Сумерки

           IsEsmewithCharlie?"

           "Yes-thefemalehasbeenintown.Shewenttothehouse,butwhileCharliewasatwork.Shehasn’tgonenearhim,sodon’tbeafraid.He’ssafewithEsmeandRosaliewatching."

           "Whatisshedoing?"

           "Probablytryingtopickupthetrail.She’sbeenallthroughthetownduringthenight.Rosalietracedherthroughtheairport,alltheroadsaroundtown,theschool...she’sdigging,Bella,butthere’snothingtofind."

           "Andyou’resureCharlie’ssafe?"

           "Yes,Esmewon’tlethimoutofhersight.Andwe’llbetheresoon.IfthetrackergetsanywherenearForks,we’llhavehim."

           "Imissyou,"Iwhispered.

           "Iknow,Bella.Believeme,Iknow.It’slikeyou’vetakenhalfmyselfawaywithyou."

           "Comeandgetit,then,"Ichallenged.

           "Soon,assoonasIpossiblycan.Iwillmakeyousafefirst."Hisvoicewashard.

           "Iloveyou,"Iremindedhim.

           "Couldyoubelievethat,despiteeverythingI’veputyouthrough,Iloveyou,too?"

           "Yes,Ican,actually."

           "I’llcomeforyousoon."

           "I’llbewaiting."

           Assoonasthephonewentdead,thecloudofdepressionbegantocreepovermeagain.

           IturnedtogivethephonebacktoAliceandfoundherandJasperbentoverthetable,whereAlicewassketchingonapieceofhotelstationery.Ileanedonthebackofthecouch,lookingoverhershoulder.

           Shedrewaroom:long,rectangular,withathinner,squaresectionattheback.Thewoodenplanksthatmadeupthefloorstretchedlengthwiseacrosstheroom.Downthewallswerelinesdenotingthebreaksinthemirrors.