Page 131 of Reinventing Cato
“I’m not saying a thing. If you want to arrest me, arrest me.”
Vigge sighed. “I showed my warrant card to get us in to see you, but I’m not here as a policeman. I’m here as Cato’s boyfriend. He’s suspected of committing a crime on the day you were with him. You’re his alibi. One he wouldn’t use because you’re not out and he knows you’re not ready to be out. But I won’t let him get arrested for something he couldn’t have done.”
Aaron frowned. “Arrested for what?”
“I’d prefer not to say. All I need from you is confirmation that Cato was with you.”
Aaron straightened his shoulders. “I’ve never seen him before in my life.”
Cato groaned. “For fuck’s sake, Aaron. Tell the truth.”
“I’ve never seen you before.”
“If you don’t tell the truth, you’ll end up in court,” Vigge said.
“What do you mean?” The footballer glared at both of them.
“You’ll be summoned to appear for Cato’s defence.”
“I’ll just say I don’t know him. They won’t call me then, will they?” He smirked.
Vigge wanted to punch his smug face.
Cato glared at Aaron. “And when my lawyer tells the court that the reason you won’t confirm my whereabouts is because you’re not out as a gay man?”
Oh God.Vigge couldn’t use the recording of this now.
“Fuck you!” Aaron snapped.
Cato went over to him. “All I’m asking you to do is make a statement to the police confirming I was with you that night in the hotel. How long I stayed, not what we did, not what you said as you left. All the things we did to avoid being seen together—skirting the cameras, going separately into the hotel, they helped you, and I went along with them, but now those things are condemning me. Please tell the truth, Aaron, that I was with you the whole night. From the club, to the hotel, right until the following morning. They’ll keep it confidential. Right?” He turned to look at Vigge.
“Yes,” Vigge said. “I can give you the name and contact details of the officer in charge of the case. The only time it might be made public would be in court, but there won’t be any need for court if you back Cato’s story.”
“Please, Aaron.” Cato stood right in front of him. “I get why you don’t want people to know you’re gay, but if you don’t confirm I was with you, my world is going to end.”
“What do they think you did? Murder someone?” Aaron gave a short laugh.
“Yes,” Cato said.
No one spoke for several seconds.
“Give me the officer’s details and I’ll think about it,” Aaron mumbled.
Cato exhaled. “Thank you.”
~~~
The journey back to Cambridge was a little brighter than the one to the Emirates, but Vigge could tell that Cato wasn’t convinced Aaron would come forward. Neither was he.
“If he doesn’t, then give the police his name,” Vigge said.
“I’ve no proof I was with him. He’ll just deny it and that’ll be that.”
Vigge wrapped his hand around Cato’s. “Everything’s going to be all right.”
“Are you staying the night?”
“No.”
