Waste.

BPOV.

"Bella! We've got another one!" Jasper burst into the break room, waving another autopsy photo around. He slid the picture across the table and there it was, bold as brass.

'I thought your case was getting cold,
Your evidence is growing old.
I bet you thought that I was gone,
So come and find me Detective Swan.'

This time the tattoo was on the back of a raped and murdered stripper. "He's learned to rhyme." Jasper stared at me dumbfounded. "What?"

"Is that all you can say on the matter? 'He learned to rhyme'?" Yes, air quotes were used. "What's gotten into you? There is a serial killer on the loose and you haven't even batted an eyelid. What's up with that?" Jasper rarely got angry, but in this moment his chest was heaving and he looked like a caged animal.

"Jasper, calm down. I'm not going to go into a panic because there is no need for it." I placed the photo back down on the table, and looked up at Jasper. "Panic results in prosecuting the wrong people and looking for answers in the wrong places. Sorry, but it's not my case. All I can suggest is that you find any similarities in common with the warehouse killings. At least we know who the young girl gracing our autopsy table is this time. Jasper, I know I don't need to tell you how to do your job. Please, just stop worrying over this killer. It's not going to get us anywhere." I placed my hand on his forearm and smiled up at him.

Jasper half heartedly returned the smile and reluctantly left the break room. I went back to my dinner/breakfast but I had lost my appetite.

EPOV.

"Okay, who kicked Jaspers puppy?" I asked, walking into the break room. The room was empty save for Bella, who was pushing a chicken breast around her plate.

"That would be me." She mumbled, standing up from the table ready to throw her food out.

"Hey, if you don't want that I'll eat it." I stopped her, hating to see good food go to waste. "What is it?"

"It's a mozzarella and pesto stuffed chicken breast. I made it myself. Sorry, I ate all the vegetables."

"It's alright. Vegetables are overrated anyway." I said, tucking into the food. It was delicious. Bella can really cook.

"Wow, your kids must love you."

"I don't have kids." I scoffed around a mouthful of chicken, food particles spraying out. Where the hell did she get that idea?

"Oh, I'm sorry. I saw that photo you have up in your locker and I just assumed." She blushed bright red, her eyebrows knitting together into a frown.

Ahh, I see. I have a photo pinned up inside my locker of me and my sisters children. "Oh, no they are my niece and nephew. Bethany and Chad. That photo was taken on Chad's eighth birthday. He would be nine next month."

"Would be?" Bella sat across from me at the table. "What happened to him?"

Oh shit. I said too much. I stayed silent and chewed on the chicken, which suddenly tasted very dry in my mouth.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't of said anything." Bella held her hands up and backed away from the table.

I took a swig of my soda to clear my mouth. "NO! Sorry, I mean please don't leave. It's just hard to talk about them."

"I understand." She smiled at me. An actual smile. Not forced or sarcastic. A proper Bella Swan genuine smile.

"What time does your shift finish?"

She looked surprised by my question, but answered anyway. "In about twenty minutes. I just had to eat something before I began gnawing at my desk legs." She chuckled at her own funny.

"Great. I've got some paperwork that just needs signing off and then I'll be done. Can I take you out for a drink?" I asked, hoping she'd say yes.

Bella quirked an eyebrow at me. "It's not a date."

"Not unless you want it to be." I grinned. "Okay, okay. It's a joke." I said defensively, holding my hands up as Bella's hand twitched towards her gun. "Please? I'd just like to talk to someone who wasn't there and is not paid to listen to me. Please?"

Bella took her hand off of her belt and relaxed her pose. "Okay. One drink. Any funny business and I'm shooting your balls off and leaving."

She left the room and I relaxed back in my seat. I had a non-date date with Bella.

Uh oh, the killer strikes again!

Working on the next chapter now. Updates won't be as frequent as they have the last couple of weeks ,as I am now back at work after my hols *booo hiss*

Much love xx