Alien Proliferation

didn’t say the Pontifex was in danger.”
    She was right, I hadn’t. Jeff looked at me. I shrugged. “I always consider it self-evident.”
    “What?”
    “That everyone’s always trying to get Richard, in some way, shape, or form.”
    Mom had already dug her phone out of her purse and was talking urgently to someone. Chuckie was doing the same. Both of them looked supremely worried. Christopher had his phone, but he wasn’t talking to anyone. He looked at me. “My father’s not answering.”
    “Security has expanded the search to all locations, all active agents notified, Commanders.” Gladys sounded upset. Richard was the head of our A-Cs’ religion, but he was also her half brother.
    “Gladys, please make sure Jeff’s parents are okay, too, just in case. Amy, details, all of them, now. No more playing around. I don’t care that you’re confused, scared, whatever. You’re safe here. Someone of extreme importance isn’t.”
    She nodded. “Gotcha. Okay. I was on leave from my company, at the request of a business partner of ours. I was supposed to be helping them with an environmental issue. I handled it fast, then they had another business they partnered with, but my company didn’t, that had the same issue, so they asked me to help them, under the auspices of my leave arrangement. I figured it was good for relations, so I said yes. But then I got moved again, to another company, one not connected with my real employer or even our business partner at all, at least, I’d never heard of them before this.”
    “Is that common?”
    “Not in legitimate business.” Chuckie answered over his shoulder. “Note that the employing company has no idea of what’s going on. I promise you, if we investigate, they will think Amy’s still working for their business partner. It’s a typical plan, though. Use a network to get a smart, young, single, preferably one who’s not native to your country, who can do the work you need, kill them off when they finish the work; no one notices until it’s too late.”
    “Jeez, Chuckie, how often does that happen?”
    “A lot more than you want to know. Sorry, Amy, carry on.” He went back to his call.
    She gave me a look that said she was one word away from losing it. “He’s right? He’s always been right?”
    “Yes. Figure any bizarre theory Chuckie ever had is true. You’ll be better off. He might have been wrong on one of them, but not most.”
    “I was wrong about where Hoffa was buried.”
    “See? One. Anyway, go on. Wait, where is Hoffa buried?”
    “This is my father’s life we’re dealing with here!” Christopher barked.
    “Sorry, right. Ames, continue.” Jamie woke up and gave a contented gurgle. I kissed her head and did the baby-jiggle. Jeff tickled her tummy, while still paying full attention to Amy. He was going to be the best daddy ever. All my worry from earlier sort of dissipated in a warm, happy little glow.
    “The environmental issue was no big deal. I solved it at each company by identifying the governmental jurisdictions for the parent company.”
    “Were they all the same parent?” Jeff asked, as he played with Jamie’s toes.
    “I didn’t think so at first. But when I was working at the last company, I hit a weird name I’d hit before. I did a little digging and found out there was a parent connection.”
    “Name? And the relevant company names?”
    “Ronaldo Al Dejahl, Al Dejahl Shipping. It’s a weird spelling for the name.”
    “No worries. We know how to spell it.” Mom and I looked at each other. “He’s dead. I killed him. Personally.”
    “Kitty? You killed someone?” Amy sounded freaked.
    “Um, at least, uh, five someones. More, really. Starting to lose count. They were all bad guys. Some of them weren’t human, either.” This sounded as lame said aloud as I’d feared. “So, you know, bad guys beware and all that.”
    “Got him.” Chuckie turned around. “We need to have a long talk with the Pontifex about humans and why they should not be trusted.”
    “Where is he?”
    “Paris. I know, what an amazing coincidence.” Chuckie’s sarcasm was up to eleven again. He didn’t believe in coincidence. “He’s been picked up by C.I.A. operatives. They’re in touch with the Euro Centaurion team. He should be back here shortly.”
    “Gladys, make sure that happens.” Jeff looked at Christopher. “You want to go back to Paris?”
    “Not with you. You need to stay here with Kitty.” Christopher