Chapter Twenty Five

Edward

We finally traced the rat-faced man who had driven the red convertible to Bella's on the night of the fire through the license plate on the car. It hadn't been easy since the car had been stolen from a high-end dealer earlier in the day and the plates were stolen too.

The dealers had CCTV of their premises and we took a copy of the best shot of his face and Emmett ran it through the police database of the nearest states working on the theory that he wouldn't have come too far. We were wrong.

The guy was a professional criminal for hire and we finally got his name through Interpol. He was French and had entered the country through LAX a day earlier on a visitors visa stating he was here on holiday. Some kind of holiday.

There was no way of tracing how he got to Phoenix or who hired him, no paper trail and no way of tracing his calls or emails as we couldn't find any in his name.

"Whoever hired him was very careful. They used a professional and he's already left the country crossing the Mexican border, probably a few hours after planting the incendiary device in Bella's apartment. From there he had caught a plane back to France and disappeared.

Carlisle sighed heavily, "So it's a dead end?"

"Not quite, Carlisle. It proves the person who arranged this isn't a vampire. They wouldn't need to use this guy."

"So, are we back to Patrick?"

Emmett and I exchanged a look and shrugged.

The only person not downhearted was Sasha because she would get her chance to help.

"I'll be going then, Edward. Can I have the car keys?"

"You're going to see him at the office?"

"Oh yes. After all, a rich widow needs a good stockbroker to help her invest her millions."

I hated the idea of Sasha playing the femme fatale with Bella's ex but it seemed he was our only suspect now. If Bella couldn't think of anyone who might hate her enough to want to hurt her like this and she didn't have any business rivals, who else was there? It still didn't feel right though. From what Emmett told me he and Jasper had put the fear of God into the ex-boyfriend. I doubted he would risk another visit from them.

While Sasha was out Emmett and I tried to piece together where Patrick was in the days before the fire. Could we put him and rat face together, if only for ten minutes?

It wasn't difficult to check when he was home. Emmett had hacked into his home security earlier and we saw Bella's mom arrive on Christmas Eve. That must be when Patrick told her of the break-up. She stayed overnight and then in the morning came here to give Bella some grief.

Patrick went out while she was here, taking his red convertible with him.

"Where did you go, asshole? Did you sneak off for a meeting with rat face to arrange for the gallery to be fired? Unfortunately, the traffic cameras in town were refreshed every day so it was impossible to track him but he was only gone for half an hour and then we got a break. Emmett tried the security at the family compound and was able to see Patrick arriving there within half an hour of leaving his house.

"There you are."

He turned to me, "He didn't have time to stop and meet anyone so if the two of them planned the fires they did it by phone or email. I'm still trying to get into Patrick's computer to check. The trouble is he had a security breach the week before and changed all his security. Besides, the virus wiped most of his history and contacts."

Rosalie came over and watched as we followed Patrick around his father's house. It was ghastly. They had money but zero taste. Everything was shiny chrome and smoked glass, like living in a commercial highrise!

Suddenly Rose gasped, "Stop, Emmett. Can you rewind?"

Emmett glanced up at her puzzled as she demanded he go back again, more urgently this time.

He took the footage back two minutes and started it running again.

"Stop!"

Emmett froze the frame showing the doorway into what was a study of some kind, lots of filing cabinets and computer monitors.

"What? Rose, what do you see?"

She pointed to the edge of the screen, "See there?"

"I see a wall."

"Look closer. At the bottom edge of the screen. See?"

"See what, Rose?"

She peered closer, "I'm almost sure that's the painting from Bella's bedroom wall. I recognize the frame."

Emmett and I glanced at each other and shrugged, "That's quite a stretch, Rosalie. How can you possibly say you recognize the frame? You can only see a tiny bit of it."

She looked up at us, "But if I'm right then it's the proof we need that Patrick is involved."

I shook my head, "No. This isn't Patrick's house. Even if you're right about the painting it doesn't prove he is involved. All it proves is that someone in his family might be. We have no idea if it is the same painting and even if it is we don't know how it came to be there, Rose."

She glared at me, "I'm telling you that someone in his family arranged those fires."

"Well, first we need to know if it is the same painting. Let me call Sasha, maybe she can find a way to get a look inside the King house."

Sasha, who had arranged to meet Patrick at his office in an hour, was more than happy to try and get herself invited to the house and knowing my wife she would find a way. Sasha was enjoying herself and I know she hoped this would prove to the family that she was one of us. That she deserved their affection.

Jasper

Bella fell asleep soon after we set off once more and only woke as we approached Boulder.

"Is it much further?"

"No, only about half an hour. Do you want to stop first?"

She considered this then shook her head.

"I'd only be putting off the evil hour. I guess I'm nervous meeting your friends."

"Don't be, I promise you that they are going to love you."

She looked at me a little uncertainly but managed a wan smile.

"Anyway, they already know you. Remember they helped me to watch over you."

"They must have been bored stiff. I guess I should thank them."

"They're friends and they were glad to help."

"You have some good friends, Jasper."

"They're more like family. The only family I had when I left Mexico."

As we turned into the ranch driveway I felt Bella tense up and smiled reassuringly but it didn't help much. After all she'd been through recently I guess she deserved to feel nervous about strangers.

I wanted to call Carlisle and see if they had discovered anything about the person who had set the fires, but I knew that I should wait until I was alone. Bella needed time to recover from all the terrible shocks she had received; she did not need reminding of them at present.

Charlotte was waiting on the porch as we drove up and came running down to greet Bella with a warm hug.

"Welcome, Bella. It's wonderful to talk to you at last. I never thought I'd be seeing you on the Major's arm but I'm glad. Come inside. I've cooked you something to eat, I hope you like casseroles. I wasn't sure what time you would be arriving."

