Page 129 of Reinventing Cato
Cato raised his eyebrows. “They?”
“This is us and them.”
He saw the effect those words had on Cato, saw the hope on his face, and knew he should have been telling him that more often.
“I’ve spoken to a lawyer,” Cato said. “I’m going to see him on Monday.”
“Good. I was thinking of going to Arsenal tomorrow—they’re playing at home—and finding a way to speak to Aaron Decker.”
“Wouldn’t that get you into trouble?”
Vigge shrugged.Probably.
“I could go with you. Or I could speak to him on my own.”
“He might not talk to either of us. He might deny meeting you. Did you tell him your real name?”
“Yes. He assumed I knew who he was. I didn’t so he told me. I think concern about being outed was temporarily overpowered by hurt pride that I had no idea who he was. I don’t think he’s the brightest spark. If you want to go, I’m going with you. With two of us there maybe he’ll think twice about being violent. He threatened to break my legs if I told anyone.”
“Did he?” Vigge scowled. “No one’s going to hurt you.” Except someone already had. Several times.I hurt him.
Cato gave him a tentative smile. “If Aaron confirms I was with him, it solves almost everything. If he doesn’t, will you still believe me?”
Vigge reached across the table and caressed his cheek. “I believed you anyway.”
The pizza arrived and though Cato seemed to be only half-heartedly putting pieces into his mouth, he gradually began to eat more enthusiastically. As he chatted to Vigge about what he’d been working on that day, he sensed Cato’s mood improve.
I don’t deserve him.He should have asked Cato to stay last night. But he’d been so miserable. He should have realised that having Cato there would have made all the difference because Vigge could feel that difference now, the fullness in his chest where for so long it had been empty. He’d got used to that hollow feeling, filled his life and mind with work and thought that would be enough. He’d been wrong. Completely wrong.
~~~
On the train to London the next day, Vigge rested his head against the window and closed his eyes. He wasn’t asleep; he was thinking, worrying whether they were doing the right thing in approaching Aaron Decker. Professionally, it was unwise. He was in no doubt about that. Not only was he out of his jurisdiction, he was also not part of the investigation. If challenged, he didn’t have a leg to stand on, but while Cato refused to give Aaron’s name to the police, talking to the footballer was the only thing they could do. And Vigge was aware that if Catohadgiven Aaron’s name, a policeman asking questions officially might cause the guy to deny everything. Even so…
Cato leaned into him and wormed his hand into Vigge’s. Vigge opened his eyes and looked at him.
“Sorry? Did I wake you? I just needed a bit of reassurance.”
“I was thinking.”
“Must be horribly inconvenient to have to close your eyes when you think. You must trip up all the time.”
Vigge smiled. That Cato had the capacity to make him laugh in the midst of this mess, was something special.
~~~
Vigge talked their way into the Emirates Stadium’s offices on Sunday afternoon. The area around the stadium was heaving with football supporters and without his warrant card, they’d not have made it inside. He’d hoped he wouldn’t have to show it, but had known the chances of getting to speak to Decker would be zero without it. When the assumption was made that Cato was a policeman too, Vigge didn’t correct it, but he’d warned Cato, that if asked, he was to tell the truth. As would Vigge. He was not there officially. They were already making Decker’s life difficult just by requesting to speak to him, though with three-quarters of an hour before the match started, Aaron wouldn’t be told they wanted to talk to him until the game was over. Vigge didn’t argue about that. He didn’t want anyone worrying that a star player was in trouble.
It was a long wait. Cato sat curled up in the chair next to him.
“Want to plan how to play this?” Cato asked.
“Let me handle it.”
“What if they call your bluff?”
“Then you can handle it.”
Cato chuckled, but they came up with a plan that they hoped would work and be less likely to get Vigge into trouble.
