Alien in the House Read Online Free PDF Page A

Reader.” Reader was not only the Head of Field, but he was Gower’s husband. “And if he hasn’t told Reader, then he hasn’t told anyone.”
    â€œYeah, I can agree there.” Chuckie was the smartest person in any and all rooms, so it didn’t shock me that he’d figured out what was going on. “So, you think Paul knows, or suspects something’s wrong with ACE and is hiding it to avoid mass panic?”
    â€œYes, nice of your brain to join the party.”
    â€œBlah, blah, blah. Does anyone else suspect?”
    â€œNo, I don’t think so, mostly because no one else really understands how we work with ACE, and most don’t know that he exists, in that sense.”
    â€œWhat about Naomi, Abigail, and Serene?”
    â€œI told them I didn’t want to bother the Pontifex with my request. When they couldn’t reach ACE, I said I’d talk to Gower about it. Mimi and Abby can no longer tell if I’m lying, and Serene can only do it if she’s touching a picture of me, and I gave her no reason to race out to grab a camera.”
    â€œNot dissing the skills, Secret Agent Man, just checking. Have you talked to Cliff about it?”
    â€œAbsolutely not, and you shouldn’t, either. I don’t even want you talking to your husband about this. This is the highest security issue we have right now, and it affects the entire world.”
    â€œWell, I can do my best to take this news to my grave, but where have you missed the fact that, since his special Surcenthumain boost, Jeff can pretty much read my mind when he wants to?”
    The door opened and Jeff came in, closed and locked the door behind him. “And I also pick up when she’s stressed, simply by being the strongest empath on the planet. Though, I get why you don’t want this spread around,” he said to Chuckie.
    â€œCan you feel ACE?” Chuckie asked him.
    Jeff shook his head. “No. I’ve never even thought to try before, so I wouldn’t know what ACE would feel like emotionally, even if I could access him.”
    â€œCan you get Gower to tell me the truth about what he knows?” Chuckie asked.
    â€œPossibly, but not tonight. The party has to take precedence unless you’re going to tell us to declare a state of emergency.”
    â€œNo, I agree.” Chuckie rubbed the back of his neck. “The last thing I want is anyone actually knowing that we have no idea where ACE is, in that sense.”
    The com sprang to life. “Excuse me, Chiefs,” Walter said. “Missus Lewis asked me to remind you that it’s almost time for Jamie to have dinner.”
    â€œThanks, Walt, we’ll be right there.”
    â€œI’ll relay, Chief.” The com went dead.
    Chuckie’s eyes were narrowed. “Think he was listening in?”
    â€œNo. If the com’s on, you can hear that little white noise sound, and eavesdropping is
not
Walter’s thing.” Walter was the youngest A-C agent to ever get assigned to be Head of Security for any facility. As such, he was incredibly dedicated, and eavesdropping was frowned upon when we weren’t in emergency situations. I looked at my watch. Sure enough, Jamie’s dinnertime was in thirty minutes. “Denise has Walter do these reminders when we’re busy, so I don’t forget.”
    â€œIt’s redundant,” Jeff said. Of course, Jeff never, ever forgot Jamie’s dinner time, lunch time, or breakfast time. Or anything else related to our daughter. He was the best daddy in the world. He insisted I was the best mommy, but Denise was quite aware that I got distracted, at least occasionally.
    â€œWhatever. So, what do we tell everyone about this powwow? Because I can guarantee they’re going to ask what we were talking about.”
    â€œWedding plans,” Chuckie replied. “Discussing the wedding party.”
    â€œStill?”
    He rubbed the back of his neck