WHY?
Disclaimer: The Cullens, the Swans, and most of the characters mentioned in the story that are known from Stephanie Meyer's beloved Twilight Saga, are all hers and hers alone. I neither have nor wish to pass them off as mine. I do appreciate the fact that she did bring them to life and allows us to play with them in our imaginations. The only thing I will claim is the current storyline.
All of the chapters of this story has been beta'd by the lovely dowlingnana and the chapters with mistakes are being replaced.
CHAPTER 4: MEETINGS OF WHAT KIND?
'Okay. What the hell is taking so long? It was supposed to be a simple updating meeting and then finished.' Edward thought to himself while pacing like a dangerously, caged cat.
"Edward, son, sit down, you are making me nervous," chided his mother.
"But, Mom, she is forty five minutes late. Something is wrong. I just know it."
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"Get your stuff ready, we're leaving. And if you don't get better control of the brats, I will do something about it!"
"Like hell you will. I'll kill you first. You lousy son of a bitch, don't threaten my children again."
"Just get ready, bitch. I don't have time for your melodrama and shit." Roughly grabbing her and throwing her into the wall, then turning to walk out of the room, slamming the door closed behind him.
Fighting to maintain control of herself, she begins to gather clothing, toys and other necessities together. The children picking up on the tension begin to whimper and seek comfort from their mother. She stops what she is doing and holds them close in her arms, all three rocking back and forth, softly speaking to them and soothing their fears.
Meanwhile, in the front part of the house, the leader of the group is talking to someone on the phone. He turns as he hears someone entering the room to see who it is.
"Everything ready for the move?"
"Yes, sir, but, how much longer are we going to be employed with this operation"
"I really don't know just yet, but, I don't think it will be too much longer. She's a smart little bitch to have eluded us this long. It was just luck that we were able to get to her before she moved again."
"As soon as the cars get here we will be leaving. Oh, let Jane know that I expect her to help handle our guests. There is to be no chance of anyone raising the alarm. Make sure that it is fully understood. No mistakes will be tolerated this time round."
"Well, I guess, they all know that after the punishment that Alec received for letting her get loose at the hotel. She almost got away from us."
"How are we moving everyone?"
"With three understated cars. You and Jane will be in the same car as the bitch and her brats. Marcus and I will be in the front car, while Caius and Alec will be in the last car. Our destination has not been revealed as yet, but, I am expecting to reach that information while we are in transit.
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'Talk about uncomfortable' Matt was thinking to himself. He looks over to Pete to see how he was reacting to this. Then both look between both women, very much wanting to see how this interesting situation would play out.
"What in the hell are you doing here, Tanya?"
"That is none of your business. If I had wanted for you to know then I would have come to you. But, as it is, might have some information to offer, but, am now wondering if it is worth getting involved with the whole lot of you."
"Where are Kate and Irina, piled up in someone's bed? I am surprised that you could even close your legs long enough to come in here. But, I would be interested to know what you think you know. No, let me guess, you are just here pretending to know someone with the two brain cells you have to try and find out some gossip to spread."
"Bitch! I will make you pay for that. You Cullen women think that your shit doesn't stink, but, let me tell you something. You are no less a whore than anyone else. The only differences are that you get paid more with benefits, but, we admit what we are. You try to hide behind the prim and proper notion. Know that my position is more freeing in the long run than yours," after so spitting out she moves towards Alice, drawing back her hand and coming forth with full strength to make contact with the left side of her face. The sound of the hit to Alice Whitlock's face launch both men into action to separate both women before it could get into an all out catfight.
"Matt, why don't you take Miss –ugh Miss – ugh. Oh, hell, this young woman into the other office while I see about calming down Mrs. Whitlock and talking to her for a few moments."
Matt quickly moves Tanya through the door into the adjoining office and closing the door after they entered. Matt turns to Tanya to offer her a chair and then walks around the desk to take seat.
"Miss-"he hesitates waiting for her to give her name.
"Tanya. Tanya Stevens. "
"Miss Stevens, may I ask why you are here?"
"Well, I heard from a mutual friend that a Peter Jenkins of this agency was looking for Isabella Cullen and children. I think that I might have some information to help, so, I came to see if what I know would be of any use."
"I see."
"Yeah, I know. You are wondering why I am just now saying anything. I am not fond of the police to begin and I wanted Edward and the Cullen family to suffer a bit for the way they look down on me and my sisters."
"Why"
"Simple, really, if you knew our family history. The Stevens family and Carlisle Cullen are distantly related. But, we are treated as outcast by the women of the family. Of course, the boys aren't that great in their attitude towards us, either. It has to do with the way their mother brought them up."
"And?"
"And? What do you mean 'and'? We have never asked them for anything other than to be treated as part of the family. Surely that would not be too much? But, no. Mother Cullen is high brow and the boys are raised to look at us like we are trash. Then their wives are not much better.
"Our mother and Carlisle use to play together growing up. And the families use to be a lot closer than they are now. After Carlisle's parents passed and he starting going out with Esme life changed. Our parents were killed in a car accident and we thought that Carlisle would help. But, no, nothing, not even a card of condolence."
