by Gini Koch
Jamie had insisted on being in an all-pink ensemble, including a sparkly pink tiara I was positive Pierre had found and suggested to her. Based on the fact that he was the one who’d arranged her outfit, it seemed a good bet.
I was back in a nice black-and-white dress with side slits. Oh those trendy Elves. Apparently they felt cocky about my wearing white, too. Chose not to complain and hoped their optimism wasn’t misguided. Transferred the necessities from my purse to my handbag. My own home or not, wasn’t going downstairs without my Glock, Jeff’s adrenaline harpoon, or my iPod.
Contemplated asking Jeff to wear his fedora, but decided explaining why he was wearing a hat indoors to both his parents and mine would be the very definition of “totally embarrassing” so chose to live without his hat for today.
Walter advised that guests were starting to arrive, so we all headed down to the ballroom. Happily the first guests were all our friends and a lot of our family. The wisdom of holding the party in the ballroom wasn’t lost on me anymore.
The fresh flowers—all pinks and whites—had already arrived by the time we got downstairs. Sadly, the press had already arrived, too. Saw a lot of familiar faces, most of them familiar because of Jeff’s being sworn in and Cliff’s car exploding. There were a couple blonde women in the group and I wondered if one of them had been the one who’d asked if we knew who the bomb was supposed to kill. None of them looked remarkably stupid, however, so I wasn’t going to figure it out via those means.
Jeff had won the musical battle and there was some classical stuff on very low. It was a little too classy for a little girl’s birthday party, but Jamie didn’t seem to care and Jeff was happy with it, so I didn’t whine.
As with our dinner party, we had a ton of Field agents in the Embassy, most on the second floor, but the rest of the facility wasn’t being shirked. Hoped a superbeing didn’t form anywhere right now, because it felt like every agent worldwide was here.
Politicians and other movers and shakers arrived and the party stopped being fun and started being work. Some, like Cliff, the Armstrongs, and the McMillans, I was happy to see. Some, like Whitmore, who we’d had to invite to this against everyone’s better judgment, I wasn’t.
Pierre was in charge of the festivities, of course, and he had Jamie and any kid under twelve in the middle portion of the ballroom, being entertained by a Little Theater troupe. The kids were loving it, which was nice. It also freed up me and Jeff to interact with the politicians. No rest for the wicked.
Jeff was cornered by a variety of senators, so I wandered, looking for Gadoire or Culver, neither of whom were here yet. Amy joined me. “You crashed last night.”
“I totally did. What did I miss?”
“Not much. We did find some things. None of it’s conclusive, of course, but there were fragments we were able to piece together. I think the L idea was sound, because it was just too consistently there in everyone’s calendars, but Olga was right—it’s going to take us a long time to narrow that down.”
“That’s it?”
“No. We found reference to Gaultier, as well as Somerall, Gardiner, and Cross.”
“The Gaultier bigwigs you’re fighting for control.”
“Yeah. Like so much, not something we’re going to figure out today. They could have been legitimate things—we couldn’t find enough to be sure. There were other things like that—enough repetition to stand out, nothing concrete to take action against today.”
“Oh, well, it is what it is.”
Senator Armstrong extracted himself from Jeff’s group and came over to me as Doreen came to get Amy for something. “Ah, Ambassador, wanted to let you know right away. The governor of California has asked, and Missus Brewer is going to fill her late husband’s seat.”
“Nathalie said yes to that?”
He nodded. “For the same reasons your husband did.” Someone called him back over. “Have to go. Discussing how to handle the upcoming vote.” He rejoined Jeff and the others.
Lillian Culver and Abner Schnekedy took this moment to arrive. She was in what I was coming to realize was her trademark all-red look, including the bright red lipstick. Tried not to think of her as Joker Jaws. Failed.
Took a big one for the team and hugged her while doing the air kiss. “Lillian, I’m so glad you could make it.”
“Wouldn’t miss it. I hear that Nathalie has some good news to help alleviate the pain of Edmund’s suicide.”
