I Know What You Did Last Winter

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Permalink Reply by balletgirl on January 24, 2013 at 11:59pm

Chapter 1 The Red Rose Killer
“They’re calling him the red rose killer,” Det. Johns said, as he walked over to my desk and dropped a bundle of manila folders. I was biting the end of my pen before he came over.
“How do they know the killer is a male?” I asked.
“The killer is always a male,” he shrugged. “Get with the program, Edward.”
“Wrong,” I said, when he was out of earshot. I opened the files he so graciously left me to sort. Photo #1: female. 16. Stabbed 19 times and gashed in the neck. Photo #2: female.17. Stabbed 7 times and gashed in the neck. Photo #3: male. 17. Stabbed 16 times and gashed in the neck.
I put the pictures down for a moment. He had developed a pattern. I’m not sure if it was intentional or a silly flaw he just fell into. The stab wounds were inconsistent and rushed. He was filled with anger. The victims all had three things in common; the neck wounds, which sort of looked like red rose buds. The creativity was actually sickening. On top of that, a red rose was left with each victim, placed on the chest. So, he wanted to make a name for himself. Congrats. Now all I have to do is find you, again, I thought to myself. I flipped over to the new file. Photo #4: male. 37. Stabbed 16 times and gashed in the neck. His rose was across the shirt of his police uniform. Chief Charlie Swan.
The second thing in common was multiple stab wounds. The third thing in common was… Bella Swan.
Mike Newton, Jessica Stanley, and Lauren Perne were all dead and were close friends with Bella and went to school with her. And now her father is dead. To get my man, I’m going to have to assume the worst of Miss Swan, and pin the whole town against her. I can’t have normal people finding out about us.
Johns returned with a cup of coffee and a box of chocolate donuts. I chuckled. So cops and donuts really do go together.
“You hungry?” he asked, using a napkin to pull out a donut.
“No thanks,” I responded, and put my head back into my work.
“How come you never eat?” he asked, mouth surrounded with chocolate bits. “I know you just moved here, and you’re new and everything, but it’s kind of weird.”
I steadied my breath, and looked up at him sharply. “Donuts and coffee is a staple around here. You want to fit in don’t you?”
Once I realized the joke, I let out an airy laugh and so did he. “I’m just messin’ around. Good on you wantin’ to stay so fit.” He patted his beer gut. “I just don’t got it in me. Luckily, the wife don’t mind.”
I smiled. “On second thought, I think I’ll have some of that coffee,” I said, friendly. The smile on his chubby face grew and he poured me a cup of coffee. I pretended to take a few sips.
“So you followed this guy from Juneau?” he asked, taking a seat in the whirly chair. I cringed. He wasn’t suppose to know that.
“Yep,” I said. “I think our 'guy' might be from here, though.”
“Wow. What makes you think that?”
I slid Charlie’s picture over for him to see. “The girl.”
“Bella?” Det. Johns burst out laughing. “That girl don’t got a mean bone in her entire body.”
“People do crazy things when they’re in love,” I said.
“That big kid with the muscles is intimidating, but he’s just as harmless. They’re sweet kids from what I can tell.”
“You know them personally?”
“I’ve seen them around,” he shrugged. “We all know the chief’s daughter, God rest his soul.” He leaned into me. “You know, maybe, you should back off on that edge. A lot of people really like Bella and you’re brand new here. This is a small town and people protect their own. You’re not really one of us yet. You haven’t been here that long.”
“People will side with her, even if she’s a murderer?” I asked, boggled by the thought.
“Innocent until proven guilty,” he said, in an attempt to smooth over the implication.
“Right,” I said, and smiled halfly.

Permalink Reply by Kelley Brady on January 25, 2013 at 12:32am

sounds really good!  can't wait to read your next update!

 

Permalink Reply by Seugnet du Toit on January 25, 2013 at 8:10am

Intriguing!

