Life Exchange

Jenny Dooley
Express Publishing
Chapter 1: Luke and Jake
Chapter 2: The Accident
Chapter 3: Life Exchange
Chapter 4: New Life - Old Habits
Chapter 5: Strange Caller
Chapter 6: Suspicions
Chapter 7: The Psychic
Chapter 8: The Past Strikes Back
Chapter 9: Great Grandfather's clock
Chapter 10: The Chase
Ch a pte r 1
Luke Harrison sat at his desk and looked thr ough the door
into the next room. His secretary was pr epar i ng the room for
the directors' meeting. Luke smiled. On the table, the crystal
glasses and golden cigarette box were shi ni ng in the light fr om
the lamps. There were red roses to go with the red velvet chairs.
Yes, the directors would certainly have a comfortable meeting.
The smile left his face. He wasn't so sure of the discussions at
the meeting. His par tne r , Jake Ful bri ght, was tal ki ng to him
fr om the other side of the room. There was anger in his voice.
"Luke ! Wake u p ! The offi ce looks good, doesn't i t? Our
company is going well, isn't i t? Together we've done a good
job. And how? By always doi ng what's best for the company!"
"It's no good, Jake. You are not going to change my mi nd.
Our busi ness is p r op e r ty - l and, houses and buildings. We
became a great comp an y because we gave the peopl e wh at
they wanted. And they paid us well. Now our city wants us and
for a good cause. We have to give the m what they want - a
children's home. There is more to success than money, Jake.
There is pride, and respect ..."
"Stop that! Our city needs an office block! And big
companies will pay us good money. Think of your family, Luke.
Don't you want to do the best for your wi fe ?"
Jake took out a cigarette and lit it.
"If you'r e so keen on doing the best for yourself, why don't
you stop that har mful habit?"
5
Luke hated smoking and Jake hated being told what to do
by anyone , even if it was his old fr i e nd and par tne r . The two
men had grown u p together, and bui l t their fu tu r e s together.
And together they had fou n d riches and success. Bu t i n th e
past year, somethi ng had gone wr on g between them. What
was i t? Lu ke wi shed he kn e w.
"For goodness sake, Luke! Listen to me! I'm going to fi g h t
you on this one. I'm going i nto that meeting and I'm going to
per suade those directors to agree to the new office bui l di ng."
"I'm sorry, Jake . You can't do that. We are the p ar tn e r s ,
they are our directors. They can't agree to an yth i n g if we don't
agree. Those are the rules, Jake."
"Rul es are for losers! I'm a wi nner , and I take chances!"
Jake banged his fi st on the table. Then he looked directly
into Luke's eyes.
"He who dares, wins, Luke. Remember ? And I dare!"
It was an old saying that the two men had used in the
early days of their business. They had used the saying to give
each other courage. Now Jake was u s i n g it to give hi m the
s tr ength to fi g h t hi s own p ar tn e r . Ju s t th e n , th e p h on e on
Luke's desk rang. He heard his wife's gentle, l ovi ng voice.
"Is that you , Luke?"
"Yes, darling. How's it going at home?"
"Fine! Bu t what's the matter ? You don't sound too happy."
Dear Megan! She always knew if something was wrong. But
she mus t not kn ow that an yth i n g was wr ong between Luke
and Jake. Luke tried to sound happi er.
"I ... I'm fi ne , love. Jus t a bit busy. You know - usual Friday
r ush to get things done before the we e ke nd. How are things
at home?"
8
"Pretty busy here, too! Nath an has b r ou g h t a fr i end home
fr om school - can't you hear them? They are pl ayi ng upstairs.
And I've got you r favou r i te di n n e r - beef cu r r y. It's nearly
ready. So what time are you comi ng home?"
"Listen, Megan, love. I'm sorry, b u t I'm going to be late.
There's a meeti ng this evening."
"Oh, Luke! Not again! Oh, darling, you've been worki ng
too har d lately. Try to get home and relax - we miss you!"
"I kn ow, love. And I'll be home as soon as I can."
Lu ke p u t the p h on e down. He wished Jake hadn't been in
the room listening to the conversation.
"You leave that gorgeous wife of your s alone far too much.
If she was my wife, I woul d never leave her side."
There was something about Jake when he spoke of Megan -
a look in his eye, and a strange tone i n his voice. Luke couldn't
explain why, but it made hi m very uncomfortable. But Jake was
keeping a secret fr om his partner. Jake, the man with money
and power but without a woman in his life, was in love with Luke's
wife. Megan knew nothi ng of this. She loved her husband, her
son and her home. Jake knew this, but Jake still wanted Megan.
"And he who dares, wins!" he told himself.
The awkwar d mome n t in the offi ce passed. Just then, the
intercom buzzed. Jake pressed a button and listened. It was
one of the secretaries.
"All fou r directors have arrived. Shall I take them i nto the
conference room?"
"Yes, please. We'll be with them in two minutes. Well Luke,
this is it. They are all in there. And I'm going to persuade each
one of them what is best for this company. Big l u x u r y offices
- that will br i ng us heaps of money."
9
Ch a pte r 2
Jake looked at Luke. He was daring him to answer. Then
he picked u p his cigarettes and walked out of the room.
Jake was the fi rst to leave the meeting. His face was red with
anger. The directors had not agreed to the idea of constructing
a new office building but, worse, they had refused to listen to
any plan which both Jake and Luke did not agree to. He walked
past the secretaries and out to his car. He didn't say anythi ng
to Luke because he didn't wan t to fi ght him. Not yet. He was
going to tr y once more to change his mind.
Back at Luke's house, Nathan heard his father's car coming.
He ran to the front door.
"Daddy! You're late! Come and see my model aeroplane!
I've nearly finished it! Daddy, it's beef cur r y for di nne r , your
favour i te! I'm starvi ng, are you? Can we go out on our bikes
together tomor r ow?
"Hey, slow down a bit!"
"Hello darling! At last!"
"Hello, my love. Ah, it's good to be home."
They all we n t i nto the living room to enjoy the eveni ng
together.
The n e x t mor n i n g , as th e y we r e h avi n g b r e akfas t, th e
telephone rang. It was Jake.
"Hello."
