Chapter 20: Esme

A/N: So apparently SM owns Twilight which is fair enough, since she wrote it.

I felt awful leaving poor Bee with James at the end of the last chapter but i hope you all forgive me with this chapter… enjoy!

Edward was frantic.

Demetri, the Chief of Police, had told him to go home and wait but there was no chance of that happening. He'd gone back inside to see if the librarian noticed anything else but she knew nothing and then became distraught when Edward explained that the man who'd taken Bee wasn't her father but her abusive pseudo-stepfather.

He texted 'code red' to his family; this was the family message for an emergency.

He followed with a text to share all he knew: 'James has taken Bee, I am at the Forks Library. Police think he's heading to New York by road, he'll need to go through Port Angeles. Estimate they left the library 50 minutes ago.'

Esme was the first to text back: 'OMG. I am already in Port Angeles. I'll call Demetri and see what I can do.'

Esme's heart was pounding with fear for her daughter, she called Demetri's number but the call diverted to message bank, so she left a message: "Demetri it is Esme. Please tell me you have every police officer in the state on the lookout for the monster who's taken my Isabella. I am in Port Angeles now and he should be nearly here so I am going to keep a lookout. Call me back."

She hung up and saw texts from her husband as well as her sons. All warning her to stay clear of James. Fuck that she thought as she put her phone in the hands free unit and started driving.

If James was coming in from Forks he'd have to drive down Lincoln Street so she decided to drive along Lincoln keeping an eye out for the man she'd seen in the photographs Isabella had shown her. When she looked at those photos she had put every effort into memorising James' features; she'd know that bastard anywhere.

Finally Demetri returned her call, she answered the call using bluetooth so she could continue to drive. She wasn't going to let James take her daughter from her.

"Demetri, tell me you know where my daughter is."

"Esme, we have every available man on the lookout for him. We had a possible sighting just a few minutes ago, which is why I missed your call."

"So is he on his way to Port Angeles? What kind of car is he driving?"

"Now Esme, I don't want you"

She interrupted him, she didn't have the patience for this: "Demetri, just tell me what kind of car he's driving. I'll let you know if I see him. I promise."

"Okay. He's driving a really old red Ford Pick-Up truck; he stole it in Montana from a used car lot, its engine has been remodelled but it still doesn't go over 50 but that would make him very close to PA. I imagine he'll dump it soon and steal another car, if he hasn't already."

Esme's heart almost beat out of her chest as she watched an old red Ford truck pass her on its way toward Port Angeles.

"Oh God, Demetri - I think I just passed them."

She swung her car around and started following the truck, leaving a few cars between them so he wouldn't see her.

Demetri yelled over the phone: "Esme, you keep your distance! I'll call the team in PA, I'm already on my way."

When he hung up, Esme phoned Carlisle who answered on the first ring: "Esme, are you alright? I have the boys and we're heading towards you. Don't you dare go near him, you hear me."

"Car, I can see him he's three cars ahead but I can't see Isabella? There's no boot in the truck he's driving so what has he done with her?"

Talking to Carlisle was weakening her hold on her emotions and tears welled up in her eyes, but she resolved to stay strong for Isabella.

Carlisle softened his voice: "Don't cry baby girl, just keep following him. Have you called Demetri?"

"Yes," she replied. "He's called the police here in PA to let them know what road James is travelling on." She noticed then that James' truck pulled over: "Wait, he's pulling up at Shirley's Cafe. Call Demetri for me Car."

She ended the call and pulled over to watch James' truck. She was going to just wait it out until the police arrived but then she saw James climb out of the truck, dragging Isabella with him. She saw him punch Isabella in the stomach and then pull her back to her feet, shaking her and shouting in her face. Bee nodded at whatever James was screaming at her and then he pulled her along towards the cafe, squeezing her arm and holding something to her side.

Esme screamed from within the car and realised she couldn't wait for anyone else; she was going to follow them into the cafe.

She grabbed her handbag and her phone. She dialled Demetri who answered immediately.

"Demetri, don't interrupt me, just listen. He's hurting her. I can't stand by and wait until you get here so I'm going in to Shirley's. I'm going to keep my phone on so you can record what you hear but put your phone on mute so he can't hear you. Can you do that?"

"Yes, of course but Esme don't ..." He realised there was no point in telling her not to do anything. "Just be careful. Help is on the way. We won't come in sirens blaring as we believe he is armed and we don't want him to panic."

Esme placed her phone in the pocket of her pants, took a deep breath and walked into the cafe trying to keep herself calm.

She put a fake smile on her face and walked into Shirley's Cafe, taking a seat at a table by the door. The cafe was always busy with family diners as the children love to watch the train go around the cafe walls. Esme became even more nervous that James could hurt more than just herself or Isabella.

As she looked around the cafe she spotted James in a booth. He had Isabella squashed against the wall so there was no way for her to escape. Her hair was a mess and she'd been crying, that was obvious even from the distance Esme was sitting from them.

With her phone in her pocket she spoke quietly hoping Demetri could hear her: "I've spotted them and I'm going to go closer. There's a lot of families in here."

