Page 152 of Reinventing Cato
“No, no, no, don’t say that. At least meet me, have dinner. We can talk.”
“No. We’re done talking. You and Louise hurt me. I can forgive that, but I won’t forget. In a way, it set everything in motion that got me to this point. I’m over you.”
There was silence at the other end. Cato looked at Vigge.
“Okay,” Max said. “You were… Youarevery special to me. I’ll never forget you. I wish you every happiness. Bye, Cato. Be happy. Remember that we were good once. And if you ever—”
“Bye.”
Cato ended the call and blocked the number. That part of his life was over and done.
“And will he let you go now?” Vigge asked.
“Yeah, I think he will. He’s a proud guy. He’s not going to keep pleading. There weren’t any pictures of me dangling off the roof, were there?”
“Yes.”
“Shit.” He called his mother.
“Cato! Your father and I were just about to drive up to Cambridge. Why haven’t you been answering your phone? Have you seen the news? What on earth has been going on? Why didn’t you tell us Pedro is a serial killer who tried to kill you? And yet he seemed such a nice man when we met him!”
By the time Cato had given an abbreviated version to his parents and then called his sisters, he was exhausted. His mother had told him she’d contact Griff, but that he had to call Devan.
“Now,” had been her last word.
Cato gave a heavy sigh. “Devan won’t be palmed off with the short version. He’ll get all big brother on me.”
“Put it on speaker and let me help.”
“You could have helped before.”
“I was worried I’d make matters worse. You slightly altered the tale each time. I’m not sure your sister actually believed you climbed up the rope like a monkey.”
“Hey, they heard my voice, they know I’m fine, so it’s all good.” But he called Devan.
“Hello there. Is that the brother who’s been abducted by aliens?” Devan asked. “Because I can’t think of another reason why he’d disappear off the face of the planet. I hope the anal probe was painful.”
Vigge laughed.
Cato glared. “Sorry.”
“I told you to keep in touch.”
“I’ve been a bit busy.”
“You’re not fucking kidding. Jonty and I are about thirty minutes away from Cambridge and me kicking your arse.”
“Oh God.”
“He’s not in Cambridge, Devan,” Vigge said. “He’s at my house.”
“Give me the address.”
Cato thought Vigge might bristle at the order but he supplied his address.
“We’re closer to you than Cambridge. Get the kettle on.” Devan ended the call.
Cato moaned. “Now you’ll have to wait for my get-better-fast massage. Though I don’t think it would take long. Maybe…”
