of them could have been prevented but of course you wouldn't think it was anything serious. Well honey its serious!"
"I'm sorry." I manage to wheeze out before my breathing goes totally erratic and I am gulping for air with out success. I put my head between my legs but that doesn't help and I can feel myself going into full panic attack mode.
"Bella please breathe." I heard Pete say but he seemed miles away. I heard movement and suddenly something covered my mouth, "Breathe in, Breathe out."
I tried doing what the voice said until my breathing calmed slightly and I could see bright white squiggles of light in front of my eyes.
"That's it calm." Pete's voice said as he leaned around me gently stroking my back in small circular movements, "Everything is fine."
Once I had calmed down enough I pushed him away and looked up at him with scared eyes, "Is this guy really coming after me?"
"I am unsure but one thing is for certain all his other victims have always been named Juliet." He sighed and he looked like he was having an internal battle with himself as to whether to tell me anymore, "All your notes have to Bella,"
"So this guy knows me?" I asked as a cold chill ran down my spine.
"It's definitely someone you know." He looked at me unhappily, "It could be someone you recently met, someone you've know forever or someone you know well enough to give your name to, we know this because he put Bella and that's what you like to be called."
"So what happens now will I be temporarily suspended?" I asked.
"Well you have two choices either protective custody or transfer to another state."
"Do I get a choice of which state?" I asked already knowing the answer.
"No." He shrugged his anger was almost gone, "Do you really think I would send you somewhere other than Las Vegas."
"I can live in hope." I reply.
"I have been in touch with the Sheriff and he is expecting you sometime next week." He replied.
"I didn't really get a choice did I?" I asked unable to keep the bitter edge out of my voice.
"Bella my hands are tied." He sighed, "You must understand that surely."
"I do." I sigh, "But Las Vegas."
"Your safety is paramount by their standards and I will not defy either one of them."
I closed my eyes tightly fighting the nausea that threatened to overpower me, "What about my apartment?" I managed to squeak out.
"Alice and Charlotte are already on the case."
"They know?" I asked astounded.
"No I just told them that they are desperate for staff and you were the logical choice." He smiled at me, "Rosalie is putting you up once you get there."
The relief I felt was immense that I did not have too look for a new place then I realised something Pete had said earlier. "When's he coming back?" I asked.
"He's stuck for a couple of days but he thinks Wednesday he should be able to make it."
"So I need to book a flight for tomorrow."
"Bella don't be ridiculous." Pete said scoffing at me.
"I'm deadly serious I want to avoid him as much as possible." I tell him.
"What about my wife and Jasper they will want to say goodbye to you."
"They will understand." I sigh, "Does Charlotte know about Edward and me?"
"I'm not sure," He replies, "But I think she will if you do this."
"I'm sorry Pete." I smile sadly at him and throw my arms around him, "Thank you for everything, tell Charlotte I love her and I'm sorry."
"You're just leaving like that?" He asked astounded.
"Well first I have got to book a flight but I am sure I will get one fairly quickly." I said, "I just cannot see him."
"I understand kind of." He replies, "Come see us soon."
"I will." I reply untangling my arms from around him and inching towards the door, "When you see Alice and Jasper tell them I love them but don't tell them why."
"Fuck no Jasper would kill him and that wouldn't do his relationship any good." Pete laughed, "Despite what you may think of him he is a good man."
"He's just not a good boyfriend." I reply sadly and exit Pete's office for the last time.
I am half way to the lifts when Pete shouted me back, "Bella stop."
I turn to face him as he runs up to me, "I am coming with you."
"Why?" I ask confused.
"Not to Las Vegas but your home."
"Again. Why?" I asked.
"You know there's a serial killer after you so why do you think?" He asks sarcastically.
"Ok." I replied grudgingly.
The next few hours are a daze, I manage to get a flight to Las Vegas the following morning and Pete decides it's best if I spend the night in a hotel near the airport. So I packed fairly quickly I looked around my apartment feeling really sad about how I was leaving it was going to kill me.
