Blast from the Past
Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N-Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. I really appreciate the support. This is a shout out to; dollfacetwi-mom03, brankel1, Avalon Starfire, JacobB'sImprintee, kimberleyAnnT, twifantasyfan, GirlsDontCry, BriyerRose, BeckieT108, sabrina michaels, afqtie324, Shalette, sassgrl, foxylady1on1, Pernfan, FallenGrace101, Tanja83, kerentrev, ae81, notashamedtobe chinadoll381282001, viola1701e and Dottyanne.
Part Thirty Seven-A Waiting Game
Two months later:
Jacob took off his leather jacket and chucked it carelessly on the workbench near the office. He saw Jim Dowling peering out at him through the dirty glass. He knew he was late but he didn't care. He had been up all night patrolling and with only two hours rest, his boss was lucky he had made it in at all. Pulling on his overalls Jacob made his way over to the first job of the day.
"Jacob can I have a word?" Jim shuffled out of the office and cleared his throat.
A low growl escaped Jacob's lips and Jim looked at him in alarm. He was becoming increasingly wary of his best employee. He had noticed Jacob's increased muscle mass and he was sure he had shot up a few inches in height and as for his temperament; he had developed a short fuse. Jim was very careful around him now.
"Erm...I just thought I should let you know about Amanda," he muttered.
Jacob closed his eyes in annoyance. "What about her? I thought I told you if she comes in here I don't want anything to do with her." He snapped.
Jim held up his hands in supplication. "It's nothing like that, I thought I should just show you this." He handed Jacob a piece of paper. It was a missing persons poster with Amanda Walker's face plastered over it.
A sick feeling welled up in Jacob's stomach. He knew exactly who Amanda had been hanging around with. It looked like her choice of friend had caught up with her. He shoved the poster back at Jim. "I'm not interested." He said quietly.
Jim was watching his reaction closely. He folded the poster up and put it in the back pocket of his jeans. "Well I thought I should warn you, her father has been poking his nose around here. He knows you had a thing with his daughter and..."
Jacob stood up to his full height and glared down at Jim threateningly; making the smaller man step back. "You know I had nothing to do with that skank. She was just an annoying woman who had no morals. I did not have a 'thing' with her as you put it. I suggest you refrain from saying that too if you know what's good for you."
"I hope you're not threatening me?" Jim's voice quavered as he spoke. "I pay your wages, remember."
Jacob just smirked at him. He could smell the fear coming off of Dowling. He leaned closer and stared him down. "There wouldn't be any wages to pay if I didn't work here. I am the one who keeps this place in business. Don't you forget that? Now leave me alone so I can get on with my work." He turned his back on Jim and gathered his tools together.
Jim gave him a dark look before retreating to his office. He was getting sick and tired of Jacob Black dictating to him. He fumbled in his back pocket for the missing poster. He pulled it out and studied Amanda's over painted face. Picking up the phone he dialled Fork's police.
"Yes, I am ringing about the disappearance of Amanda Walker. I have a suspect you may be interested in talking to," he said with a smug grin on his face when the deputy answered. He glanced through the window of the office at Jacob, who had popped open the hood of the car he was working on and was tinkering with the engine. Jacob Black would regret the day he tried to humiliate Jim Dowling.
XXXXXX
Leah and Bella stood back and admired their handiwork. They were both wearing paint splattered dungerees and holding paint brushes in their hands. "Do you think it looks alright? J chose the colour."
Leah tried to hide her smile. "Yeah, it's great Bella, just lovely." She lied.
Bella frowned. "You're a liar Leah Clearwater, it's hideous."
The sound of J and Jaymie giggling and calling out for 'Even Bigger Chief,' as they had christened Billy, to tell them more stories about his young days, filtered through into the bedroom. He had been keeping them amused while the two women were painting J's room. No work had been done on the house; between the constant patrolling, work and everything else that needed doing, Jacob had been unable to start work on extending the house. Bella had resigned herself to the fact that the baby was going to be born long before any work started. It had been Leah's bright idea to paint J's room to brighten it up a bit. He would be sharing it with his new brother after all.
"What made J choose this colour?" Leah asked Bella in amusement.
"Why do you think?" Bella huffed. "Your daughter of course. J has never liked purple before."
