Chapter Sixty Eight

Peter

I helped Jasper downstairs and noticed he'd already showered and dressed,

"Did you manage with a little help?"

"Yes thanks Peter. The legs are feeling a lot better."

"Think they're setting OK only I'm not a doctor, I could get you up to Cullen if you like"

"Thanks Peter, I appreciate that but I think you might want to rethink that when you hear Bella's latest theory."

"Oh yeah? She hates the scum bag too?"

"I think it's a little more than that but I'm waiting on a phone call before she tells you the whole story."

Jasper

Bella having finished her breakfast came to sit with me on the couch cuddled in to my side, which was fine by me. Char kept looking over with a smile while Peter busied himself surfing the net looking for plots of land in the area. Every so often he would curse,

"Fuck where did it go now?"

Char would smile and go over and with one click the page he had would reappear,

"Why does it keep fucking doing that to me? This computer hates men I'm sure of it"

"Peter its a machine, it can't hate"

"Well it sure as shit doesn't like me."

When the phone rang Bella handed it to me and went to see what progress Peter had made, looking at the screen she turned to him,

"Solitaire Peter?"

"It's the only thing that doesn't disappear as soon a I touch the fucking mouse."

I took down the number Jack gave me with thanks, promising not to disclose where I obtained it. Char helped me out on the porch because it wouldn't be east getting Milo to tell me anything and if he thought others were listening he'd just ring off. I was on the phone for twenty minutes just trying to persuade him to talk to me then I had to give him a certain amount before he was willing to give back. After three quarters of an hour I finally ended the call and asked the others to join me.

"Right, Bella you tell Peter and Charlotte your theory"

She did and neither interrupted her, even Peter was stunned into silence,

"And you think she might be right?" he asked me.

Char nodded,

"So do I. That bastard is slippery as an eel."

"Right, well I spoke to Milo a while ago."

"He spoke to you? He told you something? What did he want in payment? Your first born son?"

I laughed,

"Not quite but I owe him a favour. He had a flaming row with Carlisle some years back while I was looking after Alice. At the time she tried to get me out of the house but I didn't think anything of it at the time. Milo told me that Carlisle Cullen was one of the Volturi along with Aro, Caius and Marcus and it was decided that one of the brothers should keep a finger on the pulse by living among the vampires as a slightly alternative type, that way any discontents would gravitate to him and be funnelled into the Volturi Guard or killed. As Carlisle moved on because he "couldn't stomach their ways" the four became three. Very few knew about Carlisle's position and most of those mysteriously disappeared soon after. Milo only survived because he was and still is useful but he lives in retirement now, moving all the time and suspicious of everyone. He only told me when I told him what we'd done and what Bella suspected."

Peter blew out his cheeks,

"So we are in receipt of information that puts our nuts in the grinder. Now what do we do with it?"

"Carlisle needs to stay incognito or he's worthless outside Italy. If we threaten to tell the Vampire world about him maybe he'll leave us alone and Bella most of all. He can call Aro's dogs off and get Maria off our backs"

"And in the alternative universe you obviously fucking inhabit he's going to agree to all that?"

"NO, but I had to throw it out there."

"And in our rather precarious world?"

"We have to destroy Carlisle and let Aro know we did it and he's next if he doesn't call all the dogs off"

"Better plan my friend but there is just one tiny problem with that scenario, why would Carlisle Cullen put himself in danger by meeting us or some of us?"

"He wouldn't. But he might meet with Char again, alone"

"No fucking way Major."

"Peter..."

"NO Char, no way are you getting near that dangerous psycho again."

"He'd meet me alone. If I told him I was scared of what was happening to me and wanted his protection". Bella suggested.

I wanted to echo Peter but I wasn't sure I had the right yet so I merely grimaced.

Bella

I knew Jazz didn't like the idea but I was the best one for the job, Carlisle didn't know me as well as the others and he might agree to see me in private. I was also the only one who could protect myself from anything he might try.

"It's not ideal but its the best we're likely to get. If I can get him alone then you and Peter can take over, Char you can have a go too if you like"

She smiled at that,

"Sounds like a plan to me sister,"

and we slapped palms.

We gave it a few days for Jasper's legs to heal enough for him to be mobile and capable of fighting if necessary then I rang Carlisle from a motel just outside Seattle.

"Cullen residence, Dr Cullen speaking"

"OH Carlisle, thank goodness its you. I need help"

"Bella you got away thank goodness."

"Yes, thank you for sending Peter and Charlotte. They didn't tell me but I knew it must be you"

"Of course. I had to help in any way I could. Where are you Bella?"

"I'm in a motel in Seattle but I'm not sure how long I'll be safe. They don't know I've gone yet, they all went hunting and I ran"

"What do you want Bella?"

"I think I need to speak to my father again Carlisle. I thought about what Alice said and I think she's right. I'll only be safe with the Volturi. I need your help, can you contact them for me?"

"I suppose so but why don't you come here. I can protect you here"

"How? It's The Major and Peter Whitlock coming for me and you're a doctor"

"I have friends Bella, and Emmett is here too."

"Oh OK, but how do I get to you? I don't have a car"

"I'll come get you myself Bella. Then you'll know you are safe".

"Oh thank you Carlisle. I was so worried you wouldn't help after all that's happened."

"Bella, I would never leave you out there for those people to terrify. Give me your address and I'll leave straight away"

Carlisle

I knew they would step in it with her eventually, she was a human after all or at least part human and not a very strong one. Even Alice thought she'd be back when the excitement of being with the nomad rebels wore off which it seemed it had. I made my excuses, emergency at the hospital, always a good one and drove towards Seattle. As I went I contacted Aro,

"Brother, your youngest daughter is on her way in. She's just contacted Dr Cullen for help"

"How fortuitous, she escaped from Maria before we got there"

"Yes she thinks that was down to the Whitlocks, luckily for us. What do you want me to do with her?"

"Could you hold her while I send a reception committee?"

"I can but it would be inconvenient to have her with me for too long. I do have a cover to maintain."

"Of course, I wouldn't dream of jeopardising such a useful tool. I'll have them leave right away. They should be with you in about ten hours."

"Very well. Goodbye brother"

"Goodbye Carlisle."