cob　spit　back。　A　tremor　rolled　down　his　spine；

shaking　me　with　it。

〃You　told　him　Charlie　was　at　the　funeral；〃　I　reminded　him。

Alice　jerked　her　head　back　toward　me　〃What　were　his　exact　words？〃

〃He　said；　'He's　not　here；'　and　when　Carlisle　asked　where　Charlie　was；　Jacob

said；　'At　the　funeral。'〃

Alice　moaned　and　sank　to　her　knees。

〃Tell　me　Alice；〃　I　whispered。

〃That　wasn't　Carlisle　on　the　phone；〃　she　said　hopelessly。

〃Are　you　calling　me　a　liar？〃　Jacob　snarled　from　beside　me。

Alice　ignored　him；　focusing　on　my　bewildered　face。

〃It　was　Edward。〃　The　words　were　just　a　choked　whisper。　〃He　thinks　you're

dead。〃

My　mind　started　to　work　again。　These　words　weren't　the　ones　I'd　been　afraid

of；　and　the　relief　cleared

my　head。

〃Rosalie　told　him　I　killed　myself；　didn't　she？〃　I　said；　sighing　as　I　relaxed。

〃Yes；〃　Alice　admitted；　her　eyes　flashing　hard　again。

〃In　her　defense；　she　did　believe　it。　They　rely　on　my　sight　far　too　much　for

something　that　works　so

imperfectly。　But　for　her　to　track　him　down　to　tell　him　this！　Didn't　she

realize　or　care　？〃　Her　voice

faded　away　in　horror。

〃And　when　Edward　called　here；　he　thought　Jacob　meant　my　funeral；〃　I　realized。

It　stung　to　know　how

close　I'd　been；　just　inches　away　from　his　voice。　My　nails　dug　into　Jacob's

arm；　but　he　didn't　flinch。

Alice　looked　at　me　strangely。　〃You're　not　upset；〃　she　whispered。

〃Well；　it's　really　rotten　timing；　but　it　will　all　get　straightened　out。　The

next　time　he　calls；　someone　will　tell

him　what　really〃　I　trailed　off。　Her　gaze　strangled　the　words　in　my

throat。

Why　was　she　so　panicked？　Why　was　her　face　twisti