Leah began to laugh at Bella's disgruntled expression. "Oh I'm sorry but that's just too funny. Do you want me to persuade her to choose blue or something?" She offered.
Bella rolled her eyes as she finally smiled. "No point now. It doesn't help that the two of them can practically read each other's minds. It looks like Harley will have to put up with purple walls." She glanced down at her expanding belly fondly.
"So you've chosen his name, huh?" Leah questioned. "Why Harley?"
"Come on Lee, should you even have to ask?" Bella's smile widened.
"Oh the motorbikes," Leah grinned.
"Well Clearwater have you decided on names yet?" Bella asked her curiously. She put her paint brush on top of the opened can and stretched her arms to get the stiffness out of them.
"Maybe," Leah hedged.
"Spill," Bella demanded. "I told you so the least you could do is reciprocate."
Leah's eyes became sad as she let out a soft sigh. "Harry, I'm going to call him after my dad."
Bella felt guilt wash over her. It should have been obvious. Leah had been very close to her father and had felt his loss even more so than Seth. "That's a lovely idea, Leah. Just perfect." She said gently.
"Whatever," Leah shrugged her shoulders dismissively. She loathed showing her emotions in front of anyone other than her mom or Sam. Bella turned away from her so that Leah could compose herself.
After a moment Bella glanced back at Leah. "So should we get the little monsters in here to give us their informed opinion about all our hard work?" She suggested.
Leah grinned. "Yeah. Hey Jaymie Uley and J Black get your butts in here." She yelled out.
Bella glared at Leah as her loud voice made her jump. Jaymie and J followed by Billy burst into the room. J immediately jumped on his bed which had been pulled into the centre of the room. "Momma done it," he crowed as he examined the purple walls.
Jaymie was looking around the room with a frown on her pretty face. Leah regarded her daughter in confusion. "What's wrong sweetie? Bella and I worked hard on this. Don't you like it?"
"No, I thought walls gonna be pink. I hate purple," she pouted.
"Pink?" Leah questioned. "You told J you liked purple didn't you?"
J stopped bouncing on his bed. "I hate pink. Momma's walls purple. I wan' purple walls like when momma three." He announced.
The two women and Billy exchanged bemused glances as the two children glared at each other. Jaymie's lower lip trembled as she flounced out of the room. "Boys stupid," she complained.
J stamped his foot and glared after her departing figure. "Girlie's more stupid then boys." He yelled after her.
Billy began to chuckle as he watched the two children's antics. "Oh well it looks like they've had their first tiff. It had to happen. Don't look so worried," he told Leah and Bella, who were looking at their offspring in surprise.
"Well it looks like Jaymie has inherited Sam's temper," Leah muttered. "I better check on her." She strolled out of the room after her daughter.
Bella and Billy glanced at each other in amusement. "Did she really just say 'Sam's temper'?" Bella checked.
"My god she is so like Leah at that age," Billy began to laugh again and Bella joined in. It felt good to relax and just let go. It released all the tension of the past few weeks. J just stared at his mom and Even Bigger Chief in annoyance. Not for the first time he thought that grown ups were weird.
XXXXXX
Charlie adjusted his gun on his hip and let out a big sigh as he strode into Dowling's garage. He caught sight of his son in law hard at work; his tall frame bent over an engine. He glanced to the side and saw Jim Dowling peering out of his office, a satisfied smirk crossing his puffy face.
"Jake" Charlie said huskily. "Can I have a word?"
Jacob swivelled around in surprise as he heard Charlie's voice. He had been so intent on his work that he had not noticed his arrival. He grabbed an oily rag and wiped his hands clean on it. "Hey Charlie, everything alright? Is Bells and J okay?" He asked in concern.
"No they're fine. Just come out here for a second son. I need to talk with you." Charlie gestured for him to come outside.
"I better tell nosy parker in the office," Jacob said, but Charlie shook his head no.
"I wouldn't bother. He knows why I'm here. Just come outside."
Jacob shot Jim Dowling a dark look before following Charlie outside the garage."What's this all about?" He queried.
Charlie rubbed the back of his neck as he looked at Jacob. "The old fool in there contacted the station this morning about the disappearance of Amanda Walker. He told us he had a suspect and then gave us your name."
Jacob's hands clenched into fists. "Son of a bitch, you wait until I..."
