8. Family reunion.
"Or a costume very like it," says Cato. "The main difference is the headdress."
"We must show Effie when she gets home," I say. "The woman in the picture could be her great-aunt Sophie."
"We could make a headdress like the one in the picture from the mesh you took out of my hair," suggests Gillian.
I have my doubts, but if it stops Gillian from moping about her missing mother, then I'm happy to at least try. Cato leaves Gillian and I to our efforts while he heads off to the function he must attend.
Despite Gillian's enthusiasm, neither of us can fashion a passable imitation of the headdress in the picture. Fortunately Effie arrives home early and soon corrects our mistakes. I'm amazed at the outcome. What we've created is not so much a headdress as a decorated hairstyle which is a distant cousin of Gillian's fancy hairdo.
"Now you look like a Capitol girl, Katniss," says Effie.
I'm sure Effie means it as a compliment, but I've always been proud of being a district girl. Gillian's delight at the finished product stops me from complaining. I must admit that my decorated hair will go nicely with my costume.
"Is the woman in the picture your great-aunt Sophie?" I ask Effie when we are finished.
"No," replies Effie. "And I doubt the costume is the real Jewels of Desire. There were several imitations of her costume and act. You said that you have your imitators as well."
I understand what Effie means. Fortunately Marcie avoids scheduling my sessions directly before or after one of the other dancers wearing a fake Jewels of Desire costume. They are good dancers, but I have the edge on costume and, of course, being the real Katniss Everdeen.
Cato returns about half an hour before Gillian and I need to leave for the Black Cat. He obviously has news he wants to share with us, but the sight of my hairdo leaves him speechless for a few moments. Finally he finds his tongue.
"Plutarch Heavensbee has disappeared," says Cato. "That television interview we watched was recorded a couple of weeks ago. Some of the Gamemakers think he's fled to District Thirteen."
"But District Thirteen doesn't exist any more," I reply.
"It seems as though it does. From what I can piece together, Heavensbee has been plotting with the leaders of District Thirteen to overthrow President Snow. But he's been found out and he's taken refuge in Thirteen. At least that's what Seneca Crane says."
"Hmmm. That might not be true," I say, recalling what both Plutarch Heavensbee and President Snow have told me. "There's no love lost between Seneca Crane and Plutarch Heavensbee. Does it mean we are in even more danger?"
"I don't think so," replies Cato. "I can't see how it involves us."
"Egeria will know," says Gillian with confidence. "She said she would help us if we returned to the Black Cat tonight."
I wish there was an alternative. I don't trust Egeria Wolfe, but she's the only link we have to Mrs. Snow's disappearance. The longer we wait, the more complicated and dangerous the situation becomes.
Cato and Gillian gain access to the Black Cat with Gillian's special card. I report to Marcie once I'm satisfied Cato and Gillian are sat at one of the more visible tables. There will be no sitting in discreet booths tonight. I want Gillian to be visible to as many witnesses as possible to deter any kidnapping attempt. There's no sign of Egeria so far. Booth sixteen, which Egeria said we were to go to if we wanted help, is empty.
Over the next hour the club starts to fill up. Juno arrives, along with the other dancers who were detained by the peacekeepers last night. When I ask Juno what happened, she laughs as though the whole episode was part of everyday life in the Capitol. It's going to be another busy night and I'm glad there are more dancers tonight.
I finish my second session to rapturous applause. My new hairdo is definitely paying dividends. My tips are much larger even though the night is still young. I walk close to booth sixteen on my way back to Cato and Gillian's table. The booth is occupied, but the people in it have turned down the lights. It's not an uncommon practise, enabling the occupants to see without being seen.
"Did you see who entered booth sixteen," I ask Cato and Gillian when I reach their table.
"No," replies Cato. "We were distracted."
"I wasn't," says Gillian proudly. "The red-head with the split dress might have gained your attention, Cato, but I've been watching booth sixteen all night. Two men entered it just before you came on stage. I couldn't make out their features. They were wearing oversized coats and floppy hats. They clearly want to remain anonymous."
From Gillian's description it sounds like the same outfit Egeria wore when she delivered President Snow's message to me. It's possible that one of the people is Egeria, but who is her companion? I suppose there's only one way to find out. One of us will have to go to booth sixteen to find out; and I'm the obvious choice. Dancers doing the rounds of the tables and booths between sessions is not unusual. It's a good way to earn extra tips, but it usually implies that you're available for other entertainment of a personal and intimate nature. Consequently I haven't followed some of the other girls' example until now. I stop at booth sixteen and breathe a sigh of relief when I realise one of the occupants is Egeria. I also recognise her companion; Flavius Brock, owner of the Lone Wolf night club. I'm puzzled by his appearance here tonight. Perhaps he's spying on the competition. Neither of them seems pleased to see me but they don't send me away.
"Bring Gillian to us and we'll get her to safety," says Egeria.
"Not until I know what is going on," I reply. "I'm not handing her over to anybody unless I'm convinced that she's going to be safe."
"Don't you know who I am?" replies Egeria with contempt. "President Snow will boil you in oil if you endanger his granddaughter's life."
"Which is precisely why I'm not letting you take Gillian until you answer my questions."
"Just take Gillian, Egeria," says Flavius. "She'll come with you without creating a fuss. We can't sit here all night arguing with this district nobody."
Flavius restrains me as Egeria leaves the booth. She doesn't get very far, though. She, Flavius and I are immediately surrounded by dark suited men who have all the appearance of undercover peacekeepers. I take a quick look towards the table where Cato and Gillian are sat and see that they too are being detained by similarly clad men.
