Alien Diplomacy

figured the flowers had worked their empathic avoidance magic.
    Reader joined me and bundled Jamie into her snowsuit while I got my coat on. It was March but winter was giving spring a good fight to the death. Spring seemed to be winning in terms of flora and fauna, but winter was keeping the cold around until the bitter end. I let the homesickness for Arizona and New Mexico wash over me and then shoved it aside. Danger was back on the case, and that meant me longing for the desert wasn’t going to do us any good.
    “I mean it, girlfriend,” he said as he snuggled his goddaughter and got a happy coo in return. “I want you thinking. Reynolds, Kevin, and your mother have run down intel on every terrorist organization known, the ones only the C.I.A. and P.T.C.U. know about and our personal favorites included, and nothing’s coming up. If the threat is real, and we all think it is, then we have to get some kind of handle on things before Saturday night.”
    “I’ll do my best, James.” I sighed. “At least you have the others to bounce ideas off of.”
    “Use your new personnel. Reynolds says they’re trustworthy, and they certainly helped in Vegas. He also says they’re smart, and we need all the smart we can get now.”
    I nodded. Reader wasn’t empathic, but clearly my sulking was obvious, because he put his hand under my chin and moved my head so I was looking at him. “No one’s trying to shove you or Jeff and Christopher out of this. We may have all taken new positions,but we’re still the same team we were before.” He flashed me the cover-boy grin. “And you know I work best with my best girl helping me.”
    I hugged him. “Thanks, James. That makes me feel tons better.” It did. I slung the diaper bag over one shoulder, my purse onto the other, and took Jamie, feeling more cheerful about things. Her Poof was clearly coming along for the ride, and as I checked, so were Poofikins and Harlie. Poof hitchhikers were not an issue. “The Martini Girls are ready for action.”
    Reader laughed as he escorted me out. Jeff took Jamie, and Len had her stroller with him. Not only was it top of the line, but there were a lot of A-C bells and whistles on it, including an invisibility cloaking device and a laser shield. Anyone touching the stroller or touching someone in contact with the stroller was in its protection range. For some this would be ridiculous overkill. For us it meant Jeff didn’t have an ulcer from worrying whenever Jamie and I were out of his sight.
    We took the elevator down to the first floor, then trooped the rest of the way downstairs. Jeff ensured Jamie’s car seat was secure, then pulled me into his arms and kissed me. I did my best not to grind against him but, as always, it took effort.
    “Be good, baby,” he said softly. “Remember that we don’t know who the target is, and that means it could be you.”
    “Or you. Or any one of the others.” I leaned my head against his chest. “I have to wear some fancy dress I don’t have to the ball.”
    “Go shopping after class.”
    “Yeah, it’s the only way I can be assured of getting something in a color other than black and white and from a designer other than Armani.” A-Cs loved formality, black and white, and Armani, not necessarily in that order. I was all over the wearing of Armani, but sometimes a girl liked a change. “That means shoes, too, you know.”
    Jeff grinned. “Happily, you have two men assigned to be with you and ensure your safety. That includes shopping.”
    “You and James are the ones with great taste, though.”
    “So, if you like more than one thing, get them all, and we’ll decide which one you’re wearing to the party.”
    When offered a shopping spree as opposed to a war room summit meeting, I’m sure most girls would vote to head to the mall. But their skills probably didn’t run toward figuring out what the psychopaths and megalomaniacs were up to. Besides, there were hair, jewelry, and makeup concerns I didn’t want to share with Jeff. I did my best to focus on flowers.
    Jeff hugged me. “You’re going to be late. We’re all a phone call away. Now, stop feeling sorry for yourself, go enjoy class, and go show that we at American Centaurion like to shop just like everyone else.”
    “So shopping is an undercover assignment?”
    “Yes.” He patted my bottom and tucked me into the limo.
    Kyle closed the door then got in as shotgun. Len took the driver’s seat. Not quite what I’d