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him free to attack again could not be the right thing either。 The blond hostess from the restaurant。 The waitress I d never really looked at。 Both had irritated me in a trivial way； but that did not mean they deserved to be in danger。 Either one of them might be somebody s Bella。 That realization decided me。 I turned the car north； accelerating now that I had a purpose。 Whenever I had a problem that was beyond me something tangible like this I knew where I could go for help。 Alice was sitting on the porch； waiting for me。 I pulled to a stop in front of the house rather than going around to the garage。 Carlisle s in his study； Alice told me before I could ask。 Thank you； I said； tousling her hair as I passed。 Thank you for returning my call； she thought sarcastically。 Oh。 I paused by the door； pulling out my phone and flipping it open。 I didn t even check to see who it was。 I was busy。 Yeah； I know。 I m sorry； too。 were on your way。 It was close； I murmured。 Sorry； she repeated； ashamed of herself。 It was easy to be generous； knowing that Bella was fine。 Don t be。 I know you can t catch everything。 No one expects you to be omniscient； Alice。 Thanks。 I almost asked you out to dinner tonight did you catch that before I changed my Sorry。 By the time I saw what was going to happen； you
mind？ She grinned。 No； I missed that one； too。 Wish I d known。 I would have e。 What were you concentrating on； that you missed so much？ Jasper s thinking about our anniversary。 She laughed。 He s trying not to make a decision on my gift； but I think I have a pretty good idea You re shameless。 Yep。 She pursed her lips； and stared up at me； a hint of accusation in her expression。 I paid better attention later。 Are you going to tell them that she knows？ I sighed。 Yes。 Later。 Do me a favor and tell Rosalie when I m not around； okay？ I won t say anything。 I flinched。 Sure。 Bella took it pretty well。 Too well。 Alice grinned at me。 Don t underestimate Bella。 I tried to block the image I didn t want to see Bella and Alice； best of friends。 Impatient now； I sighed heavily。 I wanted to be through with the next part of the evening； I wanted it over with。 But I was a little worried to leave Forks Alice I began。 She saw what I was planning to ask。 She sort of needs She ll be fine tonight。 I m keeping a better watch now。 twentyfour hour supervision； doesn t she？ At least。 Anyway； you ll be with her soon enough。 I took a deep breath。 The words were beautiful to me。 Go on get this done so you can be where you want to be； she told me。 I nodded； and hurried up to Carlisle s room。 He was waiting for me； his eyes on the door rather than the thick book on his desk。 I heard Alice tell you where to find me； he said； and smiled。 It was a relief to be with him； to see the empathy and deep intelligence in his eyes。 Carlisle would know what to do。 I need help。
Anything； Edward； he promised。 Did Alice tell you what happened to Bella tonight？ Almost happened； he amended。 Yes； almost。 I ve got a dilemma； Carlisle。 You see； I want very much to kill him。 The words started to flow fast and passionate。 So much。 But I know that would be wrong； because it would be vengeance； not justice。 All anger； no impartiality。 Still； it can t be right to leave a serial rapist and killer wandering Port Angeles！ I don t know the humans there； but I can t let someone else take Bella s place as his victim。 Those other women someone might feel about them the way I feel about Bella。 Might suffer what I would have suffered if she d been harmed。 It s not right His wide； unexpected smile stopped the rush of my words cold。 She s very good for you； isn t she？ impressed。 So much passion； so much control。 I m I m not looking for pliments； Carlisle。 Of course not。 But I can t help my thoughts； can I？ He smiled again。 I ll take care of it。 You can rest easy。 No one else will be harmed in Bella s place。 I saw the plan in his head。 It wasn t exactly what I wanted； it did not satisfy my craving for brutality； but I could see that it was the right thing。 I ll show you where to find him； I said。 Let s go。 He grabbed his black bag on the way。 I would have preferred a more aggressive form of sedation like a cracked skull but I would let Carlisle do this his way。 We took my car。 Alice was still on the steps。 She grinned and waved as we drove away。 I saw that she had looked ahead for me； we would have no difficulties。 The trip was very short on the dark； empty road。 I left off my headlights to keep from attracting attention。 It made me smile to think how Bella would have reacted to this pace。 I d already been driving slower than usual to prolong my time with her when she d objected。 Carlisle was thinking of Bella； too。 I didn t foresee that she would be so good for him。 That s unexpected。 Perhaps this was somehow meant to be。 Perhaps it serves a higher purpose。 Only He pictured Bella with snow cold skin and blood red eyes； and then flinched away from the image。 Yes。 Only。 Indeed。 so pure and lovely？ Because how could there be any good in destroying something I glowered into the night； all the joy of the evening destroyed by his thoughts。 Edward deserves happiness。 He s owed it。 The fierceness of Carlisle s thoughts surprised me。 There must be a way。
I wished I could believe that either one。 But there was no higher purpose to what was happening to Bella。 Just a vicious harpy； an ugly； bitter fate who could not bear for Bella to have the life she deserved。 I did not linger in Port Angeles。 I took Carlisle to the dive where the creature named Lonnie was drowning his disappointment with his friends two of whom had already passed out。 Carlisle could see how hard it was for me to be so close for me to hear the monster s thoughts and see his memories； memories of Bella mixed in with less fortunate girls who no one could save now。 My breathing sped。 I clenched the steering wheel。 I ll make the rest of them safe。 You go back to Go； Edward； he told me gently。 Bella。 It was exactly the right thing to say。 could mean anything to me now。 Her name was the only distraction that I left him in the car； and ran back to Forks in a straight line through the sleeping forest。 It took less time than the first journey in the speeding car。 It was just minutes later that I scaled the side of her house and slid her window out of my way。 I sighed silently with relief。 Everything was just as it should be。 Bella was safe in her bed； dreaming； her wet hair tangled like seaweed across the pillow。 But； unlike most nights； she was curled into a small ball with the covers stretched taut around her shoulders。 Cold； I guessed。 Before I could settle into my usual seat； she shivered in her sleep； and her lips trembled。 I thought for a brief moment； and then I eased out into the hallway； exploring another part of her house for the first time。 Charlie s snores were loud and even。 I could almost catch the edge of his dream。 Something with the rush of water and patient expectation fishing； maybe？ There； at the top of the stairs； was a promising looking cupboard。 I opened it hopefully； and found what I was looking for。 I selected the thickest blanket from the tiny linen closet； and took it back into her room。 I would return it before she woke； and no one would be the wiser。 Holding my breath； I cautiously spread the blanket over her； she didn t react to the added weight。 I returned to the rocking chair。 While I waited anxiously for her to warm up； I thought of Carlisle； wondering where he was now。 I knew his plan would go smoothly Alice had seen that。 Thinking of my father made me sigh Carlisle gave me too much credit。 I wished I was the person he thought me to be。 That person； the one who deserved happiness； might hope to be worthy of this sleeping girl。 How different things would be if I could be that Edward。 As I pondered this； a strange； uncalled image filled my head。 For one moment； the hagfaced fate I d imagined； the one who sought Bella s destruction； was replaced by the most foolish and reckless of angels。 A guardian angel something Carlisle s version of me might have had。 With a heedless smile on her lips； her skycolored eyes full of mischief； the angel formed Bella in such a fashion that there was no way that I could possibly overlook her。 A ridiculou