Alien vs. Alien

home.”
    I didn’t ask how he knew. He always knew. For someone not working in covert or clandestine ops or possessing A-C talents, Oliver was the best-informed person around. In my experience there were only a handful of other people this aware of what was going on. I knew Olga stayed up on things in part by reading Oliver’s articles. Chuckie did, too. I knew some of Chuckie’s other sources, but did wonder if Oliver knew them, too—or if, rather,
they
knew
him
. Well, wasn’t important at this precise time.
    “Hey, MJO. Nice to be back, thanks. We’ve been planning to drop by to discuss dirty pictures with you.”
    “I didn’t take any of those.”
    “No one took them. They’re doctored.”
    “They looked very real. I tested them.”
    “I’m sure you did. Our tests, as I know you know, are better.”
    “True enough. I’ve blocked the
World Weekly News
from printing them.”
    “Wow, you have that much pull?”
    “In a sense. I explained there was no way the Royal Family would ever allow me access again if our paper chose to take the low road. My editor understood and agreed. I doubt any other papers will be so discreet.”
    “I’m sure you’re right. And thank you. I have a new scoop for you, too, that I need you to be discreet about.”
    “Oh?”
    “But I don’t want to tell you over the phone in case, as is so likely, our phones are tapped.”
    “I’d love a visit.”
    “I’m sure you would.” I told him where we were and suggested he hurry it up, and we got off the phone.
    “It’s faster if he and the senator come to us,” Len said. “I get that. But why do you want Mister Joel Oliver here right now?”
    “I want someone with us who’s likely to know what the hell is going on that no one can tell me about so he can let us know when the senator’s lying.”
    “He’s not an empath,” Kyle pointed out. “So how will he know?”
    “Empaths can be fooled, just like anyone else. But MJO has all the news that’s fit and unfit to print, so he’s got a really good BS meter.” At least, so I hoped. “Besides, I think Olga will get a kick out of him.”
    “True,” White said. “She
is
a fan.”
    As per her usual, Adriana opened the door and let us in before we could knock. Since White had been by already, she and Olga were briefed, at least somewhat.
    The issue of what to do about the Peregrines turned into a moot point. I knew we were all waiting for Adriana to make a comment,ke a com but she didn’t.
    I left the stroller downstairs and took Jamie out of it. She held onto her Poof, and Harlie and Poofikins went into my purse, which I slung onto my shoulder. Lola hopped out of the stroller, leaving the rest of the Poofs with us on stroller guard duty. Adriana didn’t see Lola, or if she did, Olga had trained her well enough that she didn’t blink when a big bird jumped out of a baby’s stroller.
    Nor did she blink when four other big birds trotted upstairs right along with the rest of us. Clearly White was right, and Bruno hadn’t overstated Peregrine abilities in any way.
    Olga was in her study and Jamie squealed with joy to see her. I handed her over for snuggles as Adriana brought in refreshments. In addition to the usual lemonade there was also iced tea. The usual assortment of small cakes and cookies were complemented with some fresh fruit. Adriana clearly spent her downtime in the kitchen.
    Once the goodies were up, Adriana went back downstairs to wait for the rest of our visitors. There were plenty of chairs in here again, so the rest of us settled down and made inconsequential small talk.
    “Looks like Mister Joel Oliver’s here,” Kyle said. “At least I’m pretty sure that’s him getting out of a taxi.”
    Considering the senator was likely physically closer and had his own driver, this was more than a little unexpected. I got up and checked the taxi driver out as well as I could from the study’s window—no one I recognized. Oliver went to the door, the taxi drove off. Like normal. How refreshing. I went back to my chair, snagging another couple of cookies on the way.
    Oliver was escorted upstairs and official introductions made, then Adriana went back down to wait for the senator. Olga was clearly quite pleased to meet Oliver. I wondered if she’d feel the same way about Armstrong, but knew I’d find out shortly.
    Oliver didn’t mention the Peregrines and I didn’t bring them up. We were still waiting for Armstrong, but I wanted to get Oliver and