The Painful Truth
Disclaimer; all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N-thank you for the kind reviews!
Part Twenty Three
It was now obvious to everyone that there was something wrong with Riley. The boy looked ill. His face was ghostly white and he was so jumpy that even the slightest sound seemed to put him on edge. He wasn't doing his job properly. He cowered away from Paul every time Lahote breezed past him. This did not go unnoticed by Jacob. Now he was in charge he had been watching Paul closely. Bella had confided in him that Paul's work seemed to have suddenly undergone a significant change. He had showed her one of his assignments, boasting that it had taken no effort at all to complete. Bella knew straight away it wasn't Paul's own work. Someone had done it for him. When she mentioned this to Jacob, it was easy for the two of them to put two and two together. Somehow Paul had frightened Riley into doing his assignments for him.
"I'll have a word with Riley after the tutoring session is finished and Paul is out of the way." Jacob told Bella before the others arrived for the day's session. "It's not fair that your dad is paying out all this money when Riley isn't doing his job properly. In fact you've been doing most of the coaching."
"I just feel so sorry for him." Bella watched as Riley skulked into the Black's house. His head was down, and it wasn't just her imagination that he looked like he had lost weight. "Something isn't right with him."
"It's not our problem, Bells." Jacob looked at her affectionately. "I know you'd love to help but we have enough issues of our own. Like the leech…."
Bella groaned. As a gesture of trust Charlie had given Bella's cell phone back to her. As soon as she charged it and switched it on the damn thing didn't stop beeping. There were dozens of messages from both Edward and Alice, begging her to get in touch. Bella hadn't bothered reading beyond the latest message which had been sent only that morning. Edward had pleaded for her to call him. He had something important to tell her, but she wasn't interested. He had to have gotten her letter by now. As far as she was concerned there was nothing more to say.
"Have the Cullen's still been getting in the way while you've been patrolling?" Bella asked quietly so Riley wouldn't overhear.
"The head vamp approached me last night, wanting to talk. But I shut him down. I just want them gone, Bells. They're just a liability. I had to stop Jared clashing with the little pixie the other day when she hovered too close to the treaty line like a bat. I have no clue what they think they are trying to achieve. I refuse to engage with them."
"I'm sorry." Bella whispered. The others were filing into the house now. Seth took up his usual position on Bella's right, while Paul leered at a distressed Riley, before sitting down, throwing up his feet on the table.
Jacob scowled. He shoved Paul in the back and warned him to sit up straight. There was a mutinous light in Paul's eyes, but he caved in and took his feet off the table. "I am trying to be sympathetic but the tool is making it hard." He whispered to Bella.
Bella put her hand over his for a moment, squeezing his fingers in empathy. She didn't envy Jacob having to deal with Paul. Sam was taking some time out. Leah had kept her word and had spoken to Sam. She had made it clear that there was no way they were ever getting back together. Sam had been resigned to this fact, but it had still hurt. He had asked Jacob to release him from duty for a few days so he could get his head together. Jacob had agreed, but this meant he was one wolf down, and with Paul making things difficult, it just all added to the pressure.
Despite Paul acting up a few times the tutoring session went smoothly. Bella helped Seth, Quil and Embry when they got into difficulties before concentrating on her own work. Riley didn't interact with them at all. He kept pulling his cell phone out of his pocket and checking it, as if waiting for an important message. Bella exchanged a meaningful glance with Jacob. Riley wasn't doing his job, like Jacob had pointed out; Bella had done most of the coaching. So when the tutoring session ended and the others had left, Jacob approached Riley. "We need to talk."
Riley jumped like a frightened rabbit when Jacob spoke to him. "Easy." Jacob frowned. He hadn't raised his voice so why was the older guy acting so weird. "I just want to know what your deal is." He continued. He saw sweat break out on Riley's forehead as he gulped nervously. Jacob could also hear the increased tempo of Riley's heart. It was practically thumping out of his chest. Whatever was spooking Riley, it was making him scared out of his mind.
"I…I…there's nothing wrong." Riley babbled as he quickly gathered his books together.
"Look, dude, it's none of my business what's going on in your personal life. But you are paid to do a job here, and frankly you're making a piss poor job of it." Jacob saw the colour drain from Riley's face. "You're gonna have to shape up man. If not then I'll be forced to tell Charlie and he'll find someone else to coach us."
