Shortly before the bell rang, Mrs. Cope wished the kids a
great summer and that she couldn’t wait until next year. I could hear the
tremor in her voice. She also asked for me, Lauren and Jessica to come to the
office to discuss the situation after we’d sent the kids home. Twenty minutes
later, I walked into the office, trying not to lose my temper. Lauren and
Jessica were bitching about how Swan’s disappearance was cutting into their
summer vacation.
“Lauren!” Mrs. Cope snapped. “You’re going to meet with
Chief Hamilton from the Port Angeles PD in my office. Jessica, you’re going to
work with Detective Omari in Ms. Whittier’s office. Edward, you’ll be talking
to Chief Burke from Forks PD. They’re going to help with the search.”
“Where are we meeting?” I asked.
“Conference room,” she said, following Lauren into her
office.
I turned on my heel and went to the conference room, across
the hall from the main office. Charlie was inside, pacing the length of the
tiny room and his face was ashen. He turned when I closed the door and he
pulled me into his arms. We both cried, scared for Bella. I was worried about
the fragile psyche of my mate and he was obviously terrified for his daughter. He
took my face in his hands and he narrowed his eyes. “Show me. From the moment
…”
I nodded, closing my eyes and allowing my memories to filter
to his. He felt the same dread I experienced when Bella went into the forest.
The emptiness I experienced when she was taken was passed through our
connection. The wavering darkness was apparent in my thoughts and memories. “We
have to find her, Charlie,” I whispered. “If we don’t, she’ll be lost forever.”
Charlie nodded solemnly. “I just got her back. I can’t lose
her again,” he choked out. “Now, that wavering sense of evil … what do you
think about that?”
“I don’t know, but there was something familiar about that
signature,” I muttered. “It’s corrupted by darkness, but they haven’t given
completely over to the evil. They still have some control …” I trailed off.
“Come with me.” We got up and left the school, making our way back to where
Bella had been taken. I knelt down, putting my hand on the muddy ground. I
allowed the signature to penetrate me. “I know who took her.”
“Who?” Charlie asked. “Someone I can arrest? Shoot? I want
to use this fucker.” He took out his gun and glowered at it.
“It won’t hurt him. Not now,” I answered. “Prior to working
here at the school, I did rehab work for a guy. His name is Emmett McCarty. He
was the project manager. He started dating Bella’s boss/landlady Rosalie Hale.”
Charlie took out his notebook, flipping through some notes.
“Both of them were reported missing by loved ones. Rose, you know about, but
Emmett, his disappearance was more recent. He vanished, without a trace, about
a week ago. He still went work, went home and hung out with his friends up
until then.”
“Who reported him missing?” I asked.
“One of his workers. Tyler Crowley,” Charlie answered.
“Hamilton told me that when we met up in the office. Do you suspect those two
harpies?”
“They’re harmless and fucking lazy,” I snapped. “They sat on
the bench, looking at their cell phones while Bella ran the kickball station on
her own. And did you hear their thoughts?”
“Yes, I did,” Charlie growled. “They’re bitching about my
child. I’m sorry that their lazy asses couldn’t …” He held up his hand,
disgusted by the two of them. “And Lauren was revolted that you were told the
student that you were Bella’s boyfriend. Bella is not worthy of you.”
“It’s the other way around,” I whispered. “I’m not worthy of her.” Charlie cupped my cheek and smiled softly.
No comments:
Post a Comment