Permalink Reply by balletgirl on January 25, 2013 at 5:11pm

Chapter 2 All Nighter
“You pullin another all nighter, tonight?” Det. Johns asked. “Don’t you have a family?”
I sighed as the thought of family made me weary. I use to have a family. I shook my head and gave him the impression that I didn’t feel like talking about it. “You want some company, then?”
I looked up at this overly amiable guy. What the heck. It couldn’t hurt anything. “Sure. Why don’t you stay,” I said. He reached for another donut and gobbled it down. It was uncomfortable having him watch me work. I couldn’t move as fast as I wanted, and I had to be more careful about how I moved and how my facial expressions looked. I decided to pull out and stop putting myself through this. There was always tomorrow. I stood up and shuffled the papers.
“Ugh. Finally,” Det. Johns said, stretching as if he was doing all the work. I pulled on my khaki trench coat and black trilby hat. We walked out to the parking lot. It was raining as usual.
“How long have you been a detective?” he asked.
“Not long,” I said, honestly.
“Where’d you study?”
“Abroad.” It seemed like a pretty good answer. From his thoughts, I knew he was really curious about me, but not in the suspicious sort of way. He had more questions, but decided to save them for another time.
“Some of the guys like to get together for poker night,” Det. Johns said, following me through the rain to my car. “You should come and get to know everybody.”
“I don’t gamble,” I said, taking out the keys to my silver Volvo.
“You don’t have to put anything in, but it’s more fun if you do.”
“No thanks, Det. Johns. I have something pre-planned.”
“Oh that’s alright. Maybe another time. And call me Johnny.”
“Johnny?” My brow flew up.
“Johnathan Johns. Yeah, my mother thought she was real funny,” he sneered. “Anyway, I’ll see ya later.”
I nodded at him, and proceeded into the car.
I lived on the lower east side of town, in a nice- sized loft on the top floor with a skylight and glass French windows that lead to a short balcony and a nice view of the busy street down below. I lived an uneventful life. I thought I could change that by creating a companion, but it backfired and now I have to fix it before things get too out of control. There was no sign of him here. It was as if he never existed in the first place.
It’s hard not to blame myself. If I had been a better leader... Maybe it was too soon for me to go off on my own, but I’m not going to go crawling back to my maker, which is probably just how he feels. And now I have a loose cannon on my hands. If I don’t find him before the Volturi get wind of this, things could end badly for both of us.
A sweet, sultry voice sang in my ears. I rolled my eyes and chuckled.
Oh Edward, I’m back from my trip, it teased. I hope you’re ready for a good time, because I know I am.I went and opened the door for a tall, statuesque blonde in a skin- tight red dress. Kate Denali. She was trying too hard, but I wasn’t complaining.
She flashed me with a pair of pearly fangs. “Can I come in?” she asked, her voice hypnotizing, one of the few voices I didn’t mind hearing all the time. She knew she had that going for her and she used it well. I let her in.
“How was Hong Kong?” I asked.
Crowded.
“I know this whole mind reading thing is fun, but I’d prefer if you spoke,” I said, cynically.
She turned her head to me as her cheetah fur coat fell from her smooth arms, revealing a deep v- neck cut in the back of her dress, that peaked on the top of her hips.
“Crowded,” she purred. She sachet over and planted a soft kiss on the edge of my mouth, from red painted lips. “Ooh. I smudged you,” she said, rubbing lipstick off my mouth with her thumb. “Did you hunt already?” she asked, peeping into the fridge. “Or were you serious when you said you were going ‘vegan’.”
She pulled a plastic pouch from out of the refrigerator. “Blood bags?” she looked at me with wild eyes. “Edward, you can’t be serious. Where’s the fun in that?”
“It’s not about fun for me. It makes me feel more humane,” I said.
“Humane?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t envy your mercy for the human race. You want to tug on my heartstrings, try something else. Save a woman from a burning building and then eat her.”
