Chapter Twenty Four
Charlie
I deliberated over a beer, Bella had something to tell me, was she pregnant? Did she want to tell me she and Jasper had got married in secret? Or did she want to explain that her friends were vampires? I was going as crazy as Billy and Harry! If they came here the Quileutes would know about it and it could be awkward so I thought it would be better if I were to get time off and go visit them. I had another beer then picked up the phone and rang the Whitlock place,
"Whitlock residence"
"Oh, Hi Charlotte its Charlie
"Charlie, good to hear your voice. I'm so sorry we worried you about Bella but I promise you she's fine. Would you like to speak to her?"
"Yeah sure"
Was I really talking to a vampire?
"Dad"
Bella's voice sounded slightly different, maybe she had a cold.
"Bells, where the hell have you been girl? I've been worried sick. Are you OK?"
"Yes Dad, I'm fine really."
"I'm gonna get time off work and fly down. Do you think it would it be OK to stay with Peter and Charlotte again?"
Was I really asking for a bed in a house full of vampires? Still I'd slept there before without coming to any harm, at least none that I knew of. I heard Peter shout agreement and said I'd ring with details of my flight.
As I shaved the following morning I checked my neck for bite marks before laughing at my own stupidity. Vampires! Werewolves! Next I'd find out Deputy Eddy was an alien! It was quiet at the station and I re organised the rota giving myself a week off to go see Bella. For years I'd had so little to do with her and now she was in my every waking thought. She may be a woman but she was still my little girl and always would be. If I found out anyone, and that included the Whitlocks were taking advantage of her they'd have me to answer to. I booked my flight and rang Charlotte with the details,
"That's fine Charlie. Peter will pick you up at the airport and bring you straight here"
"If that's OK yes. I have a few things I want to run by you and Peter anyway"
"Oh I think you'll have more than a few Charlie. Look forward to seeing you again."
Well that was cryptic! Or was I just becoming paranoid?
When I got home Billy's truck was parked outside and Jake leaned against the hood waiting for me. I scowled at him as I got out of the cruiser and slammed the door,
"Why am I not happy to see you Jake?"
He smiled,
"Guess you haven't forgiven me for my party trick"
"That would be one reason I guess. Well, you'd better come in, are you alone?"
"The others don't know I'm here. I wanted to talk to you in private."
He followed me into the kitchen and made coffee for us both while I put away my gun belt and took my boots off. We sat across the table from each other and I waited, sipping my coffee slowly. He hesitated then frowned,
"Chief I know you didn't believe what the others told you yesterday but I'd like to try to explain"
"This should be good, go on then Jake."
"Bella knows about us and the Cullens. Some of it she worked out for herself and some I told her, Edward Cullen filled in the final blanks. She still loved him and nothing any of us said influenced her then he left."
As I sat drinking the rest of my coffee with a beer chaser Jake told me an incredible story about Edward going to Italy because he thought Bella was dead, cliff diving for Gods sake! What else didn't I know? When he finished I sat stunned, unsure whether I'd just been told a complete fabrication or if he was telling the truth. Everything fit together with no problem.
"Jake are you telling me that you really did turn into that wolf?"
He nodded,
"And Jasper Hale is really a dangerous vampire but Bella knows and doesn't care?"
He nodded again.
"So what do you expect me to do about it? She's a grown woman and if you're right I don't stand a chance against these Whitlocks. None of it makes sense. Carlisle, a doctor, who is also a vampire? Well that's a twist on a tale in itself."
"Let me go with you and speak to Bella."
"No. This is my business, my daughter, and I think you have an ulterior motive son. You love Bella too. She's turned you down though hasn't she?"
He looked down and then nodded.
After he'd gone, realizing he wasn't going to get anywhere with me, I went through to the sitting room with a takeaway pizza and another beer. I turned the TV on but didn't pay it any attention, it reminded me of the evenings I had spent with Peter watching games while I drank beer and we talked. Had I really dissected a baseball game with a blood drinking vampire? It was like the Twilight Zone but I guessed this one wouldn't finish with the credits rolling! As I packed my case the next day I began to wonder how I would react when Peter met me at the airport, would I give myself away? Would he kill me if he realized I knew what he was? In the end I gave myself a headache thinking about it so I gave up, I'd worry about it when I got there.
My flight was delayed for two hours because of bad weather which didn't help my nerves and then we were almost diverted so by the time we did land I was a babbling wreck and sure enough Peter was waiting, a smile on his face and a wave for me.
"It's good to see you again Charlie. Let me take your case"
He picked it up as if it weighed nothing and I followed him out to the car. It was raining, but he wore no jacket or hat and the drops ran down his face unnoticed. As we drove out of the city, he threw me a couple of strange glances then laughed quietly.
"Someone's been telling tales out of school I see. Who told you about us Charlie?"
"About you? I'm not sure I understand what you mean"
"Oh I think you do, but it will make our task so much easier,"
"What task?"
"Not my place to say any more Charlie except that you are perfectly safe, as safe as you were on your last visit and I think you flew home in one piece from that didn't you?"
He was right, even if this crazy tale were true and monsters did exist I'd survived meetings with both types and Bella had been in close proximity with them and was still breathing too"
