She was about to go walk out of the police central when Agatha returned. “Catherine, you should post something on Twitter. Be concise. I think something in the lines of “I believe we’ll have justice” will be enough.
“Too impersonal,” Cat replied. “What about, ‘After the attack, I spent the day at the police central, helping law enforcement. There’ll be justice for the victims.”
“It works. Take the cap out, let them snap some sneak pictures of you leaving at night. Don’t interact with the reporters and go straight to the car. The pictures will corroborate your story.”
She nodded. “Thanks, Agatha. I really appreciate your help.”
“I thought about why that creepy attorney decided to throw the towel, it was so obvious I missed it. The FBI will go after the guy. He’ll be safer in jail than out there.”
Cat was too exhausted to think. “That makes sense. I’m going to visit Oliver with Alice tomorrow at the earliest I can. Would you come with us?”
“Yes, I will,” the social media lawyer nodded, then joked. “It’s a date! I’m going out first. They’ll swarm and block the way out when you come.”
“Good night, Agatha.”
“See you tomorrow!”
She saw some flashes as the woman left the building. Martinez arrived a few minutes later with Aura, and they prepared to go out. Jack went out first, then Catherine flanked by Alice and the pony-sized wolf, with two agents from Grendel Security closing the pack. As she came out, the mob of reporters and photographers rose from the shadows in a cacophony of flashes and questions. A few protesters that decided to stay overnight saw the media frenzy and decided to look lively for the cameras in hope of getting their message out.
“Miss Wallenstein, were the terrorists targeting you?”
“Catherine, why did you visit a clothing shop earlier today?”
“Is fashion more important than justice?”
They kept pestering her because of her shopping stop. Angry, Cat stopped.
“A good friend of mine got shot trying to save me from the terrorists,” she said with tears that automatically came out as she thought of Oliver in the ICU. “He shed his lifeblood for what he thought was right and some of that fell on me. It's what any American would do in his place, I’m sure of it. The clothes I wore were torn and stained and I would proudly wear them but I had an appointment with judge Hendrickson today, and the least I could do to show respect at the court was to spend ten minutes getting a change of clothes. I must thank the staff at the GAP shop for their prompt and speedy service, but my goal shopping there was not frivolous at all," she huffed to catch her breath and her stomach protested. "I just realized I had nothing to eat the whole day, so I’m going to get some fuel in my system now. Thanks for asking.”
She remarked to herself that she ran the day on indignation and stubbornness. The reporters who were expecting a bland “no comments” were well fed and she just had to let Jack spearhead their path to the car. Aura helped a lot as the reporters didn’t want to get close to the wolf. Once seated, she let out a big huff.
“Where to, miss?” Jack asked from the driver’s seat.
“I think I want some soup. I don’t think I can eat anything solid or greasy right now,” Cat replied.
“I know a restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen,” the ranger said.
“Lead on,” she said and leaned on Aura’s fur coat. Cat fought to remain awake.
Jack took them to a Mediterranean restaurant where Cat almost snorted enough soup for three. Were it not for Alice helping her, she’d be either sick or asleep at the end of her late meal. She fell asleep as the convoy made its way through New Jersey, snaking and changing routes to shake any tails. A huge tongue woke her up, though.
“Rise and shine,” Alice sang. “You’re home, Catherine.”
Taking in her surroundings, she found herself still in the car on her house’s driveway. Aura licked her again, drawing a protest from the crazy cat lady in her head.
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Drowsy, she asked, “Can you help me? I don’t think I can move.”
“Sure.”
She protested with a feeble grunt when Alice used her superhuman strength to get her on a bridal carry.
Esmeralda yawned as she opened the door to admit the group. Jack and some security guards would stand guard around the perimeter, to make sure no terrorist, or worst, paparazzi, could sneak into the property.
“What was that at the courthouse?” Cat asked as she guided Alice through the mansion corridors.
“That guy had magic, really bad magic,” Alice whispered. “I don’t think I could defeat him even with all my babies.”
“I think he was a demon,” Cat commented. She felt Alice’s arms falter and feared the girl would drop her.
“Think?” With a steel face, Alice asked, “Are you sure?”
