Edward's POV:
Fuck! What the hell am I doing here?
Damn it! Why couldn't I just go alone to this place?
Oh right, the natives of the tribe had customs. Fucking customs!
Now, I had no choice but to stoop down to the art of begging this woman, who seemed to be suspicious of everyone around her.
As soon as I arrived on my floor, Aro was already waiting for me in my office, not his but mine.
That tidbit of information sent my anxiety into double time and only seemed to increase as I remembered the conversation and his words.
"Sir." I greeted cautiously as we stepped into my office.
"Cullen." He greets, handing me a file.
"Is this it?" I ask, my eyes gluing themselves to the manila folder in my hand.
He nods, quietly, sitting down on one of the chairs in front of my desk.
"Is something wrong, sir?" I ask, worried.
He quietly nods, "I am going on vacation, Edward. My lovely wife, Sully, has been begging me to take her to Aruba and I have finally conceded to go for two weeks." He replied.
What does—? Oh, it must be serious if he can't utter it.
"How is that going to affect the case?" I asked, carefully as I clutched the file in both of my hands.
"It won't. I managed to pull up a few elements that were missing from Seth's case. I have left you some possible things that may be of help, but that is all I can manage to do for now. I do suggest you go in person, and not try to handle it via phone call for safety reasons. Take this file with you. Be vigilant, and contact me as soon as you know that you're safe, or if you find something." He says, before standing up.
Silently gesturing towards the file in my hand.
As I open the file I look through a few pages that have information on the case Seth and Logan were both working on.
It had to do with human trafficking, and possibly a drug supplying ring… along with — Holy shit!!!
Fuck! What the hell did you get yourself into, Seth?!
He found something we had all been looking for but had always failed to find, a connection.
First thing is first. I have to narrow down any other possible leads.
I was just about to leave when Jeremy Ryker walked in, with a small bag in hand.
"Ryker?" I asked warily, slamming the file closed.
"The director told me to bring you all of this. Whitlock has been ordered to bring you something else, and take you to the airport…" He said, looking at me and nodding once before exiting the office.
I quickly grab the bag, before stuffing the file into it and rushing out of my office.
"Hey, let's go," Jasper called, inclining his head towards the elevator.
I nodded, rushing out of my office, locking the door after I exited.
We both made our way into the elevator, and to the parking lot, heading toward his car.
He waited until we were both in the safety of his car before he spoke again.
"Did the director tell you what is going on?" He asked, warily as he quickly maneuvered the car out of the spot and headed out of the lot.
"Possible mole and the connections to them. He is sending me to check on Seth, for some reason. Keep an ear out and stay vigilant, tell Emmett to do the same." I informed him.
"Are we going to drop by your house?" He asks, making a sharp turn.
I nod as he drove towards the direction of my building.
Once there, I grabbed my black duffle bag, rushed to my room, and grabbed a couple of sets of clothes, my sneakers, and hiking boots, my badge, guns, their corresponding magazines, and a hunting knife.
Then I shoved my keys, wallet, phone, and passport into my carry on before rushing back out the door.
After heading back to the car, Jasper rushed me towards the airport. As I got there I transferred one of my guns into my carry on along with my badge.
Once at the airport, I was told the director had already spoken to the captain of my flight, which meant I could avoid the security inspection and head straight to my seat.
A few hours later, I ended up in Helena, Montana.
"Aro better have a good reason for sending me here," I grumbled as I checked into the hotel after exiting the airport.
The only reason I was still here was because Aro called me to tell me to stay here and look through the file as soon as I was in the hotel room.
Upon looking through it I found a small white envelope with my name written across it.
It was from Aro.
Edward,
If you are reading this, that means I was able to get you out of D.C safely.
While I wish it was under better circumstances, it was badly needed.
I regret to inform you that there is a mole within the bureau.
I am afraid they have been leaking information to our enemies, compromising all of our missions.
For the last ten years,undetected , until recently.
As you've probably realized Seth is the one who managed to make the connection, which is why his life is now grave in danger.
Seth and Logan were the last agents I was able to help.
You will find them with the Archugan Tribe or somewhere on their land, that's located within the Amazonian forest.