Pete drove me to the hotel and I wasn't surprised when he told me there would be a policeman outside my room most of the night and that he would accompany me to the airport tomorrow.
That night I lay away just staring at the ceiling unable to switch my mind off long enough to sleep. I thought of the Romeo killer wondering who the hell he could be, there were lots of candidates' number one being Mike Newton, but no sooner had I thought it and I shook that thought right out of my head. Then there was Edward and how I would feel working in the same building as him once more. Would I stay immune to his charm or would I end up in his bed again?
I wanted to slap myself as images of his naked body came filtering through my mind, how he made my body tingle just by being in the same room as me and worst of all how his gentlest touch could make my body tremble with need. Who the fuck was I kidding I was doomed.
I must have eventually fallen asleep because when the alarm started blaring I reached to turn it off but jumped out of bed so fast that I stumped my toe on something hard I howled in pain hoping on one foot as the pain woke me up just as fast as cold water on my face would have done. I let out a scream of surprise when the cop who was outside my room all night came bursting through the door gun poised ready to shoot anything out of place.
He quickly looked around the room, took note of the situation in front of him and then smirked, "Lucky you don't sleep naked."
I could feel the heat rising from my chest up as he appraised my attire which consisted of old sweat bottoms and an old Harvard T-shirt. "Thanks." I replied sarcastically, "Would you liked to share breakfast?"
He looked at me in surprise, "You sure?" He asked me.
"Well I am going to eat something before we have to leave for the airport and I thought it would only be polite to ask you if you wanted to join me." I told him straight, "No funny business I can assure you."
"In that case I would love too." He replied with a smile.
We decided to eat in the restaurant rather than order room service. Breakfast was a quite affair; my thoughts were all on my impending doom, his were more on the food and his surroundings.
After breakfast we picked my suitcase up and left for the airport. The drive to JFK took a little longer than anticipated due to a truck that had shed is load, so once we arrived at the airport my chaperone had to leave fairly quickly.
As I entered through the doors the first thing I heard was my name being shouted I looked up and was surprised to find Alice and Charlotte hurtling towards me, I let go of my case and braced myself for impact. Alice reached me first almost knocking me off my feet, to say how small she is she has got a lot of power behind her. "I cannot believe you were going with out saying goodbye," Alice pouted as she pulled away from me, "Shame on you."
"I'm sorry." I muttered feeling totally ashamed.
"So you should be." Charlotte bit me.
"Look I said I was sorry." I said to her holding my hands up in surrender, "So what are you doing here?"
"We are having a little goodbye party for three." Charlotte said giving me a quick hug then reaching for my case as Alice wrapped her arm around my back and we followed Charlotte to the nearest Coffee Shop.
Charlotte and I sat at a table while Alice went to fetch the coffees; I looked up to find Charlotte staring at me intently. "How long have we been friends Bella?" She asked me a hint of hurt on her face.
"You know how long." I replied feeling totally confused.
"Why did you not tell me about Edward Masen?" She said staring me straight in the eyes as my mouth gapped and my eyes opened wide.
"How?" Was the only reply I could come out with.
"How did I guess?" She laughed as I could only mutely nod my head, "It wasn't too difficult."
Before she could say anything else Alice sat down with our coffees; she looked between us staring at my face first and then Charlotte's a frown appearing on her face, "Have I missed something?"
"We were just talking the loan of her flat to your Uncle." Charlotte said a teasing glint in her eye.
"Oh great it saves me from asking." Alice said in relief, "So do you mind?"
It was my turn now to look at their faces Charlotte's face was full of some sort of mischief and Alice's was expectant. "Well I won't be needing it."
"Thank you." Alice said throwing her arms around me happily.
"No problem." I replied, "So how long will your uncle be staying?"
"Not really sure." Alice replied, "Do you know Charlotte?"
"I will have to ask Pete." Charlotte replied then turned to me her eyes full of laughter, "So Bella aren't you curious about Alice's uncle?"
