Alien in the House (54 page)

T
HE REST OF THE PARTY WAS GREAT.
Jamie had a fabulous time, and with the press gone and Lydia in custody, I felt pretty decent.

I hadn't avenged all the murders of all those people yet, but I'd avenged the ones I could. Reyes, Brewer, even Eugene and Pia. We'd caught all the people responsible for their deaths. Okay, not the Mastermind, but everyone else.

“You took a real chance with that accusation,” Christopher said while we were munching on cake and Jamie was dancing with Jeff. I had a huge corner piece loaded with icing which I'd claimed as Mother of the Birthday Girl and I was enjoying it. “What if you'd been wrong?”

“Then I'd have tried again, but she was the only one who fit all the parameters. She was the one who stood to gain the most by Eugene's being arrested—sympathy, support, and her cheating husband dead, worth a lot. Chance to hurt both her rivals at the same time? Priceless.”

“I got nothing out of the video tapes. If Clarence was there, even when he slowed down he was at hyperspeed.”

“As long as he stays dead this time, I'm good with it.” Saw Culver and Abner getting ready to go. “Guard my cake. I am not done with that, so don't let anyone throw it away and tell Jeff to get his own piece.”

Trotted after Culver and caught them at the front door. “We were just slipping out,” Culver said. “Abner, be a dear and fetch the car.”

He sighed. “Of course. Nice seeing you again, Kitty.” He headed off down the street. Had no idea where they'd parked.

“It was a nice party,” Culver said as she stepped outside. I followed her and shut the door behind me. “And congratulations on getting another friend of mine arrested.”

Apparently the gloves were off now. Fine by me. “If your friends weren't a bunch of murderers that wouldn't be such a problem. I'd think you'd care more about the friends of yours who were killed.”

She shrugged. “The dead can't help you any more, nor can they be helped.” She smiled widely. It remained horrifying. “It was quite neat how you got Guy's support. You're far more savvy than you let on, or my husband could recognize.”

“Backhanded flattery's nice. Knowing what you want from us for your help would be better.”

She shrugged. “You'll do what I want, when I want it. I think that will be the easiest plan, don't you?”

“I do not believe that is how it will work,” a familiar voice said from behind Culver. She froze, eyes wide. “You feel my gun in your back, yes?” She nodded. “Good. Look up on the roof across the street. What do you see?”

We both looked. “Nothing,” Culver said.

I squinted. “I can just make out a guy with what I think is a sniper rifle.” Or, as I thought of him now, Uncle Surly Vic.

“Yes, good. Now, you will listen to me. I understand you, Lillian Culver. I know all about you—who you work for, what you do, where you go, where you live, when you sleep. And I know all about your husband, too.”

“Yes?” she asked. “What do you want? Money?”

He laughed softly. “No. I want you to be nice to my niece. She is a kind girl, and a brave girl, but she is not a ruthless girl.” His voice hardened. “I, however, am a very ruthless man. You will help her because if you do not, your husband will die, and then you will die.”

“My clients are powerful people,” Culver said. Had to hand it to her, she wasn't panicking and while her voice was shaking a little, she didn't sound totally frightened.

The Dingo laughed, one of those low bad guy laughs. He was good at it. “Yes, they are. Your clients are ruthless men and women, like me. They understand that the price of the finest weapon is high. You are not the finest weapon, you are a mouthpiece. And they can always find another effective mouthpiece.”

“You're bluffing.”

“I thought you might say that.”

Abner pulled up in their car. “Nice Bentley. No wonder you guys drove.”

“You're going to threaten to kill my husband and then Kitty's going to tell you not to, and you think that will make me help them without payback? Nice try, but I say again, you're bluffing.”

Abner got out of the car. Heard a muffled shot. Abner went down.

Told myself I was being an idiot, but I couldn't stop my feet from running to him. Abner was shot and bleeding like crazy, but he wasn't dead. Picked him up and ran him to the front door. There were no more bullets.

There was also no more Dingo. Culver was still there, however, and she was white. “He shot him.” She sounded shocked and, for the first time, freaked out.