The file I have given you has a list of people that will be able to help you. Go with Swan.
Do not use your cell phone anymore, it has been compromised.
Be safe, stay vigilant, and keep me posted.
~ FBI Director, Aaron Vancanti.
P.S. Once you have new info, call this number. (297) 010-1552 ext. 3001... it's the hotel my wife and I will be staying in.
I looked at my phone and silently opened the back before sliding out the SIM card, along with the GPS chip.
I crushed both cards and then proceeded to throw the phone towards the wall, watching it crumble into pieces.
Damn, that means I now had to go acquire a disposable one.
I need to get to the bank, and quickly.
Before I did any of this, however, I had to call the person Aro told me to call.
From the file.
As I read over the information, I quickly noticed a few things.
There were only three options that were circled in red. Meaning those were probably the options Aro thought were likely most to be helpful to me.
A Lauren Mallory-Crowley and Tyler Crowley.
Married, he is an archaeologist and she is a botanist.
Lauren Mallory.
Where had I heard that name before? Oh shit! Wasn't the crazy stalker chick that was following a friend of mine around two years ago, named Lauren?
Oh hell no! I wasn't about to go looking for that type of trouble, especially on something this delicate.
Next on the list was Charles and Renee Swan. He is an Archaeologist and she is a Pathologist.
It said they lived around here.
I made a mental note to call them when I got back from the errands I had to run. Well, this whole afternoon turned out to be more productive than I thought.
I found the bag Jasper gave me within the confines of the SUV I had rented for my time here.
As it turned out, Jasper had stuffed the bag with petty cash, a few extra magazines, another manila folder, and yet another note, and six burn phones.
Since I no longer needed to head anywhere else, I took the opportunity to scope out the area.
When I got back to the hotel room, I quickly went through the bags, moving a few things here and there before I went to check the contents of the new file.
I found another note, this time from Jasper.
Ed,
Emmett and I will be heading to one of the safe houses.
Aro informed us of the grave situation and has advised us to do so.
But not before I made sure you were out of D.C first.
You'll be needing this.
~ Jazz.
P.S. Don't kill me. It was Aro who had me draw up the paperwork, and told me what to put in there.
I looked down at the piece of paper confused.
What in the hell would I get mad at paperwork?
It finally sunk in the moment I tipped over the folder and all its contents spilled out.
Two passports, two sets of rings, a marriage license, and two new aliases.
Fuck me, he didn't.
Another note?
Edward,
As you have probably discovered already.
There is a marriage certificate, rings, aliases, and passports in this envelope.
Now, I must ask you for yet another favor.
I need you to do everything in your power to keep Isabella Swan safe.
She is key to bringing down the mole.
Keep her safe at all costs.
When you have spoken to her, call me immediately.
I ask you to please forgive me for the mystery.
But it is needed.
You soon find out why.
~ Aaron Vancanti.
P.S. You are the only one that I trust with this particular assignment. Forgive me for pulling you into this situation.
Fuck, he did.
I spent the rest of the night going through the files, not much was known except the last coordinates of where the helicopter just before it went down.
In the other file was a brief description of Isabella Swan.
It says here:
Name: Isabella Marie Swan.
Sex: F
Birthdate: 09/13/1995
Social: xxx-xx-1945
Address: 22942 Oak Ave. Clearwilde,
Montana 32000
Martial Status : Single
Bank info:
Account number: xxx-xxx-21-0913
Checking: 4,000
Saving: 170,000
All her info was here, along with a few notes from Aro here and there.
By the time morning came, I was debating whether or not to call her.
I weighed the pros and cons of calling her as I waited for the correct amount of time.
It was just past eight-thirty when I finally made my decision.
Curiosity had won.
I quickly punched in the numbers and cracked my neck to get rid of the stiffness as I waited for her to answer.
A few minutes passed, and I wondered if she was working and should call back later when the line made a noise.
As a woman answered. "Hello?" Her voice sounded low and sweet as she did.
"Is a Miss. Isabella Swan there?" I ask in a rush, forgetting to greet her in the process.
