Текст книги "Alien in the Family"

Автор книги: Gini Koch

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Текущая страница: 28 (всего у книги 32 страниц)

Reader finally settled on a fine silk mesh with a solid silk border and white roses embroidered in it. “This reminds me of what my Nana Sadie told me she wore at her wedding.”

Dennis nodded. “You going under the canopy?”

“Fairly nonsecular,” Reader answered quickly. “Kitty’s a Jewish-Gentile mix, Catholic on the mother’s side, and her fiancé is Protestant.” Well, that was technically true: They’d protested the world religion. The world religion of Alpha Four, but still, I could say that without feeling a total liar.

Dennis shrugged. “Half of your family will still appreciate the nod.”

Reader paid for the veil, and Dennis shook hands all around.

Pierre sighed. “Lovely man.” He looked at me. “Straight, more’s the pity.” He scrutinized the veil. “Darling, hoping not to sound sacrilegious here, but if we’re going to drape it over your head, once the ceremony is over, it would make a lovely wrap.”

Reader looked shocked, but in a good way. “Yeah, it would.”

“My Nana would consider that a great way to get double out of it, so no worries. I think that’s a good idea, too.”

“Fabulous. Now, let’s get started on making you look just as your Jeff’s used to, only more so.”

CHAPTER 68

PIERRE DID WONDERFUL THINGS WITH MY HAIR. Bouncy curls that made it look thicker and would look great with the dress. Reader had the veil safely wrapped up, and Gower finally felt it was safe to go back to the other men.

I insisted on giving Pierre a huge tip in addition to whatever Reader had given him. I still had a lot of Martini’s cash on me, and I didn’t think he’d mind. Pierre said I was always welcome. Then we gathered up the other gals, and Reader hustled us to our next location.

It was just before noon now, and we were headed to the girl’s luncheon. I had no idea how Reader could be berating himself for forgetting flowers when he’d managed to plan everything else down to the smallest detail in a matter of hours.

This time I knew we had paparazzi because they were all over the place. The fine dining area wasn’t inside the casino, in that sense, and there were cameras and men shoving themselves at us. It was weird and not at all pleasant. The only one missing was Mister Joel Oliver.

My mother seemed unperturbed. “Why are you so okay with all this?” I hissed to her as we walked quickly past a clutch of them.

“It’s amazing. You work for Centaurion Division and have no idea of how this will play out?”

I thought about it. “Oh. Just like last night—Imageering will handle it?”

“And the reports will show that there was a huge wedding with a lot of money spread around. We call it a ‘cover story’ where I come from.”

“You want them here, don’t you?”

“I understand how to use and influence the weapons at my disposal, yes.” She heaved a sigh. “Somehow they made you a Commander and yet barely tolerate Charles. I wonder about Centaurion Division’s judgment sometimes, I really do.”

“I’m wondering about your judgment, so that’s fair. You really think it’s okay that they’re getting pics of you and Chuckie, too?”

She sighed. “An international playboy-millionaire being in attendance enhances the cover story. I’m your mother, where else should I be when my daughter’s getting married?”

“Chuckie honestly has a playboy rep?” He’d told me so, but I was still having trouble seeing it in my mind. I loved him, but I didn’t see Chuckie as Batman. Then again, maybe Iron Man—Tony Stark was brilliant, after all. I didn’t figure Mom would appreciate discussing which comics character Chuckie would most align with, so I kept these thoughts to myself.

“In the circles we need him to, yes, particularly internationally. It covers why he travels so much, has a home in D.C. as well as Sydney, and so forth. Why is this even remotely surprising to you?”

It was surprising mostly because I still wasn’t sold on the paparazzi being useful to covert ops in any way, but I decided not to argue this any longer. “I’m distracted.”

“Good line. Stick with it. Doesn’t work on me, but maybe someone else will fall for it.” My mother—the love was overwhelming.

