Alien in the House

guard here. Good police work, by the way.”
    “Thanks.” Wanted to bask in the glow of a job well done. Had a funny feeling in my stomach that said this wasn’t the end, but merely the soup course.
    Raj and White arrived on the floor and stood in front of the bathroom that had the gate in it. Melville went with Larry and Curly to handle some more police business, and the three of us trotted over. We waited for a few moments, then entered the stall using hyperspeed.
    “Okay, what’s going on?” Jeff asked once the five of us were inside and we had the door locked.
    Tried to figure out where to begin. “I need to tell you things. Many things. But I need you to promise me that you’re going to listen to everything and not go racing off until I tell you I’m done.”
    “When have I ever done that?” Jeff sounded hurt. “I always listen to you, baby.”
    “I always listen, too,” Christopher added. “When don’t I listen?”
    “Actually, both of you tend to react much faster on occasion than Missus Martini might like right now,” White said. “I, on the other hand, am always the picture of patience and good, attentive listening.”
    “This is so very true. Anyway, Jeff, Christopher, I need to tell you guys things that I guarantee are going to make you mad, and you have to promise me you won’t get mad and do anything until I tell you I’m done with my recap.” I wanted to add “especially not mad at me” but decided to let the general “don’t be mad” cover.
    “You’re acting like I ignore you,” Jeff said. “I always pay attention to your theories, baby.”
    “She knows,” Raj said soothingly. “But I agree that there’s enough going on that you need to listen to all of it without passing judgment.”
    “And Raj doesn’t even know everything I’m going to tell you.”
    “Oh, I think I know more of it than you realize.”
    “How so?”
    Raj shrugged. “I’m waiting for some goods I ordered to be delivered. And we’re meeting here, not in the basement.”
    “Gotcha. Raj, you impress me with your Soul of Discretion-ness.”
    “I live to serve, Ambassador.”
    “This is touching,” Christopher snapped. “But all you’ve told us is that you two have a secret that, one day, you might share with the rest of us.”
    “Why should we be meeting in the basement?” Jeff asked, eyes narrowed. “What’s there?”
    “Nothing anymore, and that’s part of the problem.” Took a deep breath. “I’m going to give you the high-level bullet points. Then we’re going to discuss them. Then, after that, we’re going to talk about and agree on what we’re going to do. Promise?”
    The men all nodded. “Jeff and Christopher, I want to hear you promise.” They both mumbled something. “You either promise and do whatever death swear Alpha Four has, or I’m only going to share what’s going on with Richard.”
    Jeff sighed. “Fine, baby, I promise to listen to everything you have to say and discuss it like a grownup, and then abide by what we all decide to do.”
    “What Jeff said,” Christopher said. “I swear, or whatever will make you happy.”
    “Works for me. I know I don’t have to drag this out of Richard.”
    “No, I believe I stand firmly on the side of the only person with the track record for success when running off half-cocked, Missus Martini.”
    “I’ll hurt you later, Rick, honey.”
    “Oh, it’s catsuit time again?”
    “I think so, yeah. Right now, you four are the only ones I can talk to about this. If Raj hadn’t been with me earlier, he wouldn’t be in this exciting Inner Circle, but it’s got to stay among the five of us only for now.”
    The men all nodded. So far, so good.
    Checked to make sure my thoughts were organized and in chronological order. Knew I had to leave out anything about our lack of ACE. Not a problem. Jeff knew and everything else I had to share was easily as stressful.
    “Any time, Kitty,” Christopher snapped.
    “Oh, cool your jets. Fine, I’m ready. Remember, bullet points, and none of you speak until I’m done.” They all nodded. “Okay, first off, I saw Clarence Valentino today. He’s alive, can’t verify how well, but he was watching the Embassy from Sheridan Circle.”
    Jeff opened his mouth.
    I put my hand up. “You don’t get to speak yet. Our UPS man’s truck was ransacked and he had to essentially do double deliveries today. Our second delivery was a package, addressed to me, but with the Embassy’s