Chapter Thirty Seven

Jasper

Something wasn't right with Alice Cullen and I intended to find out what it was. I knew she wanted me to leave Forks and I knew she was right about the Volturi. It wouldn't be fair to get Charlie murdered because I made them suspicious but in all honesty I didn't really care, there was nothing left to bother for. But something wasn't right and I needed to get to the bottom of it before I left. I knew Peter and Charlotte wanted me to go back with them but I couldn't, the memories just hurt too damn much. I'd find a job, there was always a call for someone with my reputation somewhere in the vampire world. Money wasn't an issue it was time, too much fucking time on my hands with nothing to do but think and remember. Maybe I'd join the Volturi after all, I could have all the fighting I needed to keep me from thinking about what might have been. Yes, Alice then Italy, drown my memories, my yearning and pain in blood.

Carlisle

I couldn't believe that Alice had made such a stupid mistake,

"So now he doesn't know whether to believe Bella is really dead or not?"

"I think so Carlisle. I just don't know what to do about it. I can't see the future clearly any more and I know they are both hurting. Jasper will leave I think, but Charlie is suffering too. He does nothing but work and sleep. The whole thing has turned into a huge mess and worst of all I don't know if I can put it right anyway. I have no idea where Bella is, we lost her and she hasn't used the bank account in so long we cant trace her that way either. She took a big amount out at the very beginning and must have put it in another account we know nothing about. What do I do Carlisle?"

"Well whatever you decide you'd better do it quickly because he wont hang around."

"I know, that's why I came to you."

"Do you think the suffering is still outweighed by the danger?"

"I don't know. I think the Volturi have settled back down as nothing happened here. I know Charlie is suffering and it's quite obvious how much the Major is hurting"

"Well you can be sure Bella won't be any better."

"True. I think we have to take a chance and tell him"

"I'm glad you decided because he's on his way down the drive" it was Jake who'd been on look out.

The knock at the door was loud and Carlisle went to answer it while I tried to calm myself,

"He's going to be really angry Jake".

"I know but I'll keep you safe and you did it for the best of motives."

"I just hope he sees it that way"

The Major walked in and I cringed looking at his face, it was thunderous.

"I want to know what you didn't say earlier Alice Cullen"

I nodded, "I know but I have to explain something first."

I told him what I'd seen and what Jake and I had done.

"You left her, alone and defenceless to face a life on the run?"

"It was preferable to all of you dead"

"That's your take on it."

"I only had my take on it to go by and after I explained it to her, Bella agreed."

"She would have agreed to anything to keep Charlie safe."

"Actually she was more worried about you."

"Well its immaterial. Where is she now?"

"I have no idea. She's vanished."

"What do you mean vanished. You said you had someone keeping an eye."

"I did but she slipped off the radar."

"You are unbelievable Alice Cullen. How could you lose her? What name is she using?"

"I don't know that either. I couldn't know in case someone found out from my thoughts"

"You mean that idiot brother of yours. So how is she financed?"

"Money goes in an account every month."

"So where is she withdrawing it?"

"She isn't."

"So how is she living?"

"She took out a lump sum at the beginning so she must have opened another account. One we don't know about."

"Let me get this right. Bella Swan is on the run, living under an assumed name, moving every few months and we have no leads on her?"

"Yes that's about it."

"Do we even know if she's still in the country? Or alive?"

I shook my head "No"

He came right up to me and I knew why people spoke of him with hushed frightened voices.

"Alice Cullen. If anything has happened to Bella Swan I will be back and trust me, not even your guard dog will be able to keep you safe. You hear anything you contact me."

I nodded stepping back and holding Jake's arm.

He turned to Jake,

"Don't even think about it puppy"

Then he turned and walked out of the house and I heaved a sigh of relief.

"Lets just hope he finds her alive and well or he'll be back"

Carlisle had a point.

Jasper

I couldn't believe I'd fallen for it, what an idiot! Now Bella was out there alone and trying to survive. I should have known this pain inside me was more than loss. It was because she was still out there and I needed to find her but where do I start? I went back to the motel where Peter and Charlotte were waiting. When I explained the situation Peter was all for torching the Cullens but as I pointed out that wouldn't do us any good, Bella was the priority.

"What the fuck did they expect to achieve, the morons?"

"That doesn't matter. How do we find her? That's the only question I want answers to"

He paced the room muttering under his breath then turned,

"We have to take a state each and work through them. We look for …...fuck I've no idea"

Charlotte sat writing at the desk, "Major do you still have contacts to the airport system?"

"I know someone yes why?"

"Well if she's moving roughly every six months perhaps we can establish a pattern, a link. Its tenuous but its all I can think of"

"It's worth a try but do you have any idea how many people fly every day in mainland USA?"

"A lot but we can throw out men, children, and any women over the age of 25 and under 17. That should knock it down to a manageable number, hopefully."

"Its like looking for a single fucking flea in a herd of camels"

"Its better than nothing Peter so unless you've got a better idea, shut up" she glared at her husband.

"I'll see if its feasible. Any other ideas?"

"Well we know where she flew from originally, Denver, we know approximately when so it might be worth seeing if we can hack into their database, it'll give us a list of names to check against if nothing else"

"Good get on it"

"Hacking? tracking? What about me? I can't even turn the fucking thing on without the instruction manual."

"Do whatever you think might be useful"

He nodded and stalked out although I knew he'd be back with an idea soon, he just hated modern technology.

Alice

"What can we do to try to find her?" I asked Carlisle in desperation.

"Who came up with the paperwork for you?"

"Our tame lawyer Jenks of course"

"Why not see if he can find out the name on the papers"

"I can try but he doesn't do them himself. It depends if he's still in contact with the guy who did the forgeries."

"It's worth a try Alice. If the Major comes up blank we need a fall back to offer him"

While I went on the phone Jake and Carlisle went to break the news to the others. Edward would be furious and Emmett hurt, Rose probably disappointed and Esme shocked. I was really looking forward to their input! When I finally got through to Jenks he fell over him self to help but there was a problem.

"The artist I used for those particular papers got himself into a spot of bother and he's in prison"

"So visit him, lawyers privilege, and find out."

"I'll try but its most unlikely he'll be able to remember. He did a lot of work for me over the years"

"Try. I'll be waiting to hear from you."

As I put the phone down Esme came in to the room,

"Alice how could you? That poor girl all alone out there somewhere"

Great and this was just the beginning.