“Yes, I guess so. I mean if we count taking over for him as good news.” Resisted the impulse to say that Brewer hadn’t been a suicide. There was a high probability the Master or the Apprentice were here, because pretty much the same people as had been at our dinner party were in attendance along with a lot of other guests and the press, who were busy taking tons of pictures.
Culver laughed. “Well, maybe it’s better news for me.”
Gadoire and Lydia were escorted inside. Did the greetings. “Great party,” Lydia said. “I’m impressed with how well you’ve all bounced back from the tragedies of the past few days.”
“I’d hardly say that. But a one-year-old shouldn’t be punished for things that had nothing to do with her and that she couldn’t possibly understand.”
“Oh, I hear she’s quite precocious,” Lydia said.
“She’s great, but again, people being killed isn’t something I think is appropriate for any child to have to deal with or try to comprehend.”
“I heard Edmund killed himself,” Lydia replied. “Not that I’m suggesting that you think suicide is appropriate for children to know about, either.”
There was something different about Lydia, and it wasn’t mourning, because she didn’t seem to be. She seemed more . . . aggressive than I was used to. She was a political animal, of course, but I’d only seen the “here with my husband” side of her. Found myself wondering if Eugene had actually acted as a restraint on her real personality.
I was preoccupied with thinking about the “new Lydia” so I didn’t respond. She didn’t seem to care. “But anyway, Guy, could we get something to drink, please?”
“Of course, my dear. Ambassador, dear Lillian, please excuse us.” Gadoire ushered Lydia off. Wondered where Vance was and if he was aware that his husband seemed to be moving Lydia into their marriage. Or maybe Lydia was moving herself into Vance’s marriage.
“Abner, be a love and fetch me something nice,” Lillian said. “You know what I like.” He smiled, kissed her cheek, and trailed after Gadoire. Lillian turned back to me. “You have a request, Ambassador. So let’s save the time and you tell me what it is that I can do for you. I’ll speak for Guy on this one, too. We’ve already chatted, right after your late night calls to both of us.”
“Sorry about that, I’d lost track of the time. But, um, how did you know I have a request of any kind?”
She laughed softly. “You’re very new at this. But I understand—it’s awkward, the first time you need to reach out to your friends for help, the first time something seems beyond you.” She took my hand in hers. Managed not to flinch, was relieved there really was no electrified joy buzzer in her palm. “We’re here for you.”
Focused on the goal, which was to prevent a lot of horrible things from happening. “I need you two to use your influence to help kill all the bills going through the House and Senate right now. Preferably before Congress officially starts the new session in January.”
She laughed louder. “Is that all?”
“They don’t have to die completely, but there are clear anti-alien lines in all of the bills that need to be removed, so the bills have to go back to committee or die.”
“I see. And, just what can American Centaurion do for us in return?”
This was the part I was dreading. “I have no freaking idea. But I’ll bet you do.”
She smiled again and this time there was no mistaking it—Joker Jaws was in the house. “Oh, yes, I do. So does Guy. We’ll think on it, and let you know. Somewhere before January thi
rd.”
“Super. Thanks. I think.”
She squeezed my hand, gently. “You’ll get used to it. We do something for you, you do something for us, quid pro quo. After a while, you won’t feel dirty about it.” She looked around. “Is that Clifford? Haven’t seen him in at least a week.”
She sailed off toward Cliff, who spotted her coming and looked around for an escape route. He was too slow and she cornered him. Abner, Gadoire, and Lydia joined them. Nice to know I was dismissed until they’d determined what they could get out of us. Problem was, I knew they were going to get a lot.
Watched the four of them talk to Cliff. He definitely looked surrounded by barracuda. Looked around for where Nathalie was. Found her in the group Jeff was with. She looked like she was barely holding up. Jeff was on one side of her, Reader was on the other. Got the feeling they were protecting her, which I was more than fine with.
Chuckie joined Cliff and the Barracuda Brigade. Had to figure Cabal of Evil was no more, at least for now. Cliff looked relieved to have the support. Couldn’t blame him.