We shoved through the men with cameras, and Reader deposited us at Shanghai Lily, then left to meet up with the other men, who were having their lunch across the way at Lupo. Strict instructions were left that I wasn’t to go to the bathroom alone, since I might manage to meet up with Martini and have sex in the middle of the casino or something.

Casino Security showed up and moved the paparazzi away just as our food arrived. I was impressed and was finally able to relax. I didn’t know how the celebs handled it on a regular basis, but I was fine with never seeing another camera again.

All the female guests were here with us, though my wedding party, complete with mothers and grandmothers, was in its own section. I tried not to think about the costs of this. I knew there was no way Chuckie or the C.I.A. was footing these bills, and, during the second course, I started to really wonder if Martini had any idea of how much money we were spending like it was water.

My phone rang. “How’s Lupo?”

“Food’s great. Is your theme for today ultra worrying?”

“Jeff, it’s just . . .” I didn’t want to say what it was in front of everyone, his mother in particular. My mother in the other particular.

He sighed. “James explained a little of why you might be worried. In our culture, the groom’s side pays for everything.”

“You’re just saying that.”

“No, I’m not. If you can’t afford to pay for everything, then you can’t afford to marry the girl. It’s an A-C thing. Ask Victoria, for God’s sake. Alexander just confirmed it’s still the same on the home world.”

“Okay, but still.”

“But still nothing. Baby, this is how we do things. I realize we added in some human customs, but marriages are a huge deal for us. Mate for life, remember? We do them big, we do them expansively, and we do them with gusto. Huh?” I heard him talking to someone else in the background. Martini started to laugh. “To reassure you and your father, no, this wedding is not going to cause me or my family to go bankrupt. Is that what you’re worried about?”

“A little.” A lot.

“Been saving for it for years. Now, stop worrying, and enjoy yourself. Because if you don’t, then that’s a waste of the money.”

He was good, and he was right. We hung up, and I decided to be a good girl and enjoy the heck out of this. Wasn’t too hard, I liked food, and this was good food. The luncheon lasted around three hours, which was nice because it was three hours I didn’t have to run to do something else. But, finally, it was time to head back and start getting ready for the actual wedding itself.

It was a blur of activity. Had to get the dresses and everything else. People had to run back for all the things forgotten the first time. And the second time. The paparazzi had to be removed again. And again.

The Mandalay Bay had a nice set up, and we were all installed into the various locations within it—women’s dressing room, men’s dressing room, and foyer for those involved but not intimately. The majority of our guests were being routed to the actual room where we were getting married. I caught a glimpse of Martini, but Serene dragged me around a corner so no unauthorized sightings were committed.

The A-C side of my wedding party had spent most of lunch explaining the ceremony to me. I’d already researched it and gone over issues with Richard, but we hadn’t had time to rehearse what, in fact, I was supposed to do once things started.

By A-C custom, if both parents were living, both parents gave you to your intended. I thought this was a nice custom. I wasn’t clear on the giving, but Mom assured me that Lucinda had given her the skinny on what to do, so I stopped worrying.

Denise Lewis ran in. “We have a ring-bearer emergency.”

“What happened?” twelve women asked in unison. Yes, the unison thing was definitely wedding-related.

“Jeff’s nephew, George, has come down with some typical childhood ailment. None of the other Martini boys are old enough or young enough, at least according to James.”

Much consternation ensued. By A-C tradition, the ring bearer kept the rings secure and hidden until they were requested, usually in a suit pocket somewhere, so no pillow or ring basket or whatever was required, making it a fairly simple job. As far as the A-Cs were concerned, anyone could bear the rings and anyone could toss the flower petals, with no age restrictions.

Of course, Reader was representing the human view that said ring bearers and flower girls needed to be adorable moppets. I was fine with this, but whatever George had, I didn’t want, nor did I want him sharing the contents of his stomach with us, right moppet age or not.

“Could Kimmie carry the rings, too?” This was met with dead silence. “Or another girl?” More dead silence. “Okeydokey. That’s a big no.” I looked back to Denise. “You have two, right?”

