The Last Free Cat (11 page)

“Ooo!” said Kris. “She swore!”

“You're sitting there snogging a total stranger,” I said, “and when Mum died, and I wanted comfort, you couldn't even put your arm around me!”

Kris was unfazed, even though he could see I was about to cry. “You never asked,” he said. With that, he turned on his heel, and I sank into a plastic chair, tears flowing.

This was the last thing I wanted. My fantastic new image, shattered. People asking me what was wrong, and me not even being able to answer. And meanwhile, through the mist of my tears, Kris with his face back on that girl's.

A woman I'd never met sat next to me. I started pouring my heart out to her, telling her I wanted Mum, telling her I never wanted to be in this situation, telling her how much I hated Kris and wished I'd never met him. Whoever she was, this woman was very patient and kind, and let me sob on her shoulder like an idiot. Then she found out someone to take me home, at which point Amelie arrived on the scene. She was upset I'd had such a bad time, but you could tell she didn't want to leave unless she had to. In the end Tom agreed to take me home, then go back for the others. I felt like a useless burden, but if I'd stayed I'd have been even more of one.

So much for my great night out.

Chapter Nineteen

Raff was ecstatic. “Mission accomplished!” he cried. He led the way to the living room, where Feela was licking herself furiously. She seemed hyper-alert, looking up and around with sudden, precise movements. But most importantly, she was safe and well.

“Where's Thumper?” I asked.

“Gone,” said Raff. “We didn't want to tire the old boy out.”

“Will she definitely be pregnant?” I asked.

“Oh yes,” said Raff. “It's fail-safe with cats. See, the male has this barb—”

“Spare me the details,” I said. I went down on to my knees besides Feela and stroked her head. She closed her eyes and relished my touch.

“Must be great being a cat,” said Raff.

“What, getting all this attention?” I asked.

“Nice, simple relationships,” replied Raff, and I had a feeling there was more he wanted to tell me. But right now it was hard enough coping with my own life.

“I wish I'd seen Thumper,” I said.

“Believe me,” said Raff, “you don't.”

“Why?” I said. “Is he ugly?”

“He's had a hard life,” replied Raff.

“I can't believe any cats are ugly,” I said, running my fingers through Feela's lustrous fur.

“What about the ones the super-rich buy?” asked Raff. “You know, the ones with the flat faces.”

“Who would want a cat with a flat face?” I asked.

“People with flat faces?” suggested Raff.

I laughed. After all Kris's games and put-downs, it was such a relief to be having a normal conversation with a man. Amelie was so lucky, I thought. Or maybe she was just the kind of woman who was attracted to nice, straightforward men. I always thought I'd be one of those, but obviously I wasn't, because I didn't fancy Raff one bit. No matter how much I fought it, I couldn't get the image of Kris dancing out of my head.

It was daybreak when the others got home. I heard them making some food, laughing, and talking loud like drunk people do. Then there were some good-nights, followed by a creak at the lounge door. I peered from beneath my covers to see Kris's head poking around.

“How'd it go?” he asked.

“How did what go?” I replied.

“Feela!” he said.

“Oh,” I replied. “Raff says she's pregnant.”

Kris grinned broadly. “Can I come in a sec?” he asked.

“Go on,” I said unenthusiastically.

Kris made a beeline for Feela, bent down and ruffled her neck. “Well done, you little tart,” he said.

“Don't call her that!” I snapped.

“I'm only joking, for God's sake,” said Kris.

“I don't find it funny,” I replied.

“Give me a break,” said Kris.

I watched Kris toying with Feela, and simmered. “Did you call that girl a tart as well?” I asked.

“What girl?” asked Kris.

“The one you were kissing,” I replied.

Kris stood up. “Why are you acting like you're my girlfriend?” he asked.

I began to blush. “That'd be the day,” I said.

“Yeah,” said Kris. “It would.”

“I don't see why people have to act like animals,” I said.

“
What
?” said Kris.

“You heard me,” I replied.

