by Gini Koch
CHAPTER 30
I WANTED TO WALK, because it was a nice day and we could use the exercise. However, Len felt we had too many places to go, and Kyle was concerned about using public transportation with Bruno along. Before this debate could turn ugly, White overruled us all, backed Len, and insisted we take a limo.
It wasn’t always the best choice for us. The first time we’d tried it here, our limo had exploded. We had fun like that a lot.
I managed to refrain from asking why I’d bothered to get Jamie’s stroller all set up nicely if we were going to drive, but before I could, my phone rang. I dug it out of my purse and checked the number.
“Senator Armstrong. It’s been so long.” Well, it had been in terms of experience. As I thought about it, though, I’d talked to and seen him roughly twenty-four hours ago.
“Ambassador, I heard there was trouble at NASA Base when you went there. Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. I’m rather touched that you’re calling to check on my health and welfare.” And suspicious. Very suspicious.
The senator was quiet for a few long moments. I remained quiet, too. Hey, I hadn’t initiated the phone call. “I believe I need your help.”
This was a new one. “I thought you were the one wanting to help me.”
“I was and still am.” He cleared his throat. “I . . . received new pictures today.”
“Great. Who am I supposedly doing the nasty with this time?”
“Ah . . . me.”
Well. Apparently I really got around. In someone’s imagination, anyway. “You know what’s funny?”
“Funny ha-ha or funny strange?”
“Both, I guess. We were planning to visit you today, anyway. To discuss the first set of dirty pictures. So, under the circumstances, do you want us to come to your offices or do you want to meet somewhere else?”
“Who is ‘us’?”
“Me, my driver, my bodyguard, and my uncle by marriage.” I decided not to mention Jamie, just in case.
“Your husband is still not taking this seriously?”
“Oh, I think he is. But he’s a busy man. Busy, busy.”
“Aha. You weren’t able to take or pass the HSAC test, I presume?”
“I’ll ignore the insinuation that I flunked it for now. It relates to the trouble at NASA Base. So, you haven’t answered my question.”
“I think it would be better to meet in an, ah, neutral location.”
“Great. Sheridan Circle Park it is.”
“That’s hardly neutral.”
“We don’t own it. And it’s nice and close. To me. I don’t really care if you’re inconvenienced right now. We were going to come to you. The mountain to Mohammed and all that sort of thing.”
Armstrong sighed. “It’s out in the open, where anyone could see us. Under the circumstances, neutral and out of the way of prying eyes would be best.”
He had a point. I considered it. “Hang on just a sec.” I muted my phone. “Richard, Senator Armstrong wants a meet, and he’s asking for neutral ground that’s private. I want somewhere we’ve got more backup than he does. Thoughts?”
“I believe our neighbors across the street should be amenable. Wait a moment.” He zipped off at hyperspeed. I saw the Romanian Embassy’s door open and shut.
Took my phone off mute. “We’re lining up a safe location. Who’s coming besides you?”
“No one.”
“Not dragging Guy and Vance along for this particular visit?”
“No. Look, I brought them yesterday because I thought you’d want help in determining what to do and how to keep the pictures quiet. Guy and Vance had to hide their relationship for years, and they were willing to help.”
Considered this. I was having to consider a lot on this call. Didn’t care for it. “So, you’re saying you thought the pictures were real?”
“I know your relationship with Mister Reynolds. The pictures look very real. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if you two were having an affair.”
“Wow, you rock the way with words.”
He made the exasperation sound. “I’m not saying 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 m
ate. “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 want to keep it that way. And that order goes out to all of you.”
Got looks indicating that every Peregrine worth its badge was more than properly house- and potty-trained and I could stop acting like they were hatchlings.
“The rest of you, um, what should I, in reality, do with you? Everyone stays here?”
Much squawking ensued.
“Oh. Great. I thought only the Poofs could do that here one minute, gone the next thing.”
A flock of Peregrines assured me they were able to do whatever and go wherever as needed.
“So why didn’t you go with your assigned folks last night?”