“He doesn't really bluff. He was being nice, and he still is. I think we need to get Abner to a hospital. Or I can take him to our infirmary. However, my uncle is wrong. I'm willing to be ruthless to protect my people, and what they believe in.”

“What do you mean?”

“Abner's going to bleed out fast. I can have our staff help him, and probably save his life, or you can take your chances that the ambulance will get him to the Georgetown Medical Center in time. You pick. But know that if he enters the American Centaurion Embassy again, then you are agreeing to my terms, which is that you help me get those bills killed or sent back to committee, and you do it well before New Year's Eve.”

She looked down at Abner. I truly had no guess as to what she was going to say. She touched his cheek. “Can I come with him?”

“Yes.” Managed not to let the relief show in my voice. “But if he can't be saved, I'm still holding you to the deal. Because if I don't, then my uncle will kill you next.”

She nodded. “I know who the Dingo is. I'd imagine how you've hidden that you're his relative would be an interesting story.”

“One for another day. Let's get Abner down to the Great Tito.”

The door opened. Jeff and Raj were there, along with Tito, Nurse Carter, and a gurney. I put Abner on the gurney, Tito and Nurse Carter took off with him. “Melanie and Emily are prepping the surgery,” Jeff said.

Raj offered his arm to Culver. “I'll escort you down. I'm sure he'll be fine.”

Culver took his arm, then looked at me. “I'll start making calls as soon as I collect myself.”

“Sounds good. I'll put your car into our parking garage.”

She smiled, a rather normal smile. Well, for her. “Thank you. I sense this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” She and Raj went after Tito.

Jeff looked at the car in the street. “Is that their car?”

“Yeah.”

“You're covered with blood.” He pulled out his phone. “Yeah, kid, you and the other jock get down to the front door immediately.”

“It's not my blood.”

“I know.” He looked up and around. “Are they still here?”

“My ‘uncles'? No idea. Kind of betting on yes, but who knows.”

“Your mother said she told the authorities everyone is convinced the Dingo killed Cantu while he was in lockdown.”

“Good. They'll get a nice payday and their rep will go that much higher.”

“So that's why they almost killed a man on our doorstep?”

“Yeah. Lillian and Guy are the only ones who can get those bills killed in such a way that we and the President won't be completely screwed.”

“That was a pretty tough tradeoff, baby.”

“This? This was nothing compared to what it could have been. This was the only solution that would work in our favor. And my ‘uncles' knew it would be, too.”

“I suppose. Reynolds asked me to tell you that they found a plethora of evidence at Lydia's house. He thinks some of it might have been planted.”

“Not by me, or by my ‘uncles.' Maybe by the Mastermind. Or Raul's chick. But no matter what, Lydia's out of the running to be the next Mastermind Celebrity Apprentice. So that's a job damn well done.”

Len and Kyle appeared. “Kitty, are you okay?” Len sounded freaked out. Kyle looked freaked out. Looked down. Jeff hadn't been kidding—I was covered with blood. So much for the Optimism of the Elves.

“Yeah, this isn't my blood. Need you two to park that Bentley in our garage. While I go change clothes.”

The boys nodded and went to the car. Jeff took my hand and we went inside and up to our apartment. “Can I put on jeans and a T-shirt now?” I asked as I stripped off the bloodied dress and jumped into the shower.

“No. I think I want you in something nice. But I'll take my hat and coat, if that'll make you happy.”

“Definitely.” Didn't have to wash my hair, so I was out of the shower fast. “Where are we going?”

“Surprise. Just waiting for the rest of the guests to leave. Take your real purse, though.”

Dumped my handbag into my purse while Jeff handed me the dress he wanted me to wear. It was the green dress I'd had on for our dinner party or, more likely, a duplicate. Akiko had started making duplicates early in her relationship with our Embassy. “You sure this isn't courting bad luck?”

He grinned. “Nah, it's just a sexy dress and I'd like to see you in it again for a happy occasion.”

“Okay. You're the boss.”

