Between Love and Honor Chapter 7 Bella POV

Damn, Peter just put the brakes on that plan. I can’t go anywhere now that Peter’s talked to me. I’m sure my dad will be calling any minute now to make sure I’m alright. I wonder if there is any way I can swing this so that it looks like self-defense…I thought to myself as I rushed to hide the bags in the downstairs closet.

As if it could read my mind, my cell phone went off as I walked back to the kitchen island where I had left it. Looking at the caller ID before answering, I groaned and tried to hide my annoyance.

“Hello Daddy,” I said, sounding like I had consumed a little too much sugar today.

“Hey Baby Girl, how was your day?” he asked.

“It was normal. I was getting ready to visit Mike and his parents when Peter stopped by…” I paused for a dramatic effect, “They found Mike’s body today, Daddy.”

“I know baby, that’s actually why I’m calling. Detective Whitlock’s in charge of the case and would like to talk to you if you feel up to it.”

“Can’t he just talk to Peter about it? I mean,what more do they want to know? Peter already asked me when I last saw him, and if I knew about anyone who would want to hurt him.” I said, knowing that I was starting to sound like a toddler who hadn’t taken their nap, but I didn’t really care if it got me out of going to the station.

“I don’t know baby, but I think you should do this, get it over with and then you can take some time and visit your mom in Paris. I know you miss her and maybe it would help you get past Mike’s death” he said, shuffling papers.

I pouted at the phone, knowing it wouldn’t do any good and feeling like a little kid who didn’t get their way. “But Daddy, why can’t I just go see mom and call Detective Whitlock from Paris? I really don’t like coming to the station, it smells funny and the seats are so uncomfortable.”

“Well, I guess I could always have Jasper come over there tonight. I know you don’t want to face this right now, but you have to if Peter and Jasper are going to catch Mike’s killer. I should be home soon, so I’ll pick something up for dinner” he said before hanging up, effectively keeping me from arguing about Jasper coming over.

I threw my phone into the corner and raced around the house trying to clean up a bit before my dad and Jasper showed up. As I ran through the halls, hiding any sign that I was planning on leaving, I slammed my knee into the banister after tripping over the ridiculous rug in front of the door. I had never been so happy about my clumsiness as I was in that moment. As the door opened, Dad and Jasper walked in to find tears streaming down my face.

My dad dropped the cardboard box he was carrying on the small table before rushing over to me as I slid to the floor, my breathing picking up. My tears had stopped when they came through the door and I didn’t need any physical pain for the tears to fall as the stress of lying took its toll.

When I looked into their eyes, my breathing became labored, I slowly slid to the floor and buried my face in my hands. Dropping the cardboard box he was carrying on the small table, my dad rushed over to me. After pulling me into his lap, he began to rub small circles on my back as he tried to console me, but the stress from lying had finally taken its toll. When I finally raised my head and looked into his eyes, the worried expression on his face caused another round of tears to fall.

Between Love & Honor Chapter 6 Jasper POV

I stood over the broken body that lay on the table, cut up in several different places. Some of the cuts were from the autopsy, but others seemed to have been placed there by the murderer. It was hard to tell if the wounds were used to bait the alligators or the result of pure rage during the murder. Unconsciously, my hands gripped the cool metal until my knuckles were white, my blunt nails digging into the palms of my hands. I relaxed my grip, taking several deep breaths before looking over at the door where Peter stood.

“What do you have for me Peter?” I asked again, taking another glance at the victim lying on the examining table.

“Well, the girlfriend seemed genuinely surprised and broken. But, you know, I think she’s leaving town. There were several bags sitting in the entry way of Commissioner Swan’s house. You might want to check her out before she takes off. Something’s not right, but I can’t put a finger on it. Maybe you can, since you have that freaky talent with reading people and their emotions. Isabella claims she hasn’t seen Mike since Monday. Said he told her he was traveling North to see his family.”

Peter stopped then, letting the information sink in before asking, “So what did the Medical Examiner have to say?”

“Well, believe it or not, none of the physical wounds caused his death. All the stab wounds missed major arteries and organs, and the suffocation was only enough to make him unconscious and leave a bruise. What actually killed him was an allergic reaction to poison ivy. Somehow, he was exposed to it burning, inhaled the fumes, causing him to die of asphyxiation.” Finishing the report on the victim, I pulled the sheet back over his head, and Peter and I walked back to our desks.

A few minutes later, Peter looked up from the folder he had open on his desk.

“Wait, you mean to tell me that we can’t charge anyone with this poor kid’s death? We have no answer for his family?”

I looked over the desk at him, shaking my head. “You’re half right, Peter. We can’t charge someone with his death, but we can sure as hell charge someone with assault. And, we do have an answer for his family, he died of asphyxiation after inhaling the fumes of burning poison ivy. It’s as simple as that.”

“Do you think the commissioner would let us bring his daughter in to ask some more questions?” I asked, settling in my seat.

Peter glanced up from his computer screen with a wicked grin, “There’s only one way to find out, and I vote that you get to ask him since it was your idea. Have fun. You know how protective he is of her.”

I stood up and took a deep breath before making my way to the commissioner’s office.