Chapter Thirty Eight.
Bella
I'd had a really bad couple of weeks. First I caught a stomach bug and then just as I was getting over that I slipped on a patch of ice and broke my foot. I had no idea how difficult was to manage alone on crutches. I couldn't make a coffee and take it to the couch to sit and drink because I couldn't carry it using crutches, meals were from the microwave to my mouth standing at the sink. I was running out of groceries and couldn't manage shopping so I just did without. Black coffee and crackers weren't so bad after a while.
My neighbour did notice my predicament after the first week and kindly got me some groceries in so I was set. I'd been here over the six months but I just couldn't face moving again, especially as I was at the moment. I'd just have to hope things had settled down.
I couldn't work on crutches and funds were getting low so I'd have to dip into the bank account Alice had set up for me. I really didn't want to because it wasn't my money but if I couldn't go to work next week I'd need money for rent and food. I'd leave it as long as I could though. I'd rather live on bread and water but it might come to that. All I wanted as I lay at night, my foot thumping, was a friendly voice, a comforting arm around me...No I lie...what I wanted was to see Jasper in the doorway, watch him walk over, feel the bed sink as he sat down and put his arm around me. Was that so very much to ask? His cold touch on my aching foot would have been a bonus. The cold compresses helped but I had to stop using them, they helped the pain in my foot but made the pain in my chest unbearable with the memories.
It was tight but I just managed until pay-day, then I could breathe a sigh of relief for a while. Bills all paid up and enough for a plane ticket, but where? Where did I want to go? No, where could I go? A totally different question altogether. I looked at the dog-eared Atlas and sighed, what the hell! I'd stay a bit longer, surely it couldn't hurt could it? I liked my job, I liked the book store nearby and the park across from my apartment where I sat in the sunshine eating a sandwich and reading, when the weather allowed. I got into the habit of people watching, with all the people in this great city there must be a least one vampire around and I tried to spot one. Anyone avoiding the sunshine, anyone pale, anyone wearing shades in the cloudy streets. I wasn't sure what I'd do if I spotted one, probably beg them to end my miserable existence and do themselves a favor, a freely given meal, but I never spotted one.
Jasper
How Charlotte got print outs of the passenger lists for the day we wanted at Denver airport I never asked and she didn't volunteer the information. We crossed out all the men, children and those too old or too young and any flying out of the country but it still left a daunting 9,000 names which we put in alphabetical order.
"What now?"
"We wait until we get any printouts from my informant or Peter comes up with something. It's not looking good is it?"
"No but I won't give up. She's out there somewhere and I will find her Char".
Alice
I waited a week then contacted Jenks again.
"Miss Cullen I was about to ring you"
"Well I've saved you the trouble. I hope you've got something for me Jenks."
"I have but I'm afraid there was a price to pay."
"So pay it. I want the name on the paperwork Jenks, now."
"Certainly Miss Cullen. My... friend did several lots of paperwork at the time so I can't be exact"
"How many?"
"Ten I'm afraid."
"Well come on Jenks I don't have all day"
"Of course, they are James, Wilkes..."
"I want full names"
"Sorry, Tami James, Sarah Wilkes, Jess Rollins, Abby Trent, Jane Lock, Annie Swift, Hannah Smith, Joanne Anderson, Mary Potts and Lisa Jones."
"Thank you Jenks. I'll be in touch if I need anything else."
Jasper
Charlotte answered the phone when it rang and then offered it to me,
"Its Alice Cullen, she has some information for you."
"Yes?"
"I have a list of names, the one you want is one of them,"
"Give"
Char handed me a pen and paper and I scribbled them down as Alice read them out.
"You're sure about this?"
"It comes from the man who did the paperwork so yes, I'm sure"
I put the phone down and picked up the list we had from Denver airport.
As I run my finger down the list I came upon one of the names,
"Hannah Smith is on here"
I kept going
"Shit, Jane Lock is on it as well. Still its down to two from this lot."
I threw the printed pages down on the desk and picked up my cell phone dialling Peters number as I paced.
"Yo Major."
"You're flying to Albuquerque, trace a Hannah Smith. She's one of two possibles for Bella."
"OK I'm on my way."
Char looked at me,
"You want me to take Jane Lock?"
"No I'll take that one. You see if you can get a passport photo of the two girls."
As I drove to the airport Char booked me a flight to Sacramento. I knew if I was on Bella's trail then she was probably long gone from here but I couldn't wait around for more information. I'd hop airports as she had. The flight was long and tedious but I shut my eyes and pretended to sleep, I couldn't be annoyed by the flight attendants that way, my temper was on a really short fuse and a fight in an aircraft wasn't a good idea.
Peter
I wasn't sure why I was going to Albuquerque, if she'd flown here she'd be long gone but I was a mere soldier following orders, and it beat the crap out of watching the Major wear a hole in the motel carpet. There was a rather nice young lady seated next to me and I spent the flight chatting her up knowing that Char would never find out and it was just for fun anyhow. I was quite partial to my equipment where it was presently located, something that would alter rapidly if she heard about my dalliance.
Charlotte
The first print out came through but it wasn't from Sacramento so I couldn't check for her and in any case she may not have flown on after landing in Sacramento, there were trains and coaches, not to mention hire or private cars. As Peter said, it was an almost hopeless task. I thought we should be concentrating on where she stayed in Sacramento hoping she hadn't gone on from there to another city. It was all ifs and buts yet it was our only clue. I pulled a pad and pen over and used the computer to get a list of letting agencies in the city.
I thought it likely that Bella would follow Alice's instructions at least at first, she was frightened and lonely and quite possibly running on automatic pilot. My spiel, developed as the calls went on, I was her sister trying to find her because of a family death but there had been an estrangement etc etc. Some wouldn't entertain me but others were quite helpful. No Jane Lock or Hannah but I still had a few to try. Then we got the breakthrough we'd been waiting for, or at least a way to narrow the search down more specifically. Hannah was still in Sacramento, at college and Peter went to spot her. We thought it highly unlikely that Bella had stayed put so soon but we had to be sure. If she'd got into college it might have tempted her enough, just might.
The Major didn't call in, he knew I'd let him know if we got anything he could work with. It was another week before Peter got a look at our girl, the college had been on spring break.
"It's not her Char."
"You sure?"
"Yep unless she's put on about 30lbs and had a face transplant it's not her. We're looking for Jane Lock. Tell the Major I'll meet him in Sacramento ASAFP".
I rang Jaspers cell and he answered immediately,
"Well?"
"You are on the right track, Bella's assumed identity is Jane Lock".
"You sure about that?"
"Yes Peter eyeballed the other girl. It's not her."
"I need to know where she went from here Char".
"I know and I'm trying but these things take time".
"I don't have time Char, its been over a year now. I need to find her."
"I , I'll try to speed things up if I can".