11
"Good mor n i n g Luke! Listen, I've got an idea. Why don't
we go out hunti ng? It's been a long time since we went hunti ng
together . Maybe we can b r i n g a r abbi t home for Megan to
cook."
Luke was pleased that Jake was in a good mood. And although
it was Satur day, Lu ke decided to go out wi th Jake. It was a
chance for them to do something together as fr i ends , ju s t as
they used to do in the past.
"Good idea! Let's do it! We'll go in my car - I'll come and
pick you u p in an hour . I need to clean my gun fi r s t. I haven't
used it for ages."
It was a glorious day. A perfect day for hunti ng. The sun
was shining through the trees. The birds were singing. As they
walked thr ough the woods, Jake started tal ki ng about wor k -
and the office building.
"Oh, come on Jake! Let's forget about the office bui l di ng
for today, and jus t enjoy ourselves."
"Life isn't that simple, Luke. We have to pay for everythi ng
- even days out in the woods. That's wh y we can't affor d to
build children's homes, Luke."
"Jake, I told you. The city needs the home, and we have
almost promised we are going to do it. It's the ri ght thing to
do."
"The right thing to do is what's good for us - not the
others."
"Come on, Jake! Let's jus t h u n t rabbits. Now, what's that I
see over there? Looks like a nice tasty di nner to me!"
12
Luke picked up his gun. So did Jake. But Jake wasn't looking
at the trees, or the rabbits.
The bul l et fr om Jake's gun fl ew past Luke's face.
"For goodness sake! What are you thi nki ng of? You almost
killed me!"
"I'm s or r y. It was an acci dent. I touched the tr i gger by
mistake. I'm very sorry."
"Look, I th i n k it's time we went home. We are obviously
not going to do any serious h u n ti n g today."
"Well, I di dn't mean to do it, and I've said I'm sorry. Bu t
if you want to go, then let's go."
The two men sat in the car and stared at the road in fr on t.
Nei ther of them spoke. Luke changed gear as th e y came i nto
a nar r ow road. Jake looked down at the view across the hills
and of the city below. Lu ke tu r n e d the steering wheel as they
came to a bend. There, approaching the m, was an enor mous
lorry on their side of the road. Luke shouted,
"Get onto your own side of the road!"
Bu t the l or r y dr i ver di dn't notice them. He wasn't looking
at Luke's car - he was looking at the pl easant view below.
"Move over, you idiot! Watch the road!"
The tyres screeched as Luke tried to move out of the way. But
the lorry just came towards them. Luke turned the steering wheel
again, fast. The car left the road, and disappeared over the side
of the hill. For a moment there was silence as the car flew through
the air. Then came the crash.
Nei ther of the men heard the noise, or felt the fl ames as
the car exploded. Their b u r n t bodies were thr own out of the
car and onto the grass.
13
15
The lorry driver was still shaking when the ambulance
arrived. The ambulance men ran towards the bur ni ng car. On
the black, b u r n t gr ound nearby lay the two me n . They wer e
lifted into the ambulance and taken to the City Hospital. The
ambulance men pushed them on trolleys into the Casualty
De par tme nt. A nur se stood with the m as they waited for the
doctors to come. As they lay on their trolleys inside the hospital,
one of the men made a noise. The nur s e spoke to him.
"Hello. Can you hear me? Can you tell me your name?"
The b u r n e d man tu r n e d towards his bur ned fr i e n d on the
other trolley. He p u t his hand onto his fr i e nd's hand.
"J ... a ...k ... e!"
But that was his last word. He died, with his hand in the
hand of his fr i e n d.
"Can you hear me? Jake, did you say?"
The nurse lifted the dead man's hand away fr om his friend's
and laid it across his chest.
Megan looked at the clock and told herself not to worry.
Luke was probably having a dr i nk wi th Jake. He woul d be
home soon. The tel ephone r ang.
"Hello?"
16
17
"Hello. I'd like to speak to Mrs Megan Harrison - er, Luke
Harrison's wi fe, please."
"Yes, that's me. Who's speaki ng, please?"
"I'm Police Constable Smithers, fr om the City Police Station.
Mr s Harri son, there's been an accident - a car accident - rather
serious."
Megan caught her br eath.
"Oh, no ... he isn't ... he ..."
"Now, keep calm. Your husband is alive, but he is very badly
h u r t. Now, can you come strai ght to the Casual ty De p ar tme n t
at the City Hospital, please? Would you l i ke me to send one
of my men to come and get you?"
"No, thank you. I'm coming now; right away."
Megan drove, pr ayi ng all the way.
"Oh, please God, let hi m live! He's such a good man, a good
h u s b an d, a good fath e r ..."
She fought her tears as she drove to the hospital. She quickly
fou n d the pol i ceman at the Casualty De p ar tme n t.
"Hello, er, Mr s Har r i s on ? Now, tr y to relax - I kn ow it's
di ffi cul t. Your husband's car crashed and we nt off the road. It
was quite bad - the car caught fi re and the two men were badly
bur ned. We fou n d the numbe r plate of the car so we were able
to fi nd its owner. One of the men died. We were able to i denti fy
your husband because he was holding his wedding ring in his
hand. A nurse will take you in to see hi m."
Shortly after war ds, a doctor came i nto the room. He sat
down on a seat next to Megan.
18
"Mrs Harrison? I'm Doctor Ramsay. I've been looking after
your husband."
The doctor looked ki n dl y at Megan, and held her h an d.
"We are doing ever ythi ng we can to save hi m, b u t he's in
a coma, so he won't know you're here."
"Is he ... is he ... going to die, Doctor?"
"We hope not, b u t we mu s t pr e par e ourselves."
Megan could no longer see the doctor's ki nd face - her eyes
were fi l l ed wi th tears.
"Oh, Doctor! What about his fr i e n d, Jake?"
"There was nothi ng we could do for h i m - he died when
he ar r i ve d h e r e at the hos pi tal . Now, come wi th me. You r
husband is covered in bandages so you won't see much of him.
But we all believe it helps the patient to have a loved one nearby
- even whe n they are in a coma."
Megan followed the doctor to a s mal l side room at the end
of a war d. The man u n de r the bandages knew n oth i n g and
nobody.
"Oh, Luke! Well, I suppose it's better r i g h t now th at he
doesn't know anythi ng. I me an , he would be in terrible pai n
if he were awake, wou l dn 't he, Doctor?"
