Chapter Twenty Eight
Charlie
There was something very wrong here, Bella had never defied me before, she was always a good girl but since she got mixed up with the Cullens she'd changed. Both Billy and Harry had warned me against allowing her to associate with the Cullen family but they'd always been good members of the community, Carlisle a good doctor and his wife always ready to lend a hand if she was able. Although they had four teenage foster children plus the older guy who was a relative there had never been a moment's trouble from the family. I didn't like Edward Cullen very much, he always had an air of superiority although he was always polite so I was quite happy when Bella broke up with him but my hopes for her and Jake were soon dashed, he always rubbed her up the wrong way without seemingly trying. So if there were another man in her life I had no idea who he was but I got the distinct impression I wouldn't approve and that's why she wouldn't come home. I prayed Renee wouldn't ring because I would be at fault if she found out. But then everything was always my fault as far as Renee was concerned!
I decided to call the Cullen house again and this time Carlisle answered,
"Charlie. Have you heard from Bella?"
"Yes, its funny but she says she left Rosalie in Seattle and went off on her own, why didn't Rosalie tell Esme that when she rang her?"
"I'm not sure. It seems there has been quite a misunderstanding. Still at least you've heard from your daughter. I take it she's OK?"
"Well now I wouldn't know because she won't tell me where she is or who she's with. I wondered if you could ask Rosalie what she knows about it."
"I'll certainly ask her, she'll be back tomorrow."
"No I need to know today. I could ask the Seattle police to question her if you prefer Carlisle."
"I don't think that's necessary Charlie. Give me an hour."
I waited and I still thought that the Cullens knew more than they were saying. While I waited Billy called,
"Charlie, any news?"
"Yeah of a sort. Bella spoke and told me she's left Seattle."
"On her way home?"
"No apparently not, and I don't know who she's with either."
"She's run away?"
"Well I hadn't looked at it that way but I guess so. Do you think Jake might have any idea where she's gone or who she's with? I'm desperate Billy."
"Let me have a word Charlie, I'll ring you back."
Billy
Charlie sounded really worried and he had good reason although he didn't know it. Since Bella got to Forks she had been in constant danger and it worried me that we couldn't tell him exactly what was going on and what the Cullens were. I called Jake from his bedroom, he'd crashed out after a patrol with the pack,
"What's up?"
"Bella isn't coming home and Charlie's worried. Do you know where she is or who she's with?"
"No but I think it might be something to do with the leeches."
"Charlie says Carlisle is trying to find out what his kids know. You think Edward might be involved?"
"No, much as I hate to let him off the hook. I think it might be my fault."
I looked at him and groaned,
"What did you do Jake?"
"I took Bella to the fights in Seattle a few weeks ago."
"You did what? You took the Police Chiefs daughter to an illegal fight? Good move Jake!"
"Well we didn't get caught so it doesn't matter"
"What did happen?"
"I didn't know before we got there but they had a special fight on one night"
"How special?"
"Leeches."
I closed my eyes and rubbed my face,
"And Bella saw this?"
"No, I wouldn't let her but she went back to the loading bay and saw one of the leeches in a cage"
"Tell me she didn't release him"
"She didn't, but she wanted to. She asked about him and I think maybe Alice Cullen knew who he was."
"So what you're telling me is that Charlie's daughter went to an illegal fight, saw a vampire fighter and is trying to bust him out?"
"I don't know for sure but maybe"
"So what do I tell Charlie?"
"Why not the truth, it's about time he knew what Bella was associating with."
"Tell him about the Cullens? That means telling him our secret too. Harry and Old Quil will never go for that."
Jake shrugged,
"It's your decision. I'm going back to bed. I give up with Bella, she's got a death wish."
Charlie
When Billy called back I detected a hesitation,
"Jake doesn't know where Bella went Charlie"
"But he knows something?"
"Could you come to the Res after work, there's a few things I think you should know"
"I'll be there Billy."
So there was something going on in town that I didn't know about and at last I was going to get to the bottom of it. I still didn't know where Bella was or who she was with but things were beginning to move along.
Carlisle rang as promised but he didn't have any good news for me,
"I'm sorry Charlie, Rose was covering for Bella. She didn't want to get Bella in trouble for going off on her own. She doesn't know who Bella met or where she went"
"Why do I find that so hard to believe Carlisle?"
"I'm sorry Charlie I wish we could help further."
"Yeah well don't go anywhere Carlisle, I might want to talk to you again. For now I'm off to the Res, see what Jake knows."
"You're going to the Res? Lets' hope they can help you."
As he rang off I got the distinct impression he was nervous, did he think the Quileutes knew something he didn't want me to know? I was getting the nasty feeling I was the only one groping around in the dark, but I wouldn't be for long, no sir!
Billy was waiting for me in the porch and wheeled behind me into the cabin that he called home. Waiting in the sitting room was Jake and with him Sam Uley.
"I hope the guests mean you have something for me Billy because I'm getting a little pissed off feeling I'm the odd man out here."
"Sit down Charlie and let me explain"
"Explain? So you know where Bella is?"
"No."
"But you know who she's with?"
"No, we don't know that either"
"Then what exactly are you going to explain Billy?"
"It might be Jake's fault that Bella met the person she is looking for."
"She's looking for someone? Who?"
"Please don't explode Chief Swan but I took Bella to an underground fight event in Seattle"
"You did what?"
I shot up furious but Billy pulled me down again."
"Charlie let him finish first"
I glared at Jake as he carried on,
"It was a joke really, the other guys egged her on and when I said she wasn't going it just made her more determined. Anyway we went, she was supposed to be with Alice Cullen shopping"
I nodded biting my tongue.
"Anyway, we got her a motel room and I stayed to make sure she was safe. Nothing funny Chief I promise"
He'd read my expression.
"Anyway the second night there was a fight that was unsuitable so I …..."
"You mean there are suitable events for a girl in underground fighting Jake?"
He blushed,
"Well I got her a quiet room out of the way for the fight but she went exploring and she saw something. She wanted me to help her free a guy but I refused and drove her straight home. I think maybe she's looking for that guy, the one in the cage."
Let me get this straight, during an illegal fight my daughter, my under-age daughter went walkabout behind the scenes and found a guy in a cage. She then decided she wanted to free this guy but you refused and brought her home?"
"That's about it."
"OK, I have a few questions, whose damn silly idea was it? Why did you leave Bella on her own in a place like that? Why was the guy in the cage and why the hell was she trying to free him? I'd like a few coherent answers if you don't mind Jacob."