“One boy, one girl.”

“Is your son the right age?”

“Well, yes, but, we’re not family.”

Lucinda and Mom both snorted. “Yes, you are.” The unison thing again. It never stopped being creepy.

“I think he’s elected. Stress James out, get him into a tux.”

“Raymond should fit into George’s. Do you want me to send him in so you can recognize him?”

My turn to snort. “He’ll be the incredibly gorgeous kid with perfect teeth and bags of charisma, right?”

Denise smiled. “Just like his father.”

“And mother. So, yeah, I think I’ll be able to spot him, even with all the A-C gorgeous around. So, let him stay with the men and be all manly like. Besides, Kevin’s a groomsman, so it’s all good.”

Denise hugged me, then raced out to share the problem solve. Jeff’s sister Marianne brought Kimmie in now. She looked gorgeous in a little girl version of what the bridesmaids were wearing, but with the colors reversed.

The florist arrived, Reader in tow, and more bedlam ensued. The flowers were gorgeous—my bouquet was all red roses with two white roses in the center. The girls were each carrying smaller versions, and Kimmie had a basket with red and white rose petals to scatter. The men’s boutonnières were white roses, but I caught a glimpse of one red one, which I assumed was for Martini. The women’s corsages were red with white.

It was simple, but because we had so much black and white going on, the red roses looked dramatic and beautiful. Reader seemed pleased, which, by now, was all that I was looking for. If he was happy, things were going as planned.

Reader had to go change, and my father came in, apparently to ensure that no one let me see Martini or vice versa. Dad was in the same tuxedo as the groomsmen, so I got to finally see something from the male side.

Tuxes were black, of course, double-breasted with a notch lapel. The main part of the lapel was wide and black satin. White shirts with the black things whose name I could never remember over the buttons, black bowties, no vests. It looked great on my dad, so I figured it would look great on everyone else, including Martini, and I said as much.

“Oh, Jeff’s in something different,” Dad said with a twinkle.

“What would that be?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.” He was clearly enjoying being in on the big secret.

“Sol, stop torturing Kitty.” Mom sounded mildly annoyed.

Dad gave her a peck. “Only chance I’ll have to do it. I only get room duty until James comes back. Most of the men are ready. It was nice—this is the only group of young men whom I didn’t have to teach how to tie their ties, not even the bowties.”

“They tied their own bowties?”

“Yes. It’s a lost art.” Dad sounded impressed. I looked closely at his tie. Darned if he wasn’t telling the truth.

Reader came back, and I got a better idea of how the tuxes were going to look on the guys in the wedding party. Droolworthy about covered it. He grabbed Jareen for some instructions, and Dad went off with them.

Mom put her necklace on me. I’d seen it before, of course, but she only wore it for special occasions, so not that often. A thin band of tiny diamonds curved down to a diamondencrusted Star of David. The pendant hung just at the start of my cleavage. The bracelet was another thin band of diamonds. Mom had me wear it on my right wrist.

Jareen was back, and it was time for me to get into my dress. Managed to score some privacy but not a lot, since I couldn’t button the dress myself. Jareen, as matron of honor, got the thrill of being alone with me while I put on my lingerie.

“Naked Apes really go through a lot of ritual.”

“This Naked Ape was fine with just racing off to some sleazy chapel in town and doing the quickie wedding.”

“Everyone is happy you didn’t.”

“I know. Do I look totally slutty?” I was still in my lingerie.

“Yes. Jeff will love it.” She handed me the blue garter. “James says to wear this and not lose it.”

I put it on my right leg, ensured it was secure, then shimmied into the dress. “This is really a great dress.”

“Yes, but it’s the one because of how it makes you look in it.”

“Geez, James is rubbing off on you.”

“Perhaps. Hmmm . . . I think we need human fingers.” She called Serene in. “Need help with the buttons.”