"I think I know everything I need to know from Jasper." I replied through gritted teeth.
"Actually it's quite strange." Alice said with a laugh, "It's like you are swapping places."
"Swapping places?" I asked a sudden uneasiness running through my veins.
"Yeah my Uncle Edward needs to come back to New York and you are going to Las Vegas."
"He's from Las Vegas?" I asked suddenly feeling very nauseated.
"Oh yeah," She replied happily, "When he goes back to Las Vegas he will be your boss."
"Who beat him up?" I suddenly blurted out without really thinking about what I was saying; Charlotte and Alice stared at me in shock.
"How do you know about that?" Alice asked, "Do you know my uncle?"
"Jasper told me and kind of."
"I think it's more than kind of." Charlotte muttered under her breath and I gave her a dirty look, I quickly looked at my watch and luckily for me it was time to check in. I said a quick goodbye to both of them and promised to get in touch once I landed and then made my way to the desk.
Once in the departure lounge I was left alone with my thoughts all of which were about him I really wished sometimes I was built differently that I could get passed things but the people I love and loved would be in my heart forever and I really wanted Edward Masen out of my life.
Before I realised it we were in the air and bound for Las Vegas would my life be any better here this time around or would I get trampled in the dirt once more god how I hated it when your life was in the mercy of things or people you had no control over. Rosalie she would keep me grounded maybe I should confide in her about Edward and hope to hell she doesn't tell Jasper. I need something or someone to keep me right away from him because even though I said some heavy words to him about how I want nothing to do with him, I know he would be able to break down my defences so fast I would be left reeling in the aftershock. God I was rambling in my own head! I needed a drink and fast.
Once we landed I quickly retrieved my suitcase and made my way towards the exit keeping a lookout for Rosalie but she was no where to be seen. I quickly took my cell out and checked the message I sent her and there it was in writing the time I told her and she was never late. Something was wrong, very wrong. I put my suitcase down and was ready to press the send button to call her when she appeared through the doors, she looked harassed.
"God I'm sorry I'm late." She sped towards me grabbing my case and turned back the way she came not really giving me much acknowledgement not even a hug. Yep something was definitely wrong.
"Is everything Ok?" I asked jogging behind her as she rushed off.
"I'm so sorry but we need to get the car back to Emmett quickly." She replied literally throwing my case in the back of the car it made a loud bang when it hit the back seats.
"What's wrong?" I asked putting my hand on her shoulder in a soothing gesture.
"Some serious shit went off this morning." Rosalie spat out.
"What kind of shit?" I asked.
"Someone shot and killed a CSI at close range this morning." She said in a rush.
"Who got killed?" I asked unable to keep the panic out of my voice, my heart pounding rapidly in my chest as I waited for her answer.
"Sorry I forget you used to work here." She replied taking her sweet time to answer me as she looked at me in concern, "Riley Brown, did you know him?"
Luckily we were in the car as I slumped slightly in relief but it was only temporary as the sadness took a hold, Riley and I were newbies together. "Yeah I knew him." I said, "Do they know who did it?"
"No they're investigating it." Rosalie said sighing heavily as she brushed a hand through her hair.
"So why are we in a rush?" I asked as we pulled onto their drive.
"Oh the fucking supervisor has gone MIA." Rosalie spat out.
"Edward's gone missing?" I asked as the air left my body as if I had been kicked in the stomach hard.
"Oh yeah," Rosalie replied, "The fucker has left Emmett to pick up all the slack, the sheriff was in a shit mood anyway now he's really pissed."
"Oh fuck!" I replied as Rosalie gave me a dirty look I quickly got out of the car following her into the house, there was no time to really take notice of my new surroundings as we dumped my suitcase in the middle of the floor and left the house.
As we got back in the car Rosalie made a quick call then threw her cell on the back seat, "Emmett's still not found him."
"Have you tried Lady T's" I spat out bitterly.
Rosalie looked over at me turned back to the road then must have clicked on to what I said and turn to face me shock registered on her face, "Now how the fuck do you know about her?"
