Finding the Truth

EDWARD'S POV

While watching Bella sleep, I came to a decision. I needed to find out as much information as I could about the murder of Danielle and Matthew Graham.

Going over to the computer, I typed their names into Google. Only one article and a link to a local new station in [city] came up. I clicked the news station first and watched the report.

Danielle and Matthew Graham were brutally murdered yesterday evening. Not much is known at this time, but Star Command is conducting an investigation. There was one survivor found. Star Command is not releasing their name at this time and their injuries are unknown.

The newspaper article added nothing.

I sat back and ran my rough hand through my hair. If this wasn't a good idea, Alice would have called me. Picking up the house phone, I dialed the number Charlie had given us. "Commander Swan," I said to the operator and was instantly connected.

CHARLIES'S POV

I listened as Edward explained how Isabella wanted him, Alice, and Jasper to help her remember what she saw months ago. The method he described, while interesting, had me feeling a little doubtful it would work.

"It's safe, Charlie," Edward said. "Plus, Carlisle will be home if Bella freaks out in the process."

I sighed, looking at the framed picture of Isabella I had on my desk. "Soooo… what do you need from me?" I asked.

"I would like to know everything you can tell me about the crime scene. I won't use the information but think it would be a good idea to know beforehand. Get over the shock now before I hear it from Bella's perspective," he said.

I rubbed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Before I tell you anything, has Isabella told you anything?" I didn't want to slip up and tell him something different.

When he finished, I shook of my head. The only thing she left out was escaping to Scotland until it was safe to return. "Edward, I'm honestly surprised she told you that much."

I paused a moment, gathering myself. Three days ago, I had reread the report and reexamined the pictures for some clue. I didn't see anything I hadn't before.

"The first civilian officer on the scene thought Danielle and Matthew were dead. Since they both were still in uniform, he called Star Command. Matthew was found in the threshold of the kitchen, lying in a pool of blood from a head and chest wound. He was alive but barely holding on and died on the operating table of internal bleeding. The doctors couldn't stitch him up fast enough, and there was no telling how long he was on the floor. If the Drakoan specialist hadn't been on vacation, Matthew might have lived."

I paused again, shaking off the unpleasant feelings providing this information to Edward brought to my mind. The pictures were gruesome.

"Danielle had multiple stab wounds to the chest. One pierced her aorta, and she died instantly. No one thought Isabella was home, but when they searched the upstairs rooms, hours later, a SC officer found her under the bed. Of course, they got her out of there and to the hospital. Isabella was in complete state of shock and wouldn't talk to anyone for a long time."

The line was silent for several minutes. "Thank you, Charlie, this is good to know. Can I ask you one more question?"

"Absolutely. I can tell that you must really care about her to be willing to help her this way."

"I do, as a friend should," he said, but I knew better—he loved her, and I was happy for Isabella. "Is her necklace like a mood ring?"

"Why do you ask?" I asked, wondering why he asked.

"Well, Bella fell asleep against me, and when I laid her down, I noticed her necklace was tight. My fingers brushed the pendant when I loosened it, and the stone turned a faint pink, almost the color of a cherry blossom tree."

I wasn't aware Isabella was wearing the magical necklace, but decided to go with what Edward thought it was. "Yes, it is."

"Thanks again. I'll let you get back to evening."

That by far was the most interesting conversation I've had in a while, and I wasn't exactly sure what to make of the color the pendant turned. It was time to call Malcolm and get his take on that turn of events.

EDWARD'S POV

The way Charlie paused before answering my last question made me feel like he was hiding something about Bella's necklace. I wished I had gone to visit him instead of calling him so I could have heard his thoughts.

The others walked in as I ended the call. "So," Jasper said, his gaze moving to the couch where Bella still slept. "How do you want to proceed?"

I had given much thought to that. "I need you to keep her relaxed and as calm as you can without putting her to sleep. Alice, keep an eye out for any complications. Also, can you draw what you hear in regards to the intruder?"

"No problem, Edward," they both answered in unison.

"What did you learn from Charlie?" Esme asked.

I ran a rough hand down my face before relating the details of the murders.

"She'll be waking soon," Alice thought right as I finished.

I turned and looked over at Bella. Sure enough she stretched and sat up. She blushed feverishly when she noticed everyone looking at her.

I love that about her, I thought as I moved and sat beside her.

"Bella, are you sure you want to as we discussed?" I asked.

She nodded. "I want to remember."

All but Jasper and Alice left the rumpus room, giving us the illusion of privacy.

"I want you to lie back down and close your eyes," I instructed. "Think back to right before you walked in the house. Tell me what you saw, what you heard, what you smelled. Leave out no detail. If you want to stop, open your eyes."

