Chapter I

Edward Cullen

Two Years Later

I went to my supply closet for another bottle of animal blood.

It was Winter time and animals rarely come into the open forests now. Bears were hibernating in their caves and other animals stayed in hiding to keep warm. I had been intelligent enough to store up my supply of animal blood like squirrels store up nuts for the Winter. I had also changed forests a couple of times in case Carlisle's hunting for me.

I rented a small house in the neighbouring city of Sequim and hoped Carlisle and Esme won't travel out of Forks to hunt me down.

I knew I needed money and a job without wasting anymore time.

I had persuaded the owner I'll pay by the end of the month (I hadn't paid for two years) and he wasn't very happy about it, but he accepted.

I had no résumés to recommend me for jobs, and no one I wanted contact with to represent me in businesses. There's no way employers would hire me due to my paleness and unfriendliness. They would think I'm some sort of killer or something.

As I drank some animal blood, I read the newspaper and noticed an interesting article about the Washington Bank in Sequim.

Apparently, the bank's security had improved greatly and the bank manager John Mesling, boasted that his band will be 'unrobbable' and will be the 'best and greatest bank in Clallum County, Washington'. Love to see that in action.

After reading the newspaper, an idea formed in my head…

"Quick and easy," I said aloud.

I would rob that bank and prove to the world that the Sequim Washington Bank is just as unprotected as any other bank and Mesling is liar.

I changed from my t-shirt and jeans to black clothes and pulled out the make up kit I had stolen from Rosalie a couple of months before my escape.

I thanked my lucky stars that I still have the comb I pinched off Alice and I combed my hair until it was straight and in a female fashion. I painted mascara on my eye lashes and eye liner on my eyes. I placed lip stick on my lips and went to the shed.

I pulled out the can of black paint spray and stood in front of a mirror.

I sprayed my hair with black paint and recombed my hair. I made sure there was no brown hair unsprayed on my head.

After spraying my hair, I clipped a pair of clip-on earrings onto my ears.

I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled.

If no one looks at me too closely, I could be made out to be a woman. If my disguise pulls off, Mesling will think that a woman robbed his bank.

I still need…a dress.

I left the house and went to the Sequim Shopping Village, which's a few blocks away from the Sequim Washington Bank.

I was glad not many people were about and no one was in the dress shop apart from the owner and her assistant. I would be more embarrassed of going into a dress shop if it was Thursday (shopping day) or Sunday (discount day).

The owner stared at me when I entered her shop.

"May I help you?" she asked.

The assistant stared at me, frowning.

She was probably trying to figure out whether I was a female trying to be a man or a man trying to be a woman. I must've done a good job disguising myself.

I knew I was of medium size and not as muscly as Emmett, but not as skinny as Jasper. As for finding a black dress, I think I'll need a large size at the most. Maybe a medium. Hopefully the owner and the assistant won't recognise me as a man.

I pulled out a cheap quality black dress and a few other ones and headed into the changing rooms. I

decided to try the biggest one first. My plan must work or I sprayed my hair and suffered through this embarrassment and self-humiliation for nothing!

I looked at myself in the mirror.

If Carlisle accepted my truancy and bad grades, I would've never ran away from the Cullen House and I would never have to be in this situation.

I glared at the mirror for no particular reason.

Probably it reminded me of the mirror Carlisle gave Rosalie.

I blinked and decided the dress I tried on would do. Once I rob the bank as planned, I'll throw the dress into a river.

It's only ten dollars ninety nine cents.

I took off the dress and went out from the changing room to the cashier counter.

I felt the assistant's eyes at my back.

I ignored it.

I quickly paid for the dress and left for Sequim Washington Bank. I stopped on the way and went eyed the public bathrooms. I was tempted to go into the male bathroom, but forced myself to enter the female one to change clothes.

I fixed up my hair and make up and adjusted my dress.

I left the cubicle and checked my hair again at the mirror.

Another woman came from a different cubicle and looked at me strangely. I ignored her and continued fixing up my hair.

After a few minutes, I left the bathroom and went into Sequim Washington Bank.

The first thing I noticed was four cameras at the front desks. Mesling wasn't joking about security improvement in the Bank.

There were also more security guards.

I began wondering whether I could pull off my plan after all. I should've checked security before I decided to rob the bank.

"Excuse me Madam," said a voice behind me. "May I help you with something?"

I turned around and saw John Mesling in an expensive suit, shiny shoes and dark sunglasses looking at me expectedly. I noticed Mesling had an expensive Rolex watch on his wrist and a wedding ring on his finger. Hmm…Mesling's married…

"I'm fine," I said in a tone a little higher than my usual tone.

Mesling frowned slightly.

"Who are you?" he asked suspiciously. "Can I see your bank book please?"

I forced myself to laugh a girlish giggle.

God, that was a terrible mistake.

Even I could tell it was a phony giggle. That just made Mesling's frown deepen and look even more suspiciously at me.

I leant forward and pretended to dig through my handbag.

While Mesling looked away impatiently, I whacked him on the head with my handbag and grabbed his neck from behind.

