Who's Jacob?

"But the thing about remembering is that you don't forget."

Tim O'Brien, The Things They Carried

BELLA'S POV

Jacob! No. It couldn't have been him, but the drawing in Edward's hands was him. I must have been too shocked that I blocked his face from my memory.

He was my cousin for crying out loud.

Why would he murder my guardians?

Then I remembered what he had said when I was named heir of the McCullough Clan.

"What!" Jacob yelled when Grandmother called me to the dais. "Why is she to be heir? She's a girl. I should be your heir."

He took two or three steps toward the dais, balling his fists as he did. Two guards blocked Jacob's path, their hands on the sword hilts.

Grandmother remained impassive. "I'm afraid that is not for you to decide," she said. "You never did learn the history of this family. If you had, then you would not be asking that question."

"One day you will pay," Jacob said, pointing a finger at Grandmother. "Everyone who stands in my way will pay. I will rule the clan. Mark my words, I will rule!"

The haze of shock held me in its grip, but I wasn't too far gone and heard a strange conversation.

"Bella, can you hear me? You need to calm down," Carlisle said, touching my wrist.

It sounded like he was at one end of a long tunnel and I at the other. His voice didn't echo, it was more muted as if speaking through cotton, as was all sound.

"Carlisle?" Edward asked, sounding worried.

Edward's worry was strange, but I couldn't place me finger on why. It wasn't like we were dating. I was just living in the room down the hall from him until Jacob was found. I was safe. Shielded by protective magic. Although, it was a little disconcerting that Carlisle was able to touch me. I would have to do some reading to see if I could find any answers.

"She's not in any physical harm. Jasper, is there anything you can do?" Carlisle asked.

Huh?

"I'm trying. Something is blocking my abilities," Jasper replied.

Abilities? What abilities?

"Alice, do you see anything?" Edward asked.

Again, huh?

"No," Alice answered. There was a brief pause, and she said, "Charlie is two minutes away."

"Bella," Edward called.

He sounded closer than moments before. And it sounded… Was he crying? No, more like he was dry sobbing.

Everything went silent.

"No. Not now!" I pleaded, but there was no stopping it. I was being pulled into a vision.

"Isabella, my dear child, you are fine. Jacob cannot hurt you. One day soon, he will be brought to justice. You made a huge step in seeing that he will never hurt anyone ever again. The clan will have nothing more to do with him and will turn him over to Star Command for punishment. Now, relax your defenses and let the calming waves soothe you."

I did what grandmother told me, feeling my protective guards ease, though not completely letting them go.

"Good, Isabella, now take a deep breath and let it out slowly."

Again, I followed her instructions, feeling my defenses drop completely away. Wave after wave of calm washed over me, and I once again became aware of the conversation going on around me and not at all muted.

"What happened?" Charlie demanded.

"We showed her the picture Alice drew. She apparently recognized him," Jasper replied.

"She remembered," Charlie said in disbelief.

"Yes, I did. It was Jacob," I said, opening my eyes as five pairs of eyes turned in surprise at hearing my voice.

"Who's Jacob?" Alice asked as Carlisle took hold of my wrist again.

"She's fine," Carlisle announced after a minute.

"My cousin. On the day I was named heir"—I really didn't want to say that, too late now—"he said that our grandmother would pay along with anyone else who stood his in the way of what he wanted." To Charlie, I said in Gaelic, "The clan will hand him over to Star Command to stand trial."

Charlie nodded. "How are you?" he asked, taking Carlisle's place at my side and speaking in Gaelic.

I watched as Edward and the others left the room giving us privacy to talk.

"A little shaken up from the memory, but other than that I am fine," I replied.

Charlie spoke again, still in Gaelic, "I spoke with Edward today."

I nodded and he continued.

"He called to ask me about the crime scene."

"He didn't say anything about that," I said.

"He wanted to prepare himself."

I didn't say anything, not wanting to picture the scene again.

"You should ask him to escort you to Scotland for the Christmas festivities."

"We got to talking earlier about last night and other things. I mentioned my upcoming trip and how you couldn't go with me this year. He volunteered to go with me." I shrugged.

"I'm glad to hear that, he really seems to care about you," he said, glancing over his shoulder toward the kitchen. "Do–do you have feelings for him?"

Charlie seemed nervous to be asking.

"I don't know… maybe, as a friend, if not more. I'm so confused. It's so easy to talk to him, and I find myself saying things I would usually guard against, but they just tumble out of my mouth before I can stop them."

"You'll figure it out," he said. Switching to English now, he continued, "Not to change the subject, but I need you to stay here a few more days, maybe longer. We found out early this morning Jacob was the one who sent you the email. The voice message led us to a burn phone with no information on who bought it. With this new information about the murders, we'll have to bring him to Forks to stand trial. It won't be safe for you until he is sentenced and moved to one of the prison stations."

"I understand. Will I have to testify?" I asked.

"I don't know, kiddo. I need to speak with Carlisle and Esme about you staying longer. I'm glad you are okay," he said, giving me a hug before getting up. Carlisle and Esme came out of the kitchen, and then they disappeared up the stairs to where I knew Carlisle's office was.

Not wanting to be alone with my thoughts, I got up and headed to the kitchen. I had a strange feeling Charlie was hiding something from me.

Edward was placing a plate on the counter with a sandwich on it. "I thought you might be hunger," he said with a crooked smile.