Alien Research

CHAPTER 69

UNCLE MORT’S TEAM trotted off at a military run that I knew they could all keep up for miles. “I still wish you’d gone with him,” I said to Jeff as we went to the door. “No A-C in that group could be a problem.”

“Why did you want to get rid of us, Missus Martini?” White asked. “What are you and Mahin up to?”

Mahin shook her head. “I have no idea. I also don’t know why we’re stopping here instead of going somewhere.”

“I want to think.” Actually, I wanted to be sure we were far enough away from the other people in this hangar that they couldn’t hear our conversation.

“I agree with Richard,” Chuckie said. “I know that innocent look you’re trying to keep on your face, Kitty.”

“I know, sorry, I just don’t want anything to happen to my uncle.”

“He’ll be protected,” Jeff said. “Now, take off your iPod and tell us what’s going on.”

Wanted to argue, but the music stopped, mid-song. Okay, Algar apparently wasn’t going to be sharing any more right now anyway. Pulled my earbuds out and tossed them and the iPod into my purse.

“Something’s wrong, and I mean above what we all know about. Ronaldo and Dier were ‘rescued’ a few days ago, right? Before they reached Guantanamo. And yet they’re here. Why go through a huge in-air rescue, and kill all those Marines, only to end up in Guantanamo anyway?”

“Because they aren’t prisoners this way,” Jeff said.

“Ronaldo used his mind control on the Marines, it’s obvious from the reports Tim got.”

“I agree,” Chuckie said. “And so do Cliff and Vander. And yes, I’ve shared intel with them in part because I have to and in part because we need their help.”

“Okay, let me know if they offered any good insights. Otherwise, I’ll keep going.” Chuckie nodded and I continued to think, or, as everyone else liked to call it, run my mouth. “Ronaldo can’t control us, and he can’t control Mahin, because she wouldn’t go with him earlier and he wanted her to. But he can’t fly, and Dier certainly can’t. So, how did they get out of the air alive?”

“No reports indicate another aircraft in the vicinity,” Chuckie said. “And believe me, we’ve been looking for one.”

“Okay. So, who rescued them?”

“I think it was the boy, Darryl,” Mahin said.

“What’s his full name?” Chuckie asked.

“Darryl Lowe. I believe, anyway. I haven’t seen his talents, but from what they said before Kitty and Gladys arrived, I believe he can do with the air what I do with the earth. I’m not certain, though.”

“Fabulous. We have an airbender, too. Does it get any better?”

“I actually know what you mean, because you made me watch that whole series,” Jeff said. “More than once. And I suppose it’s possible. But what of it, baby? Or, more to the point, we told your uncle we were splitting up, and yet we haven’t gone anywhere.”

Turned around and looked at all the people still in the hangar with us. “No, we’re still here.” Cleared my throat and spoke very softly. “Poofs assemble.” Nothing. “Poofies, Kitty needs you.” No bundles of cuteness appeared. “Mahin, I have a question. When you were left to try to stop us out there in the desert, what were your orders? I mean if you weren’t able to kill us?”

“I was to go with you as a prisoner of war. They said they would rescue me. Which, they did try to do. Though I honestly expected them to arrive much sooner.”

“Uh huh. Mister White, we’re really predictable, aren’t we? Especially if you have access to Gladys, who knows our entire playbook.”

“Yes, Missus Martini. They assumed we’d take Mahin to the Embassy. I believe we guessed that before.”

“We did, but they didn’t really count on Malcolm, and no one would have guessed Dad would be along. And they made the difference, in more than just where Mahin got taken.”

“Yes,” Mahin agreed. “I wouldn’t have been open to listening to you if I hadn’t spent time with your father.”

Pulled out my phone and sent a text.

“What are you doing?” Jeff asked.

“Telling Christopher, James, and Tim to figure the base commander’s under Ronaldo’s influence or actually is Ronaldo. They escaped so we’d know they escaped and assume they were anywhere but here. They killed people because they could and also because those were the only Marines who would know what Dier looked like in person. Put her into a uniform, and she looks like a regular servicewoman. She’s good at that kind of blending in.”

“You think they’ve infiltrated this entire Naval station?” Mahin asked. “Then why did they leave me in captivity for days?”