I shook my head at her. “How’s the new job?” she asked, displeased with my reaction. “Are you getting any closer to recovering the little traitor?”
“It’s not his fault.”
“Oh. Oh yes it is,” she said. “I saw the newspapers on my way over here. He won’t stop. He’s young and stupid. I won’t let you take the fall for his mistakes.”
I got the blood bag from her and pierced it with my fangs. She watched. I poured the thick, red contents of the pouch into a wine glass.
“Classy,” she cooed, strumming her fingers along the countertop. “How does it taste? Is it fresh?”
I took a gulp and winced hard at the sourness. “It tastes dead. Rotten.” I poured the blood down the sink, disappointed.
“I’m sorry, babe,” she said, rubbing the back of my arm. “Come for a hunt with me. The bellboy looked pretty tasty.”
“We can’t hunt here, not while people are dropping like flies. This is a small town,” I reminded her.
“Then, let’s go somewhere else.”
“What if he comes back to the loft? I can’t leave without him.”
Her pale blue eyes narrowed and she started fuming. “When I find that little jerk, I am going to drink him dry and cut him up into tiny little pieces!”
“Down, kitty.”
I caressed her cheek with my hand. She tossed her hair back, enjoying the comfort. I let my hand fall to her neck, and I pulled her close. She went limp under my hands, like a ragdoll cat. I sat her down on the stool at the counter and kneaded my fingertips into her rigid shoulders. She threw her head back and closed her eyes.
“Mm. Where did you learn that?
“My sister, Alice taught me.”
“Where is little Alice?”
“Last time I checked, in Sweden, sprinkling her pixie dust everywhere,” I said. The subject of Alice made her think about her own sister. I braced myself for the ridiculous thoughts that were bubbling up in her head.
“I may as well ask upfront. You already heard some of it anyway,” she said. “I know my sister can be very persistant.” She smoothed my hands away from her shoulders and turned around to look up at me. “When she broke us up and took you from me, did you ever sleep with her?”
I paused. “Edward, answer me. Did you sleep with my sister?”
“No, I didn’t sleep with Irina. She used her magic abilities on me. I couldn’t see her real thoughts, or any thoughts. I thought she had cured me like she said. And we weren’t even together that long before I found out she had a hex on me.”
“You know she’ll try it again. She’s obsessed with you.”
“She won’t do it again, now that we know she’s capable of it.”
“I can’t talk to her. I can’t even look at her for what she did. How could she do that to me? She’s always been jealous.”
I hesitated, not sure if I should continue the massage.
“Were you happy?”
“What?” I asked.
“Were you happy that you couldn’t read anymore minds?”
I sighed. “Of course I was, but it wasn’t real. It was witchcraft. She was using me.”
“I wish I could take away your pain like she did. I wish I had her power.”
“I’m not in pain,” I said.
“You’re unhappy. You’ve always said so. If you couldn’t read minds, then-“
“Stop,” I put my finger over her lips. “I don’t need magic to be happy. That’s what I have you for.”
She paused, and tried not to smile. “I’m a little thirsty. What time does the bellboy get off?”
“Stop worrying about the damned bellboy. And we’re not hunting in Forks,” I said.
“But, Edward!”
“Leave him alone. If he doesn’t show up for work tomorrow, I’ll know what happened.”
“Fine. I’m leaving.” She grabbed her coat and brisk walked to the door, stilettos tapping.
“Where are you going?”
“To Seattle. Oh, don’t worry, babe. I’m coming back. Someone needs to look after you.”
“I can manage for myself.”
“So you say,” she said, with a smile. “And thanks for the free massage. I will be looking forward to more free massages.”
“Get out of here,” I chuckled.
“Bye,” she sang, closed the door. My cell went off, and I went to retrieve it from a pocket in my trench coat.
“Det. Cullen,” I answered.
“Edward, get your phony ass down to the station, NOW.”
“Who is this?” I asked, defensively.
“This is Teddy Rockefeller, the new chief of command. I have your resume file in my hand, among a few other things that look shady. You have some serious explaining to do, ‘detective’.”
