A Game Of Justice ✭ Cato Hadley

Eleven - All Eyes On Him

24th July 75PD

Brutus answers the knock on his door and comes face to face with two district officials, flanked on each side by two Peacekeepers. It's twelve forty-five in the afternoon, and there's only one reason why he suspects that district officials have come knocking during his lunchtime.

"Mr Kramer." One of the officials says. "We'd like to speak with you because we can't get a hold of Mr Hadley."

"What's this about?" Brutus asks.

"May we come in?"

Brutus nods and directs the officials to his living room where they immediately take a seat on the smaller couch, leaving the armchair to the left for the victor. The peacekeepers follow closely behind and remain standing either side of the rolled arms of the sofa, tightly gripping their guns in a manner that would've made Brutus nervous decades ago, if he wasn't a victor. He settles himself into the armchair as comfortably as possible and repeats his earlier question. "What's this about?"

An official shakes his head. "We'll inform you in a moment, Mr Kramer. But firstly, we're required to ask you if you have knowledge of the whereabouts of Mr Hadley? His tracking device places him inside Victor's Village but there was no answer when we attempted to make contact earlier this morning."

"Cato? He's at home. He's probably just asleep, that's all he's doing at the moment. The arena takes a lot out of you, I'm sure you understand. And it's just Brutus, please."

"I can understand the arena uses up a lot of energy, Brutus." The second officer makes a point of using his name. "But this is an important matter."

"I'll make sure I let him know." The victor bargains. "Now, can you please tell me what is so important?"

One of the officers reaches into his pocket and pulls out a brown manila folder, unfolding it and removing an official-looking document from inside. He hands the document to Brutus, despite his insistence that he dislikes being handed things, especially after returning from the Capitol this year. It's a death certificate, with a formal medical report, held tightly behind it. For Atticus Leach. Brutus' eyes widen and he mumbles oh shit under his breath as he realises what this means; he's going to have to get Cato out of this mess somehow. The officer places his hands back in his lap and begins to speak. "The medical staff have told us that Mr. Atticus Finch passed away this morning. His next of kin have been informed and luckily they are not pressing charges against Mr Hadley but we are still required to let him know."

Brutus lets out a sigh of relief. – they aren't pressing charges. Pressing charges in Panem means execution. No trial. – but he decides to try his luck regardless. Wanting to try and gauge what the district officials know. "Why would they be pressing charges against Cato?"

"Because Cato– Mr Hadley was seen engaging in violence three days ago."

"He was reacting to derogatory comments made by Mr Finch. Atticus instigated the fight and threw the first punch. I'm sorry he's dead, I really am but there is no way that his defence would have held up against the laws of the land." Brutus argues his case and the officer nods.

"I understand your point, Brutus." The second officer relays, and then smiles widely. "And, off the record, I agree with you. Atticus Finch was far too arrogant for his own good, considering that he won a Quarter Quell that nobody even remembers. He was a right nuisance and I'm glad someone could take him down a peg – literally."

Both the officers chuckle, along with the Peacekeepers, and Brutus finds himself nervy regarding what they think of him. "Alright..." he says, handing the document back to the officer who handed it to him. "If that'll be all, gentlemen."