Everything seemed calm, but we hadn’t stopped anything or anyone. We had some information, we had some dead bad guys, we had more questions than answers. And we had people still missing. Most missing of all, of course, were the Master and Apprentice. With Raul and Clarence both dead, our chances of catching the Master were slim, at least right now. But one of the Apprentice Wannabes might be here.
Looked around. Lots of people, but one I’d gotten used to was missing. Supposedly Buchanan was going to be awake and with us. But I didn’t see him anywhere. “Malcolm, I could really use someone to talk to,” I said under my breath.
“Missus Chief, I thought you’d never ask.”
CHAPTER 94
SPUN AROUND to see Buchanan there. Didn’t think about it, just gave him a big hug. “You’re okay!”
He laughed and hugged me back. “Yes, I am. And now the rumor mill has a great story, too. Can’t wait for your husband’s reaction to this.”
“He’s a little busy right now.”
“And you’re not enjoying Baby Chief’s party. I know I’ve missed a lot.” His eyes narrowed. “Doctor Hernandez explained that I’ve lost thirty minutes. He’s briefed me somewhat, but I know there’s more going on than I know about.”
“Where’s Colonel Hamlin?”
He shook his head. “I remember that I left the Embassy with him because he had proof of the whole Mastermind idea somewhere. If his intel was good, I was going to hide him. If it wasn’t, I was going to arrest or kill him.”
“And?”
“That’s it. So I figure we got hit pretty close to when we left the Embassy. We were in my car. I don’t know that it’s been recovered.”
“Yet another problem for another day.” Considered what else we could do. Besides give up and just become like everyone else here and not even care when people dropped dead next to us if that meant we could make a political “in”. “What’s wrong with this picture?” I asked aloud.
I’d meant my current situation, but Buchanan didn’t take it that way. He scanned the room. “Nathalie Brewer—first impression would be that you should be worried that she’s after your husband. Closer look says that she’s emotionally upset and using him as a shield, and that he’s aware of this and okay with it. Which I assume means you’re okay with it.”
“Yeah, that’s pretty accurate. What else is wrong?”
He scanned some more. “The Secretary of Transportation isn’t being gregarious. It’s clear he hates being here, and he hates everyone who’s associated with the A-Cs in any way. He’s barely able to hide it, which is a change from a few months ago, when he didn’t appear to know you all existed.”
“Or that he was sleeping with an android. What else?”
Buchanan looked at the group around Cliff and Chuckie. “It’s a Washington Wife class reunion here, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, well, other than the ones who are dead. But I know what you mean.” Couldn’t wait to tell Buchanan that I was about to make a deal with Joker Jaws and Pepé Le Pew. That would be more pleasant than telling Jeff or my mother, though.
He cocked his head. “Is one of those women Lydia Montgomery?”
“Yes.”
“Doctor Hernandez said Eugene killed someone and then was killed by an assassin. She’s not acting like anyone near her has had so much as a hangnail.”
“She’s spent every night since his death with Gadoire, too. Supposedly because she couldn’t be left alone.” And Clarence said that “she” had used the easy resource at hand, and since it had worked the boss might be impressed, but only because the others had failed so badly.
The Dingo had told me to figure out who benefited from Eugene’s being arrested for murder. But maybe the proper question was who benefited if Pia Ryan was out of the Apprentice Wannabe Race. Or perhaps, the answer to all my questions was going to boil down to the same person.
“Malcolm, are you really a hundred percent?”
“Other than those missing thirty minutes and all the time I was asleep, yes.”
“Great. I need you to get a search warrant, as fast as possible. Call the K-9 guys, and take them with you.”
“Where are we going?”
“To the murderer’s house.”
CHAPTER 95
BUCHANAN MADE HIS CALLS. Even on Christmas Day, the P.T.C.U. could score a warrant in under five minutes. Sent him off with four Field agents grabbed at random—didn’t like the idea of losing Buchanan since we’d only just gotten him back. They were meeting up with the K-9 squad and heading to the house in question.