"Yes. You kn ow, Mr s Har r i s on , even if he recovers, he
mi ght not r emember mu ch . He mi ght have amnesia."
"Bu t it woul d pass, woul dn't i t?"
"Hopeful l y, yes - in time. Now, let's leave the nurses to take
care of h i m. Go h ome and get some rest - we will call you if
we need you. And come back tomorrow mor ni ng."
19
The next thr ee days were terrible for Megan. She sat at the
side of the bed - wai ti ng for signs of recovery. Then, on the
thi rd eveni ng, the head unde r the bandages moved. Megan
saw the eyes and th e lips move slowly.
"Oh Luke! My love! Luke, darling - can you hear me? Can
you see me?"
The voice was slow and weak.
"Megan!"
"Oh Luke, does it h u r t? Don't wor r y. Eve r yth i n g will be all
r i ght. You are going to live, and come home. We're all going
to be together soon. Oh Luke! I love you so much!"
The face u n de r the bandages moved, the eyes fi l l ed with
tears. Then they closed, and Luke slept.
22
The nurse touched the bandages around Luke's head and
smiled at hi m.
"Well, this is it! Now, will you take it off Luke, or should
I?"
It was the last bandage - after the last operation. For six
months, doctors had cut skin and repaired the terrible damage
fr om the accident. Lu ke had been very patient and had been
wai ti ng for this mome n t.
"You do i t, Nur se. It's the last time for you - I'll ju s t watch
the good work!"
He looked into the mi r r or , and he couldn't believe his eyes.
It was l i ke magic! There were a few tiny lines, b u t apar t fr om
that, it was the same good-looking face of the photogr aphs of
Lu ke Har r i s on befor e the accident. The same photogr aphs
that the doctors had used to recreate the face. And they had
got i t right! Luke's eyes filled wi th tears.
"Oh, I don't kn ow wh at to say ... well ... I look exactly like
I did before! It's ju s t perfect!"
"I'm very happy for you Luke! But you had better go home
to your wife befor e we all fall in love with you! And here she is!"
Megan walked into the room, carrying a suitcase to take
his thi ngs home. She p u t down the case and thr e w her arms
ar ound hi m.
"Oh Luke! I've got my old Lu ke back again! Come on, let's
get you home, wher e you belong!"
23
Chapter 4
They drove away from the hospital. It was so nice for Megan
to sit in the car wi th her h u s b an d at the wheel again. But she
noticed that Luke suddenl y seemed sad.
"What is it love? Aren't you happy?"
"Yes, b u t I'm so sorry that Jake didn't have the same luck.
Do you mi nd if we stop at the cemetery? I'd ju s t like to see his
grave."
Megan wondered why he di dn't wan t to go home fi r st. But
it was tr ue . Luke had not yet actually seen the grave of his old
fr i e nd and par tner . He had been very sick at the time of the
fu n e r al .
"Of course, love. We'll stop off first and b u y some flowers."
At the graveyard, Megan put the flowers onto the grave.
Then she stepped back to let Luke have a moment alone. Luke
went down on his knees an d cried.
"Oh Jake! My tr ue fri end! Why was it you and not me? How
can I live wi th ou t you? I'll never forget you , never!"
Megan waited for a little while, then she we nt and took him
away fr om the grave. They walked back to the car in silence.
Luke drove them home.
As they walked to the door, Nathan ran out. He thr ew his
ar ms ar ound Luke.
"Daddy! Oh, Daddy! I'm so h ap p y you're back!"
26
Nath an pulled Luke by the hand and took hi m i nto the
living room.
"I want to see you her e, by the fi r e, ju s t like the old days.
Oh Daddy, I've missed you so much! I'm going to make s ur e
that n oth i n g bad ever happens to you again!"
The fami l y had dinner together. Megan pour ed them all
some wine.
"Here's to our fami l y - together again!"
"And forever!"
Nath an coul dn't stop looking at Luke, and Megan's eyes
were shining with happiness. After the meal, Luke p u t his hand
i nto his pocket. He took out a packet of cigarettes and lit one.
Megan and Nath an both spoke at once.
"Daddy!"
"Luke! You are smoking! Bu t you've never smoked before!
You've always hated it!"
"Yes, I know."
"Don't do it Daddy! It's bad for you!"
"Hey, you two!"
"I'm sorry dar l i n g . We di dn't mean to complain."
Me gan got u p to get an as h tr ay. Nath an p i cke d u p th e
packet.
"Jake used to smoke those."
Megan took the packet from Nathan, and handed the ashtray
to Luke .
"Thank you. I expect it's a reaction - the shock fr om the
accident is maki ng me wan t to smoke."
"Well, let's hope it will pass. Anyway, it's won de r fu l to have
you back. Now, shall we go and sit by the fi re and watch a fi l m
together?"
27
"Welcome back!"
The secretaries, the di r ector s, the cleaners - all the office
staff- stood i n the office, waiting for Luke. As he walked through
the door, they cheered and clapped. Luke's personal secretary,
Mar y, came u p and kissed h i m.
"It's won de r fu l to see you. We've all been waiting for this
day!"
Luke we n t i n to hi s office with Mar y. She explained some
of the things that were happeni ng in the company, and showed
hi m the fi l es wi th all the i n for mati on he needed. Then th e
di r e ctor s came in for a s h or t me e ti n g . The comp an y had
managed very well wi thout the two partners, b u t ever yone was
glad to have one of the heads of the company back in control.
After he had spoken to all of th e m, Luke sat in his offi ce. It
was s tr ange - he was alone now. There was no p ar tn e r si tti ng
across fr om h i m. Nobody to help him make a decision. And
nobody to stop him doi ng wh ate ve r he wanted to do. Yes, the
comp an y was all his. He looked at the photograph of Megan
on his desk. Suddenl y he wanted to be with her. He we n t out
and bought some flowers and champagne. Then he went home.
"Hello dar l i ng! You're earl y! What a nice surprise! Oh,
what lovely flowers!"
Megan p u t the fl ower s into a vase. She carried the vase i nto
the hall, and put it on the table under her favourite photograph.
It was a photogr aph of Lu ke - h an ds ome , h ap p y, wi th ki n d
smiling eyes.
Later th at eveni ng, they dr an k the champagne together.
