A/N:Hi everyone, sorry for the delay. I did say this would have slower updates. If your reading Before I die, I'm writing the next chapter however its going slow.

This is not BETA'D .

ENJOY!

Chapter 16 Connections

BELLA POV

I rolled onto my side, trying to get comfortable, tonight's words still playing in my head. I shouldn't have gone that far but damn it, I needed to know. Now that I knew, I regretted what I said. Well maybe how it came out but all in all I needed to know.

So why did I feel bad for what had happened tonight? Was it because I let myself be vulnerable? I was starting to get close and needed validation? Ugh! I rose up from the bed clearly not tired now. This whole thing was confusing, Edward ran hot and cold and I just needed to know where he stood.

Well, you do now, Bella. My inner voice shouted at me.

Did I though? Did I really? He admitted he was sexually attracted to me. Then after he found out I was pregnant, and I yelled at him he said if that's all you think I care about. What did that even mean!

I pulled the covers off me and headed towards the bathroom. I was a sweaty mess and wanted to splash cold water on my face. I was trying to take this pregnancy symptom in stride the whole going from hot to cold thing, but it was already getting on my nerves.

After peeling my sweats and t-shirt from my body I put on a nightgown it was a v cut that showed my cleavage and went to my knees. Well, it was a little shorter than my knees now since my boobs had grown. I crawled back into my bed leaving the covers off this time.

Laying against the pillow, I tried to think of the most boring things to put me to sleep but it didn't work. I just laid there, grabbing my phone from the bedside table I checked it. There was nothing, no texts, no missed calls, nothing. I let out a sigh and sat the phone back down on the table but this time feeling something close.

I quickly picked it up and sat up again to look at it. Turning on my lamp, I had a better view of it. It was Bree Tanner's diary. Propping the pillows behind me, I picked up where I left off:

I've been here not even a month and I've been promoted! It excites me and even scares me! Mr. Whitlock took the whole department out to celebrate. Carmen is such a kind soul, so I don't know how she is able to be nice to that asshole named Cullen. I know he's hot and all but he's 100% an asshole. It's like he has no human decency. It's like he isn't even human. He has one emotion: anger.

Hmm maybe Bree read him wrong? He was angry when we first met, granted I did break his vase and bleed all over his floor. but the next time I saw Edward well, he seemed like he was kind. I didn't know him that well then, but he wasn't what Bree was implying. However, he could have been different around his employees. He did say he had a reputation to uphold. I continued reading:

Mr. Whitlock on the other hand is the total opposite, he sweet, funny, and kind. I don't know if he has a girlfriend, but the more the days pass the more I want him to be mine. I mean he must feel it to, right? Promoting me so quickly? I really hope were on the same wavelength.

There were a few more entries written mostly ones detailing her new promotion and her mother's relentlessness on wanting Bree to come home. I briefly scanned until I came across, an entry dated a week before Gianna's murder.

I'm so confused, I thought maybe Mr. Whitlock felt more for me than normal but he suddenly came in today and told me I needed to work with Mr. McCarthy. I really didn't want to but seeing as I had no choice I did. He did a lot of selling and running the more lucrative side of things. I didn't find him attractive at least, besides my friend Rosalie currently had the hots for him. She can have him; I really want Whitlock or hell I'll take Cullen.

I could feel my blood boiling inside, why did her works spark rage in me? Edward wasn't mine; I wasn't his girlfriend just the mother of his child. So why did it bother me that Bree wanted him? I moved on to the next entry dated a week later.

Tonight, was a party that Mr. Cullen threw, it was also the worse night of my life! First, Rosalie ghosts me all week and then I find out its because she is officially with Mr. McCarthy! How did she do that! She also seemed off, and since she now works on the floor Mr. Cullen does, she wears those stupid contacts they all wear. Well, most of them wear them for some reason! That wasn't the worst of it, Mr. Whitlock brought a date some short girl who wasn't at all pretty.

Alice, I thought.

How could he do this to me? How dare him! He was supposed to pick me! Not someone else. I'll make him see, I will. I'll get revenge, I just know I will. I remember taking pictures I think I remember seeing the flash, but I wasn't paying attention. My focus was on Mr. Cullen who would be a perfect part of my revenge.