“Okay.” Serene sounded nervous.

“Serene, they’re buttons. You button them.”

“I know . . . but I don’t want to ruin your dress.”

“Button them slowly.”

“James said to hurry up.”

“Button them slowly, and we’ll lie to James.”

She did as requested. “You look so beautiful.”

“Thanks.”

“Richard’s really happy you and Jeff met the deadline.”

I heard the words. I reran them in my mind. They made no sense to me. “Uh, what deadline?”

“The one for you and Jeff to get married.”

“I thought we had six weeks more, minimum. I mean, that’s when we were telling everyone we were going to get married.”

“Oh, yes, for you two, it wouldn’t have mattered.” She was buttoning carefully and concentrating on doing it well, I could tell. So I didn’t want to throw her, but I did want to find out what in the world she was talking about.

“Then who was the deadline for?”

“The rest of us. You know, in order for Richard to approve any other marriages this year, he had to agree that you two would marry by May first. Some of the older A-Cs forced him into that.”

Jareen and I exchanged a look. “So, since I’m not from around here, what would the ramifications have been if Kitty and Jeff had, say, gotten married as they’d planned, six weeks from now?”

“No one else could be married for a year after, because it would mean the process was too complex. Also, they wanted to see how Jeff and Kitty did for a year before allowing any others to marry. Richard got the deadline as a compromise.”

And he’d never mentioned it once, to either me or Martini.

“Huh. That seems odd to me, as a Giant Lizard. They gave a deadline of May first, and if Jeff and Kitty met that, then everyone can get married?”

“Yes,” Serene said, still concentrating on the buttons.

“But if they got married on, say, May second, then everyone else would have to wait until May of the next year before they could consider marriage? And it would be dependent upon how Jeff and Kitty were doing?”

“Yes. There, all done. Jareen, can you check and make sure it looks right?”

Jareen moved around behind me. “Perfect.” Serene beamed.

“Thanks, Serene. So, pretty much, we have until midnight to get married or else no one else gets hitched to a human?”

She nodded. “But we’re fine. I think the ceremony’s scheduled for six.” She left the room.

Jareen and I looked at each other. “Twenty of your dollars says someone tries to stop this wedding.”

“Unlike my Nona Maria, I don’t take sucker bets. This is why James is so frantic. He knows about it—but I don’t think anyone else we’re close to does. I mean, why would Christopher have let us dawdle along if there was this kind of restriction on us?”

Jareen shook her head. “No idea.”

“James must have discovered this when he was in the hospital wing. He would have told me if he’d known before all the invasion stuff started. I mean, he was going to help me get a dress before Moira attacked him, but there wasn’t any urgency, not like he’s had since he made his miraculous recovery.”

“Then why hasn’t he told you?”

“Maybe he can’t. Or else he’s protecting someone.” Neither answer seemed totally right. I had no idea what was going on. Conveniently, I knew someone who could always figure out what was going on. “No one’s going to like this, James and Jeff least of all, but I need to talk to Chuckie, right now and in person.”

CHAPTER 69

JAREEN NODDED. “I KNOW HOW to get him in here. Just sit, well, stand tight.”

She hypersped out of the room and was back in a flash with Chuckie. “Oooh, dude, nice tux.” It was nice. Of course, I’d seen it before, at our ten-year reunion. When he’d proposed. Worked very hard on being emotionally cool and calm.

“What’s up? Jareen said ‘emergency,’ grabbed me, and I’m here.” I brought him up to speed. He looked thoughtful. “Get Serene, Lorraine, and Claudia, only, in here.”

Jareen went off and got them. “What’s up?” Lorraine looked perfectly calm.

“Serene, could you tell everyone in the room what you told me and Jareen? About the deadline, I mean?”

She looked confused but told the others what Jareen and I had already heard. There was dead silence when she was done. Claudia and Lorraine looked beyond shocked. “You didn’t know?” Chuckie asked them.