"To a won de r fu l new start! Cheers, darling!"
"Cheers!"
"And to my next busi ness deal!"
"What's that, dar l i ng? The new bui l di ng for the children's
h ome ?"
"No. To the new office b u i l di n g I am going to bui l d. Ri ght
in the middle of the city centre."
"Office bui l di ng! Bu t I th ou g h t you di dn 't wan t the offi ce
bui l di ng!"
"Well, I do wan t the offi ce bui l di ng, now. I am goi ng to
name it after Jake - The Fulbright Centre - l u x u r y offi ces ."
"But you wante d the chi l dren's home so mu ch ! And the
city is expecting you to bui l d it."
Luke looked at Megan. His eyes we r e wet wi th tears.
"I mu s t do th i s , Me gan. It was Jake 's last wi sh befor e he
died."
"Well, I can u n de r s tan d those feelings in you r pr i vate l i fe.
Bu t, Luke , do you thi nk you should listen to your feelings and
emotions in you r business life?"
"He was my p ar tn e r , Megan. He died and I lived. I owe
hi m this."
Ju s t th e n the tel ephone r an g . Luke we n t out i nto the hal l
to ans wer i t. He pi cked u p the p h on e and h e ar d a str ange
noise. It was a voice - well, like a voice -b u t strange. It seemed
ve r y far away, b u t at th e s ame ti me as if th e s p e ake r was
28 29
Ch a pte r 5
standing right next to him. He looked at the fl ower s on the
hall table, and he tried hard to recognise the voice.
"Why? Tell me wh y?"
Lu ke di dn't say anythi ng. He waited to hear more.
"Why are you doing this? Why are you doi ng this?"
The voice got stronger as i t repeated the question.
"Why are you doing this?"
Luke was frightened - very frightened. He put the telephone
down. At the same moment he looked at the photograph above
the table. Megan's favouri te photogr aph of her happy, smiling
Luke. The photograph moved. It clearly moved fr om side to
side. Then it moved for war d, away fr om the wall.
Luke stared in horror as it crashed down to the floor. Tiny
pieces of glass and torn pieces of photograph fl ew across the
hall.
Megan r ushed out i nto the hall.
"What's th at? What happened? Oh, my photogr aph."
Luke was whi te, and fr i ghtened. Bu t he answered Megan.
"I ... I'm sorry, love. I lifted my ar m u p - I knocked it off
by mi stake. I ... I'll clear it up."
Megan looked at hi m. She was a bit worried.
"Don't wor r y. I'll do it. You look tired dear - go and sit
down. Remember , it was your fi r s t day back at wor k for a ver y
long time. I'll make us a dr i nk and we'll go to bed early."
3 0 3 1
"Cheers darling! And a h ap p y birthday!"
Megan lifted her wi ne glass and looked i nto Luke's eyes.
"And many more of the m, together."
She kissed hi m, and they dr an k thei r wi ne. Nath an looked
at the barbecue.
"Not too man y more glasses of wine, Daddy! Look! You're
b u r n i n g the steak!"
Luke turned to the barbecue, and moved the steaks to one
side.
"Hey! You used to be really good at cooking barbecues.
What's happened?"
"Too much wine!"
"Quiet, Nathan! Luke, you don't look too well. Are you sure
you 'r e all r i g h t? Here, I have some beef cu r r y for you over
ther e - that shoul d make you feel better."
But Luke didn't eat the beef cur r y, or any of the barbecue
food. Megan was worried.
"Darling, really! What's the matte r ?"
"It's O.K. Megan. I'm ju s t not ver y h u n g r y."
The te l e p h on e r ang. Lu ke we n t to ans wer i t. A fami l i ar
voice spoke to hi m.
"Happy bi r thday, partner!"
An echo fr om the past! Luke's face became whi te with fear.
He p u t th e phone down an d wal ke d back i nto th e garden.
Megan saw the colour of his face.
3 2
"Luke, love. What is i t? You look terrible! Who was on the
tel ephone?"
"Nobody. It was a wrong number ."
"Well, come over here and cut you r cake. OK everyone!
Here he is!"
"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday
dear Luke. Happy birthday to you!"
All the guests cheered and clapped. Luke cut his cake and
hande d everyone a piece. Soon, he was l aughi ng and joki n g
wi th them all.
Later in the evening, Megan told Nathan to go and have
his bath.
"Oh, Mum! All right. I'll go if Daddy will come up afterwards
and say goodnight."
"Of course I will!"
"And tell me a story?"
"Yes. Now you go and have you r bath."
Nathan came out of the bathroom - clean, tired and happy.
Luke was s i tti ng on his bed, waiting for hi m.
"He y, Daddy! Ar en't you glad you had th at b i r th day? I
cer tai nl y am! Daddy, will you tell me that story - you kn ow,
the one about the fi sher man and his wi fe ? The way you used
to tell i t, with the fu n n y voices?"
"What story is that, Nath an ?"
"Oh, you know, Daddy - our story! I'll be the fish, and you'll
be the fi s he r man."
"I don't th i n k I kn ow that one, Nathan."
3 3
Ch a pte r 6
"Oh, don't tease me, Daddy! Of course you do! We've done
it a th ou s an d times!"
"Well, I suppose I ju s t don't r emember it, then."
Nath an looked worri ed. Was Daddy joki ng or not?
"Daddy, you can't have for gotten it! It's like forgetti ng your
own name, or who you are, or Mu mmy, or me!"
"Wel l , i t l ooks as if I h ave for g otte n i t. Shal l we h ave a
di ffe r e n t story? Shall I read you s ome thi ng fr om a book?"
"Well... yes. If you say so, Daddy."
Nathan listened to the story and then Luke said goodnight.
Nath an h e ar d h i m goi ng downs tai r s . Then he l ay in bed,
wor r yi ng about his fath e r .
Something was wrong. Why di dn't he kn ow how to do the
barbecue? Mu mmy was worried too. She hadn't said anythi ng,
b u t Nath an kne w. He was watch i n g , and listening. And who
was phoni ng hi m? Why was he upset after the calls? And wh at
about the story? He mu s t kn ow it. He listened to hi s par ents
tal ki ng. His mothe r wanted to go somewhere.
"To Lucy's house. You know Lucy, my friend from aerobics.