I gasped, Bree really had some issues, it didn't even seem in her diary that Jasper showed her nothing more than kindness. How had she taken that as something more? I closed the diary; I couldn't read anymore it bothered me. Both men did not act like what was portrayed in the book. Well maybe Jasper did? I also saw him being commanding at the club with Alice. So, I really didn't know but Bree's infatuation with them was a bit concerning.

Laying it back on the table, I tried to go back to sleep. It was impossible; my brain was working overtime at this point. Everything I just read, was pulling me into different directions. Did Bree really think Jasper wanted her? Did she have something else wrong with her? I thought about Edward again and then tried to get him out of my head. I really needed to sleep, thinking about it wouldn't get me anywhere tonight.

****TDOS*****

I left the coffee shop with my tea and bagel again. Was it really just yesterday I was here and talking to Chelsea Hale? It felt like days had passed instead of a mere 24 hours. It was probably because I had hardly slept last night. Climbing into my tahoe, I put my tea in the cup holder and began to nibble on my bagel.

I looked outside, seeing students wandering about, oblivious to the dangers of a killer. Gosh, how I envy them so carefree, so stress-free. I sipped my tea when my stomach began to hurt a bit. It then passed as soon as my phone went off. Letting out a sigh, I looked at it probably thinking it was Jacob wondering where I was imagine my surprise when it was from Edward.

Here's a list of Ob/Gyn's a friend of mine gave me. He's a doctor too so I trust his assessment.

-Diana Kimball

-Lucy Smith

-Erika Griffin

-Edward

I let out a sigh, he still came through and it made me feel worse about my words from last night. My head hit the steering wheel. I was not good at this, not at all. So why did it feel like if I didn't reply, I would regret it?

Pulling my big girl panties on I quickly typed Thanks. I'll check them out and then hit send. I cranked my car and pulled out onto the road. Why was this confusing? Weren't we just two people having a baby together? We never defined our relationship other than that. Then he said, "if that's all you think then this won't work out." Won't work out? What did that mean?

I shook my head; I didn't like that he made me feel this way. This is why I usually didn't do relationships. Was it even a relationship? Were we friends? I hated this, this feeling. This feeling I had since the night we had sex. A feeling that wouldn't go away. A feeling that manifested with time.

I needed to focus, I was almost at the station I needed to put Edward away for now and worry later. I had to be focused on this case. The boss, mayor, and even Jacob was breathing down my back. Before exiting the SUV, I simply wrote to him "Sorry" I pocketed my phone and headed into the station.

****TDOS****

I was currently in the room/office Jacob and I had been given for the case. I was staring down at the board hoping something that I missed would jump out at me, So far, I hadn't had any luck. I heard Jacob enter the room, sipping my tea I turned towards him.

"Good morning." I said although I'm sure it came out rough. Man, I was tired.

"Morning Bells." He grunted back.

I turned back towards the board. "Let's run through it" I gestured towards the board maybe just maybe something would jump out.

"So, 5 victims, ranging different ages from 21-40 years old. Different features, different jobs, some with connections." Jacob started.

"Three victims share the same features and were killed within a week of each other, two of those victims were killed near each other the same night." I said.

"Two victims have connections to Cullen Inc. Cullen and Whitlock have been cleared. McCarthy still needs to be questioned." Jacob said and I tried not to let hearing Edward's name bother me.

I nodded. "We need to follow up on that." I said. Jacob nodded.

"The first victim and fifth victim are the only ones that we know of were in relationships."

"The fifth victim as of right now is a copycat." Jacob said and I agreed. Everything about Carmen's death screamed copycat.

"Stanley and Martin were party girls and were known for it."

"Not much is known about Myers, except that she was a nerd." Jacob said and I froze, remembering my conversation with Chelsea Hale yesterday. Chelsea knew more than she let on, but I couldn't force her to talk.

"Tanner was fired from her job due to misconduct and harassment, died a week later" I said and something about Bree's death was odd to me as well. Probably because I had been reading her diary.

"I really wish we could find more information on Myers though." I said aloud.

"Her parents said she didn't know Jessica, and that they didn't know why she would have been close to her apartment. They said they didn't know anything. We don't have evidence that they did anyways." He said and I nodded it was more like intuition I felt like for some reason the Myers death would give me answers. Especially after Hale's reaction yesterday.

