Chapter Four: Visit

Edward drove us to Charlie's house. We had had this date set up for weeks. Charlie was eager to have Renesmee over. He would enjoy spending time with her while Edward and I did other things.

Renesmee sat in the back of the Volvo, quietly looking out the window. I sat up front with Edward.

We pulled into Charlie's driveway. His police cruiser was parked there also. Out on the road, by the curb and in front of the house, was parked a black Ford Crown Victoria with dark tinted windows.

I wondered who Charlie could be entertaining now. Maybe I should have called to confirm our plans first. I glanced over at Edward as he put the car into park. My eyes were questioning. His eyes were worried.

"What is it?" I asked. I assumed his reaction was to the thoughts he was hearing from Charlie and whoever was inside with him.

Edward kept his eyes fixed on the house in front of us. "Charlie is talking to a FBI agent inside," he said.

"A FBI agent?" I asked incredulously. "But what could they possibly want from him?"

"They want to talk to us. We should go inside. They heard us pull up." I glanced back at Renesmee, hesitating. "She'll be alright, bring her in with us," he told me.

We walked slowly, humanly up to the front door so as not to startle those inside, in case they were watching. Edward rang the bell, though I don't think it was necessary because the door opened quickly after that. He must have been standing right behind it.

Charlie stood in the doorway. "Good Bella, you're here," he said with not the slightest bit of pleasure on his face.

"Hi Charlie," I said as cheerfully and nonchalantly as possible. If I looked concerned or asked something like "What's going on?" it could lead to some awkward questioning. Edward of course, always the good actor, looked as if his team has just won the Super Bowl.

"Come inside kids," Charlie said, all of the sudden with a smile on his face. It was as if his first greeting was a stray thought we weren't supposed to see. I wasn't fooled. He wasn't as good an actor as Edward. I could still see the concern behind his eyes.

We walked into the entryway. Charlie got down on one knee to talk to Renesmee. "Hey Nessie, why don't you go play upstairs in Bella's room?" My furniture still occupied my room in Charlie's house, along with books and the computer. The books and the computer were what Charlie meant by "play."

Once she was gone, Charlie led us into the living room. An official-looking man in a white shirt and slacks stood up from where he had been sitting on the couch.

Charlie turned back to us, his expression anxious again, yet business-like to match that of the other man. "Bella, Edward," he said, "this is Agent Ramsey." He gestured to the man, even though it was obvious whom he meant, he being the only other one in the room.

Agent Ramsey stepped forward and shook our hands firmly. "Edward and Bella Cullen, I'm pleased to meet you." His voice was firm and sure. "I'm Special Agent Jack Ramsey of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Please, have a seat." He gestured to the couch. I sat at one end, Edward on the arm beside me. Agent Ramsey sat on the other end of the couch, and Charlie in his armchair, facing us.

I looked to Charlie and then back to Agent Ramsey. He seemed to appraise my look.

"What is this about Agent Ramsey?" Edward asked for the benefit of those in the room who couldn't read minds. His voice was calm.

The agent reached into his suit jacket, which was draped over the arm of the couch. He took out a small notebook and a pen. He clicked open the pen and flipped open the notebook.

"Mr. Cullen," he began, "This is regarding an investigation that I am heading. I'd like to get your help if I may."

"How would we be able to help?" I asked.

"Mrs. Cullen," he answered. "Charlie here seems to think that the both of you can offer me something, but he's not exactly able to explain to me how. However, I do think you two might know something of interest to me."

Oh gosh. I didn't like where this was going. What was all of this about? I wished I could see Edward's face to see if he was as nervous as I was, he being able to hear Agent Ramsey's thoughts.

"It's about some possible gang activity in this area and in La Push," Ramsey continued.

Gang activity in La Push? Was that what had Jacob so busy lately? And why would Charlie think we would know anything about it?

Agent Ramsey let his comment sink in and then continued further. "The crimes we believe are linked to this activity range from graffiti to breaking and entering. Although," now he paused, "it seems to have escalated to murder."