She's havi ng a tea p ar ty on Th u r s day afte r noon. A chance for
us all to have a good chat. Do you thi nk you could stay here
and look after Nath an ? I'll be back by ni ne o'clock."
"Yes, my dear, of course. I know how you. women love to
gossip."
"Oh, really, Luke! Anyway, Lucy's very nice, you know! You
won 't for get, will you?"
"No, my love. I'll be here."
3 6
Megan sat in the garden, enjoyi ng the late afte r n oon sun
wi th Nathan. They looked u p as Luke wal ked across th e
grass.
"Hello, dear. Did you have a good day?"
"Mmm, fi ne . You see, I told you I woul d remember.
Nath an and I are going to have fu n while you ladies chat -
isn't that ri ght?"
Megan l aughed, and went to get ready to leave. She drove
i n her own car to her fr i end's house. The fr on t door was
open, and she walked i n to the hall. Lucy saw her.
"Megan! Come in and joi n us! I'm so glad you came!"
"Mmm ... so am I. Oh, look at that table! Lucy you
shoul dn't have done all that!"
The table was laid with all kinds of sandwiches, pies, cakes
and biscuits. There were pots of di ffe r e n t ki nds of tea fr om
all over the worl d.
"Come over and say hello fi rst! You know most of the
people here, b u t I wan t you to meet someone."
Megan followed Lucy across the room.
"Rose is a very special person. She can see i nto the fu tu r e
- she can see beyond our wor l d. She's amazing!"
"You mean she's a psychic!"
"Yes! Isn't it exciting?"
Megan looked at Rose. She was a pr etty woman wi th
bri ght eyes. She looked u p as Megan walked towar ds her .
"Rose, this is Megan."
3 7
Chapter 7
"Hello, Megan."
Rose held Megan's hands an d looked i n to her face.
Suddenl y Rose became very still - she seemed to be fr oze n ,
or h yp n oti s e d. She stared deepl y into Megan's eyes, and
wh e n she spoke, she sounded shocked.
"Oh, my God! Your h u s b an d is dead!"
"No ... he can't be! He's at home l ooki ng after our son ..."
Megan took away her hands and Rose's face tur ned whi te,
her eyes closed, and she fell to the fl oor . Lucy r an to her .
"She's fai nted! She has seen a death!"
"It can't be tr ue! I l eft hi m hal f an hour ago ..."
Megan ran fr om the r oom, i nto the hall. She picked u p
the tel ephone and dialled her own n u mb e r . Luke answered.
"Hello?"
"Luke? Is that you?"
"Well, yes. Who did you th i n k it would be?"
"Oh, nobody, n oth i n g . I ju s t wanted to check th at
e ve r ythi ng was all right."
"Megan! I am able to look after a seven-year-ol d boy, you
know!"
Megan walked back i nto Lucy's l i vi ng room. Rose was
s i tti ng on the settee, dr i n ki n g tea. Nobody said any more
about it. Megan tried to for get ab ou t it. She had s omethi ng
to eat, and chatted wi th di ffe r e n t people.
When she was back at home that evening, she told Lu ke
what had happe ne d. Luke became strangely angry.
"Why do you listen to these stupi d old women? I kn e w
you s h ou l dn 't have gone there!"
3 9
"Come on, Luke! There's no need to get angry. She isn't
a stupi d old woman and she di dn't mean to h u r t anyone."
"Hur t? The woman is dangerous! Filling your head with
lies! And you - silly enough to believe her!"
"Luke, please don't shout. Nathan will hear you."
Bu t Nath an had already hear d them both, and he was
frightened.
"Mu mmy! Come u p and say goodnight!"
"I'm coming, love!"
Upstairs in his r oom, Nath an was almost in tears. He p u t
out his arms and held Megan tightly.
"Why is Daddy so angry, Mu mmy? What's the matter
with h i m? He's not the same. He coul dn't do the barbecue -
he doesn't even r emember our fi s h e r man story!"
"Don't wor r y. It's because of the accident. He's lost a bit
of h i s me mor y - the doctors told me that mi ght happen."
"But wh y is he angr y about the lady at the tea par ty?"
"I don't kn ow, darling. I expect it's all because of the
accident. He was very ill for a long time, b u t he'll get completely
better soon, don't wor r y."
"What ab ou t the people on the tel ephone?"
"What people? There is nobody on the telephone,
darl i ng. You are i magi ni ng thi ngs. Now, it's very late. Time
for boys to be asleep! And you've got the football match
tomor r ow, haven't you ? You'll need lots of energy for th at if
you want to win!"
"We will wi n, Mu mmy! You'l l see!"
"I'm sure you wi l l . So, go to sleep, now."
Megan kissed Nath an , and tu r n e d off the l i ght.
Luke left for work early the next morning. He was still
annoyed about the psychic at the tea party. He was also
embarrassed about the quarrel he had had with Megan, and
ashamed that Nathan had heard them. When he got i nto his
office he sat at his desk and looked out of the window. He
telephoned Megan, and asked her to come to the office later.
He would clear u p things between the m, then he would feel
better . Then he sat quietly and watched the world go by. He
wanted to be alone for a while, b u t a few mi nutes later
someone arrived to see hi m.
A you n g man walked into his offi ce. He looked about
twenty-fi ve years old, and he spoke to Luke as if he knew
hi m.
"Hello, Mr Harrison. It's nice to meet you again. And
good to see you looking so well after that terrible accident.
Are you all right now?"
Luke was a bit puzzl ed. He p u t out his hand to shake
hands with the young man.
"Well, I'm very well, th an k you. Bu t I don't th i n k we've
met, have we?"
"Of course we have! You r emember , about the new
children's home? I th i n k ever ythi ng is settled now - we
should be able to start on it any time now."
"Look, I'm very sorry. I th i n k there has been a mi stake.
First of all, this company is not going to build a children's
home . Secondly, you and I have ne ve r s poken about
40
41
Ch a pte r 8
bui l di ng a children's home - or anythi ng, in fact. I have
never seen you before."
The you n g man was starti ng to get annoyed.
"Now look here! Don't tr y those tricks on me!"
"These are no tri cks, you n g man."
The you n g man we nt straight u p to Luke. He p u t his face
right in fr on t of Luke's.
"Do you know wh at? I th i n k there is a big trick here,
because if you were really Luke Harrison, you'd certainly
know me!"
