4 breaking dawn破晓-第88部分

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cocktail　dress。　I　couldn't　help　being　a　little　flattered；　I　still　wasn't　used　to　being　beautiful　to　everyone　
rather　than　just　Edward。　The　mattre　d'　stuttered　halfformed　pliments　as　he　backed　unsteadily　from　
the　room。　



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I　stood　by　the　fire　to　wait；　holding　my　fingers　close　to　the　flame　to　warm　them　a　little　before　the　
inevitable　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　feel　
like　when　I　burned___　

J's　entrance　distracted　my　morbidity。　The　maftre　d'　took　his　coat；　too；　and　it　was　evident　that　I　was　not　
the　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　than　
mine。　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。　How　
odd。　What　had　Jasper　done　to　this　man？　

〃Have　you　known　Jasper　long？〃　

He　sighed；　looking　unfortable。　〃I've　been　working　with　Mr。　Jasper　for　more　than　twenty　years；　and　
my　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　envelope　
with　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　pocket　
of　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　legalsized　manila　
envelope。　



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Though　I　had　no　idea　what　I　should　be　looking　for；　I　opened　the　envelope　and　gave　the　contents　a　
cursory　glance。　J　had　flipped　Jacob's　picture　and　changed　the　coloring　so　that　it　wasn't　immediately　
evident　that　it　was　the　same　picture　on　both　his　passport　and　driver's　license。　Both　looked　perfectly　
sound　to　me；　but　that　meant　little。　I　glanced　at　the　picture　on　Vanessa　Wolfe's　passport　for　a　fraction　of　a　
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　plans　and　blueprints；　everything　neatly　laid　out　in　tall　piles。　The　desk　had　a　
slew　of　pigeonholes　above　the　work　surface；　in　one　was　a　box　of　stationery。　I　took　a　fresh　sheet　of　paper　
and　a　pen。　

Then　I　stared　at　the　blank　ivory　page　for　a　full　five　minutes；　concentrating　on　my　decision。　Alice　might　
not　be　able　to　see　Jacob　or　Renesmee；　but　she　could　see　me。　I　visualized　her　seeing　this　moment；　hoping　
desperately　that　she　wasn't　too　busy　to　pay　attention。　

Slowly；　deliberately；　I　wrote　the　words　RIO　DE　JANEIRO　in　all　caps　across　the　page。　

Rio　seemed　the　best　place　to　send　them：　It　was　far　away　from　here；　Alice　and　Jasper　were　already　in　
South　America　at　last　report；　and　it　wasn't　like　our　old　problems　had　ceased　to　exist　just　because　we　had　
worse　problems　now。　There　was　still　the　mystery　of　Renesmee's　future；　the　terror　of　her　racing　age。　
We'd　been　headed　south　anyway。　Now　it　would　be　Jacob's；　and　hopefully　Alice's；　job　to　search　for　the　
legends。　

I　bowed　my　head　again　against　a　sudden　urge　to　sob；　clenching　my　teeth　together。　It　was　better　that　
Renesmee　go　on　without　me。　But　I　already　missed　her　so　much　I　could　barely　stand　it。　

I　took　a　deep　breath　and　put　the　note　at　the　bottom　of　the　duffel　bag；　where　Jacob　would　find　it　soon　
enough。　

I　crossed　my　fingers　that—since　it　was　unlikely　that　his　high　school　offered　Portuguese—Jake　had　at　
least　taken　Spanish　as　his　language　elective。　

There　was　nothing　left　now　but　waiting。　




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For　two　days；　Edward　and　Carlisle　stayed　in　the　clearing　where　Alice　had　seen　the　Volturi　arrive。　It　was　
the　same　killing　field　where　Victoria's　newborns　had　attacked　last　summer。　I　wondered　if　it　felt　repetitive　
to　Carlisle；　like　deja　vu。　For　me；　it　would　be　all　new。　This　time　Edward　and　I　would　stand　with　our　
family。　

We　could　only　imagine　that　the　Volturi　would　be　tracking　either　Edward　or　Carlisle。　I　wondered　if　it　
would　surp