AN: Meet you at the bottom!

"Broad-fucking-daylight?" Solomon muttered, shaking his head as he stalked into the bullpen. Bella and Edward followed close behind, matching his stride.

Alice was already at her workstation, fingers dancing over her keyboard as she pulled up surveillance footage. The large monitors on the wall blinked to life, displaying feeds from every angle outside the precinct.

"Tell me you've got something," Solomon demanded, stopping next to Alice's desk.

"We're pulling all angles from nearby cameras, including traffic cams. So far, nothing jumps out—no plates, no identifiable marks. The SUV was clean."

Bella dropped heavily into her chair, her knee throbbing where the asphalt had scraped through her jeans. She ignored it, instead dragging her fingers through her hair and scrubbing her hands over her face. The metallic tang of blood still clung faintly to her skin.

Edward moved to stand next to her desk, his eyes darting between the monitors and her. "Someone had to see something," he muttered. "Broad daylight, shots fired, and an entire street full of people."

Alice sighed, shaking her head. "Not as much as you'd think. Most of the witnesses dove for cover. I'll cross-reference statements and check for any Ring cams or PODS nearby, but…" Her voice trailed off as she zoomed in on a feed. "They were professionals. Quick, clean, and gone in under thirty seconds. Just waiting for an opportunity, because they'd been sitting out there for a few minutes."

"Thirty fucking seconds," Jacob echoed grimly from across the room, dropping into his chair and tossing his notepad onto the desk. "And just like that, they vanish."

Rosalie glanced over, her brows knit in frustration. "They weren't aiming to hit civilians either. That was targeted, no question."

"Yeah," Emmett grumbled, arms crossed as he leaned against a desk. "Just watching, and waiting."

Alice's fingers didn't stop moving across her keyboard as she narrowed her eyes at the monitors. "Hold on. Let me rewind." The footage flickered, jumping back several minutes.

The camera outside the precinct showed everything as it happened—the street, civilians moving about, and then Bella and Edward's SUV pulling up to the curb. Moments later, the black SUV slid into view. The vehicle slowed, parking across the street, its tinted windows black as night.

"They could've been following you," Alice murmured, zooming in on the timestamp. "The SUV pulled up right after you two got back."

Bella stilled, her gaze fixed on the screen. A sick knot twisted in her stomach as she watched the footage—watched herself and Edward step out of their SUV, completely unaware of the predator already watching them. Her thumbnail found its way to her mouth, and she bit it absently as her eyes flickered back and forth between the parked SUV and the door where she had exited.

"Someone followed us," she said quietly, barely above a whisper. "Shit. Tanya."

Edward glanced sharply at her. "What?"

Bella dropped her hand from her mouth, suddenly restless. She stood quickly, grabbing her phone. "I'll be back," she muttered, already moving for the door before anyone could stop her.

Edward watched her leave, his brows drawing together, concern creasing his face.

Bella paced outside the Intelligence room as she pulled up and called a familiar number with trembling fingers. The phone rang once… twice… three times.

"Come on," she muttered, pacing harder, her boots scuffing against the linoleum. Ring four. Ring five. Her stomach turned.

Finally, on the last ring, a voice answered. "Bella?"

Relief hit her like a wave, and she exhaled sharply, closing her eyes. "Tanya," she breathed, trying to steady her voice.

"What's up?" Tanya's voice carried a cautious edge, like she already knew something was wrong.

Bella slowed her pacing slightly, staring up at the dim glow of the ceiling lights. "Listen, have you seen anyone suspicious around you? Anyone following you?"

There was a beat of silence, and then Tanya asked carefully, "No. Why? What's going on?"

Bella swallowed hard, threading her fingers through her hair. "There was a drive-by at the precinct not long after I got back from meeting you. We think someone might've been tailing us. Maybe Caius' people."

Tanya paused again, longer this time. "Shit," she muttered quietly.

