A Twisted Tale Chapter 7: 107 A twisted tale, a twilight fanfic

AN: First off, thank you all for the reviews, alerts and hits on the last chapter!

I have a long update for you, my longest as of yet. This chapter is quite heavy on FBI task force mumbo jumbo and probably a bit overloaded with information. If anyone needs a recap of the storyline please feel free to request one, same thing goes if you have any questions. Don't hesitate to ask.

Speaking of questions…

Yes, the The Protective Services Unit is a real working unit. I've done my googling. PSU exists, but their main responsibility is to provide protective support for the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon Building. So I'm not sure they would be even the slightest interested in a simple stalker case…

Yes, there will be blood, some bad language and violence, but the M rating is mostly because of the lemons I'm planning to incorporate into the story.

No, I'm not a motor sports fan in any shape or form. My knowledge about motorcycle racing is pretty much non existent.

Now onto the story… Enjoy!

Chapter 7 - #107 - A twisted tale

. x . X . x . x . X . x . x . X . x

#107

You got wounds; I got salt, or better yet acid.

It will sting; it will burn like ice on fire.

I will pull your nails out, ONE by ONE, very slowly.

If pain is the only true thing you're capable of showing me,

then I'll have it tenfold.

The third threat of the day was delivered with a bouquet of black Roses.

. x . X . x . x . X . x . x . X . x

Time: 15:03

At 15:03 p.m. Edward found himself in the dog park with a soggy tennis ball in his hand giving Jasper a play-by-play account of his meeting with special agent Swan.

When Alice suggested a quiet walk around the block with their nephew she conveniently forgot to mention that her fiancé Jasper and his Rottweiler, Bentley, would be tagging along as well. Not that Edward minded the extra company, quite the opposite actually; safety in numbers felt like the key to survival these days. However, it was darn near impossible to think clearly with a dog barking and running in circles around your legs and Jasper's questions were giving him a headache.

"Hey, don't give me that look Jasper. I still think it's a bad idea."

"And all I'm saying is that I don't understand your reasoning."

"What's there to not understand," Edward grumbled in frustration as he watched the dog scramble through the shrubbery for the ball. "It's not that I don't think she'll do a good job but she's a WOMAN..."

"And you don't work with women because….?"

"I just don't think this will work. You know what happens if I as much as talk to anyone of the female gender. Bam! I get another one of those sick little notes and the lady in question gets a decapitated Barbie doll smeared with blood-red paint in her mail or something...."

"Right, and your solution is what? To live like an eremite and never speak to a woman ever again?"

"I don't know... I…"

Just then Bentley returned again and Edward was glad for the respite. He engaged in a bit of a tug-of-war with the dog over the soggy tennis ball hoping Jasper would drop the subject if he stalled long enough. It didn't work of course. Jasper had a way of always seeing right through the B.S. to the truth of the issue.

"You're not really mad at Alice, are you?" It was more a statement than a question.

Edward shook his head. "I don't much like it when people go behind my back like that. I didn't know they still kept in touch. I didn't even know Bella was working for FBI."

"Neither did I, to be honest, but I think this is something that could work in your advantage."

"I don't want her to get involved in this mess. There must be other options." Edward sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Whatever happened to that security guard Carlisle wanted me to hire? You know that bodybuilder from Seattle? He seemed perfect for the job. "

"He didn't pass the security control. Turns out he had a criminal record for theft and insurance fraud."

"Ouch!"

"Yeah, ouch! If you really don't think Bella or B or whatever she calls herself, is the right person for this, I'm sure we could ask for someone else. The decision is yours… but wouldn't you rather work with someone you know than a total stranger? "

"I can't claim to know her anymore. It's been years. I don't know if you recall, but we didn't part ways under the best of terms."

"Right, I was there, I remember," Jasper said, with a light, but respectful chuckle. "Look, I'm just saying that a female FBI agent sounds like a way more attractive option than one of those King Kong sized bodyguards, that's all." He paused to let his words sink in before going in for the kill. "Alice told me special agent Swan looks all fit and fabulous these days."

"Jasper!"

"What? Alice's words not mine."

. x . X . x . x . X . x . x . X . x

Back at the FBI Headquarters…

"Yes, rohypnol or maybe GHB, that would be my guess too…," Seth Clearwater nodded as he flipped through the pages in his notebook. "Let's see, the year was 2003, Edward and his brother....eh.... What's his name again?"

"His name is Emmett," Bella rose from her seat and attached a photo of Emmett to the whiteboard with a magnet. "Emmett McCarty Cullen, gym owner, 28 years old, the oldest one out of Cullen's three adopted children."

