A Cat Called Kat

Chapter Twenty-Six - The Vanguard

I was about to say something else but there was a bit of a disturbance from up by the house. Suddenly Elroy was there, stepping in front of Master, ready to protect him with his life, and everybody else seemed to have guns in their hands.

Then I saw that The Vanguard had stepped out onto the terrace with his two bodyguards... and they all had their guns out too.

And then I worked out what was going on. Nobody had told him about what had happened last night... and so he had just come out onto the terrace for breakfast as normal... and there was a real danger of loads of people dying because of a stupid mistake.

"Stop!" I shouted, jumping off Master's lap and raising my arms in the air. "Stop everybody!"

As I stepped forward, Caroline tried to grab me but I guess she was getting really stiff and I had no trouble dodging her. Everybody seemed to be holding their breath as I walked slowly towards the Vanguard until I was standing right in front of him, directly between the two groups. "I'm sorry," I said to him, "a great deal has changed since last night and we forgot to tell you."

I turned to Master. "Please would you ask our men to lower their guns?" I said.

He gave me a bit of a look to let me know what he thought about me putting myself in danger like that but he gave the order.

"Now, Vanguard, please would you join us for breakfast. I'd like you to meet my Master and fiancé, Mr Anthony Lloyd of 'Anthony Lloyd Enterprises'. I'm sure he will agree to let you leave unharmed when we have finished."

The Vanguard looked at me for what felt like a long time and then, for once, his whole inscrutable thing slipped slightly and he commented on things with the tiniest twitch of an eyebrow. He gave a nod then turned to Master who had stepped forwards too, deliberately exposing himself to fire.

"I give you my word," Master said, meeting the Vanguard's eye.

You could feel the tension evaporating as the two men shook hands. They stepped over to the table and then waited for me to join them.

I moved to take the seat next to Master but he gently took my wrist and guided me into the seat at the head of the table, between the two of them. For a moment, I was a bit stunned that he would expect me to sit in Nonno's place but then I realised that, as my sister hadn't arrived yet, it was up to me to act as Head of the Family. It was my job to sit there... and to do the whole hostess thing.

Master had a quiet word with Jenkins and he started moving our small army off the terrace, ready for their trip back to England, leaving only Elroy and Caroline behind. Then I smiled at the head waiter chappy who was hovering conveniently nearby and, within seconds, millions of other waiter type people had magically appeared, cleared up the used coffee cups, and laid out heaps of fresh breakfast type tasties for us.

And when I saw all that delicious food, I realised that tea-time had been an awfully long time ago and that I was completely ravenous. So I set to work, stuffing my face, with a great deal of enthusiasm as Master explained what had been going on to The Vanguard. I had to pause occasionally to answer the odd question but I mostly concentrated on the whole face stuffing bit.

"If I may be asking," the Vanguard said after a bit, "what are your intentions with me and my associates."

"I have no intentions with you whatsoever," Master replied. "That is a matter that you will need to raise with Catherine's adopted sister Teressa. She is the rightful head of the Andretti family. She should be arriving soon."

The Vanguard thought about this then silently nodded.

And I had to give a little smile at the thought of seeing my sister again.