Alien Proliferation

providing privacy. Between Uncle Mort, Sheila, the Lewises, and the rest of the P.T.C.U., who had provided everything we’d brought over to the Embassy, we could actually take normal care of our baby.
    “You want me to have Tito and Walter come up here?” Jeff asked. He didn’t sound like he’d object overmuch.
    “Sort of. Sort of not.”
    “It wasn’t creepy here before,” Amy said.
    “Ames, you were gettin’ busy with Christopher. There could have been a freaking stampede of buffalo in the ballroom and you wouldn’t have noticed.”
    Amy blushed. “True.” Christopher looked pleased with himself.
    Jeff wandered out and came back. “Okay, I’m going to test something. Nothing’s wrong, just let me know if you can hear me.”
    The rest of us exchanged looks. “Okay. Jeff, you feeling all right?”
    He rolled his eyes and left again, closing the bedroom door behind him. A few moments later I heard something that might have been him howling on the top of his lungs but could have just been the wind. His voice came over the intercom. “Could you hear that?”
    “Not so very much. Were you howling?”
    Christopher started to laugh. “Okay, I’m taking the position.”
    Jeff returned. “Yeah, the soundproofing here is so much better than at the Science Center. No idea of why.”
    “Oh. Well, no complaints from me, then.”
    “More goes on that you wouldn’t want anyone to know about in Washington.” Amy said it as though it was both no big deal and not exactly news. True in both cases, but I knew that it was sort of a wake-up call for the rest of us.
    “So, Tito with us, Walter with Christopher and Amy, okay, baby?”
    “Yeah. Just for tonight. Or however long it takes to get this place inhabited to where I’m not expecting a Jason or Freddy to jump out at me from every corner.”
    Jeff called down to Walter, and in a few minutes, he and Tito were at our door. Tito heaved a sigh. “I hate to admit it, but I’m with the rest of you. This place is giving me the creeps.”
    Walter looked relieved. “I thought it was just me.”
    “Okay, something’s wrong.” I dug my cell out of my purse. “James, need to have a serious conversation.”
    “Sure, girlfriend. Is the baby still awake? I mean, that’s the only thing I can come up with for why you’re not shaking the rafters.”
    “James, all six of us are freaked out here. Something’s off. Me and Amy, okay, I can get it. But the guys? We just pulled Tito and Walter up here with us, and we’re still not willing to leave each other’s company.”
    He was quiet. “Let me talk to Richard and Paul about this. I’ll call you right back.”
    Switched torpedoes and finished feeding Jamie. Jeff was doing her diaper and putting her into a pink Minnie Mouse sleeper when Reader called back. “What took you so long?”
    “Had to determine who was going where. We’re keeping the three pregnant couples here, but the rest of us are coming over there—Reynolds, Abigail, and Naomi, too. What? No, seriously, I want you two staying here, just in case we need you.”
    “Who are you talking to?”
    “Melanie and Emily. Anyway, we’ll all be there shortly. Keep everyone together.”
    “James, what do you think is going on?”
    “No idea, but we’re going to find out.”

 
    CHAPTER 76
     
    W E HUNG UP. “The majority of the team is coming.”
    “I’d love to say we don’t need them, but I’d also like to get some sleep.” Jeff put Jamie into the bassinet while I covered her with the pretty pink blanket decorated with Winnie the Pooh and Tigger.
    I knew I’d have hated opening these things in front of an army of people, but I loved them now that I was getting to use them with Jamie. Found myself looking forward to doing the thank you notes and wondered if I had a fever.
    I had a thought. “Poofikins, Harlie, come to Kitty.” The two Poofs mewled and bounded over, purring up a storm. “Stay with Jamie and protect her, okay?” More purrs, then they cuddled up on either side of her.
    “Is that safe? I mean, you’re not supposed to leave animals with babies.” Amy sounded unsure.
    “Let’s see . . . do I want to leave the Poofs in charge, so they eat anything trying to hurt my baby, or do I want to buy the incorrect old wives’ tale that cats and other cuddly things steal the breath from babies?”
    “Oh, fine, just thought I should mention it. How did you get six of them?”
    “Long story, but only Poofikins is mine. Harlie is