Alien Diplomacy

yet for it. But I want to.”
    “Chuckie uses the Vulcan Nerve Pinch when he has to. It’s his job. And he did it to protect you and Jamie.”
    “Right, right. I knew without asking that you’d be taking his side on this one. Huh?” I heard voices in the background. “Oh, yeah. Everyone would like to know what the hell is going on.”
    “I’m not sure I can summarize easily.”
    “No problem. We’re coming to you. Just stay put.”
    I covered the phone. “Officer Moe, we have a request to stay here.”
    He shook his head. “Too exposed.”
    “Well, what do you suggest, then? Richard and I are happy to get out and wait for my husband, who’s coming to get us.”
    He sighed. “We’ll head somewhere safer.” He put the car in gear and headed us off.
    “Where are we going?”
    “I’ll tell you once we get there. If your husband can find you here, he can find you there, too.”
    “Thanks for the cryptic non-assist.” I went back to Jeff. “Sorry, our sort of protector feels we’re too exposed here. He’s heading for higher ground or some such. Think you can still follow us?”
    “I’m assuming you’re asking that so you don’t give away intelligence.”
    “Indeed.” I waited. Nothing. “No ‘atta girls’ or something?”
    “Atta girl.” He didn’t say it with enough enthusiasm, but I decided to let it pass. The headache was probably dampening his spirits.
    “So, what happened once I left. How’s Olga?”
    “Cool as a Romanian cucumber. She says we have a beautiful baby, she thanks you for visiting, and hopes you’ll visit again soon. Want to explain that?”
    “Not right now.”
    “Again, I’m not surprised. By the way, we have several taxis following us.”
    “You’re in a limo?”
    “Yes. Two of them. Alpha Team’s coming along, because they’re so happy that you and our retired Pontifex were shot at in front of our own Embassy.”
    “Great. I’d like to point out again that this wasn’t my fault. What happened to Vance? He said he knew who tonight’s target was.”
    “Did he? We got nothing out of him. He tried cowering behind the jocks, which didn’t work well. We left him with your mother, sobbing his guts out.”
    “I hope Mom’s clear that I don’t like him.”
    “Trust me. She took one look at him and asked him why he thought acting like an immature asshole was the right way to behave in a civilized society. He started crying then.”
    “I am so sorry I’m missing that.”
    “Yeah, well, I read him, and he’s a wimp.”
    “Jeff, I could have told you that without…um…you know.”
    “You’re so good with subterfuge.”
    “Blah, blah, blah. I’m getting off. Call if you can’t find us.”
    “I will. Be careful, baby.”
    “Always.”
    “Right. It still amazes me that, after all this time, you think you can fool me.”
    We hung up, and I paid more attention to where we were going. It looked vaguely familiar.
    Ishmael was on his police radio again, talking to his cronies. I got the impression he was calling the full Dirty Dozen in for a powwow.
    My phone rang again. “Hello?”
    “Kitty, darling, when will you be gracing our Embassy again with your delightful presence?”
    “No clue, Pierre. Why?”
    “Fitting time, dearest. We’ll take care of the rest of our bevy of beauties first, but you, as the ambassador, must look perfect.”
    “I’ll do my best to get back soon. Oh, and Pierre, please make sure the dress will be something I can run in.”
    “Trust me, darling. I do know you.”
    We hung up as Ishmael turned us down a familiar street. I took a look at where I was pretty sure he was heading us. “Are you freaking kidding me?”



CHAPTER 69
    W E PULLED INTO THE SAME PARKING GARAGE Jeff had had us head into only yesterday. “What is this, Secret Meeting Central? Where’s the employees’ lounge and the conference room?”
    Ishmael parked on the same level I’d been on with the Dingo and all his cronies the day before. I spotted a few bullet casings that had been missed by the cleanup team and sent Reader a text about it. No one was going to accuse me of not paying attention this time.
    Ishmael sighed. “It’s under construction, only the construction’s on hold because of budget cuts. The foundation’s considered somewhat unstable, though it’s safe enough as long as there aren’t hundreds of cars parked here. So no one comes around.”
    “I’ll bet. So, is there a posted schedule? And, if so, whose supposedly