Free Alien in the House by Gini Koch Page A

weren’t in the diaper bag. The dogs went back on their leashes. We called for Denise, Len, and Kyle. And then I called for the Peregrines. As Jamie had said, in my mind.
    â€œWhoa!” Jeff jumped as twenty-four big birds just sort of appeared. “I hate it when they do that.”
    Contrived to look innocent. “Yeah. It’s sort of freaky.”
    Jeff gave me the hairy eyeball. “You called them, didn’t you?”
    Considered lying. Knew he’d know. “Yes. It’s easier. You’re handling this really well.”
    â€œI’m screaming and freaking out on the inside, but am trying to avoid having a huge fight with my wife about things neither one of us can control right before we have what is, according to James, the most important dinner party of our lives.”
    â€œOh. Go you.”
    â€œBut if you
want
to talk about all of this, feel free. I can handle it. I think.”
    Chose to circumvent the chat about my newly expanded Dr. Doolittle abilities and looked to Bruno. “So, we expect the flock to head over to the Pontifex’s residence. Your thoughts?”
    â€œI married the smartest girl in the galaxy.”
    Bruno winked at Jeff, then cooed, fluffed his feathers, did the weird, fast head bob thing birds seemed to love doing, and clawed, gently, at the carpet.
    â€œHuh. Okay.”
    â€œWhat did he say?” Jeff asked. “And he winked at me, didn’t he? Why does that bird wink at people?”
    â€œYes. Despite your misgivings, Bruno’s your counterpart and he likes you. He only winks at a select few. Anyway, they want some of the flock with the kids, and some here, on duty. All the girls are going with the kids; all the boys are staying here on duty. Bruno says we won’t even know they’re there unless they need to be seen. Or need to save the day.”
    â€œThere’s not some kind of chance I can win an argument with them, is there?”
    â€œNo, not really. And, all things considered, it never hurts to have the Peregrines along in stealth mode.”
    â€œHow many Poofs are staying behind?”
    Managed not to look guilty. “A few. You know, same thing, just in case.”
    Jeff ran his hand through his hair. “We live in a zoo. I’d ask how this happened, but I know. I just don’t always believe it.” He heaved a sigh. “Okay, fine. Keep the Poofs and Peregrines out of sight. We’ll figure out something if they’re seen.”
    â€œFake it ’til we make it?”
    â€œAs you like to tell me, baby, whatever works.”
    Denise and the boys arrived, we handed Jamie over with lots of kisses, then she and the pets were trundled down to the basement level to take a gate to the Pontifex’s residence.
    During Operation Confusion, before we’d moved in as the new Heads of the Diplomatic Corps, I’d been certain we’d find another gate in the Embassy. But searching had turned up only the one gate in the basement level. Everyone else had dismissed this as being normal, even Chuckie after a thorough search had turned up no additional gates.
    But the feeling that there were other gates here we just hadn’t found yet still tickled me now and then, and this was a now moment.
    â€œJeff, what if there’s a gate we can’t see because it’s hidden with the same sort of technology used to hide all those underground rooms in the Earth?”
    â€œThen Reynolds, your mother, our NASA Base Team, our squatters the hackers, or someone else would have identified it, based on the new information we have since the invasion.” He said it patiently, which was yet more proof that he was a wonderful husband, because I knew he was tired of me worrying about this.
    â€œHacker International isn’t squatting here.”
    â€œThey’re living on the top floor of the Zoo, rent free, with our Operations Team taking care of them like they do the rest of our