Chapter Eighteen

Edward

I never realized how many hotels and motels there were in downtown Boston within easy reach of the parking lot where Bella had abandoned my car. With a photograph of Bella which was becoming creased with constant handling I trudged from one to another until finally, in the early hours of Christmas morning, when I should have been sitting comfortably with the family in front of the log fire and laughing at stupid jokes, I finally hit pay dirt.

It wasn't the kind of place I would have chosen but then these days I never knew what Bella would do and I guess she thought it wasn't the kind of place I would look for her. The desk clerk wasn't interested when I showed him the photo but a few dollar bills changed his mind, especially when I told him that she was being unfaithful to me.

"Fuckin' women. My wife did the same thing. Ran off with my best friend. I thought it was a bit odd, a good looking woman like that on her own."

"Is she still here?"

"Nope. She paid cash for one night and left in the morning. Must've called a cab from her room."

"Do you happen to know where she went when she left here?"

"No, like I said she rang for a cab from her room."

"Did you see which cab company she used?"

"Ace cabs. It's always them. They pay me to leave their cards in all the rooms."

"I don't suppose you saw who was driving?"

"As a matter of fact, I did. It was Sammy, this is his patch."

"Then could you find out where he dropped her off?"

He hesitated and I opened my wallet again,

"I'll make it worth your while, his too."

He glanced at the wad of bills in my wallet before picking up the receiver and dialling a number he obviously knew well. It took a few minutes but luckily for me Sammy was in the garage and soon I had the information I wanted.

I frowned, "the zoo? Is he sure?"

What the hell was Bella doing at a zoo?

"That's what he said, the zoo. He dropped her off at the main entrance. All he said was that she wasn't very talkative, she seemed angry, and when she got out she appeared to be looking for someone. Sorry, that's all he had. Do you want directions to the zoo?"

"No. I can find it. Here."

I gave him a hundred dollars more and left, still not convinced that Bella was really going to the zoo. Maybe she was merely meeting someone outside the zoo. The chances of finding anyone who would remember her was slim. The zoo was likely to be busy. I'd heard they had lots on for kids, lego sculptures, that kind of crap. Besides, it would be running a skeleton staff on Christmas day. Still, it was my only lead right now.

I decided to try it anyhow but as I had suspected there was no one who could tell me whether Bella had been at the zoo or only staff on duty had been off the day before. Then I saw the CCTV and asked to speak to a member of the security staff.

The guy who arrived looked like I'd dragged him away from a warm room and as a result wasn't prepared to help me until I used a little vampire persuasion on him. Once in the security room, I hit him just hard enough to knock him out and then sat down in front of the monitors looking for a digital file dated the day before.

I knew that the cab had dropped Bella off around 10 a.m so I ran it back an extra quarter of an hour and studied the grainy footage. You'd have thought a zoo could have afforded a better system than this but then I guess they didn't worry too much about security. Who the hell was going to try smuggling out one of the animals?

I leaned forward as I saw an Ace cab pull up at the entrance and Bella got out. She waited until the cab had driven off before looking around. For a second I thought she might walk away but then she saw someone she recognized. Whoever it was they were out of the range of the camera and I cursed.

"Call him over bitch, call him over."

I don't know why I assumed it was a guy, I just did.

When she walked out of range too I cursed again and fast forward the file. I could have tried the cameras around the zoo but I had no idea where she was going and I didn't have the time or the patience to sit around.

The security guy was stirring so I hit him again perhaps a little harder than I intended and I just hoped he would survive, after all, he hadn't done anything and didn't deserve to die.

I was just beginning to think that Bella had stayed at the zoo all fucking day or I'd missed her leaving when I froze. What the fuck? There was Bella and she wasn't alone, there was a man with her. One I knew only too well, and a kid, a little girl. What the fuck was Jasper Hale doing with my wife and a kid? Surely he hadn't spawned? No, he was dead set against hybrids even if he had refused to use his gift to get Bella to abort hers.

I looked around and saw a printer so used it to obtain a few copies of Bella with her two companions then left after positioning the security guy on his side so he wouldn't choke. Someone was sure to come looking for him soon.

I now had more questions than ever but if my dear psychopath of a brother was involved then it followed that his ex knew something about what was going on. It was why she and that idiot she called a boyfriend had left so abruptly. What I needed was to talk to her and persuade her to tell me what she knew. Trying to find Hale if he didn't want to be found would be far too difficult although I could try his only friends, the Whitlocks.

I found a contact number for them, apparently, they had taken up ranching horses and called without telling them who I was. I pretended to be a friend of Jasper and Alice who had been out of the country for some time and was trying to establish contact with them and luckily I got the wife. Not the Neanderthal that Jasper called his friend.

"I'm sorry I can't help you. Try the Cullens, we haven't seen the Major in years."

How quaint, they still called him Major like he was some kind of war hero!

"I tried them already, but they said Alice and Jasper had moved out. I don't suppose you have a number for them do you?"

"Only an old one. Let me see.."

She went off and I waited impatiently for her return hoping even an old number might lead somewhere.

She was back a few minutes later full of apologies for keeping me waiting and gave me the only number they had for him.

"I don't think it will be much good. The last time I tried it I just got his voice mail and that was full."

