Chapter Thirty
Bella
I was relieved when Renee left with my dad and took the opportunity to ring Jazz who answered straight away,
"Hi there darlin'. How'd it go?"
"Awful, she was so horrible but my dad stood up for me. He's taken her back into town so she can get a bus back to Seattle. I wish you were here."
"I just have a few more things to pick up and I'll head back. In the meantime relax and remember, I love you Bella Swan."
"I love you too Jazz. See you soon"
I felt better after speaking to Jazz and picked up the mugs to wash up then got dinner ready for dad to put in the oven. I knew he was going to the res this afternoon to visit Billy Black now Renee had gone. I liked Billy but he rarely visited Charlie although I was under the impression he had before I arrived. His son Jake I'd only met the once, he dropped off some fish fry for my dad and I invited him in but when he saw Jazz he refused and went off scowling. Although I asked Jazz about it he just shrugged and said the Quileutes didn't like his family for some reason and I remembered my dad saying something about the Quileutes not using the clinic since Dr Cullen arrived.
I got the laundry out of the dryer and folded it putting dads on his bed and grinning as always at the photograph of him holding me in his arms as a baby. It made me sad to think its all he'd had for so many years but I was glade we'd finally connected, I loved him very much. I put my own laundry away and finished my book The Mayor of Casterbridge then put it in my bag, I would take it back to the library in the week. I was working Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, this week but it meant I had the rest of today, tomorrow and Monday with Jazz. Once I finished the few things I had to do I sat in the window watching out for Jazz on his bike. Charlie rang to tell me he was staying at Billy's for dinner as I was going out so I put the meal I'd prepared in the fridge, he could have it tomorrow instead. Time went really slowly and I became impatient, ringing Jazz again but this time he didn't answer, he must be on his way back with his phone on voice mail but I still left a short message telling him I loved him.
Jasper
It was lovely to hear Bella's voice even though she sounded upset, I was glad Chief Swan had stood up for her and hurried to finish my errands and get back to her. I went to put the books in my panniers and take out my helmet only to find an envelope taped to the gas tank. I didn't recognise the writing so I pulled it free and opened it looking around but not seeing anyone I recognised or who seemed interested in me. There was a sheet of paper wrapped around a photograph. The photograph was one of Bella and had been taken as I was leaving her house the day before and the message on the sheet of paper was short and to the point,
"You or her. Your choice. Ride back to me and don't stop, don't contact anyone. Leave everything on the ground, parcels and cell phone.
Maria xx"
I felt I had been hit in the solar plexus but I knew she meant what she'd written. If I didn't do as she said then she would kill Bella without the slightest hesitation so I put the parcels down on the ground and laid my cell phone on to and putting my helmet on I started to ride south towards Mexico.
Bella
The hours ticked by and I heard nothing nor had Jazz appeared so I tried his phone again, it rang but he didn't answer. There was no one at the house when I rang either and I started to worry, what had happened? Had there been a family crisis? An accident? I left it half an hour then rang his cell phone again and this time it was answered but it wasn't Jazzes voice I heard, this was an older man and I didn't recognise him.
"Hello?"
"Who is this please?"
"Well its not who you expected now is it. The best thing you can do is forget all about Jasper Hale. He's not coming back Bella Swan and you should be grateful for that, his decision saved your life. Oh yes, I wouldn't go running to your father, his kind of law can't help you and it will certainly cause a lot of problems for the Cullens. So be a good little girl and wipe this number from your phone."
I heard the phone disconnect and sat there wondering what to do. My first instinct was to ring my dad and tell him what I'd heard but something in the guys voice convinced me that it would be a bad idea. I rang the Cullen house but there was still no one home and I paced the room the words going round and round in my head. Jasper wasn't coming back and that saved my life, had someone threatened me? My thoughts went to Big Frankie, my mothers bogey man but that was ridiculous, she didn't even know Jazz.
My phone rang again and I snatched it to my ear,
"Jazz?"
"Bella listen to me"
It was Alice and she sounded scared,
"Alice some thing's happened to Jazz"
"I know Bella I saw it, now listen. Are you alone?"
"Yes"
"Right, we'll swing by and pick you up. Bring a bag for the night as arranged and please don't tell your father whatever you heard. I promise we will explain as soon as we get you to our place but please don't say anything to your father it could put him in danger too"
"Is Jazz in danger then?"
"Not directly no but I can't tell you any more until we get you back to our place, its just too difficult over the phone. OK?"
"OK but how long before you get here?"
I was panicking for real now and tears started to fall,
"About an hour Bella but I promise you nothing is going to happen to you. You are safe and we'll keep you safe."
"Its not me I'm worried about Alice its Jazz. Where is he?"
"Soon Bella I promise you, soon."
I grabbed my bag from the bedroom and stuffed a few extras in, if Jazz was in danger I wasn't coming home until I helped get him back safely. I paced the house looking out from one window to another. I didn't feel in danger but that didn't mean I wasn't and what had Alice meant she'd seen? How could she see what happened? She was on her way back from Alaska and Jazz had been in Seattle or had they met up? No, if they'd met up she would have been with Edward, Esme, and Carlisle, and they would have helped Jazz. What kind of trouble could he be in that they would threaten me? This sounded serious and I picked up the house phone and started to ring the Black house but then stopped half way through, Alice had sounded very serious about not contacted my dad and the guy on Jaspers phone had said the same thing but he said the police would cause problems for the Cullens. Were they involved in something illegal? Drugs maybe? I couldn't see it but there was something going on and I wanted to know what it was and where Jasper was.