Alien Nation

by Gini Koch

  “I haven’t made the leap,” Christopher said.

  Camilla sighed. “Ali Baba Gadhavi is a notorious Indian gangster, and he’s been hiding out in Bahrain for decades. He’s who’s funding Cliff?”

  “Yeah, per Raheem. And, to add to the intrigue, this can’t come back on Raheem.”

  “The king has other worries. Let me again mention that he broke Islamic law by shaking hands with you and we’ll take it from there.”

  “He’s seen the saucers, so to speak.”

  “Yes. Let’s hope he and the rest of us live to see the rest of them. Cliff’s well-funded if he’s now considered part of G-Company.” We all stared at her blankly. “What the media calls his crime syndicate. Gadhavi is running his own version of the mafia.”

  “Do we have a hope of getting Cliff, then?” Didn’t want to have come here with all these people and plans only to have no hope of achieving either one of our missions.

  “Yes, because while Gadhavi might be funding Goodman, there’s no way they’re hanging out together. It just means that Cliff will have a lot of toys I’m sure we won’t like. Speaking of which, there’s a third possibility for what’s going on with Francine and John that you may not have considered.”

  “You mean aside from John using Francine as his cover to get back inside with Cliff, or Francine being kidnapped—either as ‘me’ or as herself—and John going along to protect her and, again, re-infiltrate Cliff’s Crazy Eights?”

  “And other than John being as captured as Francine, yes.”

  “We hadn’t considered that one. Thanks for the extra worry.”

  “I have a theory other than that one, was what I meant.” Camilla was giving me a look that indicated she thought I needed a nap. “There’s a good chance that Adriana contacted them.”

  “Why would she have contacted either one?” White asked.

  “Well, not John, but Francine is a very high possibility. Malcolm and I sent Adriana off to scout hours ago. Because of what was going on, the moment we were in these rooms, I told her to contact Francine if she found anything, as Francine would be the only one likely to be alone and not compromised with visitors who weren’t part of our team.”

  “Well, that’s good in one sense. But why not leave us a note?”

  “Saying what? We’re off on a secret mission, will call soon?” Camilla’s sarcasm meter, like Mom’s, went well past eleven. “Either they thought they’d be quick or they plan to contact us at another time.”

  “So if that option is the case, why are all the guards dead?” White asked.

  “What?” Christopher barked. “Who’s dead?” Right, he’d come into the room via a gate and had immediately done the luggage search.

  White filled him in at hyperspeed while I put my fingers in my ears and hummed Lit’s “Hard to Find” to keep from hearing White and thereby getting sick. White nodded to me when he was done. “So, what I’ve been thinking about while trying to avoid barfing or passing out from Richard’s smooth vocal stylings is this—what if Francine and John left before Cliff’s goons ever got here? Francine has hyperspeed—none of the guards would see her if she didn’t want them to.”

  “John could have merely shifted to look like another guard and told the others he was escorting her elsewhere, too,” White said.

  “But does it make sense for what we know?” Christopher asked.

  Camilla nodded slowly. “Cliff’s men—and I agree with Kitty that it was most likely Kellogg and Kozlow—think they’re coming to get you. They kill a bunch of guards, then get into the rooms and they’re empty. It’s not hard or time-consuming to carefully remove a bag’s contents, leave moronic joke threats, and then take off.”

  “Cliff’s way of telling me he knows where I am.”

  “A dozen dead men outside your door isn’t easy to explain, either,” White added.

  “So, how do we determine which of the many options we have for Francine and John is the one that’s really happening? Colette texted and called Francine. There was no answer.”

  “Huh.” Camilla put her head outside of the room. “Colette, how many rings before your call to Francine went to voicemail?”

  Colette joined us. “One. Oh. You think she turned her phone off? Why? She’s always available.” Colette’s eyes didn’t quite meet everyone else’s.

  A-Cs trying to lie were always interesting. Other than the rare natural liars like Camilla, troubadours as a class had the least issues with it. And yet Colette was betraying signs of lying. Then again, it was her big sister in danger.

  Considered options. We didn’t have a lot of time to waste. Either the others would be back soon with, please God, news that all the religious leaders and those with them were alive and well, or we’d be pulled into action.

  Camilla was a vault unless she felt it was necessary to share intel. White might have made the same assumptions I had. So that left Christopher. Who’d been the number two man in Centaurion Division for over a decade and who had, along with Jeff, kept the worst secrets in the world to himself.

  “Colette, you know as well as I do that there’s plenty of times a troubadour will go into a form of silent running. I want you to search the rooms to see what fiddly little clue Francine left to tell you, and Manfred, what’s really going on.”

  “What do you mean, Kitty?” She’d recovered from the lapse that worry had given her. Colette looked completely confused, and I could tell she was trying to use her talent to make me think I was wrong. However, I’d realized that once you knew, really knew, what the troubadours were doing, it lessened their effect.

  Heaved a sigh. “Colette, I know. I’ve known for a long time. Camilla either knows or she’s guessed. And Richard and Christopher are both trustworthy. They can keep the secret, especially because it’s in all our best interests. We’re going to have to tell Jeff soon, anyway. Might as well be sooner as opposed to later.”

