The One's You Love (Cat Johnson Chronicles Book 2)

by Katerina Degratte

  “This is at least something. When you set up the date, let us know. We’re going to give you wires to wear during it,” Gen informs me. God, those are so uncomfortable, but I guess I can see the point. “And a person on the other side of the cafe in case things go wrong. And yes, we’ll give you a bottle of honesty to use.” She saunters over to the other side of the room, where the medicine cabinet is located. Bottles of honesty are an interrogation item, to make the bad guys tell us what we need to know. Once a person has enough of it in their system, there’s nothing they can hide from us.

  The bottle is the size of a small eye drop bottle.

  I shake it, earning a dirty look from the scientist. “Are you sure this will be enough?” I ask.

  “It’s a powerful concoction, Cat. You don’t want to give him too much, or else he’ll be unveiling his entire life story for you. And I don’t think any of us have time for that,” Gen snipes. No truer words were ever spoken. “Besides honesty can be hard to come across, don’t use too much. Try seeing if he can set up the meeting for 11 a.m., in a few days assuming that works for you.” That was three days from now. I thought maybe I could choose out the time myself, but I was still on thin ice with the Maori situation so perhaps now wasn’t the time to argue that.

  “I could be the backup,” Raven offers.

  Gen shakes her head. “That won’t work. We can’t use someone that he will be expecting to be around Cat. Did Maori ever mention exactly what her source said about the continuing of the experiments?”

  “No.” I shake my head.

  Gen frowns. “Who exactly is her source? I don’t see many humans being daft enough to go in those woods. No offense.” She gives me an unapologetic glance.

  “A mouse.”

  “A mouse?” she echoes. “Aren’t cats and mice enemies?” As if she can’t wrap her mind around the concept. Like I would dare feed her fairy tale lies.

  “Maori got bored of that around the age of four. And her mouse friend Hector gives her news on the underground. Don’t underestimate them because of their size. They have tiny feet that take them lots of places, which is very useful.

  “Maybe something to keep in mind,” the scientist mutters as I cringe at the possibilities of what he could do with mice.

  “Thanks for your info, Cat. I appreciate it.” Gen gives me a smile, “I should get going, though,” she glances at her watch as if she already wasted too much time here talking to us. What could be a bigger worry then Susan coming back?

  I grab her arm. “Wait, are there any jobs I can take on?”

  She bites her lip, trying to think of something. “You have the coffee date coming up soon. Why don’t you help Hank clean up the mess, and we’ll keep in contact if there’s anything else we can have you do.” Bummer. “Try not to get too discouraged, Cat. It’s only been a few days. Make sure you stop by here around 9 a.m. on the day of the coffee date so we can get you all set up.”

  And until then, I’m a damned sitting duck. Of course, Maori is getting more action than I am, but I guess I brought that upon myself. Still sucks.

  What about when it was a few weeks or even a few months, would I be allowed real missions then? I chide myself. I needed to not let my anxiety get the better of me. At least Brian isn’t around to rub it in my face. Where is he, anyway? He usually likes to make my life more annoying than it needs to be.

  Why do I have to clean up the mess while I’m wearing the majority of it? I go to the cabinets to grab a washcloth, and some disinfectant spray.

  “Don’t.” Hank holds up a hand, not wanting anyone to disturb his method of cleaning. Damned perfectionist. “Until next time. Hope the next experiment doesn’t kill the specimen, I swear he was fine the first time.” Mhm. I can already see the unsettling image of Maori blowing up right in front of my very eyes due to how the rat’s experiment went sideways.

  “Any plans tonight?” I poke Raven in the side. Part of my brain is tempted to use some of the honesty elixir on her. With all the lying she did to me initially, that would be deceitful, though.

  “Sorry, I have an HQ thing,” she excuses, brushing me off before I can have the chance to question her about it or ask if I can tag along.

  “Cat, do you have a chance to talk for a moment?” Hank asks before I have the chance to escape through the door.

  “What is it?” I turn back. Kind of wanting to go home and shower after these guts were on me.

