Part 8 (1/2)

Was he going to kiss me? Why? Oh G.o.d. My heart stopped. I swear.

'Okay, what have you two sorted out? Maceys voice startled me. I pulled back like Id been burned, but Seth just carelessly fell back on his lounge. Oh G.o.d. I felt like I was five years old and just got caught sneaking an extra cookie.

I swivelled to see her stepping out through the French doors carrying some bottles and chips on a tray. Unable to look back at Seth, I watched her walk across to us. Trying to act cool and innocent wasnt so easy, especially when my face felt like it was on fire. But it only took one covert glance at Seth to build that to a raging inferno. Because he wasnt having any trouble looking cool and innocent; he was cool and innocent. And then I knew. He hadnt been going to kiss me!

It was just my imagination. A projection of my fantasies.

I closed my eyes. Oh G.o.d . . . What if Id leaned in? Could a person die of embarra.s.sment? I had a feeling I was about to find out.

'Willow? My eyes snapped open and level with Maceys and hers werent shooting ice or d.a.m.ning me to h.e.l.l. And I knew that if, in fact, I was about to die, thered be the consolation that my best friend had decided she wasnt p.i.s.sed with me. 'I think you should tell him.

I began to shake my head, but Seth jumped in. 'Tell me what?

'About seeing JoJo and the fact that JoJo is trapped in her house. Shes been nearly hysterical, you know. Willow, I mean, not JoJo. At first I was kind of worried, Macey explained casually as she dragged over another lounge and curled up like a contented cat, pulling her black satin robe over her bare legs.

'What? His eyes were now sharp and they held me in their sights; his voice steady, firm. Trust me, this was nothing like the look that had held mine just minutes before, which confused me even more. 'You saw JoJo? Where? Shes not dead?

Macey sighed and did the answering. 'Of course shes dead! Why am I the only one who keeps remembering that? Dead as in cold and withering away.

'So, what are you talking about?

I barely swallowed the groan. It seemed my torture wasnt ending any time soon and it occurred to me that I could successfully publish a list of Ten ways to make your secret crush run far and fast in the other direction. Start with mistakenly thinking hes going to kiss you and follow closely with proof of your insanity. And if my success rate continued there was a good chance Id accomplish eight more sure-fire methods to complete the list before the night was over. I cleared my throat, wis.h.i.+ng I didnt have to do this. Didnt have to have him look at me in a few minutes like Id lost my mind. 'Its um a bit complicated.

'Here, have a beer, you might need it, Macey said as she held the icy bottle towards him. 'Trust me, this is one wild story.

Seth put up a hand to ward off the beer. 'Willow?

It took some prompting but the whole story spilled out. JoJo, the phone the lot. Once finished, I sat and stared at him. Waiting. Holding my breath certain that item number two had been successfully accomplished as predicted.

He said nothing for a long time. Finally he twisted so he was knee to knee with me again, his eyes staring straight into mine, his forehead creased into a deep frown; his voice that throaty whisper that always skittered down my spine like a flurry of feathers. 'Wills? Youre saying you think shes dead but shes not gone?

I couldnt maintain eye contact. I mean, hed been gentle but come on I could read between the lines. Paraphrased, hed just asked if I had a preferred mental asylum just in case I lucked out and got a choice. I didnt need to see it in his eyes as well.

'Theres no ”think” about it, Seth. Were talking facts here, Macey snapped. 'Besides, have you got a better answer?

He lifted his hands as if to put forward an argument, but then I sensed him stall, and they fell back onto his legs. I didnt have to be looking directly at him to know that I was the reason hed stalled.

I also didnt have to be looking at him directly to feel and hear the sigh. 'Okay, so JoJos at Willows place. So why isnt she here? What can she do? These questions were not asked in the tone or spirit of a true believer.

Obviously Macey picked that up as well. 'Well, I dont think shes available for a date, she drawled.

'Dead people cant post messages on Facebook either but that hasnt stopped JoJo so far! Patience exhausted, he turned and looked right at his sister. 'So, what the h.e.l.ls going on?

'Ma.s.s hysteria. Ding dong the witch is dead, and you guys have whipped yourselves into a frenzy! Youre all buying into this story about her communicating from the grave. And maybe she is but not in the way you all think. Want a clue? Start looking at probability rather than possibility.

His mouth tightened into a thin line. 'And you think its probable that JoJos ghost is haunting Willow?

'No, Einstein. JoJos ghost is fact, I keep telling you that. But shes not the one sending messages! She cant! So what does that leave you with? The probability that its one of you!