"Murder?" I asked unbelieving. "And how does that relate to gangs here?"

"The graffiti we've found, and evidence at the murder scenes in La Push seem to link the crimes to a gang know as MS13 from Seattle."

MS13 again. They were the ones who police were saying had murdered Jason Scott. I thought for a minute. "So you think MS13 members are coming down from Seattle to La Push."

"Not exactly," he answered. I felt Edward's hand tense on my shoulder. Oh gosh. What was coming? I couldn't imagine what. Had Agent Ramsey linked MS13 to vampires somehow? Why? Is that why Ramsey thought we knew something? How much did he know?

Ramsey continued. "These gangs have a very strong pull for young teens. A lot of the kids down here spend time in Seattle also. They may have seen what others were doing up there, and they copy what they think is 'cool.'"

"What are you saying?" I asked.

"We think some kids from La Push have become interested enough in MS13 to commit these crimes."

"Why the kids in La Push?" I asked and almost shouted. I would have leapt to my feet if it were not for Edward holding me down with the hand on my shoulder, an effort that went unnoticed by the other two in the room.

"As part of the investigation, we've interviewed locals of La Push and they have told us that there is a group of kids that hangs out together and has been known to miss a lot of school recently. When I spoke with these kids, they were unable to have their activities cooberated by anyone other than the other kids in the group and their families. Their families are worried, understandably; they're trying to protect them."

It's the Pack, I wanted to tell him. Jacob, Sam, and the others are trying to protect those people. They're not the ones responsible for the crimes.

"You may have heard about the murder of Jason Scott," Agent Ramsey said. No one said anything, so he continued. "Do you know anything about that?"

"Not anything other than what we've heard on the news." I answered.

"Mrs. Cullen," Agent Ramsey almost cut off my words, "I happen to know that you had done some business with Jason Scott, or J. Jenks as he was also known as." His tone was accusing.

"What…?" I started.

"I also have been told that you and a…" he glanced at his notebook, "Jacob Black spend a lot of time together. In case you didn't already know, Mrs. Cullen, he is one of the people we are investigating in these crimes."

"Now wait just a damn minute!" Charlie almost popped out of his chair. "I didn't mean…"

"Maybe you didn't Chief, but I am allowed to draw my own conclusions."

"I assure you Agent Ramsey," Edward said evenly, "we're not involved in the way you're thinking." Of course, Edward really did know what he was thinking.

"Then help me," Agent Ramsey said a little sarcastically, "Why did Chief Swan believe you would know something?"

"Perhaps you could help us first, Agent Ramsey," Edward said. "Why is the FBI involved in this?"

"A few years back, a task force with the FBI was set up to deal with MS13 gang crimes. I've been on this task force for a while, and now I head it. I know the MS13 better than anyone does. I've tracked their activities for as long as I can remember. I know these crimes down here are linked to them somehow."

Well, he didn't link MS13 to vampires exactly, but he did link it to the Pack—to Jacob—and to me. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Agent Ramsey was following a false lead while someone out there was killing innocent people and going unnoticed by authorities.

"Honestly, Agent Ramsey, if we believed we knew anything that would help, we would tell you," Edward was saying. "If we think of anything, we will definitely let you know."

Ramsey seemed to gage the truthfulness in Edward's eyes. Edward was good with facial expressions, but Ramsey seemed only half convinced.

"I would appreciate that very much, Mr. Cullen," Agent Ramsey said. He stood up from the couch and picked up his jacket. Charlie, Edward and I answered by standing up as well. "Here is my card." He handed it to Edward. "Please call me with anything you think of." Edward nodded. I couldn't move. Edward squeezed shoulder again. I shifted my weight in response. I guess I had been standing too still. How could I think about putting on the human act at a time like this?

Charlie walked Agent Ramsey to the door, mumbled a "Goodbye" and an "I'll talk to you later."