Demetri heard her warning and passed the information to the Port Angeles PD on his car radio, as he was still en route and just hoped he'd get there in time to help.

As Esme approached where Isabella and James were sitting she could hear him trying to get Bee to choose something to eat.

"This will be the last stop for a while Bella, so eat now or go hungry."

Isabella just shook her head and tried to flatten herself against the wall to keep more distance between herself and James. She honestly didn't care if she never ate again.

"Fine, you little bitch, I'll order for you and you better fucking eat it."

Esme grimaced. It was everything she could do not to reach for her daughter but she knew she had to wait. As she passed their booth she started humming 'Let it go' from Frozen. It was the song that Isabella and Emmett would sing all the time, driving everyone crazy with it. She hoped Isabella could hear her.

Bee heard the song and recognised it immediately. She looked up and through her hair, which was still hanging forward to keep herself hidden from James' gaze, she could see Esme as she passed.

Her heart fluttered and she wanted to jump up and reach for her mother. But then a wave of panic hit her, she didn't want Esme to be hurt by James. Esme kept walking and went to the ladies room, once inside she pulled out her phone: "Demetri, they are ordering food so we have some time."

"You're doing great Esme. We already have some uniforms outside, front and back. We're going to send some plainclothes inside. Now we need to take this slow, we don't want anyone hurt."

"Okay," she answered. "I wanted to try to speak to the staff but I don't want to draw attention to myself. Do you think the PA police could call the restaurant and let them know what is happening, maybe they can get some of the families to leave?"

"Already on it, Es. You be careful. You don't have to do anything. Back-up is there, we just need to wait for him to leave and then separate him from young Isabella."

"Okay. I have to go, she looks so scared and beat down. I need to go to her."

When Esme emerged from the ladies room, she headed back towards James' booth. She made eye contact with Isabella and saw a tear roll down her cheek as she approached their table. She gave her a small smile and then sat down at their table across from James.

"Hello," she said.

"Who are you lady?" James growled.

"Oh, my name is Esme, I just stopped by to say hello to Isabella. She knows my children at school and when I saw her I just had to stop by and tell her what a lovely photo of her it was in the paper." That sounded like a plausible reason to stop and chat she thought. "And you are?"

"Well that's not really any of your business, is it lady? But if you must know I'm Bella's step-daddy."

Esme feigned surprise: "Oh, I didn't think Isabella had any family and that was why she was living with the Cullen family."

He sneered at her and grabbed Isabella to pull her closer to him: "Well you were wrong. She belongs to me; I raised her from a little girl and she is my Princess Bella."

Bee cringed at the sound of the name Princess Bella and tried without success to pull out of James' hold.

"Oh, well I am sorry - my mistake," Esme said trying to sound friendly.

From where she was sitting Esme noticed that several family groups behind James' view had left the cafe in a hurry; she also noticed several people had entered who must've been the plain clothes police Demetri mentioned.

She wanted to keep James talking so there was time for all the families and staff to get to safety.

James was getting agitated, however, and shouted to the kitchen: "Where's our food?"

Just then someone came out of the kitchen carrying a tray of food and placed a burger in front of Isabella and a burger with fries in front of James.

The waiter turned to face Esme with his back to James: "Can I get you anything, madam?" He winked at her and she knew he was an undercover policeman.

"Oh yes, I'd like a coffee - black, no sugar but nice and hot. What about you Isabella? and you Mr ... um... would you like hot coffee too?"

Isabella nodded enthusiastically, knowing just what Esme had planned, while James grunted and shook his head no.

Esme knew she had to stall for a while longer, as she watched yet another customer leave the cafe; she knew they couldn't just get them all to leave at once but she wished they'd just leave so she could get her daughter away from this filthy man.

"So, Isabella. The story in the paper said you had your choice of schools to go to, have you decided which one yet?"

James interrupted before Bee could respond: "Bella isn't going to school. She's going to take her mother's place and keep house for me."

Bee looked at him in shock, she had dreamed of going to school - it was the one thing that kept her going through years of abuse and neglect.

She turned to him, sat up straight and puffed out her chest. He wasn't going to steal her dream away: "I am so going to school. I am going to be a pediatrician and take care of sick children."

He gave her an evil grin: "Is that right? Well we'll see about that."

Esme smiled with pride at Isabella for speaking up against this violent man. She watched as another customer left, relieved that there were not many more to go now.

Another two plain clothes police entered and she felt a wave of relief hoping that this would soon be over.

She turned back to James: "Well she sounds determined. My son wants to be a doctor too. He is planning to be a surgeon, like his father. He has devoted himself to his schooling and barely made time for a social life, but just a few months ago he fell in love."

"So I suppose the little bookworm isn't doing so well at school now that he has some slut hanging off his dick." James was deliberately course trying to annoy Esme enough to leave.

James' comments made Esme feel sick; such a revolting man.

"Why no, actually his girlfriend is a little smarter than he is I think." She risked a wink at Isabella who returned a small smile to her mother.

Just then the waiter arrived with the coffee: "Here you go, two coffees nice and hot, just like you ordered."

