Chapter Seventy Five

Charlie

I guess it was a bit much expecting that Bella would want to speak to me this soon after the wedding but I wanted to let her know what had happened when I got back to Forks. I'd told her about Billy and Harry holding me prisoner and how I was going to have something to say to them when I got back. It was quite funny in a way because there was absolutely nothing they could do now. Bella and Jasper were married, life's a bitch sometimes! As soon as I got back I'd driven to the Res and called on Billy. He sat very red faced while we waited for Harry to join us. When he finally turned up he was accompanied by Sam.

"So the gangs all here. Good now its your turn to listen. Bella and Jasper Whitlock are married and I've given them my blessing. I also expect her to become one of them pretty soon and if I hear that any of the Quileutes are causing trouble for them or the Cullens I'm going to come down on all of you like a ton of bricks. You won't be able to take a step off the Res without being stopped by the Forks police. I'll have every one of your vehicles thoroughly checked out and the slightest problem will be actioned on. Don't think that I'm ever going to forget what you did to me. I never thought I'd be standing here having been illegally detained by men I thought were my friends so others could conduct an illegal kidnapping, crossing state lines too."

Billy opened his mouth but I glared and he shut it again,

"Charlie you know it was done on the best of intentions" that came from Sam.

"Really? And did anyone ask Bella or I what we thought? No, you were only too willing to follow your own agenda. Well now I'm following mine and I warn you that I have patience and a very long memory. You leave them alone now. Do I make myself clear?"

I waited. They looked at each other as if waiting for one to speak. In the end it was Sam who answered,

"Yes Charlie we understand but you must understand we were only trying to protect Bella"

"Its not your job to protect her, its mine and however badly you may think I did that job its still not down to you to interfere."

"We were wrong Charlie and I'm sorry for what happened, especially to you"

"Its Chief Swan Harry and don't you forget it. You and I were friends but no longer. I'm going to forget you kept a Police Chief illegally detained but that's as far as my leniency goes."

I turned and walked to the door.

"Chief Swan. We are sorry about Bella. I know its hard for you to believe but we were trying to stop her making a mistake." Sam again, the others didn't seem to have any thing to say.

"Sam. You worry about what goes on in the Reservation. I'll watch out for what happens outside, especially where it concerns my daughter."

He nodded, unhappy it had ended like this

"And if I hear of any large wolves wandering around the woods I will issue hunting licences."

With that warning I left them and drove back to Forks. They may have had the best of intentions but they had gone way too far.

Harry

Well that was that, we'd lost Charlie as a friend and we'd lost the friendship of the Forks Police Department. Not a good day for the Res. Sam scowled,

"I said we should be careful. Now the boys are going to be in danger as soon as they leave the Reservation. That just makes our job a lot harder."

"It was necessary Sam"

"No Harry it wasn't. We should have spoken to Charlie first instead of kidnapping him, that was plain stupid. Its time for some new blood on the council, we can't trust the decisions of the elders alone".

Billy wheeled away towards his bedroom

"You have nothing to say Billy?"

He stopped and turned, his face a sad mask,

"No Harry. I think Sam is right. I lost my best friend tonight and I lost my son. Maybe we're too old to be ruling the tribe, I'm tired I'm going to rest."

Billy looked tired and I knew this had been a step too far for him.

Jake

Sam came looking for me at the Cullens, ringing first to ask Carlisle's permission to come on their territory. He told me Sam sounded concerned but I couldn't give a toss. The tribe had used me to get at Bella and in effect had handed her over to the Volturi. Carlisle cautioned me to listen to him before saying anything and I'd agreed as long as he accompanied me. Alice was so wrapped up in our wedding plans that she hardly noticed us leaving. Em did and offered to come too but Carlisle shook his head,

"We need diplomacy Emmett not brute force."

At the end off the drive Sam was waiting, in human form and alone so I knew there was something important going on.

"Carlisle, thank you for allowing this"

"I only want to help Sam. What is the problem?"

"Its Charlie, you know what happened?"

"We know that you imprisoned him and tried to kidnap Bella."

"Yes, things I'm not proud of. I did argue against it at the time but it was the decision of the Tribal Elders."

"And Charlie?"

"He came to tell us that Bella's now married and will be a vampire soon. He also warned us that the friendly relations with the Forks Police Department is at an end".

"I have to ask, did you expect any different?"

"No, not really but Billy isn't well. I think losing Jake and Charlies friendship is too much for him, I'd like Jake to make things up with his father."

I looked at Jake

"Its your call Jake but he is your father, if he's ill..."

"I'm not welcome on the Res Sam"

"You are now. I'm giving you permission. I'm asking you to come."

"OK I'll come and see Billy but I'm not coming back to the Res to live. I'm marrying Alice Cullen so that's another problem for the Elders".

"Can we just sort one one problem at a time Jake?"

"Sure. After all I only have one problem of my own"

"And what's that. Can we help you?"

"Oh yeah, I have the Major thinking I set up the abduction of his wife. Your work Sam, so I don't see how you can help me".