Chapter Twenty One

Darius

We were at the hotel having just checked in when I got the first interesting phone call. Bella was out on the balcony looking out over downtown Chicago and wondering exactly where her targets were right now. I had promised her that as soon as night fell we would go out on a reconnaissance patrol, unfortunately, the minute we reached the hotel the sun broke through the clouds making it impossible for us to leave our room.

I answered the call with interest, it was my business number, so a vampire wanting information.

"Yes?"

"Darius? I need to locate someone."

"And?"

I recognized the voice although I had heard it only once before and my interest was piqued, this was Captain Whitlock, The Major's sidekick. I wondered what he wanted a hint of a smile on my face.

"The Major wants to locate someone."

This just got better, was he looking for Bella? Had word got out that she was looking for the Cullens? Well, the fact he was looking for her and asking for help meant he had no idea where she was and if I had my way he would continue to be ignorant.

"Name?"

"Victoria, she's a nomad. Used to run with a Laurent and James the latter being a tracker."

Well this wasn't what I expected at all but then again the name James had appeared in Bella's story.

"That's all you have for me?"

"If I had more I wouldn't be calling you, now would I?"

Oh, how he hated having to ask for help and my smile widened.

"And this is for The Major? Can I ask why he wants to find her?"

"No, you can't and yes it is for him and he needs it double fucking quick."

"Then I don't have time to stand chatting to you now do I?"

I cut him off knowing he would fume for the next few hours, it was so easy to push Peters buttons, too easy really but I needed to know how this connected to Bella so I went to join her.

Bella

I was frustrated by the sun's appearance but it was something I had to get used to. The scent of so much human blood was almost overwhelming but I was controlling my thirst…. just. Then I heard a name that had my body stiffen, Victoria! Who was Darius talking to? I was relieved when he rang off and rejoined me on the balcony.

"It seems your friend The Major is looking for a nomad called Victoria, any ideas why?"

I shook my head,

"You mean Jasper? Was that him? I didn't recognize the voice."

"Nope, it was his brain dead sidekick Peter Whitlock. Didn't you say that the guy who attacked you was called James and he ran with his mate Victoria?"

"Yes, Victoria and Laurent. But why would Jasper be looking for her?"

Darius shrugged,

"I have no idea but I don't like coincidences so the sooner we find Edward and the others the better. At least we don't have to worry about The Major."

"Why?"

"He's going to be chasing down this Victoria and now he's joined up with Peter I can be certain that he's left the Cullen family, just as a little birdie informed me."

I turned on him,

"He did? Who told you? How long have you known?"

Darius held up a hand to stop me,

"Hey, we're on the same side, remember? I did a quick search for him, his friend just called us from Wyoming which is a little disturbing seeing as that's where I met you. I had feelers out to find him and I was told he left the Cullens a while back. I got the text message just a little while ago, you knew almost as soon as I did."

I pondered this latest development not that it mattered to me, I was more interested in the others, Esme, Carlisle, and Edward in particular although the way I was feeling right now even Emmett or Rosalie would do for starters. I found my thirst for revenge overtaking everything else, even my thirst for human blood. I was about to ask him when we were leaving but his phone buzzed once more and he put a finger to his lips warning me to remain silent as he strolled back inside to answer.

Darius

Well, well, I was proving to be popular today, sometimes my business phone didn't ring for weeks or months and here were two calls in the same hour.

"Yes?"

"Is that Darius?"

"Who wants to know?"

"I…..My…..I heard about your particular skills from a friend."

"How about a name? I don't talk to people unless they identify themselves."

"My name is Edward Cullen. I think you know Carlisle."

Edward Cullen! Now things were getting even more interesting,

"And what is it you think I can help you with Edward Cullen."

"I heard how you can find things."

"Things? I think you have me confused with the lost and found office."

"Sorry, I meant people."

"Who's lost?"

There was a long pause, so he wasn't sure he should trust me.

"I don't have all day so just spit it out or get off the line."

"I'm sorry, I'm trying to find a human I believe is on the run."

I had stopped my pacing as I saw Bella framed in the doorway her face set and angry, she'd recognized this voice.

"I don't find humans Edward Cullen and even if I did can you afford my fee?"

"Money isn't a problem and I don't have any other way of finding her."

"Her?"

"Yes, the name is Isabella Swan. She was living in Forks Washington but she ran away when her father was attacked and I'm worried she's in danger."

I thought he was saying much more than he would normally have done, he was nervous.

I threw Bella a warning look as I saw the rage in her eyes and then smiled.

"My fee is $150,000….. paid in advance."

It was higher than usual for such a simple task but I didn't like the asshole. He hesitated then realized he had no choice,

"Very well, tell me how to make the payment. How quickly can you find her?"

"You pay then you'll find out."

I gave him an account number and rang off before he could ask anything else.

Bella glared at me,

"Are you going to sell me to him?"

"Idiot, I thought you could do with some money to get you set up in your new life, may as well be Cullen money. Now, where do we send Edward Cullen? I assume you'd rather he was out of the way while you made a start on your plan? Or would you rather kill him and be done with it?"

"Send him away, let him hear the news so it comes as a shock."

I looked at her and grinned,

"Let's send him to meet our other clients, shall we? Keep them all together in one place, somewhere we know is far enough from the house that they can't interfere. This is going to be easier than I thought."

"Why is he suddenly so desperate to find me? How does he know I ran away? How does he know my dad was attacked? Has he been watching me? This doesn't make any sense. The whole family left without a word, except Edward who was a real bastard, and now suddenly two of them are looking for connections to me. There's something wrong, somehow they know I'm on the run."

"Maybe they heard about your father's attack and put two and two together deciding it might have been James mate who was responsible."

"But Charlie wasn't killed or changed so that rules Victoria out surely?"

I shrugged,

"Maybe they think she got someone to help her, someone like you were, neither one nor the other."

"But why are they bothering now? They couldn't wait to dump me so why the interest now?"

"I guess that's something you'll have to ask them before you kill them, Bella. I can hardly ask without raising suspicions. Anyway, it'll be dusk in an hour and we can finally get out of this room and go see where the Cullens presently call home."