Blacks　were　out　of　town。

Harry　reported　that　Billy　had　attended　the　council　meeting　Wednesday　night；

and　never　mentioned

anything　about　leaving。　Charlie　warned　me　not　to　make　a　nuisance　of　myself—

Jacob　would　call　when　he

got　around　to　it。

Friday　afternoon；　as　I　drove　home　from　school；　it　hit　me　out　of　the　blue。

I　wasn't　paying　attention　to　the　familiar　road；　letting　the　sound　of　the

engine　deaden　my　brain　and　silence

the　worries；　when　my　subconscious　delivered　a　verdict　it　must　have　been

working　on　for　some　time

without　my　knowledge。

As　soon　as　I　thought　of　it；　I　felt　really　stupid　for　not　seeing　it　sooner。

Sure。　I'd　had　a　lot　on　my

mind—revenue…obsessed　vampires；　giant　mutant　wolves；　a　ragged　hole　in　the

center　of　my　chest—but

when　I　laid　the　evidence　out；　it　was　embarrassingly　obvious。

Jacob　avoiding　me。　Charlie　saying　he　looked　strange；　upset。　。　。　。　Billy's

vague；　unhelpful　answers。

Holy　crow；　I　knew　exactly　what　was　going　on　with　Jacob。

It　was　Sam　Uley。　Even　my　nightmares　had　been　trying　to　tell　me　that。　Sam　had

gotten　to　Jacob。

Whatever　was　happening　to　the　other　boys　on　the　reservation　had　reached　out

and　stolen　my　friend。

He'd　been　sucked　into　Sam's　cult。

He　hadn't　given　up　on　me　at　all；　I　realized　with　a　rush　of　feeling。

I　let　my　truck　idle　in　front　of　my　house。　What　should　I　do？　I　weighed　the

dangers　against　each　other。

If　I　went　looking　for　Jacob；　I　risked　the　chance　of　Victoria　or　Laurent

finding　me　with　him。

If　I　didn't　go　after　him；　Sam　would　pull　him　deep