I brought up the rear with the bags as Charlotte and Bella disappeared into the house arm in arm. Trust Charlotte to make the effort to ensure Bella felt comfortable and welcome. I just wondered how Peter would react.

Once inside I took the bags upstairs leaving the girls talking in the kitchen. At least Charlotte was doing most of the talking, but Bella sounded relaxed enough when she did answer.

Peter sat on the bed in my room grinning maniacally.

"Major."

"Peter. Thanks for taking us in."

"No sweat. Now I understand why we were watching her back for so long. Why didn't you tell us? You sly dog."

"I didn't know if she felt the same way. Just be nice Peter."

I explained what had happened and he scowled, "So who do you think is involved? Edward the halfwit? The boyfriend? Her mom? Sounds like the girl is really good at making enemies. I'm beginning to like her already."

"Just be kind to her, Peter. For me."

I must have hit a nerve because he jumped up looking hurt, "Not you as well. All I've had from Charlotte since your call is, "Be nice", "watch your language" "don't upset her". Fuck me. Anyone would think I've got three sixes tattooed on my fucking chest. I know how to behave, it's just most of the time I choose not to. If she's nice to me, I'll return the favor. OK?"

I nodded knowing this was quite an undertaking for Peter to make,

"Good. So how about you take me downstairs and introduce me?"

I smiled, "Come on then."

Bella was sitting on the couch sipping hot coffee when we came down and she looked at Peter nervously.

He smiled and sat opposite in a chair while I joined Bella.

"Hi, Bella. I'm the creep who's been following you for the best part of four years. How do you do."

He rose and held out a hand to shake Bella's.

She took it hesitantly and they shook, "I know, and I'm glad to meet you, Peter. Thank you for keeping me safe."

He waved her thanks away, "No problem. It's not as if I had anything else to do. Always happy to help out an old friend."

Charlotte joined us and frowned at Peter who mouthed "What?", but I knew what she meant. It was like sitting atop an active volcano that might explode any second.

"Do you ride?"

The question took Bella by surprise, "Not really. Horses always scared me."

He nodded, "Yeah, they can do that to you. Maybe when you're feeling better you might want to try it on one of our horses. The mare is quiet enough for a novice. Now the stallion, he's a real firebrand but when you've ridden him, well, that's as good as it gets."

The innuendo went over Bella's head but when I scowled at Peter he gave me his choirboy look. I knew Bella was going to meet the real Peter rather sooner than I planned.

"So, you and the Major, eh? We never saw that one coming."

"I know. It just kinda happened. Why do you call him Major? Were the two of you in the same regiment during the civil war?"

Peter burst out laughing, "No, I was on the winning side while the Major here chose the losers. No, we met after I turned up in a small border town. There I was minding my own f.. Business when BAM. I got captured and turned. That's how we met."

Bella's eyes opened wide, "Jasper turned you?"

Peter smiled gleefully, "Yep. You could say he's my father but he prefers to think of us as brothers. I take it you don't know the story?"

I jumped in, "No, she doesn't and I think it's a little soon to be telling her, Peter. If you don't mind, I'll show Bella to our room. I'm sure she'd like to freshen up after the journey."

Peter nodded, "Sure. Whatever you say, Daddy."

I could have punched him through the wall but that's just what he wanted and I wouldn't give him the satisfaction. Instead, I took Bella's hand and led her upstairs to my room.

"I'm sorry about Peter. He's rather like an unstoppable force of nature. Try to ignore him,"

"Yeah, why not. Everyone else does." Peter's voice floated up the stairs and I shut the bedroom door firmly.

Bella was smiling, "It is his home, Jasper. I've already been warned about him but I get the impression that a Peter under orders to be good is rather like telling the sea to stop at the shoreline. I'm stronger than I look."

I sat beside her and sighed, "You're probably right. Don't worry though. Peter can't play nicely for more than a couple of hours. You'll see the real man soon enough."

"They seem nice. The ranch is bigger than I expected and this house feels so homely."

"That's Charlotte's influence. The ranch is Peter's domain, the house is hers. They're good people."

"Did you change Charlotte too?"

"No, that was Maria."

"Peter doesn't hold a grudge against you for turning him though?"

"No, we found that we clicked as friends and fighting partners once he got over the newborn phase. It's been like that ever since."

"It must be nice to have people you can rely on, I wish I had friends like that. The only friends I have or had were actually Patrick's friends."

"Well, now you have a family you can rely on, two if you count Peter and Charlotte. I'll give you time to freshen up and change. When you're ready I'll be downstairs unless you want to take a nap that is."

"No, I've slept enough. I'll be down soon."

She hung onto me for a few minutes and then I joined my friends downstairs.

Charlotte had her arms folded, a sure sign she was giving it to Peter in the neck while he sat serene and smug.

He glanced at me and pointed a finger warningly, "Don't you start, Major. I've been welcoming and I've watched my language. I'm gonna tell you the same as I told her," He pointed at Charlotte, "This is my house and I refuse to be told what I can and cannot do in it. You and your girlfriend are welcome to stay but I will not play games. If she doesn't like what she sees and hears then I guess you'd better find somewhere else to stay."

With that, he got up and stalked out banging the porch door to remind us of his state of mind.

"I'm sorry, Major. In a way he's right. I think I just pushed him a bit too hard and you know what he's like. He's decided to push back."

I sighed, "Maybe we should leave."

"It's up to you, but I think Bella might surprise us all. Let's just see shall we?"

I wasn't sure it was a good idea to wait and see but Bella was tired, she'd been on the move for two days now and she was dealing with a lot. If Peter could just pull his horns in a little it might work out.

"OK. But if he starts and upsets Bella we're leaving."