Page 155 of Reinventing Cato
Four ball point pens in the shape of bones fell onto the table.
“They connect, see? You know, like,your knee bone’s connected to your thigh bone; your thigh bone’s connected to your hip bone; your hip bone’s connected to your?I’ve forgotten what comes next, but you get the idea, right Vigge? I thought you could keep them on your desk as a talking point. Test out the observational skills of a new detective.”
Vigge laughed. “Thank you.”
His card saidHappy New Year to my Favourite Stepson. Cato chuckled.
“I bought it because—”
“Of the police car on the front?” Cato asked.
“No, there’s a dinosaur driving! I bought it because I want Vigge to have a happy new year.” Jonty glared. “Just like I want Cato to have happy birthdays.”
“I’ve given up,” Devan said. “He has a mind like no other person. Apart from possibly Cato. Lucky me and lucky you, Vigge – we get Jonty and Cato:The Terrible Twins.”
Both Cato and Jonty glared at him, before grinning at each other, conspiracy in their smiles.
“I wanted to buy Devan an octopus beanie but he told me he wouldn’t wear it. So I got him finger tentacles instead.”
“And you think I’m going to wear those?”
“I’ll be very disappointed if you don’t and you don’t want to disappoint me, do you?” Jonty narrowed his eyes.
“Never.” Devan blinked, then smiled when Jonty blew him kisses.
And despite the fact that he was slightly pissed off that his plans for the afternoon had been thwarted, Cato was touched that his brother had come all this way to check he was okay.I should have called before and reassured him.
“Yes, you should have,” Devan said.
Jonty sighed. “He can read minds. It’s very freaky.”
~~~
Cato didn’t protest when Vigge told their guests they could stay the night. He didn’t even argue when Jonty told them he’d do the cooking. Once Vigge had whispered how much he liked the pair and how having them in the house was just the distraction he needed, how could Cato tell them to leave? Vigge was right, his brother and Jonty were a distraction, especially Jonty.
Vigge slept for a couple of hours that afternoon while the three of them polished off a bottle of wine. Jonty was preparing some dish featuring sausages, parsnips and blackberries with a honey and wholegrain mustard dressing and it smelt fabulous.
Cato told them about Vigge’s brother and Jonty cried.
“Poor Vigge,” he whispered. “Can I hug him when he wakes up?”
“You think I could stop you?” Cato asked.
“Tell Cato about meeting your sister,” Devan said.
“She looks like me, but her hair’s long and dark, and she doesn’t have any piercings—well, that I could see, and she isn’t as skinny and not as tall. And she has a different accent. But she looks like me, doesn’t she, Devan? And she likes me and we’re going to see each other again.”
“Yes, yes and yes again.” Devan pressed his mouth against Jonty’s hair as he smiled.
“I’m so glad we found each other.” Jonty got off Devan’s lap. “I’m just nipping to the loo.”
Cato saw his brother watching Jonty all the way out of the room and smiled.
“What’s the position with the NASA job?” Devan asked.
“They made the offer and sent details.”
“Since you haven’t told me before now and you’re not whooping with delight, I assume you’re still wavering.”