  “You mentioned Maori, you and Charming being smashed into a table? Did you or Charming get splashed with something as well?” The question I was sifting through earlier. “I could run some tests on him,” he offers.

  After seeing rat guts fly everywhere? Fuck no. “The only thing Charming had from that room was one of Susan’s fingers.” But of course, Hank being the guy he is, he just nods instead of commenting how gross that is like any sane human being would.

  “You?” So I could be rat guts, hell fucking no. “Did anything get on you, Cat?”

  I nearly snarl at him, as the image of him gets more annoying.

  “Your eyes. They look more cat-like than ever.”

  I shake my head. “What?”

  “I must have been looking at experiments too much or a trick of the light. Your eyes looked green and more emerald-shaped for a moment.” He shakes his head as I stare back at him, baffled. Crazy old guy; why does the company still have him on staff? “You should still get checked out when you have the chance.”

  “Later, Hank.” As if I’ll get the chance for that my schedule was jam-packed.

  “Wait Cat.” He calls to me again, before I can escape.

  What is it this time?

  “Take a shower and change before you leave, using one of the rooms. You can’t go on the street like that.” Reminding me of the morning I would meet Raven later in the day. Maori told me I needed to clean up before work. I guess that was a good point, I didn’t need a cop pulling me over because I had rat guts all over me.

  xxXxx

  Charming nearly pounces on me as I walk through the door. “Mommy, I thought I would never see you again! You were gone for so long!” His tone is full of anguish. I could understand his anxiety about being ditched without a word from the family. They didn’t even try to find him. “Oooh.” He licks my shirt as I try to curb the urge to projectile vomit. “What’s that yummy stuff?” I must have missed a spot.

  “No, Charming.” I give him a stern finger-wagging, but he just sees it as an excuse to bat at my finger. Damn, kittens and their one-track mind about playing.

  I hear the door to the office being opened, and sneak a look to see a makeshift bed in there behind my brother’s form. “What happened, Cat?” Colin asks, wondering why I was gone so long.

  “Turns out the secret job I have is to work on a cure to fix Maori.”

  He looks unfazed. “There’s nothing wrong with the way she is now. She’s just bigger. It doesn’t change who she is.”

  “It’s not normal, and people tend to shrink away from the odd.” Sadly enough.

  “They’re missing out, then.”

  I study Colin for a second, wondering if something has changed about him. He sounds much more insightful than he usually does. It’s not the fact that he doesn’t see a problem with it as being the issue. It’s more so the way he worded it, when he was asking about Maori. While him asking about toys coming to life earlier, was entirely normal for him. We’ve had that talking toys talk many times on and off over the years, with his favorite movie being ‘Toy Story.’

  “Everything okay, Cat?” he asks. When did my absentminded brother become so observant? No, I’ve just had a long day. Nothing is different about him. I get out a blanket from the cabinet by the bathroom, a few mere yards away. If I didn’t do it now I would surely forget.

  “Everything’s good. What’s the movie for tonight?”

  “I figured we could rewatch through the Buffy series since it’s been ten years since we’ve seen it.” I narrow my eyes before shakin
g it off. It had to be Colin. Who else could it be? Colin just was into his video games, and tv shows so couldn’t quite grasp why someone would want to kill a supersized cat.

  “What’s your favorite family show?” He asks me.

  And my brain is entirely too tired to come up with a good response. “Not sure. There’s so many.” Okay, so that’s a bit of a cop-out, but eh.

  “What’s my favorite family show?” I smile at the question. I just had a long day, and was paranoid.

  “Pokemon.” I answer. Easy question.

  “Yup.” he answers.

  Chapter 13

  Charming

  “You,” I mutter, my eyes set on the other cat in front of me. Staring as if challenging me. I’d get the fucker. I jump towards the other cat staring back at me, but to my dismay, I don’t get it. Instead, I’m just launched face-first into a barrier of sorts. Looking around I see much to my dismay, the other cat must have gotten away.

  Cat is laughing her ass off so much that she has tears in her eyes. Does she dare mock me?

