Chapter 2

EPOV

As I crossed the compound, I took in the sights that had become the norm for all of us here. A group of guys were picking up a game of basketball, others were writing a song and singing it poorly, and some were working out with the wind and sand swirling around them...as I said the norm.

"Afternoon, Cullen."

"Hey, Yorkie, how's it going?"

Yorkie had been here for about three months and he was the scariest type of soldier. The kind who wanted to see some action, to stare the insurgents in the face. Guys like him had imaginary battle scenes they told their buddies about back home. The ones where they took on twelve guys, while in reality they pissed their pants and hid in the fucking sand until the shooting stopped. He bragged that he wanted to be a SEAL, be the baddest of the bad. We all knew he wouldn't make it past the front gate of training.

"Not bad, see any action this time?

"No, thank God."

The last thing I wanted to see were bullets flying over my head. I wanted to do my time and then get the fuck out of here. I had plans for when I returned to the states, big ones, plans that had nothing to do with sand, heat, or fucking crawling insects.

"So, is your sister dating anyone yet?"

His words stopped me in my tracks. Just before we had gone on patrol this last time, he came into the area where I was skyping my Aunt and sister. He took one look at Alice and jizzed himself. Once I said goodbye to them, I made it quite clear to him to keep his fucking mind and hands off my little sister, the sole of my boot can be very intimidating.

"Listen, Yorkie, I told you before, my sister better not cross your mind."

It was no secret around here that my sister was very pretty. She was also a complete pain in the fucking ass, but I loved her, and it was my duty, as her older brother, to protect her.

I would hate to have to kill one of these fuckers with my bare hands, but I would if they tried to hurt her.

I took a seat at one of the empty computer desks, logged in, and started a global search for an Edwin Cullan. I looked in every branch of service, including the Coast Guard, but found nothing. There wasn't any Edwin Cullan presently in active duty. I looked at the retired records and did find an Edwin Cullan, however according to the records he would be roughly one hundred and nine.

With only one thing left to do, I grabbed the letter and wrote one of my own.

Dear Ms. Swan,

My name is Edward Cullen. I know you don't know me, but I received your letter by mistake when I returned from a recent mission. I apologize, that I didn't pay attention to the name on the envelope before opening it. I read only a few lines before I questioned who you were, and it was when I checked the address that I noticed you had sent it to someone else. My sad news doesn't end there, I wanted to do the right thing and make sure your Edwin got his letter. However, after searching the entire military database, I have come up with only one man who had the name you addressed the envelope to. I don't know how to say this any other way except that, Edwin Cullan died many years ago. I am truly sorry this happened to you. Please accept my apology for opening the letter, but you have to admit the names are very similar. I wish you luck in finding the man you meant to read your words. If I can be of any further assistance in finding your Edwin, please don't hesitate to mail me back or better yet, we could move with the times, and I'll enclose my email address here in Afghanistan.

Sincerely,

Edward Cullen

I don't know why I wrote down my email address, since this was designed to be the end. However, it would serve to be the best thing I had ever done.

I placed Isabella's letter in an envelope before tossing it in the outgoing mail bin.

I hated the thought that anyone could be as cruel as to lie to a young girl. A girl who perhaps gave away her heart, or heaven forbid, her virginity, only to have this person laugh before boarding a plane to a new destination and a new girl.

Returning to my tent, I finished going through the rest of my mail. Afterward, I decided to shoot my brother a quick email. Emmett and I were Irish twins, born less than a year apart. Our closeness and competition started literally at birth and hasn't stopped since.

As I logged on to my laptop, I decided to take my own advice and google Edwin Cullan as a civilian. What I found nearly made me see red.

USA Today Fraud Report:

Officials revealed today that a major identity theft ring has been uncovered. This particular organization was headed by James Hunter, 45, a former computer programmer for Morgan, Foss, & Rossi. A security system company that designs programs for national banks around the globe.

