𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐥𝐲 || 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

Chapter 4

Bella took a deep breath as she stared at the mobile phone in her hand. The plan had been set. The Cullen's had taken the damaged red trunk and staged a scene by a winding road to make it look like Lottie had crashed off the edge. The trunk had been pushed into the water with the driver's door opened to make it appear that the waves had pulled Lottie from the car and she was dragged out to the ocean. The Cullen's assured her that the strip of beach Lottie had 'crashed' at was known for its dangerous tides and others had met a similar fate. Many people had died on that section of road from losing control of their car through the windy bends and plunging over the edge into the ocean below. It would stop people from asking too many questions and writing Lottie's death off as simply a terrible accident. It was only a matter of time before Charlie would be alerted by the police in the local area.

"Bella," Edward whispered into her hair. His arms were wrapped tightly around her in support as they stood in a densely treed area near the camping ground close to the 'crash' scene.

"I know," she replied, "I just need a minute". The plan was that Bella would call Charlie and ask whether Lottie had returned home as her sister had been gone for a while. If the phone records were ever checked, Bella needed to be in the area where they supposedly went camping. She took another deep breath and dialed Charlie's number, a part of her wishing he hadn't answered. She wasn't that lucky though.

"Hey kiddo," Charlie chirped as he answered the phone, "How are you both enjoying yourselves?".

'Stick to the script,' she thought to herself.

"Good thanks. Dad, I-I feel a bit silly calling now that I think about it but is Lottie by any chance there?" Bella asked.

Charlie went silent, "She's camping with you isn't she?".

"Yes!" Bella replied quickly, "It's just that...she left this morning. She was meant to be going to the shops to get a few things and...well, she's not come back yet and she's not answering her phone. I'm just concerned. This isn't like her. She was adamant she would only be gone for an hour max".

"How long has it been?" Charlie asked in concern.

Bella swallowed, "At least six. I thought she may have headed back to Forks".

Charlie cursed, "Start calling the local hospitals in case she's been in an accident and I'll make a few calls to some guys I know on the force in the area".

"Okay. I'll call if I find anything," Bella responded.

"Same here," Charlie hung up the phone. Bella pressed the end call button and slumped further into Edward's arms. Edward squeezed her tighter in comfort. It only took 17 minutes before Bella's phone rang again.

Bella answered the call, "Did you find anything?".

Charlie didn't respond immediately, "I think you should come home Bells". She could hear it in his voice, he was barely holding back tears.

"I'll get Edward to drop me home," Bella replied quickly before hanging up the phone. It was the only gift she could give her dad. Giving him some peace to cry before he would have to 'break' the news to her. Edward took her hand and led her out of the forest to his parked car. They both got in and sat in silence as they made their way back to Forks. Edward's hand never left Bella's. Dread filled Bella's stomach as Edward pulled up in front of her house.

"I can come in if you need me," Edward said as he looked at his fiancé. It was the day after Lottie went missing that Bella agreed to the marriage. Sitting on her ring finger was the engagement ring that belonged to his birth mother and the sight still filled him with so much joy.

Bella smiled shakily at him, "Thanks but I think it'll be better if I went in by myself".

Edward nodded in understanding, "Call me when you're done".