“To see if you’d go with them or not when they showed up. You didn’t go where they expected you to, so they adapted. And that’s not a Ronaldo move. That’s a Mastermind move. And Dier sounded like she was in charge, and she was working with Clarence’s team during Operation Sherlock, and he was absolutely not hanging with Ronaldo at that time. Clarence was working with the Mastermind.”

“So why are we standing here?” Jeff asked.

“In part because I want to know if the people here are under mind control or not. And in other part because I’m trying to figure out how they captured the Poofs.” And I was betting it was all the Poofs. I’d had more Poofs than just Harlie and Poofikins in my purse when we’d come, but there were a lot of people in front of us, and my gut said Harlie had called in the Poof Cavalry, especially since no Poofs at all had come when I’d called.

“You think the Poofs are captured?” Chuckie asked. “Why?”

“Because they aren’t here. They did their jobs—they saved everyone from being blown up or buried alive. And what are the odds that whoever’s calling the plays knew they’d do that?”

“I’d say good, Missus Martini.” White was looking around. Assumed he was doing what I was and trying to spot which of the Gang of Four Plus One might be hiding in plain sight.

“Uncle Mort felt this hangar was the obvious place to take all those people who needed saving, and sure enough, here they all are.”

“I don’t see Gladys,” Jeff said in a low voice.

“She’s likely to be with Ronaldo or the Poofs, depending.” On whether or not she was fooling Ronaldo.

Looked around. No one in this hangar was acting like an automaton. They were all watching us with varying degrees of suspicion or interest, prisoners included, which likely meant they were in control of their own minds. After all, Uncle Mort hadn’t told them to leave or do anything else, and where else would they take all these prisoners anyway?

But the person I’d choose to leave here hiding in plain sight would be the one who knew how to blend in the best and who was also the most ruthless killer.

Sending an A-C to tackle Dier would be the smart choice. Only she’d proved that she knew how to shoot and kill someone moving at hyperspeed, and I’d be damned if I was going to watch either my husband or White get shot in front of me. Besides, while the Poofs were powerful, they were still animals. Animals who loved me and protected me, and who needed my protection in return.

Of course, first I had to figure out which one she was, without letting her know I’d figured out which one she was. Which, considering how many people were in here, was harder than it sounded. Everyone had something on their heads, all the women had their hair up or back, and the prisoners were even better covered.

“Remember,” Chuckie said quietly, “we need to capture these people alive to have a hope of finding the Mastermind, let alone foiling whatever their end game is.”

“James just texted me,” Jeff said. “He thinks the base commander’s been under mind control. They were about to send missiles into the Science Center, but your uncle stopped it. The squatters are countering.”

“Tell them Chernobog’s in Cuba somewhere. Maybe they can find her signal somehow.” I wasn’t looking at Jeff. I was looking at the prisoners. Most of the prisoners were doing what the military personnel were doing—watching the weird people who were hanging around the doorway.

One wasn’t. He was pointedly looking down at his lap. And he was sitting near to a female in military garb. And they were both at the far end from the door.

“Okay, let’s get out of here. We’ll meet up with the others at the computer center.”

We stepped outside. “What are you planning?” Chuckie asked. “And trust me, we all know you’re planning something.”

“Yeah, I am. Mahin, lots of dirt around here.”

“Yes, there is.”

“Awesome. On my signal, make a dirt wall and put it around all of you.”

“What?” Jeff asked. “What in the hell—”

“Now!” I ran, and got on the other side as the wall went up. Knew I didn’t have long, but hopefully I’d be faster than Jeff or the others.

Ran back into hangar and headed right for the two people I’d spotted. Aimed for the woman and hit into her before anyone saw me.

It was Dier for sure, which was nice, because I slammed her back and down and started beating the crap out of her. She was fighting back, but I’d knocked the weapon out of her hands and was definitely stronger than she was.

I probably would have won, too, because I was angry and I’d had the element of surprise. But I’d neglected to remember a couple of key facts.

One of which was that while Mahin had to have dirt and dust around to do her thing, Darryl would pretty much always have air handy.

And, of course, no one else with a gun actually realized that the Navy Ensign I was beating up was a bad guy.

So, when I was flung high up into the air, every gun in the hangar was no longer focused on the prisoners, but was, instead, pointed directly at me. Always the way.