Reports allege that Hunter created a fictitious website targeting single females, Love in Uniform. The reports indicated that thousands of unsuspecting young men and women visited the website in the hopes of finding love with a man or woman currently serving in the US Military. Hunter would assign each of them a fictitious soldier, complete with an email and an address in Afghanistan. Examples of the 'soldiers' names are Edwin Cullan and Elizabeth Masen. Several victims reported that Hunter sent them an email stating their 'soldier' was being deployed. After a few days, an urgent email would be received that their 'soldier's' family was in trouble and that monetary help was needed. Promises were made for a complete pay back within seventy-two hours. Once the account numbers or actual money transfers had occurred, the email address would then become inactive. At the time of his arrest, Hunter was reported to have scammed more than two million dollars. He is currently being held without bond in an undisclosed location. Studies show that women between the ages of 22 and 35 are prime targets for identity theft.

I couldn't believe someone would use people's emotions like that. I quickly typed an email to my brother. With the news that Alice going on dating websites, I didn't want this to happen to her.

Em,

Hey bro, attached is an article I found while I was looking for some information for a friend. I heard that Alice has been trying to find Mr. Right using the internet and I want you to tell her to be careful. I hope to be home in a few months, so be ready for an ass kicking.

Kiss Rose and the kids for me and tell them I miss them. Also, make sure to tell Mom I'm doing fine and can't wait to see her.

Love,

Edward

I hit send, and then shut down my laptop. As much as I hated this fucking heat, I needed to get in a run. With my boots laced, I joined the other idiots as we circled the tents. All in all, it was a mile around if you stuck to the trail. The new guys could be seen sporting running shoes, only to find they had little protection from the intense heat the sand seemed to absorb. When I first got here, I'd put my ear buds in and try to listen to music. It wasn't too long before I threw them away from all the goddamn sand that collected in them, not to mention they quit working. I had my sister send me a new pair and they stay inside a plastic bag in my foot locker.

I could feel the sun's heat as it pelted down on my back and the clink of my dog tags keeping rhythm for me where my music used to. As I ran, my mind wondered to Isabella-what does she do? Is she a student, a mother, or both? Does she have an older brother to watch over her? From what little I had read of her letter, and the news report, she at least thought she had someone over here.

I noticed Yorkie trying to pass me on my left, so it was time to school the little fucker. As he ran alongside me, I took a quick left and hurdled over one of the air-conditioning units for the infirmary. When Emmett and I were in high school, we would take turns trying to outdo the other while playing football with the neighborhood kids. When Emmett went pro, I worked his ass hard before tryouts. Yorkie was no match for me. He screamed like a little bitch when his shin hit the cover of the unit. I didn't take the time to stop and see if he was alright, fucker deserved that one for just thinking about Alice.

~~**SSD**~~

Things had been quiet for the past two weeks; too quiet if you ask me. Emmett had written me back, telling me that he and dad had given Alice and Rose a strong talking to. Seems the news report had also made it to my father's desk. If you think I'm protective of Alice, he's a hundred times worse. As his only daughter, she may have him wrapped around her finger, but he protects that finger with his life. Curiosity had gotten the better of me and I wondered if anything new was out about that sleaze, James Hunter. As I signed onto my laptop, I was surprised to see I had mail. Maybe something had happened in the last eight hours since I last heard from home. I was even more surprised, and very delighted, to see an email from Isabella.

To: Cullen, Edward. LT.

From: justbella

Dear Mr. Cullen,

First, let me say thank you for your service. I cannot imagine how difficult it is for you and your men to be so far away from your families. I wish you a safe return and if you need anything stateside, it would be my honor to assist you.

As for the letter, I'm happy to let you know that you were not the one to deliver the bad news to me. The day before I received your thoughtful letter, I was visited by someone from the Federal Prosecutor's office. Mr. Black, who arrived at the worst possible time as my mother's bridge club was about to meet, filled me in on all of the ghastly details. Mr. Black insisted I refer to him as Jacob, however, I knew my mother and her friends were listening in the next room. My mother, Renee, is of the firm belief that we address others with respect and reverence, therefore, he remained Mr. Black and not Jacob. Once he excused himself, leaving behind his business card, she cornered me telling me he was such a handsome man and that he had to be interested in me because he left his contact information. Mr. Cullen, the man was in his fifties, although with what you shared with me about the age of Edwin Cullan, maybe she's right, as I clearly attract aged men. Oh dear, I hope I haven't offended you. If you are of an advanced age, I mean no disrespect.

