The Carver Café [Edward/Jacob]

28

a/n: changed my mind. one more chapter after this one. this will probably be edited.

Edward has a knot in his stomach. Ever since Mike had burst into the living room with his little confession, he couldn't help but agonize over the information. He'd had this feeling before. He remembers it clear as day. He can feel the sun against his skin as it peeks through the kitchen window while he makes breakfast, can remember the smell of bacon popping in the pan, can practically hear the birds chirping as they flutter past.

He can remember the calm before the storm.

He remembers the first hint of copper as it hits the air. The smell confuses him at first, enough to ponder on it for a second before a chill runs down his spine. He freezes as he sniffs the air. He gives himself enough time to turn off the eye before he's bounding upstairs, mind only able to focus on the smell as it becomes stronger. He can hear her heart rate spike before he can even make it upstairs. He has to collect himself before he turns the knob, doesn't want to scare her if it's nothing, but he knows. He opens the door slowly and peers up to see her standing near the bed, tears in her eyes, and blood soaking through her underwear as he stares over at him.

They don't say anything in that moment. They don't need to. 

Edward knew he shouldn't have left it to humans to handle something like James. He should've followed his first instinct and every other instinct after that to make sure that they wouldn't have to hide because there would be no threat. 

He should've handled it. 

If he'd handled it, he wouldn't have this sinking feeling in his gut as the words "Code Red" blasts through the speaker of Jacob's walkie talkie. He can hear the panic in the voice of the officer even as his calls fizzle out into a crackle before the connection ends. 

He can see fear immediately replace the calm expression on Jacob's face as he goes from drifting into a nap to staring down at the device as if he doesn't believe what he's hearing. Edward stands from the bed immediately, grabbing for his arm and rushing him towards the nearest exit. He doesn't bother with knocking as he forces open the back door of the house Leah and Seth were staying in. He can see Leah rushing down the stairs, relief flooding her face at the sight of Jacob before Edward's slamming the door behind him and heading towards the beach.

He can hear Mike's thoughts loud and clear as the man attempts to get the situation under control but, based on the look on the remaining officer's faces, they're scared. They're so scared that Edward begins to wonder what they've seen. 

James is a murderer, which is unsettling, but they've seen humans commit the same act and they all still don the badge. So, what could they have possibly seen that has them so shaken?

Edward ambles over and watches as Mike goes pale at the sight of him before pointing down the beach toward what looks to be a pile of seaweed. Though, based on Newton's expression, he suspects otherwise. It was the same frazzled look most humans had when they saw a dead body. 

"Who?" Edward asks with a heavy sigh, eyes squinting down at the curled-up form. 

"Lauren Mallory." Newton says after peering down at the file in his hand. 

Edward can barely hear his voice over the crash of the waves.

Mallory? He doesn't know anything about her. Why kill her? Unless she accidentally got in his way.

"Did anyone see him? Do they know where he went?" He tries to be levelheaded and calm, but he feels as if he's talking to confused toddlers as they all look around at one another with large, frightened eyes.