Chapter Sixty

Charlie

It was the best nights sleep I'd had in a while and in the morning Esme cooked breakfast.

"I could get used to this you know" I told her as I finished up,

"Any time Charlie. I like an excuse to cook."

I thanked her and went to check on Bella before leaving for work. Just as last night she was sitting up in bed with Jasper at her side, his arm around her shoulder.

"Hey Bells looking better. I have to go off to work now but I'll be back to check on you later. You OK Jasper?"

He looked at me briefly and nodded, "Yes thanks Charlie" and his attention was back on Bella.

As I went to the cruiser I ran into Carlisle driving his Mercedes out of the garage.

"Hope you slept well Charlie."

I nodded, "Considering I was in a house full of Vampires I slept surprisingly well"

He smiled, "Will you be back later?"

"If that's OK. I'd like to see Bella."

"I think Esme is planning dinner already. Se you later or I'll be late for work."

Jake

I wasn't looking forward to my visit to the station, I knew I'd done wrong in blaming Jasper for Bella's accident but surely he understood why I'd done it. Charlie couldn't possibly want his daughter tied up with a bunch of vampires, he just needed it pointing out to him. Billy was silent on the journey from the Reservation. I knew he was disappointed in me and very upset at Charlies attitude last night. It wasn't going to be a fun visit. When we got there he kept us waiting in reception before Eddy the deputy called us through to one of the interview rooms. So it was going to be like that was it?

Charlie

I was going to keep it formal, what Jake had done was serious enough for it anyway, and he'd gone into hiding to stop me finding out exactly what he'd done. I was sitting behind the desk as he and Billy came in, "Billy" I nodded to my friend.

"Right Jake. You know why you're here?"

His face was dark and sulky, "Yeah. I lied about Bella's accident but I did it for a good reason."

I cut him short, "There's never a good reason to lie to a Police Officer."

"I wasn't lying exactly, I just wanted to get him away from her. You know what he is and what he is capable of. He's not good for her, not good enough for her. She's not safe with him and the rest of the Cullens."

I let him ramble on until he stopped, aware I wasn't going to argue with him.

"Billy, I'm giving Jake a formal warning about his behaviour over the accident and Bella's injuries caused by him. I could arrest and charge him with assault and I will if he says anything else".

Billy took Jake's arm and shook his head. Jake stood rooted to the spot fuming and his hands shaking.

"If he can't control himself I'll throw him in a cell Billy" I warned and Jake's shaking eased up.

"Right Jake there is no excuse for what you did to Bella."

"I didn't hit her" he pointed out.

"No you pushed her into the stove causing more damage. It's not acceptable to touch anyone, especially not a girl. If I hear you've put your hands on anyone else I'll put you in jail for as long as I can. Do you understand me?" He nodded, "Good. Neither is there any excuse for trying to frame someone else for something you did."

His shaking started again, "I told you why I did that. Chief the Cullens are dangerous. Do you really want your daughter in a relationship with a vampire?"

I looked at Billy, "If the only other choice is a Werewolf, yes. The only person who's hurt her so far is you Jake, and Edward Cullen, and the rest of them are trying to locate and stop him. I didn't hear of anyone trying to stop you. The others covered for you Jake so tell me who you'd choose on present form."

He didn't answer and I knew I had scored there.

"Now, Bella is with Jasper Hale until she decides otherwise and I don't want to hear you have been anywhere near her or him. You stay the hell away from my daughter Jake or I might just forget I'm a Police Officer. Understand?"

He scowled but nodded again.

"You got the message too Billy? Keep your son under control and if you can't then ask Sam to do it. I don't want any more trouble with your son."

Billy looked at me sadly. "I understand Charlie. Does this mean you won't be coming to the Res any more?" "Billy I don't have the faintest idea what I'm going to do but I'm sure you understand what a shock it's all been. For now I'd appreciate it if you didn't ring and tell Harry the same. Now if we're all clear on what I said you can go Jake."

"I have something I want to say to you Chief. As Bella's father" Jake said.

"You're skating on very thin ice Jake"

He nodded, "Yeah and so are you if you let her get involved with Jasper Hale. You know nothing about him. His past, the kind of man he really is. Someone needs to tell you because I don't suppose he has, has he?"

I looked at him then walked to the door, "Whatever he was I know what he is now and that's all that matters. If I want his history I'll ask him in person Jake, now get the hell out before I change my mind and arrest you."

He pushed Billy out of the interview room stopping when he was face to face with me,

"You are going to regret not listening to me Charlie. He's a killer, pure and simple. A killer of women and children and your daughter could be next" then he carried on out of the station.