AT THIS JUNCTURE , I WAS PREPARED FOR JUST about anything. A high-tech hideout seemed like a plausible option for us. Perhaps Max had played a prank on us and given us the wrong address. Or maybe the lair was concealed beneath this mundane strip mall, nestled against a wooded hill in a charming family-oriented neighbourhood.

Bella manoeuvred the car into an empty parking spot and gazed up at a subtle sign that read "Jason Scott, Attorney at Law."

The interior of the office was a bland beige with accents of celery green, unremarkable and unoffending. I had no idea what this Jenks fellow did for a living, but he had certainly amassed a fortune. There was no trace of vampire scent here, which helped us relax. Just an ordinary human. A fish tank was embedded into the wall, and a blonde receptionist sat behind the desk.

"Hello," she greeted us. "How may I assist you?"

"We're here to see Mr. Scott," Bella replied.

"Do you have an appointment?"

"Not exactly," I responded.

She smirked a little. "Then it may be a while. Why don't you take a seat while I—"

April! A man's voice barked from the phone on her desk. "I'm expecting Ms. Cullen and Miss Khotler shortly."

I grinned and gestured to her and myself.

"Send them in immediately. Do you understand? I don't care what it's interrupting."

I could detect something else in his voice besides impatience. Stress. Nerves. A hint of anxiety.

"They've just arrived," April said as soon as she could speak.

What? Send them in! What are you waiting for?

"Right away, Mr. Scott!" She got to her feet, fluttering her hands as she led the way down a short hallway, offering me coffee or tea or anything else we might have wanted.

"Here you are," she said as she ushered us through the door into a power office, complete with heavy wooden desk and vanity wall.

"Close the door behind you," a raspy tenor voice ordered.

As we settled into our seats, I couldn't help but take in J's appearance. He was a curious sight, with his balding head and paunchy belly. His dark skin was a stark contrast to the sickly pallor that had overtaken his face. I couldn't help but wonder what had caused such a reaction in him. Was it the sight of us? Or was it something else entirely?

His attire was impeccable, with a red silk tie that stood out against his blue-and-white-striped shirt. His navy blazer hung haphazardly over the back of his chair, as if he had thrown it there in a hurry. But what caught my attention the most was the way he trembled, his hands shaking as if he were in the midst of a seizure. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and I couldn't help but imagine an ulcer churning away under his spare tire.

As April made a hasty retreat, J rose unsteadily from his chair, his hand outstretched in greeting. Despite his obvious discomfort, he managed to put on a brave face.

"What an absolute delight," he said, his voice quivering slightly.

Bella crossed the room and shook his hand quickly, her cold skin causing him to cringe slightly. But he didn't seem surprised by it, as if he had expected it all along.

"Mr. Jenks," Bella said. "Or do you prefer Scott?"

J winced again as he shook my hand. "Whatever you wish, of course."

"How about you call me Bella, her Violet and we'll call you J?" Bella suggested.

"Like old friends," J agreed, mopping a silk handkerchief across his forehead. He gestured for us to have a seat and took his own. "I must ask, am I finally meeting Mr. Jasper's lovely wife?"

Bella gave him a brief smile, but my mind was racing. So this man knew Jasper, not Alice. Knew him, and seemed afraid of him, too. What kind of person was Jasper, and what kind of world had he gotten us into?

"His sister-in-law, actually," Bella replied.

He pursed his lips, as if he were grasping for meanings just as desperately as I was. "I trust Mr. Jasper is in good health?" he asked carefully.

"I'm sure he is in excellent health. He's on an extended vacation at the moment."

J looked at me, his dark brown eyes glaring at me. "And how do you know Ms Cullen?"

"We're friends from school," I replied, my arms folded over. "Have you known Alice and Jasper long?"

"I've been working with them for more than twenty years," he answered. "And my late partner knew

Jasper fifteen years before that. He is... unusually well-preserved."

"I guess you could say that. What type of work do you do, J?"

"Oh, you know, this and that," he replied. "It's always different, which keeps it interesting."

I could sense the tension in the air. J, the man we were here to see, seemed uneasy around us. But as soon as he caught our eye, he nodded to himself and templed his fingers, as if to calm his nerves.

"You both should have come to the main office," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "My assistants there would have put you straight through to me—no need to go through less hospitable channels."

We nodded, unsure of what to say. I couldn't help but wonder why Alice had given us the fake address in the first place.

"Ah, well, you're here now. What can I do for you?" J asked, his eyes scanning us up and down.

"Papers," Bella said, her voice surprisingly confident. "We need some important documents."

J raised an eyebrow. "Certainly. Are we talking birth certificates, death certificates, drivers' licences, passports, social security cards... ?"

Bella took a deep breath and smiled, trying to hide her nerves. I knew we owned Max big time for getting us this far, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. And then I saw Bella's smile fade, replaced by a look of concern.

The only conceivable reason for her to require these documents was if she were in a state of flight. And the only conceivable reason for Renesmee to be in such a state was if we had suffered defeat. If Edward and Bella were accompanying her in her flight, then the need for these papers would not be immediate. Edward was well-versed in the art of obtaining or fabricating identification, and he knew of ways to evade capture without them. They could traverse thousands of miles with her, or swim across entire oceans.

