Alien Tango

of you.” For once. “One of our jets is coming. James is making sure only Centaurion Division are touching it.”
    “Good.” She sighed. “You want to know what’s going on, don’t you?”
    “Yeah. Spill. It’s got something to do with you and Dad being in D.C., doesn’t it?”
    “In a way. There’s a lot of pressure to use Centaurion Division as a full military unit, especially since the parasitic threat seems to be decreasing in the last few months.”
    “Because we took out the main fugly who was calling them here. However, I don’t call a twelve-superbeing cluster slowing activity.”
    “Really? Before that and today, what’s the superbeing activity been like?”
    I didn’t have to think about it. “Slowing. Getting slower the longer I’ve been with Centaurion.”
    “Exactly. They’re running out of legitimate things to do. And that means we have governmental pressure to put them to better use.”
    “That’s not what they’re here for.”
    “I know. And I don’t agree with this suggestion. However, it does bear discussion, and that’s what we’re doing. Right now, Centaurion Division needs to appear as human as possible, though.”
    Ah, that made sense. “So, we show up in a jet, with people watching us exit said jet, and we get to say, ‘See? We travel like you.’ Of course, someone’s using this to try to wipe us out.”
    “Not everyone likes the idea of aliens living here with us.”
    “That reminds me. Leventhal Reid, you know him?”
    “Know and loathe.”
    “Was he the Reid you and Dad were talking about at dinner last night?”
    “Yes. Why?”
    “I think he masterminded this terrorism attempt.”
    Mom was quiet for a few moments. “I’ll check things out.”
    “Also, check out some guy named Howard Taft. He’s the Supreme Leader of Club 51, the anti-alien underground organization that’s responsible for this aborted terrorist attack.”
    “Supreme Leader?”
    “I know, they’re loons.” Correct, in their way, but still loons.
    “I’ll check him and the organization out, too. What has James found so far?”
    I handed the phone to Reader. “Please synchronize watches with my mother.”
    Reader took the phone with a grin. “Angela, great to hear your voice. Uh-huh. Yeah, checked that already. That too. Yep. We have proof of a connection to a man called Leventhal who gave the order to hold the commercial jet, but that’s the only thing, and it’s not enough. Right. Yeah.” He laughed. “Probably. Yeah, we know, he’s married.” He laughed again. “No problem, but I’ll keep it in mind. Yeah, nothing on Taft yet. I’m betting it’s a fake name. Uh-huh. Yeah, I’ll check those and run them by Kitty. Okay, great. Talk to you soon.” He handed the phone back to me.
    “I wish he were straight,” Mom sighed. “That’s a son-in-law I’d love.”
    I focused on the flowers again. “In a way, me too. However, what’s going on?”
    “James and I just made sure we weren’t duplicating effort. Anyway, let me know when you get to Florida. I imagine you’re heading down there because of the shuttle issues.”
    “No idea. No one’s told me yet, and we’ve been a little busy.”
    “Well, find out, and keep me posted.” I heard Dad’s voice in the background. “Your father sends his love and reminds me we’re late.”
    “Dinner at the White House?”
    “Already did that. We’re late for a reception, and I’m not dressed so, love you, gotta go.”
    “Love you too, Mom. Give my best to the Pres and the rest of the politicos.”
    I hung up and considered how different my life was from six months ago. Pretty much completely.
    Kevin came back. “I think we want to be somewhere else when the press are allowed in.”
    “Good point. But can we just leave Alicia alone?”
    “True. If you’re okay leaving him here, Tim can handle it. He’s been helping me get her ready.”
    “He’s human, so a good choice. You don’t want to be here for the press?”
    Kevin shook his head. “We prefer to be a little more shadowy if at all possible.” He grinned. “Besides, I’m having food brought in, and it’d be a shame to miss it.”

CHAPTER 17
    DINNER WAS NICE, not to mention long and drawn out. We had a lot of time to kill.
    Kevin had catering brought in from one of my favorite local Italian restaurants, and we were given an entire room that I wouldn’t have known existed in the airport but was apparently part of the security setup. The Feds were