Chapter Fifty Three
Jasper
Emmett had dropped Bella here at my apartment last night and as far as we knew no one had seen or heard from her since. The desk clerk I spoke to was the day clerk and he hadn't seen her but after money changed hands he rang the night clerk who remembered Bella and acknowledged she had visited last night although he never saw her leave the building. So, what had happened after Emmett dropped her off and where was she?
I took the elevator back to my apartment and could smell her faintly at the door, but that was old scent, probably from when she came in with me last. If she entered the building but never made it to my door, then what had happened to her on the way up?
I suddenly realized I hadn't smelled her scent in the elevator, so maybe she'd used the stairs for some reason. I didn't wait to wonder why, but started down, followed by Emmett and his bemused girlfriend. Bella hadn't reached the top of the stairs and with a sinking heart, I realized something must have happened to her on the way up.
At the first landing down I stopped suddenly, and was almost mown down by Emmett, he was following so close. His eyes opened wide,
"Oh fuck, that's Alice",
Kerri looked around for the woman he had named, but of course saw no one.
"What Em? Where's Alice?"
And then I realized they had met.
I hit the wall in frustration, and Kerri gasped as she saw the huge indentation I'd made.
"No worries Kerri, he's just really strong".
She looked at him as if he were an idiot.
"Do I look like a thick bimbo Emmett?"
He shook his head smiling.
"No honey, you don't".
She hit him on the arm genuinely annoyed.
"Good, because I'm not. I know there's something freaky about your family and I want to know if Bella is in trouble because of it?"
She glared at both of us and I nodded,
"I think so".
She nodded back,
"At last, a man who doesn't think I'm too thick to add two and two and make four. Now, what do we do?"
I was surprised by that,
"We? You and Emmett go home. I find Bella and Alice then bring Bella home".
I spat her name out.
"I don't think so Jasper"
She cut me off with stubborn determination in her eyes
"I know Emmett wouldn't leave you while there's trouble and Bella is my friend even if we have had our differences, so where you go, we go".
She took Emmett's arm daring me to argue with her.
"It's not that easy Kerri",
I started looking at Emmett for back up but he just shrugged,
"She's right, we might need a girl around and we should get moving now. We have no idea what Alice has planned."
I didn't have time to argue, she was his responsibility, I was only interested in my woman so we followed Alice's scent to the ground floor before losing it outside.
"She must have had transport here waiting."
I looked along the street,
"Then she had help Emmett, any car stopping here would soon attract attention. Someone was behind the wheel."
I stood thinking for a moment.
"Ah, Jasper"
It was Kerri and I looked at her but didn't answer.
"I just wondered if it might be worth speaking to Carlisle. He might know where Alice was staying or who she was seeing."
I had to admit she had a point so Emmett drove us to Carlisle's place and he and Kerri insisted on accompanying me in for my visit.
Carlisle
When I opened the door I was surprised to see the group who were standing there,
"Jasper, Emmett, Kerri. Please come in. To what do I owe this pleasure?"
Kerri smiled shyly while Emmett and Jasper were stony faced so knowing there was something amiss I shut the door and turned to them.
"Well? Why don't you sit down, it's good to see you all together as friends."
Jasper who was obviously the spokesman of the party declined a seat,
"Carlisle, I want to know where Alice is and I want that list...NOW"
I looked at him before sitting in one of the armchairs.
"Why don't you sit down and explain what the trouble is calmly and I'm sure we can sort it out."
He shook his head,
"I don't have time for the niceties, Carlisle. Your crazy fucking bitch of a daughter has taken Bella so I want to know anything you can tell me to help trace her and I want that list."
So Alice was in trouble again!
"I have to tell you that I didn't condone what she did in the past and I'm saddened to hear that she has taken the wrong road again, but I won't deliver her to you Jasper. I don't think she'd get a fair hearing."
I heard snarls growing in both the guy's chests and Kerri looked both shocked and angry.
Emmett
I was pissed at Carlisle for his attitude but I thought I'd better intervene before Jasper attacked.
"Carlisle, you don't understand. Alice has Bella and I don't think she's taking her for a picnic!"
I stood close, ready to grab Jazz if he went for Carlisle.
"Emmett I'm aware what you are telling me and I will contact Alice in case she is thinking of doing anything stupid, but I won't hand her over before hearing her side of the story."
I wasn't quick enough in the event and Jasper had Carlisle by the throat and was almost spitting in his face with fury while Kerri stared white faced...
"Carlisle, tell me where Alice is and give me the fucking list before I rip your throat out.".
As Carlisle shook his head I heard Esme gasp,
"Jasper. Put Carlisle down now, and tell me what's going on."
He turned his blazing eyes on her and she stepped back,
"Alice has Bella. I want to know where she is, who her friend is, and I want a list of the auction bidders."
She looked at him then walked over to Carlisle's briefcase.
"We've been protecting Alice for far too long Carlisle."
She opened it and took out a piece of paper which she offered to Jasper.
"I don't know where Alice is now but she's in contact with Jane, so the Volturi may be involved. If there is anything we can do to help you have only to say."
She turned to Kerri then and smiled reassuringly,
"I'm so sorry you had to see that my dear but I'm afraid tempers are running just a little high right now. Why don't you come with me and make coffee while the men talk."
Kerri followed her out not even looking back at me before she disappeared and I wondered if I'd just lost her, she must be terrified after what she'd seen despite her insistence she knew there was something odd about the family.
I turned my attention back to Carlisle who had resumed his seat and was straightening his collar after Jasper's attentions.
"Carlisle, I don't understand you, after all Alice has done, after all we found out, you are still defending her, why?"
Jasper barked a cold laugh,
"I'll tell you why Emmett, because he'd rather have a psychotic bitch in the family than me, not that I care one way or the other but when I find Alice I promise you Carlisle I will tear out her lying tongue and burn it followed by her black, diseased and twisted heart. Now, are you coming Emmett?"
I nodded,
"Sure, I care about Bella too. Let me just grab Kerri."
He nodded,
"I'll be in the truck looking over this list Esme was kind enough to give me."
He didn't speak to Carlisle again and I knew just how close Jazz had come to killing him, only his regard for Esme and Kerri's presence had held his hand and Carlisle knew it too.
Kerri sat at the table drinking what smelled like scotch to me not coffee and Esme smiled,
"I thought Kerri could do with something a little stronger than coffee, she's had quite a shock."
Kerri looked up at me and I wasn't sure what to expect, fear, anxiety, disappointment? She smiled and got up handing the glass to Esme,
"Thanks, you were right, I needed that but I'm fine now and I wanted to thank you for what you did. I don't know Jasper but Bella's my friend and he's obviously going to do whatever it takes to get her back so he has my backing. I was never very fond of Alice and now I know she's mixed up in something criminal and Carlisle is standing up for her...well. Let's just say I won't be coming around anymore although I'll miss you, Esme. Come on Em. Bella needs our help."
I was proud of her and I knew she was the girl for me although I'd have to come clean with her soon, she'd seen too much not t know the truth and if she insisted on going along with us then she'd be seeing a lot more. Jazz was in no mood to hide his true nature and if it came down to it neither was I, not when Bella was in danger but for now I needed to know Jasper's next move. We needed a way to trace Alice quickly or God knows what she might do to Bella if she hadn't already acted.
