The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 33. Forever

Charlie, weve still got that strictly want-to-know comp any situation going. I know its been more(prenominal)(prenominal) than a calendar week since you saw Renesmee, scarcely a visit is that non a good idea right now. How ab implement away I bring Renesmee over to see you?Charlie was quiet for so long that I wondered if he heard the strain beneath my fagade. and whence he muttered, Need to know, ugh and I realized it was just his wariness of the eldritch that make him slow to respond.Okay, kid, Charlie rate. Can you bring her over this morning? Sues bringing me lunch. Shes just as horrified by my cooking as you were when you first showed up.Charlie laughed and then sighed for the old days.This morning will be perfect. The sooner the better. Id already put this off too long.Is Jake coming with you guys?Though Charlie didnt know anything about werewolf imprinting, no one could be oblivious to the attachment between Jacob and Renesmee.Probably. T here was no commission Ja cob would voluntarily miss an afternoon with Renesmee sans bloodsuckers. perhaps I should invite Billy, too, Charlie m dod. precisely hmm. Maybe some other time.I was however half succumbing anxiety to Charlie enough to notice the strange reluctance in his voice when he rung of Billy, but not enough to foreboding what that was about. Charlie and Billy were grown-ups if there was something going on between them, they could figure it out for themselves. I had too many more important things to obsess over.See you in a few, I told him, and hung up.This trip was about more than protecting my father from the twenty-s withal oddly matched vampires who tot completelyy had imprecate not to hide anyone in a three-hundred-mile radius, but still Obviously, no gentleman being should get anywhere near this group. This was the excuse Id given Edward I was taking Renesmee to Charlie so that he wouldnt decideto come here. It was a good reason for leaving the household, but not my real reason at all. wherefore cant we take your Ferrari? Jacob complained when he met me in the garage. I was already in Edwards Volvo with Renesmee.Edward had gotten around to revealing my after car as hed suspected, I had not been capable of exhibit the appropriate enthusiasm. Sure, it was pretty and fast, but I same(p)d to run.Too conspicuous, I answered. We could go on foot, but that would freak Charlie out.Jacob grumbled but got into the front seat. Renesmee climbed from my lap to his.How are you? I asked him as I pulled out of the garage.How do you think? Jacob asked bitingly. Im sick of all these reeking bloodsuckers. He saw my expression and spoke before I could answer. Yeah, I know, I know. Theyre the good guys, theyre here to befriend, theyre going to save us all. Etcetera, etcetera. Say what you want, I still think Dracula One and Dracula devil are creep-tacular.I had to smile. The Romanians werent my favorite guests, either. I dont disagree with you there.Renesmee shook her head but verbalize nothing un desire the rest of us, she found the Romanians strangely fascinating. Shed made the effort to speak to them aloud since they would not let her touch them. Her question was about their unusual skin and, though I was afraid they cleverness be offended, I was kind of glad shed asked. I was curious, too.They hadnt seemed upset by her interest. Maybe a little rueful.We sat still for a precise long time, child, Vladimir had answered, with Stefan drooping along but not continuing Vladimirs sentences as he often did. Contemplating our own divinity. It was a sign of our power that e precisething came to us. Prey, diplomats, those seeking our favor. We sat on our thrones and image ourselves gods. We didnt notice for a long time that we were changing almost petrifying. I suppose the Volturi did us one favor when they burned our castles. Stefan and I, at least, did not hold back to petrify. Now the Volturis eyes are filmed with dusty scum, but ours are b right. I call back that will give us an advantage when we gouge theirs from their sockets.I tried to keep Renesmee away from them after that.How long do we get to hang out with Charlie? Jacob asked, interrupting my surveys. He was visibly relaxing as we pulled away from the house and all its new inmates. It made me happy that I didnt sincerely count as a vampire to him. I was still just Bella.For quite a epoch, actually.The tone of my voice caught his attention.Is something going on here besides visiting your dad?Jake, you know how youre pretty good at controlling your thoughts around Edward?He raised one thick black brow. Yeah?I just nodded, cutting my eyes to Renesmee. She was looking out the window, and I couldnt regularise how interested she was in our conversation, but I decided not to risk going any further.Jacob waited for me to add something else, and then his lower lip pushed out while he thought about what littleId said.As we drove in silence, I squinted through the a nnoying contacts into the cold rain it wasnt quite cold enough for snow. My eyes were not as ghoulish as they had been in the beginning definitely closer to a dull reddish orange than to bright crimson. Soon theyd be chromatic enough for me to quit the contacts, i