Disclaimer: Twilight and all its associated characters are owned by Stephenie Meyer.

Authors Notes: I would feel slightly bitter about the fact I have no reviews yet, but the fandom is so massive, I find I just can't manage it. I will not be down trodden though! I shall continue, even if no one reads (If you are sensing some small amount of desperation here, you would be correct). Anyway, the title of this chapter is metaphorical, as I couldn't think of anything else. Feel free to fire off some suggestions. As always, don't forget to feed the author. I hope you enjoy.

Bella POV

Chapter Two: A Shadow in the Doorway

I sighed as I parked outside the station, eyeballing the distance from my truck to the safety of the door. The rain was coming down heavily. I was going to get wet. Glancing around the parking lot I noticed a car that was out of place. Amongst the beat up cars of the locals, and the blue and white police cruisers, the shiny, silver Volvo looked conspicuous. No one in Forks ever bothered to keep nice cars. Everyone was aware it was a futile effort in our damp little town. I wondered, briefly, whom the car belonged to before getting ready to sprint to the door. I could only hope I didn't trip up and end up on my face. It was a likely out come.

I grabbed the lunch I had prepared for my father from the passenger seat and jumped out of car door. I raced through the rain towards the station. By the time I had flung open the door and jumped inside I was soaked. I shook the excess rainwater from my hair, which I had foolishly left loose today and jogged over to the counter and leaned over, shouting for my dad. I loved Charlie with all my heart, but the man couldn't prepare a decent meal to save his life. As long as I was living in Forks, I figured it was my duty to feed him properly.

As I waited for Charlie to emerge from his office, I suddenly realised I wasn't alone in the small reception area. I looked over and saw possibly one of the most handsome men I had ever seen. He was tall and well built, with messy bronze hair that fell over his eyes. It was his eyes that caught me because they were such a startling shade of green. Of course, they were hard to miss because he was openly staring at me. I realised with a start that I had just burst into the building, soaking wet and shouting, probably looking like some woman possessed. I hadn't even noticed him there. I gave him a small, embarrassed smile and could feel myself blushing under his gaze. His expression didn't change so I just shrugged.

"He always forgets to eat."

The man looked like he was about to speak but said nothing. I quirked my eyebrow at him and was about to ask his name before Charlie appeared with a bang of his door and an admonishment for getting wet. I exchanged a few teasing comments with him before heading back home. I glanced quickly at the good-looking stranger before heading back out the door. I had felt his gaze on my back throughout my conversation with my dad he was still staring at me when I left. As I jogged through the now slightly lighter rain, I looked over at the Volvo. There was someone sitting in the passenger seat but the driver seat was empty. The man must be the Volvo owner I decided. When I hopped back up into my truck I pulled down the overhead mirror and let out a small squeak of horror. I looked like I'd just been pulled from a hurricane. The first good looking guy to turn up in Forks since I moved back, and I had to look like the mad woman from the attic. I took a few calming breaths while pulling my fingers through my long hair. It was a futile effort. At least, I comforted myself silently; I probably wouldn't see him again.

~:~

By the time I parked on Main Street, outside a bright pink storefront that also doubled as my front door, the rain had stopped completely but a thick mist had settled over the town. I could barely see three feet in front of me as I opened the door to Boutique. A small brass bell tinkled over my head and the owner; also my best friend and roommate glanced up from where she stood. Alice Brandon was tiny, but she never let that stop her. The girl was a ball of energy and laughter that never failed to affect the people around her. She was a ball of sunshine in this perpetually rainy town. I met Alice on my first day of high school when I first moved to Forks at fifteen. We'd barely been apart ever since. When we both decided to move back to Forks after University, we moved in together in an apartment over the shop she had decided to open. Boutique was a high fashion oasis in our small town, bursting with designer names, expensive shoes and bags, and one off pieces designed and made by Alice herself. After two years it had become a kind of fashion cult destination. When Alice had first told me her plan I had told her she was mad.

"Bella, if anywhere needs a fashion fix, it's Forks. I mean you have to go all the way to Seattle just to see the word Manolo written down, let alone actually get a pair. Trust me."

She had stuck to her guns and was now a roaring success, with a highly popular online store to tie it all together.

Alice frowned at me as I walked over to the counter.

"God Bella, you look like a drowned rat. Haven't you ever heard of an umbrella?"

I rolled my eyes at her and laughed. "You're starting to sound like Charlie. What do you want for lunch?"

"Whatever. I have to finish up here and then I'll close up for the hour." She jerked her thumb at a closed dressing room and made a face, before pulling a black dress of one of the wracks and throwing it over the bar. "Try this. Black always flatters every form."

