Alien in the House

Pierre had put them in the Zoo. It seemed to be working out.
    Raj was already here, as was Camilla. She was busy having Stryker and Big George look something up. Big George was definitely turning on the charm for Camilla, at least as far as he was able to.
    His French accent had helped Big George with the ladies in the past—insofar as any of Hacker International could be helped romantically—but Camilla seemed intent, not interested, and since A-Cs really had no issues with skin color at all, I knew it wasn’t because he was black. This was a first for any Dazzler next to someone as smart as Big George was. Maybe Camilla had grooming standards, which would explain her disinterest in the brain trust nearby.
    Raj came over to me. “Camilla asked me to ensure that we have the entire Embassy scanned for bombs, bugs, and other hostiles. She said that’s what Mister Reynolds asked her to search for. She found nothing on the first or second floor, but she told me she’s uneasy and doesn’t believe our buildings are clean. While you were gone I did ask Mister Reynolds if he’d sent her over, and he confirmed it. He’s as uneasy about it as she is.”
    “Did you ask for Dulce to scan?”
    “Yes, I’ve already taken care of that, and advised Walter. No one’s found anything yet. It could be that Camilla and Mister Reynolds are both as jumpy as the rest of us right now, so are seeing things that aren’t there.”
    “Or they could be listening to their guts that say we always have someone trying to bug us.” I dug the disc out of my purse. “You know, like now.”
    Raj nodded. “Not saying they’re wrong. But your mother had everyone searched before they were allowed to leave, ostensibly for packets of arsenic, but we were looking for discs like that. None were found on anyone, and scans have shown nothing.”
    I looked at the disc. “Maybe our scanners can’t pick up whatever these are. Did Gladys or Walter say they picked up anything in my purse?”
    “No.” Raj sounded impressed. “And that hadn’t even occurred to me.” He pulled out his phone. “Hello, Gladys. Yes, once more, please. Just the room where I am. Yes, I’d like to hold.” He waited for a few moments. “Good, thank you.” Raj hung up. “You’re right, our equipment can’t find this. They show nothing at all here within the scans.”
    “It so figures. Ravi, got a job for you.”
    “Wow, Kitty, nice to see you to, how’ve you been?” Ravi, like everyone else in my circle apparently, had a sarcasm knob.
    He also had Jennifer Barone. They’d met during Operation Destruction and had had a courtship almost as fast as mine and Jeff’s. Ravi was brilliant, and brilliant nerdy geeks didn’t delay when any woman showed clear romantic interest, let alone a Dazzler. And Jennifer, unlike Camilla, possessed the Dazzler weakness for brains and brainpower.
    They’d been engaged for months. Jennifer had been ready to get married within a week of meeting Ravi but they were waiting because his parents would be scandalized if he married someone without a courtship and engagement of a decent length.
    Apparently his parents weren’t clear on the fact that when your son, who’s never had a date in his life, scores an incredibly hot and brainy chick, the best thing to do is have them sprint down the aisle to wedded bliss.
    “Oh, blah, blah, blah, Ravi.”
    “She’s been through a horrible night,” Raj said, troubadour tones of compassionate outrage on full. “More than one person has been murdered in front of her. And we need your help, Ravi.”
    “Oh, sure, Raj. Kitty, you know I’m just teasing. You okay?” Ravi liked Raj, in part because they were both from India, and in part because if a troubadour wanted you to like him, you liked him. And clearly Raj wanted the people in this room to like him.
    “I do and I am. Besides, you’ll be apologizing in a second anyway.” I handed him the disc. “We found this on Jeff. It’s blocking his ability to feel people. Has a range of pretty much however far it is from here to the basement of the Embassy. And our incredibly complex scanners can’t pick it up.”
    Ravi whistled. “That’s strong, and if our scanners can’t pick it up, cloaked impressively.” Chose not to comment on the “our”. As far as I was concerned, Hacker International were part of the “us” that made up American Centaurion now.
    “Yeah. So call me exceedingly concerned.”
    He examined the disc.