  “Tell him what?” Christopher asked.

  “That Serene’s running the A-C’s version of the CIA, very competently, I might add, and she’s doing it with every troubadour you guys have.”

  CHAPTER 62

  CHRISTOPHER’S JAW DROPPED. “You’re kidding me.”

  “Nope. All those people you shoved aside? Yeah, they’re all awesome and finally getting to serve their people and country in the ways they’ve been longing to.”

  “Son, really, you didn’t realize?” White sounded surprised and a little amused.

  “How long have you known, Mister White?”

  “Oh, not as long as you, I’m sure, but it dawned on me that we had a tremendous number of troubadours who were not only available at the drop of a hat, but were well versed in everything every standard Field agent knew without ever going through training. I took the logical leap. I’d assume Charles has taken that leap as well, and probably your mother. Whether they’ve shared the fact that they know with Serene, however, is anybody’s guess.”

  “I figured it out the moment I realized that Serene wasn’t a ditz,” Camilla said. “Pretty much when Raj came on board and was accepted as an important member of your team, I figured it wouldn’t be long before he and Serene were running this. Jeff doesn’t know?”

  “No, he’s been a little busy. So has Christopher.” Hey, might as well throw him that bone. “Anyway, back to the matter at hand. Colette, we know you’re in the A-C CIA. So, what sign did Francine leave?”

  Colette shook her head. “Serene and Raj never told me that you knew.”

  “Secrets are best kept silently,” White said.

  “True dat. But whatever. Again, your sister, clues, what have we got?”

  “Hang on. I didn’t look. And before anyone yells at me for that, I’m your press secretary because I’m not that great at fieldwork.”

  “Christopher won’t be yelling at anyone, and you know the rest of us aren’t goi
ng to bawl you out.”

  She managed a laugh. “Fine. Be right back.” She zipped off.

  “If there is no sign from Francine, does that mean that we have to discard Camilla’s more positive option?” White asked.

  “Probably. I mean, they have to have ways of letting each other know that they’re doing a mission or kidnapped or whatever. Right?” I asked Camilla.

  “It would make sense, and I’m sure Raj would think of it even if Serene didn’t. And yes, I know he’s her number two. And he’s now Jeff’s number two. Be happy he’s loyal.”

  “Always am.”

  Camilla cocked her head at me. “You didn’t ask me for confirmation of his loyalty. Why?”

  “Aside from the fact that you’d just said it? Because Raj has had plenty of opportunities to screw us over and has never taken them. It’s why I’m not worried that Wruck’s gone to the dark side for real. Or Siler. Too many opportunities not taken.”

  Colette returned. “I think I found it. There was a blank piece of paper under the lamp in our room.”

  We all stared at her. “And?” Camilla asked finally.

  “Sorry.” Colette handed the notepad-sized piece of paper to me. The seal of the President of the United States was on it, but that was it.

  “Not following you. Does this indicate that Francine is on a mission for His Majesty’s Secret Service?”

  “Well, yes. I mean, why are you asking if you already know?”

  “Wow, I’m good. Okay, are we sure there’s no invisible writing on it?”

  Camilla took the paper from me and sniffed it. “No smell of lemon, so doubtful unless they’re all equipped with vials of invisible ink.”

  “We’re not,” Colette said. “If you find a piece of Embassy or White House letterhead sitting on the desk or nightstand, it means the operative is on their assigned mission. If you find it somewhere it shouldn’t be, it means the operative is on an impromptu and likely unsanctioned mission. We have other items if paper would be suspicious, but they all work like this.”

  “Okay, then, thank God, it’s Camilla’s scenario that’s the most likely.”

  “That makes the snake and bomb make more sense, too,” Christopher said.

  “How so?” White asked.

  “If they have a hostage, then I’m with Kitty—where’s the ransom note? They came equipped with these things—I mean, no sane adult is wandering around with a realistic looking rubber cobra just in case they want to leave it somewhere. I’m sure they had a ransom note with them, too. They sneak in, no one’s here, so they leave these as a calling card, something to scare the hell out of Kitty when she was most likely alone. But I doubt they’d have left them if they’d actually taken her because they’d want us to know she’d been taken. I mean, maybe, but the snake and fake bomb are here for Kitty, not someone else. And, therefore, I think there’s no note because Kitty, or Francine, take your pick, wasn’t here.”

  “Sounds right to me. Says they’re watching us and can sneak in and all that jazz. But there could still be a note. One for if I’m here, one for if I’m not. Have you searched the novelty items there for anything?”

  “Not yet. I want to be sure there isn’t something bad inside of either one.”

  “Wise,” Camilla said. “We’re talking about a crazy genius, after all.”

  “Take them to Dulce,” White suggested, as he handed Cliff’s “presents” back to Christopher. “Using a gate, please, son. We and Jeffrey both need you at full optimum.”

  “You want me back here once we know what’s going on with these things?” he asked while Colette called for yet another floater gate.

  “Stay near a gate, but beyond that, no. I don’t want you here, doing nothing, when Jeff might need you.”

  “I’d like to go with you on whatever insanity you’re going to be doing,” Christopher said, without glaring. “I know you’ll need me.”

