Alien in the Family

can be an operative, not everyone can last as an operative.”
    “You think I’ll last?”
    He shrugged as our gate was calibrated. “You have the genetics for me to say yes. On the other hand, your husband may not want you to.”
    “You think Jeff’s going to make me stop being the head of Airborne?” Chuckie made the “you first” gesture. I groaned and stepped through the gate. Icky as always. The stall was really nice again and familiar, so I knew we were in the Mandalay complex. I stepped out, Chuckie right behind me. The several men in the place all stared. “Wow, that was great, stud,” I said as I wrapped my arm around Chuckie’s waist and headed us for the door. “The earth moved.”
    “For me too.” We managed not to laugh until we were out. “I hope that’s recorded somewhere so I can torture Martini with it.”
    “Uh-huh. So, my question?”
    “Yes, I think he’s going to ask you to stop being an active agent. I would.” He steered us through the casino. Like Reader, he kept a firm hold on my shoulders so I couldn’t detour to a craps table.
    “Why?”
    He rolled his eyes. “Well, I’d want to keep the mother of my children safe and protected and all that.”
    “I guess I’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
    “Yeah, since I blew it by admitting I’d do the same thing, and so can’t use that as leverage to get you to say yes and run into the Blue Velvet Chapel.”
    “See, now, that’s the difference between you and Jeff.”
    “Gee, that’s all? Maybe I still have a chance. How about it?”
    “Lemme ponder.”
    “Take all the time you need.”
    We sauntered through the casino, and I felt comfortably dressed again. I had more on than the cocktail waitresses, after all. I felt someone watching us, so I did a casual scan of the room. No one seemed to be taking that much of an interest.
    “What?” Chuckie asked quietly.
    “See anyone watching us? Specifically, Mister Joel Oliver anywhere? Or more potential A-C spies?”
    He did a similar scan. Well, his was a lot more casual, but still, a scan. “Nope, no one out of the ordinary. What’s your spider-sense picking up?”
    “No idea. I guess nothing. Probably just tired still.”
    “Maybe.” Chuckie didn’t seem to dismiss this, which was kind of flattering. Or would have been if I had any clear reason for feeling that we were being watched. I looked around again, but I couldn’t spot anyone paying us undue attention, not even our personal paparazzo.
    We were near the Sports Book, and Chuckie turned in. “Need to bet on the ponies before we catch up with everyone else?” For all I knew, that was another way he kept the millions rolling in.
    “No.” We went up to someone whose back was to us. All I could see was that the person wore a hat and trench coat. Chuckie tapped a shoulder. “Oliver from the World Weekly News , I presume?”
    Sure enough. He turned around and heaved a sigh. “ Mister Joel Oliver. Please. It’s only polite to address someone in the manner of their choosing.”
    “If I were concerned about being polite to you, that could matter to me.” Chuckie sounded calm but quite unfriendly. “What are you doing here?”
    “Not taking pictures.” This seemed true. I couldn’t spot anything remotely cameralike on him.
    “I’ll bet.” Chuckie looked around and waved down a security guard. “This man has a hidden camera on him.”
    The security guard looked at Oliver. “Oh. Him. We searched him before he came into the Sports Book, sir.”
    “Search him again,” Chuckie said, patiently but with authority in his tone.
    “Yes, sir, Mister Reynolds.” The guard started to pat Oliver down.
    “I note you have a good deal of influence,” Oliver said to Chuckie. “Must be because you’re C.I.A.”
    The security guard snorted. “No. It’s because he’s got more money than God, and all the staff’s on alert to do whatever the hell he wants.” The guard looked over his shoulder. “No offense meant, Mister Reynolds.”
    “None taken,” Chuckie said amiably. “I appreciate the staff taking care of me and my friends and associates. It’s why we’re at this complex.” I managed to keep my mouth shut, though it took an effort.
    Sure enough, there was a hidden camera on Oliver. The security guard called in a couple of his associates to help escort Oliver for a more detailed and personal search. Chuckie gave each security guard a tip, for which they all thanked him as if he were the