Alien in the Family

“Don’t talk to her in that tone of voice.” Martini’s voice was low and threatening.

Chuckie faced us, and I saw, clearly, how he’d risen in the C.I.A. so fast. He wasn’t out of control, but his expression was icy, and the authority radiated off of him. “You all, all, report to me now. I’m being nice because I realize it’s a shock and you’re being attacked personally. But if you don’t get it under control within the next five minutes, I’m putting C.I.A. into every Centaurion stronghold, and that includes your family’s estate. We are in a state of international and interstellar emergency, and if you’re not part of the solution, then you are automatically part of the problem. And, better than any human alive, I know how to solve alien problems.”

CHAPTER 12

“BY KILLING US?” Martini’s voice was calm, but I could tell he was ready to attack. “No, Jeff. By outing you.”

Chuckie nodded. “I’ll do it, in a New York Minute. You’ll be so busy dealing with the world governments and worldwide human reactions that you’ll all be dead or leaving within a week.”

“You’re a piece of work.” Martini didn’t sound any more relaxed.

“No. He’s a human. And he’s C.I.A.” I turned around and looked up at Martini. “Jeff, he doesn’t want to. Don’t you understand? He spent his whole life trying to prove you all were really here. Other than my mother and her team, he’s the best friend we have in any government agency. I know you two butt heads, but that’s because you’re alpha males—you, Chuckie, and Christopher—and it’s a natural thing. You and Christopher get along only because you’re so close and closely related. But you conceding authority to Chuckie doesn’t diminish yours.”

Martini didn’t look convinced. “Why do you trust him?”

“Because I’ve known him since I was thirteen.”

“People change.”

“Sure they do. And he has. He’s become more like you. But what he hasn’t become is someone I can’t trust.” I focused all my energy on trying to show Martini what I meant emotionally. I wasn’t sure it was working—my emotions were getting jumbled for a variety of reasons.

Martini took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Fine.” He looked back at Chuckie. “We’ll get it together and keep it together. Sir.” There was no sarcasm in his tone, particularly on the last word.

“I don’t need that. I don’t want that. Kitty’s right—I’m the best friend you have right now. I’m not trying to ‘rule’ Centaurion Division. I’m trying to keep out the people who want to take over and turn you into something none of you want to be.”

Oh, I knew what that was. “The War Division.”

“Right. How’d you know?” Chuckie didn’t seem worried, just curious.

“Leventhal Reid couldn’t have been the only politician out there who could see the advantages of turning the A-Cs into weapons. The parasites are slowing down, and the only thing stopping them from pushing for a change in A-C status is the fact that ACE is in Paul, and that means Centaurion can pull out the biggest gun this planet’s ever seen.” Of course, ACE wouldn’t do it, and Paul wouldn’t okay it, but that was, at least currently, our little secret.

Chuckie’s expression told me he was in on the secret, however. I did know him well, and I could tell when he knew I wasn’t telling him everything. I could also tell when he knew what it was I wasn’t telling him. But he didn’t argue, just nodded. “Right.”

“So, what’s the plan?” Martini asked. “And what do you want us to call you?”

“What you always have, but leave off the dirty words. However, when your distant relatives appear, figure you’d all better call me something that would indicate to them that you’re not the one ultimately in charge.”

“So I’m back to what we were trying to decide before you two got into your latest fight for dominance. I think we need to be really out in the open and easy to find.”

“Why?” Martini didn’t sound convinced, but he did sound as though he was calming down, which I felt was the more desirable outcome.

“Because—and I’ll say this again since I know no one but James was listening to me—whoever’s watching Jeff and presumably Christopher is also obviously watching Chuckie. I think it’s safe to assume they know we saw the light show. They could be aware Chuckie’s in charge of Alpha Team now, or just think he’s working closely with us, but it’s his room that was bugged.”

“To me, that would indicate we should go into lockdown.” Christopher didn’t sound his usual snarky. I guessed he was still recovering from the twins’ surprise appearance. I wondered how he’d handle a typical Vegas show.

“Not if we want to find them before whoever’s coming arrives. Especially since it doesn’t seem like they’ll be coming via a gate.” I looked around. Apparently I was the only one who’d had this thought.

“Why would you say that?” Lorraine asked slowly. “It’s fast and safe.”

“It’s not grandiose and impressive. The peasants love a good show.”

Chuckie and Reader laughed. “Yeah, girlfriend, they do that.” Reader shoved off from the table. “I know where this is going. Or, rather, where we are.”

“Where’s that, James?” Martini didn’t sound as though he had any idea.

Reader gri

“Week, week and a half. No A-C Elves here.”

“Right. Sounds good. We can buy that top for you later.” Reader pulled out his phone and wandered over to a far corner of the room.

“We’re staying here?” Martini sounded mildly freaked.

“Yeah, I think that might be a good idea,” Chuckie conceded. “They found me here without issue, might as well not make them work any harder.”

“Why are we doing this, exactly?” Christopher asked. “I’m not wild about being out in the open where anyone can attack us.”

“If they’re Earth A-Cs, seeing them here will be sort of an alert, wouldn’t you think?”

There was silence. I could hear Reader telling someone what to pack up for us.

“It’s a big town, with a lot of people coming through,” Gower said finally.

“It’s a big town with a lot of security all through it. This is probably the most secure town in all of the United States. Security we can tap into since we have the C.I.A. intimately involved.”

“Fine. Then you’re all moving into this hotel.” Chuckie went to the room phone and dialed.

“While you’re talking, see if they can tell you who cleaned your room and brought up the spread, particularly the pseudo-pineapple.”

“Oh, yes, Miss I’ll Take Charge.” He gri

So did Martini. “I want to be on record that you and I are not staying on the same floor as him and you’re not, under any circumstances, sleeping in here with him.”

I looked up and over my shoulder at him. “Jeff, of course I’m not going to sleep in here with him. I’m with you, and I’ll be sleeping wherever you’re sleeping.

“Okay, Martini and Kitty, you’re in the suite on the other half of this floor,” Chuckie called, right on cue. “That keeps the floor secure. I have everyone one else on the floor directly under us. Includes room for Gower’s parents and yours, too, Martini. I took all the others that were open, too; we’ll probably need them for a variety of reasons. That fills up the floor, so we’ve got the top two. Means we have roof access without an issue as well.”

Martini started to growl. I turned around again. “Jeff, it’s a huge suite. He won’t hear us.”

“Right. I hate taking orders from him, you know.”

“I know.” I took his hand. “Tell you what. Later on? Why don’t you give me some orders? And,” I moved closer and dropped my voice, “I’ll argue about taking them.”