"Dr. Carlisle Cullen is you all know is one of the four founders of VolteraBiotech Inc, a lucrative biotech and pharmaceutical business. Thank you Swan," FBI Chief Inspector Jason Jenks nodded while motioning for his other junior field agent to continue.

"Right, well both the Cullen brothers were booked to do a photo shoot for a print ad promoting some sports drink, everything was handled by a small but well renowned agency in Manhattan. They showed up at the studio accompanied by someone from the agency. The photographer was a freelancer working under the name Jamie T Wilson," Seth paused to scribble down the name with a red marker on the whiteboard.

"The photo shoot was legit. Everything went smoothly, they got there, took the pictures and left. The following day, however, Edward Cullen got a call from the photographer asking if he could come back later that week for some additional shots. There were some technical issues, allegedly one of the assistants ruined a whole roll of film in the darkroom."

"Funny how it's always the squints in the lab who have to take all the blame," Eric Yorkie, the forensic specialist assigned to the case commented somewhat sourly.

"This was back in the day when analog cameras were still widely used," Seth shrugged."Anyway, our guy went back to the studio, alone this time. It was a hot summer day and the air-conditioner was supposedly broken and the photographer kept trying to persuade him to pose shirtless, which of course was not part of the original deal."

"When he refused he was drugged?" Dropping her elbows to the table, Bella waited for the confirmation, already weary of the predictability in what she was hearing.

"Something like that," Seth nodded. "They took a lunch break around noon, Chinese takeout. Cullen drank mineral water and ate an egg roll. The next thing he remembers is waking up on the floor, with his clothes removed and the photographer hovering over him with his camera. To make a long story short he fought his way out and escaped with minor head and right hand injuries. No sign of sexual assault apart from the nonconsensual photos. The incident was never reported, until now…"

"I see, and these nonconsensual photos are the same photographs that showed up in Cullen's bedroom?," Eric Yorkie asked, pushing his glasses up his nose to take a better look at the various photos on the whiteboard.

"In an envelope on his pillow, yes, but there is more... I don't know if you've heard about the murder case that our major crime unit has been investigating over the last couple of months. You may have read about it in the papers. A 28-yea-old male found dead, lying naked, face down on a parking lot outside a night club in Rochelle."

"Oh, I know this one," Mike Newton, raised his hand like a school kid. "It's Judge Harridan's nephew right?"

"Yes, that's the one," Seth confirmed with a nod, adding not one but two new names to the whiteboard. "The victim's name was Victor Harridan and the number one suspect is the former boyfriend James Turner, a notorious video director in the underground porn industry. Our colleges had a warrant for his arrest but he got away and has not been located as to date."

At this point Seth stopped pacing the room and slumped back into his chair. "Should I continue or do you want to take over?," he asked with a glance in his boss's direction.

"I'll take it from here," Jenks said with a firm voice.

"What I'm about to tell you now is off the record. Cullen newer pressed charges against the sketchy photographer, but someone else did. Jamie T Wilson, went into hiding about two years ago after being sued for sexual harassment by one of his former clients. We have reason to believe that these two people, the photographer, Jamie T Wilson, and the murder suspect James Turner, are the same person. It's a bit of a sidetrack and it's just a hunch right now but if we're right it could be a pretty big breakthrough. "

Bella cleared her throat. "A hunch, Chief? So basically there is no evidence to support this theory. Besides it's not a side track, it's a completely different track all together. Shouldn't our main priority be to prevent, protect and investigate the threats against Edward Cullen?"

"That is correct, but you should all be aware of this parallel investigation and that a lot of eyes will be following the development of our work. Like I said, this could be a big breakthrough… or it could be nothing… I just thought I'd give you the heads up."

. x . X . x . x . X . x . x . X . x

Later at the gym…

Time: 16:11

"One-two-three Jab, Right Cross, Jab…."

Emmett called out combinations in rapid-fire succession and Edward gave the sand bag another series of punches.

"Is that the best you got?"

Edward grunted in response and threw another punch.

He had been going at it for a good twenty minutes now. Sweat poured from his body and his breathing was heavy and labored, but it sure felt good to blow off some steam.

"Keep your hands up and your chin down!"

"I f*king hate it when you tell me what to do!," Edward panted in between jabs.

Emmett laughed before bellowing out another jab cross combo, tightening his hold on the sandbag.

They continued in similar fashion, until Edwards muscles ached it felt like someone cut them with a knife.