“Okay. I’ll be down there in a few minutes,” I said, calmly. He hung up. I tried to figure out what the problem could be while I phoned Jasper. My brother, Jasper was in charge of any paperwork I needed. He never failed me before. It was ringing as I swung on my coat and walked down the staircase.
“Hey, Edward,” Jasper’s voice said.
“Hey, Jasper. Hey look, I need you to fax me all the paperwork you did for my new job. I think I’m about to get grilled. Fax it to my office at the Forks Police station.”
“Yeah. Because I live for doing you favors,” he said, sarcastic.
“Get on it,” I urged.
“I’m on it,” he said. I hung up. It was pouring down worse than before. I walked fast o my car, in case there was anyone around.
“Hey, mister!” someone shouted. I turned around with my key in the car door. A teen boy ran up to me, panting. “You forgot your hat.”
It was Timothy, the bellboy.
“Thanks, Tim,” I said, putting the hat on my head that was already soaked from the rain. He nodded. “You better get back to your post. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.” I paused, thinking of a reason other than Kate Denali. “There is a crazed killer on the loose.”
“No worries, Sir. I can take care of myself.” He showed me the pocket knife pulled from his red uniform jacket. “No one is going to mug me, ever again.”
I laughed, nervously. Being mugged is the least of his problems, if Kate has anything to say about it.
I made it to the station, got inside and wrung out my hat and coat by the entrance. I should try to get my hands on a decent raincoat, later. I texted Alice about it, knowing she’d be glad to pick one out and ship it to me.
“Det. Cullen,” a stern voice trilled. I turned around and put my cell into my trouser pocket.
“You must be Rockefeller.”
“Chief Rockefeller,” he corrected. “I’m your new boss.” I followed him into what use to be Chief Charlie Swan’s office. “Close the door,” he ordered. I did and pulled up a chair in front of his desk. I thought I would at least have a few minutes to cram in my office.
“What is the problem, sir?” I asked. He gave me a disgruntled look.
“You’re from Juneau, correct?”
“Yes, but not originally.”
He opened up a manila folder with my name on it. “It’s says here you’re the best. It even lists a bunch of serial cases that you’ve worked on.” That was Jasper’s fault, layering the praise on too thick. “I called Juneau and they said they never heard of Det. Edward Cullen.”
“Well, I wasn’t exactly famous there. I’ve only been doing this a couple of years.
“You sure got a lot done in two years,” he eyed me, suspiciously.
“Juneau has a serious crime problem.” I cleared my throat. “There’s always something going on. It never ends.”
“Who put you on this case?” he asked.
“My boss in Juneau,” I replied. “He sent me here.”
“I called Juneau!” he boomed. “You’re lying.”
I pulled out my cell. “Here, I’ll call my boss for you. I think you talked to the wrong person.” I called Jasper and put the phone to my ear.
“Edward, what now? Did you get the faxes I sent?” he asked on the phone.
“Chief Whitlocke, it’s Det. Edward. It turns out I need confirmation from you, for Chief Rockefeller, that I am meant to be here in Forks on the red rose killer case.” I strained my voice, hoping that Jasper would get the hint, play along, and get me out of this.
Rockefeller’s gaze sharpened.
“Let me talk to him,” Jasper said. I sighed, relieved. I passed the phone to Rockefeller.
“He wants to talk to you,” I said. He grabbed the phone.
“Yep, this is Chief Rockefeller. Mm-hm. Yeah. What? No! Who is this?”
I sank in the chair. Jasper, stop goofing around.
“I see. Uh-huh. Hey, let me get your number, in case I have any questions. Det. Cullen just seems a little too young, that’s all…. Ahahahahahaha! Yeah, he’s got that look. Yeah. Alright. Talk to ya soon.” He hung up and passed me my phone.
“Am I free to go, sir?” I asked.
He looked at me. “Yeah, you can go.”
I shook his hand. “This is definitely not how I expected to meet the new boss,” I joked.
“Definitely not. I’m only filling in until Charlie’s permanent replacement comes back from his vacation in Mexico. I haven’t met him but I hear he’s great and diligent. I think you’ll like him. Now that that’s sorted, have a good night.”
“I will. You too, sir.”

