Five Parts Dead Read Online Free Page A

but, as their investigations would uncover any lies. I told them I couldn’t remember a thing, that I arrived at the party and the rest was a blank. I wish that was true.
    Weeks beforehand, Mel was begging Mum and Dad for permission to go to the party. She’s in the school swim team and some of her older team-mates were graduating. Mum was totally against us attending a Year 12 break-up but Mel kept working on her, asking again every day.
    Mum ended up ringing around to check we wouldn’t be the youngest there. No worries on that score. Aaron and Boris played footy with the seniors so they were assured an invite. Carlo worshipped them and went wherever they did. Phan’s sister was in Year 12, so he was going too. Once Mum knew Mrs Nguyen had given the okay for Phan to turn up, she was less freaked about the whole thing.
    And, as always, the twin thing came into play. Is there some contract that says if you come out of one womb at almost the same time as someone else you have to look after each other for life? When Mum rolled over, it was on the condition that I would go along to keep an eye on Mel. Awesome. Mel protested— Mum, I don’t need Dan to babysit me —but it was a half-hearted effort. On the inside, she was doing cartwheels. I know her. Better than anyone.
    Outside the cottage there’s a mandarine dawn. I stretch and yawn. Since I saw the girl—or whatever it was at the end of my bed—there’s been bugger-all chance of catching any more sleep. I’m tempted to grab some painkillers and wipe myself out, but I don’t. I just lie here. Waiting. Wishing for something to distract me from myself.
    Then I hear footsteps in the hallway and slip-slapping across the cold laundry floor to the bathroom. Pip must be up. As she passes my door, I call out to her.
    Her freckled, smiling face leans into my room.
    â€˜Hey Dan. Did I wake you?’
    â€˜Nah. Didn’t sleep much. How about you?’
    â€˜Not too bad. Once Mel shut up.’
    â€˜Yeah, she goes on a bit. Umm, you going back to bed?’
    â€˜I was going to read for a bit. Why?’
    â€˜I, err, you didn’t see any…anything odd last night did you?’
    Pip steps into the tiny room and dives onto the spare bed. ‘Odd? What do you mean by odd?’
    Suddenly I’m unsure about this. If I dreamed the whole thing I’m going to look like a total idiot. And I don’t want to tell anyone I’m having nightmares. They’ll make me see a shrink or something. I’m not ready for that. I don’t want to talk about the accident again, ever, if I can help it.
    â€˜Dan? What did you see? Come on, tell me.’
    â€˜You’re not going to laugh, are you? And promise me you’re not going to tell Mel? I’m not up for being the punchline of her party jokes all summer.’
    Pip hesitates. ‘Mel wouldn’t…Maybe you’re right. You’ve lived with her longer than I have.’
    â€˜Only like every minute of my life. Believe me, if she’s got any ammo on me, she’ll use it. So can I trust you?’
    â€˜Dan, Mel is my best mate. But that doesn’t mean I tell her everything, okay? Besides, Mel and I have different approaches to…to all sorts of stuff. So spill.’
    A movement outside catches my eye. I put an index finger to my mouth, signalling Pip to be quiet. Then I stand, take an unsteady step and ease myself onto the spare bed beside her. Reaching forward, I curl a finger around the curtain and edge it open further.
    Pip spots them too: a family of Tammar wallabies, or maybe two mums with joeys. ‘Cool,’ she whispers. ‘Nice one, Dan.’
    The wallabies nibble at the spiky clumps of grass puncturing the stony ground. They tilt onto their front paws and then swing their bodies, landing back on their hind feet, one body length forward. Nibble, swing, nibble, nibble, nibble, swing. One of the joeys stands and