“We are animals,” said Kris, changing tack.

“Don't be stupid,” I replied.

“Look,” said Kris, pointing at Feela. “Two ears, two eyes, nose, mouth, heart, lungs, liver … we're not that different.”

“Feela can't choose what she does,” I replied. “And anyway … we've got opposable thumbs.”

“
What
?” said Kris.

“We've got opposable thumbs,” I repeated. It was something I'd learned in biology which I'd never forgotten, for some reason.

“And …?” said Kris.

“That's why we can write,” I said. A little devil appeared on my shoulder, and I added, “Some of us.”

Kris stared at me a long time. He wasn't enjoying sparring now. This fight was real. “God, I really enjoyed that party last night,” he said.

I sat up, keeping my eyes fixed on Kris's leering face, ready to strike back at any moment. The time had come to unload all my suspicions.

“Why did you come with me?” I asked.

“You know why I came,” he replied.

“I know what you told me,” I said.

“That's enough then, isn't it?” said Kris.

“No, Kris,” I replied. “It's not enough. Because I don't believe you. You're playing games with me all the time. For all I know this whole thing could be some stupid game you're playing.”

“You're paranoid,” said Kris.

“How come you knew about the raid?” I asked.

“I told you,” said Kris. “I didn't know—I guessed.”

“I don't believe you,” I replied.

“What, do you think I'm working for Comprot?” asked Kris.

“You could be,” I replied.

Kris just laughed.

“Look at all the information you're getting,” I said.

Kris laughed again.

“You're using me somehow,” I said.

Kris circled me slowly, then suddenly sprang forward.

“OK,” he said. “You got me. Special Officer 265. Bioterrorism Division.”

“I'm not laughing,” I replied.

“It's hopeless,” said Kris. “I admit everything, and you still don't believe me.”

“You're right, it's hopeless,” I replied.

“What are you going to do about it then?” asked Kris.

“I could go on alone,” I replied.

“You reckon?” said Kris with a smirk.

“Yes,” I replied. “I do.”

“Suit yourself,” said Kris. “I'll see Fay again then.”

“Fay?” I scoffed. “That's her name, is it—Fay?”

“Ooh, Jade,” said Kris. “You almost sound jealous.”

“Kris, just shut up and get out,” I snapped.

Kris stooped and ruffled Feela one more time. “Goodnight, love of my life,” he said. Then, just as he was leaving, he added, “And good-night to you too, Feela.”

I sank back beneath the covers, upset and confused. Part of me really believed I should strike out on my own. Part of me sensed that this episode with Kris was just one chapter in a much longer story.

Chapter Twenty

The moment Amelie walked in I sensed something was wrong. She always seemed so unruffled, so sublime. But now she looked deadly worried.

“The group warning's gone out,” she said.

“What happened?” asked Raff.

“They raided Frida,” replied Amelie.

“Uh-oh,” said Raff.

“Who's Frida?” I asked.

“She's our secretary,” replied Amelie. “She's got the database. All our details are on it.”

“How did that happen?” said Raff.

“Must have been someone at the party,” replied Amelie.

I looked accusingly at Kris. Amelie laid a hand on my arm. “Sorry, lovely,” she said. “You'll have to go.”

“Group warning means we've got to clear away any evidence,” explained Raff.

“You mean they could raid here?” I asked.

Raff nodded. The memory of being raided came back in every cruel detail. I did not want to go through that again.

“But will you still be able to take me?” I asked.

“
Us
,” corrected Kris.

From Amelie's expression I immediately knew the answer.

“Doesn't matter,” I said.

“I'm sorry, lovely,” she replied. “Now they've got our details the first thing they'll check is the vehicle database.”

“Can't we borrow someone else's van?” asked Kris.

“Everyone we know's on that list,” replied Raff.

“We'll nick one,” said Kris.

“No we won't,” I replied.

“Why not?” said Kris. “We took the truck. We took the boat.”

“That was different,” I said.

“Forget it,” said Amelie. “You won't get ten kilometers in a stolen vehicle.”