Charlie held up his hands. "Calm down son. There are better ways to deal with idiots like Dowling without flying off the handle." A wicked gleam came into his eyes.
"You know that Amanda has probably been turned, Charlie. She has been hanging with Cullen. He was at the club with her when she lured Quil there." Jacob told him in a whisper.
"I know all this. But her father has come in and reported her missing. I need to be seen following procedure." Charlie replied. "Now just let me deal with Jim."
"He's all yours," Jacob shrugged. He followed Charlie back into the garage and watched as he marched into Dowling's office.
"Hey there Chief," Jim greeted him. He was sitting in his office chair, feet up on his desk.
Charlie gave him his cop stare. He shoved Jim's feet off the desk and slammed his gun down in front of him, making Jim jump. "Is there a problem, Chief Swan?" He asked anxiously, his smug demeanour gone.
"Oh yes I have a problem," Charlie replied; a steely edge to his tone. "Especially with little snitches like you who like to make themselves feel important by wasting police time."
Jim's eyes flickered from side to side as he tried to find a means of escape. Sweat began to bead on his brow. "How was I wasting police time? All I did was report suspicious behaviour." He mumbled.
"Really?" Charlie sneered. "It couldn't be that you were trying to get back at my son in law because he has been getting the better of you, could it?"
Jim's eyes flared wide and he glanced through the office window at Jacob, who was leaning against the car; he gave Jim a cheery wave and a wink. Jim swallowed nervously. "So...son in law?" He stammered.
"Yes my son in law. I have known Jake all his life and I know perfectly well he would have had nothing to do with Amanda Walker's disappearance. So next time you feel like telling tales, check your facts. Otherwise I might just have to arrest you for wasting vital police time. Do we understand each other?" Charlie hit Jim on the back, making him cough.
"Yes, yes. I get it," Jim blustered.
"Good man," Charlie shoved his gun back into his holster and and gave Jim a wide smile. "I'll be seeing you." He left the office and went to rejoin Jacob.
"You can be scary Charlie. That was awesome," Jacob grinned.
"I didn't get to my position being Mr Nice Guy," Charlie puffed out his chest as he spoke. "If the old fool gives you any more grief just tell him you'll sue him for harassment, that'll make him shake in his boots. Dowling loves nothing more than money."
"Thanks though Charlie, really," Jacob said, his voice turning serious.
Charlie just patted him on the back. "I gotta get back to work. Give that daughter and grandson of mine a hug. Tell them I'll be popping over later to see them."
"Will do," Jacob promised as he watched Charlie leave. He turned back to his work, glad that another disaster had been averted for now.
XXXXXX
"I can't believe he would do that?" Bella said angrily as she sat on the front porch with Jacob.
He sighed and pulled her closer into his side. "Your dad was amazing the way he handled Dowling. I was all for punching his lights out."
A fond smile crossed Bella's lips as she thought about her dad. "Yeah he is." She agreed.
They both sat in silence for a few moments and watched the sun set below the horizon; turning the sky a fiery red. Bella leaned her head on Jacob's shoulder and sighed. "I wish you didn't have to patrol again."
"I have no choice. We don't know where the leech is. Neither Alice or Jaymie can get a clear picture of what he is doing or where he could be hiding out. We need to remain vigilant." Jacob kissed the top of her head.
"He's deliberately trying to wear us down," Bella cursed. "How long can you all possibly keep this up? You are all so tired as it is."
"We will do it as long as we have to." Jacob assured her. "Please just try and relax Bells. You need to keep little Harley stress free."
Bella placed her hands protectively over her stomach. "I know. I'm sorry Jake."
"It's okay honey. Look I have to go and meet up with Embry. I'll be back by two in the morning." Jacob cupped her face in his palms and gently kissed her lips; savouring the taste of her mouth moving in tandem with his.
"I love you, Jake," Bella told him when the kiss was over.
"Love you more," Jacob replied. He stood up reluctantly and began to back away from her. Bella gave him a small wave and stayed outside until he disappeared within the trees. The sun had set and the sky was now inky black; a few stars breaking through the cloud cover. Pulling her thick fleece tighter around her body, Bella went back into the house; foreboding weighing heavy on her heart.
A/N-Thanks for reading!