"Tanya, listen to me," Bella continued, her voice urgent now. "Do you want a protective detail? Just until we figure this out. I can have a couple uniforms keep an eye on your place—"

"No." Tanya cut her off immediately, her voice firm. "No eyes on me, Bella. I don't want anyone parked outside my building drawing attention. I'll be fine."

Bella's shoulders slumped as she turned in her pacing, her heart still hammering against her ribs. "Tanya, this isn't a joke. If they know we've talked—"

"I'll be fine," Tanya insisted, her tone softer this time, almost reassuring. "I know how to take care of myself. If there's trouble, I'll reach out. Promise."

From the corner of her eye, Bella caught movement through the bullpen window. Edward was standing there, hands in his pockets, watching her with a mix of concern and silent understanding. She turned her back slightly, pressing a hand to her forehead. "You're sure?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah, I'm sure."

In the background of Tanya's line, there was a sudden thud, followed by muffled commotion—a voice, distant and unclear.

"Fuck," Tanya muttered sharply, her tone shifting. "I gotta go. Thanks for the heads-up, Bella."

"Tanya—"

But the line went dead before Bella could get another word out.

Bella stood frozen for a moment, the dial tone ringing in her ear like a warning bell. Slowly, she lowered her phone, her chest tightening.

When she turned back toward the precinct, her eyes locked with Edward's again through the window. He hadn't moved, still watching her, his worry etched clearly on his face. She took a breath, squared her shoulders, and walked back inside.

Edward didn't say anything as she passed him, but his gaze followed her all the way to her desk. Bella dropped into her chair, rubbing her hands over her face before turning back to the monitors. She could still feel Edward's eyes on her, unspoken questions hanging heavy in the air, but she turned her attention to Solomon, who was addressing the team still.

"Caius is sending a message—loud and clear. And if he's taking shots at us now, we're out of time. Alice, keep combing through the footage. Rose, Emmett—check in with the uniforms downstairs. If anyone so much as blinked in the SUV's direction, I want to know about it."

"On it," Emmett said, already reaching for his radio.

"Let's move," Rosalie added briskly, falling into step with him as they headed for the exit.

Bella shifted in her seat, her fingers drumming restlessly on the edge of the desk as frustration gnawed at her. "We're missing something," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.

Edward turned slightly, watching her. "You think the drive-by was planned for today? Timed like that?"

She shook her head, leaning forward and opening her laptop. "No. I think they were just waiting for the first chance they got. We handed them the perfect opportunity, and they took it."

Edward's expression darkened. "Following us back after meeting Tanya…" He didn't finish the thought, but the implication hung heavy between them.

Bella didn't respond. Her eyes were fixed on the screen, scrolling through the surveillance logs Alice had pulled earlier. The footage blurred as she scanned back and forth, desperate for anything—any shadow, any misstep—that might give them an edge.

"You should get checked out." Edward's voice broke through softly, his gaze dropping pointedly to her scraped knee. Blood had dried into the torn fabric of her jeans, smudged with dirt.

"I'm fine," Bella said flatly, not looking up. Her tone was short, distracted—a clear signal for him to drop it.

"You're not fine."

This time it wasn't Edward. Solomon's voice cut through the room like a blade, sharp and impossible to ignore. He was watching her from where he stood, arms crossed, his steady stare pinning her in place.

Bella's hands froze mid-keystroke. Her jaw clenched, the tension in her shoulders rising. "I'm fine enough to do my job," she replied evenly, though her voice carried an edge of bite that she didn't mean to let slip.

A beat of silence stretched between them, thick and heavy. Solomon's gaze didn't waver, his expression unreadable as he studied her. For a second, it seemed like he might push back—but instead, he exhaled sharply through his nose and relented.

"Okay," Solomon said finally, though his tone made it clear he didn't believe her. "Listen, we have to keep focused. Caius wants us rattled, and he's doing a damn good job of it. That stops now. We don't lose control. Not here."

The team nodded in agreement and started working.

When Solomon turned and stepped into his office, Bella resumed scrolling through the logs. She could feel Edward shift closer to her desk, his voice low so only she could hear.

"Bella."

She didn't look up. "Drop it, Edward."

