The First Spring

7. Facade

It was a brisk spring morning when Bella was finally allowed to return to work. She took a deep breath at the bottom of the concrete steps before walking up and through the double doors; her shoulders squared while she silently chanted to herself over and over again to keep her composure. Every officer would have their eyes on her.

Chief Forge had originally wanted to wait until the funeral was over before giving her permission to return to her duties, but Bella had convinced Edward to pull some strings in her favor, claiming that her boredom was causing her too much grief and she needed to keep her mind busy. The real reason she wanted to come back though, was to get inside the evidence room and figure out just how much the detective knew.

"Welcome back. Officially." Edward said as he stood at the front of Bella's desk, watching her type furiously on the keyboard. "How do you feel today, Bella?"

"A lot better, actually. Thanks for helping me out, Edward." She said leaning back in her chair and stretching. "I really needed to come back."

He smiled at her, his eyes lingering a little too long before he looked away. "Of course. I take it you're all settled in?"

She nodded and she straightened up, purposely pretending to look distracted at the monitor.

"Then I'll leave you to it. Most of us will be gone for the day, but have my phone calls put through to Emmett if need be. He's staying behind with the Chief."

Bella raised an eyebrow. "Where are you going?" When she realized how bold she sounded she blushed. "I'm sorry, that was inna-"

Edward put a reassuring hand up to cut her off. "No need to apologize, Bella. I won't be too far, don't worry."

As she watched him go, chewing the inside of her cheek, she wondered if he was going back to James's apartment in Port Angeles.

It had been three days since the last note was left on her refrigerator and Bella was getting antsy. She needed answers before she drove herself and Jacob completely crazy.

Once the lobby cleared out and Bella was left alone, she quietly fished in the desk drawer for the master key ring. Pulling it out slowly and tucking it into the sleeve of her sweater, she stood up and padded down the hallway towards the small office that was currently being used as the evidence room for James's murder investigation.

After three tries the door clicked and she pushed it open and stepped inside, closing it behind her. The shutters had already been drawn across the glass window and she kept the light off as she took in her surroundings.

The long table was littered with files and sheets of paper. Empty coffee cups were overflowing from a small garbage can, while the back wall was set up with photographs and notes stuck all over the whiteboard, connected by a series of red string. Bella walked over and looked up at the photographs until she caught her own eyes staring back at her.

Her picture was on the left side with three sticky-notes taped underneath.

Wife.

Separated?

Motive: Abuse? Revenge?

She inhaled slowly and followed the string to a photograph of Jacob and read the notes underneath the small picture.

Bella Swan's ex boyfriend/current boyfriend.

Motive: Jealousy? Revenge?

She suddenly felt lightheaded, and reached her hand out to grab the back of a chair. If she and Jacob were suspects then that meant they were being watched.

Watched by Forks Police Department.

Watched by Edward Cullen.

Watched by somebody else too...

Bella turned and stumbled out of the room, swallowing bile as she juggled the keys in her hand and locked the door. She had just turned around when she caught Chief Forge coming down the hallway, giving her a suspicious look.

"Bella?"

She slid the keys into her back pocket and faked her best smile. "Hey, Chief. I was just looking for you. I thought you'd be in here."

"On my way in, actually." He rubbed his balding head. "What can I do for you, kid?"

Bella blinked. "I just wanted... to thank you personally for letting me come back to work. I know you were nervous but I-"

He squinted as he studied her. "I know you've had a hard year."

She was saved when the sound of the telephone ringing cut through the silence. Bella nodded towards Chief Forge and hurried past him, not daring to look back; for she knew all too well the suspicions of police officers were almost never wrong.

Bella stood stone-faced as her heels sunk into the soft, wet grass. She exhaled deeply as she watched the cemetery curators lower James's urn into the ground. Behind her was Jacob; who kept his eyes focused on her and his expression steely, even when Sue tucked her hand into his arm.

"Don't worry too much." She whispered.

"She's barely said a word since yesterday." He whispered back, keeping his eyes on Bella.

"She just has to get through the emotions on her own."

"That's what worries me."

Leah came up to stand next to Bella as the curators began to fill the small but deep hole; heaps of earth falling on top of the gray urn that contained whatever was left of James.

She nudged Bella's arm. "Did you want to say a few words?"

Bella turned and looked over her shoulder until she met Jacob's eyes. He knew by her expression she was remembering the first night they buried James. Keeping his face still and neutral he waited until she turned back around and took a step towards the burial plot.

"Rest in peace." She said quietly before turning around and walking away.

As Leah and Sue followed slowly, hushed whispers coming from the pair, Jacob jogged ahead and fell into step with Bella.

"Are you alright?" He asked, noticing how she held her arms tightly against her chest.

She didn't look at him as she kept walking. "Yes."

"Are we going to talk about what you found in the evidence room yet?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I already told you. I didn't find anything."

Jacob frowned. "You've always been a terrible liar, Bells."

Bella suddenly stopped walking and leaned down to rest her palms on her knees. "I don't feel so good." She said, closing her eyes.

He rested a soothing hand on her back and gently rubbed. "You'll be okay. Just breathe."

When Sue and Leah caught up they exchanged worried expressions. "Bella, did you eat yet today?" Sue asked.

"She had an egg salad sandwi-" Leah started to say before Bella ran three steps and heaved into the shrubs.

Jacob followed her wordlessly and held her hair back as she knelt into the grass while Leah looked ahead. "Hey, Jake-"

"Not now, Leah."

"Jake. Look."

He followed her gaze towards the parking lot ahead. A police SUV was idly running next to the Rabbit and Jacob's tow-truck. Standing outside at the hood was Edward and Emmett, watching them carefully. When they noticed what was going on they started up the small hill.

"Are you kidding me?" Jacob growled as they approached. "What do you want, Cullen? We're at a funeral."

"Looks to me like it's over." Emmett said, his eyes shifting between the two of them. "You okay, Bella?"

"She's fine." Sue said. We were just leaving." Jacob said. "Come on, Bella."

"Actually, that's not going to happen." Edward clipped, coming to stand between them. "Bella, I'm going to have to ask you to come with us to the station for questioning."

Bella stiffened, looking up at Edward. "Why?"

"I think you know why." He answered, his dark.

"Is she under arrest?" Leah snapped, her arms crossed.

"No." Edward replied, his voice steady.

"Not yet." Emmett muttered, rubbing his chin.

"Then you can't force her to go anywhere." Jacob narrowed his eyes.

"It's okay, Jake." Bella told him, her demeanor suddenly calm. She turned back towards the two brothers. "Can you follow me over?"

Edward nodded and motioned towards the Rabbit. "After you, Miss Swan."

"Bella-" Jacob started before she silenced him with her eyes.

"Go back to work, Jake." She said coldly, before climbing into the Rabbit and shutting the door.