"You can't fire me." Riley pleaded. "I need to be here. I have to be here."
"Are you in some kind of trouble?" Jacob questioned. "What do you mean you have to be here?"
"Um…wrong choice of words. I apologise." Riley mumbled. "I'll do better from now on. Excuse me." He finished packing his bag and hurriedly scooted past Jacob as he practically ran out of the house.
Jacob turned to look at Bella who had witnessed the whole exchange. She seemed as perplexed as he was. "What do you make of that?" He asked her.
"I think it might be a good idea if you followed him." Bella said suddenly. Some internal instinct was telling her there was more going on with Riley than they could ascertain, and she was anxious that it might have something to do with her.
"I think you might be right." Jacob agreed as he picked up on her anxiety. He quickly kissed her on the mouth. "I'll be back as soon as I can. I love you."
"Love you too." Bella called after him as he ran out of the house. Her stomach started to churn as her worry increased. She hated having to be the one left at home, waiting. But what else could she do? Bella sighed as she walked into the kitchen and began to prepare the evening meal. It was a little early but she needed something to distract herself otherwise she would go insane.
Jacob kept well back as he followed Riley in his car. He was glad that he had given the rabbit a tune up otherwise the old VW wouldn't have made the long journey to Port Angeles without breaking down. Jacob was surprised that Riley was heading to the bigger town. He knew that the older guy lived in Forks. Jacob watched Riley drive erratically. He was constantly on his cell, talking. Whoever he was speaking to seemed to be upsetting him as it made him lose control of his car a few times. Jacob was glad when they arrived in Port Angeles in one piece. He waited until Riley climbed out of the car and walked down the sidewalk a few feet before he got out and followed him. Jacob moved silently keeping to the shadows. Night was drawing in and it made it easier for him to remain hidden as he tracked Riley down the main high street before he turned off down a darkened alley. It was when they reached this point that Jacob got the shock of his life. He could smell vampire.
"Please release Bree." Riley was openly crying as he begged for his sister's life. The stress of living his double life had taken its toll and he was having a nervous breakdown. "I've done everything you asked me to do. I gave you the girl's shirt with her scent all over it. I've told you how many there are and what I've managed to overhear. What more can I do?"
"You pathetic creature." His companion hissed. A white hand shot out from the voluminous sleeve of his robe and grabbed Riley by the throat. Riley's eyes bugged out of his head as his hands clawed at the stone hand which had an iron grip on his windpipe. "Did you really think I was going to keep your sister alive?" He sneered. A single tear rolled down Riley's cheek as he gave up the struggle. There was a loud snap as his companion broke his neck and let his body fall to the floor. "We are done here." He said to Riley's lifeless body.
"We are far from done." Jacob growled as he came charging down the narrow alleyway. The robed figure whirled around; seemingly shocked that Jacob had come out of nowhere. He stood his ground, a sibilant hiss falling from his lips as he got ready to attack. Jacob had to brace himself as the vampire's fetid odour washed over him. He hadn't meant to reveal himself, but witnessing Riley's despair and hearing the evil creature end his life in such a cruel manner was too much to take. With his Alpha blood roaring through his veins, Jacob let his wolf take over. He phased on the fly, landing on top of the robed vampire. His great weight smashed the vampire into the concrete and his strong jaws easily found their target. His teeth bit down and with one quick jerk of his head, Jacob pulled the screeching vampire's head from his body.
There was an eerie silence. Jacob's wolf shuddered as he inhaled sharply. The vampire's stench was overpowering and making him nauseous. He tried to avoid looking at Riley's broken body. He didn't have much time. Jacob quickly phased back, cursing the fact he had shredded his clothes when he had changed forms. But there had been little time to strip down. He had some spare clothes in the car, but his priority now was to burn the vampire's remains. He held his breath as he gathered the stone cold body and reached for the head. The hood fell away from the vampire's face and Jacob got his first good look at his enemy. He gasped as vibrant red hair spilled out from under the hood and into his hands. He couldn't understand how she had masked her scent. It was the red head, his nemesis. After all this time, and in the most unexpected way, Victoria was no more.
A/N-thanks for reading!