If only we were there to protect her.

But why would Alice take such drastic measures? The conflict had not yet come to pass. Unless she had foreseen it. If either of us were to survive, what fate would befall Renesmee? Would she still be alive? Would she be safe?

Bella's voice was hushed, almost conspiratorial, as she revealed her plan. "Three birth certificates, three passports, one driver's licence."

I tried to make sense of what she was saying. Three false documents? What was Bella up to? I searched her face for any hint of an explanation, but she remained stoic, her expression unreadable.

"The names?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Jacob... Wolfe. V... Lilac Wolfe. And... Vanessa Wolfe." Bella's words hung in the air, heavy with meaning.

Lilac Wolfe? The name sounded almost poetic, but why was Bella acting so strange? I couldn't help but wonder what was going on behind those amber eyes of hers. Nessie seemed like a perfectly fine nickname for Vanessa, and Jacob would undoubtedly get a kick out of the Wolfe thing.

I watched as J's pen scratched furiously across a legal pad. "Middle names?" he asked, his voice calm and measured.

"Just put something generic in," Bella replied, her tone clipped.

J nodded, jotting down a few notes. "Ages?"

"Twenty-seven for the man," Bella said, turning her head to look at me. Her amber eyes scanned my face, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. What was she thinking? "Twenty for her and five for the girl."

Twenty for me? I couldn't believe it. Could I really pass for a twenty-year-old? I knew Jacob could pull it off - he didn't look like a fifteen-year-old boy anymore, not since his transformation - but Renesmee was growing so quickly. It made sense to estimate high, but why did Bella have to drag us into this mess?

Interrupting my thoughts, J interjected, "I'll need pictures if you want the finished documents. Mr. Jasper always preferred to finish them himself."

Bella hesitated for a moment before reaching into her bag and pulling out her wallet. She rifled through it, revealing several family photos, and handed two to J. One was of Jacob holding Renesmee on the front porch steps, and the other was of Bella and me at Forks High.

J studied the pictures for a moment before commenting, "Your daughter is very much like you."

Bella tensed at the mention of Renesmee, quickly retorting, "She's more like her father."

J's finger grazed over Jacob's face in the photo, causing Bella's eyes to narrow and sweat to bead on J's forehead.

"No, that's a very close friend of the family," Bella clarified, her tone sharp.

"Forgive me," J mumbled, his pen scratching against the paper once more. "How soon will you need the documents?"

"Can I get them in a week?" Bella asked.

"That's a rush order. It will cost twice as much, but forgive me, I forgot who I was speaking with," J replied, clearly aware of Jasper's connections.

"Just give me a number," Bella demanded, her voice firm.

J scribbled the digits on the legal pad, his hand shaking with anticipation. Bella remained composed, her demeanor as cool as a cucumber. But I, on the other hand, was a bundle of nerves, watching the exchange unfold before my very eyes.

Bella reached into her bag and pulled out a stack of cash, neatly clipped into five-thousand dollar increments. She counted out the exact amount with ease, as if she had done this a million times before.

"Here you go," she said, handing over the cash to J.

J couldn't help but interject, "Bella, you don't have to give me the full amount now. It's customary to hold back half until the job is done."

Bella simply smiled at J, her eyes conveying a sense of trust that I couldn't quite comprehend. "I trust you, J. And to show my appreciation, I'll give you a bonus when you deliver the documents."

J looked taken aback, as if he had never encountered such a generous offer before. "That's not necessary, I assure you."

But Bella was insistent. "Don't worry about it. Consider it a token of my gratitude."

J nodded, still looking slightly uneasy. "So, same time next week?"

Bella's smile faltered for a moment. "Actually, I prefer to conduct these transactions in more discreet locations. I'm sure this isn't your first rodeo, J."

J's expression softened, as if he finally understood the gravity of the situation. "Of course. I'll make the necessary arrangements."

"I'm used to having no expectations when it comes to the Cullen family." He grimaced and then quickly composed his face again. "Shall we meet at eight
o'clock a week from tonight at The Pacifico? It's on Union Lake, and the food is exquisite."

"Perfect."

Not that she would be joining him for dinner.

We stood up, our bodies rising in unison as we extended our hands to meet his once again. This time, his grip was firm and unwavering, a sign that perhaps our previous encounter had left a lasting impression on him. However, his demeanor had shifted, his once relaxed posture now replaced with a tense and guarded stance.

Bella's voice broke the silence, her words laced with concern. "Will you have trouble with that deadline?"

He looked up, caught off guard by her question. "The deadline? Oh, no. No worries at all. I will certainly have your documents done on time." His words were confident, but his pinched mouth and rigid back betrayed a different story.

I let out a sigh, causing him to glance up at me. "There a problem?" he asked, his eyes searching for any signs of distress.

"N-No," I stammered, my nerves getting the best of me. "I thought that Bella and her husband would be travelling together with their daughter."

"Jasper said only three will travel. His instructions were very clear." He turned his head back to Bella, his voice firm and unwavering. "I'll see you in one week."