Jeff snorted. “Since when? You're the boss of me, baby, and you always have been.” Then he kissed me, and I decided to table that discussion for another time.

A
LL THE GUESTS
who weren't our friends and family were gone. Jamie was asleep on Chuckie's shoulder while he and Naomi talked to his parents. “She fell asleep while we were dancing,” Chuckie said. “Didn't have the heart to wake her up.”

Gave his mom and dad a big hug. “When did you two get here?”

“Just a few minutes ago,” Jeff answered for them. “We'll be back. Keep Jamie, will you, Chuck?” Chuckie nodded as Jeff walked me over to Christopher.

“What was that all about?”

“Tell you later.”

“Fine. Is my cake still around anywhere?”

“No, it got cleared with everything else,” Christopher said. “And before you whine to me about it, you know you can get more any time.”

“It's not the same,” I muttered.

“I'll get you more, baby. In a while.” Jeff left me and went over to Pierre. They were instantly in deep discussion. Reader joined them.

Decided not to worry about it. Found Nathalie. She was leaning against the wall. “How're you doing?”

“Oh, alright, I suppose.” She sighed and I put my arm around her. “Tomorrow I get sworn in, to do a job I never wanted to do, to replace the husband I never wanted to lose. Then there will be his funeral, and Santiago's. I must plan Edmund's and I wish to attend Santiago's. I believe your Embassy will be making the arrangements.”

“I'm sure we will.” Maybe that's what Jeff, Reader, and Pierre were talking about.

“I just . . . I would like to have something happy, you know? Christmas has no meaning for me, at least today. I would like to celebrate life and honor the lives gone. Your daughter's party was lovely, but all we did was talk about political work that needs to be done.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean.”

Jeff looked around the room. “Great, everyone's here. Gather up your belongings, folks. We're taking a little excursion.”

Saw a floater gate appear, one of the big ones. “Haven't seen a gate like that since your wedding, Kitty,” Michael said to me.

“The wedding I missed?” Caroline asked with a laugh.

“Everyone's a critic. Where does Jeff have us going? And why?”

Others were asking this, but they were going through the gate. Raj joined us. “I'll escort Missus Brewer,” he said, as he took Nathalie's arm. “We have eight Field teams in the infirmary.”

“Thanks, Raj.” This way, Nathalie wouldn't be at risk from my barfing on her and we wouldn't be at risk of anyone wandering our Embassy unattended. Tito and Nurse Carter were missing out on the excursion, whatever it was. Figured I'd find out soon if they'd be relieved or disappointed later.

Jeff had Chuckie keep Jamie for the gate transfer. Assumed this was because he knew he'd have to carry me. Which he did. “Where are we going?”

“You'll find out.” Jeff held me a little tighter and I buried my face in his neck. Always the nicest part of a gate transfer.

This one was a few seconds, so I knew we were traveling some distance. Felt us stop and, once my stomach settled, opened my eyes. “This place looks familiar.”

“It should.” Jeff put me down. “Let's go, everyone, we're on a schedule.”

“What's going on?” Chuckie asked.

“I have no idea. Jeff won't tell me. If Jamie's too heavy I can take her.”

Chuckie shot me the “oh, please” look. “I think I can manage one little girl.” He looked around. “We're in the Mandalay Bay.”

“You're sure?” Looked around again. “I guess we are. The question is why?”

We walked into a room that had a lot of chairs set up in neat rows with a wide aisle between them. Elvis was in there. Well, someone dressed like him. As we got closer, realized it was Gower. Looking somewhat embarrassed. What was going on suddenly dawned on me and I started to laugh.

Jeff heard me and grinned. “Let's get this show on the road.” He took Jamie from Chuckie now. “Hope you like the costume. It was the best we could find on short notice.”

Chuckie gaped. “Ah, is what I think happening actually happening?”

“Yeah, it is.” He looked at Raj. “You'll be able to do it more quietly.”