"I um, ran into Chelsea Hale yesterday." I mumbled out "at the coffee shop."

"Bells… Did you say anything?" Jacob's eyes went wide.

"I may have asked about Charlotte." I said biting my lip. Why the fuck was I nervous for?

"Shit Bella, do you not know who that is?" Jacob got really close to me, like he was going to tell some secret.

I didn't know, so I'm not sure what he meant.

"That's Mayor Hale's daughter." My eyes went wide. Well shit, no wonder she wouldn't talk to me.

"It's not like I harassed her or anything, when she told me she didn't want to talk I dropped it." Glad I did, because I could have had the mayor on me already.

"Well, you must not have dropped it soon enough because the mayor is coming this way." Jacob mumbled and I mumbled a fuck when I saw him. Why the fuck was he here? I got enough shit out of Marcus.

I stood in front of the board so he couldn't really see it as he made his way in. Jacob stood beside me.

"Agent Swan, Agent Black." He said acting all professional, I wanted to roll my eyes. Mayor Hale was a show-off how he was elected I'll never know.

I nodded towards him "Mayor." I tried my best not to sneer at the word.

"How's the case? Are you close to linking the evidence against Cullen and the women?" My eyes blinked rapidly, do what? What the fuck was he talking about?

"I'm sorry? Mr. Cullen and Mr. Whitlock have been cleared, so I'm not sure what you mean." I said and then his eyebrow rose.

"Marcus said." He then went into an argument, how slow we were doing, how bad I was at my job. Never once did he look Jacob's way and Damn Marcus for throwing me under the bus. Why the fuck was Marcus telling him we were linking Edward to the bodies? I suppressed a groan.

"Sir, I don't know what Marcus has said, but we currently do not have any suspects right now." Shit saying that made me feel so small and full of failure. "We are examining everything so far to see if we have any links that may have been missed the first go around."

He nodded but I could see the vein in his forehead. He was angry plain and simple. "I need to speak with Marcus, excuse me." Then he quickly left my office as soon as he came in, and I sat down. What the fuck was Marcus up to?

"That was weird." Jacob mumbled out, and I shook my head.

"It was revealing if anything." I said as I turned on my computer to check e-mails. Jacob looked at bit flabbergasted at my suggestion

"What do you mean Bella?" He rose an eyebrow at me.

"Nothing." I said, I wasn't going to tell him that I had been getting sus vibes about him lately ever since he told me the captain wanted me off the case, I low key felt that Jacob was working for him. I really hoped not, but Peter not even looking at Jacob just now had me curious.

We sat in silence for a bit, as I looked up each doctor that Edward had given me. On my phone of course, didn't want to take a chance of getting caught on my computer, Jacob kept stealing glances at me.

I clicked off the screen and gave him my attention. "What?"

He looked hesitant but came back over with his laptop. He inserted the usb stick that I had used on Bree's computer back in Chicago. I had given it to him so he would get off my back.

"I saw this. Did you see it?" He said as he showed me a picture of Bree and Rosalie.

"Yeah, I did, what about it?" I looked at it, it had been taken at what looked like a Christmas Party.

"Look at Rosalie's eyes." Jacob pointed. I looked at the picture, they were blue what did that have to do with anything? Then it hit me Bree said in her diary Rosalie has begun to wear the contacts they all wore.

"Her eyes were violet when we saw her." I said and Jacob nodded. I looked at him, she could have been wearing contacts that day. "They could be contacts." I said knowing good and well that they were, but I couldn't tell him how I knew that.

"Still, we should question her about Bree, ask her to come down. We may find some more information." Jacob pushed and I nodded but then again, I didn't feel like Rosalie would help us. Could I also be crossing a line? She was Edward's secretary, McCarthy's girlfriend and Bree did say they were together in her diary.

"Fine we can ask if she will, but we can't push we don't have any grounds of arresting her. I also want to talk to Jessica Stanley's mother again." She had been questioned but was distraught at the time I was hoping If I went back and talked to her, we may be able to find out more information.

Jacob nodded, and we got ready to head out. Passing Marcus's office, I could hear the mayor yelling at him. I tried my best not to smirk as we passed.

