Chapter 7

Jasper

Esme didn't want to go back on her own and Sue Clearwater offered to accompany her, after Harry's funeral which both Esme and Bella attended, guarded first by Char and myself to the Reservation and then the wolf pack. She left without speaking to me and I thought she hated the truth I'd been forced to tell her. Charlotte left next, kissing both myself and Bella with a "good luck" as she drove away. I knew this was the last thing she wanted to do but I hoped her leaving might mean she wasn't under such close scrutiny because she had a job to do. She and Peter had an extensive network of friends and acquaintances and I hoped one of them might have some useful Intel for us. It was worth a try and Char knew the consequences if our enemy found out she was snooping but was still willing to try. All we could do was wait to hear from her or our unknown enemy.

Charlotte

I know it was stupid but I expected to see Peter waiting for me on the porch as I drove up to our house but of course there was no one there to greet me. Hurrying inside I checked but there were no strange scents in the house, just ours and I closed my eyes conjuring up the vision of my husband by breathing in his scent. I knew the chances of getting him back were poor, The Major never lied about things like that, but hope was all I had to cling to. Hope, and a determination to find out something of use to us. I grabbed a pen and some paper and wrote a list of every contact we had who might possibly know more or heard of some nugget of information I could pass on to him. I crossed out those that weren't likely to have heard anything and it left me with a list of ten possibles, eight would be easy but the last two were much more difficult to prise anything out of, so I left them till last.

The first two knew nothing but promised to keep their ears open, the next was unreachable, and the next, but I got my first break on the fifth call,

"Charlotte, I thought I might hear from you."

"What have you heard Elliot?"

"Not much, a rumour really. I heard that The Major was back, with a mate, and they upset some very important and influential people."

"And?"

"That's it but I knew if it was true then Peter and you wouldn't be far away. So he is back?"

"Yes but not with Maria."

"Oh, I know that. He wouldn't work for that bitch again. Hows Peter?"

"He's missing Elliot. We think its mixed up with The Major."

"Oh I don't doubt that. Can't help you with anything else though, I've told you all I heard. Have you tried Matt? He's usually got his finger on the pulse so to speak."

"No I was leaving him till last and I've only got an old number for him."

"Yeah, I'll give you another contact number if you like. Just don't tell him you got it from me, he's a little "Odd" that way."

When he realized who was calling Matt became nervous,

"Charlotte? How did you get this number?"

"Sorry to worry you Matt but I'd like to know if you've heard any rumours about The Major recently."

"Rumours? What kind of rumours? Should I have?"

"Don't play games with me Matt, you know everything that's going on in our world. You can tell me, or I can give this number to him."

"NO!. No need to be like that Char. If I tell you, you must promise me you wont tell a soul where you heard it."

"I promise not to tell anyone except The Major."

He hesitated,

"Your call Matt!"

He sighed in vexation,

"OK that will have to be good enough I guess. He has some dangerous enemies you know. If they found out I'd been talking to you..."

"Matt just get on with it, my patience is fast running out."

"I heard Ellie has been asked to watch some people, friends of his. I don't know who by, but it sounds as if there are some heavy weights involved."

"Volturi?"

"I never said that. Don't put words in my mouth."

"Go on."

"Not much more to tell, I think these "people" are interested in more than just him..."

"Who?"

"His mate. I have to tell you I was surprised to hear he had one."

"Well he has."

"I know that now Char, stop stating the obvious. I can tell you that Dee and Harriet have disappeared from circulation."

"You think they're involved too?"

"I never said that. You draw your own conclusions. If you can I'd get out now, because when the bomb blows there aren't likely to be many survivors."

"So its going down soon?"

"No idea, but the atmosphere is pretty electric and not many are betting on The Major."

When I put the phone down I tried to make sense of his words, or rather, the ones he didn't say.

Ellie was doing the watching and that's how they knew who was where, and when.

The Volturi could be involved although he never said it outright. I wondered who else he might consider heavyweights. I needed to ring Jazz with this information but there was one more person I wanted to try, especially now I had a few snippets to work with.

The phone was answered immediately,

"Charlotte. You took your time, I'm hurt I wasn't your first port of call. So you are mixed up in the shit again."

"Reeve, what have you heard?"

"Now you know it doesn't work like that. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. Who is the Majors mate?"

"Bella Swan. Your turn"

"Oh bother! OK. He's been a very naughty boy and upset some heavy weights who have formed a kind of "Destroy the Major and grab his mate" club. Your turn, what's so special about her?"

I wasn't sure I could answer that,

"She's the Majors mate, isn't that enough?"

"Don't act coy with me, if these people want her then they have a serious reason."

"Do you have some names for me Reeve? Otherwise I'm through with the quiz."

There was a silence then,

"I tell you what, it sounds like it might be dangerous to know too much about this Bella Swan so I'll do you another deal. You promise to keep me out of it and I'll give you the names I've heard. They aren't confirmed, but its pretty certain at least one of them is involved. You in?"

When I put the phone down on her I knew we were in serious trouble and there was no chance at all of getting the others back, in fact they were probably already dead, Peter especially. It was a strange mixture, but I could see the sense behind it. I had no idea what he would do next but I picked up the phone and dialled the house in Forks.