Chapter IV
Carlisle and Esme returned just before dawn on Saturday morning. The starlings squawked in the trees above them, engrossed in primitive conversation, as the two strode to the door. Before entering a new scent washed over them.
"What's this? Were you expecting someone?" Carlisle asked his wife. She shook her head negatively.
"Maybe one of the others perhaps? That's odd, they didn't tell us…" She guessed. The scent was unmistakably a vampire, although it was one they had never encountered before. Esme reached for the door but Carlisle beat her to it. He was always insisting on holding the door open for her.
"Thank you." She said with a smile as he pulled himself in after her.
As they entered, a feeling of happiness washed over them. Carlisle dashed into the living room, hoping to see Jasper, but he was not there. A vampire with a delighting demeanor was sitting on their sofa, along with the others (minus Jasper of course). Carlisle looked over to Esme, to see that she was disappointed as well.
The visitor seemed to be a little older than Edward (in appearance). Carlisle observed him for a moment before asking any questions. The stranger held a notebook in his hands, along with a pen. Carlisle assumed him to be some kind of journalist, but his happy appearance seemed to contradict the usual prying attitude of a reporter. He had a yellowish-blond hair color and a strikingly handsome figure and visage, like many vampires. Yet there was one thing very different about this vampire, his eyes were colored a clear blue. It was so odd, that Carlisle couldn't help but stare as he wondered what had caused it. Never in his experience had he encountered a vampire with blue eyes. This physiological mystery puzzled him. Was he even a vampire? His scent was very subtle, but it did seem precisely vampire.
Once the entry of Esme and Carlisle was recognized the visitor rose and walked over to Carlisle.
"Dr. Carlisle Cullen I assume, if I'm at the right place." He said, shaking hands with the puzzled doctor. He had the hint of an Australian accent.
"Yes, I am. Might I ask your name?"
"Jack Moreau. I'm happy to meet you, I've read about some of your work. I'm so pleased to meet you."
"I'm pleased to meet you to." Carlisle responded. "Might I ask what your business is here? This is quite, how should I put it…random."
Edward rose and answered Carlisle's thoughts. "Mr. Moreau is here to talk to you about your most recent autopsy. He want's to cover it for his story."
"Well put." Jack said, flashing a brilliant smile.
"Ah, I see." Carlisle said. "If you wanted to cover the story about Joanna Cartlette, why don't you interview her parents?"
Jack frowned slightly. "Well, I haven't spoken to them just yet; I wanted to talk to you first."
"Very well then, as long as it is perfectly alright with them, I suppose I could tell you what I am permitted to tell." Carlisle responded. Although he knew little about Jack Moreau, he decided that he liked him. He seemed to be an enthusiastic and dedicated chap. However, it crossed his mind that maybe it was his "special ability" to seem so warm.
"I appreciate it Dr. Cullen. It's not for a big paper company or anything, only for my college campus news."
"Oh, I see what college?"
"Silbert University." Jack said. The "ert" was pronounced like "air", giving it a regal, French sounding quality. Dr. Cullen had heard of this college before.
"Ah, that's not too far from Seattle, it's a bit hidden though. I assume you chose it because of the rainy region." Carlisle said, assuming that his gust was a vampire.
"Precisely. This is my second time going through college." Jack answered with half a smile. Apparently Carlisle's assumptions were true.
"Silbert has an excellent medical school; in fact, I have an intern who is a student there. Gregory Lawrence."
"Yes, I know, he told me."
Carlisle raised his eyebrow. He was surprised that such a laid back chap was friends with such an anal medical student. "What a coincidence." He said.
"It's a small school, you pretty much know everyone." Jack replied, with his charming smile. The Australian in his voice caused him to say "ehveryone."
"Your school is rather prestigious, is it not? You must be a gifted journalist."
"Yeea, I guess. I want to cover this story because…well it would be interesting to write about something dramatic in a small town. I mean, these places are pretty quiet."
"You'd be surprised." Alice said, adding a dash of sarcasm to the conversation. Carlisle nodded in agreement. He didn't say anything, for he didn't want any more trouble.