For a moment, Luke was shocked. If he was really Luke
Harrison! Then he spoke.
"Now just what exactly are you trying to say? I advise you
to thi nk carefully before you say any more!"
"Don't th i n k you can threaten me - it's you who is in the
dangerous position, not me."
"That's enough! Ju s t get out of my office - now!"
Luke wal ked towards the young man , and the young man
walked towards the door. But as he opened the door, the
young man had the last word.
"Remember - he who dares, wins!"
Then he walked out and slammed the door behi nd hi m.
Luke was shaking. How did the you n g man kn ow about the
expression? It was something that Luke and Jake had used
between them. Who was this man ? Luke sat down and lit a
cigarette.
The telephone in fr on t of h i m rang. He picked it up.
"Hello? Is that Lu ke Harrison?"
"Yes, it is. Who is speaking?"
"Well, it doesn't really matter who is speaking. It's what I
have to say that is i mpor tant."
"Oh, yes it does matter! Who are you?"
44
"Be quiet and listen! I've got news for you, bad news. It's
about that new offi ce block you're bui l di ng."
The voice was slow, teasing hi m. Luke spoke sharpl y i nto
the telephone.
"Who are you? And what about my office block?"
"Well, you see, there's been an accident. Fire. A nasty fi re.
And it's b u r n e d your offi ce block. There's not much left of it
now. Sad really. Ju s t whe n it was near l y finished."
Lu ke was really fr i ghtened. He shouted i nto the phone.
"What are you tal ki ng about? Who are you ? And wh at has
happened to my office block?"
"Oh, dear! Don't you unde r s tand English? I said - a fi re."
There was a click at the other end. The line was dead.
Luke thr ew the phone down, and covered his face with his
hands.
"Oh, no, no! It can't be! No!"
He stood u p , pul l ed his jacket off his chair, and ran out of
the room. Mar y looked u p fr om her typewr i ter in surprise.
"Are you going out, Mr Harrison? Don't for get the
meeting this afte r noon, will you..."
But Luke wasn't listening. The door slammed, and he was
gone.
45
Megan sat at the other side of the desk and talked to
Luke's secretary. Megan liked Mar y - she was glad th at Lu ke
had someone like her to look after hi m.
"I was at home, cooking, and Luke telephoned me. He
told me to come her e because he had s ome th i n g to tell me."
"That's fu n n y, because he isn't here. He we n t out in a
h u r r y. Bu t wh y don't you go and wai t for him in his offi ce?
It's more comfortable in there."
"Yes, I th i n k I will."
She we nt and sat down in Luke's office. Then she noticed
somethi ng.
"Oh, that's strange! His clock has stopped. It has never
stopped in all the ti me he's had it."
She walked over and looked at it. Luke had al ways loved
the clock. It had belonged to his great g r an dfath e r . It was a
b e au ti fu l wall clock with a p r e tty brass face and old number s .
It had a long p e n du l u m, whi ch gave a gentle "tick tock", and
now, for the fi r s t ti me, i t had stopped.
"Well, this will not do! You have to ti ck, my old fri end!"
She opened the clock. There was a little key inside the
door.
"Fancy Luke for getti ng to wi nd you! He mu s t have a lot
on his mi nd if he forgets that!"
She reached down to the bottom of the clock to get the
ke y, and she fou n d a pile of papers. She l aughe d.
"Well, really Luke! You are getting worse. You have an
excellent secretary to look after you r papers - and you leave
them in an old clock! Whatever will you do next!"
Megan took the papers out. They were contracts, for
agreements and bus i nes s arrangements for the last two years.
Now Megan was p u zzl e d.
"Why on ear th would he do this? These are i mp or tan t
contracts - they s houl dn't be in a clock!"
She looked down at the papers. They had the signatures
of the people Luke had made the agreements with. Signatures,
stamps, dates. Then Megan noticed somethi ng else.
"Bu t what on e ar th , this isn't Luke's signature! This is
Jake's!"
And so it was. J.S. Ful bri ght. No sign of Luke's name.
Megan had seen the s i g n atu r e man y times before, on papers
both Luke and Jake had signed.
"But these papers mu s t have been signed i n the last two
years - afte r Jake died. Why is he using Jake's si gnatur e?
Wh y isn't he signing in his own n ame ?"
Then Megan realised somethi ng else. Only Jake could
wr i te that si gnature - it was a very personal one. Luke had
often joked wi th Jake about it. 'Eccentric', Lu ke had called it.
Well, it ce r tai n l y was a strange s i gnatur e . And certainly only
one person coul d wr i te it. And that was Jake Ful bri ght.
"But why? And how? Jake is dead. Jake has been dead for
two years now - hasn't he?"
Then Megan fe l t a sick feeling in her stomach. She looked
at the as h tr ay and cigarettes on the desk. Jake's br and of
cigarettes. She heard a voice in her head - the voice of the
policeman in the hospital. "We identified your husband because
he was holding his wedding ring." Not 'wearing' - 'holding.'
47
Chapter 9
46
Megan remembered the man y strange things that her
hus band had done since he came home: b u i l di n g the office
block - not the children's home, forgetti ng Nathan's story,
not l i ki ng beef cur r y, smoking.
"Your husband is dead," is what Rose at the tea par ty had
said. Why had Luke been so angr y about i t? And wh at had
Rose seen?
Something was wrong - horribly wrong. Megan took the
contracts with Jake's signature and p u t them in her handbag.
She was going to show them to Luke tonight. She was going
to de mand an explanation.
The man she had brought home from the hospital was
not her hus band. Of that, Megan was sure. Bu t she wasn't
sure what to do about it. And what did it all mean? Where
was the real Lu ke ?
Megan remembered the strange telephone calls. Luke
had been very fr i g h te n e d. Who had telephoned h i m?
Suddenl y Megan was very fr i ghtened, too. She picked u p her
keys and we n t out of the office. She walked past Mar y.
"Are you leaving, Mrs Harrison?"
"Yes, I can't wait any longer. Tell Luke, when he comes
in, that I'll see him at home."
"All right, Mrs Harrison. See you soon."
"Yes, Mary. Goodbye."
Megan came home, tired wi th wor r y and sick with fear.