"You're still bleeding."

"It's nothing."

Edward's frustration was evident in the way his jaw ticked. "You keep saying that, but it's not nothing." He hadn't just been talking about her knee, either. He could see it in her eyes—the guilt, the anguish.

The fear.

"Edward," she hissed, finally looking at him with a glare that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Please. I'm fine."

Edward held her gaze for a long moment before he let out a breath, straightening up and nodding, though it was clear he wasn't convinced.

"Alright," he said quietly, stepping back. "But don't make me carry you to the medic's office later."

Bella snorted softly despite herself, shaking her head as she turned back to her screen. "Don't start. You're such a pain in the ass."

Edward didn't respond, but she could feel the faintest smile behind his words when he muttered, "Yeah, well, someone's gotta be."

Leaving her be, Edward straightened just as Solomon strode back to the front of the room.

"Alright, so listen up," the sergeant started. "Alec Bradshaw wasn't just some low-level grunt. He was tied to Caius' network, but not how we expected."

Jacob leaned against the corner of his desk, arms crossed tightly. "What are we talking here, boss? Low-end muscle?"

"Not exactly," Solomon replied, flipping over two autopsy reports and tapping them for emphasis. "These are from Joseph Cane and Raymond Ramirez. The two victims Alec took out? Tox screens came back dirty—trace amounts of a synthetic compound."

Bella's head snapped up, her sharp gaze locking on Solomon. "Synthetic? We talking carefntanil, or…?"

Solomon shook his head. "No, this is new. Lab's never seen it before, but it's potent. I'm guessing this is Caius' new product, and Alec was pushing it. Runners like Alec don't get far without Caius knowing, but something must've gone sideways."

Jasper stepped closer, squinting down at the files. "Sideways how?"

"Best guess?" Solomon continued. "They didn't pay, they skimmed, or they threatened to expose him. Doesn't matter. Alec dealt with it and ran. Problem was, Alec knew too much—about the product, the network, and Caius' operation. That's why he ended up dead."

The room fell into a beat of silence. "And whoever killed Alec?" Jasper asked.

Solomon's lips thinned into a line. "They weren't just cleaning up loose ends. They were sending a message." He flipped another paper onto the table—an image of Tyler Crowley's crime scene. "Tyler's death fits the same pattern. Caius wants us to know we're in his crosshairs."

Edward muttered a curse under his breath, rubbing a hand down his face. "And now the drive-by."

Bella didn't lift her eyes from the floor, her knuckles white as she gripped the edge of her desk. "He's practically fearless," she said quietly, the memory of gunfire still vivid in her mind.

"He's proving a point," Solomon said. "So, we need to move. We've got two leads, Cane and Ramirez. Edward, Jacob—you're going to Ramirez's place. Jasper, Alice—you take Cane's. I want every piece of intel you can get—contacts, cash flow, anything that ties back to Caius or this new product."

"What about me?" Bella asked.

Solomon turned to her, his gaze sharp and screaming: this is not up for debate. "Nothing I said before changes. You're staying here."

Bella's expression hardened. "Sarge—"

Solomon held up a hand, cutting her off. "Not a debate, Bella. You were shot at in broad daylight. Caius is escalating, and I won't have you out there painted like a damn target."

Bella's jaw tightened and her voice grew with urgency, "Which is exactly why I should be out there helping—"

"Why do you suddenly think me giving an order is an option, Bella? You're staying here," Solomon cut her off loudly, his finger jabbing the air in front of him, pointing to the floor. "You can do more from this room than you can out there bleeding on the fucking pavement, by pulling up every file, every name, every goddamn connection we might've missed. That's how you help. Understood?"

For a moment, Bella didn't answer, her shoulders tense as she stared at the ground. Finally, she let out a shaky breath and gave a reluctant nod."Okay, Sarge. Yeah, understood."

"Alright," Solomon said, his voice calmer now as he addressed the rest of the room. "Let's move. Caius wants to play games? We'll remind him just who he's fuckin' dealing with."

