Alien in the House

cook is something to be embarrassed about?”
    “It is when your wife thinks your cousin’s cooler because he can and does cook.”
    “I make my wife happy in other ways.”
    “Yes, you do,” Amy said as we all sat down. “But sometimes a girl likes the little extra gestures that Jeff does.”
    Christopher gave Jeff Patented Glare #1 as he served us plates of beautifully cooked and perfectly arranged food. “You cooked all this while somehow talking with all of us at the same time?”
    Jeff grinned. “I don’t give away political secrets, sorry.”



CHAPTER 48
    C HRISTOPHER, AMY, and White headed out right after eating so they could get going. I called Raj and told him what the plan was.
    “I think that’s wise. I’ll get Henry and Yuri up and running, Ambassador.”
    “Thanks, Raj. Any thoughts on all of this before we part ways today?”
    “Yes, and a question. The question relates to the thoughts. What are you planning to do with Vance? As in, do you want to leave him alone in the Embassy complex, take him with you, or send him on his way? He doesn’t belong with the group going to the Gaultier facility.”
    Considered before I replied. “What do you think I should do with him?”
    “I think you should bring him with you. In part so he can fill you in on what was discovered last night.” Raj sounded tense. Meaning he either was tense or wanted me to think he was tense, meaning he wanted me to think.
    There was only one thing done last night for which I didn’t know the outcome. “Vance’s theory has merit?”
    “I believe it does. Please ensure that you take Len and Kyle with you, especially since Mister Buchanan is out. I personally feel that when your most efficient bodyguard is the person attacked, extra caution should be applied toward everything.”
    “Gotcha. Could you wake up the boys and Vance along with Henry and Yuri?”
    “Will do. And Ambassador? Please be careful. I realize we’re focused now on Vance’s theory, but the assassins are very real, and out there, along with everything else.”
    “I will do, Raj. You be careful, too.”
    We hung up, and I went back to Jeff and Reader. “Raj is on it. We’ll be taking Vance along with us.”
    “Why?” Jeff asked flatly.
    “Yeah, why?” Reader asked, in the same tone.
    “Wow. I am totally and completely touched that the two of you are so jealous of my sort of budding relationship with Vance. We’re taking him along to get the intel from last night regarding his theory. Raj thinks he’s on to something.”
    “It could send the wrong message, that he’s with us at the swearing-in,” Reader pointed out.
    “Maybe.” An old fact surfaced. “Isn’t the official swearing-in date like the third of January or something?”
    Reader and Jeff both stared at me. “You can’t remember important things like our political status within the United States, but that random piece of information you can toss right up?” Jeff sounded shocked. Had no idea why. Coming up with this kind of random information was one of my go-to moves.
    I shrugged. “Sometimes high school and college come back to me in odd ways and at odd times.”
    “You’re right,” Reader said. “However, because this is an appointment, and an emergency appointment at that, Jeff needs to be sworn in immediately.”
    “Works for me. We can always leave Vance in Santiago’s office, too, if we have to. Besides, it’ll be interesting to see how the rest of the Cabal of Evil acts if Vance is hanging this tight with us.”
    Reader nodded slowly. “Actually, that’s a good point.”
    “I like the Brewers,” Jeff said. “I don’t think they’re evil. I’ve never gotten anything negative from Ed toward any of us, and if we take the assumption that these empathic blockers and overlays didn’t exist several months ago, then they aren’t our enemies. I get why you don’t like most of the rest of them, baby, but I really think the Brewers are okay.”
    “What about Vance?” Reader asked.
    Jeff shrugged. “He’s excited to be helping, frightened of being killed, and willing to sleep with any and every member of our household.”
    “Sounds like Vance.”
    Reader chuckled. “Okay, so where do we meet up? Jeff has to be seen leaving, so we can drive or we can walk, but we can’t take a gate.”
    “What’s the best impression to make?” Jeff asked. “I don’t know that we want to walk the entire way to the Capitol complex, especially since it’s still