Permalink Reply by Chris on January 25, 2013 at 8:06pm

I really enjoyed this, you showed how the vampire pretneding to be human can go so wrong so easily.

So who will be his new boss?

I suppose it is Edward's newborne that has carried out all these murders but why would he cnetre them around someone like Bella? Just for fun?

Very interesting

Best wishes

Chris

 

Permalink Reply by Seugnet du Toit on January 26, 2013 at 11:31am

I am really enjoying this story.  Can't wait to read more!

Permalink Reply by Kelley Brady on January 26, 2013 at 10:28pm

really good update!  can't wait to read your next one!

Permalink Reply by balletgirl on January 27, 2013 at 1:56pm

Chapter 3 Death Note
Midnight. Jacob sat with me on Billy’s porch and held my hand. Rene kept calling after I told her about Charlie, and now she wants me to move down to Florida with her and Phil and their new baby, Bentley. But, how can I leave now without knowing what happened to Charlie. Jacob ran his fingers through my hair. He was angry and concerned for me.
“You’re not going back over there.”
“I have to get my things,” I said.
“It’s a crime scene.”
“They can’t still be there. It’s almost one in the morning. I’ll sneak inside, pack a few things and come right out.” I got off the porch. “And I can’t be seen with you for a while. That annoying cop thinks we killed Charlie.”
“What?” Jacob got up. “Why do they think that?!”
“Because we were there, Jake, with Charlie and two hours later, he’s dead. We were the last people to see him.”
“No. You were the last person to see him,” Jacob said, an accusing edge to his voice.
I froze. “What are you trying to say? Just say it. You think I killed my father.”
“Well, you were the last person with him. What am I supposed to think,” he said.
“I can’t believe you just said that.” I backed away and got in my truck.
“Bella,” he said, holding open the door to the truck.
“No. Don’t talk to me.” I pushed his hands away and shut the door, then backed out of the yard. I drove back to the house, and was shaken up by the yellow and black tape surrounding the property. I parked and slid into the house. A chalky outline of the body was on the floor, in the kitchen where I found Charlie.
*Flashback*
Jacob and I came back to the house from a party. We entered the house to Charlie drunk and yelling at us.
“Where the hell have you been, young lady?” Charlie grabbed my arm, pinching the skin and hurting me. He wreaked of alcohol. I glanced at the gun in the holster on his pants.
“You said we could stay out an hour later,” I squeaked.
“Let her go. You’re hurting her,” Jacob said, trying to pull us apart.
“I wasn’t talking to you,” Charlie spat.
“Chief Swan, you’re drunk,” Jacob said.
“I’m off duty. I can be drunk all I want,” Charlie said. He looked into my hurt eyes. Then, he let go of my arm. “I don’t remember saying that.” He walked into the kitchen and took a swig of alcohol from a paper cup.
“Maybe, if you weren’t such a drunk,” Jacob said, in a low voice. He snickered and tickled me. Charlie turned around and stormed into the living room.
“What did you say? Why, you little bastard?” Charlie grabbed Jacob by the neck, and was strangling him.
“Dad, no! Stop!” I jumped on him, but I wasn’t strong enough to do anything. Charlie wasn’t as strong as Jacob and maybe the alcohol caused him to ignore that. Jacob reached up his fists and socked Charlie in the chest with both of them. Charlie went down.
“Jake,” I screeched. “You hurt him!”
I bent down to check on Charlie.
“He wouldn’t stop. I didn’t mean to hurt him,” Jacob said. “Charlie?” Jacob lifted up his head. Charlie blinked wildly and mumbled something intelligible. We helped him off the floor. Charlie stumbled into the lamp and it crashed to the floor and broke. He turned and pointed at Jacob.