  I attack her fingers to let her know that’s not okay. But that just causes the laughter to grow louder as she moves to cradle me against her chest. “You are a silly kitty, Charming.” She kisses my head.

  Fierce. Strong. A force to not be reckoned with, yes. Silly? I’d have to disagree with that statement. “I was trying to protect you from the other kitty,” I mutter, upset that she isn’t the least bit grateful.

  “Charming, that’s just your reflection.”

  “Reflection?” I question, jumping out of her arms and going back to stare at the other cat.

  “It’s what you look like,” she explains.

  I stare back at the reflection, checking the cat out. I’m one fine-looking cat. Maybe on the smaller side, but there’s a lot to admire there. “Reflection,” I repeat again. I’m gorgeous.

  She picks me back up again as we stare at our reflection together in the mirror. Pretty mommy holding my dashing self. I lick her face, stealing a crumb of food that got stuck there earlier.

  “Why do you leave so much?” I whine, looking at my mommy, my attention distracted from the reflection. Wasn’t she supposed to be around to take care of me instead of running off at the drop of a hat? Always going to work, or HQ, or to see Maori. And the nerve of her never taking me with her! I was young, and still had so much time to experience life!

  “You didn’t like the other time I took you to work with me. You were bored out of your mind,” Cat tells me, as if that’s an excuse.

  “Well, make it more entertaining!” Duh, it’s the obvious answer. Anyone could see that.

  She laughs as if my reasonable request is funny.

  “What?” I ask her, not liking the mocking laughter. I want to be able to join in on the laughs, not be the target of them.

  “I’m staying in for the night. Besides, it’s not like I left you alone. Colin was here with you.” Until he wasn’t when he left with Raven to go see Maori.

  I frown. Her brother is different than other humans. “He’s no good to snuggle against. He’s cold, like it’s not human skin.” Was he human? Or some other type of creature that HQ had a part in?

  She frowns. “Don’t say bad stuff about Colin.” Anger laces her words. Duly noted.

  “I was just saying he could light a candle inside him or something to keep him warmer. I’m small. I need warmth.” I’m not trying to insult him; I’m just offering helpful suggestions.

  Her head isn’t quite able to wrap around the idea, though. Why can’t humans be as creative as the feline brain?

  “Come here, snuggle butt.” She lifts me up to snuggle up with her on the bed, the best place to sleep. My days are less fun lately, as I don’t have Maori to play with anymore. She needs to come back soon. It’s not as fun to not have a bigger cat around to fuck around with.

  Chapter 14

  Cat

  Was surprised to hear back from you but delighted all the same. I have some time this morning, so I suppose we can grab a coffee. - Jack

  Another text soon beeps through.

  Would you want me to pick you up? - Jack

  No way in hell. Instead, we agreed that we would meet up at this new hipster coffee shop that opened up a few months back. Too bad I was going to meet up with him there because it’s a place I’m interested in checking out. This encounter would no doubt ruin the experience for me. The lounge, I know the name is not really original, but it is what it is.

  I didn’t hear back from the message I sent last night but got a message first thing this morning. He must be an early riser, as the texts came in around 6 a.m. or so.

  I can do this. I’m a strong woman. I won’t allow myself to wither under his harsh glare. Instead, I’ll find out what the hell he’s doing and what part he played in Susan’s death.

  Charming takes a moment to stand on my dresser, playing with the strands on my white peasant dress. “You should wear stuff like this more often.” Yes, he does love the clothing that has the stuff to play with on it. I’m lucky he isn’t like Maori when she was a kitten. Maori would find high amusement in jumping on my leggings. I could be cooking dinner or doing an essay and she would take a moment to distract me by her razor-sharp claws digging in through the thin fabric. Yeah, I love her to death, but I’m glad those days are over.

  He whines as I step away from the dresser to grab my trusty bag. It’s a black knit hobo style bag that I use for nearly every occasion, something I found at the thrift store a few years ago and still used to this day. Black goes with everything.