…

Buildings blurred past the window, streaks of gray and steel as Edward stared out, his arms crossed over his chest while Jacob silently drove.

For the first few minutes, neither said a word, until Jacob finally cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "So," he muttered, his voice gruff, hesitant, "what do you think about Sarge benching Bella?"

Edward glanced over quick, almost surprised he'd said anything, then swung his eyes back outside the window. "I get it. Caius is a fucking psychopath, and Solomon's trying to keep her safe."

Jacob scoffed, shaking his head. "Yeah, well, Bella doesn't see it that way. Never has. She's too damn stubborn for her own good."

Edward chuckled under his breath. "She's a fighter. It's one of the things that makes her good at this job."

"Yeah," Jacob said quietly, his grip tightening on the wheel. "Good, but reckless sometimes. You know that about her yet?"

"I know she doesn't like being sidelined. I don't blame her."

Jacob let out a humorless laugh. "No shit." He paused, the humor fading into something heavier. "You know, I gave her a lot of crap when we were first partnered up. Took me a while to get over myself."

Edward frowned slightly. "Why?"

Jacob's jaw tensed as he took a turn, keeping his eyes on the road. "Because I was an idiot. I thought I could fix her, or… I don't know, be something for her that she didn't need me to be. She shut it down real fast, and I couldn't handle it at first. Took me longer than it should've to just respect her for who she is. For what she's been through."

Edward studied him, his expression unreadable. "She ever forgive you for that?"

Jacob glanced over briefly before refocusing on the road. "Eventually. She doesn't hold grudges unless you really deserve it."

Edward huffed a small laugh. "I'll keep that in mind."

The tension in Jacob's shoulders eased just slightly. "Anyway, that's why I was a dick to you. It's, ah… it's not an excuse, but I apologize. I just…" He sighed. "I didn't like the idea of someone else being in her corner when I wasn't. Took me a minute to figure out she doesn't even need a damn corner. She needs people who don't quit on her."

"You tell her that?"

Jacob smirked faintly. "You think she'd let me get through a speech like that without telling me to fuck off? Hell no."

Edward snorted, because she most likely wouldn't. But, he said: "Maybe you should try."

Jacob raised an eyebrow. "You offering to hold her still so she'll listen?"

"I'm saying she pushes people away," Edward replied, his voice quieter now. "But it doesn't mean she doesn't need them."

Jacob was quiet for a moment before nodding. "Yeah. I get that."

The SUV rolled to a stop at a red light, and there was a beat of silence before Edward asked, "So, narcotics, right? That's where you started?"

"Yeah," he said, his voice carrying an edge that Edward recognized all too well. "Six years. You see a lot of shit—kids hooked on garbage they can't even name, families falling apart overnight. After a while, it stops feeling like a job and more like trying to bail water out of a sinking ship."

Edward nodded, his expression somber. "I get that. Vice was… pretty intense, too."

Jacob gave him a sideways glance. "Yeah? What did you see?"

Edward sighed, leaning back in his seat. "Undercover work, mostly. Spent two years embedded with a human trafficking ring. Got close to the people running it, watched them destroy lives every day. It… fucks with your head in the worst way."

Jacob frowned, his brows knitting together."Two years? Shit. How'd you come out of that in one piece?"

"Barely did," Edward admitted, his voice quiet. "You tell yourself you're doing good, that it's worth it. But once it's over, you realize you can't just… walk away. That shit stays with you. You see their faces everywhere."

Jacob nodded slowly and eased forward when the light changed green. "Mm. Narcotics was the same. You spend years trying to clean up the streets, but it feels like you're just putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. Every time you take one guy down, another pops up."

Edward huffed a humorless laugh. "Feels like that with Caius, too. We're chasing shadows."

"He's a slippery motherfucker, I'll give him that. But we'll get him."

"Yeah. And to do a drive-by in front of the precinct… imagine if…" Edward exhaled slowly, not wanting to say the words, or even think them. Jacob nodded his agreement, his face grim.

It could've gone a lot worse than it did.

They fell into silence again for a few moments, when Jacob spoke up again.

