Alien Tango

better, but perhaps his father wasn’t trying all that hard.
    “Then either he wasn’t dead or someone took him away.”
    “Thanks for stating the obvious.” Christopher’s snark was fully on.
    “Believe me,” Alfred said. “He was dead.”
    Martini sighed. “Let’s search the room.”
    The four A-Cs moved at hyperspeed. Reader, Randy, and I just stood there. I mean, why bother? We’d get to the table, and they’d have the room done.
    Claudia finished, or at least slowed down to human, first. “There are traces of blood on the table, but I think there was more and it was cleaned up.” She was examining the slab and the floor underneath it.
    “Nothing else.” Martini sounded frustrated. I could relate. “Why take the body?”
    “Are you sure someone didn’t call for an ambulance?”
    Reader pulled out his phone and dialed. “Hey Paul, you still alive and unscathed? Great, you know how Kitty worries. No, I’m not calling just because I miss you, get over yourself. I’m actually calling because the Space Center’s lost our favorite dead body, and I’m wondering if you can ask the little Napoleon if he authorized the body to be moved or taken away.”
    Significant pause while Reader looked bored. “He’s sure? Uh-huh, yeah, he’s a jerk, I wish Jeff had let her beat the crap out of him. Okay, well, tell him we’re less impressed with his security team than we were before, if such is possible. See you soon.” He hung up. “No one authorized the body being moved. Turco is accusing all the A-Cs of stealing the body and forming a conspiracy to, somehow, blow themselves up.”
    “I should have let her kill him, you’re right,” Martini sighed. “Now what?”
    “Did you all check the floors?”
    “Why?” Christopher sounded annoyed.
    “Things drop. In the movies the heroes always find something important when they look under stuff.” This was true, I’d seen it a million times.
    “How is it you’re the head of Airborne?” Christopher asked.
    “I was made a Commander after one week. It took you, what, like five or more years? Maybe I should be asking you that question.” I loved tossing this one at both Christopher and Martini, it was so fun to see the pretty colors that went across their faces.
    “She’s right, all the movies agree, search under stuff.” Reader grinned. “Not me, mind you, but someone should.”
    “I’ll do it.” I was in jeans, after all. I dropped to my hands and knees and started hunting around.
    “If my father weren’t standing right here, I’d mention that you look really sexy.” I didn’t have to see Martini’s face to know he was grinning.
    “You mention these things in front of the Pontifex. I’m sure saying them in front of your dad isn’t going to cramp your style.”
    “You talk like that in front of your Uncle Richard?” Alfred sounded shocked.
    “My father’s used to it,” Christopher said quickly. “He doesn’t mind.”
    “I’ll bet he does and just doesn’t say anything.”
    “Yeah, I get written up weekly.” Martini had his sarcasm turned up to full.
    I got the impression I probably needed to hurry it up. I risked a quick look over my shoulder and revised my opinion. “Actually, Richard doesn’t mind. And I don’t either. And, if I take the expression on your face where Jeff can’t see it to be accurate, Alfred, you don’t mind all that much, either. Jeff’s thirty years old, and I’m twenty-seven. I think you can stop pretending he’s fifteen.”
    Alfred grinned. “But where’s the fun in that?”
    I shook my head. “Like father, like son.” I went back to my search.
    “You know, it’s not funny,” Martini said quietly.
    “You always react, it’s hilarious.” Alfred was chuckling. “It’s so easy to get both you boys going.”
    “We have enough stress,” Christopher muttered.
    Claudia was suddenly on the ground next to me. “I don’t want to get pulled into the bickering,” she whispered. “What are we looking for?”
    “Anything that doesn’t belong here.”
    “You know, I think the girls should do a thorough search,” Randy drawled. “Take your time, really.”
    “Randy, not funny,” Claudia snapped.
    “No, honey, I’ve never considered you on your hands and knees to be funny.” Oh, good, everyone was getting into the act.
    “I’m gay and it looks good, so you can’t blame the straight guys for enjoying the show.” Of course Reader was going to add in; he lived to function as