A security guard rushed forward, but I kicked him against the wall.

Crack.

Ouch.

He must've broken a couple of bones.

My bad.

Everyone stopped in their tracks and stared at me.

I felt Mesling shaking like a leaf against me. I lightly kicked his leg and he collapsed against me. There was whispering among the front desks.

"Give me the bank vault keys," I growled in my 'female' voice. "If you don't, I'll snap your neck in half

and go after your wife and children. I know where you live. I know where they are. I know where your wife

works. I know what school your children go to. If you don't cooperate with me, you die and your family gets seriously hurt."

"H-here," whimpered Mesling.

His hand shaking, he handed me his set of keys. All the security guards had their guns at their feet and their hands raised.

"Lead the way!" I ordered.

Shaking madly, Mesling led me to the vaults.

I opened the vault and my eyes shone. I threw Mesling onto the ground and stepped on his chest. I opened my bag and stuffed boxes of a hundred dollar notes and other money into it. I knew it couldn't last me forever, but I was considering to make a house in the woods.

After I finished filling my bag with money, I pulled Mesling up by the neck and dragged him to the door effortlessly and painlessly.

I squeezed his neck and cackled when he gasped, turning purple in the face. I controlled myself and flung him against another security guard and sent both of them flying. Hopefully they'll break some bones and land in hospital.

I calmly smiled at the security camera and walked out the door.

Dr Carlisle Cullen

Two Days Later

"Listen to this," said Alice, reading the newspaper. "Sequim Washington Bank had been robbed, and in the process, Mr John Mesling's arm and leg were broken and a security guard was killed! The other security guard was seriously wounded, and at least a million dollars were stolen. That's the highest amount of money stolen from a bank!"

"Oh yeah?" I said, sipping blood tea. "What happened?"

"Oh gosh. This is hilarious! I can't even believe it! A few days ago, Mesling boasted that his bank is so secure, it's unrobbable. Well, he's humiliated, and the robber isn't an ordinary robber. It's a woman who's deadly pale with extra make up!"

Emmett choked on his blood porridge with laughter.

Even Jasper (who's always solemn and stiff) managed a smile.

Rosalie would've laughed if she heard the news. Esme might've too. Right now, Esme had taken a still-recovering Rosalie (she's still traumatized since Edward's escape two years ago) out shopping for jewellery (at Esme's expense).

I smiled to myself indulgently.

Alice is an obedient, energetic girl who I'll never be bored with, but Rosalie's still my oldest daughter and I still have a special fondness for her.

"A pale woman," murmured Jasper. "How interesting. Alice, is there a picture?"

"Yeah," said Alice, showing us the newspaper.

"Ugly girl…look's more like a man though. A man who's trying to disguise himself as a woman but overdid his make up and and powder. Seriously, how much powder did he put on himself? Why not wear a long dress to avoid all the hassle of powdering himself? And no one can injure Mesling and the security guards that hard."

"What are you suggesting?"

"A vampire robbed the bank. Not a human."

"No, that's not possible. Jasper, I can see every vampire's definite future plans, and none of them included robbing a bank."

"I'm serious. It's a vampire. That can explain the pale skin and access make up. Carlisle, take a closer look at the wounds on the security guard and Mesling. I'm not a doctor, but I can tell that the strength used to make those wounds are by a vampire."

I placed my cup down and took the newspaper from Alice.

"Kind of hard to see," I said, squinting at the small picture. "Just hold on a sec. It says that Mesling and

the security guard are still in hospital. I'll visit them a bit later. Can you pass me my magnify glass?"

Emmett handed me my magnify glass.

I studied the photos carefully and realised Jasper was right. With broken bones in both Mesling's arm and leg could be only done by a vampire.

"You're right," I agreed. "It's not possible. I can't see exactly what the injuries are, but I'm sure with my credentials that I can visit Mesling and the security guard. I guess that if I look closely at Mesling's neck, I'll be able to see abrasion marks."

I stood up and grabbed my coat.

"Jasper," I said, glancing at the dishes. "I know you might consider this a girly role, but can you please do the dishes today? Emmett, you're doing dishes tonight, so don't smirk that way. Alice, I need a private talk with you before I go. Oh, and when Esme and Rosalie come back, one of you tell Rosalie that I've given her a something in a package. It's in her room."

"Sure," said Jasper, rolling up his sleeves. "What did you get Rosalie?"

"Oh, nothing much. Just a pair of Ruby earrings and a matching necklace. Don't tell her that. It's supposed to be a surprise."

"How much was it?"

"You don't need to know that."

I went to the door and Alice followed me.

"You said you can see every vampires' decided future plans," I said quietly. "Is it every vampire in Forks, or every vampire in the world?"

"Every vampire in the world," Alice murmured. "But I only can see the ones in covens very clearly. I can't see futures of nomadic or loner vampires very clearly. Especially the loner ones. I can't even tell where they are. I can only feel if they're dead or alive. I can tell you that no coven vampire robbed that bank. It's either a loner vampire or a human."

"Ring me if you see anything else important."

I grabbed my briefcase and went to the garage.

