Chapter Forty Two

Jasper

I started to get a really bad feeling in my chest and I knew without knowing how that Bella was in some kind of danger. Had the guardians been given the go ahead to hunt down the Cullens and Bella? If so I hoped they would protect her, Garrett being there gave me a little more hope, he was at least a seasoned fighter by reputation. I pulled over and waited for Peter to join me,

"What's up? I thought you were eager to get to this girl."

"I am. Have you heard anything from your friend?"

"No why? You got a bad feeling or something?"

"Something like that"

"Give me a sec."

He pulled his phone out and hit speed dial talking fast and low then turned to me,

"Nothing yet. Johnny H hasn't spoken with the mutts yet so it can't be them unless of course they are acting independently and I guess it wouldn't be the first time now would it?"

I nodded,

"Lets go."

I was in the car and back on the highway before Peter put his phone away, if the danger wasn't from the Quileutes or their allies then who? There was no point in ringing the Cullens again, that would get me nowhere, all I could do was travel as fast as possible and hope they hadn't moved on before I reached them but this delay was playing hell with my nerves and the tightness in my chest was getting worse.

Peter

I told Charlotte why we'd stopped,

"And it's not the guardians so what?"

"Not the faintest fucking idea and as he isn't there I'm not even getting one of those feelings. I don't know the girl but she's got him in a right fucking state. I guess we just push on and hope for the best. If the Cullens have moved on we'll soon find their trail."

I wondered about this girl., she had to be something very special to capture The Majors heart or was he feeling more the sire bond? I couldn't work out why he'd left, walked away and left the girl with the Cullens and Garrett. I liked Garrett, he was a man after my own heart but I didn't see him as a good role model for a newborn, any more than I was. Was he leading her into some kind of danger? Was that what The Major was feeling?

"Charlotte phone Esme Cullen"

"What? Why?"

"She's a woman, you're a woman..."

"How astute of you Peter"

"Shut up and listen, see if you can find out what the fuck is going on with the girl. She's more likely to speak to you than me."

"She isn't likely to talk to either of us considering she doesn't know us from Adam."

"Use your feminine wiles or whatever the fuck it is you women use to talk to complete strangers like you've known each other for centuries, Fuck me, how hard can it be?"

Esme

I didn't recognise the female voice when I picked up the phone and her name meant nothing either, Charlotte Whitlock?

"I know we've never met but I'm a friend of...Jasper."

"Oh"

I still had no idea why she should be ringing me so I waited,

"Look, we know you have problems with the guardian tribes, or the Quileutes in particular, but we have a feeling something bad is going on. Is Bella with you?"

"Bella? Well she isn't here at present but she's perfectly safe I assure you"

"I don't think she is, could you tell me where she is and who she's with tonight?"

"I'm not sure what business it is of yours."

"Let's just say we all know who sired her."

I froze, did they know I'd led Bella to believe Garrett was her sire? A decision I was coming to regret even now.

"You're going to have to explain"

"Very well, Jasper saved her from the wolves, he changed her and you sent him away. Now Bella's in trouble and we're coming to find her but until we get there we need you to keep her safe"

"Her father trusted us to keep her safe so I don't think you need to worry Miss Whitlock, or your friend Jasper for that matter. I would have thought he was the last person to keep a young girl safe, especially a newborn. You see I do know of his reputation and it's not exactly inspiring."

"Fine, you don't like him and you think I'm a busybody, go ahead. We're all interested in the same thing here, Bella's safety so why don't you climb down off your high horse and tell me where the hell she is."

I considered putting the phone down on her but that would be stooping to her level, maybe if I told her she would go away.

"Bella went out with our friend for the evening, into town. I do hope that meets with your approval, now if you'll excuse me I have things to do"

I rang Carlisle, although he'd only left to hunt an hour ago, to fill him in.

"Should we be worried about Bella or these people?"

"I've heard of them, friends of Jasper. Perhaps you should ring Garrett, just to make sure. I'll be back as soon as I can."

I dialled Garrett's number and waited for him to answer, when he did he didn't sound particularly happy,

"Yes?"

"Garrett? Are you OK?"

"I'm fine Esme, just fine. What's the matter? Bella telling tales on me? I admit I was wrong to get annoyed but she didn't exactly help with her attitude"

"You've had an argument with Bella? Where is she?"

"I thought that's why you were ringing, hasn't she turned up there? I thought she'd go straight back"

"No Garrett you were responsible for her so what happened?"

"It's a long story but she went off after we had words."

"And you didn't think to follow and make sure she got back here safely?"

"No, I didn't but I'll find her, besides what trouble can she get into, she's hardly your average crazed newborn".

"Well let me think...how about the guardians or had you forgotten about them? Bella is living proof of what they did."

"Have you heard anything? They wont act without permission, its more than their lives are worth especially after their last little escapade."

"Lets hope you're right Garrett or we could be finding a pile of ash with he name on it."

I was furious and took my car into town watching out for her as I drove but the roads were quiet and there was no sign of her. I rang Carlisle who promised to come straight home while I met up with Garrett outside the bar they had been in.

"What happened?"

He told me rather shame faced,

"You threw a bag of human blood in her face?"

"Not exactly, she was just being so judgemental and I lost my temper for a second."

"A second in which you set her running and now we have no idea where she is or which direction to look. Well done Garrett."

"I didn't do it on purpose and I'll find her, there's no need to get all het up."

"I hope you're right because we have company on its way."

"Who?"

"Jasper and his friends"