I tried to keep Renesmee away from them after that.
How long do we get to hang out with Charlie? Jacob asked, interrupting my thoughts. He was visibly relaxing as we pulled away from the house and all its new inmates. It made me happy that I didnt really count as a vampire to him. I was still just Bella.
For quite a while, 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 tell 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 little Id said.
As we drove in silence, I squinted through the annoying contacts into the cold rain; it wasnt quite cold enough for snow. My eyes were not as ghoulish as they had been in the beginningdefinitely closer to a dull reddish orange than to bright crimson. Soon theyd be amber enough for me to quit the contacts. I hoped the change wouldnt upset Charlie too much.
Jacob was still chewing 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 like its been years! 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 probably smelled good to everyone else. I could also smell fresh pine and packing dust.
Renesmee flashed her dimples. She never 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 under 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 must have put the old decorations up.
Dont worry, Nessie, he whispered 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 near 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 task of learning. Learning to protect some, learning to kill others.
I was getting better and better with my shield. Kate didnt feel the need to motivate me anymoreit wasnt hard to find reasons to feel angry, now that I knew that was the keyand so I mostly worked with Zafrina. She was pleased 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 push 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 ways to prepare for what was coming, and with only two weeks left, I worried that I might 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. During 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 buildingsall three stories, all narrow, all leaning slightly as if bowed by the pounding rainwere 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 inside 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 rain 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 dilapidated 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 another, but how to do so without the whistler noticing me? I could park the next street over and come through the back. There might 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 little too well dressed. There was no breeze to give me the scent, but the sheen on his dark red shirt looked like silk. His crinkly 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 umbrellanot 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.
Im 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 to his feet and examined me with narrowed 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 givenby 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, butand of course Im speaking hypothetically, right? Or off the record, or whatever works for youbut 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 sister is a lot shorter than me, and she has dark spiky black hair.
J knows your sister?
I think so.
Max pondered this for a moment. I smiled at him, and his breathing stuttered. Tell you what Ill do. Ill give J a 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 last 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.
Hey J, its Max. I know Im never supposed to call you at this number except in an emergency. . . .
Is there an emergency? I heard faintly from the other end.
Well, not exactly. Its this girl who wants to see you. . . .
I fail to see the emergency in that. Why didnt you follow normal procedure?
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 of Kubarevs?
Nolet 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, pale as a sheet, dark brown hair almost to her waist, needs a good nights sleepany of this sounding familiar?
No, it doesnt. Im not happy that you let your weakness for pretty women interrupt
Yeah, so Im a 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 for that 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 Thursdaysokay, okay! On it. He slid his phone shut.
He wants to see me? I asked brightly.
Max glowered. You could have told me you were a priority client.
I 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.
Diamond smuggling?
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, regretful eyes.
At this point, I was ready for almost anythingsome 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 nestled up against a wooded hill in a nice family neighborhood.
I pulled into an open spot and looked up at a tastefully subtle sign that read JASON SCOTT, ATTORNEY AT LAW.
The office inside was beige with celery green accents, inoffensive and unremarkable. There was no scent of vampire here, and that helped me relax. Nothing but unfamiliar human. A fish tank was set into the wall, and a blandly pretty 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
April! a 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 into a power office, complete with heavy wooden desk and vanity wall.
Close the door behind you, a raspy tenor 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 across 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 particularly 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 Ill call you J?
Like old friends, he agreed, mopping a silk handkerchief across his forehead. He gestured for me to have a seat and took his own. I must ask, am I finally meeting Mr. Jaspers lovely wife?