Chapter Eleven
Charlie
The phone ringing woke me up but I was used to it as a police officer so I snatched it up without bothering to put the light on,
"Chief Swan."
"Charlie?"
"Renee? What's up?"
Her voice sounded scared and I sat up switching the bedside lamp on and looking at my clock, it was three thirty in the morning!
"Charlie its Bella."
"What's happened?"
My heart sank, it sounded like bad news, and then I heard a strangled sob.
"Renee? What's happened to Bella?"
"She's disappeared, just vanished."
"From the château?"
"We just got back from our honeymoon and found out. She and Luc went out went out yesterday morning and never came back. The staff have been looking for them ever since."
"Went where? From what she wrote me the château is in the middle of nowhere."
"No one seems to know. They thought she and Luc had gone for a picnic as they did most days but when the housekeeper came to call them for dinner she couldn't find either of them, not in their rooms or the library and they spent most of their time in the library. Her coat is still in her room along with her shoes, she was only wearing sandals."
"You mean she's been missing overnight without any protection from the elements?"
"Charlie don't snap at me, it isn't Forks you know, it's not raining here, in fact it's very warm."
"What are you doing to find her Renee? Have you called the police or whatever the hell they call them over there?"
"Jean and the garde forestier are out searching now and the police are on their way."
"What the hell is a garde whatever?"
"A gamekeeper, he knows the area best, the trouble is that there is a pack of wolves on the prowl. I'm sorry to worry you but I had to talk to someone, Jean is out on the search."
"She's my daughter too Renee, I have a right to know. I'm flying out, I've got the address on Bella's letters."
"Charlie we are in the middle of nowhere as you put it, how are you going to get here? You don't even speak French."
"You let me worry about that, if you hear anything at all you ring me straight away, you got that?"
She agreed then rang off and I got up cursing, how could Bella go missing in a château in the middle of France? I grabbed my keys and drove straight to the station to reorganise the rota's.
I grabbed the first flight I could to Paris and made sure Renee knew I was on my way but I didn't expect what waited for me when I landed. A chauffeur stood in arrivals with my name on a board,
"Chief Swan? Monseiur Chastel arranged for me to pick you up and take you to a private airstrip, he thought you would want to get to the château as quickly as possible and it would take a long time to drive there."
I was impressed, Renee's new husband was obviously loaded and not only that but happy to help me if he could. At the airstrip a small plane was waiting ready and we took off almost immediately. The flight wasn't long but it gave me time to organise my thoughts. I was hoping it might be possible to speak to whoever was in charge of the search but I was ready to start searching myself if necessary.
Her husband was waiting when the plane landed and introduced himself before guiding me to another chauffeur driven car that again took off straight away. Sitting in the rear with him I was relieved when he spoke,
"Renee is at the château but I thought you would like to know how matters stand. I know Renee told you we found the two missing when we returned home from our honeymoon and no one has seen them since. The château has been searched by my own staff and the police but no sign of them was found. My gamekeeper and the grounds staff are searching the surrounding countryside along with the police but so far there have been no clue as to where they went. The villagers are also looking for them but again no news yet."
"Where would they be likely to go Jean? Bella has never done anything like this before and she isn't the outdoors type. Would Luc have taken her somewhere?"
"Luc is a very responsible young man and like Bella he has never done anything like this. Perhaps they went for a walk and became lost. I'm sure we will find them soon."
As we drove up to the château I could see figures on the mountainside checking out the undergrowth and that brought a chill to my bones. I'd done that myself a couple of times and neither had a happy ending.
"Have there been any reports of strangers in the area?"
"You are thinking perhaps of abduction?"
"Or kidnap for ransom yes, you're obviously a wealthy man".
"There have been no ransom demands or correspondence from anyone so I doubt that Charlie."
Renee ran down the steps to hug Jean then turned to me and I have to admit she looked stricken,
"Charlie I'm so sorry. The kids got on great and the staff were here with them. I don't know what happened, they've just disappeared without a trace."
"No news from the local police then?"
"No nothing yet. They're widening the search but its cold at night here and she didn't have a jacket with her or anything."
"I'm sure Luc will make sure she is safe Renee dear."
I wish I was as confident as her new husband but in my experience when young people went missing without any preparation and seemed to vanish into thin air there was usually an outside influence at work.
As the days went on with no sign of either Bella or Luc and no ransom note or anything I began to lose hope. I'd stretched my leave as far as I could with Eddy and the others working extra duties to cover me and eventually I had to leave France and fly back home. I'd established a relationship with the chief of police who was dealing with my daughter's disappearance and he promised to ring as soon as he had any news. Jean arranged a private flight back to Paris and I flew back to the States with a heavy heart, wishing I'd kicked up a stink about Bella moving to France although I couldn't blame Jean. He hadn't left the youngsters alone or anything and the château was well protected from any wild animals that might live close by. I'd heard the wolf pack howling the night before I returned and it made my blood run cold but even a wolf pack couldn't take down two teenagers and leave no trace. The last known wolf attack on a human had been two years before but it was evident what had happened from the state of the abandoned body and the surrounding area. This time there was nothing, no signs of a struggle, no blood, no ripped clothing, nothing, it was as if they had been snatched by aliens and taken away in their space ship.
Harry was waiting in Seattle when my plane touched down and drove me back to Forks while I filled him in
"There's nothing Harry, no clues at all. They just vanished, I checked out the château so did the police and the staff who knew it inside out. We combed the surrounding countryside but there was just nothing. Chastel promised to keep in touch and the police chief but I think even they are losing hope. What happened to my little girl Harry?"
I closed my eyes and fought back tears as Bella's face smiled at me from my memory, she couldn't be dead, she just couldn't. I would work while I sorted out some compassionate leave and get a stand in to take my place and then fly out but this time I'd be better prepared. I'd taken only clothes for a couple of days this time in my rush to get there but I would be packing for a long stay if necessary next time I went to France, unless I had news in the meantime.
For anyone worried about Renee forcing Bella to go to France when she's an adult I just wanted to say I messed with the ages so Bella went to Forks earlier than in Twilight and she is still under 18 for the beginning of this story, please allow me a little poetic licence. Jules x