He didnt answer; simply stared.

'The ghost thing is a side issue, she continued. 'The problem of the phone is a human one. Someone else is having fun with you all.

'Fun? Are you kidding? He grabbed the beer and slammed it back down again. 'Youve got no idea whats going on, Mace! This is freaking serious stuff!

'Like what? My words spun him towards me, and for the first time in all the years Id known him, Seth Pentecost looked lost. Totally lost.

A burring noise stopped us all, but before he could grab it, Macey casually reached for Seths phone and flipped it open, arching one eyebrow and pursing her lips as she read the words. 'Its for you, bro another message from the grave.

I dont know what I expected, but I felt myself go very still, my eyes searching for Seths, snagging and holding his gaze.

When neither of us moved, Macey shrugged. 'Its only short. Just five little words. She paused, building a moment that didnt really need any more tension thrown into it. '”I KNOW WHAT YOU DID . . .”

'What? Whether it was a culmination of all the c.r.a.p that had gone down so far, or whether it was Maceys dramatic delivery, was irrelevant. For me, something snapped; game over. I wanted answers. A chill shuddered through me, one that for a change had nothing to do with JoJo or maybe it did. I got up from my own lounge, folding my arms more in frustration than anything else, and stared down at Seth. 'So, what the h.e.l.l did you do?

For a long moment I didnt think he was going to say anything. He finally moved to a nearby table and flopped into one of the thickly padded chairs. His elbows landed on the gla.s.s tabletop with enough force to break it and I actually winced when he dropped his head into his hands. Thank G.o.d the gla.s.s was industrial strength. I so do not do blood.

'Seth? I prompted.

His sigh was deep as he looked up to meet my eyes. 'I shouldnt be telling you this . . . He dropped his gaze to the pool. 'Man, this is only going to bring down heaps more s.h.i.+t.

Maceys sigh was pure impatience. 'Oh for G.o.ds sake did you kill someone? At his look of shock she continued. 'Then just spill.

When he didnt immediately do that, I began to understand. The thing is, Seth is one of the most loyal people I know; hes always there for you. You know? Hes honest unless he thinks the answer will really hurt you and one of the things I love most about him is that when hes your friend, it counts. So, when he sat there, staring at the pool, dilemma clouding his eyes, I knew . . .

His voice, when it came, was low, ragged. 'This could get people into a lot of trouble. Weve never told anyone thats why Im so p.i.s.sed that JoJo found out. He sucked in air again. Long and slow. 'Okay, heres the deal, and it stays between us, right? At my nod he continued. 'Last year, one of the guys applied to get into the Sports Inst.i.tute in Canberra just prelim stuff at this stage. But, like, he had to give a pee sample. They just sprung it on him, you know? He had twenty-four hours to front up and pee in a cup.

'And the point is?

'Easy on him, Mace. Seths doing what Seth does. Protecting people. Turning back to him I offered my own sigh. 'I think hes trying to tell us that his urine is cooling off in a fridge in Canberra problem is, its got someone elses name on the jar, right? Someone like Davo?

'Yeah. Seths eyebrows went up like twin question marks, but he answered without any real surprise. Well, duh Dave Kochetti was the only athlete of that calibre in the school.

Despite having guessed right, I was still surprised. 'What I dont get is why Davo would even think about taking drugs if he wants to be a top athlete! Isnt that a bit like playing chicken with a speeding train?

'Thats the thing. He doesnt. Thats why it was such a freaking mess. He stood and leaned around to snag a white hoodie off a chair sitting back in the shadows and pulled it on. 'Wed been to this party the night before, out at Teahnas, and he wiped himself out, which was just weird because he was in training and he only had one drink. Thats it! The rest of the time he drank water!

'Maybe he had more and you didnt know, I suggested.

'Hey look, Im not his babysitter, but I was with the guy all night and I saw what he was drinking. Apart from that, he was driving! Stopping short, he held up both hands. 'I dont even know why Im giving you all these reasons because the fact is Davo doesnt need them! Hes serious about his training and his prospects. Hes always said its too much b.l.o.o.d.y hard work to risk it all on booze or drugs.

'So, youre saying, I said incredulously, 'that Davos drink was spiked? That someone knew he was up for the test?

'Yes to question one, he answered on a sigh, 'and who knows to the second. I mean if Davo didnt know, then who else could have?

Macey was sitting straight, her eyes alert. 'How bad would it be for Davo, and for you, if they ever find out what you did?