She went to the dr i nks cupboard and pour ed herself a large
br andy. She needed to calm her nerves, and to be able to
thi nk. Nath an came home fr om school, tired fr om a long
day. Megan p u t hi m to bed early. She didn't want him to
hear anythi ng of the conversation she was going to have.
When Luke came home he was dirty - black fr om the
scene of the fi re. He was tired and shocked. It had been a
terrible fi re. And Megan knew nothing of it yet. She asked
hi m why he was so dirty.
"It's fr om a fi re, Megan. My new office building has gone
- it has been completely bur nt."
But Megan did not r u n to his side to comfort hi m. The
br andy gave her extra confidence. She asked a question.
"Who did it, I wonder . Have you found out?"
Luke looked at her in surprise.
"No, not yet."
Megan went and poured herself another brandy. She did
not pour one for Luke. Instead, she moved ar ound the
room. She felt the br andy inside her, maki ng her war m and
maki ng her head ver y light. As she wal ked, she knocked
something fr om a small table. It crashed to the floor and
broke.
"Oh, no! My lovely statue of the Flower Girl. Oh, now
what am I going to do?"
Luke spoke to her sharply.
"Oh, come on Megan! It's only a little statue. I'll buy you
another one."
51
50
Chapter 10
"Another one! There could never be another one! You
don't remember b u yi n g it for me, do you ? Go on, tell me!
Where did you b u y this pr es ent for me?"
"Oh, Megan, I don't know. What's the matter with you ?
It's really not i mpor tant."
"Well, that's where you are wrong! It's very i mpor tant!
And so is this!"
Megan picked u p the contr acts with Jake's signatures and
th r e w them onto the table. Luke's face we nt white.
"Wh ... where ... where did you get those?"
"Never mi n d where - you tell me where Luke is! Because
you are not Luke - you are Jake! You..."
Bu t Megan di dn't fi ni sh her sentence. She stepped back,
away fr om hi m, because his h an d came u p , r eady to hit her
across the mou th . Megan cried out.
"No! Don't you dare!"
For Megan this was the last and fi nal proof that the man
in her house was not her real hus band. And now that she
kn e w his secret, he was dangerous. Megan ran fr om the
room and out of the house. She got i nto her car and drove
i nto the road. She needed to be away fr om h i m, and to th i n k.
"But what now? What can I do about i t?"
It started to rain. Megan slowed the car down and looked
into h e r driving mi r r or . His car was right behind her ,
following her, chasing her .
"Get away fr om me, can't you ? Ah, I know. I'll take that
ti ny road that goes to the cliff top. He doesn't know it very
well."
52
It was a little road she had walked along wi th Luke when
they were fi rst married. She waited unti l she was at the
cor ner before she tu r n e d the steering wheel.
Bu t a mi n u te later, she saw h i m in the mi rror. Now he was
dr i vi ng angri l y - and getti ng nearer and nearer. He was
chasing her as a fox chases a rabbit - the ani mal and his
prize. And Megan was his pr i ze, and he wasn't going to lose
her. Not now. Not after all this.
She was dr i vi n g faster and taki ng the corners well. The
tyres on her car screeched as she tu r n e d. He followed her
r ou n d another bend, then the road became strai ghter. It ran
along the top of a cliff. He changed gear and looked hard at
the back of her car. Now was his chance. He could see the
back of her head. He could see her eyes as she looked into
her mi r r or . He looked again. Those were not Megan's eyes!
Those wer e Luke's! Now he coul dn't see the car - a fi g u r e
stood in his way. A tall, light fi gur e, s hi ni ng against the dark
sky. The fi g u r e of Luke Har r i son!
He screamed at the fi gur e : "Get out of the way, you idiot!"
Bu t the fi gur e stayed there, stari ng at hi m, wi thout fear .
And it stood between hi m and Me gan, blocking the road. He
turned the steering wheel and p u t on the brakes.
"Get out of the way!"
He was losing control of the car. The wheels were
skidding, the car was sliding across the wet road away fr om
the fi gur e , and away fr om Megan. He scr eamed, and stared
at the fi gur e. Luke's eyes stared back at h i m. One wheel of
the car was sliding over the edge of the road, and then
another. As the car pl unged over the cl i ff, he shouted his last
wor d:
"Luke!"
Then ever ythi ng went black ...
53
Word L ist
57
Ch a pte r 1
a good cause (p h r )
a look in sb's eye (phr)
awkwar d (adj)
bang (v)
beef cu r r y (n)
build my future (phr)
b u tton (n )
b u zz (v)
change my mind (phr)
conference room (n)
cou r ag e (n )
crystal (adj)
discussion (n)
do a good job (p h r )
do the best for sb
(p h r )
fi nd riches (p h r )
fi st (n)
for g oodn e s s s ake
(p h r )
gol den (adj)
good money (p h r )
gorgeous (adj)
go with (went - gone)
(p h r v)
grow u p (grew -
gr own) (p h r v)
h ar mfu l (adj)
heaps of money (phr)
"He who dares, wins"
(prov)
how's it going? (exp)
i nter com (n)
keen (adj)
keep a secret (p h r )
leave somebody's side
(p h r )
light (lit - l i t) (v)
loser (n )
l ovi n g (adj)
l u x u r y (adj)
miss (sb) (v)
office block (n)
par tner (n)
per s uade (v)
pick u p (phr v)
press (v)
pr etty (adv)
pri de (n )
pr oper ty (n)
put the phone down
(p h r )
respect (n)
r ul e (n )
r ush (n )
sound (v)
sth goes wrong (phr)
s tr e ngth (n)
success (n)
take chances (p h r )
the early days (p h r )
to dare (sb to do sth)
(v)
tone (n )
velvet (adj)
wh at's the matte r ?
