Chapter Thirty

Edward

The noise of Emmett playing his favorite game on his phone, the constant beeps and squeals, got on my nerves so I was relieved when Bruce and his lady friend finally left. They looked very cozy arm in arm as they entered a cab outside the apartment block and I had to admit he had a good taste in women. I'd never seen his wife but the mistress was a statuesque redhead with a figure to die for although a little older than I would have imagined.

Emmett pocketed his phone, "You ready?"

I nodded glad to get out of the car and into the peaceful night air.

"Yes, come on, we'll use the fire escape. Her apartment is number 16 on the third floor."

Emmett nodded and followed me round to the back of the building through the underground parking lot.

There were plenty of security cameras around but none that were fast enough to catch a vampire moving at full speed.

The building was quiet, most occupants were relaxing after a day's work or out socializing, and we reached the third floor without meeting anyone.

Our target apartment overlooked the front of the building but luckily it was at the end of the carpeted hallway with nothing but a blank wall opposite.

Emmett used a gadget to overcome the electronic lock and we slipped inside.

Her apartment was large and richly furnished with a thick cream carpet and soft lighting that had been left on.

"You check the bedroom for a safe. I'll see if it's in here."

There were several pictures on the walls but none hid a safe and neither did those in the hallway or dining area. Cursing, I joined Emmett in the bedroom and whistled as I saw the huge mirror which hung over the bed, the silk lingerie which was draped carelessly over a chair and the empty champagne bottle which was upended in an ice bucket at the foot of the bed.

"The lady likes her luxuries. Any luck, Emmett?"

He shook his head, "Nothing yet. I'll try under the bed."

He pushed the Super Kingsize waterbed until he could see under the frame and whistled, "Found it. There is a problem though, what's the combination?"

I groaned in frustration, "Trust Alice to forget the key thing. Stupid woman!"

As I cursed a message arrived on my phone and I retrieved it from my pocket staring at the message.

"You really shouldn't be such a crosspatch, Edward. Try 786206021 and a thank you wouldn't go amiss."

I was about to shove the phone back into my pocket when I thought better and sent her a quick apology. She was incredibly annoying but she had come up with the goods so I sent a quick message thanking her and apologizing. It never hurts to stay on Alice's good side.

I read out the number softly and Emmett tapped it in and we both heard the faint click of the lock release.

Opening the door we discovered several jewel cases filled with necklaces and bracelets all from well known and expensive jewelers. There were also several ring boxes and banded piles of money.

"Either she's rich in her own right or she makes a really good lay."

I grinned, Emmett was right.

"Take out the files and envelopes. What we want should be in one of those."

We divided up the folders and started our search but although the contents were interesting, deeds to various properties around the city, bonds and certificates, there was nothing there that looked like it was what we were looking for.

"I'll take shots of all this just in case. Could Alice be wrong?"

I shrugged as Emmett snapped everything with his phone camera, "I don't know, Em. It's possible, I guess. But she seemed sure of her facts."

He took several shots of everything and then we replaced it in the folders.

"Here, put it back how it was and I'll check out the rest of the place just in case we missed something."

I opened all the drawers and closets, even checked the inside of shoes and pockets but there was nothing. The clothes and shoes were all designer labels and I estimated there were thousands of dollars worth of stuff. Bruce had to be coining it in to afford all this for his mistress. After all, his wife wasn't shy about spending from what I'd heard. So, where was all the money coming from?

"Edward."

I went back into the bedroom, "Did you find something?"

He stood up holding a gold USB stick in his hand, "It was pushed to the back and I almost missed it. The trouble is that I don't have any way of making a copy of it here. I've looked around but I can't find a computer."

I frowned, surely she had some form of computer access?

He was right, which made it even more possible that the USB stick held what we were looking for. Why should she be holding one if she didn't have a computer?

"We'll take it with us. If it proves to be what we were looking for we can always return it after we take a copy."

We checked everything was back as we had found it and left the way we arrived, using the fire escape.

As soon as we got back to the house Carlisle was eager to check the contents of the USB but Emmett was more cautious.

"It could be security locked and if it is then trying to break into the files will wipe it completely."

"But can you get into it?"

Emmett shrugged, "I can try, but you really need someone with more experience than me. I don't want to fuck this up."

My phone chimed again and I prayed it would be our all-seeing, all-knowing sister.

"OK, It seems Alice is still watching over us."

Emmett sighed in relief, "Great. Does she have the password?"

"It looks like she does but you'll have to read it from the screen, I don't even know what some of these symbols are. There are three strings, is that right?"

"No, look. She's not sure which it is. Let's hope we get it right before it wipes itself. Some of these only give you a couple of false attempts."

Carlisle put a hand on Emmett's shoulder, "You'll do fine, Emmett. Take a minute to compose yourself then try the first one."

Emmett slipped the drive into his laptop and waited. After a few seconds, the screen changed and a warning flashed up telling him that this was an unknown computer and did he want to continue.

"Fuck!"

"What?"

"It's really smart. That means I might only get one attempt before it locks or wipes. I need to download the management software first and that will be password protected too."

