CHAPTER TWELVE

She was standing on a cliff, holding a knife in her hand. Its sharp blade glinted in the moonlight as she stared at Sam Tate.

Sam's face went white, " What are you doing here?" he demanded her.

She just smiled and made a lunge for him. She stood back and watched as Sam fell from the cliff, the knife embedded firmly in his chest….

Laura jolted awake as the image of Sam falling of the cliff was still in her mind. What a bizarre dream. She knew it was just a dream…Sam was dead.

She rolled over and tried to get back to sleep but sleep was impossible. She went into the kitchen to see her son packing his backpack.

" Is it okay if I stay over at Tim's tonight?" he asked. It was Friday night again.

" Sure….you've been spending quite a bit of time with him lately."

" We are partners in a Science project…its due next week." Jacob said, " Tim's real smart in science."

" So are you." Laura countered. Science was Tim's best subject in school. English was a close second.

" I'll be back on Sunday." Jacob assured her, "I just want to do well on it since I got behind."

" You'll do fine." Laura smiled at him.

Jacob zipped up his bag. He felt a little guilty for not spending time with his mother. He pecked her cheek and promised they'd do a movie night. He left the apartment and met Tim at the surf club.

" You made it." Tim greeted him in surprise.

" Of course I did. Why wouldn't I?"

" I thought your mum would be suspicious about you going away a lot?"

" I just made up some lie about us being partners in Science."

" But we're not even in Science together." Tim reminded him.

Jacob shrugged noncommittally, " She doesn't know that."

" I have an idea for us…the gang…to form a club."

" What kind of club?" Jacob asked as they went into Noah's Bar and both ordered mineral waters.

" A Dare Club." Tim said, " We'll pull names out of a hat or something and take turns doing dares."

" Dares?"

" There will be no limitations on dares. If someone doesn't want to do one then they are out."

" Out?"

" Out of the group and labeled a wimp." Tim smiled slyly, " Sounds good?"

" Well…depends on what the dares are." Jacob did not like the sound of this. Even thought Tim had been the one who caused his mother's car crash, Jacob still wanted to be his friend…and part of this group. He did not want geeks for friends and these guys were not geeks.

" And who will be calling the dares?" Jacob asked.

" Me of course. Being the leader and all."

Of course. Jacob sighed, " Well, I'm in."

" Everybody's in. No one has a choice." Tim stood, " It's time to meet up with the guys."

" The only way to get Detective Baker off our backs is to come clean about us." Laura told Morag later that evening.

" I don't think I'm ready for that…" Morag trailed off.

" But it will clear our names." Her lover pointed out, " At least think about it Morag." Her lover kissed her cheek before heading into the kitchen.

Morag stared into space. She has been interviewed twice by the annoying Detective Peter Baker. Asking her questions about the case files he had in his possession and also asked where she was on the night Josh West was murdered. Those files are confidential and I'll be they'll be going through them right now. The thought made her angry. And she also knew it wouldn't be long until they interviewed her friend as well.

I'm not ready to tell anyone. Morag decided, and the people in this town won't be ready for us. That's for darn sure.

Dr Ian Middleton left the second floor and almost bumped into Dr. Rachel Armstrong.

" Oh hello Ian…how's the coma patient going?"

" Oh…no change." Dr. Middleton told her. Armstrong almost never went to the second floor, it wasn't her part of the hospital.

Armstrong glanced at the older doctor. He seemed nervous and a bit agitated. His eyes darted crazily as he pushed past her and left.

Rachel took the lift to the second floor and peered through the ICU window. The bed the patient had been lying in was empty! The machines were gone too.

There was no need to panic just yet, patients were moved all the time. She went back to the first floor and asked about the whereabouts of Sam Tate.

" He should be still in there." Nurse Cooper told Rachel.

" Well, he isn't." Rachel replied, " He's gone. Has he been moved?"

Nurse Cooper checked the records, " Nope."

" Hmm." Rachel was stumped. There was something weird going on and she had a feeling Dr. Middleton had something to do with it.

Her mobile phone went off and she answered it.

" He's what?" Rachel was stunned when she was told the news, " but…he was supposed to be here in a coma!"

Morag Bellingham wasn't going to be happy about this at all.