(exp)
wi n n e r (n )
Ch a pte r 2
accident (n)
approach (v)
be in a good mood
(exp)
bend (n )
be thr own out of (v)
bul l et (n)
by mistake (phr )
Word List
58 59
can't affor d (v)
change gear (phr )
come i n to (came -
come) (v)
constr uct (v)
crash (n)
disappear (v)
enormous (adj)
explode (v)
fl ame (n)
fl y (flew - fl own) (v)
for ages (phr )
glorious (adj)
gun (n)
hill (n)
h u n ti n g (n)
look down at (v)
me an (to do s th )
(meant- meant) (v)
model aeroplane (n)
move out of the way
(phr )
move over (phr v)
my face is red wi th
anger (exp)
nar r ow (adj)
nearl y (adv)
notice (v)
obviously (adv)
out of (phr - prep)
past (prep)
pick sb u p (phr v)
pleasant (adj)
r efus e (v)
screech (v)
simple (adj)
slow down (phr v)
stare at (v)
starve (v)
steering wheel (n)
tasty (adj)
through the air (phr)
throw (threw - thrown)
(v)
touch (v)
trigger (n)
tyr e (n)
view (n)
watch sth (v)
woods (n , pl)
Ch a pte r 3
across (prep)
all the way (phr)
amb u l an ce (n)
amnesia (n)
awake (v)
badly (adv)
bandage (n)
be covered in (v)
be in a coma (phr )
be filled wi th (v)
be in pain (p h r )
bur ni ng (adj)
Casualty Department
(n)
catch fi re (p h r )
catch my breath (phr)
chest (n )
exchange (n)
fi g h t back my tears
(phr )
get some rest (p h r )
go off the road (phr)
i de n ti fy (v)
i n time (phr )
keep calm (p h r )
ki ndl y (adv)
lay (laid - laid) (v)
lie (lay - l ai n) (v)
l i ft (v)
look after (p h r v)
lip (n)
make a noise (p h r )
n u mb e r plate (n)
owner (n)
patient (n)
Police Constable (n )
pr ay (v)
recover (v)
recovery (n)
relax (v)
right away (p h r )
shake (shook - shaken)
(v)
shortly afterwards
(adv)
sign (n )
side room (n)
suppose (v)
take care of sb (phr)
trolley (n)
ward (n)
weak (adj)
wedding ring (n)
Chapter 4
ashtray (n)
at the wheel (phr )
belong (v)
by the fi r e (p h r )
cemetery (n)
complain (n)
damage (n)
do you mi n d? (phr )
expect (v)
fall in love with (phr)
for a little while (exp)
funeral (n)
go down on my knees
(p h r )
good-looking (adj)
grave (n)
graveyard (n)
had better (p h r )
in silence (phr )
make sure (phr )
operation (n)
patient (adj)
pour (a dr i n k) (v)
reaction (n)
recreate (v)
run out (ran - r u n )
(v)
shock (n)
ski n (n)
step back (phr)
stop off (p h r v)
take s th off (took -
taken) (p h r v)
th r ow my arms
around sb (p h r )
tiny (adj)
wonder (v)
Ch a pte r 5
business deal (phr )
caller (n )
champagne (n)
cheer (v)
cheers! (exp)
clap (v)
clearly (adv)
crash (v)
clear (sth) up (phr v)
emotion (n)
far away (adv)
file (n)
for war d (adv)
fr i ghte ne d (adj)
from side-to-side (phr)
handsome (adj)
head (n)
in control (p h r )
in horror (phr)
knock sth off (v)
make a decision (phr)
manage (v)
name (sth/sb) after
(sb/sth) (v)
office staff (n)
owe (v)
personal secretary
(n)
private (adj)
recognise (v)
repeat (v)
r us h out (v)
str ange (adj)
torn (adj)
wet (adj)
Ch a pte r 6
after war ds (adv)
barbecue (n )
be back (p h r v)
become white with
fe ar (phr )
call (n)
chat (n )
come u p (phr v)
echo (n )
familiar (adj)
Word List
60 61
fi sher man (n)
fu n n y (adj)
gossip (v)
guest (n)
hand (v)
joke (v)
suspicion (n)
tease (v)
tu r n to (v)
upset (adj)
Chapter 7
all over (phr - prep)
amazi ng (adj)
beyond (pr ep)
chat (v)
death (n)
deeply (adv)
dial (v)
energy (n )
exciting (adj)
fai n t (v)
fr oze n (adj)
have fu n (p h r )
hypnoti sed (adj)
ill (adj)
joi n sb (v)
lay the table (p h r )
lie (n)
look u p (v)
pi e (n)
pot (n)
psychi c (n)
p u t ou t (p u t - p u t)
(p h r v)
see into the fu tu r e
(p h r )
settee (n)
silly (adj)
special (adv)
still (adj)
take away (phr v)
there's no need to
do sth (p h r )
ti ghtl y (adv)
tu r n off (phr v)
Chapter 8
annoyed (adj)
ashamed (adj)
click (n)
embarrassed (adj)
expression (n)
go out (p h r v)
go up to (v)
in sur pr i se (p h r )
it doesn't matter (exp)
nasty (adj)
position (n)
pul l (v)
p u zzl e d (adj)
quar r el (n)
settled (adj)
shake hands with sb
(phr )
sharply (adv)
shout (v)
slam (v)
still (adv)
s tr ai ght (adv)
stri ke back (str uck -
s tr u ck) (p h r v)
that's enough! (exp)
th r e ate n (v)
trick (n)
typewri ter (n)
watch the world go
by (exp)
Chapter 9
agreement (n)
any longer (phr )
bottom (n)
b r an d (n)
brass (adj)
business arrangement
(n)
contract (n )
date (n)
demand (v)
eccentric (adj)
explanation (n)
gentle (adj)
have a lot on my mind
(p h r )
hor r i bl y (adv)
in a h u r r y (p h r )
p e n du l u m (n)
pile (n)
reach (v)
see you soon (p h r )
si gnature (n)
s tamp (n )
this will not do! (exp)
tick (v)
walk over (p h r )
wall clock (n )
wi nd (wou n d -
wou n d) (v)
why on earth? (exp)
Chapter 10
block (v)
br andy (n)
calm (v)
chase (n)
chase (v)
cliff top (n)
comfort (v)
confi dence (n)
cr y out (p h r v)
drinks cupboard (n)
dr i vi ng mirror (n)
edge (n )
fi gur e (n)
fi n d ou t (fou n d -
fou n d) (p h r v)
get out of the way!
(phr)
light (adj)
lose control of (exp)
nerves (n, pl )
never mi nd (exp)
pl unge (v)
prize (n)
proof (n)
p u t on th e b r ake s
(p h r )
scream (v)
skid (v)
slide (slid - slid) (v)
stand in sb's way (phr)
statue (n)
Word List Word List