He collapsed half-leaning, half-slumping on the nearest bench while his brother disappeared to take an incoming phone call in the back room.

. x . X . x . x . X . x . x . X . x

"You wanna to talk about it?," Emmett asked as he reemerged a few minutes later holding a fluffy white towel in one hand and a bottle of water in the other.

"Not particularly, no. I should hit the shower," Edward answered but made no move to get up.

"You want to hear what I think?," Emmett said, draping the towel over Edwards head before he sank down on the bench next to him

Edward sighed in aggravation and lifted the towel off his face. "If I say no, you'll just tell me anyway, right?"

His brother raised an eyebrow at that. "Nothing wrong with offering some honest advice…"

"I'm serious Emmett. I don't want to talk about it. I'm done talking about it"

"Fine, suite yourself. One question though, is it true that the duckling has turned into quite the swan? I heard she has grown some curves and is looking very fit these days."

Edward fixed him with a glare. "Not talking about it."

"Maybe you should, cuz I'm sensing a lot of pent up frustration here," Emmett smirked. "I always did like the Swanster, you know that. But it's painfully clear that you're still having unresolved issues with the lady in question. What's up with that? It's been what almost ten years now since... well you know…"

"Eight years," Edward caught himself correcting his brother. "Not that it is any of your business but I do NOT have any unresolved issues related to Isabella Swan."

"Then why won't you work with her?," Emmett quirked an eyebrow. "Can't take orders from a woman? Don't trust her? Don't trust yourself around her? Or is it all of the above?"

"Don't give me that crap. I'm just not comfortable with the idea of having FBI and Bella Swan scrutinizing my every move, overlooking my every step. I'd rather stick with my crazy stalker, thank you very much…"

"You don't mean that!"

"Yeah, at this point I think I kind of do," Edward shrugged, tossing the by now sweat soaked towel over his shoulder. "Actually what I really need is to find a safer place to live. It's the break-ins that get's to me the most…the rest is annoying but tolerable."

"If that's how you feel, then why not skip town altogether? I'm sure mom and dad would be glad to have you… or you know Alaska is always an option."

"I haven't spoken to Kate in over two years, Alaska is not an option." Edward shuddered at the mere thought of imposing on his ex girlfriend.

"How about somewhere tropical? Like Aruba or Bermuda or… The possibilities are endless. You could spend a year island jumping in the Caribbean."

"Yes, because it's so easy to travel with studio equipment," Edward rolled his eyes at the absurdity of the suggestion. "You do know what I do for a living, right? I wouldn't go anywhere without my keyboard and my guitars."

"Okay, Forks it is then!"

"Uhm, no, just no!" Edward shook his head as if to rid himself of the ridiculous thought of moving back in with the 'rents. "So not happening!"

Emmett chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "Or you could always stay here and stick it out. You can sleep on my couch for as long as you need, even Rosalie says so."

"How very generous of the royal bitchiness," Edward grumbled under his breath, to which Emmett let out a hearty laugh.

"If she heard you talking shit about her, she'd kick you out on the street faster than you can say 'Auf Wiedersehen!'"

"She'd love that, wouldn't she?"

Emmett's smile widened. "I'm sure she would. She could TOTALLY kick your ass, you know!"

Edward rolled his eyes again. "Seriously though, Emmett, are you sure it's okay for me to stay at your place? You have your own family to think of now. I doubt this maniac will stop harassing me just because I move to a different part of town. I'd hate to see anything happen to Elliot, or anyone else for that matter, because of me."

"Shit, so would I Edward, but you're family too. Who can you trust if not your family?"

"It would only be until I can find somewhere else to stay."

"That's cool, you can stay as long as you need. From what I've heard we might have something vacant by the end of the month. Felix has given his notice that he's moving out. You remember Felix right? That guy on second floor that drives that stupid-looking van with the two rear-ends….."

"I know who he is. I hate to tell you Emmett, but Alice already promised that room to Bella."

"What? Why would she do that without talking to me first? For a silent partner she's been taking an awful lot of liberties lately."

"Yeah well it's Alice we're talking about, what did you expect? She gave her a job too, here at the gym. I have no doubt Bella will accept both offers."

"Why? Is she short on cash or something? I though Bella already had a well paid full time job?"

"She does, the room and the job is all part of whatever master plan they are scheming. Some sort of undercover investigative crap where little miss secret agent will work toward infiltrating every aspect of, not just mine, but all our lives as quickly and as completely as possible."

Emmett scratched his head and shrugged, "She'd be working under cover? That actually sounds like a pretty good plan, if you ask me."

