Chapter Eighty Six

Darius

I bowed low to acknowledge the compliment,

"You know Carlisle, how you put up with that arrogant little prick as long as you did is beyond me. I'd have kicked his skinny little ass all the way to Volterra the first year."

"Well, no one can say I didn't try and in fairness he never showed any sign he could turn traitor but the next time we see him he'll lose something valuable to him. No one threatens my family Darius, no one. I have another favor to ask you. I have to find The Major and see what happened to Charlotte and find Bella's body. Charlie needs closure."

I looked at Carlisle eyebrows raised in scorn,

"Don't you mean revenge? Charlie doesn't strike me as a man who would be happy with less than The Major's head on a pole."

"You got that right Darius. I want you to trace him for me."

I sighed heavily,

"I'd like to be able to help you Charlie but there's a big problem with that. The Major lives off the grid and that makes it almost impossible to trace him. I look for money transactions, cell phone usage, computer usage, that kind of thing and The Major uses very little. Cell phones are single use, he steals transport when he needs it or uses the Volturi jet but that's not often. I'll keep trying but I can't promise any luck."

"But you will keep looking?"

"Yeah, you deserve a chance to kick his ass but you're gonna need to polish your fighting skills. He's the best I've ever seen and trust me, I've seen a lot of fighters in my time."

My cell phone went at that moment and I answered it turning away as the others started to talk about Edward and his possible moves. Personally I thought if he had any sense he would start running and not stop for about a thousand years minimum! I listened as the female on the other end spoke then turned back to the others.

"Carlisle. I think I might have been a bit pessimistic about things. I've got Charlotte on the phone, she says she needs to speak to you but your phone goes straight to voice mail."

He felt his pockets and cursed,

"I must have left it on the plane. Charlotte you say?"

I nodded and handed him my phone.

Carlisle

I could hardly believe I was actually talking to her, that she was still alive.

"Charlotte? Where are you? Are you OK?"

"Yeah I'm OK, I managed to get away from The Major while he and his Captain were busy. Is everyone there OK?"

"We're fine, where are you Charlotte? We'll come get you."

"I'm not sure just a minute...Spanish Fork Utah but I can't stay here they might come looking for me. I have to keep moving. I just wanted to know you were all OK. How's Charlie?"

"Did you see her body Charlotte? Do you know where he hid it?"

"No, I saw it but I've no idea where he hid it I'm sorry. I imagine Charlie must be devastated."

I was about to tell her when Darius snatched the phone back.

"Keep moving south and stay off the roads Charlotte. We're on our way, we'll find you."

He cut the connection and I looked at him blankly,

"What was that all about Darius? Why stop me telling her about Charlie, she was concerned."

"Yeah I little too concerned wouldn't you say seeing as how she hardly knows him."

"She was Bella's friend, just like the rest of us."

"Yeah but she never asked about Alice or anyone else by name, only Charlie, I smell a rat."

"You mean you think Charlotte is working with The Major? That's ridiculous."

"You think so Carlisle? And you don't think Charlotte getting free of not only The Major but his sidekick too is ridiculous?"

There was a long silence, he couldn't argue with me, I didn't necessarily think Charlotte was working with The Major but she did have an angle of her own and I wanted to ask her about it in person before telling her squat!

Charlie

Thinking about Charlotte I couldn't imagine her betraying us but why then was she so interested in my well being? I thought Darius was right to be suspicious, this could have something to do with the Volturi, maybe they wanted us to stop chasing Edward. If so they stood no chance, not the faintest, I intended to kill that little fucker one piece at a time and to hell with the Volturi.

"So, you want me to grab Charlotte?"

"Not on your own Darius, in case it is a trick."

"I'll go with him, I can use my shield if it is."

They all looked at me,

"You don't know how strong it is or how far it will stretch Charlie. Now is not the time to be taking chances."

"Thanks for your concern Carlisle but this might be a chance to get The Major and I'm not passing it up so I'm going. You got a problem with that Darius?"

He shook his head,

"Nope Charlie, I think every man has the right to choose his own path but I'm leaving now."

I turned to Carlisle,

"Go back and look after Esme and Rose with Emmett, I'll be fine."

Carlisle stood for a moment irresolute and then nodded,

"Emmett go back I'm going with them. Tell Esme I'll be back as soon as I can."

Emmett wanted to argue but he knew there was no point and in the end he nodded,

"Good luck and be safe."

We piled into Darius sleek black van and I was amazed. Inside it was more like a rolling operations center with computers and monitors flashing and whirring, a padded seat waiting before them.

"You drive Carlisle, I want to keep a check on where we're headed. If it is a trap I want to know in plenty of time. If I have to buy a new van I am going to be majorly pissed, this cost me a lot of bucks and hard work. Charlie grab a seat this may not look fast but trust me, looks can be deceiving. You ready Carlisle?"

"Just give the word."

"You got it. I'll send the route to the computer on the dash just follow the instructions, it won't be the way you'd go, I don't like being predictable, it makes me nervous. Oh yeah, I'd better ring Bella's mum and tell her the coast is clear."

"Just what did you tell Renee?"

"Oh, that Bella had a stalker and we had been hired to find and dissuade him."

"And she believed you?"

"Sure she did when I flashed my PI badge and a wad of cash."

I smiled, that sounded like my ex wife still there was no reason to upset her yet. Someone would have to break the news to her but it couldn't be me, she'd see the differences straight away. Still that bridge could be crossed later.

We sped through the countryside once out of town,

"How long till we get to Spanish Fork?"

Darius looked up from his touch screen,

"Well if Carlisle stops driving like a little old lady not long, the way he's going we'll all be covered in cobwebs and dust. Come on Carlisle you can do better than this."

I felt my body crushed back in the seat as Carlisle put his foot down and we sped away faster towards Charlotte and some answers. I looked back at the screen in front of us,

"What are you looking for?"

"Well that's Spanish Fork down there and I'm looking for any signs of life outside town, away from the highway headed south."

I looked at the screen but I couldn't make head nor tail of it. Seeing my face Darius laughed and gave me a quick lesson on spotting things.

"We've got infrared, ultraviolet, you name it. See those white blobs? They are humans walking along the highway."

"Not vampires?"

"Nope the signature is too hot. We're looking for the opposite. I think that..."

He pointed to a dark dot,

"Is Charlotte and I'm interested in any other movement around her."

"Have you found anything?"

"Not yet but if they are there I will, trust me Charlie, I'm the best there is."