"Miss Stevens, please, tell me what it is that you think might help and the reason you are offering to us now?"
"Mr. Locke—"
"Matt is fine. Everyone calls me that," he offers with a gentle smile.
"Okay, Matt. I, ugh, have a friend, shall we say, that was talking no long ago. He mentioned that he had overheard a conversation between his boss and another guy. Of course, he only heard his boss's side, but the Cullen name was mentioned and this got his attention."
"Miss Stevens, I need to ask certain questions in regards to this, ugh, information that you have come across. Are you willing to answer my questions honestly and completely?"
"It depends."
"Depends on what?"
"Just how much information and what information you are wanting. I will not give out any information that I feel is too personal, or, that will get my friend or friends involved in this."
"Fair enough. The only way we will ask anything that will involve any of that is if it is directly related to what we need to know to find Mrs. Cullen and the twins.
"But, Miss Stevens, if I might advise you? It would really be better if we could talk with your friend. Do you think that you might give us the name of your friend?"
"No. I will tell you what I know, but, I will not give you any names."
"That is fine. It makes it a little more difficult, but, we will take what we can get."
"Why would it be more difficult?"
"Because we might have some questions concerning the conversation that only your friend could answer. You only have what is known as hearsay information."
"I see."
"May, I call you Tanya?"
She nods yes.
"Tanya, let's get the information that you know. Then, if we still need more information we'll ask you to talk with your friend to see if he or she would be willing to come in and talk with us. The law will not be involved in this discussion. So, be assured of that. Would you be willing to do that for us?"
Her brow creases while she is thought before she nods once in agreement.
"Okay, then let's start," he smiles while rubbing his hands together in excitement.
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Three black cars pull away from the house and quietly leaves with all evidence of their stay cleaned.
"I still don't know why you have kidnapped me and my children. You people have the wrong person."
"Bitch, quit with the whining. We know who we know who you are and you know why you are here. So, just shut the hell up and keep the rug rats quiet, as well."
"I keep trying to tell you that you must have the wrong person. Please, let us go. I won't tell anyone."
The woman sitting in the front passenger seat turns and backhands the woman across the mouth, splitting her lip. "Now, do as you're told and shut the hell up. I am sick of listening to this broken record."
The woman shrinks back into the seat and as far to the opposite side of the car away from the woman in the front seat as she can.
"Jane, I don't think you should have done that. The Aro is not going to like it,"
"I don't care. She never shuts ups. If she not going then those damn brats are caring on. It gets on the nerves after awhile. Besides, I don't know who she thinks she is kidding. I mean like, we didn't check to make sure who we were getting."
"But, I am not the person-"she slowly shuts up as Jane jerks her head around, glaring at her and at the same time glancing towards the kids. The woman seeing the look Jane is giving her children starts to shake with fear.
"Good. Now, you're starting to learn and get the message. Took you long enough. But, open that mouth again unless you are asked something and one of your pests will pay the price."
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Jenkins walks over to Alice Whitlock and gently moves her face towards the light so he can get a better look at her face. The hand print has reddened and will definitely show a bruise on her cheek. 'Damn, her husband is not going to take this too well.'
"Mrs. Whitlock, I apologize that we didn't stop her sooner. Please, come over and set down."
"Mr. Jenkins, I really would like to get this meeting over with as my family is waiting to hear what all you have found out so far. Please, just enlighten me and I will leave you to deal with the trash in your other office. But, a word of caution. Take what she says with a grain of salt. Check all of your facts."
"Believe me, Mrs. Whitlock, I am a very careful man and do not take anything at face value."
"Now, let's get down to facts and then you can be on your way."
"First off, I have just returned from checking out some of the leads that we have been able to uncover. I was in New York at the apartment where Mrs. Cullen and the children had been staying for a period of two months. It was the first two months after her and the twins' disappearance. The landlord said that she showed up, paid cash, stayed to herself and, then, suddenly, she and the twins were gone. No trace that they had even been there.
"We have located the one of the messenger services that delivered one of the packages she received the week before she left. The problem we ran into with that is the person that did the delivery is no longer with the company and we are in the at present locating him.
"I have found out some information in regards to your brother, Edward, and concerning Mr. Black."
"What have you found out about Edward and Jacob?" she asks. "No. No, I want to know, first, if Bella and twins were okay. Please, let me know anything that you can tell me, please," she says with her voice trembling while trying to keep the sob held at bay.
"I can tell what I was told. She and the children never went out, had everything delivered. She was very quiet, giving the impression of expecting something or somewhat to show up. Acting like she was scared of her own shadow. All of this is words from the people that lived around her and the landlord. But, she and the children were unharmed and healthy."
"Again, what about my brother and Jacob?"
"Mrs. Whitlock -" Jenkins stops and turns around as he hears the other office door being opened and Matt getting ready to step through, motioning to him.
A/N: Hope you are enjoying the story so far. Any ideas as to what Tanya is going to tell them and what he found out about Edward and Jacob.
I would like to thank all you have read my story so far, as there have been a good number of hits and alerts, even though, I have not received many reviews as yet. I welcome your comments of both good and bad as they show an interest.
I will try to update again next Friday