Alien in the House

understand why that looked suspect.”
    “Yeah. And someone there is in the Mastermind’s pocket, or vying to be an Apprentice, because Clarence got in by piggybacking on you guys, and Raul knew to send him because he was advised the moment you made the call to clear your team to enter.”
    “Really? Interesting.” Mom was quiet for a few seconds. “Variety of options. I’m going to need to investigate, right now.”
    “Okay, oh, and Mom? Be sure to announce to anyone and everyone that the killer was the Dingo. Do
not
give either Clarence or Raul the credit.”
    “Why?”
    “Another long story. Just trust me on that. The Dingo and his partner did the deed, no one else. And please keep Kevin with you, and the other guys, too. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
    “Your husband is not willing to stay.”
    “Christopher probably isn’t, either, is he?”
    “Well, he’s actually reading all the security video, so he’s here for the duration. Which could make what you want me to say an issue.”
    “No, they can have an inside man. But they’re the ones who did it. Promise me.”
    Mom heaved a sigh. “Oh, of course.”
    “It’s for the greater good.”
    “Sure it is. Jeff wants to talk to you.” The phone was handed off. “Baby, are you okay?”
    “Yes, why aren’t you staying to help Mom?”
    “Because unless we strip search every single person here, I can’t be sure that I’m reading them right. Cantu died in front of us and he never gave off a reading other than suspicious and smug.”
    “Crap. Okay, have you guys heard from James or Tim?”
    “No. We just got our phones back and you were the first call.”
    “I’m touched. I think we’re heading to Georgetown, then. Because Raul and, I’m betting, his new lady friend are there.”
    “You’re not going without me.”
    “You’re the target.”
    “So are you.”
    The Dingo took the phone from my hand. “You will return to your Embassy. So will your wife. You will stop giving Raul opportunities to achieve his purpose.” Then he hung up and handed my phone back. “Either your team will have captured or killed Raul and his new partner, or they will have failed. His goal is to destroy you. It’s time for you to go home.”
    “But—”
    “You have a mystery to solve,” Surly Vic said. “We have a colleague to kill, if he is not in custody.”
    “Mossad will not allow him to reach a police station,” the Dingo said. He smiled at me. “But thank you for requesting that we get the credit for Cantu’s death. I doubt your mother will comply, but the effort is appreciated. Now, get to safety.”
    Heaved a sigh. “Fine, fine. I have to figure out how to get Lillian Culver and Guy Gadoire to help us out with all the political crap anyway.”
    “What do you mean?” Gower asked.
    “Per Senator McMillan, they’re the two with the most influence. If we want the bills to die fast and without a lot of ‘aliens are evil’ conflict, we need their help, and we need it fast. Meaning I’m going to have to make nice with them in a big way. Meaning I’d rather go to a gunfight.”
    “They will help you,” the Dingo said.
    “I doubt it. Not without us having to do favors for them that will go against everything we believe in. Right now, we need their help desperately. They don’t need ours nearly so much.”
    “It will work out, I’m sure.” The Dingo looked at the men with me. “Get home, and ensure she goes home as well.”
    “We will,” Gower said.
    The assassins nodded to us, then they trotted off into the night.
    “So, guys, what now?”
    White took one hand, Gower took the other. “Now, we go home, as your ‘uncles’ suggested,” White said. “And you allow Alpha and Airborne to do their jobs. Without you.”
    “Don’t wanna.”
    “Your daughter’s birthday is tomorrow,” Raj said. “I believe it would be best if her mother and father were alive and there to celebrate it with her.”
    “Raj, make a note—I hate it when your logic doesn’t support what I want to do.”
    He flashed the troubadour smile. “You can take it out of my pay.”
    “Do we pay you?”
    “I’m earning important experience so necessary to career advancement.”
    “Wow. Raj, is the ability to lie a troubadour trait?”
    He laughed. “All the world’s a stage, Ambassador. Or so I’ve heard.”



CHAPTER 93
    W E ZIPPED HOME to find Jeff there, pacing in the foyer. “I wasn’t sure you were really coming here,” he said