CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Morag was very angry…how could they not know Sam Tate had woken from his coma and left the hospital? Something was very wrong here. She must get to the bottom of this before Laura found out.

Laura…if she finds out, she'll hate me. Morag thought. But if she'll let me explain than perhaps she will see reason. She hoped.

Morag burst into the hospital and went straight for Rachel who was waiting for her.

" How could you let this happen?" Morag demanded.

Rachel winced, " Morag…."

" I know that you are a very competent doctor Ms. Armstrong, but how could you not know that Sam Tate would wake from his coma? You told me he would be less than capable of getting out of his bed…and now he's been found dead."

" Morag, I was not in charge of the patient." Rachel tried to defend herself, " that was not my ward. I only knew about Sam just awhile ago. I was just as surprised as you are to learn he'd woken from his coma and disappeared from hospital."

" So who was in charge of him?" Morag asked impatiently.

" Dr. Ian Middleton." Rachel paused, " I can page him if you want me to."

" Yes please."

20 minutes later, Dr. Middleton appeared, " What is it Rachel? I'm in the middle of a consultation."

" Dr. Middleton…what in God's name has happened to Sam Tate?"

Middleton blinked and pushed his glasses up his nose, " I beg your pardon?"

" I've been informed Sam Tate's body was found near Stewart's Point. I was told he had zero chance of ever waking from his coma and even if he did, he'd be in a vegetate state."

" I…" Middleton spluttered but the woman barged on.

Morag crossed her arms, " When did Sam Tate wake up?"

Middleton cringed, this was it. His career was over. He was standing in front of a woman who put people behind bars.

" A week ago."

" And you never thought to tell anyone?" Morag's eyes narrowed dangerously.

Middleton sighed and his shoulders sagged, " I couldn't. Sam threatened to kill me if I told anyone."

" Tell us what happened Ian." Rachel urged him.

" Well…Sam woke from his coma and went I went to check his vitals, he must have knocked me out because I woke up on the floor of the hospital ward." Middleton gestured to the bruise on his forehead, " That's where I got this bruise from. He then blackmailed me into giving him morphine to keep the pain away so that he can get his revenge."

" And did he carry out his revenge?" Morag asked.

Middleton shrugged, " I truly don't know. He told me the best revenge was to hit his wife where it would hurt. This was two days ago."

" He's been alive for a week and you never told anyone?"

Middleton shook his head miserably.

" Do you realize what could have happened? Mr. Tate could have gone after his son. Killing his son would have been his revenge." Anger boiled over, " Dr. Middleton, you are the most incompetent, corrupt doctor met. And I'm going to make sure you never practice again." With that, Morag stormed out of the hospital.

Sam's death was in the paper. On the first page to be exact. The title read, MAN'S BODY FOUND NEAR STEWARTS POINT and it went on to say he was found stabbed to death, killer unknown.

Morag folded the paper and put it in her bag. Her mobile rang and she answered it.

" Hi…are you still coming over?" Laura asked cheerfully.

" Um…yes, I am." Morag hesitated.

" Great. I'll put the kettle on." Laura said.

I might need something stronger than that. Morag thought, " All right. I'll see you then."

They hung up and for the first time ever Morag wasn't looking forward in seeing Laura.

Laura opened the door and saw her newspaper had arrived. She picked it up and turned it over. The headline screamed back at her as her blood went cold.

" Body found dead…Sam?" Laura stared at the paper, wondering if they have gotten it right.

A few minutes later, Morag arrived. Laura was sitting on the couch, holding the paper in her hand.

" So…you know." Morag greeted her. Laura looked up. Her face was blank.

" How could this be?" Laura whispered, " He drowned! The newspaper here says he was found stabbed to death! Do they have it right? Newspapers are known to be wrong."

Morag was silent.

" Morag?" Laura frowned, " Do you have anything to do with this?"

" No! I didn't kill him. I only just found out today he-" she stopped.

" He what?"

" He fell off that cliff but he didn't drown. He was bought to hospital the same night you were and was put into a medically induced coma. The doctors assured me he had no chance of ever waking up. And if he had, he's most likely be a vegetable."

Laura stared at her, trying to comprehend to what she was actually telling her.

" You…lied to me?" Laura whispered. " You looked me in the eyes and told me he drowned that night. I cannot believe you Morag!"

" Laura please-"

" I love you Morag. I trusted you…and you betrayed me!" Laura stood up and threw the newspaper to the floor.

" I had to do it." Morag held out her hands pleadingly.

" Why?" Laura demanded.

Morag sighed again. This was it, the moment of truth was about to come out. " I did it….because I love you."

Laura glared, " You don't lie to someone you love." Laura said, ' Awhile ago you said you didn't want any secrets between us. Well Morag Bellingham, I believe that makes you a hypocrite!"

The words stung. " I also did it to protect you. To protect you and your son."

" Sam Tate could have gone after me or Jacob. So how can you call that protecting?" Laura took a few steps closer. Her eyes were wild, face red.

" I'm very sorry you had to find out about this. I never wanted to hurt you-"

" You've done more than hurt me." Laura snapped and what she done next stunned them both. She gave Morag a stinging slap on the cheek.

" I never want to speak to you again." She whispered fiercely, " Get out of my apartment."

" Laura-"

" I said get out!" Laura shouted. Morag picked up her handbag and left the apartment.

Laura slammed the door shut. She grabbed the paper and threw it in the bin. Then she sank back onto the couch and started to sob.