I bit back a laugh at my best friends' disgusted face and pushed through a door to the back room. Hidden behind boxes full of designer clothes was a stairs that led up to our small, two-bed apartment. Once upstairs I put a pot of home made soup on the stove and went to strip out of my wet clothes. I changed into a fresh pair of jeans and my favourite v-neck, fuzzy white sweater before curling up on the couch with a cup of tea. I flicked through a copy of Vogue while I waited for Alice to finish up. I heard the door open and Alice swept into the room, sniffing the air.

"Oooh, mushroom." She threw herself onto the couch beside me. "So, how were the crazies today?"

I grinned and poked her in the ribs. Alice loved to imagine that, as a psychologist that worked in the local hospital, my days were filled with crazy people. More often than not, I was just an anonymous person for them to vent at.

"No crazies today Alice. I just caught up on my paperwork and then I had to go to Alistair's funeral."

"Oh yeah. How was that?"

I shook my head. "Awful. There were only five other people there. And two of them were Nora and John. The minute I saw them, I hid in the corner. The last thing I wanted was an interrogation."

Alice made a face and shook her head. Nora and John had lived in Forks all their lives and made it their business to know everyone else's. They could ruin a reputation in less than a day if they put their minds to it.

"Oh but…" I grinned and Alice gave me a curious look. "There was the most gorgeous guy down at the station when I left Charlie his lunch."

She gave me an incredulous look. "Seriously? Here? In Forks?"

I nodded quickly. "Yup. Absolutely, drop dead, I never need to look at another man again, gorgeous."

"Wow. Who was he?"

I shrugged, looking chagrined. "Dunno. I burst in, soaking wet, looking like a lunatic. You should have seen the way he was staring. And then Charlie appeared. All I know is he was…"

"Gorgeous. I got it." Alice hit me with a cushion and got up to fetch our lunch.

We chatted about nothing in particular over lunch until my cell phone began to chirp beside me. I glanced at the read out and frowned. Charlie usually never called during work unless there was an emergency. I flipped open my phone.

"Charlie. Is everything ok?"

Alice looked up at me, concerned. I could see her straining, trying to hear the other end of the conversation.

"Yeah Bells, everything is fine. Listen, I've got Alistair Cullen's nephew up here looking for his place. Something's come up and I can't take him out myself. Could you?"

I frowned again. My fathers' voice was tight and strained. I knew there was something else. "Dad, what's wrong?"

There was silence for a moment and then a small sigh. "One of the girls has turned up."

My breath caught. Over the past few months, several girls, well young women, had disappeared from several towns in the area, including Forks. Seven were currently missing. Well, I noted absently as I processed the information, six were missing now.

"Bells, listen. I want you and Ali to be careful. Make sure someone knows where you are or where you're going."

I nodded. "Don't worry dad. We know. Listen, the girl…"

"I really don't think I should tell you Bella…"

I cut him off. "I'm going to hear it on the news anyway. I'd rather hear it from you."

I could hear Charlie grinding his teeth together. "It's not pretty Bella. It… It looks like she was tortured. Her injuries were…"

He trailed off and I looked, wide eyed, at Alice. "It's okay dad. Thanks. So, the nephew is at the station?"

Charlie sighed in relief, glad I had changed topic. "Yeah. I just need you to take them out to Cullen's place. You know how hard it can be to spot."

"Sure, sure. I'll be over in ten minutes."

"Thanks Bells."

When I hung up the phone Alice was looking at me curiously. In the back of my mind the phrase serial killer whispered menacingly before I shook it from my head.

"Bella…" Alice's tone was practically begging.

"They found one of the girls."

She gasped. "What? Alive?"

I shook my head and she sucked in a breath. I decided I wouldn't give her the details. Alice slid over the couch towards me and buried her face into my hair.

"I though stuff like that only happened in the Deep South?"

I couldn't help but laugh as I gently pushed her off me. "I've got to go. Apparently Alistair's nephew has shown up. Needs a guide to find the place. And don't you have a town full of fashion disasters to fix?"

She gave me a watery smile. "You're right. Ooh, hey. Maybe the nephew is drop dead gorgeous guy?"

I sighed. "I hope not. I've already made myself look like a crazy person in front of him. Knowing my luck, if it was him, I'd fall flat on my face the minute I saw him."

Alice giggled and handed me a hair clip. "Here. You're hair looks like you just fell out of a twister."

I stuck my tongue out at her and twisted my hair up behind my head. "Thanks Aunty Em." I leaned over and hugged her, kissing her cheek as I did.

"See you later."