Carlisle allowed Jack to interview him, but made him promise to ask the parents before publishing anything. He agreed because he wanted to interview them as well. Once the interview was over, Jack prepared to leave.
"It was nice to meet you Dr. Cullen." He said cheerfully shaking his hand.
"It was a pleasure to speak with you as well."
"May I ask you a question?"
"Certainly."
"How are you comfortable being a doctor? You know, with all the blood. You must be out of your mind."
"Actually, I'm immune to it." Carlisle said with a smile. Jack stared blankly.
"Immune to it?"
"Yes, I'm afraid so. I feed from animals if that's what you want to know."
Jack nodded and smiled again. "That's quite a talent you've got."
"Thank you."
"I'd best be going, before it gets too bright." He headed for the door.
"You are welcome to come back any time!" Esme said before he left. She was always so compassionate. That is why Carlisle loved her so much. He was a kind chap though, he really was welcome back.
"I'll keep that in mind. You're so hospitable."
Everyone said goodbye to Jack except Edward. Carlisle noticed it right away.
"Edward." He said.
"I know what you're thinking, it's just…I don't know what that Moreau guy was thinking. I just don't trust him." Edward said, watching as a car that Carlisle hadn't noticed pulled out of the driveway.
"I understand your concern, but you couldn't read Bella's mind, and yet you trust her." Edward nodded his head slightly. "I guess you're correct, but I don't like it when I can't see someone's thoughts. Especially Bella, but that's what makes me love her, I have to actually try to please her."
Carlisle smiled and patted his son on the shoulder. "Now you are aware of how the rest of us poor males feel."
Carlisle kept Edward's feelings in mind, but he did like Jack Moreau. At least what he knew of him. He decided that it wasn't all that important, for there were other issues that needed his attention. Issues such as the well being of his missing son.
Carlisle proceeded to his office, where he could have a place to think, when his phone rang.
"Dr. Cullen." He said in his professional voice.
"It's me, Maryter, we've go another case of bacterial meningitis."
"My god! In just two days? How odd. Do you think they caught it from our most recent patient?"
"Doubt it, they would have shown up shortly after. I'm praying we aren't headed for an epidemic."
"That seems quite outrageous, but make sure you check the other members of the household."
"That's the thing, there aren't any. Not even a room mate. This man lived by himself. He was brought in by a friend, that's what worries me."
"Check the friend, and perhaps find out if the two patients were aquainted."
"I've already done so. They don't even know each other."
"Well then, if another case comes with in the next twelve hours, call me."
"Affirmative. I'll contact you right away."
"Alright." Dr. Cullen replied as both doctors hung up.
"How odd. Two cases of bacterial meningitis in less than forty eight hours. Yet, that would seem like too much time if the two cases were related. Why must so many distressing things go on at once? I'll have it under control though. What about Jasper?"
Before he could continue his train of thought, he was once again interrupted. Edward walked in to the office room. "Rosalie and Emmett went to go look for him. I figured he's not ready for me to confront him yet."
"I see." Carlisle replied seeing Edward's reason. He figured if he should mention the werewolf incident to him or not.
"What werewolf incident?" Edward said, curious and angry that he didn't know about it already.
Carlisle quickly recapped the circumstance.
"So do you think Black was chasing Jasper?" Edward said, frustrated.
"I'm not sure; I couldn't sense him, so I think Mr. Black was on a false lead."
"Who would put a werewolf on a false lead?"
"Perhaps it was an accident."
"Seems likely."
"Yet, it is rather strange, is it not."
"You don't think it's Victoria?"
"Actually, that thought did cross my mind. I'd be cautious about Bella if I were you."
"Of course. Speaking of Bella, I have to go retrieve her." Edward said as he looked to his watch and headed for the door.
"Alright then, I'll see you…"
"Around eight." Edward said before leaving.
Despite the fact that his son was a vampire, he still expected to see him home, especially with Jasper missing. "Now what about Jasper…"
