The Never Boys Read Online Free Page B

table.
    Outside, he watched her through the glass door, counting the till. Tens. Twenties. Fifties. All that money —
    A car’s headlights spooked him back into the night.
    Shambling along Truro’s main street, his first priority was finding a bed. He hadn’t slept in one for four days and had showered once. Renting a hotel room was a possibility, but too expensive. And Sydney was an expensive city. No, there was a second option, but one he dreaded.
    Music helped pinpoint the Kaesler homestead in the darkness. Electronic music. Pulsing so loud that it was heard a hillside away. Spotted by a floodlight from the old coach-house, a teenage girl danced on a large, elevated water tank. She was pushing herself so hard it was almost as if she wanted to shake her body inside out.
    He waited until the song’s last few thumps before switching off the power.
    The girl stopped with fright. ‘Hello? Hayden?’
    â€˜No. It’s Dean. Dean Mason.’
    â€˜Who?’
    â€˜I worked for the General today. As a rousie. Is she around?’
    No answer.
    â€˜Hello?’
    Another light suddenly flashed in his eyes.
    â€˜Mum’s in town,’ the girl answered from a safe distance. She’d circled him. A towel was in her left hand; a mobile in her right. He didn’t know if she was about to call the police or throw the phone at him. ‘She’s due home any minute though.’
    â€˜Are you Zara — her daughter?’
    â€˜When I choose to be. Why?’
    â€˜I was expecting someone — younger.’
    â€˜Fatter maybe?’
    He flinched.
    She was no longer the same eleven-year-old in the family portraits with a greyhound muzzle and doughy cheeks. She was sixteen, maybe seventeen, and gorgeous. She had vivid, brown eyes, ponytailed blonde hair and perfectly tanned skin. A green, tight sleeveless top rounded over her curves and a pair of low-cut ivy shorts revealed a flat, toned stomach. Her legs were long and trim. On one left toe was a gold ring inset with jade that matched her earrings.
    â€˜Sorry I creeped you out,’ he said, running a hand over his butchered hair. ‘Er, with the music. It looks like fun.’
    â€˜Beats homework,’ she said, wiping her face with the towel while secretly thumbing the police number. ‘Now, why do you want to see Mum?’
    â€˜I was hoping, maybe — y’know, that I could crash up at the shearers’ quarters for the night?’
    â€˜They’re abandoned. No one uses them anymore. Besides they’d only be for workers.’
    â€˜Yeah, well, that’s also what I want to speak to the General about.’
    She shouldered her towel. ‘That’s probably not a good idea. If you’re who I think you are, Mum’s still pretty mad at you. She’s doorknocking the district now, trying to find your replacement.’
    â€˜Oh,’ he said, slightly off-guard. ‘Okay. Do you mind then if I wait for her? I still want to talk to her.’
    â€˜If you’ve got a death wish — sure.’
    She packed away the stereo, then hurried inside. A lock snapped down. He retreated to the corral, sat against a railing and changed the batteries in his Walkman. He needed music. In the silence every chirp and phone call was amplified.
    â€˜â€” Just then — To talk to you — He’s asking if he can stay the night and have his job back — I know. That’s what I told him but he still wants to see you in person — Can’t you tell him that yourself? — Mum — That’s not fair — Okay . Bye.’
    The back door rolled open and Dean pretended to stop his Walkman. She approached and bluntly told him, ‘Mum said no.’
    â€˜No to staying? Or no to the job?’
    â€˜Both.’
    He paused mid-stand. ‘Did she say why?’
    â€˜Yes, but believe me, you don’t want to know.’
    â€˜Can I ring her?’ he pushed, taking a step