“Hell no,” Lorraine said. “We’re in the next group to get married. So’s Serene.”

A thought occurred. “Serene? How did you find out about the deadline?” She looked really embarrassed and more than a little scared. “Honey, you’re in Airborne now. That means if you were doing some sort of, ah, intelligence work, that’s okay.”

She looked a little less scared. “Well, when the invasion stuff started, after James was hurt, everyone was running around and doing a million things, and you’d brought me out, but I didn’t have anything to do. So I figured maybe I should make sure I was watching Richard—you know, he said I could call him Richard—just to make sure nothing happened to him.”

“Yes, he’s fine with you calling him Richard. And that was really good thinking on your part, Serene.”

“Really? Great!” I gave her a meaningful look. “Oh. Okay. So, at one point, he was talking to a group of people—it was right when you guys brought me out, so James was still in the hospital—and since I couldn’t see them in my mind I . . . spied on them.” She looked ready to run.

“Good job,” I said quickly. Relief washed over Serene’s face. “What did you see and hear?”

“The people were really upset with him, saying he was destroying the race. Lots of arguments went on, and they made him agree to a new deadline.”

“There was always a deadline?” Chuckie asked.

“Yes, I think so. At least from what they said, it seemed that the issue wasn’t the deadline itself but the new date for it.”

“I don’t understand why Richard would cave to anyone.”

“Serene, were these people you knew?” Chuckie had his eyes closed.

“No. From where I was hiding I couldn’t really see anyone other than Richard, and I didn’t recognize their voices. But I don’t know everyone.”

He opened his eyes. “You don’t know all your relatives?”

“No.” She looked down. “I spend most of my time with the NASA team.”

“So it wasn’t anyone from the Space Center.” I looked at Chuckie. “What are you thinking? I mean besides that this is just freaking typical for my luck.”

He shook his head. “I’m trying to figure out who has the most to lose, or gain, by humans not being allowed to marry A-Cs. The American government wouldn’t be the answer—what we talked about last night is hugely exciting, and we will, of course, want to maintain a lot of interaction and such, but prevention wouldn’t be the idea.”

The girls all looked at me. “Top secret, Commander-level clearance only, sorry.” I got four disgusted expressions staring at me. “Really. Bug Chuckie and Christopher later, okay? I think we have more urgent issues.”

Chuckie nodded. “We do. This is beyond bizarre.”

A scary thought occurred. “Serene? Where’s Richard?”

She concentrated. “He’s with Christopher and all the other men.” She blushed bright red. “Jeff only has his pants on.” I refrained from mentioning she’d seen Martini with his pants off when we were in Florida. He and I spent a lot of time not mentioning that we’d unknowingly given Serene a personal how-to class in sexual athleticism.

“So Richard’s fine?” She nodded. “Who could have the influence to cause him to change his decision?”

“No one from our generation would,” Claudia said. “Even the ones who do want to marry A-Cs think it’s right for the rest of us to marry who we want.”

“None of our human operatives are against it, either,” Lorraine added. “I mean, Jerry, Matt, and Chip are playing the field, but with intent to find the right girl and settle down. They’re hotly contested items, so I can’t imagine they or any of our other human males would be causing this problem.”

I shook my head. “No human working with A-Cs would be talking about purity of the race, at least not since Brian had his wake-up call.”

“I agree.” Chuckie’s tone was thoughtful. “Humans who can work and live with aliens like your operatives do aren’t normally loaded with xenophobia.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but you want to bring Brian in for his perspective?”

“Maybe.” It was there, tickling the back of my mind.

A knock came on the door, and Mom stuck her head in. “Hello, Charles. I’m not going to ask. I assume it’s something horrible. Kitten, what do we do about the feuding families?”

“Pardon?”

Mom sighed. “Doreen’s parents, the entire A-C Diplomatic Corps, a few of the other parents of A-Cs dating humans? You know, the people who really don’t want to accept change?”

Chuckie and I looked at each other. “Oh. Duh.” Said in unison.