Edward and I remained in the living room. I turned my head around to look at him. He replied with a look that said, "Fix your face Bella, Charlie's coming back."

I didn't care about the expression on my face right now. Charlie walked back into the room. "So some kids paint graffiti in Forks and you call in the Feds?" I asked him with a glare.

Charlie returned the glare. "Bella," he said, "Agent Ramsey didn't tell you everything. There have been murders in Forks as well. He was working in La Push already. I had to let him know about the murders down here. It's my job."

Murders in Forks too? Agent Ramsey had only mentioned the "murder scenes" in La Push.

"And why is Agent Ramsey suspicious of us?" I asked rhetorically. "Because you told him we would know something. And what, pray tell, would we know?" I almost shouted.

Charlie held his hands up in front of him. "Look Bella, I don't know what's been happening with you lately. And with Ramsey suspicious of Jacob and his friends, I thought you might know something about it. I thought you might have an explanation." Charlie shifted, uncomfortable and upset. "I was fine being clued in on only a small part of whatever your secret is, but now people are dying under my watch and I need answers."

I could see the questions and concern in his eyes. "What did Jacob say?" I asked more gently.

"I've tried several times to get a hold of him. He doesn't pick up the phone. I haven't seen Billy or been able to contact him either."

"Jacob isn't talking to you?" I asked.

"Do you think Jake and his friends are really involved?" Charlie asked me instead.

"No," I answered quickly.

Charlie nodded. "Yeah, I'd like to think the best of him too. But… it's just that Agent Ramsey has been doing this a long time. He knows what he's doing."

"I don't think Jake or his other friends are responsible," I repeated.

"You know," Charlie continued as if he didn't hear me, "If this is part of some… ritual because of… whatever it is you do, you know that's not okay."

"Jacob isn't doing this," I said firmly.

"And neither are the Cullens," Edward added.

"That's what I believe in my heart too," Charlie answered the both of us. "You just have to understand…" he trailed off.

"We understand the position you're in," Edward finished. "Please know that we will provide you and Agent Ramsey with any information we can."

Charlie nodded in acknowledgment. He looked down and then back up at me. "You know, you could still leave Nessie with me for awhile if you want."

"We should probably go home," I said.

"Okay," Charlie said. "Sorry to ruin your afternoon kids. I honestly didn't think Ramsey was going to turn this around on you like that." He paused. "You know Bells… I think more has become 'need to know.'"

This was not working out the way I had planned. He was worried about the citizens counting on him in Forks, and I was making it harder on him. I wanted to tell him everything. I was going to tell him everything, now.

Edward squeezed my hand, hard. "We'll talk to you later Charlie," he interrupted me, as if to stop me.

We said goodbye and got with Renesmee into the Volvo. The black car was gone, naturally. We pulled onto the road that would take us home.

I kept my eyes facing the front. "Did you hear me?" I asked, quietly.

"Your thoughts?" Edward asked. He also had his eyes on the road; I could see that with my peripheral vision. "No," he said, "But I could tell what you were going to do."

"Why don't you want me to tell him?" I asked.

"The Volturri for one," he said.

"Damn the Volturri."

"Second, I think we should talk to Alice first," he continued. Alice. Of course—maybe she would be able to see something that would help us figure out what was going on and who was doing it. I shifted my gaze to the side window.

"Mommy?" Renesmee's voice came from the back seat.

"Yes sweetie," I answered.

"Why are you upset?" she asked.

"Just some things have me worried," I answered, trying to sound reassuring.

Renesmee was quiet for a minute. "You know what, Mommy?" she asked.

"What honey?"

"Me, you and Daddy are together, aren't we?"

"Yes baby," I answered.

"Then everything will be alright," she said with conviction.

I closed my eyes and smiled a little. What I wouldn't give for child-like innocence and faith. Was I better off knowing the "grown up" things I did, or was she better off knowing the "simple" things she did?

Should I hold to her conviction that everything would be fine, or should I give into the worry that gripped me? The worry that had me feeling this wasn't going to end well.