“Put me down, Alice. I think I can walk.”
“Demon,” the usually bubbly girl demanded. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Didn’t you notice how many references to ‘hell’ and ‘damnation’ he dropped as if they were jokes? Even judge Hendrickson didn’t like them.”
Angry, Alice closed her eyes, “Demons almost destroyed my world. I was snatched back before we could defeat them. They can’t come to Earth without good cause though. Why is this one here?”
Cat stopped to think. Alice was nothing but helpful and made her available to help heal Oliver. “I think it is time to tell the whole story. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to deceive you.”
Alice shook her head, “Don’t worry. We all have secrets and you have to look out for yourself first.”
“Come to my room, we can talk in there.”
----------------------------------------
She didn’t expect they would talk in the naked but Alice was dying to take a dip. Before Cat could protest or explain, the returner was already naked and cleaning herself in the shower. Aura didn’t enter the bathroom, deciding to take a nap on Catherine’s bed.
Catherine made deliberate use of that name to point out the possible point of contention.
Looking at the ceiling, Cat approached the shower. “Alice, the first thing you should know is that I’m not Catherine. She’s here in my head, but I’m William, the guy she fell on top of.”
“Okay,” the girl said from underneath the shower. “That explains why you are not looking at me, among other things.”
“Okay?” Cat mumbled. “Just okay?”
“I’ve seen crazier things. My lord back in my previous world was a troll, and we had goblins walking and shopping everywhere. Goblin adventurers taking quests, can you believe? Growing up in a fantasy world makes one accustomed to crazy stuff. How did you end up in her body? That’s the important question.”
Cat didn’t expect the level-headed answer. But she had to see it through, now that she started confessing her backstory.
“When she fell on me, we both died. An entity, which I saw as an angel but Catherine saw as the grim reaper, came for us. After we negotiated, it offered to bring me back to life in her body and to take her with me to keep her from going to hell. Catherine agreed to it, she wasn’t forced or anything. Except that the alternative was eternal damnation, of course.”
“Do you believe the demon came for her soul?”
“Hi, Catherine!” Alice chirped. “Hey, can you look at me when I’m talking to you? It’s awkward.”
Cat lowered her eyes until they made eye contact. “Better this way. Let’s put one thing behind us. You’re a girl now, you got the same things on you that I have here on display. So act like one. I won’t scream ‘pervert’ if you look at me.”
She had to chuckle, “I’d hold onto that ‘pervert’ line because Catherine wanted me to do things to you.”
“And do you?” Alice teased.
“I’m undecided. Not today, maybe never. I don’t feel the same way anymore.”
Alice walked out of the shower laughing. “I’m done here, the shower is all yours. I’m going to enjoy your marvelous bathing contraption. Don’t be late.”
Things got really awkward after she joined Alice in the hot tub. The girl fawned over Catherine’s figure, and Cat had to endure a pincer attack regarding her plans to get some filling on her body.
“No, no. You won’t ruin Catherine’s perfect and elegant figure by fattening yourself up, miss!” The trasmigrator vigorously affirmed.
Cat relayed the ghost’s words, regretting it immediately after. “You have perfect proportions! I’m envious of you for landing such an elegant body basically for free.”
She took a backseat position and just relayed Catherine’s words as the two girls talked about everything. Catherine found in Alice not only a friend but also a clean slate to vomit information about makeup and fashion as the wolf whisperer had returned to Earth a bit more than a year ago and was almost clueless in these matters yet.
After the bath, Alice earned a tour of Catherine’s closet but exhaustion cut the tour short. At the nightwear drawer, to be precise. Cat stopped, took two sets of pajamas, and made a beeline for the bed. Alice came right after her.
“Aura, it’s the carpet for you. I can’t spare the magic to send you to your brothers now,” the tamer commanded. With a whimper, the giant wolf climbed off the bed and sauntered to the carpet, before curling into an offended ball of fur staring at her master. “Let her sulk. Shall we get under the duvet?”
Catherine yawned. Deciding on the spot to pick her fights, she decided to let Alice sleep wherever she wanted. Which was right next to her. She was out cold less than a minute after hitting the pillow, anyway.