I looked back to my mother. “Can you please get Lucinda in here?” She rolled her eyes, but went off, presumably to comply. “Lorraine, please get Doreen.”

“On it.” Lorraine zipped off.

Lorraine, Mom, and Lucinda all joined us. Doreen came in right after them. We were now officially in Marx Brothers territory. However, it was better than where the Diplomatic Corps wanted us headed.

“My parents are doing something awful, aren’t they?” Doreen asked without any preamble.

“Shockingly, yes.” I brought everyone up to speed on what we’d gotten from Serene. No one seemed overly surprised by the information. Meaning everyone else had a clearer view of what was going on than I did. How unusual. “Mom? What’s your honest, brutal assessment of the A-C Diplomatic Corps?”

“That they’re not actually diplomats. It’s a pretty title for this side of the house. But what they actually function as are lobbyists.”

“Lobbying for what?”

“Protecting our interests,” Lucinda answered. “They deal the most efficiently of all our people with those in political power.”

Meaning they were the A-Cs most likely to be capable of lying. That some A-Cs could indeed lie had been proven at least somewhat by the fact that the late and unlamented Adolphus had had spies on Earth for a long while. “Do you trust them, Mom?”

She glanced at Doreen. Who grimaced. “Tell the truth, Missus Katt, I don’t know how anybody could trust my parents.”

Mom shrugged. “No, I don’t either. But, then, I don’t trust most lobbyists. What do you think they’re going to attempt?”

“My guess is that they aren’t going to go for violence,” Chuckie said, “which is one small favor. However, if they can cause chaos and disruption long enough . . .”

Lucinda looked ill. “I had to invite them. It would be very bad for Richard and the boys if I hadn’t.”

“They’d have shown up even if you hadn’t,” Doreen spat out.

“Things still tense between you and your parents?” I asked her.

She nodded. “We haven’t spoken, not really, since I moved to Caliente Base. The only messages I get from them say I have to leave Irving if I want their forgiveness. I don’t want anything from them, not any more. Not now, not ever.”

Lucinda put her arm around Doreen. “It’ll work out, dear.” Doreen didn’t look as though she believed this. I couldn’t blame her—I didn’t either.

Mom shook her head. “We need to stop them, but it has to be done in a politically correct manner, or we’ll all feel a lot of heat I’d like to avoid.”

“How long has Robert Coleman been in charge? Maybe we can use inexperience as an excuse.”

“Hardly. He replaced Theresa White after her death.” Lucinda looked uncomfortable. “He wasn’t who Richard would have chosen. But he was in no condition to help make a selection.”

“The Pontifex normally chooses the Diplomatic Corps?”

“Yes, he makes the recommendations. They have to be approved by the majority of our people over the age of forty, though.”

“Who assigned the Diplomatic Corps when you all first arrived?” Chuckie asked.

“Richard and Theresa did. But once she died and Ronald came on in her place, most of the original Diplomatic Corps resigned.”

“Coleman moved the Pontifex’s supporters out and his own supporters in,” Chuckie said. The way he said it, I knew he had no doubts, meaning I had no doubts.

“I suppose so.” Lucinda sounded as though she had some doubts. “None of us were in any condition to worry about it. Losing Theresa the way we did . . . the boys and Richard consumed all of our attention. Besides, the Diplomatic Corps perform a hugely important function for us. Robert is the person who ensures any issues we create get smoothed over and smiled away, if you will. He’s done a good job, honestly, they all have. We don’t get along with every government agency as well as we do with NASA, Angela, or Mister Reynolds.”

“And Jeff would never say he and Chuckie get along.”

“Neither would I,” Chuckie said. “So the people with the most influence in both the A-C community and with all the governmental agencies, outside of those in the actual wedding party, want to stop this marriage. And we have to stop them in a way that won’t cause repercussions in the A-C community.”

“Nicely summed up, dude.”

“Great. Have you any idea of how we’re going to manage this?”

