CHAPTER THREE

Morag took the keys out of her handbag and headed for the car. She slowed when she saw one of her tires was flat. On closer inspection she discovered all four tires were flat.

" How on earth did this happen?" she muttered to herself. She knelt and inspected one of the tires. She put on her glasses and peered closely. She could see a tiny puncture hole.

Someone has gone and punctured my tires! She realized. But who would do a thing like that?

She went back to the diner, fuming.

" Is something wrong Morag?" Leah asked as she walked past her with plates in her hand.

" My tires have been punctured. I need to call a tow truck." Morag took out her cell.

" Who would puncture your wheels?" Irene asked who was making coffee.

" I don't know…but I won't worry about it too much." Morag said.

" Really? I thought you'd be furious." Irene said in surprise.

" I won't give the culprit the satisfaction." Morag told her firmly before calling the tow truck company.

" Oh my God, did you see the look on her face?" Tim roared with laughter as he and Jacob walked along the beach.

" Yeah, it was priceless." Jacob didn't see the point of puncturing someone's wheels but he certainly didn't tell that to Tim.

" At moments like those I wish I had a camera." Tim shook his head, " That bitch gets what she deserves. And this is just the beginning."

Jacob studied his new friend. It seemed Tim had a vendetta against the woman. But surely Tim would think of something bigger than just puncturing her tires.

" What's the next phase?"

" Keep tonight free and I'll give ya a call." Tim said mysteriously.

" It's nice that you have friends but going to this young man's house on a school night? I don't know." Laura hedged.

" Please Mum?" Jacob pleaded, " It'll only be this time. I swear."

" Do you need dropped off?"

" No, he wants me to meet him at the surf club. I won't be too late."

" You'd better not." Laura warned then gave in, " Okay you can go. Leave your phone on."

Jacob nodded and left quickly. He knew his mother trusted him, as far as she was concerned, he could do no wrong.

He met Tim and the gang at the destination before heading to the beach. It was chilly and Jacob forgot to bring a jumper. He shivered slightly.

" Cold Jacob?" David sneered.

" No." Jacob replied and stuck his hands in his pockets.

" Okay, see that buoy over there?" Tim asked gesturing to the buoy. It was a few meters away from the shore.

" Yeah."

" We want you to swim out to the buoy and back."

Jacob's heart sank. He was a good swimmer, he used to be a member of his old high school's swim team. But swimming in the ocean at night was dangerous. There could be sharks and he could just barely make out that buoy.

" Tim, that's a bit risky." Gerald Inglewood frowned at this idea.

" He can hack it. Can't you." Tim turned to Jacob.

" Yeah, easy." Jacob wasn't sure what he was going to do when he came home clothes dripping wet.

" I guess I forgot to mention to bring your trunks." Tim snickered.

I'll show him…I'll show them all. He strode towards the water.

" He's really gonna do it." David whispered in awe.

Jacob waded into the water and dived. He did a forward stroke and got into a rhythm. Before he knew it, his fingers were touching the buoy!

He treaded the water and waved to the group back on the beach. There were cheers and whistles.

He grinned to himself when he got an idea. He sank underneath the dark water and waited.

" Where is he?" David peered out to sea, " Shouldn't he be back by now?" it was more than fifteen minutes since Jacob made it to the buoy. Now there was no sign of him.

" He'll be back." Tim snapped, he was getting worried. The kid looked like a strong swimmer, so how was it he was not back yet? They waited another ten minutes.

" Damn it." Tim cursed.

" If something has happened to him…it'll be your fault!" David shouted at Tim, getting angry.

" I have to go in." Tim said, staring at the pitch blackness of the water. He wasn't a great swimmer. A hand slapped his shoulder then and he almost screamed. He whirled and saw Jacob, dripping wet.

" Jesus Tate!" Tim spluttered, " Way to go in scaring us hey?"

Jacob smirked and flicked a strand of wet hair from his eyes before heading back to the men's toilets to dry off as best he can. He knew then he had won the respect of the school bully. There wouldn't be a phase three.