I thanked her and hung up. If the number was still in service that meant he picked up his messages from time to time which meant it was traceable. My luck was holding.

I decided to try Alice before going through the hassle of tracing a cell phone which wasn't easy or cheap if indeed my friend Sylvia could help. I was beginning to wonder if I had any friends or if they were all spies for Carlisle.

Alice answered sounding very cautious, she knew my number.

"Edward. Before you start don't shoot the messenger. I just passed along what Bella told me."

"So why did you run out?"

"I just couldn't stand the drama. I had enough when Bella was pregnant to last me a lifetime and I knew you would be looking for a scapegoat or allies and I don't want to get involved. Garrett feels the same way."

"To hell with Garrett, it's got nothing to do with him, he didn't even know Bella. I just want to know how to get in contact with your ex."

There was a long pause and then Alice spoke again sounding puzzled.

"I'm sorry? Why would you want to contact Jasper? I don't see the connection."

"Don't you?"

"No, I don't."

She sounded angry and exasperated and I thought that maybe she genuinely didn't know anything.

"Do you have a number for him? The one I have for him just goes to voicemail and that's full."

"I don't know. I haven't spoken to him since he left. Just a minute."

I could hear whispers in the background but couldn't make out the words and then Alice came back on the line.

"Sorry, I don't and if you're thinking of asking for his help to locate Bella then I wouldn't bother. He made it perfectly clear that he wasn't interested in getting involved."

"Alice. Do you know if Jasper had another woman?"

At this, she began to laugh, "Jasper? No. Trust me there wasn't anyone else."

"Right, well. Enjoy your Christmas. Oh, could I have a quick word with Garrett?"

"You're behaving very mysteriously Edward. What's this all about? Trust me, Garrett doesn't know where Bella is either,"

"Even so, I'd like a word with him."

She sighed and I heard her pass the receiver to him.

"Edward? What can I do for you?"

"Do you know Jasper?"

"Jasper? You mean the Major? No, I don't and I guess it would be pretty awkward if we came face to face now under the circumstances."

"So, you have no idea how to contact him or where he is?"

"Hardly. Why the sudden urgency to contact him anyhow?"

"Never mind."

"Let me give you a little friendly advice, Edward. If I were you I'd pull my horns in. Wait for your wife to contact you instead of running after phantoms."

"What's that supposed to mean? What do you know Garrett?"

I suspected it was Garrett who had decided to leave. He knew something but he wasn't going to tell me squat.

"Know about what? All I know is that your wife has decided to take a time out and after all she's been through I would think that was a good idea. Chasing after her won't help."

"Well, thank you for your advice, I'll certainly take it under advisement seeing as you know her so well. Now here's a little advice for you. Keep out of my business and away from Bella."

He laughed, "Or what? Are you threatening me, Edward Cullen? I'd think twice before doing that if I were you unless you can fight as well as Alice's ex. Now don't call again. Alice has nothing to say to you and neither do I."

At that moment I could quite cheerfully have rammed that supercilious smile I knew he was wearing right down his throat and with my gift I probably could. He was a cocky fucker just like Jasper and one day we would have a reckoning but for now, I was more interested in finding my wife and finding out what she was doing with Jasper Hale.

Frustrated and fed up with the snow and all the reminders that it was Christmas I got in my car and drove out of Boston, only pulling up when there were no colored lights or other reminders of what I was missing. Then I called Sylvia, another friend I had made, or thought I had when I left Carlisle.

"Edward! It's been so long. I thought you'd forgotten all about me. How are things? Merry Christmas. Where are you? I expected you to be with the family."

I tensed, why mention the family?

She continued, "I heard that you got married. Congratulations. How is married life treating you?"

So, she didn't know.

"Fine. You'll have to meet her one day but for now, I need a favor."

"Sure. What can I do for you?"

"I need a trace on a cell phone."

"No problem. It shouldn't take long. Give me the number."

I recited the number the Whitlock woman had given me and Sylvia promised to get back to me within the hour. At least she hadn't told me she couldn't help because Carlisle had asked her not to. I think I might have screamed if she had.

However, I had celebrated too soon because when she rang back she sounded unhappy.

"That was quick. Did you get me a location?"

"You didn't tell me this was the Major's phone. I don't want any trouble, Edward."

"You won't get any. I just want to see him. You know he was with the family."

"Then why do you need my help to trace him?"

"Listen. I just need to see him, Do you have a location or not?"

I waited but she was very reluctant to tell me. I needed to persuade her it would be safe.

"I promise you that I won't tell him how I found him. He'll never know."

"If I tell you this that's it, Edward. I'm only going to do it because I owe you but now we're even. Don't contact me again. I do not want any trouble."

My fist clenched on the phone and I heard the plastic groan in protest so relaxed my grip a little.

"Fine. If that's how you feel Sylvia. You won't hear from me again. Where is he?"

So, my dear brother was only a few hours from Boston, how convenient. I wondered if he had come here specifically to see Bella and if so, why? Who was the kid he had in tow? Had he heard what happened and found a kid who needed a mom to make Bella feel better? No, why would he do that? To piss me off? No, again it made no sense. He'd left before the 'accident' so even if he had heard what had happened he wouldn't get involved, He'd washed his hands of Alice and the family. However, I couldn't throw off the uneasy feeling that he was trying to cause trouble.