It's just, my mother can be so infuriating when all I hear day after day is if I was more well-rounded I could attract the attention of a fine young man. What my mother doesn't seem to understand is the men around my age aren't interested in what a girl's IQ is, but more in her bra size and how quickly he can separate her from her panties. Nothing ever seems good enough for her, no matter how I dress or how many society chairs I occupy, it's never enough. My brother, Jasper, just happen to stop by at the same time that Mr. Black was leaving. He isn't related to me by blood though. His mother, my father's secretary, died of ovarian cancer when he was three. He came to live with us when his father couldn't be located. My father, who is a prominent attorney here in Washington, filed all of the paperwork and he's been with us ever since.

Jasper questioned why I felt the need to contact such a website, to seek such drastic measures to find a person of the opposite sex. If I'm being honest, and trust me Mr. Cullen, honesty is extremely important to me; I just wanted something, someone...different. I wanted to at least talk with someone who has done something they enjoy, not out of obligation or social advantage, but something that makes them truly happy.

When I first began conversing with Mr. Cullan, or Mr. Hunter as it now seems, he presented himself as a small town farm boy. His tales of adventure had him joining the Navy in order to see the world, along with finding cultures he had only read about. He was real, he was simple, and he was exactly the type of person I wanted to befriend. He even sent me a picture of a sandy-haired young man, sitting atop a tractor complete with a cowboy hat and flannel shirt. I now know he obtained that image from a simple google search. He even told me he was falling in love with me, which should have been my first clue. How in the world can you fall in love with a man you've never spoken to or conversed with outside of email?

My suspicions started when he told me he was shipping out on a secret mission. Three days later, I received a telegram informing me that his mother had been in an accident and the state was stepping in to take his younger siblings into foster care. With his current mission in full progress, he wasn't in the position to come home to take care of them. He needed to get his aunt a plane ticket, but his credit card was expired. He swore he would get the money to me in a few days. I asked for a phone number for the county his family was in. I told him I would go to my father and have him intercede on his behalf. That was the last email I ever received from him. I was worried something had happened, so as you know, I sent a handwritten letter instead.

I told Jasper everything, feeling like such an idiot. But you know what? He told me he completely understood why I did it. He didn't like it of course, but he understood. Jasper is being pressured to join my father's firm, but being a lawyer isn't something he wants to do. His real career choice, his dream job, well let's just say it would give our parents a massive heart attack. When he confessed what he wanted to be, and I'm sorry, but I swore to him I wouldn't tell a soul, he also reminded me that Maria, his girlfriend, wouldn't be happy either. Maria is the daughter of one of my father's partners at the firm. Where Jasper is a calm and patient man, Maria is a brash and, dare I say, bitchy girl? Her parents have given her everything she has ever demanded and now, it seems, she expects the same from Jasper.

He confided in me that she has started to, not so subtly, hint that she is ready for him to propose. I questioned him if this was something he wanted to do, but when he failed to respond, I had my answer. Maria may have my parents believing that she is the perfect wife for Jasper. but I know that my brother doesn't love her. Now, maybe that isn't an issue for her, maybe I should have introduced Maria to James, they both seem to have one goal in common.

Mr. Cullen, this letter has given you more information than I think you bargained for, I apologize, but I do tend to ramble which is another personality trait my mother frowns upon. I will completely understand if you find me a complete lunatic and want no further contact with me, or if you are happily married, engaged, or in a relationship of any sort, I don't judge, I completely understand and please send my praises to your significant other as you are truly a kind man. They are lucky to have you in their life.

With best wishes and gratitude,

Bella Swan

PS.

I do prefer to be addressed as Bella. The few friends I have call me that. My mother, of course, hates that I prefer it. She stands firmly stating she gave birth to Isabella. I do question if the majority of us don't like our Christian names due to the fact we hear it nearly every day. I associate it with eating corn with every meal, after a while you never want to see corn again.

I smiled sitting back on my bunk, reading and re-reading her words. Picturing in my mind this young girl with a plaid skirt, knee socks, black rimmed glasses, and braces. I had no idea how old she was, but by the maturity of her words and the fact her mother was trying desperately to couple her off, she had to be of at least college age. As I clicked the button to reply to her email, I couldn't help but feel relief that this Jacob Black had been of no interest to her.