“Bring it,” Charlie challenged.
Jacob shook his head. I got in front of Jacob. “Dad, go upstairs. You’re drunk.”
“I aught to ship you back to your mother,” Charlie slurred.
I grabbed Charlie’s hand and took him to the stairs. “Jacob, wait down here. I’ll be right back.” I took Charlie to his room. He crashed on the bed and I covered him up.
“Why do you always have to embarrass me in front of Jake?” I grumbled, angrily. “Stay here,” I ordered. Charlie groaned. His eyebrows came together. He bent over the bed. “Don’t you dare hurl,” I warned. I closed him in and went back downstairs. I giggled, nervously at Jacob.
“Sorry about him,” I said.
“You shouldn’t be the one apologizing,” Jacob said, taking my hands.
“I know. He’s not like this all the time. You know that right?”
“I don’t want him getting drunk around you, though.”
“He just likes to let loose once in a while,” I said. “It’s no big deal.”
“Let loose? There are other better ways.” He went into the kitchen and got Charlie’s bottle. “It tastes like crap, anyway.” Jacob downed the bottle.
“Jake,” I said, surprised. “Charlie is going to kill you.” I took the bottle from him and put it in the refrigerator. He took it out and had some more. “Cut it out, before you get drunk like him.” I put the bottle in the fridge, again.
“Does he ever get violent when he’s drunk?”
I paused at the question. “No. Not really.”
“Not really? What kind of answer is that?”
“Let’s not talk about it anymore. He’s upstairs sleeping it off. He’ll be normal when he wakes.” I pushed Jacob down on the couch. I opened my blouse, trying to be seductive. He grinned, then he looked up at the ceiling, getting distracted by something.
“Jake, I’m over here,” I said, holding my blouse open.
“You hear that?”
“Here what?”
“Something is up on the roof.”
I didn’t hear anything. “Jake, stop being paranoid.” I crawled on top of him. “It was probably just a bird.”
I pressed my hands on his face and frenched kissed him. He pulled away, and looked up at the ceiling.
“Jake, pay attention,” I begged. My hands were pressed on his chest, when he started trembling. “Jake, are you cold?... I’ll go get my blanket.”
“No!” He took my hand and I froze. “I’m not cold. I just need to go.” He flew off the couch and went outside. I tried to follow him.
“What the hell is wrong with you, now?” I said, but when I got outside, he was gone and he left the Rabbit. He was always darting off like that. “Jake?” I looked around, but there was no sign of him. I stared at the roof of the house, disappointed, then I went back inside.
*end of flashback*

The house was cold, like death. At times, I felt like I was being watched. I told myself it was Charlie’s spirit checking on me. I bent down on the floor, over the chalky outline.
“Dad, I know it’s you,”” I said, teary eyed. “I know I didn’t say this enough, but I love you. You’ll never know how much.” I heard a noise, like something had fallen, and I looked up. “Dad?” I got off the floor and went up the stairs. I heard that spirits can accidentally knock things over, or intentionally, if they want you to know about their presence.
I went to my room and started packing some clothes. My cell phone rang and it was Jacob.
“Bella, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to accuse you of anything. I just didn’t know the right thing to say.”
“It’s okay. I’m packed, and I’ll be back shortly. Are you sure Billy doesn’t mind me staying?”
“Bella, you stay over all the time. Everyone is fine with it and understands.”
“Okay, then.”
We hung up, and a piece of paper taped to my computer screen caught my eye. I grabbed it. It was a list, one I didn’t make.
Mike
Lauren

Jessica
Bella - Charlie

Angela
Tyler
Eric
PS, Sorry about your dad. That was meant to be you.