"What made you transfer to CIU? After everything in Vice, why not take a break?"

Edward gave a wry smile. ""I thought about it. I won't lie—part of me wanted to walk away. But the fight's still in me. CIU felt like the kind of place where I could still actually make a difference, you know?Plus, Solomon's reputation speaks for itself."

"Yeah, he's a hardass, but he knows his shit. Took me a while to get used to his style, but I'd trust him with my life."

Edward shot Jacob a sideways glance, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "And you? How'd you end up here? Did they pull you out of a cardboard box and slap a badge on you?"

Jacob snorted, shaking his head with a humorless grin. "Yeah, something like that. Narcotics was wearing thin—I needed a bigger fight, something that mattered. Solomon came to me himself, said he needed someone who could handle the ugly side of things. Someone who wouldn't blink when shit hit the fan."

Edward's smirk softened slightly. "He's got a good eye."

Jacob shrugged, his expression turning just a shade more serious. "Yeah, well… if Solomon saw something in me, I wasn't about to say no."

"Sounds about right," Edward said, nodding, the teasing fading just enough to let a quiet understanding settle between them.

Jacob's gaze lingered on the road ahead, his expression softening into something closer to sincerity. "CIU's different, though. The stakes are higher. It's not just about busting dealers anymore—it's about taking down the guys pulling the strings. And these people? This team?" He paused, his voice quieter now. "They're family. Always will be."

Edward nodded, expression thoughtful as he let the words sink in. "Yeah," he murmured. "Feels that way."

Jacob pulled up to the curb of Ramirez's apartment a minute later, and he and Edward exited the vehicle, scanning their surroundings. They approached the entrance, their eyes narrowing as they noticed the apartment door ajar.

"Door's open," Jacob muttered, his hand moving to his weapon.

Edward drew his gun, his body tensing. "This doesn't feel right."

They shared a look before moving inside, their footsteps silent. The apartment was dark, save for the dim light from the hallway.

A muffled sound came from deeper inside—rustling, frantic and sharp.

Jacob froze, raising his fist to signal Edward to stop. They listened, bodies tense. A split second later, a floorboard betrayed them, creaking under Edward's boot.

The noise inside stopped.

Then—thunderous footsteps.

"They're running!" Jacob shouted, taking off toward the sound.

Edward bolted after him, both men rounding the corner just in time to see a hooded figure scrambling out a window onto the fire escape.

"Go! I'll cut him off!" Edward yelled, pivoting back toward the apartment door.

Jacob nodded, vaulting through the window and coming down hard onto the fire escape, rattling its hinges.

The chase was chaotic—boots slamming against steel steps, metal clanging in protest. Jacob was fast, closing the gap, but the suspect was nimble, hopping over the railing with a little too much grace and sliding down a rusted ladder.

Edward sprinted down the stairs and out to the street, his eyes darting up to the fire escape. He spotted the suspect descending rapidly, then bolting toward a dark blue Toyota parked nearby.

"Damn it," Edward muttered, pulling out his radio. "2-Adam-15, we've got a suspect fleeing in a blue Toyota, Washington plate heading southbound on Pulaski! Requesting backup units."

Jacob jumped into the driver's seat of the SUV, and Edward barely closed the door before they sped off, tires screeching.

"Southbound, huh?" Jacob said, yanking the wheel hard as they peeled out, tires screaming.

"Yeah. He's pushing it." Edward had his phone out, quickly mapping the streets. "Suspect vehicle is moving fast—eastbound now on 5th. Keep on him."

Jacob grunted, eyes locked on the distant Toyota as its taillights bobbed erratically through traffic.

"Dispatch, 2-Adam-12, in pursuit. Eastbound 5th Avenue. Speeds exceeding sixty, suspect driving reckless. Requesting backup and traffic control," Edward relayed, his voice steady even as the SUV lurched forward.

"Copy, 2-Adam-12," dispatch replied, calm but clipped. "Units en route."