“Give me a minute.” I closed my eyes. ACE, I have to talk to Richard White. Can you help me do that?

Yes, Kitty, ACE can help. There was a pause.

Yes, Miss Katt? You never fail to surprise in your ability to communicate at any time and via any source possible.

Robert and Barbara Coleman and their cronies forced you to make a bad deal, right?

Yes. Long story I shared with the only person capable of doing anything about it.

You told James because you knew I’d do what he said?

And because he would do it with haste, discretion, and accuracy so to speak. How did you find out?

Serene has a daddy-crush on you. She spent her time when we weren’t fighting for our lives watching over you, so she saw the ‘let’s attack Richard when he’s got a lot more important things going on’ meeting.

Ah, intriguing. However, you and Jeffrey are racing along, so I foresee no issues.

This is why you have Alpha and Airborne. We have identified major issues. My question to you—if I have the Colemans and their gang detained and removed from the premises, what kind of problems does that create for you?

What would your reasons be?

Suspicion of terrorist activities.

Sounds nasty.

Sounds like a trip to wherever the C.I.A. likes to take people.

We can’t have these people disgraced, harmed, and so forth. The Colemans may be unpleasant, but they are quite vital to our race’s well-being.

So I keep hearing. And I know only someone you saw as important would have gotten away with this dirty trick.

And we are speaking in this amazing manner so we can both say you never asked me for permission?

I have always respected your ability to see through the marketing-speak.

Then as long as I can be upset and outraged once you and Jeffrey are on your honeymoon, and Mister Reynolds will release the offending parties without problems the moment I request it, go to town Miss Katt.

No scuff marks on the merchandise. Other than Barbara. I can’t promise there, but I’ll make sure she’s still somewhat presentable.

Your restraint is admirable. Jeffrey is picking up your distress, by the way. I think we’d best break off so I can keep him under control.

Tell him I’m handling it.

He knows Mister Reynolds is with you.

Tell him Chuckie saw everything I own years ago, and if I weren’t interested in marrying Jeff, I would let the Colemans do their thing. But diplomatically.

Anything I could come up with would be more diplomatic than that. Best of luck, Miss Katt. I’ll keep the boys in here with me.

Wise man always does the smart thing.

Let us hope.

I sent a thank you to ACE, then looked at Chuckie. “I think we have suspected terrorists, Chuckie. They could be altering themselves to look like people we’d trust.”

“I could spot tha—” Serene was shut up by Lorraine’s hand slamming over her mouth.

Chuckie nodded. “Missus Martini, I’m sure they’d disguise themselves as your Diplomatic Corps, who would normally be above suspicion. But since all of Centaurion Division reports in to me at the moment, I’m going to override diplomatic immunity. Could you come with me and point out whom we should be concerned about?”

Lucinda nodded. “Absolutely. I wouldn’t want to help terrorists disguised as important people in our community.”

“How many, do we think?” Chuckie asked as he pulled out his phone.

Lucinda thought about it. “A dozen. If I were going to attempt some sort of terrorist overthrow, I’d only need to imitate the Diplomatic Corps. If they were taken away, anyone following them would likely lose their will to fight.”

He nodded and dialed. “I need a low-key pickup of about a dozen or so suspected terrorists. They could be impersonating high-level A-Cs, could be mentally controlling them. I don’t want any of the subjects injured, just detained safely far away from where we are. Good. Yes, at least double the A-C operatives. Yes, right away. Yes, I’m very aware it’s your wedding day. I’m also aware you’re the one who knows which of your Field agents are available and which aren’t.”

Chuckie glanced at me. “Yes, she looks great. A little upset that you’re arguing with me instead of taking care of this so you two can get married, but, you know, otherwise, great.” He rolled his eyes. “Because I need the big, nasty guys, and the imageers usually aren’t. Yes, great plan. Have her call in my human team as well; they need to appear to be in charge. Right. Hate you as well.”