Chapter Thirty Six

Garrett

Peter appeared at his other side and we marched him, struggling, into the deserted lodge and pushed him down to sit on the floor in one dusty corner. Then Peter shut the door and moved to stand over him then crouched down.

"Now Edward I understand you were following my friend here, hasn't anyone ever told you that's the height of bad manners?"

"I wanted to know why he was visiting our lawyer with a photograph of Bella Swan."

Peter looked up at me,

"It seems you might want to have a private talk with your lawyer if he's chatting openly to other clients about your business."

I crouched down beside him,

"You know something Peter, I'm afraid you're right. Or did you do a little snooping Edward?"

"I found Bella's photograph in an envelope in the secretary's desk drawer."

"Right, and you automatically assumed my friend here had taken it into the lawyer's office?"

"Well yes, who else?"

"Fuck me Eddie boy its a good job you aren't a detective or they'd never clear up any crimes. Did you even stop to think that the envelope might have been there for some time?"

"No, it was obvious she'd just shut it in the drawer hurriedly when I appeared".

"Yeah I know how she feels, I'd want to hide anything important if I saw you coming too."

"Why the photograph Garrett? You're working for my brother Jasper aren't you?"

I shook my head slowly,

"Actually I think if we're going to be entirely accurate I'd have to say no to that question. I don't remember an employment contract or any monies changing hands."

"And of course we must be precise Garrett, I'd hate to find out you were telling Eddie here less than the complete truth. Mind I still think your lawyer runs a sloppy operation. His security stinks."

Edward

These two thought they were funny but although they were doing their best to shield their thoughts from me I gleaned enough to understand that Bella was still alive.

"How is Bella still alive? He took her didn't he? I knew he was behind it all, I told Carlisle he couldn't be trusted. Where is she now? I bet he's holding her against her will somewhere close by. I demand you take me to her."

Peter looked at Garrett and shook his head,

"Let me get this straight, you're the one cowering on the floor in the corner and you are making the demands? I always knew you had a screw loose Cullen but I'd say the whole fucking lot need tightening. Do you really think we'd tell you any of those things?"

"You have to or I'll go straight to the Volturi, they're looking for her and I know Aro would be very pleased and grateful to hear she's alive."

Peter stood up looking weary,

"You see Garrett I told you he wouldn't listen to us, he'd spot the lies straight away so I guess we'll just have to tell him the truth."

Garrett started at him astonished but I knew why he'd caved in, he was terrified of the Volturi just as he was of his sire. It didn't take much to pierce the tough boy image he hid behind.

Peter

It took a few seconds for Garrett to catch on and he didn't look particularly happy. I knew he was a friend of Carlisle Cullen but this was more important than keeping his friend happy. If Carlisle had kept the fucker on a shorter leash this wouldn't be necessary.

"Are you gonna tell him or should I?"

Garrett stepped back leaning against the wall again still looking troubled,

"I guess you know as much as I do so why don't you tell Edward the truth."

"OK, there's nothing I like more than a good story so listen carefully Cullen."

I explained that Bella had been taken by Darius and held prisoner until Emmett traced him then how The Major and Garrett found her and that she was at our place now. I deliberately kept any thoughts of Bella's pregnancy at the back of my mind although it really didn't matter any longer. Edward may not realise it but his remaining time on the planet could be timed in hours if not minutes.

"So you see it has a happy ending Eddy boy".

"A happy ending? She's been dragged into a swamp by a psychopath and now she's in the middle of nowhere with another. I hardly call that safe...

He stopped speaking and looked at Garrett then his lip curled,

"She's pregnant? Not only was she kidnapped but abused too! I knew my brother was an animal but that surpasses even my expectations of him."

Garrett

He'd heard my thoughts and I blamed myself for his condemnation of The Major but I wasn't having him slander my friend. I straightened and picked him up by his shoulders, his feet dangling from the floor.

"You know for a minute there I was feeling sorry for you. I might even have spoken in your defence Edward but you just blew it and I remembered you were the one who told the Volturi about Bella's gift."

His face was rigid with shock,

"How did you...I did not...it was Alice who suggested it...I..."

"Methinks he doth protest too much. We know you did and I have to tell you that it was your lucky day when I caught you and not Peter, he hates collaborators. Unfortunately your run of luck came to an end when he appeared."

Edward made a disparaging sound

"I doubt he knows what one of those is."

Peter shook his head sadly,

"Rumours of my limited intelligence never cease to amaze me but do go on, I think its great the way you're digging your own grave."

I threw him back into the corner in disgust.

That shook him,

"You wont kill me, you'd never be able to explain it to Aro, or Carlisle."

"Oh I think I could make Carlisle understand, what do you think he'd say if he found out you had told tales to the Volturi not once but twice? I've known him a lot longer than you and I know how much he feels for the humans and how much he hates Aro's acquisitive nature. I don't think any of the others would be too happy either, do you?"

"Why do you care? She's nothing to you and I doubt your friend will keep her long, one sniff of blood and she's dead."

His face clouded over as I stepped closer,

"I think you have a death wish Edward or at least that's how it appears wouldn't you say Peter?"

"Most certainly and I'm only too willing to play fucking fairy godmother to grant his wish."

Peter

I was fast losing patience and I knew Garrett was only delaying the inevitable so I crouched back down and looked straight into Edwards eyes without speaking making him very nervous.

"Why are you looking at me like that? You can't frighten me, the Volturi will hunt you down and kill you if anything happens to me. I'm valuable to Aro."

"Well you see the way I look at it is this, no one knows where you are or what you're doing and Bella is dead so exactly how would they trace your disappearance to us?"

"Alice. She'll have seen your actions."

"You're probably right there but isn't it strange in that case that she didn't ring and warn you? I think you backed the wrong horse this time. Now look at me Edward because my face is the last you'll ever see.".

I looked at Garrett who had stepped forward and nodded once. It didn't take more than a few seconds to kill Edward and dispose of the body. Let Carlisle and the Volturi wonder about him, as long as Bella stayed dead they would never suspect us, why should they?