Alien in the House

kids? Serene told me Brian went to the Pontifex’s Residence, I presume for the same reason Camilla was in attendance. But I don’t want Jamie picking up anything that’s gone on, and I know she will if we bring her home right now.”
    “Not to worry,” White said. “The children, and all your pets, are all spending the night. I called Denise and Gladys as soon as your mother advised us we weren’t to leave the room, but before my phone was confiscated. The Operations Team will bring over anything that’s needed and Gladys increased Security where they are as well.”
    “The Elves always deliver. But, really, Mom took your phone, Richard?”
    “She took mine, too,” Raj said. “We probably should get those back.”
    “So, we’re going back to the Zoo. Jeff, did Mom take your phone, too?”
    “No, I claimed diplomatic immunity and the likelihood that her daughter would try to call me. We can head back, but you all need to remember that we have to keep a lot of what we just discussed to ourselves.”
    “Mom and Chuckie are not going to want to hear that the Dingo’s in town, for example.” I knew they’d find out, somehow, and already dreaded their reactions.
    “The assassins I’d like to tell them about, but I know you promised. However, when the Dingo shoots one of us, you may change your mind.” Jeff didn’t sound like he was joking.
    “He said he wasn’t after anyone I’d care about. I think he’s clearer than many about who I care about.” Why I was suddenly defending Peter the Dingo Dog I couldn’t say, but when I’d been with him and Surly Vic I truly hadn’t picked up any danger or animosity coming from them. Which was more than I could ever say when I was around half of the Cabal of Evil.
    “You’re giving a lot of credit to a man who spent all his efforts the first time you met him trying to kill you, me, and our daughter.”
    “He’s got that weird sense of honor. I don’t think he’ll ever accept a job on us now. It’s why Magdalena’s still alive, too.”
    “Speaking of whom, I believe she should be, if not warned, then at least protected,” White said. “And I’d like to ensure that our people at the hospital are well.”
    “From what Officer Melville told us, it sounds like we have a lot of people over there. Jeff, should we send someone with Richard?”
    “I hate to say this, but the farther I am from the blocker in your purse, the more use I’m going to be.”
    “Great, so once everyone’s phones are back in their possession, Jeff, you and Richard will go to the hospital, and Raj and I will go upstairs and visit Hacker International. I’m sure Ravi will leap at the chance to reverse engineer something easier than an android.”
    Jeff heaved a sigh, but he hit the switch that took us back up. He pulled me to him and hugged me. “A night when Jamie’s having a sleepover should mean we never leave the bedroom,” he murmured as he nuzzled my ear.
    “Mmmm-hmmm.” I couldn’t talk—anytime his mouth was near me like this I had to focus on not grinding against him.
    He chuckled and hugged me tighter. “Nice to see you returning to sort of normal.” Jeff kissed the top of my head. “Remember, what happened to Santiago isn’t your fault any more than it’s Ed Brewer’s. Regardless of who did or didn’t give him directions, Eugene’s the one who murdered someone tonight, not any of us.”
    I leaned my head against his chest and let his double-heartbeats soothe me. Jeff was right, and I knew it, but it had been nice to be focused on something, anything, other than having watched Reyes die in front of me.
    “Are we sure that Representative Brewer was not involved?” Raj asked.
    So much for soothing. “I’m not sure.”
    “I am,” Jeff said. “We need to search him and his wife. If they aren’t wearing any emotional blockers or whatever, then they’re clean. I can still feel people over at the party. And I’ve gotten to know Ed over the past few months. He feels right.”
    “That’s not necessarily enough for us to go on,” I pointed out.
    Jeff sighed. “Fine. Here’s what I’m getting. Ed’s ripping himself up right now for giving his water to Santiago. Nathalie’s blaming herself for having had the affair with Eugene in the first place. Ed’s furious with Eugene and regretting not telling Lydia before tonight. Nathalie’s terrified that Ed’s going to blame her for what’s gone on and she’s also worried about everyone else’s