hoped the change wouldnt upset Charlie too a good deal.Jacob was still plug over our truncated conversation when we got to Charlies. We didnt talk as we walked at a quick human pace through the falling rain. My dad was waiting for us he had the door open before I could knock.Hey, guys It seems manage its been age Look at you, Nessie Come to Grampa I swear youve grown half a foot. And you look skinny, Ness. He glared at me. Arent they feeding you up there?Its just the growth spurt, I muttered. Hey, Sue, I called over his shoulder. The smell of chicken, tomato, garlic, and cheese issued from the kitchen it plausibly smelled good to everyone else. I could also smell fresh pine and packing dust.Renesmee flashed her dimp les. She neer spoke in front of Charlie.Well, come on in out of the cold, kids. Wheres my son-in-law?Entertaining friends, Jacob said, and then snorted. Youre so lucky youre out of the loop, Charlie. Thats all Im going to say.I punched Jacob lightly in the kidney while Charlie cringed.Ow, Jacob complained infra his breath well, Id thought Id punched lightly.Actually, Charlie, I have some errands to run.Jacob shot a glance at me but said nothing.Behind on your Christmas shopping, Bells? You only have a few days, you know.Yeah, Christmas shopping, I said lamely. That explained the packing dust. Charlie moldiness have put the old decorations up.Dont worry, Nessie, he utter in her ear. I got you covered if your mom drops the ball.I rolled my eyes at him, but in truth, I hadnt thought about the holidays at all.Lunchs on the table, Sue called from the kitchen. Cmon, guys.See you later, Dad, I said, and exchanged a quick look with Jacob. Even if he couldnt help but think about this nea r Edward, at least there wasnt much for him to share. He had no idea what I was up to.Of course, I thought to myself as I got into the car, it wasnt like I had much idea, either.The roads were slick and dark, but driving didnt intimidate me anymore. My reflexes were well up to the job, and I barely paid attention to the road. The problem was keeping my speed from attracting attention when I had company. I wanted to be done with todays mission, to have the mystery sorted out so that I could get back to the vital confinement of learning. Learning to protect some, learning to kill others.I was getting better and better with my shield. Kate didnt pure tone the need to motivate me anymore it wasnt hard to find reasons to feel angry, now that I knew that was the key and so I in general worked with Zafrina. She waspleased with my extension I was able to cover almost a ten-foot area for more than a minute, though it exhausted me. This morning shed been trying to find out if I could pus h the shield away from my mind altogether. I didnt see what the use of that would be, but Zafrina thought it would help strengthen me, like exercising muscles in the stomach and back rather than just the arms. Eventually, you could lift more weight when all the muscles were stronger.I wasnt very good at it. I had only gotten one glimpse of the jungle river she was trying to show me.But there were different ship canal to prepare for what was coming, and with only two weeks left, I worried that I energy be neglecting the most important. Today I would rectify that oversight.Id memorized the appropriate maps, and I had no problem finding my way to the address that didnt exist online, the one for J. Jenks. My next step would be Jason Jenks at the other address, the one Alice had not given me.To say that it wasnt a nice neighborhood would be an understatement. The most nondescript of all the Cullens cars was still outrageous on this street. My old Chevy would have looked healthy here. Du ring my human years, I would have locked the doors and driven away as fast as I dared. As it was, I was a little fascinated. I tried to imagine Alice in this place for any reason, and failed.The buildings all three stories, all narrow, all leaning slightly as if bowed by the pounding rain were mostly old houses divided up into multiple apartments. It was hard to tell what color the peeling paint was supposed to be. Everything had faded to shades of gray. A few of the buildings had businesses on the first floor a dirty bar with the windows painted black, a psychics supply store with neon hands and tarot cards glowing fitfully on the door, a tattoo parlor, and a daycare with duct tape holding the broken front window together. There were no lamps on inner any of the rooms, though it was grim enough outside that the humans should have needed the light. I could hear the low mumbling of voices in the distance it sounded like TV.There were a few people about, two shuffling through the r ain in opposite directions and one sitting on the shallow porch of a boarded-up cut-rate law office, reading a wet newspaper and whistling. The sound was much too cheerful for the setting.I was so bemused by the carefree whistler, I didnt realize at first that the abandoned building was right where the address I was looking for should exist. There were no numbers on the ramshackle place, but the tattoo parlor beside it was just two numbers off.I pulled up to the curb and idled for a second. I was getting into that dump one way or other, but how to do so without the