****TDOS****

We had arrived in the posh neighborhood of where Jessica Stanley's mother lived. Before we had headed over here, Jacob had called for Rosalie to see if she was at Cullen Inc. and was told she was out of the office today. I was somewhat relieved, and I wasn't sure why. Probably because Edward had yet to reply to my message or maybe I still felt bad and was afraid to see him after last night.

"So, the officer that questioned the mother put her down as scatterbrained and distraught." Jacob mumbled as we both climbed out of the SUV.

I rolled my eyes at the words. Damn these cops lately! We didn't talk to the mother because we were brought on the case after they were found. I was hoping coming back she would remember something.

"Let's just hope she gives us some insight." I said as I knocked on her door.

It quickly opened to a woman wearing all pink with blonde hair and a face full of makeup. "Hi!" She greeted excitedly.

Jacob gave me a look, but I didn't return it. "Hi, I'm Agent Isabella Swan I called earlier."

She smiled at me and then waved me in "Yes, yes please come in."

Jacob and I entered her home. She led us to the living room where it looked like every single surface was covered with pictures of Jessica. Even a blanket that had been made had Jessica's face on it.

We took a seat on her small couch. "Cookie?" She held up a plate her smile never falling.

Jacob and I gave a look towards each other, I declined, and Jacob ended up taking one.

"What can I do for you agents?" She looked at us crossing her legs.

"We were hoping that you could share any insight on Jessica, anything she may have said to you, if you knew where she was the day of her death."

"The day she was murdered you mean." Ms. Stanley said with a grimace. Then her face went back into a smile.

"Yes-s." I said while Jacob snacked on his cookie. I gave him a look. "We have been re-visiting the case, hoping to find anything that may help us. My partner and I came on the case after your daughter's body was found."

"Just what I told the officers, I hadn't talked to her since that morning. My daughter was a good girl despite what some thought about her she was good."

"What do you mean thought about her?" I questioned taking out my little notepad and writing down what was said.

"My daughter was a lesbian." I gave her a look; it was a norm in today' society and shouldn't be a bad thing to talk about. Then on the other hand, I could see the pressure of it in school.

"People knew?" I questioned. Her mother looked away.

"I shouldn't say anything, it was my daughter's secret. I should have taken that to the grave." Her smile fading. She looked back at us "However, I just don't think she was exactly careful, and some caught on." Her mother murmured. "That's why she applied for the position of head girl, I guess she thought it would knock some people off her path."

I wrote down the notes, Jacob was sitting beside me and had not uttered a word. Which had me confused, he usually couldn't keep that big trap shut.

"Did it work?" I asked her mother who was now all smiles again. I was starting to think she may have been on something. Not that I blamed her or anything.

"For the most part, I think. Jessica decided it wouldn't be a good idea to stay at the sorority house and I agreed with her. So, I helped her get an apartment." Her mother said trying not to cry. "She needed to be able to be herself in her own home."

"Can I ask why go to such lengths? I'm not criticizing her choice I'm just interested." I asked carefully.

"She wasn't ready to come out, to everyone I mean." Her mother said and I nodded.

This explained a lot, Lauren said Jessica wasn't merely interested in being the head girl. She hardly stayed at the house, she would rather get drunk and party. The night she died was pledge night, a night she should have been in attendance. So why wasn't she there? Her time of death was much later in the night, so she wasn't dead when that was happening.

Could she have been with a lover?

I stood up and then Jacob did afterwards. Looking at Ms. Stanley "Here's my card, if you think you can remember anything let me know."

She saw us out and we both headed towards the SUV. After climbing in, I turned towards Jacob. "What's your deal?"

"My deal?" He questioned me with a faraway look.

"Yeah, you didn't utter a word."

"Aren't you usually on me about my mouth?" I sighed, what was with the men lately.

"Jacob what is going on? You have been acting weird for awhile now." I was mentally drained, it seemed I spent more trying to figure out the men in my life recently then the case. Reading Bree's diary didn't help either.

"I told you the mayor and captain are on my ass." I felt my rage boil. Why Jacob? I was the head agent on this case why were they going to him? Was he easy prey? Did they have something against him?

