Alien vs. Alien

you
are
. I’m saying it’s not hard to believe, and photographic proof makes it rock solid in most people’s minds. And if you were having an affair, I wanted to help you hide it, as did Guy and Vance.”
    “For favors returned, of course.”
    “Good lord, you’ve heard the term ‘politics makes strange bedfellows,’ I’m sure. Where did you think that came from?”

    “Yes, I’ve heard it. Doesn’t mean I want to live it.”
    “Look, if you think anyone, anywhere, does something only out of the goodness of their hearts, then you’re either the stupidest or most naïve person out there. You know as well as I do that there’s always a quid pro quo. You’re part of an elite group of people who are incredibly influential in certain circles. Of course I want to do a favor for you so you’ll do one for me. It’s how politics works. Surely someone briefed you about your job, didn’t they?”
    I’d been given briefing materials. Which I hadn’t read. Not willing to share that with my strange bedfellow.
    Before I could come up with a suitable retort, the Romanian Embassy door opened and shut again, and a moment later White walked in the door. “We’re good.”
    “Great. Okay, Senator, we’ve found our neutral yet hidden location. Meet us at the Romanian Embassy.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “Romanian Embassy. Across the street from ours. Lovely people, very secure, very secluded, ergo perfect for our illicit needs. It’s there, the park, or my Embassy. Take your pick.”
    He sighed. “Fine. I’ll take the lesser of the evils. I should be to the Romanian Embassy shortly.”
    “Enjoy the drive.” I hung up. “Well, good thing we like Olga and Adriana.”
    “And that they like us,” White agreed. “They’re the only ones there today again, so we should be undisturbed.”
    “Oh, something will happen to disturb us. It always does.”
    “I believe it’s wise that you’re expecting trouble,” White said.
    “Trouble is my BFF, as near as I can tell.”
    Bruno squawked. I looked at him. He looked back. I got the hint.
    “Bruno wants us to bring at least one more member of his flock along.”
    Bruno bobbed his head. Three times.
    “He actually wants three more along. I guess one for each of you. He’s not worried about Olga and Adriana, but Bruno prefers to be prepared.”
    Peregrine head bob, along with a coo indicating that I was the coolest chick on the planet and the smartest, too. I had to say this for the Peregrines—they were great for my self-esteem.
    “Fine, but, Bruno, we’re not clear on who’s who. So, if I send someone upstairs, how will the right birds know?”
    Got a look saying that I might be the brightest girl, but sometimes I was denser than dirt.
    “Oh. Gotcha. Wait here guys, and Richard, keep an eye on Jamie, please. I’ll be right back.”
    I took the stairs. I needed to practice hyperspeed control anyway. I went at the slow version of hyperspeed, which always sounded like an oxymoron but wasn’t. Christopher had been working on this with me almost exclusively in the couple of weeks between the end of Operation Assassination and Jamie’s teeth coms teeting in, and I’d continued to practice while in Florida.
    I was getting fairly good at the slow hyperspeed as long as there was nothing causing me to stress out and I could use all my focus on it. So I zipped upstairs safely and without any wall damage.
    Entered our rooms. “I need three Peregrine Enforcers for a trip all the way across the street to spend time hanging around the Romanian Embassy while I have a meeting. It sounds boring. It’ll probably be really dangerous. But there’s more danger likely here in our Embassy. So, you know, choose accordingly. No fighting.”
    Three males and one female detached themselves from the group. I looked at the female. I was pretty sure she was Bruno’s mate. “So, Lola, you’re coming along too?”
    She bobbed her head and fluffed her feathers.
    “Ah. Gotcha. Nursemaid, just in case. We have Poofs with us, you know.”
    Lola shrugged and squawked as if to say that she was considered quite the nursemaid on Alpha Four and that while Poofs had their place, nothing said “your baby is completely safe” like having a Peregrine Enforcement Nursemaid along for the ride.
    “Fine, I’m good with it. No crapping in the stroller, on Jamie, on me, and all that jazz rule applies. And definitely no destruction of any kind at the Romanian Embassy. They’re our friends and I