Chapter Thirty

Charlie

I drove to Seattle the next morning with a few hundred dollars in my wallet ready to meet Andy's informant, Conrad. I was at the café early and sat with a coffee and a newspaper waiting when he sloped in and slipped into the seat opposite, grabbing the menu and ordering breakfast before introducing himself,

"Chief Swan? I'm Conrad. Good to meet you"

He held out a hand and I shook it briefly, he looked scared, his eyes on the move constantly and a tic which twisted his upper lip every few seconds.

"What can I do for you? Always happy to help a friend of Lieutenant Watson."

"I want to know about the underground fight weekend here a few weeks ago"

"Why?"

"Lets just say I have an interest in one of the fighters"

"Oh right. Well it was run by the same people who usually run them, from the Reservations, mainly from the South. Usually most of the audience are from the surrounding Reservations plus a few die hards who just enjoy the fights whoever's on the card."

"I understand there was a special event though"

The waitress brought his food at this point and he took a few mouthfuls before speaking again, wiping his mouth nervously with his napkin,

"Yeah, never seen anything like it although I've heard of such things, didn't believe them though not until that night."

"The Major was one of the fighters?"

He started,

"You knew? Have you ever seen him? Gave me nightmares for a fucking week, excuse my language Chief. He was one scary motherfucker."

"What happened?"

"What happened? He and this other guy got in the arena, no one would go anywhere near either of them, like two wild animals and they fought like it too. The Major damn near ripped the other guy to pieces and I'll tell you the real spooky part...no blood. Not a single drop, it was as if they were made from rock or something. I nearly shit myself."

"What happened at the end of the fight?"

"A couple of guys came in with long iron bars and pushed him back out of the arena still making strange fucking noises and then they carried the other guy out but they were wearing thick fucking gauntlets like they didn't want to touch him with their bare hands."

"Do you know where they were going next?"

"Chicago I think."

I sat thinking about his words as he cleared his plate and slurped down his coffee then he put a hand palm upwards on the table.

"Lt Watson told me I'd get paid for talking to you."

I put a hundred-dollar bill in his hand and his fingers curled around it but I had the sense that he knew more so I placed another one on top and he smiled,

"I like you Chief Swan so I'll tell you what else I heard, frightened me I can tell you. Rumour has it he escaped, ran away, The Major"

"Escaped? Was he a prisoner?"

"I don't rightly know but I would have kept the fucker in a cage for peace of mind, he was crazy."

As I drove back to Forks I thought about what I'd learned, Conrad's words seemed to back up Jake's version of events including the fact there was no blood, maybe vampires didn't bleed, who knew? I wasn't an expert on the undead. My cell phone started ringing as I pulled into the station car park and I saw it was Bill.

"Charlie, you owe me a cold beer sometime"

"You traced the call?"

"Yeah, I won't bore you with the technical details but it came from inside the Glacier National Park in Montana. I'll give you the area covered by that particular tower, it was right on the edge of reception, if the weather closed in you wouldn't get a signal and I hear its pretty bad up there now."

"Thanks Bill."

"No problem, I hope you sort out the problem with Bella. Speak to you soon my friend"

Montana! Well it wasn't that far away, the area he'd given me was big but tracks in the snow and a guide with knowledge of any cabins and lodges in the vicinity might narrow it down. I'd try the number again but if I didn't get anywhere I decided to take some time off and see if Harry and a couple of his trackers would come with me to find her. I didn't understand why she was interested in this savage, The Major, but it sounded to me like she needed to keep as far from him as possible. If he was a vampire and if the Cullens were vampires too then maybe they could help me with information about him in return for my silence. It was going to be an interesting conversation at the very least!

Carlisle opened the door and he looked very uncomfortable,

"Chief Swan"

"I'm glad you realise this is an official visit Dr Cullen."

"Please come in"

I walked into the hallway wondering at how cool I felt even knowing the kind of creatures who lived here

"I'll cut straight to the chase Carlisle. I know what you are and I know Bella is in danger from one of your kind called The Major. I also know where they are and I want your help to get her back safely."

"I see, it was the Quileutes who told you I presume?"

"I don't think it matters right now. So are you going to help me?"

"Yes if I can but I'd be interested to hear what exactly you intended to do if I refused."

"Yeah well curiosity killed the cat Carlisle. How are you going to help get Bella back? You haven't asked me where she is so I guess you already know."

"I do now yes. I've charted a helicopter to fetch her if the weather allows for a flight into the area. Would you like to go along with us?"

"Who exactly is us?"

"Edward and myself, Esme will also accompany us, I thought it might be a good idea to have a woman along."

"When do we leave?"

He looked at his watch,

"If we leave soon we should be able to drive to the airfield in a couple of hours."

We drove in silence for a while, I had nothing to say, at least not until I had Bella home safe but Esme smiled at me nervously,

"I'm very sorry about this Charlie but we aren't responsible for Bella meeting Jasper Whitlock."

"Yes Jake owned up to that. I still find it difficult to understand why your daughter's were covering up for Bella though."

"Rose was my fault. I asked her to lie to you while we tried to sort the mess out ourselves. As for Alice, I couldn't say Charlie. She's been acting very strange recently, I think a lot of it was to do with Garrett leaving but I think she knew more than she admitted about Jasper."

"Alice knows him?"

"Yes I understand they travelled together for a while before she joined our family."

"So she knows him? Why isn't she here? She could speak to him."

"I don't think it would help, they didn't part on good terms and I don't think he's going to listen to anyone Charlie. We may not be able to get Bella away especially as she's already told us all she wants to stay with him."

"How dangerous is he Esme? I don't mean because he's like you, I accept he's a vampire but how dangerous? Can you overpower him if necessary?"

"Only if he's weakened by thirst and his way of living recently but I think he is. Our best chance will be if he threatens you, I don't think Bella would allow him to hurt you."

"Allow? You think Bella has any influence over him?"

"I think she has a great amount of influence Charlie, but we'll see."

I glanced over at Edward,

"What's your part in all this?"

"I tried to persuade her to come home but she got mixed up with his friends and wouldn't listen to me."

"So what makes you think she'll listen now?"

"I hope she's seen how unsuitable a companion for a human he is."

"And you're better I take it?"

He nodded arrogantly,

"I would never put her in danger"

"Really? Only I seem to remember the state she was when she ran off to find you last time"

He didn't answer and I smiled, yeah Edward Cullen you stand no chance with my daughter, she's seen through you.