"It doesn't make sense why they are. Are you being blackmailed?" I openly asked, Jacob started coughing loudly he seemed shocked by my words.

"Damn those were some dry ass cookies." I rolled my eyes but also feeling hurt. He never answered me and that spoke volumes.

"Bells." He trailed off.

"Save it." I said as I cranked up the car and drove off. My trust with Jacob was thinning and I didn't know how to deal with that. I needed to find out what was going on and solve this case so I could get these people off my back.

****TDOS***

Walking into my apartment, I let out a sigh of relief. This day was mentally fucked, between Bree, Jacob, and not hearing again from Edward I was just drained. Checking over my apartment and making sure everything was locked and things were cool. I headed for the shower, hoping the warm water would relax my muscles.

When I was done and dressed for bed, I headed to the kitchen. I made a quick meal of a salad and some water and headed to the table to grab my laptop. While eating, I searched the doctors Edward gave me thoroughly this time. I checked reviews for each one, their credentials, and location. They all seemed great, but Dr. Lucy Smith stuck out. It was just something about her, that stuck out.

I grabbed my phone, seeing that it was about 7pm and I had not had any missed calls or texts. Being the adult I am, I sent a text to Edward stating that I was going to go with Dr. Smith and that I would give them a call in the morning. He said he wanted to be in with the baby so I thought he should know.

I washed my bowl and picked up my laptop to head to my office when my phone rang. Setting the laptop down, I glanced at the number it was Edward. Taking a deep breath, I hit the green button. "Hello?"

There was silence for a bit on the other end. "Um Hello?" I looked at the screen making sure the call hadn't dropped.

"Bella." Edward's voice rushed out. I could detect a slight tremor in his voice. It was barely noticeable but that was my job to know of those things.

"Edward." I said sitting down my stomach feeling queasy again.

"I received your texts." I heard texts as in plural, but I stayed silent. "I need to talk to you." He finished.

"Okay." I said waiting on him to discuss what he wanted to talk about.

"Not over the phone." He started again, "I'll be over tomorrow."

I wanted to question him why not tonight? I didn't have a right to we weren't together, so why did I feel like I had a right to anyway?

Ignoring what he said, "I'll call the doctor tomorrow and set up an appointment."

"I can." He said in his suave voice. "I could probably get you in faster."

How? Now my mind was running, did he know her? That also had me thinking other things.

"It's alright. I can do it." I said not liking this feeling in my stomach.

"Why are you so stubborn!" He whispered yelled and that pulled me back. I've seen him get mad, I've seen him calm, but this was something else.

"I'm not trying to be?" I said in confusion. "I'm used to doing my own thing."

"Yeah, I'm aware." He sounded equally frustrated. What was his deal?

Not in the mood to deal with another man's tantrum "I'm really tired Edward, I'll talk to you tomorrow." I said leaving my office, I was suddenly tired all of a sudden and my stomach felt weird. It always did when I was around or spoke to Edward.

"Are you alright?" The tone in his voice no longer angry or tense.

"Just had a day. We're fine." I said including the baby.

"I was asking if you were." He said with a slight edge in his voice.

I didn't say that with malice, it literally felt good to say something to someone about the baby.

"I didn't mean-." I yawned. "I'm fine Edward."

"Good. I'll let you get some rest, talk to you tomorrow." He said sounding slightly happier. I don't know but tonight was not the night to figure out the mystery that was Edward Cullen.

"Mmhmm bye." I said not even hearing if he said it back. Sleep literally consuming me as I laid down.

****TDOS*****

I jumped out of bed, my alarm ringing by my bedside. Turning it off, I made my way into the bathroom to pee. I felt really refreshed this morning and full of energy. It didn't make sense since I had been feeling like crap lately. After taking care of business, I pulled on a blouse, then grabbed a pair of slacks.

Once I had them up, and ready to button, it didn't escape my notice they wouldn't fasten for some reason. I looked down at my stomach, there was no way my stomach grew over night so then why wouldn't they fasten? I noticed they were real snug right at my hips, could my hips have stretched while I had been asleep?

There as no way that was possible, not overnight, or was it? "Fuck it." Great, now this was going to look suspicious. I went and dug out a rubber band and tied my pants together around the button. This was crazy what in the hell was I carrying? Some huge baby?