Bella did as I directed. Once settled, she took a deep breath, releasing it slowly.

I read Jasper's mind as I took her hand, lending her my strength.

"She's collecting herself."

"Sammie had just dropped me off, complaining the whole way that we could have at least gotten something to eat, but I was so insistent about getting home," Bella said. "I didn't know why, I just needed to get home. Nothing seemed wrong from outside, so I walked in and called out letting Matthew and Danielle know I was home." She paused a moment, breathing deeply again. "Danielle yelled for me to run and hide." She paused again. "I didn't listen and continued toward the kitchen. Matthew was in the kitchen doorway… in a pool of blood. I screamed and looked away from him and into the kitchen. Danielle was there and so was the intruder, holding a knife inches from her. She again yelled for me to run. My legs wouldn't respond and I watched the knife disappeared into her chest."

"She's going to breakdown," Jasper and Alice transmitted.

My attention was fixed on Bella as she opened her eyes. I helped into a sitting position. "Maybe we should stop," I suggested.

"No, I need to finish. I want a little break," she said, holding her head in her hands while taking deep breaths.

I got up and went into the kitchen. Opening a cabinet, I got out a glass and filled it with tap water.

Carlisle met me in there. "I don't like this, Edward. It's putting a lot of stress on her heart."

"I know, but she wants to continue. What more can we do?" I asked.

Carlisle didn't respond for a moment. "Talk her out of it."

"I won't do that," I replied.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Continue, but be cautious," he said, waving toward the door.

Walking out, I saw Bella was in the same position I'd left her in. Alice was sitting next to her, rubbing her back while Jasper kept his distance.

"Bella, I want to ask again, are you sure about this?" I asked, holding the glass where she could see it.

Looking up at me, she accepted the water.

"Yes," she responded, taking a couple of sips before setting the glass on the coffee table and lying back down. She gathered herself again and started speaking a heartbeat later.

"The attacker turned toward me and I screamed again. Blood dripped off the knife, pooling at his feet. He wiped it on his shirt as he addressed to me. I couldn't hear him, but I couldn't take me eyes off his face." She stopped speaking.

I glanced over at Alice and Jasper. They wore puzzled expressions.

Bella's heart was racing faster than we had ever heard before.

Carlisle came into the room. "Stop this, Edward, her heart can't take much more," he shouted with his thoughts.

I was about to tell her to sit up and take a break when she started speaking again. We all noticed her heart had slowed to its normal pace once again.

"I remember his face. It was round with a square jaw, high and drawn cheekbones. He had a flat, defined forehead with no wrinkles visible. Eyes deep-set, almond shaped, and close together with long lashes. His eyes were a deep blue, like dark jeans. Black hair that was closed shaved on the sides, almost military in nature, but longer on the top. He had flat eyebrows, blunt at the end. Clean-shaven face. Skin smooth besides the thick and almost straight scar running from above his right eye to just above the left side of his chin. His nose was narrow at the top, thick and broad in the middle, with wide nostrils at the end. His bottom lip was full, with a thin upper lip that was raised slightly on the right side, but he wasn't smiling. His teeth were yellow, like that of a smoker, and overlapping front teeth with long and sharp canines."

Bella spoke quickly as she described the intruder. Alice had no trouble keeping up and her hand flew across the sheet of paper.

"Bella, sit up. It's time to stop," I said at the trouble look Carlisle was giving me. I gave her the glass again. "I'll be right back."

Carlisle followed me out of the house.

"Trust me, I was going to stop her from going on," I said, turning to face him once we outside.

"That's not what has me troubled," he said. "There's no way she should have been able to recover that fast. It should have taken at least an hour if not more for her heart to return to a normal rhythm."

"I noticed that, too. What could it mean?" I asked.

"I'm not sure. I'll have to consult my books for an explanation, if there is one."

I pushed my hand through my hair. Bella has been a mystery to me ever since I first met her two years ago.

Gazing up at the night sky, I took a few minutes to reflect on the description Bella gave. I had a strange feeling something more was going to happen before all was said and done.

"I would like to see the picture Alice drew," Bella said the moment I entered the house.

How did she know?

I caught Alice's eye.

"Sit next to her. I can't see how she will react," Alice thought.

Alice handed me the closed sketchpad once I was settled next to Bella on the couch.

"Open it," Bella said.

With a silent groan, I flipped the cover back, revealing the drawing.

A second, then another passed as Bella stared at the page. She gasped out the name "Jacob" before all color drained from her face. Her heart was beating erratically and tears slipped down her face.

"Carlisle," we all yelled.

I quickly acted, pushing her into a lying positing. Jasper raised her feet, stuffing pillows under them as I tucked a blanket around her.

"Alice, call Charlie," Carlisle said, swapping spots with me and took her vitals.