'Robyn I need you to take over babysitting Ethan. I need to go to the hospital and run some tests.'

'On what?'

'The sleeping tablets. I think they've been tampered with.'

'That's impossible.'

'Not as impossible as Ethan being so careless to get himself in this state.'

'Fair point. I finish work in 5 hours. Is that soon enough?'

'Nope. Can you put Zoe on?'

'Fine.' There was a rustling as the phone was passed over. 'Hello. Dr Zoe Hanna speaking.'

'Its me, Cal. I think the sleeping tablets have been tampered with and I need to test them but I don't want to leave Ethan alone.'

'Try calling Lofty.'

'Lofty?'

'Yeah. He's coming back to work next week anyway.'

'Won't he be in court?'

'No they sent everyone home after I told them about Ethan. It's being postponed for the maximum of a week.'

'Right thanks. I'll call him.'

Cal hung up on Zoe and called Lofty. Ten minutes later he arrived and Cal sped off to the hospital.

'Can you please check these? Just whether they match with what it says on the tub. Thanks.' Cal left the tablets with the pharmacists at the lab. Waiting for the results was the longest hour of his life.

'Here you go Dr Knight.' He was handed a piece of paper. 'It shows that the concentration in the tablets was five times what it should have been.'

'Thanks. I'm going to need the bottle I guess. Fingerprints and all that malarkey.'

He was handed the pill bottle in a sealed plastic bag.

'Everyone in the lab was using gloves to avoid putting any fingerprints onto the bottle.'

'Thanks for that. I should go.'

'Goodbye Dr Knight.'

'Bye!' He was already halfway down the stairs.

'Zoe!' She appeared around the corner. 'They were tampered with. These tablets are five times stronger than they're supposed to be.' He thrusted the piece of paper into her hands.

'This means that Ethan only took two of the tablets- if he took the maximum dosage it would have killed him.'

'Why would anyone want to do that?!'

'Cal- your brother is a witness in a murder case. A complex murder case. What can't a dead man do?'

'Talk.'

'Where is he now?'

'With Lofty at the apartment. Why didn't they try to get Ian or Lofty? Why did they only get to Ethan?'

'Who's saying they didn't?'

Zoe had already dialled 999 into the phone. Caleb thrusted the lab report and pills into her hand and ran out the door. He needed to be at home.

'Lofty! Let me in!' Cal was banging on the door. A groggy eyed Ethan opened the door. Crutches by his sides.

'What?'

'Where's Lofty?' Ethan rubbed his eyes, nearly hitting Cal with his crutch.

'He left about ten minutes ago-' he yawned 'I'm surprised you didn't see him.'

'Ethan you need to come with me now. It's urgent. Grab a coat, some shoes, your phone and wallet. Oh and your tablets. Quick.'

'What? Why?'

'Just do it.'

'But Caleb-'

'Ethan. It's important.'

'Fine. Whatever.' Ethan went inside and reemerged with a small bag of his belongings on his back. 'Right- you have some serious explaining to do.'

'In the car.'

Ethan hobbled down to the car. Cal hard already started the engine before Ethan had thrown his bag and crutches into the back seat. He pulled away as Ethan was buckling up.

'Care to explain?'

'We need to get Lofty first.'

'But Caleb-'

'Seriously Ethan. Trust me.'

The rest of the journey was silent. Lofty had walked from his house to Ethan's apartment. Cal pulled the car over and wound down Ethan's window.

'Get in.'

'I'm okay walking thanks.'

'Get in Lofty.'

'Alright- what is it?'

He didn't get a response. Cal's knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel. Behind him, in the backseat, Lofty negotiated the crutches and the bag before strapping himself in.

'Ethan- do you know what the hell is going on?'

'No idea. He won't tell me.'

'So I guess we'll have to wait then.'

'Wait forever and a day, it seems.'

Cal was still silent.

The car drew into the hospital grounds where two police cars and a big police unit were parked up. Police officers were everywhere.

'Inside. Now.'

Cal was the first to get out of the car, closely followed by Lofty who brought out Ethan's crutches so that he too could get out. The three men made for the entrance where they were met with worried looking Robyn and Zoe. Zoe's expression eased slightly as they approached but Robyn's remained terrified. The boys were herded into the staffroom where four police officers stood nursing steaming mugs.

Robyn threw her arms around Lofty.

'I've been worried sick.' She started to cry. 'I can't contact Ian or Jess. I'm worried something's happened to them.'

Ethan was still groggy from his never ending sleep.

'Can someone please tell me what's going on?'

After a period of deafening silence one of the police officers spoke, 'Someone's trying to kill you.'