whistler noticing me? I could park the next street over and come through the back. There capability be more witnesses on that side. Maybe the rooftops? Was it dark enough for that kind of thing?Hey, lady, the whistler called to me.I rolled the passenger window down as if I couldnt hear him.The man laid his paper aside, and his clothes surprised me, now that I could see them. Under his long ragged duster, he was a litt le too well dressed. There was no breeze to give me the scent, but the sheen on his dark red shirt looked like silk. His wavy black hair was tangled and wild, but his dark skin was smooth and perfect, his teeth white and straight. A contradiction.Maybe you shouldnt park that car there, lady, he said. It might not be here when you get back.Thanks for the warning, I said.I shut off the engine and got out. Perhaps my whistling friend could give me the answers I needed faster than breaking and entering. I opened my big gray umbrella not that I cared, really, about protecting the long cashmere sweater-dress I wore. It was what a human would do.The man squinted through the rain at my face, and then his eyes widened. He swallowed, and I heard his heart accelerate as I approached.Tm looking for someone, I began.Im someone, he offered with a smile. What can I do for you, beautiful?Are you J. Jenks? I asked.Oh, he said, and his expression changed from anticipation to understanding. He got t o his feet and examined me with contract eyes. Whyre you looking for J?Thats my business. Besides, I didnt have a clue. Are you J?No.We faced each other for a long moment while his sharp eyes ran up and down the fitted pearl gray sheath I wore. His gaze finally made it to my face. You dont look like the usual customer.Im probably not the usual, I admitted. But I do need to see him as soon as possible.Im not sure what to do, he admitted.Why dont you tell me your name?He grinned. Max.Nice to meet you, Max. Now, why dont you tell me what you do for the usual?His grin became a frown. Well, Js usual clients dont look a thing like you. Your kind doesnt bother with the downtown office. You just go straight up to his fancy office in the skyscraper.I repeated the other address I had, making the list of numbers a question.Yeah, thats the place, he said, suspicious again. How come you didnt go there?This was the address I was given by a very dependable source.If you were up to any good, you wouldnt be here.I pursed my lips. Id never been much good at bluffing, but Alice hadnt left me a lot of alternatives. Maybe Im not up to any good.Maxs face turned apologetic. Look, lady Bella.Right. Bella. See, I need this job. J pays me pretty good to mostly just hang out here all day. I want to help you, I do, but and of course Tm speaking hypothetically, right? Or off the record, or whatever whole shebang for you but if I pass somebody through that could get him in trouble, Im out of work. Do you see my problem?I thought for a minute, chewing on my lip. Youve never seen anyone like me here before? Well, sort of like me.My sis is a lot shorter than me, and she has dark spiky black hair.J knows your sister?I think so.Max pondered this fora moment.I smiled at him, and his breathing stuttered.Tell you what Ill do.HI give Ja call and describe you to him. Let him make the decision.What did J. Jenks know? Would my description mean something to him? That was a troubling thought.My l ast name is Cullen, I told Max, wondering if that was too much information. I was starting to get irritated with Alice. Did I really have to be quite this blind? She could have given me one or two more words.Cullen, got it.I watched as he dialed, easily picking out the number. Well, I could call J. Jenks myself if this didnt work.HeyJ, its Max. I know Im never supposed tocall you at this number except in an emergency___Is there an emergency?1 heard faintly from the other end.Well, notexactly. Its this girl who wants to see you___fail to see the emergency in that Why didnt you follow normal bit?I didnt follow normal procedure cause she dont look like any kind of normal Is she a badge?No You cant be sure about that. Does she look like one ofKubarevs ?No let me talk, okay? She says you know her sister or something.Not likely. What does she look like?She looks like . . . His eyes ran from my face to my shoes appreciatively. Well, she looks like a freaking supermodel, thats what she looks like. I smiled and he winked at me, then went on. Rocking body, scout as a sheet, dark brown hair almost to her waist, needs a good nights sleep any of this soundingfamiliar?No, it doesnt Im not happy that you let your weakness for pretty women interrupt Yeah,so Ima sucker for the pretty ones, whats wrong with that? Im sorry I bothered you, man. Just forget it.Name, I whispered.Oh right. Wait, Max said. She says her name is Bella Cullen. That help?There was a beat of dead silence, and then the voice on the other end was abruptly screaming, using a lot of words you didnt often hear outside of truck stops. Maxs whole expression changed all the joking vanished and his lips went pale.Because you didnt ask Max yelled back, panicked.There was another pause while J collected himself.Beautiful and pale?J asked, a tiny bit calmer.I said that, didnt I?Beautiful and