Reaching for Love
Chapter 11: Illusions
EDWARD
I stared over Emmett's shoulder as he ran diagnostics on Bella's phone. He had found several suspicious files and applications in hidden folders. Opening a strange app, he found it was tracking her. It has access to her texts, calendar… well, everything.
Doing some techie stuff on his computer, he tried to figure out who was tracking her. All he could find out was there were several IP addresses that login into the application and those addresses tracked back to different public libraries in Washington.
Emmett tried every trick in the book trying to figure out who purchased the program. Who installed it her phone. Anything. He came up with a big pile of nothing. He suggested some not so legal ways he could try, but I didn't even what to go there.
Emmett leaned back and crossed his arms. "I don't know what to tell you then, Edward. Bella could have opened up a phishing email and the app installed itself. Someone could installed it. Nothing in the program's metadata gives me any clue, a bread crumb to follow."
"The libraries?" Jasper asked.
"Public computers. It would be useless to even try, even if we could get a warrant to check them. We have only an application on a phone. No solid evidence of who installed it," I said, starting to pace the dining room of the suite.
"Don't get yourself worked up."
"Someone is fucking tracking her, Jazz."
"I understand that. But getting yourself all worked up will not help find the person. Get her a new phone like you said that will stop them. If Jacob is the one doing the tracking, he'll find other ways to find her. Report him and that creates a paper trail. Enough reports can get her a restraining order."
What Jasper was saying I knew. Had said the same things to clients who have stalkers and told me while we were going over a movie contract. I stopped my pacing and sat heavily in a chair. "You're right," I whispered as the mechanical lock unlocked.
The girls were back. Their laughter filled the suite and brought a smile to my face. Jacob was pushed to the back of my mind, hardly forgotten.
~~~ Reaching for Love ~~~
With my arms wrapped around Bella, we watched the Mirage Volcano show. The play of water and fire brought about oohs and aahs from children and adults alike. It was disheartening that was probably the last time I would see the show. Darn Hard Rock getting rid of an iconic show by remodeling the resort.
The five minute show went by fast. I missed having Bella in my arms the moment she stepped away from me. She turned and faced me.
"I loved it."
A smile formed on my face. "I knew you would."
It was early evening, and Bella and I had the whole night to ourselves. There were tickets in my pocket for Mystère, a Cirque du Soleil show at Treasure Island hotel. It was a show I'd been wanting to see but didn't want to go by myself. I hoped Bella would enjoy it.
"We have some time before we need to be at Treasure Island, how 'bout we grab a bit," I suggested.
Hand in hand we walked across to the Venetian. Neapolitan style pizza is what Bella and I settled on.
While we waited for our order, we sat talking.
"I once saw myself studying law," Bella said. "Becoming a public defender. Helping those who didn't have the money to hire a big law firm."
Interesting. "That's what Jasper does from time to time. Waives his fees to defend someone he feels will get railroaded otherwise."
With a sad smile, she went on, "I don't know how many people my grandmother helped find lawyers. There were not many who cared enough to fight for their low income client. Legal Aid can only do so much when you're really in trouble."
Reaching across the table, I took hold of her hand. "If you were to go school, what would you study now?"
I had asked a couple times before and got nothing on what she saw herself studying, doing in the future.
"I'm really not sure. There were many subjects I took an interest in during high school."
My name was called. Standing, I went over and retrieved our pizzas.
BELLA
The pizza and show at the Mirage were amazing. With my hand encased in Edward's, we walked to Treasure Island for another show. During dinner, Edward had took me we were seeing a cirque. I was confused on how circus was going to be performed on a stage. The auditorium held no answers.
When we were seated, I leaned toward Edward and asked my question.
"It's an aerobatic show. Some of the performers are made up to look like animals," he whispered in my ear.
"Oh!" I remarked with a laugh.
The lights dimmed and went out. Music started and the stage came to life. I had never seen anything like this. It filled me with childlike wonder again.
~~~ Reaching for Love ~~~
I was exhausted by the time Edward and I got back to our suite. My dress was hanging on the armoire and boxes and bags were sitting on a chair. I would be getting married tomorrow afternoon.
My new phone was in my hand. I thought about calling Dad. He still had time to get to Vegas. I couldn't talk myself into it. With a sigh, I set the phone down on the nightstand and changed for bed.
Author's Note: I noticed the link I tried to put at the end of the last 2 chapters didn't appear. I have put the link to my blog on my FF profile.