I tied my hair in a knot. I guess I would have to go get some maternity clothes now or wear bigger sizes. It didn't make any sense though I was only 8 weeks! My stomach didn't look any bigger but damn my hips did what the fuck?

Pulling a jacket on, I made my way out of the apartment. I was a little worried about all of this, it seemed to be way to early for this stuff to be happening. Maybe Edward should be the one to call the doctor if he could get me in quicker. I had to push the thought of him knowing her more personally out of my mind. He wasn't mine anyways.

Making my way to my SUV, I pulled out my phone only to see I had a message from him already. "Good morning, hope you have a better day today." It made me smile, but I didn't know how to process his message. Before leaving the parking lot, I sent a quick reply.

"You too, anyway you can call the doctor since you said you could get me in faster?" I hit send and backed out of my space. Once I hit the highway, I stopped at a red light to check my phone again.

"Sure, everything okay?" He replied rather quickly.

"Yeah, just the first-time jitters." I said, I shouldn't be worried I just saw my doctor, but I just wanted a professional to tell me everything was fine.

I hit send and moved once the light turned green. As I neared the station, my phone started going off. I couldn't answer it due to trying to find a space. Once, it stopped ringing it started up again. Whoever it was persistent. That had me thinking one thing, if it was Jacob, it could be another body. I hoped not, I hoped it was a wrong number.

Getting out the car and making my way to the employee entrance it went off again. Damn someone was definitely trying to get in touch with me. I pulled the phone out of my pocket and saw that it was Edward. Weird.

"Hello?" I said as I started walking up the steps.

"Isabella." He said in a gruff angry voice, but it sounded like he was trying to stay calm.

I stopped mid step almost reaching my floor, it caught me off guard that he was mad.

"Um, Edward." I said confused, why was he mad? Better question was when isn't he?

"Why could you not mention at any time last night on the phone what you planned to do today?"

I started walking up the steps again, what was he talking about?

"I'm not sure what you mean?" I asked all confused, what the hell?

I walked across the hall to the main office, where I saw a bunch of hustling and it looked like everyone was up to something,

"This is illegal! I know you want this killer caught, but arresting Rosalie isn't the way to do it! You could have told me last night!" He said enraged.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I said aloud getting the attention of a few people around me until I saw her. Rosalie Hale in the interrogation room, she turned to look at me and gave me a smile as if she knew I was there. Jacob staring at her from the outside. What the fuck.

"I didn't authorize this, Edward. We talked about asking her questions not this we don't have the grounds to."

"Well, someone did." He didn't sound as mad then, but I could tell he still wasn't happy. I didn't blame him.

"I'll call you later, I need to handle this." I said.

"Bella.." He started to say when I hung up making my way to Jacob.

Enraged, I pulled him by his arm and took him to a nearby office that was empty.

"What the fuck Jacob!" I yelled at him.

"What Bells? She was at the office, said she come in for questioning." This fucker was definitely lying now,

"Don't fucking lie to me. Black!"

Jacob sighed, "Fine, I thought if arresting her, it may seem like we mean business with Cullen Inc."

"Are you fucking stupid? What fucking right did you have? We had nothing to arrest her with! You just put this whole case in jeopardy you'll be lucky if she doesn't sue!"

Jacob's eyes glance at me in concern and he looked defeated.

"What do they have on you Jacob? Huh? What do they have to make you do this shit?" I brought my voice down lower, but my blood was boiling inside.

"Bells." He started to say, and I put my hand up

"Out of all the people, I never thought you would be one." He looked at me shamefully then. Not being able to take anymore betrayal I left.

I made my way to my office, glancing at Rosalie as I passed. She looked at me with a smile however it didn't look cruel or mean.

Closing my office door, I pulled out my phone seeing a bunch of texts from Edward, but I couldn't read them right now. I called the one person who could get Marcus under control and by proxy Jacob. It also helped he had a bit of a soft spot for me since he used to be good friends with my dad. I hated to do this, but I was now left without a choice.

I hit send on the phone, taking deep calming breaths.

"Bell?" He answered with his gentle calm voice.

"Hey Commish, we need to talk."

Thank you for reading.