The streets blurred past them as Jacob expertly weaved through traffic, the SUV's sirens blaring. The Toyota was a few blocks ahead, darting between cars recklessly.

"Closer," Jacob muttered, slamming the accelerator.

Edward kept his eyes locked on the fleeing vehicle. "Turn coming up—he's going left on Pine."

Jacob took the turn hard, the SUV skidding slightly before regaining traction.

The Toyota blew through a red light, narrowly missing a crossing sedan. Jacob cursed, slamming the gas to keep pace, the SUV barreling through the honking traffic.

As the SUV gained ground, the Toyota swerved wildly and clipped a parked car, fishtailing. Jacob pressed forward, narrowing the gap.

"This fucker is gonna kill someone," Jacob growled.

"Stay on him," Edward urged. "We're almost there."

Ahead, the suspect jerked the Toyota onto a narrow side street, but the turn was too sharp. The car's wheels skidded, tires losing grip.

"Shit, he's gonna—" Edward started, but the words died as the Toyota slammed headfirst into a parked minivan. The impact sent the vehicle into a sickening roll, flipping twice before landing roof-first with a teeth-rattling crash.

Jacob hit the brakes hard, throwing the SUV into park as they both jumped out, weapons drawn. Edward's eyes widened as smoke billowed from under the crumpled hood.

"Careful!" Edward barked, shielding his face from the growing heat. "That engine's leaking—back up!"

The smoke turned to fire, flames licking hungrily across the wreckage. In seconds, the vehicle was engulfed, an explosion rattling windows and sending a fireball skyward.

"Shit," Jacob muttered, partially covering his eyes as the fire roared. "He's gone."

Edward lowered his gun, jaw tight as he stared at the inferno. He lifted his radio to his mouth. "Dispatch, 2-Adam-12. Major crash at Pine and 12th. Vehicle overturned and on fire. We need fire and medics on scene now."

"Copy, 2-Adam-12. Units responding."

The wail of sirens grew louder in the distance, but it was already too late. Jacob stood back, his hands on his hips as he watched the fire rage, smoke billowing into the air.

The air was thick with smoke and the acrid stench of burning metal. The Toyota was a mangled, blazing wreck, and the growing crowd of onlookers murmured in shock. Police cars formed a perimeter, their flashing lights bathing the scene in a harsh, strobing glow. Firefighters worked to contain the flames, while paramedics stood by, knowing there was little they could do.

Jacob stood off to the side, running a hand down the back of his neck, his eyes locked on the twisted remains of the car. "Christ," he muttered under his breath, his face pulled into a deep scowl.

Edward stood beside him, his arms crossed. His jaw was tight and gaze hard as he watched the wreck burn. The heat from the fire licked at his skin, forcing him a step back, but he didn't look away. There'd be nothing left of the driver. Whoever it was, the flames would reduce them to nothing more than ash and bone.

Edward pulled out his phone and dialed Solomon, pacing a few steps away. After a few rings, Solomon's gruff voice came through.

"Masen. Talk to me."

Edward glanced fire."We found someone in Ramirez's apartment. They bolted as soon as they saw us. Jacob chased him to the street and I cut around, but the guy took off in a car—lost control and crashed. The vehicle's totaled, caught fire. It's bad, Sarge."

There was silence on the other end for a beat, then Solomon let out a heavy, aggravated sigh. "Damn it."

Edward pinched the bridge of his nose, frustration edging into his tone. "We've got nothing to ID him. It's a total loss."

Solomon was quiet for a moment, then said,"If he ran that hard, he was hiding something. There's no way he cleared out Ramirez's place completely before you showed up. Go back. I want you and Black combing every inch of that apartment. If that guy was desperate enough to die running, something's still there."

"Understood," Edward said, then hung up.

Jacob, who had been listening, walked up. "Sarge pissed?"

Edward smirked grimly. "What do you think? He wants us to head back to the apartment."

Jacob huffed, nodding toward the SUV. "Let's get back to it."

As they climbed back into the car, Edward cast one last look at the smoldering wreck. The smell of burning rubber still clung to the air, the crowd of civilians held back by officers, their faces a mix of curiosity and unease.