"I've been here before I know about his passed well a little." I said trying to keep the hurt hidden.
"Well that was the first place Emmett went," Rosalie replied, "She said he's not been in touch since before he went to New York."
"No way do I believe that." I scoffed folding my arms in front of me.
"Why would she lie," Rosalie looked at me as if I had grown an extra head, "Ok Swan what the fuck is going on?"
"What do you mean?" I replied as we pulled up to the station. My heart seemed to skip a beat as I looked around the car park, my eyes suddenly landed on a silver Volvo parked at the edge of the car park. I quickly turned back to Rosalie who was staring at me strangely.
"Well you've definitely got a problem with Lady T so why?" She asked.
"What? Me. No." I stammered out, Rosalie just laughed at me.
We got out of the car just as Emmett came rushing towards, "Hey Bella," He waved looking slightly distracted as he wrapped his arms around Rosalie and sunk his head into her hair, I turned away wanting to give them some privacy.
"Any luck?" Rosalie asked.
"I've thought of everywhere he might go but it's like he's vanished," He murmured his head still buried, "I even tried Esme."
"Emmett you didn't." Rosalie scolded him.
"I was desperate." He replied, "Luckily Carlisle answered."
"Thank god." Rosalie sighed in relief.
"He wants to be kept informed." Emmett replied, "I just don't know where else to look."
"Should we split up and look?" I ventured.
"No Bella." Rosalie said sharply, "You've only just arrived."
"I don't mind I want to help." I replied trying to keep my own worries at bay.
"Are you sure?" Emmett asked and I noticed Rosalie pull away and give him a stern look, "What the sooner we find him the sooner we can get Bella settled."
"Will you be Ok?" Rosalie asked me in concern.
"I'll be fine." I replied, "Just drop me off near the Stratosphere Hotel."
"Why?" Emmett asked.
"Just do it." I said a little sharply, both Emmett and Rose's eyes widened in shock, I muttered a quick apology to Emmett how come I always end up shouting at him?
We drove in silence and when he pulled up to the front entrance he looked around at me his eyes full of concern. "Let us know if you find him," He took a heavy sigh then looked me straight in the eyes, "I don't know what's going on with you two but he's in enough pain at the moment don't add to it."
The shock of his words hit me like a battering ram and the tears formed in my eyes before I could stop them, "I know what Riley meant to him."
"You always meant more to him." Emmett sighed, "I'm just beginning to understand how much more."
I just shrugged his last comment of and stumbled out of the car. I looked up at the big plush hotel and took a deep breathe before I entered the building.
The reason I wanted to try here is because of two things one his love of fairground rides and the other being this was the hotel we spent our first night together not for sex but I suppose our only date he treated me to dinner then we ended up in the bar getting so drunk that what should have been our first night together was our first hangover together.
I smiled as I remembered how he rubbed my back and held my hair out of my face as I threw up down the toilet and how he lay next to me on the bathroom floor singing softly to me as I fell asleep. The following morning he treated me like I was made of glass which at the time I felt I was and tendered to my every need. We finally made love that afternoon when we both felt well enough too and it was well worth the wait. He always promised to take me back but we never got around to it. My instincts were telling me he would be in the bar the strange thing about Vegas is if you're paying you can always get a drink even in posh establishments.
I made my way to the Back Alley Bar once inside it was dark so I let my eyes adjust to the difference in light and once I could make things out I had a quick look around. I noticed him straight away his back was to me and he was slumped over the bar. I made my way slowly towards him the closer I got the louder my heart beat in my chest. Once I was just standing a couple of feet away from him I stopped.
"Edward." I said gently, my feet felt like they were glued to the ground unable to move forwards or try to run away all I could do was hold my breath as I waited for him to respond.
Authors Note: Hope you enjoy this chapter and hope I am still keeping everyone interested. I keep trying to write a couple of chapters in advance but as life is going at the moment I am writing this as I go along.