  Felt his forehead. “Huh. No fever.”

  “What? I’m fine. Look, seriously, I think I’m going to be a lot more necessary to the team that’s going to try to take down Cliff—and I know that’s what you’re planning, so don’t try to say otherwise—than I am to the galactic party that’s currently being thrown.”

  “Good point,” I said as the gate shimmered into existence. “Look, go to Dulce. Have this safely examined and be sure they get every possible bit of information out of it. Even something small and seemingly insignificant could give us a lot to work with. Then call me or your dad. We’ll determine at that time what to do. Okay?”

  “Yeah, makes sense. Just . . . seriously, Kitty. I have a really bad feeling about this. I don’t think Chuck and Jeff realize what you’re really here for, but they both know you’re up to something. If the Themnir hadn’t arrived, I’m sure they’d be onto you, too. But it’s more than that. This,” he held up the snake and bomb, “stuff is crazier than normal. He’s taunting us. That means he’s ready for us. He wants you to find him. Never forget that. It’s what he wants.”

  “Why?” White asked him.

  Christopher sighed. “Because this isn’t about us and never has been, Dad, that’s why. We’re just the means to the end. All of it, everything that’s been done by Cliff—either what he could when he was an assistant or Apprentice and everything since he took over as Mastermind—is focused on one goal.”

  “Beating Chuckie and making him suffer.”

  Christopher nodded. “And now? Now Cliff wants to kill Kitty—as slowly and painfully as possible—and make Chuck watch. That’s how he wins. Even if he dies right after, that’s how he wins.”

  CHAPTER 63

  CHRISTOPHER WENT TO DULCE and the rest of us looked at each other. “He’s not wrong,” Camilla said finally. “Maybe Francine being gone is a good thing. It means you’ll have to do the meetings and we’ll roll Team Commando without you.”

  “When pigs fly. And by that I mean our pigs, not aliens that look like pigs with wings. Our pigs. Just in case and all that.”

  “I agree,” White said. “While I believe Christopher’s concerns are correct, that’s always been the end game. And we need Missus Martini’s skills.”

  There was a knock at the door, then Mona ran in. “James just told us to get to where the religious leaders are as fast as possible.”

  Decided all my stuff could stay strewn about the room. Flipped my purse over my head so that it was securely on my person. Lowered the handle on the rolling bag and picked that up in my other hand. It was heavy but not unmanageable.

  White took it from me. “I’ll ensure that it’s with us and never out of my control.” He took my hand, Camilla grabbed Mona, and Colette led the way out of the room. The others were already linked up, other than Raheem.

  Grabbed his hand. “Get us to where we need to go. You steer, Richard and I will provide the speed.” We took off.

  Hyperspeed being what it was, it didn’t take us more than a couple of seconds of racing past the dead bodies in the hall, then through the beautiful, huge palace, to get where we were going. I’d never find my room again without a map and a guide, and we needed to tell someone to take care of the corpses, but we reached the area to discover that where we were going was bedlam.

  There were people outside of this room—mostly ours but some that appeared to be palace guards. There were many more people inside this room, and most of them were shouting and yelling at each other.

  Turned out the religious folks had not been sent to another theater. Instead they were in yet another very large room with chairs all around the walls, though there were also chairs set up in the typical rows you saw at any conference around the world. The room was easily as big as the LSR, maybe bigger.

  There was a ginormous screen at the end of the room. It was, I realized, actually eight big screens put together, similar to how Imageering did it, where the screens formed one larger sc
reen but could show different feeds as needed.

  Realized Imageering probably had done it—noted several A-Cs who weren’t dealing with screaming religious folks. They were dealing with the equipment, protecting it from flying objects, of which there were more than a few, as well as keeping the screens upright and functioning. To my knowledge my team hadn’t requested this, but the Supreme Pontifex got whatever his little heart desired, so I figured Gower had asked for the setup.

  All the chairs in the middle were facing the display. Most of the people weren’t looking at the screens, which currently only showed a single feed in Extra Giant Size. Jeff and the Themnir weren’t back to shore yet—not a surprise considering where the Themnir had landed—so we had a close-up of Jeff’s face. Nicest thing I’d seen in what felt like ages.

  Couldn’t hear what Oliver or anyone else onscreen was saying, however, because of all the freaking out going on in here. Raheem waded in and attempted to get things under control, with limited success.

  Managed to find Reader, though I kept hold of White, too. “What in God’s name is going on?”

  “Appropriate choice of words, girlfriend. There were indeed bombs in here. We found them and deactivated all of them, just in time, too, so good call on your part as always. Then, you know, instead of anyone saying thank you they started accusing us and each other of setting this whole thing up merely to get everyone in one place and kill them.”

  “The illogic of the person or persons behind this plot being in the room at the same time has not been forwarded?”

  “Oh, it has. Several times. They aren’t interested in logic. They aren’t killing each other only because I’ve kept the Field agents here.” Noted that a lot of our people were having to physically stop others from fighting.

  And these were the religious leaders. God alone knew what those over at the Burj Khalifa were doing. “Do we have people over at the meeting with the Heads of State of the region?”