Edward tightened his grip on the door handle as Jacob pulled away from the scene, heading back toward Ramirez's apartment.

It didn't take long to pull back up to the apartment, the complex looming in silence as Edward and Jacob parked and climbed out.

"Feels worse the second time around," Jacob muttered, his hand instinctively brushing against the holster at his hip.

Edward didn't respond, instead his eyes swept their surroundings before stepping up to the still-ajar door of Ramirez's unit. He pushed it open with two fingers, the creak of the hinges too loud. They both drew their weapons—habit more than anything else—but after a cursory glance, the place was as they'd left it: empty and lifeless.

"Clear," Edward murmured, holstering his gun. Jacob followed suit.

"Alright," Jacob said, flipping the light switch. The weak glow revealed the same grimy walls and sparse furniture. Both he and Edward pulled on some vinyl blue gloves. "You take the back, I take the front. There's gotta be something here."

They split up, Edward veering toward the narrow bedroom while Jacob disappeared into the small kitchen. The faint sounds of drawers opening and cabinets shutting echoed between them.

Edward worked carefully, his movements quick but precise. He checked the rickety dresser first, opening each drawer and shaking the contents—old clothes, loose coins, nothing of use. He knelt to inspect under the bed, then yanked back the worn rug, finding only dust and grime beneath.

"Anything?" Jacob called from the other room, his voice muffled.

"Not yet," Edward replied tersely, frustrated.

He turned to the bed, frowning at the sagging mattress. Stripping the blankets back, he ran his hands along the edges before hauling it up to check underneath. Nothing but the hard, creaky bedframe. He let the mattress drop with a thud—

And paused.

The fabric bulged slightly in one corner, just enough to look wrong. Edward's brows furrowed. He ran his fingers over the spot, feeling the uneven lump beneath the surface. Grabbing his pocketknife, he crouched low and carefully slit the fabric along the suspicious-looking seam.

The knife cut clean, the material parting like paper. Edward reached inside, and his fingers hit cold plastic. Slowly, he withdrew a small, battered burner phone. Its black casing was cracked, the screen smudged with dirt.

"Got something!" Edward called, rising to his feet and holding the phone up.

Jacob appeared in the doorway almost immediately, a kitchen towel still dangling from his hand. His eyebrows shot up. "Is that…?"

"A burner," Edward confirmed, inspecting it closely. "Someone didn't want this found."

"Let's crack it open. See if Ramirez—or whoever ran—left us a gift."

Edward powered up the phone, and waited. The screen flickered sluggishly to life, the battery low but holding. The home screen lit up with a string of unread texts—short, cryptic messages that sent a chill down Edward's spine.

"What do we have?" Jacob asked, stepping closer.

Edward scrolled, reading aloud. "Mostly garbage. One-word texts. Times. Numbers. But this…" He stopped, holding the phone so Jacob could see. "Look at this."

Jacob squinted, leaning in. "Coordinates?"

Edward nodded. "It's a location. Could be a drop point, a meeting spot—who knows? But it's recent."

"Shit," Jacob muttered, shaking his head. "Caius isn't sloppy. Whatever's at those coordinates, it's important enough to hide this deep."

Edward's expression hardened. "Alice needs to see this. Maybe she can pull more data off the phone before the trail goes cold."

Jacob pulled his radio from his belt, clicking it on. "Solomon, come in."

The radio crackled to life almost immediately. "Go ahead," Solomon's voice replied.

"We found something—a burner phone stashed in Ramirez's place. Messages, including coordinates. We're bringing it in to Alice now."

There was a beat of silence, then Solomon's voice returned, sharper this time. "Good work. Get it to her fast. If there's a location, I want eyes on it by tonight."

"Copy you," Jacob said, tucking the radio back into place. He exchanged a look with Edward. "Let's roll."

Jake's not all that bad when he's not trying to hump and piss on Bella, lol. Thanks for all of your reviews! What are we thinking about Jake now? And this situation with Caius? Let me know! :) xx