Part 11 (2/2)

”Come in.”

I open the door a crack and poke my head in. ”Got a minute?”

He waves me in. ”Problem?”

Pursing my lips, I stroll on in, shaking my head. ”Problem? No. No problem.”

His eyes narrow. ”What do you want?”

”I was just going to tell you that I was going out with Clark for lunch today.”

Nonchalance. Level: Expert.

His eyes narrow to slits. ”Where will you be dining?”

Uh oh. He's onto me. ”Well, Clark was going to have lunch with Mich.e.l.le and I thought it would be nice to visit Tomas.”

”And Xavier.”

I nod. ”Yes. And Xavier. Xavier will be there too.”

He sighs, ”Cat...” But I'm ready for him.

I sigh right back, ”Bob. It's just a visit. An hour tops. They need a friend. You know they do.”

He internally debates with himself before giving in. ”Okay. But if I see this interfering with your work, it's over.”

Excitement rushes through me. ”It won't. I promise!”

As I all but skip out the door, Bob calls out, ”Take your cell phone.”

I shout back, ”I will!”

Then it's off to visit my friends.

As we drive along, I fiddle with the radio. ”This station is lame.”

Clark bunches his nose and replies a sullen, ”You're lame.”

I chuckle and find a station I like.

Clark groans. ”Anything but pop. Seriously. I will listen to redneck country over pop.”

I roll my eyes. ”It's just for ten minutes, then you can do what you like.”

He mutters, ”Yeah, yeah,” but doesn't change the station.

As soon as we arrive into town, I sit up straighter in my seat. ”Which house is it? How far away?”

Clark chuckles, ”Old place, run down, blue gate. It's up a little further. You sure you don't want me to stay?”

I scoff, ”No. I'll be fine. And I got Bob's okay. Not a fake okay either.” I smile huge. ”A real one!”

Clark grins, ”All right. I was just trying to be a friend.”

I look over at him. ”That's the problem, I think. You're trying too hard. Just let it happen. It'll come naturally if you let it.”

His face turns tortured. ”I am so sorr-”

I cut him off with a swish of my hand. Wide-eyed, I utter an exasperated, ”Will you stop already? Sheesh. We both know if I wanted to stop you, I could have. I also could have broken your arm. And your leg. And your neck if I wanted to.”

He jaw steeled, he nods. After a moment silence, he mumbles, ”Won't ever happen again. Promise.”

I reach out and punch his shoulder playfully. ”Better not. Or I'll pop a figurative cap in yo' a.s.s.”

He snorts and we both laugh.

The car begins to slow. ”We're almost there. Blue gate.”

Three houses down, I see it. A blue gate. A run down house. An overgrown yard. And I couldn't have been happier to be here.

I open the car door. Clark calls out, ”Be back in an hour.”

”Okay. See you then.”

The gate creaks in protest as I try to open it. Rust has me working to push it in. I manage to get it open a wedge and follow the path to the house. As I reach the front door, my brows pull together.

The door is open.

”h.e.l.lo? Xavier? Tomas? Anybody home?”

No one answers, so I make my way inside. My instincts tell me this isn't foul play. I call out again, ”Xavier, are you home? It's Cat. The door was open. Tom?”

When I reach the living room, I stop in my tracks. I close my eyes tightly and exhale slowly.

I walk over to Xavier's limp body and press my fingers to his neck.

A light pulse.

Without a second thought, I pull out my phone and mutter, ”You stupid son of a b.i.t.c.h.” I dial Bob and he answers almost right away, ”What's wrong?”

<script>