I shot up towards the surface. When it broke over my head, I realized just how far I had swam out.

I was just off the shore from the old bunker. Duh. That's where we saw the murderers dump Karsten's body. I berated myself for not realizing it before.

I should swim back, I thought. The guys will be worried.

SNUP.

Perfect timing.

Suddenly, I was gasping for air, muscles screaming in exhaustion. I struck out for the shore. Curling up on the warm sand, I instantly fell asleep.

Waking up sometime later, I could hear men's voices from somewhere near by. On instinct, I kept my eyes closed.

"We need to move his body!" One hissed.

"Please. They have no credibility with the police after the remains that they reported as human turned out to be a monkey's."

"Which skeleton, I may add, led them to solving the Katherine Heaton murder!"

"We had nothing to do with that."

"We did kill Karsten though. If we move him, it will just motivate her and her friends that something is still going on with the virus."

I stiffened, then relaxed.

There was a beat of dead silence. Then, "We should leave. She'll wake up soon, and it won't be long before the cavalry comes rushing in to save her."

I drifted in and out of consciousness. Sometime after dark, I heard the guys calling my name. I yawned, standing up and shaking my head, then walked over.

"What's up?" I asked Ben.

He stared at me. "Really, Tory? You disappear for six hours and ask me what's up?"

My forehead scrunched up. "I had something to tell you..." I muttered.

He waited for a second. "What was it?"

"I can't remember."

Hi rolled his eyes. "Oh fearless ring leader. Brave, cunning, clever," he glared at me. "Forgetful."

I grinned and shrugged. "I'll remember later. In the meantime –"

"Victoria Brennan!" Kit's voice rang out. I grimaced, as Ben smirked and Hi crowed "someone's in trouble!"

Shelton and Hi took off. I pinned him with a glare as Ben made to follow them. He sighed and shuffled awkwardly.

Kit came down the slope with Coop bounding ahead of him. Ben looked at me pleadingly. Can I leave? was written all over his face. I shook my head stubbornly. Coop jumped up and liked my face before tackling Ben. I couldn't help laughing as they wrestled in the sand, Coop barking and growling playfully, Ben laughing and panting.

Until Kit got my attention again.

He stomped up to me. "School ended seven hours ago. Where were you?"

"Um," I glanced at Ben, pleading for help. Grinning, he shook his head. I rolled my eyes.

"Kit! Did you find her?" Whitney's southern drawl dipped in honey called. She ran up – as well as she could run in heels on the beach – and pulled me into a suffocating hug. I almost gagged from her overwhelming perfume. "Oh, darling, we were so worried! Don't ever go off on us again, alright?" She pulled back, glaring at me, then grabbed me in another hug.

And that's when she caught sight of Ben. She sighed, about to lecture me on my lack of female friends, when she noticed Hi and Shelton weren't there. A smile started to slowly spread across her face.

Oh, this wasn't going to be good.

"Victoria Brennan. Did you go on a date without telling me and your father?"

I don't know who's face was more red – mine or Ben's.

I spluttered. "N-no! We weren't on a date! Shelton and Hi were here a second ago..." I trailed off, knowing how lame that sounded. Smooth, Brennan, real smooth. "Um, I asked Ben to help me find Coop. I didn't know he had gone home."

"Of course you did sweetie." Whitney stalked a circle around Ben, who looked at me with panicked eyes. I shrugged helplessly. "Yes, I suppose he is rather cute."

I was pretty sure if my face got any redder, my head would explode. "I never said he was cute!"

She cocked her head. "Then who did you say was cute?"

I groaned. "I never said anybody was cute."

Kit grinned. "I think it was that Jason Taylor."

Backstabbing Judas.

"I did not!" I shouted indignantly. "She said we'd be cute together." I pointed at Whitney.

"So, did you go on a date with him, then?"

I sighed. "I didn't go on a date with anyone."

She nodded, finally getting it. This thought dissolved when she turned to Ben and asked, "would you like to go on a date with Tory?"

"Whitney!" I yelled.

Ben glanced at me.

SNAP

Ah, shit.

Ben's eyes popped wide. I dropped my head, and grabbed Kit's ball cap. I pulled my hair through the back, and jammed it down over my eyes. I could smell excitement from Whitney, amusement from Kit, and panic from Ben. Coop was blissfully ignorant, playing in the waves.

The waves... what was important about – Dr Karsten! I gasped as Kit frowned at me. "Why did you steal my hat?"

"My hair was bugging me," I muttered. "Whitney, leave Ben alone, you're making him uncomfortable. Can we go home? I'm tired."

Kit nodded, still grinning. Whitney muttered something about no fun.

I whistled for Coop, still trying to shut off the flare. I spent the rest of the walk home, staring at the ground, trying to force the fire in my veins back to wherever it came from.

When it kept cheerfully burning up my insides, I let it go.

Trudging up to my room, I booted up my Mac and iFollow. I really, really needed to tell them about Dr. Karsten.

SNUP

Oh, sure, now it goes off.

Four squares popped up on my screen. Hi and Shelton had identical grins on their faces, and Ben was scowling. That was never a good sign.

"So, Beauty Queen. How was your hot date?" Hi cracked up with Shelton. I sighed, letting them have their fun.

For a minute.

"Oh, shut up, will you? Listen –"

"I don't want to hear that you guys are just friends. Don't deny your love to me."

I rolled my eyes. "I found –"

"Your one true love?"

"Karsten's body, you idiot." I snapped.

Dead silence.

"Please tell me that's what you couldn't remember, and that's it."

"That's part of what I couldn't remember." I relayed the whispered conversation I heard.

"Well," Hi muttered after thirty seconds of dead silence. "We're screwed."

Story of my life.

A rock sailed through the window, and hit the floor, I stared at it with my mouth open, the glanced up. A sudden rush of thankfullness went through me when I realized I had opened it this morning.

I pulled the piece of paper off and spread it over my desk.

Little girl, this is not a mystery you and your friends want to stick your noses in.

If you do, don't be surprised when it bites you in the face.\

Leave it alone.

"Dammit, another one?"

A bigger rock followed the other one's path. I had enough time to fell the sharp pain in my head, hear the guys' cries of warning, before black engulfed my vision.

So, I really wanted to get this up half an hour ago, but my computer spazzed. Twice. And then died. So, I'm really really sorry about the second cliff hanger in a row. But I'll probably be able to get in a couple more updates before Monday. Sigh Who else is completely bummed out about going back to school? I won't be able to update as much, but I'll probably end up blowing off homework for this...

Anyways, two more days left. Enjoy them! I plan to ;)

Until Later then,

~V13