Chapter Thirty One

Garrett

The snow finally eased up so I could watch as well as listen and I threw off the accumulation from my shoulders. I had a good view from this tree while the branches gave me adequate cover but nothing was moving out there except a few caribou. I called in on schedule to The Major who told me the others were reporting all clear too and Bella was still out. Well it had only been 36 hours but I could tell every one of those had been a lifetime to him, hearing her agony and unable to do anything to help for fear of missing the danger signs. She was quite a remarkable female to have captured him so completely and I just hoped we could keep her free of danger, at least until she woke up when hopefully she could be controlled enough to attack the right people. The thought of having limbs ripped off by one of our own team wasn't an alluring one.

Jasper

Everyone had called in now and all the reports were negative, so far we had been lucky but would our luck hold? All I wanted was to go up to Bella and take her pain but I couldn't and every groan or gasp cut through me like a white-hot knife blade. When my phone went off again I braced myself for trouble but it wasn't one of our party but Alice.

"Jazz, the poo is about to hit the fan so please tell me you have changed Bella."

"I have, it's happening now."

"Thank goodness. Carlisle confronted me but he's still not 100 per cent sure about Bella. He doesn't know what to do because Alistair is already en route and if he doesn't ask him to track you and Bella Aro will find out then his ass will be in the wringer."

"So we're watching out for Alistair too?"

"There's more news, Esme has found out about Edward."

"Come again? Edward? What about him"

"Jazz don't be thick, Edward and Carlisle. She's taken off and I think she's headed for Denali so stay well clear of Anchorage. If you can just stay free till Bella wakes up you'll be safe."

"And can we?"

"I don't know Jazz and I daren't look just in case anyone asks me about you. The less I know the better. I've already deleted your number from my cell phone. Best of luck anyway and give Bella my love when she wakes up. I won't be in touch again till it's all over, one way or the other."

I put my phone away and stood thinking about Edward and Carlisle, they were mates? I'd heard of same-sex matings before but not when both vampires were married to others. As a smokescreen it was probably a good thing for Carlisle. It stopped human colleagues speculating, we needed to fit in as seamlessly as possible to the human world, but how Esme must feel now I couldn't even begin to imagine. So Edward married Bella knowing she meant less to him than Carlisle but keen to have the child she could offer him as long as she remained human. No wonder he found it difficult to join her in bed! I was worried about how Bella might react when she found out, it would be hard for her, as it was proving to be for Esme.

Carlisle

I couldn't find Esme or her car and eventually had to give up the search to collect Alistair from the airport but even there the problems were mounting. I went into the terminal and his flight had already landed and when I finally found him he was talking to another vampire, one I didn't recognise. Seeing me approach Alistair scowled and his acquaintance turned to look at me then nodded and walked away to be lost in the crowds milling around.

"Alistair I'm so sorry I'm late, I had a few problems at home."

"Really? Only problems at home Carlisle? That's not what I hear"

I steered him into a booth in the restaurant with coffee for camouflage,

"I'm not sure I know what you're talking about."

"Really? Then why don't you tell me why I'm here?"

"You know my son Edward married the human girl?"

"Yes I heard, a really stupid move if you ask me, but then no one did."

"Well she died in a plane crash some months ago."

"Yeah I heard that too."

"But I've been led to believe that it was a sleight of hand, that she wasn't actually on the plane and that now she is involved with Jasper..."

He cut me off with a curt motion of his hand,

"Jasper? As in Major Jasper Whitlock?"

"Yes and don't tell me how dangerous he is, because I'm sick of hearing it"

"Maybe people keep telling you because you seem unable to understand. Anyway, Bella has run off with The Major and Edward wants her back?"

"No not exactly, Edward doesn't know she's alive"

"Why haven't you told him?"

"Because I can't prove it and it would only put him on a collision course with Jasper. A fight he couldn't hope to win."

"If the rumour you heard is true?"

"It's not exactly a rumour. She was seen recently in Denver."

"By whom?"

As he asked the question I looked directly into his eyes and could see he already knew the answer to that question.

"The Volturi, some of the guard"

"So the Volturi told you about this?"

"Yes Aro rang me. They want Bella because he believes she possesses a rare gift."

"So why didn't he send Demetri to track them down?"

"He did"

"And Demetri couldn't find her? If that's true then rumours about her death weren't exaggerated, she's gone."

"Aro seems to think Demetri may have a certain respect for Jasper"

"Sensible man. No one who knows of him would deliberately put themselves in his path and you thought you'd ask me to find them? Are you mad?"

"No but Aro knows we are friends and it was his idea you might do me a favour"

"So you were quite happy to put my head on the block? Nice, I have a choice of being killed by The Major for leading the Volturi to him, or the Volturi for not leading them to him. Thank you Carlisle"

"I'm sorry Alistair but I didn't see any way round it. Besides I think Edward will find out she's alive and I'd rather the Volturi had her before that happens. It will keep him safe, from Jasper at least."

"Oh right, its fine to put me in danger but not your precious Edward. Does Esme know about Bella?"

"She overheard me talking to Alice and found out that way"

"Well your life is coming unravelled fast so maybe there is a God after all! You know I didn't believe Christos when he told me the story. I should have turned right round and boarded the first flight back to England instead of which I'm now tracking a rattle snake who might just kill me before Aro."

Christos

I watched from a vantage point close enough that I could hear what was said without being seen by Carlisle Cullen. I had been lucky in finding Alistair before the doctor did although he refused to believe ill of his friend, his tune had certainly changed now. Darius had been right in assuming Carlisle wouldn't tell his friend the truth until he got here but now he was Alistair had no choice but to track The Major and his mate so they needed a heads up. I took out my phone and called the number I'd been given.

"Garrett, just to let you know Alistair is here in the States and he will be tracking you however reluctantly."

"Thanks Christos I'll pass the message on."

"Good luck to you all"

"I have a feeling we might need it."

I slipped back into the crowd as the doctor and Alistair passed through the terminal exit and remained unobserved. My job was now officially at an end but I thought I might shadow these two a little further, see if I could get any more useful information to pass on.