Alien Collective Read Online Free PDF

here, or, rather, expect to be in my embassy at some time?”
    “Safe,” Len said. “They’re in Langley. All of them.”
    “So, there is not one living soul in our embassy?” Many heads shook. “Because my embassy isn’t safe, right?” Many heads nodded. “So, how is one of the most secure buildings on Earth compromised?”
    Officer Melville took this one. “We—and by ‘we’ I mean the K-9 team, all of us—received a tip that a dangerous package had been delivered to your embassy, Ambassador.”
    “That old ruse again? We have equipment that can safely check for bombs, don’t we? And by ‘we’ I mean Centaurion Division, along with the Washington P.D. Bomb Squad.”
    Melville nodded. “Yes, but the tip was from a rather, ah, unconventional source. Sent to all of our cell phones at the same time. From an untraceable number.” He shot me a meaningful look. At least I assumed he was waggling his eyebrows to be meaningful. Either that or he had bad gas he was holding in. Hoped I was right to go with the former.
    “What did this message actually say?” And who would know to send a message about American Centaurion being in danger to the K-9 squad? And why to the police at all? Why not to Alpha Team?
    Melville handed me his phone.
Officer Moe, my niece’s home has been compromised with deadly gas. Please remove every living thing instantly or we will be forced to take steps. Then please ensure that her home is safe for all living things as soon as possible or we will again be forced to take steps.
    Ah. That’s who. My “uncles,” the two best assassins in the business. Nice to know they were keeping a very watchful eye on me. Nice, creepy, and worrisome at the same time. Awesome, I got the trifecta on this. “Wow. They are
that
good.”
    “How so?” Buchanan asked.
    “I don’t think I ever called Officer Melville ‘Moe’ in front of my ‘uncles,’ and yet they know what I called him during the first time we all met, so to speak. I’m hella impressed. And, yeah, okay, this would make me grab everyone and run, too.”
    Melville nodded. “We knew this had to be legit because either they’d heard you call me that or you’d told them. Either way—”
    “They were right,” Buchanan said.
    “Why did they contact the police?” Amy asked. “I mean, for bombs, yes. But why not tell Kitty? Why not call James, or Malcolm?”
    “I got a message,” Buchanan said. “Mine was brief. ‘Your job is in deadly danger and should visit the Middle East immediately.’ So when Melville called me, it seemed obvious.”
    “Ah, that’s why.”
    Everyone looked at me. “Mind explaining that?” Claudia asked.
    “My ‘uncles’ knew Officer Melville would call Malcolm. So they could get him moving on getting all of us out of public and to somewhere other than home, with the full cooperation of the police department.” Had to hand it to Peter the Dingo Dog and Surly Vic—they were hella efficient and totally in the know.
    Speaking of which, Lillian Culver was in the room and I only had her where I wanted her politically because of said “uncles.” Wasn’t sure if this was a good conversation to be having within her hearing. Then again, it was probably confirming that they could kill her at this very moment if they wanted to. Which brought up another point.
    “Um, that means they’re in town, doesn’t it? And they didn’t call or anything to let me know they were coming.”
    “I’d count this as them letting you know,” Buchanan said dryly. “However the package didn’t come into the Embassy via conventional means. It was put into the tunnels and sent up through the basement. Which is the only reason we were able to evacuate in time.”
    Looked at Lucinda. “I take back any and every complaint about you taking Jamie and the others with you to the rally. You’re the best mother-in-law on the planet.”
    She shook her head and hugged Jamie, who she’d claimed from Adriana during my phone call