I shrunk back, terrified and dropped the note. I grabbed my bag and ran out to my truck. I called Angela on my cell phone as I drove to her house.
“Angel, pick up,” I said to myself. She wasn’t answering. I raced down the road. I finally made it to her family’s cottage styled house on Brookson Road. I got out and banged on the door. Pastor Webber opened the door. “Where’s Angela?” I asked, out of breath. I didn’t wait for him to answer. I pushed through and ran up to her room. I burst through the door. “Angela?”
Startled, she hoped off of Ben’s lap and buttoned up her pants. “Bella, what the hell. Don’t you knock? And what the hell are you doing here? Don’t you know what time it is?”
“Yeah, don’t you know what time it is?” Ben said, fixing up his clothes.
When she was decent, I pulled her into the bathroom. “Angela, I don’t know how else to say this, but you’re going to die,” I said, staring between her eyes. She adjusted her glasses and stared back.
“What?” She almost laughed.
“There was this note taped to my computer. All of our names are on it. The killer left me his death list!”
“Bella, you sound insane.”
“It’s true!”
“Let me see it.”
“I don’t have it. It’s back at the house.”
She huffed and tried to open the door. I stopped her. “All these deaths are connected. Mike, Lauren, and Jessica weren’t just random murders. Someone is doing this to us. And my father? The killer meant to get me, but found Charlie instead.”
“Bella, this isn’t funny,” she said. She sounded scared.
“It’s got to be someone we know.”
“The police will deal with this.”
“They’re not dealing fast enough. Angela, we need to protect each other.”
“I’m busy,” she said. I blocked her from the door knob, again.
“You’re going to die.”
She froze at the serious tone of my voice.
“Bella, you’re insane. Now, I know why people call you crazy behind your back,” she said.
“Angela, you’re not listening.”
“Oh, I hear you loud and clear. Now, get out of my house.” She opened the door and pushed me through. Ben waved at me. Angela lead me to the door and put me out. I turned to see her face.
“Angela, please.”
She slammed the door in my face.
“Is everything alright?” Cindy, Angela’s mom asked as she was passing by with a platter of shrimp cocktails.
“Everythings’s fine,” I replied.
She smiled and continued down the hall. I leaned against the door. “Angela?” I tried one last time. Then, Pastor Webber let me out. I sat in my truck. If Charlie took my place, does that mean I’m off the hook, and he’s moved on to the next person? Or did the inconvenience of Charlie just bump me down the list?
I tightly gripped the steering wheel and tried to think. I wasn’t going to leave without Angela.
I was sitting in my truck. My cell phone was ringing and it was Jacob.
“Hey, Jake. I know. Something came up. I’ll be over in a few,” I said on the phone. I looked up and could see Angela looking down from her bedroom window. “I might bring a friend over, is that okay?”
“Yeah. It’s fine,” he answered, but there was doubt in his voice. Ben came outside, and I wondered why his name wasn’t on the list. What did the rest of us have to do with the killer?
Ben came up to the truck.
“I’m just waiting on Angela,” I told him.
“Good night,” he said.
“Good night.”
Angela finally came outside.
“You’re serious about this,” she said.
“Of course I am,” I said. “You believe me right?”
“I need to see this note,” she said.
“We can go back and get it.”
Angela paused. “Where your dad was murdered? No way.”
“You stay in the truck then, while I get the note.”
She nodded and got inside. I drove back to Charlie’s house. I got the note while Angela sat in the truck. I hurried, not wanting anything to happen to her in the few minutes that we were apart. I got in the truck and showed her the note. She studied it.
“Your name’s not crossed out,” she said. “What does that mean?”
“That means I’m not dead.”
“I know I meant where does that leave you. Who’s next, me or you?”
“It doesn’t matter because we’re going to stay alive. If he can’t get to us, then he can’t get to the others.”
“But, he can just skip over us!” Angela snapped.
“He made a list, Angela. He’s going to go in order and he wants us to know what he’s up to, otherwise he wouldn’t have left this for me to find.”
“Who is this sick person?” Angela asked, her body shaking.
“We’ll be alright.” I touched her shoulder.
“Oh my God. This is real. I went to Lauren and Jess’ funerals. I’m going to be next.”
“Angela, breathe,” I cautioned. “All we have to do is figure out who is doing this, turn them in, and things will be normal again.”
“Forget it. I’m not going anywhere near a serial killer. I don’t care who he is or who he gets as long as he leaves me alone.”
“Angela, that’s the fear talking. We can’t be afraid.”
“But, I’m so scared.”
“I know. I am, too, but we have to have clear heads about this. We need to be smart.”
She nodded and wiped her eyes under the glasses. “We need to be smarter than the killer.”
“Right,” I said.
“Should we warn Tyler and Eric?”
“That would be the right thing to do,” I said. “But, I don’t want to create panic.”
“We should all be together, just in case you’re wrong about him going in order.”
“Who do you think it is?”
Angela looked out the window. “It’s got to be someone who hates us, someone from school.”
“Why would anyone hate us? We’re the nicest people in this town.”
Angela looked at me. “I can’t think of anyone.” The hopeless expression on her face broke my heart. “Bella, we’re going to die. It’s real.” She looked at the note and wet it with her tears. “Somebody really wants us dead.”
I took the note from her as she was becoming obsessed with it. “Bella, I can’t go home.”
“You don’t have to, you can stay with me.”
“Where? Your house is like in quarantine.”
“I’m staying with my boyfriend until my mom comes to get me.”
Angela paused. “What?”
“I’m moving to Florida.”
“You never told me you were moving.”
“It just happened. I’m not eighteen and I can’t live in that house by myself. And I can’t stay with Jacob forever, so after my dad’s funeral, my mom is taking me home with her.”
Angela threw her arms around my shoulders and squeezed me. “I’m going to miss you.”
“I’ll miss you, too,” I said.