Over years, I had built extensions to the garage (with Emmett's help) for the cars my children bought once they earnt their licences.

Everyone in my coven had their own car (Rosalie had two and Esme had three) and all of them (except Emmett's) looked brand new.

I shook myself from my thoughts and went into my car and drove off.

John Mesling, Bank Manager

I felt nothing but pain in all my surviving bones. That creep who robbed my bank had broken half the bones in my right arm and leg.

The security guard Bob Johnson was groaning in agony on the bed next to mine.

His neck was dislocated, his arms were bruised and broken and there were more injuries I don't particularly care to mention. Johnson had been given a whole list of antibiotics and prescriptions, but I don't think the anaesthetic's helping.

The door opened and a pale doctor entered with the nurse.

"I don't understand," said the nurse, glancing at us. "Your credentials say that you work in Forks Hospital. I don't get why you decided to take your time off work and come here to see Mr Mesling and Mr Johnson. I'm sure they're in pain, but we gave them medication. I can assure you that our doctors have excellent qualifications and all."

"I know," said the doctor, glancing at a piece of paper. "I see that both men have been assigned Dr Vera Staminov and Dr Anthony Rivers. I know both doctors. They're qualified men with high degrees. I just want to further investigate their injuries."

"Dr Cullen! They survived a robbery, not murder! I didn't know you're interested in investigating injuries of surviving victims! Why not investigate the body?"

"The body?"

"The dead security guard! Maybe you'll find interest there?"

"Ms Graham, I'm a medical doctor, not a Medical Examiner or anything related to police. I just want to

investigate the injuries. I'm sure the police would be happy if I help them with their robbery case. I excel in identifying injuries."

"Very well. Mr Mesling, Mr Johnson, this is Dr Carlisle Cullen from Forks Hospital."

Dr Cullen approached me with a smile.

"Good afternoon Mr Mesling," he greeted. "I'm Dr Cullen and I heard about your unfortunate injuries and your bank heist. I can assure you that I can find your attacker and robber once I look at your wounds in detail, and your neck."

"My neck?" I said, surprised. "What does my neck have to do with this? Apart from the fact that my attacker grabbed it-"

"Exactly. May I take a look?"

I struggled up and sat against the back of my bed.

Dr Cullen came closer and examined my neck. I flinched when I felt his cold, gloved hands touch the bruises on my neck.

He looked at my bruises and injuries a little while later and jotted down notes in his notepad. What happened to my other doctors?

"You said in the papers that the robber was a woman," Dr Cullen commented.

"Yeah," I said suspiciously. "She was wearing a black dress and a lot of make up. Her hair was short and she doesn't have pierced ears."

"The robber wasn't a woman."

"Wasn't?"

"If you think about it, no woman can have the strength to physically kill a security guard, seriously wound another security guard and put those abrasions on your neck. It's a man who robbed your bank, and a strong man."

"No, it can't be. The person who robbed my bank was tall and lean."

"Tall and lean men can be strong."

"The person who robbed my bank looked feminine rather than masculine. He-or she-was very pale, too pale to be a man."

"There's always such thing as a lot of make up. I'm telling you, your attacker was male. Once the police comes to see you again, tell them that your attacker was a man disguised as a female and give them my number if they want to clarify it. Here."

Dr Cullen placed his business card on my bedside table.

"Are you positive?" I asked.

"Hmm?" said Dr Cullen, putting his notepad into his pocket. "What did you say?"

"Are you positive that the attacker was a man, not a woman? I mean the clothing and make up is convincing, but is there any other proof?"

"Strength?"

"Oh yeah, apart from that too."

"A woman wouldn't rob a bank herself. She would do that with a partner. Women might murder people themselves, but they won't rob a bank themselves. It'll be too risky. Women are the more successful of the two genders anyway."

"So you're admitting your wife is more successful than you?"

"No. She's a housewife. Is that enough evidence for you to accept that your attacker was a strong, lean man, not a woman?"

"Yeah. That's enough evidence."

Dr Cullen smiled and stood up.

"I'll visit you another day," he promised.

I nodded and watched him leave.

Dr Carlisle Cullen

I drove back to my house, feeling satisfied with myself.

Mesling's attacker was a vampire. In my entire life as a vampire and a doctor, I had never heard or seen

a vampire that robs banks before. It's too humane to imagine.

When I arrived back home, I saw Jasper jumping onto his motorcycle and putting on his helmet. He must be going to see old friends again.

"Rosalie and Esme are home!" he called to me. "I finished the dishes and Alice is waiting for you in your study! Emmett's in the backyard chopping up logs! We already have a full storage of logs, but he still enjoys the sport of chopping logs!"

I chuckled.

Emmett finds no better pleasure than chopping logs.

I went into the house.

"Hello dear," said Esme, kissing me on the cheek. "Alice said you went to see someone in hospital all the way in Sequim! Why were you there?"

"It's to do with the robbery," I answered. "I'm sure Alice would've told you about it. I'm not planning to help the police solve it, but I went to see the injured bank manager Mesling. I saw his injuries and that's what concerned me. A vampire robbed the bank."