I sat in my car, my head resting against the steering wheel, forcing myself to breathe slowly and deeply.
The messiest, most acrimonious cases were always custody ones. The expense and even violence to which some people would go to control the fate of their children was unlimited. And those were mere mortals.
Mr. Jasper owned me. The one and only time he shook my hand had been to accept my allegiance. It was my swearing in, as it were, to his service. But I'd taken Bella's hand, too, before I realized that she was going to be crossing Mr. Jasper. Now I was caught in the middle.
Truth be told, if I had to infuriate one of them, I probably would do better taking my chances with Bella. She gave off an aura of kindness that I'd never felt around Mr. Jasper. Her handshakes felt like greetings, not an assertion of dominance. She wore contacts over her red eyes. She asked me to call her by her first name.
Bella might kill me to protect herself from Mr. Jasper, but if Mr. Jasper found out I'd helped the woman who crossed him, I had no doubt it my death would be long and painful. Or at least I tried to comfort myself with that thought.
With all the courage I could muster, I picked up my briefcase, opened the car door, and strode into the restaurant. I would shower her with compliments, I decided. Try to soften her toward me before I made it clear that if she forced me to choose, I wouldn't choose her. Cushion it as best I could.
When the maître d' showed me to the private dining room, Bella was already there, looking like an angel beside the hearth. The irony of the thought didn't escape me. "I'm sorry I'm late." Making her wait was hardly a good way to begin buttering her up.
"No, you're exactly on time."
She extended her hand, and I was again struck by how human the gesture was. But I could hardly praise her on that point. "You look stunning, if I may be so bold, Mrs. Cullen."
"Thank you, J. Please, call me Bella."
"I must say, it's a different experience working with you than it is with Mr. Jasper. Much less. . . unsettling." I realized that didn't exactly come out as a compliment.
"Really? I've always found Jasper to have a very soothing presence."
What sort of life did she live if Mr. Jasper was soothing? "Is that so?"
"Have you known Jasper long?"
She knew this already, didn't she? Another test. I answered truthfully, as though we were the confidants we were pretending to be. "I've been working with Mr. Jasper for more than twenty years, and my old partner knew him for fifteen years before that. . . ." To fill the expectant silence, I added, "He never changes." Except for the eyes.
"Yeah, Jasper's kind of funny that way."
I shook my head in disbelief. Funny? I couldn't imagine any context in which I'd use the word funny to describe him. Since I couldn't think of a flattering response to that, I said, "Won't you have a seat, Bella?"
"Actually, I'm in a bit of a hurry. I have a long drive home." She matter-of-factly offered me the ridiculous bonus, and I could hardly refuse it. The last thing I wanted to do was provoke her over something as inconsequential as money.
"Oh." I wondered what more she was buying than my forgery services. My silence? Absently, I tucked the envelope into my pocket. "I was hoping we could speak for just a moment."
"About?"
"Well, let me get you your items first. I want to make sure you're satisfied." Just in case. Just so she knew I wasn't going to actually cross her. I set my briefcase on the table and produced her documents.
She made a cursory examination of them. "Thank you."
She sounded almost choked up; these documents were extremely important to her. "I can assure you every piece is perfect. All will pass the most rigorous scrutiny by experts."
"I'm sure they are. I truly appreciate what you've done for me, J."
"It's been my pleasure, Bella. In the future, feel free to come to me for anything the Cullen family needs." I waited for her to protest, to insist that Mr. Jasper would continue handling their affairs, to admit this was a private transaction and that she wanted me to keep it a secret.
Her cool, brown-on-red eyes met mine. "There was something you wanted to discuss?"
I felt a flash of frustrated terror. She was going to make me spell out my suspicions. "Er, yes. It's a bit delicate. . ." I started to shiver – a cold sweat again – and gestured that we sit on the hearth beside the fire. The close proximity made me extremely aware that she was both extremely beautiful and lethal. Nervously, I wiped my brow with a handkerchief.
"You are the sister of Mr. Jasper's wife? Or married to his brother?" The answer could make all the difference in this deadly conflict of interest.
"Married to his brother."
The worst possible answer.
"You would be Mr. Edward's bride, then?"
"Yes."
She looked confused, and I realized I was coming across as prying. "I've seen all the names many times, you see. My belated congratulations. It's nice that Mr. Edward has found such a lovely partner after all this time." It would have been flattery if it weren't true. She was beyond lovely.
"Thank you very much."
Her reaction was much too cool and cautious for a newlywed. I wiped my brow again. "Over the years, you might imagine I've developed a very healthy level of respect for Mr. Jasper and the entire family."
She nodded silently, her eyes reminding me for just a moment of Mr. Jasper's. Almost hungry. I took a deep breath. We were to the point. My life could end in the next ten seconds, and no one would ever even find my body. If I were lucky, it would be quick.
"J, please just say whatever you need to."
I took another deep breath, feeling faint. The words came out in a rush. "If you could just assure me that you are not planning to kidnap the little girl from her father, I would sleep better tonight."
"Oh."
Bella's expression went blank. Stunned. But not angry. At least, not yet.
"Oh no, it's nothing like that at all." Her lips twitched in a chagrined smile. "I'm simply preparing a safe place for her in case something were to happen to my husband and me."
"Are you expecting something to happen?" The shock of her words made mine sharper than they should have been. That secret – the secret of the Cullens' fear – was not one Mr. Jasper had entrusted to me. I wasn't supposed to know about that. "Not that it's any of my business."
"You never know," she answered with a sigh. The pain underlying her words was obvious.
Everything clicked into place. Mr. Jasper's "vacation" was related to the unnamed threat, and the pursuit was hot enough that he wasn't available to help his sister-in-law and niece. That's why he didn't come himself. That's why she was so choked up. If Mr. Jasper was in danger, so was the rest of the family, including her daughter. "May I wish you the best of luck, then."
It was much easier than I'd expected to say these long-rehearsed words. "And please don't be put out with me, my dear, but. . . if Mr. Jasper should come to me and ask what names I put on these documents. . ."
Her smile was genuine. "Of course you should tell him immediately. I'd like nothing better than to have Mr. Jasper fully aware of our entire transaction."
Well, I told myself, one worry down, another great, big new one to throw up about. "Very good. And I can't prevail upon you to stay for dinner?"
"I'm sorry, J. I'm short on time at present."
Of course she was. Her child was in danger. "Then again, my best wishes for your health and happiness. Anything at all the Cullen family needs, please don't hesitate to call on me, Bella."
"Thank you, J."
She took up her purse, and my feelings as she left were an odd mix of relief, worry, and pity. My clients got into trouble all the time – many of them met violent ends – but something about her plight moved me. She was more damsel-in-distress than monster. I was just a feeble human, but I took comfort in knowing I'd done what I could for her.
Especially since my fate was likely linked to hers.