Alien Proliferation

Tim on this one.”
    “And he knew you would be, which is why you got the original clue in the first place.” Reader looked thoughtful. “I wonder what he heard or saw that clicked for him. And when it clicked.”
    “It clicked by the time he got to the Katts’ house.” Chuckie looked at me. “You’re sure he went there?”
    “Pretty darned.” Considered Reader’s point. It was the key one.
    Gladys came back on the com. “Commander, Alfred says that Alicia feels Tim and the other agents are trying to get to D.C. Confirmed with the four agents now in Florida as well. They are unsure of operation’s status or Captain Crawford’s plan past getting the Young family to safety.”
    “Yep, D.C., that’s what I thought.” I’d also figured Tim hadn’t shared the overall plan with the agents going to Florida for a variety of reasons, the mole one being the biggest. “Thanks, Gladys, figured he wouldn’t have told them much, especially with Alicia and her family right there. Make sure Alfred keeps his eyes peeled and phones are charged and such.” I looked at Jeff. “How trustworthy are your brothers-in-law? And do any of them work with the Diplomatic Corps in any way?”
    Jeff looked taken aback. “What?”
    Chuckie rolled his eyes. “They hate you, and White, with a passion. They’ve been jealous of you two since, as near as I can tell, you were born.”
    “Why?” Jeff always sounded shocked by this. I found it kind of endearing.
    Chuckie sighed. “I got to hear about it, for two hours straight, at your engagement party. They resent how much attention you got as a baby. Same with White. They resent that the two of you got to live at the Embassy when you were young. They resent that you and White are the ones in charge and were put in charge so young. They resent that they can’t drive a wedge between the two of you, so they can’t play one against the other. They resent that you’ve never hired any of them as agents, ignoring the fact that none of them have A-C talents. They seem to feel they should be in positions of importance merely because they married your sisters. Do I need to go on?”
    “No, the rest of us know it. Jeff, how strong are your blocks against your family?”
    He sighed. “Extremely strong. Okay, fine. But that doesn’t make one of them a traitor.”
    “People have betrayed their country or race for a lot less than jealousy and hatred.” Chuckie sighed. “Kitty, you think it’s the Diplomatic Corps, right?”
    “Well, Tim does, because he’s heading for D.C.” I dialed, she answered on the second ring. “Doreen, how’re you doing?”
    “Hi, Kitty, okay.” I heard a sniffle. “What’s going on?”
    “I’m going to ask you something, need the truth.”
    “Okay.”
    “Did you and the Valentinos get into an argument earlier today about your being married to Irving and having a baby on the way?”
    “Yes, God, does everyone know?”
    “I don’t think so. Look, was Tim Crawford around when you had that fight?”
    “Yeah, he came out to tell Clarence to shut up, and got told he was a human and had no right to give any A-C orders for his trouble. Sylvia was so embarrassed, it wasn’t her, just Clarence.”
    “Clarence like your parents?”
    “Yeah, I guess. They told me they thought he was a social climber, but I don’t know how they can think that, since he’s married to a Martini. Then again, maybe that’s why.”
    Huh. Interesting. “So that’s considered a social status point?”
    “Oh, yeah, why do you think my mother was trying to marry me off to Jeff?”
    “Because he’s the head of Field.”
    “That helped, but no, more because he’s Alfred’s only son.”
    “Any idea what the Valentinos are doing here instead of being back in Florida?”
    “Sylvia wanted to come out to see your baby, and she feels she didn’t get to spend any real time with you, Jeff, or Jamie, and she wants to. She insisted. Clarence didn’t want to come. They’ve been fighting the whole time they’ve been here. It’s hard to sleep they’re that loud.”
    “Doreen, you’re the best. Hang tough, okay?”
    “I will. And thanks for calling, Kitty. I feel a little better.”
    “You weren’t letting Clarence’s opinion bother you, were you?”
    She sighed. “No, but he reminded me so much of my parents. We’ve barely spoken since your wedding. It’s been nice, honestly. They just refuse to accept Irving, even though he’s the father of their