pale? What did this man know about vampires? Was he one of us himself? I wasnt prepared forthat kind of confrontation. I gritted my teeth. What had Alice gotten me into?Max waited for a minute through another volley of shouted insults and instructions and then glanced at me with eyes that were almost frightened. But you only meet downtown clients on Thursdays okay, okay On it.7He slid his send for shut.He wants to see me? I asked brightly.Max glowered. You could have told me you were a priority client7I didnt know I was.I thought you might be a cop, he admitted. I mean, you dont look like a cop. But you act kind of weird, beautiful.I shrugged.Drug cartel? he guessed.Who, me? I asked.Yeah. Or your boyfriend or whatever.Nope, sorry. Im not really a fan of drugs, and neither is my husband. Just say no and all that.Max cussed under his breath. Married. Cant catch a break.I smiled.Mafia?Nope.Diamondsmuggling?Please Is that the kind of people you usually deal with, Max? Maybe you need a new job.I had to admit, I was enjoying myself a little. I hadnt interacted with humans much besides Charlie and Sue. It was entertaining to watch him flounder. I was also pleased at how easy it was not to kill him.Youve got to be involved in something big. And bad, he mused.Its not really like that.Thats what they all say. But who else needs papers? Or can afford to pay Js prices for them, I should say. None of my business, anyway, he said, and then muttered the word married again.He gave me an entirely new address with basic directions, and then watched me drive away with suspicious, sorry eyes.At this point, I was ready for almost anything some kind of James Bond villains high-tech lair seemed appropriate. So I thought Max must have given me the wrong address as a test. Or maybe the lair was subterranean, underneath this very commonplace strip mall cuddle up against a wooded hill in a nice family neighborhood.I pulled into an open spot and looked up at a tastefully perspicacious sign that read JASON SCOTT, ATTORNEY AT LAW.The office inside was beige with celery green accents, inoffensive and u nremarkable. There was no scent of vampire here, and that helped me relax. nil but unfamiliar human. A fish tank was set into the wall, and a blandlypretty blond receptionist sat behind the desk.Hello, she greeted me. How can I help you?Im here to see Mr. Scott.Do you have an appointment?Not exactly.She smirked a little. It could be a while, then. Why dont you have a seat while I Aprila mans demanding voice squawked from the phone on her desk. Im expecting a Ms. Cullen shortly.I smiled and pointed to myself.Send her in immediately. Do you understand? I dont care what its interrupting.I could hear something else in his voice besides impatience. Stress. Nerves.Shes just arrived, April said as soon as she could speak.What? Send her in What are you waiting for?Right away, Mr. Scott She got to her feet, fluttering her hands as she led the way down a short hallway, offering me coffee or tea or anything else I might have wanted.Here you are, she said as she ushered me through the door in to a power office, complete with heavy wooden desk and vanity wall.Close the door behind you, a raspy high voice ordered.I examined the man behind the desk while April made a hasty retreat. He was short and balding, probably around fifty-five, with a paunch. He wore a red silk tie with a blue-and-white-striped shirt, and his navy blazer hung over the back of his chair. He was also trembling, blanched to a sickly paste color, with sweat beading on his forehead I imagined an ulcer churning away under the spare tire.J recovered himself and rose unsteadily from his chair. He reached his hand crosswise the desk.Ms. Cullen. What an absolute delight.I crossed to him and shook his hand quickly once. He cringed slightly at my cold skin but did not seem curiously surprised by it.Mr. Jenks. Or do you prefer Scott?He winced again. Whatever you wish, of course.How about you call me Bella, and HI call you J?Like old friends, he agreed, mopping a silk handkerchief across his forehead. He gestur ed for me to have a seat and took his own. I must ask, am I finally meeting Mr. Jaspers winning wife?I weighed that for a second. So this man knew Jasper, not Alice. Knew him, and seemed afraid of him, too. His sister-in-law, actually.He pursed his lips, as if he were grasping for meanings just as desperately as I was.I trust Mr. Jasper is in good health? he asked carefully.Im sure he is in excellent health. Hes on an extended vacation at the moment.This seemed to clear up some of Js confusion. He nodded to himself and templed his fingers. Just so. You should have come to the main office. My assistants there would have put you straight through to me no need to go through less hospitable channels.I just nodded. I wasnt sure why Alice had given me the ghetto address.Ah, well, youre here now. What can I do for you?Tapers, I said, trying to make my voice sound like I knew what I was talking about.Certainly, J agreed at once. Are we talking birth certificates, finale certificates, dr ivers licenses, passports, social security cards ?I took a deep breath and smiled. I owed Max big time.And then my smile faded. Alice had sent me here for a reason, and I was sure it was