Raj laughed. “Would everyone who is unaware of what's going on and why we're here please find a seat and sit down?” His voice carried to all parts of the room, without the walls shaking. Everyone moved as requested. Troubadours really had a lot more going for them than Christopher had led me to believe.

Erika and Stanley Gower were here. They sat with Chuckie's parents. Jeff kissed Jamie and got her to wake up. Pierre gave her a little pink basket with rose petals in it.

Jeff and Reader each took an arm and led Chuckie up to where Gower was standing. Pierre motioned to me, and I followed him and Jamie to find Michael, Abigail, and Naomi. “You sure you want me here?”

Naomi grinned. “Yeah, I'm sure. Are we doing what I think we're doing?”

“Yeah, we are. You're getting married by your brother, who is also an Elvis Impersonator. At least for this hour. It's a convenient thing that we were all dressed up for Jamie's party.”

Music started. “Blue Christmas” by Johnny Mathis. Pierre coached Jamie down the aisle. I followed after her, then Abigail.

“We're breaking with traditions,” Gower said. “Because the only traditions that truly matter are that we love one another, fight for one another, protect one another, and cherish our time together.”

“Hear, hear,” Tim called from the audience. The song changed to “It's Now Or Never” by the king himself.

“We're missing a few people we'd like to have with us,” Gower went on. “But circumstances ensure that there are always a few people missing at any wedding. What shouldn't be at a wedding, however, are governments and political agendas. All there should be is love between two people and the people who love them.”

The room applauded. Clearly all those in attendance agreed.

“Can't Help Falling In Love” by Elvis came on now, as Michael walked Naomi down the aisle. Saw Amy and Caroline start to cry.

“Who gives this woman to marry this man?” Gower asked.

“We all do,” Michael replied. He kissed his sister's cheek, then joined Caroline and his parents.

Chuckie took Naomi's hand and brought her up to Gower. “I just want to tell you both that there are only a few people I'd dress up as Elvis for.” This earned a good laugh, which meant that those of us tearing up got to have the fun of laughing through our tears.

“This ceremony can be quite long. It can also be sped up. I think you two have had a much longer engagement than either of you wanted. So let's see if we can make the wedding go a little faster. Do you, Charles Martin Reynolds, take this woman to be your wife, in sickness, health, good times, bad times, richer, poorer, until death alone parts you?”

Chuckie cleared his throat. “I do.”

“Do you, Naomi Marie Gower, take this man to be your husband, in sickness, health, good times, bad times, richer, poorer, until death alone parts you?”

Naomi smiled. “I do.”

“The rings, please?” Gower asked. Jeff stepped forward and gave them to him. Gower handed one to each of them. Chuckie slid the ring onto Naomi's finger. His hand shook a little. I started to really have to blink a lot to stop from crying. Naomi slid the ring on his finger, and her hand didn't shake at all.

“These rings are symbols of your love and your union—unbroken, never-ending, precious, never-tarnishing, enduring, and beautiful. And with the rings willingly given and happily received, as Sovereign Pontifex, I pronounce you married. What has been joined will never be broken, in this world or the next.” Gower paused for a moment, then grinned. “Now, kiss your bride, and make it good.”

Chuckie grinned and pulled Naomi to him as “Viva Las Vegas” from Elvis came on. He dipped her, and kissed her, while the crowd cheered.

Once they'd straightened up, Gower put his hands up, and everyone quieted. “Let me be the first to present Mister and Missus Charles and Naomi Reynolds.”

More cheers, as they walked down the aisle. They reached the end and turned around. “Where to now?” Chuckie asked.

Jeff grinned. “Back home. The Embassy should be all set up for your reception by now.”

Chuckie shrugged and picked Naomi up. “Guess I'll carry you through the gate versus over the threshold.” He kissed her as they stepped through.

The rest of us followed them. Jeff picked Jamie up. “Can you make it through without me carrying you?”

Took Jamie from him. “Nope. You get to carry both of us.”

He laughed and picked us up. “That will never be a problem. Holding my family in my arms is the best part of my life.”

The transfer wasn't nearly as bad as normal, possibly because I kissed Jeff through the entire experience.