Alien vs. Alien

there’s been a lot of little skirmishes that our agents have controlled. The Mall’s packed, so it’s hard to pick anyone out. They’re under orders to pay attention to assassination-type thoughts, and there are so many people there they can’t actually spare the focus to look for Jeff or Chuckie.”
    Or, per Naomi, to fill me in on everything going on. She insinuated that my presence would be a good idea, though. At least if I took “you coming to find them probably would be a good idea” to mean she wanted me there. Which I did.
    We had time for “Dirty Dˀo fieeds Done Dirt Cheap” by AC/DC and “Round and Round” by Aerosmith to finish before Buchanan drove off. We left the garage to the sounds of Soundgarden’s “Fell on Black Days.” I really hoped the song wasn’t going to turn out to be prophetic.
    By now, my anxiety was such that I’d expect Jeff to call. I’d sent several texts to him, and he hadn’t replied, so I wasn’t trying to hide my emotions from him.
    Decided to call Amy while we drove in an unhurried manner toward the Mall section of D.C. “Hey, Kitty, what’s up?”
    “I was just going to ask you the same thing, Ames.”
    “All quiet here.”
    “Really? I hear what I could politely call a commotion.”
    “I meant figuratively, as in nothing’s happening, no one has attacked, and it’s quiet and boring. And what you’re hearing isn’t a commotion so much as what it’s like here right now, which is sort of like being in Grand Central Station at rush hour. What are you up to?”
    “We’re heading to the International One World Festival. Anything you want to tell me before we get there?”
    “Yeah. Hang on.” Amy was quiet for a few moments, but I could still hear the sounds of a lot of people around her. “Sorry, had to get away from Christopher without him noticing. Lorraine and Claudia and I agreed that whoever you called first would tell you about all the things that’ve been kept from you.”
    “Good. And thanks.”
    “It makes no sense that you’re not told, and, frankly, while I get that Chuck’s job is in peril if you know, I think more will be in peril if you don’t know.”
    “Chuckie included.”
    “Right. So, anyway, while we were in Florida, a lot of terrorist threats were identified, focused on the Festival.”
    “Okay, we figured that out. And that’s why the Bahraini and Israeli Embassies are extra hyper about the break-in and subsequent accusations.”
    “Yes, only . . . there’s more. The terrorist organization that’s popped the most is supposedly defunct.”
    My brain had the ability to move at lightning speed at times, and this was one of those times. “The Al Dejahl terrorist organization is back in action, isn’t it?”
    “Yes.”
    “And that’s why everyone views this as a threat to me. Because I took out Ronaldo Al Dejahl and was the main reason Ronnie Junior had to take to the stars to escape.” Which was why Claudia and Lorraine were set on telling me. Because they knew I’d be safer prepared.
    “Right. Kitty, be careful. Remember in Paris—my dad and his insane friends thought Jamie could teleport herself to Jeff in order to save him. If any of them are behind this, they’ll be willing to try that on you, too. And we don’t know if they’re right or not.”
    “ACE won’t let Jamie do it.”
    “You
hope
. You don’t know.”
    “True.” I took a deep breath. “This helps, Ames, thanks. Is there anything else?”
    “Yes. So far as anyone’s told me, my wicked stepmother and her boyfriend aren’t back on the planet.”
    “Do you believe that information?”
    “I don’t know. I find it hard to believe everyone would have left us in Florida with so little protection if LaRue was known to be back.”
    “Good point. Okay, we’re almost there. I’ll check in when I can.”
    “Do. I’ll text if I learn anything else.”
    “You’re the best Ames. Hang in there.” We hung up as “M.I.A.” by the Foo Fighters came on. This song was definitely prophetic. Maybe we needed to focus on Boy Band Pop for a while, just to get things back to a more positive audio atmosphere.
    “Did I hear you correctly?” White asked quietly.
    “Sadly, yes.” I contemplated what I could say in front of Armstrong and went with the plan that I’d worry about him being our main problem later. I shared Amy’s intel. “So, the reason they don’t want me here is to protect me. Sweet, isn’t it?”
    “You know our enemies know