"Okay, first things first," Charlie started. "That website is down, out of commission for the foreseeable future. And those... pictures," he said with emphasis, like I wouldn't know which pictures, exactly, he was talking about, "are being removed and deleted from all of their systems as we speak. If they ever do get that site back up, which is doubtful, those pictures won't be there."
He got angrier as he spoke, but I knew it wasn't directed at me, that it was the people responsible for this debacle. I briefly felt sorry for Edward, thinking about when they finally brought him in, but I quickly moved past that and back to what Charlie was telling me.
"Second, this situation fits a pattern of similar incidents around the country." He paused for a moment, waiting for me to digest his words. "It's some sort of ring, Bella. They've hit different cities, always high-end hotel suites," he paused and looked at me. I'm sure he wanted to say something about "my" hotel suite, but he didn't. "Only one time in any given location, and then they're out."
"Okay, but - "
"Hang on, honey, there's more," he interrupted. "I had a team go through that suite," and he paused again. It was like every time he said it, it gave him a bad taste in his mouth or something. I certainly knew how he felt. It still made me nauseous. "There was no evidence. Nothing. No fingerprints, no wiring, no cameras. From the variety of pictures and angles that the photographs were taken," he stopped, clearing his throat and taking a sip of water. Poor Charlie. I really was putting him through a horrible ordeal. "As I was saying, from the angles, there had to have been twenty cameras, at a minimum. And you say you didn't see anything, so - "
"No, dad, I didn't see anything, Jesus," I said angrily. How dare he fucking insinuate that I saw them but wasn't telling him.
"That's not what I was saying Bella, and you damn well know it." He glared at me over his glasses, a move he used to pull when I was in high school and missed my curfew. I just glared right back, refusing to be intimidated by my own father. He cleared his throat again, shuffled his papers, and continued to tell me what his team had discovered.
"According to our investigation, this group, whoever they are, they always have someone on the inside, someone in the hotels who gives them access, maybe suggests possible targets, usually people attending conventions." He paused at the word "conventions," waiting for me to say something, but I simply nodded in acknowledgement. It was almost like he was baiting me for an argument. Or it could be the fact that I hadn't slept in three days.
He cleared his throat again to get my attention.
"Based on the information you gave us, we interviewed several employees of the hotel, and we found the accomplice. He's been arrested and is being questioned right now."
I looked at him, waiting for him to enlighten me, tell me who it was, but he just stared at me. I finally had to ask him.
"Well?" I asked. He said nothing. "Who is it? Who's the accomplice? Who did you arrest?"
He looked down at his paperwork again, like he couldn't remember the guy's name.
"Black," he said. "Jacob Black." Then he looked up at me, waiting for me to tell me who he was.
"I have no idea who that is. I don't know anyone by that name."
He looked down and started rummaging through his paperwork. His glasses were on the tip of his nose, and he kept moving his head to look through the glasses and then above them. If this wasn't such a serious, depressing issue, it would be almost comical.
"He was also known as 'Jake.'"
Jake. That struck a chord, for some reason. Jake. Who was he, who did I see that night, who did I talk to, who did Edward talk to -
"Jake, we good?" he asked, and the bartender nodded back.
"Yes, Sir. Have a good evening," the bartender replied with a smile.
I know, more plot. More evidence piling up against Edward. I can't tell you what's gonna happen, but I can tell you that I'm gonna post 1 or 2 chapters a day until we reach 30, which is the end, and I think everyone will be happy with the ending. :)
Fair warning, next chapter is all plot, too, but we'll get back to the fluff in 17.
Thanks again, for sticking with me.
All things "Twilight" belong to Stephanie Meyer. The remainder of the perversion is all mine. :)