Page 18 of Reinventing Cato
“How will I know if you’re telling the truth if you just say no to everything?”
“I won’t lie.”
“Well then, that’s nothing like interrogating a prisoner, is it? Because presumably some of them lie through their teeth.”
“I won’t.”
Cato chewed his lip while he thought. He suspected the guy next to him was some sort of businessman. He had a smart haircut, an expensive coat. His jeans and sweater looked expensive too. The sort of thing Devan would buy and that Cato would think about buying but probably wouldn’t. Not because he couldn’t afford them, but because he wasn’t hugely interested in smart clothes. Or any clothes, come to think of it. He lolled around naked in his room. But instead of sayingbusiness, “Are you in public service?” came out of his mouth.
Vigge glanced at him. “Yes.”
Catodidlike the idea of a guy in uniform. “The military?”
“No.”
Damn.“Healthcare?”
“No.”
“Police?”
“Yes.”
Oh.So a uniform might not be off the table. “That was much too easy. Let’s go for your secret sex fantasy next. Do you like to be tied up?”
Vigge’s shoulders shook as he laughed. “There is no way you’re a Roman Catholic priest.”
“When did you guess?”
“When you talked about smacking demons.”
“But we’d only just met!”
“Yep. Well, I’m a policeman so… Why are you dressed as a priest?”
Cato sighed. “I was in a huge rush to get out of the hotel and just put on what I’d worn last night. I thought the cassock might make my journey south a little easier. I figured that was why you said yes to the lift eventually. Because you thought I was a humble priest? Able to fend off the forces of evil should we encounter them? I mean, you never know when you’re likely to see a vampire.”
He looked across to see Vigge glance him, and there was something, just a hint of something in Vigge’s expression that made Cato’s heart leap. Excitement trickled down his spine as he looked away. It was hard not to smile. This was going to be one long flirt and whether it led anywhere or not, it could still be fun.
“I can rely on you, can I?” Vigge asked. “If we encounter any supernatural creatures?”
“Vampires, yes. I have a wooden cross. Werewolves, no. You’re on your own there.”
Cato took off his glasses and leaned his head against the window. The sound of the car, the heat, the sight of the snow falling relaxed him. He closed his eyes, but deep inside, that flicker of interest had taken hold and started to smoulder.Someone different, so let me be different. Don’t let me mess things up.
Chapter Four
Vigge glanced across at Cato. He appeared to be asleep and Vigge wanted him to talk. It was a long drive and he was interested in people; what made them tick, what made them lie, what made them commit crimes. Why did Cato have a head full of fascinating facts? Had he felt that tug of lust too?
The snow was still falling heavily. He kept his speed down as the flakes rushed at the windscreen, slapping at it so furiously that the wipers struggled to cope. The traffic had thinned out. Vigge doubted many were attempting a journey of this distance. If he’d had any sense, he’d have found a hotel and waited until tomorrow. But there was no guarantee conditions would be any better then, and he’d rather drive on snow than ice.
Up ahead, red lights were flashing and he cursed. As he drew closer, he realised traffic was being diverted off the motorway, which wasn’t good news, though better than being stuck for hours on a road with no way to exit.
“Cato?”
“What?”
“The motorway’s closed. Check Google Maps and see where the diversion is taking us.”
