Alien in the House

running because we’re afraid one of the press is the mad bomber,” I shouted back. “Trust me, I can spin this.”
    “You can spin anything,” Chuckie agreed. “I just don’t know if we can outrun them believably.”
    “Sure we can,” Jeff said, as he headed us directly into the street. Independence Avenue wasn’t exactly a side street, and there were plenty of cars. However, there were also sirens. And the screeching of tires as drivers slammed on their brakes to avoid hitting us.
    I could feel Jeff using just a little bit of hyperspeed. Not enough to make us go so fast that a human would notice that we were blurry or suddenly disappeared, but enough to maneuver us safely across the street while ensuring no car had to brake so hard and fast that it would be in a wreck.
    Safely across, we ran like hell for the doors. Made it inside and into the lobby area. Irene wasn’t around. A small favor, because I didn’t really want to explain this to anyone. “Let’s get to Jeff’s office.”
    Now we went to hyperspeed, the really fast kind. We were inside Jeff’s office, with the door locked, in about five seconds.
    Took stock while Cliff retched into the toilet. “Wow, we look like refugees. Why is that always somehow our go-to look?”
    “No idea,” Jeff said as he put his hat onto the filing cabinet and pulled out his phone. “But I’m sick of it. James. Yeah. No, that was really us. Yeah, on TV again so soon, we’re just that kind of lucky. No, everyone’s okay, but only because Cliff has, well, had some remote starter he was showing off. Yeah. Yeah. You’re kidding, really? Fine.” He sighed and handed the phone to me. “Coordinate the story with James, will you?”
    Took the phone. “This wasn’t my fault.”
    “It’s never your fault, girlfriend. Our phones are going to light up like a Christmas tree. What’s the official spin?”
    “The vehicle belonging to the Head of Special Immigration Services for Homeland Security was blown up right before he, the head of the C.I.A.’s E-T Division, Representative Martini, and Ambassador Katt-Martini could enter it.”
    “Wow, you’re living it up with the titles.”
    “They matter. The press seemed very antagonistic, we were worried that the bomber was still around or might be disguised as press and egging them on to violence, we saw an opening, and we ran to the safety of Rayburn House. That’s the story, and we all need to stick to it.”
    “It sounds true.”
    “It is true, which is helpful. So, can you send a car for us?”
    “No, that’s what I was telling Jeff. The streets are officially closed off due to the car bomb. You’re not leaving Rayburn House in a vehicle, at least not any time soon. And if you leave it using hyperspeed, then the press surrounding the building are going to wonder how you disappeared. Aliens are one thing. Aliens who can perform at comic book superhero levels are another. I’d love to keep a few of our secrets actually still secret from the general public.”
    Heaved a sigh. “Fine. I have other options. Besides, we need to give our statements to the police anyway.”
    “Keep your eyes open for that suspicious SWAT member, girlfriend. Cliff may have been targeted for something unrelated to us, but I doubt it.”
    “Same here, since his job is us. Did everyone else get home safely?”
    “Yes, we all used a floater gate to the Embassy, then sent those who don’t live here home by limo. Len and Kyle got back just as the news lit up with your latest exploits.”
    “I say again—”
    “I know. It wasn’t your fault. Keep me posted, going to try to handle things. Oh, and I’m going to assume Jamie’s spending the night again.”
    “I miss my daughter.”
    “We have Field agents keeping the press away from the Pontifex’s residence. I doubt the Embassy is going to be that lucky.”
    “You and Paul just want to hog her.”
    “Dang. I was too obvious.”
    “Yes, you were. We’ll discuss it when we see what time we get home.”
    “I’ll ensure she’s in bed before then.”
    “So it’s a race. Got it. Get someone to install a gate in the bathroom of Jeff’s office here, will you?”
    “Oh, yes, ma’am, I’ll get right on that. But for now, you stay put and we’ll figure out a very normal way to get you all home.”
    “You take the fun out of everything these days, did you know that?”
    “Yeah. There’s a whole manual about how to do it, too. I’ll read it to you sometime.”
    We