Alien in the Family

and snagged it.
    “Thanks. Reynolds, call those waiters back, will you?”
    “Geez, I’ve never seen you guys eat like this.”
    “Kitty, we haven’t eaten in at least twenty-four hours,” Gower said patiently, as he grabbed some dessert off the new platters the waiters brought by. “By the way, ACE says he’s fascinated by what you think and is waiting patiently for us to finish so you can share it with us.”
    “At least someone cares.”
    “He says we have the time to eat,” Gower added, as he started in on what looked like German chocolate cake. I had no idea—the platters were never getting close to me.
    Finally the men seemed somewhat satiated, and by that I mean I could see some of the food on the platters before it disappeared. Then I heard a sound I didn’t like.
    “Everyone!” Nono Dom shouted. “We need to have a toast!”
    “Oh, no. Please not this.” The Poofs were done eating and I put them back into my purse so I could run as soon as I needed to.
    “Oh, relax,” Martini said as he finished the last teacake on the table and leaned back. He pulled me closer to him. “This is the fun part.”
    “Is it?” I knew what my family’s toasts were like. Long. Detailed. Embarrassing.
    I was saved from finding out how bad it could have been because an A-C who looked fairly familiar came up to us. I was pretty sure he hadn’t been at the party all this time.
    “Commander Martini?” He seemed stressed, and I felt all of us shift from relaxed to alert.
    “Yes, what’s up?” Martini had his Commander voice on.
    The A-C took a deep breath. “The prisoners held in Dulce. They’re gone, sir.”

CHAPTER 47

    WE ALL STOOD UP. “ARE THEY in the complex?” Martini asked, while Chuckie went off to pull our teams out.
    “No, sir. We’ve already checked. They’re gone completely.”
    “Did anyone get hurt?”
    “No, ma’am, Commander Katt. Not even Security.”
    “Then how did they get out?”
    He shook his head. “We don’t know. Security wasn’t alerted. Including the agents on the floor with the prisoners.”
    “Where are the dogs, cats, and lizards?” I asked Gower.
    “Here.” He pointed out some people I realized were the aliens, all of whom were moving through the restaurant to the exit.
    “Well, that’s convenient. I have to go say good-bye to my parents and grandparents.”
    “I’ll come with you. Christopher, contact Gladys, I want her info. Tell Commander White the rest,” Martini snapped at the A-C. He took my hand, and we started to the back.
    My family could tell something was going on. “What, they don’t like toasts?” Nono Dom asked as we got closer.
    “No, Nono, that’s not it. We have an . . . emergency.” This was going to suck. Because I hadn’t told Martini just what it was I’d been telling my family I did for work now.
    “What kind of an emergency that calls you away from your engagement party?” Papa Abe asked, in the tone of voice that said it couldn’t possibly be important enough for me to get a free pass to leave.
    I took a deep breath.
    “Our main client just rejected the full ad campaign and is threatening to go to a larger agency,” Reader said calmly from behind me. “Business-ending kind of stuff, unless we get right on it.” He shrugged and gave them the cover-boy smile. “You know how it goes when you own your own company. There’s always something threatening to end your world and put you right out of business. They won’t settle for less than me and Kitty, and since half of our creative team is here, we’re going to have to go into full-on ‘save the world’ mode.”
    “What James said.” I didn’t look at Martini. “So we have to go. Hopefully we’ll be back tomorrow. Everyone’s staying at least the weekend . . . right, Mom?” I looked straight at her. “Since that’s the idea, isn’t it?” I looked at Lucinda, too. They both looked hugely guilty.
    “What’s going on?” Martini asked me quietly.
    “Ask your dad—he’s in on it, too.”
    “In on what?” Martini sounded confused and suspicious.
    “Tell him about it on the way,” Reader said with a lot of authority. “We don’t get moving, we’re out of business. Permanently.”
    “Right. Mom, can I steal Renata and Kevin, please? The only thing the client liked about the campaign was the two of them. They’re into the unprofessional model/real person look.”
    “Sure, Kitty.” Mom gave me a long-suffering look as I glared at her. “It