Ronald Yates had made Hugh Hefner look like a choirboy. We already knew of two illegitimate children—Ronaldo Al Dejahl and Serene Dwyer. Both of them were the younger siblings of White, and therefore of Jeff’s mother, Lucinda, and Gladys “Scary Chief of Security” Gower. Jeff and Christopher were therefore Yates’ grandsons. And Jamie and Patrick were his first official great-grandchildren.
Within the A-C community alone we had enough people to take over any Board. But the A-Cs weren’t the problem. The rest of Yates’ illegitimate children out there were the problem, because they’d be hybrids, and likely powerful hybrids, or full blood A-Cs, also likely to be supremely talented. And we had no idea how many there were, where they might be, or if they were already on the side of evil or not.
“Yet they’ve publicized the Relative’s Clause in the incorporation documents?” Raj asked.
Horn shook his head. “No. I only know about that because I was digging into YatesCorp when they were making their decision on Amos.”
Interesting. Horn was on a first name basis with Tobin. Hoped that didn’t bode badly for us, but since I was now supposedly on a first name basis with all the Land Sharks, I wasn’t one to judge too harshly.
“How long have you known about this clause?” Chuckie asked.
“Not too long.” Horn shrugged. “I didn’t really think it would be too relevant to Centaurion.” Either he didn’t know who Ronald Yates had really been to the A-Cs, or else Horn was lying like a wet rug. Had no bet either way. Chuckie didn’t look happy, though, and half of the room looked uncomfortable.
“So, what’s the situation on the Hill?” Raj asked, smoothly changing the subject. “Is there positive reaction to the news of this new F.B.I. division?”
As the conversation shifted, I wondered if Raj and Chuckie practiced handling issues in meetings or if Raj was just that good. Bet on just that good.
Unhappily, the conversational shift meant the meeting continued on, only focused on what was going on at Capitol Hill. It was the usual political blah, blah, blah now that Horn was assumed to be on our side. None of it was that specific to American Centaurion or our interests, and I was bored out of my non-policy-loving mind within minutes.
Fortunately, just before my eyelids closed and my head hit the table, my phone rang.
I stepped away as fast as possible to take the call. It wasn’t from a number programmed into my phone, but at least this number wasn’t blocked, so maybe that meant whoever was calling wasn’t about to threaten me. “Hello?”
“Chief?” a voice whispered.
“Walter?” I whispered back. “Why aren’t you calling me using your Embassy cell?”
“Chief, we’re in trouble. Big trouble. We need hel—” And with that, the phone went dead.
CHAPTER 14
NOTHING LIKE A CALL FOR HELP that’s cut off mid-word to wake me right up. However, I didn’t want to share the news that Walter might be in trouble with half of the room’s occupants.
On the other hand, I wanted the other half activated. Then again, Jeff had to go back to Capitol Hill, and congressmen weren’t supposed to go into action. And then again, I had support elsewhere in the building.
“Would you all excuse me a minute?” I asked. “Minor household emergency.”
Jeff shot me a look that said he didn’t believe it. “Let me know before you go out, baby. Chuck, too.”
Dang, he’d done the old emotional and mind reading thing. Well, probably for the best. “Will do. Nice seeing everyone.” With that I headed for the infirmary.
I was distracted, so used human speed. I called Walter’s Embassy cell phone on the way. “This is Walter Ward of the American Centaurion Embassy. I’m unable to take your call at this time. Please leave a message and I’ll return your call as soon as possible.”
So much for that. Decided that I got bawled out a lot for not calling Alpha Team, so I called Reader. “You’ve reached James Reader. I’m unavailable.” Wow, Reader’s voicemail sure had changed from the good old days.
Tim was next, and after the last couple of calls, I expected what I got. “This is Tim Crawford. I’m busy fighting crime and saving the day, so can’t take your call at this time. Leave a message and I’ll call you back when I have some breathing room.”
Gave it a try with Kevin. “This is Kevin Lewis. Leave a message and I’ll get back to you.” Apparently he and Reader weren’t big on chatty voicemail recordings these days.
I reached the infirmary while listening to Lorraine and Claudia’s perky cell phone messages. Per Nurse Carter, Buchanan was still here, just finishing up. No worries, I had Serene to call. “This is Serene Dwyer. I’m so sorry I’ve missed your call. Please leave your name, number, a detailed message, and I’ll get back to you just as soon as possible.”
I was about to try the flyboys when Buchanan and Tito came out. “What’s up, Missus Chief? You look tense.”
“I am. Walter just called me from an anonymous number to tell me he was in trouble. Or rather, ‘we’ were in trouble. I’ve called everyone on Alpha Team, other than Paul, who’s here, and all their phones went to voicemail. I’m officially worried.”
Tito and Nurse Carter looked at each other. They both pulled out their phones. “I’ll call Dulce, you call Airborne?” Nurse Carter said.
“Yep.” Tito looked at me. “Call Home Base.”
It was nice to work with people who didn’t question when the weird or scary started, and instead began handling it immediately. Buchanan pulled out his phone while I tried calling Nellis Air Force Base, better known to the rest of the world as Area 51.
“No answer,” I said, at the same time Tito and Nurse Carter said the same. They both dialed again.
Buchanan grunted at his call. “You’re sure? Okay. Thank you.” He hung up. “I just checked with the Pentagon. They show no disturbances of any kind at or near either the Dulce Science Center or Home Base.”
“Well, no one’s answering their phones.” Sent a group text to everyone we were trying to reach, flyboys included. “Alpha and Airborne, maybe they’re busy. Perhaps Dulce’s in lockdown. But Nellis Air Force Base should be answering their phones or the Pentagon should know the reason why.”
Nurse Carter shook her head. “I’ve tried at least a dozen numbers at Dulce. The Medical Center isn’t answering, nor are any of the different research sections.”
“Interesting,” Tito said to whomever he’d actually reached. “Yes, please monitor and let us know if you find anything. Thanks.” He hung up. “I just called Alfred. NASA Base doesn’t show anything as being wrong in Dulce or Home Base. And, neither he nor I know if this is relevant, but Brian called out today, so he’s not at NASA Base, and Alfred thinks he was home, in the Science Center.”
“Where’s Michael Gower?” If one of the astronauts closely associated with Centaurion Division wasn’t where he should be, I wanted to check on the other one.
Tito grimaced. “He called out too, and he’s supposedly with Brian.”
“Fantastic. Naomi and Abigail went over there earlier, too.” Sent texts to both of them. No response came back.
“Excuse me, Ambassador,” William’s voice came on the com. “Representative Martini is asking for the four of you to join him in the kitchen and to tell you that the outsiders are gone.”
“On our way, William. Keep the com on us and patch us in to the kitchen. And try to reach Walter, please.” The four of us went to the elevator, because the three full humans didn’t want to have to deal with my hyperspeed prowess unless they had to, and I knew it.