Esme looked again and saw the last real customer leave just as Demetri entered the cafe taking the seat by the door.

"It's actually a funny story," she said to James, ready for this to be over.

He ignored her so she just persisted.

"It's funny because of how my son met his girlfriend. You see she was working odd jobs before school as well as after school and she was studying till all hours in the town library to bring in enough money to stay in school. She's very dedicated, much like Isabella here."

James just grunted as he ate his burger.

"So one night my son, who's a little spoiled I have to admit, was going to the diner with friends. He was just going to open the diner door when this beautiful girl burst out of the door in a hurry to get to her next part time job. She crashed into him spilling hot coffee all over his brand new pants. He screamed and carried on; I am amazed she ever forgave him for his rudeness."

"Sounds like a bitch to me, but then again so does your son, whining over a little coffee."

"Is that so?" said Esme with a quick glance and small nod to Isabella. "Let's see how you like it."

With that she and Bee both threw their boiling hot coffee at James, burning his crotch and his chest. He jumped up screaming while Isabella and Esme climbed under the table hugged each other tightly.

James pulled his gun and pointed it at the two women under the table: "I'm going to kill you both, you fucking bitches!"

Esme and Isabella hugged each other tightly both closing their eyes in fear.

The next thing a single shot was heard and James fell to the ground. Dead.

Demetri, put his gun back into his holster, walked over and pulled the gun away from James' dead hand: "Not on my watch, you bastard."

He called to his team who were all around them with their guns pointed at James' body: "Okay, guys we need to take everyone's statements. The Feds are on their way."

As his staff bustled around, Demetri reached down to take Esme's hand. She held Bee close to her: "Come on sweetheart. It's all over now."

The two women crawled out from under the table and kept tight hold of each other as they stood. Bee was sobbing uncontrollably, a mixture of fear and relief.

Esme held her as she sobbed, stroking her hair: "Shh, it's alright. It's all over now. He's gone and he'll never come back."

Sitting together in a different booth, Bee held on to Esme with a desperate grip. She was in shock that this beautiful woman had come for her, had faced down James for her, had risked her own life for her.

She burst out sobbing again at what James nearly did, how he nearly took her from her family. This was her mother. Her real mother. A true mother, who protected her children from harm.

Esme held her daughter as Bee sobbed for all the years that she was alone and uncared for. She whispered to her: "I love you, sweetheart."

There was a sudden noise and some people shouting, the two women looked up to see Edward burst through the door followed by Emmett and Carlisle. At the sight of Edward, Isabella leapt up and ran to him. He grabbed her, picking her up and pulling her close to him: "Bee, my love, are you alright? I love you so much. I am so sorry I was late to the library. It's all my fault."

She kissed him fiercely, and when she pulled away, she sobbed out: "Esme saved me Edward."

"Of course she did," he said. "Mom loves you."

It was then Bee noticed Edward's swollen eye and cheek: "What happened to you?"

He smiled sheepishly: "I wanted to come in earlier but the police disagreed... firmly."

Emmett came and hugged around the two of them, tears streaming down his eyes: "I'm so glad you're okay sis."

Carlisle was holding Esme who finally allowed herself to respond to the stress and was weeping in his arms. "It's alright babygirl," he cooed. "You were so brave and saved our daughter."

Emmett turned and loudly declared his mother a hero: "We were listening on Demetri's phone outside and you were amazing Ma.

Bee looked at Edward: "You heard?"

"You so amazing, telling him you were going to school. You stood up to him, love. I am in awe of you," Edward said as he hugged her tightly. He then noticed she winced: "Are you hurt?"

She shook her head to say no, but Esme disagreed and pushed her husband towards their children: "James punched her Carlisle, at least once that I saw. Goodness knows what else."

Carlisle walked over and gently pulled Isabella from Edward's hold, though he wouldn't release her hand.

"Why don't we have a quick look at you? Make sure everything is fine," Carlisle said as he sat her down on one of the stools.

As he gently examined her it became apparent that she was bruised all over her torso.

Emmett was furious: "He managed to hurt her where no one else could see. He's had some practice with that, hasn't he?" Although it was a rhetorical question, Isabella nodded slowly.

Edward kissed the top of her head and whispered: "He's gone now, love, he can never hurt you again."

The family circled Isabella, still in protection mode, as Carlisle continued to examine her.

"I don't think this rib is broken, although it is badly bruised, but I think we should get you checked out just in case." He turned to Emmett and asked him to see if the ambulance had been called.

Once the ambulance arrived, Esme and Edward travelled with Isabella while Emmett and Carlisle drove behind them.

When they arrived, Isabella was examined, x-rayed and generally poked and prodded. Carlisle was right, her rib wasn't broken but already a massive bruise was forming on her side. As the adrenalin of the abduction wore off, the pain she was in made itself known and she was aching all over.

They wanted her to stay the night in the hospital but she refused and Carlisle assured the doctors that she would be well cared for between himself, his wife and his two sons.

Determined not to stay in hospital, Bee made her choice: "I want to go home ... with my family."

A/N: Well I am in love with Esme right now… how awesome is she? I'd love to hear your thoughts.