go home to Phoenix。 I pack my bags。 We wait till this tracker is
watching； and then we run。 He'll follow us and leave Charlie alone。
Charlie won't call the FBI on your family。 Then you can take me any
damned place you want。〃
They stared at me； stunned。
〃It's not a bad idea； really。〃 Emmett's surprise was definitely an insult。
〃It might work — and we simply can't leave her father unprotected。 You
know that；〃 Alice said。
Everyone looked at Edward。
〃It's too dangerous — I don't want him within a hundred miles of her。〃
Emmett was supremely confident。 〃Edward； he's not getting through us。〃
Alice thought for a minute。 〃I don't see him attacking。 He'll try to wait
for us to leave her alone。〃
〃It won't take long for him to realize that's not going to happen。〃
〃I demand that you take me home。〃 I tried to sound firm。
Edward pressed his fingers to his temples and squeezed his eyes shut。
〃Please；〃 I said in a much smaller voice。
He didn't look up。 When he spoke； his voice sounded worn。
〃You're leaving tonight； whether the tracker sees or not。 You tell
Charlie that you can't stand another minute in Forks。 Tell him whatever
story works。 Pack the first things your hands touch； and then get in your
truck。 I don't care what he says to you。 You have fifteen minutes。 Do you
hear me？ Fifteen minutes from the time you cross the doorstep。〃
The Jeep rumbled to life； and he spun us around； the tires squealing。 The
needle on the speedometer started to race up the dial。
〃Emmett？〃 I asked； looking pointedly at my hands。
〃Oh； sorry。〃 He let me loose。
A few minutes passed in silence； other than the roar of the engine。 Then
Edward spoke again。
〃This is how it's going to happen。 When we get to the house； if the
tracker is not there； I will walk her to the door。 Then she has fifteen
minutes。〃 He glared at me in the rearview mirror。 〃Emmett； you take the
outside of the house。 Alice； you get the truck。 I'll be inside as long as
she is。 After she's out； you two can take the Jeep home and tell
Carlisle。〃
〃No way；〃 Emmett broke in。 〃I'm with you。〃
〃Think it through； Emmett。 I don't know how long I'll be gone。〃
〃Until we know how far this is going to go； I'm with you。〃
Edward sighed。 〃If the tracker is there；〃 he continued grimly； 〃we keep
driving。〃
〃We're going to make it there before him；〃 Alice said confidently。
Edward seemed to accept that。 Whatever his problem with Alice was； he
didn't doubt her now。
〃What are we going to do with the Jeep？〃 she asked。
His voice had a hard edge。 〃You're driving it home。〃
〃No； I'm not；〃 she said calmly。
The unintelligible stream of profanities started again。
〃We can't all fit in my truck；〃 I whispered。
Edward didn't appear to hear me。
〃I think you should let me go alone；〃 I said even more quietly。
He heard that。
〃Bella； please just do this my way； just this once；〃 he said between
clenched teeth。
〃Listen； Charlie's not an imbecile；〃 I protested。 〃If you're not in town
tomorrow； he's going to get suspicious。〃
〃That's irrelevant。 We'll make sure he's safe； and that's all that
matters。〃
〃Then what about this tracker？ He saw the way you acted tonight。 He's
going to think you're with me； wherever you are。〃
Emmett looked at me； insultingly surprised again。 〃Edward； listen to
her；〃 he urged。 〃I think she's right。〃
〃Yes； she is；〃 Alice agreed。
〃I can't do that。〃 Edward's voice was icy。
〃Emmett should stay； too；〃 I continued。 〃He definitely got an eyeful of
Emmett。〃
〃What？〃 Emmett turned on me。
〃You'll get a better crack at him if you stay；〃 Alice agreed。
Edward stared at her incredulously。 〃You think I should let her go alone？〃
〃Of course not；〃 Alice said。 〃Jasper and I will take her。〃
〃I can't do that；〃 Edward repeated； but this time there was a trace of
defeat in his voice。 The logic was working on him。
I tried to be persuasive。 〃Hang out here for a week —〃 I saw his
expression in the mirror and amended 〃— a few days。 Let Charlie see you
haven't kidnapped me； and lead this James on a wildgoose chase。 Make
sure he's pletely off my trail。 Then e and meet me。 Take a
roundabout route； of course； and then Jasper and Alice can go home。〃
I could see him beginning to consider it。
〃Meet you where？〃
〃Phoenix。〃 Of course。
〃No。 He'll hear that's where you're going；〃 he said impatiently。
〃And you'll make it look like that's a ruse； obviously。 He'll know that
we'll know that he's listening。 He'll never believe I'm actually going
where I say I am going。〃
〃She's diabolical；〃 Emmett chuckled。
〃And if that doesn't work？〃
〃There are several million people in Phoenix；〃 I informed him。
〃It's not that hard to find a phone book。〃
〃I won't go home。〃
〃Oh？〃 he inquired； a dangerous note in his voice。
〃I'm quite old enough to get my own place。〃
〃Edward； we'll be with her；〃 Alice reminded him。
〃What are you going to do in Phoenix？〃 he asked her scathingly。
〃Stay indoors。〃
〃I kind of like it。〃 Emmett was thinking about cornering James； no doubt。
〃Shut up； Emmett。〃
〃Look； if we try to take him down while she's still around； there's a
much better chance that someone will get hurt — she'll get hurt； or you
will； trying to protect her。 Now； if we get him alone…〃 He trailed off
with a slow smile。 I was right。
The Jeep was crawling slowly along now as we drove into town。 Despite my
brave talk； I could feel the hairs on my arms standing up。 I thought
about Charlie； alone in the house； and tried to be courageous。
〃Bella。〃 Edward's voice was very soft。 Alice and Emmett looked out their
windows。 〃If you let anything happen to yourself— anything at all — I'm
holding you personally responsible。 Do you understand that？〃
〃Yes；〃 I gulped。
He turned to Alice。
〃Can Jasper handle this？〃
〃Give him some credit； Edward。 He's been doing very； very well； all
things considered。〃
〃Can you handle this？〃 he asked。
And graceful little Alice pulled back her lips in a horrific grimace and
let loose with a guttural snarl that had me cowering against the seat in
terror。
Edward smiled at her。 〃But keep your opinions to yourself；〃 he muttered
suddenly。
===========================================================================
19。 GOODBYES
Charlie was waiting up for me。 All the house lights were on。 My mind was
blank as I tried to think of a way to make him let me go。 This wasn't
going to be pleasant。
Edward pulled up slowly； staying well back from my truck。 All three of
them were acutely alert； ramrod straight in their seats； listening to
every sound of the wood； looking through every shadow； catching every
scent； searching for something out of place。 The engine cut off； and I
sat； motionless； as they continued to listen。
〃He's not here；〃 Edward said tensely。 〃Let's go。〃 Emmett reached over to
help me get out of the harness。
〃Don't worry； Bella；〃 he said in a low but cheerful voice； 〃we'll take
care of things here quickly。〃
I felt moisture filling up my eyes as I looke