CHAPTER THIRTEEN

" You really want in?" Tim asked Jacob the following morning at school.

" Absolutely. I want to teach her a lesson." Jacob said firmly, " and whatever you have planned make it quick. I only have until Friday to do it."

" Why?" Tim asked curiously.

" Because I'm moving again. " Jacob shrugged. The thought of moving depressed him. He had just made new friends and now he had to start all over again…and it was stupid Morag Bellingham's fault. If she just did her job, he wouldn't be in this mess.

" Didn't you just get here?"

" Yeah." Jacob ambled along the hallway with Tim, taking his time to get to class. The bell had rung ages ago.

" Oh." There was a pause, " Well, I've come up with an idea to make Bellingham pay."

" What is it?"

" You'll see. Meet me after school, the usual place."

Morag met Laura at Noah's. Laura was already sloshed, she had been there for an hour and had started drinking practically non stop. The pain she has been feeling was numbed.

" How long have you been here?" Morag asked as Laura downed her fifth drink.

" Awhile," Laura slurred, " Pull up a chair Morag."

" I think you've had quite enough." Morag decided. On previous nights they always moderated their drinking but Laura was going overboard, " Or you'll be feeling it in the morning."

" I don't feel nothin' now and I want it to stay tha' way." Laura's tongue felt too big for her mouth and was having trouble speaking. She pushed her glass over to the bartender and ordered another.

" Come on, let's get you home." Morag said, grabbing her arm and puling her off the stool. She paid the tab and guided Laura out of Noah's Bar and into the parking lot.

" I was just getting started," Laura protested.

" And I'm finishing it." She herded Laura to her car and opened the passenger door.

" Get in." waited until Laura reluctantly climbed into the passenger seat.

Morag climbed into the drivers seat and they headed for Laura's apartment. " I thought the whole idea of going to Noah's was having a few drinks." Laura grumbled.

" That maybe so but we always did it in moderation." Morag reminded her, " Drinking away the pain isn't the answer Laura."

Laura groaned, " Don't start Morag, I'm not in the mood." She was not a happy drunk.

They drove in silence. Laura was staring out of the window moodily. She felt sick but wouldn't throw up in front of Morag-too humiliating. She prayed it would stay down until she was home.

Morag turned the corner, braking slowly but the car just sped around the corner.

" Slow down Morag." Laura complained as her stomach lurched dangerously.

" I'm trying to slow down." Morag snapped as she applied a little more force to the brakes but nothing happened.

" What's wrong?" Laura saw the distressed look in Morag's face.

" The brakes…they aren't working." She tried to brake again but the car spun out of control. Laura screamed as the car lurched off the road and slid down an embankment.

There was a loud bang and everything went black.

Beth Hunter and Tony Holden were on their way to the surf club when Tony spotted something. It was a car that had slid down an embankment and into a tree.

" Isn't that Morag's car?" Tony asked Beth as he slowed to a stop. They both got out and hurried to the car. Beth peered in. Morag looked shaken and dazed. She had cuts on her face and a nasty looking gash on her forehead.

Laura was not so well. She was bleeding and unconscious. Tony called for an ambulance.

" Morag?" Beth opened the door to Morag's side, " Can you get up?"

Morag looked over. Her vision was blurry, it sounded like Beth, " I-I think so." She said as Beth helped her out. Morag swayed and would have collapsed if Beth hadn't held her upright.

" What happened Morag?"

" The brakes…they weren't working." Morag stuttered, " Laura…is she all right?"

" She's unconscious. The ambulance is coming." Beth assured her. Morag felt dizzy as she leaned against Beth for support.

Jacob grabbed his mobile and answered it, " Hello?"

" Jacob?" it was an unfamiliar voice.

" Yes…who's this?"

" This is Beth Hunter. I have some rather bad news I'm afraid."

Jacob went cold, " What's wrong?" he didn't like the sound of Beth's voice.

" It's your mother. She's in hospital. She's been in a car accident."

Jacob's heart stopped, " A car accident?" he whispered.

" They were driving in Morag's car. Her brakes weren't working and they lost control of the car. Morag is all right but your mother…we are on our way to pick you up."

" Okay." Jacob said as he hung up. He couldn't believe the rotten luck. His mother was in hospital and could die…and it would be his fault. After all, it had been he who tampered with Morag's brakes.