  “I need to get going, honey.” I give him a final cuddle, and he uses the opportunity to play with the tassels on my dress once more. Finally, I give him a chaste kiss on the head before setting him down on the bed.

  “But why, Mommy? I could go with you? I could give him my intimidating cat stare.” Yes, because a kitten staring at him begging for attention would be so very scary. I’m sure Jack would exhaust himself from the shivers it would run down his spine.

  “I won’t be gone long.”

  He pouts at my words. Hell, I could go to check the mail in the hallway, and he would still see that as too long of a departure.

  I add, “Besides, Colin will be here to keep you company.” I point out, shoving the reminder of the comments he made last night from my skull.

  “He’s been staying a lot. Is he moving in?” Yes, I forget that Charming wasn’t there for that conversation with Dad.

  “Not quite yet. Some point in the future.” I think back to his comment last night about his body being cold and candles. “No lighting any candles when I’m gone,” I tell him, wanting to have an actual apartment to come back to, which seems extremely unreasonable to a kitten butt.

  “But Mommy—” he tries to plead, but I cut him off.

  “No buts. No candle lighting while I’m not in the apartment.” Last thing I needed is a kitten learning how to use a lighter.

  He lets out a whine at my unfair, cruel words. “You’re no fun.”

  Of course. I roll my eyes, going to the living room to wave goodbye to my brother. “See you later, Colin.”

  “Where are you going?” Colin asks, I’m dressed somewhat nicely for my meeting with Jack. With my dress and strappy sandals.

  “Just coffee with a friend.” The word friend burns my lips, Jack was certainly not that.

  “A date?” he questions, those two words making me wanna purge. Good thing I haven’t eaten anything yet today.

  “Definitely not a date,” I mutter, making my way towards the door.

  A date with a monster? No thanks.

  XXXX

  “I’m so glad you agreed to meet me here.” We’re in a lovely hipster-like cafe, the scent of coffee and scones filling the air. “Is there anything I can get you?” Jack offers.

  “Let me,” I tell him, not trusting him to get me the coffee. Who knows what he might spike it with? “Besides, it should be my treat since I messaged you less than twelve
hours ahead of time. Thanks for agreeing last minute.”

  “I figured that I may as well take the chance while it was offered. You seemed skittish about the idea, so I didn’t know when the opportunity would present itself again. And I can’t let a beauty like you get away.” Way to make me feel like I won’t be walking away from this encounter … I’ll stick to just coffee and no scones or anything of that sort. With the lines this sleazeball is letting out, I doubt I can keep anything more than coffee down.

  I met up with HQ this morning. Got a plan set in motion. Returned the honesty serum so that our woman on the inside could deliver it.

  “We’ll get our own coffee, then,” Jack agrees, a cheesy easygoing smile on his lips. So he doesn’t trust me either? Smart man?

  I go up to the woman at the counter, nodding to her. It’s Annie from HQ posing as a barista. As soon as I told Gen about the coffee shop idea, things got set up. The real barista was under a little sleeping spell that would wear off later today. When his drink is being made, the honesty serum will be slipped into it. This is the least inconspicuous way to give him the serum.

  “I’ll get a frozen mocha,” I tell Annie.

  “I’ll get a cafe americano,” Jack orders, quick to take out his card, much to my annoyance. I could get my own drink. “I’ll pay for both of them.” He turns towards me, “Do you want any scones or anything?” he asks.

  I shake my head, not trusting my mouth with words at the moment. I didn’t want him paying for my drink, yet he goes ahead and does anyway.

  Annie glances between the two of us, not looking impressed. “We’ll have your drinks out in a few minutes, if you want to find a seat.”

  The place is pretty packed, so it must be a hot joint. I notice a spot with a bit of two people circular table in the corner, though. I grab his arm, cringing while doing so. I’m only touching the leather of his jacket, but his skin feels hot-blooded to the core. “There’s a spot over there.” It’s by the bookshelves in the café’s left corner, just past the counter. Several larger tables around, as college students used this as a place to study. Most of the students staring at laptops, some maybe having taken on too large of a workload. Likely too busy to bother trying to overhear our conversation.