The Letter

Part Six

Edward wanted to do something, but wouldn't risk Will. Though it went against his instinct to protect those he cared for, he wasn't foolish, either. One wrong move could put them in danger, and a part of him knew his mind wouldn't survive watching another child die.

"Edward?" Will's voice sounded so small as he called from the darkest part of the attic where they hid. "There's a window over here."

"Be careful, in case someone is watching the house." Under different circumstances, Edward would've laughed at how fast he moved to join Will. Bella shouldn't be a target, but the suspect could go after her to use against her father. That fact also made Will an even bigger target, and he was only armed with a bat they'd found in the closet and a kitchen knife he grabbed before heading upstairs.

The window was round and about three feet in diameter. The shudders weren't the type that opened fully, giving them only a glimpse of the street in front of the house.

"Can you see anything?" Will's voice kept getting smaller, and there was no missing the way he shivered. It had nothing to do with the cold at the moment; it was fear.

"Nothing yet." Would the police come in with lights and sirens, alerting the suspect? His question was answered as two unmarked cars entered from each end of the street without headlights, another two police cruisers followed them a few car lengths behind.

"They're here." The relief in his voice and small body matched Edward's own feelings. "Everything will be fine."

Edward wanted to believe, but it was so hard considering his past. A police car had been down the street when his sister and niece died; they hadn't gotten to them in time. The shots had been fired before the two officers had even seen the commotion.

The worst could happen in the blink of an eye.

Without hesitation, Edward lifted Will in his arms, whispering soothing words as the boy started to openly cry again. The fear of what happened to his father, what could happen to his family despite the arrival of the cavalry, left Will unable to hold it all inside himself.

Edward watched as several men and women approached both Bella's and her parents' houses, separating into two teams of six. They circled the main buildings, testing the front doors.

Will quieted, watching but not processing it. The scene across the street seemed like a movie his dad liked to watch. Real life seemed more horrifying. His tears slid silently down his cheek and wet Edward's sweater on his shoulder and neck. For the first time, he realized he didn't have elf ears. Edward must've forgotten that part of his "act" after he returned with his sister from shopping earlier.

He might be just a kid, but wasn't stupid. He knew Edward had gotten the letter by mistake. Or did he? Maybe Santa worked in mysterious ways, considering Edward was the perfect guy for his sister.

Which is gross, Will thought.

Will also knew Edward was hurting, but he wasn't sure why. Maybe by helping his sister, it was Santa's way of helping Edward, too. He wanted to believe that; he had to. Silently, he asked Santa for one more favor, to protect his sister and parents.

"I can't watch," Will whispered, his arms tightening around Edward's neck.

"Please don't," Edward choked up, and Will knew he was thinking of something that made him sad. "If something happens, I'll do my best to protect you."

"I know."

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Bella heard the creak of the fifth stair from the top; its own kind of alarm. Her parents' house had one, too. It wouldn't be long before the intruder walked into her bedroom. Her fingers ached with how tight she held her crude but necessary weapon. She relaxed slightly, knowing it was for the best; any delay in her reactions could prove fatal.

Though her father hadn't been able to match the suspect in his shooting to any of the mug shots, a few others in the area recognized the man. He wasn't from the area, and no one seemed to know him, but he'd been seen around the shops and restaurants. Though he didn't cause any problems, he was gruff and dismissive, always looking over his shoulder.

The suspect had shot four people in the series of robberies, including her father. She had to put a stop to his reign of terror that night. She only wished she'd been prepared for this outcome. Her concern had been her brother and her parents; she hadn't taken into account that he'd come after her to use as leverage.

Though why the man would take the chance of someone else positively identifying him, was beyond her. Desperate times called for desperate measures? Unless he planned to kill them all.

She startled only slightly at the squeak of her bedroom door, something she was thankful she hadn't taken the time to fix. Any moment now, the intruder would find her little hiding spot.

She was ready…she hoped.

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Alec Jacobson walked with purpose, determined to find the daughter of the cop his stupid little brother, James, had shot. He didn't want to hurt her, but he wanted to make sure James didn't end up in prison. What better way than to use the young woman as a bargaining chip? He knew he was taking a risk, but he'd do anything to save his brother, even from himself. He had sent his brother away to get the help he needed with his addiction. Yet, he knew with a conviction on James's record, it would be next to impossible for him to get a job when he was ready.

He was positive the woman had been home for at least an hour before he knocked out the undercover cops watching the houses. They had checked in shortly before so he had some time to deal with the delicate issue of ensuring his brother still had a future.

There wasn't much information online about Bella Swan, other than where she worked and had gone to school out of state. She rarely used social media unless she was out with friends, and most of those instances, it was only because she'd been tagged. Locations on her social media accounts were never posted, and she kept to herself most of the time, working hard and playing rarely. She was careful, he had to give her that credit. Considering her father was a cop and a couple of other family members, it was likely genetically encoded.

The element of surprise was necessary.

The bedroom door was slightly ajar, and he pushed it slightly, wincing at the high pitch whine of the door hinge. He brought his gun up, pointing it directly at the bed, but found it empty. Cursing, he looked underneath it and then in the closet but didn't find her. A light coming from under another door of her bedroom caught his eye—a bathroom.

Should he wait? Give her a chance to finish? Element of surprise, he reminded himself. It was for the best; he'd make it clear he didn't want to hurt her. Not like that.

He shouldered the bathroom door hard, and it slammed back into the wall. Gun in hand, he swept the room but didn't find the woman. Only one place was left to check; the shower. He took one step toward it, but something squished under his boot. Under it was a bottle of bathroom cleaner. Keeping an eye on the shower curtain, he lifted the towel over several items found under a bathroom sink. He leaped for the cabinet and pointed his gun as he threw the doors open.

He screamed in agony as something came down on his gun hand, the weapon tumbling to the ground. A bullet hit the wall with a thud, a wild-haired, red-eyed woman came at him with a bottle of conditioner. She screamed like a banshee, smashing his nose in, and darkness started to diminish his vision.

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"Edward!" Will screamed at the bullet that tore through the air. Even from several yards away, it sounded like it was right beside them. "Bella!" The boy started to cry openly as all the officers closed in on Bella's house, kicking the front door in and flooding inside.

Minutes passed like hours, Edward's heart in his throat. An unsettling coolness settled in his gut, his mind going numb. He refused to imagine the worst. Will started to chant, "please save her, please save her" over and over, and it didn't take long for him to whisper the words as well. He slid down the wall, keeping Will in his arms as they waited for someone to tell them it was safe.

Would life ever be the same after this?

Edward didn't think so.

AN: Thanks to Kyla713 for your help with the chapter. I won't keep you waiting long. Thanks for reading and reviewing!