Edward shook his head in frustration. "No, it's an exceptionally bad idea. I really, REALLY don't want her anywhere near this mess that is my life."

"You need to get over yourself. I know she supposedly broke your heart when you were eighteen, but that's an awful long time to hold a grudge. Sometimes you just need to bite the sour apple and take it like a man."

"Gee, thank you Dr. Phil. Now I know exactly what to do," Edward replied, a snarky bite to his tone.

Emmett only laughed and patted his shoulder. "I knew you would come to your senses. I'll move my office down to the basement. You can have your own room and everything."

. x . X . x . x . X . x . x . X . x

Back at the FBI Headquarters…

Time: 16:11

"Alright, we have our mission and we have our task force, what's next on the agenda Swan you've spoken to Cullen, how do you suggest we proceed?"

"My suggestion Chief, would be that you put whatever 'in' you might have with the NYPD to use. The sooner they hand over what evidence they have the sooner we can get to work."

Bella chewed on her lower lip as she waited for her boss's response. Depending on the situation, Jenks could be a very intimidating man.

The corner of his mouth twitched. "I'll have my secretary schedule a round on the golf course with the police chief. Anything else?"

Bella tapped her fingernails on the folder in front of her and glanced over at Seth. Seth nodded his head.

"We need to put together a plan of action, Chief. I have a few ideas."

"Let's hear them."

Bella cleared her throat. "It's not as much a plan as it is a list of who should do what. Yorkie, I want the envelopes, photos and notes analyzed. Newton, contact the Behavioral Analysis Unit in Quantico. We need a profiler and someone specialized in handwriting to take a look at this as well. Atera and Uluy, you guys will look into the business side of this. Look for business deals gone sour, unpaid depths, broken contracts, potential motives, potential corporation enemies… the works…"

She looked up briefly, making eye contact with each of her colleagues. "Clearwater you'll look into the technical aspects of this; the phone calls, text messages, the surveillance tapes. Paul down in tech lab will help you. Also I want Clearwater and Yorkie to assist me in my fieldwork and… uhm.. that's about it for now."

Jenks nodded. "Cullen needs to be moved to a safer location. Do you have a plan for that as well?"

"I want to move him to the McCarty/Cullen building, Chief."

"The McCarty/Cullen building?"

"It's an old warehouse, converted to a state-of-the-art gym owned by the Cullen Medical cooperation. The steel frame of the building is three stories high; the gym takes up the basement and the main part of the ground level. The second floor is apartment rental space and third floor is were Emmett McCarty and Alice Cullen live with their significant others. "

"Have you seen this building?"

"No, not yet, but from what I've heard it should be relatively easy to secure. There is only one way to access the third floor. I'll check it out and get back to you."

"Yorkie, you go with her!"

"Yes Chief. Eric saluted, straightening his posture as his hand touched the brim of an imaginary hat.

Jenks looked annoyed, but let the gesture pass. "Swan, are you still planning on operating under cover?"

"Yes, I'll be taking on the identity of Arizona Bell Hawkins, an old college friend of Alice Cullen. Ms. Hawkins is newly arrived from Seattle and has been offered both a part time job at the gym as well as a room on the second floor of the building."

"That sounds solid. I want Clearwater on the inside as well. We could have him pose as a janitor or carpenter or handy man or something?"

Seth groaned and Bella sniggered. "Don't worry I'll get you some power tools to play with."

"Alright, that's enough! Let's get to work!" Jenks said, ending the meeting by standing up and putting his jacket on. "I want a progress report same time tomorrow."

AN2:

Thoughts? Love it? Hate It? Please let me know!

Keep those reviews coming, and I'll reward you with some Bella/Edward one on one interaction in the next chapter.

A teaser taken from the upcoming chapter:

"I'm not sure I'm following, Chief," Bella looked at her boss with an expression of uncertainty. "You are seriously suggesting putting Cullen and the dog in a safe house?"

And another one:

"Wait! A room, as in one room? I'll have my own hotel room, thank you very much."

"Nope, sorry! No can do." she shook her head, and, to her credit, she actually did look sorry. "I've got my orders. You've got yourself a roommate whether you like it or not."

"Oh great, this ought to be interesting!"

BTW this story now has a banner. You can look at it at http://tinyurl(.)com/twistedtale and I will link it in my profile…

Disclaimer

All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

I do not in any way profit from this story and that all creative rights to the Twilight characters belong to their original creator, Stephenie Meyer.

The plot line though is my own brainchild, so please don't steal it. I worked hard to come up with it! (Really, I did.)