Raff thought for a moment. “There is the skoot,” he said.

“That's a point,” said Amelie. “That's not registered.”

“Can either of you ride a skoot?” asked Raff.

“I can,” I replied.

Kris looked at me doubtfully.

“There was a track down the marina,” I explained.

“Oh,” said Kris. “
Daddy
bought you one.”

“We hired it by the hour, actually,” I replied.

Raff and Amelie weren't quite sure what to make of this conversation.

“Are you happy to ride it, Jade?” asked Amelie.

“Yeah, I'll do it,” I replied.

“I reckon I can ride it, probably,” said Kris.

I ignored him. “What about Feela?” I asked.

“There's a big pannier on the back,” said Amelie. “Her box should go in OK.”

“It's got holes so she can breathe,” added Raff.

“Let's do it,” I said.

The skoot was a lot bigger than the ones I was used to, but the controls all seemed to be the same. I just needed to give it a trial run—but first I had to get Kris off the front seat. He'd climbed aboard as soon as they'd brought it out, and was doing his best to look like he knew what he was doing.

“Throttle on the right hand?” he asked.

“That's it,” said Raff.

“Gear-change on the left?” he asked.

“It's automatic,” replied Amelie.

“All skoots are automatic,” I added.

“Just testing you,” said Kris.

Kris checked out a few more things, whistling as he did so. I'd never heard him whistle before, and it wasn't very tuneful.

“OK,” said Kris. “I think I've got everything.”

“Good,” replied Amelie. “Hop off now so Jade can get the feel of it.”

I was beginning to truly love Amelie. Kris, on the other hand, was going off her fast. But he did as he was told and I quickly took his place. The saddle felt familiar and comfortable, and I soon got used to the little differences from the skoots I'd ridden before. Raff fitted me with a helmet and I took the skoot for a spin around the block, steady and careful as always. Mum always said I was a natural rider, and with what lay ahead, I would need to be.

Feela put up the usual struggle against going into her box, but resigned herself pretty quickly to her fate, being dog tired after her wild night. Kris, on the other hand, did not intend to go so quietly onto the back seat.

“It's just going to look stupid!” he protested.

“Kris,” said Amelie, “no one's going to know who you are, so what are you worried about?”

“
I
went on the back all the time,” added Raff. “It was great.”

“Yeah,” said Amelie, “till you added the speed limiter.”

“The override's just under the ignition, see?” said Raff.

“You never told me that!” said Amelie, and they launched into a mock fight, which broke the tension for a while—long enough for Kris to quietly slip into place and adopt as cool a pose as possible. Needless to say, he sat back and took hold of the handrails—he wasn't going to put his arms around me.

We checked the map and worked out the best route, avoiding all the main roads and the cameras. Amelie reckoned we could make Bluehaven within the day, even at the skoot's limited speed. My heart leaped at the thought, but after all that had happened, I wasn't taking anything for granted.

“Good luck, Jade,” said Amelie. “We're all counting on you.”

“Don't say that,” I replied.

I tried to make the farewells as quick as possible. It was easier that way. But Raff, bless him, was such a touchyfeely person he just had to hug me and wish me the best. I think he might have tried to hug Kris as well if Kris hadn't deliberately looked the other way.

So there we were, back on the road, back to the world of endless uncertainty. But we weren't going far. After Kris had flapped his arm once or twice to indicate which way we should be going, I pulled into a side lane, took off my helmet, and motioned him to do the same.

“Listen, Kris,” I said. “I'm under enough stress without you criticizing my driving. Either back off or get off.”

“You're weaving about all over the place,” said Kris.

“That's 'cause you're unbalancing me!” I cried.

“I'm too heavy to be on the back,” said Kris.

I took a deep breath. “Listen,” I said. “I don't have to go with you.”

“You could have said that back at Amelie's,” said Kris.

“I didn't want to have a row in front of them,” I replied.

“Still think I'm working for the state?” sneered Kris.