Alien in the Family

“Oh, Jeff, relax.” Another good-looking guy came out of the elevator banks and gave me the big smile and obvious once-over. I loved Vegas.

“Right. Stop flirting with strangers. It’s bad enough you flirt with Reynolds. Still. And James.”

“Chuckie’s clear on who I’m engaged to, and James is gay.”

“Can’t tell that it matters, to either one of them.” Martini went to the front desk. “We’re here to see Charles Reynolds. I think he’s registered here.”

“Yes, Mister Reynolds is on the top floor.” The desk clerk pointed to the elevator banks. “You don’t need a key to get up there. He’s expecting you.”

As we headed off, I spotted the two guys who’d checked me out. They were chatting at the main intersection between check-in, the elevators, the parking garage, and the exit to the casino. They were handsome enough to be A-Cs, but since they were both in jeans and casual shirts, it was a good bet they were just hunks. Both looked at me and gave me the big grins while they checked out my assets. I tried not to be flattered and failed utterly. I really loved Vegas.

“What part of stop flirting with strangers isn’t coming through?” Martini groused as he dragged me into the elevator banks and out of view of my admiring public. I chose not to be a

I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. Someone was in an alcove to the side of the elevator banks. I hadn’t noticed anyone when we’d walked by. I nudged Martini, but before either one of us could move, a man walked briskly out of the alcove and away. “Mister Joel Oliver, what a surprise. How’d he find us here?”

“Listened to the directions we gave the limo driver, I’m sure.”

“I guess. You didn’t pick him up?”

Martini grunted. “No, though I can recognize his emotional feel now. But there’s a lot of interference here, even more than at the airport.” Made sense. Most emotions ran higher in Sin City, especially the closer you were to a casino, and we were very close. I decided not to worry about Oliver right now, especially since Martini still sounded a

“Think the rest of the team is here already?” I asked as we waited for the elevator to arrive.

“Unless they’re filming an orgy, yeah. I assume Oliver followed them here, not us.”

“Good point. I think Tim and the girls might be open to the orgy idea, though.”

“Thankfully, I know without asking that the flyboys are not.”

“Your Puritanical attitude is rubbing off on them, I see.”

“Like you wanted to be filmed?” he asked as we got inside the elevator.

I shrugged. “Might be fun to watch.” I didn’t actually think so, but it was fun to needle him sometimes.

Martini grabbed my waist with both hands, lifted me up and put me against the side of the elevator. “How fun?”

I put my legs around his waist and pulled him into me. “Lots of fun.”

We practiced for our next Vegas limo ride the entire way up. Fortunately, it was a high hotel. Unfortunately, we knew hitting the stop elevator button would cause alarms to go off. We compromised by making out wildly. I had to brush my hair again, and his, when the elevator stopped.

Clothes adjusted, hair faking it, we got out and walked down the hall. I could hear voices as we neared a large set of open double doors. The suite Chuckie was in took up at least half of the top floor. Martini was muttering under his breath again before we were through the doors.

Which was fu

Everyone else from our team was there already, and so were Reader, Gower, and Christopher. The Pontifex, who also was considered a part of Alpha Team when it was convenient, was noticeably absent.

This was the most comfortable briefing room I’d ever seen. The suite had a conference table, but it was loaded with food and drink, none of it alcoholic, I noticed. All the chairs were sleek and comfortable looking, and there were settees where the couples were perched.

A can of Coke flew through the air. I caught it automatically. “Dude, you have got to stop that. I hate it when it sprays all over.”

Chuckie laughed. “Sure you do.” Martini’s muttering got more intense.

“Nice spread. I didn’t know we were moving in.” The place was huge, and the view was incredible. I stared down the Strip and found myself hoping we’d be here when it got dark.

“Not at the moment.” Chuckie indicated we should sit as he went and closed the double doors. I heard him lock them.

I decided not to rub it in and sat in a chair. Martini sat next to me and gave me a look. “His place, we play nicely,” I said quietly.

“You’re so damned willing to play nicely with him.”

“Because she’s smarter than you, Martini.” Chuckie sounded amused. He made eye contact with me, and I recognized his expression—there was someone nearby he didn’t like who didn’t like us right back. “But I’m willing to make allowances for Centaurion to be . . . adjusting to the way things are now.”

“For the time being,” Martini corrected. I nudged him and tried to send an emotional “hush.” I caught Reader’s eye, he cocked his head, and I shook mine. He nodded and scooted his chair closer to Gower’s. I saw him put his hand on Gower’s wrist and assumed they were communicating in some way.

“For the time being,” Chuckie said with a small smile. He seated himself in the chair on my other side. “How do you like the place?”

“It’s okay. Is this room clean?”

“It’s spotless. The maid service is impeccable.” Chuckie looked at me, and pointed to the centerpiece on the table. It looked like a bizarre pineapple, only it was orange and purple and pretty freaking ugly.

Gower’s eyes looked glazed. I assumed he was having ACE share with everyone that it was quiet time.

“Ah, good to know. I’d love to stay here, then.” Great. Bugged. Presumably by the C.I.A. But I figured I’d better be sure. “How’s things with your parents?” They were both in Temecula, California, where he’d moved them once he’d made his money. It had been their dream to retire there, he’d just moved them a lot sooner than they’d expected. And I knew how they were, because I kept in touch with them, just as he kept in touch with my parents.

“Oh, they’re fine. I don’t see them very often, but we talk all the time. They send their love.” He shook his head.

Okay, it was an audio bug, not visual, thank God for small favors. And it wasn’t from the C.I.A. So, why was Chuckie letting it sit there? “Your sisters and brothers?” Like me, he was an only child.

“Fine, you know, the usual.” He shook his head again. Okay, so not an American agency. So, who?

“How’s Australia been?”

“Great, you know how I love the travel.” He shook his head again, harder.

Not foreign. Not national. So, who? I could only come up with one other idea. “I’ll bet the view of the Luxor’s pyramid laser light show must be awesome from up here.”

“Best view you could hope for. Like being on top of a mountain watching it.” He nodded, emphatically.

Bingo. But how?

CHAPTER 9

MARTINI GOT UP. “You mind if I have a bite to eat?” “No, go ahead, that’s what the food’s for.” Chuckie nodded and Martini shrugged.