“Not one of them；” he interrupted me quickly； shaking his head。 “One of us。”
His tone made it clear that he didn’t mean a member of his family。
I felt the blood empty from my face。
“Victoria？” I choked。
“It’s not a scent I recognize。”
“One of the Volturi；” I guessed。
“Probably。”
“When？”
“That’s why I think it must have been them — it wasn’t long ago； early this morning while Charlie was
sleeping。 And whoever it was didn’t touch him； so there must have been another purpose。”
“Looking for me。”
He didn’t answer。 His body was frozen； a statue。
“What are you two hissing about in here？” Charlie asked suspiciously； rounding the corner with an empty
popcorn bowl in his hands。
I felt green。 A vampire had been in the house looking for me while Charlie slept。 Panic overwhelmed me；
closed my throat。 I couldn’t answer； I just stared at him in horror。
Charlie’s expression changed。 Abruptly； he was grinning。 “If you two are having a fight 。 。 。 well； don’t let
me interrupt。”
Still grinning； he put his bowl in the sink and sauntered out of the room。
“Let’s go；” Edward said in a low hard voice。
“But Charlie！” The fear was squeezing my chest； making it hard to breathe。
He deliberated for a short second； and then his phone was in his hand。
“Emmett；” he muttered into the receiver。 He began talking so fast that I couldn’t understand the words。 It
was over in half a minute。 He started pulling me toward the door。
“Emmett and Jasper are on their way；” he whispered when he felt my resistance。 “They’ll sweep the
woods。 Charlie is fine。”
I let him drag me along then； too panicked to think clearly。 Charlie met my frightened eyes with a smug
grin； which suddenly turned to confusion。 Edward had me out the door before Charlie could say anything。
“Where are we going？” I couldn’t stop whispering； even after we were in the car。
“We’re going to talk to Alice；” he told me； his volume normal but his voice bleak。
“You think maybe she saw something？”
He stared at the road through narrowed eyes。 “Maybe。”
They were waiting for us； on alert after Edward’s call。 It was like walking into a museum； everyone still as
statues in various poses of stress。
“What happened？” Edward demanded as soon as we were through the door。 I was shocked to see that
he was glowering at Alice； his hands fisted in anger。
Alice stood with her arms folded tight across her chest。 Only her lips moved。 “I have no idea。 I didn’t see
anything。”
“How is that possible？” he hissed。
“Edward；” I said； a quiet reproof。 I didn’t like him talking to Alice this way。
Carlisle interrupted in a calming voice。 “It’s not an exact science； Edward。”
“He was in her room； Alice。 He could have still been there — waiting for her。”
“I would have seen that。”
Edward threw his hands up in exasperation。 “Really？ You’re sure？”
Alice’s voice was cold when she answered。 “You’ve already got me watching the Volturis’ decisions；
watching for Victoria’s return； watching Bella’s every step。 You want to add another？ Do I just have to watch
Charlie； or Bella’s room； or the house； or the whole street； too？ Edward； if I try to do too much； things are
going to start slipping through the cracks。”
“It looks like they already are；” Edward snapped。
“She was never in any danger。 There was nothing to see。”
“If you’re watching Italy； why didn’t you see them send —”
“I don’t think it’s them；” Alice insisted。 “I would have seen that。”
“Who else would leave Charlie alive？”
I shuddered。
“I don’t know；” Alice said。
“Helpful。”
“Stop it； Edward；” I whispered。
He turned on me； his face still livid； his teeth clenched together。 He glared at me for half a second； and
then； suddenly； he exhaled。 His eyes widened and his jaw relaxed。
“You’re right； Bella。 I’m sorry。” He looked at Alice。 “Forgive me； Alice。 I shouldn’t be taking this out on
you。 That was inexcusable。”
“I understand；” Alice assured him。 “I’m not happy about it； either。”
Edward took a deep breath。 “Okay； let’s look at this logically。 What are the possibilities？”
Everyone seemed to thaw out at once。 Alice relaxed and leaned against the back of the couch。 Carlisle
walked slowly toward her； his eyes far away。 Esme sat on the sofa in front of Alice； curling her legs up on the
seat。 Only Rosalie remained unmoving； her back to us； staring out the glass wall。
Edward pulled me to the sofa and I sat next to Esme； who shifted to put her arm around me。 He held one
of my hands tightly in both of his。
“Victoria？” Carlisle asked。
Edward shook his head。 “No。 I didn’t know the scent。 He might have been from the Volturi； someone
I’ve never met。 。 。 。”
Alice shook her head。 “Aro hasn’t asked anyone to look for her yet。 I will see that。 I’m waiting for it。”
Edward’s head snapped up。 “You’re watching for an official mand。”
“You think someone’s acting on their own？ Why？”
“Caius’s idea；” Edward suggested； his face tightening again。
“Or Jane’s 。 。 。 ；” Alice said。 “They both have the resources to send an unfamiliar face。 。 。 。”
Edward scowled。 “And the motivation。”
“It doesn’t make sense； though；” Esme said。 “If whoever it was meant to wait for Bella； Alice would have
seen that。 He — or she — had no intention of hurting Bella。 Or Charlie； for that matter。”
I cringed at my father’s name。
“It’s going to be fine； Bella；” Esme murmured； smoothing my hair。
“But what was the point then？” Carlisle mused。
“Checking to see if I’m still human？” I guessed。
“Possible；” Carlisle said。
Rosalie breathed out a sigh； loud enough for me to hear。 She’d unfrozen； and her face was turned
expectantly toward the kitchen。 Edward； on the other hand； looked discouraged。
Emmett burst through the kitchen door； Jasper right behind him。
“Long gone； hours ago；” Emmett announced； disappointed。 “The trail went East； then South； and
disappeared on a side road。 Had a car waiting。”
“That’s bad luck；” Edward muttered。 “If he’d gone west 。 。 。 well； it would be nice for those dogs to make
themselves useful。”
I winced； and Esme rubbed my shoulder。
Jasper looked at Carlisle。 “Neither of us recognized him。 But here。” He held out something green and
crumpled。 Carlisle took it from him and held it to his face。 I saw； as it exchanged hands； that it was a broken
fern frond。 “Maybe you know the scent。”
“No；” Carlisle said。 “Not familiar。 No one I’ve ever met。”
“Perhaps we’re looking at this the wrong way。 Maybe it’s a coincidence 。 。 。 ；” Esme began； but stopped
when she saw everyone else’s incredulous expressions。 “I don’t mean a coincidence that a stranger happened
to pick Bella’s house to visit at random。 I meant that maybe someone was just curious。 Our scent is all around
her。 Was he wondering what draws us there？”
“Why wouldn’t he just e here then？ If he was curious？” Emmett demanded。
“You would；” Esme said with a sudden； fond smile。 “The rest of us aren’t always so direct。 Our family is
very large — he or she might be frightened。 But Charlie wasn’t