Is It Black Or Is It Noir?

Lost, Stolen Or Kidnapped!

"No I'm sorry; Whitlock & Whitlock don't do that! Have you tried the animal shelters? You could post some flyers. Well, good luck, I hope you find Sparkles soon" Bella said sweetly,

Even though that was the twentieth call about a lost cat since the ad was posted in the 'Seattle Times', it didn't upset Bella, like it did the guys. It was quiet in the office this morning, no sign of Jasper at all. Peter, Bella knew was working on the other flat, the smell of paint and varnish gave it away. So although Bella wasn't working she had answered the phone before leaving for her classes.

She stood in the back stairwell doorway and shouted,

"Peter, I'm heading out now, the coffee is on. Jasper's not here yet, you'll have to man the phone! Will I leave the front door locked?"

"Eh! Okay, thank you and goodbye" Peter said appearing quickly beside her,

Bella smiled, they were beginning to forget she wasn't supposed to know what they were. What's that old saying, 'Familiarity breeds contempt', they were really letting things slide and treating her, like one of them, like family. This pleased Bella, but she was sure whoever insisted they keep the secret would not be so happy with them.

Peter walked Bella down the stairs to the back door; punched in the new code Emmett had set up for them and unlocked the door. Bella had memorised them both, back and front as soon as Peter had told her. She smiled and as Peter bent down to her height with puckered lips she planted a quick kiss on them. If she lingered she'd never leave, she was finding everything about him was addictive to her.

"The hello one when you get back better be bigger. I'll be waitin' for you and it with bated breath" Peter whispered in her ear and she shivered,

"Cheater, you'll make me late. See you this afternoon and be good!" Bella said as she left walking briskly towards UW and her first class.

'Watchin' her as she walked away from me, was like watchin' the early morning light bein' sucked out of the sky. But that dame would never walk out of my life. There was a permanent dent in my hardened shell, that only she fit!'

IIBOIIN

Peter automatically took a deep breath enjoying his thoughts, he was scenting the air so to speak and he suddenly froze for a fraction of a second. Moving quickly around the side of the building he saw a strange vampire watching Bella as she walked briskly down the street. As the male made a move to follow her Peter cleared his throat. Saying in a deep dangerously rough voice,

"I wouldn't if I were you. Especially if you like your extremities, just where they are at present!"

The vampire's head shot up and caught sight of Peter leaning on the side of the building across the street from where he had been hiding, badly. Only a fool wouldn't recognise Peter's easy stance as anything other than a ploy. But this vampire seemed rather dim to Peter,

"Pardonnez-moi, I meant no insult. Your pet, elle sent délicieux!" he said swaggering over to Peter. Whose hand shot out and grabbed him by the throat,

"She works for us, she's not a pet and she's out of bounds unless you want to die?"Peter told him in a low growling tone that brooked no argument.

"Mon Dieu! We appear to be getting off on the wrong foot, mes excuses! My name is Laurent; I came to see about, retenir vos services. I wish to hire you!" Laurent blustered, thrown off by the overly aggressive Peter,

"Well, you should have come into the office then!" Peter snarked,

"I tried the door is locked! I thought to wait for someone to come" Laurent simpered and Peter did his best not to growl at him again.