Chapter Nineteen
Carlisle
I looked at Jasper uncertain how he would react to this news but I needn't have worried, he had more important and urgent things on his mind and he just shrugged,
"You weren't with your brother when he killed Bella's parents?"
"No, of course not. I never tortured anyone, it's not my style Jasper."
"Then there's no more to be said. Are you ready Carlisle?"
I nodded taking out my phone and using a number I had stored in it with the sincere hope I would never have to use it. When it was answered I asked for an urgent meeting with the Quileute elders in order to prevent a war and after a short shocked silence there came an agreement. The elders would meet us at the treaty line in three hours. That wasn't good enough for Jasper who took the phone from me.
"We will be in the village looking for answers in half an hour unless you and the rest of the elders are here to meet us in fifteen minutes."
Old Quil
I had been shocked to hear Dr Cullen's voice and even more shocked when he said he was trying to prevent a war but when I heard the other voice I knew just how dangerous the situation was and called for the other elders to join me. I was uneasy as the pack was away on a hunting expedition leaving only Jared to protect the village although there was no danger, or at least I had thought there was no danger until this call. Emphasizing the urgency of the matter Sue arrived in minutes explaining Harry was in Port Angeles on business and Billy rang to say that Jared's father Joe, the newest member of the council would bring him along in a few minutes As Sue drove us to the meeting place in her car she shot questions at me for which I had no answers.
When we arrived at the designated spot I could see Dr Cullen was accompanied by all the males of his "family" plus a stranger I did not recognize and all looked ready for war. I climbed out and approached warily, where was Jared? I had asked his father to contact him by phone as the other wolves were out of the area and had expected to see him here. We would not cross the treaty line but stopped just our side of it feeling a sense of unease and not sure the line would provide us with protection any longer.
"You called for a meeting and we are here. Billy and Joe will arrive in a moment. Harry is in town and unavailable. Do you want to wait for them to arrive?"
Carlisle moved forward a little shaking his head and glancing at the one called Edward.
"No, perhaps you can answer my questions. Quil Ateara Where are the children?"
Jasper
I watched the old man's face as Carlisle questioned him and could see he knew who we were talking about but he shook his head,
"I have no idea why you are asking me that question."
"The boy and girl were kidnapped from Chief Swan's house and are missing. He pointed the finger of blame at the Quileutes so I ask again, where are they?"
The old man looked at the woman confused and alarmed but she shrugged and it was apparent she had no idea what Carlisle was talking about.
"Where is Charlie? Perhaps he can explain his accusation."
"He came looking for the children and has disappeared too. Conveniently it would seem."
I stepped to Carlisle's side as another vehicle drove up and a stranger helped Billy Black into his wheelchair and pushed him over the uneven ground to where we stood. Carlisle touched my arm,
"Edward isn't indicating anyone is lying."
Edward joined us,
"They don't know anything about it although they fear the pack might. It seems the children were discussed by the council..."
He trailed off looking at Billy suspiciously.
"My wife was attacked by a wolf, where are the rest of the pack?"
The old man's attention turned to me.
"Away hunting. They went yesterday and are not due back until tomorrow or the next day although why you should suspect they had anything to do with the children's disappearance I have no idea."
I took a deliberate step over the treaty boundary coming face to face with the leader of the Quileutes.
"A wolf tried to kill my wife while she was looking for my son. The children are missing, so is Chief Swan and so, coincidentally, are your wolves. I won't ask you again, where are my son and his cousin?"
As the stranger stepped forward to put himself between the old man and myself he held up a hand to stop him and I nodded,
"Good call old man."
Carlisle coughed to attract my attention and motioned to Edward,
"Well?"
Edward came forward to join me but careful not to step over the line,
"Billy knows something. He was the one who drugged the children and Charlie. Something about saving them from us. The Quileutes had no idea why we had two human children with us when we returned but they thought Carlisle was going to experiment on them. They worked out Caden was a hybrid but that didn't stop them from kidnapping both of them."
The Quileutes looked stunned and the old man looked furious.
"Is this true Billy? That you helped the pack steal the children after the council agreed it was none of our concern? Do you realize the danger you have put our people in? Where are they?"
Edward shook his head,
"He doesn't know where the pack took the children, only that they did."
"How is it you know so much?"
Edward stood quietly, keeping his gift a secret from the enemy but I had more to say.
"I want the children and Charlie brought back unharmed in twenty four hours or I will personally raze your village to the ground and kill everyone I find in it. If you think that is an idle threat be warned, I don't make threats, just promises."
Turning my back on them I crossed to where Peter had dropped the Quileutes body and dragged it forward throwing it across to land at the old man's feet.
"You don't need to worry about the wolf that tried to kill my wife, he's already been taken care of."
The stranger standing beside Quil dropped to his knees crying out and Sue Clearwater joined him shooting me a murderous look which I ignored.
I turned my attention to Billy Black who sat still, and stony faced,
"I have no intention of telling you anything. You'll never find them or Charlie. Those children needed saving from you devils."
"One of those children is my son and I will find him if I have to start killing guardians and continue killing them until I do and you know I can."
"I'm not afraid of you. I'd sooner sacrifice myself than let you get your filthy hands on those innocents."
"Now you are talking, because you already sold your soul to the devil and I pawned it. Watch your back very carefully because I will come for payment. Maybe not today or even next week but I will come when you least expect it and I'll send you screaming down to hell and you can wait there, because if he's not already there to greet you then your son Jake will be soon enough."
I'd said what I had to say, now I would go and see Bella but in twenty four hours I would be back, unless the children and Charlie were returned unharmed before the deadline.
As I walked away followed by Peter and Emmett I heard the old man remonstrate with Carlisle.
"Surely you would not break the treaty and kill innocents over this?"
"It's not down to me Quil, this is Jasper's fight but I warn you we will be standing with him if he takes action, you kidnapped his son and my grandaughter too."
"But we knew nothing about it, the elders told Sam to leave things alone. We had no idea he would take the law into his own hands."
"Kidnapping is against the law, even a Quileute law. If I were you I would evacuate your people or find the children and Charlie before tomorrow evening."
Jared's father stood up, his son's blood on his hands and shouted at his leader,
"Why don't you fight. We can take on these few leeches and beat them. Or call the pack., let's see just how courageous that big mouth is when he is faced by eight wolves."
Quil turned to him,
"You have no idea who you are talking about, if we cannot contact the pack then we must evacuate the village or watch our people massacred."
"What about the police?"
I couldn't help smiling at the old man's answer to that as I walked away with Edward and Justin.
"The pack already has the police, remember? They kidnapped Chief Swan too."