to protect Renesmee. Her last gift to me. The one thing she would know I needed.The only reason Renesmee would need a forger was if she was running. And the only reason Renesmee would be running was if we had lost.If Edward and I were running with her, she wouldnt need these documents right away. I was sure IDs were something Edward knew how to get his hands on or make himself, and I was sure he knew ways to escape without them. We could run with her for thousands of miles. We could swim with her across an ocean.If we were around to save her.And all the secrecy to keep this out of Edwards head. Because there was a good chance that everything he knew, Aro would know. If we lost, Aro would certainly get the information he craved before he destroyed Edward.It was as I had suspected. We couldnt win. But we must have a good shot at killing Demetri before we lost, giving Renesmee the chance to run.My still heart felt like a boulder in my chest a crushing weight. All my hope faded like fog in the sunshine. My eyes pricked.Who would I put this on? Charlie? But he was so defenselessly human. And how would I get Renesmee to him? He was not going to be anywhere close to that fight. So that left one person. There really had never been anyone else.Id thought this through so quickly that J didnt notice my pause.Two birth certificates, two passports, one drivers license, I said in a low, strained tone.If he noticed the change in my expression, he pretended otherwise.The names?Jacob Wolfe. And Vanessa Wolfe. Nessie seemed like an okay nickname for Vanessa. Jacob would get a resign out of the Wolfe thing.His pen scratched swiftly across a legal pad. Middle names?Just put something generic in.If you prefer. Ages?Twenty-seven for the man, five for the girl. Jacob could pull it off. He was a b east. And at the rate Renesmee was growing, Id better estimate high. He could be her stepfather.Ill need pictures if you prefer finished documents, J said, interrupting my thoughts. Mr. Jasper usually liked to finish them himself.Well, that explained why J didnt know what Alice looked like.Hold on, I said.This was luck. I had several family pictures shoved in my wallet, and the perfect one Jacob holding Renesmee on the front porch steps was only a month old. Alice had given it to me just a few days before Oh. Maybe there wasnt that much luck involved after all. Alice knew I had this picture. Maybe shed even had some dim flash that I would need it before she gave it to me.Here you go.J examined the picture for a moment. Your daughter is very like you.I tensed. Shes more like her father.Who is not this man. He touched Jacobs face.My eyes narrowed, and new sweat beads popped out on Js shiny head.No. That is a very close friend of the family.Forgive me, he mumbled, and the pen began s cratching again. How soon will you need the documents?Can I get them in a week?Thats a rush order. It will cost twice as but forgive me. I forgot with whom I was speaking.Clearly, he knew Jasper.Just give me a number.He seemed hesitant to say it aloud, though I was sure, having dealt with Jasper, he must have known that price wasnt really an object. Not even taking into consideration the bloated accounts that existed all over the world with the Cullens various names on them, there was enough cash stashed all over the house to keep a small region afloat for a decade it reminded me of the way there were always a hundred fishhooks in the back of any drawer at Charlies house. I doubted anyone would even notice the small stack Id removed in preparation for today.J wrote the price down on the bottom of the legal pad.I nodded calmly. I had more than that with me. I unclasped my bag again and counted out the right amount I had it all paper-clipped into five-thousand-dollar increments, so it took no time at all.There.Ah, Bella, you dont really have to give me the entire sum now. Its customary for you to save half to ensure delivery.I smiled wanly at the nervous man. But I trust you, J. Besides, Ill give you a bonus the same again when I get the documents.Thats not necessary, I assure you.Dont worry about it. It wasnt like I could take it with me. So HI meet you here next week at the same time?He gave me a pained look. Actually, I prefer to make such proceeding in places unrelated to my various businesses.Of course. Im sure Im not doing this the way you expect.Im used to having no expectations when it comes to the Cullen family. He grimaced and then quickly composed his face again. Shall we meet at eight oclock a week from tonight at The Pacifico? Its on Union Lake, and the food is exquisite.Perfect. Not that I would be joining him for dinner. He actually wouldnt like it much if I did.I rose and shook his hand again. This time he didnt flinch. But he did seem to hav e some new worry on his mind. His mouth was pinched up, his back tense.Will you have trouble with that deadline? I asked.What? He looked up, taken off guard by my question. The deadline? Oh, no. No worries at all. I will certainly have your documents done on time.It would have been nice to have Edward here, so that I would know what Js real worries were. I sighed. Keeping secrets from Edward was bad enough having to be away from him was almost too much.Then HI see you in one week.