Permalink Reply by Seugnet du Toit on January 27, 2013 at 2:20pm

So Bella is taking charge!  I hope she can find out whose list it is and stop him or her!  It's really great of her to try to help the others first.

Permalink Reply by Delilah Cullen on January 27, 2013 at 6:25pm

Wow! Another already, lol. Thanks for the quick post. I just read what you had above an hour ago. Love it so far. 

D

Permalink Reply by balletgirl on January 27, 2013 at 6:18pm

Chapter 4 Scare Tactics
I drove to LaPush with Angela. We hadn’t figured out what to do about Tyler and Eric, but we figured they were fine since we were. Angela got Tyler on the phone and was talking to him just to hear his voice and then she called Eric. She kept conversation casual, not saying anything about the killer or the note.
“When can we tell them?” she asked when she got off the phone with Eric. “They’re lives are in danger. They need to know.”
“And they will, soon.” I pulled up in front of Billy’s house. Jacob came outside. He looked at Angela.
“Hey,” she said, nervously.
“Hey,” he replied. He looked at me. “Is she okay?”
“She’s fine, just a little shaken up.”
“About what?”
I looked at Angela, wondering if I should let Jacob in on it. “Personal girl stuff,” I said. I got my bag and we went into the house.
“My dad is sleeping. Angela, you can stay in my sister’s room,” Jacob said. I slept in Jake’s room. By morning, I had called Rene back. She said she was arriving tomorrow to take care of Charlie’s funeral arrangements. Angela stuck to me like glue. The only thing we didn’t do together was go to the bathroom. Jacob thought she was being weird and clingy.
Jacob made us breakfast and I received a phone call from the police department. They wanted to talk to me. I didn’t want to go, but Jacob said I had to to show I had nothing to hide. Angela came with me. An officer separated us and said he would keep an eye on her. Angela calmed down a bit, feeling safer under the watchful eyes of policemen and women. I was led to a room with nothing but a table and a few chairs, and four bare walls. An interrogation room. I wondered behind which wall were police watching me and listening. I was in there for fifteen minutes alone, until the door opened and in stepped that cop from the other night. I sighed. Not him!
“Hello, Miss Swan. I’m Det. Cullen. You can call me Edward.” He pulled up a chair to the other end of the table and sat down. He had on a taupe button-down with a brown tie and brown pants.
“I already know what you’re going to ask and the answer is no,” I said. “I wouldn’t do that. I couldn’t.”
“A lot of people seem to believe that,” he said.
“You talked to people about me, about if I killed Charlie?”
“Just following procedure,” he said. A chubby officer walked in with a cardboard box. “This is my partner, Det. Johns.”
Det. Johns nodded, but he didn’t look happy. Edward took a folder from the box and read through it silently, ever so often looking up at me with curious, emerald eyes.
“What is that?” I finally asked.
“Your school records,” he said, putting the folder down on the table. “You don’t have a criminal record, so I went for the next best thing.” He smiled as if he thought he was clever.
“Did you find anything incriminating?” I said, with an eye roll.
“Yes,” he said.
I bucked my eyes at him. “But, not because of your school records.” Det. Johns pulled a plastic freezer bag from the box. It had a bloodied knife inside. “We found this in Charlie’s kitchen sink. I hear you’re pretty handy in the kitchen and you like to cook.”
I narrowed my eyes at him and he chuckled. “Miss Swan, meet exhibit A, the murder weapon.”
I was speechless for a moment. “Well, obviously, the killer put it there,” I said. “Why would I put it in the kitchen sink?”
“Maybe, you’re not as smart as your school records suggest,” Edward said.
“Det. Cullen, I did not kill my father.”
“Please, call me Edward.”
His partner chuckled at that. “But, oh wait. There’s more,” Edward said. “Johnny?” Det. Johns pulled another bag from the box. It was a bigger bag with a pink towel inside. “It appears you attempted to clean up Charlie’s blood with your towel.”
“No,” I said.
“So, this is somebody else’s bloodstained, pink towel?” Edward asked, rhetorical. “I bet you’re going to tell me that it’s Charlie’s towel.”
I glared at him and didn’t say anything. “Whose towel is this?”
If I answer, I’m dead. Edward nodded at the silence. “Lock her up.”
“What? Why?” I shouted. I scooted back as Det. Johns opened the door and two policemen dressed in black uniforms entered, one of them swinging a pair of handcuffs.
“Answer my questions, or you’re going to spend the night here in a cell,” Edward said.
“Alright. It’s my towel,” I cracked. They all stared at me, shocked. “But, I didn’t kill Charlie. I’m being framed. This is a set up. I want a lawyer!”
I stared frightfully at the officer with the handcuffs out. Edward waved him back. “We took some samples from the knife and the towel and sent them down to the forensic’s lab. Right now, we’re just waiting for the test results.”
“I didn’t kill my father. I can prove it.” I took the note from my pocket and put it across the table. He read it to himself.
“What am I looking at?” he asked.
“The killer left that for me.”
“It’s just a list of names.”
“That the killer left for me.”
“You could have easily written this yourself,” he said, dismissing the note.
“It has Lauren, Mike, and Jessica’s names on it, crossed out. Do you think I killed them, too?” I asked. He sighed and stared at me with a dark expression. I heard a low growl come from him. Det. Johns heard it to, and he took a cautious step back. I stared Edward down, until he broke his gaze. He balled up the note in his fist, frustrated. A slight smile slipped onto my face. He turned to his partner.
“Keep her over night,” he said in a low voice. But, I heard it.
“What? You can’t do that!” I said.
Det. Johns stepped in front of Edward, as he was about to leave. “She’s right. Until the tests get back, we have nothing to hold her with, and we certainly can’t lock her up. She could sue the department. We got to let her go,” Det. Johns said. Edward paused, displeased.
He turned to me, reluctantly. “Miss Swan, I’m releasing you.”
I got up and went to the door. I looked back at Edward, as the two officers lead me out. There was something strange about him.
I looked around for Angela until I saw her talking to a cop and eating chips. She had gotten in a much chipper mood. When she saw me, reality sank back in.
“Did you show them the note?” she asked, when we were outside.
“Yes, but it’s useless,” I said.
“Useless? Why? It’s from the killer,” she said.
“We can’t prove that.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying it doesn’t matter. We’re on our own.” I walked out to my truck.
“Wait. So, what did they say to you? Did they have any new evidence or something?”
I turned to face her with the truth. “There was nothing I could do. For all I know, I probably made it worse. They think I killed my father,” I said. Angela stared at me. “They only called me in to question me more about Charlie. I have a bad feeling about this.”
Angela moved back as if she saw something in me that made her afraid. “What’s wrong?” I asked. “Oh come on! Not you, too. I didn’t do it.” I hopped into the truck, and looked out at Angela. “Are you coming or not?”
She nodded. “Yeah.” She got in and I drove us back to LaPush.

Permalink Reply by Seugnet du Toit on January 28, 2013 at 5:18am

Something mysterious is going on, and Bella seems to be at the centre of it.  Why is this person framing her and making her look suspicious?  Is it some form of revenge or payback?  What will happen next? Can't wait for the next chapter!

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