"Headed out?" Edward asked, his tone nonchalant. There was a sort of forced composure about hisexpression. He hugged Renesmee just a little bit tighter to his chest.

　　"Yes, a few last-minute things...," I responded just as casually.

　　He smiled my favorite smile. "Hurry back to me.""Always."I took his Volvo again, wondering if he'd read the odometer after my last errand. How much had hepieced together? That I had a secret, absolutely. Would he have deduced the reason why I didn't confidein him? Did he guess that Aro might soon know everything he knew? I thought Edward could have cometo that conclusion, which explained why he had demanded no reasons from me. I guessed he was tryingnot to speculate too much, trying to keep my behavior off his mind. Had he put this together with my oddperformance the morning after Alice left, burning my book in the fire? I didn't know if he could havemade that leap.

　　It was a dreary afternoon, already dark as dusk. I sped through the gloom, my eyes on the heavyclouds. Would it snow tonight? Enough to layer the ground and create the scene from Alice's vision?

　　Edward estimated that we had about two more days. Then we would set ourselves in the clearing,drawing the Volturi to our chosen place.

　　As I headed through the darkening forest, I considered my last trip to Seattle. I thought I knew Alice'spurpose in sending me to the dilapidated drop point where J. Jenks referred his shadier clients. If I'dgone to one of his other, more legitimate offices, would I have ever known what to ask for? if I'd met himas Jason Jenks or Jason Scott, legitimate lawyer, would I ever have unearthed J. Jenks, purveyor ofillegal documents? I'd had to go the route that made it clear I was up to no good. That was my clue.

　　It was black when I pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant a few minutes early, ignoring the eagervalets by the entrance. I popped in my contacts and then went to wait for J inside the restaurant. ThoughI was in a hurry to bedone with this depressing necessity and back with my family, J seemed careful to keep himself untaintedby his baser associations; i had a feeling a handoff in the dark parking lot would offend his sensibilities.

　　I gave the name Jenks at the podium, and the obsequious maftre d' led me upstairs to a small privateroom with a fire crackling in a stone hearth. He took the calf-length ivory trench coat I'd worn to disguisethe fact that I was wearing Alice's idea of appropriate attire, and gasped quietly at my oyster satincocktail dress. I couldn't help being a little flattered; I still wasn't used to being beautiful to everyonerather than just Edward. The mattre d' stuttered half-formed compliments as he backed unsteadily fromthe room.

　　I stood by the fire to wait, holding my fingers close to the flame to warm them a little before theinevitable handshake. Not that J wasn't obviously aware that there was something up with the Cullens,but it was still a good habit to practice.

　　For one half second, I wondered what it would feel like to put my hand in the fire. What it would feellike when I burned___J's entrance distracted my morbidity. The maftre d' took his coat, too, and it was evident that I was notthe only one who had dressed up for this meeting.

　　"I'm so sorry I'm late," J said as soon as we were alone.

　　"No, you're exactly on time."He held out his hand, and as we shook I could feel that his fingers were still quite noticeably warmer thanmine. It didn't seem to bother him.

　　"You look stunning, if I may be so bold, Mrs. Cullen.""Thank you, J. Please, call me Bella.""I must say, it's a different experience working with you than it is with Mr. Jasper. Much less...

　　unsettling." He smiled hesitantly.

　　"Really? I've always found Jasper to have a very soothing presence."His eyebrows pulled together. "Is that so?" he murmured politely while clearly still in disagreement. Howodd. What had Jasper done to this man?

　　"Have you known Jasper long?"He sighed, looking uncomfortable. "I've been working with Mr. Jasper for more than twenty years, andmy old partner knew him for fifteen years before that.... He never changes." J cringed delicately.

　　"Yeah, Jasper's kind of funny that way."J shook his head as if he could shake away the disturbing thoughts. "Won't you have a seat, Bella?""Actually, I'm in a bit of a hurry. I've got a long drive home." As I spoke, I took the thick white envelopewith his bonus from my bag and handed it to him.

　　"Oh," he said, a little catch of disappointment in his voice. He tucked the envelope into an inside pocketof his jacket without bothering to check the amount. "I was hoping we could speak for just a moment.""About?" I asked curiously.

　　"Well, let me get you your items first. I want to make sure you're satisfied."He turned, placed his briefcase on the table, and popped the latches. He took out a legal-sized manilaenvelope.

　　Though I had no idea what I should be looking for, I opened the envelope and gave the contents acursory glance. J had flipped Jacob's picture and changed the coloring so that it wasn't immediatelyevident that it was the same picture on both his passport and driver's license. Both looked perfectlysound to me, but that meant little. I glanced at the picture on Vanessa Wolfe's passport for a fraction of asecond, 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 come 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 asliaison.

　　"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 theedge of the stone, and he sat beside me. Sweat was dewing up on his forehead again, and he pulled ablue 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'snice 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 healthylevel 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 wouldsleep better tonight.""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 forher in casesomething were to happen to my husband and me."His eyes narrowed. "Are you expecting something to happen?" He blushed, then apologized. "Not thatit's any of my business."I watched the red flush spread behind the delicate membrane of his skin and was glad—as I oftenwas—that I was not the average newborn. J seemed a nice enough man, criminal behavior aside, and itwould 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 come 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 ofour 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 ofanxiety 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 oftheir 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 animalblood. I inferred that Garrett had attempted a hunting trip vegetarian-style and found it difficult.

　　Edward must have taken Renesmee home to sleep. Jacob, no doubt, was in the woods close by thecottage. The rest of my family must have been hunting as well. Perhaps they were out with the otherDenalis.

　　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 firstsince the night they'd left us. I rooted silently through their huge closet until I found the right sort of bag. Itmust 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 pettycash, taking about twice the yearly income for the average American household. I guessed my theftwould be less noticeable here than anywhere else in the house, since this room made everyone sad. Theenvelope with the fake passports and IDs went into the bag on top of the money. Then I sat on the edgeof Alice and Jasper's bed and looked a............