Chapter Thirty Seven

Charlie

I knew as soon as I woke up that I'd missed something, the house felt cold and empty and my curtains were flapping wildly in the breeze from an open window. I got out of bed grabbing my gun just in case and moved silently to Bella's door which was ajar. The draught was coming from her room and I knew it hadn't been open when I left her, it couldn't be. I edged round the door but the room was empty, her curtains flapping wetly against the wall, the broken pane of glass littering the carpet which was also soaked. On the floor lay a damp blood stained towel, the one she wrapped round her leg from the bathroom, so she'd found something else to use I guessed. The window was smashed from the outside yet I hadn't heard a thing. How come? Even falling onto a carpet I should have heard it shatter. Looking round I could see that she had packed her stuff hurriedly, drawers were half-open and the closet door only partially closed. I checked but her clothes and precious things, I pod, books, teddy were all missing. She hadn't been abducted or forced out, she'd left of her own free will after collecting all the stuff that was important to her. Then I noticed the note on the pillow, a folded piece of paper with "Dad" scrawled across it hurriedly. I picked it up and opened the sheet out. There wasn't a lot of writing on it, but then she hadn't needed many words.

"Dad don't try to trace me. I've left for good. Be glad you're still alive after harming me and stay away. I'm fine. Bella."

It was a strange note but its meaning was clear, back off or else. Did she really mean that? It would appear so. I put my gun back in its holster, showered and went downstairs. the key to the front door was missing so that's how she had left, but had she taken it with her? If she had then maybe she intended coming back one day. I made myself coffee and grabbed some toast gazing out the window and wondering where she was right now. Who was she with? The two guys from the motel? They must be dangerous for the threat to mean anything. I wondered if Edward Cullen knew more than he had told me. Getting up I reached for the phone but it rang before I could pick it up so with a sigh I answered.

"Charlie its Eddy here, we've got a problem. A hiker missing and I'm a man down. Do you think you could come I know its awkward with your situation at home but I don't know who else to ring."

"I'll be there, give me half an hour."

"Thanks Chief."

I rang the Cullen house half expecting to find them gone too but Carlisle answered, sounding absent-minded,

"Chief Swan, what can I do for you?"

I was wondering if Edward was there."

"Edward? Ah yes he's in the garage with his sister I think. May I ask why you were asking?"

"Well do you know if he has any idea where Bella has gone this time or who she's with. The guys from before maybe?"

"Edward? Why do you think he might know? Well he told me last time and she's gone again, I just wondered if maybe he'd heard anything."

"No, none of us have heard from Bella since she came back but I'm sorry to hear she's run of again. If there is anything I can do? I'll certainly ask him and if he has heard anything at all I'll ring you back."

Thank you Dr Cullen but I guess there isn't a lot any of us can do. I have to go anyway, we've got a missing hiker to find. If you do hear anything I'd appreciate a call."

"We'll Let you know immediately but I don't think we will Chief, I'm sorry."

I wondered as I put the phone down, he sounded pretty sure about things. I might have to come to terms with never knowing where my daughter had gone, it was only a lucky fluke that Edward heard the guys talking before when she rang. I checked the mail box from habit and found the front door keys in there, so she wasn't planning on coming back after all. I would have to break the news to Renee soon, that was a task I didn't relish, I could hear her now.

Knowing once I got involved in a search I might be tied up for some time and knowing that Renee would be ringing to speak to our daughter I had no choice but to speak to her now but I did hope in a forlorn way that she might not be in. So of course she was and bright and cheerful as always.

"Aren't you proud of me Charlie, keeping my cell phone charged up. Hows Bella now? Has she calmed down? I thought we might fly up to see her in a few days, I'm sure she's desperate to see me."

"She's not here Renee."

"What? Well where is she? Did you upset her Charlie? I told you to be careful, treat her with some compassion."

"Hey, you weren't interested when I got her back, you couldn't spare the time to come up here and see her so stop trying to take the moral high ground Renee, it's not yours. She didn't want to be here, she left in the night with her friends and she's not coming back. I guess neither of us did such a good job with our daughter."

"You let her go? Why didn't you stop her?"

"It makes no difference now Renee, the fact is she has gone, Now if you'll excuse ,me I have to go to work."

"That's it? Your going to work with Bella missing?"

"What do you expect me to do Renee? She's almost an adult now, if and its a big if, I could find her again I can't force her to come home and to be honest I'm not sure she wouldn't be better away from us, you and me, We haven't proved much good as parents, either of us."

As Renee started to shout at me down the phone I put the receiver down and drove off to the Station to do my job, the one thing I was reasonable successful at.