Got a lot of “duh” looks. I’d had no idea birds could do that look, but our flock of Peregrines were up to the task.
“Oh. Yeah. Everyone was kind of freaked out. Good to know you’ll probably be getting to know the gang as time goes by. Great. Um. Carry on. And all that.”
I left, with my new avian friends tagging along. Eyed the three males with me as we headed for the elevator. Why use the stairs when I had this much company? Elevator arrived, we got in, I looked around, and the urge to name overcame me.
“So, boys, one of you is matched to Richard White, yes?” The Peregrine who inclined his head was quite big and studly looking. As Peregrines went. I considered it and realized I knew its name. Lucky me.
Stared at the other two as well. “You’re with Len and Kyle, correct?” Bird heads bobbed to indicate that I’d guessed right again. “Neither one of you had better be named Tommy Trojan.”
The Peregrines all hooted. Wow. They had a sense of humor. Unreal. And I wasal. And feeling pleased that they’d gotten the joke. If I hadn’t just been gone for a month, I’d have suggested that I needed a vacation.
The elevator doors opened and we all stepped out.
“Wow,” Kyle said. “We get to walk Peregrines instead of dogs.”
“I didn’t think this job could get any better,” Len added with a very straight face.
Ignored them. “This is Lola, Bruno’s girl. Richard, your birds are named Samson and Delilah. Kyle, yours are Fred and Wilma. Len, meet Barney. His mate’s name is Betty.”
The boys gaped. Continued to ignore them. The Peregrines, on the other hand, all hooted, to show how impressed they were with my insightfulne
ss. I gave them each a scritchy-scratch right between their wings. They loved it.
Lola and Bruno wrapped their necks around each other, then she flapped up and settled into the stroller. I took a look. She was in front of Jamie, looking serene. And like a stuffed animal.
“Wow. You know, it’s more than camouflage. Lola looks like a bird version of the Poofs.”
“They’ve been bred for this for tens of thousands of years,” White shared as he gave Samson a pat.
“Excellent. Well, let’s get across the street, while we and our birds enjoy the fresh air for five seconds, and go wait for Senator Armstrong and his latest set of dirty pictures to join us.”
Yi
CHAPTER 31
OUR SHORT WALK ACROSS THE STREET was uneventful. No one stared at us, which was amazing, since the four male birds looked exactly the same to me out here as they had inside.
“Why haven’t they gone invisible?” Kyle asked nervously as we headed toward Romanian soil. “Someone’s got to notice us with four big peacocks. I’m not sure it’s legal to have animals like this in this city.”
I looked around. If Buchanan was nearby, he didn’t want me to see him, because there wasn’t much going on in the way of activity. Which, all things considered, was unusual, even on a weekend. Maybe especially on a weekend.
“I’m not sure the Ambassadress wants us bringing animals into their Embassy,” Len added.
Bruno looked at me and warbled. The complete insanity of me talking to the birds and them talking right back was becoming commonplace. How nice.
“They’re visible to anyone they’re assigned to, at all times, unless it’s vital to said person’s wellbeing that they aren’t seen. So, right now, we can see any and all of our selection of the Peregrine Enforcement Squad, even if no one else can. Oh, and Bruno says that if they need to go, they’ll let me know, but otherwise, everyone can stop stressing.”
“Mister Joel Oliver is going to have a field day with these things,” Len added.
Which reminded me. I stopped walking before we reached the Romanian Embassy’s front door, dug my phone out, and dialed.
“Ambassador Katt-Martini. How lovely to hear from you. And welcome 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 t
hat 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 Olga briefed so they’d have an idea of what was going on. However, it was somewhat embarrassing, and I really didn’t know where to start. Back to the inconsequential small talk. “So, does anyone else think the foot traffic is a little light for a Sunday?”
Oliver shook his head. “It would be, but there’s the huge event at the Mall. I’m sure most people from this part of town are there.” Olga nodded.
“What kind of event?” White asked. “We haven’t heard anything about it.”
Oliver looked surprised. “I’d have thought you’d have been briefed immediately.”
