I leaned my head back against the cool leather, closed my eyes, and began to visit Bella in my mind. She was the only distraction from the tedium of the tedious.

I entered into a wonderful vision. I imagined her response when I would eventually arrive at seven o’clock. In my imagination, I focused on her warm, calming eyes that always smiled at me in their own way. Her lovely mouth curved into a shy, yet radiant smile that felt as if it was meant just for me. The warmth of her sensually delicate frame…

The image was beautiful.

And strong.

So strong, in fact that I could almost feel her palpable temperature…

Although wonderful, that contrived vision awoke in me a renewed irritation. I wanted her. I wanted to see her. I needed to touch her…

I opened my right eye and looked at the clock on my dashboard. Six twenty-seven.

He still had time.

So, with a resigned grimace, I resumed my Bella fantasy, only this time I tried to focus on the memories I had of visiting her in her room.

Her window was open for me. Through the space, open air carried her soft, inviting scent through the invisible, tiny air particles, bringing her to me long before she's aware of my arrival. I entered her room and her scent still hit me with a resounding cloud of her tantalizing aroma. I gained control as it teased my senses and pulled me, and my venom-coated mouth toward her…

The venom pooled and I forcefully wash it down.

Even in my memory, my technique is efficient and impressively refined. The moment the venom sinks to my throat, I immediately swallow again. One down, one thousand to go…

Suddenly, Charlie’s thoughts broke me from my memory as new thoughts began to enter his mind.

…the poor kid won’t forgive me if I don’t at least warn her…one day she’ll understand…maybe I will just read the paper until she’s done eating…yes, that’s a good idea…wonderful, more murders. "Chief of Police for the City of Seattle, John Davis released a comment on Thursday…

Excellent. This could take all night. Well, at least another twenty-eight minutes. After all, I knew that my cue was seven o’clock. I did not want to be late.