Had some time to kill, and I wanted some muscle with me. All I’d use normally were occupied. Found Rahmi and Rhee and gently dragged them away from the Little Theater troop’s rendition of The Princess and the Frog. Gave them some instructions which they seemed clear on.
Still didn’t see Vance anywhere. Sent him a text. Discovered he was sulking in his room because he and Gadoire had had a huge fight about Lydia. Told him the game was afoot and to get his butt down here and fight for his man. Refrained from asking him why he’d want to fight for Gadoire—people couldn’t help who they loved.
The princesses and I joined the group with Chuckie and Cliff. “Hey, I’d like to introduce you to Princesses Rahmi and Rhee.”
The princesses bowed. “We are honored,” Rahmi said.
Did all the introductions, the princesses bowed to everyone again in turn. “They come from another planet. Different from Jeff’s planet.”
“Oh?” Culver said. “How interesting.”
Cliff and Chuckie were giving me “WTF?” looks. I ignored them. “On their planet, they have strict rules about murder. So I’ve been trying to explain to them why we haven’t punished anyone for Santiago’s death. Or Edmund’s. Or Eugene’s.”
“Eugene was punished for Santiago’s death,” Lydia said with a sniff that I was sure was supposed to sound like she was a second away from breaking down. Couldn’t speak for anyone else, but I didn’t buy it.
“Actually, I think he was punished for something else.”
“What’s that?” Gadoire asked, as Vance joined us.
“Eugene was a bad boy, wasn’t he? I mean, he seemed like this nice, normal guy. But he was cheating on his wife with a former supermodel.”
“That was over,” Lydia snapped.
“Funny, three days ago you said you didn’t know about his affair with Nathalie. So I’m betting you did, and while it was going on, too, not just after it was over. After all, you’re not a stupid woman. So I’m also betting you knew that, once Nathalie had broken their affair off, Eugene took up with someone else in the group. Pia Ryan to be exact.”
“We barely knew her and my personal business is none of yours.”
“It is when you murder people in my home. Then it becomes all my business. There’s a lot of murder going on right now—lots of representatives dead, and everyone’s just acting like it’s busin
ess as usual. But the way Santiago was killed, that was showy. In a really bad way.”
“What does that have to do with me? Other than my husband being shot in your driveway?”
“Why the phony outrage, Lydia? That’s exactly what you wanted to have happen.”
“Kitty,” Cliff said in a warning tone, “be careful with what you’re saying.”
“Why? See, I’m just a nosy person. Can’t help it. Always been a failing. So when someone I care about gets murdered, I just sort of have to find out why. Pathological, really. Just had to dig into what the hell was going on. And while I dug, something kept bothering me, over and over again.”
“What was that?” Abner asked. Was sure he thought I was going nuts and he was baiting me. Worked for what I wanted, so I was good with it.
“Well, all the things Eugene told me before he died.” Lydia stiffened but didn’t speak. I continued. “He’d been set up by Pia Ryan to kill Edmund because Pia had convinced Eugene that Edmund was a robot.”
No one in this group snorted or even looked shocked. Not a surprise, really. “That rumor’s been around for a while,” Culver said. “Not about Edmund, just in general.”
“I’ll bet it has. I can buy Pia using Eugene to help her kill off someone. But what I can’t buy is that she’d do all the work to get him primed and ready, and believing that there were many more ‘robots’ out there, and then set him up to be caught red-handed.”
“This is truly farfetched,” Lydia said, with a little laugh. “But do go on.”
“Someone quite wise in the ways of murder and killing suggested I ask not just why Santiago, accidentally standing in for Edmund, was killed in such a public and showy way, but to find out who would benefit from Edmund’s death, or from Eugene’s capture.”
Lydia gasped. “Nathalie’s benefiting. Do you think she’s the one who did this?”
“Not really. She isn’t power-hungry, and she doesn’t want to be a politician. For her, this is all a loss. Because her husband forgave her for her affair and their marriage was stronger now. No, I think the person benefiting from Edmund, Eugene, and Pia dying is the person who hasn’t forgiven one affair, let alone two.”