So, seriously, what's up with scientific terms? CAN'T YOU JUST SPEAK ENGLISH? Why does there have to be the name of something and then a scientific name? WHAT DIFFRENCE DOES IT MAKE IT'S STILL THE SAME THING! Sorry I've been studying scientific terms for my end of year science exam (it's nearing the end of the school year in Australia and I am Australian, for those who didn't know) and I've just about had enough of them. And algebra for my maths exam. GO HOME ALPHABET YOUR DRUNK YOU DON'T BELONG IN MATHS! Ok psycho spaz attack about studying done, now on with the story

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Brady's P.O.V

"Mack!" I cried out, hardly awake.

It was a few minutes to seven in the morning and the tedious ringing of Mack's home phone was driving me insane.

"Mack!" I yelled again.

No answer.

With a heavy groan, I reluctantly pulled myself off the recliner and over to the phone.

"Hello?" I grumbled to whoever was on the other end. "Brady speaking."

"Hi..." A small voice said. The voice was so gentle and bleak I couldn't even tell if I was talking to a female or a male. "Is anyone by the name of McKenzie there? Or do I have the wrong number?"

Female, I decided. Defiantly female.

"I'll just go get her for you. Who's this?"

There was a very long pause, so long I actually checked three times that the line hadn't gone dead.

After a few moments, there was a gentle click, and this time the line really had gone dead. Whoever was on the other end had hung up.

"Well that was wired." I thought aloud, returning the phone to its place on the set.

I headed off towards the hall, intent on finding Mack, but I hadn't even made it a few steps before the phone rang again.

I stared at it for a few moments, unsure what to do, then I sighed and picked it up again.

"Hello?"

"Is this Brady?" The same small, timid voice replied.

"Speaking?"

Another pause.

"I'm sorry I hung up on you." The girl whispered. "I kind of freaked out. My name is Catherine. Could you put McKenzie on the phone please?"

"Sure. But she'll want to know who it is."

"Just tell her Catherine Miller is on the phone." Catherine's voice rose a little.

Catherine Miller. The name sounded oddly familiar, but I couldn't place it.

"How do you know McKenzie?" I pressed. My voice wasn't accusing, I was just simply trying to figure out where I knew her from.

"Who are you the police?" She snapped, frustration in her quiet voice rising. "Just put her on the phone!"

I didn't say anything, not arguing but also proving I wasn't putting Mack on until she told me who she was. Sensing my hesitation, Catherine released a long sigh.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. Wait, what did you say your name was again?"

I frowned. She'd called back asking if it was Brady on the phone, so clearly she knew what my name was. I had a distinct feeling she was only trying to change the subject.

"Brady." I replied flatly.

"You're Mack's boyfriend, right?"

The fact that Catherine knew McKenzie went by Mack and that she had a boyfriend called Brady eased my suspicions a little. Obviously she couldn't be a total stranger.

"That's right."

"In that case, she's probably mentioned me."

Had Mack mentioned a Catherine Miller? Is that why I knew the name?

"I don't think so..."

"Maybe she referred to me as Cat?" Catherine offered. "A bit like McKenzie much prefers Mack, I prefer Cat."

Suddenly my brain clicked. The name Catherine Miller had only rung a bell, but Cat Miller registered instantly.

"You're Mack's sister!" I cried, relief pounding through me.

Cat was a twenty-four year old women who lived in New York. Mack and Cat hadn't even known the other existed until Mack was eight and Cat was fifteen. Mack's dad had left her mother and moved back to his home –New York- before Mack had even had her first birthday. When Mack lost her mother she never even considered trying to reconnect with her dad –he walked out of her life and that was his choice. It was her Aunt that, in a desperate attempt to show Mack she still had family out there, did her research and discovered fifteen year old Cat, her father's daughter and her half-sister. Like Mack, their dad had also chosen to walk out of Cat's life, and, being an only child, she found herself quite lonely growing up with only her mum as company. When she'd heard that not only did she have a sister but that sister had recently lost her mother, it was enough for her to spend her savings on a plane ticket to California. Apparently, Mack and Cat used to be really close, talking over the phone whenever they got the chance and meeting up at least once a year. But the last time Mack went to see her in New York five years ago, they'd had a huge falling out and as far as I was concerned they hadn't spoken since.

"Yes." Cat's voice had gone soft again. "Could I speak to Mack now?"

"Sure." I placed the phone face down on the kitchen bench and started to search the house.

"Mack? Mack?" I called.

"In here." Mack grouched back from her bedroom.

I pushed open the door to find her lying next to Chee Chee on the mattress, who was sound asleep.

Chee Chee! I'd completely forgotten about her.

"Do you know about the wedding dress?" I asked, suddenly realizing it hadn't been behind the lounge where I'd left it.

"Yeah." She rubbed her eyes. "I found it this morning. I tried to ask Chee Chee where she'd got it but she'd just kept crying and saying she'd done something awful but she wouldn't tell me what. Then she fell asleep so I kind of did to."

I nodded.

"Ok. Well your sisters on the phone. Can you believe it? I guess she wants to smooth the waters."

Mack's face paled.

"Excuse me?" She uttered.

"Cat's on the phone…" I said slowly.

Mack's eyes dropped, then returned to meet me.

"Brady." She whispered. "This isn't funny."

"What?"

Mack's eyes widened.

"Wait, are you serious?"

"Yes!" I insisted, a mixture of confusion and worry pulsing through my veins.

Mack inhaled sharply.

"Is she still on the phone?"

"Yes…"

"Go hang up. Now. Then call the police."

"What? Why? Did Cat do something wrong?" I remembered the falling out. Maybe it was more serious than I thought.

Next thing I knew, Mack looked as though she was desperately fighting tears.

"Cat didn't do anything wrong. But it isn't her on the phone. This is someone's idea of a sick joke."

"How do you know?"

"Because Cat died five years ago."

Wow thankyou for all the reviews! Nine on this one? Xxxxx