"Yes, this is she speaking. How may I help you?" She asks, as a clicking noise sounds in the background.
"This is Edward Cullen, from the Federal Bureau of Investigation…" I explain, trying not to alarm her.
"Ah-huh…" She mumbles, distractedly.
The silence stretched out after her response.
"I was wondering if you could answer a few questions for me?" I ask, trying to keep calm and be patient.
"It depends on the questions." She replies, in a stoic, guarded tone.
Smart girl. Never trust anyone one you don't know.
"Yes, well… we have reason to believe you know the location of the Archugan tribe residence within the Amazonian wilderness," I say, trying to explain.
She hummed, before sighing into the receiver.
"That wasn't a question." She points out, quietly.
Great. She is suspicious.
"We need your help," I say, after struggling to ask what I really need to ask.
"I can't help you." She replied, immediately.
'Can't help me? How would she know?' I thought, frowning.
"How do you know you can't if you don't even know what kind of help we need from you?" I asked, annoyed as hell now.
My mother taught me to be a gentleman, I can't cuss at or in front of her, but fuck do I want to right now. She was being very frustrating at the moment.
"My guess is that you need some sort of guide to lead you through the wilderness, or you are looking for something in that particular area and only a member of said tribe has access to." She replied amused, seeming to enjoy my annoyance.
I grumble, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. "Fuck." I let out as I accidentally got myself in the eye.
"Be honest with me." She finally replies, calmly.
Honesty. What else will get her to help me but the truth? I sigh, feeling exhausted now.
"There was a crash near the area of the tribe, two agents are missing. We looked through our list of the top archaeologists and pathologists. Your parents were on the list. It says here you are their only child. Since I — " I explain.
"My parents are dead." I hear her interrupt, once again, stoically.
Shit! They are dead? I scan the paper again. Fucking stupid! It says it right there! Oh, for the love of all holy, it said it on the paper! How the fuck did I miss that?!
Mistake after mistake! This situation was beginning to piss me off.
"Oh… I— Sorry for your loss. I didn't mean to…" I stutter, scrambling to apologize.
My calm façade just flew out the fucking window.
"It's fine. It happened long ago… Can you please just get to the point?" She finally asked me.
Sure, I can do that too. 'Get to the point, dipshit!!' I think, facepalming myself, accidentally getting myself in the eye with one of my nails again.
"Sure. What I wanted to ask you, before you interrupted me...was if you would mind guiding me to the tribe?" I asked.
"How can I help you? I'm not a pathologist or archaeologist, I'm a midwife." She argues, confused.
"You have knowledge of their customs, the land, and the general area," I responded, calmly.
"I'll have to get back to you." She replied before ending the call.
Damn! What was I supposed to do now?
I was supposed to be one of the best in my field, yet I couldn't ask a few fucking questions to a woman? What the hell is wrong with me?
Fucking shitballs, I blew this out of the water.
What do I do now? Call Aro! Call Aro!
Shit! Shit! Shit!
"Hello?" Aro's groggy voice answered.
"Shit! Sorry! I- I just spoke to Isabella…" I rushed.
"What did she say?" He asked, amused now.
"She hung up on me." I informed him.
He hummed for a moment. "What did you tell her?" He asked carefully.
"I — I made an ass out of myself," I confessed, pacing in the room.
That set him off. It wasn't a chuckle, he was full on belly laughing. Great, now my boss is laughing at me.
"Of course, you did." He finally said, clearing his throat to stop another bout of laughter.
"Well?" I asked, impatiently.
"Well, what?" He asked, still amused.
"What do I do now? She hung up on me!" I asked, annoyed
"First, calm down, you're just riling yourself up for nothing. Then you wait a few days. She needs time." He explains.
"That's all?" I ask, surprised.
"Yes, that's all. Now, I have to go. I am on vacation and do wish to sleep a little longer." He said, hanging up.
I stared at the phone confused. What the hell was that?
Then I realized he told me to wait and I slammed the things down.
I hated waiting. Fucking damn it!
I only managed to wait a few days before looking her address up, packing up my things, and checking out of the hotel.
Fuck waiting, I needed to speak to this Isabella immediately!