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second； and then looked away quickly； a lump rising in my throat。
〃Thank you；〃 I told him。
His eyes narrowed slightly； and I felt he was disappointed that my examination was not more thorough。
〃I can assure you every piece is perfect。 All will pass the most rigorous scrutiny by experts。〃
〃I'm sure they are。 I truly appreciate what you've done for me； J。〃
〃It's been my pleasure； Bella。 In the future； feel free to e to me for anything the Cullen family needs。〃
He didn't even hint at it really； but this sounded like an invitation for me to take over Jasper's place as
liaison。
〃There was something you wanted to discuss？〃
〃Er； yes。 It's a bit delicate。。 。。〃 He gestured to the stone hearth with a questioning expression。 I sat on the
edge of the stone； and he sat beside me。 Sweat was dewing up on his forehead again； and he pulled a
blue silk handkerchief from his pocket and began mopping。
〃You are the sister of Mr。 Jasper's wife？ Or married to his brother？〃 he asked。
〃Married to his brother；〃 I clarified； wondering where this was leading。
〃You would be Mr。 Edward's bride； then？〃
〃Yes。〃
He smiled apologetically。 〃I've seen all the names many times； you see。 My belated congratulations。 It's
nice that Mr。 Edward has found such a lovely partner after all this time。〃
〃Thank you very much。〃
He paused； dabbing at the sweat。 〃Over the years； you might imagine that I've developed a very healthy
level of respect for Mr。 Jasper and the entire family。〃
I nodded cautiously。
He took a deep breath and then exhaled without speaking。
〃J； please just say whatever you need to。〃
He took another breath and then mumbled quickly； slurring the words together。
〃If you could just assure me that you are not planning to kidnap the little girl from her father； I would
sleep better tonight。〃
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〃Oh；〃 I said； stunned。 It took me a minute to understand the erroneous conclusion he'd drawn。 〃Oh no。
It's nothing like that at all。〃 I smiled weakly； trying to reassure him。 〃I'm simply preparing a safe place for
her in case
something were to happen to my husband and me。〃
His eyes narrowed。 〃Are you expecting something to happen？〃 He blushed； then apologized。 〃Not that
it's any of my business。〃
I watched the red flush spread behind the delicate membrane of his skin and was glad—as I often
was—that I was not the average newborn。 J seemed a nice enough man； criminal behavior aside； and it
would have been a shame to kill him。
〃You never know。〃 I sighed。
He frowned。 〃May I wish you the best of luck； then。 And please don't be put out with me； my dear；
but。。。 if Mr。 Jasper should e to me and ask what names I put on these documents 。。。〃
〃Of course you should tell him immediately。 I'd like nothing better than to have Mr。 Jasper fully aware of
our entire transaction。〃
My transparent sincerity seemed to ease a bit of his tension。
〃Very good；〃 he said。 〃And I can't prevail upon you to stay for dinner？〃
〃I'm sorry； J。 I'm short on time at present。〃
〃Then； again； my best wishes for your health and happiness。 Anything at all the Cullen family needs；
please don't hesitate to call on me； Bella。〃
〃Thank you； J。〃
I left with my contraband； glancing back to see that J was staring after me； his expression a mixture of
anxiety and regret。
The return trip took me less time。 The night was black； and so I turned off my headlights and floored it。
When I got back to the house； most of the cars； including Alice's Porsche and my Ferrari； were missing。
The traditional vampires were going as far away as possible to satiate their thirst。 I tried not to think of
their hunting in the night； cringing at the mental picture of their victims。
Only Kate and Garrett were in the front room； arguing playfully about the nutritional value of animal
blood。 I inferred that Garrett had attempted a hunting trip vegetarianstyle and found it difficult。
Edward must have taken Renesmee home to sleep。 Jacob； no doubt； was in the woods close by the
cottage。 The rest of my family must have been hunting as well。 Perhaps they were out with the other
Denalis。
Which basically gave me the house to myself； and I was quick to take advantage。
I could smell that I was the first one to enter Alice and Jasper's room in a long while； maybe the first
since the night they'd left us。 I rooted silently through their huge closet until I found the right sort of bag。 It
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must have been Alice's； it was a small black leather backpack； the kind that was usually used as a purse；
little enough that even Renesmee could carry it without looking out of place。 Then I raided their petty
cash； taking about twice the yearly ine for the average American household。 I guessed my theft
would be less noticeable here than anywhere else in the house； since this room made everyone sad。 The
envelope with the fake passports and IDs went into the bag on top of the money。 Then I sat on the edge
of Alice and Jasper's bed and looked at the pitifully insignificant
package that was all I could give my daughter and my best friend to help save their lives。 I slumped
against the bedpost； feeling helpless。
But what else could I do？
I sat there for several minutes with my head bowed before the inkling of a good idea came to me。
If。。。
If I was to assume that Jacob and Renesmee were going to escape； then that included the assumption
that Demetri would be dead。 That gave any survivors a little breathing room； Alice and Jasper included。
So why couldn't Alice and Jasper help Jacob and Renesmee？ If they were reunited； Renesmee would
have the best protection imaginable。 There was no reason why this couldn't happen； except for the fact
that Jake and Renesmee both were blind spots for Alice。 How would she begin to look for them？
I deliberated for a moment； then left the room； crossing the hall to Carlisle and Esme's suite。 As usual；
Esme's desk was stacked with pla