Chapter Forty One
Carlisle
Edward wasn't answering his cell phone, at least not to me which made me more suspicious. We moved to Bellingham where I got a post at the local hospital. Esme continued with her interior design business but her heart was no longer in it and it almost broke me to see her struggling to concentrate. Rosalie was extremely quiet which was surprising in a way, I had expected her to remind us she had worried about Bella even before we knew she was the human Alice had seen with Edward.
Emmett was at her side constantly and both of them along with Alice refused to go back to school, instead they stayed close to home. Charlotte was just bewildered by his treachery and considered leaving but I begged her to stay, knowing she was better protected with us than alone and she and Esme grew even closer.
I left things for a month then rang Edward again but still there was no answer so I made a call to another friend Darius who could trace my son more quickly than I could.
"Carlisle, I'm not sure it's safe to be speaking to you."
"Why? What have you heard?"
"I hear everything that goes on in Volterra you should know that my friend. Having Aro on your side had proved extremely useful on this occasion I would say."
"So you know?"
"Of course. Consorting with humans is dangerous Carlisle, I would have thought you knew better. I know you insist on working among them but to take one in as a family friend? Maybe a step too far?"
"I need some information Darius and I don't know anyone else who could help me."
"I'd be extremely upset if you hadn't asked me first in any case. Let me save you asking, London England although he's booked on a flight to Geneva in the morning."
"Geneva? God so it was him."
"Yes, a stab in the back if ever there was one. Can I help in any way?"
"Will you watch out for any movement on the part of the Volturi?"
"Already in hand my friend. Do you need to speak to him?"
"Yes but for now I'm more interested in getting to Geneva before him."
"Consider it done. Give me a minute."
I heard him tapping away on his keyboard muttering to himself then,
"Right well I've bumped him from his flight and the next is full, or it will be in a moment when I upgrade two passengers to first class, and buy the last ticket in economy.. Now…."
More tapping,
"Right, there's a seat left on the next flight from Seattle leaving this evening, overnight flight getting you in at just after lunch tomorrow. That OK? It'll put you well ahead of Edward if there are no delays and just to show you how good a friend I am I'll make sure the flight he gets is delayed and I'll let you know what time he's due in."
"Thank you Darius, I owe you."
"Never mind Carlisle, it's just paying my debt to you. Good luck."
Edward
I went back to my hotel excited and proud of my detective skills, now all I needed to do was check the book. Unwrapping it carefully after breaking the seal I saw it was old but not 17th century that's for sure. In fact it was probably no older than about the 1940's which was the last time I remember him coming to London although he may have been since without my knowing.
Opening the book I found a series of parchments in faded ink with amounts of money I didn't recognize, marks, nobles and crowns but it was obvious Carlisle was recording money he made in some way and slowly as the parchment gave way to the book and faded ink to more modern writing in permanent ink and pen the amounts added up. At the back was a list of precious stones, gold items, antiques etc that added together was worth millions today on its own.
The thing I was looking for was written at the very bottom, Wegelin & Co. crossed out and The Notenstein Privatbank written next to it. So I was right and his wealth was in Geneva, I recognized the name of both banks. The latter now operating from the formers headquarters. So all I needed now was a number to give the bank and I could walk in and take out whatever I wanted.
As for the key, well that had been taped to the underside of Carlisle's desk for years and I had found it once while he was out. How he kept all this secret from me, hidden thoughts I had no idea but I couldn't hear everything Carlisle thought, it was as of he had a small compartment in his brain that was hidden, where secret thoughts were kept. I booked a flight for the next day and went out of London to hunt, confident I would soon be extremely rich and independent.
Carlisle
I only told the family that I had unavoidable business and would have to leave them for a few days although I think they were all aware I was hunting for Edward. Before my call to Darius I was shocked and hurt by Edward's actions but now I was out for his blood. If I caught him I would happily kill him for putting our lives at risk and for deceit and treachery towards me, his father figure.
A man who had striven for years to do the best for an ungrateful, lying, treacherous boy I had once loved. During the drive to Seattle I tried to decide on a plan of action. I wanted to wait for Edward to turn up at the bank but it was more important to get back to the family, to Esme, so I would visit the bank, I knew this kind of business could only be conducted in person and then I would fly directly back. Even so Esme and the others would be alone for at least three days however it was unavoidable under the circumstances and Darius would let me know if anything happened that I should know about.
Edward
First I had been bumped from my flight, computer error very sorry, then the next flight was full, and finally when I did get a flight the plane was stuck on the tarmac for four hours with a technical glitch followed by another hour waiting for a new take off slot.
Still finally I arrived in Geneva and in time to reach the bank before it closed its doors for the day. I was taken straight into one of the luxurious customer waiting rooms where I handed the bank employee the key and tapped the account number into the computer on the table. He nodded and the door opposite slid open leading to an old fashioned elevator which deposited me in a vault outer room with just a shelf and a chair.
As I watched a hatch slid open and a box was pushed into view. It was smaller than I expected so the gemstones might be here but the antiques certainly weren't. Maybe the location of them was inside the box. The employee who had accompanied me slid his key into the first lock and I slid mine in the second and we turned hearing a click as the lock opened. He then left me in solitude and I slowly opened the lid of the box to find it empty but for an envelope with my name in Carlisle's hand. How had he known? How could he have? I slit the envelope open and pulled out a sheet of paper with his familiar handwriting on it.
"One sole desire, one passion now remains To keep life's fever still within his veins, Vengeance! Dire vengeance on the wretch who cast O'er him and all he loved that ruinous blast."