Despite the dozen or so men escorting the five of us from the main area of the club, none of the patrons makes any attempt to intervene. I doubt more than a handful even notice what is going on. Our destination is the room beyond the bar which Gillian had previously pointed out.
Inside the room are several people, including Mrs. Snow and a man I presume is her husband. Gillian is delighted to see them and there's a touching family reunion. Meanwhile Egeria and Flavius are handcuffed and moved to one side. Cato and I are briefly questioned by one of the men, and then we are told that we may go. We aren't encouraged to linger, but I insist on saying goodnight to Gillian.
"Thank you, Miss Deane," says Mrs. Snow. "You have carried out your duty satisfactorily. Here are your wages, plus a small bonus. Unfortunately for you, now my husband has returned, we no longer have need of your services."
I'm slightly shocked at my sudden dismissal. I suspect Mrs. Snow doesn't want me around asking awkward questions. It seems that Mr. and Mrs. Snow have no intention of explaining their actions nor telling me what is going on. I'm about to demand an explanation when Cato grabs my arm and guides me towards the door. Gillian runs to me as Cato and I near the door.
"Thanks for everything, Katniss," she says with genuine feeling. "I'll not forget what you've done."
"What about your hair mesh?" I ask. "Should I bring it round to your apartment tomorrow?"
"No! No! Keep the horrid thing. I hated wearing it. Its my gift to you for looking after me."
Gillian is called back to her parents, and Cato and I are politely but firmly escorted from the room. I'm due to start my third dancing session soon, and I leave Cato to amuse himself. He's not likely to be allowed in here again, so he seems determined to make the most of the opportunity. Perhaps I'll introduce him to Fleur, the red-haired dancer who attracted his attention earlier. He'll soon learn that pretty looks and an eye-catching costume don't necessarily make a good companion.
The rest of the night at the Black Cat is hectic. I don't see the Snows leave, nor what happens to Egeria and Flavius. Marcie tells me that I'm to work until five o'clock. It'll be a long night, but I'll be richer for the effort. Cato is chatting to three men in one of the booths when I check on him at three o'clock. I don't interrupt him, and instead I take a much needed breather in one of the quieter corners of the club.
"Miss Everdeen," comes a voice from behind me. I turn in surprise at the use of my real name.
"President Snow," I reply. "You're up late. I never imagined the President of Panem as an all-night party-goer."
"I rarely sleep. Besides, it's a night for celebration," replies President Snow. "You've played a part ... albeit a very small one ... in preventing a civil war. You've done well, and you shall be rewarded."
"I just want my sister to be safe, and to live my life in peace," I reply.
"Admirable ambitions, Miss Everdeen. Ones which I'm happy to assist you to achieve. Seneca Crane will be announcing tomorrow that the 75th Hunger Games reaping will be amended as I promised. The female tribute for District Twelve will be selected as usual. It means that your sister will no longer be the only person in the draw. Unfortunately it means that your name will be in the draw as well, but that's as good as it gets."
I hate the man, but I shouldn't have expected any less from the likes of President Snow. He gives with one hand and takes away with the other.
"Katie Deane is a District Two resident," I reply. "Are you saying that I can once again use my real name?"
"Yes. Seneca Crane will be announcing the amazing discovery of your and the District Eleven girl's survival, although he won't be mentioning how you both received help. It will be his final act as a Gamemaker. From then on Katie Deane will no longer exist. You will be returning to District Twelve the following day for a televised reunion with your family. My new assistant will provide you with the details of your cover story. Stick to the script if you don't want further trouble."
I know better than to ask what will become of Seneca Crane. Failure isn't something President Snow tolerates, and a Gamemaker who allows tributes to escape from the arena would be regarded as a huge failure.
"You have a new assistant?" I ask, fishing for some clue as to what happened.
"Yes. Egeria decided to throw her lot in with Plutarch Heavensbee and his gang. Heavensbee might have escaped my net for the moment, but his co-conspirators are behind bars. My son has been freed unharmed and we've recovered most of the kidnapper's ransom."
"I thought it was Gillian who was in danger of being kidnapped," I reply.
"I told you the truth. Just because the plotters had kidnapped my son, it didn't mean that Gillian was safe. Thankfully my suspicions about the loyalty of my daughter-in-law proved unfounded. She played her part well and my men managed to free my son at only minimal cost."
Since I don't understand what role Mrs. Snow played in what happened, I can't judge for myself. There were several things Mrs. Snow said and did which don't make sense. A lot of what she told Gillian were lies. But why? President Snow obviously had his doubts about Mrs. Snow as well. That's probably why he didn't want her to know about him contacting me. The man has enemies everywhere and he trusts nobody. I can't say I'm surprised or sorry.
As President Snow promised, Seneca Crane makes the televised announcements the next day. Shortly afterwards, a courier delivers a replacement identity card with my real name, together with a train ticket to District Twelve tomorrow. It means I have most of today to say goodbye to Cato, who is returning to District Two this evening. He has promised to visit me in District Twelve when he can. Whether he will or not remains to be seen.
I still can't make sense of Mrs. Snow's actions in all this. Something tells me that President Snow may be premature in dropping his suspicions about her. But I'm more concerned about Gillian. Her heart's in the right place, and she deserves better than being a pawn in the power struggle going on around her. But there's nothing I can do. Effie insists that I keep the Jewels of Desire, which I pack away with my newly acquired hair ornament. It seems unlikely that I'll ever take them out of their boxes again.
My last day with Cato is very special, and our parting at the station is emotional. I'll really miss him, but I'm also excited at the prospect of being with my family again. All too soon it is Effie who is waving me off on the train to District Twelve. The next stage of my life begins here.