Alien in the House

Chapter 82



“NO,” Jeff said flatly. “You are not going to this without me along.”

“Sorry, you’re not invited. You are the target, not me. Besides, I’m sure Rahmi and Rhee will be thrilled to be given a mission by the Great Tito, and I’m equally sure they’ll kill any man I tell them to and not even think about asking questions later. They can move at hyperspeed, they’re stronger than A-Cs, and they have an even faster ability to heal.”

“Take your Glock,” Mom said. She looked at Jeff. “Kitty’s right, she’s going, you’re not. I’ll have Charles knock you out if you argue. Because, what none of you know is that the President wants Jeff in the severest form of protective custody.”

“Does he think Jeff killed Brewer or anyone else?”

“No. He, like you and Vance and, frankly, me, thinks that Jeff is a target. Now that I’ve brought the number of dead representatives to his attention, the President is also worried that we have a conspiracy or serial killer on our hands. And the absolute last representative the President wants killed is our first A-C congressman.”

“I don’t care, Kitty’s not going to this meeting without me. I don’t want her going at all, but if she’s going, then she’s taking me, period. And that’s an order.”

White cleared his throat. “Ah, Jeffrey, I hate to say this to you, but you’re actually not in a position to give anyone in the Embassy orders any more. You’re now a congressman. Missus Martini is the ambassador and, as such, her word is law in here.”

“James,” Jeff said. “You can overrule her.”

“I can, but I don’t think we want me to. We have nothing to go on. The leads we have are all going on a fast path to nowhere. We think it’s Clarence, but we don’t know. We think Raul the assassin is Leventhal Reid’s relative, but we don’t know. People are dropping dead all over and we have no handle on why or how. You were shot, and it’s only by a miracle of a string of coincidences that you’re alive at all. If we have a chance to get some clarity, even a little, then I say we go for it.”

“I’m not going to allow my wife to have a midnight meeting with assassins,” Jeff growled. “And that’s final.”

“Then I have no choice but to arrest you,” Mom said. “For your own good.”

Jeff’s jaw dropped. “You can’t be serious.”

“I can and I am. I’m not talking as your mother-in-law. I’m speaking as the Head of the P.T.C.U.”

“It’s Mom’s turn to use me for bait, Jeff. And, just like way back when, I approve and endorse being the bait.”

“Jamie’s birthday is tomorrow,” Jeff said quietly, but with a catch in his voice.

Went to him and hugged him. “I know. And I’ll be there for it. I’m not going alone. I’ll be with four others, and we all have hyperspeed. Richard and I know what we’re doing, we really do. The princesses will protect us. And Raj will find what Christopher couldn’t.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Christopher asked, as I received a nice blast of Patented Glare #5.

“You’ve been searching for where the assassins are holed up. Chuckie thought that they might be using someplace in the cemetery as a base. The Dingo asked me to meet there, so I think the likelihood just went up. But you don’t think like a sneaky human—and that’s a compliment—so you’re not going to spot where a really sneaky human would be hiding. Chuckie would be best for this, but he can’t go. So Raj will have to do.”

“What makes you think Raj will be better at this than me? He has no Field training at all.”

“I’m happy to arrest you, too, Christopher,” Mom said.

“I don’t want to go. I mean, I would if Kitty wanted me, but clearly she prefers my dad. But at least they’ve worked together before. What does Raj have that I don’t have?”

“Troubadour talent and an actual awareness of popular culture,” I answered without missing a beat. “He’s also seen all the evidence we found. And the only reason Raj has no Field training is that you wouldn’t let him have any. I’m not prejudiced against troubadours like you are. So he’s coming with me.”

“I agree,” Mom said, voice icy and completely in charge. “And I want to make sure that every person in this room understands that the person with the most authority in this room is me.”

Jeff and Christopher glowered, but they both shut up. Everyone else other than Kevin and Chuckie had I’m A Good Boy or Girl expressions on their faces. Kevin and Chuckie merely looked like they were enjoying that Mom was laying down the law to someone other than themselves.

“I’m approving this, but I want all five of you in Kevlar. I don’t want to hear any whining about it being heavy or itching or anything like that. You’re in Kevlar or you’re not leaving any more than Jeff is.”

“No problem, Mom. I’m all for not getting shot.”

Reader made a call. “We’ll have something for all five of them before they go.”

“Good, thank you, James. Kitty, when is your meeting?”

“Ten at night.”

“Fine. Go brief your strike force, then relax until it’s time to get ready to go. Jeff, if you put one toe out of the Embassy Complex I will shoot it off, is that clear?”

“Yes,” he said with a sigh. “Fine. I’m neutered, you don’t have to put the plastic collar on me, too.”

Hugged him again. “It’s not being neutered. It’s being protected. Because I don’t want to experience what Nathalie is going through right now, ever.”

He hugged me back. “I don’t, either, which is why I don’t want you to go.”

“If you two are going to start, do you mind taking it to your room?” Tim asked. “Some of us have spouses who are elsewhere and we’re a little bitter.”

“Happy to,” Jeff said, a little too eagerly.

Mom rolled her eyes again. “Kevin, Charles, you’re assigned to Representative Martini. I’d assign Christopher as well, but he tends to be as much of a problem.”

Michael, Abigail, and Naomi Gower came in. “You wanted us, Amy?” Michael asked.

“Yeah. Kitty’s about to do her usual, and Jeff and Christopher are confined to the Embassy. Chuck and Kevin are on guard duty, but I think it’ll be a good idea to have some A-Cs along who can keep them in line.” She looked at Mom. “If that’s okay with you, Angela.”

“Works for me,” Mom said tiredly. “As long as Lorraine and Claudia are at Dulce.”

“All of Airborne is at the Science Center,” Tim confirmed.

“Bummer,” Vance said quietly.

“Do you want them brought out?” Tim asked Mom.

“No, but have them stay ready.”

“Kitty’s a bad influence on you,” Christopher said to Amy, who just laughed.

“We’re happy to help,” Abigail said. Michael nodded.

“What can we do?” Naomi asked with more than a little disinterest in her tone. “I mean, me and Abby. Any more.”

“Can you help keep Jeff and Christopher in the Embassy Complex?” Amy asked. “If yes, then we need you to help. Because we can’t trust them to behave like adults right now.”

“Fine,” Jeff said. “I’ll be a good little boy and let my wife run headlong into danger. Again.”

Reader shrugged. “It’s her specialty, Jeff, and you know it.”

“You can come with me to tell Tito about the fun orders he gets to hand out to Rahmi and Rhee.”

“So, that would be me, Christopher, Reynolds, Kevin, Michael, Naomi, and Abigail included in this field trip?”

“Yeah. It’s a party. Vance can come, too, so he can see Nathalie, if she’s conscious.”

“We have hours to kill before you leave,” Reader said as we headed for the elevator. “So make sure the ‘party’ focuses on what little solid intelligence we have. If we can figure out who’s behind what’s going on, Kitty and her team won’t need to go on their group date.”