"Those are the other passwords Alice sent. Not possibilities but all the passwords you need to get into the files."

"I'm glad I'm not human right now or I'd be sweating and my hands would be shaking. Right, which software do I need? Let's see…"

He spent the next half hour discovering what he needed and then called us back.

"Well, here goes. All or nothing."

A long narrow box flashed insistently on the screen and Emmett tapped in a long string of letters, numbers, and symbols then hesitated over the enter key.

"For Bella."

The screen changed to show a list of files and he jumped up, pumping his fist, "Yes! Got it! Alright!"

Within an hour we had bank account details, deposit box whereabouts and several copies of emails showing how the King family hid lots of money from the IRS. Also one email from Bruce to a certain Monsieur Francine arranging for the destruction of a certain art gallery and apartment for a fee of $100,000. I didn't know if that was the going rate for such criminal activities but it was all the proof we needed.

Carlisle smiled, "Right. Print out copies of the dated sets of accounts and the emails. The IRS will be very interested in seeing this. I rather fancy Mr Bruce King will be spending the rest of his life behind bars."

Emmett set the printer working and glanced at Carlisle, "Do you think his son was involved?"

Carlisle shrugged, "He isn't implicated in any way according to this but who knows? I hope not. Bella didn't seem to think so. I'm more interested in getting justice for her at the moment."

"How will you get this to the right people?"

"I won't. I think we'll let Jenks do the work for us. He has contacts more or less everywhere."

"And the Frenchman?"

I wasn't sure what Emmett meant, "He's flown the coop, Emmett. What did you think? We could give the emails to the cops I guess."

Emmett smiled but there was no warmth in it, "I was thinking of paying him a personal visit. After all, if he was willing to do that to Bella, what else has he done to other innocent people?"

"No killing, Emmett! I mean it. Bella wouldn't want that."

"I wasn't going to kill him, Carlisle. Just maim him for life."

Carlisle studied Emmett's face for a long time before he spoke again.

"I guess giving him a scare wouldn't hurt but I meant what I said, Emmett."

"Sure. I'll try to trace him and Rosie and I can take a trip to Europe. Wanna come Edward? It'll be fun."

I shook my head, "No, that's your party. Now we've got what we needed Sasha and I will be headed home."

Even as I said it I wondered if Sasha would be happy at the thought of leaving before the end of the story.

It was into the early hours when Sasha got home and she was in a very good mood but refused to tell us anything until she caught up with what we'd been doing.

"So, you've got everything you need?"

"Yes. All we need to do is to get the USB drive back into the safe and send the copies we have to the relevant authorities through our lawyer."

"You're sure there's enough to put Bruce away?"

"Yes, we even have proof that he ordered the arson attacks on Bella's gallery and apartment."

"But you haven't taken the originals back to the apartment yet?"

"No, as I said we'll do that in the morning. As soon as the mistress vacates the place and gives us an opportunity."

"Her name is Sophia Hunter and I rather think the crap will hit the fan tonight. I let slip that I'd seen Bruce earlier with a client and when I described her, Magda was spitting fire. She told me that Sophia was his mistress but he'd promised her that they were finished. Magda knows where Sophia lives and she was on her way there when I left her."

"So you haven't spent all this time at the fundraiser?"

"No, Edward. Poor Magda was distraught so we went back to her place and she needed someone to talk to. She feels she's lost a daughter in Bella and now a husband although I rather think she was planning something permanent for Sophia."

"Do you think she could be responsible for the fires? I mean we assumed it was Bruce because the emails were from his address and in his mistresses safe."

"No, Carlisle. She was shocked when she heard about the gallery fire. She tried to contact Bella but didn't know where she was and Patrick wouldn't tell her."

"Good for Patrick. He would know from Renee I assume."

"Magda didn't mention Renee so I can't answer that."

"When you say permanent what do you mean?"

Sasha smiled broadly at Carlisle, "I had to stop her taking a handgun with her. She's a real terror when her temper explodes. It was actually quite exciting. I almost offered to go with her."

I glared, "Well I'm glad that you didn't. We don't want to be connected in any way to this mess."

Sasha took my hand, "Don't have a fit, I didn't and I'm home safe and sound. You know I used to think the Cullens were a quiet boring little coven, I never expected so much excitement." She turned quickly to Carlisle, "Sorry, I didn't mean to sound so rude."

Carlisle grinned, "You're forgiven. Let's just hope Esme and Rose have as much luck in their venture. When will the compound be empty?"

"Oh, it's never empty, there are servants in residence but midday would be your best bet. Magda never eats at home and the servants take advantage of that and have a siesta. I could go with them if you like, I know the layout of the place."

Carlisle shook his head, "No, Sasha. I don't want anyone to connect you with us. Besides, you've done quite enough."

I decided to take Sasha out for a walk. I knew when she was overexcited and it meant trouble if I didn't calm her down. We had finally found our place in the family as a couple and I didn't want to risk ruining it. Besides, I had a question for her and I didn't want to ask it in front of the others.